Degradation of antipyrine in water with activated persulfate aided with biochar of olive pomace.

The degradation of antipyrine (AP) in water has been studied using persulfate activated with biochar obtained from gasification of olive pomace (BC) combined with ferric salts in the presence of UV-A radiation. Firstly, the adsorption of AP on biochar was evaluated. The data were adjusted using various kinetic models verifying that AP adsorption on BC occurs in three stages and follows pseudo-second order kinetics. Degradation tests show that the presence of iron or persulfate (PS) in binary systems with BC produces increases AP degradation when no radiation is used, reaching 75.7 % due to the ability of BC to donate electrons. On the other hand, addition of PS showed an increase in efficiency in the presence of BC (up to 79%). For ternary systems the best result was found when UVA/PS/Fe was used (100% of AP degradation in 30 min). The addition of UV-A radiation to the BC/PS system improves the degradation of the contaminant by only 6.7%, while the presence of iron in the studied conditions does not cause any improvement. A Central Composite Factorial Design of experiments was used to optimize the UVA/BC/PS/Fe system, leading to an 89.3% AP degradation rate in 90 min (k = 0.0134 min-1) under optimal conditions ([Fe(III)] = 10 mg/L, [PS] = 379 mg/L, [BC] = 500 mg/L). Although the best results were obtained for the UVA/PS/Fe process without BC, systems based on BC/PS can be considered as an alternative in cloudy days or when simple processes are selected due to economical/technical reasons.

The prevalence of Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) at testing centers in Belgium, Germany, Spain, and the UK using the cobas TV/MG molecular assay.

Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) can lead to long-term sequelae in males and females; however, global prevalence data vary between geographical regions, as these sexually transmitted infections are not included in routine screening. The objective of this study was to use the cobas® TV/MG assay to assess the point prevalence of TV and MG in specimens from men and women over a broad European geographical area. Urine, vaginal, endocervical, and rectal samples were collected from patients aged ≥ 18 years receiving Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) and/or Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) screening as per local standard of care at sites in Belgium, Germany, Spain, and the UK (Wales). Remnant samples were assessed using the cobas TV/MG assay. Analysis of 2795 samples showed that MG prevalence varied slightly across female sample types (range: 1.7-5.8%; p = 0.0042). MG prevalence was higher in male rectal samples (12.5%) than in male urine samples (3.9%; p < 0.0001). TV prevalence was low in male (0.8%; 12/1535) and female (1.3%; 16/1260) samples across all sites. Co-infection of TV/MG with CT or NG was 10.0% (19/190) and 9.6% (7/73), respectively, in both male and female samples. MG and TV prevalence rates were comparable to the published literature in Europe. MG prevalence was highest in male rectal samples; as rectal testing is an off-label use of the cobas TV/MG assay, the clinical utility of this assay for rectal testing should be further investigated.

Operationalizing intersectionality as a framework in qualitative grief research.

The field of thanatology emphasizes understanding grief as situated within social contexts. Yet, existing research largely examines individual experiences, neglecting to critically examine the role that sociocultural systems and forms of oppression play in how people grieve. In this manuscript, we use the social constructionist model of grief as an epistemological stepping stone to operationalize intersectionality as a framework to engage in this critical qualitative research. We provide an overview of the research process implementing an intersectional framework, including examples of research questions and procedures throughout, and discuss implications for helping praxis and education and future scholarship.

UV/solar photo-degradation of furaltadone in homogeneous and heterogeneous phases: Intensification with persulfate.

Previous studies on removal of the pharmaceutical drug Furaltadone (FTD) in water have not shown to be totally efficient or are very expensive. In this study, sulfate radicals derived from persulfate anions activated with different irradiation sources (UVA, UVC and solar light) and combined with H2O2 and/or TiO2 have been tested in homogeneous and heterogeneous phases under different operation modes and reaction systems. In homogeneous phase, UV produces a slow mineralization (k = 0.0013 min-1). The combined processes are faster (kUV/H2O2 = 0.0185 min-1, kUV/PS = 0.0206 min-1) with the best performance for the UV/PS system yielding nearly 80% of mineralization in half an hour. The overall process (UV/H2O2/PS) does not show synergy and mineralization is even slower (kUV/H2O2/PS = 0.015 min-1) due to the production of a high amount of radicals favouring unproductive reactions (scavenger effect). A mineralization mechanism is proposed involving formation of 5hydroxymethylene-2(5H)-furanone and NO as the main intermediates. In heterogeneous phase (UVA/TiO2/PS), the holes play an important role changing the mineralization mechanism. The main intermediates formed were C12H17N4O4 and C11H14N3O4, which rapidly were degraded to form C8H15O3N3, C4H10NO and C5H10NO. An economic study of operation costs has been made for selected processes: UVC/PS, UVA/TiO2/PS and Solar/TiO2/PS. The Solar/TiO2/PS process has the lowest operation costs due to the use of solar energy. However, it would need an additional stage to recover the catalyst. Finally, a loss of 27% in efficiency during mineralization was found after 5 cycles, but the catalyst recovers its initial performance after regeneration at 500 °C.

Documento de consenso sobre el uso de iSGLT2 en pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica y diabetes.

La enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) del paciente diabético es frecuentemente una consecuencia directa de la diabetes mellitus (DM) de larga evolución y se la conoce como nefropatía diabética. En México cerca del 50% de los pacientes en terapia sustitutiva de la función renal tienen ERC por DM, y este porcentaje podría aumentar en los próximos años. Nuevas opciones terapéuticas, combinadas con cambios en el estilo de vida, han mejorado el control de la glucemia y pueden contribuir sustancialmente a retrasar la aparición o la progresión a estadios avanzados de la ERC. Las sociedades científicas internacionales han elaborado guías clínicas para el diagnóstico y manejo de la nefropatía diabética, sin embargo, en algunos puntos estas recomendaciones no se adaptan a la realidad mexicana. Se presentan las conclusiones de un consenso realizado por especialistas mexicanos sobre diabetes y ERC, con especial énfasis en el uso de los inhibidores del cotransportador de sodio-glucosa.Chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the diabetic patient is mainly a consequence of long-term diabetes mellitus itself. In Mexico approximately 50% of patients on dialysis are diabetics and this will could increase in the coming years. New therapeutic options available, combined with lifestyle changes, have improved glycemic control and may contribute to delay the onset as well as the progression of CKD. International scientific societies have developed clinical guidelines for the diagnosis and management of CKD in diabetics, although in some points, these recommendations are not adapted to the Mexican reality. We hereby present the conclusions of the consensus reached by Mexican specialists on diabetic nephropathy.

Macrolide and fluoroquinolone resistance of Mycoplasma genitalium in southern Spain, 2018-2019.

OBJECTIVES: In recent years, resistance in Mycoplasma genitalium (MG) to first-line (azithromycin) and second-line (moxifloxacin) treatment has been increasingly reported worldwide, however, no data regarding the south of Spain are available. METHODS: To determine resistance rates, MG-positive samples collected from June 2018 to June 2019 were analysed by sequencing the 23S rRNA and parC genes. RESULTS: A total of 77 patients (24 men having sex with men (MSM), 30 heterosexual men and 23 women) were included. Resistance-associated mutations against macrolide and fluoroquinolones were found in 36.4% (95% CI 25.7% to 48.1%) and 9.1% (95% CI 3.7% to 17.8%) of the patients, respectively. Being MSM and having had another STI in the last year were significantly associated with macrolide-resistant MG infection, while no associations were found with resistance to fluoroquinolones. CONCLUSIONS: Testing for resistance to first-line and second-line drugs against MG should be recommended for the general population and mandatory for the MSM population. We suggest that empiric azithromycin use for STI management should be avoided.

Pulmonary hypertension in heart failure.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) occurs frequently in heart failure (HF) and confers worse prognosis. It becomes important to adequately identify these patients to optimize treatment. The purpose of this review is to inform about the updated classification of PH in left heart disease, in addition to current and upcoming trials regarding treatment. RECENT FINDINGS: The updated classification of PH due to left heart disease now utilizes pulmonary vascular resistance instead of diastolic pulmonary gradient to differentiate between isolated postcapillary and combined pre and postcapillary PH. In regards to treatment, recent clinical trials continue to provide data that pulmonary vasodilators do not improve outcomes in this population. SUMMARY: Management of underlying heart disease and optimal control of comorbidities continues to be the mainstay of treatment in PH due to HF. At this time, current data does not support the use of PH-directed therapies.

Comparison between Aptima® assays (Hologic) and the CoBAS® 6800 system (Roche) for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Mycoplasma genitalium.

Nowadays, it is of utmost importance to use fully validated assays for molecular-based diagnosis. In the field of sexually transmitted disease (STD), Roche and Hologic provide assays for diagnosing Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG), Mycoplasma genitalium (MG), and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). A total of 212 clinical samples were tested. Aptima® Combo 2 (detecting CT and NG), Aptima® M. genitalium and the Aptima® T. vaginalis on the Panther® system were compared to CoBAS® CT/NG and CoBAS® TV/MG running on the CoBAS® 6800 system. To solve the discrepancies, Allplex™ STI Essential assay (Seegene®) and/or Sanger DNA sequencing were used. The diagnostic performance was calculated by mean of the sensitivity and specificity parameters. Aptima® (sensitivity: 98.90%, specificity: 100%), CoBAS® (sensitivity 100%, specificity: 96.67%). The CoBAS® combo (CT/NG) failed detecting NG from an anal/rectum specimen, which is not included into the validated specimens of the assay. Aptima® combo 2 produced two false positives (CT and NG), not detected by the third tests. All the assays showed an optimal diagnostic capacity, meeting the requirements for IVD DNA-based assays. All products work optimally on automatic platforms, minimizing time and risk of contamination during handling.

Outcomes following endovascular therapy for acute stroke by interventional cardiologists.

OBJECTIVES: To summarize the outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) intervention by interventional cardiologists (IC) working on a stroke team. BACKGROUND: There is a geographic maldistribution of dedicated neuro-interventionalists (NI) to treat large vessel occlusion (LVO) AIS. METHODS: Results of 166 consecutive patients who received endovascular therapy (EVT) for AIS due to LVO by IC at three centers between 2009 and 2019 are reported. A modified Rankin score (mRs) of ≤ 2 at 90 days after EVT was used as the primary measurement of a good neurological outcome. Univariate logistic regression was used to evaluate predictors of the mRS > 2 and mortality. Those variables with significance of p < .2 from the univariate analysis were included in a multivariate analysis. RESULTS: All-cause mortality at 30 days was 22%. A favorable clinical outcome, mRS ≤ 2 at 90 days, was 49%. After multivariate analysis and controlling for confounders, a higher baseline NIHSS was predictive of 30-day mortality (OR 1.20 [95% CI 1.09-1.32] p < .001) and unfavorable clinical outcome (mRS > 2) at 90 days (OR 1.16 [95% CI 1.07-1.25] p < .001). CONCLUSION: Outcomes for carotid stent capable IC performing EVT for AIS are comparable to those achieved by NI physicians in major randomized clinical trials. Our data supports conducting a clinical trial of carotid stent capable IC working on multidisciplinary stroke teams to perform EVT for AIS due to LVO in communities and hospitals without timely access (<60 min by ground transport) to dedicated NI.

Detection of sexually transmitted disease-causing pathogens from direct clinical specimens with the multiplex PCR-based STD Direct Flow Chip Kit.

Pathogens causing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) include viruses, bacteria, and parasites. The ability to rapidly and efficiently detect these pathogens in a single reaction still remains a health challenge. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical reliability and accuracy of the STD Direct Flow Chip Kit (Vitro, IVD-EC approved), which can simultaneously detect up to 9 different species of STD pathogens at once. This kit enables direct analysis-direct-PCR-of clinical specimens (urine, semen, endocervical, urethral, nasopharyngeal, and perianal swabs) without DNA purification for the following pathogens: Chlamydia trachomatis (serovars A-K and L1-L3), Haemophilus ducreyi, Herpes Simplex Virus (Types I and II), Mycoplasma genitalium, Mycoplasma hominis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Treponema pallidum, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Ureaplasma. The Anyplex™ II STI-7 Detection Kit (Seegene, IVD-EC) was used as the reference's method. Existing discordances were resolved using either a third molecular assay or DNA sequencing. Clinical performance was evaluated at two different stages: (i) from purified DNA of three hundred and fifty-eight clinical specimens with a diagnostic sensitivity (SE) and specificity (SP) of 99.4% and 100%, respectively, and an agreement of 99% (kappa index, κ = 0.97) with the reference's method and; (ii) by direct-PCR from six hundred and thirty-three specimens rendering SE, SP, and agreement values of 98.4%, 99.9%, and 98.0% (κ = 0.95), respectively. The STD Direct Flow Chip Kit constitutes a promising alternative to routine procedures in diagnostic, allowing direct analysis of specimens and enabling the detection of a broad panel of pathogens.

Uncomfortable realities: the challenge of creating real change in Europe's consolidating hospital sector.

BACKGROUND: This article examines uncomfortable realities that the European hospital sector currently faces and the potential impact of wide-spread rationalization policies such as (hospital) payment reform and privatization. METHODS: Review of relevant international literature. RESULTS: Based on the evidence we present, rationalization policies such as (hospital) payment reform and privatization will probably fall short in delivering better quality of care and lower growth in health expenses. Reasons can be sought in a mix of evidence on the effectiveness of these rationalization policies. Nevertheless, pressures for different business models will gradually continue to increase and it seems safe to assume that more value-added process business and facilitated network models will eventually emerge. CONCLUSIONS: The overall argument of this article holds important implications for future research: how can policymakers generate adequate leverage to introduce such changes without destroying necessary hospital capacity and the ability to produce quality healthcare.

Bowel ischaemia and cocaine consumption; case study and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Amongst others, cocaine consumption has a detrimental effect in the vascular supply to the mesenteric area causing abdominal ischemic changes. Early recognition of these changes and adequate treatment are essential to avoid serious complications and possible death of the patient from sepsis. CASE REPORT: In this case study, the subject is a 40-years-old gentleman presenting with acute abdominal pain due to multiple ischemic changes in both small bowel and sigmoid loops. The patient required emergency surgical intervention consisting of bowel resection and anastomosis. The pathologic analysis of the segment showed transmural necrosis and necrotizing phlebitis caused by the ingestion of drugs or toxic agents. The patient later confirmed the habitual consumption of cocaine. DISCUSSION: The increase in cocaine consumption and other recreational toxins substructed from erythroyilon coca alkaloids amongst young people have generated a large number of admissions to Hospital Accident and Emergency Departments with patients complaining of acute abdominal pain. In many of these cases, surgical intervention is required and in some cases patients will sadly die without a proper diagnosis. Some of the most common effects of cocaine and its compounds includes; hollow viscus perforation, gastro-intestinal bleed, and other vascular problems such as enteritis and ischemic colitis. It appears clear that there is a great need for an advance history taking of these patients and their habit to cocaine and other drugs together with a urine test for drug screening. These together with a suspicion of a non- occlusive ischemic bowel caused by the effects of cocaine in young adults with no cardiac risk factors will guide clinicians and establish, and plan the correct treatment for these categories of patients.

Specific dietary fibers prevent heavy metal disruption of the human gut microbiota in vitro.

Heavy metal exposure is a growing concern due to its adverse effects on human health, including the disruption of gut microbiota composition and function. Dietary fibers have been shown to positively impact the gut microbiota and could mitigate some of the heavy metal negative effects. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different heavy metals (As, Cd and Hg in different concentrations) on gut microbiota in the presence and absence of different dietary fibers that included fructooligosaccharides, pectin, resistant starch, and wheat bran. We observed that whereas heavy metals impaired fiber fermentation outcomes for some fiber types, the presence of fibers generally protected gut microbial communities from heavy metal-induced changes, especially for As and Cd. Notably, the protective effects varied depending on fiber types, and heavy metal type and concentration and were overall stronger for wheat bran and pectin than other fiber types. Our findings suggest that dietary fibers play a role in mitigating the adverse effects of heavy metal exposure on gut microbiota health and may have implications for the development of dietary interventions to reduce dysbiosis associated with heavy metal exposure. Moreover, fiber-type specific outcomes highlight the importance of evidence-based selection of prebiotic dietary fibers to mitigate heavy metal toxicity to the gut microbiota.

Contribution of ADAMTS1 as a tumor suppressor gene in human breast carcinoma. Linking its tumor inhibitory properties to its proteolytic activity on nidogen-1 and nidogen-2.

The extracellular protease ADAMTS1 (A disintegrin and metalloprotease with thrombospondin repeats 1) has been described as an anti-angiogenic molecule and its role as a putative tumor protective molecule has also been suggested. Here, we have used a tumor xenograft model to determine the role of ADAMTS1 in tumor growth and angiogenesis. Increasing levels of the protease led to the complete inhibition of tumor growth. In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism of action of this protease, we focused our attention on its proteolytic activity on nidogens, one of the main components of the vascular basement membrane. The increased expression of ADAMTS1 was accompanied by increased proteolysis of nidogen-1 and -2 and their almost complete removal from vascular structures, together with major morphological alterations of tumor blood vessels and a decreased vessel density. The clinical relevance of this work is supported by our observations that ADAMTS1 expression is decreased in breast tumor specimens when compared with healthy tissue. Our studies also reveal that the cleavage of nidogen-1 and -2 is partially inhibited in human tumor samples. Moreover, the deposition of both nidogens surrounding vascular structures is drastically altered, implying a possible reduction in the maintenance of vessel integrity. Our studies reflect the requirement to explore the functional interactions between proteases and specific substrates in cancer biology.

Will Anything Change? Examining Historically White Fraternity Members' Development of Openness to Diversity in Contemporary Times.

Scholars have identified that openness to diversity is a vital student outcome for higher education. Interest in this outcome has only intensified in recent years because of increased attention to, and unrest related to, social injustices. Using longitudinal data from 3420 undergraduate members of historically white college men's social fraternities located at 134 higher education institutions in the United States, this study examined factors that influenced the development of openness to diversity and change (ODC) amongst fraternity members from the 2019-2020 to 2020-2021 academic years. Our findings revealed that individual and institutional-level political and social involvement, and individual and institutional-level conceptualizations of fraternal brotherhood (e.g., brotherhood based on belonging) were associated with ODC during the 2020-2021 academic year. Though historically white college men's fraternities have often perpetuated exclusionary environments both in historical and contemporary times, the study results suggest that political and social involvement and participation in fraternities that emphasize belonging and accountability may contribute to college men's ODC. We urge scholars and practitioners to have more nuanced understandings of fraternities, while simultaneously challenging fraternities to put their values into actions and to deconstruct the legacies of exclusion that exist within these organizations.

Preimplant Hyponatremia Does Not Predict Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices.

Hyponatremia is a well-established marker of adverse outcomes in chronic heart failure (HF) but not well studied in patients with left ventricular assist device (LVAD). This is a retrospective study, single center study of HM3 [Abbott, USA] LVAD implants. We divided our population based on their sodium prior to LVAD implantation - hyponatremia if <135 mEq/L and normal sodium if 135-145 mEq/L. We compared postoperative and long-term outcomes. A total of 195 patients were included, preimplant hyponatremia was present in 40% with a sodium of 132.1 ± 2.1 vs 137.8 ± 1.9 mEq/L in the normal sodium group. No differences were observed in the postoperative or long-term outcomes. Preimplant hyponatremia was not associated with mortality or HF admissions, likely due to adequate left ventricular unloading and resolution of the mechanisms that lead to hyponatremia. These results suggest that optimization of mild hyponatremia may not be critical and should not delay LVAD placement.

[Renoprotection. About World Kidney Day]. / Renoprotección. A propósito del Día Mundial del Riñón.

The World Kidney Day was founded in 2003 by doctor Joel D. Kopple, American nephrologist, who in the session in the Congress of the International Federation of Kidney Foundations explained the need to implement the celebration on a day that alludes to this organ, in order to direct preventive actions for kidney disease and raise awareness in the medical community and the general population on the importance of caring for the kidneys. 3 years later, the proposal was accepted and as of 2006 World Kidney Day is celebrated. The diffusion is found throughout the world and in each place there are talks, courses, workshops, cultural activities and even marathons related to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a disorder with a chronic, degenerative, and lethal evolution. Managing CKD requires a large amount of human, financial, and infrastructure resources. It impairs the quality of life and negatively affects survival. On the other hand, it leads to dialysis and kidney transplant treatments, which are expensive enough to put any health institution at financial risk, especially those most vulnerable. The main idea of these non-profit international organizations is to promote the well-being and improve the quality of life of people with CKD with and without dialysis, and to promote kidney transplantation as the first treatment option.

El Día Mundial del Riñón se fundó en el año 2003 por el doctor Joel D. Kopple, nefrólogo norteamericano, quien en el pleno del Congreso de la Federación Internacional de Fundaciones Renales expuso la necesidad de implementar la celebración en un día que aludiera a este órgano, con el fin de dirigir acciones de prevención para la enfermedad renal y concientizar a la comunidad médica y a la población en general de la importancia de cuidar los riñones. Tres años después, la propuesta fue aceptada y a partir del 2006 se celebra el Día Mundial del Riñón. La difusión se encuentra en todo el mundo y en cada lugar se desarrollan pláticas, cursos, talleres, actividades culturales y hasta maratones relacionados con la prevención, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento de la enfermedad renal. La enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) es un trastorno de evolución crónica, degenerativa y letal. Su atención demanda gran cantidad de recursos humanos, financieros y de infraestructura. Es una enfermedad que deteriora la calidad de vida y afecta negativamente la supervivencia. Por otra parte, conduce a realizar tratamientos costosos de diálisis y trasplante renal que ponen en riesgo financiero a cualquier institución de salud, sobre todo a aquellas más vulnerables. La idea principal de estos organismos internacionales sin fines de lucro es promover el bienestar y mejorar la calidad de vida de las personas con ERC con y sin diálisis, y promover el trasplante renal como primer opción de tratamiento.

Unmet Needs of CKD in Latin America: A Review from Expert Virtual Working Group.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) represents a major challenge for Latin American (LatAm) because of its epidemic proportions. Therefore, the current status and knowledge of CKD in Latin America is not clearly understood. Moreover, there is a paucity of epidemiologic studies that makes the comparison across the countries even more difficult. To address these gaps, a virtual kidney expert opinion meeting of 14 key opinion leaders from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, and Panama was held in January 2022 to review and discuss the status of CKD in various LatAm regions. The meeting discussed the following: (i) epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of CKD, (ii) detection and prevention programs, (iii) clinical guidelines, (iv) state of public policies about diagnosis and management of chronic kidney disease, and (v) role of innovative therapies in the management of CKD. The expert panel emphasized that efforts should be made to implement timely detection programs and early evaluation of kidney function parameters to prevent the development or progression of CKD. Furthermore, the panel discussed the importance of raising awareness among health care professionals; disseminating knowledge to the authorities, the medical community, and the general population about the kidney and cardiovascular benefits of novel therapies; and the need for timely updating of clinical practice guidelines, regulatory policies, and protocols across the region.

Relevance of the branch point adenosine, coordination loop, and 3' exon binding site for in vivo excision of the Sinorhizobium meliloti group II intron RmInt1.

Excision of the bacterial group II intron RmInt1 has been demonstrated in vivo, resulting in the formation of both intron lariat and putative intron RNA circles. We show here that the bulged adenosine in domain VI of RmInt1 is required for splicing via the branching pathway, but branch site mutants produce small numbers of RNA molecules in which the first G residue of the intron is linked to the last C residue. Mutations in the coordination loop in domain I reduced splicing efficiency, but branched templates clearly predominated among splicing products. We also found that a single substitution at the EBS3 position (G329C), preventing EBS3-IBS3 pairing, resulted in the production of 50 to 100 times more RNA molecules in which the 5' and 3' extremities were joined. We provide evidence that these intron molecules may correspond to both, intron circles linked by a 2'-5' phosphodiester bond, and tandem, head-to-tail intron copies.

Assessment of Nutritional Quality of Products Sold in University Vending Machines According to the Front-of-Pack (FoP) Guide.

The aim of this research was to assess the nutritional composition of 654 foods and beverages from vending machines on a University Campus. The guide called "Creating a front of pack nutrition label for pre-packed products sold through retail outlets" from the Department of Health (UK) was used to assess the nutritional composition and to compare values from food and beverage categories. A high proportion of food items had high−moderate content of nutrients related to chronic disease (93, 88, 74 and 49% had high−moderate content of fat, saturated fat, salt and sugar, respectively). On the other hand, a few beverages had high−moderate content of these nutrients, except for sugar (2% high to moderate in fat, 2% in saturated fat, 0% in salt and 39% in sugar). The most frequent food categories were chocolates and bars (10.6%) and breadsticks (8.4%), whereas the most available beverages were water (27.7%) and soft drinks (23.4%). There were no statistically significant differences in the proportion of categories between the health science and humanities faculties, except for energy drinks (p < 0.05) and soft drinks (p < 0.05). Vending machines contribute to an obesogenic environment and do not support healthy snacking. Recommendations in this article should be considered to develop official guidelines to ensure the wider availability of healthy dietary choices in vending machines in university settings.