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Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is defined as a set of metabolic disorders, including central obesity, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, and hyperglycemia. The prevalence of MetS is increasing in epid...

Adipose tissue presents structural and functional changes in obesity and type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). In obesity, the size and number of adipocytes and adipokine secretion increases. In T1DM, a loss of adipose tissue suggests changes in the metabolic activity of this tissue. A significant challenge is to find alternative noninvasive methods to evaluate molecular changes in adipose tissue related to obesity and T1DM. Recently, Raman spectroscopy and chemometrics techniques have emerged as a tool for biological tissue analysis. In this work, we propose the use of Raman spectroscopy to characterize spectral differences in adipose tissue from different rat groups (control, obese, and T1DM). The Raman spectra were analyzed using direct band analysis, ratiometric analysis, and chemometric methods (principal component analysis (PCA) and support vector machines (SVMs)). We found that the Raman spectra of obese rats showed significant spectral differences compared to control and diabetic groups related to fatty acids Raman bands. Also, the obese group has a significant decrease in the degree of unsaturation of lipids. The PCA–SVM models showed classification performance ranging from 71.43% to 71.79% accuracy for brown and white adipose tissue samples, respectively. In conclusion, the results demonstrate that Raman spectroscopy can be used as a nondestructive method to assess adipose tissue according to a metabolic condition.

There is evidence that high levels of folic acid in human plasma may prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections or reduce its symptoms. However, the mechanisms that enable this inhibition are still unknown. This article proves, through molecular dynamics simulation, that folic acid metabolite 7,8-dihydrofolate (DHF) has high affinity to bind as ligands to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), and when this complex has been formed, the Wild type SARS-CoV-2 virus cannot bind to the ACE2 receptor, possibly inhibiting infection to the host cell. In contrast, the Beta and Delta variants of this same virus can join the ACE2 with high affinity even with the presence of DHF. This results lead to the conclusion that DHF may inhibit infection from the Wild type SARS-CoV-2 virus, but not its Beta and Delta variants. These results could explain the almost double increase in severe cases of COVID-19 due to the delta variant in pregnant women compared to the Wild type SARS-CoV-2.

The early detection of bronchial inflammation in asthma, through a non-invasive, simple method and under a subclinical state, could lead to a more effective control of this condition. The aim of this study was to identify biomarkers of bronchial inflammation in the saliva of children with asthma through immunoassay and Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS). We conducted an analytical cross-sectional study in 44 children ages 6–12; the diagnosis of asthma was made according to Global Initiative for Asthma (GINA) standards. The children’s saliva was analyzed by immunoassay for the quantification of 37 cytokines, as well as SERS analysis in a confocal Raman microscope at 785 nm. We found a significant association between bronchial obstruction and IL-8 (p = 0.004), IL-10 (p = 0.008) and sCD163 (p = 0.003). The Raman spectra showed significant amplification in the region of 760 to 1750 cm−1. The Principal Component Analysis and Linear Discriminant Analysis (PCA-LDA) method has a sensitivity of 85%, specificity of 82% and an accuracy of 84% for the diagnosis of asthma. These results demonstrate the presence of a subclinical inflammatory state, suggestive of bronchial remodeling in the population studied. The SERS method is a potential tool for identifying bronchial inflammation and its endotype, allowing for a highly sensitive and specific diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether the concentration of serum lactate during the diagnosis of postpartum hemorrhage (bleeding ≥500 mL during labor or ≥1000 mL during cesarean delivery) predicts severe hemorrhage (SPPH; blood loss ≥1500 mL at end of labor or in the following 24 h). METHODS A prospective cohort pilot study was conducted of women with a vaginal or cesarean delivery from February 2018 to March 2019 who presented with bleeding ≥500 mL measured by the gravimetric method in a reference hospital in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Venous blood samples were taken for analysis of serum lactate. A receiver operating characteristic curve determined the serum lactate threshold value for SPPH and χ2 test assessed the difference in serum lactate elevation between SPPH and non-SPPH groups. Lastly, the prognostic capacity between the thresholds was compared. RESULTS SPPH developed in 43.33% of the 30 women in the study group. The best prognostic threshold was 2.68 mmol/L of serum lactate (odds ratio [OR] 17.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.7-16.8, P

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are promising antibacterial nanomaterials for diagnostic and treatment of diabetes. However, toxicity and adverse cardiac responses induced by AgNPs related to nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative stress (OS) are described. Moreover, little is known about the diabetes influence upon AgNPs-toxicity. The aim of this work was to evaluate cardiovascular function in response to AgNPs through measuring perfusion pressure (PP) and left ventricle pressure (LVP), using perfused hearts from streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats and identify the role of NO and OS. High concentrations but not the lower concentrations of AgNPs, promotes increases in PP and LVP, as well as increased OS. Additionally, diabetes alters the classic effects of phenylephrine (Phe) and acetylcholine (ACh). These data suggest that diabetes may intensify AgNPs-cardiotoxicity. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism of action is still under elucidation.

FABP4 transports fatty acids and it has been proven to participate in obesity linked diseases, as well as being considered a biomarker of metabolic syndrome. We obtained the Raman spectrum at different concentrations for non-invasive future detection in tissues involved in metabolic syndrome.

Raman spectroscopy were used to analyze adipose tissue from control, obese and diabetic in an animal model. The Raman spectra show spectral features related to each metabolic condition.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to identify the vasoactive compounds present in the pitaya juice extract (PJE) and evaluate its effect using in vivo and in vitro models. METHODS: First, the pitaya juice was obtained from the fruit of Stenocereus Griseus, centrifuged to obtain PJE. Six hundred mL of PJE was frozen until its use and other 600 mL was lyophilized and stored. The lyophilized PJE was analyzed by HPLC-PAD. The wavelengths for detection in the PAD system were 535 and 480 nm for betalains, and 370 and 280 nm for phenolic compounds. On the other hand, the vasoactive effect of PJE was evaluated in isolated rings of thoracic aortas, with (n = 5) and without endothelium (n = 5), of male Wistar rats (250–350 g) previously contracted with phenylephrine (10 mM to 10 μmol/L), followed by the administration of a concentration of 20 mg/mL of lyophilized PJE and 1 mL physiological solution, as a control (30 min of treatment). RESULTS: The profiling of lyophilized PJE by HPLC-PAD showed 16 types of betalains and 31 types of phenolic compounds, which will be analyzed by mass spectrometry. Isolated aortic rings (in presence and absence of the endothelium) administered with PJE showed 8-fold greater vasodilation compared to the control (54.3% ± 14.1 vs 6.7% ± 3.7), suggesting that the compounds present in the PJE may exert a vasodilator effect, of which its action mechanism will be investigated. CONCLUSIONS: Pitaya juice extract contains vasoactive compounds such as betalains and phenolic compounds, which could be responsible for PJE exerting a vasodilator effect that was observed in assays of isolated rat aortic rings. FUNDING SOURCES: 1. Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT) 2. Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica A.C. (IPICYT).

Prolactin family hormones include growth hormone, placental lactogen and prolactin, which are able to regulate angiogenesis via NO and prostaglandins. However, their effects on vascular tone are not fully understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of prolactin family hormones on rat vascular tone in vitro. Aortic rings were prepared from adult male rats and precontracted with phenylephrine, then treated with the hormones and drugs. The tension was measured with isometric force displacement transducer connected to a polygraph. NO production and prostacyclin release in physiological solution was determined. Cultured rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs) were treated with the hormones and drugs, and the phosphorylation of eNOS at serine 1177 was assessed using Western bolt analysis. Administration of growth hormone or placental lactogen (0.01–100 nmol/L) induced endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Both the hormones significantly increased the phosphorylation of eNOS in RAECs and NO level in physiological solution. Preincubation with L-NAME blocked growth hormone- or placental lactogen-induced vasodilation and NO production. Preincubation with an antibody against growth hormone receptors blocked growth hormone- and placental lactogen-induced vasodilation. Addition of a single dose of prolactin (0.01 nmol/L) induced sustained vessel relaxation, whereas multiple doses of prolactin induced a biphasic contraction-relaxation effect. The vascular effects of prolactin depended on endothelium. Prolactin significantly increased the level of prostacyclin I2 in physiological solution. Preincubation with indomethacin or an antibody against prolactin receptors blocked prolactin-induced vasodilation. The prolactin family hormones regulate rat vascular tone, selectively promoting either relaxation or contraction of vascular smooth muscle via activation of either growth hormone receptors or prolactin receptors within the endothelium.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used in the medical, pharmaceutical and food industry. Adverse effects and toxicity induced by AgNPs upon cardiac function related to nitric oxide (NO) and oxidative stress (OS) are described. AgNPs-toxicity may be influenced by cardiovascular pathologies such as hypertension. However, the molecules involved under pathophysiological conditions are not well studied. The aim of this work was to evaluate perfusion pressure (PP) and left ventricle pressure (LVP) as physiological parameters of cardiovascular function in response to AgNPs, using isolated perfused hearts from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and identify the role of NO and OS. The results suggest that AgNPs reduced NO derived from endothelial/inducible NO-synthase and increased OS, leading to increased and sustained vasoconstriction and myocardial contractility. Additionally, the hypertension condition alters phenylephrine (Phe) and acetylcholine (ACh) classic effects. These data suggest that hypertension intensified AgNPs-cardiotoxicity. Nevertheless, the precise mechanism of action is still under elucidation.

AgNPs have been used to manufacture nanomaterials with new biophysical properties and functions. However, few experimental approaches have been used to assess their potential toxic or beneficial effects on human health, in association with the size, concentration, and biological target. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of the AgNPs on the smooth muscle of rat trachea. A single administration of AgNPs did not modify the smooth muscle tone, but, when the trachea rings were pre-treated with acetylcholine (ACh), AgNPs produced a contractile effect. Simultaneous administration of AgNPs and ACh resulted in a slight increase of smooth muscle contractility induced by ACh. AgNPs pretreatment followed by ACh administration showed that AgNPs exerted an important contraction effect induced by ACh after which muscle tone did not return to the basal level. This effect was associated with an increase in the production of nitric oxide (NO). The contractile response of the AgNPs induced by ACh was completely blocked when the rings were incubated, after the ACh but before the AgNPs administration, with 1400 W (NO blocker). The contractile effect was also abolished by atropine, which suggests that AgNPs alter ACh muscarinic receptor signaling. These data also show that AgNPs modify the contractile action of ACh through NO production and possibly induce hyper-reactivity of tracheal smooth muscle.

We purified a vasorelaxant compound: 5,4´-DIHIDROXI-6,7,8,3´-TETRAMETOXI-FLAVONE (FA), from an extract of Larrea tridentata, an endemic plant from the mexican highlands and explored the mechanisms ...

The objective of this work was to confirm that the contractile effects of ouabain and Na(+)-free solutions in guinea pig tracheal rings are associated with increments in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in cultured tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) cells. Cultured cells were alpha-actin positive. Histamine (50 microM) and Na(+)-free solution elicited a transient increase in [Ca2+]i, while the responses to thapsigargin (1 microM) and ouabain (1 mM) were long lasting. However, carbachol (10, 200, and 500 mM) and high K(+)-solution produced no effect on [Ca2+]i, suggesting that cultured guinea pig TSM cells display a phenotype change but maintain some of the tracheal rings physiological properties. The transient rise in [Ca2+]i in response to the absence of extracellular Na+ and the effect of ouabain may indicate the participation of the Na(+)/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) in the regulation of [Ca2+]i.

© 2012 Espinosa-Tanguma et al., licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The Role of Sodium-Calcium Exchanger in the Calcium Homeostasis of Airway Smooth Muscle

Vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration is characterized by extension of the lamellipodia at the leading edge, lamellipodial attachment to substrate, and release of the rear (uropod) of the cell, all of which enable forward movement. However, little is known regarding the role of intracellular cytosolic Ca2+concentration ([Ca2+]i) in coordinating these distinct activities of migrating SMCs. The objective of our study was to determine whether regional changes of Ca2+orchestrate the migratory cycle in human vascular SMCs. We carried out Ca2+imaging using digital fluorescence microscopy of fura-2 loaded human smooth muscle cells. We found that motile SMCs exhibited Ca2+waves that characteristically swept from the rear of polarized cells toward the leading edge. Ca2+waves were less evident in nonpolarized, stationary cells, although acute stimulation of these SMCs with the agonists platelet-derived growth factor-BB or histamine could elicit transient rise of [Ca2+]i. To investigate a role for Ca2+waves in the migratory cycle, we loaded cells with the Ca2+chelator BAPTA, which abolished Ca2+waves and significantly reduced retraction, supporting a causal role for Ca2+in initiation of retraction. However, lamellipod motility was still evident in BAPTA-loaded cells. The incidence of Ca2+oscillations was reduced when Ca2+release from intracellular stores was disrupted with the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor thapsigargin or by treatment with the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor blocker 2-aminoethoxy-diphenyl borate or xestospongin C, implicating Ca2+stores in generation of waves. We conclude that Ca2+waves are essential for migration of human vascular SMCs and can encode cell polarity.

The sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) plays a major role in the regulation of cytosolic Ca(2+) in muscle cells. In this work, we performed force experiments to explore the role of NCX during contraction and relaxation of Cch-stimulated guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle strips. This tissue showed low sensitivity to NCX inhibitor KB-R7943 (IC50, 57 +/- 2 microM), although a complete relaxation was obtained by NCX inhibition at 100 microM. Interestingly, relaxation after washing the agonist was prolonged in the absence of external Na(+), whereas washing without Na(+) and in the presence of KB-R7943 resembled control conditions with physiological solution. Altogether, this suggests the reversal of NCX to a Ca(2+) influx mode by the manipulation on the Na(+) gradient, which can be inhibited by KB-R7943. In order to understand the low sensitivity to KB-R7943, we studied the molecular aspects of the NCX expressed in this tissue and found that the isoform of NCX expressed is 1.3, similar to that described in human tracheal smooth muscle. Sequencing revealed that amino acid 19 in exon B is phenylalanine, whereas in its human counterpart is leucine, and that the first amino acid after exon D is aspartate instead of glutamate in humans. Results herein presented are discussed in term of their possible functional implications in the exchanger activity and thus in airway physiology.

1. In the present study, we investigated the series of events involved in the contraction of tracheal smooth muscle induced by the re-addition of Ca(2+) in an in vitro experimental model in which Ca(2+) stores had been depleted and their refilling had been blocked by thapsigargin. 2. Mean (+/-SEM) contraction was diminished by: (i) inhibitors of store-operated calcium channels (SOCC), namely 100 micromol/L SKF-96365 and 100 micromol/L 1-(2-trifluoromethylphenyl) imidazole (to 66.3 +/- 4.4 and 41.3 +/- 5.2% of control, respectively); (ii) inhibitors of voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels Ca(V)1.2 channels, namely 1 micromol/L nifedipine and 10 micromol/L verapamil (to 86.2 +/- 3.4 and 76.9 +/- 5.9% of control, respectively); and (iii) 20 micromol/L niflumic acid, a non-selective inhibitor of Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) channels (to 41.1 +/- 9.8% of control). In contrast, contraction was increased 2.3-fold by 100 nmol/L iberiotoxin, a blocker of the large-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (BK) channels. 3. Furthermore, contraction was significantly inhibited when Na(+) in the bathing solution was replaced by N-methyl-D-glucamine (NMDG(+)) to 39.9 +/- 7.2% of control, but not when it was replaced by Li(+) (114.5 +/- 24.4% of control). In addition, when Na(+) had been replaced by NMDG(+), contractions were further inhibited by both nifedipine and niflumic acid (to 3.0 +/- 1.8 and 24.4 +/- 8.1% of control, respectively). Nifedipine also reduced contractions when Na(+) had been replaced by Li(+) (to 10.7 +/- 3.4% to control), the niflumic acid had no effect (116.0 +/- 4.5% of control). 4. In conclusion, the data of the present study demonstrate the roles of SOCC, BK channels and Ca(V)1.2 channels in the contractions induced by the re-addition of Ca(2+) to the solution bathing guinea-pig tracheal rings under conditions of Ca(2+)-depleted sarcoplasmic reticulum and inhibition of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase. The contractions were highly dependent on extracellular Na(+), suggesting a role for SOCC in mediating the Na(+) influx.

Airway smooth muscle (ASM) contracts partly due to an increase in cytosolic Ca2+. In this work, we found that the contraction caused by histamine depends on external Na+, possibly involving nonselective cationic channels (NSCC) and the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX). We performed various protocols using isometric force measurement of guinea pig tracheal rings stimulated by histamine. We observed that force reached 53 ± 1% of control during external Na+ substitution by N-methyl-d-glucamine+, whereas substitution by Li+ led to no significant change (91 ± 1%). Preincubation with KB-R7943 decreased the maximal force developed (52.3 ± 5.6%), whereas preincubation with nifedipine did not (89.7 ± 1.8%). Also, application of the nonspecific NCX blocker KB-R7943 and nifedipine on histamine-precontracted tracheal rings reduced force to 1 ± 3%, significantly different from nifedipine alone (49 ± 6%). Moreover, nonspecific NSCC inhibitors SKF-96365 and 2-aminoethyldiphenyl borate reduced force to 1 ± 1% and 19 ± 7%, respectively. Intracellular Ca2+ measurements in isolated ASM cells showed that KB-R7943 and SKF-96365 reduced the peak and sustained response to histamine (0.20 ± 0.1 and 0.19 ± 0.09 for KB-R, 0.43 ± 0.16 and 0.47 ± 0.18 for SKF, expressed as mean of differences). Moreover, Na+-free solution only inhibited the sustained response (0.54 ± 0.25). These data support an important role for NSCC and NCX during histamine stimulation. We speculate that histamine induces Na+ influx through NSCC that promotes the Ca2+ entry mode of NCX and CaV1.2 channel activation, thereby causing contraction.

We describe a novel, strongly outwardly rectifying anion current in Xenopus laevis oocytes, that we have named I(Cl,Or)- The properties of I(Cl,Or) are different from those of any other anion conductance previously described in these cells. Typically, I(Cl,Or) amplitude was small when extracellular Cl- (Cle) was the permeant anion. However, when Cle was replaced by lyotropic anions I(Cl,Or) became evident as a time-independent current. (ICl,Or) was voltage dependent and showed a remarkable outwards rectification with little or no inwards tail current. The relative selectivity sequence determined from current amplitudes was: SCN-or = ClO4-I-Br-or = NO3-Cl- x I(Cl,Or) was insensitive to Gd3+ but was blocked by micromolar concentrations of niflumic acid, DIDS or Zn2+. Furthermore, I(Cl,Or) was not affected by buffering intracellular Ca2+ with BAPTA. Low extracellular pH inhibited I(Cl,Or) with a pK of 5.8. We propose that I(Cl,Or) might result from activation of endogenous ClC-5-like Cl- channels present in Xenopus oocytes.

In this study, guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle pre-contracted with histamine was relaxed by the addition of 100microM 8Br-cGMP, a non-hydrolyzable and cell-permeable analog for cGMP. This effect was not sensitive to cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitors, whereas it was partially blocked by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitors. The relaxation observed was also reverted up to 50+/-8.5% by iberiotoxin, a selective inhibitor of large conductance, calcium-activated potassium channels (BK(Ca)). Our results indicate that there exists a crosstalk mechanism between cAMP and cGMP signaling pathways which lead to relaxation of guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle and also that BK(Ca) channels are involved to a certain extent in this phenomenon.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are used to manufacture materials with new properties and functions. However, little is known about their toxic or beneficial effects on human health, especially in the respiratory system, where its smooth muscle (ASM) regulates the airway contractility by different mediators, such as acetylcholine (ACh) and nitric oxide (NO). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of AgNPs on ASM cells. Exposure to AgNPs induced ACh-independent expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) at 100 μg/mL, associated with excessive production of NO. AgNPs induced the muscarinic receptor activation, since its blockage with atropine and blockage of its downstream signaling pathway inhibited the NO production. AgNPs at 10 and 100 μg/mL induced ACh-independent prolonged cytotoxicity and decreased cellular proliferation mediated by the muscarinic receptor-iNOS pathway. However, the concentration of 100 μg/mL of AgNPs induced muscarinic receptor-independent apoptosis, suggesting the activation of multiple pathways. These data indicate that AgNPs induce prolonged cytotoxic and anti-proliferative effects on ASM cells, suggesting an activation of the muscarinic receptor-iNOS pathway. Further investigation is required to understand the full mechanisms of action of AgNPs on ASM under specific biological conditions.

To gain insight into the mechanism by which the protease alpha-chymotrypsin (alpha-chym) activates the Na-Ca exchanger in muscle cells we studied 1) the ability of this enzyme to remove the intracellular "catalytic" Ca2+ requirement for activation of all the modes of exchange mediated by the Na-Ca exchanger (i.e., Nao-Cai, Nai-Cao, Nao-Nai, and Cao-Cai, where the subscripts o and i represent extracellular and intracellular, respectively), and 2) the ability of certain monovalent cations to stimulate Cao-Cai exchange after activation of the exchanger by alpha-chym. Barnacle muscle cells were used as models because these cells are so large that they can be internally perfused and voltage clamped. The results show that alpha-chym produces a highly activated Na-Ca exchanger able to operate in all its modes of exchange independently of catalytic Cai. The concentration-dependent effect of alpha-chym was biphasic; maximal activation occurred at 0.5 mg alpha-chym/ml perfusate for 20 min of perfusion at a perfusion rate of 2.5 microliters/min. The results are discussed in terms of the possible effects of alpha-chym on the kinetic modulation of the exchanger.

ResumenIntroducciónEl aumento exponencial del conocimiento en el área de la medicina ha exigido la formación de estudiantes con una serie de competencias como la creatividad, el razonamiento crítico, el trabajo en equipo y el auto-aprendizaje. Por ello, es importante planear estrategias de enseñanza, dinámicas y variadas, que promuevan el desarrollo de las competencias requeridas; el identificar los estilos de aprendizaje de los estudiantes puede facilitar dicha planeación.ObjetivoAnalizar la fiabilidad del cuestionario sobre estilos de aprendizaje de Felder y Soloman, identificar los estilos de aprendizaje de los estudiantes del curso de Fisiología Humana y su laboratorio de la carrera de medicina y determinar si hay diferencias debido al género.MétodoEste estudio se llevó a cabo con alumnos de segundo año de la carrera que cursaron la sección de Fisiología Gastrointestinal de la materia de Fisiología Humana y su Laboratorio en los ciclos escolares 2009–2010, 2011–2012 y 2012–2013. Se aplicó el inventario de Felder y Soloman a un total de 459 estudiantes; 265 (126 mujeres y 139 hombres) lo contestaron completamente. Se calculó, al final, la fiabilidad del instrumento.ResultadosEl valor del alfa de Cronbach para cada una de las cuatro dimensiones del cuestionario quedó comprendido entre 0.38 y 0.61. Los estilos de aprendizaje predominantes de los alumnos fueron el activo, el sensitivo, el visual y el secuencial. No hubo diferencias significativas entre los estilos de aprendizaje por género.ConclusionesLos datos apoyan la confiabilidad de las dimensiones activo-reflexivo y visual-verbal, pero las dimensiones sensitivo-intuitivo y secuencial-global requieren re-evaluación. Son necesarios trabajos adicionales con poblaciones mayores de estudiantes que validen el cuestionario, a través de estimar tanto su validez como su confiabilidad. De igual forma, se recomiendan investigaciones que determinen si existe alguna relación positiva entre los estilos de aprendizaje y diversas estrategias de enseñanza.AbstractIntroductionThe exponential growth of medical knowledge has been calling for a better training of students in a series of abilities such as creativity, critical thinking, group collaboration skills, and self learning skills. It is therefore important to generate varied and dynamical teaching strategies intended to make student learning easier and to promote the development of the required skills; identifying student learning preferences may facilitate these tasks.ObjectiveTo assess the reliability of the Learning Styles Questionnaire developed by Felder and Soloman, to identify the learning styles of medical students attending the Human Physiology course at the School of Medicine, and to determine if there exist gender-related differences in their learning styles.MethodsThis research was conducted in a group of second-year medical students attending the Gastrointestinal Physiology theory and laboratory sessions of the Human Physiology course during the 2009–2010, 2011–2012 y 2012–2013 school years. Felder and Soloman's questionnaire was applied to 459 students and it was answered completely by 265 students (126 women and 139 men). At the end, the reliability of the questionnaire was calculated.ResultsThe value of Cronbach's alpha for each of the four dimensions of Felder and Soloman's questionnaire was found to be between 0.38 and 0.61. The active, sensing, visual, and sequential learning styles were the predominant learning preferences of the students in our study. There were no significant differences in learning styles between genders.ConclusionsOur results support the reliability of the active-reflective and visual-verbal dimensions, but the sensing-intuitive and sequential-global dimensions require further assessment. Further studies using larger numbers of students to estimate the validity and reliability of the questionnaire are needed. Studies to show if there exists a positive relation between learning styles and teaching strategies are also recommended.