Transversal gene expression panel to evaluate intestinal health in broiler chickens in different challenging conditions.

There is a high interest on gut health in poultry with special focus on consequences of the intestinal diseases, such as coccidiosis and C. perfringens-induced necrotic enteritis (NE). We developed a custom gene expression panel, which could provide a snapshot of gene expression variation under challenging conditions. Ileum gene expression studies were performed through high throughput reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. A deep review on the bibliography was done and genes related to intestinal health were selected for barrier function, immune response, oxidation, digestive hormones, nutrient transport, and metabolism. The panel was firstly tested by using a nutritional/Clostridium perfringens model of intestinal barrier failure (induced using commercial reused litter and wheat-based diets without exogenous supplementation of enzymes) and the consistency of results was evaluated by another experiment under a coccidiosis challenge (orally gavaged with a commercial coccidiosis vaccine, 90× vaccine dose). Growth traits and intestinal morphological analysis were performed to check the gut barrier failure occurrence. Results of ileum gene expression showed a higher expression in genes involved in barrier function and nutrient transport in chickens raised in healthy conditions, while genes involved in immune response presented higher expression in C.perfringens-challenged birds. On the other hand, the Eimeria challenge also altered the expression of genes related to barrier function and metabolism, and increased the expression of genes related to immune response and oxidative stress. The panel developed in the current study gives us an overview of genes and pathways involved in broiler response to pathogen challenge. It also allows us to deep into the study of differences in gene expression pattern and magnitude of responses under either a coccidial vaccine or a NE.

MDMA-induced indifference to negative sounds is mediated by the 5-HT2A receptor.

BACKGROUND: MDMA has been shown to induce feelings of sociability, a positive emotional bias and enhanced empathy. While previous research has used only visual emotional stimuli, communication entails more than that single dimension and it is known that auditory information is also crucial in this process. In addition, it is, however, unclear what the neurobiological mechanism underlying these MDMA effects on social behaviour is. Previously, studies have shown that MDMA-induced emotional excitability and positive mood are linked to the action on the serotonin (5-HT) 2A receptor. AIM: The present study aimed at investigating the effect of MDMA on processing of sounds (Processing of Affective Sounds Task (PAST)) and cognitive biases (Approach-Avoidance Task (AAT)) towards emotional and social stimuli and the role of 5-HT2A receptor in these effects. METHODS: Twenty healthy recreational users entered a 2 × 2, placebo-controlled, within-subject study with ketanserin (40 mg) as pre-treatment and MDMA (75 mg) as treatment. Behavioural (PAST, AAT) measures were conducted 90 min after treatment with MDMA, respectively, 120 min after ketanserin. Self-report mood measures and oxytocin concentrations were taken at baseline and before and after behavioural tests. RESULTS: Findings showed that MDMA reduced arousal elicited by negative sounds. This effect was counteracted by ketanserin pre-treatment, indicating involvement of the 5-HT2 receptor in this process. MDMA did not seem to induce a bias towards emotional and social stimuli. It increased positive and negative mood ratings and elevated oxytocin plasma concentrations. The reduction in arousal levels when listening to negative sounds was not related to the elevated subjective arousal. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that this decrease in arousal to negative stimuli reflects potentially a lowering of defences, a process that might play a role in the therapeutic process.

DIRAE study: Seasonal allergic rhinitis distribution in Spain

Background: National epidemiological study to observe if among patients with pollinic seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), there are differences between those visited by primary care physicians (GPs) or allergists (ALs). Methods: 758 and 739 adults were recruited respectively by GPs and ALs. The physicians filled in a questionnaire: ARIA classification, prescribed treatment, and asthma incidence. The patient completed a visual analogical scale (VAS) to evaluate the severity of the rhinitis. Rhinitis control (controlled, partially controlled, and not controlled) was assessed by physician and patient. Results: No significant differences were found among patients visited by GPs or ALs concerning the ARIA classification and rhinitis severity. Treatment with oral antihistamines was 92.3% and 89.3% for GPs and ALs, respectively. The use of nasal corticosteroids was 76.7% and 60.4% for GP and AL patients, respectively. 31.9% of the patients visited by the ALs were treated with immunotherapy. The use of alternative medicine was 10.9% and 7.6% in GP and AL patients, respectively. The perception of “controlled” rhinitis was similar among patients (40.0%) and doctors (40.1%), although patients referred differences depending if they were visited by GP (44.8%) or AL (34.9%). Asthma prevalence was higher in those who suffered persistent as compared to intermittent rhinitis (OR=1.81, 95% CI: 1.39–2.36, p<0.001), and moderate/severe vs. mild rhinitis (OR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.05–2.68, p=0.029). Conclusion: The patients with pollinic SAR visited by GPs or ALs show no differences in severity. Less than half of the patients can be considered as “controlled” (AU)

DIRAE study: seasonal allergic rhinitis distribution in Spain.

BACKGROUND: National epidemiological study to observe if among patients with pollinic seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR), there are differences between those visited by primary care physicians (GPs) or allergists (ALs). METHODS: 758 and 739 adults were recruited respectively by GPs and ALs. The physicians filled in a questionnaire: ARIA classification, prescribed treatment, and asthma incidence. The patient completed a visual analogical scale (VAS) to evaluate the severity of the rhinitis. Rhinitis control (controlled, partially controlled, and not controlled) was assessed by physician and patient. RESULTS: No significant differences were found among patients visited by GPs or ALs concerning the ARIA classification and rhinitis severity. Treatment with oral antihistamines was 92.3% and 89.3% for GPs and ALs, respectively. The use of nasal corticosteroids was 76.7% and 60.4% for GP and AL patients, respectively. 31.9% of the patients visited by the ALs were treated with immunotherapy. The use of alternative medicine was 10.9% and 7.6% in GP and AL patients, respectively. The perception of "controlled" rhinitis was similar among patients (40.0%) and doctors (40.1%), although patients referred differences depending if they were visited by GP (44.8%) or AL (34.9%). Asthma prevalence was higher in those who suffered persistent as compared to intermittent rhinitis (OR=1.81, 95% CI: 1.39-2.36, p<0.001), and moderate/severe vs. mild rhinitis (OR=1.68, 95% CI: 1.05-2.68, p=0.029). CONCLUSION: The patients with pollinic SAR visited by GPs or ALs show no differences in severity. Less than half of the patients can be considered as "controlled".

[Tuberculosis control in the Central Health Region of Catalonia during the period 1986-2000]. / El control de la tuberculosis en la Región Sanitaria Centro de Cataluña durante el período 1986-2000.

OBJECTIVE: To assess tuberculosis control in the Central Health Region, Catalonia, Spain, from the implementation of the area's Tuberculosis Control Program in 1986 until the year 2000. METHOD: To study the epidemiological profile of tuberculosis and the outcome of the following control measures in sputum smear-positive patients: final outcome of treatment and monitoring, and the percentage of patients for whom a contact investigation (CI) was carried out. Tuberculosis control is considered effective if the sum of noncompliant patients, plus the cases in which treatment failed, plus the patients transferred out remains below 10% of the cohort of patients studied, and if a CI has been conducted in at least 80% of this cohort. RESULTS: The number of cases reported was 6326, of which 7% were retreatments. A total of 5865 new cases was detected. Of these, 5652 (96%) were patients born in Spain. The number of cases reported annually peaked in 1990 (474) and then declined continuously until 2000, when it was 54% lower (220). Foreign-born patients numbered 213 (4%), and 95% of them came from countries with a high prevalence of tuberculosis. In the cohort of patients studied between 1997 and 2000, the sum of noncompliant patients, plus cases in which treatment failed, plus the patients transferred out came to 11%. Since 1994, a CI has been carried out for over 80% of patients, and this figure reached 92% in 2000. CONCLUSIONS: We consider that a substantial degree of tuberculosis control has been achieved given the decline in tuberculosis morbidity among people born in Spain, the fact that the percentage of noncompliant patients, treatment failures and transfers was only slightly over 10%, and that a CI has been conducted for over 80% of patients since 1994 (92% in 2000).

Effect of ingestion of virgin olive oil on human low-density lipoprotein composition.

OBJECTIVE: To measure the incorporation of oleic acid and antioxidants (phenols and vitamin E) to low density lipoprotein (LDL) after acute and short-term ingestion of virgin olive oil. To study whether this incorporation contributes to an increase in LDL resistance to oxidation. SETTING: Department of Food and Nutrition, University of Barcelona, Spain and Department of Lipids and Cardiovascular Epidemiology, IMIM, Barcelona, Spain. SUBJECTS: Sixteen healthy volunteers aged 25-65 y. DESIGN AND INTERVENTIONS: To observe the change in the fatty acid profile, vitamin E, phenolic compounds and LDL oxidation-related variables after the postprandial phase and after daily ingestion of olive oil for one week. RESULTS: Few changes were observed in the postprandial phase. However, after a week of olive oil consumption there was an increase in oleic acid (P=0.015), vitamin E (P=0.047), phenolics (P=0.021) and lag time (P=0.000), and a decrease in the maximum amount of dienes (P=0.045) and oxidation rate (P=0.05). CONCLUSION: After ingestion of virgin olive oil, an increase in antioxidants and oleic acid in LDL was observed as well as an improvement of LDL resistance to oxidation. Our results support the idea that daily ingestion of virgin olive oil could protect LDL from oxidation. SPONSORSHIP: This study was supported by a research grant from Spain (ALI 97-1607-C02-02).

¿Qué es la psicosomática para elpsicoanálisis? / What is "psychosomatics" in psychoanalysis?

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[Coronary disease protective factors: antioxidant effect of olive oil]. / Facteurs protecteurs de la maladie coronarienne: effet antioxydant de l'huile d'olive.

Alongside the French paradox, the REGICOR Study (Girona, Spain) has shown another paradox in the Mediterranean area: a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors with low incidence of myocardial infarction in the population of Girona, Spain. The antioxidant effects associated with olive oil consumption could explain part of this 'Mediterranean Paradox'. Virgin olive oils processed by two centrifugation phases and with low fruit ripeness have the highest levels of antioxidant content. The total content of phenolic compounds (PC) from virgin olive oil could delay LDL oxidation. The content and nature of olive oil PC have a high influence in the antioxidant capacity of an olive oil. PC from diet could bind human LDL in non-supplemented volunteers. PC from virgin olive oil could bind LDL and tyrosol is bioavailable in humans from ingestion of virgin olive oil in its natural form.

An immune-enhancing enteral diet reduces mortality rate and episodes of bacteremia in septic intensive care unit patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether early enteral feeding in a septic intensive care unit (ICU) population, using a formula supplemented with arginine, mRNA, and omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil (Impact), improves clinical outcomes, when compared with a common use, high protein enteral feed without these nutrients. DESIGN: A prospective, randomized, multicentered trial. SETTING: ICUs of six hospitals in Spain. PATIENTS: One hundred eighty-one septic patients (122 males, 59 females) presenting for enteral nutrition in an ICU. INTERVENTIONS: Septic ICU patients with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores of > or =10 received either an enteral feed enriched with arginine, mRNA, and omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil (Impact), or a common use, high protein control feed (Precitene Hiperproteico). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One hundred seventy-six (89 Impact patients, 87 control subjects) were eligible for intention-to-treat analysis. The mortality rate was reduced for the treatment group compared with the control group (17 of 89 vs. 28 of 87; p < .05). Bacteremias were reduced in the treatment group (7 of 89 vs. 19 of 87; p = .01) as well as the number of patients with more than one nosocomial infection (5 of 89 vs. 17 of 87; p = .01). The benefit in mortality rate for the treatment group was more pronounced for patients with APACHE II scores between 10 and 15 (1 of 26 vs. 8 of 29; p = .02). CONCLUSIONS: Immune-enhancing enteral nutrition resulted in a significant reduction in the mortality rate and infection rate in septic patients admitted to the ICU. These reductions were greater for patients with less severe illness.

Quantification of 3,4-methylenedioxymetamphetamine and its metabolites in plasma and urine by gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection.

A gas chromatographic method with nitrogen-phosphorus detection involving a solid-liquid extraction phase was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) in plasma. A modification of this method was validated for the analysis of MDMA, MDA, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA) and, 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyamphetamine (HMA) in urine. Under the analytical conditions described, the limits of detection in plasma and urine were less than 1.6 microg/l and 47 microg/l, respectively, for all the compounds studied. Good linearity was observed in the concentration range evaluated in plasma (5-400 microg/l) and urine (100-2000 microg/l) for all compounds tested. The recoveries obtained from plasma were 85.1% and 91.6% for MDMA and MDA, respectively. Urine recoveries were higher than 90% for MDMA and MDA, 74% for HMMA, and 64% for HMA. Methods have been successfully used in the assessment of plasma and urine concentrations of MDMA and its main metabolites in samples from clinical studies in healthy volunteers.

Effect of alendronate on cultured normal human osteoblasts.

Alendronate is an aminobisphosphonate with a potent anti-reabsorptive action that does not appear to interfere with bone mineralization, and is even able to increase bone mineral density in osteoporotic postmenopausal women through a still not fully understood mechanism. This study was conducted to assess the direct effect of alendronate on diverse aspects of normal human osteoblast physiology. For that purpose, the in vitro effect of a wide range of concentrations [from 10(-1) to 10(-12) mol/L] of alendronate on cell viability, proliferation, collagen synthesis, and the mineral-depositing capacity of normal human osteoblasts was tested. Alendronate effects were examined at 48 and 96 h of culture in the presence or absence of fetal calf serum. In vitro alendronate affected osteoblast viability at concentrations equal to or higher than 10(-4) mol/L. At concentrations equal to or higher than 10(-3) mol/L, no viable cells were observed in cultures. In vitro alendronate at concentrations between 10(-5) and 10(-12) mol/L did not have any effect on the proliferative capacity of normal human osteoblasts determined by two different techniques: (1) tritiated thymidine incorporation to DNA and (2) cell counting. Collagen synthesis by normal human osteoblasts showed a tendency to decrease following incubation with alendronate supplemented with fetal calf serum. This decrease was only statistically significant after 96 h of culture; however, a dose-response effect could not be documented. Finally, no effect of alendronate was observed on calcium deposition in vitro by normal human osteoblasts at concentrations equal to or lower than 10(-5) mol/L. In conclusion, the present study shows that alendronate in vitro does not affect viability, proliferation, and mineral deposit capacity of normal human osteoblasts at the concentration at which it inhibits by 50% the resorptive capacity of osteoclasts that for this drug has been reported as 2 x 10(-9) mol/L.