Cytogenetic effects of irradiation on somatic and germ cells

Aquest treball resumeix el resultats obtinguts en dos dels projectes de recerca desenvolupats en el nostre laboratori dins del marc dels programes de protecció radiològica del Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear i la Unió Europea. Aquestes dues línies de recerca estan fonamentalment interconnectades, en el sentit que l'anàlisi dels efectes citogenètics de les radiacions en cèl?lules somàtiques estudia en el mateix individu les conseqüències de l'exposició ocupacional o accidental a la radiació, especialment des del punt de vista del desenvolupament d'alguns tipus de neoplàsia, mentre que els estudis en cèl?lules germinals avaluen el risc de l'exposició per a futures generacions, a través de la transmissió d'anomalies cromosòmiques per via d'espermatozoides afectats. En ambdós casos, aquests estudis, que s'han dut a terme principalment en els darrers sis anys, a més d'aportar dades bàsiques per avaluar les conseqüències de l'exposició a radiacions i de definir les mesures a prendre per tal de prevenir la transmissió d'anomalies cromosòmiques a la descendència en casos d'exposició terapèutica, han estat també fonamentals per desenvolupar noves i més efectives tècniques per a l'avaluació de les conseqüències citogenètiques de l'exposició a les radiacions.This paper summarizes the results obtained in two of the research projects carried out in our laboratory within the radiation protection programs of the Consejo de Seguridad Nuclear and the European Union. These two research lines are fundamentally interconnected, since the analysis of the cytogenetic effects of radiation on somatic cells studies the consequences of occupational or accidental exposure to radiation for the individual, especially from the point of view of developing some type of malignancy, while the studies carried out in germ cells evaluate the risk of exposure for future generations, through the transmission of chromosome abnormalities via affected spermatozoa. In both cases these studies, which were mainly carried out during the last six years, in addition to providing basic data for the assessment of the consequences of radiation exposure and defining the steps to be taken to prevent the transmission of chromosome anomalies to the offspring in cases of therapeutic exposure, have also been fundamental in developing more effective techniques for the evaluation of the cytogenetic consequences of exposure to radiation

Dietary patterns and the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, and neurodegenerative diseases

Diet and lifestyle play a significant role in the development chronic diseases; however the full complexity of this relationship is not yet understood. Dietary pattern investigation, which reflects the complexity of dietary intake, has emerged as an alternative and complementary approach for examining the association between diet and chronic diseases. Literature on this association has largely focused on individual nutrients, with conflicting outcomes, but individuals consume a combination of foods from many groups that form dietary patterns. Our objective was to systematically review the current findings on the effects of dietary patterns on chronic diseases. In this review, we describe and discuss the relationships between dietary patterns, such as the Mediterranean, the Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension, Prudent, Seventh-day Adventists, and Western, with risk of obesity, type-2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, asthma, and neurodegenearive diseases. Evidence is increasing from both observational and clinical studies that plant-based dietary patterns, which are rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, are valuable in preventing various chronic diseases, whereas a diet high in red and processed meat, refined grains and added sugar seems to increase said risk. Dietary pattern analysis might be especially valuable to the development and evaluation of food-based dietary guidelines

Adaptive Control Optimization of Cutting Parameters for High Quality Machining Operations Based on Neural Networks and Search Algorithms

This book chapter presents an Adaptive Control with Optimization (ACO) system for optimising a multi-objective function based on material removal rate, quality loss function related to surface roughness, and cutting-tool life subjected to surface roughness specifications constraint

Effect of moderate beer consumption (with and without ethanol) on osteoporosis in early postmenopausal women: Results of a pilot parallel clinical trial

Osteoporosis is a chronic progressive bone disease characterized by low bone mineral density (BMD) and micro-architectural deterioration of bone tissue, leading to an increase in bone fragility and the risk of fractures. A well-known risk factor for bone loss is postmenopausal status. Beer may have a protective effect against osteoporosis associated with its content of silicon, polyphenols, iso-α-acids and ethanol, and its moderate consumption may therefore help to reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women.Accordingly, a 2-year controlled clinical intervention study was conducted to evaluate if a moderate daily intake of beer with (AB) or without alcohol (NAB) could have beneficial effects on bone tissue. A total of 31 postmenopausal women were assigned to three study groups: 15 were administered AB (330 mL/day) and six, NAB (660 mL/day), whereas, the 10 in the control group refrained from consuming alcohol, NAB, and hop-related products. At baseline and subsequent assessment visits, samples of plasma and urine were taken to analyze biochemical parameters, and data on medical history, diet, and exercise were collected. BMD and the trabecular bone score (TBS) were determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Markers of bone formation (bone alkaline phosphatase [BAP] and N-propeptide of type I collagen [PINP]) and bone resorption (N-telopeptide of type I collagen [NTX] and C-telopeptide of type I collagen [CTX]) were determined annually.Bone formation markers had increased in the AB and NAB groups compared to the control after the 2-year intervention. However, the evolution of BMD and TBS did not differ among the three groups throughout the study period.Therefore, according to the findings of this pilot study, moderate beer intake does not seem to have a protective effect against bone loss in early post-menopausal women.Copyright © 2022 Trius-Soler, Tresserra-Rimbau, Moreno, Peris, Estruch and Lamuela-Raventós

Improving the communication with stakeholders: the infrastructure degradation index and the infrastructure histogram

[EN] Water infrastructures are rapidly ageing without being properly replaced. Communicating the state of the network and the sector¿s needs to stakeholders is key for guaranteeing the sustainability of water and sewage systems. The infrastructure value index (IVI) is becoming a standard in the water industry as a communication tool; however, as a single value metric, it can mask key information. The complementary use of the infrastructure degradation index (IDI) and the infrastructure histogram (Hi) can provide a better understanding of the network's state while maintaining the simplicity of the analysis needed for public dissemination. The IVI is focused on the value of the infrastructure, the IDI on its median remaining life. The HI provides a detailed but simple picture of the network's remaining life, providing a clear idea of the magnitude of the investments needed in the future for maintaining the infrastructureEstruch-Juan, ME.; Cabrera Rochera, E.; Gomez Selles, E.; Del Teso-March, R. (2020). Improving the communication with stakeholders: the infrastructure degradation index and the infrastructure histogram. Water Science & Technology: Water Supply. 20(7):2762-2767. https://doi.org/10.2166/ws.2020.170S2762276720

Higher circulating Vitamin B12 is associated with lower levels of inflammatory markers in individuals at high cardiovascular risk and in naturally aged mice

Vitamin B12 is an essential nutrient that is involved in numerous physiological processes, and its deficiency can lead to various complications, including neurological and haematological disorders. Some studies have suggested that vitamin B12 may have anti-inflammatory effects, but the mechanisms underlying this relationship are not yet fully understood. We investigated the relationship between circulating vitamin B12 and inflammatory markers interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP). The association of peripheral levels of vitamin B12 with IL-6 and CRP was assessed in 136 human samples from a high cardiovascular risk population. To corroborate the results from the human trial, the analysis was replicated in naturally aged mice.Individuals with higher serum levels of vitamin B12 showed lower concentrations of IL-6 and CRP after adjustment for potential confounders, and an inverse association was also found between serum IL-6 and vitamin B12 levels in naturally aged mice.That circulating vitamin B12 was inversely associated with IL-6 and CRP in humans and with IL-6 in mice suggests that it may exert an anti-inflammatory effect through modulation of these pro-inflammatory molecules. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved

A 3-year Mediterranean-style dietary intervention may modulate the association between adiponectin gene variants and body weight change

Purpose Adiponectin gene variations have been associated with obesity. There are few interventional studies analyzing this association. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of a nutritional intervention with Mediterranean-style diet and three (-4034A/C, +45T/G and +276 G/T) adiponectin gene variants on 3-year body weight changes in high cardiovascular risk patients Subjects and methods A total of 737 participants, aged 55-80 at high cardiovascular risk were assigned to a low-fat diet or to a Mediterranean-style diet (MD) groups, one with high intake of virgin olive oil (VOO) and the other with high intake of nuts. Anthropometric parameters were taken at baseline and after 3-year follow-up, and the genotyping of the -4034A/C, +45T/G and +276 G/T polymorphisms was done. Results GG genotype of the +45T/G polymorphism was associated with 3-year higher body weight gain (B=1.399; B=0.043). TT genotype of the +276G/T polymorphism was linked to the highest 3-year body weight gain in men. Both Mediterranean diets appeared to reverse this effect (p for interaction=0.053). Conclusion Adiponectin gene variation appeared to be associated with 3-year body weight changes in a high cardiovascular risk population. This association may be modulated by a nutritional intervention with a Mediterranean-style diet

A survey of cost-sensitive decision tree induction algorithms

The past decade has seen a significant interest on the problem of inducing decision trees that take account of costs of misclassification and costs of acquiring the features used for decision making. This survey identifies over 50 algorithms including approaches that are direct adaptations of accuracy based methods, use genetic algorithms, use anytime methods and utilize boosting and bagging. The survey brings together these different studies and novel approaches to cost-sensitive decision tree learning, provides a useful taxonomy, a historical timeline of how the field has developed and should provide a useful reference point for future research in this field

Characterisation of the TBR1 interactome: variants associated with neurodevelopmental disorders disrupt novel protein interactions

TBR1 is a neuron-specific transcription factor involved in brain development and implicated in a neurodevelopmental disorder (NDD) combining features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability (ID) and speech delay. TBR1 has been previously shown to interact with a small number of transcription factors and co-factors also involved in NDDs (including CASK, FOXP1/2/4 and BCL11A), suggesting that the wider TBR1 interactome may have a significant bearing on normal and abnormal brain development. Here we have identified approximately 250 putative TBR1-interaction partners by affinity purification coupled to mass spectrometry. As well as known TBR1-interactors such as CASK, the identified partners include transcription factors and chromatin modifiers, along with ASD- and ID-related proteins. Five interaction candidates were independently validated using bioluminescence resonance energy transfer assays. We went on to test the interaction of these candidates with TBR1 protein variants implicated in cases of NDD. The assays uncovered disturbed interactions for NDD-associated variants and identified two distinct protein-binding domains of TBR1 that have essential roles in protein–protein interaction