Lack of effect of lowering LDL cholesterol on cancer: meta-analysis of individual data from 175,000 people in 27 randomised trials of statin therapy

Background: Statin therapy reduces the risk of occlusive vascular events, but uncertainty remains about potential effects on cancer. We sought to provide a detailed assessment of any effects on cancer of lowering LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) with a statin using individual patient records from 175,000 patients in 27 large-scale statin trials. Methods and Findings: Individual records of 134,537 participants in 22 randomised trials of statin versus control (median duration 4.8 years) and 39,612 participants in 5 trials of more intensive versus less intensive statin therapy (median duration 5.1 years) were obtained. Reducing LDL-C with a statin for about 5 years had no effect on newly diagnosed cancer or on death from such cancers in either the trials of statin versus control (cancer incidence: 3755 [1.4% per year [py]] versus 3738 [1.4% py], RR 1.00 [95% CI 0.96-1.05]; cancer mortality: 1365 [0.5% py] versus 1358 [0.5% py], RR 1.00 [95% CI 0.93-1.08]) or in the trials of more versus less statin (cancer incidence: 1466 [1.6% py] vs 1472 [1.6% py], RR 1.00 [95% CI 0.93-1.07]; cancer mortality: 447 [0.5% py] versus 481 [0.5% py], RR 0.93 [95% CI 0.82-1.06]). Moreover, there was no evidence of any effect of reducing LDL-C with statin therapy on cancer incidence or mortality at any of 23 individual categories of sites, with increasing years of treatment, for any individual statin, or in any given subgroup. In particular, among individuals with low baseline LDL-C (<2 mmol/L), there was no evidence that further LDL-C reduction (from about 1.7 to 1.3 mmol/L) increased cancer risk (381 [1.6% py] versus 408 [1.7% py]; RR 0.92 [99% CI 0.76-1.10]). Conclusions: In 27 randomised trials, a median of five years of statin therapy had no effect on the incidence of, or mortality from, any type of cancer (or the aggregate of all cancer).

Phytoplankton composition derived from CHEMTAX along 10°E during POLARSTERN cruise ANT-XXVIII/3, Jan-March 2012

Phytoplankton community structure and their physiological response in the vicinity of the Antarctic Polar Front (APF; 44°S to 53°S, centred at 10°E) were investigated as part of the ANT-XXVIII/3 Eddy-Pump cruise conducted in austral summer 2012. Our results show that under iron-limited (< 0.3 µmol/m**3) conditions, high total chlorophyll-a (TChl-a) concentrations (> 0.6 mg/m**3) can be observed at stations with deep mixed layer (> 60 m) across the APF. In contrast, light was excessive at stations with shallower mixed layer and phytoplankton were producing higher amounts of photoprotective pigments, diadinoxanthin (DD) and diatoxanthin (DT), at the expense of TChl-a, resulting in higher ratios of (DD+DT)/ TChl-a. North of the APF, significantly lower silicic acid (Si(OH)4) concentrations (< 2 mmol/m**3) lead to the domination of nanophytoplankton consisting mostly of haptophytes, which produced higher ratios of (DD+DT)/TChl-a under relatively low irradiance conditions. The Si(OH)4 replete (> 5 mmol/m**3) region south of the APF, on the contrary, was dominated by microphytoplankton (diatoms and dinoflagellates) with lower ratios of (DD+DT)/TChl-a, despite having been exposed to higher levels of irradiance. The significant correlation between nanophytoplankton and (DD+DT)/TChl-a indicates that differences in taxon-specific response to light are also influencing TChl-a concentration in the APF during summer. Our results reveal that provided mixing is deep and Si(OH)4 is replete, TChl-a concentrations higher than 0.6 mg/m**3 are achievable in the iron-limited APF waters during summer.

Dificultades del profesorado para planificar, coordinar y evaluar competencias claves. Un análisis desde la Inspección de Educación.

Este artículo presenta una investigación en la que se analizan las dificultades del profesorado para planificar, coordinar y evaluar competencias claves en una muestra de 23 centros educativos. El tema tiene hondas repercusiones ya que una mala praxis educativa de las competencias claves puede conculcar uno de los derechos fundamentales del alumnado a ser evaluado de forma objetiva (LODE: Art.6b y RD 732/1995: Art. 13.1) y poder superar las pruebas de evaluación consideradas necesarias para la obtención del título académico mínimo que otorga el estado español. La investigación se ha desarrollado desde una doble perspectiva metodológica; en primer lugar, es una investigación descriptiva en la que presentamos las características fundamentales de las competencias claves y la normativa básica para su desarrollo y evaluación. En segundo lugar,  aplicamos un procedimiento de análisis con una doble vertiente cualitativa mediante el empleo del programa Atlas-Ti y del enfoque reticular-categorial del análisis de redes sociales con la aplicación de UCINET y el visor yED Graph Editor para abordar el análisis de las principales dificultades y obstáculos detectados. Los resultados muestran que existen serias dificultades en las tres dimensiones analizadas: "planificación", "coordinación" y "evaluación" de competencias clave; especialmente en la necesidad de formación del profesorado, en la evaluación de las competencias, en la metodología para su desarrollo y en los procesos de coordinación interna para su consecución en los centros educativos.

Análisis de la producción científica de los arquitectos técnicos docentes universitarios en España. 1980-2015. Estudio de revistas indizadas en WOS-SCOPUS-CSIC (ICYT-ISOC)

Se estudia la producción científica de los Arquitectos Técnicos docentes universitarios en España en los últimos 35 años ya que el cambio del título académico al de Grado, el aumento del número de doctores y el desarrollo de una política académica que ha convertido en parámetro especial para medir la calidad de la Universidad la cantidad y calidad de los artículos publicados han propiciado un cambio sustancial en esta área del conocimiento. Se determina la investigación producida a través del análisis de las bases de datos WOS-SCOPUS-CSIC(ICYT-ISOC) y las revistas más utilizadas por esta disciplina y se analiza el número de publicaciones de este colectivo por Universidades y revistas. El estudio llevado a cabo evidencia un cambio sustancial en la producción científica de los arquitectos técnicos en España.

On gathering in Art therapy: a way to understand and build the discipline with the other

In the present article I try to share some reflections on a case study of an attachment disorder child I worked with for two years through art therapy in a day hospital. Those reflections let me go deeply in some specific elements concerning the discipline which let us delimit its theoretical and methodological possible scope. In this way, from the specific of the case study on propose to reflect on those elements that conform a methodology related to the art therapist way of doing, in order to concrete and evaluate other possible interventions to develop in similar cases and contexts.

Indicators on community art practices: some reflections

From the Divercity project, the article reflects on methodology, good practices and indicators useful for community art practices. At first term, social exclusión is defined as well as community art, and which features it presents. Subsequently, the article reviews the indicators that are being used to measure the success or achievement of community arts practice, raising criticism from equality and including indicators that measure the well-being of women.

The trace in the skin in an Art Therapy Workshop

We present the experience of a brief Art Therapy Workshop conducted with a group of women with dermatological conditions, conducted at the Hospital General Universitario Reina Sofía of Murcia. We will focus on one of the patients, recognizing the importance of group relationships for therapy. The main objective was to establish a link between emotions and experiences of patients and their own body, specifically their skin condition. Thus, personal, family and social will constitute the basis on which these emotions and experiences are embedded. The relationships and their status as mothers are guides for the therapeutic work carried out.

La dimensión mítica de los personajes vanguardistas. Una reflexión en torno a la teoría de Ortega y Gasset

En el realismo de finales del XIX se consolida el desarrollo de los personajes novelescos, pero muy poco tiempo después se produce un giro en la narrativa hacia la abstracción que induce a Ortega y Gasset a reflexionar sobre cuáles son las características que definen un personaje literario. En Meditaciones del Quijote (1914), La deshumanización del arte e Ideas sobre la novela (ambos de 1925) hace un análisis histórico que concluye ofreciendo un diagnóstico de la literatura contemporánea. Muchos de los narradores vanguardistas, formados a su sombra, tienen en cuenta sus escritos y experimentan con sus propuestas. En este proceso el mito juega un papel principal, como sustancia de lo poético y como sustrato cultural de muchos de los protagonistas de la novela experimental de los años 20.

"Et occidetur virtute Domini Antichristus a Mikaele arcangelo". Paisaje y escatología en Sant Miquel de Llíria (s. XIV d. C.)

El presente articulo intenta determinar las razones por las que el santuario de Sant Miquel de Llíria, uno de los más importantes de la actual provincia de Valencia, se consagró al arcàngel guerrero. Se estudia para ello la historia de su culto en Occidente, haciendo hincapié en aspectos como su relación con los lugares elevados y la frecuente proximidad de sus santuarios con aquellos dedicados a la Virgen. Atenderemos también a aspectos fundamentales del contexto histórico, como los movimientos de renovación espiritual medievales, la influencia del médico y teólogo Arnau de Vilanova en la Valencia de principios del siglo XIV y las profecías escatológicas vinculadas a la llegada del Anticristo.

El poema “Sonate à S.” (2012) de André Velter en español: estrategias para la traducción del ritmo en el verso libre

En este trabajo se abordan los problemas que presenta la traducción de textos poéticos, en concreto las dificultades que conlleva el trasvase del ritmo en poemas escritos en verso libre. Para ello, presentamos la traducción que hemos realizado del poema “Sonate à S.”, incluido en Avec un peu plus de ciel (2012), obra reciente del reconocido escritor contemporáneo francés André Velter. Tras una breve introducción sobre el verso libre, el ritmo y las posibles estrategias traductológicas, se analizan las características del poema original y se comentan las dificultades que plantea su trasvase. A continuación, el artículo se cierra con las principales conclusiones obtenidas. Asimismo, se incluye un anexo con el texto origen y el texto meta.

Receptive Vocabulary of CLIL and Non-CLIL Primary and Secondary School Learners

CLIL instruction has been reported to be beneficial for foreign language vocabulary learning since CLIL students show higher vocabulary profiles than students of their same age in traditional EFL contexts. However, to our knowledge, the receptive vocabulary knowledge of CLIL and non-CLIL learners at the end of primary and secondary education has not been examined yet. Hence, this study aims at comparing the receptive vocabulary size 79 CLIL primary learners with the receptive vocabulary knowledge of 331 non-CLIL learners at the end of primary and secondary school. Sex-based differences were also analysed. The 2k Vocabulary Levels Test (VLT) was used for the purposes of the study. Results revealed that learners’ receptive vocabulary sizes lie within the most frequent 1000 words, non-CLIL secondary school students throw better results than primary students but the differences between the secondary group and the CLIL group are not statistically significant. As for sex-based differences, we found no significant differences among the groups. These findings led us to believe that the CLIL approach offers a benefit for vocabulary acquisition since CLIL learners have been exposed to the foreign language for a shorter period of time and the results are quite similar to their non-CLIL secondary school partners.

ART attrition across health facilities implementing Option B+ in Haiti

Thesis (Master's)--University of Washington, 2016-08

“Medical bag for General Practice” Just in Case: redesigning the doctor’s bag (2012)

This research addressed practice related problems from a medico-legal perspective and aims to provide a working tool that aids GPs to comply with best practice protocols. The resulting bag was developed in collaboration with General Practitioners, clinicians and members of the Medical Defense Union. Using proven methods developed within the Healthcare & Patient Safety Lab (e.g. DOME, Ambulance) to establish an evidence-based brief, this research used task, equipment and consumables analysis to determine minimum requirements and preferred layouts for task optimisation. The research established that clinicians require three distinct functions in their workspace: laying out, organisation and information retrieval. Feedback from clinicians indicates that this working tool allows them to access information and equipment wherever they may be and suggests an improvement from current practice. The research is now into a second year where the design of the bag will be refined and tested. Lifestyle and demographic changes such as the ageing population and increased prevalence of chronic diseases require more consistent standards of primary care, and care that is well coordinated and integrated (Imison, et al., 2011). Many guidelines exist relating to general practice and the doctor’s bag (NSLMC, 2008, RACGP, 2010, RCGP, 2008 and Hiramanek, 2004), however there is no standard in the UK that regulates the shape and materials of the bag or its contents. Doctors may use any sort of vessel to transport their equipment and consumables to a patient’s location. Furthermore, treating a patient in their own home, outside an ideal clinical environment, presents its own complications. A looks-like, works-like bag prototype and information system that will be used in clinical trials, the results of which will determine the manufacturing of a new, standardised bag for clinical treatment used by members of the Medical Defence Union.

Contemporary Art UK (Art World Series)

Adventures Close to Home: the British art scene from “then” to “now” is an introductory essay to the forthcoming Art World Series published by Blackdog to cover contemporary art in the United Kingdom. Previous titles have looked at North America, South America and Eastern Europe.

Monsters Take to the Streets! Monstrous Street-Art as Pedagogy of Resistance to Post-Olympic Regeneration in Hackney Wick?

This chapter explores geographies of gentrification and resistance in relation to the monstrous through the lens of street-art in post-Olympic London. It takes as a geographic case study Hackney Wick, which has for a long time been a bastion of alternative and creative living due to cheap rents in large, ex-industrial warehouse spaces. The artistic sociality of the area is imbued within its landscape, as prolific street artists have adorned ex-industrial warehouses and canal-side walls with graffiti and murals. Since the announcement of the 2012 Olympic Games, the area has been a site of intense political and aesthetic contestation. The post-Olympic legacy means that the area has been earmarked for redevelopment, with current residents facing the possibility of joining thousands already displaced by the games. The anxiety of dispossession is reflected by monstrous characters and sinister disembodied teeth, eyes and fingers embedded within the landscape, painted by local artists. Using geographically sensitive mobile and visual methodology to document the landscape and artwork, the chapter analyses and interprets the monstrous themes using a range of theorists including Mikhail Bakhtin, Georges Bataille and Nick Land. I argue that monstrous street-art lays visible claim to public territory for aesthetic purposes at odds with the visions of redevelopers and the needs of capital. Whilst street-art and graffiti do not fit easily within frameworks of organized political resistance or collective social movements, they operate as a kind of epistemological transgression that triggers transformative affects in the viewer. This creates conditions for pedagogies of resistance to gentrification by expressing and mobilizing political affects such as anger and anxiety, raising awareness of geographical politics, and encouraging the viewer to question the status quo of the built environment.