Raising awareness of the important role of engineering in sustainable development.

STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) professions play a crucial role in transforming 21st-century society, as they contribute to developing new technologies that support the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Aligning engineering education with sustainable development requires raising awareness among students, fostering commitment among future generations of engineers, and promoting technical vocations. In this paper, an educational experience designed with these objectives is presented, in which more than 130 students from five undergraduate degrees in engineering and architecture at the Higher Polytechnic School of Zamora (HPSZ) of the University of Salamanca actively participated. To carry out the project, an online course was designed to train all participating students on general aspects of the 2030 Agenda, and research works were proposed in the ten involved degree subjects. The assessment of students' prior knowledge and learning regarding the 2030 Agenda was conducted through an objective multiple-choice pre-test and post-test. Additionally, their satisfaction with this educational experience was assessed through a questionnaire. The results revealed a considerable improvement in the students' knowledge of the general contents of sustainable development, especially after participating in classroom debate sessions. The initial objective test showed a low average score, indicating the lack of knowledge about the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs among engineering students. However, the final objective test revealed a significant improvement of 3 points out of 10. Regarding the research works, out of a total of 91 students, 53 papers addressing complex issues related to sustainable development and current engineering solutions were presented. This approach facilitated collaborative learning and the celebration of World Engineering Day at the HPSZ. The results of the satisfaction survey demonstrated that the experience was positive for both students and faculty Furthermore, its media impact was essential for increasing engineering vocations' visibility and social recognition.

Diseño de un nuevo indicador de mortalidad en el síndrome coronario agudo al ingreso en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos / Design of a new mortality indicator in acute coronary syndrome on admission to the Intensive Care Unit

Objetivo: Diseñar un indicador de mortalidad del síndrome coronario agudo (SCA) en el servicio de medicina intensiva (SMI). Diseño: Estudio descriptivo observacional multicéntrico. Participantes: Pacientes con SCA ingresados en SMI incluidos en el registro ARIAM- SEMICYUC entre enero del 2013 y abril del 2019. Intervenciones: Ninguna. Variables de interés principales: Las variables analizadas fueron demográficas, tiempo de acceso al sistema sanitario y estado clínico. Se analizó la terapia de revascularización, los fármacos y la mortalidad. Se realizó un análisis de regresión logística de COX y posteriormente se diseñó una red neuronal. Se elaboró una curva ROC para calcula la potencia del nuevo score. Finalmente, la utilidad clínica o relevancia del indicador ARIAM se evaluará mediante un gráfico de Fagan. Resultados: Se incluyó a 17.258 pacientes, con una mortalidad al alta del SMI del 3,5% (605). Las variables analizadas con significación estadística (p<0,001) fueron introducidas en el modelo predictivo supervisado, una red neuronal artificial. El nuevo indicador ARIAM mostro una media de 0,0257 (IC del 95%, 0,0245-0,0267) en los pacientes dados de alta de UCI y de 0,27085 (IC del 95%, 0,2533-0,2886) en los que fallecieron, p <0,001. El área ROC del modelo conseguido fue de 0,918 (IC del 95%, 0,907-0,930). En el test de Fagan se demostró que el indicador ARIAM muestra que la probabilidad de fallecimiento es del 19% (IC del 95%, 18-20%) cuando es positivo y del 0,9% (IC del 95%, 0,8-1,01%) cuando es negativo. Conclusiones: Es posible crear un nuevo indicador de mortalidad del SCA en el SMI que sea más exacto, reproducible y actualizable periódicamente. (AU)

Objective: To design a mortality indicator for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in the intensive care unit (ICU). Design: Multicenter observational descriptive study. Participants: ACS patients admitted to SMI included in the ARIAM-SEMICYUC registry between January 2013 and April 2019. Interventions: None. Main variables of interest: Variables analyzed were demographic, time of access to the health system, and clinical condition. Revascularization therapy, drugs, and mortality were analyzed. A COX regression analysis was performed and subsequently a neural network was designed. An ROC curve was developed to calculate the power of the new score. Finally, the clinical utility or relevance of the ARIAM's indicator will be evaluated using a Fagan test. Results: 17,258 patients were included, with a 3.5% (605) mortality at discharge from the ICU. The variables analyzed with statistical significance (p<0.001) were entered into the supervised predictive model, an artificial neural network. The new ARIAM's indicator showed a mean of 0.0257 (95% CI: 0.0245–0.0267) in patients discharged from the ICU and 0.27085 (95% CI: 0.2533–0.2886) in those who died, p<0.001. The ROC area of the model achieved was 0.918 (95% CI: 0.907–0.930). The Fagan test showed that the ARIAM's Indicator shows that the probability of death is 19% (95% CI: 18%–20%) when it is positive and 0.9% (95% CI: 0.8%–1.01%) when it is negative. Conclusions: It is possible to create a new mortality indicator for ACS in the ICU that is more accurate, reproducible, and periodically updated. (AU)

Cumplimiento de las guías de la Sociedad Europea de Cardiología y morbimortalidad por endocarditis infecciosa / Compliance with the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology and morbidity and mortality from infectious endocarditis

Objetivo. El tratamiento antibiótico recomendado para la endocarditis infecciosa (EI) tiene un nivel de evidencia bajo. Nuestro objetivo fue comprobar si la adherencia a las recomendaciones de la Sociedad Europea de Cardiología (ESC) se relaciona con una menor morbimortalidad intrahospitalaria de la enfermedad. Métodos. Estudio retrospectivo de 162 casos de EI diagnosticados entre 2005 y 2014. Se realizó un análisis de propensity score matching para determinar el efecto del tratamiento en la mortalidad intrahospitalaria. Resultados. No hubo diferencias en cuanto a complicaciones de la enfermedad entre los grupos de tratamiento. La mortalidad intrahospitalaria fue del 29,2% cuando el tratamiento fue ajustado a las guías, y del 28,2% cuando no lo fue (OR=1,048; IC95%: 0,442-2,484; p=0,916). Conclusión. El uso de las guías de la ESC no parece traducirse en una reducción de la morbimortalidad intrahospitalaria por EI cuando se compara con regímenes de tratamiento antibiótico alternativos (AU)

Objective. The antibiotic treatment recommended for infectious endocarditis (IE) has a low level of evidence. Our objective was to determine whether compliance with the recommendations of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) was related to lower inhospital morbidity and mortality for this disease. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted on 162 cases of IE diagnosed between 2005 and 2014. A propensity score-matching analysis was performed to determine the effect of treatment on hospital mortality. Results. There were no differences in terms of disease complications between the treatment groups. Hospital mortality was 29.2% when the treatment was adjusted to the guidelines and 28.2% when the treatment was not adjusted (OR=1.048; 95%CI: 0.442-2.484; P=.916). Conclusion. The use of the ESC guidelines does not appear to translate into a reduction in hospital morbidity and mortality due to IE when compared with alternative antibiotic treatment regimens (AU)

Anatomía angiográfica femoral y complicaciones derivadas del cateterismo cardiaco / Femoral angiographic anatomy and complications arising from cardiac catheterisation

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las complicaciones vasculares derivadas del cateterismo cardiaco por vía femoral prolongan la estancia hospitalaria y ponen en peligro la integridad de los pacientes. Conocer la anatomía angiográfica podría ayudar a predecir la aparición de complicaciones. OBJETIVOS: Averiguar los factores relacionados con una anatomía angiográfica femoral desfavorable para el acceso vascular y si ésta se asocia a una mayor frecuencia de complicaciones derivadas del cateterismo cardiaco. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional prospectivo de todos los pacientes a los que se les realizó cateterismo por vía femoral entre mayo de 2011 y abril de 2012 en un hospital universitario. Se analizaron las variables relacionadas con una anatomía vascular desfavorable y con la aparición de complicaciones derivadas del procedimiento. RESULTADOS: Entre 917 procedimientos se produjeron 35 complicaciones (3,8%). Los pacientes con una angiografía femoral de riesgo presentaban mayor edad (67 [60-76] vs 65 [55-73] años, p < 0,001), menor aclaramiento de creatinina (73,6 [54-95,2] vs 84,4 [64-106,8] ml/min, p < 0,001) y mayor frecuencia de diabetes (47,7 vs 35,1%, p < 0,001). Aunque una anatomía vascular desfavorable no se asoció significativamente con la aparición de complicaciones (5,4 vs 3,1%, p = 0,103), los operadores la tomaron en cuenta para decidir el tipo de hemostasia posterior. En el análisis multivariable solo fue significativo el cruce de heparinas (OR = 3,19; IC 95%, 1,44-7,06; p = 0,004). CONCLUSIONES: La edad, la diabetes y la función renal se asocian a un acceso femoral desfavorable. Las complicaciones del cateterismo no se relacionan con la anatomía angiográfica, aunque esta es útil para el manejo del punto de acceso

INTRODUCTION: Vascular complications during cardiac catheterization using the femoral artery extend hospital stay and jeopardize the integrity of patients. Knowing the angiographic anatomy could help to predict the development of complications. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the factors associated with unfavorable femoral anatomy and vascular access, and whether it is associated with more complications during cardiac catheterization. METHODS: Prospective observational study of all patients who underwent catheterization between May 2011 and April 2012 at a university hospital. We analyzed the variables related with an unfavorable vascular anatomy and with the development of complications arising from the procedure. RESULTS: Of the 917 procedures, there were 35 complications (3.8%). Patients with femoral angiography were older (67 [60-76] vs 65 [55-73] years, P<0.001), with lower creatinine clearance (73.6 [54-95.2] vs 84.4 [64 to 106.8] mL/min, P<0.001), and higher frequency of diabetes (47.7 vs. 35.1%, P<0.001). Although unfavorable vascular anatomy was not significantly associated with the occurrence of complications (5.4 vs 3.1%, P=0.103), operators took it into account when choosing the type of subsequent hemostasis. In the multivariate analysis only crossing heparins was significantly related with the development of complications (OR = 3.19, 95% CI, 1.44 to 7.06, P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Age, diabetes and kidney function are associated with an unfavorable femoral access. Catheterization complications are not directly related to the angiographic anatomy, although it is useful for management of the access point

Endocarditis infecciosa en la Unidad de Medicina Intensiva / Infectious endocarditis in the intensive care unit

Objetivo: Conocer las características, evolución y pronóstico de los pacientes con endocarditis infecciosa que requieren tratamiento en la Unidad de Medicina Intensiva. Diseño: Estudio observacional de cohortes prospectivo en pacientes ingresados por endocarditis infecciosa. Ámbito: Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, centro con 824 camas y población asignada de 493.145 personas. Pacientes: Todos los pacientes diagnosticados de endocarditis siguiendo los criterios de Duke entre el 1 de enero de 2005 y el 31 de julio de 2011. Variables de interés: Variables demográficas, clínicas, scores de gravedad, hallazgos microbiológicos y ecocardiográficos, mortalidad intrahospitalaria y complicaciones. Resultados: De 102 pacientes diagnosticados de endocarditis, 38 (37%) ingresaron en Medicina Intensiva. Comparándolos con los que no lo hicieron, sufrieron con más frecuencia afectación mitral (OR= 7,13; IC del 95%, 2,12-24; p= 0,002) y embolia cerebral (OR= 3,89; IC del 95%, 1,06-14,3; p= 0,041). La mortalidad fue mayor (42,1 vs 18,8%, p= 0,011), así como la proporción de cirugías urgentes (45,8 vs 5,9%, p<0,001). Resultaron predictores de mortalidad la infección por Estafilococo aureus (OR= 3,49; IC 95%: 1,02-11,93; p=0,046), la insuficiencia cardiaca (OR=4,18; IC 95%: 1,17-14,94; p=0,028), el embolismo cerebral (OR= 8,45; IC 95%: 1,89-37,74; p=0,005) y la puntuación en el score SAPS II al ingreso (OR=1,09; IC 95% 1,04-1,15; p<0,001). Conclusiones: Una elevada proporción de pacientes con endocarditis requieren ingreso en la Unidad de Medicina Intensiva, presentando un pronóstico mucho más desfavorable. La infección por E. aureus, la insuficiencia cardiaca, el embolismo cerebral y la puntuación SAPS II resultan predictores de mortalidad intrahospitalaria (AU)

Objective: To study the characteristics, evolution and prognosis of patients with infectious endocarditis requiring treatment in the Intensive Care Unit. Design: A prospective, observational cohort study of patients admitted due to infectious endocarditis. Setting: Nuestra Señora de Candelaria University Hospital, a third - level center with a recruitment population of 493,145. Patients: All patients consecutively diagnosed with infectious endocarditis in our center according to the Duke criteria, between 1 January 2005 and 31 July 2011. Study variables: Demographic data, clinical severity scores, microbiological and echocardiographic data, hospital mortality and complications. Results: Out of 102 patients diagnosed with endocarditis, 38 (37%) were admitted to Intensive Care. Compared with those patients not admitted to the ICU, these subjects suffered more frequent mitral valve alterations (OR= 7.13; 95%CI: 2.12-24; p= 0.002) and cerebral embolism (OR= 3.89; 95%CI: 1.06-14.3; p= 0.041). In turn, mortality was greater (42.1% vs 18.8%, p= 0.011), as was the proportion of emergency surgeries (45.8% vs 5.9%, p<0.001). The identified mortality predictors were Staphylococcus aureus infection (OR= 3.49; 95%CI 1.02-11.93; p=0.046), heart failure (OR=4.18; 95%CI: 1.17-14.94; p=0.028), cerebral embolism (OR= 8.45; 95%CI: 1.89-37.74; p=0.005) and the SAPS II upon admission (OR=1.09; 95%CI: 1.04-1.15; p<0.001). Conclusions: A large proportion of patients with endocarditis require admission to the Intensive Care Unit, presenting a much poorer prognosis. Staphylococcus aureus infection, heart failure, cerebral embolism and SAPS II scores are independent predictors of hospital mortality (AU)

A cell junction pathology of neural stem cells leads to abnormal neurogenesis and hydrocephalus

Most cells of the developing mammalian brain derive from the ventricular (VZ) and the subventricular (SVZ) zones. The VZ is formed by the multipotent radial glia/neural stem cells (NSCs) while the SVZ harbors the rapidly proliferative neural precursor cells (NPCs). Evidence from human and animal models indicates that the common history of hydrocephalus and brain maldevelopment starts early in embryonic life with disruption of the VZ and SVZ. We propose that a "cell junction pathology" involving adherent and gap junctions is a final common outcome of a wide range of gene mutations resulting in proteins abnormally expressed by the VZ cells undergoing disruption. Disruption of the VZ during fetal development implies the loss of NSCs whereas VZ disruption during the perinatal period implies the loss of ependyma. The process of disruption occurs in specific regions of the ventricular system and at specific stages of brain development. This explains why only certain brain structures have an abnormal development, which in turn results in a specific neurological impairment of the newborn. Disruption of the VZ of the Sylvian aqueduct (SA) leads to aqueductal stenosis and hydrocephalus, while disruption of the VZ of telencephalon impairs neurogenesis. We are currently investigating whether grafting of NSCs/neurospheres from normal rats into the CSF of hydrocephalic mutants helps to diminish/repair the outcomes of VZ disruption.

Espondilitis y endocarditis por Streptococcus viridans / Spondylitis and Streptococcus viridans endocarditis

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