Percepciones de los estudiantes sobre entornos educativos innovadores en la educación superior: un análisis exploratorio / Perceções dos estudantes sobreambientes educativos innovadores no ensino superior: uma análise exploratória / Students’ perceptions of an innovative learning environment in higher education: an exploratory analysis

Siguiendo las directrices para la reconfiguración de los espacios de aprendizaje que surgieron de la necesidad de desarrollar habilidades del siglo XXI, se intervino un espacio educativo en una institución de educación superior portuguesa, transformándolo en un entorno de aprendizaje innovador (EAI). Así, este estudio preliminar se enfoca en identificar las percepciones de los estudiantes sobre los atributos de este EAI, según tres dimensiones: espacio físico,tecnología y pedagogía. Para ello, se aplicó un cuestionario a estudiantes que utilizaban con frecuencia el EAI. Los resultados mostraron que al menos el 60% de los participantes calificaron cada atributo y el impacto de los atributos en el desempeño de los estudiantes con las calificaciones más altas. Más del 75% de los estudiantes atribuyeron valores más altos del impacto en el enfoque pedagógico experimentado y más del 80% consideró adecuado el diseño del EAIpara la interacción con los demás. (AU)

Following the guidelines for reconfiguring learning spaces that emerged from the need to develop 21st century skills, a redesign of an educational space was carried out in a Portuguese institution of higher education, changing it to an innovative learning environment (ILE). Thus, this preliminary study focuses on identifying students’ perceptions of the attributes of this ILE, according to three main dimensions: physical space, technology,and pedagogy. For this purpose, a survey was applied to undergraduate students who frequently used the ILE. Findings showed that at least 60 percent of the participants evaluated each attribute of the ILE and the impact of the ILE attributes on students’ performance with the highest ratings. Additionally, more than 75% of students attributed higher values of the impact on the pedagogical approach experienced in all features inquired and more than 80% considered the ILE layout appropriate for interaction with others. (AU)

Seguindo as orientações de reconfiguração dos espaços de aprendizagem que surgiram da necessidade de desenvolver competências do século XXI, um espaço de aprendizagemnuma instituição de ensino superior portuguesafoi alvo de intervenção, transformando-o num ambiente educativoinovador (AEI). Assim, este estudo preliminar tem como foco identificar as perceções dos alunos sobre os atributos deste AEI, emtrês dimensões: espaço físico, tecnologia e pedagogia. Para tal, foi aplicado um questionário a estudantes de licenciaturaque utilizavam frequentemente o AEI. Os resultados mostraram que pelo menos 60% dos participantes avaliaram cada atributo do AEIe oimpacto dos atributos do AEIno seu desempenho com as classificações mais altas. Para além disso, mais de 75% dos estudantesatribuíram os valores mais elevados ao impacto na abordagem pedagógica experienciada em todosos atributosinquiridose mais de 80% consideraram o layout do AEIadequado para a interação com os outros. (AU)

Semen quality is affected by HLA class I alleles together with sexually transmitted diseases.

BACKGROUND: The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) locus includes several genes with key roles in antigen presentation and immune response, some of them inclusively found to be associated with non-obstructive azoospermia. Still, HLA connections to other infertility phenotypes such as semen hyperviscosity (SHV), asthenozoospermia (AST), and oligozoospermia (OLI) have been often neglected. OBJECTIVES: In this work, we aimed to evaluate the association of HLA class I and II genes with SHV, AST, and OLI phenotypes while exploring a possible role in an adaptive immune response to sexually transmitted diseases (STD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Whole-exome sequencing was performed in a Portuguese cohort of 71 infertility cases and 68 controls, followed by HLA typing using a specific software-HLA*PRG:LA tool. Molecular screenings of seven STD were carried out in a subset of 72 samples (30 cases and 42 controls). RESULTS: Statistical tests uncovered three protective alleles: HLA-A*11:01, associated with all forms of male infertility (p = 0.0006); HLA-DQB1*03:02 with SHV and OLI (PSHV  = 0.0303, POLI  = 0.0153); and HLA-A*29:02 with OLI (p = 0.0355), which was found to interfere in sperm number together with HPV (p = 0.0313). Five risk alleles were also identified: two linked with SHV (HLA-B*50:01, p = 0.0278; and HLA-C*06:02, p = 0.0461), another one with both SHV and OLI (HLA-DQA1*05:01, PSHV  = 0.0444 and POLI =0.0265), and two with OLI (HLA-C*03:03, p = 0.0480; and HLA-DQB1*03:01, p = 0.0499). Here, HLA-C*03:03 carriers tend to be HPV infected. CONCLUSIONS: The application of HLA*PRG:LA tool to the study of male infertility provided novel insights for an HLA correlation with semen quality, namely among SHV and OLI phenotypes. The discovery of an HLA-A*29:02/HPV crosstalk, together with former reports of HLA alleles conferring resistance-susceptibility to diverse human pathogens, raises the hypothesis of a mechanistic link between male infertility, HLA polymorphism, and host response to STD.

GLUT1, MCT1/4 and CD147 overexpression supports the metabolic reprogramming in papillary renal cell carcinoma.

Papillary Renal Cell carcinoma (pRCC) is the second most common type of RCC, accounting for about 15% of all RCCs. Surgical excision is the main treatment option. Still, 10 - 15 % of clinically localized tumours will recur and/or develop metastasis early after surgery, and no reliable prognostic biomarkers are available to identify them. It is known that pRCC cells rely on high rates of aerobic glycolysis, characterized by the up-regulation of many proteins and enzymes related with the glycolytic pathway. However, a metabolic signature enabling the identification of advanced pRCC tumours remains to be discovered. The aim of this study was to characterize the metabolic phenotype of pRCCs (subtypes 1-pRCC1 and 2-pRCC2) by evaluating the expression pattern of the glucose transporters (GLUTs) 1 and 4 and the monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) 1 and 4, as well as their chaperon CD147. We analysed the clinico-pathological data and the protein and mRNA expression of GLUT1, GLUT4 and MCT1, MCT4 and CD147 in tumours from Porto and TCGA series (http://cancergenome.nih.gov/), respectively. With the exception of GLUT4, plasma membrane expression of all proteins was frequently observed in pRCCs. GLUT1 and MCT1 membrane overexpression was significantly higher in pRCC2 and significantly associated with higher pN-stage and higher Fuhrman grade. Overexpression of GLUT1, MCT1/4 and CD147, supports the metabolic reprograming in pRCCs. MCT1 expression was associated with pRCC aggressiveness, regardless of the tumour histotype.

Interleukin-6 blood levels in sensitive and multiresistant tuberculosis.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine implicated in the immunopathogenesis of tuberculosis (TB). Multidrug resistance in tuberculosis is recognized worldwide as an important public health issue. The mechanism underlying TB pathogenesis in general and drug resistance in particular is not well understood, but it may be that IL-6 is one factor that enhances pathology in drug-resistant TB. The purpose of this study was to identify patterns of IL-6 production in active pulmonary TB with different sensitivity to standard drug therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: IL-6 blood levels were studied in 38 patients with active pulmonary TB: 23 patients were very sensitive to specific chemotherapy (STB), and 15 were multiresistant (MDRTB). An ELISA assay (Biossource) was used to quantify IL-6 in the sera of 38 TB patients and 63 healthy blood donors. RESULTS: The STB group was composed of 16 males (73.9%) and 7 females, MDRTB by 9 males (60%) and 6 females, and control group by 51 males (81%) and 12 females. The results showed a significant increase in IL-6 concentration in TB (median = 4.3 pg/ml, range 0.5-24) compared to that of healthy individuals (median = 0.5 pg/ml, range 0-2.8, p < 0.001). Additionally, IL-6 concentrations were increased in both STB (median = 4.1 pg/ml, range 0.5-24) and MDRTB (median = 5.1 pg/ml, range 0.5-12) groups in relation to controls (p < 0.001). In contrast, significant differences were not observed between STB and MDRTB groups (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: IL-6 levels were increased in pulmonary tuberculosis, independent of drug resistance.