Organotypic Cerebellar Cultures: Apoptotic Challenges and Detection

Organotypic cultures of neuronal tissue were first introduced by Hogue in 1947 1,2 and have constituted a major breakthrough in the field of neuroscience. Since then, the technique was developed further and currently there are many different ways to prepare organotypic cultures. The method presented here was adapted from the one described by Stoppini et al. for the preparation of the slices and from Gogolla et al. for the staining procedure 3,4

Plan de negocio para la implementaci?n de una empresa de servicios integrales basada en tecnolog?a UAV (drones) en fertilizaci?n y fumigaci?n de cultivos espec?ficos

El presente plan de negocios consiste en una empresa de servicios integrales basada en tecnolog?a UAV (Drones) en fertilizaci?n y fumigaci?n de paltos y c?tricos en Lima e Ica, para empresas exportadoras del sector agr?cola dedicadas a las paltas y c?tricos, aprovechando el potencial de uso de estas nuevas tecnolog?as. Se necesitan 366,161.38 soles, entre drones (226,219.7 soles), otros activos fijos y gastos operativos y marketing, para la fase preoperativa. El proyecto ser? llevado a cabo por una empresa nueva con capitales propios. En el primer a?o se llegar? al punto de equilibrio.Finalmente, despu?s del estudio se confirm? que este negocio es viable, como resultado de la evaluaci?n financiera tenemos una VAN de 341,108 soles y una TIR de 46.23%

Applying the theory of planned behavior to examine adjuvant endocrine therapy adherence intentions

Objective:Adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) in breast cancersurvivors is suboptimal. Using the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study aimedto identify the strongest predictors from theTPB of AET intentions and past behaviorand assessed whether ambivalence and anticipatory emotions increased thepredictive capacity of TPB.Methods:Two hundred eighty women diagnosed with hormone positive (HR+)breast cancer who filled at least one prescription of AET responded to a surveymeasuring TPB constructs, attitudinal ambivalence, and anticipatory emotions. Theoutcomes were intentions to adhere to AET and past medication adherence (previous2 weeks).Results:TheTPB explained 66% of intentions to adhere to AET (P< 0.001). Ambiva-lence did not improve theTPB model's predictive value. When emotions were includedwithTPB, the model explained 70% of adherence intentionsF11,226= 52.84,P< 0.001(R2c= .70). This increase of 4% in predictability was statistically significant (ΔR2= 0.04),F6, 226= 7.90,P< 0.001. Women who self‐reported nonadherence in the past 2 weeksdiffered significantly in theTPB variables, ambivalence, and anticipatory emotions fromadherent women. Nonadherent participants reported lower‐future intentions toadhereF1, 236= 5.63,P= 0.018.Conclusions:Results suggest key concepts, such as anticipatory positive emotionsthat should be addressed in future interventions to enhance AET adherenceand survivorshipNational Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (KL2TR001432) National Cancer Institute (R01CA154848

Quail eggs in artificial nests change their coloration when exposed to ambient conditions: implication for studies on nest predation

Quail eggs have been widely used in field experiments, mainly to study factors associated with the risk of nest predation. Some shortcomings of using quail eggs in this type of study have been previously addressed (e.g., these eggs might be too big for some predators of eggs of small birds). Here, we show experimental evidence of another shortcoming of the use of these eggs in field experiments. Quail eggs exposed to sunlight rapidly faded in colour after three days, both in the visible and UV spectra, and this change was related to the amount of solar radiation received. This caused changes in the camouflage of the eggs, which may be perceived by predators with different visual systems (dichromatic, trichromatic, and tetrachromatic (for both violet- and UV-sensitive species)). Therefore, the results of field studies of nest predation using quail eggs might be questioned in those cases in which the camouflage has been altered due to the rapid changes in coloration, as this can affect the resulting predation rates. We recommend that researchers planning to use quail eggs should perform a prospective assessment of changes in coloration of eggs exposed to environmental conditions in the nest sites used by the target species.This study was funded by grant CGL2017-83518-P from Ministerio de Economia, Industria y Competitividad, Spain, with EU-ERDF financial support. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Cáncer gástrico. Causas de muerte. Frecuencia y aspectos de su diagnóstico y prevención.

A total of 829 autopsies with cancer of stomach were studied as basic cause of death, taken from the Data Base of Autopsies of the National SARCAP Center, National Register of Autopsies in Cuba, with the purpose of demonstrating its general characteristics and specially its direct causes of death and the evaluation of the premorten diagnoses. Forty hospitals from the different provinces of the country were represented here. It is analyzed the situation about cancer of stomach in the world and in Cuba, making an emphasis on the importance of an early diagnosis in order to achieve greater survivals. The ages were from 18 to 110 years old and the most represented decade was from 55-84 years old with 69.1%. The reason M/F was 1.8. Cancer as such, bronchopneumonía and pulmonary thromboembolism were the most frequent direct causes of death. The diagnostic discrepancies, total and parcial in basic causes of death were 15.0% and 17.3% and the totals in direct causes of death 35.6%. The 96.8% were carcinomas, 2% limphomas and the Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST) 1.2%. Lymphatic ganglions, liver, peritoneum, pancreas and lung were the most frequent sites of metastasis. It is highlighted the use of the multiple causes of death in the study of stomach cancer and the role of the autopsy is strengthen as the most complete study of sick/sickness and the guarantee of quality in medicine.Se estudiaron 829 autopsias con cáncer de estómago, como causa básica de muerte, extraídos de la Base de Datos de Autopsias del Centro Nacional del SARCAP, Registro Nacional de Autopsias en Cuba, con el objetivo de demostrar sus características generales y, en especial, sus causas directas de muerte y la evaluación de los diagnósticos premortem. Están representados 40 hospitales de las distintas provincias del país. Se analiza la situación que ocupa el cáncer de estómago en el mundo y en Cuba, destacándose la importancia y la complejidad del diagnóstico precoz destinada a lograr supervivencias mayores. Las edades fueron de 18 hasta 110 años con un promedio de 66 años y el 69.1% fallecieron entre los 55 y 84 años. La razón M/F fue de 1.8. El cáncer como tal, la bronconeumonía y el tromboembolismo pulmonar fueron las causas directas de muerte más frecuente. Las discrepancias diagnósticas totales y parciales en causas básicas de muerte fueron 15.0% y 17.3% y las totales en causas directas de muerte el 35.6%. En los que se especificó la variedad histológica, el 96.8% fueron adenocarcinomas, el 2% correspondieron a linfomas y el 1.2% a tumores de células del estroma gastrointestinal. Los sitios de metástasis más frecuentes fueron: ganglios linfáticos, hígado, peritoneo, páncreas y pulmón. Se destaca la utilización de las causas múltiples de muerte en el estudio del cáncer de estómago y se reafirma el papel de la autopsia como el estudio más completo del enfermo/enfermedad y garantía de calidad en Medicina

Diffuse interstitial fibrosis assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance is associated with dispersion of ventricular repolarization in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Background Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is characterized by myocyte hypertrophy, disarray, fibrosis, and increased risk for ventricular arrhythmias. Increased QT dispersion has been reported in patients with HCM, but the underlying mechanisms have not been completely elucidated. In this study, we examined the relationship between diffuse interstitial fibrosis, replacement fibrosis, QTc dispersion and ventricular arrhythmias in patients with HCM. We hypothesized that fibrosis would slow impulse propagation and increase dispersion of ventricular repolarization, resulting in increased QTc dispersion on surface electrocardiogram (ECG) and ventricular arrhythmias. Methods ECG and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) image analyses were performed retrospectively in 112 patients with a clinical diagnosis of HCM. Replacement fibrosis was assessed by measuring late gadolinium (Gd) enhancement (LGE), using a semi-automated threshold technique. Diffuse interstitial fibrosis was assessed by measuring T1 relaxation times after Gd administration, using the Look?Locker sequence. QTc dispersion was measured digitally in the septal/anterior (V1?V4), inferior (II, III, and aVF), and lateral (I, aVL, V5, and V6) lead groups on surface ECG. Results All patients had evidence of asymmetric septal hypertrophy. LGE was evident in 70 (63%) patients; the median T1 relaxation time was 411±38æms. An inverse correlation was observed between T1 relaxation time and QTc dispersion in leads V1?V4 (p\u3c 0.001). Patients with HCM who developed sustained ventricular tachycardia had slightly higher probability of increased QTc dispersion in leads V1?V4 (odds ratio, 1.011 [1.004?1.0178, p=0.003). We found no correlation between presence and percentage of LGE and QTc dispersion. Conclusion Diffuse interstitial fibrosis is associated with increased dispersion of ventricular repolarization in leads, reflecting electrical activity in the hypertrophied septum. Interstitial fibrosis combined with ion channel/gap junction remodeling in the septum could lead to inhomogeneity of ventricular refractoriness, resulting in increased QTc dispersion in leads V1?V4

Disentangling signatures of selection before and after European colonization in latin Americans

Throughout human evolutionary history, large-scale migrations have led to intermixing (i.e., admixture) between previously separated human groups. Although classical and recent work have shown that studying admixture can yield novel historical insights, the extent to which this process contributed to adaptation remains underexplored. Here, we introduce a novel statistical model, specific to admixed populations, that identifies loci under selection while determining whether the selection likely occurred post-admixture or prior to admixture in one of the ancestral source populations. Through extensive simulations, we show that this method is able to detect selection, even in recently formed admixed populations, and to accurately differentiate between selection occurring in the ancestral or admixed population. We apply this method to genome-wide SNP data of ∼4,000 individuals in five admixed Latin American cohorts from Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. Our approach replicates previous reports of selection in the human leukocyte antigen region that are consistent with selection post-admixture. We also report novel signals of selection in genomic regions spanning 47 genes, reinforcing many of these signals with an alternative, commonly used local-ancestry-inference approach. These signals include several genes involved in immunity, which may reflect responses to endemic pathogens of the Americas and to the challenge of infectious disease brought by European contact. In addition, some of the strongest signals inferred to be under selection in the Native American ancestral groups of modern Latin Americans overlap with genes implicated in energy metabolism phenotypes, plausibly reflecting adaptations to novel dietary sources available in the Americas

A genome-wide association scan implicates DCHS2, RUNX2, GLI3, PAX1 and EDAR in human facial variation

We report a genome-wide association scan for facial features in B6,000 Latin Americans. We evaluated 14 traits on an ordinal scale and found significant association (P valueso5 10 8) at single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in four genomic regions for three nose-related traits: columella inclination (4q31), nose bridge breadth (6p21) and nose wing breadth (7p13 and 20p11). In a subsample of B3,000 individuals we obtained quantitative traits related to 9 of the ordinal phenotypes and, also, a measure of nasion position. Quantitative analyses confirmed the ordinal-based associations, identified SNPs in 2q12 associated to chin protrusion, and replicated the reported association of nasion position with SNPs in PAX3. Strongest association in 2q12, 4q31, 6p21 and 7p13 was observed for SNPs in the EDAR, DCHS2, RUNX2 and GLI3 genes, respectively. Associated SNPs in 20p11 extend to PAX1. Consistent with the effect of EDAR on chin protrusion, we documented alterations of mandible length in mice with modified Edar funtion

How to screen for non-adherence to antihypertensive therapy

The quality of assessment of non-adherence to treatment in hypertensive is poor. Within this review, we discuss the different methods used to assess adherence to blood-pressure-lowering medications in hypertension patients. Subjective reports such as physicians’ perceptions are inaccurate, and questionnaires completed by patients tend to overreport adherence and show a low diagnostic specificity. Indirect objective methods such as pharmacy database records can be useful, but they are limited by the robustness of the recorded data. Electronic medication monitoring devices are accurate but usually track adherence to only a single medication and can be expensive. Overall, the fundamental issue with indirect objective measures is that they do not fully confirm ingestion of antihypertensive medications. Detection of antihypertensive medications in body fluids using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry is currently, in our view, the most robust and clinically useful method to assess non-adherence to blood-pressure-lowering treatment. It is particularly helpful in patients presenting with resistant, refractory or uncontrolled hypertension despite the optimal therapy. We recommend using this diagnostic strategy to detect non-adherence alongside a no-blame approach tailoring support to address the perceptions (e.g. beliefs about the illness and treatment) and practicalities (e.g. capability and resources) influencing motivation and ability to adhere