Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is characterized by hepatic steatosis alongside metabolic comorbidities like type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), dyslipidaemia, overweight, or obesity. Liver damage could be prevented promoting consumption of fruits and vegetables, the main source of phenolic compounds. These molecules have been previously related with antioxidant and anti-obesity properties. Therefore, the objective of this study is to determine the antioxidant capacity and potential preventive activity of an autochthonous apple pulp extract, Amarilla de Octubre, and its main phenolic compound, procyanidin B2 (PB2), in an in vitro model of liver steatosis. Antioxidant activity was assessed by xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XO) system and nitric oxide scavenging production. Monoamine oxidase A (MAO-A) inhibition was also determined due to its implication in detoxification processes in liver. Human hepatocytes (HepG2 cell line) were selected to test their potential cytotoxicity, oxidative stress situations (ROS production) and the potential effect in lipid metabolism by overloading cells with oleic acid. Fat accumulation and gene expression related to lipid metabolism (PPARγ, CD36 and FAS) were also analysed by Oil Red O and qPCR respectively. PB2 showed promising results as an antioxidant compound in scavenging and enzymatic inhibition-related experiments. However, Amarilla de Octubre not only reduce fat accumulation, but also modulates the expression of PPARγ, CD36, and FAS and demonstrates slightly lower efficacy than PB2 in scavenging and enzymatic inhibition-related experiments. These results highlight the potential of apples to mitigate pathogenic conditions associated with metabolic disorders such as obesity, emphasizing the role of dietary polyphenols in this protective effect.
Surgical adhesives have emerged as a less invasive alternative than classical sutures, yet many suffer from poor adhesion, poor compatibility with skin, and lack of antibacterial properties. To address these limitations, we developed a new class of dual-functional hydrogels combining strong tissue adhesion with localized antimicrobial activity. These hydrogels were formulated by blending catechol-functionalized linear-dendritic block copolymers (LDBC(cat)8) with UV-crosslinkable acrylate-terminated analogues (LDBC(acr)4), resulting in soft and interpenetrated hybrid network that combines hydrophilic/hydrophobic interactions with covalent crosslinking. Among the various hydrogel formulations tested, the one containing 15% of LDBC(acr)4 and 85 % of LDBC(cat)4 exhibited optimal mechanical performance and superior adhesion to porcine skin while biocompatibility assessments and swelling assays confirmed its suitability for biomedical use. Furthermore, the incorporation of water-soluble antibiotics, i.e. amoxicillin and moxifloxacin, enabled the hydrogel to act as a localized delivery system, with the antibiotic-loaded variant demonstrating potent antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In vivo assays confirmed that these hydrogels could effectively close open wounds and that the presence of antibiotics did not alter such capability, positioning these biomimetic hydrogel platforms as promising candidates for next-generation surgical glues that not only seal tissue effectively but also combat infection.
The Fertility Problem Inventory (FPI) is widely used to assess infertility-related stress. Despite its international application, a validated Spanish version is not yet available. Our aim is to assess the psychometric properties, reliability and construct validity evidence of the scores of the FPI Spanish version in women undergoing fertility treatments. 199 Women (mean age = 35.14, SD = 3.86, range 23–45) provided sociodemographic, obstetrics and psychological data. Confirmatory Factor Analyses tested six models (unidimensional and multidimensional) based on the original FPI and previous FPI validations, identifying the optimal structure. Factor loadings, reliability and correlations with anxiety, depression and life satisfaction were also conducted. The original five-factor structure proposed by the original authors showed the best fit. However, items 24, 25 and 28 showed very low factor loadings. The final model with 43 items, removing those with poor factor loading, demonstrated an acceptable model fit (χ2/df = 2.040; CFI = 0.915; TLI = 0.910; RMSEA = 0.073; SRMR = 0.099) and strong internal consistency (α = 0.82–0.87; ω = 0.83–0.87). Higher fertility-related stress was associated with increased anxiety and depressive scores as well as lower life satisfaction. These findings provide initial support of the FPI as a useful tool for assessing infertility-related stress in Spanish women.
Introduction:Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major public health problem. Research over the past few years has shown that COPD is the result of dynamic and cumulative gene-environment interactions starting early in life. This opens new opportunities for the Prediction, Prevention, Personalized and Precise management (P4) of COPD in young adults. The P4COPD study sought to: (1) investigate the genomic and environmental/lifestyle determinants of COPD in young adults (18-50 years); (2) contrast them with those determined in children, adolescent and older individuals; and (3) explore the feasibility and cost of implementing a P4 strategy for COPD in young adults in clinical practice. Materials and methods:The P4COPD study leverages from already existing cohorts (EarlyCOPD, INMA, LEVANTE, Aduheart) of young subjects (18-50 years) and de novo recruitment from primary care centers, in whom we: (1) analyzed demographic, epidemiological, clinical and physiologic information; (2) measured genetic, epigenetic and proteomic markers; (3) used analytical methods to identify endotypes, biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets associated with the presence of COPD, pre-COPD and/or low peak lung function. Results in young individuals: (4) were contrasted with healthy controls from the general population (IMPACT cohort) and COPD cohorts in older patients (BIOMEPOC, CHAIN and ECLIPSE). Besides, we (5) explored how to implement results in clinical practice; and (6) estimated its potential health cost implications. Results:First results are expected in the third and fourth quarters of 2026. Conclusions:Identifying young individuals at risk of COPD, in whom to establish a P4 strategy is highly relevant to promote healthy aging.
