Assessment of weed control via foliar application of quinate

En estudios previos se detectó una importante acumulación de quinato en la parte aérea de las plantas tratadas con herbicidas inhibidores de la biosíntesis de aminoácidos, lo que podría explicar su capacidad de inducir la respuesta tóxica. También se evaluó el potencial efecto fitotóxico en función del modo de aplicación exógena, que fue superior tras aplicaciones radicales que foliares. En este trabajo se planteó valorar la utilización del quinato, pulverizado exógenamente, para el control del crecimiento de ciertas malas hierbas. Se realizaron aplicaciones foliares de quinato mediante pulverización en post-emergencia sobre plantas en diferentes estados fenológicos de “Sinapis alba”, “Papaver rhoeas”, “Lolium rigidum”, “Bromus diandrus” y “Cynodon dactylon”. Los resultados muestran que dicho compuesto presentó un mayor control y un efecto fitotóxico más evidente en las especies dicotiledóneas que en las monocotiledóneas, siendo “P. rhoeas” la única especie susceptible de ser controlada en sus estadios iniciales con este compuesto. En “S. alba” únicamente se produjo una reducción temporal del crecimiento sin llegar a ser letal.In previous studies quinate was accumulated in leaves of plants treated with amino acid biosynthesis inhibiting herbicides, which begged the question of whether quinate have the capacity of inducing the toxic effects of the herbicides. The phytotoxic effects of exogenous application were more evident when quinate was applied to the nutrient solution than when it was sprayed onto the foliage. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether sprayed quinate could control the growth of some weed species. This was evaluated by spraying quinate to the leaves of plants of “Sinapis alba”, “Papaver rhoeas”, “Lolium rigidum”, “Bromus diandrus” and “Cynodon dactylon” at different phenological states in postemergence. Exogenous application of quinate was more phytotoxic on dicotyledonous species than monocotyledonous species. “Papaver rhoeas” was the only species tested that would be potentially affected and controlled with the application of quinate, specifically in the initial states of plant development. Growth of “S. alba” was only temporally arrested after quinate application, but the treatment was not lethal

Nutritional status and nutritional treatment are related to outcomes and mortality in older adults with hip fracture

Malnutrition is very prevalent in geriatric patients with hip fracture. Nevertheless, its importance is not fully recognized. The objective of this paper is to review the impact of malnutrition and of nutritional treatment upon outcomes and mortality in older people with hip fracture. We searched the PubMed database for studies evaluating nutritional aspects in people aged 70 years and over with hip fracture. The total number of studies included in the review was 44, which analyzed 26,281 subjects (73.5% women, 83.6 ± 7.2 years old). Older people with hip fracture presented an inadequate nutrient intake for their requirements, which caused deterioration in their already compromised nutritional status. The prevalence of malnutrition was approximately 18.7% using the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA) (large or short form) as a diagnostic tool, but the prevalence was greater (45.7%) if different criteria were used (such as Body Mass Index (BMI), weight loss, or albumin concentration). Low scores in anthropometric indices were associated with a higher prevalence of complications during hospitalization and with a worse functional recovery. Despite improvements in the treatment of geriatric patients with hip fracture, mortality was still unacceptably high (30% within 1 year and up to 40% within 3 years). Malnutrition was associated with an increase in mortality. Nutritional intervention was cost effective and was associated with an improvement in nutritional status and a greater functional recovery. To conclude, in older people, the prevention of malnutrition and an early nutritional intervention can improve recovery following a hip fracture

Yellow pea flour and protein isolate as sources of antioxidant peptides after simulated gastrointestinal digestion

Although peas are widely consumed legumes throughout the world, the bioactivity ofthe peptides released by the gastrointestinal digestion has not been sufficiently studiedso far. The objective of the present work was to evaluate the potential of floursand protein isolates obtained from two varieties of yellow peas as sources of antioxidantpeptides. Flours and protein isolates were prepared and submitted to a simulatedgastrointestinal digestion. Protein hydrolysis degree (TNBS method) andprotein solubility (in phosphate buffer saline, pH = 7.4) values were independent onthe starting material. Antioxidant activity measured by oxygen radical absorbancecapacity (ORAC) and hydroxyl radical averting capacity (HORAC) showed no differencesbetween varieties. A lower activity was registered for protein isolates withrespect to flours in the case of HORAC, which could be associated with a loss of moleculeswith molecular masses lower than 43 kDa in the protein isolates. A significantincrease in activities was evidenced by both methods after gastrointestinal digestion,except in the case of HORAC activity of flours. Digested from protein isolates presenteda greater ratio of molecules smaller than 1.4 kDa and a lower ratio of thoselarger than 6.5 kDa with respect to digested flours, according to electrophoresis andgel filtration chromatography studies. Results suggested that the presence of othercomponents or/and the initial state of proteins would affect proteolytic attack ofdigestive enzymes. Both, pea flours and protein isolates, present interesting potentialas antioxidants food ingredients.Fil: Cipollone, María Agustina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; ArgentinaFil: Tironi, Valeria Anahi. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos; Argentin

A new spirometry-based algorithm to predict occupational pulmonary restrictive impairment

Background Spirometry is often included in workplace-based respiratory surveillance programmes but its performance in the identification of restrictive lung disease is poor, especially when the prevalence of this condition is low in the tested population. Aims To improve the specificity (Sp) and positive predictive value (PPV) of current spirometry-based algorithms in the diagnosis of restrictive pulmonary impairment in the workplace and to reduce the proportion of false positives findings and, as a result, unnecessary referrals for lung volume measurements. Methods We re-analysed two studies of hospital patients, respectively used to derive and validate a recommended spirometry-based algorithm [forced vital capacity (FVC) < 85% predicted and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/FVC > 55%] for the recognition of restrictive pulmonary impairment. We used true lung restrictive cases as a reference standard in 2×2 contingency tables to estimate sensitivity (Sn), Sp and PPV and negative predictive values for each diagnostic cut-off. We simulated a working population aged <65 years and with a disease prevalence ranging 1–10% and compared our best algorithm with those previously reported using receiver operating characteristic curves. Results There were 376 patients available from the two studies for inclusion. Our best algorithm (FVC < 70% predicted and FEV1/FVC ≥ 70%) achieved the highest Sp (96%) and PPV (67 and 15% for a disease prevalence of 10 and 1%, respectively) with the lowest proportion of false positives (4%); its high Sn (71%) predicted the highest proportion of correctly classified restrictive cases (91%). Conclusions Our new spirometry-based algorithm may be adopted to accurately exclude pulmonary restriction and to possibly reduce unnecessary lung volume testing in an occupational health setting

Vitamina D y enfermedad de hígado graso no alcohólico: nexo de unión y suplementación nutricional

Introducción: la enfermedad de hígado graso no alcohólico (EHGNA) es la patología hepática con mayor prevalencia en la población, caracterizada por la acumulación lipídica e inflamación en los hepatocitos. La vitamina D podría tener un papel beneficioso en EHGNA a través de sus propiedades antiinflamatorias y antifibróticas. Objetivo: revisar la relación entre los niveles sanguíneos de vitamina D y el desarrollo de EHGNA, evaluar los efectos de la suplementación nutricional de vitamina D en los marcadores de afectación hepática y analizar los suplementos y productos alimenticios con vitamina D disponibles en España. Material y Métodos: utilización de la base de datos PubMed como principal fuente bibliográfica mediante la metodología PRISMA, así como la herramienta BotPlus para los complementos alimenticios. Resultados: los pacientes con EHGNA presentan menores niveles sanguíneos de vitamina D en sangre que la población general. La suplementación nutricional con vitamina D ayuda a normalizar sus niveles y disminuye los niveles de marcadores de inflamación (IL-6 y TNF-α), pero no los de enzimas hepáticas. Se observan 455 complementos alimenticios con vitamina D en España, de los cuales un 70% son multivitamínicos, 25% son productos alimenticios y 5% suplementos exclusivos de vitamina D. Conclusiones: la vitamina D podría ser un factor nutricional a considerar en EHGNA, incluyendo la suplementación como una medida adicional a las estrategias nutricionales ya establecidas para esta patología.Introduction: non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most prevalent hepatic pathology in population, characterized by lipid accumulation and inflammation in hepatocytes. Vitamin D could have a beneficial role in NAFLD through anti- inflammatory and antifibrotic features in the liver. Aim: Review the relationship between vitamin D blood levels and NAFLD, evaluate the effects of vitamin D supplementation and hepatic biomarkers and analyse the supplements and nutritional products with vitamin D available in Spain. Material & Methods: Use of database PubMed as the main bibliographic source using PRISMA methodology, as well as BotPlus tool for nutritional products. Results: patients with NAFLD show lower vitamin D blood levels than healthy people. Vitamin D supplementation lowers the levels of inflammatory biomarkers (IL-6 and TNF-α), but not the levels of hepatic enzymes. Conclusions: vitamin D could be a nutritional factor to consider in NAFLD, including supplementation as an additional measure to the nutritional strategies already established for this pathology

Biomarcadores del estado inflamatorio: nexo de unión con la obesidad y complicaciones asociadas

El objetivo de este trabajo ha consistido en realizar una revisión de los biomarcadores que actualmente se proponen como el nexo de unión entre la inflamación, la obesidad y complicaciones asociadas, seleccionando los estudios llevados a cabo y las cuestiones pendientes. Cada vez hay mayor evidencia científica de que la inflamación puede jugar un papel importante en la etiología de diversas enfermedades crónicas de gran relevancia para la salud pública. En los últimos años, distintos estudios han sugerido que la obesidad podría ser un desorden inflamatorio. Asimismo, el estrés oxidativo se ha propuesto como un potencial inductor de la inflamación y de la susceptibilidad a la obesidad y patología asociadas. Entre los biomarcadores relacionados con la obesidad, la resistencia insulínica, las enfermedades cardiovasculares y el síndrome metabólico se encuentran: el factor de necrosis tumoral alfa, interleuquinas 6 y 18, angiotensinógeno, factor de crecimiento TGF-beta, inhibidor de la activación del plasminógeno, leptina, resistina, proteína C reactiva, amiloide A, ácido siálico, marcadores de disfunción endotelial (factor von Willebrand, ICAMs, vCAMs) factor 3 del sistema del complemento, haptoglobina, glicoproteína zinc-alfa2, eotaxina, visfatina, apelina, alfa1-antitripsina, vaspina, omentina, proteína transportadora de retinol 4, ceruloplasmina, adiponectina y desnutrina. Algunos de estos biomarcadores son buenos predictores de riesgo cardiovascular (inhibidor de la activación de plasminógeno 1, angiotensinógeno, fibrinógeno, ácido siálico, factor 3 del complemento y proteína C reactiva), adiposidad (leptina, visfatina, resistina, haptoglobina) y/o resistencia insulínica (ácido siálico, proteína C reactiva, inhibidor de la activación de plasminógeno 1, factor von Willebrand). Sin embargo, todavía queda por dilucidar el papel de muchos de ellos en la etiología de la obesidad y comorbilidades asociadas en humanos, así como los factores implicados en su regulación

Avances en nutrición molecular: nutrigenómica y/o nutrigenética

La aplicación de las técnicas de la biología molecular y el éxito del Proyecto Genoma Humano ha abierto una nueva era tanto en Medicina como en Nutrición. Hasta la fecha, al menos, 1.000 genes humanos causantes de enfermedades han sido identificados y parcialmente caracterizados, el 97% de los cuales sabemos ahora que son causantes de enfermedades monogénicas. Sin embargo, otras patologías como la obesidad, enfermedad cardiovascular, diabetes, cáncer se deben a complejas interacciones entre diversos genes y factores ambientales. A pesar de los numerosos estudios de asociación, más de 600 publicados desde 2002, la base molecular de las enfermedades crónicas es todavía incierta. La información sobre polimorfismos de nucleótidos y mapas de haplotipos son recursos adicionales para identificar genes involucrados en enfermedades. El desarrollo genómico se aproxima, sin embargo, no se conocen con precisión algunos componentes de la dieta y sus mecanismos, que influyen de forma importante en la expresión de la información genética y en las alteraciones patológicas. La industria alimentaria tiene la oportunidad de utilizar los componentes bioactivos de los alimentos para mejorar la salud y evitar las enfermedades teniendo en cuenta la constitución genética de los consumidores. Esta nueva era de la nutrición molecular —interacciones genes-nutrientes— puede crecer en diversas direcciones, aunque hay dos esenciales. De una parte, el estudio de la influencia de los nutrientes sobre la expresión de genes (nutrigenómica) y de otra conocer la influencia de las variaciones genéticas en la respuesta del organismo a los nutrientes (nutrigenética)

Factors Associated with Sarcopenia and 7-Year Mortality in Very Old Patients with Hip Fracture Admitted to Rehabilitation Units: A Pragmatic Study

Background: Admitted bedridden older patients are at risk of the development of sarcopenia during hospital stay (incident sarcopenia). The objective of this study was to assess the factors associated with sarcopenia (incident and chronic) and its impact on mortality in older people with hip fracture. Methods: A multicenter, pragmatic, prospective observational study was designed. Older subjects with hip fracture admitted to two rehabilitation units were included. Sarcopenia was assessed at admission and at discharge according to the revised EWGSOP (European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People) consensus definition. The mortality was evaluated after 7 years of follow-up. Results: A total of 187 subjects (73.8% women) age 85.2 ± 6.3 years were included. Risk factors associated to incident and chronic sarcopenia were undernutrition (body mass index-BMI and Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form-MNA-SF), hand-grip strength and skeletal muscle index. During follow-up 114 patients died (60.5% sarcopenic vs. 39.5% non-sarcopenic, p = 0.001). Cox regression analyses showed that factors associated to increased risk of mortality were sarcopenia (HR: 1.67, 95% CI 1.11-2.51) and low hand-grip strength (HR: 1.76, 95% CI 1.08-2.88). Conclusions: Older patients with undernutrition have a higher risk of developing sarcopenia during hospital stay, and sarcopenic patients have almost two times more risk of mortality than non-sarcopenic patients during follow-up after hip fracture

Down-regulation of heart HFABP and UCP2 gene expression in diet-induced (cafeteria) obese rats.

Long-term exposure to hypercaloric high fat diet induced marked tissue fatty acid accumulation and may influence cell function. Previous results in our laboratory showed that uncoupling proteins (UCPs) and fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) gene expression are changed in adipose tissue and skeletal muscle tissue in diet-induced (cafeteria) obese animals. The aim of this study was to examine heart FABP (HFABP) and UCP2 gene expressions in dietary obese rats. Rats fed on a high-fat diet for 65 days had significantly higher fat stores and body weight than control rats. Interestingly, we found that both HFABP and UCP2 mRNA levels were significantly reduced in cafeteria-obese rats when compared to control animals. Moreover, a statistically significant correlation was observed between the two gene expression levels. The down-regulation of heart HFABP and UCP2 parallels the lower lipid utilization which may account for an enhanced fat deposition. It is plausible that these two genes are regulated by the same family of transcription factors

Higher baseline irisin concentrations are associated with greater reductions in glycemia and insulinemia after weight loss in obese subjects

Irisin is assumed to be a relevant link between muscle and weight maintenance as well as to mediate exercise benefits on health. The aim of this study was to assess the possible associations between irisin levels and glucose homeostasis in obese subjects with metabolic syndrome (MetS) following an energy-restricted treatment. Ninety-six adults with excessive body weight and MetS features underwent a hypocaloric dietary pattern for 8 weeks, within the RESMENA randomized controlled trial (www.clinicaltrials.gov; NCT01087086). After the intervention, dietary restriction significantly reduced body weight and evidenced a dietary-induced decrease in circulating levels of irisin in parallel with improvements on glucose homeostasis markers. Interestingly, participants with higher irisin values at baseline (above the median) showed a greater reduction on glucose (P=0.022) and insulin (P=0.021) concentrations as well as on the homeostasis model assessment index (P=0.008) and triglycerides (P=0.006) after the dietary intervention, compared with those presenting low-irisin baseline values (below the median). Interestingly, a positive correlation between irisin and carbohydrate intake was found at the end of the experimental period. In conclusion, irisin appears to be involved in glucose metabolism regulation after a dietary-induced weight loss