Domain collapse and active site ablation generate a widespread animal mitochondrial seryl-tRNA synthetase.

Through their aminoacylation reactions, aminoacyl tRNA-synthetases (aaRS) establish the rules of the genetic code throughout all of nature. During their long evolution in eukaryotes, additional domains and splice variants were added to what is commonly a homodimeric or monomeric structure. These changes confer orthogonal functions in cellular activities that have recently been uncovered. An unusual exception to the familiar architecture of aaRSs is the heterodimeric metazoan mitochondrial SerRS. In contrast to domain additions or alternative splicing, here we show that heterodimeric metazoan mitochondrial SerRS arose from its homodimeric ancestor not by domain additions, but rather by collapse of an entire domain (in one subunit) and an active site ablation (in the other). The collapse/ablation retains aminoacylation activity while creating a new surface, which is necessary for its orthogonal function. The results highlight a new paradigm for repurposing a member of the ancient tRNA synthetase family.

Shared Reflection to Maximize Resources and Minimize Costs: The Reflecting Team Applied to a Hospital Environment.

Severe mental illness entails multiple hospital admissions and a large use of public resources. The Reflecting Team (RT), together with other dialogue strategies, place in a single therapeutic space, the patient, his family and a team of professionals to find together a solution to a situation of stagnation. The aim of this study was to evaluate feasibility and cost-effectiveness of a RT intervention in psychiatric inpatients in a public hospital. Six RT were performed, and clinical variables were collected retrospectively for six months pre-RT and post-RT. Both number of hospital admissions and total time spent in the psychiatric acute unit show a significant decrease. All computed cost showed statistically significant reduction. The results suggest RT might be a good strategy to introduce a positive change in the treatment of those psychiatric cases in which the patient and family find themselves caught in a system that seems to offer stale and ineffective help to problems that have become chronic.

Bile acid changes after metabolic surgery are linked to improvement in insulin sensitivity.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic surgery is associated with a prompt improvement in insulin resistance, although the mechanism of action remains unknown. The literature on bile acid changes after metabolic surgery is conflicting, and insulin sensitivity is generally assessed by indirect methods. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between improvement in insulin sensitivity and concentration of circulating bile acids after biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) and Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB). METHODS: This was a prospective observational study of nine patients who underwent BPD and six who had RYGB. Inclusion criteria for participation were a BMI in excess of 40 kg/m2 , no previous diagnosis of type 2 diabetes and willingness to participate. Exclusion criteria were major endocrine diseases, malignancies and liver cirrhosis. Follow-up visits were carried out after a mean(s.d.) of 185·3(72·9) days. Fasting plasma bile acids were assessed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer, and insulin sensitivity was measured by means of a hyperinsulinaemic-euglycaemic clamp. RESULTS: A significant increase in all bile acids, as well as an amelioration of insulin sensitivity, was observed after metabolic surgery. An increase in conjugated secondary bile acids was significantly associated with an increase in insulin sensitivity. Only the increase in glycodeoxycholic acid was significantly associated with an increase in insulin sensitivity in analysis of individual conjugated secondary bile acids. CONCLUSION: Glycodeoxycholic acid might drive the improved insulin sensitivity after metabolic surgery.

Ongoing and cumulative pregnancy rate after cleavage-stage versus blastocyst-stage embryo transfer using vitrification for cryopreservation: impact of age on the results.

PURPOSE: To determine if blastocyst transfer increases the ongoing and cumulative pregnancy rates, compared with day 3 embryo transfer, in women of all ages when at least 4 zygotes are obtained. METHODS: Prospective study including patients undergoing a first IVF/ICSI treatment and assigned to cleavage stage (n = 46) or blastocyst (n = 58) embryo transfer. Supernumerary embryos were vitrified and patients failing to achieve an ongoing pregnancy after fresh embryo transfer would go through cryopreserved cycles. The main outcome measure was the ongoing pregnancy rate after the fresh IVF/ICSI transfer and the cumulative ongoing pregnancy rate. Results were also analyzed according to age (under 35 and 35 or older). RESULTS: A majority of patients (96.6 %) had a blastocyst transfer when at least 4 zygotes were obtained. The ongoing pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the day-5 group compared with the day-3 group (43.1 % vs. 24 %, p = 0.041). The cumulative ongoing pregnancy rate was higher (but not significantly) with blastocyst than with cleavage stage embryos (56.8 % vs. 43.4 %, p = 0.174). When analysed by age, patients 35 or older showed significantly higher ongoing pregnancy rate (48.4 % vs. 19.3 %, p = 0.016) and cumulative ongoing pregnancy rate (58 % vs. 25.8 %, p = 0.01) in the day-5 group compared to the day-3 group, while no such differences were observed in women under 35. CONCLUSIONS: Blastocyst transfer can be suggested whenever there are at least 4 zygotes. While there are no differences in women under 35, the benefit of this option over cleavage stage transfer could be significant in women 35 or older.

Unravelling the operation of organic artificial neurons for neuromorphic bioelectronics.

Organic artificial neurons operating in liquid environments are crucial components in neuromorphic bioelectronics. However, the current understanding of these neurons is limited, hindering their rational design and development for realistic neuronal emulation in biological settings. Here we combine experiments, numerical non-linear simulations, and analytical tools to unravel the operation of organic artificial neurons. This comprehensive approach elucidates a broad spectrum of biorealistic behaviors, including firing properties, excitability, wetware operation, and biohybrid integration. The non-linear simulations are grounded in a physics-based framework, accounting for ion type and ion concentration in the electrolytic medium, organic mixed ionic-electronic parameters, and biomembrane features. The derived analytical expressions link the neurons spiking features with material and physical parameters, bridging closer the domains of artificial neurons and neuroscience. This work provides streamlined and transferable guidelines for the design, development, engineering, and optimization of organic artificial neurons, advancing next generation neuronal networks, neuromorphic electronics, and bioelectronics.

Vitrification can modify embryo cleavage stage after warming. Should we change endometrial preparation?

PURPOSE: Studies have shown that embryo metabolism and cell cleavage after warming vitrified embryos is faster than after thawing frozen embryos. We study vitrified embryo transfer (VET) results depending on the developmental stage of warmed embryos and the duration of progesterone treatment before embryo transfer. METHODS: We designed a prospective study, patients were randomized in two groups, starting progesterone three (D + 3) or four days (D + 4) before embryo transfer. We recruited 88 patients with embryos vitrified on day 3. RESULTS: We didn't find statitistical differences in pregnancy rate when we transferred embryos in D + 3 vs D + 4 (38.2 % vs 40.5 % p ≥ 0.05). The day after warming, 54.6 % of embryos had developed to morula or early blastocyst, 32.4 % to cleavage stage and 13 % didn't cleave. Transfers were with morula/blastocysts stage embryos (52.1 %; n:37), cleavage stage embryos (18.3 %; n:13) or mixed (29.6 %; n:21). Implantation rate was significantly higher in morula/blastocyst stage than in cleavage stage or mixed transfers (44 %, 22 % and 16.3 %; p = 0.011). Pregnancy and implantation rates were significantly higher in morula/blastocyst transfers on D + 4 than on D + 3 (68.7 % and 64.7 % vs 33.3 %, and 33.3 %, p = 0.033 and p = 0.034). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that a majority of embryos will develop to morula/blastocyst stage after warming. VET results with morula/blastocysts, and after four days of progesterone supplementation, are better than with cleavage stage embryos.

Determination of conjugated linoleic acid in human plasma by fast gas chromatography.

A new method for the determination of the main isomers of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in human and animal plasma was developed by gas chromatography coupled to flame ionization detection (GC-FID). The new method introduces three main advantages in comparison to the current available methodologies: firstly it does not require previous lipid extraction, secondly the chromatographic separation of CLA isomers was performed on an Rtx-2330 column significantly shorter and thinner than the typical long highly polar capillary columns in use that allows a faster analysis than in current methodologies, and thirdly the amount of sample needed to perform the analyses was substantially lower than the amount used in current routine methodologies. Its application to human plasma and rat plasma showed to be robust and reliable for quick and correct identification of the main CLA isomers in particular, and the total fatty acid profile in general, in routine analysis.

Compliance with the European and national nutritional objectives in a Mediterranean population.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze compliance with the current European and Spanish nutritional objectives in a representative sample from Catalonia, a Spanish Mediterranean region; and to examine relationships between diet and plasma fatty acid composition. DESIGN: Cross-sectional nutritional survey. SETTING: Population based random sample derived from the Catalan Nutrition Survey. SUBJECTS: A total of 516 healthy adult men (n=203) and women (n=313). METHODS: Dietary habits were assessed by means of a quantitative food frequency questionnaire. A physical exam included height, weight, waist and hip circumferences, and a fasting blood draw. RESULTS: Gender differences were observed in nutrient and energy intakes. Women showed a better compliance with the nutritional recommendations for monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) than did men. Men showed a better compliance for saturated fatty acid (SFA) and carbohydrate than did women. However, the SFA:MUFA:PUFA ratio was similar in both gender (1.6:2.3:1.0 for men; 1.7:2.5:1.0 for women). The highest compliance was observed for nutritional goals of sodium, calcium and fruit and vegetable intakes for both genders. In addition, the present study showed that levels of certain fatty acids in plasma are clearly associated with dietary intake of foods rich in these components. The highest correlations were found for n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids with blue fish intake in both men and women (r (men)=0.36 and r (women)=0.42; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The diet followed in Catalonia seems to ensure compliance with most of the intermediate nutritional objectives for the Spanish population. However, a reduction in the SFA intake and an increase in the carbohydrate intake could be recommended in order to reduce the current prevalence of overweight and obesity in this Mediterranean region. SPONSORSHIP: This study was supported by the Catalan Department of Health, the Nutrition Catalan Centre of the Institute of Catalan Studies, and Mercadona SA.

Determination of phospholipid fatty acids in biological samples by solid-phase extraction and fast gas chromatography.

A new method for the determination of phospholipid fatty acids in biological samples, combination of solid-phase extraction (SPE) and fast gas chromatography (GC) was developed. Its application to human plasma and human erythrocytes showed to be robust and reliable for quick and correct identification in routine analysis.

Intrinsic changes on automatism, conduction, and refractoriness by exercise in isolated rabbit heart.

We have studied the intrinsic modifications on myocardial automatism, conduction, and refractoriness produced by chronic exercise. Experiments were performed on isolated rabbit hearts. Trained animals were submitted to exercise on a treadmill. The parameters investigated were 1) R-R interval, noncorrected and corrected sinus node recovery time (SNRT) as automatism index; 2) sinoatrial conduction time; 3) Wenckebach cycle length (WCL) and retrograde WCL, as atrioventricular (A-V) and ventriculoatrial conduction index; and 4) effective and functional refractory periods of left ventricle, A-V node, and ventriculoatrial retrograde conduction system. Measurements were also performed on coronary flow, weight of the hearts, and thiobarbituric acid reagent substances and glutathione in myocardium, quadriceps femoris muscle, liver, and kidney, to analyze whether these substances related to oxidative stress were modified by training. The following parameters were larger (P < 0.05) in trained vs. untrained animals: R-R interval (365 +/- 49 vs. 286 +/- 60 ms), WCL (177 +/- 20 vs. 146 +/- 32 ms), and functional refractory period of the left ventricle (172 +/- 27 vs. 141 +/- 5 ms). Corrected SNRT was not different between groups despite the larger noncorrected SNRT obtained in trained animals. Thus training depresses sinus chronotropism, A-V nodal conduction, and increases ventricular refractoriness by intrinsic mechanisms, which do not involve changes in myocardial mass and/or coronary flow.

Comparison of conventional ribotyping and PCR-RFLP ribotyping for the analysis of endemic strains of Neisseria meningitidis isolated in a local community over 7 years.

Conventional ribotyping was compared with the PCR amplification of the intergenic spacer region between 16S and 23S rRNA genes (PCR-RFLP ribotyping) when applied to the subtyping of sporadic Neisseria meningitidis strains. Thirty isolates out of a total of 36 meningococcal disease cases, reported as having occurred in a particular community over a 7-year endemic period, were analyzed by each of the methods. Only ribotyping with three restriction enzymes (EcoRI, ClaI and XhoI) gave acceptable discriminatory power for short-term epidemiological purposes. We conclude that conventional ribotyping is a suitable method for typing sporadic meningococcal strains and that it cannot be replaced by the more straightforward PCR-RFLP ribotyping method.

Consequences of gamma-irradiation on inflammatory cytokine regulation in human monocytes/macrophages.

Inflammation is a frequent result of radiation damage, especially after therapeutic irradiation. Monocytes and macrophages play an important role in inflammatory cytokine secretion. However, knowledge of monocyte/ macrophage involvement in the pathogenesis of inflammation is still incomplete. In this study, we investigated the inflammatory cytokine regulation after in vitro gamma-irradiation of monocytes/macrophages. Semiquantitative RT-PCR after irradiation revealed no significant induction of interleukin 1 beta or tumour necrosis factor-alpha mRNA expression. When induction was observed, for only two donors out of seven, only interleukin 6 gene expression was affected by irradiation, with a 5-14-fold increase in level according to the donor, 2h after irradiation compared with sham-irradiated cells. For only one of seven donors tested, monocytes/macrophages responded to 10-Gy gamma-rays by releasing inflammatory cytokines.

Influence of osteoarticular pathology (OAP) on the quality of life of elderly people.

BACKGROUND: In elderly people the concept of quality of life includes health status, ability to perform daily tasks and social activities, financial position, emotional status and absence of aches and pains. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the degree of incapacity related to osteoarticular pathology (OAP), one of the most common diseases among old people, and to ascertain to what extent this affects their quality of life. DESIGN: The sample was made up of 59 men (76.1+/-8.1 years) and 104 women (79.7+/-6.2 years) from a geriatric home depending on the Generalitat Valenciana (Spain). Data obtained from the individual clinical histories and personal interviews made it possible to evaluate their: global health status, ability to perform daily tasks and social activities, food intake and the quality of the geriatric home. In addition, body mass index (BMI), arm muscle area (AMA) and arm fat area (AFA) were estimated. RESULTS: The number of chronic diseases, drug consumption, and values of the fat-mass indicators (BMI and AFA) were significantly higher (p<0.05) in people with OAP (61% of women and 25% of men of the sample), and their global health status and manual ability were significantly worse (p<0.05) than that of the other residents. Both groups (with and without OAP) obtained similar scores (p>0.05) on all indicators of quality of life evaluated, and only the catering services was disliked by the majority of the residents. CONCLUSIONS: From a subjective point of view, OAP does not seem to affect the quality of life of people suffering from it, except insofar as it diminishes their manual ability.

Vitamin C status of adults living in Valencia, Spain. Influence of non-nutritional factors on plasma vitamin C.

Ascertaining the antioxidant nutritional status of different population groups is of great interest because of the probable benefits of these nutrients in the prevention of chronic disease. In this study the vitamin C status of adults living in a region characterized by its high availability of food with a high vitamin C content was investigated. In addition, vitamin C intake and the effect of non-nutritional factors on plasma vitamin C was examined. The majority of the subjects had an adequate vitamin C status. Nevertheless, by a probabilistic method it was established that a large proportion of the population was at risk of consuming inadequate amounts of vitamin C, the risk being considerably higher among male smokers. Females had higher vitamin C plasma concentrations than men. This difference persisted after adjusting the data for smoking habits. Also women's vitamin C intake was higher. Smoking affected male's plasma vitamin C concentrations negatively. Neither age nor the season of data collection had an effect on plasma vitamin C. Vitamin C intake was only influenced by season among males. No factor affected significantly vitamin C intake or plasma vitamin concentrations among females. Finally, multiple linear regression analysis showed that vitamin C intake and smoking habits make it possible to predict, in part, plasma vitamin C concentrations in males.

[Clinical practice guidelines of the Spanish Society of Cardiology for physical activity in patients with cardiac disease]. / Guías de práctica clínica de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología sobre la actividad física en el cardiópata.

This chapter includes general recommendations regarding the eligibility for recreational and competitive sports participation. Although based on the latest knowledge in sports medicine and cardiology, these recommendations should be updated according to advances in the understanding of the athlete's heart. Physical exercise plays an important role in the leisure time of our society. Many patients with cardiac disease don't want to give up their physical or sport activity programs. Moreover, there is no doubt that many cardiovascular abnormalities may benefit from a controlled physical exercise program. Understanding the cardiac adaptations to exercise training, individualised evaluation of each cardiac pathology and adequate exercise prescription is essential in order to minimize the risks for every cardiac patient.

[Haemophilus influenzae type b invasive disease in Catalonia (1996)]. / Enfermedad invasiva por Haemophilus influenzae tipo b en Cataluña (1996).

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to find out the incidence and characteristics of H. influenzae type b invasive disease (HibID) in Catalonia, Spain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An active surveillance of H. influenzae isolated from normally sterile sites was carried out during 1996. Microbiology laboratories of hospitals of Catalonia were periodically contacted by telephone. The serotype of all the strains was studied. RESULTS: The incidence of H. influenzae invasive disease (HIID) was 7.1 per 100,000 in children under 5 years and 1.0 per 100,000 in those over 5 years. The incidence of serotype b was 6.4 per 100,000 children under 5 years and 0.2 above this age. Only three strains belonged to types other than b (d, e and f). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of HIbID is uncommon in Catalonia, lower than that registered in the prevaccine era in other countries and regions of the same geographical area.

[Adjustment of the average diet offered by the Valencian Charity Association to the nutritional recommendation for the adult population]. / Adecuación de la dieta promedio, ofertada por la Asociación Valenciana de la Caridad, a las recomendaciones nutricionales de la población adulta.

For several reasons, in industrialized countries like ours, there is a growing number of people who require institutional or private help to survive. The Valencian Charity Association has been running a free dining hall for more than 300 people since 1906, which serves lunch (2 courses, bread, fruit, and a dairy product) and a sandwich dinner. The objective of this study is to evaluate the degree of adjustment of the diet offered to the nutritional needs of those who eat there. For this, we calculated the amounts of each of the foods included in a monthly menu, expressed in g or ml per person per day, and these are transformed into energy supply and nutritional supply, and these are then compared to the recommended ingestion of the Spanish population. The menus provided, considered to be the sole dietary intake of those eating there, provide proteins, thiamin, cyanocobalamine, retinol, and vitamin C in amounts that are similar or greater than those recommended for both sexes and all age groups, while the zinc, magnesium, pyridoxine, folates, and tocopherol quantities are less than 54% of the recommended ingestion for the groups with the greatest needs (adolescents or pregnant or lactating women). Supplementing the basic diet with a breakfast (glass of whole milk with sugar and Maria cookies), a yogurt, a portion of dried fruits, and a portion of fruit for dinner, would increase the supply of magnesium, folates, and vitamin E to levels that meet the requirements of the most needy, those of pregnant and lactating women, but the levels of pyridoxine would continue to be low, just like in other studies, and the recommended intake levels hereof appear unattainable even if this diet is supplemented with nutrients that can easily be accessed by this population group.

[In-hospital malnutrition: indications of postoperative evolution]. / Malnutrición hospitalaria: indicadores de evolución postoperatoria.

A significant percentage of the patients admitted to our hospitals show signs of malnutrition that are neither detected nor treated and often become more severe during the hospital stay. This malnutrition can contribute to the loss of some important functions as, for instance the capacity for immune response and healing. In this study we use several simple, economical parameters to evaluate the nutritional status upon admittance and upon leaving the hospital of all the patients who in the course of a year occupied four randomly chosen beds in a general surgery ward at a county hospital in the Valencian Community. The results show that hospitalization reduced the number of over weight patients, duplicated the number of hypoalbuminemics and triplicated the number of people with body weight and body mass index (BMI) below normal levels. In patients over 40 hospitalization decrease the values of all the parameters studied, whereas in younger subjects only the weight, the BMI and serum albumin values were affected. Fifty seven percent of the patients suffer some kind of postoperative complication and this incidence is higher among patients with malnutrition upon admittance. The most common complication is the nosocomial pneumonia and urine infection. The nutritional parameters that best predict possible postoperative complications are low values of serum albumin, total lymphocyte count, tricipital fat skin fold and arm circumference. In general, postoperative complications show only a slight positive correlation with the length of the hospital stay, but the longer the stay is the worst the nutritional status becomes.

[Weight and height of school children from the L'Horta region (Valencia)]. / Peso y talla de los escolares de las comarcas de L'Horta (Valencia).

The growth and development of Valencian children from 6 to 14 years of age was studied using the weight and height of a representative sample (n = 2011) of school children in L'Horta de Valencia area. They represent 62% and 32.5% of the school population of the Valencia province and of the Comunidad Valenciana, respectively. The sample was proportional to the whole population in the geographical area and to sex and age. The measured children came from 10 schools, some of which were public and some private, drawn at random. After obtaining the permission from the school administrative board the measurements were taken, always by the same trained anthropometrist and with the same instruments, which were calibrated daily. The application of the Lilliefors test showed that the distribution of weight and height according to age was normal in the majority of the groups of age. Therefore, the Student t-test was applied to compare girls and boys, and given the fact that the symmetry was not complete in all age ranges, the results are expressed as percentiles. From 6 to 14 years girls and boys in Valencia show a similar weight evolution. Only in children in the highest percentiles, can be observed sex-related differences from the age of 12 on. In general, up to 13-14 years of age boys were slightly taller than girls of the same age. From this age on boys follow continue growing while girls stop their longitudinal growth.