Prevalence of severe atopic dermatitis in adults in 3 areas of Spain

The study was sponsored by Sanof

Effect of freezing on the rheological characteristics of protein enriched vegetable puree containing different hydrocolloids for dysphagia diets

This study optimized the formulation of protein-enriched vegetable purees designed for people with swallowing difficulties and investigated the effect of different storage conditions (freezing and refrigeration) on their nutritional, rheological and textural properties. Two proteins (casein and pea protein) and four hydrocolloids (guar gum, tara gum, xanthan gum and carboxymehtylcellulose) were combined and their behavior analyzed. The formulations were a good source of protein and antioxidants ensuring a significant supply of protein (6.1–6.7%) and antioxidant capacity (43–53 mg phenolic compounds/100g). The addition of an optimum amount of hydrocolloids allowed the target “pudding” viscosity to be achieved. The formulations containing pea protein were more affected by freezing, which decrease their viscosity, and showed a weaker internal structure and a lower firmness after freezing/thawing when compared with casein formulations. Samples with xanthan gum in general showed better stability. These results indicate that freezing can be a good alternative for pre- serving casein-enriched vegetable puree elaborated with xanthan gum designed for people with swallowing difficulties

Postprandial de novo lipogenesis and metabolic changes induced by a high-carbohydrate, low-fat meal in lean and overweight men

BACKGROUND: Adjustments of carbohydrate intake and oxidation occur in both normal-weight and overweight individuals. Nevertheless, the contribution of carbohydrates to the accumulation of fat through either reduction of fat oxidation or stimulation of fat synthesis in obesity remains poorly investigated. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the postprandial metabolic changes and the fractional hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) induced by a high-carbohydrate, low-fat meal in lean and overweight young men. DESIGN: A high-carbohydrate, low-fat meal was administered to 6 lean and 7 overweight men after a 17.5-h fast. During the fasting and postprandial periods, energy expenditure (EE), macronutrient oxidation, diet-induced thermogenesis, and serum insulin, glucose, triacylglycerol, and fatty acids were measured. To determine DNL, [1-13C]sodium acetate was infused and the mass isotopomer distribution analysis method was applied. RESULTS: After intake of the high-carbohydrate meal, the overweight men had hyperinsulinemia and higher fatty acid and triacylglycerol concentrations than did the lean men. The overweight group showed a greater EE, whereas there was no significant difference in carbohydrate oxidation between the groups. Nevertheless, the overweight men had a marginally higher protein oxidation and a lower lipid oxidation than did the lean men. DNL was significantly higher before and after meal intake in the overweight men and was positively associated with fasting serum glucose and insulin concentrations. Furthermore, postprandial DNL was positively correlated with body fat mass, EE, and triacylglycerol. CONCLUSION: After a high-carbohydrate, low-fat meal, overweight men had a lower fat oxidation and a higher fractional hepatic fat synthesis than did lean men

Levels of phytosterol oxides in enriched and nonenriched spreads: application of a thin-layer chromatography-gas chromatography methodology

The content of phytosterol oxidation products (POPs) in enriched and nonenriched commercial spreads was evaluated by thin-layer chromatography-gas chromatography (TLC-GC). Oxides of beta-sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol were produced by thermo-oxidation (7-hydroxy, 7-keto, and epoxy derivatives) and chemical synthesis (triol derivatives), which were then separated and identified by TLC-GC. Their identification was further confirmed by GC-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The total amounts of phytosterols found were 6.07 and 0.33 g/100 g of sample in phytosterol-enriched and nonenriched spread, respectively, whereas the total POPs contents were 45.60 and 13.31 mg/kg of sample in the enriched and nonenriched products. The main POPs found were the 7-keto derivatives of all phytosterols analyzed; 7-ketositosterol was the most abundant one (14.96 and 5.93 mg/kg of sample in phytosterol-enriched and nonenriched spread). No beta-epoxy and triol derivatives were detected in both types of samples. The enriched spread presented a lower phytosterol oxidation rate (0.07%) than the nonenriched one (0.41%)

Visual 3-D SLAM from UAVs

The aim of the paper is to present, test and discuss the implementation of Visual SLAM techniques to images taken from Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) outdoors, in partially structured environments. Every issue of the whole process is discussed in order to obtain more accurate localization and mapping from UAVs flights. Firstly, the issues related to the visual features of objects in the scene, their distance to the UAV, and the related image acquisition system and their calibration are evaluated for improving the whole process. Other important, considered issues are related to the image processing techniques, such as interest point detection, the matching procedure and the scaling factor. The whole system has been tested using the COLIBRI mini UAV in partially structured environments. The results that have been obtained for localization, tested against the GPS information of the flights, show that Visual SLAM delivers reliable localization and mapping that makes it suitable for some outdoors applications when flying UAVs

Utilización de recursos sanitarios y costes asociados al diagnóstico y tratamiento de cada episodio de trombosis venosa profunda y sangrado en pacientes intervenidos de cirugía ortopédica de cadera o rodilla

Objective: To determine the use of healthcare resources and costs associated with the diagnosis and treatment of thrombosis and bleeding patients who have undergone elective hip or knee replacement surgery, in routine clinical practice conditions. Patients and methods: This multicentre observational and retrospective study extracted data from the medical records of three Spanish public hospitals (2010). Patients ≥40 years who had received prophylaxis-anticoagulation were included. They were randomised into three groups: (a) control (no hospital complications), (b) bleeding, and (c) thrombosis. General variables, use of resources and costs were analysed. Statistical analysis: logistic regression and ANCOVA for model correction (P < .05) was included. Results: A total of 141 patients (control: 60; bleeding: 60; and thrombosis: 21), with a mean age 68.7 (SD: 10.4) years, and 68.1% females were identified. Hip arthroplasty was more frequent (71.6%). The bleeding risk was associated with age (OR = 1.1) and thrombosis with COPD (OR = 1.8); P < .05). The average length of stay for the thrombosis, bleeding and control groups was 13.9, 11.5 and 7.4 days, respectively; P < .001). The total costs for each group were D10,484.3; D8766.4 and D6496.1 respectively; P < .05. All grouped results were comparable between them according to the hospital analysed and the type of replacement. Conclusions: Costs were higher for thrombosis and bleeding patients, respectively. Costs were associated with length of stay and hospital-acquired infections.Objetivo: Conocer la utilización de recursos sanitarios y los costes asociados al diagnóstico y tratamiento de la trombosis y sangrado en pacientes intervenidos de artroplastia primaria total de cadera (ATC) o rodilla (ATR), durante 3 meses de seguimiento. Pacientes y método: Estudio observacional de carácter multicéntrico y retrospectivo, realizado a partir de los registros médicos de pacientes pertenecientes a 3 centros hospitalarios-públicos espanoles ˜ (ano˜ 2010). Se consideraron aleatoriamente 3 grupos de pacientes: a) control (sin complicaciones hospitalarias); b) sangrado, y c) trombosis. Se incluyeron variables generales, de utilización de recursos y sus costes. Análisis estadístico: regresión logística y ANCOVA, p < 0,05. Resultados: Se incluyeron pacientes ≥ 40 anos ˜ y que hubieran recibido profilaxis anticoagulante. Se incluyó un total de 141 pacientes (control: 60; sangrado: 60; y trombosis: 21). La edad media fue de 68,7 (DE: 10,4) anos ˜ y el 68,1% fueron mujeres. La ATR fue la técnica más frecuente (71,6%). El riesgo de sangrado se relacionó con la edad (OR = 1,1) y el de trombosis con la EPOC (OR = 1,8), p < 0,05. El promedio de días de estancia de los grupos de trombosis, sangrado y control fue de 13,9; 11,5 y 7,4 días, respectivamente, p < 0,001). Los costes totales fueron: 10.484,3 D; 8.766,4 D, y 6.496,1 D, respectivamente, p < 0,05. Todos los resultados agrupados fueron comparables entre ellos según el hospital analizado y el tipo de artroplastia. Conclusiones: Los costes más elevados se producen en los pacientes que habían desarrollado una trombosis y sangrado, respectivamente. Los costes se relacionaron con la prolongación de los días de estancia y las infecciones intrahospitalariasMedicin

On-board and Ground Visual Pose Estimation Techniques for UAV Control

In this paper, two techniques to control UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles), based on visual information are presented. The first one is based on the detection and tracking of planar structures from an on-board camera, while the second one is based on the detection and 3D reconstruction of the position of the UAV based on an external camera system. Both strategies are tested with a VTOL (Vertical take-off and landing) UAV, and results show good behavior of the visual systems (precision in the estimation and frame rate) when estimating the helicopter¿s position and using the extracted information to control the UAV

S-adenosylmethionine and methylthioadenosine are antiapoptotic in cultured rat hepatocytes but proapoptotic in human hepatoma cells

S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) is an essential compound in cellular transmethylation reactions and a precursor of polyamine and glutathione synthesis in the liver. In liver injury, the synthesis of AdoMet is impaired and its availability limited. AdoMet administration attenuates experimental liver damage, improves survival of alcoholic patients with cirrhosis, and prevents experimental hepatocarcinogenesis. Apoptosis contributes to different liver injuries, many of which are protected by AdoMet. The mechanism of AdoMet's hepatoprotective and chemopreventive effects are largely unknown. The effect of AdoMet on okadaic acid (OA)-induced apoptosis was evaluated using primary cultures of rat hepatocytes and human hepatoma cell lines. AdoMet protected rat hepatocytes from OA-induced apoptosis dose dependently. It attenuated mitochondrial cytochrome c release, caspase 3 activation, and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage. These effects were independent from AdoMet-dependent glutathione synthesis, and mimicked by 5'-methylthioadenosine (MTA), which is derived from AdoMet. Interestingly, AdoMet and MTA did not protect HuH7 cells from OA-induced apoptosis; conversely both compounds behaved as proapoptotic agents. AdoMet's proapoptotic effect was dose dependent and observed also in HepG2 cells. In conclusion, AdoMet exerts opposing effects on apoptosis in normal versus transformed hepatocytes that could be mediated through its conversion to MTA. These effects may participate in the hepatoprotective and chemopreventive properties of this safe and well-tolerated drug

Photomyogenic response in Niemann–Pick type C: a case report

Contains fulltext : 98214.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)1 maart 201

Volatiles formation in gelled emulsions enriched in polyunsaturated fatty acids during storage: type of oil and antioxidant

Gelled emulsions with carrageenan are a novel type of emulsion that could be used as a carrier of unsaturated fatty acids in functional foods formulations. Lipid degradation through volatile compounds was studied in gelled emulsions which were high in polyunsaturated oils (sunflower or algae oil) after 49 days of storage. Aqueous Lavandula latifolia extract was tested as a natural antioxidant. Analysis of the complete volatile profile of the samples resulted in a total of 40 compounds, classified in alkanes, alkenes, aldehydes, ketones, acids, alcohols, furans, terpenes and aromatic hydrocarbons. During storage, the formation of the volatile compounds was mostly related to the oxidation of the main fatty acids of the sunflower oil (linolenic acid) and the algae oil (docosahexaenoic acid). Despite the antioxidant capacity shown by the L. latifolia extract, its influence in the oxidative stability in terms of total volatiles was only noticed in sunflower oil gels (p < 0.05), where a significant decrease in the aldehydes fraction was found