Notas sobre la distribución de Brasenia schreberi (Cabombaceae) en el Neotrópico, con un nuevo registro para Costa Rica

La investigación contó con el patrocinio de la Sra. Myrna Stewart y la Sra. Amanda Bennett.We studied herbarium specimens of Brasenia schreberi from the Neotropics in order to describe the distribution pattern of the species across the region. Also, we report the first records of B. schreberi for Costa Rica. We confirm that B. schreberi has a sporadic pattern of distribution in the region and also in most neotropical countries where it has been collected. For this reason and because of its apparent disappearance from some localities, we recommend B. schreberi to be considered Vulnerable in the Neotropics.Estudiamos especímenes de herbario de Brasenia schreberi recolectados en el Neotrópico para describir el patrón de distribución de la especie en la región. Además, registramos aquí por primera vez la presencia de B. schreberi en Costa Rica. Podemos confirmar que B. schreberi tiene un patrón de distribución esporádico en la región y también en la mayoría de los países neotropicales donde se ha recolectado. Por esta razón, y por su aparente desaparición de algunas localidades, recomendamos que B. schreberi se considere como Vulnerable en el Neotrópico.Universidad de Costa Rica/[111-C0-255]/UCR/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Ciencias Básicas::Facultad de Ciencias::Escuela de BiologíaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Ecología Tropical (CIBET

Predation impact on threatened spur-thighed tortoises by golden eagles when main prey is scarce

A reduction in adult survival in long-living species may compromise population growth rates. The spur-thighed tortoise (Testudo graeca) is a long-lived reptile that is threatened by habitat loss and fragmentation. Golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos), whose breeding habitats overlap that of tortoises, may predate them by dropping them onto rocks and breaking their carapaces. In SE Spain, the number of golden eagles has increased in the last decades and the abundance of their main prey (i.e., rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus) has decreased. Our aims were to 1) describe the role of tortoises in golden eagles’ diet, and 2) estimate the predation impact of golden eagles on tortoises in eagles’ territories and in the regional tortoise population. We collected regurgitated pellets and prey remains under eagle nests and roosts, and obtained information on tortoise abundance and population structure and rabbit abundance. We found that tortoises were an alternative prey to rabbits, so that eagles shifted to the former where the latter were scarce. The average predation rate on tortoises was very low at the two studied scales. However, eagles showed a marked selection for adult female tortoises, which led the tortoise sex ratio to be biased towards males in those eagle territories with higher tortoise predation. Whether this may compromise the spur-thighed tortoise long-term population viability locally deserves further attention.Much information on the spur-thighed tortoise populations and the regional abundance model was obtained with Projects CGL2012-33536 and CGL2015-64144 funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and the European Regional Development Fund, Grant PID2019-105682RA-I00, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and AICO/2021/145 funded by the Regional Valencian Government. MM was supported by a Ramón y Cajal research contract from MINECO (RYC-2015-19231), MCM by a pre-doctoral grant of the Spanish Ministry of Science (FPU1700633), and RCRC by a postdoctoral grant funded by the Regional Valencian Government (APOSTD/2020/090) and by the European Union-Next Generation EU in the Maria Zambrano Program (ZAMBRANO 21-26). The Dirección General de Gestión del Medio Natural of Andalusian Government (SGB/FOA/AFR) and the Dirección General de Medio Natural of the Murcia Region authorised and facilitated the sampling of golden eagle territories (AUF20140061) and the spur-thighed tortoise populations (SGYB/AF/DBP, SGYB/AFR/DBP, AUF20160056, AUF20140057)

Multiple Sclerosis and Its Relationship with Oxidative Stress, Glutathione Redox System, ATPase System, and Membrane Fluidity

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with a focus on inflammation, demyelination, and damage to axons leading to neurological deficits. MS pathology is associated with excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) and generation of reactive nitrogen species (RNS), causing oxidative/nitrosative stress. Deregulation of glutathione homeostasis and alterations in glutathione‐dependent enzymes are implicated in MS. Reactive oxygen species enhance both monocyte adhesion and migration across brain endothelial cells. In addition, ROS can activate the expression of the nuclear transcription factor‐kappa, which upregulates the expression of many genes involved in MS, such as tumor necrosis factor‐α and nitric oxide synthase, among others, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and energy deficits that result in mitochondrial and cellular calcium overload. Loss of mitochondrial membrane potential can increase the release of cytochrome c, one pathway that leads to neuronal apoptosis. Clinical studies suggest that omega‐3 long‐chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) have anti‐inflammatory, antioxidant, and neuroprotective effects in MS and animal models of MS. Here, we review the relationship of oxidative stress, the glutathione redox system, the ATPase system, and membrane fluidity with the development of MS. In addition, we describe the main findings of a clinical trial conducted with relapsing‐remitting MS patients who received a diet supplemented with 4 g/day of fish oil or olive oil. The effects of PUFAs supplementation on the parameters indicated above are analyzed in this work

Adenda

PublishedEl Semillero de Investigación en Filosofía Colombiana y Latinoamericana, Ficla, es un espacio que reflexiona en torno a las ideas y a los pensadores de nuestra América. Aunque no se detiene estrictamente en la filosofía, trasciende a otros espacios, la literatura, la música, las artes, y, como queremos destacar en este libro, en la poesía. Ella está en movimiento, diría Paz, o es un “temblor panamericano”, diríamos bajo la custodia de Benedetti; es el trasegar de las letras más nobles que tiene nuestro terruño. Por “noble” no se debe entender un acto de buena fe, la mala fe (sartriana) juega un rol importante; es así que la revelación dada en estas letras rebela al más desinteresado lector

Cytogenetic status in newborns and their parents in Madrid: The BioMadrid study

Monitoring cytogenetic damage is frequently used to assess population exposure to environmental mutagens. The cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay is one of the most widely used methods employed in these studies. In the present study we used this assay to assess the baseline frequency of micronuclei in a healthy population of father-pregnant woman-newborn trios drawn from two Madrid areas. We also investigated the association between micronucleus frequency and specific socioeconomic, environmental, and demographic factors collected by questionnaire. Mercury, arsenic, lead, and cadmium blood levels were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry. The association between micronucleated cell frequency and the variables collected by questionnaire, as well as, the risk associated with the presence of elevated levels of metals in blood, was estimated using Poisson models, taking the number of micronucleated cells in 1,000 binucleated cells (MNBCs) as the dependent variable. Separate analyses were conducted for the 110 newborns, 136 pregnant women, and 134 fathers in whom micronuclei could be assessed. The mean number of micronucleated cells per 1,000 binucleated cells was 3.9, 6.5, and 6.1 respectively. Our results show a statistically significant correlation in MNBC frequency between fathers and mothers, and between parents and newborns. Elevated blood mercury levels in fathers were associated with significantly higher MNBC frequency, compared with fathers who had normal mercury levels (RR:1.21; 95%CI:1.02-1.43). This last result suggests the need to implement greater control over populations which, by reason of their occupation or life style, are among those most exposed to this metal.Peer reviewe

Newborns and low to moderate prenatal environmental lead exposure: Might fathers be the key?

This study is part of the BioMadrid Project, a bio-monitoring study designed to assess pollutants in the environment surrounding children born in the Madrid region. Our aim in this report is to evaluate the association between prenatal lead exposure and fetal development using three biological samples (maternal and paternal blood lead at around 34 weeks of gestation as well as cord blood lead levels), three biomarkers of effect in cord blood peripheral lymphocytes (micronucleus in binucleated cells, nucleoplasmic bridges, and nuclear buds), and different anthropometrical characteristics at birth. Maternal and cord blood lead were not associated with newborn measurements or genotoxicity biomarkers. In contrast, increases in father blood lead were coupled with lower weight (mean difference (MD), -110.8 g; 95% confidence intervals (95%CI), -235.6 to 6.00; p < 0.10) and shorter abdominal (MD, -0.81 cm; 95%CI, -1.64 to 0.00; p < 0.05) and cephalic (MD, -0.32 cm; 95%CI, -0.65 to 0.00; p < 0.05) circumferences at birth as well as with the presence of nucleoplasmic bridges (odds ratio, 1.03; 95%CI, 1.00 to 1.06; p < 0.05) and nuclear buds (odds ratio, 1.02; 95%CI, 0.99 to 1.04; p < 0.10). These associations were mainly confined to female babies, in whom paternal lead was also inversely associated with length. Our results support the hypothesis that paternal lead exposure may be affecting the development of newborns.Financial support was obtained from the Madrid Regional Health and Consumer Affairs Authority and the Spanish Health Research Fund (Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria (FIS) grant PI040777). Dr. Esther Garcia-Esquinas was supported by a Río Hortega (CM10/00332) research training grant from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Carlos III Institute of Health) and by the Enrique Nájera predoctoral grant awarded by the Spanish Society of Epidemiology and funded by the National School of Public Health.Peer reviewe

Association Between Preexisting Versus Newly Identified Atrial Fibrillation and Outcomes of Patients With Acute Pulmonary Embolism

Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) may exist before or occur early in the course of pulmonary embolism (PE). We determined the PE outcomes based on the presence and timing of AF. Methods and Results Using the data from a multicenter PE registry, we identified 3 groups: (1) those with preexisting AF, (2) patients with new AF within 2 days from acute PE (incident AF), and (3) patients without AF. We assessed the 90-day and 1-year risk of mortality and stroke in patients with AF, compared with those without AF (reference group). Among 16 497 patients with PE, 792 had preexisting AF. These patients had increased odds of 90-day all-cause (odds ratio [OR], 2.81; 95% CI, 2.33-3.38) and PE-related mortality (OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.37-4.14) and increased 1-year hazard for ischemic stroke (hazard ratio, 5.48; 95% CI, 3.10-9.69) compared with those without AF. After multivariable adjustment, preexisting AF was associated with significantly increased odds of all-cause mortality (OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.57-2.32) but not PE-related mortality (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 0.85-2.66). Among 16 497 patients with PE, 445 developed new incident AF within 2 days of acute PE. Incident AF was associated with increased odds of 90-day all-cause (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.75-2.97) and PE-related (OR, 3.64; 95% CI, 2.01-6.59) mortality but not stroke. Findings were similar in multivariable analyses. Conclusions In patients with acute symptomatic PE, both preexisting AF and incident AF predict adverse clinical outcomes. The type of adverse outcomes may differ depending on the timing of AF onset.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Orientaciones específicas para la incorporación de tecnología en procesos de formación de profesores de Ciencias Naturales, Lenguaje y Comunicación, y Matemáticas en contextos de diversidad para el diseño de secuencias de enseñanza aprendizaje

Las Tecnologías de la Información y de la Comunicación (TIC) se han transformado en un elemento de innovación dentro del conocimiento humano. Aplicadas directamente a la disciplina académica, las TIC se han ganado un espacio debido al creciente interés de este tipo de herramientas por parte de los docentes. No obstante, al día de hoy, en Latinoamérica el uso de TIC no es masivo. Su implementación aún está en una etapa inicial, y esto es debido a diversos factores. Algunos tienen que ver con el poco seguimiento que se realiza al implementar este tipo de tecnologías en las instituciones educativas; la limitada formación es una debilidad. En una escuela, el profesor que no ha sido preparado adecuadamente en el uso de TIC difícilmente logrará utilizarlas adecuadamente, y sus metodologías de aula serán, probablemente, idénticas a las que existían previas a su implementación. Existe una gran diferencia entre conocer una herramienta y dominarla; el dominio se logra, por ejemplo, al conocer las ventajas y desventajas que posee una herramienta determinada en conexión directa con los contenidos y las necesidades de los estudiantes. El dominio de las TIC otorga al docente de aula la posibilidad de tomar decisiones que tiendan a la efectividad del proceso educativo, puesto que las TIC no son solo un conjunto de herramientas, sino que, además, son orientables hacia un área u otra dependiendo de factores variables propios del proceso. Teniendo en cuenta el contexto anterior, este documento contiene algunas orientaciones para el uso del material desarrollado en el área de Ciencias Naturales, Lenguaje y Comunicación, y Matemáticas del Proyecto ALTER-NATIVA, el cual va dirigido a la formación de profesores que atienden poblaciones en contexto de diversidad con incorporación de las TIC. Es importante anotar que las actividades que se proponen son una posibilidad distinta de asumir la enseñanza de las ciencias naturales, lo cual a su vez implica reflexión y evaluación constante de la práctica de los docentes de esta área; que los compromete también con los desarrollos tecnológicos actuales, lo cual conlleva analizar y canalizar sus esfuerzos para diseñar y gestionar mecanismos que permitan la incorporación de las TIC en sus prácticas, pues se considera que estas posibilitan colaborar en la construcción de mundos posibles cercanos a los ideales de participación, igualdad y equidad (Alter -nativa , 2012). Estas orientaciones específicas tienen un doble propósito: primero, cobijan algunas recomendaciones, las cuales son una propuesta de uso para aprovechar al máximo el material que se propone en el estudio de las Ciencias Naturales, Lenguaje y Comunicación, y Matemáticas, para las poblaciones objeto de estudio. Para el desarrollo de las actividades planteadas es necesario que los estudiantes para profesor y profesores de escuelas, colegios y universidades de las áreas de Ciencias Naturales, Lenguaje y Comunicación, y Matemáticas, como posibles usuarios de este material, las perciban como un recurso que tiene un potencial y que, para su desarrollo, se hace necesario tener presente el diseño y estructura didáctica, los objetivos temáticos, la infraestructura, los recursos tecnológicos, las necesidades y características de las poblaciones con quien se vaya a utilizar, entre otros aspectos. Y segundo, estas orientaciones tienen como propósito ofrecer elementos para la formación de profesores de Ciencias Naturales, Lenguaje y Comunicación, y Matemáticas en su acción pedagógica y didáctica; se involucran las prácticas profesionales de diseño y elaboración de objetos didácticos y de los objetos virtuales de aprendizaje (OVA) como casos específicos de estos. Tomando como referencia lo anterior, se plantea como objetivos central de este texto el presentar algunas orientaciones que es necesario tener en cuenta a la hora incorporar TIC en la formación de profesores de Ciencias Naturales, Lenguaje y Comunicación, y Matemáticas. De igual forma, unos objetivos específicos serían los siguientes: a) Establecer unas orientaciones que sean consideradas a la hora de usar los recursos virtuales como los Objetos Virtuales de aprendizaje (OVA) que fueron diseñados como parte del proyecto ALTER-NATIVA en el área de ciencias naturales, lenguaje y matemáticas. b) Favorecer el aprendizaje de las ciencias naturales, lenguaje y matemáticas en las poblaciones objeto de estudio a través del uso de las TIC. c) Resaltar la importancia que tiene el uso de las TIC para concebir el aprendizaje como un sistema de interacción y no como transmisión de información solamente. d) Aportar a la reflexión y formación de docentes con una cultura tecnológica que les permita afrontar su labor pedagógica y didáctica en ámbitos de diversidad. e) Proporcionar unos elementos teóricos y de uso de las TIC que les admita la planeación, el diseño, desarrollo, uso y evaluación de objetos virtuales u OVA dentro de un ambiente virtual de aprendizaje