Saffron against Neuro-Cognitive Disorders: An Overview of Its Main Bioactive Compounds, Their Metabolic Fate and Potential Mechanisms of Neurological Protection.

Saffron (Crocus sativus L.) is a spice used worldwide as a colouring and flavouring agent. Saffron is also a source of multiple bioactive constituents with potential health benefits. Notably, saffron displays consistent beneficial effects against a range of human neurological disorders (depression, anxiety, sleeping alterations). However, the specific compounds and biological mechanisms by which this protection may be achieved have not yet been elucidated. In this review, we have gathered the most updated evidence of the neurological benefits of saffron, as well as the current knowledge on the main saffron constituents, their bioavailability and the potential biological routes and postulated mechanisms by which the beneficial protective effect may occur. Our aim was to provide an overview of the neuroprotective effects attributed to this product and its main bioactive compounds and to highlight the main research gaps that need to be further pursued to achieve full evidence and understanding of the benefits of saffron. Overall, improved clinical trials and adequately designed pre-clinical studies are needed to support the evidence of saffron and of its main bioactive components (e.g., crocin, crocetin) as a therapeutic product to combat neurological disorders.

Conformational Changes of Trialanine in Water Induced by Vibrational Relaxation of the Amide I Mode.

Most of the protein-based diseases are caused by anomalies in the functionality and stability of these molecules. Experimental and theoretical studies of the conformational dynamics of proteins are becoming in this respect essential to understand the origin of these anomalies. However, a description of the conformational dynamics of proteins based on mechano-energetic principles still remains elusive because of the intrinsic high flexibility of the peptide chains, the participation of weak noncovalent interactions, and the role of the ubiquitous water solvent. In this work, the conformational dynamics of trialanine dissolved in water (D2O) is investigated through Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations combined with instantaneous normal modes (INMs) analysis both at equilibrium and after the vibrational excitation of the C-terminal amide I mode. The conformational equilibrium between α and pPII conformers is found to be altered by the intramolecular relaxation of the amide I mode as a consequence of the different relaxation pathways of each conformer which modify the amount of vibrational energy stored in the torsional motions of the tripeptide, so the α → pPII and pPII → α conversion rates are increased differently. The selectivity of the process comes from the shifts of the vibrational frequencies with the conformational changes that modify the resonance conditions driving the intramolecular energy flows.

Identification of different nutritional status groups in institutionalized elderly people by cluster analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To apply a cluster analysis to groups of individuals of similar characteristics in an attempt to identify undernutrition or the risk of undernutrition in this population. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. SETTING: Seven public nursing homes in the province of Murcia, on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. PARTICIPANTS: 205 subjects aged 65 and older (131 women and 74 men). MEASUREMENTS: Dietary intake (energy and nutrients), anthropometric (body mass index, skinfold thickness, mid-arm muscle circumference, mid-arm muscle area, corrected arm muscle area, waist to hip ratio) and biochemical and haematological (serum albumin, transferrin, total cholesterol, total lymphocyte count). Variables were analyzed by cluster analysis. RESULTS: The results of the cluster analysis, including intake, anthropometric and analytical data showed that, of the 205 elderly subjects, 66 (32.2%) were over - weight/obese, 72 (35.1%) had an adequate nutritional status and 67 (32.7%) were undernourished or at risk of undernutrition. The undernourished or at risk of undernutrition group showed the lowest values for dietary intake and the anthropometric and analytical parameters measured. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that cluster analysis is a useful statistical method for assessing the nutritional status of institutionalized elderly populations. In contrast, use of the specific reference values frequently described in the literature might fail to detect real cases of undernourishment or those at risk of undernutrition.

Objetivos: Aplicar un análisis de conglomerados (cluster analysis) para grupos de individuos de características similares en un intento de identificar la desnutrición o el riesgo de desnutrición en esta población. Métodos: Estudio transversal llevado a cabo en 205 sujetos de 65 años (131 mujeres y 74 hombres), residentes en siete centros públicos de la Región de Murcia, localizada en la costa mediterránea de España. Se valoró ingesta dietética (energía y nutrientes), medidas antropométricas (índice de masa corporal, pliegues cutáneos, circunferencia muscular del brazo, área muscular del brazo, área muscular del brazo corregida, relación cinturacadera) y parámetros bioquímicos y hematológicos (albúmina, transferrina, colesterol total, recuento total de linfocitos). Las variables se analizaron mediante análisis de conglomerados. Resultados: Los resultados del análisis de conglomerados, incluyendo la ingesta, datos antropométricos y analíticos mostraron que, de los 205 sujetos ancianos, 66 participantes (32,2%) presentaron sobrepeso/obesidad, 72 (35,1%) tenían un estado nutricional adecuado y 67 (32,7%) estaban desnutridos o en riesgo de desnutrición. El grupo con desnutrición o en riesgo de desnutrición mostró los valores más bajos de la ingesta dietética y los parámetros antropométricos y clínicos. Conclusiones: El estudio muestra que el análisis de conglomerados es un método estadístico útil para evaluar el estado nutricional de las poblaciones de ancianos institucionalizados. Por el contrario, el uso de los valores de referencia específicos, descritos con frecuencia en la literatura, podría no detectar situaciones reales de desnutrición o en riesgo de desnutrición.