The role of heart rate on the associations between body composition and heart rate variability in children with overweight/obesity : the ActiveBrains project

Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) is negatively associated with body mass index and adiposity in several populations. However, less information is available about this association in children with overweight and obesity, especially severe/morbid obesity, taking into consideration the dependence of HRV on heart rate (HR). Objectives: (1) to examine associations between body composition measures and HRV, (2) to study differences in HRV between children with overweight and severe/morbid obesity; and (3) to test whether relationships and differences tested in objectives 1 and 2, respectively are explained by the dependency of HRV on HR. Methods: A total of 107 children with overweight/obesity (58% boys, 10.03 +/- 1.13 years) participated in this study. Body composition measures were evaluated by Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). HRV parameters were measured with Polar RS800CXR (R). Results: Body composition measures were negatively associated with HRV indicators of parasympathetic activity (beta values ranging from -0.207 to -0.307, all p 0.05). Conclusion: All associations between adiposity/obesity and HRV could be explained by HR, suggesting a key confounding role of HR in HRV studies in children with weight disturbances

Distribución de macrocrustáceos en Laguna Mecoacán, al sur del Golfo de México

Dredging the inlet of Laguna Mecoacán, Tabasco, southern Gulf of Mexico in 2000, affected the distribution of aquatic fauna after modifying the volume of water, salinity gradient, and migration patterns between estuarine and marine organisms. Ten sites were bimonthly sampling during the day in February, April, June, August and October 2000. A total of 702 decapods belonging to nine families, 14 genera and 19 species were collected with an otter trawl. Dominant species in density (ind/m2) were Eurypanopeus depressus, Litopenaeus setiferus, Farfantepenaeus aztecus, F. duorarum and Clibanarius vittatus, whereas for biomass (g/m2) the penaeids, C. vittatus and the swimming crabs Callinectes rathbunae, C. similis and C. sapidus were dominant. The highest density (61%) was recorded in the rainy season, whereas the highest biomass (57%) was obtained in the dry season. The spatial variation in salinity is reflected as a gradient from the southeast to the north, defining three zones due to the marked fluctuation of the river discharge. The 81% of the species, 87% of the density, and 77% of the biomass of all decapods were collected in mesohaline and  polyhaline conditions (zones II and III), and the minimum values in oligo-mesohaline conditions (zone I). The lower number of decapod species in Laguna Mecoacán, in comparison to other coastal lagoons in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, is related to the restricted distribution of the submerged aquatic vegetation and the prevalent oligohaline and mesohaline conditions, while habitats as seagrass and macroalgae beds, and the mussel and oyster reefs have drastically decreased, and the unvegetated muddy substrates are predominant in this lagoon.En el año 2000, el dragado del canal de comunicación de la Laguna Mecoacán, Tabasco, influyó sobre la distribución de la fauna acuática al modificar el volumen de intercambio de agua, los gradientes de salinidad y la dinámica de migración entre los organismos estuarinos y marinos. Diez localidades se muestrearon bimestralmente en horas de iluminación en febrero, abril, junio, agosto y octubre del 2000. Un total de 702 decápodos pertenecientes a nueve familias, 14 géneros y 19 especies se capturaron con una red de arrastre tipo camaronera. Las especies dominantes en densidad (ind/m2) fueron Eurypanopeus depressus, Litopenaeus setiferus, Farfantepenaeus aztecus, F. duorarum y Clibanarius vittatus. En cambio, en biomasa (g/m2) dominaron los camarones, C. vittatus y la jaibas Callinectes rathbunae, C. similis y C. sapidus. La captura máxima de la densidad de crustáceos (61%) fue en la temporada de precipitación, y la máxima biomasa (57%) durante la sequía. La variación espacial de la salinidad registró un gradiente de sureste a norte y se agrupó en tres zonas relacionadas con la descarga de los ríos. El 81% de las especies, el 87% de la densidad, y el 77% de la biomasa de decápodos se recolectaron en condiciones mesohalinas y polihalinas (zonas II y III), mientras que en condiciones oligo-mesohalinas (zona I) fueron menores. El menor número de especies de decápodos en Laguna Mecoacán, con respecto a otras lagunas costeras del suroccidente del Golfo de México, se atribuyó a la limitada distribución de la vegetación acuática sumergida y a la prevalencia de condiciones oligohalinas y mesohalinas, donde otros hábitat como los pastos marinos, macroalgas, bancos de mejillones y ostiones han disminuido drásticamente y los substratos lodosos son dominantes

Role of c-miR-21, c-miR-126, Redox Status, and Inflammatory Conditions as Potential Predictors of Vascular Damage in T2DM Patients

The development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) vascular complications (VCs) is associated with oxidative stress and chronic inflammation and can result in endothelial dysfunctions. Circulating microRNAs play an important role in epigenetic regulation of the etiology of T2DM. We studied 30 healthy volunteers, 26 T2DM patients with no complications, and 26 T2DM patients with VCs, to look for new biomarkers indicating a risk of developing VCs in T2DM patients. Peripheral blood samples were used to determine redox state, by measuring the endogenous antioxidant defense system (superoxide dismutase, SOD; catalase, CAT; glutathione reductase, GRd; glutathione peroxidase, GPx; and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, G6DP) and markers of oxidative damage (advanced oxidation protein products, AOPP; lipid peroxidation, LPO). Additionally, inflammatory marker levels (IL-1, IL-6, IL-18, and TNF- ), c-miR-21, and c-miR-126 expression were analyzed. T2DM patients showed the highest oxidative damage with increased GSSG/GSH ratios, LPO, and AOPP levels. In both diabetic groups, we found that diminished SOD activity was accompanied by increased CAT and decreased GRd and G6PD activities. Diabetic patients presented with increased relative expression of c-miR-21 and decreased relative expression of c-miR-126. Overall, c-miR-21, SOD, CAT, and IL-6 had high predictive values for diabetes diagnoses. Finally, our data demonstrated that IL-6 exhibited predictive value for VC development in the studied population. Moreover, c-miR- 21 and c-miR-126, along with GPx and AOPP levels, should be considered possible markers for VC development in future studies.University of GranadaEugenio Rodriguez Pascual Foundation ERP-2021CIBERfes (ISCIII, Spain) CB16-10-0023

Understanding the Mechanism of Action of Melatonin, Which Induces ROS Production in Cancer Cells

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) constitute a group of highly reactive molecules that have evolved as regulators of important signaling pathways. In this context, tumor cells have an altered redox balance compared to normal cells, which can be targeted as an antitumoral therapy by ROS levels and by decreasing the capacity of the antioxidant system, leading to programmed cell death. Melatonin is of particular importance in the development of innovative cancer treatments due to its oncostatic impact and lack of adverse effects. Despite being widely recognized as a pro-oxidant molecule in tumor cells, the mechanism of action of melatonin remains unclear, which has hindered its use in clinical treatments. The current review aims to describe and clarify the proposed mechanism of action of melatonin inducing ROS production in cancer cells in order to propose future anti-neoplastic clinical applications.MCIN/AEI, SpainEuropean Commission SAF2017-85903-P ID2020-115112RB-I00Consejeria de Innovacion, Ciencia y Empresa Junta de Andalucia P07-CTS-03135 P10-CTS-5784 CTS-101University of Granada, Spain UCE-PP2017-05Spanish Governmen

Variación intra-anual de la clorofila-a y nutrientes en un sistema río-llanura de inundación hidráulicamente perturbado en la cuenca del río Grijalva

Antecedentes: La interconexión lateral en el sistema rio-llanura de inundación Maluco fue reducida parcialmente por una carretera construida sobre una barrera natural. Objetivo: Determinar si las concentraciones de clorofila-a (Cla-a) y nutrientes contrastan en diferentes niveles de agua (NA) durante un ano hidrológico en el humedal fluvial. Métodos: El NA, Cla-a y nutrientes (NO2-, NO3-, NH4+ y PT) se midieron simultáneamente seis veces en dos estaciones durante dos años. Las diferencias esperadas de las concentraciones de Cla-a y nutrientes, relacionadas a la fluctuación intra-anual del NA, fueron analizadas por medio de técnicas multivariadas. La hipótesis sostiene que no se detectaran diferencias intra anuales de Cla-a y nutrientes debido a la reducción de la interconexión lateral por el efecto físico del terraplen. Resultados: Ninguna variable fue descartada con el ACP. La distribución intra-anual de las muestras resulto similar según la rutina de perfiles de similitud. Coincidentemente: 1) más del 54% de los valores de Cla-a y PT indicaron condiciones hipereutroficas durante todo el año y 2) ninguno de los valores de WL sobrepaso la altura del terraplen (4.5 msnm). Además, las concentraciones máximas de Cla-a se registraron en los WL mínimos. Conclusiones: La similitud intra-anual de la Cla-a y los nutrientes inorgánicos se puede vincular a que la llanura de inundación estuvo desconectada del rio Grijalva, ya que la inundación no sobrepaso la altura del terraplén durante todo el tiempo de muestreo. La tendencia intra-anual independiente al tiempo de la persistencia de las altas concentraciones de Cla-a y PT en el sistema rio llanura de inundación abre la oportunidad de estimar el caudal de entrada mínimo requerido para restaurar los procesos biogeoquímicos en un estudio a largo plazo.Background: The lateral connectivity in the Maluco river-floodplain system was partially reduced by the highway built on a natural barrier. Goal: To determine if the concentrations of chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) and nutrients contrast in different water levels (WL) during a hydrologic year in the Maluco river-floodplain system. Methods: The WL, Chl-a, and nutrients (NO2-, NO3-, NH4+, and TP) were simultaneously measured six times in two sites during two years. The expected differences of Chl-a and nutrients concentrations, related to the intra-annual fluctuation of the WL, were tested through multivariate techniques. The hypothesis holds that there will be no intra-annual differences of Chl-a and nutrients due to the reduction of lateral interconnection by the physical effect of the embankment. Results: No variable was discarded during PCA. The intra-annual distribution of samples was similar according to the similarity profile routine. Furthermore: 1) more than 54% of the Chl-a and TP values indicated hypereutrophic conditions throughout the year, and 2) none of the values of WL surpassed the height of the bankfull (4.5 masl). The maximum concentrations of Chl-a were registered at the minimum WL values. Conclusions: The intra-annual similarity of Chl-a and inorganic nutrients can be linked to the disconnection between the floodplain and the Grijalva river since the bankfull was not overflowed throughout the sampling time. The intra-annual trend independent at the time of persistence of the high Chl-a and TP concentrations in the river-floodplain system opens up the opportunity to estimate the minimum input flow required to biogeochemical processes in a long-term study

The Relationship between Clock Genes, Sirtuin 1, and Mitochondrial Activity in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer: Effects of Melatonin Treatment

This study was funded by grants from MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/y financiado por la Unión Europea “NextGenerationEU”/PRTR (PID2020-115112RB-I00; SAF2017-85903-P); the Consejería de Universidad, Investigación e Inovación (CTS-101: Comunicación Intercelular); FEDER/Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de Economía y Conocimiento/Proyecto ((P18-RT-32222); the European Regional Development Fund (B-CTS-071-UGR18); the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain) through the grant CB/10/00238 (co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund/European Social Fund “Investing in your future”); and the University of Granada (Grant “UNETE,” UCEPP2017- 05), Spain. J. F. and L. M. are recipients of FPU fellowships from the Ministerio de Educación Cultura y Deporte, Spain, and Y. R.-C. is the recipient of a PFIS fellowship from the Instituto de Salud Carlos IIISupplementary Materials: The following supporting information can be downloaded at: https://www.mdpi.com/article/10.3390/ijms241915030/s1.The circadian clock is a regulatory system, with a periodicity of approximately 24 h, which generates rhythmic changes in many physiological processes, including mitochondrial activity. Increasing evidence links chronodisruption with aberrant functionality in clock gene expression, resulting in multiple diseases such as cancer. Melatonin, whose production and secretion oscillates according to the light–dark cycle, is the principal regulator of clock gene expression. In addition, the oncostatic effects of melatonin correlate with an increase in mitochondrial activity. However, the direct links between circadian clock gene expression, mitochondrial activity, and the antiproliferative effects of melatonin in cancers, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), remain largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed the effects of melatonin on HNSCC cell lines (Cal-27 and SCC9), which were treated with 500 and 1000 M melatonin. We found that the antiproliferative effect of melatonin is not mediated by the Bmal1 clock gene. Additionally, high doses of melatonin were observed to result in resynchronization of oscillatory circadian rhythm genes (Per2 and Sirt1). Surprisingly, the resynchronizing effect of melatonin on Per2 and Sirt1 did not produce alterations in the oscillation of mitochondrial respiratory activity. These results increase our understanding of the possible antiproliferative mechanisms in melatonin in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and suggest that its antiproliferative effects are independent of clock genes but are directly related to mitochondrial activity.MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033Unión Europea “NextGenerationEU”/PRTR (PID2020-115112RB-I00; SAF2017-85903-P)Consejería de Universidad, Investigación e Inovación (CTS-101: Comunicación Intercelular)FEDER/Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de Economía y Conocimiento/Proyecto ((P18-RT-32222)European Regional Development Fund (B-CTS-071-UGR18)Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain) through the grant CB/10/00238 (co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund/European Social Fund “Investing in your future”)University of Granada (Grant “UNETE,” UCEPP2017- 05)FPU fellowships from the Ministerio de Educación Cultura y DeportePFIS fellowship from the Instituto de Salud Carlos II

Patient-derived tumor models in cancer research: Evaluation of the oncostatic effects of melatonin

MCIN/AEI/10.13039/ 501100011033/The European Regional Development Fund (B-CTS-071-UGR18)University of Granada (Grant “UNETE,” UCEPP2017- 05), SpainUnión Europea “NextGenerationEU”/ PRTR (PID2020-115112RB- I00; SAF2017-85903-P)Consejería de Economía , Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo, Junta de Andalucía (P18- RT-32222)Ministerio de Educación Cultura y Deporte, Spai

Oral Mucositis: Melatonin Gel an Effective New Treatment

The current treatment for cervico-facial cancer involves radio and/or chemotherapy. Unfortunately, cancer therapies can lead to local and systemic complications such as mucositis, which is the most common dose-dependent complication in the oral cavity and gastrointestinal tract. Mucositis can cause a considerably reduced quality of life in cancer patients already suffering from physical and psychological exhaustion. However, the role of melatonin in the treatment of mucositis has recently been investigated, and offers an effective alternative therapy in the prevention and/or management of radio and/or chemotherapy-induced mucositis. This review focuses on the pathobiology and management of mucositis in order to improve the quality of cancer patients’ lives.Part of this study was partially funded by the following grants: SAF2009-14037 from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitivity (MINECO), CB/10/00238 from the Carlos III Health Institute, GREIB.PT_2010_04 from the CEIBiotic Program of the University of Granada, Spain, and CTS-101 from the Innovation, Science, and Business Council, Junta de Andalucía, Spain

Hábitos alimenticios de Cathorops aguadulce (Siluriformes: Ariidae) en un ecosistema estuarino al sur del golfo de México

Background. The distribution and diet of fish, as well as the specific composition of their prey, have been affected by the magnification of the spatial variations in salinity due to hydraulic infrastructure and climate change. Cathorops aguadulce was selected based on previous records of its diet and its current dominance in the estuarine systems in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Goals. The feeding habits were evaluated in relation to the variation of size composition, day-night, and seasonality in a coastal lagoon in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Methods. Two hundred ten digestive tracts were analyzed in juveniles and adults captured in a sampling that included the day-night and seasonal variation in three sampling sites located in a salinity gradient. The size composition was correlated (Spearman coefficient) with the spatial and temporal variation of salinity and temperature. The temporal and spatial variations of the Repletion (IR) and Relative Importance (IIR) indexes were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test and hierarchical clustering. Results. The size composition was independent of salinity variation and IR values (Kruskal-Wallis; p =0.649). Yet diet intensity in the dry season was significantly greater than in the transition and rainy seasons (Kruskal-Wallis; p =0.00001). Among the 11 food items defined, animal detritus and malacostracans, mainly tanaids, were the dominant feeding categories in the frequency of occurrence and according to the IIR. However, detritus predominated in juveniles, while tanaids were the preponderant item in the adults. Conclusions. Even though laguna Mecoacan recorded an ample salinity variation, C. aguadulce recorded a significant temporal variation in intensity of diet; the ontogenic shift of its diet was more relevant than the effects of the environmental variation of its feeding habits. This conclusion opens the possibility of testing whether the ontogenetic variation of their functional morphological traits is associated with the acquisition of food or movement.Antecedentes. La distribución y dieta de los peces, así como la composición específica de sus presas, ha sido afectada por la intensificación de las variaciones espaciales de la salinidad debido a la infraestructura hidráulica y cambio climático. Cathorops aguadulce se seleccionó por los registros previos de su dieta y su actual dominancia en los sistemas estuarinos del sur del golfo de México. Objetivos. La dieta fue evaluada en relación con las variaciones de su composición por tallas, día-noche y estacionales en la laguna Mecoacán. Métodos. Doscientos diez tractos digestivos se analizaronentre juveniles y adultos capturados en un muestreo que incluyó la variación diurna-nocturna y estacional en tres localidades ubicadas en un gradiente de salinidad. La composición por tallas se correlacionó (coeficiente de Spearman) con la variación espacial y temporal de la salinidad y la temperatura. La variación temporal y espacial de los índices de repleción (IR) y de importancia relativa (IIR) se analizó mediante la prueba Kruskal-Wallis y agrupamiento jerárquico. Resultados. La composición por tallas fue independiente a la variación de la salinidad y al índice de repleción (Kruskal-Wallis; p =0.649), pero la intensidad de la dieta en sequía fue significativamente mayor que en las temporadas de transición y lluvias (Kruskal-Wallis; p =0.00001). Entre los 11 ítems alimenticios definidos, el detrito animal y los malacostracos, principalmente tanaidáceos, fueron las categorías alimenticias dominantes por frecuencia de ocurrencia e IIR. Sin embargo, el detrito predominó en juveniles, mientras que los tanaidáceos fueron el ítem preponderante en los adultos. Conclusiones.Aunque la laguna Mecoacán registró una amplia variación de la salinidad y C. aguadulce presentó una variación temporal significativa en su intensidad de dieta, la deriva ontogénica fue más determinante que los efectos de la variación ambiental en sus hábitos alimenticios. Esta conclusión abre la posibilidad de comprobar si la variación ontogenética de sus rasgos morfométricos funcionales está asociada con la adquisición de alimento y movimiento