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The main objective of this work is to determine whether social networks can be used to improve self-management skills in people with Intellectual or Developmental Disability (IDD) given the high rate of acceptance of such tools among them. The proposed methodology applies an employment-based intervention to evaluate whether social network services help improve self-management skills. A fit-for-purpose social networking service is built, and different evaluation mechanisms are applied to determine the degree to which users with IDD could use the tool without assistance. The working hypothesis is that in order to ensure the usability of the implemented tool, users (with and without IDD) should be involved throughout the whole software development cycle, following a co-design methodological approach. Results demonstrate that this methodological approach leads to high satisfaction and motivation rates. In terms of effectiveness and efficiency, results demonstrate that the tool is useful and usable for people with IDD. It can therefore be concluded that social network services built having users with IDD at its center will help improve their self-management skills. The main implication of this research is that when using social network services as a tool to support interventions, special attention should be paid to previously evaluating the usability and motivation rate as a measure of how autonomously the person with IDD can use the tool. Nevertheless, further research is needed to determine the impact that such tools can have on other types of intervention., El objetivo principal de este trabajo es determinar si las redes sociales pueden ser utilizadas para mejorar las habilidades de autogestión en personas con Discapacidad Intelectual o del Desarrollo (DDI) dado el alto índice de aceptación de este tipo de herramientas entre ellas. La metodología propuesta aplica una intervención basada en el empleo para evaluar si los servicios de redes sociales ayudan a mejorar las habilidades de autogestión. Se crea un servicio de red social adecuado para el propósito y se aplican diferentes mecanismos de evaluación para determinar el grado en que los usuarios con DDI podrían usar la herramienta sin ayuda. La hipótesis de trabajo es que para asegurar la usabilidad de la herramienta implementada, los usuarios (con y sin DDI) deben estar involucrados durante todo el ciclo de desarrollo del software, siguiendo un enfoque metodológico de codiseño. Los resultados demuestran que este enfoque metodológico conduce a altos índices de satisfacción y motivación. En términos de efectividad y eficiencia, los resultados demuestran que la herramienta es útil y usable para personas con DID. Por lo tanto, se puede concluir que los servicios de redes sociales construidos con usuarios con DDI en su centro ayudarán a mejorar sus habilidades de autogestión. La principal implicación de esta investigación es que a la hora de utilizar los servicios de redes sociales como herramienta de apoyo a las intervenciones, se debe prestar especial atención a evaluar previamente el índice de usabilidad y motivación como medida de la autonomía con la que la persona con DDI puede utilizar la herramienta. Sin embargo, se necesita más investigación para determinar el impacto que tales herramientas pueden tener en otros tipos de intervención. En términos de efectividad y eficiencia, los resultados demuestran que la herramienta es útil y usable para personas con DID. Por lo tanto, se puede concluir que los servicios de redes sociales construidos con usuarios con DDI en su centro ayudarán a mejorar sus habilidades de autogestión. La principal implicación de esta investigación es que a la hora de utilizar los servicios de redes sociales como herramienta de apoyo a las intervenciones, se debe prestar especial atención a evaluar previamente el índice de usabilidad y motivación como medida de la autonomía con la que la persona con DDI puede utilizar la herramienta. Sin embargo, se necesita más investigación para determinar el impacto que tales herramientas pueden tener en otros tipos de intervención. En términos de efectividad y eficiencia, los resultados demuestran que la herramienta es útil y usable para personas con DID. Por lo tanto, se puede concluir que los servicios de redes sociales construidos con usuarios con DDI en su centro ayudarán a mejorar sus habilidades de autogestión. La principal implicación de esta investigación es que a la hora de utilizar los servicios de redes sociales como herramienta de apoyo a las intervenciones, se debe prestar especial atención a evaluar previamente el índice de usabilidad y motivación como medida de la autonomía con la que la persona con DDI puede utilizar la herramienta. Sin embargo, se necesita más investigación para determinar el impacto que tales herramientas pueden tener en otros tipos de intervención. Por lo tanto, se puede concluir que los servicios de redes sociales construidos con usuarios con DDI en su centro ayudarán a mejorar sus habilidades de autogestión. La principal implicación de esta investigación es que a la hora de utilizar los servicios de redes sociales como herramienta de apoyo a las intervenciones, se debe prestar especial atención a evaluar previamente el índice de usabilidad y motivación como medida de la autonomía con la que la persona con DDI puede utilizar la herramienta. Sin embargo, se necesita más investigación para determinar el impacto que tales herramientas pueden tener en otros tipos de intervención. Por lo tanto, se puede concluir que los servicios de redes sociales construidos con usuarios con DDI en su centro ayudarán a mejorar sus habilidades de autogestión. La principal implicación de esta investigación es que a la hora de utilizar los servicios de redes sociales como herramienta de apoyo a las intervenciones, se debe prestar especial atención a evaluar previamente el índice de usabilidad y motivación como medida de la autonomía con la que la persona con DDI puede utilizar la herramienta. Sin embargo, se necesita más investigación para determinar el impacto que tales herramientas pueden tener en otros tipos de intervención. se debe prestar especial atención a evaluar previamente el índice de usabilidad y motivación como medida de la autonomía con la que la persona con DDI puede utilizar la herramienta. Sin embargo, se necesita más investigación para determinar el impacto que tales herramientas pueden tener en otros tipos de intervención. se debe prestar especial atención a evaluar previamente el índice de usabilidad y motivación como medida de la autonomía con la que la persona con DDI puede utilizar la herramienta. Sin embargo, se necesita más investigación para determinar el impacto que tales herramientas pueden tener en otros tipos de intervención.

One challenge of any smart city is the management of crowded events (concerts, protests, marathons, etc.). For civil servants in charge of management, in-advance attendance prevision, real-time situational awareness and its evolution forecasting are crucial to resource assignment. These massive events put under stress public resources, organization and safety of smart cities. In this paper, we describe an ongoing effort to model urban layout, sensors deployed, and citizen information (from social networks and smartphone application) to deal with these situations. We use the concept of a digital twin applied to a city by modelling different flows of information which are integrated with a 3D virtual representation with forecasting possibilities. The main contribution of this paper is the architecture proposed and GUI using the augmented virtuality concept. The main purpose of our proposal is to facilitate the knowledge of the situation and the management of this type of event., Uno de los retos de cualquier ciudad inteligente es la gestión de eventos multitudinarios (conciertos, protestas, maratones, etc.). Para los funcionarios encargados de la gestión, la previsión de asistencia con antelación, el conocimiento de la situación en tiempo real y la previsión de su evolución son cruciales para la asignación de recursos. Estos eventos masivos ponen en tensión los recursos públicos, la organización y la seguridad de las ciudades inteligentes. En este artículo, describimos un esfuerzo en curso para modelar el trazado urbano, los sensores desplegados y la información de los ciudadanos (procedente de las redes sociales y de las aplicaciones de los teléfonos inteligentes) para hacer frente a estas situaciones. Utilizamos el concepto de gemelo digital aplicado a una ciudad mediante la modelización de diferentes flujos de información que se integran con una representación virtual en 3D con posibilidades de previsión. La principal aportación de este trabajo es la arquitectura propuesta y la interfaz gráfica de usuario que utiliza el concepto de virtualidad aumentada. El objetivo principal de nuestra propuesta es facilitar el conocimiento de la situación y la gestión de este tipo de eventos.

Introduction Antibiotics are over-used in healthcare, but little is known regarding their effects on cortisol levels in healthy individuals. Furthermore, antibiotics influence the gut microbiome, but the interrelationships between these drugs, cortisol and the microbiome are unknown. Here, we exposed the gut microbiome of rats to a multi-drug antibiotic cocktail and examined effects on circulating cortisol and inflammatory biomarker levels. Methods Male and female (M,F) Sprague-Dawley rats (aged 8 weeks) were housed with phytoestrogen-free bedding, and received a phytoestrogen-free diet with water from glass bottles. Exposed rats received vancomycin (0.5g/L), ampicillin (1g/L), neomycin (1g/L), and metronidazole (1g/L) in their water for 8 days, then returned to normal water for another 13 days. Control rats received normal water throughout the study. Stool and serum samples were collected before starting antibiotics (Abx) (baseline), on day 8 of Abx (AbxD8), and at 13 days post-Abx (PAbxD13). Circulating levels of cortisol and a panel of 12 inflammatory biomarkers were analyzed using MILLIPLEX Hormone Panels and RECYTMAG-65K multiplex panels, respectively. Stool DNA was extracted and 16S V3/V4 libraries were sequenced on an Illumina MiSeq. Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) clustering and taxonomic analyses were performed using CLC Microbial Genomics Module v.2.5 (Qiagen). Results A total of 31 rats (M=16, F=15) received Abx and 17 (M=9, F=8) were controls. At baseline, mean cortisol levels were similar between groups (control=34. 08±10.21ng/mL, exposed=35. 05±9.72ng/mL, P=0.96). On AbxD8, cortisol levels decreased in the exposed group relative to controls (control=29.77±9.34ng/mL, exposed=17.35±8.21ng/mL, P Conclusions Antibiotic exposure results in significant decreases in levels of cortisol as well as inflammatory biomarkers that are associated with perturbations of the gut microbiome, the majority of which returned to baseline following a 13-day antibiotic recovery period. These interrealtionships between cortisol, the gut microbiome and inflammatory biomarkers may have clinical significance. Presentation: Saturday, June 11, 2022 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Background Most gut microbiome studies have been performed using stool samples. However, the small intestine is of central importance to digestion, nutrient absorption, and immune function, and characterizing its microbial populations is essential for elucidating their roles in human health and disease. Aims To characterize the microbial populations of different small intestinal segments and contrast these to the stool microbiome. Methods Male and female subjects undergoing esophagogastroduodenoscopy without colon preparation were prospectively recruited. Luminal aspirates were obtained from the duodenum, jejunum, and farthest distance reached. A subset also provided stool samples. 16S rRNA sequencing was performed and analyses were carried out using CLC Genomics Workbench. Results 16S rRNA sequencing identified differences in more than 2000 operational taxonomic units between the small intestinal and stool microbiomes. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were the most abundant phyla in the small intestine, and Bacteroidetes were less abundant. In the small intestine, phylum Firmicutes was primarily represented by lactic acid bacteria, including families Streptococcaceae, Lactobacillaceae, and Carnobacteriaceae, and Proteobacteria was represented by families Neisseriaceae, Pasteurellaceae, and Enterobacteriaceae. The duodenal and FD microbial signatures were markedly different from each other, but there were overlaps between duodenal and jejunal and between jejunal and FD microbial signatures. In stool, Firmicutes were represented by families Ruminococcaceae, Lachnospiraceae, Christensenellaceae, and Proteobacteria by class Deltaproteobacteria. Conclusions The small bowel microbiome is markedly different from that in stool and also varies between segments. These findings may be important in determining how compositional changes in small intestinal microbiota contribute to human disease states. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1007/s10620-020-06173-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) per se or its separated components in HIV-infected patients contributes to an accelerated aging and increased cardiovascular risk. Gut microbiota (GM) dysbiosis has been linked with chronic inflammation associated with MS in a general non-infected population. However, no studies concerning GM have been performed in HIV-infected patients with MS. The aim of this study was to analyze bacterial translocation, inflammation, and GM composition in HIV-infected patients with and without MS. A total of 51 HIV-infected patients were recruited and classified according to the presence of MS (40 patients without MS and 11 with MS). Markers of bacterial translocation, inflammation, and cardiovascular risk were measured and GM was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene deep sequencing. No differences were observed among both HIV-infected groups in the bacterial translocation markers LBP and sCD14. A tendency to increase the inflammatory markers IL-6 (p = 0.069) and MCP-1 (p = 0.067) was observed in those patients suffering from MS. An increase in the cardiovascular risk markers PAI-1 (p = 0.007) and triglycerides/HDL cholesterol ratio (p

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use is extremely common. PPIs have been suggested to affect the gut microbiome, and increase risks of Clostridium difficile infection and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). However, existing data are based on stool analyses and PPIs act on the foregut. To compare the duodenal and stool microbiomes in PPI and non-PPI users. Consecutive subjects presenting for upper endoscopy without colonoscopy were recruited. Current antibiotic users were excluded. Subjects taking PPI were age- and gender-matched 1:2 to non-PPI controls. Subjects completed medical history questionnaires, and duodenal aspirates were collected using a validated protected catheter. A subset also provided stool samples. Duodenal and stool microbiomes were analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing. The duodenal microbiome exhibited no phylum-level differences between PPI (N = 59) and non-PPI subjects (N = 118), but demonstrated significantly higher relative abundances of families Campylobacteraceae (3.13-fold, FDR P value 103 CFU/ml) or 16S sequencing, nor between subjects taking different PPIs. The stool microbiome exhibited significantly higher abundance of family Streptococcaceae (2.14-fold, P = 0.003), and lower Clostridiaceae (2.60-fold, FDR P value = 8.61E-13), in PPI (N = 22) versus non-PPI (N = 47) subjects. These findings suggest that PPI use is not associated with higher rates of SIBO. Relative abundance of Clostridiaceae was reduced in both the duodenal and stool microbiomes, and Streptococcaceae was increased in stool. The clinical implications of these findings are unknown.

ObjectivesTo compare the appendiceal microbiomes and examine the prevalence ofCampylobacterspecies in the appendices of adult subjects with confirmed acute non-perforated appendicitis and controls with healthy appendices.DesignArchived samples of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded appendiceal tissues were obtained from 50 consecutive female subjects who underwent appendectomy for acute, non-perforated appendicitis, and 35 consecutive female controls who underwent incidental appendectomy during gynaecological surgery.Results16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the relative abundances (RAs) of the major phyla in appendiceal tissues (Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria) were similar in both groups. Beta diversity was significantly different due to differences in Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria (p0.05) were increased in acute appendicitis samples. RAs of unknown genera from families Burkholderiaceae and Enterobacteriaceae were decreased in appendicitis samples, and 14 genera were increased, includingNeisseria,AcinetobacterandCampylobacter. Quantitative PCR revealed that levels ofCampylobacterjejuniDNA, but not otherCampylobacterspecies or pathogens tested, were significantly higher in appendicitis samples than in controls (p=0.013). Using a cut-off of 0.31 pg/µL, 40% of appendicitis cases and 6% of controls were positive forC. jejuni, indicating specificity of 93.7% (95% Cl 79.2 to 99.2), sensitivity of 40.9% (95% Cl 24.7 to 54.5), and OR of 10.38 (Fisher’s p value=0.0006, 95% Cl 2.3 to 47.4).ConclusionsOur findings indicate thatCampylobacter jejunimay be a significant cause of acute appendicitis. This supports earlier studies and suggests that targeted antibiotic therapies could be an alternative treatment for a subset of non-complicated acute appendicitis cases.

Antimicrobial-resistant and novel pathogens continue to emerge, outpacing efforts to contain and treat them. Therefore, there is a crucial need for safe and effective therapies. Ultraviolet-A (UVA) phototherapy is FDA-approved for several dermatological diseases but not for internal applications. We investigated UVA effects on human cells in vitro, mouse colonic tissue in vivo, and UVA efficacy against bacteria, yeast, coxsackievirus group B and coronavirus-229E. Several pathogens and virally transfected human cells were exposed to a series of specific UVA exposure regimens. HeLa, alveolar and primary human tracheal epithelial cell viability was assessed after UVA exposure, and 8-Oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine was measured as an oxidative DNA damage marker. Furthermore, wild-type mice were exposed to intracolonic UVA as an in vivo model to assess safety of internal UVA exposure. Controlled UVA exposure yielded significant reductions in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Clostridioides difficile, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Proteus mirabilis and Candida albicans. UVA-treated coxsackievirus-transfected HeLa cells exhibited significantly increased cell survival compared to controls. UVA-treated coronavirus-229E-transfected tracheal cells exhibited significant coronavirus spike protein reduction, increased mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein and decreased coronavirus-229E-induced cell death. Specific controlled UVA exposure had no significant effect on growth or 8-Oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine levels in three types of human cells. Single or repeated in vivo intraluminal UVA exposure produced no discernible endoscopic, histologic or dysplastic changes in mice. These findings suggest that, under specific conditions, UVA reduces various pathogens including coronavirus-229E, and may provide a safe and effective treatment for infectious diseases of internal viscera. Clinical studies are warranted to further elucidate the safety and efficacy of UVA in humans.

Objectives To compare the appendiceal microbiomes and examine the prevalence of Campylobacter species in the appendices of adult subjects with confirmed acute non-perforated appendicitis and controls with healthy appendices. Design Archived samples of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded appendiceal tissues were obtained from 50 consecutive female subjects who underwent appendectomy for acute, non-perforated appendicitis, and 35 consecutive female controls who underwent incidental appendectomy during gynaecological surgery. Results 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the relative abundances (RAs) of the major phyla in appendiceal tissues (Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria) were similar in both groups. Beta diversity was significantly different due to differences in Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria (p0.05) were increased in acute appendicitis samples. RAs of unknown genera from families Burkholderiaceae and Enterobacteriaceae were decreased in appendicitis samples, and 14 genera were increased, including Neisseria, Acinetobacter and Campylobacter. Quantitative PCR revealed that levels of Campylobacter jejuni DNA, but not other Campylobacter species or pathogens tested, were significantly higher in appendicitis samples than in controls (p=0.013). Using a cut-off of 0.31 pg/µL, 40% of appendicitis cases and 6% of controls were positive for C. jejuni, indicating specificity of 93.7% (95% Cl 79.2 to 99.2), sensitivity of 40.9% (95% Cl 24.7 to 54.5), and OR of 10.38 (Fisher’s p value=0.0006, 95% Cl 2.3 to 47.4). Conclusions Our findings indicate that Campylobacter jejuni may be a significant cause of acute appendicitis. This supports earlier studies and suggests that targeted antibiotic therapies could be an alternative treatment for a subset of non-complicated acute appendicitis cases.

Liver damage is associated with gut dysbiosis. New direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs) are able to eradicate hepatitis C virus (HCV) from the body. However, the short and medium-term effects of DAAs at gut level before advanced liver damage occurs have not been evaluated yet. Thus, we investigated the impact of HCV and DAAs on gut microbiota composition (GM) and systemic inflammation. To achieve this objective, twenty-three non HCV-infected controls and 22 HCV-infected patients were recruited. Only non-cirrhotic patients (fibrosis stage 0–3) were included to avoid the direct impact of cirrhosis and portal hypertension on gut. The HCV-groups were evaluated before the treatment, after completing DAAs treatment and after 3 months. Fecal bacterial 16S rDNA was ultrasequenced and several biochemical/metabolic/inflammatory parameters were quantified. HCV infection was accompanied by a significant increase in TNFα plasma levels. DAAs were able to reduce this increase, especially in lower fibrosis grades. HCV infection was not accompanied by dramatic changes in α-diversity and was not recovered after HCV negativization, although a complete restoration was observed in lower fibrosis degrees. Six phyla, 15 genera and 9 bacterial species resulted differentially abundant among the groups. These differences were almost blunted with lower fibrosis. In summary, neither the usage of DAAs nor 3 months in sustained viral response were able to counteract the changes induced by HCV at gut level. The partial restoration observed in inflammation and α-diversity was only observed in low fibrosis degrees. Thus, it is urgent to begin treatment with DAAs as soon as possible.

This chapter summarizes the main alterations occurring in microbiota in HIV-infected subjects. HIV infection has been associated with reduced bacterial diversity, and with a characteristic microbial profile. The resilience mechanisms are not able to restore gut microbiota composition, and persist despite antiretroviral therapy (ART). Different ART regimens are associated with diverse profiles in gut microbiota, and not all of them are able to restore the HIV-associated dysbiosis. Changes in virome may have important implications in HIV/AIDS disease. As specific bacteria/viruses or microbiota-produced metabolites are differentially present in HIV-infected patients, they could be used as diagnostic and/or prognostic indicators of disease. Such biomarkers could also constitute reliable targets to develop different strategies to improve health. Thus probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantations have emerged to promote structural and functional integrity in gut. Although the vast majority of the outcomes are positive, they are not conclusive, opening the door to future work.

Rationale: Despite toxicity and unpredictable adverse effects, ecstasy use has increased in the United States. Onset of hyperpyrexia, rhabdomyolysis, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), among other symptoms, occurs within hours of ingestion. Moreover, patients who experience hyperpyrexia, altered mental status, DIC, and multiorgan failure, rarely survive. This case presents a chronic ecstasy user whose symptoms would have predicted mortality. The report demonstrates a patient who experiences protracted hyperthermia, with delayed rhabdomyolysis and DIC. In addition, his peak creatine kinase (CK) of 409,440 U/L was far greater than the expected 30,000 to 100,000 U/L, being the second largest CK recorded in a survivor. Patient concerns: This case report presents a 20-year-old man who presented to the emergency department after experiencing a severe reaction to ecstasy. He was a chronic user who took his baseline dosage while performing at a music event. He experienced hyperpyrexia immediately (106.5°F) while becoming stiff and unresponsive. Before emergency medical service arrival, his friends placed cold compresses on the patient and rested him in an ice filled bathtub. Diagnoses: Per history from patient's friends and toxicology results, the patient was diagnosed with ecstasy overdose, which evolved to include protracted hyperthermia and delayed rhabdomyolysis. Interventions: Due to a Glasgow coma scale score of 5, he was intubated and sedated with a propofol maintenance. Hyperpyrexia resolved (temperature dropped to 99.1°F) after start of propofol maintenance. He was extubated after 24 hours, upon which he experienced hyperthermia (101.4°F at 48 hours), delayed rhabdomyolysis, and DIC (onset at 37 hours). He remained in hyperthermia for 120 hours until carvedilol permanently returned his temperature to baseline. His plasma CK reached a peak of 409,440 U/L at 35 hours. Outcomes: After primary management with intravenous fluids, the patient returned to baseline health without any consequences and was discharged after 8 days. A follow-up of 3 months postdischarge revealed no complications or disability. Lessons: Clinically, the case highlights how physicians should be aware of the unusual time course adverse effects of ecstasy can have. Lastly, as intensity and duration of hyperpyrexia are predictors of mortality, our case indicates maintenance of sedation with propofol and use of oral carvedilol; both are efficacious for temperature reduction in ecstasy toxicity.

Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is highly prevalent and is associated with numerous gastrointestinal disorders, but the microbes involved remain poorly defined. Moreover, existing studies of microbiome alterations in SIBO have utilized stool samples, which are not representative of the entire gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, we aimed to determine and compare the duodenal microbiome composition in SIBO and non-SIBO subjects, using duodenal aspirates from subjects undergoing standard-of-care esophagogastroduodenoscopy without colon preparation. Using the recently-redefined cutoff for SIBO of >103 colony forming units per milliliter (CFU/mL), 42 SIBO and 98 non-SIBO subjects were identified. Duodenal samples from SIBO subjects had 4x103-fold higher counts than non-SIBO subjects when plated on MacConkey agar (P103 CFU/mL cutoff for the definition of SIBO, and also reveal specific overgrowth of Proteobacteria in SIBO vs. non-SIBO subjects, coupled with an altered Proteobacterial profile that correlates with symptom severity. Future research may elucidate host-microbiome interactions underlying these symptoms in SIBO patients.

Phenolic compounds are among the most investigated herbal remedies, as is especially the case for resveratrol. Many reports have shown its anti-aging properties and the ability to reduce obesity and diabetes induced by high-fat diet in mice. However, such beneficial effects hardly translate from animal models to humans. The scientific community has therefore tested whether other plant phenolic compounds may surpass the effects of resveratrol. In this regard, it has been reported that piceatannol reproduces in rodents the anti-obesity actions of its parent polyphenol. However, the capacity of piceatannol to inhibit adipocyte differentiation in humans has not been characterized so far. Here, we investigated whether piceatannol was antiadipogenic and antilipogenic in human preadipocytes. Human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSC), isolated from adipose tissues of lean and obese individuals, were differentiated into mature adipocytes with or without piceatannol, and their functions were explored. Fifty mu M of piceatannol deeply limited synthesis/accumulation of lipids in both murine and hMSC-derived adipocytes. Interestingly, this phenomenon occurred irrespective of being added at the earlier or later stages of adipocyte differentiation. Moreover, piceatannol lowered glucose transport into adipocytes and decreased the expression of key elements of the lipogenic pathway (PPAR gamma, FAS, and GLUT4). Thus, the confirmation of the antiadipogenic properties of piceatanol in vitro warrants the realization of clinical studies for the application of this compound in the treatment of the metabolic complications associated with obesity. This project has been partially supported by grants from Interreg POCTEFA, European Union, via Refbio-the Pyrenees Biomedical Network, also by the project PI17/02268 (Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Madrid, Spain) and by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) funds: "Una manera de hacer Europa".

Obesity is a global epidemic characterized not only by excessive fat deposition but also by important complications such as nonalcoholic liver steatosis. Beneficial antiobesogenic effects have been described for some mushrooms. The current study aimed to demonstrate the protective effect of Agaricus bisporus (AB) supplementation against the metabolic alterations induced by high-fat-diet (HFD) feeding. Eight-week-old C57BL/6J mice were fed for 10 weeks with one of the following diets: (1) control diet (n = 7), (2) HFD (n = 7), (3) HFD supplemented with 5% AB (n = 9), and (4) HFD supplemented with 10% AB (n = 9). A pair-fed group was also included for the 10% AB group (n = 6). The impact of AB supplementation on food intake, body weight gain, and liver and fat pad weights was examined. Biochemical, histological, and molecular parameters were also analyzed. Dietary supplementation with 10% AB reduced the HFD-induced increase in body, epididymal, and mesenteric fat weights (p

The link between intestinal inflammation, microbiota, and colorectal cancer (CRC) is intriguing and the potential underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Here we evaluate the influence of adrenomedullin (AM) in microbiota composition and its impact on colitis with an inducible knockout (KO) mouse model for AM. Microbiota composition was analyzed in KO and wild type (WT) mice by pyrosequencing. Colitis was induced in mice by administration of azoxymethane (AOM) followed by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) in the drinking water. Colitis was evaluated using a clinical symptoms index, histopathological analyses, and qRT-PCR. Abrogation of the adm gene in the whole body was confirmed by PCR and qRT-PCR. KO mice exhibit significant changes in colonic microbiota: higher proportion of δ-Proteobacteria class; of Coriobacteriales order; and of other families and genera was observed in KO feces. Meanwhile these mice had a lower proportion of beneficial bacteria, such as Lactobacillus gasseri and Bifidobacterium choerinum. TLR4 gene expression was higher (p