Gender, smoking, and tobacco cessation with pharmacological treatment in a cluster randomized clinical trial.

INTRODUCTION: Whether men find it easier to quit smoking than women is still controversial. Different studies have reported that the efficacy of pharmacological treatments could be different between men and women. This study conducted a secondary analysis of 'Subsidized pharmacological treatment for smoking cessation by the Spanish public health system' (FTFT-AP study) to evaluate the effectiveness of a drug-funded intervention for smoking cessation by gender. METHODS: A pragmatic randomized clinical trial by clusters was used. The population included smokers aged ≥18 years, smoking >10 cigarettes per day, randomly assigned to an intervention group receiving regular practice and financed pharmacological treatment, or to a control group receiving only regular practice. The main outcome was continued abstinence at 12 months, self-reported and validated with CO-oximetry. The percentage, with 95% confidence intervals, of continued abstinence was compared between both groups at 12 months post-intervention, by gender and the pharmacological treatment used. Multilevel logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 1154 patients from 29 healthcare centers were included. The average age was 46 years (SD=11.78) and 51.7% were men. Overall, the self-reported abstinence at 12 months was 11.1% (62) in women and 15.7% (93) in men (AOR=1.4; 95% CI: 1.0-2.0), and abstinence validated by CO-oximetry was 4.6% (26) and 5.9% (35) in women and men, respectively (OR=1.3; 95% CI: 0.7-2.2). In the group of smokers receiving nicotine replacement treatment, self-reported abstinence was higher in men compared to women (29.5% vs 13.5%, OR=2.7; 95% CI: 1.3-5.8). CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of a drug-financed intervention for smoking cessation was greater in men, who also showed better results in self-reported abstinence with nicotine replacement treatment.

Effects of Gestational Intermittent Hypoxia on Placental Morphology and Fetal Development in a Murine Model of Sleep Apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) during pregnancy is characterized by episodes of intermittent hypoxia (IH) during sleep, resulting in adverse health outcomes for mother and offspring. Despite a prevalence of 8-20% in pregnant women, this disorder is often underdiagnosed.We have developed a murine model of gestational OSA to study IH effects on pregnant mothers, placentas, fetuses, and offspring. One group of pregnant rats was exposed to IH during the last 2 weeks of gestation (GIH). One day before the delivery date, a cesarean section was performed. Other group of pregnant rats was allowed to give birth at term to study offspring's evolution.Preliminary results showed no significant weight differences in mothers and fetuses. However, the weight of GIH male offspring was significantly lower than the controls at 14 days (p < 0.01). The morphological study of the placentas showed an increase in fetal capillary branching, expansion of maternal blood spaces, and number of cells of the external trophectoderm in the tissues from GIH-exposed mothers. Additionally, the placentas from the experimental males were enlarged (p < 0.05). Further studies are needed to follow the long-term evolution of these changes to relate the histological findings of the placentas with functional development of the offspring in adulthood.

Effect of resistance exercise training on plasma neurofilaments in multiple sclerosis: a proof of concept for future designs.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a dysimmune and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system that continues to be one of the main causes of non-traumatic disability in young people despite the recent availability of highly effective drugs. Exercise-based interventions seem to have a positive impact on the course of the disease although pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for this benefit remain unclear. This is a longitudinal study to examine the effects of a short-term training program on neurofilament plasma levels, a biomarker of axonal destruction, measured using the ultrasensitive single molecule array (SiMoA). Eleven patients completed a 6-week supervised resistance-training program of 18 sessions that consisted of 3 sets of 8-10 repetitions of 7 exercises. Median plasma neurofilament levels significantly decreased from baseline (6.61 pg/ml) to 1 week after training intervention (4.44 pg/ml), and this effect was maintained after 4 weeks of detraining (4.38 pg/ml). These results suggest a neuroprotective effect of resistance training in this population and encourage us to investigate further the beneficial impact of physical exercise and to emphasize the importance of lifestyle in MS.

Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Analysis of Oral Calcium Fosfomycin: Are Urine Levels Sufficient to Ensure Efficacy for Urinary Tract Infections?

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are extremely common and a major driver for the use of antimicrobials. Calcium fosfomycin is an old antibiotic indicated for the treatment of UTIs; however, data about its urine pharmacokinetic profile are scarce. In this work, we have evaluated the pharmacokinetics of fosfomycin from urine concentrations after oral administration of calcium fosfomycin to healthy women. Moreover, we have assessed, by pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) analysis and Monte Carlo simulations, its effectiveness considering the susceptibility profile of Escherichia coli, the main pathogen involved in UTIs. The accumulated fraction of fosfomycin excreted in urine was around 18%, consistent with its low oral bioavailability and its almost exclusively renal clearance by glomerular filtration as unchanged drug. PK/PD breakpoints resulted to be 8, 16, and 32 mg/L for a single dose of 500 mg, a single dose of 1000 mg, and 1000 mg q8h for 3 days, respectively. For empiric treatment, the estimated probability of treatment success was very high (>95%) with the three dose regimens, considering the susceptibility profile of E. coli reported by EUCAST. Our results show that oral calcium fosfomycin at a dose level of 1000 mg every 8 h provides urine concentrations sufficient to ensure efficacy for the treatment of UTIs in women.

Predictive Biomarkers for Checkpoint Inhibitor Immune-Related Adverse Events.

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are antagonists of inhibitory receptors in the immune system, such as the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated antigen-4, the programmed cell death protein-1 and its ligand PD-L1, and they are increasingly used in cancer treatment. By blocking certain suppressive pathways, ICIs promote T-cell activation and antitumor activity but may induce so-called immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which mimic traditional autoimmune disorders. With the approval of more ICIs, irAE prediction has become a key factor in improving patient survival and quality of life. Several biomarkers have been described as potential irAE predictors, some of them are already available for clinical use and others are under development; examples include circulating blood cell counts and ratios, T-cell expansion and diversification, cytokines, autoantibodies and autoantigens, serum and other biological fluid proteins, human leucocyte antigen genotypes, genetic variations and gene profiles, microRNAs, and the gastrointestinal microbiome. Nevertheless, it is difficult to generalize the application of irAE biomarkers based on the current evidence because most studies have been retrospective, time-limited and restricted to a specific type of cancer, irAE or ICI. Long-term prospective cohorts and real-life studies are needed to assess the predictive capacity of different potential irAE biomarkers, regardless of the ICI type, organ involved or cancer site.

En Bloc Resection of Right Renal Cell Carcinoma and Inferior Vena Cava Tumor Thrombus Without Caval Reconstruction: Is It Safe to Divide the Left Renal Vein?

Introduction: It has been suggested that inferior vena cava (IVC) reconstruction following resection of retroperitoneal tumors with IVC tumor thrombus (TT) is not required when adequate collateral circulation is present. There are no reports evaluating mid-term effects on renal function in these patients. The purpose of this study was to assess renal function after en bloc resection of right renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with obstructing IVC TT and the possible risks that may arise after left renal vein division. Materials and Methods: A bi-institutional retrospective review was performed over a 15-year period, assessing patients with right RCC and obstructing level II-IV TT. All patients underwent extensive evaluation and cardiology clearance, and informed consent was obtained for right radical nephrectomy and thrombectomy with or without IVC reconstruction with possible cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Patient demographics, tumor characteristics, intraoperative factors, complications, length of stay, and patient survival were evaluated. Preoperative creatinine was recorded, as was creatinine on the day of discharge and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Results: Twenty-two patients were included in the study. Median age at surgery was 62.5 (range: 45-79) years, and 19 (86%) of the patients were men. One patient (5%) had a level II thrombus, 14 patients (64%) had a level III thrombus (IIIa, n = 3; IIIb, n = 6; IIIc, n = 3; IIId, n = 2), and seven patients (32%) had a level IV thrombus. Intraoperatively, median estimated blood loss was 1.35 (range: 0.2-25) L. The median length of hospital stay was 11 (range: 5-50) days. Median preoperative creatinine was 1.20 (range: 0.40-2.70) mg/dl, and postoperatively, median creatinine was 1.3 (range: 0.86-2.20) mg/dl. Median creatinine levels at 6 months and 12 months postoperatively were 1.10 (range: 0.5-1.8) mg/dl and 1.40 (range: 0.6-2.0) mg/dl, respectively. Four patients died (range: 0.1-1.3 years), and median postoperative follow-up among the 18 ongoing survivors (at last follow-up) was 1.5 (range: 0.5-7.0) years. Conclusions: Resection of right RCC with an obstructing level II-IV TT without reconstruction of the IVC appears to not have a significant adverse effect on mid-term renal function after division of the left renal vein.

Prediction of Immune-Related Adverse Events Induced by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors With a Panel of Autoantibodies: Protocol of a Multicenter, Prospective, Observational Cohort Study.

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is markedly improving the prognosis of patients with several types of cancer. On the other hand, the growth in the use of these drugs in oncology is associated with an increase in multiple immune-related adverse events (irAEs), whose optimal prevention and management remain unclear. In this context, there is a need for reliable and validated biomarkers to predict the occurrence of irAEs in patients treated with ICIs. Thus, the main objective of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of a sensitive routinely available panel of autoantibodies consisting of antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor, and antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies to identify patients at risk of developing irAEs. Methods and Analysis: A multicenter, prospective, observational, cohort study has been designed to be conducted in patients diagnosed with cancer amenable to ICI therapy. Considering the percentage of ICI-induced irAEs to be 25% and a loss to follow-up of 5%, it has been estimated that a sample size of 294 patients is required to detect an expected sensitivity of the autoantibody panel under study of 0.90 with a confidence interval (95%) of no less than 0.75. For 48 weeks, patients will be monitored through the oncology outpatient clinics of five hospitals in Spain. Immune-related adverse events will be defined and categorized according to CTCAE v. 5.0. All the patients will undergo ordinary blood tests at specific moments predefined per protocol and extraordinary blood tests at the time of any irAE being detected. Ordinary and extraordinary samples will be frozen and stored in the biobank until analysis in the same autoimmunity laboratory when the whole cohort reaches week 48. A predictive model of irAEs will be constructed with potential risk factors of immune-related toxicity including the autoantibody panel under study. Ethics and Dissemination: This protocol was reviewed and approved by the Ethical Committee of the Basque Country and the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants before their enrollment. The authors declare that the results will be submitted to an international peer-reviewed journal for their prompt dissemination.

Results of Pregnancy Control before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comparison of Two Cohorts.

The COVID-19 pandemic placed pregnant women at high risk, but behavioural changes have also led to lower rates of preterm births in high-income countries. The main goal of this article is to study the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnancy control and outcomes; this is a joint analysis of two cohorts. The pre-pandemic cohort includes 969 pregnant women recruited in 2018. The pandemic cohort comprises 1168 pregnant women recruited in 2020. Information on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, reproductive history, characteristics of the current pregnancy and its outcome were obtained from medical records. Birth by Caesarean section was more frequent in the pre-pandemic cohort (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.55-0.92). A birth weight lower than 2500 g and higher than 4000 g occurred more frequently in the pre-pandemic cohort (adjusted OR = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41-0.93 for lower than 2500 g and adjusted OR = 0.30, 95% CI: 0.20-0.46 for higher than 4000 g). Exclusive breastfeeding upon hospital discharge was more frequent in the pandemic cohort than in the pre-pandemic cohort (60% vs. 54%, p = 0.005), with adjusted OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.52-0.86 for mixed breastfeeding and infant formula. In conclusion, we report reductions in Caesarean sections and reduced numbers of low birth weight babies during the pandemic in a hospital located in northern Spain. Further analysis will clarify if these reductions are related to changes in health-related behaviour or healthcare operation.

Multi-source evaluation of an educational program aimed at medical students for interviewing/taking the clinical history using standardized patients.

Introduction: Simulations with standardized patients (SP) have long been used for teaching/assessing communication skills. The present study describes and evaluates an experiential training methodology aimed at medical students and based on interviews with standardized simulated patients. The training was focused on developing basic communication skills and taking medical histories. Methods: Longitudinal observational study of a cohort of third-year medical students. Three interviews with SP were carried out and videotaped. These interviews were assessed by the students, the SPs and the professors of the relevant subject areas. Results: 83 students conducted the interviews. The self-evaluations performed by the students showed an improvement between the first and third interviews, as demonstrated by the increase of 6.7% (CI 95%=3.6-10.0%) (p<0.001) in the percentage of detected items. The SPs stated an improvement of 8.5% (CI 95%=2.9-14.1) (p=0.003) from the first to the third interview regarding the percentage of students that showed a level of interest in, and ease with, the patients' concerns. Finally, the teachers found a mean percentage of items identified in the third written clinical history of 61.4% (CI 95%=59.1-63.7) of the total available. Conclusions: This educational program, carried out with standardized simulated patients, showed positive signs of improvement from the first to the third interview, in both the student self-evaluations and the level of interest and ease perceived by the SPs. Additionally, the mean level of information recorded in the written medical histories was considered to be acceptable.

Environmental Exposure during Pregnancy: Influence on Prenatal Development and Early Life: A Comprehensive Review.

Preconception and prenatal exposure to environmental contaminants may affect future health. Pregnancy and early life are critical sensitive windows of susceptibility. The aim of this review was to summarize current evidence on the toxic effects of environment exposure during pregnancy, the neonatal period, and childhood. Alcohol use is related to foetal alcohol spectrum disorders, foetal alcohol syndrome being its most extreme form. Smoking is associated with placental abnormalities, preterm birth, stillbirth, or impaired growth and development, as well as with intellectual impairment, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases later in life. Negative birth outcomes have been linked to the use of drugs of abuse. Pregnant and lactating women are exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals and heavy metals present in foodstuffs, which may alter hormones in the body. Prenatal exposure to these compounds has been associated with pre-eclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth, and thyroid function. Metals can accumulate in the placenta, causing foetal growth restriction. Evidence on the effects of air pollutants on pregnancy is constantly growing, for example, preterm birth, foetal growth restriction, increased uterine vascular resistance, impaired placental vascularization, increased gestational diabetes, and reduced telomere length. The advantages of breastfeeding outweigh any risks from contaminants. However, it is important to assess health outcomes of toxic exposures via breastfeeding. Initial studies suggest an association between pre-eclampsia and environmental noise, particularly with early-onset pre-eclampsia. There is rising evidence of the negative effects of environmental contaminants following exposure during pregnancy and breastfeeding, which should be considered a major public health issue.

COVID-19 in a cohort of pregnant women and their descendants, the MOACC-19 study.

PURPOSE: The Mother and Child COVID-19 study is a cohort recruiting pregnant women and their children in Cantabria, North of Spain, during COVID-19 pandemic in order to ascertain consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnant women and their descendants. This article reports the cohort profile and preliminary results as recruitment is still open. PARTICIPANTS: Three subcohorts can be identified at recruitment. Subcohort 1 includes women giving birth between 23 March and 25 May 2020; they have been retrospectively recruited and could have been exposed to COVID-19 only in their third trimester of pregnancy. Subcohort 2 includes women giving birth from 26 May 2020 on; they are being prospectively recruited and could have been exposed to COVID-19 in both their second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Subcohort 3 includes women in their 12 week of pregnancy prospectively recruited from 26 May 2020 on; they could have been exposed to COVID-19 anytime in their pregnancy. All women are being tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection using both RT-PCR for RNA detection and ELISA for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. All neonates are being tested for antibodies using immunochemoluminiscency tests; if the mother is tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA, a nasopharyngeal swab is also obtained from the child for RT-PCR analysis. FINDINGS TO DATE: As of 22 October, 1167 women have been recruited (266, 354 and 547 for subcohorts 1, 2 and 3, respectively). Fourteen women tested positive to SARS-CoV-2 RNA by the day of delivery. All 14 children born from these women tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 RNA. FUTURE PLANS: Children from women included in subcohort 3 are expected to be recruited by the end of 2020. Children will be followed-up for 1 year in order to ascertain the effect that COVID-19 on their development.

Adherence to recommended intake of pulses and related factors in university students in the UniHcos project.

Pulses such as peas, beans or lentils are one of the most complete foods at the nutritional level; however, they are one of the most often neglected foods in the diets of university students. Entrance to university translates into a major lifestyle change for many young people, and the habits acquired or cemented at this time will remain into adulthood. The objective of this study is to analyse the association between personal/sociodemographic factors, dietary intake of other food groups and the consumption of pulses in first-year university students. This cross-sectional study is part of the UniHcos project, a multicentre study of multipurpose prospective cohorts in eleven Spanish universities. Data from 9862 university students were collected through an online self-questionnaire completed by all students who met the selection criteria and agreed to participate in the project during the 2011-2018 academic years. Of students, 75·8 % presented an inadequate (≤2 times/week) consumption of pulses. Living outside the family home in either a student residence (OR 0·76; 95 % CI 0·69, 0·84) or rental (OR 0·81; 95 % CI 0·70, 0·95) decreased the compliance with recommendations on the consumption of pulses. Low consumption of pulses is seemingly not restricted to a specific profile or dietary pattern among university students, and no specific focus group for intervention can be identified. Policies promoting the consumption of pulses among the university population as a whole are necessary to increase compliance rates with the dietary recommendations.

Role of IRF5 in the pathogenesis of immunoglobulin-A vasculitis.

OBJECTIVES: Interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5) is a major regulator of type I interferon induction and is also critical to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines. An influence of IRF5 genetic variants on the increased risk of immune-mediated diseases has been described. Accordingly, we aimed to evaluate the implication of IRF5 in the pathogenesis of Immunoglobulin-A vasculitis (IgAV), an inflammatory vascular pathology. METHODS: Three tag genetic variants (rs2004640, rs2070197 and rs10954213), representative of 3 different haplotype blocks within IRF5, were genotyped in 372 Caucasian patients with IgAV and 876 sex and ethnically matched healthy controls by TaqMan assays. RESULTS: No significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies between patients with IgAV and healthy controls were observed when each IRF5 polymorphism was evaluated independently. Likewise, no significant differences between patients with IgAV and healthy controls were found when we assessed the three IRF5 polymorphisms combined, conforming haplotypes. In addition, there were no significant differences in genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies of IRF5 when patients with IgAV were stratified according to the age at disease onset or to the presence/absence of gastrointestinal or renal manifestations. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support an influence of IRF5 on the pathogenesis of IgAV.

Influence of IL17A gene on the pathogenesis of immunoglobulin-A vasculitis.

OBJECTIVES: Cytokines signaling pathway genes represent a key component of the genetic network implicated in the pathogenesis of immunoglobulin-A vasculitis (IgAV), an inflammatory vascular pathology. Interleukin (IL)17A is described as a genetic risk locus for some autoimmune diseases, such as giant cell arteritis and spondyloarthritis. Accordingly, we aimed to determine the potential influence of IL17A on the pathogenesis of IgAV. METHODS: Five IL17A tag polymorphisms (rs4711998, rs8193036, rs3819024, rs2275913 and rs7747909), which cover the major variability of this gene, were genotyped in 360 Caucasian patients with IgAV and 1,003 sex and ethnically matched healthy controls using TaqMan probes. RESULTS: No statistically significant differences between patients with IgAV and healthy controls were observed when each IL17A genetic variant was analysed independently. Similarly, no statistically significant differences between patients with IgAV and healthy controls were found when the five IL17A polymorphisms were evaluated combined conforming haplotypes. In addition, there were no statistically significant differences in genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies of IL17A when patients with IgAV were stratified according to the age at disease onset or to the presence/absence of gastrointestinal or renal manifestations. CONCLUSIONS: Our results do not support an influence of IL17A on the pathogenesis of IgAV.

Feeding patterns and growth trajectories in breast-fed and formula-fed infants during the introduction of complementary food.

INTRODUCTION: Introduction: several investigations have identified breastfeeding as a protective factor for rapid infant weight gain and childhood obesity while other studies have found that this protective effect could be the result of confounding factors. Objectives: to assess the associations between lactation practices (breast-fed vs formula-fed infants) during the introduction of complementary food period, as well as the following: a) patterns of food intake; and b) trajectories of growth at six, nine and 12 months (z-score of weight, height and body mass index [BMI] and changes in these z-scores from six to 12 months). Methods: two hundred and three infants randomly selected from Spanish Primary Health Centres were measured. Parents recorded all infant's food consumption for three days (g/day). Linear regression models were applied. Results: breast-fed infants had a lower intake of cereals, fruit baby food, vegetables with meat/fish and a total intake of food compared to formula-fed infants at nine months of age. After adjusting for sex, parental education and total food intake, breastfed children continued to have lower intake of cereals (-5.82, 95% CI: -9.22, -2.43), and lower total food intake (-301.23, 95% CI: -348.50, -253.96). Breast-fed infants had a lower change in z-score of weight, height and BMI from six to 12 months of age and these differences remained when adjusting for all confounders. Conclusions: formula-fed infants during the complementary feeding period have a higher food intake and show higher rates of rapid infant weight gain compared to breast-fed infants. These differences in growth trajectories depending on breastfeeding maintenance and food intake during early life must be considered in adiposity risk evaluation.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Introducción: varios estudios han identificado la lactancia materna como un factor protector frente a la ganancia rápida de peso y la obesidad infantil, mientras que otros estudios han encontrado que este efecto protector podría ser el resultado de la interferencia de factores de confusión. Objetivos: evaluar las asociaciones entre el tipo de lactancia (leche materna versus lactantes alimentados con fórmula) durante la introducción de la alimentación complementaria, así como: a) los patrones de ingesta de alimentos; y b) las trayectorias de crecimiento a los seis, nueve y 12 meses (z-score de peso, estatura e índice de masa corporal (IMC) y variaciones en estos z-score entre los seis y los 12 meses. Métodos: se midieron 203 neonatos seleccionados en centros de salud primaria españoles. Los padres registraron el consumo de alimentos de todos los bebés durante tres días (g/día). Se aplicaron modelos de regresión lineal. Resultados: los bebés alimentados con leche materna tuvieron una menor ingesta de cereales, alimentos para bebés a base de frutas, verduras con carne/pescado, así como una menor ingesta total de alimentos en comparación con los bebés alimentados con fórmula a los nueve meses de edad. Después de realizar el ajuste por sexo, educación de los padres y consumo total de alimentos, los niños alimentados con leche materna continuaron teniendo una menor ingesta de cereales (-5,82, IC 95%: -9,22, -2,43) y una ingesta total de alimentos más baja (-301,23, IC 95%: -348,50, -253,96). Los bebés alimentados al pecho tuvieron un menor incremento en la puntuación z-score de peso, talla e IMC entre los seis y los 12 meses de edad y estas diferencias se mantuvieron cuando se ajustaron para todos los factores de confusión. Conclusiones: los lactantes alimentados con fórmula durante el periodo de alimentación complementaria tienen una mayor ingesta de alimentos y muestran tasas más altas de ganancia de peso en comparación con los lactantes alimentados con leche materna. Estas diferencias en las trayectorias de crecimiento en función del mantenimiento de la lactancia materna y la ingesta de alimentos durante los primeros años de vida deben considerarse en la evaluación del riesgo de adiposidad.

Polymeric chemosensor for the detection and quantification of chloride in human sweat. Application to the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis.

We have developed a new extremely hydrophilic polymeric film suitable for the detection and quantification of chloride in human sweat directly on the skin. The film, or membrane, has chemically anchored 6-methoxyquinoline groups as chloride responsive fluorescent motifs. We have prepared the sensory material from a standard vinyl copolymer, by a convenient and easy solid-phase reaction. The sensory material has a water swelling percentage of 700%, facilitating an immediate detection of chloride, is reusable for at least 6 cycles and can be handled without care by unskilled persons. The initially high fluorescence of the material decreases in the presence of chloride, allowing the quantification of chloride concentration by using the colour definition of a digital picture or a fluorimeter. The suitability of the material to perform quantitative chloride analysis of human sweat by putting it in contact with the skin offers promise for its application in the sweat test used for the diagnosis of cystic fibrosis (CF).

STRAIGHT-A STUDENTS DISLIKE PHYSICAL EDUCATION IN ADOLESCENCE: MYTH OR TRUTH? THE AVENA, AFINOS AND UP&DOWN STUDIES.

OBJECTIVE: to examine if those adolescents who dislike physical education classes get better results on academic and cognitive performance than their peers. METHODS: participants included 4 226 adolescents from the AVENA, AFINOS and UP&DOWN studies. Physical education enjoyment was assessed with a 7-point Likert scale. Cognitive performance in the AVENA study was assessed using the Spanish version of the SRA Test of Educational Ability. Academic performance in the AFINOS and UP&DOWN studies was assessed through Mathematics and Language grades and the average of both subjects. RESULTS: in the AVENA study we found differences in verbal ability among girls who dislike physical education and their peers (P = 0.033). In the AFINOS study, boys who dislike physical education had higher scores in Language than their peers (P = 0.024). In the UP&DOWN study girls who disliked physical education had higher scores in Language and in the average of Language and Mathematics than their peers (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: in the AVENA and AFINOS studies adolescents who disliked physical education had similar results in cognitive and academic performance than their peers, but in the UP&DOWN study girls who disliked physical education showed higher results in academic performance than their peers.

Objetivo: conocer si a aquellos adolescentes que no les gusta la educación física obtienen mejores resultados en rendimiento académico y cognitivo que sus compañeros. Métodos: los participantes incluyen 4.226 adolescentes de los estudios AVENA, AFINOS y UP&DOWN. El gusto por la educación física se valoró con una escala Likert de 7 puntos. El rendimiento cognitivo se valoró en el estudio AVENA usando la versión española del SRA Test of Educational Ability. El rendimiento académico se valoró en los estudios AFINOS y UP&DOWN con las notas de Matemáticas, Lengua y la media de Lengua y Matemáticas. Resultados: en el estudio AVENA encontramos diferencias en la habilidad verbal entre las chicas a las que no les gustaba la educación física y sus compañeros (P = 0,033). En el estudio AFINOS los chicos a los que no les gustaba la educación física tenían mejores notas en Lengua que sus compañeros (P = 0,024). En el estudio UP&DOWN las chicas a las que no les gustaba la educación física obtuvieron mejores resultados en Lengua y en la media de Lengua y Matemáticas (P < 0,001). CONCLUSION: en los estudios AVENA y AFINOS los adolescentes a los que no les gusta la educación física obtuvieron resultados similares a los que sus compañeros, mientras que en el estudio UP&DOWN las chicas a las que no les gustaba la educación física obtuvieron mejores resultados en rendimiento académico que sus compañeros.

Straight-A students dislike physical education in adolescence: myth or truth? The AVENA, AFINOS and UP&DOWN studies / A los mejores estudiantes no les gusta la educación física durante la adolescencia ¿mito o realidad? Los estudios AVENA, AFINOS y UP&DOWN

Objective: to examine if those adolescents who dislike physical education classes get better results on academic and cognitive performance than their peers. Methods: participants included 4 226 adolescents from the AVENA, AFINOS and UP&DOWN studies. Physical education enjoyment was assessed with a 7-point Likert scale. Cognitive performance in the AVENA study was assessed using the Spanish version of the SRA Test of Educational Ability. Academic performance in the AFINOS and UP&DOWN studies was assessed through Mathematics and Language grades and the average of both subjects. Results: in the AVENA study we found differences in verbal ability among girls who dislike physical education and their peers (P=0.033). In the AFINOS study, boys who dislike physical education had higher scores in Language than their peers (P=0.024). In the UP&DOWN study girls who disliked physical education had higher scores in Language and in the average of Language and Mathematics than their peers (P<0.001). Conclusion: in the AVENA and AFINOS studies adolescents who disliked physical education had similar results in cognitive and academic performance than their peers, but in the UP&DOWN study girls who disliked physical education showed higher results in academic performance than their peers (AU)

Objetivo: conocer si a aquellos adolescentes que no les gusta la educación física obtienen mejores resultados en rendimiento académico y cognitivo que sus compañeros. Métodos: los participantes incluyen 4.226 adolescentes de los estudios AVENA, AFINOS y UP&DOWN. El gusto por la educación física se valoró con una escala Likert de 7 puntos. El rendimiento cognitivo se valoró en el estudio AVENA usando la versión española del SRA Test of Educational Ability. El rendimiento académico se valoró en los estudios AFINOS y UP&DOWN con las notas de Matemáticas, Lengua y la media de Lengua y Matemá- ticas. Resultados: en el estudio AVENA encontramos diferencias en la habilidad verbal entre las chicas a las que no les gustaba la educación física y sus compañeros (P=0,033). En el estudio AFINOS los chicos a los que no les gustaba la educación física tenían mejores notas en Lengua que sus compañeros (P=0,024). En el estudio UP&DOWN las chicas a las que no les gustaba la educación física obtuvieron mejores resultados en Lengua y en la media de Lengua y Matemáticas (P<0,001). Conclusion: en los estudios AVENA y AFINOS los adolescentes a los que no les gusta la educación física obtuvieron resultados similares a los que sus compañeros, mientras que en el estudio UP&DOWN las chicas a las que no les gustaba la educación física obtuvieron mejores resultados en rendimiento académico que sus compañeros (AU)

Obese and unfit students dislike physical education in adolescence: myth or truth? The AVENA and UP&DOWN studies / A los adolescentes que no les gusta la educación física tienen peor condición física y más obesidad: ¿mito o realidad? Los estudios AVENA y UP&DOWN

Introduction: In the physical education context a well-known myth suggest that obese and unfit youth dislike physical education. Objective: To examine if adolescents who dislike physical education have higher levels of fatness and lower of fitness than their peers. Methods: Participants included 2606 (49.3% girls) adolescents from AVENA and UP&DOWN studies. Physical education enjoyment was assessed with a 7-point Likert scale. Fatness was assessed with BMI, skinfolds and waist circumference. Physical fitness was assessed with cardiorespiratory, motor and muscular fitness tests. Results: Boys who dislike physical education had similar levels of fatness and fitness than their peers (all P>0.05). Adolescent girls who dislike physical education had higher levels in body fat (P=0.035), and lower levels in muscular (P=0.007) and motor (P=0.007) fitness than their peers. Conclusion: Since only girls who dislike physical education seem to have, albeit weak, higher levels of fatness and lower of fitness than their peers, it partially confirms the myth in adolescent girls (AU)

Introducción: En el contexto de la EF (educación física), n mito bien conocido podría sugerir que a los jóvenes obesos y con baja condición física no les gusta la EF. Objetivo: Examinar si a los adolescentes a los que no les gusta la EF tienen niveles más altos de obesidad y niveles más bajos de forma física que sus compañeros. Métodos: Se tomó a 2606 participantes (49.3% chicas) adolescentes de los estudios AVENA y UP&DOWN. El disfrute de la EF se evaluó empleando una escala Likert de 7 puntos. La obesidad se evaluó mediante el IMC, pliegues cutáneos y circunferencia de la cintura. La condición física fue evaluada mediante pruebas cardiorespiratorias, motoras y musculares. Resultados: Los chicos a los que no les gusta la EF presentaron niveles similares de obesidad que sus compañeros (total P>0.05). Las chicas adolescentes a las que no les gusta la EF presentaron niveles más altos de grasa corporal (P=0.035), y niveles más bajos en condición física muscular (P=0.007) y motora (P=0.007) que sus compañeros. Conclusión: Dado que solo las chicas a las que no les gusta la EF parecen presentar, sin bien levemente, niveles más altos de obesidad y niveles menores de forma física que sus compañeros, el mito se confirma parcialmente ara las chicas adolescentes (AU)