Evolución de la investigación sobre la cognición canina. Una revisión sistemática utilizando la teoría de grafos

The objective is to conduct a systematic review of the canine cognition studies, with an emphasis on social domains. The bibliographic search was carried out in Scopus and Web of Science. To manage the data, a clustering analysis was carried out using graph theory. The Sci2 Tool and Gephi tools were used. The results were segmented into classical, structural, and recent studies. It was found that dogs have superior abilities for the recognition and use of human forms of communication, compared to wolves and apes. Also, communication skills are more similar between dogs and humans than between humans and chimpanzees. These findings have been interpreted under the explanatory hypotheses of evolutionary heritage, human exposure, and domestication, which recognize that the human social environment represents the natural ecological niche for this specie.El objetivo es realizar una revisión sistemática de la evolución de la investigación sobre la cognición canina, enfatizando en los dominios sociales. La búsqueda bibliográfica se efectuó en Scopus y Web of Science. Para el manejo de los datos se realizó un análisis de clusterización mediante teoría de grafos. Se empleó las herramientas Sci2 Tool y Gephi. Los resultados se segmentaron en estudios clásicos, estructurales y recientes. En estos estudios se encontró que los perros disponen de habilidades para el reconocimiento y el uso de formas humanas de comunicación que superarían a los lobos y primates no humanos. También, las habilidades comunicativas serían más similares entre perros y humanos que entre humanos y chimpancés. Estos hallazgos han sido interpretados bajo las hipótesis explicativas de la herencia evolutiva, de exposición y domesticación humanas, las cuales reconocen que el entorno social humano representa el nicho ecológico natural para esta especie

No news from old drawings? Stomach anatomy in muroid rodents in relation to body size and ecology

Muroid rodents mostly have a complex stomach: one part is lined with a cornified (nonglandular) epithelium, referred to as a “forestomach”, whereas the rest is lined with glandular epithelium. Numerous functions for the forestomach have been proposed. We collated a catalog of anatomical depictions of the stomach of 174 muroid species from which the respective nonglandular and glandular areas could be digitally measured, yielding a “stomach ratio” (nonglandular:glandular area) as a scale‐independent variable. Stomach ratios ranged from 0.13 to 20.15, and the coefficient of intraspecific variation if more than one picture was available for a species averaged at 29.7% (±21.5). We tested relationships of the ratio with body mass and various anatomical and ecological variables, including diet. There was a consistent phylogenetic signal, suggesting that closely related species share a similar anatomy. Apart from classifying stomachs into hemiglandular and discoglandular, no anatomical or ecological measure showed a consistent relationship to the stomach ratio. In particular, irrespective of statistical method or the source of dietary information, dietary proxies did not significantly correlate with the stomach ratio, except for a trend towards significance for invertivory (insectivory). Yet, even this relationship was not convincing: whereas highly insectivorous species had high but no low stomach ratios, herbivorous species had both low and high stomach ratios. Thus, the statistical effect is not due to a systematic increase in the relative forestomach size with invertivory. The most plausible hypotheses so far associate the muroid forestomach and its microbiome with a generic protective role against microbial or fungal toxins and diseases, without evident correlates of a peculiar need for this function under specific ecological conditions. Yet, this function remains to be confirmed. While providing a catalog of published depictions and hypotheses, this study highlights that the function of the muroid rodent forestomach remains enigmatic to date

Less need for differentiation? Intestinal length of reptiles as compared to mammals

Although relationships between intestinal morphology between trophic groups in reptiles are widely assumed and represent a cornerstone of ecomorphological narratives, few comparative approaches actually tested this hypothesis on a larger scale. We collected data on lengths of intestinal sections of 205 reptile species for which either body mass (BM), snoutvent-length (SVL) or carapax length (CL) was recorded, transforming SVL or CL into BM if the latter was not given, and analyzed scaling patterns with BM and SVL, accounting for phylogeny, comparing three trophic guilds (faunivores, omnivores, herbivores), and comparing with a mammal dataset. Length-BM relationships in reptiles were stronger for the small than the large intestine, suggesting that for the latter, additional factors might be relevant. Adding trophic level did not consistently improve model fit; only when controlling for phylogeny, models indicated a longer large intestine in herbivores, due to a corresponding pattern in lizards. Trophic level effects were highly susceptible to sample sizes, and not considered strong. Models that linked BM to intestine length had better support than models using SVL, due to the deviating body shape of snakes. At comparable BM, reptiles had shorter intestines than mammals. While the latter finding corresponds to findings of lower tissue masses for the digestive tract and other organs in reptiles as well as our understanding of differences in energetic requirements between the classes, they raise the hitherto unanswered question what it is that reptiles of similar BM have more than mammals. A lesser effect of trophic level on intestine lengths in reptiles compared to mammals may stem from lesser selective pressures on differentiation between trophic guilds, related to the generally lower food intake and different movement patterns of reptiles, which may not similarly escalate evolutionary arms races tuned to optimal agility as between mammalian predators and prey

Diet and habitat as determinants of intestine length in fishes

Fish biologists have long assumed a link between intestinal length and diet, and relative gut length or Zihler’s index are often used to classify species into trophic groups. This has been done for specific fish taxa or specific ecosystems, but not for a global fish dataset. Here, we assess these relationships across a dataset of 468 fish species (254 marine, 191 freshwater, and 23 occupy both habitats) in relation to body mass and fish length. Herbivores had significantly relatively stouter bodies and longer intestines than omni- and faunivores. Among faunivores, corallivores had longer intestines than invertivores, with piscivores having the shortest. There were no detectable differences between herbivore groups, possibly due to insufficient understanding of herbivorous fish diets. We propose that reasons for long intestines in fish include (i) difficult-to-digest items that require a symbiotic microbiome, and (ii) the dilution of easily digestible compounds with indigestible material (e.g., sand, wood, exoskeleton). Intestinal indices differed significantly between dietary groups, but there was substantial group overlap. Counter-intuitively, in the largest dataset, marine species had significantly shorter intestines than freshwater fish. These results put fish together with mammals as vertebrate taxa with clear convergence in intestine length in association with trophic level, in contrast to reptiles and birds, even if the peculiar feeding ecology of herbivorous fish is probably more varied than that of mammalian herbivores

Foxp3-positive macrophages display immunosuppressive properties and promote tumor growth

Identification of a population of Foxp3-expressing suppressive macrophages

A RELAÇÃO ENTRE MEDIDAS ANTROPOMÉTRICAS, OBESIDADE E A INCIDÊNCIA DE FRATURAS DE QUADRIL: UMA REVISÃO DE LITERATURA

Introduction: Hip fracture is one of the most traumatic injuries today, and obesity may be a possible risk factor. Objective: To evaluate the relationship between hip fracture and obesity in the population. Methodology: The research was carried out in September 2023, 4772 articles were found in the databases, and 20 articles were selected which make up the literature review. Results: Reports show that hip fractures are commonly related to the elderly population, resulting in high rates and may have obesity and reduced muscle mass as a risk factor in this group. Conclusion: Femoral fractures mainly affect the elderly population, being one of the probable risk factors for obesity. Furthermore, hip fracture is considered one of the most traumatic injuries today, with high rates, making it necessary to adopt public policies to change this scenario.    Introducción: La fractura de cadera es una de las lesiones más traumáticas en la actualidad, y la obesidad puede ser un posible factor de riesgo. Objetivo: Evaluar la relación entre fractura de cadera y obesidad en la población. Metodología: La investigación se realizó en septiembre de 2023, se encontraron 4772 artículos en las bases de datos y se seleccionaron 20 artículos que conforman la revisión de la literatura. Resultados: Los informes muestran que las fracturas de cadera están comúnmente relacionadas con la población de edad avanzada,  y pueden tener obesidad y masa muscular reducida como factor de riesgo en este grupo. Conclusión: Las fracturas de fémur afectan principalmente a la población de edad avanzada, siendo uno de los probables factores de riesgo para la obesidad. Además, la fractura de cadera es considerada una de las lesiones más traumáticas en la actualidad, por lo que es necesario adoptar políticas públicas para cambiar este escenario.    A fratura de quadril é uma das lesões mais traumáticas da atualidade, podendo ter como um possível fator de risco a obesidade. Objetivo: Avaliar a relação entre a fratura de quadril e a obesidade na população. Metodologia: A pesquisa foi realizada em setembro de 2023, foram encontrados 4772 artigos nas bases de dados, sendo selecionados 20 artigos os quais compõem a revisão de literatura. Resultados: Os relatos mostram que a fratura de quadril está comumente relacionada à população idosa, podendo ter como fator de risco a obesidade e a redução da massa muscular neste grupo. Conclusão: A fratura do fêmur acomete principalmente a população idosa, tendo como um dos prováveis fatores de risco a obesidade. Ademais, a fratura do quadril, é considerada uma das lesões mais traumáticas da atualidade, sendo necessário adotar políticas públicas para modificar esse cenário.  Introdução: A fratura de quadril é uma das lesões mais traumáticas da atualidade, podendo ter como um possível fator de risco a obesidade. Objetivo: Avaliar a relação entre a fratura de quadril e a obesidade na população. Metodologia: A pesquisa foi realizada em setembro de 2023, foram encontrados 4772 artigos nas bases de dados, sendo selecionados 20 artigos os quais compõem a revisão de literatura. Resultados: Os relatos mostram que a fratura de quadril está comumente relacionada à população idosa, podendo ter como fator de risco a obesidade e a redução da massa muscular neste grupo. Conclusão: A fratura do fêmur acomete principalmente a população idosa, tendo como um dos prováveis fatores de risco a obesidade. Ademais, a fratura do quadril, é considerada uma das lesões mais traumáticas da atualidade, sendo necessário adotar políticas públicas para modificar esse cenário.

La experiencia de formación en intervención terapéutica: reflexiones suscitadas durante el entrenamiento de la Especialización en Terapia Familiar de la Universidad Católica Luis Amigó

This paper establishes some reflections as result of a training exercise in the family therapeutic intervention carried out with families, during the first semester of the Family Therapy specialization program at Universidad Católica Luis Amigó. This exercise brings about meaning issues such as: the understanding of one´s self, communication as a possibility, the use of techniques and observation experiences in early sessions with families. The analysis of this training experience, is based on conceptual and life elements that are fundamental in family therapy that try influence the professional exercise under a systematic epistemology with a theoretical basis and a true reflective process.El presente artículo plantea reflexiones resultado de la experiencia de entrenamiento en intervención terapéutica con familias, llevada a cabo durante el primer semestre de formación como especialistas en terapia familiar de la Universidad Católica Luis Amigó. En el ejercicio se identifican asuntos significativos como la comprensión del sí mismo (self), la comunicación como posibilidad, el uso de técnicas y la experiencia de observación en las primeras sesiones con familias. Al plantear reflexiones suscitadas durante la práctica de entrenamiento, se retoman elementos conceptuales y vivenciales que articulados se consideran eje central del terapeuta familiar que busca conducir el ejercicio profesional bajo una epistemología sistémica con asiento conceptual y un verdadero proceso reflexivo

Special considerations for studies of extracellular vesicles from parasitic helminths: A community‐led roadmap to increase rigour and reproducibility

Over the last decade, research interest in defining how extracellular vesicles (EVs) shape cross-species communication has grown rapidly. Parasitic helminths, worm species found in the phyla Nematoda and Platyhelminthes, are well-recognised manipulators of host immune function and physiology. Emerging evidence supports a role for helminth-derived EVs in these processes and highlights EVs as an important participant in cross-phylum communication. While the mammalian EV field is guided by a community-agreed framework for studying EVs derived from model organisms or cell systems [e.g., Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles (MISEV)], the helminth community requires a supplementary set of principles due to the additional challenges that accompany working with such divergent organisms. These challenges include, but are not limited to, generating sufficient quantities of EVs for descriptive or functional studies, defining pan-helminth EV markers, genetically modifying these organisms, and identifying rigorous methodologies for in vitro and in vivo studies. Here, we outline best practices for those investigating the biology of helminth-derived EVs to complement the MISEV guidelines. We summarise community-agreed standards for studying EVs derived from this broad set of non-model organisms, raise awareness of issues associated with helminth EVs and provide future perspectives for how progress in the field will be achieved