Cloning and molecular ontogeny of digestive enzymes in fed and food-deprived developing gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) larvae

We have determined the expression pattern of key pancreatic enzymes precursors (trypsinogen, try; chymotrypsinogen, ctrb; phospholipase A2, pla2; bile salt-activated lipase, cel; and α-amylase, amy2a) during the larval stage of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) up to 60 days after hatching (dph). Previously, complete sequences of try, cel, and amy2awere cloned and phylogenetically analyzed. One new isoformwas found for cel transcript (cel1b). Expression of all enzyme precursors was detected before the mouth opening. Expression of try and ctrb increased during the first days of development and then maintained high values with some fluctuations during the whole larval stage. The prolipases pla2 and cel1b increased from first-feeding with irregular fluctuation until the end of the experiment. Contrarily, cel1a maintained lowexpression values duringmost of the larval stage increasing at the end of the period. Nevertheless, cel1a expression was negligible as compared with cel1b. The expression of amy2a sharply increased during the first week followed by a gradual decrease. In addition, a fooddeprivation experiment was performed to find the differences in relation to presence/absence of gut content after the opening of the mouth. The food-deprived larvae died at 10 dph. The expression levels of all digestive enzymes increased up to 7 dph, declining sharply afterwards. This expression pattern up to 7 dphwas the same observed in fed larvae, confirming the genetic programming during the early development.Main digestive enzymes in gilthead seabream larvae exhibited the same expression profiles than other marine fish with carnivorous preferences in their juvenile stages

Introducción a la Programación con Python, Computación Interactiva y Aprendizaje Significativo

En este trabajo presentamos una experiencia docente, y el recurso docente correspondiente, que hemos seguido durante el primer cuatrimestre del curso 17/18 en una asignatura de introducción a la programación. Nuestro principal objetivo era trabajar sobre la motivación de los alumnos, haciendo que el aprendizaje de los fundamentos de la programación fuese lo más atractivo e intuitivo posible. Para ello, nos hemos apoyado en tres elementos principales: el lenguaje de programación Python, el uso de un entorno de desarrollo interactivo como los notebooks de Jupyter, y la adopción de una estrategia de aprendizaje significativo entendido como el proceso en el que en todo momento se sabe “para qué sirve” el conocimiento que se está adquiriendo. Los tres elementos han contribuido a mejorar la calidad de la enseñanza con respecto a ediciones anteriores de la asignatura. Los resultados académicos obtenidos en la evaluación y los indicios que hemos podido extraer de una encuesta realizada a los alumnos son muy positivos, lo que nos anima a seguir en esta dirección. Todo el material docente utilizado en la asignatura está disponible públicamente en un repositorio GitHub.In this paper we present a teaching experience, and the corresponding teaching resource, which we have followed during the first semester of the 17-18 academic year in a subject of introduction to programming. Our main objective was to work on the motivation of the students, making the learning of the main concepts of programming as attractive and intuitive as possible. We have relied on three main elements: the Python programming language, the use of an interactive development environment such as the Jupyter notebooks, and the adoption of a meaningful learning strategy. We understand by meaningful learning the process in which at every moment the student knows “what is the use” of the knowledge that is being acquired. The three elements have contributed to improve the quality of the teaching compared to previous editions of the subject. The academic results obtained in the evaluation and several insights that we have been able to extract from a survey made to the students are very positive, which encourages us to continue in this direction. All the teaching material used during the course is publicly available in a GitHub repository

Association of retinol binding protein4 (RBP4) and ghrelin plasma levels with insulin resistance and disease severity in non-diabetic patients with hidradenitis suppurativa

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease associated with insulin resistance (IR). Retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4) and ghrelin are two bioactive proteins that have been involved in glucose metabolism and IR, but also in the regulation of immune and inflammatory processes. The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of RBP4 and ghrelin in patients with HS, and to assess the possible relationship between these levels and IR, disease severity and HS risk. A total of 137 subjects (77 HS patients and 60 controls) without diabetes mellitus were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Patients with HS had significantly higher RBP4 but lower ghrelin plasma levels than controls, independently of body mass index (BMI). Serum RBP4 levels were positively correlated to disease severity and IR in HS patients. However, we found no association between ghrelin levels and any clinical or laboratory parameters. Moreover, high serum RBP4 and low ghrelin levels were associated with an increased risk for HS. Our results suggest that high RBP4 levels may be a surrogate biomarker for IR in patients with HS. Moreover, increased RBP4 and decreased ghrelin levels could also be independent risk factors for the development of HS

Introducción a la Programación con Python, Computación Interactiva y Aprendizaje Significativo

En este trabajo presentamos una experiencia docente, y el recurso docente correspondiente, que hemos seguido durante el primer cuatrimestre del curso 17/18 en una asignatura de introducción a la programación. Nuestro principal objetivo era trabajar sobre la motivación de los alumnos, haciendo que el aprendizaje de los fundamentos de la programación fuese lo más atractivo e intuitivo posible. Para ello, nos hemos apoyado en tres elementos principales: el lenguaje de programación Python, el uso de un entorno de desarrollo interactivo como los notebooks de Jupyter, y la adopción de una estrategia de aprendizaje significativo entendido como el proceso en el que en todo momento se sabe “para qué sirve” el conocimiento que se está adquiriendo. Los tres elementos han contribuido a mejorar la calidad de la enseñanza con respecto a ediciones anteriores de la asignatura. Los resultados académicos obtenidos en la evaluación y los indicios que hemos podido extraer de una encuesta realizada a los alumnos son muy positivos, lo que nos anima a seguir en esta dirección. Todo el material docente utilizado en la asignatura está disponible públicamente en un repositorio GitHub.In this paper we present a teaching experience, and the corresponding teaching resource, which we have followed during the first semester of the 17-18 academic year in a subject of introduction to programming. Our main objective was to work on the motivation of the students, making the learning of the main concepts of programming as attractive and intuitive as possible. We have relied on three main elements: the Python programming language, the use of an interactive development environment such as the Jupyter notebooks, and the adoption of a meaningful learning strategy. We understand by meaningful learning the process in which at every moment the student knows “what is the use” of the knowledge that is being acquired. The three elements have contributed to improve the quality of the teaching compared to previous editions of the subject. The academic results obtained in the evaluation and several insights that we have been able to extract from a survey made to the students are very positive, which encourages us to continue in this direction. All the teaching material used during the course is publicly available in a GitHub repository

Evaluation of serum omentin-1 and apelin concentrations in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa

Introduction: Recent studies suggest a role of adipokines in the pathogenesis of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Omentin-1 and apelin are two recently identified adipokines that have been involved in the regulation of metabolic and inflammatory responses. Aim: To investigate serum omentin-1 and apelin levels in patients with HS and to assess their associations with metabolic parameters, disease severity and HS risk. Material and methods: This case-control study included 139 non-diabetic individuals (78 HS patients and 61 ageand sex-matched controls). Serum concentrations of omentin-1 and apelin and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were measured in all participants. Results: Serum omentin-1 concentrations were significantly higher in HS patients compared to controls, whereas apelin serum levels did not significantly differ between both groups. These differences in omentin-1 concentrations remained significant even after adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). The results of logistic regression analysis showed that increased omentin-1 plasma levels were an independent risk factor for HS. However, we found no association between serum levels of both omentin-1 and apelin with HS severity. Conclusions: Our results show that patients with HS have raised omentin-1 serum levels, which are associated with HS risk

Poor Physical Performance Is Associated with Postoperative Complications and Mortality in Preoperative Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Introduction: Poor physical performance has been shown to be a good predictor of complications in some pathologies. The objective of our study was to evaluate, in patients with colorectal neoplasia prior to surgery, physical performance and its relationship with postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality, at 1 month and at 6 months. Methods: We conducted a prospective study on patients with preoperative colorectal neoplasia, between October 2018 and July 2021. Physical performance was evaluated using the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) test and hand grip strength (HGS). For a decrease in physical performance, SPPB < 10 points or HGS below the EWGSOP2 cut-off points was considered. Nutritional status was evaluated using subjective global assessment (SGA). The prevalence of postoperative complications and mortality during admission, at 1 month, and at 6 months was evaluated. Results: A total of 296 patients, mean age 60.4 ± 12.8 years, 59.3% male, were evaluated. The mean BMI was 27.6 ± 5.1 kg/m2. The mean total SPPB score was 10.57 ± 2.07 points. A total of 69 patients presented a low SPPB score (23.3%). Hand grip strength showed a mean value of 33.1 ± 8.5 kg/m2 for men and 20.7 ± 4.3 kg/m2 for women. A total of 58 patients presented low HGS (19.6%). SGA found 40.2% (119) of patients with normal nourishment, 32.4% (96) with moderate malnutrition, and 27.4% (81) with severe malnutrition. Postoperative complications were more frequent in patients with a low SPPB score (60.3%vs38.6%; p=0.002) and low HGS (64.9%vs39.3%, p=0.001). (...)This research was partially funded by the 2019 research grants of SANCYD (Sociedad Andaluza de Nutrición Clínica y Dietética) and by an unrestricted grant from Persan Farma. Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

Prevalence of Anxiety and Depression Symptoms and Their Relationship with Nutritional Status and Mortality in Patients with Colorectal Cancer

Background: Anxiety and depression are common in patients with cancer. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of anxiety and depression symptoms in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients awaiting elective surgery and whether there is an association with their preoperative nutritional status and postoperative mortality. Methods: A prospective study was conducted on 215 patients with CRC proposed for surgery. Data about nutritional status were collected using the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) criteria, while anxiety and depression symptoms data were collected using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Results: HADS detected possible anxiety in 41.9% of patients, probable anxiety in 25.6%, possible depression in 21.9%, and probable depression in 7.9%. GLIM criteria found 116 (53.9%) patients with malnutrition. The HADS score for depression subscale was significantly higher in malnourished patients than in well-nourished (5.61 ± 3.65 vs. 3.95 ± 2.68; p = 0.001). After controlling for potential confounders, malnourished patients were 10.19 times more likely to present probable depression (95% CI 1.13–92.24; p = 0.039). Mortality was 1.9%, 4,2%, and 5.6% during admission and after 6 and 12 months, respectively. Compared to patients without depressive symptomatology, in patients with probable depression, mortality risk was 14.67 times greater (95% CI 1.54–140.21; p = 0.02) during admission and 6.62 times greater (95% CI 1.34–32.61; p = 0.02) after 6 months. Conclusions: The presence of anxiety and depression symptoms in CRC patients awaiting elective surgery is high. There is an association between depression symptoms, preoperative nutritional status, and postoperative mortality.This research was partially funded by the 2019 research grants of SANCYD (Sociedad Andaluza de Nutrición Clínica y Dietética) and by an unrestricted grant from Nestlé Health Science

Henoch-Schönlein purpura in northern Spain: clinical spectrum of the disease in 417 patients from a single center

The severity of clinical features and the outcomes in previous series of patients reported with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) vary greatly, probably due to selection bias. To establish the actual clinical spectrum of HSP in all age groups using an unselected and wide series of patients diagnosed at a single center, we performed a retrospective review of 417 patients classified as having HSP according to the criteria proposed by Michel et al. Of 417 patients, 240 were male and 177 female, with a median age at the time of disease diagnosis of 7.5 years (interquartile range [IQR], 5.3-20.1 yr). Three-quarters of the patients were children or young people aged 20 years or younger (n = 315), and one-quarter were adults (n = 102). The most frequent precipitating events were a previous infection (38%), usually an upper respiratory tract infection, and/or drug intake (18.5%) shortly before the onset of the vasculitis. At disease onset the most common manifestations were skin lesions (55.9%), nephropathy (24%), gastrointestinal involvement (13.7%), joint symptoms (9.1%), and fever (6.2%). Cutaneous involvement occurring in all patients, mainly purpuric skin lesion, was the most common manifestation when the vasculitis was fully established, followed by gastrointestinal (64.5%), joint (63.1%), and renal involvement (41.2%). The main laboratory findings were leukocytosis (36.7%), anemia (8.9%), and increased serum IgA levels (31.7%). The most frequent therapies used were corticosteroids (35%), nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (14%), and cytotoxic agents (5%). After a median follow-up of 12 months (IQR, 2-38 mo), complete recovery was observed in most cases (n = 346; 83.2%), while persistent, usually mild, nephropathy was observed in only 32 (7.7%) cases. Relapses were observed in almost a third of patients (n = 133; 31.9%).In conclusion, although HSP is a typical vasculitis affecting children and young people, it is not uncommon in adults. The prognosis is favorable in most cases, depending largely on renal involvement