Control of trace metal distribution and variability in an interdunal wetland.

Trace elements are serious pollutants in the natural environment and are of increasing concern due to the adverse effects at global scale. To refine the current understanding of trace metal distribution and variability in natural environments, concentrations of dissolved trace metals (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Co, Cr, Cd, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Th,Tl, U, V, Mn, Zn), major ions, inorganic nutrients (NO3, PO4), TOC and stable isotopes of water were determined in water samples from rainwater, seven piezometers and a pond in the coastal Doñana wetland during four sampling campaigns between 2017 and 2019. Results show clear evaporation signatures of stable isotopes in the pond but not in the groundwater. Hydrochemical analyses yield significant, systematic changes in groundwater trace metal and nutrient composition along the flowpath from the dune belt to the pond, controlled by organic matter in the sediments. Whereas major ions reached maximum concentrations in the pond due to evapoconcentration, most trace metals showed highest concentrations at sites with lower redox levels, except for B, As and U, which showed very high concentrations in the pond. Cu, Zn, Ni, Sb and Tl yielded higher median concentrations in rainwater than in most of the groundwater points and in case of Cu and Zn higher even than in surface water which points to an atmospheric input source of these elements. Temporal variability of trace metals was related to lower hydraulic heads after an elongated dry period which led to lower redox levels and higher concentrations of most of the trace elements whereas major ions showed more constant concentration levels. This is of special concern regarding climate change and the predicted higher frequency of prolonged dry periods, which could modify the natural hydrochemical patterns in undisturbed wetlands systems.

Carotenoids from persimmon juice processing.

The aim of this study was the use and revalorization of two persimmon by-products A and B generated in the juice production process. The by-product B resulting from a pectinase enzymatic treatment of peels and pulp to optimize juice extraction was especially suitable for recovery of valuable bioactive carotenoids. The extraction solvents and solvent combinations used were: ethanol, acetone, ethanol/acetone (50:50 v/v) and ethanol/acetone/hexane (25:25:50 v/v/v). HPLC-DAD analysis detected and identified a total of nine individual carotenoids namely violaxanthin, neoxanthin, antheraxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, ß-cryptoxanthin 5,6-epoxide, ß-cryptoxanthin, α-carotene, and ß-carotene. ß-cryptoxanthin and ß-carotene represented 49.2% and 13.2% of the total carotenoid content (TCC) in the acetone extract from by-product B. TCC contributed greatly to antioxidant activity of acetone extract derived from this by-product. Pectinase enzymatic treatment of persimmon peels and pulp followed by absolute acetone extraction of carotenoids could be an efficient method to obtain a rich extract in these compounds that could be used as nutraceutical ingredient.

Infantile obesity: a situation of atherothrombotic risk?

Obesity is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease frequently associated with hypertension, dyslipidemia, and diabetes. In recent years, alterations in the hemostatic system have been added to these dysfunctions. We analyzed some of these alterations in coagulation and fibrinolysis in obese children (6 to 9 years old) of both sexes. We studied 61 obese children (mean body mass index [BMI], 22.35 kg/m2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 21.82 to 22.87) and 70 non-obese children (mean BMI, 16.58 kg/m2; 95% CI, 16.24 to 16.93) as a control group. The obese subjects presented significantly elevated values for insulin (P < .001), tissue-plasminogen activator ([t-PA] P < .001), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 ([PAI-1] P < .001), and fibrinogen (P < .001) with respect to the control group. We found no significant differences in the concentration of glucose and fragment 1 + 2 of prothrombin (F1 + 2). In the obese subjects, insulin, PAI-1, and F1 + 2 were positively correlated with the BMI. On the other hand, t-PA was correlated with insulin and PAI-1 but not with the BMI. Therefore, in the obese children, there was an increment of the risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

[Comparative study between an easy coagglutination test and traditional cultures for the detection of group A beta-hemolytic streptococci in the oropharynx]. / Estudio comparativo de un fácil test de coaglutinación con los cultivos tradicionales para la detección del estreptococo beta-hemolítico del grupo A en orofaringe.

The authors make a comparative study of the conventional culture media and a commercially available coagglutination test for detection of streptococcus beta-haemolyticus. They draw attention to the simplicity and quickness of the coagglutination test and to their high value of prediction.

Relationship between high plasma leptin concentrations and metabolic syndrome in obese pre-pubertal children.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between serum leptin levels and metabolic syndrome, fasting insulin level and anthropometric index in obese pre-pubertal children. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was carried out on obese children. SUBJECTS: A study was made of 41 obese children (aged 6-9 y) and the same number of non-obese children (control group), matched by age and sex. METHODS: Body mass index (BMI), waist/hip ratio (WHR) and blood pressure were determined in each child. Serum leptin, glucose, insulin, lipid profile, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tissue-plasminogen activator (t-PA) and fibrinogen were all measured. RESULTS: The serum leptin level was significantly higher in obese children (15.47 vs 4.73 ng/ml). In the obese group, leptin showed a positive correlation with BMI (P<0.001), insulin (P<0.001), triglycerides (P<0.05), PAI-1 (P<0.05) and t-PA (P<0.05), and correlated negatively with SHBG (P<0.01), apolipoprotein A-I (P<0.05) and high-density lipoproteins cholesterol (HDL-C) (P<0.05). Corrected for BMI and WHR, leptin (P partial=0.002) is only an independent predictive factor for basal insulin. Using multivariant regression analysis, only insulin (P partial=0.003) and BMI (P partial=0.018) were independent predictive factors for leptin. CONCLUSION: For this age group, high leptin resistance may be another component of metabolic syndrome, and may be involved in its etiopathogenesis. The involvement of leptin in this syndrome may be indirect, modulating the insulin's action.