Toxicological assessment of mesoporous silica particles in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Here we report the toxicological evaluation of mesoporous silica particles (MSPs) in the nematode C. elegans. Specifically, we have investigated the effect of bare micro- (M0) and nano-sized (N0) MSPs, and their corresponding functionalized particles with a starch derivative (Glu-N) (M1 and N1, respectively) on C. elegans ageing parameters. The toxicity of MSPs, their impact on C. elegans lifespan, movement capacity, progeny and ability to survive upon exposure to acute oxidative stress were assessed. This study demonstrated that both size particles assayed (M0 and N0), labeled with rhodamine and monitored through fluorescence microscopy, are ingested by the nematode. Moreover, toxicity assays indicated that bare nano-sized particles (N0) have a negative impact on the C. elegans lifespan, reducing mobility and progeny production. By contrast, micro-sized particles (M0) proved innocuous for the nematodes. Furthermore, functionalization of nanoparticles with starch derivative reduced their toxicity in C. elegans. Thus, oral intake of N1 comparatively increased the mean lifespan and activity rates as well as resistance to oxidative stress. The overall findings presented here demonstrate the influence of MSP size and surface on their potential toxicity in vivo and indicate the silica-based mesoporous particles to be a potential support for encapsulation in oral delivery applications. Furthermore, the good correlation obtained between healthy aging variables and viability (mean lifespan) validates the use of C. elegans as a multicellular organism for nanotoxicology studies of MSPs.

[Diagnostic validity and usefulness of the Eating Attitudes Test-26 for the assessment of eating disorders risk in a Colombian female population]. / Validez y utilidad diagnóstica de la escala EAT-26 para la evaluación del riesgo de trastornos de la conducta alimentaria en población femenina de Medellín, Colombia.

OBJECTIVE: To establish diagnostic validity and usefulness of EAT-26 for the risk assessment of Eating Disorder (ED) in a female population. DESCRIPTION: Observational validation study questionnaire. SETTING: Performed in a Medellin city community care level of mixed (public and private) psychiatric consultation. SUBJECTS: Twenty five subjects aged 15 to 25 with DSM-IV-TR diagnostic criteria for anorexia and bulimia nervosa and 111 controls without ED. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: The case sample was for convenience and in controls an aleatory simple one. Gold standard (structured psychiatrist interview confirming the fulfillment of ED case inclusion criteria) was compared with EAT-26 questionnaire; reliability was assessed, cultural, semantics and factorial validation was made and the best cut-off score was established with the ROC curve. RESULTS: Four domains remain in the instrument: bulimia, dieting, food preoccupation and oral control. The Cronbach's alpha was 92.1% and a score of 11 and over is the best cut-off (sensitivity 100%, and specificity 85.6%). CONCLUSIONS: This modified and abbreviated EAT-26 questionnaire is an ideal multidimensional instrument for ED screening in risk population, with excellent reliability and sensitivity values and satisfactory specificity. EAT-26 is a useful measure to be considered when strategies for ED early detection are implemented in young women.

Assessment of lipid and essential fatty acids requirements of black seabream (Spondyliosoma cantharus) by comparison of lipid composition in muscle and liver of wild and captive adult fish.

The primary aim of the present study was to compare the contents of total lipid, lipid classes and their associated fatty acids in muscle and liver of wild and one-year captive black seabream (Spondyliosoma cantharus) adults, in order to elucidate the lipid and fatty acids requirements of this fish species of potential interest for aquaculture. The total lipid contents (TL) of muscle and liver of the captive fish were 2.5-fold greater than those of the wild fish. In consequence, contents of triacylglycerols were much higher in tissues of the captive fish. Distribution of fatty acids in total lipids and lipid classes of muscle and liver was also different between both groups of fish. For instance, percentages of 20:4n-6, 20:5n-6 and 22:6n-3 were considerably higher in the wild fish, whereas 18:1, 20:1, and 22:1n-9 as well as 18:2n-6 and 20:5n-3 were more abundant in the captive fish. These results suggest that the lipid composition of the commercial diet supplied to the captive black seabream differed greatly from that of the diet consumed by the fish in the wild, which hypothetically contains the desirable composition for the lipid nutrition of this fish species. Despite the good growth and survival achieved by the black seabream after one year in captivity, the significant accumulation of lipids and the imbalance of essential fatty acids in their muscle and livers, together with the absence of spawning, suggest that future research on the lipid requirements of this omnivorous species is necessary in order to establish whether the administration of currently available aquaculture formulated feeds is adequate for good black seabream performance and reproduction.

Aspectos bio-psico-sociales de la cesárea en adolescentes de hospitales públicos: estudio multicéntrico, Paraguay / Cesarean in teenagers: biological social and psychological factors

La incidencia de cesárea en las adolescentes del Paraguay es muy elevada; ésta investigación presenta innovaciones observando la problemática no solamente desde el punto de vista médico, sino también psico-social y asistencial, buscando determinar sus factores de riesgo. Es un estudio multicéntrico, analítico de caso control, con una muestra integrada por 402 puérperas menores de 20 años, 193 cesareadas y 209 partos espontáneos. Los antecedentes ginecológicos y obstétricos, los anticonceptivos y las variables sociales estudiadas no arrojaron diferencias significativas entre ambos grupos, a excepción del nivel educativo. El número de controles prenatales obtuvo una diferencia marginalmente significativa. La probabilidad del riesgo de la cesárea con antecedentes de una previa, es de 8 a 90 veces mayor. La presencia de patología médica u obstétrica tiene un poco más de dos veces de probabilidades de que el embarazo termine por cesárea y la hipertensión cinco veces más. Se observó una reducción significativa del número de cesáreas en los distintos centros asistenciales durante el desarrollo del estudio. Considerando que no se hallaron variables psicosociales significativas, creemos conveniente aumentar el tamaño de la muestra o buscar otras variables para determinar los factores de riesgo que se asocian a la cesárea de éste grupo etáreo