miR-127 protects proximal tubule cells against ischemia/reperfusion : identification of Kinesin family member 3B as miR-127 target

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) is at the basis of renal transplantation and acute kidney injury. Molecular mechanisms underlying proximal tubule response to I/R will allow the identification of new therapeutic targets for both clinical settings. microRNAs have emerged as crucial and tight regulators of the cellular response to insults including hypoxia. Here, we have identified several miRNAs involved in the response of the proximal tubule cell to I/R. Microarrays and RT-PCR analysis of proximal tubule cells submitted to I/R mimicking conditions in vitro demonstrated that miR-127 is induced during ischemia and also during reperfusion. miR-127 is also modulated in a rat model of renal I/R. Interference approaches demonstrated that ischemic induction of miR-127 is mediated by Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1alpha (HIF-1α) stabilization. Moreover, miR-127 is involved in cell-matrix and cell-cell adhesion maintenance, since overexpression of miR-127 maintains focal adhesion complex assembly and the integrity of tight junctions. miR-127 also regulates intracellular trafficking since miR-127 interference promotes dextran-FITC uptake. In fact, we have identified the Kinesin Family Member 3B (KIF3B), involved in cell trafficking, as a target of miR-127 in rat proximal tubule cells. In summary, we have described a novel role of miR-127 in cell adhesion and its regulation by HIF-1α. We also identified for the first time KIF3B as a miR-127 target. Both, miR-127 and KIF3B appear as key mediators of proximal epithelial tubule cell response to I/R with potential al application in renal ischemic damage management

Solubility of CO2 in three cellulose-dissolving ionic liquids

The solubility of CO2 in three cellulose-dissolving ionic liquids (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium diethylphosphate, [Emim][DEP], 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [Amim][Cl], and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, [Bmim][Cl]) at temperatures within 298 and 356 K and pressures up to 6.5 MPa was determined using a Van Ness-type apparatus (static isochoric). It was demonstrated that this device can work in isothermal and isoplethal modes, being the latter faster and more precise. Moreover, it was possible to determine CO2 solubilities in metastable liquid [Bmim][Cl]. Experimental data were modeled using the Extended Henry's law correlation and the group contribution equation of state. New parameters for the binary interaction of CO2 with ionic liquid groups were calculated.Fil: Pérez, Eduardo. Universidad de Valladolid; EspañaFil: de Pablo, Laura. Universidad de Valladolid; EspañaFil: Segovia, J. Juan. Universidad de Valladolid; EspañaFil: Moreau, Alejandro. Universidad de Valladolid; EspañaFil: Sánchez, Francisco Adrián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Pereda, Selva. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Planta Piloto de Ingeniería Química; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Ingeniería Química; ArgentinaFil: Bermejo, María Dolores. Universidad de Valladolid; Españ

Current ozone levels threaten gross primary production and yield of Mediterranean annual pastures and nitrogen modulates the response

Pastures are among the most important ecosystems in Europe considering their biodiversity and dis- tribution area. However, their response to increasing tropospheric ozone (O 3 ) and nitrogen (N) deposi- tion, two of the main drivers of global change, is still uncertain. A new Open-Top Chamber (OTC) experiment was performed in central Spain, aiming to study annual pasture response to O 3 and N in close to natural growing conditions. A mixture of six species of three representative families was sowed in the fi eld. Plants were exposed for 40 days to four O 3 treatments: fi ltered air, non- fi ltered air (NFA) repro- ducing ambient levels and NFA supplemented with 20 and 40 nl l � 1 O 3 . Three N treatments were considered to reach the N integrated doses of “ background ” , þ 20 or þ 40 kg N ha � 1 . Ozone signi fi cantly reduced green and total aboveground biomass (maximum reduction 25%) and increased the senescent biomass (maximum increase 40%). Accordingly, O 3 decreased community Gross Primary Production due to both a global reduction of ecosystem CO 2 exchange and an increase of ecosystem respiration. Nitrogen could partially counterbalance O 3 effects on aboveground biomass when the levels of O 3 were moderate, but at the same time O 3 exposure reduced the fertilization effect of higher N availability. Therefore, O 3 must be considered as a stress factor for annual pastures in the Mediterranean areas

Enfermedades importadas en España: dificultades en la atención sanitaria

Introduction: In Spain, from 2000 to 2010, there were measures that promoted equality in health and permitted access to health services for the immigrant population. Because of the economic crisis and the reductions in public expenditure on health, security measures were put in place, which not only had negative consequences for this group, also for public health in general. Therefore, the number of imported diseases cases have increased in direct relation to international travels.Objectives: To evaluate the presence of imported diseases in Spain and to know the problem of the immigrant in the Health System.Method: the literature review of studies in English and Spanish published between 2007 and 2017, including several databases and reports from institutions and scientific organizations.Results: A total of 173 articles indexed in the databases were obtained. 32 of these articles were adjusted to the inclusion criteria, of which 15 were selected to respond to the objectives. The studies affirm that population movements such as migrations or international trips, increase the presence of imported diseases in Spain. In addition, legislative measures imposed by the government on health matters, complicate access to the Spanish Health System for irregular immigrants. They also highlight other difficulties for the immigrant, such as the language and the lack of knowledge of the correct access and use of health services.Conclusion: The sum of all the above mentioned, creates lack of confidence in the immigrant, which postpones contact with the health service, and may lead to a serious problem in public health, mainly due to the delay in the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of imported infectious diseases.Introducción: En España, desde el 2000 hasta el 2010, existían medidas que fomentaban la igualdad en salud y acceso a los servicios sanitarios de la población inmigrante. Con el inicio de la crisis y las reducciones del gasto público en salud, se instauraron medidas, que no solo tienen consecuencias negativas para este colectivo sino también para la salud pública en general, viéndose en aumento el número de casos de enfermedades importadas, también relacionadas con el aumento de viajes internacionales.Objetivos: Evaluar la presencia de enfermedades importadas en España y conocer la problemática del inmigrante en el Sistema Sanitario. Método: Revisión bibliográfica de estudios en lengua inglesa y castellana publicados entre 2007 y 2017 recogidos varias bases de datos y en informes de instituciones y organizaciones científicas.Resultados: Se obtuvo un total de 173 artículos indexados en las bases de datos. De estos, 32 se ajustaron a los criterios de inclusión, de los que se seleccionaron 15 para responder a los objetivos.15 producciones se adaptaron al objetivo del presente estudio. Los estudios afirman que los movimientos poblacionales como migraciones o a viajes internacionales, elevan la presencia de enfermedad importada en España. Esto junto con las medidas legislativas impuestas por el gobierno en materia de sanidad, dificultan al inmigrante irregular la posibilidad de acceder al Sistema Sanitario español. Destacan además otras dificultades para el inmigrante como son el idioma y el desconocimiento del correcto acceso y uso de las prestaciones sanitarias.Conclusión: Todo esto, crea desconfianza en el inmigrante, el cual aplaza el contacto con el servicio sanitario, pudiendo llegar a ocasionar un grave problema en la salud pública, principalmente por el retraso en el diagnóstico, tratamiento y seguimiento de enfermedades infecciosas importadas

Carbon nanodot–based electrogenerated chemiluminescence biosensor for miRNA-21 detection

A simple carbon nanodot–based electrogenerated chemiluminescence biosensor is described for sensitive and selective detection of microRNA-21 (miRNA-21), a biomarker of several pathologies including cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). The photoluminescent carbon nanodots (CNDs) were obtained using a new synthesis method, simply by treating tiger nut milk in a microwave reactor. The synthesis is environmentally friendly, simple, and efficient. The optical properties and morphological characteristics of the CNDs were exhaustively investigated, confirming that they have oxygen and nitrogen functional groups on their surfaces and exhibit excitation-dependent fluorescence emission, as well as photostability. They act as co-reactant agents in the anodic electrochemiluminescence (ECL) of [Ru(bpy)3]2+, producing different signals for the probe (single-stranded DNA) and the hybridized target (double-stranded DNA). These results paved the way for the development of a sensitive ECL biosensor for the detection of miRNA-21. This was developed by immobilization of a thiolated oligonucleotide, fully complementary to the miRNA-21 sequence, on the disposable gold electrode. The target miRNA-21 was hybridized with the probe on the electrode surface, and the hybridization was detected by the enhancement of the [Ru(bpy)3]2+/DNA ECL signal using CNDs. The biosensor shows a linear response to miRNA-21 concentration up to 100.0 pM with a detection limit of 0.721 fM. The method does not require complex labeling steps, and has a rapid response. It was successfully used to detect miRNA-21 directly in serum samples from heart failure patients without previous RNA extraction neither amplification processThis study is funded by the Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain) projects (TRANSNANOAVANSENS, S2018/NMT-4349, CAM/B2017/BMD-3686) and Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (Spanish Government) projects: CTQ2015-71955-REDT (ELECTROBIONET), CTQ2014-53334-C2-1-R and PID2020-116728RB-I0

Metabolic and transcriptional responses of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata L.) to environmental stress: New insights in fish mitochondrial phenotyping

The aim of the current study was to phenotype fish metabolism and the transcriptionally-mediated response of hepatic mitochondria of gilthead sea bream to intermittent and repetitive environmental stressors: (i) changes in water temperature (T-ST), (ii) changes in water level and chasing (C-ST) and (iii) multiple sensory perception stressors (M-ST). Gene expression profiling was done using a quantitative PCR array of 60 mitochondria-related genes, selected as markers of transcriptional regulation, oxidative metabolism, respiration uncoupling, antioxidant defense, protein import/folding/assembly, and mitochondrial dynamics and apoptosis. The mitochondrial phenotype mirrored changes in fish performance, haematology and lactate production. T-ST especially up-regulated transcriptional factors (PGC1α, NRF1, NRF2), rate limiting enzymes of fatty acid β-oxidation (CPT1A) and tricarboxylic acid cycle (CS), membrane translocases (Tim/TOM complex) and molecular chaperones (mtHsp10, mtHsp60, mtHsp70) to improve the oxidative capacity in a milieu of a reduced feed intake and impaired haematology. The lack of mitochondrial response, increased production of lactate and negligible effects on growth performance in C-ST fish were mostly considered as a switch from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism. A strong down-regulation of PGC1α, NRF1, NRF2, CPT1A, CS and markers of mitochondrial dynamics and apoptosis (BAX, BCLX, MFN2, MIRO2) occurred in M-ST fish in association with the greatest circulating cortisol concentration and a reduced lactate production and feed efficiency, which represents a metabolic condition with the highest allostatic load score. These findings evidence a high mitochondrial plasticity against stress stimuli, providing new insights to define the threshold level of stress condition in fish. © 2014 Elsevier Inc.This work was funded by the EU AQUAEXCEL (Aquaculture Infrastructures for Excellence in European Fish Research, FP7/2007/2013; grant agreement No. 262336), and the Spanish AQUAGENOMICS (CSD2007-00002, Improvement of aquaculture production by the use of biotechnological tools) projects. Additional funding was obtained by Generalitat Valenciana (research grant PROMETEO 2010/006).Peer Reviewe

Visfatin Impairs Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation in Rat and Human Mesenteric Microvessels through Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase Activity

Visfatin, also known as extracellular pre–B-cell colony–enhancing factor (PBEF) and nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt), is an adipocytokine whose circulating levels are enhanced in metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus and obesity. Circulating visfatin levels have been positively associated with vascular damage and endothelial dysfunction. Here, we investigated the ability of visfatin to directly impair vascular reactivity in mesenteric microvessels from both male Sprague-Dawley rats and patients undergoing non-urgent, non-septic abdominal surgery. The pre-incubation of rat microvessels with visfatin (50 and 100 ng/mL) did not modify the contractile response to noradrenaline (1 pmol/L to 30 µmol/L), as determined using a small vessel myograph. However, visfatin (10 to 100 ng/mL) concentration-dependently impaired the relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh; 100 pmol/L to 3 µmol/L), without interfering with the endothelium-independent relaxation to sodium nitroprusside (1 nmol/L to 3 µmol/L). In both cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells and rat microvascular preparations, visfatin (50 ng/mL) stimulated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity, as determined by lucigenin-derived chemiluminiscence. The relaxation to ACh impaired by visfatin was restored by the NADPH oxidase inhibitor apocynin (10 µmol/L). Additionally, the Nampt inhibitor APO866 (10 mmol/L to 10 µmol/L), but not an insulin receptor-blocking antibody, also prevented the stimulation of NADPH oxidase and the relaxation impairment elicited by visfatin. Accordingly, the product of Nampt activity nicotinamide mononucleotide (100 nmol/L to 1 mmol/L) stimulated endothelial NADPH oxidase activity and concentration-dependently impaired ACh-induced vasorelaxation. In human mesenteric microvessels pre-contracted with 35 mmol/L potassium chloride, the endothelium-dependent vasodilation to bradykinin (1 nmol/L to 3 µmol/L) was equally impaired by visfatin and restored upon co-incubation with APO866. In conclusion, visfatin impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation through a mechanism involving NADPH oxidase stimulation and relying on Nampt enzymatic activity, and therefore arises as a potential new player in the development of endothelial dysfunction

A semi-automatic mHealth system using wearable devices for identifying pain-related parameters in elderly individuals

Background Mobile health systems integrating wearable devices are emerging as promising tools for registering pain-related factors. However, their application in populations with chronic conditions has been underexplored. Objective To design a semi-automatic mobile health system with wearable devices for evaluating the potential predictive relationship of pain qualities and thresholds with heart rate variability, skin conductance, perceived stress, and stress vulnerability in individuals with preclinical chronic pain conditions such as suspected rheumatic disease. Methods A multicenter, observational, cross-sectional study was conducted with 67 elderly participants. Predicted variables were pain qualities and pain thresholds, assessed with the McGill Pain Questionnaire and a pressure algometer, respectively. Predictor variables were heart rate variability, skin conductance, perceived stress, and stress vulnerability. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to examine the influence of the predictor variables on the pain dimensions. Results The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the predictor variables significantly accounted for 27% of the variability in the affective domain, 14% in the miscellaneous domain, 15% in the total pain rating index, 10% in the number of words chosen, 14% in the present pain intensity, and 16% in the Visual Analog Scale scores. Conclusion The study found significant predictive values of heart rate variability, skin conductance, perceived stress, and stress vulnerability in relation to pain qualities and thresholds in the elderly population with suspected rheumatic disease. The comprehensive integration of physiological and psychological stress measures into pain assessment of elderly individuals with preclinical chronic pain conditions could be promising for developing new preventive strategies.R&D&i Project Ref. PID2019-109644RB-I00 funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación / Agencia Estatal de Investigación / 10.13039/501100011033R&D&i Project Ref. B-TIC-320-UGR20 funded by Junta de Andalucía and “ERDF A way of making Europe.