Does low-energy sweetener consumption affect energy intake and body weight? A systematic review, including meta-analyses, of the evidence from human and animal studies

By reducing energy density, low-energy sweeteners (LES) might be expected to reduce energy intake (EI) and body weight (BW). To assess the totality of the evidence testing the null hypothesis that LES exposure (versus sugars or unsweetened alternatives) has no effect on EI or BW, we conducted a systematic review of relevant studies in animals and humans consuming LES with ad libitum access to food energy. In 62 of 90 animal studies exposure to LES did not affect or decreased BW. Of 28 reporting increased BW, 19 compared LES with glucose exposure using a specific ‘learning’ paradigm. Twelve prospective cohort studies in humans reported inconsistent associations between LES use and Body Mass Index (-0.002 kg/m2/year, 95%CI -0.009 to 0.005). Meta-analysis of short- term randomized controlled trials (RCTs, 129 comparisons) showed reduced total EI for LES- versus sugar-sweetened food or beverage consumption before an ad libitum meal (-94 kcal, 95%CI -122 to -66), with no difference versus water (-2 kcal, 95%CI -30 to 26). This was consistent with EI results from sustained intervention RCTs (10 comparisons). Meta-analysis of sustained intervention RCTs (4 weeks to 40 months) showed that consumption of LES versus sugar led to relatively reduced BW (nine comparisons; -1.35 kg, 95%CI –2.28 to - 0.42), and a similar relative reduction in BW versus water (three comparisons; -1.24 kg, 95%CI –2.22 to -0.26). Most animal studies did not mimic LES consumption by humans, and reverse causation may influence the results of prospective cohort studies. The preponderance of evidence from all human RCTs indicates that LES do not increase EI or BW, whether compared with caloric or non-caloric (e.g., water) control conditions. Overall, the balance of evidence indicates that use of LES in place of sugar, in children and adults, leads to reduced EI and BW, and possibly also when compared with water

Are we training our novices towards quality 2D profiles for 3D models?

In the history-based, feature-based, parametric CAD approach, 2D profile sketches are the basis for 3D models. Fully-constraining profiles is mandatory to create robust profiles. At present, neither CAD applications nor Model Quality Testing Tools usually check whether 2D profiles contain redundant constraints. Besides, our experience shows that novices tend to introduce redundant constraints. We hypothesize that 2D profiles over-constrained with redundant relations are more difficult to edit than those that avoid redundancies. In the present work―and as a first step to demonstrate this hypothesis―an experiment was conducted. Students of the subject “Graphics engineering” were taught on the creation of constrained 2D profiles. Then, they were asked two questions. On the one hand, novices had to identify and reason whether a simple given profile was fully-constrained, over-constrained or under-constrained. On the other hand, they had to identify and point out the types of the constraints. The results showed that in spite that novices received a specific training, roughly half of them failed to say if the 2D profile sketch was fully-constrained and which type of constraints it contained. Furthermore, the results of the second question revealed that more than the half of students did not recognize perpendicularity as a geometric constraint. As future work, we will try to demonstrate whether a reinforced training through simple exercises and a quick and effective feedback, will allow novices to improve the identification and removal of redundant 2D constraints when drawing 2D profile sketches (thus helping to produce robust profiles)

A Communication Intervention for Training Southern European Oncologists to Recognize Psychosocial Morbidity in Cancer. I - Development of the Model and Preliminary Results on Physicians' Satisfaction

BACKGROUND: The detection of psychosocial distress is a significant communication problem in Southern Europe and other countries. Work in this area is hampered by a lack of data. Because not much is known about training aimed at improving the recognition of psychosocial disorders in cancer patients, we developed a basic course model for medical oncology professionals. METHODS: A specific educational and experiential model (12 hours divided into 2 modules) involving formal teaching (ie, journal articles, large-group presentations), practice in small groups (ie, small-group exercises and role playing), and discussion in large groups was developed with the aim of improving the ability of oncologists to detect emotional disturbances in cancer patients (ie, depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorders). RESULTS: A total of 30 oncologists from 3 Southern European countries (Italy, Portugal, and Spain) participated in the workshop. The training course was well accepted by most participants who expressed general satisfaction and a positive subjective perception of the utility of the course for clinical practice. Of the total participants, 28 physicians (93.3%) thought that had they been exposed to this material sooner, they would have incorporated the techniques received in the workshop into their practices; 2 participants stated they would likely have done so. Half of the doctors (n = 15) believed that their clinical communication techniques were improved by participating in the workshop, and the remaining half thought that their abilities to communicate with cancer patients had improved. CONCLUSIONS: This model is a feasible approach for oncologists and is easily applicable to various oncology settings. Further studies will demonstrate the effectiveness of this method for improving oncologists skills in recognizing emotional disorders in their patients with cancer

CONSEQUENCES OF SINGULAR ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS ON THE CYCLE OF METALS IN COASTAL LAGOONS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE INCORPORATION OF METALS BY PRIMARY PRODUCERS

Coastal areas are valuable and sensitive environments subjected to great anthropogenic pressure. Among these pressures, metal pollution is of priority concern as these pollutants can reach concentrations that exceed the levels established to protect sensitive organisms in the ecosystem. In coastal lagoons, shallow systems with a reduced exchange with the open sea, metal concentrations are one or two orders of magnitude higher than in open-waters. In addition, these systems are subjected to physicochemical variations that can alter the biogeochemical cycling of the metals. Singular environmental events such as strong winds cause metal resuspension, torrential rain events provoke the entrance of solutes and pollutants, and phytoplankton blooms dramatically increase the concentration of organic matter. These events provoke alterations in the concentration and speciation of metals in the water column. This will have a direct impact in the organisms living in the area, since metal toxicity and bioavailability depends on the chemical speciation. Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is the most important variable influencing metal speciation and bioavailability in seawater. However, the effects of DOM on metal bioavailability have not been yet unravelled and contrasting results have been reported, some showing that DOM protects against metal toxicity and others showing the opposite. The present study was designed to study how the biogeochemical cycling of trace metals in the water column of coastal lagoons is influenced by these singular environmental events and how this affects the incorporation of metals by the primary producers, in this case, microalgae, with particular focus on the effect of dissolved organic matter on metal biouptake. The proposed work combines field sampling and analytical work in the Mar Menor lagoon (SE Spain). This project will substantially contribute to widen our knowledge about the behaviour of metals in coastal areas and to determine how the presence of DOM affects their toxicity

HELMINTOFAUNA DE ALGUNOS HERPETOS DEL SISTEMA IBÉRICO ESPAÑOL

82 specimens from different species of Amphibians and Reptiles, adultes and juveniles for some Amphibians, collected from six points of Nord Spanish “Sistema Ibérico”, were examined for helminth parasites. The Amphibians and Reptiles were inhabited by five species of Trematoda and six species of Nematoda, with special mention of Strongyloides natricis Navarro et Lluch, 1993 (NEMATODA : STRONGYLOIDIDAE) and Paracapillaria (Ophidiocapillaria) sonsinoi (Parona, 1897) Moravec, 1982 (NEMATODA : CAPILLARIIDAE).Se ha llevado ha cabo el estudio parasitológico de 82 ejemplares de hospedadores de distintas especies herpetológicas, tanto de formas adultas como larvarias en el caso de los Anfibios, procedentes de seis enclaves situados en la porción septentrional del Sistema Ibérico español. El análisis helmintológico de los Anfibios y Reptiles muestreados ha permitido detectar cinco especies de trematodos y otras seis de nematodos, destacando la presencia de Strongyloides natricis Navarro et Lluch, 1993 (NEMATODA : STRONGYLOIDIDAE) and Paracapillaria (Ophidiocapillaria) sonsinoi (Parona, 1897) Moravec, 1982 (NEMATODA : CAPILLARIIDAE)

COPPER AND LEAD COMPLEXATION BY DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER IN MAR MENOR COASTAL LAGOON

Mar Menor coastal lagoon is a shallow system with a reduced exchange with the open sea, that is affected by several anthropogenic pressures, mainly agriculture and mining. The mining sierra of Cartagena-La Unión has been historically discharging mining waste rich in heavy metals in the south area of Mar Menor, resulting in high metal concentrations in sediments (García and Muñoz-Vera., 2015). The nutrients reaching the lagoon, together with the high temperatures, also provoke phytoplankton blooms that lead to high concentrations of dissolved organic matter (DOM). It is well known that total metal concentrations are not good predictors of their bioavailability, and metal speciation should be taken into account. The presence of ligands, such as DOM in the water, may form metal-DOM complexes and protect against the deleterious effects of metals. The present study aims at studying the effect of DOM on the speciation of dissolved metals (Cu and Pb) in Mar Menor waters. With that aim, filtered water was sampled at five sites in Mar Menor lagoon at several sampling periods. Metal concentration was analysed by ICP-MS with Argon gas dilution, DOC was analysed in a carbon-specific infrared gas analyser and optical characterization of DOM was obtained from absorbance and fluorescence spectra. Complexiometric titrations of Cu and Pb were performed by anodic stripping voltammetry following Durán and Nieto (2011). Preliminary results show that Cu and Pb concentrations in Mar Menor waters are higher than in other coastal areas, especially in the south area of the lagoon, reaching concentrations of tens of nanomolar. DOC concentrations are also very high in Mar Menor waters, leading to high complexation capacities for Cu, therefore protecting aquatic biota from the deleterious effects of Cu. Pb, on the contrary, is poorly complexed by DOM, and almost all dissolved Pb is present in inorganic forms

Tratamiento quirúrgico de la escoliosis en el síndrome de Rett: sistema de instrumentación TRANSPINE

El Síndrome de Rett es una afectación neurológica que en los estadios últimos presenta deformidades evolutivas que suelen precisar cirugía. Se han revisado en este estudio 11 pacientes con Síndrome de Rett y deformidad en columna que precisaron cirugía. Se analizaron las magnitudes de las curvas con ángulo de Cobb, alteraciones del plano sagital (cifosis y lordosis), oblicuidad pélvica pre y postoperatoria, niveles de fusión y complicaciones postoperatorias. La corrección media fue del 65%. Se realizó una fusión posterior en todos los pacientes sin incluir sacro pelvis. Los montajes se realizaron principalmente con sistema híbrido de tornillos, ganchos, pinzas y cables laminares TRANSPINE®. Las escoliosis neuromusculares, como el síndrome de Rett, que precisan corrección, pueden controlarse de forma segura y efectiva mediante artrodesis posterior con instrumentación híbrida.Rett Syndrome is a neurological impairment with a typically long C scoliosis curve that often require surgery. In this study it has been reviewed 11 patients with Rett syndrome and spine deformity. We analyzed the magnitudes of the curves with Cobb angle, sagittal plane (kyphosis and lordosis), preoperative and postoperative pelvic obliquity, fusion levels and postoperative complications. The average correction was 65%. Posterior fusion was performed in all patients excluding sacrum pelvis. The assemblies are made mainly with the hybrid system of screws, hooks, clips and cables TRANSPINE®. Neuromuscular scoliosis, such as Rett syndrome, which needs correction, can be controlled safely and effectively by posterior fusion with hybrid constructs