Diet of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba)in southern Spanish waters

Identifiable food remains were analyzed from 46 stomachs of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) stranded in southern Spain between 2007 and 2014. Results suggest that the species feeds mainly on mesopelagic and neritic fish, but also on oceanic squids. Fish species of the family Myctophidae were the main prey in terms of numerical importance and reconstructed prey weight (62% N and 29% W), followed by squids of the family Ommastrephidae (20% W) and bogue (Boops boops) (15% W). The most important prey taxa according to the General Importance Index (GII) were C. maderensis, Ommastrephidae gen. spp., Notoscopelus spp., and M. punctatum. Higher number of mesopelagic myctophids were found in dolphins from the Mediterranean (73% vs. 29% N), while more demersal gobiids and European hake (Merluccius merluccius) were found in those from the Atlantic (44% vs. 1% and 8% vs. <1% N), where a more varied diet was also observed. Differences were also seen in the seasonal importance of some prey, as well as between years, sexes, and maturity states. The diet composition suggests that most of feeding occurred in oceanic regions, during twilight and night hours, while the observed dietary variation may reflect differences in topography, and changes in the prey availability.1,46

Melatonin Modulation of Radiation and Chemotherapeutics-induced Changes on Differentiation of Breast Fibroblasts

Melatonin exerts oncostatic actions and sensitizes tumor cells to chemotherapeutics or radiation. In our study, we investigated the e ects of docetaxel, vinorelbine, and radiation on human breast fibroblasts and its modulation by melatonin. Docetaxel or vinorelbine inhibits proliferation and stimulates the di erentiation of breast preadipocytes, by increasing C/EBP and PPAR expression and by downregulating tumor necrosis factor (TNF ), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and IL-11 expression. Radiation inhibits both proliferation and di erentiation through the downregulation of C/EBP and PPAR and by stimulating TNF expression. In addition, docetaxel and radiation decrease aromatase activity and expression by decreasing aromatase promoter II and cyclooxygenases 1 and 2 (COX-1 and COX-2) expression. Melatonin potentiates the stimulatory e ect of docetaxel and vinorelbine on di erentiation and their inhibitory e ects on aromatase activity and expression, by increasing the stimulatory e ect on C/EBP and PPAR expression and the downregulation of antiadipogenic cytokines and COX expression. Melatonin also counteracts the inhibitory e ect of radiation on di erentiation of preadipocytes, by increasing C/EBP and PPAR expression and by decreasing TNF expression. Melatonin also potentiates the inhibitory e ect exerted by radiation on aromatase activity and expression by increasing the downregulation of promoter II, and COX-1 and COX-2 expression. Our findings suggest that melatonin modulates regulatory e ects induced by chemotherapeutic drugs or radiation on preadipocytes, which makes it a promising adjuvant for chemotherapy and radiotherapy sensibilization.Funding: This work was supported by a grant from the Spanish Economy and Competitiveness Ministry (SAF2016-77103-P) and from Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Valdecilla (IDIVAL) (APG/12)

Sporadic, Non‐Functional , Gastrin‐Producing Duodenal Neuroendocrine Tumors: A Retrospective Study of an Infrequent Disease

Objective non-functioning gastrin-producing Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (NEN) of the duodenum are rare tumors of the gastrointestinal tract without a clinical syndrome due to gastrin-production. Their incidence has significantly increased in the last few years especially as an incidental finding during endoscopic studies. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of this emergent neoplasm, to provide more information on this rare pathology and its possible prognostic factors. Methods we performed a retrospective observational study based on the duodenal-NENs samples with positive staining for gastrin, registered in the Pathology Department of University Hospital 12-de-Octubre (Madrid, Spain) between 2000 and 2017. We excluded all those clinically functional [(Zollinger-Ellison-Syndrome) and/or gastrinemia >1000pg/ml], with a previous diagnosis of multiple endocrine neoplasia(MEN-syndrome) or a synchronous neoplasia. Clinicopathological and therapeutic variables, follow-up time, recurrence and mortality data were collected. Results 21 patients were included. Most of the tumors were diagnosed incidentally as a single small polypoid lesion, they were limited to mucosa/submucosa and had a low histological-grade. 4 patients (19%) presented metastatic involvement at diagnosis (lymphatic and/or hepatic). These 4 patients also had a high or intermediate mitotic grade and infiltration further than submucosa. Local resection was used in most cases as curative treatment. The median follow-up was 25 months. There were 2 relapses and 2 deaths attributed to the tumor with a 5-year disease-free-survival of 81%. Conclusions The majority of these tumors were diagnosed at a local stage and had a good prognosis with local treatment. Nevertheless, given the potential metastatic risk, a close follow-up and extensive study is necessary, especially in those with aggressive pathological factors such as deep infiltration or high-histological-grade

Ovarian stroma secreting thyroid hormones in a 15-year-old female patient. Case Report

El Estroma ovárico es un tipo especializado de quiste dermoide ovárico en el que el tejido tiroideo constituye más del 50% de su composición y representa aproximadamente del 2% al 3% de todos los tumores dermoides. La mayoría son benignos, los cambios malignos ocurren sólo en el 0,5 al 10% de los casos. Los quistes benignos pueden presentarse como metástasis a distancia, lo que los hace biológicamente similares a los tumores malignos. Este fenómeno, también conocido como tumor del estroma peritoneal, se ha descrito sólo en unos pocos casos. Debido a que la cirugía para tumores benignos y malignos es muy diferente, la evaluación preoperatoria es muy importante. El tratamiento del bocio ovárico benigno es unilateral. Cirugía para extirpar tumores de ovario. Si se producen cambios malignos, se debe realizar una tiroidectomía total seguida de terapia con yodo radiactivo según el riesgo de recurrencia y la presencia de enfermedad metastásica.Se reporta paciente femenina de 15 años que acude por presentar dolor abdominal, localizado en región hipogástrica, se acompaña con náuseas y escalofríos motivo por el cual acude.Ovarian Stroma is a specialized type of ovarian dermoid cyst in which thyroid tissue makes up more than 50% of its composition and accounts for approximately 2% to 3% of all dermoid tumors. Most are benign, malignant changes occur only in 0.5 to 10% of cases. Benign cysts can present as distant metastases, making them biologically similar to malignant tumors. This phenomenon, also known as peritoneal stromal tumor, has been described in only a few cases. Because surgery for benign and malignant tumors is very different, preoperative evaluation is very important. The treatment of benign ovarian goiter is unilateral. Surgery to remove ovarian tumors. If malignant changes occur, a total thyroidectomy followed by radioactive iodine therapy should be performed depending on the risk of recurrence and the presence of metastatic disease. A 15-year-old female patient is reported to have presented with abdominal pain, located in the hypogastric region, accompanied by nausea and chills, which is why she came

Aging-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG): not only tau phosphorylation in astrocytes

Aging-related tau astrogliopathy (ARTAG) is defined by the presence of two types of tau-bearing astrocytes: thorn-shaped astrocytes (TSAs) and granular/fuzzy astrocytes in the brain of old-aged individuals. The present study is focused on TSAs in rare forms of ARTAG with no neuronal tau pathology or restricted to entorhinal and transentorhinal cortices, to avoid bias from associated tauopathies. TSAs show 4Rtau phosphorylation at several specific sites and abnormal tau conformation, but they lack ubiquitin and they are not immunostained with tau-C3 antibodies which recognize truncated tau at Asp421. Astrocytes in ARTAG have atrophic processes, reduced glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and increased superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) immunoreactivity. Gel electrophoresis and western blotting of sarkosyl-insoluble fractions reveal a pattern of phospho-tau in ARTAG characterized by two bands of 68 and 64 kDa, and several middle bands between 35 and 50 kDa which differ from what is seen in AD. Phosphoproteomics of dissected vulnerable regions identifies an increase of phosphorylation marks in a large number of proteins in ARTAG compared with controls. GFAP, aquaporin 4, several serine-threonine kinases, microtubule associated proteins and other neuronal proteins are among the differentially phosphorylated proteins in ARTAG thus suggesting a hyper-phosphorylation background that affects several molecules, including many kinases and proteins from several cell compartments and various cell types. Finally, present results show for the first time that tau seeding is produced in neurons of the hippocampal complex, astrocytes, oligodendroglia and along fibers of the corpus callosum, fimbria and fornix following inoculation into the hippocampus of wild type mice of sarkosyl-insoluble fractions enriched in hyper-phosphorylated tau from selected ARTAG cases. These findings show astrocytes as crucial players of tau seeding in tauopathies

Ecología trófica del delfín listado en aguas del Mar de Alborán y el Golfo de Cádiz

Existe muy poca información sobre la dieta del delfín listado (Stenella coeruleoalba) en aguas del sur de España. En este estudio se analizaron los estómagos de 61 delfines varados en Andalucía en los últimos ocho años (2007-2014). Diez estómagos estaban vacios y de los 51 individuos restantes, 35 vararon en la costa del Mar de Alborán y 11 en el Golfo de Cádiz. Para las 5 muestras restantes no se dispone de localidad concreta. Los restos de las presas en los estómagos consistieron sobre todo en estructuras duras: otolitos, cristalinos y unos pocos huesos de peces, así como mandíbulas y cristalinos de cefalópodos. No aparecieron otro tipo de restos lo que parece indicar que los individuos no se habían alimentado recientemente. Para caracterizar la dieta se calcularon tres índices (calculados para cada categoría de presa): frecuencia de aparición en los estómagos, número de individuos y peso reconstruido y sus porcentajes respectivos. El delfín listado parece ser una especie predominantemente piscívora (se identificaron restos de 5682 peces frente a solamente 210 cefalópodos) que se alimenta de especies mesopelágicas principalmente. La familia más importante tanto en número como en frecuencia de aparición fue Myctophidae, principalmente Ceratoscopelus maderensis y Myctophum punctatum a las que pertenecieron casi la mitad de los peces identificados (36,4%N, 35,3%F y 12,3%N, 25,5%F, respectivamente). También se identificó Maurolicus muelleri (Sternoptychidae 13,4%N y 17,6%F). Otras familias identificadas presentan una distribución más costera: Sparidae (Boops boops) y Carangidae (Trachurus sp.) (4,5%N, 9,8%F y 1,2%N, 3,9%F, respectivamente). Los cefalópodos identificados pertenecieron a 11 familias siendo la más abundante Ommastrephidae (26,7%N y 39,2%F). Otras familias incluyen representantes oceánicos, Brachioteuthidae (16,7%N y 21,5%F); Chiroteuthidae (6,7%N y 9,8%F); Enoploteuthidae (4,8%N y 3,9%F), Ancistrocheridae (0.5%N y 2%F) y otros de distribución más costera, Sepiolidae (19%N y 19,6%F), Sepiidae (5,7%N y 3,9%F) y Loliginidae (3,8%N y 5,9%F)

La investigación universitaria sobre educación : dilemas y prácticas

Se presentan los resultados de investigaciones realizadas en un contexto institucional: la Facultad de Educación Elemental y Especial (FEEYE), de la Universidad Nacional de Cuyo durante el bienio 2011-2013 y son resultado de los proyectos subsidiados por la Secretaría de Ciencia, Técnica y Posgrado de la misma Universidad a partir del programa de incentivo a docentes investigadores o subsidiados por la unidad académica

Sellar xanthogranuloma as a diagnostic challenge: a report on five cases

Xanthogranulomas are considered rare tumors, with their sellar and non-sellar frequency ranging from 1.6 to 7% among intracranial lesions, and described as a separate entity by the World Health Organization in 2000. The diagnosis of sellar xanthogranulomas is challenging, given their uncertain origin and clinical course. In addition, the limited reporting of sellar xanthogranuloma cases and the absence of characteristic images make these entities difficult to distinguish from other cystic lesions of the sellar region, such as adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas, Rathke’s cleft cysts, pituitary tumors, arachnoid cysts, epidermoid cysts, and dermoid cysts. Here, we describe the clinical presentation, radiological findings, immunohistochemical/histopathological analysis, and the ultrastructural examination by transmission electron microscopy of five sellar xanthogranulomas cases reported in two care centers in Cordoba, Argentina. Two males and three females between 37 and 73 years of age (average 51.8 years) presented with persistent headaches, generalized endocrine defects, and visual problems. MRI revealed cystic formations in the sellar region, which usually projected into adjacent tissues such as the suprasellar region or cavernous sinuses, and compressed other structures such as the optic chiasm, pituitary gland, and cranial nerves. All patients underwent surgical intervention to remove the tumor tissue. The histopathological analysis of the samples showed cellular tissue with a xanthogranulomatous appearance, inflammatory cellular infiltrate (mainly lymphocytes and macrophages), fibroblasts, abundant collagen fibers, and hemorrhages. An ultrastructural analysis helped to identify cellular infiltrates and granules resulting from tumor cell activity. The data support the hypothesis that sellar xanthogranulomas could occur as an inflammatory reaction secondary to the rupture and hemorrhage of a previous cystic process, thereby generating an expansion of the tumor body toward adjacent tissues. The information obtained from these cases contributes to the current knowledge about this disease’s origin and clinical and histological evolution. However, the scarcity of patients and the observed phenotypic heterogeneity make its diagnosis still challenging. Undoubtedly, more investigations are needed to provide additional information in order to be able to achieve a more accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of this rare disease

Ambient air pollution and thyroid function in Spanish adults. A nationwide population-based study ([email protected] study)

Background Recent reports have suggested that air pollution may impact thyroid function, although the evidence is still scarce and inconclusive. In this study we evaluated the association of exposure to air pollutants to thyroid function parameters in a nationwide sample representative of the adult population of Spain. Methods The [email protected] study is a national, cross-sectional, population-based survey which was conducted in 2008-2010 using a random cluster sampling of the Spanish population. The present analyses included 3859 individuals, without a previous thyroid disease diagnosis, and with negative thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO Abs) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels of 0.1-20 mIU/L. Participants were assigned air pollution concentrations for particulate matter <2.5 mu m (PM2.5) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2), corresponding to the health examination year, obtained by means of modeling combined with measurements taken at air quality stations (CHIMERE chemistry-transport model). TSH, free thyroxine (FT4), free triiodothyronine (FT3) and TPO Abs concentrations were analyzed using an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay (Modular Analytics E170 Roche). Results In multivariate linear regression models, there was a highly significant negative correlation between PM2.5 concentrations and both FT4 (p<0.001), and FT3 levels (p<0.001). In multivariate logistic regression, there was a significant association between PM2.5 concentrations and the odds of presenting high TSH [OR 1.24 (1.01-1.52) p=0.043], lower FT4 [OR 1.25 (1.02-1.54) p=0.032] and low FT3 levels [1.48 (1.19-1.84) p=<0.001] per each IQR increase in PM2.5 (4.86 mu g/m(3)). There was no association between NO2 concentrations and thyroid hormone levels. No significant heterogeneity was seen in the results between groups of men, pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women. Conclusions Exposures to PM2.5 in the general population were associated with mild alterations in thyroid function.CIBERDEM (Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad-ISCIII), Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad-ISCIII, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI17/02136, PI20/01322), Consejeria de Salud y familias (PI-0144-2018), European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) "A way to build Europe". GRM belongs to the regional Nicolas Monardes research program of the Consejeria de Salud (RC-0006-2016; Junta de Andalucia, Spain). CMA is recipient of a "Rio Hortega" research contract (CM19/00186, Instituto de Salud Carlos III). VKDG is recipient of a "Rio Hortega" research contract (CM21/00214, Instituto de Salud Carlos III)