Diversidad de macroinvertebrados acuáticos y calidad del agua en la Cuenca alta del río Chiriquí Viejo, Provincia de Chiriquí, Panamá

Con el objetivo de determinar la diversidad de macroinvertebrados acuáticos y la calidad del agua de la cuenca alta del río Chiriquí Viejo, se realizaron dos muestreos al mes, de marzo a julio de 2013, en cuatro estaciones de muestreo. Se recolectaron las muestras utilizando una red triangular para las áreas de corriente y pinzas entomológicas para el muestreo manual. En total se identificaron 6 182 individuos pertenecientes a 110 géneros, 58 familias, 16 órdenes, nueve clases y cinco phyla de macroinvertebrados acuáticos. Se observó una gran diferencia en la calidad de agua, entre las estaciones dentro y fuera del área protegida. En el área protegida hay una mayor diversidad y por ende, mayor calidad de agua

HONGOS ENTOMOPATÓGENOS ASOCIADOS A INSECTOS RECOLECTADOS EN PLANTACIONES DE CAFÉ EN EL OESTE DE PANAMÁ

This study was carried out in order to determine the diversity of native entomopathogenic fungi associated to insects present in coffee plantations in Boquete (without the presence of Hipothenemus hampei Ferrari). Fieldwork was conducted between October and November 2005. Insects were collected with the symptoms of entomopathogenic fungi attack and were isolated and identified. A total of 33 fungal cultures were obtained from the isolation of mycelia present in samples of insects collected in the field. The cultures correspond to 7 species in 5 genera of pathogenic fungi: Acremonium charticola, A. crassum, Beauveria bassiana, B. brongniartii, Fusarium oxysporum, Lecanicillium tenuipes, Metarhizium anisopliae and Torrubiella tenuis, which were found on insects of the orders Dermaptera and Hemiptera. Of these species, only Beauveria and Acremonium have been documented in other studies as natural enemies of H. hampei. T. tenuis was the only teleomorph found infesting scale insects.  Este estudio se realizó con la finalidad de determinar la diversidad de hongos entomopatógenos nativos asociados a insectos presentes en plantaciones de café en Boquete (sin la presencia de Hypothenemus hampei Ferrari).  El trabajo de campo se realizó entre octubre y noviembre de 2005. Se recolectaron insectos con la sintomatología del ataque de hongos entomopatógenos y se aislaron e identificaron. Un total de 33 cultivos de hongos se obtuvieron del aislamiento de micelio presente en las muestras de insectos. Los cultivos corresponden a siete especies en cinco géneros de hongos patógenos: Acremonium charticola, A. crassum, Beauveria bassiana, B. brongniartii, Fusarium oxysporum, Lecanicillium tenuipes, Metarhizium anisopliae y Torrubiella tenuis, los cuales se encontraron en insectos de los órdenes Dermáptera y Hemiptera. De éstas especies, solo Acremonium y Beauveria han sido documentadas en otros estudios como enemigos naturales de H. hampei. Torrubiella tenuis fue el único teleomorfo encontrado parasitando insectos escamas

Apoyo a la toma de decisiones para la mejora de la gestión en explotaciones agroforestales

La agricultura actual se encuentra inmersa en un proceso acelerado de actualización y adaptación a un modelo digital de trabajo que se extiende imparable a lo largo de toda la cadena agroalimentaria. Parte de esta evolución viene marcada por la incorporación de las TIC (tecnologías de la información y la comunicación), y por la disponibilidad de nuevas soluciones de hardware y software que están cambiando la forma de trabajar en el campo mediante la monitorización de las labores agrícolas y el análisis de los datos generados en las explotaciones

p38γ is essential for cell cycle progression and liver tumorigenesis

The cell cycle is a tightly regulated process that is controlled by the conserved cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK)–cyclin protein complex1. However, control of the G0-to-G1 transition is not completely understood. Here we demonstrate that p38 MAPK gamma (p38γ) acts as a CDK-like kinase and thus cooperates with CDKs, regulating entry into the cell cycle. p38γ shares high sequence homology, inhibition sensitivity and substrate specificity with CDK family members. In mouse hepatocytes, p38γ induces proliferation after partial hepatectomy by promoting the phosphorylation of retinoblastoma tumour suppressor protein at known CDK target residues. Lack of p38γ or treatment with the p38γ inhibitor pirfenidone protects against the chemically induced formation of liver tumours. Furthermore, biopsies of human hepatocellular carcinoma show high expression of p38γ, suggesting that p38γ could be a therapeutic target in the treatment of this disease

Latent tuberculosis infection, tuberculin skin test and vitamin D status in contacts of tuberculosis patients: a cross-sectional and case-control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Deficient serum vitamin D levels have been associated with incidence of tuberculosis (TB), and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). However, to our knowledge, no studies on vitamin D status and tuberculin skin test (TST) conversion have been published to date. The aim of this study was to estimate the associations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D₃(25[OH]D) status with LTBI prevalence and TST conversion in contacts of active TB in Castellon (Spain).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was designed in two phases: cross-sectional and case-control. From November 2009 to October 2010, contacts of 42 TB patients (36 pulmonary, and 6 extra-pulmonary) were studied in order to screen for TB. LTBI and TST conversion cases were defined following TST, clinical, analytic and radiographic examinations. Serum 25(OH)D levels were measured by electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (ECLIA) on a COBAS^®410 ROCHE^®analyzer. Logistic regression models were used in the statistical analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The study comprised 202 people with a participation rate of 60.1%. Only 20.3% of the participants had a sufficient serum 25(OH)D (≥ 30 ng/ml) level. In the cross-sectional phase, 50 participants had LTBI and no association between LTBI status and serum 25(OH)D was found. After 2 months, 11 out of 93 negative LTBI participants, without primary prophylaxis, presented TST conversion with initial serum 25(OH)D levels: a:19.4% (7/36): < 20 ng/ml, b:12.5% (4/32):20-29 ng/ml, and c:0%(0/25) ≥ 30 ng/ml. A sufficient serum 25(OH)D level was a protector against TST conversion a: Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.00; b: OR = 0.49 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.07-2.66); and c: OR = 0.10 (95% CI 0.00-0.76), trends p = 0.019, adjusted for high exposure and sputum acid-fast bacilli positive index cases. The mean of serum level 25(OH)D in TST conversion cases was lower than controls,17.5 ± 5.6 ng/ml versus 25.9 ± 13.7 ng/ml (p = 0.041).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results suggest that sufficient serum 25(OH)D levels protect against TST conversion.</p

Total and Subtypes of Dietary Fat Intake and Its Association with Components of the Metabolic Syndrome in a Mediterranean Population at High Cardiovascular Risk

Background: The effect of dietary fat intake on the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and in turn on cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains unclear in individuals at high CVD risk. Objective: To assess the association between fat intake and MetS components in an adult Mediterranean population at high CVD risk. Design: Baseline assessment of nutritional adequacy in participants (n = 6560, men and women, 55-75 years old, with overweight/obesity and MetS) in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED)-Plus randomized trial. Methods: Assessment of fat intake (total fat, monounsatured fatty acids: MUFA, polyunsaturated fatty acids: PUFA, saturated fatty acids: SFA, trans-fatty acids: trans-FA, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid, and ω-3 FA) using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and diet quality using 17-item Mediterranean dietary questionnaire and fat quality index (FQI). Results: Participants in the highest quintile of total dietary fat intake showed lower intake of energy, carbohydrates, protein and fiber, but higher intake of PUFA, MUFA, SFA, TFA, LA, ALA and ω-3 FA. Differences in MetS components were found according to fat intake. Odds (5th vs. 1st quintile): hyperglycemia: 1.3-1.6 times higher for total fat, MUFA, SFA and ω-3 FA intake; low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c): 1.2 higher for LA; hypertriglyceridemia: 0.7 lower for SFA and ω-3 FA intake. Conclusions: Dietary fats played different role on MetS components of high CVD risk patients. Dietary fat intake was associated with higher risk of hyperglycemia