Photoactivated cornea collagen cross-linking (CXL) increases corneal stiffness by initiating formation of covalent bonds between stromal proteins. Because CXL depends on diffusion to distribute the ...photoinitiator, a gradient of CXL efficiency with depth is expected that may affect the degree of stromal collagen organization. We used second harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy to investigate the differences in stromal collagen organization in rabbit eyes after corneal CXL in vivo as a function of depth and time after surgery.
Rabbit corneas were treated in vivo with either riboflavin/UV radiation (UVX) or Rose Bengal/green light (RGX) and evaluated 1 and 2 months after CXL. Collagen fibers were imaged with a custom-built SHG scanning microscope through the central cornea (350 µm depth, 225 × 225 µm en face images). The order coefficient (OC), a metric for collagen organization, and total SHG signal were computed for each depth and compared between treatments.
OC values of CXL-treated corneas were larger than untreated corneas by 27% and 20% after 1 month and 38% and 33% after 2 months for the RGX and UVX, respectively. RGX OC values were larger than UVX OC values by 3% and 5% at 1 and 2 months. The SHG signal was higher in CXL corneas than untreated corneas, both at 1 and 2 months after surgery, by 18% and 26% and 1% and 10% for RGX and UVX, respectively.
Increased OC corresponded with increased collagen fiber organization in CXL corneas. Changes in collagen organization parallel reported temporal changes in cornea stiffness after CXL and also, surprisingly, are detected deeper in the stroma than the regions stiffened by collagen cross-links.
Previous studies, mainly focused on quantity rather than variety, have shown beneficial associations between the amount of fruit and vegetable consumed, diet quality and healthy lifestyle. The aim is ...to evaluate the association between fruit and vegetable consumption, diet quality and lifestyle in an elderly Mediterranean population, considering both variety and the combination of quantity and variety (QV).
A cross-sectional analysis of 6647 participants (51.6% of males) was conducted in the framework of the PREDIMED-Plus study. A variety score was created as the sum of vegetables and/or fruits consumed at least once per month using food frequency questionnaires. Dietary Reference Intakes (EAR and IA values) were used to estimate the prevalence of inadequate intake of dietary fiber and micronutrients. Logistic regression models were performed to examine the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and not meeting the DRIs, by tertiles of fruit and vegetable variety and QV categories.
Participants with higher fruit and vegetable variety score reported a significant higher intake of fiber, vitamins, minerals and flavonoids and were significantly more likely to be physically active and non-smoker. Besides, higher variety in fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with lower prevalence of having an inadequate intake of fiber (0.13 (0.11–0.16), two or more (0.17 (0.14–0.21), three or more (0.15 (0.13–0.18) and four or more (0.11 (0.10–0.14) micronutrients in our participants. Higher quantity and variety in fruit and vegetable consumption was associated with lower prevalence of having an inadequate intake of fiber (0.05 (0.04–0.06), two or more (0.08 (0.06–0.10), three or more (0.08 (0.06–0.09) and four or more (0.06 (0.05–0.07) micronutrients.
Greater variety in fruit and vegetable intake was associated with better nutrient adequacy, diet quality and healthier lifestyle in an elderly Mediterranean population.
Objective
The hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW) phenotype is characterized by abdominal obesity and high levels of triglycerides. In a cross‐sectional assessment of PREDIMED‐Plus trial participants ...at baseline, HTGW phenotype prevalence was evaluated, associated risk factors were analyzed, and the lifestyle of individuals with metabolic syndrome and HTGW was examined.
Methods
A total of 6,874 individuals aged 55 to 75 with BMI ≥ 27 and < 40 kg/m2 were included and classified by presence (HTGW+) or absence (HTGW−) of HTGW (waist circumference: men ≥ 102 cm, women ≥ 88 cm; fasting plasma triglycerides ≥ 150 mg/dL). Analytical parameters and lifestyle (energy intake and expenditure) were analyzed.
Results
A total of 38.2% of the sample met HTGW+ criteria. HTGW+ individuals tended to be younger, have a greater degree of obesity, be sedentary, and be tobacco users. They had higher peripheral glucose, total cholesterol, and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels; had lower high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol levels; and had increased prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) adherence and physical activity were greater in HTGW− patients. Age, BMI, tobacco use, total energy expenditure, hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and MedDiet adherence were associated with HTGW+.
Conclusions
HTGW is a highly prevalent phenotype in this population associated with younger age, higher BMI, tobacco use, and decreased MedDiet adherence. HTGW− individuals were more physically active with greater total physical activity, and fewer had hypertension.
The modernization of economic activities in mountain areas is conditioned by the physical characteristics of the territory, the weight of activities related to the primary sector, infrastructure ...deficits, low population density, as well as the declining and ageing population. The response to this situation has involved implementing a certain degree of functional diversification. One of the aspects that has assisted in the expansion of the tertiary sector is leisure and recreational activities. Rural tourism in European mid-mountain regions has emerged as a key element, supported by local development strategies and changing preferences in demand. In the tourism industry, the resources are the raw material, in which landscape plays a leading role. The aim of this prospective study is to evaluate the landscape as a heritage and a tourism resource, focusing on its capacity to reactivate depressed rural areas of inland Spain (mid-mountain areas in the southeast of the autonomous region of Castilla-La Mancha). The study is based on opinions provided by tourists and uses a directed survey as an analytical tool. The results highlight the key role of landscape, especially natural landscape, in the use of such areas for tourism. This, in turn, underlines the need for a greater focus on organizing how the landscape is utilized.
Autophagy is a process that maintains homeostasis during stress, although it also contributes to cell death under specific contexts. Ceramides have emerged as important effectors in the regulation of ...autophagy, mediating the crosstalk with apoptosis. Melatonin induces apoptosis of cancer cells; however, its role in autophagy and ceramide metabolism has yet to be clearly elucidated. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of melatonin administration on autophagy and ceramide metabolism and its possible link with melatonin‐induced apoptotic cell death in hepatocarcinoma (HCC) cells. Melatonin (2 mm) transiently induced autophagy in HepG2 cells through JNK phosphorylation, characterized by increased Beclin‐1 expression, p62 degradation, and LC3II and LAMP‐2 colocalization, which translated in decreased cell viability. Moreover, ATG5 silencing sensitized HepG2 cells to melatonin‐induced apoptosis, suggesting a dual role of autophagy in cell death. Melatonin enhanced ceramide levels through both de novo synthesis and acid sphingomyelinase (ASMase) stimulation. Serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) inhibition with myriocin prevented melatonin‐induced autophagy and ASMase inhibition with imipramine‐impaired autophagy flux. However, ASMase inhibition partially protected HepG2 cells against melatonin, while SPT inhibition significantly enhanced cell death. Findings suggest a crosstalk between SPT‐mediated ceramide generation and autophagy in protecting against melatonin, while specific ASMase‐induced ceramide production participates in melatonin‐mediated cell death. Thus, dual blocking of SPT and autophagy emerges as a potential strategy to potentiate the apoptotic effects of melatonin in liver cancer cells.
The increasing demand for healthy food products has promoted the use of germinated seeds to produce functional flours. In this study, germination conditions were optimized in barley grains with the ...aim to produce flours with high nutritional and biofunctional potential using response surface methodology (RSM). The impact of germination time (0.8-6 days) and temperature (12-20 °C) on barley quality was studied. Non-germinated barley was used as the control. The content of vitamins B
, B
and C, and proteins increased notably after germination, especially at longer times, while levels of fat, carbohydrates, fibre, and b-glucan were reduced. Total phenolic compounds, g-aminobutyric acid and antioxidant activity determined by Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity increased between 2-fold and 4-fold during sprouting, depending on germination conditions and this increase was more pronounced at higher temperatures (16-20 °C) and longer times (5-6 days). Procyanidin B and ferulic acid were the main phenolics in the soluble and insoluble fraction, respectively. Procyanidin B levels decreased while bound ferulic acid content increased during germination. Germinated barley flours exhibited lower brightness and a higher glycemic index than the control ones. This study shows that germination at 16 °C for 3.5 days was the optimum process to obtain nutritious and functional barley flours. Under these conditions, sprouts retained 87% of the initial b-glucan content, and exhibited levels of ascorbic acid, riboflavin, phenolic compounds and GABA between 1.4-fold and 2.5-fold higher than the non-sprouted grain.
Backgrounds
Previous systematic reviews suggest that the implementation of ‘complete mesocolon excision’ (CME) for colon tumors entails better specimen quality but with limited long-term outcomes. We ...performed a meta-analysis to compare the pathological, perioperative, and oncological results of CME with conventional surgery (CS) in primary colon cancer.
Methods
Embase, MEDLINE and CENTRAL databases were searched using Medical Subject Headings for CME and D3 lymphadenectomy. The systematic review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
Results
A total of 18,989 patients from 27 studies were included. Postoperative complications were higher in the CME group (relative risk RR 1.13, 95% confidence interval CI 1.04–1.22,
I
2
= 0%), while no differences were observed in terms of anastomotic leak (
I
2
= 0%) or perioperative mortality (
I
2
= 49%). CME was associated with a higher number of lymph nodes harvested (
I
2
= 95%), distance to high tie (
I
2
= 65%), bowel length (
I
2
= 0%), and mesentery area (
I
2
= 95%). CME also had positive effects on 3- and 5-year overall survival (RR 1.09, 95% CI 1.04–1.15,
I
2
= 88%; and RR 1.05, 95% CI 1.02–1.08,
I
2
= 62%, respectively) and 3-year disease-free survival (RR 1.10, 95% CI 1.04–1.17,
I
2
= 22%), as well as decreased local (RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.24–0.51,
I
2
= 51%) and distant recurrences (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.60–0.85,
I
2
= 34%).
Conclusions
Limited evidence suggests that CME improves oncological outcomes with a higher postoperative adverse events rate but no increase in anastomotic leak rate or perioperative mortality, compared with CS.
Few studies have reported the prevalence or incidence about the consumption of new psychoactive substances (NPS). The hair analysis can be useful for this purpose. At the present, ketamine is the ...most consumed arylcyclohexylamine associated to young consumers and polyconsumption profiles. For this reason, ketamine consumer cases become very interesting to provide information on NPS prevalence. In this work, ten former cases of the National Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Science (INTCF) of Madrid Department (INTCFM), all of them belonging to defendants accused of crimes against public health and who had been found positive to ketamine, were reassessed. At the first toxicological analysis of those hair samples, a positive consume in ketamine had been determined by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In this work, the same hair samples were reanalyzed by high-resolution mass spectrometry ( UHPLC-HRMS/MS) using an incubation methanolic extraction combined with a single, simpler, non-selective and direct sample pre-treatment. After corroborating the GC-MS results previously obtained for the same samples, the detection of additional NPS using this new methodology evidenced its benefits and opened the possibility to perform a NPS prevalence study. In brief, in those cases with a positive consumption in ketamine, a polyconsumption of other drugs and NPS was found, including different arylcyclohexylamines as deschloroketamine, 3-MeO-PCP and methoxetamine; and cathinones as methylmetcathinone and N-ethyl-pentylone.
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•The prevalence of the consumption of NPS were evaluated in several ketamine consumers.•Non-selective universal incubation and extraction methods were applied for hair analysis prior to LC-HRMS/MS.•Consumers of ketamine showed poly-consumption of amphetamine-like drugs and hallucinogens.•Consumption of arylcyclohexylamine-type and cathinone-type NPS was detected.
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