Optimization of an Extraction Process to Obtain a Food-Grade Sulforaphane-Rich Extract from Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica).

Sulforaphane (SFN) is a powerful health-promoting compound found in broccoli in the form of its inactive precursor, glucoraphanin (GFN). SFN formation occurs through the enzymatic hydrolysis of glucoraphanin by myrosinase under specific chemical conditions. Its incorporation in food formulations has been hindered by the thermal instability of SFN and low concentration in Brassicaceae. Then, extracting SFN from broccoli at a temperature below 40 °C appears as an option to recover and stabilize SFN, aiming at delivering it as a nutraceutical. We studied an eco-friendly extraction process to obtain an SFN-rich extract from broccoli. The effect of the broccoli mass/solvent ratio, ethanol concentration in the extractant solution, and extraction time on the recovery of SFN, GFN, phenolic compounds, and antioxidant activity were studied through a Box-Behnken design. The regression models explained more than 70% of the variability in the responses, adequately representing the system. The experimental factors differently affected the bioactive compound recovery and antioxidant activity of the extracts. The extraction conditions that allowed the highest recovery of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity were identified and experimentally validated. The results may provide the basis for the design of a process to produce a sulforaphane-rich food supplement or nutraceutical by using a GRAS extractant.

Surgical site peptidylarginine deaminase 4 (PAD4), a biomarker of NETosis, correlates with insulin resistance in total joint arthroplasty patients: A preliminary report.

While obesity and insulin resistance are known risk factors for wound complications after total joint arthroplasty (TJA), the biologic causes remain to be elucidated. Recently, neutrophil extracellular trap formation (NETosis) was identified as a mediator of delayed wound healing in insulin resistant states. Herein, we explored the relationship between obesity, insulin resistance and biomarkers of NET formation in TJA subjects. We enrolled 14 obese (body mass index [BMI]≥30 kg/m2), and 15 lean (BMI<30 kg/m2) subjects undergoing primary knee or hip TJA. On the day of surgery, skeletal muscle proximal to the operated joint and plasma were collected. Protein abundance of NETosis biomarkers, peptidylarginine deaminase 4 (PAD4) and neutrophil elastase (NE) were assessed in skeletal muscle by immunoblotting and metabolic parameters (glucose, insulin, triglycerides, free fatty acids) and cell-free double-stranded DNA (cf-dsDNA) were assessed in plasma and were correlated with obesity and insulin resistance (as measured by the homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance). When comparing lean and obese subjects, there were no significant differences in plasma cf-dsDNA or skeletal muscle NE or PAD4 abundance. In contrast, skeletal muscle PAD4 abundance, but not NE or plasma cf-dsDNA, was positively correlated with insulin resistance. Compared to insulin sensitive subjects, insulin resistant TJA subjects have higher expression of PAD4 at the surgical site and therefore may have higher rates of NET formation, which may lead to delayed surgical site wound healing.

Supporting Those Who Provide Support: Work-Related Resources and Secondary Traumatic Stress Among Victim Advocates.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Victim advocates are at risk of developing secondary traumatic stress (STS), which can result from witnessing or listening to accounts of traumatic events. This study investigated the relationship between victim status, years of experience, hours of direct contact with victims, and availability of workplace supports in the development of STS. RESULTS: Of the 142 victim advocates, 134 were women. Regression analyses revealed that the only significant predictor of STS was the number of direct hours of victim services provided. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study found that women have high rates of STS and that more workplace support needs to be implemented.

Asociación entre índices antropométricos y presencia de apnea obstructiva del sueño en adultos / Association Between Anthropometric Indexes and Obstructive Sleep Apnea in Adults

Antecedentes: La apnea obstructiva del sueño (AOS) es un trastorno del sueño altamente prevalente producido por una obstrucción anatómica o neuromuscular de la vía aérea superior. Propósito: Identificar la asociación entre los índices antropométricos: circunferencia de cuello (CC), perímetro abdominal e índice de masa corporal (IMC), con la presencia de AOS en adultos. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio observacional retrospectivo de casos y controles en 353 individuos entre 18 y 82 años de edad con diagnóstico polisomnográfico de AOS. Se correlacionó el índice apnea hipoapnea con los índices antropométricos y los datos demográficos. El grupo control estuvo conformado por 105 adultos sin AOS y el de estudio por 248 pacientes con diagnóstico de AOS. Para determinar la asociación entre las variables se utilizaron las pruebas de Chi cuadrado de Pearson y odds ratio. Resultados Se encontró una asociación estadísticamente significativa entre el IMC y la CC, que estaban aumentados con la presencia de AOS en adultos. La presencia de AOS fue mayor en mujeres y hombres entre 56 y 82 años. Conclusiones: Las medidas antropométricas IMC y CC son factores de riesgo de AOS en adultos.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent sleep disorder caused by anatomic or neuromuscular obstructions. Purpose: To identify the association between anthropometric indexes: neck circumference (NC), abdominal perimeter, and Body Mass Index (BMI), and the presence of OSA in adults. Methods: A retrospective observational case-control study was carried out in 353 individuals between the ages of 18 and 82 years with a polysomnographic diagnosis of OSA. The Apnea-Hypopnea Index was correlated with the anthropometric indexes and demographic data. The control group consisted of 105 adults without OSA and the case group were 248 patients diagnosed with OSA. Pearson Chi-square and Odds Ratio (OR) tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: Statistically significant associations between increased BMI and NC with the presence of OSA in adults were found. The presence of OSA was greater in 56-to-82-year-old women and men. Conclusions: Anthropometric measures BMI and NC are OSA risk factors in adults.

c-Abl interacts with the WAVE2 signaling complex to induce membrane ruffling and cell spreading.

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome-related protein WAVE2 promotes Arp2/3-dependent actin polymerization downstream of Rho-GTPase activation. The Abelson-interacting protein-1 (Abi-1) forms the core of the WAVE2 complex and is necessary for proper stimulation of WAVE2 activity. Here we have shown that the Abl-tyrosine kinase interacts with the WAVE2 complex and that Abl kinase activity facilitates interaction between Abl and WAVE2 complex members. We have characterized various interactions between Abl and members of the WAVE2 complex and revealed that Abi-1 promotes interaction between Abl and WAVE2 members. We have demonstrated that Abl-dependent phosphorylation of WAVE2 is necessary for its activation in vivo, which is highlighted by the findings that RNA interference of WAVE2 expression in Abl/Arg-/- cells has no additive effect on the amount of membrane ruffling. Furthermore, Abl phosphorylates WAVE2 on tyrosine 150, and WAVE2-deficient cells rescued with a Y150F mutant fail to regain their ability to ruffle and form microspikes, unlike cells rescued with wild-type WAVE2. Together, these data show that c-Abl activates WAVE2 via tyrosine phosphorylation to promote actin remodeling in vivo and that Abi-1 forms the crucial link between these two factors.

Factores de riesgo para desgarro perineal en partos sin episiotomía atendidos por personal en entrenamiento en un hospital universitario de Bogotá (Colombia) 2007 / Risk factors for perineal tearing during births without episiotomy attended by personnel being trained at a teaching hospital in Bogotá, Colombia 2007

Objetivo: identificar los factores de riesgo para desgarros perineales grado II o superior durante el parto vaginal de pacientes atendidas por personal en entrenamiento en un hospital universitario con política selectiva de episiotomía.Metodología: se realizó un estudio analítico de cohorte prospectivo, incluyendo mujeres atendidaspor parto vaginal en el Hospital de Engativá ESE nivel II entre noviembre de 2006 y mayo de 2007.Entre ellas, se identificaron aquellas que presentaron desgarros perineales grado II o mayores y se excluyeron las pacientes a quienes se les realizóepisiotomía, parto instrumentado o cesárea por cualquier indicación obstétrica.Resultados: se incluyeron 149 pacientes de las cuales 81 (54,4 por ciento) presentaron desgarros perineales que requirieron sutura. Los factores de riesgo significativos para desgarro perineal durante el parto vaginal sin episiotomía fueron la duración de la faseactiva del trabajo de parto mayor de 420 minutos (RR=1,45; IC95 por ciento 1,10-1,91), peso del neonato mayor de 3.100 g (RR=1,43; IC95 por ciento 1,05-1,94) yla inducción del trabajo de parto (RR=1,38; IC95 por ciento por ciento 1,03-1,86). El nivel de educación del operador, la paridad, el perímetro cefálico y la duración delexpulsivo no fueron estadísticamente significativos mientras que el análisis de regresión logística estableció que el peso (RR=2,6; IC95 por ciento 1,25-5,49) y laduración de la fase activa (RR=3,0; IC95 por ciento 1,33-6,48) fueron los factores de riesgo significativos.Conclusiones: la duración de la fase activa y el peso del neonato son factores de riesgo para desgarro perineal. Por el contrario, ni la inducción del partoni el nivel de formación del operador fueron factores de riesgo estadísticamente significativos.

Objective: identifying the risk factors associated with second degree or higher perineal tearing during vaginal delivery in patients attended by medical students at a teaching hospital having aselective episiotomy policy.Methodology: this was a prospective analytic cohort study, including women who delivered vaginally at theHospital de Engativa (medium complexity hospital) between November 2006 and May 2007. Those whohad suffered second or higher degree of perineal tears were identified. Women who had undergone episiotomy, surgically-assisted vaginal delivery orcaesarean section were excluded.Results: 149 patients were included. 81 (54,4 percent) presented perineal tears requiring surgical correction. The significant risk factors identifiedfor perineal tearing during vaginal delivery without episiotomy were: labour lasting more than 420 minutes (RR=1,45; 95 percentCI 1,10-1,91), neonatalweight greater than 3.100 g (RR=1,43; 95 percentCI 1,05-1,94) and induced labour (RR=1,38; 95 percentIC 1,03-1,86). The medical personnel’s educationallevel/experience, parity, cephalic perimeter and second period duration were not statistically significant. Logistic regression analysis showed thatonly fetal weight (RR=2,6; 95 percentIC 1,25-5,49) and duration of labour (RR=3,0; 95 percentCI 1,33-6,48) were significant risk factors.Conclusions: the main risk factors for perineal lacerations requiring repair were the duration of labour and neonatal weight. On the contrary,induced labour, the medical personnel’s degree of experience or prolonged second period were not statistically significant risk factors.

Embarazo gemelar con feto normal y un feto anencefálico / Twin pregnancy with normal and anencephalic fetus

Se estudia un caso de embarazo gemelar con un feto normal y otro anencéfalico, diagnosticado por ecosonograma a las 33 semanas de gestación. Se realizará una revisión bibliográfica sobre la patología