Toxinología clínica, alimentaria y ambiental

La toxinología es la ciencia que estudia las toxinas. Si tóxico, es toda sustancia venenosa, toxina es aquella sustancia elaborada por un ser vivo, que, además, tiene acción fuera de él, sin que sea necesaria la muerte o descomposición del ser productor, para su liberación ni para su acción"". Según esta definición, y con la novedosa nomenclatura de los cinco reinos de seres vivos (Mónera, Protista, Fungi, Vegetal y Animal), en la que se sustenta este trabajo, se establecen cinco grupos de toxinas: bacterianas, protozoarias, fúngicas, vegetales y animales. En este libro, de gran ayuda tanto al estudiante como al profesional que necesite ampliar conocimientos, se profundiza en los cinco reinos de organismos, así como, y de manera más amplia, en los diferentes grupos de toxinas

Management of Primary Dysmenorrhea among University Students in the South of Spain and Family Influence.

The present study analyses the management of primary dysmenorrhea by university students in the south of Spain. In this cross-sectional observational study, 224 women participated, using an ad hoc self-report questionnaire about menstrual pain and self-care and including sociodemographic and gynecological variables. Some 76.8% of participants consumed analgesics and the majority self-medicated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) without consulting a health professional, with a correlation between pain intensity and the number of pills ingested during menstruation (r = 0.151, p < 0.05). The higher proportion of women who found their analgesia effective were those who took medication after being prescribed by a health care provider (60.8%) compared to those who self-medicated (40%; p < 0.01). Only 43.8% employed non-pharmaceutical methods, most commonly antalgic positions, massages and local heat. These choices were not related to the intensity of menstrual pain nor with the severity of the dysmenorrhea, nor did these most common methods prove to be the most effective. However, a higher percentage of women using non-pharmacological methods was identified in women with family members suffering from dysmenorrhea (73.2%) compared to those without (60%; p = 0.040), which may indicate that the choice of remedies is more related to learning self-care in the family context. This study identifies the need for education on self-care and management of menstrual pain.post-print338 K

Association between Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio with Abdominal Obesity and Healthy Eating Index in a Representative Older Spanish Population

Poor diet quality and obesity, especially abdominal obesity, have been associated with systemic inflammation. The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) is an available and inexpensive inflammation biomarker. The aim of the present study was to determine the association of dietary patterns and obesity with an inflammatory state. A group of 1747 Spanish noninstitutionalized older adults individuals were included, and a food-frequency questionnaire was applied. The Global Food Score (GFS) and Healthy Eating Index for Spanish population (SHEI) were calculated. Weight, height and waist (WC) and hip circumferences were measured, and BMI, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) determined. In addition, body-fat percentage was measured by bioimpedance. NLR was calculated (NLR ≥ p80: 2.6; 2.8 and 2.4 as inflammatory status in the entire population, men and women, respectively). The men with inflammatory status presented significative higher values of WC, WHtR, WHR, and body-fat percentage (101.82 ± 10.34 cm, 0.61 ± 0.06, 0.98 ± 0.06, and 31.68 ± 5.94%, respectively) than those with better inflammatory status (100.18 ± 10.22 cm, 0.59 ± 0.06, 0.97 ± 0.07, and 30.31 ± 6.16%, respectively). Those males with worse inflammatory state had lower scores for protein foods (OR = 0.898 (0.812–0.993); p = 0.037). The women with NLR ≥ 2.4 had higher WHtR and WHR (0.62 ± 0.09 and 0.91 ± 0.09) than those with NLR < 2.4 (0.60 ± 0.08 and 0.90 ± 0.08). In multiple linear regression analysis, NLR was positively related with WHtR and negatively related with SHEI score (β = 0.224 ± 0.094; R 2 = 0.060; p < 0.05 and β = −0.218 ± 0.101; R 2 = 0.061; p < 0.05), adjusting by sex, age, marital status, education level, smoking, hours of sleeping and inflammatory diseases. In women, the higher the SHEI and GFS scores were and the better meeting the aims of cereal and vegetable servings, the less the odds of inflammatory status (OR = 0.970 (0.948–0.992); p = 0.008; OR = 0.963 (0.932–0.995); p = 0.024; OR = 0.818 (0.688–0.974); p = 0.024 and OR = 0.829 (0.730–0.942); p = 0.004, respectively). WHtR and quality of diet is related to the inflammation status in older adults regardless to the sex

Relationship between Diet, Menstrual Pain and other Menstrual Characteristics among Spanish Students.

This study sought to describe and compare adherence to the Mediterranean diet and consumption of local foods from the Huelva region among Spanish university women in relation to menstrual pain and other menstrual characteristics. This cross-sectional study included 311 health science students. The study variables were sociodemographic and gynecologic characteristics, adherence to the Mediterranean diet using the KIDMED questionnaire, alcohol consumption (SDU) and consumption of local food. A descriptive bivariate analysis and multiple binary regression were performed for menstrual pain. Up to 55.3% of participants had moderate adherence to the Mediterranean diet and only 29.6% had high adherence. Women with low adherence had longer menstrual cycles (p < 0.01). Eating less than two pieces of fruit per day (OR = 3.574; 95%CI = 1.474– 8.665; p < 0.05) and eating pulses more than one day a week (OR = 2.320; 95%CI = 1.006–5.348) raised the probability of suffering menstrual pain. A positive correlation between SDU and cycle length was identified (r = 0.119, p = 0.038), and menstrual bleeding was lower in women who consumed olive oil daily (p = 0.044). In conclusion, the Mediterranean diet, alcohol consumption and consuming typical foods from southern Spain appear to influence cycle length, menstrual flow and menstrual pain. Further research is necessary to confirm and expand these findings.post-print315 K

Occurrence of melatonin and indolic compounds derived from L-tryptophan yeast metabolism in fermented wort and commercial beers

Melatonin and serotonin are bioactive compounds present in foods and beverages and related to neuroprotection and anti-angiogenesis, among other activities. They have been described in wines and the role of yeast in their formation is clear. Thus, this study evaluates the content of these bioactives and other related indolic compounds in beer. For this purpose, commercial beers were analyzed by a validated UHPLC-HRMS method and sample treatment optimized due to the low concentrations expected. Moreover, a wort was fermented with different commercial beer yeast (Abbaye, Diamond, SafAle, SafLager) in order to monitor the formation of these bioactives during the elaboration process. Results show that indolic compounds such as N-acetylserotonin and 3-indoleacetic acid are produced during the alcoholic fermentation of wort. Moreover, the occurrence of four indolic compounds (5-hydroxytryptophan, N-acetylserotonin, 3-indoleacetic acid, L-tryptophan ethyl ester) in commercial beers is reported for the first time.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad AGL2013-47300-C3-2-R, AGL2016-77505-C3-2-

Influence of freeze-drying and γ-irradiation in preclinical studies of flurbiprofen polymeric nanoparticles for ocular delivery using d-(+)-trehalose and polyethylene glycol.

This study investigated the suspension of poly(ε-caprolactone) nanoparticles as an ocular delivery system for flurbiprofen (FB-PεCL-NPs) in order to overcome the associated problems, such as stability, sterility, tolerance, and efficacy, with two different FB-PεCL-NP formulations. The formulations were stabilized with poloxamer 188 (1.66% and 3.5%) and submitted individually for freeze-drying and γ-irradiation with polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG3350) and d-(+)-trehalose (TRE). Both formulations satisfied criteria according to all physicochemical parameters required for ocular pharmaceuticals. The FB-PεCL-NP formulations showed non-Newtonian behavior and sustained drug release. Ex vivo permeation analysis using isolated ocular pig tissues suggested that the presence of PEG3350 results in a reduction of FB transcorneal permeation. Moreover, TRE improved the penetration of FB across the cornea, especially after γ-irradiation. In addition, both formulations did not show a significant affinity in increasing FB transscleral permeation. Both formulations were classified as nonirritating, safe products for ophthalmic administration according to hen's egg test-chorioallantoic membrane and Draize eye test. Furthermore, an in vivo anti-inflammatory efficacy test showed that irradiated FB-PεCL-NPs prepared with PEG3350 (IR-NPsPEG) have longer anti-inflammatory effects than those presented with irradiated FB-PεCL-NPs prepared with TRE (IR-NPsTRE). IR-NPsPEG showed a suitable physical stability after an aqueous reconstitution over .30 days. This study concludes that both formulations meet the Goldman's criteria and demonstrate how irradiated nanoparticles, with innovative permeation characteristics, could be used as a feasible alternative to a flurbiprofen solution for ocular application in clinical trials

Genealogy: The Tree Where History Meets Genetics

Although biological relationships are a universal reality for all human beings, the concepts of “family” and “family bond” depend on both the geographic region and the historical moment to which they refer. However, the concept of “family” can be determinant in a large variety of societies, since it can influence the lines of succession, inheritances and social relationships, as well as where and with whom an individual is buried. The relation between a deceased person and other members of a community, other individuals of the same necropolis, or even with those who are buried in the same tomb can be analysed from the genetic point of view, considering different perspectives: archaeological, historical, and forensic. In the present work, the concepts of “family” and “kinship” are discussed, explaining the relevance of genetic analysis, such as nuclear and lineage markers, and their contribution to genealogical research, for example in the heritage of surnames and Y-chromosome, as well as those cases where some discrepancies with historical record are detected, such as cases of adoption. Finally, we explain how genetic genealogical analyses can help to solve some cold cases, through the analysis of biologically related relatives

Menstrual Migraine Among Spanish University Students.

Purpose:This study sought to determine the prevalence of menstrual migraine among female university studentsat the Nursing Faculty of Ciudad Real and to determine possible risk factors.Design and methods:A cross-sectional observational study was performed using a self-report questionnaire. Twohundred and ninety-nine femaleuniversity students participated inthestudy;all were enrolledin the2017/2018academic year at the Faculty of Nursing. Participants were over the age of 18 years and without any diagnosedgynecological pathology. The main measurement tools were menstrual migraine between days−2 and +3 ofthe menstrual cycle, over the previous six cycles.Results:The prevalence of menstrual migraine was 45.15%, identifying the following possible risk factors: dys-menorrhea (OR 9.19; 1.62–6.28% CI), use of hormonal contraceptive methods (OR 2.60; 95% CI 1.30–5.20), men-strual irritability (OR 2.34; 95% CI 1.25–4.40), menstrual dizziness (OR 2.05; 95% CI % 1.12–3.75) and dailyconsumption of cola beverages (OR 1.85; 95% CI % 1.04–3.32).Conclusions:The prevalence of this problem is high among our population and the approach is complex.Practice implications: It is necessary to continue to research the pharmacological measures and methods of phar-macological pain relief as well as interventions directed at lifestyle modifications considering the potential riskfactors involved in menstrual migrainepost-print393 K

USO E INFLUENCIA DE LA INFORMACIÓN EN PROCESOS ESTRATÉGICOS: ESTUDIO EXPLORATORIO EN UNA UNIVERSIDAD MEXICANA

The information is considered a strategic asset for institutions of higher education. Since 1980, it has been argued that Mexican universities have had difficulties in improving strategic management processes; collection and usage of information for decision making have been pointed out as causal factors. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use and influence of information in strategic processes in an institution of higher education in Mexico. A case study, exploratory and descriptive-comparative, was conducted in which four groups were integrated to perform controlled strategic processes. Three groups received explicit information: quantitative, qualitative, or combined (quantitative + qualitative); the fourth group did not receive information whatsoever. Groups' conversations were recorded, transcribed and analyzed by means of the software HyperRESEARCH and the statistical program SAS. The results suggest that the type of information influenced on the behavior and characteristics of the strategic processes

Acute and chronic effects of magnetic microparticles used in lake restoration on Daphnia magna and Chironomus sp.

Magnetic microparticles (MPs) have been recently proposed as a new and promising tool for restoring eutrophicated inland waters. In this study, we analyzed the acute and chronic effects of iron (Fe) MPs on Daphnia magna and on the benthic macroinvertebrate Chironomus sp. The endpoint in the acute toxicity tests was immobilization. In the chronic toxicity tests the offspring production (male and female) in D. magna and the mortality of larvae and pupae, and adult emergence in Chironomus sp. experiments were used as the endpoints. The concentration of MPs that caused 50% of immobilized individuals (EC50) in the acute toxicity test was much higher in D. magna (0.913 g Fe l-1) than in Chironomus sp. (0.445 g Fe l-1), which is likely to be the result of differences in the lifestyle of these organisms, planktonic and benthic respectively. Considering the regular dose of MPs that could be used in a restoration plan, slight effects on organism immobilization are expected. The results of chronic toxicity tests in D. magna showed that in presence of dissolved Fe (dFe), parthenogenetic reproduction was significantly affected, while no significant effect on mortality of larvae and pupae and on adult emergence was detected in Chironomus sp. test. Taking into account that long-term exposure is not likely to occur under the regular procedure of MPs, we conclude that MPs is a riskless (no toxic effect on planktonic and benthic organisms) and efficient (high P adsorption capacity) tool for lake restoration.This work was supported by Junta de Andalucía project P10-RNM-6630 (Proyectos de Excelencia, Spain), MINECO CTM 2013-46951-R projects (Spain) and by the European Founding for the Regional Development (Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional, FEDER)