Systemic Inflammatory Load in Young and Old Ringdoves Is Modulated by Consumption of a Jerte Valley Cherry-Based Product

Jonathan Delgado,María del Pilar Terrón,María Garrido,Carmen Barriga,Sergio Damián Paredes,Javier Espino,Beatriz Rodríguez 한국식품영양과학회 2012 Journal of medicinal food Vol.15 No.8

A chronic subclinical inflammatory status that coexists with immune dysfunction is commonly found in the elderly population. Consumption of foods rich in antioxidants (e.g., cherries) is an attractive strategy to reduce risk from chronic diseases. Based on previous studies showing the antioxidant effect of a Jerte Valley cherry derivative product in humans, the objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the intake of a Jerte Valley cherry-based beverage on inflammatory load in both young and old ringdoves (Streptopelia risoria). To this purpose, circulating levels of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines as well as serum levels of different acute-phase proteins were measured before and after a 10-day treatment with the Jerte Valley cherry-based beverage. Thus, the 10-day treatment with the cherry-based beverage modulated the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines in both young and old ringdoves by down-regulating the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1b, tumor necrosis factor-a, and interferon-c) and up-regulating the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-2, and IL-10). Moreover, the 10-day treatment with the Jerte Valley cherrybased product reduced the levels of several proteins involved in acute-phase responses, such as C-reactive protein, haptoglobin,a2-macroglobulin, and serum amyloid P component. On the other hand, old birds showed imbalanced levels of inflammatory markers toward a pro-inflammatory status, thereby underlining the fact that aging is usually accompanied by systemic inflammation and inflammation-related chronic diseases. To sum up, the data suggest a potential health benefit by consuming the cherry-based beverage, especially in aged populations, through their anti-inflammatory properties.

Analysis of the Financial Structure of theCo-operative Societies and Their Accounting Treatment in Spain

Polo-Garrido, Fernando,Sánchez-Campos, María del Mar 한국협동조합학회 2018 韓國協同組合硏究 Vol.36 No.3

This paper deals with the financial structure of cooperative societies in Spain and their accountancy. Bearing this objective in mind, first we describe the legal framework of cooperatives in Spain which is characterized by a pluralist framework. Cooperatives are a regional government legal competence (Autonomous Communities) resulting in 16 Autonomic (Regional) Cooperatives’ Laws plus a State Cooperatives’ Law. In addition, Credit (Bank) Cooperatives have a sectoral Law. We study the changes motivated by the international accounting harmonization in the Spanish GAAP and the Spanish Accounting Standards for Cooperatives, also the subsequent changes in the Cooperatives’ Laws in order to introduce a new and optional regimen of members’ shares that can retain the accounting classification of members’ shares as equity. We critically review the criteria of IAS 32 and IFRIC 2 to classify members’ shares as equity or liability. Financial resources are described comprehensively; we focus in financial resources obtained from members and self-financing, we highlight the new sources of finances (shared titles and special participations), a new hybrid cooperative form, mixed cooperatives and the commented introduction of a new and optional regimen of members’ shares whose redemption can be refused by the cooperative. Conclusions are set out on financial structure and accounting standards. We point out the difficult balance between Cooperative Principles and financing needs. New forms of financing and hybrid cooperatives have the risk of denaturalization of the cooperative. From accounting standards is highlighted their impact in cooperatives (Polo, 2014), they have motivated changes in the regimen of members’ shares, changes that otherwise ha not been introduced. Finally, a very short reference is made about the current IASB’s Discussion Paper “Financial Instruments of characteristic of equity”.

Cocoa: a functional food that decreases insulin resistance and oxidative damage in young adults with class II obesity

José Arnold González-Garrido,José Rubén García-Sánchez,Carlos Javier López-Victorio,Adelma Escobar-Ramírez,Ivonne María Olivares-Corichi 한국영양학회 2023 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.17 No.2

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cocoa consumption is associated with health benefits due to its high content of polyphenols. However, the effects of short-term cocoa consumption remain unclear. We aimed to determine the effects generated by cocoa consumption (for 7 days) in young adults in normoweight and class II obesity. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Before-and-after study was carried out in normoweight (NW) (n = 15) and class II obesity (CIIO) (n = 15) young adults. The NW and CIIO participants consumed 25 and 39 g of cocoa, respectively, per day for 7 days. The effect of cocoa consumption was evaluated on the lipid profile, insulin resistance (IR), and inflammation. Oxidative damage was also examined by assessing the biomarkers of oxidative damage in plasma. In addition, recombinant human insulin was incubated with blood obtained from the participants, and the molecular damage to the hormone was analyzed. RESULTS: Cocoa consumption resulted in decreased low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol in both groups (P = 0.04), while the total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides were maintained at the recommended levels. Initially, IR was detected in the CIIO group (homeostasis model assessment [HOMA] = 4.78 ± 0.4), which is associated with molecular damage to insulin. Interestingly, intervention with cocoa resulted in improved IR (HOMA = 3.14 ± 0.31) (P = 0.0018) as well as molecular damage to insulin. Finally, cocoa consumption significant decreased the arginase activity (P = 0.0249) in the CIIO group; this is a critical enzymatic activity in the inflammatory process associated with obesity. CONCLUSIONS: The short-term consumption of cocoa improves the lipid profile, exerts antiinflammatory effects, and protects against oxidative damage. Results of this study indicate that cocoa consumption can potentially improve IR and restore a healthy redox status.

Impact of urban pattern on operating costs of public services: quantification through the economic weight of services ‘to property’

Francisco Javier Garrido-Jiménez,Francesc Magrinyà,María Consuelo del Moral-Ávila 서울시립대학교 도시과학연구원 2022 도시과학국제저널 Vol.26 No.3

Research has shown the existence of strong links between physical configuration of the urban settlements and the economic metabolism of public services. However, this relationship has a different intensity depending on the nature of each service, resting exclusively on the services ‘to property’, that is, those ensuring smooth functionality of the buildings and public spaces. In such services, the operating cost per unit developed area largely depends on representative variables of the urban pattern. For instance, the length of roads per unit developed area impacts the operating costs of linear services, such as street lighting, street cleaning and, together with housing density, on the operating costs of water cycle, waste collection and disposal. Moreover, the maintenance costs of pavements, parks, and gardens are directly proportional to the dimension of the public space. Therefore, the economic weight of services ‘to property’ in the current budget of public administration highlights how vulnerable these budgets are against changes in the urban pattern and determines the expected maximum economic impact of any measure adopted through urban planning. Thus, the main objective of this study is to define, from a theoretical perspective, an indicator representative of the economic weight of the operating cost of the services ‘to property’ upon public administration budgets, capable of delimiting the relationship between the budgets and urban patterns. In addition, to show its utility, this urban-economic indicator has been computed for a sample of medium-sized Spanish cities, showing that, on an average, a quarter of the operating cost of urban public services is directly linked to urban patterns, highlighting the potential impact of urban planning decisions on the economic sustainability of urban settlements.