University of Leon

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.

Fresh produce represents a key interface in the One Health continuum, connecting environmental, agricultural and clinical settings where opportunistic bacteria can circulate. Among them, Stenotrophomonas comprises an environmental genus of growing concern due to its multidrug resistance and rising clinical relevance. To investigate their diversity and pathogenic potential, nineteen isolates from vegetables, irrigation water and hospital sources were characterized by MLST, growth kinetics, biofilm formation, antimicrobial susceptibility assays and whole-genome sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses grouped 12 isolates within the Stenotrophomonas maltophilia complex (SMC) (clinical S. maltophilia (n = 7) and environmental S. geniculata (n = 4) and S. sepilia (n = 1)) and seven non-SMC isolates, including S. indicatrix (n = 5) and two unclassified clinical strains. Environmental S. geniculata and S. sepilia isolates showed robust growth at 37 °C and biofilm formation comparable to clinical lineages. Genomic analyses further revealed shared mobile loci (afaD, fhaB, zot) and homologous plasmids between environmental and clinical isolates, suggesting a connected gene pool. The identification of environmental strains with virulence-associated traits and clinical-like phenotypes supports fresh produce as a potential reservoir and transmission route for opportunistic Stenotrophomonas, underscoring the need for integrated surveillance across the food–health interface.

BackgroundDecades of intensive breeding for rapid growth rate has resulted in increased abdominal fat content in commercial broilers, which also led to significant economic loss in this industry. In the present study, we integrated RNA-Seq datasets of 44 samples, including 22 fat- and 22 lean-line, to identify the selection signatures linked to abdominal fat content in chickens.ResultsIn total, 68 selection signature regions in the top 0.1% were screened out via Fst analysis on chromosomes 1, 2, 4, 5, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 18 were identified under differential selection between fat- and lean-lines, which harbored 1,140 SNPs and 44 genes. Functional annotation analysis highlighted key biological processes and KEGG pathways related to fat metabolism, such as “Fatty Acid Metabolic Process”, “Lipid Import Into Cell”, “Triglyceride Biosynthetic Process” and “Long-Chain Fatty Acid Transport”. The results confirmed several previously reported candidate genes involved in fat deposition, such as ACSL3, ACSF2, MOGAT1, TBXAS1, and NDST4. Notably, the NDST4 and YIPF7 genes were of particular interest, as they are closely linked with the QTLs associated with fatness traits, which makes them well suited for future applications in poultry breeding programs. Moreover, some novel candidate genes associated with fat metabolism were identified, including GUF1, GNPDA2, SLC25A48, RBFOX3, FRMD4A and KCNE4. While the exact mechanisms by which novel candidate genes contribute to abdominal fat deposition are not fully understood yet, but they appear to play relevant roles in fat metabolism that make them promising candidates for further investigations. Furthermore, the identified candidate regions harbored two miRNAs, of which mir-205b is of particular interest and can be considered as a potential candidate involved in the genetic control of abdominal fat deposition, as mainly participate in pathways associated with lipid metabolism. These genes can pave the way for the optimization of the breeding programs associated with fatness to promote chicken broilers performance.ConclusionsOverall, these findings enrich our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying abdominal fat deposition in chickens. Of note, our approach for selection signature analysis can be applied to other traits as well as species with available RNA-Seq data to identify the genomic signals associated with the divergence of different phenotypes.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-025-12360-9.

ABSTRACT Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) shows promise for improving endurance performance, but the optimal montage for this purpose remains unclear. We conducted the first network meta-analysis (NMA) to compare various a-tDCS montages to verify their effects on whole-body endurance performance in physically active people. The search was conducted using four databases until 4 March 2025. A frequentist random-effects NMA was performed to compare different a-tDCS montages. Statistical analysis was conducted using MetaInsight, and confidence in the evidence was assessed with the CINeMA framework. A total of 25 studies involving 648 participants met the inclusion criteria and were included. The NMA provided moderate-certainty evidence indicating that a-tDCS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) yielded the greatest improvement in endurance performance (Standardized Mean Difference – SMD = 0.66) when compared to other electrode placements as the motor (M1) and temporal (TC) cortices. Also, in the NMA, the M1 was ranked second (SMD = 0.38), suggesting another viable option for endurance performance enhancement. In contrast, indirect evidence suggested that a-tDCS over the TC had no significant effect on endurance performance (SMD = 0.15). In conclusion, coaches and athletes may consider applying a-tDCS over the DLPFC or M1 before training or endurance competitions.

Abstract The porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) poses a significant economic burden on global swine production and adversely impacts animal health and welfare due to its multifactorial nature and complex pathogen interactions. Here, through a comprehensive epidemiological analysis of 6,017 clinical cases from Spanish swine farms collected between January 2020 and May 2024, we evaluated the frequency and coinfection patterns of 13 key PRDC bacterial and viral pathogens. Our results revealed marked geographic, temporal, and production-stage variations. Glaesserella parasuis (56.7%), Streptococcus suis (56.4%), porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus-1 (PRRSV-1) (52.4%), and Mesomycoplasma hyorhinis (47.8%) were the most frequently detected agents. Notably, the frequency of these secondary opportunists rose steadily until 2022 before decreasing in the following years, mirroring declines in primary PRDC pathogens such as PCV2 and Mesomycoplasma hyopneumoniae. Secondary opportunistic bacteria were predominantly detected in post-weaning piglets (p < 0.05), while PRRSV-1 exhibited marked regional differences, with higher positivity in northeastern Spain (p < 0.05). Over 1,100 distinct coinfection patterns were identified, demonstrating the intricate dynamics of pathogen interactions. Co-occurrence networks and logistic regression analyses underscored robust associations. Notably, M. hyorhinis emerged as a pivotal pathogen, showing strong links with nine of the evaluated pathogens, including G. parasuis (OR = 4.05), S. suis (OR = 1.57), and PRRSV-1 (OR = 2.55). These findings underscore that effective PRDC control requires integrated diagnostic approaches and tailored preventive strategies, offering critical insights for developing targeted interventions to mitigate the multifactorial impact of PRDC on pig production both in Spain and globally.

ABSTRACTBiological invasion is a key driver of biodiversity loss, leading to significant changes in community composition and structure. Hence, understanding how biological invasions influence community assembly processes is crucial for identifying invasion mechanisms and developing management strategies aimed at minimizing their impacts on natural ecosystems. Beyond environmental filtering or niche‐based exclusion, biotic interactions (e.g., interspecific competition) between invasive and their native counterparts can also affect species distributions and local invasion dynamics. This study combined joint Species Distribution Models (jSDMs) with a long‐term European‐level dataset to uncover co‐occurrence patterns and community organization of freshwater macroinvertebrates in the context of biological invasion. To do this, we considered functional traits, phylogenetic relationships, environmental niches, and residual variance potentially mirroring species‐to‐species interactions between non‐native and native species. Environmental covariates exhibited significant differences in explaining variation of occurrences between native and non‐native species; although environmental filtering had a more pronounced effect on native species. This finding supported the hypothesis that non‐native species generally exhibit broader environmental niches. Indeed, our findings emphasized the importance of biotic filtering (in the form of interspecific competition and invasion meltdown among non‐native species) acting beyond the abiotic environment in shaping the distribution of non‐native and native species, providing a more nuanced view of the key drivers underlying invasion risk and success.

The accurate detection of several physiological milestones, such as maximal fat oxidation (MFO), is an important factor for cycling performance and for programming effective and individualised training. However, the procedure to identify the MFO is often too complex and expensive. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) technology provides a noninvasive measurement that can be used to detect different physiological variables. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of utilising the muscular oxygen saturation visualisation methodology for the identification of the MFO point in trained cyclists. Twenty-two recreational endurance-trained cyclists (19 men and 3 women; age: 27.9±5.4years; body mass: 69.7±7.1kg and VO2max: 60.3±7.0mL/kg/min) performed a submaximal and maximal exhaustion test. All the data were collected on a single day. The validity of the visualisation methodology for the maximal fat oxidation point was analysed against a gas analyser. The detection of maximal fat oxidation (MFO) using the methodology and device employed does not appear to accurately specify the precise point at which MFO occurs (bias=90±218s and LOA=429s). However, our results indicate that it may be a valid technique for identifying the MFO zone; biases were HR=4.7±11.9bpm, VO2=1.49±5.7mL/kg/min and power=19.5±31.2W, whereas the concordance coefficients were 0.783, 0.243 and 0.170, respectively. It is not possible to detect MFO using NIRS device. However, it is possible to detect a general zone in which MFO occurs.

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ABSTRACT Traditionally, the PE teacher with the highest status was the white, heterosexual male, with a muscular body and belonging to a good socioeconomic level. These stereotypes are subject to socio-political factors that determine power structures and “the way forward,” which generated clear discrimination and social injustice. In this sense, and taking sexual identity as a reference, the objective of this research is to analyze the discourses of 8 homosexual physical education teachers who acknowledge having felt discriminated. This analysis is carried out from the intersectionality approach and the theory of social justice. A qualitative methodology is used, employing individual interviews with each teacher, their reflective personal diaries and a focus group with all of them as a techniques. Analysis of the results focused on identifying emerging patterns and meanings from the data collected, interpreting the narratives and relevant themes to construct final categories. The results showed how, behind an apparent acceptance, teachers felt a high level of discrimination in many areas just because they are homosexual. This discrimination, from both students and fellow teachers, makes them question whether they are good PE teachers, and at times they considered leaving the profession. In addition, the fact of being a woman, being black, or not complying with the dominant body typology, is a source of even greater exclusion.