Radiographic and histopathological study of gastrointestinal dysmotility in lipopolysaccharide-induced sepsis in the rat

AbstractSepsis is a highly incident condition in which a cascade of proinflammatory cytokines is involved. One of its most frequent consequences is ileus, which can increase mortality. Animal models such as that induced by systemic administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) are useful to deeply evaluate this condition. The effects of sepsis on the gastrointestinal (GI) tract have been explored but, to our knowledge, in vivo studies showing the motor and histopathological consequences of endotoxemia in an integrated way are lacking. Our aim was to study in rats the effects of sepsis on GI motility, using radiographic methods, and to assess histological damage in several organs.MethodsMale rats were intraperitoneally injected with saline or E. coli LPS at 0.1, 1, or 5 mg kg−1. Barium sulfate was intragastrically administered, and X‐rays were performed 0–24 h afterwards. Several organs were collected for organography, histopathology, and immunohistochemistry studies.Key ResultsAll LPS doses caused gastroparesia, whereas changes in intestinal motility were dose‐and time‐dependent, with an initial phase of hypermotility followed by paralytic ileus. Lung, liver, stomach, ileum, and colon (but not spleen or kidneys) were damaged, and density of neutrophils and activated M2 macrophages and expression of cyclooxygenase 2 were increased in the colon 24 h after LPS 5 mg kg−1.Conclusions and InferencesUsing radiographic, noninvasive methods for the first time, we show that systemic LPS causes dose‐, time‐, and organ‐dependent GI motor effects. Sepsis‐induced GI dysmotility is a complex condition whose management needs to take its time‐dependent changes into account

Análisis de crecimiento y determinación del contenido de fibra de la vaina de cuatro genotipos de habichuela

Se evaluaron en campo cuatro genotipos de habichuela (G9069, G10165, G18722 y la variedad comercial Milenio) con el fin de establecer las diferencias en el contenido de fibra (método de campo y análisis químico de la fibra) y desarrollar el análisis del crecimiento. Con excepción del genotipo 10165 no se observaron diferencias significativas en el contenido de cenizas entre genotipos ni entre muestreos. Durante la tercera semana post-antesis, se alcanzó correlación negativa altamente significativa entre la longitud de la telilla y la fibra detergente neutra (R= – 0.80; R2 = 0.64). Este resultado confiere validez al método clásico de campo para estimar la fibrosidad y la época de cosecha de la vaina. De acuerdo con los resultados del análisis de crecimiento de cada genotipo, es posible estimar tanto la época ideal para la cosecha como la época crítica para la realización de las labores agronómicas. Los genotipos G9069 y G18722 registraron las mejores características para el mercado colombiano en fresco. Abstract Growth analysis and fiber determination in four genotypes of snap bean. In order to establish genotypical differences in fiber content (field method and chemical fiber analysis) and to carry out their growth analysis four snap beans genotypes (G9069, G10165, G18722 and Milenio), were evaluated in field conditions. No significative differences in ashes content and samplings (excepted genotype 10165) were found between the studied genotypes. During the third week after anthesis, highly significative negative correlation coefficient was found between ripped cuticle and NDF (R= – 0.80; R2 = 0.64). This result confirms the validity of the classical method of fiber determination and harvest season of pods in field conditions. According growth analysis results of each genotype, it is possible to estimate the best time for pod harvesting and the critical interval for carry out agronomical practices. Genotypes G9069 y G18722 showed the best characteristics for Colombian market. Key words: Phaseolus vulgaris L, Sheath cality, growth analysis, fiber cuantificatio

Tratamiento por fermentación anaerobia de las vinazas producidas en la fabricación de alcohol

Con el fin de disminuir su carga contaminante, las vinazas se sometieron a tratamiento en cuatro reactores tipo filtro anaerobio de flujo ascendente, los cuales se evaluaron bajo diferentes condiciones de tiempo de retención hidráulico TRH y de carga orgánica. Para una Demanda Química de Oxígeno DQO, afluente de 5000 a 30000 mg/1 y TRH de 3.0 días o más, se obtuvieron eficiencias de remoción superiores a 90% en términos de DQO. Para una DQO afluente constante de 20000 mg/1 y TRH de 1.3 días, se alcanzaron eficiencias entre 75-80%

Microvesicles from Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a New Protective Strategy in Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes

[EN] Background/Aims: Chronic inflammation contributes to cartilage degeneration during the progression of osteoarthritis (OA). Adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ADMSC) show great potential to treat inflammatory and degradative processes in OA and have demonstrated paracrine effects in chondrocytes. In the present work, we have isolated and characterized the extracellular vesicles from human AD-MSC to investigate their role in the chondroprotective actions of these cells. Methods: AD-MSC were isolated by collagenase treatment from adipose tissue from healthy individuals subjected to abdominal lipectomy surgery. Microvesicles and exosomes were obtained from conditioned medium by filtration and differential centrifugation. Chondrocytes from OA patients were used in primary culture and stimulated with 10 ng/ml interleukin(IL)-1 beta in the presence or absence of AD-MSC microvesicles, exosomes or conditioned medium. Protein expression was investigated by ELISA and immunofluorescence, transcription factor-DNA binding by ELISA, gene expression by real-time PCR, prostaglandin E-2 (PGE(2)) by radioimmunoassay, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity and nitric oxide (NO) production by fluorometry. Results: In OA chondrocytes stimulated with IL-1 beta, microvesicles and exosomes reduced the production of inflammatory mediators tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-6, PGE(2) and NO. The downregulation of cyclooxygenase-2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 would lead to the decreased PGE(2) production while the effect on NO could depend on the reduction of inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. Treatment of OA chondrocytes with extracellular vesicles also decreased the release of MMP activity and MMP-13 expression whereas the production of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and the expression of collagen II were significantly enhanced. The reduction of inflammatory and catabolic mediators could be the consequence of a lower activation of nuclear factor-kappa B and activator protein-1. The upregulation of annexin A1 specially in MV may contribute to the anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective effects of AD-MSC. Conclusions: Our data support the interest of AD-MSC extracellular vesicles to develop new therapeutic approaches in joint conditions. (C) 2018 The Author(s) Published by S. Karger AG, BaselThis work was supported by grants SAF2013-4874R (MINECO, FEDER) and PROMETEOII/2014/071 (Generalitat Valenciana), Spain.Tofiño-Vian, M.; Guillen Salazar, MI.; Perez Del Caz, M.; Silvestre, A.; Alcaraz Tormo, MJ. (2018). Microvesicles from Human Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells as a New Protective Strategy in Osteoarthritic Chondrocytes. Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry. 47(1):11-25. https://doi.org/10.1159/000489739S112547

Effects of vincristine and monosodium glutamate on gastrointestinal motility and visceral sensitivity

Background Chemotherapy‐induced adverse effects are an unresolved nightmare. In preclinical studies in rats, the food additive monosodium glutamate (MSG) improved some of the side effects caused by cisplatin, but its effects in other models of chemotherapy‐treated animals are not well known. The aim of this study was to test if MSG may improve some of the adverse effects induced by vincristine in rats. Methods Young male Wistar rats were exposed or not to MSG (4 g L−1) in drinking water from week 0 till 1 week after treatment (week 3). Rats received two cycles of five daily intraperitoneal (ip) injections (Monday to Friday, weeks 1 and 2) of either saline (2 mL kg−1) or vincristine (0.1 mg kg−1). Gastrointestinal motility was measured in vivo by radiological methods after the first and tenth ip administrations. On week 3, the threshold for mechanical somatic and colorectal sensitivity was recorded using Von Frey filaments applied to the paws and an intracolonic balloon, respectively. Finally, samples of the terminal ileum and distal colon were histologically evaluated in sections. Key Results Vincristine reduced body weight gain, food intake, and upper gastrointestinal transit, caused somatic (but not visceral) hypersensitivity and increased the thickness of the submucosal and muscle layers of the small intestine. In vincristine‐treated animals, MSG partially prevented gastrointestinal dysmotility and reduced visceral sensitivity but did not improve structural alterations of the small intestine. Conclusions and Inferences MSG could be used as an adjuvant to conventional treatments to improve some gastrointestinal dysfunctions caused by chemotherapy

Developing country consumers’ acceptance of biofortified foods: a synthesis

The success of biofortified staple crops depends on whether they are accepted and consumed by target populations. In the past 8 years, several studies were undertaken to understand consumers’ acceptance of foods made with biofortified staple crops. Consumer acceptance is measured in terms of their sensory evaluation and economic valuation of biofortified varieties vis-à-vis conventional ones. These studies apply expert sensory panel and hedonic trait analyses methods adopted from food sciences literature, as well as various preference elicitation methods (including experimental auctions, revealed choice experiments, and stated choice experiments) adopted from experimental economics literature. These studies also test the impact of various levers on consumers’ evaluation and valuation for biofortified foods. These levers include (i) nutrition information and the media through which such information is conveyed; (ii) the length and content of nutrition information; (iii) different branding options; (iv) the nature (national or international) of the branding/certification agency that is endorsing the biofortified staple food; and (v) the nature (national or international) of the agency that is delivering the biofortified staple food. This paper brings together evidence on consumer acceptance of biofortified crops on 5 crops across 7 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. The results of these studies are expected to aid in the development of biofortified crops that consumers like, as well as in the development of appropriate marketing and consumer awareness or information campaigns to encourage the switch in consumption from traditional staples to biofortified ones

Luminescence Sensors Applied to Water Analysis of Organic Pollutants—An Update

The development of chemical sensors for environmental analysis based on fluorescence, phosphorescence and chemiluminescence signals continues to be a dynamic topic within the sensor field. This review covers the fundamentals of this type of sensors, and an update on recent works devoted to quantifying organic pollutants in environmental waters, focusing on advances since about 2005. Among the wide variety of these contaminants, special attention has been paid polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides, explosives and emerging organic pollutants. The potential of coupling optical sensors with multivariate calibration methods in order to improve the selectivity is also discussed

A922 Sequential measurement of 1 hour creatinine clearance (1-CRCL) in critically ill patients at risk of acute kidney injury (AKI)

Meeting abstrac

A Genomic Snapshot of the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic in the Balearic Islands

7 páginas, 3 figurasObjective: To analyze the SARS-CoV-2 genomic epidemiology in the Balearic Islands, a unique setting in which the course of the pandemic has been influenced by a complex interplay between insularity, severe social restrictions and tourism travels. Methods: Since the onset of the pandemic, more than 2,700 SARS-CoV-2 positive respiratory samples have been randomly selected and sequenced in the Balearic Islands. Genetic diversity of circulating variants was assessed by lineage assignment of consensus whole genome sequences with PANGOLIN and investigation of additional spike mutations. Results: Consensus sequences were assigned to 46 different PANGO lineages and 75% of genomes were classified within a VOC, VUI, or VUM variant according to the WHO definitions. Highest genetic diversity was documented in the island of Majorca (42 different lineages detected). Globally, lineages B.1.1.7 and B.1.617.2/AY.X were identified as the 2 major lineages circulating in the Balearic Islands during the pandemic, distantly followed by lineages B.1.177/B.1.177.X. However, in Ibiza/Formentera lineage distribution was slightly different and lineage B.1.221 was the third most prevalent. Temporal distribution analysis showed that B.1 and B.1.5 lineages dominated the first epidemic wave, lineage B.1.177 dominated the second and third, and lineage B.1.617.2 the fourth. Of note, lineage B.1.1.7 became the most prevalent circulating lineage during first half of 2021; however, it was not associated with an increased in COVID-19 cases likely due to severe social restrictions and limited travels. Additional spike mutations were rarely documented with the exception of mutation S:Q613H which has been detected in several genomes (n = 25) since July 2021. Conclusion: Virus evolution, mainly driven by the acquisition and selection of spike substitutions conferring biological advantages, social restrictions, and size population are apparently key factors for explaining the epidemic patterns registered in the Balearic Islands.This work has been supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III of Spain through the project COV20/00140: Addressing unknowns of COVID-19 transmission and infection combining pathogen genomics and epidemiology to inform public health interventions and European Union HERA Incubator program through grant ECDC/HERA/2021/024 ECD.12241. CL-C was supported by a Juan Rodés contract (JR19/00003) from Instituto de Salud Carlos III.Peer reviewe

Secretome of mesenchymal stem cells and its impact on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by irreversible loss of lung function that stem from two mechanisms, inflammation and senescence. Crosstalk between these two mechanisms accelerate the development of COPD, thus targeting these two pathways may offer benefits in the treatment of COPD. Growing amount of evidence have shown that mesenchymal stem cells as a promising candidate for the treatment of COPD. Over the years, many studies conducted to decipher the therapeutic effect of MSC in COPD and the mechanisms involve, in the hope of utilizing these cells as new therapeutic strategy for COPD. However, the cell-based therapy by using the MSC presented with many obstacles including low engraftment at the site of injury, the risk of microvascular occlusion, unwanted differentiation, and also the risk of malignant transformation. Recently, recently researchers begin to look at the possibility of using MSC derived extracellular vesicles as an alternative to MSC. Here we review the effect of MSC and MSC derived EV in modulating inflammation, and senescence in COPD. We also review current treatment and the side effect in COPD, and senolytic drugs, a new therapeutic strategy targeting the senescent cells