Progastrin Represses the Alternative Activation of Human Macrophages and Modulates Their Influence on Colon Cancer Epithelial Cells

Macrophage infiltration is a negative prognostic factor for most cancers but gastrointestinal tumors seem to be an exception. The effect of macrophages on cancer progression depends on their phenotype, which may vary between M1 (pro-inflammatory, defensive) to M2 (tolerogenic, pro-tumoral). Gastrointestinal cancers often become an ectopic source of gastrins and macrophages present receptors for these peptides. The aim of the present study is to analyze whether gastrins can affect the pattern of macrophage infiltration in colorectal tumors. We have evaluated the relationship between gastrin expression and the pattern of macrophage infiltration in samples from colorectal cancer and the influence of these peptides on the phenotype of macrophages differentiated from human peripheral monocytes in vitro. The total number of macrophages (CD68+ cells) was similar in tumoral and normal surrounding tissue, but the number of M2 macrophages (CD206+ cells) was significantly higher in the tumor. However, the number of these tumor-associated M2 macrophages correlated negatively with the immunoreactivity for gastrin peptides in tumor epithelial cells. Macrophages differentiated from human peripheral monocytes in the presence of progastrin showed lower levels of M2-markers (CD206, IL10) with normal amounts of M1-markers (CD86, IL12). Progastrin induced similar effects in mature macrophages treated with IL4 to obtain a M2-phenotype or with LPS plus IFNγ to generate M1-macrophages. Macrophages differentiated in the presence of progastrin presented a reduced expression of Wnt ligands and decreased the number and increased cell death of co-cultured colorectal cancer epithelial cells. Our results suggest that progastrin inhibits the acquisition of a M2-phenotype in human macrophages. This effect exerted on tumor associated macrophages may modulate cancer progression and should be taken into account when analyzing the therapeutic value of gastrin immunoneutralization

M2 Macrophages Activate WNT Signaling Pathway in Epithelial Cells: Relevance in Ulcerative Colitis

Macrophages, which exhibit great plasticity, are important components of the inflamed tissue and constitute an essential element of regenerative responses. Epithelial Wnt signalling is involved in mechanisms of proliferation and differentiation and expression of Wnt ligands by macrophages has been reported. We aim to determine whether the macrophage phenotype determines the expression of Wnt ligands, the influence of the macrophage phenotype in epithelial activation of Wnt signalling and the relevance of this pathway in ulcerative colitis. Human monocyte-derived macrophages and U937-derived macrophages were polarized towards M1 or M2 phenotypes and the expression of Wnt1 and Wnt3a was analyzed by qPCR. The effects of macrophages and the role of Wnt1 were analyzed on the expression of β-catenin, Tcf-4, c-Myc and markers of cell differentiation in a co-culture system with Caco-2 cells. Immunohistochemical staining of CD68, CD206, CD86, Wnt1, β-catenin and c-Myc were evaluated in the damaged and non-damaged mucosa of patients with UC. We also determined the mRNA expression of Lgr5 and c-Myc by qPCR and protein levels of β-catenin by western blot. Results show that M2, and no M1, activated the Wnt signaling pathway in co-culture epithelial cells through Wnt1 which impaired enterocyte differentiation. A significant increase in the number of CD206+ macrophages was observed in the damaged mucosa of chronic vs newly diagnosed patients. CD206 immunostaining co-localized with Wnt1 in the mucosa and these cells were associated with activation of canonical Wnt signalling pathway in epithelial cells and diminution of alkaline phosphatase activity. Our results show that M2 macrophages, and not M1, activate Wnt signalling pathways and decrease enterocyte differentiation in co-cultured epithelial cells. In the mucosa of UC patients, M2 macrophages increase with chronicity and are associated with activation of epithelial Wnt signalling and diminution in enterocyte differentiation

Global data on earthworm abundance, biomass, diversity and corresponding environmental properties

Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).Earthworms are an important soil taxon as ecosystem engineers, providing a variety of crucial ecosystem functions and services. Little is known about their diversity and distribution at large spatial scales, despite the availability of considerable amounts of local-scale data. Earthworm diversity data, obtained from the primary literature or provided directly by authors, were collated with information on site locations, including coordinates, habitat cover, and soil properties. Datasets were required, at a minimum, to include abundance or biomass of earthworms at a site. Where possible, site-level species lists were included, as well as the abundance and biomass of individual species and ecological groups. This global dataset contains 10,840 sites, with 184 species, from 60 countries and all continents except Antarctica. The data were obtained from 182 published articles, published between 1973 and 2017, and 17 unpublished datasets. Amalgamating data into a single global database will assist researchers in investigating and answering a wide variety of pressing questions, for example, jointly assessing aboveground and belowground biodiversity distributions and drivers of biodiversity change.Peer reviewe

Global data on earthworm abundance, biomass, diversity and corresponding environmental properties

Earthworms are an important soil taxon as ecosystem engineers, providing a variety of crucial ecosystem functions and services. Little is known about their diversity and distribution at large spatial scales, despite the availability of considerable amounts of local-scale data. Earthworm diversity data, obtained from the primary literature or provided directly by authors, were collated with information on site locations, including coordinates, habitat cover, and soil properties. Datasets were required, at a minimum, to include abundance or biomass of earthworms at a site. Where possible, site-level species lists were included, as well as the abundance and biomass of individual species and ecological groups. This global dataset contains 10,840 sites, with 184 species, from 60 countries and all continents except Antarctica. The data were obtained from 182 published articles, published between 1973 and 2017, and 17 unpublished datasets. Amalgamating data into a single global database will assist researchers in investigating and answering a wide variety of pressing questions, for example, jointly assessing aboveground and belowground biodiversity distributions and drivers of biodiversity change

Programa de intervención para mejorar la prevención secundaria del infarto de miocardio: resultados del estudio PRESENTE (PREvención SEcuNdaria TEmprana)

Introducción y objetivos. La prevención secundaria del infarto de miocardio no se realiza de forma adecuada. En España, los estudios PREVESE aportaron datos sobre este problema. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido comprobar el efecto de un sencillo programa de intervención realizado durante la estancia hospitalaria. Pacientes y método. Se ha incluido, al alta hospitalaria, a un total de 4.174 pacientes postinfarto de 110 hospitales, con una edad media de 63,7 años y un 73% de varones, a los que se ha determinado un perfil lipídico en las primeras 24 h del ingreso y se ha realizado una entrevista informativa, acompañados de sus familiares, con entrega de material educativo; posteriormente fueron revisados a los 6 meses. Resultados. A los 6 meses se revisó al 82,9% de los pacientes y el 10% no pudo ser localizado. Se observó una mejoría de la presión arterial, el peso y el índice de masa corporal medios de la muestra, así como de los estilos de vida. Al alta hospitalaria, el 87% recibió tratamiento con estatinas, el 59,4% con bloqueadores beta, el 51,8% con inhibidores o bloqueadores de la angiotensina y el 94,1% con antiagregantes plaquetarios, prescripciones que se mantuvieron a los 6 meses. Los valores lipídicos mejoraron sustancialmente. Conclusiones. Con la instauración de un programa sencillo de intervención dirigido a los pacientes y a sus familiares y la realización de un lipidograma durante las primeras 24 h del ingreso se han mejorado las medidas de prevención secundaria al alta y su mantenimiento a los 6 meses. Se ha constatado una buena aceptación del programa por parte de los pacientes

Food supply, prey selection and estimated consumption of wintering Eurasian Curlews feeding on earthworms at coastal pastures

Coastal pastures provide supplementary foraging habitats for migratory shorebirds that rely on intertidal areas outside the breeding season. However, their role as foraging grounds for shorebirds is poorly understood. Here, we assessed the food supply, prey size selection, foraging behaviour and estimated consumption of a migratory shorebird, the near-threatened Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata, at two temperate coastal pastures in northern Spain. Wintering Curlews only fed on earthworms (Oligochaeta), the main food available at coastal pastures. Average density and biomass were 102.3 ± 22.2 earthworms/m2 and 5.8 ± 1.3 g AFDW/m2, respectively, and only the density of surface living (i.e. epigeic) earthworms declined at the end of the winter. This food supply was comparatively high with respect to the biomass available in other man-made coastal habitats used by shorebirds wintering in temperate regions. Unexpectedly, the density of Curlews was higher at the pasture with the lowest food availability, though it declined significantly throughout the season at this site. Interestingly, Curlews preferentially selected the smallest size class (<32.5 mm) of epigeic earthworms, implying that a trade-off between energy intake rate and other fitness components could exist. Estimated consumption by Curlews was consistent with observed reductions in earthworm densities at both sites, thus reflecting a robust interaction between Curlews and epigeic earthworms at these agroecosystems throughout the non-breeding season. Our results highlight the potential role of earthworm communities at coastal pastures as food supply for declining migratory shorebirds

Correspondence of Myocardial Strain with Torrent-Guasp’s Theory. Contributions of New Echocardiographic Parameters

Background: Strain, assessed by speckle tracking echocardiography, may be used to evaluate left ventricular mechanics and could establish reference values together with new indices of myocardial function. Objective: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the correspondence of echocardiographic strain values with TorrentGuasp’s single band theory. Methods: A prospective observational study was conducted in 54 healthy volunteers. The three apical projections were used to determine longitudinal strain. Radial strain, circumferential strain and rotation were assessed in transverse planes at the level of the mitral valve, the papillary muscles and the apex. Results: Mean age was 52±10.1 years. Global left ventricular longitudinal strain was -20.8%±2.4%. Postsystolic longitudinal strain mainly affects interventricular septal segments. Radial strain was 36.5%±10.7%, with basal values prevailing over apical ones, extending its duration to the early phase of diastole. Circumferential strain was -20.8%±3.8%, with larger values towards the apex. Twist was 18.4°±6°, torsion 2.2°±0.8°/cm and the torsion index (twist/mitral annular plane systolic excursion) 13.1°±4.4°/cm. The combined strain index includes the “strain product” (-387°±147° × %), and the “strain index” (-0.9°±0.3°/%) calculated as twist × longitudinal strain and twist/longitudinal strain, respectively. Conclusions: New strain parameters may be useful in the study of ventricular mechanics. The anatomical arrangement described by the myocardial band theory is echocardiographically supported by the presence of larger radial strain at the basal-medial level (prevalence of transverse fibers), while the variable arrangement of oblique fibers are responsible for longitudinal strain, circumferential strain and ventricular torsion.Introducción y objetivos. El Strain, o Deformación, evaluado mediante ecocardiografía Speckle Tracking, puede utilizarse para estudiar la mecánica del ventrículo izquierdo. El objetivo fue demostrar la correspondencia de los valores ecocardiográficos con la teoría de la banda única de Torrent-Guasp. Métodos. Estudio prospectivo observacional de 54 voluntarios sanos. Se utilizaron las tres proyecciones apicales para determinar el Strain Longitudinal (SL). El Strain Radial (SR), Circunferencial (SC) y la rotación se determinaron en planos transversales a nivel de válvula mitral, músculos papilares, y ápex. Resultados. Edad media 52,5±10,1 años. El SL global del ventrículo izquierdo fue -20,8±2,4%. Una Deformación Postsistólica en el SL afecta fundamentalmente a segmentos del septo interventricular. El SR fue 36,5±10,7%, con valores basales predominantes sobre los apicales, extendiendo su duración hasta la protodiástole. El SC fue -20,8±3,8%, con valores mayores hacia el ápex. El Giro o Twist fue 18,4±6º, la Torsión 2,2±0,8º/cm y el Índice de Torsión (Giro/excursión sistólica del anillo mitral o MAPSE) 13,1±4,4º/cm. El Índice Combinado de Deformación incluye el “Producto de Deformación” (-387±147 º x %), y el “Índice de Deformación” (-0,9±0,3 º/%) calculados como Giro x SL y Giro/SL, respectivamente. Conclusión: Nuevos parámetros de Deformación pueden ser útiles en el estudio de la mecánica ventricular. La disposición anatómica descrita por la teoría de la banda miocárdica se ve apoyada ecocardiográficamente por la presencia de mayor Strain Radial a nivel basal-medial (predominio de fibras transversales), mientras que la disposición variable de las fibras oblicuas son las responsables del Strain Longitudinal, Circunferencial y Torsión ventricular