Cognitive impairment in a Colombian cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: A cross-sectional study.

CONTEXT: Cognitive deficits are neuropsychiatric syndromes associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. In our context, there are no data on the frequency of cognitive deficit as a manifestation of neuropsychiatric SLE or the associated conditions. OBJECTIVE: To define determinants of cognitive deficit in a cohort of Colombian patients with SLE attending a third-level hospital. METHODS AND PATIENTS: This descriptive cross-sectional study included patients with SLE, explored the presence of cognitive impairment through screening testing using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA test), and diagnostic confirmation with a specific neuropsychological test battery recommended by the American College of Rheumatology. Quality of life was assessed using the LupusCol questionnaire and depression using the Beck Depression Inventory. RESULTS: Most patients were women, with a median age of 37 years (IQR, 28.0 - 46.7). Most patients had a level of higher education or technical education. Fifty-nine (62.9%) patients presented with a normal MoCA test result ≥26 points, and 35 (37.1%) patients with a score <26 points that were considered abnormal. The comprehensive neuropsychological test battery was applied to 31 patients (33.0%) with an abnormal MoCA test. Forty-one patients (48.8%) had some degree of depression. The median loss of quality of life was 21.03% (IQR 10.2 - 40.3). 19 patients (20%) presented some degree of cognitive deficit, 15 (15.95% of the total sample) had cognitive impairment, and 4 (4.25%) had cognitive decline. In a logistic regression analysis using data from patients undergoing specific tests, variables related to cognitive deterioration were found to be associated with a lower quality of life, showing an adjusted odds ratio of 1.05 (CI 1.01-0.09). No association was demonstrated with SLEDAI, prednisolone use, cyclophosphamide use, and the presence of depression. CONCLUSION: In this study, it was found in 16% of patients evaluated with the complete neuropsychological test battery and in 37% with the MoCA screening test. Our results suggest that it is crucial to implement strategies to assess cognitive deficit, depression, and quality of life in the consultation of patients with SLE and to raise awareness among health providers who care for patients with lupus about their presence and impact.

Gastrointestinal symptoms and nutritional intake among participants in a non-professional cycling event.

PURPOSE: To determine the occurrence of gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms in different settings among cyclists participating in a non-professional cycling event. The nutritional intake during the event and the association between GI symptoms and both nutritional and non-nutritional factors were also analyzed. METHODS: A descriptive correlational study was performed among participants in the 2023 'Mallorca 312-Milestone Series' cycling event. A pre-race questionnaire was completed by 247 participants (37 women) while a post-race questionnaire was completed by 138 participants (24 women). RESULTS: The prevalence of GI symptoms in training sessions and in previous cycling events were 22-26%. GI complaints during the race were reported by 38.4% of participants. GI symptoms during training (p = 0.003), in previous cycling events (p = 0.012) and in the Mallorca 312 event (during: p = 0.010; after p = 0.014) were associated with rest GI symptoms. Furthermore, GI symptoms during the Mallorca 312 event were associated with an immediately previous more nervous feeling (p = 0.016). Participants with shorter previous experience in similar events reported a more nervous feeling (p = 0.023). On average, participants in the Mallorca 312 achieved the recommended carbohydrate intake (59.2 g/h; recommended 30-60 g/h) and the fluid intake (500 ml; recommended 400-800 ml/h) rates. No association was found between GI symptoms and nutritional parameters or food intake. CONCLUSION: GI symptoms at rest could be considered the main factor associated with GI symptoms in cyclists. GI symptoms during the event were also associated with a more nervous feeling, which could be explained, at least in part, by shorter previous experience.

Longitudinal reallocations of time between 24-h movement behaviours and their associations with inflammation in children and adolescents: the UP&DOWN study.

BACKGROUND: While there is evidence that physical activity, sedentary behaviour (SB) and sleep may all be associated with modified levels of inflammatory markers in adolescents and children, associations with one movement behaviour have not always been adjusted for other movement behaviours, and few studies have considered all movement behaviours in the 24-hour day as an exposure. PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to explore how longitudinal reallocations of time between moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), light physical activity (LPA), SB and sleep are associated with changes in inflammatory markers in children and adolescents. METHODS: A total of 296 children/adolescents participated in a prospective cohort study with a 3-year follow-up. MVPA, LPA and SB were assessed by accelerometers. Sleep duration was assessed using the Health Behavior in School-aged Children questionnaire. Longitudinal compositional regression models were used to explore how reallocations of time between movement behaviours are associated with changes in inflammatory markers. RESULTS: Reallocations of time from SB to sleep were associated with increases in C3 levels (difference for 60 min/d reallocation [d60] = 5.29 mg/dl; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.28, 10.29) and TNF-α (d60 = 1.81 mg/dl; 95% CI = 0.79, 15.41) levels. Reallocations from LPA to sleep were also associated with increases in C3 levels (d60 = 8.10 mg/dl; 95% CI = 0.79, 15.41). Reallocations from LPA to any of the remaining time-use components were associated with increases in C4 levels (d60 ranging from 2.54 to 3.63 mg/dl; p < 0.05), while any reallocation of time away from MVPA was associated with unfavourable changes in leptin (d60 ranging from 3088.44 to 3448.07 pg/ml; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Reallocations of time between 24-h movement behaviours are prospectively associated with some inflammatory markers. Reallocating time away from LPA appears to be most consistently unfavourably associated with inflammatory markers. Given that higher levels of inflammation during childhood and adolescence are associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases in adulthood, children and adolescents should be encouraged to maintain or increase the level of LPA to preserve a healthy immune system.

New indices in predicting cardiometabolic risk and its relation to endothelial dysfunction in adolescents: The HELENA study.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Blood pressure (BP) changes and insulin resistance (IR) are important cardiometabolic risk (CMR) factors; their early identification can contribute to the reduction of cardiovascular events in adulthood. This necessitates the search for more accessible and easily applied indicators for their prediction. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the predictive power of the indices, TyG, TG/HDL-c, height-corrected lipid accumulation product (HLAP), and visceral adiposity index (VAI), in identifying the CMR obtained by high BP and IR and to verify their relationship with biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction (ED) in European adolescents. METHODS AND RESULTS: The anthropometric data and blood biomarkers of 744 adolescents (343 boys and 401 girls) from the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Cross-Sectional Study (HELENA-CSS), with a mean age of 14.67 (SD 1.15) years, were assessed. The adolescents were then classified according to the presence or absence of high BP and IR. The cut-off points of the indices evaluated for the identification of CMR were determined. The relationship between CMR diagnosed using these indices and ED biomarkers was tested. The HLAP and TG/HDL-c were fair predictors of CMR obtained by IR in male adolescents. These indices showed association with hsCRP in sVCAM-1 in boys, but it lost significance after adjusting for age and body mass index. CONCLUSION: TG/HDL-c and HLAP indices showed a fair performance in predicting CMR, obtained by IR, in male adolescents. ED showed no association with the CMR identified by the indices.

Fitness, body composition, and metabolic risk scores in children and adolescents: the UP&DOWN study.

We aimed to analyse the longitudinal association between physical fitness (PF) and body composition (BC) with a metabolic risk score (Met4) in children and adolescents and to elucidate whether the association between PF and Met4 differs when using relativized or absolute fitness variables. A total of 188 children (86 females) and 195 adolescents (97 females) were included. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) was determined by the 20-m shuttle run test, and muscular fitness (MF) was determined by hand grip and standing long jump tests. Height and weight were measured, and the body mass index (Kg/m2) was calculated. Triceps and subscapular skinfolds were assessed to compute body fat percentage. Met4 was computed from systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glucose levels. Relative CRF was longitudinally and negatively associated with Met4 in female children (ß = -0.031, p = 0.025), while absolute CRF was positively associated with Met4 in male children and adolescents (ß = 0.000, p < 0.05). Relative upper and lower-body MF were longitudinally and negatively associated with Met4 in female adolescents (ß = -1.347, ß = -0.005, p < 0.05), while absolute lower-body MF was positively associated with Met4 in male children (ß = 0.000, p = 0.019). BC was longitudinally and positively associated with Met4 in male children (ß-ranging from 0.011 to 0.055, all p < 0.05) and male adolescents (ß-ranging from 0.011 to 0.046, all p < 0.05).  Conclusion: BC is more strongly associated with Met4 than PF in children and adolescents. An optimal body weight status should be considered the main objective of health-promoting programs at childhood and adolescence. Furthermore, the way of expressing the fitness variables determines the direction of the association with Met4. What is Known: • Physical fitness is an important health indicator in children and adolescents, with great amount of previous evidence supporting the preventive role of maintaining optimal levels of both cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness for future cardiometabolic issues. What is New: • The way of reporting physical fitness variables can affect the associations between physical fitness features and cardiometabolic outcomes. Since body composition variables have a great impact on both physical fitness and cardiometabolic health, relativizing physical fitness performance by body composition could lead to erroneous conclusions.

Objective measured physical activity and metabolic syndrome score in children and adolescents: The UP&DOWN longitudinal study.

INTRODUCTION: We aimed to analyze the cross-sectional and longitudinal association of physical activity (PA) levels and PA patterns with metabolic syndrome score (MetS) in children and adolescents. METHODS: A total of 175 children (82 females) and 188 adolescents (95 females) were included. Objective PA levels and patterns were determined by accelerometry. MetS was computed from waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glucose levels. Different linear regression models were implemented to examine the associations of PA with MetS. RESULTS: Vigorous PA, moderate-vigorous PA, number of bouts per day in 10 min (N10), and total time in bouts per day in 10 min (T10) were negatively associated with MetS in male children and adolescents at cross-sectional level (ß ranging from -0.005 to -0.164, all p < 0.05). Total time in bouts per day in 20 min in male children, and vigorous PA and N10 in female children were longitudinally and negatively associated with MetS (ß ranging from -0.011 to -0.247, all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Associations of PA and MetS were observed at cross-sectional level in males and longitudinally in female children. The associations in PA patterns were found when patterns were grouped into bouts of 10 min. Therefore, for future studies of PA with health markers in the pediatric population, it would be advisable to choose bouts of shorter duration.

Biological, psychological and familial specific correlates in eating disorders at onset: a control-case study protocol (ANOBAS).

The complexity in the development of an eating disorder (ED) pose methodological challenges when addressing risk factors of this pathology. Pike et al. (2008) proposed to use a case-control design for this type of research.

Prevalence of strongyloidiasis in Peru: systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Strongyloidiasis is a disease of great public health significance, caused by the parasitic nematodes Strongyloides stercoralis, Strongyloides fuelleborni, and Strongyloides fuelleborni subsp. kellyi. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in Peru. METHODS: The review was based on a literature search in PubMed, SciELO and Google Scholar using the key words or root words "strongyl*" AND "Peru" on 15 July 2020. Eligible studies were published from 1 January 1981 to 15 July 2020 and written in English, Spanish, Italian, or French. RESULTS: We included 21 papers in the analysis. Studies were heterogeneous in terms of study population and diagnostic methods (e.g. Baermann technique, agar, Dancescu or charcoal cultures, serology, string capsule). Prevalence of S. stercoralis ranged from 0.3 to 45%. The pooled proportion of Strongyloides in the general population was 7.34% (95% CI 4.97 to 10.13%). Half the studies were designed to detect parasites in general. In studies designed to detect S. stercoralis, the most widely used diagnostic method was the Baermann technique. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of S. stercoralis in Peru was high but varied by geographic area, techniques for stool examination, and participant characteristics.

The Role of the pH in the Impregnation of Spherical Mesoporous Silica Particles with L-Arginine Aqueous Solutions.

In the context of the development of carriers for amino acids delivery, Spherical Mesoporous Silica Particles (SMSP), characterized by particles size ranging from 0.15 µm to 0.80 µm and average pore diameter of 2.4 nm, were synthesised and loaded with L-arginine (ARG), a basic amino acid involved in several physiological processes. The loading was performed using water as a solvent through the wet impregnation method (with a final arginine content of 9.1% w/w). The material was characterized before and after impregnation by means of X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), nitrogen sorption analysis, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) and Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. SMSP are shown to suffer degradation upon impregnation, which dramatically affects their porosity. To elucidate the role of the pH of the ARG impregnating solution (originally set at pH ≈ 11) on SMSP degradation, the loading was performed under different pH conditions (5 and 9) keeping constant the ARG concentration. The impregnation performed with acidic solution did not modify the carrier. All samples displayed ARG in amorphous form: zwitterionic species were present in SMSP impregnated at basic pH whereas positive protonated species in that impregnated at acidic pH.

Association of Moderate Beer Consumption with the Gut Microbiota and SCFA of Healthy Adults.

Fermented alcoholic drinks' contribution to the gut microbiota composition is mostly unknown. However, intestinal microorganisms can use compounds present in beer. This work explored the associations between moderate consumption of beer, microbiota composition, and short chain fatty acid (SCFA) profile. Seventy eight subjects were selected from a 261 healthy adult cohort on the basis of their alcohol consumption pattern. Two groups were compared: (1) abstainers or occasional consumption (ABS) (n = 44; <1.5 alcohol g/day), and (2) beer consumption ≥70% of total alcohol (BEER) (n = 34; 200 to 600 mL 5% vol. beer/day; <15 mL 13% vol. wine/day; <15 mL 40% vol. spirits/day). Gut microbiota composition (16S rRNA gene sequencing) and SCFA concentration were analyzed in fecal samples. No differences were found in α and ß diversity between groups. The relative abundance of gut bacteria showed that Clostridiaceae was lower (p = 0.009), while Blautia and Pseudobutyrivibrio were higher (p = 0.044 and p = 0.037, respectively) in BEER versus ABS. In addition, Alkaliphilus, in men, showed lower abundance in BEER than in ABS (p = 0.025). Butyric acid was higher in BEER than in ABS (p = 0.032), and correlated with Pseudobutyrivibrio abundance. In conclusion, the changes observed in a few taxa, and the higher butyric acid concentration in consumers versus non-consumers of beer, suggest a potentially beneficial effect of moderate beer consumption on intestinal health.

Muscle Fitness Cut Points for Early Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk in Children and Adolescents.

OBJECTIVES: To study the cross-sectional and longitudinal (2-year follow-up) association between muscle fitness and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in youth; whether there are muscle fitness cut points associated with CVD risk (cross-sectional); and whether the health-related muscle fitness cut points identified at baseline are associated with CVD risk 2 years later. STUDY DESIGN: In total, 237 children (110 girls) aged 6-10 years and 274 adolescents (131 girls) aged 12-16 years with complete data were included in the study (10.3% drop out). The handgrip strength and the standing long jump tests were used to assess muscle fitness. CVD risk score was computed with sum of 2 skinfolds, systolic blood pressure, insulin, glucose, triglycerides, and total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol. RESULTS: Muscle fitness at baseline was associated inversely with single CVD risk factors and CVD risk score at baseline and 2-year follow-up (all P < .05). Receiver operating characteristics curve analyses showed a significant discriminating accuracy of handgrip strength in identifying CVD risk in children and adolescents (boys: ≥ 0.367 and ≥0.473; girls: ≥ 0.306 and ≥0.423 kg/kg body mass, respectively, all P < .001). Similarly, the standing long jump cut points for children and adolescents were ≥104.5 and ≥140.5 in boys, and ≥81.5 and ≥120.5 cm in girls, respectively (all P < .05). These cut points were associated with CVD risk 2 years later (all P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Muscle fitness is associated with present and future cardiovascular health in youth, and is independent of cardiorespiratory fitness. It should be monitored to identify youth at risk who could benefit from intervention programs.

Diet quality and well-being in children and adolescents: the UP&DOWN longitudinal study.

The present study examined the association between high-quality diet (using the Mediterranean diet (MD) as an example) and well-being cross-sectionally and prospectively in Spanish children and adolescents. Participants included 533 children and 987 adolescents at baseline and 527 children and 798 adolescents at 2-year follow-up, included in the UP&DOWN study (follow-up in schoolchildren and adolescents with and without Down's syndrome). The present study excluded participants with Down's syndrome. Adherence to an MD was assessed using the KIDMED index. Well-being was measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule and the KIDSCREEN-10 questionnaire. Associations between MD adherence and well-being were assessed using multi-level, mixed-effects linear regression. At baseline, MD adherence was positively related to health-related quality of life in secondary school girls and boys (ß=0·41, se 0·10, P<0·001; ß=0·46, se 0·10, P<0·001, respectively) and to positive affect in secondary school girls and boys (ß=0·16, se 0·05, P=0·006; ß=0·20, se 0·05, P<0·001, respectively) and in primary school boys (ß=0·20, se 0·08, P=0·019). At 2-year follow-up, MD adherence was negatively related to negative affect in secondary school adolescent girls and boys (ß=-0·15, se 0·07, P=0·047; ß=-0·16, se 0·06, P=0·019, respectively), and MD adherence was associated with higher positive affect scores in secondary school girls (ß=0·30, se 0·06, P<0·001) and in primary school boys (ß=0·20, se 0·09, P=0·023). However, MD adherence at baseline did not predict well-being indicators at 2-year follow-up. In conclusion, higher MD adherence was found to behave as a protective factor for positive well-being in cross-sectional analysis.

The influence of cardiorespiratory fitness on clustered cardiovascular disease risk factors and the mediator role of body mass index in youth: The UP&DOWN Study.

BACKGROUND: The combined effect of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and body mass index (BMI) on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in young people remains to be fully determined. We examined the individual and combined associations of CRF and BMI with clustered CVD risk factors, and the mediator role of BMI in the association between CRF and clustered CVD risk factors in children and adolescents. METHODS: 237 children (111 girls) and 260 adolescents (120 girls) were included in this cross-sectional study. Height and weight were assessed and BMI was calculated. A CVD risk factor index (CVDRF-I) was computed from: waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and glucose. CRF was assessed using the 20-m shuttle run test. Regression analysis, analysis of covariance and mediation analysis (Baron and Kenny procedures) were used to test the independent and combined effect of CRF and BMI on CVDRF-I, and to test mediation hypothesis, respectively. RESULTS: CRF was negatively associated with CVDRF-I (all P < 0.05); however, after adjusting for BMI the associations were no longer significant in children and adolescents of both sex groups. Contrary, the association between BMI and CVDRF-I was independent of CRF (all P < 0.001). The effect of CRF on CVDRF-I was mediated by BMI. The percentage of the total effect of CRF on CVDRF-I mediated by BMI for boys and girls children and boys and girls adolescents were 79.5%, 100%, 81.2% and 55.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: BMI is an independent predictor of CVDRF-I and a mediator of the association between CRF and CVDRF-I in children and adolescents. These results help to clarify the associations between CRF, weight status and cardiovascular health, suggesting that future CVD health would benefit from maintaining an optimal weight status.

Lifestyle patterns and endocrine, metabolic, and immunological biomarkers in European adolescents: The HELENA study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association of lifestyle patterns related to physical activity (PA), sedentariness, and sleep with endocrine, metabolic, and immunological health biomarkers in European adolescents. METHODS: The present cross-sectional study comprised 3528 adolescents (1845 girls) (12.5-17.5 years) enrolled in the Healthy Lifestyle in Europe by Nutrition in Adolescence Study. Cluster analysis was performed by including body composition, PA by accelerometry, self-reported sedentary behaviors, and sleep duration. We also measured endocrine, metabolic, and immunological biomarkers. RESULTS: Three-cluster solutions were identified: (a) light-PA time, moderate-vigorous-PA time and sedentary time, (b) light-PA time, moderate-vigorous-PA time, sedentary time and sleep time, (c) light-PA time, moderate-vigorous-PA time, sedentary time and body composition. In addition, each cluster solution was defined as: "healthy," "medium healthy," and "unhealthy" according to the presented rating. Analysis of variance showed that overall the healthiest groups from the three clusters analyzed presented a better metabolic profile. A decision tree analysis showed that leptin had a strong association with cluster 3 in both boys and girls, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol had the strongest association with clusters 1 and 3 in boys. Cortisol had the strongest association with cluster 1. HOMA index (homeostatic model assessment) and C3 showed a strong association with cluster 3 in girls. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the existence of different interactions between metabolic health and lifestyle patterns related to PA, sedentariness, and sleep, with some gender-specific findings. These results highlight the importance to consider multiple lifestyle-related health factors in the assessment of adolescents' health to plan favorable strategies.

The Role of Adiposity in the Association between Muscular Fitness and Cardiovascular Disease.

OBJECTIVES: To test the associations of muscular fitness and body mass index (BMI), individually and combined, with clustered cardiovascular disease risk factors in children and adolescents and to analyze the mediator role of BMI in the association between muscular fitness and clustered cardiovascular disease risk factors. STUDY DESIGN: In total, 239 children (113 girls) and 270 adolescents (128 girls) participated in this cross-sectional study. Height and weight were assessed, and BMI was calculated. A cardiovascular disease risk factors index (CVDRF-I) was created from the combination of the following variables: waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and glucose. Handgrip strength/weight and standing long jump tests were used to assess muscular fitness. A muscular fitness index was computed from the combination of both tests. RESULTS: Muscular fitness index was associated with CVDRF-I in children of both sexes and adolescent boys; however, these associations disappeared after accounting for BMI. BMI was associated with CVDRF-I in both children and adolescents, even after adjusting for muscular fitness (all P < .001). In male and female children and in adolescent boys, the association between muscular fitness and CVDRF-I was mediated by BMI (all P < .001). Because there was no association between muscular fitness and CVDRF-I in adolescent girls, the mediation hypothesis was discarded. CONCLUSIONS: BMI is an independent predictor of CVDRF-I in children and adolescents of both sexes. Conversely, the effect of muscular fitness on CVDRF-I seems to be fully mediated by BMI levels in male and female children and in adolescent boys.

An attempt to select non-genetic variation in resistance to starvation and reduced chill coma recovery time in Drosophila melanogaster.

Phenotypic variance is attributed to genetic and non-genetic factors, and only the former are presumed to be inherited and thus suitable for the action of selection. Although increasing amounts of data suggest that non-genetic variability may be inherited, we have limited empirical data in animals. Here, we performed an artificial selection experiment using Drosophila melanogaster inbred lines. We quantified the response to selection for a decrease in chill coma recovery time and an increase in starvation resistance. We observed a weak response to selection in the inbred and outbred lines, with variability across lines. At the end of the selection process, differential expression was detected for some genes associated with epigenetics, the piRNA pathway and canalization functions. As the selection process can disturb the canalization process and increase the phenotypic variance of developmental traits, we also investigated possible effects of the selection process on the number of scutellar bristles, fluctuating asymmetry levels and fitness estimates. These results suggest that, contrary to what was shown in plants, selection of non-genetic variability is not straightforward in Drosophila and appears to be strongly genotype dependent.

Independent and combined associations of physical fitness components with inflammatory biomarkers in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to examine the independent and combined associations of cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular fitness, and motor ability with single and clustered inflammatory biomarkers in children and adolescents. METHODS: This study included 503 children and adolescents. Cardiorespiratory fitness, upper- and lower-muscular fitness, and motor ability were assessed using field-based tests. Fasting blood samples were obtained to determine the levels of a set of inflammatory biomarkers. Global physical fitness and clustered inflammatory biomarker scores were computed. Associations between physical fitness and inflammatory biomarkers were analyzed through linear regression. Differences in inflammatory biomarker levels between physical fitness tertiles were tested. RESULTS: Global physical fitness was inversely associated with single and clustered inflammatory biomarkers in children (p < 0.05); and with C-reactive protein, complement factor C4, leptin, and clustered inflammatory biomarkers in adolescents (p < 0.025). Cardiorespiratory fitness and upper-muscular fitness were negatively and independently associated with several single and clustered inflammatory biomarkers in children and adolescents (p < 0.05). Differences were found between the lowest and the highest tertiles of global physical fitness in clustered inflammatory biomarker levels (p < 0.010). CONCLUSION: Physical fitness was negatively associated with single and clustered inflammatory biomarkers, independently of body mass index. Increasing physical fitness levels in youth might contribute to reduce the cardiovascular risk.

Financial risk of increasing the follow-up period of breast cancer treatment currently covered by the Social Protection System in Health in México.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this work is to estimate the financial impact of increasing the monitoring period for breast cancer, which is financed by the Sistema de Protección Social en Salud (SPSS-Social Protection System in Health). METHODS: A micro-simulation model was developed to monitor a cohort of patients with breast cancer, and also an estimation was made on the probability of surviving the monitoring period financed by the SPSS. Using the Monte Carlo simulation, the maximum expected cost was estimated to broaden such monitoring. Morbimortality information of the Ministry of Health and cases of breast cancer treated by the SPSS were used. RESULTS: Between 2013 and 2026, the financial resources to provide monitoring during 10 years to women diagnosed with breast cancer would reach up to $3607.40 million pesos on a base scenario, $4151.79 million pesos on the pessimistic scenario and $3414.85 million pesos on an optimistic scenario. In the base scenario, additional expenditure represents an annual increase of 9.1% of resources allocated to treating this disease, and 3.0% of the availability of the resources for the Fondo de Protección contra Gastos Catastróficos (FPGC-Fund for Protection against Catastrophic Expenditure). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing monitoring for patients with breast cancer would not represent a financial risk to the sustainability of the FPGC, and could increase patients survival and life quality.

Transcriptomics of Haemophilus (Glässerella) parasuis serovar 5 subjected to culture conditions partially mimetic to natural infection for the search of new vaccine antigens.

BACKGROUND: Haemophilus (Glässerella) parasuis is the etiological agent of Glässer's disease in pigs. Control of this disorder has been traditionally based on bacterins. The search for alternative vaccines has focused mainly on the study of outer membrane proteins. This study investigates the transcriptome of H. (G.) parasuis serovar 5 subjected to in vitro conditions mimicking to those existing during an infection (high temperature and iron-restriction), with the aim of detecting the overexpression of genes coding proteins exposed on bacterial surface, which could represent good targets as vaccine candidates. RESULTS: The transcriptomic approach identified 13 upregulated genes coding surface proteins: TbpA, TbpB, HxuA, HxuB, HxuC, FhuA, FimD, TolC, an autotransporter, a protein with immunoglobulin folding domains, another large protein with a tetratricopeptide repeat and two small proteins that did not contain any known domains. Of these, the first six genes coded proteins being related to iron extraction. CONCLUSION: Six of the proteins have already been tested as vaccine antigens in murine and/or porcine infection models and showed protection against H. (G.) parasuis. However, the remaining seven have not yet been tested and, consequently, they could become useful as putative antigens in the prevention of Glässer's disease. Anyway, the expression of this seven novel vaccine candidates should be shown in other serovars different from serovar 5.

Energy, macronutrient and water intake during a mountain ultramarathon event: The influence of distance.

Adequate dietary strategies are essential for the successful participation in ultra-endurance races. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the energy and water intakes of participants during three different mountain ultra-endurance runs. The study took place at the "Ultra Mallorca Serra de Tramuntana" (Mallorca, Spain), an ultra-endurance mountain event with runners participating either in a 44-km (Marathon, n = 51), a 67-km (Trail, n = 109) or a 112-km (Ultra, n = 53) run competition. Participants in the study answered a questionnaire focused on the nutritional intake within an hour after finishing the competition. Mean energy intake during the competitions was 183 kcal · h¯1, with an average carbohydrate intake of 31 g · h¯1 (52.1% of participants consumed less than 30 g · h¯1). No significant differences between competitions were found in these parameters. However, a higher percentage of energy from lipids in participants in the Trail and the Ultra was found (P = 0.034). Furthermore, significant differences were observed in water intake per hour of competition (P = 0.039), with the lowest value for the intake during the Ultra competition. In conclusion, the majority of the participants in the study present low carbohydrate intakes. However, fluid intake seems to be adequate. Different distances did not significantly influence the participants' nutritional strategies.