Increase of geometrical and positional fatty acid isomers in dark meat from broilers fed heated oils

Oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids leads to primary and secondary oxidation products. Compounds and amounts of these products vary, depending on the oxidative conditions. As these oxidation products have different absorption and biological effects, we performed two different heating treatments on sunflower oil. The first was heating the oil at 190-195"C for 28 h i.e. very oxidised oil); and the other, heating at 60"C for 12 days (i.e. pcroxidiscd oil). In the frame of this study, we compared the fatty acid composition of a refined sunflower oil (fresh oil), the pcroxidiscd oil, the very oxidised oil, and a mixture (1+1) of fresh and very oxidised oil (i.e. oxidised oil). Oil fatty acid compositions were affected by the heating treatments. In to addition, different fatty acid isomers were formed during heating at 190-I95°C and significant differences were found between thcir.contcnt in the sunflower oils. We also studied the effect of feeding broilers with these oils and Zn and tocopherol supplements on the fatty acid composition of their raw dark meat. Various Irons fatty acid isomers increased in dark meat from broilers fed oxidised and very oxidised oils. In addition, discriminant analysis showed that ditrans-CLA content was able to distinguish dark chicken meat from chickens fed sunflower oils heated at 190-195"C

Estado de salud y demanda de servicios de salud de la población ecuatoriana en España

Análisis del estado de salud y del grado de acceso a los servicios de salud de los inmigrantes ecuatorianos en la provincia de Alicante. La finalidad es descriptiva y práctica: realizar un diagnóstico comunitario de salud básico y una aproximación al nivel de demanda de los servicios sanitarios. El análisis se centra en la evaluación de la hipótesis del inmigrante sano, pero vulnerable, y en el tipo de consumo de servicios de salud realizado. Para valorar esta hipótesis se ha procedido a comparar los datos obtenidos en una encuesta a población ecuatoriana residente en la provincia de Alicante, con los de la última Encuesta Nacional de Salud 2003 y el PHOGUE (2000). Los resultados indican que el estado de salud de la población ecuatoriana es similar al de la población española que participa en el mismo mercado de trabajo que la inmigración económica (trabajadores con baja cualificación), aunque se observan algunos elementos de vulnerabilidad (en especial, en términos de salud emocional).La presente investigación ha sido financiada por el Instituto de Salud Carlos III, ref. PI042287

Dosimetry with gafchromic films based on a new micro-opto-electro-mechanical system

This work presents the first tests performed with radiochromic films and a new Micro‒Opto‒Electro-Mechanical system (MOEMS) for in situ dosimetry evaluation in radiotherapy in real time. We present a new device and methodology that overcomes the traditional limitation of time-delay in radiochromic film analysis by turning a passive detector into an active sensor. The proposed system consists mainly of an optical sensor based on light emitting diodes and photodetectors controlled by both customized electronic circuit and graphical user interface, which enables optical measurements directly. We show the first trials performed in a low‒energy proton cyclotron with this MOEMS by using gafchromic EBT3 films. Results show the feasibility of using this system for in situ dose evaluations. Further adaptation is ongoing to develop a full real‒time active detector by integrating MOEM multi‒arrays and films in flexible printed circuits. Hence, we point to improve the clinical application of radiochromic films with the aim to optimize radiotherapy treatment verifications

Terminal carbohydrates abundance, immune related enzymes, bactericidal activity and physico-chemical parameters of the Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup) skin mucus

Recently, interest in mucosal surfaces, more specifically fish skin and its secreted mucus, has greatly increased among immunologists. The abundance of terminal carbohydrates, several enzymes (proteases, lysozyme, peroxidase, alkaline phosphatase, esterases and ceruloplasmin), bactericidal activity against fish pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria and several physico-chemical parameters (protein concentration, pH, conductivity, redox potential, osmolarity, density and viscosity) in the skin mucus of Senegalese sole (Solea senegalensis, Kaup) have been evaluated. Present results evidence the abundance of N-acetylneuraminic acid, mannose, glucose and N-acetyl-galactosamine in skin mucus. The levels of lysozyme, proteases, esterases and alkaline phosphatase were very similar (from 20 to 30 Units mg 1 protein). However, 93 Units mg 1 protein were detected of ceruloplasmin and only 4 0 88 Units mg 1 protein of peroxidase. Skin mucus of S. senegalensis showed high bactericidal activity against the tested pathogen bacteria but weak activity against non-pathogenic bacteria. Finally, a clear relationship between mucus density and temperature was detected, while viscosity showed a direct shear- and temperature-dependent behaviour. These results could be useful for better understanding the role of the skin mucus as a key component of the innate immune system, as well as, for elucidating possible relationships between biological and physico-chemical parameters and disease susceptibility

Recombinant nodavirus vaccine produced in bacteria and administered without purification elicits humoral immunity and protects European sea bass against infection

Viral necrosis virus (NNV) or nodavirus causes fish viral encephalopathy and retinopathy worldwide. In some cases, mortalities in aquaculture industry can reach up to 100%, some species being especially sensitive as is the case of European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), one of the main cultured species in the Mediterranean, with the consequent economical loses. Development of new vaccines against NNV is in the spotlight though few re- searches have focused in European sea bass. In this study we have generated a recombinant NNV (rNNV) vaccine produced in Escherichia coli expressing the capsid protein and administered it to European sea bass juveniles by two different routes (intraperitoneal and oral). The last being considered non-stressful and desired for fish farming of small fish, which in fact are the most affected by NNV. Oral vaccine was composed of feed pellets containing the recombinant whole bacteria, and injected vaccine was composed of recombinant bacteria pre- viously lysed. Our results revealed production of specific anti-NNV IgM following the two vaccination proce- dures, levels that were further increased in orally-vaccinated group after challenge with NNV. Genes related to interferon (IFN), T-cell and immunoglobulin markers were scarcely regulated in head-kidney (HK), gut or brain. Vaccination by either route elicited a relative survival response of 100% after NNV challenge. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a recombinant vaccine followed by no purification steps which resulted in a complete protection in European sea bass when challenged with NNV.Versión del edito

Rapid decrease in titer and breadth of neutralizing anti-HCV antibodies in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who achieved SVR

Sustained virological response (SVR); Anti-HCV therapy; HIV/HCV-coinfected patientsRespuesta virológica sostenida (RVS); Terapia anti-VHC; Pacientes coinfectados por VIH/VHCResposta virològica sostinguda (RVS); Teràpia anti-VHC; Pacients infectats amb VIH/VHCThe main targets for neutralizing anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies (HCV-nAbs) are the E1 and E2 envelope glycoproteins. We have studied the characteristics of HCV-nAbs through a retrospective study involving 29 HIV/HCV-coinfected patients who achieved sustained virological response (SVR) with peg-IFNα + ribavirin anti-HCV therapy. Plasma samples at baseline and week 24 after SVR were used to perform neutralization assays against five JFH1-based HCV recombinant viruses coding for E1 and E2 from genotypes 1a (H77), 1b (J4), 2a (JFH1), 3a (S52) and 4a (ED43). At baseline, the majority of plasma samples neutralized 1a, 1b, 2a, and 4a, but not 3a, genotypes. Twenty-four weeks following SVR, most neutralizing titers declined substantially. Furthermore, titers against 3a and 2a were not detected in many patients. Plasma samples with high HCV-nAb titers neutralized all genotypes, and the highest titers at the starting point correlated with the highest titers at week 24 after SVR. In conclusion, high titers of broad-spectrum HCV-nAbs were detected in HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals, however, those titers declined soon after SVR.The HIV BioBank, integrated in the Spanish AIDS Research Network, is supported by the Institute of Health Carlos III, ISCIII, Spanish Health Ministry (Grant nº RD06/0006/0035 and RD12/0017/0037) as part of the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation and co-financed by ISCIII- Sub-Directorate General for Research Assessment and Promotion and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and Foundation for Research and Prevention of AIDS in Spain (FIPSE). The RIS Cohort (CoRIS) is funded by the ISCIII through the Spanish AIDS Research Network (RIS C03/173 and RD12/0017/0018) as part of the State Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation and co-financed by ISCIII- Sub-Directorate General for Research Assessment and Promotion and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This study was supported by grants from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII; grant numbers PI14/01094 and PI17/00657 to JB, PI17/00903 to JGG, PI14CIII/00011 and PI17CIII/00003 to SR) and Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad (grant number EC11-241). The study was also funded by the RD16CIII/0002/0002, RD16/0025/0018, and RD16/0025/0017 projects as part of the Plan Nacional R + D + I and co-funded by ISCIII- Subdirección General de Evaluación and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER). JB is an investigator from the Programa de Intensificación de la Actividad Investigadora en el Sistema Nacional de Salud (I3SNS), Refs INT15/00079 and INT16/00100

Acute inflammatory response in the skin of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) caused by carrageenin

Although inflammation is a well-characterized process in mammals, few studies have dealt with the mechanisms involved in this process in fish. The present study evaluated the expression of inflammation-related genes in the skin of fish injected with carrageenin, which has previously been used in inflammatory models in mammals. In our case, fish were injected subcutaneously with PBS (as control) or carrageenin (1%), and skin samples from the injection site were collected 1.5, 3 and 6 h post-injection. The gene expression of inflammatory markers (csfr1, mhc-ii and phox40), several pro-inflammatory cytokines (il1b, tnfa, il6, il8 and il18) and other molecules related (such as myd88 and c-rel) were up-regulated at 1.5 and 3 h in fish injected with carrageenin compared with control levels. By contrast, the gene expression of anti-inflammatory molecules (nlrx1, nlrc5 isoform 1, ctsd and ctss) was down-regulated in fish injected with carrageenin and sampled 3 h post injection, again compared to the gene expression in control fish. According to our results, carrageenin can be considered not only a good stimulator to study skin inflammation in gilthead seabream but also this method might be use to study the modulation of fish inflammatory process caused by internal or external factors

Acute inflammatory response in the skin of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) caused by carrageenin

Although inflammation is a well-characterized process in mammals, few studies have dealt with the mechanisms involved in this process in fish. The present study evaluated the expression of inflammation-related genes in the skin of fish injected with carrageenin, which has previously been used in inflammatory models in mammals. In our case, fish were injected subcutaneously with PBS (as control) or carrageenin (1%), and skin samples from the injection site were collected 1.5, 3 and 6 h post-injection. The gene expression of inflammatory markers (csfr1, mhc-ii and phox40), several pro-inflammatory cytokines (il1b, tnfa, il6, il8 and il18) and other molecules related (such as myd88 and c-rel) were up-regulated at 1.5 and 3 h in fish injected with carrageenin compared with control levels. By contrast, the gene expression of anti-inflammatory molecules (nlrx1, nlrc5 isoform 1, ctsd and ctss) was down-regulated in fish injected with carrageenin and sampled 3 h post injection, again compared to the gene expression in control fish. According to our results, carrageenin can be considered not only a good stimulator to study skin inflammation in gilthead seabream but also this method might be use to study the modulation of fish inflammatory process caused by internal or external factors