Analysis of Spanish-Language News Reports on Schizophrenia and Psychosis.

OBJECTIVE: Stigma toward individuals with schizophrenia and psychosis has been widely studied in the general population, but research on Spanish-language news media coverage of these mental disorders in the Latinx population is limited. The authors aimed to examine how schizophrenia and psychosis are commonly presented in U.S. Spanish-language news media, focusing on stigmatizing stereotypes, recovery themes, and the use of best practices for reporting on mental health issues. METHODS: A content analysis was conducted of reports from two leading U.S. Spanish-language news outlets, Univision and Telemundo, and from the newspaper database U.S. Hispanic Newsstream. The searches included articles published from August 1, 2012, to August 1, 2022, and included keywords related to schizophrenia and psychosis. RESULTS: In total, 108 news articles were identified and coded. Several types of stigmatizing stereotypes were observed, including portraying a person with schizophrenia or psychosis as violent, suicidal, incompetent, or weak. Only 20 news articles included at least one recovery theme, with educational information about schizophrenia or psychosis being the most common. Most articles used person-first language when referring to people with these conditions, but few articles included information about treatment options or where and how to seek mental health care. CONCLUSIONS: More studies should emphasize the importance of U.S. Spanish-language news outlets offering linguistically and culturally appropriate information on treatment options and where and how to access mental health care. Studies focusing on recovery and treatment for schizophrenia and psychosis are needed to combat public mental health stigma in the Latinx population.

Diversity, equity and inclusion considerations in mental health apps for young people: protocol for a scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: After COVID-19, a global mental health crisis affects young people, with one in five youth experiencing mental health problems worldwide. Delivering mental health interventions via mobile devices is a promising strategy to address the treatment gap. Mental health apps are effective for adolescent and young adult samples, but face challenges such as low real-world reach and under-representation of minoritised youth. To increase digital health uptake, including among minoritised youth, there is a need for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) considerations in the development and evaluation of mental health apps. How well DEI is integrated into youth mental health apps has not been comprehensively assessed. This scoping review aims to examine to what extent DEI considerations are integrated into the design and evaluation of youth mental health apps and report on youth, caregiver and other stakeholder involvement. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will identify studies published in English from 2009 to 29 September 2023 on apps for mental health in youth. We will use PubMed, Global Health, APA PsycINFO, SCOPUS, CINAHL PLUS and the Cochrane Database and will report according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-Scoping Review Extension guidelines. Papers eligible for inclusion must be peer-reviewed publications in English involving smartphone applications used by adolescents or young adults aged 10-25, with a focus on depression, anxiety or suicidal ideation. Two independent reviewers will review and extract articles using a template developed by the authors. We will analyse the data using narrative synthesis and descriptive statistics. This study will identify gaps in the literature and provide a roadmap for equitable and inclusive mental health apps for youth. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not required. Findings will be disseminated through academic, industry, community networks and scientific publications.

The Cancer-Protective Potential of Protocatechuic Acid: A Narrative Review.

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, making the search for alternatives for its control a critical issue. In this context, exploring alternatives from natural sources, such as certain vegetables containing a variety of secondary metabolites with beneficial effects on the body and that play a crucial role in the fight against cancer, is essential. Among the compounds with the greatest efficacy in controlling this disease, those with antioxidant activity, particularly phenolic com-pounds, stand out. A remarkable example of this group is protocatechuic acid (PCA), which has been the subject of various revealing research on its activities in different areas. These studies sustain that protocatechuic acid has anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antidiabetic, antiulcer, antiviral, antifibrogenic, antiallergic, neuroprotective, antibacterial, anticancer, antiosteoporotic, anti-aging, and analgesic properties, in addition to offering protection against metabolic syndrome and con-tributing to the preservation of hepatic, renal, and reproductive functionality. Therefore, this paper aims to review the biological activities of PCA, focusing on its anticancer potential and its in-volvement in the control of various molecular pathways involved in tumor development, sup-porting its option as a promising alternative for cancer treatment.

Clinical Outcomes of an Active, Transcutaneous, Bone Conduction Hearing Device: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to review patient demographics, indications, intraoperative findings, complications/adverse events, and audiological outcomes related to the implantation of the Osia 2 device. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Single tertiary institutional experience. METHODS: Patients who had undergone Osia 2 implantation by the senior author were identified from 2019 to present. Information was extracted from patient charts concerning patient demographics, indications for implantation, surgical findings, audiological outcomes, and adverse events. RESULTS: Sixty patients and 67 implants were included. The median age was 51 years (R: 11-92). Fifty-five percent of patients had mixed hearing loss (HL), 30% had single-sided deafness, and 15% had conductive HL. The mean operative time was 53.9 minutes. Only 4.5% of patients required bone polishing, and 3.0% required tissue thinning. The mean pure-tone averages 4 gain from unaided conditions was 41.2 dB. Mean gain at 6 and 8 kHz from unaided conditions was 35.42 and 40.67 dB, respectively. Mean improvement in speech recognition threshold and word recognition score was significant in noise and quiet conditions. The all-cause adverse event/complication rate in our series was 10.4%. The most common complications were infections (4.5%) and poorly controlled postoperative pain (3.0%). Hematomas occurred in 1.5% of patients. Reoperation was required in 4 patients; explant in 1. CONCLUSION: Use of the Osia 2 device in our series has resulted in good hearing outcomes, particularly in terms of high frequency gain. Complication rates were low. To our knowledge, this is the largest study to date reporting on Osia 2 outcomes.

Laboratory evaluation of a bio-insecticide candidate from tangerine peel extracts against Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae).

Background: The excessive use of synthetic insecticides in modern agriculture has led to environmental contamination and the development of insect resistance. Also, the prolonged use of chemical insecticides in producing flowers and tomatoes in greenhouses has caused health problems for workers and their offspring. In this study, we analyzed the efficacy of mandarin peel (Citrus reticulata L.) essential oil (EO) as a natural insecticide against greenhouse whitefly (Trieurodes vaporariorum W., Homoptera: Aleyrodidae), a common pest in greenhouse production of different crops. Methods: Petroleum ether (PET) and n-hexane (HEX) were used as solvents to extract essential oil (EO) from tangerine peels. Results: The yield of EO was 1.59% and 2.00% (m/m) for PET and HEX, respectively. Additionally, the insect-killing power of EO was tested by checking how many greenhouse whiteflies died at different times. The results showed that PET and HEX extracts of tangerine EO effectively controlled greenhouse whiteflies. Furthermore, with both solvents, a 12.5% (v/v) application was as practical as the commercial insecticide imidacloprid. Further characterization tests with the polarimeter, FTIR, HPLC-RP, and GC-MS showed that the essential oil (EO) contained about 41% (v/v) of d-limonene and that this compound may be responsible for the observed insecticidal properties. Conclusion: Therefore, tangerine peel essential oil is an excellent botanical insecticide candidate for controlling greenhouse whiteflies.

Assessing Access to Trauma-Informed Outpatient Mental Health Services for Adolescents: A Mystery Shopper Study.

OBJECTIVE: The authors aimed to examine how access to trauma-informed mental health services in safety-net health centers varies by insurance type and race-ethnicity of the care seeker. METHODS: In this mystery shopper study, three women (White, Latina, and Black voice actresses) called community mental health centers (CMHCs) and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) (N=229) in Cook County, Illinois, posing as mothers requesting a mental health appointment for their traumatized adolescent child. Each health center was called twice-once in the spring and once in the summer of 2021-with alternating insurance types reported (Medicaid or private insurance). Ability to schedule an appointment, barriers to access, wait times, and availability of trauma-specific treatment were assessed. RESULTS: Callers could schedule an appointment in only 17% (N=78 of 451) of contacts. Reasons for appointment denial varied by organization type: the primary reasons for denial were capacity constraints (67%) at CMHCs and administrative requirements to switch to in-network primary care providers (62%) at FQHCs. Insurance and organization type did not predict successful appointment scheduling. Non-White callers were significantly less likely (incidence rate ratio=1.18) to be offered an appointment than the White caller (p=0.019). The average wait time was 12 days; CMHCs had significantly shorter wait times than FQHCs (p=0.019). Only 38% of schedulers reported that their health center offered trauma-informed therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer than one in five contacts resulted in a mental health appointment, and an apparent bias against non-White callers raises concern that racial discrimination may occur during scheduling. For equitable access to care, antidiscrimination policies should be implemented.

Barriers and facilitators of physical activity among Latina immigrant and Mexican mothers living in the US and Mexico: A qualitative study.

Latina immigrant women are among the least physically active when compared with women in other racial/ethnic groups in the US. Similarly, Mexican mothers in Mexico have low rates of physical activity. Motherhood and immigration experiences are recognized barriers to engage in physical activity among Latina immigrant mothers. Less is known about the factors that promote and limit physical activity engagement among Mexican mothers in Mexico, and how their experiences compare with their immigrant counterparts. This transnational qualitative study aimed to investigate the barriers and facilitators of physical activity of 25 Latina mothers in Mexico and the US. Low-income Mexican mothers of kindergarten aged children and Latino mothers of similar aged children were recruited in San Luis Potosí, Mexico and central Illinois, US. Semi-structured interviews were administered by two bilingual and bicultural researchers in participants language of preference. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a thematic network approach and multi-stage coding analysis guided by the Socio-Ecological Model framework. We found that at the macro-level: 1) familial obligations, and 2) cold weather after migrating; at the mezzo-level: 1) changes in walking patterns, and 2) social cohesion (e.g., lack of an invitation to engage in activities); and at the micro-level: 1) individual perceptions, particularly unattainable perceptions of physical activity and 2) shift exhaustion were perceived as barriers and occasionally facilitators of physical activity by mothers in both countries. Context-specific interventions are needed to increase women's physical activity levels in the US and Mexico.

Preservation of Phenols, Antioxidant Activity, and Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate in Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.) Fruits with Different Drying Methods.

Jujube, commonly known as the Chinese date, is a nutritious fruit with medicinal importance. Fresh jujube fruits have a shelf life of about ten days in ambient conditions that can be extended by drying. However, nutrition preservation varies with the drying method and parameters selected. We studied total phenolic content (TPC), proanthocyanidins (PA), vitamin C, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and antioxidant activities in jujube fruits dried with freeze-drying (FD), convective oven drying (OD) at 50 °C, 60 °C, and 75 °C, and sun drying (SD) with FD as a control. The cultivars used for this study were 'Capri' and 'Xiang' from Las Cruces in 2019, and 'Sugarcane', 'Lang', and 'Sherwood' from Las Cruces and Los Lunas, New Mexico, in 2020. Freeze-drying had the highest of all nutrient components tested, the best estimates of mature jujube fruits' nutrient contents. Compared with FD, the majority of PA (96-99%) and vitamin C (90-93%) was lost during SD or OD processes. The retention rates of antioxidant activities: DPPH and FRAP were higher in OD at 50/60 °C than SD. SD retained a higher cAMP level than OD at 50/60 °C in both years. The increase in oven drying temperature from 60 °C to 75 °C significantly decreased TPC, PA, antioxidant activities, and cAMP.

'It is in our hands-Why wait until you are sick?': Perceptions about diabetes prevention of Latina mothers in Mexico and the United States.

AIMS: This study aimed to understand the perceptions driving type 2 diabetes mellitus prevention and management behaviours of Mexican and Latina mothers in Mexico and the United States. METHODS: Low-income Mexican mothers in San Luis Potosí, Mexico and Latina mothers in Illinois, United States, were recruited by the Holistic Obesity Prevention Study (HOPS). Verbatim transcripts of the semistructured interviews conducted in Spanish (n = 24) and English (n = 1) were analysed using the Health Belief Model (HBM) framework. RESULTS: Of the 25 participants, 22 (88%) indicated 'knowing someone with diabetes'-specifically a father (n = 8), mother (n = 6) or grandparent (n = 7). Using the HBM, themes showed that mothers perceived: that Type 2 diabetes can happen to anyone, are attributable to genetic predisposition and may be driven by strong emotions (perceived susceptibility). Type 2 diabetes introduces severe comorbidities and emotional difficulties for people and their families (perceived severity). Adopting a healthier diet, exercising and staying in good spirits were recognized as benefits of Type 2 diabetes prevention (perceived benefits). The costs of food, challenges of exercising, dieting, modifying habits and time limitations were recognized as perceived costs. Cues to action included doctors' recommendations (external) and fear (internal). Mothers acknowledged they could live a healthy life by controlling their weight, exercising, adhering to treatments/medications and having the determination to carry-on (self-efficacy). CONCLUSIONS: Mothers sought to prevent Type 2 diabetes and live healthy lives, particularly, after receiving a diagnosis of gestational diabetes or when learning about their children's risks for Type 2 diabetes but perceived significant barriers to Type 2 diabetes prevention.

Context Matters: A Qualitative Study About the Perinatal Experiences of Latina Immigrant Women.

Although immigrants' health is better compared to their native-born counterparts, their wellbeing starts to deteriorate as they spend more time in the United States. To date, few qualitative studies investigate how migration can influence the perinatal period. This study qualitatively assesses Latina immigrant mothers' perinatal experiences. Thirty Latina women were recruited in 2015 to participate in interviews, all of which were conducted in Spanish. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Latina mothers' experiences during the perinatal period were impacted by the cultural expectations that may or may not depend on the context where they are located. Context-independent themes included: (1) Cravings and (2) Body dissatisfaction. Context-dependent themes included: (1) Breastfeeding and (2) Loss of extended social ties. In order to reduce health disparities in the perinatal period among Latina immigrant mothers and their children, it is necessary to provide interventions that promote healthy behaviors and increase social capital and peer support.

Mental health disparities in Latinx immigrant communities residing in the United States during COVID-19: Implications for policy and practice.

Objectives: Studies have demonstrated that Latinx populations face significant health disparities in access to mental health care. The objective of this study was to describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health needs of Latinx families, from the perspectives of direct service providers working with Latinx communities. Methods: Twenty-one semi-structured interviews were conducted virtually with direct service providers to the Latinx community from August to October 2020. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Two-thirds of providers were female, with a median age of 33 years, and provided direct services to Latinx clients and had extensive experience working with immigrant families, particularly in Massachusetts. Key themes identified describing the impact of COVID-19 on the mental health needs of Latinx families included: (1) exacerbation of mental health symptoms, (2) financial stressors, (3) preoccupation regarding transnational lives, (4) secondary needs becoming more salient, and (5) immigration status as a main driver of inequality. Conclusions: Our findings highlight the importance of focusing on the mental health needs of Latinx immigrants and ensuring their access to mental health services. Telehealth seems to be a potential tool that promotes mental health access among Latinx clients. Future research needs to continue investigating the role of telehealth in decreasing mental health access disparities.

Learning, doing and sticking with it: A qualitative study on achieving clinically significant reduction in cardiovascular disease risk in a healthy lifestyle intervention for people with serious mental illness.

People with serious mental illness (SMI; e.g. schizophrenia) have mortality rates two to three times higher than the general population, largely due to a higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Healthy lifestyle interventions can improve the health of people with SMI, but information about why these interventions work for some and not others is scarce. Our study aims to qualitatively explore differences in these two groups' overall experiences and application of the intervention. Data were drawn from a randomised effectiveness trial of a peer-led healthy lifestyle intervention. Qualitative data from interviews and focus groups with 21 participants were linked to their 12-month outcome data. Grounded theory was used to compare the experiences of participants who achieved clinically significant CVD risk reduction (i.e. clinically significant weight loss or clinically significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness) versus those who did not. Three qualitative themes: learning, change, sticking with it - differentiated participants who achieved CVD risk reduction and those that did not. Participants achieving CVD risk reduction described learning and applying specific knowledge and skills related to a healthy lifestyle when making health decisions, made healthy concrete changes to diet and physical activity, and stuck with those changes. Participants not achieving clinically significant CVD risk reduction reported surface-level learning about healthy lifestyle practices, difficulty sticking with healthy changes, and were more likely to report ambiguous or no changes. Our findings suggest that healthy lifestyle interventions for people with SMI should provide experiential in-vivo learning experiences while periodically assessing participants' understanding and then tailoring the intervention to their needs. It is important to build self-efficacy for health behaviour changes by creating early perceptions of success, which was found to enhance motivation and sustain behaviour change. Helping people with SMI develop and strengthen their support systems will also be an important factor for building and sustaining health behaviour changes.

Effectiveness of Mental Health Literacy and Stigma Interventions for Latino/a Adults in the United States: A Systematic Review.

Latinos/as in the United States (U.S.), face persistent mental health care disparities, even after adjusting for education, health insurance, and socioeconomic factors. While there has been increased attention on mental health stigma and mental health literacy, no systematic literature review currently exists of interventions developed to reduce mental health stigma and improve mental health literacy in the Latino/a community. This review aimed to (1) examine the methodological rigor of these intervention studies, (2) describe the mental health literacy and stigma interventions developed for Latinos/as in the U.S., and (3) summarize the outcomes of these studies focusing on mental health literacy and stigma outcomes. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines to inform our systematic literature review. The methodological rigor of each study was assessed using an adapted version of the Methodological Quality Rating Scale. Seven articles met the inclusion criteria for this review. The majority of studies were small pilot studies with small samples and short follow-up periods of less than a month. These interventions showed promising results for improving knowledge of mental disorders and mixed results for reducing stigma towards people with mental illness and mental health treatments. As the Latino/a population continues to grow, future research should continue investigating and developing more intensive and prolonged mental health stigma interventions that use multiple media platforms (e.g., radio, television, website, print, and social media) to help reduce mental health care disparities in this population.

Duodenal microbiome in patients with or without Helicobacter pylori infection.

BACKGROUND: Intestinal microbiota are recognized as an organ with important physiological functions whose alterations have been associated with common diseases including inflammatory intestinal conditions, malnutrition, type-2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The composition and function of the microbiota in the distal part of the intestine has been mainly described, while there is limited information on the small intestine microbiota. The objective of the present study was to describe the duodenal microbiome in individuals with dyspepsia in the presence or absence of Helicobacter pylori gastric infection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight biopsies from the proximal duodenum of uninfected and 37 from H pylori-infected individuals were analyzed. Microbiota composition was assessed by PCR amplification and sequencing of 16S rRNA and ITS genes; sequences were analyzed with QIIME2. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: At the phyla level, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria, and Fusobacteria were predominant in the mucosal associated duodenal microbiota (MAM); at the genera level, we observed the predominance of Ralstonia, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, Haemophilus, Herbaspirillum, Neisseria, and Veillonella. Microbiota α-diversity was higher in H pylori-infected individuals than in non-infected ones. In terms of ß-diversity metrics, there was a statistically significant difference between groups. Also, relative abundance of Haemophilus, Neisseria, Prevotella pallens, Prevotella 7, and Streptococcus was greater in H pylori-infected patients. In infected patients, several types of H pylori were present in duodenal MAM. Finally, the majority of duodenal samples had fungi sequences; the most common taxa observed were Recurvomyces followed by Ascomycota and Basidiomycota.

Effect of Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 as complementary treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection on gut microbiome.

Conventional therapy for H. pylori infection includes the combination of antibiotics and a proton-pump inhibitor. Addition of probiotics as adjuvants for H. pylori antibiotic treatment can increase eradication rate and decrease treatment side effects. Although many studies show the benefits of S. boulardii CNCM I-745 in the treatment of H. pylori infection, the mechanism by which those benefits are achieved is unknown. Here, we report clinical characteristics and fecal microbiota changes comparing conventional anti-H. pylori therapy versus conventional therapy supplemented with S. boulardii CNCM I-745. A total of 74 patients were included in the current study; patients positive for H. pylori (n = 63) were randomly assigned to 2 groups: 34 patients received conventional therapy and 29 antibiotic therapy plus 750 mg of S. boulardii CNCM I-745 daily, for 2 weeks. Eleven patients negative for H. pylori infection were also studied. Patients provided 3 fecal samples: before initiating the antibiotic treatment, upon its completion, and 1 month after treatment. Patients were contacted every 72 h to inquire about side effects and compliance. DNA was extracted, and 16S rRNA was amplified and sequenced on Illumina MiSeq. Bioinformatic analysis was performed using QIIME2. Patients who received the probiotic had a significantly lower frequency of associated gastrointestinal symptoms (P = 0.028); higher number of bacterial diversity evenness (P = 0.0156); higher abundance of Enterobacteria; and lower abundance of Bacteroides and Clostridia upon treatment completion. Addition of S. boulardii CNCM I-745 induced a lower frequency of gastrointestinal symptoms that could be related to changes in gut microbiota.

Analysis of gut microbiome, nutrition and immune status in autism spectrum disorder: a case-control study in Ecuador.

Most studies on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk factors have been conducted in developed countries where ethnicity and environment are different than in developing countries. We compared nutritional status, immune response and microbiota composition in mestizo children with ASD with matched controls in Ecuador. Twenty-five cases and 35 controls were matched by age, sex and school location. The prevalence of under- and overweight was higher in children with ASD. Nutritional differences were accompanied by abnormal food habits and more frequent gastrointestinal symptoms in children with ASD. Also, greater serum concentrations of TGF-ß1 were observed in children with ASD. Finally, there was greater alpha diversity and abundance of Bacteroides (2 OTUs), Akkermansia, Coprococcus and different species of Ruminococcus in ASD children.

Free Amino Acid Content in Human Milk is Associated with Infant Gender and Weight Gain during the First Four Months of Lactation.

BACKGROUND: There is a growing interest regarding the physiological role of free amino acids (FAA) present in human milk (HM). Recent studies show FAA in HM could be influenced by infants' gender and could have an important role in their growth and development. We studied the concentrations of FAA in HM and potential associations with infants' gender and their patterns of growth in a cohort of Ecuadorian women. METHODS: Human milk samples were collected after approximately eight hours of overnight fast within one week (colostrum), 2 weeks (transition milk), and 2 and/or 4 months (mature milk) after parturition. Free AA were determined by cation-exchange chromatography separation. RESULTS: We observed significantly higher concentrations of Glu 14.40 (1.35, 27.44), Gly 1.82 (0.24, 3.4), Cys 0.36 (0.03, 0.68), and Tyr 0.24 (0.02, 0.46) in HM intended for boys. Free Glu, Gly, Cys, and Tyr concentrations increased with time of lactation. In addition, there were higher concentrations of Glu 28.62 (1.78, 55.46) and Ala 7.16 (1.26, 13.06) in HM for children that presented faster weight gain than for those with slower gain. CONCLUSIONS: The present results showed that there are differences in FAA levels in HM intended for male and fast-growing children.

Characterization of Soluble Glandless Cottonseed Meal Proteins Based on Electrophoresis, Functional Properties, and Microscopic Structure.

This investigation aimed to extract and characterize the GCSM proteins, determine their solubility potential at two different temperatures and different solvents, and explore their functional properties. During the extraction, no water- or ethanol-soluble protein was found. Most of the protein was extracted with KOH solution. GCSM showed major protein bands between 13,273 and 56,564 Da with an isoelectric point of 5.1. The results showed that extraction temperature and solvent affected the amount of protein extracted from GCSM. The highest protein yield (63.4%) was obtained with KOH at 55 °C. Fat content negatively affected the protein solubility. The highest protein purity (99.9%) was obtained with 6% of fat content and the lowest one with 19% of fat content. GCSM has a high glutamic acid content, followed by arginine and aspartic acid compared to the other amino acids. The essential amino acids make up about 30.0% of the total amino acid concentration in KOH-soluble fractions. The results showed a denaturation temperature of GCSM protein ranging from 61.4 to 63.6 °C. Scanning electron microscopy reveals a microglobular protein structure. GCSM protein isolate showed lower (P < 0.05) water-holding and oil-holding capacity but similar gelation properties as soy protein. GCSM protein shows a high foaming capacity at high pH values and high emulsion stability. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The results of this investigation have a direct impact on the plant protein processing industry. This paper presents a new source of plant protein with a high foaming capacity in alkaline conditions with potential applications for human consumption and feed for aquaculture and animals. The results of this research may impact the cotton producers who can increase their income, and the aquaculture industry will have a cheaper source of protein that can partially substitute the expensive fishmeal. Cottonseed protein can be used to develop high protein extruded snacks and other functional foods, such as plant protein-based food products.

Enfermedades cardiovasculares y cáncer: ¿dos entidades mutuamente relacionadas? / Cardiovascular diseases and cancer: ¿mutually related entities?

Resumen: Las enfermedades cardiovasculares y el cáncer son enfermedades crónicas transmisibles culturalmente, y las dos causas principales de mortalidad en el mundo. Además del gran impacto sobre la mortalidad y morbilidad, estas enfermedades han mostrado un alto grado de relación entre ellas debido, entre otras razones, a que comparten factores de riesgo y mecanismos biológicos. La alta incidencia de enfermedad cardiovascular en pacientes con cáncer es un fenómeno conocido que ha orientado el desarrollo del campo interdisciplinario de la cardio-oncología. Sin embargo, en la última década han surgido evidencias que muestran el papel que desempeñan las enfermedades cardiovasculares en el desarrollo de cáncer. Un estudio reciente publicado por Meijers y cols, en agosto de 2018 en Circulation, mostró que la insuficiencia cardiaca post-infarto del miocardio contribuye significativamente al desarrollo del cáncer de colón, apoyando lo obtenido en estudios epidemiológicos anteriores. Este estudio también sugiere que el crecimiento tumoral podría producirse por factores secretados por el corazón insuficiente abriendo un amplio grupo de posibilidades de investigación en lo que sería un nuevo campo de la medicina cuyo propósito sería el desarrollo de nuevas estrategias para el seguimiento y tratamiento del cáncer en pacientes con enfermedades cardiovasculares. El presente artículo revisa los factores de riesgo, y mecanismos celulares y moleculares, que son comunes en las enfermedades cardiovasculares y el cáncer, la contribución del trabajo de Meijers y cols hacia un mayor entendimiento de la interrelación entre estas patologías y las perspectivas futuras con respecto a los nuevos hallazgos.

Abstracts: Cardiovascular diseases and cancer are culturally transmitted chronic diseases and the two main causes of death globally. In addition to their high morbidity and mortality, these diseases are closely related, due to their common risk factors and biological mechanisms. The high incidence of cardiovascular diseases in cancer patients is widely known phenomenon, which has oriented the development of the interdisciplinary field of cardio-oncology Nonetheless, there is emerging evidence in the last decade suggesting a potential role for cardiovascular diseases in the onset of cancer. A recent publication by Meijers et al in the scientific cardiovascular journal Circulation showed that heart failure significantly contributes to tumor growth, confirming previous epidemiological findings suggesting this hypothesis. Moreover, this study indicates that tumor growth may be stimulated by the secretion of factors from the failing heart, opening a wide spectrum of research areas in what may be suggested as a new field in medicine that would seek to develop new strategies to treat and prevent cancer in patients with cardiovascular diseases. This article will review shared risk factor and common cellular and molecular pathways in cardiovascular diseases and cancer, the contribution of Meijers et al to a better understanding of the connection of these diseases and future perspectives in light of the new evidence.

Impact of training primary care physicians in behavioral counseling to reduce cardiovascular disease risk factors in Ecuador

[ABSTRACT]. Objective. To assess the feasibility of implementing a physician-based, patient-centered counseling intervention model in Ecuador to improve the ability of primary care physicians (PCPs) to reduce cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors among patients. Methods. This was a randomized clinical trial conducted in primary care clinics in Quito in 2014 – 2016. Participants included 15 PCPs and their adult patients at high risk of developing type-2 diabetes. A physician-based and patient-centered counseling program was delivered to eight PCPs. Seven PCPs who did not receive the training comprised the control group. The patient experience was assessed by a patient exit interview (PEI). Assessment of the patient’s anthropometrics, blood pressure, and blood biochemistry parameters were conducted. Changes within and between groups were estimated utilizing chisquare, ANOVA, paired t-tests, and coefficient with intervention. Results. A total of 197 patients participated, 113 in the intervention care group (ICG) and 84 in the usual care group (UCG); 99 patients (87.6%) in the ICG and 63 (75%) in the UCG completed the study. Counseling steps, measured by the PEI, were significantly higher in the ICG (8.9±1.6 versus 6.6±2.3; P = 0.001). Comparison of the estimated difference between the ICG and the UCG showed greater decreases in HbA1c and total cholesterol in the ICG. Within the ICG, there were significant improvements in weight, BMI, HbA1C, total cholesterol, and LDL-cholesterol. Conclusions. Training PCPs in a patient-centered behavioral intervention for CVD risk factor reduction is feasible and efficacious for reducing CVD risk factors in Ecuador. Developed and developing countries alike could benefit from such an intervention.

[RESUMEN]. Objetivo. Evaluar la factibilidad de implementar un modelo de intervención en el médico y centrado en el paciente en Ecuador a fin de mejorar la capacidad de los médicos de atención primaria (MAP) para reducir los factores de riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV) en los pacientes. Métodos. Se llevó a cabo un ensayo clínico aleatorio en consultorios de atención primaria en Quito entre el 2014 y el 2016. Participaron 15 MAP y sus pacientes adultos con riesgo alto de padecer diabetes de tipo 2. Se proporcionó un programa médico orientativo centrado en el paciente a ocho MAP. Los siete que no recibieron la capacitación fueron el grupo testigo. Se evaluó la experiencia de los pacientes por medio de una encuesta de salida a los pacientes. Se evaluaron las medidas antropométricas, la presión arterial y los parámetros bioquímicos sanguíneos del paciente. Se calcularon los cambios entre los grupos y dentro de ellos por medio de pruebas de ji cuadrado, análisis de la varianza, pruebas t pareadas y coeficiente con intervención. Resultados. En total participaron 197 pacientes, 113 en el grupo de atención con intervención (GAI) y 84 en el grupo de atención habitual (GAH); 99 pacientes (87,6 %) en el GAI y 63 (75 %) en el GAH completaron el estudio entre el 2014 y el 2016. Los pasos de orientación, según los resultados de la encuesta de salida, fueron significativamente mayores en el GAI (8,9±1,6 frente a 6,6±2,3; P = 0,001). Al comparar la diferencia estimada entre el GAI y el GAH, se encontraron mayores reducciones de HbA1c y del colesterol total en el GAI. Dentro del GAI, se encontraron mejoras considerables en el peso, IMC, HbA1C, colesterol total y C-LDL. Conclusiones. La capacitación de los MAP mediante una intervención sobre el comportamiento centrada en el paciente para reducir los factores de riesgo de ECV es factible y eficaz para reducir los factores de riesgo de ECV en Ecuador. Los países desarrollados y en desarrollo podrían beneficiarse por igual de tal intervención.

[RESUMO]. Objetivo. Avaliar a viabilidade de implementar um modelo de intervenção do tipo orientação comportamental dirigida ao médico e centrada no paciente para melhorar a capacidade dos profissionais da atenção primária de reduzir os fatores de risco de doenças cardiovasculares nos pacientes. Métodos. Estudo clínico randomizado conduzido em ambulatórios de atenção primária em Quito, no Equador, de 2014 a 2016. Participaram do estudo 15 médicos da atenção primária e os respectivos pacientes adultos com alto risco de diabetes tipo 2. Oito participantes fizeram parte de uma intervenção do tipo orientação comportamental dirigida ao médico e centrada no paciente. Os outros sete médicos fizeram parte do grupo de controle que não recebeu a capacitação. A experiência do paciente foi avaliada com uma entrevista de saída. Características antropométricas, medidas de pressão arterial e parâmetros bioquímicos foram avaliados nos pacientes. As mudanças dentro de um mesmo grupo e entre os grupos foram estimadas com o uso do teste do qui-quadrado, ANOVA, teste t pareado e coeficiente com intervenção. Resultados. Participaram do estudo 197 pacientes ao todo, sendo 113 no grupo de intervenção (GI) e 84 no grupo de atenção de rotina (GR), e completaram o estudo 99 pacientes (87,6%) no GI e 63 (75%) no GR em 2014–2016. O GI recebeu um número significativamente maior (8.9±1.6 vs. 6.6±2.3; P = 0.001) de orientações, avaliadas na entrevista de saída. Uma comparação da diferença estimada entre o GI e o GR demonstrou maior redução no nível de hemoglobina glicosilada (HbA1c) e colesterol total no GI. Os pacientes do GI tiveram melhora significativa no peso corporal, índice de massa corporal (IMC), colesterol total e LDL. Conclusões. Capacitar os médicos da atenção primária em uma intervenção comportamental centrada no paciente é uma opção viável e eficaz para reduzir os fatores de risco de doenças cardiovasculares no Equador. Ambos os países desenvolvidos e em desenvolvimento poderiam se beneficiar com esta intervenção.