The Importance of Social Work in the Latin American Association Movement of People Affected by Low Prevalence Diseases

This article analyses the experiences of the association movement in Latin America that brings together individuals and families with rare (RD) or low prevalence diseases (LPD). It also looks at their needs from global health, social, research and education perspectives. The nature of social work assessments and interventions in rare diseases helps us better understand the needs of people with RDs or LPDs and facilitates the creation of associations. Social work aims at consolidating the social fabric that will lead to the recognition of RDs as a health and social priority at an international level

Effects of the feeding level in early gestation on body reserves and the productive and reproductive performance of primiparous and multiparous sows

©. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND license http://creativecommons.org/licenses/cc-by-nc-nd/4.0/ This document is the Published, version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in [Research un Veterinary Science]. To access the final edited and published work see [https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.05.002]Early gestation may be the best period for sows to recover body reserve losses from previous lactation. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different levels of restricted feeding in early gestation on the body status, productive and reproductive performance, and hormonal-metabolic status of primiparous and multiparous sows. A total of 130 sows were randomly assigned to one of three feeding levels: Treatment I, which sows were fed at the level commonly used from day 3 to 28 of gestation (2.5 kg⋅d-1 of a diet with 2.18 Mcal NE⋅kg-1 and 13.72 g CP⋅kg-1), and Treatments II and III, where feed was increased by 25% and 50%, respectively. Sow body status, litter size and weight, early mortalities, reproductive rates, weaning-to-estrus interval, and hormones linked to metabolism were recorded. The highest weight gain, body condition score, and backfat thickness were found in sows fed Treatment III compared to those fed the usual feeding level (Treatment I). No differences among treatment groups were found in litter size or litter weight, although a tendency for more live born piglets and fewer stillbirths was found in sows fed Treatment III. In contrast, litters from sows fed at higher feeding levels had a higher mortality at 72 h compared to those fed at the lowest feeding level (I), which was partly linked to a higher percentage of piglets culled at birth and piglets weighing less than 800 g. There were no differences in conception and farrowing rates, leptin, progesterone, insulin, or cortisol among treatment groups applied in early gestation. In conclusion, increasing the feeding level in sows during early gestation to improve their short-term productive and reproductive performance remains controversial. Further studies are needed to focus on how the restricted feeding level applied could affect the viability and proportion of low-weight piglets

An analysis of the similarities in the ATR-FTIR spectra from Argania spinosa, Rosa rubiginosa and Elaeis guineensis oils

The attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) spectra of the essential oil from Rosa rubiginosa L. seeds and the vegetable oils from Argania spinosa L. kernel and Elaeis guineensis Jacq. pulp show important similitudes that hamper their identification by vibrational spectroscopy techniques if they are not complemented with well-established methods such as gas chromatography. Nevertheless, the observed similarities in structure-composition-traditional uses between Argania spinosa and Rosa rubiginosa oils suggest that they could be interchangeable when skin physicians, dermatologic-surgeons or cosmetologists perceive in their practice that one of the oils produces an allergic reaction or other side effects, although further activity studies are needed

Use of image analysis to evaluate the effect of high hydrostatic pressure and pasteurization as preservation treatments on the microstructure of red sweet pepper

[EN] The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of HHP treatment and PAST on the microstructure of red Lamuyotype sweet peppers using image analysis and to determine the parameters that allow characterizing the changes observed on the structure using different magnifications (100×, 200×, and 350×). The results show that all the preservation treatments evaluated caused structural modifications on the microstructure of red sweet pepper, but HHP at 500 MPa and PAST had less impact. Fractal dimension texture, contrast, inverse difference moment, and entropy are texture features that are appropriate for characterizing the effect of HHP and PAST on red pepper texture. In this context, it is important to consider the magnification at which red pepper texture is evaluated because cell damage caused by treatments is best observed at low magnification. Consequently, image analysis could be used in future studies to relate microstructure to the functionality of products subject to HHP. Industrial relevance: Red sweet peppers (Capsicum annuum) are an excellent source of essential nutrients and bioactive compounds. High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) applied during food processing can improve the retention of food quality attributes and nutritional and organoleptic properties better than pasteurization (PAST). Image analysis is a non-invasive technique that allows to provide objective evaluations from digitalized images. There are no studies that quantify the effect of HHP and PAST using image texture parameters and that evaluate the effect of the magnification used on these texture features. These features are critical factors that determine food acceptance or rejection by the consumers. Thus, texture measurement has gained much attention from food science and industry. Therefore, it would be interesting to study the effect of these treatments on the microstructure of red sweet pepper tissue using image analysis. Thereby, it would be possible to relate the image information to structural modifications and to the extractability of bioactive compounds or acceptance of preservation processes by consumers.The authors wish to acknowledge the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation for the financial support (project AGL2011-30064-C02) and to the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia (UPV) for the FPI grant given to Maria Hernandez Carrion. The authors also thank University of La Sabana for let Maria Hernandez Carrion to do a stay of research and for access to their materials and methods. Moreover, the authors wish to thank Elsevier for assistance with the English manuscriptHernández-Carrión, M.; Hernando Hernando, MI.; Sotelo-Díaz, I.; Quintanilla-Carvajal, M.; Quiles Chuliá, MD. (2015). Use of image analysis to evaluate the effect of high hydrostatic pressure and pasteurization as preservation treatments on the microstructure of red sweet pepper. Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies. 27:69-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ifset.2014.10.011S69782

Vibrational analysis and thermal behavior of salvia hispanica, nigella sativa and papaver somniferum seeds

Introduction: Salvia hispanica L., Nigella sativa L. and Papaver somniferum L. are involved in opiate-dependent behavior. It is known that the seeds of these three herbs contain high amounts of antioxidants, which are helpful in disease prevention, but further research is needed on some of their other phytochemical components (terpene alkaloids, benzoquinones and others), which are claimed to affect human opioid receptors. Methods: Seeds from the three afore mentioned plants have been studied by ATR-FTIR vibrational spectroscopy and thermo analytical techniques (TG/DTG, DTA and DSC). Results: The infrared spectrum has confirmed the presence of the ester carbonyl of terpenoid alkaloids (such as nigellamine) and the fully conjugated cyclic dione structure of quinones (e.g., thymoquinone). As regards the thermal stability of these seeds, small differences have been observed in their thermal profiles (endothermic effects at around 333C for chia, 268C for black cumin and 319C for poppy seeds), which can be ascribed to their different content in carbohydrates. Conclusions: The functional groups of the main active constituents and the thermal behavior of these three seeds have been elucidated

Effects of different drying methods on the physicochemical properties of powders obtained from high-oleic palm oil nanoemulsions

[EN] Nanoencapsulation is an efficient process to incorporate high nutritional oils, such as high oleic palm oil (HOPO). Several drying technologies can be applied for obtaining HOPO powders. The aim of this work was to study the effect of two different drying methods (spray-drying, SP and freeze-drying, FD) on some physical properties and microstructure of powders obtained from HOPO nanoemulsions. Results showed that FD powders presented lower aw and bulk density, and higher dissolution rate than SD powders. Results suggest that SD could be a more economical alternative to FD in order to obtain HOPO powders with low moisture and aw.The authors wish to acknowledge to Banco de Desarrollo de América Latina (CAF) for the support to this research and to the Universidad de La Sabana for its help in this investigation through the funding of the ING-170-2016 project. Moreover, the authors thank to Cenipalma (Colombia) for kindly supplying the High Oleic Palm Oil used in this study and to Alexandra Mondragón Serna, Leader of the project of Health and Nutrition of Cenipalma.Hernández-Carrión, M.; Moyano-Molano, M.; Ricaurte, L.; Moreno, F.; Quintanilla-Carvajal, M. (2018). Effects of different drying methods on the physicochemical properties of powders obtained from high-oleic palm oil nanoemulsions. En IDS 2018. 21st International Drying Symposium Proceedings. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1277-1274. https://doi.org/10.4995/IDS2018.2018.7402OCS1277127

"Applications of Intelligent Systems in Tourism: Relevant Methods"

"This article presents a literature review of Intelligent Systems applications in Tourism in different parts of the world. The review focuses on the most relevant methods in free and paid databases, in English and Spanish. Most of the works deal with methodologies based on artificial intelligence, such as expert systems, fuzzy logic, machine learning, data mining, neural networks, genetic algorithms. In the review, several characteristics of the systems have been taken into account, such as, knowledge base, actors in the operation of the system, types of tourists, usefulness or not in space and time. According to the review it was found that most of the researches are deterministic models, the most used methodology in tourism are the expert systems based on rules, observing an emerging innovation in metaheuristics, mainly genetic algorithms and intelligent systems with knowledge base based on optimization methods for route choice or optimal visit plan. It is expected that this work serves to give a general perspective on the application of intelligent systems in the area of tourism, as well as a work that consolidates background for work in this area of research.

Vasoactive intestinal peptide axis is dysfunctional in patients with Graves’ disease

Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) is a neuropeptide with potent immunoregulatory properties. Reduced serum VIP levels and alterations in VIP receptors/signaling on immune cells have been associated with different inflammatory/autoimmune diseases. However, its role in autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITD) remains unknown. This study examined the interrelationship between VIP system, autoimmune background and thyroid hormones in peripheral immune cells in patients with AITD. Only Graves’ disease (GD) patients showed significantly lower serum VIP levels when compared to healthy subjects and to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis patients. Serum VIP levels were lower at the onset of GD, showing a significant negative correlation with thyroid hormone levels. The expression of VIP receptors, VPAC1 and VPAC2, was significantly upregulated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from GD patients. There was an impairment of VIP signalling in these patients, probably attributable to a dysfunction of VPAC1 with preservation of VPAC2. The correlation between VPAC1 and thyroid hormone receptor expression in PBMC from healthy subjects was lost in GD patients. In summary, the VIP system is altered in peripheral immune cells of GD patients and this finding is associated with different thyroid hormone receptor patterns, showing a dynamic inter-regulation and a prominent role of VIP in this setting.This work has been supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain, cofinanced by FEDER, European Union: RETICS program, Red de Investigación en Inflamación y Enfermedades Reumáticas (RD16/0012/0008, PI17/00027, PI16-02091, PIE13-0004) and from Consejería de Educación, Juventud y Deporte, Comunidad de Madrid: B2017/BMD372

The relationship between physician and cancer patient when initiating adjuvant treatment and its association with sociodemographic and clinical variables

Purpose The aim of this study was to analyze differences in physician and patient satisfaction in shared decision-making (SDM); patients' emotional distress, and coping in subjects with resected, non-metastatic cancer. Methods 602 patients from 14 hospitals in Spain were surveyed. Information was collected regarding physician and patient satisfaction with SDM, participants' emotional distress and coping, as well as patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics by means of specific, validated questionnaires. Results Overall, 11% of physicians and 19% of patients were dissatisfied with SDM; 22% of patients presented hopelessness or anxious preoccupation as coping strategies, and 56% presented emotional distress. By gender, female patients showed a higher prevalence of dissatisfaction with SDM (23 vs 14%), anxious preoccupation (26 vs 17%), and emotional distress (63 vs 44%) than males. Hopelessness was more prevalent in individuals with stage III disease than those with stages I-II (28 vs 18%). Conclusion Physicians must be mindful of the importance of emotional support and individual characteristics when communicating treatment options, benefits, and adverse effects of each alternative to oncological patients

Revealing the last 13,500 years of environmental history from the multiproxy record of a mountain lake (Lago Enol, northern Iberian Peninsula)

This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10933-009-9387-7.We present the Holocene sequence from Lago Enol (43°16′N, 4°59′W, 1,070 m a.s.l.), Cantabrian Mountains, northern Spain. A multiproxy analysis provided comprehensive information about regional humidity and temperature changes. The analysis included sedimentological descriptions, physical properties, organic carbon and carbonate content, mineralogy and geochemical composition together with biological proxies including diatom and ostracod assemblages. A detailed pollen study enabled reconstruction of variations in vegetation cover, which were interpreted in the context of climate changes and human impact. Four distinct stages were recognized for the last 13,500 years: (1) a cold and dry episode that includes the Younger Dryas event (13,500–11,600 cal. year BP); (2) a humid and warmer period characterizing the onset of the Holocene (11,600–8,700 cal. year BP); (3) a tendency toward a drier climate during the middle Holocene (8,700–4,650 cal. year BP); and (4) a return to humid conditions following landscape modification by human activity (pastoral activities, deforestation) in the late Holocene (4,650–2,200 cal. year BP). Superimposed on relatively stable landscape conditions (e.g. maintenance of well established forests), the typical environmental variability of the southern European region is observed at this site.The Spanish Inter-Ministry Commission of Science and Technology (CICYT), the Spanish National Parks agency, the European Commission, the Spanish Ministry of Science, and the European Social Fund