https://hdl.handle.net/2072/478777 Tue, 07 Apr 2026 12:33:21 GMT 2026-04-07T12:33:21Z https://hdl.handle.net/2445/228157 Effect of different types of supervised exercise programs on cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, pain, fatigue, mental health and inflammatory and oxidative stress biomarkers in older patients with post-COVID-19 sequelae “EJerSA-COVID-19”: a randomized controlled trial. Miravitlles Fernández, Marc; Serra Prat, Mateu; Viñals, Xavier; Girabent i Farrés, Montserrat; Carbonell i Camós, Teresa; Garnacho Castaño, Manuel Vicente; Pleguezuelos Cobo, Eulogio; Sánchez Nuño, Sergio; Carmen, Amin Del; Serra Paya, Noemí; Moreno, Eva; Molina Raya, Lorena, 1979-; Robleda, Gemma; Benet, Marta; Santos-Ruiz, Susana; Biurrun Garrido, Ainoa; Jerez Molina, Carmen Background: Many patients with COVID-19 present the so-called post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 such as fatigue, post-stress discomfort, dyspnea, headache, pain mental impairment, incapacity to perform daily physical tasks ant exercise intolerance. This study aims to investigate the effects of different exercise programs on physical and mental fitness, physical condition and biomarkers of the immune system and oxidative stress in older patients with post-COVID-19 sequelae. Methods: The sample will be made up of 120 eligible participants, over the age of 60 years who have had COVID-19 disease and are survivors and present persistent COVID-19 symptomatology diagnosed by the corresponding physician. The participants will be randomly assigned to the experimental groups: supervised endurance group (SEG, n = 30), supervised strength group (SSG, n = 30), supervised concurrent group (SCG, n = 30), which will perform the corresponding exercise program 3 days a week compared to the control group (CG, n = 30), which will not carry out a supervised exercise program. The design of this project will include measurements of four relevant dimensions; 1) Cardiorespiratory fitness; 2) Muscle fitness; 3) Pain and mental health; and 4) Biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. Conclusions: The results of this study will provide insights into the effects of different exercise programs on physical and mental fitness, physical condition and biomarkers of the immune system and oxidative stress in older patients with post-COVID-19 sequelae. These findings may be the basis for the formulation of health plans and rehabilitation programs that allow healthy aging and a reduction in the associated morbidity in patients with post-COVID-19 sequelae. Mon, 16 Mar 2026 16:20:26 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2445/228157 2026-03-16T16:20:26Z https://hdl.handle.net/2445/228011 Mitochondrial adaptation to diet and swimming activity in Gilthead Seabream: Improved nutritional efficiency. Perelló-Amorós, Miquel; Fernández Borrás, J. (Jaume); Sánchez-Moya, Albert; Vélez, Emilio J.; García-Pérez, Isabel; Gutiérrez Fruitós, Joaquín; Blasco Mínguez, Josefina Sustained exercise promotes growth in different fish species, and in gilthead seabream we have demonstrated that it improves nutrient use efficiency. This study assesses for differences in growth rate, tissue composition and energy metabolism in gilthead seabream juveniles fed two diets: high-protein (HP; 54% protein, 15% lipid) or high energy (HE; 50% protein, 20% lipid), under voluntary swimming (VS) or moderate-to-low-intensity sustained swimming (SS) for 6 weeks. HE fed fish under VS conditions showed lower body weight and higher muscle lipid content than HP fed fish, but no differences between the two groups were observed under SS conditions. Irrespective of the swimming regime, the white muscle stable isotopes profile of the HE group revealed increased nitrogen and carbon turnovers. Nitrogen fractionation increased in the HP fed fish under SS, indicating enhanced dietary protein oxidation. Hepatic gene expression markers of energy metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis showed clear differences between the two diets under VS: a significant shift in the COX/CS ratio, modifications in UCPs, and downregulation of PGC1a in the HE-fed fish. Swimming induced mitochondrial remodeling through upregulation of fusion and fission markers, and removing almost all the differences observed under VS. In the HE-fed fish, white skeletal muscle benefited from the increased energy demand, amending the oxidative uncoupling produced under the VS condition by an excess of lipids and the pro-fission state observed in mitochondria. Contrarily, red muscle revealed more tolerant to the energy content of the HE diet, even under VS conditions, with higher expression of oxidative enzymes (COX and CS) without any sign of mitochondrial stress or mitochondrial biogenesis induction. Furthermore, this tissue had enough plasticity to shift its metabolism under higher energy demand (SS), again equalizing the differences observed between diets under VS condition. Globally, the balance between dietary nutrients affects mitochondrial regulation due to their use as energy fuels, but exercise corrects imbalances allowing practical diets with lower protein and higher lipid content without detrimental effects. Wed, 11 Mar 2026 13:00:22 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2445/228011 2026-03-11T13:00:22Z https://hdl.handle.net/2445/227964 Adult-specific Reelin expression alters striatal neuronal organization. Implications for neuropsychiatric disorders.  Pardo Muñoz, Mónica; Gregorio Jordán, Sara; Montalban, Enrica; Pujadas Puigdomènech, Lluís; Elias-Tersa, Alba; Vílchez Acosta, Alba del Valle; Parent, Annabelle; Auladell i Costa, M.Carme; Girault, Jean-Antoine; Vila, Miquel; Angus, C. Nairn; Manso Sanz, Yasmina; Soriano Garcia, Eduardo In addition to neuronal migration, brain development, and adult plasticity, the extracellular matrix protein Reelin has been extensively implicated in human psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. Moreover, heterozygous reeler mice exhibit features reminiscent of these disorders, while overexpression of Reelin protects against its manifestation. However, how Reelin influences the structure and circuits of the striatal complex, a key region for the above-mentioned disorders, is far from being understood, especially when altered Reelin expression levels are found at adult stages. In the present study, we took advantage of complementary conditional gain- and loss-of-function mouse models to investigate how Reelin levels may modify adult brain striatal structure and neuronal composition. Using immunohistochemical techniques, we determined that Reelin does not seem to influence the striatal patch and matrix organization (studied by μ-opioid receptor immunohistochemistry) nor the density of medium spiny neurons (MSNs, studied with DARPP-32). We show that overexpression of Reelin leads to increased numbers of striatal parvalbumin- and cholinergic-interneurons, and to a slight increase in tyrosine hydroxylase-positive projections. We conclude that increased Reelin levels might modulate the numbers of striatal interneurons and the density of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic projections, suggesting that these changes may be involved in the protection of Reelin against neuropsychiatric disorders. Tue, 10 Mar 2026 11:08:16 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2445/227964 2026-03-10T11:08:16Z https://hdl.handle.net/2445/227396 Capillary pruning couples tissue perfusion and oxygenation with cardiomyocyte maturation in the postnatal mouse heart Santamaría, Ricardo; Cruz-Caballero, Javier; Gkontra, Polyxeni; Jiménez-Montiel, Alberto; Clemente, Cristina; López, Juan A.; Villalba-Orero, María; Vázquez, Jesús; Hutloff, Andreas; Lara-Pezzi, Enrique; Arroyo, Alicia G. Introduction: Removal of poorly perfused capillaries by pruning contributes to remodeling the microvasculature to optimize oxygen and nutrient delivery. Blood flow drives this process by promoting the intravascular migration of endothelial cells in developing networks, such as in the yolk sac, zebrafish brain or postnatal mouse retina. Methods: In this study, we have implemented innovative tools to recognize capillary pruning in the complex 3D coronary microvasculature of the postnatal mouse heart. We have also experimentally tested the impact of decreasing pruning on the structure and function of this network by altering blood flow with two different vasodilators: losartan and prazosin. Results: Although both drugs reduced capillary pruning, a combination of experiments based on ex vivo imaging, proteomics, electron microscopy and in vivo functional approaches showed that losartan treatment resulted in an inefficient coronary network, reduced myocardial oxygenation and metabolic changes that delayed the arrest of cardiomyocyte proliferation, in contrast to the effects of prazosin, probably due to its concomitant promotion of capillary expansion. Discussion: Our work demonstrates that capillary pruning contributes to proper maturation and function of the heart and that manipulation of blood flow may be a novel strategy to refine the microvasculature and improve tissue perfusion after damage. Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:25:05 GMT https://hdl.handle.net/2445/227396 2026-02-25T10:25:05Z