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•FP-PS co-digestion was evaluated as a promising alternative for energy generation.•The yield of 650 ± 50 mL BH2*g-1CDO removed was achieved at an HRT of 24 h.•Megasphaera and ...Prevotella were associated with BH2 production.•UFHAR increases the production of BH2 without favoring the methanogenic reaction.
The effect of the hydraulic retention time (24, 12, and 6 h) during the co-digestion of organic residues was studied using a novel upflow hybrid anaerobic sludge reactor with a carbon/nitrogen ratio of 30, initial pH of 5.5, temperature of 35 °C, and a granular inoculum. The reactor performance at the tested HRTs followed the order 650 ± 50 (24 h) > 48 ± 4 (12 h) > 20 ± 2 mL BH2 g-1CDO removed (6 h). The content of the metabolites obtained using an HRT of 24 h followed the order acetic acid > isobutyric acid > butyric acid under acetogenic conditions. However, for HRTs of 12 and 6 h, the sequence was butyric acid > valeric acid > propionic acid > acetic acid. Based on molecular analyses, the biohydrogen selectivity was attributed to the presence of the genera Megasphaera, Clostridium, Lactobacillus, and Prevotella, which accounted for 26%, 2%, 12%, and 29% of the microbial biota at 24 h. Additionally, the yield of the upflow hybrid anaerobic reactor was superior to that of an upflow anaerobic reactor (24 h).
•FNDFC after 24 h produced biologically active SCFAs levels.•NO/H2O2 production was inhibited by FNDFC after 24 h.•24 h FNDFC up regulated anti-inflammatory cytokines (TIMP-1, I-TAC).•Baked chip ...anti-inflammatory potential could be associated to SCFAs and PC.
Chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are low-level inflammation processes affected by several factors including diet. It has been reported that mixed whole grain and legume consumption, e.g. corn and common bean, might be a beneficial combination due to its content of bioactive compounds. A considerable amount would be retained in the non-digestible fraction (NDF), reaching the colon, where microbiota produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and phenolic compounds (PC) with known anti-inflammatory effect. The aim of this study was to estimate the anti-inflammatory potential of fermented-NDF of corn-bean chips (FNDFC) in RAW 264.7 macrophages. After 24 h, FNDFC produced SCFAs (0.156–0.222 mmol/l), inhibited nitric oxide production > 80% and H2O2 > 30%, up-regulated anti-inflammatory cytokines (I-TAC, TIMP-1) > 2-fold, and produced angiostatic and protective factors against vascular/tissue damage, and amelioration of tumor necrosis factor signalling and inflammatory bowel disease. These results confirm the anti-inflammatory potential derived from healthy corn-bean chips.
The objectives of our study were to evaluate the productive response to methionine supplementation in lactating dairy cows and to define a relationship between metabolizable Met (MP Met) intake and ...production. A database of 64 papers meeting the selection criteria was developed evaluating postruminally infused dl-methionine (9 papers with 18 control diets and 35 treatment comparisons), 2-hydroxy-4-methylthio butanoic acid (HMTBa) provided as either a liquid or Ca salt form (17 papers with 34 control diets and 46 treatment comparisons), Mepron (Evonik Industries, Essen, Germany; 18 papers with 35 control diets and 42 treatment comparisons), and Smartamine (Adisseo Inc., Antony, France; 20 papers with 30 control diets and 39 treatment comparisons). Dietary ingredients and their accompanying nutritional compositions as described in the reports were entered into the Cornell-Penn-Miner software to model the diets and to predict nutrients that were not reported in the original publication. Data were analyzed using a weighted analysis of response to supplementation compared with the intraexperiment control, as well as through a regression analysis to changing dietary MP Met. Data included in the analysis were from experiments published between 1970 and 2011 with cows supplemented with between 3.5 and 67.9g of Met or its equivalent from HMTBa. Cows supplemented with Smartamine consumed more, whereas cows supplemented with Mepron consumed less DM compared with controls. Milk yield did not significantly respond to Met supplementation, although it tended to increase for cows supplemented with HMTBa and Mepron. Milk protein yield was increased due to supplementation from all sources or from infusion, and protein concentration was greater for all supplements or infusion of dl-Met, except for cows supplemented with HMTBa. Irrespective of Met source, milk protein yield increased 2.23g of protein/g of MP Met until reaching the breakpoint. Milk fat yield was increased for Mepron and HMTBa, whereas milk fat concentration was increased for infused dl-Met and for cows supplemented with HMTBa. Based on regression analysis, response of milk fat yield to Met supplementation was not different for infused dl-Met, Mepron, and Smartamine (1.87g of fat/g of MP Met), whereas the response to HMTBa was significantly greater at 5.38g of fat/g of MP Met.
Glaciers along the western Antarctic Peninsula are retreating at unprecedented rates, opening up sublittoral rocky substrate for colonization by marine organisms such as macroalgae. When macroalgae ...are physically detached due to storms or erosion, their fragments can accumulate in seabed hollows, where they can be grazed upon by herbivores or be degraded microbially or be sequestered. To understand the fate of the increasing amount of macroalgal detritus in Antarctic shallow subtidal sediments, amesocosm experiment was conducted to track 13C- and 15N-labeledmacroalgal detritus into the benthic bacterial, meiofaunal, and macrofaunal biomass and respiration of sediments from Potter Cove (King George Island).We compared the degradation pathways of two macroalgae species: one considered palatable for herbivores (the red algae Palmaria decipiens) and other considered nonpalatable for herbivores (the brown algae Desmarestia anceps). The carbon from Palmaria was recycled at a higher rate than that of Desmarestia, with herbivores such as amphipods playing a stronger role in the early degradation process of the Palmaria fragments and the microbial community taking over at a later stage. In contrast, Desmarestia was more buried in the subsurface sediments, stimulating subsurface bacterial degradation. Macrofauna probably relied indirectly on Desmarestia carbon, recycled by bacteria and microphytobenthos. The efficient cycling of the nutrients and carbon from the macroalgae supports a positive feedback loop among bacteria, microphytobenthos, and meiofaunal and macrofaunal grazers, resulting in longer term retention ofmacroalgal nutrients in the sediment, hence creating a food bank for the benthos.
To identify loci associated with Alzheimer disease, we conducted a three-stage analysis using existing genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and genotyping in a new sample. In Stage I, all ...suggestive single-nucleotide polymorphisms (at P<0.001) in a previously reported GWAS of seven independent studies (8082 Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases; 12 040 controls) were selected, and in Stage II these were examined in an in silico analysis within the Cohorts for Heart and Aging Research in Genomic Epidemiology consortium GWAS (1367 cases and 12904 controls). Six novel signals reaching P<5 × 10(-6) were genotyped in an independent Stage III sample (the Fundació ACE data set) of 2200 sporadic AD patients and 2301 controls. We identified a novel association with AD in the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase, H+ transporting, mitochondrial F0 (ATP5H)/Potassium channel tetramerization domain-containing protein 2 (KCTD2) locus, which reached genome-wide significance in the combined discovery and genotyping sample (rs11870474, odds ratio (OR)=1.58, P=2.6 × 10(-7) in discovery and OR=1.43, P=0.004 in Fundació ACE data set; combined OR=1.53, P=4.7 × 10(-9)). This ATP5H/KCTD2 locus has an important function in mitochondrial energy production and neuronal hyperpolarization during cellular stress conditions, such as hypoxia or glucose deprivation.
Cataract disease results from non-amyloid aggregation of eye lens proteins and is the leading cause of blindness in the world. A variety of studies have implicated both essential and xenobiotic ...metals as potential etiological agents in cataract disease. Essential metal ions, such as copper and zinc, are known to induce the aggregation in vitro of human γD crystallin, one of the more abundant γ-crystallins in the core of the lens. In this study, we expand the investigation of metal–crystallin interactions to heavy metal ions, such as divalent lead, cadmium and mercury. The impact of these metal ions in the non-amyloid aggregation, protein folding and thermal stability of three homologous human lens γ-crystallins has been evaluated using turbidity assays, electron microscopy, electronic absorption and circular dichroism spectroscopies. Our results show that Hg(II) ions can induce the non-amyloid aggregation of human γC and γS crystallins, but not γD crystallin. The mechanism of Hg-induced aggregation involves direct metal–protein interactions, loss of thermal stability, partial unfolding of the N-terminal domain of these proteins, and formation of disulfide-bridged dimers. Putative Hg(II) binding sites in γ-crystallins involved in metal-induced aggregation are discussed. This study reveals that mercury ions can induce the aggregation of human lens proteins, uncovering a potential role of this heavy metal ion in the bioinorganic chemistry of cataract disease.
An immunohistochemical study was performed using tissue microarrays and specific antibodies against matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 1, 2, 7, 9, 11, 13, 14, and their tisullar inhibitors (TIMPs) 1, ...2, and 3. More than 2600 determinations on cancer specimens from 131 patients with primary ductal invasive tumours of the breast (65 with and 66 without distant metastasis) and controls were performed. Staining results were categorised using a score based on the intensity of the staining and a specific software program calculated the percentage of immunostained cells automatically. We observed a broad variation of the total immunostaining scores and the cell type expressing each protein. There were multiple and significant associations between the expression of the different MMPs and TIMPs evaluated and some parameters indicative of tumour aggressiveness, such as large tumour size, advanced tumour grade, high Nottinham prognostic index, negative oestrogen receptor status, peritumoural inflammation, desmoplastic reaction, and infiltrating tumoural edge. Likewise, the detection of elevated immunohistochemical scores for MMP-9, 11, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2, was significantly associated with a higher rate of distant metastases. The expression of MMP-9 or TIMP-2 by tumour cells, MMP-1, 7, 9, 11, 13, or TIMP-3 by fibroblastic cells, and MMP-7, 9, 11, 13, 14, TIMP-1, or TIMP-2 by mononuclear inflammatory cells, was also significantly associated with a higher rate of distant metastases.
Background
In national health systems based on primary care, cross-level clinical coordination (CC) is a priority, as it may improve quality of care. Evidence on the impact of information and ...communication technology (ICT)-based coordination mechanisms on CC is inconclusive. The implementation of those mechanisms increased during the pandemic. The aim is to adapt the validated COORDENA-CAT questionnaire, for measuring CC, to analyse the implementation of ICT-based coordination mechanisms and its impact on CC in three regions of Spain.
Methods
The COORDENA-CAT questionnaire underwent a two-stage adaptation process:1) contents revision based on literature review, expert discussions, and pretest to adapt the contents and language and produce a version for each region; and 2) piloting the adapted version by self-administration of the questionnaire to primary and secondary care doctors in the health systems of two of the participating regions.
Results
The adapted version (COORDENA-TICs) kept most of the original contents. Main changes were on coordination mechanisms section. Pretest showed an adequate level of comprehensiveness, comprehension, sequence of themes and questions, and length. A low non-response rate was observed, with little variability or unexpected responses. The question on any difficulties encountered in answering the questionnaire revealed no relevant difficulties. The Shared Electronic Medical Record of each region was the most frequently used ICT-based coordination mechanism. Limited access to information and technical issues related to its use were the most common difficulties encountered. Suggestions for improving its use were receiving specific training on its use.
Conclusions
COORDENA-TICs questionnaire is a useful tool to assess utilization of ICT-based coordination mechanisms and its impact on CC from the perspective of primary and secondary care doctors. It will allow comparisons across areas, regions and to evaluate changes over time
Key messages
Evidence on the impact of ICT-based coordination mechanisms on clinical coordination is inconclusive.
COORDENA-TICs questionnaire could be useful to measure the impact of ICT-based coordination mechanisms on clinical coordination.
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