Authentication and quantitation of frauds in extra virgin olive oils based on HPLC-UV fingerprinting and multiariate calibration

HPLC-UV fingerprinting, obtained on a Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C8 reversed-phase column under gradient elution employing 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution and methanol as mobile phase, was applied to the analysis and characterization of olive oils. More than 130 edible oils, including monovarietal extra-virgin olive oils (EVOOs) and other vegetable oils, were analyzed. Principal component analysis results showed a noticeable discrimination between olive oils and other vegetable oils from raw HPLC-UV chromatographic profiles as data descriptors. In contrast, selected HPLC-UV chromatographic time-window segments were necessary to achieve discrimination among monovarietal EVOOs. Partial least square (PLS) regression was employed to tackle olive oil authentication of an Arbequina EVOO adulterated with a Picual EVOO, a refined olive oil, and a sunflower oil. Highly satisfactory results were obtained after PLS analysis, with overall errors in the quantitation of adulterations of an Arbequina EVOO (down to 2.5% adulterant) below 2.9%

HPLC-UV polyphenolic profiles in the classification of olive oils and other vegetable oils by principal component analysis

HPLC-UV was applied to the analysis and characterization of olive oils and other vegetable oils. A chromatographic separation on a Zorbax Eclipse XDB-C8 reversed-phase column was proposed under gradient elution, employing 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution and methanol as mobile phase, for the determination of 14 polyphenols and phenolic acids, allowing to obtain compositional profiles in less than 20 min. Acceptable sensitivity (LOD values down to 80 µg/L in the best of cases), linearity (r2 higher than 0.986), good run-to-run and day-to-day precisions (RSD values lower than 11.5%), and method trueness (relative errors lower than 6.8%) were obtained. The proposed HPLC-UV method was then applied to the analysis of 72 oil samples (47 olive oils and 27 vegetable oils including sunflower, soy, corn, and mixtures of them). Analytes were recovered by liquid-liquid extraction method employing ethanol:water 70:30 (v/v) solution and hexane as extracting and defatting solvents, respectively. HPLC-UV polyphenolic profiles using peak areas were then analysed by principal component analysis (PCA) to extract information of the most significant data contributing to the characterization and classification of olive oils against other vegetable oils, as well as among Arbequina and Picual olive oil varieties. PCA results showed a noticeable separation among olive oils and the other classes. Besides, a reasonable discrimination of olive oils as a function of fruit varieties was also encountered

Does whole-blood neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin stratify acute kidney injury in critically ill patients?

Purpose. To analyse the capacity of whole-blood NGAL (wbNGAL) to stratify AKI in critically ill patients with and without sepsis. Methods. Whole-blood NGAL was measured with a point-of-care device at admission and 48 hours later in patients admitted to a general ICU. Patients were classified by the AKIN and KDIGO classifications at admission and 24 and 48 hours. We performed an ROC curve analysis. wbNGAL values at admission were compared in patients with sepsis and septic shock. Results. The study included 100 consecutively admitted patients (40 female) with mean age 59 1 ± 17 8 years. Thirty-three patients presented AKI at admission, and 10 more developed it in the next 48 h. Eighteen patients had AKI stage 3, 14 of them at admission. Nine patients required renal replacement therapy. According to KDIGO at admission, wbNGAL values were 78 μg/L (60-187) in stage 0 (n = 67), 263 μg/L (89-314) in stage 1 (n = 8), 484 μg/L (333-708) in stage 2 (n = 11), and 623 μg/L (231-911) in stage 3 (n = 14), p = 0 0001 for trend. Ten patients did not complete 48 hours of study: 6 of 10 were discharged (initial wbNGAL 130 μg/L (60- 514)) and 4 died (773 μg/L (311-1010)). The AUROC curve of wbNGAL to predict AKI was 0.838 (95% confidence interval 0.76-0.92, p = 0 0001), with optimal cut-off value of 178 μg/L (sensitivity 76.7%, specificity 78.9%, p < 0 0001). At admission, twenty-nine patients had sepsis, of whom 20 were in septic shock. wbNGAL concentrations were 81 μg/L (60-187) in patients without sepsis, 481 (247-687) in those with sepsis, and 623.5 μg/L (361-798) in the subgroup of septic shock (p < 0 0001). Conclusions. Whole-blood NGAL concentration at ICU admission was a good stratifier of AKI in critically ill patients. However, wbNGAL concentrations were higher in septic patients irrespective of AKI occurrence

Llums i ombres de la novel·la adolescent: anàlisi del panorama actual a través d'entrevistes a escriptors, editors, adolescents i institucions

Anàlisi de la situació actual de la novel·la adolescent a Catalunya a través de deu entrevistes. S'estudia el món del llibre adolescent des de tres perspectives: a nivell cultural, a nivell econòmic i a nivell d'hàbits i consum. Els entrevistats són: Jordi Sierra i Fabra, Gemma Lienas, David Cirici, Laura Borràs, Anna Canyelles, Marià Marín, Marinella Terzi, Patrizia Campana, Berta Pladevall, Georgina Folguera, Àurea Rebull i Mònica Torrallardona.Análisis de la situación actual de la novela adolescente en Cataluña mediante diez entrevistas. Se estudia el mundo del libro adolescente desde tres perspectivas: a nivel cultural, a nivel económico y a nivel de hábitos y consumo. Los entrevistados son: Jordi Sierra i Fabra, Gemma Lienas, David Cirici, Laura Borràs, Anna Canyelles, Marià Marín, Marinella Terzi, Patrizia Campana, Berta Pladevall, Georgina Folguera, Àurea Rebull y Mònica Torrallardona.Analysis of the current situation of the teenage novel in Catalonia through ten interviews. The teenage book world is studied from three perspectives: at a cultural level, at an economic level and at a habits and consumption level. The interviewed ones are: Jordi Sierra i Fabra, Gemma Lienas, David Cirici, Laura Borràs, Anna Canyelles, Marià Marín, Marinella Terzi, Patrizia Campana, Berta Pladevall, Georgina Folguera, Àurea Rebull and Mònica Torrallardona

Longitudinal Neuroimaging Analysis in Mild-Moderate Alzheimer's Disease Patients Treated with Plasma Exchange with 5% Human Albumin

Altres ajuts: This study was funded by Grifols. [...] James T. Becker (Department of Psychiatry, Neurology and Psychology. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA, USA) read and commented on an earlier draft of the manuscript. Jordi Bozzo PhD, CMPP (Grifols) is acknowledged for medical writing and editorial assistance in the preparation of the manuscript.Recently, modifications of Aβ levels in CSF and plasma associated with improvement in memory and language functions have been observed in patients with mild-moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) treated with plasma exchange (PE) with albumin replacement. To detect structural and functional brain changes in PE-treated AD patients as part of a Phase II clinical trial. Patients received between 3 and 18 PE with albumin (Albutein ® 5%, Grifols) or sham-PE (controls) for 21 weeks (divided in one intensive and two maintenance periods) followed by 6-month follow-up. Brain perfusion assessed by SPECT scans using an automated software (NeuroGam ®) and brain structural changes assessed by MRI were performed at weeks 0 (baseline), 21, and 44 (with additional SPECT at weeks 9 and 33). Statistical parametric mapping (voxel-based analysis, SPM) and Z-scores calculations were applied to investigate changes to baseline. 42 patients were recruited (39 evaluable; 37 analyzed: 18 PE-treated; 19 controls). There was a trend toward decreasing hippocampi and total intracranial volume for both patient groups during the study (p < 0.05). After six months, PE-treated patients had less cerebral perfusion loss than controls in frontal, temporal, and parietal areas, and perfusion stabilization in Brodmann area BA38-R during the PE-treatment period (p < 0.05). SPM analysis showed stabilization or absence of progression of perfusion loss in PE-treated patients until week 21, not observed in controls. Mild-moderate AD patients showed decreased brain volume and impairment of brain perfusion as expected for the progression of the disease. PE-treatment with albumin replacement favored the stabilization of perfusion

Submergits: Un viatge terrestre per un somni sota el mar

Submergits: un viatge terrestre per un somni sota el mar és un projecte documental que se centra en la història de Pere Forès i Carme Parareda, una parella d'enginyers que decideixen portar a terme el seu major somni: construir un submarí científic, l'Ictineu 3. Inspirant-nos en l'essència d'una roadmovie, el documental s'articula a partir d'un viatge sobre rodes on els protagonistes reviuen davant les càmeres tot el procés de construcció de l'Ictineu 3.Sumergidos: un viaje terrestre por un sueño bajo el mar es un proyecto documental que se centra en la historia de Pere Forès y Carme Parareda, una pareja de ingenieros que deciden llevar a cabo su mayor sueño: construir un submarino científico, el Ictineu 3. Inspirándonos en la esencia de una roadmovie, el documental se articula a partir de un viaje sobre ruedas donde los protagonistas reviven ante las cámaras todo el proceso de la construcción del Ictineu 3.Submerged: a trip on land for a dream under the sea is a documentary project that focuses on the story of Pere Forès and Carme Parareda, a couple of engineers who decide to follow their greatest dream: to build a scientific submarine, the Ictineu 3. Inspired by the essence of a roadmovie, the documentary is guided through a journey on wheels where the protagonists reminisce on camera about the entire process of building Ictineu 3

Responding to the need of postgraduate education for Planetary Health : Development of an online Master's Degree

Unidad de excelencia María de Maeztu CEX2019-000940-MAltres ajuts: CERCA Programme/Generalitat de CatalunyaPlanetary Health has emerged as a new approach to respond to the existential risks that the clime and global environmental crises pose to human societies. As stated by various stakeholders, the challenges involved in Planetary Health are of such magnitude that education must be at the forefront to obtain a meaningful response. Universities and higher education institutions have been specifically called to embed the concept of planetary stewardship in all curricula and train the next generation of researchers and change makers as a matter of urgency. As a response to this call, the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC), the Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), and the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) developed the first online and asynchronous Master in Science (MSc) in Planetary Health. The aim of the programme is to train a new generation of academics and professionals who understand the challenges of Planetary Health and have tools to tackle them. This article describes the development of the curriculum of this MSc, presents the main characteristics of the programme and discusses some of the challenges encountered in the development of the programme and its implementation. The design of this MSc was based on: the alignment of the programme with the principles for Planetary Health education with a focus on human health; a multi-, inter-, and trans-disciplinary approach; the urgency to respond to the Anthropocene challenges; and the commitment to the 2030 Agenda. The MSc was recognized as an official degree by the Agency for Quality of the Catalan University System, included in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education, and the Spanish National Academic Coordination body in April 2021 and launched in October 2021. There are currently more than 50 students enrolled in the program coming from a broad range of disciplines and geographic locations. The information presented in this article and the discussion on challenges encountered in developing and implementing the programme can be useful for those working in the development of similar programs

Short- and Long-Term Prognosis of Patients With Takotsubo Syndrome Based on Different Triggers: Importance of the Physical Nature

Background Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute reversible heart condition initially believed to represent a benign pathology attributable to its self-limiting clinical course; however, little is known about its prognosis based on different triggers. This study compared short- and long-term outcomes between TTS based on different triggers, focusing on various physical triggering events. Methods and Results We analyzed patients with a definitive TTS diagnosis recruited for the Spanish National Registry on TTS (RETAKO [Registry on Takotsubo Syndrome]). Short- and long-term outcomes were compared between different groups according to triggering factors. A total of 939 patients were included. An emotional trigger was detected in 340 patients (36.2%), a physical trigger in 293 patients (31.2%), and none could be identified in 306 patients (32.6%). The main physical triggers observed were infections (30.7%), followed by surgical procedures (22.5%), physical activities (18.4%), episodes of severe hypoxia (18.4%), and neurological events (9.9%). TTS triggered by physical factors showed higher mortality in the short and long term, and within this group, patients whose physical trigger was hypoxia were those who had a worse prognosis, in addition to being triggered by physical factors, including age >70 years, diabetes mellitus, left ventricular eyection fraction <30% and shock on admission, and increased long-term mortality risk. Conclusions TTS triggered by physical factors could present a worse prognosis in terms of mortality. Under the TTS label, there could be as yet undiscovered very different clinical profiles, whose differentiation could lead to individual better management, and therefore the perception of TTS as having a benign prognosis should be generally ruled out

Plasma extracellular vesicles reveal early molecular differences in amyloid positive patients with early-onset mild cognitive impairment

In the clinical course of Alzheimer's disease (AD) development, the dementia phase is commonly preceded by a prodromal AD phase, which is mainly characterized by reaching the highest levels of Aβ and p-tau-mediated neuronal injury and a mild cognitive impairment (MCI) clinical status. Because of that, most AD cases are diagnosed when neuronal damage is already established and irreversible. Therefore, a differential diagnosis of MCI causes in these prodromal stages is one of the greatest challenges for clinicians. Blood biomarkers are emerging as desirable tools for pre-screening purposes, but the current results are still being analyzed and much more data is needed to be implemented in clinical practice. Because of that, plasma extracellular vesicles (pEVs) are gaining popularity as a new source of biomarkers for the early stages of AD development. To identify an exosome proteomics signature linked to prodromal AD, we performed a cross-sectional study in a cohort of early-onset MCI (EOMCI) patients in which 184 biomarkers were measured in pEVs, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and plasma samples using multiplex PEA technology of Olink© proteomics. The obtained results showed that proteins measured in pEVs from EOMCI patients with established amyloidosis correlated with CSF p-tau181 levels, brain ventricle volume changes, brain hyperintensities, and MMSE scores. In addition, the correlations of pEVs proteins with different parameters distinguished between EOMCI Aβ( +) and Aβ(-) patients, whereas the CSF or plasma proteome did not. In conclusion, our findings suggest that pEVs may be able to provide information regarding the initial amyloidotic changes of AD. Circulating exosomes may acquire a pathological protein signature of AD before raw plasma, becoming potential biomarkers for identifying subjects at the earliest stages of AD development

The Obemat2.0 Study: A Clinical Trial of a Motivational Intervention for Childhood Obesity Treatment.

The primary aim of the Obemat2.0 trial was to evaluate the efficacy of a multicomponent motivational program for the treatment of childhood obesity, coordinated between primary care and hospital specialized services, compared to the usual intervention performed in primary care. This was a cluster randomized clinical trial conducted in Spain, with two intervention arms: motivational intervention group vs. usual care group (as control), including 167 participants in each. The motivational intervention consisted of motivational interviewing, educational materials, use of an eHealth physical activity monitor and three group-based sessions. The primary outcome was body mass index (BMI) z score increments before and after the 12 (+3) months of intervention. Secondary outcomes (pre-post intervention) were: adherence to treatment, waist circumference (cm), fat mass index (z score), fat free mass index (z score), total body water (kg), bone mineral density (z score), blood lipids profile, glucose metabolism, and psychosocial problems. Other assessments (pre and post-intervention) were: sociodemographic information, physical activity, sedentary activity, neuropsychological testing, perception of body image, quality of the diet, food frequency consumption and foods available at home. The results of this clinical trial could open a window of opportunity to support professionals at the primary care to treat childhood obesity. The clinicaltrials.gov identifier was NCT02889406