Transcription regulation of TNF-α-early response genes by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 in murine heart endothelial cells

The original publication is a available at www.oxfordjournals.org.-- 10 pp.[EN] Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) has been involved in endothelial cell dysfunction associated with various pathophysiological conditions. The intrinsic mechanism of PARP-1-mediated endothelial cell dysfunction could be related to PARP-1 overactivation, NAD+ consumption and ATP depletion. An alternative way could involve transcription regulation. By using high-density microarrays, we examined early tumor necrosis factor α(TNF- α)- stimulated gene expression profiles in PARP-1+/+ and PARP-1-/- murine heart endothelial cells. TNF-α modulated a significant number of genes in both cell types. We have identified a set of genes whose expression in response to TNF-a is modulated by PARP-1, whereas the expression of others is PARP- 1-independent. Up-regulation of several genes involved in the inflammatory response is hampered in the absence of PARP-1. Moreover, NF-қB-dependent transcriptional activation is partially inhibited in PARP-1-/- compared to PARP-1+/+ cells. However, we found that PARP-1 might also silence transcription of several NF-қB target genes. Overall, our results show that PARP-1 is regulating the expression of genes by the endothelial cells both in a positive and a negative fashion, with the final effects depending on the gene. Individual studies of these genes are now necessary to clarify the intrinsic mechanism by which PARP-1 is controlling transcription and thereby finding out different therapeutic approaches involving PARP-1.A.C. is a recipient of a fellowship from Fundación Séneca. J.Y. is an Investigator from the Ramón y Cajal Program (Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología). This work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III Grants PI021138 and C03/02.Peer reviewe

The Gambling Habits of University Students in Aragon, Spain : A Cross-Sectional Study

Altres ajuts: The publication was funded by the Diputación General de Aragón group (B17-20R).Gambling has become a routine form of entertainment for many young people. The aim of this study was to describe the gambling behavior that university students are developing in Aragon, Spain, and to analyze whether these habits are more common among students of sports science, on the assumption that they are more likely to have a higher exposure to betting company marketing. A cross-sectional design was applied, with data collected on advertising exposure, gambling habits and experiences, and opinions on the impact of gambling and its regulation from 516 undergraduate students from the University of Zaragoza. The online survey included ad hoc questions and the "Pathological Gambling Short Questionnaire" to screen for potential gambling disorders. Almost half of the sample had bet money at least once in their life (48.1%), and 2.4% screened positive for consideration of a possible diagnosis of pathological gambling. Betting shops (44.2%) were the most common gambling option, and students of sports science showed a higher prevalence of pathological gambling and had greater tendencies to make bets. Gambling is perceived as a normal leisure activity by a significant part of university students. The development of transversal strategies is required to raise awareness towards the potential dangers of gambling

Implementation of a psychological online intervention for low to moderate depression in primary care: study protocol

Background: Depression affects millions of people all over the world and implies a great socioeconomic burden. Despite there are different effective evidence-based interventions for treating depression, only a small proportion of these patients receives an appropriate treatment. In this regard, information and communication technologies (ICTs) can be used with therapeutic aims and this can contribute to make interventions more accessible. One example is “Smiling is fun”, an internet-based treatment which has proved to be effective and cost-effective for treating depression in Spanish Primary Care (PC). However, the “know-do gap” between research and clinical settings implies that the actual implementation of such interventions could last up to 20 years. To overcome this obstacle, the implementation research establishes the methodology to implement the advances developed in the laboratories to the health care services maintaining the validity of the intervention and offering specific stra- tegies for the implementation process. Objective: This is the protocol of an implementation study for the Internet-based program “Smiling is fun”, which will be conducted on patients with mild-to-moderate depression of Spanish PC settings. In the implementation study, the feasibility, efficacy, cost-efficacy, acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, fidelity, penetration, normalization, and sustainability will be assessed. Methods: The current investigation is a Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Type II design. A Stepped Wedge randomized controlled trial design will be used, with a cohort of 420 adults diagnosed with depression (mild-to- moderate) who will undergo a first control phase (no treatment) followed by the intervention, which will last 16 weeks, and finishing with an optional use of the intervention. All patients will be assessed at baseline, during the treatment, and at post-treatment. The study will be conducted in three Spanish regions: Andalusia, Aragon, and the Balearic Islands. Two primary care centers of each region will participate, one located in the urban setting and the other in the rural setting. The primary outcome will be implementation success of the intervention assessing the reach, clinical effect, acceptability, appropriateness, adoption, feasibility, fidelity, penetration, implementation costs and sustainability services. Discussion: “Smiling is Fun”, which has already been established as effective and cost-effective, will be adapted according to users' experiences and opinions, and the efficacy and cost-efficacy of the program will again be assessed. The study will point out barriers and facilitators to consider in the implementation process of internet- based psychological interventions in health services. The ultimate goal is to break the research-to-practice split, which would undoubtedly contribute to reduce the high burden of depression in our societ

Effectiveness and implementation of an online intervention (MINDxYOU) for reducing stress and promote mental health among healthcare workers in Spain : a study protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial

The World Health Organization has formally recognized that healthcare professionals are at risk of developing mental health problems; finding ways to reduce their stress is mandatory to improve both their quality of life and, indirectly, their job performance. In recent years, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, there has been a proliferation of online interventions with promising results. The purpose of the present study is twofold: to test the effectiveness of an online, self-guided intervention, MINDxYOU, to reduce the stress levels of healthcare workers; and to conduct an implementation study of this intervention. Additionally, an economic evaluation of the intervention will be conducted. The current study has a hybrid effectiveness-implementation type 2 design. A stepped wedge cluster randomized trial design will be used, with a cohort of 180 healthcare workers recruited in two Spanish provinces (Malaga and Zaragoza). The recruitment stage will commence in October 2022. Frontline health workers who provide direct care to people in a hospital, primary care center, or nursing home setting in both regions will participate. The effectiveness of the intervention will be studied, with perceived stress as the main outcome (Perceived Stress Scale), while other psychopathological symptoms and process variables (e.g., mindfulness, compassion, resilience, and psychological flexibility) will be also assessed as secondary outcomes. The implementation study will include analysis of feasibility, acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, fidelity, penetration, and sustainability. The incremental costs and benefits, in terms of quality-adjusted life years, will be examined by means of cost-utility and cost-effectiveness analyses. MINDxYOU is designed to reduce healthcare workers' stress levels through the practice of mindfulness, acceptance, and compassion, with a special focus on how to apply these skills to healthy habits and considering the particular stressors that these professionals face on a daily basis. The present study will show how implementation studies are useful for establishing the framework in which to address barriers to and promote facilitators for acceptability, appropriateness, adoption, feasibility, fidelity, penetration, and sustainability of online interventions. The ultimate goal is to reduce the research-to-practice gap. This study was registered in ClinicalTrials.gov on 29/06/2022; registration number: NCT05436717

Riesgo de hipertensión arterial en población adulta en Matamoros, Tamaulipas, México

RESUMEN Objetivo: conocer el riesgo de hipertensión en la población adulta de la ciudad de Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Método: el diseño fue de tipo descriptivo y transversal, una muestra de 1004 adultos. Se utilizó una cedula de datos sociodemográficos, donde se realizaron 3 mediciones de la presión arterial, de acuerdo a la Norma Oficial Mexicana NOM-030-SSA2-2009. Resultados: El género estuvo conformado del 38.7% de hombres y 61.3% de mujeres. Se observó una prevalencia de hipertensión arterial en 8.6% de la población. Fue mayor en el género masculino con 12.3% que el femenino de 6.3%. El grupo de 60 y más años (14.1%) presenta mayor prevalencia de hipertensión, seguido de 50 a 59 (13.8%) y finalmente el de 40 a 49 con 11.7%. El riesgo de hipertensión es de 87 (8,7%) de la muestra total; la alta presión arterial sistólica con 52 (5,1%), y alta presión arterial diastólica con 56 (5,5%) también deben ser consideradas hipertensión. Cuando se analizan en conjunto, los tres criterios de inclusión para hipertensión arterial suman el 19,4% de riesgo. Conclusión: el riesgo de hipertensión arterial en población adulta está latente, la prevalencia se ubica dentro de la más alta a nivel mundial. ABSTRACT Objective: To know the risk of hypertension in the adult population of the city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Method: The design was descriptive and transversal in a sample of 1004 adults. A sociodemographic data questionnaire was used and three blood pressure measurements were performed according to the Official Mexican Standard NOM-030-SSA2-2009. Results: The gender was made up of 38.7% of men and 61,3% of women. A prevalence of hypertension was observed in 8.6% of the population. It was greater in the masculine gender with 12.3% than the feminine one of 6.3%. The group of 60 and over (14.1%) had a higher prevalence of hypertension, followed by 50 to 59 (13.8%) and finally the group of 40 to 49 with 11.7%. The risk of hypertension is 87 (8.7%) of the total sample; high systolic blood pressure with 52 (5.1%), and high diastolic blood pressure with 56 (5.5%) should also be considered hypertension. When analyzed together, the three inclusion criteria for hypertension add up to a 19.4% risk. Conclusion: the risk of hypertension in the adult population is latent, the prevalence is among the highest in the world

Adicción y factores determinantes en el uso problemático del Internet, en una muestra de jóvenes universitarios

El estudio tiene como objetivo conocer la probabilidad de presentar adicción y los factores determinantes sobre el uso problemático del internet en estudiantes universitarios en la ciudad de H. Matamoros, Tamaulipas. Metodología: La población fue de 1,125 estudiantes y una muestra de 323, en una universidad pública, el instrumento utilizado fue el “Cuestionario de Uso Problemático de Internet” (CUPI) con un Alfa de Cronbach de 0.966, el diseño de estudio fue descriptivo, transversal. Resultados: se encontró que el factor de determinante “Anticipación” fue el que presento una mayor probabilidad de presentarse, y los de menor fueron “Pérdida de Control” y  “Reconocimiento de Falta de Control.

Identification of the Immunological Changes Appearing in the CSF During the Early Immunosenescence Process Occurring in Multiple Sclerosis

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) suffer with age an early immunosenescence process, which influence the treatment response and increase the risk of infections. We explored whether lipid-specific oligoclonal IgM bands (LS-OCMB) associated with highly inflammatory MS modify the immunological profile induced by age in MS. This cross-sectional study included 263 MS patients who were classified according to the presence (M+, n=72) and absence (M-, n=191) of LS-OCMB. CSF cellular subsets and molecules implicated in immunosenescence were explored. In M- patients, aging induced remarkable decreases in absolute CSF counts of CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, including Th1 and Th17 cells, and of B cells, including those secreting TNF-alpha. It also increased serum anti-CMV IgG antibody titers (indicative of immunosenescence) and CSF CHI3L1 levels (related to astrocyte activation). In contrast, M+ patients showed an age-associated increase of TIM-3 (a biomarker of T cell exhaustion) and increased values of CHI3L1, independently of age. Finally, in both groups, age induced an increase in CSF levels of PD-L1 (an inductor of T cell tolerance) and activin A (part of the senescence-associated secretome and related to inflammaging). These changes were independent of the disease duration. Finally, this resulted in augmented disability. In summary, all MS patients experience with age a modest induction of T-cell tolerance and an activation of the innate immunity, resulting in increased disability. Additionally, M- patients show clear decreases in CSF lymphocyte numbers, which could increase the risk of infections. Thus, age and immunological status are important for tailoring effective therapies in MS.This work was supported by grants FIS-PI15/00513, FIS-PI18/00572 and RD16/0015/0001 from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain and FEDER: "Una manera de hacer Europa"

Inventario y criterios de gestión de los mamíferos del Parque Nacional de Ordesa y Monte Perdido

2 volúmenes + 1 vol. Anexos + Resumen.-- Informe Final del Convenio de Investigación entre el Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales y el Instituto Pirenaico de Ecología (CSIC).Peer reviewe

Preventive Gambling Programs for Adolescents and Young Adults: A Systematic Review

Gambling disorder in youth is an emerging public health problem, with adolescents and young adults constituting a vulnerable age group for the development of gambling-related problems. Although research has been conducted on the risk factors for gambling disorder, very few rigorous studies can be found on the efficacy of preventive interventions in young people. The aim of this study was to provide best practice recommendations for the prevention of disordered gambling in adolescents and young adults. We reviewed and synthesized the results of existing RCTs and quasi-experimental studies covering nonpharmacological prevention programs for gambling disorder in young adults and adolescents. We applied the PRISMA 2020 statement and guidelines to identify 1483 studies, of which 32 were included in the systematic review. All studies targeted the educational setting, i.e., high school and university students. Most studies followed a universal prevention strategy, that particularly targeted adolescents, and an indicated prevention strategy for university students. The reviewed gambling prevention programs generally showed good results in terms of reducing the frequency and severity of gambling, and also regarding cognitive variables, such as misconceptions, fallacies, knowledge, and attitudes towards gambling. Finally, we highlight the need to develop more comprehensive prevention programs that incorporate rigorous methodological and assessment procedures before they are widely implemented and disseminated