New Breeding Technologies in Grasses.

Plant breeding is continuously evolving to develop new cultivars with the desired traits in the most efficient way [...].

Improving in-season wheat yield prediction using remote sensing and additional agronomic traits as predictors.

The development of accurate grain yield (GY) multivariate models using normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) assessments obtained from aerial vehicles and additional agronomic traits is a promising option to assist, or even substitute, laborious agronomic in-field evaluations for wheat variety trials. This study proposed improved GY prediction models for wheat experimental trials. Calibration models were developed using all possible combinations of aerial NDVI, plant height, phenology, and ear density from experimental trials of three crop seasons. First, models were developed using 20, 50 and 100 plots in training sets and GY predictions were only moderately improved by increasing the size of the training set. Then, the best models predicting GY were defined in terms of the lowest Bayesian information criterion (BIC) and the inclusion of days to heading, ear density or plant height together with NDVI in most cases were better (lower BIC) than NDVI alone. This was particularly evident when NDVI saturates (with yields above 8 t ha-1) with models including NDVI and days to heading providing a 50% increase in the prediction accuracy and a 10% decrease in the root mean square error. These results showed an improvement of NDVI prediction models by the addition of other agronomic traits. Moreover, NDVI and additional agronomic traits were unreliable predictors of grain yield in wheat landraces and conventional yield quantification methods must be used in this case. Saturation and underestimation of productivity may be explained by differences in other yield components that NDVI alone cannot detect (e.g. differences in grain size and number).

Uncovering the genetic basis for quality traits in the Mediterranean old wheat germplasm and phenotypic and genomic prediction assessment by cross-validation test.

The release of new wheat varieties is based on two main characteristics, grain yield and quality, to meet the consumer's demand. Identifying the genetic architecture for yield and key quality traits has wide attention for genetic improvement to meet the global requirement. In this sense, the use of landraces represents an impressive source of natural allelic variation. In this study, a genome-wide association analysis (GWAS) with PCA and kinship matrix was performed to detect QTLs in bread wheat for fifteen quality and agronomic traits using 170 diverse landraces from 24 Mediterranean countries in two years of field trials. A total of 53 QTL hotspots containing 165 significant marker-trait associations (MTAs) were located across the genome for quality and agronomical traits except for chromosome 2D. The major specific QTL hotspots for quality traits were QTL_3B.3 (13 MTAs with a mean PVE of 8.2%) and QTL_4A.3 (15 MTAs, mean PVE of 11.0%), and for yield-related traits were QTL_2B.1 (8 MTAs, mean PVE of 7.4%) and QTL_4B.2 (5 MTAs, mean PVE of 10.0%). A search for candidate genes (CG) identified 807 gene models within the QTL hotspots. Ten of these CGs were expressed specifically in grain supporting the role of identified QTLs in Landraces, associated to bread wheat quality traits and grain formation. A cross-validation approach within the collection was performed to calculate the accuracies of genomic prediction for quality and agronomical traits, ranging from -0.03 to 0.64 for quality and 0.46 to 0.65 for agronomic traits. In addition, five prediction equations using the phenotypic data were developed to predict bread loaf volume in landraces. The prediction ability varied from 0.67 to 0.82 depending on the complexity of the traits considered to predict loaf volume.

Discovering Loci for Breeding Prospective and Phenology in Wheat Mediterranean Landraces by Environmental and eigenGWAS.

Knowledge of the genetic basis of traits controlling phenology, differentiation patterns, and environmental adaptation is essential to develop new cultivars under climate change conditions. Landrace collections are an appropriate platform to study the hidden variation caused by crop breeding. The use of genome-wide association analysis for phenology, climatic data and differentiation among Mediterranean landraces led to the identification of 651 marker-trait associations that could be grouped in 46 QTL hotspots. A candidate gene analysis using the annotation of the genome sequence of the wheat cultivar 'Chinese Spring' detected 1097 gene models within 33 selected QTL hotspots. From all the gene models, 42 were shown to be differentially expressed (upregulated) under abiotic stress conditions, and 9 were selected based on their levels of expression. Different gene families previously reported for their involvement in different stress responses were found (protein kinases, ras-like GTP binding proteins and ethylene-responsive transcription factors). Finally, the synteny analysis in the QTL hotspots regions among the genomes of wheat and other cereal species identified 23, 21 and 7 ortho-QTLs for Brachypodium, rice and maize, respectively, confirming the importance of these loci.

Vitamin D-Related Risk Factors for Maternal Morbidity and Mortality during Pregnancy: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Vitamin D deficiency (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels <20 ng/mL in serum) is a common health condition among pregnant women, especially in high-risk groups. Evidence has connected vitamin D levels with many health-related problems during pregnancy, including gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. Because of vitamin D's effect on both mother and fetus, we systematically review the association between 25(OH)D level and its health effects. From a total of 143 studies, 43 came from PubMed, 4 from Cochrane, and 96 from EMBASE. After screening, we identified 38 studies as candidates for inclusion. Ultimately, we limited this review to 23 articles originating from 12 countries, written in English or Spanish, and conducted between 2010 and 2022. We conducted this review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and evaluated the quality and strength of the evidence by using the Navigation Guide Systematic Review Methodology (SING). These systematic reviews summarize findings that support vitamin D's role in reducing risks of multiple outcomes and the possible contribution of adequate vitamin D levels to a healthy pregnancy.

Combined Dietary Education and High-Intensity Interval Resistance Training Improve Health Outcomes in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

BACKGROUND: Reducing cardiovascular risk through lifestyle changes that include a heart-healthy diet and regular exercise is recommended in the rehabilitation of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We pilot-tested the effectiveness of a dietary-education and high-intensity interval resistance training (DE-HIIRT) program on healthy food choices and associated anthropometric variables in patients with established CAD. METHODS: A total of 22 participants, aged 60.0 ± 7.2 years, were enrolled in the study. Over 3 months, under the guidance and supervision of a physiotherapist, participants performed the resistance exercises 2×/week in a group setting (cohort of 11). Participants additionally attended three sessions of dietary education led by a dietician. Participants demonstrated their knowledge and understanding of dietary education by picking heart-healthy foods by reading food labels. Outcomes included change in diet (measured using the tricipital skinfold thickness Mediterranean Diet Adherence questionnaire (MEDAS-14) and the Food Consumption Frequency Questionnaire (FCFQ)) and anthropometric measurements (body composition, body circumference, and tricipital skinfold thickness). A paired t-test was performed to analyze the differences between the baseline and post-intervention results. RESULTS: Participants significantly increased their consumption of vegetables (p = 0.04) and lowered their consumption of sweet snacks (p = 0.007), pastries (p = 0.02), and processed food (p = 0.05). Significant improvements in body mass index (p = 0.001), waist circumference (p = 0.0001), hip circumference (p = 0.04), and body fat (p = 0.0001) were also achieved. CONCLUSION: Making lifestyle changes that include both diet and exercise is essential in the management of CAD. The HIIRT program combined with dietary changes shows promise in achieving weight-loss goals in this population and needs to be further investigated with appropriate study designs.

A consensus map for quality traits in durum wheat based on genome-wide association studies and detection of ortho-meta QTL across cereal species.

The present work focused on the identification of durum wheat QTL hotspots from a collection of genome-wide association studies, for quality traits, such as grain protein content and composition, yellow color, fiber, grain microelement content (iron, magnesium, potassium, selenium, sulfur, calcium, cadmium), kernel vitreousness, semolina, and dough quality test. For the first time a total of 10 GWAS studies, comprising 395 marker-trait associations (MTA) on 57 quality traits, with more than 1,500 genotypes from 9 association panels, were used to investigate consensus QTL hotspots representative of a wide durum wheat genetic variation. MTA were found distributed on all the A and B genomes chromosomes with minimum number of MTA observed on chromosome 5B (15) and a maximum of 45 on chromosome 7A, with an average of 28 MTA per chromosome. The MTA were equally distributed on A (48%) and B (52%) genomes and allowed the identification of 94 QTL hotspots. Synteny maps for QTL were also performed in Zea mays, Brachypodium, and Oryza sativa, and candidate gene identification allowed the association of genes involved in biological processes playing a major role in the control of quality traits.

Vitamin D-Related Risk Factors for Maternal Morbidity during Pregnancy: A Systematic Review.

Vitamin D has well-defined classical functions related to metabolism and bone health but also has non-classical effects that may influence pregnancy. Maternal morbidity remains a significant health care concern worldwide, despite efforts to improve maternal health. Nutritional deficiencies of vitamin D during pregnancy are related to adverse pregnancy outcomes, but the evidence base is difficult to navigate. The primary purpose of this review is to map the evidence on the effects of deficiencies of vitamin D on pregnancy outcome and the dosage used in such studies. A systematic search was performed for studies on vitamin D status during pregnancy and maternal outcomes. A total of 50 studies came from PubMed, 15 studies came from Cochrane, and 150 studies came from Embase, for a total of 215 articles. After screening, 34 were identified as candidate studies for inclusion. Finally, 28 articles met the inclusion criteria, which originated from 15 countries. The studies included 14 original research studies and 13 review studies conducted between 2012 and 2021. This review was finally limited to the 14 original studies. This systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, and the quality and strength of the evidence was evaluated using the Navigation Guide Systematic Review Methodology (SING). We found evidence that supports the idea that supplementary vitamin D for pregnant women is important for reducing the risk of gestational diabetes, hypertension, preeclampsia, early labor, and other complications. The data retrieved from this review are consistent with the hypothesis that adequate vitamin D levels might contribute to a healthy pregnancy.

Unravelling consensus genomic regions conferring leaf rust resistance in wheat via meta-QTL analysis.

Leaf rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia triticina Erikss (Pt), is a destructive disease affecting wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and a threat to food security. Developing resistant cultivars represents a useful method of disease control, and thus, understanding the genetic basis for leaf rust resistance is required. To this end, a comprehensive bibliographic search for leaf rust resistance quantitative trait loci (QTL) was performed, and 393 QTL were collected from 50 QTL mapping studies. Afterward, a consensus map with a total length of 4,567 cM consisting of different types of markers (simple sequence repeat [SSR], diversity arrays technology [DArT], chip-based single-nucleotide polymorphism [SNP] markers, and SNP markers from genotyping-by-sequencing) was used for QTL projection, and meta-QTL (MQTL) analysis was performed on 320 QTL. A total of 75 MQTL were discovered and refined to 15 high-confidence MQTL (hcmQTL). The candidate genes discovered within the hcmQTL interval were then checked for differential expression using data from three transcriptome studies, resulting in 92 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). The expression of these genes in various leaf tissues during wheat development was explored. This study provides insight into leaf rust resistance in wheat and thereby provides an avenue for developing resistant cultivars by incorporating the most important hcmQTL.

A Review of the Relationship Between the Appetite-Regulating Hormone Leptin Present in Human Milk and Infant Growth.

Objective: The relationship between leptin in human milk (HM) and infant growth is quite controversial. The aim of the present study was to review the epidemiological literature currently available on the relation between the appetite-regulating hormone leptin in HM with growth and infant weight gain. Also, to know if it influences on the center of satiety of the infant, and if this hormone has an effect in the self-regulation of food intake. Methods: A review of review and original research articles published from January 1, 2015 up to December 31, 2019 measuring leptin in HM and infant weight gain was performed in the PubMed and Embase databases. The literature showed a total of 237 articles, where the title and abstract were evaluated to eliminate duplicate citations and later exclusion criteria were established to discard articles. Eighteen articles met the inclusion criteria. Results: Six articles showed a relationship between leptin present in HM and infant weight. Five articles reported on leptin in HM and the effect on satiety and self-regulation of infant intake. Studies of leptin in infant serum blood were quite controversial. There is an inverse relationship between the leptin in HM and infant weight gain. Also, breastfed infants better self-regulate their intake and have a better relationship with food. The duration of breastfeeding directly influences on the growth of the infant due to the hormones present in the milk. However, these mechanisms are unclear, and the results are controversial. Conclusion: The evidence from the studies allowed us to establish that there is an association between leptin in HM and infant weight gain. However, there is still a lack of longitudinal studies, with a larger number of participants and well-established inclusion criteria about the relationship between leptin in HM exposure and the development of infant weight gain.

Meta-QTL analysis and identification of candidate genes for quality, abiotic and biotic stress in durum wheat.

The genetic improvement of durum wheat and enhancement of plant performance often depend on the identification of stable quantitative trait loci (QTL) and closely linked molecular markers. This is essential for better understanding the genetic basis of important agronomic traits and identifying an effective method for improving selection efficiency in breeding programmes. Meta-QTL analysis is a useful approach for dissecting the genetic basis of complex traits, providing broader allelic coverage and higher mapping resolution for the identification of putative molecular markers to be used in marker-assisted selection. In the present study, extensive QTL meta-analysis was conducted on 45 traits of durum wheat, including quality and biotic and abiotic stress-related traits. A total of 368 QTL distributed on all 14 chromosomes of genomes A and B were projected: 171 corresponded to quality-related traits, 127 to abiotic stress and 71 to biotic stress, of which 318 were grouped in 85 meta-QTL (MQTL), 24 remained as single QTL and 26 were not assigned to any MQTL. The number of MQTL per chromosome ranged from 4 in chromosomes 1A and 6A to 9 in chromosome 7B; chromosomes 3A and 7A showed the highest number of individual QTL (4), and chromosome 7B the highest number of undefined QTL (4). The recently published genome sequence of durum wheat was used to search for candidate genes within the MQTL peaks. This work will facilitate cloning and pyramiding of QTL to develop new cultivars with specific quantitative traits and speed up breeding programs.

Labelling Selective Sweeps Used in Durum Wheat Breeding from a Diverse and Structured Panel of Landraces and Cultivars.

A panel of 387 durum wheat genotypes including Mediterranean landraces and modern cultivars was characterized with 46,161 diversity arrays technology (DArTseq) markers. Analysis of population structure uncovered the existence of five subpopulations (SP) related to the pattern of migration of durum wheat from the domestication area to the west of the Mediterranean basin (SPs 1, 2, and 3) and further improved germplasm (SPs 4 and 5). The total genetic diversity (HT) was 0.40 with a genetic differentiation (GST) of 0.08 and a mean gene flow among SPs of 6.02. The lowest gene flow was detected between SP 1 (presumably the ancient genetic pool of the panel) and SPs 4 and 5. However, gene flow from SP 2 to modern cultivars was much higher. The highest gene flow was detected between SP 3 (western Mediterranean germplasm) and SP 5 (North American and European cultivars). A genome wide association study (GWAS) approach using the top ten eigenvectors as phenotypic data revealed the presence of 89 selective sweeps, represented as quantitative trait loci (QTL) hotspots, widely distributed across the durum wheat genome. A principal component analysis (PCoA) using 147 markers with -log10p > 5 identified three regions located on chromosomes 2A, 2B and 3A as the main drivers for differentiation of Mediterranean landraces. Gene flow between SPs offers clues regarding the putative use of Mediterranean old durum germplasm by the breeding programs represented in the structure analysis. EigenGWAS identified selective sweeps among landraces and modern cultivars. The analysis of the corresponding genomic regions in the 'Zavitan', 'Svevo' and 'Chinese Spring' genomes discovered the presence of important functional genes including Ppd, Vrn, Rht, and gene models involved in important biological processes including LRR-RLK, MADS-box, NAC, and F-box.

From Genetic Maps to QTL Cloning: An Overview for Durum Wheat.

Durum wheat is one of the most important cultivated cereal crops, providing nutrients to humans and domestic animals. Durum breeding programs prioritize the improvement of its main agronomic traits; however, the majority of these traits involve complex characteristics with a quantitative inheritance (quantitative trait loci, QTL). This can be solved with the use of genetic maps, new molecular markers, phenotyping data of segregating populations, and increased accessibility to sequences from next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. This allows for high-density genetic maps to be developed for localizing candidate loci within a few Kb in a complex genome, such as durum wheat. Here, we review the identified QTL, fine mapping, and cloning of QTL or candidate genes involved in the main traits regarding the quality and biotic and abiotic stresses of durum wheat. The current knowledge on the used molecular markers, sequence data, and how they changed the development of genetic maps and the characterization of QTL is summarized. A deeper understanding of the trait architecture useful in accelerating durum wheat breeding programs is envisioned.

Maternal profile according to Mediterranean diet adherence and small for gestational age and preterm newborn outcomes.

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to evaluate maternal Mediterranean diet (MD) pattern adherence during pregnancy and its association with small for gestational age (SGA) and preterm birth. A secondary objective of the current study was to describe the sociodemographic, lifestyle and obstetric profile of the mothers studied as well as the most relevant paternal and newborn characteristics. DESIGN: The current study is a two-phase retrospective population-based study of maternal dietary habits during pregnancy and their effect on newborn size and prematurity. The descriptive first phase examined maternal dietary habits during pregnancy along with the maternal sociodemographic, lifestyle and obstetric profile in a cross-sectional period study. In the second phase, newborn outcomes were evaluated in a nested case-control study. Adherence to MD during pregnancy was measured with the Spanish version of Kidmed index. SETTING: Obstetrics ward of the La Fe Hospital in Valencia. PARTICIPANTS: All mother-child pairs admitted after delivery during a 12-month period starting from January 2018 were assessed for eligibility. A total of 1118 provided complete outcome data after signing informed consent. RESULTS: 14·5 % met the criteria of poor adherence (PA); 34·8 %, medium adherence (MA); and 50·7 %, optimal adherence (OA). Medium adherence to MD was associated in the adjusted scenarios with a higher risk of giving birth to a preterm newborn. No association was found between MD adherence and SGA. CONCLUSIONS: Early intervention programmes geared towards pregnant women, where women were aided in reaching OA to MD, might reduce the risk of preterm newborn.

Development, validation and implementation of a program to detect malnutrition with NRS-2002 screening tool in patients, between 16 and 93 years, from the oncology and hematology service from Valencia during 2017 and 2018 / Desarrollo, validación e implementación de un programa de detección de desnutrición con herramienta de cribado NRS-2002 en pacientes del servicio de oncología y hematología

INTRODUCTION: Hospital malnutrition (HM) is an increasingly prevalent situation, which involves both an increase in health costs, and also a decrease in the life quality and greater morbimortality. Nutritional screening is essential to detect malnutrition early and avoid these complications. OBJECTIVES: To develop, validate and implement the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) tool at the admission and during the hospitalization of a patient in the oncohematology service in a third level hospital, and know their nutritional status at the admission and the discharge. METHODS: NRS-2002 was performed on all patients admitted to the oncohaematology service, followed by the complete nutritional assessment (NA) to check its validity. NRS-2002 is repeated weekly to determine the degree of malnutrition during the hospital stay. RESULTS: 573 patients were admitted to the oncohematology service, of which a 34.4% suffered from malnutrition, 44.7% had risk of malnutrition and 20.9% were in good nutritional condition, at the time they were admitted to hospital according to the NRS-2002. In patients admitted for more than a week, NRS-2002 was performed weekly and found that, upon discharge, a 34.4% were malnourished, 50.8% had a risk of malnutrition and the last 14.76% were in good nutritional status; also a 12.3% worsened their nutritional status, the 68.9% maintained it and only a 18.9% improved it. 78.8% of patients with longer admissions require a NA. DISCUSSION: Due to the high risk of malnutrition in hospital admission, the use of nutritional screening is necessary, both at admission and during hospital stay to avoid nutritional deterioration during the same. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that the NRS-2002 is a simple and effective method for early malnutrition detection

INTRODUCCIÓN: La desnutrición hospitalaria es una situación cada vez más prevalente, que implica un aumento de los costos de salud, una disminución de la calidad de vida y una mayor morbimortalidad. El cribado nutricional es fundamental para detectar precozmente la desnutrición y evitar complicaciones. OBJETIVOS: Desarrollar, validar e implementar la herramienta Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS-2002) al ingreso y durante la hospitalización de un paciente en el servicio de oncohematología de un hospital de tercer nivel, y conocer su estado nutricional al ingreso y al alta. MÉTODOS: se realizó la NRS-2002 a todos los pacientes ingresados ​​en el servicio de oncohematología, seguida de la valoración nutricional completa (VN) para comprobar su validez. Para medir la concordancia entre los dos diagnósticos, se calculó el Kappa de Cohen para cada visita. El nivel de asociación entre las variables se midió mediante la medida de Goodman y Kruskal. RESULTADOS: 573 pacientes ingresaron en el servicio de oncohematología, de los cuales: 34,4% desnutrición, 44,7% riesgo de desnutrición y 20,9% buen estado nutricional, al ingreso hospitalario según ENN-2002. En los pacientes ingresados ​​por más de una semana, se realizó NRS-2002 semanalmente y se encontró que al alta presentaban: 34,4% de desnutrición, 50,8% de riesgo de desnutrición y 14,76% de buen estado nutricional; además el 12,3% empeora su estado nutricional, el 68,9% lo mantiene y solo el 18,9% lo mejora. El 78,8% de los pacientes con ingresos más prolongados requieren una NV. CONCLUSIONES: Nuestros resultados sugieren que el NRS-2002 es un método simple y efectivo para la detección temprana de desnutrición. Es importante un seguimiento nutricional durante el período de hospitalización, ya que los pacientes son susceptibles de empeoramiento de su estado nutricional

Redox Status, Dose and Antioxidant Intake in Healthcare Workers Occupationally Exposed to Ionizing Radiation.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between blood redox status, dose and antioxidant dietary intake of different hospital staff groups exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation (LDIR) (Interventional Radiology and Cardiology, Radiation Oncology, and Nuclear Medicine) and non-exposed. Personal dose equivalent (from last year and cumulative), plasma antioxidant markers (total antioxidant capacity, extracellular superoxide dismutase activity, and glutathione/oxidized glutathione ratio), oxidative stress markers (nitrites and nitrates, and lipid peroxidation) and dietary intake (antioxidant capacity using ORAC values) were collected and analyzed from 28 non-exposed healthcare workers and 42 healthcare workers exposed to LDIR. Hospital staff exposed to LDIR presented a redox imbalance in blood that seems to correlate with dose. Workers from the Nuclear Medicine Unit were the most affected group with the lowest value of plasma antioxidant response and the highest value of plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS (indicator of lipid peroxidation) of all four groups. Cumulative personal dose equivalent positively correlated with nitrites and negatively correlated with total antioxidant capacity in blood. The diet of healthcare workers from Nuclear Medicine Unit had higher ORAC values than the diet of non-exposed. Therefore, occupational exposure to LDIR, especially for the Nuclear Medicine Unit, seems to produce an imbalanced redox status in blood that would correlate with cumulative personal dose equivalent.

Kinanthropometric assessment of individual, collective and fight sport players from the Spanish national sport technification program / Evaluación cineantropométrica en deportistas individuales, colectivos y de lucha, del programa nacional español de tecnificación deportiva

Nowadays, the study of kinanthropometric parameters is an important tool for both early talent selection and for evaluating the efficacy of a training program. This study aimed to determine the anthropometric characteristics, body composition indicators and somatotype components of individual (athletics, swimming and triathlon), collective (handball and volleyball) and fight (karate and taekwondo) sportsmen and sportswomen from the Valencian Sports Technification Centre. This study involved a total of 62 men and 56 women, they were divided in three subgroups, including individual (athletics, swimming and triathlon), collective (handball and volleyball) and fight (karate and taekwondo) sports. The assessment was carried out according to the one established by the International Society for Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK). For men, the highest value of femur breath, ectomorphy and medial calf and front thigh skinfolds are obtained for triathletes, athletics, volleyball and karate, respectively. The highest values of triceps, biceps and abdominal skinfolds, relaxed arm girth, endomorphy and body fat percentage are shown for taekwondo, while the other highest values are obtained with handball. For women, the highest value of ectomorphy is obtained for athletics. The identified kinanthropometric parameters are useful when comparing between sports and sports subgroups for the selection of subjects and to help in their performance assessment.

En la actualidad, el estudio de los parámetros cineantropométricos es una herramienta importante tanto para la selección temprana del talento como para evaluar la eficacia de un programa de capacitación. Este estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar las características antropométricas, los indicadores de composición corporal y los componentes somatotípicos de deportistas y deportistas individuales (atletismo, natación y triatlón), colectivos (balonmano y voleibol) y de lucha (karate y taekwondo) del Centro Valenciano de Tecnificación Deportiva. Este estudio involucró a un total de 62 hombres y 56 mujeres, se dividieron en tres subgrupos, que incluyen deportes individuales (atletismo, natación y triatlón), colectivos (balonmano y voleibol) y peleas (karate y taekwondo). La evaluación se realizó de acuerdo con la establecida por la Sociedad Internacional para el Avance de la Cineantropometría (ISAK). Para los hombres, el valor más alto de la respiración del fémur, la ectomorfia y los pliegues de la pantorrilla y el muslo frontal se obtienen para triatletas, atletismo, voleibol y karate, respectivamente. Los valores más altos de tríceps, bíceps y pliegues abdominales, circunferencia relajada del brazo, endomorfia y porcentaje de grasa corporal se muestran para el taekwondo, mientras que los otros valores más altos se obtienen con balonmano. Para las mujeres, el mayor valor de la ectomorfía se obtiene para el atletismo. Los parámetros cineantropométricos identificados son útiles cuando se comparan entre deportes y subgrupos deportivos para la selección de sujetos y para ayudar en su evaluación del rendimiento.

Allelic Variation at the Vernalization Response (Vrn-1) and Photoperiod Sensitivity (Ppd-1) Genes and Their Association With the Development of Durum Wheat Landraces and Modern Cultivars.

Wheat adaptability to a wide range of environmental conditions is mostly determined by allelic diversity within genes controlling vernalization requirement (Vrn-1) and photoperiod sensitivity (Ppd-1). We characterized a panel of 151 durum wheat Mediterranean landraces and 20 representative locally adapted modern cultivars for their allelic composition at Vrn-1 and Ppd-1 gene using diagnostic molecular markers and studied their association with the time needed to reach six growth stages under field conditions over 6 years. Compared with the more diverse and representative landrace collection, the set of modern cultivars were characterized by a reduction of 50% in the number of allelic variants at the Vrn-A1 and Vrn-B1 genes, and the high frequency of mutant alleles conferring photoperiod insensitivity at Ppd-A1, which resulted on a shorter cycle length. Vrn-A1 played a greater role than Vrn-B1 in regulating crop development (Vrn-A1 > Vrn-B1). The results suggest that mutations in the Vrn-A1 gene may have been the most important in establishing the spring growth habit of Mediterranean landraces and modern durum cultivars. The allele Vrn-A1d, found in 10 landraces, delayed development. The relative effects of single Vrn-A1 alleles on delaying the development of the landraces were vrn-A1 = Vrn-A1d > Vrn-A1b > Vrn-A1c. Allele vrn-B1 was present in all except two landraces and in all modern cultivars. The null allele at Ppd-A1 (a deletion first observed in the French bread wheat cultivar 'Capelle-Desprez') was found for the first time in durum wheat in the present study that identified it in 30 landraces from 13 Mediterranean countries. Allele Ppd-A1a (GS105) was detected in both germplasm types, while the allele Ppd-A1a (GS100) was found only in modern North American and Spanish cultivars. The relative effect of single Ppd-A1 alleles on extending phenological development was Ppd-A1(DelCD) > Ppd-A1b > Ppd-A1a (GS105) > Ppd-A1a (GS100). Sixteen Vrn-1+Ppd-1 allelic combinations were found in landraces and six in modern cultivars, but only three were common to both panels. Differences in the number of days to reach anthesis were 10 days in landraces and 3 days in modern cultivars. Interactive effects between Vrn-1 and Ppd-1 genes were detected.

Abordaje de la diabetes gestacional a partir de la caracterización de la dieta pregestacional como factor de riesgo / Approach to gestational diabetes from the characterization of the pregestational diet as a risk factor

INTRODUCCIÓN: La hiperglucemia puede aparecer durante el embarazo dando lugar a la diabetes gestacional (DG). OBJETIVO: Caracterizar los hábitos alimentarios previos al diagnóstico de DG en un grupo de pacientes y valorarlos como factor de riesgo modificable relacionado con el desarrollo de DG. MÉTODOS: En este estudio se seleccionó a gestantes con origen de DG según criterios de nacionalidad, edad e historia de DG. Se recogieron datos de composición corporal, antecedentes familiares, ejercicio físico y consumo pregestacional de alimentos, con el fin de evaluar el papel de los alimentos como factor de riesgo modificable relacionado con el desarrollo de la DG que se realiza mediante una entrevista dietética. RESULTADOS: Nuestros resultados reflejaron que el índice de masa corporal (IMC) por edad fue de 36,7 ± 4,1 años y 26,9 ± 5,1 kg/m2, respectivamente, el 75% y de las mujeres estudiadas tenían antecedentes familiares de diabetes y el 32,5% practicaba ejercicio físico. DISCUSIÓN: El patrón alimentario seguido fue la dieta occidental con consumo de productos cárnicos y alimentos procesados, contrario al patrón dietético mediterráneo caracterizado por un alto consumo de verduras, frutas, legumbres, cereales integrales, pescado y alimentos no elaborados. CONCLUSIONES: El patrón dietético previo al embarazo se caracteriza por una dieta occidentalizada alejada del patrón dietético preventivo. La dieta es un factor modificable, por lo que sería deseable incluir una intervención temprana sobre el patrón dietético en los programas de prevención de la DG en la población en riesgo

INTRODUCTION: Gestational diabetes (GD) is characterized by hiperglycemia that appears during pregnancy. OBJECTIVE: To characterize the food habits prior to the diagnosis of GD in a group of patients and assess as a modifiable risk factor related to the development of GD. METHODS: In this study, pregnant women with GD origin were selected according to criteria of nationality, age and history of GD. Data on body composition, family history, physical exercise and pregestational food consumption were collected, in order to assess the role of food as a modifiable risk factor related to the development of GD being carried out with a dietary interview collected by a dietitian. RESULTS: Our results reflected that the age body mass index (BMI) were and 36.7 ± 4.1 years and 26.9 ± 5.1 kg/m2, respectively, 75% and of the studied females had a family history of diabetes and 32.5% practiced physical exercise. DISCUSSION: The food pattern followed was the Western diet with consumption of meat products and processed food, contrary to the Mediterranean dietary pattern characterized by a high consumption of vegetables, fruits, legumes, whole grains, fish and unprocessed foods. CONCLUSIONS: The dietary pattern prior to pregnancy is characterized by westernized diet away from the preventive dietary pattern. Diet is a modifiable factor and therefore it would be desirable to include early intervention on the dietary pattern in GD prevention programs in the population at risk

Actigraphic Sleep and Dietary Macronutrient Intake in Children Aged 6-9 Years Old: A Pilot Study.

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between different sleep parameters and energy and macronutrient intake in school-aged children. A total of 203 children 6 to 9 years of age participated in this cross-sectional study. Anthropometric measurements were taken first. Diet was assessed with 3-day food logs and sleep was measured with a questionnaire on sleep quality and a wrist actigraph worn for at least 7 days. A decrease of 165.45 kcal was observed per each additional hour of sleep during the week (ß (95% CI) = -165.45 (-274.01, -56.88); p = 0.003). This relationship was also observed for fat (ß (95% CI) = -11.14 (-18.44, -3.84); p = 0.003) and protein (ß (95% CI) = -13.27 (-22.52, -4.02); p = 0.005). An increase in weekend sleep efficiencies for those under the recommended threshold of 85% also had a similar association with energy (ß (95% CI) = -847.43 (-1566.77, 128.09); p = 0.021) and carbohydrate (ß (95% CI) = -83.96 (-161.76, -6.15); p = 0.035)) intake. An increase in habitual sleep variability was related with a slight increase in protein intake (ß (95% CI) = 0.32 (0.031, 0.62); p = 0.031). Children who slept less had a higher energy intake, especially from fat and protein and those who presented inefficient sleep had a higher carbohydrate intake. Strategies to enhance sleep quality and quantity combined with dietary recommendations could help to improve energy and macronutrient intake levels in children.