Prognostic value of plasma pentraxin 3 levels in patients with septic shock admitted to intensive care

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of a new marker, pentraxin, as a prognostic marker in septic shock patients. Materials and methods: Single-centre prospective observational study that included all consecutive patients 18 years or older who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with septic shock. Serum levels of procalcitonin (PCT), C reactive protein (CRP) and pentraxin (PTX3) were measured on ICU admission. Results: Seventy-five septic shock patients were included in the study. The best predictors of inhospital mortality were the severity scores: SAPS II (AUC = 0.81), SOFA (AUC = 0.79) and APACHE II (AUC = 0.73). The ROC curve for PTX3 (ng/mL) yielded an AUC of 0.70, higher than the AUC for PCT (0.43) and CRP (0.48), but lower than lactate (0.79). Adding PTX3 to the logistic model increased the predictive capacity in relation to SAPS II, SOFA and APACHE II for in-hospital mortality (AUC 0.814, 0.795, and 0.741, respectively). In crude regression models, significant associations were found between in-hospital mortality and PTX3. This positive association increased after adjusting for age, sex and immunosuppression: adjusted OR T3 for PTX3 = 7.83, 95% CI 1.35?45.49, linear P trend = 0.024. Conclusion: Our results support the prognostic value of a single determination of plasma PTX3 as a predictor of hospital mortality in septic shock patients

Memoria de actividades del INTA Patagonia Norte 2018 - 2020

Con el objetivo de exponer las actividades y logros más destacados del Centro Regional Patagonia Norte, presentamos la memoria de actividades del ciclo 2018-2020 que recopila las investigaciones, trabajos de difusión en sus diversos formatos y actividades realizadas por las distintas unidades. Contempla el trabajo llevado adelante en las tres Estaciones Experimentales Agropecuarias: la EEA Bariloche, la EEA Alto Valle, la EEA Valle Inferior y el Área de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Agricultura Familiar (IPAF) y en las Agencias de Extensión Rural distribuidas en el territorio de las provincias de Río Negro y Neuquén. Este compilado pretende ser un resumen de los temas priorizados y orientados a la resolución de los problemas y demandas del territorio que es llevado adelante por nuestro personal profesional, técnico y de apoyo, con responsabilidad y compromiso hacia la sociedad. Asimismo, esta memoria incluye un abundante número de convenios celebrados que son el resultado del fortalecimiento de las políticas de vinculación y relacionamiento del Centro Regional. Destacamos el trabajo de todo el personal que en el año 2020 redobló sus esfuerzos por continuar con las actividades esenciales mediante la implementación de protocolos trabajo en la presencialidad y el uso de sistemas digitales de comunicación para asegurar la continuidad de las actividades a distancia. En este contexto fue necesario readaptar nuestras formas de comunicarnos y de relacionarnos para cumplir con los requerimientos institucionales y las demandas en el territorio. Agradecemos a las familias productoras, organizaciones, instituciones, gobiernos provinciales, municipales, Universidades, comunidad científica, profesionales y la comunidad en general que conforman el entramado territorial de la Norpatagonia.EEA Alto ValleFil: Castilla Florencia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro Regional Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Lacoste, Pablo Martin. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro Regional Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Lagorio, Paula. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Beretta, Gabriela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Perez, Sonia del Carmen. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Valle Inferior del Río Negro; ArgentinaFil: Izaguirre, Sebastian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro Regional Patagonia Norte. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Alto Valle; Argentin

Memoria de actividades del INTA Patagonia Norte 2021

Se presenta la memoria institucional del CR Patagonia Norte con los temas priorizados por las distintas unidades durante el 2021. Contiene enlaces directos a cada publicación para facilitar el acceso y consulta de los materiales. Con el objetivo de exponer las actividades y logros más destacados del Centro Regional Patagonia Norte, presentamos la memoria de actividades del 2021 que recopila las investigaciones, trabajos de difusión en sus diversos formatos y actividades realizadas por las distintas unidades. Contempla el trabajo llevado adelante en las tres Estaciones Experimentales Agropecuarias: la EEA Bariloche, la EEA Alto Valle, la EEA Valle Inferior y el Área de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Agricultura Familiar (IPAF) en Patagonia y en las Agencias de Extensión Rural distribuidas en el territorio de las provincias de Río Negro y Neuquén. Este compilado pretende ser un resumen de los temas priorizados y orientados a la resolución de los problemas y demandas del territorio que es llevado adelante por nuestro personal profesional, técnico y de apoyo, con responsabilidad y compromiso hacia la sociedad. Este documento digital contiene enlaces directos a cada publicación para facilitar el acceso y consulta de los materiales.EEA Alto ValleFil: Castilla Florencia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro Regional Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Lacoste, Pablo Martin. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro Regional Patagonia Norte; ArgentinaFil: Lagorio, Paula. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Beretta, Gabriela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Perez, Sonia del Carmen. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Valle Inferior del Río Negro; ArgentinaFil: Izaguirre, Sebastian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Alto Valle; Argentin

Nanoinformatics: developing new computing applications for nanomedicine

Nanoinformatics has recently emerged to address the need of computing applications at the nano level. In this regard, the authors have participated in various initiatives to identify its concepts, foundations and challenges. While nanomaterials open up the possibility for developing new devices in many industrial and scientific areas, they also offer breakthrough perspectives for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. In this paper, we analyze the different aspects of nanoinformatics and suggest five research topics to help catalyze new research and development in the area, particularly focused on nanomedicine. We also encompass the use of informatics to further the biological and clinical applications of basic research in nanoscience and nanotechnology, and the related concept of an extended ?nanotype? to coalesce information related to nanoparticles. We suggest how nanoinformatics could accelerate developments in nanomedicine, similarly to what happened with the Human Genome and other -omics projects, on issues like exchanging modeling and simulation methods and tools, linking toxicity information to clinical and personal databases or developing new approaches for scientific ontologies, among many others

Integrated GWAS and Gene Expression Suggest ORM1 as a Potential Regulator of Plasma Levels of Cell-Free DNA and Thrombosis Risk

Plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a surrogate marker of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that contribute to immunothrombosis. There is growing interest about the mechanisms underlying NET formation and elevated cfDNA, but little is known about the factors involved. We aimed to identify genes involved in the regulation of cfDNA levels using data from the Genetic Analysis of Idiopathic Thrombophilia (GAIT-2) Project. Imputed genotypes, whole blood RNA-Seq data, and plasma cfDNA quantification were available for 935 of the GAIT-2 participants from 35 families with idiopathic thrombophilia. We performed heritability and GWAS analysis for cfDNA. The heritability of cfDNA was 0.26 ( p  = 3.7 × 10 (−6) ), while the GWAS identified a significant association (rs1687391, p  = 3.55 × 10 (−10) ) near the ORM1 gene, on chromosome 9. An eQTL (expression quantitative trait loci) analysis revealed a significant association between the lead GWAS variant and the expression of ORM1 in whole blood ( p  = 6.14 × 10 (−9) ). Additionally, ORM1 expression correlated with levels of cfDNA ( p  = 4.38 × 10 (−4) ). Finally, genetic correlation analysis between cfDNA and thrombosis identified a suggestive association ( ρ (g)  = 0.43, p  = 0.089). All in all, we show evidence of the role of ORM1 in regulating cfDNA levels in plasma, which might contribute to the susceptibility to thrombosis through mechanisms of immunothrombosis

Gene-environment interaction analysis of redox-related metals and genetic variants with plasma metabolic patterns in a general population from Spain: The Hortega Study

Background: Limited studies have evaluated the joint influence of redox-related metals and genetic variation on metabolic pathways. We analyzed the association of 11 metals with metabolic patterns, and the interacting role of candidate genetic variants, in 1145 participants from the Hortega Study, a population-based sample from Spain. Methods: Urine antimony (Sb), arsenic, barium (Ba), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), molybdenum (Mo) and vanadium (V), and plasma copper (Cu), selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) were measured by ICP-MS and AAS, respectively. We summarized 54 plasma metabolites, measured with targeted NMR, by estimating metabolic principal components (mPC). Redox-related SNPs (N = 291) were measured by oligo-ligation assay. Results: In our study, the association with metabolic principal component (mPC) 1 (reflecting non-essential and essential amino acids, including branched chain, and bacterial co-metabolism versus fatty acids and VLDL subclasses) was positive for Se and Zn, but inverse for Cu, arsenobetaine-corrected arsenic (As) and Sb. The association with mPC2 (reflecting essential amino acids, including aromatic, and bacterial co-metabolism) was inverse for Se, Zn and Cd. The association with mPC3 (reflecting LDL subclasses) was positive for Cu, Se and Zn, but inverse for Co. The association for mPC4 (reflecting HDL subclasses) was positive for Sb, but inverse for plasma Zn. These associations were mainly driven by Cu and Sb for mPC1; Se, Zn and Cd for mPC2; Co, Se and Zn for mPC3; and Zn for mPC4. The most SNP-metal interacting genes were NOX1, GSR, GCLC, AGT and REN. Co and Zn showed the highest number of interactions with genetic variants associated to enriched endocrine, cardiovascular and neurological pathways. Conclusions: Exposures to Co, Cu, Se, Zn, As, Cd and Sb were associated with several metabolic patterns involved in chronic disease. Carriers of redox-related variants may have differential susceptibility to metabolic alterations associated to excessive exposure to metals.This work was supported by the Strategic Action for Research in Health sciences [CP12/03080, PI15/00071, PI10/0082, PI13/01848, PI14/00874, PI16/01402, PI21/00506 and PI11/00726], CIBER Fisio patología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN) (CIBER-02-08-2009, CB06/03 and CB12/03/30,016), the State Agency for Research (PID2019-108973RB- C21 and C22), the Valencia Government (GRUPOS 03/101; PROMETEO/2009/029 and ACOMP/2013/039, IDI FEDER/2021/072 and GRISOLIAP/2021/119), the Castilla-Leon Government (GRS/279/A/08) and European Network of Excellence Ingenious Hypercare (EPSS-037093) from the European Commission. The Strategic Action for Research in Health sciences, CIBERDEM and CIBEROBN are initiatives from Carlos III Health Institute Madrid and cofunded with European Funds for Regional Development (FEDER). The State Agency for Research and Carlos III Health Institute belong to the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. ADR received the support of a fellowship from “la Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434) (fellowship code “LCF/BQ/DR19/11740016”). MGP received the support of a fellowship from “la Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434, fellowship code LCFLCF/BQ/DI18/11660001). The funding bodies had no role in the design of the study and collection, analysis, and interpretation of data and in writing the manuscript.S

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

Analysis of the Promoters Involved in Enterocin AS-48 Expression

The enterocin AS-48 is the best characterized antibacterial circular protein in prokaryotes. It is a hydrophobic and cationic bacteriocin, which is ribosomally synthesized by enterococcal cells and post-translationally cyclized by a head-to-tail peptide bond. The production of and immunity towards AS-48 depend upon the coordinated expression of ten genes organized in two operons, as-48ABC (where genes encoding enzymes with processing, secretion, and immunity functions are adjacent to the structural as-48A gene) and as-48C1DD1EFGH. The current study describes the identification of the promoters involved in AS-48 expression. Seven putative promoters have been here amplified, and separately inserted into the promoter-probe vector pTLR1, to create transcriptional fusions with the mCherry gene used as a reporter. The activity of these promoter regions was assessed measuring the expression of the fluorescent mCherry protein using the constitutive pneumococcal promoter PX as a reference. Our results revealed that only three promoters PA, P2(2) and PD1 were recognized in Enterococcus faecalis, Lactococcus lactis and Escherichia coli, in the conditions tested. The maximal fluorescence was obtained with PX in all the strains, followed by the P2(2) promoter, which level of fluorescence was 2-fold compared to PA and 4-fold compared to PD1. Analysis of putative factors influencing the promoter activity in single and double transformants in E. faecalis JH2-2 demonstrated that, in general, a better expression was achieved in presence of pAM401-81. In addition, the P2(2) promoter could be regulated in a negative fashion by genes existing in the native pMB-2 plasmid other than those of the as-48 cluster, while the pH seems to affect differently the as-48 promoter expression.This work was supported in part by the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación project BIO2008-01708, the Plan Propio from the University of Granada (Spain) and by the Research Plan Group (BIO 160)

Probing the hydrothermal system of the Chicxulub impact crater

The ~180-km-diameter Chicxulub peak-ring crater and ~240-km multiring basin, produced by the impact that terminated the Cretaceous, is the largest remaining intact impact basin on Earth. International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) and International Continental Scientific Drilling Program (ICDP) Expedition 364 drilled to a depth of 1335 m below the sea floor into the peak ring, providing a unique opportunity to study the thermal and chemical modification of Earth’s crust caused by the impact. The recovered core shows the crater hosted a spatially extensive hydrothermal system that chemically and mineralogically modified ~1.4 × 105 km3 of Earth’s crust, a volume more than nine times that of the Yellowstone Caldera system. Initially, high temperatures of 300° to 400°C and an independent geomagnetic polarity clock indicate the hydrothermal system was long lived, in excess of 106 years