Morphological Characteristics of Pilot Whales Retina (Globicephala melas; Traill, 1809) and their Relationship to Habitat

Existe una estrecha relación entre las características morfológicas de los sistemas sensoriales, su funcionamiento y el hábitat al que están adaptados los organismos. En este sentido, de todos los mamíferos marinos estudiados, los cetáceos son los que más profundamente han modificado su estructura y fisiología ocular por su estrecha adaptación a una vida exclusivamente acuática. Para aportar más datos a la literatura, el objetivo de este trabajo es describir morfológicamente la retina de la ballena piloto a través de técnicas de microscopia óptica, con el fin de relacionarla con su adaptación al medio acuático. Nuestros datos muestran que la retina de Globicephala melas se organiza de acuerdo al mismo plan básico de los vertebrados. Tiene un grosor medio alrededor de 330±23 µm en las zonas de alta densidad de células ganglionares y 175±2 µm en la zona periférica. La capa de los fotorreceptores se corresponde con el 45% del grosor de la retina total. Presenta largos segmentos externos. La capa más característica de cetáceos en general y de Globicephala melas en particular, es la capa de células ganglionares. Su grosor, de 77,76±37,26 siendo la más variable de toda la retina. Esta capa presenta baja densidad celular pero tamaños excepcionalmente grandes, de 10 a 75 µm (promedio de 33,5 µm), denominadas células ganglionares gigantes.There is a close relationship between morphological features of sensory systems, their function and habitat to which these organisms are adapting. In this sense, of all marine mammals that have been studied, cetaceans are the ones that have profoundly changed structure and ocular physiology in their adaptation to an exclusively aquatic life. To add further data to the literature, the aim of this paper is to describe morphologically the retina of the pilot whale through optical microscopy and relate their adaptation to the aquatic environment. Our data show that the retina of the long-finned pilot whale is organized according to the same basic plan of vertebrates. It has an average thickness of about 330±23 microns in areas of high ganglion cell density of 175±2 microns in the peripheral zone. Photoreceptor layer corresponds to 45% of total thickness of the retina and has long outer segments. The most significant characteristic of cetaceans in general and long-finned pilot whale in particular, is the ganglion cell layer. Thickness of 77.76±37.26 being the most variable of the entire retina. This layer has a low density but exceptionally large cell size of 10 to 75 microns (average of 33.5 microns), known as giant ganglion cells

eHealth tools for assessing psychomotor activity in schizophrenia: A systematic review

Objective: Psychomotor abnormalities are relevant symptoms in the clinical presentation of schizophrenia, and assessing them could facilitate monitoring. New technologies can measure psychomotor activity objectively and continuously, but evidence on the topic is scarce. Our aim is to systematically review the existing evidence about eHealth tools for assessing psychomotor activity in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. Method: We performed a systematic search of the PubMed and Embase databases and identified 15 relevant articles on eHealth tools for assessing psychomotor activity in schizophrenia. Results: eHealth devices accurately assessed psychomotor activity and were well accepted. Abnormalities in psychomotor activity helped differentiate between different subtypes of schizophrenia. Abnormal increases in psychomotor activity were correlated with acute presentations, while lower activity was associated with relapses, deterioration, and negative symptoms. Conclusion: Actigraphy is still the preferred eHealth device in research settings, but mobile applications have great potential. Further studies are needed to explore the possibilities of psychomotor monitoring and mobile health applications for preventing relapses in schizophrenia. eHealth could be useful for monitoring psychomotor activity, which might help prevent relapses.This study received grant support from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Grant/Award Number: ISCIII CM19/ 00026)

GAM9: Gamificación de Asignaturas del Módulo 9 "Conocimientos y técnicas aplicadas a la comunicación publicitaria”

La gamificación consiste en la aplicación de conceptos que encontramos habitualmente en los juegos en general y en los videojuegos en concreto. Estos elementos son: reglas, retos progresivos con un camino definido para alcanzarlos, feedback continuo sobre la progresión, y compromiso por parte del jugador. Aunque el concepto es una herramienta muy utilizada en marketing, también se empieza a trasladar lo positivo de las mecánicas del juego a la docencia. Dado que gran parte del alumnado dedica su tiempo libre a los videojuegos, es de esperar que esta dinámica sea incluso más positiva que en otros campos. Gamificar una asignatura puede motivar al estudiante, guiarlo en el proceso de aprendizaje y fomentar una sana competitividad. Por esta razón, nos proponemos concretar para el curso 2014/15 propuestas de gamificación en tres asignaturas del grado en Publicidad y Relaciones Públicas, pertenecientes al módulo “Conocimientos y Técnicas aplicadas a la comunicación publicitaria” con el objetivo de motivar el aprendizaje de nuestro alumnado

Ultrastructural study of retinal development in the turtle Trachemys scripta elegans

The present study was conducted by using light and transmission electron microscopy to examine the morphologic development of turtle retina from embryonic stage 18 (S18) to S26 (hatching). Particular attention was paid to the formation of functional structures such as neurites, synapses, photoreceptors, among others, and the moment that chemical synapses appear in the outer and inner plexiform layers. The results show that retinal differentiation in the turtle follows the vitreal to scleral morphological differentiation of retinal cells. Moreover, the central region of the optic cup is most advanced compared to the peripheral parts. Early functional plexiform layers, based on appearance of synapses, precede the complete differentiation of photoreceptors. The first synaptic structures occur in the inner plexiform layer before the outer plexiform layer. Receptor outer segments and first synaptic ribbon in receptor synaptic terminals initiate the differentiation at the same time, but final maturation includes dendritic invaginations of bipolar and horizontal cells in the receptor terminals. We assume that at birth, the turtle retina has achieved the ability to see.This research was supported by University of Alicante VIGROB-186

P73 plays a role in erythroid differentiaion through GATA1 induction

The TP73 gene gives rise to transactivation domain-p73 isoforms (TAp73) as well as ΔNp73 variants with a truncated N terminus. Although TAp73α and -Β proteins are capable of inducing cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and differentiation, ΔNp73 acts in many cell types as a dominant-negative repressor of p53 and TAp73. It has been proposed that p73 is involved in myeloid differentiation, and its altered expression is involved in leukemic degeneration. However, there is little evidence as to which p73 variants (TA or ΔN) are expressed during differentiation and whether specific p73 isoforms have the capacity to induce, or hinder, this differentiation in leukemia cells. In this study we identify GATA1 as a direct transcriptional target of TAp73α. Furthermore, TAp73α induces GATA1 activity, and it is required for erythroid differentiation. Additionally, we describe a functional cooperation between TAp73 and ΔNp73 in the context of erythroid differentiation in human myeloid cells, K562 and UT-7. Moreover, the impaired expression of GATA1 and other erythroid genes in the liver of p73KO embryos, together with the moderated anemia observed in p73KO young mice, suggests a physiological role for TP73 in erythropoiesis.Peer reviewe

Guía de las actividades de los contenidos del segundo cuatrimestre de la asignatura de Citología e Histología Vegetal y Animal

En este trabajo recogemos las principales pautas y metodología seguida para la elaboración de la Guía de Estudio de parte de los contenidos del segundo cuatrimestre de la asignatura de Citología e Histología Animal y Vegetal de los estudios de Biología. En dicha guía se recoge el desarrollo de las actividades docentes que han sido llevadas a cabo utilizando la plataforma informática Campos Virtual de la Universidad de Alicante. Se trata del ensayo de una nueva manera de abordar el proceso de enseñanza/aprendizaje de nuestros alumnos, tendente a la adaptación de los contenidos de Histología al Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior (EEES). El método empleado ha sido introducir a nuestros alumnos a ser los artífices de su propia formación, mediante la realización tanto de tareas de autoaprendizaje como la exposición de sus resultados al resto de sus compañeros en una serie de seminarios. La metodología empleada se expone en cada uno de los apartados de esta guía

The current status of mesenchymal stromal cells: controversies, unresolved issues and some promising solutions to improve their therapeutic efficacy

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) currently constitute the most frequently used cell type in advanced therapies with different purposes, most of which are related with inflammatory processes. Although the therapeutic efficacy of these cells has been clearly demonstrated in different disease animal models and in numerous human phase I/II clinical trials, only very few phase III trials using MSCs have demonstrated the expected potential therapeutic benefit. On the other hand, diverse controversial issues on the biology and clinical applications of MSCs, including their specific phenotype, the requirement of an inflammatory environment to induce immunosuppression, the relevance of the cell dose and their administration schedule, the cell delivery route (intravascular/systemic vs. local cell delivery), and the selected cell product (i.e., use of autologous vs. allogeneic MSCs, freshly cultured vs. frozen and thawed MSCs, MSCs vs. MSC-derived extracellular vesicles, etc.) persist. In the current review article, we have addressed these issues with special emphasis in the new approaches to improve the properties and functional capabilities of MSCs after distinct cell bioengineering strategies

Prognostic value of discharge heart rate in acute heart failure patients: more relevant in atrial fibrillation?

[Abstract] Aims. The prognostic impact of heart rate (HR) in acute heart failure (AHF) patients is not well known especially in atrial fibrillation (AF) patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of admission HR, discharge HR, HR difference (admission-discharge) in AHF patients with sinus rhythm (SR) or AF on long- term outcomes. Methods. We included 1398 patients consecutively admitted with AHF between October 2013 and December 2014 from a national multicentre, prospective registry. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the association between admission HR, discharge HR and HR difference and one- year all-cause mortality and HF readmission. Results. The mean age of the study population was 72 ± 12 years. Of these, 594 (42.4%) were female, 655 (77.8%) were hypertensive and 655 (46.8%) had diabetes. Among all included patients, 745 (53.2%) had sinus rhythm and 653 (46.7%) had atrial fibrillation. Only discharge HR was associated with one year all-cause mortality (Relative risk (RR) = 1.182, confidence interval (CI) 95% 1.024–1.366, p = 0.022) in SR. In AF patients discharge HR was associated with one year all cause mortality (RR = 1.276, CI 95% 1.115–1.459, p ≤ 0.001). We did not observe a prognostic effect of admission HR or HRD on long-term outcomes in both groups. This relationship is not dependent on left ventricular ejection fraction. Conclusions. In AHF patients lower discharge HR, neither the admission nor the difference, is associated with better long-term outcomes especially in AF patients