Sipuncula inhabiting the coral Oculina patagonica in the western Mediterranean Sea

Background: We analyzed the sipunculan fauna inhabiting the scleractinian coral Oculina patagonica in the Marine Reserve of Tabarca Island (western Mediterranean). Results: Five sipunculan species were collected from 2011 to 2014: Phascolosoma stephensoni, P. granulatum, P. cf. agassizii, Aspidosiphon misakiensis, and Golfingia vulgaris. All five species were reported for the first time inhabiting O. patagonica; with P. cf. agassizii being a new record for the Iberian Peninsula. The average abundance of sipunculans inhabiting the coral was 468.75 ± 158.04 ind m−2, representing the second most abundant taxonomic group, in biomass, after Mollusca. Conclusions: Sipunculan diversity was low comparing with tropical reefs, but species abundances were higher than in soft-bottom nearby areas and community structure appears to be more homogeneous. There may be a considerable contribution to the erosion of the coral skeleton by sipunculans

Human Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae Infection, Spain

Human Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae Infection, Spai

Loss of FBXW7 and accumulation of MCL1 and PLK1 promote paclitaxel resistance in breast cancer

FBXW7 is a component of SCF (complex of SKP1, CUL1 and F-box-protein)-type ubiquitin ligases that targets several oncoproteins for ubiquitination and degradation by the proteasome. FBXW7 regulates cellular apoptosis by targeting MCL1 for ubiquitination. Recently, we identified PLK1 as a new substrate of FBXW7 modulating the intra-S-phase DNA-damage checkpoint. Taxanes are frequently used in breast cancer treatments, but the acquisition of resistance makes these treatments ineffective. We investigated the role of FBXW7 and their substrates MCL1 and PLK1 in regulating the apoptotic response to paclitaxel treatment in breast cancer cells and their expression in breast cancer tissues. Paclitaxel-sensitive MDA-MB-468 and a paclitaxel-resistant MDA-MB-468R subclone were used to study the role of FBXW7 and substrates in paclitaxel-induced apoptosis. Forced expression of FBXW7 or downregulation of MCL1 or PLK1 restored sensitivity to paclitaxel in MDA-MB-468R cells. By contrary, FBXW7-silenced MDA-MB-468 cells became resistant to paclitaxel. The expression of FBXW7 and substrates were studied in 296 invasive carcinomas by immunohistochemistry and disease-free survival was analyzed in a subset of patients treated with paclitaxel. In breast cancer tissues, loss of FBXW7 correlated with adverse prognosis markers and loss of FBXW7 and MCL1 or PLK1 accumulation were associated with diminished disease-free survival in paclitaxel-treated patients. We conclude that FBXW7 regulates the response to paclitaxel by targeting MCL1 and PLK1 in breast cancer cells and thus targeting these substrates may be a valuable adjunct for paclitaxel treatment. Also, FBXW7, MCL1 and PLK1 may be relevant predictive markers of tumor progression and response to paclitaxel treatment.España, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad SAF2014- 53799-C2-1/2-REspaña, Consejería de Salud AI-0025-2015España, Consejería de Innovación Ciencia y Empresa P10- CTS-624

Epigenetic Landscape in Blood Leukocytes Following Ketosis and Weight Loss Induced by a Very Low Calorie Ketogenic Diet (VLCKD) in Patients With Obesity

[Abstract] Background:The molecular mechanisms underlying the potential health benefits of a ketogenic diet areunknown and could be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms.Objective:To identify the changes in the obesity-related methylome that are mediated by the inducedweight loss or are dependent on ketosis in subjects with obesity underwent a very-low calorie ketogenicdiet (VLCKD).Methods:Twenty-one patients with obesity (n¼12 women, 47.9±1.02 yr, 33.0±0.2 kg/m2) after 6months on a VLCKD and 12 normal weight volunteers (n¼6 women, 50.3±6.2 yrs, 22.7±1.5 kg/m2)were studied. Data from the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip methylomes of blood leukocytes wereobtained at time points of ketotic phases (basal, maximum ketosis, and out of ketosis) during VLCKD(n¼10) and at baseline in volunteers (n¼12). Results were further validated by pyrosequencing inrepresentative cohort of patients on a VLCKD (n¼18) and correlated with gene expression.Results:After weight reduction by VLCKD, differences were found at 988 CpG sites (786 unique genes).The VLCKD altered methylation levels in patients with obesity had high resemblance with those fromnormal weight volunteers and was concomitant with a downregulation of DNA methyltransferases(DNMT)1, 3a and 3b. Most of the encoded genes were involved in metabolic processes, protein meta-bolism, and muscle, organ, and skeletal system development. Novel genes representing the top scoringassociated events were identified, includingZNF331,FGFRL1(VLCKD-induced weight loss) andCBFA2T3,C3orf38,JSRP1, andLRFN4(VLCKD-induced ketosis). Interestingly,ZNF331andFGFRL1were validated inan independent cohort and inversely correlated with gene expression.Conclusions:The beneficial effects of VLCKD therapy on obesity involve a methylome more suggestive ofnormal weight that could be mainly mediated by the VLCKD-induced ketosis rather than weight loss.This work was supported by the PronoKal Group® and grants from the Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria as well as PI17/01287, PI20/00628 and PI20/00650 research projects and CIBERobn from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)-Subdireccion General de Evaluacion y Fomento de la Investigación; Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) Ana B Crujeiras is funded by a research contract “Miguel Servet” (CP17/00088) from the ISCIII, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and Xunta de Galicia-GAIN (IN607B2020)Xunta de Galicia; IN607B202

Evaluación económica con opciones reales: biorefinería de bioetanol de segunda generación en Veracruz, México

First generation bioethanol production in Mexico could have disadvantages, since some prime materials would come from food crops such as maize and sugarcane, causing instability in prices and market shortage. Second generation bioethanol could be a good solution to have fuels that are less pollutant, in a sustainable manner. The objective of this study was to evaluate the economic feasibility, with real options, of a biorefinery that will produce bioethanol from sugarcane wastes, and which is supposed to be located next to the largest sugar factory in the state of Veracruz. It is estimated that the biorefinery will have an annual capacity of 143 million liters and a total investment for the project of 308 million dollars. The real option of abandoning the project was used, for 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 years, and traditional evaluation for 30 years. The results indicate that the biorefinery would have a net present value of 27.3 million dollars until year 20, and a net present value of 61.1 million dollars for year 30. The price of bioethanol is the variable that affects most the profitability of a biorefinery of this type.La producción de bioetanol de primera generación en México podría traer inconvenientes, pues algunas materias primas provendrían de cultivos alimenticios como maíz y caña de azúcar, lo que provocaría inestabilidad de precios y desabasto en el mercado. El bioetanol de segunda generación sería una buena solución para tener combustibles menos contaminantes de manera sustentable. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la factibilidad económica, con opciones reales, de una biorefineria que producirá bioetanol a partir de desperdicios de caña de azúcar, se supone que estaría ubicada junto al mayor ingenio de Veracruz. Se estimó que la biorefinería tendrá una capacidad anual de 143 millones de litros y una inversión total del proyecto de 308 millones de dólares. Se empleó la opción real de abandono del proyecto, para 5,10, 15, 20 y 25 años y se hizo la evaluación tradicional para 30 años. Los resultados indican que hasta el año 20 la biorefineria tendría un valor actual neto de 27.3 millones de dólares, y para el año 30 un valor actual neto de 61.1 millones de dólares, el precio del bioetanol es la variable que más afecta a la rentabilidad de una biorefineria de este tipo

Epigenetic Landscape in Blood Leukocytes Following Ketosis and Weight Loss Induced by a Very Low Calorie Ketogenic Diet (VLCKD) in Patients with Obesity

Background: The molecular mechanisms underlying the potential health benefits of a ketogenic diet are unknown and could be mediated by epigenetic mechanisms. Objective: To identify the changes in the obesity-related methylome that are mediated by the induced weight loss or are dependent on ketosis in subjects with obesity underwent a very-low calorie ketogenic diet (VLCKD). Methods: Twenty-one patients with obesity (n ¼ 12 women, 47.9 ± 1.02 yr, 33.0 ± 0.2 kg/m2 ) after 6 months on a VLCKD and 12 normal weight volunteers (n ¼ 6 women, 50.3 ± 6.2 yrs, 22.7 ± 1.5 kg/m2 ) were studied. Data from the Infinium MethylationEPIC BeadChip methylomes of blood leukocytes were obtained at time points of ketotic phases (basal, maximum ketosis, and out of ketosis) during VLCKD (n ¼ 10) and at baseline in volunteers (n ¼ 12). Results were further validated by pyrosequencing in representative cohort of patients on a VLCKD (n ¼ 18) and correlated with gene expression. Results: After weight reduction by VLCKD, differences were found at 988 CpG sites (786 unique genes). The VLCKD altered methylation levels in patients with obesity had high resemblance with those from normal weight volunteers and was concomitant with a downregulation of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT)1, 3a and 3b. Most of the encoded genes were involved in metabolic processes, protein metabolism, and muscle, organ, and skeletal system development. Novel genes representing the top scoring associated events were identified, including ZNF331, FGFRL1 (VLCKD-induced weight loss) and CBFA2T3, C3orf38, JSRP1, and LRFN4 (VLCKD-induced ketosis). Interestingly, ZNF331 and FGFRL1 were validated in an independent cohort and inversely correlated with gene expression. Conclusions: The beneficial effects of VLCKD therapy on obesity involve a methylome more suggestive of normal weight that could be mainly mediated by the VLCKD-induced ketosis rather than weight loss.This work was supported by the PronoKal Group® and grants from the Fondo de Investigacion Sanitaria as well as PI17/01287, PI20/00628 and PI20/00650 research projects and CIBERobn from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)-Subdireccion General de Evaluacion y Fomento de la Investigación; Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) Ana B Crujeiras is funded by a research contract “Miguel Servet” (CP17/00088) from the ISCIII, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) and Xunta de Galicia-GAIN (IN607B2020). The funding source had no involvement in the study design or interpretation of the result

Lifestyles and risk factors associated with adherence to the Mediterranean diet: a baseline assessment of the PREDIMED Trial

Background: The traditional Mediterranean dietary pattern (MedDiet) is associated with longevity and low rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, there is little information on who is more likely to follow this food pattern. Aim: To evaluate how different factors are associated with lower MedDiet adherence in older Spanish subjects. Methods: We included 7305 participants (men aged 55-80 y, women 60-80 y) at high-risk of CVD recruited into the PREDIMED trial (ISRCTN35739639). Socioeconomic, anthropometric, lifestyle characteristics and CVD risk factors were recorded. A validated 14-item questionnaire was used to evaluate MedDiet adherence at baseline. Multivariate models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals for lower adherence to the MedDiet (<9 points out of 14) and ascertain factors independently associated with it. Results: Former smoking (OR = 0.87; 95% CI, 0.78-0.98), physical activity (OR for the 3rd vs. the 1sttertile: 0.69; 0.62-0.78), and higher educational level (OR for university vs. less than primary school: 0.54; 0.38-0.77) were associated with higher MedDiet adherence. Conversely, having a larger waist-to-height ratio (OR for 0.1 units, 1.35; 1.22-1.49), being diabetic (OR = 1.13; 1.03-1.24), being single (OR = 1.27; 1.01-1.61) or divorced or separated (OR = 1.44; 1.09-1.89), and current smoking (OR = 1.28; 1.11-1.47) were associated with lower adherence. Conclusions: Participants with little education, a larger waist-to-height ratio, or diabetes and those who were less physically active, single, divorced or separated, or smokers were less likely to adhere to the MedDiet, an ideal model for food choices. Stronger efforts of health promotion are needed in these groups to foster adoption of the MedDiet

Efectos de un programa de prevención sobre las adicciones tecnológicas y disposiciones cognitiva-afectivas en universitarios

Objective: The effects of an online prevention program on technological addictions and cognitive-affective dispositions in university students during the COVID-19 pandemic were evaluated. Methods: Forty-two students participated in the sample, of which 21 formed the experimental group (EG) and the other 21 students the control group (CG). Academic efficacy and academic engagement scales were used, as well as cell phone, internet and video game addiction tests. Results: The application of the program significantly reduced the internet addiction, cell phone and video games and at the same time significantly increased the positive assessment of academic engagement and academic efficacy; comparisons between the study groups (GE versus GC) according to the effect sizes (.30 &lt; d &gt;. 50) evidenced important practical differences in the internet addiction, cell phone and video games, for the three variables the GE showed lower averages than the GC; on the other hand the comparisons between GE and GC resulted with effect size differences between medium (d &gt;.50) and large (d &gt;.80) in academic efficacy and academic engagement respectively, in these two variables the GE showed higher averages. Conclusion: the prevention program has reduced technological addictions, as well as increased cognitive-affective dispositions in students.Objetivo: Se evaluó los efectos de un programa de prevención en línea sobre las adicciones tecnológicas y disposiciones cognitiva-afectivas en universitarios durante la pandemia COVID-19. Método: Participaron en la muestra 42 estudiantes, de los cuales 21 conformaron el grupo experimental (GE) y los otros 21 estudiantes el control (GC). Se utilizaron las escalas de eficacia académica y engagement académico, así como los test de adicción al teléfono móvil, al internet y a los videojuegos. Resultados: La aplicación del programa redujo significativamente la adicción al internet, teléfono móvil y videojuegos y a la vez aumentó significativamente la valoración positiva del compromiso académico y la eficacia académica; las comparaciones entre los grupos de estudio (GE versus GC) de acuerdo con los tamaños de efecto (.30 &lt; d &gt;.50) evidenciaron diferencias prácticas importantes  en cuanto al uso adictivo de internet, del teléfono móvil y los videojuegos, para las tres variables el GE mostró menores promedios que el GC; de otra parte las comparaciones entre GE y GC resultaron con diferencias de magnitudes de efecto entre mediano (d &gt;.50) y grande (d &gt;.80) en eficacia académica y compromiso académico respectivamente, en estas dos variables el GE mostró mayores promedios. Conclusión: el programa de prevención ha reducido las adicciones tecnológicas, así como incrementó las disposiciones cognitiva-afectivas en el estudiantado