Insulin and GLP-1 infusions demonstrate the onset of adipose-specific insulin resistance in a large fasting mammal: potential glucogenic role for GLP-1.

Prolonged food deprivation increases lipid oxidation and utilization, which may contribute to the onset of the insulin resistance associated with fasting. Because insulin resistance promotes the preservation of glucose and oxidation of fat, it has been suggested to be an adaptive response to food deprivation. However, fasting mammals exhibit hypoinsulinemia, suggesting that the insulin resistance-like conditions they experience may actually result from reduced pancreatic sensitivity to glucose/capacity to secrete insulin. To determine whether fasting results in insulin resistance or in pancreatic dysfunction, we infused early- and late-fasted seals (naturally adapted to prolonged fasting) with insulin (0.065 U/kg), and a separate group of late-fasted seals with low (10 pM/kg) or high (100 pM/kg) dosages of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) immediately following a glucose bolus (0.5g/kg), and measured the systemic and cellular responses. Because GLP-1 facilitates glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, these infusions provide a method to assess pancreatic insulin-secreting capacity. Insulin infusions increased the phosphorylation of insulin receptor and Akt in adipose and muscle of early and late fasted seals; however the timing of the signaling response was blunted in adipose of late fasted seals. Despite the dose-dependent increases in insulin and increased glucose clearance (high dose), both GLP-1 dosages produced increases in plasma cortisol and glucagon, which may have contributed to the glucogenic role of GLP-1. Results suggest that fasting induces adipose-specific insulin resistance in elephant seal pups, while maintaining skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity, and therefore suggests that the onset of insulin resistance in fasting mammals is an evolved response to cope with prolonged food deprivation

Increased diversity of libraries from libraries: chemoinformatic analysis of bis-diazacyclic libraries

Combinatorial libraries continue to play a key role in drug discovery. To increase structural diversity, several experimental methods have been developed. However, limited efforts have been performed so far to quantify the diversity of the broadly used diversity-oriented synthetic (DOS) libraries. Herein we report a comprehensive characterization of 15 bis-diazacyclic combinatorial libraries obtained through libraries from libraries, which is a DOS approach. Using MACCS keys, radial and different pharmacophoric fingerprints as well as six molecular properties, it was demonstrated the increased structural and property diversity of the libraries from libraries over the individual libraries. Comparison of the libraries to existing drugs, NCI Diversity and the Molecular Libraries Small Molecule Repository revealed the structural uniqueness of the combinatorial libraries (mean similarity < 0.5 for any fingerprint representation). In particular, bis-cyclic thiourea libraries were the most structurally dissimilar to drugs retaining drug-like character in property space. This study represents the first comprehensive quantification of the diversity of libraries from libraries providing a solid quantitative approach to compare and contrast the diversity of DOS libraries with existing drugs or any other compound collection

Finding Respondents from Minority Groups

The recruitment of respondents belonging to ethnic minorities poses important challenges in social and health research. This paper reflects on the enablers and barriers to recruitment that we encountered in our research work with persons belonging to ethnic minorities. Additionally, we applied the Matching Model of Recruitment, a theoretical framework concerning minority recruitment, to guide our reflection. We also explored its applicability as a research design tool. In assessing our research experience, we learned that minority recruitment in social and health research is influenced by the social context of all key players involved in the research. Also, there are enablers and barriers within that social context facilitating or delaying the recruitment process. The main enablers to recruit respondents belonging to ethnic minorities include working with community agencies and gatekeepers who share a common vision with researchers and the latter’s ability to gain the trust of potential respondents. The main barriers include demanding too much from these same community agencies and gatekeepers and ignoring factors that could delay the completion of the research. Although we found the Matching Model of Recruitment to be an effective tool in assessing the processes of recruiting respondents belonging to ethnic minorities, further empirical research is needed to explore its usefulness during the research planning phase

Estudio comparativo entre metodología de aula invertida y metodología tradicional en clases de español, inglés y matemáticas

The presence of new developments of technologies in the educational field requires an intensive intervention and adaptation toward the use of methodologies related to information technologies and communications (TICs) that contribute to the improvement of the students' academic performance. The objective of this article is to verify if there was a favorable impact on school performance with the use of the Inverted Classroom methodology in comparison with the use of the traditional methodology for the students of the ninth and tenth grade levels in the Spanish, English and Mathematics courses. On the other hand, in addition to goal was to offer a brief description of the concept of the Flipped Classroom with the review of some contributions derived from researchers as input for the students as well as the teachers. This study was of quantitative origin and with a quasi-experimental design. The sample was of 116 students divided into control group (65 students) and experimental group (51 students) of each subject. As an independent variable, the instruments applied were a pre-post test of academic achievement of each unit and the measurement of the results were analized using thet-Test statistical analysis system to verify its reliability. For the stadistical analysis, the IBM version 22 aplication was used.&nbsp;With respect to the results obtained, no statistically significant difference was observed between the pre-post tests before the experimental groups and control groups&nbsp;reasons that will be made known in the discussion and conclusion of the text. I have never seen this in a summary, it is normal to put them here.La presencia de nuevos avances tecnológicos en el ámbito educativo, exigen una intensa intervención y adaptación hacia el uso de metodologías relacionadas con las tecnologías de la información y las comunicaciones (TICs) que contribuyan al mejoramiento del rendimiento académico de los estudiantes. El objetivo de este artículo fue comprobar si existió un impacto favorable en el rendimiento escolar con el uso de la metodología de Aula Invertida en comparación con el uso de la metodología tradicional en los estudiantes de los niveles noveno y décimo grado en los cursos de español, inglés y matemáticas. Por otro lado, &nbsp;también se intentó dar una breve descripción del concepto de Aula invertida con la revisión de algunas aportaciones de investigadores como aporte hacia el estudiante y al profesorado. Este estudio es de corte cuantitativo y con un diseño cuasi-experimental. La muestra fue de 116 estudiantes y se dividió en grupo control (grupos de 65 estudiantes) y grupo experimental (grupos de 51 estudiantes) de cada asignatura con un total de 116 estudiantes. Como variable independiente, los instrumentos aplicados fueron sobre el rendimiento académico de cada unidad (pruebas pre-post), cuyos resultados fueron analizados utilizando la prueba estadística t de Student para comprobar su fiabilidad. Para el análisis estadístico se utilizó la aplicación IBM SPSS Versión 22. Con respecto a los resultados obtenidos, no se observó una diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre las pruebas pre-post entre los grupos experimental y grupos control motivos que se darán a conocer dentro de la discusión y conclusión del texto. Nunca he visto esto en un resumen, lo normal es que las pongan aquí

Resistance gene pool to co-trimoxazole in non-susceptible Nocardia strains

The soil-borne pathogen Nocardia sp. causes severe cutaneous, pulmonary, and central nervous system infections. Against them, co-trimoxazole (SXT) constitutes the mainstay of antimicrobial therapy. However, some Nocardia strains show resistance to SXT, but the underlying genetic basis is unknown. We investigated the presence of genetic resistance determinants and class 1-3 integrons in 76 SXT-resistant Nocardia strains by PCR and sequencing. By E test, these clinical strains showed SXT minimum inhibitory concentrations of ≥32:608 mg/L (ratio of 1:19 for trimethoprim: sulfamethoxazole). They belonged to 12 species, being the main representatives Nocardia farcinica (32%), followed by N. flavorosea (6.5%), N. nova (11.8%), N. carnea (10.5%), N. transvalensis (10.5%), and Nocardia sp. (6.5%). The prevalence of resistance genes in the SXT-resistant strains was as follows: sul1 and sul2 93.4 and 78.9%, respectively, dfrA(S1) 14.7%, blaTEM-1 and blaZ 2.6 and 2.6%, respectively, VIM-2 1.3%, aph(3')-IIIa 40.8%, ermA, ermB, mefA, and msrD 2.6, 77.6, 14.4, and 5.2%, respectively, and tet(O), tet(M), and tet(L) 48.6, 25.0, and 3.9%, respectively. Detected amino acid changes in GyrA were not related to fluoroquinolone resistance, but probably linked to species polymorphism. Class 1 and 3 integrons were found in 93.42 and 56.57% strains, respectively. Class 2 integrons and sul3 genes were not detected. Other mechanisms, different than dfrA(S1), dfrD, dfrF, dfrG, and dfrK, could explain the strong trimethoprim resistance shown by the other 64 strains. For first time, resistance determinants commonly found in clinically important bacteria were detected in Nocardia sp. sul1, sul2, erm(B), and tet(O) were the most prevalent in the SXT-resistant strains. The similarity in their resistome could be due to a common genetic platform, in which these determinants are co-transferred.This study was presented at the 54th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, ICAAC2014, Washington, DC, USA. We thank Adrian Burton for editing and language assistance (http://physicalevidence.es/english/welcome). We are very grateful to all persons who took part in this study, and to the sample providers.S

Spanish multicenter real – life registry of retrievable vena cava filters (REFiVeC)

Background The treatment of venous thromboembolic disease the treatment of choice is systemic anticoagulation. However, the interruption of the inferior vena cava with filters has been recommended when anticoagulation fails or there is a contraindication. Due to the rising inferior vena cava filter (IVCF) complications, physicians are encouraged to retrieve them when there is no longer recommended. In daily practice, it may be a difficult close follow-up of these patients. In this study, the primary objective was to evaluate the IVCF retrieval rate of all implanted filters in a Spanish registry. Secondary objectives were to analyze the causes of failed retrieval, procedure-related complications, and outcomes at a 12-month follow-up. Results Three hundred fifty-six vena cava filters were implanted in 355 patients. The types of filter were: Gunther Tulip (Cook Medical) 160 (44.9%), Optease (Cordis) 77 (21.6%), Celect (Cook Medical) 49 (13, 7%), Aegisy (Lifetech Scientific) 33 (9.2%), Option ELITE (Argon Medical devices) 16 (4.4%), Denali filter (BD Bard) 11 (3.08%), ALN filter (ALN) 10 (2.8%). Removal was achieved in 274/356 (76,9%). eighty-two (23,1%) IVCF were not retrieved due to the following: 41 (11,5%) patients required ongoing filtration, 24 IVCF (6,7%) patients died before retrieval, and 17 (4,7%) impossibility of retrieval because of a tilted and embedded filter apex. There were no major complications observed. Conclusions The global retrieval rate of IVCF was achieved in 76.9%, and the adjusted retrieval rate was of 94.15% with no major complications. IVCF tilting was associated with failure of filter removal in less than 5% of cases. This study demonstrates that the retrieval procedure of IVCF is controlled by the clinician and not by the interventional radiologist

Universidad inteligente: una visión de la adopción de la tecnología

Smart University is an emerging concept, strongly anchored to smart technologies and considered by different authors in the literature. Organizations, including universities, need to incorporate smart technologies to take advantage of their capabilities to transform their processes and drive them toward new organizational models. A Smart University focuses on improving its technological infrastructure for achieving its quality educational goals. This paper presents the integration of the key factors for adopting four smart technologies: Cloud Computing, Big Data, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet of Things. This characterization and integration allow us to conclude on the need to align digital technologies with the organization's processes, requiring greater interaction with the company’s senior management.Universidad inteligente es un concepto emergente, fuertemente anclado a las tecnologías inteligentes, y considerado por diferentes autores en la literatura. Las organizaciones, incluidas las universidades, necesitan incorporar las tecnologías inteligentes para aprovechar las capacidades que proporcionan para transformar sus procesos e impulsarlas hacia nuevos modelos organizativos. Una universidad inteligente se centra en la mejora de su infraestructura tecnológica para lograr sus objetivos educativos de calidad. Este trabajo presenta la integración de los factores clave para la adopción de cuatro tecnologías inteligentes: Computación en la nube, Big Data, Inteligencia Artificial, e Internet de las Cosas. Esta caracterización e integración nos permite concluir sobre la necesidad de alineación de las tecnologías digitales con los procesos de la organización, exigiendo una mayor interacción con la alta dirección de la empresa

Endocannabinoids mediate hyposalivation induced by inflammogens in the submandibular glands and hypothalamus

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the factors that could participate on salivary glands hypofunction during inflammation and the participation of endocannabinoids in hyposalivation induced by the presence of inflammogens in the submandibular gland (SMG) or in the brain. Design: Salivary secretion was assessed in the presence of inflammogens and/or the cannabinoid receptor antagonist AM251 in the SMG or in the brain of rats. At the end of the experiments, some systemic and glandular inflammatory markers were measured and histopathological analysis was performed. Results: The inhibitory effect observed 1 h after lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 50 μg/50 μl) injection into the SMG (ig) was completely prevented by the injection of AM251 (5 μg/50 μl) by the same route (P < 0.05). The LPS (ig)-induced increase in PGE2 content was not altered by AM251 (ig), while the glandular production of TNFa induced by the endotoxin (P < 0.001) was partially blocked by it. Also, LPS injection produced no significant changes in the wet weight of the SMG neither damage to lipid membranes of its cells, nor significant microscopic changes in them, after hispopathological analysis, compared to controls. Finally, TNFα (100 ng/5 μl) injected intracerebro-ventricularly (icv) inhibited methacholine-induced salivary secretion evaluated 30 min after (P < 0.01), but the previous injection of AM251 (500 ng/5 μl, icv) prevented completely that effect. Conclusion: We conclude that endocannabinoids mediate the hyposialia induced by inflammogens in the SMG and in the brain. The hypofunction would be due to changes on signalling pathway produced by inflammatory compounds since anatomical changes were not observed. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Fil: Prestifilippo, Juan Pablo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Fisiología; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas. Cátedra de Fisiopatología; ArgentinaFil: Medina, Vanina Araceli. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Fisicomatemática. Cátedra de Física; ArgentinaFil: Mohn, Claudia Ester. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Fisiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez, P. A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - CONICET - La Plata. Unidad de Administración Territorial; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología; ArgentinaFil: Elverdin, Juan Carlos. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Fisiología; ArgentinaFil: Fernández Solari, Jose Javier. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Odontología. Cátedra de Fisiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay; Argentin

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: A Review of Conventional and Advanced Therapeutic Strategies

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells are deficient in estrogen, progesterone and ERBB2 receptor expression, presenting a particularly challenging therapeutic target due to their highly invasive nature and relatively low response to therapeutics. There is an absence of specific treatment strategies for this tumor subgroup, and hence TNBC is managed with conventional therapeutics, often leading to systemic relapse. In terms of histology and transcription profile these cancers have similarities to BRCA-1-linked breast cancers, and it is hypothesized that BRCA1 pathway is non-functional in this type of breast cancer. In this review article, we discuss the different receptors expressed by TNBC as well as the diversity of different signaling pathways targeted by TNBC therapeutics, for example, Notch, Hedgehog, Wnt/b-Catenin as well as TGF-beta signaling pathways. Additionally, many epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors effectively inhibit the TNBCs, but they face challenges of either resistance to drugs or relapse. The resistance of TNBC to conventional therapeutic agents has helped in the advancement of advanced TNBC therapeutic approaches including hyperthermia, photodynamic therapy, as well as nanomedicine-based targeted therapeutics of drugs, miRNA, siRNA, and aptamers, which will also be discussed. Artificial intelligence is another tool that is presented to enhance the diagnosis of TNBC