Even if women have intention to breastfeed, they do not always achieve a successful breastfeeding. This study aims to analyse factors affecting breastfeeding prevalence among mothers that intended to breastfeed. This is a prospective observational study involving 401 pregnant women that intended to breastfeed (asked at the 20th week). Breastfeeding prevalence was evaluated in reference to health-related, socio-cultural factors and healthcare professionals' interventions at 1 month, 6 months and 12 months after birth. Data were analysed using descriptive statistical methods, bivariate logistic regression and multivariate logistic regression modelling. Independent factors negatively affecting breastfeeding prevalence related to mothers' and newborns' health parameters and birth characteristics included smoking during pregnancy, anaemia and use of analgesia during labour. Regarding sociocultural parameters, being an immigrant, higher education level, intention to breastfeed before pregnancy, comfort with public breastfeeding and bedsharing were positively linked to breastfeeding, while teat or pacifier use in the first week was negatively linked. Regarding healthcare professionals' practices, mother and father/partner antenatal education course attendance and exclusive breastfeeding at the hospital were positively associated with breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is a very complex phenomenon affected by multiple and diverse variables. Physiological factors only affect the short term (1st month), while middle and long term BF affecting variables are mainly identical and include mostly socio-cultural factors and also BF related practices, especially in the first days after birth. These data should help to develop more effective breastfeeding promotion strategies.

The purpose of the Aging-ONDUAL-TASK study is to determine if a supervised dual-task program carried out in long-term nursing homes is able to attenuate frailty in a greater extent than the same multicomponent exercise program alone. This multicenter randomized controlled trial will include 188 participants who will be randomly allocated to either a multicomponent exercise program or to the same multicomponent program with simultaneous cognitive training (dual-task training). Inclusion criteria are as follows: ≥ 70 years, ≥ 50 on the Barthel Index, ≥ 20 on the Mini Examen Cognoscitivo (MEC-35) who are able to stand up and walk independently for 10 m. Subjects in the multicomponent group will attend a twice-a-week multicomponent exercise program of 1-h duration per session, consisting of strength and balance exercises. Participants in the dual-task group will perform the same multicomponent exercise program with concurrent individually tailored cognitive tasks. Study assessments will be conducted at baseline and at 3 months. The primary outcome measure will be gait speed under dual-task conditions and secondary outcomes will include physical fitness measurements, gait spatiotemporal parameters, cognition and emotional assessments, several frailty scales and objectively measured physical activity. The present research will add valuable information to the knowledge around the effects of the dual-task program in long-term nursing home residents, taking altogether physical, cognitive and emotional variables linked to frailty. Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) with the identifier: ACTRN12618000536268 . Registration date: 11/04/2018.

Dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (EC 3.4.14.5) (DPPIV) is a serine peptidase involved in cell differentiation, adhesion, immune modulation and apoptosis, functions that control neoplastic transformation. Previous studies have demonstrated altered expression and activity of tissue and circulating DPPIV in several cancers and proposed its potential usefulness for early diagnosis in colorectal cancer (CRC). The activity and mRNA and protein expression of DPPIV was prospectively analyzed in adenocarcinomas, adenomas, uninvolved colorectal mucosa and plasma from 116 CRC patients by fluorimetric, quantitative RT-PCR and immunohistochemical methods. Results were correlated with the most important classic pathological data related to aggressiveness and with 5-year survival rates. Results showed that: 1) mRNA levels and activity of DPPIV increased in colorectal neoplasms (Kruskal-Wallis test, p<0.01); 2) Both adenomas and CRCs displayed positive cytoplasmic immunostaining with luminal membrane reinforcement; 3) Plasmatic DPPIV activity was lower in CRC patients than in healthy subjects (Mann-U test, p<0.01); 4) Plasmatic DPPIV activity was associated with worse overall and disease-free survivals (log-rank p<0.01, Cox analysis p<0.01). 1) Up-regulation of DPPIV in colorectal tumors suggests a role for this enzyme in the neoplastic transformation of colorectal tissues. This finding opens the possibility for new therapeutic targets in these patients. 2) Plasmatic DPPIV is an independent prognostic factor in survival of CRC patients. The determination of DPPIV activity levels in the plasma may be a safe, minimally invasive and inexpensive way to define the aggressiveness of CRC in daily practice.

Several studies have proposed that protease expression and activity may have a predictive value in the survival of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). Most efforts on this issue have been focused on the analysis of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and very little on the role of other proteases, such as peptidases. The catalytic activity of 9 peptidases (APN, APB, ASP, CAP, DPP-IV, NEP/CD10, PEP, PGI, and PSA) was quantified by fluorometric methods in a series of 79 CCRCC patients, and the results obtained were analyzed for survival (Kaplan-Meier curves, log-rank test, and Cox multivariate analysis). CCRCC patients with higher activity levels of membrane-bound APN and soluble APN, DPP-IV, and CAP had significantly shorter 5-yr survival rates than those with lower levels. By contrast, higher soluble APB activity significantly correlated with longer survival. Our data suggest the involvement of peptidases in the biological aggressiveness of CCRCC and support the usefulness of measuring these proteases to assess the prognosis of patients with CCRCC.

Serum alpha-klotho (s-klotho) protein has been linked with lifespan, and low concentrations of s-klotho have been associated with worse physical and cognitive outcomes. Although its significance in aging remains unclear, s-klotho has been proposed as a molecular biomarker of frailty and dependence. This study is a secondary analysis of data from a clinical trial performed in a population of 103 older individuals living in 10 nursing homes in Gipuzkoa (Spain). We aimed to elucidate associations between s-klotho (as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) and body composition, physical fitness, and cognition, as well as frailty and dependence (determined using validated tests and scales). In addition, we investigated the association of s-klotho concentration with falls in the six months following the initial assessment. Low s-klotho levels were associated with a lower score in the psychological component of the Tilburg Frailty Indicator, a worse score in the Coding Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, and a greater dependence in activities of daily living. Moreover, participants with lower s-klotho concentrations suffered more falls during the 6 months after the assessment. Future translational research should aim to validate klotho’s putative role as a biomarker that could identify the risk of aging-related adverse events in clinical practice.