http://hdl.handle.net/10366/154133 2026-04-22T02:24:40Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170895 [EN] The archaeological deposit in Lezetxiki Cave has been excavated in two stages by teams directed first by José Miguel de Barandiarán (1956-1968) and then by Alvaro Arrizabalaga and María José Iriarte- Chiapusso (1996-2018). In the first stage, the deposit was found to cover a long period in the Middle and Upper Palaeolithic. A number of human fossils, remains of numerous animal species and a large assemblage of stone tools were documented. When the second stage of excavations began in 1996, the objectives were much more modest, but the research has repeatedly been overwhelmed by the complexity of the deposit and the abundant information it has provided. Bedrock was reached in summer 2016. Although some analytical studies have still not concluded, we now begin to glimpse the role played by the site in the articulation of human population in the Basque Country in the Middle Palaeolithic and Early Upper Palaeolithic. The main aim of the present paper is therefore to summarize almost seventy years’ research at the site. 2026-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170859 [EN] Los Gitanos de Montealegre cave has one of the most outstanding sequences in the Cantabrian region, thanks to which it has been possible to determine, in particular, the subsistence activities practiced by the first foodproducing societies, including the collection of marine invertebrates in the intertidal zone. Although the characteristic is the shellfishing of gastropods, particularly limpets, other organisms have been documented at the site that provide us with information on related aspects beyond the subsistence of the Neolithic and Chalcolithic groups. This chapter studies in detail a set of archaeozoological remains of marine origin belonging to different bryozoans (Turbicellepora magnicostata), annelids (genera Spirorbis and Spirobranchus), arthropods (crab species Eriphia verrucosa, Pachygrapsus marmoratus, Necora puber and Xanthidae, and the goose barnacle Pollicipes pollicipes), and echinoderms (purple sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus). 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170857 [EN] Faunal remains represent a fundamental element of the archaeological record for understanding the subsistence strategies of Upper Palaeolithic huntergatherer societies in the Cantabrian region. In this chapter, we present the results of the archaeozoological and taphonomic study of the faunal assemblage recovered from the Azilian levels of El Cierro Cave (Ribadesella, Asturias), with the aim of identifying how these resources were exploited by human groups. El Cierro Cave contains one of the most complete Upper Pleistocene stratigraphic sequences in northern Spain. The Azilian occupations are represented in levels Cierro D and Cierro C, which yielded abundant faunal remains radiocarbon dated to approximately 13,000–12,500 cal BP. The archaeozoological analysis revealed a wide range of species, primarily marine molluscs, but also large mammals, birds, fish, crustaceans, echinoderms, and terrestrial molluscs. The taphonomic analysis of both vertebrates and invertebrates has enabled us to determine the role played by different animal resources in the diet and to reconstruct subsistence strategies based on the energetic and nutritional contributions each resource would have provided to the Azilian hunter-gatherers of El Cierro. The results obtained from each stratigraphic level have been compared and contextualised within the broader framework of the Cantabrian region. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170856 [EN] This article presents new evidence of portable art documented in the levels attributed to the Lower Magdalenian period in the El Cierro cave (Fresno, Ribadesella, Asturias). It comes from the excavations carried out by A. Gómez Fuentes and F. Jordá Cerdá between 1977 and 1979 in the main chamber of the cave. These excavations yielded a limestone, probably detached from the walls of the cave itself, decorated with parallel incisions of unknown function. Research carried out between 2016 and 2019 has documented occupations dating back to the early Holocene (Mesolithic), in the transition from the late Pleistocene to the Holocene (Azilian), but mainly to the Upper Pleistocene (several levels dated to the Lower Magdalenian, Upper Solutrean, Late Gravettian, Aurignacian and one dated to the Mousterian). In this context, the new evidence recovered is analysed and compared with other decorated objects from the cave, both on organic supports (in particular, a shoulder blade engraved with a deer with multiple striated lines and fragments of throwing weapons engraved with different motifs) and on inorganic supports, from interventions carried out in the last century. This evidence is compared with similar evidence from other sites of the same chronology documented in the Cantabrian region. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170778 [EN] Recent research on the Lower Paleolithic of the Levant has re-evaluated technical trends defined for the Acheulean technocomplex during the 1970s, trends built upon typological analysis of handaxe assemblages. To this end, new methods are being applied to old and new collections in order to assess handaxe morphological and technological variation over time, opening a discussion about the technical skills of Acheulean knappers, also referred to as “craftmanship” (hereafter referred to as “craft”). In this context, morphometric studies conducted at the Late Acheulean site of Jaljulia have highlighted the crudeness and high morphological variability of the bifacial assemblage, challenging the 1970s idea of handaxe increasing refinement over time. Interestingly, the authors do not attribute this variability to a lack of knapping skill—as irregular and non-standardized productions are traditionally interpreted—but to an expedient chaîne opératoire of tool production. Produced predominantly in brecciated flint, collected and modified on the spot, the sample studied is interpreted by the authors as tools mostly adapted for bone-crushing purposes. This paper aims to offer a new perspective on this assemblage by conducting a critical technological analysis of the handaxes from the oldest locality on-site, Area D, taking into account raw material constraints as well as the site’s function as a handaxe production workshop, among other activities conducted at this Paleolithic landscape. Our results suggest the presence of pieces discarded during the production process, which contributes to the increased morphological variability observed in the assemblage. Our analysis discusses the expedient character of Jaljulia’s handaxe reduction sequence and points to the production of three distinct techno-types, potentially associated to a wider variety of tasks. To conclude, we discuss our results in the context of the Late Acheulean of the Levant, within the broader framework of technological trends and associated technical skills in the late Acheulean. 2026-01-08T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170700 [EN Children who suffer from congenital heart defects (CHDs) have a decreased ability to perform physical exercise and consequently have a decrease in their functional capacity. The main causes of this decrease in functional capacity have been related on the one hand to residual hemodynamic defects and, at the same time, to a situation of physical deconditioning due to inactivity, as well as problems in lung function, especially the presence of restrictive patterns that influence the amount of O2 insufflated (decreased maximum VO2), consequently generating a deficient maximum O2 consumption and maximum work rate. This represents an important prognostic value, since it constitutes an independent predictor of death and hospitalization. This study aims to determine the benefits obtained regarding respiratory function, exercise capacity, and quality of life after implementing a hospital-based cardio-respiratory rehabilitation program compared to a home-based Cardio-respiratory Physical Activity Program in patients with intervened CHDs. Methods: This is a randomized controlled trial on the effectiveness of two different rehabilitation programs on respiratory function, exercise capacity, and quality of life in patients with CHDs conducted at the Child Cardiology and Congenital Heart Disease Unit of the University Hospital Complex of A Coruña (CHUAC). There will be two groups: Cardio-respiratory rehabilitation group program conducted in a face-to-face format at the hospital (n = 26) and a study group that follows a home-based Cardio-respiratory Physical Activity Program (TELEA) (n = 26). The measurement variables will be respiratory function, forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), maximum expiratory flow (PEF), the Tiffeneau index (FEV1 /FVC), forced expiratory flow (FEF25%, FEF50%, FEF75%, FEF25-75%), exercise capacity (peak VO2), and the quality of life of these children and their families. Conclusions: The implementation of cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs in children with CHDs is essential to improve their quality of life, exercise tolerance, and socialization. These programs optimize life expectancy and promote integration, being crucial for their physical and emotional well-being. 2025-01-26T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170699 [EN]Introduction/Objectives: Restless legs syndrome (RLS), a chronic neurological disorder related to brain iron metabolism, has been linked to immune-mediated inflammatory conditions such as psoriatic arthritis (PsA). However, the role that inflammation plays in this association and the impact of RLS on PsA outcomes remain unclear. This study aims to investigate the association between RLS and inflammatory/clinical parameters in PsA patients. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 230 PsA patients completed the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group (IRLSSG) screening questionnaire, with diagnoses confirmed by a neurologist. Data collected included clinical features, disease activity, and comorbidities (obesity, anxiety, depression, insomnia, and fibromyalgia). Results: In total, forty-six patients met the IRLSSG criteria (20%). Those with RLS more frequently had polyarthritis (27% vs. 6%; p < 0.001), more swollen joints (2.0 vs. 1.4; p = 0.04), greater psoriatic involvement (5.7 vs. 3.6; p < 0.001), greater fatigue (39.0 vs. 30.5; p < 0.001), and greater disease activity (14.5 vs. 10.5; p < 0.001). They also exhibited increased disease impact (4.7 vs. 2.9; p < 0.001), poorer functioning (0.7 vs. 0.5; p = 0.01), and higher levels of anxiety (8.0 vs. 5.5; p < 0.001), depression (6.5 vs. 3.9; p < 0.001), and sleep disturbance (13.9 vs. 8.7; p < 0.001). Skin lesions and polyarthritis explained nearly 40% of RLS cases (Odds Ratio (OR) 1.4; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.03-2.0; p = 0.03 and OR 1.03; 95% CI 1.00-1.9; p = 0.04). Conclusions: Psoriatic activity and inflammation may contribute to RLS in PsA. The coexistence of RLS was associated with greater disease activity, greater disease impact, and more emotional and sleep-related comorbidities. 2025-12-10T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170698 [EN]Telomere length (TL) is a marker of cellular health and aging. Physical exercise has been associated with longer telomeres and, therefore, healthier aging. However, results supporting such effects vary across studies. Our aim was to synthesize existing evidence on the effect of different modalities and durations of physical exercise on TL. The aim of this study was to explore the needs and expectations of individuals with physical disabilities and their interventionists for the use of a virtual reality physical activity platform in a community organization. We performed an umbrella review and meta-analysis. Data sources included PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Scopus. We selected systematic reviews and meta-analyses of randomized and nonrandomized controlled clinical trials evaluating the effect of physical exercise on TL. Our literature search retrieved 12 eligible systematic reviews, 5 of which included meta-analyses. We identified 22 distinct primary studies to estimate the overall effect size of physical exercise on TL. The overall effect size was 0.28 (95% CI 0.118-0.439), with a heterogeneity test value Q of 43.08 (P=.003) and I² coefficient of 51%. The number of weeks of intervention explained part of this heterogeneity (Q_B=8.25; P=.004), with higher effect sizes found in studies with an intervention of less than 30 weeks. Exercise modality explained additional heterogeneity within this subgroup (Q_B=10.28, P=.02). The effect sizes were small for aerobic exercise and endurance training, and moderate for high-intensity interval training. Our umbrella review and meta-analysis detected a small-moderate positive effect of physical exercise on TL, which seems to be influenced by the duration and type of physical exercise. High quality studies looking into the impact of standardized, evidence-based physical exercise programs on TL are still warranted. 2025-01-10T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170697 [EN]The population of people over the age of 65 is currently growing thanks to social and health policies. It presents an increase in age-related diseases due to a series of morphological and physiological changes in these population groups. We aimed to study the effect of a physical exercise program on memory and learning. A quasi-experimental pilot study carried out with a sample of 73 healthy female subjects who were divided into two groups: an intervention group and a control group. Both groups underwent a neuropsychological evaluation before and after the intervention. Subjects in the intervention group performed physical exercise 3 times a week, 50 min each session. The subjects in the control group did not perform any type of physical exercise and completed their daily life activities. The intervention group improvement in cognitive functions after the intervention and obtained higher scores against the control group. Regular physical exercise improves global cognitive function, visoconstructive capacity, and memory functions. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-025-06614-0. 2025-12-05T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170521 [ES] En las nuevas intervenciones arqueológicas realizadas en la cueva cántabra de El Pendo se han documentado dos fragmentos de rocas blandas del tipo esteatita con evidencia de manipulación antrópica. En este artículo se estudian estas piezas en detalle y se revisa la información sobre este tipo de materia prima documentada en anteriores excavaciones en la cueva de El Pendo y en otros yacimientos de la región cantábrica durante la Prehistoria. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170260 [ES] Investigaciones realizadas en la Cueva de El Cierro (Ribadesella), Campañas del 2022 y 2023 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170073 [ES] Intervenciones Arqueológicas en la Cueva de Les Pedroses 2020-2024 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170071 [ES] Intervenciones Arqueológicas en la Cuevona de Ardines y La Viesca en el año 2022 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/170067 Intervenciones arqueológicas en Tito Bustillo, Campaññas 2020 a 2024 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/168693 [ENG] Objective: The primary objective of this pilot randomized clinical trial was to determine the effect of adding a supervised resistance exercise programme to a home-based physical activity plan on health-related quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing active treatment. The secondary objectives were to evaluate its effects on anxiety, depression, sleep quality, and inflammatory parameters. Methods: This is a pilot randomized clinical trial with parallel groups. Patients with CRC were recruited through the Oncology Department at the Salamanca University Health Care Complex in Spain. They were randomly allocated to receive either a home-based physical activity plus a supervised resistance training programme, or the home-based physical activity plan only. The primary outcome was health-related quality of life measures and the secondary outcomes included anxiety, depression and sleep quality evaluations. The supervised training lasted 8 weeks for each patient. Results: A total of 40 patients were recruited, 20 for each group. Adding a supervised resistance exercise programme to the home-based activity plan improved symptoms related to quality of life, such as fatigue (p = 0.040) and constipation (p = 0.015). However, no significant effect was found with regard to other health-related quality of life, anxiety, depression or sleep variables. Conclusions: Fatigue and constipation in patients with CRC receiving chemo- and/or immunotherapy may benefit from the introduction of supervised resistance exercise training programmes. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10366/168616 [EN] Quantifying marine reservoir effects (MREs) across time and space is crucial for establishing accurate archaeological chronologies, including the activities of past hominines. Although the northern Iberian Peninsula shows a high density of Upper Paleolithic sites and marine shells are frequently found in these assemblages, quantification of MREs in this coastal region remains limited. We performed Bayesian modeling of radiocarbon measurements from both terrestrial (Capra pyrenaica, Cervus elaphus and other herbivores unidentified at species level) and marine (Littorina littorea Linnaeus, 1758 and Patella vulgata Linnaeus, 1758 taxa) archaeological samples recovered from the Tito Bustillo cave (Asturias, Spain) in order to determine the ΔR values for northern Iberia during the Lower Magdalenian period (ca. 20–17 ka cal BP). For the time span between 18.6 and 18.2 ka cal BP we estimated ΔR values of –298±44 14C yr and –495±122 14C yr for the periwinkle L. littorea and the common limpet P. vulgata, respectively. This finding has significant implications for future archaeological research in the northern Iberian Peninsula, as researchers must apply distinct ΔR values depending on the mollusk species selected for radiocarbon dating. Furthermore, the consistency between our calculated ΔR value for P. vulgata and previously recorded data for the same taxon from a neighboring coastal region (Cantabria, Spain) suggests remarkable stability in the marine environment of this area during the Lower Magdalenian period. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z