Familial aggregation of arterial pressure figures and weight indices: study in Cuenca

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to assess the familial aggregation of blood pressure and body mass index levels in schoolchildren of Cuenca city, Spain. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A cross sectional study was made including 307 both sexes schoolchildren 9-12 years old recruited in three schools of Cuenca city, and 346 of their parents. There were determined sociodemographics variables, weight, height, body mass index, SBP, DBP and fasting plasma total cholesterol, cLDL, cHDL and triglyceride concentrations. RESULTS: Parents-children correlation coefficients in blood pressure levels ranged between -0.1 and 0.2. Parents-daughters correlations were stronger than parents-sons in ponderal indexes. The relationship of ponderal indexes and blood pressure between spouses was weak, with correlation coefficients between 0.08 y 0.1. By stepwise multiple regression analysis it was found that the only variable that explained a significant percentage of blood pressure variability (both systolic and diastolic) was the weight of the schoolchildren in both sexes. Parents body mass index explained more than 32% of body mass index daughter's variability. In sons any variable explained a significant percentage of variability. CONCLUSIONS: The parents-children aggregation of blood pressure is weak. Parents-children aggregation of ponderal indexes is stronger, though there are considerable sex-differences. Spouses relationship, though positive, is weak in all variables.     

Aspects of 2-acetyl-1,3-cyclopentanedione as a chromium(iii) chelating agent: nutritional implications

The chemistry of 2‐acetyl‐1,3‐cycloalkanediones has acquired increased applied importance because of the great number of applications in the agroalimentary industry. The keto‐enol ratios and equilibrium constants for proton reactions of 2‐acetyl‐1,3‐cyclopentanedione have been determined in solution using nuclear magnetic resonance and spectrophotometric methods. Chromium(iii ) is an essential nutrient and it seems that high chromium supplementation improves glucose tolerance. Chromium chelates have been shown to have a significant beneficial effect on metal status by increasing metal bioavailability in human diets. The composition and log β‐value of the complex formed in aqueous solution by chromium(iii ) with the ligand mentioned above have been determined. A detailed reaction scheme is proposed for the 1 : 1 chelation process. The kinetic data are consistent with a mechanism in which the mono‐enol tautomer of the ligand reacts with both metallic species, the fully hydrated metal ion and the Cr(OH)²⁺. The results are discussed in the light of previous work.     

Alteration of Fatty Acid Profile in Fragile X Syndrome

Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most prevalent monogenic cause of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs). Despite a common genetic etiology, the affected individuals display heterogenous metabolic abnormalities including hypocholesterolemia. Although changes in the metabolism of fatty acids (FAs) have been reported in various neuropsychiatric disorders, it has not been explored in humans with FXS. In this study, we investigated the FA profiles of two different groups: (1) an Argentinian group, including FXS individuals and age- and sex-matched controls, and (2) a French-Canadian group, including FXS individuals and their age- and sex-matched controls. Since phospholipid FAs are an indicator of medium-term diet and endogenous metabolism, we quantified the FA profile in plasma phospholipids using gas chromatography. Our results showed significantly lower levels in various plasma FAs including saturated, monosaturated, ω-6 polyunsaturated, and ω-3 polyunsaturated FAs in FXS individuals compared to the controls. A decrease in the EPA/ALA (eicosapentaenoic acid/alpha linoleic acid) ratio and an increase in the DPA/EPA (docosapentaenoic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid) ratio suggest an alteration associated with desaturase and elongase activity, respectively. We conclude that FXS individuals present an abnormal profile of FAs, specifically FAs belonging to the ω-3 family, that might open new avenues of treatment to improve core symptoms of the disorder.     

Hydrogen evolution in alkaline water on cobalt electrodeposits prepared from baths containing different anions

Electrolytic cobalt deposits, as electrocatalytic materials, were prepared from baths containing chloride, sulphate or acetate. Electrodeposition was conducted at 200 A m^–2 with or without oxygen bubbling at the cathode. The hydrogen evolution reaction (h.e.r.) on the cobalt electrodes was performed in 30 wt % KOH at 25, 40, 50, 60 and 70 °C. Without oxygen bubbling during deposition, the cobalt electrodes prepared from the acetate bath gave superior performance for h.e.r. than electrodes deposited from the other baths. With oxygen bubbling, however, the lowest h.e.r. over-potential was obtained on the cobalt prepared from the chloride bath.     

Evaluation of six pesticides leaching indexes using field data of herbicide application in Casablanca Valley, Chile.

A field study was performed to evaluate the accuracy of six pesticide screening leaching indexes for herbicide movement. Adsorption, dissipation and soil movement were studied in a vineyard in a sandy loam soil during 2005 season. Simazine, diuron, pendimethalin, oxyfluorfen and flumioxazin were applied to bare soil at rates commonly used, and their soil concentrations throughout soil profile were determined at 0, 10, 20, 40 and 90 days after application (DAA). Herbicides were subjected to two pluviometric regimens, natural field condition and modified conditions (plus natural rainfall 180 mm). Leaching indexes utilized were: Briggs's Rf, Hamaker's Rf, LEACH, LPI, GUS and LIX. Simazine reached 120 cm, diuron 90 cm, flumioxazin 30 cm soil depth respectively. Pendimethalin and oxyfluorfen were retained up to 5 cm. None of the herbicides leaching was affected by rainfall regimen. Only flumioxazin field dissipation was clearly affected by pluviometric condition. The best representation of the herbicide soil depth movement and leaching below 15 cm soil depth were: Hamaker's Rf < Briggs's Rf < GUS < LPI, < LEACH < LIX. Field results showed a good correlation between herbicides K(d) and their soil depth movement and mass leached below 15 cm soil depth.