Universidad Católica San Antonio de Murcia

Background/Objectives: Obesity is an increasingly concerning public health issue due to its high prevalence and its association with multiple comorbidities. A significant proportion of patients with obesity who undergo bariatric surgery could exhibit suboptimal mid-term outcomes. This study aims to comprehensively assess anthropometric, clinical, biochemical, nutritional, and quality of life parameters in patients with severe obesity undergoing bariatric surgery, with a particular focus on outcomes at 24 months post-surgery to capture mid-term effects that may not be apparent during the first year of follow-up. Methods: A prospective study was conducted in 95 patients with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery (Roux-en Y gastric bypass; RYGB) at the Virgen de la Arrixaca University Clinical Hospital (Murcia, Spain) between 2020 and 2023. Participants were followed up at 6, 12, and 24 months after RYGB. The study incorporated anthropometric assessments (BMI, body composition via bioelectrical impedance), full biochemical profiling, dietary analysis (using a validated food frequency questionnaire), and quality of life assessment (SF-36 questionnaire). Results: Our results showed significant weight loss after the intervention, accompanied by improvements in metabolic parameters, and dietary habits. Regarding quality of life, significant improvements were observed in both the physical (baseline: 39.62%; 6 months: 52.40%; 12 months: 53.12%) and mental components (baseline: 42.08; 6 months: 53.40; 12 months: 52.14%) at 6 and 12 months post-surgery. However, our prospective 24-month follow-up revealed that, despite these initial benefits, mental health significantly declined compared with the 12-month follow-up (24 months: 46.85%). In contrast, the physical component remained relatively stable at 24 months (24 months: 50.91%). However, our prospective 24-month follow-up revealed that, despite these initial benefits, there was a decline in mental health compared to the 12-month follow-up. Conclusions: While bariatric surgery is associated with improvements in anthropometric measures and some aspects of quality of life, our findings underscore the need for continued mid-term support to address emerging challenges in mental well-being.

Fink, B, Zabaloy, S, Loturco, I, and González, JG. Linear sprint and vertical jump performance in female rugby union players: An exploratory analysis across age groups and playing positions. J Strength Cond Res 40(1): 118-126, 2026-This study aimed to (a) determine the distance needed to reach maximum velocity (Vmax) in female rugby union players during a 50-m linear sprint, considering age categories (i.e., under-14 [U14], under-16 [U16], under-18 [U18], and Seniors) and playing positions (i.e., forwards and backs); (b) examine differences in linear sprint performance and countermovement jump (CMJ) height across age categories and playing positions; and (c) explore the associations between sprint times, Vmax, and CMJ height, using players' body mass as a covariate. Eighty-five female rugby players (U14: n = 22; 13.45 ± 1.06 years, U16: n = 23; 15.39 ± 0.78 years, U18: n = 21; 16.19 ± 0.68 years, Seniors: n = 20; 24.35 ± 5.16 years) volunteered to participate in the study. Subjects completed a 50-m linear sprint and CMJ test on the same day. Results showed that younger players (i.e., U14, U16, U18) reached Vmax at 15-20 m whereas Seniors did so at 20-25 m. Backs showed a higher Vmax than forwards in U14, U16, and Senior categories (p < 0.05; effect size [ES] > 0.85), and greater CMJ height in U14 (p = 0.028; ES = -1.01). Likewise, lower sprint times (from 5 to 20 m) and higher CMJ height were observed in Senior compared with their younger counterparts (p < 0.05). Similarly, Senior forwards showed lower sprint times (from 20 to 50 m) and higher CMJ height than U14 players (p < 0.05; r: small to moderate). Regarding associations, CMJ height was significantly related to all sprint measures (p < 0.05). In conclusion, younger female rugby players require shorter distances to reach Vmax than Seniors, and these results emphasize the importance of assessing vertical jump and sprint performance, given the associations observed across all measures.

El objetivo de este artículo es el de analizar La cólera de Aquiles (1979), tercera entrega de la tetralogía Antagonía, de Luis Goytisolo, en relación con algunos nudos centrales de la trama de la misma obra. En particular, se estudiarán las reescrituras que lleva a cabo Matilde Moret de algunas obras del pasado del canon literario occidental, desde la Ilíada de Homero pasando por la Eneida de Virgilio, hasta la poesía de Safo; el uso peculiar de la écfrasis a la hora de desentrañar el sentido de algunos cuadros, en particular, Las lanzas de Diego de Velázquez y un fantasmal y apócrifo La cólera de Aquiles atribuido a Nicolas Poussin; el uso de la reflexión metaliteraria para ahondar en el análisis de la guerra de los sexos y de cómo Eros desdibuja las fronteras entre los géneros masculino y femenino. Finalmente, se demostrará cómo el discurso de Matilde Moret le permite a Luis Goytisolo ampliar y complicar esa enorme metáfora sobre el acto de la escritura y el paralelo acto de la lectura que es Antagonía.

Tailored POT/Fe3O4 core–shell nanoparticles enable light-driven release of charged drugs. The Fe3O4/POT heterojunction shifts the bandgap to safety wavelengths, promoting POT photooxidation and triggering drug expulsion to preserve electroneutrality. This design achieves precise, tunable, and efficient on-demand drug delivery in complex media. More in the Research Article (e202514317), María Cuartero and co-workers.

Consolidar una marca personal en las redes sociales no es una tarea sencilla. Requiere un proceso de aprendizaje continuo basado en prueba y error. Sin embargo, una vez alcanzada una buena reputación y lograda la conexión con la audiencia, se abre la posibilidad de generar beneficios tanto económicos como personales. Este trabajo presenta un caso de éxito de marca personal a través de la creatividad: ‘Marcela Peraz’, creadora de contenido en redes sociales, posicionada como una de las mejores artistas de maquillaje y body paint en Latinoamérica, con presencia destacada en TikTok, Facebook, Instagram y YouTube.

On April 28, 2025, a large-scale blackout affected mainland Spain and Portugal for over ten hours, severely impacting Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Although the cause remains uncertain and initially cyberattack was a concern, it has most probably been related to infrastructure failure. This event exposed critical vulnerabilities in EMS preparedness, as no region had a specific contingency plan for power outages.The blackout led to wide-spread disruption, including traffic signal failures that caused accidents and delayed emergency response, and the collapse of communication networks that affected 1-1-2 emergency calls. Fuel shortages also emerged as gas stations became non-operational. Patients using home medical devices faced life-threatening situations, with at least one death reported due to a ventilator failure. The reliance on technology proved to be a major weakness, as many EMS systems lacked backup communication tools like satellite phones or analog radios, and many hospitals and ambulance bases were not prepared with stable generators and adequate fuel access.Coordination between EMS, hospitals, and other emergency services was challenged by incompatible protocols and equipment. Despite these difficulties, EMS demonstrated adaptability by prioritizing urgent care and reallocating resources. The event exposed systemic fragilities and underscored the need for robust emergency planning, interagency drills, technological redundancy, and investment in resilient infrastructure. This incident serves as a global wake-up call, emphasizing that health systems must be prepared for increasing risks from climate change, cyber threats, and energy insecurity. Emergency preparedness should shift from being reactive to proactive, focusing on flexible systems, coordinated action, and workforce training to ensure continuity of health care during future blackouts.

The sensitivity of ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) that are operated by equilibrium potentiometry is determined by the well-known Nernst equation. An elegant concept that involved connecting various potentiometric cells in series was demonstrated in early reports with the aim of increasing the sensitivity of ISEs by multiplying the theoretical slope by the number of cells used. In the 1980s and 1990s, the concept of cells connected in series (CCS) was demonstrated to be capable of amplifying the potentiometric signal, enhancing the determination of selected analytes. Nevertheless, the use of bulky electrodes and cumbersome methods for sensor fabrication restricted its applicability to modern analytical contexts. Hereby, we revive and modernize this overlooked concept by introducing 3D-printed potentiometric multicells (3DP-PMCs) that integrate solid-contact ISEs and solid-state reference electrodes into compact, interconnected architectures. Owing to the design flexibility and reproducibility of 3D printing, the 3DP-PMC platform enables slope multiplication by up to 8-fold, achieving sensitivities of 475 ± 12 mV dec-1. Importantly, this enhanced performance is maintained across narrow concentration intervals, with the octuple-cell configuration allowing detection of 0.1 mM concentration changes (equivalent to a 2% change) not achievable with an individual cell configuration. This work demonstrates, for the first time, the practical translation of the CCS principle into a miniaturized, modular, and easily manufacturable format, paving the way for its integration into microfluidic, wearable, and point-of-care devices.

Aunque los estudios prospectivos estiman directamente la influencia de un factor en la aparición de una enfermedad, en muchas ocasiones los muestreos Caso-Control son más baratos, rápidos, y a veces los únicos factibles. En ellos se toma una muestra aleatoria de individuos enfermos (casos) y se evalúa la proporción de ellos, P1, que estaban expuestos al factor. También se toma una muestra aleatoria de no enfermos (controles) y se evalúa la proporción de ellos, P0, que estaban expuestos. A partir de estas dos proporciones se calculan las respectivas Odds y su cociente, la Odd Ratio, OR. Cuando la incidencia de la enfermedad es pequeña, digamos menor del 10%, este valor de la OR se aproxima mucho al Riesgo Relativo, RR, y por ello nos dice, con buena aproximación, cuánto mayor es el riesgo de tener la enfermedad si se está expuesto al factor. En todos los casos los estudios caso control suelen tener más factores de confusión, no fácilmente controlables, que los estudios prospectivos. Pero en algunas circunstancias tienen potencia estadística muy superior al diseño prospectivo.

Prematurity and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are risk factors for alterations in language development. Their coexistence, frequent in twin pregnancies, may result in atypical communicative profiles that require specific interventions. This case report analyzed the linguistic, cognitive, and socioemotional development of two premature twins with ASD, relating the results to the therapeutic strategies applied. Standardized tests were applied to measure cognitive, linguistic, adaptive, and socioemotional development. The intervention combined the TEACCH, ABA, DIR/Floortime, and Hanen—More Than Words models. Both children showed significant impairments in communication, executive functions, and autonomy, with differentiated clinical profiles. Individualized interventions favored advances in functional language, emotional regulation, and routines, although challenges in language generalization and pragmatics persisted. The combination of prematurity and ASD creates complex challenges that require individualized therapeutic approaches. Early and intensive intervention, based on structured and relational approaches, is useful to promote functional and communicative development.

Objective: The objective of this research is to explore the healthcare access experiences of trans and gender-diverse adolescents in the Region of Murcia (Spain). Methodology: An exploratory qualitative study was conducted using an interpretative phenomenological approach, consisting of semi-structured interviews with adolescents and their families. The study sample consisted of 20 participants: 10 trans and gender-diverse adolescents residing in the Region of Murcia and their respective mothers. Interview dyads (adolescent and mother) were incorporated sequentially until data saturation was reached. Transcription and data pre-analysis were conducted simultaneously, following the steps outlined in Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Results: The results are structured based on personal barriers of the participants, perceived barriers in interactions with professionals, and institutional barriers to receiving quality healthcare. Conclusions: This study helps raise awareness about the situation faced by trans adolescents in healthcare settings. It is essential for healthcare professionals to receive greater training and awareness regarding transgender health and for centers to have action protocols, services, and facilities tailored to these patients.