Faecal haemoglobin concentration, a good predictor of risk of advanced colorectal neoplasia in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients

Background: Periodical faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) is a cost-effective strategy in colon cancer screening programmes. FIT is also used as a diagnostic test in symptomatic patients. but data are scarce. Aim: To determine the association between FIT-Hb concentration and the risk of advanced neoplasia (AN) detected in colonoscopy in two different populations. Methods. The outcomes of colonoscopies performed after a positive FIT (> 117 ng/ml) (Sentinel Gold test) result were analysed in patients included within a population-based CRC screening programme (screening group) and, as diagnostic evaluation in symptomatic patients (symptomatic group). The study was performed between January 1st, 2014 and October 31, 2016. Data are reported Con as medians with interquartile ranges or frequencies and percentages. Positive predictive value (PPV) at arbitrary faecal haemoglobin concentrations were also reported calculated for AN. Results: We recruited 2742 patients who underwent a colonoscopy procedure, 1515 (53.5%) of them within the CRC screening programme. Patients in the screening group were younger (65.0±3.3 vs 66.2±13.4 years, p 1000 ng/ml) compared to those in the symptomatic group (36.3% - 52.5%). Similar trends were observed for cancer diagnosis alone. Conclusions: Male gender, age and FIT Hb concentration are predictors of risk of advanced adenoma and colorectal cancer and should be used to prioritise colonoscopy in patients with suspected advanced neoplasia, both in screening and in symptomatic patients

Crecimiento y metabolismo de Fischerella TB22 en medio de cultivo BG11

Los microorganismos fijadores de nitrógeno de vida libre, abarcan una gama morfológica que va desde los organismos unicelulares como las bacterias y algunas cianobacterias, hasta multicelulares, filamentosas, por ello es importante conocer cómo se comportan y se puede saber haciendo una curva de crecimiento microbiano. Para este estudio se prepararon 4 fotobioreactores de columna burbujeada con inoculo de Fischerella TB22, se pusieron en aireación constante con 12 horas luz y 12 horas obscuridad durante 40 días con diferentes tratamientos de ajuste de volumen del medio de cultivo y ajuste del pH. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el crecimiento en biomasa por peso seco, densidad óptica, pH y amonio de Fischerella sp. en medio de cultivo BG11 durante 12 días. Las variables que se midieron de la curva de crecimiento de las cianobacterias, siguieron el patrón de una curva típica de crecimiento microbiano

Effects of the Menstrual Cycle on Jumping, Sprinting and Force-Velocity Profiling in Resistance-Trained Women: A Preliminary Study

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of the menstrual cycle on vertical jumping, sprint performance and force-velocity profiling in resistance-trained women. A group of resistancetrained eumenorrheic women (n = 9) were tested in three phases over the menstrual cycle: bleeding phase, follicular phase, and luteal phase (i.e., days 1–3, 7–10, and 19–21 of the cycle, respectively). Each testing phase consisted of a battery of jumping tests (i.e., squat jump [SJ], countermovement jump [CMJ], drop jump from a 30 cm box [DJ30], and the reactive strength index) and 30 m sprint running test. Two different applications for smartphone (My Jump 2 and My Sprint) were used to record the jumping and sprinting trials, respectively, at high speed (240 fps). The repeated measures ANOVA reported no significant differences (p ≥ 0.05, ES < 0.25) in CMJ, DJ30, reactive strength index and sprint times between the different phases of the menstrual cycle. A greater SJ height performance was observed during the follicular phase compared to the bleeding phase (p = 0.033, ES = −0.22). No differences (p ≥ 0.05, ES < 0.45) were found in the CMJ and sprint force-velocity profile over the different phases of the menstrual cycle. Vertical jump, sprint performance and the force-velocity profiling remain constant in trained women, regardless of the phase of the menstrual cycle.Pre-competitive Projects for Early Stage Researchers Programme from the University of Granada (ref: PPJIA2020.03

Improved Performance of an Epoxy Matrix as a Result of Combining Graphene Oxide and Reduced Graphene

We present an easy and effective way to improve the mechanical properties of an epoxy matrix by reinforcing it with a combination of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (RGO). These nanocomposites were prepared with different load of nanofillers: 0.1, 0.4, 0.7, 1.0 wt% and a neat epoxy. Ratios of graphene oxide and reduced graphene (GO : RGO) employed were: 0 : 1, 0.25 : 0.75, 0.5 : 0.5, 0.75 : 0.25, and 1 : 0. Results show that with only 0.4 wt% and a ratio 0.2 : 0.75 of GO : RGO, tensile strength and tensile toughness are 52% and 152% higher than neat epoxy while modulus of elasticity was improved ~20%. The obtained results suggest that it is possible achieve advantageous properties by combining graphene in oxidized and reduced conditions as it shows a synergic effect by the presence of both nanofillers

El acceso al servicio de agua y la vulnerabilidad al COVID-19: el caso de la Ciudad de México

El acceso al servicio de agua en los hogares es fundamental para enfrentar la pandemia de COVID-19, sobre todo en contextos urbanos donde el riesgo aumenta por la cercanía social. En este artículo se exploran las relaciones entre el número de contagios de COVID-19 con la marginación de los hogares y los problemas de acceso al servicio de abasto de agua potable en la Ciudad de México, resaltando los patrones de distribución espacial. Se generó una base de datos a nivel de colonia con información oficial sobre el número de contagios, número de habitantes, índice de desarrollo social y acceso deficiente del abasto de agua. Se encontró que todas estas variables tienen un efecto significativo sobre el número de casos que se registran en las colonias. En particular, el deficiente acceso al servicio de agua aumentó en al menos 17 % el número de casos de contagio de COVID-19 durante el periodo de estudio

Reduced Levels of Membrane-Bound Alkaline Phosphatase Are Common to Lepidopteran Strains Resistant to Cry Toxins from Bacillus thuringiensis

Development of insect resistance is one of the main concerns with the use of transgenic crops expressing Cry toxins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. Identification of biomarkers would assist in the development of sensitive DNA-based methods to monitor evolution of resistance to Bt toxins in natural populations. We report on the proteomic and genomic detection of reduced levels of midgut membrane-bound alkaline phosphatase (mALP) as a common feature in strains of Cry-resistant Heliothis virescens, Helicoverpa armigera and Spodoptera frugiperda when compared to susceptible larvae. Reduced levels of H. virescens mALP protein (HvmALP) were detected by two dimensional differential in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) analysis in Cry-resistant compared to susceptible larvae, further supported by alkaline phosphatase activity assays and Western blotting. Through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) we demonstrate that the reduction in HvmALP protein levels in resistant larvae are the result of reduced transcript amounts. Similar reductions in ALP activity and mALP transcript levels were also detected for a Cry1Ac-resistant strain of H. armigera and field-derived strains of S. frugiperda resistant to Cry1Fa. Considering the unique resistance and cross-resistance phenotypes of the insect strains used in this work, our data suggest that reduced mALP expression should be targeted for development of effective biomarkers for resistance to Cry toxins in lepidopteran pests

Whole genome comparisons reveal panmixia among fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) from diverse locations

Background: The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith)) is a highly polyphagous agricultural pest with long-distance migratory behavior threatening food security worldwide. This pest has a host range of > 80 plant species, but two host strains are recognized based on their association with corn (C-strain) or rice and smaller grasses (R-strain). The population genomics of the United States (USA) fall armyworm remains poorly characterized to date despite its agricultural threat. Results: In this study, the population structure and genetic diversity in 55 S. frugiperda samples from Argentina, Brazil, Kenya, Puerto Rico and USA were surveyed to further our understanding of whole genome nuclear diversity. Comparisons at the genomic level suggest a panmictic S. frugiperda population, with only a minor reduction in gene flow between the two overwintering populations in the continental USA, also corresponding to distinct host strains at the mitochondrial level. Two maternal lines were detected from analysis of mitochondrial genomes. We found members from the Eastern Hemisphere interspersed within both continental USA overwintering subpopulations, suggesting multiple individuals were likely introduced to Africa. Conclusions: Our research is the largest diverse collection of United States S. frugiperda whole genome sequences characterized to date, covering eight continental states and a USA territory (Puerto Rico). The genomic resources presented provide foundational information to understand gene flow at the whole genome level among S. frugiperda populations. Based on the genomic similarities found between host strains and laboratory vs. field samples, our findings validate the experimental use of laboratory strains and the host strain differentiation based on mitochondria and sex-linked genetic markers extends to minor genome wide differences with some exceptions showing mixture between host strains is likely occurring in field populations.Fil: Schlum, Katrina A.. University of Tennessee; Estados UnidosFil: Lamour, Kurt. University of Tennessee; Estados UnidosFil: Placidi de Bortoli, Caroline. University of Tennessee; Estados UnidosFil: Banerjee, Rahul. University of Tennessee; Estados UnidosFil: Meagher, Robert. United States Department Of Agriculture. Center For Medical Agric And Vet Entomology; Estados UnidosFil: Pereira, Eliseu. Universidade Federal de Viçosa; BrasilFil: Murúa, María Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres" (p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Sword, Gregory A.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Tessnow, Ashley E.. Texas A&M University; Estados UnidosFil: Viteri Dillon, Diego. Universidad de Puerto Rico; Puerto RicoFil: Linares Ramirez, Angela M.. Universidad de Puerto Rico; Puerto RicoFil: Akutse, Komivi S.. International Centre Of Insect Physiology And Ecology; KeniaFil: Schmidt Jeffris, Rebecca. United States Department Of Agriculture. Center For Medical Agric And Vet Entomology; Estados UnidosFil: Huang, Fangneng. State University of Louisiana; Estados UnidosFil: Reisig, Dominic. North Carolina State University; Estados UnidosFil: Emrich, Scott J.. University of Tennessee; Estados UnidosFil: Jurat Fuentes, Juan Luis. University of Tennessee; Estados Unido