Selecció assistida mitjançant marcadors moleculars per a la introducció de gens de resistència i creixement determinat en la mongeta del Ganxet

Per a millorar agronòmicament la varietat tradicional de mongeta catalana Ganxet (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) s’estan introduint gens de resistència a antracnosi (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum) i Virus del Mosaic Comú de la Mongeta (BCMV) en la línea pura L67 o Montcau. També es vol introduir el gen fin, d’hàbit de creixement determinat. S’està treballant amb donadors diferents, introduïnt-se el gens per retroencreuament i aplicant-se selecció assistida per marcadors (MAS): Widusa (gens Co-6 i Co-42), A-493 (gen Co-9), Sanilac (gens fin, I i Co-2). Per ampliar el procés de millora de Montcau, es va fer la caracterització dels donadors Amanda (bc-12 ) i IVT7214 (bc-1), validant-se el marcador molecular ROBD05-1300 per bc-12 i el ROH14-1100, per bc-1 i, per tant, es recomana iniciar almenys un nou procés de retroencreuament per a obtenir la combinació que dóna resistència a BCMV i BCMNV (virus necròtic): bc-12 + I. A la generació BC4 de Widusa x Montcau, 2 de 8 plantes es van seleccionar amb els al·lels Co-6 i Co-42 simultàniament, amb els marcadors ROZ04-560 i ROAS13-950 respectivament. A la generació BC3 de A493 x Montcau, 5 de 7 plantes presentaven l’al·lel Co-9. seleccionades amb el marcador SB12-350. A la generació BC1 de Sanilac x Montcau, 3 de 6 plantes presentaven els al·lels I i Co-2 simultàniament, amb els marcadors SW13-690 i ROQ04-1440, respectivament. Cap dels marcadors descrits per els al·lels bc-u van resultar útils per a seguir la seva introducció en Montcau

Avaluació del PPAF per promocionar l'activitat física des dels CAP. Assaig clínic aleatori controlat

La presència d’uns nivells insuficients d’activitat física (AF) en la població és un dels factors que contribueix al desenvolupament o instauració precoç de les patologies cròniques més prevalents de la societat moderna. Una de les línies prioritàries d’actuació del Sistema Sanitari Públic es reduir el percentatge de persones insuficientment actives, així com el sedentarisme. Objectiu. Avaluar l’efectivitat del PPAF com a instrument de promoció de la salut des dels Centres d’Atenció Primària (CAPs) a partir de l’increment del nivell d’activitat física (AF). Mètode. Disseny: assaig clínic aleatori controlat. Àmbit: CAPs de Barcelona Ciutat i rodalies. Mostra. Un total de 414 individus de 10 CAPs (72% dones) amb un nivell insuficient d’AF, ≥50 anys (65.68 ± 9.2 anys), amb algun diagnòstic de malaltia o condició crònica, una aptitud mínima per seguir el programa, i disposats a realitzar un programa d’AF com el PPAF (assistència mínima del 80%), que visitaven el CAP per qualsevol motiu, varen ser captats des de les consultes d’Atenció Primària (AP) i aleatoritzats en dos grups (grup intervenció, GI=221, i grup control, GC=). El GI va realitzar un programa d’exercici de 12 setmanes (2 sessions/setmana de 60 minuts/sessió). El CG va rebre el tracte habitual des de la consulta. Es varen avaluar: nivell d’AF (IPAQ), estats de canvi de Prochaska), qualitat de vida relacionada amb la salut (QVRS) (SF-12), suport social (Social Support for Physical Activity Scale, SSPAS) i freqüentació (registre de visites al CAP). El registre de dades es va fer a l’inici del programa (mes 0), al finalitzar el mateix (mes 3), i passats 6 (mes 9) i 12 mesos de la finalització del programa (mes 15). En el cas de la freqüentació es van comparar el total de visites realitzades l’any previ i posterior al programa d’AF. Resultats. Els principals resultats d’aquest estudi han estat que: un programa d'AF que inicia en els CAPs i es vincula amb recursos esportius de la comunitat és eficaç en: (1) la creació de l’hàbit de realitzar AF i mantenir-lo a llarg termini (mes 0= 749.45 ± 774.6, mes 15= 1312.96 ± 1782.2 METs minut/ setmana), (2) la millora de la percepció de la salut avaluada a partir de la qualitat de vida autopercebuda (mes 0: component físic, CF = 41.8 ± 7.6; component mental, CM= 34.6 ± 7.4; month 15: CF= 45.4 ± 6.4, CM= 38.9 ± 6.4), (3) un major suport social (mes 0= 20.37 ± 18.7, mes 9= 43.00 ± 26.6), i (4) la disminució del nombre total de visites al CAP en els pacients insuficientment actius (18.2 ± 7.4 - 14.8 ± 8.5). Conclusions. Els resultats obtinguts en el present estudi indiquen que el PPAF ha demostrat ser una intervenció econòmica i efectiva per augmentar els nivells d’AF dels pacients insuficientment actius que acudeixen a les consultes d’AP, tant a mig (mes 9) com a llarg termini (mes 15).La inactividad es uno de los factores que contribuye al desarrollo e instauración de las enfermedades crónicas con más incidencia en la sociedad moderna. Una de las líneas prioritarias de actuación del Sistema Sanitario Público es reducir el número de personas insuficientemente activas, así como los niveles de sedentarismo. Objetivo. Evaluar la efectividad del PPAF como instrumento de promoción de la salud desde los Centros de Atención Primaria (CAPs) a partir del incremento del nivel de actividad física (AF). Método. Diseño: ensayo clínico aleatorio controlado. Ámbito: CAPs de Barcelona Ciudad y periferia. Muestra: 414 individuos de 10 CAPs (72% mujeres) con un nivel insuficiente de AF, ≥50 años (65.68 ± 9.2 años), con algún diagnóstico de enfermedad o condición crónica (diabetes mellitus tipo 2, hipertensión, dislipemia, obesidad i/o dolor crónico) y una aptitud mínima para seguir el programa, que visitaron el CAP per cualquier motivo, se captaron desde las consultas de Atención Primaria (AP) y fueron aleatorizados en dos grupos (grupo intervención, GI=221, y grupo control, GC=). El GI participó en un programa de ejercicio de 12 semanas (2 sesiones/semana de 60 minutos/sesión). El CG recibió el trato habitual desde la consulta. Se evaluaron: nivel de AF (IPAQ), etapas de cambio de Prochaska, calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (SF-12), apoyo social (Social Support for Physical Activity Scale, SSPAS) y frecuentación (registro de visitas al CAP). El registro de datos se realizó antes de iniciar el programa (mes 0), al finalizar el mismo (mes 3), y pasados 6 (mes 9) y 12 meses de su finalización (mes 15). Para la frecuentación se compararon el total de visitas realizada el año previo y posterior al programa de AF. Resultados. Los principales resultados de este estudio son: un programa de AF que se inicia en los CAPs y se coordina con recursos deportivos de la comunidad es eficaz en: (1) la creación del hábito de realizar AF y mantener-lo a largo plazo (mes 0= 749.45 ± 774.6, mes 15= 1312.96 ± 1782.2 METs minuto/semana), (2) la mejora de la percepción de la salud evaluada a partir de la calidad de vida autopercibida (mes 0: componente físico, CF = 41.8 ± 7.6; componente mental, CM= 34.6 ± 7.4; mes 15: CF= 45.4 ± 6.4, CM= 38.9 ± 6.4), (3) un mayor apoyo social (mes 0= 20.37 ± 18.7, mes 9= 43.00 ± 26.6), y (4) la reducción del número total de visitas al CAP en los pacientes insuficientemente activos (18.2 ± 7.4 - 14.8 ± 8.5). Conclusiones. Los resultados obtenidos en el presente estudio indican que el PPAF ha demostrado ser una intervención económica y efectiva para aumentar los niveles de AF de los pacientes insuficientemente activos que acuden a las consultas de AP, tanto a medio (mes 9) como a largo plazo (mes 15).The decline of physical activity (PA) is associated with a rising burden of global chronic diseases. To reduce the percentage of inactive people as well as sedentarism is a public healthcare system priority. Purpose. To evaluate the effectiveness of PA promotion program (PPAF) in primary care (PC) as an instrument to increase PA levels in inactive population. Methods. Design: randomised controlled trial. Setting: 10 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in Barcelona Metropolitan area. Subject: four hundred and fourteen (n= 414) patients with a low level of PA (age ≥50 years, 65.68 ± 9.2, 72% women), presenting at least one chronic condition, were included. Participants from each PHC were randomly allocated to an intervention (IG= 221) and control group (CG=193). The IG went through a 3-month standardized PA program (24 sessions; 2 sessions a week, 60 minutes per session) led by PA specialists and linked to community resources. The CG followed the regular treatment. Measures: main outcome measure was the level of PA (IPAQ-short version). Secondary outcomes were: PA Prochaska’s stages of change, health-related quality of life (SF-12), level of social support for the PA practice (Social Support for Physical Activity Scale, SSPAS), and the total number of medical appointments to the PHC. There was a follow up in a face to face interview 3, 6 (9-month follow-up) and 12 months (15-month follow-up) after the programme. Participants’ frequency of visits was registered over the 12 months before and after the programme. Results. The main findings of this study were: (1) a standardized PA program linked to community resources was effective in increasing and maintaining PA level (month 0= 749.45 ± 774.6 , month 15= 1312.96 ± 1782.2 METs minute/ week), (2) the program induced improvements in self-reported quality of life related to health (month 0: physical composite score, PCS= 41.8 ± 7.6; mental composite score, MCS= 34.6 ± 7.4; month 15: PSC= 45.4 ± 6.4, MCS= 38.9 ± 6.4), (3) an increase of total social support (month 0= 20.37 ± 18.7, month 9= 43.00 ± 26.6) and (4) a decrease of the total number of visits to the PHC in previous inactive patients (18.2 ± 7.4 - 14.8 ± 8.5). The improvements were sustained 12 months after the end of the PA program (15-month follow-up). Conclusions. Our findings indicate that a 3-month physical activity program linked to community resources is a short-duration, sustainable and effective intervention in increasing PA levels in a 3, 9 and 15-month follow-up

Molecular-frame photoelectron angular distributions of CO in the vicinity of feshbach resonances: an xchem approach

The advent of ultrashort XUV pulses is pushing for the development of accurate theoretical calculations to describe ionization of molecules in regions where electron correlation plays a significant role. Here, we present an extension of the XCHEM methodology to evaluate laboratory- and molecular-frame photoelectron angular distributions in the region where Feshbach resonances are expected to appear. The performance of the method is demonstrated in the CO molecule, for which information on Feshbach resonances is very scarce. We show that photoelectron angular distributions are dramatically affected by the presence of resonances, to the point that they can completely reverse the preferred electron emission direction observed in direct nonresonant photoionization. This is the consequence of significant changes in the electronic structure of the molecule when resonances decay, an effect that is mostly driven by electron correlation in the ionization continuum. The present methodology can thus be helpful for the interpretation of angularly resolved photoionization time delays in this and more complex moleculesThe work was supported by the European COST Action AttoChem (CA18222) and the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033), Grants PID2019-105458RB-I00 and PID2019-106732GB-I00, “Severo Ochoa” Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (SEV-2016-0686) and “María de Maeztu” Programme for Units of Excellence in R&D (CEX2018-000805-M

Attosecond photoionization delays in the vicinity of molecular Feshbach resonances

Temporal delays extracted from photoionization phases are currently determined with attosecond resolution by using interferometric methods. Such methods require special care when photoionization occurs near Feshbach resonances due to the interference between direct ionization and autoionization. Although theory can accurately handle these interferences in atoms, in molecules, it has to face an additional, so far insurmountable problem: Autoionization is slow, and nuclei move substantially while it happens, i.e., electronic and nuclear motions are coupled. Here, we present a theoretical framework to account for this effect and apply it to evaluate time-resolved and vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectra and photoionization phases of N2 irradiated by a combination of an extreme ultraviolet (XUV) attosecond pulse train and an infrared pulse. We show that Feshbach resonances lead to unusual non-Franck-Condon vibrational progressions and to ionization phases that strongly vary with photoelectron energy irrespective of the vibrational state of the remaining molecular cationThis work was supported by European COST Action CA18222 AttoChem; the Synergy Grant of the European Research Council TOMATTO (ref. 951224); the projects PDC2021-121073-I00, PID2019-105458RB-I00, and PID2019-106732GB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and by the European Union “NextGenerationEU”/PRTRMICINN programs; the Comunidad de Madrid project FULMATEN (ref. Y2018NMT-5028); the “Severo Ochoa” Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (CEX2020-001039-S); and the “Maria de Maeztu” Programme for Units of Excellence in R&D (CEX2018-000805-M). L.A. acknowledges the DOE CAREER grant no. DE-SC0020311V and the NSF grant PHY-1912507. V.J.B. thanks the MICINN for the FPI grant (BES-2017-081521) related to the project FIS2016-77889-

Juvenile hormone biosynthesis in adult Blattella germanica requires nuclear receptors Seven-up and FTZ-F1

In insects, the transition from juvenile development to the adult stage is controlled by juvenile hormone (JH) synthesized from the corpora allata (CA) glands. Whereas a JH-free period during the last juvenile instar triggers metamorphosis and the end of the growth period, the reappearance of this hormone after the imaginal molt marks the onset of reproductive adulthood. Despite the importance of such transition, the regulatory mechanism that controls it remains mostly unknown. Here, using the hemimetabolous insect Blattella germanica, we show that nuclear hormone receptors Seven-up-B (BgSvp-B) and Fushi tarazu-factor 1 (BgFTZ-F1) have essential roles in the tissue-and stage-specific activation of adult CA JH-biosynthetic activity. Both factors are highly expressed in adult CA cells. Moreover, RNAi-knockdown of either BgSvp-B or BgFTZ-F1 results in adult animals with a complete block in two critical JH-dependent reproductive processes, vitellogenesis and oogenesis. We show that this reproductive blockage is the result of a dramatic impairment of JH biosynthesis, due to the CA-specific reduction in the expression of two key JH biosynthetic enzymes, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A synthase-1 (BgHMG-S1) and HMG-reductase (BgHMG-R). Our findings provide insights into the regulatory mechanisms underlying the specific changes in the CA gland necessary for the proper transition to adulthood.Support for this research was provided by the Spanish MINECO (grants BFU2009-10571 and CGL2014-55786-P to D.M. and CGL2012-36251 and CGL2015-64727-P to X.B.) and by the Catalan Government (2014 SGR 619 to D.M., J.L.M. and X.B.). The research has also benefited from FEDER funds. F.B.-C. is a recipient of a pre-doctoral research Grant from the MICINN. C.N. is a recipient of a postdoctoral research grant from CSIC. O.M. is recipient of a pre-doctoral research grant from Generalitat de Catalunya.Peer Reviewe

Bovine endometrial MSC: Mesenchymal to epithelial transition during luteolysis and tropism to implantation niche for immunomodulation

The uterus is a histologically dynamic organ, and the mechanisms coordinating its regeneration during the oestrous cycle and implantation are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to isolate, immortalize and characterize bovine endometrial mesenchymal stem cell (eMSC) lines from different oestrous cycle stages (embryo in the oviduct, embryo in the uterus or absence of embryo) and examine their migratory and immunomodulatory properties in an inflammatory or implantation-like environment, as well as possible changes in cell transdifferentiation. Methods: eMSCs were isolated and analysed in terms of morphological features, expression of cell surface and intracellular markers of pluripotency, inmunocytochemical analyses, alkaline phosphatase activity, proliferation and osteogenic or chondrogenic differentiation capacities, as well as their ability to migrate in response to inflammatory (TNF-α or IL-1β) or implantation (IFN-τ) cytokines and their immunomodulatory effect in the proliferation of T cells. Results: All eMSCs showed MSC properties such as adherence to plastic, high proliferative capacity, expression of CD44 and vimentin, undetectable expression of CD34 or MHCII, positivity for Pou5F1 and alkaline phosphatase activity. In the absence of an embryo, eMSC showed an apparent mesenchymal to epithelial transition state. eMSC during the entire oestrous cycle differentiated to osteogenic or chondrogenic lineages, showed the ability to suppress T cell proliferation and showed migratory capacity towards pro-inflammatory signal, while responded with a block in their migration to the embryo-derived pregnancy signal. Conclusion: This study describes for the first time the isolation, immortalization and characterization of bovine mesenchymal stem cell lines from different oestrous cycle stages, with a clear mesenchymal pattern and immunomodulatory properties. Our study also reports that the migratory capacity of the eMSC was increased towards an inflammatory niche but was reduced in response to the expression of implantation cytokine by the embryo. The combination of both signals (pro-inflammatory and implantation) would ensure the retention of eMSC in case of pregnancy, to ensure the immunomodulation necessary in the mother for embryo survival. In addition, in the absence of an embryo, eMSC showed an apparent mesenchymal to epithelial transition stateThis work was supported by grants from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía Industria y Competitividad to Ramírez M.A. (AGL2015-70140-R) and European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under grant agreement N°731014 (Ramírez M.A.

Toward a clinical practice guide in pharmacogenomics testing for functional polymorphisms of drug-metabolizing enzymes. Gene/drug pairs and barriers perceived in Spain

The development of clinica lpractice recommendations or guidelines for the clinical use of biomarkers is an issue of great importance withr regard to adverse drug reactions.The poten-tial of pharmacogenomicbiomarkers has been extensively investigated in recent years.However,several barriers to implementing the use of pharmacogenomics testing exist.We conducted a survey among members of the Spanish Societies of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology to obtain information about the perception of such barriers and to compare the perceptions of participants about the relative importance of majorgene/drug pairs.Of 11 potential barriers,the highest importance was attributed to lack of institutional support for pharmacogenomic stesting,and to the issues related to the lack of guidelines.Of the proposed gene/drug pairs the highest importance was assigned to HLA-B/abacavir, UGT1A1/irinotecan, and CYP2D6/tamoxifen.In this perspective article,we compare the relative importance of 29 gene/drugpairs in the Spanish study with that of the same pairs in the American Society for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutic sstudy,and we provide suggestions and areas of focus to develop a guide for clinical practice in pharmacogenomics testingThe work in the author’s laboratory is financed by Grants PS09/00943, PS09/00469, RETICS RIRAAF RD07/0064/0016, and CIBERehd from Instituto de Salud CarlosIII,Madrid, Spain, and by Grants GR10068 from Junta de Extremadura, Spain. Financed in part with FEDER funds from the European Unio