Hypothyroidism decreases the biogenesis in free mitochondria and neuronal oxygen consumption in the cerebral cortex of developing rats

Thyroid hormone plays a critical role in mitochondrial biogenesis in two areas of the developing brain, the cerebral cortex and the striatum. Here we analyzed, in the cerebral cortex of neonatal rats, the effect of hypothyroidism on the biogenesis in free and synaptosomal mitochondria by analyzing, in isolated mitochondria, the activity of respiratory complex I, oxidative phosphorylation, oxygen consumption, and the expression of mitochondrial genome. In addition, we studied the effect of thyroid hormone in oxygen consumption in vivo by determining metabolic flow through C-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Our results clearly show that in vivo, hypothyroidism markedly reduces oxygen consumption in the neural population of the cerebral cortex. This effect correlates with decreased free mitochondria biogenesis. In contrast, no effect was observed in the biogenesis in synaptosomal mitochondria. The parameters analyzed were markedly improved after T-3 administration. These results suggest that a reduced biogenesis and the subsequent reduction of respiratory capacity in free mitochondria could be the underlying cause of decreased oxygen consumption in the neurons of the cerebral cortex of hypothyroid neonates.This work was supported by Ministerio de Educaciín y Ciencia Grants SAF2004-06263-CO2-02 (to A.S.), SAF2004-06263-CO2-01, and SAF2007-62811 and Comunidad de Madrid Grant GR/SAL/0033/2004 (to A.P.-C.). Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas is funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III. T.B.R. is a recipient of a fellowship from the Fundaçâo para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal (SFRH/BPD/26881/2006).Peer reviewe

3D model of the torrevieja tertiary aquifer. Geometry of the aquifer

El acuífero costero de Torrevieja se encuentra localizado en Alicante, al SE de España. La explotación intensiva de los acuíferos tiene lugar a comienzos de 1960, principalmente para cubrir las necesidades agrícolas de la zona. Durante estas últimas cuatro décadas, la industria hotelera ha sufrido un gran impulso en la zona, lo cual ha incrementado también la extracción de agua subterránea para consumo. Cerca de 5 millones de metros cúbicos por año son bombeados, provocando el efecto de intrusión marina. De acuerdo con las estimaciones existentes, la media de espesores de areniscas-calcáreas del acuífero está comprendida entre 30 y 100 m en un área de unos 167 km2 aproximadamente. Este nivel acuífero se encuentra sobre margas impermeables del Mioceno Superior, y confinado parcialmente a techo por margas blancas del Plioceno. Hay cerca de 13 km2 de afloramientos permeables los cuales permiten la recarga del acuífero mediante el agua de precipitación. Los límites impermeables rodean al acuífero completamente, excepto a lo largo en su borde oriental, donde está en contacto con el mar. Los nuevos datos obtenidos de los sondeos de investigación sugieren que el área del acuífero debería ser mucho menor. En este trabajo se presenta un análisis de los nuevos y los viejos sondeos de investigación que nos ayudarán a componer una representación 3D en profundidad de la geometría del sistema acuíferoThe Torrevieja coastal aquifer is located in Alicante, SE Spain. Intensive exploitation of the aquifer began in the 1960s, mainly in order to meet agricultural needs. During these last four decades, the hospitality industry has also experienced a dramatic boost in the area, which in turn has led to a further increase in groundwater abstraction. About 5 million cubic metres per year are currently pumped, leading to seawater intrusion concerns. According to the existing estimates, the average thickness of the sandstone/limestone aquifer level ranges between 30 and 100 m over an area of approximately 167 km2. This level is underlain by an impervious Upper Miocene marl layer, whilst a white Pliocene marl layer partially confines the aquifer top. There are about 13 km2 of permeable outcrops which allow for rain water recharge to take place. Impervious boundaries completely surround the aquifer, except along the eastern side, where it is in contact with the sea. Newly obtained borehole data however seems to modify these, and suggests that the aquifer area might be significantly smaller. This paper presents an analysis of new and old borehole records that ultimately aims at developing a 3D representation of the in-depth geometry of the system.Depto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEpu

3D Model of the Torrevieja Tertiary aquifer. Geometry of the aquifer

El acuífero costero de Torrevieja se encuentra localizado en Alicante, al SE de España. La explotación intensiva de los acuíferos tiene lugar a comienzos de 1960, principalmente para cubrir las necesidades agrícolas de la zona. Durante estas últimas cuatro décadas, la industria hotelera ha sufrido un gran impulso en la zona, lo cual ha incrementado también la extracción de agua subterránea para consumo. Cerca de 5 millones de metros cúbicos por año son bombeados, provocando el efecto de intrusión marina. De acuerdo con las estimaciones existentes, la media de espesores de areniscas-calcáreas del acuífero está comprendida entre 30 y 100 m en un área de unos 167 km2 aproximadamente. Este nivel acuífero se encuentra sobre margas impermeables del Mioceno Superior, y confinado parcialmente a techo por margas blancas del Plioceno. Hay cerca de 13 km2 de afloramientos permeables los cuales permiten la recarga del acuífero mediante el agua de precipitación. Los límites impermeables rodean al acuífero completamente, excepto a lo largo en su borde oriental, donde está en contacto con el mar. Los nuevos datos obtenidos de los sondeos de investigación sugieren que el área del acuífero debería ser mucho menor. En este trabajo se presenta un análisis de los nuevos y los viejos sondeos de investigación que nos ayudarán a componer una representación 3D en profundidad de la geometría del sistema acuífero.The Torrevieja coastal aquifer is located in Alicante, SE Spain. Intensive exploitation of the aquifer began in the 1960s, mainly in order to meet agricultural needs. During these last four decades, the hospitality industry has also experienced a dramatic boost in the area, which in turn has led to a further increase in groundwater abstraction. About 5 million cubic metres per year are currently pumped, leading to seawater intrusion concerns. According to the existing estimates, the average thickness of the sandstone/limestone aquifer level ranges between 30 and 100 m over an area of approximately 167 km2. This level is underlain by an impervious Upper Miocene marl layer, whilst a white Pliocene marl layer partially confines the aquifer top. There are about 13 km2 of permeable outcrops which allow for rain water recharge to take place. Impervious boundaries completely surround the aquifer, except along the eastern side, where it is in contact with the sea. Newly obtained borehole data however seems to modify these, and suggests that the aquifer area might be significantly smaller. This paper presents an analysis of new and old borehole records that ultimately aims at developing a 3D representation of the in-depth geometry of the system.Depto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEpu

Cómo minimizar los cambios radiológicos laterales en la osteotomía valguizante de adición medial de rodilla

Objetivo: estudiar la relación entre posición del injerto en Osteotomía Valguizante de Adición (OVA) en rodilla, los cambios radiológicos experimentados por la rótula y la pendiente tibial y su correlación clínica. Material y métodos: estudio retrospectivo de 10 pacientes operados de OVA. Medimos el cambio experimentado tras la osteotomía en Índice de Catón y la pendiente tibial y su relación con la ubicación del injerto. Valoración clínica mediante test de Lisholm y WOMAC. Resultados: edad media de 49.5 años, seguimiento medio de 32,2 meses. Se observa un cambio estadísticamente significativo de 1,45º en la pendiente tibial y de 0,15 unidades (Índice Catón) en la altura de la patela, pero sin correlación con la clínica. La ubicación del injerto en el cuadrante posterior se halló en el 80% de los casos. Conclusión : la osteotomía valguizante de adición medial tiene buenos resultados clínicos. Los cambios en la pendiente tibial y en la patela son menores cuanto más posterior es la ubicación del injerto.Objectives: we investigated changes in patellar height and tibial inclination angle after open-wedge high tibial osteotomy, the effect of these changes on patient satisfaction and the correlation with the graft position. Methods: retrospective study of 10 knees who underwent open-wedge proximal tibial osteotomy with allograft and medial plate for medial compartment. Were measured pre- and postoperatively tibial inclination angle, and patellar height (Caton Index), and we study the correlation of these changes with the location of the graft. Clinical evaluations were made using the Lysholm and WOMAC score. Results: the mean age was 49.5 years, the mean follow up was 32,2 months. The mean increase in the tibial inclination angle was 1,45 ° (p<0.05) and the mean of decrease in patellar height was 0.15 Units Caton Index (p<0.05). There weren’t correlation between radiological changes and patients satisfaction. The graft localization was posterior in 80% of patients. Conclusion: the open-wedge tibial osteotomy has good results and high clinical satisfaction. Changes in the tibial slope and the patellar height are lower if the graft position is posterior

Exploiting the potential of bioactive molecules extracted by ultrasounds from avocado peelsfood and nutraceutical applications

Natural bioactive compounds from food waste have fomented interest in food and pharmaceutical industries for the past decade. In this work, it purposed the recovery of bioactive avocado peel extract using an environmentally friendly technique: the ultrasound assisted extraction. The response surface methodology was applied in order to optimize the conditions of the extraction, ethanol-water mixtures and time. The optimized extracts (ethanol 38.46%, 44.06 min, and 50 °C) were chemically characterized by HPLC-ESI-MS and FTIR. Its antioxidant ability, as well as, its effect on cell metabolic activity of normal (L929) and cancer (Caco-2, A549 and HeLa) cell lines were assessed. Aqueous ethanol extracts presented a high content in bioactive compounds with high antioxidant potential. The most representative class of the phenolic compounds found in the avocado peel extract were phenolic acids, such as hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids. Another important chemical group detected were the flavonoids, such as flavanols, flavanonols, flavones, flavanones and chalcone, phenylethanoids and lignans. In terms of its influence on the metabolic activity of normal and cancer cell lines, the extract does not significantly affect normal cells. On the other hand, it can negatively affect cancer cells, particularly HeLa cells. These results clearly demonstrated that ultrasound is a sustainable extraction technique, resulting in extracts with low toxicity in normal cells and with potential application in food, pharmaceutical or nutraceutical sectors.The authors acknowledge the financial support received from “Xunta de Galicia” (GRC ED431C 2017/62-GRC, and Project ED431F 2020/03). These projects are partially funded by the FEDER Program of the European Union (“Unha maneira de facer Europa”). This research was also funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit. Beatriz Gullón would like to express her gratitude to the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness for her postdoctoral grant (Reference RYC2018-026177-I).info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Esofagitis eosinofílica, eficacia de las alternativas terapéuticas en el adulto: revisión sistemática

Fundamentos: La esofagitis eosinofílica es hoy en día la principal causa de disfagia en el adulto. La elección de la terapia se debe consensuar con el paciente. El objetivo de este trabajo fue revisar la bibliografía científica para conocer la eficacia de las distintas opciones terapéuticas de la esofagitis eosinofílica en el adulto. Métodos: Se realizó una búsqueda de artículos durante el mes de febrero de 2023 en las bases de datos de PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus y Scielo, empleando los términos de búsqueda eosinophilic esophagitis, therapeutics y treatment, seleccionándose los ensayos clínicos y estudios observacionales publicados en los últimos diez años en adultos. Resultados: Se obtuvieron un total de 1.138 artículos, de los cuales 41 fueron seleccionados tras aplicar los criterios de elegibilidad. De las terapias disponibles, el tratamiento más frecuentemente analizado fueron los corticoides deglutidos, seguido de las dietas de eliminación y de los inhibidores de la bomba de protones, predominando los ensayos clínicos. Los estudios arrojan resultados sobre la eficacia de estas terapias en la remisión histológica y clínica, tanto en la inducción como a largo plazo. Conclusiones: Existen fundamentalmente tres terapias en la esofagitis eosinofílica en el adulto, siendo todas superiores frente a placebo en respuesta histológica y clínica

Parathyroid hormone-related protein as a renal regulating factor: From Vessels to Glomeruli and Tubular Epithelium

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) and PTH-related protein (PTHrP) produce similar biological effects through the PTH/PTHrP receptor. Less is known about the physiological role of PTHrP, which was first identified as the agent of the humoral hypercalcemia of malignancy. Despite the widespread production of PTHrP in healthy individuals, the concentration of the protein is below the detectable limit of current assays, suggesting that PTHrP normally functions locally in an autocrine or paracrine manner. Thus, some differences in their biological activities have been described and they may be related to the presence of different receptors. In this regard, a second receptor that binds selectively to PTH has also been found. Recent studies have demonstrated the expression of both PTH/PTHrP receptor and protein in the renal glomeruli. Moreover, there are convincing data that support a direct role of PTH and PTHrP in modulating renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate. This multifunctional protein, PSHrP, also has a proliferative effect on both glomerular mesangial cells and tubular epithelial cells. Increases in the expression of PTHrP have been observed in several experimental models of nephropathies, suggesting that PTHrP upregulation is a common event associated with the mechanism of renal injury and repair

Thermo-fluid dynamics modelling of steam electrolysis in fully-assembled tubular high-temperature proton-conducting cells

Electrolysis based on renewable energies offers a promising carbon-free solution for hydrogen generation and storage. The recent developments of proton ceramic electrolysis cells operating at intermediate temperatures bear promise of superior energy efficiency compared to oxide ion conducting electrolytes. Here, a proton ceramic Single Engineering Unit (SEU) design is optimized for steam electrolysis using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model implemented in a COMSOL Multiphysics software. The SEU is an all-in-one tubular cell arrangement that constitutes the smallest electrolysis unit and enables efficient, adaptable pressurized hydrogen generation. The parametrical modelling study is conducted for two adiabatic operation scenarios with distinct steam conversion rates and tested for multiple key parameters, namely internal and external chamber pressures and inlet stream temperature. The modelling results show that low steam conversions enable operation at higher current densities and that the thermoneutral voltage for a fixed steam conversion is highly sensitive to the process conditions and operation modes. The increment of the pressure of the generated hydrogen implies a reduced production rate at thermoneutral voltage, although it can be compensated with an enhanced steam pressure or a reduced inlet temperature. Additionally, the introduction of a porous medium as the SEU current collector in the steam chamber enhances heat transport within this chamber. The area specific resistance of the system determines the current density, enforcing an adaption of the area of the electrolyser to satisfy the target hydrogen production and energy efficiency. The resulting proposed SEU design and adapted operational parameters allow effective delivery of pressurized dry hydrogen for a wide range of conditions and applications.publishedVersio