Management, risk factors and treatment outcomes of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment associated with giant retinal tears: scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) is a serious condition that occurs when the retina detaches from its underlying retinal pigment epithelium. RRDs associated with giant retinal tears (GRTs) are caused by retinal tears at least 90° or one-quarter of the circumferential extent. This scoping review systematically identifies and summarizes clinical studies evaluating surgical techniques for the management of GRT-related RRDs, discusses functional and visual outcomes and the risk factors affecting treatment outcomes. METHODS: This study was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Springer Link databases were searched for relevant papers (from January 2001 to March 2023). Studies that were published in the English language and reported the risk factors, management, and treatment outcomes of GRT-related RRDs were included in the review. The outcome measures included anatomic success rates, changes in BCVA (logMAR) from baseline to the final follow-up, and adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 11,982 articles were identified. After the title and abstract review, 71 studies were deemed eligible for full-text review. Thirty-six studies that met the eligibility criteria were included in the final review. Four surgical techniques were identified: pars plana vitrectomy (PPV), combined PPV and scleral buckling, scleral buckling alone, and pneumatic retinopexy. Various types of tamponades, including gas, silicone oil, and air, have been used. PPV was the most commonly used surgical technique in 33.1-100% of patients. Among the 20 studies that used PPV alone, 17 were associated with preoperative PVR. In addition, scleral buckling alone or in combination with PPV was reported as a treatment option in 10 studies, with 2-100% of patients experiencing scleral buckling alone and 13.6-100% experiencing combined PPV and complementary scleral buckling. Primary anatomic success (PAS) was achieved with retinal reattachment via a single operation with no residual tamponade, whereas final anatomic success (FAS) was achieved via more than one operation with no residual tamponade. Reported single surgery anatomic success (SSAS) rates range from 65.51 to 100%. The preoperative best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) ranged from 0.067 to 2.47 logMAR, whereas the postoperative BCVA ranged from 0.08 to 2.3 logMAR. An improvement in visual acuity was observed in 29 studies. Cataracts (3.9-28.3%) were the most common postoperative complication, followed by high IOP (0.01-51.2%) and PVR (0.8-31.57%). CONCLUSION: PPV is the most common surgical technique, and currently microincision vitrectomy surgery (MIVS) systems are commonly employed. Silicone oil is the most frequently used tamponade in RRD repair. Risk factors for GRT-related RRD include age, sex, lens status, high myopia status, proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), presenting visual acuity, the extent of the GRT and retinal detachment, and macular involvement. Future research areas include guidelines to reduce variability in the reporting of surgical methodology, choice of tamponades, and reporting of functional and visual outcomes to inform the best therapeutic interventions in GRT-related RRD.

A Photodynamic and Photochemotherapeutic Platinum-Iridium Charge-Transfer Conjugate for Anticancer Therapy.

The novel hetero-dinuclear complex trans,trans,trans-[PtIV(py)2(N3)2(OH)(µ-OOCCH2CH2CONHCH2-bpyMe)IrIII(ppy)2]Cl (Pt-Ir), exhibits charge transfer between the acceptor photochemotherapeutic Pt(IV) (Pt-OH) and donor photodynamic Ir(III) (Ir-NH2) fragments. It is stable in the dark, but undergoes photodecomposition more rapidly than the Pt(IV) parent complex (Pt-OH) to generate Pt(II) species, an azidyl radical and 1O2. The Ir(III)* excited state, formed after irradiation, can oxidise NADH to NAD⋅ radicals and NAD+. Pt-Ir is highly photocytotoxic towards cancer cells with a high photocytotoxicity index upon irradiation with blue light (465 nm, 4.8 mW/cm2), even with short light-exposure times (10-60 min). In contrast, the mononuclear Pt-OH and Ir-NH2 subunits and their simple mixture are much less potent. Cellular Pt accumulation was higher for Pt-Ir compared to Pt-OH. Irradiation of Pt-Ir in cancer cells damages nuclei and releases chromosomes. Synchrotron-XRF revealed ca. 4× higher levels of intracellular platinum compared to iridium in Pt-Ir treated cells under dark conditions. Luminescent Pt-Ir distributes over the whole cell and generates ROS and 1O2 within 1 h of irradiation. Iridium localises strongly in small compartments, suggestive of complex cleavage and excretion via recycling vesicles (e.g. lysosomes). The combination of PDT and PACT motifs in one molecule, provides Pt-Ir with a novel strategy for multimodal phototherapy.

Changes in Coffee Intake, Added Sugar and Long-Term Weight Gain - Results from Three Large Prospective US Cohort Studies.

BACKGROUND: Consumption of both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee has been reported to attenuate long-term weight gain. Whether the association between coffee consumption and weight gain depends on the addition of sugar, cream, or coffee whitener remains unclear. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to study the associations between changes in coffee consumption, caffeine intake, and weight changes by considering the addition of sugar, cream, or a nondairy coffee whitener. METHODS: We used 3 large prospective cohorts - the Nurses' Health Study (1986 - 2010), Nurses' Health Study II (1991 - 2015) and Health Professional Follow-up Study (1991 - 2014). We applied multivariable linear regression models with robust variance estimators to assess the association of changes in coffee habits within each 4-y interval with concurrent weight changes. Results across the 3 cohorts were pooled using inverse-variance weights. RESULTS: After multivariable adjustment, each 1 cup per day increment in unsweetened caffeinated coffee was associated with a reduction in 4-y weight gain of -0.12 kg (95 % CI: -0.18, -0.05 kg) and of -0.12 kg (95 % CI: -0.16, -0.08 kg) for unsweetened decaffeinated coffee. The habits of adding cream or nondairy coffee whitener were not significantly linked to weight changes. Adding a teaspoon of sugar was associated with a 4-y weight gain of +0.09 kg (0.07, 0.12 kg). Stratified analyses suggested stronger magnitude of the observed associations with younger age and higher baseline BMI. Neither caffeine nor coffee modified the association of adding sugar to any food or beverage with weight changes. CONCLUSIONS: An increase in intake of unsweetened caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee was inversely associated with weight gain. The addition of sugar to coffee counteracted coffee's benefit for possible weight management. To the contrary, adding cream or coffee whitener was not associated with greater weight gain.

Consumption of olive oil and risk of breast cancer in U.S. women: results from the Nurses' Health Studies.

BACKGROUND: Olive oil consumption may reduce breast cancer risk, but it is unclear whether olive oil is beneficial for breast cancer prevention in populations outside of Mediterranean regions, namely in the U.S., where the average consumption of olive oil is low compared with Mediterranean populations. We examined whether olive oil intake was associated with breast cancer risk in two prospective cohorts of U.S. women. METHODS: We used multivariable-adjusted time-varying Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for breast cancer among 71,330 (Nurses' Health Study, 1990-2016) and 93,295 women (Nurses' Health Study II, 1991-2017) who were free of cancer at baseline. Diet was assessed by a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire every 4 years. RESULTS: During 3,744,068 person-years of follow-up, 9,638 women developed invasive breast cancer. The multivariable-adjusted HR (95% CI) for breast cancer among women who had the highest consumption of olive oil (>1/2 tablespoon/d or >7 g/d) compared with those who never or rarely consumed olive oil, was 1.01 (0.93, 1.09). Higher olive oil consumption was not associated with any subtype of breast cancer. CONCLUSION: We did not observe an association between higher olive oil intake and breast cancer risk in two large prospective cohorts of U.S. women, whose average olive oil consumption was low. Prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings and to further investigate whether different varieties of olive oil (e.g., virgin and extra virgin olive oil) may play a role in breast cancer risk.

Increase from low to moderate, but not high, caffeinated coffee consumption is associated with favorable changes in body fat.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Higher consumption of coffee and caffeine has been linked to less weight gain and lower body mass index in prospective cohort studies. The aim of the study was to longitudinally assess the association of changes in coffee and caffeine intake with changes in fat tissue, in particular, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) using dual x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). METHODS: In the setting of a large, randomized trial of Mediterranean diet and physical activity intervention, we evaluated 1483 participants with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Repeated measurements of coffee consumption from validated food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) and DXA measurements of adipose tissue were collected at baseline, 6 months, 12 months and 3 years of follow-up. DXA-derived measurements of total and regional adipose tissue expressed as % of total body weight were transformed into sex-specific z-scores. Linear multilevel mixed-effect models were used to investigate the relationship between changes in coffee consumption and corresponding concurrent changes in fat tissue during a 3-year follow-up. RESULTS: After adjustment for intervention group, and other potential confounders, an increase in caffeinated coffee consumption from no or infrequent consumption (≤3 cups/month) to moderate consumption (1-7 cups/week) was associated with reductions in total body fat (Δ z-score: -0.06; 95% CI: -0.11 to -0.02), trunk fat (Δ z-score: -0.07; 95% CI: -0.12 to -0.02), and VAT (Δ z-score: -0.07; 95% CI: -0.13 to -0.01). Neither changes from no or infrequent consumption to high levels of caffeinated coffee consumption (>1 cup/day) nor any changes in decaffeinated coffee consumption showed significant associations with changes in DXA measures. CONCLUSIONS: Moderate changes in the consumption of caffeinated coffee, but not changes to high consumption, were associated with reductions in total body fat, trunk fat and VAT in a Mediterranean cohort with MetS. Decaffeinated coffee was not linked to adiposity indicators. Moderate consumption of caffeinated coffee may be part of a weight management strategy. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The trial was registered at the International Standard Randomized Controlled Trial (ISRCTN: http://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN89898870) with number 89898870 and registration date of 24 July 2014, retrospectively registered.

Effects of Supplemented Mediterranean Diets on Plasma-Phospholipid Fatty Acid Profiles and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease after 1 Year of Intervention in the PREDIMED Trial.

BACKGROUND: Plasma fatty acids (FAs) have been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Diet and endogenous metabolism influence the FA profile of the plasma phospholipid (PL) fraction. In the PREDIMED trial, we examined 1-year changes in the FA profile of plasma PL according to a nutritional intervention with Mediterranean diets, either supplemented with extra-virgin olive oil (MedDiet + EVOO) or mixed nuts (MedDiet + nuts), in a high cardiovascular risk population. We also analyzed if 1-year changes in PL FAs were associated with subsequent cardiovascular risk. METHODS: We included 779 participants in our case-cohort study: 185 incident cases and 594 participants in the subcohort (including 31 overlapping cases). The end point was the incidence of CVD. We measured the FAs of plasma PL at baseline and after 1 year of intervention. RESULTS: MedDiet + EVOO increased C17:0 and C20:3n9 in linear regression models [ß coefficientperSD : 0.215 (95% CI, 0.032-0.399) and 0.271 (0.107-0.434), respectively] and decreased 16:1n7 and C22:4n6 [ßperSD: -0.239 (95% CI, -0.416 to -0.061) and -0.287 (95% CI, -0.460 to -0.113), respectively] vs the control group. MedDiet + nuts increased C18:3n3 [ßperSD: 0.382 (95% CI, 0.225 - 0.539)], C18:2n6 [ßper SD: 0.250 (95% CI, 0.073 - 0.428)], C18:0 [ßperSD: 0.268 (95% CI, 0.085-0.452)], and C22:0 [ßper SD: 0.216 (95% CI, 0.031-0.402)]; and decreased the sum of six n6 FAs [ßper SD: -0.147 (95% CI, -0.268 to -0.027)] vs the control group. The 1-year increase in C18:2n6 was inversely associated with the subsequent CVD risk (HRperSD: 0.64 (95% CI, 0.44-0.92)). CONCLUSIONS: MedDiet interventions changed n6 FAs and C16:1n7c; other changes were specific for each group: MedDiet + EVOO increased C17:0 and C20:3n9, and MedDiet + Nuts C18:3n3, C18:2n6, C18:0, and C22:0 FAs.

Synchrotron XRF and Histological Analyses Identify Damage to Digestive Tract of Uranium NP-Exposed Daphnia magna.

Micro- and nanoscopic X-ray techniques were used to investigate the relationship between uranium (U) tissue distributions and adverse effects to the digestive tract of aquatic model organism Daphnia magna following uranium nanoparticle (UNP) exposure. X-ray absorption computed tomography measurements of intact daphnids exposed to sublethal concentrations of UNPs or a U reference solution (URef) showed adverse morphological changes to the midgut and the hepatic ceca. Histological analyses of exposed organisms revealed a high proportion of abnormal and irregularly shaped intestinal epithelial cells. Disruption of the hepatic ceca and midgut epithelial tissues implied digestive functions and intestinal barriers were compromised. Synchrotron-based micro X-ray fluorescence (XRF) elemental mapping identified U co-localized with morphological changes, with substantial accumulation of U in the lumen as well as in the epithelial tissues. Utilizing high-resolution nano-XRF, 400-1000 nm sized U particulates could be identified throughout the midgut and within hepatic ceca cells, coinciding with tissue damages. The results highlight disruption of intestinal function as an important mode of action of acute U toxicity in D. magna and that midgut epithelial cells as well as the hepatic ceca are key target organs.

Vitamin D and Risk of Obesity-Related Cancers: Results from the SUN ('Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra') Project.

Obesity is associated with a higher risk of several types of cancer, grouped as obesity-related cancers (ORC). Vitamin D deficiency is more prevalent in obese subjects, and it has been suggested to play a role in the association between obesity and cancer risk. The aim of the study was to analyze the association between vitamin D intake and the subsequent risk of ORC in a prospective Spanish cohort of university graduates. The SUN Project, initiated in 1999, is a prospective dynamic multipurpose cohort. Participants answered a 556-item lifestyle baseline questionnaire that included a validated food-frequency questionnaire. We performed Cox regression models to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) of ORC according to quartiles of energy-adjusted vitamin D intake (diet and supplements). We included 18,017 participants (mean age = 38 years, SD = 12 years), with a median follow-up of 12 years. Among 206,783 person-years of follow-up, we identified 225 cases of ORC. We found no significant associations between vitamin D intake and ORC risk after adjusting for potential confounders: HRQ2vsQ1 = 1.19 (95% CI 0.81-1.75), HRQ3vsQ1 = 1.20 (95% CI 0.81-1.78), and HRQ4vsQ1 = 1.02 (95% CI 0.69-1.51). Dietary and supplemented vitamin D do not seem to be associated with ORC prevention in the middle-aged Spanish population.

Consumption of Olive Oil and Risk of Total and Cause-Specific Mortality Among U.S. Adults.

BACKGROUND: Olive oil consumption has been shown to lower cardiovascular disease risk, but its associations with total and cause-specific mortality are unclear. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether olive oil intake is associated with total and cause-specific mortality in 2 prospective cohorts of U.S. men and women. METHODS: The authors used multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional-hazards models to estimate HRs for total and cause-specific mortality among 60,582 women (Nurses' Health Study, 1990-2018) and 31,801 men (Health Professionals Follow-up Study, 1990-2018) who were free of cardiovascular disease or cancer at baseline. Diet was assessed by a semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire every 4 years. RESULTS: During 28 years of follow-up, 36,856 deaths occurred. The multivariable-adjusted pooled HR for all-cause mortality among participants who had the highest consumption of olive oil (>0.5 tablespoon/day or >7 g/d) was 0.81 (95% CI: 0.78-0.84) compared with those who never or rarely consumed olive oil. Higher olive oil intake was associated with 19% lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.75-0.87), 17% lower risk of cancer mortality (HR: 0.83; 95% CI: 0.78-0.89), 29% lower risk of neurodegenerative disease mortality (HR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.64-0.78), and 18% lower risk of respiratory disease mortality (HR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.72-0.93). In substitution analyses, replacing 10 g/d of margarine, butter, mayonnaise, and dairy fat with the equivalent amount of olive oil was associated with 8%-34% lower risk of total and cause-specific mortality. No significant associations were observed when olive oil was compared with other vegetable oils combined. CONCLUSIONS: Higher olive oil intake was associated with lower risk of total and cause-specific mortality. Replacing margarine, butter, mayonnaise, and dairy fat with olive oil was associated with lower risk of mortality.

Circulating Amino Acids and Risk of Peripheral Artery Disease in the PREDIMED Trial.

Effective prevention and risk prediction are important for peripheral artery disease (PAD) due to its poor prognosis and the huge disease burden it produces. Circulating amino acids (AA) and their metabolites may serve as biomarkers of PAD risk, but they have been scarcely investigated. The objective was to prospectively analyze the associations of baseline levels of plasma AA (and their pathways) with subsequent risk of PAD and the potential effect modification by a nutritional intervention with the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet). A matched case-control study was nested in the PREDIMED trial, in which participants were randomized to three arms: MedDiet with tree nut supplementation group, MedDiet with extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) supplementation group or control group (low-fat diet). One hundred and sixty-seven PAD cases were matched with 250 controls. Plasma AA was measured with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry at the Broad Institute. Baseline tryptophan, serine and threonine were inversely associated with PAD (ORfor 1 SD increase = 0.78 (0.61-0.99); 0.67 (0.51-0.86) and 0.75 (0.59-0.95), respectively) in a multivariable-adjusted conditional logistic regression model. The kynurenine/tryptophan ratio was directly associated with PAD (ORfor 1 SD increase = 1.50 (1.14-1.98)). The nutritional intervention with the MedDiet+nuts modified the association between threonine and PAD (p-value interaction = 0.018) compared with the control group. However, subjects allocated to the MedDiet+EVOO group were protected against PAD independently of baseline threonine. Plasma tryptophan, kynurenine/tryptophan ratio, serine and threonine might serve as early biomarkers of future PAD in subjects at a high risk of cardiovascular disease. The MedDiet supplemented with EVOO exerted a protective effect, regardless of baseline levels of threonine.

Molecular Basis, Diagnostic Challenges and Therapeutic Approaches of Bartter and Gitelman Syndromes: A Primer for Clinicians.

Gitelman and Bartter syndromes are rare inherited diseases that belong to the category of renal tubulopathies. The genes associated with these pathologies encode electrolyte transport proteins located in the nephron, particularly in the Distal Convoluted Tubule and Ascending Loop of Henle. Therefore, both syndromes are characterized by alterations in the secretion and reabsorption processes that occur in these regions. Patients suffer from deficiencies in the concentration of electrolytes in the blood and urine, which leads to different systemic consequences related to these salt-wasting processes. The main clinical features of both syndromes are hypokalemia, hypochloremia, metabolic alkalosis, hyperreninemia and hyperaldosteronism. Despite having a different molecular etiology, Gitelman and Bartter syndromes share a relevant number of clinical symptoms, and they have similar therapeutic approaches. The main basis of their treatment consists of electrolytes supplements accompanied by dietary changes. Specifically for Bartter syndrome, the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs is also strongly supported. This review aims to address the latest diagnostic challenges and therapeutic approaches, as well as relevant recent research on the biology of the proteins involved in disease. Finally, we highlight several objectives to continue advancing in the characterization of both etiologies.

Dietary calcium, vitamin D, and breast cancer risk in women: findings from the SUN cohort.

PURPOSE: Epidemiological evidence concerning the relationship between calcium and vitamin D intake and breast cancer (BC) is inconclusive. Moreover, the association according to menopausal status remains unclear. We aimed to assess whether total intakes from dietary and supplemental sources of calcium and vitamin D were associated with the incidence of BC in a Mediterranean cohort. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated the association between intakes of calcium and vitamin D and BC risk among 10,812 women in the Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra (SUN) Project, a Spanish cohort of university graduates. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 10.7 years, 101 incident BC cases were confirmed. Evidence of a non-linear association between total calcium intake and BC risk was found (Pnon-linearity = 0.011) with risk reductions associated with higher intake up to approximately 1400 mg/day. Moderate intake [Tertile 2 (T2)] of total calcium was associated with lower overall BC risk [HR for T2 vs. Tertile 1 (T1): 0.55; 95% CI 0.33-0.91] and also among postmenopausal women (HRT2 vs. T1 = 0.38; 95% CI 0.16-0.92). Intake of vitamin D was not associated with BC risk. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest an L-shaped association between total calcium intake and BC incidence. Moderate calcium intake may be associated with lower BC risk among overall and postmenopausal women, but not among premenopausal women. No evidence for any association between vitamin D intake and BC was found. Adherence to current guidelines recommendations for calcium intake may help to reduce BC risk.

Olive Oil Consumption and Cardiovascular Risk in U.S. Adults.

BACKGROUND: Olive oil intake has been associated with lower risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Mediterranean populations, but little is known about these associations in the U.S population. OBJECTIVES: This study sought to examine whether olive oil intake is associated with total CVD, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke risk. METHODS: This study included 61,181 women from the Nurses' Health Study (1990 to 2014) and 31,797 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1990 to 2014) who were free of cancer, heart disease, and stroke at baseline. Diet was assessed using food frequency questionnaires at baseline and then every 4 years. Cox proportional hazards regressions were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: During 24 years of follow-up, this study documented 9,797 incident cases of CVD, including 6,034 CHD cases and 3,802 stroke cases. After adjusting for major diet and lifestyle factors, compared with nonconsumers, those with higher olive oil intake (>0.5 tablespoon/day or >7 g/day) had 14% lower risk of CVD (pooled HR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.79 to 0.94) and 18% lower risk of CHD (pooled HR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.73 to 0.91). No significant associations were observed for total or ischemic stroke. Replacing 5 g/day of margarine, butter, mayonnaise, or dairy fat with the equivalent amount of olive oil was associated with 5% to 7% lower risk of total CVD and CHD. No significant associations were observed when olive oil was compared with other plant oils combined. In a subset of participants, higher olive oil intake was associated with lower levels of circulating inflammatory biomarkers and a better lipid profile. CONCLUSIONS: Higher olive oil intake was associated with lower risk of CHD and total CVD in 2 large prospective cohorts of U.S. men and women. The substitution of margarine, butter, mayonnaise, and dairy fat with olive oil could lead to lower risk of CHD and CVD.

Spatially Resolved Dissolution and Speciation Changes of ZnO Nanorods during Short-Term in Situ Incubation in a Simulated Wastewater Environment.

Zinc oxide engineered nanomaterials (ZnO ENMs) are used in a variety of applications worldwide due to their optoelectronic and antibacterial properties with potential contaminant risk to the environment following their disposal. One of the main potential pathways for ZnO nanomaterials to reach the environment is via urban wastewater treatment plants. So far there is no technique that can provide spatiotemporal nanoscale information about the rates and mechanisms by which the individual nanoparticles transform. Fundamental knowledge of how the surface chemistry of individual particles change, and the heterogeneity of transformations within the system, will reveal the critical physicochemical properties determining environmental damage and deactivation. We applied a methodology based on spatially resolved in situ X-ray fluorescence microscopy (XFM), allowing observation of real-time dissolution and morphological and chemical evolution of synthetic template-grown ZnO nanorods (∼725 nm length, ∼140 nm diameter). Core-shell ZnO-ZnS nanostructures were formed rapidly within 1 h, and significant amounts of ZnS species were generated, with a corresponding depletion of ZnO after 3 h. Diffuse nanoparticles of ZnS, Zn3(PO4)2, and Zn adsorbed to Fe-oxyhydroxides were also imaged in some nonsterically impeded regions after 3 h. The formation of diffuse nanoparticles was affected by ongoing ZnO dissolution (quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry) and the humic acid content in the simulated sludge. Complementary ex situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy confirmed a significant decrease in the ZnO contribution over time. Application of time-resolved XFM enables predictions about the rates at which ZnO nanomaterials transform during their first stages of the wastewater treatment process.

Plasma Metabolites Associated with Coffee Consumption: A Metabolomic Approach within the PREDIMED Study.

Few studies have examined the association of a wide range of metabolites with total and subtypes of coffee consumption. The aim of this study was to investigate associations of plasma metabolites with total, caffeinated, and decaffeinated coffee consumption. We also assessed the ability of metabolites to discriminate between coffee consumption categories. This is a cross-sectional analysis of 1664 participants from the PREDIMED study. Metabolites were semiquantitatively profiled using a multiplatform approach. Consumption of total coffee, caffeinated coffee and decaffeinated coffee was assessed by using a validated food frequency questionnaire. We assessed associations between 387 metabolite levels with total, caffeinated, or decaffeinated coffee consumption (≥50 mL coffee/day) using elastic net regression analysis. Ten-fold cross-validation analyses were used to estimate the discriminative accuracy of metabolites for total and subtypes of coffee. We identified different sets of metabolites associated with total coffee, caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee consumption. These metabolites consisted of lipid species (e.g., sphingomyelin, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylcholine) or were derived from glycolysis (alpha-glycerophosphate) and polyphenol metabolism (hippurate). Other metabolites included caffeine, 5-acetylamino-6-amino-3-methyluracil, cotinine, kynurenic acid, glycocholate, lactate, and allantoin. The area under the curve (AUC) was 0.60 (95% CI 0.56-0.64), 0.78 (95% CI 0.75-0.81) and 0.52 (95% CI 0.49-0.55), in the multimetabolite model, for total, caffeinated, and decaffeinated coffee consumption, respectively. Our comprehensive metabolic analysis did not result in a new, reliable potential set of metabolites for coffee consumption.

Quality of Dietary Fat Intake and Body Weight and Obesity in a Mediterranean Population: Secondary Analyses within the PREDIMED Trial.

A moderately high-fat Mediterranean diet does not promote weight gain. This study aimed to investigate the association between dietary intake of specific types of fat and obesity and body weight. A prospective cohort study was performed using data of 6942 participants in the PREDIMED trial, with yearly repeated validated food-frequency questionnaires, and anthropometric outcomes (median follow-up: 4.8 years). The effects of replacing dietary fat subtypes for one another, proteins or carbohydrates were estimated using generalized estimating equations substitution models. Replacement of 5% energy from saturated fatty acids (SFA) with monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) or polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) resulted in weight changes of -0.38 kg (95% Confidece Iinterval (CI): -0.69, -0.07), and -0.51 kg (95% CI: -0.81, -0.20), respectively. Replacing proteins with MUFA or PUFA decreased the odds of becoming obese. Estimates for the daily substitution of one portion of red meat with white meat, oily fish or white fish showed weight changes up to -0.87 kg. Increasing the intake of unsaturated fatty acids at the expense of SFA, proteins, and carbohydrates showed beneficial effects on body weight and obesity. It may therefore be desirable to encourage high-quality fat diets like the Mediterranean diet instead of restricting total fat intake.

Coffee consumption and total mortality in a Mediterranean prospective cohort.

Background: The relation of coffee consumption with total mortality is controversial, because the available evidence is still inconsistent. Objective: This study aimed to assess this association in a highly educated, middle-aged Mediterranean cohort. Design: We analyzed data from 201,055 person-years of follow-up arising from 19,888 participants. Coffee consumption was obtained at baseline with the use of a previously validated semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. Information on mortality was ascertained by permanent contact with the "Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra" (SUN) participants and their families, postal authorities, and consultation of the National Death Index. We used Cox regression models to estimate HRs and 95% CIs for mortality according to baseline total coffee consumption adjusted for potential confounders. Sex, age, and baseline adherence to the Mediterranean diet were considered as potential effect modifiers. Results: Among the 19,888 participants, 337 died. Overall, in the multivariable adjusted analysis, we found a 22% lower risk of all-cause mortality for each 2 additional cups of total coffee per day (HR: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.66, 0.93). This association was stronger for participants aged ≥55 y (HR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.86) than for younger participants, who showed no significant association (P-interaction = 0.002). Conclusion: In a Mediterranean cohort, we found an inverse linear association between total coffee consumption and the risk of all-cause mortality that was strongest among participants older than 54 y.

Coffee Consumption and the Risk of Depression in a Middle-Aged Cohort: The SUN Project.

Coffee is one of the most widely consumed drinks around the world, while depression is considered the major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. However, the investigation on coffee consumption and depression is limited and results may be confounded by the overall dietary pattern. We assessed the relationship between coffee intake and the risk of depression, controlling for adherence to the Mediterranean diet. We studied 14,413 university graduates of the 'Seguimiento Universidad de Navarra' (SUN) cohort, initially free of depression. We evaluated coffee consumption using a validated food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Incident depression cases were adjudicated only if the participant met two criteria simultaneously: (a) validated physician-diagnosed depression together with (b) new onset of habitual antidepressant use. Both criteria were needed; participants meeting only one of them were not classified as cases. Participants who drank at least four cups of coffee per day showed a significantly lower risk of depression than participants who drank less than one cup of coffee per day (HR: 0.37 (95% CI 0.15⁻0.95)). However, overall, we did not observe an inverse linear dose⁻response association between coffee consumption and the incidence of depression (p for trend = 0.22).