378 research outputs found
Nuevos datos sobre la sucesión del "CXG" (Grupo das Beiras) : evidencia sedimentaria del origen glacioderivado de las facies conglomeráticas de la FM. del Cabeço das Popas, en la región de Monfortinho (Portugal Central)
La presencia de "dropstones" en las facies finas laminadas que se intercalan entre los orto y paraconglomerados característicos de la Fm. del Cabeço das opas
(CXG: Grupo das Beiras), prueba su origen glacioderivado. La edad véndica media-superior considerada para esta Fm. permite postular la existencia de
episodios glaciares postvarangerienses en el Macizo Hespérico
Composition law of cardinal order permutations
In this paper the theorems that determine composition laws for both cardinal
ordering permutations and their inverses are proven. So, the relative positions
of points in a hs-periodic orbit become completely known as well as in which
order those points are visited. No matter how a hs-periodic orbit emerges, be
it through a period doubling cascade (s=2^n) of the h-periodic orbit, or as a
primary window (like the saddle-node bifurcation cascade with h=2^n), or as a
secondary window (the birth of a periodic window inside the h-periodic
one). Certainly, period doubling cascade orbits are particular cases with h=2
and s=2^n. Both composition laws are also shown in algorithmic way for their
easy use
Novel effects of strains in graphene and other two dimensional materials
The analysis of the electronic properties of strained or lattice deformed
graphene combines ideas from classical condensed matter physics, soft matter,
and geometrical aspects of quantum field theory (QFT) in curved spaces. Recent
theoretical and experimental work shows the influence of strains in many
properties of graphene not considered before, such as electronic transport,
spin-orbit coupling, the formation of Moir\'e patterns, optics, ... There is
also significant evidence of anharmonic effects, which can modify the
structural properties of graphene. These phenomena are not restricted to
graphene, and they are being intensively studied in other two dimensional
materials, such as the metallic dichalcogenides. We review here recent
developments related to the role of strains in the structural and electronic
properties of graphene and other two dimensional compounds.Comment: 75 pages, 15 figures, review articl
Frozen cancellous bone allografts: positive cultures of implanted grafts in posterior fusions of the spine
We have carried out a study on the behaviour pattern of implanted allografts
initially stored in perfect conditions (aseptically processed, culture-negative
and stored at -80 degrees C) but which presented positive cultures at the
implantation stage. There is no information available on how to deal with this
type of situation, so our aim was to set guidelines on the course of action which
would be required in such a case. This was a retrospective study of 112 patients
who underwent a spinal arthrodesis and in whom a total of 189 allograft pieces
were used. All previous bone and blood cultures and tests for hepatitis B and C,
syphilis and HIV (via PCR techniques) were negative. The allografts were stored
by freezing them at -80 degrees C. A sample of the allograft was taken for
culture in the operating theatre just before its implantation in all cases. The
results of the cultures were obtained 3-5 days after the operation. There were 22
allografts with positive culture results (12%) after implantation. These
allografts were implanted in 16 patients (14%). Cultures were positive for
staphylococci coagulase negative (ECN) in 10 grafts (46%), Pseudomonas stutzeri
in two grafts (9%), Corynebacterium jeikeium in two grafts (9%), staphylococci
coagulase positive in two grafts (9%) and for each of the following organisms in
one case each (4%): Corynebacterium spp., Actinomyces odontolyticus,
Streptococcus mitis, Peptostreptococcus spp., Rhodococcus equi and Bacillus spp.
No clinical infection was seen in any of these patients. Positive cultures could
be caused by non-detected contamination at harvesting, storing or during
manipulation before implantation. The lack of clinical signs of infection during
the follow-up of our patients may indicate that no specific treatment different
from our antibiotic protocol is required in the case of positive culture results
of a graft piece after implantation
Expansion of different subpopulations of CD26 −/low T cells in allergic and non-allergic asthmatics
CD26 displays variable levels between effector (TH ≫ TH > TH > Treg) and naïve/memory (memory > naïve) CD4 T lymphocytes. Besides, IL-6/IL 6R is associated with TH -differentiation and asthma severity. Allergic/atopic asthma (AA) is dominated by TH responses, while TH immunity might either modulate the TH -dependent inflammation in AA or be an important mechanism boosting non-allergic asthma (NAA). Therefore, in this work we have compared the expression of CD26 and CD126 (IL-6Rα) in lymphocytes from different groups of donors: allergic (AA) and non-allergic (NAA) asthma, rhinitis, and healthy subjects. For this purpose, flow cytometry, haematological/biochemical, and in vitro proliferation assays were performed. Our results show a strong CD26-CD126 correlation and an over-representation of CD26 subsets with a highly-differentiated effector phenotype in AA (CD4 CD26 T cells) and NAA (CD4 CD26 γδ-T cells). In addition, we found that circulating levels of CD26 (sCD26) were reduced in both AA and NAA, while loss of CD126 expression on different leukocytes correlated with higher disease severity. Finally, selective inhibition of CD26-mRNA translation led to enhanced T cell proliferation in vitro. These findings support that CD26 down-modulation could play a role in facilitating the expansion of highly-differentiated effector T cell subsets in asthma
Acetylome in Human Fibroblasts From Parkinson's Disease Patients
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder. The pathogenesis of this disease is associated with gene and environmental factors. Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most frequent genetic cause of familial and sporadic PD. Moreover, posttranslational modifications, including protein acetylation, are involved in the molecular mechanism of PD. Acetylation of lysine proteins is a dynamic process that is modulated in PD. In this descriptive study, we characterized the acetylated proteins and peptides in primary fibroblasts from idiopathic PD (IPD) and genetic PD harboring G2019S or R1441G LRRK2 mutations. Identified acetylated peptides are modulated between individuals' groups. Although acetylated nuclear proteins are the most represented in cells, they are hypoacetylated in IPD. Results display that the level of hyperacetylated and hypoacetylated peptides are, respectively, enhanced in genetic PD and in IPD cells
New oxidized ent-kaurane and ent-norkaurane derivatives from kaurenoic acid
New oxidized ent-kaurane and ent-norkaurane derivatives were synthezised starting from kaurenoic acid. The spectroscopic characterization of all compounds is reported
Optomechanical devides for mechanobiological fingerprinting
Resumen del trabajo presentado en el Frontiers of Nanomechanical Systems (FSN2021), celebraod de forma virtual del 19 al 21 de enero de 2021Twenty years have passed since the first detection of biomolecular recognition using micromechanical systems[1]. In the last two decades, micro- nanomechanical systems have been refined to achieve amazing detection limits in force and mass that have enabled different schemes for ultrasensitive measurements of biological interactions as well as new ways of biological spectrometry. More recently, these figures of merit have been improved by coupling optical cavities to mechanical systems. In this talk, I will review the use of micro- nanomechanical systems for mechanobiological fingerprinting of biological entities, particularizing in the contributions of our group [2]. An essential core of this topic is the discussion about the mechanical coupling between a biological particle and a mechanical resonator, an issue that it is has been often oversimplified. We show that the biomechanical coupling that emerges between a bioparticle and a mechanical resonator is more complex than previously expect and it can give rise to different interaction regimes, in which the resonator response is dominated by different physical parameters of the analyte [3-4]. In particular, we will show experiments done with a variety of micro- nano- optomechanical systems using different measurement schemes where the mass, the stiffness and even the vibration modes of single biological entities can be measured with high sensitivity. It is now widely appreciated the essential role of mechanics in relevant biological processes and how disease can be revealed as changes in the mechanical properties of biological matter. I am pretty sure that future developments in optomechanical devices will contribute for major understanding of diseases as well as for new avenues in diagnosis and therapy
Design of the nutritional therapy for overweight and obese Spanish adolescents conducted by registered dieticians: the EVASYON study
Background: Dietary treatment for obese adolescents should aim to ensure adequate growth and development, by reducing excessive fat mass accumulation, avoiding loss of lean body mass, improving well-being and selfesteem and preventing cyclical weight regain. The aim of this article is to describe the dietary intervention design and the methods used to evaluate nutritional knowledge and behavior in the EVASYON study (Development, implementation and evaluation of the efficacy of a therapeutic programme for overweight/obese adolescents). Methods/design: EVASYON is a multi-centre study conducted in 5 Spanish hospital settings (Granada, Madrid, Pamplona, Santander and Zaragoza), where 204 overweight/obese Spanish adolescents were treated in groups of 9 to 11 subjects over 20 visits. The study was implemented in two stages: an intensive, calorie-restricted period for the first 9 weeks, and an extensive body-weight follow-up period for the last 11 months. A moderate energy intake restriction was applied in the intensive period according to the degree of obesity, on the basis of a balanced diet supplying 50-55% of daily energy as carbohydrates; 30-35% as fats and 10-15% as proteins. In the intensive period, adolescents were prescribed both a fixed full-day meal plan for the first three weeks and a full day meal plan with different food-choices for 6 weeks. Later, adolescents received a flexible meal plan based on food exchanges for the follow-up period until the end of the trial. Data on food intake, dietary and meal-related habits and behavior were collected by means of dietary questionnaires. To analyse nutritional knowledge, adolescents were examined regarding nutrient concepts and food items for a healthy diet with the appropriate tools. Participants were given nutritional information with complementary teaching material, which was available on the EVASYON website (www.estudioevasyon.com). Discussion: The dietary intervention of the EVASYON programme with a moderate calorie restriction for a limi - ted period of time could be a good strategy in treating overweight and obese adolescents and that will be tested further. Moreover, combining fixed plan with free-choice menus may help adolescents and their families to make right decisions for every day meals
A novel mutation Thr162Arg of the melanocortin 4 receptor gene in a Spanish children and adolescent population
Objective The melanocortin 4 receptor gene (MC4R) is involved in body weight regulation. While many studies associated MC4R mutations with childhood obesity, information on MC4R mutations in Spanish children and adolescents is lacking. Our objective was to screen a population of children and adolescents from the north of Spain (Navarra) for MC4R mutations and to study the phenotypes of carriers and their families. In addition, functional assays were performed for a novel MC4R mutation.
Methods The study was composed of 451 Spanish children and adolescents (49% boys), aged 5–18 year. According to the International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) criteria, the groups included 160 obese, 132 overweight and 159 normal-weight control subjects.
Results One novel (Thr162Arg) and three known nonsynonymous mutations in the MC4R gene (Ser30Phe, Thr150Ile, Ala244Glu) were detected heterozygously. The MC4R mutations were found in three male (one obese and two overweight) and two female subjects (one obese and one overweight). The novel mutation did not appear to lead to an impaired receptor function. An unequivocal relationship of MC4R mutations with obesity in pedigrees together with an impaired function of the encoded receptor could not be established for any of the mutations.
Conclusions The presence of heterozygous MC4R mutations in obese and overweight subjects indicates that these mutations may be a susceptibility factor for obesity development, but lifestyle factors, such as exercise or sedentary activities, may modify their effect
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