Study of Aspergillus fumigatus pathogenicity and identification of putative virulence genes

246 p.Aspergillus fumigatus is considered to be the most prevalent airborne pathogenic fungus. lts infection begins with conidial germination in lungs where different types of aspergillosis can be developed. In profoundly immunocompromised individuals this pathogen can even disseminate via the bloodstream, resulting in a disseminated disease in which other organs might be infected. With the airo of improving our understanding of the pathogenicity mechanisms, a new expression microarray covering the entire genome of A. fumigatus was designed to analyze its transcriptome at the first steps of germination and along a disseminated infection. According to transcriptomic results, essential elements such as nitrogen, iron and zinc seemed to be available enough during the infection, raising doubts about the potential of metal uptake systems as therapeutic or diagnostic methods. However, genes involved in carbohydrate and secondary metabolism, and even those encoding unclassified and hypothetical proteins, stood out as indispensable pathways for extending the infection. This study also allowed the identification of genes whose expressions were enhanced along the infectious process and the implication in virulence of two of them was studied. The deletion of the abrl/ brownl gene developed an isolate with an increase in cell damage, suggesting that this knockout might produce and secrete a toxic intermediate. On the contrary, when a transcription factor was deleted a decrease in cell damage was observed, highlighting its implication in A. fumigatus pathogenecity. Nevertheless, more studies need to be done to assess whether any of them show attenuation in virulence and to shed light on the biological functions they are involved, which could lead to identify potentially targets to develop diagnostic or treatment strategies

La formación de profesorado AICLE. Un estudio de la Universidad de Alcalá

CLIL has gained prominence in the field of Second Language teaching in Spain due to the complex challenges the educational system has to face. In Madrid, amongst other training schemes, Secondary school teachers can attend English language courses at Madrid public universities in order to improve their level of English to pass the obligatory exam, which qualifies them to teach in the regional government’s CLIL project. Although CLIL has been placed at the centre of the intellectual debate, little attention has been given to the study of this linguistic training phase. This paper aims to contribute to fill this gap by examining the training programme at Alcalá University hoping to revise the perceptions of the agents involved in this type of courses for bilingual teachers.AICLE ha ganado importancia en el ámbito de la adquisición de segundas lenguas en España debido a los complejos desafíos a los que el sistema educativo tiene que enfrentarse. En la Comunidad de Madrid, entre los distintos programas de formación existentes, el profesorado de secundaria puede asistir a cursos de inglés en las universidades públicas madrileñas con el propósito de superar la prueba de acreditación para formar parte del proyecto “bilingüe”. Aunque AICLE se haya situado en el centro del debate intelectual, se ha prestado poca atención al estudio de esta fase de formación lingüística. En este sentido, este trabajo pretende contribuir a cubrir este vacío examinando el programa formativo en la Universidad de Alcalá mediante la revisión de las percepciones de los agentes implicados en la formación lingüística de los profesores bilingües

Factores limitantes en el desarrollo empresarial de la Tour Operadora Wayman Tours Vacations, ubicada en Managua Departamento de Nicaragua en el período de Septiembre 2014 a Junio 2015

La presente investigación consiste en conocer los factores limitantes en el desarrollo empresarial de la tour operadora Wayman Tours ubicada en la ciudad de Managua realizado con el fin de apoyar el desarrollo de dicha empresa en el sector turístico y así proponer estrategias que le sirvan de apoyo en un fututo para su mejor desempeño empresarial, considerando la falta de estudios relacionados al sector de intermediación turística. El enfoque metodológico de este estudio es cualitativo, el método de abordaje es descriptivo ya que la modalidad de estudio es describir los factores que limitan el desarrollo empresarial, según su amplitud es de corte transversal, se llevó a cabo en el período de Septiembre 2014 a Junio2015. En informe está compuesto por cuatro capítulos, el primero de caracterización general de la empresa, describiendo básicamente el funcionamiento actual de la misma, el segundo es un análisis FODA que refleja la situación interna y externa de la operadora y orienta las propuestas de mejoras, el tercer capítulo presenta los factores que han limitado el desarrollo de Wayman Tour y el cuarto es una propuesta de estrategias concretas que ayudaran a mejorar el funcionamiento de la empres

Evaluation of the Effect of Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 on Gastrointestinal Infections in Infants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Reducing the incidence of gastrointestinal infections (GIs) that occur at early stages to mitigate hospitalizations and treatments with adverse effects is a promising strategy for providing well-being to infants and their families. This systematic review and meta-analysis explores whether the early administration of Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 might be effective as a preventive therapy for GIs. We reviewed the literature to identify randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating the effectiveness of milk formulas supplemented with L. fermentum CECT5716 administered to infants at early stages to reduce the incidence of GIs. The MEDLINE (via PubMed), Web of Science (WoS), and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (via CENTRAL) databases were searched up to 15 June 2021. GI data from the included studies were synthesized in a random-effects model. Three RCTs were finally selected including 435 infants. There was a significant reduction in the incidence rate of GIs for those receiving L. fermentum CECT5716 compared with those receiving placebo (IRR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.36–0.74, p = 0.0004). Heterogeneity between studies was moderate (I2 = 54.5%). Based on the present systematic review and meta-analysis, the administration of L. fermentum CECT5716 at doses from 1 × 109 to 8.4 × 108 cfu/day in milk formulas may prevent GIs in infants up to 12 months old. Longer-term studies including a higher number of infants are needed to determine whether the use of this probiotic during the early stages of life is an efficient way to reduce the incidence of GIs

Seguridad del baño intrahospitalario tardío en recién nacidos

Introducción. Los cuidados esenciales en las primeras horas de vida extrauterina de un neonato pueden contribuir en la disminución de la incidencia de morbilidad y mortalidad. Las recomendaciones para el cuidado en la primera semana de vida incluyen mejora en las prácticas del cuidado térmico como secado, contacto piel con piel, alimentación al seno materno inmediata y retraso en el baño. Existe controversia relacionada con la frecuencia de baño en los recién nacidos hospitalizados para disminuir el riesgo de colonización de flora nociva y que ésta predisponga a infecciones locales y sistémicas. En nuestra institución no está estandarizado la frecuencia del baño rutinario en pacientes hospitalizados en la UCIN. El objetivo de este estudio es poder unificar el protocolo de nuestra institución basado en evidencia para disminuir la presencia de sepsis secundaria a falta de higiene en el neonato, o disminuir la presencia de estrés en el recién nacido secundaria al baño aumentando el intervalo entre el primero y segundo baño. Objetivo. Correlacionar la colonización bacteriana de la región del cuello con presencia de sepsis, signos de respuesta inflamatoria sistémica, o infecciones locales, en neonatos con indicación de baño diario contra baño cada 3 días en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales en el Hospital Universitario “Dr. José Eleuterio González” de la UANL. Material y Métodos. Ensayo clínico, aleatorizado, prospectivo. Se incluyeron 32 neonatos mayores de 34 semanas de gestación, atendidos en la Unidad de Cuidados Intermedios Neonatales en el Hospital Universitario en el periodo comprendido del 1 de octubre del 2018 al 28 de febrero del 2019. Se dividieron en 2 grupos, en ambos grupos se tomará un cultivo basal en la región del cuello al momento del ingreso, posteriormente se realizará el primer baño y a los 30 minutos se tomará un segundo cultivo. El grupo control se bañó cada 24 horas y el grupo intervención cada 3 días, utilizando la técnica de baño de esponja. En todos los pacientes, se tom un tercer cultivo a los 3 días, antes del baño y un cuarto cultivo 30 minutos después del baño. Resultados. Se incluyeron un total de 34 pacientes, 17 en el grupo baño diario y 17 en el grupo de baño cada 3 días. No hubo diferencia significativa al comparar las variables maternas y los datos demográficos del recién nacido. La media de edad gestacional fue de 38 semanas de gestación. Los diagnósticos de ingreso que se reportaron fueron policitemia 47% de la población general (n=16), parto fortuito 26% (n=9), ictericia 9% (n=3), síndrome de dificultad respiratoria 9% (n=3), prematurez, retraso en el crecimiento intrauterino, e hiperplasia suprarrenal. En todos se descartó un proceso de infección al momento del ingreso. Así mismo, se encuentro significancia estadística en el diagnóstico de ingreso por síndrome de dificultad respiratoria ya que todos los pacientes con este diagnóstico fueron del grupo intervención. En los cuatro cultivos el germen que se registró fue el S. coagulasa negativo y de los gérmenes patógenos más frecuentemente reportados fue E. coli, S. aureus, Streptococcus grupo B y E. faecalis; sin embargo, al compararlos entre los 2 grupos no hubo una diferencia estadísticamente significativa. Y ninguno de los pacientes desarrollo un proceso de sepsis durante su estancia hospitalaria. Conclusiones. No hubo diferencias en la presencia de flora saprófita ni flora patógena que coloniza la piel de la región del cuello entre ambos grupos, los principales microorganismos encontrados fueron Staphylococos coagulasa negativa, Staphylococos Aureus y E. Coli. Los hallazgos en este estudio sugieren que no presenta un mayor riesgo de infección cutánea o sistémica en los neonatos hospitalizados que presenten flora patógena en su estrato córneo. Se requiere hacer una mayor cantidad de muestra para evitar un error tipo II

Beneficial Effects of Limosilactobacillus fermentum CECT 5716 Administration to Infants Delivered by Cesarean Section

Cesarean section (CS) disrupts the natural microbiota colonization process in infants, which might compromise immune system maturation, leading to a higher risk of infections. We evaluated the effect of the probiotic Limosilactobacillus (L.) fermentum CECT 5716 on the incidence of gastrointestinal and respiratory infections in the CS infant subgroups (n = 173) of three randomized clinical trials in which this probiotic strain was demonstrated to be safe and effective for preventing infections. Therefore, the data for the CS infants were extracted to obtain the incidence rate ratio (IRR) and 95% CI for gastrointestinal and respiratory infections for each study and were then combined to obtain a pooled IRR and 95% CI using the generic inverse variance method. There was a significant reduction of 73% in the incidence of gastrointestinal infections in CS infants receiving L. fermentum CECT 5716 compared with those receiving the control formula [n = 173, IRR: 0.27 (0.13, 0.53), p = 0.0002]. Regarding respiratory infections, although pooled results showed a reduction of 14% in the probiotic group, the difference was not statistically significant [n = 173, IRR (95% CI): 0.86 (0.67, 1.11), p = 0.25]. In conclusion, the administration of L. fermentum CECT 5716 to CS-born infants protects them from gastrointestinal infections by reducing the risk by up to 73% in this population

MIS PRIMEROS AÑOS COMO PROFESOR

El 18 de septiembre de 1972 se funda la Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEM). El primer coordinador de la carrera fue Humberto Gómez Escamilla, médico veterinario egresado de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) ―lo de Zootecnista se añadiría años después―; más adelante llegaría a ser director

Docosahexaenoic and Eicosapentaenoic Intervention Modifies Plasma and Erythrocyte Omega-3 Fatty Acid Profiles But Not the Clinical Course of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Control Trial

This work was supported by the Maternal-Infant and Developmental Health Network (SAMID), RETICS Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain (Red SAMID RD12/0022/0003).Background: The pathogenesis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is under investigation and one of the main alterations relates to the metabolic and inflammatory system dysfunctions. Indeed, based on a possible deficit of omega-3 fatty acids (FAs) of patients with ASD and looking for an anti-inflammatory effect, dietary supplements with omega-3 fatty acids have been proposed. We aimed to evaluate differences in plasma and erythrocyte FA profiles and plasma cytokines in patients with infantile ASD after supplementation with docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids or placebo and both compared at baseline with a reference healthy group. Methods: A double-blind, randomized placebo-controlled intervention with DHA/EPA for 6 months was carried out in 54 children between 2 and 6 years diagnosed with ASD. They were selected and randomly assigned into two groups: 19 children received 800 mg/day of DHA and 25 mg/day of EPA, or placebo. In addition, another reference group of 59 healthy children of the same age was included. Plasma lipids and cytokines, and FA profiles in plasma and erythrocytes were measured at baseline and after 6 months of treatment in ASD children, and at baseline in the reference group. Results: There were no differences in demographic, anthropometric characteristics, and omega-3 intake between the healthy reference group and the ASD children at baseline. Children with ASD showed the higher plasma percentages of palmitic acid and total saturated FA and lower total omega-6 polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) compared with healthy children. An increased level of DHA and reduced EPA level in erythrocytes were detected in the ASD group vs. the reference group. After 6 months of treatment, the ASD group that received DHA enriched product significantly increased the plasma and erythrocyte percentages of DHA, but no differences were observed in the clinical test scores and other parameters as plasma cytokines between the two groups of ASD related to the intervention. Conclusion: Spanish children with ASD exhibit an appropriate omega-3 FA status in plasma and erythrocytes. Neither a clinical improvement of ASD children nor a better anti-inflammatory or fatty acid state has been found after an intervention with DHA/EPA for 6 months. So, the prescription of n-3 LC-PUFA and other dietary supplements in ASD should be only indicated after a confirmed alteration of FA metabolism or omega-3 LC-PUFA deficiency evaluated by specific erythrocyte FA.Maternal-Infant and Developmental Health Network (SAMID)RETICS Carlos III Health Institute (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain Red SAMID RD12/0022/000

Influence of alcohol consumption on hydration status in healthy adults

INTRODUCTION: Osmolality and water intake are considered key biomarkers of the hydration status, which is necessary for an adequate cellular homeostasis and life. However, alcohol intake has shown to affect the hydration status via its diuretic effects. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of alcohol consumption on the hydration status of healthy men and women. METHODOLOGY: This study was performed in 123 adults (25-45 y., 69% women). Blood samples were collected to analyze osmolality levels, and a 72 h-recall was used to asses total water intake (TWI)(drinking water, liquids and solid food), liquids intake (soft drinks, juices, milk, beer, wine and spirits) and alcohol intake (gr). U-Man Whitney test was performed to analyse differences between sexes and correlations were performed with the Spearman test adjusted by sex. RESULTS: Men consumed insufficient TWI (2190.2 mL) as EFSA recommendations claim (for men=2,5 L/day), but without statistics differences with women (2213.9 mL). Men showed statistically higher levels of osmolality and liquids intake than women (P<0.05), in particular from beer and spirits consumption, and consequently, the general intake of alcoholic beverages was higher (P<0.05). Thus, osmolality levels correlated positively with alcohol and beer (P<0.05) and with a tendency with alcoholic beverages (P=0.065), which was not observed in women. CONCLUSION: Since men showed lower water intake and higher levels of osmolality, which are related to alcohol intake, a better hydration status might be achieved with a shift in the pattern of liquids by favouring drinking water.Coca-ColaPeer Reviewe

Synergistic Neuroprotective Effects of a Natural Product Mixture against AD Hallmarks and Cognitive Decline in Caenorhabditis elegans and an SAMP8 Mice Model

The study of different natural products can provide a wealth of bioactive compounds, and more interestingly, their combination can exert a new strategy for several neurodegenerative diseases with major public health importance, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we investigated the synergistic neuroprotective effects of a mixed extract composed of docosahexaenoic acid, Ginkgo biloba, D-pinitol, and ursolic acid in several transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) and a senescence-accelerated prone mice 8 (SAMP8) model. First, we found a significantly higher survival percentage in the C. elegans group treated with the natural product mixture compared to the single extract-treated groups. Likewise, we found a significantly increased lifespan in group of C. elegans treated with the natural product mixture compared to the other groups, suggesting synergistic effects. Remarkably, we determined a significant reduction in Aβ plaque accumulation in the group of C. elegans treated with the natural product mixture compared to the other groups, confirming synergy. Finally, we demonstrated better cognitive performance in the group treated with the natural product mixture in both AD models (neuronal Aβ C. elegans strain CL2355 and the SAMP8 mice model), confirming the molecular results and unraveling the synergist effects of this combination. Therefore, our results proved the potential of this new natural product mixture for AD therapeutic strategies