Early-Life Supplementation Enhances Gastrointestinal Immunity and Microbiota in Young Rats.

Immunonutrition, which focuses on specific nutrients in breast milk and post-weaning diets, plays a crucial role in supporting infants' immune system development. This study explored the impact of maternal supplementation with Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and a combination of short-chain galacto-oligosaccharide (scGOS) and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharide (lcFOS) from pregnancy through lactation, extending into the early childhood of the offspring. The synbiotic supplementation's effects were examined at both mucosal and systemic levels. While the supplementation did not influence their overall growth, water intake, or food consumption, a trophic effect was observed in the small intestine, enhancing its weight, length, width, and microscopic structures. A gene expression analysis indicated a reduction in FcRn and Blimp1 and an increase in Zo1 and Tlr9, suggesting enhanced maturation and barrier function. Intestinal immunoglobulin (Ig) A levels remained unaffected, while cecal IgA levels decreased. The synbiotic supplementation led to an increased abundance of total bacteria and Ig-coated bacteria in the cecum. The abundance of Bifidobacterium increased in both the intestine and cecum. Short-chain fatty acid production decreased in the intestine but increased in the cecum due to the synbiotic supplementation. Systemically, the Ig profiles remained unaffected. In conclusion, maternal synbiotic supplementation during gestation, lactation, and early life is established as a new strategy to improve the maturation and functionality of the gastrointestinal barrier. Additionally, it participates in the microbiota colonization of the gut, leading to a healthier composition.

Impact of maternal Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and scGOS/lcFOS supplementation during pregnancy and lactation on the maternal immune system and milk composition.

Introduction: Maternal synbiotic supplementation during pregnancy and lactation can significantly influence the immune system. Prebiotics and probiotics have a positive impact on the immune system by preventing or ameliorating among others intestinal disorders. This study focused on the immunomodulatory effects of B. breve M-16V and short chain galacto-oligosaccharides (scGOS)/long chain fructo-oligosachairdes (lcFOS), including systemic and mucosal compartments and milk composition. Methods: Lewis rats were orally administered with the synbiotic or vehicle during pregnancy (21 days) and lactation (21 days). At the weaning day, small intestine (SI), mammary gland (MG), adipose tissue, milk, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), salivary gland (SG), feces and cecal content were collected from the mothers. Results: The immunoglobulinome profile showed increased IgG2c in plasma and milk, as well as elevated sIgA in feces at weaning. The supplementation improved lipid metabolism through enhanced brown adipose tissue activity and reinforced the intestinal barrier by increasing the expression of Muc3, Cldn4, and Ocln. The higher production of short chain fatty acids in the cecum and increased Bifidobacterium counts suggest a potential positive impact on the gastrointestinal tract. Discussion: These findings indicate that maternal synbiotic supplementation during gestation and lactation improves their immunological status and improved milk composition.

Maternal Synbiotic Supplementation with B. breve M-16V and scGOS/lcFOS Shape Offspring Immune Development and Gut Microbiota at the End of Suckling.

Immune system development during gestation and suckling is significantly modulated by maternal environmental and dietary factors. Breastfeeding is widely recognized as the optimal source of nutrition for infant growth and immune maturation, and its composition can be modulated by the maternal diet. In the present work, we investigated whether oral supplementation with Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and short-chain galacto-oligosaccharide (scGOS) and long-chain fructo-oligosaccharide (lcFOS) to rat dams during gestation and lactation has an impact on the immune system and microbiota composition of the offspring at day 21 of life. On that day, blood, adipose tissue, small intestine (SI), mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN), salivary gland (SG), cecum, and spleen were collected. Synbiotic supplementation did not affect the overall body or organ growth of the pups. The gene expression of Tlr9, Muc2, IgA, and Blimp1 were upregulated in the SI, and the increase in IgA gene expression was further confirmed at the protein level in the gut wash. Synbiotic supplementation also positively impacted the microbiota composition in both the small and large intestines, resulting in higher proportions of Bifidobacterium genus, among others. In addition, there was an increase in butanoic, isobutanoic, and acetic acid concentrations in the cecum but a reduction in the small intestine. At the systemic level, synbiotic supplementation resulted in higher levels of immunoglobulin IgG2c in plasma, SG, and MLN, but it did not modify the main lymphocyte subsets in the spleen and MLN. Overall, synbiotic maternal supplementation is able to positively influence the immune system development and microbiota of the suckling offspring, particularly at the gastrointestinal level.

Exploring the Impact of Extra Virgin Olive Oil on Maternal Immune System and Breast Milk Composition in Rats.

Maternal breast milk plays a key role in providing newborns with passive immunity and stimulating the maturation of an infant's immune system, protecting them from many diseases. It is known that diet can influence the immune system of lactating mothers and the composition of their breast milk. The aim of this study was to establish if a supplementation during the gestation and lactation of Lewis rats with extra virgin olive oil (EVOO), due to the high proportion of antioxidant components in its composition, has an impact on the mother's immune system and on the breast milk's immune composition. For this, 10 mL/kg of either EVOO, refined oil (control oil) or water (REF group) were orally administered once a day to rats during gestation and lactation periods. Immunoglobulin (Ig) concentrations and gene expressions of immune molecules were quantified in several compartments of the mothers. The EVOO group showed higher IgA levels in both the breast milk and the mammary glands than the REF group. In addition, the gene expression of IgA in mammary glands was also boosted by EVOO consumption. Overall, EVOO supplementation during gestation and lactation is safe and does not negatively affect the mother's immune system while improving breast milk immune composition by increasing the presence of IgA, which could be critical for an offspring's immune health.

Exploring Fracture Patterns: Assessing Representation Methods for Bone Fracture Simulation.

Fracture pattern acquisition and representation in human bones play a crucial role in medical simulation, diagnostics, and treatment planning. This article presents a comprehensive review of methodologies employed in acquiring and representing bone fracture patterns. Several techniques, including segmentation algorithms, curvature analysis, and deep learning-based approaches, are reviewed to determine their effectiveness in accurately identifying fracture zones. Additionally, diverse methods for representing fracture patterns are evaluated. The challenges inherent in detecting accurate fracture zones from medical images, the complexities arising from multifragmentary fractures, and the need to automate fracture reduction processes are elucidated. A detailed analysis of the suitability of each representation method for specific medical applications, such as simulation systems, surgical interventions, and educational purposes, is provided. The study explores insights from a broad spectrum of research articles, encompassing diverse methodologies and perspectives. This review elucidates potential directions for future research and contributes to advancements in comprehending the acquisition and representation of fracture patterns in human bone.

Microbiota-Derived Extracellular Vesicles as a Postbiotic Strategy to Alleviate Diarrhea and Enhance Immunity in Rotavirus-Infected Neonatal Rats.

Rotavirus (RV) infection is a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in children under 5 years old, resulting in elevated mortality rates in low-income countries. The efficacy of anti-RV vaccines is limited in underdeveloped countries, emphasizing the need for novel strategies to boost immunity and alleviate RV-induced diarrhea. This study explores the effectiveness of interventions involving extracellular vesicles (EVs) from probiotic and commensal E. coli in mitigating diarrhea and enhancing immunity in a preclinical model of RV infection in suckling rats. On days 8 and 16 of life, variables related to humoral and cellular immunity and intestinal function/architecture were assessed. Both interventions enhanced humoral (serum immunoglobulins) and cellular (splenic natural killer (NK), cytotoxic T (Tc) and positive T-cell receptor γδ (TCRγδ) cells) immunity against viral infections and downregulated the intestinal serotonin receptor-3 (HTR3). However, certain effects were strain-specific. EcoR12 EVs activated intestinal CD68, TLR2 and IL-12 expression, whereas EcN EVs improved intestinal maturation, barrier properties (goblet cell numbers/mucin 2 expression) and absorptive function (villus length). In conclusion, interventions involving probiotic/microbiota EVs may serve as a safe postbiotic strategy to improve clinical symptoms and immune responses during RV infection in the neonatal period. Furthermore, they could be used as adjuvants to enhance the immunogenicity and efficacy of anti-RV vaccines.

Breast milk immune composition varies during the transition stage of lactation: characterization of immunotypes in the MAMI cohort.

Background: Breast milk is a complex and dynamic fluid needed for infant development and protection due to its content of bioactive factors such as immunoglobulins (Igs). Most studies focus primarily on IgA, but other types of Ig and even other immune components (cytokines and adipokines) may also play significant roles in neonatal health. As a first step, we aimed to characterize the Ig profile, many cytokines, and two adipokines (leptin and adiponectin) at two sampling time points within the transitional stage, which is the least studied phase in terms of these components. The secondary objective was to identify different breast milk immunotypes in the MAMI cohort substudy, and finally, we further aimed at analyzing maternal and infant characteristics to identify influencing factors of breast milk immune composition. Methods: Breast milk samples from 75 mothers were studied between days 7 and 15 postpartum. The Igs, cytokines, and adipokine levels were determined by a multiplex approach, except for the IgA, IgM, and leptin that were evaluated by ELISA. Results: IgA, IgM, IgE, IgG2, IL-1ß, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-17 were significantly higher on day 7 with respect to day 15. The multiple factor analysis (MFA) allowed us to identify two maternal clusters (immunotypes) depending on the breast milk immune profile evolution from day 7 to day 15, mainly due to the IgE and IgG subtypes, but not for IgA and IgM, which always presented higher levels early in time. Conclusion: All these results demonstrated the importance of the dynamics of the breast milk composition in terms of immune factors because even in the same lactation stage, a difference of 1 week has induced changes in the breast milk immune profile. Moreover, this immune profile does not evolve in the same way for all women. The dynamic compositional changes may be maternal-specific, as we observed differences in parity and exclusive breastfeeding between the two BM immunotype groups, which could potentially impact infant health.

Microbiota-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Promote Immunity and Intestinal Maturation in Suckling Rats.

Microbiota-host communication is primarily achieved by secreted factors that can penetrate the mucosal surface, such as extracellular membrane vesicles (EVs). The EVs released by the gut microbiota have been extensively studied in cellular and experimental models of human diseases. However, little is known about their in vivo effects in early life, specifically regarding immune and intestinal maturation. This study aimed to investigate the effects of daily administration of EVs from probiotic and commensal E. coli strains in healthy suckling rats during the first 16 days of life. On days 8 and 16, we assessed various intestinal and systemic variables in relation to animal growth, humoral and cellular immunity, epithelial barrier maturation, and intestinal architecture. On day 16, animals given probiotic/microbiota EVs exhibited higher levels of plasma IgG, IgA, and IgM and a greater proportion of Tc, NK, and NKT cells in the spleen. In the small intestine, EVs increased the villi area and modulated the expression of genes related to immune function, inflammation, and intestinal permeability, shifting towards an anti-inflammatory and barrier protective profile from day 8. In conclusion, interventions involving probiotic/microbiota EVs may represent a safe postbiotic strategy to stimulate immunity and intestinal maturation in early life.

Metodología 'SLIDE-4-U' para implicar al alumnado en el desarrollo de la clase presencial / How to involve students in the development of the face-to-face class: the 'SLIDE-4-U' methodology

Introducción: Desde hace unos años, tanto en grupos grandes como pequeños, y principalmente en clases en línea, se hapuesto en práctica la metodología ‘SLIDE-4-U’ o ‘una diapositiva para ti’ (2020PID-UB/023), con el objetivo de implicar alestudiante en su propio proceso de aprendizaje y en el de sus compañeros. Se consiguió mediante la participación delalumnado en la explicación en clase de diapositivas específicamente diseñadas para este fin. Métodos: La experiencia se llevó a cabo en el primer semestre del curso 2021-22 en la asignatura Nutrición Molecular delgrado de Nutrición Humana y Dietética (Universitat de Barcelona). Se preparó una sesión de seminario presencial centrada en inmunonutrición. El profesor dirigió la sesión seleccionando de forma aleatoria al estudiante, que debía explicar ladiapositiva sin preparación previa. Las explicaciones del alumnado fueron complementadas o corregidas por el profesordurante el desarrollo de la actividad. Al final del seminario se realizó una encuesta de opinión en la que se constató labuena aceptación de esta iniciativa (puntuaciones medias superiores a 4,2 sobre 5). Resultados: El alumnado consideró que era un reto explicar una diapositiva sin prepararla previamente y que este hecho,asociado a no saber quién haría la explicación, había provocado un cierto clima de nerviosismo. Ahora bien, la mayoríaestaba de acuerdo en que los esquemas/imágenes aportados fueron suficientes para poder desarrollar la actividad y quelas explicaciones hechas por los compañeros eran suficientemente correctas. Asimismo, también valoraban positivamente la participación del profesor a la hora de completar las explicaciones de sus compañeros. En general, la metodologíautilizada hizo que el alumnado fuera más consciente de que las diapositivas tienen una estructura y un objetivo, y de ladificultad de comunicar correctamente...(AU)

Introduction: Lately, both in large and small groups and mainly in online classes, the 'SLIDE-4-U' or 'one slide for you' methodology (2020PID-UB/023) has been put into practice, with the aim of involving the student in their own learning process and that of their classmates. It is achieved through the participation of the students in the explanation of slides in class, specially designed for this purpose. Methods: The experience was carried out in the first semester of the 2021-22 academic year in the subject Molecular Nutrition of the Human Nutrition and Dietetics degree (Universitat de Barcelona). A face-to-face seminar session focused on immunonutrition was prepared with this type of material. The teacher led the session by randomly selecting the student, who had to explain the slide without prior preparation. The explanations of the students were complemented and/or corrected by the teacher, during the development of the activity. At the end of the seminar, an opinion survey was carried out in which the good acceptance of this initiative was verified (average scores higher than 4.2 out of 5). Results: The students considered that it was a challenge to explain a slide without previously preparing it, and that this fact, associated with not knowing who would do the explanation, had caused a certain climate of nervousness. However, the majority agreed that the diagrams/images provided were sufficient to be able to carry out the activity and that the explanations made by the classmates were correct enough. Likewise, they also positively valued the teacher's participation when completing the explanations of their classmates. In general, the methodology used made the students more aware that the slides have a structure and an objective, and of the difficulty of communicating correctly...(AU)

Advances in Nutrition: Opportunities and Challenges in 2022.

Many aspects of how food and diet can improve individual health, performance, and wellbeing remain to be discovered [...].

Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody titers in breastmilk from convalescent and vaccinated mothers.

Breastmilk contains antibodies that could protect breastfed infants from infections. In this work, we examined if antibodies in breastmilk could neutralize SARS-CoV-2 in 84 breastmilk samples from women that were either vaccinated (Comirnaty, mRNA-1273, or ChAdOx1), infected with SARS-CoV-2, or both infected and vaccinated. The neutralization capacity of these sera was tested using pseudotyped vesicular stomatitis virus carrying either the Wuhan-Hu-1, Delta, or BA.1 Omicron spike proteins. We found that natural infection resulted in higher neutralizing titers and that neutralization correlated positively with levels of immunoglobulin A in breastmilk. In addition, significant differences in the capacity to produce neutralizing antibodies were observed between both mRNA-based vaccines and the adenovirus-vectored ChAdOx1 COVID-19 vaccine. Overall, our results indicate that breastmilk from naturally infected women or those vaccinated with mRNA-based vaccines contains SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies that could potentially provide protection to breastfed infants from infection.

Effect of Rotavirus Infection and 2'-Fucosyllactose Administration on Rat Intestinal Gene Expression.

Viral infections are described as modifying host gene expression; however, there is limited insight regarding rotavirus (RV) infections. This study aimed to assess the changes in intestinal gene expression after RV infection in a preclinical model, and the effect of 2-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) on this process. From days 2 to 8 of life, rats were supplemented with the dietary oligosaccharide 2'-FL or vehicle. In addition, an RV was inoculated on day 5 to nonsupplemented animals (RV group) and to 2'-FL-fed animals (RV+2'-FL group). Incidence and severity of diarrhea were established. A portion from the middle part of the small intestine was excised for gene expression analysis by microarray kit and qPCR. In nonsupplemented animals, RV-induced diarrhea upregulated host antiviral genes (e.g., Oas1a, Irf7, Ifi44, Isg15) and downregulated several genes involved in absorptive processes and intestinal maturation (e.g., Onecut2, and Ccl19). The 2'-FL-supplemented and infected animals had less diarrhea; however, their gene expression was affected in a similar way as the control-infected animals, with the exception of some immunity/maturation markers that were differentially expressed (e.g., Ccl12 and Afp). Overall, assessing the expression of these key genes may be useful in the evaluation of the efficacy of nutritional interventions or treatments for RV infection.

Changes in prescription drug abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic evidenced in the Catalan pharmacies.

Introduction: The impact of a pandemic on the mental health of the population is to be expected due to risk factors such as social isolation. Prescription drug abuse and misuse could be an indicator of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health. Community pharmacists play an important role in addressing prescription drug abuse by detecting signs and behaviors that give a clearer indication that a drug abuse problem exists. Methods: A prospective observational study to observe prescription drug abuse was conducted from March 2020 to December 2021 to compare with data obtained in the previous 2 years, through the Medicine Abuse Observatory, the epidemiological surveillance system set up in Catalonia. Information was obtained through a validated questionnaire attached on a web-based system and data collection software. A total of 75 community pharmacies were enrolled in the program. Results: The number of notifications during the pandemic period (11.8/100.000 inhabitants) does not indicate a significant change compared with those from pre-pandemic period, when it was 12.5/100.000 inhabitants. However, the number of notifications during the first wave when lockdown was in place stood at 6.1/100,000 inhabitants, significantly lower than in both the pre-pandemic and the whole of the pandemic periods. Regarding the patient's profile, it was observed that the proportion of younger patients (<25 and 25-35) rose in contrast to older ones (45-65 and >65). The use of benzodiazepines and fentanyl increased. Conclusions: This study has made it possible to observe the impact of the pandemic caused by COVID-19 on the behavior of patients in terms of use of prescription drugs through analysis of the trends of abuse or misuse and by comparing them with the pre-pandemic period. Overall, the increased detection of benzodiazepines has pointed out stress and anxiety generated by the pandemic.

Distinct breast milk microbiota, cytokine, and adipokine profiles are associated with infant growth at 12 months: an in vitro host-microbe interaction mechanistic approach.

Breast milk (BM) is important for adequate infant development, and it contains bioactive compounds, such as bacteria, cytokines and some adipokines which play a role in infant microbial, metabolic, and immunological maturation. However, little is known about its impact on growth and development in early life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of milk microbiota, cytokine, and adipokine profiles on the risk of overweight at 12 months of life to find the possible mechanisms of host-microbe interactions. In this study, BM samples from 100 healthy women collected during 15 d after birth were included. BM microbiota was analysed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and cytokine and adipokine levels were measured by the Luminex approach. In addition, infant weight and length were recorded during the first 12 months and z-scores were obtained according to the WHO databases. Infants were classified as risk of overweight (ROW) and no-risk of overweight (NOROW) based on their body mass index z-score (BMIZ) and infant weight-for-length z-score (WLZ) at 12 months. In order to study host-microbe interactions, epithelial intestinal and mammary cell lines were exposed to milk microbes to assess the host response by interleukin (IL)-6 production as a potential inflammatory marker. BM was dominated by Staphylococcus and Streptococcus genera, and the most abundant cytokines were IL-6 and IL-18. Leptin levels were positively correlated with the pregestational body mass index (BMI). Higher relative abundance of the Streptococcus genus was associated with higher IL-10 and higher relative abundance of the Bifidobacterium genus was associated with lower IL-6 concentrations in milk. Infant WLZ at 12 months could be partially predicted by Streptococcus genus proportions and IL-10 and IL-18 levels in BM. BM microbiota significantly induced cytokine responses in mammary epithelial cells. Higher levels of IL-6 production were observed in mammary cells exposed to BM microbiota from mothers with ROW offspring compared to mothers with NOROW offspring. In conclusion, BM microbiota is related to the cytokine profile. IL-10 and IL-18 levels and the abundance of the Streptococcus genus could affect early infant development. Further research is needed to clarify the specific impact of BM microbiota and cytokines on infant growth and the risk of overweight.

Influence of Diets Enriched with Flavonoids (Cocoa and Hesperidin) on the Systemic Immunity of Intensively Trained and Exhausted Rats.

The aim of this study was to establish the influence of flavonoid-enriched diets on the immune alterations induced by an intensive training and a final exhaustion test in rats. A flavanol-enriched diet (with 10% cocoa, C10 diet) and a flavanol and flavanone-enriched diet (C10 plus 0.5% hesperidin, CH diet) were used. Lewis rats were fed either a standard diet, C10 diet or CH diet while they were submitted to an intensive running training on a treadmill. After 6 weeks, samples were obtained 24 h after performing a regular training (T groups) and after carrying out a final exhaustion test (TE groups). The C10 diet attenuated the increase in plasma cortisol induced by exhaustion, while both the C10 and the CH diets prevented the alterations in the spleen Th cell proportion. The experimental diets also induced an increase in serum immunoglobulin concentration and an enhancement of spleen natural killer cytotoxicity, which may be beneficial in situations with a weakened immunity. Most of the effects observed in the CH groups seem to be due to the cocoa content. Overall, a dietary intervention with flavonoids enhances immune function, partially attenuating the alterations in systemic immunity induced by intensive training or exhausting exercise.

Galectins-1, -3 and -9 Are Present in Breast Milk and Have a Role in Early Life Development.

Galectins (Gal) are a family of conserved soluble proteins with high affinity for ß-galactoside structures. They have been recognized as important proteins for successful pregnancy. However, little is known about their presence in breast milk and their role in early infancy. Gal-1, -3 and -9 concentrations were evaluated by Multiplex immunoassays in mother-infant pairs from the MAMI cohort in maternal plasma (MP) (n = 15) and umbilical cord plasma (UCP) (n = 15) at birth and in breast milk samples (n = 23) at days 7 and 15 postpartum. Data regarding mother and infant characteristics were collected. Gal-9 was present in a lower concentration range than Gal-1 and Gal-3 in plasma, specifically in UCP. A major finding in the current study is that Gal-1, -3 and -9 were detected for the first time in all the transitional breast milk samples and no differences were found when comparing the two breastfeeding time points. Finally, Gal levels were associated with some maternal and infant characteristics, such as gestational age, pregnancy weight gain, maternal diet, the gender, infant growth and infant infections. In conclusion, Gal levels seem to be involved in certain developmental aspects of early life.

Molecular and in vivo studies of a glutamate-class prolyl-endopeptidase for coeliac disease therapy.

The digestion of gluten generates toxic peptides, among which a highly immunogenic proline-rich 33-mer from wheat α-gliadin, that trigger coeliac disease. Neprosin from the pitcher plant is a reported prolyl endopeptidase. Here, we produce recombinant neprosin and its mutants, and find that full-length neprosin is a zymogen, which is self-activated at gastric pH by the release of an all-ß pro-domain via a pH-switch mechanism featuring a lysine plug. The catalytic domain is an atypical 7+8-stranded ß-sandwich with an extended active-site cleft containing an unprecedented pair of catalytic glutamates. Neprosin efficiently degrades both gliadin and the 33-mer in vitro under gastric conditions and is reversibly inactivated at pH > 5. Moreover, co-administration of gliadin and the neprosin zymogen at the ratio 500:1 reduces the abundance of the 33-mer in the small intestine of mice by up to 90%. Neprosin therefore founds a family of eukaryotic glutamate endopeptidases that fulfils requisites for a therapeutic glutenase.

Creation and Implementation of a New Sentinel Surveillance Model in Pharmacy Offices in Southern Europe.

Traditionally, health sentinel networks have focused on the reporting of data by primary care physicians and hospitals, ignoring the role of the community pharmacist as an expert in drugs. The objective of this study was to describe a method for creating a network of sentinel pharmacies in a region of Southern Europe in order to have a pharmaceutical surveillance system that is representative of the territory to be monitored and that can respond to any events or incidents that can be followed up by the community pharmacy. The creation process was carried out in three phases: a first phase of selection through a cluster and population analysis and a final adjustment, a second phase of voluntariness and random selection, and a third phase of training and implementation of the network. A sentinel network of 75 community pharmacies has been established in Catalonia. The network monitors 2.47% of the total population with a homogeneous proportion of urban (42), rural (30), and mountain-area (3) pharmacies based on the particular characteristics of the territory. This model allows increased surveillance in the territory, objectively and representatively detects problems arising from the use of medicines, and establishes improvement strategies of public health.

Fracture pattern projection on 3D bone models as support for bone fracture simulations.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Obtaining bone models that represent certain types of fractures is limited by the need for such fractures to occur in real life and to be processed from medical images. This work aims to propose a method that starts from the design of specific fracture patterns in order to be projected on 3D geometric bone models, being prepared for their subsequent geometric fracturing. METHODS: The process of projecting expert-generated fracture patterns has been approached in such a way that they contain geometrical and topological information for the subsequent fracture of the triangle mesh representing the bone model, giving information about the validity of the fracture pattern due to the design process, the validation performed, and the relationships between the fracture lines. RESULTS: Different 3D models of long bones have been used (femur, humerus, ulna and fibula). Also, different types of fracture patterns have been created. These patterns have been used to obtain their projection on three-dimensional bones. In this study, an expert validation of the fracture patterns projected on the bone models is performed. A forensic validation of the fracture patterns used as starting point for the projection is also performed for cases in which this fracture is produced by impact, for which there is scientific evidence based on forensic analysis. This validation also supports the experts, giving them the necessary feedback to complete or modify their fracture patterns according to criteria analyzed from a forensic point of view. CONCLUSIONS: The patterns fit the bone models correctly, despite the irregularities of the bone models, and correspond to the expected projection. In addition, it provides us with a clear line of work, by using the topological information of the fracture pattern and the bone model, which allows us to establish a consistent basis for future guided fractures.

Staphylococcus epidermidis' Overload During Suckling Impacts the Immune Development in Rats.

Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland occurring in 3-33% of the breastfeeding mothers. The majority of mastitis cases have an infectious etiology. More than 75% of infectious mastitis are caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus and involves breast milk microbiota alteration, which, may have an impact in lactating infant. The aim of this study was to analyze in rats during the suckling period and later in life the impact of a high and a low overload of Staphylococcus epidermidis, similarly as it occurs during the clinical and the subclinical mastitis, respectively. From days 2 to 21 of life, suckling rats were daily supplemented with low (Ls group) or high (Hs group) dose of S. epidermidis. Body weight and fecal humidity were periodically recorded. On days 21 and 42 of life, morphometry, hematological variables, intestinal gene expression, immunoglobulin (Ig) and cytokine profile and spleen cells' phenotype were measured. Although no differences were found in body weight, Ls and Hs groups showed higher body length and lower fecal humidity. Both doses induced small changes in lymphocytes subpopulations, reduced the plasma levels of Ig and delayed the Th1/Th2 balance causing a bias toward the Th2 response. No changes were found in cytokine concentration. The low dose affected the Tc cells intestinal homing pattern whereas the high dose had an impact on the hematological variables causing leukocytosis and lymphocytosis and also influenced the intestinal barrier maturation. In conclusion, both interventions with Staphylococcus epidermidis overload during suckling, affects the immune system development in short and long term.