http://hdl.handle.net/10366/3823 Investigación científica producida o editada por los departamentos y centros de la Universidad de Salamanca 2026-06-17T09:28:44Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/171838 [ES] Introducción: La esclerosis múltiple (EM) es una patología neurodegenerativa de carácter crónico, cuya fisiopatología se caracteriza por la presencia de procesos inflamatorios recurrentes y desmielinización a nivel del sistema nervioso central. En el abordaje terapéutico de esta enfermedad, las intervenciones de neurorehabilitación, como los métodos Vojta y Bobath, son comúnmente empleadas en la práctica clínica. No obstante, la evidencia científica disponible sobre su impacto en biomarcadores relacionados con la mielinización, así como en parámetros clínicos específicos, sigue siendo limitada, lo que pone de manifiesto la necesidad de investigaciones adicionales que permitan esclarecer su efectividad en este contexto. Objetivo: Comparar los efectos de la Terapia de Locomoción Refleja de Vojta frente al Método Bobath en sujetos con Esclerosis Múltiple, sobre la presión inspiratoria máxima (PIMax), el equilibrio, la espasticidad, el tiempo de reacción y el perfil lipidómico de ácidos grados relacionados con procesos neuroinflamatorios. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un ensayo clínico aleatorizado con el objetivo de evaluar la eficacia comparativa de dos enfoques terapéuticos de neurorehabilitación en pacientes diagnosticados con EM. El estudio fue desarrollado en la Clínica de Fisioterapia Aymara Abreu, mientras que el análisis lipidómico se realizó en el Instituto de Neurociencias de Castilla y León (INCYL). La muestra estuvo compuesta por dos grupos: Un grupo de intervención, correspondiente al enfoque de locomoción refleja, el cual recibió sesiones individuales de fisioterapia (n = 16); y el segundo grupo “tratamiento habitual”, basado en el concepto Bobath (n = 12), que recibió un número equivalente de sesiones. Ambos grupos participaron en un programa de intervención de dos sesiones semanales durante un período de 12 meses. Las variables de resultado incluyeron: la Escala de Equilibrio de Berg, la Escala Tardieu, los tiempos de reacción (visual, auditivo y táctil) evaluados mediante el programa Cognifit, la presión inspiratoria máxima (PImax) y los biomarcadores lipídicos presentes en la lágrima. Resultados: La intervención basada en la Terapia de Locomoción Refleja de Vojta, en comparación con el enfoque terapéutico del concepto Bobath, evidenció mejoras significativas en diversos parámetros clínicos y fisiológicos. En particular, se observó un incremento en la presión inspiratoria máxima (PImax), una optimización de la estabilidad postural evaluada mediante la Escala de Equilibrio de Berg, y una disminución de la espasticidad, según los registros obtenidos a través de la Escala de Tardieu. Adicionalmente, se constató una reducción en la latencia de los tiempos de reacción visual, auditivo y táctil, medidos mediante el programa Cognifit. En el ámbito bioquímico, el análisis lipidómico de la lágrima reveló una disminución en los niveles de ácido araquidónico, lo cual podría indicar un menor proceso neuroinflamatorio. Conclusiones: La Terapia Vojta mostró una evolución funcional más consistente que el Método Bobath, observándose ligeras modificaciones en los ácidos grasos estudiados. Asimismo, se evidenciaron mejoras en parámetros fisiológicos funcionales como equilibrio, espasticidad, tiempo de reacción y PIMax. Su aplicación podría representar una estrategia terapéutica prometedora en la neurorrehabilitación. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/171837 [EN]Gender disparity is a global issue affecting every field around the Globe. The disparity is higher in STEM subjects, including Geosciences. South Korean government has implemented many measures to reduce disparity in STEM subjects, and gender equality at the youth level improved significantly. Yet the numbers are still low in age 40 and diminish at higher ranks: women in age 30-40 are pressurized by sociocultural imbalance issues (childcare), and by organizational restrictions (glass ceiling) after 40. Thus, it is critical to connect sociocultural measures on gender disparity in households and organization reform to achieve overall gender equality at all levels. Previous studies show that promoting women’s leadership in STEM (including Geosciences) can help in closing the gender gap by increasing role models for female students. We analysed successful good practices, such as collaboration within developing strategies through ERASMUS + projects with western countries and eastern countries. Closing the gender gap in STEM areas should transcend borders, by implementing a multilateral and international focus for building networks that will reduce the gap within academia and research fields, also in higher level roles by supporting women’s careers towards a new, equal paradigm within Geoscience, as part of STEM fields. 2026-03-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/171836 [EN]This paper aims to comprehensively investigate the content of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in 11 tremolite samples to better understanding of their potential effects on human health. Accurate characterization of trace element concentrations in asbestos mineral fibers is crucial to elucidate their potential synergistic contribution to the mechanisms of asbestos‐induced carcinogenesis and related pathologies, particularly in light of the documented involvement of elements such as Ni and Cr in the etiology of lung cancer. Samples were collected from diverse geological settings: San Severino Lucano and Iacolinei (Basilicata region, South Italy), Val Malenco (Lombardy region, North Italy), Praborna and Verrayes (Aosta Valley, North Italy), Monastero di Lanzo, Bracchiello, Caprie (Piedmont region, North Italy), Reventino (Calabria region, South Italy), Campolungo (Ticino Alps, Swiss), and Fowler (St. Lawrence Co., New York, USA). PTEs concentrations were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry. The distribution of PTEs among different tremolite types was compared and discussed to provide a comprehensive overview of the data set.Tremolite asbestos samples showed variable concentrations of trace elements, with Mn (691.5 ppm) and Ni (474.2 ppm) being the most abundant. Samples from Monastero di Lanzo exhibited the highest total PTEs content (4,709 ppm). Statistical analysesrevealed a consistent geochemical contrast: asbestos tremolite is systematically enriched in Mn and Ni, leading to higher overall PTEs levels, while prismatic tremolite is defined by very low Mn–Ni contents. The observed elemental variability reflects distinct geological settings that influence PTEs incorporation and potentially affect toxicity 2026-05-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/171835 [EN]The city of Salamanca (Spain) was recognized as UNESCO Word Heritage City in 1988 because of the homogeneous historic architecture of the old downtown area. One objective of this status is to preserve the architectonic heritage. Consistency was achieved by using the locally quarried stones through centuries, mainly the Villamayor sandstone and an opal-cemented conglomerate, misleadingly named Salamanca Sandstone (Arenisca de Salamanca), and local granite. The city of Salamanca was built on top of the conglomerate, a Cretaceous–Tertiary lithic wacke, since the area was inhabited by the pre-Roman Vaccean tribe. After centuries, some of the most important buildings of Salamanca are deteriorating due to the water absorption and the increase of contamination in the city due, as parts were open to the traffic until recently, although at present only delivery vehicles are allowed. Restoration of these buildings should become a priority for the city, because UNESCO requires that the heritage is maintained or improved. Otherwise, the site would be delisted. Restoration may require replacement of the damaged parts and for this reason it is important to have a complete characterization of the stones used in the constructed heritage to determine suitability and the availability of rocks to be used in restoration. If the original stone had non- ideal properties, or it is not now easily available, an alternative appropriate stone should be selected carefully with the aim of maintaining the architectonic heritage. This paper deals mainly with the characterization of durability of the conglomerate as potential stone that can be used in the restoration of damaged buildings to inform the proper use as replacement when needed. 2026-05-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/171834 [EN]Este libro es un material didáctico y educativo en formato cómic diseñado específicamente para introducir a los niños en el fascinante mundo de la estadística y la ciencia de datos. A través de divertidas viñetas, personajes entrañables y situaciones cotidianas (como encuestas sobre el clima, el uso de bicicletas o juegos de azar), los estudiantes descubren jugando cómo recolectar, analizar e interpretar datos para tomar decisiones informadas en su día a día. El libro incluye, además de las historias gráficas, una sección de "Escape Room" con retos y desafíos lógicos basados en conceptos estadísticos que fomentan el trabajo en equipo, el pensamiento crítico y la resolución de problemas. Este recurso ha sido desarrollado por el Grupo de Transferencia del Conocimiento (GTC) de Ciencia de Datos, Estadística e Investigación Operativa de la Universidad de Salamanca para ser utilizado en los Campamentos de Verano de Cultura Científica y de la Innovación. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/171833 [ES]Este libro es un material didáctico y educativo en formato cómic diseñado específicamente para introducir a los niños en el fascinante mundo de la estadística y la ciencia de datos. A través de divertidas viñetas, personajes entrañables y situaciones cotidianas (como encuestas sobre el clima, el uso de bicicletas o juegos de azar), los estudiantes descubren jugando cómo recolectar, analizar e interpretar datos para tomar decisiones informadas en su día a día. Este recurso ha sido desarrollado por el Grupo de Transferencia del Conocimiento (GTC) de Ciencia de Datos, Estadística e Investigación Operativa de la Universidad de Salamanca para ser utilizado en los Campamentos de Verano de Cultura Científica y de la Innovación. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/171830 [EN]Early identification of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) at risk of transitioning from relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) remains a major clinical challenge. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is widely used to monitor disease activity, imaging markers alone may not adequately predict progression. The identification of accessible biochemical markers associated with disability progression could improve long-term monitoring. This retrospective observational study evaluated clinical, radiological, and biochemical parameters in 45 MS patients followed at a single tertiary center. Twenty-three patients remained in the RRMS phase, while 22 developed SPMS. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers obtained at diagnosis and serum biomarkers measured at two time points separated by two years were analyzed. Group comparisons used non-parametric tests, and associations with disability were assessed using Spearman correlation. Serum albumin and total protein levels measured two years before progression were significantly lower in patients who later developed SPMS compared with those who remained RRMS. Creatinine and ferritin did not differ between groups. In RRMS patients, ferritin levels decreased significantly over time, whereas albumin and total protein remained stable. CSF IgG index values tended to be higher in patients who later developed SPMS, without reaching statistical significance. MRI activity was not associated with progression. Total serum protein levels were inversely correlated with EDSS scores. Lower serum protein levels may precede clinical transition to SPMS and reflect processes related to disability progression. Despite not being independent predictors, their accessibility supports their potential role in longitudinal monitoring strategies. 2026-07-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/171829 [ES]El cáncer constituye uno de los mayores retos sanitarios y sociales contemporáneos. Más allá de su dimensión clínica, produce efectos psicológicos, familiares y económicos profundos. Este capítulo analiza la toxicidad 6nanciera como una forma emergente de desigualdad que vulnera el derecho a la equidad en salud. Se adopta el modelo biopsicosocial como marco de análisis, integrando datos recientes de SEOM, GLOBOCAN y el Observatorio de la AECC. A partir de evidencia empírica y normativa, se examinan los costes que soportan las familias con cáncer y su impacto en la justicia social, concluyendo con propuestas para incorporar la equidad económica en las políticas sanitarias. [EN]Cancer is one of the greatest health and social challenges of our time. Beyond its clinical dimension, it entails profound psychological, familial, and economic consequences. 7is chapter examines 6nancial toxicity as an emerging form of inequality that undermines the right to health equity. Using the biopsychosocial model as a framework, it integrates recent data from SEOM, GLOBOCAN, and the AECC Observatory. Drawing on empirical and legal evidence, it analyses the costs borne by families a=ected by cancer and their implications for social justice, concluding with proposals to integrate economic equity into health policy. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/171828 [ES]La enfermedad oncológica supone un reto por las limitaciones físicas en el paciente que deben de ser abordadas en la familia, así en el entorno más inmediato del paciente oncológico encontramos a menudo una 6gura silenciosa: la del cuidador informal. Es generalmente un familiar, alguien que organiza su vida alrededor de la enfermedad, sosteniendo la carga física, emocional y económica del cuidado. Sin embargo, esta 6gura sigue estando ausente en la mayoría de las políticas públicas, lo que genera una doble vulnerabilidad: para el propio cuidador, que enfrenta sobrecarga y falta de reconocimiento, y para el paciente, cuya calidad de atención depende del este apoyo. Desde el Trabajo Social, se propone identi6car a estos cuidadores, brindarles apoyos reales y situarlos en el centro de las políticas sanitarias. [EN]Cancer disease poses a challenge due to the physical limitations of the patient, which must be addressed by the family. 7us, in the immediate family environment of cancer patients, we often 6nd a silent 6gure: the informal caregiver. 7is is usually a family member,someone who organises their life around the disease, bearing the physical, emotional, and 6nancial burden of care. However, this 6gure continues to be absent from most public policies, which creates a double vulnerability: for the caregiver themselves, who faces overload and lack of recognition, and for the patient, whose quality of care depends on this support. Social work proposes identifying these caregivers, providing them with real support and placing them at the centre of health policies. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/171826 [EN]Prognostic impact of non-MPN driver gene mutations in primary myelofibrosis. MIPSS70: Mutation-Enhanced International Prognostic Score System. 2024-04-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/171822 [EN]Onco-hematological studies are increasingly adopting statistical mixture models to support the advancement of the genomically-driven classification systems for blood cancer. Targeting enhanced patients stratification based on the sole role of molecular biology attracted much interest and contributes to bring personalized medicine closer to reality. In onco-hematology, Hierarchical Dirichlet Mixture Models (HDMM) have become one of the preferred method to cluster the genomics data, that include the presence or absence of gene mutations and cytogenetics anomalies, into components. This work unfolds the standard workflow used in onco-hematology to improve patient stratification and proposes alternative approaches to characterize the components and to assign patient to them, as they are crucial tasks usually supported by a priori clinical knowledge. We propose (a) to compute the parameters of the multinomial components of the HDMM or (b) to estimate the parameters of the HDMM components as if they were Multivariate Fisher's Non-Central Hypergeometric (MFNCH) distributions. Then, our approach to perform patients assignments to the HDMM components is designed to essentially determine for each patient its most likely component. We show on simulated data that the patients assignment using the MFNCH-based approach can be superior, if not comparable, to using the multinomial-based approach. Lastly, we illustrate on real Acute Myeloid Leukemia data how the utilization of MFNCH-based approach emerges as a good trade-off between the rigorous multinomial-based characterization of the HDMM components and the common refinement of them based on a priori clinical knowledge. 2024-02-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/171818 [EN] Plants provide oxygen, food, shelter, medicines and environmental services, without which human society could not exist. Tackling pressing and global challenges requires well-trained plant scientists and plant-aware individuals. This manifesto provides a practical evidence-based vision to strengthen plant science education, focused on five strategic priorities. It is relevant to all stakeholders within plant science and beyond: from frontline educators to institutional leaders; from commercial or charitable professionals to entrepreneurs and donors; from individual community members to their legislative representatives. Strengthening plant science education demands concrete actions from all stakeholders, ultimately to the benefit of us all. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/171816 [EN]Diagnosis and treatment of hematological cancers is usually provided in many healthcare facilities including large but also middle size centers.1 Providing cancer care in local institutions might be advantageous for patients and caregivers in terms of financial burden and quality of life. However, it might carry potential risks derived of the limited experience of smaller centers and differences in accessibility to complex therapies including allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells. These risks might be especially relevant in infrequent cancers as adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In most European countries, ALL treatment protocols are based on pediatric-inspired regimens which include a large number of immune-chemotherapeutic agents and several key decision points to allocate patients to distinctive treatment arms based on genetics and treatment response.3,4 Several patient and disease characteristics have been identified as prognostic factors for outcomes including age, white blood cell count (WBC) at diagnosis, central nervous system (CNS) infiltration, clearance of measurable residual disease (MRD),4 and disease genetics.5–7 The outcome of patients with ALL may also depend on external factors including center experience, access to cellular therapies and economic variables.8–10 The impact of these center-related and macroeconomic variables on the outcome of patients has been scarcely studied. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the potential impact of center-related and macroeconomic variables on the outcome of newly diagnosed adult ALL patients included in 4 consecutive trials of the Spanish Program for Treatment of Hematological Malignancies (PETHEMA) Group. Patients with Philadelphia chromosome (Ph) positive or negative ALL enrolled in one of the 4 consecutive protocols of the PETHEMA group by Spanish institutions adhered to the public health system from 2003 to 2018 were included in this study. The 4 protocols have been closed and reported elsewhere.4,11–13 Centralized analysis of MRD was performed in 5 centers in the ALL-AR-03 and in a single institution in the ALL-HR-11 trial. The PH-08 protocol included adults with newly diagnosed Ph-positive ALL up to the age of 60 years. Patients received an induction therapy with daunorubicin, vincristine, and steroids in combination with imatinib 600 mg/d followed by a 12-week consolidation chemotherapy based on alternated cycles of high-dose methotrexate and cytarabine in combination with imatinib. Allo-HCT was offered to all fit patients with a suitable donor. Treatment protocols used in the ALL-RE-2008, ALL-AR-03, and ALL-HR-11 trials were pediatric-inspired.4,11–13 The ALL-RE-2008 trial included intermediate risk patients based on age (<30 years), WBC count (<25,000 cells/μL), and cytogenetics. The ALL-AR-03 and ALL-HR-11 protocols included high-risk patients up to the age of 60 years diagnosed from 2003 to 2011 and 2011 to 2019, respectively. In both trials, bone marrow MRD assessment by flow cytometry was performed at the end of induction (week 5) and at the end of the third consolidation cycle (weeks 16–18). Only patients with slow clearance of MRD in both trials were allocated to allo-HCT, while patients with good MRD clearance continued with chemotherapy for up to 2 years. Clinical variables analyzed in this study included age, gender, ECOG performance status, WBC, CNS infiltration, precursor lineage (B or T) presence or absence of Ph and treatment period (2003–2010 versus 2011–2018). The Allo-HCT center was defined as centers having authorization by the Spanish government to perform allo-HCT in the same institution where the patient was treated for the ALL. The Allo-HCT center in the same province was defined as having a designated allo-HCT center in the same province where the patient was treated. Reported ALL referred to the number of ALL patients reported to the PETHEMA database by a particular center and served as a surrogate marker of center experience in treating ALL. Nine centers reporting at least 30 ALL patients each and around half of the patients together in this data set were considered as “experienced centers.” Protocol deviation center referred to centers with identified protocol deviations in key treatment decisions (allo-HCT versus chemotherapy allocation or autologous HCT instead of allo-HCT when not indicated in the protocol) in at least 5% of the patients. 2023-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/171808 [EN] This is a study of the Tabula Veliterna, a legal document found in Velletri and referring to the safeguard of the goods of the goddess Declona and the measures to be taken in case of theft or profanation thereof. I shall undertake a radically different approach to syntax, phonetics and morphology. In turn, some of the conclusions may have some bearing on our conception of Sabellic phonetics and phonology 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/171807 [EN] The Oscan inscriptions of Lucania and Bruttium are written in the Greek (specifically Ionic) alphabet. However, the values of some letters are still disputed, since they seem to vary according to personal choice on the part of the scribal schools or to dialectal differences not always easy to track down. Oscan back vowels, which, for all we know, were only three, /o/, /u/ and /uː/, are not always consistently spelt, and this has made etymological speculation a hard task. While the choice of letters may occasionally depend on the individual carvers, the recognition of apparent inconsistencies often depends on objectionable etymologies. In this work I shall try to show that the spelling of the back vowels in South Oscan is certainly less arbitrary than assumed in previous accounts, that dialectal differences cannot be convincingly identified, and, crucially, that the precise, and in principle phonemic, value of individual letters or groups of letters can only be determined by comparing the use of other letters in the same texts or in texts presumably coming from the same workshops or the same areas. I shall distinguish a group of texts in which the vowels /o/ and /u/ are respectively rendered <ω> and <o> (especially in Central Lucania) from another group in which they are rendered <o> and <oυ> (Southern Lucania and Bruttium). I shall conclude that two different regional alphabets, a “Lucanian” and a “Bruttian” one, can be identified. As regards new etymologies, the origin of the divine name διομανας, long believed to be the Sabellic cognate of L. domina, will be addressed. In the light of recent epigraphic discoveries, I shall additionally call attention to the existence of a hitherto overlooked Oscan magistracy, whose name goes back to Proto-Sabellic *puklīno- and is built from a collective noun *puklā ‘youth’, a possibility supported by a new look at the form prupukid in the cippus abellanus. An alternative reading of σκαλαπ(ονις) ολκϝηις as σκαλαπο(νις) [π]ακϝηις in the new apograph of Anzi is proposed, which falls into line with occurrences of the same name in other Lucanian texts and reveals the importance of the gens Scalponia. The fact that this text forms part of a larger monument (ST Lu 39) underpins the hypothesis that <ω> was not introduced in Lucania before 200 BC. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/171806 [EN] On the strength of both recent discoveries concerning the use of the Latin alphabet in different places of Central Hispania to write official documents in Celtiberian and the new readings of indigenous names on inscriptions belonging to Latin, not Celtiberian, epigraphy, some novel reflections on Celtiberian phonology are in order. Epigraphic and linguistic considerations in turn lead to a refinement in the delimitation of Hispano-Celtic regions. These attend to dialectal differences and to the emergence and stabilisation of scribal habits. New etymologies for some hitherto uninterpreted or even misinterpreted personal names are put forward. Some of these have the comparative advantage of matching inherited Celtic forms surviving in Insular Celtic and Gaulish. Finally, three new readings are proposed: BVGANSONIS, CLOVSOCVM and AISAE, possibly also VXSEISVS 2022-01-01T00:00:00Z