Consumption of a Western Diet Enhanced Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer and Dysbiosis of the Fecal Microbiome in Mice Notwithstanding Dietary Intervention or Fecal Microbiome Transfer

In a rodent model of inflammation-associated colorectal cancer, consumption of a Western-style diet increases gut inflammation and enhances risk of developing colon tumors. The goal of this dissertation was to understand the contribution of bacteria within the large intestine on colon inflammation and colon tumorigenesis. Two pre-clinical animal studies were performed using two different intervention strategies to shift the microbiome, and potentially gut inflammation and tumor development: 1) an experiment using dietary supplementation with black raspberries, a functional food enriched in bioactive anthocyanins with purported antiinflammatory activity, and 2) an experiment using fecal microbiota transfer from mice fed a healthy diet with low symptoms of colitis or mice fed a Western diet with severe symptoms of colitis to recipient mice fed either the healthy or Western diet directly. Dietary supplementation with black raspberries did reduce colon tumor number, irrespective of the basal diet, and caused significant shifts in the composition of the gut microbiome. Fecal microbiota transfer from mice with severe colitis did not exacerbate colitis in recipient mice fed a healthy diet, nor did transfer from mice with low symptoms protect mice fed a Western diet. However, for both experiments, we determined that the basal diet fed to the recipient mice was the driving factor affecting the gut inflammation and colon tumorigenesis

Fast spiking GABAergic interneurons in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex of non-human primate: Comparison study to mice and human, with focus on subthreshold intrinsic properties

Fast spiking (FS) parvalbumin expressing cells are one of the three major subpopulations of GABAergic interneurons. They generally show a consistent set of electrophysiological features across brain areas and species: short and narrow action potentials and capability of high frequency firing. This features are believed to be crucial for fast inhibition and generation of network oscillations associated with various cognitive phenomena. However, it is unclear whether other intrinsic properties of FS interneurons vary across species and/or brain areas. This study map out the subthreshold intrinsic properties of FS neurons of mouse, macaque and human. Features are derived from intracellular recordings of acute slices from two different databases (© 2018 Allen Brain Atlas: Allen Cell Type Database and NHP database from the Martinez Trujillo Laboratory). To classify FS interneurons in primates we developed a model based on parvalbumin specific mouse lines. Our results showed significant differences in almost all considered features. Primate neurons were more alike, having higher excitability and sag amplitude; however, between primates macaque cells reached higher values which may be due to differences in sampled brain region

Basal Diet Determined Long-Term Composition of the Gut Microbiome and Mouse Phenotype to a Greater Extent than Fecal Microbiome Transfer from Lean or Obese Human Donors

The Western dietary pattern can alter the gut microbiome and cause obesity and metabolic disorders. To examine the interactions between diet, the microbiome, and obesity, we transplanted gut microbiota from lean or obese human donors into mice fed one of three diets for 22 weeks: (1) a control AIN93G diet; (2) the total Western diet (TWD), which mimics the American diet; or (3) a 45% high-fat diet-induced obesity (DIO) diet. We hypothesized that a fecal microbiome transfer (FMT) from obese donors would lead to an obese phenotype and aberrant glucose metabolism in recipient mice that would be exacerbated by consumption of the TWD or DIO diets. Prior to the FMT, the native microbiome was depleted using an established broad-spectrum antibiotic protocol. Interestingly, the human donor body type microbiome did not significantly affect final body weight or body composition in mice fed any of the experimental diets. Beta diversity analysis and linear discriminant analysis with effect size (LEfSe) showed that mice that received an FMT from obese donors had a significantly different microbiome compared to mice that received an FMT from lean donors. However, after 22 weeks, diet influenced the microbiome composition irrespective of donor body type, suggesting that diet is a key variable in the shaping of the gut microbiome after FMT

Dietary Intervention with Black Raspberries to Reduce Colitis Symptoms in Mice Fed Either Standard AIN93G Diet or the Total Western Diet (P05-021-19)

Approximately 1.4 million people suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, which is a major risk factor for developing colitis associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Dietary interventions with the goal to reduce colon inflammation and encourage gut microbiome homeostasis may be a strategy to reduce the risk of CAC. The antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds present in black raspberries (BRB) have demonstrated protective effects in the colon epithelium and may alter the composition of the gut microbiome. Previously, we showed that dietary supplementation with black raspberries significantly suppressed colitis and colon tumorigenesis promoted by the consumption of a Western type diet in mice. The goal of this study was to compare the efficacy of dietary intervention with whole, freeze-dried black raspberries on colitis and colon tumorigenesis in mice consuming either a standard diet or a Western type diet that emulates typical U.S. nutrient intakes

Early rapid weight gain and subsequent overweight and obesity in middle childhood in Peru

En: BMC Obesity, 3: 55, doi:10.1186/s40608-016-0135-zBackground: Rapid postnatal weight gain is associated with risk of overweight and obesity, but it’s unclear whether this holds in populations exposed to concurrent obesogenic risk factors and for children who have been extensively breastfed. This study investigates whether an increase in weight for age from birth to 1 year (infancy) and from 1 to 5 years (early childhood) predicts overweight and obesity, and waist circumference at 8 years, using data from a longitudinal cohort study in Peru. Methods: Generalized estimating equations (GEE) models were constructed for overweight and obesity, obesity alone and waist circumference at 8 years versus rapid weight gain in infancy, and early childhood including adjusted models to account for confounders. Results: Rapid weight gain in both periods was associated with double the risk of overweight and obesity, obesity alone at 8 years and increased waist circumference even after controlling for maternal BMI and education level, sex of child, height-for-age at 8 years, consumption of “fast food” and number of days of active exercise. The association was significant, with some differences, for children in both rural and urban environments. Conclusions: Rapid weight gain in infancy and in early childhood in Peru is associated with overweight and obesity at age 8 years even when considering other determinants of childhood obesity

La historia de las mujeres campesinas de la comunidad La Esperanza, cantón Sígsig (1940-1992)

La historia de las mujeres campesinas es amplia, compleja y fundamental para comprender los procesos sociales, culturales, políticos y económicos de una comunidad, una ciudad o un país. De este modo, el presente estudio investiga las actividades, los roles, la presencia y la situación de la mujer campesina en la historia de la comunidad La Esperanza del cantón Sígsig, provincia del Azuay, Ecuador. Asimismo, se mencionan aspectos presentes en la historia de la mujer como: la educación, la medicina tradicional y la salud, la hacienda, la reforma agraria y sus roles en la comunidad y en la familia. Esta investigación se llevó a cabo a través del enfoque cualitativo mediante el método etnográfico que permitió conocer los relatos de la vida de las mujeres de La Esperanza, quienes a través de testimonios dieron a conocer la incidencia de la mujer, desde su niñez hasta su adultez. A pesar de tener presente desafíos relacionados con desigualdad y la falta de accesibilidad a la educación y a la salud, la mujer campesina de La Esperanza figura como un sujeto activo en la comunidad; lograron cambios y desarrollo en la misma desde la conformación, en 1940, hasta la consolidación de la “nueva” Esperanza, en 1992The history of rural women is broad, complex, and fundamental to understanding the social, cultural, political, and economic processes of a community, a city, or a country. Thus, this study investigates the activities, roles, presence, and situation of rural women in the history of the community of La Esperanza in the canton of Sígsig, province of Azuay, Ecuador. It also mentions aspects of the history of women such as education, traditional medicine, and health, the hacienda, agrarian reform, and roles in the community and family. This research was carried out through a qualitative approach using the ethnographic method that allowed access to the life stories of the women of La Esperanza, who through their testimonies revealed the incidence of women, from their childhood to their adulthood. Despite the challenges related to inequality and lack of access to education and health, the rural women of La Esperanza have been an active subject in the community and have achieved changes and development in the community since its conformation in 1940 until the consolidation of the "new" Esperanza in 1992.Licenciado en Pedagogía de la Historia y de las Ciencias SocialesCuenc

Análisis de las políticas de crédito utilizadas por las Pequeñas y Medianas Empresas (PYMES) dedicadas a la comercialización de electrodomésticos y su impacto en el crecimiento de éste sector económico en el cantón Naranjal

La investigación presente refleja la problemática que existe desde los años 90 y se mantienes hasta la actualidad en el sector comercial, la falta de políticas eficaces en las Empresas. El enfoque principal de este trabajo es a las Pequeñas y Medianas Empresas (PYMES) que se dedican a la comercialización de electrodomésticos. Las Medianas y Pequeñas Empresas (PYMES) que se dedican a la comercialización de electrodomésticos hacen sus ventas a crédito en su gran mayoría, vienen representado un componente importante en la economía convirtiéndose en generadores de empleo. Con la comodidad de adquirir electrodomésticos a crédito, se facilita la adquisición de las mismas pero surge un riesgo en el funcionamiento de la cartera de crédito. Conforme a lo planteado el enfoque es desarrollar una profunda investigación con los conocimientos empresariales y financieros necesarios, para la realización de esta investigación. La investigación y la propuesta surge de la falta de conocimientos técnicos de cómo se realiza un eficiente proceso de otorgamiento de crédito a un cliente, surge la necesidad de implementar esta investigación y proponer la creación de un programa de formación de expertos en la gestión de crédito y cobranzas especializado en Pequeñas y Medianas Empresas (PYMES) dirigido por la Empresa Pública de la Universidad Estatal de Milagro (EPUNEMI). El otorgamiento de crédito a los clientes debe ser responsable desde el almacén hacia el cliente, por lo tanto debe existir políticas, procesos y reglamento bien estructurados para el crédito, buscando un objetivo común dar y recibir, haciéndoles responsables a los clientes con la deuda contraída. La propuesta está vinculada con la mejora de los procesos de las PYMES a nivel nacional a través de capacitación, mediante la creación de un programa de formación de expertos en gestión de crédito y cobranzas al personal encargado de esta actividad

Social Effectiveness of Tertiary Education for Adults in Mid-life

No abstract available