Re-establishment of the epigenetic state and rescue of kinome deregulation in Ts65Dn mice upon treatment with green tea extract and environmental enrichment.

Down syndrome (DS) is the main genetic cause of intellectual disability due to triplication of human chromosome 21 (HSA21). Although there is no treatment for intellectual disability, environmental enrichment (EE) and the administration of green tea extracts containing epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) improve cognition in mouse models and individuals with DS. Using proteome, and phosphoproteome analysis in the hippocampi of a DS mouse model (Ts65Dn), we investigated the possible mechanisms underlying the effects of green tea extracts, EE and their combination. Our results revealed disturbances in cognitive-related (synaptic proteins, neuronal projection, neuron development, microtubule), GTPase/kinase activity and chromatin proteins. Green tea extracts, EE, and their combination restored more than 70% of the phosphoprotein deregulation in Ts65Dn, and induced possible compensatory effects. Our downstream analyses indicate that re-establishment of a proper epigenetic state and rescue of the kinome deregulation may contribute to the cognitive rescue induced by green tea extracts.

Newborns with lower levels of circulating polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are abdominally more adipose.

BACKGROUND: Maternal nutrition is the main source of Poly-Unsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA) for the fetus. PUFA may influence the accumulation of fat in early life. OBJECTIVES & METHODS: In 33 breastfed infants born appropriate-for-gestational-age, we studied whether body composition (judged by absorptiometry at 2 wk and 4 mo) relates to PUFA levels (assessed by gas chromatography) in the maternal or fetal circulation at birth. RESULTS: Abdominal fat at 2 wk associated negatively to umbilical-cord levels of separate PUFA (linoleic, arachidonic, eicosapentanoic and docosahexaenoic acid; all P between 0.001 and 0.015). Collectively, the assessed n-6 PUFA on one hand and the n-3 PUFA on the other hand associated negatively to the absolute amount of abdominal fat (in grams; P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively) and to the relative amount of abdominal fat (fraction of total fat; P = 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively). No other significant associations were observed. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, newborns with lower levels of circulating PUFA were found to be abdominally more adipose. The mechanisms underpinning these associations remain to be determined.

Cardiopatía isquémica: evaluación anatomofuncional en una sola exploración con PET-CT multicorte / Ischemic heart disease: anatomic and functional evaluation in a single exploration with multi-slice PET-CT

A complete evaluation of the patient with ischemic heart disease requires an anatomical and functional assessment of the myocardium and coronary arteries. Recent technological advances have allowed a quantitative and physiological evaluation of the cardiovascular system with Positron Emission Tomography (PET). This method is a valuable tool for the assessment of heart metabolism, myocardial perfusion, ventricular function, coronary blood flow, myocardial viability and endothelial function. One of the major limitations of a PET study is its low spatial resolution. Cardiac Computed Tomography (CCT) is an anatomic study used for coronary calcium quantification, evaluation of wall and lumen of coronary arteries, study of vascular permeability and assessment of composition, extension and severity of atherosclerotic plaques. The main limitation of CCT is the lack of functional information that is obtained with this technique. Both methods are complementary in many ways. That is the reason of the wide spread of PET-CT hybrid equipments that can provide very useful functional and anatomic information of patients with ischemic heart disease in a single exploration.

Plasma thiols and their determinants in phenylketonuria.

OBJECTIVE: Treatment of phenylketonuria (PKU) patients consists of a phenylalanine-restricted diet supplemented with a tyrosine-, vitamin- and oligoelement-enriched amino-acid mixture. Vitamins and oligoelements may be deficient when compliance with the supplemented special formula is poor. Plasma thiol concentrations (especially homocysteine) depend mainly on B-vitamin intake. Our aim was to evaluate the plasma thiol concentrations (homocysteine, cysteine and glutathione) and their determinants (methionine, cobalamin and folate) in PKU patients under dietary treatment compared with age-matched controls. DESIGN AND SETTING: Cross-sectional study performed in a tertiary care Hospital. SUBJECTS: PKU (42) patients under dietary treatment compared with 42 age-matched controls. INTERVENTIONS: Plasma total homocysteine, cysteine and glutathione were analyzed by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Plasma phenylalanine and methionine were analyzed by ion exchange chromatography. Serum folate and cobalamin were analyzed by radioimmunoassay procedures. RESULTS: Total homocysteine concentrations were significantly lower in the PKU patients compared with the control group (Students t-test; P<0.0001). Serum folate and cobalamin were significantly higher in the PKU group (t-Student; P<0.0001) compared with controls. A significantly negative correlation was observed between total homocysteine and folate (r=-0.378; P=0.016), and between cobalamin and phenylalanine concentrations (r=-0.367; P=0.022) in the PKU group. CONCLUSIONS: Plasma total homocysteine values are lower in the PKU group than in the controls, probably because of high folate values. High phenylalanine values, an indicator of poor dietary compliance, are negatively associated with cobalamin, which might be deficient in some cases.

Tocopherol in inborn errors of intermediary metabolism.

Red blood cell tocopherol was measured in a group of 92 children with inborn errors of intermediary metabolism to evaluate the peroxidative damage in different mitochondrial and cytosolic defects, and to consider the need for treatment or vitamin supplementation. Tocopherol was determined by HPLC with UV detection. Results were expressed in nanomoles red blood cell tocopherol per gram protein. Significant differences (Mann-Whitney; P < 0.001) were found between tocopherol levels in untreated patients: 19 with mitochondrial defects versus 23 with cytosolic enzyme or transport defects, and versus 58 age-matched reference values. In conclusion, mitochondrial enzyme deficiencies, either amino and organic acidurias or defects of energy metabolism, seem to produce an excess of free radicals with the consequent utilization of tocopherol as antioxidant. This is not apparent in the cytosolic enzyme defects studied, whose tocopherol levels are in the normal range. Treatment with tocopherol completely corrects the deficient antioxidant status.

[Nutritional changes caused by the germination of legumes commonly eaten in Chile]. / Cambios nutricionales inducidos por la germinación de leguminosas de consumo habitual en Chile.

The changes promoted by germination on phytates, oligosaccharides, crude protein, amino acids and riboflavin contents of black and white cultivars of beans, lentils, chicken-pea and peas, were studied. Seeds germination was carried out in darkness at 25 degrees C and 85% RH during 72 hours, previously soaked overnight in a solution of sodium hypochlorite at a concentration of 50 ppm. Germination capacity was assessed by determining hypocotyl and epicotyl lengths and percent of sprouted seed. The seeds were milled and freeze-dried for the chemical analysis. Germination promoted a significant increase in crude protein content and reduction also significant in phytates levels. These changes were attributed to an increase of proteases and phytase activities. In fact, this enzyme would make a solubilization of phytates and would release soluble protein and minerals. A significant reduction of flatulence oligosaccharides took place, which was also explained by an increase of alpha-galactosidase concentration. Sprouted seeds showed a higher content of almost all amino acid than crude legumes, although this change was variable. Significant increase of riboflavin was also found. Finally, germination decreased ashes and fat contents. These findings were determined in all legumes, although both cultivars of beans showed a higher response to the biochemical changes.

Nutritional quality of lupine (Lupinus albus cv. Multolupa) as affected by lactic acid fermentation.

The effects of selected NRRL strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, L. buchneri, L. cellobiosus and L. fermentum upon oligosaccharide, phytate and alkaloid contents, as well as on the nutritive value of lupine, were investigated. Lupine was processed to a 12% total solids suspension, inoculated with 1% (v/v) cultures and fermented until a final desired pH of 4.5. L. acidophilus B-2092 and L. buchneri B-1837 growth was related to a significant sucrose breakdown and decreases of phytates, whereas L. acidophilus B-1910 and L. fermentum B-585 reduced the content of flatulence oligosaccharides. The activity of L. acidophilus B-1910 was particularly associated with lowering of alkaloids and increase of riboflavin. Lactic acid fermentation produced slight changes in lysine and methionine contents. No significant differences in net protein ratio values and protein digestibility were found between fermented and unfermented lupine (P less than 0.05). A 1:1 ratio mixture of B-1910 and B-2092 strains of L. acidophilus lead to a final fermented lupine with nutritional advantages to those given by the individual cultures.