Kangaroo Mother Care : Nursing Assessment

Las cifras de mortalidad y morbilidad de los recién nacidos, especialmente de los prematuros y de bajo peso, son elevadas y más aún en los países carentes de recursos ya que constituyen una de las poblaciones más vulnerables. La pérdida de calor corporal por parte del recién nacido, la falta de lactancia materna y la presencia de estímulos dolorosos contribuyen, en gran parte, a aumentar dichas cifras. Para reducir este problema se han creado algunas intervenciones, como por ejemplo el Método Madre Canguro, cuyos beneficios se basan en el contacto piel con piel entre la madre y su recién nacido.The mortality and morbidity of newborns, especially premature and low birth weight are higher and even more so in countries lacking resources as they are one of the most vulnerable populations. The loss of body heat by the newborn, lack of breastfeeding and the presence of painful stimuli contribute largely to increase these figures. To reduce this problem have created some interventions, such as Kangaroo Mother Care, whose benefits are based on skin contact between the mother and her newborn

Changes in the proteomic and metabolic profiles of Beta vulgaris root tips in response to iron deficiency and resupply

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Plants grown under iron deficiency show different morphological, biochemical and physiological changes. These changes include, among others, the elicitation of different strategies to improve the acquisition of Fe from the rhizosphere, the adjustment of Fe homeostasis processes and a reorganization of carbohydrate metabolism. The application of modern techniques that allow the simultaneous and untargeted analysis of multiple proteins and metabolites can provide insight into multiple processes taking place in plants under Fe deficiency. The objective of this study was to characterize the changes induced in the root tip proteome and metabolome of sugar beet plants in response to Fe deficiency and resupply.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Root tip extract proteome maps were obtained by 2-D isoelectric focusing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and approximately 140 spots were detected. Iron deficiency resulted in changes in the relative amounts of 61 polypeptides, and 22 of them were identified by mass spectrometry (MS). Metabolites in root tip extracts were analyzed by gas chromatography-MS, and more than 300 metabolites were resolved. Out of 77 identified metabolites, 26 changed significantly with Fe deficiency. Iron deficiency induced increases in the relative amounts of proteins and metabolites associated to glycolysis, tri-carboxylic acid cycle and anaerobic respiration, confirming previous studies. Furthermore, a protein not present in Fe-sufficient roots, dimethyl-8-ribityllumazine (DMRL) synthase, was present in high amounts in root tips from Fe-deficient sugar beet plants and gene transcript levels were higher in Fe-deficient root tips. Also, a marked increase in the relative amounts of the raffinose family of oligosaccharides (RFOs) was observed in Fe-deficient plants, and a further increase in these compounds occurred upon short term Fe resupply.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The increases in DMRL synthase and in RFO sugars were the major changes induced by Fe deficiency and resupply in root tips of sugar beet plants. Flavin synthesis could be involved in Fe uptake, whereas RFO sugars could be involved in the alleviation of oxidative stress, C trafficking or cell signalling. Our data also confirm the increase in proteins and metabolites related to carbohydrate metabolism and TCA cycle pathways.</p

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies and Factors Associated with Seropositivity at the University of Salamanca: The DIANCUSAL Study

© 2021 by the authors[Background]: Systematic screening for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 is a crucial tool for surveillance of the COVID-19 pandemic. The University of Salamanca (USAL) in Spain designed a project called “DIANCUSAL” (Diagnosis of New Coronavirus, COVID-19, in University of Salamanca) to measure antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among its ~34,000 students and academic staff, as the influence of the university community in the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in the city of Salamanca and neighboring towns hosting USAL campuses could be substantial.[Objective]: The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among USAL students, professors and staff and to evaluate the demographic, academic, clinical and lifestyle and behavioral factors related to seropositivity.[Methodology]: The DIANCUSAL study is an ongoing university population-based cross-sectional study, with the work described herein conducted from July–October 2020. All USAL students, professors and staff were invited to complete an anonymized questionnaire. Seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was detected and quantified by using chemiluminescent assays for IgG and IgM. Principal findings: A total of 8197 (24.71%) participants were included. The mean age was 31.4 (14.5 SD) years, and 66.0% of the participants were female. The seroprevalence was 8.25% overall and was highest for students from the education campus (12.5%) and professors from the biomedical campus (12.6%), with significant differences among faculties (p = 0.006). Based on the questionnaire, loss of smell and fever were the symptoms most strongly associated with seropositivity, and 22.6% of seropositive participants were asymptomatic. Social distancing was the most effective hygiene measure (p = 0.0007). There were significant differences in seroprevalence between participants with and without household exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (p = 0.0000), but not between students who lived in private homes and those who lived in dormitories. IgG antibodies decreased over time in the participants with confirmed self-reported COVID-19 diagnoses.[Conclusions]: The analysis revealed an overall 8.25% seroprevalence at the end of October 2020, with a higher seroprevalence in students than in staff. Thus, there is no need for tailored measures for the USAL community as the official average seroprevalence in the area was similar (7.8% at 22 June and 12.4 at 15 November of 2020). Instead, USAL members should comply with public health measures.The DIANCUSAL (Diagnosis of New Coronavirus, COVID-19, in University of Salamanca) study was funded by a grant from the University of Salamanca (USAL)

Proteomic and metabolic profiles of Beta vulgaris root tips: changes induced in response to iron deficiency and resupply

1 .pdf (3 Figs.) copia del póster original presentado por los autores al simposio internacional. Se acompaña de 1. pdf con copia del resumen oficial.Root tips of sugar beet grown in hydroponics under Fe deficiency show marked morphological and metabolic changes that can be partially reverted after Fe resupply [1, 2]. In this work a comprehensive analysis of the metabolic and proteomic changes observed in sugar beet root tips with Fe deficiency and Fe resupply has been carried out. Root tip samples were taken from Fe-sufficient (grown with 45 µM Fe(III)-EDTA), Fe-deficient (grown with 0 µM Fe), and Fe-resupplied plants (24 and 72 hours after Fe resupply with 45 µM Fe(III)-EDTA). Proteome maps with approximately 150 spots were obtained by two-dimensional electrophoresis (IEF-SDS PAGE). Iron deficiency induced significant intensity changes in a large number of these polypeptides, many of them associated to carbohydrate catabolism. A protein identified as DMRL synthase was very abundant in root tips from Fe-deficient sugar beet and was not detectable in Fe-sufficient roots. This protein was found to be regulated transcriptionally by Fe status. Metabolites were analyzed in root tip extracts by GC-MS, following the recommendations described by the Metabolomics Standards Initiative [3]. Seventy-seven metabolites included in the Fiehn Library (http://fiehnlab.ucdavis.edu/ Metabolite-Library-2007) were present in sugar beet root tip extracts. Multivariate statistical analyses, using unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA) and supervised partial least square (PLS), were performed. Score scatter plots using the first two components provided a good separation of the different treatments, with metabolites in the 72 hours after Fe resupply treatment being closer to those present in the initial Fe-sufficient conditions. Main metabolite changes were in agreement with previous results [1]. For example, an increase in the amounts of many TCA cycle intermediates was observed in the Fe-deficient root tips. Also, an increase in the amount of the raffinose series of oligosaccharides (RSOs), including raffinose, galactinol and myo-inositol was observed in Fe-deficient and 24 hours Fe-resupplied plant roots. This has never been described before in plants under Fe deficiency. Another 46 still unidentified metabolites showed significant concentration changes in root tips of Fe-deficient and Fe-resupplied plants when compared with Fe-sufficient plants.This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (projects AGL2006-1416 and AGL2007-61948, co-financed with FEDER), the European Commission (EU 6th Framework Integrated Project ISAFRUIT), and the Aragón Government (group A03).Peer reviewe

Responses of Sugar Beet Roots to Iron Deficiency. Changes in Carbon Assimilation and Oxygen Use

Different root parts with or without increased iron-reducing activities have been studied in iron-deficient and iron-sufficient control sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L. Monohil hybrid). The distal root parts of iron-deficient plants, 0 to 5 mm from the root apex, were capable to reduce Fe(III)-chelates and contained concentrations of flavins near 700 μm, two characteristics absent in the 5 to 10 mm sections of iron-deficient plants and the whole root of iron-sufficient plants. Flavin-containing root tips had large pools of carboxylic acids and high activities of enzymes involved in organic acid metabolism. In iron-deficient yellow root tips there was a large increase in carbon fixation associated to an increase in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity. Part of this carbon was used, through an increase in mitochondrial activity, to increase the capacity to produce reducing power, whereas another part was exported via xylem. Root respiration was increased by iron deficiency. In sugar beet iron-deficient roots flavins would provide a suitable link between the increased capacity to produce reduced nucleotides and the plasma membrane associated ferric chelate reductase enzyme(s). Iron-deficient roots had a large oxygen consumption rate in the presence of cyanide and hydroxisalycilic acid, suggesting that the ferric chelate reductase enzyme is able to reduce oxygen in the absence of Fe(III)-chelates.Peer reviewe

Proteomic profiles of thylakoid membranes and changes in response to iron deficiency

The proteomic profile of thylakoid membranes and the changes induced in that proteome by iron deficiency have been studied by using thylakoid preparations from Beta vulgaris plants grown in hydroponics. Two different 2-D electrophoresis approaches have been used to study these proteomes: isoelectrical focusing followed by SDS PAGE (IEF-SDS PAGE) and blue-native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by SDS PAGE (BN-SDS PAGE). These techniques resolved approximately 110-140 and 40 polypeptides, respectively. Iron deficiency induced significant changes in the thylakoid sugar beet proteome profiles: the relative amounts of electron transfer protein complexes were reduced, whereas those of proteins participating in leaf carbon fixation-linked reactions were increased. A set of polypeptides, which includes several enzymes related to metabolism, was detected in thylakoid preparations from Fe-deficient Beta vulgaris leaves by using BN-SDS PAGE, suggesting that they may be associated with these thylakoids in vivo. The BN-SDS PAGE technique has been proven to be a better method than IEF-SDS PAGE to resolve highly hydrophobic integral membrane proteins from thylakoid preparations, allowing for the identification of complexes and determination of their polypeptidic components. © 2006 Springer Science+Business Media B.V.This work was supported by Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (MEC) projects BOS2001- 2343, AGL2003-1999 and AGL2004-0194 (co-financed with FEDER). SA was supported by a predoctoral fellowship from the MEC. AF L-M was scientist on a ‘‘Ramón y Cajal’’ contract from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture.Peer Reviewe

Time course induction of several key enzymes in Medicago truncatula roots in response to Fe deficiency

7 pages, 3 figures, 1 table.-- PMID: 19716309 [PubMed].Medicago truncatula constitutes a good model for Strategy I plants, since when this plant is challenged with Fe shortage the most important root physiological responses induced by Fe deficiency are developed, including the yellowing of root tips. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved in root adaptation to Fe deficiency in M. truncatula may strengthen our ability to enhance Fe efficiency responses in other plant species, especially in different agronomically relevant legumes. Riboflavin concentration, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (EC 4.1.1.31) and Fe reductase activities, and acidification capacity have been determined in M. truncatula roots at different time points after imposing Fe deficiency. Root riboflavin concentrations increased with Fe deficiency and concomitantly MtDMRL was upregulated at the transcriptional level, supporting a role for flavins in the Fe deficiency response. Root Fe reductase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activities as well as acidification capacity were higher in roots of Fe-deficient than in control plants, and the corresponding genes, MtFRO1, MtPEPC1 and MtHA1 were also upregulated by Fe deficiency. Expression of these genes and their corresponding physiological activities followed different patterns over time, suggesting the existence of both transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation.This study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Education (Project AGL2007-61948 to J.A., co-financed with FEDER) and the Aragón Government (group A03). S.A. was supported by an FPI pre-doctoral fellowship from the Spanish Ministry of Education and Culture and J.R.-C. by an I3P pre-doctoral fellowship from the CSIC.Peer reviewe

Increases in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxilase activity in iron deficient sugar beet roots: Analysis of spatial localization and post-translational modification

Root tips of Fe-deficient and Fe-sufficient sugar beet plants grown in hydroponics have been used to study the changes in the amount and activity of the cytosolic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC, EC 4.1.1.31). Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity in extracts of the yellow Fe-deficient root tips was, at pH 7.3, 30-fold higher (when expressed on a FW basis) and 7.1-fold higher (when expressed on a protein basis) than that found in the extracts of Fe-sufficient root tips. The amount of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase protein determined by immuno-blotting was, on a protein basis, 35-fold larger in the yellow zone of Fe-deficient root tips than in the Fe-sufficient root tips. The inhibition of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity by 500 μm malate was 41 and 58% in the extracts Fe-deficient and Fe-sufficient roots. The possibility that post-translational regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase may occur mediated through phosphorylation, was studied by immunological detection of phosphoserine residues in root tip extracts.This work was supported by grants AGR97-1177 from the Comisión Interministerial de Ciencia y Tecnología to A.A., and PB97-1176 from the Dirección General de Investigación Científica y Técnica and AIR3-CT94-1973 from the Commission of European Communities to J.A.Peer Reviewe

Protein profile of Lupinus texensis phloem sap exudates: Searching for Fe- and Zn-containing proteins

14 Pags, 4 Figs., 4 Tabls.The aim of this study was to obtain a comprehensive overview of the phloem sap protein profile of Lupinus texensis, with a special focus on proteins binding Fe and Zn. L. texensis was chosen as model plant given the simplicity to obtain exudates from sieve elements. Protein profiling by 2DE revealed 249 spots, and 54 of them were unambiguously identified by MALDI-MS and ESI-MS/MS. The largest number of identified protein species belongs to protein modification/turnover and general metabolism (19–21%), followed by redox homeostasis (9%) and defense and cell structural components (7%). This protein profile is similar to that reported in other plant species, suggesting that the phloem sap proteome is quite conserved. Staining of 2DE gels for Fe-containing proteins and affinity chromatography experiments revealed the presence of two low molecular weight Fe-binding proteins in phloem sap: a metallothionein-like protein type 2B identified in the Fe-affinity chromatography, and a second protein identified with both Fe staining methods. This protein species had a molecular weight of 13.5 kDa, a pI of 5.6 and 51% homology to a phloem-specific protein from Medicago truncatula. Zinc affinity chromatography revealed four Zn-binding proteins in phloem sap, one belonging to the dehydrin family and three Zn finger proteins.The study was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Competitiveness (MINECO; grants AGL2009–09018, AGL2010–16515, and AGL2012–31988) and the Aragon Government (group A03). GL and SA were supported by FPI predoctoral fellowship from the MINECO. JK was supported by a MINECO grant (BIO2008–03432)Peer reviewe