Films of chitosan and chitosan-oligosaccharide neutralized and thermally treated: Effects on its antibacterial and other activities

The present study focuses on the effects of heat and neutralization treatments on solubility, water vapour permeability and antimicrobial activity of chitosan (Ch) and chitosan/chitooligosaccharide (ChO)-based films. ChO films showed stronger antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia liquefaciens and Lactobacillus plantarum than Ch films, indicating that this effect is attributed to the presence of chitooligosaccharides (COS) in the films. Heat and neutralization treatments decreased significantly the solubility of chitosan films and gave rise to a sharp loss in their antimicrobial activity. The incorporation of COS in chitosan films increased the inhibitory effect against the studied microorganisms without affecting significantly the water vapour permeability of the films. Thus, it is possible to get a more insoluble chitosan film with high antimicrobial activity by means of incorporation of COS combined with heat or neutralization treatments.MINECO, project (MAT2010-21621-C02-01

Single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with susceptibility for development of colorectal cancer: Case-control study in a Basque population

Given the significant population diversity in genetic variation, we aimed to investigate whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously identified in studies of colorectal cancer (CRC) susceptibility were also relevant to the population of the Basque Country (North of Spain). We genotyped 230 CRC cases and 230 healthy controls for 48 previously reported CRC-susceptibility SNPs. Only the rs6687758 in DUPS10 exhibited a statistically significant association with CRC risk based on the crude analysis. The rs6687758 AG genotype conferred about 2.13-fold increased risk for CRC compared to the AA genotype. Moreover, we found significant associations in cases between smoking status, physical activity, and the rs6687758 SNP. The results of a Genetic Risk Score (GRS) showed that the risk alleles were more frequent in cases than controls and the score was associated with CRC in crude analysis. In conclusion, we have confirmed a CRC susceptibility locus and the existence of associations between modifiable factors and the rs6687758 SNP; moreover, the GRS was associated with CRC. However, further experimental validations are needed to establish the role of this SNP, the function of the gene identified, as well as the contribution of the interaction between environmental factors and this locusto the risk of CRC.This work was supported by two projects (from the Department of Health and Consumer Affairs, Basque Government 2011111153; and Saiotek, Basque Government S-PE12UN058), by a pre-doctoral grant from the Basque Government (PRE_2016_2_0046), by the CIBERehd and by the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (ARS), under agreement. 581950-4-003. Neither Basque Government nor U.S. Department of Agriculture-Agricultural Research Service (ARS) had a role in the design, analysis or writing of this article. CIBERehd is funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Gene–Diet Interactions in Colorectal Cancer: Survey Design, Instruments, Participants and Descriptive Data of a Case–Control Study in the Basque Country

Epidemiologic studies have revealed inconsistent evidence of gene-diet interaction in relation to colorectal cancer (CRC). The aim of this study was to analyze them in a sample of cases and controls from the population-based bowel cancer screening program of the Osakidetza/Basque Health Service. This study analyzed dietetic, genetic, demographic, socioeconomic factors and lifestyles. In the present manuscript, the survey design, sampling, instruments, measurements and related quality management were presented. Moreover, we analyze di erences between cases and controls in some data, especially those related to diet. The participants were 308 cases and 308 age- and sex-matched subjects as controls. Cases were more likely than controls to have overweight/obesity (67.5% vs. 58.1%, p < 0.05), a lower intake of vitamin B2 (0.86 0.23 vs. 0.92 0.23 mg/1000 kcal, p < 0.01) and calcium:phosphorus ratio (0.62 0.12 vs. 0.65 0.13, p < 0.01). A higher proportion of cases than controls did not meet the Nutritional Objectives for saturated fatty acids (85.7% vs. 67.5%, p < 0.001) or cholesterol (35.4% vs. 25.0%, p < 0.01). In conclusion, the present study provides valuable data for analyzing the complexity of gene-diet interaction in relation to CRC. The results presented here suggest that overweight/obesity and a high intake of certain dietary components, especially saturated fatty acids and cholesterol, are more frequent in cases than in controls.This research was supported by the Department of Health and Consumer A airs of the Basque Government (2011111153) and Saiotek program of the Basque Government (S-PE12UN058). I.A.-L. was founded by a pre-doctoral grant from the Basque Government (PRE_2014_1_161, PRE_2015_2_0084, EP_2016_1_0098, EP_2016_1_0098 and PRE_2017_2_0006). The U.S. Department of Agriculture—Agricultural Research Service (ARS), under Agreement No. 58-1950-4-003. CIBERehd is funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Memoria de un curso. Cuaderno de bitácora

Se trataba de hacer un diario de clase personal, a modo de cuaderno de bitácora -el diario de navegación-, pero de un curso, de una asignatura. El ir y venir en un espacio-tiempo, entendido de una manera abierta: "diario a diario", o algún asunto tangencial, pero con la asignatura de Dibujo siempre de fondo. En estos Cuadernos de Bitácora de los alumnos hay muchos que son cuadernos de campo, otros son diarios personales, y casi todos se podrían nombrar como libros de artista, un concepto e idea muy actual de hacer arte, que también ha popularizado la red con los "blogs

Subsistence strategies during Cantabrian Solutrean: the case of La Viña rock shelter (La Manzaneda, Asturias)

RESUMEN: El Abrigo de La Viña es uno de los yacimientos claves para el estudio del Paleolítico Superior de la región cantábrica, debido a su larga secuencia arqueológica y a sus grafías parietales pre-magdalenienses. En este trabajo se presenta el estudio arqueozoológico y tafonómico de los restos faunísticos hallados en los niveles solutrenses del Sector Occidental. Los resultados muestran una explotación preferente del ciervo complementado con otras especies como grandes bóvidos, caballos y cápridos, sin evidenciar una especialización cinegética sobre ninguno de los taxones. El análisis tafonómico revela que los grupos humanos fueron los principales responsables de la acumulación ósea y aprovecharon de modo intensivo las carcasas. El método bayesiano, aplicado a los perfiles esqueléticos, sugiere que las carcasas de ciervo y cabra se trasladaron completas al yacimiento, en consonancia con el estudio de las áreas de captación de recursos bióticos y abióticos, que muestra una explotación del entorno más inmediato del abrigo.ABSTRACT: La Viña rock shelter is one of the key sites for the study of Upper Palaeolithic in Cantabrian region due to its long archaeological sequence and pre-Magdalenian parietal engravings. We present here the archaeozoological and taphonomic analysis of the faunal remains from the Solutrean levels (Western Sector). The results indicate a preferential exploitation of red deer complemented by other species such as large bovids, horses and caprids, without showing hunting specialization in any of the taxa. The taphonomic analysis shows that human groups were the main collector agent of the bone assemblage and they carried out an intensive carcasses exploitation. Finally, the Bayesian method, applied to the skeletal profiles, suggests a complete transport of red deer and Spanish ibex carcasses to the site, in accordance with the study of the biotic and abiotic resources catchment areas, which shows an exploitation of the immediate surroundings of the rock shelter.Esta investigación ha sido parcialmente financiada por los proyectos “ERC SUBSILIENCE” (ERCEA Ref 818299) del Consejo Europeo de Investigación, y ABRUPT-HAR2017-84997-P y MCIU-19-PGC2018-100010-B-100 del Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades

Pharmaceutical residues in stranded dolphins in the Bay of Biscay

There is a growing concern about the presence of pharmaceuticals on all trophic levels of the 3 aquatic environment. The presence of pharmaceuticals in the marine environment, which is the 4 final receiver of the continental water including treated wastewater, has been much less 5 investigated than in freshwater. Marine mammals are very suitable sentinel species of the 6 marine environment because they often feed at high trophic levels, have unique fat stores and 7 long lifespan. Small delphinids in particular serve as excellent sentinel species for contamination 8 in the marine environment worldwide. To the best of our knowledge, no pharmaceuticals have 9 been detected or reported in dolphins so far. 10 In the present study, muscle, liver and blubbler samples from four common dolphins (Delphinus 11 delphis) and six striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) stranded along the Basque Coast were 12 collected. A total of 95 pharmaceuticals based on detectability and predicted ability to 13 bioaccumulate in fish were included in the analysis. 14 At least one pharmaceutical was found in 70% of the individuals. Only three of the 95 monitored 15 pharmaceuticals (orphenadrine, pizotifen, and promethazine) were detected in dolphin ́s tissues 16 (liver or blubber) at very low concentrations (<1ng/g). 17 In this study we also highlight the gap in the knowledge regarding the study organisms and 18 marine environments with respect to pharmaceutical pollution, which demands further 19 research to understand the threat pharmaceuticals might pose for these apex predators.Funding support from Fundación Vital & Ayuntamiento de Vitoria-Gasteiz to GO and the Swedish Research Council Formas 2020-01052 to D.C. and the Basque Government through Consolidated Research Group GIC IT1743-22 to X.L