'Adipaging': Aging and obesity share biological hallmarks related to a dysfunctional adipose tissue

The increasing aging of our societies is accompanied by a pandemic of obesity and related cardiometabolic disorders. Progressive dysfunction of the white adipose tissue is increasingly recognized as an important hallmark of the aging process which in turn contributes to metabolic alterations, multi-organ damage, and a systemic pro-inflammatory state ('inflammaging'). On the other hand, obesity, the paradigm of adipose tissue dysfunction, shares numerous biological similarities with the normal aging process such as chronic inflammation and multi-system alterations. Accordingly, understanding the interplay between accelerated aging related to obesity and adipose tissue dysfunction is critical to gain insight into the aging process in general as well as into the pathophysiology of obesity and other related conditions. Here we postulate the concept of 'adipaging' to illustrate the common links between aging and obesity and the fact that, to a great extent, obese adults are prematurely aged individuals.

Biological rationale for regular physical exercise as an effective intervention for the prevention and treatment of depressive disorders

Depression is a major medical and social problem. Here we review current body of knowledge on the benefits of exercise as an effective strategy for both the prevention and treatment of this condition. We also analyze the biological pathways involved in such potential benefits, which include changes in neurotrophic factors, oxidative stress and inflammation, telomere length, brain volume and microvessels, neurotransmitters or hormones. We also identify major caveats in this field of research: further studies are needed to identify which are the most appropriate types of exercise interventions (intensity, duration, or frequency) to treat and prevent depression.

IPSCs, a promising tool to restore muscle atrophy

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a promising tool for regenerative medicine in chronic conditions associated with muscle atrophy since iPSCs are easier to obtain, pose less ethical limitations and can better capture human genetic diversity compared with human embryonic stem cells. We highlight the potentiality of iPSCs for treating muscle-affecting conditions for which no effective cure is yet available, notably aging sarcopenia and inherited neurometabolic conditions

Mental health and human rights in forensic psychiatry in the European Union

One of the most important events which characterizes the process of transitioning to the European Union is the ratification of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms by the European Council in 1950. Since then, the topic of human rights has become the inspiring principle in the construction of the European Community and afterwards the institutional apparatus which constitutes the Union. The primary objective of the European Union States currently is to promote a harmonization of the national legislations on mental health, favoring a central health policy which reduces inequalities amongst the member States. For this reason Europe is a region of the world in which is more abundant the normative one about mental health, especially in form of Recommendations directed to the States by the Council of Europe, although norms of direct application also exist. Special interest has the sentences dictated by the European Court of Human Rights and the conclusions of the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment. It should be mentioned the work of European Union equally and of the Office for Europe of the World Organization of the Health. This group of juridical instruments configures the most complete regulation on the mental patient's rights.

Ernesto N. Rogers y la preesistenza ambientale en las Escuelas Nacionales de Arte de La Habana

La influencia de Ernesto Nathan Rogers fue decisiva en la formación de gran parte de los arquitectos de la posguerra europea. A través de los numerosos libros' y escritos que publicó, entre los que destacan sus editoriales de la revista Casabella, que dirigió entre 1953 y 1965, desarrolló un corpus teórico en el que intentó establecer un puente entre la modernidad y la tradición. El pensamiento de Rogers quedó esbozado en el primer editorial que escribió para la revista Casabella a la que añadió el famoso término Continuitá. Las enseñanzas de Rogers calaron profundamente en tres jóvenes arquitectos que se formaron bajo el influjo de sus teorías: dos de ellos italianos, Vittorio Garatti y Roberto Gottardi, y otro cubano, Ricardo Porro. Durante sus años de formación, los tres entraron en contacto con la figura de Rogers. Garatti lo tuvo como profesor en el Politécnico de Milán. Gottardi fue el que más contacto tuvo, trabajando en su oficina entre 1956 y 1957, antes de su partida hacia Venezuela. Y Porro, de forma más efímera, a través de un curso de verano del CIAM en el año 1951 que se desarrolló en Venecia, en el que Rogers participó. Las Escuelas Nacionales de Arte de La Habana fueron sin lugar a dudas un laboratorio experimental donde estos tres jóvenes arquitectos idealistas pusieron en práctica una nueva forma de entender la arquitectura, que en ese momento se estaba gestando, a partir de una mirada crítica hacia el Movimiento Moderno. Pero este proyecto no se hubiese llevado a cabo con éxito sin las enseñanzas recogidas de uno de sus maestros, Ernesto Nathan Rogers, y que se podrían resumir en siguientes aspectos primordiales: el valor que para Rogers tenia la tradición en la arquitectura, tradición que los tres arquitectos recogerán claramente en La Habana; en la valoración de las preexistencias ambientales; en la continuidad que debía tener la nueva arquitectura con los ideales de los maestros del Movimiento Moderno; y, por último, la responsabilidad del intelectual y del artista en el contexto de la sociedad.

Desarrollo de un método integrado para el aprendizaje creativo de la bioética en el grado de biotecnología

El objetivo del proyecto es convertir un caso clínico parte del programa de prácticas de la asignatura de Aspectos legales y sociales de la biotecnología en un cuento. A través del método storytelling los alumnos analizan el caso clínico y representan el conflicto desde una perspectiva narrativa con el fin de encontrar una solución del conflicto.

Implications of obesity in exceptional longevity

Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (PI15/00558)

Muscle-related polymorphisms (MSTN rs1805086 and ACTN3 rs1815739) are not associated with exceptional longevity in Japanese centenarians

Myostatin (MSTN) and α-actinin-3 (ACTN3) genes are potentially associated with preservation of muscle mass and oxidative capacity, respectively. To explore the possible role of these genes in exceptional longevity (EL), the allele/genotype frequency distribution of two polymorphisms in MSTN (rs1805086, K153R) and ACTN3 (rs1815739, R577X) was studied in Japanese centenarians of both sexes (n = 742) and healthy controls (n = 814). The rs1805086 R-allele (theoretically associated with muscle mass preservation at the expense of oxidative capacity) was virtually absent in the two groups, where genotype distributions were virtually identical. Likewise, no differences in allele (p = 0.838 (women); p = 0.193 (men); p = 0.587 (both sexes)) or genotype distribution were found between groups for ACTN3 rs1815739 (p = 0.975 (women), p = 0.136 (men), p = 0.752 (both sexes)). Of note, however, the frequency of the rs1805086 R-allele observed here is the lowest been reported to date whereas that of the 'highly oxidative/efficient' rs1815739 XX genotype in Japanese male centenarians (33.3%) or supercentenarians of both sexes (≥110 years) are the highest (32.6%), for a non-American population. No definite conclusions can be inferred in relation to EL owing to its lack of association with both rs1815739 and rs1805086. However, it cannot be excluded that these gene variants could eventually be related to a "healthy" metabolic phenotype in the Japanese population. Further research might determine if such metabolic profile is among the factors that can potentially predispose these individuals to live longer than Caucasians and what genetic variants might be actually involved.