Beef is considered an excellent source of high‐quality protein and micronutrients. The high saturated fatty acid (SFA) composition of beef has been associated with cardiovascular diseases; however, ...this is a controversial issue because at present, no evidence has scientifically proven such an association. Wagyu cattle have been used as an option to generate high‐quality fatty acids (FAs) in beef and have been crossed with local beef cattle (Wagyu‐Cross). In Mexico, Wagyu‐Cross is marketed assuming the same quality as purebred Wagyu meat without scientific support. This study aimed to determine whether the differences in the FA composition of Wagyu‐Cross and commercial beef affected lipid metabolism in frequent consumers of beef. The study is a randomized, controlled, double‐blinded phase IV clinical trial. Thirty‐four volunteers completed treatments in which 120 g ground beef was consumed 3 days per week for 2 weeks. Volunteers were randomized to the “A” (commercial meat) or “B” (Wagyu‐Cross meat) groups. The beef fat content was 87% higher, the SFA content was 2.3% lower, and the monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) C18:1 n‐9 concentrations were higher in Wagyu‐Cross beef than in commercial beef. The B group exhibited a significantly larger change from baseline in the serum lipid profile in total cholesterol (TC) (−4.7% versus +6.9%), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) (−4.1% versus +10.0%), nonhigh‐density lipoprotein (non‐HDL) (−6.1% versus +4.9%), and the ratio of three atherogenic indexes—TC/HDL (−3.5% versus +6.4%), LDL/HDL (−2.8% versus +14.6%), and non‐HDL/HDL (−4.7% versus +9.3%)—than the A group. This result confirms that meat FA composition is a key point for redirecting cattle breeding strategies and promotes beef as a healthful protein source.
Practical Application
Here, we found new evidence based on a clinical trial that beef with a favorable fatty acid composition (i.e., monounsaturated fatty acid and polyunsaturated fatty acid content) is a key factor in improving parameters associated with consumer health. This information will support the design of cattle breeding strategies as an option to promote beef consumption as a healthier protein source and create opportunities for the development of the functional food industry.
Beef is an excellent source of nutrients; unfortunately, most nutritional recommendations suggest limiting or even avoiding it. Studies have shown that the fatty acid composition of meat influences ...weight loss. This randomized controlled clinical trial evaluated the anthropometric and serum lipid changes after a food intervention that included frequent beef consumption (120 g consumed four days/week for four weeks). Volunteers were randomly assigned to the commercial or Wagyu-Cross beef groups, with the latter beef possessing higher fat and MUFA contents. Both groups exhibited reductions in body measurements and lipid profiles; however, the Wagyu-Cross group exhibited greater changes in weight (−3.75 vs. −2.90 kg) and BMI (−1.49 vs. −1.03) than the commercial group, without a significant difference between them. No significant group differences in lipid profiles were observed; however, the Wagyu-Cross group exhibited a more favorable change in decreasing the TC concentration (−7.00 mg/dL) and LDL-C concentration (−12.5 mg/dL). We suggest that high MUFA beef could be included in weight-loss programs since it does not affect weight loss and hasn’t a negative influence on lipid metabolism.
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a hematological disease characterized by the dysfunction of the hematopoietic system that leads to arrest at a specific stage of stem cells development, ...suppressing the average production of cellular hematologic components. BCP-ALL is a neoplasm of the B-cell lineage progenitor. BCP-ALL is caused and perpetuated by several mechanisms that provide the disease with its tumor potential and genetic and cytological characteristics. These pathological features are used for diagnosis and the prognostication of BCP-ALL. However, most of these paraclinical tools can only be obtained by bone marrow aspiration, which, as it is an invasive study, can delay the diagnosis and follow-up of the disease, in addition to the anesthetic risk it entails for pediatric patients. For this reason, it is crucial to find noninvasive and accessible ways to supply information concerning diagnosis, prognosis, and the monitoring of the disease, such as circulating biomarkers. In oncology, a biomarker is any measurable indicator that demonstrates the presence of malignancy, tumoral behavior, prognosis, or responses to treatments. This review summarizes circulating molecules associated with BCP-ALL with potential diagnostic value, classificatory capacity during monitoring specific clinic features of the disease, and/or capacity to identify each BCP-ALL stage regarding its evolution and outcome of the patients with BCP-ALL. In the same way, we provide and classify biomarkers that may be used in further studies focused on clinical approaches or therapeutic target identification for BCP-ALL.
Childhood obesity is associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases. We aimed to examine the relation between serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) and blood pressure in obese ...schoolchildren.
Cross-sectional study in school-age children with obesity. The serum levels of 25(OH)D were measured and classified as sufficient or insufficient/deficient. Blood pressure was measured. Normal values were considered <90th percentile, elevated blood pressure ≥90th to <95th percentiles, and hypertension ≥95th percentile, according to blood pressure reference tables, specific for age, sex, and height. The Pearson correlation was performed.
256 obese schoolchildren (123 48.0% females and 133 51.9 % males) were evaluated. The prevalence rates of vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency were 23.4%, 52.3%, and 24.2%, respectively. Normal blood pressure was observed in 101 (39.4%) children; the frequencies of elevated blood pressure and hypertension were 10.9% and 49.6%, respectively. A moderate inverse correlation of 25(OH) D levels with systolic blood pressure levels (r = -0.54, p = 0.03) was observed. When analyzed by sex, a significantly high inverse correlation between 25(OH)D levels and systolic blood pressure was observed in males (r=-0.85 and p=<0.001). No significant correlation was found in females (systolic r=-0.16 and p=0.67; diastolic r= -0.15 and p=0.812). When performing the multiple regression analysis, the 25(OH)D levels and body mass index (BMI) were the significant predictors for systolic blood pressure.
We identified an inverse correlation between 25OHD levels and systolic blood pressure in male schoolchildren with obesity.
The present study highlighted the repositioning of the drug dapsone (DDS) for cancer therapy. Due to its mechanism of action, DDS has a dual effect as an antibiotic and as an ...anti-inflammatory/immunomodulator; however, at high doses, it has important adverse effects. The derivative DDS-13 N,N'-(sulfonyl bis (4,1-phenylene)) dioctanamide was synthesized through an N-acylation reaction to compare it with DDS. Its cytotoxic effects in cancer cells (DU145 and HeLa) and non-cancer cells (HDFa) were observed at concentrations ranging 0.01-100 microM and its physicochemical/pharmacokinetic properties were analyzed using the SwissADME tool. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the anticancer activity of both DDS and DDS-13 and to identify the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of DDS-13. The results showed that DDS-13 presented a cytotoxic effect in the DU145 cell line (IC.sub.50=19.06 microM), while DDS showed a cytotoxic effect on both the DU145 (IC.sub.50=11.11 microM) and HeLa (IC.sub.50=13.07 microM) cell lines. DDS-13 appears to be a good cytotoxic candidate for the treatment of prostate cancer, while DDS appears to be a good candidate for both cervical and prostate cancer. Neither candidate showed a cytotoxic effect in non-cancerous cells. The different pharmacokinetic properties of DDS-13 make it a new candidate for evaluation in preclinical models for the treatment of cancer. Key words: dapsone, cancer, synthetic derivative, cytotoxicity, in vitro model
Introduction: No single nutrition parameter can accurately assess nutritional status, to predict outcomes and to drive the priorities for nutrition care in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). ...Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status of HD patients using two validated assessment tools; the "7-point subjective global assessment" (SGA) and "malnutrition inflammation score" (MIS); to determine participants’ daily energy intakes (DEI) and daily protein intakes (DPI); and also to examine the relationship of these parameters with hospitalization and mortality. Patients and Methods: This is a 12-month prospective, single HD-center study that recruited 77 HD participants from an outpatient center in South Florida. For the purpose of this analysis, participants with SGA ≤ 5 and MIS > 7 and were considered to have an inadequate nutritional status represented by SGA-I and MIS-I, respectively. Inadequate energy (DEI-I) and inadequate protein (DPI-I) intake were defined using cutoff values. The outcomes and endpoints of this study were hospitalizations and mortality, registered over 12 months. Results: Fifty-five male and 22 female patients from a single HD center participated in the study. During the 12-month study, 63.6% of participants were hospitalized, 7% transplanted and 13% died. The group of participants with an inadequate nutritional status (defined as SGA-I and MIS-I) and inadequate energy intake (defined as DEI-I) had an increased hazard ratio for mortality SGA-I and DEI-I HR: 7.18 (95% CI: 1.18-43.43; P= 0.032 and MIS-I and DEI-I HR: 13.23, 95% CI: 2.1-83.2; P=0.006 and the likelihood of hospitalization increased almost 3-fold HR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.09-6.842; P=0.031, in the case of MIS-I. Conclusion: These results indicated that energy intake lower than 25 kcal/kg/day increases the risks of hospitalization and mortality for those HD patients with an impaired nutritional status.
Arthralgia is a potentially incapacitating condition and a persistent symptom in chronic or acute episodes of Chikungunya fever caused by infection with the Chikungunya virus (CHIKV). To the best of ...our knowledge, there are no reports on risk factors associated with the intensity of arthralgias in typical acute episodes of the disease. Although a number of studies have reported on risk factors associated with the development of the chronic stage of the disease, smoking habits have not been analyzed. Smoking is an interesting factor to consider since it is the main environmental risk factor for the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a similar disease to CHIKV in many aspects. In the present study, 140 patients infected with CHIKV were assessed for risk factors associated with severe arthralgia intensity in the acute phase (pain of 9/10 on the visual analog scale of 0-10) and moderate to severe intensity (according to the Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3) 3.5 months after infection in patients that experienced the chronic phase of the disease. Women and smokers were 2- to 3-times more likely to experience severe pain in the acute and chronic stages. Likewise, the presence of severe arthralgia during the acute disease phase resulted in a 4-fold increased risk for entering the chronic phase. Smoking was a more important risk factor in males compared with females. Smoking resulted in a 20-fold increased risk for severe arthralgia during the acute phase in men, as well as a 10-fold increased risk for developing chronic disease with moderate-to-severe pain 3.5 months after the acute stage. The presence of rash, headache, muscular weakness or conjunctivitis in the acute phase, the presence of diabetes and age >40 years were considered significant risk factors due to their influence on illness progression. In conclusion, smoking and female sex were the main risk factors associated with development of severe joint pain in the acute and chronic phases of Chikungunya fever. These risk factors are similar to those associated with the development and severity of RA, possibly because the two diseases share pathophysiological mechanisms, including elevated interleukin-6 levels.
Background Obesity in children and adolescents has increased alarmingly, placing them at a higher risk for impaired glucose tolerance and type 2 diabetes. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency has ...increased as well. Vitamin D is critical for glucose homeostasis and insulin secretion. Studies on adults have reported an inverse association between vitamin D levels and insulin resistance (IR), but the results in children are inconsistent. The aim of our study was to determine the association between IR and serum vitamin D levels in obese Mexican children and adolescents. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed on 227 children and adolescents between 6 and 19 years of age. Obesity was diagnosed through body mass index (BMI) for age, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria (2007). 25-Hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) was measured using an immunoassay technique and the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated using the Matthews equation. Student's t-test was carried out. Results The mean serum 25(OH)D level was 35.80 ng/mL, and 55.1% of the subjects had levels classified as sufficient, 33.5% as insufficient, and 11.5% as deficient. The mean level of HOMA-IR was 3.16, and 70% of the subjects were diagnosed with IR. Fasting insulin levels and HOMA-IR were significantly different in adolescents with hypovitaminosis, compared with adolescents in the vitamin D sufficiency group (p = 0.01 and p = 0.03, respectively). Conclusions The insulin levels and HOMA-IR were higher in adolescents with hypovitaminosis. The girls presented higher levels of insulin and HOMA-IR than the boys.
Vitamin D3 or calcitriol (VitD3) has been shown to have anticancer and anti-inflammatory activity in in vitro models and clinical studies. However, its effect on HPV-16-related cancer has been ...sparsely explored. In this study, we aimed to determine whether monotherapy or combination therapy with cisplatin (CP) reduces tumor growth and affects survival and systemic inflammation. Treatments were administered to C57BL/6 mice with HPV-16-related tumors (TC-1 cells) as follows: (1) placebo (100 µL vehicle, olive oil, orally administered daily); (2) VitD3 (3.75 µg/kg calcitriol orally administered daily); (3) CP (5 mg/kg intraperitoneally, every 7 days); and (4) VitD3+CP. Tumor growth was monitored for 25 days, survival for 60 days, and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was evaluated on days 1 (baseline), 7, and 14. VitD3+CP showed greater success in reducing tumor volume compared to CP monotherapy (p = 0.041), while no differences were observed between CP and VitD3 monotherapy (p = 0.671). Furthermore, VitD3+CP prolonged survival compared to CP (p = 0.036) and VitD3 (p = 0.007). Additionally, at day 14 the VitD3 and VitD3+CP groups showed significantly lower NLR values than the CP group (p < 0.05, for both comparisons). Vitamin D3 could be a promising adjuvant in the treatment of cervical cancer or solid tumors and deserves further investigation.
In the ongoing fight against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), researchers are exploring potential treatments to improve outcomes, especially in severe cases. This includes investigating the ...repurposing of existing medications, such as furosemide, which is widely available. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of furosemide on mortality rates among COVID-19 patients with severe or critical illness. We assessed a cohort of 515 hospitalized adults who experienced a high mortality rate of 43.9%. Using a multivariate analysis with adjusted risk ratios (AdRRs), factors like smoking (AdRR 2.48, 95% CI 1.53–4.01, p < 0.001), a high Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) score (AdRR 7.89, 95% CI 5.82–10.70, p < 0.001), mechanical ventilation (AdRR 23.12, 95% CI 17.28–30.92, p < 0.001), neutrophilia (AdRR 2.12, 95% CI 1.52–2.95, p < 0.001), and an elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) (AdRR 2.39, 95% CI 1.72–3.32, p < 0.001) were found to increase mortality risk. In contrast, vaccination and furosemide use were associated with reduced mortality risk (AdRR 0.58, p = 0.001 and 0.60, p = 0.008; respectively). Furosemide showed a pronounced survival benefit in patients with less severe disease (PSI < 120) and those not on hemodialysis, with mortality rates significantly lower in furosemide users (3.7% vs. 25.7%). A Kaplan–Meier analysis confirmed longer survival and better oxygenation levels in patients treated with furosemide. Furthermore, a Structure–Activity Relationship analysis revealed that furosemide’s sulfonamide groups may interact with cytokine sites such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), potentially explaining its beneficial effects in COVID-19 management. These findings suggest that furosemide could be a beneficial treatment option in certain COVID-19 patient groups, enhancing survival and improving oxygenation.
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