Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) – Campus Mar

The Barcelona Institute for Global Health, ISGlobal, is the fruit of an innovative alliance between the "la Caixa" Foundation", academic institutions and government bodies to contribute to the efforts undertaken by the international community to address the challenges in global health. In 2016, the Centre for Research in Environmental Epidemiology (CREAL), the Barcelona Centre for International Health Research (CRESIB) and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) completed a successful merging process. As a result, today ISGlobal is a cutting-edge institution with capacity to address global health challenges trough research, translation and education.

URI permanent per a aquesta comunitat http://hdl.handle.net/10230/20719

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    Mapping alterations in the local synchrony of the cerebral cortex in Prader Willi syndrome
    (Elsevier, 2025) Blanco Hinojo, Laura, 1981-; Pujol, Jesús; Martínez-Vilavella, Gerard; Giménez Palop, Olga; Casamitjana, Laia; Cobo, Jesús; Pareja, Rocío; Esteba-Castillo, Susanna; Deus, Joan; Caixàs, Assumpta
    Individuals with Prader Willi syndrome (PWS) often exhibit behavioral difficulties characterized by deficient impulse regulation and obsessive-compulsive features resembling those observed in obsessive-compulsive disorder. The genetic configuration of PWS aligns with molecular and neurophysiological findings suggesting dysfunction in the inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) interneuron system may contribute to its clinical manifestation. In the cerebral cortex, this dysfunction is expressed as desynchronization of local neural activity. We used functional connectivity MRI to examine potential alterations in the local synchrony of the cerebral cortex in PWS. Whole-brain functional connectivity maps were generated using iso-distance average correlation (IDAC) measures in 22 patients with PWS and 22 control participants. Patients with PWS showed reduced local connectivity (weaker synchrony) in frontal areas, including the orbitofrontal cortex, ventral medial and lateral frontal regions, the anterior cingulate cortex, and sensory areas. The presence of obsessive-compulsive symptoms was significantly associated with the degree of functional structure alteration in part of the orbitofrontal and sensory cortices. In addition, abnormally heightened functional connectivity (stronger synchrony) was identified in the posterior cingulate cortex and the bilateral angular gyri, core components of the default mode network, with distance-dependent effects. Our findings of cortical synchrony alterations indicate a degree of overlap with the anatomy of the alterations previously observed in primary obsessive-compulsive disorder, while also suggesting the implication of GABAergic dysfunction in the pathophysiology of the disorder. Our observations may support the rational development of more specific therapeutic strategies in the treatment of behavioral disinhibition characteristic of PWS.
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    Environmental exposures and long COVID in a prospective population-based study in Catalonia (COVICAT study)
    (National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), 2024) Saucy, Apolline; Espinosa, Ana; Iraola Guzmán, Susana; Castaño Vinyals, Gemma; Harding, Barbara N.; Karachaliou, Marianna; Ranzani, Otavio; Cid Ibeas, Rafael de; García Aymerich, Judith; Kogevinas, Manolis
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    Evolution, trade-offs and optimization of the environmental impact of school meal dietary recommendations
    (Elsevier, 2025) Benito-Cobeña, Júlia; Batlle-Bayer, Laura; Bach-Faig, Anna; Giner, Maria Pilar; Salvador, Gemma; Manera, Maria; Blanquer, Maria; Vila, Laura; Roca, Mercè; Fresán, Ujué
    Transitioning to healthy diets with low environmental impact is crucial for achieving sustainable food systems and reducing health issues. Promoting healthy dietary habits and raising awareness are key actions in this shift, with governments playing a significant role through public procurement and food-based dietary guidelines. Specifically, school dietary guidelines can foster sustainable eating behaviors among children. This article examines Catalonia, a North-East Spanish region, where the Public Health Agency (ASPCAT) has issued school dietary guidelines since 2005, updated in 2012, 2017, and 2020. The goal of this study was to assess the progressive changes in the environmental impacts of school menus for children aged 7-12 years following the four versions of ASPCAT guidelines. Additionally, it aimed to identify trade-offs among various environmental metrics, pinpoint food groups contributing most to environmental impacts, and propose strategies to further reduce the environmental impact of school meals. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology was applied. Inventories were obtained from Agribalyse v3.2 database, and characterized through sixteen individual environmental indicators and the composite one from the Product Environmental Footprint v3.1 methodology. Results showed a decrease in environmental impacts with each guideline update. Menus aligned with the 2020 guidelines had 23 % lower environmental impacts compared to those based on the 2017 guidelines, and 40 % lower than those based on the 2005 guidelines. All individual environmental indicators showed reductions in 2020 compared to 2005, ranging from 5 % to 52 %. Second dishes, mainly meat and fish, contributed most to environmental impacts. Replacing meat and fish with plant-based proteins, combined with a more diversified cereal intake, could reduce dietary environmental impacts by approximately 50 %. By identifying major contributors and suggesting potential improvements, our findings can contribute to the revision of the guidelines of Spain for healthy and sustainable school meals.
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    Which device is most suitable for measuring heart rate variability in the field? A comparative evaluation of two leading options
    (Wolters Kluwer (LWW), 2025) Krummenacher, Maryline; Tarvainen, Mika; Montet, Estelle; Turner, Michelle C.; Guseva Canu, Irina
    Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the Polar H10 and Bittium Faros™ heart rate variability monitors for use in occupational and environmental health research, considering data collection, storage, transfer, resource needs, and limitations. Methods: A literature review, device testing, and expert interviews were conducted to assess device performance and usability. Results: Polar H10 is affordable, records RR intervals for up to 20 hours offline, and requires a smartwatch and app for extended storage. Bittium Faros™ is a certified electrocardiogram monitor that records full waveforms, supports long measurements, and enables automatic data transfer. Both devices can be worn with a chest strap, but placement issues may affect data quality. Patch electrodes improve stability but may cause skin irritation. Conclusions: This assessment highlights key device differences to guide HRV monitor selection for occupational and environmental epidemiological studies.
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    Association of maternal thyroglobulin with gestational thyroid function and offspring IQ and brain morphology
    (Oxford University Press, 2025) Mulder, Tessa A.; Guxens Junyent, Mònica; Rebagliato, Marisa; Dineva, Mariana; Bath, Sarah C.; Hunziker, Sandra; Sunyer Deu, Jordi; Delgado-Saborit, Juana Maria; Irizar, Amaia; Lertxundi, Nerea; Muetzel, Ryan L.; Tiemeier, Henning; Peeters, Robin P.; Korevaar, Tim I. M.
    Background: Low maternal urinary iodine concentration (UIC) during pregnancy is associated with adverse offspring neurodevelopment. Thyroglobulin (Tg) has been suggested as a more sensitive biomarker than UIC of long-term iodine status, but associations of Tg with neurodevelopment and the possible mediating role of thyroid function remain unknown. Aim: To study whether maternal Tg is associated with (1) maternal and newborn thyroid function and (2) offspring IQ and brain morphology. Methods: Participants were selected from 2 population-based prospective cohorts: Generation R (the Netherlands, iodine-sufficient) and INfancia y Medio Ambiente (Spain, mildly iodine-deficient) with maternal Tg and thyroid function data in the first half of pregnancy or in cord blood, early childhood IQ (age 4.5 and 6 years), late childhood IQ (age 9 and 13), or brain morphology at 10 years. Associations of Tg with TSH, free T4 (FT4), IQ, and brain morphology were studied with multivariable linear regression. Results: (1) Tg was associated with lower TSH (-0.12 [-0.16; -0.08]) and higher FT4 (0.08 [0.05; 0.12]) in pregnancy (n = 4367) but not with cord blood TSH or FT4 (n = 2008). (2) Tg was associated with lower IQ in early childhood (β [95% confidence interval]: -0.06 [-0.10; -0.01], n = 2919) but not with IQ (n = 2503) or brain morphology (n = 1180) in later childhood. None of the associations of Tg with the studied outcomes differed by the iodine-to-creatinine ratio (ie, effect modification) or changed when adjusted for thyroid function. Conclusion: Higher Tg is associated with lower IQ in early childhood and higher thyroid function during pregnancy but not with IQ or brain morphology in later childhood. Further research should determine the value of Tg in addition to UIC for defining iodine status.