Brachypodium: A Monocot Grass Model Genus for Plant Biology

The genus Brachypodium represents a model system that is advancing our knowledge of the biology of grasses, including small grains, in the postgenomics era. The most widely used species, Brachypodium distachyon, is a C-3 plant that is distributed worldwide. B. distachyon has a small genome, short life cycle, and small stature and is amenable to genetic transformation. Due to the intensive and thoughtful development of this grass as a model organism, it is well-suited for laboratory and field experimentation. The intent of this review is to introduce this model system genus and describe some key outcomes of nearly a decade of research since the first draft genome sequence of the flagship species, B. distachyon, was completed. We discuss characteristics and features of B. distachyon and its congeners that make the genus a valuable model system for studies in ecology, evolution, genetics, and genomics in the grasses, review current hot topics in Brachypodium research, and highlight the potential for future analysis using this system in the coming years

Infecciones parasitarias en habitantes de la Isla de Bioko (Guinea Ecuatorial). Relación con: factores socioeconómicos y condiciones sanitarias.

Introducción: Las enfermedades parasitarias intestinales, tal y como han mostrado estudios previos, presentan una gran prevalencia en la población de Guinea Ecuatorial. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar la proporción de infección por parásitos intestinales en una serie de individuos de la Isla de Bioko, buscando asociación con aspectos socioeconómicos e higiénicos, y, de esta forma, valorar la evolución en el tiempo de estas infecciones tras la implantación de medidas de saneamiento del agua en el país. Métodos: Se han recogido datos socioeconómicos y demográficos de las historias clínicas de 128 individuos que acudieron al Laboratorio de Análisis Clínicos Castroverde, Malabo, entre enero y junio del 2017, con la condición de que se les hubiera tomado una muestra de heces para ser analizada mediante visión directa en fresco. Se ha realizado un análisis descriptivo de los datos y se ha utilizado el test chi-cuadrado de Pearson para tablas cruzadas. Resultados: A 101/128 (78,90%) de los participantes se les detectaron parásitos en las muestras de heces. Blastocystis hominis y Entamoeba spp. fueron los protozoos con mayor proporción con un 38,40% (49/128) cada uno, mientras que Ascaris lumbricoides con un 17,20% (22/128) y Trichuris trichiura con un 14,10% (18/128) fueron los helmintos más detectados. Se ha observado asociación entre la higiene y la infección por T. trichiura y B. hominis, así como entre el contacto con agua de ríos y la infección por A. lumbricoides, G. lamblia y S. intercalatum, y entre la presencia de diarrea y la infección por Entamoeba spp. y B. hominis. Conclusiones: Se ha detectado una gran proporción de parasitación. No obstante, las proporciones de infección por G. lamblia y S. intercalatum han disminuido notablemente respecto a estudios previos, así como la proporción de infección parasitaria en individuos residentes en la periferia de la ciudad. Este hecho podría ser debido a las medidas de saneamiento del agua implantadas en 2015. Sin embargo, se necesita que pasen más años para ver mayores diferencias derivadas de estas mejoras en la higiene

Alquilaciones asimétricas de Friedel-Crafts de indoles con nitroalquenos, catalizadas por complejos de rutenio: Aplicación en la síntesis de compuestos de interés farmacológico

La obtención de compuestos enantiopuros en la actualidad esta sufriendo un auge en la industria farmacéutica y agroquímica. En este trabajo se desarrollaron catalizadores basados en rutenio con complejos quirales del estilo [(areno)Ru{(R)-profos} y se estudiaron las reacciones de alquilación asimétrica de Friedel-Crafts entre los diferentes indoles y nitroalquenos. Los aductos de Friedel-Crafts obtenidos pertenecen a la familia de los 3-nitroalquil indoles, que son precursores de fármacos. Además se realizaron estudios catalíticos para determinar el efecto de la temperatura y el efecto del areno sobre la reacción, así como, la propuesta del ciclo catalítico por el que transcurre la reacció

Increased mitochondrial activity upon CatSper channel activation is required for mouse sperm capacitation

To fertilize an oocyte, sperm must undergo several biochemical and functional changes known as capacitation. A key event in capacitation is calcium influx through the cation channel of sperm (CatSper). However, the molecular mechanisms of capacitation downstream of this calcium influx are not completely understood. Capacitation is also associated with an increase in mitochondrial oxygen consumption, and several lines of evidence indicate that regulated calcium entry into mitochondria increases the efficiency of oxidative respiration. Thus, we hypothesized that calcium influx through CatSper during capacitation increases mitochondrial calcium concentration and mitochondrial efficiency and thereby contributes to sperm hyperactivation and fertilization capacity. To test this hypothesis, we used high-resolution respirometry to measure mouse sperm mitochondrial activity. We also measured mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP/ADP exchange during capacitation, and mitochondrial calcium concentration in sperm from wild-type and CatSper knockout mice. We show that the increase in mitochondrial activity in capacitated wild-type sperm parallels the increase in mitochondrial calcium concentration. This effect is blunted in sperm from CatSper knockout mice. Importantly, these mechanisms are needed for optimal hyperactivation and fertilization in wild-type mice, as confirmed by using mitochondrial inhibitors. Thus, we describe a novel mechanism of sperm capacitation. This work contributes to our understanding of the role of mitochondria in sperm physiology and opens the possibility of new molecular targets for fertility treatments and male contraception

Postmortem distribution of acetate and ethanol in human cadavers after ethanol and drug abuse consumption

Introducción: Este artículo evalúa el valor del acetato como marcador del consumo de etanol en muestras postmortem. Material y métodos: Se analizó la concentración y distribución de etanol y acetato en diversos fluidos (sangre periférica, humor vítreo, líquido pericárdico y orina) y tejidos (cerebro, pulmones, hígado y riñones) en 98 cadáveres procedentes de autopsias judiciales. Resultados: La presencia de etanol fue la variable más significativa en relación al aumento de los niveles de acetato en la mayoría de las muestras (p<0.0001), excepto en orina y cerebro. Además, la presencia de drogas de abuso reflejó un aumento especialmente significativo de los niveles de acetato en los pulmones y líquido pericárdico (p<0.0001). Conclusiones: Las altas concentraciones de acetato en sangre y en hígado, y especialmente la ratio acetato en cerebro/ acetato en sangre <2 y acetato en riñón/ acetato en sangre <2.5, fueron características del consumo de etanol.Introduction: This paper assesses the value of acetate as a marker of ethanol consumption in post-mortem samples. Materials and methods: Ethanol and acetate concentration and distribution in several fluids (peripheral blood, vitreous humour, pericardial fluid and urine) and tissues (brain, lungs, liver and kidneys) were studied in 98 cadavers from routine medico-legal autopsies. Results: Presence of ethanol was the most significant variable related to the increase in acetate levels in most specimens (p<0.0001), except for urine and brain. Furthermore, presence of drugs of abuse showed a particularly significant increase of acetate levels in lungs and pericardial fluid (p< 0.0001). Conclusions: These preliminary results showed that high concentrations of acetate in blood and liver, but particularly Brain Acetate/Blood Acetate ratios < 2 and Kidney Acetate/Blood Acetate ratios < 2.5, were characteristic of ethanol consumption

Recomendaciones basadas en la evidencia del grupo andaluz para la reflexión e investigación en nutrición (Garin) para el manejo del paciente con síndrome de intestino corto

In order to develop evidence-based recommendations and expert consensus for the nutritional management of patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS), we conducted a systematic literature search using the PRISMA methodology plus a critical appraisal following the GRADE scale procedures. Pharmacological treatment with antisecretory drugs, antidiarrheal drugs, and somatostatin contributes to reducing intestinal losses. Nutritional support is based on parenteral nutrition; however, oral intake and/or enteral nutrition should be introduced as soon as possible. In the chronic phase, the diet should have as few restrictions as possible, and be adapted to the SBS type. Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) should be individualized. Single-lumen catheters are recommended and taurolidine should be used for locking the catheter. The HPN’s lipid content must be greater than 1 g/kg per week but not exceed 1 g/kg per day, and omega-6 fatty acids (ω6 FAs) should be reduced. Trace element vials with low doses of manganese should be used. Patients with chronic SBS who require long-term HPN/fluid therapy despite optimized treatment should be considered for teduglutide treatment. All patients require a multidisciplinary approach and specialized follow-up. These recommendations and suggestions regarding nutritional management in SBS patients have direct clinical applicability

Regular insulin added to total parenteral nutrition vs subcutaneous glargine in non-critically ill diabetic inpatients, a multicenter randomized clinical trial: INSUPAR trial

Background: There is no established insulin regimen in T2DM patients receiving parenteral nutrition. Aims: To compare the effectiveness (metabolic control) and safety of two insulin regimens in patients with diabetes receiving TPN. Design: Prospective, open-label, multicenter, clinical trial on adult inpatients with type 2 diabetes on a non-critical setting with indication for TPN. Patients were randomized on one of these two regimens: 100% of RI on TPN or 50% of Regular insulin added to TPN bag and 50% subcutaneous Gl. Data were analyzed according to intention-to-treat principle. Results: 81 patients were on RI and 80 on GI. No differences were observed in neither average total daily dose of insulin, programmed or correction, nor in capillary mean blood glucose during TPN infusion (165.3 +/- 35.4 in RI vs 172.5 +/- 43.6 mg/dL in GI; p = 0.25). Mean capillary glucose was significantly lower in the GI group within two days after TPN interruption (160.3 +/- 45.1 in RI vs 141.7 +/- 43.8 mg/dL in GI; p = 0.024). The percentage of capillary glucose above 180 mg/dL was similar in both groups. The rate of capillary glucose <= 70 mg/dL, the number of hypoglycemic episodes per 100 days of TPN, and the percentage of patients with non-severe hypoglycemia were significantly higher on GI group. No severe hypoglycemia was detected. No differences were observed in length of stay, infectious complications, or hospital mortality. Conclusion: Effectiveness of both regimens was similar. GI group achieved better metabolic control after TPN interruption but non-severe hypoglycemia rate was higher in the GI group. (C) 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd

Fish Oil Enriched Intravenous Lipid Emulsions Reduce Triglyceride Levels in Non-Critically Ill Patients with TPN and Type 2 Diabetes. A Post-Hoc Analysis of the INSUPAR Study

There are no studies that have specifically assessed the role of intravenous lipid emulsions (ILE) enriched with fish oil in people with diabetes receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The objective of this study was to assess the metabolic control (glycemic and lipid) and in-hospital complications that occurred in non-critically ill inpatients with TPN and type 2 diabetes with regard to the use of fish oil emulsions compared with other ILEs. We performed a post-hoc analysis of the Insulin in Parenteral Nutrition (INSUPAR) trial that included patients who started with TPN for any cause and that would predictably continue with TPN for at least five days. The study included 161 patients who started with TPN for any cause. There were 80 patients (49.7%) on fish oil enriched ILEs and 81 patients (50.3%) on other ILEs. We found significant decreases in triglyceride levels in the fish oil group compared to the other patients. We did not find any differences in glucose metabolic control: mean capillary glucose, glycemic variability, and insulin dose, except in the number of mild hypoglycemic events that was significantly higher in the fish oil group. We did not observe any differences in other metabolic, liver or infectious complications, in-hospital length of stay or mortality

Recommendations of the GARIN group for dietary managing of patient with chronic kidney disease

[ES] Introducción y objetivos: en el tratamiento dietético de los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) existen muchas áreas de incertidumbre. El grupo de trabajo GARIN tiene como objetivo defi nir su posición en este campo. Material y métodos: revisión bibliográfi ca previa y reunión presencial en la que se discutieron y contestaron preguntas específi cas sobre el tema. Resultados: la actuación terapéutica debe ser individualizada y atendiendo al grado de enfermedad renal que presente el paciente y a sus comorbilidades. En cuanto a la terapia médica nutricional, nuestro grupo propone tres niveles diferentes de actuación, en los que las recomendaciones de ingesta proteica, fi bra, ácidos grasos o potasio son distintas. Además, sugerimos utilizar el concepto ratio fósforo/proteína en el ajuste de la dieta del paciente con ERC. Damos recomendaciones en cuanto al tratamiento en diabetes y en suplementación artifi cial. Conclusiones: estas recomendaciones aportan respuestas concretas sobre cuestiones comunes en la asistencia a pacientes con ERC.[EN] Background and objectives: by means of this update, the GARIN working group aims to defi ne its position regarding the dietary treatment of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). In this area there are many aspects of uncertainty. Material and methods: bibliographical review and specifi c questions in advance were discussed and answered at a meeting in the form of conclusions. Results: the therapeutic action must be individualized and taking into account the degree of renal failure that the patient presents and their comorbidities. Regarding nutritional medical therapy, our group proposes three different levels of action, in which the recommendations of protein intake, fi ber, fatty acids or potassium are different. In addition, we suggest using the phosphorus/protein ratio concept in adjusting the diet of the patient with CKD. We give recommendations regarding treatment in diabetes and artifi cial supplementation. Conclusions: these recommendations about dietary issues in patients with CKD can add value to clinical work.Nestlé Health Nutrition cubrió todos los gastos de transporte y de alquiler de salones para las sesiones físicas, pero no ha tomado parte en el desarrollo, diseño o manuscrito del artículo