Relación entre el estreñimiento y la calidad de vida de las personas en tratamiento renal sustitutivo con hemodiálisis / Relationship between constipation and the quality of life of individuals undergoing renal replacement therapy with hemodialysis

Introducción:El estreñimiento es un problema frecuente en pacientes en hemodiálisis, asociado, entre otros aspectos a comorbilidad, polimedicación y restricciones hídricas y dieté-ticas, pudiendo llegar a afectar la calidad de vida. Objetivos: Analizar la relación del estreñimiento en la calidad de vida de pacientes en hemodiálisis, determinar la prevalen-cia del estreñimiento objetivo y subjetivo, y analizar las varia-bles más influyentes. Material y Método: Estudio observacional descriptivo trans-versal en una unidad de hemodiálisis hospitalaria. Se emplea-ron los Criterios Diagnósticos Roma IV (2016) y escala visual Bristol para evaluar el estreñimiento. Para evaluar la calidad de vida, el cuestionario CVE-20. Resultados: Se estudiaron 38 pacientes (58% hombres) con una edad media de 68,69±12,76 años, tiempo en hemodiá-lisis de 44±37,19 meses y el 31,57% eran sedentarios. La ingesta hídrica diaria fue de 1004,05±460,13 ml y diuresis 658,11±696,47 ml. El índice de Charlson fue 8,15±2,29 pun-tos. El 45% presentaron estreñimiento subjetivo y 42% obje-tivo. Los pacientes con estreñimiento fueron: 56% mujeres, con edad media de 67,81±14,88 años y tiempo en hemodiá-lisis de 40,06±32,97 meses; 12% tenían pautados opioides, 44% quelantes del fósforo, 56% hierro intravenoso y 25% laxantes. La calidad de vida fue inferior en los pacientes es-treñidos (53,06 vs 69,62 puntos); existiendo diferencias signi-ficativas en todas las dimensiones del cuestionario.Conclusiones: En los pacientes en hemodiálisis existe una importante prevalencia de estreñimiento, siendo más pre-valente en mujeres. Este estreñimiento está asociado a peor percepción de la calidad de vida (AU)

Introducción: Constipation is a frequent issue in hemodialy-sis patients, associated, among other factors, with comorbidi-ty, polypharmacy, and restrictions in fluid and dietary intake, potentially affecting the quality of life.Objectives: To analyze the relationship between constipation and the quality of life of hemodialysis patients, determine the prevalence of objective and subjective constipation, and analyze the most influential variables.Material and Method: Cross-sectional descriptive obser-vational study in a hospital hemodialysis unit. The Rome IV Diagnostic Criteria (2016) and the Bristol Visual Scale were used to assess constipation. Quality of life was evaluated using the CVE-20 questionnaire.Results: A total of 38 patients were studied (58% males) with a mean age of 68.69±12.76 years, a hemodialysis du-ration of 44±37.19 months, and 31.57% were sedentary. aily fluid intake was 1004.05±460.13 ml, and diuresis was 658.11±696.47 ml. The Charlson index was 8.15±2.29 points. Subjective constipation was present in 45%, and ob-jective constipation in 42%. Patients with constipation were 56% females, with a mean age of 67.81±14.88 years, and hemodialysis duration of 40.06±32.97 months; 12% were prescribed opioids, 44% phosphorus binders, 56% intra-venous iron, and 24% laxatives. Quality of life was lower in constipated patients (53.06 vs. 69.62 points), with significant differences in all dimensions of the questionnaire.Conclusions: Hemodialysis patients have a significant preva-lence of constipation, more prevalent in females. This consti-pation is associated with a poorer perception of quality of life (AU)

Five patients with disorders of calcium metabolism presented with GCM2 gene variants.

The GCM2 gene encodes a transcription factor predominantly expressed in parathyroid cells that is known to be critical for development, proliferation and maintenance of the parathyroid cells. A cohort of 127 Spanish patients with a disorder of calcium metabolism were screened for mutations by Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS). A targeted panel for disorders of calcium and phosphorus metabolism was designed to include 65 genes associated with these disorders. We observed two variants of uncertain significance (p.(Ser487Phe) and p.Asn315Asp), one likely pathogenic (p.Val382Met) and one benign variant (p.Ala393_Gln395dup) in the GCM2 gene in the heterozygous state in five families (two index cases had hypocalcemia and hypoparathyroidism, respectively, and three index cases had primary hyperparathyroidism). Our study shows the utility of NGS in unravelling the genetic origin of some disorders of the calcium and phosphorus metabolism, and confirms the GCM2 gene as an important element for the maintenance of calcium homeostasis. Importantly, a novel variant in the GCM2 gene (p.(Ser487Phe)) has been found in a patient with hypocalcemia.

Exploring the Microalga Euglena cantabrica by Pressurized Liquid Extraction to Obtain Bioactive Compounds.

In the present study, the chemical composition of the microalga Euglena cantabrica was investigated. The extraction of bioactive compounds was done using pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) at different temperatures (40-180 °C) and using green solvents (ethanol-water mixtures). A statistical design of experiments was used to optimize the maximum antioxidant capacity of the extracts by response surface methodology. The antioxidant capacity was determined through the inhibition of 2,2'-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, while the chemical analyses of the extracts were carried out using different chromatographic techniques. Chlorophylls and carotenoids were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a diode array detector and mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS) and carbohydrates by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and high-pressure size-exclusion chromatography coupled to an evaporative light-scattering detector (HPSEC-ELSD). The results showed different possibilities for the extraction conditions, depending on the desired bioactivity or chemical composition. Briefly, (i) mixtures of ethanol-water containing around 40% ethanol at 180 °C gave the best antioxidant capacity, (ii) mixtures containing around 50% ethanol at 110 °C gave the best yield of ß-glucan paramylon, and (iii) the use of pure ethanol at a low temperature (40 °C) is the best choice for the recovery of carotenoids such as diatoxanthin. Summing up, E. cantabrica seems to be a good candidate to be used in biorefinery to obtain different bioactive compounds.

Different Antifungal Activity of Anabaena sp., Ecklonia sp., and Jania sp. against Botrytis cinerea.

Water extracts and polysaccharides from Anabaena sp., Ecklonia sp., and Jania sp. were tested for their activity against the fungal plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea. Water extracts at 2.5, 5.0, and 10.0 mg/mL inhibited B. cinerea growth in vitro. Antifungal activity of polysaccharides obtained by N-cetylpyridinium bromide precipitation in water extracts was evaluated in vitro and in vitro at 0.5, 2.0, and 3.5 mg/mL. These concentrations were tested against fungal colony growth, spore germination, colony forming units (CFUs), CFU growth, and on strawberry fruits against B. cinerea infection with pre- and post-harvest application. In in vitro experiments, polysaccharides from Anabaena sp. and from Ecklonia sp. inhibited B. cinerea colony growth, CFUs, and CFU growth, while those extracted from Jania sp. reduced only the pathogen spore germination. In in vitro experiments, all concentrations of polysaccharides from Anabaena sp., Ecklonia sp., and Jania sp. reduced both the strawberry fruits infected area and the pathogen sporulation in the pre-harvest treatment, suggesting that they might be good candidates as preventive products in crop protection.