Caloric restriction reveals a metabolomic and lipidomic signature in liver of male mice

Lipid composition, particularly membrane unsaturation, has been proposed as being a lifespan determinant, but it is currently unknown whether caloric restriction (CR), an accepted life-extending intervention, affects cellular lipid profiles. In this study, we employ a liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight-based methodology to demonstrate that CR in the liver of male C57BL/6 mice: (i) induces marked changes in the cellular lipidome, (ii) specifically reduces levels of a phospholipid peroxidation product, 1-palmitoyl-2-glutaryl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine, (iii) alters cellular phosphoethanolamine and triglyceride distributional profiles, (iv) affects mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes, increasing complex II and decreasing complex III and (v) is associated with specific changes in liver metabolic pathways. These data demonstrate that CR induces a specific lipidome and metabolome reprogramming event in mouse liver which is associated with lower protein oxidative damage, as assessed by mass spectrometry-based measurements. Such changes may be critical to the increased lifespan and healthspan observed in C57BL/6 mice following CR

El capital humano en biotecnología: una necesidad de desarrollo de República Dominicana

El diseño curricular para la formación de postgrado en Biotecnología es un asunto complejo que involucra la variedad de formaciones académicas. Las universidades dominicanas, salvo alguna excepción, no tienen en su oferta académica la formación de biotecnólogos. La formación de postgrado depende de factores, tales como: (I) la existencia de una masa crítica de másteres y doctores en Ciencias, (II) la disponibilidad de infraestructuras para el desarrollo de investigaciones, y (III) el financiamiento adecuado para esos fines, donde se puedan insertar los estudiantes para el desarrollo de las actividades experimentales de sus tesis. El presente trabajo expone algunos de los factores que deben ser contemplados en el diseño de un programa de formación de postgrado en Biotecnología en República Dominicana, a partir de experiencias de otros países y de los resultados que se han alcanzado en el desarrollo de las investigaciones científicas en este campo, en el período 2005-2020

Análisis comparativo sobre la aplicación de los artículos 2, 6 y 12 de la Constitución de la República y 10, 12, 13 y 14 del Código de Ética para los periodistas y profesionales de la comunicación en El Salvador, en la información publicada en La Prensa Gráfica y Periódico Más de septiembre a noviembre de 2019

Los artículos 2, 6 y 12 de la Constitución de la República y 10, 12, 13 y 14 del Código de Ética para periodistas y profesionales de la comunicación en El Salvador, dictan el parámetro que debe llevar un tratamiento informativo periodístico desde la perspectiva ética. Derechos como la integridad moral, el honor, la vida privada y la presunción de inocencia, son disposiciones obligatorias que se deben tomar en cuenta a la hora de una publicación. La investigación a través del análisis de contenido determinó datos que compararon a los periódicos La Prensa Gráfica y periódico Más, para determinar los diferentes estilos en cuanto al tratamiento ético a través de unidades de análisis, las cuales reflejaron que La Prensa Gráfica y el periódico Más, marcaron una clara diferencia de estilo periodísticos y manejo ético, generando una crítica a la práctica y su rol en la sociedad

Particulate matter geochemistry of a highly industrialized region in the Caribbean: basis for future toxicological studies

Air pollution has become an important issue, especially in Caribbean urban areas, and, particulate matter (PM) emitted by different natural and anthropogenic sources causes environmental and health issues. In this work, we studied the concentrations of PM10 and PM2.5 sources in an industrial and port urban area in the Caribbean region of Colombia. PM samples were collected within 48-h periods between April and October 2018 by using a Partisol 2000i-D sampler. Elemental geochemical characterization was performed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. Further, ionic species and black carbon (BC) were quantified by ion chromatography and reflectance spectroscopy, respectively. Using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) receptor model, the contributions of PM sources were quantified. The average concentration of PM10 was 46.6 ± 16.2 μg/m3, with high concentrations of Cl and Ca. For PM2.5, the average concentration was 12.0 ± 3.2 μg/m3, and the most abundant components were BC, S, and Cl. The receptor model identified five sources for PM10 and PM2.5. For both fractions, the contributions of marine sea spray, re-suspended soil, and vehicular traffic were observed. In addition, PM2.5 included two mixed sources were found to be fuel oil combustion with fertilizer industry emissions, and secondary aerosol sources with building construction emissions. Further, PM10 was found to also include building construction emissions with re-suspended soil, and metallurgical industry emissions. These obtained geochemical atmospheric results are important for the implementation of strategies for the continuous improvement of the air quality of the Caribbean region

Conocimiento y gestión de medios marinos y coralinos del Área de Conservación Marina Isla del Coco

INFORME FINAL DEL PROYECTO de investigación No. 08-A7-520, 2009, Conocimiento y gestión de medios marinos y coralinos del Área de Conservación Marina Isla del CocoFondo Francés para el Medio Ambiente Mundial (FFEM) y la Universidad de Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR

A motor neuron disease mouse model reveals a non-canonical profile of senescence biomarkers

To evaluate senescence mechanisms, including senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), in the motor neuron disease model hSOD1-G93A, we quantified the expression of p16 and p21 and senescence-associated Ji-galactosidase (SA-Ji-gal) in nervous tissue. As SASP markers, we measured the mRNA levels of Il1a , Il6 , Ifna and Ifnb. Furthermore, we explored whether an alteration of alternative splicing is associated with senescence by measuring the Adipor2 cryptic exon inclusion levels, a specific splicing variant repressed by TAR DNA-binding protein (TDP-43; encoded by Tardbp). Transgenic mice showed an atypical senescence profile with high p16 and p21 mRNA and protein in glia, without the canonical increase in SA-Ji-gal activity. Consistent with SASP, there was an increase in Il1a and Il6 expression, associated with increased TNF-R and M-CSF protein levels, with females being partially protected. TDP-43 splicing activity was compromised in this model, and the senolytic drug Navitoclax did not alter the disease progression. This lack of effect was reproduced in vitro , in contrast to dasatinib and quercetin, which diminished p16 and p21. Our findings show a non-canonical profile of senescence biomarkers in the model hSOD1-G93A

Early and gender-specific differences in spinal cord mitochondrial function and oxidative stress markers in a mouse model of ALS

Introduction: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease with a gender bias towards major prevalence in male individuals. Several data suggest the involvement of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in its pathogenesis, though differences between genders have not been evaluated. For this reason, we analysed features of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, as well as mitochondrial chain complex enzyme activities and protein expression, lipid profile, and protein oxidative stress markers, in the Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase with the G93A mutation (hSOD1-G93A)- transgenic mice and Neuro2A(N2A) cells overexpressing hSOD1-G93A. Results and Conclusions: Our results show that overexpression of hSOD1-G93A in transgenic mice decreased efficiency of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, located at complex I, revealing a temporal delay in females with respect to males associated with a parallel increase in selected markers of protein oxidative damage. Further, females exhibit a fatty acid profile with higher levels of docosahexaenoic acid at 30 days. Mechanistic studies showed that hSOD1-G93A overexpression in N2A cells reduced complex I function, a defect prevented by 17βestradiol pretreatment. In conclusion, ALS-associated SOD1 mutation leads to delayed mitochondrial dysfunction in female mice in comparison with males, in part attributable to the higher oestrogen levels of the former. This study is important in the effort to further understanding of whether different degrees of spinal cord mitochondrial dysfunction could be disease modifiers in ALS

Early and gender-specific differences in spinal cord mitochondrial function and oxidative stress markers in a mouse model of ALS

Introduction: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron disease with a gender bias towards major prevalence in male individuals. Several data suggest the involvement of oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in its pathogenesis, though differences between genders have not been evaluated. For this reason, we analysed features of mitochondrial oxidative metabolism, as well as mitochondrial chain complex enzyme activities and protein expression, lipid profile, and protein oxidative stress markers, in the Cu,Zn superoxide dismutase with the G93A mutation (hSOD1-G93A)- transgenic mice and Neuro2A(N2A) cells overexpressing hSOD1-G93A. Results and Conclusions: Our results show that overexpression of hSOD1-G93A in transgenic mice decreased efficiency of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, located at complex I, revealing a temporal delay in females with respect to males associated with a parallel increase in selected markers of protein oxidative damage. Further, females exhibit a fatty acid profile with higher levels of docosahexaenoic acid at 30 days. Mechanistic studies showed that hSOD1-G93A overexpression in N2A cells reduced complex I function, a defect prevented by 17β- estradiol pretreatment. In conclusion, ALS-associated SOD1 mutation leads to delayed mitochondrial dysfunction in female mice in comparison with males, in part attributable to the higher oestrogen levels of the former. This study is important in the effort to further understanding of whether different degrees of spinal cord mitochondrial dysfunction could be disease modifiers in ALS. Keywords: Motor neuron, Complex I, Respirometry, Fatty acid composition, Oxidative damage, EstrogensThis study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Health, Institute Carlos III: FIS grants PI14/00757, PI14/00328, PI 14/01115. Financed by the European Union, program European Regional Development Fund “A way to build Europe”. Supported by the Generalitat de Catalunya (2014SGR168 and predoctoral fellows for OR-N and PT), by FUNDELA (C100013), “RedELA Investigación” platform and by the Fundació Miquel Valls (Jack Van den Hoek donation for ALS research

Informe de la expedición científica CIMAR-COCO-I

El proyecto “Conocimiento y gestión de medios marinos y coralinos del Área de Conservación Marina Isla del Coco” fue financiado por el Fondo Francés para el Medio Ambiente Mundial y la Universidad de Costa Rica. Del 9 al 20 de octubre del 2007 un grupo de científicos del Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR) de la Universidad de Costa Rica, en conjunto con personal de otros centros de investigación realizaron la Expedición CIMAR-COCO-I. Para esta expedición se utilizó el barco de MarViva, MV Phoenix I, con un apoyo excelente de la tripulación. La finalidad de esta expedición fue iniciar los diferentes componentes de campo del proyecto.Fondo Francés para el Medio Ambiente Mundial y la Universidad de Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Básicas::Centro de Investigación en Ciencias del Mar y Limnología (CIMAR