Adipose tissue polyunsaturated fatty acids and metabolic syndrome among adult parents and their children.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) may play a role in the etiology of the metabolic syndrome (MetS). The aim of the study was to examine the associations of adipose tissue PUFA biomarkers with MetS among parents and children in Mesoamerica. METHOD AND RESULTS: We conducted a cross-sectional study among 468 parents and 201 children aged 7-12 y from the capital cities of Guatemala, El Salvador, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Costa Rica, and Belize, and Tuxtla Gutiérrez in Mexico. We measured PUFA biomarkers in gluteal adipose tissue by gas chromatography. In adults, MetS was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III definition. In children, we created an age- and sex-standardized metabolic risk score using abdominal circumference, the homeostasis model of insulin resistance, blood pressure, serum HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. We estimated prevalence ratios of MetS and mean differences in metabolic score across quartiles of PUFA using multivariable-adjusted Poisson and linear regression models, respectively. Among adults, MetS was associated with low alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), high eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and low gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). It was linearly, positively associated with dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA) and estimated Δ6-desaturase (D6D) activity. Among children, the metabolic score was positively associated with docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), DGLA, and D6D activity. CONCLUSIONS: Among Mesoamerican adults, MetS prevalence is inversely associated with adipose tissue ALA and GLA, and positively associated with EPA, DGLA, and the D6D index. Among children, metabolic risk score is positively associated with DPA, DGLA, and the D6D index.

Establishment and characterization of a telomerase immortalized human gingival epithelial cell line.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Gingival keratinocytes are used in model systems to investigate the interaction between periodontal bacteria and the epithelium in the initial stages of the periodontal disease process. Primary gingival epithelial cells (GECs) have a finite lifespan in culture before they enter senescence and cease to replicate, while epithelial cells immortalized with viral proteins can exhibit chromosomal rearrangements. The aim of this study was to generate a telomerase immortalized human gingival epithelial cell line and compare its in vitro behaviour to that of human GECs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Human primary GECs were immortalized with a bmi1/hTERT combination to prevent cell cycle triggers of senescence and telomere shortening. The resultant cell-line, telomerase immortalized gingival keratinocytes (TIGKs), were compared to GECs for cell morphology, karyotype, growth and cytokeratin expression, and further characterized for replicative lifespan, expression of toll-like receptors and invasion by P. gingivalis. RESULTS: TIGKs showed morphologies, karyotype, proliferation rates and expression of characteristic cytokeratin proteins comparable to GECs. TIGKs underwent 36 passages without signs of senescence and expressed transcripts for toll-like receptors 1-6, 8 and 9. A subpopulation of cells underwent stratification after extended time in culture. The cytokeratin profiles of TIGK monolayers were consistent with basal cells. When allowed to stratify, cytokeratin profiles of TIGKs were consistent with suprabasal cells of the junctional epithelium. Further, TIGKs were comparable to GECs in previously reported levels and kinetics of invasion by wild-type P. gingivalis and an invasion defective ΔserB mutant. CONCLUSION: Results confirm bmi1/hTERT immortalization of primary GECs generated a robust cell line with similar characteristics to the parental cell type. TIGKs represent a valuable model system for the study of oral bacteria interactions with host gingival cells.

Photosynthetic modification of plants through recent technologies: a valuable way to ensure crop fortification.

The 2030 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations include a strong emphasis on ending hunger worldwide. According to the 2019 Global Food Security Index, while 88% of countries claim there is sufficient food supply in their country, the sad reality is that 1 in 3 countries is facing insufficient availability of food supply, which means that in those countries, more than 10% of the population is malnourished. Since nutrition is crucial to leading a healthy life and satisfying food security needs, several governments have turned to national nutrition surveys to gauge the extent of malnutrition in their populations. Plants are able to grow, develop, and store nutrients by photosynthesis, which convert light into chemical energy through cell redox regulatory networks. A photosynthesis system's electron flow may be adjusted to accommodate varying light and environmental circumstances. Many techniques exist for controlling the flow of electrons emitted during light processes in order to save or waste energy. The two protein molecules TROL and flavoenzyme ferredoxin (oxidoreductase+NADP) (FNR) interact dynamically to form an excellent molecular switch capable of splitting electrons from the photosystem. The TROL-FNR bifurcation may be limited by either generating NADPH or preventing reactive oxygen species from propagating. TROL-based genome editing is an experimental method for enhancing plant stress and defensive responses, efficiency, and ultimately agricultural production.

Evolution of left ventricular hypertrophy and function during long-term treatment of systemic hypertension with enalapril.

Continued treatment of hypertensive patients with enalapril reduced left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy steadily over a period of 5 years (by which time gross structural parameters were normal) and produced no further reduction during the following 2 years. Temporary suspension of treatment after 5-year follow-up gave rise to an increase in blood pressure, and to deterioration of LV isovolumic relaxation time and deceleration of the ventricular filling E wave, both of which chiefly reflect the active relaxation of the ventricle.

[Biological evaluation of an infant food based on soybean, rice and banana]. / Evaluación biológica de un alimento infantil a base de soya, arroz y banano.

An infant food, a mixture of soy, rice and banana was biologically evaluated in three studies carried out in Sprague-Dawley rats. In the first assay, the caloric supplementation and milk protein complementation effect on the nutritive value of the product was studied. Results indicated that an equal nutritive value as that of milk is obtained when 50% of the vegetable protein is replaced by animal protein. The fact that caloric supplementation does not exert any positive effect on the nutritive value of the infant food, under the conditions of the study, was also confirmed. In the second assay, the effect of amino acid (lysine and methionine) supplementation was evaluated. Results revealed a significant improvement of the product quality with lysine supplementation, a finding that implies thermal protein damage caused by industrial processing. In the third study, whole milk supplementation effect at the levels that the product could be offered in school lunch programs and Nutrition and Education Centers was investigated. Such values, as determined, correspond to 343 to 655 ml of fluid milk per 100 g of the cereal product. It was also found that milk complements and improves the nutritive value of the product at equal statistical (P less than 0.05) values as those of milk.

[Nutritional impact of supplemented food in relation to the duration and severity of infectious episodes]. / Impacto nutricional de la alimentación complementaria en relación con la duración y gravedad de los episodios infecciosos.

The nutritional impact of three different programs of supplementary feeding implemented with children aged 6-24 months, was examined in relation to the duration and the severity of infectious diseases. After a 2-month intervention, statistically significant changes in weight for length were found in two of the groups (those supplemented with rice and beans, and those supplemented with rice cereal enriched with oil). No significant changes in weight for length were found in the other groups (those supplemented with banana cereal and the control group), nor were statistically significant changes found in any of the four groups in relation to weight for age, nor length for age. No statistically significant changes were found on the incidence, duration, and severity of infectious diseases. As a result of these findings it can be postulated that despite a high frequency of infectious episodes, often severe and of long duration, supplementary feeding on the early part of life can be effective when there is a high risk of malnutrition.

Impacto nutricional de la alimentacion complementaria en relacion con la duracion y gravedad de los episodios infecciosos. / Nutritional impact of supplemented food in relation to the duration and severity of infectious episodes

Se examino el impacto nutricional de tres diferentes programas de alimentacion complementaria para ninos de seis a 24 meses de edad, en relacion con la duracion y gravedad de los episodios infecciosos

Construccion de un indice para controlar infecciones en ninos de 6-24 meses. / An index for the control of infections in infants of 6-24 months of age

Se plantea un metodo sencillo para controlar la variable interviniente "infecciones" en el marco de un estudio de campo para evaluar el impacto nutricicional de tres alimentos complementarios entre ninos de alto riesgo de desnutricion del area periurbana de San Jose, Costa Rica. Segun la tecnica de "componentes principales" se concluye que: diarrea (duracion y severidad), fiebre (duracion), inapetencia (duracion), angina (duracion) y tos (duracion) explican el 88% de la varianza de los datos. Se propone ademas expresar las diferentes patologias infecciosas o sus sintomas como porcentaje del tiempo total observado que los ninos los padecen y a su vez este indice, denominado de "duracion", puede ser discriminado segun gravedad para diarrea, fiebre y tos. El objetivo es demostrar que las poblaciones estudiadas son comparables y que la variable interviniente "infecciones" esta totalmente controlada

Frecuencia de infecciones en 4 grupos de ninos de 6-24 meses del area periurbana de San Jose, Costa Rica. / Frequency of infections in 4 groups of infants of 6-24 months of age in a periurban area of San Jose, Costa Rica

Se analiza y compara la frecuencia de episodios infecciosos, segun duracion y severidad, en cuatro grupos de ninos entre 6 y 24 meses, con caracteristicas socioeconomicos de alto riesgo de desnutricion. Se estudian particularmente las variables "todas", "fiebre", "inapetencia" y "diarrea". El sintoma "fiebre" se toma como un indicador de patologia anorexiante, incluyendo las infecciones de las vias aereas superiores. Se demuestra que los cuatro grupos son comparables en cuanto a "infecciones" y que, las diferencias halladas en el estado nutricional de los ninos, no pueden ser atribuidas a diferentes frecuencia de episodios infecciosos agudos entre los cuatro grupos