Supplementation of arachidonic acid rich oil in European sea bass juveniles (Dicentrarchus labrax) diets: Effects on growth performance, tissue fatty acid profile and lipid metabolism

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of increasing dietary arachidonic acid (ARA) levels (from 1 up to 6 % of total fatty acids) on European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles growth performance, tissue fatty acid profile, liver morphology as well as long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) biosynthesis, triglyceride and cholesterol synthesis and lipid transport. A diet with total fish oil (FO) replacement and defatted fish meal (FM) containing a 0.1 g ARA g-1 diet was added to the experimental design as a negative control diet. Dietary ARA inclusion levels below 0.2 g ARA g-1 diet significantly worsened growth even only 30 days after the start of the feeding trial, whereas dietary ARA had no effect on fish survival. Liver, muscle and whole body fatty acid profile mainly reflected dietary contents and ARA content increased accordingly with ARA dietary levels. Tissue eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels were positively correlated among them. Hepatic lipid vacuolization increased with reduced dietary ARA levels. Expressions of fatty acyl desaturase 2 and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme genes were up-regulated in fish fed the negative control diet compared to the rest of the dietary treatments denoting the influence of ARA on lipid metabolism. Results obtained highlight the need to include adequate n-6 levels and not only n-3 LC-PUFA levels in European sea bass diets. Keywords: Dicentrarchus labrax, arachidonic acid, growth performance, tissue fatty acid profile, lipid metabolis

Los roles de género y su papel en las actitudes y comportamientos afectivo-sexuales: un estudio sobre adolescentes salmantinos

En el presente estudio centramos nuestro interés en evaluar las actitudes, conocimientos y comportamientos de los adolescentes respecto a la sexualidad y sus prácticas, así como el impacto de variables como el género en estas valoraciones. Metodología. El estudio se ha llevado a cabo con una muestra de conveniencia de 141 estudiantes de Bachillerato o de módulos profesionales residentes en Salamanca, España. Dichos alumnos fueron evaluados mediante el Cuestionario para adolescentes sobre educación sexual. Resultados. Los datos indican que existe un amplio desconocimiento sobre temas básicos relacionados con el uso del preservativo o el embarazo. Se encuentran además claras relaciones entre el género y actitudes hacia la homosexualidad, la prostitución, la consideración de la sexualidad o la propia actividad sexual. Discusión. Es necesario llevar a cabo programas formativos que mejoren los conocimientos y fomenten actitudes y conductas positivas y saludables y respetuosas hacia la sexualidad propia y ajen

Inorganic, organic, and encapsulated minerals in vegetable meal based diets for Sparus aurata (Linnaeus, 1758)

Substituting fishmeal (FM) with vegetable meal (VM) can markedly affect the mineral composition of feeds, and may require additional mineral supplementation. Their bioavailability and optimal supplementation levels depend also on the form of delivery of minerals. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of different delivery forms of three major trace elements (Zn, Mn and Se) in a marine teleost. Gilthead sea bream juveniles of 22.5 g were fed a VM-based diet for 12 weeks that was either not supplemented with these minerals or supplemented with inorganic, organic, or encapsulated inorganic forms of minerals in triplicate and compared to a FM-based diet. Our results showed that mineral delivery form significantly affected the biochemical composition and morphology of posterior vertebrae. Supplementation of VM-based diets with inorganic forms of the target minerals significantly promoted growth, increased the vertebral weight and content of ash and Zn, enhanced bone mineralization and affected the vertebral shape. Conversely, encapsulation of inorganic minerals reduced fish growth and vertebral mineral content, whereas supplementation of organic minerals, enhanced bone osteogenesis by upregulating bone morphogenetic protein 2 (bmp2) gene and produced vertebrae with a larger length in relation to height. Furthermore, organic mineral forms of delivery downregulated the expression of oxidative stress related genes, such as Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase (Cu/Zn sod) and glutathione peroxidase 1 (gpx-1), suggesting thus that dietary minerals supplemented in the organic form could be reasonably considered more effective than the inorganic and encapsulated forms of supply

Dietary combination of vitamin E, C and K affects growth, antioxidant activity, and the incidence of systemic granulomatosis in meagre (Argyrosomus regius)

Systemic granulomatosis is a growing disease with a high morbidity, which affects to the majority of farmed meagre (Argyrosomus regius). The impossibility of isolating any infectious agents has hypothesized a nutritional origin of the disease. In order to try to elucidate the nutritional origin of granulomas, juvenile meagre were fed for 15 weeks with six diets containing different levels of vitamin E and C and with or without addition of vitamin K: Diet 0 (basal premix, no K, 150 mg kg‐−1 E, 20 mg kg‐−1 C), K (added 23 mg kg‐−1 K), EC (300 mg kg‐−1 E, 70 mg kg‐−1 C), KEC (23 mg kg‐−1 K, 300 mg kg‐−1 E, 70 mg kg‐−1 C), EECC (450 mg kg‐−1 E, 230 mg kg‐−1 C) and KEECC (23 mg kg‐−1 K, 450 mg kg‐−1 E, 230 mg kg‐−1 C). The diet EC significantly increased meagre growth in terms of final weight and length. Fish fed the highest levels of vitamin E and C presented lower percentage of granulomas in liver and heart than fish fed diet 0. The scored severity of granulomatosis in liver and kidney (main affected organs) tended to be lower with dietary increase of vitamin E, C and addition of vitamin K (from 1.83 diet 0 to 1.3 diet KEECC and from 0.91 diet 0 to 0.39 diet KEECC). In liver, the diet KEECC significantly increased catalase expression compared with diet 0. In kidney tnfα expression was significantly up-regulated in fish fed diet EECC and KEECC. In heart, low vitamin E and C levels (300 and 70 mg kg‐−1, respectively) significantly increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase expression and high addition increased the expression of tnfα and cox-2 (0 or 23 mg kg‐−1 K, 450 mg kg‐−1 E and 230 mg kg‐−1 C, diet EECC and KEECC). The results show that combination of high dietary content of vitamin K and antioxidant vitamins E and C (23, 450 and 230 mg kg‐−1, respectively) influenced in the incidence of the granulomatosis, which suggests that this pathology could be mediated by nutritional factors

La "isla de calor" en Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: magnitud, distribución espacial y morfología urbana

Ponencia presentada en: II Congreso de la Asociación Española de Climatología “El tiempo del clima”, celebrado en Valencia del 7 al 9 de junio de 2001[ES]En este trabajo se estudia el comportamiento térmico nocturno de la plataforma costera de la ciudad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Se identifica el fenómeno de la "isla de calor", su localización espacial y su intensidad en distintas estaciones del año. Se elabora un mapa de unidades homogéneas desde el punto de vista de la morfología urbana (trama urbana, anchura y orientación de las calles, altura de los edificios), del uso y de la intensidad del tráfico.[EN]This work studies the nights thermal behaviour of the coastal platform of the city of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It identifies the phenomenon of the "heat island". Its spatial situation and its intensity during the different seasons of the year. It elaborates a unit homogeneus map from the point of view of the urban morphology (urban plot, breadth and orientation of the streets, heigh of the buildings), of the use and intensity of the traffic

Effect of different dietary vitamin E levels on growth, fish composition, fillet quality and liver histology of meagre (Argyrosomus regius)

Seven experimental isonitrogenous (50%) and isolipidic (16%) diets with different levels of α-tocopherol acetate (16, 100, 190, 285, 430, 880 and 1300 mg kg−1) were tested during 72 days to evaluate growth performance, tissue composition, fillet oxidation and liver histology in meagre juveniles, Argyrosomus regius. Growth performance, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and tissue composition were similar among treatments (P>0.05). In the liver, no major differences were recorded in lipid and fatty acid composition but higher lipid vacuolization were observed in diets E100, E190 and E880. Muscle fatty acid profiles showed an increment of the highly unsaturated fatty acid (HUFA) and a decrease of the saturated fatty acid with the increase of dietary vitamin E, which was accompanied with a reduction of the muscle TBARS responses.  Therefore, is suggested that diets for this species should be supplemented with 451mg kg−1of DL-α-tocopherol acetate (496 UI of vitamin E), as determine by broken-line regression analysis of muscle TBARS, to provide good overall growth performance and improved fish quality and storage stability. Moreover, results suggest that vitamin E deficiency or excess may deteriorate fish health.  Statement of relevance  The optimization of the dietary vitamin E level will contribute to formulate a suitable diet for meagre, a candidate for European aquaculture diversification, that until now is being fed with diets specific for other species. This study will narrow the knowledge gap that exists regarding meagre nutritional needs

Resilience and social support as protective factors against abuse of persons with dementia: a study on family caregivers

[EN]Objective Scientific literature has identified different vulnerability factors associated to abuse in people with dementia (PWD), but little is known about the psychosocial protective variables against abuse. The main objective of this study is to investigate a set of caregiver and patient factors linked to abuse-related behavior of PWD. Methods A total of 326 primary and family caregivers, residents of the Castilla and León community (Spain), were evaluated. All participants filled out a standardized protocol, which assessed the sociodemographic characteristics, patient and care-related variables, as well as the perceived burden, resilience, and social support. Abuse-related behavior was evaluated using the Caregiver Abuse Screen. Results Results show that the severity of cognitive impairment and behavior disorders of PWD, a greater number of caregiving hours, a worse previous relationship with the caregiver, and perceived burden are positively related with abuse. However, resilience and social support showed a negative relationship with Caregiver Abuse Screen scores, suggesting a protective effect on abuse, even after controlling the effect of a number of covariates. Indeed, resilience was the only variable that remained significant after including the effect of burden. Conclusions This paper states the role of burden in abuse of PWD, while resilience and social support are abuse protective factors. These variables should be considered in future guidelines for the prevention of abuse against PWD

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Skin Mucus Fatty Acid Composition of Gilthead Sea Bream (<i>Sparus Aurata</i>): A Descriptive Study in Fish Fed Low and High Fish Meal Diets

Terrestrial protein and lipid sources are commonly used as substitutes for marine fishery-derived raw ingredients in fish diets. However, their use is related with several side-effects on marine fish performance, health, or disease resistance. Physical barriers of the skin, gills, and gut constitute the primary defense mechanism of fish. Skin mucus mucosal mucins, water, proteins, ions, and lipids determine the physical, chemical, and protective characteristics of skin mucus. Very little is known about the influence of diet composition on fish skin mucus fatty acid profile. Gilthead sea bream skin mucus contained 10% of total lipids (TL), which consisted of 50&#8315;60% neutral (NL) and 40&#8315;50% polar lipids (PL) fractions. &#931;n&#8722;3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) deposition was preferential in the NL fraction, whereas &#931;n&#8722;6LC-PUFA accumulation was similar in both lipid classes. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6n&#8722;3) was the main LC-PUFA stored in skin mucus (14% TL) in relation to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5n&#8722;3) (2&#8315;3% TL) and arachidonic acid (ARA; 20:4n&#8722;6) (2% TL). This study denotes the importance of DHA as component of skin mucus lipids compared to other essential fatty acids, such as EPA and ARA, as well as importance of maintaining an adequate &#931;n&#8722;3/ &#931;n&#8722;6 ratio, regardless of dietary intake

Exploring extractable and non-extractable polyphenols in banana flower and banana pseudo-stem. Effect of harvest year

Resumen del póster presentado a la XXX International Conference on Polyphenols, celebrada del 13 al 15 de julio de 2021 en Turku (Finland).[Main Conclusion] The detailed analysis of phenolic compounds in DBF (dried banana flower) and DBPS (dried banana pseudo-stem) showed that DBF may be used as an additional source of phenolic compounds, particularly NEPA, although the establishment of accepted content ranges between harvest years may be needed for their use as functional ingredients.[Introduction] Banana flower (DBF) and banana pseudo-stem (DBPS) are by-products from banana fruit harvest and processing in several industries. The interest in the potential biological activities of these banana residues has been renewed in recent times. Studies on polyphenols have been traditionally focused on the so-called extractable polyphenols (EPP), although increasing evidence is showing the relevance of non-extractable polyphenols (NEPP) or macromolecular antioxidants, which are high molecular weight polyphenols or small ones associated with macromolecules such as protein or dietary fibre (Pérez-Jiménez et al., 2013). Nevertheless, studies on the phytochemical characterization of DBF and DBPS are still scarce and focused on extractable polyphenols (EPP). Thus, Bashkar et al. (2012) is the only found study with these two banana by-products from Musa sp. elakki bale, where HPLC analysis for EPP profile was performed. Also, Schmidt et al. (2015) have reported some characterization of banana male flower and bracts from Musa cavendish in which EPP content by spectrophotometry was measured. Recently, increasing evidence is showing the biological relevance of NEPP (Pérez-Jiménez et al., 2013) and, therefore, there is an interest to identify the presence of these compound on more vegetal materials. The present study aimed to characterize EPP and NEPP profile in DBF and DBPS by HPLC-MS analysis, including the effect of harvest time, to advance towards their use as functional ingredients.[Materials and Methods] DBPS and DBF were supplied by local producers in 2017 and 2018 for both materials. EPP determination was performed following the protocol by Pérez-Jiménez et al. (2008). NEPP were measured in the residues of EPP extractions as the sum of hydrolysable polyphenols (HPP) and nonextractble proanthocyanidins (NEPA). HPP was determined by the protocol established by Arranz et al. (2009) and Hartzfeld et al. (2002), based on acid hydrolysis with temperature, while determining the butanolysis procedure was applied (Pérez-Jiménez et al. 2009). The EPP and HPP fractions from DBF, as well as HPP fraction of DBPS, were concentrated (6:1) For separation, HPLC with DAD and an ESI-QTOF mass analyzer (Agilent G6530A) was used. Peak identity was established by comparison with the retention times of commercial standards when available and the molecular formula proposed were compared with previously reported phenolic compounds in banana and other vegetal materials.[Results and Discussion] The identity of individual phenolic compounds in DBF and DBPS was performed for the first time by HPLC-MS. Detailed HPLC-ESI-QTOF MS analysis showed that in both EPP and HPP fractions, phenolic acids were the most relevant constituents, although some flavanols were also identified in the EPP fraction. Due to the total concentration and profile of individual phenolic compounds in DBF, this product, as an additional source of phenolic compounds in the context of the whole diet, might have health benefits. Indeed, protocatechuic acid was detected in DBF at a concentration higher than that observed in most common foods, according to the Phenol-Explorer database (Neveu et al., 2010). Although the potential effects would be mostly derived from the combination of all phenolic compounds present in this product. Also, regarding the high NEPA content detected in DBF, it should be remarked that other products rich in these phenolic compound fractions, such as grape pomace, have shown several health-related properties, for instance regarding fasting insulin (Martínez-Maqueda et al., 2018). Significant differences between harvest year were detected for some individual phenolic compounds and some phenolic fractions. Nevertheless, for most detected phenolic compounds, identity could not be assigned, since they corresponded to structures not present in common databases or in literature on banana. This indicates the need for further structural analysis in DBF and DBPS to suggest structures for some of these unidentified compounds.Peer reviewe