1,646 research outputs found

    Circulating Exosomal Mir21 And Mir320 In Obstructive Sleep Apnea

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    Rational. Epidemiological studies indicate that there may be an association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Some pro-inflammatory miRs (miR-21, miR320) critical for the immune response or hypoxia are often overexpressed in cancers and atherosclerosis. Aim. To examine the expression of miR-21& miR320 in circulating exosomes from patients with OSA. Methods: From a Sleep Unit and in the frame of a long-term longitudinal cohort study we selected 65 non-smokers OSA patients (apnea-hypopnea index -AHI- 30 events/ti) and 26 age, gender and BMI-matched controls (AHI 0.85 mm. Plasma-derived exosomes were isolated by precipitation using miRCURY, , , Exosome Isolation Kit. Exosomes were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering assay and Western Blot analysis using CD63 and HSP70. Exosome total RNA was obtained using miRCURY"* RNA isolation kit. miR-21 -5p and miR-320-3p were analysed by real time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) using miRCURY LNA~ technology..

    Early magnetic resonance imaging control after temporomandibular joint arthrocentesis

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    Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) lysis and lavage arthrocentesis with viscosupplementation are an effective treatment for acute disc displacement (DD) without reduction. Clinical success seems to be related to multiple factors despite the lack of understanding of its mechanisms. The authors present a case report of 17-year-old women with acute open mouth limitation (12 mm), right TMJ pain-8/10 visual analog scale, right deviation when opening her mouth. The clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnosis was acute DD without reduction of right TMJ. Right TMJ arthrocentesis was purposed to the patient with lysis, lavage, and viscosupplementation of the upper joint space. After 5 days, a new MRI was performed to confirm upper joint space distension and disc position. Clinical improvement was obtained 5 days and 1 month after arthrocentesis. Upper joint space increased 6 mm and the disc remained displaced. We report the first early TMJ MRI image postoperative, with measurable upper joint space.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

    A Novel Grouping Harmony Search Algorithm for Clustering Problems

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    The problem of partitioning a data set into disjoint groups or clusters of related items plays a key role in data analytics, in particular when the information retrieval becomes crucial for further data analysis. In this context, clustering approaches aim at obtaining a good parti- tion of the data based on multiple criteria. One of the most challenging aspects of clustering techniques is the inference of the optimal number of clusters. In this regard, a number of clustering methods from the literature assume that the number of clusters is known a priori and sub- sequently assign instances to clusters based on distance, density or any other criterion. This paper proposes to override any prior assumption on the number of clusters or groups in the data at hand by hybridizing the grouping encoding strategy and the Harmony Search (HS) algorithm. The resulting hybrid approach optimally infers the number of clusters by means of the tailored design of the HS operators, which estimates this important structural clustering parameter as an implicit byproduct of the instance-to-cluster mapping performed by the algorithm. Apart from inferring the optimal number of clusters, simulation results ver- ify that the proposed scheme achieves a better performance than other na ̈ıve clustering techniques in synthetic scenarios and widely known data repositories

    Effects of dietary barley on rainbow trout exposed to an acute stress challenge

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    Systematic reproduction and distribution, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modifications of the content of this paper are prohibited.[EN] The present study evaluates the effect of dietary barley, based on its potential stress-relieving properties, on rainbow trout under acute stress challenge (hypoxia and crowding) and their recovery. Diets were formulated containing increasing barley concentrations (0, 4, 8, 16, 32%). Cortisol on plasma and fin, glucose and lactate plasma levels and malondialdehyde (MDA) in muscle were determined under normoxia before the stress test (basal levels), 30 min after the acute stress challenge and also during normoxia recovery (6 and 12 h after the stress). Results showed that at basal levels the inclusion of barley had no influence on cortisol, glucose nor on lactate values. After 30 min from the stress challenge, there was a significant increase in cortisol, glucose and lactate concentration in fish of all groups. Plasma cortisol showed the lowest levels in fish fed with diets at a medium (8%) of barley concentration and returned to basal levels 6 h after the stress stimulus with no differences between diets. Glucose values showed a less clear tendency 30 min after the stress challenge with lower levels in the control group, fish fed with 8% and 32% of barley in the diets and returned to basal levels in almost all the groups only 12 h after the stress challenge. Lactate showed the same trend as with glucose after the stress challenge but it returned to basal levels in 6 h. Interestingly, there was a significant decrease of lipid oxidation (MDA) in muscle soon after the stress test of fish fed with the highest barley levels. The present results suggest a potential positive effect of dietary barley on trout stress response.This work has been co-funded with FEDER and INIA funds. Julia Pinedo has been granted with the FPI-INIA grant number 21 (call 2012, BOE-2012-13337).Pinedo-Gil, J.; Martín-Diana, AB.; Bertotto, D.; Sanz-Calvo, M.; Jover Cerda, M.; Tomas-Vidal, A. (2019). Effects of dietary barley on rainbow trout exposed to an acute stress challenge. Aquaculture. 501:32-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2018.10.070S323850

    V12 248. Reemplazo de raíz de aorta según técnica de david y de arco aórtico con injerto trifurcado, en un paciente diagnosticado de síndrome de loeys-dietz

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    IntroducciónSe describe la técnica quirúrgica de un paciente de 24 años de edad con síndrome de Loeys-Dietz. Se trata de una enfermedad hereditaria del tejido conectivo producida por la mutación del gen del receptor del factor de crecimiento transformante (TGF)-β;. Su característica principal y condicionante del pronóstico es la dilatación del sistema vascular, principalmente la aorta.MétodoEl paciente presentaba dilatación aneurismática de la raíz y del arco aórtico, con un diámetro máximo de 50 mm. Tenía además historia familiar de muerte súbita de origen cardíaco en tres familiares de primer grado a edades tempranas. Ante la indicación de tratamiento quirúrgico se procedió a realizar sustitución de los segmentos aneurismáticos. En la raíz aórtica se realizó técnica de preservación valvular (técnica de David, modificación de Miller). La sustitución del arco aórtico se llevó a cabo mediante interposición de injerto trifurcado, en hipotermia moderada y con perfusión cerebral anterógrada.Resultado y conclusionesNo hubo complicaciones postoperatorias. El tratamiento quirúrgico precoz en los pacientes afectos de síndrome de Loeys-Dietz es imprescindible. La experiencia acumulada hasta el momento revela la agresividad de esta enfermedad. Por ello, es necesario un abordaje completo cuando existe afectación a distintos niveles. El empleo de técnicas de preservación valvular permite además disminuir la morbimortalidad asociada a las prótesis valvulares

    Tracing sulfate recycling in the hypersaline Pétrola lake (SE Spain): A combined isotopic and microbiological approach

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    Sulfur (S) plays a significant role in saline environments, and sulfate (SO4 2−) is an important component of the biogeochemical S-cycle since it acts as the main electron acceptor in anoxic sediments. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the fate of S, its origin, and processes affecting sulfate outcome in the hypersaline Pétrola Lake in the Castilla-La Mancha region (High Segura Basin, SE Spain). The lake is the terminal discharge zone of an endorheic basin with considerable anthropogenic pressures. Anthropogenic activities (mainly agricultural inputs and wastewater discharge), together with bedrock leaching of sulfate and sulfide-rich sediments, increase dissolved SO4 2− in surface and groundwater up to 123,000 mg/L. The source and fate of sulfate in this environment was investigated coupling hydrochemistry, including hydrogen sulfide (H2S) microprofiles, isotopic analyses (δ34S, δ18OSO4, δ2HH2O, δ18OH2O, and tritium), mineralogical determinations, and molecular biology tools (16S rDNA amplification and sequencing). The origin of dissolved SO4 2− in water is related to pyrite oxidation from Lower Cretaceous sediments, and secondary gypsum dissolution. Under the lake, dissolved SO4 2− decreases with depth, controlled by three main processes: (1) seasonal evaporation cycles, (2) hydrodynamic instability caused by the different density-driven groundwater flow, and (3) sulfate-reduction processes, i.e. dissimilatory bacterial sulfate reduction (BSR). These processes control the continuous recycling of sulfur in the system. Lake water and groundwater are in hydraulic connection, and a density-driven flow (DDF) is able to transport reactive organic matter and dissolved SO4 2− towards the underlying aquifer. Hydrochemical evolution in depth, H2S production (up to 0.024 nmol/cm3·s) and the presence of sulfate-reducing bacteria suggest the existence of BSR processes. However, isotope techniques are insufficient to elucidate BSR processes since their isotopic effect is masked by low isotope fractionation and high SO4 2− concentrations. The pattern here described may be found in other saline basins worldwide

    Effect of red beet and betaine modulating oxidation and bioactivity of rainbow trout

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    [EN] The present study compares a control diet to four experimental diets, in which two red beet (14% and 28%) and two betaine levels (0.9% and 1.63%) were incorporated in rainbow trout diets according to a factorial design. The effects of the inclusion of different red beet and betaine concentrations on fatty acid (FA) profile, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant activity on rainbow trout fillets were investigated. Although no significant differences were observed with the control group, results indicated that red beet and betaine improved fish fillet FA profile, producing an increase in polyunsaturated FAs, mainly docosahexaenoic acid. Higher red beet and betaine concentrations increased flavonoid and phenolic content in the diets; however, no effects were observed for the antioxidant properties of rainbow trout fillets.This work was carried out with funding from INIA and ITACyL, and cofounded by FEDER funds. Julia Pinedo has been granted with the FPI-INIA grant number 21 (call 2012, BOE-2012-13337).Pinedo-Gil, J.; Tomas-Vidal, A.; Rico-Barges, D.; Tiwari B.K.; Alvarez-García C; Jover Cerda, M.; Sanz-Calvo MA... (2019). Effect of red beet and betaine modulating oxidation and bioactivity of rainbow trout. Journal of Aquatic Food Product Technology. 38-48. https://doi.org/10.1080/10498850.2018.1560381S384

    A Multi-isotopic approach to investigate the influence of land use on nitrate removal in a highly saline lake-aquifer system

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    Endorheic or closed drainage basins in arid and semi-arid regions are vulnerable to pollution. Nonetheless, in the freshwater-saltwater interface of endorheic saline lakes, oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions can attenuate pollutants such as nitrate (NO3- ). This study traces the ways of nitrogen (N) removal in the Pétrola lake- aquifer system (central Spain), an endorheic basin contaminated with NO3- (up to 99.2 mg/L in groundwater). This basin was declared vulnerable to NO3- pollution in 1998 due to the high anthropogenic pressures (mainly agriculture and wastewaters). Hydrochemical, multi-isotopic (δ18ONO3, δ15NNO3, δ13CDIC, δ18OH2O, and δ2HH2O) and geophysical techniques (electrical resistivity tomography) were applied to identify the main redox processes at the freshwater-saltwater interface. The results showed that the geometry of this interface is influenced by land use, causing spatial variability of nitrogen biogeochemical processes over the basin. In the underlying aquifer, NO3- showed an average concentration of 38.5 mg/L (n = 73) and was mainly derived from agricultural inputs. Natural attenuation of NO3- was observed in dryland farming areas (up to 72%) and in irrigation areas (up to 66%). In the Pétrola Lake, mineralization and organic matter degradation in lake sediment play an important role in NO3- reduction. Our findings are a major step forward in understanding freshwater-saltwater interfaces as reactive zones for NO3- attenuation. We further emphasize the importance of including a land use perspective when studying water quality-environmental relationships in hydrogeological systems dominated by density- driven circulation

    A mid-term astrometric and photometric study of trans-Neptunian object (90482) Orcus

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    From time series CCD observations of a fixed and large star field that contained the binary trans-Neptunian object (90482) Orcus (formerly 2004 DW), taken during a period of 33 days, we have been able to derive high-precision relative astrometry and photometry of the Orcus system with respect to background stars. The right ascension residuals of an orbital fit to the astrometric data revealed a periodicity of 9.7 ± 0.3 days, which is what one would expect to be induced by the known Orcus companion (Vanth). The residuals are also correlated with the theoretical positions of the satellite with regard to the primary. We therefore have revealed the presence of Orcus’ satellite in our astrometric measurements, although the residuals in declination did not show the expected variations. The oscillation in the residuals is caused by the photocenter motion of the combined Orcus plus satellite system around the barycenter along an orbital revolution of the satellite. The photocenter motion is much larger than the motion of Orcus around the barycenter, and we show here that detecting some binaries through a carefully devised astrometric technique might be feasible with telescopes of moderate size. We discuss the prospects for using the technique to find new binary trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) and to study already known binary systems with uncertain orbital periods. We also analyzed the system’s mid-term photometry in order to determine whether the rotation could be tidally locked to the satellite’s orbital period. We found that a photometric variability of 9.7 ± 0.3 days is clear in our data, and is nearly coincident with the orbital period of the satellite. We believe this variability might be induced by the satellite’s rotation. In our photometry there is also a slight hint for an additional very small variability in the 10 h range that was already reported in the literature. This short-term variability would indicate that the primary is not tidally locked and therefore the system would not have reached a double synchronous state. Implications for the basic physical properties of the primary and its satellite are discussed. From angular momentum considerations we suspect that the Orcus satellite might have formed from a rotational fission. This requires that the mass of the satellite would be around 0.09 times that of the primary, close to the value that one derives by using an albedo of 0.12 for the satellite and assuming equal densities for both the primary and secondary.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica

    A mid-term astrometric and photometric study of Trans-Neptunian Object (90482) Orcus

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    From CCD observations of a fixed and large star field that contained the binary TNO Orcus, we have been able to derive high-precision relative astrometry and photometry of the Orcus system with respect to background stars. The RA residuals of an orbital fit to the astrometric data revealed a periodicity of 9.7+-0.3 days, which is what one would expect to be induced by the known Orcus companion. The residuals are also correlated with the theoretical positions of the satellite with regard to the primary. We therefore have revealed the presence of Orcus' satellite in our astrometric measurements. The photocenter motion is much larger than the motion of Orcus around the barycenter, and we show here that detecting some binaries through a carefully devised astrometric technique might be feasible with telescopes of moderate size. We also analyzed the system's mid-term photometry to determine whether the rotation could be tidally locked to the satellite's orbital period. We found that a photometric variability of 9.7+-0.3 days is clear in our data, and is nearly coincident with the orbital period of the satellite. We believe this variability might be induced by the satellite's rotation. There is also a slight hint for an additional small variability in the 10 hr range that was already reported in the literature. This short-term variability would indicate that the primary is not tidally locked and therefore the system would not have reached a double synchronous state. Implications for the basic physical properties of the primary and its satellite are discussed. From angular momentum considerations we suspect that the Orcus satellite might have formed from a rotational fission. This requires that the mass of the satellite would be around 0.09 times that of the primary, close to the value that one derives by using an albedo of 0.12 for the satellite and assuming equal densities for both objects.Comment: in Press at A&
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