Effect of a Ketogenic medium chain Triglyceride-enriched diet on the fecal microbiota in canine idiopathic epilepsy: a pilot study

Ketogenic diets have been successfully used in people and dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. This study examined the effect of a ketogenic medium chain triglycerides (MCT)- enriched diet administered for one month on the fecal microbiota of epileptic (n = 11) (six with drug-sensitive epilepsy, DSE; five with drug-refractory epilepsy, DRE) and non-epileptic beagle dogs (n = 12). A significant reduction after diet in the relative abundance of bacteria from the Actinobacteria phylum was observed in all dogs. Epileptic dogs showed a higher relative abundance of Lactobacillus compared with non-epileptic dogs at baseline but these differences disappeared after diet. Epileptic dogs also showed a significantly higher abundance of Negativicutes and Selenomonadales after dietary intervention. Baseline microbiota patterns were similar in non-epileptic beagles and dogs with DSE but significantly different from dogs with DRE. In non-epileptic and DSE groups, the MCT diet decreased the relative abundance of Firmicutes and increased that of Bacteroidetes and Fusobacteria, but the opposite effect was observed in dogs with DRE. These results suggest that the MCT diet effect would depend on individual baseline microbiota patterns and that ketogenic diets could help reduce gut microbiota differences between dogs with DRE and DSE

Regulación y desarrollo normativo de la introducción de los insectos para consumo humano y animal en la Unión Europea

La introducción de los insectos para su consumo humano y animal en la Unión Europea se trata de una realidad reciente y todavía en desarrollo operacional y jurídico, pero que cuenta con el apoyo de las instituciones gracias a la alternativa sostenible que propone para hacer frente a los próximos retos mundiales que se nos plantean en un futuro cercano, como son el aumento de la población y la sobreexplotación de los recursos naturales. El presente Trabajo de Fin de Grado tiene como objetivo plantear el estudio de la legislación relativa al consumo de insectos y uso de éstos como componente para la elaboración de piensos en la UE, así como ofrecer el análisis de la situación del sector en el mercado europeo, en particular desde la perspectiva de la seguridad alimentaria y del desarrollo histórico y jurídico de los nuevos alimentos.<br /

La aplicación de la Economía Circular en el sector textil

A raíz de sucesos como las recientes manifestaciones a escala mundial en defensa del medioambiente y la consolidación del movimiento "Huelga Mundial por el Clima", se ha visibilizado el endurecimiento de la exigencia de la sociedad civil hacia los responsables gubernamentales y empresas de impulsar la transición hacia un modelo de Economía Circular, en contraposición al actual modelo imperante de economía lineal.El presente Trabajo de Fin de Grado tiene como objeto general estudiar el concepto de Economía Circular y analizar las vías de contribución de las empresas y los consumidores para la consecución de los objetivos de este nuevo enfoque de la actividad económica, prestando especial atención al desarrollo de las posibilidades de acción desde la perspectiva del sector textil, segunda industria más contaminante del mundo.<br /

Patología del Recién nacido prematuro

Un prematuro es un neonato vivo nacido antes de las 37 semanas de gestación. La mayoría de las veces esto va ligado a bajo peso al nacimiento, menor a 2.500 gramos. Ambas condiciones se asocian a un aumento de la mortalidad y morbilidad neonatales. El objetivo de este trabajo, es analizar a partir de un caso clínico las complicaciones condicionadas por la prematuridad, tanto precoces como tardías. Respecto a las patologías precoces se ha revisado la enfermedad de las membranas hialinas, leucomalacia periventricular e ictericia neonatal. La que más va a condicionar el pronóstico a largo plazo de este recién nacido, va a ser la patología neurológica. Las repercusiones pueden abarcar muchos y diferentes ámbitos del neurodesarrollo, desde muerte hasta discapacidad. Aunque las tasas de supervivencia han mejorado y hay evidencias de disminución del deterioro neuromotor, no se ha logrado una mejora significativa del desarrollo neurológico. Los estudios disponibles en la actualidad se centran en los primeros meses de vida, pero los efectos pueden durar hasta la vida adulta. Se ha demostrado que la intervención temprana tiene beneficios. Posteriormente respecto a las complicaciones tardías se han analizado la displasia broncopulmonar, retinopatía del prematuro, sepsis tardía y anemia del prematuro. De todas ellas, la más relevante es la displasia broncopulmonar. Cuando la enfermedad no evoluciona favorablemente puede incluso llegar a producirse la muerte. Estos niños precisan suplementos de oxígeno los primeros meses, presentan mayor riesgo de infecciones respiratorias graves como bronquiolitis y mayor número de ingresos. Se relaciona tanto con el tórax sibilante del lactante como con el asma en edades posteriores. En lo referente a la retinopatía de la prematuridad, los casos leves, grado I y II se resuelven espontáneamente, pero es importante el seguimiento a largo plazo por su relación además de con ceguera en los casos graves (grado III y IV), con defectos refractivos u otras complicaciones oftalmológicas

Optimization of SOFC Composite Cathodes Based on LSM and Doped Cerias Ce0.8Ln0.2O2 (Ln = Gd, Er, Tb and Pr)

[EN] Composites made of La0.8Sr0.2MnO3-delta (LSM) and lanthanide doped ceria (Ce(0.8)Ln(0.2)O(2-delta), Ln = Gd, Er, Tb and Pr) have been proposed as robust and high-performing solid oxide fuel cell cathodes. The addition of small amounts of highly-dispersed CoOx into the electrode promoted the formation of bridges among LSM-ceria particles. These resulted in the reduction of the required sintering temperature due to the enhancement of the sintering and proper ionic and electronic percolation pathways. In addition, Pr as a multivalent cation dopant in ceria showed the best electrochemical results toward oxygen reduction when the electrode sintering temperature is kept at 1000 degrees C. (C) 2016 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.This work was supported by funding from Spanish Government (MINECO) (SEV-2012-0267 and ENE2014-57651 grants).Navarrete Algaba, L.; Balaguer Ramírez, M.; Vert Belenguer, VB.; Serra Alfaro, JM. (2016). Optimization of SOFC Composite Cathodes Based on LSM and Doped Cerias Ce0.8Ln0.2O2 (Ln = Gd, Er, Tb and Pr). Journal of The Electrochemical Society. 163(13):1440-1443. https://doi.org/10.1149/2.1081613jesS144014431631

Redox stability and electrochemical study of nickel doped chromites as anodes for H-2/CH4-fueled solid oxide fuel cells

[EN] The influence of nickel and strontium incorporation in LaCrO3 on the crystalline structure, redox behavior and electrochemical performance by impedance spectroscopy using symmetrical cells has been studied. Namely, the La1-xSrxCr1-yNiyO3-delta (x = 0, 0.15: y = 0.05, 0.1, 0.2) system was investigated. Structural and redox evolution has been monitored by X-ray diffraction in oxidized and reduced samples. Reduced samples kept the initial perovskite structure although metallic nickel nanoparticles were detected on the perovskite grain surface by TEM analysis. The re-oxidized surface did not present nickel particles, suggesting the nickel re-incorporation into perovskite lattice coupled with cation diffusion. The perovskites were tested as SOFC anodes and the polarization resistance depended on the nickel stoichiometry and the reduction temperature. La0.85Sr0.15Cr0.9Ni0.1O3-delta reduced at 800 degrees C showed the lowest polarization resistance, both in hydrogen and methane. In fact this composition showed a 20% methane conversion at 900 degrees C for the methane steam reforming in a fixed bed reactor. Tolerance to redox cycling was proved electrochemically by in situ treatments of La0.85Sr0.15Cr0.9Ni0.1O3-delta electrode. Materials were further analyzed by TPR and XPS (in oxidized and reduced state) in order to identify the possible species involved in the electrocatalytic processes. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Authors thank funding by the Universidad Politecnica de Valencia (Grant FPI-UPV-2007-06), the Spanish Ministry for Science and Innovation (Project ENE2008-06302) and Generalitat Valenciana (Grant ACOMP2010/223). P. Concepcion has contributed to this work with the XPS measurements. N. Morlanes, S. Climent and M. Algarra are kindly acknowledged for the catalytic experiments.Vert Belenguer, VB.; Melo Faus, FV.; Navarrete Algaba, L.; Serra Alfaro, JM. (2012). Redox stability and electrochemical study of nickel doped chromites as anodes for H-2/CH4-fueled solid oxide fuel cells. Applied Catalysis B Environmental. 115:346-356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2011.12.03334635611

An Activatable Cancer-Targeted Hydrogen Peroxide Probe for Photoacoustic and Fluorescence Imaging.

Reactive oxygen species play an important role in cancer, however, their promiscuous reactivity, low abundance, and short-lived nature limit our ability to study them in real time in living subjects with conventional noninvasive imaging methods. Photoacoustic imaging is an emerging modality for in vivo visualization of molecular processes with deep tissue penetration and high spatiotemporal resolution. Here, we describe the design and synthesis of a targeted, activatable probe for photoacoustic imaging, which is responsive to one of the major and abundant reactive oxygen species, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This bifunctional probe, which is also detectable with fluorescence imaging, is composed of a heptamethine carbocyanine dye scaffold for signal generation, a 2-deoxyglucose cancer localization moiety, and a boronic ester functionality that specifically detects and reacts to H2O2. The optical properties of the probe were characterized using absorption, fluorescence, and photoacoustic measurements; upon addition of pathophysiologic H2O2 concentrations, a clear increase in fluorescence and red-shift of the absorption and photoacoustic spectra were observed. Studies performed in vitro showed no significant toxicity and specific uptake of the probe into the cytosol in breast cancer cell lines. Importantly, intravenous injection of the probe led to targeted uptake and accumulation in solid tumors, which enabled noninvasive photoacoustic and fluorescence imaging of H2O2. In conclusion, the reported probe shows promise for the in vivo visualization of hydrogen peroxide. SIGNIFICANCE: This study presents the first activatable and cancer-targeted hydrogen peroxide probe for photoacoustic molecular imaging, paving the way for visualization of hydrogen peroxide at high spatiotemporal resolution in living subjects.Graphical Abstract: http://cancerres.aacrjournals.org/content/canres/79/20/5407/F1.large.jpg

Cross-sectional analysis of the medium-term impact of bariatric surgery onpharmacological expenditure

Introduction:Obesity and associated diseases represent an important health and economic problem sincepharmacological treatment for many of these pathologies needs lifelong subsidies. Theoretically, bariatric andmetabolic surgery decreases the medication requirements of patients for these diseases but may result in othertypes of pharmacological needs. This study aims to demonstrate whether there is a real decrease in pharma-cological expenditure after bariatric surgery.Material and methods:Retrospective cross-sectional analysis of patients who were treated in our centre between2012 and 2015, comparing different associated comorbidities and pharmacological expenses one month beforeand 2 years after surgery.Results:A total of 280 patients underwent surgery; 36.8% of patients had diabetes, 50% hypertension, 11.1%cardiovascular disease, 13.9% osteoarticular disease, 13.6% endocrine disorders, 30% non-diabetic metabolicdisorders, and 35.4% psychiatric disease. At 2 years after surgery, 12.1% of patients continued medication fordiabetes, and 28.2% for arterial hypertension. Additionally, 9.3% of patients still had cardiovascular disease,7.1% osteoarticular disease, 10.4% endocrine disorder, 13.9% non-diabetic metabolic disorder, and 29.3%psychiatric disease. Median pharmacological expenditure before surgery was 17 euros per month; 2 years aftersurgery, it was 12 euros a month, resulting in a significant decrease (p < 0.001).Conclusions:In a 2-year follow-up after bariatric surgery, a decreased prevalence of obesity-related diseases andassociated pharmacological expenditure was observed, showing the efficiency of this intervention over themedium term and potentially over the long term

Medicaments i lactància materna

Treballs d'Educació Farmacèutica als ciutadans. Unitat Docent d'Estades en Pràctiques Tutelades. Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona. Curs: 2015-2016. Tutors: Dolors Soy Muner, Neus Pagès i Marian March Pujol.En el present treball es desenvolupa un programa integral d’educació farmacèutica orientada a les famílies que es trobin en el període de lactància materna al nadó. Els objectius principals del treball són: 1) conscienciar de la importància i beneficis de la lactància materna, 2) aconsellar sobre els aspectes més rellevants per tal de facilitarla mitjançant informació sobre com afrontar els problemes que puguin originar-se, i 3) informar dels possibles efectes que poden ocasionar en el nadó els medicaments, els preparats de fitoteràpia o altres substàncies bioactives que passen a la llet materna. Per tal d’aconseguir-ho, s’han realitzat diferents activitats educatives, tals com una presentació tipus conferència (activitat 1), un vídeo (activitat 2), un tríptic informatiu (activitat 3) i un joc de preguntes (activitat 4)

The Raman Laser Spectrometer for the ExoMars Rover Mission to Mars

The Raman Laser Spectrometer (RLS) on board the ESA/Roscosmos ExoMars 2020 mission will provide precise identification of the mineral phases and the possibility to detect organics on the Red Planet. The RLS will work on the powdered samples prepared inside the Pasteur analytical suite and collected on the surface and subsurface by a drill system. Raman spectroscopy is a well-known analytical technique based on the inelastic scattering by matter of incident monochromatic light (the Raman effect) that has many applications in laboratory and industry, yet to be used in space applications. Raman spectrometers will be included in two Mars rovers scheduled to be launched in 2020. The Raman instrument for ExoMars 2020 consists of three main units: (1) a transmission spectrograph coupled to a CCD detector; (2) an electronics box, including the excitation laser that controls the instrument functions; and (3) an optical head with an autofocus mechanism illuminating and collecting the scattered light from the spot under investigation. The optical head is connected to the excitation laser and the spectrometer by optical fibers. The instrument also has two targets positioned inside the rover analytical laboratory for onboard Raman spectral calibration. The aim of this article was to present a detailed description of the RLS instrument, including its operation on Mars. To verify RLS operation before launch and to prepare science scenarios for the mission, a simulator of the sample analysis chain has been developed by the team. The results obtained are also discussed. Finally, the potential of the Raman instrument for use in field conditions is addressed. By using a ruggedized prototype, also developed by our team, a wide range of terrestrial analog sites across the world have been studied. These investigations allowed preparing a large collection of real, in situ spectra of samples from different geological processes and periods of Earth evolution. On this basis, we are working to develop models for interpreting analog processes on Mars during the mission. Key Words: Raman spectroscopy—ExoMars mission—Instruments and techniques—Planetary sciences—Mars mineralogy and geochemistry—Search for life on Mars. Astrobiology 17, 627–65