Feeding Habits of Dwarf Goatfish (Upeneus parvus: Mullidae) on the Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico

Feeding habits of dwarf goatfish on the continental shelf off Alvarado, Veracruz, Mexico, were analyzed to determine seasonal variation and size-class changes in diet composition and trophic overlap between size classes. Food was found in 63% of the 1,437 dwarf goatfish guts analyzed. The 52 dietary items identified consisted mainly of crustaceans, with Solenocera vioscai being the most important prey. Dwarf goatfish exhibited seasonal and size-class changes in prey consumption. Despite the high number of prey items, low values of diversity and diet breadth were found in the trophic spectrum. A high trophic overlap between size classes was observed in the north-winds season between length classes (92-111 vs 112-130 mm) (λ = 0.81) and (92-111 vs 131-150 mm) (λ = 0.80), and (112-131 vs 131-150 mm) (λ = 0.67). In the rainy season high overlaps were obtained between (92-111 vs 112-131 min) (λ = 0.73) and (112-131 vs 131-150 mm) (λ = 0.84) length classes. Dwarf goatfish appear to be opportunistic carnivorous predators that impact benthic and epibenthic invertebrates

Comparison of fiber effect on glycemic index and glycemic load in differents types of bread

Indexación: Scopus; Redalyc.Existen diversos alimentos que contienen como nutriente principal hidratos de carbono, destacando entre ellos el pan por su masivo consumo a nivel mundial. Numerosos estudios se han llevado a cabo con el fin de reducir su índice glicémico, sin embargo, aún existe controversia sobre la acción de la fibra dietética en la disminución del IG en este alimento. Este estudio determinó el efecto de la fibra dietética sobre el índice glicémico y carga glicémica en dos tipos de panes comerciales en 23 individuos sanos quienes consumieron aleatoriamente 3 diferentes productos, de 50 g de carbohidratos cada uno, durante 6 días: pan blanco (PH), pan integral (PF), y solución glucosada como producto de referencia (SG). Se midió glicemia en ayunas y post-prandial a los tiempos 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 y 120 min. La insulina fue medida en el minuto 0 y 120 min. El área bajo la curva de glicemia resultó más baja para ambos tipos de pan PH 13589 ±1557, PF 12005 ±1254 que para el producto de referencia SG 14089 ±1245. Los valores del índice glicémico PH 68,55 ±1,2 y PF 62,10 ±1,3 y carga glicémica PH 16,45 ±1,4 resultaron más bajos para el pan con mayor aporte de fibra 9,93 ± 1,1, sin diferencias en la concentración de insulina, sugiriendo que la cantidad de carbohidratos y tipo de fibra contenidos en el pan integral, pueden considerarse factores intrínsecos en su composición nutricional, capaces de afectar la respuesta glicémica post- ingesta de estos productos en individuos sanos.There are several foods that contain carbohydrates as the main nutrient, being one of the most important the bread for its massive worldwide consumption. Numerous studies have been done in order to reduce its glycemic index, however there is still controversy about the action of dietary fiber in the decrease of GI in this product. In this study, it was determined the effect of dietetic fiber on glycemic index and glycemic load in two types of commercial breads in 23 healthy individuals who randomly consumed 3 different products during 6 days of 50g of carbohydrates each: white bread (PH), whole wheat bread (PE) and glucose solution as reference product (SG). Fasting and postprandial glycemia was measured at times 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 minutes. Insuline was measured at 0 min and 120 min. The area under de glycemia curve was lower for both bread types PH 13589 ±1557, PF 12005 ±1254 than for the reference product SG 14089 ±1245. The values of the glycemic index PH 68,55 ±1,2 and PF 62,01 ±1,3 and glycemic load PH 16.45 ±1,4 were lower for bread with more amount fiber 9,93 ± 1,1, with no difference in insulin concentration, suggesting that the amount of carbohydrates and fiber type contained in whole wheat bread can be considered intrinsic factors in bread composition, affecting the post-intake glycemic response of this type of products in healthy individuals.http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=5594990800

FTO gene: Historic background and its relationship with chronic-degenerative diseases

Indexación: Scopus; Latindex.Alteraciones en el desarrollo de la atención y la organización conductual pueden configurar cuadros clínicos como el trastorno déficit de atención (TDA) que puede estar acompañado o no de hiperactividad (TDAH), este último parece tener una relación directa con otros diagnósticos de tipo endocrino como la obesidad. El objetivo del estudio es analizar la relación que existe entre el TDAH y la obesidad. Es por ello que se realiza una revisión sistemática de estudios científicos revelando relaciones y diferencias entre ambos trastornos desde una mirada fisiológica, cognoscitiva y comportamental. Se concluye que la relación entre el TDAH y la obesidad se da por factores genéticos, por variaciones dopaminérgicas, cambios en patrones de sueño, desajustes emocionales y por alteraciones en la regulación de la conducta; igualmente influyen factores sociales relacionados con el cuidado en el embarazo y la alimentación de las mujeres antes y durante la gestación.http://www.revhipertension.com/rlh_2_2018/5_fto_gene.pd

Pembrolizumab as Consolidation Strategy in Patients with Multiple Myeloma: Results of the GEM-Pembresid Clinical Trial

PD1 expression in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is increased after treatment in multiple myeloma patients with persistent disease. The GEM-Pembresid trial analyzed the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab as consolidation in patients achieving at least very good partial response but with persistent measurable disease after first- or second-line treatment. Moreover, the characteristics of the immune system were investigated to identify potential biomarkers of response to pembrolizumab. One out of the 17 evaluable patients showed a decrease in the amount of M-protein, although a potential late effect of high-dose melphalan could not be ruled out. Fourteen adverse events were considered related to pembrolizumab, two of which (G3 diarrhea and G2 pneumonitis) prompted treatment discontinuation and all resolving without sequelae. Interestingly, pembrolizumab induced a decrease in the percentage of NK cells at cycle 3, due to the reduction of the circulating and adaptive subsets (0.615 vs. 0.43, p = 0.007; 1.12 vs. 0.86, p = 0.02). In the early progressors, a significantly lower expression of PD1 in CD8+ effector memory T cells (MFI 1327 vs. 926, p = 0.03) was observed. In conclusion, pembrolizumab used as consolidation monotherapy shows an acceptable toxicity profile but did not improve responses in this MM patient population. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov with identifier NCT02636010 and with EUDRACT number 2015-003359-23.This study was funded by Fundación Ramón Areces (FRA 16/003). T.P. is supported by a grant from the AECC (INVES18043PAIN). This study received financial support from Merck Sharp & Dohme of Spain, a subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, USA

Pembrolizumab as consolidation strategy in patients with multiple myeloma: Results of the GEM-Pembresid clinical trial

PD1 expression in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells is increased after treatment in multiple myeloma patients with persistent disease. The GEM-Pembresid trial analyzed the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab as consolidation in patients achieving at least very good partial response but with persistent measurable disease after first- or second-line treatment. Moreover, the characteristics of the immune system were investigated to identify potential biomarkers of response to pembrolizumab. One out of the 17 evaluable patients showed a decrease in the amount of M-protein, although a potential late effect of high-dose melphalan could not be ruled out. Fourteen adverse events were considered related to pembrolizumab, two of which (G3 diarrhea and G2 pneumonitis) prompted treatment discontinuation and all resolving without sequelae. Interestingly, pembrolizumab induced a decrease in the percentage of NK cells at cycle 3, due to the reduction of the circulating and adaptive subsets (0.615 vs. 0.43, p = 0.007; 1.12 vs. 0.86, p = 0.02). In the early progressors, a significantly lower expression of PD1 in CD8+ effector memory T cells (MFI 1327 vs. 926, p = 0.03) was observed. In conclusion, pembrolizumab used as consolidation monotherapy shows an acceptable toxicity profile but did not improve responses in this MM patient population. The trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov with identifier NCT02636010 and with EUDRACT number 2015-003359-23

Tissue culture of ornamental cacti

Cacti species are plants that are well adapted to growing in arid and semiarid regions where the main problem is water availability. Cacti have developed a series of adaptations to cope with water scarcity, such as reduced leaf surface via morphological modifications including spines, cereous cuticles, extended root systems and stem tissue modifications to increase water storage, and crassulacean acid metabolism to reduce transpiration and water loss. Furthermore, seeds of these plants very often exhibit dormancy, a phenomenon that helps to prevent germination when the availability of water is reduced. In general, cactus species exhibit a low growth rate that makes their rapid propagation difficult. Cacti are much appreciated as ornamental plants due to their great variety and diversity of forms and their beautiful short-life flowers; however, due to difficulties in propagating them rapidly to meet market demand, they are very often over-collected in their natural habitats, which leads to numerous species being threatened, endangered or becoming extinct. Therefore, plant tissue culture techniques may facilitate their propagation over a shorter time period than conventional techniques used for commercial purposes; or may help to recover populations of endangered or threatened species for their re-introduction in the wild; or may also be of value to the preservation and conservation of the genetic resources of this important family. Herein we present the state-of-the-art of tissue culture techniques used for ornamental cacti and selected suggestions for solving a number of the problems faced by members of the Cactaceae family