Flavonoid Phloretin Inhibits Adipogenesis and Increases OPG Expression in Adipocytes Derived from Human Bone-Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal-Cells

Phloretin (a flavonoid abundant in apple), has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and glucose-transporter inhibitory properties. Thus, it has interesting pharmacological and nutraceutical potential. Bone-marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have high differentiation capacity, being essential for maintaining homeostasis and regenerative capacity in the organism. Yet, they preferentially differentiate into adipocytes instead of osteoblasts with aging. This has a negative impact on bone turnover, remodeling, and formation. We have evaluated the effects of phloretin on human adipogenesis, analyzing MSC induced to differentiate into adipocytes. Expression of adipogenic genes, as well as genes encoding OPG and RANKL (involved in osteoclastogenesis), protein synthesis, lipid-droplets formation, and apoptosis, were studied. Results showed that 10 and 20 µM phloretin inhibited adipogenesis. This effect was mediated by increasing beta-catenin, as well as increasing apoptosis in adipocytes, at late stages of differentiation. In addition, this chemical increased OPG gene expression and OPG/RANKL ratio in adipocytes. These results suggest that this flavonoid (including phloretin-rich foods) has interesting potential for clinical and regenerative-medicine applications. Thus, such chemicals could be used to counteract obesity and prevent bone-marrow adiposity. That is particularly useful to protect bone mass and treat diseases like osteoporosis, which is an epidemic worldwide

Alzheimer's Disease and Diabetes: Role of Diet, Microbiota and Inflammation in Preclinical Models

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Epidemiological studies show the association between AD and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), although the mechanisms are not fully understood. Dietary habits and lifestyle, that are risk factors in both diseases, strongly modulate gut microbiota composition. Also, the brain-gut axis plays a relevant role in AD, diabetes and inflammation, through products of bacterial metabolism, like short-chain fatty acids. We provide a comprehensive review of current literature on the relation between dysbiosis, altered inflammatory cytokines profile and microglia in preclinical models of AD, T2DM and models that reproduce both diseases as commonly observed in the clinic. Increased proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha, are widely detected. Microbiome analysis shows alterations in Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes or Firmicutes phyla, among others. Altered alpha- and beta-diversity is observed in mice depending on genotype, gender and age; therefore, alterations in bacteria taxa highly depend on the models and approaches. We also review the use of pre- and probiotic supplements, that by favoring a healthy microbiome ameliorate AD and T2DM pathologies. Whereas extensive studies have been carried out, further research would be necessary to fully understand the relation between diet, microbiome and inflammation in AD and T2DM

Influencia del tratamiento térmico en el comportamiento corrosivo de las aleaciones aluminio-litio AA2099 Y AA2055

Recientemente, las aleaciones de Al-Li han llamado la atención por su uso en estructuras críticas de peso y rigidez utilizadas en aplicaciones aeronáuticas, aeroespaciales y militares ya que presentan mejores propiedades, como baja densidad y alta resistencia especifica en comparación con las aleaciones comerciales de Aluminio. Estos parámetros (densidad y resistencia especifica) no solo son factores de medición de rendimiento de los materiales aeroespaciales, también permiten controlar las dimensiones de la aeronave y los componentes aeroespaciales por medio de las propiedades de la tolerancia al daño y durabilidad. La adición de litio (no mayor al 1.8%) es clave para la reducción de la densidad (por cada 1 % de litio existe una reducción del 3% equivalente a 0.079g/cm3) y un incremento en el módulo elástico (aprox. por cada 1% de litio incrementa un 6%). El objetivo de este estudio es determinar la susceptibilidad a la corrosión localizada de las aleaciones de Aluminio-Litio AA2099 y AA2055 con distintos tratamientos térmicos, T8, T6 y T0 en una solución acida (H2SO4 1%) y en una solución salina (NaCl 3.5%). Se caracterizó electroquímicamente con la técnica de Curva de Polarización Potenciodinámica

Microprocessor and FPGA interfaces for in-system co-debugging in field programmable hybrid systems

Modern trends in technology require efficient control and processing platforms based on connected software-hardware subsystems. Due to their complexity and size, algorithms implemented on these platforms are difficult to test and verify. When these types of solution are being designed, it is necessary to provide information of the internal values of registers and memories of both the software and hardware during the execution of the complete system. The final architecture of the targeted design and its debugging capabilities strongly depends on how the hybrid system is connected and clocked. This article discusses different architectural strategies that have been adopted for a hybrid hardware-software platform, built ready for debugging, and that uses components that can be easily found with a few special features. All the solutions have been implemented and evaluated using the UNSHADES-2 framework

The validation of a questionnaire for the identification of problems arising from the use of medicines by patients at a hospital emergency ward

Los problemas relacionados con los medicamentos (PRM) son problemas de salud asociados al uso de medicamentos. Son muchos los PRM que podemos encontrar si analizamos la medicación que toman los pacientes y los problemas de salud que refieren y muy variadas las causas que los ocasionan. La entrevista con el paciente constituye un instrumento imprescindible para la obtención de información sobre qué medicamentos toma, como los toma y sobre la experiencia que de ellos tiene. Los servicios de urgencias hospitalarios constituyen cada día más una puerta de entrada al sistema sanitario para los ciudadanos, de forma que constituye un escenario adecuado para conocer la prevalencia de PRM, sin embargo las características propias de un servicio de urgencias de hospital requiere la adaptación de la entrevista con el usuario. Objetivo: El presente trabajo pretende diseñar y validar un cuestionario como instrumento para la obtención de información suficiente para la evaluación e identificación de PRM en los usuarios de un servicio de urgencias hospitalario. Metodología: Se procederá al diseño de un cuestionario con la intervención de expertos en Seguimiento Farmacoterapéutico, igualmente se procederá a la validación del mismo pilotandolo sobre una muestra de 222 pacientes usuarios de un servicio de urgencias hospitalario. Resultado: Tras el pilotaje el cuestionario fue validado.Introduction: Adverse drug reactions (ADR) are health problems associated with the use of medicines. Many problems caused by the taking of medicines may be encountered if we analyse the medication taken by the patients, their health problems and their numerous causes. Personal interviews with the patient are essential in order to obtain information about how the medicines are taken and their resulting effects. Hospital emergency wards are the gate of entry into the health system for an ever increasing number of citizens and are therefore, suitable places from which to gain information on the extent of problems caused by medicines. However, due to the characteristics of such wards, an adaptation of the interview with the user is required Objective: The aim of the present work is to design and validate a questionnaire as an instrument to obtain sufficient information to be able to identify and evaluate problems caused by medication in users of hospital emergency ward services. Methodology: The design of a questionnaire will be carried out with the involvement of experts in Pharmaceutical Care. A pilot study with a sample of 222 patients using hospital emergency ward services will be used as a method of validation. Results: The questionnaire was validated by the pilot study

Primary breast cancer and health related quality of life in Spanish women: The EpiGEICAM case-control study

This study evaluates the impact of breast cancer (BC) in health related quality of life (HRQL) and in psychological distress (PD) during the initial phases of the disease and looks for contributing factors. A multicentric case-control study, EpiGEICAM, was carried out. Incident BC cases and age- and residence- matched controls were included. Clinical, epidemiological, HRQL (SF-36) and PD information (GHQ-28) was collected. We used multivariable logistic regression models to estimate OR of low HRQL and of PD in cases compared to controls, and to identify factors associated with low HRQL and with PD. Among 896 BC cases and 890 control women, cases had poorer scores than both, the reference population and the control group, in all SF-36 scales. BC women with lower education, younger, active workers, never smokers, those with comorbidities, in stage IV and with surgical treatment had lower physical HRQL; factors associated with low mental HRQL were dissatisfaction with social support, being current smoker and having children. Cases had a fivefold increased odds of PD compared to controls. Managing comorbidities and trying to promote social support, especially in younger and less educated women, could improve well-being of BC patients

Los orígenes del Solutrense y la ocupación pleniglaciar del interior de la Península Ibérica: implicaciones del nivel 3 de Peña Capón (valle del Sorbe, Guadalajara)

The Peña Capón rockshelter contains an archaeological deposit known since 1970 that was the object of a preliminary study in the late 1990’s. In this paper we present a revision of the archaeological material from level 3 that includes the technological and typological study of the lithics and bone tools, the zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis of the faunal remains, the record of engravings on bones, and the radiocarbon dating of several bone samples. The data obtained has allowed us to relate the level 3 to the Protosolutrean industries with Vale Comprido points defined in the Portuguese Estremadura, a matter that constitutes an important breakthrough within the Meseta area, where little is known about the Upper Palaeolithic prior to the Middle Solutrean. The results are consistent with the definition of the Protosolutrean as a transitional industry between the Gravettian and the Solutrean. Furthermore, the verification of a human settlement in the foothills of the Central System range during the Upper Pleniglacial (MIS 2) strongly points to the abandonment of the classic hypothesis that posit a depopulation of inner Iberia during the coldest stages of the last glacial cycle.Se presentan los resultados del estudio del material arqueológico correspondiente al nivel 3 del abrigo de Peña Capón, cuyo depósito, conocido desde 1970, únicamente había sido objeto de una revisión preliminar a finales de la década de 1990. El análisis de la colección ha incluido el estudio tecnológico y tipológico de la industria lítica y ósea, el análisis zooarqueológico y tafonómico de la fauna, la documentación de grabados sobre soportes óseos, así como la datación radiocarbónica de varias muestras óseas. Los datos obtenidos nos han permitido relacionar el nivel estudiado con las industrias protosolutrenses con puntas de Vale Comprido definidas en la Extremadura portuguesa, lo cual constituye una novedad en la Meseta, donde apenas se conocen datos del Paleolítico Superior anteriores al Solutrense medio. Los resultados son consistentes con la definición del Protosolutrense como una industria transicional entre el Gravetiense y el Solutrense. Asimismo, la verificación de una ocupación humana en el pie de monte del Sistema Central en las fases más frías del último ciclo glaciar (MIS 2) supone un argumento favorable al definitivo abandono de la hipótesis clásica sobre el despoblamiento del interior de la Península Ibérica durante los momentos más fríos del Paleolítico Superior

Trajectories of alcohol consumption during life and the risk of developing breast cancer

Background Whether there are lifetime points of greater sensitivity to the deleterious effects of alcohol intake on the breasts remains inconclusive. Objective To compare the influence of distinctive trajectories of alcohol consumption throughout a woman's life on development of breast cancer (BC). Methods 1278 confirmed invasive BC cases and matched (by age and residence) controls from the Epi-GEICAM study (Spain) were used. The novel group-based trajectory modelling was used to identify different alcohol consumption trajectories throughout women's lifetime. Results Four alcohol trajectories were identified. The first comprised women (45%) with low alcohol consumption (= 15 g/day), never having a low alcohol consumption. Comparing with the first trajectory, the fourth doubled BC risk (OR 2.19; 95% CI 1.27, 3.77), followed by the third (OR 1.44; 0.96, 2.16) and ultimately by the second trajectory (OR 1.17; 0.86, 1.58). The magnitude of BC risk was greater in postmenopausal women, especially in those with underweight or normal weight. When alcohol consumption was independently examined at each life stage, >= 15 g/day of alcohol consumption in adolescence was strongly associated with BC risk followed by consumption in adulthood. Conclusions The greater the alcohol consumption accumulated throughout life, the greater the risk of BC, especially in postmenopausal women. Alcohol consumption during adolescence may particularly influence BC risk.This study was funded by the Fundacion Cientifica Asociacion Espanola Contra el Cancer (AECC) (Scientific Foundation of the Spanish Association against Cancer 2006 & 2016) (Marina Pollan), Sociedad Espanola de Oncologia Medica (SEOM) (Spanish Society of Medical Oncology) (Miguel Martin), Scholarship 'Contrato de atraccion de talento' from Community of Madrid (Carolina Donat-Vargas), Fundacion Cerveza y Salud 2005 (Beer and Health Foundation 2005) (Miguel Martin) and Federacion de Asociaciones de Mujeres con Cancer de Mama (FECMA) (Spanish Federation of Associations of Women with Breast Cancer) (Miguel Martin, Marina Pollan)

Empoderamiento del alumnado adulto y de las personas mayores para una ciudadanía activa

Esta obra reúne iniciativas y experiencias de sensibilización y formación del profesorado y del alumnado adulto y mayor hacia una educación en competencias que contribuya a desarrollar la práctica de una ciudadanía activa compartiendo el tiempo libre, los conocimientos y las experiencias en proyectos sociales que consoliden y mejoren el entramado social de la ciudad, de las personas que la habitan y de la atención a sus necesidades. Su origen fue el proyecto CiudAct cofinanciado por el Programa Erasmus+ de la Unión Europea y en su desarrollo ha intervenido un equipo interinstitucional liderado por el Aula de Mayores+55 de la Universidad de Málaga y participado por el Centro de Profesorado «José Rodríguez Galán» de Antequera, la Asociación Cívica para la Prevención (ACP), la Asociación de Igualdad de Género Universitario (AIGU), y el Ayuntamiento de Faraján (Málaga). Con ellos, y con otras tantas instituciones y sus respectivos consorcios locales en toda Europa, se participa en la red supranacional Ciudades en Crecimiento.Programa Erasmus+ de la Unión Europea (referencia de proyecto 2015-1-ES01-KA104-014944

Results of a survey on peri-operative nutritional support in pancreatic and biliary surgery in Spain

Introduction: a survey on peri-operative nutritional support in pancreatic and biliary surgery among Spanish hospitals in 2007 showed that few surgical groups followed the 2006 ESPEN guidelines. Ten years later we sent a questionnaire to check the current situation. Methods: a questionnaire with 21 items sent to 38 centers, related to fasting time before and after surgery, nutritional screening use and type, time and type of peri-operative nutritional support, and number of procedures. Results: thirty-four institutions responded. The median number of pancreatic resections (head/total) was 29.5 (95 % CI: 23.0-35; range, 5-68) (total, 1002); of surgeries for biliary malignancies (non-pancreatic), 9.8 (95 % CI: 7.3-12.4; range, 2-30); and of main biliary resections for benign conditions, 10.4 (95 % CI: 7.6-13.3; range, 2-33). Before surgery, only 41.2 % of the sites used nutritional support (< 50 % used any nutritional screening procedure). The mean duration of preoperative fasting for solid foods was 9.3 h (range, 6-24 h); it was 6.6 h for liquids (range, 2-12). Following pancreatic surgery, 29.4 % tried to use early oral feeding, but 88.2 % of the surveyed teams used some nutritional support; 26.5 % of respondents used TPN in 100 % of cases. Different percentages of TPN and EN were used in the other centers. In malignant biliary surgery, 22.6 % used TPN always, and EN in 19.3 % of cases. Conclusions: TPN is the commonest nutrition approach after pancreatic head surgery. Only 29.4 % of the units used early oral feeding, and 32.3 % used EN; 22.6 % used TPN regularly after surgery for malignant biliary tumours. The 2006 ESPEN guideline recommendations are not regularly followed 12 years after their publication in our country