Patrones de diversificación y procesos evolutivos en cangrejos de río (Crustacea, Astacoidea)

Tesis inédita de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Departamento de Zoología y Antropología Física, leída el 24/01/2011.Depto. de Genética, Fisiología y MicrobiologíaFac. de Ciencias BiológicasTRUEProQuestpu

IGF-II promotes neuroprotection and neuroplasticity recovery in a long-lasting model of oxidative damage induced by glucocorticoids

Insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) is a naturally occurring hormone that exerts neurotrophic and neuroprotective properties in a wide range of neurodegenerative diseases and ageing. Accumulating evidence suggests that the effects of IGF-II in the brain may be explained by its binding to the specific transmembrane receptor, IGFII/M6P receptor (IGF-IIR). However, relatively little is known regarding the role of IGF-II through IGF-IIR in neuroprotection. Here, using adult cortical neuronal cultures, we investigated whether IGF-II exhibits long-term antioxidant effects and neuroprotection at the synaptic level after oxidative damage induced by high and transient levels of corticosterone (CORT). Furthermore, the involvement of the IGF-IIR was also studied to elucidate its role in the neuroprotective actions of IGF-II. We found that neurons treated with IGF-II after CORT incubation showed reduced oxidative stress damage and recovered antioxidant status (normalized total antioxidant status, lipid hydroperoxides and NAD(P) H:quinone oxidoreductase activity). Similar results were obtained when mitochondria function was analysed (cytochrome c oxidase activity, mitochondrial membrane potential and subcellular mitochondrial distribution). Furthermore, neuronal impairment and degeneration were also assessed (synaptophysin and PSD-95 expression, presynaptic function and FluoroJade B® stain). IGF-II was also able to recover the long-lasting neuronal cell damage. Finally, the effects of IGF-II were not blocked by an IGF-IR antagonist, suggesting the involvement of IGF-IIR. Altogether these results suggest that, in or model, IGF-II through IGF-IIR is able to revert the oxidative damage induced by CORT. In accordance with the neuroprotective role of the IGF-II/IGF-IIR reported in our study, pharmacotherapy approaches targeting this pathway may be useful for the treatment of diseases associated with cognitive deficits (i.e., neurodegenerative disorders, depression, etc.)

Biodistribución y dosimetría interna de 68Ga-DOTA-UBI, radiofármaco para la evaluación específica de procesos infecciosos mediante PET

En los últimos años la medicina nuclear ha tenido un gran crecimiento gracias al desarrollo de nuevos radiofármacos para el diagnóstico de diversas patologías. En la Unidad Radiofarmacia-Ciclotrón de la Facultad de Medicina de la UNAM se desarrolló un radiofármaco para PET específico para procesos infecciosos utilizando un péptido catiónico antimicrobiano que se une a las membranas de las bacterias y es capaz de discriminar entre inflamaciones benignas de infecciones bacterianas

Plan de negocio para exportación de aceite crudo de palma hacia el mercado Europeo

Este trabajo está enfocado a los estudiantes de la Facultad De Ciencias Empresariales y Económicas, Programa Negocios Internacionales, con el fin de darles a conocer el cómo se elabora un plan de negocios y los lineamientos a tener en cuenta, adicionalmente, el conocer cuáles son los actores involucrados que pueden llegar a facilitar la exportación de un producto potencial, el cual puede ser de gran aceptación en el mercado Internacional como lo es la exportación de Aceite Crudo de Palma Africana. Los temas tratados a lo largo del trabajo están enfocados al: proceso de producción, criterios de comercio exterior, investigación de mercado y viabilidad de precios, requeridos para desarrollar la exportación. Por lo anterior, el siguiente trabajo de investigación, puede servir como guía a otros estudiantes para el desarrollo de exportaciones similares, con respecto al producto a exportar “Aceite Crudo de Palma”

Phylogenetic evidence from freshwater crayfishes that cave adaptation is not an evolutionary dead-end.

Caves are perceived as isolated, extreme habitats with a uniquely specialized biota, which long ago led to the idea that caves are evolutionary dead-ends. This implies that cave-adapted taxa may be doomed for extinction before they can diversify or transition to a more stable state. However, this hypothesis has not been explicitly tested in a phylogenetic framework with multiple independently evolved cave-dwelling groups. Here, we use the freshwater crayfish, a group with dozens of cave-dwelling species in multiple lineages, as a system to test this hypothesis. We consider historical patterns of lineage diversification and habitat transition as well as current patterns of geographic range size. We find that while cave-dwelling lineages have small relative range sizes and rarely transition back to the surface, they exhibit remarkably similar diversification patterns to those of other habitat types and appear to be able to maintain a diversity of lineages through time. This suggests that cave adaptation is not a dead-end for freshwater crayfish, which has positive implications for our understanding of biodiversity and conservation in cave habitats

Characterization of Fusarium spp., A Phytopathogen of avocado (Persea americana Miller var. drymifolia (Schltdl. and Cham.)) in Michoacán, México

Avocado has great socioeconomic importance in Mexico because of the benefits it generates for the production chain participants and the significant foreign exchange earnings engendered by the export of its fruit. However, this crop has phytosanitary problems, caused mainly by fungi, among which the genus Fusarium stands out. The objective of this study was to characterize Fusarium species that caused root rot in avocado trees in Michoacan, Mexico. In 19 isolates of Fusarium spp., polymerase chain reactions (PCR) with primers coding for elongation factor and calmodulin genes were performed. These sequences were compared in homology using BLAST analysis and aligned in MEGA 6.0. Cladograms were created based on maximum verisimilitude. The pathogenicity of the isolates was evaluated based on their virulence and severity in the avocado plants. Morphological and molecular analyses showed that 15 isolates belonged to F. oxysporum Schl and four to F. solani Mart. All isolates were pathogenic, with virulence ranging from 16 to 56 days. All isolates produced root rot and yellowing of leaves, with 63% producing wilting and 16% producing apical necrosis, the latter being the most severe. Highlights From: Fusarium spp. is reported in avocado in Michoacán, México. With the morphological and molecular methods, two species of the gender Fusarium; F. oxysporum and solani, were identified in avocado crops. The species found in avocado can cause death of nursery seedlings and trees of various ages due to the destruction of their root system. The gender Fusarium is found in all the crops in Michoacán, México, considerably decreasing the production for the damage inflicted in the root, causing significant losses in the production of its fruit.Avocado has great socioeconomic importance in Mexico because of the benefits it generates for the production chain participants and the significant foreign exchange earnings engendered by the export of its fruit. However, this crop has phytosanitary problems, caused mainly by fungi, among which the genus Fusarium stands out. The objective of this study was to characterize Fusarium species that caused root rot in avocado trees in Michoacan, Mexico. In 19 isolates of Fusarium spp., polymerase chain reactions (PCR) with primers coding for elongation factor and calmodulin genes were performed. These sequences were compared in homology using BLAST analysis and aligned in MEGA 6.0. Cladograms were created based on maximum verisimilitude. The pathogenicity of the isolates was evaluated based on their virulence and severity in the avocado plants. Morphological and molecular analyses showed that 15 isolates belonged to F. oxysporum Schl and four to F. solani Mart. All isolates were pathogenic, with virulence ranging from 16 to 56 days. All isolates produced root rot and yellowing of leaves, with 63% producing wilting and 16% producing apical necrosis, the latter being the most severe. Highlights From: Fusarium spp. is reported in avocado in Michoacán, México. With the morphological and molecular methods, two species of the gender Fusarium; F. oxysporum and solani, were identified in avocado crops. The species found in avocado can cause death of nursery seedlings and trees of various ages due to the destruction of their root system. The gender Fusarium is found in all the crops in Michoacán, México, considerably decreasing the production for the damage inflicted in the root, causing significant losses in the production of its fruit

Experiencia en el tratamiento endoscópico del sangrado digestivo alto

A descriptive, longitudinal and prospective study was conducted with the objective to characterize patients undergoing endoscopic treatment of upper gastrointestinal bleeding and its results, in patients treated at Arnaldo Milian Castro University Hospital Provincial University Hospital in Santa Clara during the biennium 2008-2009. The sample was formed by 116 patients. There was a prevalence of melena in the presentation. The most common cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding was peptic ulcer disease. In the case of ulcerative lesions, there was a predominance of those classified as Forrest IIb. Most of the patients resolved their problem with an endoscopic therapy session. The most commonly practiced endoscopic treatment was the injection therapy, with medium dose of polidocanol, 5 to 8 ml. The endoscopic procedure was successful in most patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding, requiring surgical treatment only a small number of patients.Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, longitudinal y prospectivo en el Hospital Provincial Universitario “Arnaldo Milián Castro”, de Santa Clara, durante el bienio 2008-2009 con el objetivo de caracterizar a los pacientes con sangrado digestivo alto sometidos a tratamiento endoscópico y los resultados obtenidos. La muestra quedó constituida por 116 pacientes, predominó la melena como forma de presentación, la causa más frecuente de sangrado digestivo alto fue la enfermedad úlcero péptica, para las lesiones ulcerosas predominaron las clasificadas como Forrest IIb, mayoritariamente los pacientes resolvieron con una sesión de terapia endoscópica, la inyectoterapia con polidocanol a dosis media de 5-8ml fue el tratamiento endoscópico más practicado, en la mayoría de los pacientes con sangrado digestivo alto el procedimiento endoscópico fue exitoso y solo un escaso número de pacientes requirió el tratamiento quirúrgico

Interdisciplinarity to reconstruct historical introductions: solving the status of cryptogenic crayfish

Anciently introduced species can be confounded with native species because introduction pre-dates the first species inventories or because of the loss of the collective memory of the introductions. The term ‘cryptogenic species’ denotes species of unknown or unclear status (native versus non-native) in a given territory, and disciplinary approaches are often insufficient for solving their true status. Here, we follow an integrative, multidisciplinary approach to solve the status of a cryptogenic species, proposing that building on evidence from multiple disciplines can produce robust and clarifying insights. We undertook an exhaustive review of information on a putatively native crayfish (Austropotamobius italicus) in Spain. The reviewed information included taxonomy, genetics and phylogeography, history, archaeology, linguistics, biogeography, ecology, symbiotic organisms and even gastronomy and pharmacy. The knowledge produced by different scientific disciplines converges to indicate that A. italicus is a non-native species in Spain. Historical documents even identify the first introduction event: crayfish were shipped from Italy to Spain in 1588 as a diplomatic gift from Francesco I de' Medici to King Philip II of Spain. Previous discussions on the status of A. italicus focussed on inconclusive and often confusing genetic results and excluded the rich and clarifying evidence available from other approaches and disciplines. Interdisciplinarity is an often-invoked but rarely implemented practice in an academic environment that increasingly promotes narrow-focussed specialization. Our review shows that the integration of disciplines can surpass disciplinary approaches in solving scientific controversies. Our results have straightforward implications for strategies to conserve biological diversity in Spain and Europe, urging a debate on the appropriateness of devoting conservation efforts to non-native species.Peer Reviewe

High resting energy expenditure, less fat-free mass, and less muscle strength in HIV-infected children: a matched, cross-sectional study

Background and aimsMany improvements have been made in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in pediatric patients; however, challenges remain in terms of achieving normal growth, body composition, and metabolism during treatment, etc. Current nutritional recommendations are based on studies performed in adults, with limited data on the HIV-infected pediatric population. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the resting energy expenditure (REE) of asymptomatic HIV-infected pediatric patients with healthy counterparts and to compare body composition, dietary intake, and physical activity between the two groups.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of asymptomatic HIV-infected children who were receiving antiretroviral therapy; the infected group was compared with the uninfected group, matched by age (± 6 months), sex, and body mass index (± 0.5 z-score). Participants were recruited between 2021 and 2022, as outpatients. In both groups, REE was determined by indirect calorimetry and body composition by bioelectrical impedance analysis and hand strength, measured using a hydraulic hand dynamometer.ResultsSeventy-eight participants were enrolled, where n = 39 HIV-infected children and n = 39 controls, with a mean age of 11.6 ± 3.4 years old. REE was significantly higher in the HIV group (1254.4 ± 334.7 kcal/day vs. 1124.7 ± 321 kcal/day, p = 0.013) than in the control group. Fat-free mass (FFM) was lower in the HIV group (28.2 ± 10.5 kg vs. 32 ± 11.2 kg, p = 0.001); this trend continued when the index skeletal muscle was evaluated (7.2 ± 1.2 vs. 7.6 ± 1.5, p = 0.04). The strength of the dominant hand was also lower in the HIV group (12 (8–18) kg vs. 20 (10.5–26) kg, p < 0.0001).ConclusionsChildren with asymptomatic HIV infection have higher REE than their uninfected peers. They also present decreased FFM, skeletal muscle mass index, and muscle strength. These parameters should be considered during nutritional assessment in this population to have a favorable impact on nutritional status and growth

Differential cross section measurements for the production of a W boson in association with jets in proton–proton collisions at √s = 7 TeV

Measurements are reported of differential cross sections for the production of a W boson, which decays into a muon and a neutrino, in association with jets, as a function of several variables, including the transverse momenta (pT) and pseudorapidities of the four leading jets, the scalar sum of jet transverse momenta (HT), and the difference in azimuthal angle between the directions of each jet and the muon. The data sample of pp collisions at a centre-of-mass energy of 7 TeV was collected with the CMS detector at the LHC and corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 5.0 fb[superscript −1]. The measured cross sections are compared to predictions from Monte Carlo generators, MadGraph + pythia and sherpa, and to next-to-leading-order calculations from BlackHat + sherpa. The differential cross sections are found to be in agreement with the predictions, apart from the pT distributions of the leading jets at high pT values, the distributions of the HT at high-HT and low jet multiplicity, and the distribution of the difference in azimuthal angle between the leading jet and the muon at low values.United States. Dept. of EnergyNational Science Foundation (U.S.)Alfred P. Sloan Foundatio