How hepatitis C virus modifies the immunological profile of Sjögren syndrome: analysis of 783 patients.

Introduction: We conducted a study to analyze how infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) may influence the immunological serum pattern of patients with Sjögren syndrome (SS). Methods: Since 1994, we have tested serum HCV-IgG antibodies in 783 patients with SS diagnosed according to the 1993 European classification criteria. The immunological profile at diagnosis was compared according to the presence or absence of HCV. Results: Of the 783 patients with SS, 105 (13.4 %) tested positive for HCV-IgG antibodies (88 females, 17 males,mean age at SS diagnosis: 62.9 years). Multivariate analysis showed that patients with SS-HCV had a higher mean age and a higher frequency of low C3/C4 levels, cryoglobulins, and hematological neoplasia compared with patients without HCV. The frequency of anti-La antibodies compared with anti-Ro antibodies was higher in patients with SS-HCV (17 % vs. 15 %) and lower in patients without HCV infection (30 % vs. 43 %). The frequency of concomitant detection of the three main cryoglobulin-related markers (cryoglobulins, rheumatoid factor activity, and C4 consumption) was threefold higher in patients with SS-HCV compared with patients without HCV. SS-HCV patients with genotype 1b showed the highest frequencies of immunological abnormalities related to cryoglobulins and the lowest frequencies of anti-Ro/La antibodies. Conclusions: We found HCV infection in 13 % of a large series of Spanish patients with SS. The HCV-driven autoimmune response was characterized by a lower frequency of anti-Ro/La antibodies, an abnormal predominance of anti-La among anti-Ro antibodies, and a higher frequency of cryoglobulinemic-related immunological markers in comparison with patients without HCV infection. This immunological pattern may contribute to the poor outcomes found in patients with SS-HCV

The alhambra survey: evolution of galaxy spectral segregation

We study the clustering of galaxies as a function of spectral type and redshift in the range 0.35 <z <1.1 using data from the Advanced Large Homogeneous Area Medium Band Redshift Astronomical (ALHAMBRA) survey. The data cover 2.381 deg2 in 7 fields, after applying a detailed angular selection mask, with accurate photometric redshifts down to IAB <24. From this catalog we draw five fixed number density redshift-limited bins. We estimate the clustering evolution for two different spectral populations selected using the ALHAMBRA-based photometric templates: quiescent and star-forming galaxies. For each sample we measure the real-space clustering using the projected correlation function. Our calculations are performed over the range [0.03, 10.0] h-1 Mpc, allowing us to find a steeper trend for Mpc, which is especially clear for star-forming galaxies. Our analysis also shows a clear early differentiation in the clustering properties of both populations: star-forming galaxies show weaker clustering with evolution in the correlation length over the analyzed redshift range, while quiescent galaxies show stronger clustering already at high redshifts and no appreciable evolution. We also perform the bias calculation where similar segregation is found, but now it is among the quiescent galaxies where a growing evolution with redshift is clearer (abrigatted). These findings clearly corroborate the well-known color-density relation, confirming that quiescent galaxies are mainly located in dark matter halos that are more massive than those typically populated by star-forming galaxies.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad y FEDER AYA2010-22111-C03-02 AYA2013-48623-C2-2 AYA2012-39620 AYA2013-40611-P AYA2013-42227-P AYA2013-43188-P AYA2013-48623-C2-1 ESP2013-48274 AYA2014-58861-C3-1Junta de Andalucía TIC114 JA2828 P10-FQM-644

SISTEMA WEB DE APOYO A LA DOCENCIA, AL APRENDIZAJE Y A LA GESTIÓN DE DATOS ACADÉMICOS DE ASIGNATURAS UNIVERSITARIAS

 RESUMEN En este artículo se propone un modelo jerárquico de roles de usuario para el diseño de sistemas Web que permite un diseño estructurado de la interfaz de usuario, una mejor adaptabilidad al perfil del usuario y la simplificación de la especificación de tareas del sistema. Dicho modelo ha sido aplicado al desarrollo de un sistema Web, denominado Tutor, que da soporte a la docencia, al aprendizaje y a la gestión de datos académicos (de alumnos, profesores, titulaciones, etc.) relacionados con asignaturas de la Universidad de Granada. El equipo de desarrollo ha estado formado por profesores, estudiantes y técnicos de los servicios de informática y redes de comunicaciones de dicha universidad, por lo que desde el principio se ha tenido presente la finalidad pedagógica de cada utilidad a la hora de incluirla en el sistema. El sistema implementado ofrece una serie de servicios electrónicos, siendo algunos de ellos de acceso libre, mientras que otros son de acceso restringido sólo a usuarios registrados en el sistema (cuando se requiere proteger la privacidad de los datos). La principal finalidad de nuestro sistema consiste en lograr algunos de los objetivos establecidos en el contexto del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior, que fija y unifica los criterios de calidad que deben cumplir los estudios superiores en los estados miembros.  PALABRAS CLAVESSistema Web de Apoyo a la DocenciaSistema Web de Soporte al AprendizajeTecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC)Aplicadas a la EducaciónInnovación Docente  ABSTRACT In this paper, we propose a hierarchical model of user roles to be applied in the development of Web-based applications. The model facilitates a structured design of user interfaces, a better adaptability to user profiles and the simplification of the specification of system tasks. This model has been applied to the development of a Web-based system, called Tutor, that provides support for teaching and learning some subjects taught at the University of Granada, and for the management of academic data (of students, teachers, degrees, etc.) related with these subjects. The development team is made up of teachers, students and technicians of computer science and communication network services belonging to this university. For that reason, we have always had in mind the pedagogic purpose of each utility included in the system. The implemented system offers a series of electronic services, some of them are free access, while others are restricted access only to users registered in the system (when data privacy protection is required). The main aim of our system is to achieve some of the objectives established in the context of the European Space of Higher Education, which sets and unifies quality criteria that the higher studies within its member states must satisfy.  KEYWORDSWeb-Based Teaching-Support SystemWeb-Based Learning-Support SystemInformation and Communication Technologies Appliedto EducationTeaching Innovation

SISTEMA WEB DE APOYO A LA DOCENCIA, AL APRENDIZAJE Y A LA GESTIÓN DE DATOS ACADÉMICOS DE ASIGNATURAS UNIVERSITARIAS

 RESUMEN En este artículo se propone un modelo jerárquico de roles de usuario para el diseño de sistemas Web que permite un diseño estructurado de la interfaz de usuario, una mejor adaptabilidad al perfil del usuario y la simplificación de la especificación de tareas del sistema. Dicho modelo ha sido aplicado al desarrollo de un sistema Web, denominado Tutor, que da soporte a la docencia, al aprendizaje y a la gestión de datos académicos (de alumnos, profesores, titulaciones, etc.) relacionados con asignaturas de la Universidad de Granada. El equipo de desarrollo ha estado formado por profesores, estudiantes y técnicos de los servicios de informática y redes de comunicaciones de dicha universidad, por lo que desde el principio se ha tenido presente la finalidad pedagógica de cada utilidad a la hora de incluirla en el sistema. El sistema implementado ofrece una serie de servicios electrónicos, siendo algunos de ellos de acceso libre, mientras que otros son de acceso restringido sólo a usuarios registrados en el sistema (cuando se requiere proteger la privacidad de los datos). La principal finalidad de nuestro sistema consiste en lograr algunos de los objetivos establecidos en el contexto del Espacio Europeo de Educación Superior, que fija y unifica los criterios de calidad que deben cumplir los estudios superiores en los estados miembros.  PALABRAS CLAVESSistema Web de Apoyo a la DocenciaSistema Web de Soporte al AprendizajeTecnologías de la Información y la Comunicación (TIC)Aplicadas a la EducaciónInnovación Docente  ABSTRACT In this paper, we propose a hierarchical model of user roles to be applied in the development of Web-based applications. The model facilitates a structured design of user interfaces, a better adaptability to user profiles and the simplification of the specification of system tasks. This model has been applied to the development of a Web-based system, called Tutor, that provides support for teaching and learning some subjects taught at the University of Granada, and for the management of academic data (of students, teachers, degrees, etc.) related with these subjects. The development team is made up of teachers, students and technicians of computer science and communication network services belonging to this university. For that reason, we have always had in mind the pedagogic purpose of each utility included in the system. The implemented system offers a series of electronic services, some of them are free access, while others are restricted access only to users registered in the system (when data privacy protection is required). The main aim of our system is to achieve some of the objectives established in the context of the European Space of Higher Education, which sets and unifies quality criteria that the higher studies within its member states must satisfy.  KEYWORDSWeb-Based Teaching-Support SystemWeb-Based Learning-Support SystemInformation and Communication Technologies Appliedto EducationTeaching Innovation

Autoantibodies against EPCR are found in antiphospholipid syndrome and are a risk factor for fetal death

The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is associated with thrombosis and fetal death but the pathologic mechanisms are poorly understood. Since endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) plays a role in the anticoagulant system and in placental development, we hypothesized that anti-EPCR autoantibodies may be involved in clinical manifestations of APS and in fetal loss. The levels of immunoglobulin M (IgM) and IgG anti-EPCR autoantibodies were analyzed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 43 patients with APS and 43 controls. Anti-EPCR levels were higher in APS patients than in controls. Interestingly, one of the IgM anti-EPCR autoantibodies inhibited the generation of activated protein C on endothelium. Since markedly high anti-EPCR levels were found in women with fetal death, 87 patients with a first episode of unexplained fetal death were subsequently analyzed and their anti-EPCR levels were compared with 87 matched controls. We found that anti-EPCR autoantibodies constitute an independent risk factor for a first fetal death episode: the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for anti-EPCR autoantibodies above the 95th percentile were 23.0 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.0-266.3) for IgM and 6.8 (95% CI, 1.2-38.4) for IgG. Anti-EPCR autoantibodies can be detected in APS patients and are independent risk factors for fetal death

Contrasting Patterns of Nuclear and mtDNA Diversity in Native American Populations

We report an integrated analysis of nuclear (autosomal, X- and Y-chromosome) short tandem repeat (STR) data and mtDNA D-loop sequences obtained in the same set of 22 Native populations from across the Americas. A north to south gradient of decreasing population diversity was observed, in agreement with a settlement of the Americas from the extreme northwest of the continent. This correlation is stronger with "least cost distances," which consider the coasts as facilitators of migration. Continent-wide estimates of population structure are highest for the Y-chromosome and lowest for the autosomes, consistent with the effective size of the different marker systems examined. Population differentiation is highest in East South America and lowest in Meso America and the Andean region. Regional analyses suggest a deviation from mutation-drift equilibrium consistent with population expansion in Meso America and the Andes and population contraction in Northwest and East South America. These data hint at an early divergence of Andean and non-Andean South Americans and at a contrasting demographic history for populations from these regions.Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celula

Diversity and relationships in key traits for functional and apparent quality in a collection of eggplant: fruit phenolics content, antioxidant activity, polyphenol oxidase activity, and browning

This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work seehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1021/jf402429kEggplant (Solanum melongena) varieties with increased levels of phenolics in the fruit present enhanced functional quality, but may display greater fruit flesh browning. We evaluated 18 eggplant accessions for fruit total phenolics content, chlorogenic acid content, DPPH scavenging activity, polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, liquid extract browning, and fruit flesh browning. For all the traits we found a high diversity, with differences among accessions of up to 3.36-fold for fruit flesh browning. Variation in total content in phenolics and in chlorogenic acid content accounted only for 18.9% and 6.0% in the variation in fruit flesh browning, and PPO activity was not significantly correlated with fruit flesh browning. Liquid extract browning was highly correlated with chlorogenic acid content (r = 0.852). Principal components analysis (PCA) identified four groups of accessions with different profiles for the traits studied. Results suggest that it is possible to develop new eggplant varieties with improved functional and apparent quality.This project has been funded by Universitat Politecnica de Valencia through the grants SP20120681 and PAID-06-11 Nr. 2082, and by Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad Grant AGL2012-34213 (jointly funded by FEDER).Plazas Ávila, MDLO.; López Gresa, MP.; Vilanova Navarro, S.; Torres Vidal, C.; Hurtado Ricart, M.; Gramazio, P.; Andújar Pérez, I.... (2013). Diversity and relationships in key traits for functional and apparent quality in a collection of eggplant: fruit phenolics content, antioxidant activity, polyphenol oxidase activity, and browning. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. 61(37):8871-8879. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf402429kS88718879613

Uncovering Suitable Reference Proteins for Expression Studies in Human Adipose Tissue with Relevance to Obesity

Protein expression studies based on the two major intra-abdominal human fat depots, the subcutaneous and the omental fat, can shed light into the mechanisms involved in obesity and its co-morbidities. Here we address, for the first time, the identification and validation of reference proteins for data standardization, which are essential for accurate comparison of protein levels in expression studies based on fat from obese and non-obese individuals.To uncover adipose tissue proteins equally expressed either in omental and subcutaneous fat depots (study 1) or in omental fat from non-obese and obese individuals (study 2), we have reanalyzed our previously published data based on two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis. Twenty-four proteins (12 in study 1 and 12 in study 2) with similar expression levels in all conditions tested were selected and identified by mass spectrometry. Immunoblotting analysis was used to confirm in adipose tissue the expression pattern of the potential reference proteins and three proteins were validated: PARK7, ENOA and FAA. Western Blot analysis was also used to test customary loading control proteins. ENOA, PARK7 and the customary loading control protein Beta-actin showed steady expression profiles in fat from non-obese and obese individuals, whilst FAA maintained steady expression levels across paired omental and subcutaneous fat samples.ENOA, PARK7 and Beta-actin are proper reference standards in obesity studies based on omental fat, whilst FAA is the best loading control for the comparative analysis of omental and subcutaneous adipose tissues either in obese and non-obese subjects. Neither customary loading control proteins GAPDH and TBB5 nor CALX are adequate standards in differential expression studies on adipose tissue. The use of the proposed reference proteins will facilitate the adequate analysis of proteins differentially expressed in the context of obesity, an aim difficult to achieve before this study

Contrasting Patterns of Nuclear and mtDNA Diversity in Native American Populations

We report an integrated analysis of nuclear (autosomal, X- and Y-chromosome) short tandem repeat (STR) data and mtDNA D-loop sequences obtained in the same set of 22 Native populations from across the Americas. A north to south gradient of decreasing population diversity was observed, in agreement with a settlement of the Americas from the extreme northwest of the continent. This correlation is stronger with "least cost distances," which consider the coasts as facilitators of migration. Continent-wide estimates of population structure are highest for the Y-chromosome and lowest for the autosomes, consistent with the effective size of the different marker systems examined. Population differentiation is highest in East South America and lowest in Meso America and the Andean region. Regional analyses suggest a deviation from mutation-drift equilibrium consistent with population expansion in Meso America and the Andes and population contraction in Northwest and East South America. These data hint at an early divergence of Andean and non-Andean South Americans and at a contrasting demographic history for populations from these regions.Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Celula

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality