Characterization of Purple Carrot Germplasm for Antioxidant Capacity and Root Concentration of Anthocyanins, Phenolics, and Carotenoids.

The present study characterized a genetically and phenotypically diverse collection of 27 purple and two non-purple (one orange and one yellow) carrot accessions for concentration of root anthocyanins, phenolics, and carotenoids, and antioxidant capacity estimated by four different methods (ORAC, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP), in a partially replicated experimental design comprising data from two growing seasons (2018 and 2019). Broad and significant (p < 0.0001) variation was found among the accessions for all the traits. Acylated anthocyanins (AA) predominated over non-acylated anthocyanins (NAA) in all the accessions and years analyzed, with AA accounting for 55.5-100% of the total anthocyanin content (TAC). Anthocyanins acylated with ferulic acid and coumaric acid were the most abundant carrot anthocyanins. In general, black or solid purple carrots had the greatest TAC and total phenolic content (TPC), and the strongest antioxidant capacities, measured by all methods. Antioxidant capacity, estimated by all methods, was significantly, positively, and moderately-to-strongly correlated with the content of all individual anthocyanins pigments, TAC, and TPC, in both years (r = 0.59-0.90, p < 0.0001), but not with the carotenoid pigments lutein and ß-carotene; suggesting that anthocyanins and other phenolics, but not carotenoids, are major contributors of the antioxidant capacity in purple carrots. We identified accessions with high concentration of chemically stable AA, with potential value for the production of food dyes, and accessions with relatively high content of bioavailable NAA that can be selected for increased nutraceutical value (e.g., for fresh consumption).

Is self-perception of oral health associated with expectations of employability?

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire that allows a systematic evaluation of the impact of self-perceived oral health on expectations of getting a job on adult population seeking dental care, and to describe its associations with demographic characteristics, job related, and health coverage variables. We designed a descriptive cross-sectional study including men and women aged 18 to 65 years from a population seeking dental services in a walk-in clinic. In a first stage we design and validated an instrument on a sample of 100 subjects. The questionnaire was registered in a Likert scale, with higher scores represented higher impact of the oral status self-perception on employability. We calculated internal consistency, construct validity, and domains validation. The final instrument consisted in an 18-item questionnaire (Cronbach α = 0.814), grouped into two domains based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The total variance explained with values >1 was 66 percent, grouping questions into six components. One domain refers to oral health status and importance of dental aesthetics, while the other refers to specific job-seeking elements. In a second stage we applied the questionnaire on 800 participants from the same population of reference. Women, people who intended to change jobs, those younger than 40 years old, having health insurance, and higher educational level showed statistically significant higher scores than their counterparts (p<0.001). We developed a tool that enables evaluating the impact of self-perceived oral health on expectations of getting a job for adults seeking emergency care in a dental clinic.

Is self-perception of oral health associated with expectations of employability?

Abstract The aim of this study was to develop and validate a questionnaire that allows a systematic evaluation of the impact of self-perceived oral health on expectations of getting a job on adult population seeking dental care, and to describe its associations with demographic characteristics, job related, and health coverage variables. We designed a descriptive cross-sectional study including men and women aged 18 to 65 years from a population seeking dental services in a walk-in clinic. In a first stage we design and validated an instrument on a sample of 100 subjects. The questionnaire was registered in a Likert scale, with higher scores represented higher impact of the oral status self-perception on employability. We calculated internal consistency, construct validity, and domains validation. The final instrument consisted in an 18-item questionnaire (Cronbach α = 0.814), grouped into two domains based on exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. The total variance explained with values >1 was 66 percent, grouping questions into six components. One domain refers to oral health status and importance of dental aesthetics, while the other refers to specific job-seeking elements. In a second stage we applied the questionnaire on 800 participants from the same population of reference. Women, people who intended to change jobs, those younger than 40 years old, having health insurance, and higher educational level showed statistically significant higher scores than their counterparts (p<0.001). We developed a tool that enables evaluating the impact of self-perceived oral health on expectations of getting a job for adults seeking emergency care in a dental clinic.

Ustekinumab in Crohn's disease: real-world outcomes and predictors of response.

BACKGROUND: ustekinumab is a monoclonal antibody that inhibits interleukins IL-12 and IL-23, and is approved for the treatment of Crohn's disease (CD) and, more recently, also ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ustekinumab, as well as to identify possible predictive factors of response in a real-life setting. METHODS: an observational, retrospective, multicenter study was carried out in 4 hospitals in Andalusia. Adult patients with a confirmed diagnosis of CD treated with ustekinumab from 2017 to 2019 were included. Clinical response was analyzed at 3, 6 and 12 months of treatment. Clinical disease activity was assessed with the Harvey-Bradshaw index (HBI) and the Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI); biochemical response was assessed with lab parameters such as CRP and ESR. One-year ustekinumab drug-survival was analyzed. RESULTS: a total of 98 patients were analyzed (mean age, 43 years; 52 % were male); 56 % had failed with ≥ 2 previous biologicals therapies. At 3 months, 69 % of the patients were in response and 40.8 % in remission. At 6 months, 56 % were in clinical remission. At 12 months, 73.7 % were in clinical response and 60.5 % in remission. Corticosteroid-free remission was 32.4 %, 44 %, and 47.4 % at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Cumulative survival after one year of treatment with ustekinumab was 85.3 %. Biochemical parameters such as CRP and ESR showed a statistically significant decrease between baseline and control levels at 3, 6, and 12 months. A lower HBI at baseline and female sex were predictors of corticosteroid-free clinical remission in a univariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis no variables were found as predictors of corticosteroid-free clinical remission. CONCLUSION: ustekinumab therapy is safe and useful, inducing clinical response in more than 50 % of patients, including patients who failed with other biological therapies.

Double strangeness: a young male with intestinal obstruction secondary to gastrointestinal follicular lymphoma.

Primary follicular lymphomas (FL) of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract are very rare and constitute < 4 % of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas at this location. We report our experience with primary FL of the GI tract.

Vedolizumab response in inflammatory bowel disease. Two years of follow-up.

BACKGROUND: vedolizumab is an α4ß7 integrin antagonist. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical response and remission rates with vedolizumab. METHODS: this was a retrospective study of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients who received vedolizumab between 2016 and 2019. Response and remission rates were analyzed at three, six, 12, 18 and 24 months after induction. RESULTS: fifty-five patients were included. Clinical remission rates in CD and UC at three, six, 12, 18 and 24 months were 19.35 %, 26.67 %, 30.43 %, 30 %, 38.89 % and 29.17 %, 26.09 %, 19.05 %, 26.67 % and 20 %, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: vedolizumab is effective for induction and maintenance of clinical remission, both in Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis.

Encefalopatía Posterior Reversible asociada a Exacerbación de Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica / Reversible Posterior Encephalopathy associated with Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Resumen El Síndrome de Encefalopatía Reversible Posterior (PRES) es una entidad clínica y radiológica reversible. Existen varias entidades clínicas que se asocian con PRES. La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica (EPOC) es un factor predisponente poco frecuente para el desarrollo de esta patología. Se presenta el caso de una mujer de 71 años de edad que estaba siendo tratada por una exacerbación aguda de EPOC y desarrolló alteración del sensorio y crisis convulsivas. Los hallazgos de imágenes características, los síntomas clínicos asociados y su historial médico llevaron a un diagnóstico de PRES en nuestro paciente. A pesar de que la asociación de PRES y EPOC es una entidad poco común, el diagnóstico de PRES debe ser un diferencial en caso de que un paciente desarrolle encefalopatía o convulsiones en la exacerbación de EPOC.

Abstract Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) is a reversible clinical and radiological entity. There are several entities that are associated with PRES. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a rare factor for the development of this condition. We present the case of a 71-years-old woman who was being treated for an acute exacerbation of COPD and developed sensory impairment and seizures. The findings of characteristic images, associated clinical symptoms and their medical history led to a diagnosis of PRES in our patient. Although the association of PRES and COPD is a rare entity, the diagnosis of PRES should be a differential if a patient develops encephalopathy or seizures in the exacerbation of COPD.

Factores Asociados A La Mortalidad De La Hemorragia Cerebral Intraparenquimatosa Espontánea En Pacientes Mayores De 50 Años De Edad Que Acudieron Al Hospital Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Durante El Año 2017 / Factors Associated With Mortality Of Spontaneous Intraparenchymal Cerebral Hemorrhage In Patients Over 50 Years Of Age Who Attended The Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hospital During The Year 2017

Resumen Objetivos: Determinar los factores asociados a la mortalidad de la hemorragia cerebral intraparenquimatosa espontánea en pacientes mayores de 50 años de edad que acudieron al Hospital Teodoro Maldonado Carbo durante el año 2017. Materiales y métodos: Mediante un estudio observacional retrospectivo analítico, con 92 pacientes diagnosticados de hemorragia intraparenquimatosa espontánea primaria, se evaluaron las características demográficas, factores de riesgo, factores de mal pronóstico y la mortalidad a los 30 días. La Intracerebral Hemorrage Grading Scale (ICH-GS) fue aplicada en nuestra población para evaluar la correlación de los puntajes obtenidos con la mortalidad a los 30 días. Resultados: De los 92 pacientes, (edad media: 69 años, media de la Escala de Coma de Glasgow [GCS] al ingreso: 11 puntos, media del volumen supratentorial e infratentorial 36.63 y 13.92 ml respectivamente, localización del hematoma más frecuente: tálamo [21,74%]). La mortalidad a 30 días fue del 31,40%. En un análisis univariado, GCS (odds ratio [OR] = 2.20, intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95% = 1.04- 4.65, p <0,04), volumen infratentorial (OR = 3.74 por ml, IC del 95% = 1.25 a 11.120, p <0.02) y la extensión ventricular (OR = 5.43, IC 95% = 1.40-22.35, P = 0.02), fueron predictores significativos para la mortalidad a los 30 días. La correlación de Pearson mostró correlaciones de 0.6556 entre el puntaje ICH-GS y la mortalidad a 30 días (P < 0.001). Conclusión: El puntaje de la GCS al ingreso junto con el volumen infratentorial y la extensión intraventricular son predictores significativos de mortalidad a los 30 días en pacientes con Hemorragia intracerebral (HIC) primaria espontánea, siendo útil para identificar pacientes de alto riesgo a corto plazo.

Abstract Objective: To determine the factors associated with the mortality of spontaneous intraparenchymal cerebral hemorrhage in patients over 50 years old who attended the Teodoro Maldonado Carbo Hospital during 2017. Methods: A retrospective analytical observational study of 92 patients of diagnosis of spontaneous primary intraparenchymal hemorrhage, 30-day mortality was evaluated according to demographic characteristics, risk factors and poor prognostic factors. The Intracerebral Hemorrhage Grading Scale (ICH-GS) scale was applied in our population to evaluate the correlation of the scores obtained with the 30-day mortality. Results: From 92 patients (mean age: 69 years, mean Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS] on admission: 10, mean supratentorial and infratentorial volume, respectively 36.63 and 13.92 ml, most common hematoma location: thalamus (21.74%). at 30 days it was [31.40%]). In a univariate analysis, GCS (odds ratio [OR] = 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.04- 4.65, p <0.04), infratentorial volume (OR) = 3.74 per ml, 95% CI = 1.25 to 11,120, p <0.02) and the ventricular extension was (OR = 5.43, 95% CI = 1.40-22.35, P = 0.02) were significant predictors for 30-day mortality The Pearson correlation showed correlations of 0.6556 between the IC-GS score and the 30-day mortality (P <0.001). Conclusions: The GCS score at admission together with infratentorial volume and intraventricular extension are significant predictors of 30-day mortality in patients with primary spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage (ICH) being useful for identifying high-risk patients in the short term.

Evolution of the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Southern Spain.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease is increasing in Europe and in Spain. However, there is no recent data from Southern Spain. OBJECTIVES: To determine the evolution of the hospital incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Southern Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in two hospitals in Southern Spain. Data was collected from inflammatory bowel disease patients, divided into two periods (1995-2000 and 2001-2014) and compared. The reference population from both areas was 1,011,555 inhabitants. RESULTS: A total of 430 patients were registered during the first period (1995-2000); 50% (215) had Crohn's disease that resulted in a cumulative incidence rate of 7.08 cases/100,000 inhabitants per year. The overall inflammatory bowel disease incidence was 3.54 cases/100,000 inhabitants per year. During the second period (2001-2014), 2,089 patients were collected; 51.7% had ulcerative colitis (1,081). The rate of cumulative incidence of inflammatory bowel disease was 14.7 cases/100,000 inhabitants per year (7.6 cases of ulcerative colitis/100,000 inhabitants/year and 7.1 cases of Crohn´s disease/100,000 inhabitants/year). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of inflammatory bowel disease in Southern Spain has doubled in the last decade and is similar to that of the rest of the country and Europe.