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5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and oral fluoropyrimidines, such as capecitabine, are widely used in the treatment of cancer, especially gastrointestinal tumors and breast cancer, but their administration can produce serious and even lethal toxicity. This toxicity is often related to the partial or complete deficiency of the dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) enzyme, which causes a reduction in clearance and a longer half-life of 5-FU. It is advisable to determine if a DPD deficiency exists before administering these drugs by genotyping DPYD gene polymorphisms. The objective of this consensus of experts, in which representatives from the Spanish Pharmacogenetics and Pharmacogenomics Society and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology participated, is to establish clear recommendations for the implementation of genotype and/or phenotype testing for DPD deficiency in patients who are candidates to receive fluoropyrimidines. The genotyping of DPYD previous to treatment classifies individuals as normal, intermediate, or poor metabolizers. Normal metabolizers do not require changes in the initial dose, intermediate metabolizers should start treatment with fluoropyrimidines at doses reduced to 50%, and poor metabolizers are contraindicated for fluoropyrimidines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Moderate/severe cases of COVID-19 present a dysregulated immune system with T cell lymphopenia and a hyper-inflammatory state. This is a study protocol of an open-label, multi-center, double-arm, randomized, dose-finding phase I/II clinical trial to evaluate the safety, tolerability, alloreactivity, and efficacy of the administration of allogeneic memory T cells and natural killer (NK) cells in COVID-19 patients with lymphopenia and/or pneumonia. The aim of the study is to determine the safety and the efficacy of the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of this treatment for patients with moderate/severe COVID-19.Methods: In the phase I trial, 18 patients with COVID-19-related pneumonia and/or lymphopenia with no oxygen requirement or with an oxygen need of ≤ 2.5 liters per minute (lpm) in nasal cannula will be assigned to two arms, based on the biology of the donor and the patient. Treatment of arm A consists of the administration of escalating doses of memory T cells, plus standard of care (SoC). Treatment of arm B consists of the administration of escalating doses of NK cells, plus SoC. In the phase II trial, a total of 182 patients with COVID-19-related pneumonia and/or lymphopenia requiring or not oxygen supplementation but without mechanical ventilation will be allocated to arm A or B, considering HLA typing. Within each arm, they will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio. In arm A, patients will receive SoC or RP2D for memory T cells plus the SoC. In arm B, patients will receive SoC or RP2D for NK cells plus the SoC.Discussion: We hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2-specific memory T-lymphocytes obtained from convalescent donors recovered from COVID-19 can be used as a passive cell immunotherapy to treat pneumonia and lymphopenia in moderate/severe patients. The lymphopenia induced by COVID-19 constitutes a therapeutic window that may facilitate donor engraftment and viral protection until recovery.Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04578210 . First Posted : October 8, 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective was to compare the performance of the updated Charlson comorbidity index (uCCI) and classical CCI (cCCI) in predicting 30-day mortality in patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia (SAB). All cases of SAB in patients aged ⩾14 years identified at the Microbiology Unit were included prospectively and followed. Comorbidity was evaluated using the cCCI and uCCI. Relevant variables associated with SAB-related mortality, along with cCCI or uCCI scores, were entered into multivariate logistic regression models. Global model fit, model calibration and predictive validity of each model were evaluated and compared. In total, 257 episodes of SAB in 239 patients were included (mean age 74 years; 65% were male). The mean cCCI and uCCI scores were 3.6 (standard deviation, 2.4) and 2.9 (2.3), respectively; 161 (63%) cases had cCCI score ⩾3 and 89 (35%) cases had uCCI score ⩾4. Sixty-five (25%) patients died within 30 days. The cCCI score was not related to mortality in any model, but uCCI score ⩾4 was an independent factor of 30-day mortality (odds ratio, 1.98; 95% confidence interval, 1.05-3.74). The uCCI is a more up-to-date, refined and parsimonious prognostic mortality score than the cCCI; it may thus serve better than the latter in the identification of patients with SAB with worse prognoses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Pt based mono and bimetallic catalysts were tested under conditions of tri-reforming (TR). All the catalysts contained 25% of CeO and a metal loading of 2.5 or 5.0% (wt%). The bimetallic catalysts contained 2.5% Pt and 2.5% of Me, where Me = Ni, Co, Mo, Pd, Fe, Re, Y, Cu or Zn. For all the experiments, a synthetic biogas which consisted of 60% CH and 40% CO (vol.) was mixed with water, S/C = 1.0, and oxygen, O/CH = 0.25, and fed to a fixed bed reactor (FBR) system or a microreactor. The 2.5Pt catalyst was used in order to compare the performance of each reaction system. The tests were performed at reaction temperatures between 700 and 800 °C, and at volume hourly space velocities (VHSV) between 100 L/(h g) and 200 L/(h g) for the FBR system and between 1000 L/(h g) and 2000 L/(h g) for the microreactor, at atmospheric pressure. Then, all catalysts were deposited into microchannel reactors and tested at a constant VHSV of 2000 L/(h g) and reaction temperatures between 700 and 800 °C. Catalysts under investigation were characterized applying the following techniques: inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), N Physisorption, Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR), CO chemisorption, Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The microreactor was identified as the most efficient and promising reaction system, and the 2.5(Pt-Pd) catalyst as the bimetallic formulation with the highest activity. Therefore its activity and stability was compared with the reference 5.0Pt catalyst at 700 °C and VHSV of 2000 L/(h g) for more than 100 h. Although slightly lower activity was measured operating with the 2.5(Pt-Pd) catalyst, a significant reduction of the Pt content compared to the reference 5.0Pt catalyst was achieved through the incorporation of Pd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Similarities and differences between obesity and addiction are a prominent topic of ongoing research. We conducted an activation likelihood estimation meta-analysis on 87 studies in order to map the functional magnetic resonance imaging ( fMRI) response to reward in participants with obesity, substance addiction and non-substance (or behavioural) addiction, and to identify commonalities and differences between them. Our study confirms the existence of alterations during reward processing in obesity, non-substance addiction and substance addiction. Specifically, participants with obesity or with addictions differed from controls in several brain regions including prefrontal areas, subcortical structures and sensory areas. Additionally, participants with obesity and substance addictions exhibited similar blood-oxygen-level-dependent fMRI hyperactivity in the amygdala and striatum when processing either general rewarding stimuli or the problematic stimuli (food and drug-related stimuli, respectively). We propose that these similarities may be associated with an enhanced focus on reward - especially with regard to food or drug-related stimuli - in obesity and substance addiction. Ultimately, this enhancement of reward processes may facilitate the presence of compulsive-like behaviour in some individuals or under some specific circumstances. We hope that increasing knowledge about the neurobehavioural correlates of obesity and addictions will lead to practical strategies that target the high prevalence of these central public health challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Alterations in lipid metabolism frequently affect kidney transplant recipients and contribute to the onset of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases that threaten graft integrity. The purpose of this research study was to investigate the pattern of hyperlipidaemia and its progression, as well as to study potential risk factors in kidney transplant recipients. Methods In this study, 119 kidney transplant recipients of both sexes were monitored over a period of 5 years in our posttransplant clinic. During this period, all patients had pretransplant and posttransplant blood tests to measure levels of the following: total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins ( LDL), high-density lipoproteins ( HDL) and triglycerides. Furthermore, the subjects were also weighed and their height measured. Their body mass index was then calculated using the weight (kg)/height (m2) formula. Results In the 5 years following the transplant, the patients experienced a significant increase in the levels of their biochemical markers as well as in their BMI. Consequently, a greater number suffered from dyslipidaemia, diabetes and hypertension. Conclusions Kidney transplants can often trigger hyperlipidaemia, as reflected in higher levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoproteins and high-density lipoproteins. The results of our study also showed that despite statin therapy, the patients had higher triglyceride levels, which made them more vulnerable to diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and graft rejection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to extend the shelf life of fresh tomatoes using biodegradable materials, an active microcorrugated cardboard tray package was tested for use with fresh Cherry tomatoes ( Lycopersicon esculentum var . cerasiforme). Active packaging characteristics were achieved by coating the interior surface of the cardboard tray with polylactic acid (PLA; 3% w/ v) and, after filling with tomatoes, the tray was wrapped with a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) film of 70 or 20 μm thickness and hermetically heat sealed. Uncoated trays were used as control. The trays of tomatoes were stored at 20 ± 0.5 °C and 55 ± 2% relative humidity, for 30 days, and the ethylene concentration in the package atmosphere was measured periodically as an indicator of ripeness. The following fruit quality parameters were also studied: weight loss, surface colour, microbial count, firmness, soluble solids and pH. It was demonstrated that the capacity of PLA to adsorb ethylene and water vapour and the thickness of the LDPE film were decisive for controlling the ethylene concentration of the package atmosphere and for preventing condensation of water vapour on the fruit and film. The active packaging configuration and storage conditions used preserved fruit quality for a month, thus extending the useful life of the tomatoes and saving refrigeration costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to describe the patterns of functional magnetic resonance imaging activation produced by visual food stimuli in healthy participants, as well as in those with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder and obesity. We conducted a systematic review of studies published in the last decade on normal and abnormal eating. This review suggested the existence of neural differences in response to the sight of food between healthy individuals, those with an eating disorder and obese subjects. Differences were identified in two brain circuits: (i) limbic and paralimbic areas associated with salience and reward processes and (ii) prefrontal areas supporting cognitive control processes. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Investigacion & Educacion en Enfermeria is the property of Universidad de Antioquia, Facultad de Enfermeria and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Obésité is the property of Lavoisier and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: In most low income countries there are twice as many cases of tuberculosis (TB) reported among men than among women, a difference commonly attributed to biological and epidemiological characteristics as well as socioeconomic and cultural barriers in access to health care. The World Health Organization has encouraged gender specific comparisons in TB rates to determine whether women with TB are less likely than men with TB to be diagnosed, reported, and treated. A study was undertaken to identify gender based differences in patients with pulmonary TB and to use this information to improve TB control efforts.Methods: Individuals with a cough for more than 2 weeks in southern Mexico were screened from March 1995 to April 2003. Clinical and mycobacteriological information (isolation, identification, drug susceptibility testing and IS6110 based genotyping, and spoligotyping) was collected from those with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB. Patients were treated in accordance with official norms and followed to ascertain treatment outcome, retreatment, and vital status.Results: 623 patients with pulmonary TB were enrolled. The male:female incidence rate ratio for overall, reactivated, and recently transmitted disease was 1.58 (95% CI 1.34 to 1.86), 1.64 (95% CI 1.36 to 1.98), and 1.41 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.96), respectively. Men were more likely than women to default from treatment (adjusted OR 3.30, 95% CI 1.46 to 7.43), to be retreated (hazard ratio (HR) 3.15, 95% CI 1.38 to 7.22), and to die from TB (HR 2.23, 95% CI 1.25 to 3.99).Conclusions: Higher rates of transmitted and reactivated disease and poorer treatment outcomes among men are indicators of gender differentials in the diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary TB, and suggest specific strategies in endemic settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overweight and stress are both related to brain structural abnormalities. The allostatic load model states that frequent disruption of homeostasis is inherently linked to oxidative stress and inflammatory responses that in turn can damage the brain. However, the effects of the allostatic load on the central nervous system remain largely unknown. The current study aimed to assess the relationship between the allostatic load and the composition of whole-brain white matter tracts in overweight subjects. Additionally, we have also tested for grey matter changes regarding allostatic load increase. Thirty-one overweight-to-obese adults and 21 lean controls participated in the study. Our results showed that overweight participants presented higher allostatic load indexes. Such increases correlated with lower fractional anisotropy in the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculi and the right anterior corona radiata, as well as with grey matter reductions in the left precentral gyrus, the left lateral occipital gyrus, and the right pars opercularis. These results suggest that an otherwise healthy overweight status is linked to long-term biological changes potentially harmful to the brain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The occurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs) varies by race/ethnicity, and the highest rates are among women of Hispanic ethnicity. Women of reproductive age are advised to use folic acid to prevent NTDs and other birth defects. Since 1994, Puerto Rico has had a campaign to promote the use of folic acid, and since 1998, enriched grain products have been fortified with folic acid. After fortification, the incidence of NTDs in the island decreased. The objective of this study was to assess the use of folic acid by women of reproductive age in Puerto Rico and determine factors associated with its use.Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was answered by 964 women around the island.Results: Folic acid consumption was reported by 30% of the participants, 21% reported consuming it at least 4 times per week, and only 14% consumed it the day before the survey. Knowledge about the recommendation for women to consume folic acid was reported by 97% of the participants. The use of folic acid was lower among women of lower education and lower social class. Women with higher education were 8.3 times more likely to consume folic acid.Conclusion: The folic acid campaign has improved women's knowledge about the recommendation for folic acid supplementation. Nevertheless, its use is lower than is needed to continue reducing the incidence of birth defects in Puerto Rico. Education and social class continue to be barriers to eliminating the disparities in the preconception health of our population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]