Droplet Microfluidics for the ex Vivo Expansion of Human Primary Multiple Myeloma Cells.

We previously reported a new approach for micromanipulation and encapsulation of human stem cells using a droplet-based microfluidic device We demonstrated the possibility of encapsulating and culturing difficult-to-preserve primary human hematopoietic stem cells using an engineered double layered bead composed by an inner layer of alginate and an outer layer of puramatrix constructed using a soft technology without the use of any external force. In this work, we use this micro manipulation technique to build a 3D scaffold as a biomimetic model to recapitulate the niche of patient-derived multiple myeloma cells (MM cell) using a multilayered 3D tissue scaffold constructed in a microfluidic device and cultured in 10% FBS culture medium. In the current study, we included the use of this biomimetic model comprising supporting human Mesenchymal stem cells to show the mid-term survival of MM cells in the proposed structures. We found that the generated microniches were suitable for the maintenance of MM cells with and without supporting cells. Additionally, cultured MM cells in droplets were exposed to both Bortezomib and Lenalidomide to test their toxicity in the cultured patient derived cells. Results indicate that the maintained MM cells were consistently responding to the applied medication, opening a wide field of possibilities to use the presented micro device as an ex vivo platform for drug screening.This research was funded by European Commission H2020 Marie Curie Research Grants Scheme MSCA-IF-GF (705163).S

Hurtig metode for å estimere buksprenging i pelagisk fisk ombord

Buksprenging er en kvalitetsforringende prosess hvor bukområdet hos fisken brytes ned post mortem. Denne rapporten oppsummerer arbeidet med utviklingen av en anvendelig hurtigtest for å estimere enzymlekkasje som forårsaker buksprenging i pelagiske fiskearter. Måleutstyret er kommersielt tilgjengelig og krever lite opplæring før bruk. Metoden er brukervennlig og gir en objektiv vurdering av protein-nedbrytende aktiviteter i fisken. Metoder for prøveuttak, reaksjonstemperatur og inkubasjonstid samt tidspunkt for prøveuttak under ombordtaking av fangsten ble testet og optimalisert i prosjektet. Det er foreslått en ny skala som graderer enzymatiskaktiviteten i fiskebuken. Denne skalaen er tenkt integrert med dagens skala. Det mangler imidlertid noen resultater for at denne skalaen kan ferdigstilles. Det er nødvendig å teste metoden med sterk åte for å kunne definere skalaen for ulike grader av buktæring og sannsynligheten for buksprenging. Disse måledataene trengs for å ha basis for implementering av målemetodikken. Det neste steget i arbeidet er å implementere den nye objektive metoden og koble resultater fra målinger med kvalitetsendringer i tidsrommet fra fangst til levering mottaksanlegget

Valoración de la circunferencia de la pantorrilla como indicador de riesgo de desnutrición en personas mayores

BACKGROUND: Undernutrition is a very common situation among elderly, that is associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates. On the other hand, calf circumference (CC) is a direct anthropometric measurement, related to fat free mass. An early detection of an elderly undernutrition situation, based on CC assessment, could contribute to prevent its development and consequences. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the relationship between CC and a possible undernutrition situation, based on the application of the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) test, among Spanish subjects of 65 or more years old, including the gender and age influences. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out to assess the nutritional situation of an ambulatory population, from every area of Spanish geography (n = 22007), using the questionnaire MNA. Every subject surveyed was 65 or more years old when the test was done. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences between subjects with a CC or= 31 cm, both men and women, in weight, height, body mass index (BMI), MNA total score and undernutrition classification. On the other hand, it was found that those elders with lower CC showed a higher undernutrition risk, both men and women, in every age range studied. CONCLUSIONS: It does exit an association between CC of Spanish subjects of 65 or more years old and the risk of developing undernutrition. That association is similar among men and women, and in all age ranges

Impact of global and subjective mini nutritional assessment (MNA) questions on the evaluation of the nutritional status: The role of gender and age

Undernutrition is a quite common condition in the elderly, often identified using the mini nutritional assessment (MNA) test. The aim of this research was to study the independent value of the global and the subjective MNA questions to predict the undernutrition according to the full MNA score, and to analyze the influence of gender and age on such items. A total of 22,007 Spanish people 65 years of age or older were evaluated using the MNA test. These data were obtained by trained community pharmacists by using receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves. About 4.3% of the studied population were classified as undernourished according to the full MNA test. The subjective subscore (two questions) presented better predictive value than the global one (six questions). Indeed, 99.5% of subjects detected as well nourished using the MNA test were also correctly classified using the two subjective questions. In the present study, it was identified that the two subjective MNA questions can be an efficient tool for a quick screening to rule out non undernourished subjects

Food consumption analysis in Spanish elderly based upon the Mini Nutritional Assessment Test

Background/Aims: Aged people are an increasing population group worldwide, and nutritional impairments may contribute to additional health problems. The characterization of food consumption of elderly people is a good approach to implementing adequate nutritional policies in order to improve their nutritional status. The aim of this study was to describe and analyze specific aspects of food intake based upon the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) test in a representative country sample. Methods: The survey consisted of a cross-sectional study assessing the nutritional status of 22,007 Spanish people aged 65 years or older using the MNA test. These data, including dietary information, were obtained by health professionals specifically trained to carry out the questionnaire. A multiple regression analysis was used to evaluate the contributing impact of the diet-related MNA questions on the total MNA score. Results: Differences in the food choices between men and women were found, but not in the mode of feeding. Obese and non-obese individuals, categorized by a body mass index (BMI) more or less than 30, showed similar intake patterns of protein-rich foods, but differences in fruits, vegetables and fluids. On the other hand, undernourished and non-undernourished subjects, according to the MNA criteria, revealed different food consumption. Loss of appetite and mode of feeding were the items with the highest influence the MNA total score. Conclusions: While age, gender and BMI considered together are responsible for 11.3% of the total MNA score, dietary-related items can predict the 62.4% of the total MNA classification in the overall elderly Spanish population

Postprandial de novo lipogenesis and metabolic changes induced by a high-carbohydrate, low-fat meal in lean and overweight men

BACKGROUND: Adjustments of carbohydrate intake and oxidation occur in both normal-weight and overweight individuals. Nevertheless, the contribution of carbohydrates to the accumulation of fat through either reduction of fat oxidation or stimulation of fat synthesis in obesity remains poorly investigated. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the postprandial metabolic changes and the fractional hepatic de novo lipogenesis (DNL) induced by a high-carbohydrate, low-fat meal in lean and overweight young men. DESIGN: A high-carbohydrate, low-fat meal was administered to 6 lean and 7 overweight men after a 17.5-h fast. During the fasting and postprandial periods, energy expenditure (EE), macronutrient oxidation, diet-induced thermogenesis, and serum insulin, glucose, triacylglycerol, and fatty acids were measured. To determine DNL, [1-13C]sodium acetate was infused and the mass isotopomer distribution analysis method was applied. RESULTS: After intake of the high-carbohydrate meal, the overweight men had hyperinsulinemia and higher fatty acid and triacylglycerol concentrations than did the lean men. The overweight group showed a greater EE, whereas there was no significant difference in carbohydrate oxidation between the groups. Nevertheless, the overweight men had a marginally higher protein oxidation and a lower lipid oxidation than did the lean men. DNL was significantly higher before and after meal intake in the overweight men and was positively associated with fasting serum glucose and insulin concentrations. Furthermore, postprandial DNL was positively correlated with body fat mass, EE, and triacylglycerol. CONCLUSION: After a high-carbohydrate, low-fat meal, overweight men had a lower fat oxidation and a higher fractional hepatic fat synthesis than did lean men

Inhibition of serum cholesterol oxidation by dietary vitamin C and selenium intake in high fat fed rats

Cholesterol oxidation products (COPs) have been considered as specific in vivo markers of oxidative stress. In this study, an increased oxidative status was induced in Wistar rats by feeding them a high-fat diet (cafeteria diet). Another group of animals received the same diet supplemented with a combination of two different antioxidants, ascorbic acid (100 mg/kg rat/day) and sodium selenite (200 microg/kg rat/day) and a third group fed on a control diet. Total and individual COPs analysis of the different diets showed no differences among them. At the end of the experimental trial, rats were sacrificed and serum cholesterol, triglycerides and COPs were measured. None of the diets induced changes in rats body weight, total cholesterol and triglycerides levels. Serum total COPs in rats fed on the high-fat diet were 1.01 microg/ml, two times the amount of the control rats (0.47 microg/ml). When dietary antioxidant supplementation was given, serum total COPs concentration (0.44 microg/ml) showed the same levels than those of the rats on control diet. 7beta-hydroxycholesterol, formed non-enzymatically via cholesterol peroxidation in the presence of reactive oxygen species, showed slightly lower values in the antioxidant-supplemented animals compared to the control ones. This study confirms the importance of dietary antioxidants as protective factors against the formation of oxysterols

The inclusion of functional foods enriched in fibre, calcium, iodine, fat-soluble vitamins and n-3 fatty acids in a conventional diet improves the nutrient profile according to the Spanish reference intake

Objective The growing interest in maintaining good health status through optimal nutrition has boosted the launch of a number of functional foods on the market. The objective of the present study was to theoretically evaluate the nutritional relevance of incorporating selected enriched foods in the diet. Design A 28 d dietary plan, designed to be balanced under the recommended macronutrients criteria, was used as a basal diet. Some conventional foods were exchanged with foods enriched in fibre, calcium, iodine, vitamins A, D, E or n-3 fatty acids. Setting Nutritional composition of basal and modified diets was derived and compared to the Spanish recommended intakes (RI). Results The basal diet covered the recommendations for fibre and calcium with mean intake of 28 g and 1241 mg, respectively. The current intake of salt, if iodized, or bread elaborated with this salt, allowed reaching the daily intake of iodine every day, with a mean supply of 216 μg/d and 278 μg/d, respectively. The deficient supply of vitamin E in the basal diet (mean = 8 mg/d) was covered by including enriched margarine and dairy products (mean = 15 mg/d). The low n-3 fatty acids intake in the basal diet (1·1 g/d) increased up to 1·9 g/d after the use of enriched margarine, butter and biscuits and soya drink instead of milk. Conclusions In order to improve the accomplishment of the RI iodine, vitamin E and n-3 fatty acids, interesting strategies dealing with the incorporation of enriched foods in the diet were successfully initiated

Antioxidant activities and selenogene transcription in the European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) liver depend, in a non-linear manner, on the Se/Hg molar ratio of the feeds

Feeding 3.9 and 6.7 mg Hg/kg (Se/Hg molar ratios of 0.8 and 0.4, respectively) for 14 days negatively affected Dicentrarchus labrax growth and total DNTB- and thioredoxin-reductase (TrxR) activities and the transcription of four redox genes (txn1, gpx1, txnrd3, and txnrd2) in the liver, but a diet with 0.5 mg Hg/kg (Se/Hg molar ratio 6.6) slightly increased both reductase activities and the transcription of txn1, gpx1, and txnrd2. Feeding 6.7 mg Hg/kg for 53 days downregulated the genes of the thioredoxin system (txn1, txnrd3, and txnrd2) but upregulated gpx1, confirming the previously proposed complementarity among the antioxidant systems. Substitution of 20% of the feed by thawed white fish (hake) slightly counteracted the negative effects of Hg. The effects were not statistically significant and were dependent, in a non-linear manner, on the Se/Hg molar ratio of the feed but not on its Hg concentration. These results stress the need to consider the Se/Hg molar ratio of the feed/food when evaluating the toxicity of Hg.Open Access funding provided thanks to the CRUE-CSIC agreement with Springer Nature. The work was supported by grants from the Spanish MINECO (RTC-2014–2837-2- “SELATUN: Minimización de la problemática del mercurio del atún y valorización del atún como alimento saludable, Programa Retos-Colaboración 2014” and CTM2012-40203-C02-01- “BMW: Biomarcadores estándar de base científica en mejillón para diagnosticar y monitorizar los efectos biológicos de la polución en el Golfo de Bizkaia: implementación de la DEME”), Euskampus Fundazioa-Campus of International Excellence (307615SAA2), and from the Basque Government Elkartek Grant KK-2016/00057- “MAROMEGA: Nuevas alternativas para la producción de omega-3 a partir de recursos marinos.

DNA microarray analysis of genes differentially expressed in diet-induced (cafeteria) obese rats.

Objective: To better understand the molecular basis of dietary obesity, we examined adipose tissue genes differentially expressed in an obesity model using DNA microarray analysis. Research Methods and Procedures: We assessed the expression level of over 12,500 transcripts in epididymal fat pads from (cafeteria) obese and control rats with the aid of the array technology. Results: Cafeteria (obese) rats weighed 50% more and had 2.5-fold higher levels of epididymal fat and elevated levels of circulating leptin. Adipose genes differentially expressed in obese and control rats were categorized into five groups: macronutrient metabolism, transcription factors, hormone receptor and signal transduction, redox and stress proteins, and cellular cytoskeleton. Interestingly, the expression levels of a number of genes involved in lipid metabolism such as glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, stearoyl coenzyme A desaturase, together with the transcription factors implicated in adipocyte differentiation (CAAT/enhancer binding protein-alpha and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma), were significantly increased in obese animals compared with control. The most up-regulated transcripts were the ob (49.2-fold change) and the fatty acid-binding protein genes (15.7- fold change). In contrast, genes related to redox and stress protein were generally down-regulated in obese animals compared with the control. Discussion: Our study showed that in diet-induced obesity, the expression levels of some important genes implicated in lipid metabolism were up-regulated, whereas those related to redox and stress protein were down-regulated in obese animals compared with control. This pattern of gene expression may occur in human obesity cases after high-fat intake