Pomegranate juice exacerbates oxidative stress and nigrostriatal degeneration in Parkinson's disease

Producción CientíficaNumerous factors contribute to the death of substantia nigra (SN) dopamine (DA) neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD). Compelling evidence implicates mitochondrial deficiency, oxidative stress, and inflammation as important pathogenic factors in PD. Chronic exposure of rats to rotenone causes a PD-like syndrome, in part by causing oxidative damage and inflammation in substantia nigra. Pomegranate juice (PJ) has the greatest composite antioxidant potency index among beverages, and it has been demonstrated to have protective effects in a transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease. The present study was designed to examine the potential neuroprotective effects of PJ in the rotenone model of PD. Oral administration of PJ did not mitigate or prevent experimental PD but instead increased nigrostriatal terminal depletion, DA neuron loss, the inflammatory response, and caspase activation, thereby heightening neurodegeneration. The mechanisms underlying this effect are uncertain, but the finding that PJ per se enhanced nitrotyrosine, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and activated caspase-3 expression in nigral DA neurons is consistent with its potential pro-oxidant activity

Posibilidades de la variabilidad genética de encinas y alcornoques en la conservación y recuperación de bosques amenazados por la “seca”

Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands. (hongo patógeno del suelo) es el principal responsable del decaimiento de encinas y alcornoques en el Suroeste de la Península Ibérica. Este decaimiento es uno de los problemas ambientales más graves que amenaza la supervivencia y sostenibilidad, tanto ecológica como económica, de las formaciones de Quercus del sur peninsular. Este trabajo analiza la posibilidad del empleo de la variabilidad genética de la resistencia o tolerancia de los árboles al patógeno del suelo Phytophthora cinnamomi

A highly reproducible rotenone model of Parkinson's disease

Producción CientíficaThe systemic rotenone model of Parkinson's disease (PD) accurately replicates many aspects of the pathology of human PD and has provided insights into the pathogenesis of PD. The major limitation of the rotenone model has been its variability, both in terms of the percentage of animals that develop a clear-cut nigrostriatal lesion and the extent of that lesion. The goal here was to develop an improved and highly reproducible rotenone model of PD. In these studies, male Lewis rats in three age groups (3, 7 or 12-14 months) were administered rotenone (2.75 or 3.0 mg/kg/day) in a specialized vehicle by daily intraperitoneal injection. All rotenone-treated animals developed bradykinesia, postural instability, and/or rigidity, which were reversed by apomorphine, consistent with a lesion of the nigrostriatal dopamine system. Animals were sacrificed when the PD phenotype became debilitating. Rotenone treatment caused a 45% loss of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive substantia nigra neurons and a commensurate loss of striatal dopamine. Additionally, in rotenone-treated animals, alpha-synuclein and poly-ubiquitin positive aggregates were observed in dopamine neurons of the substantia nigra. In summary, this version of the rotenone model is highly reproducible and may provide an excellent tool to test new neuroprotective strategies

Expression of human E46K-mutated α-synuclein in BAC-transgenic rats replicates early-stage Parkinson's disease features and enhances vulnerability to mitochondrial impairment

Producción CientíficaParkinson's disease (PD), the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, is etiologically heterogeneous, with most cases thought to arise from a combination of environmental factors and genetic predisposition; about 10% of cases are caused by single gene mutations. While neurotoxin models replicate many of the key behavioral and neurological features, they often have limited relevance to human exposures. Genetic models replicate known disease-causing mutations, but are mostly unsuccessful in reproducing major features of PD. In this study, we created a BAC (bacterial artificial chromosome) transgenic rat model of PD expressing the E46K mutation of α-synuclein, which is pathogenic in humans. The mutant protein was expressed at levels ~2-3-fold above endogenous α-synuclein levels. At 12 months of age, there was no overt damage to the nigrostriatal dopamine system; however, (i) alterations in striatal neurotransmitter metabolism, (ii) accumulation and aggregation of α-synuclein in nigral dopamine neurons, and (iii) evidence of oxidative stress suggest this model replicates several preclinical features of PD. Further, when these animals were exposed to rotenone, a mitochondrial toxin linked to PD, they showed heightened sensitivity, indicating that α-synuclein expression modulates the vulnerability to mitochondrial impairment. We conclude that these animals are well-suited to examination of gene-environment interactions that are relevant to PD

Caracterización de la respuesta electroantenográfica de Cerambyx welensii Küster y Prinobius germari Dejean (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

Xylophagous cerambycids of Cerambyx and Prinobius genus can play an important role in «oak decline» in Spain. New trends in the integrated pest management are dealing with control strategies based on the relation between olfactory perception of semiochemicals and insect behaviour. Electroantennography of olfactory stimuli enables to interpret the significance of the olfactory stimulation in host selection, an unknown aspect within many xylophagous insects. Cerambyx welensii and Prinobius germari (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae), have responded in EAG tests to two different compounds: a green-leaves volatile (E)-2-hexenal and turpentine; C. welensii also responded to acetic acid. Strong stimulatory conditions (20 μl of stimulating blend at 1:1 v/v doses) favour high EAG responses, without causing antennal saturation. Under these stimulatory conditions, and using complete insects, we have obtained stable EAG responses during, at least, five hours. Results show a good aptitude of these species for deeper electrophysiological experiments (such chromatography linked to electroantennography), in search of the olfactory cues involved in host location.Los cerambícidos xilófagos de los géneros Cerambyx y Prinobius pueden desempeñar un papel relevante en el decaimiento del género Quercus en España. Las nuevas tendencias en el control integrado de plagas apuestan por medidas basadas en el comportamiento de los insectos ante la percepción de compuestos semioquímicos. La electroantenografía permite interpretar la relevancia de la estimulación olfativa en la selección de hospedantes, aspecto desconocido para muchos insectos xilófagos. Cerambyx welensii y Prinobius germari han respondido electroantenográficamente frente a dos tipos de sustancias: un volátil de hojas verdes –(E)-2-hexenal- y la esencia de trementina; C. welensii respondió además frente al ácido acético. Condiciones de estimulación fuertes (20 μl de mezcla estimulante a concentración 1:1 en volumen) favorecen la obtención de respuestas de EAG elevadas, sin saturar la antena. Bajo estas condiciones de estimulación, y empleando insectos completos, se ha encontrado que una preparación para estudio de EAG puede durar cinco horas al menos. Los resultados manifiestan una buena aptitud de dichas especies para la realización de estudios electrofisiológicos más amplios (como la cromatografía acoplada a la electroantenografía), que permitan interpretar la mediación de la estimulación olfativa en la localización de sus principales hospedantes

A Traditional Diet Is Associated with a Reduced Risk of Eczema and Wheeze in Colombian Children

Background: Diet might influence the risk of allergic diseases. Evidence from developing countries with high prevalence of childhood asthma is scant. Methods: Information on wheeze, rhinitis, and eczema was collected from 3209 children aged 6–7 years in 2005, who were taking part in the International Study on Asthma and Allergy in Children (ISAAC) in Colombia. Intake frequency of twelve food groups was assessed. Associations between each food group and current wheeze, rhino-conjunctivitis, and eczema were investigated with multiple logistic regressions, adjusting for potential confounders. Simes’ procedure was used to test for multiple comparisons. Results: 14.9% of children reported wheeze in the last 12 months, 16% rhino-conjunctivitis, and 22% eczema. Eczema was negatively associated with consumption of fresh fruits and pulses three or more times per week (adjusted Odds ratio (aOR): 0.64; 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.49 to 0.83; p value = 0.004; and aOR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.47 to 0.80; p value < 0.001, respectively). Current wheeze was negatively associated with intake of potatoes (aOR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.31 to 0.62, p value = 0.005), whilst this outcome was positively associated with consumption of fast food (aOR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.32 to 2.35, p value = 0.001). These associations remained statistically significant after controlling for multiple comparisons. Conclusions: A traditional diet might have a protective effect against eczema and wheeze in Colombian children, whilst intake of fast foods increases this risk

Variabilidad intraespecífica de la respuesta electroantenográfica en Cerambyx welensii Küster (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae). Influencia de factores anatómicos, fisiológicos y experimentales

Intraspecific variability of EAG responses in Cerambyx welensii has been studied.We have not found significant differences of EAG responses neither between sexes nor types of solvent, paraffin oil and hexane, but there was a highly significant variability of responses between individuals (0,92 mV +/- 0,6. Mean +/- DT) to (E)-2-hexenal (50% v/v). More than 68% of individual variability can be explained by the combination of the previous aptitude of insects, its physiological state (vitality at the moment of study) and the capillary's diameter in the reference electrode. Anatomical features of the individuals had not influence in the response. In order to avoid or minimize the effect caused for this variability, it is advisable to carry out EAG tests with insects obtained under controlled conditions. In other case, the EAG responses must be standardized using a standard stimulus, as well as to homogenize the tip diameter of the reference electrode.En este trabajo se estudia la variabilidad intraespec&iacute;fica de la respuesta electroantenogr&aacute;fica de Cerambyx welensii. No se han encontrado diferencias de respuestas entre sexos, ni entre el tipo de solvente empleado, hexano o aceite de parafina; pero s&iacute; se encontr&oacute; variabilidad entre individuos (0,92 mV +/- 0,6. Media +/- DT) frente al (E)-2-hexenal (50% v/v). M&aacute;s del 68% de esta variabilidad pudo ser explicada considerando tres factores: la aptitud previa de los insectos, su estado fisiol&oacute;gico (vigor en el momento del estudio) y el di&aacute;metro en punta fina del capilar del electrodo de referencia. Las caracter&iacute;sticas anat&oacute;micas de los individuos no influyeron sobre su respuesta electroantenogr&aacute;fica. La variabilidad de respuesta intraespec&iacute;fica encontrada en C. welensii puede distorsionar la caracterizaci&oacute;n del comportamiento olfativo de esta especie, por lo que es deseable realizar las pruebas electroantenogr&aacute;ficas a partir de insectos obtenidos en condiciones controladas o bien estandarizar las respuestas a partir de un est&iacute;mulo est&aacute;ndar, adem&aacute;s de normalizar el di&aacute;metro del capilar del electrodo de referencia

Characterization of a Shallow Coastal Aquifer in the Framework of a Subsurface Storage and Soil Aquifer Treatment Project using Electrical Resistivity Tomography (Port de la Selva, Spain)

Water percolation through infiltration ponds is creating significant synergies for the broad adoption of water reuse as an additional non-conventional water supply. Despite the apparent simplicity of the soil aquifer treatment (SAT) approaches, the complexity of site-specific hydro-geological conditions and the processes occurring at various scales require an exhaustive under-standing of the system's response. The non-saturated zone and underlying aquifers cannot be considered as a black box, nor accept its characterization from few boreholes not well distribut-ed over the area to be investigated. The electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) is a non-invasive technology, highly responsive to geological heterogeneities that has demonstrated useful to provide the detailed subsurface information required for groundwater modeling. The relation-ships between the electrical resistivity of the alluvial sediments and the bedrock and the differ-ence in salinity of groundwater, highlight the potential of geophysical methods over other more costly subsurface exploration techniques. The results of our research show that ERT coupled with implicit modeling tools provides information that can significantly help to identify aquifer geometry and characterize the saltwater intrusion of shallow alluvial aquifers. The proposed approaches could improve the reliability of groundwater models and the commitment of stakeholders to the benefits of SAT procedures

Coupled Geophysical and Hydrogeochemical Characterization of a Coastal Aquifer as Tool for a More Efficient Management (Torredembarra, Spain)

The aquifers of the Spanish Mediterranean coast are generally subjected to intense exploitationto meet the growing water supply demands. The result of the exploitation is salinizationdue to the marine saltwater intrusion, causing a deterioration in the quality of the water pumped,limiting its use for community needs, and not always being well delimited. To prevent deterioration,a groundwater control network usually allows precise knowledge of the areas affected by saltwaterintrusion but not the extent of the saline plumes. Moreover, the characterization of aquifer systemsrequires a model that defines the geometry of aquifer formations. For this objective, we integratedhydrogeological, hydrogeochemical, and electrical resistivity subsoil data to establish a hydrogeologicalmodel of the coastal aquifer of Torredembarra (Tarragona, NE Spain). In this research, wehave carried out a regional and local-scale study of the aquifer system to define the areas prone tobeing affected by saline intrusion (electrical resistivity values below 10 Wm). The obtained resultscould be used as a support tool for the assessment of the most favorable areas for groundwaterwithdrawal, as well as enabling the control and protection of the most susceptible areas to be affectedby saltwater intrusion.</p

Control de la corte penal internacional frente a la ley de justicia y paz

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