María del Carmen Olmos Gómez

Effect of extra-virgin olive oil and fish-oil supplementationon plasma lipids and susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein to oxidative alteration in free-living Spanish male patients with peripheral vascular disease

The aim of this study was to analyse the in vivo effect of a diet rich in extra-virgin olive oil and a fish-oil supplement on plasma and lipoprotein fatty-acid composition and on LDL susceptibility to oxidative modification in free-living Spanish male patients with peripheral vascular disease. A total of 12 patients were included in the experimental group which received extra virgin olive oil and a fish oil supplement (group OF). On the other hand, 13 patients which had refined olive oil as the main visible fat were considered as Control group. Plasma triglycerides decreased significantly after three months of dietary intervention. The LDL and plasma fatty-acid pattern in the group OF was characterized by a significant increase in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, mainly 20:5 n-3 and 22:6 n-3. The slopes of LDL oxidative susceptibility were similar between baseline and endpoint values in both groups. However, the uptake of oxidized LDL by macrophages was significantly reduced in OF patients in comparison with the Control group. In conclusion, the daily intake of about 40 g/d of extra-virgin olive oil in combination with a daily supplement of 16 g of fish oil for 3 months in patients with peripheral vascular disease leads to a plasma-lipid profile less atherogenic than in patients having refined olive oil as the main visible food fat. The simultaneous consumption of alpha-tocopherol and natural antioxidants provided by extra-virgin olive oil seems to have a protective effect on the LDL susceptibility to oxidative modifications in spite of a higher proportion of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

Lifestyle changes in free-living patients with peripheralvascular disease (Fontaine stage II) related to plasma and LDL lipid composition: a 15 month follow-up study

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is characterized by arteriosclerosis and lower extremity ischemia which cause intermittent claudication. Patients grouped in the Fontaine stage II have more than 75% organic stenosis in their large coronary arteries and exhibit a number of alterations in blood coagulation and plasma lipids. The aim of this study was to evaluate an intervention program of lifestyle habits including dietary recommendations, moderate exercise and decreased smoking in a population of patients with PVD for a period of 15 months, with respect to plasma-lipid and lipoprotein composition as well as LDL susceptibility to peroxidation. These parameters are well known risk indicators of arteriosclerosis and coronary heart disease. A total 13 subjects diagnosed with PVD (Fontaine stage II) were selected, while a healthy age-matched group (n=20) was used as a reference. This study design was an uncontrolled trial of lifestyle interventions. The group of patients was examined at 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 months. Patients smoking one or more packets of cigarettes per day at the beginning of the study (54.2%) decreased smoking by as much as 7.7% 15 months later. In addition, physical activity intensified significantly (walking > 1 km: 13.1-77%) and treadmill running increased over the study period while the energy intake decreased by 10%. The percentage of saturated fat in the diet decreased by 10% while the intake of polyunsaturated fat rose, and monounsaturated-fat intake showed a parallel trend to increase; the average intake of cholesterol also fell by 10% and plasma triglycerides and HDL-cholesterol showed a trend to decrease and increase, respectively. No permanent changes in LDL lipid fractions for patients were detected during the follow-up period and no differences between patients and the age-matched reference group were found. The macrophage uptake of plasma-oxidized LDL was significantly higher in patients than in the reference group and no differences due to the intervention period were detected. In conclusion, the education in lifestyle and nutritional habits of patients with PVD led to reduced energy intake parallel with augmented physical activity as well to a fall in plasma triglycerides and a rise in HDL-cholesterol, which are good indicators of a reduced risk of vascular and myocardial complications.

Construction of an Evaluation Tool for the Use of the Smart City by Music Professionals and Music Teaching

This research has been carried out through a questionnaire with the necessary criteria of reliability and validity, with established technical requirements, based on the metric and theoretical principles that allow to maximize the validity of the inferences made from the instrument used, and whose application and corresponding data allow us in decision making [11], relating to the knowledge of the educational and professional population linked to the music, through the smartcity tools. We claim to develop an instrument that allows us to know how they access to different information and what new technologies are commonly used and known in their field in order to detect possible needs, solve them and improve them in a positive way. The elaboration of this instrument collects such information and has been designed with adaptability to ICT, validity and reliability; psychometric features, which allow a correct use of the measures that are obtained.

Structural Equations Model (SEM) of a questionnaire on the evaluation of intercultural secondary education classrooms

This research includes the design of a questionnaire for evaluating cultural coexistence in secondary education classrooms (Berrocal, Olmedo & Olmos, 2014; Olmedo et al., 2014), as well as the comparison of its psychometric properties in a multicultural population of schools in southern Spain. An attempt is made to create a valid, reliable and useful tool for teachers to measure conflict situations in the classroom, as well as understanding the nature of the conflict from the point of view of all those involved. The metric aspects show a maximized content and construct validity (Muniz, 2010) using a Structural Equation Model (SEM) and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) analysis, checking and modifying its model by Wald and Lagrange indicators (Bentler, 2007), to obtain the most adjusted model to the theoretical and goodness criteria.