Acute study of dose-dependent effects of (-)-epicatechin on vascular function in healthy male volunteers: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND & AIMS There is convincing clinical evidence to suggest that flavanol-containing foods/beverages are capable of inducing improvements in human vascular function. However, whilst (-)-epicatechin has been tested for efficacy, a full dose-dependency has yet to be established, particularly at doses below 1 mg/kg BW. The current study examined the dose-dependent effects of (-)-epicatechin on human vascular function with concurrent measurement of plasma (-)-epicatechin metabolites and levels of circulating nitrite and nitrate species, NOx. METHODS An acute, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover intervention trial was conducted in 20 healthy males with 4 treatment arms: water-based (-)-epicatechin (0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg BW) and a water only as control. Vascular function was assessed by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) measured at the brachial artery, laser Doppler imaging with iontophoresis (LDI) at the subcutaneous capillaries of the forearm (response to Ach and SNP) and peripheral blood pressure (BP) at baseline, 1, 2, 4 and 6 h post-intervention. Plasma analysis of epicatechin metabolites was conducted by LC-MS and circulating plasma of nitrite and nitrate species were performed using an HPLC-based system (ENO-30). RESULTS Significant increases in % FMD were found to occur at 1 and 2 h following intake of 1 mg/kg BW, and at 2 h for the 0.5 mg/kg BW intake. There were no significant changes in LDI or BP at any time-points or intake levels. Increases in FMD over the 6 h timeframe were closely paralleled by the appearance of total plasma (-)-epicatechin metabolites. Non-significant changes in circulating NOx was observed. CONCLUSIONS Our data add further evidence that (-)-epicatechin is a causal vasoactive molecule within flavanol-containing foods/beverages. In addition, we show for the first time that intake levels as low as 0.5 mg/kg BW are capable of inducing acute improvements in vascular function (FMD) in healthy volunteers

Condrosarcoma laríngeo de localización en ala tiroidea

El condrosarcoma de laringe es un tumor sarcomatoso cuya localización más frecuente es en cricoides (80%) Son tumores raros, de difícil diagnóstico y crecimiento lento. Su clínica, en fases tardías, produce estridor, disnea y disfagia. Desde el punto de vista de la anatomía patológica se describen dos tipos histológicos, de alto y de bajo grado de malignidad, según el número de atípias celulares que presenten. Presentamos el caso clínico de un paciente varón con tumoración en ala tiroidea derecha, dura y de un año de evolución, sin otra sintomatología acompañante. Se diagnosticó de condrosarcoma de bajo grado de malignidad histológica, realizándose hemilaringectomía. El interés de nuestro caso radica en lo inusual de la localización y en la buena evolución seguida, con cirugía conservadora. Hacemos una revisión bibliográfica de estos tumores

H3.3A variant histone mRNA containing an alpha-globin insertion: modulated expression during mouse gametogenesis correlates with meiotic onset

6 p.-3 fig.-1 tab.Replacement-variant H3.3 histones have been isolated and sequenced in different eukaryotes, but no functional H3.3A gene has been characterized in the mouse so far. We have cloned an H3.3A cDNA from a mouse fetal ovary library, differentially screened with testis versus somatic cDNA probes. We showed this gene contains a region homologous to the reverse and complementary alpha-globin gene. We believe such a structure could have been generated by retroposition during the evolution of both globin and histone gene families. The sequence coding for H3.3A is 76.6% homologous to the mouse H3.3B gene at the nucleotide level and differs in only one amino acid at the protein level. The high degree of homology between these genes and the H3.3 variant histones from other eukaryotes reveals the conservation of these replication-independent class of histones throughout evolution. Analysis of gene expression reveals a developmental regulation concurrent with meiotic progression, with the highest level of transcript detection coincident with meiotic onset during both oogenesis and spermatogenesis.These studies were supported by grants from the DGICYT (PB92-0063) and CAM (C077/91) to J.M. and from FIS (9301/61) and CAM (AE 00118/94).Peer reviewe

Developmental expression of H3.3A variant histone mRNA in mouse

5 p.-8 fig.Cloning and characterization of H3.3A variant histone expression has recently been reported to be associated with meiotic development in mouse testis and ovary. Using Northern analysis and in situ hybridization, the pattern of H3.3A expression was studied during the development of different tissues. In addition to the differential expression detected in male and female meiosis, H3.3A was found to be highly expressed in preantral follicles of adult ovaries and in the basal regions of seminiferous epithelium corresponding to spermatogonia. Different patterns of expression were observed in somatic tissues, which also differed with respect to the developmental stage of the tissue. The lowest expression was detected in adult skeletal muscle. High expressions were found in foetal liver and spinal cord. These different expressions might reflect a possible function of H3.3A in cell differentiation as detected in MEL cells.This work was supported by grants from the DGICYT (PB92-0063,PB9S-0119) and The European Commission PL 960183 to JM. and from the FIS (93/0161) and CAM (AE 001 18/94) to DK.Peer reviewe

Revalorization of bioactive compounds from tropical fruit by-products and industrial applications by means of sustainable approaches

Tropical fruits trade is on the rise due to the claimed health benefits related with their consumption. Functional activities are exerted by the presence of bioactive compounds which could be used for prevention or amelioration diseases. However, the occurrence of bioactive compounds is found mainly in non-edible fraction of tropical fruits which are usually discarded. Therefore, the revalorization of tropical fruits by-products as source of functional compounds is on the cutting-edge research. The implementation of this challenge not only allows the enhancement of the tropical fruits by-products management, but also the production of value-added products. This review compiles the latest comprehensive information about the revalorization of bioactive compounds from tropical fruits by-products. A revision of the sustainable green technologies used for the isolation of valuable compounds has been carried out as well as the current food, functional, cosmeceutical and bioenergetics industrial applications of bioactive compounds extracted from tropical fruits by-products