Aplicación de la termografía en el diagnóstico y valoración de la pododermatitis plantar en rapaces

La pododermatitis plantar es una patología de gran importancia en la clínica aviar. Su diagnóstico precoz es vital para un buen pronóstico. Por ello, se ha estudiado la posibilidad de detectarla mediante termografía, técnica que no necesita contacto con el paciente, reduciendo así el estrés que el manejo supone para la mayoría de animales, especialmente los salvajes. Los resultados obtenidos muestran que la termografía permite detectar la pododermatitis plantar antes de la aparición de lesiones, por la mayor diferencia entre las temperaturas máxima y mínima de la planta y por el patrón térmico.Plantar pododermatitis is great important pathology in avian medicine. Its early diagnosis allows a good prognosis. Therefore, the application of thermography to detect bumblefoot has been studied. This technique requires no contact with the patient, reducing the stress, very important in wildlife. Results show thermography is a useful tool for detecting plantar pododermatitis, even before the appearance of lesions, for the major difference between the maximum and minimum temperature of the plant and its thermal pattern

α-Enolase, a Multifunctional Protein: Its Role on Pathophysiological Situations

α-Enolase is a key glycolytic enzyme in the cytoplasm of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells and is considered a multifunctional protein. α-enolase is expressed on the surface of several cell types, where it acts as a plasminogen receptor, concentrating proteolytic plasmin activity on the cell surface. In addition to glycolytic enzyme and plasminogen receptor functions, α-Enolase appears to have other cellular functions and subcellular localizations that are distinct from its well-established function in glycolysis. Furthermore, differential expression of α-enolase has been related to several pathologies, such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis, among others. We have identified α-enolase as a plasminogen receptor in several cell types. In particular, we have analyzed its role in myogenesis, as an example of extracellular remodelling process. We have shown that α-enolase is expressed on the cell surface of differentiating myocytes, and that inhibitors of α-enolase/plasminogen binding block myogenic fusion in vitro and skeletal muscle regeneration in mice. α-Enolase could be considered as a marker of pathological stress in a high number of diseases, performing several of its multiple functions, mainly as plasminogen receptor. This paper is focused on the multiple roles of the α-enolase/plasminogen axis, related to several pathologies

Requirement of Plasminogen Binding to Its Cell-Surface Receptor α-Enolase for Efficient Regeneration of Normal and Dystrophic Skeletal Muscle

Adult regenerative myogenesis is central for restoring normal tissue structure and function after muscle damage. In muscle repair after injury, as in severe myopathies, damaged and necrotic fibers are removed by infiltrating inflammatory cells and then replaced by muscle stem cells or satellite cells, which will fuse to form new myofibers. Extracellular proteolysis mediated by uPA-generated plasmin plays a critical role in controlling inflammation and satellite-cell-dependent myogenesis. alpha-enolase has been described as plasminogen receptor in several cell types, where it acts concentrating plasmin proteolytic activity on the cell surface. In this study, we investigated whether alpha-enolase plasminogen receptor plays a regulatory role during the muscular repair process. Inhibitors of alpha-enolase/plasminogen binding: MAb11G1 (a monoclonal antibody against alpha-enolase) and e-aminocaproic acid, EACA (a lysine analogue) inhibited the myogenic abilities of satellite cells-derived myoblasts. Furthermore, knockdown of alpha-enolase decreased myogenic fusion of myoblasts. Injured wild-type mice and dystrophic mdx mice were also treated with MAb11G1 and EACA. These treatments had negative impacts on muscle repair impairing satellite cell functions in vitro in agreement with blunted growth of new myofibers in vivo. Furthermore, both MAb11G1 and EACA treatments impaired adequate inflammatory cell infiltration and promoted extracellular matrix deposition in vivo, which resulted in persistent degeneration. These results demonstrate the novel requirement of alpha-enolase for restoring homeostasis of injured muscle tissue, by controlling the pericellular localization of plasmin activity

Response Surface Optimization of Inulin and Polyphenol Extraction from Artichoke (Cynara scolymus (L.)) Solid Wastes

[EN] Featured Application Recovery of bioactive compounds from artichoke solid wastes. Artichoke wastes after processing represent 60-70% of the raw material and are a potential source of inulin and polyphenols, bioactive compounds that can be valorized as food ingredients or nutraceutical products. The aim of this work was to assess and optimize the extraction of these compounds from artichoke wastes using water or water-ethanol mixtures as extracting agents. For simultaneous inulin and polyphenol extraction and to achieve high antioxidant activity in extracts, the best process conditions using water as an extracting agent were T = 89 degrees C and t = 139 min, where 80% of the inulin content, 60% of the total phenolic content (TPC) and 56% of the antioxidant activity (Aox) were obtained. For water-ethanol extractions, the best results were obtained with EtOH = 22.4%, T = 81 degrees C and t = 217 min, leading to extraction yields of 90% of TPC, 38% of Aox and 58% of inulin content. From these results, we recommend the use of water for the recovery of inulin and polyphenols from artichoke wastes. Although the extraction yield of polyphenols is lower in water treatments, the amount extracted is considerable and it is a greener option when compared with water-ethanol mixtures.Garcia-Castello, EM.; Mayor, L.; Calvo-Ramirez, A.; Ruiz-Melero, R.; Rodríguez López, AD. (2022). Response Surface Optimization of Inulin and Polyphenol Extraction from Artichoke (Cynara scolymus (L.)) Solid Wastes. Applied Sciences. 12(6):1-15. https://doi.org/10.3390/app1216795711512

DSTYK inhibition increases the sensitivity of lung cancer cells to T cell-mediated cytotoxicity

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. We identify DSTYK, a dual serine/threonine and tyrosine non-receptor protein kinase, as a novel actionable target altered in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We also show DSTYK's association with a lower overall survival (OS) and poorer progression-free survival (PFS) in multiple patient cohorts. Abrogation of DSTYK in lung cancer experimental systems prevents mTOR-dependent cytoprotective autophagy, impairs lysosomal biogenesis and maturation, and induces accumulation of autophagosomes. Moreover, DSTYK inhibition severely affects mitochondrial fitness. We demonstrate in vivo that inhibition of DSTYK sensitizes lung cancer cells to TNF-α–mediated CD8+-killing and immune-resistant lung tumors to anti–PD-1 treatment. Finally, in a series of lung cancer patients, DSTYK copy number gain predicts lack of response to the immunotherapy. In summary, we have uncovered DSTYK as new therapeutic target in lung cancer. Prioritization of this novel target for drug development and clinical testing may expand the percentage of NSCLC patients benefiting from immune-based treatments.This work was supported by Fundación para la investigación medica aplicada (FIMA), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC; CB16/12/00443), Spanish Association Against Cancer Scientific Foundation (AECC; GCB14-2170), Fundación Ramón Areces, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, and cofunded by the European Union (European Regional Development Fund, “A way to make Europe”; PI19/00098; PI19/00230; PI20/ 00419), Fundación Roberto Arnal Planelles, and International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) Fellowship funding (K. Valencia). M. Echepare was supported by Contratos Predoctorales de Formación en Investigación en Salud (PFIS), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, and co-funded by the European Union (European Social Fund, "Investing in your future"; FI20/00295)

Automatic Analysis of Archimedes’ Spiral for Characterization of Genetic Essential Tremor Based on Shannon’s Entropy and Fractal Dimension

Among neural disorders related to movement, essential tremor has the highest prevalence; in fact, it is twenty times more common than Parkinson's disease. The drawing of the Archimedes' spiral is the gold standard test to distinguish between both pathologies. The aim of this paper is to select non-linear biomarkers based on the analysis of digital drawings. It belongs to a larger cross study for early diagnosis of essential tremor that also includes genetic information. The proposed automatic analysis system consists in a hybrid solution: Machine Learning paradigms and automatic selection of features based on statistical tests using medical criteria. Moreover, the selected biomarkers comprise not only commonly used linear features (static and dynamic), but also other non-linear ones: Shannon entropy and Fractal Dimension. The results are hopeful, and the developed tool can easily be adapted to users; and taking into account social and economic points of view, it could be very helpful in real complex environments.This research was partially funded by the Basque Goverment, the University of the Basque Country by the IT1115-16 project-ELEKIN, Diputacion Foral de Gipuzkoa, University of Vic-Central University of Catalonia under the research grant R0947, and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation TEC2016-77791-C04-R

Daratumumab in combination with urelumab to potentiate anti-myeloma activity in lymphocytedeficient mice reconstituted with human NK cells

Daratumumab is an anti-CD38 fully human IgG1 mAb approved for multiple myeloma treatment. One of the proposed mechanisms of action is the induction of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) mediated by NK cells. NK cells acquire surface CD137 expression in the presence of solid-phase-attached daratumumab and when encountering a daratumumab-coated CD38+ tumor cell line. In this setting, addition of the agonist anti-CD137 mAb urelumab enhances NK-cell activation increasing CD25 expression and IFNɣ production. However, in vitro ADCC is not increased by the addition of urelumab both in 4h or 24h lasting experiments. To study urelumab-increased daratumumab-mediated ADCC activity in vivo, we set up a mouse model based on the intravenous administration of a luciferase-transfected multiple myeloma cell line of human origin, human NK cells and daratumumab to immuno-deficient NSG mice. In this model, intravenous administration of urelumab 24h after daratumumab delayed tumor growth and prolonged mice survival

Ciencia abierta en España 2023: informe de situación y análisis de la percepción

Proyecto RTI2018-094360-B-I00Durante el período 2019-2022, en el marco del proyecto Ciencia abierta en España (RTI2018-094360-B-I00), nuestro grupo de investigación ha analizado la percepción de la ciencia abierta y de sus elementos componentes (acceso abierto, datos abiertos, revisión abierta, modelos de evaluación) por parte de los agentes implicados en el sistema de investigación (autores, editores de revistas, vicerrectores y profesionales de bibliotecas). En primer lugar, llevamos a cabo una aproximación cualitativa a la percepción de las barreras y los elementos favorecedores de la ciencia abierta mediante un conjunto de entrevistas y un grupo de discusión a dichos agentes (González- Teruel, A. et al. 2022). En total se realizaron 23 entrevistas: editores de revistas científicas universitarias (9 entrevistas), investigadores (9), vicerrectores (3), y responsables de agencias de evaluación (2) y un focus group en el cual participaron ocho profesionales de bibliotecas universitariasA partir de aquí, realizamos una aproximación cualitativa y cuantitativa mediante encuestas aplicadas a estos mismos agentes y centradas en su percepción sobre la situación respecto del acceso abierto, los datos abiertos, la revisión abierta, los modelos de evaluación y la ciencia abierta en general. Se han publicado los resultados referentes a los vicerrectores (Abad-García, et al., 2022), los editores de revistas científicas (Melero et al., 2023), el personal de bibliotecas (Santos-Hermosa y Boté-Vericad, 2023) y está pendiente de publicación el estudio con las opiniones de los autores (Ollé et al., 2023).El objetivo general de este informe consiste en describir el grado de desarrollo de la ciencia abierta en España en 2023 y también la percepción de los principales agentes implicados (investigadores, editores de revistas científicas, vicerrectores, directores de agencias de evaluación, profesionales de bibliotecas) sobre las barreras y los elementos favorecedores de la ciencia abierta en general y de sus principales componentes (acceso abierto, datos abiertos, revisión abierta, evaluación de la ciencia), en particular.El documento se estructura en tres grandes apartados, que se refieren a los principales componentes de la ciencia abierta: acceso abierto, datos de investigación y evaluación de la ciencia. Para cada uno de ellos, se lleva a cabo un repaso de los aspectos legales y las políticas de promoción, una descripción de los avances en lo que respecta a contenidos (publicaciones, repositorios, etc.) y se acompaña de un análisis de la percepción de los investigadores, editores, bibliotecarios y vicerrectores respecto de las barreras y elementos favorecedores para impulsar la apertura de las publicaciones, de los datos abiertos y de nuevos modelos de evaluación científica. Finalmente se incluye un apartado dedicado a la percepción de la ciencia abierta en general

The age again in the eye of the COVID-19 storm: evidence-based decision making

Background: One hundred fifty million contagions, more than 3 million deaths and little more than 1 year of COVID-19 have changed our lives and our health management systems forever. Ageing is known to be one of the significant determinants for COVID-19 severity. Two main reasons underlie this: immunosenescence and age correlation with main COVID-19 comorbidities such as hypertension or dyslipidaemia. This study has two aims. The first is to obtain cut-off points for laboratory parameters that can help us in clinical decision-making. The second one is to analyse the effect of pandemic lockdown on epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory parameters concerning the severity of the COVID-19. For these purposes, 257 of SARSCoV2 inpatients during pandemic confinement were included in this study. Moreover, 584 case records from a previously analysed series, were compared with the present study data. Results: Concerning the characteristics of lockdown series, mild cases accounted for 14.4, 54.1% were moderate and 31.5%, severe. There were 32.5% of home contagions, 26.3% community transmissions, 22.5% nursing home contagions, and 8.8% corresponding to frontline worker contagions regarding epidemiological features. Age > 60 and male sex are hereby confirmed as severity determinants. Equally, higher severity was significantly associated with higher IL6, CRP, ferritin, LDH, and leukocyte counts, and a lower percentage of lymphocyte, CD4 and CD8 count. Comparing this cohort with a previous 584-cases series, mild cases were less than those analysed in the first moment of the pandemic and dyslipidaemia became more frequent than before. IL-6, CRP and LDH values above 69 pg/mL, 97 mg/L and 328 U/L respectively, as well as a CD4 T-cell count below 535 cells/?L, were the best cut-offs predicting severity since these parameters offered reliable areas under the curve. Conclusion: Age and sex together with selected laboratory parameters on admission can help us predict COVID-19 severity and, therefore, make clinical and resource management decisions. Demographic features associated with lockdown might affect the homogeneity of the data and the robustness of the results

Buenas prácticas de transferencia del conocimiento en la Universidad de Córdoba

La iniciativa consiste en proporcionar la materia prima. El proyecto, que se ha realizado con cerdos y ha tenido una duración de tres años, demuestra que la administración de Cardiotrofina-1 en el transplante hepático incrementa la supervivencia del animal, mejora su función cardiaca, respiratoria y renal, y también consigue reducir el daño hepatocelecuar y el estrés oxidativo y nitrosativo en el injerto