E2Fb and E2Fa transcription factors independently regulate the DNA damage response after ultraviolet B exposure in Arabidopsis

Ultraviolet (UV)B radiation affects plant growth inhibiting cell proliferation. This inhibition is in part controlled by the activity of transcription factors from the E2F family. In particular, the participation of E2Fc and E2Fe in UV-B responses in Arabidopsis plants was previously reported. However, the E2Fa and E2Fb contribution to these processes has still not been investigated. Thus, in this work, we provide evidence that, in Arabidopsis, both E2Fa and E2Fb control leaf size under UV-B conditions without participating in the repair of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers in the DNA. Nevertheless, in UV-B-exposed seedlings, E2Fa, but not E2Fb, regulates primary root elongation, cell proliferation, and programmed cell death in the meristematic zone. Using e2fa mutants that overexpress E2Fb, we showed that the role of E2Fa in the roots could not be replaced by E2Fb. Finally, our results show that E2Fa and E2Fb differentially regulate the expression of genes that activate the DNA damage response and cell cycle progression, both under conditions without UV-B and after exposure. Overall, we showed that both E2Fa and E2Fb have different and non-redundant roles in developmental and DNA damage responses in Arabidopsis plants exposed to UV-B.Fil: Gómez, María Sol. Universidad Nacional de Rosario; Argentina. CENTRO DE BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR SEVERO OCHOA (CBMSO) ; UNIVERSIDAD AUTONOMA DE MADRID;Fil: Sheridan, María Luján. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos; ArgentinaFil: Casati, Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos; Argentin

High levels of human infection with Trypanosoma cruzi associated with the domestic density of infected vectors and hosts in a rural area of northeastern Argentina

Background: Insecticide spraying campaigns designed to suppress the principal vectors of the Chagas disease usually lack an active surveillance system that copes with house reinvasion. Following an insecticide campaign with no subsequent surveillance over a 12-year period, we implemented a longitudinal intervention programme including periodic surveys for Triatoma infestans, full-coverage house spraying with insecticides, and selective control in a well-defined rural area of the Argentinean Chaco inhabited by Creoles and one indigenous group (Qom). Here, we conducted a cross-sectional study and report the age-specific seroprevalence of human T. cruzi infection by group, and examine the association between human infection, the onset of the intervention, the relative density of infected domestic bugs, and the household number of infected people, dogs, or cats. Results: The seroprevalence of infection among 691 residents examined was 39.8% and increased steadily with age, reaching 53-70% in those older than 20 years. The mean annual force of infection was 2.5 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 1.8-3.3%). Infection in children younger than 16 years born before the intervention programme was two to four times higher in houses with infected T. infestans than in houses without them and was six times higher when there were both infected dogs or cats and bugs than when they were absent. The model-averaged estimate of the intervention effect suggests that the odds of seropositivity were about nine times smaller for those born after the onset of the intervention than for those born before it, regardless of ethnic background, age, gender, household wealth, and cohabitation with T. cruzi-infected vectors or human hosts. Human infection was also closely associated with the baseline abundance of infected domestic triatomines and the number of infected cohabitants. Two of 43 children born after interventions were T. cruzi-seropositive; since their mothers were seropositive and both resided in apparently uninfested houses they were attributed to vertical transmission. Alternatively, these cases could be due to non-local vector-borne transmission. Conclusions: Our study reveals high levels of human infection with T. cruzi in the Argentinean Chaco, and the immediate impact of sustained vector surveillance and selective control actions on transmission.Fil: Cardinal, Marta Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Sartor, Paula Andrea. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Gaspe, Maria Sol. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Enriquez, Gustavo Fabián. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; ArgentinaFil: Colaianni, Ivana. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Agudos "D. F. Santojanni"; ArgentinaFil: Gurtler, Ricardo Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentin

Study of some citrus flavanones against zearalenone accumulation by Fusarium graminearum

Zearalenone (ZEA) is produced by Fusarium fungi in grains, in particular by Fusarium graminearum. ZEA is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin widely distributed. The flavanones naringin (NAR), hesperidin (HES) and neohesperidin (NEO) were extracted from citrus industry wastes, such as immature fruits, and tested against ZEA accumulation by F. graminearumin rice. Response Surace Methodology (RSM) was applied in order to optimize flavanones concentrations to achieve total ZEA reduction. Using this methodology, the optimal combinations obtained were HES -NAR: 0.232-0.299, HES-NEO: 0.400-0.001 and NAR-NEO: 0.423-0.001 mmol/kg rice in dry basis. However, NEO seems to have no effect on ZEA inhibition. When it is mixed with other flavanones, they need to be used in higher concentrations than when used alone. These theoretical concentrations obtained by RSM were assayed to verify the results, achieving total inhibition of ZEA accumulation in rice media. The use of the studied flavanones, obtained inexpensively from the residues of citrus industry, would tend to reduce food waste, improve profitability of these industries and diminish ZEA occurrence in rice.Fil: Pok, Paula Sol. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Industrias; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Salas, María Paula. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Orgánica; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Industrias; ArgentinaFil: Resnik, Silvia Liliana. Fundación de Investigaciones Científicas "Teresa Benedicta de la Cruz"; Argentina. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Industrias; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Orgánica; ArgentinaFil: Pacin, A.. Fundación de Investigaciones Científicas "Teresa Benedicta de la Cruz"; ArgentinaFil: Munitz, Martín. Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos; Argentin

Preferential induction of MLL (Mixed Lineage Leukemia) rearrangements in human lymphocyte cultures treated with etoposide

Topoisomerase II inhibitors are effective chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of cancer, in spite of being associated with the development of secondary leukemia. Our purpose was to determine the effects of etoposide on different genomic regions, aiming at discovering whether there are preferential sites which can be targeted by this drug in peripheral lymphocytes from healthy individuals. The in vitro treatment with low doses of etoposide (0.25, 0.5, and 1 µg/mL, in 1 hour-pulse or continuous-48 h treatment) induced a significant increase in chromosomal aberrations, detected by conventional staining and FISH with specific probes for chromosomes 8 and 11, compared with untreated controls (p < 0.05). Additionally, the frequencies of alterations at 11q23, detected by MLL specific probes, were significantly higher (p < 0.005) in treated cells than in controls. In contrast, an analysis of rearrangements involving the IGH gene did not disclose differences between treatments. The present results demonstrated the potential of etoposide to interact with preferential chromosome sites in human lymphocytes, even at concentrations below the mean plasma levels measured in cancer patients. This greater susceptibility to etoposide-induced cleavage may explain the more frequent involvement of MLL in treatment-related leukemia.FAPESPCoordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES)CNP

Aumento del rendimiento deportivo mediante plantas medicinales que contengan cafeína

OBJETIVOS: Revisar la literatura científica relacionada con la eficacia o las propiedades beneficiosas, de plantas medicinales cuyo contenido en cafeína sea utilizado como sustancia ergogénica en adultos y verificar si existe relación entre el consumo de dichas plantas medicinales y el aumento del rendimiento deportivo. MÉTODOS: Estudio descriptivo transversal y análisis crítico de los trabajos recuperados mediante revisión sistemática consultando las bases de datos MEDLINE y Scopus. Se complementó la obtención de datos con la búsqueda en las páginas webs oficiales de la FDA (Food, Drug Administration), EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) y AECOSAN (Agencia Española de Consumo, Seguridad Alimentaria y Nutrición). Fecha de búsqueda hasta marzo de 2018. RESULTADOS: Se recuperaron 218 documentos, de los cuales, tras aplicar los criterios de inclusión y exclusión, fue posible seleccionar 8 referencias. Se evaluó la calidad de los artículos seleccionados mediante el cuestionario CONSORT, obteniendo puntuaciones que oscilaron entre 17 y 20 sobre una puntuación máxima de 25. CONCLUSIONES: Algunos estudios analizados evidencian que, ciertas plantas medicinales con cafeína mejoran algunos parámetros bioquímicos y fisiológicos. El cafeto (Coffea sp.) podría ser utilizado como sustancia ergogénica y mejorar el rendimiento deportivo. Se precisan de nuevos ensayos e investigaciones que permitan caracterizar concentraciones estandarizadas de cafeína provenientes de especies vegetales y puedan ser utilizadas como sustancias ergogénicas. No existen diferencias significativas entre la utilización de cafeína sintética y la extraída de la planta medicinal

Individual differences in behaviour are related to metabolism, stress response, testosterone, and immunity in the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum

The growth of personality research has led to the integration of consistent variation of individual behaviour in multidimensional approaches including physiological variables, which are required to continue building a more comprehensive theory about coping strategies. In this study, we used wild-caught males of Ctenomys talarum (tuco-tucos), a solitary subterranean rodent, to assess the relationships among personality traits and several physiological variables, namely stress response, testosterone, immunity, and energy metabolism. Subjects (n = 21) were used in experimental tests assessing behaviour, energy metabolism, testosterone levels, inflammatory cell-mediated and humoral immunity, and stress response to a simulated predator attack. The structural equation model explained a moderate portion of the variance of personality behaviours related to activity (52%), boldness (35%), and socioaversion (30%). More active and bold individuals showed higher oxygen consumption. While those subjects had lower baseline cortisol levels, there was no relationship between cortisol levels of the stress-induced response. Cell-mediated immune response was related to activity levels. Finally, testosterone only affected boldness. Despite some of these relationships diverge in direction to predicted ones, overall they support the existence of coping styles in male C. talarum; and are discussed in the light of current hypotheses and particular behavioural and ecological traits of tuco-tucos.Fil: Fanjul, Maria Sol. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Cutrera, Ana Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Luna, Facundo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Zenuto, Roxana Rita. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentin

Demonstration That Circulating 1α,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D is Loosely Regulated in Normal Children

The effects of vitamin D, 2.5 mg (100,000 U)/d for 4 d, on serum calcium, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) and serum 1a,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1a,25(OH)2D) were compared in 24 normal adults and 12 normal children. The daily dose of vitamin D was 1,500 U/kg body wt in children weighing \u3c45 kg. Vitamin D increased mean serum calcium from 9.5±0.1 to 9.8±0.1 mg/dl (P \u3c 0.05), increased mean serum phosphorus from 4.6±0.1 to 5.0±0.1 mg/dl (P \u3c 0.01), increased mean serum 25-OHD from 25±3 to 34±4 ng/ml (P \u3c 0.001), and increased mean serum 1a,25(OH)2D from 34±3 to 42±4 pg/ml (P \u3c 0.02) in children. In contrast, vitamin D increased mean serum 25-OHD from 18±2 to 39±6 ng/ml (P \u3c 0.001) and did not change mean serum calcium (9.4±0.1 vs. 9.5±0.1 mg/dl), mean serum phosphorus (4.0±0.1 vs. 4.1±0.1 mg/dl), or mean serum 1a,25(OH)2D (31±2 vs. 29±3 pg/ml) in adults. Mean serum 1a,25(OH)2D was significantly higher after vitamin D in children than in adults (P \u3c 0.02). These results provide evidence that circulating 1a,25(OH)2D is not as tightly regulated in children as it is in adults. This difference in regulation could account in part for the higher values for serum 1a,25(OH)2D observed in children

Estado nutricional, competências culinárias e de aquisição de alimentos em indivíduos com deficiência visual

Mestrado em Nutrição ClínicaIntrodução: A Deficiência Visual é classificada em leve, moderada, grave ou cegueira. Entre 1990 e 2020 a prevalência de cegueira diminuiu e a deficiência visual moderada a grave aumentou ligeiramente. Prevê-se em 2050 que o número de pessoas com cegueira ou deficiência visual moderada a grave aumente. A deficiência visual tem impacto no estado nutricional, presumivelmente devido a hábitos alimentares desequilibrados e à menor prática de atividade física. Muito embora esta deficiência pareça influenciar negativamente a capacidade de aquisição de alimentos e preparação de refeições, são escassos os estudos nesta temática. Foram nossos objetivos avaliar o estado nutricional, capacidade de aquisição de alimentos e competências culinárias em indivíduos com deficiência visual. Realizamos um estudo transversal numa amostra de indivíduos com Deficiência Visual com avaliação do estado nutricional, caracterização de hábitos alimentares e gestão da sua alimentação. Desenvolvemos um questionário de modo a avaliar a capacidade de aquisição de alimentos e competências culinárias. Recolheram-se ainda dados sociodemográficos, clínicos relacionados com a deficiência visual, prática de atividade física, antropométricos e ingestão dietética. Resultados: No total foram incluídos 50 adultos, com média idade de 46 anos. Verificou-se uma elevada prevalência de excesso de peso (66%) e o perímetro da cintura e razão cintura-estatura indicou um elevado risco cardiovascular (64%) e de obesidade abdominal (74%). A ingestão dietética foi desequilibrada e foram relatadas diversas dificuldades na aquisição de alimentos e preparação de refeições. Discussão/conclusão: A ingestão dietética desequilibrada de macronutrientes e o elevado número de participantes sedentários pode explicar a elevada prevalência de excesso ponderal e as alterações encontradas nos restantes parâmetros de composição corporal. Apesar da deficiência visual, várias estratégias são adotadas por estes indivíduos de modo a ultrapassar as diversas dificuldades com que lidam. Os resultados demonstraram que a deficiência visual tem impacto no estado nutricional.ABSTRACT - Introduction: Visual Impairment is classified as mild, moderate, severe, or blindness. Recently the prevalence of blindness decreased, however, moderate and severe visual impairment has increased slightly. By 2050, the number of people with blindness or moderate to severe visual impairment is expected to increase. Visual impairment had a significant impact on nutritional status, presumably due to unbalanced eating habits and reduced physical activity. Although this impairment seems to negatively influence the ability to acquire food and prepare meals, studies are still scarce. This work aims to assess the nutritional status, food acquisition ability, and culinary skills of visually impaired individuals. A cross-sectional study was carried out of a sample of visually impaired individuals, to assess their nutritional status, and characterize eating habits and diet management. To this, a questionnaire was developed to assess the ability to acquire food and culinary skills. Sociodemographic and clinical data related to visual impairment, physical activity, anthropometry, and dietary intake were also collected. Results: In total, 50 adults were included, a mean age of 46 years. Body mass index shows a high prevalence of overweight (66%), and waist circumference measurement and waist-hight ratio revealed a high risk of cardiovascular disease (64%) and abdominal obesity (74%). Several difficulties were reported in acquiring food and preparing meals. Discussion/Conclusion: The unbalanced dietary intake of macronutrients and the high number of sedentary participants may explain the high prevalence of overweight and the changes found in the remaining parameters of body composition. Although visual impairment conditions day-to-day activities, several strategies are adopted by these individuals to overcome the various difficulties they deal with, In this study, the results showed that visual impairment has an impact on the nutritional status of these individuals.N/

Estado nutricional, competências culinárias e de aquisição de alimentos em indivíduos com deficiência visual

Tese de mestrado, Nutrição Clínica, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Medicina, 2022Introdução: A Deficiência Visual é classificada em leve, moderada, grave ou cegueira. Entre 1990 e 2020 a prevalência de cegueira diminuiu e a deficiência visual moderada a grave aumentou ligeiramente. Prevê-se em 2050 que o número de pessoas com cegueira ou deficiência visual moderada a grave aumente. A deficiência visual tem impacto no estado nutricional, presumivelmente devido a hábitos alimentares desequilibrados e à menor prática de atividade física. Muito embora esta deficiência pareça influenciar negativamente a capacidade de aquisição de alimentos e preparação de refeições, são escassos os estudos nesta temática. Foram nossos objetivos avaliar o estado nutricional, capacidade de aquisição de alimentos e competências culinárias em indivíduos com deficiência visual. Realizamos um estudo transversal numa amostra de indivíduos com Deficiência Visual com avaliação do estado nutricional, caracterização de hábitos alimentares e gestão da sua alimentação. Desenvolvemos um questionário de modo a avaliar a capacidade de aquisição de alimentos e competências culinárias. Recolheram-se ainda dados sociodemográficos, clínicos relacionados com a deficiência visual, prática de atividade física, antropométricos e ingestão dietética. Resultados: No total foram incluídos 50 adultos, com média idade de 46 anos. Verificou-se uma elevada prevalência de excesso de peso (66%) e o perímetro da cintura e razão cintura-estatura indicou um elevado risco cardiovascular (64%) e de obesidade abdominal (74%). A ingestão dietética foi desequilibrada e foram relatadas diversas dificuldades na aquisição de alimentos e preparação de refeições. Discussão/conclusão: A ingestão dietética desequilibrada de macronutrientes e o elevado número de participantes sedentários pode explicar a elevada prevalência de excesso ponderal e as alterações encontradas nos restantes parâmetros de composição corporal. Apesar da deficiência visual, várias estratégias são adotadas por estes indivíduos de modo a ultrapassar as diversas dificuldades com que lidam. Os resultados demonstraram que a deficiência visual tem impacto no estado nutricional. Palavras-chave: deficiência visual; estado nutricional; ingestão dietética; aquisição de alimentos; competências culinárias.Introduction: Visual Impairment is classified as mild, moderate, severe or blindness. Recently the prevalence of blindness decreased, however, moderate and severe visual impairment has increased slightly. By 2050, the number of people with blindness or moderate to severe visual impairment is expected to increase. Visual impairment was a significant impact on nutritional status, presumably due to unbalanced eating habits and reduced physical activity. Although this impairment seems to negatively influence the ability to acquire food and prepare meals, studies are still scarce. This work aims to assess the nutritional status, food acquisition ability and culinary skills of visually impaired individuals. A cross-sectional study was carried out of a sample of visually impaired individuals, in order to assess their nutritional status, characterize eating habits and diet management. To this, a questionnaire was developed to assess the ability to acquire food and culinary skills. Sociodemographic and clinical data related to visual impairment, physical activity, anthropometry and dietary intake were also collected. Results: In total, 50 adults were included, a mean age of 46 years. Body mass index, show high prevalence of overweight (66%) and waist circumference measurement and waist-hight ratio revealed high risk of cardiovascular disease (64%) and abdominal obesity (74%). Several difficulties were reported in acquiring food and preparing meals. Discussion/Conclusion: The unbalanced dietary intake of macronutrients and the high number of sedentary participants may explain the high prevalence of overweight and the changes found in the remaining parameters of body composition. Despite the fact that visual impairment conditions day-to-day activities, several strategies are adopted by these individuals in order to overcome the various difficulties they deal with, In this study, the results showed that visual impairment was an impact on the nutritional status of these individuals

Ecos de la resistencia a Monsanto en Malvinas Argentinas: transformaciones y continuidades de la conflictividad en el territorio

El megaproyecto de una planta procesadora de semillas de maíz transgénico de Monsanto en Malvinas Argentinas (Córdoba), en 2012, generó desde sus inicios una gran conmoción de la que emergieron posiciones a favor y en contra, generando distintos sentidos y discursos entre la población y los diferentes actores involucrados. Esto produjo un quiebre social, político, económico, cultural y simbólico en la localidad, con relación a la aceptación y el rechazo de la posible instalación de la multinacional. En 2016 se logró la expulsión definitiva de la empresa, convirtiéndose así en hecho paradigmático para otras luchas ambientales.Dentro de la diversidad de aristas posibles de análisis de este conflicto, nos proponemos indagar sobre sus resonancias. La conflictividad es concebida como inherente a la sociedad capitalista; por ende, sus expresiones se traman necesariamente con otras luchas. De esta manera, partimos de la premisa de que el conflicto acontecido se sedimentó en el territorio y se expresa en continuidades y transformaciones de su propio devenir.En este recorte empírico, intentaremos visualizar de qué manera se constituyen acciones tendientes a oponerse al modelo de agronegocios y, al mismo tiempo, se construyen otras alternativas productivas. Para ello, nos proponemos enfocar este trabajo exploratorio en una aproximación a algunas de las trayectorias individuales y colectivas, tanto en el transcurso de la lucha como a posterior, a través de entrevistas en profundidad a protagonistas del conflicto y revisión de fuentes documentales