Influence of Diet,Menstruation and Genetic Factors on Iron Status: A Cross-Sectional Study in Spanish Women of Childbearing Age

The aim of this study was to investigate the combined influence of diet, menstruation and genetic factors on iron status in Spanish menstruating women (n = 142). Dietary intake was assessed by a 72-h detailed dietary report and menstrual blood loss by a questionnaire, to determine a Menstrual Blood Loss Coefficient (MBLC). Five selected SNPs were genotyped: rs3811647, rs1799852 (Tf gene); rs1375515 (CACNA2D3 gene); and rs1800562 and rs1799945 (HFE gene, mutations C282Y and H63D, respectively). Iron biomarkers were determined and cluster analysis was performed. Differences among clusters in dietary intake, menstrual blood loss parameters and genotype frequencies distribution were studied. A categorical regression was performed to identify factors associated with cluster belonging. Three clusters were identified: women with poor iron status close to developing iron deficiency anemia (Cluster 1, n = 26); women with mild iron deficiency (Cluster 2, n = 59) and women with normal iron status (Cluster 3, n = 57). Three independent factors, red meat consumption, MBLC and mutation C282Y, were included in the model that better explained cluster belonging (R² = 0.142, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the combination of high red meat consumption, low menstrual blood loss and the HFE C282Y mutation may protect from iron deficiency in women of childbearing age. These findings could be useful to implement adequate strategies to prevent iron deficiency anemia.     

Expression of DDX11 and DNM1L at the 12p11 Locus Modulates Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Susceptibility

Objectives: This study employed genetic and functional analyses using OASIS meta-analysis of multiple existing GWAS and gene-expression datasets to identify novel SLE genes. Methods: Four hundred and ten genes were mapped using SNIPPER to 30 SLE GWAS loci and investigated for expression in three SLE GEO-datasets and the Cordoba {"type":"entrez-geo","attrs":{"text":"GSE50395","term_id":"50395"}}GSE50395-dataset. Blood eQTL for significant SNPs in SLE loci and STRING for functional pathways of differentially expressed genes were used. Confirmatory qPCR on SLE monocytes was performed. The entire 12p11 locus was investigated for genetic association using two additional GWAS. Expression of 150 genes at this locus was assessed. Based on this significance, qPCRs for DNM1L and KRAS were performed. Results: Fifty genes were differentially expressed in at least two SLE GEO-datasets, with all probes directionally aligned. DDX11, an RNA helicase involved in genome stability, was downregulated in both GEO and Cordoba datasets. The most significant SNP, rs3741869 in OASIS locus 12p11.21, containing DDX11, was a cis-eQTL regulating DDX11 expression. DDX11 was found repressed. The entire 12p11 locus showed three association peaks. Gene expression in GEO datasets identified DNM1L and KRAS, besides DDX11. Confirmatory qPCR validated DNM1L as an SLE susceptibility gene. DDX11, DNM1L and KRAS interact with each other and multiple known SLE genes including STAT1/STAT4 and major components of IFN-dependent gene expression, and are responsible for signal transduction of cytokines, hormones, and growth-factors, deregulation of which is involved in SLE-development. Conclusion: A genomic convergence approach with OASIS analysis of multiple GWAS and expression datasets identified DDX11 and DNM1L as novel SLE-genes, the expression of which is altered in monocytes from SLE patients. This study lays the foundation for understanding the pathogenic involvement of DDX11 and DNM1L in SLE by identifying them using a systems-biology approach, while the 12p11 locus harboring these genes was previously missed by four independent GWAS.     

Chemokine-Derived Peptides: Novel Antimicrobial and Antineoplasic Agents

Chemokines are a burgeoning family of chemotactic cytokines displaying a broad array of functions such as regulation of homeostatic leukocyte traffic and development, as well as activating the innate immune system. Their role in controlling early and late inflammatory stages is now well recognized. An improper balance either in chemokine synthesis or chemokine receptor expression contributes to various pathological disorders making chemokines and their receptors a useful therapeutic target. Research in this area is progressing rapidly, and development of novel agents based on chemokine/chemokine receptors antagonist functions are emerging as attractive alternative drugs. Some of these novel agents include generation of chemokine-derived peptides (CDP) with potential agonist and antagonist effects on inflammation, cancer and against bacterial infections. CDP have been generated mainly from N- and C-terminus chemokine sequences with subsequent modifications such as truncations or elongations. In this review, we present a glimpse of the different pharmacological actions reported for CDP and our current understanding regarding the potential use of CDP alone or as part of the novel therapies proposed in the treatment of microbial infections and cancer.     

Comparison of rancimat evaluation modes to assess oxidative stability of fish oils

Two Rancimat evaluation modes, the induction period (IP), and the time needed to achieve a selected difference in conductivity (tΔK) were compared for assessing relative stability of anchovy, sardine, and hake liver oils. Mean coefficients of variation were 2.5 and 2.4% for IP and tΔK values, respectively, for oils oxidized in the range 55–90°C. Natural logarithms of IP and tΔK values varied linearly with temperature (P<0.001). A linear relationship (r=0.999) was established between the IP and tΔK values (P<0.001). Relative oxidative stability of fish oils was determined with the same degree of confidence by either IP or tΔK values.     

Polyphenolic fractions improve the oxidative stability of microencapsulated linseed oil

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of incorporating polyphenolic‐enriched fractions from murta leaves on the oxidative stability of linseed oil microencapsulated by spray drying. For this purpose, polyphenol‐enriched fractions from murta leaves were separated by gel permeation chromatography and chemically characterized. The oxidative stability of microencapsulated linseed oil (MLO) with antioxidants was evaluated in storage conditions at 25°C for 40 days. The antioxidant effects of the polyphenolic fractions and commercial antioxidants (BHT and trolox) on microencapsulated oil were evaluated by the value of conjugated dienes, peroxide, and p‐anisidine. In the initiation step of the oxidation, no significant oxidation delay (p>0.05) in MLO containing fractions F₆, F₈, or BHT and trolox was observed. However, in the termination step of the oxidation, the addition of fractions F₆, F₈, and BHT and trolox decreases significantly (p ≤ 0.05) the rancidity in MLO. Furthermore, the results of this study demonstrated the importance of the addition of natural antioxidants such as fractions of murta leaf extract in microencapsulated linseed oil to increase its resistance to oxidation. Practical applications: For incorporating linseed oil, a source of omega‐3 fatty acids, in the diet it is necessary to protect it against oxidative rancidity, the main cause of deterioration that affects food with a high unsaturated fat content. Microencapsulation is effective in retarding or suppressing the oxidation of unsaturated fatty acids and natural plants extracts are effective in inhibiting the lipid oxidation of microencapsulated oil. The use of process technology and a natural additive is expected to increase storage stability and enable its use in dry foods such as instant products. Linseed oil can be used in human nutrition as well as in animal feed as a replacement for fish oil.     

Leachability of degradation products from hard chairside reline resins in artificial saliva: Effect of water‐bath post‐polymerization treatment

The effect of a post‐polymerization treatment on the leaching of methacrylic acid (MA) and benzoic acid (BA) from the reline resins [Kooliner (K), New Truliner (N), Ufi Gel hard (U), and Tokuso Rebase Fast (T)] was evaluated. Specimens of each material were divided into two groups: Group C (control) – left untreated; Group WB (water‐bath) – immersion in water at 55 ± 1°C for 10 min. Specimens were placed in artificial saliva at 37 ± 1°C and, after 1‐, 3‐, 5‐, 24‐h and 3‐, 7‐, 14‐, and 30‐day intervals, aliquots were removed and analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. Data were analyzed by using Wilcoxon, Mann–Whitney or Kruskal–Wallis tests (α = 0.05). At 1 h, the concentration of MA released from U control specimens was higher than those of the other ones, and decreased after 3 h. WB specimens released lower amounts of MA than control specimens only for material U, at the 1‐ and 3‐h periods. For all control specimens, concentrations of leached BA progressively decreased within 5 h and from 24 h to the end. WB specimens released significantly lower amounts of BA than did the control groups. The highest concentration of MA was leached from control specimens of Ufi Gel hard. Water‐bath post‐polymerization treatment caused a significant reduction in elution of BA. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Determination of tylosin in milk samples by poly(ethylene terephthalate)-based molecularly imprinted polymer

Poly(ethylene terephthalate)-based molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) were synthesized, and their recognition capability was evaluated. Adsorption isotherm was described by the Langmuir model and the maximum adsorption capacity of MIP_Ty reached 172.4 mg g⁻¹ in water at pH 6.2. A recognition coefficient of 1.17 was obtained. A solid-phase extraction cartridge was manufactured and its behavior was evaluated for tylosin extraction from aqueous and milk samples. An off-line SPE-UV method was applied. An acceptable linearity was obtained in the range of 1–20 μg ml⁻¹ and the average recovery at three spike levels in milk samples was higher than 92%. The limit of quantification was 2.6 × 10⁻² μg ml⁻¹. The manufactured SPE cartridge has a great potential for clean-up processes in complex media. The cartridge offers a fast and sensitive option to the existing sorbents for extracting this drug from milk samples.     

Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Eucalyptus globulus Bark-A Promising Approach for Triterpenoid Production

Eucalyptus bark contains significant amounts of triterpenoids with demonstrated bioactivity, namely triterpenic acids and their acetyl derivatives (ursolic, betulinic, oleanolic, betulonic, 3-acetylursolic, and 3-acetyloleanolic acids). In this work, the supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of Eucalyptus globulus deciduous bark was carried out with pure and modified carbon dioxide to recover this fraction, and the results were compared with those obtained by Soxhlet extraction with dichloromethane. The effects of pressure (100-200 bar), co-solvent (ethanol) content (0, 5 and 8% wt), and multistep operation were studied in order to evaluate the applicability of SFE for their selective and efficient production. The individual extraction curves of the main families of compounds were measured, and the extracts analyzed by GC-MS. Results pointed out the influence of pressure and the important role played by the co-solvent. Ethanol can be used with advantage, since its effect is more important than increasing pressure by several tens of bar. At 160 bar and 40 °C, the introduction of 8% (wt) of ethanol greatly improves the yield of triterpenoids more than threefold.     

Malachite green derivatives for two-photon RNA detection

The design, preparation and characterisation of a library of malachite green (MG) derivatives for two-photon RNA labelling is described. Some of these MG derivatives exhibit an increased affinity for an MG-aptamer, as well as improved two-photon sensitivity when compared to the classical malachite green chloride. The underlying mechanisms and potential benefits for in vivo RNA visualisation are discussed.