Development and validation of a questionnaire to assess adherence to the healthy food pyramid in Spanish adults

We aimed to design and validate a new questionnaire of adherence to healthy food pyramid (HFP) (AP-Q), to improve previous instruments. The questionnaire was self-administered and included 28 questions from 10 categories (physical activity, health habits, hydration, grains, fruits, vegetables, oil type, dairy products, animal proteins, and snacks). A population of 130 Spanish adults answered it, obtaining scores from each category and a global score of HFP adherence (AP-Q score). Validation was performed through principal components analysis (PCA) and internal consistency by Cronbach’s alpha. AP-Q was also externally validated with Kidmed-test, answered by 45 individuals from the cohort. The global AP-Q score was 5.1 1.3, with an internal consistency of 64%. The PCA analysis extracted seven principal components, which explained 68.5% of the variance. The global AP-Q score was positively associated with Kidmed-test score. Our data suggest that AP-Q is a complete and robust questionnaire to assess HFP adherence, with several advantages: easy to complete, cost-e ective, timesaving and has the competency to assess, besides diet, several features a ecting health status, lacking in other instruments. We suggest that AP-Q could be useful in epidemiological research, although it requires additional calibration to analyze its reproducibility and validation in other populationsFinanced by Universidad Autónoma de Madrid-Khon Kaen University (KKU: 0514.7.I.12-1948

Fetal undernutrition induces resistance artery remodeling and stiffness in male and female rats independent of hypertension

Fetal undernutrition programs hypertension and cardiovascular diseases, and resistance artery remodeling may be a contributing factor. We aimed to assess if fetal undernutrition induces resistance artery remodeling and the relationship with hypertension. Sprague–Dawley dams were fed ad libitum (Control) or with 50% of control intake between days 11 and 21 of gestation (maternal undernutrition, MUN). In six-month-old male and female offspring we assessed blood pressure (anesthetized and tail-cuff); mesenteric resistance artery (MRA) structure and mechanics (pressure myography), cellular and internal elastic lamina (IEL) organization (confocal microscopy) and plasma MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity (zymography). Systolic blood pressure (SBP, tail-cuff) and plasma MMP activity were assessed in 18-month-old rats. At the age of six months MUN males exhibited significantly higher blood pressure (anesthetized or tail-cuff) and plasma MMP-9 activity, while MUN females did not exhibit significant differences, compared to sex-matched controls. MRA from 6-month-old MUN males and females showed a smaller diameter, reduced adventitial, smooth muscle cell density and IEL fenestra area, and a leftward shift of stress-strain curves. At the age of eighteen months SBP and MMP-9 activity were higher in both MUN males and females, compared to sex-matched controls. These data suggest that fetal undernutrition induces MRA inward eutrophic remodeling and stiffness in both sexes, independent of blood pressure level. Resistance artery structural and mechanical alterations can participate in the development of hypertension in aged females and may contribute to adverse cardiovascular events associated with low birth weight in both sexesThis research was funded by Ministerio de Ciencia, Inovación y Universidades (Spain), grant number RTI2018-097504-B-I0

Sex differences in placental protein expression and efficiency in a rat model of fetal programming induced by maternal undernutrition

Fetal undernutrition programs cardiometabolic diseases, with higher susceptibility in males. The mechanisms implicated are not fully understood and may be related to sex differences in placental adaptation. To evaluate this hypothesis, we investigated placental oxidative balance, vascularization, glucocorticoid barrier, and fetal growth in rats exposed to 50% global nutrient re-striction from gestation day 11 (MUN, n = 8) and controls (n = 8). At gestation day 20 (G20), we analyzed maternal, placental, and fetal weights; oxidative damage, antioxidants, corticosterone, and PlGF (placental growth factor, spectrophotometry); and VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), 11β-HSD2, p22phox, XO, SOD1, SOD2, SOD3, catalase, and UCP2 expression (Western blot). Compared with controls, MUN dams exhibited lower weight and plasma proteins and higher corticosterone and catalase without oxidative damage. Control male fetuses were larger than female fetuses. MUN males had higher plasma corticosterone and were smaller than control males, but had similar weight than MUN females. MUN male placenta showed higher XO and lower 11β-HSD2, VEGF, SOD2, catalase, UCP2, and feto-placental ratio than controls. MUN females had similar feto-placental ratio and plasma corticosterone than controls. Female placenta expressed lower XO, 11β-HSD2, and SOD3; similar VEGF, SOD1, SOD2, and UCP2; and higher catalase than controls, being 11β-HSD2 and VEGF higher compared to MUN males. Male placenta has worse adaptation to un-dernutrition with lower efficiency, associated with oxidative disbalance and reduced vasculariza-tion and glucocorticoid barrier. Glucocorticoids and low nutrients may both contribute to programming in MUN malesThis research was funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Spain), grant number RTI2018-097504-B-I00, cofinanced with FEDER funds and by the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University (Thailand), grant number KKU:0514.7.I.12-194

Adverse events related to central venous catheters (CVC) and the influence of CVC characteristics on peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitor cell collection in children

Introduction: The use of peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) as a source for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in pediatric healthy donors is still under debate. The risk of a central venous catheter (CVC) placement and catheter-related complications continue to be the main arguments to discourage its use. Methods: we present a retrospective analysis of 140 PBPC collections in pediatric patients and donors, describing adverse events (AE) related to CVCs as well as the influence of catheterrelated variables on the efficiency of the leukapheresis. Results: 14 CVC-related AEs were recorded (10%). The most common was fever in 5 patients, 4 of which had a catheter-related bacteriemia. Thrombotic events were only observed in 3 patients with active malignancy. A healthy donor presented a moderate bleeding after catheter withdrawal that resolved with local measures, and none of the rest presented any AE. Regarding variables related to the development of AEs, the subject group (patient or donor) was the only one significantly associated (p < 0.0001). Of interest, efficiency was also related to catheter location, being worse in those located in the femoral vein than in into the jugular or the subclavian veins (p < 0.05). In a multivariate analysis, the only variable significantly associated was catheter size (beta 0.238, p < 0.01). Discussion: Placing a CVC for PBPC collection in pediatric subjects is overall safe; CVC-related complications in pediatric healthy donors are very rare. Furthermore, we should try to place catheters of the largest caliber possible, since the efficiency of the collection is related to this variabl

A Multiple-Choice Maze-like Spatial Navigation Task for Humans Implemented in a Real-Space, Multipurpose Circular Arena

Spatial navigation is a key aspect of human behavior and it is still not completely understood. A number of experimental approaches exist, although most of the published data in the last decades have relied on virtual maze on-screen simulation or not-completely freely moving 3D devices. Some interesting recent developments, such as circular mazes, have contributed to analyze critical aspects of freely moving human spatial navigation in real space, although dedicated protocols only allow for simple approaches. Here, we have developed both specifically designed and home-assembled hardware equipment, and a customized protocol for spatial navigation evaluation in freely moving humans in a real space circular arena. The spatial navigation protocol poses an imitation of a real-space multiple-choice path maze with cul-de-sac and instances of non-linear movement. We have compared the results of this system to those of a number of validated, both virtual and real, spatial navigation tests in a group of participants. The system composed by hardware, the test protocol, and dedicated measure analysis designed in our laboratory allows us to evaluate human spatial navigation in a complex maze with a small and portable structure, yielding a highly flexible, adaptable, and versatile access to information about the subjects’ spatial navigation abilities

Localización y replanteo de lotes

Cartilla que muestra paso a paso el método correcto y adecuado para hacer el replanteo de la vivienda y obtener una casa con buenas bases.Cartilla que muestra paso a paso el método correcto y adecuado para hacer el replanteo de la vivienda y obtener una casa con buenas bases.Localización y replanteo de una vivienda -- Replantear definición y pasos -- Normas de seguridadnaCartillas del bloque obra negra: 1. Conocimientos básicos de aritmética y Geometría; 2. Herramientas y equipos; 3. Materiales de construcción; 4. Mezclas; 5. Bloques prefabricados; 6. Construcción de caseta y programación de obra; 7. Cómo puede usted entender un plano?; 8. Localización y replanteo de lotes 9. Excavaciones; 10. Cimentaciones; 11. Desagües y cajas de inspección; 12. Sobrecimientos; 13. Muros A; 14. Muros B; 15. Estructuras superiores; 16. Entrepisos; 17. Escaleras; 18. CubiertasDocumento sin fecha, se aproxima fecha a la serie.Documento producto de la Campaña de Instrucción Nacional (Camina)29 página

Implication of RAS in Postnatal Cardiac Remodeling, Fibrosis and Dysfunction Induced by Fetal Undernutrition

Fetal undernutrition is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Male offspring from rats exposed to undernutrition during gestation (MUN) exhibit oxidative stress during perinatal life and develop cardiac dysfunction in ageing. Angiotensin-II is implicated in oxidative stress-mediated cardiovascular fibrosis and remodeling, and lactation is a key developmental window. We aimed to assess if alterations in RAS during lactation participate in cardiac dysfunction associated with fetal undernutrition. Control dams received food ad libitum, and MUN had 50% nutrient restriction during the second half of gestation. Both dams were fed ad libitum during lactation, and male offspring were studied at weaning. We assessed: ventricular structure and function (echocardiography); blood pressure (intra-arterially, anesthetized rats); collagen content and intramyocardial artery structure (Sirius red, Masson Trichromic); myocardial and intramyocardial artery RAS receptors (immunohistochemistry); plasma angiotensin-II (ELISA) and TGF-β1 protein expression (Western Blot). Compared to Control, MUN offspring exhibited significantly higher plasma Angiotensin-II and a larger left ventricular mass, as well as larger intramyocardial artery media/lumen, interstitial collagen and perivascular collagen. In MUN hearts, TGF-β1 tended to be higher, and the end-diastolic diameter and E/A ratio were significantly lower with no differences in ejection fraction or blood pressure. In the myocardium, no differences between groups were detected in AT1, AT2 or Mas receptors, with MrgD being significantly lower in the MUN group. In intramyocardial arteries from MUN rats, AT1 and Mas receptors were significantly elevated, while AT2 and MrgD were lower compared to Control. Conclusions. In rats exposed to fetal undernutrition, RAS disbalance and associated cardiac remodeling during lactation may set the basis for later heart dysfunction

Remdesivir in Very Old Patients (≥80 Years) Hospitalized with COVID-19: Real World Data from the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry

Background: Large cohort studies of patients with COVID-19 treated with remdesivir have reported improved clinical outcomes, but data on older patients are scarce. Objective: This work aims to assess the potential benefit of remdesivir in unvaccinated very old patients hospitalized with COVID-19; (2) Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients >= 80 years hospitalized in Spain between 15 July and 31 December 2020 (SEMI-COVID-19 Registry). Differences in 30-day all-cause mortality were adjusted using a multivariable regression analysis. (3) Results: Of the 4331 patients admitted, 1312 (30.3%) were >= 80 years. Very old patients treated with remdesivir (n: 140, 10.7%) had a lower mortality rate than those not treated with remdesivir (OR (95% CI): 0.45 (0.29-0.69)). After multivariable adjustment by age, sex, and variables associated with lower mortality (place of COVID-19 acquisition; degree of dependence; comorbidities; dementia; duration of symptoms; admission qSOFA; chest X-ray; D-dimer; and treatment with corticosteroids, tocilizumab, beta-lactams, macrolides, and high-flow nasal canula oxygen), the use of remdesivir remained associated with a lower 30-day all-cause mortality rate (adjusted OR (95% CI): 0.40 (0.22-0.61) (p < 0.001)). (4) Conclusions: Remdesivir may reduce mortality in very old patients hospitalized with COVID-19