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Introduction: the dietary intake patterns of children should be monitored because of their influence on health in adulthood. It is now widely accepted that childhood nutrition is linked to specific diseases such as obesity and to risk factors for cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Therefore, knowledge of dietary intake during childhood may be useful to identify possible risk factors for disease in adulthood. The main focus of research into children's diets has been the contribution of macronutrients and micronutrients. Objective: several indices have been developed for assessing the diet quality of previously defined population groups. The aim of the present study was to compare the nutritional status of Andalusian children and adolescents and examine the relationship between their diet quality and socio-demographic or lifestyle factors. Results and conclusions: the food intake of the younger children in this study was closer to RDIs compared with the adolescents, who generally reported a lower energy supply in their diet than the recommended. The mean (SD) diet quality score was 12.1 (1.9) for the younger children (6-9 years) and 9.4 (3.2) for the older group (10-17 years), a statistically significant difference. A good correlation was found between energy intake (MJ/kg body weight) and estimated energy (MET MJ/kg body weight).

Objetivo: Comparar el efecto de 2 métodos de electroestimulación en las siguientes variables: fuerza y antropometría. Método: Se realizó una investigación experimental, aleatoria y simple ciego. Se evaluó a 18 sujetos, distribuidos en: Grupo Corriente TENS Modificada (CTM: n = 6), Grupo Corriente Rusa (CR: n = 6) y Grupo Control (TC: n = 6, sometido a corriente TENS Convencional, considerada en la presente investigación como placebo). Resultados: Al cabo de 8 semanas, solo CTM incrementó la fuerza máxima (p < 0.035) y redujo el grosor del pliegue subcutâneo de la pierna derecha (p < 0.03). Conclusiones: La técnica de electroestimulación con corriente TENS Modificada es efectiva para el entrenamiento muscular. Objective: To compare the effect of two methods of electrostimulation on the following variables: strength and anthropometry. Method: An experimental, randomized, and simple blind investigation was performed. Eighteen subjects were evaluated distributed into a Modified TENS Current Group (CTM: n = 6), Russian Current Group (CR: n = 6), and a Control Group (TC: n = 6, submitted to traditional TENS current, considered as placebo in this research). Results: After 8 weeks, only CTM obtained an increase in maximal strength (p < 0.035), and a reduction in the subcutaneous fat thickness of the right thigh (p < 0.03). Conclusions: A Modified TENS Current is effective for muscular training. Objetivo: Comparar o efeito de 2 métodos de eletroestimulação nas seguintes variáveis: força e antropometria. Método: Um estudo experimental, randomizado, cego simples. Foram avaliados 18 indivíduos, distribuídos em: grupo de corrente TENS modificada (CTM: n = 6), grupo corrente russa (CR: n = 6) e grupo controle (TC: n = 6, submetido a corrente TENS convencional, considerada nesta investigação como placebo). Resultados: Após 8 semanas, CTM aumentou a força máxima (p < 0,035) e reduziu a espessura de pregas subcutâneas da coxa direita (p < 0,03). Conclusões: A técnica de eletroestimulação com corrente TENS modificada é eficaz para treinamento muscular.

Under several adverse conditions, such as hypoxia or ischaemia, extracellular levels of adenosine are elevated because of increased energy demands and ATP metabolism. Because extracellular adenosine affects metabolism through G-protein-coupled receptors, its regulation is of high adaptive importance. CNT2 (concentrative nucleoside transporter 2) may play physiological roles beyond nucleoside salvage in brain as it does in other tissues. Even though nucleoside transport in brain has mostly been seen as being of equilibrative-type, in the present study, we prove that the rat phaeochromocytoma cell line PC12 shows a concentrative adenosine transport of CNT2-type when cells are differentiated to a neuronal phenotype by treatment with NGF (nerve growth factor). Differentiation of PC12 cells was also associated with the up-regulation of adenosine A1 receptors. Addition of adenosine receptor agonists to cell cultures increased CNT2-related activity by a mechanism consistent with A1 and A2A receptor activation. The addition of adenosine to the culture medium also induced the phosphorylation of the intracellular regulatory kinase AMPK (AMP-activated protein kinase), with this effect being dependent upon adenosine transport. CNT2-related activity of differentiated PC12 cells was also dramatically down-regulated under hypoxic conditions. Interestingly, the analysis of nucleoside transporter expression after experimental focal ischaemia in rat brain showed that CNT2 expression was down-regulated in the infarcted tissue, with this effect somehow being restricted to other adenosine transporter proteins such as CNT3 and ENT1 (equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1). In summary, CNT2 is likely to modulate extracellular adenosine and cell energy balance in neuronal tissue.

Background: Several lines of evidence suggest a tight association between oxidative stress and the pathogenesis of osteoporosis in humans. The intake of antioxidants may influence Bone Mineral Density by acting as free radical scavengers, preventing oxidation-induced damage to bone cells. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the association between the Dietary Antioxidant Quality Score and bone mineral density in a sample of healthy women. Methods: A total of 280 women were grouped into three major groups: women aged ≤ 35 years; women aged 36-45, and finally women aged >45 years. Calcaneous Bone Mineral Density (g/cm²) was measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Data on the eating habits of each participant were collected with a structured 24-hour diet recall questionnaire. A Dietary Antioxidant Quality Score was used to calculate antioxidant-nutrient intake. Results: A significant and positive association was observed among Bone Mineral Density and dietary intake of vitamin C and selenium. Zinc intake was significantly related to Bone Mineral Density in the youngest group. Low antioxidant consumers were considered individuals whose Dietary Antioxidant Quality Score was lower or equal than the median (3.5), and high antioxidant consumers were those whose Dietary Antioxidant Quality Score were higher than 3.5. Bone Mineral Density was higher in the participants defined as high antioxidant consumers in all aged groups. Conclusion: The study showed that there is an association between Bone Mineral Density and the Dietary Antioxidant Quality Score in all the women studied. Therefore, new therapies for osteoporosis based on higher dietary antioxidant intakes might be developed basing on the results obtained in this study. Antecedentes: Varias líneas de evidencia sugieren que existe una estrecha relación entre el estrés oxidativo y la patogénesis de la osteoporosis en humanos. La ingesta de nutrientes antioxidantes puede influenciar la densidad mineral ósea al neutralizar los radicales libres, previniendo el daño oxidativo a las células de hueso. Objetivo: El objetivo del presente estudio es establecer la asociación entre un Índice de Calidad Antioxidante de la Dieta y la densidad mineral ósea en una muestra de mujeres sanas. Métodos: Un total de 280 mujeres participaron en el estudio. Las participantes fueron agrupadas por edad en tres categorías: edad ≤ 35 años; edad entre 36 y 45 años y con edad superior a 45 años. Las medidas de la densidad mineral ósea (g/cm²) del calcáneo fueron realizadas por absorciometría dual de rayos X. Los datos sobre los hábitos alimentarios de cada participante fueron recogidos mediante recordatorios de 24 horas. El Índice de Calidad Antioxidante de la Dieta se utilizó para calcular la ingesta total de nutrientes antioxidantes. Resultados: La ingesta de vitamina C y selenio está asociada significativamente a la densidad mineral ósea. En el grupo de mujeres de edad inferior, la ingesta de zinc está relacionada con la masa ósea. Los individuos cuyo Índice de Calidad Antioxidante de la Dieta es inferior o igual a la mediana (3,5) son considerados de bajo consumo antioxidante, y aquellos individuos cuyo Índice de Calidad Antioxidante de la Dieta es superior a 3,5 se consideran de alto consumo antioxidante. En todos los grupos estudiados, la densidad mineral ósea fue significativamente superior en los sujetos cuya dieta tiene un alto consumo de nutrientes antioxidantes. Conclusión: El trabajo muestra que existe una asociación entre la densidad mineral ósea y el Índice de Calidad Antioxidante de la Dieta en todos los grupos de mujeres estudiadas. Por lo tanto, basándose en los resultados de este estudio, se pueden desarrollar nuevas terapias para la osteoporosis basadas en una ingesta elevada de nutrientes antioxidantes.

El presente trabajo quiere determinar la incidencia de doce semanas de actividad física sobre la capacidad física y morfología de mujeres mayores de 60 años sin discapacidad de la comuna de Iquique, Chile. Antes y después del periodo de intervención se determinaron las características antropométricas y el estado de condición física de la muestra. Las variables antropométricas evaluadas fueron el peso, talla y perímetros de cintura y cadera. El índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) y de Cintura Cadera (ICC) fue determinado. Para la evaluación del estado de la condición física se empleó el test de dinamometría manual, de salto vertical con contramovimiento y de sentarse y levantarse para la evaluación del estado de la fuerza. El equilibrio se testó mediante el test de equilibrio monopodal con referencia visual y la flexibilidad, mediante el test de flexión anterior del tronco (sit and reach test). Los resultados obtenidos muestran un efecto positivo del programa de intervención sobre el rendimiento de todos los test físicos (p < 0,05). Los parámetros antropométricos mostraron una reducción en el índice cintura-cadera (p = 0,029) y del perímetro de cintura (p=0,014), sin que el resto de las variables analizadas mostraran cambios de interés. De entre las asociaciones observadas, el test de salto vertical mostró una correlación negativa con el test de equilibrio y con el test de de sentarse y levantarse tanto antes como después del tratamiento (R = -0,495; R = -0,699 en el PREtest y R = -0,373; R= -0,463 en el POST para la relación CMJ y Equilibrio y CMJ y Ln S-L test respectivamente, P < 0,05). Se puede concluir que un Programa de actividad física de 12 semanas de duración, mejora la capacidad física (equilibrio, fuerza de prensión manual, fuerza de piernas y flexibilidad anterior de tronco) y los parámetros antropométricos (índice cintura-cadera y perímetro de cintura), en mujeres sanas mayores de 60 años de la comuna de Iquique, Chile. This paper wants to determine the incidence of twelve weeks of physical activity on physical capacity and morphology of women over 60 yrs without disabilities in the district of Iquique, Chile. Before and after the intervention period was determined anthropometric characteristics and physical fitness status of the sample. Anthropometric variables were weight, height and waist and hip circumferences. The Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Hip was determined. To evaluate the status of the physical condition was used handgrip dynamometry test, countermovement vertical jump and get in and out. The balance was tested through the test of visual reference monopodal balance and flexibility through the test of trunk flexion (sit and reach test). Results show a positive effect of the intervention program on the performance of every physical test (p < 0.05). Anthropometric parameters showed a reduction in waist-hip ratio (p = 0.029) and waist circumference (p = 0.014), without rest of the variables analyzed showed changes of interest. Among the observed associations, vertical jump test showed a negative correlation with balance test and getting in and out test, both before and after treatment (R = -0.495, R = -0.699 in PREtest and R = -0.373, R = -0.463 at the POSTtest for the CMJ relation and balance and CMJ and Ln S-L test respectively, P < 0.05). In conclusion, a program of physical activity lasting 12 weeks, improves physical capacity (balance, grip strength, leg strength and flexibility) and anthropometric parameters (waist-hip ratio and waist circumference), in healthy women over 60yrs of the district of Iquique, Chile.

The objective of this study was to compare the usefulness of two methods to evaluate diet quality in young people in Southern Spain: a new Mediterranean Diet Pattern (MDP) and a modification of the Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) for the Mediterranean area. The study population was 3190 schoolchildren aged 8-15 yrs. The questionnaires used were first validated (Bland-Altman plot and Wilcoxon tests) in a randomized sample. The DQI gives a more detailed evaluation of food components, whereas the MDS gives global information on food groups but includes foods characteristically consumed in the Mediterranean region. Highly similar results were obtained using the MDP and the adapted DQI-I, which appear to be equally useful to evaluate diet quality in a Mediterranean population. The fact that we selected the same types of food for both indices may explain the similar overall evaluations. According to these results, both methods appear to be equally appropriate for evaluating diet quality in a Mediterranean population. El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar la utilidad de dos métodos para evaluar la calidad de la dieta de jóvenes en el sur de España: un nuevo patrón de dieta mediterránea (MDP) y una modificación de la dieta del índice de calidad-Internacional (ICD-I) para el área Mediterránea. La población de estudio fue 3.190 escolares de entre 8-15 años. Los cuestionarios utilizados fueron validados primero (gráfico de Bland-Altman y las pruebas de Wilcoxon) en una muestra tomada al azar. El ICD-I ofrece una evaluación más detallada de los componentes de los alimentos, mientras que el MDP proporciona información global sobre los grupos de alimentos, que incluye alimentos típicamente consumidos en la región mediterránea. Se obtuvieron resultados similares utilizándole MDP y la adaptación del ICD-I, que parecen ser igualmente útiles para evaluar la calidad de una dieta en una población mediterránea. El hecho de que se seleccionaron los mismos tipos de alimentos para ambos índices podría explicar la similitud de las evaluaciones globales. De acuerdo con estos resultados, ambos métodos parecen ser igualmente apropiado para evaluar la calidad de la dieta en una población mediterránea. This study was supported by the Health Department of Granada City Council, Spain, the Junta de Andalucia, Spain (Research Group AGR-255) and the University of Granada, Spain (Postdoctoral Grant).

The human concentrative nucleoside transporter-3 C602R (hCNT3C602R), a recently identified human concentrative nucleoside transporter-3 (hCNT3) variant, has been shown to interact with natural nucleosides with apparent K(m) values similar to those of the wild-type transporter, although binding of one of the two sodium ions required for nucleoside translocation is impaired, resulting in decreased V(max) values (Mol Pharmacol 73:379-386, 2008). We have further analyzed the properties of this hCNT3 variant by determining its localization in plasma membrane lipid domains and its interaction with nucleoside-derived drugs used in anticancer and antiviral therapies. When expressed heterologously in HeLa cells, wild-type hCNT3 localized to both lipid raft and nonlipid raft domains. Treatment of cells with the cholesterol-depleting agent methyl-beta-cyclodextrin resulted in a marked decrease in hCNT3-related transport activity that was associated with the loss of wild-type hCNT3 from lipid rafts. It is noteworthy that although exogenously expressed hCNT3C602R was present in nonlipid raft domains at a level similar to that of the wild-type transporter, the mutant transporter was present at much lower amounts in lipid rafts. A substrate profile analysis showed that interactions with a variety of nucleoside-derived drugs were altered in the hCNT3C602R variant and revealed that sugar hydroxyl residues are key structural determinants for substrate recognition by the hCNT3C602R variant.

The objective of this study was to compare the usefulness of two methods to evaluate diet quality in young people in Southern Spain: a new Mediterranean Diet Pattern (MDP) and a modification of the Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) for the Mediterranean area. The study population was 3190 schoolchildren aged 8-15 yrs. The questionnaires used were first validated (Bland-Altman plot and Wilcoxon tests) in a randomized sample. The DQI gives a more detailed evaluation of food components, whereas the MDS gives global information on food groups but includes foods characteristically consumed in the Mediterranean region. Highly similar results were obtained using the MDP and the adapted DQI-I, which appear to be equally useful to evaluate diet quality in a Mediterranean population. The fact that we selected the same types of food for both indices may explain the similar overall evaluations. According to these results, both methods appear to be equally appropriate for evaluating diet quality in a Mediterranean population., El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar la utilidad de dos métodos para evaluar la calidad de la dieta de jóvenes en el sur de España: un nuevo patrón de dieta mediterránea (MDP) y una modificación de la dieta del índice de calidad-Internacional (ICD-I) para el área Mediterránea. La población de estudio fue 3.190 escolares de entre 8-15 años. Los cuestionarios utilizados fueron validados primero (gráfico de Bland-Altman y las pruebas de Wilcoxon) en una muestra tomada al azar. El ICD-I ofrece una evaluación más detallada de los componentes de los alimentos, mientras que el MDP proporciona información global sobre los grupos de alimentos, que incluye alimentos típicamente consumidos en la región mediterránea. Se obtuvieron resultados similares utilizándole MDP y la adaptación del ICD-I, que parecen ser igualmente útiles para evaluar la calidad de una dieta en una población mediterránea. El hecho de que se seleccionaron los mismos tipos de alimentos para ambos índices podría explicar la similitud de las evaluaciones globales. De acuerdo con estos resultados, ambos métodos parecen ser igualmente apropiado para evaluar la calidad de la dieta en una población mediterránea., This study was supported by the Health Department of Granada City Council, Spain, the Junta de Andalucia, Spain (Research Group AGR-255) and the University of Granada, Spain (Postdoctoral Grant).

Nucleoside transporters are plasma membrane proteins essential for nucleoside salvage. Among them, human concentrative nucleoside transporter 3 (hCNT3, SLC28A3) plays an essential role in this process because of its broader substrate selectivity and higher concentrative ability than the other members of the SLC28 protein family, hCNT1 and hCNT2. The aim of this study was to characterize an isoform of hCNT3, encoded by an alternatively spliced SLC28A3-related mRNA, the first identified for a CNT protein. This variant, named hCNT3ins, is the result of the insertion of 176 bp corresponding to an intron located between exons 2 and 3 of the gene. This insertion results in a shift of the reading frame, yielding a protein lacking 69 residues of the N terminus. hCNT3 and hCNT3ins mRNAs are simultaneously expressed both in normal and transformed cells and are differentially regulated by activation and differentiation. Because of the N-terminal deletion, hCNT3ins is retained in the endoplasmic reticulum, where it shows a typical hCNT3-related activity. hCNT3ins exhibits a shorter half-life than its plasma membrane counterpart, being degraded via a proteasome-dependent pathway. We suggest that this novel hCNT3 isoform would be involved in the salvage of intracellular nucleosides from the lumen of the endoplasmic reticulum to the cytoplasm.

Concentrative nucleoside transporters (CNT; SLC28) and equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENT; SLC29) mediate the uptake of natural nucleosides and a variety of nucleoside-derived drugs, mostly used in anticancer therapy. SLC28 and SLC29 families consist in three and four members, respectively, which differ in their substrate selectivity and their energy requirements. Tissue distribution of these transporters is not homogeneous among tissues, and their expression can be regulated. In epithelia, CNT and ENT proteins are mostly localized in the apical and basolateral membranes, respectively, which results in nucleoside and nucleoside-derived drugs vectorial flux. Nucleoside transporters can play physiological roles other than salvages, such as the modulation of extracellular and intracellular adenosine concentrations. Moreover, these transporters also have clinical significance. ENT proteins are target of dipyridamole and dilazep, used as vasodilatory drugs in the treatment of heart and vascular diseases. On the other hand, nucleoside transporters are responsible for the cellular uptake of currently used anticancer nucleoside-derived drugs, thus these membrane proteins might play a significant role in nucleoside-based chemotherapy. Finally, several polymorphisms have been described in CNT and ENT proteins that could affect nucleoside homeostasis, adenosine signalling events or nucleoside-derived drug cytotoxicity or pharmacokinetics.

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) need to enter cells to act against the HIV-1. Human organic cation transporters (hOCT1-3) are expressed and active in CD4+ T cells, the main target of HIV-1, and have been associated with antiviral uptake in different tissues. In this study, we examined whether NRTIs interact and are substrates of hOCT in cells stably expressing these transporters. Using [(3)H]N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium, we found a high-affinity interaction among abacavir [[(1S,4R)-4-[2-amino-6-(cyclopropylamino)purin-9-yl]-cyclopent-2-enyl]methanol sulfate] (ABC)