Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili

Adolescence is a critical period for brain development, during which dietary patterns may influence neuropsychological functioning. To examine cross-sectional associations and determine if baseline adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD) and ultra-processed food (UPF) consumption is associated with changes in adolescent neuropsychological outcomes over 6months. This study represents a secondary analysis of the WALNUTs Smart-Snack Trial. We evaluated 653 adolescents (aged 12-16years) from Barcelona at baseline and at 6-month follow-up. All dietary data used for these analyses were collected at the baseline timepoint only. MD adherence was measured with the KIDMED index and UPF consumption was assessed using a food frequency questionnaire and classified using the NOVA system. Cognitive domains were assessed at both time points using standardised computer-based tasks: attention (alerting, orienting, executive control) with the Attention Network Test; working memory (4-back) with the N-back task; fluid intelligence with the Primary Mental Abilities-Revised; decision-making with the Roulettes Task; and emotion recognition with the Emotion Recognition Task. Behavioural outcomes were also evaluated at both time points using the self-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire and teacher-reported Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder-DSM-IV scales. Associations were examined using multivariable generalised linear models. To further validate UPF consumption estimations, polyphenol biomarkers were measured in urine in a subsample of 257 participants. Greater adherence to the MD was cross-sectionally linked to fewer behavioural problems and higher scores of executive functioning, while higher UPF consumption was associated with poorer emotion recognition, reduced alerting attention, less advantageous decision-making, more behavioural problems and internalising symptoms. Longitudinally, higher UPF consumption was associated with more internalising symptoms and less advantageous decision-making, whereas MD adherence showed no associations. Greater MD adherence appears associated with more favourable behavioural and cognitive profiles. In contrast, higher UPF consumption seems to be associated with less favourable profiles across multiple neuropsychological domains in adolescents. However, the limited longitudinal evidence points to complex relationships that warrant further investigation. Overall, these findings highlight the importance of promoting healthier dietary habits during adolescence.

Over the past decade, emerging evidence has shed light on the role of the gut microbiota in the interface between diet and brain health. Olive oil, particularly virgin olive oil, a key component and major fat source in the Mediterranean diet, has exhibited widespread healthful benefits, including improvements in gut microbiota and cognitive health. Despite insights from preclinical studies into the relationship between virgin olive oil consumption, gut microbiota, and cognitive function, human research in this area remains limited. Therefore, our study aims to investigate the interplay between total olive oil consumption and its subtypes, gut microbiota, and changes in cognitive function in older adults who were cognitively healthy at baseline but at high risk of cognitive decline. In this prospective cohort study, we assessed a total of 656 participants aged 55 to 75y (mean age 65.0 ± 4.9y, 47.9% women) with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome who provided stool samples and completed a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire at baseline and a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests at baseline and at a 2-y follow-up. Results from the multivariable linear regression models showed that higher consumption of virgin olive oil was associated with improved cognitive function over a 2-y follow-up, and a more diverse gut microbiota overall structure at baseline. Conversely, increased consumption of common olive oil is linked to lower alpha diversity of the microbial communities, and accelerated cognitive decline. Mediation analysis suggests that gut microbiota and particularly the Adlercreutzia, may serve as a mediator taxon in the association between virgin olive oil consumption and positive changes in general cognitive function. Higher consumption of virgin olive oil was associated with cognitive preservation, possibly mediated by favorable alterations in gut microbiota composition. Our study provides novel insights into the complex interplay between different types of olive oil consumption, gut microbiota, and changes in cognitive function. These findings underscore the potential of microbiota-targeted dietary strategies to promote cognitive health in aging populations, though further high-quality and clinical cohort studies are required. Video Abstract.

Background: Consumption of fruits of different origins with specific (poly)phenolic profiles can modulate the gene expression of enzymes and the levels of metabolites in a photoperiod-dependent manner. However, there is little information on how this affects the profile of hepatic and muscular fatty acids (FAs) and how it interferes with metabolic pathways. This study aimed to determine whether consuming local or non-local cherries alters liver and muscle FA profiles under different photoperiods, and to identify the associated changes in metabolic gene expression and serum metabolites. Methods: Seventy-two Fischer 344 rats, fed a standard diet and either vehicle (VH), Local Cherry (LC), or non-Local Cherry (nLC), were exposed to different hours of light to simulate photoperiods (winter, spring/autumn, or summer) for 7 weeks. The FA profiles of the liver and muscle were determined using GC-FID, and the gene expression of key enzymes involved in FA metabolism was evaluated. Moreover, the composition of hydrophilic and lipophilic metabolites in the serum and liver was analyzed using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and pathway analysis was performed. Results: Consumption of cherries in season (18 h of light) decreased saturated FAs levels in the liver, mainly palmitate, compared to their respective VH; interestingly, this effect was not observed in other photoperiods. Furthermore, muscle polyunsaturated FA (PUFAs) decreased, possibly due to increased oxidation. Conclusions: Seasonal cherry consumption improves the hepatic lipid profile and increases muscular oxidation. Future studies are needed to better define these effects and uncover the differences in lipid metabolism in response to cherry consumption.

Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) provide a structured framework for linking mechanistic events across biological organization levels, supporting chemical hazard identification and regulatory decision-making in Next-Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA). However, AOP development remains labor-intensive, requiring extensive literature searching and expert review to identify relevant events and supporting evidence. Existing text mining tools often operate on limited datasets, lack interactive capabilities, and miss contextually relevant studies. To address these challenges, we present S2CIE (Semantic & Syntactic Context-based Information Extraction), an interactive, real-time platform for extracting mechanistic information from biomedical literature. S2CIE annotates PubMed abstracts (32 million) at the word level with grammatical, entity-type, and dependency annotations, enabling custom extraction rules based on syntactic patterns, and employ semantic retrieval based on user specific query. The system supports near real-time querying and integrates entity recognition and visual exploration tools. We demonstrate S2CIE's utility through four case studies. First, we identified 110 chemicals linked to liver steatosis/cholestasis with 98.79% precision, extracting chemical and PPAR (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors) interactions as molecular initiating events. Second enrichment analysis of literature derived genes and successful mapping with AOPs. Third, comparative analysis against AOP-HelpFinder for key event relationships in AOP 220 showed 42.2% increased evidence capture (1,614 vs 1,135 abstracts) with 99% reduced retrieval time. Fourth, large-scale extraction of post-translational modification events demonstrated domain-agnostic applicability beyond toxicology. S2CIE accelerates AOP evidence gathering, while maintaining transparency and auditability essential for regulatory application. S2CIE is available as open source through an API and as web application at https://dev.s2cie.insilicohub.org/.

BackgroundThis study prospectively assessed the combined versus individual effects of reducing energy intake (EI) and increasing physical activity (PA) on body weight and composition in older adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome. The interaction between both exposures was likewise assessed.MethodsA subsample of 1,110 participants (aged 55–75 years) from the Prevención con Dieta Mediterránea-Plus (PREDIMED-Plus) trial was followed for 1 year. The combined effects of 1-year changes in EI and PA on reduction of ≥5% in baseline body weight and total fat, and on ≥5% increments in lean mass were examined using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to assess the combined association. Multiplicative and additive interactions were tested.ResultsParticipants who had reduced EI and increased PA over 1 year were significantly more likely to exhibit ≥5% reduction in body weight (odds ratio [OR], 3.24; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.83 to 5.72) and fat mass (OR, 2.13; 95% CI, 1.23 to 3.69) and ≥5% increase in lean mass (OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.24 to 4.87) compared to those who had increased EI and reduced PA. A potential for biological, rather than statistical, interaction between PA and EI was found, with synergy index (>1): 1.08 (95% CI, 0.58 to 1.99) for beneficial changes in body weight, 1.88 (95% CI, 0.41 to 8.65) for fat mass, and 1.44 (95% CI, 0.43 to 4.88) for lean mass.ConclusionEncouraging an increase in PA with complementary nutritional education to reduce dietary EI may be more effective in managing body composition in older adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome than focusing on lifestyle behaviors alone.

On April 28, 2025, a large-scale blackout affected mainland Spain and Portugal for over ten hours, severely impacting Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Although the cause remains uncertain and initially cyberattack was a concern, it has most probably been related to infrastructure failure. This event exposed critical vulnerabilities in EMS preparedness, as no region had a specific contingency plan for power outages.The blackout led to wide-spread disruption, including traffic signal failures that caused accidents and delayed emergency response, and the collapse of communication networks that affected 1-1-2 emergency calls. Fuel shortages also emerged as gas stations became non-operational. Patients using home medical devices faced life-threatening situations, with at least one death reported due to a ventilator failure. The reliance on technology proved to be a major weakness, as many EMS systems lacked backup communication tools like satellite phones or analog radios, and many hospitals and ambulance bases were not prepared with stable generators and adequate fuel access.Coordination between EMS, hospitals, and other emergency services was challenged by incompatible protocols and equipment. Despite these difficulties, EMS demonstrated adaptability by prioritizing urgent care and reallocating resources. The event exposed systemic fragilities and underscored the need for robust emergency planning, interagency drills, technological redundancy, and investment in resilient infrastructure. This incident serves as a global wake-up call, emphasizing that health systems must be prepared for increasing risks from climate change, cyber threats, and energy insecurity. Emergency preparedness should shift from being reactive to proactive, focusing on flexible systems, coordinated action, and workforce training to ensure continuity of health care during future blackouts.

BackgroundIntake of lycopene has been proposed as a protective dietary factor against prostate cancer development. Cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer share risk factors, which may modulate the effect of lycopene in high-risk individuals. This study aimed to examine the association between lycopene intake and prostate cancer risk in a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular risk.MethodsA prospective cohort analysis was conducted among 2970 men aged 55–80 years at high cardiovascular risk from the PREDIMED trial, a multicenter study in Spain. Lycopene intake was assessed using repeated food frequency questionnaires. Prostate cancer cases were identified through medical records and death certificates. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) across lycopene intake quartiles.ResultsOver a mean follow-up of 5.8 years, 104 prostate cancer cases were identified. Participants in the highest quartile of lycopene intake had a significantly lower risk of prostate cancer than those in the lowest quartile (HR: 0.46; 95% CI: 0.23–0.95; p-trend = 0.035). A nonlinear dose–response relationship was observed, with a significant inverse association emerging at intakes above 4.9 mg/day (HR: 0.36; 95% CI: 0.13–0.98).ConclusionsHigher lycopene intake suggested a protective association with a lower incidence of prostate cancer in men at high cardiovascular risk. These findings support the role of lycopene-rich diets in prostate cancer prevention, which may be particularly relevant for high cardiovascular risk populations.Trial registrationISRCTN registry: ISRCTN35739639 (PREDIMED trial).Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12916-025-04440-0.