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• The TNFAIP3 rs2230926T/G and rs5029924C/T are risk factors to Takayasu's arteritis. • BLK , BANK , TNFSF4 , and STAT4 variants are not risk factors to Takayasu's arteritis. • Our results provide new information on the genetic bases of Takayasu's arteritis. Takayasu arteritis (TAK) is considered a rare disease characterized by nonspecific inflammation of the large arteries, especially the aorta and its major branches. Because TAK is an autoimmune disease (AD), it could share susceptibility loci with other pathologies such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA), among others. Widely explored polymorphisms in non- HLA genes, including TNFAIP3, STAT4, TNFSF4, BANK1, and BLK have been consistently associated with both SLE and RA, but they have not been evaluated in TAK. The aim of our study was to investigate whether TNFAIP3, STAT4, BANK1, BLK , and TNFSF4 polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to TAK. The TNFAIP3 rs2230926T/G and rs5029924C/T, STAT4 rs7574865G/T, BANK1 10516487G/A, BLK rs2736340T/C, rs13277113A/G, and TNFS4 rs2205960G/T polymorphisms were genotyped in 101 cases and 276 controls by using a TaqMan SNP genotyping assay. An association analysis was performed. The TNFAIP3 rs2230926T/G and rs5029924C/T polymorphisms were in complete linkage disequilibrium and turned out to be risk factors for TAK (OR = 4.88, p = 0.0001). The STAT4 , BANK1 , BLK , and TNFSF4 polymorphisms were not associated with the disease. This is the first study documenting an association of TNFAIP3 rs2230926T/G and rs5029924C/T with TAK. Our results provide new information on the genetic bases of TAK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to assess the relationship between serum concentrations of several persistent organic pollutants and insulin resistance markers in a cohort of women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus. ∑POPs was computed as the sum of individual serum POP concentrations. No statistically significant associations were found between levels of any POP and fasting glucose. However, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners 138 and 180 were positively associated with 2-h glucose levels and PCB 180 also with fasting immunoreactive insulin (IRI). We also found a positive association of p,p ′ - dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene ( p,p ′ - DDE), PCBs (138, 153, and 180), hexachlorobenzene, and ∑POPs with 2-h IRI. Serum concentrations of PCBs (138, 153, and 180), hexachlorobenzene, and ∑POPs were also positively associated with homeostasis model assessment (HOMA2-IR) levels. Moreover, p,p ′- DDE, PCBs (138, 153 and 180), hexachlorobenzene, and ∑POPs were negatively associated with Insulin Sensitivity Index (ISI-gly) levels. No significant association was found between glycated hemoglobin and the concentrations of any POP. The removal of women under blood glucose lowering treatment from the models strengthened most of the associations previously found for the whole population. Our findings suggest that exposure to certain POPs is a modifiable risk factor contributing to insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Recent research in Paleolithic archeology has stressed the importance of temporal issues in assemblage interpretation. Archeological assemblages are temporal constructs, formed by the addition of an unknown number of depositional events. This temporal dimension is also evident at the artifactual level, since single artifacts may undergo different events of modification and/or uses over time. The recycling of previously discarded blanks for tool production is one of the best examples of the temporal nature of artifacts. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the importance of recycling in a Late Upper Paleolithic site, examining a type of artifact – burned tools – that has up to now been little used to approach this issue. Our results suggest that recycling was probably a significant component of Upper Paleolithic provisioning behavior, with important implications in site formation processes and the typological variability of assemblages. The expedient or curated character of recycling is also discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this research, a healthy ready-to-eat expanded snack was produced using a maize/common bean (70/30%) mixture and characterized for its nutritional value, antioxidant potential, and phytochemical composition. Free and bound extracts were obtained and analyzed for phenolic profiles by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detector–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-DAD-MSn) and antioxidant activity (IC 50) by ABTS and DPPH methods. Fatty acids and amino acid profiles were obtained by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), respectively. Fourteen phenolic compounds were identified and quantified (mg/100 g, dw); the main compounds included three phenolic acids (ferulic, diferulic, p -coumaric) and three flavonoids (naringenin, kaempferol, methyl isoflavone). The IC 50 (mg/mL) values obtained by ABTS (4.17 and 0.12) were smaller than those measured by DPPH (5.93 and 0.33). Seven fatty acids were also identified and the two most abundant were unsaturated (oleic, linoleic). The snack also showed an acceptable balance of amino acids according to the FAO, 2013 requirements, as well as a chemical score = 74.09 in vitro protein digestibility = 77.21%, C-PER = 1.53 and PDCAAS = 57.20%. The expanded snack could be source of bioactive, nutritional and antioxidant compounds for the improvement of the consumer's health. [Display omitted] • Extrusion allowed to produce a ready-to-eat snack from a maize-bean mixture. • The expanded snack showed good nutritional value and antioxidant potential. • Phenolics profiles are analyzed by first time in snacks from maize-bean mixture. • The healthy ready-to-eat snack could be a good alternative to the high-caloric foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strontium isotope analysis is a useful tool for tracing mobility and migration in past populations. For it to be employed, the 87Sr/86Sr values of the landscape must be well-understood. Bioavailable strontium is a combination of geological and atmospheric strontium available for use by plants and animals. In this study we begin mapping bioavailable strontium values around the Oldupai Gorge region so that this method may be utilized on archaeological hominins and animals in the future. We analyzed three plants from 33 localities across volcanic and metamorphic bedrock, including the regional drainage sump, Olbalbal. We found that bioavailable strontium in the region is homogeneous overall, with trends towards increasing values to the north and northeast and in Olbalbal. There was no difference between 87Sr/86Sr values of metamorphic and volcanic areas. Migrants from outside the study area with different isotopic values will be easily identifiable from the local residents. As a proof of concept, we analyzed 7 animal teeth (hippopotamus, crocodile, and equid) from Engaji Nanyori, a Bed III and IV site at Oldupai Gorge. We found that enamel and dentine which had been acetic acid treated to remove diagenetic strontium were significantly different from one another. All animals had higher 87Sr/86Sr values than the plant values, suggesting that modern and ancient bioavailable strontium values may have been different, likely due to environmental differences. • Bioavailable strontium in the Oldupai Gorge region is homogeneous. • Metamorphic and volcanic areas have indistinguishable 87Sr/86Sr values. • Modern and ancient bioavailable strontium appear to be different. • Animals which are migratory now may have been resident in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]