Homology modeling, molecular dynamics and docking simulations of rat A2A receptor: a three-dimensional model validation under QSAR studies

Understanding the three-dimensional structure (3-D) of GPCRs (G protein coupled receptors) can aid in the design of applicable compounds for the treatment of several human disorders. To this end, several 3-D models have been obtained in recent years. In this work, we have built the rat adenosine receptor model (rA2AR) by employing computational tools. First, the 3-D rA2AR model was built by homology modeling using the human adenosine receptor (hA2AR) structure (PDB codes: 3EML) as a template. Then, the rA2AR model was refined by molecular dynamics simulations, in which the initial and refined 3-D structures were used for molecular docking simulations and Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) studies using a set of known experimentally tested ligands to validate this rA2AR model. The results showed that the hindrance effect caused by ribose attached to agonists play an important role in activating the receptor via formation of several hydrogen bonds. In contrast, the lack of this moiety allows blocking of the receptor. The theoretical affinity estimation shows good correlation with reported experimental data. Therefore, this work represents a good example for getting reliable GPCR models under computational procedures.We are grateful for the scholarships and financial support from CONACYT, México (132353), ICyTDF (PIRIVI09-9), COFAA and SIP-IPN (20110786), PAPIIT-DGAPA UNAM-215708 and Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas UNAM. The authors thank the Centro Nacional de Supercomputo, México, for providing access to the “Argentum” cluster

PLA2 G4E, a candidate gene for resilience in Alzheimer's disease and a new target for dementia treatment

Clinical studies revealed that some aged-individuals accumulate a significant number of histopathological Alzheimer´s disease (AD) lesions in their brain, yet without developing any signs of dementia. Animal models of AD represent suitable tools to identify genes that might promote cognitive resilience and hence, this study first set out to identify cognitively resilient individuals in the aged-Tg2576 mouse model. A transcriptomic analysis of these mice identified PLA2 G4E as a gene that might confer resistance to dementia. Indeed, a significant decrease in PLA2 G4E is evident in the brain of late-stage AD patients, whereas no such changes are observed in early stage patients with AD neuropathological lesions but no signs of dementia. We demonstrated that adeno-associated viral vector-mediated overexpression of PLA2 G4E in hippocampal neurons completely restored cognitive deficits in elderly APP/PS1 mice, without affecting the amyloid or tau pathology. These PLA2 G4E overexpressing APP/PS1 mice developed significantly more dendritic spines than sham-injected mice, coinciding with the cognitive improvement observed. Hence, these results support the idea that a loss of PLA2 G4E might play a key role in the onset of dementia in AD, highlighting the potential of PLA2 G4E overexpression as a novel therapeutic strategy to manage AD and other disorders that course with memory deficits

The SEAFDEC/AQD experience in stock enhancement

The Aquaculture Department (AQD) of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) started stock enhancement activities in 2000 as part of the Coastal Fishery Management Project in Malalison Is., Culasi, Antique, Philippines (SEAFDEC/AQD 1998). This was the same year as the Bangkok Declaration and Strategy for Aquaculture Development (NACA/FAO, 2000), which affirmed the potential of stock enhancement to increase fish supply. Since then, research on seed production, and release and monitoring strategies has been initiated on the abalone (Haliotis asinina), seahorses (Hippocampus barbouri, and H. kuda), mud crabs (Scylla serrata, S. olivacea and S. tranquebarica), top shell (Trochus niloticus), and window-pane oyster (Placuna placenta). Closing the life cycle and mass production of juveniles have been attained for most of these species, but actual releases have been conducted only for abalone and mud crabs. In this review article, we describe the present situation of stock enhancement of abalone, mud crab and seahorse at AQD

Informe da tuberculose en Galicia. Caracter?sticas dos casos de tuberculose de Galicia no ano 2021. Evoluci?n do per?odo 1996-2021

[GLG] Actualizaci?n do informe anual da tuberculose, editado polo Programa galego de prevenci?n e control da tuberculose, con datos do ano 2021 e a evoluci?n do per?odo 1996-2021.[ES] Actualizaci?n del informe anual de la tuberculosis, editado por el Programa gallego de prevenci?n y control de la tuberculosis, con datos del a?o 2021 y evoluci?n del per?odo 1996-2021

Implementation of a multidisciplinary psychoeducational intervention for Parkinson's disease patients and carers in the community: study protocol

Background: Parkinson’s disease progressively limits patients at different levels and as a result family members play a key role in their care. However, studies show lack of an integrative approach in Primary Care to respond to the difficulties and psychosocial changes experienced by them. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of a multidisciplinary psychoeducational intervention focusing on improving coping skills, the psychosocial adjustment to Parkinson’s disease and the quality of life in patients and family carers in a Primary Care setting. Methods: This quasi-experimental study with control group and mixed methods was designed to evaluate a multidisciplinary psychoeducational intervention. Based on the study power calculations, 100 people with Parkinson’s disease and 100 family carers will be recruited and assigned to two groups. The intervention group will receive the ReNACE psychoeducational intervention. The control group will be given a general educational programme. The study will be carried out in six community-based health centres. The results obtained from the two groups will be collected for evaluation at three time points: at baseline, immediately after the intervention and at 6 months post-intervention. The results will be measured with these instruments: the Quality of Life Scale PDQ39 for patients and the Scale of Quality of Life of Care-givers SQLC for family carers, and for all participants the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness scale and the Brief COPE Inventory. Focus groups will be organised with some patients and family carers who will have received the ReNACE psychoeducational intervention and also with the healthcare professionals involved in its development. Discussion: An important gap exists in the knowledge and application of interventions with a psychosocial approach for people with PD and family carers as a whole. This study will promote this comprehensive approach in Primary Care, which will clearly contribute in the existing knowledge and could reduce the burden of PD for patients and family carers, and also in other long-term conditions

Elementos clave en el proceso de convivencia con la enfermedad de Parkinson de pacientes y familiares cuidadores

Fundamento. La enfermedad de Parkinson produce un impacto considerable en la vida de las personas. Es necesario identificar los elementos clave que influyen en el proceso de convivencia con la enfermedad de Parkinson para que los profesionales de la salud puedan ayudar a los pacientes y sus familias a convivir lo mejor posible con los cambios y limitaciones producidos por la enfermedad. Material y método. Se llevó a cabo un estudio cualitativo descriptivo. Este estudio se corresponde con la primera fase de un diseño exploratorio secuencial (Mixed-methods) que incluye a su vez una fase cuantitativa. Se realizó un proyecto multicéntrico. Para la recogida de datos se aplicó un muestreo de conveniencia y se utilizó una entrevista semi-estructurada realizada individualmente a pacientes y familiares cuidadores y dos cuestionarios para pacientes: la Escala de Hoehn & Yahr y el Cuestionario PDNMS. Se realizó un análisis de contenido de las entrevistas y estadístico descriptivo de los cuestionarios. Resultados. La muestra la constituyeron 46 participantes. Se identificaron tres elementos clave en el proceso de convivencia con la enfermedad de Parkinson: aceptación, adaptación y automanejo. Estos elementos condicionaron dos modos de convivencia con la enfermedad de Parkinson: una convivencia positiva, caracterizada por sentimientos de armonía, equilibrio, y naturalidad; y una convivencia negativa caracterizada por sentimientos de frustración, pérdida de control y autoestima. Conclusiones. Es esencial que los profesionales de la salud conozcan a fondo estos elementos, así como los factores que los favorecen o dificultan. En la medida que se propicie la investigación en este ámbito y se identifiquen intervenciones efectivas se mejorará la atención integral de la personas en consonancia con las nuevas directrices para la cronicidad.Background. Parkinson’s disease has a considerable impact on people’s lives. It is necessary to identify the key elements that influence the process of living with Parkinson’s disease so that health professionals can help patients and their relatives to live as well as possible with the changes and limitations produced by the disease. Material and methods. A qualitative descriptive study was realized. This study corresponded to the first phase of a sequential, exploratory design (mixed method) that in turn included a quantitative phase. A multicentre project was carried out. Convenience sampling was applied to collect data, a semi-structured interview was realized individually with patients and carer-relatives and two questionnaires with patients: the Hoehn & Yahr scale and the PDNMS questionnaire. Content analysis of the interviews and a statistical description of the questionnaires were used. Results. The sample was made up of 46 participants. Three key elements were identified in the process of living with Parkinson’s disease: acceptance, adaptation and self-management. These elements conditioned the modes of living with Parkinson’s disease: positive living, characterized by feelings of harmony, balance and naturalness; negative living characterized be feelings of frustration, loss of control and self-esteem. Conclusions. It is essential for health professionals to have a deep understanding of these elements, as well as of the factors that favor or hinder them. To the extent that research in this field progresses and effective interventions are identified, comprehensive patient care will be improved in consonance with the new directives for chronicity

Abalone culture

Conceptualized by SM Buen-Ursua (Abalone Project)

Improved reproductive performance of tiger tail seahorse, Hippocampus comes, by mysid shrimp fed singly or in combination with other natural food

The brood size, parturition frequency and parturition occurrence of tiger tail seahorse, Hippocampus comes were evaluated for 180 days using single and combined diets comprising Artemia salina, mysid shrimp Mesopodopsis orientalis and frozen Acetes sp. The daily food intake of seahorse was determined with the following treatments: T1-Artemia; T2-mysid; T3-Acetes; T4-Artemia + mysid; T5-Artemia + Acetes ; T6-mysid + Acetes; and T7-Artemia + mysid + Acetes. Percent body weight (% BW) of daily food intake until satiation was similar in Artemia, mysid and Artemia + Acetes (20-22 %), but significantly higher in mysid + Acetes, Artemia + mysid, and Artemia + mysid + Acetes with 25, 31 and 33 %, respectively (p < 0.05). Single diet of frozen Acetes was least consumed at 6 %. Thus, mysid was the preferred food of adult seahorses as a single or combined diet with Artemia and Acetes. Diet treatments with single mysid or combined with Artemia and Acetes have significantly higher brood size (223-292) than the other treatments (107-152) (p < 0.05). Significantly longer parturition interval (60 days) was observed in seahorses fed with Artemia than those fed with mysid or in combination with other natural food (13-26 days), but not significantly different to seahorses fed with Acetes and Artemia + Acetes (42-45 days). Parturition occurrence in seahorse fed with Artemia, Acetes and Artemia + Acetes (2.7-4.3) were the lowest, while Artemia + mysid and Artemia + mysid + Acetes have significantly higher occurrence followed by mysids + Acetes and mysid only (p < 0.05). Thus, the reproductive performance was improved when seahorses were fed with single or combined foods including mysid. Total lipid was positively correlated to brood size and parturition occurrence, while DHA:EPA ratio was negatively correlated to brood size and parturition occurrence.This study was funded by the Government of Japan Trust Fund (GOJ-TF) for Stock Enhancement Program entitled "Resource Enhancement of Internationally Threatened and Over-Exploited Species in Southeast Asia through Stock Release" (Budget code 5029-TRD-Br0710). This study was also supported in part by Asia-Africa Science Platform (AASP) Program(2011-2013 FY) and RONPAKU (Dissertation PhD) Program (2013-2015 FY, DOST-11322) from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)