Cuatro enterramientos calcolíticos en hoyo del Cerro de la Cabeza (Ávila)

This paper presents a thorough description of four pit burials dated to the Copper Age and recovered during the rescueexcavation of a pit site. The lot consists of a multiple pit burial containing six individuals with clear proofs of violenceplus three other single pit burials. The inhumation was the funerary treatment followed in all cases and proofs of secondaryburial have been also documented. Data on material culture, physical anthropology, paleopathology, palaeodiet,archaeopalinology and radiocarbon dating of the human remains are included for each burial pit. The paper proposesan overall archaeological interpretation of these funerary testimonies in their cultural context. Their probable extraordinarycharacter is highlighted, as relegated burial cases at the margins of the everyday normative mortuary rules.En este trabajo se describen en detalle las cuatro fosas funerarias de época calcolítica descubiertas en un campo dehoyos objeto de una excavación de urgencia. Se trata de una fosa múltiple con seis individuos con claras pruebas deviolencia y tres fosas individuales. En todos los casos se practicó la inhumación de los cadáveres, y se recuperaronindicios claros de enterramientos secundarios en alguna de sus formas posibles. Se presentan de forma individualizadalos resultados obtenidos de cada fosa, incluyendo información sobre los restos de cultura material hallados en el rellenojunto a la ofrecida por los estudios de antropología física, paleopatología, paleodieta, arqueopalinología y las cincodataciones de radiocarbono obtenidas de los restos humanos. Por último, se interpretan estos testimonios en el marcocultural de su época, insistiéndose en su consideración de enterramientos extraordinarios o de relegación, al margende la pauta funeraria normativa

Mitochondrial DNA in Osteoarthritis Disease

[Abstract] Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most prevalent chronic joint disease, and we actually know that the activation of maladaptive responses to injury, including pro-inflammatory pathways, leads to the loss of normal joint function characterized by cartilage degradation, bone remodeling, osteophyte formation, and joint inflammation [1]. Recent insights into the epidemiology and impact of OA on patients have clearly established that OA is a severe disease of the whole joint as an organ, with large unmet medical needs. OA has a complex etiology that comprises the combination of multiple factors, including gender, age, occupation, trauma, body mass index, and genetics. Approximately, between 30 and 65% of the risk of OA is genetically determined [2] with evidence accumulated from different genome-wide association studies (GWAS) [3]. Most of these studies focused on nuclear genetic variants; however, over the last decade, evidence has accumulated for an association between specific mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) genetic variants, called haplogroups, and different OA-related features, including prevalence, progression, and incidence [4].Instituto de Salud Carlos III; CIBERCB06/01/0040Instituto de Salud Carlos III; RETIC-RIER-RD16/0012/0002Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PRB2-ISCIII-PT17/0019/0014Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI14/01254Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI16/02124Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI17/0021

Mitochondria and Mitophagy: Biosensors for Cartilage Degradation and Osteoarthritis

Editoria

Integración de las construcciones rurales en el paisaje: encuestas y conclusiones

Design and integration of rural buildings in landscape: surveys and conclusions. The visual and aesthetic aspect of any object is defined by its characteristics of colour, form, line and texture. Any elements of compositive reference such as its scale and spatial character could also be added. This research applies a new method for predicting the value of the integration of buildings into the landscape, based on psychological aspects and the capacities of modern computers that are able to analyse easily these attributes. The designer can analyse the visual elements, all of them divided and studied in the properties that define them

Hydrogen sulfide and inflammatory joint diseases

[Abstract] Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are widespread rheumatic diseases characterized by persistent inflammation and joint destruction. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is an endogenous gas with important physiologic functions in the brain, vasculature and other organs. Recent studies have found H2S to be a mediator in inflammatory joint diseases. Objective: This review summarizes the recent literature in this area highlighting relevant developments. Conclusions: Several authors have found that H2S exhibited anti-inflammatory, anti-catabolic and/or anti-oxidant effects in rodent models of acute arthritis and in in vitro models using human synoviocytes and articular chondrocytes from RA and OA tissues. The earliest studies used fast-dissolving salts, such as NaSH, but GYY4137, which produces H2S more physiologically, shortly appeared. More recently still, new H2S-forming compounds that target mitochondria have been synthesized. These compounds open exciting opportunities for investigating the role of H2S in cell bioenergetics, typically altered in arthritides. Positive results have also been obtained when H2S is administered as a sulphurous water bath, an option meriting further study. These findings suggest that exogenous supplementation of H2S may provide a viable therapeutic option for these diseases, particularly in OA

Impairment of hydrogen sulfide synthesis in chondrocytes under high glucose environment: a link between type 2 diabetes and osteoarthritis

Poster presentatio

What did we learn from 'omics' studies in osteoarthritis

Review article[Abstract] Purpose of review: 'Omics' technologies developed for the massive analysis of the major biologically relevant molecules (genes, proteins, metabolites) have been applied to the study of osteoarthritis (OA) for more than a decade. Recent findings: 'Omics' studies have undoubtedly contributed to increase the knowledge on pathogenic processes related with OA and have provided hundreds to thousands of molecules that might have a putative biomarker utility for this disease. Summary: This review describes the most recent 'omics' studies in OA research, their conclusions, and discuss those remaining challenges. Still many validation studies must be performed in large and well-characterized cohorts for the translation of the findings from 'omics' strategies to clinical applications. The development of tools for the intelligent integration of 'omics' data with clinical and imaging information is also mandatory to take full profit of the work that has been already performed.Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI14/01707Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI14/01254Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PI16/02124Instituto de Salud Carlos III; CIBERCB06/ 01/0040Instituto de Salud Carlos III; RETIC-RIER-RD12/0009/0018Instituto de Salud Carlos III; PT13/000

Methodological Approach and Technological Framework to Break the Current Limitations of MOOC Model

[EN]A methodological approach and technological framework are proposed to improve learning outcomes in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs), taking into account the distinguishing features of this kind of massive courses over traditional online courses. The proposed methodology integrates the learning strategies of xMOOCs and cMOOCs with adaptivity and knowledge management capabilities. In order to test the learning results of the methodology and the need of supporting technological framework for it, a MOOC was made based on the methodological proposal and using a MOOC platform called MiríadaX. The quantitative results have improved considerably the MOOC completion rate (compared to the average of the rest of MOOC MiríadaX) and the qualitative results show a great satisfaction with the learning outcomes of the learners. However, the technological environment did not allow us develop all the methodological capabilities and it was one of the main concerns of the MOOC attendances. Therefore, from the analysis of collected data and considering the limitations of current MOOC technology platforms, a technological framework has been designed. It may incorporate the proposed methodology in an efficient and effective way. Based on this proposed technological framework, a MOOC platform has been developed and delivered, used by three Spanish Universities to offer MOOCs. This new platform and the supported technological framework have been tested with a first pilot with promising result