Simple methodology for the quantitative analysis of fatty acids in human red blood cells

In the last years, there has been an increasing interest in evaluating possible relations between fatty acid (FA) patterns and the risk for chronic diseases. Due to the long life span (120 days) of red blood cells (RBCs), their FA profile reflects a longer term dietary intake and was recently suggested to be used as an appropriate biomarker to investigate correlations between FA metabolism and diseases. Therefore, the aim of this work was to develop and validate a simple and fast methodology for the quantification of a broad range of FAs in RBCs using gas chromatography with flame ionization detector, as a more common and affordable equipment suitable for biomedical and nutritional studies including a large number of samples. For this purpose, different sample preparation protocols were tested and compared, including a classic two-step method (Folch method) with modifications and different one-step methods, in which lipid extraction and derivatization were performed simultaneously. For the one-step methods, different methylation periods and the inclusion of a saponification reaction were evaluated. Differences in absolute FA concentrations were observed among the tested methods, in particular for some metabolically relevant FAs such as trans elaidic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid. The one-step method with saponification and 60 min of methylation time was selected since it allowed the identification of a higher number of FAs, and was further submitted to in-house validation. The proposed methodology provides a simple, fast and accurate tool to quantitatively analyse FAs in human RBCs, useful for clinical and nutritional studies.This work received financial support from the European Union (FEDER funds through COMPETE) and National Funds (FCT, Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia) through project PTDC/SAU-ENB/116929/2010 and EXPL/EMS-SIS/2215/2013. ROR acknowledges PhD scholarship SFRH/BD/97658/2013 attributed by FCT (Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pathway to Achieving Sustainable Food Security in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Role of Agricultural Mechanization

According to the World Health Organization (2020), many parts of the world have demonstrated potentials for acute hunger and famine. Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) actively feature in this category due to geopolitical crises and other humanitarian challenges. Despite efforts by SSA governments, agricultural productivity continues to be inadequate in meeting nutritional needs across Africa. Thus, in the presence of economic expansion, vast land and labour resources, this study investigates the role of mechanization as an important factor for increased agricultural productivity in SSA. Data on 25 SSA countries over 17 years is used. Empirical results from System Generalized Method of Moments show that among other variables, mechanization is a significant factor influencing agricultural productivity. Consequently, in light of the bid for higher agricultural productivity, government investment in mechanization becomes a priority. Also, apart from the fact that many African countries are at the point where more land must be brought under development to satisfy expanded market needs, larger investments in mechanization appear imperative

Chemerin as a novel crevicular fluid marker of patients with periodontitis and type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background: The objectives of the present study are to: 1) determine whether gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) chemerin is a novel predictive marker for patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); 2) analyze the relationship between chemerin and interleukin (IL)-6 in periodontally healthy individuals and in patients with CP and with and without T2DM; and 3) evaluate the effect of non-surgical periodontal therapy on GCF chemerin levels. Methods: Eighty individuals were split into four groups: 20 who were systemically and periodontally healthy (CTRL), 20 with T2DM and periodontally healthy (DM-CTRL), 20 systemically healthy with CP (CP), and 20 with CP and T2DM (DM-CP). Individuals with periodontitis were treated with non-surgical periodontal therapy. GCF sampling procedures and clinical periodontal measures were performed before and 6 weeks after treatment. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure chemerin and IL-6 levels. Results: Greater values for GCF chemerin and IL-6 levels were found in CP groups than in periodontally healthy groups, inDM-CP than inCP, and in DM-CTRL than inCTRL (P <0.008). GCF chemerin and IL-6 levels decreased following therapy in CP groups (P <0.02). A comprehensive overview of all groups showed a statistically significant positive correlation of chemerin with IL-6, glycated hemoglobin, sampled-site clinical attachment level, and gingival index (P <0.05). Conclusions: In this study, periodontitis and T2DM induced aberrant secretion of chemerin, and non-surgical periodontal therapy influenced the decrease of GCF chemerin levels in patients with CP with and without T2DM. Furthermore, it suggests GCF chemerin levels may be considered a potential proinflammatory marker for diabetes, periodontal disease, and treatment outcomes

Chemerin and interleukin-6 levels in obese individuals following periodontal treatment

Objective: To investigate changes in the levels of gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) chemerin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in both obese/non-obese individuals with periodontitis following non-surgical periodontal therapy. Methods: Individuals (n = 80) were split into four groupings according to periodontal/anthropometric parameters: (i) periodontal healthy without obesity; (ii) chronic periodontitis (CP) without obesity; (iii) periodontal healthy with obesity; and (iv) CP with obesity. Individuals with periodontitis were treated with non-surgical periodontal therapy. Both GCF sampling procedures and clinical periodontal measures were performed prior to treatment and 6 weeks thereafter. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was utilized to measure both chemerin and IL-6 levels. Results: Greater values for chemerin and IL-6 were observed in obese individuals compared to their non-obese controls and in individuals with CP compared to their periodontal healthy controls (P < 0.008), which decreased following therapy (P < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between chemerin and IL-6 in obese groups (P < 0.05). A comprehensive overview of all groups showed a statistically significant positive correlation among chemerin, along with IL-6, waist-to-hip ratio, body mass index, and clinical attachment levels (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It could be concluded that chemerin levels may act as both diagnostic and prognostic indicators. Chemerin may also play an integral part in the pathologic mechanisms that relate adipokines to both periodontal disease and obesity. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Lt

The levels of visceral adipose tissue-derived serpin, omentin-1 and tumor necrosis factor-? in the gingival crevicular fluid of obese patients following periodontal therapy

The aim of this clinical study was to determine levels of visceral adipose tissue-derived serpin (vaspin), omentin-1, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-?) in the gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) of obese and non-obese periodontitis patients following nonsurgical periodontal therapy. Seventy-six subjects were separated into four groups according to periodontal and anthropometric measurements: a periodontal-healthy group, a chronic periodontitis (CP) group, a periodontal-healthy with obesity group, and a CP with obesity group. Nonsurgical periodontal treatment was administered to periodontitis patients. Before treatment and at 6 weeks after treatment, GCF samples were analyzed and clinical periodontal parameters were examined. Enzyme-linked immu-nosorbent assays were used to measure the levels of vaspin, omentin-1, and TNF-?. Obese and non-obese CP patients displayed higher levels of vaspin and TNF-? (P < 0.008), which declined following treatment (P < 0.025), and lower omentin levels (P < 0.008), which increased after treatment (P < 0.025). Therewas a negative correlation between the total amount of vaspin and omentin-1 in all groups. Obese and non-obese patients had opposing levels of vaspin and omentin-1 in the GCF; therefore, these may represent diagnostic and prognostic indicators of periodontal disease and therapeutic outcome. ? 2016, Universidad de Granada. All rights reserved