A study of differential microRNA expression profile in migraine: the microMIG exploratory study

Epigenetics; Migraine; MicroRNAEpigenética; Migraña; MicroARNEpigenètica; Migranya; MicroARNBackground Several studies have described potential microRNA (miRNA) biomarkers associated with migraine, but studies are scarcely reproducible primarily due to the heterogeneous variability of participants. Increasing evidence shows that disease-related intrinsic factors together with lifestyle (environmental factors), influence epigenetic mechanisms and in turn, diseases. Hence, the main objective of this exploratory study was to find differentially expressed miRNAs (DE miRNA) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of patients with migraine compared to healthy controls in a well-controlled homogeneous cohort of non-menopausal women. Methods Patients diagnosed with migraine according to the International Classification of Headache Disorders (ICHD-3) and healthy controls without familial history of headache disorders were recruited. All participants completed a very thorough questionnaire and structured-interview in order to control for environmental factors. RNA was extracted from PBMC and a microarray system (GeneChip miRNA 4.1 Array chip, Affymetrix) was used to determine the miRNA profiles between study groups. Principal components analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis were performed to study samples distribution and random forest (RF) algorithms were computed for the classification task. To evaluate the stability of the results and the prediction error rate, a bootstrap (.632 + rule) was run through all the procedure. Finally, a functional enrichment analysis of selected targets was computed through protein–protein interaction networks. Results After RF classification, three DE miRNA distinguished study groups in a very homogeneous female cohort, controlled by factors such as demographics (age and BMI), life-habits (physical activity, caffeine and alcohol consumptions), comorbidities and clinical features associated to the disease: miR-342-3p, miR-532-3p and miR-758-5p. Sixty-eight target genes were predicted which were linked mainly to enriched ion channels and signaling pathways, neurotransmitter and hormone homeostasis, infectious diseases and circadian entrainment. Conclusions A 3-miRNA (miR-342-3p, miR-532-3p and miR-758-5p) novel signature has been found differentially expressed between controls and patients with migraine. Enrichment analysis showed that these pathways are closely associated with known migraine pathophysiology, which could lead to the first reliable epigenetic biomarker set. Further studies should be performed to validate these findings in a larger and more heterogeneous sample.This study was solely funded by the Migraine Research Foundation

Inhibition of mTOR by Rapamycin Abolishes Cognitive Deficits and Reduces Amyloid-β Levels in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease

extends lifespan in mice, possibly by delaying aging. Whether inhibition of the mTOR pathway would delay or prevent age-associated disease such as AD remained to be determined. and block or delay AD in mice. As expected from the inhibition of mTOR, autophagy was increased in neurons of rapamycin-treated transgenic, but not in non-transgenic, PDAPP mice, suggesting that the reduction in Aβ and the improvement in cognitive function are due in part to increased autophagy, possibly as a response to high levels of Aβ.Our data suggest that inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin, an intervention that extends lifespan in mice, can slow or block AD progression in a transgenic mouse model of the disease. Rapamycin, already used in clinical settings, may be a potentially effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of AD

Neutral Lipid Biosynthetic Potential in Sediment Microbial Communities from Subantarctic Environments

Bacteria from a limited number of taxa are known to accumulate wax esters (WE) and triacylglycerol (TAG) as an adaptation response to stressful environmental conditions, although this capability is poorly understood at the microbial community level. The goal of this work was to uncover the prevalence and diversity of bacteria with the potential to synthesize neutral lipids in coastal sediments of Subantarctic and Antarctic environments, and to characterize the gene clusters related to this process. More than 48,000 sequences containing the PF03007 domain (specific of the key enzyme wax ester synthase/acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase, WS/DGAT) were retrieved from 13 metagenomes, including subtidal and intertidal sediments of Ushuaia Bay, Argentina (54° 48’ S, 68° 17’ W), and subtidal sediments of Potter Cove, 25 de Mayo Island, Antarctica (62° 13’ S, 58° 39’ W). Abundance of putative WS/DGAT sequences in the sediment metagenomes was 1.23 ± 0.42 times relative to 12 single-copy genes encoding ribosomal proteins, much higher than in seawater (0.13 ± 0.31 times in 338 metagenomes). In an ordination analysis, the metagenomes were grouped by geographic location, although closely related sequences were present in both environments despite a 1,000 km distance and the potential barrier of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current. Most sequences were binned to the Proteobacteria or the Actinobacteria phyla. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the majority of the identified sequences were most closely related to sequences from genomes assembled from metagenomes, from environmental samples including seawater, marine sediments, groundwater, freshwater and biological wastewater treatment plants. The genomic context of putative WS/DGAT sequences included genes encoding putative Type-2 PAPs and HAD-type hydrolases, glycerol- and acylglycerol- phosphate O-acyltransferases, some of them potentially responsible for specific steps in WE and TAG biosynthesis. In addition, some scaffolds contained genes of related pathways such as fatty-acids metabolism, suggesting carbon recycling might drive the flux to neutral lipid synthesis. These results indicate the presence of abundant and diverse bacterial populations with the potential to synthesize lipid storage compounds. This information increases our understanding on the mechanisms used by bacteria from extreme environments to adapt to environmental stressors. FP and VG contributed equally.Fil: Pascutti, Federico. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Galvan, Virginia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Sandoval, Natalia Elisa. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Instituto de Biociencias de la Patagonia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Biociencias de la Patagonia; ArgentinaFil: Lanfranconi, Mariana Patricia. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Instituto de Biociencias de la Patagonia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Biociencias de la Patagonia; ArgentinaFil: Lozada, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Biología de Organismos Marinos; ArgentinaFil: Arabolaza, Ana Lorena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Mac Cormack, Walter Patricio. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Interno y Culto. Dirección Nacional del Antártico. Instituto Antártico Argentino; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Nanobiotecnología. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Nanobiotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Alvarez, Hector Manuel. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia "San Juan Bosco". Instituto de Biociencias de la Patagonia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Instituto de Biociencias de la Patagonia; ArgentinaFil: Gramajo, Hugo Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Dionisi, Hebe Monica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Centro Nacional Patagónico. Centro para el Estudio de Sistemas Marinos; ArgentinaWorld Microbe ForumWashingtonEstados UnidosAmerican Society for MicrobiologyFederation of European Microbiological Societie

State of Reproductive Health In Women Veterans – VA Reproductive Health Diagnoses and Organization of Care

Reproductive health (RH) is a critical part of health. For women, RH encompasses gynecological health throughout life, preconception care, maternity care, cancer care, and the interaction of RH with other mental and medical conditions. Reproductive Health is defined as a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-be­ing and not merely the absence of reproductive disease or infirmity. This definition highlights the importance of taking a health systems approach that integrates RH care issues and services with other aspects of care needed across the life course. The RH needs of women are shaped by their stages of life and life experiences. For women Veterans, their military experiences may influence their RH in important ways. Given the increasing numbers of women in the military and women Veterans, it is critical to understand key aspects of RH in this unique population of women. This first report of the State of Reproductive Health in Women Veterans provides an overview of the RH diagnoses of women Veterans utilizing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care services, VA delivery of RH care, and a vision for RH in VA

Biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease and cerebrovascular disease in relation to depressive symptomatology in individuals with subjective cognitive decline

Background: Subjective cognitive decline (SCD) has gained recent interest as a potential harbinger of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD). In addition, SCD can be related to depressive symptomatology. However, the association between AD and CVD biomarkers, depressive symptomatology, and SCD is still unclear. We investigated the association of AD and CVD biomarkers and depressive symptomatology with SCD in individuals with subjective memory complaints (SCD-memory group) and individuals with subjective concentration complaints (SCD-concentration group).// Methods: We recruited a population-based cohort of 217 individuals (all aged 70 years, 53% female, 119 SCD-memory individuals, 23 SCD-concentration individuals, 89 controls). AD and CVD were assessed through cerebrospinal fluid levels of the Aβ42/40 ratio and phosphorylated tau, and white matter signal abnormalities on magnetic resonance imaging, respectively. Associations between biomarkers, depressive symptomatology, and SCD were tested via logistic regression and correlation analyses.// Results: We found a significant association of depressive symptomatology with SCD-memory and SCD-concentration. Depressive symptomatology was not associated with AD and CVD biomarkers. Both the phosphorylated tau biomarker and depressive symptomatology predicted SCD-memory, and the Aβ42/40 ratio and depressive symptomatology predicted SCD-concentration.// Conclusions: The role of depressive symptomatology in SCD may differ depending on the stage within the spectrum of preclinical AD (as determined by amyloid-beta and tau positivity), and does not seem to reflect AD pathology. Our findings contribute to the emerging field of subclinical depressive symptomatology in SCD, and clarify the association of different types of subjective complaints with distinct syndromic and biomarker profiles

La imagen y la narrativa como herramienta para el abordaje psicosocial en escenarios de violencia. Departamento de La Guajira

El objetivo es analizar desde la subjetividad los diferentes contextos de violencia en Colombia, por medio del enfoque narrativo como estrategia psicosocial para transformación y restauración de vidas, para llegar al cambio, por medio de métodos psicológicos y psicosociales reconocemos las historias destacadas de cada una de las víctimas; estas situaciones enmarcan graves consecuencias a nivel económico, social, político y cultural. Pudimos observar cómo estas historias hicieron gran impacto tanto individual, familiar, socio cultural, comunitario; otros problemas psicosociales detectados fueron la desintegración del núcleo familiar, perdida familiares, daño moral, desplazamientos, secuestros, hurtos y muertes. Seguidamente vemos la violencia a los derechos humanos, inseguridad, pobreza, desplazamiento forzoso, violencias sexuales, abortos, asesinatos y torturas, debido a la gravedad y los impactos generados, el estado colombiano se vio en la necesidad de implementar normas y leyes que permitan mitigar y reparar el daño causado a las víctimas de estos hechos violentos que han golpeado nuestra nación, por más de 40 años. A partir de las narrativas de las víctimas se pretende hacer un reconocimiento de las subjetividades, significados y simbolismos, que se generan a partir de los hechos de violencia, desde el contexto académico se busca crear un impacto psicosocial naturalizados en cada uno de los contextos del victimario, seguidamente por medio de sus relatos y experiencia se ayuda a moldear las identidades; por medio de herramientas basadas en el pensamiento sistémico se logran estrategias que ayuden a tener mayor conciencia, donde ellos pueda hablar de sus problemas y dificultades, este enfoque busca transformar las historias relatadas en esperanza y empoderamiento, donde habiendo sufridos daños se representa enfrentando al mismo, intenta superarlo y llegar al cambio. En la misma medida a partir del análisis que se hizo por medio de las historia, símbolos y grupos se plantean tres estrategias de intervención psicosocial con el fin de contribuir a la potenciación de sus recursos de afrontamiento y convertirse en agentes activos de su proceso de transformación.The objective is to analyze from subjectivity the different contexts of violence in Colombia, through the narrative approach as a psychosocial strategy for transformation and restoration of lives, to achieve change, through psychological and psychosocial methods, we recognize the outstanding stories of each of the victims; These situations frame serious consequences at the economic, social, political and cultural level. We were able to observe how these stories made a great impact, both individual, family, socio-cultural, community; Other psychosocial problems detected were the disintegration of the family nucleus, loss of family members, moral damage, displacement, kidnappings, thefts and deaths. Next we see the violence to human rights, insecurity, poverty, forced displacement, sexual violence, abortions, murders and torture, due to the severity and the impacts generated, the Colombian state saw the need to implement norms and laws that allow mitigating and repair the damage caused to the victims of these violent events that have hit our nation for more than 40 years. From the narratives of the victims, it is intended to make a recognition of the subjectivities, meanings and symbolisms, which are generated from the acts of violence, from the academic context it seeks to create a naturalized psychosocial impact in each of the contexts of the victimizer, then through their stories and experience they help shape identities; Through tools based on systemic thinking, strategies are achieved that help to have greater awareness, where they can talk about their problems and difficulties, this approach seeks to transform the stories told into hope and empowerment, where having suffered damage is represented facing it , try to overcome it and reach the change. To the same extent, based on the analysis that was made through the history, symbols and groups, three psychosocial intervention strategies are proposed in order to contribute to the empowerment of their coping resources and become active agents in their transformation proces

Intensive care adult patients with severe respiratory failure caused by Influenza A (H1N1)v in Spain

Introduction: Patients with influenza A (H1N1)v infection have developed rapidly progressive lower respiratory tract disease resulting in respiratory failure. We describe the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of the first 32 persons reported to be admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) due to influenza A (H1N1)v infection in Spain. Methods: We used medical chart reviews to collect data on ICU adult patients reported in a standardized form. Influenza A (H1N1)v infection was confirmed in specimens using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT PCR) assay. Results: Illness onset of the 32 patients occurred between 23 June and 31 July, 2009. The median age was 36 years (IQR = 31 - 52). Ten (31.2%) were obese, 2 (6.3%) pregnant and 16 (50%) had pre-existing medical complications. Twenty-nine (90.6%) had primary viral pneumonitis, 2 (6.3%) exacerbation of structural respiratory disease and 1 (3.1%) secondary bacterial pneumonia. Twenty-four patients (75.0%) developed multiorgan dysfunction, 7 (21.9%) received renal replacement techniques and 24 (75.0%) required mechanical ventilation. Six patients died within 28 days, with two additional late deaths. Oseltamivir administration delay ranged from 2 to 8 days after illness onset, 31.2% received high-dose (300 mg/day), and treatment duration ranged from 5 to 10 days (mean 8.0 +/- 3.3). Conclusions: Over a 5-week period, influenza A (H1N1)v infection led to ICU admission in 32 adult patients, with frequently observed severe hypoxemia and a relatively high case-fatality rate. Clinicians should be aware of pulmonary complications of influenza A (H1N1)v infection, particularly in pregnant and young obese but previously healthy persons

Connection between genetic polymorphism of interleukin -1 beta with chronic periodontitis in peruvian adults

Objectives. To determine the connection between polymorphism IL-1B C(+3953/4)T and chronic periodontitis in adults. Materials and Methods. Case and control study. Individuals between 18 and 64 years of age were included; they were recruited through healthcare campaigns carried out in 2012 in different areas of the city of Lima with similar socio-economic characteristics. Dentists specialized in periodontics performed the diagnosis of the periodontal state of participants; genotyping was made through the PCR-RFLP technique. The data were analyzed by logistic regression. Results. The factors associated with chronic periodontitis were: age over 46 years (OR: 7.50, CI 95%: 1.85-6.37), higher education level achieved (OR: 0.43, CI 95%: 0.27-0.98), the presence of allele 2 in the polymorphism of IL-1B. The positive genotype (2-2) was associated with the presence of chronic periodontitis (OR: 2.06, CI 95%: 1.01-4.21). Conclusions. The presence of allele 2 in the polymorphism of IL-1B and the positive genotype (2-2) confers greater risk for the development of chronic periodontitis in the population of Peruvian adults under study