mtDNA haplogroup J Modulates telomere length and Nitric Oxide production

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Oxidative stress due to the overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) and other oxygen reactive species (ROS), play a main role in the initiation and progression of the OA disease and leads to the degeneration of mitochondria. Therefore, the goal of this work is to describe the difference in telomere length of peripheral blood leukocytes (PBLs) and Nitric Oxide (NO) production between mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroup J and non-J carriers, as indirect approaches of oxidative stress.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The telomere length of PBL was analyzed in DNA samples from 166 healthy controls (114 J and 52 non-J) and 79 OA patients (41 J and 38 non-J) by means of a validated qPCR method. The NO production was assessed in 7 carriers of the haplogroup J and 27 non-J carriers, by means of the colorimetric reaction of the Griess reagent in supernatants of cultured chondrocytes. Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA from these samples was analyzed by qPCR. Appropiated statistical analyses were performed</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Carriers of the haplogroup J showed a significantly longer telomere length of PBLs than non-J carriers, regardless of age, gender and diagnosis (p = 0.025). Cultured chondrocytes carrying the mtDNA haplogroup J also showed a lower NO production than non-J carriers (p = 0.043). No significant correlations between age and telomore length of PBLs were detected neither for carriers of the haplogroup J nor for non-J carriers. A strong positive correlation between NO production and iNOS expression was also observed (correlation coefficient = 0.791, p < 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The protective effect of the mtDNA haplogroup J in the OA disease arise from a lower oxidative stress in carriers of this haplogroup, since this haplogroup is related to lower NO production and hence longer telomere length of PBLs too.</p

2007-2017: Una década de competencias clave en España

The aim of this study was to determine Spanish teachers’ perceptions about the competence-based curriculum model (CBCM) introduced by LOE (2006) and maintained by later legislation, ten years after its deployment. Participants were 1408 Spanish Primary and Secondary School teachers (719 women and 689 men). Participants answered an ad hoc questionnaire consisting of a 23-item, five-factor scale (beliefs about the theoretical model, level of implementation of the model, difficulties in implementing the model, resources, and professional development). The questionnaire was sent through an on-line application to all Spanish Primary and Secondary Schools. The results show that teachers perceive the importance of curricular change although their expectations are negative regarding its implementation in classrooms. They are committed to the application of the CBCM but there is still a great demand for training and contextual conditions need to be improved. Regarding the factors analyzed, women have a better consideration of the degree of application of teaching strategies or the uniformity in the implementation of CBCM, while men score significantly higher in available resources. Primary school teachers have a more favorable perception in most of the items than secondary school teachers. It is necessary to address all these difficulties observed by teachers if educational reforms are intended to have a real impact on the results of the educational processEl objetivo de esta investigación fue conocer las percepciones del profesorado español sobre el modelo de currículo basado en competencias (MCC) introducido por la LOE (2006) y mantenido por legislaciones posteriores, diez años después de su implantación. Un total de 1408 docentes (719 mujeres y 689 varones). Los participantes contestaron un cuestionario diseñado ad hoc, consistente en una escala de cinco factores (creencias sobre el modelo teórico; grado de aplicación del modelo; dificultades para la aplicación del modelo; recursos; y formación del profesorado) con 23 ítems. El cuestionario fue enviado mediante una aplicación on-line a todos los centros españoles. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que los docentes perciben la importancia del cambio curricular, aunque sus expectativas son negativas respecto a su aplicación en las aulas; están implicados en la aplicación del MCC; sigue existiendo una gran demanda de formación; y es necesario que mejoren las condiciones contextuales. En cuanto a los factores analizados, las mujeres tienen mejor consideración del grado de aplicación de estrategias didácticas o la uniformidad en la implementación del MCC, mientras que los hombres puntúan significativamente más alto en los recursos disponibles; los docentes de Educación Primaria tienen una percepción más favorable en la mayoría de los ítems que los docentes de Educación Secundaria; las diferencias entre docentes de las diferentes áreas de conocimiento no son relevantes. Es necesario atender a todas estas dificultades observadas por el profesorado, si se pretende que este tipo de reformas educativas tengan un impacto real sobre los resultados del proceso educativoS

Efficacy of baths with mineral-medicinal water in patients with fibromyalgia: a randomized clinical trial

The layout of this study, designed as a randomized crossover clinical trial, is to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention with mineral-medicinal water from As Burgas (Ourense) in patients suffering from fibromyalgia. Pre-intervention: randomization of group A and group B. Intervention: Phase 1: Group A: 14 baths in thermal water for a month and standard pharmacological treatment; group B, standard pharmacological treatment. Rest period, 3 months. Phase 2: Gruop A, standard treatment and Grou B, 14 baths in thermal water for a month plus standard treatment. The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) was used; this grades from 1 (minimum) to 10 (maximum) the impact of the illness, which was measured in both phases. 25 patients were included in each group and the study was concluded with 20 patients in group A and 20 in group B. The intervention group obtained, once the baths finished, a mean score of 60,3 (±11,8) and the control group of 70,8 (±13,0) (p <0,001). Three months later, the intervention group presented a mean score of 64,4 (±10,6) and the control group of 5,0 (±11,3) (p <0,001). We can therefore conclude that the simple baths with mineral-medicinal water from As Burgas can make an improvement on the impact caused by fibromyalgia

Caracterización de los carritos de transporte de niños para su uso en autobuses y autocares

Dentro del proyecto “Determinación de los requisitos de Accesibilidad y Seguridad en la Utilización de CARritos de niños en vehículos de Transporte Público (ASUCAR)”, subvencionado mediante el subprograma TRACE del Plan Nacional de Investigación y Ciencia 2008-2011 y en el que colaboran las Universidades Politécnica de Valencia (UPV) y de Madrid (UPM), así como las Empresas Municipales de Transporte de Valencia y Madrid, se está estudiando la manera de definir las condiciones de transporte de personas que viajen con niños de forma que se garantice tanto su accesibilidad, como su seguridad durante el transporte y la del resto de los usuarios. Una fase importante de este proyecto es la caracterización de los carritos de transporte de niños y el análisis de los parámetros físicos más importantes para su estabilidad en el interior de un vehículo. Para ello, los carritos se han clasificado por familias atendiendo a su diseño general y se han registrado su masa, dimensiones de apoyo, dimensiones máximas y posición del c.d.g. con y sin niño sentado. Posteriormente, estos parámetros serán relacionados con los valores de solicitaciones sobre el carrito en maniobras de aceleración, frenado y paso por curva de un autobús. Estos valores se transformarán en condiciones de contorno para el diseño de los sistemas de retención de los carritos en los vehículos

Subclinical Endometritis in Dairy Cattle

Subclinical endometritis is recognized as a cause of poor reproductive performance in dairy cows. Inflammation of the endometrium persisting after postpartum uterine involution has been related with prolonged calving-conception intervals and low fertility in dairy cows. The subclinical nature of this condition makes it necessary in the use of endometrial cytology or biopsy for diagnosing it. There are some controversies among authors in relation to the postpartum period from which a physiological endometrial inflammation should be considered a pathological subclinical endometritis. Therefore, depending on the sampling period after calving, different studies establish a different degree of polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration as cutoff point to diagnose subclinical endometritis. Controversies also exist regarding the pathogenesis of the disease and its consequences on the fertility of dairy cattle. The aim of this chapter was to review the current knowledge on this uterine pathology

Metabolic Impairments Caused by Pesticides in Mammals and Their Interactions with Other Pollutants

The biological systems are exposed to a complex environment in which the contaminants can interact in a synergistic/antagonistic fashion and for this reason, the study of “chemical cocktails” is of great interest to fully understand the final biological effect. To evaluate the final biological response of a pollutant, it is essential to have an adequate analytical methodology that allows the correct monitoring of environmental systems in order to establish their quality, and, when appropriate, the application of corrective measures. Undoubtedly, massive methods “the omics” are among the most efficient current tools. To this end, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics and chemical speciation can provide very useful information, mainly when they are combined. However, the combination of proteomics with metabolomics has some drawbacks as the temporal space is different (i.e. metabolomics gives information about what happens right now, but it can be related with numerous post-translational modifications happened previously). In this sense, it seems that the combination of genomics with metabolomics is easier. Thus, when metabolomics data are interpreted in combination with genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic results, in the so-called systems biology approach, a holistic knowledge of the organism/process under investigation can be achieved

Use of eltrombopag for patients 65 years old or older with immune thrombocytopenia

Background Eltrombopag is useful for immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). However, results of clinical trials may not accurately mirror clinical practice reality. Here we evaluated eltrombopag for primary and secondary ITP in our ≥65‐year‐old population. Methods A total of 106 primary ITP patients (16 with newly diagnosed ITP, 16 with persistent ITP, and 74 with chronic ITP) and 39 secondary ITP patients (20 with ITP secondary to immune disorders, 7 with ITP secondary to infectious diseases, and 12 with ITP secondary to lymphoproliferative disorders [LPD]) were retrospectively evaluated. Results Median age of our cohort was 76 (interquartile range, IQR, 70‐81) years. 75.9% of patients yielded a platelet response including 66.2% complete responders. Median time to platelet response was 14 (IQR, 8‐21) days. Median time on response was 320 (IQR, 147‐526) days. Sixty‐three adverse events (AEs), mainly grade 1‐2, occurred. The most common were hepatobiliary laboratory abnormalities (HBLAs) and headaches. One transient ischemic attack in a newly diagnosed ITP and two self‐limited pulmonary embolisms in secondary ITP were the only thrombotic events observed. Conclusion Eltrombopag showed efficacy and safety in ITP patients aged ≥65 years with primary and secondary ITP. However, efficacy results in LPD‐ITP were poor. A relatively high number of deaths were observed