Antiviral and Antiproliferative Potential of Marine Organisms from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

[Abstract] Viral infections are one of the main human health problems in recent decades and the cancer remains one of the most lethal diseases worldwide. The development of new antiviral drugs for the treatment of human adenovirus (HAdV) infections continues to be a challenging goal for medicinal chemistry. There is no specific antiviral drug approved to treat infections caused by HAdV so far and the off-label treatments currently available show great variability in their effectiveness. In relation to cancer, most of the available drugs are designed to act on specific targets by altering the activity of involved transporters and genes. Taking into account the high antiviral and antiproliferative activity against tumor cell lines displayed by some marine natural products reported in the literature, sixty five marine organisms were selected: 51 sponges (Porifera), 13 ascidians (Chordata), and 1 gorgonian (Cnidaria), collected from Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, to evaluate their antiviral activity against human adenovirus type 5 (HAdV5) and their anticancer properties against five human tumor cell lines, namely human lung carcinoma (A549), human skin melanoma (A2058), hepatocyte carcinoma (HepG2), breast adenocarcinoma (MCF7), and pancreas carcinoma (MiaPaca-2). Eleven extracts displayed anti-HAdV activity being the organic extracts of Dysidea sp., Agelas citrina, Chondrilla sp., Spongia tubulifera, and Monanchora arbuscula the five most active ones. On the other hand, 24 extracts showed antiproliferative activity against at least one tumor cell line, being the extracts of the ascidian Eudistoma amanitum and the sponge Haliclona (Rhizoniera) curacaoensis the most active ones. This work constitutes the first wide antiviral and antiproliferative screening report of extracts from the marine sponges, ascidians, and a gorgonian collected from the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.This work was supported by Grants RTI2018-093634-B-C22 and RTC-2016-4611-1 (AEI/FEDER, EU) from the State Agency for Research (AEI) of Spain, both co-funded by the FEDER Programme from the European Union, BLUEBIOLAB (0474_BLUEBIOLAB_1_E), Programme INTERREG V A of Spain-Portugal (POCTEP). The study was also funded by projects GRC2018/039 and Agrupación Estratégica CICA-INIBIC ED431E 2018/03 (Consejería de Educación, Universidad y Formación Profesional de la Junta de Galicia) from the Xunta de Galicia (autonomous government of the region). DP-P received a fellowship from the program National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) of Mexico and the Secretariat of Research, Innovation and Higher Education (SIIES) of Yucatan (Mexico). Also supported by Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Spanish Network for Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD16/0016/0009) – co-financed by “A way to achieve Europe” ERDF, the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Proyectos de Desarrollo Tecnológico en Salud (DTS17/00130 and PI18/01191), and the Spanish Adenovirus Network (AdenoNet, BIO2015/68990-REDT). JS-C is a researcher belonging to the program “Nicolás Monardes” (C-0059-2018), Servicio Andaluz de Salud, Junta de Andalucía, Spain. The antiproliferative studies were financed with internal funds from Fundación MEDINAXunta de Galicia; 0474_BLUEBIOLAB_1_EXunta de Galicia; GRC2018/039Xunta de Galicia; ED431E 2018/03Junta de Andalucía; C-0059-201

Know now : achieving skills, preparing for life

Hoy presentamos Know Now. Achieving skills, preparing for life, una cartilla para que los estudiantes de educación media refuercen sus competencias lingüísticas en inglés y se preparen para una sociedad cada vez más globalizada. Los invito a utilizar esta pieza especial, pues complementa otras estrategias como la certificación continuada de docentes para la enseñanza del inglés y un modelo pedagógico

Atypical clinical presentation and long-term survival in a patient with optic nerve medulloepithelioma: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Medulloepithelioma is a rare congenital tumor of the primitive medullary neuroepithelium. A significant proportion of patients with medulloepithelioma arising from the optic nerve die from intracranial spread or cerebral metastasis. Because it has no known distinct clinical features and because of its low frequency, this tumor presents within the first two to six years of life and is usually misdiagnosed clinically as a different type of optic nerve tumor. Here, we describe a new and atypical case of medulloepithelioma of the optic nerve in a 12-year-old boy. To the best of our knowledge, he is the oldest reported patient to present with this disease and, now as an adult, has the longest documented period of disease-free survival.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 12-year-old Caucasian boy with headache and unilateral amaurosis was referred for a presumed optic nerve glioma to our hospital. A computed tomography scan showed optic nerve enlargement, and fundoscopy showed a whitish mass at the optic disc. Our patient had been followed at his local hospital for four years for an 'optic disc cyst' with no change or progression. He experienced mild progressive visual impairment during that period. He was admitted for resection, and a histopathological analysis revealed a medulloepithelioma of the optic nerve. Supplemental orbital radiotherapy was performed. He remained disease-free for 25 years.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Medulloepithelioma of the optic nerve can clinically mimic more common pediatric tumors, such as optic glioma, meningioma, or retinoblastoma. Thus, medulloepithelioma should be included in the differential diagnoses of pediatric optic nerve lesions. Fundoscopy in these patients may provide relevant information for diagnosis. Anterior optic nerve medulloepitheliomas may behave differently from and have a better prognosis than medulloepitheliomas that have a more posterior location. Our case report illustrates that long-term survival can be achieved in patients with this malignant tumor.</p

Un pensador de nuestro tiempo

1 documento en PDF de 11 páginas.Este texto es producto de las reflexiones de varios estudiosos en torno al pensamiento del filósofo Julián Marías, quien abrió caminos al pensamiento universal, y aportó claves de especial importancia para la comprensión del ser humano en nuestros días.INTRODUCCIÓN El campo Intermedio Belisario Betancur Julián Marías: etapas de una filosofía Harold Raley El sentido del quehacer filosófico en Julián Marías Luis Fernando Fernández Ochoa Julian Marías, lector e intérprete de las Meditaciones del Quijote Helio Carpintero El valor de la palabra en Julián Marías Juan Carlos Vergara Silva La “estructura empírica”, eje del pensamiento antropológico de Julián Marías Ana María Araújo La persona en Julián Marías Jorge Aurelio Díaz Hacia una interpretación personal de la mujer Nieves Gómez Álvarez Amor-enamoramiento Ana María Araújo El Dios vivencial de Julián Marías Alejandra Peñacoba Arribas Marías y la afirmación de la persona: momentos aplicables a la antropología médica Carlos A. Gómez Fajardo La defensa de la vida en el pensamiento de Julián Marías: el caso del aborto Carlos Alberto Sampedro ¿Es de orden transcendental la antropología de Julián Marías? Juan Fernando Sellés El desafío de la ilusión ante la crisis de esperanza. La sugestiva visión de Julián Marías. A propósito del centenario de su natalicio Juan Camilo Restrepo Tamayo Julián Marías, liberal Iván Garzón Vallejo Julián Marías y la II República española Jaime Prieto La transmutación anímica de Julián Marías en su crónica de viajes Imagen de la India Ricardo Visbal Sierr

Una mirada prospectiva de la industria Risaraldense camino a la industria 4.0 : plan tecnológico 2020–2030 Centro de Diseño e Innovación Tecnológico Industrial

Se presenta el plan tecnológico del Centro de Diseño e Innovación Tecnológico Industrial del SENA para la vigencia 2002 - 2030. Comprende el análisis y diagnóstico de la industria risaraldense, sus necesidades y tendencias, con enfoque a la industria 4.0. Se provee información para: identificar tecnologías y ocupaciones emergentes que permitan anticipar la definición de perfiles de instructores, determinar requerimientos de modernización de infraestructura física y tecnológica del Centro de formación, actualizar, crear o eliminar programas de formación, establecer el tipo de formación, servicios tecnológicos e innovación que el centro de formación ofrecerá en un horizonte de 10 años e identificar los proyectos y actores estratégicos para el centro de formación.The technological plan of the SENA Industrial Technological Design and Innovation Center for the period 2002-2030 is presented. It includes the analysis and diagnosis of the Risaralda industry, its needs and trends, with a focus on industry 4.0. Information is provided to: identify emerging technologies and occupations that allow anticipating the definition of instructor profiles, determine modernization requirements of the physical and technological infrastructure of the Training Center, update, create or eliminate training programs, establish the type of training, services technology and innovation that the training center will offer over a 10-year horizon and identify projects and strategic actors for the training center.Fase I: análisis y diagnóstico estratégico -- Análisis externo del centro de formación -- Análisis interno del centro de formación -- Seguimiento al plan tecnológico inmediatamente anterior -- Cruce DOFA -- Vigilancia científico -tecnológica y competitiva especialidad energía eléctrica -- Vigilancia científico -tecnológica y competitiva especialidad electrónica y automatización -- Vigilancia científico -tecnológica y competitiva especialidad Mecánica Industrial -- Vigilancia científico -tecnológica y competitiva especialidad Informática, diseño y desarrollo de software -- Vigilancia científico -tecnológica y competitiva especialidad materiales para la industria -- Vigilancia científico -tecnológica y competitiva especialidad Automotor -- Vigilancia científico -tecnológica y competitiva especialidad Textil, confección y diseño -- Vigilancia científico -tecnológica y competitiva especialidad construcción e infraestructura -- Vigilancia científico -tecnológica y competitiva servicios tecnológicos -- Fase II: formulación estratégica -- Mapa de trayectoria tecnológica -- Validación con expertos -- Construcción de escenarios -- Formulación estratégica -- Métodos prospectivos utilizados -- Formulación estratégica -- Fase III: recomendaciones estratégicas -- Recomendaciones estratégicas especialidad energía eléctrica -- Recomendaciones estratégicas especialidad electrónica y automatización -- Recomendaciones estratégicas especialidad mecánica industrial -- Recomendaciones estratégicas especialidad Informática, diseño y desarrollo de software -- Recomendaciones estratégicas especialidad materiales para la industria -- Recomendaciones estratégicas especialidad Automotor -- Recomendaciones estratégicas especialidad Textil, confección y diseño -- Recomendaciones estratégicas especialidad construcción e infraestructura -- Recomendaciones estratégicas Sennova -- Servicios tecnológicos -- Introducción e información general -- Planteamiento de la necesidad u oportunidad -- Objetivos -- Desarrollo de la vigilancia científico-tecnológica -- Resultados de vigilancia tecnológica con base en análisis de patentes -- Identificación de tecnologías y sublíneas tecnológicas -- Comportamiento de los aceros -- Vigilancia normativa y regulatoria -- Vigilancia tecnológica -- Vigilancia competitiva -- Vigilancia comercial -- Resultados -- Conclusiones y recomendacionesna556 página

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Albiglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Harmony Outcomes): a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial

Background: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists differ in chemical structure, duration of action, and in their effects on clinical outcomes. The cardiovascular effects of once-weekly albiglutide in type 2 diabetes are unknown. We aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of albiglutide in preventing cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Methods: We did a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 610 sites across 28 countries. We randomly assigned patients aged 40 years and older with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (at a 1:1 ratio) to groups that either received a subcutaneous injection of albiglutide (30–50 mg, based on glycaemic response and tolerability) or of a matched volume of placebo once a week, in addition to their standard care. Investigators used an interactive voice or web response system to obtain treatment assignment, and patients and all study investigators were masked to their treatment allocation. We hypothesised that albiglutide would be non-inferior to placebo for the primary outcome of the first occurrence of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke, which was assessed in the intention-to-treat population. If non-inferiority was confirmed by an upper limit of the 95% CI for a hazard ratio of less than 1·30, closed testing for superiority was prespecified. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02465515. Findings: Patients were screened between July 1, 2015, and Nov 24, 2016. 10 793 patients were screened and 9463 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to groups: 4731 patients were assigned to receive albiglutide and 4732 patients to receive placebo. On Nov 8, 2017, it was determined that 611 primary endpoints and a median follow-up of at least 1·5 years had accrued, and participants returned for a final visit and discontinuation from study treatment; the last patient visit was on March 12, 2018. These 9463 patients, the intention-to-treat population, were evaluated for a median duration of 1·6 years and were assessed for the primary outcome. The primary composite outcome occurred in 338 (7%) of 4731 patients at an incidence rate of 4·6 events per 100 person-years in the albiglutide group and in 428 (9%) of 4732 patients at an incidence rate of 5·9 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·78, 95% CI 0·68–0·90), which indicated that albiglutide was superior to placebo (p&lt;0·0001 for non-inferiority; p=0·0006 for superiority). The incidence of acute pancreatitis (ten patients in the albiglutide group and seven patients in the placebo group), pancreatic cancer (six patients in the albiglutide group and five patients in the placebo group), medullary thyroid carcinoma (zero patients in both groups), and other serious adverse events did not differ between the two groups. There were three (&lt;1%) deaths in the placebo group that were assessed by investigators, who were masked to study drug assignment, to be treatment-related and two (&lt;1%) deaths in the albiglutide group. Interpretation: In patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, albiglutide was superior to placebo with respect to major adverse cardiovascular events. Evidence-based glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists should therefore be considered as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes. Funding: GlaxoSmithKline

New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.

Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms

Capitulo 2. Ciencias Naturales y Ciencias Básicas, Ingeniería y Tecnología

La diseminación de la Levitación Magnética, a pesar de lo antiguo de su tecnología, ha sido limitada. Debido a sus inconvenientes prácticos de implementación, su uso es bastante restringido, comparado con otras tecnologías (SCMaglev japonés, Transrapid alemán, o productos comerciales para ocio y entretenimiento). Con el boom de las tecnologías limpias y amigables con el medio ambiente y en concordancia con los objetivos del milenio, es pertinente plantearse el objetivo de optimizar el proceso de Levitación Magnética para generar un aprovechamiento de las ventajas de esta tecnología a nivel mecánico, eléctrico, y ambiental.&nbsp; Actualmente la UNAD adelanta un proyecto de investigación cuyo objetivo es generar un modelo físico matemático de levitación magnética para aplicaciones en ingeniería. De este proyecto se ha derivado una primera revisión sistemática de los principios físicos y los modelos vigentes en Levitación Magnética