DNA sequencing and taxonomy of unusual serrate Juniperus from Mexico: Chloroplast capture and incomplete lineage sorting in J. coahuilensis and allied taxa

Analysis of nrDNA, petN-psbM, trnS-trnG, trmD-trnT, and trnF-trnL of Juniperus coahuilensis and allied taxa of Mexico found typical J. coahuilensis, as well as individuals with: coahuilensis cp and hybrid ITS; coahuilensis cp and novel ITS sequence (La Parrilla type); novel Blue Fruited cp (blue fruited taxon) and coahuilensis ITS; plus Blue Fruited cp and La Parrila ITS. nrDNA data was examined and found to detect hybridization, chloroplast capture and incomplete lineage sorting. In addition, a new taxon was found with Blue Fruited (Blue Fruited) cp and J. martinezii ITS, suggestive of chloroplast capture. New records of J. saltillensis were confirmed from Zacatecas. A new record of J. martinezii from Durango was also confirmed. Several plants affiliated with either J. martinezii, or J. flaccida were in distinct clades showing the need for additional research on their volatile leaf oils, morphology and ecology to address their taxonomic status. And lastly, a very unusual population of junipers large, single stemmed trees with aff. J. poblana was found in Nayarit, with long and pendulous foliage. Analysis of the leaf volatile oils, ecology and morphology of this taxon is necessary (in progress) to ascertain its taxonomic rank

DNA sequencing and taxonomy of unusual serrate Juniperus from Mexico: Chloroplast capture and incomplete lineage sorting in J. coahuilensis and allied taxa

Analysis of nrDNA, petN-psbM, trnS-trnG, trmD-trnT, and trnF-trnL of Juniperus coahuilensis and allied taxa of Mexico found typical J. coahuilensis, as well as individuals with: coahuilensis cp and hybrid ITS; coahuilensis cp and novel ITS sequence (La Parrilla type); novel Blue Fruited cp (blue fruited taxon) and coahuilensis ITS; plus Blue Fruited cp and La Parrila ITS. nrDNA data was examined and found to detect hybridization, chloroplast capture and incomplete lineage sorting. In addition, a new taxon was found with Blue Fruited (Blue Fruited) cp and J. martinezii ITS, suggestive of chloroplast capture. New records of J. saltillensis were confirmed from Zacatecas. A new record of J. martinezii from Durango was also confirmed. Several plants affiliated with either J. martinezii, or J. flaccida were in distinct clades showing the need for additional research on their volatile leaf oils, morphology and ecology to address their taxonomic status. And lastly, a very unusual population of junipers large, single stemmed trees with aff. J. poblana was found in Nayarit, with long and pendulous foliage. Analysis of the leaf volatile oils, ecology and morphology of this taxon is necessary (in progress) to ascertain its taxonomic rank

High glucose concentrations induce TNF-α production through the down-regulation of CD33 in primary human monocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>CD33 is a membrane receptor containing a lectin domain and a cytoplasmic immunoreceptor tyrosine-based inhibitory motif (ITIM) that is able to inhibit cytokine production. CD33 is expressed by monocytes, and reduced expression of CD33 correlates with augmented production of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-8. However, the role of CD33 in the inflammation associated with hyperglycemia and diabetes is unknown. Therefore, we studied CD33 expression and inflammatory cytokine secretion in freshly isolated monocytes from patients with type 2 diabetes. To evaluate the effects of hyperglycemia, monocytes from healthy donors were cultured with different glucose concentrations (15-50 mmol/l D-glucose), and CD33 expression and inflammatory cytokine production were assessed. The expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling protein-3 (SOCS-3) and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were also evaluated to address the cellular mechanisms involved in the down-regulation of CD33.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CD33 expression was significantly decreased in monocytes from patients with type 2 diabetes, and higher levels of TNF-α, IL-8 and IL-12p70 were detected in the plasma of patients compared to healthy donors. Under high glucose conditions, CD33 protein and mRNA expression was significantly decreased, whereas spontaneous TNF-α secretion and SOCS-3 mRNA expression were increased in monocytes from healthy donors. Furthermore, the down-regulation of CD33 and increase in TNF-α production were prevented when monocytes were treated with the antioxidant α-tocopherol and cultured under high glucose conditions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that hyperglycemia down-regulates CD33 expression and triggers the spontaneous secretion of TNF-α by peripheral monocytes. This phenomenon involves the generation of ROS and the up-regulation of SOCS-3. These observations support the importance of blood glucose control for maintaining innate immune function and suggest the participation of CD33 in the inflammatory profile associated with type 2 diabetes.</p

Childhood Trauma and Adult Risk Factors and Disease in Hispanics/Latinos in the US: Results From the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL) Sociocultural Ancillary Study

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are implicated in diseases of adulthood. We report the prevalence of ACEs in Hispanics/Latinos in the US and their association with major risk factors and diseases in adulthood

Statin and Aspirin Use Among Hispanic and Latino Adults at High Cardiovascular Risk: Findings From the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

BACKGROUND: Despite variations in the prevalence of cardiovascular disease and related risk factors among US Hispanic/Latino adults of diverse backgrounds, there is little information on whether disparities exist in the use of medications for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. We examined the prevalence of statin and aspirin use among diverse US Hispanic/Latino adults at high cardiovascular risk. METHODS AND RESULTS: A multicenter population-based study, the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study Of Latinos, included a total of 16 415 participants of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Dominican, South American, and Central American backgrounds who were aged 18 to 74 years and enrolled between March 2008 and June 2011. Our analyses were limited to 4139 participants considered to be at high cardiovascular risk. Age-adjusted prevalence of statin and aspirin use was 25% and 44%, respectively, overall but varied by Hispanic/Latino background among those at high cardiovascular risk; statin use was significantly higher (P<0.001) among adults of Puerto Rican (33%) and Dominican (28%) backgrounds compared with adults of other backgrounds (Mexican, 24%; Cuban, 22%; Central American, 20%; South American, 22%). There was no difference in aspirin use. After adjusting for health insurance coverage, the difference in prevalence of statin use was substantially reduced among participants with a Puerto Rican background, from an odds ratio of 1.73 (95% CI 1.30-2.31) to 1.30 (95% CI 0.97-1.75), and with a Dominican background, from an odds ratio of 1.45 (95% CI 1.04-2.02) to 1.07 (95% CI 0.75-1.52), in comparison to their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: Among Hispanic/Latino adults of diverse backgrounds, statin use was more prevalent among adults with Puerto Rican and Dominican backgrounds at high cardiovascular risk. These differences in statin use were explained, in part, by differences in insurance coverage. These findings have important implications for the prevention of disparities in cardiovascular outcomes within the growing US Hispanic/Latino population

Social support, simpatía, and hypertension prevalence in Hispanics/Latinos: Findings from the HCHS/SOL Sociocultural Ancillary Study.

There is a significant burden of hypertension in the United States, which extends to the large and growing Hispanic/Latino population. Previous literature suggests that psychosocial factors are related to hypertension in Hispanics/Latinos. However, cultural factors unique to this population have been largely understudied in this context. The purpose of the current investigation was to examine the association of hypertension prevalence with social support and simpatía, a Hispanic/Latino cultural value emphasizing social harmony. Cross-sectional data from 5,313 adult Hispanics/Latinos, age 18 to 75 years, representing multiple heritage groups were collected as part of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos Sociocultural Ancillary Study. Contrary to predictions, higher social support was related to higher odds of hypertension prevalence across models (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.02, 1.22). In the final main effects logistic regression model, higher simpatía was related to lower odds of hypertension (OR = .83, 95% CI: .77, .90). Sex modified the link between simpatía and hypertension, with significant effects for men but not women. A 1 SD increase in simpatía was associated with 36% lower odds of hypertension in Hispanic/Latino men. The findings suggest that social support was inversely related with hypertension prevalence and that simpatía may be a protective cultural characteristic in relation to hypertension in the Hispanic/Latino population, but only in men. These results contribute to a growing discourse about the role of Hispanic/Latino cultural values in cardiovascular health

Cobalamin-Independent Methionine Synthase (MetE): A Face-to-Face Double Barrel That Evolved by Gene Duplication

Cobalamin-independent methionine synthase (MetE) catalyzes the transfer of a methyl group from methyltetrahydrofolate to L-homocysteine (Hcy) without using an intermediate methyl carrier. Although MetE displays no detectable sequence homology with cobalamin-dependent methionine synthase (MetH), both enzymes require zinc for activation and binding of Hcy. Crystallographic analyses of MetE from T. maritima reveal an unusual dual-barrel structure in which the active site lies between the tops of the two (βα)(8) barrels. The fold of the N-terminal barrel confirms that it has evolved from the C-terminal polypeptide by gene duplication; comparisons of the barrels provide an intriguing example of homologous domain evolution in which binding sites are obliterated. The C-terminal barrel incorporates the zinc ion that binds and activates Hcy. The zinc-binding site in MetE is distinguished from the (Cys)(3)Zn site in the related enzymes, MetH and betaine–homocysteine methyltransferase, by its position in the barrel and by the metal ligands, which are histidine, cysteine, glutamate, and cysteine in the resting form of MetE. Hcy associates at the face of the metal opposite glutamate, which moves away from the zinc in the binary E·Hcy complex. The folate substrate is not intimately associated with the N-terminal barrel; instead, elements from both barrels contribute binding determinants in a binary complex in which the folate substrate is incorrectly oriented for methyl transfer. Atypical locations of the Hcy and folate sites in the C-terminal barrel presumably permit direct interaction of the substrates in a ternary complex. Structures of the binary substrate complexes imply that rearrangement of folate, perhaps accompanied by domain rearrangement, must occur before formation of a ternary complex that is competent for methyl transfer

Mapping the evidence of the effects of environmental factors on the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in the non-built environment: Protocol for a systematic evidence map

Background: Human, animal, and environmental health are increasingly threatened by the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance. Inappropriate use of antibiotic treatments commonly contributes to this threat, but it is also becoming apparent that multiple, interconnected environmental factors can play a significant role. Thus, a One Health approach is required for a comprehensive understanding of the environmental dimensions of antibiotic resistance and inform science-based decisions and actions. The broad and multidisciplinary nature of the problem poses several open questions drawing upon a wide heterogeneous range of studies. Objective: This study seeks to collect and catalogue the evidence of the potential effects of environmental factors on the abundance or detection of antibiotic resistance determinants in the outdoor environment, i.e., antibiotic resistant bacteria and mobile genetic elements carrying antibiotic resistance genes, and the effect on those caused by local environmental conditions of either natural or anthropogenic origin. Methods: Here, we describe the protocol for a systematic evidence map to address this, which will be performed in adherence to best practice guidelines. We will search the literature from 1990 to present, using the following electronic databases: MEDLINE, Embase, and the Web of Science Core Collection as well as the grey literature. We shall include full-text, scientific articles published in English. Reviewers will work in pairs to screen title, abstract and keywords first and then full-text documents. Data extraction will adhere to a code book purposely designed. Risk of bias assessment will not be conducted as part of this SEM. We will combine tables, graphs, and other suitable visualisation techniques to compile a database i) of studies investigating the factors associated with the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in the environment and ii) map the distribution, network, cross-disciplinarity, impact and trends in the literature.This work was supported by funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation programme under grant agreement No 773830: One Health European Joint Programme. The funder had no role in the development of this protocol.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Prognosis of Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis Without Heart Failure Symptoms.

BACKGROUND Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is increasingly recognized as a treatable cause of heart failure (HF). Advances in diagnosis and therapy have increased the number of patients diagnosed at early stages, but prognostic data on patients without HF symptoms are lacking. Moreover, it is unknown whether asymptomatic patients benefit from early initiation of transthyretin (TTR) stabilizers. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to describe the natural history and prognosis of ATTR-CM in patients without HF symptoms. METHODS Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with ATTR-CM without HF symptoms were retrospectively collected at 6 international amyloidosis centers. RESULTS A total of 118 patients (78.8% men, median age 66 years [IQR: 53.8-75 years], 68 [57.6%] with variant transthyretin amyloidosis, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 60.5% ± 9.9%, mean left ventricular wall thickness 15.4 ± 3.1 mm, and 53 [45%] treated with TTR stabilizers at baseline or during follow-up) were included. During a median follow-up period of 3.7 years (IQR: 1-6 years), 38 patients developed HF symptoms (23 New York Heart Association functional class II and 14 functional class III or IV), 32 died, and 2 required cardiac transplantation. Additionally, 20 patients received pacemakers, 13 developed AF, and 1 had a stroke. Overall survival was 96.5% (95% CI: 91%-99%), 90.4% (95% CI: 82%-95%), and 82% (95% CI: 71%-89%) at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Treatment with TTR stabilizers was associated with improved survival (HR: 0.31; 95% CI: 0.12-0.82; P = 0.019) and remained significant after adjusting for sex, age, ATTR-CM type, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (HR: 0.18; 95% CI: 0.06-0.55; P = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS After a median follow-up period of 3.7 years, 1 in 3 patients with asymptomatic ATTR-CM developed HF symptoms, and nearly as many died or required cardiac transplantation. Treatment with TTR stabilizers was associated with improved prognosis.This work was supported by grants from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI18/0765 and PI20/01379). Dr Gonzalez-Lopez has received speaker fees from Pfizer and Alnylam; has received consulting fees from Pfizer and Proclara; and has received research and educational support to her institution from Pfizer, BridgeBio, and Alnylam. Dr Obici has received speaker and consulting fees from Pfizer, Alnylam, and Akcea. Dr AbouEzzeddine has received research grant support from Pfizer. Dr Mussinelli has received speaker fees from Pfizer and Akcea. Dr Dispenzieri has received consulting fees from Janssen and Akcea; and has received research support from Pfizer, Alnylam, Celgene, and Takeda. Dr Perlini has received speaker and consulting fees from Pfizer, Alnylam, and Akcea. Dr Palladini has received speaker fees from Janssen-Cilag, Pfizer, and Siemens; and has participated on an advisory board for Janssen Cilag. Dr Damy has received research grants or consulting fees from Alnylam, Akcea, Pfizer, and Prothena. Dr Grogan has received research grant support and consulting fees to her institution from Alnylam, Eidos, Pfizer, and Prothena. Dr Maurer has received grant support from National Institutes of Health (R01HL139671-01, R21AG058348, and K24AG036778); has received consulting income from Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, Eidos, Prothena, Akcea, and Alnylam; and has received clinical trial funding to his institution from Pfizer, Prothena, Eidos, and Alnylam. Dr Garcia-Pavia has received speaker fees from Pfizer, BridgeBio, Alnylam, and Ionis; has received consulting fees from Pfizer, BridgeBio, AstraZeneca, NovoNordisk, Neuroimmune, Alnylam, Alexion, and Attralus; and has received research and educational support to his institution from Pfizer, BridgeBio, and Alnylam. All other authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.S