Influence of mitochondrial genome rearrangement on cucumber leaf carbon and nitrogen metabolism

The MSC16 cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) mitochondrial mutant was used to study the effect of mitochondrial dysfunction and disturbed subcellular redox state on leaf day/night carbon and nitrogen metabolism. We have shown that the mitochondrial dysfunction in MSC16 plants had no effect on photosynthetic CO2 assimilation, but the concentration of soluble carbohydrates and starch was higher in leaves of MSC16 plants. Impaired mitochondrial respiratory chain activity was associated with the perturbation of mitochondrial TCA cycle manifested, e.g., by lowered decarboxylation rate. Mitochondrial dysfunction in MSC16 plants had different influence on leaf cell metabolism under dark or light conditions. In the dark, when the main mitochondrial function is the energy production, the altered activity of TCA cycle in mutated plants was connected with the accumulation of pyruvate and TCA cycle intermediates (citrate and 2-OG). In the light, when TCA activity is needed for synthesis of carbon skeletons required as the acceptors for NH4+ assimilation, the concentration of pyruvate and TCA intermediates was tightly coupled with nitrate metabolism. Enhanced incorporation of ammonium group into amino acids structures in mutated plants has resulted in decreased concentration of organic acids and accumulation of Glu

The European Solar Telescope

The European Solar Telescope (EST) is a project aimed at studying the magnetic connectivity of the solar atmosphere, from the deep photosphere to the upper chromosphere. Its design combines the knowledge and expertise gathered by the European solar physics community during the construction and operation of state-of-the-art solar telescopes operating in visible and near-infrared wavelengths: the Swedish 1m Solar Telescope, the German Vacuum Tower Telescope and GREGOR, the French Télescope Héliographique pour l'Étude du Magnétisme et des Instabilités Solaires, and the Dutch Open Telescope. With its 4.2 m primary mirror and an open configuration, EST will become the most powerful European ground-based facility to study the Sun in the coming decades in the visible and near-infrared bands. EST uses the most innovative technological advances: the first adaptive secondary mirror ever used in a solar telescope, a complex multi-conjugate adaptive optics with deformable mirrors that form part of the optical design in a natural way, a polarimetrically compensated telescope design that eliminates the complex temporal variation and wavelength dependence of the telescope Mueller matrix, and an instrument suite containing several (etalon-based) tunable imaging spectropolarimeters and several integral field unit spectropolarimeters. This publication summarises some fundamental science questions that can be addressed with the telescope, together with a complete description of its major subsystems

The European Solar Telescope

The European Solar Telescope (EST) is a project aimed at studying the magnetic connectivity of the solar atmosphere, from the deep photosphere to the upper chromosphere. Its design combines the knowledge and expertise gathered by the European solar physics community during the construction and operation of state-of-the-art solar telescopes operating in visible and near-infrared wavelengths: the Swedish 1m Solar Telescope, the German Vacuum Tower Telescope and GREGOR, the French Télescope Héliographique pour l’Étude du Magnétisme et des Instabilités Solaires, and the Dutch Open Telescope. With its 4.2 m primary mirror and an open configuration, EST will become the most powerful European ground-based facility to study the Sun in the coming decades in the visible and near-infrared bands. EST uses the most innovative technological advances: the first adaptive secondary mirror ever used in a solar telescope, a complex multi-conjugate adaptive optics with deformable mirrors that form part of the optical design in a natural way, a polarimetrically compensated telescope design that eliminates the complex temporal variation and wavelength dependence of the telescope Mueller matrix, and an instrument suite containing several (etalon-based) tunable imaging spectropolarimeters and several integral field unit spectropolarimeters. This publication summarises some fundamental science questions that can be addressed with the telescope, together with a complete description of its major subsystems

Design, assembly and validation of a low-cost, high-fidelity simulator for heart exploration

Introduction: Heart exploration is an essential clinical competence that requires continuous training and exposure. Low availability and accessibility to patients with heart disease constitutes a barrier to acquiring this competence. Inadequate cardiac auscultation skills in medical students, residents, and graduate physicians have been documented. Objective: To develop and validate a low-cost, high-fidelity simulator for heart exploration. Methods: A low-cost, high-fidelity heart examination simulator capable of reproducing normal cardiac sounds was designed and developed. Subsequently, the simulator was validated by a group of experts who gave their opinion according to a Likert scale. Results: Ninety-four percent agreed that the simulator motivates the learning of heart exploration, and 92 % considered it to be a realistic model; 91 % considered that the simulator is an attractive tool to reinforce learning and 98 % recommended its further use. Conclusions: The use of the simulator facilitates the acquisition of skills and stimulates learning in the student, which can be attributed to repeated practice, longer exposure time and cognitive interaction

The rs1477196 SNP of the FTO Gene is Associated with Primary Knee Osteoarthritis in a Female Population from Northern Mexico

Background: Osteoarthritis is a frequent rheumatic disease. Some single-nucleotide polymorphisms of the gene associated with fat mass and obesity are associated with increased body mass index and knee osteoarthritis. Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the association of single nucleotide polymorphism rs1477196 of the fat mass and obesity gene with primary knee osteoarthritis. Methods: This observational and cross-sectional study included 347 Mexican participants. We performed the genotypification analysis with TaqMan® probe C_2031262_10 for rs1477196 (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Multivariate analysis included covariables such as age, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and postmenopause. Results: Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and postmenopause were associated with primary knee osteoarthritis in female participants. We did not find an association between rs1477196 and obesity. In the codominant and dominant genetic models, rs1477196 was significantly associated with primary knee osteoarthritis only in the female group, including in the model adjusted by other covariables (odds ratio = 2.517; 1.035-6.123; p = 0.042 and odds ratio = 2.387; 1.054-5.407; p = 0.037, respectively). The interaction between rs1477196 and obesity was significantly associated with primary knee osteoarthritis in female participants (p = 0.039 and p = 0.043). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the rs1477196 variant of the fat and obesity mass gene may be associated with the risk of primary knee osteoarthritis in women

Evaluación de la efectividad terapéutica y tolerabilidad del Sulglicotide (Demucine®) en pacientes con Gastritis Erosivas Crónicas y Duodenitis no Erosiva (S199)

Se evaluó la efectividad e inocuidad de Sulglicotide a la dosis de 200 mg tres veces al día durante 6 semanas en 62 pacientes con gastritis y duodenitis no ulcerosa. Las evaluaciones fueron realizadas mediante examen clínico, endoscopia y opinión por parte del médico. A la sexta semana el tratamiento produjo una disminución significativa de los escores iniciales de todos los síntomas evaluados, así como en los escores endoscópicos. Los efectos adversos observados fueron: náuseas, resequedad, mal sabor y olor en la boca, cefalea, erupciones de la piel, mareos y sensación de hambre.AbstractWe evaluated effectivity and inocuity of Sulglicotide, at dosis 200 mg three time for day for 6 weeks, in patients with diagnostic of gastritis and duodenits no ulcer.The evaluation were make through clinical, endoscopic exam, and medical opinion. The initial score for all symptom and endoscopic score lowed significantly at 6th week. The effects adverses were nauseas, mouth dry, halitosis, bad taste, headeche, rash, dizzines and hungry sensation

Genetics and cytogenetics of the potato

Tetraploid potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a genetically complex, polysomic tetraploid (2n = 4x = 48), highly heterozygous crop, which makes genetic research and utilization of potato wild relatives in breeding difficult. Notwithstanding, the potato reference genome, transcriptome, resequencing, and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping analysis provide new means for increasing the understanding of potato genetics and cytogenetics. An alternative approach based on the use of haploids (2n = 2x = 24) produced from tetraploid S. tuberosum along with available genomic tools have also provided means to get insights into natural mechanisms that take place within the genetic load and chromosomal architecture of tetraploid potatoes. This chapter gives an overview of potato genetic and cytogenetic research relevant to germplasm enhancement and breeding. The reader will encounter findings that open new doors to explore inbred line breeding in potato and strategic roads to access the diversity across the polyploid series of this crop’s genetic resources. The text includes classical concepts and explains the foundations of potato genetics and mechanisms underlying natural cytogenetics phenomena as well as their breeding applications. Hopefully, this chapter will encourage further research that will lead to successfully develop broad-based potato breeding populations and derive highly heterozygous cultivars that meet the demands of having a resilient crop addressing the threats brought by climate change