4,818 research outputs found
Physiological stress does not increase with urbanization in European blackbirds:Evidence from hormonal, immunological and cellular indicators
Urbanization changes the landscape structure and ecological processes of natural habitats. While urban areas expose animal communities to novel challenges, they may also provide more stable environments in which environmental fluctuations are buffered. Species´ ecology and physiology may determine their capacity to cope with the city life. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying organismal responses to urbanization, and whether different physiological systems are equally affected by urban environments remain poorly understood. This severely limits our capacity to predict the impact of anthropogenic habitats on wild populations. In this study, we measured indicators of physiological stress at the endocrine, immune and cellular level (feather corticosterone levels, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, and heat-shock proteins) in urban and non-urban European blackbirds (Turdus merula) across 10 European populations. Among the three variables, we found consistent differences in feather corticosterone, which was higher in non-urban habitats. This effect seems to bedependent on sex, being greater in males. In contrast, we found no significant differences between urban and non-urban habitats in the two other physiological indicators. The discrepancy between these different measurements of physiological stress highlights the importance of including multiple physiological variables to understand the impact of urbanization on species' physiology. Overall, our findings suggest that adult European blackbirds living in urban and non-urban habitats do not differ in terms of physiological stress at an organismal level. Furthermore, we found large differences among populations on the strength and direction of the urbanization effect, which illustrates the relevance of spatial replication when investigating urban-induced physiological responses
P5CS expression study in a new family with ALDH18A1-associated hereditary spastic paraplegia SPG9
In 2015\u20132016, we and others reported ALDH18A1 mutations causing dominant (SPG9A) or recessive (SPG9B) spastic paraplegia. In vitro production of the ALDH18A1 product, \u3941-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase (P5CS), appeared necessary for cracking SPG9 disease-causing mechanisms. We now describe a baculovirus\u2013insect cell system that yields mgs of pure human P5CS and that has proven highly valuable with two novel P5CS mutations reported here in new SPG9B patients. We conclude that both mutations are disease-causing, that SPG9B associates with partial P5CS deficiency and that it is clinically more severe than SPG9A, as reflected in onset age, disability, cognitive status, growth, and dysmorphic traits
Abiotic conditions in cephalopod (Sepia officinalis) eggs: embryonic development at low pH and high pCO2
Low pO(2) values have been measured in the perivitelline fluids (PVF) of marine animal eggs on several occasions, especially towards the end of development, when embryonic oxygen consumption is at its peak and the egg case acts as a massive barrier to diffusion. Several authors have therefore suggested that oxygen availability is the key factor leading to hatching. However, there have been no measurements of PVF pCO(2) so far. This is surprising, as elevated pCO(2) could also constitute a major abiotic stressor for the developing embryo. As a first attempt to fill this gap in knowledge, we measured pO(2), pCO(2) and pH in the PVF of late cephalopod (Sepia officinalis) eggs. We found linear relationships between embryo wet mass and pO(2), pCO(2) and pH. pO(2) declined from > 12 kPa to less than 5 kPa, while pCO(2) increased from 0.13 to 0.41 kPa. In the absence of active accumulation of bicarbonate in the PVF, pH decreased from 7.7 to 7.2. Our study supports the idea that oxygen becomes limiting in cephalopod eggs towards the end of development; however, pCO(2) and pH shift to levels that have caused significant physiological disturbances in other marine ectothermic animals. Future research needs to address the physiological adaptations that enable the embryo to cope with the adverse abiotic conditions in their egg environment
Progress in creating a joint research agenda that allows networked long-term socio-ecological research in southern South America : addressing crucial technological and human capacity gaps limiting its application in Chile and Argentina
Since 1980, more than 40 countries have implemented long-term ecological research (LTER) programs, which have shown their power to affect advances in basic science to understand the natural world at meaningful temporal and spatial scales and also help link research with socially relevant outcomes. Recently, a disciplinary paradigmatic shift has integrated the human dimensions of ecosystems, leading to a long-term socio-ecological research (LTSER) framework to address the world's current environmental challenges. A global gap in LTER/LTSER only exists in the latitudinal range of 40â60°S, corresponding to Argentina and Chile's temperate/sub-Antarctic biome. A team of Chilean, Argentine and US researchers has participated in an ongoing dialogue to define not only conceptual, but also practical barriers limiting LTER/LTSER in southern South America. We have found a number of existing long-term research sites and platforms throughout the region, but at the same time it has been concluded an agenda is needed to create and implement further training courses for students, postdoctoral fellows and young scientists, particularly in the areas of data and information management systems. Since LTER/LTSER efforts in Chile and Argentina are incipient, instituting such courses now will enhance human and technical capacity of the natural science and resource community to improve the collection, storage, analysis and dissemination of information in emerging LTER/LTSER platforms. In turn, having this capacity, as well as the ongoing formalization of LTER/LTSER programs at national levels, will allow the enhancement of crucial collaborations and comparisons between long-term research programs within the region and between hemispheres and continents. For Spanish version of the entire article, see Online Supporting Information (Appendix S1).Desde 1980, mĂĄs de cuarenta paĂses han implementado programas de InvestigaciĂłn EcolĂłgica a Largo Plazo (LTER por sus siglas en inglĂŠs), los cuales han mostrado su capacidad para influir sobre los avances en las ciencias bĂĄsicas que permiten entender el mundo natural en escalas temporales y espaciales significativas, y tambiĂŠn ayudar a enfocar la investigaciĂłn hacia estudios socialmente relevantes. Recientemente, gracias a un cambio de paradigma en la disciplina, se integrĂł tambiĂŠn la dimensiĂłn humana de los ecosistemas, llevĂĄndola a un marco conceptual de InvestigaciĂłn Socio-EcolĂłgica a Largo Plazo (LTSER por sus siglas en inglĂŠs) para enfrentar los desafĂos medio-ambientales del mundo actual. Existe un vacĂo global en LTER/LTSER en el rango latitudinal de 40â60°S, correspondiente a los biomas templados/subantĂĄrticos de Argentina y Chile. Un equipo de investigadores chilenos, argentinos y estadounidenses ha trabajado por varios aĂąos para definir cuĂĄles son la barreras que actualmente limitan la creaciĂłn de una Red de LTER/LTSER en el sur de SudamĂŠrica, no solamente en tĂŠrminos conceptuales, sino tambiĂŠn a nivel prĂĄctico. Existe un buen nĂşmero de sitios de investigaciĂłn a largo plazo en la regiĂłn, pero tambiĂŠn concluimos que es necesario crear e implementar mĂĄs cursos de capacitaciĂłn para estudiantes, investigadores post-doctorales y jĂłvenes cientĂficos, particularmente en las ĂĄreas de sistemas de manejo de datos e informaciĂłn. Considerando que los esfuerzos LTER/LTSER en Chile y Argentina son incipientes, este tipo de cursos podrĂa mejorar la capacidad humana y tĂŠcnica en la comunidad de las ciencias y los recursos naturales, asĂ como mejorar los procesos de recolecciĂłn, almacenamiento, anĂĄlisis y difusiĂłn de la informaciĂłn. A su vez, la formalizaciĂłn de cursos de programas LTER/LTSER a nivel nacional para adquirir dicha capacidad de manejo de la informaciĂłn, permitirĂĄ un fortalecimiento crucial de las colaboraciones y comparaciones entre programas de investigaciĂłn a largo plazo dentro de la regiĂłn, y entre hemisferios y continentes. La versiĂłn en castellano del artĂculo se encuentra disponible en forma digital como Online Supporting Information S1.Fil: Anderson, Chistopher B. University of North Texas. Department of Biological Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Celis-Diez, Juan Luis. Pontificia Universidad CatĂłlica de ValparaĂso, Escuela de AgronomĂa; ChileFil: Bond, Barbara J.H.G. Oregon State University. Andrews Forest Long-Term Ecological Research Site.
Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society; Estados UnidosFil: MartĂnez Pastur, Guillermo JosĂŠ. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂŠcnicas. Centro Austral de Investigaciones Cientificas; ArgentinaFil: Little, Christian. Universidad Austral de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias. Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra y EvoluciĂłn; Chile. FundaciĂłn Centro de los Bosques Nativos FORECOS; ChileFil: Armesto, Juan J. Pontificia Universidad CatĂłlica de ValparaĂso, Escuela de AgronomĂa; ChileFil: Ghersa, Claudio Marco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂŠcnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones FisiolĂłgicas y EcolĂłgicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de AgronomĂa. Instituto de Investigaciones FisiolĂłgicas y EcolĂłgicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Austin, Amy Theresa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂŠcnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones FisiolĂłgicas y EcolĂłgicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de AgronomĂa. Instituto de Investigaciones FisiolĂłgicas y EcolĂłgicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; ArgentinaFil: Schlichter, Tomas Miguel. Instituto Nacional de TecnologĂa Agropecuaria (INTA). EstaciĂłn Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Grupo de EcologĂa Forestal; ArgentinaFil: Lara, Antonio. FundaciĂłn Centro de los Bosques Nativos FORECOS; Chile. Universidad Austral de Chile. Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Silvicultura; ChileFil: Carmona, Martin. Universidad de Chile. Instituto de EcologÄąa y Biodiversidad; ChileFil: Chaneton, Enrique Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂŠcnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones FisiolĂłgicas y EcolĂłgicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomia. Departamento de Recursos Naturales y Ambiente; ArgentinaFil: Gutierrez, Julio R. Universidad de La Serena. Departamento de BiologĂa. Instituto de EcologĂa y Biodiversidad. Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Zonas Aridas; ChileFil: Rozzi, Ricardo. Universidad de La Serena. Departamento de BiologĂa. Instituto de EcologĂa y Biodiversidad; ChileFil: Vanderbilt, Kristin University of New Mexico. Department of Biology. Sevilleta Long-Term Ecological Research Site; Estados UnidosFil: Oyarce, Guillermo University of North Texas. Library and Information Sciences; Estados UnidosFil: Fernandez, Roberto J. University of North Texas, Department of Biological Sciences; Estados Unido
The methylation status of the embryonic limb skeletal progenitors determines their cell fate in chicken
Digits shape is sculpted by interdigital programmed cell death during limb development. Here, we show that DNA breakage in the periphery of 5-methylcytosine nuclei foci of interdigital precursors precedes cell death. These cells showed higher genome instability than the digit-forming precursors when exposed to X-ray irradiation or local bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) treatments. Regional but not global DNA methylation differences were found between both progenitors. DNA-Methyl-Transferases (DNMTs) including DNMT1, DNMT3B and, to a lesser extent, DNMT3A, exhibited well-defined expression patterns in regions destined to degenerate, as the interdigital tissue and the prospective joint regions. Dnmt3b functional experiments revealed an inverse regulation of cell death and cartilage differentiation, by transcriptional regulation of key genes including Sox9, Scleraxis, p21 and Bak1, via differential methylation of CpG islands across their promoters. Our findings point to a regulation of cell death versus chondrogenesis of limb skeletal precursors based on epigenetic mechanisms.We thank Prof. Miguel Lafarga for helpful comments and advice. We thank Dr Jose E Gomez-Arozamena for helping us with the irradiation experiments. We are grateful to Montse Fernandez Calderon, Susana Dawalibi, and Sonia Perez Mantecon, for excellent technical assistance. This work was supported by a Grant (BFU2017â84046-P) from the Spanish Science and Innovation Ministry to JAM. C.S.F is recipient of a FPI grant (BES-2015â074267)
Evaluation of different bowel preparations for small bowel capsule endoscopy: a prospective, randomized, controlled study
To obtain an adequate view of the whole small
intestine during capsule endoscopy (CE) a clear liquid diet and overnight fasting
is recommended. However, intestinal content can hamper vision in spite of these
measures. Our aim was to evaluate tolerance and degree of intestinal cleanliness
during CE following three types of bowel preparation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This
was a prospective, multicenter, randomized, controlled study. Two-hundred
ninety-one patients underwent one of the following preparations: 4 L of clear
liquids (CL) (group A; 92 patients); 90 mL of aqueous sodium phosphate (group B;
89 patients); or 4 L of a polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution (group C; 92
patients). The degree of cleanliness of the small bowel was classified by blinded
examiners according to four categories (excellent, good, fair or poor). The
degree of patient satisfaction, gastric and small bowel transit times, and
diagnostic yield were measured. RESULTS: The degree of cleanliness did not differ
significantly between the groups (P = 0.496). Interobserver concordance was fair
(k = 0.38). No significant differences were detected between the diagnostic
yields of the CE (P = 0.601). Gastric transit time was 35.7 +/- 3.7 min (group
A), 46.1 +/- 8.6 min (group B) and 34.6 +/- 5.0 min (group C) (P = 0.417).
Small-intestinal transit time was 276.9 +/- 10.7 min (group A), 249.7 +/- 13.1
min (group B) and 245.6 +/- 11.6 min (group C) (P = 0.120). CL was the best
tolerated preparation. Compliance with the bowel preparation regimen was lowest
in group C (P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: A clear liquid diet and overnight fasting is
sufficient to achieve an adequate level of cleanliness and is better tolerated by
patients than other forms of preparation
Burden and challenges of heart failure in patients with chronic kidney disease. A call to action
Patients with the dual burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and chronic congestive heart
failure (HF) experience unacceptably high rates of symptom load, hospitalization, and mortality. Currently, concerted efforts to identify, prevent and treat HF in CKD patients are
lacking at the institutional level, with emphasis still being placed on individual specialty
views on this topic. The authors of this review paper endorse the need for a dedicated
cardiorenal interdisciplinary team that includes nephrologists and renal nurses and jointly manages appropriate clinical interventions across the inpatient and outpatient settings.
There is a critical need for guidelines and best clinical practice models from major cardiology
and nephrology professional societies, as well as for research funding in both specialties to
focus on the needs of future therapies for HF in CKD patients. The implementation of crossspecialty educational programs across all levels in cardiology and nephrology will help train
future specialists and nurses who have the ability to diagnose, treat, and prevent HF in CKD
patients in a precise, clinically effective, and cost-favorable manner.Los pacientes con enfermedad renal crĂłnica (ERC) que desarrollan insuficiencia cardĂaca (IC)
congestiva crĂłnica presentan cifras inaceptablemente altas de sĂntomas, hospitalizaciĂłn y
mortalidad. Actualmente, se echan en falta iniciativas institucionales dirigidas a identificar,
prevenir y tratar la IC en los pacientes con ERC de manera multidisciplinar, prevaleciendo
las actuaciones de las especialidades individuales. Los autores de este artĂculo de revisiĂłn
respaldan la necesidad de crear equipos multidisciplinares cardiorrenales, en los que participen nefrĂłlogos y enfermeras renales, que gestionen colaborativamente las intervenciones
clĂnicas apropiadas en los entornos de pacientes con ERC e IC hospitalizados y ambulatorios.
Es necesario y urgente que se elaboren guĂas y modelos de prĂĄctica clĂnica sobre la ERC con IC
por parte de las sociedades profesionales de cardiologĂa y nefrologĂa, asĂ como financiaciĂłn
para la investigaciĂłn concertada entre ambas especialidades sobre la necesidad de futuros
tratamientos para la IC en pacientes con ERC. La implementaciĂłn de programas educativos
cardiorrenales a todos los niveles en cardiologĂa y nefrologĂa ayudarĂĄ a formar a los futuros
especialistas y enfermeras para que tengan la capacidad de diagnosticar, tratar y prevenir
la IC en pacientes con ERC de manera precisa, clĂnicamente efectiva y econĂłmicamente
favorabl
Oxidative stress and proinflammatory cytokines contribute to demyelination and axonal damage in a cerebellar culture model of neuroinflammation
Background: Demyelination and axonal damage are critical processes in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). Oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines elicited by inflammation mediates tissue damage. Methods/Principal Findings: To monitor the demyelination and axonal injury associated with microglia activation we employed a model using cerebellar organotypic cultures stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Microglia activated by LPS released pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFι), and increased the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This activation was associated with demyelination and axonal damage in cerebellar cultures. Axonal damage, as revealed by the presence of non-phosphorylated neurofilaments, mitochondrial accumulation in axonal spheroids, and axonal transection, was associated with stronger iNOS expression and concomitant increases in ROS. Moreover, we analyzed the contribution of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress in demyelination and axonal degeneration using the iNOS inhibitor ethyl pyruvate, a free-scavenger and xanthine oxidase inhibitor allopurinol, as well as via blockage of pro-inflammatory cytokines using a Fc-TNFR1 construct. We found that blocking microglia activation with ethyl pyruvate or allopurinol significantly decreased axonal damage, and to a lesser extent, demyelination. Blocking TNFι significantly decreased demyelination but did not prevented axonal damage. Moreover, the most common therapy for MS, interferon-beta, was used as an example of an immunomodulator compound that can be tested in this model. In vitro, interferon-beta treatment decreased oxidative stress (iNOS and ROS levels) and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines after LPS stimulation, reducing axonal damage. Conclusion: The model of neuroinflammation using cerebellar culture stimulated with endotoxin mimicked myelin and axonal damage mediated by the combination of oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory cytokines. This model may both facilitate understanding of the events involved in neuroinflammation and aid in the development of neuroprotective therapies for the treatment of MS and other neurodegenerative diseases
Potential interactions between invasive Fusarium circinatum and other pine pathogens in Europe
Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV
A search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu decay
channel, where l = e or mu, in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7
TeV is presented. The data were collected at the LHC, with the CMS detector,
and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 inverse femtobarns. No
significant excess is observed above the background expectation, and upper
limits are set on the Higgs boson production cross section. The presence of the
standard model Higgs boson with a mass in the 270-440 GeV range is excluded at
95% confidence level.Comment: Submitted to JHE
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