Indirect detection of light neutralino dark matter in the NMSSM

We explore the prospects for indirect detection of neutralino dark matter in supersymmetric models with an extended Higgs sector (NMSSM). We compute, for the first time, one-loop amplitudes for NMSSM neutralino pair annihilation into two photons and two gluons, and point out that extra diagrams (with respect to the MSSM), featuring a potentially light CP-odd Higgs boson exchange, can strongly enhance these radiative modes. Expected signals in neutrino telescopes due to the annihilation of relic neutralinos in the Sun and in the Earth are evaluated, as well as the prospects of detection of a neutralino annihilation signal in space-based gamma-ray, antiproton and positron search experiments, and at low-energy antideuteron searches. We find that in the low mass regime the signals from capture in the Earth are enhanced compared to the MSSM, and that NMSSM neutralinos have a remote possibility of affecting solar dynamics. Also, antimatter experiments are an excellent probe of galactic NMSSM dark matter. We also find enhanced two photon decay modes that make the possibility of the detection of a monochromatic gamma-ray line within the NMSSM more promising than in the MSSM.Comment: 26 pages, 12 figures. Updated references and corrected discussion of Upsilon decay

Incorporation of lippia citriodora microwave extract into total-green biogelatin-phospholipid vesicles to improve its antioxidant activity

Phytochemicals from Lippia citriodora leaves were extracted by applying an innovative technology based on the use of microwaves, which represents an alternative method to extract bioactive substances. The obtained extract was incorporated into phospholipid vesicles in order to promote the antioxidant effect of the bioactive molecules present in L. citriodora extract. The extract was analyzed by High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to Time-Of-Flight mass spectrometer by electrospray (HPLC-ESI-TOF-MS) and different phytochemicals were detected and quantified. The whole extract was incorporated in liposomes, glycerosomes (liposomes modified with glycerol) and propylene glycol-containing vesicles (PG-PEVs). Moreover, a biopolymer obtained from fish by-product, that is Thunnus albacares skin, was added to improve the bioactivity of the formulations. The in vitro biocompatibility and the antioxidant efficacy of the extract in solution or loaded in the vesicles were tested in primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (3T3). The results showed the superior bioactivity of the vesicle formulations over the aqueous solution of the extract, which points to an interesting strategy for the treatment of skin disorders

Local detection of microvessels in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma using relative cerebral blood volume: an imaging marker useful for astrocytoma grade 4 classification

[EN] Background The microvessels area (MVA), derived from microvascular proliferation, is a biomarker useful for high-grade glioma classification. Nevertheless, its measurement is costly, labor-intense, and invasive. Finding radiologic correlations with MVA could provide a complementary non-invasive approach without an extra cost and labor intensity and from the first stage. This study aims to correlate imaging markers, such as relative cerebral blood volume (rCBV), and local MVA in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma, and to propose this imaging marker as useful for astrocytoma grade 4 classification. Methods Data from 73 tissue blocks belonging to 17 IDH-wildtype glioblastomas and 7 blocks from 2 IDH-mutant astrocytomas were compiled from the Ivy GAP database. MRI processing and rCBV quantification were carried out using ONCOhabitats methodology. Histologic and MRI co-registration was done manually with experts' supervision, achieving an accuracy of 88.8% of overlay. Spearman's correlation was used to analyze the association between rCBV and microvessel area. Mann-Whitney test was used to study differences of rCBV between blocks with presence or absence of microvessels in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma, as well as to find differences with IDH-mutant astrocytoma samples. Results Significant positive correlations were found between rCBV and microvessel area in the IDH-wildtype blocks (p < 0.001), as well as significant differences in rCBV were found between blocks with microvascular proliferation and blocks without it (p < 0.0001). In addition, significant differences in rCBV were found between IDH-wildtype glioblastoma and IDH-mutant astrocytoma samples, being 2-2.5 times higher rCBV values in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma samples. Conclusions The proposed rCBV marker, calculated from diagnostic MRIs, can detect in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma those regions with microvessels from those without it, and it is significantly correlated with local microvessels area. In addition, the proposed rCBV marker can differentiate the IDH mutation status, providing a complementary non-invasive method for high-grade glioma classification.This work was funded by grants from the National Plan for Scientific and Technical Research and Innovation 2017-2020, No. PID2019-104978RB-I00) (JMGG); H2020-SC1-2016-CNECT Project (No. 727560) (JMGG), and H2020SC1-BHC-2018-2020 (No. 825750) (JMGG). M.A.T was supported by DPI201680054-R (Programa Estatal de Promocion del Talento y su Empleabilidad en I + D + i). EFG was supported by the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 844646. The funding body played no role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.Álvarez-Torres, MDM.; Fuster García, E.; Juan-Albarracín, J.; Reynes, G.; Aparici-Robles, F.; Ferrer Lozano, J.; Garcia-Gomez, JM. (2022). Local detection of microvessels in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma using relative cerebral blood volume: an imaging marker useful for astrocytoma grade 4 classification. BMC Cancer. 22(1):1-13. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-021-09117-411322

Conservation of native wild ivory-white olives from the MEDES islands natural reserve to maintain virgin olive oil diversity

Food diversity, and in particular genetic diversity, is being lost at an alarming rate. Protection of natural areas is crucial to safeguard the world’s threatened species. The Medes Islands (MI), located in the northwest Mediterranean Sea, are a protected natural reserve. Wild olive trees also known as oleasters make up part of the vegetation of the Meda Gran island. Among them, in 2012, a wild albino ivory-white olive tree with fruit was identified. Fruits were collected from this tree and their seeds were first sown in a greenhouse and then planted in an orchard for purposes of ex situ preservation. Seven out of the 78 seedling trees obtained (12%) produced ivory-white fruits. In autumn 2018, fruits from these trees were sampled. Although the fruits had low oil content, virgin olive oil with unique sensory, physicochemical, and stability characteristics was produced. With respect to the polyphenols content, oleacein was the main compound identified (373.29 ± 72.02 mg/kg) and the oleocanthal was the second most abundant phenolic compound (204.84 ± 52.58 mg/kg). Regarding pigments, samples were characterized by an intense yellow color, with 12.5 ± 4.6 mg/kg of chlorophyll and 9.2 ± 3.3 mg/kg of carotenoids. Finally, oleic acid was the main fatty acid identified. This study explored the resources of the natural habitat of the MI as a means of enrichment of olive oil diversity and authenticity of this traditional Mediterranean foodinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Hypothalamyc hamartomas: Different ways of clinical debut. Cases report

Los hamartomas hipotalámicos son malformaciones no neoplásicas de sustancia gris compuestas por neuronas hiperplásicas. Suelen ser lesiones pequeñas localizadas en la base del cerebro, en el piso del tercer ventrículo y, generalmente, asintomáticas. Sin embargo, pueden ocurrir con alteraciones conductuales-cognitivas, crisis epilépticas y/o signos de pubertad precoz central en función de la localización en la que se encuentren. Se presentan dos pacientes de 2 años 8 meses y 7 años, con presencia de hamartomas hipotalámicos diagnosticados tras el estudio de pubertad precoz central. La paciente de menor edad presenta, además, crisis gelásticas, típicamente asociadas a hamartomas hipotalámicos. Tras los hallazgos clínicos y radiológicos, se trataron con análogos de gonadotropinas, y se observó una regresión de los signos puberales y una no progresión del tamaño de los hamartomas. Hypothalamic hamartomas are benign tumors of gray substance composed by hyperplasic neurons. They are usually asymptomatic small masses with extensions into the third ventricular cavity. In some instances they can cause cognitive behavioral alterations, seizures and/or central precocious puberty depending on the location. Here we present two cases of central precocious puberty due to hypothalamic hamartomas at 28/12 and 7 years of age. The younger patient also presents gelastic seizures, typically associated with hypothalamic hamartomas. After the clinical and radiological findings, they started treatment with GnRH analogues and a regression of the puberty signs without progression in the hamartomas size was observed

Influence of the ripening stage and extraction conditions on the phenolic fingerprint of 'Corbella' extra-virgin olive oil

The ancient 'Corbella' olive variety from the center-north of Catalonia is being recovered to obtain quality extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) with unique organoleptic properties. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of agronomic and technical factors on the phenolic fingerprint of EVOO and to establish the optimum harvesting time and crushing and malaxation conditions for 'Corbella' olives. Therefore, three different ripening indices (0.3, 1.2, and 3.2) and three crushing temperatures (10, 18, and 25 OC) were studied. Additionally, a factorial design to optimize the phenolic concentration of the EVOO was developed, applying a range of sieve diameters (4 and 6 mm), and malaxation time (30 and 60 min) and temperature (27, 32, and 37 °C). The phenolic profile was analyzed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry in a tandem detector. The level of secoiridoids, the major phenolic compounds in the oil, was higher when using olives harvested earlier. Oleuropein aglycone and ligstroside aglycone were degraded during crushing at high temperatures, resulting in the formation of oleacein and oleocanthal. The best processing conditions in terms of total phenolic content were found to be 30 min of malaxation at 37 OC, the crushing size not having any affect. Keywords: polyphenols; malaxation; crushing size; oleocanthal; oleacei

Premature ventricular contractions in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator cardiac resynchronization therapy device: Results from the UMBRELLA registry

BACKGROUND: Premature ventricular contractions (PVC) are known to reduce the percentage of biventricular (BiV) pacing in patients with cardiac resynchronization (CRT), decreasing the clinical response. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of a high PVC burden, as well as therapeutic action (pharmacotherapy, catheter ablation or device programming), in a large CRT implantable-defibrillator (CRT-D) population. METHODS: Patients with a CRT-D device from the UMBRELLA multicenter prospective remote monitoring registry were included. The PVC count was collected from each remote monitoring transmission. Patients were divided into two high (>/=1 transmission >/=200/>/=400 PVC/h, respectively) and one low (all transmissions /=200/>/=400 PVC/h, respectively). The majority of patients in the high PVC groups were not treated (61 [79%] and 32 [74%], respectively. Considering the untreated patients in the high PVC groups, median PVC/h was 199 (interquartile range [IQR]: 196) and 271 (IQR: 330), respectively. The PVC burden (proportion of time with PVC/h >/= 200/>/=400) was 40% (IQR 70) and 29% (IQR 59), respectively. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of CRT-D patients presented a high PVC count, however, few received treatment. In the untreated patients with a high PVC count, the PVC burden during follow-up varied substantially. Several consecutive recordings of a high PVC count should be warranted before considering therapeutic action such as catheter ablation

Clinical and immunological characteristics of tegumentary leishmaniasis cases in Bolivia

Background Tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) is a parasitic disease that can present a cutaneous or mucocutaneous clinical form (CL and MCL, respectively). The disease is caused by different Leishmania species and transmitted by phlebotomine sand flies. Bolivia has one of the highest incidences of the disease in South America and the diagnosis is done by parasitological techniques. Our aim was to describe the clinical and immunological characteristics of CL and MCL patients attending the leishmaniasis reference center in Cochabamba, Bolivia, in order to gain updated clinical and epidemiological information, to evaluate the diagnostic methods used and to identify biomarkers related to clinical disease and its evolution. Methodology/Principal findings The study was conducted from September 2014 to November 2015 and 135 patients with lesions compatible with CL or MCL were included. Epidemiological and clinical data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Two parasitological diagnostic methods were used: Giemsa-stained smears and culture of lesion aspirates. Blood samples obtained from participants were used to measure the concentrations of different cytokines. 59.2% (80/135) were leishmaniasis confirmed cases (CL: 71.3%; MCL: 28.7%). Sixty percent of the confirmed cases were positive by smears and 90.6% were positive by culture. 53.8% were primo-infections. Eotaxin and monokine induced by IFN-γ presented higher serum concentrations in the MCL clinical presentation compared to CL cases and no-cases. None of the cytokines presented different concentrations between primo-infections and secondary infections due to treatment failure. Conclusions/Significance In Bolivia, parasitological diagnosis remains the reference standard in diagnosis of leishmaniasis because of its high specificity, whereas the sensitivity varies over a wide range leading to loss of cases. Until more accurate tools are implemented, all patients should be tested by both smears and culture of lesion aspirates to minimize the risk of false negatives. Our results showed higher concentrations of several cytokines in MCL compared to CL, but no differences were observed between CL and no-cases. In addition, none of the cytokines differed between primary and secondary infections. These results highlight the need of further research to identify biomarkers of susceptibility and disease progression, in addition to looking at the local cellular immune responses in the lesions