Influence of Sociodemographic Variables and Healthy Habits on the Values of Insulin Resistance Indicators in 386,924 Spanish Workers.

BACKGROUND: Insulin resistance (IR) is an alteration of the action of insulin in cells, which do not respond adequately to this action, leading to an increase in blood glucose levels. IR produces a very diverse clinical picture and increases the cardiometabolic risk of the population that suffers from it. Among the factors that influence IR are genetics, unhealthy lifestyle habits, overweight, and obesity. The objective of this work was to determine how different sociodemographic variables and healthy habits influence the values of different scales that assess the risk of presenting IR in a group of Spanish workers. METHODS: An observational, cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out in 386,924 workers from different Spanish regions. Different sociodemographic variables and lifestyle habits were studied (age, social class, educational level, smoking, Mediterranean diet, physical exercise) along with their association with four scales to evaluate the risk of insulin resistance (TyG index, TyG-BMI, METS-IR, TG/HDL-c). To analyse the quantitative variables, Student's t test was used, while the Chi-squared test was used for the qualitative variables. A multinomial logistic regression analysis was performed, calculating the odds ratio with its 95% confidence intervals. The accepted level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: In the multivariate analysis, all variables, except educational level, increased the risk of presenting high values on the IR risk scales, especially a sedentary lifestyle and low adherence to the Mediterranean diet. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate an association between the practice of regular physical exercise and a reduction in the risk of IR; a strong role of the Mediterranean diet as a protective factor for IR; an association between aging and increased IR, which has also been suggested in other studies; and, finally, a relationship between a low socioeconomic level and an increase in IR.

Relationship between Atherogenic Dyslipidaemia and Lipid Triad and Scales That Assess Insulin Resistance.

BACKGROUND: Atherogenic dyslipidaemia (AD) and lipid triad (LT) are characterised by high triglyceride levels together with low HDL and normal or high LDL cholesterol and are favoured by a persistent state of insulin resistance (IR), which increases the release of free fatty acids from abdominal adipose tissue. This alteration in the lipid profile favours the accelerated development of atherosclerosis, which is the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in all countries in the developed and developing world. One of the elements that plays a major role in the genesis of AD is IR. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between variables that assess atherogenic risk (AD and LT) and scales that assess the risk of presenting insulin resistance. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 418,343 workers was conducted to evaluate atherogenic dyslipidaemia and lipid triad; a relationship with three insulin resistance risk scales (Triglycerides/HDL, TyG index, METS-IR) was established. The usefulness of IR risk scales for predicting AD and LT was calculated by applying ROC curves, obtaining the area under the curve (AUC) and cut-off points with their sensitivity, specificity, and Youden index. Multivariate analysis was performed by binary logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of high-risk values for insulin resistance with all of the scales is much higher in people with AD and LT compared to those without. The ROC curves present us with an AUC with the three insulin resistance risk scales for the two dyslipidaemias studied with figures ranging between 0.856 and 0.991, which implies that the results are good/very good. CONCLUSIONS: A relationship between atherogenic dyslipidaemia and the three insulin resistance risk scales assessed is revealed, with higher IR mean values and prevalence in people with atherogenic dyslipidaemia and lipid triad. The three scales make it possible to adequately classify the presence of AD and LT. The highest AUC is presented by the triglycerides/HDL scale, with a result close to 1. METS-IR is the most recommended formula to estimate insulin resistance.

Fatty Liver Disease in Patients with Prediabetes and Overweight or Obesity.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a global health problem associated with liver morbimortality, obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of NAFLD (defined as a fatty liver index [FLI] ≥ 60) and its association with other cardiovascular risk (CVR) factors in patients with prediabetes and overweight/obesity. The present cross-sectional analysis uses baseline data from an ongoing randomized clinical trial. Sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics, CVR (assessed by the REGICOR-Framingham risk equation), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and FLI-defined NAFLD (cut-off value of ≥60) were assessed. The prevalence of FLI-defined NAFLD was 78% overall. Men exhibited a worse cardiometabolic profile as compared to women, specifically, with higher values of systolic blood pressure (137.02 ± 13.48 vs. 131.22 ± 14.77 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (85.33 ± 9.27 vs. 82.3 ± 9.12 mmHg), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (27.23 ± 12.15 vs. 21.23 ± 10.05 IU/L), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (34.03 ± 23.31 vs. 21.73 ± 10.80 IU/L), and higher CVR (5.58 ± 3.16 vs. 3.60 ± 1.68). FLI-defined NAFLD was associated with elevated AST, ALT, and the presence of MetS (73.7%) and CVR for the whole sample. People with prediabetes present a high burden of comorbidities related to CVR, despite clinical follow-up, and it is recommended to actively begin working with them to reduce their risks.

Relationship between Insulin Resistance Risk Scales and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and Liver Fibrosis Scales in 219,477 Spanish Workers.

Insulin resistance (IR) has been identified as a key factor in the appearance of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) as it is related through a complex molecular biochemical and immunological mechanism. Our aim was to evaluate the relationship between different scales that estimate the risk of IR and scales that determine the risk of NAFLD. This descriptive and cross-sectional study was performed in 219,477 Spanish workers from different sectors and Spanish regions. The prevalence of high values of all the IR scales increases as the values of the NAFLD and liver fibrosis scales increase. In the multivariate analysis, the risk of presenting high values in the IR scales increases greatly as the values of the NAFLD and hepatic fibrosis scales increase, with particularly high OR values when using the Metabolic Score for Insulin Resistance (METS-IR) scale (LAP high OR 42.20 (95% CI (39.10-45.56) and FLI high OR 32.35 (95% CI 31.10-33.61)). We can conclude that there is a direct relationship between the values of the IR scales and the NAFLD and liver fibrosis scales in our population.

Sex and age differences in the association of fatty liver index-defined non-alcoholic fatty liver disease with cardiometabolic risk factors: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Despite the extensive scientific evidence accumulating on the epidemiological risk factors for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), evidence exploring sex- and age-related differences remains insufficient. The present cross-sectional study aims to investigate possible sex differences in the prevalence of FLI-defined NAFLD as well as in its association with common risk factors across different age groups, in a large sample of Spanish working adults. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included data from 33,216 Spanish adult workers (18-65 years) randomly selected during voluntary routine occupational medical examinations. Sociodemographic characteristics (age and social class), anthropometric (height, weight, and waist circumference) and clinical parameters (blood pressure and serum parameters) were collected. NAFLD was determined by the validated fatty liver index (FLI) with a cut-off value of ≥ 60. The presence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) was assessed according to the diagnostic criteria of the International Diabetes Federation. Cardiovascular risk was determined using the REGICOR-Framingham equation. The association between FLI-defined NAFLD and risk factors by sex and age was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of FLI-defined NAFLD (FLI ≥ 60) was 19.1% overall, 27.9% (95% CI 23.3-28.5%) for men and 6.8% (95% CI 6.4-7.3%) for women and increasing across age intervals. As compared to women, men presented worse cardiometabolic and anthropometric profiles. The multivariate analysis model showed that hepatic steatosis assessed by FLI was strongly associated with age, HDL-cholesterol, social class, prediabetes, diabetes, prehypertension, hypertension, and smoking status for both men and women. The association between diabetes and hypertension with FLI-defined NAFLD was stronger in women than in men at both univariate and multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Men presented a higher prevalence of NAFLD than women across all age intervals, as well as a worse cardiometabolic profile and a higher cardiovascular risk. Nevertheless, the association between FLI-defined NAFLD and diabetes or hypertension was significantly stronger in women than in men, possibly indicating that the presence of a dysmetabolic state might affect women more than men with regard to liver outcomes.

Relationship between Atherogenic Dyslipidaemia and Lipid Triad with Different Scales of Overweight and Obesity in 418,343 Spanish Workers.

Obesity induces alterations in lipid biochemistry, evolving toward dyslipidaemia atherogenesis, a critical factor in the development of cardiovascular events. Two relevant forms of lipid abnormalities are atherogenic dyslipidaemia (AD) and lipid triad (LT), which involve alterations in triglyceride levels, HDL-c, and LDL-c. The aim of this study was to assess the linkage of atherogenic AD and LT with different scales of overweight and obesity. We carried out a cross-sectional study including 418,343 Spanish adult workers, recruited from workplace health assessments. Atherogenic dyslipidaemia was defined as triglyceride levels ≥ 150 mg/dL, HDL values < 40 mg/dL in men and <45 mg/dL in women, and normal LDL. Additionally, if LDL levels were >160 mg/dL, LT was considered. Subjects affected by AD and LT in the study exhibited significantly higher mean values than those without AD and LT in all overweight, obesity, and body fat related scales studied. VAI (visceral adiposity index) was the strongest predictor of AD (AUC = 0.934, 95% CI: 0.933 to 0.936) and LT (AUC = 0.926, 95% CI: 0.923 to 0.928). Atherogenic dyslipidaemia and LT positively correlate with different scales of overweight and obesity. Further studies should aim to identify other contributory factors. Our obtained data might be useful in laying the groundwork for future works on AD and LT.

Occupational and Leisure Physical Activity on Cardiovascular Risk and Body Composition Among Courier Workers.

OBJECTIVE: There is some controversy about the beneficial effects of occupational physical activity (OPA) on cardiovascular risk (CVR). The main aim of this study was to explore the effect of the combination of different frequencies of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) and two types of OPA on CVR and body composition, and whether the association between physical activity (PA) and CVR was mediated by visceral adipose tissue (VAT). METHODS: This cross-sectional study included data from 2516 couriers living in Spain, delivering either by motorbike or foot, and practicing LTPA never, occasionally, or regularly. Couriers were classified into six categories according to LTPA and OPA; body composition was assessed by Bioelectrical Impedance, and CVR by the Framingham equation. General linear models were performed to explore the association between different categories with each outcome (CVR and body composition) and the possible role of VAT as a mediator between PA and CVR. RESULTS: Compared with the most sedentary group (motorbike couriers that never practice PA), walking couriers who practice regular PA presented the lowest CVR [ß -1.58 (95% CI -2.31; -0.85)] and the lowest VAT [ß -2.86 (95% CI -3.74; -1.98) followed by the motorbike couriers who practiced regular PA [ß -0.51 (95% CI -1.00; -0.03) for CVR and ß -2.33 (95% CI -2.91; -1.75) for VAT]. The association between PA and CVR was partially mediated by VAT. CONCLUSION: The present results indicated that both OPA and LTPA are protective factors for CVR and play an important role on VAT accumulation.

Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Anthropometric Variables, Blood Pressure, and Glucose and Lipid Profile in Healthy Adults: A before and after Pandemic Lockdown Longitudinal Study.

In December 2019, 27 cases of pneumonia were reported in Wuhan. In 2020, the causative agent was identified as a virus called SARS-CoV-2. The disease was called "coronavirus disease 2019" (COVID-19) and was determined as a Public Health Emergency. The main measures taken to cope with this included a state of lockdown. The aim of this study was to assess how the unhealthy lifestyles that ensued influenced different parameters. A prospective study was carried out on 6236 workers in a Spanish population between March 2019 and March 2021. Anthropometric, clinical, and analytical measurements were performed, revealing differences in the mean values of anthropometric and clinical parameters before and after lockdown due to the pandemic, namely increased body weight (41.1 ± 9.9-43.1 ± 9.9), BMI (25.1 ± 4.7-25.9 ± 4.7), and percentage of body fat (24.5 ± 9.1-26.9 ± 8.8); higher total cholesterol levels, with a statistically significant increase in LDL levels and a reduction in HDL; and worse glucose levels (90.5 ± 16.4-95.4 ± 15.8). Lockdown can be concluded to have had a negative effect on health parameters in both sexes in all age ranges, causing a worsening of cardiovascular risk factors.

Fatty liver index and progression to type 2 diabetes: a 5-year longitudinal study in Spanish workers with pre-diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of the study was to evaluate the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), estimated by fatty liver index (FLI), and the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in a large cohort of adult workers with pre-diabetes. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Occupational health services from Spain. PARTICIPANTS: 16 648 adult workers (aged 20-65 years) with pre-diabetes (fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of 100-125 mg/dL). OUTCOME AND MEASURES: FLI was calculated based on measurements of triglycerides, body mass index, waist circumference and γ-glutamyltransferase. The population was classified into three categories: FLI<30 (no hepatic steatosis), FLI 30-60 (intermediate status) and FLI>60 (hepatic steatosis). Sociodemographic, anthropometric, dietary habits, physical activity and clinical data were collected from all subjects. The incidence rate of T2D was determined after 5 years of follow-up. RESULTS: After 5 years of follow-up, 3706 of the 16 648 participants (22.2%) were diagnosed with T2D, corresponding to an annual rate of progression of 4.5%. FLI was strongly associated with T2D conversion. The incidence rates of T2D in the FLI<30, FLI 30-60 and FLI>60 groups were significantly different after 5 years of follow-up were 19/6,421 (0.3%), 338/4,318 (7.8%) and 3,349/5,909 (56.7%), respectively. This association remained significant for FLI>60 after adjustment for, age, diet, physical activity, FPG, blood pressure, social class and smoking habits (adjusted HR=6.879; 95% CI 5.873 to 8.057 for men, and HR=5.806; 95% CI 4.863 to 6.932 for women). CONCLUSION: NAFLD assessed by FLI independently predicted the risk of conversion to T2D among people with pre-diabetes. FLI may be an easily determined and valuable early predictor for T2D in people with pre-diabetes. FLI-based assessment of NAFLD in subjects with pre-diabetes in routine clinical practice could allow the adoption of effective measures to prevent and reduce their progression to T2D.

Understanding the Protective Effect of Phytate in Bone Decalcification Related-Diseases.

Myo-inositol hexaphosphate (phytate; IP6) is a natural compound that is abundant in cereals, legumes, and nuts, and it can bind to crystal surfaces and disturb crystal development, acting as crystallization inhibitor. The adsorption of such inhibitors to crystal faces can also inhibit crystal dissolution. The binding of phytate to metal cofactors suggests that it could be used for treatment of osteoporosis. Our in-vitro study showed that phytate inhibits dissolution of hydroxyapatite (HAP). The effect of phytate was similar to that of alendronate and greater than that of etidronate. This led us to perform a cross-sectional study to investigate the impact of consumption of IP6 on bone mineral density (BMD) in post-menopausal women. Our data indicate that BMD and t-score of lumbar spine increased with increasing phytate consumption, and a phytate consumption higher than 307 mg/day was associated with a normal BMD (t-score > -1). These data suggest that phytate may have a protective effect in bone decalcification by adsorbing on the surfaces of HAP, and a daily consumption of phytate-rich foods (at least one serving/day of legumes or nuts) may help to prevent or minimize bone-loss disorders, such as osteoporosis. However, further studies are needed to gain a better understanding about the mechanism of inhibition of phytate in bone-related diseases (see graphical abstract).

Utility of Fatty Liver Index to predict reversion to normoglycemia in people with prediabetes.

BACKGROUND: Fatty Liver Index (FLI) is strongly associated with changes in glycemic status and incident Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). The probability of reverting to normoglycemia from a state prediabetes could be determined by FLI, however such relationship remains poorly understood. AIM: To determine the clinical interest of using FLI to estimate prediabetes reversion at 5 years in patients with impaired fasting plasma glucose at baseline, and identify those factors associated with changes in FLI, that could contribute to the reversion of prediabetes. METHODS: This 5-year cohort study included 16,648 Spanish working adults with prediabetes. Prediabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) between 100 and 125 mg/dl according to the ADA criteria, while prediabetes reversion was defined as a FPG <100 mg/dL. The population was classified as: FLI <30 (no hepatic steatosis), FLI 30-59 (intermediate status), and FLI ≥60 (hepatic steatosis). RESULTS: At 5 years follow-up, 33.7% of subjects reverted to normoglycemia (annual rate of 6.7%). The adjusted binomial logistic regression model showed that scoring FLI <30 (OR 1.544; 95% CI 1.355-1.759), performing at least 150 min/week of physical activity (OR 4.600; 95% CI 4.088-5.177) and consuming fruits and vegetables daily (OR 1.682; 95% CI 1.526-1.855) were associated with the probability of reverting form prediabetes to normoglycemia. The ROC curve for prediction of reversion showed that FLI (AUC 0.774;95% CI 0.767-0.781) was a better predictor than FPG (AUC 0.656; 95% CI 0.648-0.664). CONCLUSIONS: Regular physical activity, healthy dietary habits and absence of hepatic steatosis are independently associated with the probability of reversion to normoglycemia in adult workers with prediabetes at baseline. Low FLI values (especially FLI< 30) may be useful to predict the probability of prediabetes reversion, especially in active subjects with healthy eating habits, and thus identify those who might benefit from early lifestyle intervention.

Lifestyle and Progression to Type 2 Diabetes in a Cohort of Workers with Prediabetes.

BACKGROUND: People with prediabetes have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). Few studies have evaluated the influence of lifestyle factors on the risk of progression to diabetes and reversion to normoglycemia. The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of T2D in a large cohort of workers with prediabetes, and to evaluate the influence of sociodemographic, clinical, metabolic, and lifestyle factors that affect the persistence of prediabetes and the progression to T2D. METHODS: A cohort study of 27,844 adult workers (aged 20 to 65 years) from Spain who had prediabetes based on an occupational medical examination from 2012 to 2013. Prediabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) between 100 and 125 mg/dL. At the baseline evaluation, sociodemographic, anthropometric, metabolic, and lifestyle data were collected. At the 5-year follow-up, incident T2D was defined as an FPG of at least 126 mg/dL or initiation of an antidiabetic medication. RESULTS: Among 235,995 initially screened workers, the prevalence of T2D was 14.19% (95% confidence interval (CI) 14.05 to 14.33) and the prevalence of prediabetes was 11.85% (95% CI 11.71 to 11.99). Follow-up data were available for 23,293 individuals with prediabetes. Among them, 36.08% (95% CI 35.46 to 36.70) returned to normoglycemia, 40.92% (95% CI 40.29 to 41.55) had persistent prediabetes, and 23.00% (95% CI 22.46 to 23.54) progressed to T2D. The risk for persistence of prediabetes and for progression to T2D increased with age, body mass index (BMI), triglyceride level, and less than 150 min/week of physical activity. An HbA1c level of 6% or greater was the strongest individual predictor of progression to T2D. CONCLUSIONS: Physical activity, diet, smoking, and BMI are modifiable factors that are associated with the persistence of prediabetes and the progression to T2D. The workplace is a feasible setting for the early detection of prediabetes and the promotion of lifestyles that can prevent progression to T2D.

Therapeutic Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen in the Process of Wound Healing.

Chronic and non-healing wounds, especially diabetic foot ulcers and radiation injuries, imply remarkable morbidity with a significant effect on the quality of life and a high sanitary cost. The management of these wounds requires complex actions such as surgical debris, antibiotic treatment, dressings and even revascularization. These wounds are characterized by poor oxygen supply resulting in inadequate oxygenation of the affected tissue. The adjuvant treatment with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may increase tissue oxygenation favoring the healing of wounds which do not respond to the usual clinical care. The increase in the partial pressure of oxygen contributes to cover the energy demands necessary for the healing process and reduces the incidence of infections. Moreover, the increase in oxygen leads to the production of reactive species with hormetic activity, acting on signaling pathways that modulate the synthesis of inflammation mediators, antioxidants and growth factors which can contribute to the healing process. Studies performed with cell cultures and in animal models seem to demonstrate the beneficial effects of HBOT. However, clinical trials do not show such conclusive results; thus, additional randomized placebo-controlled studies are necessary to determine the real efficacy of HBOT and the mechanism of action for various types of wounds.

Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors as a Therapeutic Target in Inflammatory Diseases.

Inflammation plays a crucial role in the development of many complex diseases and disorders including autoimmune diseases, metabolic syndrome, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular pathologies. Prostaglandins play a regulatory role in inflammation. Cyclooxygenases are the main mediators of inflammation by catalyzing the initial step of arachidonic acid metabolism and prostaglandin synthesis. The differential expression of the constitutive isoform COX-1 and the inducible isoform COX-2, and the finding that COX-1 is the major form expressed in the gastrointestinal tract, lead to the search for COX-2-selective inhibitors as anti-inflammatory agents that might diminish the gastrointestinal side effects of traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). COX-2 isoform is expressed predominantly in inflammatory cells and decidedly upregulated in chronic and acute inflammations, becoming a critical target for many pharmacological inhibitors. COX-2 selective inhibitors happen to show equivalent efficacy with that of conventional NSAIDs, but they have reduced gastrointestinal side effects. This review would elucidate the most recent findings on selective COX-2 inhibition and their relevance to human pathology, concretely in inflammatory pathologies characterized by a prolonged pro-inflammatory status, including autoimmune diseases, metabolic syndrome, obesity, atherosclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, arthritis, chronic inflammatory bowel disease and cardiovascular pathologies.

Effects of Millimolar Steady-State Hydrogen Peroxide Exposure on Inflammatory and Redox Gene Expression in Immune Cells from Humans with Metabolic Syndrome.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can exert opposed effects depending on the dosage: low levels can be involved in signalling and adaptive processes, while higher levels can exert deleterious effects in cells and tissues. Our aim was to emulate a chronic ex vivo oxidative stress situation through a 2 h exposure of immune cells to sustained H2O2 produced by glucose oxidase (GOX), at high or low production rate, in order to determine dissimilar responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and neutrophils on ROS and cytokine production, and mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins, pro/anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant gene expression. Immune cells were obtained from subjects with metabolic syndrome. H2O2 at low concentrations can trigger a transient anti-inflammatory adiponectin secretion and reduced gene expression of toll-like receptors (TLRs) in PBMCs but may act as a stimulator of proinflammatory genes (IL6, IL8) and mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins (Mtf2, NRF2, Tfam). H2O2 at a high concentration enhances the expression of pro-inflammatory genes (TLR2 and IL1ß) and diminishes the expression of mitochondrial dynamics-related proteins (Mtf1, Tfam) and antioxidant enzymes (Cu/Zn SOD) in PBMCs. The GOX treatments produce dissimilar changes in immune cells: Neutrophils were more resistant to H2O2 effects and exhibited a more constant response in terms of gene expression than PBMCs. We observe emerging roles of H2O2 in mitochondrial dynamics and redox and inflammation processes in immune cells.

Regular Practice of Moderate Physical Activity by Older Adults Ameliorates Their Anti-Inflammatory Status.

A chronic inflammatory state is a major characteristic of the aging process, and physical activity is proposed as a key component for healthy aging. Our aim was to evaluate the body composition, hypertension, lipid profile, and inflammatory status of older adults, and these factors' association with physical activity. A total of 116 elderly volunteers were categorized into terciles of quantitative metabolic equivalents of task (MET). Subjects in the first and third terciles were defined as sedentary and active subjects, respectively. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters, hemograms, and inflammatory markers were measured in plasma or peripheral mononuclear blood cells (PBMCs). The active groups exercised more than their sedentary counterparts. The practice of physical activity was accompanied by lower weight, fat mass, body mass index, and diastolic blood pressure when compared to a more sedentary life-style. Physical activity also lowered the haematocrit and total leukocyte, neutrophil, and lymphocyte counts. The practice of exercise induced a decrease in the IL-6 circulating levels and the TLR2 protein levels in PBMCs, while the expression of the anti-inflammatory IL-10 was activated in active subjects. The regular practice of physical activity exerts beneficial effects on body composition and the anti-inflammatory status of old people.

Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells Antioxidant Adaptations to Regular Physical Activity in Elderly People.

Regular physical activity prescription is a key point for healthy aging and chronic disease management and prevention. Our aim was to evaluate the antioxidant defense system and the mitochondrial status in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and the level of oxidative damage in plasma in active, intermediate and inactive elderly. In total, 127 healthy men and women >55 years old participated in the study and were classified according on their level of declared physical activity. A more active lifestyle was accompanied by lower weight, fat mass and body mass index when compared to a more sedentary life-style. Active participants exhibited lower circulating PBMCs than inactive peers. Participants who reported higher levels of exercise had increased antioxidant protein levels when compared to more sedentary partakers. Carbonylated protein levels exhibited similar behavior, accompanied by a significant raise in expression of cytochrome c oxidase subunit IV in PBMCs. No significant changes were found in the activities of antioxidant enzymes and in the expression of structural (MitND5) and mitochondrial dynamic-related (PGC1α and Mitofusins1/2.) proteins. Active lifestyle and daily activities exert beneficial effects on body composition and it enhances the antioxidant defenses and oxidative metabolism capabilities in PBMCs from healthy elderly.

Resolvins as proresolving inflammatory mediators in cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents a global burden with a prevalence that continues increasing progressively. CVD comprises a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels including coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease and peripheral arterial disease. This group of disorders is associated with an inflammatory process which can participate in the pathophysiology of these diseases. Inflammation resolution is an active process involving the participation of pro-resolving mediators such as lipoxins, resolvins, protectins and maresins. Pro-resolving mediators are bioactive molecules generated from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs); among these eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5n3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; C22:6n3) are the precursors of resolvins. Pro-resolving mediators orchestrate the correct resolution of inflammation and also stimulate tissue regeneration. Their deregulation can lead to chronic inflammation involving CVD. The discovery of these novel lipid mediators opens a new range of possibilities for the design of anti-inflammatory agents with therapeutic potential for a wide variety of diseases. The present work summarizes the available data about the general characteristics, structure and biosynthesis of resolvins and their relation as protective compounds in CVD.

Acute exposure to sunscreen containing titanium induces an adaptive response and oxidative stress in Mytillus galloprovincialis.

The use of sunscreens to protect against ultraviolet radiation exposure progressively increases as result of a greater awareness of the people and the greater arrival of tourists. The components of these creams can end up in the waters affecting coastal species. Mediterranean mussels (Mytillus galloprovincialis) were subjected to an acute exposure of a sunscreen with TiO2 in their composition during 24h. The low and medium concentrations used in the assays contained a concentration of TiO2 in the range of values found in coastal waters of the Balearic Islands. Titanium and metallothionein concentrations were progressively increasing in gills with the sunscreen concentration in a dose-dependent manner. The activities of the antioxidant enzymes and the detoxification glutathione s-transferase evidenced a hormetic shape response with increased activities at lower sunscreen concentrations, a response that was abolished at the highest concentration. In accordance with these enzyme activities, the levels of malondialdehyde, as a marker of lipid peroxidation, were significantly elevated by the higher sunscreen concentrations. Acetylcholinesterase activity maintained control activities except for the highest sunscreen concentration, where a significant decrease was evidenced. In conclusion, the treatment of mussels with a sunscreen containing TiO2 in the range of Balearic coastal waters induces an adaptive response that is overcome by the highest concentration. Follow-up biomonitoring studies are necessary to control the concentration of sunscreen compound in coastal waters such as titanium since they can induce oxidative stress to affected organisms.

Training and acute exercise modulates mitochondrial dynamics in football players' blood mononuclear cells.

PURPOSE: Regular physical activity induces oxidative stress but also causes adaptations in antioxidant defences including the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) pathway, which activates target genes related to antioxidant defences such as uncoupling proteins (UCPs), and mitochondrial biogenesis mediated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α). The aim of the study was to determine the effect of long-term training and acute exercise on oxidant/antioxidant status and the expression of mitochondrial biogenesis genes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). METHODS: Twelve professional football players performed an 8-week exercise programme comprising a daily 2-h football training session. Blood samples were taken before and after the training season. RESULTS: The results reported a significant increase in antioxidant protein levels and in mitochondrial proteins in resting conditions after the 8-week training period. PGC1α, UCP-2 and mitofusin 2 protein levels also increased after acute exercise compared to pre-exercise levels. After the training, the expression of PGC1α, cytochrome c oxidase subunit IV and mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 5 messenger RNA (mRNA) significantly augmented after the acute physical activity compared to pre-exercise levels; while no changes occurred in these mRNA in basal conditions. NF-κB activation and ROS production reported a significant increase after acute exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Training increases the levels of proteins related to mitochondrial biogenesis and improves the antioxidant capabilities of mitochondria in PBMCs among well-trained football players. Acute exercise may act as an inducer of mitochondrial biogenesis through NF-κB activation and PGC1α gene expression.