Canalopatías en la epilepsia idiopática monogénica en perros

Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder both dogs and humans. Nevertheless, unlike occurs in humans, in dogs it is a badly characterized disease. In humans, it is known from some time ago, that some idiopathic epilepsies present patterns of mendelian inheritance, i.e., caused by the mutation in single genes. The majority of these mutations are in genes codifying by ion channels, being consider as channelopathies. In dogs, the predisposition of some breeds to suffer the disease has aimed to some research groups to study the hereditary basis of idiopathic epilepsy. This review summarizes some aspects relating to the interest to tackle the study of channelopathies in monogenic idiopathic epilepsy in dogs and shows its potential as future diagnostic or therapeutic targets.La epilepsia es una alteración neurológica común tanto en perros como en personas. Sin embargo, al contrario de lo que ocurre en estos últimos, en los perros es una enfermedad mal caracterizada. En personas, se conoce desde hace tiempo que algunas epilepsias idiopáticas, presentan patrones de herencia mendeliana, es decir, causadas por la mutación en un único gen. La mayoría de estas mutaciones ocurren en genes que codifican para canales iónicos, por lo que son consideradas como canalopatías. En perros, la predisposición de algunas razas a padecer la enfermedad ha animado a algunos grupos de investigación a estudiar los patrones de herencia de la epilepsia idiopática. Esta revisión resume algunos aspectos relativos al interés de abordar el estudio de la implicación de canalopatías en la epilepsia idiomática monogénica en perros y presenta su potencial como futuras dianas tanto de diagnóstico como terapéuticas

Effect of forcing vine regrowth on 'Tempranillo' (Vitis vinifera L.) berry development and quality in Extremadura

In warmer regions, fruit ripening in the wine grape tends to take place during the hottest part of the growing season. This can have negative consequences on the qualitative characteristics of the grape berries at harvest. Forcing vines to regrow can be an aggressive but effective technique to delay the harvest date, but needs to be evaluated carefully in each growing condition. In 2017, in an experimental vineyard in Extremadura, forcing was conducted 3 (F1 treatment) and 22 (F2 treatment) days after anthesis (May 18 and June 6) by hedging growing shoots to seven nodes and removing summer laterals, leaves and primary clusters. Vines grown using conventional practices were used for the Control treatment. Forcing delayed the harvest date from August 22 (Control) to September 14 (F1) and October 19 (F2). Shifting the berry growth period modified the duration of the different fruit development stages. Compared to the Control treatment, the F1 and F2 berries were smaller at harvest, but had similar skin weight percentages; however, the seed weight percentage of the F2 berries was higher. The differences in grape composition observed at harvest between the various treatments were further accentuated in the wines. At harvest, the F2 berries had significantly higher total polyphenol and anthocyanin content than the Control and F1 berries, which had similar values. In the wines, both F1 and F2 characteristics differed considerably from the Control, most notably in the high F2 tannin concentration. These preliminary results from the first year of study indicate the potential of this technique to obtain wine grapes with very different characteristics, offering new viticultural perspectives in warm climate areas

Cognitive performance profiles by latent classes of drug use

Background and Objectives: The relationship between substance use and cognitive deficits is complex and requires innovative methods to enhance understanding. The present study is the first to use LCA to examine associations of drug use patterns with cognitive performance. Methods: Cocaine/heroin users (N = 552) completed questionnaires, and cognitive measures. LCA identified classes based on past-month drug use and adjusted for probabilities of group membership when examining cognitive performance. Latent indicators were: alcohol (ALC), cigarettes (CIG), marijuana (MJ), crack smoking (CS), nasal heroin (NH), injection cocaine (IC), injection heroin (IH), and injection speedball (IS). Age and education were included as covariates in model creation. Results: Bootstrap likelihood ratio test (BLRT) supported a 5-class model. Prevalent indicators (estimated probability of over 50%) for each class are as follows: “Older Nasal Heroin/Crack Smokers” (ONH/CS, n = 166.9): ALC, CIG, NH, CS; “Older, Less Educated Polysubstance” (OLEP, n = 54.8): ALC, CIG, CS, IH, IC, and IS; “Younger Multi-Injectors” (MI, n = 128.7): ALC, CIG, MJ, IH, IC, and IS; “Less Educated Heroin Injectors” (LEHI, n = 87.4): CIG, IH; and “More Educated Nasal Heroin” users (MENH, n = ALC, CIG, NH. In general, all classes performed worse than established norms and older, less educated classes performed worse, with the exception that MENH demonstrated worse cognitive flexibility than YMI. Discussion and Conclusions: This study demonstrated novel applications of a methodology for examining complicated relationships between polysubstance use and cognitive performance. Scientific Significance: Education and/or nasal heroin use are associated with reduced cognitive flexibility in this sample of inner city drug users

Neurocognitive signatures of phonemic sequencing in expert backward speakers

Despite its prolific growth, neurolinguistic research on phonemic sequencing has largely neglected the study of individuals with highly developed skills in this domain. To bridge this gap, we report multidimensional signatures of two experts in backward speech, that is, the capacity to produce utterances by reversing the order of phonemes while retaining their identity. Our approach included behavioral assessments of backward and forward speech alongside neuroimaging measures of voxel-based morphometry, diffusion tensor imaging, and resting-state functional connectivity. Relative to controls, both backward speakers exhibited behavioral advantages for reversing words and sentences of varying complexity, irrespective of working memory skills. These patterns were accompanied by increased grey matter volume, higher mean diffusivity, and enhanced functional connectivity along dorsal and ventral stream regions mediating phonological and other linguistic operations, with complementary support of areas subserving associative-visual and domain-general processes. Still, the specific loci of these neural patterns differed between both subjects, suggesting individual variability in the correlates of expert backward speech. Taken together, our results offer new vistas on the domain of phonemic sequencing, while illuminating neuroplastic patterns underlying extraordinary language abilities

Circulating cell-free DNA is a predictor of short-term neurological outcome in stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis

Altres ajuts: This work has been funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III, grant FIS PI15/354, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). AB is supported by a Rio Hortega contract CM13/00265 from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III.Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been described as a prognostic marker for several diseases. Its prognostic value for short-term outcome in stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis remains unexplored. cfDNA was measured on admission in 54 tissue plasminogen activator (tPA)-treated patients and 15 healthy controls using a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Neurological outcome was assessed at 48 h. Predictors of neurological improvement were evaluated by logistic regression analysis, and the additional predictive value of cfDNA over clinical variables was determined by integrated discrimination improvement (IDI). Stroke patients presented higher baseline cfDNA than healthy controls (408.5 (179-700.5) vs. 153.5 (66.9-700.5) kilogenome-equivalents/L, p = 0.123). A trend towards lower cfDNA levels was found in patients who neurologically improved at 48 h (269.5 (143.3-680) vs. 504 (345.9-792.3) kilogenome-equivalents/L, p = 0.130). In logistic regression analysis, recanalization at 1 h and cfDNA < 302.75 kilogenome-equivalents/L was independently associated with neurological improvement after adjustment by age, gender and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score. The addition of cfDNA to the clinical predictive model improved its discrimination (IDI = 21.2% (9.2-33.3%), p = 0.009). These data suggest that cfDNA could be a surrogate marker for monitoring tPA efficacy by the prediction of short-term neurological outcome

Harnessing the gatekeepers of glucocorticoids for chemoprevention of non-melanoma skin cancer

Despite effective surgical methods for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC), patients suffer from tissue damage, scarring, or even disfigurement; thus, there is a need for chemopreventive approaches. Because of the complex interplay between glucocorticoids (GCs), inflammation, and cancer, we sought to determine the role of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (11βHSD1 and 2) in regulating GCs during skin cancer development and progression. 11βHSDs modulate the activation of GCs in a tissue-specific manner and have been reported to play a role in development and progression of other types of cancer, but their role has not yet been reported in NMSC. Here, we found a significant upregulation of 11βHSD2 protein in skin cancer cells when compared to normal skin cells, suggesting a role for this enzyme in the multifactorial process of skin cancer development. In addition, inhibition of 11βHSD2 with siRNA resulted in significant reduction in colony formation in vitro. Finally, our in vivo study elucidated that inhibition of 11βHSD2 with pharmacological inhibitor, Glycyrrhetinic acid (GA) could significantly diminish tumorigenesis in a well-studied in vivo mouse model of NMSC. Overall, these studies highlight for the first time a potential novel role for 11βHSD2 in NMSC development and may allow for new GC treatment approaches capable of avoiding deactivation by the enzyme. If 11βHSD2 can be inhibited as we have done here, or circumvented using modified GCs, this may lead to more efficacious outcomes for NMSC patients by preventing deactivation of the GC and minimizing resistance

Estudio comparativo de resistencia aeróbica y anaeróbica en jugadores de baloncesto en función de la metodología de entrenamiento

The aim of this investigation is identifying the differences between aerobic and anaerobic capacities in players. They are training with different methodologies. Therefore, it is necessary to know how are the physiological and cinematic request of the trainings.The design of this investigation can be classified as a manipulative strategy. It is inside of studies about empirical nature of cuasiexperimental type, where you can examinate the differences between groups: Design of not equal groups. The people group of the study are two basketball teams. They train with differents methodologies but they have the same time to practise and the same material too.Regarding the results, there are some differences between aerobic and anaerobic events of the teams. In this way, it is superior the team with comprehensive methodology.In this case, you can affirm that training with a comprehensive methodology causes the best results as aerobic and anaerobic endurance. El objetivo de este trabajo es identificar las diferencias en la capacidad aeróbica y anaeróbica de jugadores en período de formación, que son entrenados con metodologías diferentes. Por ello, es necesario conocer como son las demandas fisiológicas y cinemáticas de los entrenamientos.El diseño de esta investigación se puede enmarcar bajo una estrategia manipulativa, dentro de los estudios de naturaleza empírica de tipo cuasiexperimental donde se busca examinar las diferencias entre grupos, Diseño de Grupos No Equivalentes.La población del estudio son dos equipos de baloncesto que entrenan bajo diferentes metodologías pero que disponen del mismo tiempo de entrenamiento y material.En cuanto a los resultados que se obtienen, se encuentran diferencias en la prueba aeróbica y anaeróbica entre los equipos, siendo superior el equipo bajo enfoque comprensivo.En este caso, se puede afirmar que entrenar bajo una metodología comprensiva provoca mejores resultados tanto en Resistencia Aeróbica como en Anaeróbica

Influência da carga competitiva no basquetebol formativo de acordo com o tempo de jogo

Este trabajo ha sido parcialmente subvencionado por la Ayuda a los Grupos de Investigación (GR18170) del Gobierno de Extremadura (Consejería de Empleo, Empresa e Innovación); con la aportación de la Unión Europea a través de los Fondos Europeos de Desarrollo Regional.Resumen: Introducción: En baloncesto, la cuantificación de la carga en competición es una herramienta muy utilizada por entrenadores con el fin de definir objetivos y controlar la evolución de los jugadores. Aun así, los jugadores no participan del mismo modo durante la competición, existiendo jugadores con un estímulo de minutos superior al de otros. Objetivos: Conocer como varía la demanda física de la competición en función del tiempo de participación en el juego de cada deportista. Métodos: Se analizaron 12 partidos de competición de baloncesto femenino de formación U18, dónde se registró la carga cinemática a través de la distancia recorrida, número de sprines, aceleraciones y deceleraciones, impactos, saltos y PlayerLoad. Todas estas variables se analizaron en función de la carga de minutos (1-10’, 10-20’, 20-30’ y de 30-40’). Los datos fueron recogidos a partir de tecnología de banda ultra ancha (UWB) y dispositivos inerciales (WIMUTM). Resultados y discusión: Se observa una línea ascendente en todas las variables analizadas al incrementar el tiempo de juego. Sin embargo, analizando las variables ponderadas al minuto (número de acciones por minuto) se identifica una disminución del rendimiento final cuando las jugadoras se mantienen en pista más de 30 minutos. Conclusiones: Se ha diferenciado la carga competitiva en función de los minutos de juego, permitiendo reestructurar el tiempo entre las jugadoras de un equipo con el objetivo conseguir un rendimiento físico óptimo durante todo el partidoAbstract: Introduction: In basketball, the quantification of the load in competition is a tool widely used by coaches in order to define objectives and control the evolution of the players. Even so, players do not participate in the same way during the competition, there being players with a stimulus of minutes superior to others. Aim: To know how the physical demand of the competition varies depending on the time of participation in each athlete's game. Methods: 12 games of women's U18 basketball competition were analyzed, where the kinematic load was recorded through distance perform, number of sprints, accelerations and decelerations, impacts, jumps and PlayerLoad. All these variables were analyzed according to the load of minutes (1-10 ', 10-20', 20-30 'and 30-40'). The data was collected from Ultra Wide Band (UWB) and inertial devices (WIMUTM). Results & discussion: An ascending line is observed in all the analyzed variables when increasing the playing time. However, analyzing the weighted variables at minute (number of actions per minute) a decrease in the final performance is identified when the players stay on the track for more than 30 minutes. Conclusions: The competitive load has been differentiated according to the minutes of the game, allowing to restructure the time between the players of a team with the aim of achieving optimal physical performance throughout the game.Resumo: Introdução: No basquete, a quantificação da carga na competição é uma ferramenta amplamente utilizada pelos treinadores para definir objetivos e controlar a evolução dos jogadores. Mesmo assim, os jogadores não participam da mesma forma durante a competição, havendo jogadores com um estímulo de minutos superior aos demais. Objetivos: Saber como a demanda física da competição varia de acordo com o tempo de participação no jogo de cada atleta. Métodos: foram analisados 12 jogos de basquete de treinamento feminino U18, onde a carga cinemática foi registrada através da distância percorrida, número de sprints, acelerações e desacelerações, impactos, saltos e PlayerLoad. Todas essas variáveis foram analisadas de acordo com a carga de minutos (1-10 ', 10-20', 20-30 'e 30-40'). Os dados foram coletados em banda larga ultra larga (UWB) e dispositivos inerciais (WIMUTM). Resultados e discussão: Uma linha ascendente é observada em todas as variáveis analisadas ao aumentar o tempo de jogo. No entanto, analisando as variáveis ponderadas no minuto (número de ações por minuto), uma diminuição no desempenho final é identificada quando os jogadores permanecem na pista por mais de 30 minutos. Conclusões: A carga competitiva foi diferenciada de acordo com os minutos de jogo, permitindo reestruturar o tempo entre os jogadores de uma equipe com o objetivo de atingir um desempenho físico ótimo durante todo o jogo