¿Influye la microbiota en el riesgo de obesidad infantil?

Childhood obesity is associated to incremented risk of developing diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, or cancer, later in life. Several factors affect infant weight gain such as genetics, maternal lifestyle, and other environmental factors. Perinatal period is considered to be the most important one to when defining metabolic programming of the future adult. Several previous researches have discussed the role that gut microbiota might play on obesity risk and its development between 3-5 years old. Again, perinatal period is crucial to define quantity and diversity of a healthy intestinal microbiota. Maternal diet/BMI, delivery mode, antibiotic exposure and breastfeeding are some of the processes that will determine a favorable gut microbiota. Functions of gut microbiota, mostly by producing short-chain fatty acids as metabolites, include regulation of metabolism and immune system of the host, which may be compromised in case of dysbiosis. This review pretends to evaluate the state of the art concerning infant obesity and the role of gut microbiota. Despite the large amount of scientific publications, there is still much work to do regarding the clarification of mechanisms and the possible therapy for childhood obesity.La obesidad infantil se asocia con el incremento del riesgo de desarrollar futuras enfermedades como la diabetes, las enfermedades cardiovasculares o el cáncer. Varios factores afectan la ganancia de peso infantil, como la genética, el estilo de vida materno y otros factores ambientales. El período perinatal es considerado como el más importante a la hora de definir la programación metabólica del futuro adulto. Varias investigaciones previas han discutido el rol que podría tener la microbiota intestinal en el riesgo de obesidad y su desarrollo entre los 3 y 5 años. Una vez más, el período perinatal es crucial para definir la cantidad y la diversidad de una microbiota intestinal saludable. La dieta materna, el tipo de parto, la exposición a los antibióticos y la lactancia materna son algunos de los procesos que determinarán una microbiota intestinal favorable. Las funciones de la microbiota intestinal, principalmente mediante la producción de ácidos grasos de cadena corta como metabolitos, incluyen la regulación del metabolismo y el sistema inmunológico del huésped, que pueden estar comprometidos en caso de disbiosis. Esta revisión pretende evaluar el estado del arte en relación con la obesidad infantil y el papel de la microbiota intestinal. A pesar de la gran cantidad de publicaciones científicas, todavía hace falta aclarar los mecanismos y la posible terapia para la obesidad infantil

Pharmaceutical gastro-retentive systems

Freqüentemente recorre-se à produção de sistemas gastrorretentivos para modular a liberação de fármacos a partir de sistemas farmacêuticos com vistas ao aumento do tempo de permanência do fármaco no trato gastrointestinal. Umas das estratégias mais interessantes passa pela produção de sistemas flutuantes. Estes podem ser classificados em dois grupos: sistemas flutuantes efervescentes e sistemas flutuantes não-efervecentes. Neste artigo apresenta-se uma revisão bibliográfica do que tem sido produzido nesta área nos últimos anos.Gastro-retentive systems are often produced in order to modulate drugs release from pharmaceutical forms and in this way to increase drug residence time in the gastrointestinal tract. One of the most interesting strategies consists in the preparation of floating devices. These can be classified into two groups: effervescent systems and non-effervescent systems. A review of what has been done in the last years is presented in this article

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Desenvolvimento de Formulações de Libertação Modificada de Ranitidina

Doutoramento em Tecnologia FarmacêuticaPhD Degree - Pharmaceutical Technolog

Does microbiota influence the risk of childhood obesity?

Childhood obesity is associated to incremented risk of developing diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, or cancer, later in life. Several factors affect infant weight gain such as genetics, maternal lifestyle, and other environmental factors. Perinatal period is considered to be the most important one to when defining metabolic programming of the future adult. Several previous researches have discussed the role that gut microbiota might play on obesity risk and its development between 3-5 years old. Again, perinatal period is crucial to define quantity and diversity of a healthy intestinal microbiota. Maternal diet/BMI, delivery mode, antibiotic exposure and breastfeeding are some of the processes that will determine a favorable gut microbiota. Functions of gut microbiota, mostly by producing short-chain fatty acids as metabolites, include regulation of metabolism and immune system of the host, which may be compromised in case of dysbiosis. This review pretends to evaluate the state of the art concerning infant obesity and the role of gut microbiota. Despite the large amount of scientific publications, there is still much work to do regarding the clarification of mechanisms and the possible therapy for childhood obesity.La obesidad infantil se asocia con el incremento del riesgo de desarrollar futuras enfermedades como la diabetes, las enfermedades cardiovasculares o el cáncer. Varios factores afectan la ganancia de peso infantil, como la genética, el estilo de vida materno y otros factores ambientales. El período perinatal es considerado como el más importante a la hora de definir la programación metabólica del futuro adulto. Varias investigaciones previas han discutido el rol que podría tener la microbiota intestinal en el riesgo de obesidad y su desarrollo entre los 3 y 5 años. Una vez más, el período perinatal es crucial para definir la cantidad y la diversidad de una microbiota intestinal saludable. La dieta materna, el tipo de parto, la exposición a los antibióticos y la lactancia materna son algunos de los procesos que determinarán una microbiota intestinal favorable. Las funciones de la microbiota intestinal, principalmente mediante la producción de ácidos grasos de cadena corta como metabolitos, incluyen la regulación del metabolismo y el sistema inmunológico del huésped, que pueden estar comprometidos en caso de disbiosis. Esta revisión pretende evaluar el estado del arte en relación con la obesidad infantil y el papel de la microbiota intestinal. A pesar de la gran cantidad de publicaciones científicas, todavía hace falta aclarar los mecanismos y la posible terapia para la obesidad infantil

Sistemas farmacêuticos gastrorretentivos flutuantes Pharmaceutical gastro-retentive systems

Freqüentemente recorre-se à produção de sistemas gastrorretentivos para modular a liberação de fármacos a partir de sistemas farmacêuticos com vistas ao aumento do tempo de permanência do fármaco no trato gastrointestinal. Umas das estratégias mais interessantes passa pela produção de sistemas flutuantes. Estes podem ser classificados em dois grupos: sistemas flutuantes efervescentes e sistemas flutuantes não-efervecentes. Neste artigo apresenta-se uma revisão bibliográfica do que tem sido produzido nesta área nos últimos anos.<br>Gastro-retentive systems are often produced in order to modulate drugs release from pharmaceutical forms and in this way to increase drug residence time in the gastrointestinal tract. One of the most interesting strategies consists in the preparation of floating devices. These can be classified into two groups: effervescent systems and non-effervescent systems. A review of what has been done in the last years is presented in this article