Mitochondrial aconitase enzymatic activity: a potential long-term survival biomarker in the blood of ALS patients

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystemic, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder. Despite it being generally fatal within a period of 2–4 years, it is highly heterogeneous; as a result, survival periods may vary greatly among individual patients. Biomarkers can serve as tools for diagnosis, prognosis, indicators of therapeutic response, and future therapeutics. Free-radical-dependent mitochondrial damage is believed to play a crucial role in neurodegeneration in ALS. Mitochondrial aconitase, which is also known as aconitase 2 (Aco2), is a key Krebs cycle enzyme and is involved in the regulation of cellular metabolism and iron homeostasis. Aco2 is very sensitive to oxidative inactivation and can aggregate and accumulate in the mitochondrial matrix, causing mitochondrial dysfunction. Loss of Aco2 activity may therefore reflect increased levels of mitochondrial dysfunction due to oxidative damage and could be relevant to ALS pathogenesis. The aim of our study was to confirm changes in mitochondrial aconitase activity in peripheral blood and to determine whether such changes are dependent on, or independent of, the patient’s condition and to propose the feasibility of using them as possible valid biomarkers to quantify the progression of the disease and as a predictor of individual prognosis in ALS. Methods: We measured the Aco2 enzymatic activity in the platelets of blood samples taken from 22 controls and 26 ALS patients at different stages of disease development. We then correlated antioxidant activity with clinical and prognostic variables. Results: Aco2 activity was significantly lower in the 26 ALS patients than in the 22 controls (p < 0.05). Patients with higher levels of Aco2 activity survived longer than those with lower levels (p < 0.05). Aco2 activity was also higher in patients with earlier onset (p < 0.05) and in those with predominantly upper motor neuron signs. Conclusions: Aco2 activity seems to be an independent factor that could be used in the long-term survival prognosis of ALS. Our findings suggest that blood Aco2 could be a leading candidate for use as a biomarker to improve prognosis. More studies are needed to confirm these results

Maíces locales; una contextualización de identidad tradicional

This article rises at a first glance on the how important is to agree on an integrative concept for the diversity richness of the maize species and currently grown and preserved in different agroecological and cultural contexts of Mexico, and arises as a conceptual necessity for research project about maize and its multiple purpose uses. The article is proposed due to the current confusion between some concepts and definitions usually read and heard in academic vocabulary regarding the maize. This proposal is made from a literature review of academic documents; with an ethnoagronomic and holistic approach of conceptual integration on the use, management and conservation of maize. Classic and recent academic information was used to decipher and point out the trends in the nomenclature (concepts and definitions) used to name the types of maize currently grown. In conclusion, it is proposed that the maize grown mainly in rural communities could be called "local maize", especially those that are used from the integration of cultural, genetic and phenotypic components or that originate as a result of continuous use, management and conservation in those niches where they can be found.En este artículo se plantea la importancia de acordar un concepto integrador para referirse a los maíces cultivados y conservados en diferentes contextos agroecológicos y culturales, y surge como una necesidad conceptual de un proyecto de investigación sobre maíces y sus usos múltiples. Es decir, el artículo se propone debido a la confusión actual que existe entre algunos conceptos y definiciones que normalmente se leen y escuchan en el lenguaje académico respecto del maíz. Esta propuesta se hace a partir de una revisión de documentos académicos; con un enfoque etnoagronómico y holístico de integración conceptual en el uso, manejo y conservación de los maíces. Se recurrió a información académica clásica y reciente para descifrar y puntualizar las tendencias en la nomenclatura (conceptos y definiciones) que se le asigna a los tipos de maíces cultivados. A manera de conclusión se plantea que los maíces que han sido seleccionados y conservados por los propios productores, se les llame "maíces locales"; principalmente aquellos que se utilizan desde la integración de los componentes culturales, genéticos y fenotípicos, y que se originan como resultado de un uso, manejo y conservación continuos en aquellos nichos donde se encuentran presentes

Local maize : a contextualization of traditional indentity

En este artículo se plantea la importancia de acordar un concepto integrador para referirse a los maíces cultivados y conservados en diferentes contextos agroecológicos y culturales, y surge como una necesidad conceptual de un proyecto de investigación sobre maíces y sus usos múltiples. Es decir, el artículo se propone debido a la confusión actual que existe entre algunos conceptos y definiciones que normalmente se leen y escuchan en el lenguaje académico respecto del maíz. Esta propuesta se hace a partir de una revisión de documentos académicos; con un enfoque etnoagronómico y holístico de integración conceptual en el uso, manejo y conservación de los maíces. Se recurrió a información académica clásica y reciente para descifrar y puntualizar las tendencias en la nomenclatura (conceptos y definiciones) que se le asigna a los tipos de maíces cultivados. A manera de conclusión se plantea que los maíces que han sido seleccionados y conservados por los propios productores, se les llame "maíces locales"; principalmente aquellos que se utilizan desde la integración de los componentes culturales, genéticos y fenotípicos, y que se originan como resultado de un uso, manejo y conservación continuos en aquellos nichos donde se encuentran presentes.This article rises at a first glance on the how important is to agree on an integrative concept for the diversity richness of the maize species and currently grown and preserved in different agroecological and cultural contexts of Mexico, and arises as a conceptual necessity for research project about maize and its multiple purpose uses. The article is proposed due to the current confusion between some concepts and definitions usually read and heard in academic vocabulary regarding the maize. This proposal is made from a literature review of academic documents; with an ethnoagronomic and holistic approach of conceptual integration on the use, management and conservation of maize. Classic and recent academic information was used to decipher and point out the trends in the nomenclature (concepts and definitions) used to name the types of maize currently grown. In conclusion, it is proposed that the maize grown mainly in rural communities could be called "local maize", especially those that are used from the integration of cultural, genetic and phenotypic components or that originate as a result of continuous use, management and conservation in those niches where they can be found.Fil: Guevara-Hernández, Francisco. Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas (México). Facultad de AgronomíaFil: Hernández-Ramos, Manuel Antonio. Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas (México). Facultad de IngenieríaFil: Basterrechea-Bermejo, José Luis. Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas (México). Facultad de AgronomíaFil: Pinto-Ruiz, René. Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas (México). Facultad de AgronomíaFil: Venegas-Venegas, José Apolonio. Universidad Autónoma de Chiapas (México). Facultad de AgronomíaFil: Rodríguez-Larramendi, Luis A.. Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de Chiapas (México). Facultad de IngenieríaFil: Cadena-Iñiguez, Pedro. Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias (México

Safety and Feasibility of MitraClip Implantation in Patients with Acute Mitral Regurgitation after Recent Myocardial Infarction and Severe Left Ventricle Dysfunction

Patients with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) after myocardial infarction (MI) have an increased risk of mortality. Transcatheter mitral valve repair may therefore be a suitable therapy. However, data on clinical outcomes of patients in an acute setting are scarce, especially those with reduced left ventricle (LV) dysfunction. We conducted a multinational, collaborative data analysis from 21 centers for patients who were, within 90 days of acute MI, treated with MitraClip due to severe MR. The cohort was divided according to median left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF)-35%. Included in the study were 105 patients. The mean age was 71 ± 10 years. Patients in the LVEF \u3c 35% group were younger but with comparable Euroscore II, multivessel coronary artery disease, prior MI and coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Procedure time was comparable and acute success rate was high in both groups (94% vs. 90%, p = 0.728). MR grade was significantly reduced in both groups along with an immediate reduction in left atrial V-wave, pulmonary artery pressure and improvement in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class. In-hospital and 1-year mortality rates were not significantly different between the two groups (11% vs. 7%, p = 0.51 and 19% vs. 12%, p = 0.49) and neither was the 3-month re-hospitalization rate. In conclusion, MitraClip intervention in patients with acute severe functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) due to a recent MI in an acute setting is safe and feasible. Even patients with severe LV dysfunction may benefit from transcatheter mitral valve intervention and should not be excluded

Average daily ischemic versus bleeding risk in patients with ACS undergoing PCI: Insights from the BleeMACS and RENAMI registries

Background: The risk of recurrent ischemia and bleeding after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) may vary during the first year of follow-up according to clinical presentation, and medical and interventional strategies. Methods: BleeMACS and RENAMI are 2 multicenter registries enrolling patients with ACS treated with PCI and clopidogrel, prasugrel, or ticagrelor. The average daily ischemic and bleeding risks (ADIR and ADBR) in the first year after PCI were the primary end points. The difference between ADBR and ADIR was calculated to estimate the potential excess of bleeding/ischemic events in a given period or specific subgroup. Results: A total of 19,826 patients were included. Overall, in the first year after PCI, the ADBR was 0.008085%, whereas ADIR was 0.008017% (P =.886). In the first 2 weeks ADIR was higher than ADBR (P =.013), especially in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction or incomplete revascularization. ADIR continued to be, albeit non-significantly, greater than ADBR up to the third month, whereas ADBR became higher, although not significantly, afterward. Patients with incomplete revascularization had an excess in ischemic risk (P =.003), whereas non–ST-segment elevation ACS patients and those on ticagrelor had an excess of bleeding (P =.012 and P =.022, respectively). Conclusions: In unselected ACS patients, ADIR and ADBR occurred at similar rates within 1 year after PCI. ADIR was greater than ADBR in the first 2 weeks, especially in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction patients and those with incomplete revascularization. In the first year, ADIR was higher than ADBR in patients with incomplete revascularization, whereas ADBR was higher in non–ST-segment elevation ACS patients and in those discharged on ticagrelor

Genome-wide identification of the Phaseolus vulgaris sRNAome using small RNA and degradome sequencing

Background: MiRNAs and phasiRNAs are negative regulators of gene expression. These small RNAs have been extensively studied in plant model species but only 10 mature microRNAs are present in miRBase version 21, the most used miRNA database, and no phasiRNAs have been identified for the model legume Phaseolus vulgaris. Thanks to the recent availability of the first version of the common bean genome, degradome data and small RNA libraries, we are able to present here a catalog of the microRNAs and phasiRNAs for this organism and, particularly, we suggest new protagonists in the symbiotic nodulation events.Results: We identified a set of 185 mature miRNAs, including 121 previously unpublished sequences, encoded by 307 precursors and distributed in 98 families. Degradome data allowed us to identify a total of 181 targets for these miRNAs. We reveal two regulatory networks involving conserved miRNAs: those known to play crucial roles in the establishment of nodules, and novel miRNAs present only in common bean, suggesting a specific role for these sequences. In addition, we identified 125 loci that potentially produce phased small RNAs, with 47 of them having all the characteristics of being triggered by a total of 31 miRNAs, including 14 new miRNAs identified in this study.Conclusions: We provide here a set of new small RNAs that contribute to the broader knowledge of the sRNAome of Phaseolus vulgaris. Thanks to the identification of the miRNA targets from degradome analysis and the construction of regulatory networks between the mature microRNAs, we present here the probable functional regulation associated with the sRNAome and, particularly, in N2-fixing symbiotic nodules.Peer reviewedBiochemistry and Molecular Biolog

Global urban environmental change drives adaptation in white clover

Urbanization transforms environments in ways that alter biological evolution. We examined whether urban environmental change drives parallel evolution by sampling 110,019 white clover plants from 6169 populations in 160 cities globally. Plants were assayed for a Mendelian antiherbivore defense that also affects tolerance to abiotic stressors. Urban-rural gradients were associated with the evolution of clines in defense in 47% of cities throughout the world. Variation in the strength of clines was explained by environmental changes in drought stress and vegetation cover that varied among cities. Sequencing 2074 genomes from 26 cities revealed that the evolution of urban-rural clines was best explained by adaptive evolution, but the degree of parallel adaptation varied among cities. Our results demonstrate that urbanization leads to adaptation at a global scale

Sistema para administración, búsqueda y recuperación de información bibliográfica utilizando el protocolo Z39.50

Software que implementa el protocolo Z39.50 para intercambio bibliográfico en un entorno geográfico distribuido, con interfaz de acceso a bases de datos CDS/ISIS. El sistema comprende tres componentes: Servidor Z39.50, Cliente Z39.50 y el módulo de circulación bibliográfica. Está desarrollado con tecnología JAVA para el sistema de comunicaciones Z39.50, y JAVA Server Pages para los servicios disponible en Internet. El producto permite realizar búsquedas simultáneas, pedidos y reservas en los catálogos electrónicos de las instituciones asociadas al sistema, los cuales pueden ser procesados por bibliotecarios desde su lugar de trabajo, desde cualquier computadora conectada a Internet.Ingeniero de SistemasCuenc