Digestibility of (Poly)phenols and Antioxidant Activity in Raw and Cooked Cactus Cladodes (Opuntia ficus-indica)

This study aims to investigate whether heat treatment applied to cactus cladodes influences the bioaccessibility of their (poly)phenolic compounds after simulated gastric and intestinal digestion. A total of 45 (poly)phenols were identified and quantified in raw and cooked cactus cladodes by ultra high performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detector high resolution mass spectrometry. Both flavonoids (60-68% total), mainly isorhamnetin derivatives, and phenolic acids (32-40%) with eucomic acids as the predominant ones significantly ( p < 0.05) increased with microwaving and griddling processes. After in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, 55-64% of the total (poly)phenols of cooked cactus cladodes remained bioaccessible versus 44% in raw samples. Furthermore, digestive conditions and enzymes degraded or retained more flavonoids (37-63% bioaccessibility) than phenolic acids (56-87% bioaccessibility). Microwaved cactus cladodes contributed the highest amount of (poy)phenols (143.54 mg/g dm) after gastrointestinal process, followed by griddled samples (133.98 mg/g dm), showing the highest antioxidant capacity. Additionally, gastrointestinal digestion induced isomerizations among the three stereoisomeric forms of piscidic and eucomic acids

Identification and functional analysis of missense mutations in the lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase gene in a Chilean patient with hypoalphalipoproteinemia

Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) is a plasma enzyme that esterifies cholesterol in high- and low-density lipoproteins (HDL and LDL). Mutations in LCAT gene causes familial LCAT deficiency, which is characterized by very low plasma HDL-cholesterol levels (Hypoalphalipoproteinemia), corneal opacity and anemia, among other lipid-related traits. Our aim is to evaluate clinical/biochemical features of a Chilean family with a proband showing clinical signs of familial LCAT deficiency, as well as to identify and assess the functional effects of LCAT mutations. LCAT sequencing identified rare p.V333 M and p.M404 V missense mutations in compound heterozygous state in the proband, as well the common synonymous p.L363 L variant. LCAT protein was detected in proband’s plasma, but with undetectable enzyme activity compared to control relatives. HEK-293 T transfected cells with vector expression plasmids containing either p.M404 V or p.V333 M cDNA showed detectable LCAT protein expression both in supernatants and lysates from cultured cells, but with much lower enzyme activity compared to cells transfected with the wild-type sequence. Bioinformatic analyses also supported a causal role of such rare variations in LCAT lack of function. Additionally, the proband carried the minor allele of the synonymous p.L363 L variant. However, this variant is unlikely to affect the clinical phenotype of the proband given its relatively high frequency in the Chilean population (4%) and its small putative effect on plasma HDL-cholesterol levels. Conclusion: Genetic, biochemical, in vitro and in silico analyses indicate that the rare mutations p.M404 V and p. V333 M in LCAT gene lead to suppression of LCAT enzyme activity and cause clinical features of familial LCAT deficiency.This work was supported by Proyecto FONDECYT 1150416 and Proyecto Interdisciplina VRI-PUC II15024 from the Dirección de Investigación, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Genotyping of GOCS was performed in the in the Human Genotyping laboratory at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre, a member of CeGen (PRB2-ISCIII), and was supported by grant PT13/ 0001/0005 of PE I + D + i 2013-2016 funded by ISCIII and ERDF (Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional). This research was partially supported by the supercomputing infrastructure of the NLHPC (ECM-02). L.V. and C.B. were supported by VRI, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (Proyecto Investigación Interdisciplinaria VRI-PUC II15024). TG was supported by “Beca de Magíster Nacional” CONICYT. L.V. was additionally supported by FONDECYT postdoctoral grant 3170038. We express our gratitude to the proband and relatives

Articulación agroecológica: estrategias para la reconversión a escala territorial

Entre los principales argumentos que pretenden descalificar una agricultura sustentable están sus bajos rendimientos y elevados costos. Además, se argumenta una limitada aplicabilidad (solo a escala de pequeñas fincas). Esta polémica se halla presente en la Cuba actual, urgida de soluciones a corto plazo para la alimentación de toda su población. Por ello, se necesita disponer de estrategias y modelos de desarrollo que respondan a los requerimientos actuales, asumiendo el reto de diseñar una agricultura sostenible sobre bases agroecológicas, productiva y eficiente, aplicable a diferentes condiciones y escalas productivas. Este fue reto del proyecto “Articulación agroecológica; diseño de alternativas sostenibles para la seguridad alimentaria local” promovido por la Asociación Cubana de Técnicos Agrícolas y Forestales (ACTAF) y la ONG Holandesa HIVOS. Esta acción se viene ejecutando desde hace 4 años (2011-2015) en 5 municipios cubanos, con apoyo financiero de la Unión Europea, de la Colaboración Suiza para el Desarrollo (COSUDE) y del Ministerio de la Agricultura de Cuba (MINAG). Se partió de la hipótesis de que el desarrollo agrario sostenible sobre bases agroecológicas tiene que diseñarse y conducirse localmente (escala municipal). Para ello, se planteó como objetivo, “contribuir al incremento y la sostenibilidad de la seguridad alimentaria cubana, facilitando la adopción de alternativas de articulación agroecológica en las estrategias de desarrollo agrario municipal”. Para el logro de este objetivo se planteó la necesidad de crear y fortalecer capacidades locales de desarrollo agrario, a partir de instituciones existentes y en coherencia con los programas oficiales de la agricultura local y los intereses y necesidades sentidas de los agricultores. Se trabajó desde un Equipo de Proyecto apoyado por un Equipo Técnico conformado por especialistas de diferentes entidades científicas y docentes nacionales. A nivel local se conformaron Equipos de Articulación Local (EAL) con integrantes designados por cada municipio. Estos EAL constituyeron el principal ente implementador del proyecto y se concibieron como el germen inicial de lo que debía ser el Equipo Municipal de Desarrollo Agrario de cada territorio. Alrededor de estos EAL se articularon las principales instituciones locales vinculadas a la agricultura y se seleccionó una cooperativa para demostrar la pertinencia de la reconversión agroecológica a escala superior a la pequeña finca. Se pudo comprobar que lograr el involucramiento de decisores importantes de la localidad es del todo imprescindible para un proceso de reconversión agroecológica a escala territorial, pues este debe ser visto como contribuyente al logro de los objetivos de las instituciones locales para la seguridad alimentaria de la población y minimizar la dependencia externa al territorio para el desarrollo de toda la cadena productiva. Disponer de servicios técnicos locales que puedan contribuir con insumos alternativos, asesoría y capacitación, aporta a la reconversión capacidad de contextualización de conocimientos y tradiciones campesinas y establece puentes con instituciones científicas especializadas para su complementación con los avances de la ciencia y la técnica.Eje: B2 Paisajes, territorios y agroecología (Relatos de experiencias)Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Influence of heat treatment on antioxidant capacity and (poly)phenolic compounds of selected vegetables

The impact of cooking heat treatments (frying in olive oil, frying in sunflower oil and griddled) on the antioxidant capacity and (poly)phenolic compounds of onion, green pepper and cardoon, was evaluated. The main compounds were quercetin and isorhamnetin derivates in onion, quercetin and luteolin derivates in green pepper samples, and chlorogenic acids in cardoon. All heat treatments tended to increase the concentration of phenolic compounds in vegetables suggesting a thermal destruction of cell walls and sub cellular compartments during the cooking process that favor the release of these compounds. This increase, specially that observed for chlorogenic acids, was significantly correlated with an increase in the antioxidant capacity measured by DPPH (r=0.70). Griddled vegetables, because of the higher temperature applied during treatment in comparison with frying processes, showed the highest amounts of phenolic compounds with increments of 57.35%, 25.55% and 203.06% compared to raw onion, pepper and cardoon, respectively

Analysis of gender equality competence present in cultural positions

Articulating the gender dimension in organizations is not easy because their members have to be trained to adopt positions that facilitate the implementation of solutions that help to combat inequalities. The aim of this article was to identify the gender equality competence present in the three types of cultural positions Castells proposed in members of a City Council in Sevilla-Spain, who wanted to implement gender mainstreaming. The participants were 27 people (16 women and 11 men). The method used was discourse analysis. The obtained results show that, while all competences were present in the project position, in the resistance position, there was none. In the legitimizers, we observed inconsistency in the discourse presented. This arouses considerations on the importance of knowing the gender equality competences in order to implement gender mainstreaming in organization

Ancient DNA from Hunter-Gatherer and Farmer Groups from Northern Spain Supports a Random Dispersion Model for the Neolithic Expansion into Europe

Background/Principal Findings: The phenomenon of Neolithisation refers to the transition of prehistoric populations from a hunter-gatherer to an agro-pastoralist lifestyle. Traditionally, the spread of an agro-pastoralist economy into Europe has been framed within a dichotomy based either on an acculturation phenomenon or on a demic diffusion. However, the nature and speed of this transition is a matter of continuing scientific debate in archaeology, anthropology, and human population genetics. In the present study, we have analyzed the mitochondrial DNA diversity in hunter-gatherers and first farmers from Northern Spain, in relation to the debate surrounding the phenomenon of Neolithisation in Europe. Methodology/Significance: Analysis of mitochondrial DNA was carried out on 54 individuals from Upper Paleolithic and Early Neolithic, which were recovered from nine archaeological sites from Northern Spain (Basque Country, Navarre and Cantabria). In addition, to take all necessary precautions to avoid contamination, different authentication criteria were applied in this study, including: DNA quantification, cloning, duplication (51 % of the samples) and replication of the results (43 % of the samples) by two independent laboratories. Statistical and multivariate analyses of the mitochondrial variability suggest that the genetic influence of Neolithisation did not spread uniformly throughout Europe, producing heterogeneous genetic consequences in different geographical regions, rejecting the traditional models that explain the Neolithisation in Europe

Digestibility of (Poly)phenols and Antioxidant Activity in Raw and Cooked Cactus Cladodes (Opuntia ficus-indica)

This study aims to investigate whether heat treatment applied to cactus cladodes influences the bioaccessibility of their (poly)phenolic compounds after simulated gastric and intestinal digestion. A total of 45 (poly)phenols were identified and quantified in raw and cooked cactus cladodes by ultra high performance liquid chromatography photodiode array detector high resolution mass spectrometry. Both flavonoids (60-68% total), mainly isorhamnetin derivatives, and phenolic acids (32-40%) with eucomic acids as the predominant ones significantly ( p < 0.05) increased with microwaving and griddling processes. After in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, 55-64% of the total (poly)phenols of cooked cactus cladodes remained bioaccessible versus 44% in raw samples. Furthermore, digestive conditions and enzymes degraded or retained more flavonoids (37-63% bioaccessibility) than phenolic acids (56-87% bioaccessibility). Microwaved cactus cladodes contributed the highest amount of (poy)phenols (143.54 mg/g dm) after gastrointestinal process, followed by griddled samples (133.98 mg/g dm), showing the highest antioxidant capacity. Additionally, gastrointestinal digestion induced isomerizations among the three stereoisomeric forms of piscidic and eucomic acids