Individuals with type 2 diabetes have higher density of small intestinal neurotensin-expressing cells

Neurotensin (NT) is a gastro-intestinal hormone involved in several pathways that regulate energy and glucose homeostasis. NT was hypothesized to act in synergy with incretin hormones to potentiate its anti-diabetic effects. Additionally, circulating NT levels were shown to rise after bariatric surgery-induced weight loss. Knowledge of NT-secreting cells distribution along the small intestine and its variation according to diabetes status could provide insights on NT role in mediating type 2 diabetes (T2D) improvement after bariatric surgery. So, our aims were to characterize NT-expressing cell distribution along the human small intestine and to compare the relative density of NT-expressing cells in the small intestine of individuals with and without T2D undergoing bariatric surgery for obesity treatment. Autopsy-derived small intestine fragments (n = 30) were obtained at every 20 cm along the entire intestinal length. Additionally, jejunum biopsies (n = 29) were obtained during elective gastric bypass interventions from patients with (n = 10) or without T2D (n = 18). NT-expressing cells were identified by immunohistochemistry and quantified via computerized morphometric analysis. NT-expressing cell density increased along the human small intestine. NT-expressing cell density was significantly higher from 200 cm distal to the duodenojejunal flexure onward, as well as in subjects with T2D when compared to those without T2D. NT-expressing cell density increases along the human small gut, and a higher density is found in individuals with T2D. This finding suggests a potential role for NT in the mechanisms of disease and T2D improvement observed after bariatric surgery. (c) 2023, The Author(s)

Supporting evidence-based decision-making: Capacity Building through Research

Lack of data inhibits informed decision-making and is a critical challenge in developing countries, many of which are under-resourced in financial, technical and institutional capacity to collect and analyse the required data. This limits the countries’ ability to achieve development goals and keeps them dependent on the provision of external resources. Development initiatives often treat capacity building and research as two separate tracks of development. While efforts have been made in the health sector to combine these through project-based learning, this approach is relatively unexplored in the water sector which by its inter-sectoral nature stands to benefit significantly from a more collaborative and solution-oriented development strategy. Capacity Building through Research (CBtR) facilitates data collection and analysis by local researchers, mentored by international experts, strengthening local capacity to produce credible evidence able to inform sustainability-related decision-making. Five case studies piloting CBtR are discussed here and evaluated through criteria of the Dutch Strategy Evaluation Protocol framework. CBtR is shown to be a long-term strategy that requires the strengthening of cross-disciplinary networks to enhance the capacity of water management institutions, which likely contributes to more efficient evidence collection and analysis suitable for decision-makers, leading to greater national resilience and reduced need for external support

Diabetic and Elder Patients Experience Superior Cardiovascular Benefits After Gastric Bypass Induced Weight Loss

Background/Objetives: Obesity and obesity related co-morbidities are well-recognized risks for cardiovascular (CV) disease and mortality. Weight loss improves CV risk factors and the efficacy of bariatric surgery in decreasing CV mortality is now well-established. Our aim was to assess CV risk progression and occurrence of CV events in a cohort of patients that underwent Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) for obesity treatment in a single academic public center.Subjects and Methods: Ten year CV risk was estimated using the Framingham Equation at baseline and 2 years after RYGB surgery in our patients cohort (n = 260). In the subgroup with a follow-up time longer than 4 years after surgery (n = 185; mean 5.4 ± 0.1 years), CV risk adjusted for the time length after RYGB was similarly estimated and the occurrence of CV events for outcome adjudication was monitored during the same time period by reviewing the hospital patients' record, the electronic national health system patient register and our center outpatient clinic records.Results: Ten year CV risk was significantly reduced 2 years after surgery when compared to baseline, with reductions of 1.65 ± 0.25% in the risk of CV disease. Patients with prior type 2 diabetes and aged 50 years or older experienced a significantly superior CV risk reduction, with diabetic patients experiencing a reduction of their 10–year CV disease risk of 3.58 ± 1.11% vs. a reduction of 1.31 ± 0.20% in non-diabetic patients and with the 10–year risk of CV disease dropping 3.41 ± 0.75% in patients older than 50 vs. a reduction of 0.99 ± 0.18 in patients up to 50 years. For the subgroup of patients with a longer follow-up time, baseline CV risk estimation predicted the occurrence of 6.08 ± 0.56 cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, 3.87 ± 0.39 coronary heart disease (CHD) events, 1.49 ± 0.22 myocardial infarctions (MI), 0.71 ± 0.09 strokes, 0. 28 ± 0.05 deaths from CHD and 0.35 ± 0.05 deaths from CVD. No CV events were adjudicated in this subgroup during follow-up.Conclusions: RYGB significantly improves CV risk and prevents the occurrence of CV events. For similar weight loss, diabetic and elder patients experience a superior CV risk improvement and may have additional CV benefits after bariatric surgery

Caracterização estrutural da lignina da parede celular de Euterpe oleracea

This paper aimed to characterize the lignin in the cell wall of Euterpe oleracea Mart. Samples from two regions of the base of the palm were acquired: outer and inner regions (OR and IR, respectively). The extraction with organic solvents and the treatment with 1% NaOH were carried out. Holocellulose, α-cellulose and lignin content were quantified, the latter also isolated by the Björkman method for the structural characterization using 1H and 13C NMR in the liquid state, as well as spectroscopic (FTIR) and chromatographic analysis. The extracted stem had 10.33% (OR) and 15.66% (IR) of the lignin. After the treatment with 1% NaOH, a reduction in these values was observed, and it was also possible to confirm this result through the decrease in the intensities of the signals referring to the functional groups linked to lignin and hemicellulose. The spectroscopic and chromatographic analyzes revealed GS-type lignin incorporated with p-hydroxybenzoic and protocatechuic acid in both samples. The main structural units present in the lignin were also observed, such as β-O-4 bond, β-O-4’ ϒ-acetyl bond, guaiacyl unit, syringyl unit and p-hydroxybenzoate.Este trabalho teve como objetivo caracterizar a lignina na parede celular de Euterpe oleracea Mart. Foram adquiridas amostras de duas regiões da base da palmeira: região externa e região interna (OR e IR, respectivamente). A extração com solventes orgânicos e o tratamento com NaOH 1% foram realizados. O conteúdo de holocelulose, α-celulose e lignina foi quantificado, esta última também isolada pelo método de Björkman para a caracterização estrutural utilizando RMN de 1H e 13C no estado líquido, assim como análises espectroscópicas (FTIR) e cromatográficas. O caule extraído apresentou 10,33% (OR) e 15,66% (IR) de lignina. Após tratamento com NaOH 1%, observou-se uma redução desses valores, e foi possível confirmar esse resultado também através da diminuição nas intensidades dos sinais referentes aos grupos funcionais ligados à lignina e hemicelulose. As análises espectroscópicas e cromatográficas revelaram lignina do tipo GS incorporada com ácido p-hidroxibenzoico e protocatecuico em ambas as amostras. Também foram observadas as principais unidades estruturais presentes na lignina como ligação β-O-4, β-O-4’ ϒ-acetiladas, spiro-dienona, unidade guaiacila, unidade siringila e p-hidroxibenzoato

Relação entre composição corporal, força dos membros inferiores e um teste técnico específico no futebol de formação

El fútbol es uno de los deportes más populares a nivel mundial y comúnmente, conocido como el deporte rey a nivel europeo. Ha evolucionado a lo largo de los años y la exigencia sobre los jugadores es cada vez mayor, al nivel, por ejemplo, del proceso de entrenamiento y del número de partidos a disputar por temporada deportiva. El fútbol se caracteriza por acciones motoras intermitentes de corta duración y alta intensidad, alternadas con períodos de acciones motoras de mayor duración y menor intensidad (Anastasiadis et al., 2007). Se observó en el pasado que a lo largo del juego se realizan aproximadamente 50 cambios de dirección, que, a su vez, exigen contracciones musculares vigorosas para el mantenimiento del equilibrio y control del balón (Withers, 1982). Objetivo: Determinar la relación entre composición corporal, fuerza de los miembros inferiores y una prueba técnica específica (TTE) en el fútbol.Football is one of the most popular sports in the world and is commonly known as the king of sports at European level. It has evolved over the years and the demand on players is increasing, at the level, for example, of the training process and the number of matches to be played per sport season. Football is characterized by intermittent motor actions of short duration and high intensity, alternating with periods of motor actions of longer duration and less intensity (Anastasiadis et al., 2007). It was observed in the past that throughout the game about 50 changes of direction are made, which, in turn, require vigorous muscle contractions for the maintenance of balance and control of the ball (Withers, 1982). Objective: Determine the relationship between body composition, strength of the lower limbs and a specific technical test (STT) in football.O futebol é um dos desportos mais populares a nível mundial e de forma comum apontado como o Desporto Rei a nível europeu. Tem evoluído ao longo dos anos e a exigência sobre os jogadores é cada vez maior ao nível por exemplo do processo de treino e número de jogos a disputar por época desportiva. O futebol é caracterizado por ações motoras intermitentes de curta duração e alta intensidade, alternadas com períodos de ações motoras de maior duração e menor intensidade (Anastasiadis et al., 2007). Foi observado no passado que ao longo do jogo são realizadas aproximadamente 50 mudanças de direção, que, por sua vez, exigem contrações musculares vigorosas para a manutenção do equilíbrio e controle da bola (Withers, 1982). Objetivo: Determinar a relação entre composição corporal, força dos membros inferiores e um teste técnico específico (TTE) no futebol.peerReviewe

Integrating multi-taxon palaeogenomes and sedimentary ancient DNA to study past ecosystem dynamics

Ancient DNA (aDNA) has played a major role in our understanding of the past. Important advances in the sequencing and analysis of aDNA from a range of organisms have enabled a detailed understanding of processes such as past demography, introgression, domestication, adaptation and speciation. However, to date and with the notable exception of microbiomes and sediments, most aDNA studies have focused on single taxa or taxonomic groups, making the study of changes at the community level challenging. This is rather surprising because current sequencing and analytical approaches allow us to obtain and analyse aDNA from multiple source materials. When combined, these data can enable the simultaneous study of multiple taxa through space and time, and could thus provide a more comprehensive understanding of ecosystem-wide changes. It is therefore timely to develop an integrative approach to aDNA studies by combining data from multiple taxa and substrates. In this review, we discuss the various applications, associated challenges and future prospects of such an approach

Monte da Revelada 2 – Preliminary results

A construção da nova fábrica de papel Tissue, da empresa Paper Prime, S.A., em Vila Velha de Ródão, levou à identificação e escavação do sítio arqueológico Revelada 2. O sítio foi escavado até ao substrato geológico numa área superior a 170m2, tendo-se individualizado dezenas de unidades estratigráficas. Do espólio arqueológico recolhido constam mais de 40000 artefactos entre indústria lítica, termoclastos e cerâmica pré-histórica, parte dele aparentemente associado a possíveis estruturas de combustão e buracos de poste. A seriação preliminar do acervo permite apontar para a presença de uma sequência de ocupações pré-históricas constituída por, pelo menos, Neolítico, Epipaleolítico e Paleolítico Médio. Porém, diversos fenómenos de formação de sítio, nomeadamente dinâmicas de vertente e agricultura, afectaram de forma assimétrica diversos contextos em área, profundidade ou intensidade. Neste artigo pretende-se fazer a apresentação de Revelada 2, dos trabalhos, metodologias, resultados e da sua interpretação preliminar, deixando em aberto a revisão da mesma em trabalhos futuros.The construction of the new paper factory Tissue from Paper Prime, S.A. Company, at Vila Velha de Ródão, led to the identification and excavation of the archaeological site Revelada 2. The site was excavated down to its geological base, comprising over 170m2, with the identification of dozens of stratigraphic units. The archaeological assemblage encompasses over 40,000 artifacts, between lithics, firecracks and Prehistoric pottery, some of them apparently associated with possible hearths and postholes. The preliminary seriation of the assemblage allowed to point for the presence of a sequence of prehistoric occupations with, at least, Neolithic, Epipaleolithic and Middle Paleolithic. However, some site formation processes, namely slope dynamics and agriculture, affected, in an asymmetric fashion, various contexts in area, deepness or intensity. In this article we aim to present Revelada 2, the work, methods, results and preliminary interpretation, leaving open the revision of the last in future works.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio