Antimicrobial activity of poly(ester urea) electrospun fibers loaded with bacteriophages

The capacity to load bacteriophages into electrospun nanofibers of two representative biocompatible polymers has been evaluated, paying special attention to the possibility of preserving their antibacterial activity. Specifically, the work involves the following steps: (a) Evaluation of the effect of the applied electrical field on the phage activity; (b) evaluation of the activity when a lyophilization process could be avoided by using water soluble polymers (e.g., poly(ethylene glycol); (c) evaluation of the activity when dissolution of the polymer requires an organic solvent and lyophilization is theoretically necessary. In this case, a poly(ester urea) (PEU) derived from the natural L-leucine amino acid has been considered. Adsorption of commercial bacteriophage preparations into calcium carbonate particles was demonstrated to be a promising methodology to avoid lyophilization and keep the initial bactericide activity at a maximum. Phagestaph and Fersis bacteriophage commercial preparations have been selected for this study due to their spPeer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Voriconazole Use in Children: Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Control of Inflammation as Key Points for Optimal Treatment

Infeccions fúngiques pediàtriques; Monitorització terapèutica de fàrmacs; VoriconazolInfecciones fúngicas pediátricas; Monitorización terapéutica de fármacos; VoriconazolPaediatric fungal infections; Therapeutic drug monitoring; VoriconazoleVoriconazole plasma concentrations (PC) are highly variable, particularly in children. Dose recommendations in 2–12-year-old patients changed in 2012. Little data on therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) after these new recommendations are available. We aimed to evaluate voriconazole monitoring in children with invasive fungal infection (IFI) after implementation of new dosages and its relationship with safety and effectiveness. A prospective, observational study, including children aged 2–12 years, was conducted. TDM was performed weekly and doses were changed according to an in-house protocol. Effectiveness, adverse events, and factors influencing PC were analysed. A total of 229 PC from 28 IFI episodes were obtained. New dosing led to a higher rate of adequate PC compared to previous studies; still, 35.8% were outside the therapeutic range. In patients aged < 8 years, doses to achieve therapeutic levels were higher than recommended. Severe hypoalbuminemia and markedly elevated C-reactive protein were related to inadequate PC. Therapeutic PC were associated with drug effectiveness and safety. Higher doses in younger patients and a dose adjustment protocol based on TDM should be considered. Voriconazole PC variability has decreased with current updated recommendations, but it remains high and is influenced by inflammatory status. Additional efforts to control inflammation in children with IFI should be encouraged.This research was funded by an Investigator Sponsored Research Grant from Pfizer (Grant Number WI182544

Efficacy of a cognitive training and domotic control program (BCI) to prevent cognitive impairment

Over time, ageing can cause a state of disability and dependency. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive training and domotic control with a computer program (Brain Computer Interface, BCI). In order to do so, estimated neuropsychological performance of the subjects has been evaluated with the Luria-DNA neuropsychological battery before and after training. A quasi-experimental design of repeated measures is defined where five areas are evaluated: visuospatial, spoken language, memory, intellectual processes and an attention test. Said study was carried out at The State Reference Centre for Disability and Dependency (CRE Spanish initials), San Andrés del Rabanedo, León (Spain). 63 people took part, 31 subjects in the experimental group and 32 in the control group. The results showed an improvement in almost all of the measured variables, revealing a significant increase in the cognitive capacity of the experimental group when compared with the control group. It can be concluded that with appropriate cognitive training, elderly people can delay cognitive impairment and enjoy an active ageing process which can have an effect on their life in terms of improving their independence

Altered blood gene expression of tumor-related genes (PRKCB, BECN1 and CDKN2A) in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common of the neurodegenerative diseases. Recent diagnostic criteria have defined a preclinical disease phase during which neuropathological substrates are thought to be present in the brain. There is an urgent need to find measurable alterations in this phase as well as a good peripheral biomarker in the blood. We selected a cohort of 100 subjects (controls = 47; preclinical AD = 11; patients with AD = 42) and analyzed whole blood expression of 20 genes by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The selected genes belonged to calcium-signaling, senescence and autophagy, and mitochondria/oxidative stress pathways. Additionally, two genes associated with an increased risk of developing AD (CLU and BIN1) were also analyzed. We detected significantly different gene expressions of BECN1 and PRKCB between the control and the AD groups; and, of CDKN2A between the control and the preclinical AD groups. Notably, these three genes are also considered tumor suppressor (CDKN2A and BECN1) or tumor promoter (PRKCB) genes. Gene-gene expression Pearson correlations were computed separately for controls and patients with AD. The significant correlations (p<0.001) were represented in a network analysis with Cytoscape tool, which suggested an uncoupling of mitochondriarelated genes in AD group. Whole blood is emerging as a valuable tissue in the study of the physiopathology of AD

Voriconazole Use in Children : Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Control of Inflammation as Key Points for Optimal Treatment

Voriconazole plasma concentrations (PC) are highly variable, particularly in children. Dose recommendations in 2-12-year-old patients changed in 2012. Little data on therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) after these new recommendations are available. We aimed to evaluate voriconazole monitoring in children with invasive fungal infection (IFI) after implementation of new dosages and its relationship with safety and effectiveness. A prospective, observational study, including children aged 2-12 years, was conducted. TDM was performed weekly and doses were changed according to an in-house protocol. Effectiveness, adverse events, and factors influencing PC were analysed. A total of 229 PC from 28 IFI episodes were obtained. New dosing led to a higher rate of adequate PC compared to previous studies; still, 35.8% were outside the therapeutic range. In patients aged < 8 years, doses to achieve therapeutic levels were higher than recommended. Severe hypoalbuminemia and markedly elevated C-reactive protein were related to inadequate PC. Therapeutic PC were associated with drug effectiveness and safety. Higher doses in younger patients and a dose adjustment protocol based on TDM should be considered. Voriconazole PC variability has decreased with current updated recommendations, but it remains high and is influenced by inflammatory status. Additional efforts to control inflammation in children with IFI should be encouraged

((R)-( )-3-Hydroxyquinuclidium)[FeCl4]; a plastic hybrid compound with chirality, ferroelectricity and long range magnetic ordering

Quinuclidinium salts and their derivatives are now in the focus of materials science as building units of multifunctional materials. Their properties can be easily switchable, allowing their use in a wide range of physical applications. One type of these kinds of materials, the homochiral hybrid halometallate ferroelectric compounds, is not well understood. In this work, (R)-( )-3-quinuclidinol hydrochloride was used in the synthesis of ((R)-( )-3-hydroxyquinuclidium)[FeCl4]. The use of this enantiomeric cation forces crystallographic non-centrosymmetry, which was confirmed by polarimetry and circular dichroism spectroscopy. We studied the physical properties of this compound at different temperatures by single crystal, synchrotron and neutron powder X-ray diffraction, which showed a rich series of structural and magnetic phase transitions. From synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data, a plastic phase was observed above 370 K (phase I). Between 370 K and ca. 310 K, an intermediate polar phase was detected, solved in a non-centrosymmetric polar space group (C2) (phase II). Below ca. 310 K, the compound crystallizes in the triclinic P1 non-centrosymmetric space group (phase III) which is maintained down to 4 K, followed by phase IV, which shows tridimensional magnetic ordering. The temperature evolution of the neutron diffraction data shows the appearance of new reflections below 4 K. These reflections can be indexed to a commensurate propagation vector k = (0, 0, 12). The magnetic structure below TN was solved in the Ps1 Shubnikov space group, which gives rise to an antiferromagnetic structure, compatible with the magnetometry measurements. Near room temperature, the crystal phase transition is associated with a dielectric change. In particular, the phase transition between phase III (S.G.:P1) and phase II (S.G.:C2) involves an increase of symmetry between two non-centrosymmetric space groups. Therefore, it allows, by symmetry, the emergence of ferroelectric and ferroelastic ordering. Piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM) imaging measurements provided evidence for polarization switching and a local ferroelectric behavior of phase III at room temperature. Additionally, the obtained butterfly curve and hysteresis loop by PFM exhibits a low coercive voltage of B10 V. This value is remarkable, since it approaches those obtained for materials with application in ferroelectric random access memories (FeRAMs).Financial support from Universidad de Cantabria (Proyecto Puente convocatoria 2018 funded by SODERCAN_FEDER), Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea (GIU17/50 and PPG17/37) and Ministerio de Economia y Competividad (MAT2017-89239-C2-(1,2)-P, MAT2017-83631-C3-3-R, MAT2017-86453-R, PGC2018-097520-A-100 and PID2019-104050RAI00) is acknowledged. The authors gratefully acknowledge the technical and human support provided by SGIKer (UPV/EHU, MINECO, GV/EJ, ERDF, and ESF). Carmen Martín is grateful to VI PPIT-2018 from Universidad de Sevilla. The paper is (partly) based on the results of experiments carried out at the ALBA Synchrotron Light Source in Barcelona (proposal 2019083666) and Institute Laue-Langevin (ILL) of Grenoble (Proposals 5-31-2580 and 5-31-2460)

Understanding the first Neolithic occupation of Cova d’En Pardo (Planes, Alicante): preliminary results of the multidisciplinary analysis of levels VIII and VIIIb

Se presentan los resultados de las excavaciones llevadas a cabo en la Cova d’En Pardo (Planes, Alicante), concretamente los niveles VIII y VIIIb. El desarrollo de un proyecto multidisciplinar ha permitido caracterizar la ocupación de una pequeña cavidad por parte de las primeras comunidades campesinas asociadas al inicio del proceso de neolitización del levante de la península Ibérica.We present the results of excavations carried out in the Cova d’En Pardo (Planes, Alicante), specifically the levels VIII and VIIIb. The development of a multidisciplinary project has allowed characterize the occupation of a small cavity by the first farming communities associated with the Neolithization process of the Levant of Iberian Peninsula.Este trabajo se ha realizado en el marco del proyecto Origins and Spread of Agriculture in the western Mediterranean región (ERC-2008-AdG 230561)

La primera ocupación neolítica de la Cova d’En Pardo (Planes, Alicante). Avance de estudio pluridisciplinar de los niveles VIII y VIIIb

Se presentan los resultados de las excavaciones llevadas a cabo en la Cova d’En Pardo (Planes, Alicante), concretamente los niveles VIII y VIIIb. El desarrollo de un proyecto multidisciplinar ha permitido caracterizar la ocupación de una pequeña cavidad por parte de las primeras comunidades campesinas asociadas al inicio del proceso de neolitización del levante de la Península Ibérica

Competencies of good university teachers. Students’s opinion

[ES] En este trabajo se presenta la perspectiva que tienen los estudiantes, sobre las competencias del buen docente universitario, a partir de un cuestionario diseñado en base a las competencias docentes definidas y validadas en el marco del proyecto REDU2012”. Han respondido al cuestionario 10302 estudiantes de grado y 1700 de máster de 15 universidades, a través de un formulario en línea optimizado para dispositivos móviles.La importancia otorgada a las 16 características definidas en el cuestionario ha sido alta: todas ellas se encuentran entre el notable alto y el sobresaliente. Que el profesor explique de forma clara los contenidos de la asignatura es la mejor valorada, seguida del fomento de la motivación. Estas dos cuestiones son igualmente las más valoradas si atendemos a las ramas de conocimiento, curso y sexo del estudiantado. Las habilidades menos valoradas para ser un buen docente son la de fomentar la participación y el trabajo colaborativo y la coordinación con el profesorado[EN] This paper presents the students’ point of view about the competencies of a good  university  teacher,  obtained  from a  questionnaire  based  on  the  teaching competencies stated and validated according to the REDU2012 Project. 10302 undergraduate  students  and  1700  master students  from  15  universities  answered through  an  online  formulary  suitable  also for mobile devices. The importance that has been given to  the  16  characteristics  defined  in  the questionnaire  is  remarkably  high:  all  of them  are  qualified  either  as  good  or  as excellent. That the teacher explains clearly the subject’s content is the best-scored characteristic,  followed  by  the  motivation encouragement.  Both  characteristics  are highly  rated  by  students,  with  no  regard of  their  original  areas  of  knowledge,  their year  or  their  sex.  The  lowest  rated  skills in order to be a good teacher are the encouragement   of   participation   and   of collaborative  work  and  thAbadía Valle, AR.; Bueno García, C.; Ubieto-Artur, MI.; Márquez Cebrián, MD.; Sabaté Díaz, S.; Jorba Noguera, H.; Pagès Costa, T. (2015). Competencias del buen docente universitario. Opinión de los estudiantes. REDU. Revista de Docencia Universitaria. 13(2):363-390. https://doi.org/10.4995/redu.2015.5453OJS363390132Comisión Europea. Grupo de alto nivel para la modernización de la enseñanza superior. (2013). Recomendaciones para la mejora de la calidad de la enseñanza y el aprendizaje. Recuperado de http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-554_es.htmGrupo Interuniversitario de Formación Docente, GIFD (2011). Identificación, desarrollo y evaluación de competencias docentes en la aplicación de planes de formación dirigidos a profesorado universitario (EA2010-0099). Programa Estudios y análisis destinado a la mejora de la calidad de la enseñanza superior y de la actividad del profesorado universitario, Ministerio de Educación. Recuperado de http://bit.ly/1P39sJEHigh Level Group on the Modernisation of Higher Education. (2013). Report to the European Commission on improving the quality of teaching and learning in Europe's higher education institutions. doi: 10.2766/42468Mas, O. y Tejada, J. (2013). Funciones y competencias en la docencia universitaria. Barcelona: Síntesis.Pagès, T. (coord.). (2014). Memoria final. Propuesta de un marco de referencia competencial del profesorado universitario y adecuación de los planes de formación basados en competencias docentes. Octubre 2014. Recuperado de http://goo.gl/SdHywVREDU - Revista de Docencia Universitaria (2012). Número Monográfico dedicado a Competencias docentes en la educación superior, mayo-agosto 2012 (2). Recuperado de http://red-u.net/redu/index.php/REDU/issue/view/67/showTocTejada, J. (2009). Competencias docentes. Profesorado. Revista de Currículum y Formación del Profesorado, 13Torra Bitlloch, I.; Esteban Moreno, R.M. (2012). Presentación. REDU - Revista de Docencia Universitaria, Número monográfico dedicado a Competencias docentes en la Educación Superior, 10(2), 17-20. Recuperado de http://red-u.net/redu/index.php/REDU/article/view/427Torra Bitlloch, I., Corral Manuel de Villena, Ignacio de, Pérez Cabrera, M. J., Pagès Costas, T., Valderrama Valles, E., Márquez Cebrián, M., Sabaté Díaz, S., Solà Ysuar, P., Hernàndez Escolano, C., Sangrà Morer, A., Guàrdia Ortiz, L. Estebanell Minguella, M., Patiño Maso, J., González Soto, AP., Fandos Garrido, M., Ruiz Morillas, N., Iglesias Rodríguez, MC., Tena Tarruella, A. (2012). Identificación de competencias docentes que orienten el desarrollo de planes de formación dirigidos a profesorado universitario. REDU - Revista de Docencia Universitaria, Número monográfico dedicado a Competencias docentes en la Educación Superior, 10(2), 21-56. Recuperado de http://red-u.net/redu/index.php/REDU/article/view/397Triadó, X., Estebanell, M., Màrquez, M. D., y del Corral, I. (2014). Identificación del perfil competencial docente en educación superior. Evidencias para la elaboración de programas de formación continua del profesorado universitario. Revista Española de Pedagogía, 257, 51-72.Valcárcel, M. (Coord.)(2005). La preparación del profesorado universitario para la convergencia europea en educación Superior (EA2003-0040). Informe Investigación. Programa de Estudios y Análisis del Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. Recuperado de http://campus.usal.es/web-usal/Novedades/noticias/bolonia/informe_final.pdfZabalza, M. A. (2003). Competencias docentes del profesorado universitario. Calidad y desarrollo profesional. Madrid: Narcea

Colorectal Cancer Genetic Variants Are Also Associated with Serrated Polyposis Syndrome Susceptibility

Background Serrated polyposis syndrome (SPS) is a clinical entity characterised by large and/ormultiple serrated polyps throughout the colon and increased risk for colorectal cancer (CRC). The basis for SPS genetic predisposition is largely unknown. Common, low-penetrance genetic variants have been consistently associated with CRC susceptibility, however, their role in SPS genetic predisposition has not been yet explored. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate if common, low-penetrance genetic variants for CRC risk are also implicated in SPS genetic susceptibility. Methods A case-control study was performed in 219 SPS patients and 548 asymptomatic controls analysing 65 CRC susceptibility variants. A risk prediction model for SPS predisposition was developed. Results Statistically significant associations with SPS were found for seven genetic variants (rs4779584-GREM1, rs16892766-EIF3H, rs3217810-CCND2, rs992157-PNKD1/TMBIM1, rs704017-ZMIZ1, rs11196172-TCF7L2, rs6061231-LAMA5). TheGREM1risk allele was remarkably over-represented in SPS cases compared with controls (OR=1.573, 1.21-2.04, p value=0.0006). A fourfold increase in SPS risk was observed when comparing subjects within the highest decile of variants (>= 65) with those in the first decile (<= 50). Conclusions Genetic variants for CRC risk are also involved in SPS susceptibility, being the most relevant ones rs4779584-GREM1, rs16892766-EIF3Hand rs3217810-CCND2.CA--C, JM and JJL were supported by a contract from CIBEREHD. YSdL was supported by a fellowship (LCF/BQ/DI18/11660058) from 'la Caixa' Foundation (ID 100010434) funded EU Horizon 2020 Programme (Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 713673). LB was supported by a Juan de la Cierva postdoctoral contract (FJCI-2017-32593) and MD-G by a contract from Agencia de Gestio d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca, AGAUR, (Generalitat de Catalunya, 2018FI_B1_00213). CIBEREHD, CIBERER, CIBERESP and CIBERONC are funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. This research was supported by grants from Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria/FEDER (14/00613, 16/00766, 17/00509, 17/00878), Fundacion Cientifica de la Asociacion Espanola contra el Cancer (GCB13131592CAST), Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, co-funded by FEDER funds, (SAF201680888--R), PERIS (SLT002/16/00398, SLT002/16/0037, Generalitat de Catalunya), CERCA Programme (Generalitat de Catalunya) and Agencia de Gestio d'Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca (Generalitat de Catalunya, GRPRE 2017SGR21, GRC 2017SGR653, 2017SGR1282, 2017SGR723). This article is based upon work from COST Action CA17118, supported by European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST). www.cost.eu