41 research outputs found

    Exceptional human longevity is associated with a specific plasma phenotype of ether lipids

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    A lipid profile resistant to oxidative damage is an inherent trait associated with animal lifespan. However, there is a lack of lipidomic studies on human longevity. Here we use mass spectrometry based technologies to detect and quantify 137 ether lipids to define a phenotype of healthy humans with exceptional lifespan. Ether lipids were chosen because of their antioxidant properties and ability to modulate oxidative stress. Our results demonstrate that a specific ether lipid signature can be obtained to define the centenarian state. This profile comprises higher level of alkyl forms derived from phosphatidylcholine with shorter number of carbon atoms and double bonds; and decreased content in alkenyl forms from phosphatidylethanolamine with longer chain length and higher double bonds. This compositional pattern suggests that ether lipids from centenarians are more resistant to lipid peroxidation, and that ether lipid signature expresses an optimized feature associated with exceptional human longevity. These results are in keeping with the free radical theory of aging.We acknowledge funding from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (ref. SAF2013–44663-R), and from the ‘Red Tematica de Investigación Cooperativa en Envejecimiento y Fragilidad’ (RETICEF) (ref. ISCIII2012-RED-43-029) to J.V.; and from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness/Institute of Health Carlos III (ref. PI14/00328), and the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, Department of Health (ref. SLT002/16/00250) and Department of Business and Knowledge (ref. 2017SGR696) to R.P. This study has been co-financed by FEDER funds from the European Union (“Una manera de hacer Europa”). I.P. was supported by a University of Lleida Predoctoral Fellowship. K.H. was supported by a Dementia Australia Research Foundation Scholarship

    In utero and childhood exposure to tobacco smoke and multi-layer molecular signatures in children

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    Background The adverse health effects of early life exposure to tobacco smoking have been widely reported. In spite of this, the underlying molecular mechanisms of in utero and postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke are only partially understood. Here, we aimed to identify multi-layer molecular signatures associated with exposure to tobacco smoke in these two exposure windows. Methods We investigated the associations of maternal smoking during pregnancy and childhood secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure with molecular features measured in 1203 European children (mean age 8.1 years) from the Human Early Life Exposome (HELIX) project. Molecular features, covering 4 layers, included blood DNA methylation and gene and miRNA transcription, plasma proteins, and sera and urinary metabolites. Results Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with DNA methylation changes at 18 loci in child blood. DNA methylation at 5 of these loci was related to expression of the nearby genes. However, the expression of these genes themselves was only weakly associated with maternal smoking. Conversely, childhood SHS was not associated with blood DNA methylation or transcription patterns, but with reduced levels of several serum metabolites and with increased plasma PAI1 (plasminogen activator inhibitor-1), a protein that inhibits fibrinolysis. Some of the in utero and childhood smoking-related molecular marks showed dose-response trends, with stronger effects with higher dose or longer duration of the exposure. Conclusion In this first study covering multi-layer molecular features, pregnancy and childhood exposure to tobacco smoke were associated with distinct molecular phenotypes in children. The persistent and dose-dependent changes in the methylome make CpGs good candidates to develop biomarkers of past exposure. Moreover, compared to methylation, the weak association of maternal smoking in pregnancy with gene expression suggests different reversal rates and a methylation-based memory to past exposures. Finally, certain metabolites and protein markers evidenced potential early biological effects of postnatal SHS, such as fibrinolysis

    Complex multiple risk intervention to promote healthy behaviours in people between 45 to 75 years attended in primary health care (EIRA study): study protocol for a hybrid trial

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    CDATA[CDATA[Background: Health promotion is a key process of current health systems Primary Health Care (PHC) is the ideal setting for health promotion but multifaceted barriers make its integration difficult in the usual care. The majority of the adult population engages two 01 more risk behaviours, that is why a multiple intervention might be more effective and efficient The primary objectives are to evaluate the effectiveness, the cost effectiveness and an implementation strategy of a complex multiple risk intervention to promote healthy behaviours in people between 45 to 75 years attended in PHC. CDATA[CDATA[Methods: This study is a cluster randomised controlled hybrid type 2 trial with two parallel groups comparing a complex multiple risk behaviour intervention with usual care It will be carried out in 26 PHC centres in Spam The study focuses on people between 45 and 75 years who carry out two or more of the following unhealthy behaviours tobacco use, low adherence to the Mediterranean dietary pattern or insufficient physical activity level The intervention is based on the Transtheoretical Model and it will be made by physicians and nurses in the routine care of PHC practices according to the conceptual framework of the ''5A''s" It will have a maximum duration of 12 months and it will be carried out to three different levels (individual, group and community) Incremental cost per quality adjusted life year gamed measured by the tanffs of the EuioQo! 5D questionnaire will be estimated. The implementation strategy is based on the ''Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, a set of discrete implementation strategies and an evaluation framework. CDATA[CDATA[Discussion: EIRA study will determine the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of a complex multiple risk intervention and will provide a better understanding of implementation processes of health promotion interventions in PHC setting. It may contribute to increase knowledge about the individual and structural barriers that affect implementation of these interventions and to quantify the contextual factors that moderate the effectiveness of implementation

    Clinical relevance of histologic subtypes in locally advanced esophageal carcinoma treated with pre-operative chemoradiotherapy: Experience of a monographic oncologic centre

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    Background: Locally advanced esophageal carcinoma (LAEC) represents less than 30% of all diagnosed esophageal carcinoma worldwide. The standard of care for resectable tumours consists of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by surgery. Despite the curative intent, the prognosis is still poor mainly due to relapse. A multidisciplinary approach is required in order to optimize the therapeutic strategy and follow-up. Differences in outcomes between the two main histological subtypes, adenocarcinoma (ADC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), have been reported. Nevertheless, the heterogeneity in trials design and data available have hampered the achievement of clear conclusions. The purpose of this study is to report the outcomes from a cohort of patients with LAEC treated with a multidisciplinary approach and to remark the differences observed between the two main histologic subtypes and their clinical implications. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 100 patients diagnosed with LAEC that were treated with preoperative CRT at our institution and integrated centres. Histopathological characteristics and toxicities during treatment were recorded. Patterns of recurrence at the first relapse were analysed. Survival curves were plotted using the Kaplan Meier method and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used. Results: Among the patients who received preoperative CRT, 83% underwent surgery. The median overall survival (mOS) was 31.7 months, 26.9 months for ADC and 45.5 for SCC (p-value = 0.33). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, ypN+ was the only factor that negatively influenced in OS (OR = 4.1, p-value = 0.022). Patterns of recurrence differed according to histologic subtype. Distant relapse was more frequent in ADC (62%), whereas locoregional relapse was higher in SCC (50%) (p-value = 0.027). Second line therapeutic strategies could be offered to 50% of those patients who relapsed. Conclusions: Differences in outcomes and recurrence pattern could be observed between the two main histologic subtypes of LAEC. A better molecular characterization, adapted therapeutic regimens and follow up strategies should be adopted in order to improve survival of these patients

    Trends in socioeconomic inequalities in cancer mortality in Barcelona: 1992–2003

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The objective of this study was to assess trends in cancer mortality by educational level in Barcelona from 1992 to 2003.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study population comprised Barcelona inhabitants aged 20 years or older. Data on cancer deaths were supplied by the system of information on mortality. Educational level was obtained from the municipal census. Age-standardized rates by educational level were calculated. We also fitted Poisson regression models to estimate the relative index of inequality (RII) and the Slope Index of Inequalities (SII). All were calculated for each sex and period (1992–1994, 1995–1997, 1998–2000, and 2001–2003).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Cancer mortality was higher in men and women with lower educational level throughout the study period. Less-schooled men had higher mortality by stomach, mouth and pharynx, oesophagus, larynx and lung cancer. In women, there were educational inequalities for cervix uteri, liver and colon cancer. Inequalities of overall and specific types of cancer mortality remained stable in Barcelona; although a slight reduction was observed for some cancers.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study has identified those cancer types presenting the greatest inequalities between men and women in recent years and shown that in Barcelona there is a stable trend in inequalities in the burden of cancer.</p

    Jardins per a la salut

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    Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona. Ensenyament: Grau de Farmàcia. Assignatura: Botànica farmacèutica. Curs: 2014-2015. Coordinadors: Joan Simon, Cèsar Blanché i Maria Bosch.Els materials que aquí es presenten són el recull de les fitxes botàniques de 128 espècies presents en el Jardí Ferran Soldevila de l’Edifici Històric de la UB. Els treballs han estat realitzats manera individual per part dels estudiants dels grups M-3 i T-1 de l’assignatura Botànica Farmacèutica durant els mesos de febrer a maig del curs 2014-15 com a resultat final del Projecte d’Innovació Docent «Jardins per a la salut: aprenentatge servei a Botànica farmacèutica» (codi 2014PID-UB/054). Tots els treballs s’han dut a terme a través de la plataforma de GoogleDocs i han estat tutoritzats pels professors de l’assignatura. L’objectiu principal de l’activitat ha estat fomentar l’aprenentatge autònom i col·laboratiu en Botànica farmacèutica. També s’ha pretès motivar els estudiants a través del retorn de part del seu esforç a la societat a través d’una experiència d’Aprenentatge-Servei, deixant disponible finalment el treball dels estudiants per a poder ser consultable a través d’una Web pública amb la possibilitat de poder-ho fer in-situ en el propi jardí mitjançant codis QR amb un smartphone
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