Galápago leproso – Mauremys leprosa (Schweigger, 1812)

Reptiles - Orden Quelonios - Familia Geoemydidae en la Enciclopedia Virtual de Vertebrados Españoles, http://www.vertebradosibericos.org/.A comprehensive review of the natural history of the Mediterranean stripe-necked terrapin Mauremys leprosa in Spain.Peer reviewe

Heavy flooding effects on home range and habitat selection of free-ranging Iberian hares (Lepus granatensis) in Doñana National Park (SW Spain)

The Iberian hare Lepus granatensis is a common and abundant species throughout the Iberian Peninsula; however, studies documenting its ecology are scarce. Between August 1996 and September 1997, after a long drought, we studied the effects of a widespread flood on the Iberian hare ecology in ecotone pastures of Doñana National Park. Hares were captured using vertical nets through part of 1996 and 1997. Fourteen adult hares (nine females and five males) were tagged with radiocollars and located by triangulation on a daily basis at least once a week. Habitat use was estimated using a geographical information system. The average home range size was 28 ha for males and 24 ha for females. No significant differences were observed between sexes. Significant differences were observed in the use of scrub areas and in dry pastures. During the dry and wet seasons, males and females were most often located in the pastures of the ecotone, rush stands and scrub. The dense bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) and seaside bulrush (Scirpus maritimus) communities were avoided. These results are the first on the spatial ecology of this species in its native habitat.Plan Andaluz de Investigación. Junta de Andalucía. RNM-118Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología de España. Proyecto “Efecto de las inundaciones en poblaciones de liebres en el pantano de Doñana". CICYT (1996-1997

Intracellular nucleic acid delivery by the supercharged dengue virus capsid protein

© 2013 Freire et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.Supercharged proteins are a recently identified class of proteins that have the ability to efficiently deliver functional macromolecules into mammalian cells. They were first developed as bioengineering products, but were later found in the human proteome. In this work, we show that this class of proteins with unusually high net positive charge is frequently found among viral structural proteins, more specifically among capsid proteins. In particular, the capsid proteins of viruses from the Flaviviridae family have all a very high net charge to molecular weight ratio (> +1.07/kDa), thus qualifying as supercharged proteins. This ubiquity raises the hypothesis that supercharged viral capsid proteins may have biological roles that arise from an intrinsic ability to penetrate cells. Dengue virus capsid protein was selected for a detailed experimental analysis. We showed that this protein is able to deliver functional nucleic acids into mammalian cells. The same result was obtained with two isolated domains of this protein, one of them being able to translocate lipid bilayers independently of endocytic routes. Nucleic acids such as siRNA and plasmids were delivered fully functional into cells. The results raise the possibility that the ability to penetrate cells is part of the native biological functions of some viral capsid proteins.This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia – Ministério da Educação e Ciência (FCT-MEC, Portugal) [PTDC/QUI-BIQ/112929/2009], by the European Union [projects FP7-PEOPLE IRSES (MEMPEPACROSS) and FP7-HEALTH-F3-2008-223414 (LEISHDRUG)], by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2011-24899), the Generalitat de Catalunya (2009 SGR 492), by the Brazilian Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnoloógico (CNPq), Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), and the National Institute of Science and Technology in Dengue (INCT-Dengue). JMF also acknowledges FCT-MEC for Ph.D. fellowship SFRH/BD/70423/2010

Revista del Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas

Actividad trófica de limícolas invernantes en salinas y cultivos piscícolas de la bahía de CádizUso de microhábitat del ratón de campo (Apodemus sylvatycus L.) en robledales y áreas ecotonales del Pirineo.Dieta de los pollos de tres especies simpátricas de alcaudones (Lanius spp.): variaciones con la edad, estacionales e interespecíficasOcupación de distintos modelos de nidal por el estornino negro (Sturnus unicolor)Estudio comparado sobre la biología de la reproducción de tres especies simpátricas de alcaudones (real Lanius excubitor, dorsirrojo L. collurio y común L. senatorFluctuación estacional del peso corporal de los machos adultos de Arvicola sapidus MILLER, 1908 (Rodentia, Arvicolidae)Acerca del significado de los ataques de alcaudones Lanius spp. sobre aves.Distribución de los emididos Mauremys leprosa, SCHW (1812) y Emys orbicularis, L. (1758) de la provincia de Badajoz. Factores que puedieran influir en sus áreas de ocupaciónDeterminación de la edad relativa en la rata de agua meridional, Arvicola sapidus MILLER, 1908 (Rodentia, Arvicolidae)Activity pattern, home range and habitat preference by coyotes (Canis latrans) in the Mapimi Biosphere Reserve of the Chihuahuan Desert, Mexico.Características de los refugios diarios y estacionales de Testudo graeca en DoñanaDieta del gato cimarrón (Felis catus L.) en el piso basal del Macízo de Teno (Noroeste de Tenerife)Peer reviewe

A high degree of LINE-1 hypomethylation is a unique feature of early-onset colorectal cancer

Objective Early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) represents a clinically distinct form of CRC that is often associated with a poor prognosis. Methylation levels of genomic repeats such as LINE-1 elements have been recognized as independent factors for increased cancer-related mortality. The methylation status of LINE-1 elements in early-onset CRC has not been analyzed previously. Design We analyzed 343 CRC tissues and 32 normal colonic mucosa samples, including 2 independent cohorts of CRC diagnosed ≤50 years old (n = 188), a group of sporadic CRC >50 years (MSS n = 89; MSI n = 46), and a group of Lynch syndrome CRCs (n = 20). Tumor mismatch repair protein expression, microsatellite instability status, LINE-1 and MLH1 methylation, somatic BRAF V600E mutation, and germline MUTYH mutations were evaluated. Results Mean LINE-1 methylation levels (±SD) in the five study groups were early-onset CRC, 56.6% (8.6); sporadic MSI, 67.1% (5.5); sporadic MSS, 65.1% (6.3); Lynch syndrome, 66.3% (4.5) and normal mucosa, 76.5% (1.5). Early-onset CRC had significantly lower LINE-1 methylation than any other group (p<0.0001). Compared to patients with <65% LINE-1 methylation in tumors, those with ≥65% LINE-1 methylation had significantly better overall survival (p = 0.026, log rank test). Conclusions LINE-1 hypomethylation constitutes a potentially important feature of early-onset CRC, and suggests a distinct molecular subtype. Further studies are needed to assess the potential of LINE-1 methylation status as a prognostic biomarker for young people with CRC

Release of NO from a nitrosyl ruthenium complex through oxidation of mitochondrial NADH and effects on mitochondria

Nitrosyl ruthenium complexes are promising NO donor agents with numerous advantages for the biologic applications of NO. We have characterized the NO release from the nitrosyl ruthenium complex [Ru(NO2)(bpy)(2)(4-pic)](+) (I) and the reactive oxygen/nitrogen species (ROS/RNS)-mediated NO actions on isolated rat liver mitochondria. The results indicated that oxidation of mitochondrial NADH promotes NO release from (I) in a manner mediated by NO2 formation (at neutral pH) as in mammalian cells, followed by an oxygen atom transfer mechanism (OAT). The NO released from (I) uncoupled mitochondria at low concentrations/incubation times and inhibited the respiratory chain at high concentrations/incubation times. In the presence of ROS generated by mitochondria NO gave rise to peroxynitrite, which, in turn, inhibited the respiratory chain and oxidized membrane protein-thiols to elicit a Ca2+-independent mitochondrial permeability transition; this process was only partially inhibited by cyclosporine-A, almost fully inhibited by the thiol reagent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) and fully inhibited by the NO scavenger 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,45,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (cPTIO). These actions correlated with the release of cytochrome c from isolated mitochondria as detected by Western blotting analysis. These events, typically involved in cell necrosis and/or apoptosis denote a potential specific action of (I) and analogs against tumor cells via mitochondria-mediated processes. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.FAPESPCNP

Revista de Vertebrados de la Estación Biológica de Doñaña

Comportamiento reproductor del camaleón común (Chamaeleo chamaeleon L.) en el sur de EspañaDistribución de los reptiles en la provincia de Granada (SE. Península Ibérica)Datos sobre la reproducción y el crecimientode Psammodromus hispanicus Fitzinger, 1826 en un medio adehesado de la España CentralVariación en la colocación y orientación del nido del Alzacola (Cercotrichas galactotes) en dos especies de árbolesOrganización de la comunidad de aves reproductora en las landas montanas del País Vasco AtlánticoEcología de una población ibérica de lobos (Canis Lupus)Etude biométrique des Crosidures (Soricidae, Insectivora) de la región de Massa (Souss, Maroe).Variación geográfica del género Eliomys en la Península IbéricaTendencias gregarias del Ciervo (Cervus elaphus) en Doñana.Data on the autumn diet of the red deer (Cervus elaphus L. 1758) in the Montes de Toledo (Central Spain)Nota sobre la coexistencia de Hyla arborea (L. 1758E Hyla meridionalis (Boettger 1874) rn rl Valle del TiétarCalendario reproductivo y tamaño de las puesta en el galápago leproso, Mauremys leprosa (Shweigger, 1812), en Doñana, HuelvaPelícola (Felicola) inaqualis Piager, 1880 (MALLOPHAGA:TRICHODECTIDAE) parásito deE Herpestes ichneumon L (CARNIVORA: HERPESTIDAE)Abundancia y amplitud de los desplazamientos de Apodemus sylvaticus en cuatro biotopos de Doñana que difieren en cobertura vegetalPeer reviewe

Incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics and outcomes of deep venous thrombosis in patients with COVID-19 attending the Emergency Department: results of the UMC-19-S8

Background and importance: A higher incidence of venous thromboembolism [both pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis (DVT)] in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been described. But little is known about the true frequency of DVT in patients who attend emergency department (ED) and are diagnosed with COVID-19. Objective: We investigated the incidence, risk factors, clinical characteristics and outcomes of DVT in patients with COVID-19 attending the ED before hospitalization. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all COVID patients diagnosed with DVT in 62 Spanish EDs (20% of Spanish EDs, case group) during the first 2 months of the COVID-19 outbreak. We compared DVT-COVID-19 patients with COVID-19 without DVT patients (control group). Relative frequencies of DVT were estimated in COVID and non-COVID patients visiting the ED and annual standardized incidences were estimated for both populations. Sixty-three patient characteristics and four outcomes were compared between cases and controls. Results: We identified 112 DVT in 74 814 patients with COVID-19 attending the ED [1.50‰; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.23-1.80‰]. This relative frequency was similar than that observed in non-COVID patients [2109/1 388 879; 1.52‰; 95% CI, 1.45-1.69‰; odds ratio (OR) = 0.98 [0.82-1.19]. Standardized incidence of DVT was higher in COVID patients (98,38 versus 42,93/100,000/year; OR, 2.20; 95% CI, 2.03-2.38). In COVID patients, the clinical characteristics associated with a higher risk of presenting DVT were older age and having a history of venous thromboembolism, recent surgery/immobilization and hypertension; chest pain and desaturation at ED arrival and some analytical disturbances were also more frequently seen, d-dimer >5000 ng/mL being the strongest. After adjustment for age and sex, hospitalization, ICU admission and prolonged hospitalization were more frequent in cases than controls, whereas mortality was similar (OR, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.77-2.45). Conclusions: DVT was an unusual form of COVID presentation in COVID patients but was associated with a worse prognosis

The Fourteenth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey: First Spectroscopic Data from the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey and from the second phase of the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment

The fourth generation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-IV) has been in operation since July 2014. This paper describes the second data release from this phase, and the fourteenth from SDSS overall (making this, Data Release Fourteen or DR14). This release makes public data taken by SDSS-IV in its first two years of operation (July 2014-2016). Like all previous SDSS releases, DR14 is cumulative, including the most recent reductions and calibrations of all data taken by SDSS since the first phase began operations in 2000. New in DR14 is the first public release of data from the extended Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (eBOSS); the first data from the second phase of the Apache Point Observatory (APO) Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE-2), including stellar parameter estimates from an innovative data driven machine learning algorithm known as "The Cannon"; and almost twice as many data cubes from the Mapping Nearby Galaxies at APO (MaNGA) survey as were in the previous release (N = 2812 in total). This paper describes the location and format of the publicly available data from SDSS-IV surveys. We provide references to the important technical papers describing how these data have been taken (both targeting and observation details) and processed for scientific use. The SDSS website (www.sdss.org) has been updated for this release, and provides links to data downloads, as well as tutorials and examples of data use. SDSS-IV is planning to continue to collect astronomical data until 2020, and will be followed by SDSS-V.Comment: SDSS-IV collaboration alphabetical author data release paper. DR14 happened on 31st July 2017. 19 pages, 5 figures. Accepted by ApJS on 28th Nov 2017 (this is the "post-print" and "post-proofs" version; minor corrections only from v1, and most of errors found in proofs corrected

Gene Expression Profiling in Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy 2A

Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 2A (LGMD2A) is a recessive genetic disorder caused by mutations in calpain 3 (CAPN3). Calpain 3 plays different roles in muscular cells, but little is known about its functions or in vivo substrates. The aim of this study was to identify the genes showing an altered expression in LGMD2A patients and the possible pathways they are implicated in. Ten muscle samples from LGMD2A patients with in which molecular diagnosis was ascertained were investigated using array technology to analyze gene expression profiling as compared to ten normal muscle samples. Upregulated genes were mostly those related to extracellular matrix (different collagens), cell adhesion (fibronectin), muscle development (myosins and melusin) and signal transduction. It is therefore suggested that different proteins located or participating in the costameric region are implicated in processes regulated by calpain 3 during skeletal muscle development. Genes participating in the ubiquitin proteasome degradation pathway were found to be deregulated in LGMD2A patients, suggesting that regulation of this pathway may be under the control of calpain 3 activity. As frizzled-related protein (FRZB) is upregulated in LGMD2A muscle samples, it could be hypothesized that β-catenin regulation is also altered at the Wnt signaling pathway, leading to an incorrect myogenesis. Conversely, expression of most transcription factor genes was downregulated (MYC, FOS and EGR1). Finally, the upregulation of IL-32 and immunoglobulin genes may induce the eosinophil chemoattraction explaining the inflammatory findings observed in presymptomatic stages. The obtained results try to shed some light on identification of novel therapeutic targets for limb-girdle muscular dystrophies