Estimación del envejecimiento en población laboral y relación con salud psicofísica y condiciones de trabajo / Estimation of aging in the working population and relationship with psychophysical health and working conditions

Introducción:El envejecimiento de la población conlleva una mayor prevalencia de trabajadores con patología psicofísica y cognitiva con riesgo de fragilidad.Objetivo:Estimar la relación entre envejecimiento asociado a la edad en hombres y mujeres, y la salud psicofísica, emocional y deterioro cognitivo en población laboral y su repercusión según tipo de trabajo y turnicidad.Material y Método:Estudio transversal en 389 trabajadores. Se valora <50 y ≥50 años con prensión manual, circunferencia del gemelo, Fragilidad-Frail, depresión-Beck, Ansiedad-Estado-Rasgo y deterioro cognitivo-Pfeiffer y la influencia del tipo de trabajo y turnicidad.Resultados:Existe mayor fragilidad-Frail en hombres ≥ 50 años (p<0,05). El resto de variables relacionadas con estado físico, emocional y cognitivo no muestra diferencias por edad, ni con el tipo de trabajo y turnicidad (p>0,05).Conclusiones:La fragilidad estimada con el cuestionario de Frail muestra los resultados más precoces de fragilidad en hombres ≥ 50 años. (AU)

Introduction:The aging of the population leads to a higher prevalence of workers with psychophysical and cognitive pathologies at risk of frailty.Objective:To estimate the relationship between age-associated aging in men and women and psychophysical, emotional health, and cognitive impairment in the working population and its impact according to the type of work and shift work.Material and Method:Cross-sectional study with 389 workers. We assessed individuals aged <50 and ≥50 years using handgrip strength, calf circumference, Frailty-Frail assessment, Beck Depression Inventory for depression, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for anxiety, and Pfeiffer test for cognitive impairment, while also considering the influence of the type of work and shift work.Results:There is a higher prevalence of frailty in men aged ≥50 years (p<0.05). The rest of the variables related to physical, emotional, and cognitive status do not show significant differences based on age, type of work, or shift work (p>0.05).Conclusions:Frailty, as assessed by the Frail questionnaire, reveals the earliest signs of frailty in men aged ≥50 years. (AU)

Silver-Exchanged Zeolite Y Catalyzes a Selective Insertion of Carbenes into C-H and O-H Bonds.

Commercially available zeolite Y modulates the catalytic activity and selectivity of ultrasmall silver species during the Buchner reaction and the carbene addition to methylene and hydroxyl bonds, by simply exchanging the counter cations of the zeolite framework. The zeolite acts as a macroligand to tune the silver catalytic site, enabling the use of this cheap and recyclable solid catalyst for the in situ formation of carbenes from diazoacetate and selective insertion in different C-H (i.e., cyclohexane) and C-O (i.e., water) bonds. The amount of catalyst in the reaction can be as low as ≤0.1 mol % silver. Besides, this reactivity allows deeply drying the HY zeolite framework by making the strongly adsorbed water molecules react with the in situ formed carbenes.

Evidence for Ruthenium(II) Peralkene Complexes as Catalytic Species during the Isomerization of Terminal Alkenes in Solution.

The isomerization (chain-walking) reaction of terminal to internal alkenes is catalyzed by part-per-million amounts of practically any Ru source when the reaction is carried out with a neat terminal alkene. Here, we provide evidence that the soluble starting Ru sources evolve to catalytically active peralkene Ru(II) species under reaction conditions. These species may also explain the isomerization products found during other Ru-catalyzed alkene processes, i.e., alkene metathesis reactions. A Finke-Watzky mechanism for catalyst formation is consistent with the evidence obtained.

Stability and Reversible Oxidation of Sub-Nanometric Cu5 Metal Clusters: Integrated Experimental Study and Theoretical Modeling.

Sub-nanometer metal clusters have special physical and chemical properties, significantly different from those of nanoparticles. However, there is a major concern about their thermal stability and susceptibility to oxidation. In situ X-ray Absorption spectroscopy and Near Ambient Pressure X-ray Photoelectron spectroscopy results reveal that supported Cu5 clusters are resistant to irreversible oxidation at least up to 773 K, even in the presence of 0.15 mbar of oxygen. These experimental findings can be formally described by a theoretical model which combines dispersion-corrected DFT and first principles thermochemistry revealing that most of the adsorbed O2 molecules are transformed into superoxo and peroxo species by an interplay of collective charge transfer within the network of Cu atoms and large amplitude "breathing" motions. A chemical phase diagram for Cu oxidation states of the Cu5 -oxygen system is presented, clearly different from the already known bulk and nano-structured chemistry of Cu.

MOF-Triggered Synthesis of Subnanometer Ag02 Clusters and Fe3+ Single Atoms: Heterogenization Led to Efficient and Synergetic One-Pot Catalytic Reactions.

The combination of well-defined Fe3+ isolated single-metal atoms and Ag2 subnanometer metal clusters within the channels of a metal-organic framework (MOF) is reported and characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction for the first time. The resulting hybrid material, with the formula [Ag02(Ag0)1.34FeIII0.66]@NaI2{NiII4[CuII2(Me3mpba)2]3}·63H2O (Fe3+Ag02@MOF), is capable of catalyzing the unprecedented direct conversion of styrene to phenylacetylene in one pot. In particular, Fe3+Ag02@MOF─which can easily be obtained in a gram scale─exhibits superior catalytic activity for the TEMPO-free oxidative cross-coupling of styrenes with phenyl sulfone to give vinyl sulfones in yields up to >99%, which are ultimately transformed, in situ, to the corresponding phenylacetylene product. The results presented here constitute a paradigmatic example of how the synthesis of different metal species in well-defined solid catalysts, combined with speciation of the true metal catalyst of an organic reaction in solution, allows the design of a new challenging reaction.

Cytotoxic sub-nanometer aqueous platinum clusters as potential antitumoral agents.

Ligand-free sub-nanometer metal clusters (MCs) of Pt, Ir, Rh, Au and Cu, are prepared here in neat water and used as extremely active (nM) antitumoral agents for HeLa and A2870 cells. The preparation just consists of adding the biocompatible polymer ethylene-vinyl alcohol (EVOH) to an aqueous solution of the corresponding metal salt, to give liters of a MC solution after filtration of the polymer. Since the MC solution is composed of just neat metal atoms and water, the intrinsic antitumoral activity of the different sub-nanometer metal clusters can now fairly be evaluated. Pt clusters show an IC50 of 0.48 µM for HeLa and A2870 cancer cells, 23 times higher than that of cisplatin and 1000 times higher than that of Pt NPs, and this extremely high cytotoxicity also occurs for cisplatin-resistant (A2870 cis) cells, with a resistance factor of 1.4 (IC50 = 0.68 µM). Rh and Ir clusters showed an IC50 ∼ 1 µM. Combined experimental and computational studies support an enhanced internalization and cytotoxic activation.

Association Between the "COVID-19 Occupational Vulnerability Index" and COVID-19 Severity and Sequelae Among Hospital Employees.

OBJECTIVES: In addition to personal and health related factors, healthcare workers have an increased risk due to their work. We assessed the association of the score of the Occupational Vulnerability Index with the risk of suffering a severe COVID-19 and sequelae. METHODS: Retrospective observational study carried out in healthcare workers. Among 119 employees infected, the COVID-19 Occupational Vulnerability Index (composed of 29 items regarding personal health, working conditions, and ability to comply with preventive measures) was calculated and correlated with COVID-19 severity/sequelae. RESULTS: Workers with higher scores (six to seven points) had a significantly increased risk of developing severe disease (OR = 9.73; 95% CI, 1.53 to 35.56) and clinical sequelae (OR = 5.22; 95% CI, 1.80 to 15.16) than those with lower scores (0 to 3). CONCLUSION: The "COVID-19 Occupational Vulnerability Index" may predict the risk of severe COVID-19 disease and clinical sequelae among healthcare workers.

Soluble/MOF-Supported Palladium Single Atoms Catalyze the Ligand-, Additive-, and Solvent-Free Aerobic Oxidation of Benzyl Alcohols to Benzoic Acids.

Metal single-atom catalysts (SACs) promise great rewards in terms of metal atom efficiency. However, the requirement of particular conditions and supports for their synthesis, together with the need of solvents and additives for catalytic implementation, often precludes their use under industrially viable conditions. Here, we show that palladium single atoms are spontaneously formed after dissolving tiny amounts of palladium salts in neat benzyl alcohols, to catalyze their direct aerobic oxidation to benzoic acids without ligands, additives, or solvents. With this result in hand, the gram-scale preparation and stabilization of Pd SACs within the functional channels of a novel methyl-cysteine-based metal-organic framework (MOF) was accomplished, to give a robust and crystalline solid catalyst fully characterized with the help of single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD). These results illustrate the advantages of metal speciation in ligand-free homogeneous organic reactions and the translation into solid catalysts for potential industrial implementation.

Criterios de vulnerabilidad frente a infección Covid-19 en trabajadores / Vulnerability criteria for Covid-19 infection in workers

La enfermedad COVID-19 que surgió en Wuhan, China, y se extendió por todo el mundo, es una infección viral de elevada transmisibilidad causada por el coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Existe un interés creciente en el campo de la salud pública en identificar factores pronósticos, tanto clínicos como paraclínicos, que permitan estratificar el riesgo de los pacientes y, dentro de estos factores, es necesario contemplar variables sociodemográficas, clínicas y laborales. En ámbito laboral interesa destacar la vulnerabilidad del trabajador frente a la infección, esto es, la probabilidad de ser afectado por el virus con riesgo superior al normal y con consecuencias más graves, ya sea como resultado de la susceptibilidad mayor a los efectos del virus, o por un nivel de exposición superior a la media. La Organización Mundial de la Salud nos anima a pensar de manera innovadora y la promoción de la salud y prevención de riesgos puede liderar esta actividad dentro del ámbito de salud pública, obteniendo información precisa y oportuna para prepararse y reducir el riesgo en las personas afectadas, sus familias y su comunidad. Dada la complejidad de este tema y los distintos aspectos que se han de tener en cuenta para calificar a un trabajador como vulnerable frente a esta infección pandémica, se considera de utilidad incluir en la valoración: aspectos personales de la persona que trabaja, enfermedades previas y su grado de control, aspectos laborales y las opciones de gestión preventiva de las empresas. El resultado de esta combinación de factores nos permitirá cuantificar la vulnerabilidad individual y orientar las actuaciones preventivas posteriores en el mundo del trabajo

COVID-19 disease, which emerged in Wuhan, China and spread worldwide, is a highly contagious viral infection caused by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. There is a growing interest in the field of public health in identifying prognostic factors, both clinical and paraclinical, that allow the risk of patients to be stratified and, within these factors, it is necessary to consider sociodemographic, clinical and occupational variables. In the work environment, it is important to highlight the worker's vulnerability to infection, that is, the probability of being affected by the virus with a higher than normal risk and with more serious consequences, either as a result of greater susceptibility to the effects of the virus, or because of a higher than average level of exposure. The World Health Organization encourages us to think innovatively, and health promotion and risk prevention can lead this activity within the public health field, obtaining accurate and timely information to prepare and reduce risk in affected individuals, their families and their community. Given the complexity of this issue and the different aspects that have to be taken into account to qualify a worker as vulnerable to this pandemic infection, it is considered useful to include in the assessment: personal aspects of the person working, previous illnesses and their degree of control, labour aspects and the preventive management options of the companies. The result of this combination of factors will allow us to quantify individual vulnerability and guide subsequent preventive actions in the world of work

Improving Dental Service Utilization Rate Using a Proactive Telephone-Based Scheduling Strategy in Primary Healthcare

Abstract Objective: To determine the effect of a proactive telephone-based scheduling strategy to improve dental service utilization rate in primary healthcare. Material and Methods: A retrospective study was carried out based on the dental appointments' records of a primary healthcare center before-strategy and after-strategy periods. The variables studied for both periods were the number of dental appointments requested, dental appointments undergone, no-shows, and available quotas. Data collection was performed by two researchers between May and June 2018. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate the absolute and relative frequencies. Results: A total of 10,193 records of dental appointments were registered within the two periods. After-strategy period, dental appointments undergone increased by 16,7%, no-shows decreased by 3%, and available quotas decreased by 21.3%. Conclusion: A proactive telephone-based scheduling strategy increased the dental service utilization rate in primary healthcare.

Synthetic mimetics of the endogenous gastrointestinal nanomineral: Silent constructs that trap macromolecules for intracellular delivery.

Amorphous magnesium-substituted calcium phosphate (AMCP) nanoparticles (75-150nm) form constitutively in large numbers in the mammalian gut. Collective evidence indicates that they trap and deliver luminal macromolecules to mucosal antigen presenting cells (APCs) and facilitate gut immune homeostasis. Here, we report on a synthetic mimetic of the endogenous AMCP and show that it has marked capacity to trap macromolecules during formation. Macromolecular capture into AMCP involved incorporation as shown by STEM tomography of the synthetic AMCP particle with 5nm ultra-fine iron (III) oxohydroxide. In vitro, organic cargo-loaded synthetic AMCP was taken up by APCs and tracked to lysosomal compartments. The AMCP itself did not regulate any gene, or modify any gene regulation by its cargo, based upon whole genome transcriptomic analyses. We conclude that synthetic AMCP can efficiently trap macromolecules and deliver them to APCs in a silent fashion, and may thus represent a new platform for antigen delivery.

Acupuncture treatment of shoulder impingement syndrome: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Shoulder pain or omalgia is one of the main types of osteoarticular pain that can be observed in every-day clinical practice, frequently causing significant functional impairment. The most common cause of shoulder pain is impingement syndrome. OBJECTIVE: To decrease the intensity of short- and mid-term pain in the injured shoulder by means of acupuncture. METHOD: Randomized controlled trial with two groups of participants: one group received true acupuncture (TA) and the other received acupuncture at sham points (SA). The treatment was carried out over 4 weeks, with the participants receiving a session every week. The results were measured immediately after the treatment (T1) and 3 months later (T2). To evaluate the results, we used the 100 mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), and to assess the functionality of the shoulder we employed the UCLA questionnaire (0-35 points). RESULTS: A total of 68 participants were included in the analysis (TA, n=35; SA, n=33), with a mean age of 33.4 years (SD 12.53). We found significant differences in the analyzed results between the two groups, as we observed a decrease on the intensity of pain for the TA group of 44.13 mm at T1 (CI 95% 36.7; 51.5) and 87.58 mm at T2 (CI 95% 28.32; 46.81), while the decrease in the FA group was of 19.84 mm at T1 (CI 95% 12.2; 27.4) and 20 mm at T2 (CI 95% 10.9; 29.09). When the UCLA scores were analyzed, the results were clinically meaningful in support of TA in terms of functional assessment of the shoulder. No adverse effects were reported. CONCLUSIONS: The use of acupuncture to treat impingement syndrome seems to be a safe and reliable technique to achieve clinically significant results and could be implemented in the therapy options offered by the health services.

An endogenous nanomineral chaperones luminal antigen and peptidoglycan to intestinal immune cells.

In humans and other mammals it is known that calcium and phosphate ions are secreted from the distal small intestine into the lumen. However, why this secretion occurs is unclear. Here, we show that the process leads to the formation of amorphous magnesium-substituted calcium phosphate nanoparticles that trap soluble macromolecules, such as bacterial peptidoglycan and orally fed protein antigens, in the lumen and transport them to immune cells of the intestinal tissue. The macromolecule-containing nanoparticles utilize epithelial M cells to enter Peyer's patches, small areas of the intestine concentrated with particle-scavenging immune cells. In wild-type mice, intestinal immune cells containing these naturally formed nanoparticles expressed the immune tolerance-associated molecule 'programmed death-ligand 1', whereas in NOD1/2 double knockout mice, which cannot recognize peptidoglycan, programmed death-ligand 1 was undetected. Our results explain a role for constitutively formed calcium phosphate nanoparticles in the gut lumen and show how this helps to shape intestinal immune homeostasis.

One pot synthesis of cyclohexanone oxime from nitrobenzene using a bifunctional catalyst.

Cyclohexanone oxime is formed from nitrobenzene with 97% yield in a one-pot reaction catalysed by palladium and gold nanoparticles on carbon. The reaction is carried out under hydrogen at 60 °C and the overall transformation involves a multi-step catalysed mechanism from which intermediates and catalytically active species have been identified.

Morphological study of nanoparticle-polymer solar cells using high-angle annular dark-field electron tomography.

Electron tomography in high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) mode is used to image networks of nanoparticles within polymer-nanoparticle blend photovoltaic devices. Blends of CdSe nanoparticles (∼6.5 nm diameter spheres and ∼33 nm long nanorods) with poly[2-methoxy-5-(3',7'-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (OC(1)C(10)-PPV) are investigated. Blends using spherical particles are found to contain aggregated regions in which well-connected networks of nanoparticles exist, surrounded by lower-density regions with poorer connectivity. As the ratio of nanoparticles to polymer is increased the aggregated regions increase in size, and the connectivity of the particles in the lower-density regions also increases. This has the effect of increasing the overall percentage of the charge-generating interface connected to the electron-collecting electrode, consistent with the trends observed in device performance. Using nanorods instead of spherical particles results in a highly connected network of particles distributed homogeneously through the film. The nanorods are oriented close to parallel to the plane of the film.

Morphology of SBA-15-directed by association processes and surface energies.

We present a model that explains the morphology of mesoporous SBA-15 particles based on the relative surface energies of the defining faces. We also describe how the formation process influences the morphology and hence the surface energies. The model is compared to experimental observations, made primarily with scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Some materials were also examined in more detail with scanning transmission electron microscopy tomography. Materials were synthesized as a function of synthesis temperature, silica source and content of sodium chloride. The model describes the observed change in aspect ratio of the particles with respect to temperature. Silica source and addition of sodium chloride also affect the morphology. Under certain conditions the particle morphology is the result of an aggregation step that has an orientational character. Under the lower synthesis temperatures this association leads to flake-like particles whereas at higher temperatures rods of particles associated end-to-tail will result. At intermediate temperatures the aggregation is non-specific. The presented model could be used as a means for controlling particle morphology and size.

Nanostructural characterization and catalytic analysis of hybridized platinum/phthalocyanine nanocomposites.

Organic crystals, such as phthalocyanine nanocrystal, were successfully hybridized with Pt nanoparticles using a nanohybridization technique. The presence of highly dispersed Pt nanoparticles on the surface of phthalocyanine was confirmed by the combination of transmission electron microscopy and three-dimensional electron tomography. Catalytic activities of hybridized samples with different degrees of dispersions were also examined as oxygen reduction reactivity (ORR) with a linear potential sweep method. It was found that oxygen reduction activity increased with increasing Pt dispersion, and reasonably high ORR was observed on Pt-dispersed phthalocyanine nanocrystal even at 2 wt% Pt loading.

Nanoporous oxidic solids: the confluence of heterogeneous and homogeneous catalysis.

The several factors that render certain kinds of nanoporous oxidic solids valuable for the design of a wide range of new heterogeneous catalysts are outlined and exemplified. These factors include: (i), their relative ease of preparation, when both mesoporous siliceous frameworks (ca. 20 to 250 A diameter pores) and microporous framework-substituted aluminophosphates (ca. 4 to 14 A diameter pores) can be tailored to suit particular catalytic needs according to whether regiospecific or enantio- or shape-selective conversions are the goal; (ii), the enormous internal (three-dimensional) areas that these nanoporous solids possess (typically 10(3) m(2) g(-1)) and the consequential ease of access of reactants through the internal pores of the solids; (iii), the ability, by judicious solid-state preparative methods to assemble spatially isolated, single-site active centres at the internal surfaces of these open-structure solids, thereby making the heterogeneous catalyst simulate the characteristic features of homogenous and enzymatic catalysts; (iv), the wide variety of in situ, time-resolved and ex situ experimental techniques, coupled with computational methods, that can pin-point the precise structure of the active site under operating conditions and facilitate the formulation of reaction intermediates and mechanisms. Varieties of catalysts are described for the synthesis (often under environmentally benign and solvent-free conditions) of a wide range of organic materials including commodity chemicals (such as adipic and terephthalic acid), fine and pharmaceutical chemicals (e.g. vitamin B(3)), alkenes, epoxides, and for the photocatalytic preferential destruction of carbon monoxide in the presence of hydrogen. Nanoporous oxidic solids are ideal materials to investigate the phenomenology of catalysis because, in many of them, little distinction exists between a model and a real catalyst.

Probing solid catalysts under operating conditions: electrons or X-rays?

Seeing is believing: In light of recent advances, the pros and cons of using electrons and X-rays for in situ studies of catalysts are analyzed: by using X-rays the structure of bound reactants at steady state are obtained from extended X-ray adsorption fine structure spectroscopy (EXAFS) data (see graph), thereby affording mechanistic insights.