Global hydrodynamic analysis of the molecular flexibility of galactomannans

In the past, intrinsic viscosity and sedimentation velocity analyses have been used separately to assess the conformation and flexibility of guar and locust bean gum galactomannans based on worm-like chain and semi-flexible coil models. Publication of a new global method combining data sets of both intrinsic viscosity and sedimentation coefficient with molecular weight, and minimising a target (error) function now permits a more robust analysis. Using this approach, values for the persistence length of (10 ± 2) nm for guar and (7 ± 1) nm for locust bean gum are returned if the mass per unit length ML is floated as a variable. Using a fixed mass per unit length based on the known compositional data of each galactomannan yields a similar value for Lp in both cases, (8 ± 1) nm for guar and (9 ± 1) nm for locust bean gum, with combined set of data yielding (9 ± 1) nm: within experimental error the flexibilities of both galactomannans are very similar. © 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Mixed Valvular Disease Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement: Quantification and Systematic Differentiation Using Clinical Measurements and Image-Based Patient‐Specific In Silico Modeling

Background: Mixed valvular disease (MVD), mitral regurgitation (MR) from pre‐existing disease in conjunction with paravalvular leak (PVL) following transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), is one of the most important stimuli for left ventricle (LV) dysfunction, associated with cardiac mortality. Despite the prevalence of MVD, the quantitative understanding of the interplay between pre‐existing MVD, PVL, LV, and post‐TAVR recovery is meager. Methods and Results: We quantified the effects of MVD on valvular‐ventricular hemodynamics using an image‐based patient‐specific computational framework in 72 MVD patients. Doppler pressure was reduced by TAVR (mean, 77%; N=72; P<0.05), but it was not always accompanied by improvements in LV workload. TAVR had no effect on LV workload in 22 patients, and LV workload post‐TAVR significantly rose in 32 other patients. TAVR reduced LV workload in only 18 patients (25%). PVL significantly alters LV flow and increases shear stress on transcatheter aortic valve leaflets. It interacts with mitral inflow and elevates shear stresses on mitral valve and is one of the main contributors in worsening of MR post‐TAVR. MR worsened in 32 patients post‐TAVR and did not improve in 18 other patients. Conclusions: PVL limits the benefit of TAVR by increasing LV load and worsening of MR and heart failure. Post‐TAVR, most MVD patients (75% of N=72; P<0.05) showed no improvements or even worsening of LV workload, whereas the majority of patients with PVL, but without that pre‐existing MR condition (60% of N=48; P<0.05), showed improvements in LV workload. MR and its exacerbation by PVL may hinder the success of TAVR

New short cationic antibacterial peptides. Synthesis, biological activity and mechanism of action

We report a theoretical and experimental study on a new series of small-sized antibacterial peptides. Synthesis and bioassays for these peptides are reported here. In addition, we evaluated different physicochemical parameters that modulate antimicrobial activity (charge, secondary structure, amphipathicity, hydrophobicity and polarity). We also performed molecular dynamic simulations to assess the interaction between these peptides and their molecular target (the membrane). Biophysical characterization of the peptides was carried out with different techniques, such as circular dichroism (CD), linear dichroism (LD), infrared spectroscopy (IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), fluorescence spectroscopy and TEM studies using model systems (liposomes) for mammalian and bacterial membranes. The results of this study allow us to draw important conclusions on three different aspects. Theoretical and experimental results indicate that small-sized peptides have a particular mechanism of action that is different to that of large peptides. These results provide additional support for a previously proposed four-step mechanism of action. The possible pharmacophoric requirement for these small-sized peptides is discussed. Furthermore, our results indicate that a net +4 charge is the adequate for 9 amino acid long peptides to produce antibacterial activity. The information reported here is very important for designing new antibacterial peptides with these structural characteristics.Fil: Lima, Beatriz Viviana. Universidad Nacional de San Juan; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Ricci, Maria. Természettudományi Kutatóközpont; HungríaFil: Garro, Adriana. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Juhász, Tünde. Természettudományi Kutatóközpont; HungríaFil: Szigyártó, Imola Csilla. Természettudományi Kutatóközpont; HungríaFil: Papp, Zita I.. Szegedi Tudományegyetem; HungríaFil: Feresin, Gabriela Egly. Universidad Nacional de San Juan; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Juan; ArgentinaFil: Garcia de la Torre, Jose. Universidad de Murcia; EspañaFil: Lopez Cascales, Jose Javier. Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena; EspañaFil: Fülöp, Lívia. Szegedi Tudományegyetem; HungríaFil: Beke-Somfai, Tamás. Természettudományi Kutatóközpont; HungríaFil: Enriz, Ricardo Daniel. Universidad Nacional de San Luis; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis; Argentin

Servicio centralizado de proyección de material docente

[ES] En los últimos años las tecnologías TIC se han ido incorporando en los diferentes ámbitos de la enseñanza, desde las pizarras electrónicas para las clases magistrales hasta el uso de tabletas para la visualización de libros docentes en formato electrónico. De hecho, resulta cada vez más frecuente que los docentes empleen sus portátiles para presentar su material en formato de transparencias. No obstante, esto implica que los profesores deben llevar sus portátiles al aula y conectarlos a través de un cable, sea VGA o HDMI, al proyector. Esto resta movilidad al profesor, anclado a través del cable al proyector, además de requerir que disponga de un portátil que ha de llevar al aula. Dado que, en la actualidad, casi la totalidad de la población dispone de móviles inteligentes, este artículo presenta la solución propuesta en un proyecto de innovación docente desarrollado (PID 14-61) en la Universidad de Granada. En éste, se propone una solución en la que el profesor sólo deberá llevar su móvil (o alternativamente una tableta o un portátil) al aula. El material docente será subido a un servidor central desde su despacho, y la visualización en el proyector será controlada a través del móvil usando una interfaz muy amigable y sencillo.El presente trabajo ha sido financiado a traves del Programa de Innovacion y Buenas Prácticas Docentes del Secretariado de Innovacion Docente de la Universidad de Granada, Proyecto de Innovacion Docente 14-61 ”Servicio de Proyeccion de Material Docente”, dentro de la acción 1 (innovacion en la gestión on-line de los procesos de ensenanza-aprendizaje). Parte del presente trabajo ha sido ˜ desarrollado por los alumnos D. Juan Ramon Gutiérrez Martínez, D. Daniel Alvarez González y D. David Gallardo Jimenez, siendo estos dos últimos becarios del citado PID.Navarro Ortiz, J.; Sendra, S.; Ameigeiras, P.; Torre, ADL.; Garcia, L.; Gomez, A.; Lopez-Soler, J.... (2018). Servicio centralizado de proyección de material docente. En XIII Jornadas de Ingeniería telemática (JITEL 2017). Libro de actas. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 330-336. https://doi.org/10.4995/JITEL2017.2017.6508OCS33033

Genetically determined Amerindian ancestry correlates with increased frequency of risk alleles for systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective To assess whether genetically determined Amerindian ancestry predicts increased presence of risk alleles of known susceptibility genes for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within 16 confirmed genetic susceptibility loci for SLE were genotyped in a set of 804 Mestizo lupus patients and 667 Mestizo healthy controls. In addition, 347 admixture informative markers were genotyped. Individual ancestry proportions were determined using STRUCTURE. Association analysis was performed using PLINK, and correlation between ancestry and the presence of risk alleles was analyzed using linear regression. Results A meta-analysis of the genetic association of the 16 SNPs across populations showed that TNFSF4 , STAT4 , ITGAM , and IRF5 were associated with lupus in a Hispanic Mestizo cohort enriched for European and Amerindian ancestry. In addition, 2 SNPs within the major histocompatibility complex region, previously shown to be associated in a genome-wide association study in Europeans, were also associated in Mestizos. Using linear regression, we predicted an average increase of 2.34 risk alleles when comparing an SLE patient with 100% Amerindian ancestry versus an SLE patient with 0% Amerindian ancestry ( P < 0.0001). SLE patients with 43% more Amerindian ancestry were predicted to carry 1 additional risk allele. Conclusion Our results demonstrate that Amerindian ancestry is associated with an increased number of risk alleles for SLE.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78480/1/27753_ftp.pd

Plasma and CSF biomarkers in a memory clinic: Head-to-head comparison of phosphorylated tau immunoassays

INTRODUCTION: Direct comparisons of the main blood phosphorylated tau immunoassays in memory clinic populations are needed to understand possible differences. METHODS: In the BIODEGMAR study, 197 participants presenting with cognitive complaints were classified into an Alzheimer's disease (AD) or a non-AD cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) profile group, according to their amyloid beta 42/ phosphorylated tau (Aβ42/p-tau) ratio. We performed a head-to-head comparison of nine plasma and nine CSF tau immunoassays and determined their accuracy to discriminate abnormal CSF Aβ42/p-tau ratio. RESULTS: All studied plasma tau biomarkers were significantly higher in the AD CSF profile group compared to the non-AD CSF profile group and significantly discriminated abnormal CSF Aβ42/p-tau ratio. For plasma p-tau biomarkers, the higher discrimination accuracy was shown by Janssen p-tau217 (r = 0.76; area under the curve [AUC] = 0.96), ADx p-tau181 (r = 0.73; AUC = 0.94), and Lilly p-tau217 (r = 0.73; AUC = 0.94). DISCUSSION: Several plasma p-tau biomarkers can be used in a specialized memory clinic as a stand-alone biomarker to detect biologically-defined AD. HIGHLIGHTS: Patients with an Alzheimer's disease cerebrospinal fluid (AD CSF) profile have higher plasma phosphorylated tau (p-tau) levels than the non-AD CSF profile group. All plasma p-tau biomarkers significantly discriminate patients with an AD CSF profile from the non-AD CSF profile group. Janssen p-tau217, ADx p-tau181, and Lilly p-tau217 in plasma show the highest accuracy to detect biologically defined AD. Janssen p-tau217, ADx p-tau181, Lilly p-tau217, Lilly p-tau181, and UGot p-tau231 in plasma show performances that are comparable to their CSF counterparts

Higher versus lower nut consumption and changes in cognitive performance over two years in a population at risk of cognitive decline: a cohort study

Background: Tree nuts and peanuts (henceforth, nuts) are nutrient-dense foods rich in neuroprotective components; thus, their consumption could benefit cognitive health. However, evidence to date is limited and inconsistent regarding the potential benefits of nuts for cognitive function. Objective: To prospectively evaluate the association between nut consumption and 2-y changes in cognitive performance in older adults at cognitive decline risk. Methods: A total of 6,630 participants aged 55 to 75 y (mean age 65.0±4.9 y, 48.4% women) with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome completed a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and a comprehensive battery of neuropsychological tests at baseline and a 2-y follow-up. Composite cognitive scores were used to assess global, general, attention, and executive function domains. Nut consumption was categorized as Results: Nut consumption was positively associated with 2-y changes in general cognitive function (P-trend Conclusion: Frequent nut consumption was associated with a smaller decline in general cognitive performance over 2 y in older adults at risk of cognitive decline. Randomized clinical trials to verify our findings are warranted