Circulating Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Metabolites and Its Potential Role in Rheumatoid Arthritis Pathogenesis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that affects synovial joints, leading to inflammation, joint destruction, loss of function, and disability. Although recent pharmaceutical advances have improved the treatment of RA, patients often inquire about dietary interventions to improve RA symptoms, as they perceive pain and/or swelling after the consumption or avoidance of certain foods. There is evidence that some foods have pro- or anti-inflammatory effects mediated by diet-related metabolites. In addition, recent literature has shown a link between diet-related metabolites and microbiome changes, since the gut microbiome is involved in the metabolism of some dietary ingredients. But diet and the gut microbiome are not the only factors linked to circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory metabolites. Other factors including smoking, associated comorbidities, and therapeutic drugs might also modify the circulating metabolomic profile and play a role in RA pathogenesis. This article summarizes what is known about circulating pro- and anti-inflammatory metabolites in RA. It also emphasizes factors that might be involved in their circulating concentrations and diet-related metabolites with a beneficial effect in RA

Ecosystemic Services Linked to Water and Plant diversity of the San José de Chazo-Santa Fe de Galán Region

In the higher part of the Santa Fe de Galán parish, intensive agricultural activities are carried out that cause problems of erosion, disappearance of species of fauna and flora, decrease in water and deterioration of páramo areas due to the advance of the agricultural frontier. These activities present a threat to the sustainability of the San José de Chazo-Santa Fe de Galán region, due to the degradation of its natural resources that directly affect the vital development of 1200 families belonging to this region. The present investigation aims to study ecosystem services linked to water, as well as floristic diversity, for which data was collected and systematized from the Ciénega páramo in the San José de Chazo-Santa Fe de Galán region. According to the data collected on floristic diversity, 29 samples of terrestrial vascular plants were registered, corresponding to 18 families, 26 genera and 29 species; moss and lichen of unidentified family, genus and species were also collected. The highest index of importance value by species and family was presented by the moss with 20.39% and 18.17%, respectively. The average monthly flow during the February–May period observed through the volumetric method was 6.34 L/s. Keywords: capacity, flow, diversity, paramo, ecosystem services, sustainability. Resumen En la parte alta de la Parroquia Santa Fe de Galán se desarrollan actividades agropecuarias intensivas que provocan problemas de erosión, desaparición de especies de fauna y flora, disminución del agua y deterioro de áreas de páramo por el avance de la frontera agrícola. Estas actividades representan una amenaza para la sostenibilidad de la Regional San José de Chazo– Santa Fe de Galán, debido a la degradación de sus recursos naturales que inciden directamente en el desarrollo vital de 1200 familias pertenecientes a esta Regional. La presente investigación tiene como objetivo estudiar los servicios ecosistémicos ligados al agua y diversidad florística, cuyos datos fueron recolectados y sistematizados del páramo de la Ciénega en la Regional San José de Chazo–Santa Fe de Galán. De acuerdo con los resultados de diversidad florística se registró 29 muestras de plantas vasculares terrestres, correspondiente a 18 familias, 26 géneros y 29 especies, también se recolectó musgo y liquen de familia, género y especie no identificados. El mayor índice de valor de importancia por especie y familia lo presentó el musgo con 20,39% y 18,17%, respectivamente. El caudal promedio mensual durante el período febrero – mayo a través del método volumétrico fue de 6,34 L/s. Palabras clave: aforo, caudal, diversidad, páramo, servicios ecosistémicos, sostenibilidad

Context-aware mobile app for the multidimensional assessment of the elderly,

Rural areas in Europe are presenting a decreasing population density and an increasing age index. These elders usually present multiple diseases that require complex tools to identify the exact cares that they need. Currently, different frameworks can evaluate their functional status and identify the required cares to maintain their Quality of Life, together with the associated cost to the health system. Nevertheless, these frameworks are usually questionnaires that have to be performed by already overloaded professionals. In this paper, we make use of mobile technologies to build a system capable of monitoring the activities of the elderly and analysing these data to assess their functional status. The experiments carried out show us that it correctly evaluates these patients and reduces the effort required by health professionals

Relationships between algal food and gut and gonad conditions in the Mediterranean sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lam.)

A study was conducted on the population of Paracentrotus lividus (Lamarck, 1816) in a Mediterranean infralittoral bottomof southern of Spain to characterize the relationships between the macroalgal food ingested and the gut and gonad conditions of individuals. Over a full annual cycle (November 2008 to October 2009) composition of the gut content was analyzed monthly and seasonally, the gastrointestinal (GII), repletion (RI) and gonadosomatic (gonad) (GI) indices were calculated, and the stage of gonad maturity of the population was assessed. The GII and RI were found to be strongly correlated, so only the RI was considered in the subsequent analysis. The prevalence of Phaeophyceae and local species of this macroalgal group in the gut content of the sea urchins throughout the year suggests that in conditions of abundant resources, with high levels of algal diversity and no effective limits on supply, brown algae are the main component of the natural diet of P. lividus. Comparison of the physiologicalindices and the algal fractions of gut content identified relationships throughout the year between RI, the stage of gonad maturity and GI. Specifically, these indices were found to be associated with the abundance of Rhodophyta ingested, although in different ways: GI was related to the consumption of fleshy (non-calcified) red algae and the RI, though less statistically significantly, to the consumption of calcified (articulate and encrusting)

Trastornos psicológicos y de calidad de vida en pacientes de cáncer de pulmón

Psychosocial issues are a natural component of a cancer patient. The word cancer by itself brings a high level of uncertainty and fear, which generates high demands for the patient and his family. It has been established that 30-50% of patients with a cancer diagnosis have a significant degree of distress that requires treatment by professional staff. Approximately 174,470 newly diagnosed Lung cancer cases, and 164,460 deaths cause by this disease are expected in the year 2006. Lung cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer in the industrialized world. Lung cancer patients commonly experienced symptoms of distress and decrease in physical functioning related to the treatment and the disease itself. The impact of this phenomenon can be reflected in their emotional well being and their quality of life. Depression and Anxiety are the most frequent disorders present in these patients, unfortunately, very often, they are ignored and not treated. Patients that have difficulties adjusting to their new situation clearly represent a challenge to the treatment team. This article reviews the general psychosocial aspects of then lung cancer patient including aspects such as: symptoms distress, family distress, guilt and tobacco, quality of life and survivorship