Suv4-20h Abrogation Enhances Telomere Elongation during Reprogramming and Confers a Higher Tumorigenic Potential to iPS Cells

Reprogramming of adult differentiated cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) cells has been achieved by over-expression of specific transcription factors. Nuclear reprogramming induces a series of profound changes at the telomeres of the parental differentiated cells, including a telomerase-dependent telomere elongation and the remodeling of telomeric chromatin. In particular, iPS cells show a decreased density of H4K20me3 heterochromatic mark at telomeres compared to the parental cells. Suv4-20h1 and Suv4-20h2 histone methytransferases (HMTases) are responsible for the trimethylation of H4K20 at telomeres, as cells deficient for both HMTases show decreased levels of H4K20me3 at telomeric chromatin. Here, we set to address the role of the Suv4-20h enzymes in telomere reprogramming by generating bona-fide iPS cells from mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) double null for both HMTases (Suv4-20dn MEFs). We found that Suv4-20h deficiency enhances telomere elongation during reprogramming without altering their ability to protect the chromosome ends or the efficiency of reprogramming. Moreover, teratomas generated from Suv4-20dn iPS cells also have elongated telomeres and an increased growth rate when compared to wild-type controls. These results indicate that abrogation of Suv4-20h enzymes and loss of heterochromatic mark H4K20me3 at telomeric heterochromatin facilitates telomere reprogramming and provides an increased tumorigenic potential to the resulting iPS cells

Assessing the impact on clinical internship of problem-based learning applied to nursing studies

Resultados parciales de esta investigación fueron presentados en el XVIII Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Educación Médica y publicados como comunicación en Educ Med 2007; 10: 167Objetivo. Evaluar el impacto en la práctica clínica de la implantación de la metodología del aprendizaje basado en problemas (ABP) aplicada a los estudios de enfermería. Sujetos y métodos. Estudio longitudinal prospectivo en dos cohortes de estudiantes de enfermería: el grupo intervención fue la promoción 2005-2006 de la escuela de enfermería, que recibió su educación con la metodología del ABP, y el grupo control fue la promoción de 2004-2005, que recibió su formación a través de otras metodologías docentes, fundamentalmente clases magistrales y seminarios. Se analizó la posible asociación, en cada uno de los elementos del formulario de evaluación del tutor, entre la calificación obtenida por los estudiantes y la metodología de aprendizaje empleada durante su educación (ABP o no ABP). Los criterios de evaluación fueron: responsabilidad, iniciativa, habilidad y destreza en técnicas y procedimientos manuales, organización y metodología en las actividades, comunicación/relación con usuarios y familiares y comunicación/relación con el equipo de trabajo, y grado de consecución de los objetivos docentes. Resultados. Se obtuvieron 651 formularios de evaluación válidos, 383 para el grupo control y 268 para el grupo intervención. Se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas sólo en el tercer año, en la categoría ‘habilidad y destreza en las técnicas relacionadas con los procedimientos manuales’ (p = 0,007). El grupo control obtuvo una mejor puntuación. Conclusiones. Los resultados sugieren que el uso de ABP en la formación académica de los estudiantes de enfermería no modifica la puntuación obtenida en su práctica clínica en las categorías recogidas en nuestra herramienta de evaluaciónAim. To assess the impact on clinical internship of problem-based learning (PBL) methodology applied to nursing studies. Subjects and methods. Longitudinal and prospective study of two cohorts of nursing students: the intervention group was the promotion 2005-2006 of the nursing school, that received their education with PBL, and the control group was the promotion 2004-2005 of the nursing school, that received their education with other pedagogic methods, mainly lectures and seminars. We analysed the possible correlation in each of the items on the mentor’s assessment form between the grade obtained by students and the learning methodology employed during their education (PBL or non-PBL). The assessment criteria were: responsibility; initiative; skill and proficiency in techniques related to manual procedures; organization and methodology in activities carried out; communication/relationship with patients and families; communication/ relationship with the work team; and degree to which training objectives were reached. Results. We had 651 valid assessment forms, 383 for the control group and 268 for the intervention group. Clear significant differences were found only in the third year, in the ‘skill and proficiency in techniques related to manual process’ category (p = 0.007). The control group had higher scores. Conclusions. The results suggest that the use of PBL in students’ academic coursework does not modify the score obtained in their clinical internship on the items specified in our assessment toolFondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias del Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo (proyecto PI052806

A performance evaluation of MM5/MNEQA/CMAQ air quality modelling system to forecast ozone concentrations in Catalonia

We examine the ability of a modelling system to forecast the formation and transport of ozoneover Catalonia, at the NE of the Iberian Peninsula. To this end, the Community MultiscaleAir Quality (CMAQ) modelling system developed by the United States Environmental ProtectionAgency (US EPA) and the PSU/NCAR mesoscale modelling system MM5 are coupled to a newemission model, the Numerical Emission Model for Air Quality (MNEQA). The outputs of themodelling system for the period from May to October 2008 are compared with ozone measure-ments at selected air-monitoring stations belonging to the Catalan Government. Results indicatea good behaviour of the model in reproducing diurnal ozone concentrations, as statistical valuesfall within the EPA and EU regulatory frameworks

Substantial improvements not seen in health behaviors following corner store conversions in two Latino food swamps.

BackgroundThe effectiveness of food retail interventions is largely undetermined, yet substantial investments have been made to improve access to healthy foods in food deserts and swamps via grocery and corner store interventions. This study evaluated the effects of corner store conversions in East Los Angeles and Boyle Heights, California on perceived accessibility of healthy foods, perceptions of corner stores, store patronage, food purchasing, and eating behaviors.MethodsHousehold data (n = 1686) were collected at baseline and 12- to 24-months post-intervention among residents surrounding eight stores, three of which implemented a multi-faceted intervention and five of which were comparisons. Bivariate analyses and logistic and linear regressions were employed to assess differences in time, treatment, and the interaction between time and treatment to determine the effectiveness of this intervention.ResultsImprovements were found in perceived healthy food accessibility and perceptions of corner stores. No changes were found, however, in store patronage, purchasing, or consumption of fruits and vegetables.ConclusionsResults suggest limited effectiveness of food retail interventions on improving health behaviors. Future research should focus on other strategies to reduce community-level obesity

First Record Along The Uruguayan Coast Of The Largest Sea Nettle Jellyfish, Chrysaora Plocamia (lesson, 1830) (cnidaria: Scyphozoa)

Chrysaora plocamia is one of the 15 species of the jellyfish genus Chrysaora. This species has an unusualdistribution pattern, occurring on both Atlantic and Pacific coasts of South America. It is distributed along the southeastern Pacific Ocean, encompassing coastal areas of Peru and Chile, and reaching the Patagonian coast of Argentina in the southwestern Atlantic. During two separate events, two large specimens of Chrysaora were collected on the east coast of Uruguay at La Paloma. Based on morphology and molecular data, these specimens were identified as Chrysaora plocamia. These records are described along with oceanographic features observed at that time. Unusual oceanographic and atmospheric conditions may explain the presence of these specimens 1,100 km north of the current northernmost known distribution. © 2016 Check List and Authors.12

Community nutrition in Spain: advances and drawbacks

Scientific evidence has placed community nutrition among the front-line strategies in health promotion. Community nutrition in different regions of Spain has developed at an unequal pace. Early initiatives in the mid 1980s provided good-quality population data and established a basis for nutrition surveillance including individual body measurements, dietary intake data, information on physical activity, and biomarkers. The Nutrition and Physical Activity for Obesity Prevention Strategy (NAOS) reinforces community nutrition action in Spain. Presented here is an overview of developments in community nutrition in Spain in recent years as well as potential trends under the scope of the NAOS.Publicad

Reported Dietary Intake, Disparity between the Reported Consumption and the Level Needed for Adequacy and Food Sources of Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium and Vitamin D in the Spanish Population: Findings from the ANIBES Study

Calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and vitamin D have important biological roles in the body, especially in bone metabolism. We aimed to study the reported intake, the disparity between the reported consumption and the level needed for adequacy and food sources of these four nutrients in the Spanish population. We assessed the reported intake for both, general population and plausible reporters. Results were extracted from the ANIBES survey, n = 2009. Three-day dietary reported intake data were obtained and misreporting was assessed according to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). Mean ± SEM (range) total reported consumption of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and vitamin D for the whole population were 698 ± 7 mg/day (71–2551 mg/day), 1176 ± 8 mg/day, (331–4429 mg/day), 222 ± 2 mg/day (73–782 mg/day), and 4.4 ± 0.1 µg/day (0.0–74.2 µg/day), respectively. In the whole group, 76% and 66%; 79% and 72%; and 94% and 93% of the population had reported intakes below 80% of the national and European recommended daily intakes for calcium, magnesium and vitamin D, respectively; these percentages were over 40% when the plausible reporters were analysed separately. The main food sources were milk and dairy products for calcium and phosphorus, cereals and grains for magnesium and fish for vitamin D. In conclusion, there is an important percentage of the Spanish ANIBES population not meeting the recommended intakes for calcium, magnesium and vitamin D.The ANIBES study was financially supported by a grant from Coca-Cola Iberia through an agreement with the Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN)