Status and Dietary Intake of Phytoene and Phytofluene in Spanish Adults and the Effect of a Four-Week Dietary Intervention with Lutein-Rich Fruits or Vegetables.

Phytoene (PT) and phytofluene (PTF) are colourless carotenoids presents in the human diet and in blood, faeces and tissues and are biologically active. However, there is very little data on these carotenoids. This study aims to assess PT and PTF concentrations in serum from healthy Spanish normolipemic subjects (n = 101, 45–65 years) and the effect of a fruit and vegetable dietary intervention (4 weeks, n = 29) on PT and PTF concentration in serum and faeces and dietary intake. Serum and faecal concentrations were analysed by HPLC and dietary intake by 3 × 24 h recalls. PT showed higher concentrations than PTF in serum, faeces and in the dietary intake. Considering both studies, PT and PTF concentrations in serum were 0.16 ± 0.07 and 0.05 ± 0.04 µmol/L, respectively, in faeces 17.7 ± 20.3 and 6.5 ± 7.9 µg/g, respectively, and in dietary intake the median was 2.4 and 0.6 mg/p/day, respectively. Carrots and tomatoes were the major dietary contributors of these carotenoids. The dietary intervention did not cause significant variations in the PT and PTF intake or serum concentrations, but a lower concentration in faeces was observed for the fruit group (PT: p = 0.024; PTF isomer-3: p = 0.034). These data highlight the need for further research on the activities of these carotenoids in humanspost-print1648 K

Dietary β-Cryptoxanthin and α-Carotene Have Greater Apparent Bioavailability Than β-Carotene in Subjects from Countries with Different Dietary Patterns.

β-carotene, α-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin are greater contributors to vitamin A intake than retinol in the human diet for most people around the world. Their contribution depends on several factors, including bioavailability and capacity of conversion into retinol. There is an increasing body of research showing that the use of retinol activity equivalents or retinol equivalents could lead to the underestimation of the contribution of β-cryptoxanthin and of α-carotene. The aim is to assess their apparent bioavailability by comparing concentrations in blood to their dietary intakes and identifying the major food contributors to their dietary intake. Dietary intake (3-day 24-h records) and serum concentrations (by HPLC) were calculated in normolipemic subjects with adequate retinol status (≥1.1 µmol/L) from our studies (n = 633) and apparent bioavailability calculated from 22 other studies (n = 29,700). Apparent bioavailability was calculated as the ratio of concentration in the blood to carotenoid intake. Apparent bioavailabilities for α-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin were compared to those for β-carotene. Eating comparable amounts of α-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin and β-carotene foods resulted in 55% greater α-carotene (95% CI 35, 90) and 686% higher β-cryptoxanthin (95% CI 556, 1016) concentrations than β-carotene in blood. This suggests differences in the apparent bioavailability of α-carotene and β-cryptoxanthin and even larger differences with β-cryptoxanthin, greater than that of β-carotene. Four fruits (tomato, orange, tangerine, red pepper) and two vegetables (carrot, spinach) are the main contributors to their dietary intake (>50%) in Europeans.post-print579 K

Predictors of macular pigment and contrast threshold in Spanish healthy normolipemic subjects (45–65 years) with habitual food intake.

Introduction The dietary carotenoids lutein (L) and zeaxanthin (Z) are transported in the bloodstream by lipoproteins, sequestered by adipose tissue, and eventually captured in the retina where they constitute macular pigment. There are no L&Z dietary intake recommendations nor desired blood/tissue concentrations for the Spanish general population. Our aim was to assess the correlation of L&Z habitual dietary intake (excluding food supplements), resulting serum concentrations and lipid profile with macular pigment optical density (MPOD) as well as the contrast sensitivity (CT), as visual outcome in normolipemic subjects (n = 101) aged 45–65. Methods MPOD was measured by heterochromatic flicker photometry, serum L&Z by HPLC, the dietary intake by a 3-day food records and CT using the CGT-1000-Contrast-Glaretester at six stimulus sizes, with and without glare. Results Lutein and zeaxanthin concentrations (median) in serum: 0.361 and 0.078 μmol/L, in dietary intake: 1.1 mg L+Z/day. MPOD: 0.34du. L+Z intake correlates with their serum concentrations (rho = 0.333, p = 0.001), which in turn correlates with MPOD (rho = 0.229, p = 0.000) and with fruit and vegetable consumption (rho = 0.202, p = 0.001), but not with lutein+zeaxanthin dietary intake. MPOD correlated with CT, with and without glare (rho ranges: -0.135, 0.160 and -0.121, –0.205, respectively). MPOD predictors: serum L+Z, L+Z/HDL-cholesterol (β-coeficient: -0.91±0.2, 95%CI: -1.3,-0.5) and HDL-cholesterol (R2 = 15.9%). CT predictors: MPOD, mainly at medium and smaller visual angles (corresponding to spatial frequencies for which sensitivity declines with age) and gender (β-coefficients ranges: -0.95,-0.39 and -0.13,-0.39, respectively). Conclusion A higher MPOD is associated with a lower ratio of L+Z/HDL-cholesterol and with a lower CT (higher contrast sensitivity). The HDL-cholesterol would also act indirectly on the CT improving the visual function.post-print1201 K

Changes in Lutein Status Markers (Serum and Faecal Concentrations, Macular Pigment) in Response to a Lutein-Rich Fruit or Vegetable (Three Pieces/Day) Dietary Intervention in Normolipemic Subjects.

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Anestesia en tumores supratentoriales.

Supratentorial brain tumors (STBs) are the most common primary central nervous system tumors. Anesthesia for SBTs requires an understanding of the cerebral physiology and should focus on maintaining cerebral perfusión pressure, avoding secondary insults to the brain, providing an optimal operative scenario through the control of the intracranial pressure, facilitating the electrophysiological monitoring and favoring a rapid and smooth emergence that allows an early neurological evaluation if no complications are present. The correct management of these goals will impact the neurosurgical outcome and patient’s prognosis after de SBT resection. The purpose of this review is to provide an updated summary of the evidence and give the anesthesiologist the knowledge to perform a supratentorial craniotomy. To make this review, a non-systematic search was performed in PubMed and Cochrane Databases for the last twenty years, with an update of April 2022 and using the following keywords “anesthesia” “supratentorial brain tumor” “supratentorial craniotomy” and “brain bulk”.Los tumores supratentoriales (TS) son los tumores primarios más frecuentes del sistema nervioso central. Su manejo anestésico exige un profundo conocimiento de la fisiología cerebral y debe ir enfocado a mantener una adecuada perfusión cerebral, evitar agresiones cerebrales secundarias, favorecer unas condiciones quirúrgicas óptimas a través del control de la presión intracraneal, lograr una adecuada neuromonitorización y facilitar un despertar rápido y suave que permita, en ausencia de complicaciones, una evaluación neurológica precoz. El manejo adecuado de estos pilares tendrá un impacto directo en el resultado neuroquirúrgico y en el pronóstico del paciente tras la resección. El objetivo de esta revisión es proporcionar un resumen actualizado de la evidencia y conocimientos que debe poseer un anestesiólogo en el manejo de la craneotomía de TS. Para llevar a cabo este documento, se ha realizado una búsqueda no sistemática de la literatura en las bases de datos PubMed y Cochrane en los últimos veinte años, con fecha de actualización abril 2022, utilizando las palabras clave “anesthesia” “supratentorial brain tumor” “supratentorial craniotomy” “brain bulk”

Assessment of Food Sources and the Intake of the Colourless Carotenoids Phytoene and Phytofluene in Spain.

Phytoene (PT) and phytofluene (PTF), colorless carotenoids, have largely been ignored in food science studies, food technology, and nutrition. However, they are present in commonly consumed foods and may have health-promotion effects and possible uses as cosmetics. The goal of this study is to assess the most important food sources of PT and PTF and their dietary intakes in a representative sample of the adult Spanish population. A total of 62 food samples were analyzed (58 fruit and vegetables; seven items with different varieties/color) and carotenoid data of four foods (three fruits and one processed food) were compiled. PT concentration was higher than that of PTF in all the foods analyzed. The highest PT content was found in carrot, apricot, commercial tomato juice, and orange (7.3, 2.8, 2.0, and 1.1 mg/100 g, respectively). The highest PTF level was detected in carrots, commercial tomato sauce and canned tomato, apricot, and orange juice (1.7, 1.2, 1.0, 0.6, and 0.04 mg/100 g, respectively). The daily intakes of PT and PTF were 1.89 and 0.47 mg/person/day, respectively. The major contributors to the dietary intake of PT (98%) and PTF (73%) were: carrot, tomato, orange/orange juice, apricot, and watermelon. PT and PTF are mainly supplied by vegetables (81% and 69%, respectively). Considering the color of the edible part of the foods analyzed (fruit, vegetables, sauces, and beverages), the major contributor to the daily intake of PT and PTF (about 98%) were of red/orange color.post-print1287 K

Evaluation of the potential of total proanthocyanidin content in feces as an intake biomarker.

Due to the health benefits associated with proanthocyanidins (PAs), it is useful to identify dietary PA biomarkers that can be determined by simple methods. Since increased levels of circulating PA metabolites are associated with increased fecal PA content, this study explores the spectrophotometric measurement of fecal PA content and its use as a biomarker of PA intake. To this end, fecal PA content was measured using an adaptation of Porter’s spectrophotometric method in samples from a preclinical study and an observational study. In the former, excretion of 250–400 mg PA polymer equivalents/100 g feces was observed during supplementation and the day after, together with a significant association (p < 0.05) between PA intake and the excretion of both intact PAs and some PA metabolites, i.e., (+)-catechin, (−)-epicatechin and syringic acid. No relationship between intake and excretion was found in the observational study, either for the entire group (mean excretion of 240 ± 226 mg PA polymer equivalents/100 g feces) or after stratification into tertiles of consumption. In conclusion, the spectrophotometric determination of total PA content in feces proved to be a valid compliance marker in a preclinical study, but it was not associated with PA intake in free-living subjects. The potential of total PA excretion in observational studies, determined in fecal samples collected the day before dietary recall or in several fecal samples from the same subject, remains to be elucidated, as does a complete validation of the method proposed here.post-print552 K

Sistematización del seguimiento/acreditación de los títulos de doctorado: Un protocolo de buenas prácticas

El objetivo de este proyecto es diseñar una estrategia de monitorización del Programa de Doctorado en Psicología, junto con un protocolo de buenas prácticas para que cualquier titulación de la UCM pueda superar con éxito el proceso de acreditación.Fac. de PsicologíaFALSEVicerrectorado de Calidad, UCMsubmitte

Desarrollo de recursos humanos para la gobernanza de ciudades inteligentes sostenibles: proyecto CAP4CITY

El proyecto CAP4CITY tiene como objetivo fortalecer y desarrollar la capacidad de instituciones académicas en América Latina y Europa para mejorar la calidad de la educación superior en el campo de ciudades inteligentes sostenibles. El Proyecto es co-financiado en el marco del Programa Erasmus+ de la Unión Europea, para la construcción de capacidades en la educación superior. Se presenta el avance del primer año del proyecto y las actividades a realizar en el siguiente periodo.Eje: Ingeniería de Software.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informátic

Ciudades inteligentes sostenibles en América Latina : Proyecto CAP4CITY

El proyecto CAP4CITY tiene como objetivo fortalecer y desarrollar la capacidad de instituciones académicas en América Latina y Europa para mejorar la calidad de la educación superior en el campo de ciudades inteligentes sostenibles. El Proyecto es co-financiado en el marco del Programa Erasmus+ de la Unión Europea, para la construcción de capacidades en la educación superior. Se presenta el avance de los primeros años del proyecto y las actividades a realizar en el siguiente periodo.Eje: Redes de cooperación científica internacionales.Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informátic