Universidad de los Andes (Chile)

Objective:
To evaluate the effectiveness of a combined virtual and clinical simulation strategy compared to virtual simulation alone and clinical simulation alone in the development of theoretical knowledge and clinical judgment among midwifery students, specifically in the management of preeclampsia.
Study Population:
75 undergraduate midwifery students in the second cycle of their studies at the Universidad de Los Andes, Chile.
Interventions:
Group 1: Virtual and Clinical Simulation combined (VSim® case on preeclampsia followed by hands-on clinical simulation with a manikin).
Group 2: Virtual Simulation only (VSim® case on preeclampsia). Group 3: Clinical Simulation only (hands-on clinical simulation using a manikin).
Primary Outcomes:
Development of theoretical knowledge (measured by a test) on preeclampsia. Improvement in clinical judgment skills (assessed using the Lasater Clinical Judgment Rubric).
Secondary Outcomes:
Student satisfaction with the training. Perceived self-efficacy in managing preeclampsia. Usability of simulation platform
Duration:
The intervention lasts for 4 days. Pre- and post-tests will assess knowledge, clinical judgment, satisfaction, and self-efficacy.
Methodology:
A randomized controlled trial (RCT) with 45 participants divided equally into three groups. Each group will undergo either virtual simulation, clinical simulation, or both. Data analysis will involve repeated measures ANOVA to assess the differences in learning outcomes between the groups.

Sarcopenia, characterized by the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength in older adults, is a key factor in health deterioration. It affects 15% of people between 65 and 80 years old and over 50% of those over 80, compromising autonomy and increasing the risk of diseases. Sarcopenia not only impacts muscle function but also bone health, mobility, and is associated with cardiometabolic diseases and cognitive decline.
It has been proposed that changes in the gut microbiota in aging individuals, known as gut dysbiosis, contribute to sarcopenia. Species diversity decreases, and bacterial representation is altered, which could impair muscle function through various pathways, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, chronic inflammation, and disruption of protein synthesis. Muscle function loss is strongly associated with cognitive and metabolic impairment in older adults.
Recently, it has been demonstrated that fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an effective procedure for modulating gut microbiota and has proven highly effective in managing cases of Clostridium difficile-associated chronic diarrhea. The main objective of this project is to carry out FMT from young, physically active donors to a cohort of older adults to evaluate its effect on muscle, cognitive, and metabolic function.
Why donors who exercise? There is growing evidence that gut microbiota diversity is increased in young, physically active individuals. The FMT is planned to be administered through lyophilized microbiota capsules. By restoring microbial diversity, it is expected to improve the quality and function of skeletal muscles, leading to greater cognitive and metabolic resilience.
This project has great potential to develop an innovative approach for treating highly debilitating diseases that affect older adults, based on the lyophilization and encapsulation of gut microbiota from young, trained donors, which can be easily stored in a conventional freezer. Due to the high percentage of older adults worldwide and the high prevalence of sarcopenia within this age group, the aim of the project is to address a significant public health issue with a large target population eager for options to promote muscle health, functional autonomy, as well as cognitive and metabolic well-being.

The objective of this clinical trial is to know if supplementation with extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) during pregnancy, improves the maternal and neonatal lipoprotein profile, lipoprotein function, oxidative status and vascular dysfunction markers in pregnancies with maternal supraphysiological hypercholesterolemia (MSPH).
The main questions to be answered are:
1. Does 12 weeks of EVOO supplementation improve lipid and vascular outcomes in MSPH women at the end of pregnancy?
2. Does 12 weeks of EVOO supplementation improve lipid and vascular outcomes in MSPH neonates at the end of pregnancy? The investigators will compare regular diet supplemented with EVOO vs. intake of a non-supplemented regular diet to determine if EVOO reduces impaired vascular and lipid outcomes in the mother and her newborn.
Participants:
The recruited pregnant women will eat their normal diet (control group) or the same diet supplemented with 36 mL of EVOO daily (EVOO group). The protocol will be carried out from gestational week 28 to the end of pregnancy.
A nutritional specialist will evaluate every 4 weeks the EVOO consumption through surveys developed through a zoom interview.
The recruited pregnant women will have the regular obstetric control every 4 weeks.
At delivery, a maternal sample of blood as well as umbilical cord blood and the placenta will be obtained for experimental analysis.