Bioactive properties of commercialised pomegranate (Punica granatum) juice: antioxidant, antiproliferative and enzyme inhibiting activities

Pomegranate juice and related products have long been used either in traditional medicine or as nutritional supplements claiming beneficial effects. Although there are several studies on this food plant, only a few studies have been performed with pomegranate juice or marketed products. The aim of this work is to evaluate the antioxidant effects of pomegranate juice on cellular models using hydrogen peroxide as an oxidizing agent or DPPH and superoxide radicals in cell free systems. The antiproliferative effects of the juice were measured on HeLa and PC-3 cells by the MTT assay and pharmacologically relevant enzymes (cyclooxygenases, xanthine oxidase, acetylcholinesterase and monoamine oxidase A) were selected for enzymatic inhibition assays. Pomegranate juice showed significant protective effects against hydrogen peroxide induced toxicity in the Artemia salina and HepG2 models; these effects may be attributed to radical scavenging properties of pomegranate as the juice was able to reduce DPPH and superoxide radicals. Moderate antiproliferative activities in HeLa and PC-3 cancer cells were observed. However, pomegranate juice was also able to inhibit COX-2 and MAO-A enzymes. This study reveals some mechanisms by which pomegranate juice may have interesting and beneficial effects in human health

Rock tea (Jasonia glutinosa (L.) DC.) polyphenolic extract inhibits triglyceride accumulation in 3T3-L1 adipocyte-like cells and obesity related enzymes in vitro

Jasonia glutinosa (L.) DC., also known in Spain as "té de roca" (rock tea, RT), is an endemic plant species of the Iberian Peninsula and Southern France. Traditionally, it is used in infusions, prepared with the flowering aerial parts, as a digestive and anti-inflammatory herbal tea. Despite the traditional knowledge of this plant as a digestive after meals, there are hardly any scientific studies that support its use. The aim of this study is to assess the effects of RT extract on physiological targets related to metabolic diseases such as obesity. For this purpose, enzyme inhibition bioassays of lipase, a-glucosidase and fatty acid amide hydrolase were carried out in cell-free systems. Similarly, adipocytes derived from 3T3-L1 cells were employed to study the effects of the extract on adipocyte differentiation and triglyceride (TG) accumulation. RT extract was able to inhibit lipase, a-glucosidase and fatty acid amide hydrolase. Furthermore, the extract displayed anti-adipogenic properties in a dose-dependent manner as it significantly reduced TG accumulation during adipocyte differentiation. These results may explain from a molecular perspective the beneficial effects of RT in the prevention of metabolic-associated disorders such as obesity, diabetes and related complications

Sensitivity of the ISO 6579:2002/Amd 1:2007 standard method for detection of Salmonella spp. on mesenteric lymph nodes from slaughter pigs

The ISO 6579:2002/Amd 1:2007 (ISO) standard has been the bacteriological standard method used in the European Union for the detection of Salmonella spp. in pig mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), but there are no published estimates of the diagnostic sensitivity (Se) of the method in this matrix. Here, the Se of the ISO (SeISO) was estimated on 675 samples selected from two populations with different Salmonella prevalences (14 farms with a =20% prevalence and 13 farms with a <20% prevalence) and through the use of latent-class models in concert with Bayesian inference, assuming 100% ISO specificity, and an invA-based PCR as the second diagnostic method. The SeISO was estimated to be close to 87%, while the sensitivity of the PCR reached up to 83.6% and its specificity was 97.4%. Interestingly, the bacteriological reanalysis of 33 potential false-negative (PCR-positive) samples allowed isolation of 19 (57.5%) new Salmonella strains, improving the overall diagnostic accuracy of the bacteriology. Considering the usual limitations of bacteriology regarding Se, these results support the adequacy of the ISO for the detection of Salmonella spp. from MLN and also that of the PCR-based method as an alternative or complementary (screening) test for the diagnosis of pig salmonellosis, particularly considering the cost and time benefits of the molecular procedure

Los sistemas defensivos del Valle Medio del Ebro durante la Primera Edad del Hierro

RESUMEN En los momentos iniciales de la Primera Edad del Hierro se atestigua la aparición de un nuevo tipo de asentamientos a lo largo del Valle Medio del Ebro, caracterizado por estar dotado de complejos sistemas defensivos. Este suceso está encuadrado dentro de un proceso de creciente desigualdad social, vinculado al contacto con agentes provenientes de fuera del ámbito peninsular. El objetivo de este trabajo es profundizar en el conocimiento de este tipo de construcciones. Para ello hemos analizado los diferentes elementos que componen estos sistemas de defensa, su posible origen y el trasfondo social de las comunidades que los erigen. Palabras clave: Bronce Final, Primera Edad del Hierro, Valle del Ebro, sistemas defensivos, influencias orientales, complejidad social. ABSTRACT On the first moments of the First Iron Age starts to appear a new kind of settlements along the Middle Ebro Valley, characterised by being provided with complex defensive systems. This event is placed in the context of a rising social inequality, associated with the contact with agents coming from outer the peninsular area. The objective of this essay is to deep into the knowledge of this kind of structures. To this end we have analysed the different items which form these defensive systems, their possible origin and the social background of the communities which build them. Key words: Late Bronze, First Iron Age, Ebro Valley, defensive systems, eastern influences, social complexity

An adaptation of meaning-centered psychotherapy integrating "essential care": A pilot study

Introduction There is a growing interest in the emotional state of cancer patients. The main objective of this pilot study is to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy and Essential Care (MCP-EC) in patients with advanced cancer compared with usual psychological support. We define "Essential Care"as the promotion of patient care and self-care through the recall of good care experiences and discussion of the concepts: responsibility, self-compassion, kindness, and attitude. Method Pilot, single-center, and prospective study of 30 patients with advanced cancer and emotional distress. Our adaptation consisted in three session Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy-Palliative Care, plus a fourth session named "Essential Care". The study was carried out in two phases. First, 20 patients were randomized to one of the two arms: individual MCP-EC (experimental, n = 10) or usual psychological supportive (control, n = 10). In a second phase, 10 patients were assigned consecutively to Group MCP-EC (n = 10). All patients were evaluated at baseline (pre-) and post-intervention with questionnaires for sociodemographic data and clinical scales. Results Nineteen patients completed the 4 sessions of MCP-EC, 9 individual format and 10 group format. Usual supportive intervention was delivered to 10 control patients. Total 28 patients completed pre- and post-treatment evaluations. There were no pre- vs. post-differences in the evaluations of the control group. In the experimental group, significant pre- vs. post-differences were found in EQ-5D-3L, HADS, FACIT, DM, HAI, SCS-SF, and TD questionnaires. These results indicated that MCP-EC reduced anxiety and depression symptoms, hopelessness, demoralization, as well as increased spiritual well-being and sense of meaning. Participants were satisfied and found the MCP-EC intervention positively. Conclusions This pilot study suggests that the MCP-EC has feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy reducing the emotional distress in advanced cancer patients. Larger studies are warranted to clarify the strengths and limitations of this psychotherapy. © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

Relationship between Salmonella infection, shedding and serology in fattening pigs in low–moderate prevalence areas

Salmonella is a major foodborne pathogen causing important zoonosis worldwide. Pigs asymptomatically infected in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) can be intermittent shedders of the pathogen through faeces, being considered a major source of human infections. European baseline studies of fattening pig salmonellosis are based on Salmonella detection in MLN. This work studies the relationship between Salmonella infection in MLN and intestinal content (IC) shedding at slaughter and the relationship between the presence of the pathogen and the serologic status at farm level. Mean Salmonella prevalence in the selected pigs (vertically integrated production system of Navarra, Spain) was 7.2% in MLN, 8.4% in IC and 9.6% in serum samples. In this low–moderate prevalence context, poor concordance was found between MLN infection and shedding at slaughter and between bacteriology and serology. In fact, most of shedders were found uninfected in MLN (83%) or carrying different Salmonella strains in MLN and in IC (90%). The most prevalent Salmonellae were Typhimurium resistant to ACSSuT ± Nx or ASSuT antibiotic families, more frequently found invading the MLN (70%) than in IC (33.9%). Multivariable analysis revealed that risk factors associated with the presence of Salmonella in MLN or in IC were different, mainly related either to good hygiene practices or to water and feed control, respectively. Overall, in this prevalence context, detection of Salmonella in MLN is an unreliable predictor of faecal shedding at abattoir, indicating that subclinical infections in fattening pigs MLN could have limited relevance in the IC shedding.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Amino acid profile in malnourished patients with liver cirrhosis and its modification with oral nutritional supplements: Implications on minimal hepatic encephalopathy

Low plasma levels of branched chain amino acids (BCAA) in liver cirrhosis are associated with hepatic encephalopathy (HE). We aimed to identify a metabolic signature of minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) in malnourished cirrhotic patients and evaluate its modification with oral nutritional supplements (ONS) enriched with ß-Hydroxy-ß-methylbutyrate (HMB), a derivative of the BCAA leucine. Post hoc analysis was conducted on a double-blind placebo-controlled trial of 43 individuals with cirrhosis and malnutrition, who were randomized to receive, for 12 weeks, oral supplementation twice a day with either 220 mL of Ensure® Plus Advance (HMB group, n = 22) or with 220 mL of Ensure® Plus High Protein (HP group, n = 21). MHE evaluation was by psychometric hepatic encephalopathy score (PHES). Compared to the HP group, an HMB-specific treatment effect led to a larger increase in Val, Leu, Phe, Trp and BCAA fasting plasma levels. Both treatments increased Fischer’s ratio and urea without an increase in Gln or ammonia fasting plasma levels. MHE was associated with a reduced total plasma amino acid concentration, a reduced BCAA and Fischer´s ratio, and an increased Gln/Glu ratio. HMB-enriched ONS increased Fischer´s ratio without varying Gln or ammonia plasma levels in liver cirrhosis and malnutrition, a protective amino acid profile that can help prevent MHE. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

Efectos adversos inmunomediados gastrointestinales y hepáticos inducidos por los inhibidores del punto de control inmunitario: estudio descriptivo observacional

Introducción Los inhibidores del punto de control inmunitario (immune checkpoint inhibitors [ICI]) son fármacos eficaces en el tratamiento de diversas neoplasias. Sin embargo, se han relacionado con eventos adversos inmunomediados (EAI) gastrointestinales y hepáticos que pueden desencadenar su interrupción temporal o definitiva. Objetivo Evaluar, en condiciones de práctica real, la eficacia y la toxicidad gastrointestinal y hepática de los ICI en tratamientos oncológicos. Material y métodos Estudio retrospectivo con inclusión de pacientes con diagnóstico de neoplasia avanzada que habían recibido al menos una dosis de ICI entre mayo de 2015 y septiembre de 2018. Resultados Se incluyeron 132 pacientes con neoplasia de pulmón no microcítico (65, 15%, n = 86), melanoma (22, 7%, n = 30), carcinoma renal (9, 09%, n = 12) y otros tumores (3%, n = 4). Los fármacos empleados fueron nivolumab (n = 82), pembrolizumab (n = 28), atezolizumab (n = 13), durvalumab (n = 2), ipilimumab (n = 1) y la combinación anti-CTLA-4/PD-1 (n = 6). El 38, 6% (n = 51) desarrollaron EAI, de tipo gastrointestinal en el 12, 9% (n = 17). De ellos, el 47% (n = 8) requirieron esteroides, y un paciente precisó cirugía por perforación intestinal. En el 3, 03% (n = 4) se objetivaron EAI hepáticos grado I: el 50% (n = 2) requirieron corticoterapia y en un paciente fue preciso interrumpir el tratamiento. Entre los pacientes con tratamiento combinado, el 66, 6% (n = 4) presentaron EAI gastrointestinales. La incidencia de EAI no se relacionó con la edad, ni con el sexo, ni con la respuesta al fármaco empleado. Conclusiones Los EAI gastrointestinales figuran entre los más frecuentemente observados en pacientes en tratamiento con ICI. El manejo multidisciplinar y un mayor conocimiento de dichos eventos podrían ayudarnos a reducir su morbilidad, así como las interrupciones del tratamiento. Introduction Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are effective agents against several malignancies. However, they are associated with gastrointestinal and liver immune-related adverse events (GI-IrAEs and LI-IrAEs), which can lead to their temporary or permanent discontinuation. Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and gastrointestinal and liver toxicity of ICIs in oncological treatments in actual clinical practice. Material and methods Patients with advanced cancer who received at least 1 ICI dose between May 2015 and September 2018 were retrospectively assessed. Results 132 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (65.15%, n = 86); melanoma (22.7%, n = 30); renal carcinoma (9.09%, n = 12); and other tumours (3%, n = 4) were included. The treatments administered were nivolumab (n = 82), pembrolizumab (n = 28), atezolizumab (n = 13), durvalumab (n = 2), ipilimumab (n = 1) and the antiCTLA-4/PD-1 combination (n = 6). In total, 51 patients (38.6%) developed IrAEs, 17 (12.9%) of which experienced GI-IrAEs. Of these, 8 (47%) needed steroids and 1 patient required surgery due to intestinal perforation. Grade I Li-IrAEs were observed in 4 patients (3.03%): 2 (50%) required corticosteroids and 1 patient had to discontinue treatment. Four patients (66.6%) who received combination therapy experienced GI-IrAEs. IrAE incidence were not associated with age, gender or drug response. Conclusions GI-IrAEs are one of the most common adverse events in patients receiving ICIs. A multidisciplinary approach and a greater understanding of these events could help to reduce morbidity and therapy discontinuation

The food system in the wider bioeconomy: the BioSAM perspective : an economic impact analysis for EU Member States

The Bioeconomy emerges as an opportunity towards more economic, social and environmental sustainability, becoming a priority for many countries, including the European Union and its Member States. According to the definition in the European Union strategy, the Bioeconomy includes all sectors of the economy that are based on the use of renewable biological resources to produce value added products such as food, feed, energy, and bio-based products (European Commission, 2012). Due to the importance of promoting the Bioeconomy, it is necessary to analyse the impact of the sectors directly involved. However, the lack of available data is one of the main obstacles for monitoring its progress. As a response to this problem, the Bioeconomy Social Accounting Matrix (BioSAM) database has been developed for the EU Member States (Mainar-Causapé 2021). The purpose of this report is to present an overview of the European Union bio-based products and industries. Our focus is mainly on the analysis of the impacts of final demand variation on value added and employment by sectoral level disaggregation. By using the BioSAM database it is possible to deepen the impact analysis by considering a detailed disaggregation of bio-based products. A country cluster analysis focusing on food system sectors is also introduced. In addition, the results are presented in a dashboard to allow the replication and comparison of different impacts by sector and country.Publishe

SARS-CoV-2 infection induces a dual response in liver function tests: Association with mortality during hospitalization

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is associated with abnormal liver function tests. We hypothesized that early altered liver biochemistries at admission might have different clinical relevance than subsequent changes during hospitalization. A single-center retrospective study was conducted on 540 consecutive hospitalized patients, PCR-diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2. Liver test abnormalities were defined as the elevation of either gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), or aspartate aminotransferase (AST), above the upper limit of normality set by our laboratory. Linear mixed models (LMM) evaluated longitudinal associations, incorporating all available follow-up laboratory chemistries. By the end of the follow-up period, 502 patients (94.5%) were discharged (109 (20.5%) died). A total of 319 (64.3%) had at least one abnormal liver test result at admission. More prevalent were elevated AST (40.9%) and GGT (47.3%). Abnormalities were not associated with survival but with respiratory complications at admission. Conversely, LMM models adjusted for age and sex showed that longitudinal increases during hospitalization in ferritin, GGT, and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), as well as a decreased albumin levels, were associated with reduced survival. This dual pattern of liver damage might reconcile previous conflicting reports. GGT and ALP trajectories could be useful to determine who might need more surveillance and intensive care