Changes in Choline Metabolites and Ceramides in Response to a DASH-Style Diet in Older Adults.

This feeding trial evaluated the impact of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension diet on changes in plasma choline, choline metabolites, and ceramides in obese older adults; 28 adults consumed 3oz (n = 15) or 6oz (n = 13) of beef within a standardized DASH diet for 12 weeks. Plasma choline, betaine, methionine, dimethylglycine (DMG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), lysophosphotidylcholine (LPC), sphingomyelin, trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), L-carnitine, ceramide, and triglycerides were measured in fasted blood samples. Plasma LPC, sphingomyelin, and ceramide species were also quantified. In response to the study diet, with beef intake groups combined, plasma choline decreased by 9.6% (p = 0.012); DMG decreased by 10% (p = 0.042); PC decreased by 51% (p < 0.001); total LPC increased by 281% (p < 0.001); TMAO increased by 26.5% (p < 0.001); total ceramide decreased by 22.1% (p < 0.001); and triglycerides decreased by 18% (p = 0.021). All 20 LPC species measured increased (p < 0.01) with LPC 16:0 having the greatest response. Sphingomyelin 16:0, 18:0, and 18:1 increased (all p < 0.001) by 10.4%, 22.5%, and 24%, respectively. In contrast, we observed that sphingomyelin 24:0 significantly decreased by 10%. Ceramide 22:0 and 24:0 decreased by 27.6% and 10.9% (p < 0.001), respectively, and ceramide 24:1 increased by 36.8% (p = 0.013). Changes in choline and choline metabolites were in association with anthropometric and cardiometabolic outcomes. These findings show the impact of the DASH diet on choline metabolism in older adults and demonstrate the influence of diet to modify circulating LPC, sphingomyelin, and ceramide species.

Lifespan extension in Caenorhabditis elegans by oxyresveratrol supplementation in hyper-branched cyclodextrin-based nanosponges.

In this work, the increase of the Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) lifespan extension using hyper-branched cyclodextrin-based nanosponges (CD-NS) complexing oxyresveratrol (OXY), and the possible inhibition of C. elegans phosphodiesterase type 4 (PDE4) were evaluated. The titration displacement of fluorescein was used to calculate the apparent complexation constant (KF) between CD-NS and OXY. Moreover, PDE4 was expressed in E. coli, purified and refolded in presence of cyclodextrins (CDs) to study its possible inhibition as pharmacological target of OXY. The apparent activity was characterized and the inhibitory effect of OXY on PDE4 displayed a competitive in vitro inhibition corroborated in silico. A maximum increase of the in vivo life expectancy of about 9.6% of using OXY/CD-NS complexes in comparison with the control was obtained, in contrast to the 6.5% obtained with free OXY. No effect on lifespan or toxicity with CD-NS alone was found. These results as a whole represent new opportunities to use OXY and CD-NS in lifespan products.

A Spanish Society joint SECO and SEEDO approach to the Post-operative management of the patients undergoing surgery for obesity.

PURPOSE: Bariatric surgery is the method of choice for the management or treatment of obesity. Bariatric surgery brings about several physiological changes in the body and is associated with set of complications. The aim of this study is to provide guidelines on post bariatric surgery management based on consensus by the Spanish society for Obesity Surgery (Sociedad Española de Cirugía de la Obesidad) (SECO) and the Spanish Society for the Study of Obesity (Sociedad Española para el Estudio de la Obesidad) (SEEDO). METHOD: The boards proposed seven experts from each society. The experts provided the evidence and a grade of recommendation on the selected topics based on systematic reviews/meta-analysis. A list of clinical practical recommendations levels of evidence and grades of these recommendations was derived from the consensus statements from the members of these societies. RESULTS: Seventeen topics related to post-operative management were reviewed after bariatric surgery. The experts came with 47 recommendations and statements. The mean number of persons voting at each statement was 54 (range 36-76). CONCLUSION: In this consensus, we have designed a set of guidelines to be followed while managing patients after bariatric surgery. Expertise and knowledge of the clinicians are required to convey suitable considerations to the post-bariatric patients. There should also be extensive follow-up plans for the bariatric surgery patients.

Extension of life-span using a RNAi model and in vivo antioxidant effect of Opuntia fruit extracts and pure betalains in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Betalains are nitrogenous plant pigments known for their high antioxidant capacity. For the first time, this antioxidant nature has been studied in an in vivo system using the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. The oxidative stress caused in the fluorescent strain TJ375 (hsp-16.2::GFP) was reversed by the presence of both natural and semi-synthetic betalains, with an ED50 value around 25 µM for betacyanins and up to 10 µM for betaxanthins, with indicaxanthin, the major pigments in prickly pear fruits, as the most effective betalain. The effect of model betalains on the lifespan of the wild-type N2 strain was carefully studied using the automatic platform "Lifespan Machine". In a search for different approaches to suppress progeny, pop-1 RNAi was used to avoid FUdR use. The presence of betalains in the medium, both as pure compounds and as enriched Opuntia extracts significantly increased the lifespan of C. elegans.

[Effects of hypotherapy on the motor function of persons with Down's syndrome: a systematic review]. / Efectos de la hipoterapia sobre la funcion motora en personas con sindrome de Down: revision sistematica.

INTRODUCTION: Down's syndrome is the main cause of intellectual disability and the most common human genetic alteration. Motor impairments are among the most important alterations presented by Down's syndrome subjects. Hippotherapy is a treatment on and with a horse, and it is currently being used as a therapy to correct those dysfunctions. AIM: To review published research literature on the effect exerted by hippotherapy on the gross motor function of people with Down's syndrome. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The bibliography in the following databases has been widely searched: CINAHL, Medline, The Cochrane Library, PEDro, Scopus, and Web of Science. The journals Fisioterapia and Cuestiones de Fisioterapia have also been consulted. The electronic literature search strategy was addressed in two thematic fields: Down's syndrome and hippotherapy. Studies selection was carried out following inclusion and exclusion criteria and rejecting duplicate papers. That search included articles published between 2000 and 2016. RESULTS: For this work, 23 articles were found, 15 of which were discarded for different reasons, leaving 8 valid ones. CONCLUSIONS: There is no strong evidence on the improvement of gross motor function in people with Down's syndrome after treatment with hippotherapy. More studies with higher methodological quality, are needed to verify the effectiveness of hippotherapy in the treatment of gross motor function in subjects with Down's syndrome.

TITLE: Efectos de la hipoterapia sobre la funcion motora en personas con sindrome de Down: revision sistematica.Introduccion. El sindrome de Down es la principal causa de discapacidad intelectual y la alteracion genetica humana mas comun. Entre las alteraciones mas importantes que se presentan se encuentran las deficiencias motoras. La hipoterapia es un tratamiento sobre el caballo y con el caballo, y se usa en la actualidad como terapia en la correccion de dichas disfunciones. Objetivo. Analizar las evidencias cientificas existentes sobre el efecto que la hipoterapia ejerce en la funcion motora de personas con sindrome de Down. Sujetos y metodos. Se efectuo una amplia busqueda de la bibliografia en las siguientes bases de datos: CINAHL, Medline, The Cochrane Library, PEDro, Scopus y Web of Science. Ademas, se consultaron las revistas Fisioterapia y Cuestiones de Fisioterapia. Las busquedas se realizaron incluyendo los articulos publicados entre los años 2000 y 2016. La estrategia de busqueda electronica se planteo en dos bloques tematicos: sindrome de Down e hipoterapia. La seleccion de articulos se llevo a cabo siguiendo unos criterios de inclusion y exclusion, y se eliminaron los articulos duplicados. Resultados. En la busqueda realizada para esta investigacion se encontraron 23 articulos, y quedaron como validos ocho despues de excluir el resto por diferentes motivos. Conclusiones. No existen evidencias solidas sobre la mejora o no de la funcion motora en personas con sindrome de Down tras el tratamiento con hipoterapia. Son necesarios mas estudios, y de mayor calidad metodologica, para poder constatar la efectividad de la hipoterapia en el tratamiento de la funcion motora gruesa en sujetos con sindrome de Down.

Peritonectomy procedures and HIPEC in the treatment of peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian cancer: Long-term outcomes and perspectives from a high-volume center.

BACKGROUND: Cytoreductive surgery with peritonectomy procedures and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (CRS + HIPEC) represents a radical therapeutic approach to achieve complete cytoreduction in ovarian peritoneal carcinomatosis. The aim of the present study was to analyze the outcomes obtained by the application of these procedures in a single center with extensive experience treating peritoneal carcinomatosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A series of 218 consecutive patients diagnosed with peritoneal carcinomatosis from primary or recurrent ovarian cancer (FIGO stage IIIC-IV) and treated with CRS + HIPEC between January 1996 and June 2012 were included in this observational study. RESULTS: Peritoneal carcinomatosis was treated primarily in 56% (124/218) of the cases and recurrently in 43% (94/218). A total of 42/218 patients (19%) presented with FIGO stage IV. Compared to recurrent cases, patients with primary ovarian carcinomatosis were older and presented higher Peritoneal Cancer Index (PCI) and percentage of FIGO stage IV; however, no significant differences in survival (5-year overall survival in patients with R0 cytoreduction, 63% and 56%, respectively) were observed. Cytoreduction score, PCI, lymphatic involvement and surgical morbidity ≥Grade III were statistically significant prognostic factors for survival in both univariate and multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: CRS + HIPEC treating macroscopic and microscopic disease is currently an excellent surgical approach to achieve high rates of complete cytoreduction and improve survival in patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian cancer. In order to minimize the high potential morbidity of these procedures, CRS + HIPEC should be performed in highly experienced centers.

Remediación de residuos sólidos contaminados con Cr(vi) por un hongo filamentoso / Remediation of waste contaminated with Cr (VI) by a filamentous fungus

La biotecnología ambiental recurre a organismos capaces de reducir los niveles de metales pesados, entre ellos el Cr(VI), contenido en residuos y efluentes agroindustriales. El objetivo del trabajo fue estudiar la biorremediación de un residuo como pulpa de limón contaminada con Cr(VI) y el efecto del metal sobre el crecimiento fúngico. Se utilizaron tres hongos filamentosos como Aspergillus niger; Penicillium expansum y P. islandicum para remediar pulpa de limón (residuo) contaminada con Cr(VI) (50 mg/L) que se realizó en las siguientes condiciones de cultivo: la pulpa se suplementó con urea, 0,006; (NH4) 2SO4, 0,012; KH2PO4,0,003 y KCl, 0,001 g/ g; 105 conidios/g, a pH 2,5, 30°C y 96 h de incubación. Se estudió el efecto tóxico de diferentes concentraciones (5; 10; 20 y 50 mg/L) del metal sobre el desarrollo del hongo de mayor eficiencia de remediación (Ef. por ciento). Aspergillus niger; obtuvo mayor EF. de remediación (97 por ciento) respecto a Penicillium expansum (95 por ciento) y P. islandicum (94 por ciento), del residuo contaminado con 50 mg/L de Cr(VI). Se determinó que la presencia de Cr(VI) y no su concentración estimuló la maduración temprana (48 h) de los conidios (blancos a negros) de A. niger, sin que se observe alteraciones en el micelio con respecto al control (72h), desarrollado en la pulpa sin el metal. En conclusión, A. niger fue más resistente y presentó altas Ef. de remediación de Cr(VI) de residuos sólidos, este proceso es una alternativa a las tecnologías físico-químicas, debido que los microorganismos pueden remover selectivamente diferentes iones de zonas contaminadas.

Environmental biotechnology uses organisms capable of reducing levels of heavy metals, including the Cr (VI), contained in waste and agro-industrial effluents. The objective of this work was to study bioremediation of waste contaminated with Cr(VI) lemon pulp and the effect of the metal on the fungal growth. We used three filamentous fungi such as Aspergillus niger; Penicillium expansum and P. islandicum to remedy pulp from lemon (residue) contaminated with Cr(VI) (50 mg/L) that was conducted in the following conditions of cultivation: the pulp is supplemented with urea, 0.006; (NH4) 2SO4, 0.012; KH2PO4, 0.003 and KCl, 0.001 g / g; 105 conidia/g, at pH 2.5, 30 ° C and 96 h of incubation. We studied the toxic effect of different concentrations (5, 10, 20 and 50 mg/L) of the metal on the development of the fungus increased efficiency of remediation (Ef. percent). Aspergillus niger; obtained greater EF. remediation (97 percent) with respect to Penicillium expansum (95 percent) and P. islandicum (94 percent), 50 mg/L of Cr (VI)-contaminated waste. It was determined that the presence of Cr (VI) and not its concentration stimulated early maturation (48 h) of conidia (white on black) from A. niger, unless you observe alterations in the mycelium as compared to the control (72 h), developed in the pulp without the metal. In conclusion, A. niger was stronger and presented high Ef. remediation of Cr (VI) waste, this process is an alternative to physico-chemical technologies, due to the micro-organisms be removed selectively different ions from contaminated areas.

Tratamiento de coriorretinopatía serosa central crónica mediante terapia fotodinámica de baja fluencia / Low-fluence photodynamic therapy in chronic central serous chorioretinopathy

Objetivo: Evaluar la seguridad y la eficacia en términos de agudeza visual (AV) y morfología macular mediante tomografía de coherencia óptica (OCT) de la aplicación de terapia fotodinámica de baja fluencia (LFPDT) con verteporfina en pacientes afectos de coriorretinopatía serosa central crónica (CCSC). Método: Análisis retrospectivo e intervencionista de casos consecutivos, no aleatorizados. Se siguieron un total de 16 ojos de 15 pacientes afectos de CCSC tratados con LFPDT. Se evaluaron mejor agudeza visual corregida (MAVC) mediante escala de optotipos ETDRS y grosor foveal central (CFT) en OCT como indicadores de resultados. Resultados: El seguimiento medio fue de 10,8 meses. La MAVC media mejoró de 58,125 a68,68 letras ETDRS, y el CFT se redujo de 280,5 a 172,18 micras, con desaparición del fluido subretiniano en 14 de los casos (87,5%), en 2 de ellos tras una segunda aplicación de LFPDT.No se registraron complicaciones asociadas al tratamiento. Conclusiones: LFPDT con verteporfina puede ser útil en CCSC para estabilizar o mejorar MAVCy reabsorber el fluido subretiniano y reducir el CFT. Se requieren estudios aleatorizados con seguimiento más prolongado para confirmar el papel de este tratamiento y optimizar losparámetros que permitan mayor eficacia y seguridad en su aplicación en pacientes afectos de CCSC(AU)

Objective: To evaluate safety and efficacy of low-fluence photodynamic therapy (LFPDT) withverteporfin in patients affected with chronic central serous chorioretinopathy (CCSC), interms of visual acuity (VA) and macular morphology measured with optical coherencetomography (OCT). Methods: A retrospective, nonrandomized and interventionist analysis was performed on16 eyes in 15 patients with CCSC treated with LFPDT. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) with ETDRS optotypes and central foveal thickness (CFT) in OCT were evaluated as outcomemeasures. Results: The mean follow-up was 10.8 months. The mean BCVA improved from 58.12 to 68.68 ETDRS letters, and CFT decreased from 280.5 to 172.18 microns, with subretinal fluidresolution in 14 eyes (87.5%), two of them after a second LFTPD. No complications related to treatment were recorded. Conclusions: LFPDT with verteporfin can be useful in CCSC to stabilise or improve BCVA, reabsorb subretinal fluid and reduce CFT. Randomised studies with a longer follow-up are required to assure the role of this treatment and to optimise parameters for higher efficacy and safety in CCSC patients(AU)

Beverages have an appreciable contribution to the intake of soluble dietary fibre: a study in the Spanish diet.

Beverages are generally not taken into account to determine the intakes of dietary fibre (DF) in diets. Soluble dietary fibre (SDF) content was determined in common alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages - ranging from 0.18 g/l in white wine to 9.01 g/l in instant coffee - and their contribution to the DF intake in the Spanish Mediterranean diet was estimated as 2.13 g/person/day. It is concluded that beverages provide an appreciable amount of SDF in the diet, and the omission of its contribution may lead to underestimate DF intakes.

Malformación adenomatoidea quística congénita / Congenital cystic adenomatous malformation

Introduction: Congenital Cystic Adenomatous Malformation (CCAM) is an infrequent entity due to an alteration in alveolar-pulmonary development. Material and Methods: A descriptive, retrospective study of newborns presenting CCAM in a tertiary care hospital in Madrid, Spain. Results: Seven patients were found. All were full term, normal weight births. Two patients showed respiratory distress at birth. Two chest x-rays were normal. CT scans showed three clear CCAM lesions, four suggestive of hybrid lesions. All were referred to medical centers with pediatric surgery for followup. Discussion: At birth, this pathology may be asymptomatic and appear as a chest x-ray finding. Long term management is complicated by infection and malignization. Conservative treatment of asymptomatic patients includes regular follow up of lesions. Surgical treatment is reserved for symptomatic or complicated patients. Conclusions: Prenatal suspicion of CCAM is important since clinical exam and radiology may be normal in neonatal period. Chest CT scans are important in confirming diagnosis and determining future surgery. More studies are necessary for the proper diagnosis and management of this disorder.

Introducción: La malformación adenomatoidea quística (MAQ) es una entidad congénita poco frecuente debida a una alteración en el desarrollo alveolar pulmonar. Pacientes y Método: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo de los recién nacidos con el diagnóstico prenatal de MAQ durante 6 años en un hospital terciario de Madrid (España). Resultados: Se encontraron un total de siete pacientes. Todos fueron recién nacidos a término de peso adecuado. Dos pacientes presentaron distress respiratorio al nacimiento. Dos radiografías de tórax fueron normales. En la tomografía axial (TAC), tres lesiones fueron MAQ y cuatro fueron su-gerentes de lesión híbrida. Todos se derivaron a centro con cirugía pediátrica para seguimiento. Discusión: Al nacimiento, esta patología puede permanecer asintomática y ser un hallazgo casual en una radiografía torácica. A largo plazo el riesgo de infección y malignización complican el manejo. El tratamiento conservador, que se dirige a pacientes asintomáticos, obliga a realizar controles seriados de las lesiones. El tratamiento quirúrgico se reserva para los pacientes con sintomatología o complicaciones postnatales. Conclusiones: El diagnóstico de sospecha prenatal de MAQ es fundamental dado que la clínica y radiología pueden ser normales en el período neonatal. Se debe realizar TAC torácico para confirmar la lesión y valorar futura cirugía. Se necesitan más estudios sobre el correcto diagnóstico y manejo de esta patología.

Effects of genotype, level of supplementation, and organic chromium on growth performance, carcass, and meat traits grazing lambs.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of Suffolk×Dorper (SD) and Rambouillet (R) lamb genotypes, dietary supplementation, and organic chromium on growth performance, carcass, and meat traits in male lambs grazing ryegrass pasture. SD lambs had heavier cold carcass (HCW) and better carcass yield (CY) and rib eye area at 12th rib (RA) than R lambs; R had larger legs. Feed supplement increased average daily weight gain (ADG), slaughter live weight (SLW), hot carcass weight (HCW) and cold carcass weight (CCW), carcass yield, carcass length (CL), leg perimeter (LP), major thorax width (MTW), minor thorax width (MiTW), rib eye area and dorsal fat at 12th rib (DF12), and also decreased meat moisture. Organic chromium reduced dorsal fat at 12th rib and meat fat content.

[Evaluation of pharmacodynamic target attainment with vancomycin treatment of bacteremia due to Staphylococcus aureus methicillin resistant]. / Evaluación farmacocinética y farmacodinámica del tratamiento con vancomicina en la bacteriemia por Staphylococcusaureus resistente a meticilina.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to evaluate the ability of standard vancomycin dosing strategies actually recommended to attain the pharmacodynamic target of an area under the curve of vancomycin serum concentration versus time from 0 to 24 hours (AUC(24h)) to minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ratio greater than 400:1 for patients with a suspected or documented methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacteraemia by individual analysis and Monte Carlo simulation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included all patients admitted with suspected or proven MRSA infection during the years 2007-2008, and who were initially treated with vancomycin at a dose of 30 mg/kg/ day, and underwent pharmacokinetic monitoring. The area under the curve of vancomycin serum concentration versus time from 0 to 24 hours (AUC(24h)) was calculated as daily dose/ clearance total (D(24h)/CL). Additionally, we studied 45 isolates of MRSA obtained from blood cultures in the period 2007-2008. The MIC to vancomycin was determined using Epsilon-test®. The PK-PD parameter calculated was AUC(24h)/MIC. Microsoft Excel was used to perform a 10.000 subject Monte Carlo simulation. An AUC(24h)/MIC > or =400 was assumed as the target attainment. RESULTS: In the individual study, the percentage of patients with AUC(24h)/ MIC(50/90) > or = 400 was 50%. The probability (%) of attaining AUC(24h)/MIC ratio values > or = 400 by Monte Carlo simulation was of 66%. The vancomycin MIC value from which the scenario would have to wait a suboptimal treatment (target < 90%) was >1 mg/ L. DISCUSSION: This study shows that in the population studied to achieve a vancomycin AUC(24h)/MIC > or =400 is not always attained with the standard dose. Therefore, one would expect a high probability of suboptimal vancomycin AUC(24h)/MIC ratios for patients infected with organisms with vancomycin MICs of >1 mg/ L treated with doses of 30 mg/ kg/ day.

Gentamycin inhibits the growth of Malassezia pachydermatis in culture.

BACKGROUND: Malassezia pachydermatis is a yeast of importance in both veterinary and human medicine. AIMS: To know if M. pachydermatis grow on mycological media with high concentrations of gentamycin. METHODS: Twenty M. pachydermatis strains were streaked on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar plates with different concentrations of gentamycin. RESULTS: All isolates were inhibited when high concentrations of gentamycin were added. CONCLUSIONS: The use of plates with high concentrations of gentamycin can lead to some important misdiagnoses: firstly, false-negative cultures, and secondly, an erroneous classification of M. pachydermatis as a lipid-dependent species. Moreover, all of this could be useful in two therapeutic fields: i) in animals, topical gentamycin could be an efficacious treatment for a disease such as external otitis in dogs; ii) in humans, we hypothesize that gentamycin could be regarded as a possible therapy ("antibiotic-lock") for catheter-associated Malassezia spp. infections.

[High risk of cardiac dysfunction after treatment of secondary acute myeloid leukemia following chemotherapy and radiotherapy for breast cancer]. / Risque élevé de dysfonction cardiaque des leucémies aiguës myéloïdes secondaires à un cancer du sein.

Secondary acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) occurring after breast cancer is a rare long-term complication of the chemo- and/or radiation therapy required to treat breast cancer. The usually recognized curative option of these secondary AML includes courses of anthracycline-based chemotherapy followed by haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Cardiac dysfunction during AML treatment of these patients previously treated with anthracyclines for breast cancer has not been reported to date. We evaluated the evolution of cardiac function in seven patients treated with anthracyclines and/or autologous or allogeneic bone marrow transplantation for secondary AML occurring after breast cancer. All of the patients who received a cumulative anthracycline dose above the cardiac toxicity threshold developed cardiac symptoms during AML chemotherapy courses. Moreover, four of the five transplanted patients developed severe heart failure among which two were fatal. Thus, the risk of severe cardiac dysfunction after treatment of secondary AML following breast cancer must be taken in account as part of the therapeutic strategy of those patients. As discussed here, an accurate evaluation of risk factors, the use of sensitive detection tests and of cardioprotective drugs as well as that of non-cardiotoxic chemotherapy might decrease the occurrence and severity of this life-threatening complication.

Cochlear nucleus neurons redistribute synaptic AMPA and glycine receptors in response to monaural conductive hearing loss.

Neurons restore their function in response to external or internal perturbations and maintain neuronal or network stability through a homeostatic scaling mechanism. Homeostatic responses at synapses along the auditory system would be important for adaptation to normal and abnormal fluctuations in the sensory environment. We investigated at the electron microscopic level and after postembedding immunogold labeling whether projection neurons in the cochlear nucleus responded to modifications of auditory nerve activity. After unilaterally reducing the level of auditory inputs by approximately 20 dB by monaural earplugging, auditory nerve synapses on bushy cells somata and basal dendrites of fusiform cells of the ventral and dorsal cochlear nucleus, respectively, upregulated GluR3 AMPA receptor subunit, while inhibitory synapses decreased the expression of GlyRalpha1 subunit. These changes in expression levels were fully reversible once the earplug was removed, indicating that activity affects the trafficking of receptors at synapses. Excitatory synapses on apical dendrites of fusiform cells (parallel fibers) with different synaptic AMPA receptor subunit composition, were not affected by sound attenuation, as the expression levels of AMPA receptor subunits were the same as in normal hearing littermates. GlyRalpha1 subunit expression at inhibitory synapses on apical dendrites of fusiform cells was also found unaffected. Furthermore, fusiform and bushy cells of the contralateral side to the earplugging upregulated the GluR3 subunit at auditory nerve synapses. These results show that cochlear nucleus neurons innervated by the auditory nerve, are able to respond to small changes in sound levels by redistributing specific AMPA and glycine receptor subunits.

L-carnitine, a diet component and organic cation transporter OCTN ligand, displays immunosuppressive properties and abrogates intestinal inflammation.

Allele variants in the L-carnitine (LCAR) transporters OCTN1 (SLC22A4, 1672 C --> T) and OCTN2 (SLC22A5, -207 G --> C) have been implicated in susceptibility to Crohn's disease (CD). LCAR is consumed in the diet and transported actively from the intestinal lumen via the organic cation transporter OCTN2. While recognized mainly for its role in fatty acid metabolism, several lines of evidence suggest that LCAR may also display immunosuppressive properties. This study sought to investigate the immunomodulatory capacity of LCAR on antigen-presenting cell (APC) and CD4+ T cell function by examining cytokine production and the expression of activation markers in LCAR-supplemented and deficient cell culture systems. The therapeutic efficacy of its systemic administration was then evaluated during the establishment of colonic inflammation in vivo. LCAR treatment significantly inhibited both APC and CD4+ T cell function, as assessed by the expression of classical activation markers, proliferation and cytokine production. Carnitine deficiency resulted in the hyperactivation of CD4+ T cells and enhanced cytokine production. In vivo, protection from trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid colitis was observed in LCAR-treated mice and was attributed to the abrogation of both innate [interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-6 production] and adaptive (T cell proliferation in draining lymph nodes) immune responses. LCAR therapy may therefore represent a novel alternative therapeutic strategy and highlights the role of diet in CD.

Dietary fiber and antioxidant capacity in Fucus vesiculosus products.

Several nutraceutical products have been developed from Fucus vesiculosus, a brown edible seaweed, rich in dietary fiber and polyphenolic antioxidants (phlorotannins). The aim of this work was to compare the antioxidant capacity and polysaccharide composition of raw Fucus with those of some common commercial nutraceuticals. All tested products contained a high percentage of dietary fiber (45-59%), raw Fucus powder being the sample with the highest content. Also, raw Fucus powder exhibited significantly higher antioxidant capacity (determined by FRAP, ABTS and ORAC assays) than the commercial fucoidans and commercial antioxidant extracts. Polyphenols (phlorotannins) seem to be the main contributors to Fucus' antioxidant capacity in both raw powder and commercial fucoidans.

Green tea reduces LDL oxidability and improves vascular function.

OBJECTIVE: Several different epidemiological studies have examined the association between the consumption of tea and coronary heart disease. Some, though not all, support the view that tea or flavonoids reduce the risk of cardiovascular heart disease. The aim of this study was to determine the short-to medium-term effect of a green tea extract on vascular function and lipid peroxidation as compared with placebo. METHODS: The study was undertaken with 14 healthy women, none of whom were receiving any medical treatment. Measurements were made of antibodies and immune complexes by ELISA, endothelial dependent vascular function by Doppler ultrasound, and the concentration of oxidized LDL by TBARS. RESULTS: The mean diameter of the brachial artery following the post-compression hyperaemia phase rose significantly (p < 0.0001) after treatment with green tea extract. Flow-mediated brachial artery vasodilation ranged from 5.68% for the placebo phase to 11.98% after the green tea extract (p = 0.02). The consumption of green tea extract was associated with a significant 37.4% reduction in the concentration of oxidized LDL (TBARS) (p = 0.017). The levels of anti-oxidized LDL IgM antibodies fell significantly after treatment (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: This study found that consumption of green tea extract by women for five weeks produced modifications in vascular function and an important decrease in serum oxidizability.