Frequência Alfa na meditação Gurdjieff

Introdução: A meditação é uma prática que visa regular o estado mental e as emoções, podendo induzir a estados alterados de consciência. Dentre inúmeras técnicas de meditação, o trabalho proposto por George I. Gurdjieff, inclui práticas voltadas para o recolhimento da atenção e o equilíbrio entre a atividade do corpo, da mente e do sentimento. Estudos realizados com eletroencefalografia (EEG), avaliando o estado meditativo em geral, demonstraram um padrão cerebral caracterizado pelo aumento da amplitude dos ritmos eletroencefalográficos alfa e teta, bem como diferenças na atividade alfa entre a meditação e o relaxamento. Entretanto, isto não está caracterizado em meditadores da linha de G.I. Gurdjieff, que praticam, além de meditações sentadas, exercícios corporais acompanhados de uma música própria e exercícios de atenção durante a vida diária. Objetivo: Comparar a atividade cerebral da frequência alfa durante os estágios de meditação e relaxamento e avaliar as diferenças entre as regiões frontal, central e occipital nesses dois estados, em meditadores experientes do grupo Gurdjieff, de Salvador-Bahia-Brasil. Metodologia: A coleta da atividade cerebral dos 8 voluntários foi realizada através do EEG. O protocolo de coleta adotado foi de 6 minutos de relaxamento e 12 minutos de meditação. Resultados: Foi encontrado aumento significativo da potência alfa durante a meditação, quando comparada ao relaxamento. As regiões frontal e central não apresentaram diferenças entre si para a potência alfa, enquanto a região occipital apresentou aumento da potência alfa em comparação com as regiões frontal e central. Existe um aumento da densidade de alfa durante a meditação em todas as regiões cerebrais testadas, com maior densidade na região occipital. Conclusão: A frequência alfa comporta-se de forma diferente durante a meditação, comparada ao relaxamento, com um aumento da densidade de potência durante o estado meditativo em todas as regiões avaliadas, sendo a região occipital a que apresentou maior potência

Combinations of Metarhizium anisopliae with chemical insecticides and their effectiveness in Mahanarva fimbriolata (Hemiptera: Cercopidae) control on sugarcane

Some insecticides can be used jointly with entomopathogenic fungi, and therefore the combi- nation of chemical and biological control measures can be a safe and effective method to con- trol insect pests. The aim of this study was to evaluate the costs and efficacy of combinations of Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavicipitaceae) with thiameth- oxam and imidacloprid on spittlebug (Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål); Hemiptera: Cercopidae) control on sugarcane. The experiment was conducted as a randomized block design (RBD) with 10 treatments and 4 replications. The treatments included a control (untreated), thia- −1 −1 12 −1 methoxam (250 g ha ), imidacloprid (700 g ha ), M. anisopliae (M. a.) (3 × 10 conidia ha ), A1 (3 × 10 12 M. a. conidia ha −1 + 65 g ha −1 of thiamethoxam), A2 (3 × 10 12 M. a. conidia ha −1 + 125 g ha −1 of thiamethoxam), A3 (3 × 10 12 M. a. conidia ha −1 + 187.5 g ha −1 of thiamethoxam), A4 (3 × 10 12 M. a. conidia ha −1 + 175 g ha −1 of imidacloprid), A5 (3 × 10 12 M. a. conidia ha −1 + 350 g ha −1 of imidacloprid), and A6 (3 × 10 12 M. a. conidia ha −1 + 525g ha −1 of imidacloprid). The reductions in the numbers of M. fimbriolata nymphs per treatment compared to the control were similar at 15 DAT (days after treatment) in all treatments except combination A5 (M. anisopliae and thiamethoxam). At 30 DAT, the numbers of nymphs were significantly reduced in all treatments except A3, and their effectiveness ranged from 14.28% to 92.85%. At 45 DAT the numbers of M. fimbriolata nymphs per treatment were significantly reduced in the following treatments: imidacloprid alone at 700g ha -1 , A1, A2, A3, A4 and A6; and the combinations A1 and A2 caused the lowest M. fimbriolata nymph infestations and effectiveness rates of 77.41 and 87.09 %, respectively. At 75 DAT the 2 best control efficacies occurred in treatments A1 (3 × 10 12 M. a. conidia ha -1 of + 65g ha -1 of thiamethoxam) (82.1%) and A5 (78.6%) (3 × 10 12 M. a. conidia ha −1 + 350 g ha −1 of imidacloprid). At 90 DAT the number of nymphs in the control had increased 2.8 fold over the number at 75 DAT. Very good control efficacies at 90 DAT occurred in all treatments with the combination of the fungus with an insecticide. At 105 DAT the numbers of nymphs had surged in all treatments, and no treatment provided effective control. The treatments with the highest earnings per hectare were A1 (3 × 10 12 M. a. conidia ha -1 + 65 g thiamethoxam) and M. anisopliae alone at the recommended dose of 3 × 10 12 M. a. conidia ha -1 . Our findings demonstrate the effectiveness of using either thiamethoxam or imidacloprid in combination with M. anisopliae to control M. fimbriolata nymphs on sugarcane, but greater net earnings per hectare occurred with the lowest rate of the thiamethoxam combination than with any of the imidacloprid combinations.Algunos insecticidas se puede utilizar con hongos entomopatógenos y por lo tanto, la aso- ciación de los controles químico y biológico puede ser una estrategia segura y eficaz para el control de insectos-plaga. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los costos y eficacia de combinaciones de Metarhizium anisopliae (Metschnikoff) Sorokin (Hypocreales: Clavi- cipitaceae) con insecticidas thiamethoxam e imidacloprid para el control de la chicharrita (Mahanarva fimbriolata (Stål); Hemiptera: Cercopidae) en caña de azúcar . El experimento fue conducido en un delineamiento en bloques casualizados (DBC), con 10 tratamientos y 4 repeticiones. Los tratamientos que incluidos el control (sin tratamiento), thiamethoxam (250 g ha −1 ), imidacloprido (700 g ha −1 ), M. anisopliae (M.a.) (3×10 12 conidios ha −1 ), A1 (3×10 12 conidios ha −1 de M. a. + 65 g ha −1 de thiamethoxam), A2 (3×10 12 conidios ha −1 de M. a. + 125g ha −1 de thiamethoxam), A3 (3×10 12 conidios ha −1 de M. a. + 187.5 g ha −1 de thiamethoxam), A4 (3×10 12 conidios ha −1 de M.a + 175 g ha −1 de imidacloprido), A5 (3×10 12 conidios ha −1 de M. a. + 350 g ha −1 de imidacloprido) y A6 (3×10 12 conidios ha −1 de M. a. + 525g ha −1 de imidacloprido). Las reducciones en el número de ninfas M. fimbriolata por tratamiento en comparación con el control fueron similares a los 15 DAT (días pos tratamiento) en todos los tratamientos excepto A5 combinación (M. anisopliae y thiamethoxam). A los 30 DAT, el número de ninfas se redujeron significativamente en todos los tratamientos, excepto A3, y su eficacia varió de 14,28% para 92,85%. A los 45 DAT, los números de ninfas M. fimbriolata por tratamiento se redujeron significativamente en los siguientes tratamientos: imidacloprido solo en 700 g ha -1 , A1, A2, A3, A4 y A6; y las combinaciones de A1 y A2 causaron la más bajo infestaciones de ninfas M. fimbriolata y sus tasas de eficacia fueron de 77,41 y 87,09%, respectivamente. A los 75 DAT, los 2 mejores eficacias de control se produjeron en tratamientos A1 (3×10 12 conidios ha −1 de M. a. + 65 g ha −1 de thiamethoxam) y A5 (78.6%) (3×10 12 conidios ha −1 de M. a.+ 350 g ha −1 de imidacloprido). A los 90 DAT, el número de ninfas en el control había aumentado 2,8 veces más el número a 75 DAT. Muy buenas eficacias de control en 90 DAT, se produjo en todos los tratamientos con la combinación del hongo con un insecticida. A los 105 DAT, el número de ninfas habían aumentado en todos los tratamientos, y ningún tratamiento había proporcionado un control efectivo. Los tratamientos con los mayores rendimientos hectárea fueron A1 (3×10 12 conidios ha −1 de M. a.+ 65 g de thiamethoxam) y M. anisopliae solo a la dosis recomendada de 3×10 12 conidios ha −1 de M. a. Nuestros resultados demuestran la eficacia de thiamethoxam y imidacloprido en combinación con M. anisopliae para el control de ninfas M. fimbriolata en caña de azúcar, pero mayores beneficio neto por hectárea se produjeron con la tasa más baja de la combinación de thiamethoxam que con cualquiera de las combinaciones de imidacloprid

Preclinical activity of LBH589 alone or in combination with chemotherapy in a xenogeneic mouse model of human acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) have been identified as therapeutic targets due to their regulatory function in chromatin structure and organization. Here, we analyzed the therapeutic effect of LBH589, a class I-II HDAC inhibitor, in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). In vitro, LBH589 induced dose-dependent antiproliferative and apoptotic effects, which were associated with increased H3 and H4 histone acetylation. Intravenous administration of LBH589 in immunodeficient BALB/c-RAG2(-/-)γc(-/-) mice in which human-derived T and B-ALL cell lines were injected induced a significant reduction in tumor growth. Using primary ALL cells, a xenograft model of human leukemia in BALB/c-RAG2(-/-)γc(-/-) mice was established, allowing continuous passages of transplanted cells to several mouse generations. Treatment of mice engrafted with T or B-ALL cells with LBH589 induced an in vivo increase in the acetylation of H3 and H4, which was accompanied with prolonged survival of LBH589-treated mice in comparison with those receiving vincristine and dexamethasone. Notably, the therapeutic efficacy of LBH589 was significantly enhanced in combination with vincristine and dexamethasone. Our results show the therapeutic activity of LBH589 in combination with standard chemotherapy in pre-clinical models of ALL and suggest that this combination may be of clinical value in the treatment of patients with ALL

Effect of an Intensive Weight-Loss Lifestyle Intervention on Kidney Function: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: Large randomized trials testing the effect of a multifactorial weight-loss lifestyle intervention including Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) on renal function are lacking. Here, we evaluated the 1-year efficacy of an intensive weight-loss intervention with an energy-reduced MedDiet (erMedDiet) plus increased physical activity (PA) on renal function. Methods: Randomized controlled "PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea-Plus"(PREDIMED-Plus) trial is conducted in 23 Spanish centers comprising 208 primary care clinics. Overweight/obese (n = 6,719) adults aged 55-75 years with metabolic syndrome were randomly assigned (1:1) to an intensive weight-loss lifestyle intervention with an erMedDiet, PA promotion, and behavioral support (intervention) or usual-care advice to adhere to an energy-unrestricted MedDiet (control) between September 2013 and December 2016. The primary outcome was 1-year change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (EGFR). Secondary outcomes were changes in urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), incidence of moderately/severely impaired EGFR (<60 mL/min/1.73 m2) and micro-to macroalbuminuria (UACR ≥30 mg/g), and reversion of moderately (45 to <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) to mildly impaired GFR (60 to <90 mL/min/1.73 m2) or micro-to macroalbuminuria. Results: After 1 year, EGFR declined by 0.66 and 1.25 mL/min/1.73 m2 in the intervention and control groups, respectively (mean difference, 0.58 mL/min/1.73 m2; 95% CI: 0.15-1.02). There were no between-group differences in mean UACR or micro-to macroalbuminuria changes. Moderately/severely impaired EGFR incidence and reversion of moderately to mildly impaired GFR were 40% lower (HR 0.60; 0.44-0.82) and 92% higher (HR 1.92; 1.35-2.73), respectively, in the intervention group. Conclusions: The PREDIMED-Plus lifestyle intervention approach may preserve renal function and delay CKD progression in overweight/obese adults.This work was supported by the official Spanish Institutions for funding scientific biomedical research, CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), through the Fondo de Investigación para la Salud (FIS), which is cofunded by the European Regional Development Fund (5 coordinated FIS projects leaded by J.S.-S and J.V., 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, PI14/00972, PI14/00728, PI14/01471, 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; PI19/00957, PI19/00386, PI19/00309, PI19/01032, PI19/00576, PI19/00017, PI19/01226, PI19/00781, PI19/01560, and PI19/01332); the Especial Action Project entitled Implementación y evaluación de una intervención intensiva sobre la actividad física Cohorte PREDIMED-Plus grant to J.S.-S.; the European Research Council (Advanced Research Grant 2014–2019; agreement #340918) granted to M.Á.M.-G.; the Recercaixa (No. 2013ACUP00194) grant to J.S.-S.; grants from the Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía (PI0458/2013, PS0358/2016, and PI0137/2018); the PROMETEO/2017/017 grant from the Generalitat Valenciana; the SEMERGEN grant; funds from the European Regional Development Fund (CB06/03); International Nut & Dried Fruit Council – FESNAD (Long-term effects of an energyrestricted Mediterranean diet on mortality and cardiovascular disease 2014–2015, No. 201302) (PI: M.Á.M.-G.); the AstraZeneca Young Investigators Award in Category of Obesity and T2D 2017 (PI: D.R.); grant of support to research groups No. 35/2011 (Balearic Islands Gov.; FEDER funds) (J.A.T. and C.B.); the JR17/00022 (ISCIII) grant to O.C.; the Boosting young talent call grant program for the development of IISPV research projects 2019–2021 (Ref.: 2019/IISPV/03 grant to A.D.-L.); the Societat Catalana d’Endocrinologia i Nutrició (SCEN) Clinical-Research Grant 2019 (IPs: J.S.-S. and A.D.-L.). Collaborative Nutrition and/or Obesity Project for Young Researchers 2019 supported by CIBEROBN entitled Lifestyle Interventions and Chronic Kidney Disease: Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Metabolomic Profile (LIKIDI study) grant to A.D.-L

Consumption of caffeinated beverages and kidney function decline in an elderly Mediterranean population with metabolic syndrome

It remains unclear whether caffeinated beverages could have deleterious renal effects in elderly population with underlying comorbid conditions. We investigated the associations between coffee, tea, or caffeine intake and 1-year changes in glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in a large Spanish cohort of overweight/obese elderly with metabolic syndrome (MetS). This prospective analysis includes 5851 overweight/obese adults (55-75 years) with MetS from the PREDIMED-Plus study. We assessed coffee, tea, and caffeine consumption from a validated food-frequency questionnaire and creatinine-based eGFR using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Multivariate-adjusted regression models were applied to test associations between baseline coffee, tea, or caffeine intake and 1-year eGFR changes. Caffeinated coffee (> 2 cups/day) and tea (at least 1 cup/day) drinkers had 0.88 and 0.93 mL/min/1.73 m2 greater eGFR decrease respectively, compared to those with less than 1 cup/day of coffee consumption or non-tea drinkers. Furthermore, caffeinated coffee consumption of > 2 cups/day was associated with 1.19-fold increased risk of rapid eGFR decline > 3 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI 1.01-1.41). Similarly, individuals in the highest (median, 51.2 mg/day) tertile of caffeine intake had a 0.87 mL/min/1.73 m2 greater eGFR decrease. Decaffeinated coffee was not associated with eGFR changes. In conclusion, higher consumption of caffeinated coffee, tea, and caffeine was associated with a greater 1-year eGFR decline in overweight/obese adults with MetS

Dietary intake of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans, adiposity and obesity status

Introduction: The principal source of exposure to Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-furans (PCDD/Fs) in humans comes from food intake. PCDD/Fs, are a family of potential endocrine disruptors and have been associated with different chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. However, studies assessing the relationship between dietary exposure to PCDD/Fs and adiposity or obesity status in a middle-aged population are limited. Objective: To assess cross-sectionally and longitudinally the associations between estimated dietary intake (DI) of PCDD/Fs and body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and the prevalence/incidence of obesity and abdominal obesity in a middle-aged population. Methods: In 5899 participants aged 55-75 years (48% women) living with overweight/obesity from the PREDIMED-plus cohort, PCDD/Fs DI was estimated using a 143-item validated food-frequency questionnaire, and the levels of food PCDD/F expressed as Toxic Equivalents (TEQ). Consequently, cross-sectional and prospective associations between baseline PCDD/Fs DI (in pgTEQ/week) and adiposity or obesity status were assessed at baseline and after 1-year follow-up using multivariable cox, logistic or linear regression models. Results: Compared to participants in the first PCDD/F DI tertile, those in the highest tertile presented a higher BMI (β-coefficient [confidence interval]) (0.43kg/m2 [0.22; 0.64]; P-trend <0.001), a higher waist circumference (1.11 cm [0.55; 1.66]; P-trend <0.001), and a higher prevalence of obesity and abdominal obesity (1.05 [1.01; 1.09] and 1.02 [1.00; 1.03]; P-trend = 0.09 and 0.027, respectively). In the prospective analysis, participants in the top PCDD/F DI baseline tertile showed an increase in waist circumference compared with those in the first tertile after 1-year of follow-up (β-coefficient 0.37 cm [0.06; 0.70]; P-trend = 0.015). Conclusion: Higher DI of PCDD/Fs was positively associated with adiposity parameters and obesity status at baseline and with changes in waist circumference after 1-year of follow-up in subjects living with overweight/obesity. Further large prospective studies using a different population with longer follow-up periods are warranted in the future to strengthen our results. Keywords: Abdominal obesity; Adiposity; Endocrine disrupting chemicals; Obesity; Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-furans (PCDD/F)

Longitudinal changes in adherence to the portfolio and DASH dietary patterns and cardiometabolic risk factors in the PREDIMED-Plus study

[Background & aims]: The Portfolio and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diets have been shown to lower cardiometabolic risk factors in randomized controlled trials (RCTs). However, the Portfolio diet has only been assessed in RCTs of hyperlipidemic patients. Therefore, to assess the Portfolio diet in a population with metabolic syndrome (MetS), we conducted a longitudinal analysis of one-year data of changes in the Portfolio and DASH diet scores and their association with cardiometabolic risk factors in Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea (PREDIMED)-Plus trial. [Methods]: PREDIMED-Plus is an ongoing clinical trial (Trial registration: ISRCTN89898) conducted in Spain that includes 6874 older participants (mean age 65 y, 48% women) with overweight/obesity fulfilling at least three criteria for MetS. Data for this analysis were collected at baseline, six months and one year. Adherence to the Portfolio and DASH diet scores were derived from a validated 143-item food frequency questionnaire. We used linear mixed models to examine the associations of 1-SD increase and quartile changes in the diet scores with concomitant changes in cardiometabolic risk factors. [Results]: After adjusting for several potential confounders, a 1-SD increase in the Portfolio diet score was significantly associated with lower HbA1c (β [95% CI]: −0.02% [−0.02, −0.01], P < 0.001), fasting glucose (−0.47 mg/dL [−0.83, −0.11], P = 0.01), triglycerides (−1.29 mg/dL [−2.31, −0.28], P = 0.01), waist circumference (WC) (−0.51 cm [−0.59, −0.43], P < 0.001), and body mass index (BMI) (−0.17 kg/m2 [−0.19, −0.15], P < 0.001). A 1-SD increase in the DASH diet score was significantly associated with lower HbA1c (−0.03% [−0.04, −0.02], P < 0.001), glucose (−0.84 mg/dL [−1.18, −0.51], P < 0.001), triglycerides (−3.38 mg/dL [−4.37, −2.38], P < 0.001), non-HDL-cholesterol (−0.47 mg/dL [−0.91, −0.04], P = 0.03), WC (−0.69 cm [−0.76, −0.60 cm], P < 0.001), BMI (−0.25 kg/m2 [−0.28, −0.26 kg/m2], P < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (−0.57 mmHg [−0.81, −0.32 mmHg], P < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (−0.15 mmHg [−0.29, −0.01 mmHg], P = 0.03), and with higher HDL-cholesterol (0.21 mg/dL [0.09, 0.34 mg/dL, P = 0.001]). Similar associations were seen when both diet scores were assessed as quartiles, comparing extreme categories of adherence. [Conclusions]: Among older adults at high cardiovascular risk with MetS, greater adherence to the Portfolio and DASH diets showed significant favourable prospective associations with several clinically relevant cardiometabolic risk factors. Both diets are likely beneficial for cardiometabolic risk reduction.The PREDIMED-Plus trial was supported by the Spanish government's official funding agency for biomedical research, ISCIII, through the Fondo de Investigación para la Salud (FIS) and co-funded by European Union ERDF/ESF, “A way to make Europe”/“Investing in your future” (five coordinated FIS projects led by JS-S and JVid, 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, PI14/00972, PI14/00728, PI14/01471, 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, PI19/00957, PI19/00386, PI19/00309, PI19/01032, PI19/00576, PI19/00017, PI19/01226, PI19/00781, PI19/01560, and PI19/01332), the Special Action Project entitled: Implementación y evaluación de una intervención intensiva sobre la actividad física Cohorte PREDIMED-Plus grant to JS-S, the European Research Council (Advanced Research Grant 2014–2019, 340918) to MÁM-G, the Recercaixa Grant to JS-S (2013ACUP00194), grants from the Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía (PI0458/2013, PS0358/2016, and PI0137/2018), a grant from the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2017/017), a SEMERGEN grant, and funds from the European Regional Development Fund (CB06/03). This research was also partially funded by EU-H2020 Grant (EAT2BENICE/H2020-SFS-2016-2; Ref 728018). Study resulting from the SLT006/17/00246 grant, funded by the Department of Health of the Generalitat de Catalunya by the call “Acció instrumental de programes de recerca orientats en l'àmbit de la recerca i la innovació en salut”. We thank CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya for institutional support. This work is partially supported by ICREA under the ICREA Academia programme. IP-G receives a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports (FPU 17/01925). MRBL was supported by “Miguel Servet Type I” program (CP15/00028) from the ISCIII-Madrid (Spain), cofinanced by the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional-FEDER. AJG was supported by the Nora Martin Fellowship in Nutritional Sciences, the Banting & Best Diabetes Centre Tamarack Graduate Award in Diabetes Research, the Peterborough K.M. Hunter Charitable Foundation Graduate Award and an Ontario Graduate Scholarship. PH-A was supported by a postdoctoral fellowship (Juan de la Cierva-Formación), FJCI-2017–32205, funded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation. RE group has been supported by the ‘Ajut 2017-2021 SGR 1717 from the Generalitat de Catalunya. DJAJ was funded by the Government of Canada through the Canada Research Chair Endowment. JK was supported by the ‘FOLIUM’ programme within the FUTURMed project from the Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Illes Balears (financed by 2017 annual plan of the sustainable tourism tax and at 50% with charge to the ESF Operational Program 2014–2020 of the Balearic Islands). JLS was funded by a Diabetes Canada Clinician Scientist Award

Does Consumption of Ultra-Processed Foods Matter for Liver Health? Prospective Analysis among Older Adults with Metabolic Syndrome

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) includes a spectrum of liver alterations that can result in severe disease and even death. Consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) has been associated with obesity and related comorbidities. However, the link between UPF and NAFLD has not been sufficiently assessed. We aimed to investigate the prospective association between UPF consumption and liver health biomarkers. Methods: We followed for 1 year 5867 older participants with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) from the PREDIMED-Plus trial. A validated 143-item semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate consumption of UPF at baseline, 6, and 12 months. The degree of processing for foods and beverages (g/day) was established according to the NOVA classification system. The non-invasive fatty liver index (FLI) and hepatic steatosis index (HSI) were used to evaluate liver health at three points in time. The associations between changes in UPF consumption (percentage of total daily dietary intake (g)) and liver biomarkers were assessed using mixed-effects linear models with repeated measurements. Results: In this cohort, UPF consumption at baseline was 8.19% (SD 6.95%) of total daily dietary intake in grams. In multivariable models, each 10% daily increment in UPF consumption in 1 year was associated with significantly greater FLI (β 1.60 points, 95% CI 1.24;1.96 points) and HSI (0.43, 0.29; 0.57) scores (all p-values < 0.001). These associations persisted statistically significant after adjusting for potential dietary confounders and NAFLD risk factors. Conclusions: A higher UPF consumption was associated with higher levels of NAFLD-related biomarkers in older adults with overweight/obesity and MetS

Morbid liver manifestations are intrinsically bound to metabolic syndrome and nutrient intake based on a machine-learning cluster analysis

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is one of the most important medical problems around the world. Identification of patient ' s singular characteristic could help to reduce the clinical impact and facilitate individualized management. This study aimed to categorize MetS patients using phenotypical and clinical variables habitually collected during health check-ups of individuals considered to have high cardiovascular risk. The selected markers to categorize MetS participants included anthropometric variables as well as clinical data, biochemical parameters and prescribed pharmacological treatment. An exploratory factor analysis was carried out with a subsequent hierarchical cluster analysis using the z-scores from factor analysis. The first step identified three different factors. The first was determined by hypercholesterolemia and associated treatments, the second factor exhibited glycemic disorders and accompanying treatments and the third factor was characterized by hepatic enzymes. Subsequently four clusters of patients were identified, where cluster 1 was characterized by glucose disorders and treatments, cluster 2 presented mild MetS, cluster 3 presented exacerbated levels of hepatic enzymes and cluster 4 highlighted cholesterol and its associated treatments Interestingly, the liver status related cluster was characterized by higher protein consumption and cluster 4 with low polyunsaturated fatty acid intake. This research emphasized the potential clinical relevance of hepatic impairments in addition to MetS traditional characterization for precision and personalized management of MetS patients