Valor de la tomografía computarizada volumétrica en el estudio de la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica

Tesis doctoral inédita, leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Medicina. Fecha de lectura: 13 de abril, 201

Difusion-Weighted MRI: from Brownian Motion to Head&Neck Tumor Characterization

This paper describes basic physics as well as clinical applications of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. This is a technique that provides complementary information to conventional imaging sequences and it is applied in the field of oncologic imaging. This paper focuses on its specific application in head and neck, mainly in cancer patients, for characterization of primary tumors, and also for monitoring and predicting treatment response after chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Last, although diffusion-weighted imaging is shown to add value in several areas by being part of the multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging approach, there are some unsolved challenges, which are proposed as future work

Diseño de geodrenes como sistema de subdrenaje en un pavimento rígido para evacuar las aguas pluviales en el Km 14+000 al Km 15+000 de la carretera SM-107 del distrito de Picota, San Martín

Actualmente, en la zona de estudio, no se encuentra un buen sistema de subdrenaje para las fuertes lluvias presente a lo largo de los años, por lo cual se plantea elaborar una propuesta que mejore la evacuación de estas aguas, debido a que la estructura del pavimento a lo largo de los años podría deteriorarse y traer daños en la infraestructura. El objetivo principal de esta tesis es diseñar geodrenes como sistema de subdrenaje en un pavimento rígido para mejorar la evacuación de las aguas pluviales en el Km 14+000 al Km 15+000 de la carretera SM-107 del distrito de Picota, San Martín. Para llegar al objetivo del trabajo de investigación se recolectó datos topográficos, estudio de suelos y estudio de tráfico. Además, se usó la metodología AASHTO 93 para el diseño del pavimento rígido y el manual del software de la empresa PAVCO para el diseño de los geodrenes con el fin de encontrar el diámetro adecuado de las tuberías a utilizar. Se obtuvo como resultado, los espesores del pavimento rígido, 22 cm tiene la losa de concreto y la subbase 15 cm. Asimismo, se obtuvo una sección transversal de profundidad H = 1.00 m y ancho de A = 0.6 m, con con un tipo de geotextil no tejido punzonado por agujas que servirán como el medio filtrante y una tubería perforada de 160 mm.Currently, in the study area, there is no good subdrainage system for heavy rains present over the years, which is why it is proposed to develop a proposal that improves evacuation of these waters, because the structure of the Pavement over the years could deteriorate and cause damage to the infrastructure. The main objective of this thesis is to design geodrains as a subdrainage system in a rigid pavement to evacuate rainwater from Km 14+000 al Km 15+000 of the SM-107 highway in the district of Picota, San Martín To reach the objective of the research work, topographic data, soil study and traffic study were collected. In addition, AASHTO 93 methodology was used for design of rigid pavement and the manual with PAVCO company software for the design of geodrains to find appropriate diameter of pipes to be used. As a result, thickness of rigid pavement was obtained, the concrete slab is 22 cm and subbase are 15 cm. Likewise, a cross section of depth H = 1.00 m and width of A = 0.6 m was obtained, with a type of needle-punched non-woven geotextile that will serve as filter medium and a 160 mm perforated pipe.Trabajo de Suficiencia Profesiona

Perceived Competence in the Face of Death before and after Nursing Studies: An Intrasubject Longitudinal Study

Perceived competence is a subject’s perception of being able to interact effectively with the environment. Perceived Competence in the face of death in Nursing degree programs in which the presence of the subject of death and bereavement is key becomes more topical and relevant. The objective of this study is to determine whether this competence is improved through Nursing Studies. This study was designed as paired repeated intrasubject measures, initial measurement at the beginning of the first year and second measurement in the fourth year of the Nursing degree. One hundred and seventeen nursing students were assessed. Significant improvement is evidenced in three of the four dimensions of Perceived Competence in the face of death (Accompaniment and Communication: 25.70/29.34; Self-Confidence: 9.64/12.78; Management of Self-Fear: 13.18/14.66). These results show notable differences with their cross-sectional predecessors, suggesting the need for further studies in this field to consolidate a still developing body of knowledge.Enfermerí

Study of phenolic markers for the differentiation of wines made with Vitis vinifera L. cv Rufete grapes.

The "D.O.P. Sierra de Salamanca" has been related, since its establishment, to the production of wines made with Vitis Vinifera L. cv Rufete grapes, an autochthonous grape from La Sierra de Francia. The production of this type of wine has been recently relaunched due to consumers' demand for new wines different from world standards and due to its potentially greater adaptation to an scenario of climate change. This study aims at establishing the phenolic composition of wines made with 100% Rufete grapes from the D.O.P Sierra de Salamanca, as well as establishing a comparison between the phenolic composition and the chromatic characteristics of these wines with commercial wines made with mixtures of Rufete and Tempranillo grapes in different proportions. The HPLC-DAD-MSn analysis of wine samples from three different wineries from the D.O.P allowed the identification of 35 different anthocyanin-derived pigments, 63 flavanols and 11 flavonols. From the phenolic composition and by means of principal component analysis (PCA), it has been possible to establish differences between the different wines depending on the vintage, the winery and the variety of grape.La Denominación de Origen Protegida (D.O.P.) Sierra de Salamanca siempre ha estado vinculada desde su fundación a la elaboración de vinos con uvas Vitis Vinifera L. variedad Rufete, una uva autóctona de la Sierra de Francia. Su producción en los últimos años se ha visto relanzada debido a la demanda por parte de los consumidores de nuevos vinos, diferentes a los estándares mundiales, y por su potencial de adaptación a un escenario de cambio climático. Con este estudio se pretende establecer la composición fenólica de vinos elaborados con uvas 100 % Rufete de la D.O.P Sierra de Salamanca, así como establecer una comparación de dicha composición fenólica y de las características cromáticas de los mismos con las de vinos comerciales elaborados con mezclas de uva variedad Rufete y variedad Tempranillo, en distintas proporciones. El análisis mediante HPLC-DAD-MSn de muestras de vinos procedentes de tres bodegas distintas de la D.O.P permitió identificar 35 pigmentos de naturaleza antociánica, 63 flavanoles y 11 flavonoles diferentes. A partir de la composición determinada y mediante análisis de componentes principales (PCA) se ha podido establecer diferencias entre las distintas muestras en función del año de producción, la bodega y la variedad de uva empleada

Intraventricular neurocysticercosis in a migrant from Honduras

We report in Madrid (Spain) a case of intraventricular neurocysticercosis in a migrant from Choluteca (Honduras) confirmed by epidemiological, radiological and microbiological criteria.S

LOW-COAST: hacia un sistema de monitorización de topo-batimetrías de bajo coste

Se agradece la financiación parcial de los proyectos “SISTEMA INTEGRADO DE PREDICCIÓN PROBABILÍSTICA DE INUNDACIÓN Y EROSIÓN EN PLAYAS” de SODERCAN y “EQUIPAMIENTO PARA MONITORIZACIÓN CON DRONES DE TOPO-BATIMETRÍAS EN PLAYAS Y ESTUARIOS” del Gobierno de Cantabria

Insulin regulates neurovascular coupling through astrocytes

Mice with insulin receptor (IR)-deficient astrocytes (GFAP-IR knockout [KO] mice) show blunted responses to insulin and reduced brain glucose uptake, whereas IRdeficient astrocytes show disturbed mitochondrial responses to glucose. While exploring the functional impact of disturbed mitochondrial function in astrocytes, we observed that GFAP-IR KO mice show uncoupling of brain blood flow with glucose uptake. Since IR-deficient astrocytes show higher levels of reactive oxidant species (ROS), this leads to stimulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1¿ and, consequently, of the vascular endothelial growth factor angiogenic pathway. Indeed, GFAP-IR KO mice show disturbed brain vascularity and blood flow that is normalized by treatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC). NAC ameliorated high ROS levels, normalized angiogenic signaling and mitochondrial function in IR-deficient astrocytes, and normalized neurovascular coupling in GFAP-IR KO mice. Our results indicate that by modulating glucose uptake and angiogenesis, insulin receptors in astrocytes participate in neurovascular coupling.We are thankful to M.Garcia and R. Cañadas for technical support. This work was funded by Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED) (Instituto de Salud CarlosIII, Spain) to I.T.A., A.G., and T.I.; an Inter-CIBER project (PIE14/00061) to I.T.A.that forms part of the projects PID2019-104376RB-I00 (I.T.A.) and RTI2018-094887-B-I00 (M.N.) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; a grant from Junta de Andalucia Consejería de Economía y Conocimiento (P18-RT-2233 to A.G.) cofinanced by Programa Operativo FEDER 2014–2020; a grant from Instituto de Salud Carlos III Spain (cofinanced by FEDER funds from the European Union; PI21/00915 to A.G.); Grant PID2020-115218RB-I00 to T.I. funded by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación/Agencia Española de Investigación (MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033); and a grant from Comunidad de Madrid through the European Social Fund (ESF)–financed programme Neurometabolismo-Comunidad de Madrid (NEUROMETAB-CM) (B2017/BMD-3700 to I.T.A.and T.I.). M.N. was also supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Ramón y Cajal RYC-2016-20414). J.P.-U. was contracted by CIBERNED

Prevalence and Persistence of Antibiotic Resistance Determinants in the Gut of Travelers Returning to the United Kingdom is Associated with Colonization by Pathogenic Escherichia coli

The gut microbiota constitutes an ideal environment for the selection, exchange, and carriage of antibiotic resistance determinants (ARDs), and international travel has been identified as a risk factor for acquisition of resistant organisms. Here, we present a longitudinal metagenomic analysis of the gut resistome in travellers to "high-risk"countries (Gutback). Fifty volunteers, recruited at a travel clinic in London, United Kingdom, provided stool samples before (pre-travel), immediately after (posttravel), and 6 months after their return (follow-up) from a high-risk destination. Fecal DNA was extracted, metagenomic sequencing performed and the resistome profiled. An increase in abundance and diversity of resistome was observed after travel. Significant increases in abundance were seen in antimicrobial genes conferring resistance to macrolides, third-generation cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and sulfonamides. There was a significant association with increased resistome abundance if the participant experienced diarrhea during travel or took antibiotics, but these two variables were co-correlated. The resistome abundance returned to pre-travel levels by the 6-month sample point but there was evidence of persistence of several ARDs. The post-travel samples had an increase in abundance Escherichia coli which was positively associated with many acquired resistant determinants. Virulence and phylogenetic profiling revealed pathogenic E. coli significantly contributed to this increase abundance. In summary, in this study, foreign travel remains a significant risk factor for acquisition of microbes conferring resistance to multiple classes of antibiotics, often associated with symptomatic exposure to diarrhoeagenic E. coli

Effect of the carbon nanotube surface characteristics on the conductivity and dielectric constant of carbon nanotube/poly(vinylidene fluoride) composites

Commercial multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT) were functionalized by oxidation with HNO3, to introduce oxygen-containing surface groups, and by thermal treatments at different temperatures for their selective removal. The obtained samples were characterized by adsorption of N2 at -196°C, temperature-programmed desorption and determination of pH at the point of zero charge. CNT/poly(vinylidene fluoride) composites were prepared using the above CNT samples, with different filler fractions up to 1 wt%. It was found that oxidation reduced composite conductivity for a given concentration, shifted the percolation threshold to higher concentrations, and had no significant effect in the dielectric response