Reference Gene Validation for RT-qPCR in PBMCs from Asthmatic Patients with or without Obesity

Obesity is known to impair the efficacy of glucocorticoid medications for asthma control. Glucocorticoid-induced gene expression studies may be useful to discriminate those obese asthmatic patients who present a poor response to glucocorticoids. The expression of genes of interest is normalized with respect to reference genes (RGs). Ideally, RGs have a stable expression in different samples and are not affected by experimental conditions. The objective of this work was to analyze suitable RGs to study the role of glucocorticoid-induced genes in obese asthmatic patients in further research. The gene expression of eight potential RGs (GUSB, B2M, POLR2A, PPIA, ACTB, GAPDH, HPRT1, and TBP) was assessed with reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from asthmatic, obese asthmatic, and healthy individuals. Their stability was analyzed using four different algorithms-BestKeeper, ?Ct, geNorm, and NormFinder. geNorm analysis recommended the use of a minimum of three genes for normalization. Moreover, intergroup variation due to the treatment was calculated by NormFinder, which found that B2M was the gene that was least affected by different treatments. Comprehensive rankings indicated GUSB and HPRT1 as the best RGs for qPCR in PBMCs from healthy and asthmatic subjects, while B2M and PPIA were the best for obese asthmatic subjects. Finally, our results demonstrated that B2M and HPRT1 were the most stable RGs among all groups, whereas ACTB, TBP, and GAPDH were the worst shared ones

Differences in Inflammatory Cytokine Profile in Obesity-Associated Asthma: Effects of Weight Loss

Obesity and asthma are associated with systemic inflammation maintained by mediators released by adipose tissue and lung. This study investigated the inflammatory serum mediator profile in obese subjects (O) (n = 35), non-obese asthma (NOA) patients (n = 14), obese asthmatics (OA) (n = 21) and healthy controls (HC) (n = 33). The effect of weight loss after bariatric surgery (BS) was examined in 10 OA and 31 O subjects. We analyzed serum markers including leptin, adiponectin, TGF-?1, TNFR2, MCP-1, ezrin, YKL-40, ST2, IL-5, IL-9, and IL-18. Compared with HC subjects, the O group showed increased levels of leptin, TGF-?1, TNFR2, MCP-1, ezrin, YKL-40, and ST2; the OA group presented increased levels of MCP-1, ezrin, YKL-40, and IL-18, and the NOA group had increased levels of ezrin, YKL-40, IL-5, and IL-18. The higher adiponectin/leptin ratio in NOA with respect to OA subjects was the only significant difference between the two groups. IL-9 was the only cytokine with significantly higher levels in OA with respect to O subjects. TNFR2, ezrin, MCP-1, and IL-18 concentrations significantly decreased in O subjects after BS. O, OA, and NOA showed distinct patterns of systemic inflammation. Leptin and adiponectin are regulated in asthma by obesity-dependent and-independent mechanisms. Combination of asthma and obesity does not result in significant additive effects on circulating cytokine levels. © 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

El turismo urbano como oferta turística alternativa en Medellín: comportamientos espaciales de la ciudad como destino turístico

The research project “Update and implementation of the inventory of Medellín city’s tourist attractions and its districts”, carried out in 2016 in collaboration with the Undersecretariat of Tourism of the City Hall of Medellín, raised the following questions: Is there a clear offer of cultural and environmental tourist tours in Medellín? How can the resources identified and assessed in the tourism inventory contribute to an offer that meets the needs of tourists visiting Medellín today? This paper focuses on these questions and aims to reflect on the recognition and assessment of the local tourism offer as well as on the management model of the city from its inception. This analysis shows manifestations and spatial behaviors that create inclusive opportunities for communities, and project a new image of an emergent city which is resilient in the face of difficulties and innovative in its actions, like few in the world. It also allows to identify new opportunities for urban planning and future intervention, for which everyone must be willing to increase and maintain the possibility of optimizing local economic and social development in a sustainable and competitive way.El proyecto de investigación «Actualización e implementación del inventario de atractivos turísticos de la ciudad de Medellín y sus corregimientos», en convenio de asociación con la Subsecretaría de Turismo de la Alcaldía de Medellín realizado para el año 2016, dejó los siguientes interrogantes: ¿Existe una oferta clara de recorridos turísticos,tanto culturales como ambientales, en Medellín?, y ¿cómo pueden los recursos identificados y valorados en el inventario turístico contribuir a que dicha oferta satisfaga las necesidades del turista que llega a Medellín actualmente? Abordar este cuestionamiento es fundamental en este artículo, que busca una reflexión acerca del reconocimiento y valoración de la oferta turística local y el modelo de gestión de la ciudad desde sus inicios. Esta reflexión permite evidenciar manifestaciones y comportamientos espaciales que generan hoy oportunidades a las comunidades de una manera incluyente e irradian una nueva imagen de ciudad emergente, resiliente de sus dificultades e innovadora en sus acciones, como pocas en el mundo; también permite identificar nuevas oportunidades de ciudad para su ordenación e intervención planificadora hacia el futuro, en las que todos deben prepararse para aumentar y conservar la posibilidad de optimizar el desarrollo económico y social local de manera sostenible y competitiva

Freshwater fish introductions in mediterranean-climate regions: are there commonalities in the conservation problem?

Aim To compare patterns and drivers of freshwater fish introductions across five climatically similar regions and evaluate similarities and differences in the nonnative species introduced. Location Five mediterranean-climate regions: California (USA), central Chile, south-western Australia, the Iberian peninsula (Spain and Portugal) and the south-western Cape (South Africa). Methods Species presence–absence for native and non-native fishes were collated across the regions, and patterns of faunal change were examined using univariate and multivariate statistical approaches. Taxonomic patterns in freshwater fish introductions were evaluated by comparing the number of species introduced by order to the numbers expected from binomial probabilities. Factors influencing multiple introductions of freshwater fish species in mediterranean regions were determined using generalized linear modelling. Results High levels of endemism (70–90%) were revealed for south-western Cape, south-western Australia and Chile. Despite their high rates of endemism, all regions currently have more non-native species than endemic species. Taxonomic selection was found for five orders, although this was only significant for Salmoniformes across regions. The average increase in regional compositional similarity of fish faunas resulting from non-native fish introductions was 8.0%. Important factors predicting multiple introductions of a species include previous introduction success and mean latitude of its distribution Main conclusions The mediterranean-climate regions of the world, separated by vast distances, originally had a few fish species in common but are now more similar, owing to species introductions, illustrating the extent and importance of taxonomic homogenization. Introductions are largely driven by taxonomically biased human interests in recreational fisheries, aquaculture and ornamental pet species.Centre of Excellence for Invasion Biolog

Harvest anticipation, yield and economic feasibility of wheat by application of non-selective herbicides.

The present work aims to evaluate the possibility of anticipating the wheat harvest by the application of non-selective herbicides in the pre-harvest conditions, thereby providing productive and economic viability

Produtividade e viabilidade econômica da antecipação da colheita de trigo pela aplicação de herbicidas.

A dessecação na pré-colheita é uma prática adotada para promover melhores condições na operação e possibilitar o cultivo subsequente em épocas adequadas. Nesse sentido, a maximização da produção das culturas agrícolas depende de condições edafoclimáticas que coincidam com as melhores condições ecofisiológicas para as plantas. Em algumas regiões do RS, a colheita do trigo tem coincidido com a época preferencial de semeadura da soja, na sucessão ao trigo (Pires et al., 2016). Dessa forma, a colheita antecipada da cultura do trigo com umidades da massa de grãos próximo a 30% não implica em perda do potencial produtivo (Carneiro et al., 2005), mas aumenta o custo de secagem das sementes para proporcionar adequado armazenamento e industrialização. Pesquisas têm demonstrado que a dessecação pré-colheita com herbicidas pode ser considerada uma prática importante para antecipar o ponto de colheita da cultura (Yenish; Young, 2000). Estudos visando o sucesso da prática e a viabilidade econômica da dessecação pré-colheita de trigo são escassos e, muitas vezes realizado sem o devido acompanhamento técnico. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a produtividade e a viabilidade econômica da antecipação da colheita do trigo através da aplicação de herbicidas na pré-colheita

Temporal Genetic Variance and Propagule-Driven Genetic Structure Characterize Naturalized Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from a Patagonian Lake Impacted by Trout Farming

Knowledge about the genetic underpinnings of invasions—a theme addressed by invasion genetics as a discipline—is still scarce amid well documented ecological impacts of non-native species on ecosystems of Patagonia in South America. One of the most invasive species in Patagonia’s freshwater systems and elsewhere is rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). This species was introduced to Chile during the early twentieth century for stocking and promoting recreational fishing; during the late twentieth century was reintroduced for farming purposes and is now naturalized. We used population- and individual-based inference from single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to illuminate three objectives related to the establishment and naturalization of Rainbow Trout in Lake Llanquihue. This lake has been intensively used for trout farming during the last three decades. Our results emanate from samples collected from five inlet streams over two seasons, winter and spring. First, we found that significant intra- population (temporal) genetic variance was greater than inter-population (spatial) genetic variance, downplaying the importance of spatial divergence during the process of naturalization. Allele frequency differences between cohorts, consistent with variation in fish length between spring and winter collections, might explain temporal genetic differences. Second, individual-based Bayesian clustering suggested that genetic structure within Lake Llanquihue was largely driven by putative farm propagules found at one single stream during spring, but not in winter. This suggests that farm broodstock might migrate upstream to breed during spring at that particular stream. It is unclear whether interbreeding has occurred between “pure” naturalized and farm trout in this and other streams. Third, estimates of the annual number of breeders (N[subscript]b) were below 73 in half of the collections, suggestive of genetically small and recently founded populations that might experience substantial genetic drift. Our results reinforce the notion that naturalized trout originated recently from a small yet genetically diverse source and that farm propagules might have played a significant role in the invasion of Rainbow Trout within a single lake with intensive trout farming. Our results also argue for proficient mitigation measures that include management of escapes and strategies to minimize unintentional releases from farm facilities

Data Management Plans: the Importance of Data Management in the BIG‐MAP Project[]**

Open access to research data is increasingly important for accelerating research. Grant authorities therefore request detailed plans for how data is managed in the projects they finance. We have recently developed such a plan for the EU−H2020 BIG-MAP project—a cross-disciplinary project targeting disruptive battery-material discoveries. Essential for reaching the goal is extensive sharing of research data across scales, disciplines and stakeholders, not limited to BIG-MAP and the European BATTERY 2030+ initiative but within the entire battery community. The key challenges faced in developing the data management plan for such a large and complex project were to generate an overview of the enormous amount of data that will be produced, to build an understanding of the data flow within the project and to agree on a roadmap for making all data FAIR (findable, accessible, interoperable, reusable). This paper describes the process we followed and how we structured the plan

Differential utilization of ketone bodies by neurons and glioma cell lines: a rationale for ketogenic diet as experimental glioma therapy

Background: Even in the presence of oxygen, malignant cells often highly depend on glycolysis for energy generation, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. One strategy targeting this metabolic phenotype is glucose restriction by administration of a high-fat, low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diet. Under these conditions, ketone bodies are generated serving as an important energy source at least for non-transformed cells. Methods: To investigate whether a ketogenic diet might selectively impair energy metabolism in tumor cells, we characterized in vitro effects of the principle ketone body 3-hydroxybutyrate in rat hippocampal neurons and five glioma cell lines. In vivo, a non-calorie-restricted ketogenic diet was examined in an orthotopic xenograft glioma mouse model. Results: The ketone body metabolizing enzymes 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (BDH1 and 2), 3-oxoacid-CoA transferase 1 (OXCT1) and acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 1 (ACAT1) were expressed at the mRNA and protein level in all glioma cell lines. However, no activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) pathway was observed in glioma cells, consistent with the absence of substantial 3-hydroxybutyrate metabolism and subsequent accumulation of succinate. Further, 3-hydroxybutyrate rescued hippocampal neurons from glucose withdrawal-induced cell death but did not protect glioma cell lines. In hypoxia, mRNA expression of OXCT1, ACAT1, BDH1 and 2 was downregulated. In vivo, the ketogenic diet led to a robust increase of blood 3-hydroxybutyrate, but did not alter blood glucose levels or improve survival. Conclusion: In summary, glioma cells are incapable of compensating for glucose restriction by metabolizing ketone bodies in vitro, suggesting a potential disadvantage of tumor cells compared to normal cells under a carbohydrate-restricted ketogenic diet. Further investigations are necessary to identify co-treatment modalities, e.g. glycolysis inhibitors or antiangiogenic agents that efficiently target non-oxidative pathways