Molecular Interactions between Dietary Lipids and Bone Tissue during Aging.

Age-related bone disorders such as osteoporosis or osteoarthritis are a major public health problem due to the functional disability for millions of people worldwide. Furthermore, fractures are associated with a higher degree of morbidity and mortality in the long term, which generates greater financial and health costs. As the world population becomes older, the incidence of this type of disease increases and this effect seems notably greater in those countries that present a more westernized lifestyle. Thus, increased efforts are directed toward reducing risks that need to focus not only on the prevention of bone diseases, but also on the treatment of persons already afflicted. Evidence is accumulating that dietary lipids play an important role in bone health which results relevant to develop effective interventions for prevent bone diseases or alterations, especially in the elderly segment of the population. This review focuses on evidence about the effects of dietary lipids on bone health and describes possible mechanisms to explain how lipids act on bone metabolism during aging. Little work, however, has been accomplished in humans, so this is a challenge for future research.

Nutrition and Rheumatoid Arthritis in the 'Omics' Era.

Modern high-throughput 'omics' science tools (including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and microbiomics) are currently being applied to nutritional sciences to unravel the fundamental processes of health effects ascribed to particular nutrients in humans and to contribute to more precise nutritional advice. Diet and food components are key environmental factors that interact with the genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome and the microbiota, and this life-long interplay defines health and diseases state of the individual. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease featured by a systemic immune-inflammatory response, in genetically susceptible individuals exposed to environmental triggers, including diet. In recent years increasing evidences suggested that nutritional factors and gut microbiome have a central role in RA risk and progression. The aim of this review is to summarize the main and most recent applications of 'omics' technologies in human nutrition and in RA research, examining the possible influences of some nutrients and nutritional patterns on RA pathogenesis, following a nutrigenomics approach. The opportunities and challenges of novel 'omics technologies' in the exploration of new avenues in RA and nutritional research to prevent and manage RA will be also discussed.

Effects of caloric restriction on immunosurveillance, microbiota and cancer cell phenotype: Possible implications for cancer treatment.

Fasting, caloric restriction and foods or compounds mimicking the biological effects of caloric restriction, known as caloric restriction mimetics, have been associated with a lower risk of age-related diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer and cognitive decline, and a longer lifespan. Reduced calorie intake has been shown to stimulate cancer immunosurveillance, reducing the migration of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells towards the tumor bulk. Autophagy stimulation via reduction of lysine acetylation, increased sensitivity to chemo- and immunotherapy, along with a reduction of insulin-like growth factor 1 and reactive oxygen species have been described as some of the major effects triggered by caloric restriction. Fasting and caloric restriction have also been shown to beneficially influence gut microbiota composition, modify host metabolism, reduce total cholesterol and triglyceride levels, lower diastolic blood pressure and elevate morning cortisol level, with beneficial modulatory effects on cardiopulmonary fitness, body fat and weight, fatigue and weakness, and general quality of life. Moreover, caloric restriction may reduce the carcinogenic and metastatic potential of cancer stem cells, which are generally considered responsible of tumor formation and relapse. Here, we reviewed in vitro and in vivo studies describing the effects of fasting, caloric restriction and some caloric restriction mimetics on immunosurveillance, gut microbiota, metabolism, and cancer stem cell growth, highlighting the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying these effects. Additionally, studies on caloric restriction interventions in cancer patients or cancer risk subjects are discussed. Considering the promising effects associated with caloric restriction and caloric restriction mimetics, we think that controlled-randomized large clinical trials are warranted to evaluate the inclusion of these non-pharmacological approaches in clinical practice.

Factors influencing infant sex ratio in howler monkeys (Alouatta spp.): A literature review and analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Frequency-dependent selection is expected to maintain infant sex ratios around parity over evolutionary time. However, over ecological time periods, infant sex ratios vary, and it has been proposed that this variation may reflect adaptive processes. In primates, there are consistent patterns of variation in infant sex ratios, although their adaptive significance remains contentious. In addition to design issues, contrasting results could have derived across primates from variation in the fitness benefits accrued through sons or daughters associated with the specific social, ecological, and demographic context of populations. Thus, different sex allocation tactics could occur within species over time and space. METHODS: We reviewed the literature to describe variation in infant sex ratio in howler monkeys (genus Alouatta) and to examine whether such a variation could be associated with adaptive sex allocation. We found 26 studies that provided data for this review. These studies yielded 96 infant sex reports, corresponding to 1,477 sexed infants. RESULTS: Infant sex ratio across howler monkey species tends to parity, but females produce more sons under high group densities and more daughters when rainfall increases. DISCUSSION: Based on these results, as well as on information on howler monkey dispersal patterns, demography, and within-group genetic relatedness, we speculate that, depending on population growth stage, sex allocation is explained by (a) local resource enhancement, that is, more cooperative philopatric daughters are produced when populations are growing; and (b) local resource competition, that is, more dispersing sons are produced when populations are saturated. Thus, there is evidence suggestive of adaptive variation in infant sex ratios in howler monkeys.

Variation in the distribution of four cacti species due to climate change in Chihuahua, Mexico.

This study is about four cacti species in the state of Chihuahua, (Coryphantha macromeris, Mammillaria lasiacantha, Echinocereus dasyacanthus and Ferocactus wislizenii). Geographic distribution was inferred with MaxEnt. Projection was estimated under three scenarios simulated from IPCC (A2, B1 and A1B) and four periods (2000, 2020, 2050 and 2080) with 19 climatic variables. MaxEnt projects a species decrease in 2020 under scenario A2, increasing in the following years. In 2080 all species, except E. dasyacanthus, will occupy a larger area than their current one. Scenario B1 projected for 2050 a decrease for all species, and in 2080 all species except E. dasyacanthus will increase their area. With A1B, C. macromeris decreases 27% from 2020 to 2050. E. dasyacanthus increases from 2020 to 2050 and decreases 73% from 2020 to 2080. M. lasiacantha decreases 13% from 2020 to 2080 and F. wislizenii will increase 13% from 2020 to 2080. Some species will remain stable on their areas despite climate changes, and other species may be affected under the conditions of the A1B scenario. It is important to continue with studies which give a broader perspective about the consequences of climate change, thus enabling decision-making about resource management.

[Assessing the profile and nutritional intake of an Ibero-American group of nutrition postgraduate students]. / Valoración del perfil e ingesta de nutrientes de un grupo de estudiantes iberoamericanos de postgrados en nutrición.

INTRODUCTION: Dietary habits have a great influence on people health of, and its study is extremely important to proof adaptation to current recommendations in order to develop nutritional education and/or supplementation policies adjusted to reality. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A descriptive cross study with the participation of postgraduate students. Participants were selected using non-probability accidental sampling accidental. Information was sent by e-mail, including a questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics and a 3-day dietary record. We obtained a sample of n = 50 participants. The 3-day dietary records were evaluated with NutrIber software and the data obtained were treated using the statistical software SPSS 15. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The profile of the students was 80% females and 20% males, mean age 33.7 ± 9.32 years, and body mass index of 22.91 ± 4.07. All groups have an excessive consumption of proteins and lipids and carbohydrates deficit. At the macro-story is remarkable that no group covers iodine recommended nutrient intake, and that no group of women covers the recommendations for fiber, folic acid and iron intake. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies are needed to confirm the results found. However, it can be concluded that urban populations in Latin America are increasingly closer to the model of Western diet, rich in protein and fat and low in carbohydrates, fiber and micronutrients, which is indicative of poor diets in whole grains, fruits and vegetables.

Introducción: Los hábitos alimentarios tienen una gran influencia sobre la salud de las personas, por ello es de suma importancia profundizar en su estudio para comprobar su adaptación a las recomendaciones actuales y poder realizar políticas de educación nutricional y/o suplementación ajustadas a la realidad. Material y métodos: Estudio transversal descriptivo con la colaboración de estudiantes de postgrado. Los participantes se seleccionaron mediante muestreo no probabilístico accidental enviando vía mail la información del estudio, realizado mediante un cuestionario sobre sus características socio-demográficas y un registro dietético de 3 días. La muestra estuvo formada por n = 50 participantes. Los registros dietéticos de 3 días se valoraron con el software NutrIber y los datos obtenidos fueron tratados mediante el software estadístico SPSS 15. Resultados y discusión: El perfil de los estudiantes es de 80% mujeres y 20% hombres, con edad media de 33,7 ± 9,32 AÑOs, e índice de masa corporal de 22,91 ± 4,07. Todos los grupos presentan un consumo excesivo de proteínas y lípidos y deficitario en glúcidos. En cuanto a los micronutrientes es destacable que ningún grupo cubre las ingestas recomendadas de yodo, y que ningún grupo de mujeres cubre las recomendaciones de ingesta de fibra, ácido fólico ni hierro. Conclusiones: Son necesarios más estudios para confirmar los resultados hallado, sin embargo, se puede concluir que las poblaciones urbanas de Latinoamérica cada vez se acercan más al modelo de dieta occidental, rica en proteínas y grasas y pobre en glúcidos, fibra y micronutrientes, lo que es indicativo de dietas pobres en cereales integrales, frutas y verduras.

Valoración del perfil e ingesta de nutrientes de un grupo de estudiantes iberoamericanos de postgrados en nutrición / Assesing the profile and nutritional intakes of an ibero-american group of nutrition postgraduate students

Introducción: Los hábitos alimentarios tienen una gran influencia sobre la salud de las personas, por ello es de suma importancia profundizar en su estudio para comprobar su adaptación a las recomendaciones actuales y poder realizar políticas de educación nutricional y/o suplementación ajustadas a la realidad. Material y métodos: Estudio transversal descriptivo con la colaboración de estudiantes de postgrado. Los participantes se seleccionaron mediante muestreo no probabilístico accidental enviando vía mail la información del estudio, realizado mediante un cuestionario sobre sus características socio-demográficas y un registro dietético de 3 días. La muestra estuvo formada por n = 50 participantes. Los registros dietéticos de 3 días se valoraron con el software NutrIber y los datos obtenidos fueron tratados mediante el software estadístico SPSS 15. Resultados y discusión: El perfil de los estudiantes es de 80% mujeres y 20% hombres, con edad media de 33,7 ± 9,32 años, e índice de masa corporal de 22,91 ± 4,07. Todos los grupos presentan un consumo excesivo de proteínas y lípidos y deficitario en glúcidos. En cuanto a los micronutrientes es destacable que ningún grupo cubre las ingestas recomendadas de yodo, y que ningún grupo de mujeres cubre las recomendaciones de ingesta de fibra, ácido fólico ni hierro. Conclusiones: Son necesarios más estudios para confirmar los resultados hallado, sin embargo, se puede concluir que las poblaciones urbanas de Latinoamérica cada vez se acercan más al modelo de dieta occidental, rica en proteínas y grasas y pobre en glúcidos, fibra y micronutrientes, lo que es indicativo de dietas pobres en cereales integrales, frutas y verduras (AU)

Introduction: Dietary habits have a great influence on people health of, and its study is extremely important to proof adaptation to current recommendations in order to develop nutritional education and/or supplementation policies adjusted to reality. Material and methods: A descriptive cross study with the participation of postgraduate students. Participants were selected using non-probability accidental sampling accidental. Information was sent by e-mail, including a questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics and a 3-day dietary record. We obtained a sample of n = 50 participants. The 3-day dietary records were evaluated with NutrIber software and the data obtained were treated using the statistical software SPSS 15. Results and discussion: The profile of the students was 80% females and 20% males, mean age 33.7 ± 9.32 years, and body mass index of 22.91 ± 4.07. All groups have an excessive consumption of proteins and lipids and carbohydrates deficit. At the macrostory is remarkable that no group covers iodine recommended nutrient intake, and that no group of women covers the recommendations for fiber, folic acid and iron intake. Conclusions: Further studies are needed to confirm the results found. However, it can be concluded that urban populations in Latin America are increasingly closer to the model of Western diet, rich in protein and fat and low in carbohydrates, fiber and micronutrients, which is indicative of poor diets in whole grains, fruits and vegetables (AU)

Adaptaciones en el apoyo del pie en niñas que practican danza / Adaptation of feet in girls who are in dance training

Debido a que durante el crecimiento y desarrollo de los niños se llevan a cabo cambios que están modificados entre otras cosas por la actividad física. Se estudió a las niñas que acuden a la Academia Mexicana de la Danza para conocer las adaptaciones que presentan en el apoyo del pie en los diferentes tipos de danza: clásica, folklórica y contemporánea. Se les tomó impresión de la huella plantar antes y después de la realización de los tres tipos de danza, según el método del Dr. Hernández Corvo. Se encontró que antes de la actividad tenían una caracterización de normal, con tendencia al cavo, posteriormente a la realización de la danza clásica continuaron igual; en la contemporánea normal y cavo, en la folklórica cavos, pie derecho e izquierdo respectivamente. Creemos que es posible por los movimientos que se realizan durante cada ejecución de la danzas hacer funcionar diferentes grupos musculares y esto provoca una adaptación al apoyo plantar

La realización de estudios epidemiológicos de casos y testigos sobre cáncer en países en desarrollo / The conduct of epidemiological case-control studies of cancer in developing countries

Los problemas que plantean los estudios epidemiológicos sobre cáncer en los países en desarrollo con frecuencia son de carácter único. En este artículo se relata la experiencia de los autores al llevar a cabo un estudio de casos y testigos sobre carcinoma invasor de cuello uterino en cuatro países latinoamericanos (Colombia, Costa Rica, México, y Panamá). El estudio incluyo, la realización de entrevistas y la obtención de muestras biológicas de 759 pacientes con carcinoma invasor de cuello uterino, 1 467 mujeres que sirvieron como testigos apareados y 689 compañeros sexuales de las mujeres monógamas incluidas en el estudio. Se describen en términos generales la planificación y los métodos usados en la selección, en la realización de encuestas y en la obtención de datos completos, en lo posible exentos de sesgos. También se señalan algunas de las principales ventajas y desventajas de la investigación epidemiológica en zonas en desarrollo similares a las de este estudio

La realización de estudios epidemiológicos de casos y testigos sobre cáncer en países en desarrollo / The conduct of epidemiological case-control studies of cancer in developing countries

Los problemas que plantean los estudios epidemiológicos sobre cáncer en los países en desarrollo con frecuencia son de carácter único. En este artículo se relata la experiencia de los autores al llevar a cabo un estudio de casos y testigos sobre carcinoma invasor de cuello uterino en cuatro países latinoamericanos (Colombia, Costa Rica, México, y Panamá). El estudio incluyo, la realización de entrevistas y la obtención de muestras biológicas de 759 pacientes con carcinoma invasor de cuello uterino, 1 467 mujeres que sirvieron como testigos apareados y 689 compañeros sexuales de las mujeres monógamas incluidas en el estudio. Se describen en términos generales la planificación y los métodos usados en la selección, en la realización de encuestas y en la obtención de datos completos, en lo posible exentos de sesgos. También se señalan algunas de las principales ventajas y desventajas de la investigación epidemiológica en zonas en desarrollo similares a las de este estudio

Disponible en inglés en Bull PAHO 25(1), 1991

Considerations for conducting epidemiologic case-control studies of cancer in developing countries

The challenges involved in conducting epidemiologic studies of cancer in developing countries can be and often are unique. This article reports on our experience in performing a case-control study of invasive cervical cancer in four Latin American countries (Colombia, Panama, Mexico, and Costa Rica), the summary medical results of which have been published in a previous issue of this journal. The study involved a number of principal activities- mainly selecting, conducting interviews with, and obtaining appropriate biologic specimenes from 759 cervical cancer patients, 1,467 matched female controls, and 689 male sex partners of monogamous female subjects. This presentation provides an overview of the planning and methods used to select the subjects, conduct the survey work, and obtain complete and effectively unbiased data. It also points out some of the important advantages and disadvantages of working in developing areas similar to those serving as locales for this study

Considerations for conducting epidemiologic case-control studies of cancer in developing countries

The challenges involved in conducting epidemiologic studies of cancer in developing countries can be and often are unique. This article reports on our experience in performing a case-control study of invasive cervical cancer in four Latin American countries (Colombia, Panama, Mexico, and Costa Rica), the summary medical results of which have been published in a previous issue of this journal. The study involved a number of principal activities- mainly selecting, conducting interviews with, and obtaining appropriate biologic specimenes from 759 cervical cancer patients, 1,467 matched female controls, and 689 male sex partners of monogamous female subjects. This presentation provides an overview of the planning and methods used to select the subjects, conduct the survey work, and obtain complete and effectively unbiased data. It also points out some of the important advantages and disadvantages of working in developing areas similar to those serving as locales for this study