Expression of early growth response gene-2 and regulated cytokines correlate with recovery from Guillain-Barré syndrome

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an immune-mediated peripheral neuropathy. The goal of this research was the identification of biomarkers associated with recovery from GBS. In this study, we compared the transcriptome of PBMCs from a GBS patient and her healthy twin to discover possible correlates of disease progression and recovery. The study was then extended using GBS and spinal cord injury unrelated patients with similar medications and healthy individuals. The early growth response gene-2 (EGR2) was upregulated in GBS patients during disease recovery. The results provided evidence for the implication of EGR2 in GBS and suggested a role for EGR2 in the regulation of IL-17, IL-22, IL-28A, and TNF-ß cytokines in GBS patients. These results identified biomarkers associated with GBS recovery and suggested that EGR2 overexpression has a pivotal role in the downregulation of cytokines implicated in the pathophysiology of this acute neuropathy.This work was supported partially by European Union Framework Program 7 Antigone Project 278976. L.M.-H. was supported by a fellowship from the University of Castilla La Mancha (UCLM). M.V. was supported by the research plan of the UCLM.Peer Reviewe

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Quantitative proteomics reveals Piccolo as a candidate serological correlate of recovery from Guillain-Barré syndrome

Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune-mediated peripheral neuropathy of unknown cause. However, about a quarter of GBS patients have suffered a recent bacterial or viral infection, and axonal forms of the disease are especially common in these patients. Proteomics is a good methodological approach for the discovery of disease biomarkers. Until recently, most proteomics studies of GBS and other neurodegenerative diseases have focused on the analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). However, serum represents an attractive alternative to CSF because it is easier to sample and has potential for biomarker discovery. The goal of this research was the identification of serum biomarkers associated with recovery from GBS. To address this objective, a quantitative proteomics approach was used to characterize differences in the serum proteome between a GBS patient and her healthy identical twin in order to lessen variations due to differences in genetic background, and with additional serum samples collected from unrelated GBS (N = 3) and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) (N = 3) patients with similar medications. Proteomics results were then validated by ELISA using sera from additional GBS patients (N = 5) and healthy individuals (N = 3). All GBS and SCI patients were recovering from the acute phase of the disease. The results showed that Piccolo, a protein that is essential in the maintenance of active zone structure, constitutes a potential serological correlate of recovery from GBS. These results provided the first evidence for the Piccolo's putative role in GBS, suggesting a candidate target for developing a serological marker of disease recovery.This work was partially supported by EU FP7 ANTIGONE project number 278976. LMH was supported by a fellowship from the University of Castilla La Mancha (UCLM), Spain. MV was supported by the Research Plan of UCLM, Spain.Peer reviewe

Todos muy capaces

El trabajo obtuvo un Premio Tomás García Verdejo a las buenas prácticas educativas en la Comunidad Autónoma de Extremadura para el curso académico 2015/2016. Modalidad BSe describe un proyecto llevado a cabo con alumnos de 4º de diversificación y 2º de Formación Profesional Básica del IES Bioclimático de Badajoz, que consistió en realizar diversas actividades con la asociación Aspaceba (Asociación de Parálisis Cerebral de Badajoz) y que tuvo como objetivos principales que los alumnos se informase sobre la discapacidad en general y sobre la parálisis cerebral en particular, que se acercaran al mundo de la discapacidad superarando las barreras físicas y psicológicas, que conociesen los aspectos positivos y las necesidades de apoyo y recursos de las personas con discapacidad, que trabajasen la empatía y el respeto como mecanismo para entender sentimientos y vivencias de los demás y que rechazaran situciones de injusticia hacia personas con alguna discapacidadAndalucíaES

La esclavitud en el siglo XXI. Solidaridad y voluntariado

Convocatoria Proyectos de innovación de Extremadura 2018/2019Se describe un proyecto llevado a cabo en el IES Zurbarán (Badajoz) en el que se reflexiona sobre las distintas formas de explotación que se dan en la sociedad actual y la respuesta que puede dar la solidaridad y el voluntariado a estas situaciones. El tema se aborda desde distintas áreas convirtiéndolo en un proyecto transversal. Los objetivos principales del proyecto fueron: conocer la realidad para crear una ciudadanía consciente, crítica y comprometida; fomentar la participación para crear iniciativas de cambio y alternativas para un mundo más justo e igualitario; desarrollar la empatía; favorecer el pensamiento crítico; mejorar la inteligencia emocional y social; fomentar el respeto a los demás valorando la identidad propia y posibilitar la transformación personalExtremaduraES