Approach to the assessment of sustainability in organic livestock farms in a Colombian Andean region

This study aimed to compare conventional livestock production systems in relation to other forms that implement ecological production, evaluating environmental variables (in water: nitrite, nitrate, phosphate, pH and availability of oxygen using photometrics methods and Winkler modified method. In soils: counts of bacteria and fungi using MPN method, and physicochemical properties. In meadows: Prairie composition, quantity and density of arthropods), productive variables (in forages: biomass estimation using the methodology by Campbell and Arnold, nutritional quality using bromatology methods, in animals: milk production, weight gain, and carrying capacity), and economic variables (Fertilization cost and control ecto-endo parasites cost) in 6 farms Township Guayabal de Síquima (Colombia). Three of them were classified as conventional while other three farms were classified as ecological in relation with management. The variables were compared statistically using T-test. The work established effects of conventional systems on water quality, significant differences were found between the affluent and effluent water for variables such as pH (P = 0.046), nitrate NO3-N (P = 0.027), and phosphorus as PO43- (P = 0.000). In the ecological management systems, the values associated with nitrate as NO3-N and phosphorus in the effluent water decreased and increased available oxygen. Regarding the microbiological analysis of soil found in most bacteria counts made for ecological systems being found significant difference (P = 0.003) compared to the conventional system as well as many fungi although there was no statistical difference between the two systems. The botanical composition of grasslands showed highly significant difference (P = 0.000) for the amount of grass being higher in organic farms than in conventional and the amount of weed (P = 0.000) being higher on conventional farms. Forage production per year was higher in conventional farms, enabling higher carrying capacity on them but not significant difference between the systems. The development of silvopastoral systems in the ecological farms, allowed the incorporation of various species in the animal feed, and probably influenced the diversity of arthropods in the meadow, along with other practices that additionally favored an integrated pest management. An evaluation of 12 indicators related with sustainability evidenced the best results in ecological systems

The challenges of organizing an international course in Latin America

The Latin American School of Human and Medical Genetics (ELAG) is the main course of its kind in the genetics field in Latin America. Here we describe the main challenges regarding the organization of such event, including how we obtain funding and how we proceed with student selection. Thus, we aim to share our experience with other groups that intend to follow this format to create similar events in other areas in this region of the worl

Experimental model of hepatic steatosis by fructose in adult zebrafish : a pilot study

The consumption of fructose has been questioned, since its increase has led to an associated increase in steatosis caused by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Despite the advantages presented by the zebrafish as an animal model, at present there are no models of steatosis by fructose in adult zebrafish. The aim of this study is to establish a model of hepatic steatosis by fructose in adult zebrafish. Methods: Firstly, adult zebrafish were daily exposed to 4% or 6% fructose. Then, animals were exposed to 6% fructose every 2 days. The hepatic lipid accumulation was analyzed by Nile Red and Oil Red O staining. Results: The daily exposure to 6% fructose showed increased accumulation of hepatic lipids when compared to 4% and control groups, but the same concentration showed no difference when the exposure happened every 2 days. Conclusion: We can suggest the daily exposure to a concentration of 6% fructose can be considered as a new experimental model of adult zebrafish

Comprensión y abordaje de terapia ocupacional sobre las relaciones afectivas de personas con discapacidad intelectual

Tesis (Terapeuta Ocupacional)La Terapia Ocupacional pone énfasis en las ocupaciones significativas y participación social de las personas, pero existe un área de abordaje que no ha sido profundizada teóricamente, siendo las relaciones afectivas que establecen las personas con discapacidad intelectual. Por lo tanto, la investigación busca conocer las experiencias obtenidas en intervenciones realizadas por Terapeutas Ocupacionales en el área de relaciones afectivas entre Personas con Discapacidad Intelectual. Las experiencias son recopiladas por medio de entrevistas semi estructuradas y categorizadas por medio de análisis de contenido. Se obtiene como resultado mayor saturación en las categorías de limitaciones contextuales, significado de relaciones afectivas y problematización de las experiencias personales

Cytotoxicity as a Fundamental Response to Xenobiotics

Cytotoxicity refers to the ability of a molecule or a compound to cause some type of cellular damage, of which some of the adverse effects that can occur include injuries to some structures or the fundamental processes involved in cell maintenance, such as survival, cell division, cell biochemistry, and the normal cell physiology. The potential for cytotoxicity is one of the first tests that must be performed to determine the effects of drugs, biomolecules, nanomaterials, medical devices, pesticides, heavy metals, and solvents, among others. This potential may be oriented in the mechanism under which it generates cell death, the dose, and the target cells that generate the response. The evaluation of the toxicologic and cytotoxic properties of the chemical substances through in vitro tests has become a competitive alternative to in vivo experimentation as a consequence of ethical considerations. Presently, there are numerous tests conducted to evaluate the cytotoxicity of a certain agent, the selection of which depends on the purpose of the study. In this sense, the present review provides a general overview of the different responses of a cell to xenobiotic agents and the different test that can be useful for evaluation of these responses

Paracrine effects of bone marrow mononuclear cells in survival and cytokine expression after 90% partial hepatectomy

Acute liver failure is a complex and fatal disease. Cell-based therapies are a promising alternative therapeutic approach for liver failure due to relatively simple technique and lower cost. The use of semipermeable microcapsules has become an interesting tool for evaluating paracrine effects in vivo. In this study, we aimed to assess the paracrine effects of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC) encapsulated in sodium alginate to treat acute liver failure in an animal model of 90% partial hepatectomy (90% PH). Encapsulated BMMC were able to increase 10-day survival without enhancing liver regeneration markers. Gene expression of Il-6 and Il-10 in the remnant liver was markedly reduced at 6 h after 90% PH in animals receiving encapsulated BMMC compared to controls. This difference, however, was neither reflected by changes in the number of CD68+ cells nor by serum levels of IL6. On the other hand, treated animals presented increased caspase activity and gene expression in the liver. Taken together, these results suggest that BMMC regulate immune response and promote apoptosis in the liver after 90% PH by paracrine factors. These changes ultimately may be related to the higher survival observed in treated animals, suggesting that BMMC may be a promising alternative to treat acute liver failure

Experimental model of hepatic steatosis by fructose in adult zebrafish: a pilot study

Introduction: The consumption of fructose has been questioned, since its increase has led to an associated increase in steatosis caused by nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Despite the advantages presented by the zebrafish as an animal model, at present there are no models of steatosis by fructose in adult zebrafish. The aim of this study is to establish a model of hepatic steatosis by fructose in adult zebrafish. Methods: Firstly, adult zebrafish were daily exposed to 4% or 6% fructose. Then, animals were exposed to 6% fructose every 2 days. The hepatic lipid accumulation was analyzed by Nile Red and Oil Red O staining. Results: The daily exposure to 6% fructose showed increased accumulation of hepatic lipids when compared to 4% and control groups, but the same concentration showed no difference when the exposure happened every 2 days. Conclusion: We can suggest the daily exposure to a concentration of 6% fructose can be considered as a new experimental model of adult zebrafish. Keywords: Fatty liver; fructose; zebrafis

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has benefcial efects on liver lipid accumulation and hepatic infammatory parameters in obese rats

Obesity is key to liver steatosis development and progression. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising tool for eating disorders management but was not yet evaluated in steatosis. This study investigated tDCS’ efects on liver steatosis and infammation in an experimental obesity model. Male Wistar rats (60 days-old) were randomly allocated (n= 10/group) as follows: standarddiet/sham tDCS (SDS), standard-diet/tDCS (SDT), hypercaloric-cafeteria-diet/sham tDCS (HDS), and hypercaloric-cafeteria-diet/tDCS (HDT). After 40 days of diet, animals received active or sham tDCS for eight days and were euthanized for liver fat deposition and infammation analysis. HDS and HDT animals showed cumulative food consumption, total liver lipid deposits, IL-1β, TNF-α levels, IL-1β/IL-10 and TNF-α/IL-10 ratios signifcantly higher than the SDS and SDT groups (p< 0.001 for all parameters). tDCS (SDT and HDT) reduced liver lipid deposits (0.7 times for both, p < 0.05), IL-1β (0.7 times and 0.9 times, respectively, p < 0.05) and IL-1β/IL-10 index (0.6 times and 0.8 times, respectively, p < 0.05) in relation to sham (SDS and HDS). There was an interaction efect on the accumulation of hepatic triglycerides (p< 0.05). tDCS reduced 0.8 times the average liver triglyceride concentration in the HDT vs. HDS group (p < 0.05). In this obesity model, tDCS signifcantly decreased liver steatosis and hepatic infammation. These results may justify looking into tDCS utility for human steatosis