A new distinctively striped species of bushynose catfish (Siluriformes: Loricariidae: Ancistrus) from the Pachitea River drainage, Pasco, Peru.

With 76 currently valid species, the bushynose catfish genus Ancistrus is the fourth most species-rich catfish genus, yet Ancistrus diversity remains underestimated, with many species still undescribed. This is especially true of the Peruvian Andean headwaters of the Amazon, which are rich in unnamed Ancistrus species but have received little recent taxonomic attention. We describe a distinctively striped new Ancistrus species from tributaries of the Palcazú River, in the Pachitea-Ucayali-Amazonas drainage basin. The new species differs from all congeners by having black, vermiculated lines covering the head and two to four distinct black, parallel, lateral body stripes from head to caudal fin (vs. body uniformly colored or with dark or light spots or blotches over head and body, or black vermiculate lines on flanks). The new species is the fifth valid species of Ancistrus described from the rich Ucayali River ichthyofauna. It has previously been recognized in the aquarium fish trade as L267.

Comparison of Proteomic Assessment Methods in Multiple Cohort Studies.

Novel proteomics platforms, such as the aptamer-based SOMAscan platform, can quantify large numbers of proteins efficiently and cost-effectively and are rapidly growing in popularity. However, comparisons to conventional immunoassays remain underexplored, leaving investigators unsure when cross-assay comparisons are appropriate. The correlation of results from immunoassays with relative protein quantification is explored by SOMAscan. For 63 proteins assessed in two chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) cohorts, subpopulations and intermediate outcome measures in COPD Study (SPIROMICS), and COPDGene, using myriad rules based medicine multiplex immunoassays and SOMAscan, Spearman correlation coefficients range from -0.13 to 0.97, with a median correlation coefficient of ≈0.5 and consistent results across cohorts. A similar range is observed for immunoassays in the population-based Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and for other assays in COPDGene and SPIROMICS. Comparisons of relative quantification from the antibody-based Olink platform and SOMAscan in a small cohort of myocardial infarction patients also show a wide correlation range. Finally, cis pQTL data, mass spectrometry aptamer confirmation, and other publicly available data are integrated to assess relationships with observed correlations. Correlation between proteomics assays shows a wide range and should be carefully considered when comparing and meta-analyzing proteomics data across assays and studies.

Association of sedentary time and physical activity levels with immunometabolic markers in early pregnancy: The GESTAFIT project.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the association of sedentary time and physical activity (PA) intensity levels with immunometabolic markers during early pregnancy; and to examine if meeting the PA recommendations is associated with the immunometabolic profile of pregnant women. METHODS: Fifty Caucasian pregnant women (age: 32.8 ± 4.7 years old, body mass index: 24.2 ± 4.1kg/m2 , gestational age: 17 ± 1.5weeks) participated in this cross-sectional study (from September 2015 through May 2016). Sedentary time and PA intensity levels were objectively measured with triaxial accelerometer (seven consecutive valid days). Fasting serum glucose, total cholesterol, phospholipids, and triglycerides were assessed with standard methods. Serum pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines (fractalkine, interleukin-1ß, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, interleukin-10, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-α) were measured using Luminex xMAP technology. RESULTS: Sedentary time and PA were not correlated with any glycemic or lipid marker (P > .05). After adjusting for the potential confounders, vigorous PA showed a positive non-significant association with interleukin-6 (P = .06), and bouts of moderate-vigorous PA was inversely associated with interleukin-1ß and interferon-γ (P = .02 and P = .04, respectively). Meeting the PA guidelines was inversely associated with interleukin-1ß and positively associated with interleukin-8 (P = .01 and P = .04, respectively). These associations disappeared after controlling for multiplicity. CONCLUSIONS: Increasing the time spent in moderate-vigorous PA, or meeting the PA recommendations, is associated with the cytokine profile of women without metabolic disruptions in early pregnancy. However, sedentary time and PA do not seem to be associated with glucose or lipid levels. These results should be interpreted cautiously in view of the discrepancies after adjusting for multiple comparisons. Future studies in this novel field of research are warranted before reaching any conclusion.

Effects of supervised aerobic and strength training in overweight and grade I obese pregnant women on maternal and foetal health markers: the GESTAFIT randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: During pregnancy, a sedentary lifestyle may have negative consequences on maternal and foetal health status. The main objective of this project is to assess the effects of an exercise intervention in overweight and grade I obese pregnant on maternal and foetal health markers. METHODS/DESIGN: The present study aims to recruit 60 overweight and grade I obese women interested in participating in an exercise intervention program from the 17th gestational week until delivery. Women will be randomized to either an exercise (three 60-min sessions/week of combined aerobic and strength training and pelvic floor exercises), or usual care (control) group (30 women per group). The primary outcome measures are maternal weight gain, and maternal and neonatal glycaemic profile. Secondary outcome measures are: i) perinatal obstetric records; i) body composition; iii) dietary patterns; iv) physical fitness; v) low-back pain; vi) objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour; vii) haematology and biochemical analyses; viii) oxidative stress; ix) pro- and anti-inflammatory markers; x) bone health biomarkers; xi) sleep quality; xii) mental health, quality of life and positive health. DISCUSSION: The findings of this project will help to identify strategies for primary prevention and health promotion based on this exercise-based intervention program among overweight and grade I obese pregnant women. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02582567 ; Date of registration: 20/10/2015.

[Gastroschisis: A pandemic with increasing rates? ECLAMC experience in Chile 1982-2015]. / Gastrosquisis: ¿una pandemia con tasas en aumento? Experiencia del estudio colaborativo latino americano de malformaciones congénitas (ECLAMC) en Chile. Período 1982-2014.

INTRODUCTION: Several communications have reported a significant increase in the prevalence of gastroschisis at birth in the last three decades. In many Countries it is referred to as "a pandemic strongly associated to low maternal age". OBJECTIVE: To verify if there has been a significant increase in the prevalence of gastroschisis at birth in Chile, and if this rate is associated with a low maternal age. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was performed using the ECLAMC data base from 26 Chilean Hospitals. Comparison between prevalence rates and maternal age categories were made using the X2 test or Fisher exact Test. The time series was studied comparing average tendencies using the Student t test and Wilcoxon-test. RESULTS: There were 721,901 newborns in the period 1982-2014, among which 107 were diagnosed with gastroschisis (1.48/10,000). Around three-quarters (75.7%) of them were born from mothers younger than 25. The mean maternal age was 21.6 years in mothers of children with gastroschisis, while the mean maternal age of all mothers from Chile was almost 28 years old. The gastroschisis prevalence at birth rate was constant at around 1/10,000 until 1994. From 1995 this rate has a significant increasing tendency of 0.1591 by year (P=.00714). This increase is about a 300% on average for the 1995-2014 period, compared with the previous one (P<.00001). CONCLUSION: There has been a significant increase in the gastroschisis prevalence at birth in Chile from 1995, and this anomaly is associated with a low maternal age.

Activation of Phosphorylase Kinase by Physiological Temperature.

In the six decades since its discovery, phosphorylase kinase (PhK) from rabbit skeletal muscle has usually been studied at 30 °C; in fact, not a single study has examined functions of PhK at a rabbit's body temperature, which is nearly 10 °C greater. Thus, we have examined aspects of the activity, regulation, and structure of PhK at temperatures between 0 and 40 °C. Between 0 and 30 °C, the activity at pH 6.8 of nonphosphorylated PhK predictably increased; however, between 30 and 40 °C, there was a dramatic jump in its activity, resulting in the nonactivated enzyme having a far greater activity at body temperature than was previously realized. This anomalous change in properties between 30 and 40 °C was observed for multiple functions, and both stimulation (by ADP and phosphorylation) and inhibition (by orthophosphate) were considerably less pronounced at 40 °C than at 30 °C. In general, the allosteric control of PhK's activity is definitely more subtle at body temperature. Changes in behavior related to activity at 40 °C and its control can be explained by the near disappearance of hysteresis at physiological temperature. In important ways, the picture of PhK that has emerged from six decades of study at temperatures of ≤30 °C does not coincide with that of the enzyme studied at physiological temperature. The probable underlying mechanism for the dramatic increase in PhK's activity between 30 and 40 °C is an abrupt change in the conformations of the regulatory ß and catalytic γ subunits between these two temperatures.

[Frequency of holoprosencephaly in Chile]. / ECLAMC: 41 años de vigilancia de la holoprosencefalia en Chile. Período 1972-2012.

BACKGROUND: Holoprosencephaly is a structural anomaly of the brain that consists in a defect of the prosencephalon development that leads to face and neurological defects of variable intensity. AIM: To estimate holoprosencephaly prevalence at birth. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All cases of holoprosencephaly, born alive or stillbirths, registered in the 15 Chilean Hospitals of the Latin American Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECLAMC) between 1972 and 2012, were studied. Craniofacial and other anomalies found in newborns affected by holoprosencephaly are described. RESULTS: Fifty five cases of holoprosencephaly (58% males) were found among the 798.222 registered births (rendering a prevalence at birth of 0.69 per 10.000 newborns). The most common cranial defect was medial cleft lip with cleft palate (27.3%), bilateral cleft lip (11%) or both (38.2%), cyclopia (14%), single nostril (10.9%) and proboscis (9.1%). Eleven percent cases had a trisomy 13. A slight increase in prevalence over time was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Holoprosencephaly has a low frequency in Chile and is associated to trisomy 13. The increase in prevalence could be explained by a better prenatal diagnosis (ultrasonography).

Prevalence of Fabry's disease within hemodialysis patients in Spain.

AIMS: To identify patients with Fabry's disease (FD) within patients with kidney dysfunction, submitted to hemodialysis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Patients under hemodialysis were screened using a combined enzymatic α-Gal A assay and dried blood spot samples to determine GLA genotype. RESULTS: A total of 3,650 samples (18.5% of all patients under hemodialysis in Spain) were tested and 11 new unrelated FD patients (4 males and 7 females) were diagnosed. 66 relatives of 11 patients were tested and 23 new FD patients were identified. This study allowed the diagnosis of 34 FD patients. Among the 11 unrelated FD patients, 5 presented the same R118C mutation and one novel mutation was detected: D109G. CONCLUSIONS: This study reveals the need for screening for FD in all patients under hemodialysis for unknown causes and indicates that the incidence and prevalence of FD are underestimated so far.

The impact of docosahexaenoic acid on maternal mental health: scoping review.

Introduction: Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is a polyunsaturated essential fatty acid from the omega-3 series that appears to be key to perinatal mental health. For this, the aim of this review is to evaluate the effect of DHA on maternal mental health during pregnancy and lactation with respect to depression and anxiety. The present scoping review was carried out following the methodology of Arksey and O'Malley (2005). The selection of studies was carried out in accordance with PRISMA by means of systematic searches in the PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO and Medline databases. The results classified according to the effectiveness of DHA. In most (n = 9) of the 14 studies finally included, DHA plasma levels with or without other polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids were significantly lower in pregnant women with depressive and anxiety symptoms. However, no study reported a beneficial effect of DHA on mental health during the postpartum period. The majority used detection method was the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (n = 11). The prevalence of depressive symptoms ranged between 5.9 % and 50 %. As a conclusion, although more research is needed in this area, these exploratory results suggest that DHA could play an important role in preventing the pathogenesis of depression and anxiety during gestation.

Introducción: El ácido docosahexaenoico (DHA) es un ácido graso esencial poliinsaturado de la serie omega-3 que parece ser clave para la salud mental perinatal. Por ello, el objetivo de esta revisión es evaluar el efecto del DHA sobre la salud mental materna durante el embarazo y la lactancia con respecto a la depresión y la ansiedad. La presente revisión se llevó a cabo siguiendo la metodología de Arksey y O'Malley (2005). La selección de estudios se realizó de acuerdo con PRISMA mediante búsquedas sistemáticas en las bases de datos PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO y Medline. Los resultados se catalogaron según la eficacia del DHA. En la mayoría (n = 9) de los 14 estudios finalmente incluidos, los niveles plasmáticos de DHA con o sin otros ácidos grasos omega-3 poliinsaturados fueron significativamente más bajos en mujeres embarazadas con síntomas de depresión y ansiedad. Sin embargo, ningún estudio informó un efecto beneficioso del DHA sobre la salud mental durante el periodo posparto. El método de detección más utilizado fue la Escala de Depresión Posparto de Edimburgo (n = 11). La prevalencia de síntomas depresivos osciló entre el 5,9 % y el 50 %. Como conclusión, aunque se necesita más investigación en este ámbito, los resultados exploratorios parecen indicar que el DHA juega un papel importante en la prevención de la patogenia de la depresión y la ansiedad durante el periodo de gestación.

Usefulness of tissue Doppler on early detection of cardiac disease in Fabry patients and potential role of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) for avoiding progression of disease.

AIMS: Cardiac involvement, including progressive cardiomyopathy, is common in Fabry disease and is a leading cause of premature mortality. We sought to determine if tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) could identify Fabry disease patients at risk for the development of cardiomyopathy and if enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with agalsidase alfa might slow or prevent the progression of cardiac involvement. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fabry disease patients were enrolled in this prospective, observational study. Echocardiography was performed at baseline and periodically throughout the study. A single investigator, blinded to both the type of assessment (baseline or follow-up) and enzyme replacement status of the patient, evaluated all echocardiograms. Seventy-six patients (26 male, 50 females) were enrolled in the study. Twenty men and 13 women were treated with agalsidase alfa during the study. At baseline, increasing interventricular septum thickness was significantly associated with decreasing TDI velocities. Twenty-nine patients >18 years old (23 females) had no evidence of cardiac involvement at baseline (normal LVM and normal TDI velocities). In this cohort, 80% (16 of 20) of patients not on ERT progressed to demonstrating an abnormal TDI velocity during follow-up, whereas only 33% (3 of 9) of patients on ERT progressed to TDI abnormalities (P= 0.031). CONCLUSION: In Fabry disease, reduced TDI velocity seems to be the initial sign of cardiac involvement that occurs before the development of cardiac hypertrophy. ERT with agalsidase alfa delays the onset of cardiac involvement and should be considered at an earlier stage of the disease, even in the absence of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Symmetrical Ambulatory Arterial Stiffness Index: relationship with serum cystatin C levels.

OBJECTIVE: Increased central arterial stiffening is the consequence of many disease states such as diabetes, atherosclerosis, and chronic renal disease. Symmetrical Ambulatory Arterial Stiffness Index (Sym-AASI) may provide a simple clinical approach to evaluate arterial stiffness. This study has tried to evaluate the relationship of Sym-AASI with cystatin C levels. DESIGN AND METHODS: The sample subjects were 53 males and 34 females (mean age = 59.3 ± 13.5 years). Kidney function was evaluated by measuring serum cystatin C and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The ambulatory BP was measured noninvasively for 24 h. RESULTS: Patients in the highest quartile showed an older age (p < 0.001) and worse eGFR (p < 0.001). Pulse pressure (PP) increased as cystatin C was higher. Mean Sym-AASI showed an increase from the first to the last cystatin C quartile. Correlation test showed a significant relationship of Sym-AASI with age (r = 0.573), serum creatinine (r = 0.237), eGFR (-0.323), cystatin C (r = 0.427), systolic blood pressure (r = 0.525), and PP (r = 0.647). Multivariate regression analysis showed that age, cystatin C, nocturnal systolic blood pressure reduction, and nocturnal diastolic blood pressure fall were independently related to Sym-AASI. There was not any independent association between eGFR and Sym-AASI or between cystatin C and PP. CONCLUSIONS: Increased Sym-AASI seems to be independently associated with serum cystatin C levels. Sym-AASI seems to be better than PP to detect changes in the arterial wall. This could be a simple and easy method to evaluate arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients without needing more complex devices.

Attitudes toward mental health services in Hispanic older adults: the role of misconceptions and personal beliefs.

Focusing on misconceptions and personal beliefs associated with depression, the present study explored predictors of attitudes toward mental health services in a sample of 297 Hispanic older adults living in public housing (M age = 76.0 years, SD = 7.74). Results from a hierarchical regression analysis showed that negative attitudes towards mental health services were predicted by advanced age, belief that having depression would make family members disappointed, and belief that counseling brings too many bad feelings such as anger and sadness. Findings suggest that interventions designed to promote positive attitudes toward mental health services of older Hispanics should address misconceptions and personal beliefs.

Frequency of Fabry disease in male and female haemodialysis patients in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Fabry disease (FD), an X-linked lysosomal storage disorder, is caused by a reduced activity of the lysosomal enzyme alpha-galactosidase A. The disorder ultimately leads to organ damage (including renal failure) in males and females. However, heterozygous females usually present a milder phenotype with a later onset and a slower progression. METHODS: A combined enzymatic and genetic strategy was used, measuring the activity of alpha-galactosidase A and genotyping the alpha-galactosidase A gene (GLA) in dried blood samples (DBS) of 911 patients undergoing haemodialysis in centers across Spain. RESULTS: GLA alterations were found in seven unrelated patients (4 males and 3 females). Two novel mutations (p.Gly346AlafsX347 and p.Val199GlyfsX203) were identified as well as a previously described mutation, R118C. The R118C mutation was present in 60% of unrelated patients with GLA causal mutations. The D313Y alteration, considered by some authors as a pseudo-deficiency allele, was also found in two out of seven patients. CONCLUSIONS: Excluding the controversial D313Y alteration, FD presents a frequency of one in 182 individuals (0.55%) within this population of males and females undergoing haemodialysis. Moreover, our findings suggest that a number of patients with unexplained and atypical symptoms of renal disease may have FD. Screening programmes for FD in populations of individuals presenting severe kidney dysfunction, cardiac alterations or cerebrovascular disease may lead to the diagnosis of FD in those patients, the study of their families and eventually the implementation of a specific therapy.

Screening and brief intervention for substance misuse among older adults: the Florida BRITE project.

OBJECTIVES: We developed and examined the effectiveness of the Florida Brief Intervention and Treatment for Elders (BRITE) project, a 3-year, state-funded pilot program of screening and brief intervention for older adult substance misusers. METHODS: Agencies in 4 counties conducted screenings among 3497 older adults for alcohol, medications, and illicit substance misuse problems and for depression and suicide risk. Screening occurred in elders' homes, senior centers, or other selected sites. Individuals who screened positive for substance misuse were offered brief intervention with evidence-based practices and rescreened at discharge from the intervention program and at follow-up interviews. RESULTS: Prescription medication misuse was the most prevalent substance use problem, followed by alcohol, over-the-counter medications, and illicit substances. Depression was prevalent among those with alcohol and prescription medication problems. Those who received the brief intervention had improvement in alcohol, medication misuse, and depression measures. CONCLUSIONS: The BRITE program effectively shaped state policy by responding to legislative mandates to address the needs of an increasing, but underserved, elder population. The pilot paved the way for obtaining a federally funded grant to expand BRITE to 27 sites in 17 counties in Florida.

Novel sequential ChIP and simplified basic ChIP protocols for promoter co-occupancy and target gene identification in human embryonic stem cells.

BACKGROUND: The investigation of molecular mechanisms underlying transcriptional regulation, particularly in embryonic stem cells, has received increasing attention and involves the systematic identification of target genes and the analysis of promoter co-occupancy. High-throughput approaches based on chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) have been widely used for this purpose. However, these approaches remain time-consuming, expensive, labor-intensive, involve multiple steps, and require complex statistical analysis. Advances in this field will greatly benefit from the development and use of simple, fast, sensitive and straightforward ChIP assay and analysis methodologies. RESULTS: We initially developed a simplified, basic ChIP protocol that combines simplicity, speed and sensitivity. ChIP analysis by real-time PCR was compared to analysis by densitometry with the ImageJ software. This protocol allowed the rapid identification of known target genes for SOX2, NANOG, OCT3/4, SOX17, KLF4, RUNX2, OLIG2, SMAD2/3, BMI-1, and c-MYC in a human embryonic stem cell line. We then developed a novel Sequential ChIP protocol to investigate in vivo promoter co-occupancy, which is basically characterized by the absence of antibody-antigen disruption during the assay. It combines centrifugation of agarose beads and magnetic separation. Using this Sequential ChIP protocol we found that c-MYC associates with the SOX2/NANOG/OCT3/4 complex and identified a novel RUNX2/BMI-1/SMAD2/3 complex in BG01V cells. These two TF complexes associate with two distinct sets of target genes. The RUNX2/BMI-1/SMAD2/3 complex is associated predominantly with genes not expressed in undifferentiated BG01V cells, consistent with the reported role of those TFs as transcriptional repressors. CONCLUSION: These simplified basic ChIP and novel Sequential ChIP protocols were successfully tested with a variety of antibodies with human embryonic stem cells, generated a number of novel observations for future studies and might be useful for high-throughput ChIP-based assays.

Self-rating of poor health: a comparison of Cuban elders in Havana and Miami.

This study examined the prevalence of self-reported 'poor health' among Cuban elders in Havana (n = 1,183) and Miami (n = 288) and explored the roles of chronic conditions and functional disability in their self-reports. A logistic regression model of reported poor health was estimated for each group, testing both independent and interactive effects of chronic conditions and functional disability. Despite differences in sociodemographic characteristics and disease/disability profiles between Cuban elders in the two cities, an equal proportion of each group (13%) reported poor health. Financial strain and functional disability were common predictors of self-reported poor health across the groups. Gender and chronic conditions were significant only in the Havana sample, among whom the likelihood of reporting poor health increased with female gender and the presence of chronic conditions. In the Havana sample, not only did chronic conditions have an independent effect, but also its interaction with functional disability was significant. The overall results suggest a particular role of chronic conditions in determining subjective health among elders in Havana. Findings are discussed in a sociocultural context.

Higher serum levels of systemic inflammatory markers are linked to greater inspiratory muscle dysfunction in COPD.

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with an inflammatory response that becomes more pronounced in acute exacerbations. Considerable attention has recently focused on the value of several inflammatory mediators in predicting worsening of COPD-related symptoms. Whereas respiratory muscle dysfunction is also widely present in this population, little is known about how systemic inflammation relates to inspiratory muscle dysfunction in COPD. METHODS: Fifty-three males with mild-to-very severe airflow obstruction underwent blood sampling for 23 inflammatory markers, including acute-phase proteins, cytokines and adipokines. Inspiratory muscle performance was assessed via the test of incremental respiratory endurance, providing measures of maximal (MIP) and sustained maximal (SMIP) inspiratory pressures. RESULTS: The mean ± SD MIP and SMIP were 75.32 ± 19.62 cmH2 O and 406.15 ± 124.55 PTU. MIP negatively correlated with CRP, SAA and cystatin C (r-values from -0.333 to -0.378, P < 0.02), while SMIP was inversely related to SAA and cystatin C (r = -0.534 and r = -0.396, P = 0.00). Significant differences in CRP, SAA, cystatin C and PARC were also found between subjects with and without inspiratory muscle weakness. No additional significant relationships were observed between either MIP or SMIP and other inflammatory markers in the study. CONCLUSIONS: MIP and SMIP are markedly reduced with greater degrees of inflammation in COPD as expressed by higher levels of CRP, SAA and cystatin C. Future research is needed to further examine the above findings and determine the impact of systemic inflammation along with its underlying mechanisms on inspiratory muscle function in COPD.

Influence of a Concurrent Exercise Training Intervention during Pregnancy on Maternal and Arterial and Venous Cord Serum Cytokines: The GESTAFIT Project.

The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of a supervised concurrent exercise-training program, from the 17th gestational week until delivery, on cytokines in maternal (at 17th and 35th gestational week, and at delivery) and arterial and venous cord serum. Fifty-eight Caucasian pregnant women (age: 33.5 ± 4.7 years old, body mass index: 23.6 ± 4.1kg/m2) from the GESTAFIT Project (exercise (n = 37) and control (n = 21) groups) participated in this quasi-experimental study (per-protocol basis). The exercise group followed a 60-min 3 days/week concurrent (aerobic-resistance) exercise-training from the 17th gestational week to delivery. Maternal and arterial and venous cord serum cytokines (fractalkine, interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-γ, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α) were assessed using Luminex xMAP technology. In maternal serum (after adjusting for the baseline values of cytokines), the exercise group decreased TNF-α (from baseline to 35th week, p = 0.02), and increased less IL-1ß (from baseline to delivery, p = 0.03) concentrations than controls. When adjusting for other potential confounders, these differences became non-significant. In cord blood, the exercise group showed reduced arterial IL-6 and venous TNF-α (p = 0.03 and p = 0.001, respectively) and higher concentrations of arterial IL-1ß (p = 0.03) compared to controls. The application of concurrent exercise-training programs could be a strategy to modulate immune responses in pregnant women and their fetuses. However, future research is needed to better understand the origin and clearance of these cytokines, their role in the maternal-placental-fetus crosstalk, and the influence of exercise interventions on them.

Formation of alpha-dicarbonyl compounds in beer during storage of Pilsner.

With the aim of determining the formation of alpha-dicarbonyl intermediates during beer aging on the shelf, alpha-dicarbonyls were identified and quantified after derivatization with 1,2-diaminobenze to generate quinoxalines. The sensory effects of alpha-dicarbonyls were evaluated by the quantification of key Strecker aldehydes and by GC-olfactometry (GCO)analysis of beer headspace using solid phase microextraction. Four alpha-dicarbonyls, reported here for the first time, were detected in fresh and aged beers, three were derived from the 2,3-enolization pathway of mono- and disaccharides, and the fourth was derived from the epimerization of 3-deoxy-2-hexosulose. Ten alpha-dicarbonyls were quantified during beer processing and during different periods of beer aging at 28 degrees C. The aging periods were from 15 to 105 days. During beer aging, 1-deoxydiuloses were produced and degraded, while 1,4-dideoxydiuloses were produced at the highest rates. The GCO analysis indicated that forced beer aging increased the amounts of furaneol, trans-2-nonenal, and phenylacetaldehyde. The blockage of alpha-dicarbonyls inhibited the accumulation of sensory-active aldehydes in the beer headspace.

Trypanocidal activity of abietane diterpenoids from the roots of Craniolaria annua.

A chloroform extract from roots of Craniolaria annua provided six new C-11 unsubstituted abietanes, 14-hydroxy-6,12-dione-7,9(11),13-abietatriene (1), 14-hydroxy-12-oxo-7,9(11),13-abietatriene (2), 6,12,14-trihydroxyabieta-5,8,11,13-tetraen-7-one (3), ar-abietatriene-12-ol-6,7-dione-14,16-oxide (4), ar-abietatriene-12,16-diol-14,16-oxide (5) and ar-abietatriene-12-ol-7-one-14,16-oxide (6), and two known compounds, ferruginol and stigmasterol. The structures of both the new and known compounds were established by spectroscopic methods. Abietane 1 gave 14-hydroxy-6-oxoferruginol (1A) upon treatment with NaBH4. Abietanes 1, 1A, 3-5 and ferruginol showed cytotoxic effects against trypomastigote and epimastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi and against fibroblastic Vero cells.