Relationship between nailfold videocapillaroscopic findings and cardiovascular risk factors.

BACKGROUND: Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy (NVC) is a valuable tool in the differential diagnosis of Raynaud's phenomenon (RP), present in certain Rheumatic diseases (RD). Knowing that many people have cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), the main objective was to demonstrate that CVRF and carotid plaques produce NVC alterations. METHODS: Cross-sectional unicentric study carried out from 2020 to 2023. Four groups were formed: subjects with RD and RP, participants with RD without RP, subjects with RP without RD and finally participants without RP or RD (study group). Each subject exhibiting CVRF presented only a single risk factor. The variables collected were: sociodemographic, CVRF (diabetes, tobacco, alcohol (ALC), obesity (OBE), dyslipidemia and arterial hypertension (AH)), diseases, RP, treatments, tortuosities and NVC alterations (ramified capillaries, enlarged capillaries, giant capillaries, haemorrhages and density loss) and carotid ultrasound (CU). RESULTS: 402 subjects were included (76 % women, mean age 51 ± 16 years), 67 % had CVRF, 50 % RP and 38 % RD. Tortuosities were present in 100 % of CVRF participants. A statistically significant association was found between the presence of CVRF and all the NVC alterations: ramified capillaries (OR = 95.6), enlarged capillaries (OR = 59.2), giant capillaries (OR = 8.32), haemorrhages (OR = 17.6) and density loss (OR = 14.4). In particular, an association was found between giant capillaries with AH (p = 0,008) and OBE (p ã€ˆ0,001), and haemorrhages and density loss with ALC and OBE (p < 0,001). On the other hand, 40 subjects presented CU plaques (9.9 %), associated with enlarged capillaries (OR = 8.08), haemorrhages (OR = 4.04) and ramified capillaries (OR = 3.01). The pathological intima-media thickness was also associated with haemorrhages (OR = 3.14). CONCLUSIONS: There is a clear association between CVRF and ultrasound atherosclerotic findings in carotid with NVC alterations. These findings are of special interest for a correct NVC interpretation and to avoid false positives in the diagnosis of primary and secondary RP.

Brain-muscle communication prevents muscle aging by maintaining daily physiology.

A molecular clock network is crucial for daily physiology and maintaining organismal health. We examined the interactions and importance of intratissue clock networks in muscle tissue maintenance. In arrhythmic mice showing premature aging, we created a basic clock module involving a central and a peripheral (muscle) clock. Reconstituting the brain-muscle clock network is sufficient to preserve fundamental daily homeostatic functions and prevent premature muscle aging. However, achieving whole muscle physiology requires contributions from other peripheral clocks. Mechanistically, the muscle peripheral clock acts as a gatekeeper, selectively suppressing detrimental signals from the central clock while integrating important muscle homeostatic functions. Our research reveals the interplay between the central and peripheral clocks in daily muscle function and underscores the impact of eating patterns on these interactions.

Multimodal cell atlas of the ageing human skeletal muscle.

Muscle atrophy and functional decline (sarcopenia) are common manifestations of frailty and are critical contributors to morbidity and mortality in older people1. Deciphering the molecular mechanisms underlying sarcopenia has major implications for understanding human ageing2. Yet, progress has been slow, partly due to the difficulties of characterizing skeletal muscle niche heterogeneity (whereby myofibres are the most abundant) and obtaining well-characterized human samples3,4. Here we generate a single-cell/single-nucleus transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility map of human limb skeletal muscles encompassing over 387,000 cells/nuclei from individuals aged 15 to 99 years with distinct fitness and frailty levels. We describe how cell populations change during ageing, including the emergence of new populations in older people, and the cell-specific and multicellular network features (at the transcriptomic and epigenetic levels) associated with these changes. On the basis of cross-comparison with genetic data, we also identify key elements of chromatin architecture that mark susceptibility to sarcopenia. Our study provides a basis for identifying targets in the skeletal muscle that are amenable to medical, pharmacological and lifestyle interventions in late life.

Senescence atlas reveals an aged-like inflamed niche that blunts muscle regeneration.

Tissue regeneration requires coordination between resident stem cells and local niche cells1,2. Here we identify that senescent cells are integral components of the skeletal muscle regenerative niche that repress regeneration at all stages of life. The technical limitation of senescent-cell scarcity3 was overcome by combining single-cell transcriptomics and a senescent-cell enrichment sorting protocol. We identified and isolated different senescent cell types from damaged muscles of young and old mice. Deeper transcriptome, chromatin and pathway analyses revealed conservation of cell identity traits as well as two universal senescence hallmarks (inflammation and fibrosis) across cell type, regeneration time and ageing. Senescent cells create an aged-like inflamed niche that mirrors inflammation associated with ageing (inflammageing4) and arrests stem cell proliferation and regeneration. Reducing the burden of senescent cells, or reducing their inflammatory secretome through CD36 neutralization, accelerates regeneration in young and old mice. By contrast, transplantation of senescent cells delays regeneration. Our results provide a technique for isolating in vivo senescent cells, define a senescence blueprint for muscle, and uncover unproductive functional interactions between senescent cells and stem cells in regenerative niches that can be overcome. As senescent cells also accumulate in human muscles, our findings open potential paths for improving muscle repair throughout life.

Rhodium Single-Atom Catalyst Design through Oxide Support Modulation for Selective Gas-Phase Ethylene Hydroformylation.

A frontier challenge in single-atom (SA) catalysis is the design of fully inorganic sites capable of emulating the high reaction selectivity traditionally exclusive of organometallic counterparts in homogeneous catalysis. Modulating the direct coordination environment in SA sites, via the exploitation of the oxide support's surface chemistry, stands as a powerful albeit underexplored strategy. We report that isolated Rh atoms stabilized on oxygen-defective SnO2 uniquely unite excellent TOF with essentially full selectivity in the gas-phase hydroformylation of ethylene, inhibiting the thermodynamically favored olefin hydrogenation. Density Functional Theory calculations and surface characterization suggest that substantial depletion of the catalyst surface in lattice oxygen, energetically facile on SnO2 , is key to unlock a high coordination pliability at the mononuclear Rh centers, leading to an exceptional performance which is on par with that of molecular catalysts in liquid media.

Effect on Body Composition of a Meal-Replacement Progression Diet in Patients 1 Month after Bariatric Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Progression diets after bariatric surgery (BS) are restricted in calories and protein, and they may induce a worsening of body composition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a modified diet with an oral nutritional supplement that is hyperproteic and normocaloric over the body composition. METHODS: A two-arm ambispective observational cohort study was designed. Forty-four patients who underwent sleeve gastrectomy were included in the study. Thirty patients received a progression diet with a normocaloric, hyperproteic oral nutritional supplement during the first two weeks after surgery (820 kcal, 65.5 g protein). They were compared with a historical cohort of 14 patients treated with a standard progression diet (220 kcal, 11.5 g protein). Anthropometric and body composition (using electrical bioimpedanciometry) data were analyzed before BS and 1 month after the surgery. RESULTS: The mean age was 47.35(10.22) years; 75% were women, and the average presurgical body mass index (BMI) was 45.98(6.13) kg/m2, with no differences between both arms of intervention. One month after surgery, no differences in the percentage of excess weight loss (%PEWL) were observed between patients in the high-protein-diet group (HP) and low-protein-diet group (LP) (HP: 21.86 (12.60)%; LP: 18.10 (13.49)%; p = 0.38). A lower loss of appendicular skeletal muscle mass index was observed in the HP (HP: -5.70 (8.79)%; LP: -10.54 (6.29)%; p < 0.05) and fat-free mass index (HP: 3.86 (8.50)%; LP:-9.44 (5.75)%; p = 0.03), while a higher loss of fat mass was observed in the HP (HP: -14.22 (10.09)%; LP: -5.26 (11.08)%; p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing gastric sleeve surgery, the addition of a normocaloric, hyperproteic formula managed to slow down the loss of muscle mass and increase the loss of fat mass with no differences on total weight loss.

Marcadores y seguimiento tras alta de urgencias en neumonías COVID-19 / Biological markers and follow-up after discharge home of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia

Objetivos: Analizar la evolución de los pacientes que fueron dados de alta del servicio de urgencias (SU) con neumonía compatible con COVID-19. Método: Se realiza el seguimiento de 102 pacientes dados de alta desde SU con diagnóstico de neumonía compatible con COVID-19 entre el 12 y el 21 de marzo de 2020 en un hospital del sur de Madrid. Se describen las principales variables utilizando mediana e intervalo intercuartil o usando frecuencias, según corresponda. La comparación entre tratamientos/pronóstico se realizó utilizando el test ji cuadrado, el test de Kruskal Wallis o el test de Mann-Whitney. Finalmente, se realizó un modelo de regresión logística. Resultados: La mayoría de los pacientes (74,5%) fueron tratados con hidroxicloroquina en monoterapia. La tasa de reingreso fue de 15,7% y de revisita a urgencias de 25,7%. El ingreso se relacionó con un LDL (lactato deshidrogena-sa) elevado (p = 0,011), creatincinasa (CK) elevada (p = 0,004) y linfopenia (p = 0,034). La hipertensión y la enferme-dad pulmonar obstructiva crónica se relacionaron con el ingreso, y la cardiopatía isquémica fue la comorbilidad que se asoció a mayor duración de la sintomatología. Conclusión: La linfopenia, LDH y CK pronosticaron mejor la necesidad de ingreso que otros marcadores clásicos en pacientes con clínica leve-moderada. El seguimiento telefónico demostró ser de utilidad ante la sobrecarga de recursos sanitarios. (AU)

Background and objective: We aimed to analyze the clinical course of patients discharged from our emergency departament (ED) with pneumonia symptoms compatible with a diagnosis of COVID-19. Methods: We followed 102 patients discharged home with a diagnosis of pneumonia compatible with COVID19 between March 12 and 21, 2020, in our hospital in the southern part of the autonomous community of Madrid. Descriptive statistics (medians and interquartile ranges or frequencies, as appropriate) were compiled for the main variables. Treatments and prognoses were compared with c2, Kruskal–Wallis, or Mann–Whitney tests. The data then underwent logistic regression analysis. Results: Most patients (accounting for 74.5% of the discharges) were treated with hydroxychloroquine alone. The readmission rate was 15.7%; the ED revisiting rate was 25.7%. Admission was associated with an elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level (P=.011), elevated creatine kinase (CK) (P=.004), and lymphopenia (P=.034). Hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were also related to admission. Ischemic heart disease was associated with longer duration of symptoms. Conclusions: Lymphopenia, and elevated LDH and CK levels predicted the need for hospital admission better than other traditional biological markers in patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Telephone follow-up proved useful for dealing with the overloading of health care services. (AU)

Biological markers and follow-up after discharge home of patients with COVID-19 pneumonia. / Marcadores y seguimiento tras alta de urgencias en neumonías COVID-19.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to analyze the clinical course of patients discharged from our emergency departament (ED) with pneumonia symptoms compatible with a diagnosis of COVID-19. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We followed 102 patients discharged home with a diagnosis of pneumonia compatible with COVID19 between March 12 and 21, 2020, in our hospital in the southern part of the autonomous community of Madrid. Descriptive statistics (medians and interquartile ranges or frequencies, as appropriate) were compiled for the main variables. Treatments and prognoses were compared with 􀁆2, Kruskal-Wallis, or Mann-Whitney tests. The data then underwent logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Most patients (accounting for 74.5% of the discharges) were treated with hydroxychloroquine alone. The readmission rate was 15.7%; the ED revisiting rate was 25.7%. Admission was associated with an elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level (P=.011), elevated creatine kinase (CK) (P=.004), and lymphopenia (P=.034). Hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were also related to admission. Ischemic heart disease was associated with longer duration of symptoms. CONCLUSION: Lymphopenia, and elevated LDH and CK levels predicted the need for hospital admission better than other traditional biological markers in patients with mild to moderate symptoms. Telephone follow-up proved useful for dealing with the overloading of health care services.

OBJETIVO: Analizar la evolución de los pacientes que fueron dados de alta del servicio de urgencias (SU) con neumonía compatible con COVID-19. METODO: Se realiza el seguimiento de 102 pacientes dados de alta desde SU con diagnóstico de neumonía compatible con COVID-19 entre el 12 y el 21 de marzo de 2020 en un hospital del sur de Madrid. Se describen las principales variables utilizando mediana e intervalo intercuartil o usando frecuencias, según corresponda. La comparación entre tratamientos/pronóstico se realizó utilizando el test ji cuadrado, el test de Kruskal Wallis o el test de Mann-Whitney. Finalmente, se realizó un modelo de regresión logística. RESULTADOS: La mayoría de los pacientes (74,5%) fueron tratados con hidroxicloroquina en monoterapia. La tasa de reingreso fue de 15,7% y de revisita a urgencias de 25,7%. El ingreso se relacionó con un LDL (lactato deshidrogenasa) elevado (p = 0,011), creatincinasa (CK) elevada (p = 0,004) y linfopenia (p = 0,034). La hipertensión y la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica se relacionaron con el ingreso, y la cardiopatía isquémica fue la comorbilidad que se asoció a mayor duración de la sintomatología. CONCLUSIONES: La linfopenia, LDH y CK pronosticaron mejor la necesidad de ingreso que otros marcadores clásicos en pacientes con clínica leve-moderada. El seguimiento telefónico demostró ser de utilidad ante la sobrecarga de recursos sanitarios.

Development of the Conceptualization of Pain Questionnaire: A Measure to Study How Children Conceptualize Pain.

(1) Background: Research has shown that thoughts about pain are important for the management of chronic pain in children. In order to monitor changes in thoughts about pain over time and evaluate the efficacy of treatments, we need valid and reliable measures. The aims of this study were to develop a questionnaire to assess a child's concept of pain and to evaluate its psychometric properties; (2) Methods: This is a cross-sectional, two-phase, mixed-method study. A total of 324 individuals aged 8 to 17 years old responded to the newly created questionnaire. The Conceptualization of Pain Questionnaire (COPAQ) was calibrated using the Rasch model. The chi-square test was used for the fit statistics. Underfit and overfit of the model were determined and a descriptive analysis of infit and outfit was conducted to identify who responded erratically. Internal consistency was measured using the Person Separation Index (PSI); (3) Results: Fit to the Rasch model was good. Suitable targeting indicated which items were simple to answer; Person Fit identified 9.56% children who responded erratically; PSI = 0.814; (4) Conclusions: The findings suggest that COPAQ is a measure of a child's concept of pain that is easy to administer and respond to. It has a good fit and a good internal consistency.

Determination of serum free light chains as a marker of systemic lupus flare.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to explore the usefulness of the determination of free light chains (FLC) in serum as a biomarker of flare in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to analyze the differences in their discriminatory capacity with complement C3 and C4. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study. The definition of flare was based on the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) Flare Index. The discriminatory capacity of FLC and C3 and C4 levels was compared using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and the area under the curve (AUC). RESULTS: Forty-six patients were enrolled. Patients with SLE flare showed significantly lower C3 (p = 0.025) and C4 levels (p = 0.028), as well as a higher concentration of lambda light chains (λ-LC) (p = 0.028) compared with the non-flare group. λ-LC, as opposed to kappa light chains and total light chains, demonstrated a discriminatory capacity for detecting the presence of SLE flare (AUC 0.781), with 100% sensitivity, 65% specificity, and 69.6% of patients correctly classified for a cutoff point of ≥ 19.5 mg/L. Complement C3 and C4 also showed a high discriminatory capacity for SLE flare (AUC 0.804 and 0.837, respectively). Comparing λ-LC, C3, and C4, the last one demonstrates better discriminatory capacity for SLE flare with the highest AUC (0.837; 95% CI 0.663-1.000). CONCLUSIONS: λ-LC have good discriminatory capacity for SLE flare and could be useful as a biomarker of SLE exacerbation.Key Points• The usefulness of free light chains as a biomarker could be compared with complement.• Lambda free light chains have good discriminatory capacity for SLE flare.• Free light chains are a promising marker of SLE activity.

Tailored Helicobacter pylori eradication based on prior intake of macrolide antibiotics allows the use of triple therapy with optimal results in an area with high clarithromycin resistance

Background: the previous intake of macrolide antibiotics is associated with a failure to eradicate Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) with clarithromycin-containing regimens. However, the standard triple therapy achieves eradication rates of over 90% in patients without a previous use of macrolides in our health area. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an H. pylori eradication strategy based on the intake of macrolides by the patient during the previous years. Methods: one hundred and sixty-nine patients with H. pylori infection were prospectively included in the study. The electronic medical record of each patient was reviewed at the time of inclusion. Depending on their previous intake of macrolides, patients were assigned to one of two eradication regimens: group A) patients without a previous intake of macrolides received an optimized triple therapy for 14 days; and group B) patients with a previous intake of macrolides received bismuth quadruple therapy for ten days. Results: ninety-one patients (53.84%) without a previous intake of macrolides received an optimized triple therapy (group A) and 78 patients (46.15%) with a previous intake of macrolides received bismuth quadruple therapy (group B). In group A, the H. pylori eradication rates were 90.11% in the intention-to-treat and 95.35% in the per-protocol analysis. In group B, the H. pylori eradication rates were 85.89% in the intention-to-treat and 98.5% in the per-protocol analysis. The overall eradication rates obtained using this strategy were 88.16% (95% CI: 82.32-92.02%) in the intention-to-treat and 96.75% (95% CI: 92.59-98.94%) in the per-protocol analysis. Conclusions: an H. pylori eradication strategy based on the intake of macrolides during the previous years achieves overall eradication rates close to 90% and allows the use of standard triple therapy in more than half of the patients from a health area with a high level of clarithromycin resistance

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Regulation of tumor angiogenesis and mesenchymal-endothelial transition by p38α through TGF-ß and JNK signaling.

The formation of new blood vessels is essential for normal development, tissue repair and tumor growth. Here we show that inhibition of the kinase p38α enhances angiogenesis in human and mouse colon tumors. Mesenchymal cells can contribute to tumor angiogenesis by regulating proliferation and migration of endothelial cells. We show that p38α negatively regulates an angiogenic program in mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), multipotent progenitors found in perivascular locations. This program includes the acquisition of an endothelial phenotype by MSCs mediated by both TGF-ß and JNK, and negatively regulated by p38α. Abrogation of p38α in mesenchymal cells increases tumorigenesis, which correlates with enhanced angiogenesis. Using genetic models, we show that p38α regulates the acquisition of an endothelial-like phenotype by mesenchymal cells in colon tumors and damage tissue. Taken together, our results indicate that p38α in mesenchymal cells restrains a TGF-ß-induced angiogenesis program including their ability to transdifferentiate into endothelial cells.

Tailored Helicobacter pylori eradication based on prior intake of macrolide antibiotics allows the use of triple therapy with optimal results in an area with high clarithromycin resistance.

BACKGROUND: the previous intake of macrolide antibiotics is associated with a failure to eradicate Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) with clarithromycin-containing regimens. However, the standard triple therapy achieves eradication rates of over 90% in patients without a previous use of macrolides in our health area. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an H. pylori eradication strategy based on the intake of macrolides by the patient during the previous years. METHODS: one hundred and sixty-nine patients with H. pylori infection were prospectively included in the study. The electronic medical record of each patient was reviewed at the time of inclusion. Depending on their previous intake of macrolides, patients were assigned to one of two eradication regimens: group A) patients without a previous intake of macrolides received an optimized triple therapy for 14 days; and group B) patients with a previous intake of macrolides received bismuth quadruple therapy for ten days. RESULTS: ninety-one patients (53.84%) without a previous intake of macrolides received an optimized triple therapy (group A) and 78 patients (46.15%) with a previous intake of macrolides received bismuth quadruple therapy (group B). In group A, the H. pylori eradication rates were 90.11% in the intention-to-treat and 95.35% in the per-protocol analysis. In group B, the H. pylori eradication rates were 85.89% in the intention-to-treat and 98.5% in the per-protocol analysis. The overall eradication rates obtained using this strategy were 88.16% (95% CI: 82.32-92.02%) in the intention-to-treat and 96.75% (95% CI: 92.59-98.94%) in the per-protocol analysis. CONCLUSIONS: an H. pylori eradication strategy based on the intake of macrolides during the previous years achieves overall eradication rates close to 90% and allows the use of standard triple therapy in more than half of the patients from a health area with a high level of clarithromycin resistance.

Changes in metabolites in the brain of patients with fibromyalgia after treatment with an NMDA receptor antagonist.

The aims of this work were to evaluate whether the treatment of patients with fibromyalgia with memantine is associated with significant changes in metabolite concentrations in the brain, and to explore any changes in clinical outcome measures. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy was performed of the right anterior and posterior insula, both hippocampi and the posterior cingulate cortex. Questionnaires on pain, anxiety, depression, global function, quality of life and cognitive impairment were used. Ten patients were studied at baseline and after three months of treatment with memantine. Significant increases were observed in the following areas: N-acetylaspartate (4.47 at baseline vs. 4.71 at three months, p = 0.02) and N-acetylaspartate+N-acetylaspartate glutamate in the left hippocampus (5.89 vs. 5.98; p = 0.007); N-acetylaspartate+N-acetylaspartate glutamate in the right hippocampus (5.31 vs 5.79; p = 0.01) and the anterior insula (7.56 vs. 7.70; p = 0.033); glutamate+glutamine/creatine ratio in the anterior insula (2.03 vs. 2.17; p = 0.022) and the posterior insula (1.77 vs. 2.00; p = 0.004); choline/creatine ratio in the posterior cingulate (0.18 vs. 0.19; p = 0.023); and creatine in the right hippocampus (3.60 vs. 3.85; p = 0.007). At the three-month follow-up, memantine improved cognitive function assessed by the Cognition Mini-Exam (31.50, SD = 2.95 vs. 34.40, SD = 0.6; p = 0.005), depression measured by the Hamilton Depression Scale (7.70, SD = 0.81 vs. 7.56, SD = 0.68; p = 0.042) and severity of illness measured by the Clinical Global Impression severity scale (5.79, SD = 0.96 vs. 5.31, SD = 1.12; p = 0.007). Depression, clinical global impression and cognitive function showed improvement with memantine. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy could be useful in monitoring response to the pharmacological treatment of fibromyalgia.

Variability of the Prevalence of Depression in Function of Sociodemographic and Environmental Factors: Ecological Model.

Major depression etiopathogenesis is related to a wide variety of genetics, demographic and psychosocial factors, as well as to environmental factors. The objective of this study is to analyze sociodemographic and environmental variables that are related to the prevalence of depression through correlation analysis and to develop a regression model that explains the behavior of this disease from an ecological perspective. This is an ecological, retrospective, cross-sectional study. The target population was 1,148,430 individuals over the age of 16 who were registered in Aragon (Spain) during 2010, with electronic medical records in the community's primary health care centers. The spatial unit was the Basic Health Area (BHA). The dependent variable was the diagnosis of Depression and the ecological independent variables were: Demographic variables (gender and age), population distribution, typology of the entity, population structure by sex and age, by nationality, by education, by work, by salary, by marital status, structure of the household by number of members, and state of the buildings. The results show moderate and positive correlations with higher rates of depression in areas having a higher femininity index, higher population density, areas with a higher unemployment rate and higher average salary. The results of the linear regression show that aging +75 and rural entities act as protective factors for depression, while urban areas and deficient buildings act as risk factors. In conclusion, the ecological methodology may be a useful tool which, together with the statistical epidemiological analysis, can help in the political decision making process.

Persistent organic pollutant levels in eggs of leatherback turtles (Dermochelys coriacea) point to a decrease in hatching success.

Sea turtles are susceptible to environmental pollution, since many harmful effects have been reported for different chemicals over the last two decades. In this context, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are of particular concern due to their endocrine-disrupting nature. The aims of this study were to provide additional baseline data on PCB and PBDE concentrations in eggs of Dermochelys coriacea; and to investigate whether any of the congeners could compromise reproductive success in this species. A total of 18 nests from different females were studied during the nesting season of 2008 at Reserva Pacuare Beach, in the Caribbean side of Costa Rica. Reproductive parameters (viability, fertility and hatching rates) were calculated for all nests and hatchling morphometrics were successfully measured in 8 of them. Two to three fresh eggs per nest were taken for contaminant study. Different congeners of POPs were purified and identified using gas chromatography (GC) coupled to an ion trap detector (GC-ITD MS/MS), as described below. Mean ± SD concentrations were calculated for POP congeners within each nest and clustering was also evaluated. Correlations were performed searching for potential relationships with reproductive parameters. POP levels were similar to those reported in French-Guiana populations and slightly lower than those associated to Florida populations. Sum of PBDEs showed a negative correlation to the hatching success, suggesting potential harmful effects of these contaminants on the reproduction of leatherbacks.

Glycated Hemoglobin, Fasting Insulin and the Metabolic Syndrome in Males. Cross-Sectional Analyses of the Aragon Workers' Health Study Baseline.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is currently used to diagnose diabetes mellitus, while insulin has been relegated to research. Both, however, may help understanding the metabolic syndrome and profiling patients. We examined the association of HbA1c and fasting insulin with clustering of metabolic syndrome criteria and insulin resistance as two essential characteristics of the metabolic syndrome. METHODS: We used baseline data from 3200 non-diabetic male participants in the Aragon Workers' Health Study. We conducted analysis to estimate age-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) across tertiles of HbA1c and insulin. Fasting glucose and Homeostatic model assessment - Insulin Resistance were used as reference. Here we report the uppermost-to-lowest tertile ORs (95%CI). RESULTS: Mean age (SD) was 48.5 (8.8) years and 23% of participants had metabolic syndrome. The ORs for metabolic syndrome criteria tended to be higher across HbA1c than across glucose, except for high blood pressure. Insulin was associated with the criteria more strongly than HbA1c and similarly to Homeostatic model assessment - Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR). For metabolic syndrome, the OR of HbA1c was 2.68, of insulin, 11.36, of glucose, 7.03, and of HOMA-IR, 14.40. For the clustering of 2 or more non-glycemic criteria, the OR of HbA1c was 2.10, of insulin, 8.94, of glucose, 1.73, and of HOMA-IR, 7.83. All ORs were statistically significant. The areas under the receiver operating characteristics curves for metabolic syndrome were 0.670 (across HbA1c values) and 0.770 (across insulin values), and, for insulin resistance, 0.647 (HbA1c) and 0.995 (insulin). Among non-metabolic syndrome patients, a small insulin elevation identified risk factor clustering. CONCLUSIONS: HbA1c and specially insulin levels were associated with metabolic syndrome criteria, their clustering, and insulin resistance. Insulin could provide early information in subjects prone to develop metabolic syndrome.