Microcystin influence on soil-plant microbiota: Unraveling microbiota modulations and assembly processes in the rhizosphere of Vicia faba

Microcystins (MCs) are frequently detected in cyanobacterial bloom-impacted waterbodies and introduced into agroecosystems via irrigation water. They are widely known as phytotoxic cyanotoxins, which impair the growth and physiological functions of crop plants. However, their impact on the plant-associated microbiota is scarcely tackled and poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the effect of MCs on microbiota-inhabiting bulk soil (BS), root adhering soil (RAS), and root tissue (RT) of Vicia faba when exposed to 100 μg L-1 MCs in a greenhouse pot experiment. Under MC exposure, the structure, co-occurrence network, and assembly processes of the bacterial microbiota were modulated with the greatest impact on RT-inhabiting bacteria, followed by BS and, to a lesser extent, RAS. The analyses revealed a significant decrease in the abundances of several Actinobacteriota-related taxa within the RT microbiota, including the most abundant and known genus of Streptomyces. Furthermore, MCs significantly increased the abundance of methylotrophic bacteria (Methylobacillus, Methylotenera) and other Proteobacteria-affiliated genera (e.g., Paucibacter), which are supposed to degrade MCs. The co-occurrence network of the bacterial community in the presence of MCs was less complex than the control network. In MC-exposed RT, the turnover in community composition was more strongly driven by deterministic processes, as proven by the beta-nearest taxon index. Whereas in MC-treated BS and RAS, both deterministic and stochastic processes can influence community assembly to some extent, with a relative dominance of deterministic processes. Altogether, these results suggest that MCs may reshape the structure of the microbiota in the soil-plant system by reducing bacterial taxa with potential phytobeneficial traits and increasing other taxa with the potential capacity to degrade MCs.

Microbiologically influenced corrosion on naval carbon steel inside the hull of tugboats: a case study of prevention and control

Microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) has a significant cost to many industries, including naval engineering. In this case-of-study, three tugboats developed pitting corrosion in the carbon steel of the inner hulls. Grade A naval steel was used for the hull sheets but the inner side (corroded) showed only two protective layers of paint. The maintenance employed seawater, which ended up in the bilge and made MIC possible. Bilge's waters were submitted to physicochemical, biological and molecular tests. DNA analyses confirmed the presence of Pseudomonas spp. and Desulfovibrio spp. in water samples and, consequently, a MIC mechanism was proposed to explain the corrosion process. In addition, a biocide treatment was evaluated and a new maintenance protocol was recommended. This work highlights the importance of the engineering design to prevent MIC in marine transports and provides some guidelines to treat it.

Strengthening National Public Health: first steps towards the Spanish Public Health Agency

Issue/Problem

The social, ecological, health and economic crisis exacerbated by COVID-19 is a challenge of extraordinary magnitude and complexity for global public health. Part of the response to these challenges requires strong public health institutions.

Description of the problem

Component 18 of the Government of Spain’s Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan proposes the creation of a Spanish Agency of Public Health (SAPH), a centre of excellence to perform surveillance and health system preparedness functions in the face of new or emerging public health threats. The government has opened the debate on what design and functions it should have.

Results

SESPAS, the Spanish Society of Public Health and Public Administration, set out a proposal for the design and organization of the future Spanish Agency for Public Health [SAPH]. A large working group, made up of experts from various fields of public health and from its ten federated scientific societies, has designed the SAPH proposal. The scope of the public health functions to be assumed include: the strategic planning of the State’s public health (including health security), the prioritisation of public health policies and communication strategies, the assessment of the population’s health status and social conditions, the guarantee of the transversality and horizontality of health policies (health and health equity in all State policies), as well as their verticality (serving as an enriching link between the European Union level and the administrations of the Autonomous Communities and local authorities). The proposal also include 11 recommendations on the main elements to be taken into account in the establishment of the future SAPH.

Lessons

COVID19 pandemic has highlighted the need of creating strong public health institutions. Spain is giving its first steps toward the creation of the SAPH, which constitute a key step in addressing the current and future challenges of public health in Spain.

Key messages

• Spanish Public Health Agency is an opportunity to transform health policies and to improve the health of the Spanish population.

• Strengthening public health starts with building national institutions that ensure comprehensive and integrated health policies.

An integrative review of the implementation of public health guidelines

•

The evidence on public health guidelines implementation is scarce.

•

Most implementation of public health guidelines centres on individuals’ behaviour.

•

Most evaluations of public health guidelines focus on barriers to implementation.

Health guidelines are important tools to ensure that health practices are evidence-based. However, research on how these guidelines are implemented is scarce. This integrative review aimed to: identify the literature on evaluation of public health guidelines implementation to explore (a) the topics which public health guidelines being implemented and evaluated in their implementation process are targeting; (b) how public health guidelines are being translated into action and the potential barriers and facilitators to their implementation; and (c) which methods are being used to evaluate their implementation. A total of 2001 articles published since 2000 and related to both clinical and public health guidelines implementation was identified through searching four databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus). After screening titles and abstracts, only 10 papers related to public health guidelines implementation, and after accessing full-text, 8 were included in the narrative synthesis. Data were extracted on: topic and context, implementation process, barriers and facilitators, and evaluation methods used, and were then synthesised in a narrative form using a thematic synthesis approach. Most of these studies focussed on individual behaviours and targeted specific settings. The evaluation of implementation processes included qualitative, quantitative and mixed-methods. The few articles retrieved suggest that evidence is still limited and highly context specific, and further research on translating public health guidelines into practice is needed.

[Addictions to information and communication technologies in Comunitat Valenciana (Spain), 2018-2020]

OBJECTIVE

To describe the sociodemographic profile of the people treated for addiction to information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the addictive behavior units (ABU) of Comunitat Valenciana, Spain, in 2018-2020.

METHOD

Annual analysis and for the global period according to information collected in the ABU records.

RESULTS

219 registered cases, mostly men (87%), under 30 years of age (53%), with primary education or less (51%), and living with parents (57%). In the study period significant changes were observed in age (increase) and employment situation (more active workers). The COVID-19 pandemic's year (2020) accentuated or maintained previous trends.

CONCLUSIONS

The person treated for addiction to ICTs in Comunitat Valenciana is mostly male, under 30 years of age and with a primary education level or less, with a trend to increase in age and in proportion of active workers. Prevention should focus on these groups at higher risk.

[Future National Public Health Agency: an opportunity for the public health system in Spain]

The creation of a national centre for public health, with adequate resources, will make it possible to face the public health challenges of the present and the future in our country. To this end, the proposed state agency, should hold functions based on advanced public health organizational schemes, while linking with the sustainable development goals. The coordination of a national public health strategy built on a collaborative network of networks would also be essential, as developing an innovative, benchmarked and prioritised public health communication strategy, among other tasks. The lack of resources, the current relative disconnection of essential public health functions at the state level, and the inequity in their development of these functions at the regional and municipal levels, favour the development of the agency project as a network of networks. In this paper we give ideas for a process that seems decisive for Spanish public health in the 21st century.

[The full (and necessary) integration of Occupational Health into Public Health.]

The COVID-19 pandemic is clearly showing the importance for the surveillance and protection of human health of acting in all settings of life: family, community, education, leisure or work, among others, as well as addressing the multiple determinants that influence the health and well-being of the population: demographic, healthcare, environmental, social, eco-nomic, cultural or occupational, among others. With respect to occupational health and the work-related determinants of health, the potential of occupational health services acting at the company level is clear, and could be generalized to almost any public health action setting. This article reflects on the opportunities for coordination between the occupational health system in Spain (including resources from mutual insurance companies, companies themselves and administrations) and the public health system, including both health care (primary care, hospital) and public health services. We examine this in the context of health crises, like the present one, but also with a broader vision, commensurate with the necessary comprehensive care for human health, guaranteeing health as a fundamental and universal right in all life circumstances. To advance along these lines, we propose the incorporation of the "occupational health perspective" in all actions and services of the public healthcare system, especially with respect to public health services under the purview of the health administration.

Seasonal changes dominate long-term variability of the urban air microbiome across space and time

Compared to soil or aquatic ecosystems, the atmosphere is still an underexplored environment for microbial diversity. In this study, we surveyed the composition, variability and sources of microbes (bacteria and fungi) in the near surface atmosphere of a highly populated area, spanning ~ 4,000 Km² around the city center of Madrid (Spain), in different seasonal periods along two years. We found a core of abundant bacterial genera robust across space and time, most of soil origin, while fungi were more sensitive to environmental conditions. Microbial communities showed clear seasonal patterns driven by variability of environmental factors, mainly temperature and accumulated rain, while local sources played a minor role. We also identified taxa in both groups characteristic of seasonal periods, but not of specific sampling sites or plant coverage. The present study suggests that the near surface atmosphere of urban environments contains an ecosystem stable across relatively large spatial and temporal scales, with a rather homogenous composition, modulated by climatic variations. As such, it contributes to our understanding of the long-term changes associated to the human exposome in the air of highly populated areas.

Assessment and statistical modelling of airborne microorganisms in Madrid

The limited evidence available suggests that the interaction between chemical pollutants and biological particles may intensify respiratory diseases caused by air pollution in urban areas. Unlike air pollutants, which are routinely measured, records of biotic component are scarce. While pollen concentrations are daily surveyed in most cities, data related to airborne bacteria or fungi are not usually available. This work presents the first effort to understand atmospheric pollution integrating both biotic and abiotic agents, trying to identify relationships among the Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Ascomycota phyla with palynological, meteorological and air quality variables using all biological historical records available in the Madrid Greater Region. The tools employed involve statistical hypothesis contrast tests such as Kruskal-Wallis and machine learning algorithms. A cluster analysis was performed to analyse which abiotic variables were able to separate the biotic variables into groups. Significant relationships were found for temperature and relative humidity. In addition, the relative abundance of the biological phyla studied was affected by PM₁₀ and O₃ ambient concentration. Preliminary Generalized Additive Models (GAMs) to predict the biotic relative abundances based on these atmospheric variables were developed. The results (r = 0.70) were acceptable taking into account the scarcity of the available data. These models can be used as an indication of the biotic composition when no measurements are available. They are also a good starting point to continue working in the development of more accurate models and to investigate causal relationships.

Occupational Heat Exposure and Breast Cancer Risk in the MCC-Spain Study

BACKGROUND

Mechanisms linking occupational heat exposure with chronic diseases have been proposed. However, evidence on occupational heat exposure and cancer risk is limited.

METHODS

We evaluated occupational heat exposure and female breast cancer risk in a large Spanish case-control study. We enrolled 1,738 breast cancer cases and 1,910 frequency-matched population controls. A Spanish job-exposure matrix, MatEmEsp, was used to assign estimates of the proportion of workers exposed (P ≥ 25% for at least 1 year) and work time with heat stress (wet bulb globe temperature ISO 7243) for each occupation. We used three exposure indices: ever versus never exposed, lifetime cumulative exposure, and duration of exposure (years). We estimated ORs and 95% confidence intervals (CI), applying a lag period of 5 years and adjusting for potential confounders.

RESULTS

Ever occupational heat exposure was associated with a moderate but statistically significant higher risk of breast cancer (OR 1.22; 95% CI, 1.01-1.46), with significant trends across categories of lifetime cumulative exposure and duration (P _trend = 0.01 and 0.03, respectively). Stronger associations were found for hormone receptor-positive disease (OR ever exposure = 1.38; 95% CI, 1.12-1.67). We found no confounding effects from multiple other common occupational exposures; however, results attenuated with adjustment for occupational detergent exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides some evidence of an association between occupational heat exposure and female breast cancer risk.

IMPACT

Our results contribute substantially to the scientific literature. Further investigations are needed considering multiple occupational exposures.

Nanocomposite Materials with Poly(l-lactic Acid) and Transition-Metal Dichalcogenide Nanosheets 2D-TMDCs WS2

Layered transition-metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) based on tungsten disulfide nanosheets (2D-WS2) were introduced via melt processing into poly(l-lactic acid) (PLLA) to generate PLLA/2D-WS2 nanocomposite materials. The effects of the 2D-WS2 on the morphology, crystallization, and biodegradation behavior of PLLA were investigated. In particular, the non-isothermal melt-crystallization of neat PLLA and PLLA/2D-WS2 nanocomposites were analyzed in detail by varying both the cooling rate and 2D-WS2 loading. The kinetic parameters of PLLA chain crystallization are successfully described using the Liu model. It was found that the PLLA crystallization rate was reduced with 2D-WS2 incorporation, while the crystallization mechanism and crystal structure of PLLA remained unchanged in spite of nanoparticle loading. This was due to the PLLA chains not being able to easily adsorb on the WS2 nanosheets, hindering crystal growth. In addition, from surface morphology analysis, it was observed that the addition of 2D-WS2 facilitated the enzymatic degradation of poorly biodegradable PLLA using a promising strain of actinobacteria, Lentzea waywayandensis. The identification of more suitable enzymes to break down PLLA nanocomposites will open up new avenues of investigation and development, and it will also lead to more environmentally friendly, safer, and economic routes for bioplastic waste management.

Forecasting water demand across a rapidly urbanizing region

Urban growth and climate change together complicate planning efforts meant to adapt to increasingly scarce water supplies. Several studies have independently examined the impacts of urban planning and climate change on water demand, but little attention has been given to their combined impact. Here we forecast urban water demand using a Geographically Weighted Regression model informed by socio-economic, environmental and landscape pattern metrics. The purpose of our study is to evaluate how future scenarios of population densities and climate warming will jointly affect water demand across two rapidly growing U.S. states (North Carolina and South Carolina). Our forecasts indicate that regional water demand by 2065 will increase by 37%-383% relative to the baseline in 2010, across all scenarios of change. Our results show future water demand will increase under rising temperatures, but could be ameliorated by policies that promote higher density development and urban infill. These water-efficient land use policies show a 5% regional reduction in water demand and up to 25% reduction locally for counties with the highest expected population growth by 2065. For rural counties experiencing depopulation, the land use policies we considered are insufficient to significantly reduce water demand. For expanding communities seeking to increase their adaptive capacity to changing socio-environmental conditions, our framework can assist in developing sustainable solutions.

Neurocognitive reorganization of emotional processing following a socio-cognitive intervention in Colombian ex-combatants

Ex-combatants often exhibit atypical Emotional Processing (EP) such as reduced emphatic levels and higher aggressive attitudes. Social Cognitive Training (SCT) addressing socio-emotional components powerfully improve social interaction among Colombian ex-combatants. However, with narrow neural evidence, this study offers a new testimony. A sample of 28 ex-combatants from Colombian illegal armed groups took part in this study, split into 15 for SCT and 13 for the conventional program offered by the Governmental Reintegration Route. All of them were assessed before and after the intervention with a protocol that included an EP task synchronized with electroencephalographic recordings. We drew behavioral scores and brain connectivity (Coherency) metrics from task performance. Behavioral scores yielded no significant effects. Increased post-intervention connectivity in the delta band was observed during negative emotional processing only SCT group. Positive emotions exposed distinctive gamma band connectivity that differentiate groups. These results suggest that SCT can trigger covert neurofunctional reorganization in ex-combatants embarked on the reintegration process even when overt behavioral improvements are not yet apparent. Such covert functional changes may be the neural signature of compensatory mechanisms necessary to reshape behaviors adaptively. This novel framework may inspire cutting-edge translational research at the crossing of neuroscience, sociology, and public policy-making.

Comparative removal of emerging contaminants from aqueous solution by adsorption on an activated carbon

Batch sorption experiments were performed to study the adsorption of six emerging pollutants from aqueous solutions using a commercial granular activated carbon as adsorbent. Caffeine, clofibric acid, diclofenac, gallic acid, ibuprofen and salicylic acid were selected as representative contaminants. The activated carbon was characterized by nitrogen adsorption at 77 K, and through the determination of point of zero charge. The effects of several operational parameters, such as pH, initial concentration of organic molecules, mass of adsorbent and contact time, on the sorption behaviour were evaluated. The contact time to attain equilibrium for maximum adsorption was found to be 40 min. The kinetic data were correlated to several adsorption models, and the adsorption mechanism found to follow pseudo-second-order and intraparticle-diffusion models with external mass transfer predominating in the first 15 min of the experiment. The equilibrium adsorption data were analysed using the Freundlich, Langmuir and Toth isotherm equation models. The similar chemical structure and molecular weight of the organic pollutants studied to make the adsorption capacity of the activated carbon used very similar for all the molecules.

[Sociodemographic and occupational factors related to exposure to psychosocial risk factors by occupation in Spain. The MatEmESp Project.]

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study is to describe the level of exposure to psychosocial risk factors by occupation in the Spanish working population and analyze their relationship with sociodemographic characteristics and employment conditions.

METHODS

The Spanish Job-Exposure Matrix (MatEmESp) is used to describe the levels of exposure to psychosocial risk factors in 2005. We identified occupations with higher levels of exposure and analysed their relationship with employment conditions and sociodemographic characteristics.

RESULTS

Levels of exposure to work influence were below the midpoint (50, on a scale from 0 to 100); for work pace, they were slightly above ( =46.8 and =50.8, respectively). The highest levels of exposure were found in manual occupations; some skilled occupations were also associated with high insecurity (economists) and work pace (managers). As social class and education decreased, insecurity increased (rho = 0.45 and 0.38 respectively), and both co-worker support (rho=-0.46 y -0.48, respectively) and influence (rho=-0.73 y -0.63, respectively) decreased. As the proportion of foreigners increased, support and influence decreased (rho =-0.44 and -0.43, respectively). As the number of employees increased, work influence decreased (rho =-0.38). Increases in temporary contracts were associated with a decrease in co-worker support (rho =-0.34) and influence (rho =-0.53) and, as overtime increased, work influence increased (rho = 0.49).

CONCLUSION

This study confirms the presence of inequalities in exposure to psychosocial risk factors at work, depending on the occupation and the sociodemographic characteristics and employment conditions of the occupation performed.

[Proximal humeral resurfacing. Whats today indication?]

INTRODUCTION

Data published in the literature about humeral resurfacing prostheses are not conclusive with good functional results but with large differences in the revision rate. The aim of our study was to evaluate the clinical and functional outcomes in patients operated at our center.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective study of 19 cases in 18 patients. Follow-up of 31 (12-61) months. Surgery was indicated in cases of primary or secondary osteoarthritis. Demographic data, Constant scale, DASH questionnaire, complications and satisfaction were analyzed. Three patients were lost to follow-up due to death unrelated to surgery.

RESULTS

Mean age of 56 (25-80) years. Constant normalized of 73 (23-104) points. DASH questionnaire of 31 (7-84) points. Ninety four percent of the patients resumed their recreational activities and 81% sports activities. In seven cases, inferior conflict in the glenoid with varus implant was observed radiologically. There were five complications; a conservatively resolved capsulitis, three reinterventions due to symptomatic inferior glenoid usury and another to uncontrollable pain in a conservative way. Patients without rotator cuff lesion presented better scores on the functional questionnaires. All patients were satisfied with the symptomatic improvement over the previous situation and would be operated again if necessary.

CONCLUSIONS

The functional outcomes reported are similar to those previously published and, based on them, we believe that the resurfacing prosthesis is an option to be considered in cases of primary or secondary osteoarthritis when there is no rotator cuff injury, regardless of age.

[Evidence of community engagement in health in Spain: thoughts and proposals. SESPAS Report 2018]

Community engagement has recently become key in the development of health promotion programmes at a local level. However, evidence-based tools are necessary to implement strategies and interventions with a participatory approach. The objective of this article is to reflect on the existing evidence in Spain about community engagement in health, drawing on the results of the AdaptA GPS Project (Adapt and Apply Health Promotion Guidelines), intended to adapt NICE guideline NG44 on community engagement to improve health and wellbeing, and to reduce inequalities. After describing the methodology for the adaptation process, we discuss some of the findings from the review of the evidence on community engagement in the Spanish context. We ask whether the limited evidence identified is due to the difficulties involved in evaluating these interventions, or to the lack of interest in these programmes and the limited resources and funding dedicated to them. Two recommendations are proposed: to promote more and better research, fostering training, research and evaluation towards the development of community engagement interventions in health, and to promote more and better interventions using evidence-based tools, supporting their long-term sustainability by taking into account the time needed for community engagement programmes to be properly developed. Generating more evidence on community engagement in health in Spain will allow us to learn from successful processes and encourage the transfer of good practice to different contexts.

Monitoring of airborne biological particles in outdoor atmosphere. Part 2: Metagenomics applied to urban environments

The air we breathe contains microscopic biological particles such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and pollen, some of them with relevant clinic importance. These organisms and/or their propagules have been traditionally studied by different disciplines and diverse methodologies like culture and microscopy. These techniques require time, expertise and also have some important biases. As a consequence, our knowledge on the total diversity and the relationships between the different biological entities present in the air is far from being complete. Currently, metagenomics and next-generation sequencing (NGS) may resolve this shortage of information and have been recently applied to metropolitan areas. Although the procedures and methods are not totally standardized yet, the first studies from urban air samples confirm the previous results obtained by culture and microscopy regarding abundance and variation of these biological particles. However, DNA-sequence analyses call into question some preceding ideas and also provide new interesting insights into diversity and their spatial distribution inside the cities. Here, we review the procedures, results and perspectives of the recent works that apply NGS to study the main biological particles present in the air of urban environments. [Int Microbiol 19(2):69-80(2016)].

Monitoring of airborne biological particles in outdoor atmosphere. Part 1: Importance, variability and ratios

The first part of this review ("Monitoring of airborne biological particles in outdoor atmosphere. Part 1: Importance, variability and ratios") describes the current knowledge on the major biological particles present in the air regarding their global distribution, concentrations, ratios and influence of meteorological factors in an attempt to provide a framework for monitoring their biodiversity and variability in such a singular environment as the atmosphere. Viruses, bacteria, fungi, pollen and fragments thereof are the most abundant microscopic biological particles in the air outdoors. Some of them can cause allergy and severe diseases in humans, other animals and plants, with the subsequent economic impact. Despite the harsh conditions, they can be found from land and sea surfaces to beyond the troposphere and have been proposed to play a role also in weather conditions and climate change by acting as nucleation particles and inducing water vapour condensation. In regards to their global distribution, marine environments act mostly as a source for bacteria while continents additionally provide fungal and pollen elements. Within terrestrial environments, their abundances and diversity seem to be influenced by the land-use type (rural, urban, coastal) and their particularities. Temporal variability has been observed for all these organisms, mostly triggered by global changes in temperature, relative humidity, et cetera. Local fluctuations in meteorological factors may also result in pronounced changes in the airbiota. Although biological particles can be transported several hundreds of meters from the original source, and even intercontinentally, the time and final distance travelled are strongly influenced by factors such as wind speed and direction. [Int Microbiol 2016; 19(1):1-1 3].

[Effect of employment and domestic load on fetal development and length of gestation in a birth cohort study]

OBJECTIVE

Published studies are not conclusive on the impact of certain occupational exposures in pregnancy, stressing the need to consider the double role, professional and family, of women. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of employment and domestic load on the duration of pregnancy and fetal development.

METHODS

Using Univariate and Multivariate regression models, we studied the association of preterm deliveries (PPT) (<37 weeks), full term newborns with low weight (BPT) (<2500g) and small for their gestational age (PEG) (<10th percentile) in weight, length and head circumference according to work situation (employment/non-employment) and domestic load (low/ medium/ high) in 2506 women. The analyses were carried out using SPSS and R.

RESULTS

Women with medium domestic load have lower risk of PPT (OR=0.41, 95%CI:0.21-0.81), PEG in weight (OR=0.47, 95%CI:0.32-0.69), length (OR=0.57, 95%CI:0.39-0.83) and head circumference (OR=0.58, 95% CI:0.40-0.83) and with high load PEG in weight (OR=0.72,95%CI:0.54-0.98) and head circumference (OR = 0.73, 95% CI:0.54-0.99). When analyzing employment situation and domestic load, women with medium domestic load have less risk of PPT (OR=0.29, 95%CI:0.14-0.58) than the absence of load or high domestic load.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show a protective effect of the medium and high domestic load, reducing the probability of preterm birth and small for gestational age babies.

Students' satisfaction and perceived impact on knowledge, attitudes and skills after a 2-day course in scientific writing: a prospective longitudinal study in Spain

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to determine students' satisfaction with a 2-day course on scientific writing in health sciences and to assess their perceptions of the long-term impact on their knowledge, attitudes and skills.

SETTING

27 iterations of a 2-day course on writing and publishing scientific articles in health sciences.

PARTICIPANTS

741 students attending the 27 courses.

DESIGN

Prospective longitudinal study.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Immediately after each course, students completed a first questionnaire, rating their satisfaction with different aspects of the classroom sessions on a Likert scale (0-5). Approximately 2 years after the course, students completed a follow-up questionnaire, using a Likert scale (0-4) to rate their knowledge, skills and attitudes in relation to scientific writing before and after attending the course.

RESULTS

741 students (70% women) participated in the 27 iterations of the course; 568 (76.8%) completed the first questionnaire and 182 (24.6%) completed the follow-up questionnaire. The first questionnaire reflected high overall satisfaction (mean score, 4.6). In the second questionnaire, students reported that the course had improved their knowledge (mean improvement: 1.6; 95% CI 1.6 to 1.7), attitudes (mean improvement: 1.3; 95% CI 1.2 to 1.4) and skills (mean improvement: 1.4; 95% CI 1.3 to 1.4) related to writing and publishing scientific papers. Most respondents (n=145, 79.7%) had participated in drafting a scientific paper after the course; in this subgroup, all the specific writing skills assessed in the second questionnaire significantly improved.

CONCLUSIONS

Students were satisfied with the format and the contents of the course, and those who responded to the follow-up survey considered that the course had improved their knowledge, attitudes and skills in relation to scientific writing and publishing. Courses are particularly important in countries without strong traditions in scientific publication.

Targeting PDE10A GAF Domain with Small Molecules: A Way for Allosteric Modulation with Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzymes regulate the levels of cyclic nucleotides, cAMP, and/or cGMP, being attractive therapeutic targets. In order to modulate PDE activity in a selective way, we focused our efforts on the search of allosteric modulators. Based on the crystal structure of the PDE10A GAF-B domain, a virtual screening study allowed the discovery of new hits that were also tested experimentally, showing inhibitory activities in the micromolar range. Moreover, these new PDE10A inhibitors were able to decrease the nitrite production in LPS-stimulated cells, thus demonstrating their potential as anti-inflammatory agents.

The inner world of overactive monitoring: neural markers of interoception in obsessive-compulsive disorder

BACKGROUND

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients typically overmonitor their own behavior, as shown by symptoms of excessive doubt and checking. Although this is well established for the patients' relationship with external stimuli in the environment, no study has explored their monitoring of internal body signals, a process known to be affected in anxiety-related syndromes. Here, we explored this issue through a cardiac interoception task that measures sensing of heartbeats. Our aim was to explore key behavioral and electrophysiological aspects of internal-cue monitoring in OCD, while examining their potential distinctiveness in this condition.

METHOD

We administered a heartbeat detection (HBD) task (with related interoceptive confidence and awareness measures) to three matched groups (OCD patients, panic disorder patients, healthy controls) and recorded ongoing modulations of two task-relevant electrophysiological markers: the heart evoked potential (HEP) and the motor potential (MP).

RESULTS

Behaviorally, OCD patients outperformed controls and panic patients in the HBD task. Moreover, they exhibited greater amplitude modulation of both the HEP and the MP during cardiac interoception. However, they evinced poorer confidence and awareness of their interoceptive skills.

CONCLUSIONS

Convergent behavioral and electrophysiological data showed that overactive monitoring in OCD extends to the sensing of internal bodily signals. Moreover, this pattern discriminated OCD from panic patients, suggesting a condition-distinctive alteration. Our results highlight the potential of exploring interoceptive processes in the OCD spectrum to better characterize the population's cognitive profile. Finally, these findings may lay new bridges between somatic theories of emotion and cognitive models of OCD.

Differential role of CD28 and CD27 in human CD4 T cells primary and secondary responses to bacterial antigens

Although CD28 is considered the main T cell costimulatory molecule, CD27 has also costimulatory activity; nevertheless, it is not well established whether they play overlapping or complementary roles during CD4 T cell activation. Both molecules are co-expressed on a large percentage of CD4 T cells, mainly in naive and central memory T cells; but their ligands, CD80/CD86 and CD70 respectively, are differentially expressed on antigen presenting cells.

To further differentiate the costimulatory role of CD28 and CD27 in the human CD4 T cell responses, circulating T cells from healthy donors were stimulated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis Purified Protein Derivative (PPD) under conditions of selective blockade of CD80 and CD86 or CD70 binding. The costimulatory activities of CD28 and CD27 in CD4 T cells memory responses were compared by stimulating PBMC, from tuberculin positive (TST+) donors, with PPD in the presence of either anti-CD80 plus anti-CD86 or anti-CD70 and then measuring CD4 T cells proliferation, IFN-gamma production and CD30 expression by flow cytometry. Treatment with anti-CD80 plus anti-86 inhibited all CD4+ T cell responses, but anti-CD70 had no effect. To study their role in the CD4+ T cell primary responses, myeloid dendritic cells, from TST negative donors, were pulsed with PPD and cocultured with autologous T cells under the blockade conditions described above. Anti-CD80 plus anti-CD86 as well as anti-CD70 inhibited CD4+ T cell proliferation and CD30 expression. These results support that CD28-CD80/CD86 signals are needed for both primary and memory CD4 T cell responses, whereas CD27-CD70 signals are required mainly for the primary anti-PPD responses. (Supported by Colciencias, Colombia, contract 0275-2014).

[Participation to improve working conditions: evidence and experience]

Participation of stakeholders is a key requirement for the success of public health programmes. Working and employment conditions are major determinants for people's health and wellbeing, and workplaces are ideal environments to implement programmes with a very direct level of participation. In Spain, the main regulatory framework for occupational health and safety, Law 31/1995, establishes the principles of "efficiency, coordination and participation" as a necessary basis for workers' health protection. This same Law establishes the role of the health and safety workers' representative, responsible for occupational risk prevention, and the occupational health and safety committee, a body with equal representation and the same objectives at the heart of the company. Among recent experiences of participation in occupational health, participatory ergonomics programmes have stood out. The aim of these programmes is to improve working conditions with a view to reducing musculoskeletal disorders, which is a very common and highly prevalent work-related injury in Spain. This study describes the characteristics and results of some experiences of participatory ergonomics carried out recently in Spain, from which relevant learning can be extrapolated about processes, facilitators and barriers in order to extend such programmes to other areas of occupational and public health.

Risk factors for congenital diaphragmatic hernia in the Bogota birth defects surveillance and follow-up program, Colombia

PURPOSE

The mortality rate for congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) remains high and prevention efforts are limited by the lack of known risk factors. The aim of this study was to determine prevalence, risk factors, and neonatal results associated with CDH on a surveillance system hospital-based in Bogotá, Colombia.

METHODS

The data used in this study were obtained from The Bogota Birth Defects Surveillance and Follow-up Program (BBDSFP), between January 2001 and December 2013. With 386,419 births, there were 81 cases of CDH. A case-control methodology was conducted with 48 of the total cases of CDH and 192 controls for association analysis.

RESULTS

The prevalence of CDH was 2.1 per 10,000 births. In the case-control analysis, risk factors found were maternal age ≥35 years (OR, 33.53; 95 % CI, 7.02-160.11), infants with CDH were more likely to be born before 37 weeks of gestation (OR, 5.57; 95 % CI, 2.05-15.14), to weigh less than 2500 g at birth (OR, 9.05; 95 % CI, 3.51-23.32), and be small for gestational age (OR, 5.72; 95 % CI, 2.18-14.99) with a high rate of death before hospital discharge in the CDH population (CDH: 38 % vs BBDSFP: <1 %; p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of CDH calculated was similar to the one reported in the literature. CDH is strongly associated with a high rate of death before hospital discharge and the risk factors found were maternal age ≥35 years, preterm birth, be small for gestational age, and have low weight at birth. These neonatal characteristics in developing countries would help to identify early CDH. Prevention efforts have been limited by the lack of known risk factors and established epidemiological profiles, especially in developing countries.

[Scoping review about working conditions and health of immigrant workers in Spain]

BACKGROUND

The relationship between immigration, work, and health is one of the most important challenges in occupational health at current, particularly in Spain, by the significant increase in the migrant workers in the labor market occurred. This investigation aims to know the relationship betwen working conditions and their effects on migrant workers.

METHODS

Scoping review of scientific papers on this topic at the Medline and Medes databases in Spanish and English (1998-2012). The articles included were full text reviewed.

RESULTS

20 studies were included, 13 with quantitative methodology and 7 qualitative. The topics address specific health problems related to work (primarily occupational accidents), disability, and differences in working conditions and employment. The findings of the studies show a higher incidence of injury accidents, lower rates of disability, higher prevalence of work presenteeism, exposure to psychosocial factors, and precariousness.

CONCLUSION

Despite the uniqueness of the demographic process migration happened in Spain, health problems and determinants identified no different from those referenced in other countries, in other contexts and in other times.

A qualitative exploration of the impact of the economic recession in Spain on working, living and health conditions: reflections based on immigrant workers' experiences

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to analyse how immigrant workers in Spain experienced changes in their working and employment conditions brought about Spain's economic recession and the impact of these changes on their living conditions and health status.

METHOD

We conducted a grounded theory study. Data were obtained through six focus group discussions with immigrant workers (n = 44) from Colombia, Ecuador and Morocco, and two individual interviews with key informants from Romania living in Spain, selected by theoretical sample.

RESULTS

Three categories related to the crisis emerged--previous labour experiences, employment consequences and individual consequences--that show how immigrant workers in Spain (i) understand the change in employment and working conditions conditioned by their experiences in the period prior to the crisis, and (ii) experienced the deterioration in their quality of life and health as consequences of the worsening of employment and working conditions during times of economic recession.

CONCLUSION

The negative impact of the financial crisis on immigrant workers may increase their social vulnerability, potentially leading to the failure of their migratory project and a return to their home countries. Policy makers should take measures to minimize the negative impact of economic crisis on the occupational health of migrant workers in order to strengthen social protection and promote health and well-being.

Phosphodiesterase 10 inhibitors: new disease modifying drugs for Parkinson's disease?

Phosphodiesterases (PDEs), as key regulators of cyclic nucleotides, and their inhibitors have been emerged as new pharmacological targets and promising drug candidates for many diseases, including central nervous system pathologies. The high level of PDE10A expression in the striatal medium spiny neurons suggests a prominent function role for the isoenzyme. Basal ganglia dysfunction is associated with neuropsychiatric disorders and until recently the development of PDE10A inhibitors has been focused on schizophrenia. Currently, the pharmaceutical research on PDE10A inhibitors is moving to show the modulation of other functions associated with the basal ganglia such the motor control. Thus, PDE10A inhibitors may be important pharmacological agents for neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. Recent data supporting new clues for PDE10A as therapeutic target together with a concise review of the chemical structures of its inhibitors are provided here. The goal of this manuscript is to provide new ideas for assistant pharmacologist and medicinal chemists in the search for PDE10A inhibitors as new disease modifying drugs for Parkinson's disease.

Modulation of cAMP-specific PDE without emetogenic activity: new sulfide-like PDE7 inhibitors

A forward chemical genetic approach was followed to discover new targets and lead compounds for Parkinson's disease (PD) treatment. By analysis of the cell protection produced by some small molecules, a diphenyl sulfide compound was revealed to be a new phosphodiesterase 7 (PDE7) inhibitor and identified as a new hit. This result allows us to confirm the utility of PDE7 inhibitors as a potential pharmacological treatment of PD. On the basis of these data, a diverse family of diphenyl sulfides has been developed and pharmacologically evaluated in the present work. Moreover, to gain insight into the safety of PDE7 inhibitors for human chronic treatment, we evaluated the new compounds in a surrogate emesis model, showing nonemetic effects.

From the boom to the crisis: changes in employment conditions of immigrants in Spain and their effects on mental health

BACKGROUND

Migrant workers have been one of the groups most affected by the economic crisis. This study evaluates the influence of changes in employment conditions on the incidence of poor mental health of immigrant workers in Spain, after a period of 3 years, in context of economic crisis.

METHODS

Follow-up survey was conducted at two time points, 2008 and 2011, with a reference population of 318 workers from Colombia, Ecuador, Morocco and Romania residing in Spain. Individuals from this population who reported good mental health in the 2008 survey (n = 214) were interviewed again in 2011 to evaluate their mental health status and the effects of their different employment situations since 2008 by calculating crude and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for sociodemographic and employment characteristics.

FINDINGS

There was an increased risk of poor mental health in workers who lost their jobs (aOR = 3.62, 95%CI: 1.64-7.96), whose number of working hours increased (aOR = 2.35, 95%CI: 1.02-5.44), whose monthly income decreased (aOR = 2.75, 95%CI: 1.08-7.00) or who remained within the low-income bracket. This was also the case for people whose legal status (permission for working and residing in Spain) was temporary or permanent compared with those with Spanish nationality (aOR = 3.32, 95%CI: 1.15-9.58) or illegal (aOR = 17.34, 95%CI: 1.96-153.23). In contrast, a decreased risk was observed among those who attained their registration under Spanish Social Security system (aOR = 0.10, 95%CI: 0.02-0.48).

CONCLUSION

There was an increase in poor mental health among immigrant workers who experienced deterioration in their employment conditions, probably influenced by the economic crisis.

Toxicity of binary mixtures of oil fractions to sea urchin embryos

The assumption of additive toxicity for oil compounds is related to a narcotic mode of action. However, the joint toxicity of oil fractions has not been fully investigated. A fractionation of Maya crude oil into aliphatics, aromatics and polars was performed, fractions were dissolved in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and subsequently toxicity of single fractions and binary mixtures was assessed using the sea urchin embryo test. The descriptive ability of Concentration Addition (CA), Independent Action (IA) and modifications of both models for describing the joint toxicity of mixtures has also been evaluated. The hydrocarbon content extractable with dichloromethane of the fractions dissolved in DMSO was: 12.0 ± 1.8 mg mL(-1), 39.0 ± 0.5 mg mL(-1) and 20.5 ± 2.5 mg mL(-1) for aliphatics, aromatics and polars, respectively. The toxicity of the extracts in DMSO of the fractions as EC50 (μLL(-1)) was: aliphatics (165.8-242.3)<polars (87.1-115.7)<aromatics (20.5-34.6). The goodness of fit of the CA model was in most binary mixtures (aliphatics-aromatics, aromatics-polars) greater than the IA (aliphatics-polars) according to the Akaike Information Criterion, so CA was considered a better option than IA to explain the joint toxicity of oil fractions. In addition, synergistic or antagonistic effects were not observed.

Stress hyperglycaemia in hospitalized patients with coronary artery disease and type 2 diabetes risk

AIMS

(i) To evaluate glucometabolic status of patients without known diabetes hospitalized due to coronary artery disease (CAD), (ii) to assess markers of systemic inflammation determined during admission and to evaluate their relationship with glucometabolic status and (iii) to analyse usefulness of HbA1c determined during admission in patients with CAD to detect abnormal glucose regulation (AGR).

MATERIALS & METHODS

We studied 440 patients with CAD admitted to the cardiology ward. Patients were grouped in four groups during admission according to clinical data, fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c: diabetes, HbA1c > 5·9%, stress hyperglycaemia (SH) and normal. In 199 subjects without known diabetes, an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was performed 3 months after discharge, and they were reclassified according to WHO 1998 criteria. Biochemical and inflammatory markers were measured.

RESULTS

The OGTT showed that 27·4% of subjects without known diabetes at admission had diabetes, 11·2% had impaired fasting glucose + impaired glucose tolerance, 33·5% impaired glucose tolerance, 3·6% impaired fasting glucose, and 24·4% normal glucose metabolism. Odds ratio for having diabetes 3 months after discharge in HbA1c > 5·9% group was 5·91 (P < 0·0001) and in SH group was 1·82 (P = 0·38). The best HbA1c cut-off point to predict AGR was 5·85%. HbA1c levels during admission were highly predictive of having AGR (AUC ROC 0·76 [95% CI 0·67-0·84]).

CONCLUSION

We reported a high prevalence of AGR in subjects with CAD. Stress hyperglycaemia in patients with CAD was not associated with an increased risk of diabetes 3 months later. HbA1c in patients hospitalized with CAD was a useful tool to detect AGR.