Monitoring Muscle Stem Cell Cultures with Impedance Spectroscopy

The aim of this work is to present a new circuit for the real-time monitoring the processes of cellular growth and differentiation of skeletal myoblast cell cultures. An impedance spectroscopy Oscillation-Based technique is proposed for the test circuit, converting the biological system into a voltage oscillator, and avoiding the use of very high performance circuitry or equipment. This technique proved to be successful in the monitoring of cell cultures growth levels and could be useful for determining the degree of differentiation achieved, of practical implications in tissue engineering.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2013-46242-C3-1-

Descripción y resultados de un programa de animación a la lectura

[Resumen] Se describe la intervención en animación a la lectura llevada a cabo en 298 alumnas de 8° de E.G.B. para conseguir una actividad lectora continuada. Se presentan los resultados obtenidos a lo largo del programa experimental relacionados con la actividad lectora conseguida, las estrategias de lectura utilizadas, la permanencia del efecto del programa en las alumnas, así como la posible influencia de dicha actividad lectora en la composición escrita de los mismos sujetos, para lo cual es utilizado un grupo de control

Estudio epizootiológico de las dermatofitosis en perros y gatos

Se ha investigado la etiología de 141 casos de dermatitis en las especies canina (121 casos) y felina (17 casos). Mediante procedimientos dermatológicos de rutina, se comprobó la etiología micótica de veintisiete de ellos, encontrando una incidencia superior en gatos (58,82%) que en perros (13,71%). Las formas clínicas implicadas fueron: anular (60%), fávica (24%), kerion (12%) y onicomicosis (4%), no presentando una zona corporal específica de localización.A study was made of the aetiology of 141 cases of dermatitis in dogs (121 cases) and cats (17 cases). Rutine dermatological procedures revealed a mycotic aetiology in 27 animals, though it was more prevalent in cats (58,82%) than in dogs (13, 71%). Tbe clinicalforms involved uiere. annular (60%), favic (24%), kerion (12%) and onicomycosis (4%). No specific body site in the body was determined

Practical Characterization of Cell-Electrode Electrical Models in Bio-Impedance Assays

This paper presents the fitting process followed to adjust the parameters of the electrical model associated to a cell-electrode system in Electrical Cell-substrate Impedance Spectroscopy (ECIS) technique, to the experimental results from cell-culture assays. A new parameter matching procedure is proposed, under the basis of both, mismatching between electrodes and time-evolution observed in the system response, as consequence of electrode fabrication processes and electrochemical performance of electrode-solution interface, respectively. The obtained results agree with experimental performance, and enable the evaluation of the cell number in a culture, by using the electrical measurements observed at the oscillation parameters in the test circuits employed.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2013-46242-C3-1-

Seroprevalencia de las infecciones por el virus Diarrea Vírica Bovina en ganado bovino en Andalucía

Se ha realizado un estudio seroepidemiológico frente al virus de la Diarrea Vírica Bovina (vDVB) en la cabaña bovina andaluza, utilizando para ello un ELISA indirecto para la detección de anticuerpos frente a una proteína altamente conservada (p80). Después de eliminar los animales vacunados, la encuesta se realizó sobre 4.768 individuos pertenecientes a 227 colectivos no vacunados frente al vDVB, mediante muestreo estadístico para un nivel de confianza del 95 por ciento. La seropositividad obtenida ha sido del 42,3 por ciento de los individuos analizados, mientras que la prevalencia estimada de rebaños seropositivos alcanzó el 70,9 por ciento. La proporción de bovinos persistentemente infectados (IP) encontrada en la muestra (0,063 % de los individuos y 1,32 de los colectivos), ha sido más baja de la esperada en función de la alta seroprevalencia detectada, hecho que demuestra que la supervivencia de estos animales lógicamente está condicionada

Investigating mutations in the genes GDF9 and BMP15 in Pelibuey sheep through the amplification-refractory mutation system with tetra-primers

Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) or mutations are variations with a broad distribution in the genome and, as part of genetic studies, SNP allow the identification of allelic variants related to characteristics of economic importance in sheep production. However, the identification of SNP and their genotypes through sequencing is expensive, as it requires specialized materials and equipment. The objective of this study was to identify polymorphisms and their genotypes in the growth differentiation factor 9 (GDF9) and bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15) genes in Pelibuey sheep using the tetra-primer amplification-refractory mutation system through polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS-PCR). DNA extraction and amplification of BMP15 and GDF9 were conducted from blood samples contained in WhatmanTM FTATM cards from 60 multiparous Pelibuey ewes with reproductive records. The T-ARMS-PCR methodology allowed the identification of wild-type genotypes and mutated homozygous genotypes in polymorphisms G4 and G6 of GDF9, whereas mutations in the BMP15 gene were not found. These results were confirmed by sequencing. In conclusion, the T-ARMS-PCR methodology allowed the identification of mutated and wild-type genotypes in SNP G4 and G6 of GDF9, although no mutations were found in BMP15 in Pelibuey sheep. This technique was found to be reliable, rapid, and easily applied to identify polymorphic genotypes

First Record of the Invasive Asian Fish Tapeworm \u3ci\u3eBothriocephalus acheilognathi\u3c/i\u3e in Honduras, Central America

This paper provides the first report of the invasive Asian fish tapeworm, Bothriocephalus acheilognathi Yamaguti, 1934, in Honduras. The cestode was found in Profundulus portillorum (Cyprinodontiformes: Profundulidae), which represents a new host record, and which is a member of a genus faced with a variety of conservation challenges, now potentially complicated by the presence of this pathogenic cestode. Nearly complete sequence data from the ITS-1 5.8S and ITS-2 regions corroborate the determination based on morphological characteristics. Several species of carp were introduced to Honduras for aquaculture purposes in the early 1980s and the presence of the Asian fish tapeworm in Honduras may be related to these introductions. In addition, this report documents the currently known geographical distribution of this parasite in Central America, first recorded from Panamá and now from Honduras

The consumption of two new probiotic strains, Lactobacillus gasseri CECT 5714 and Lactobacillus coryniformis CECT 5711, boosts the immune system of healthy humans

Orally ingested probiotic bacteria are able to modulate the immune system. However, differences exist in the immunomodulatory effects of different probiotic strains. Moreover, different regulatory effects, which depend on the health status of the consumer, have been identified. This work describes a randomized, doubleblind, placebo-controlled human clinical trial to investigate the immune effects on healthy people of a fermented product containing two new probiotic strains, Lactobacillus gasseri CECT 5714 and Lactobacillus coryniformis CECT 5711, which was compared with another fermented product, a standard yogurt. Consumption of either the new product or yogurt increased the proportion of phagocytic cells, including monocytes and neutrophils, as well as their phagocytic activity. However, combination of the product containing the strains L. gasseri CECT 5714 and L. coryniformis CECT 5711 also induced an increase in the proportion of natural killer (NK) cells and in IgA concentrations. The effects were higher after two weeks of treatment than after 4 weeks, which suggests regulation of the immune system. In addition, the new product enhanced immunity in the participants to a greater extent than did the control standard yogurt. [Int Microbiol 2006; 9(1):47-52