Dietary flavonoids improve urinary arsenic elimination among Mexican women

Inorganic arsenic (iAs) exposure increases risk of several diseases, including cancer. Some nutrients such as flavonoids enhance glutathione activity, which in turn play a key role in iAs elimination. Our objective was to explore whether dietary non-soy flavonoids are associated with iAs metabolism. We hypothesized that the intake of flavonoids belonging to the following groups, flavan-3-ols, flavone, flavonol, flavanone, and anthocyanidin, is positively associated with urinary dimethylarsinic acid (DMA), which is the most soluble iAs metabolite excreted. We performed a cross-sectional study that included 1027 women living in an arsenic-contaminated area of northern Mexico. Flavonoid intake was estimated using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Concentration of urinary iAs and its metabolites (monomethylarsonic acid and DMA) were determined by high performance liquid chromatography ICP-MS. Results showed positive significant associations between DMA and the flavonoid groups flava-3-ols (beta= 0.0112) and flavones (beta= 0.0144), as well as the individual intake of apigenin (beta= 0.0115), luteolin (beta= 0.0138), and eriodictyol (beta= 0.0026). Our findings suggest that certain non-soy flavonoids may improve iAs elimination; however, there is still very limited information available regarding the consumption of flavonoids and iAs metabolism. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.CONACYT Fondo Sectorial de Investigacion en Salud y Seguridad Social [2005-2-14373, 2009-1-111384, 2010-1-140962, POCPN 2013-01-215464, FOSISS 272632]; National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities of the National Institutes of Health [MD 001452]12 month embargo; available online 21 April 2018.This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

The Science of Marine Protected Areas (3rd edition, Mediterranean)

The main purpose of the booklet is to present the latest scientific information about the effects of MPAs in the Mediterranean in order to inform current management dialogues. This is particularly relevant given the increasing legislative frameworks and political initiatives to implement networks of MPAs in countries across the Mediterranean Sea. Importantly, this Edition does much more than simply tailor the earlier content for the Mediterranean region. The edition update the basic content of the booklet, drawing on the wealth of new published scientific literature, highlighting case studies from the Mediterranean Sea

Preservice Elementary Science Teachers' Argumentation Competence: Impact of a Training Programme

The recent literature has shown the importance of Preservice Elementary Science Teachers (PESTs) having a deep understanding of argumentation, as this factor may affect the nature of the class activities that are taught and what students learn. A lack of understanding of this factor may represent an obstacle in the development of science education programmes in line with the development of scientific competences. This paper presents the results of the design and implementation of a training programme of 6 sessions (12 hours of class participation plus 8 hours of personal homework) on argumentation. The programme was carried out by 57 Spanish PESTs from Malaga, Spain. The training programme incorporates the innovative use of certain strategies to improve competence in argumentation, such as teaching PESTs to identify the elements of arguments in order to design assessment rubrics or by including peer assessment during evaluation with and without rubrics. The results obtained on implementing the training programme were evaluated based on the development of PESTs’ argumentation competence using Toulmin’s argumentative model. Data collection methods involved two tasks carried out at the beginning and the end of the programme, i.e., pre-test and post-test, respectively. The conclusion of the study is that students made significant progress in their argumentation competence on completing the course. In addition, PESTs who followed the training programme achieved statistically better results at the end than those in the control group (n = 41), who followed a traditional teaching programme. A 6-month transfer task showed a slight improvement for the PESTs of the experimental group in relation to the control group in their ability to transfer argumentation to practice, especially to the extent to which they mentioned argumentation in their practice portfolios.This work is part of the “I+D Excelencia” project “Development and evaluation of scientific competences through context based and modelling teaching approaches” case studies (EDU2013-41952-P), funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Finance through its 2013 research call

Comparison of fondaparinux with low molecular weight heparin for venous thromboembolism prevention in patients requiring rigid or semi-rigid immobilization for isolated non-surgical below-knee injury

Background: In several small studies, anticoagulant therapy reduced the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with isolated lower-limb injuries. Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of fondaparinux 2.5 mg (1.5 mg in patients with a creatinine clearance between 30 and 50 mL min-1) over nadroparin 2850 anti-factor Xa IU. Patients and Methods: In this international, multicenter, randomized, open-label study, patients with an isolated non-surgical unilateral below-knee injury having at least one additional major risk factor for VTE and requiring, in the Investigator's opinion, rigid or semi-rigid immobilization for 21-45 days with thromboprophylaxis up to complete mobilization received subcutaneously once-daily either fondaparinux or nadroparin. The primary efficacy outcome was the composite of VTE (symptomatic or ultrasonographically detected asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis of the lower limb or symptomatic pulmonary embolism) and death up to complete mobilization. The main safety outcome was major bleeding. Results: We randomized 1349 patients (mean age 46 years): 88.7% had a bone fracture, and 83.8% had a plaster cast fitted (mean duration of immobilization, 34 days). The primary efficacy outcome occurred in 15 of 584 patients (2.6%) in the fondaparinux group and 48 of 586 patients (8.2%) in the nadroparin group (odds ratio, 0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15-0.54; P < 0.001). A single major bleed was experienced by fondaparinux-treated patients and none by nadroparin-treated patients. These results were maintained up to the end of follow-up. Conclusions: Fondaparinux 2.5 mg day-1 may be a valuable therapeutic option over nadroparin 2850 anti-FXa IU day-1 for preventing VTE after below-knee injury requiring prolonged immobilization in patients with additional risk factors