Characterizing the Mitogenome of the Endemic Bumblebee Subspecies from the Canary Islands for Conservation Purposes

The taxonomic status of Bombus terrestris subspecies is complex and has deep implications in the management of commercial bumblebees for crop pollination as well as in the establishment of appropriate conservation plans. Herein, the complete mitogenome of the endemic Canary Islands subspecies Bombus terrestris canariensis is newly sequenced and compared with available mitochondrial sequences in order to shed light into its taxonomic status. The mitochondrial genome was 17,300 bp in length and contained 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two rRNAs, and 22 tRNAs and a partial sequence of the AT rich control region. The phylogenetic analysis of PCGs of the mitogenome was congruent with its subspecific status and a close relationship with the North African subspecies africanus as previously suggested. The sequencing of the mitogenome of B. t. canariensis provides useful genetic information to study the conservation genetics and genetic diversity of these island bumblebee populations

Epidemiological Survey of Ascosphaera apis in Small-Scale Migratory Apis mellifera iberiensis Colonies

Honey bee hives are moved yearly mainly for pollination, but also to take advantage of consecutive flowering events to get as many harvests of honey as possible and/or to find favorable sites for food sources and summer temperatures. Such movements may lead to pathogen spill-over with consequences on the honey bee health and finally on population decline. Ascosphaera apis is the causative agent of the chalkbrood disease, a pathology affecting honey bee larvae that significantly harms population growth and colony productivity. In this study, we detected the presence of A. apis in adult worker honey bees by PCR-amplification of the intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS1) of the ribosomal gene (rDNA). We first optimized the DNA extraction by testing different protocols in individual and pooled (colony level) adult honey bee samples. Subsequently, the presence of the fungus A. apis was assessed in both stationary and migratory colonies (subjected to small scale regional level movements) to determine the effect of migratory practices on the dispersal of this pathogen. Results confirmed a higher prevalence of A. apis in migratory apiaries when compared to stationary ones, indicating that migratory colonies are more likely to develop chalkbrood disease. Given these results, we suggest that beekeepers should be aware of the risks of pathogens spreading while moving beehives, even within a reduced geographic range

On the effect of using collision/reaction cell (CRC) technology in single-particle ICP-mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-MS)

In this work, the effects of using collision/reaction cell (CRC) technology in quadrupole-based ICP-MS (ICP-QMS) instrumentation operated in single-particle (SP) mode have been assessed. The influence of (i) various CRC gases, (ii) gas flow rates, (iii) nanoparticle (NP) sizes and (iv) NP types was evaluated using Ag, Au and Pt NPs with both a traditional ICP-QMS instrument and a tandem ICP-mass spectrometer. It has been shown that using CRC technology brings about a significant increase in the NP signal peak width (from 0.5 up to 6¿ms). This effect is more prominent for a heavier gas (e.g., NH3) than for a lighter one (e.g., H2 or He). At a higher gas flow rate and/or for larger particle sizes >100¿nm), the NP signal duration was prolonged to a larger extent. This effect of using CRC technology has been further demonstrated by characterizing custom-made 50 and 200¿nm Fe3O4 NPs (originally strongly affected by the occurrence of spectral overlap) using different CRC approaches (H2 on-mass and NH3 mass-shift). The use of NH3 (monitoring of Fe as the Fe(NH3)2+ reaction product ion at m/z¿=¿90 amu) induces a significant peak broadening compared to that observed when using H2 (6.10¿±¿1.60 vs. 0.94¿±¿0.49¿ms). This extension of transit time can most likely be attributed to the collisions/interactions of the ion cloud generated by a single NP event with the CRC gas and it even precludes 50¿nm Fe3O4 NPs to be detected when using the NH3 mass-shift approach. Based on these results, the influence of a longer peak width on the accuracy of SP-ICP-MS measurement data (NP size, particle number density and mass concentration) must be taken into account when using CRC technology as a means to overcome spectral overlap. To mitigate the potential detrimental effect of using CRC technology in the characterization of NPs via SP-ICP-MS(/MS), the use of light gases and low gas flow rates is recommended

Increased expression of fatty-acid and calcium metabolism genes in failing human heart

Background: Heart failure (HF) involves alterations in metabolism, but little is known about cardiomyopathy-(CM)-specific or diabetes-independent alterations in gene expression of proteins involved in fatty-acid (FA) uptake and oxidation or in calcium-(Ca(2+))-handling in the human heart. Methods: RT-qPCR was used to quantify mRNA expression and immunoblotting to confirm protein expression in left-ventricular myocardium from patients with HF (n = 36) without diabetes mellitus of ischaemic (ICM, n = 16) or dilated (DCM, n = 20) cardiomyopathy aetiology, and non-diseased donors (CTL, n = 6). Results: Significant increases in mRNA of genes regulating FA uptake (CD36) and intracellular transport (Heart-FA-Binding Protein (HFABP)) were observed in HF patients vs CTL. Significance was maintained in DCM and confirmed at protein level, but not in ICM. mRNA was higher in DCM than ICM for peroxisome-proliferator-activated-receptor-alpha (PPARA), PPAR-gamma coactivator-1-alpha (PGC1A) and CD36, and confirmed at the protein level for PPARA and CD36. Transcript and protein expression of Ca(2+)-handling genes (Two-Pore-Channel 1 (TPCN1), Two-Pore-Channel 2 (TPCN2), and Inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate Receptor type-1 (IP3R1)) increased in HF patients relative to CTL. Increases remained significant for TPCN2 in all groups but for TPCN1 only in DCM. There were correlations between FA metabolism and Ca(2+)-handling genes expression. In ICM there were six correlations, all distinct from those found in CTL. In DCM there were also six (all also different from those found in CTL): three were common to and three distinct from ICM. Conclusion: DCM-specific increases were found in expression of several genes that regulate FA metabolism, which might help in the design of aetiology-specific metabolic therapies in HF. Ca(2+)-handling genes TPCN1 and TPCN2 also showed increased expression in HF, while HF- and CM-specific positive correlations were found among several FA and Ca(2+)-handling genes

Nesfatin-1 in human and murine cardiomyocytes: synthesis, secretion, and mobilization of GLUT-4

Nesfatin-1, a satiety-inducing peptide identified in hypothalamic regions that regulate energy balance, is an integral regulator of energy homeostasis and a putative glucose-dependent insulin coadjuvant. We investigated its production by human cardiomyocytes and its effects on glucose uptake, in the main cardiac glucose transporter GLUT-4 and in intracellular signaling. Quantitative RT-PCR, Western blots, confocal immunofluorescence microscopy, and ELISA of human and murine cardiomyocytes and/or cardiac tissue showed that cardiomyocytes can synthesize and secrete nesfatin-1. Confocal microscopy of cultured cardiomyocytes after GLUT-4 labeling showed that nesfatin-1 mobilizes this glucose transporter to cell peripherals. The rate of 2-deoxy-D-[(3)H]glucose incorporation demonstrated that nesfatin-1 induces glucose uptake by HL-1 cells and cultured cardiomyocytes. Nesfatin-1 induced dose- and time-dependent increases in the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, AKT, and AS160. In murine and human cardiac tissue, nesfatin-1 levels varied with diet and coronary health. In conclusion, human and murine cardiomyocytes can synthesize and secrete nesfatin-1, which is able to induce glucose uptake and the mobilization of the glucose transporter GLUT-4 in these cells. Nesfatin-1 cardiac levels are regulated by diet and coronary health

Análise de tendências de uso e Market-Share de medicamentos para transtorno de déficit de atenção no Brasil durante a pandemia de Covid-19: uma análise de tendência com regressão Joinpoint

Trata-se de estudo de tendência temporal com análise joinpoint das vendas de psicoestimulantes em farmácias no Brasil entre 2015 e 2021. Foi adquirido, filtrado e analisado o banco de dados sobre vendas de medicamentos para tratamento do Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção/Hiperatividade (TDAH) antes e durante a pandemia de COVID-19, realizando-se análise de tendência com o software Joinpoint, visando demonstrar o impacto no uso de estimulantes. Foi demonstrado que as vendas de psicoestimulantes aumentaram ~169% no período, alavancadas pelo crescimento de 450% nas vendas de LDA, mas, durante a pandemia, viu-se uma redução da tendência

Fisiopatogenia da Estenose Valvar Aórtica: uma síntese da literatura

A valva aórtica, inicialmente desenhada por Leonardo da Vinci no século XVI, é frequentemente acometida por um estreitamento, denominado Estenose Valvar Aórtica (EAo), descrita primeiramente em 1663. Atualmente, a EAo é definida como uma obstrução ao fluxo sanguíneo do ventrículo esquerdo para a aorta, com causas predominantes como doença reumática, degenerativa e congênita. A epidemiologia varia de acordo com a renda do país, e, possui como abordagem terapêutica principal, a substituição da valva. No entanto, a EAo continua desafiadora devido a limitações na coleta de dados epidemiológicos e diagnóstico preciso, especialmente em países de menor renda. Este artigo explora a epidemiologia, apresentação clínica e fisiopatologia da EAo, visando melhor compreensão dos efeitos físicos e matemáticos envolvidos na geração do quadro clínico da condição

VIII Encuentro de Docentes e Investigadores en Historia del Diseño, la Arquitectura y la Ciudad

Acta de congresoLa conmemoración de los cien años de la Reforma Universitaria de 1918 se presentó como una ocasión propicia para debatir el rol de la historia, la teoría y la crítica en la formación y en la práctica profesional de diseñadores, arquitectos y urbanistas. En ese marco el VIII Encuentro de Docentes e Investigadores en Historia del Diseño, la Arquitectura y la Ciudad constituyó un espacio de intercambio y reflexión cuya realización ha sido posible gracias a la colaboración entre Facultades de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño de la Universidad Nacional y la Facultad de Arquitectura de la Universidad Católica de Córdoba, contando además con la activa participación de mayoría de las Facultades, Centros e Institutos de Historia de la Arquitectura del país y la región. Orientado en su convocatoria tanto a docentes como a estudiantes de Arquitectura y Diseño Industrial de todos los niveles de la FAUD-UNC promovió el debate de ideas a partir de experiencias concretas en instancias tales como mesas temáticas de carácter interdisciplinario, que adoptaron la modalidad de presentación de ponencias, entre otras actividades. En el ámbito de VIII Encuentro, desarrollado en la sede Ciudad Universitaria de Córdoba, se desplegaron numerosas posiciones sobre la enseñanza, la investigación y la formación en historia, teoría y crítica del diseño, la arquitectura y la ciudad; sumándose el aporte realizado a través de sus respectivas conferencias de Ana Clarisa Agüero, Bibiana Cicutti, Fernando Aliata y Alberto Petrina. El conjunto de ponencias que se publican en este Repositorio de la UNC son el resultado de dos intensas jornadas de exposiciones, cuyos contenidos han posibilitado actualizar viejos dilemas y promover nuevos debates. El evento recibió el apoyo de las autoridades de la FAUD-UNC, en especial de la Secretaría de Investigación y de la Biblioteca de nuestra casa, como así también de la Facultad de Arquitectura de la UCC; va para todos ellos un especial agradecimiento