Five decades of cuprizone, an updated model to replicate demyelinating diseases

Abstract: Introduction: Demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) comprise a group of neurological disorders characterized by progressive (and eventually irreversible) loss of oligodendrocytes and myelin sheaths in the white matter tracts. Some of myelin disorders include: Multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, peripheral nerve polyneuropathy and others. To date, the etiology of these disorders is not well known and no effective treatments are currently available against them. Therefore, further research is needed to gain a better understand and treat these patients. To accomplish this goal, it is necessary to have appropriate animal models that closely resemble the pathophysiology and clinical signs of these diseases. Herein, we describe the model of toxic demyelination induced by cuprizone (CPZ), a copper chelator that reduces the cytochrome and monoamine oxidase activity into the brain, produces mitochondrial stress and triggers the local immune response. These biochemical and cellular responses ultimately result in selective loss of oligodendrocytes and microglia accumulation, which conveys to extensive areas of demyelination and gliosis in corpus callosum, superior cerebellar peduncles and cerebral cortex. Remarkably, some aspects of the histological pattern induced by CPZ are similar to those found in multiple sclerosis. CPZ exposure provokes behavioral changes, impairs motor skills and affects mood as that observed in several demyelinating diseases. Upon CPZ removal, the pathological and histological changes gradually revert. Therefore, some authors have postulated that the CPZ model allows to partially mimic the disease relapses observed in some demyelinating diseases. Conclusion: for five decades, the model of CPZ-induced demyelination is a good experimental approach to study demyelinating diseases that has maintained its validity, and is a suitable pharmacological model for reproducing some key features of demyelinating diseases, including multiple sclerosis.UAEME

¿Pueden los cultivos de cobertura incidir positivamente en los atributos fisicos del suelo?

PósterAl inicio de la experiencia (2010 ), el suelo suelo presentaba más de 40 %de encostramiento superficial y valores muy bajos de infiltración. Frente a esta problemática se plantearon dos secuencias de cultivos, soja contínua (SC) y soja en rotación con cultivos de cobertura (SR) .Asociado a la utilización de 8 años de cultivos de cobertura en SR se encontraron que los indicadores relacionados a la compactación experimentaron cambios positivos (Tabla). Se comprobó estrecha relación entre la conductividad hidráulica del estrato superficial e infiltración (R 2=0,93 )y entre densidad aparente e infiltración (R 2=-0,79 ), encostramiento e infiltración (R 2=-0,80 ).Estos cambios y relaciones entre propiedades edáficas permiten inferir sobre una mejora en los procesos de captación, almacenaje y uso del agua .Cambios positivos bajo SR pero que en cierta manera resultan insuficientes si tenemos en cuenta que aún se registran cierto porcentaje de encostramiento y de raíces limitadas en su crecimiento.EEA AnguilFil: Fernandez, Romina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Anguil; ArgentinaFil: Perez, María Micaela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Anguil; ArgentinaFil: Quiroga, Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Anguil; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentin

EGF-Coupled Gold Nanoparticles Increase the Expression of CNPase and the Myelin-Associated Proteins MAG, MOG, and MBP in the Septal Nucleus Demyelinated by Cuprizone

ARTICULO DE ACCESO ABIERTOCurrent pharmacological therapies against demyelinating diseases are not quite satisfactory to promote remyelination. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) can expand the population of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) that may help with the remyelination process, but its delivery into the injured tissue is still a biomedical challenge. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) may be a useful tool for drug delivery into the brain. To evaluate remyelination in the septal nucleus, we administered intracerebral GNPs coupled with EGF (EGF–GNPs). C57BL6/J mice were demyelinated with 0.4% cuprizone (CPZ) and divided into several groups: Sham, Ctrl, GNPs, EGF, and EGF–GNPs. We evaluated the remyelination process at two time-points: 2 weeks and 3 weeks post-injection (WPI) of each treatment. We used the rotarod for evaluating motor coordination. Then, we did a Western blot analysis myelin-associated proteins: CNPase, MAG, MOG, and MBP. EGF–GNPs increase the expression of CNPase, MAG, and MOG at 2 WPI. At 3 WPI, we found that the EGF–GNPs treatment improves motor coordination and increases MAG, MOG, and MBP. EGF–GNPs enhance the expression of myelin-associated proteins and improve the motor coordination in mice. Thus, EGF-associated GNPs may be a promising pharmacological vehicle for delivering long-lasting drugs into the brain.S/

Precise ionospheric electron content monitoring from single-frequency GPS receivers

The number of existing global positioning system (GPS) single-frequency receivers continues growing. More than 90% of GPS receivers are implemented as low-cost single-frequency chipsets embedded in smartphones. This provides new opportunities, in particular for ionospheric sounding. In this context, we present the new sidereal days ionospheric graphic (SIg) combination of single-frequency GNSS measurements. SIg is able to monitor, for each given GNSS transmitter-receiver pair, the vertical total electron content (VTEC) relative to the previous observation with the same or almost the same line-of-sight (LOS) vector. In such arrangements the SIg multipath error mostly cancels, thus increasing the accuracy of the ΔVTEC significantly. This happens for the GPS constellation after one sidereal day (about 23 h 56 m) and for Galileo after 10 sidereal days approximately. Moreover, we show that the required calibration of the corresponding carrier phase ambiguity can be accurately performed by means of VTEC global ionospheric maps (GIMs). The results appear almost as accurate as those based on the dual-frequency technique, i.e., about 1 TECU or better, and with much more precision and resolution than the GIM values in the ionospheric region sounded by each given single-frequency receiver. The performance is demonstrated using actual data from 9 permanent GPS receivers during a total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 over North America, where the corresponding ionospheric footprint is clearly detected in agreement with the total solar eclipse predictions. The advantages of extending SIg to lower carrier frequencies and the feasibility of applying it to other global navigation satellite system (GNSS) systems are also studied. This is shown in terms of a fully consistent VTEC depletion signature of the same eclipse phenomena, obtained with Galileo-only data in North America at mid and low latitude. Finally the SIg feasibility, including the cycle slip detection, is shown as well with actual mass-market single frequency GPS receivers at mid and high latitude

First report of papaya meleira virus (PMeV) in Mexico

Papaya meleira virus (PMeV), causal agent of meleira or sticky disease, is a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) virus which has been previously reported only in Brazil. A study was carried out in order to verify the presence and occurrence of PMeV in Mexico. Latex samples from symptomatic and asymptomatic papaya fruits were collected in Quintana Roo state papaya orchards, where the first symptoms of PMeV were observed, and from 29 different municipalities located in ten papaya producer states in Mexico. A molecular protocol based on nucleic acid extraction was used for the diagnosis and a virus 12 Kb dsRNA distinctive band was observed in all PMeV infected plants. Around 46% of the evaluated plants were positive for this pathogen. Presence of the virus had been confirmed in seven states indicating the potential damage that PMeV could cause in the papaya crop in Mexico. The molecular analysis used allowed the diagnosis of infected plants without symptoms and facilitated the diagnosis in flowers and small papaya fruits also. The early diagnosis of PMeV will allow papaya producers to take appropriate and timely control measures. This is the first report of Papaya meleira virus in Mexico.Key words: Papaya meleira virus, sticky disease, dsRNA, nucleic acid analysis

The acute effect of match-play on hip range of motion and isometric strength in elite tennis players

Background: Groin injuries are some of the most common injuries tennis players suffer. Several factors (e.g., post-match decrease in hip adductor (ADD) strength) have been proposed as possible mechanisms for increasing the incidence of this type of injury. However, the risk factors of developing groin injuries after a tennis match have not yet been delineated. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of tennis match-play on isometric ADD and abductor (ABD) strength and passive hip range of motion (ROM). Methods: Twenty-six male tennis players (20.30 +/- 4.98 years) took part in this study. Participants completed an evaluation of strength and flexibility hip measurements before and after a simulated tennis match. Dominant and non-dominant passive hip ROM, ADD and ABD isometric strength, and the ADD/ABD strength ratio were measured before and immediately post-match. A global positioning system (GPS) and a session rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were used to assess the locomotive demands and internal match load. Results: Isometric dominant ADD strength (17.8%, p <= 0.01) and ADD/ABD strength ratio (11.6%, p = 0.04) were lower post-match compared to the pre-match values. No between-limbs differences were observed for isometric ADD strength, ABD strength, and passive hip ROM tests. RPE showed an expected increase between pre- vs. post-match (pre- vs. post-warming-up, 3.42 +/- 2.08 vs. 5.62 +/- 2.29, p < 0.01). In addition, a significant relationship between ADD strength and the volume of tennis practice per week was found, stablishing that tennis players with lower volume of training per week suffered a reduction in ADD strength in their dominant limb after match-play (r = 0.420, p = 0.04). Conclusion: The assessment of ADD strength and the ADD/ABD strength ratio in the dominant limb may be considered a post-match tool that can be used to identify players who require rest and additional recovery strategies before competing again

El camino de la transición agroecológica

El proceso complejo de transición agroecológica, detallado en este libro, analiza la trama de variables y actores que participan en él en relación con los objetivos trazados en el Proyecto Específico AERN-296022, Investigación Acción Participativa de los procesos de transición hacia sistemas de producción agroecológicos.IPAF Región PampeanaFil: Marasas, Mariana Edith. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Agricultura Familiar; ArgentinaFil: Cap, Guillermo Bartolome. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Agricultura Familiar; ArgentinaFil: Cap, Guillermo Bartolome. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; ArgentinaFil: De Luca, Laura Cecilia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Agricultura Familiar; ArgentinaFil: Perez, Maximiliano. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Agricultura Familiar; ArgentinaFil: Perez, Raul Alberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico para la Agricultura Familiar; Argentin

La prospectiva como marco de análisis para el aprovechamiento turístico de los hongos comestibles silvestres (HCS) en el centro de México

Los hongos comestibles silvestres (HCS) han sido aprovechados históricamente por las comunidades forestales, pues constituyen un componente fundamental de su cultura alimentaria y un recurso estratégico de subsistencia. Además, representan una oportunidad para la diversificación productiva local a partir del impulso del turismo rural orientado al micoturismo. Por este motivo, se delinea un marco de análisis teórico metodológico desde el enfoque de prospectiva. Como procedimiento metodológico se realizó una revisión de literatura del micoturismo y de los HCS en revistas científicas. Como resultado se identificaron 48 variables que inciden en la conformación del sistema micoturístico y que son una aproximación para generar escenarios futuros del aprovechamiento recreativo de los hongos comestibles silvestres.CONACYT- Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Méxic