Using trendsetting chefs to design new culinary preparations with the "Penjar" tomato

New food products are normally marketed after research regarding consumers' preferences. As an alternative, we used trendsetting chefs to develop and evaluate products with the traditional, long shelf life,Postprint (published version

Diabetes Is an Independent Risk Factor for Severe Nocturnal Hypoxemia in Obese Patients. A Case-Control Study

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity have become two of the main threats to public health in the Western world. In addition, obesity is the most important determinant of the sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS), a condition that adversely affects glucose metabolism. However, it is unknown whether patients with diabetes have more severe SAHS than non-diabetic subjects. The aim of this cross-sectional case-control study was to evaluate whether obese patients with T2DM are more prone to severe SAHS than obese non-diabetic subjects.Thirty obese T2DM and 60 non-diabetic women closely matched by age, body mass index, waist circumference, and smoking status were recruited from the outpatient Obesity Unit of a university hospital. The exclusion criteria included chronic respiratory disease, smoking habit, neuromuscular and cerebrovascular disease, alcohol abuse, use of sedatives, and pregnancy. Examinations included a non-attended respiratory polygraphy, pulmonary function testing, and an awake arterial gasometry. Oxygen saturation measures included the percentage of time spent at saturations below 90% (CT90). A high prevalence of SAHS was found in both groups (T2DM:80%, nondiabetic:78.3%). No differences in the number of sleep apnea-hypopnea events between diabetic and non-diabetic patients were observed. However, in diabetic patients, a significantly increase in the CT90 was detected (20.2+/-30.2% vs. 6.8+/-13,5%; p = 0.027). In addition, residual volume (RV) was significantly higher in T2DM (percentage of predicted: 79.7+/-18.1 vs. 100.1+/-22.8; p<0.001). Multiple linear regression analyses showed that T2DM but not RV was independently associated with CT90.T2DM adversely affects breathing during sleep, becoming an independent risk factor for severe nocturnal hypoxemia in obese patients. Given that SAHS is a risk factor of cardiovascular disease, the screening for SAHS in T2DM patients seems mandatory

Diabetes Is the Main Factor Accounting for Hypomagnesemia in Obese Subjects

OBJECTIVE: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and obesity are associated with magnesium deficiency. We aimed to determine whether the presence of type 2 diabetes and the degree of metabolic control are related to low serum magnesium levels in obese individuals. METHODS: A) Case-control study: 200 obese subjects [50 with T2DM (cases) and 150 without diabetes (controls)] prospectively recruited. B) Interventional study: the effect of bariatric surgery on serum magnesium levels was examined in a subset of 120 obese subjects (40 with type 2 diabetes and 80 without diabetes). RESULTS: Type 2 diabetic patients showed lower serum magnesium levels [0.75±0.07 vs. 0.81±0.06 mmol/L; mean difference -0.06 (95% CI -0.09 to -0.04); p<0.001] than non-diabetic patients. Forty-eight percent of diabetic subjects, but only 15% of non-diabetic subjects showed a serum magnesium concentration lower than 0.75 mmol/L. Significant negative correlations between magnesium and fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, HOMA-IR, and BMI were detected. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c independently predicted serum magnesium. After bariatric surgery serum magnesium increased only in those patients in whom diabetes was resolved, but remain unchanged in those who not, without difference in loss weight between groups. Changes in serum magnesium negatively correlated with changes in fasting plasma glucose and HbA1c. Absolute changes in HbA1c independently predicted magnesium changes in the multiple linear regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results provide evidence that the presence of diabetes and the degree of metabolic control are essential in accounting for the lower levels of magnesium that exist in obese subjects

Q-SAPS?: què saben sobre salut pública a l’atenció primària?

Malalties; Declaració obligatòria; Brots epidèmicsEnfermedades; Declaración obligatoria; Brotes epidémicosDiseases; Mandatory declaration; Epidemic outbreaksEl treball d’aquesta comunitat de pràctica (CoP) pretén ajudar a detectar mancances de coneixement sobre la salut pública entre els professionals de l’atenció primària i elaborar un document de propostes per millorar el coneixement referit en aquest àmbit. Amb les següents propostes de valor: 1-Conèixer les funcions de cada actor en les malalties de declaració obligatòria (MDO), emergents i brots epidèmics. 2-Detectar mancances de coneixement i dificultats per a declarar. 3-Saber la utilitat de declarar MDO i brots epidèmics, ja que no és només un simple registre sinó que hi ha una actuació al darrere. 4-Conèixer les actuacions comunitàries que cal fer en cada malaltia per controlar-la, i brots epidèmics.El trabajo de esta comunidad de práctica (CoP) pretende ayudar a detectar carencias de conocimiento sobre la salud pública entre los profesionales de la atención primaria y elaborar un documento de propuestas para mejorar el conocimiento referido en este ámbito. Con las siguientes propuestas de valor: 1-Conocer las funciones de cada actor en las enfermedades de declaración obligatoria (MDO), emergentes y brotes epidémicos. 2-Detectar carencias de conocimiento y dificultades para declarar. 3-Saber la utilidad de declarar EDO y brotes epidémicos, ya que no es sólo un simple registro sino que hay una actuación detrás. 4-Conocer las actuaciones comunitarias a realizar en cada enfermedad para controlarla, y brotes epidémicos.The work of this community of practice (CoP) aims to help detect gaps in knowledge about public health among primary care professionals and prepare a document of proposals to improve the knowledge referred to in this area. With the following value propositions: 1-Know the functions of each actor in notifiable diseases, emerging diseases and epidemic outbreaks. 2-Detect knowledge gaps and difficulties in declaring. 3-Know the usefulness of declaring notifiable diseases and epidemic outbreaks, since it is not just a simple record but there is an action behind it. 4-Know the community actions to be carried out in each disease to control it, and epidemic outbreaks

External validation of multidimensional prognostic indices (ADO, BODEx and DOSE) in a primary care international cohort (PROEPOC/COPD cohort)

Background: Due to the heterogeneous and systemic nature of the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the new guidelines are oriented toward individualized attention. Multidimensional scales could facilitate its proper clinical and prognostic assessment, but not all of them were validated in an international primary care cohort, different from the original ones used for model development. Therefore, our main aim is to assess the prognostic capacity of the ADO, BODEx and DOSE indices in primary care for predicting mortality in COPD patients and to validate the models obtained in subgroups of patients, classified by revised Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (2011) and updated Spanish Guideline (2014). Besides, we want to confirm that the prognostic capacity of all indices increases if the number of exacerbations is substituted by the interval between them and to assess the impact on health of the patient''s lifestyle, social network and adherence to treatment. Methods: Design: External validation of scales, open and prospective cohort study in primary care. Setting: 36 health centres in 6 European high, medium and low income countries. Subjects: 477 patients diagnosed with COPD, captured in clinical visit by their General Practitioner/Nurse. Predictors: Detailed patient history, exacerbations, lung function test and questionnaires at baseline. Outcomes: Exacerbations, all-cause mortality and specific mortality, within 5 years of recruitment. Analysis: Multivariate logistic regression and Cox regression will be used. Possible non-linear effect of the indices will be studied by using Structured Additive Regression models with penalised splines. Subsequently, we will assess different aspects of the regression models: discrimination, calibration and diagnostic precision. Clinical variables modulated in primary care and the interval between exacerbations will be considered and incorporated into the analysis. Discussion: The Research Agenda for General Practice/Family Medicine highlights that the evidence on predictive values of prognostic indices in primary care is scarce. A prospective cohort like that of PROEPOC/COPD provides good opportunities for research into COPD and make communication easier between family practitioners, nursing staff, pneumologists and other professionals, supporting a multi-disciplinary approach to the treatment of these patients. Trial registration:ISRCTN52402811. Date: 15/01/2015. Prospectively registered

A Standardized method of preparing common beans (phaseolus vulgaris l.) for sensory analysis

Methods of preparing bean samples for sensory analyses should be simple and reproducible. The method we propose, based on popular traditions (soaking and cooking beans in distilled water, forgoing blanching, and keeping simmering to a minimum), increased the number of beans that remained whole after cooking by 50% compared with the check method. No differences between the new method and the check were observed in the solids lost during the cooking process or in a panel's evaluation of the sensory properties of the beans. Furthermore, the new method is more efficient for handling the small samples that are common in breeding programs. Its repeatability for both sensory and nutritional analyses is very high: two replicates seem sufficient for high resolution. Thus, we propose that it be adopted for sensory and nutritional analyses of cooked beans

Using trendsetting chefs to design new culinary preparations with the "Penjar" tomato

New food products are normally marketed after research regarding consumers' preferences. As an alternative, we used trendsetting chefs to develop and evaluate products with the traditional, long shelf life