Physical activity and its association with Mediterranean diet patterns among Spanish university students / Actividad física y su asociación con los patrones de dieta mediterránea en universitarios españoles

Objective: the aim of the present study was to assess the level of physical activity and its association with Mediterranean dietary patterns in university students of health sciences at Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). Method: a cross-sectional study was performed through an online survey. The final sample consisted of 555 university students (78.2 % females). Adherence to Mediterranean diet was assessed using the 14-item Mediterranean Diet Adherence Screener (MEDAS). To measure physical activity, the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity Scale (RAPA) questionnaire was used. Results: according to physical activity, 2.5 % of the participants were considered active and 35.1 % did both strength and flexibility activities. A greater association was seen between intake of fruits (OR = 1.95; 95 % CI, 1.25-3.04), pulses (OR = 1.51; 95 % CI, 1.00-3.20), and nuts (OR = 1.99; 95 % CI, 1.33-2.99) in those considered sufficiently active. Similarly, we found a significant relationship between the intake of fruits (OR = 2.28; 95 % CI, 1.49-3.47), pulses (OR = 1.41; 95 % CI, 1.00-2.08), nuts (OR = 1.96; 95 % CI, 1.34-2.86), and fish/seafood (OR = 1.67; 95 % CI, 1.15-2.43) in those who engaged in both strength and flexibility activities. Conclusion: this study suggests that consumption of certain Mediterranean foods was associated with higher levels of physical activity in a sample of Spanish university students (AU)

Objetivo: el objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el nivel de actividad física y su asociación con la dieta mediterránea en estudiantes universitarios de ciencias de la salud de la Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha (España). Método:: se realizó un estudio transversal a través de una encuesta online. La muestra final estuvo formada por 555 estudiantes universitarios (78,2 % mujeres). La adherencia a la dieta mediterránea se evaluó mediante el evaluador de adherencia a la dieta mediterránea de 14 ítems (MEDAS). Para medir la actividad física se utilizó el cuestionario Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity Scale (RAPA). Resultados: de acuerdo con la actividad física, el 2,5 % de los participantes se consideraron activos y el 35,1 % realizaban actividades tanto de fuerza como de flexibilidad. Se observó una mayor asociación entre la ingesta de frutas (OR = 1,95; IC 95 %, 1,25-3,04), legumbres (OR = 1,51; IC 95 %, 1,00-3,20) y frutos secos (OR = 1,99; IC 95 %, 1,33-2,99) en aquellos considerados suficientemente activos. Asimismo, encontramos una relación significativa entre la ingesta de frutas (OR = 2,28; IC 95 %, 1,49-3,47), legumbres (OR = 1,41; IC 95 %, 1,00-2,08), frutos secos (OR = 1,96; IC 95 %, 1,34-2,86) y pescado/marisco (OR = 1,67; IC 95 %, 1,15-2,43), en aquellos que participaron en actividades de fuerza y flexibilidad. Conclusión: este estudio sugiere que el consumo de determinados alimentos mediterráneos se asocia con mayores niveles de actividad física en la muestra de universitarios españoles analizada (AU)

A new instrument for kinetics and branching ratio studies of gas phase collisional processes at very low temperatures.

A new instrument dedicated to the kinetic study of low-temperature gas phase neutral-neutral reactions, including clustering processes, is presented. It combines a supersonic flow reactor with vacuum ultra-violet synchrotron photoionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. A photoion-photoelectron coincidence detection scheme has been adopted to optimize the particle counting efficiency. The characteristics of the instrument are detailed along with its capabilities illustrated through a few results obtained at low temperatures (<100 K) including a photoionization spectrum of n-butane, the detection of formic acid dimer formation, and the observation of diacetylene molecules formed by the reaction between the C2H radical and C2H2.

Massive in Silico Study of Noble Gas Binding to the Structural Proteome.

Noble gases are chemically inert, and it was therefore thought they would have little effect on biology. Paradoxically, it was found that they do exhibit a wide range of biological effects, many of which are target-specific and potentially useful and some of which have been demonstrated in vivo. The underlying mechanisms by which useful pharmacology, such as tissue and neuroprotection, anti-addiction effects, and analgesia, is elicited are relatively unexplored. Experiments to probe the interactions of noble gases with specific proteins are more difficult with gases than those with other chemicals. It is clearly impractical to conduct the large number of gas-protein experiments required to gain a complete picture of noble gas biology. Given the simplicity of atoms as ligands, in silico methods provide an opportunity to gain insight into which noble gas-protein interactions are worthy of further experimental or advanced computational investigation. Our previous validation studies showed that in silico methods can accurately predict experimentally determined noble gas binding sites in X-ray structures of proteins. Here, we summarize the largest reported in silico reverse docking study involving 127 854 protein structures and the five nonradioactive noble gases. We describe how these computational screening methods are implemented, summarize the main types of interactions that occur between noble gases and target proteins, describe how the massive data set that this study generated can be analyzed (freely available at group18.csiro.au), and provide the NDMA receptor as an example of how these data can be used to understand the molecular pharmacology underlying the biology of the noble gases. We encourage chemical biologists to access the data and use them to expand the knowledge base of noble gas pharmacology, and to use this information, together with more efficient delivery systems, to develop "atomic drugs" that can fully exploit their considerable and relatively unexplored potential in medicine.

Benznidazole treatment in chronic children infected with Trypanosoma cruzi: serological and molecular follow-up of patients and identification of Discrete Typing Units.

A total of 221 children from two rural settlements in Northeast Argentina were examined for T. cruzi infection. Blood samples were taken for serology tests and PCR assays. In addition, T. cruzi Discrete Typing Units (DTUs) were determined by hybridization with specific DNA probes of the minicircle hypervariable regions (mHVR). Serological results indicated that 26% (57/215) were reactive against T. cruzi antigens. PCR analyses were performed on seropositive samples showing presence of parasite DNA in 31 out of 53 samples (58.5%). All seropositive children underwent specific chemotherapy with Benznidazole (5mg/kg/day) for a period of two months and were monitored two and five years after treatment. Overall the treatment was well tolerated and low side effects were observed. Serological conversion was observed at two years post -treatment in one child form Pampa Ávila and at five years in two children from Tres Estacas. However, at the end of the follow-up period, T. cruzi DNA could not be detected by PCR in samples from treated children, except in two cases. In addition, the results of hybridizations with specific DNA probes showed that DTU TcV was detected in 68% (21/31), TcVI in 7% (2/31) and TcV/VI in 3% (1/31) of the samples. Altogether, results of the follow-up of treated children showed a low rate of seroconversion; however trend toward seroconversion was evident at five years post-treatment. On the other hand, detection of T. cruzi DNA by PCR significantly decreased after Benznidazole treatment. The existence of data regarding serological and molecular follow-ups from controlled studies in the Chaco Region will be important for future treatment efforts against T. cruzi infection in this region. The results obtained in the present study represent a contribution in this regard.

Complementary and alternative medicines usage in bipolar patients from Argentina and Colombia: associations with satisfaction and adherence to treatment.

BACKGROUND: The use of Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAM) has been reported by around half the patients undergoing medical treatment for chronic conditions. CAM use could be higher in people affected by bipolar disorders (BD). Some questions about CAM use in BD have not been investigated enough. We report here the results of an anonymous survey on CAM-use conducted among BD outpatients of two centers located in Argentina and Colombia. METHODS: an anonymous self-survey was administrated to bipolar euthymic outpatients treated at each center. The survey included a self-report measure of adherence to psychiatric treatment and a modified version of CGI to asses satisfaction with the current treatment. RESULTS: 200 patients completed the survey. Although samples differ in socio-economic profile, they do not differ in their reported CAM-usage (more than 40%). CAM-usage did not modify the adherence or satisfaction with the psychiatric treatment reported level. Thirty eight percent of those who were still resorting to CAM failed to inform it to their clinician. CAM-usage was rated as "useful" or "very useful" by 52% of patients. LIMITS: adherence to current medical treatment and satisfaction with current treatment were investigated by a self-reported instrument. DISCUSSION: the prevalence of CAM usage found is similar to that of other studies. CAM usage seems to be ubiquitous, which takes to posit that a subgroup of patients may be in need of treatment with greater magical-religious components. Half of these patients were reluctant to disclose CAM use. Clinicians may need to consider coexistence between "traditional" treatments and CAM for these patients.

Immuno-enzymatic evaluation of the recombinant TSSA-II protein of Trypanosoma cruzi in dogs and human sera: a tool for epidemiological studies.

The rTSSA-II (recombinant Trypomastigote Small Surface II) antigen was evaluated by ELISA to detect anti-Trypanosoma cruzi antibodies in sera from naturally infected dogs and humans. For this evaluation ELISA-rTSSA-II was standardized and groups were classified according to the results obtained through xenodiagnosis, ELISA and PCR. Sensitivity (Se), Specificity (Sp), Kappa index (KI) and area under curve (AUC) were determined. The Se was determined by using 14 sera from dogs infected with T. cruzi VI (TcVI) whereas Sp was determined by using 95 non-chagasic sera by xenodiagnosis, ELISA-Homogenate and PCR. The performance of ELISA-rTSSA-II in dog sera was high (AUC=0·93 and KI=0·91). The Se was 92·85% (1 false negative) and Sp was 100%. Two sera from dogs infected with TcI and 1 with TcIII were negative. For patients infected with T. cruzi, reactivity was 87·8% (36/41), there was only 1 indeterminate, and Sp was 100%. Fifty-four sera from non-chagasic and 68 sera from patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis did not react with rTSS-II. ELISA-rTSSA-II showed a high performance when studying sera from naturally infected dogs and it also presented 100% Sp. This assay could be an important tool to carry out sero-epidemiological surveys on the prevalence of T. cruzi circulating lineages in the region.

Tolerance mechanisms in response to antigens responsible for baker's asthma in different exposed people.

BACKGROUND: Baker's asthma is among the most common occupational disease. The risk factors and immune features that may be important as predictors of tolerance or development of the disease are not completely understood. OBJECTIVE: To study the evolution over time of antigenic reactivity on baker's asthma in Spain and in France, in order to find differences in their allergenic response and evidence of protective or risks mechanisms against this disease. METHODS: Two groups of subjects were randomly selected. A group of bakers with asthma from Spain and a second group from France whose blood was taken 30 years ago: bakers with asthma, bakers without occupational respiratory allergy, and wives and children living close to the bakery. In all subjects skin tests were carried out with cereals, insects and the most common allergens in their area. Specific IgE, IgG(4) and IL 10 measurement were also determined. RESULTS: Spanish patients were mainly sensitized to cereal allergens and presented higher levels of IgE (p < 0.001). French patients are more often sensitised to insects than the Spanish ones: 5.26% versus 80% (p < 0.005). Symptom free or without aggravation at work subjects have higher specific IgG(4) and IL 10 levels than the others (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Antigens implicated in baker's asthma may change with time. The presence of higher levels of IgG(4), IL10 and diversity of sources of sensitisation in French patients may have helped them to develop a kind of natural hyposensitization.

Effects of prolonged propranolol treatment on left ventricular remodeling and oxidative stress after myocardial infarction in rats.

Mechanisms determining the benefit of beta blockade in patients with heart failure remain incompletely understood but are assumed consequent to prevention of deleterious effects of catecholamines. Recent studies have demonstrated that oxidative stress in congestive heart failure may be related to increased catecholamine levels. The aim of this study was to examine effects of long-term treatment with propranolol on progression of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, remodeling and oxidative stress on an experimental model of chronic heart failure. Six weeks after myocardial infarction by coronary ligation, Wistar rats were randomized to two groups: 10 weeks of therapy with propranolol (50 mg/kg/day in drinking water) and no treatment (infarcted controls). A third group was sham-operated rats without treatment. Animals were anesthetized for hemodynamic measurements, and hearts were then removed for histologic analysis, papillary muscle contractility study, and oxidative stress measurements using thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) determination. Control infarcted rats demonstrated significant alterations of hemodynamic parameters and remodeling with increase of heart weight/body weight, of right ventricular lateral wall thickness, of LV circumference, LV septal area/body weight, and LV papillary muscle weight/body weight as compared with sham. In propranolol-treated rats, hypertrophy of the LV septum, papillary muscle, and right ventricle were similar to those of the infarcted control. Myocardial oxidative stress was significantly increased in control infarcted rats compared with sham, and propranolol prevented such oxidative stress increase. Papillary muscle isometric tension parameters were not significantly different among groups. Propranolol treatment prevented isoprenaline-induced spontaneous papillary muscle activity in vitro. Oxidative stress is increased in the rat model of heart failure secondary to coronary ligation. Long-term treatment with propranolol in vivo does not modify the compensatory process of hypertrophy but completely abolishes the oxidative stress increase and reduces the increased cardiac sensitivity to catecholamine-induced arrhythmias observed in this experimental model of heart failure.

In vivo left ventricular function and collagen expression in aldosterone/salt-induced hypertension.

Cardiac fibrosis is linked to aldosterone-induced hypertension, but the effects on in vivo left ventricular (LV) function are not established. We studied the relations between in vivo LV function and aldosterone/salt cardiac fibrosis. Adult guinea pigs (GPs) were treated for 3 months with an aldosterone infusion and high-salt diet. This treatment induced arterial hypertension (+35%) and moderate LV hypertrophy (LVH; +60%) without right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy. Echo-Doppler LV assessment demonstrated unaltered cardiac output, stroke volume, or LV relaxation. Type I collagen messenger RNA (mRNA) was significantly increased in both ventricles (LV, +48%; RV, +77%) and accompanied by a significant increase in total collagen deposition (LV, from 0.52% in controls to 4.4% in treated GPs; RV, from 0.82 to 5.5% in treated GPs). Plasma norepinephrine levels increased 2.6-fold (p < 0.01) and correlated with the increase in collagen deposition in both ventricles. Collagen content was not correlated with hypertension or LVH. We conclude that aldosterone administration induces cardiac collagen accumulation and a sympathetic stimulation, which might preserve systolic and diastolic function.

Modifications of myocardial Na+,K(+)-ATPase isoforms and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in aldosterone/salt-induced hypertension in guinea pigs.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine whether changes in cardiac Na+,K(+)-ATPase subunits and Na+/Ca2+ exchanger expression are regulated in aldosterone-salt hypertensive guinea pigs. METHODS: Guinea pigs (GP) were unilaterally nephrectomized and randomized into three groups (aldosterone-salt; control-salt; control). After 90 days of treatment, echocardiographic M-mode assessment and right carotid arterial catheterization were performed in vivo, and plasma hormones and electrolytes were measured. mRNA and protein levels were studied by Northern and Western blot analysis. RESULTS: Aldosterone-salt treatment induced, (1) arterial hypertension (+40%) and LV hypertrophy (+60%) without altering LV-fractional shortening, (2) an increase in plasma norepinephrine levels (+262%) and suppression of renin activity. Northern blot analysis showed the presence of the mRNA encoding the three alpha isoforms and the beta 1 subunit of Na+,K(+)-ATPase in GP myocardium. In the aldosterone-salt group, levels of alpha 1 and beta 1 mRNAs were unchanged. alpha 2 mRNA was increased in both ventricles, whereas alpha 3 mRNA was increased in hypertrophied LV only. Furthermore, levels of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger mRNA were decreased in both ventricles. At protein level, the two major transcripts (alpha 1 and alpha 2) were detected but alpha 3 isoform was not. Parallel changes in protein and mRNA accumulation of alpha 1 and alpha 2 isoforms were observed in hypertrophied LV. CONCLUSION: These results show that alpha 1 and alpha 2 isoforms are expressed in GP heart and that they are independently regulated in aldosterone-salt hypertension. Like the alpha 1 isoform in renal tissue, alpha 2 isoform is the main target of aldosterone-salt. Reciprocal expression of the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger and Na+,K(+)-ATPase suggests an adaptational mechanism which maintains an appropriate sodium gradient and calcium concentration in hypertensive myocardium.

Effect of the oxidation state of LDL on the modulation of arterial vasomotor response in vitro.

Although it is established that highly oxidized LDL modify both vasodilator and vasoconstrictor responses in normal and atherosclerotic arterial tissue, there is a paucity of data on the relationship between the degree of the oxidative modification of LDL and vasomotor response. We therefore compared the impact of native LDL (Nat-LDL), and of partially (P-oxLDL), of moderately (M-oxLDL) and of highly oxidized LDL (H-oxLDL) on the vasomotor response of isolated human internal mammary artery and of rat thoracic aorta. Copper-mediated oxidative modification for up to 24 h at 37 degrees C was characterised by a progressive increase in the net negative electrical charge of LDL, and in the content of oxysterols; by contrast, lipid hydroperoxide and TBARS content peaked in M-oxLDL at 6 h. Neither basal vascular tone nor vasoconstriction induced by KCl (100 mmol/l) were modified significantly in arterial segments in relation to the degree of LDL oxidation. While Nat-LDL did not modify the contractile response of rat aorta to norepinephrine, increase in the degree of oxidative modification of LDL progressively and significantly shifted the norepinephrine response curve to the right (EC50 values for Nat-LDL, M-oxLDL and H-oxLDL: 1.2+/-0.5x10(-8), 3.5+/-1x10(-7), 1.3+/-0.4x10(-6) mol/l respectively) with reduction in the maximal effect (74.5+/-12.2 and 100.1+/-6.2% for H-oxLDL and M-oxLDL respectively, P < 0.05 versus controls). Similar findings were made in human arteries treated with H-oxLDL (P < 0.05 for EC50 and maximal response versus controls). The acetylcholine-induced, endothelial-dependent relaxation of rat aortic segments was significantly and progressively impaired with increase in the degree of LDL oxidation, maximal relaxation with H-oxLDL being 3-fold less (P < 0.05) than Nat-LDL at the same protein concentration (100 microg/ml). Acetylated LDL was without effect. Our data indicate that the increase in the degree of copper-mediated, oxidative modification of LDL parallels progressive reduction in the vasomotor response of the arterial wall to norepinephrine-induced contraction and to acetylcholine-induced relaxation subsequent to precontraction. Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that the major oxysterols (7-ketocholesterol, 7beta-hydroxycholesterol) present in Ox-LDL underlie such effects.

[Neurohormonal profile in aortic valve stenosis]. / Etude du profil neurohormonal dans le rétrécissement valvulaire aortique.

The authors studied the responses of the main systems of sympathetic and hormonal regulation in valvular aortic stenosis, a special model of dissociation between arterial pressure and left ventricular function. The series comprised 14 patients with an average age of 70 +/- 9 years without diuretic therapy presenting with pure calcific aortic stenosis without other valvular or coronary disease. All were in sinus rhythm; 5 were taking an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor. Plasma concentrations of endothelin 1, atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), arginine vasopressin (AVP), catecholamines, plasma renin activity (PRA), angiotensin II and aldosterone were measured in resting, fasting patients, by blood samplings from a peripheral vein immediately before cardiac catheterisation. The results were compared with the severity of the aortic stenosis (aortic valve area greater or less than 0.7 cm2), the ratio of left ventricular work/myocardial mass (greater or less than 0.6) and treatment (with or without ACE inhibitors). Catecholamine levels were much higher in severe aortic stenosis (noradrenaline: 579 +/- 66 pg/ml when valve surface area > 0.7 cm2 versus 900 +/- 92 pg/ml when valve surface area < 0.7 cm2; p < 0.01). Endothelin -1 and AVP concentrations were normal. Whereas PRA was normal, aldosterone levels were increased in patients without treatment by ACE inhibitors. This treatment did not, however, normalise the noradrenaline levels. The increase in ANF concentration was large when left ventricular work decreased with respect to myocardial mass (190.8 +/- 42.3 pg/ml if W/M was decreased versus 82.7 +/- 15.4 pg/ml when W/M was normal): this could be related to the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy.

Isolated injury of the coracoid process: case report.

Injuries of the coracoid process are generally rare in traumatic injuries of the shoulder. To our knowledge, there have been fewer than 12 cases of isolated injury of the coracoid process reported in the world literature. We present a case of isolated injury to the coracoid process and discuss its significance.