Total and Subtypes of Dietary Fat Intake and Its Association with Components of the Metabolic Syndrome in a Mediterranean Population at High Cardiovascular Risk

The effect of dietary fat intake on the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and in turn on cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains unclear in individuals at high CVD risk. Objective: To assess the association between fat intake and MetS components in an adult Mediterranean population at high CVD risk. Design: Baseline assessment of nutritional adequacy in participants (n = 6560, men and women, 55–75 years old, with overweight/obesity and MetS) in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED)-Plus randomized trial. Methods: Assessment of fat intake (total fat, monounsatured fatty acids: MUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acids: PUFA, saturated fatty acids: SFA, trans-fatty acids: trans-FA, linoleic acid, a-linolenic acid, and w-3 FA) using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and diet quality using 17-item Mediterranean dietary questionnaire and fat quality index (FQI). Results: Participants in the highest quintile of total dietary fat intake showed lower intake of energy, carbohydrates, protein and fiber, but higher intake of PUFA, MUFA, SFA, TFA, LA, ALA and !-3 FA. Differences in MetS components were found according to fat intake. Odds (5th vs. 1st quintile): hyperglycemia: 1.3–1.6 times higher for total fat, MUFA, SFA and w-3 FA intake; low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c): 1.2 higher for LA; hypertriglyceridemia: 0.7 lower for SFA and w-3 FA intake. Conclusions: Dietary fats played different role on MetS components of high CVD risk patients. Dietary fat intake was associated with higher risk of hyperglycemia.The PREDIMED-Plus trial was supported by the official funding agency for biomedical research of the Spanish government, ISCIII through the Fondo de Investigación para la Salud (FIS), which is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (four coordinated FIS projects led by Jordi Salas-Salvadó and Josep Vidal, including the following projects: PI13/00673, PI13/00492, PI13/00272, PI13/01123, PI13/00462, PI13/00233, PI13/02184, PI13/00728, PI13/01090, PI13/01056, PI14/01722, PI14/00636, PI14/00618, PI14/00696, PI14/01206, PI14/01919, PI14/00853, PI14/01374, PI16/00473, PI16/00662, PI16/01873, PI16/01094, PI16/00501, PI16/00533, PI16/00381, PI16/00366, PI16/01522, PI16/01120, PI17/00764, PI17/01183, PI17/00855, PI17/01347, PI17/00525, PI17/01827, PI17/00532, PI17/00215, PI17/01441, PI17/00508, PI17/01732, PI17/00926), the Especial Action Project entitled: Implementación y evaluación de una intervención intensive sobre la actividad física Cohorte PREDIMED-PLUS grant to Jordi Salas-Salvadó, the European Research Council (Advanced Research Grant 2013-2018; 340918) grant to Miguel Ángel Martínez-Gonzalez, the Recercaixa grant to Jordi Salas-Salvadó (2013ACUP00194), grants from the Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía (PI0458/2013; PS0358/2016; PI0137/2018), the PROMETEO/2017/017 grant from the Generalitat Valenciana, the SEMERGEN grant, and CIBEROBN and FEDER funds (CB06/03), ISCIII. International Nut & Dried Fruit Council – FESNAD No. 201302: Miguel Ángel Martínez-Gonzalez (PI). Alicia Julibert, Maria del Mar Bibiloni, Cristina Bouzas, Lucía Ugarriza and Josep A. Tur are granted by Grant of support to research groups no. 35/2011 (Balearic Islands Gov.; FEDER funds), EU-COST ACTION CA16112, and Fundació La Marató TV3 (Spain) project ref. 201630.10

Desarrollo de nuevas herramientas para la detección e inhibición de la amiloidosis causada por el prionoide RepA-WH1 en "Escherichia coli" y caracterización de su toxicidad

Las amiloidosis son enfermedades degenerativas (Parkinson, Alzheimer y proteinopatías espongiformes transmisibles, entre otras) resultado de la agregación en oligómeros y fibras amiloides proteotóxicos ensamblados a partir de proteínas anormalmente plegadas. La polimerización de amiloides se basa en el cambio conformacional de una proteína desde un estado soluble a otro agregado con estructura ¿-laminar incrementada, que actúa posteriormente como molde para promover dicha transición en moléculas adicionales de la misma proteína nativa. Los estudios realizados con priones de levadura, como Sup35p/[PSI+], han sido claves para determinar las bases moleculares de las amiloidosis. Sin embargo, los priones de levaduras son determinantes epigenéticos que confieren distintos fenotipos ventajosos, pero rara vez son causantes de proteinopatías. Los estudios realizados durante los últimos años por nuestro grupo sobre la proteína RepA-WH1 han permitido caracterizarla como el primer prionoide (amiloide transmisible de célula madre a hijas pero, al contrario que los priones, no infeccioso) causante de una proteinopatía sintética en bacterias. A lo largo de esta Tesis Doctoral se ha desarrollado un sistema basado en fusiones a distintos reporteros fluorescentes que permite valorar la capacidad de nucleación cruzada entre distintas variantes del prionoide, demostrando así su capacidad de moldear la conformación amiloide in vivo. Asimismo, se han caracterizado mediante técnicas genómicas, proteómicas y estudios fisiológicos las vías de toxicidad de RepA-WH1, concluyéndose que el daño celular es dependiente de la generación de especies reactivas del oxígeno (ROS), vía reacción de Fenton, apuntando a la implicación del hierro libre intracelular en la citotoxicidad causada por RepA-WH1. Hemos obtenido,además, evidencias de un daño inicial en la membrana inducido por oligómeros amiloides, tal y como se ha descrito para otras proteinopatías humanas. Se ha desarrollado y caracterizado un sistema colorimétrico para la selección y valoración in vivo de amiloides e inhibidores de amiloidosis en E. coli realizando ensayos de lectura corrida de codones ¿stop¿ tempranos. Para ello se utilizaron fusiones del péptido amiloidogénico de RepA- WH1 con el terminador de la traducción RF1 y el gen reportero lacZ. Así, aquellas células en las que la agregación de RF1, inducida por la presencia del péptido amiloide, produce la lectura corrida de un codón ¿stop¿ prematuro en el reportero lacZ, presentan coloración azul en presencia de X-Gal. Por el contrario, si la fusión del péptido amiloide a RF1 no afecta a la solubilidad de este último, las células presentarán coloración blanca. Los resultados obtenidos muestran un aumento en la capacidad de lectura corrida en las quimeras WH1(Rn)-RF1 que portan 2 ó más repeticiones del péptido amiloide. Además, dicho fenotipo es reversible mediante el tratamiento con resveratrol, un polifenol previamente caracterizado como inhibidor de la amiloidosis. Por lo tanto, el sistema de cribado desarrollado en esta Tesis Doctoral, no sólo monitoriza el potencial amiloide de una secuencia peptídica dada sino que, además, es útil para la identificación de compuestos inhibidores del proceso de amiloidogénesis

Premenstrual and menstrual changes reported after COVID-19 vaccination: The EVA project

Background: Menstrual disorders were not reported as a possible secondary effect in any of the clinical trials for the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. Aim: To describe the prevalence of perceived premenstrual and menstrual changes after COVID-19 vaccine administration. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A total of 14,153 women (mean age 31.5 ± 9.3 years old) who had received the full course of vaccination at least three months earlier were included in this cross-sectional study. Data including the type of vaccine administered, perceived changes in the amount and duration of menstrual bleeding, presence of clots, cycle length, and premenstrual symptoms were collected through a retrospective online survey from June to September 2021. Results: Of the women who participated in this study, 3136 reported no menstrual changes and 11,017 (78% of the study sample) reported experiencing menstrual cycle changes after vaccination. In summary, women who reported menstrual changes after vaccination were older (overall p < 0.001) and slightly more smokers (p = 0.05) than women who did not report any changes. The most prevalent changes in relation to premenstrual symptoms were increased fatigue (43%), abdominal bloating (37%), irritability (29%), sadness (28%), and headaches (28%). The most predominant menstrual changes were more menstrual bleeding (43%), more menstrual pain (41%), delayed menstruation (38%), fewer days of menstrual bleeding (34.5%), and shorter cycle length (32%). Conclusion: Women vaccinated against COVID-19 usually perceive mild menstrual and premenstrual changes. Future studies are warranted to clarify the physiological mechanisms behind these widely reported changes.Antonio Chamorro-Alejandro Otero Research Chair, University of Granad

Cultural identity and english learning experiences: A study with young students in a public school

El semillero de investigación “Enseñanza y aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras, cultura y justicia social”, adscrito al grupo de investigación ESTUPOLI, da una mirada a la enseñanza y aprendizaje de inglés relacionado con la justicia social. Este grupo tiene como objetivo el entender la realidad social, política, racial y cultural inmersa en la educación del país. Asimismo, dicho grupo investigativo, enfatiza en perspectivas criticas e incluyentes. Partiendo de estos conocimientos adquiridos en el semillero, nosotras desarrollamos este proyecto sobre la identidad cultural de los jóvenes aprendices de inglés como lengua extranjera y cómo ésta parece estar ignorada debido al contexto y a las experiencias de aprendizaje de los estudiantes. Para ejemplificar lo anterior, las percepciones de los aprendices están aparentemente dirigidas a la utilidad del inglés, su conexión con los países angloparlantes (Estados Unidos y Reino Unido) y cómo su cultura podría ser superior a la nuestra. Teniendo esto en cuenta, esas experiencias de aprendizaje parecen estar descontextualizadas puesto que los estudiantes conciben la lengua inglesa como una herramienta para obtener mejores oportunidades nacional e internacionalmente en vez de ser un espacio enriquecido por los aspectos culturales de la L1 y L2. Esta investigación cualitativa etnográfica obedece a la necesidad de entender las percepciones, experiencias e interacciones de los estudiantes dentro del aprendizaje de inglés en I.E.D Simón Bolívar-Bogotá. Los instrumentos usados para recolectar datos fueron entrevistas semi-estructuradas y diarios culturales. Los hallazgos demuestran como las percepciones de los estudiantes evidencian que su identidad cultural esta siendo moldeada por el contexto, que incluye aspectos como cultura, globalización, etc y la experiencias de aprendizaje de inglés reflejadas en las políticas educativas del país. Al interior del semillero, nosotras estamos a cargo de apoyar y colaborar con los diferentes proyectos en desarrollo. En el caso de nuestro proyecto de investigación, estuvimos a cargo de todas las actividades durante todo el proceso como observaciones de clase, recolección de datos, entrevistas, análisis de datos y reporte de los resultados al semillero.El semillero de investigación “Enseñanza y aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras, cultura y justicia social” assigned to the research group ESTUPOLI looks into the teaching and learning of English language related to social justice aiming to understand the social, politic, racial and cultural agendas which underlie the education as well as emphasize inclusive, binding, and critical perspectives. From the insights of the “semillero”, we carried out this research project about EFL young learners’ cultural identity and how it seems to be disregarded due to the context and the English learning experiences in which students are involved. To point this out, students’ understandings seem to be directed towards the usefulness of English, the connection between English and anglophone countries, specially U.S and U.K; since it seems that their culture appears to be superior to ours. Regarding this, those English learning experiences seem to be out of students’ realities where they conceive language as a tool to obtain “better” opportunities instead of being a space enriched by cultural elements of L1 and L2. This research was carried out as a qualitative ethnographic study owing to the need of understanding beliefs, experiences, and interactions within learning English in I.E.D Simón Bolivar - Bogotá. The instruments employed to collect data were semi-structured interviews and cultural logs. The preliminary findings depict how the learner’s perceptions demonstrate that students’ cultural identity is being shaped by two different aspects: context that includes aspects such as culture, globalization, etc., and English learning experiences reflected in Colombian language policies. Inside the group, we are in charge of supporting and collaborating with the different projects that are being developed; in the case of our research project, we were in charge of the whole activities during the process such as the classes observation, collecting data, interviewing, analyzing data, and reporting back our findings to the “semillero”

Effects of a concurrent exercise training program on low back and sciatic pain and pain disability in late pregnancy

Objective: The aim of the present study was to explore the influence of a concurrent exercise (aerobic + resistance) training program, from the 17th gestational week (g.w.) until birth on low back and sciatic pain, and pain disability. A total of 93 pregnant women divided into exercise (n = 49) and control (n = 44) groups followed a 60-min, 3 days/week, concurrent exercise training. Methods: Low back and sciatic pain were measured with a Visual Analogic Scale (VAS). The disability resulting from pain was assessed with the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Measures were performed at the 16th and 34th g.w. Results: The exercise group increased 21.9 mm less the VAS low back (between-group differences (B): 95% CI: −33.6 to −10.2; p < 0.001) and 12.9 mm less the VAS sciatica score (between-group differences: 95% CI (B): −21.8 to −4.0; p = 0.005) than the control group. Regarding the ODI questionnaire, the exercise group increased 0.7, 0.5, and 0.7 less than the control group in pain while sleeping (between-group differences (B): 95% CI: −1.4 to −0.01; p = 0.025), pain while lifting weight (between-group differences (B): 95% CI: −0.9 to −0.01; p = 0.016), and limitations of the social life due to pain (between-group differences(B): 95% CI: −1.3 to −0.06; p = 0.032). Furthermore, the exercise group suffered 6.9% less pain than the control group in the ODI total score (between-group differences (B): 95% CI: −13.9 to 0.053; p = 0.052). Conclusion: This concurrent exercise training program adapted to pregnant women improved pain compared to controlsThe Regional Ministry of Health of the Junta de Andalucía (PI-0395- 2016)University of Granada, Excellence actions: Units of Excellence; Unit of Excellence on Exercise and HealthJunta de Andalucía, Consejería de Conocimiento, Investigación y UniversidadesEuropean Regional Development Fund (ERDF), REF. SOMM17/6107/UGRMFA was additionally funded by the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture, and Sports (Grant number FPU17/03715

Effectiveness of Mediterranean Diet Implementation in Dry Eye Parameters: A Study of PREDIMED-PLUS Trial

This study was cofounded by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI17/00764) and FEDER funds. The authors wish to thank Ingrid de Ruiter, MBChB, Ph.D., for English language support.The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil and nuts on dry eye parameters. The participants in this study were randomized into one of the two interventional arms: (1) a standard intervention group, a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extra virgin olive oil and nuts; and (2) an intensive intervention group, based on a hypocaloric Mediterranean diet and an intensive lifestyle program with physical activity and weight-loss goals. In both groups, common dry eye tests were conducted at baseline and after six months: the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), the Dry Eye Scoring System (DESS), tear break-up time (TBUT), the Schirmer’s test, and the Oxford staining grade. Sixty-seven eyes were examined. After six months, dry eye parameters improved in both groups; differences between groups were favorable for the intensive intervention group. The implementation of a Mediterranean diet pattern was beneficial for the selected patients with dry eye, and could be beneficial for patients with dry eye in general. Behavioral support for diet adherence and the promotion of healthy lifestyles (exercise) and weight loss (calorie restriction) have an added positive effect.Instituto de Salud Carlos III Spanish Government PI17/00764European Union (EU

Stabilization of the Virulence Plasmid pSLT of Salmonella Typhimurium by Three Maintenance Systems and Its Evaluation by Using a New Stability Test

Certain Salmonella enterica serovars belonging to subspecies I carry low-copy-number virulence plasmids of variable size (50–90 kb). All of these plasmids share the spv operon, which is important for systemic infection. Virulence plasmids are present at low copy numbers. Few copies reduce metabolic burden but suppose a risk of plasmid loss during bacterial division. This drawback is counterbalanced by maintenance modules that ensure plasmid stability, including partition systems and toxin-antitoxin (TA) loci. The low-copy number virulence pSLT plasmid of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium encodes three auxiliary maintenance systems: one partition system (parAB) and two TA systems (ccdABST and vapBC2ST). The TA module ccdABST has previously been shown to contribute to pSLT plasmid stability and vapBC2ST to bacterial virulence. Here we describe a novel assay to measure plasmid stability based on the selection of plasmid-free cells following elimination of plasmid-containing cells by ParE toxin, a DNA gyrase inhibitor. Using this new maintenance assay we confirmed a crucial role of parAB in pSLT maintenance. We also showed that vapBC2ST, in addition to contribute to bacterial virulence, is important for plasmid stability. We have previously shown that ccdABST encodes an inactive CcdBST toxin. Using our new stability assay we monitored the contribution to plasmid stability of a ccdABST variant containing a single mutation (R99W) that restores the toxicity of CcdBST. The “activation” of CcdBST (R99W) did not increase pSLT stability by ccdABST. In contrast, ccdABST behaves as a canonical type II TA system in terms of transcriptional regulation. Of interest, ccdABST was shown to control the expression of a polycistronic operon in the pSLT plasmid. Collectively, these results show that the contribution of the CcdBST toxin to pSLT plasmid stability may depend on its role as a co-repressor in coordination with CcdAST antitoxin more than on its toxic activity.The work in RD and FG's laboratories is supported by grants BFU2011-25939 (RD), CSD2008-00013 (RD and FG), and BIO2013-46281-P/BIO2015-69085-REDC (FG) from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness.Peer reviewedPeer Reviewe

GSE4, a small dyskerin- and GSE24.2-related peptide, induces telomerase activity, cell proliferation and reduces DNA damage, oxidative stress and cell senescence in dyskerin mutant cells

Dyskeratosis congenita is an inherited disease caused by mutations in genes coding for telomeric components. It was previously reported that expression of a dyskerin-derived peptide, GSE24.2, increases telomerase activity, regulates gene expression and decreases DNA damage and oxidative stress in dyskeratosis congenita patient cells. The biological activity of short peptides derived from GSE24.2 was tested and one of them, GSE4, that probed to be active, was further characterized in this article. Expression of this eleven amino acids long peptide increased telomerase activity and reduced DNA damage, oxidative stress and cell senescence in dyskerin-mutated cells. GSE4 expression also activated c-myc and TERT promoters and increase of c-myc, TERT and TERC expression. The level of biological activity of GSE4 was similar to that obtained by GSE24.2 expression. Incorporation of a dyskerin nuclear localization signal to GSE24.2 did not change its activity on promoter regulation and DNA damage protection. However, incorporation of a signal that increases the rate of nucleolar localization impaired GSE24.2 activity. Incorporation of the dyskerin nuclear localization signal to GSE4 did not alter its biological activity. Mutation of the Aspartic Acid residue that is conserved in the pseudouridine synthase domain present in GSE4 did not impair its activity, except for the repression of c-myc promoter activity and the decrease of c-myc, TERT and TERC gene expression in dyskerin-mutated cells. These results indicated that GSE4 could be of great therapeutic interest for treatment of dyskeratosis congenita patients.This work was supported by grants PI1401495 (supported by FEDER funds) and ER15PR07ACC114/757 (Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Spain), 201320E075 (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas) and IPT-2012-0674- 090000 (Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Spain). CM-G is supported by the CIBER de Enfermedades Raras.Peer Reviewe

A 16-week multicomponent exercise training program improves menopause-related symptoms in middle-aged women. The FLAMENCO project randomized control trial

Abstract Objective: To investigate the influence of a supervised multicomponent exercise training program on menopause-related symptoms, particularly vasomotor symptoms (VMS), in middle-aged women. Methods: A total of 112 middle-aged women (mean age 52 4 y old, age range 45-60 y) from the FLAMENCO project (exercise [n ¼ 59] and counseling [n ¼ 53] groups) participated in this randomized controlled trial (perprotocol basis). The exercise group followed a multicomponent exercise program composed of 60-minute sessions 3 days per week for 16 weeks. The 15-item Cervantes Menopause and Health Subscale was used to assess the frequency of menopause-related symptoms. Results: After adjusting for body mass index and Mediterranean diet adherence, the subscales measuring menopause-related symptoms and VMSs decreased 4.6 more in the exercise group compared to the counseling group (between-group differences [B]: 95% CI: -8.8 to -0.2; P ¼ 0.040). The exercise group also showed significant improvements in the subscales of couple relationships (between-group differences [B]: -1.87: 95% CI: -3.29 to - 0.45; P ¼ 0.010), psychological state (between-group differences [B]: -2.3: 95% CI: -5 to -0.2; P ¼ 0.035), and VMSs (between-group differences [B]: -4.5: 95% CI: -8.8 to -0.2; p ¼ 0.040) in the Cervantes Menopause and Health Subscale compared with the counseling group. Conclusions: A 16-week multicomponent physical exercise program showed a positive effect on menopauserelated symptoms especially in couple relationships, psychological state, and VMS, among 45 to 60 year old women

Exercise, Mediterranean Diet Adherence or Both during Pregnancy to Prevent Postpartum Depression—GESTAFIT Trial Secondary Analyses

Targeting lifestyle behaviors during pregnancy is crucial to prevent the highly prevalent postpartum depression and its consequences. In these secondary analyses of an intervention trial to investigate the effects of concurrent exercise training on postpartum depression, we aimed to investigate the potential role of Mediterranean diet (MD) adherence on the exercise effects. A total of 85 pregnant women met the per-protocol criteria (exercise n = 46, control n = 39). The exercise program was delivered in 60 min sessions, 3 days/week, from the 17th gestational week until birth. Women's dietary habits were assessed with a food frequency questionnaire. The Mediterranean Food Pattern (an MD index) was derived from it to assess MD adherence. We used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale to assess postpartum depression. The postpartum depression score was not statistically different between control and exercise groups (p > 0.05). A higher consumption of fruits (beta = -0.242, p = 0.022), lower intake of red meat and subproducts (beta = 0.244, p = 0.020), and a greater MD adherence (beta = -0.236, p = 0.027) were associated with lower levels of postpartum depression. Greater adherence to the MD during pregnancy was associated with fewer depressive symptoms and a lower risk of postpartum depression. Postnatal depression was not reduced by prenatal exercise. Promoting fruit consumption while controlling the intake of red meat during pregnancy might prevent postnatal depression.Regional Ministry of Health of the Junta de Andalucia PI-0395-2016Research and Knowledge Transfer Fund (PPIT) 2016, Excellence Actions Programme: Scientific Units of Excellence (UCEES)Regional Ministry of Economy, Knowledge, Enterprises, and UniversityEuropean Regional Development Funds of the University of Granada SOMM17/6107/UGRSpanish Government FPU17/0371