Role of IL-18 in adipose tissue remodeling and metabolic dysfunction.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Proinflammatory cytokines are increased in obese adipose tissue, including inflammasome key masters. Conversely, IL-18 protects against obesity and metabolic dysfunction. We focused on the IL-18 effect in controlling adipose tissue remodeling and metabolism. MATERIALS/SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We used C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and interleukine-18 deficient (IL-18-/-) male mice fed a chow diet and samples from bariatric surgery patients. RESULTS: IL-18-/- mice showed increased adiposity and proinflammatory cytokine levels in adipose tissue, leading to glucose intolerance. IL-18 was widely secreted by stromal vascular fraction but not adipocytes from mice's fatty tissue. Chimeric model experiments indicated that IL-18 controls adipose tissue expansion through its presence in tissues other than bone marrow. However, IL-18 maintains glucose homeostasis when present in bone marrow cells. In humans with obesity, IL-18 expression in omental tissue was not correlated with BMI or body fat mass but negatively correlated with IRS1, GLUT-4, adiponectin, and PPARy expression. Also, the IL-18RAP receptor was negatively correlated with IL-18 expression. CONCLUSIONS: IL-18 signaling may control adipose tissue expansion and glucose metabolism, as its absence leads to spontaneous obesity and glucose intolerance in mice. We suggest that resistance to IL-18 signaling may be linked with worse glucose metabolism in humans with obesity.

PAF signaling plays a role in obesity-induced adipose tissue remodeling.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR) activation controls adipose tissue (AT) expansion in animal models. Our objective was twofold: (i) to check whether PAFR signaling is involved in human obesity and (ii) investigate the PAF pathway role in hematopoietic or non-hematopoietic cells to control adipocyte size. MATERIALS/SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Clinical parameters and adipose tissue gene expression were evaluated in subjects with obesity. Bone marrow (BM) transplantation from wild-type (WT) or PAFR-/- mice was performed to obtain chimeric PAFR-deficient mice predominantly in hematopoietic or non-hematopoietic-derived cells. A high carbohydrate diet (HC) was used to induce AT remodeling and evaluate in which cell compartment PAFR signaling modulates it. Also, 3T3-L1 cells were treated with PAF to evaluate fat accumulation and the expression of genes related to it. RESULTS: PAFR expression in omental AT from humans with obesity was negatively correlated to different corpulence parameters and more expressed in the stromal vascular fraction than adipocytes. Total PAFR-/- increased adiposity compared with WT independent of diet-induced obesity. Differently, WT mice receiving PAFR-/--BM exhibited similar adiposity gain as WT chimeras. PAFR-/- mice receiving WT-BM showed comparable augmentation in adiposity as total PAFR-/- mice, demonstrating that PAFR signaling modulates adipose tissue expansion through non-hematopoietic cells. Indeed, the PAF treatment in 3T3-L1 adipocytes reduced fat accumulation and expression of adipogenic genes. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, decreased PAFR signaling may favor an AT accumulation in humans and animal models. Importantly, PAFR signaling, mainly in non-hematopoietic cells, especially in adipocytes, appears to play a significant role in regulating diet-induced AT expansion.

Warming and water deficit impact leaf photosynthesis and decrease forage quality and digestibility of a C4 tropical grass.

Global warming is predicted to cause more intense extreme events such as heat waves, flooding and severe droughts, producing significant effects on agriculture. In tropics, climate change will severely impact livestock production affecting water availability, forage quality and food for cattle. We investigated the isolated and combined effects of soil water deficit (wS) and + 2°C increase in canopy temperature (eT) on leaf gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, carbohydrate content, forage quality and in vitro dry matter digestibility (IVDMD) of a field-grown C4 tropical forage grass Panicum maximum Jacq. using a temperature-free air-controlled enhancement (T-FACE) system. The wS and eT treatments showed no effects on photosystem II photochemistry. However, wS under ambient temperature decreased net photosynthesis rate (A), stomatal conductance (gs ) and maximum rate of carboxylation of Rubisco (Vcmax ), leading to a reduced starch content in leaves. A 16% reduction in leaf dry mass (LDM) and reduction in forage quality by increasing fibers, reducing crude protein (CP) and decreasing the IVDMD was also observed by effect of wS. Warming under adequate soil moisture (eT) significantly increased LDM by 25% but reduced the forage quality, increasing the lignin content and reducing starch, CP and digestibility. The combined wSeT treatment reduced A, gs , Vcmax and the forage quality. When compared to control, the lignin content in leaves increased by 43, 28 and 17% in wS, eT and wSeT, respectively, causing a significant reduction in IVDMD. We concluded that despite physiological mechanisms to acclimate to warming, both warming and water deficit will impair the quality and digestibility of C4 tropical pastures.

Reemerging arboviruses: clinical-epidemiological profile of hospitalized elderly patients. / Arboviroses reemergentes: perfil clínico-epidemiológico de idosos hospitalizados.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the clinical-epidemiological profile of hospitalized elderly patients with arbovirus. METHOD: A documentary retrospective population-based descriptive study that used a quantitative approach with hospitalized elderly patients diagnosed with arbovirus was conducted in a teaching hospital. Data were collected from medical records and investigation forms. RESULTS: Thirty-three elderly patients participated in this study. A prevalence of dengue was observed, with fever, myalgia, and arthralgia. Arterial hypertension and diabetes were the comorbidities. Statistically significant correlations were obtained between arbovirus and schooling, employment situation, marital status, test results, and use of analgesics; and between the site of arthralgia and Chikungunya. CONCLUSION: The results support nursing care to hospitalized elderly patients with arbovirus, allowing the development of a proper and humanized care plan.

[Quality of life of caregivers for patients of cerebrovascular accidents: association of (socio-demographic) characteristics and burden]. / Qualidade de vida de cuidadores de indivíduos com acidente vascular encefálico: associação com características e sobrecarga.

OBJECTIVE: Investigating the association between quality of life with socio-demographic characteristics and the burden of caregivers for individuals with cerebrovascular accident sequelae. METHOD: A descriptive, cross-sectional study with a sample composed of 136 caregivers. For data collection, a semi-structured questionnaire, the Barthel, Burden Interview and Short-Form-36 scales were used. Correlation analysis, t-Student test and F-test were used for the analysis in order to compare averages. RESULTS: Significant averages in quality of life were demonstrated in association with female caregivers and those over 60 years in the field 'functional capacity,' and in the domains of 'mental health' and 'vitality' for those with higher income. Regarding burden association, the highlighted areas were 'functional capacity,' 'physical aspects,' 'emotional aspects' and 'pain.' CONCLUSION: The creation of public policies and social support to effectively reduce the burden on caregivers is a necessity.

L-arginine supplementation prevents increases in intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation in male Swiss mice subjected to physical exercise under environmental heat stress.

Dietary supplementation with l-arginine has been shown to improve the intestinal barrier in many experimental models. This study investigated the effects of arginine supplementation on the intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation (BT) induced by prolonged physical exercise under heat stress. Under anesthesia, male Swiss mice (5-wk-old) were implanted with an abdominal sensor to record their core body temperature (T(core)). After recovering from surgery, the mice were divided into 3 groups: a non-supplemented group that was fed the standard diet formulated by the American Institute of Nutrition (AIN-93G; control), a non-supplemented group that was fed the AIN-93G diet and subjected to exertional hyperthermia (H-NS), and a group supplemented with l-arginine at 2% and subjected to exertional hyperthermia (H-Arg). After 7 d of treatment, the H-NS and H-Arg mice were forced to run on a treadmill (60 min, 8 m/min) in a warm environment (34°C). The control mice remained at 24°C. Thirty min before the exercise or control trials, the mice received a diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) solution labeled with technetium-99m ((99m)Tc-DTPA) or (99m)Tc-Escherichia coli by gavage to assess intestinal permeability and BT, respectively. The H-NS mice terminated the exercise with T(core) values of ∼40°C, and, 4 h later, presented a 12-fold increase in the blood uptake of (99m)Tc-DTPA and higher bacterial contents in the blood and liver than the control mice. Although supplementation with arginine did not change the exercise-induced increase in T(core), it prevented the increases in intestinal permeability and BT caused by exertional hyperthermia. Our results indicate that dietary l-arginine supplementation preserves the integrity of the intestinal epithelium during exercise under heat stress, acting through mechanisms that are independent of T(core) regulation.

Dietary glutamine prevents the loss of intestinal barrier function and attenuates the increase in core body temperature induced by acute heat exposure.

Dietary glutamine (Gln) supplementation improves intestinal function in several stressful conditions. Therefore, in the present study, the effects of dietary Gln supplementation on the core body temperature (T core), bacterial translocation (BT) and intestinal permeability of mice subjected to acute heat stress were evaluated. Male Swiss mice (4 weeks old) were implanted with an abdominal temperature sensor and randomly assigned to one of the following groups fed isoenergetic and isoproteic diets for 7 d before the experimental trials: group fed the standard AIN-93G diet and exposed to a high ambient temperature (39°C) for 2 h (H-NS); group fed the AIN-93G diet supplemented with l-Gln and exposed to a high temperature (H-Gln); group fed the standard AIN-93G diet and not exposed to a high temperature (control, C-NS). Mice were orally administered diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid radiolabelled with technetium (99mTc) for the assessment of intestinal permeability or 99mTc-Escherichia coli for the assessment of BT. Heat exposure increased T core (approximately 41°C during the experimental trial), intestinal permeability and BT to the blood and liver (3 h after the experimental trial) in mice from the H-NS group relative to those from the C-NS group. Dietary Gln supplementation attenuated hyperthermia and prevented the increases in intestinal permeability and BT induced by heat exposure. No correlations were observed between the improvements in gastrointestinal function and the attenuation of hyperthermia by Gln. Our findings indicate that dietary Gln supplementation preserved the integrity of the intestinal barrier and reduced the severity of hyperthermia during heat exposure. The findings also indicate that these Gln-mediated effects occurred through independent mechanisms.

Physical exercise-induced changes in the core body temperature of mice depend more on ambient temperature than on exercise protocol or intensity.

The mechanisms underlying physical exercise-induced hyperthermia may be species specific. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of exercise intensity and ambient temperature on the core body temperature (T core) of running mice, which provide an important experimental model for advancing the understanding of thermal physiology. We evaluated the influence of different protocols (constant- or incremental-speed exercises), treadmill speeds and ambient temperatures (T a) on the magnitude of exercise-induced hyperthermia. To measure T core, a telemetric sensor was implanted in the abdominal cavity of male adult Swiss mice under anesthesia. After recovering from the surgery, the animals were familiarized to running on a treadmill and then subjected to the different running protocols and speeds at two T a: 24 °C or 34 °C. All of the experimental trials resulted in marked increases in T core. As expected, the higher-temperature environment increased the magnitude of running-induced hyperthermia. For example, during incremental exercise at 34 °C, the maximal T core achieved was increased by 1.2 °C relative to the value reached at 24 °C. However, at the same T a, neither treadmill speed nor exercise protocol altered the magnitude of exercise-induced hyperthermia. We conclude that T core of running mice is influenced greatly by T a, but not by the exercise protocols or intensities examined in the present report. These findings suggest that the magnitude of hyperthermia in running mice may be regulated centrally, independently of exercise intensity.

Evidence of validity of the Brazilian version of the Cancer Behavior Inventory - Brief Version.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the validity evidence of the Brazilian version of the Cancer Behavior Inventory - Brief Version. METHOD: Methodological study, conducted between November and December 2021, with 140 patients undergoing hospital cancer treatment in João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil. Psychometric analyses were performed in the adapted version, using exploratory factor analysis and correlation with correlated constructs. RESULTS: A two-factor and 10-item model was evidenced. The cumulative variance explained about 61% the shared variance of the items. Satisfactory values were observed for the factors in the analyses of composite reliability (0.89 and 0.91, respectively), internal consistency (0.86 and 0.91, respectively) and ORION (0.89 and 0.85, respectively). The expected correlations of self-efficacy with quality of life (convergent) and with anxiety and depression (divergent) were evident. CONCLUSION: The Brazilian version of the instrument showed evidence of validity, being considered reliable to assess the self-efficacy of patients undergoing cancer treatment.

Convolutional Neural Networks in the Inspection of Serrasalmids (Characiformes) Fingerlings.

Aquaculture produces more than 122 million tons of fish globally. Among the several economically important species are the Serrasalmidae, which are valued for their nutritional and sensory characteristics. To meet the growing demand, there is a need for automation and accuracy of processes, at a lower cost. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are a viable alternative for automation, reducing human intervention, work time, errors, and production costs. Therefore, the objective of this work is to evaluate the efficacy of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) in counting round fish fingerlings (Serrasalmidae) at different densities using 390 color photographs in an illuminated environment. The photographs were submitted to two convolutional neural networks for object detection: one model was adapted from a pre-trained CNN and the other was an online platform based on AutoML. The metrics used for performance evaluation were precision (P), recall (R), accuracy (A), and F1-Score. In conclusion, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are effective tools for detecting and counting fish. The pre-trained CNN demonstrated outstanding performance in identifying fish fingerlings, achieving accuracy, precision, and recall rates of 99% or higher, regardless of fish density. On the other hand, the AutoML exhibited reduced accuracy and recall rates as the number of fish increased.

Balancing trade-offs: Enhanced carbon assimilation and productivity with reduced nutritional value in a well-watered C4 pasture under a warmer CO2-enriched atmosphere.

The concentration of atmospheric CO2 and temperature are pivotal components of ecosystem productivity, carbon balance, and food security. In this study, we investigated the impacts of a warmer climate (+2 °C above ambient temperature) and an atmosphere enriched with CO2 (600 ppm) on gas exchange, antioxidant enzymatic system, growth, nutritive value, and digestibility of a well-watered, managed pasture of Megathyrsus maximus, a tropical C4 forage grass, under field conditions. Elevated [CO2] (eC) improved photosynthesis and reduced stomatal conductance, resulting in increased water use efficiency and plant C content. Under eC, stem biomass production increased without a corresponding increase in leaf biomass, leading to a smaller leaf/stem ratio. Additionally, eC had negative impacts on forage nutritive value and digestibility. Elevated temperature (eT) increased photosynthetic gains, as well as stem and leaf biomass production. However, it reduced P and K concentration, forage nutritive value, and digestibility. Under the combined conditions of eC and eT (eCeT), eT completely offset the effects of eC on the leaf/stem ratio. However, eT intensified the effects of eC on photosynthesis, leaf C concentration, biomass accumulation, and nutritive value. This resulted in a forage with 12% more acid detergent fiber content and 28% more lignin. Additionally, there was a decrease of 19% in crude protein leading to a 15% decrease in forage digestibility. These changes could potentially affect animal feeding efficiency and feedback climate change, as ruminants may experience an amplification in methane emissions. Our results highlight the critical significance of conducting multifactorial field studies when evaluating plant responses to climate change variables.

Acute exercise modulates the inflammatory response in adipose tissue in both lean and obese mice.

OBJECTIVES: Acute physical exercise acts as a metabolic stressor, promoting activation of the immune system, and this response could be relevant in the adipose tissue remodeling process. In addition, some cytokines have important functions in lipolysis. Because chronic exercise improves obesity-related metabolic and inflammatory dysfunction, herein we investigated the effect of acute exercise on the inflammatory responses in the adipose tissues of lean and obese mice. METHODS: Lean mice were fed a standard chow diet, whereas obese mice were fed a high-refined carbohydrate diet for 8 wk. Both groups were subjected to 60 min of moderate-intensity exercise. RESULTS: In the epididymal adipose tissue of lean mice, exercise enhanced interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α levels, which correlated positively with increased serum free fatty acid concentrations. In vivo confocal imaging of epididymal adipose tissue vessels revealed higher recruitment of neutrophils after exercise. Also, the number of leukocytes expressing CD11b+F480- was elevated 6 h after exercise. Similarly, the chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 1 level increased at 6 h and remained high until 24 h after exercise. Myeloperoxidase activity was increased at 6, 12, and 24 h after exercise. Surprisingly, however, no changes were observed in epididymal adipose tissue from obese mice, considering proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α). On the other hand, IL-13, IL-4, and IL-10 levels were higher in obese mice after exercise. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that acute exercise promotes an inflammatory response in the adipose tissue of lean mice that is observed as part of its role in adipose tissue remodeling. In contrast, acute exercise promotes an antiinflammatory response in adipose tissue from obese mice, likely as an important tool for restoring homeostasis.

Effect of high-refined carbohydrate diet on intestinal integrity.

OBJECTIVES: One of the leading causes of obesity is the consumption of excess nutrients. Obesity is characterized by adipose tissue expansion, chronic low-grade inflammation, and metabolic alterations. Although consumption of a high-fat diet has been demonstrated to be a diet-induced obesity model associated with gut disorders, the same effect is not well explored in a mild-obesity model induced by high-refined carbohydrate (HC) diet intake. The intestinal tract barrier comprises mucus, epithelial cells, tight junctions, immune cells, and gut microbiota. This system is susceptible to dysfunction by excess dietary components that could increase intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether an HC diet and the alterations resulting from its intake are linked to small intestine changes. METHODS: Male BALB/c mice were fed a chow or an HC diet for 8 wk. RESULTS: Although differences in body weight gain were not observed between the groups, mice fed the HC diet showed increased adiposity associated with metabolic alterations. The interferon-γ expression and myeloperoxidase levels were increased in the small intestine in mice fed an HC diet. However, the intestinal villi length, the expression of tight junctions (zonula occludens-1 and claudin-4) and tumor necrosis factor-α cytokine, and the percentage of intraepithelial lymphocytes did not differ in the jejunum or ileum between the groups. We did not observe differences in intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation. CONCLUSION: Metabolic alterations caused by consumption of an HC diet lead to a mild obesity state that does not necessarily involve significant changes in intestinal integrity.

Crop-Livestock Integration Improves Physical Soil, Agronomic and Environmental Aspects in Soybean Cultivation.

Soybean is one of the most widely grown crops in the world and technologies are increasingly needed to increase productivity without impacting environmental degradation. In this context, the aim was to evaluate the action of forage plants of the genus Brachiaria sp. in crop-livestock integration on physical soil, agronomic and environmental aspects of soybean cultivation. The experiment was conducted in a subdivided plot design with seven integrated systems corresponding to the previous cultivation of Paiaguas palisadegrass, Xaraes palisadegrass and Ruziziensis grass in monocropping and intercropped with maize, as well as maize in monocropping. In the subplots, two grass management systems were evaluated: free growth and a grazing simulation cut. The bulk density and least limiting water range were assessed using soil samples and, after the pastures were desiccated when the soybean crop was planted, straw decomposition and plantability. A soil physics diagnosis by the bulk density and least limiting water range showed that the Paiaguas palisadegrass and Xaraes palisadegrass improved the soil environment due to biological soil loosening. The remaining mulch biomass did not affect soybean sowing and the adoption of Brachiaria sp. grass in the off-season, in addition to contributing to the provision of environmental services, and did not compromise grain productivity in succession.

Eosinophils protect from metabolic alterations triggered by obesity.

BACKGROUND: Eosinophils are generally related to helminth infections or allergies. Their association with metabolic alterations and adipose tissue (AT) remodeling has been demonstrated mainly in animal models of obesity. However, their physiological role in driving metabolic features has not yet been well described. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the participation of eosinophils in metabolic and adipose tissue homeostasis in mice and humans, focusing on a translational perspective. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Male BALB/c wild-type (WT) mice and GATA-1 knockout (Δdb/GATA-1-/-) mice were followed until 16-week-age in a regular diet or were fed with a high-refined-carbohydrate (HC) diet or high-fat (HF) diet for eight weeks. In subjects with obesity, clinical parameters and omental AT gene expression were evaluated. RESULTS: Eosinophils lack in mice fed a regular diet induced insulin resistance and increased adiposity. Their adipose tissue showed augmented cytokine levels, which could be attributed to increased leukocytes in the tissue, such as neutrophils and pro-inflammatory macrophages. Bone marrow transplant from WT mice to Δdb/GATA-1-/- mice showed some improvement in glucose metabolism with lower adipose tissue mass accretion. Upon an unhealthy diet challenge, Δdb/GATA-1-/- mice fed HC diet showed a mild degree of adiposity and glucose metabolic dysfunction severe in those mice fed HF diet. The expression of eosinophil markers in omental AT from humans with severe obesity was positively correlated to eosinophil cytokines and insulin sensitivity surrogate markers and negatively correlated to systemic insulin, HOMA-IR, and android fat mass. CONCLUSIONS: Eosinophils seem to have a physiological role by controlling systemic and adipose tissue metabolic homeostasis by modulating glucose metabolism, inflammation, and visceral fat expansion, even in lean mice. Indeed, eosinophils also seem to modulate glucose homeostasis in human obesity.

Correlation between symptoms of depression, attitude, and self-care in elderly with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVES: to correlate depressive symptoms, attitude, and self-care of elderly people with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: study developed with 144 elderly people with diabetes; carried out in Family Health Units. A semi-structured instrument was used to obtain data on the sociodemographic profile; the Geriatric Depression Scale (15 items), the Questionário de Atitudes Psicológicas do Diabetes [Psychological Attitudes of Diabetes Questionnaire], and the Diabetes Self-Care Activities Questionnaire (DSCA) were also used. RESULTS: it was identified that 24.3% of the participants presented depressive symptoms, and 93.8% presented negative attitudes of coping. A greater adherence to self-care activities related to the practice of medication was observed. In the correlation between the scales, a negative and inversely proportional correspondence was noted between depressive symptomatology and physical activity (p=0.010) and foot care (p=0.006), likewise between attitude and foot care (p=0.009). CONCLUSIONS: self-care in elderly people with diabetes mellitus is influenced by depressive symptoms and negative coping attitudes.

Warming offsets the benefits of elevated CO2 in water relations while amplifies elevated CO2-induced reduction in forage nutritional value in the C4 grass Megathyrsus maximus.

Tropical grasslands are very important to global carbon and water cycles. C4 plants have increased heat tolerance and a CO2 concentrating mechanism that often reduces responses to elevated concentrations of CO2 ([CO2]). Despite the importance of tropical grasslands, there is a scarcity of studies that elucidate how managed tropical grasslands will be affected by elevated [CO2] and warming. In our study, we used a combination of a temperature-free air-controlled enhancement (T-FACE) and a free-air carbon dioxide enrichment (FACE) systems to increase canopy temperature and [CO2] under field conditions, respectively. We warmed a field-grown pasture dominated by the C4 tropical forage grass Megathyrsus maximus by 2°C above ambient under two levels of [CO2] (ambient (aC) and elevated (eC - 600 ppm) to investigate how these two factors isolated or combined regulate water relations through stomatal regulation, and how this combination affects PSII functioning, biochemistry, forage nutritive value, and digestibility. We demonstrated that the effects of warming negated the effects of eC in plant transpiration, water potential, proline content, and soil moisture conservation, resulting in warming canceling the eCO2-induced improvement in these parameters. Furthermore, there were additive effects between eC and warming for chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and aboveground nutritive value. Warming sharply intensified the eCO2-induced decrease in crude protein content and increases in forage fibrous fraction and lignin, resulting in a smaller forage digestibility under a warmer CO2-enriched atmosphere. Our results highlight the importance of multifactorial studies when investigating global change impacts on managed ecosystems and the potential consequences for the global carbon cycle like amplification in methane emissions by ruminants and feeding a positive climate feedback system.

Future warming will change the chemical composition and leaf blade structure of tropical C3 and C4 forage species depending on soil moisture levels.

Temperature and soil moisture strongly affect the nutritional value and digestibility of forage plants through changes in leaf chemical composition or the proportion of leaf blade tissues. In this study, we aimed to evaluate leaf blade anatomical modifications of two tropical forage species, Stylosanthes capitata (C3) and Megathyrsus maximus (C4) under warmed conditions (+2 °C) at well-watered and rainfed conditions and investigate the interactions between leaf anatomical alterations, leaf chemical composition, and leaf digestibility. Experiments were conducted under field conditions using a Temperature-free air-controlled enhancement (T-FACE) system. We observed that plants under elevated temperature produced leaves with smaller stomata and thinner mesophyll tissue and reduced total leaf thickness, potentially impacting gas exchange. On the other hand, reduced soil moisture increased stomatal density and thickness of the adaxial epidermis. In both species, leaf fibrous fractions concentration increased under warmed and non-irrigated conditions, while crude protein concentration and digestibility decreased. However, leaf digestibility was associated with leaf chemical composition rather than the proportion of different leaf blade tissues. We concluded that although both species developed leaf anatomical modifications to acclimate under future warming conditions, leaf nutritional value and digestibility will be reduced, potentially impacting future livestock production and methane emissions by ruminants.

[Intervention study on subacute and chronic pain in primary care: an approach to the effectiveness of neural therapy]. / Estudio de intervención sobre el dolor subagudo y crónico en atención primaria: una aproximación a la efectividad de la terapia neural.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of NT in reducing pain and minimising use of analgesics in patients. DESIGN: Before and after intervention study. SETTING: Llefià Primary Health Care centre in Badalona (Barcelona). PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-two patients between the ages of 25 and 85 years old, who suffered pain that did not disappear after a month. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: Data was collected to evaluate any change in pain and the use of analgesics in patients before intervention and then afterwards, at 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months. This was conducted by means of interviews and use of the Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAS). RESULTS: Mean VAS pre-treatment: 7.94 (SD: 1.68), mean VAS after two weeks 4.63 (SD: 2.79), after 3 months 3.73 (SD: 3.17), and after 6 months 3.48 (SD: 3,27) (P<.001 in the 3 comparisons, using the Wilcoxon-test for matched data). As regards analgesic use after treatment, 74.4% of patients reduced it after 2 weeks, 76.8% after 3 months and 80% after 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Neural therapy can be effective in reducing pain, as well as the use of analgesics. Further clinical trials would be needed to confirm this assertion.

Self-care of elderly people with diabetes mellitus and the nurse-patient interpersonal relationship.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the self-care activities of elderly people with diabetes mellitus and its correlation with the nurse-patient interpersonal relationship. METHODS: Cross-sectional quantitative study, with 144 elderly people followed up in Family Health Units, with data collected by the Diabetes Self-Care Activities Questionnaire and Interpersonal Relationship Questionnaire in Nursing Care, being analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. RESULTS: There was a greater accomplishment of the activities Take insulin injections as recommended (6.74), Take diabetes medications as recommended (6.55) and Take the indicated number of diabetes pills (6.52). The interpersonal relationship showed moderate effectiveness (80.6%). The correlation between self-care with diabetes and interpersonal relationships showed a positive and significant value in the dimension Specific feeding. CONCLUSION: The effectiveness of the interpersonal relationship in nursing care resulted in greater compliance with activities related to specific food.