María Dolores del Castillo

Gemcitabine and Carboplatin for Patients With Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

The survival of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer remains poor. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy produces a modest benefit in survival compared with that observed with best supportive care. Gemcitabine (Gemzar; Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN), a novel nucleoside antimetabolite, is active and well tolerated. The combination of gemcitabine/cisplatin has shown a significant improvement in response rate and survival over cisplatin alone. Phase III trials comparing gemcitabine/cisplatin with older combinations such as cisplatin/etoposide or mitomycin/ifosfamide/cisplatin have shown a higher activity for gemcitabine/cisplatin; however, the best way to combine these drugs remains unclear. In addition, the 3-week schedule has obtained a higher dose intensity with less toxicity and similar efficacy as the 4-week schedule. The role of carboplatin in combination with new drugs is still under evaluation. Gemcitabine/carboplatin seems to be a good alternative, with the advantage of ambulatory administration and lower nonhematologic toxicity. The 4-week schedule has produced frequent grade 3/4 neutropenia and thrombocytopenia in some studies. The 3-week schedule, using gemcitabine on days 1 and 8 and carboplatin on day 1, is a convenient and well-tolerated regimen. The toxicity profile is acceptable without serious symptoms. This schedule could be considered a good option as a standard regimen. Semin Oncol 28 (suppl 10):4-9.

In vitro formation of Maillard reaction products during simulated digestion of meal-resembling systems

The aim of the present research was to study the formation of Maillard reaction products (MRPs) during digestive process of meal-resembling systems. An average meal (protein, starch and oil) and sugar-containing meals (protein and glucose or fructose or high fructose corn syrup (HCFS)) were tested. Intestinal simple amino acid systems were also analyzed to gain insight into their contribution to the Maillard reaction (MR). Decrease of lysine (11.7-34%), arginine (24-35%) and other amino acids occurred after digestion of the meals. Fructosamine (42.6±4.7 and 332.9±10.4μg/ml) and fluorescent adducts (22,270±119.6 and 9283±188.3 RFU) were detected in digests of those meals containing HCFS and starch, respectively. Carboxymethyllysine (CML) (5.03±1.09μg/ml) and MGO-derivative AGEs (12.2±1.5μg/ml) were found in the meals composed of fructose and only MGO-derivative AGEs (12.2±1.6μg/ml) in presence of glucose. Physiological intestinal concentrations (43mM) of sugars in simplified systems composed by single amino acids caused formation of MRPs under digestive conditions. Arginine and fructose (314mM) showed formation of fructosamine and different AGEs. Fructose (43mM) gave rise to CML by interaction with lysine, which was observed within 1h of incubation at intestinal conditions. These conditions are possible in the intestine during fructose malabsorption. The results suggest the importance of using meal systems for better understanding of complex chemical events taking place during digestion such as MR. This is the first study proposing the formation of non-fluorescent AGEs associated to the pathogenesis of diabetes during digestion of sugar containing and average meals. This formation may be possible in conditions where sugar absorption is delayed such as fructose malabsorption or intake of a fatty meal. The occurrence of the MR during the digestion process may reduce the bioavailability of essential amino acids and increase the production of MRPs causing health disorders.

Development of Sustainable Novel Foods and Beverages Based on Coffee By-Products for Chronic Diseases

Obesity and type 2 diabetes have reached epidemic proportions in the past few years. The market of functional foods has greatly increased for the reduction of risk of chronic diseases. Coffee is one of the most frequently consumed drinks worldwide and large amounts of coffee wastes need to be recycled in order to reduce its environmental impact. Coffee by-products contain appreciable amounts of bioactive nutrients exerting health promoting properties. Therefore, the valorization of coffee wastes represents a great opportunity for the sustainability of the coffee sector and the industry of functional beverages and foods for chronic diseases.

In vitro health promoting properties of antioxidant dietary fiber extracted from spent coffee ( Coffee arabica L.) grounds

Antioxidant dietary fiber extracted from spent coffee grounds (FSCG) was evaluated as a potential functional food ingredient when incorporated in a food model (biscuits), and digested in vitro under simulated human gastrointestinal conditions. FSCG added to biscuits increased its total dietary fiber, antioxidant capacity after in vitro digestion, bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds (gallic acid and catechin) and amino acids. Furthermore, advanced glycation end products (AGEs), involved in chronic diseases, decreased up to 6-folds in the biscuits containing FSCG when compared with the traditional biscuit. The digestible fraction of biscuits containing the highest amount of FSCG (5u202fg) displayed the higher inhibiting α-glucosidase activity, correlating with the bioaccessibility of ascorbic acid and catechin. Our study seems to indicate that anti-diabetic compounds may be released in the small intestine during FSCG digestion, where biscuits containing FSCG may be able to beneficially regulate sugar metabolism thereby helping in producing foods friendly for diabetes.

In Vitro Assessment of the Satiety Effect of Non-Added Sugar Biscuit Containing Stevia, Coffee Fibre and Fructooligosaccharides

This study assessed the in vitro effects of the bioaccessible food components released during the simulated human digestion of a coffee fibre-containing biscuit (CFB) on α-glucosidase activity, antioxidant capacity and satiety hormones. This biscuit presented a significantly (p < 0.05) lower glycaemic sugar content (60.6 mg/g) and a higher antioxidant capacity (15.1 mg chlorogenic acid/g) than a sucrose-containing biscuit (SCB). The CFB significantly reduced (p < 0.05) α-glucosidase activity (IC50 = 3.3 mg/ml) compared to the SCB (IC50 = 6.2 mg/ml). Serotonin and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) release by differentiated Caco-2 and HuTu-80 cells, respectively, were stimulated by the CFB (354.7 ± 42.7% and 277.9 ± 14.1%) to the same order of magnitude as those of the SCB. In conclusion, the CFB was demonstrated to reduce simple sugar bioaccessibility and to improve satiety.

Use of almond shell as food ingredient

Almond shell is a major waste from the almond processing industry. Its feasibility as natural source of health-promoting components was examined. The by-product was fractionated under basic conditions following an easy scale-up process. The chemical composition of the recovered fraction and its antioxidant and antidiabetic properties were evaluated. Novel information regarding the chemical composition of the polysaccharides was also obtained. Almond shell is formed by lignin-carbohydrate complexes possessing antioxidant properties and capacity to inhibit α-glucosidase. According to our knowledge, this is the first time α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of a lignin-carbohydrate complex is reported. Biscuits containing non-caloric sweetener soluble (2.5%) and insoluble (5.6%) dietary fiber, natural antioxidants (1.34xa0mg of gallic acid equivalents/g) and α-glucosidase inhibitors (1xa0g of biscuit–1xa0mg of acarbose) achieved a high sensorial score (7.2 out of 9) when almond shell was incorporated to them. The application of a fraction from almond shell containing lignin-polysaccharides complexes as food ingredient in biscuit formulations for people with particular nutritional requirements is feasible and new.

Usefulness of Dietary Components as Sustainable Nutraceuticals for Chronic Kidney Disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a global health concern because of its high incidence, prevalence and the healthcare burden cost associated with it. An extensive literature supports that phytochemicals and nutrients from edible plants, herbs, food and waste products generated during their processing represent a healthy, sustainable and safe strategy to produce functional foods and nutraceuticals. The addition of these functional foods and nutraceuticals to traditional medicine, a healthy diet enriched in fruits and vegetables with unprocessed foods and controlled levels of salts and sugars could be helpful strategies for people suffering CKD.