Previous data showed that the administration of high doses of melatonin improved the circadian system in athletes. Here, we investigated in the same experimental paradigm whether the antioxidant ...properties of melatonin has also beneficial effects against exercise-induced oxidative stress and muscle damage in athletes. Twenty-four athletes were treated with 100 mg·day
−1
of melatonin or placebo 30 min before bedtime during 4 weeks in a randomized double-blind scheme. Exercise intensity was higher during the study that before starting it. Blood samples were collected before and after treatment, and plasma was used for oxygen radical absorption capacity (ORAC), lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitrite plus nitrate (NOx), and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) determinations. Glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulphide (GSSG) levels, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and reductase (GRd) activities, were measured in erythrocytes. Melatonin intake increased ORAC, reduced LPO and NOx levels, and prevented the increase of AOPP, compared to placebo group. Melatonin was also more efficient than placebo in reducing GSSG·GSH
−1
and GPx·GRd
−1
ratios. Melatonin, but not placebo, reduced creatine kinase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatinine, and total cholesterol levels. Overall, the data reflect a beneficial effect of melatonin treatment in resistance-training athletes, preventing extra- and intracellular oxidative stress induced by exercise, and yielding further skeletal muscle protection against exercise-induced oxidative damage.
The concept of sustainable agriculture is strongly related to the multifunctional role, either explicitly or implicitly, recognized to the primary sector. When assessing the performance and value to ...society of particular agricultural systems, the multifunctional nature of agriculture requires an approach based on multicriteria. Amongst others, these include economic, environmental, social, cultural and technical criteria. Like other complex multicriteria analyses, this evaluation of agricultural systems is characterized by the existence of not only many, but often conflicting criteria, multiple stakeholders and decision-makers who have competing interests, lack of information and a consideration of the high risks involved.
The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a methodology that deals with problems of this sort in a relatively easy, flexible and economical manner. Therefore it is a potentially useful tool for the practical resolution of complex problems, often an object of Ecological Economics. One such problem is the analysis of the sustainability of economic activities.
This article has three aims. The first is to present AHP as a powerful methodology for assessing multifunctional performances of different agricultural systems in a comparative way. AHP can also be applied to other multifunctional economic activities. The second aim is to propose an extension of AHP for improving the decision-making processes when different groups of decision agents are involved. A final aim is to illustrate the AHP-extended methodology in a particular case study. This is done by using it to compare the multifunctional performance of alternative olive growing systems in Andalusia, a region located in the south of Spain, on the basis of the assessments of different groups of experts. This tests the hypothetically greater sustainability of organic and integrated farming over conventional farming systems in the medium/long term under average conditions for this region. Results for this case study show a greater global performance of organic and integrated agriculture despite differences in the ideological tendencies of the experts, thus providing a scientific basis for endorsing institutional and social support for the promotion and implementation of these farming techniques. Some conflictive issues, however, have been detected, especially in areas related to environmental performance. Further research on the controversial topics is desirable for clarification.
Abstract Background CYP2D6 is a key enzyme in tamoxifen metabolism, transforming it into its main active metabolite, endoxifen. Poor CYP2D6 metabolizers (PM) have lower endoxifen plasma ...concentrations and possibly benefit less from treatment with tamoxifen. We evaluated tamoxifen dose adjustment in CYP2D6 PM patients in order to obtain plasma concentrations of endoxifen comparable to patients with extensive CYP2D6 metabolism (EM). Patients and methods Comprehensive CYP2D6 genotyping and plasma tamoxifen metabolite concentrations were performed among 249 breast cancer patients in adjuvant treatment with tamoxifen. Tamoxifen dose was increased in PM patients to 40 mg and to 60 mg daily for a 4-month period each, repeating tamoxifen metabolite measurements on completion of each dose increase. We compared the endoxifen levels between EM and PM patients, and among the PM patients at each dose level of tamoxifen (20, 40 and 60 mg). Results Eleven PM patients (4.7%) were identified. The mean baseline endoxifen concentration in EM patients (11.30 ng/ml) was higher compared to the PM patients (2.33 ng/ml; p < 0.001). In relation to the 20 mg dose, increasing the tamoxifen dose to 40 and 60 mg in PM patients significantly raised the endoxifen concentration to 8.38 ng/ml (OR 3.59; p = 0.013) and to 9.30 ng/ml (OR 3.99; p = 0.007), respectively. These concentrations were comparable to those observed in EM patients receiving 20 mg of tamoxifen ( p = 0.13 and p = 0.64, respectively). Conclusion In CYP2D6 PM patients, increasing the standard tamoxifen dose two-fold or three-fold raises endoxifen concentrations to levels similar to those of patients with EM phenotype.
Despite the outstanding progresses in Multiple Myeloma treatment options in the last decades, it remains an incurable disease nowadays. Infectious events are a complication due to an impaired immune ...system associated with MM, sometimes a life-threatening one, particularly on the first months after the diagnosis. Both the underlying disease and treatment can contribute to the infection risk, so a biomarker that assess this risk could be highly relevant for a more tailored management of the patient. The measurement of the heavy+light chain (HLC) pairs of immunoglobulins in serum allows the quantification of both the monoclonal component and the non-monoclonal immunoglobulin of the same isotype. This approach has demonstrated high sensitivity for the detection of the clonality and prognostic value for MM. HLC pair suppression itself has prognostic power and it has been proposed to be a reflection of the immune system' attempt to control the tumor. In this study we evaluated the impact of the HLC pair suppression on the rate of bloodstream infections (BSI) and early death in 115 newly diagnosed MM patients. Twenty-one percent of the patients suffered a BSI in the first 6 months after diagnosis, of which 58% died within this period, accounting to 67% of the early deaths in global and highlighting the major impact of infections on MM patients in a "real world" setting. Severe HLC pair suppression identified patients with a higher risk of early BSI (HR: 6,97, p=0,009), and extreme HLC pair suppression together with BSI event and age >65 were independent risk factors for early death (p<0,001). Based on these factors, a stratification model was generated to allow identify patients at a higher risk of early death and poorer OS, with an apparently better performance than the ISS on the early death context. In conclusion, HLC pair suppression associates with both a higher risk of life-threatening early infection and early death in newly diagnosed MM patients. Patients older than 65 with extreme HLC pair suppression and BSI are at a high risk of early death, and thus patients presenting with these criteria have a very adverse prognosis.
Purpose
The aim of this study is to analyse the percentage of hypovitaminosis D, as well as its relationship with the various parameters of calcium-phosphate metabolism.
Methods
A case control study ...was conducted on 366 patients, divided into two groups: Group 1: 127 non-stone-forming patients, and Group 2: 239 calcium stone forming. A study was performed on calcium-phosphate metabolism and urinary lithogenic factors. The percentage of vitamin D deficiency (25-OH-vitamin D levels <20 ng/ml) between the groups was analysed and compared. The SPSS 20.0 statistics program was used for the analysis, with a
p
≤ .05 being considered significant.
Results
The mean age of Group 1 was 52.1 years compared to 49.6 years in Group 2, with no significant differences (
p
= .07). Vitamin D levels were lower in Group 2 compared to Group 1 (25.7 vs. 28.4 ng/ml,
p
= .02). A vitamin D deficiency was observed in 28 % of the Group 2 stone-forming patients versus 15.7 % in Group 1 (
p
= .009), with an odds ratio (OR) of 2.09 (95 % CI; 1.19–3.63). In the stone-forming patients with a vitamin D deficiency, the only difference observed was the higher levels of iPTH compared to those stone-formers with a normal vitamin D (56.9 vs. 45.5 pg/ml, respectively;
p
= .0001).
Conclusion
Calcium stone-forming patients have lower mean levels of vitamin D and a higher percentage of hypovitaminosis D than in non-stone-forming patients. This was only related to increased iPTH levels, with urine calcium and other lithogenic parameters having no obvious effect.
Thrombophilia is defined as an inherited or acquired abnormality of hemostasis predisposing to thrombosis. While the most common thrombophilia has a genetic origin and is manifested by elevated ...circulating antiphospholipid antibodies, about 40% of cases presenting with thrombosis are acquired. Factor V Leiden G1691A, prothrombin G20210A, MTHFR C677T, and Factor XII C46T mutations are associated with the risk of developing thrombophilia.
In this study, a method using single base extension assay coupled with fluorescent detection and capillary electrophoresis was applied to simultaneously detect G1691A, G20210A, C677T and C46T mutations in 1499 patients from Spain with suspicion of thrombotic disease.
Out of these individuals, 5.4% were heterozygous for G20210A mutation, 9.21% were heterozygous and 0.20% homozygous for G1691A mutation, 46.36% were heterozygous and 20.71% homozygous for MTHFR mutation, and 30.41% were heterozygous and 3.4% homozygous for C46T mutation.
We applied an accurate, simple, semi-automatic, and cost-effective method to simultaneously detect the main thrombophilia-related mutations, allowing us to determine the frequency of these mutations in a Spanish population.
► We applied an accurate and simple method to detect the main thrombophilia related mutations. ► We determined the four main mutations simultaneously. ► We analyzed the frequency of four main mutation in 1499 patients from Spain.
Aunque el concepto de multifuncionalidad está plasmado, implícita o explícitamente, en el diseño de las políticas agrarias actuales, su consideración a la hora de analizar y evaluar sistemas agrarios ...es aún relativamente escasa en la literatura. Para tal fin se propone utilizar el Proceso Analítico Jerárquico (Analytic Hierarchy Process - AHP), técnica de decisión multicriterio discreta que se utiliza para la toma de decisiones complejas. La metodología AHP es expuesta junto con un procedimiento propuesto para medir el acuerdo relativo entre decisores y la uniformidad de las alternativas en la toma de decisiones en grupo. Finalmente, AHP es aplicado a la evaluación del olivar ecológico, integrado y convencional de Andalucía considerando criterios de distinta naturaleza "”económicos, técnicos, socioculturales y medioambientales"” con el fin de determinar la forma o formas de producción más interesantes globalmente en el medio-largo plazo para el conjunto de la sociedad en base al conocimiento de expertos en olivar.
Objective To analyze the biochemical alterations in plasma and the urine determinants of severe lithogenic activity in patients with idiopathic calcium nephrolithiasis. Methods We performed a ...cross-sectional study of 120 patients divided into 2 groups: group 1, 60 patients without nephrolithiasis; and group 2, 60 patients with severe and/or recurrent calcium nephrolithiasis. In all patients, a study of renal function, calcium metabolism, and bone remodeling markers, and a study of the lithogenic factors were performed in urine after fasting and in 24-hour urine samples. Results We observed greater values for phosphorus in group 1 than in group 2 ( P = .03). Also, we found greater values for intact parathyroid hormone ( P = .01), osteocalcin ( P = .000), and β-crosslaps ( P = .000) in group 2 than in group 1. In the 24-hour urine samples, significant differences were found between groups 1 and 2 in calciuria (11.7 vs 17.4 mg/dL; P = .000), citraturia (50.6 vs 33.5 mg/dL; P = .002), calcium/creatinine quotient (0.14 vs 0.20; P = .001), calcium/citrate quotient (0.05 vs 0.13; P = .04), and calcium/creatinine quotient after fasting (0.09 vs 0.16; P = .000). Conclusion We consider the determinants of severe and/or recurrent calcium lithiasis to be hypercalciuria and hypocitraturia and a calcium/citrate quotient >0.06. As risk markers we can consider phosphatemia <2.9 mg/dL, phosphate/chlorine quotient >35, alkaline phosphatase >80 U/L, intact parathyroid hormone >60 pg/mL, osteocalcin >16 ng/mL, β-crosslaps >0.400 ng/mL, and β-crosslaps/osteocalcin quotient >0.028.
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