Blunted Reducing Power Generation in Erythrocytes Contributes to Oxidative Stress in Prepubertal Obese Children with Insulin Resistance

Childhood obesity, and specifically its metabolic complications, are related to deficient antioxidant capacity and oxidative stress. Erythrocytes are constantly exposed to multiple sources of oxidative stress; hence, they are equipped with powerful antioxidant mechanisms requiring permanent reducing power generation and turnover. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) are two key enzymes on the pentose phosphate pathway. Both enzymes supply reducing power by generating NADPH, which is essential for maintaining the redox balance within the cell and the activity of other antioxidant enzymes. We hypothesized that obese children with insulin resistance would exhibit blunted G6PDH and 6PGDH activities, contributing to their erythrocytes' redox status imbalances. We studied 15 control and 24 obese prepubertal children, 12 of whom were insulin-resistant according to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). We analyzed erythroid malondialdehyde (MDA) and carbonyl group levels as oxidative stress markers. NADP+/NADPH and GSH/GSSG were measured to determine redox status, and NADPH production by both G6PDH and 6PGDH was assayed spectrophotometrically to characterize pentose phosphate pathway activity. Finally, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GR) activities were also assessed. As expected, MDA and carbonyl groups levels were higher at baseline and along the OGTT in insulin-resistant children. Both redox indicators showed an imbalance in favor of the oxidized forms along the OGTT in the insulin-resistant obese group. Additionally, the NADPH synthesis, as well as GR activity, were decreased. H2O2 removing enzyme activities were depleted at baseline in both obese groups, although after sugar intake only metabolically healthy obese participants were able to maintain their catalase activity. No change was detected in SOD activity between groups. Our results show that obese children with insulin resistance present higher levels of oxidative damage, blunted capacity to generate reducing power, and hampered function of key NADPH-dependent antioxidant enzymes.This research was funded by Spanish Government through the Carlos III Health Institute (Sanitary Research Fund (FIS)), code PI18/01316. A.G.-D. is supported by an intramural grant from the Biomedical Research and Innovation Institute of Cadiz (INiBICA), code LII19/16IN-CO24

Plant catalases as NO and H2S targets

Catalase is a powerful antioxidant metalloenzyme located in peroxisomes which also plays a central role in signaling processes under physiological and adverse situations. Whereas animals contain a single catalase gene, in plants this enzyme is encoded by a multigene family providing multiple isoenzymes whose number varies depending on the species, and their expression is regulated according to their tissue/organ distribution and the environmental conditions. This enzyme can be modulated by reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) as well as by hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Catalase is the major protein undergoing Tyr-nitration [post-translational modification (PTM) promoted by RNS] during fruit ripening, but the enzyme from diverse sources is also susceptible to undergo other activity-modifying PTMs. Data on S-nitrosation and persulfidation of catalase from different plant origins are given and compared here with results from obese children where S-nitrosation of catalase occurs. The cysteine residues prone to be S-nitrosated in catalase from plants and from bovine liver have been identified. These evidences assign to peroxisomes a crucial statement in the signaling crossroads among relevant molecules (NO and H2S), since catalase is allocated in these organelles. This review depicts a scenario where the regulation of catalase through PTMs, especially S-nitrosation and persulfidation, is highlighted

Evaluación de la satisfacción de los estudiantes de diferentes grados del área de Ciencias de la Salud, mediante la utilización de la plataforma Kahoot

El presente proyecto es una propuesta para evaluar la satisfacción de estudiantes universitarios sobre la planificación y el desarrollo de la actividad docente, en distintas asignaturas pertenecientes al Área de Ciencias de la Salud durante el curso 2017-2018, mediante el diseño de cuestionarios específicos y el uso de la plataforma Kahoot

Estrategias metodológicas enfocadas a la mejora del aprendizaje en estudiantes con diversidad

Diseño y desarrollo de estrategias metodológicas que faciliten el aprendizaje de los estudiantes en general y que permitan a los estudiantes con diversidad funcional la integración y participación en el proceso de aprendizaje, que refuercen su inclusión y que favorezcan la adquisición de competencias

Plataforma de aprendizaje Kahoot para la mejora de la enseñanza en diferentes grados del área de ciencias de la salud

La plataforma Kahoot es un sistema de respuesta personal o en grupo basado en el juego que transforma la clase en una competición entre los participantes. El objetivo de este proyecto ha sido utilizarla en las clases presenciales de distintas asignaturas del área de Ciencias de la Salud, como una nueva herramienta atractiva y accesible para los estudiantes, que permita una mejora del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje

¿Es útil Google Sites en la enseñanza Universitaria del Área de Ciencias de la Salud?

La elaboración de una página Web dentro del ámbito de la educación permite el diseño de una Recurso Educativo Abierto que podría estar englobado dentro de la metodología Flipped learning o clase invertida. Por ello, un grupo de profesores de la Facultad de Medicina y profesiones del ámbito de la Medicina y Odontología han elaborado un entorno formativo on-line específico, mediante la herramienta Google Sites, en una materia de conocimiento, como Bioquímica y Genética Molecular durante el curso 2019/2020. Esta página web se ha empleado en distintas asignaturas y ha facilitado la adquisición de algunas competencias que son comunes en distintas titulaciones universitarias

NGS-Based Molecular Karyotyping of Multiple Myeloma: Results from the GEM12 Clinical Trial

Simple Summary Multiple Myeloma (MM) is considered an incurable chronic disease, which prognosis depends on the presence of different genomic alterations. To accomplish a complete molecular diagnosis in a single essay, we have designed and validated a capture-based NGS approach to reliably identify pathogenic mutations (SNVs and indels), genomic alterations (CNVs and chromosomic translocations), and IGH rearrangements. We have observed a good correlation of the results obtained using our capture panel with data obtained by both FISH and WES techniques. In this study, the molecular classification performed using our approach was significantly associated with the stratification and outcome of MM patients. Additionally, this panel has been proven to detect specific IGH rearrangements that could be used as biomarkers in patient follow-ups through minimal residual disease (MRD) assays. In conclusion, we think that MM patients could benefit from the use of this capture-based NGS approach with a more accurate, single-essay molecular diagnosis. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has greatly improved our ability to detect the genomic aberrations occurring in multiple myeloma (MM); however, its transfer to routine clinical labs and its validation in clinical trials remains to be established. We designed a capture-based NGS targeted panel to identify, in a single assay, known genetic alterations for the prognostic stratification of MM. The NGS panel was designed for the simultaneous study of single nucleotide and copy number variations, insertions and deletions, chromosomal translocations and V(D)J rearrangements. The panel was validated using a cohort of 149 MM patients enrolled in the GEM2012MENOS65 clinical trial. The results showed great global accuracy, with positive and negative predictive values close to 90% when compared with available data from fluorescence in situ hybridization and whole-exome sequencing. While the treatments used in the clinical trial showed high efficacy, patients defined as high-risk by the panel had shorter progression-free survival (p = 0.0015). As expected, the mutational status of TP53 was significant in predicting patient outcomes (p = 0.021). The NGS panel also efficiently detected clonal IGH rearrangements in 81% of patients. In conclusion, molecular karyotyping using a targeted NGS panel can identify relevant prognostic chromosomal abnormalities and translocations for the clinical management of MM patients

Aplicación de la WebQuest en la enseñanza universitaria del área de Ciencias de la Salud

El presente proyecto es una propuesta para evaluar el uso de la WebQuest en la docencia de la asignatura de Bioquímica Humana durante el curso 2018-2019. Esta actividad de investigación es una estrategia de aprendizaje que fomenta la adquisición de habilidades como el análisis, la integración de conocimientos, la capacidad de resolución de problemas y el aprendizaje cooperativo, por lo que podría ser útil para la docencia del área de ciencias de la salud

A Methodology to Detect and Update Active Deformation Areas Based on Sentinel-1 SAR Images

This work is focused on deformation activity mapping and monitoring using Sentinel-1 (S 1) data and the DInSAR (Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) technique. The main goal is to present a procedure to periodically update and assess the geohazard activity (volcanic activity, landslides and ground-subsidence) of a given area by exploiting the wide area coverage and the high coherence and temporal sampling (revisit time up to six days) provided by the S-1 satellites. The main products of the procedure are two updatable maps: the deformation activity map and the active deformation areas map. These maps present two different levels of information aimed at different levels of geohazard risk management, from a very simplified level of information to the classical deformation map based on SAR interferometry. The methodology has been successfully applied to La Gomera, Tenerife and Gran Canaria Islands (Canary Island archipelago). The main obtained results are discussed.Geomatics Division, Centre Tecnològic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya, EspañaEarth Sciences Department, University of Firenze, ItalyGeohazards InSAR laboratory and Modelling Group, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, EspañaCentro Nacional de Información Geográfica, Instituto Geográfico Nacional, EspañaUnidad de Granada, Instituto Geológico y Minero de España, Españ