Jasmonate-induced plant defenses and prey availability impact the preference and performance of an omnivorous stink bug, Podisus maculiventris

Many omnivorous insects are important biological control agents, and their success is influenced by both plant resistance and prey availability. The potential impact of these two factors is complicated by the fact that they may not be independent: Resistant plants also often support fewer herbivorous prey. We studied how lifetime development, growth, fecundity and preference of the omnivorous stink bug, Podisus maculiventris, was affected by jasmonate-induced plant defenses and amount of prey available. P. maculiventris survival was 70 % lower on high-resistance (jasmonate-overexpressing) plants compared to low-resistance (jasmonate-insensitive) plants. However, surviving P. maculiventris grew and achieved equal fecundity on low- and high-resistance plants. When given a choice, P. maculiventris preferred low-resistance plants, but did not differentiate between caterpillar prey reared on high- or low-resistance plants. Low prey availability impacted distinct aspects of P. maculiventris performance: Development time was lengthened, and nymphal and adult mass were reduced, but survival was not impacted. We did not detect any interactive effects between plant resistance and prey availability for any measure of P. maculiventris. Thus, we found remarkably compartmentalized impacts of plant resistance and prey availability for this omnivorous insect

Cerebrospinal fluid sodium rhythms

Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) sodium levels have been reported to rise during episodic migraine. Since migraine frequently starts in early morning or late afternoon, we hypothesized that natural sodium chronobiology may predispose susceptible persons when extracellular CSF sodium increases. Since no mammalian brain sodium rhythms are known, we designed a study of healthy humans to test if cation rhythms exist in CSF. Methods: Lumbar CSF was collected every ten minutes at 0.1 mL/min for 24 h from six healthy participants. CSF sodium and potassium concentrations were measured by ion chromatography, total protein by fluorescent spectrometry, and osmolarity by freezing point depression. We analyzed cation and protein distributions over the 24 h period and spectral and permutation tests to identify significant rhythms. We applied the False Discovery Rate method to adjust significance levels for multiple tests and Spearman correlations to compare sodium fluctuations with potassium, protein, and osmolarity. Results: The distribution of sodium varied much more than potassium, and there were statistically significant rhythms at 12 and 1.65 h periods. Curve fitting to the average time course of the mean sodium of all six subjects revealed the lowest sodium levels at 03.20 h and highest at 08.00 h, a second nadir at 09.50 h and a second peak at 18.10 h. Sodium levels were not correlated with potassium or protein concentration, or with osmolarity. Conclusion: These CSF rhythms are the first reports of sodium chronobiology in the human nervous system. The results are consistent with our hypothesis that rising levels of extracellular sodium may contribute to the timing of migraine onset. The physiological importance of sodium in the nervous system suggests that these rhythms may have additional repercussions on ultradian functions

Cleavage of the urokinase receptor (uPAR) on oral cancer cells : regulation by transforming growth factor - beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) and potential effects on migration and invasion

Background: Urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) receptor (uPAR) is up-regulated at the invasive tumour front of human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), indicating a role for uPAR in tumour progression. We previously observed elevated expression of uPAR at the tumour-stroma interface in a mouse model for OSCC, which was associated with increased proteolytic activity. The tumour microenvironment regulated uPAR expression, as well as its glycosylation and cleavage. Both full-length- and cleaved uPAR (uPAR (II-III)) are involved in highly regulated processes such as cell signalling, proliferation, migration, stem cell mobilization and invasion. The aim of the current study was to analyse tumour associated factors and their effect on uPAR cleavage, and the potential implications for cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Methods: Mouse uPAR was stably overexpressed in the mouse OSCC cell line AT84. The ratio of full-length versus cleaved uPAR as analysed by Western blotting and its regulation was assessed by addition of different protease inhibitors and transforming growth factor - beta 1 (TGF-beta 1). The role of uPAR cleavage in cell proliferation and migration was analysed using real- time cell analysis and invasion was assessed using the myoma invasion model. Results: We found that when uPAR was overexpressed a proportion of the receptor was cleaved, thus the cells presented both full-length uPAR and uPAR (II-III). Cleavage was mainly performed by serine proteases and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) in particular. When the OSCC cells were stimulated with TGF-beta 1, the production of the uPA inhibitor PAI-1 was increased, resulting in a reduction of uPAR cleavage. By inhibiting cleavage of uPAR, cell migration was reduced, and by inhibiting uPA activity, invasion was reduced. We could also show that medium containing soluble uPAR (suPAR), and cleaved soluble uPAR (suPAR (II-III)), induced migration in OSCC cells with low endogenous levels of uPAR. Conclusions: These results show that soluble factors in the tumour microenvironment, such as TGF-beta 1, PAI-1 and uPA, can influence the ratio of full length and uPAR (II-III) and thereby potentially effect cell migration and invasion. Resolving how uPAR cleavage is controlled is therefore vital for understanding how OSCC progresses and potentially provides new targets for therapy.Peer reviewe

A combination of plasma phospholipid fatty acids and its association with incidence of type 2 diabetes: The EPIC-InterAct case-cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Combinations of multiple fatty acids may influence cardiometabolic risk more than single fatty acids. The association of a combination of fatty acids with incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) has not been evaluated. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We measured plasma phospholipid fatty acids by gas chromatography in 27,296 adults, including 12,132 incident cases of T2D, over the follow-up period between baseline (1991-1998) and 31 December 2007 in 8 European countries in EPIC-InterAct, a nested case-cohort study. The first principal component derived by principal component analysis of 27 individual fatty acids (mole percentage) was the main exposure (subsequently called the fatty acid pattern score [FA-pattern score]). The FA-pattern score was partly characterised by high concentrations of linoleic acid, stearic acid, odd-chain fatty acids, and very-long-chain saturated fatty acids and low concentrations of γ-linolenic acid, palmitic acid, and long-chain monounsaturated fatty acids, and it explained 16.1% of the overall variability of the 27 fatty acids. Based on country-specific Prentice-weighted Cox regression and random-effects meta-analysis, the FA-pattern score was associated with lower incident T2D. Comparing the top to the bottom fifth of the score, the hazard ratio of incident T2D was 0.23 (95% CI 0.19-0.29) adjusted for potential confounders and 0.37 (95% CI 0.27-0.50) further adjusted for metabolic risk factors. The association changed little after adjustment for individual fatty acids or fatty acid subclasses. In cross-sectional analyses relating the FA-pattern score to metabolic, genetic, and dietary factors, the FA-pattern score was inversely associated with adiposity, triglycerides, liver enzymes, C-reactive protein, a genetic score representing insulin resistance, and dietary intakes of soft drinks and alcohol and was positively associated with high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol and intakes of polyunsaturated fat, dietary fibre, and coffee (p < 0.05 each). Limitations include potential measurement error in the fatty acids and other model covariates and possible residual confounding. CONCLUSIONS: A combination of individual fatty acids, characterised by high concentrations of linoleic acid, odd-chain fatty acids, and very long-chain fatty acids, was associated with lower incidence of T2D. The specific fatty acid pattern may be influenced by metabolic, genetic, and dietary factors

Characterization of the cork oak transcriptome dynamics during acorn development

Background: Cork oak (Quercus suber L.) has a natural distribution across western Mediterranean regions and is a keystone forest tree species in these ecosystems. The fruiting phase is especially critical for its regeneration but the molecular mechanisms underlying the biochemical and physiological changes during cork oak acorn development are poorly understood. In this study, the transcriptome of the cork oak acorn, including the seed, was characterized in five stages of development, from early development to acorn maturation, to identify the dominant processes in each stage and reveal transcripts with important functions in gene expression regulation and response to water. Results: A total of 80,357 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) were de novo assembled from RNA-Seq libraries representative of the several acorn developmental stages. Approximately 7.6 % of the total number of transcripts present in Q. suber transcriptome was identified as acorn specific. The analysis of expression profiles during development returned 2,285 differentially expressed (DE) transcripts, which were clustered into six groups. The stage of development corresponding to the mature acorn exhibited an expression profile markedly different from other stages. Approximately 22 % of the DE transcripts putatively code for transcription factors (TF) or transcriptional regulators, and were found almost equally distributed among the several expression profile clusters, highlighting their major roles in controlling the whole developmental process. On the other hand, carbohydrate metabolism, the biological pathway most represented during acorn development, was especially prevalent in mid to late stages as evidenced by enrichment analysis. We further show that genes related to response to water, water deprivation and transport were mostly represented during the early (S2) and the last stage (S8) of acorn development, when tolerance to water desiccation is possibly critical for acorn viability. Conclusions: To our knowledge this work represents the first report of acorn development transcriptomics in oaks. The obtained results provide novel insights into the developmental biology of cork oak acorns, highlighting transcripts putatively involved in the regulation of the gene expression program and in specific processes likely essential for adaptation. It is expected that this knowledge can be transferred to other oak species of great ecological value.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologi

The association between adult attained height and sitting height with mortality in the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition (EPIC)

Adult height and sitting height may reflect genetic and environmental factors, including early life nutrition, physical and social environments. Previous studies have reported divergent associations for height and chronic disease mortality, with positive associations observed for cancer mortality but inverse associations for circulatory disease mortality. Sitting height might be more strongly associated with insulin resistance; however, data on sitting height and mortality is sparse. Using the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study, a prospective cohort of 409,748 individuals, we examined adult height and sitting height in relation to all-cause and cause-specific mortality. Height was measured in the majority of participants; sitting height was measured in ~253,000 participants. During an average of 12.5 years of follow-up, 29,810 deaths (11,931 from cancer and 7,346 from circulatory disease) were identified. Hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for death were calculated using multivariable Cox regression within quintiles of height. Height was positively associated with cancer mortality (men: HRQ5 vs. Q1=1.11, 95%CI=1.00-1.24; women: HRQ5 vs. Q1=1.17, 95%CI=1.07-1.28). In contrast, height was inversely associated with circulatory disease mortality (men: HRQ5 vs. Q1=0.63, 95%CI=0.56-0.71; women: HRQ5 vs. Q1=0.81, 95%CI=0.70-0.93). Although sitting height was not associated with cancer mortality, it was inversely associated with circulatory disease (men: HRQ5 vs. Q1=0.64, 95%CI=0.55-0.75; women: HRQ5 vs. Q1=0.60, 95%CI=0.49-0.74) and respiratory disease mortality (men: HRQ5 vs. Q1=0.45, 95%CI=0.28-0.71; women: HRQ5 vs. Q1=0.60, 95%CI=0.40-0.89). We observed opposing effects of height on cancer and circulatory disease mortality. Sitting height was inversely associated with circulatory disease and respiratory disease mortality

Global patient outcomes after elective surgery: prospective cohort study in 27 low-, middle- and high-income countries.

BACKGROUND: As global initiatives increase patient access to surgical treatments, there remains a need to understand the adverse effects of surgery and define appropriate levels of perioperative care. METHODS: We designed a prospective international 7-day cohort study of outcomes following elective adult inpatient surgery in 27 countries. The primary outcome was in-hospital complications. Secondary outcomes were death following a complication (failure to rescue) and death in hospital. Process measures were admission to critical care immediately after surgery or to treat a complication and duration of hospital stay. A single definition of critical care was used for all countries. RESULTS: A total of 474 hospitals in 19 high-, 7 middle- and 1 low-income country were included in the primary analysis. Data included 44 814 patients with a median hospital stay of 4 (range 2-7) days. A total of 7508 patients (16.8%) developed one or more postoperative complication and 207 died (0.5%). The overall mortality among patients who developed complications was 2.8%. Mortality following complications ranged from 2.4% for pulmonary embolism to 43.9% for cardiac arrest. A total of 4360 (9.7%) patients were admitted to a critical care unit as routine immediately after surgery, of whom 2198 (50.4%) developed a complication, with 105 (2.4%) deaths. A total of 1233 patients (16.4%) were admitted to a critical care unit to treat complications, with 119 (9.7%) deaths. Despite lower baseline risk, outcomes were similar in low- and middle-income compared with high-income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Poor patient outcomes are common after inpatient surgery. Global initiatives to increase access to surgical treatments should also address the need for safe perioperative care. STUDY REGISTRATION: ISRCTN5181700

Diez años

Es deber de todo jurista, de todo iusfilósofo, de todo ciudadano, bregar por la plena vigencia del derecho y por la observación de las normas. Y no sólo eso; es preciso, además, pensar mentalmente las normas jurídicas y pensarlas luego verbalmente, para que su formulación oral o escrita sean la genuina expresión de lo pensado. La sociedad humana debe responder a la naturaleza racional del hombre en su organización y en su funcionamiento. A su turno, la razón es esclava de sus formas y éstas se nos evidencian cuando la ciencia de la Lógica las pone de manifiesto. Toda ciencia, todo conocimiento, no sólo es adquirido y pensado sino que es comunicado y, en esa expresión, se deben observar también las reglas que nuestra condición humana exige.Dos enclaves de justicia en la Ilíada / Ariel Álvarez Gardiol – El imaginario social y la independencia judicial / Armando S. Andruet (h) – Principio de igualdad. Opciones que plantea la solución de casos / Jorge Augusto Barbará – Derecho y dialéctica / Julio César Castiglione – A propósito del “control de convencionalidad” / Raúl E. Fernández – Aproximaciones al control de logicidad / Olsen A. Ghirardi – Un modelo de juez democrático / Rolando Oscar Guadagna – El derecho ante el enfoque analítico / Ricardo A. Guibourg – Los entimemas forenses y su validez en la fundamentación sentencial / María del Pilar Hiruela de Fernández – El derecho y la feminización del fenómeno laboral / Patricia Elena Messio – Derecho, política y valoraciones / Carlos Enrique Pettoruti – Un test filosófico a la teoría del conflicto de derechos / Marina Andrea Riba – La vigencia de Nimio de Anquín / Luis Roberto Rueda – La declinación del derecho. Ontología. Ontología del derecho / Héctor Hugo Segura – Le dédoublement du sujet: entre sujet juridique et sujet social / Jean-Marc Trigeaud – Los derechos humanos y la actividad jurisdiccional interpretativa / Rodolfo L. Vigo –publishedVersionÁlvarez Gardiol, Ariel. Academia Nacional de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de Córdoba; Argentina.Andruet (h), Armando S. Academia Nacional de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de Córdoba; Argentina.Barbará, Jorge Augusto. Academia Nacional de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de Córdoba; Argentina.Castiglione, Julio César. Academia Nacional de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de Córdoba; Argentina.Fernández, Raúl E.. Academia Nacional de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de Córdoba; Argentina.Ghirardi, Olsen A. Academia Nacional de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de Córdoba; Argentina.Guadagna, Rolando Oscar. Academia Nacional de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de Córdoba; Argentina.Guibourg, Ricardo A. Academia Nacional de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de Córdoba; Argentina.Hiruela de Fernández, María del Pilar. Academia Nacional de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de Córdoba; Argentina.Messio, Patricia Elena. Academia Nacional de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de Córdoba; Argentina.Pettoruti, Carlos Enrique. Academia Nacional de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de Córdoba; Argentina.Riba, Marina Andrea. Academia Nacional de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de Córdoba; Argentina.Rueda, Luis Roberto. Academia Nacional de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de Córdoba; Argentina.Segura, Héctor Hugo. Academia Nacional de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de Córdoba; Argentina.Trigeaud, Jean-Marc. Academia Nacional de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de Córdoba; Argentina.Vigo, Rodolfo L. Academia Nacional de Derecho y Ciencias Sociales de Córdoba; Argentina