Antigen-Induced IL-1RA Production Discriminates Active and Latent Tuberculosis Infection

The IGRA (Interferon Gamma Release Assays) test is currently the standard specific test for Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection status. However, a positive test cannot distinguish between active tuberculosis disease (ATBD) and latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Developing a test with this characteristic is needed. We conducted longitudinal studies to identify a combination of antigen peptides and cytokines to discriminate between ATBD and LTBI. We studied 54 patients with ATBD disease and 51 with LTBI infection. Cell culture supernatant from cells stimulated with overlapping Mycobacterium tuberculosis novel peptides and 40 cytokines/chemokines were analyzed using the Luminex technology. To summarize longitudinal measurements of analyte levels, we calculated the area under the curve (AUC). Our results indicate that in vitro cell stimulation with a novel combination of peptides (Rv0849-12, Rv2031c-14, Rv2031c-5, and Rv2693-06) and IL-1RA detection in culture supernatants can discriminate between LTBI and ATBD

Chance and predictability in evolution : The genomic basis of convergent dietary specializations in an adaptive radiation

The coexistence of multiple eco-phenotypes in independently assembled communities makes island adaptive radiations the ideal framework to test convergence and parallelism in evolution. In the radiation of the spider genus Dysdera in the Canary Islands, species diversification occurs concomitant with repeated events of trophic specialization. These dietary shifts, to feed primarily on woodlice, are accompanied by modifications in morphology (mostly in the mouthparts), behaviour and nutritional physiology. To gain insight into the molecular basis of this adaptive radiation, we performed a comprehensive comparative transcriptome analysis of five Canary Island Dysdera endemics representing two evolutionary and geographically independent events of dietary specialization. After controlling for the potential confounding effects of hemiplasy, our differential gene expression and selective constraint analyses identified a number of genetic changes that could be associated with the repeated adaptations to specialized diet of woodlice, including some related to heavy metal detoxification and homeostasis, the metabolism of some important nutrients and venom toxins. Our results shed light on the genomic basis of an extraordinary case of dietary shift convergence associated with species diversification. We uncovered putative molecular substrates of convergent evolutionary changes at different hierarchical levels, including specific genes, genes with equivalent functions and even particular amino acid positions. This study improves our knowledge of rapid adaptive radiations and provides new insights into the predictability of evolution.Peer reviewe

Avifauna en un area perturbada del bosque andino en el parque nacional natural Farallones de Cali, corregimiento de Pance, Valle del Cauca (Colombia)

El presente conjunto de datos en el formato de archivo Darwin Core incluye información del monitoreo de la avifauna en un área perturbada del Parque Nacional Natural Farallones de Cali. Con el objetivo de caracterizar y determinar la composición y estructura de la avifauna, se llevaron a cabo censos visuales desde agosto 2008 hasta julio 2009 en las localidades de El Topacio y El Pato en recorridos de 2 km de longitud, a elevaciones entre 1550 y 1800 m s.n.m. En total se hicieron 2363 registros de 157 especies de aves, pertenecientes a 41 familias y 19 órdenes. Se observaron 12 especies nuevas para el área, 10 de las cuales son aves propias de áreas abiertas. Nueve especies que habían sido registradas en El Topacio en 1978, no lo fueron en el presente estudio y en consecuencia se consideran extintas y vulnerables localmente, lo cual ilustra y ratifica cómo el reemplazo de los hábitats naturales por potreros, la fragmentación y el efecto de borde afectan negativamente las comunidades de aves en áreas protegidas.This dataset in Darwin Core Archive format includes monitoring information about bird life in a disturbed area of the Farallones de Cali National Natural Park. Aiming to characterize and determine the composition and structure of bird life, visual censuses were carried out from August 2008 to July 2009 at both the El Pato and the El Topacio localities along line census of 2 km and from elevations between1550 to 1800 m a.s.l. A total of 2363 records were obtained of 157 species of 41 families and 19 orders. Twelve were new records for the area, 10 of which are common in open areas. Nine species previously recorded in 1978 at El Topacio were absent and considered locally extinct and vulnerable. This illustrates how the replacement of natural habitats with pasturelands, as well as fragmentation and border effect affect negatively bird communities in protected areas.Fil: Bermudez Vera, Julio Cesar . Universidad del Valle. Departamento de Biología; ColombiaFil: Duque Lopez, Juan Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Patagonia Norte. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónicas; ArgentinaFil: Sanchez Martinez, Manuel A. . Universidad del Valle. Departamento de Biología; ColombiaFil: Tenorio, Elkin . Calima - Fundación para la Investigación de la Biodiversidad y Conservación en el Trópico; Colombi

The Effects of Cannabidiol Supplementation on Measures of Performance and Fatigue Following Eccentric Exercise

Following intense exercise, there is a period of time where performance is decreased. This period of reduced performance is characterized by several factors including myofibrillar disruption, reduced range-of-motion, inflammation, and an influx of enzymes and proteins. Cannabidiol (CBD) has been marketed as a recovery supplement capable of reducing markers of fatigue and inflammation following exercise, yet this claim has not been investigated. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine if CBD supplementation limits fatigue and expedites a return to performance following intense eccentric exercise. METHODS: A double-blind, crossover design with repeated measures was used. Twenty-four NCAA female athletes (age = 21.2 ± 1.8 yrs., height = 166.4 ± 8 cm, weight = 64.9 ± 9.1 kg) were randomized to either receive 5 mg/kg of CBD in pill form (Cannabidiol Life, Longwood, FL) or a matched weight placebo. Treatments were consumed two hours prior to, immediately following, and ten hours following muscle damage sessions. All participants consumed both treatments, with each separated by approximately 28 days to control for the menstrual cycle. To induce muscle damage, participants completed 10 sets of 10 repetitions of unilateral eccentric leg extension at 60°/sec on an isokinetic dynamometer (Biodex Medical Systems Inc., Shirley, NY). Concentrations of a blood marker indicative of muscle damage (myoglobin), in addition to measures of fatigue (visual analogue fatigue scale [VAFS]) and performance (vertical jump, peak dynamic knee extensor torque at 60, 180, and 300°/sec, and peak isometric knee extensor torque), were collected before and 4, 24, and 48 hours following muscle damaging sessions. A repeated measures MANOVA was conducted to analyze the performance measures, and separate repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted to analyze myoglobin concentrations and results from the VAFS with a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: A significant increase (p = 0.002) in myoglobin levels was observed for both treatments 4 hours following the muscle damaging session but no significant differences (p \u3e 0.05) were observed between the CBD and placebo groups at any of the 4 measured time points. Peak torque at 60°/sec (p = 0.001) and peak isometric torque (p = 0.02) were significantly lower 24 hours following muscle damage, but none of the 5 measured performance variables were significantly different (p \u3e 0.05 for all) between the CBD and placebo treatment at any time point. Subjective fatigue as measured by the VAFS was not significantly different (p \u3e 0.05) between the CBD and placebo treatments at any measured time point. CONCLUSION: Cannabidiol supplementation was unable to reduce fatigue and restore performance when compared to a placebo in well-trained female participants. It does not appear that CBD supplementation is of beneficial use as a recovery supplement following intense exercise in athletes

Thermal modulation of epicardial Ca2+ dynamics uncovers molecular mechanisms of Ca2+ alternans

[EN] Ca2+ alternans (Ca-Alts) are alternating beat-to-beat changes in the amplitude of Ca2+ transients that frequently occur during tachycardia, ischemia, or hypothermia that can lead to sudden cardiac death. Ca-Alts appear to result from a variation in the amount of Ca2+ released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) between two consecutive heartbeats. This variable Ca2+ release has been attributed to the alternation of the action potential duration, delay in the recovery from inactivation of RYR Ca2+ release channel (RYR2), or an incomplete Ca2+ refilling of the SR. In all three cases, the RYR2 mobilizes less Ca2+ from the SR in an alternating manner, thereby generating an alternating profile of the Ca2+ transients. We used a new experimental approach, fluorescence local field optical mapping (FLOM), to record at the epicardial layer of an intact heart with subcellular resolution. In conjunction with a local cold finger, a series of images were recorded within an area where the local cooling induced a temperature gradient. Ca-Alts were larger in colder regions and occurred without changes in action potential duration. Analysis of the change in the enthalpy and Q(10) of several kinetic processes defining intracellular Ca2+ dynamics indicated that the effects of temperature change on the relaxation of intracellular Ca2+ transients involved both passive and active mechanisms. The steep temperature dependency of Ca-Alts during tachycardia suggests Ca-Alts are generated by insufficient SERCA-mediated Ca2+ uptake into the SR. We found that Ca-Alts are heavily dependent on intra-SR Ca2+ and can be promoted through partial pharmacologic inhibition of SERCA2a. Finally, the FLOM experimental approach has the potential to help us understand how arrhythmogenesis correlates with the spatial distribution of metabolically impaired myocytes along the myocardium.This study was supported by National Institutes of Health grant R01 HL-084487 (to A.L. Escobar). J.A. Copello was supported by the Eskridge Foundation (Eskridge Heart Disease Research Fund BP 561661).Millet Roig, J.; Aguilar-Sanchez, Y.; Kornyeyev, D.; Bazmi, M.; Fainstein, D.; Copello, JA.; Escobar, AL. (2021). Thermal modulation of epicardial Ca2+ dynamics uncovers molecular mechanisms of Ca2+ alternans. The Journal of General Physiology. 153(2). https://doi.org/10.1085/jgp.202012568153

Ear, nose and throat manifestations in pemphigus vulgaris

Pemphigus vulgaris (PV) is an autoimmune disease characterized by mucocutaneous intraepithelial blisters and pathogenic autoantibodies against desmoglein 3. There are two clinical forms: mucosal (MPV) and mucocutaneous (MCPV). The frequency of ear, nose and throat (ENT) involvement in PV is not clearly defined. Only a few isolated individual cases have been reported. OBJECTIVES: The objective of our study was to determine the incidence of ENT involvement in patients with PV. PATIENTS: We studied prospectively all 16 patients diagnosed with PV and treated in the Department of Dermatology of the University Clinic of Navarra between 2001 and 2005. They were 10 cases of MPV and six cases of MCPV. All patients were evaluated for ENT manifestations by endoscopic examination. RESULTS: Of the 16 patients, 13 presented with throat symptoms (81%), 12 pharyngeal (75%) and seven laryngeal symptoms (44%). Fourteen patients (88%) had active PV lesions on endoscopic evaluation (eight patients had active lesions on both pharyngeal and laryngeal mucosa, four had PV lesions only on laryngeal mucosa and two had PV lesions on pharyngeal mucosa). Laryngeal lesions were most commonly present in MPV patients. The frequency of nasal symptoms (38%) was lower than active PV lesions (62%) found on ENT examination. Oral symptoms and oral active PV lesions were the most frequent findings (94%). Only three patients with MCPV showed erosions on the external auditory canal. CONCLUSIONS: As ENT endoscopy allows more extensive areas of mucosa to be examined than simple visual inspection, we recommend that it be included in the examination of all patients with PV. By obtaining more complete information concerning the extent of the disease, a more accurate diagnosis can be made, better choice of drug and dose may be decided and, ultimately, response to treatment may be improved

Evolution of the threshold temperature definition of a heat wave vs. evolution of the minimum mortality temperature: a case study in Spain during the 1983–2018 period

An area of current study concerns analysis of the possible adaptation of the population to heat, based on the temporal evolution of the minimum mortality temperature (MMT). It is important to know how is the evolution of the threshold temperatures (Tthreshold) due to these temperatures provide the basis for the activation of public health prevention plans against high temperatures. The objective of this study was to analyze the temporal evolution of threshold temperatures (Tthreshold) produced in different Spanish regions during the 1983–2018 period and to compare this evolution with the evolution of MMT. The dependent variable used was the raw rate of daily mortality due to natural causes ICD X: (A00-R99) for the considered period. The independent variable was maximum daily temperature (Tmax) during the summer months registered in the reference observatory of each region. Threshold values were determined using dispersion diagrams (annual) of the prewhitened series of mortality temperatures and Tmax. Later, linear fit models were carried out between the different values of Tthreshold throughout the study period, which permitted detecting the annual rate of change in Tthreshold.This research project was funded by the Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII) under file number ENPY 470/19 and is supported by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ministry for Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge, in addition to the research projects ISCIII: ENPY107/18 and ENPY 376/1

Genetic Manipulation of a "Vacuolar" H+ -PPase: From Salt Tolerance to Yield Enhancement under Phosphorus-Deficient Soils

Article on the genetic manipulation of a vacuolar H+ -PPase and salt tolerance to yield enhancement under phosphorous-deficient soils