Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio

Background: Reduced quality of life, cancer-related fatigue, and functional impairment are common during and after oncologic treatment. Although therapeutic exercise is effective, evidence on brief, supervised programs of moderate to vigorous intensity remains limited, despite their greater clinical feasibility. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a six-week multimodal Therapeutic Exercise Program (TEP) in patients with cancer. Methods: A randomized controlled clinical trial (NCT05816187) was conducted with 110 patients with cancer (stages I-III), assigned to either an intervention group (supervised TEP, three sessions per week for six weeks) or a control group (usual care). The program included cardiorespiratory and strength training with intensity monitored using the Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), as well as stretching exercises. Quality of life (QoL) was assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30), fatigue using the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue scale (FACIT-F), functional capacity using the Six Minute Walk Test (6MWT), and muscle strength using the 30 Second Sit to Stand Test (30s-STST) and handgrip dynamometry (HGT). Analyses of covariance (ANCOVA), responder analyses based on the Minimal Clinically Important Difference (MCID), and effect sizes (ηp2) were performed. Results: The intervention group showed significant and clinically meaningful improvements in fatigue (FACIT-F: +4.53; p < 0.001; ηp2 = 0.135), global QoL (+9.22; p = 0.006), physical function, functional capacity (+24.16 m in the 6MWT; p = 0.006), and muscle strength (30s-STST: +2.71 repetitions; handgrip: +3.32 kg; p < 0.001). A total of 63.3% of participants were responders for fatigue compared with 13.3% in the control group (NNT = 2.00). Functional improvements showed moderate correlations with fatigue and global health status. Among symptoms, only insomnia demonstrated a significant reduction. Conclusions: A brief, supervised, multimodal TEP of moderate to vigorous intensity appears to be an effective, safe, and clinically relevant intervention to improve fatigue, QoL, and functional capacity in patients with cancer, with potential applicability in multidisciplinary oncologic care.

BackgroundCell metabolomics, including lipidomics, presents several challenges regarding analyzing limited cell populations and distinguishing cellular metabolites from background signals originated from a stimuli or after a treatment. To address this, we have developed a novel workflow for untargeted cell lipidomics analysis.MethodsTo study the impact of varying input cell numbers on the outcomes of untargeted cell lipidomics analysis, CD3+ cells isolated from a healthy donor at 6 different cell counts (50k, 100k, 250k, 500k, 750k, and 1M) were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS) in positive and negative electrospray ionization (ESI+ and ESI-, respectively) modes. After data quality assurance (QA), Spearman correlation analyses were carried out to select chemical signals derived from cells (ρ ≥ 0.7, p-value < 0.05). Then, this methodology was applied to human microvascular dermal endothelial cells (HMVEC-d), where a cell number calibration curve including 4 cell counts (25k, 50k, 75k, and 100k) was incorporated alongside the experimental samples to enable the analysis of cell-derived chemical signals. Here, the lipid response of HMVEC-d after contact with sera from patients at baseline and during the acute stage of anaphylaxis triggered by three different mechanisms was explored.ResultsFor the CD3+ model, we found that although 1087 chemical signals (k) passed the QA, samples did not cluster according to their cell count when taking all signals into account. After correlation analyses, the widest cell count interval considered for correlation analyses (50k-to-1M; k = 70) showed clear clustering by cell number. The principal component analysis (PCA) models for ESI+ showed that for this cell count interval, the first component explained over 90% of the variance among samples. After applying the same methodology to HMVEC-d, we found k = 157 and k = 278 correlated chemical signals for ESI+ and ESI- in the cell curve (25k-100k). Statistical analysis identified 193 chemical signals that significantly (p-value < 0.05 and p-adjusted value < 0.2) differed between the acute and baseline stages of anaphylaxis. Without this correlation approach, 67 additional chemical signals would have been selected as significant. From the 193 chemical signals, 75 unique lipids were annotated, mainly including fatty acids, acyl carnitines, glycerophospholipids, and sphingolipids, all increased in the acute phase. These changes were associated with sphingolipid and glycosphingolipid metabolism, and ceramide and phospholipid signaling pathways.ConclusionsThis workflow for cell lipidomics analysis allows the selection of lipids derived from the intracellular content regardless external sources, supporting specific intracellular metabolism profiling.

The monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) plays a central role in myocardial lactate handling and metabolic adaptation. The functional rs1049434 polymorphism (T1470A; Asp490Glu) affects MCT1-mediated lactate transport and substrate utilization, but its clinical relevance in sarcomere-related hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) remains poorly defined. We studied 56 carriers of pathogenic or likely pathogenic sarcomeric variants examined in a familial HCM program. All participants underwent standardized clinical phenotyping, including electrocardiography, transthoracic echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Genotyping of MCT1 rs1049434 was performed on genomic DNA. Analyses focused on sex-stratified genotype distribution, phenotypic expression among the 26 individuals who fulfilled diagnostic criteria for HCM, and the influence of habitual vigorous exercise. Septal wall thickness was the primary structural endpoint. Among the 26 patients with established HCM (10 women, 16 men), a marked sex-specific effect emerged. Female carriers of the T-allele (TT/TA) exhibited significantly greater interventricular septal thickness compared with AA homozygotes (23.2 vs. 14.2 mm; p = 0.037). In men, septal thickness did not differ by genotype. However, male patients engaged in vigorous physical activity showed a consistently milder structural phenotype, including lower septal thickness (18.3 vs. 19.9 mm; p = 0.585) and directionally favorable markers of mechanical severity. Phenotypic distribution was predominantly asymmetric septal hypertrophy in both sexes, without genotype-dependent differences. The phenotypic impact of MCT1 rs1049434 in sarcomere-positive HCM is context-dependent. In women, impaired monocarboxylate handling is associated with greater hypertrophic remodeling, whereas in men, exercise-related metabolic conditioning appears to attenuate disease severity. These findings support a genotype-sex-environment interaction relevant to precision medicine approaches in HCM.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has numerous complications that negatively impact patients' quality of life. Early diagnosis can significantly reduce these complications. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between the hyoid bone position and the severity of apnea, and to determine if hyoid-related cephalometric variables can be used as predictors of apnea severity. A systematic review of the literature was conducted following PRISMA guidelines. The search was conducted across databases including Medline, ScienceDirect, BVS, and WOK. Two researchers analysed the results applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, with a third researcher resolving discrepancies. After screening, a total of 22 articles were selected for qualitative review. The risk of bias and quality of the studies was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist. Among the 22 selected articles, 9% were classified as poor quality, 46% as fair, and 45% as good quality. A positive correlation was observed between a lower hyoid bone position and the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), indicating that a lower hyoid position is associated with a higher AHI. The H-MP variable (distance between point H and the mandibular plane) presented the strongest predictive power for OSA severity. However, insufficient evidence was found to establish an association between the anteroposterior position of the hyoid bone and OSA severity. The severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with a lower position of the hyoid bone, as reflected in the positive correlation between H-MP and the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), while the sagittal position showed no significant relevance.

BackgroundDigital media memes have emerged as influential tools in health communication, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. While they offer opportunities for emotional engagement and community resilience, they also act as vectors for health misinformation, contributing to the global infodemic. Despite growing interest in their communicative power, the role of memes in shaping public perception and misinformation diffusion remains underexplored in infodemiology.ObjectiveThis integrative review aims to analyze how memes influence emotional, behavioral, and ideological responses to health crises, and to examine their dual role as both contributors to and potential mitigators of infodemics. The paper also explores strategies for integrating memes into public health campaigns and infodemic management.MethodsA comprehensive literature search was conducted across 3 major databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science), identifying a total of 386 records. Following duplicate removal and eligibility screening, 14 peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2025 were included. An integrative narrative approach was used to synthesize evidence on social media behavior, misinformation dynamics, and digital health campaigns. The analysis was grounded in infodemiological and infoveillance frameworks as established by Eysenbach, incorporating insights from psychology, media studies, and public health.ResultsMemes function as emotionally salient and visually potent carriers of health-related narratives. While they can simplify complex messages and foster adaptive humor during crises, they are also susceptible to distortion, particularly in echo chambers and conspiracy communities. Findings reveal that misinformation-laden memes often leverage humor and disgust to bypass critical thinking, and their viral potential is linked to emotional intensity. However, memes have also been successfully integrated into prebunking strategies, increasing engagement and reducing susceptibility to false claims when culturally tailored. The review identifies key mechanisms that enhance or hinder the infodemiological value of memes, including political orientation, digital literacy, and narrative framing.ConclusionsMemes are a double-edged sword in the context of infodemics. Their integration into infodemic surveillance and digital health campaigns requires a nuanced understanding of their emotional, cultural, and epistemic effects. Public health institutions should incorporate meme analysis into real-time infoveillance systems, apply evidence-based meme formats in prebunking efforts, and foster digital literacy that enables critical meme consumption. Future infodemiology research should further explore the long-term behavioral impacts of memetic misinformation and the scalability of meme-based interventions.

IntroductionColorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. While screening has reduced incidence in older adults, cases of early-onset CRC (EOCRC), diagnosed before age 50, are rising, highlighting the need to understand its unique biology. Immune responses, particularly T-cell infiltration measured by the tumor-based Immunoscore, are known predictors of CRC prognosis, but less is known about systemic immune differences by age at diagnosis.MethodsPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from EOCRC (n=19) and late-onset CRC (LOCRC; n=19) participants recruited in Madrid (Spain) were analyzed for immune cell phenotypes, exhaustion markers, soluble cytokines, and metabolic activity.ResultsOur study revealed distinct peripheral blood immune profiles differentiating EOCRC from LOCRC. EOCRC patients exhibited a heightened proinflammatory environment, with increased functional capacity of CD4+ Th1, Th9, and Th17 subsets to produce IFNg, IL-9, and IL-17A, respectively, and increased plasma levels of IFNg and CXCL8/IL-8. This suggests an active but potentially ineffective immune response. Conversely, LOCRC patients showed hallmarks of immunosenescence and chronic inflammation, including impaired cytokine production, higher frequencies of CD8+ Tgd and Th22 cells, and increased plasma CCL13/MCP-4, consistent with tissue remodeling and immune suppression. Biomarkers distinguishing EOCRC included reduced Th22 and CD8+ Tgd cell frequencies and higher NKT-like cells with increased IL-13 production by Th22 cells. ConclusionsEOCRC and LOCRC involved different immune mechanisms, where EOCRC showed an altered proinflammatory environment with preserved regulatory pathways, while LOCRC reflected age-related immune decline and inflammaging. Peripheral blood immune profiling offers a minimally invasive liquid Immunoscore for early detection and enables personalized immunotherapies for age-related immune landscapes, particularly benefiting younger individuals at risk of EOCRC.

Sport is a powerful cultural institution that not only reflects but also reinforces societal norms, especially those related to gender and ability. Traditional sport psychology focuses on individual performance and often overlooks broader socio-cultural contexts. This article advocates a critical shift toward a Cultural Sport Psychology (CSP) model grounded in cultural praxis to realize sport's potential as an agent of social change. Using an intersectional and deconstructive framework, we explore how CSP-informed interventions can actively challenge and dismantle deeply rooted cultural stereotypes about gender and disability. We illustrate how psychological strategies can decenter the 'feminine ideal' and redefine hegemonic masculinity, while also supporting Para-athletes in navigating the ableist gaze and fostering competence-based self-representations. Additionally, we highlight the essential role of interdisciplinary education and corporate responsibility, particularly within the framework of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to enable cultural transformation. By positioning athletes as agents of cultural change and engaging in systemic transformation, sport psychology can transcend its traditional focus, becoming a key discipline in the global movement for inclusion and social justice.

Background: Depression is a prevalent mental health condition among older adults and may be linked to multiple systemic and functional factors. Emerging evidence suggests a bidirectional relationship between depressive symptoms and poor oral health, but data from European populations remain scarce. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 181 community-dwelling adults aged over 66 years in Madrid, Spain. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15), and functional dependence using the Barthel Index. Oral examinations included the number of caries, root remnants, and gingivitis. Additional variables included the Body Mass Index (BMI), smoking and alcohol consumption, and medication use. Data were analysed using descriptive and non-parametric statistics. Results: Overall, 49.2% of participants exhibited depressive symptoms (34.8% moderate, 14.4% severe). Old age and excess weight were significantly associated with depression (p < 0.05). Depressed participants showed higher functional dependence scores on the Barthel Index (p < 0.001). Oral health indicators, including higher number of caries, root remnants, and gingivitis, were significantly worse among those with depression (p < 0.005). Oral hygiene practices such as toothbrushing were slightly more frequent in the non-depressed group, while oral irrigator use was low across all groups. Conclusions: Depressive symptoms in older Spanish adults were associated with poorer oral health, greater functional dependence, and certain clinical factors such as BMI and antidepressant use. These findings highlight the importance of integrated, multidisciplinary approaches to promote both mental and oral health in ageing populations. Longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify the causal pathways underlying these associations.