Background and purpose
Although the causes of multiple sclerosis (MS) remain partially unknown, environmental and genetic factors are thought to play a role in its aetiopathogenesis. Hypovitaminosis ...D, Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) and human herpesvirus 6 (HHV‐6) infections have been described as possible MS triggers. Our aim was to analyse the possible link between 25‐hydroxyvitamin D 25(OH)D and viruses in patients with MS.
Methods
We included 482 patients with MS in a 2‐year study. Serum samples were collected to analyse 25(OH)D levels and, according to sample availability, antibody titres against EBV and HHV‐6 by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. DNA was extracted from blood in order to analyse EBV and HHV‐6 viral load by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and to genotype MS‐related single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs3135388, rs2248359 and rs12368653) when possible.
Results
The 25(OH)D levels were significantly higher in the first semester of the year than in the second. Carriers of the risk allele rs2248359‐C showed lower 25(OH)D levels than non‐carriers. For EBV, viral load was significantly higher when 25(OH)D levels were low, demonstrating an inverse correlation between 25(OH)D levels and EBV load.
Conclusions
The 25(OH)D levels could be involved in the regulation of EBV replication/reactivation in patients with MS.
The hyperarid core of the Atacama Desert, the driest and oldest desert on Earth, has experienced a number of highly unusual rain events over the past three years, resulting in the formation of ...previously unrecorded hypersaline lagoons, which have lasted several months. We have systematically analyzed the evolution of the lagoons to provide quantitative field constraints of large-scale impacts of the rains on the local microbial communities. Here we show that the sudden and massive input of water in regions that have remained hyperarid for millions of years is harmful for most of the surface soil microbial species, which are exquisitely adapted to survive with meager amounts of liquid water, and quickly perish from osmotic shock when water becomes suddenly abundant. We found that only a handful of bacteria, remarkably a newly identified species of Halomonas, remain metabolically active and are still able to reproduce in the lagoons, while no archaea or eukaryotes were identified. Our results show that the already low microbial biodiversity of extreme arid regions greatly diminishes when water is supplied quickly and in great volumes. We conclude placing our findings in the context of the astrobiological exploration of Mars, a hyperarid planet that experienced catastrophic floodings in ancient times.
Background: Patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often present with severe acute exacerbations requiring hospital treatment. However, little is known about the prognostic ...consequences of these exacerbations. A study was undertaken to investigate whether severe acute exacerbations of COPD exert a direct effect on mortality. Methods: Multivariate techniques were used to analyse the prognostic influence of acute exacerbations of COPD treated in hospital (visits to the emergency service and admissions), patient age, smoking, body mass index, co-morbidity, long term oxygen therapy, forced spirometric parameters, and arterial blood gas tensions in a prospective cohort of 304 men with COPD followed up for 5 years. The mean (SD) age of the patients was 71 (9) years and forced expiratory volume in 1 second was 46 (17)%. Results: Only older age (hazard ratio (HR) 5.28, 95% CI 1.75 to 15.93), arterial carbon dioxide tension (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.12), and acute exacerbations of COPD were found to be independent indicators of a poor prognosis. The patients with the greatest mortality risk were those with three or more acute COPD exacerbations (HR 4.13, 95% CI 1.80 to 9.41). Conclusions: This study shows for the first time that severe acute exacerbations of COPD have an independent negative impact on patient prognosis. Mortality increases with the frequency of severe exacerbations, particularly if these require admission to hospital.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most worrisome infectious bacteria due to its intrinsic and acquired resistance against several antibiotics and the recalcitrance of its infections; hence, the ...development of novel antimicrobials effective against multidrug‐resistant P. aeruginosa is mandatory. In this work, silver nanoparticles obtained by green synthesis using a leaf extract and fungi were tested against a battery of clinical strains from cystic fibrosis, pneumonia and burnt patients, some of them with multidrug resistance. Both nanoparticles showed a potent antibacterial effect, causing severe damage to the cell wall, membrane and DNA, and inducing the production of reactive oxygen species. Moreover, the nanoparticles derived from fungi showed synergistic antibacterial effects with the antibiotics meropenem and levofloxacin for some clinical strains and both kinds of nanoparticles were nontoxic for larvae of the moth Galleria mellonella, encouraging further research for their implementation in the treatment of P. aeruginosa infections.
Significance and Impact of the Study: The continuous rise of antibiotic resistance in bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a serious threat to human health, hence it is mandatory to identify novel ways to combat its infections. In this work, silver nanoparticles were synthesized in a green way using leaves and fugal extracts and its antibacterial effects were tested against clinical strains. The nanoparticles killed the strains due severe cellular damage affecting the membranes, the DNA and generating reactive oxygen species, in addition they were nontoxic and displayed synergy with some antibiotics; therefore, being a promising alternative to treat MDR P. aeruginosa infections.
Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures that protect the ends of eukaryote chromosomes. Shorter telomere length (TL) is associated with some age-related human disorders, but its relationship with ...obesity or adiposity parameters remains unclear.
The aim of this study was to assess the relationship between TL and changes in adiposity indices after a 5-year nutritional intervention.
TL was measured by quantitative real-time PCR in 521 subjects (55-80 years, 55% women). Participants were randomly selected from the PREDIMED-NAVARRA centre after they completed a 5-year intervention programme. Anthropometric parameters were directly measured by trained personnel at baseline and on a yearly basis thereafter. TL at baseline and changes in TL after a 5-year intervention were assessed.
Higher baseline TL significantly predicted a greater decrease in body weight (B=-1.09 kg, 95% confidence interval (CI): -2.01 to -0.16), body mass index (BMI) (B=-0.47 kg m(-2), 95% CI: -0.83 to -0.11), waist circumference (B=-1.15 cm, 95% CI: -2.28 to -0.01) and waist to height ratio (B=-0.008, 95% CI: -0.010 to -0.001) in multiple-adjusted models. In addition, changes in TL during the 5-year intervention were inversely associated with changes in the four anthropometric variables. The reduction in adiposity indices during the intervention, associated with increasing TL, was even higher among subjects with the longest telomeres at baseline. Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of remaining obese after 5 years was lower in those participants who initially had the longest telomeres and increased their TL after intervention (odds ratio=0.27, 95% CI: 0.03-2.03).
Our research suggests that TL is inversely associated with changes in obesity parameters. The assessment of TL can provide further insights for biological pathways leading to adiposity. We show for the first time an improvement of obesity indices when an increase in TL is observed after a 5-year Mediterranean diet intervention.
Abstract Background and aim The Mediterranean diet is considered a model for healthy eating. However, prospective evidence in Mediterranean countries evaluating the relationship between this dietary ...pattern and non-fatal cardiovascular events is scarce. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between the adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the incidence of fatal and non-fatal cardiovascular events among initially healthy middle-aged adults from the Mediterranean area. Methods and results We followed-up 13,609 participants (60 percent women, mean age: 38 years) initially free of cardiovascular disease (CVD) during 4.9 years. Participants were part of a prospective cohort study of university graduates from all regions of Spain. Baseline diet was assessed using a validated 136-item food-frequency questionnaire. A 9-point score was used to appraise adherence to the Mediterranean diet. Incident clinical events were confirmed by a review of medical records. We observed 100 incident cases of CVD. In multivariate analyses, participants with the highest adherence to the Mediterranean diet (score > 6) exhibited a lower cardiovascular risk (hazard ratio = 0.41, 95% confidence interval CI: 0.18–0.95) compared to those with the lowest score (<3). For each 2-point increment in the score, the adjusted hazard ratios were 0.80 (95% CI: 0.62–1.02) for total CVD and 0.74 (0.55–0.99) for coronary heart disease. Conclusions There is an inverse association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and the incidence of fatal and non-fatal CVD in initially healthy middle-aged adults.
The influence of home cooking methods (boiling, microwaving, pressure-cooking, griddling, frying, and baking) on the antioxidant activity of vegetables has been evaluated in 20 vegetables, using ...different antioxidant activity assays (lipoperoxyl and hydroxyl radicals scavenging and TEAC). Artichoke was the only vegetable that kept its very high scavenging-lipoperoxyl radical capacity in all the cooking methods. The highest losses of LOO· scavenging capacity were observed in cauliflower after boiling and microwaving, pea after boiling, and zucchini after boiling and frying. Beetroot, green bean, and garlic kept their antioxidant activity after most cooking treatments. Swiss chard and pepper lost OH· scavenging capacity in all the processes. Celery increased its antioxidant capacity in all the cooking methods, except boiling when it lost 14%. Analysis of the ABTS radical scavenging capacity of the different vegetables showed that the highest losses occurred in garlic with all the methods, except microwaving. Among the vegetables that increased their TEAC values were green bean, celery, and carrot after all cooking methods (except green bean after boiling). These 3 types of vegetables showed a low ABTS radical scavenging capacity. ccording to the method of analysis chosen, griddling, microwave cooking, and baking alternately produce the lowest losses, while pressure-cooking and boiling lead to the greatest losses; frying occupies an intermediate position. In short, water is not the cook's best friend when it comes to preparing vegetables.
► The mushrooms contained between 1 and 6
mg of phenolics per gram of dried matter. ► The total flavonoid concentration ranged between 0.9 and 3
mg per gram (DM). ► Homogentisic acid was the free ...phenolic acid significantly present in all mushrooms. ► Flavonoids, such as myricetin and catechin, are also detected. ►
C. cibarius is the most effective inhibiting linoleic acid oxidation.
Total phenolic and flavonoid contents occurring in eight types of edible mushrooms (
Agaricus bisporus,
Boletus edulis,
Calocybe gambosa,
Cantharellus cibarius,
Craterellus cornucopioides,
Hygrophorus marzuolus,
Lactarius deliciosus and
Pleurotus ostreatus) have been respectively evaluated by the Folin–Ciocalteau assay and by the colorimetric reaction with NaNO
2 and AlCl
3 in a basic media. Generally, the assayed mushrooms contained between 1 and 6
mg of phenolics per gram of dried mushroom, depending on the species, while the flavonoid concentrations ranged between 0.9 and 3.0
mg per gram of dried matter. The profile and concentration of individual phenolics was determined by means of high performance liquid chromatography. Homogentisic acid was the free phenolic acid significantly present in all mushrooms although the content varied considerably among the analysed species. Flavonoids, such as myricetin and catechin were also detected in the mushrooms studied. The antioxidant properties of the methanolic extracts from mushrooms were evaluated by monitoring the linoleic acid autoxidation, and all the mushrooms species showed inhibition, with
C. cibarius being the most effective against lipid oxidation (74% of inhibition) and
A. bisporus the species with lowest antioxidant activity (10% of inhibition).
Bietti crystalline dystrophy (BCD) is a rare-inherited disease caused by mutations in the
gene and characterized by the presence of multiple shimmering yellow-white deposits in the posterior pole of ...the retina in association with atrophy of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and chorioretinal atrophy. The additional presence of glittering dots located at the corneal limbus is also a frequent finding. The CYP4V2 protein belongs to the cytochrome P450 subfamily 4 and is mainly expressed in the retina and the RPE and less expressed in the cornea. The disease has its metabolic origin in the diminished transformation of fatty acid substrates into n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids due to a dysregulation of the lipid metabolism. In this review, we provide updated insights on clinical and molecular characteristics of BCD including underlying mechanisms of BCD, genetic diagnosis, progress in the identification of causative genetic and epigenetic factors, available techniques of exploration and development of novel therapies. This information will help clinicians to improve accuracy of BCD diagnosis, providing the patient reliable information regarding prognosis and clinical prediction of the disease course.
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