The role of wingless in the development of the proximal wing hinge of Drosophila

Abstract We have examined the role of Wingless (Wg) in the development of the proximal portion of the Drosophila wing hinge. We find that in the dorsal hinge, ectopic expression of wg causes duplication of Axillary Sclerite 3 (AS3) at the expense of Axillary Sclerite 1 (AS1), Axillary Sclerite 2 (AS2) and the Unnamed Plate (UP). Attenuation or removal of Wg activity causes shrinkage or deletion of AS3. Therefore Wg is necessary to establish the development of AS3 in the dorsal hinge. In the ventral hinge, ectopic expression of Wg removes the Axillary Pouch (AP) and attenuation or removal of Wg activity in the ventral hinge duplicates the AP. Therefore, Wg is necessary to restrict the formation of the AP to its particular location in the ventral hinge. Thus Wg is an important signaling molecule in the development of the proximal dorsal and ventral wing hinge

A randomised trial of a medium-chain TAG diet as treatment for dogs with idiopathic epilepsy

Despite appropriate antiepileptic drug treatment, approximately one-third of humans and dogs with epilepsy continue experiencing seizures, emphasising the importance for new treatment strategies to improve the quality of life of people or dogs with epilepsy. A 6-month prospective, randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled cross-over dietary trial was designed to compare a ketogenic medium-chain TAG diet (MCTD) with a standardised placebo diet in chronically antiepileptic drug-treated dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. Dogs were fed either MCTD or placebo diet for 3 months followed by a subsequent respective switch of diet for a further 3 months. Seizure frequency, clinical and laboratory data were collected and evaluated for twenty-one dogs completing the study. Seizure frequency was significantly lower when dogs were fed the MCTD (2·31/month, 0–9·89/month) in comparison with the placebo diet (2·67/month, 0·33–22·92/month, P=0·020); three dogs achieved seizure freedom, seven additional dogs had ≥50 % reduction in seizure frequency, five had an overall <50 % reduction in seizures (38·87 %, 35·68–43·27 %) and six showed no response. Seizure day frequency were also significantly lower when dogs were fed the MCTD (1·63/month, 0–7·58/month) in comparison with the placebo diet (1·69/month, 0·33–13·82/month, P=0·022). Consumption of the MCTD also resulted in significant elevation of blood β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations in comparison with placebo diet (0·041 (sd 0·004) v. 0·031 (sd 0·016) mmol/l, P=0·028). There were no significant changes in serum concentrations of glucose (P=0·903), phenobarbital (P=0·422), potassium bromide (P=0·404) and weight (P=0·300) between diet groups. In conclusion, the data show antiepileptic properties associated with ketogenic diets and provide evidence for the efficacy of the MCTD used in this study as a therapeutic option for epilepsy treatment

Influencia del PVC reciclado en la resistencia a compresión de concreto f'c 175 kg/cm2 en veredas de Cajamarca Perú en el año 2021

La presente tesis tiene como objetivo determinar la influencia del plástico reciclado PVC en la resistencia a la compresión en la elaboración de concreto f’c=175 kg/cm2 en veredas de Cajamarca Perú en el año 2021. Para este estudio se utilizó agregados de la cantera “La Victoria”, cemento Portland Tipo I, PVC reciclado triturado en cantidades de 6%, 12% y 18% en adición al agregado grueso; se inició realizando ensayos en laboratorios de concreto, determinando que cumplan con las normas establecidas. Seguidamente se realizó el diseño de mezcla para un f´c= 175 kg/cm2 utilizando el método ACI para tres periodos de curado 7, 14 y 28 días de edad. Los resultados obtenidos fueron que a los 7 días la probeta patrón la resistencia promedio alcanzada fue 183.49kg/cm2, adicionando 6%PVC 109.60kg/cm2, adicionando 12% PVC 97.23 kg/cm2 y con 18% de PVC 82.43 kg/cm2. Para un curado de 14 días la resistencia promedio alcanzada para la probeta patrón fue 261.66 kg/cm2; adicionando 6% de PVC fue 199.61 kg/cm2, con 12% de PVC 188.72 kg/cm2 y con 18% de PVC 176.61 kg/cm2. Asimismo para los 28 días de curado, para la probeta patrón su resistencia promedio fue 300.33 kg/cm2, adicionando 6% de PVC 221.58 kg/cm2, adiiconado 12% de PVC la resistencia fue 213.40 kg/cm2 y para 18% de PVC fue 183.91 kg/cm2. Concluyendo a los 28 días que al adicionar con 6% PVC reciclado respecto a la probeta patrón disminuye la resistencia en 26.22%, al adicionar 12% de PVC disminuye 29% y con 18% de PVC varía negativamente en 38.76%. sin embargo está sobre la resistencia diseñada (175 kg/cm2)

Lobster Attack Induces Sensitization In the Sea Hare, Aplysia Californica

Studies of the neural mechanisms of learning, especially of sensitization, have benefitted from extensive research on the model species, Aplysia californica (hereafter Aplysia). Considering this volume of literature on mechanisms, it is surprising that our understanding of the ecological context of sensitization in Aplysia is completely lacking. Indeed, the widespread use of strong electric shock to induce sensitization (an enhancement of withdrawal reflexes following noxious stimulation) is completely unnatural and leaves unanswered the question of whether this simple form of learning has any ecological relevance. We hypothesized that sublethal attack by a co-occurring predator, the spiny lobster, Panulirus interruptus, might be a natural sensitizing stimulus. We tested reflex withdrawal of the tail-mantle and head of individual Aplysia before and after attack by lobsters. Lobster attack significantly increased the amplitude of both reflexes, with a temporal onset that closely matched that observed with electric shock. This result suggests that electric shock may indeed mimic at least one naturally occurring sensitizing stimulus, suggesting, for the first time, an ecological context for this well studied form of learning

The challenge of measuring intra-individual change in fatigue during cancer treatment

Evaluate how well three different patient-reported outcomes (PROs) measure individual change

Manejo laparoscópico de los quistes hepáticos simples

Aim: To describe the clinical features, surgical, and long-term follow-up outcomes of patients with symptomatic simple hepatic cysts who underwent laparoscopic deroofing or fenestration. Materials and methods: Retrospective and descriptive series of patients with symptomatic simple hepatic cysts treated with laparoscopic deroofing or fenestration between January 2013 to December 2021. Results: Eight patients were included, seven (88%) were females and one (12%) male. The average age was 57 years (range 45–86 years). Pain was the most frequent symptom in seven patients (88%), followed by early fullness in one patient (12%). The average size of the dominant cyst was 12.8 cm (range 6–20 cm) and liver segment IV was the most frequently involved. The length of hospital stay was 2 days. One patient (12%) had major morbidity and required reoperation. There was not postoperative mortality. One patient developed symptomatic recurrence ten months after the first surgery and required a new laparoscopic deroofing. Conclusions: L paroscopic fenestration or deroofing is a safe and effective procedure for the treatment of symptomatic simple hepatic cysts.Objetivo: Describir las características clínicas, resultados quirúrgicos y seguimiento a largo plazo de los pacientes con diagnóstico de quiste hepático simple, sintomáticos y tratados con fenestración o destechamiento laparoscópico. Materiales y métodos: Serie retrospectiva y descriptiva de quistes hepáticos simples tratados con fenestración o destechamiento laparoscópico, desde enero de 2013 a diciembre de 2021. Resultados: Se incluyeron ocho pacientes sintomáticos, siete (88%) de sexo femenino y un varón (12%). La mediana de la edad fue 57 años (rango 45–86 años). El dolor fue el síntoma más frecuente en siete pacientes (88%), seguido de la llenura precoz en un paciente (12%). La mediana del diámetro mayor del quiste dominante fue de 12.8 cm (rango de 6–20 cm) y el segmento hepático más frecuentemente afectado fue el VI, en 4 pacientes (50%). La mediana de la estancia hospitalaria fue de 2 días. Un paciente (12%) presentó complicación mayor, necesitando una re-operación en el post operatorio inmediato. No hubo mortalidad post operatoria. Un paciente (12%) hizo recurrencia sintomática a los diez meses de la primera cirugía y requirió un nuevo destechamiento laparoscópico. Conclusiones: La fenestración o destechamiento por laparoscopía para el tratamiento de los quistes hepáticos simples os es un procedimiento seguro y efectivo

Validation of the PROMIS physical function measures in a diverse US population-based cohort of cancer patients

To evaluate the validity of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Physical Function measures in a diverse, population-based cancer sample

The legacy of ZikaPLAN: a transnational research consortium addressing Zika

Global health research partnerships with institutions from high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries are one of the European Commission's flagship programmes. Here, we report on the ZikaPLAN research consortium funded by the European Commission with the primary goal of addressing the urgent knowledge gaps related to the Zika epidemic and the secondary goal of building up research capacity and establishing a Latin American-European research network for emerging vector-borne diseases. Five years of collaborative research effort have led to a better understanding of the full clinical spectrum of congenital Zika syndrome in children and the neurological complications of Zika virus infections in adults and helped explore the origins and trajectory of Zika virus transmission. Individual-level data from ZikaPLAN`s cohort studies were shared for joint analyses as part of the Zika Brazilian Cohorts Consortium, the European Commission-funded Zika Cohorts Vertical Transmission Study Group, and the World Health Organization-led Zika Virus Individual Participant Data Consortium. Furthermore, the legacy of ZikaPLAN includes new tools for birth defect surveillance and a Latin American birth defect surveillance network, an enhanced Guillain-Barre Syndrome research collaboration, a de-centralized evaluation platform for diagnostic assays, a global vector control hub, and the REDe network with freely available training resources to enhance global research capacity in vector-borne diseases