A barley cysteine-protease inhibitor reduces teh performance of two aphid species in artificial diets and transgenic arabidopsis plants

Cystatins from plants have been implicated in plant defense towards insects, based on their role as inhibitors of heterologous cysteine-proteinases. We have previously characterized thirteen genes encoding cystatins (HvCPI-1 to HvCPI-13) from barley (Hordeum vulgare), but only HvCPI-1 C68 → G, a variant generated by direct-mutagenesis, has been tested against insects. The aim of this study was to analyze the effects of the whole gene family members of barley cystatins against two aphids, Myzus persicae and Acyrthosiphon pisum. All the cystatins, except HvCPI-7, HvCPI-10 and HvCPI-12, inhibited in vitro the activity of cathepsin L- and/or B-like proteinases, with HvCPI-6 being the most effective inhibitor for both aphid species. When administered in artificial diets, HvCPI-6 was toxic to A. pisum nymphs (LC50 = 150 μg/ml), whereas no significant mortality was observed on M. persicae nymphs up to 1000 μg/ml. The effects of HvCPI-6 ingestion on A. pisum were correlated with a decrease of cathepsin B- and L-like proteinase activities. In the case of M. persicae, there was an increase of these proteolytic activities, but also of the aminopeptidase-like activity, suggesting that this species is regulating both target and insensitive enzymes to overcome the effects of the cystatin. To further analyze the potential of barley cystatins as insecticidal proteins against aphids, Arabidopsis plants expressing HvCPI-6 were tested against M. persicae. For A. pisum, which does not feed on Arabidopsis, a combined diet-Vicia faba plant bioassay was performed. A significant delay in the development time to reach the adult stage was observed in both species. The present study demonstrates the potential of barley cystatins to interfere with the performance of two aphid specie

Variación en la prevalencia de hipertensión arterial al emplear los criterios AHA-2017 en adultos de 2 poblaciones rurales de Ecuador

Objetivo: el objetivo de este estudio es evaluar la variaciónen la prevalencia de hipertensión arterial (HTA) al aplicar loscriterios del ACC/AHA 2017 en sujetos adultos de 2 poblacionesrurales de Ecuador.Materiales y métodos: Se realizó un estudio de campo, descriptivo,transversal que incluyó a 904 individuos de ambossexos de las parroquias rurales Cumbe y Quingeo. La prevalenciade HTA se determinó utilizando los criterios del JNC-7y del ACC/AHA 2017, calculándose el incremento relativo enla prevalencia.Resultados: De los 904 sujetos, 62,1% (n=561) fueron mujeres.La prevalencia global de HTA según el JNC-7 fue de17,4%, mientras que aplicando los criterios del ACC/AHA2017 fue de 50,4%, con un incremento relativo de prevalenciade 189,7%. Este aumento fue más importante en hombres,grupo etario más joven (18-44 años), los empleados yla clase media-alta.Conclusiones: existen importantes variaciones en la prevalenciade HTA al emplear los nuevos puntos de corte sugeridospor el ACC/AHA 2017, con un incremento considerablemayor de 180%. Sin embargo, no se recomienda su aplicacióna corto plazo en nuestra región considerando el impactoepidemiológico desfavorable que puede generar

Presbyopia:Effectiveness of correction strategies

Presbyopia is a global problem affecting over a billion people worldwide. The prevalence of unmanaged presbyopia is as high as 50% of those over 50 years of age in developing world populations due to a lack of awareness and accessibility to affordable treatment, and is even as high as 34% in developed countries. Definitions of presbyopia are inconsistent and varied, so we propose a redefinition that states “presbyopia occurs when the physiologically normal age-related reduction in the eye's focusing range reaches a point, when optimally corrected for distance vision, that the clarity of vision at near is insufficient to satisfy an individual's requirements”. Presbyopia is inevitable if one lives long enough, but intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors including cigarette smoking, pregnancy history, hyperopic or astigmatic refractive error, ultraviolet radiation, female sex (although accommodation is similar to males), hotter climates and some medical conditions such as diabetes can accelerate the onset of presbyopic symptoms. Whilst clinicians can ameliorate the symptoms of presbyopia with near vision spectacle correction, bifocal and progressive spectacle lenses, monovision, translating or multifocal contact lenses, monovision, extended depth of focus, multifocal (refractive, diffractive and asymmetric designs) or ‘accommodating’ intraocular lenses, corneal inlays, scleral expansion, laser refractive surgery (corneal monovision, corneal shrinkage, corneal multifocal profiles and lenticular softening), pharmacologic agents, and electro-stimulation of the ciliary muscle, none fully overcome presbyopia in all patients. While the restoration of natural accommodation or an equivalent remains elusive, guidance is gives on presbyopic correction evaluation techniques

Marketing turístico en los balnearios de agua dulce de la parroquia “La Avanzada”

El desarrollo sistemático del sector turístico del país se evidencia a través del crecimiento de la demanda de los centros de recreación y de sano esparcimiento que, en general, poseen un alto grado de posicionamiento en el target al cual están dirigidos. Concretamente en la parroquia “La Avanzada” ubicada en el cantón Santa Rosa de la Provincia de El Oro se observa que poseen 3 balnearios públicos de agua dulce, que se han visto en decaída en relación a la fluctuación de turistas debido al posicionamiento del Terminal Terrestre Binacional y el Aeropuerto Regional del cantón que es visitado frecuentemente por turistas propios y de otras procedencias. Mediante la elaboración de una propuesta que permita estructurar un plan de marketing turístico adecuando herramientas digitales y publicitarias se pretende potenciar el turismo en la parroquia antes nombrada. A través de los medios publicitarios necesarios como las herramientas tecnológicas y bajo un enfoque de marketing turístico, además de la utilización de lineamientos de publicidad ATL y BTL se busca la captación o reposicionamiento de estos balnearios en correspondencia a la aceptación y posterior incremento de la demanda en su uso

cAMINAR - Development and validation of novel smart systems to deliver RNA in the damaged spinal cord

The present proposal deals with a major challenge of biomedicine: the development of effective systems to administrate gene therapies in the damaged central nervous system. This challenge has a large socioeconomic impact, acknowledged in the European H2020 program through the network ERA-NET Neuron, as well as in the Spanish I+D+i 2020 strategy and its regional counterpart, the Estrategia de Especialización inteligente de Castilla La Mancha 2014- 2020 (RIS3)

Modifiable Risk Factors and Trends in Changes in Glucose Regulation during the First Three Years Postdelivery: The St Carlos Gestational Diabetes Mellitus Prevention Cohort

Objective: Evaluation of the influence of potential risk factors (RFs) on glycemic changes at 3 years postpartum. Methods: The glycemic status of 1400 women, in absence of a new pregnancy, was evaluated at 3 months (3 m) and 3 years (3 y) postpartum, after participation in the St. Carlos Gestational Study (2228 normoglycemic pregnant women followed from before gestational week 12 to delivery, from 2015–2017). Abnormal glucose regulation (AGR) was defined as fasting serum glucose ≥ 100 mg/dL and/or HbA1c ≥ 5.7% and/or 2 h 75 g OGTT glucose ≥ 140 mg/dL. In total, 12 modifiable and 3 unmodifiable RFs were analyzed. Results: 3 m postpartum, 110/1400 (7.9%) women had AGR; 3 y postpartum, 137 (9.8%) women exhibited AGR (110 with 3 m normal glucose tolerance [NGT]); 1263 (90.2%) had NGT (83 with 3 m AGR). More women with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) progressed to AGR at 3 y (OR: 1.60 [1.33–1.92]) than women without GDM. Yet, most women with 3 m and/or 3 y AGR had no GDM history. Having ≥2 unmodifiable RFs was associated with increased risk for progression to AGR (OR: 1.90 [1.28–2.83]) at 3 y postpartum. Having >5/12 modifiable RFs was associated with increased progression from NGT to AGR (OR: 1.40 [1.00–2.09]) and AGR persistence (OR: 2.57 [1.05–6.31]). Pregestational BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 (OR: 0.59 [0.41–0.85]), postdelivery weight gain (OR: 0.53 [0.29–0.94]), and waist circumference > 89.5 cm (OR: 0.54 [0.36–0.79]) reduced the likelihood of NGT persisting at 3 y. Conclusions: 3-month and/or 3-year postpartum AGR can be detected if sought in women with no prior GDM. Modifiable and unmodifiable RF predictors of AGR at 3 y postpartum were identified. Universal screening for glycemic alterations should be considered in all women following delivery, regardless of prior GDM. These findings could be useful to design personalized strategies in women with risk factors for 3 y AGR