200 research outputs found
Efecto del aceite de chía en el perfil proteico de homogenato de hígado durante la exposición a bajas dosis de cadmio en un modelo de rata wistar
Dispositivos electrónicos en desuso incrementan los niveles de cadmio (Cd) en el ambiente constituyendo un riesgo para la salud pública. Paralelamente, se ha informado que el aceite de chía (chía) beneficia la salud. En estudios previos demostramos disminución de la expresión de proteínas totales en hígado de ratas tratadas con 10 mg/kg CdCl 2 . Sin embargo, no existen estudios sobre efectos de chía en estas alteraciones. El objetivo fue evaluar cuali y cuantitativamente el perfil proteico y la expresión de enzimas del tipo esterasas en homogenatos hepáticos. Ratas Wistar fueron divididas en: Grupo A se administró por vía oral agua destilada 1 dosis diaria 5 veces por semana por 60 días. Grupo B10 mg/kg CdCl₂, por la misma vía y período. Grupo C 240 μl/kg chía por la misma vía y período. Grupo D se coadministró Cd/chía en la misma dosis, vía y período. Grupo E se coadministró Cd/chía en la misma dosis y vía por 30 días y luego agua destilada por 30 días. Grupo F se coadministró Cd/chía en la misma dosis y vía por 30 días y luego chía por 30 días. El contenido proteico del homogenato hepático fue evaluado por corridas electroforéticas en geles de poliacrilamida nativos teñidos con plata. Se evaluó actividad de tipo esterasa en zimogramas teñidos con α-naftil acetato y Fast Blue. El software GelAnalyzer se utilizó para la cuantificación de proteínas. Los resultados evidenciaron que la exposición al Cd provocó disminución de la expresión de enzimas con actividad esterasa (Grupos B vs A). Chía incremento la expresión de la banda con actividad esterasa (GruposC vs B). La coadministración Cd/chía evitó que la exposición al Cd induzca disminución de la expresión de enzimas con actividad esterasa (Grupos D, E y F vs B). Estos resultados indican que la administración de chía podría minimizar las alteraciones causada por el Cd.Disused electronic devices increase levels of the cadmium (Cd) in the environment constituting a public health risk. In parallel, chia oil has been reported to benefit health. Previous studies in rats showed decreased expression of total proteins in liver with Cd2+ treatment. However, until now has not been described the effects of chia oil on these alterations. The aim of this work was to evaluate the protein expression and esterase activity in liver homogenates qualitatively and quantitatively. Wistar rats were divided into: Group A: distilled water was administered orally, 1 dose daily 5 times per week and for 60 days. Group B: 10 mg/kg CdCl2, for the same period and period. Group C: 240 μl/kg chia oil by the same route and period. Group D: CdCl2 and chia oil were coadministered at doses previously reported by the same route and period. Group E: CdCl2 and chia oil were coadministered in these doses by the same route for 30 days and then distilled water for 30 days. Group F: dry gave CdCl2 and chia oil at doses previously reported by the same route for 30 days and then chia oil for 30 days. Native polyacrylamide gel (PAGE) electrophoresis of liver homogenates proteins was using silver staining. The zymogram with esterase activity was evaluated with 1-naphtyl-acetate and Fast Blue. The GelAnalyzer software was used for the quantification of the protein concentration. The results showed that the exposure to Cd caused a decrease in the expression of enzymes with esterase activity (Groups B vs A). Chia oil increased expression of the band with esterase activity (Groups C vs B). Co-administration of Cd/chia oil prevented Cd exposure from inducing decreased expression of enzymes with esterase activity (Groups D, E and F vs. B). These results indicate that administration of chia oil could minimize the changes caused by Cd.Fil: González, Maria Elina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Romero, Cintia Mariana. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; ArgentinaFil: Taboada, Luis Nicolás. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Villafañe, M.. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; ArgentinaFil: Medina, Marcela Fatima. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; ArgentinaXXXIV Jornadas Científicas de la Asociación de Biología de Tucumán.Tafí ViejoArgentinaAsociación de Biología de Tucumá
Dataset of above and below ground traits assessed in Durum wheat cultivars grown under Mediterranean environments differing in water and temperature conditions
Ideotypic characteristics of durum wheat associated with higher yield under different water and temperature regimes were studied under Mediterranean conditions. The focus of this paper is to provide raw and supplemental data from the research article entitled "Durum wheat ideotypes in Mediterranean environments differing in water and temperature conditions" [1], which aims to define specific durum wheat ideotypes according to their responses to different agronomic conditions. In this context, six modern (i.e. post green revolution) genotypes with contrasting yield performance (i.e. high vs low yield) were grown during two consecutive years under different treatments: (i) winter planting under support-irrigation conditions, (ii) winter planting under rainfed conditions, (iii) late planting under support-irrigation. Trials were conducted at the INIA station of Colmenar de Oreja (Madrid). Different traits were assessed to inform about water status (canopy temperature at anthesis and stable carbon isotope composition (delta C-13) of the flag leaf and mature grains), root performance (root traits and the oxygen isotope composition (delta O-18) in the stem base water), phenology (days from sowing to heading), nitrogen status/photosynthetic capacity (nitrogen content and stable isotope composition (delta N-15) of the flag leaf and mature grain together with the pigment contents and the nitrogen balance index (NBI) of the flag leaf), crop growth (plant height (PH) and the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) at anthesis), grain yield and agronomic yield components. For most of the parameters assessed, data analysis demonstrated significant differences among genotypes within each treatment. The level of significance was determined using the Tukey-b test on independent samples, and ideotypes were modelled from the results of principle component analysis. The present data shed light on traits that help to define specific ideotype characteristics that confer genotypic adaptation to a wide range of agronomic conditions produced by variations in planting date, water conditions and seasonThis study was supported by the Spanish projects PID2019-106650RB-C21 and PCIN-2017-063, from the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion, Spain. FZR is a recipient of a research grant (FI-AGAUR) sponsored by the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR) in collaboration with the University of Barcelona (UB) . We thank the personnel from the exper-imental station of INIA at Colmenar de Oreja (Aranjuez) for their continued support of our re-search. We thank the members of the Integrative Crop Ecophysiology Group for their assistance during the data assessment of the study. We extend our thanks to The Water Research Institute (IdRA) for their financial support to cover laboratory analyses. JLA acknowledges support from ICREA Academia, Generalitat de Catalunya, Spain. We thank Dr. J.Voltas from the University of Lleida, Spain, for his support with the delta 18O water analyses
Gene Editing in Adult Hematopoietic Stem Cells
Over the last years, an important development has allowed the scientific community to address a precise and accurate modification of the genome. The first probe of concept appeared with the design and use of engineered zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), which was expanded later on with the discovery and engineering of meganucleases and transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs) and finally democratized and made easily available to the whole scientific community with the discovery of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 nuclease combination technology. The availability of these tools has allowed a precise gene editing, such as knockout of a specific gene or the correction of a defective gene by means of homologous recombination (HR), taking advantage of the endogenous cell repair machinery. This process was already known and used but was inefficient—efficiency that has been increased more than 100-fold with the addition of the mentioned specific nucleases to the process. Apart from the proper design of the nucleases to recognize and cut the selected site in the cell genome, two main goals need to be adequately addressed to optimize its function: the delivery of the tools into the desired cells and the selection of those where the gene editing process has occurred correctly. Both steps can be easily solved when the source of cells is extensive or can be expanded and manipulated in vitro extensively, such as immortalized cell lines or pluripotent stem cells (embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells). However, both steps are critical in the case of primary cells, such as the hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). HSCs are a rare cell population present in the bone marrow (BM) of higher mammals, and it is the responsible for the maintenance and replenishment of all hematopoietic cells for the lifespan of the animals by means of two fundamental properties: self-renewal and multipotency. HSC population is then the ideal target for the correction of hematopoietic genetic diseases and also for the knockout of the responsible genes to in vitro and in vivo model those hematopoietic diseases. This rare population cannot be expanded and its in vitro manipulation and culture negatively affects their fundamental properties of self-renewal and multipotency. These factors challenge the application of gene editing to HSCs. Important efforts are now ongoing trying to optimize the protocols of gene delivery and selection for HSCs. This chapter will review and discuss how researchers are trying to solve them, all attempts that are ongoing and the potential application of the technology to the patients affected with hematopoietic genetic diseases
Real-time RT-PCR for Venezuelan equine encephalitis complex, Madariaga and Eastern equine encephalitis viruses: application in human and mosquito public health surveillance in Panama
Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), Madariaga virus (MADV), and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus complex (VEEV) are New World alphaviruses transmitted by mosquitoes. They cause febrile and sometimes severe neurological disease in human and equine hosts. Detecting them during the acute phase is hindered by nonspecific symptoms and limited diagnostic tools. We designed and clinically assessed reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays (rRT-PCRs) for VEEV complex, MADV, and EEEV using whole-genome sequences. Validation involved 15 retrospective serum samples from 2015-2017 outbreaks, 150 mosquito pools from 2015, and 118 prospective samples from 2021-2022 surveillance in Panama. The rRT-PCRs detected VEEV complex RNA in 10 samples (66.7%) from outbreaks, with one having both VEEV complex and MADV RNAs. VEEV complex RNA was found in 5 suspected dengue cases from disease surveillance. The rRT-PCR assays identified VEEV complex RNA in 3 Culex (Melanoconion) vomerifer pools, leading to VEEV isolates in 2. Phylogenetic analysis revealed the VEEV ID subtype in positive samples. Notably, 11.9% of dengue-like disease patients showed VEEV infections. Together, our rRT-PCR validation in human and mosquito samples suggests this method can be incorporated into mosquito and human encephalitic alphavirus surveillance programs in endemic regions
Expansion of Signal Transduction Pathways in Fungi by Extensive Genome Duplication
International audienceno abstrac
Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world
Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality.
Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States.
Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis.
Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection
BLOOM: A 176B-Parameter Open-Access Multilingual Language Model
Large language models (LLMs) have been shown to be able to perform new tasks
based on a few demonstrations or natural language instructions. While these
capabilities have led to widespread adoption, most LLMs are developed by
resource-rich organizations and are frequently kept from the public. As a step
towards democratizing this powerful technology, we present BLOOM, a
176B-parameter open-access language model designed and built thanks to a
collaboration of hundreds of researchers. BLOOM is a decoder-only Transformer
language model that was trained on the ROOTS corpus, a dataset comprising
hundreds of sources in 46 natural and 13 programming languages (59 in total).
We find that BLOOM achieves competitive performance on a wide variety of
benchmarks, with stronger results after undergoing multitask prompted
finetuning. To facilitate future research and applications using LLMs, we
publicly release our models and code under the Responsible AI License
Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) Phase 4 (2018) : Change management in allergic rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity using mobile technology
Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) has evolved from a guideline by using the best approach to integrated care pathways using mobile technology in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma multimorbidity. The proposed next phase of ARIA is change management, with the aim of providing an active and healthy life to patients with rhinitis and to those with asthma multimorbidity across the lifecycle irrespective of their sex or socioeconomic status to reduce health and social inequities incurred by the disease. ARIA has followed the 8-step model of Kotter to assess and implement the effect of rhinitis on asthma multimorbidity and to propose multimorbid guidelines. A second change management strategy is proposed by ARIA Phase 4 to increase self-medication and shared decision making in rhinitis and asthma multimorbidity. An innovation of ARIA has been the development and validation of information technology evidence-based tools (Mobile Airways Sentinel Network [MASK]) that can inform patient decisions on the basis of a self-care plan proposed by the health care professional.Peer reviewe
Adherence to treatment in allergic rhinitis using mobile technology. The MASK Study
Background: Mobile technology may help to better understand the adherence to treatment. MASK-rhinitis (Mobile Airways Sentinel NetworK for allergic rhinitis) is a patient-centred ICT system. A mobile phone app (the Allergy Diary) central to MASK is available in 22 countries. Objectives: To assess the adherence to treatment in allergic rhinitis patients using the Allergy Diary App. Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was carried out on all users who filled in the Allergy Diary from 1 January 2016 to 1 August 2017. Secondary adherence was assessed by using the modified Medication Possession Ratio (MPR) and the Proportion of days covered (PDC) approach. Results: A total of 12143 users were registered. A total of 6949 users reported at least one VAS data recording. Among them, 1887 users reported >= 7 VAS data. About 1195 subjects were included in the analysis of adherence. One hundred and thirty-six (11.28%) users were adherent (MPR >= 70% and PDC = 70% and PDC = 1.50) and 176 (14.60%) were switchers. On the other hand, 832 (69.05%) users were non-adherent to medications (MPR Conclusion and clinical relevance: Adherence to treatment is low. The relative efficacy of continuous vs on-demand treatment for allergic rhinitis symptoms is still a matter of debate. This study shows an approach for measuring retrospective adherence based on a mobile app. This also represents a novel approach for analysing medication-taking behaviour in a real-world setting.Peer reviewe
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