421 research outputs found
Influence of Particle Size on the Properties of Pt–Ru∕C Catalysts Prepared by a Microemulsion Method
Ultra-processed foods and type-2 diabetes risk in the sun project: A prospective cohort study
The association between ultra-processed foods (UPF) consumption and the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) has not been much explored. We aimed to evaluate the association between consumption of UPF and the incidence of T2D
Two New Candidate Planets in Eccentric Orbits
Doppler measurements of two G-type main-sequence stars, HD210277 and
HD168443, reveal Keplerian variations that imply the presence of companions
with masses (M sin i) of 1.28 and 5.04 M_Jup and orbital periods of 437 d and
58 d, respectively. The orbits have large eccentricities of e=0.45 and e=0.54,
respectively. All 9 known extrasolar planet candidates with a=0.2-2.5 AU have
orbital eccentricities greater than 0.1, higher than that of Jupiter (e=0.05).
Eccentric orbits may result from gravitational perturbations imposed by other
orbiting planets or stars, by passing stars in the dense star-forming cluster,
or by the protoplanetary disk. Based on published studies and our near-IR
adaptive optics images, HD210277 appears to be a single star. However, HD168443
exhibits a long-term velocity trend consistent with a close stellar companion,
as yet undetected directly.Comment: AASTeX, 31 pages including 10 Postscript figures, to appear in the
Astrophysical Journal (July 1999
LFI 30 and 44 GHz receivers Back-End Modules
The 30 and 44 GHz Back End Modules (BEM) for the Planck Low Frequency
Instrument are broadband receivers (20% relative bandwidth) working at room
temperature. The signals coming from the Front End Module are amplified, band
pass filtered and finally converted to DC by a detector diode. Each receiver
has two identical branches following the differential scheme of the Planck
radiometers. The BEM design is based on MMIC Low Noise Amplifiers using GaAs
P-HEMT devices, microstrip filters and Schottky diode detectors. Their
manufacturing development has included elegant breadboard prototypes and
finally qualification and flight model units. Electrical, mechanical and
environmental tests were carried out for the characterization and verification
of the manufactured BEMs. A description of the 30 and 44 GHz Back End Modules
of Planck-LFI radiometers is given, with details of the tests done to determine
their electrical and environmental performances. The electrical performances of
the 30 and 44 GHz Back End Modules: frequency response, effective bandwidth,
equivalent noise temperature, 1/f noise and linearity are presented
Egg consumption and dyslipidemia in a Mediterranean cohort
Introduction and objectives: Our aim was to prospectively evaluate the association between egg consumption and dyslipidemia in a Mediterranean cohort.
Methods: We followed-up 13,104 Spanish university graduates for a mean period of 8 years. Dietary habits at baseline were assessed using
a validated semi-quantitative 136-item food-frequency questionnaire. Self-reported blood concentrations of total cholesterol, high-density lipoproteins cholesterol (HDL-c) and triglycerides were evaluated according to categories of egg consumption after 6 and 8 years of follow-up. We
also assessed the association between baseline egg consumption and the incidence of hypercholesterolemia, low HDL-c concentrations and
hypertriglyceridemia during follow-up.
Results: We observed a significant inverse association for intermediate levels of egg consumption (2 to 4 eggs/week vs. less than 1 egg/week)
and hypertriglyceridemia with OR = 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.54 to 0.93, p < 0.05) in the multivariable-adjusted model. Using HDL-c
values after 8-year follow-up, we found an association between higher egg consumption and lower HDL-c levels (p for trend = 0.02) with an
adjusted difference of –4.01 mg/dl (-7.42 to -0.61) for > 4 vs. < 1 egg/week. Lower means of triglycerides were found in each of the three
upper categories of egg consumption compared to the lowest category (< 1 egg/week) with significant results for some of these categories both
after 6 and 8 year follow-up.
Conclusions: Our data do not support that higher egg consumption was associated with abnormal blood levels of total cholesterol or triglycerides;
an inverse association with HDL-c as a quantitative variable was found only in one of our analyses.Introducción y objetivos: evaluar prospectivamente la asociación entre el consumo de huevo y el riesgo de dislipidemia en una cohorte
mediterránea.
Métodos: se siguieron 13.104 graduados universitarios españoles durante un periodo medio de 8 años. La dieta se evaluó al inicio utilizando
un cuestionario semicuantitativo de frecuencia de consumo de alimentos repetidamente validado. Las concentraciones sanguíneas de colesterol
total, lipoproteínas de alta densidad (HDL-c) y triglicéridos autorreferidas fueron evaluadas según categorías de consumo de huevo tras 6 y 8
años de seguimiento. También se evaluó la asociación entre el consumo basal de huevo y la incidencia de hipercolesterolemia, concentraciones
bajas de HDL-c e hipertrigliceridemia durante el seguimiento.
Resultados: se observó una asociación entre los niveles intermedios de consumo de huevo (2-4 unidades/semana frente a < 1 unidad/semana)
y menor riesgo de hipertrigliceridemia con OR = 0,71 (intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC]: 0,54 a 0,93, p < 0,05) en el modelo más ajustado.
Tras 8 años de seguimiento, encontramos una asociación entre un mayor consumo de huevo y menores niveles de HDL-c (p tendencia lineal =
0,02) con una diferencia ajustada de -4,01 mg/dl (-7,42 a -0,61) para > 4 vs. < 1 unidad/semana. Se encontraron menores concentraciones
de triglicéridos en las tres categorías superiores de consumo de huevo en comparación con la inferior con resultados significativos para algunas
de estas categorías después de 6 y 8 años de seguimiento.
Conclusiones: un mayor consumo de huevo no se asoció con niveles anormales de colesterol total o triglicéridos; se encontró una asociación
inversa con HDL-c como variable cuantitativa solo en uno de nuestros análisis
Solar-Simulated Ultraviolet Radiation Induces Abnormal Maturation and Defective Chemotaxis of Dendritic Cells
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light induces immunosuppression. Different evidences indicate that this phenomenon is mainly a consequence of the effect of UV light on skin dendritic cells (DC). To investigate the cellular and molecular basis of this type of immunosuppression, we assessed in vitro the effect of solar-simulated UV radiation on the phenotypic and functional characteristics of human monocyte-derived DC and Langerhans-like DC. UV radiation induced a decreased expression of molecules involved in antigen capture as DC-SIGN and the mannose receptor. This effect was accompanied by a diminished endocytic capacity, an enhanced expression of molecules involved in antigen presentation such as major histocompatibility complex-II and CD86, and a significant increase in their capability to stimulate T cells. Furthermore, irradiated DC failed to acquire a full mature phenotype upon treatment with lipopolysaccharide. On the other hand, solar-simulated radiation induced the secretion of tumor necrosis factor-αand interleukin (IL)-10 by DC, but no IL-12. Interestingly, solar-simulated UV radiation also caused an altered migratory phenotype, with an increased expression of CXCR4, and a lack of induction of CCR7, thus correlating with a high chemotactic response to stromal cell-derived factor 1(SDF-1) (CXCL12), but not to secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (SLC) (CCL21). These data indicate that solar-simulated UV radiation induces a defective maturation and an anomalous migratory phenotype of DC
Frecuencia de comidas fuera de casa y calidad de hidratos de carbono y de grasas en el proyecto SUN
Objetivo: Investigar la asociación entre la frecuencia
de comidas fuera de casa (CFC) con a) la calidad de hidratos
de carbono y b) la calidad de grasas.
Materiales y métodos: Se evaluaron 19.371 participantes
de la cohorte SUN que completaron un cuestionario
basal de frecuencia de consumo de alimentos previamente
validado. Se utilizaron los índices de calidad de
hidratos de carbono (ICHC) en una escala de 4 a 20 y
de grasas (ICG) en una escala de 0,62 a 5,92. En ambos
casos, a mayor puntuación mayor calidad. Se utilizó la
regresión lineal múltiple para determinar la asociación
entre la frecuencia de CFC (4 categorías) y la puntuación
de ambos índices, y la regresión logística para medir la
asociación entre la frecuencia de CFC y un bajo ICHC o
ICG (<percentil 25).
Resultados: Los participantes mostraron una media
de ICHC e ICG de 11,3 (DE 3,2) y 1,7 (DE 0,5), respectivamente.
Una mayor frecuencia de CFC (≥ 2 veces / semana)
se asoció con un menor ICHC (ß: -0,29, IC 95%:
-0,41 a -0,17, p <0,001), y con un menor ICG (ß: -0,02,
IC 95%: -0,03 a -0,001, p <0,03). Los participantes con
CFC ≥ 2 veces/semana tuvieron mayor riesgo de peor
ICHC (OR: 1,31, IC 95%: 1,17-1,46, p <0,001), pero no
de peor ICG (OR: 0,93 IC 95%: 0,83-1,03, p 0,194).
Conclusiones: Hacer con mayor frecuencia CFC se
asoció con una peor calidad de grasas en la dieta y especialmente
con peor calidad de hidratos de carbono. Estos
resultados destacan la importancia de la educación nutricional
dirigida a los consumidores de CFC.Objective: To investigate the association between eating-
away-from-home (EAFH) and a) the quality of dietary
carbohydrate intake and b) the quality of fat intake.
Material and methods: We assessed 19,371 participants
in the SUN cohort who completed a validated baseline
food frequency questionnaire. Quality indices of
carbohydrate (CQI) and fat (FQI) were used. Multiple
regression models were fitted to determine the association
between the frequency of EAFH (4 categories) and
both indices. Logistic regression analysis was used to assess
the association between the frequency of EAFH and
low CQI or FQI (<25th percentile).
Results: Participants showed an average CQI and FQI
of 11,3 (SD 3,2) and 1,7 (SD 0,5), respectively. A higher
frequency of EAFH (≥ 2 times/week) was associated with
a poorer CQI and a poorer FQI. For CQI, the adjusted
mean difference was -0,29, 95%CI: -0,41, -0,17 (p for
trend <0,001), and for FQI it was -0,02, 95%CI: -0,03,
-0,001 (p for trend 0,03). Participants with a highest frequency
(≥ 2 times/week) of EAFH had higher adjusted
risk of a poorer CQI, (adjusted OR 1,31, 95%CI 1,17,
1,46, p for trend <0,001), but this habit (EAFH) was unrelated
to FQI (adjusted OR 0,93, 95%CI: 0,83, 1,03, p
for trend 0,194).
Key findings: A higher frequency of EAFH was associated
with a poorer quality of dietary fat, and particularly,
dietary carbohohydrate. These findings highlight
the importance of nutritional education addressed to
consumers who frequently do out-of-home meals
Fruit and vegetable consumption is inversely associated with blood pressure in a Mediterranean population with a high vegetable-fat intake: the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) Study
There is evidence that a diet rich in fruit and vegetables reduces blood pressure (BP). Characteristically, the Mediterranean diet is rich in plant-derived foods and also in fat, but studies conducted in Mediterranean countries to relate diet to BP are scarce. We studied the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and BP in a cross-sectional analysis of 4393 participants in the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) Study, an ongoing dynamic cohort study in Spain. Diet was measured using a food-frequency questionnaire previously
validated in Spain. Fat represented more than 37% total energy intake. Subjects were considered to have undiagnosed hypertension if they reported systolic BP 90 mmHg, and not a medical diagnosis of hypertension. The adjusted prevalence odds ratio of undiagnosed hypertension (upper v. lowest quintile) was 0·58 (95% CI 0·36, 0·91; P for trend 0·01) for vegetable consumption and 0·68 (95% CI 0·43, 1·09; P for trend 0·10) for fruit consumption. Comparing those in the highest quintile of both fruit and vegetable consumption with those in the lowest quintile of both food groups, the prevalence odds ratio was 0·23 (95% CI 0·10, 0·55; P¼0·001), after adjusting for risk factors for hypertension and other dietary exposures. In a Mediterranean population with an elevated fat consumption, a high fruit and vegetable intake is inversely associated with BP levels
Pranlukast Antagonizes CD49f and Reduces Sternness in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Introduction: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) drive the initiation, maintenance, and therapy response of breast tumors. CD49f is expressed in breast CSCs and functions in the maintenance of stemness. Thus, blockade of CD49f is a potential therapeutic approach for targeting breast CSCs. In the present study, we aimed to repurpose drugs as CD49f antagonists. Materials and Methods: We performed consensus molecular docking using a subdomain of CD49f that is critical for heterodimerization and a collection of pharmochemicals clini-cally tested. Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to further characterize drug-target binding. Using MDA-MB-231 cells, we evaluated the effects of potential CD49f antagonists on 1) cell adhesion to laminin; 2) mammosphere formation; and 3) cell viability. We analyzed the effects of the drug with better CSC-selectivity on the activation of CD49f-downstream signaling by Western blot (WB) and co-immunoprecipitation. Expressions of the stem cell markers CD44 and SOX2 were analyzed by flow cytometry and WB, respectively. Transactivation of SOX2 promoter was evaluated by luciferase reporter assays. Changes in the number of CSCs were assessed by limiting-dilution xenotransplantation. Results: Pranlukast, a drug used to treat asthma, bound to CD49f in silico and inhibited the adhesion of CD49f+ MDA-MB-231 cells to laminin, indicating that it antagonizes CD49f-containing integrins. Molecular dynamics analysis showed that pranlukast binding induces con-formational changes in CD49f that affect its interaction with β1-integrin subunit and constrained the conformational dynamics of the heterodimer. Pranlukast decreased the clonogenicity of breast cancer cells on mammosphere formation assay but had no impact on the viability of bulk tumor cells. Brief exposure of MDA-MB-231 cells to pranlukast altered CD49f-dependent signaling, reducing focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) activation. Further, pranlukast-treated cells showed decreased CD44 and SOX2 expression, SOX2 promoter transacti-vation, and in vivo tumorigenicity, supporting that this drug reduces the frequency of CSC. Conclusion: Our results support the function of pranlukast as a CD49f antagonist that reduces the CSC population in triple-negative breast cancer cells. The pharmacokinetics and toxicology of this drug have already been established, rendering a potential adjuvant therapy for breast cancer patients
Glycemic load, glycemic index, bread and incidence of overweight/obesity in a mediterranean cohort: the SUN project
Background
To evaluate prospectively the relationship between white, or whole grain bread, and glycemic
index, or glycemic load from diet and weight change in a Mediterranean cohort.
Methods
We followed-up 9 267 Spanish university graduates for a mean period of 5 years. Dietary
habits at baseline were assessed using a semi-quantitative 136-item food-frequency
questionnaire. Average yearly weight change was evaluated according to quintiles of baseline
glycemic index, glycemic load, and categories of bread consumption. We also assessed the
association between bread consumption, glycemic index, or glycemic load, and the incidence
of overweight/obesity.
Results
White bread and whole-grain bread were not associated with higher weight gain. No
association between glycemic index, glycemic load and weight change was found.
White bread consumption was directly associated with a higher risk of becoming
overweight/obese (adjusted OR (≥2 portions /day) versus (≤1 portion /week): 1.40; 95% CI:
1.08-1.81; p for trend: 0.008). However, no statistically significant association was observed
between whole-grain bread, glycemic index or glycemic load and overweight/obesity.
Conclusions
Consumption of white bread (≥2 portions /day) showed a significant direct association with
the risk of becoming overweight/obese
- …