Temporal variability of diazotroph community composition in the upwelling region off NW Iberia.

Knowledge of the ecology of N2-fixing (diazotrophic) plankton is mainly limited to oligotrophic (sub)tropical oceans. However, diazotrophs are widely distributed and active throughout the global ocean. Likewise, relatively little is known about the temporal dynamics of diazotrophs in productive areas. Between February 2014 and December 2015, we carried out 9 one-day samplings in the temperate northwestern Iberian upwelling system to investigate the temporal and vertical variability of the diazotrophic community and its relationship with hydrodynamic forcing. In downwelling conditions, characterized by deeper mixed layers and a homogeneous water column, non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs belonging mainly to nifH clusters 1G (Gammaproteobacteria) and 3 (putative anaerobes) dominated the diazotrophic community. In upwelling and relaxation conditions, affected by enhanced vertical stratification and hydrographic variability, the community was more heterogeneous vertically but less diverse, with prevalence of UCYN-A (unicellular cyanobacteria, subcluster 1B) and non-cyanobacterial diazotrophs from clusters 1G and 3. Oligotyping analysis of UCYN-A phylotype showed that UCYN-A2 sublineage was the most abundant (74%), followed by UCYN-A1 (23%) and UCYN-A4 (2%). UCYN-A1 oligotypes exhibited relatively low frequencies during the three hydrographic conditions, whereas UCYN-A2 showed higher abundances during upwelling and relaxation. Our findings show the presence of a diverse and temporally variable diazotrophic community driven by hydrodynamic forcing in an upwelling system

Sulfasalazine Microparticles Targeting Macrophages for the Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases Affecting the Synovial Cavity

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease with sulfasalazine (SSZ) extensively used for long-term treatment of both juvenile and adult RA. Its use is associated with adverse effects and toxicity due to its non-selective biodistribution. Macrophages play an important role in inflammatory processes. In order to target SSZ to macrophages in this work two microparticulate systems (MPs) are developed: SSZ-loaded PLGA MPs without and with α-tocopherol, with particle sizes lower than 5 μm and encapsulation efficiencies of 81.07 ± 11% and 63.50 ± 6.62%, respectively. Release of SSZ from MPs prepared with α-tocopherol was prolonged for 20 days. In RAW 264.7 cell macrophages MPs prepared with α-tocopherol were captured faster. Cell viability studies confirmed that SSZ-loaded MPs prepared without and with α-tocopherol did not produce cytotoxicity at the concentrations assayed. The anti-inflammatory activity of SSZ-loaded MPs was studied by quantifying interleukins IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α in macrophages. All formulations produced a significant reduction of cytokine concentrations after 24 and 72 h, indicating that release of SSZ from the MPs was able to inhibit the inflammatory response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Gene expression of IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α was decreased by SSZ-loaded MPs. SSZ-loaded MPs prepared with α-tocopherol will potentially allow increasing the residence time of SSZ in the synovial cavity, prolonging its duration of action, and reducing the adverse effects associated with its non-selective biodistribution

A year after virtual teaching in higher education: teachers and students’ opinion

La necesidad de transformar la docencia presencial a docencia online debido al COVID-19 supuso un reto para docentes y para alumnos. Lo inesperado de la situación hizo que rápidamente se intentaran establecer estrategias de virtualización que no en todos los casos fueron igual de eficaces. Después de un año de docencia online, es interesante analizar la valoración que tanto docentes como estudiantes realizan a todas estas estrategias y conocer su percepción ante esta situación. En este artículo se recoge la valoración de más de 50 alumnos del grado de Farmacia sobre la docencia online teórica, la docencia online práctica y la evaluación online, destacando las ventajas y limitaciones que suponen estos métodos de enseñanza. También se recoge la valoración de docentes que evalúan de forma positiva todo lo aprendido sobre TICs y nuevas plataformas pero que al igual que los alumnos piensan que el entorno no presencial supone una desventaja para la formación de los alumnos en grados con una importante carga de docencia práctica.The COVID -19 pandemic forced to move from face-to-face teaching to completely virtual teaching, which was a great challenge for both teachers and students. The unexpectedness of the situation led to rapid attempts to establish virtualization strategies, which were not always equally effective. After one year of online teaching, it is interesting to analyze the assessment that both teachers and students make of all these strategies and their perception of this situation. This manuscript collects the analysis of more than 50 students of the Pharmacy degree on both, theoretical and practical online lessons and on online exams, highlighting their advantages and limitations. Teacher’s assessment is also included. On the one hand, teachers positively value all that they have learned about information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the developed online teaching platforms. However, they consider that a completely virtual education impairs the learning, especially in practical lessons.Facultad de Informátic

Biomarcadores empleados en sepsis

Infectious diseases, such as sepsis, are a serious health problem in the world, associated with high morbidity and mortality in all areas of health care. These are time dependent diseases in which the early application of diagnostic therapeutic actions, significantly improve patient survival and prognosis. To carry out this, we have tools such as biomarkers that help us in the diagnosis and prognosis of these pathologies; There are biomarkers widely used such as PCR, Procalcitonin or cytokines, and others that are less known as pro-adrenomedullin (pro-ADM), soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1), soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (SuPAR), Pancreatic Stone Protein (PSP) or sCD25.Las enfermedades infecciosas, como la sepsis,  constituyen un grave problema de salud en el mundo, asociándose con una elevada morbilidad y mortalidad en todos los ámbitos de la asistencia sanitaria. Se trata de enfermedades tiempo dependientes en las que la aplicación precoz de una serie de medidas diagnostico terapéuticas mejoran de forma significativa la supervivencia y el pronóstico del paciente. Para ello se disponen de herramientas como los biomarcadores que nos ayudan tanto en el diagnóstico como pronóstico de estas patologías; biomarcadores clásicos y ampliamente utilizados como la PCR, procalcitonina o citocinas y otros menos conocidos como presepsina, pro-adrenomedulina (pro-ADM), soluble triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (sTREM-1), soluble urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR), Pancreatic Stone Protein (PSP) o sCD25

DoE-based development of celecoxib loaded PLGA nanoparticles: In ovo assessment of its antiangiogenic effect

Abnormal angiogenesis plays a main role in the pathogenesis of many diseases such as cancer, and inflammatory autoimmune disorders among others, and its inhibition represents a potential strategy for their management. Celecoxib (CXB) that is one of the most prescribed selective COX-2 inhibitors and is currently approved for the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis inhibits angiogenesis. The objective of this manuscript was to design, develop, and characterize polymeric nanoparticles for the parenteral administration of CXB which the aim of facilitating its administration and improving its antiangiogenic activity while decreasing its adverse effects. A Plackett-Burman design was used to optimize the formulation. The PVA concentration, the sonication time, the sonicator amplitude and the CXB:PLGA ratio were selected as independent variables and particle size, polydispersity index, drug loading, and entrapment efficiency as responses. Optimized nanoparticles (formulations F2, F6 and F9) showed a particle size around 280 nm, a low polydispersion (PDI ≤ 0.2), a negative zeta potential around -25mV, a high entrapment efficiency (above 88%) and a controlled drug release for at least 10 days. Moreover, they were physically and chemically stable for at least 3 months when stored at 4°C. Interestingly, CXB-loaded nanoparticles showed a higher angiogenesis inhibition than CXB in solution administered at the same concentration. F9 nanoparticles that were prepared using PVA at 0.5%, a sonication time of 7 minutes, a sonicator amplitude of 80% and a CXB:PLGA ratio of 20:100 were selected as the most suitable CXB-formulation. It represents a promising strategy to administer CXB and improve its efficacy in disorders with pathological angiogenesis such as cancer and arthritic diseases

Exploring the Biological Properties of Zn(II) Bis thiosemicarbazone Helicates

The design of artificial helicoidal molecules derived from metal ions with biological properties is one of the objectives within metallosupramolecular chemistry. Herein, we report three zinc helicates derived from a family of bis thiosemicarbazone ligands with different terminal groups, Zn(L Me)∙2HO 1, Zn(L Ph)∙2HO 2 and Zn(L PhNO2) 3, obtained by an electrochemical methodology. These helicates have been fully characterized by different techniques, including X-ray diffraction. Biological studies of the zinc(II) helicates such as toxicity assays with erythrocytes and interaction studies with proteins and oligonucleotides were performed, demonstrating in all cases low toxicity and an absence of covalent interaction with the proteins and oligonucleotides. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the helicates was tested against MCF-7 (human breast carcinoma), A2780 (human ovarian carcinoma cells), NCI-H460 (human lung carcinoma cells) and MRC-5 (normal human lung fibroblasts), comparing the IC values with cisplatin. We will try to demonstrate if the terminal substituent of the ligand precursor exerts any effect in toxicity or in the antitumor activity of the zinc helicates

Variation of physic-chemical properties of horcal onion during storage under refrigeration depending on thetype of cultivar

[SPA] La cebolla de variedad “Horcal” es el ingrediente mayoritario para la elaboración de la morcilla de Burgos. Su uso es por tradición pero además, dado el carácter estacional y que son perecederas, cuando se utiliza otro tipo de cebolla, repercute tanto en el proceso de elaboración de la morcilla, principalmente en la etapa del amasado y del embutido, como en las características organolépticas de la morcilla. El objetivo de este trabajo es el estudio de las características fisicoquímicas de la cebolla “Horcal” y la evolución de ellas durante el período de conservación en refrigeración. Se pretende comprobar si la variación del suelo de cultivo, para el mismo tipo de semilla, influye en la caracterización de la cebolla de la variedad “Horcal”. Se han estudiado bulbos pertenecientes a cebolla, del tipo conocido como "Horcal", de seis procedencias cultivadas en tres localidades diferentes de Castilla y León: Palenzuela (Palencia), Gomezserracín (Segovia) y Santibáñez de Tera (Zamora). Se han conservado en refrigeración (4 ºC y 75% HR) hasta el inicio de su brotación (7,5 - 9 meses). Se han analizado las características fisicoquímicas de las cebollas antes y después del almacenamiento. De este estudio se deduce que existe una clara influencia del tipo de suelo de cultivo en la evolución de las características fisicoquímicas de los bulbos de cebolla. Estas diferencias se manifiestan tanto en el momento de la recolección como durante su conservación. Los parámetros en los que se produce mayor variación en función de las características del suelo de cultivo son: el contenido en azúcares (glucosa, fructosa y sacarosa), el ácido pirúvico, la fibra y la pérdida de agua por cocción. Las cebollas al final del almacenamiento presentan una disminución en el contenido en azúcares, un aumento en el contenido en ácido pirúvico y un mayor contenido en fibra. [ENG] “Horcal” onion is the main ingredient of “Morcilla de Burgos”, a cooked meat product. This variety is used mainly is for tradition, but also because when another variety of onion is included, some problems with the sausage mixture and stuffing of morcilla were frequent, and also in the sensorial characteristics of morcilla. The aim of this study was to evaluate the evolution of the physic-chemical properties of onion during the refrigeration storage, and the influence of the type of cultivars in the characterization of Horcal onion. Six cultivars of Horcal onion grown in three different places of Castilla y León: Palenzuela (Palencia), Gomezserracín (Segovia) y Santibáñez de Tera (Zamora) have been studied. Onions have been stored under refrigeration (4 ºC y 75% HR) until the beginning of sprout (7, 5 – 9 months). The characteristics physic-chemical of onion have been analysed before and after of storage. This study revealed the influence of the place of grown of onion in its characteristics. Differences were manifested at the harvest period and also before the storage under refrigeration. The most affected parameters were the sugar content (glucose, fructose and sucrose), the pyruvate levels, the fiber content and the lost of water by cooking. At the end of storage, Horcal onion presented a decrease of the sugar content and an increase in pyruvate levels and in the total dietary fiber content.Los autores quieren expresar su agradecimiento al Dr. A. Fombellida Villafruela y a D. F. Garrido Laurnaga del Departamento de Producción Vegetal y Recursos Forestales (ETSIA de Palencia, Universidad de Valladolid), por los análisis de suelos y seguimiento del desarrollo de las cebollas de la variedad Horcal. También agradecer a ITACYL (Instituto Tecnológico Agrario de Castilla y León) que ha sufragado parte de los gastos de este estudio

El poblamiento del bosque del centro-norte de la Patagonia argentina: nuevos datos del Parque Nacional Lago Puelo (provincia del Chubut)

La historia de uso del bosque del centro-norte de la Patagonia argentina revela la heterogeneidad de respuestas en la ocupación humana de este ambiente a través del tiempo y el espacio. Con el objetivo de dar cuenta de estas variaciones, nos propusimos evaluar el alcance del modelo de poblamiento propuesto para nuestra área de investigación en el SO de Río Negro – NO de Chubut, en el Parque Nacional Lago Puelo- Parque Provincial Río Turbio. Estas áreas protegidas se caracterizan por una extensa red fluvio-lacustre, pasos cordilleranos de baja altura que conectan con el Pacífico y diferentes configuraciones de bosque en un espacio acotado producto del pronunciado gradiente de precipitaciones. La cronología obtenida remite al final del Holoceno tardío, el estilo de las manifestaciones rupestres es congruente con este lapso y presentan cierto grado de variación local. Predominan las evidencias de circulación terrestre y no se hallaron testimonios de navegación. Los sitios se concentran en un área acotada y la excavación de dos de ellos proporcionó escasa evidencia arqueológica, que indica el uso de recursos locales y de otros biomas. Estos resultados muestran coincidencias con otras zonas del bosque y particularidades cuyo significado deberán precisarse con los trabajos en curso

Matrix tablets based on a novel poly (magnesium acrylate) hydrogel for the treatment of inflammatory bowel diseases

The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential use of a new polymer (PAMgA) in the development sustained release matrix tablets for the treatment of bowel inflammatory diseases. For this purpose, budesonide, a highly lipophilic compound, was used as model drug. Tablets with two reticulation grades of PAMgA (PAMgA 5 and 40) and with 9 mg of budesonide were developed and characterized. All the studies were carried out using biorelevant media (FaSSGF and FaSSIF). Swelling and erosion of PAMgA tablets was influenced by the reticulation grade of the polymer and the biorelevant media assayed, being water uptake higher for PAMgA 40 tablets in intestinal fluid, whereas PAMgA 5 showed more intense erosion in this biorelevant medium. Budesonide was released slowly from PAMgA tablets, both in gastric and intestinal environment, following Super case II transport kinetics (relaxation-controlled delivery), with a lag time of around 1–2 h. When the dissolution medium was changed sequentially throughout the trial, 75% of the budesonide dose was released in a sustained manner between 4 and 20 h of testing from PAMgA tablets, showing a more controlled budesonide release than Entocort® and Budenofalk® (commercially available sustained release formulations of budesonide). In conclusion, PAMgA polymer allows controlling the release of highly lipophilic drugs as budesonide, being an useful excipient for the development of sustained release matrix tablets