María José Muñoz Alférez

Influence of nutritional iron deficiency anemia on DNA stability and lipid peroxidation in rats

OBJECTIVE Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between the formation and neutralization of pro-oxidants. Disturbance of the pro-oxidant/antioxidant balance is also considered to be a causative factor underlying oxidative damage to cellular molecules, such as DNA, causing strand breaks. There is considerable controversy about the antioxidant status in iron-deficiency anemia (IDA), but scant information is available regarding DNA integrity. In the present study, we investigated the relation between DNA stability and hepatic antioxidant capacity in rats with induced IDA. METHODS Peripheral DNA damage was assessed using an alkaline comet assay. Further, the hepatic antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase and the production of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were measured in control rats and in those with induced IDA. RESULTS Comparison of the control and anemic rats showed no differences in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances production in the cytosolic fraction of hepatic cells. Nor were there any differences in liver glutathione peroxidase enzyme activity or DNA stability, as demonstrated by the percentage of DNA in the head (90.77 in control rats versus 88.23 in anemic rats), tail (9.23 in control rats versus 11.76 in anemic rats), and olive tail moment (0.155 in control rats versus 0.141 in anemic rats). CONCLUSION IDA does not affect DNA stability or lipid peroxidation in rats, suggesting that there is enough compensatory capacity to keep antioxidant defenses high.

Production and chemical composition of two dehydrated fermented dairy products based on cow or goat milk.

The aim of this study was to identify the differences between the main macro and micronutrients including proteins, fat, minerals and vitamins in cow and goat dehydrated fermented milks. Fermented goat milk had higher protein and lower ash content. All amino acids (except for Ala), were higher in fermented goat milk than in fermented cow milk. Except for the values of C11:0, C13:0, C16:0, C18:0, C20:5, C22:5 and the total quantity of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, all the other fatty acid studied were significantly different in both fermented milks. Ca, Mg, Zn, Fe, Cu and Se were higher in fermented goat milk. Fermented goat milk had lower amounts of folic acid, vitamin E and C, and higher values of vitamin A, D3, B6 and B12. The current study demonstrates the better nutritional characteristics of fermented goat milk, suggesting a potential role of this dairy product as a high nutritional value food.

Se bioavailability and glutathione peroxidase activity in iron deficient rats.

Little information is available on the relationship of Se deposit in target organs and GPx activity in iron deficiency anemia. As red blood cells (RBCs) play a crucial role on Se metabolism and during Fe deficiency anemia a lower count of RBCs is featured, we aimed to investigate the influence of this pathology on Se bioavailability and the relationship with antioxidant status. 20 male Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups, a control group receiving AIN-93G diet with normal Fe content (45mg/kg diet) and the Fe-deficient group receiving AIN-93G diet with low Fe content (5mg/kg diet) for 40 days. Both diets were prepared with an adequate Se content (0.180mg/kg diet). The digestive and metabolic utilization of Se, the distribution in target organ, the GPx activity and TBARS production were measured after receiving the diets. Se retention increased (P<0.001) in the anemic group, fact that contributes to keep the enzymatic antioxidant activity of GPx in normal levels and the tendency observed is that stored Se increased in the organs, especially in kidney (P<0.01), however, a lower Se deposit was found in sternum of anemic rats (P<0.001). The lower count of RBCs featured in this pathology (P<0.001) causes a decrease of Se concentration in sternum meanwhile the increase in kidney deposit is a consequence of the lower urinary losses (P<0.001).

Fermented Goat’s Milk Consumption Improves Duodenal Expression of Iron Homeostasis Genes during Anemia Recovery

Despite the crucial roles of duodenal cytochrome b (Dcytb), divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1), ferritin light chain (Ftl1), ferroportin 1 (FPN1), transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1), and hepcidin antimicrobial peptide (Hamp) in Fe metabolism, no studies have investigated the modulations of these genes during Fe repletion with fermented milks. Analysis included Fe status markers and gene and protein expression in enterocytes of control and anemic animals fed fermented milks. Fermented goats milk up-regulated enterocyte Dcytb, DMT1, FPN1, and Ftl1 and down-regulated TfR1 and Hamp gene expression in control and anemic animals. Anemia decreased Dcytb, DMT1, and Ftl1 in animals fed fermented cows milk and up-regulated TfR1 and Hamp expression. Fe overload down-regulated Dcytb and TfR1 in animals fed fermented cows milk and up-regulated DMT1 and FPN1 gene expression. Fermented goats milk increased expression of duodenal Dcytb, DMT1, and FPN1 and decreased Hamp and TfR1, improving Fe metabolism during anemia recovery.

Changes in Adiposity and Body Composition during Anemia Recovery with Goat or Cow Fermented Milks

To date, no studies are available about adipose tissue modifications during anemia recovery; therefore, the aim of this study is to provide detailed information about adipose tissue homeostasis during anemia recovery with fermented milks. Forty male Wistar rats were placed on a pre-experimental period of 40 days, divided in two groups (normal-Fe diet and Fe-deficient diet). Then rats were fed fermented goat or cow milk-based diets with normal-Fe content during 30 days. Ghrelin and adiponectin decreased in both groups of animals fed fermented goat milk, whereas leptin and NEFA increased. UCP-1 decreased in anemic rats fed either fermented milk, and irisin greatly increased in both groups of animals fed fermented goat milk. Fermented goat milk reduces adiposity, inducing leptin elevation and ghrelin reduction. Conversely, plasma adiponectin concentrations decreased in animals fed fermented goat milk, showing an inverse correlation with NEFA, an important marker of lipid mobilization, indicating increased lipolysis. Irisin up-regulation in animals fed fermented goat milk contributes to a favorable metabolic profile and the browning of adipose tissue during anemia recovery.

Effect of synergic dietary calcium enrichment and induced ferropenic anemia on antioxidant enzymes activity in rats

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine the synergism of dietary calcium enrichment (added to goats or cows milk) and induced nutritional ferropenic anemia on oxidative status. METHODS Control rats and rats with induced nutritional ferropenic anemia were fed for 14 d with diets containing normal (5000 mg/kg) or double (10 000 mg/kg) the recommended calcium content. Thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in plasma were measured, as were the activities of the antioxidant enzyme catalase, copper/zinc superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocyte cytosol. RESULTS Dietary calcium enrichment did not affect oxidative stress as assessed by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances; however, it significantly upregulated the activities of some antioxidant enzymes examined in the erythrocyte cytosol. In particular, adding calcium to standard or milk-based diets significantly increased glutathione peroxidase activity in control and anemic rats and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase activity in control rats. CONCLUSION The increased activities of glutathione peroxidase and copper/zinc superoxide dismutase induced by dietary calcium enrichment suggest that calcium supplementation may protect against oxidative stress even in nutritionally induced ferropenic anemia.

Influence of Goat Milk on Bone and Mineral Metabolism During Iron Deficiency Recovery

There is a growing body of evidence from animal research, epidemiologic, and clinical studies indicating an association between osteopenia and anemia. Iron (Fe) intake is directly correlated with mineral bone density, and iron deficiency diminishes the mineral bone content, the bone mass, and mechanical resistance. There is also an association of hemoglobin levels with the cortical bone mineralization and density. Several diseases characterized by low-hemoglobin levels or iron-deficiency anemia have been associated with an increased risk of bone loss or osteoporosis. In fact, pernicious anemia is directly correlated with increased risk of osteoporotic fractures. Iron deficiency diminishes bone matrix formation, reducing the amount of procollagen type I N-terminal propeptide released to the serum under these conditions. Bone resorption process increases in iron deficiency as shown by the increase of serum parathyroid hormone, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, and levels of degradation products from C-terminal telopeptides of type I collagen. In addition, mineralization process is also affected by iron deficiency, because calcium and phosphorus content in femur decreases markedly, due to the increase in parathyroid hormone and cortisol induced by iron deficiency. Osteoblast function and bone formation are strongly oxygen dependent. Hypoxic condition (a consequence from decreased oxygen delivery in iron-deficiency anemia) diminishes bone formation. The inhibitory effects of hypoxia are due to decreased osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. In addition, hypoxia stimulates osteoclast activity in favor of pathological resorption. In conclusion, iron-deficiency anemia has a significant impact upon bone, affecting bone mineralization, decreasing the matrix formation, and increasing bone resorption, therefore it is of great interest to assess bone status when there is iron-deficiency anemia. On the other hand, habitual goat milk consumption improves mineral metabolism and increases levels of the biomarker of bone formation N-terminal propeptides of type I procollagen and diminishes parathyroid hormone, which positively affects bone mineralization and turnover.

Goat Milk and Oxidative Stress During Iron-Deficiency Anemia Recovery

Abstract Oxidative stress results from an imbalance between the formation and neutralization of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and it is imposed on cells because of one or more of the following factors: an increase in oxidant generation, a decrease in antioxidant protection, or a failure to repair oxidative damage. There is controversy about the susceptibility of cells to lipid peroxidation in iron deficiency anemia (IDA)—some investigators have claimed there is no difference in lipid peroxidation among patients with IDA compared with controls, but others have reported that among patients with IDA oxidants are increased and antioxidants decreased, so the oxidative/antioxidative balance is shifted toward the oxidative side. This apparent discrepancy may be due to different concentrations of ROS and antioxidant enzymes in the tissues studied, the subjects of the study, the severity of the iron deficiency, and the methods used for the assessment of the oxidative stress. However, in humans, where the degree of iron deficiency is not very high, it is accepted that iron deficiency increases oxidative stress, a fact that can also be attributed to the repletion process with several sources of iron. Several authors have reported increased lipid peroxidation products in patients with iron-deficiency anemia, which may be attributed to overproduction of ROS and a deficiency of antioxidant defense. Decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in iron-deficiency anemia may be linked to increased oxidative stress, because it is well known that ROS inhibits SOD activity. On the other hand, goat milk has beneficial effects, reducing oxidative stress and protecting cell bioconstituents from free radicals. Caprine milk alters the activities of enzymes that improve the total antioxidative defense capacity of the organism, a fact that limits the oxidative damage to the main biomolecules (lipids, protein DNA, and prostaglandins).

ORIENTATION AND COLLABORATIVE/COOPERATIVE WORK OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY TEACHING TEAM OF THE FACULTY OF PHARMACY (UNIVERSITY OF GRANADA) FOR THE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT OF TEACHING. 8-YEAR TRAJECTORY

The multidisciplinary teaching team in the Faculty of Pharmacy, from his creation 8 years ago, participates in all the actions focused in the support and formation of the beginner professor and in the improvement of the teaching of the University of Granada. Nowadays, the teaching team is constituted by 7 experienced professors (with 20 years of experience in teaching, coordinating grade level curricula, tutorial action plans, teaching innovation projects and implementation and monitoring of quality assurance systems in undergraduate degrees) and 14 beginner professors of different departments with different professional categories teaching in three degrees of the faculty: “Pharmacy”, “Human Nutrition and Dietetic”, “Food Science and Technology”. In every academic course, new beginner professors are incorporated to the team. The methodology followed in the present work has focused on: Detection and analysis of the formative needs of the new professors, design and coordination of the training plan, design of training activities, academic execution and management of training, discussion and joint reflection among professors, evaluation of professor teaching method through satisfaction questionnaires. In addition, as for the training activities, every academic year, several activities of mentoring are performed (progress cycles, recorded classes and joint visualization). The training activities programmed during the 2016-17 academic year are: 1 Exchanges of teaching experiences between experienced and beginner professors. 2 Use of tools by the professors to advise students in their university education. 3 Workshops for web resources and e-learning platforms for university teaching. 4 Sessions for improve planning skills and development of autonomous student work activities. 5 Seminars about knowledge of University regulations. 6 Session about work of Internal Quality Guarantee Commissions of the in each degree of the Faculty of Pharmacy. 7 Workshops for prevention of occupational hazards. Exercises for postural corrections in professors. In conclusion, the creation and consolidation of a teaching team made up of experienced professors committed to the initial training of the new teaching staff, gives rise to a space for joint reflection, exchange of experiences to foster innovation, collaboration and mutual learning which contributes to the continuous improvement of teaching practice. Likewise, the teaching team provides a continuous support and advice during the first years of university teaching that facilitates the integration and labor insertion of teachers in the performance of professional activity and helps to optimize their teaching activity.

PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF AN APPLICATION TO IMPROVE THE TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESS

Information in its multiple forms (oral, textual, hypertextual, audio, video, iconic, multimedia ...) is the raw material of the current era. The development and evolution of our civilization is symbiotically linked to the Information and communications technology (ICT). Proposals for teaching and learning in the context of the knowledge society must integrate an educational system that target the thought operations, not only under the traditional logical thinking, but also within a model where thought operations can be expressed in complex active competences, in which abstract knowledge is mixed with the experiential, defined as technological thinking. Currently, the use of devices such as smartphones and tablets is widespread in the youth and the University community. This development reflects not only the growing penetration of these devices in the academic environment, but also that technological applications are increasingly commonly incorporated, which can be used for professors with academic purposes. Currently, there is software available that allows designing and developing applications for smartphones and tablets with academic content. In our case, we intend to design an academic app for Android and iOS systems, which can facilitate the study of various subjects through seamless student-professor communication. The subjects to which the app is addressed include complex physiological phenomena, cell exchange processes and inter-chamber interactions. The lack of time to deal with many contents and concepts is a major problem for professors when it comes to developing the subject, and they are overwhelmed by an enormous amount of information. In this context, the app can lead to a profound change in the subject teaching. This represents a huge challenge for professors, related to innovation, technology, science and education. Tablets, smartphones and applications will be increasingly present in everyday life including university classrooms. Therefore it is imperative that professors have a motivated attitude to the use of these tools and they should be specially trained in its use to develop appropriate educational activities. Knowing devices, products, resources for selection, content is essential to maximize the potential of technology in teaching.