Stroke mortality rates in Spain are one of the highest in all of Europe. At the same time, the Murcia region (south-east Spain) shows, for both genders, the highest age-adjusted stroke mortality ...rates in all of Spain. The earliest available hypertension figure estimations for this area go back to 1981, when a high prevalence combined with an almost nonexistent control was detected. One decade later, updated prevalence estimations of hypertension are presented jointly with their degree of control and their association with other risk factors based on the results of a prevalence survey in a random population sample (n = 3,091). Arterial blood pressure was measured following the MONICA protocol, maintaining a tight quality control on between and within-observer variability. As hypertensive was considered any person with systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥ 140 mmHg or with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90 mmHg or with antihypertensive pharmacological treatment. Detected prevalence rises to 32.3% (CI 95%: 29.1%-35.5%) among males and to 23.7% (CI 95%: 21.4%-26%) among females, maintaining its level regarding figures observed back in 1981. However, its control has been increased, especially among hypertensive women from less than 5% in 1981 to 35% (95% CI: 32%-37.8%) at present. Hypertension is strongly associated to hipercholesterolemia, overweight, obesity and diabetes (p < 0.01). On the contrary, it shows an opposite association with current smoking, higher educational level and leisure time physical activity (p < 0.01). The highest educational level was associated with better hypertension treatment and control. In summary, while hypertension prevalence is stabilized in our population, its control has improved in a measurable but still insufficient way. These results are in accordance with a decreasing trend in stroke mortality registered in the Murcia Region along the last decade.
To evaluate lifestyle and dietary intake factors influencing the accumulation of abdominal fat in a Mediterranean population.
A cross-sectional study was carried-out in Spain (Asturias, Granada, ...Murcia, Navarra and Guipuzkoa) among 23,228 women and 14,332 men aged 29-69 years, participants of a large European prospective cohort (EPIC). Information on usual food intake and other non-dietary factors were collected by interviews. Height, weight, waist circumference and hip circumference were taken by previously trained interviewers.
In a multiple-linear regression analysis sports activities and educational level were negatively associated with abdominal obesity, while body mass index, age, tobacco and alcohol consumption, saturated fat intake and increased prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and myocardial infarction were positively associated. All dietary and non-dietary variables accounted for 22 and 27% of variance in the waist/hip ratio and 74 and 66% of variance in the waist circumference, in women and men respectively.
Body mass index and age are the most important factors influencing the accumulation of abdominal fat. Dietary factors and other lifestyle factors seem to play a minor role in increasing abdominal obesity.
Background and Aims:
Intestinal microbiota is required to maintain immune homeostasis and intestinal barrier function. At the same time, intraluminal bacteria are considered to be involved in ...inflammatory bowel disease and are required for colitis induction in animal models, with the possible exception of dextran sulphate sodium DSS colitis. This study was carried out to ascertain the mechanism underlying the induction of colitis by DSS in the absence of bacteria.
Methods:
Conventional and germ-free GF Naval Medical Research Institute NMRI mice were used, plus conventional mice treated with an antibiotic cocktail to deplete the intestinal microbiota ‘pseudo-GF’ or PGF mice. The differential response to DSS was assessed.
Results:
Conventional mice developed DSS-induced colitis normally, whereas GF mice showed only minimal inflammation no colonic thickening, lower myeloperoxidase activity, IL-6, IL-17, TNF-α, and IFN-γ secretion by splenocytes and mesenteric cell cultures, etc.. However, these mice suffered enhanced haemorrhage, epithelial injury and mortality as a consequence of a weakened intestinal barrier, as shown by lower occludin, claudin 4, TFF3, MUC3, and IL-22. In contrast, PGF mice had a relatively normal, albeit attenuated, inflammatory response, but were less prone to haemorrhage and epithelial injury than GF mice. This was correlated with an increased expression of IL-10 and Foxp3 and preservation barrier-related markers.
Conclusions:
We conclude that enteric bacteria are essential for the development of normal DSS-induced colitis. The absence of microbiota reduces DSS colonic inflammation dramatically but it also impairs barrier function, whereas subtotal microbiota depletion has intermediate effects at both levels.
Alkaline phosphatase (AP) inactivates bacterial lipopolysaccharide and may therefore be protective. The small intestine and colon express intestinal (IAP) and tissue nonspecific enzyme (TNAP), ...respectively. The aim of this study was to assess the therapeutic potential of exogenous AP and its complementarity with endogenous enzyme protection in the intestine, as evidenced recently. IAP was given to rats by the oral or intrarectal route (700U/kgday). Oral budesonide (1mg/kgday) was used as a reference treatment. Treatment with intrarectal AP resulted in a 54.5% and 38.0% lower colonic weight and damage score, respectively, and an almost complete normalization of the expression of S100A8, LCN2 and IL-1β (p<0.05). Oral AP was less efficacious, while budesonide had a more pronounced effect on most parameters. Both oral and intrarectal AP counteracted bacterial translocation effectively (78 and 100%, respectively, p<0.05 for the latter), while budesonide failed to exert a positive effect. AP activity was increased in the feces of TNBS colitic animals, associated with augmented sensitivity to the inhibitor levamisole, suggesting enhanced luminal release of this enzyme. This was also observed in the mouse lymphocyte transfer model of chronic colitis. In a separate time course study, TNAP was shown to increase 2–3 days after colitis induction, while dextran sulfate sodium was a much weaker inducer of this isoform. We conclude that exogenous AP exerts beneficial effects on experimental colitis, which includes protection against bacterial translocation. AP of the tissue-nonspecific isoform is shed in higher amounts to the intestinal lumen in experimental colitis, possibly aiding in intestinal protection.
Abstract Purpose Alcohol intake may adversely affect the concentrations of endogenous sex hormones, and thus increase the risk of endometrial cancer. However, epidemiologic studies have provided ...conflicting results. Therefore, we investigated the association between alcohol intake and endometrial cancer risk a large, multicenter, prospective study. Methods From 1992 through 2010, 301,051 women in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort were followed for incident endometrial cancer (n = 1382). Baseline alcohol consumption was assessed by country-specific, validated dietary questionnaires. Information on past alcohol consumption was collected by lifestyle questionnaires. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated from Cox proportional hazard models. Results The multivariable HRs (and 95% CIs) compared with light drinkers (0.1–6 g/d) were 1.03 (0.88–1.20) for 0 g of alcohol per day at baseline, 1.01 (0.86–1.17) for 6.1–12 g/d, 1.03 (0.87–1.22) for 12.1–24 g/d, 1.07 (0.87–1.38) for 24.1–36 g/d, and 0.85 (0.61–1.18) for more than 36 g/d ( ptrend = 0.77). No association was observed among former drinkers (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 0.98–1.68 compared with light drinkers). Null associations were also found between alcohol consumption at age 20 years, lifetime pattern of alcohol drinking, and baseline alcohol intake from specific alcoholic beverages and endometrial cancer risk. Conclusions Our findings suggest no association between alcohol intake and endometrial cancer risk.
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