Gamificación en la asignatura de Química

En este trabajo se recogen los resultados más relevantes de la aplicación de la técnica de gamificación como un complemento en el aprendizaje de la asignatura de Química que se imparte en el primer semestre (primer curso) de todos los grados impartidos en la Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería y Diseño Industrial (ETSIDI). Esta metodología se ha implementado durante la realización de las Acciones Cooperativas, que todos los estudiantes realizan durante el curso, en el caso de que decidan cursar la asignatura mediante evaluación continua. La metodología ha estado basada principalmente en la realización de diferentes tipos de cuestionarios resueltos en grupos de 5-6 estudiantes, con el fin de comprobar si habían entendido los conceptos tratados hasta la fecha. Las herramientas empleadas para llevar a cabo esta metodología se han desarrollado con un alto grado de participación y han sido altamente valoradas por los estudiantes. Hay que destacar, que los estudiantes que participaron en esta experiencia superaron el curso de manera satisfactoria

Gamificación como complemento para el aprendizaje en Química Orgánica

En este trabajo se recogen los resultados más relevantes de la aplicación de la técnica de gamificación como un complemento en el aprendizaje de la asignatura de Química Inorgánica y Orgánica que se imparte en el cuarto semestre (segundo curso) del grado en Ingeniería Química en la Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingeniería y Diseño Industrial (E.T.S.I.D.I.). En concreto, la metodología de aprendizaje basada en gamificación que se ha empleado consiste en la realización de cuestionarios con el fin de que los estudiantes adquieran los conocimientos necesarios de Química Orgánica. Los cuestionarios fueron colgados en la plataforma Moodle y servían de apoyo a los estudiantes. La experiencia se repitió en dos ocasiones: el primer cuestionario se realizó antes del primer examen y el segundo cuestionario se realizó antes del tercer y último examen de la evaluación continua. Gracias a la utilización de esta herramienta, muchos de los estudiantes han superado el curso con éxito y la valoración que ellos han hecho sobre la misma ha resultado altamente satisfactoria

Assessing the brain through the eye: New ways to explore hepatic encephalopathy

Minimal hepatic encephalopathy (mHE) has been shown to affect daily functioning, quality of life, driving and overall mortality. However, little is known about treating or diagnosing early impairments in mHE. We studied one of its precipitating factors, portal hypertension which is driving the inflammatory process behind mHE. The purpose was to describe an indirect diagnostic method able to detect the pathology at early stages based on the study of the vascularization and mast cells conjunctival hyperplasia as secondary inflammatory response associated to portal hypertension. Finally, we correlated the presence of histological changes in the eye in mHE with deficits in behavioral task acquisition.Rats were trained on a stimulus-response task and a spatial working memory task using the Morris water maze. Two groups of animals were used: a SHAM (sham-operated) group (n=10) and a portal hypertension (HT) group (n=10). The triple portal vein ligation method was used to create an animal model of mHE. Latencies to reach the platform, number of glial fibrillary acidic protein-immunoreactive astrocytes (GFAP-IR), mast cell expression and presence/absence of blood and lymphatic vessels were examined.There were differences in stimulus-response behavioral performance, with a deficit in the acquisition in the HT group. However, no differences between groups were found on the spatial working memory task. At the same time, differences between groups were found in the GFAP-IR density, which was lower in the HT group, and in the number of mast cells and the presence of vessels, which were higher in the HT group.In this study, we provide the first preliminary insight into the validity of exploring the eye as a possible tool to assess the diagnosis of mHE conditions

Phase II Randomized, Double-Masked, Vehicle-Controlled Trial of Recombinant Human Nerve Growth Factor for Neurotrophic Keratitis

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of topical recombinant human nerve growth factor (rhNGF) for treating moderate-to-severe neurotrophic keratitis (NK), a rare degenerative corneal disease resulting from impaired corneal innervation. Design: Phase II multicenter, randomized, double-masked, vehicle-controlled trial. Participants: Patients with stage 2 (moderate) or stage 3 (severe) NK in 1 eye. Methods: The REPARO phase II study assessed safety and efficacy in 156 patients randomized 1:1:1 to rhNGF 10 \u3bcg/ml, 20 \u3bcg/ml, or vehicle. Treatment was administered 6 drops per day for 8 weeks. Patients then entered a 48- or 56-week follow-up period. Safety was assessed in all patients who received study treatment, whereas efficacy was by intention to treat. Main Outcome Measures: Corneal healing (defined as <0.5-mm maximum diameter of fluorescein staining in the lesion area) was assessed by masked central readers at week 4 (primary efficacy end point) and week 8 (key secondary end point) of controlled treatment. Corneal healing was reassessed post hoc by masked central readers using a more conservative measure (0-mm staining in the lesion area and no other persistent staining). Results: At week 4 (primary end point), 19.6% of vehicle-treated patients achieved corneal healing (<0.5-mm lesion staining) versus 54.9% receiving rhNGF 10 \u3bcg/ml (+35.3%; 97.06% confidence interval [CI], 15.88\u201354.71; P < 0.001) and 58.0% receiving rhNGF 20 \u3bcg/ml (+38.4%; 97.06% CI, 18.96\u201357.83; P < 0.001). At week 8 (key secondary end point), 43.1% of vehicle-treated patients achieved less than 0.5-mm lesion staining versus 74.5% receiving rhNGF 10 \u3bcg/ml (+31.4%; 97.06% CI, 11.25\u201351.49; P = 0.001) and 74.0% receiving rhNGF 20 \u3bcg/ml (+30.9%; 97.06% CI, 10.60\u201351.13; P = 0.002). Post hoc analysis of corneal healing by the more conservative measure (0-mm lesion staining and no other persistent staining) maintained statistically significant differences between rhNGF and vehicle at weeks 4 and 8. More than 96% of patients who healed after controlled rhNGF treatment remained recurrence free during follow-up. Treatment with rhNGF was well tolerated; adverse effects were mostly local, mild, and transient. Conclusions: Topical rhNGF is safe and more effective than vehicle in promoting healing of moderate-to-severe NK

COVAD survey 2 long-term outcomes: unmet need and protocol

Vaccine hesitancy is considered a major barrier to achieving herd immunity against COVID-19. While multiple alternative and synergistic approaches including heterologous vaccination, booster doses, and antiviral drugs have been developed, equitable vaccine uptake remains the foremost strategy to manage pandemic. Although none of the currently approved vaccines are live-attenuated, several reports of disease flares, waning protection, and acute-onset syndromes have emerged as short-term adverse events after vaccination. Hence, scientific literature falls short when discussing potential long-term effects in vulnerable cohorts. The COVAD-2 survey follows on from the baseline COVAD-1 survey with the aim to collect patient-reported data on the long-term safety and tolerability of COVID-19 vaccines in immune modulation. The e-survey has been extensively pilot-tested and validated with translations into multiple languages. Anticipated results will help improve vaccination efforts and reduce the imminent risks of COVID-19 infection, especially in understudied vulnerable groups

Effects of hospital facilities on patient outcomes after cancer surgery: an international, prospective, observational study

Background Early death after cancer surgery is higher in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared with in high-income countries, yet the impact of facility characteristics on early postoperative outcomes is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hospital infrastructure, resource availability, and processes on early outcomes after cancer surgery worldwide.Methods A multimethods analysis was performed as part of the GlobalSurg 3 study-a multicentre, international, prospective cohort study of patients who had surgery for breast, colorectal, or gastric cancer. The primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and 30-day major complication rates. Potentially beneficial hospital facilities were identified by variable selection to select those associated with 30-day mortality. Adjusted outcomes were determined using generalised estimating equations to account for patient characteristics and country-income group, with population stratification by hospital.Findings Between April 1, 2018, and April 23, 2019, facility-level data were collected for 9685 patients across 238 hospitals in 66 countries (91 hospitals in 20 high-income countries; 57 hospitals in 19 upper-middle-income countries; and 90 hospitals in 27 low-income to lower-middle-income countries). The availability of five hospital facilities was inversely associated with mortality: ultrasound, CT scanner, critical care unit, opioid analgesia, and oncologist. After adjustment for case-mix and country income group, hospitals with three or fewer of these facilities (62 hospitals, 1294 patients) had higher mortality compared with those with four or five (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 3.85 [95% CI 2.58-5.75]; p<0.0001), with excess mortality predominantly explained by a limited capacity to rescue following the development of major complications (63.0% vs 82.7%; OR 0.35 [0.23-0.53]; p<0.0001). Across LMICs, improvements in hospital facilities would prevent one to three deaths for every 100 patients undergoing surgery for cancer.Interpretation Hospitals with higher levels of infrastructure and resources have better outcomes after cancer surgery, independent of country income. Without urgent strengthening of hospital infrastructure and resources, the reductions in cancer-associated mortality associated with improved access will not be realised