We aimed to (a) examine the validity and reliability of the International FItness Scale (IFIS) in Spanish young adults and (b) compare the capacity of self‐reported vs measured fitness to predict ...cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. The study comprised 276 participants (18–30 years). Fitness level (overall and specific components) was both self‐reported (IFIS) and measured using standard fitness tests. Total and trunk fat was assessed by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. We computed a previously validated metabolic syndrome score. A separate sample of 181 of same age and characteristics fulfilled IFIS twice for reliability purposes. The results of the present study support the validity and reliability of self‐reported fitness, as measured by IFIS, in Spanish young adults. Our data also suggest that not only measured cardiorespiratory fitness but also self‐reported cardiorespiratory fitness predicts CVD risk, as assessed by adiposity and metabolic syndrome indicators. The associations for muscular fitness (both reported and measured) differed depending on how it was expressed (i.e., absolute vs relative terms). Self‐reported fitness, as assessed by IFIS, can be a good alternative when physical fitness cannot be measured in large surveys.
Cajal-Retzius (CR) cells play a fundamental role in the development of the mammalian cerebral cortex. They control the formation of cortical layers by regulating the migration of pyramidal cells ...through the release of Reelin. The function of CR cells critically depends on their regular distribution throughout the surface of the cortex, but little is known about the events controlling this phenomenon. Using time-lapse video microscopy in vivo and in vitro, we found that movement of CR cells is regulated by repulsive interactions, which leads to their random dispersion throughout the cortical surface. Mathematical modeling reveals that contact repulsion is both necessary and sufficient for this process, which demonstrates that complex neuronal assemblies may emerge during development through stochastic events. At the molecular level, we found that contact repulsion is mediated by Eph/ephrin interactions. Our observations reveal a mechanism that controls the even distribution of neurons in the developing brain.
► Cajal-Retzius cells undergo contact repulsion while migrating to occupy the cortex ► Contact repulsion is sufficient and necessary for Cajal-Retzius cell dispersion ► Contact repulsion stabilizes different territories of Cajal-Retzius cells ► Eph/ephrin signaling mediates contact repulsion between Cajal-Retzius cells
In this study, Villar-Cerviño and colleagues demonstrate that migrating Cajal-Retzius cells use contact repulsion to efficiently distribute throughout the surface of the embryonic mouse cerebral cortex. This process of “cellular tiling” is mediated, at least in part, by Eph/ephrin signaling.
The ANAIS (Annual modulation with NaI(Tl) Scintillators) experiment aims at the confirmation or refutation of the DAMA/LIBRA positive annual modulation signal in the low energy detection rate, using ...the same target and technique, at the Canfranc Underground Laboratory (LSC) in Spain. ANAIS-112, consisting of nine 12.5 kg NaI(Tl) modules produced by Alpha Spectra Inc. in a
3
×
3
matrix configuration, is taking data smoothly in “dark matter search” mode since August, 2017, after a commissioning phase and operation of the first detectors during the last years in various set-ups. A large effort has been carried out within ANAIS to characterize the background of sodium iodide detectors, before unblinding the data and performing the first annual modulation analysis. Here, the background models developed for all the nine ANAIS-112 detectors are presented. Measured spectra from threshold to high energy in different conditions are well described by the models based on quantified activities independently estimated following several approaches. In the region from 1 to
6
keV
ee
the measured, efficiency corrected background level is
3.58
±
0.02
keV
-
1
kg
-
1
day
-
1
; NaI crystal bulk contamination is the dominant background source being
210
Pb
,
40
K
,
22
Na
and
3
H
contributions the most relevant ones. This background level, added to the achieved
1
keV
ee
analysis threshold (thanks to the outstanding light collection and robust filtering procedures developed), allow ANAIS-112 to be sensitive to the modulation amplitude measured by DAMA/LIBRA, and able to explore at three sigma level in 5 years the WIMP parameter region singled out by this experiment.
Rosette morphology across Arabidopsis accessions exhibits considerable variation. Here we report a high-throughput phenotyping approach based on automatic image analysis to quantify rosette shape and ...dissect the underlying genetic architecture. Shape measurements of the rosettes in a core set of Recombinant Inbred Lines from an advanced mapping population (Multiparent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross or MAGIC) derived from inter-crossing 19 natural accessions. Image acquisition and analysis was scaled to extract geometric descriptors from time stamped images of growing rosettes. Shape analyses revealed heritable morphological variation at early juvenile stages and QTL mapping resulted in over 116 chromosomal regions associated with trait variation within the population. Many QTL linked to variation in shape were located near genes related to hormonal signalling and signal transduction pathways while others are involved in shade avoidance and transition to flowering. Our results suggest rosette shape arises from modular integration of sub-organ morphologies and can be considered a functional trait subjected to selective pressures of subsequent morphological traits. On an applied aspect, QTLs found will be candidates for further research on plant architecture.
Short peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) failure is a common complication that is generally underdiagnosed. Some studies have evaluated the factors associated with these complications, but the ...impact of care complexity individual factors and nurse staffing levels on PIVC failure is still to be assessed. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence and risk factors of PIVC failure in the public hospital system of the Southern Barcelona Metropolitan Area.
A retrospective multicentre observational cohort study of hospitalised adult patients was conducted in two public hospitals in Barcelona from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2017. All adult patients admitted to the hospitalisation ward were included until the day of discharge. Patients were classified according to presence or absence of PIVC failure. The main outcomes were nurse staffing coverage (ATIC patient classification system) and 27-care complexity individual factors. Data were obtained from electronic health records in 2022.
Of the 44,661 patients with a PIVC, catheter failure was recorded in 2,624 (5.9%) patients (2,577 5.8% phlebitis and 55 0.1% extravasation). PIVC failure was more frequent in female patients (42%), admitted to medical wards, unscheduled admissions, longer catheter dwell time (median 7.3 vs 2.2 days) and those with lower levels of nurse staffing coverage (mean 60.2 vs 71.5). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the female gender, medical ward admission, catheter dwell time, haemodynamic instability, uncontrolled pain, communication disorders, a high risk of haemorrhage, mental impairments, and a lack of caregiver support were independent factors associated with PIVC failure. Moreover, higher nurse staffing were a protective factor against PIVC failure (AUC, 0.73; 95% confidence interval CI: 0.72-0.74).
About 6% of patients presented PIVC failure during hospitalisation. Several complexity factors were associated with PIVC failure and lower nurse staffing levels were identified in patients with PIVC failure. Institutions should consider that prior identification of care complexity individual factors and nurse staffing coverage could be associated with a reduced risk of PIVC failure.
Gut microbiota play a major role in health and disease by influencing physiology, metabolism, nutrition, and immune function.
To evaluate the composition of gut microbiota in women with polycystic ...ovary syndrome (PCOS), focusing on the influence of sex, sex hormones and obesity on the associations found.
Cross-sectional study.
Academic hospital.
We recruited 15 women with PCOS, 16 nonhyperandrogenic control women, and 15 control men. Participants were classified as nonobese (<30 kg/m2) or obese (≥30 kg/m2) according to their body mass index.
Standardization of diet for 3 consecutive days (at least 300 g of carbohydrates per day) followed by fecal sampling and a standard 75-g oral glucose tolerance test.
Analysis of bacterial abundance and composition of gut microbiota by massive sequencing of 16S ribosomal DNA amplicons in a MiSeq platform (Illumina).
α Bacterial diversity was reduced in women compared with men, and β diversity was reduced particularly in obese patients with PCOS. Women with PCOS presented with specific abnormalities in gut microbiota consisting of an increased abundance of the Catenibacterium and Kandleria genera. When all participants as a whole were considered, indexes of bacterial diversity and the abundance of several bacterial genera correlated positively with serum androgen concentrations and negatively with estradiol levels.
The diversity and composition of the gut microbiota of young adults are influenced by the combined effects of sex, sex hormone concentrations, and obesity, presenting with specific abnormalities in women with PCOS.
ObjectiveThe aim of this review was to evaluate the conceptual suitability, applicability and psychometric properties of scores used internationally to measure adherence to the Mediterranean diet ...(MD).DesignThis was a systematic review to identify original articles that examined some aspects of the conceptual suitability, applicability or psychometric properties of the MD adherence score. Electronic searches were carried out on the international databases MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and EMBASE (from January 1980 to 31 December 2015).Eligibility criteria for selecting studiesThe study included original articles that examined some aspects of the conceptual suitability, applicability or psychometric properties of the MD adherence score. The studies where MD adherence scores were administered but did not bring forward any evidence about their performance related to conceptual suitability, applicability or psychometric properties were excluded.Data extractionInformation relating to the scales was extracted in accordance with the quality criteria defined by the Scientific Advisory Committee of the Medical Outcomes Trust for measurement of health results and the quality criteria recommended by Terwee: (1) conceptual, (2) applicability and (3) psychometric properties. Three authors independently extracted information from eligible studies.ResultsTwenty-seven studies were identified as meeting the inclusion criteria, yielding 28 MD adherence scores. The results showed that evidence is scarce and that very few scores fulfilled the applicability parameters and psychometric quality. The scores developed by Panagiotakos et al, Buckland et al and Sotos-Prieto et al showed the highest levels of evidence.ConclusionsScores measuring adherence to MD are useful tools for identifying the dietary patterns of a given population. However, further information is required regarding existing scores. In addition, new instruments with greater conceptual and methodological rigour should be developed and evaluated for their psychometric properties.
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