The COMT Val158 Met polymorphism as an associated risk factor for Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment in APOE 4 carriers

Background: The aim of this study is to examine the influence of the catechol-O-methyltranferase (COMT) gene (polymorphism Val158 Met) as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment of amnesic type (MCI), and its synergistic effect with the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE). A total of 223 MCI patients, 345 AD and 253 healthy controls were analyzed. Clinical criteria and neuropsychological tests were used to establish diagnostic groups. The DNA Bank of the University of the Basque Country (UPV-EHU) (Spain) determined COMT Val158 Met and APOE genotypes using real time polymerase chain reaction (rtPCR) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLPs), respectively. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to determine the risk of AD and MCI. Results: Neither COMT alleles nor genotypes were independent risk factors for AD or MCI. The high activity genotypes (GG and AG) showed a synergistic effect with APOE epsilon 4 allele, increasing the risk of AD (OR = 5.96, 95% CI 2.74-12.94, p < 0.001 and OR = 6.71, 95% CI 3.36-13.41, p < 0.001 respectivily). In AD patients this effect was greater in women. In MCI patients such as synergistic effect was only found between AG and APOE epsilon 4 allele (OR = 3.21 95% CI 1.56-6.63, p = 0.02) and was greater in men (OR = 5.88 95% CI 1.69-20.42, p < 0.01). Conclusion: COMT (Val158 Met) polymorphism is not an independent risk factor for AD or MCI, but shows a synergistic effect with APOE epsilon 4 allele that proves greater in women with AD.

Plan de marketing para el hotel López de Haro

El objeto del presente Trabajo Fin de Grado (TFG) es realizar un Plan de Marketing para el Hotel López de Haro de 5 estrellas, perteneciente a la cadena Ercilla y ubicado en Bilbao. Para ello, se ha analizado tanto el entorno interno como el externo, detectándose una serie de fortalezas entre las que destaca el excelente trato personal que ofrecen los empleados a sus huéspedes y que es un factor clave sobre el que cimentar su futuro. Asimismo, se han detectado debilidades, oportunidades y amenazas sobre las que hay que trabajar. Con ese diagnóstico y con una orientación al cliente se han definido objetivos de marketing alcanzables y que permitieran, mediante diferentes estrategias y acciones satisfacer las necesidades de la clientela. En este sentido, se han investigado también las tendencias del mercado y, teniendo en cuenta estas y la realidad del hotel, se ha aportado una visión externa que les permita mejorar el funcionamiento del hotel.