Trophic flow within the microbial and mesozooplankton foodweb in the North Atlantic: processes indicated by analyses of stable isotopes and biovolume spectra.

The trophic flow from primary producers through the microbial and mesozooplankton food web makes sun energy available in particulate form for higher trophic levels. Pathways through the lower trophic levels are highly variable and determine productivity of the marine pelagic food webs. We analysed spatial variability in food web structure across the North Atlantic by means of stable isotope analyses (SIA) and biovolume spectrum theories (BST). At 7 stations in the Iceland Basin, Reykjanes Ridge, Irminger Basin and Labrador Sea, respectively, chlorophyll a, zooplankton net samples (55 μm and 150 μm) and laser optical plankton counter data were collected in the upper 200 to 500 m during a EURO-BASIN cruise with R/V M.S.Merian in spring (March/April) 2013. Trophic indices were determined by both methods (SIA and BST) for different size groups of the pelagic community. For the smallest fraction, both methods yielded trophic indices around 2 to 3 and agreed reasonable well. Large differences between both methods were observed in the mediumsized fraction, which was dominated by more omnivorous species, with much higher trophic indices estimated by BST. The largest fraction showed slightly higher value by BST, especially in the Labrador Sea. Comparing differences between SIA and BST might allow to trace energy flow through the microbial food web. A conceptual model is developed for the trophic flow through the lower trophic levels and discussed with respect to phytoplankton bloom stage, water mass, and stratification.EUROBASIN (FP7-ENV-2010 Project no. 264933

Determinación de los índices de salud nutricional de la leche fresca de bovino mediante espectroscopía de infrarrojo cercano

Bovine milk is one of the most complete foods that exist. During the last decades, milk FA have shown to improve human health due to the reduction in risk of cardiovascular disease and related pathologies. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) reflectance analysis to predict the nutritional value, fatty acid (FA) composition, and health index of fresh milk from dairy cows of pastoral systems. The prediction of Atherogenicity and Thrombogenicity indexes, along with other FA ratios in fresh milk samples by NIRS were precise and accurate. In addition, the calibration model obtained by NIRS provides an opportunity for the routine quantification of milk’s healthy FA such as omega-3 and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), with applications in the dairy industry for food labeling, and at the farm level for management of the dairy cow’s diet.La leche bovina es uno de los alimentos más completos que existe. Durante la última década, se ha demostrado que los ácidos grasos de la leche pueden mejorar la salud humana, a través de la reducción del riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares y patologías asociadas. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la factibilidad del análisis de reflectancia NIRS para predecir valor nutricional, composición de ácidos grasos e índices de salud de leche fresca de vacas de sistemas lecheros pastoriles. La predicción por NIRS del índice aterogénico y trombogénico, de ácidos grasos en muestras de leche fresca, fueron precisos. Por tanto, el modelo de calibración obtenido por NIRS representa una oportunidad para la cuantificación rutinaria de los ácidos grasos saludables de la leche como omega-3 y CLA, con aplicaciones en la industria lechera para el etiquetado nutricional y a nivel de lechería para el manejo de la alimentación de las vacas

Emergence of Anti-Cancer Drug Resistance: Exploring the Importance of the Microenvironmental Niche via a Spatial Model

Practically, all chemotherapeutic agents lead to drug resistance. Clinically, it is a challenge to determine whether resistance arises prior to, or as a result of, cancer therapy. Further, a number of different intracellular and microenvironmental factors have been correlated with the emergence of drug resistance. With the goal of better understanding drug resistance and its connection with the tumor microenvironment, we have developed a hybrid discrete-continuous mathematical model. In this model, cancer cells described through a particle-spring approach respond to dynamically changing oxygen and DNA damaging drug concentrations described through partial differential equations. We thoroughly explored the behavior of our self-calibrated model under the following common conditions: a fixed layout of the vasculature, an identical initial configuration of cancer cells, the same mechanism of drug action, and one mechanism of cellular response to the drug. We considered one set of simulations in which drug resistance existed prior to the start of treatment, and another set in which drug resistance is acquired in response to treatment. This allows us to compare how both kinds of resistance influence the spatial and temporal dynamics of the developing tumor, and its clonal diversity. We show that both pre-existing and acquired resistance can give rise to three biologically distinct parameter regimes: successful tumor eradication, reduced effectiveness of drug during the course of treatment (resistance), and complete treatment failure

Coprodução de hormônio do crescimento e prolactina em paciente com sela túrcica parcialmente vazia primária: relato de caso

Introduction: The empty sella syndrome is a neuroradiological diagnosis that shows pituitary gland reduction or flattening, with a prevalence of around 8% to 35% in general population. Objective: We report a case in which there is an association between partial primary empty sella syndrome and high levels of growth hormone and prolactin. Methods: A 67-year-old man, from Coronel Mota Hospital, Boa Vista / RR, with no specific complaints, was referred to the Endocrinology ambulatory to investigate a modification in sella area. After anamnesis and physical examination, acromegaly research began. Pituitary hormones and magnetic resonance imaging of the sella turcica with contrast were requested. Results: General physical examination revealed acromegalic face, nasal enlargement, macroglossia and frontal cutis verticis gyrata. Radiological examination showed partial empty sella. Laboratory evaluation confirmed the clinical suspicion of acromegaly and revealed hyperprolactinemia presence. It was decided to treat the patient with cabergoline 1.5 mg / week and to refer him to a center specialized in neuroendocrinology. Conclusion: This report shows a case of partial primary empty sella and co-production of growth hormone and prolactin, making this association interesting, since somatotropinomas are mostly (80%) macroadenomas. In addition, the underdiagnosis of acromegaly is highlighted, since the symptoms are nonspecific and insidious, leading to high morbidity and mortality and reduction of the affected patients life expectancy.Introdução: A síndrome da sela túrcica vazia é um diagnóstico neurorradiológico que evidencia a redução ou o achatamento da glândula pituitária, com prevalência em torno de 8 a 35% na população geral. Objetivo: Este estudo de caso relata a associação entre sela túrcica parcialmente vazia primária e elevados níveis de hormônio do crescimento e prolactina. Métodos: Homem de 67 anos, proveniente do hospital Coronel Mota, Boa Vista/RR, sem queixas específicas, encaminhado ao ambulatório de Endocrinologia para investigação de alteração em região selar. Após realização de anamnese e exame físico, iniciou-se investigação de acromegalia. Foram solicitados basais hipofisários e ressonância magnética de sela túrcica com contraste. Resultados: O exame físico geral evidenciou fácies acromegálica, alargamento nasal, macroglossia e cutis verticis gyrata frontal. O exame radiológico demonstrou sela túrcica parcialmente vazia. A avaliação laboratorial confirmou a suspeita clínica de acromegalia e revelou a presença de hiperprolactinemia. Optou-se por tratar o paciente com cabergolina 1.5mg/semana e encaminhá-lo para centro especializado em neuroendocrinologia. Conclusão: Este relato mostra um caso de sela parcialmente vazia primária e coprodução de hormônio do crescimento e prolactina, tornando esta associação interessante, uma vez que somatotropinomas são em sua maioria (80%) macroadenomas. Além disso, ressalta-se para o subdiagnóstico da acromegalia, uma vez que os sintomas são inespecíficos e insidiosos, acarretando elevada morbimortalidade e redução da expectativa de vida dos pacientes acometidos

Predictors of mortality in critically ill patients with COVID-19 and diabetes

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the entire world, and patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) have been particularly affected. We aimed to evaluate predictors of mortality during the first 30 days of hospitalization in critically ill patients with COVID-19 and comorbid DM. This prospective study included 110 critically ill patients admitted with COVID-19 infection. Thirty-two (29%) patients had a previous diagnosis of DM. Clinical variables, laboratory tests, and vascular biomarkers, such as VCAM-1, syndecan-1, ICAM-1, angiopoietin-1, and angiopoeitin-2, were evaluated after intensive care unit (ICU) admission. A comparison was made between patients with and without DM. No difference in mortality was observed between the groups (48.7 vs 46.9%, P=0.861). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, VCAM-1 levels at ICU admission (HR: 1 [1-1.001], P<0.006) were associated with death in patients with DM. Among patients with DM, advanced age (HR 1.063 [1.031-1.096], P<0.001), increased Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio (HR: 4.515 [1.803-11.308] P=0.001), and need for dialysis (HR: 3.489 [1.409-8.642], P=0.007) were independent predictors of death. Higher levels of VCAM-1 in patients with DM was better at predicting death of patients with severe COVID-19 and comorbid DM, and their cut-off values were useful for stratifying patients with a worse prognosis. Vascular biomarkers VCAM-1 and Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio were predictors of death in patients with severe COVID-19 and comorbid DM and those without DM. Additionally, kidney injury was associated with an increased risk of death

Longitudinal double-spin asymmetry and cross section for inclusive neutral pion production at midrapidity in polarized proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 200 GeV

We report a measurement of the longitudinal double-spin asymmetry A_LL and the differential cross section for inclusive Pi0 production at midrapidity in polarized proton collisions at sqrt(s) = 200 GeV. The cross section was measured over a transverse momentum range of 1 < p_T < 17 GeV/c and found to be in good agreement with a next-to-leading order perturbative QCD calculation. The longitudinal double-spin asymmetry was measured in the range of 3.7 < p_T < 11 GeV/c and excludes a maximal positive gluon polarization in the proton. The mean transverse momentum fraction of Pi0's in their parent jets was found to be around 0.7 for electromagnetically triggered events.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. D (RC

Evolution of the differential transverse momentum correlation function with centrality in Au+Au collisions at sNN=200\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200 GeV

We present first measurements of the evolution of the differential transverse momentum correlation function, {\it C}, with collision centrality in Au+Au interactions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200$ GeV. {\it C} exhibits a strong dependence on collision centrality that is qualitatively similar to that of number correlations previously reported. We use the observed longitudinal broadening of the near-side peak of {\it C} with increasing centrality to estimate the ratio of the shear viscosity to entropy density, $\eta/s$, of the matter formed in central Au+Au interactions. We obtain an upper limit estimate of $\eta/s$ that suggests that the produced medium has a small viscosity per unit entropy.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, STAR paper published in Phys. Lett.