73 research outputs found

    Mètodes d'atordiment a escorxador

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    Treball presentat a l'assignatura de Deontologia i Veterinària Legal (21223

    Sex-Dependent End-of-Life Mental and Vascular Scenarios for Compensatory Mechanisms in Mice with Normal and AD-Neurodegenerative Aging

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    Life expectancy decreases with aging, with cardiovascular, mental health, and neurodegenerative disorders strongly contributing to the total disability-adjusted life years. Interestingly, the morbidity/mortality paradox points to females having a worse healthy life expectancy. Since bidirectional interactions between cardiovascular and Alzheimer's diseases (AD) have been reported, the study of this emerging field is promising. In the present work, we further explored the cardiovascular-brain interactions in mice survivors of two cohorts of non-transgenic and 3xTg-AD mice, including both sexes, to investigate the frailty/survival through their life span. Survival, monitored from birth, showed exceptionally worse mortality rates in females than males, independently of the genotype. This mortality selection provided a "survivors" cohort that could unveil brain-cardiovascular interaction mechanisms relevant for normal and neurodegenerative aging processes restricted to long-lived animals. The results show sex-dependent distinct physical (worse in 3xTg-AD males), neuropsychiatric-like and cognitive phenotypes (worse in 3xTg-AD females), and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation (higher in females), with higher cerebral blood flow and improved cardiovascular phenotype in 3xTg-AD female mice survivors. The present study provides an experimental scenario to study the suggested potential compensatory hemodynamic mechanisms in end-of-life dementia, which is sex-dependent and can be a target for pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions

    Kynurenine pathway in post-mortem prefrontal cortex and cerebellum in schizophrenia : relationship with monoamines and symptomatology

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    The cortico-cerebellar-thalamic-cortical circuit has been implicated in the emergence of psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia (SZ). The kynurenine pathway (KP) has been linked to alterations in glutamatergic and monoaminergic neurotransmission and to SZ symptomatology through the production of the metabolites quinolinic acid (QA) and kynurenic acid (KYNA). This work describes alterations in KP in the post-mortem prefrontal cortex (PFC) and cerebellum (CB) of 15 chronic SZ patients and 14 control subjects in PFC and 13 control subjects in CB using immunoblot for protein levels and ELISA for interleukins and QA and KYNA determinations. Monoamine metabolites were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography and SZ symptomatology was assessed by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). The association of KP with inflammatory mediators, monoamine metabolism and SZ symptomatology was explored. In the PFC, the presence of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 together with IDO2 and KATII enzymes decreased in SZ, while TDO and KMO enzyme expression increased. A network interaction analysis showed that in the PFC IL-10 was coupled to the QA branch of the kynurenine pathway (TDO-KMO-QA), whereas IL-10 associated with KMO in CB. KYNA in the CB inversely correlated with negative and general PANSS psychopathology. Although there were no changes in monoamine metabolite content in the PFC in SZ, a network interaction analysis showed associations between dopamine and methoxyhydroxyphenylglycol degradation metabolite. Direct correlations were found between general PANSS psychopathology and the serotonin degradation metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid. Interestingly, KYNA in the CB inversely correlated with 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in the PFC. Thus, this work found alterations in KP in two brain areas belonging to the cortico-cerebellar-thalamic-cortical circuit associated with SZ symptomatology, with a possible impact across areas in 5-HT degradation. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-021-02260-6

    Iron mining in Goa (India) : an interdisciplinary study

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    En aquest article es presenten breument els diferents capítols d'un treball interdisciplinari per tal d'entendre el context de prohibició de la mineria de ferro a Goa a finals del 2012 i proporcionar la informació necessària per tal d'orientar i gestionar la presa de decisions sobre l'activitat minera en un futur. Els sis primers capítols consisteixen en l'estudi del medi abiòtic, medi biòtic, fluxos de materials, aspectes socials, aspectes econòmics i finalment aspectes polítics. En canvi, en els dos últims capítols s'avaluen i es gestionen els impactes ambientals de la mineria mitjançant, per una banda, una anàlisi DPSIR i, d'altra banda, es proposen tres escenaris per integrar les diferents variables i fomentar la participació en la presa de decisions. S'ha dut a terme una extensa recerca mitjançant la recopilació de dades, entrevistes i visites a les zones d'estudi d'interès per tal d'entendre el conflicte de la mineria a Goa.En este artículo se presentan brevemente los diferentes capítulos de un trabajo interdisciplinario con el objetivo de entender el contexto de prohibición de la minería de hierro en Goa a finales del 2012 y proporcionar la información necesaria para orientar y gestionar la toma de decisiones sobre la actividad minera en un futuro. Los seis primeros capítulos consisten en el estudio del medio abiótico, medio biótico, flujos de materiales, aspectos sociales, aspectos económicos y finalmente aspectos políticos. En los dos últimos capítulos se pretende evaluar y gestionar los impactos ambientales de la minería mediante un análisis DPSIR y se proponen tres escenarios para integrar las diferentes variables y fomentar la participación en la toma de decisiones. Se ha llevado a cabo una extensa investigación mediante la recopilación de datos, entrevistas y visitas a las zonas de estudio de interés con el fin de entender el conflicto de la minería en Goa.In this article an interdisciplinary study is presented. There are different chapters that attempt to understand the ban on iron mining in Goa on the late 2012 and provide the information required to manage and aid the decisions made about iron mining in Goa. The first six chapters deal with the study of abiotic environment, biotic environment, social features, material flow, economic features and policy. The last two chapters attempt to asses and manage the environmental impacts of iron mining through the DPSIR analysis and provide different scenarios to integrated the various variables and encourage participation in the decisions making. The research has focused on gathering data, depth interviews and visiting study areas with the aim to understand the conflict of iron mining in Goa

    Interaction of glycine, lysine, proline and histidine with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine lipid bilayers: a theoretical and experimental study

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    The interaction of unblocked glycine, lysine, proline, and histidine (in their three forms, namely two tautomers and the protonated form) with a dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC) bilayer was assessed using extensive atomistic molecular dynamics simulations. Free energy profiles for the insertion of each amino acid into the lipid bilayer were computed along an appropriated reaction coordinate. The simulation results for glycine in the presence of DPPC were compared with experimental data obtained by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Experimental results predict, in good agreement with simulations, the existence of intermolecular interactions between the DPPC head groups and glycine. Atomistic simulations were further extended to investigate the free energy profiles for lysine, proline and histidine, leading to the following conclusions: (i) lysine free energy profiles computed using a united atom force-field and an analog molecule, where the side-chain is truncated at the β-carbon atom, differ significantly from each other; (ii) the free energy profiles for the three forms of histidine are all very similar, although the charged form interacts mostly with the carbonyl groups of DPPC, while the tautomers interact with the phosphate groups; and (iii) proline does not show a minimum in the free energy profile, pointing to the absence of binding to the membrane lipids. Overall, this work contributes to our general understanding of the various factors affecting the interactions between amino acids and a model cell membrane, and may spur progress in the effort to develop new molecular models to study larger biological systems.Fil: Porasso, Rodolfo Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Ale, Norma Mercedes. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Bioquimica, Quimica y Farmacia. Instituto de Quimica Fisica; ArgentinaFil: Ciocco Aloia, Facundo. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Masone, Diego Fernando. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: del Popolo, Mario Gabriel. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ben Altabef, Aida. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Bioquimica, Quimica y Farmacia. Instituto de Quimica Fisica; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Tucumán. Instituto de Quimica del Noroeste; ArgentinaFil: Gomez Zavaglia, Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones en Criotecnología de Alimentos (i); ArgentinaFil: Díaz, Sonia Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Tucuman. Facultad de Bioquimica, Quimica y Farmacia. Instituto de Quimica Fisica; ArgentinaFil: Vila, Jorge Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico San Luis. Instituto de Matemática Aplicada de San Luis; Argentina. Cornell University; Estados Unido

    Integral chain management of wildlife diseases

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    The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has caused the most prominent loss of vertebrate diversity ever recorded, which peaked in the 1980s. Recent incursion by its sister species B. salamandrivorans in Europe raised the alarm for a new wave of declines and extinctions in western Palearctic urodeles. The European Commission has responded by restricting amphibian trade. However, private amphibian collections, the main end consumers, were exempted from the European legislation. Here, we report how invasion by a released, exotic newt coincided with B. salamandrivorans invasion at over 1000 km from the nearest natural outbreak site, causing mass mortality in indigenous marbled newts (Triturus marmoratus), and posing an acute threat to the survival of nearby populations of the most critically endangered European newt species (Montseny brook newt, Calotriton arnoldi). Disease management was initiated shortly after detection in a close collaboration between policy and science and included drastic on site measures and intensive disease surveillance. Despite these efforts, the disease is considered temporarily contained but not eradicated and continued efforts will be necessary to minimize the probability of further pathogen dispersal. This precedent demonstrates the importance of tackling wildlife diseases at an early stage using an integrated approach, involving all stakeholders and closing loopholes in existing regulations

    The mitochondrial Cu+ transporter PiC2 (SLC25A3) is a target of MTF1 and contributes to the development of skeletal muscle in vitro

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    The loading of copper (Cu) into cytochrome c oxidase (COX) in mitochondria is essential for energy production in cells. Extensive studies have been performed to characterize mitochondrial cuproenzymes that contribute to the metallation of COX, such as Sco1, Sco2, and Cox17. However, limited information is available on the upstream mechanism of Cu transport and delivery to mitochondria, especially through Cu-impermeable membranes, in mammalian cells. The mitochondrial phosphate transporter SLC25A3, also known as PiC2, binds Cu+ and transports the ion through these membranes in eukaryotic cells, ultimately aiding in the metallation of COX. We used the well-established differentiation model of primary myoblasts derived from mouse satellite cells, wherein Cu availability is necessary for growth and maturation, and showed that PiC2 is a target of MTF1, and its expression is both induced during myogenesis and favored by Cu supplementation. PiC2 deletion using CRISPR/Cas9 showed that the transporter is required for proliferation and differentiation of primary myoblasts, as both processes are delayed upon PiC2 knock-out. The effects of PiC2 deletion were rescued by the addition of Cu to the growth medium, implying the deleterious effects of PiC2 knockout in myoblasts may be in part due to a failure to deliver sufficient Cu to the mitochondria, which can be compensated by other mitochondrial cuproproteins. Co-localization and co-immunoprecipitation of PiC2 and COX also suggest that PiC2 may participate upstream in the copper delivery chain into COX, as verified by in vitro Cu+-transfer experiments. These data indicate an important role for PiC2 in both the delivery of Cu to the mitochondria and COX, favoring the differentiation of primary myoblasts.Fil: McCann, Cat. Wesleyan University; Estados UnidosFil: Quinteros, Michael. Wesleyan University; Estados UnidosFil: Adelugba, Ifeoluwa. University of Massachussets; Estados UnidosFil: Morgada, Marcos Nicolás. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Castelblanco, Aida R.. Skidmore College; Estados UnidosFil: Davis, Emily J.. Skidmore College; Estados UnidosFil: Lanzirotti, Antonio. University of Chicago; Estados UnidosFil: Hainer, Sarah J.. University of Pittsburgh; Estados UnidosFil: Vila, Alejandro Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Rosario. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas. Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario; ArgentinaFil: Navea, Juan G.. Skidmore College; Estados UnidosFil: Padilla-Benavides, Teresita. Wesleyan University; Estados Unido

    Water

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    [p.4] Values at stake from the new water culture = Valors en joc des de la nova cultura de l'aigua[p.10] The role of schools in the future of water = El paper de l'àmbit escolar. el futur de l'aigua[p.13] Technocracy versus sustainability: education, ecology and management of the Baix llobregat Campus lake = Tecnocràcia vs. sostenibilitat: educació, ecologia i gestió de l'estany del Campus del Baix Llobregat[p.21] Menorca: the fresh water challenge = Menorca: el repte de l'aigua dolça[p.38] Water for people, water for life: the right to water and the role of development NGOs = Aigua per a tots, aigua per a la vida: el dret a l'aigua i el rol de les ONGD[p.43] Water you shouldn't drink...: the water crisis, sustainability and education in India = Aigua que no has de beure...: crisi dels recursos hidràulics, sostenibilitat i educació a l'Índia[p.46] Interview with Maria Rieradevall, expert in education and water = Entrevista amb Maria Rieradevall, experta en educació ambientalPeer Reviewe

    Selective targeting of collagen IV in the cancer cell microenvironment reduces tumor burden

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    Goodpasture antigen-binding protein (GPBP) is an exportable1 Ser/Thr kinase that induces collagen IV expansion and has been associated with chemoresistance following epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here we demonstrate that cancer EMT phenotypes secrete GPBP (mesenchymal GPBP) which displays a predominant multimeric oligomerization and directs the formation of previously unrecognized mesh collagen IV networks (mesenchymal collagen IV). Yeast twohybrid (YTH) system was used to identify a 260SHCIE264 motif critical for multimeric GPBP assembly which then facilitated design of a series of potential peptidomimetics. The compound 3-[4''-methoxy-3,2'-dimethyl-(1,1';4',1'')terphenyl-2''-yl]propionic acid, or T12, specifically targets mesenchymal GPBP and disturbs its multimerization without affecting kinase catalytic site. Importantly, T12 reduces growth and metastases of tumors populated by EMT phenotypes. Moreover, low-dose doxorubicin sensitizes epithelial cancer precursor cells to T12, thereby further reducing tumor load. Given that T12 targets the pathogenic mesenchymal GPBP, it does not bind significantly to normal tissues and therapeutic dosing was not associated with toxicity. T12 is a first-in-class drug candidate to treat cancer by selectively targeting the collagen IV of the tumor cell microenvironment.This work was supported by grants: PET 2006_0721, TRA2009_0026, IPT-010000-2010-45, IPT-2011-1527- 010000, RTC-2014-2415-1, PCB-010000-2010-031, PCB- 010000-2010-032, EQU-2014-1-0301 of the Plan Nacional de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación of the Spanish Government and IMGESA/06/78, IMGESA/06/79 of Conselleria d’Empresa, Universitat i Ciencia of Generalitat Valenciana to Fibrostatin, S.L. and J.S.; SAF 2001/0453, SAF 2003-09772-C03-01, SAF 2006-12520-C02-01, SAF 2009-10703 of the Plan Nacional de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación of the Spanish Government and PROMETEO/2009/065, PROMETEOII/2014/048 of Conselleria de Educaciò of Generalitat Valenciana to J.S. Additional funding came from ERESA, BioStratum Inc. and NephroGenex Inc. R&D programs, and personal funding from Vicente Saus and Carmen Cano to J.S.. Torres Quevedo program of the Spanish Government granted F.R., F-R-R., R.B., E.L-P and A.P-S.Medicin

    Effects of 1-Year Intervention with a Mediterranean Diet on Plasma Fatty Acid Composition and Metabolic Syndrome in a Population at High Cardiovascular Risk

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    BACKGROUND & AIMS: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has become an important public concern due to its increasing prevalence. An altered fatty acid composition has been associated with MetS, but the Mediterranean diet has been shown to have a protective effect. The aim of the present study was to analyze the influence of a Mediterranean dietary pattern, as assessed by the biomarkers of food supplied, on the plasma fatty acid composition and its relation with MetS after 1 year of intervention. METHODS: A total of 424 subjects were randomly selected from the PREDIMED randomized dietary trial after completing a 1-year intervention program. Participants aged 55 to 80 years and at high risk of cardiovascular disease were randomly assigned to three dietary interventions: Mediterranean diet supplemented with virgin olive oil or nuts, or a low-fat diet. RESULTS: After 1 year of intervention participants in the virgin olive oil group showed significantly increased plasma concentrations of palmitic and oleic acids, but reduced proportions of margaric, stearic, and linoleic acids. In turn, subjects in the nut group showed significantly increased levels of palmitic, linoleic, and α-linolenic acids, but reduced proportions of myristic, margaric, palmitoleic, and dihommo-γ-linoleic acids. Increases in the biomarkers of foods supplied to the Mediterranean diet groups, i.e., oleic and α-linolenic acids, were beneficially associated with the incidence, reversion and prevalence of MetS. No weight changes were observed among participants. CONCLUSIONS: The nut and olive oil diets induced a fatty acid composition that has been shown to be beneficial in the face of MetS. Therefore, a Mediterranean diet rich in fats of vegetable origin may be a useful tool for the management of MetS without the need for concerns over weight gain due to its high fat content
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