194 research outputs found
Silver colloids as plasmonic substrates for direct label-free surface-enhanced Raman scattering analysis of DNA
Ultrasensitive direct SERS analysis offers a powerful analytical tool for the structural characterization and classification of nucleic acids. However, acquisition of reliable spectral fingerprints of such complex biomolecules poses important challenges. In recent years, many efforts have been devoted to overcome these limitations, mainly implementing silver colloids as plasmonic substrates. However, a reliable cross-comparison of results reported in the recent literature is extremely hard to achieve, mostly due to the broad set of different surface properties of the plasmonic nanoparticles. Herein, we perform a thorough investigation of the role played by the metal/liquid interface composition of silver colloids in the direct label-free SERS analysis of DNA. Target molecules of increasing complexity, from short homopolymeric strands to long genomic duplexes, were used as probes. We demonstrate how apparently subtle changes in the colloidal surface chemistry can dramatically modify the affinity and the final SERS spectral profile of DNA. This has significant implications for the future design of new analytical strategies for the detection of DNA using SERS without labels
Mosca de los cuernos, Haematobia irritans irritans (Linnaeus 1758) (Diptera: Muscidae). Contribuciones para su conocimiento en la Argentina. III. Aspectos morfolĂłgicos bĂĄsicos de los estados preadultos. Ciclo biolĂłgico
Fil: Abrahamovich, Alberto H.. Laboratorio de ApidologĂa. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Cicchino, Armando Conrado. DivisiĂłn EntomologĂa. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Prieto, Olegario H.. CĂĄtedra de ParasitologĂa y enfermedades parasitarias de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. UBA; ArgentinaFil: Torres, Pablo R.. Ărea de ParasitologĂa y enfermedades parasitarias de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. UBA; ArgentinaFil: Nuñez, Jorge L.. CĂĄtedra de ParasitologĂa y enfermedades parasitarias de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. UBA; Argentin
Mosca de los cuernos, Haematobia irritans irritans (Linnaeus 1758) (Diptera: Muscidae). Contribuciones para su conocimiento en la Argentina. II. Estado adulto: dimorfismo sexual y diferenciaciĂłn con otros mĂșscidos hallados sobre el pelaje de los bovinos
Fil: Cicchino, Armando Conrado. DivisiĂłn EntomologĂa. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Abrahamovich, Alberto H.. Laboratorio de ApidologĂa. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Torres, Pablo R.. Ărea de ParasitologĂa y enfermedades parasitarias de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. UBA; ArgentinaFil: Nuñez, Jorge L.. CĂĄtedra de ParasitologĂa y enfermedades parasitarias de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. UBA; ArgentinaFil: Prieto, Olegario H.. CĂĄtedra de ParasitologĂa y enfermedades parasitarias de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. UBA; Argentin
Reassessment of genotype 1 hepatitis c virus subtype misclassification by LiPA 2.0: implications for direct-acting antiviral treatment
The accuracy of LiPA 2.0 for hepatitis C virus 1 (HCV-1) subtype classification was analyzed. LiPA 2.0 genotype results from 101 HCV-1-infected patients were compared to genotype findings determined by direct core sequencing. Eleven (11%) samples were misclassified. Given the influence of the HCV-1-subtype in the anti-HCV therapy response, an alternative classification method is warranted.Fil: Guelfo, Javier R.. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; EspañaFil: Macias, Juan. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; EspañaFil: Neukam, Karin. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; EspañaFil: Di Lello, Federico Alejandro. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; España. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas; ArgentinaFil: Mira JosĂ© Antonio. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; EspañaFil: Merchante, NicolĂĄs. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; EspañaFil: Mancebo, MarĂa. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; EspañaFil: Nuñez Torres, RocĂo. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; EspañaFil: Pineda, Juan A.. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; EspañaFil: Real. Luis M.. Hospital Universitario de Valme. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas y MicrobiologĂa; Españ
Mosca de los cuernos, Haematobia irritans irritans (Linnaeus 1758) (Diptera: Muscidae). Contribuciones para su conocimiento en la Argentina. IV. Relaciones con los hospedadores
Fil: Prieto, Olegario H.. CĂĄtedra de ParasitologĂa y enfermedades parasitarias de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. UBA; ArgentinaFil: Torres, Pablo R.. Ărea de ParasitologĂa y enfermedades parasitarias de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. UBA; ArgentinaFil: Abrahamovich, Alberto H.. Laboratorio de ApidologĂa. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Cicchino, Armando Conrado. DivisiĂłn EntomologĂa. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Nuñez, Jorge L.. CĂĄtedra de ParasitologĂa y enfermedades parasitarias de la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. UBA; Argentin
Elastic Scattering and Total Reaction Cross Section for the 6He + 27Al System
The elastic scattering of the radioactive halo nucleus 6He on 27Al target was
measured at four energies close to the Coulomb barrier using the RIBRAS
(Radioactive Ion Beams in Brazil) facility. The Sao Paulo Potential(SPP) was
used and its diffuseness and imaginary strength were adjusted to fit the
elastic scattering angular distributions. Reaction cross-sections were
extracted from the optical model fits. The reduced reaction cross-sections of
6He on 27Al are similar to those for stable, weakly bound projectiles as
{6,7}Li, 9Be and larger than stable, tightly bound projectile as 16O on 27Al.Comment: 7 pages, 1 table, 3 figure
Rift Valley fever virus and European mosquitoes vector competence of Culex pipiens and Stegomyia albopicta (= Aedes albopictus)
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne disease caused by the Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV). Rift Valley fever affects a large number of species, including human, and has severe impact on public health and the economy, especially in African countries. The present study examined the vector competence of three different European mosquito species, Culex pipiens (Linnaeus, 1758) form molestus (Diptera Culicidae), Culex pipiens hybrid form and Stegomyia albopicta (= Aedes albopictus) (Skuse, 1894) (Diptera Culicidae). Mosquitoes were artificially fed with blood containing RVFV. Infection, disseminated infection and transmission efficiency were evaluated. This is the first study to assess the transmission efficiency of European mosquito species using a virulent RVFV strain. The virus disseminated in Cx. pipiens hybrid form and in S. albopicta. Moreover, infectious viral particles were isolated from saliva of both species, showing their RVFV transmission capacity. The presence of competent Cx. pipiens and S. albopicta in Spain indicates that an autochthonous outbreak of RVF may occur if the virus is introduced. These findings provide information that will help health authorities to set up efficient entomological surveillance and RVFV vector control programmes. © 2017 The Authors. Medical and Veterinary Entomology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Royal Entomological Society
Potential migratory routes of Urania boisduvalii (Lepidoptera: Uraniidae) among host plant populations
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Aim
Migratory species depend on various habitats and resources along their migration routes. Characteristics such as dependence on distinct habitats and the presence of multiple threats along their migratory routes make these species vulnerable, and gaps in knowledge about their ecology and migration processes make them difficult to conserve. Urania boisduvalii is a diurnal moth endemic to Cuba that feeds on plants of Omphalea spp. during its larval phases. These plants produce secondary metabolites as a defence against the moth's larvae, which then are forced to migrate. Although some ecological aspects of Urania boisduvalii are known, its migration routes remain largely unknown. This research proposes potential migratory routes of Urania boisduvalii among populations of its host plant.
Location
Cuba.
Methods
We developed ecological niche models of the moth and its hosts based on environmental, anthropic, biotic and biogeographic factors to obtain potential distributional areas that include zones where positive interactions are found but exclude those where negative factors are present. These areas were overlapped to hypothesize potential breeding areas for the moths. Potential migratory corridors were proposed based on environmental connectivity.
Results
The moth and its hosts have broad potential distributions; however, limiting factors have substantially reduced these areas, especially for plants. The potential migratory routes of Urania boisduvalii are complex and mostly involve the western and eastern regions of Cuba. Most records outside potential breeding areas were close to these migratory corridors.
Main conclusions
We offer initial hypotheses of the migratory routes of U. boisduvalii, which may be useful to guiding monitoring projects that can provide more definitive views of the seasonal distribution of this species across the Cuban archipelago
Factibilidad y resultados de un programa de rehabilitaciĂłn cardiaca intensiva. Perspectiva del estudio aleatorizado MxM (MĂĄs por Menos)
IntroducciĂłn y objetivos
Los programas de rehabilitaciĂłn cardiaca (PRC) engloban intervenciones encaminadas a mejorar el pronĂłstico de la enfermedad cardiovascular influyendo en la condiciĂłn fĂsica, mental y social de los pacientes, pero no se conoce su duraciĂłn Ăłptima. Nuestro objetivo es comparar los resultados de un PRC estĂĄndar frente a otro intensivo mĂĄs breve tras un sĂndrome coronario agudo, mediante el estudio MĂĄs por Menos.
MĂ©todos
Diseño prospectivo, aleatorizado, abierto, enmascarado a los evaluadores de eventos y multicéntrico (PROBE). Se aleatorizó a los pacientes al PRC eståndar de 8 semanas u otro intensivo de 2 semanas con sesiones de refuerzo. Se realizó una visita final 12 meses después, tras la finalización del programa. Se evaluó: adherencia a la dieta, esfera psicológica, håbito tabåquico, tratamiento farmacológico, capacidad funcional, calidad de vida, paråmetros cardiometabólicos y antropométricos, eventos cardiovasculares y mortalidad por cualquier causa durante el seguimiento.
Resultados
Se analizĂł a 497 pacientes (media de edad, 57, 8 ± 10, 0 años; el 87, 3% varones; programa intensivo, n = 262; estĂĄndar, n = 235). Las caracterĂsticas basales de ambos grupos eran similares. Al año, mĂĄs del 93% habĂa mejorado en al menos 1 MET el resultado de la ergometrĂa. AdemĂĄs, la adherencia a la dieta mediterrĂĄnea y la calidad de vida mejoraron significativamente con el PRC, sin diferencias significativas entre grupos. Los eventos cardiovasculares ocurrieron de manera similar en ambos grupos.
Conclusiones
La PRC intensiva podrĂa ser tan efectiva como la PRC estĂĄndar en lograr la adherencia a las medidas de prevenciĂłn secundaria y ser una alternativa para algunos pacientes y centros.
Introduction and objectives: Cardiac rehabilitation programs (CRP) are a set of interventions to improve the prognosis of cardiovascular disease by influencing patientsâ physical, mental, and social conditions. However, there are no studies evaluating the optimal duration of these programs. We aimed to compare the results of a standard vs a brief intensive CRP in patients after ST-segment elevation and nonâST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome through the MĂĄs por Menos study (More Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs in Less Time).
Methods: In this prospective, randomized, open, evaluator-blind for end-point, and multicenter trial (PROBE design), patients were randomly allocated to either standard 8-week CRP or intensive 2-week CRP with booster sessions. A final visit was performed 12 months later, after completion of the program. We assessed adherence to the Mediterranean diet, psychological status, smoking, drug therapy, functional capacity, quality of life, cardiometabolic and anthropometric parameters, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality during follow-up.
Results: A total of 497 patients (mean age, 57.8 ± 10.0 years; 87.3% men) were finally assessed (intensive: n = 262; standard: n = 235). Baseline characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. At 12 months, the results of treadmill ergometry improved by = 1 MET in = 93% of the patients. In addition, adherence to the Mediterranean diet and quality of life were significantly improved by CRP, with no significant differences between the groups. The occurrence of cardiovascular events was similar in the 2 groups.
Conclusions: Intensive CRP could be as effective as standard CRP in achieving adherence to recommended secondary prevention measures after acute coronary syndrome and could be an alternative for some patients and centers. Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02619422)
Comprehensive Analysis of NRG1 Common and Rare Variants in Hirschsprung Patients
Hirschsprung disease (HSCR, OMIM 142623) is a developmental disorder characterized by the absence of ganglion cells along variable lengths of the distal gastrointestinal tract, which results in tonic contraction of the aganglionic gut segment and functional intestinal obstruction. The RET proto-oncogene is the major gene for HSCR with differential contributions of its rare and common, coding and noncoding mutations to the multifactorial nature of this pathology. Many other genes have been described to be associated with the pathology, as NRG1 gene (8p12), encoding neuregulin 1, which is implicated in the development of the enteric nervous system (ENS), and seems to contribute by both common and rare variants. Here we present the results of a comprehensive analysis of the NRG1 gene in the context of the disease in a series of 207 Spanish HSCR patients, by both mutational screening of its coding sequence and evaluation of 3 common tag SNPs as low penetrance susceptibility factors, finding some potentially damaging variants which we have functionally characterized. All of them were found to be associated with a significant reduction of the normal NRG1 protein levels. The fact that those mutations analyzed alter NRG1 protein would suggest that they would be related with HSCR disease not only in Chinese but also in a Caucasian population, which reinforces the implication of NRG1 gene in this pathology
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