Karyological study of some E Iberian threatened plants

In the framework of cytogenetic studies of rare and threatened plant species of the Catalan Countries and surrounding territories, a karyological study of some taxa - three populations of Delphinium bolosii and the only known one of D. mansanetianum (Ranunculaceae), one of Hesperis laciniata subsp. laciniata (Brassicaceae), and one of Silene neglecta (Caryophyllaceae) - is presented here. Karyotype microphotographs and corresponding idiograms for most taxa are provided and their karyotype morphology is discussed

Estudi de la població de Spiraea crenata subsp. parvifolia (Rosaceae) del Collsacabra

Spiraea crenata subsp. parvifolia és un tàxon endèmic del nord-est ibèric, que té una de les escasses poblacions conegudes al Collsacabra, Osona. En aquest treball es pretén definir l’extensió d’aquesta població, caracteritzar la seva estructura demogràfica i avaluar-ne l’estat de conservació. La majoria d’individus censats viuen en un nucli principal rodejat per nuclis més petits. L’estabilitat de l’ambient que ocupa permet valorar l’evolució de la població i la categoria UICN d’amenaça, actualment considerada «en perill ». Es proposen mesures de gestió que permetin la conservació d’aquesta població

Noves aportacions a la flora de les comarques meridionals de Catalunya

Es comenten un total de 89 tàxons. Arabis nova Vill. subsp. iberica Rivas Mart. ex Talavera, Cistus × nigricans Pourr. i Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. constitueixen novetats per a la flora de Catalunya, i 15 tàxons (Allium oporinanthum Brullo & al., Apera interrupta (L.) Beauv., Asplenium trichomanes L. subsp. trichomanes, Campanula affinis Schult., Carex sylvatica Huds. subsp. paui (Sennen) A. & O. Bolòs, Epilobium angustifolium L., Limonium hibericum Erben, Melilotus messanensis (L.) All, Minuartia funkii (Jord.) Graebner, Onosma tricerosperma subsp. catalaunica (Sennen) O. Bolòs & Vigo, Orchis palustris Jacq., Orchis simia Lam., Selaginella denticulata (L.) Spring, Stellaria neglecta Weihle in Bluff & Fingerh. i Vaccinium myrtillus L. suposen novetats per a les comarques meridionals de CatalunyaData about 89 taxa are presented. Arabis nova Vill. subsp. iberica Rivas Mart. ex Talavera, Cistus × nigricans Pourr. and Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth. are new records for the Catalan flora, and 15 taxa (Allium oporinanthum Brullo & al., Apera interrupta (L.) Beauv., Asplenium trichomanes L. subsp. trichomanes, Campanula affinis Schult., Carex sylvatica Huds. subsp. paui (Sennen) A. & O. Bolòs, Epilobium angustifolium L., Limonium hibericum Erben, Melilotus messanensis (L.) All., Minuartia funkii (Jord.) Graebner, Onosma triceros-perma subsp. catalaunica (Sennen) O. Bolòs & Vigo, Orchis palustris Jacq., Orchis simia Lam., Selaginella denticulata (L.) Spring, Stellaria neglecta Weihle in Bluff & Fingerh. and Vaccinium myrtillus L. are new records for Southern Cataloni

Neuregulin, an effector on mitochondria metabolism that preserves insulin sensitivity

Various external factors modulate the metabolic efficiency of mitochondria. This review focuses on the impact of the growth factor neuregulin and its ErbB receptors on mitochondria and their relationship with several physiopathological alterations. Neuregulin is involved in the differentiation of heart, skeletal muscle and the neuronal system, among others, and its deficiency is deleterious for the health. Information gathered over the last two decades suggests that neuregulin plays a key role regulating mitochondrial oxidative machinery, which sustain cell survival and insulin sensitivity

Noves contribucions al coneixement de la flora vascular del massís de Boumort (Prepirineus ibèrics, NE de la península Ibèrica)

S'aporten dades per a un total de 80 tàxons. Acer × peronai Schwerin i Alyssum alpestre L. suposen novetats per a la flora de la península Ibèrica i de l'Estat Espanyol respectivament. D'altra banda, Epilobium × haynaldianum Hausskn., Rosa caballicensis Puget ex Déségl. i Sorbus hybrida L. són una novetat per a la flora de Catalunya, mentre que Arabis nova subsp. iberica Rivas Mart. ex Talavera, Salvia verticillata L. i Veronica cymbalaria Bodard suposen novetats per als Pirineus o per als Pirineus centrals.Data about 80 taxa are presented. Acer × peronai Schwerin and Alyssum alpestre L. are new records for the Iberian Peninsula and Spain respectively. Epilobium × haynaldianum Hausskn., Rosa caballicensis Puget ex Déségl. and Sorbus hybrida L. are new records for the Catalan flora. On the other hand Arabis nova subsp. iberica Rivas Mart. ex Talavera, Salvia verticillata L. and Veronica cymbalaria Bodard are new records for the central Pyrenees

Aquaglyceroporins are differenctially expressed in beige and white adipocytes

Browning of white adipocytes has been proposed as a powerful strategy to overcome metabolic complications, since brown adipocytes are more catabolic, expending energy as a heat form. However, the biological pathways involved in the browning process are still unclear. Aquaglyceroporins are a sub-class of aquaporin water channels that also permeate glycerol and are involved in body energy homeostasis. In the adipose tissue, aquaporin-7 (AQP7) is the most representative isoform, being crucial for white adipocyte fully differentiation and glycerol metabolism. The altered expression of AQP7 is involved in the onset of obesity and metabolic disorders. Herein, we investigated if aquaglyceroporins are implicated in beige adipocyte differentiation, similar to white cells. Thus, we optimized a protocol of murine 3T3-L1 preadipocytes browning that displayed increased beige and decreased white adipose tissue features at both gene and protein levels and evaluated aquaporin expression patterns along the differentiation process together with cellular lipid content. Our results revealed that AQP7 and aquaporin-9 (AQP9) expression was downregulated throughout beige adipocyte differentiation compared to white differentiation, which may be related to the beige physiological role of heat production from oxidative metabolism, contrasting with the anabolic/catabolic lipid metabolism requiring glycerol gateways occurring in white adipose cells

Aportaciones de las pedagogías de género a la calidad de la docencia universitaria

A partir de la necesidad de introducir la perspectiva de género en la docencia debido al vacío existente en la mayoría de estudios de grado en Cataluña (España), sobre todo en Ciencias de la Salud y Psicología, se diseñó una oferta formativa de talleres. En ella se consideró básico introducir la perspectiva de género, tanto a nivel de contenido como metodológico. En este artículo se explora el relevante papel que la introducción de metodologías y pedagogías feministas puede tener en el aumento de la calidad de la docencia a partir de dicha experiencia a través de narrativas colectivas de personas formadoras y participantes. Estas narrativas fueron construidas a partir de cinco grupos de discusión, con un total de 20 personas en la muestra que fueron seleccionadas a partir de criterios de variabilidad y representatividad. Las dos narrativas visibilizan los procesos que se vivieron en los talleres y las transformaciones que plantea la integración de metodologías y pedagogías feministas en la construcción compartida del conocimiento. La principal conclusión que se extrae de ello es que la introducción de metodologías y epistemologías feministas permite reflexionar críticamente sobre nuestras prácticas como formadoras y estudiantes en la reproducción de las relaciones de poder de género en y fuera del aula para devenir sujetos activos de cambio.A partir de la necessitat d'introduir la perspectiva de gènere en la docència atès el buit existent a la majoria d'estudis de grau a Catalunya, sobretot a Ciències de la Salut i Psicologia, es va dissenyar una oferta formativa de tallers, en la qual es va considerar bàsic introduir la perspectiva de gènere, tant a nivell de contingut com metodològic. En aquest article s'hi explora el paper rellevant que la introducció de metodologies i pedagogies feministes pot tenir en l'augment de la qualitat de la docència a partir d'aquesta experiència amb narratives col·lectives de persones formadores i participants. Aquestes narratives van ser construïdes a partir de cinc grups de discussió, amb un total de 20 persones a la mostra que van ser seleccionades a partir de criteris de variabilitat i representativitat. Les dues narratives visibilitzen els processos que es van viure als tallers i també les transformacions que planteja la integració de metodologies i pedagogies feministes en la construcció compartida del coneixement. La conclusió principal que se n'extreu és que la introducció de metodologies i epistemologies feministes permet reflexionar críticament sobre les nostres pràctiques com a formadores i estudiants en la reproducció de les relacions de poder de gènere dins i fora de l'aula per esdevenir subjectes actius de canvi.Most undergraduate programs of study in Catalonia, Spain, especially in the health sciences and psychology, lack a gender perspective in teaching. To fill this gap, a series of training workshops were designed with a gender perspective in content and methodology. This article explores the important role that the introduction of feminist methodologies and pedagogies can have in enhancing the quality of teaching through an experience using collective narratives of teachers and participants. The narratives were constructed from five discussion groups with a total sample of 20 people selected according to criteria of variability and representativeness. The two narratives reveal the processes the participants experienced during the workshops and how the integration of feminist methodologies and pedagogical approaches transform the shared construction of knowledge. The main conclusion is that the introduction of feminist methodologies and epistemologies allow us to critically reflect on our practices as trainers and students in the reproduction of gender power relations in and outside the classroom to become active subjects of change

Aportacions a la flora dels Pirineus centrals (II)

En aquest treball aportem noves dades de 58 plantes vasculars trobades, principalment, al Parc Nacional d'Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici o en àrees properes (des de la Vall d'Aran fins a Andorra). De cadascuna, en donem les localitats on l'hem observada i en valorem l'interès fitogeogràfic, tenint en compte el coneixement actual de la flora pirinenca. Festuca alpina Suter subsp. riverae Chas, Kerguélen & Plonka i Trisetum spicatum (L.) K. Richt. subsp. ovatipaniculatum Hultén ex Jonsell representen novetats per a la flora de Catalunya, alhora que es confirma la presència de Lathyrus bauhinii Genty i Trisetum baregense Laffite & Miégeville, plantes citades d'antic. La resta de citacions corresponen a plantes rares o poc citades en aquest territori o al conjunt de Catalunya.Here we report new data concerning 58 rare plants, mainly recorded in the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park or in neighbouring areas (from Vall d'Aran to Andorra). For each taxon, we discuss the phytogeographic interest of the new locations given, according to the present knowledge of the Pyrenean flora. Festuca alpina Suter subsp. riverae Chas, Kerguélen & Plonka and Trisetum spicatum (L.) K. Richt. subsp. ovatipan iculatum Hultén ex Jonsell become novelties for the Catalan flora, and we confirm the presence of Lathyrus bauhinii Genty and Trisetum baregense Laffite & Miégeville. In other cases, the new data improve the distributional knowledge of rare plants in the above-mentioned area or in Catalonia

Serum Neuregulin 4 is negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity in humans and impairs mitochondrial respiration in HepG2 cells

Neuregulin 4 (NRG4) has been described to improve metabolic disturbances linked to obesity status in rodent models. The findings in humans are controversial. We aimed to investigate circulating NRG4 in association with insulin action in humans and the possible mechanisms involved. Insulin sensitivity (euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp) and serum NRG4 concentration (ELISA) were analysed in subjects with a wide range of adiposity (n = 89). In vitro experiments with human HepG2 cell line were also performed. Serum NRG4 was negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity (r = −0.25, p = 0.02) and positively with the inflammatory marker high-sensitivity C reative protein (hsCRP). In fact, multivariant linear regression analyses showed that insulin sensitivity contributed to BMI-, age-, sex-, and hsCRP-adjusted 7.2% of the variance in serum NRG4 (p = 0.01). No significant associations were found with adiposity measures (BMI, waist circumference or fat mass), plasma lipids (HDL-, LDL-cholesterol, or fasting triglycerides) or markers of liver injury. Cultured hepatocyte HepG2 treatedwith human recombinantNRG4 had an impact on hepatocyte metabolism, leading to decreased gluconeogenic- and mitochondrial biogenesis-related gene expression, and reduced mitochondrial respiration, without effects on expression of lipid metabolism-related genes. Similar but more pronounced effects were found after neuregulin 1 administration. In conclusion, sustained higher serum levels of neuregulin-4, observed in insulin resistant patients may have deleterious effects on metabolic and mitochondrial function in hepatocytes. However, findings from in vitro experiments should be confirmed in human primary hepatocytes

The relevance of EGFR, ErbB receptors and neuregulins in human adipocytes and adipose tissue in obesity

Objective: To investigate the potential role of EGFR, ErbBs receptors and neuregulins in human adipose tissue physiology in obesity. Methods: Gene expression analysis in human subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral (VAT) adipose tissue in three independent cohorts [two cross-sectional (N = 150, N = 87) and one longitudinal (n = 25)], and in vitro gene knockdown and overexpression experiments were performed. Results: While both SAT and VAT ERBB2 and ERBB4 mRNA increased in obesity, SAT EGFR mRNA was negatively correlated with insulin resistance, but did not change in obesity. Of note, both SAT and VAT EGFR mRNA were significantly associated with adipogenesis and increased during human adipocyte differentiation. In vitro experiments revealed that EGFR, but not ERBB2 and ERBB4, gene knockdown in preadipocytes and in fully differentiated human adipocytes resulted in decreased expression of adipogenic-related genes. ERBB2 gene knockdown also reduced gene expression of fatty acid synthase in fully differentiated adipocytes. In addition, neuregulin 2 (NRG2) mRNA was associated with expression of adipogenic genes in human adipose tissue and adipocytes, and its overexpression increased expression of EGFR and relevant adipogenic genes. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the association between adipose tissue ERBB2 and obesity, confirms the relevance of EGFR on human adipogenesis, and suggests a possible adipogenic role of NRG2