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Photoautotrophs and macroinvertebrate trophic relations in Mediterranean streams, especially from semiarid areas, are still poorly known, as is the role of Cyanobacteria, which is the most frequently dominant photoautotroph. To investigate the role of Cyanobacteria as a food resource in these systems, the fatty acid composition of primary and secondary producers was investigated in two streams on a semiarid climatic gradient between 200 and 500 mm of rainfall in SE Spain. Fatty acid composition of photoautotrophs and macroinvertebrates differed among streams in summer and among seasons in each stream. Fatty acid fingerprints show that macroinvertebrates usually fed on the dominant photoautotroph assemblage and that Cyanobacteria represent the main food for all the feeding groups in the Alhárabe stream in winter although filamentous green algae were preferred in summer. Only scrapers consuming Chlorophyta displayed a selective feeding behaviour. The results show the importance of cyanobacteria as food for all collected macroinvertebrates in winter in some semiarid streams and confirm that fatty acids can be used as temporal and spatial markers in fluvial systems.

Idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss (IRPL) is defined by three or more consecutive miscarriages occurring before the twentieth week of gestation as a result of unidentified etiological factors. The results of previous studies have indicated that prothrombotic factors play a pathogenic role in early and late pregnancy. This study aimed to identify inherited prothrombotic and hypofibrinolytic risk factors in Mexican-Mestizo patients with IRPL. Fifty-six women with IRPL and 50 control women with at least two full-term pregnancies and no history of RPL were included in this case-control study. Four prothrombotic (F5 G1691A, F2 G20210A, MTHFR C677T-A1298C) and one hypofibrinolytic (PAI1 4G/5G) restricted fragment length polymorphisms were subjected to molecular analysis. In the case of hypofibrinolytic ACE Ins/Del (I/D), identification was performed by direct PCR. The independent risk correlated with the presence of polymorphisms in IRPL patients was estimated using odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). MTHFR 677TT was the most frequent prothrombotic factor in the IRPL group (23%), followed by the compound-heterozygous C677T-A1298C (16%) and heterozygous F2 20210GA (3.6%). The heterozygous ACE I/D (62%) was the main hypofibrinolytic risk factor of IRPL, followed by the homozygote PAI1 4G/4G (18%). The ACE I/D polymorphism was the only significantly different factor among the cases and controls. The dominant genetic model D/D+I/D vs I/I showed an OR (95%CI) of 2.89 (1.22-6.89) and P = 0.019 in Mexican-Mestizo women. The results of this study support an association between the ACE I/D polymorphism and IRPL risk in a Mexican population.

Irregular sea urchins such as the spatangoid Spatangus purpureus are important bioturbators that contribute to natural biogenic disturbance and the functioning of biogeochemical cycles in soft sediments. In the coastal waters of the Balearic Islands S. purpureus occurs in soft red algal beds, and can reach high densities. The diet of S. purpureus is unknown and it is particularly difficult to analyze the stomach contents of this group; therefore, we analyzed the fatty acid (FA) composition of the gonads and potential food resources in order to assess the trophic relationships of this species. The FA profiles of the gonads of S. purpureus agree well with the FA composition of the potential trophic resources (algae and sediment) and reveals changes between localities with different available resources. Three polyunsaturated FAs mainly contributes in the composition in the S. purpureus gonads: eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5n-3) and arachidonic acid (C20:4n-6), both abundant in the macroalgal material, and palmitoleic acid (C16:1n-7), which is characteristic of sediment samples. Trophic markers of bacterial input and carnivorous feeding were significantly more abundant in sea urchins caught on bottoms with less vegetation. The current study demonstrates that the FA content of S. purpureus gonads is a useful marker of diet, as differences in the profiles reflected the variations in detritus composition. The results of this study show that this species has omnivorous feeding behavior; however, viewed in conjunction with available abundance data the results suggest that phytodetritus found within algal beds is an important carbon source for this species.

Tea polyphenols, especially the catechins, are potent antimicrobial and antioxidant agents, with positive effects on human health. White tea is one of the less studied teas but the flavour is more accepted than that of green tea in Europe. The concentrations of various catechins in 13 different kinds of infusion were determined by capillary electrophoresis. The total polyphenol content (Folin–Ciocalteu method), the trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC value determined with the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical cation) and the inhibitory effects of infusions on the growth of some microorganisms were determined. Five different infusions (black, white, green and red teas and rooibos infusion) were added to a model food system, comprising a sunflower oil-in-water emulsion containing 0% or 0.2% bovine serum albumin (BSA), and the oxidative stability was studied during storage at 37 °C. Oxidation of the oil was monitored by determination of the peroxide value. The highest radical-scavenging activity observed was for the green and white teas. Emulsions containing these extracts from these teas were much more stable during storage when BSA was present than when it was not present, even though BSA itself did not provide an antioxidant effect (at 0.2% concentration). Rooibos infusion did not show the same synergy with BSA. Green tea and white tea showed similar inhibitions of several microorganisms and the magnitude of this was comparable to that of the commercial infusion 2 (C.I.2), “te de la belleza”. This tea also had an antioxidant activity comparable to green tea.

We have evaluated the effects of three different 18:3n-6, 20:5n-3 and 22:6n-3 fatty acid combinations on essential fatty acid (EFA) metabolism in rat cultured cardiomyocytes. The desaturating/elongating activities for linoleic (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) were evaluated by radiolabeling the cells with 1-[14C]LA or 1-[14C]ALA and the fatty acid pattern of cardiomyocytes was assessed by gas chromatography. LA and ALA conversion to more unsaturated metabolites was reduced by increasing respectively n-3 and n-6 fatty acid concentration in the media. The all three combinations used reduced the saturated and increased the polyunsaturated fatty acid content of cardiomyocytes. The n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio did not change compared to control cells in cardiomyocytes receiving the highest amount of 18:3n-6 and the lowest amounts of n-3 fatty acids. This combination may be suitable for modifying EFA desaturating/elongating activities without altering the physicochemical parameters which are related to the correct balance between n-6 and n-3 fatty acid content.

The synthesis and characterization of two new ligands derived from the 1:1 and 1:2Schiff base condensation of benzoylacetylacetone with N-benzylethylenediamine as well as some of their metal complexes are reported. The 1:1Schiff base1 is a potential tetradentate, binucleating ligand with two adjacent coordination sites NNO(X) (X=Cl, NO3) and OO(XY), whereX andY are exogenic donor atoms. The reaction of1 with PdCl 4 2− affords a mononuclear, square-planar complex3a with the metal atom coordinated to the NNO site of1 and to Cl−. The X-ray structure of this complex shows that the coordination of the Pd atom by an NNO (Cl) moiety reduces the available space in OO(XY) site for coordinating another metal atom; moreover, the small distance between the two oxygen atoms of the “hard base” site OO(XY) suggests the presence of hydrogen bonding and therefore this proton is not easily displaced by a typical soft acid such as Pd2+. When the same ligand reacts with Ni(II) or Cu(II) nitrates, again only mononuclear complexes3b and3c are obtained with the same donor atoms as for the Pd(II) complex but withX=NO3. The 1:2Schiff base4, a potentially binucleating ligand with two non-equivalent coordination sites NNO(X), was not isolated as a free ligand. However, it gave the binuclear Hg(II) complex5 by the reaction of benzoylacetylacetone and N-benzylethylenediamine in the presence of HgCl2.

1 MacKinlayN,TaperJ,RenissonF,RickardK.Cardiac surgery and catheterization in pa-tients with haemophilia. Haemophilia 2000;6: 84–8.2 Stine KC, Becton DL. Use of factor VIIIreplacement during open heart surgery in apatient with haemophilia A. Haemophilia2006; 12: 435–6.3 Tang M, Wierup P, Terp K, Ingerslev J,Sorensen B. Cardiac surgery in patients withhaemophilia. Haemophilia 2009; 15: 101–7.4 Eren A, Friedl R, Hannekum A, Gulbins H.Cardiac surgery in a patient with haemo-philia A. Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2006; 54:212–4.5 Palanzo DA, Sadr FS. Coronary artery bypassgrafting in a patient with haemophilia B.Perfusion 1995; 10: 265–70.6 Bukowski JG, De Brux JL, Ganascia B, Cot-tineau C, Jacob JP. [Coronary artery bypasswith extracorporeal circulation in a patientwith hemophilia B]. Ann Fr Anesth Reanim1996; 15: 304–6.7 Grandmougin D, Delolme M-C, Reynaud J,Barral X. Off-pump myocardial revasculari-zation in a diabetic patient with severehemophilia B and impaired left ventricularfunction: hematological and operative strat-egies. J Card Surg 2005; 20: 366–9.8 Schutgens REG, Tuinenburg A, RoosendaalG, Guyomi SH, Mauser-Bunschoten EP.Treatment of ischaemic heart disease inhaemophilia patients: an institutional guide-line. Haemophilia 2009; 15: 952–8.9 Despotis GJ, Avidan MS, Hogue CW.Mechanisms and attenuation of hemostaticactivation during extracorporeal circulation.Ann Thorac Surg 2001; 72: S1821–31.10 Lee JD, Lee SJ, Tsushima WT et al. Benefitsof off-pump bypass on neurologic andclinical morbidity: a prospective random-ized trial. Ann Thorac Surg 2003; 76: 18–26.

To describe the alcohol consumption patterns in patients of 15 or more years of age, attending the emergency room of 8 possible hospitals in Mexico City.The information was obtained by self-report. Data were raised at each hospital for one whole week, 24 hours per day. It includes patients who reported alcohol consumption during the 12 months previous to the survey.Of the 2,523 interviewed subjects 63% had ingested alcoholic beverages, in particular, spirits and beer; 58% admitted having been drunk at least once in the past year. The predominating alcohol consumption pattern is low frequency and high quantity (46.9%); however, variations were found according to sex and age and associated problems are reported.The description of alcohol consumption patterns in different population groups is relevant in the study of personal, family and social problems associated to alcohol ingestion.

Viscosity and Yield Value of Casson are two chocolate properties. They are very important in the technological processes and they affect to the final product acepptation. In this study viscosity, yield value and fatty acid composition were determined of chocolates elaborated with different fat sources. A correlation study was made between these three variables. Viscosity and yield value were calculated with the Casson's education using a viscometer brookfield and fatty acids composition by gas-chromatography. Positive correlations between viscosity and yield value with stearic and palmitic acids contents have been found. Negative correlations between yield value and lauric content and viscosity and oleic acid content have been observed. The viscosity variations were relationed with total content of cocoa butter of different chocolates.

The fatty acids and cholesterol contents of ten fresh protein foods were determined, 6 meats (pork, rabbit, lamb, turkey, chicken and beef) and 4 fishes (tuna, sea bream, hake and sardine); the fat quality by different chemical index of the foods (saturated fat/polyunsaturated fat ratio, index of atherogenicity and index of thrombogenicity) and the effect of their intakes on the health were also determined. The study shows that the fat content was lower in meat pork than lamb, rabbit, tuna, sea bream and sardine; and it was similar to chicken beef and hake. Pork, chicken and turkey meat had the lowest content of myristic acid. Fishes showed lower index of thrombogenicity than the other analyzed food and pork, chicken and turkey showed the lowest atherogenicity index.

The quality of three vegetable fats (cocoa butter and two commercial fats) and three roasted nut oils (almond, hazelnut and peanut) used as raw material in the chocolate products manufacturing was studied. The hydroperoxide content, oxidative stability and fatty acid composition were determined and its health repercussion by atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indexes. Two commercial fats and cocoa butter showed higher oxidative stability, atherogenic and thrombogenic properties than oils because of its different fatty acid profiles. Peroxide value was a low reliability parameter of raw material shelf live. Rancimat presented a good correlation with the unsaturation index of different fats and oils, it was a better index than peroxide value. In the chocolate products manufacturing it would be advisable a good raw material selection and formulation in order to get a balance between technological properties, organoleptic qualities and the influence on the health. Those raw material with less primary oxidation and higher oxidative stability were also those of higher atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indexes.

Many of the changes that occur in the rat cardiac muscle with advancing age are related to modifications in membrane fatty acid composition, polyunsaturated fatty acids decreasing and saturated increasing as the animal develops. In the present study, using cultured adult cardiomyocytes isolated from the hearts of rats of a broad (1-24 months) age range, we demonstrated that the modifications in the fatty acid pattern of cardiomyocytes have to be related to alterations in the mechanism of desaturation/elongation of essential fatty acids. In fact, independent of the age of the animal, heart cells in culture were capable of rapidly metabolizing radiolabeled linoleic acid taken up from the surrounding medium, but to a different extent. The ability of heart cells to metabolize linoleic acid to higher and more unsaturated metabolites decreased with the animal's age. As the age of the animal increased, the pattern of fatty acids of the cultured cardiomyocytes showed a gradual but significant shift, similar to those reported in the whole heart. Data here reported confirm that the basic aging-related process in the cellular model system may also be relevant to aging in the whole animal.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the daily intake of vitamins in a group of adults of the University of Murcia. A sample of 116 individuals (69 men and 47 women) aged 25 to 45 was used. Data were derived from 7-day dietary records done by the individuals, and the intakes of vitamins were compared with the Spanish Recommended Dietary Allowances. The results showed that the intake of water-soluble vitamins was appropriate; but the intake of vitamins E and D were low in both sexes. The intake of vitamin A was excessive in almost 40% of the studied population.