Novel protein stabilization in white wine: A study on thermally treated zirconia-alumina composites.

A major concern for wineries is haze formation in white wines due to protein instability. Despite its prevalent use, the conventional bentonite method has shortcomings, including potential alteration of color and aroma, slow processing times, and notable wine wastage. Zirconium oxide (ZrO2) effectively removes proteins without affecting wine characteristics. However, producing cost-effective ZrO2 materials with efficient protein removal capabilities poses a significant challenge. This research aims to assess the viability of designing a porous material impregnated with zirconia to remove turbidity-causing proteins effectively. For this purpose, the support material alone (Al2O3) and the zirconia-impregnated support (ZrO2/Al2O3) were subjected to different calcination temperatures. It was observed that high-temperature treatments (750 °C) enhanced wine stability and protein adsorption capacity. The optimal adsorbent achieved a notable reduction in turbidity, decreasing the ΔNTU from 42 to 18, alongside a significant 44 % reduction in the total protein content, particularly affecting proteins in the molecular weight range of 10 to 70 kDa. This result is attributed to modifying the textural properties of ZrO2/Al2O3, characterized by the reduction of acidic sites, augmented pore diameters from 4.81 to 7.74 nm, and the emergence of zirconia clusters across the surface of the porous support. In summary, this study presents the first application of zirconia on the alumina support surface for protein stabilization in white wine. Combining ZrO2/Al2O3 and a high-temperature treatment emerges as a promising, cost-efficient, and environmentally sustainable strategy for protein removal in white wine.

Foetal haemoglobin elevation, unfavourable prognosis, and protective role of genetic variants HBG2 rs7482144, HBS1L-MYB rs9399137 and BCL11A rs4671393 in children with ALL.

In acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), elevated foetal haemoglobin (HbF) levels have been associated with the prognosis of patients. Genetic variants in HbF regulatory genes: BAF chromatin remodelling complex subunit (BCL11A), HBS1L-MYB transcriptional GTPase intergenic region (HBS1L-MYB), Krüppel-like factor 1 (KLF1), haemoglobin gamma subunit 2 (HBG2), haemoglobin gamma subunit 1 (HBG1), and haemoglobin subunit beta pseudogene 1 (HBBP1) are often associatedwith elevatedHbF concentration. This study investigated the association of genetic variants in HbF regulatory genes with HbF concentration, unfavourable prognosis, and outcome in children with ALL.We quantified HbF concentration and genotyped 17 genetic variants in 48 patients with ALL and 64 children without ALL as a reference group. HbF concentrationwas higher in patients than in the reference group (4.4%vs 1.4%), and 75%(n = 36) of thepatientshadHbF>2.5%.Unfavourable prognosis ALL was established in 68.8% (n = 33) of the patients. Variant HBG2 rs7482144 was associated with high HbF concentration (P = 0.015); while HBS1L-MYB rs9399137 (P = 0.001), HBG2 rs7482144 (P = 0.001) and the ß-globin genes HBG2, HBG1, and HBPP1 haplotypeTGC(P = 0.017) with unfavourable prognosisALL.Additionally, variantBCL11A rs4671393 showed a protective role (P = 0.0001). In conclusion, variants HBG2 rs7482144, HBS1L-MYB rs9399137 and BCL11A rs4671393 may play a significant role in ALL.

Consenso sobre criterios y conjunto mínimo de datos para la derivación de pacientes candidatos a teleconsulta de nutrición enteral domiciliaria: proyecto TElENUT / Consensus on criteria and minimum data set for the referral of candidate patients for home enteral nutrition teleconsultation: TELENUT project

Introducción: la teleconsulta es una herramienta asistencial útil en el manejo multidisciplinar de pacientes con indicación de nutrición enteral domiciliaria (NED). El empleo de diferentes herramientas de teleconsulta de NED, como ocurre en el Sistema Andaluz de Salud (SAS), conlleva heterogeneidad en los procesos de derivación entre los servicios de Atención Primaria (AP) y hospitalaria en una misma región. Objetivos: consensuar perfiles de pacientes y conjunto de datos mínimos necesarios para garantizar una derivación adecuada a la teleconsulta de NED, independientemente de la herramienta existente. Estos aspectos consensuados en Andalucía pueden servir de referencia en otras regiones. Métodos: se siguieron tres pasos consecutivos: a) revisión no sistemática de la literatura indexada sobre la teleconsulta en nutrición clínica en España; b) encuesta para conocer la implementación y las necesidades no satisfechas de las herramientas de teleconsulta en los hospitales públicos andaluces; y c) reuniones de trabajo y consenso de 14 profesionales sanitarios de AP (n = 4) y endocrinología y nutrición clínica hospitalaria (n = 10). Resultados: se consensuaron tres formularios de derivación en los que se definieron tres perfiles de pacientes, con el correspondiente conjunto mínimo de datos necesario para solicitar la teleconsulta de NED. El equipo de AP debe proporcionar este conjunto mínimo de datos al especialista en nutrición clínica a través de una herramienta de teleconsulta, implementada en el SAS. Conclusiones: tres formularios consensuados entre profesionales sanitarios involucrados en el proceso de derivación sirven para estandarizar la solicitud de teleconsulta de NED entre equipos asistenciales en función de perfiles de pacientes.(AU)

Introduction: teleconsultation is a useful healthcare tool in the multidisciplinary management of patients with indications of home enteral nutrition (HEN). The use of different teleconsultation platforms, as it happens in the Andalusian Health System (SAS), results in heterogeneous referral processes between Primary Care and hospital services in the same region. Objectives: to establish a consensus on patient profiles and the minimum data set necessary to guarantee an adequate referral to NED teleconsultation regardless of the existing platform. These agreed aspects in Andalusia can serve as a reference in other regions. Methods: three consecutive steps were followed: a) non-systematic review of the indexed literature on teleconsultation in clinical nutrition in Spain; b) survey to know the implementation and unmet needs of teleconsultation platforms in Andalusian public hospitals; and c) working meetings and consensus of 14 health professionals of Primary Care (n = 4) and endocrinology and hospital clinical nutrition (n = 10). Results: three referral forms were agreed in which three patient profiles were defined, with the corresponding minimum set of data necessary to request NED teleconsultation. The Primary Care team should provide this set of data to the clinical nutrition specialist via a teleconsultation platform, implemented in the SAS. Conclusions: three agreed forms between healthcare professionals involved in the referral process serve to standardize the request for teleconsultation of NED between healthcare teams based on patient profiles.(AU)

Microstructural and physicochemical quality maintenance in green bell pepper infected with Botrytis cinerea and treated with thyme essential oil combined with carnauba wax.

Bell pepper presents rapid weight loss and is highly susceptible to gray mold caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea. The most employed method to control this disease is the application of synthetic fungicides such as thiabendazole (TBZ); however, its continued use causes resistance in fungi as well as environmental problems. For these reasons, natural alternatives arise as a more striking option. Currently, bell pepper fruits are coated with carnauba wax (CW) to prevent weight loss and improve appearance. Moreover, CW can be used as a carrier to incorporate essential oils, and previous studies have shown that thyme essential oil (TEO) is highly effective against B. cinerea. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of CW combined with TEO on the development of gray mold and maintenance of microestructural and postharvest quality in bell pepper stored at 13°C. The minimal inhibitory concentration of TEO was 0.5%. TEO and TBZ provoked the leakage of intracellular components. TEO and CW + TEO treatments were equally effective to inhibit the development of gray mold. On the quality parameters, firmness and weight loss were ameliorated with CW and CW + TEO treatments; whereas lightness increased in these treatments. The structural analysis showed that CW + TEO treatment maintained the cell structure reducing the apparition of deformities. The results suggest that CW + TEO treatment could be used as a natural and effective antifungal retarding the appearance of gray mold and maintaining the postharvest quality of bell pepper. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: CW and TEO are classified as generally recognized as safe (GRAS) by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This combination can be employed on the bell pepper packaging system to extend shelf life and oppose gray mold developments. Bell pepper fruits are normally coated with lipid-base coatings such as CW before commercialization; therefore, TEO addition would represent a small investment without any changes on the packaging system infrastructure.

sRAGE levels are decreased in plasma and sputum of COPD secondary to biomass-burning smoke and tobacco smoking: Differences according to the rs3134940 AGER variant.

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and its gene (AGER) have been related to lung injury and inflammatory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We aimed to evaluate the association of rs2071288, rs3134940, rs184003, and rs2070600 AGER single-nucleotide variants and the soluble-RAGE plasma and sputum levels with COPD secondary to biomass-burning smoke (BBS) and tobacco smoking. Four groups, including 2189 subjects, were analyzed: COPD secondary to BBS exposure (COPD-BBS, n = 342), BBS-exposed subjects without COPD (BBES, n = 774), tobacco smoking-induced COPD (COPD-TS, n = 434), and smokers without COPD (SWOC, n = 639). Allelic discrimination assays determined the AGER variants. The sRAGE was quantified in plasma (n = 240) and induced-sputum (n = 72) samples from a subgroup of patients using the ELISA technique. In addition, a meta-analysis was performed for the association of rs2070600 with COPD susceptibility. None of the studied genetic variants were found to be associated with COPD-BBS or COPD-TS. A marginal association was observed for the rs3134940 with COPD-BBS (p = 0.066). The results from the meta-analysis, including six case-control studies (n = 4149 subjects), showed a lack of association of rs2070600 with COPD susceptibility (p = 0.681), probably due to interethnic differences. The sRAGE plasma levels were lower in COPD-BBS compared to BBS and in COPD-TS compared to SWOC. The sRAGE levels were also lower in sputum samples from COPD-BBS than BBES. Subjects with rs3134940-TC genotypes exhibit lower sRAGE plasma levels than TT subjects, mainly from the COPD-BBS and SWOC groups. The AGER variants were not associated with COPD-BBS nor COPD-TS, but the sRAGE plasma and sputum levels are related to both COPD-BBS and COPD-TS and are influenced by the rs3134940 variant.

Mortality, Functional Status, and Quality of Life after 5 Years of Patients Admitted to Critical Care for Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess long-term outcome in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage admitted to the intensive care unit. METHODS: Mortality and Glasgow Outcome Scale, Barthel Index, and 5-level EQ-5D version (EQ-5D-5L) scores were analyzed in a multicenter cohort study of three Spanish hospitals (336 patients). Mortality was also analyzed in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care III (MIMIC-III) database. RESULTS: The median (25th percentile-75th percentile) age was 62 (50-70) years, the median Glasgow Coma Score was 7 (4-11) points, and the median Acute Physiology and Chronic Health disease Classification System II (APACHE-II) score was 21 (15-26) points. Hospital mortality was 54.17%, mortality at 90 days was 56%, mortality at 1 year was 59.2%, and mortality at 5 years was 66.4%. In the Glasgow Outcome Scale, a normal or disabled self-sufficient situation was recorded in 21.5% of patients at 6 months, in 25.5% of patients after 1 year, and in 22.1% of patients after 5 years of follow-up (4.5% missing). The Barthel Index score of survivors improved over time: 50 (25-80) points at 6 months, 70 (35-95) points at 1 year, and 90 (40-100) points at 5 years (p < 0.001). Quality of life evaluated with the EQ-5D-5L at 1 year and 5 years indicated that greater than 50% of patients had no problems or slight problems in all items (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression). In the MIMIC-III study (N = 1354), hospital mortality was 31.83% and was 40.5% at 90 days and 56.2% after 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: In patients admitted to the intensive care unit with a diagnosis of nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage, hospital mortality up to 90 days after admission is very high. Between 90 days and 5 years after admission, mortality is not high. A large percentage of survivors presented a significant deficit in quality of life and functional status, although with progressive improvement over time. Five years after the hemorrhagic stroke, a survival of 30% was observed, with a good functional status seen in 20% of patients who had been admitted to the hospital.

Perspectives on technology - prostate cancer: is local anaesthetic transperineal prostate biopsy really better than transrectal biopsy?

For many years, transrectal ultrasound-guided (TRUS) prostate biopsies have been performed to establish a histological diagnosis of prostate cancer. This has been the recommended standard of care procedure, but has always carried risks, in particular the risk of post-procedural sepsis, and the associated antibiotic burden and risk of development of antibiotic resistance. Transperineal (TP) prostate biopsies performed under local anaesthetic (LA) have been proposed as a possible solution to these issues, with potentially lower infectious complications, and avoidance of need for antibiotic prophylaxis. The European Association of Urology produced guidance in 2023 with 'weak' recommendations in favour of LATP biopsy as a new standard of care, citing its safety profile. Both the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the UK, and the American Urological Association in the United States, have concluded for now that the body of evidence is inadequate and not offered a similar recommendation. We discuss the available evidence, pros and cons of each technique, and the status of current trials in the field. We believe that clinical equipoise remains necessary, given the disparity in national and international guidelines highlighting the need for large randomised controlled trials to answer the question: is LATP biopsy really better than TRUS biopsy?

Impact of lactic acid bacteria inoculation on fungal diversity during Spanish-style green table olive fermentations.

This study delved into the evolution of fungal population during the fermentation of Spanish-style green table olives (Manzanilla cultivar), determining the influence of different factors such as fermentation matrix (brine or fruit) or the use of a lactic acid bacteria inoculum, on its distribution. The samples (n = 24) were directly obtained from industrial fermentation vessels with approximately 10.000 kg of fruits and 6.000 L of brines. Our findings showcased a synchronized uptick in lactic acid bacteria counts alongside fungi proliferation. Metataxonomic analysis of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region unearthed noteworthy disparities across different fermentation time points (0, 24, and 83 days). Statistical analysis pinpointed two Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASV), Candida and Aureobasidium, as accountable for the observed variances among the different fermentation time samples. Notably, Candida exhibited a marked increase during 83 days of fermentation, opposite to Aureobasidium, which demonstrated a decline. Fungal biodiversity was slightly higher in brines than in fruits, whilst no effect of inoculation was noticed. At the onset of fermentation, prominently detected genera were also Mycosphaerella (19.82 %) and Apohysomyces (16.31 %), hitherto unreported in the context of table olive processing. However, their prevalence dwindled to nearly negligible levels from 24th day fermentation onwards (<2 %). On the contrary, they were replaced by the fermentative yeasts Saccharomyces and Isstachenkia. Results obtained in this work will be useful for designing new strategies for better control of table olive fermentations.

Effects of multicomponent training and HMB supplementation on disability, cognitive and physical function in institutionalized older adults aged over 70 years: a cluster-randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the synergist effects of exercise and ß-hydroxy ß-methylbutyrate (HMB) supplementation on disability, cognitive and physical function, and muscle power in institutionalized older people. DESIGN: Cluster-randomized controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-two institutionalized older adults (age = 83 ± 10 years old; 63% women) were randomized in four groups: exercise plus placebo (EX), HMB supplementation, EX plus HMB supplementation (EX + HMB), and control (CT). INTERVENTION: The exercising participants completed a 12-week tailored multicomponent exercise intervention (Vivifrail; 5 days/week of an individualized resistance, cardiovascular, balance and flexibility program), whereas the HMB groups received a drink containing 3 g/day of HMB. MEASUREMENTS: Participants were assessed Pre and Post intervention for disability and cognitive function (validated questionnaires), physical function (short physical performance battery, SPPB), handgrip strength and sit-to-stand relative muscle power. Linear mixed-effect models were used to compare changes among groups. RESULTS: Compared to baseline, both EX and EX + HMB improved cognitive function (+2.9 and +1.9 points; p < 0.001), SPPB score (+2.9 points and +2.4 points; p < 0.001) and relative muscle power (+0.64 and +0.48 W·kg-1; p < 0.001), while CT and HMB remained unchanged (p > 0.05). Significant between-group differences were noted between CT, EX and EX + HMB for cognitive function (p < 0.01), between CT and EX + HMB for physical function (p = 0.043), and between CT, EX and EX + HMB for relative muscle power (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The Vivifrail exercise program was effective in improving cognitive and physical function, and muscle power in nursing home residents, while HMB supplementation did not provide additional benefits when combined with exercise. These results emphasize the importance of physical exercise interventions in very old people as an essential basis for improving their overall health and quality of life.

Persons With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and High Levels of Activation Improved Their Physical Activity Skills After an Educational Session.

Background: Daily physical activity is part of the self-management of COPD patients, didactic information sessions may be insufficient for provision of these skills. Prior activation can determine sensitivity to these sessions. We evaluated whether the activation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as measured by the Patient Activation Measure (PAM)-13 questionnaire, determined their responses to an educational group session on physical activity (PA), which were measured with actigraphy by the amount of steps/day. Methods: We conducted an uncontrolled clinical trial in outpatient clinic with 75 patients with non-exacerbating COPD (FEV1 30-80%) who were selected consecutively. Patients were provided with an actigraph that they used for 15 days and completed the PAM-13 questionnaire. On the eighth day, they attended a group educational session where they were given PA information. We compared the changes in activity after the session by pooled MAP levels and the correlation between the change in the number of steps/day and the PAM-13 questionnaire. Results: 26 patients had activation levels of 1-2, while 49 patients had levels of 3-4. After the session, patients in levels 1-2 decreased their number of steps (-596±42), while those in levels 3-4 increased them (680±253, p<0.01). The level of activation was positively correlated with change in the number of steps/day (p<0.05). Conclusion: COPD patients with greater activation showed greater improvements in daily PA after a group educational session.

Adjusting the Operational Potential Window as a Tool for Prolonging the Durability of Carbon-Supported Pt-Alloy Nanoparticles as Oxygen Reduction Reaction Electrocatalysts.

A current trend in the investigation of state-of-the-art Pt-alloys as proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) electrocatalysts is to study their long-term stability as a bottleneck for their full commercialization. Although many parameters have been appropriately addressed, there are still certain issues that must be considered. Here, the stability of an experimental Pt-Co/C electrocatalyst is investigated by high-temperature accelerated degradation tests (HT-ADTs) in a high-temperature disk electrode (HT-DE) setup, allowing the imitation of close-to-real operational conditions in terms of temperature (60 °C). Although the US Department of Energy (DoE) protocol has been chosen as the basis of the study (30,000 trapezoidal wave cycling steps between 0.6 and 0.95 VRHE with a 3 s hold time at both the lower potential limit (LPL) and the upper potential limit (UPL)), this works demonstrates that limiting both the LPL and UPL (from 0.6-0.95 to 0.7-0.85 VRHE) can dramatically reduce the degradation rate of state-of-the-art Pt-alloy electrocatalysts. This has been additionally confirmed with the use of an electrochemical flow cell coupled to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (EFC-ICP-MS), which enables real-time monitoring of the dissolution mechanisms of Pt and Co. In line with the HT-DE methodology observations, a dramatic decrease in the total dissolution of Pt and Co has once again been observed upon narrowing the potential window to 0.7-0.85 VRHE rather than 0.6-0.95 VRHE. Additionally, the effect of the potential hold time at both LPL and UPL on metal dissolution has also been investigated. The findings demonstrate that the dissolution rate of both metals is proportional to the hold time at UPL regardless of the applied potential window, whereas the hold time at the LPL does not appear to be as detrimental to the stability of metals.

Integrated modeling of labile and glycated hemoglobin with glucose for enhanced diabetes detection and short-term monitoring.

Metabolic biomarkers, particularly glycated hemoglobin and fasting plasma glucose, are pivotal in the diagnosis and control of diabetes mellitus. Despite their importance, they exhibit limitations in assessing short-term glucose variations. In this study, we propose labile hemoglobin as an additional biomarker, providing insightful perspectives into these fluctuations. By utilizing datasets from 40,652 retrospective general participants and conducting glucose tolerance tests on 60 prospective pediatric subjects, we explored the relationship between plasma glucose and labile hemoglobin. A mathematical model was developed to encapsulate short-term glucose kinetics in the pediatric group. Applying dimensionality reduction techniques, we successfully identified participant subclusters, facilitating the differentiation between diabetic and non-diabetic individuals. Intriguingly, by integrating labile hemoglobin measurements with plasma glucose values, we were able to predict the likelihood of diabetes in pediatric subjects, underscoring the potential of labile hemoglobin as a significant glycemic biomarker for diabetes research.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the validation of serological methods for detecting anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies in humans and animals.

Toxoplasma gondii is a paradigmatic zoonotic parasite from the One Health perspective, since it is broadly distributed and virtually infects all warm-blooded species. A wide variety of serological techniques have been developed to detect T. gondii infection in humans and animals. Our aim was to describe and compare the main characteristics of these serological tests and validation processes and to critically analyze whether these tests meet the standards required to ensure an accurate serological diagnosis. The current systematic review and meta-analysis included 134 studies that were published from 2013 to 2023. QUADAS 2 tool was used to evaluate the quality of the included studies. A total of 52 variables related to the characteristics of the techniques and analytical and diagnostic validation parameters were studied. A wider panel of tests was developed for humans, including techniques exclusively developed for humans that involve costly equipment and the measurement of different Ig isotypes that are considered biomarkers of congenital toxoplasmosis. Studies conducted in humans frequently employed commercial techniques as reference tests, measured different immunoglobulin isotypes with a predominance for IgG (>50%) and discriminated between acute and chronic infections. In animals, the most commonly used reference techniques were in-house tests, which almost exclusively detected IgG. Common limitations identified in a large number of studies were some misunderstandings of the terms "gold standard" and "reference test" and the absence of information about the negative and positive control sera used or the exact cutoff employed, which were independent of the quality of the study. There is a lack of analytical validation, with few evaluations of cross-reactivity with other pathogens. Diagnostic odds ratio values showed that indirect ELISA based on native or chimeric antigens performed better than other tests. The reproducibility of serological test results in both humans and animals is not guaranteed due to a lack of relevant information and analytical validation. Thus, several key issues should be considered in the future, including interlaboratory ring trials.

Transcriptomics of Besnoitia besnoiti-Infected Fibroblasts Reveals Hallmarks of Early Fibrosis and Cancer Progression.

Endothelial injury, inflammatory infiltrate and fibrosis are the predominant lesions in the testis of bulls with besnoitiosis that may result in sterility. Moreover, fibroblasts, which are key players in fibrosis, are parasite target cells in a Besnoitia besnoiti chronic infection. This study aimed to decipher the molecular basis that underlies a drift toward fibrosis during the disease progression. Transcriptomic analysis was developed at two times post-infection (p.i.), representative of invasion (12 h p.i.) and intracellular proliferation (32 h p.i.), in primary bovine aorta fibroblasts infected with B. besnoiti tachyzoites. Once the enriched host pathways were identified, we studied the expression of selected differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the scrotal skin of sterile infected bulls. Functional enrichment analyses of DEGs revealed shared hallmarks of cancer and early fibrosis. Biomarkers of inflammation, angiogenesis, cancer, and MAPK signaling stood out at 12 h p.i. At 32 h p.i., again MAPK and cancer pathways were enriched together with the PI3K-AKT pathway related to cell proliferation. Some DEGs were also regulated in the skin samples of naturally infected bulls (PLAUR, TGFß1, FOSB). We have identified potential biomarkers and host pathways regulated during fibrosis that may hold prognostic significance and could emerge as potential therapeutic targets.

Accelerometry-assessed daily physical activity and compliance with recommendations in Spanish children: importance of physical education classes and vigorous intensity.

Background: Physical activity (PA) is associated with numerous health benefits. Vigorous PA (VPA) may have a greater impact on public health than lower-intensity PA. The incorporation of a specific recommendation on VPA could complement and improve existing recommendations for average daily moderate-vigorous PA (MVPA). Physical education classes could have a positive impact on children's adherence to average daily physical activity recommendations. The aim was to investigate the association between MVPA and VPA in children, as well as adherence to recommendations, and obesity and the presence of physical education classes. Methods: A cross-sectional study of physical activity was conducted in a sample of 8 and 9-year-old children in Andalusia (Spain). GENEActiv accelerometers were used, placed on the non-dominant wrist for at least eight consecutive days (24-h protocol). School days with and without physical education class, and weekend days were defined. ROC curves were used to calculate the threshold associated with obesity for average daily MVPA and VPA for recommendations. Results: A total of 360 schoolchildren were included in the analyses (184 girls). An average of 7.7 (SD 1.4) valid days per participant were evaluated, with 19.9 (SD 10.5) and 11.4 (SD 5.1) minutes of VPA performed by boys and girls respectively. 25.8% of the participants were classified with central obesity. The optimal threshold determined with ROC analysis was 12.5 and 9.5 minutes of average daily VPA for boys and girls, respectively (RecVPA), and 75 minutes of average daily MVPA for both sexes (RecMVPA). The RecVPA showed stronger association with obesity. On school days with physical education class, compared to days without this class, children showed increased VPA and MVPA engagement and better compliance with recommendations, with smaller differences in adherence according to sex or obesity. Conclusions: On days with physical education class, more physical activity was accumulated at all intensities and greater adherence to the recommendations than on days without this class. VPA had a stronger correlation with the absence of obesity than lower-intensity activity. It was also observed that boys were physically more active and had higher adherence to the recommendations than girls.

Prognostic value of bioelectrical impedance analysis in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy: a VALOR® study.

Introduction: Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) serves as a method to estimate body composition. Parameters such as phase angle (PA), standardized phase angle (SPA), body mass cell (BCM), BCM index (BCMI), and fat-free mass (FFM) might significantly impact the prognosis of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. The present study aimed to investigate whether bioelectrical parameters can be used to predict survival in the HNC population and establish the optimal cutoff points for predictive accuracy. Methods: A multicenter observational study was performed across 12 tertiary hospitals in Andalusia (a region from the south of Spain). A total of 494 patients diagnosed with HNC between 2020 and 2022 at different stages were included in this study, with a minimum follow-up period of 12 months. The BIA assessment was carried out during the first 2 weeks of radical radiotherapy treatment with chemotherapy or other systemic treatments. A multivariate logistic regression analysis of overall survival, complications, hospital admission, and palliative care and its relationship with BIA nutritional assessment was performed. Results: Significant prognostic factors identified in the multivariable analysis encompassed phase angle (PA), standardized phase angle (SPA), body cell mass (BCM), and BCM index (BCMI). Lower PA and BCM values were significantly associated with adverse clinical outcomes. A BCM threshold above 17 kg/m2 was the most significant predictor for predicting survival within the overall HNC population. The PA values of <5.1° in male and <4.8° in female patients showed the best predictive potential for mortality. Increased PA (as a continuous variable) demonstrated a significantly reduced risk for mortality (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.43-0.94; p < 0.05) and a decreased likelihood of hospital admission (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.52-1.07; p < 0.05). Higher BCM correlated with a lower risk of mortality (OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.80-0.96; p < 0.01) and a diminished probability of hospital admission (OR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.83-0.99; p < 0.05). Conclusion: BIA is a crucial tool in the nutritional assessment of HNC patients. BCM and PA are the main bioelectrical parameters used to predict clinical outcomes in this population. Future studies are needed to validate BIA variables in a large cohort to ensure whether early intensification of nutritional treatment would improve survival.

Intra-prostatic tumour evolution, steps in metastatic spread and histogenomic associations revealed by integration of multi-region whole-genome sequencing with histopathological features.

BACKGROUND: Extension of prostate cancer beyond the primary site by local invasion or nodal metastasis is associated with poor prognosis. Despite significant research on tumour evolution in prostate cancer metastasis, the emergence and evolution of cancer clones at this early stage of expansion and spread are poorly understood. We aimed to delineate the routes of evolution and cancer spread within the prostate and to seminal vesicles and lymph nodes, linking these to histological features that are used in diagnostic risk stratification. METHODS: We performed whole-genome sequencing on 42 prostate cancer samples from the prostate, seminal vesicles and lymph nodes of five treatment-naive patients with locally advanced disease. We spatially mapped the clonal composition of cancer across the prostate and the routes of spread of cancer cells within the prostate and to seminal vesicles and lymph nodes in each individual by analysing a total of > 19,000 copy number corrected single nucleotide variants. RESULTS: In each patient, we identified sample locations corresponding to the earliest part of the malignancy. In patient 10, we mapped the spread of cancer from the apex of the prostate to the seminal vesicles and identified specific genomic changes associated with the transformation of adenocarcinoma to amphicrine morphology during this spread. Furthermore, we show that the lymph node metastases in this patient arose from specific cancer clones found at the base of the prostate and the seminal vesicles. In patient 15, we observed increased mutational burden, altered mutational signatures and histological changes associated with whole genome duplication. In all patients in whom histological heterogeneity was observed (4/5), we found that the distinct morphologies were located on separate branches of their respective evolutionary trees. CONCLUSIONS: Our results link histological transformation with specific genomic alterations and phylogenetic branching. These findings have implications for diagnosis and risk stratification, in addition to providing a rationale for further studies to characterise the genetic changes causally linked to morphological transformation. Our study demonstrates the value of integrating multi-region sequencing with histopathological data to understand tumour evolution and identify mechanisms of prostate cancer spread.

Dilarmycins A-C, Calcium-Dependent Lipopeptide Antibiotics with a Non-canonical Ca2+-Binding Motif.

Genome analysis of strain Streptomyces sp. CA-278952 revealed a biosynthetic gene cluster encoding a putative lipopeptide with a sequence containing an Asp-Gly-Glu-Ala motif. We envisioned that this motif could mimic the canonical Asp-X-Asp-Gly sequence found in previously reported calcium-dependent lipopeptide antibiotics. Chemical investigation of the producing strain led to the discovery of three novel lipodepsipeptides, dilarmycins A-C. The calcium-dependent antibacterial activity of the new compounds was confirmed against the Gram-positive pathogens methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus.

Adherence to the WHO recommendation of three weekly days of vigorous intensity activities in children: an accelerometry study of vigorous physical activity bouts.

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that children and adolescents incorporate vigorous intensity activities (VIAs) at least three days a week. This recommendation has not been sufficiently studied using objective methods, such as accelerometry. Physical education classes and extracurricular sports activities are optimal opportunities for compliance with this recommendation. Objective: To identify VIAs through bouts of vigorous physical activity (VPA-Bouts) evaluated with accelerometry and, with this, to know the compliance with the recommendation on VIAs. Methods: A cross-sectional study of the habitual physical activity of 353 children (8-9 years old) was carried out using accelerometry and participation in organized extracurricular sports activities was asked through a questionnaire. School days with and without physical education class, weekends, and the average weekly day were identified, as well as school time and out-of-school time. A VPA-Bout was defined as an interval of at least 60 minutes with a proportion of VPA of at least 16.7% in boys and 12.5% in girls (10.0 and 7.5 minutes/hour of VPA, respectively). Results: The average daily time in organized extracurricular sports activities declared by questionnaire and the average daily duration of the VPA-Bouts evaluated with accelerometers in the extracurricular period was 21.3 (SD 19.8) and 23.9 (SD 31.2) minutes, respectively, in boys, whereas, in girls it was 20.2 (SD 17.4) and 11.0 (SD 16.9) minutes, respectively. In school time including a physical education class, there was a higher proportion of VPA-Bouts than without these classes (with: 28.6%, without: 2.1%, p < 0.001). Children who reported at least three weekly hours of organized extracurricular sports activities accumulated a higher proportion of school afternoons with VPA-Bouts than those with fewer weekly hours of this type of activities (≥3 hours/week: 27.5%, <3 hours/week: 9.3%, p < 0.001). On the weekend, boys who reported at least three weekly hours of organized extracurricular sports activities performed more VPA-Bouts than those participating in less weekly hours, while in girls no significant differences were observed (weekend; boys, ≥3 hours/week: 26.0%, <3 hours/week: 9.0%, p < 0.001; girls: 8.3%, 8.0%, p = 0.917). Compliance with the recommendation to incorporate VIAs at least three days a week was 23.8%. Children who reported at least three weekly hours of extracurricular sports activities achieved higher compliance than those who reported fewer extracurricular activities (≥3 hours/week: 35.1%, <3 hours/week: 12.7%, p < 0.001). Additionally, boys showed higher compliance rates than girls (boys: 32.9%, girls: 15.3%, p < 0.001). Conclusion: One in every four children met the WHO recommendation to incorporate VIAs at least three days a week, as evaluated by accelerometry. Physical education classes and extracurricular organized sports activities contributed to compliance with this recommendation.

Acquisition of educational values at the Real Madrid Foundation's social-sports schools.

The objective of this study was to analyse the impact of the educational programme of the Real Madrid Foundation (RMF) on the acquisition of educational values at social-sports football and basketball schools among children aged between 12 and 16 years in Italy, Romania, Spain and the United Kingdom. The most significant results showed that: (a) between the 20-21 and 21-22 seasons, there were statistically significant increases in personal and team success, self-fulfilment, personal and group superiority, health and physical fitness, and peaceful behaviour; and (b) the increase in variables being studied was different according to the country analysed in such a way that: in the per-sonal and team success dimension there was a rise in the United Kingdom and Italy; in self-fulfilment there was an increase in the United Kingdom; in the personal and group superiority dimension there was a rise in Italy and Romania; in the health and physical fitness dimension there was an increase in social-sports schools in the United Kingdom and Italy; in the peaceful behaviour dimension there was a rise in social-sports schools in the United Kingdom and a drop in social-sports schools in Romania. There were very significant improvements in the majority of dimensions and countries, although the development of the various dimensions is different and specific to every one of the distinct countries, meaning that it is necessary to keep adapting the educational programme of the Real Madrid Foundation in line with the sociocultural characteristics of each of the countries in which it is implemented.