Nutritional Description of Foods with Low- and No-Calorie Sweeteners in Spain: The BADALI Project.

The use of low- and no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) in foods has increased in recent years in response to the negative effects of free sugar on health. However, the health impact of LNCS is still unclear. Studies of the prevalence of LNCS in foods have been published previously, including in Spain. However, the use of health (HCs) and nutrition claims (NCs) to promote these foods and a full nutritional characterization are largely lacking. For this purpose, we used the BADALI database with 4218 foods present in the Spanish market. Our results show that 9.3% of foods have LNCS (including both intense and polyols). Sucralose and acesulfame K were the intense sweeteners most frequently used (52.4% and 48.2%, respectively), whereas maltitol was the preferred polyol (20.3%). Of all foods with LNCS, 30% also had added sugar. Many more foods with LNCS presented HCs and NCs than those without. Sugar was the nutrient most frequently claimed in NCs for LNCS-containing foods, whereas vitamins were for those without these sweeteners. NCs compliance with regulation was similar in both conditions (60.1% for foods without and 63.9% for foods with LNCS). As expected, foods with LNCS had less total sugar content and energy. Surprisingly, the nutrient profile of yogurts with LNCS changed completely: less total and saturated fat, whereas more proteins and sodium. Biscuits with LNCS contained more fibre. The results of our study reveal that the prevalence of LNCS is becoming high in some food types in Spain and that foods containing LNCS are more frequently promoted with HCs/NCs. In addition, it confirms the general reduction in energy and sugar content expected in foods with LNCS. Furthermore, it suggests a reformulation of products beyond sugar content.

Sensitivity to amphetamine in prepulse inhibition response requires a mature medial prefrontal cortex.

Prepulse inhibition (PPI) refers to the modulation of the startle response by the presentation of a weaker stimulus prior to the onset of the startle stimulus. This response is consolidated along the maturation process of the mesocortical system, where the dopamine neurotransmitter plays an important role. In fact, it has been reported that agonist and antagonist dopaminergic drugs are able to change PPI expression. This study was aimed to analyze the relationship between the adult medial prefrontal cortex (mPfc) and dopaminergic involvement in PPI throughout the life span. Specifically, the present experiment analyzed the effect of the administration of dopaminergic agonist amphetamine on PPI in two different age periods in Wistar rats: postnatal day (PND) 28 and PND 70. In this last period, we also explored the relationship between PPI response and amphetamine effects after mPfc lesion. The results showed that PPI was expressed in all groups and periods; however, amphetamine only modulated this effect during adulthood. We also found that the mPfc is essential to modulate PPI after amphetamine consumption. Besides, our results suggest a role for dopamine and mPfc as important modulators of PPI in adulthood. Nevertheless, this neurotransmitter could not be involved in the expression of PPI because the administration of a dopaminergic agonist was ineffective in PND-28 period. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved).

Long-term improvement in refractory headache following ozone therapy.

BACKGROUND: Headache afflicts approximately 10%-15% of the general population. Mixed results are obtained from various therapies, usually drugs, but also oxygen inhalation, behavioral psychology, physical therapy, and peripheral or central neurostimulation. When refractory to treatment, it has severe impact on quality of life. OBJECTIVES/SUBJECTS: Five (5) patients are presented who had suffered from severe/persistent headache refractory to standard management (including 5-HT1 agonist triptan drugs) and were treated with ozone therapy. INTERVENTIONS: Ozone administration was by major autohemotherapy. The procedure involved venous blood drawn into a sterile single-use glass bottle containing anticoagulant, gently mixed with an equal volume of O3/O2 gas mixture (prefiltered through a sterile 0.20-µm filter) and slowly reinfused back into the donor patient via the antecubital vein. OUTCOME MEASURES: The analyzed parameters were analgesia requirements, days of sick leave due to headache, number of headache events, and pain intensity according to the visual analogue scale (VAS); these recorded at three time points: pre-ozone therapy, post-ozone therapy, and before the last follow-up (mean: 64.6±36.8 months). RESULTS: The number of headache episodes pretreatment (n=80; range 5-200) was significantly decreased during the first 6 months post-treatment (n=0, range 0-1; p=0.042) and over the 6 months before the last follow-up visit (n=1, range 0-2; p=0.043). The corresponding VAS scores were 8.7±0.8 pretreatment versus 1.1±2.5 the 6 months post-treatment (p=0.003) and versus 3.1±3.3 the 6 months before last follow-up visit (p=0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Ozone therapy decreased headache episodes and pain severity over a protracted period. This novel approach is effective and merits further research.