Effects of physical exercise in people with epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Studies suggest that physical exercise lead to improvements in the psychosocial dimension, associated comorbidities as well as to a higher quality of life (QoL) in people with epilepsy. However, there is a need to provide evidence-based guidelines for its prescription. Therefore, this review aimed to systematically evaluate and meta-analyze the available data on the potential effects of physical exercise training programs in people with epilepsy. Methods: Four electronic databases (MEDLINE/PubMed, PEDro, SPORTDiscuss and Scopus) were searched systematically from their inception until April 2022 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), comparative studies and non-controlled studies that provided information regarding the effects of physical exercise training programs on people with epilepsy. The studies’ methodological quality assessment was performed using the PEDro, the MINORS and the Quality Assessment Tool for Before–After Studies with No Control Group scales. For the meta-analysis, inverse variance or generic inverse variance was use to report mean difference or standardized mean difference for continuous data and their 95% confidence intervals (CI). Heterogeneity was assessed with the Chi-squared test and I2 test. Results: After removing duplicated studies, 82 results were retrieved by the literature search and 14 were eligible for full text search. Finally, 14 studies with a methodological quality ranging from good to low quality met the inclusion criteria. Totally, 331 people with epilepsy were evaluated. Significant changes between preand post-intervention results in the exercise intervention groups were observed for QoL, fitness level, psycho-affective and neurocognitive outcomes. Findings from the meta-analysis indicated that moderate exercise led to a non-significant decrease (p = 0.08, Chi-squared test) in seizure frequency (SMD 0.33 95% CI 0.04; 0.70), while a significant effect of exercise was observed on QoL with a mean improvement of 4.72 percentage points (95% CI 0.58; 8.86, p = 0.03). Conclusion: Improvements on QoL, fitness level, psycho-affective and neurocognitive outcomes can be achieved through exercise training in people with epilepsy. Altogether, the findings suggest that people with epilepsy can benefit from exercising

Deep ocean prokaryotes and fluorescent dissolved organic matter reflect the history of the water masses across the Atlantic Ocean

Organic matter is known to influence community composition and metabolism of marine prokaryotes. However, few studies have addressed this linkage in the deep ocean. We studied the relationship between fluorescent dissolved organic matter and prokaryotic community composition in meso- and bathypelagic water masses along a surface productivity gradient crossing the subtropical and tropical Atlantic Ocean. Four fluorescence components were identified, three humic-like and one protein-like. The distributions of the humic-like components were significantly explained by water mass mixing, apparent oxygen utilisation (AOU) and epipelagic productivity proxies in varying degrees, while the protein-like component was explained only by water mass mixing and epipelagic productivity. The diversity and taxonomic composition of the prokaryotic community differed between water masses: the Nitrosopumilales order dominated in water masses with high AOU and humic-like fluorescence (notably, the SubPolar Mode Water), and tended to co-occur with Marine Group II archaea, the SAR324 clade and Thiomicrospirales, while bathypelagic water masses displayed greater abundances of members of Marinimicrobia, SAR202 and SAR324. Water mass mixing regression models suggested that the distribution of some taxa (e.g., Marinimicrobia, SAR202) was dominated by mixing and selection within the water masses during ageing, while others (chiefly, Alteromonadales) were mostly influenced by local processes. Our results suggest a link between the composition of the prokaryotic community, oxygen utilisation and the signal of fluorescent dissolved organic matter, and has implications for our understanding of the processes that shape carbon cycling and prokaryotic communities in the deep ocean.3,26

Identification of Androgen Receptor Metabolic Correlome Reveals the Repression of Ceramide Kinase by Androgens

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most prevalent cancers in men. Androgen receptor signaling plays a major role in this disease, and androgen deprivation therapy is a common therapeutic strategy in recurrent disease. Sphingolipid metabolism plays a central role in cell death, survival, and therapy resistance in cancer. Ceramide kinase (CERK) catalyzes the phosphorylation of ceramide to ceramide 1-phosphate, which regulates various cellular functions including cell growth and migration. Here we show that activated androgen receptor (AR) is a repressor of CERK expression. We undertook a bioinformatics strategy using PCa transcriptomics datasets to ascertain the metabolic alterations associated with AR activity. CERK was among the most prominent negatively correlated genes in our analysis. Interestingly, we demonstrated through various experimental approaches that activated AR reduces the mRNA expression of CERK: (i) expression of CERK is predominant in cell lines with low or negative AR activity; (ii) AR agonist and antagonist repress and induce CERK mRNA expression, respectively; (iii) orchiectomy in wildtype mice or mice with PCa (harboring prostate-specific Pten deletion) results in elevated Cerk mRNA levels in prostate tissue. Mechanistically, we found that AR represses CERK through interaction with its regulatory elements and that the transcriptional repressor EZH2 contributes to this process. In summary, we identify a repressive mode of AR that influences the expression of CERK in PCa.A.G.-M. is funded by the MINECO (SAF2016-79695-R) and the department of education (IKERTALDE IT1106-16). V.T. is funded by Fundación Vasca de Innovación e Investigación Sanitarias, BIOEF (BIO15/CA/052), the AECC J.P. Bizkaia and the Basque Department of Health (2016111109) and the MINECO RTI2018-097267-B-I00. The work of A. Carracedo is supported by the Basque Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade (Elkartek), the department of education (IKERTALDE IT1106-16) and health (RIS3), the MICINN (PID2019-108787RB-I00 (FEDER/EU); Severo Ochoa Excellence Accreditation SEV-2016-0644; Excellence Networks RED2018-102769-T), the AECC (GCTRA18006CARR), La Caixa Foundation (ID 100010434), under the agreement LCF/PR/HR17/ and the European Research Council (Consolidator Grant 819242). CIBERONC was co-funded with FEDER funds and funded by ISCIII

Extracellular enzyme production in the coastal upwelling system off Peru during different upwelling scenarios: a mesocosm experiment

The Peruvian upwelling system is a highly productive ecosystem that could be altered by ongoing global changes. We carried out a mesocosm experiment off Peru, with the addition of water masses from the regional oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) collected at two different sites simulating two different upwelling scenarios. Here we focus on pelagic remineralization of organic matter by extracellular enzyme production of leucine aminopeptidase (LAP) and alkaline phosphatase activity (APA). After addition of the OMZ water, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (N) was depleted, but the standing stock of phytoplankton was relatively high even after nutrient depletion (mostly &gt;4 &micro;g chlorophyll a L-1). During the initial phase of the experiment, APA was 0.6 nmol L-1 h-1 even though the PO43- concentration was &gt;0.5 &micro;mol L-1. Initially, the dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) decreased, coinciding with an increase in PO43- concentration probably linked to the APA. The LAP activity was very high with most of the measurements in the range 200&ndash;800 nmol L-1 h-1. This enzyme degrades amino acids and these high values are probably linked to the highly productive, but N-limited coastal ecosystem. Also, the experiment took place during a rare coastal El Ni&ntilde;o event with higher-than-normal surface temperatures, which could have affected the enzyme production. Using a non-parametric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS) with a generalized additive model (GAM), we found that biogeochemical variables (e.g. nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations), phytoplankton and bacterial communities explained up to 64 % of the variability in APA. The bacterial community explained best the variability (34 %) in LAP. The high hydrolysis rates for this enzyme suggests that pelagic N remineralization supported the high standing stock of primary producers in the mesocosms after N depletion.</p

Autoimmune Diseases and COVID-19 as Risk Factors for Poor Outcomes: Data on 13,940 Hospitalized Patients from the Spanish Nationwide SEMI-COVID-19 Registry

(1) Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics and clinical course of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 and autoimmune diseases (ADs) compared to the general population. (2) Methods: We used information available in the nationwide Spanish SEMI-COVID-19 Registry, which retrospectively compiles data from the first admission of adult patients with COVID-19. We selected all patients with ADs included in the registry and compared them to the remaining patients. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality during admission, readmission, and subsequent admissions, and secondary outcomes were a composite outcome including the need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation (MV), or death, as well as in-hospital complications. (3) Results: A total of 13,940 patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were included, of which 362 (2.6%) had an AD. Patients with ADs were older, more likely to be female, and had greater comorbidity. On the multivariate logistic regression analysis, which involved the inverse propensity score weighting method, AD as a whole was not associated with an increased risk of any of the outcome variables. Habitual treatment with corticosteroids (CSs), age, Barthel Index score, and comorbidity were associated with poor outcomes. Biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) were associated with a decrease in mortality in patients with AD. (4) Conclusions: The analysis of the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry shows that ADs do not lead to a different prognosis, measured by mortality, complications, or the composite outcome. Considered individually, it seems that some diseases entail a different prognosis than that of the general population. Immunosuppressive/immunoregulatory treatments (IST) prior to admission had variable effects

Methionine Cycle Rewiring by Targeting miR-873-5p Modulates Ammonia Metabolism to Protect the Liver from Acetaminophen

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) development is commonly associated with acetaminophen (APAP) overdose, where glutathione scavenging leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and hepatocyte death. DILI is a severe disorder without effective late-stage treatment, since N-acetyl cysteine must be administered 8 h after overdose to be efficient. Ammonia homeostasis is altered during liver diseases and, during DILI, it is accompanied by decreased glycine N-methyltransferase (GNMT) expression and S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet) levels that suggest a reduced methionine cycle. Anti-miR-873-5p treatment prevents cell death in primary hepatocytes and the appearance of necrotic areas in liver from APAP-administered mice. In our study, we demonstrate a GNMT and methionine cycle activity restoration by the anti-miR-873-5p that reduces mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. The lack of hyperammoniemia caused by the therapy results in a decreased urea cycle, enhancing the synthesis of polyamines from ornithine and AdoMet and thus impacting the observed recovery of mitochondria and hepatocyte proliferation for regeneration. In summary, anti-miR-873-5p appears to be an effective therapy against APAP-induced liver injury, where the restoration of GNMT and the methionine cycle may prevent mitochondrial dysfunction while activating hepatocyte proliferative response.We thank Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Programa Retos-Colaboración RTC2019- 007125-1 (for J.S. and M.L.M.-C.); Instituto de Salud Carlos III: Proyectos de Investigación en Salud DTS20/00138 (for J.S. and M.L.M.-C.), PI20/00690 (for R.J.) and PT20/000127 (for M.I.L.); CIBERehd: EHD21TRF01/2022 (to M.L.M.-C.); Departamento de Industria del Gobierno Vasco (for M.L.M.-C.); Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades MICINN: PID2020-117116RB-I00 and RTI2018- 096759-1-100 integrado en el Plan Estatal de Investigación Cientifica y Técnica y Innovación, cofinanciado con Fondos FEDER (for M.L.M.-C. and T.C.D., respectively); BIOEF (Basque Foundation for Innovation and Health Research); Asociación Española contra el Cáncer (AECC) (to M.L.M.-C., T.C.D.); AECC: GCTRA18006CARR (to A.C.); Fundación Científica de la Asociación Española Contra el Cancer (AECC Scientific Foundation) Rare Tumor Calls 2017 (for M.L.M.); La Caixa Foundation Program (for M.L.M.); BFU2015-70067-REDC, BFU2016-77408-R and BES-2017-080435 (MINECO/FEDER, UE); Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y universidades PID2019-108787RB-100 (to A.C.), PID2019- 109055RB-I00 (L.A.M.-C.), PID2020-117941RB-100 (to F.J.C.); Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness Grants BFU2013-47531-R and BFU2016-77408-R (L.A.M.-C.) and the FIGHT-CNNM2 project from the EJP RD Joint Transnational Call (JTC2019) (Ref. AC19/00073) (for L.A.M.-C.); Comunidad de Madrid: EXOHEP-CM S2017/BMD-3727 and NanoLiver-CM Y2018/NMT-4949 co-funded by European Structural and Investment Fund and COST Action CA17112 (to F.J.C.); Vencer el Cáncer Foundation (to A.C.); European Research Council: Consolidator Grant 819242 (to A.C.); CIBERONC and CIBERehd were funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III and Cofunded by FEDER funds. Partial funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málag

Proposta metodológica para exame, registo e representação gráfica dos brocados aplicados

La falta de una fórmula común entre los profesionales y estudiosos que trabajan con los brocados aplicados ha llevado al grupo de trabajo europeo de especialistas en escultura policromada a definir un procedimiento para el examen, registro y representación gráfica que permita profundizar en el estudio de esta delicada y frágil técnica a través de una información normalizada. Este trabajo recoge los aspectos del brocado aplicado que han de ser examinados; cómo éstos pueden ser recogidos y registrados atendiendo a las condiciones y estrategias más inocuas para la obra y propone, por último, un procedimiento para su representación gráfica.The lack of a common formula among professionals and scholars for the study of applied brocades has led the European working group of specialists in polychrome sculpture to define a standardized procedure for examination, registration and graphic representation that allows a deeper understanding of this delicate and fragile technique. This work gathers the aspects of the applied brocade that have to be examined; how these can be collected and registered according to the most harmless conditions and strategies and proposes a procedure for their graphic representation.A falta de uma fórmula comum entre os profissionais e estudiosos que trabalham com brocados aplicados levou o grupo de trabalho europeu de especialistas em escultura policromada a definir um procedimento de exame, registo e representação gráfica que permita aprofundar o estudo desta delicada e frágil técnica através de uma informação normalizada. Este trabalho reúne os aspetos do brocado aplicado que devem ser examinados; como estes podem ser recolhidos e registados de acordo com as condições e estratégias mais inócuas para a obra e propõe, por fim, um procedimento para a sua representação gráfica

Puntos de encuentro. Investigaciones de posgrado en proceso (II)

Puntos de encuentro. Investigaciones de posgrado en proceso (II) es la continuación del proyecto de innovación docente “Puntos de encuentro. Investigaciones de posgrado en proceso” desarrollado durante el curso 2017-18. Dicho proyecto trataba de generar una comunidad de aprendizaje a través de encuentros periódicos, seminarios y actividades comunes entre directores de tesis, profesores y doctorandos. El desarrollo del mismo ha puesto de manifiesto la necesidad de continuar las dinámicas instauradas, así como la articulación de otros posibles modos de ensayar metodologías colaborativas, que son la base de la propuesta. Teniendo en cuenta los resultados obtenidos durante el curso 2017-18 el desarrollo de este proyecto ha estado condicionado por el interés de mantener y propiciar la comunidad de aprendizaje generada. Por otra parte, ha sido fundamental la experimentación en procesos de tutorización entre pares y colectivos, en un periodo formativo definido, en el campo de estudio propuesto por procesos de investigación de carácter individual. El desarrollo de las actividades desarrolladas ha puesto en práctica metodologías colaborativas capaces de ensayar otras aproximaciones a procesos de aprendizaje para las nuevas generaciones de estudiantes. El equipo de trabajo ha estado compuesto por los miembros que ya habían participado en el anterior proyecto (22 doctorandos y 10 docentes) y por nuevas incorporaciones que demostraron interés en formar parte del grupo (28 doctorandos y 14 docentes). En este sentido, cabe destacar que la comunidad no únicamente se ha mantenido sino que se ha visto incrementada. Al igual que el curso anterior el desarrollo de las investigaciones en curso se inscriben en distintos campos de conocimiento afines lo que ha permitido seguir articulando espacios transdisciplinares de encuentro que dieran lugar al debate y al diálogo, así como la creación de redes propiciadas por las afinidades entre distintos miembros del grupo. Esta memoria recoge la valoración de los resultados obtenidos haciendo mención a los objetivos alcanzados, a la metodología empleada, al grupo de trabajo adscrito al proyecto y a las actividades desarrolladas a lo largo del curso 2018-19. Presenta a modo de anexo una serie de imágenes de los encuentros realizados y los documentos de difusión del seminario de investigación

Reseña libro: Made in Malines. Les Statuettes Malinoises Ou Poupees de Malines de 1500-1540 : Etude Materielle Et Typologique

Made in Malines. Les Statuettes Malinoises Ou Poupees de Malines de 1500-1540 : Etude Materielle Et TypologiqueAutor/es: Fanny Cayron, Delphine SteyaertEditado por: Institut royal du Patrimoine artistique. Bruxelles 2019ISBN 978-2-930054-37-7Dimensiones: 29,30 x 22 cmPáginas: 231Idioma: Francés

Made in Malines. Les Statuettes Malinoises Ou Poupees de Malines de 1500-1540 : Etude Materielle Et Typologique

Made in Malines. Les Statuettes Malinoises Ou Poupees de Malines de 1500-1540 : Etude Materielle Et Typologique Autor/es: Fanny Cayron, Delphine Steyaert Editado por: Institut royal du Patrimoine artistique. Bruxelles 2019 ISBN 978-2-930054-37-7 Dimensiones: 29,30 x 22 cm Páginas: 231 Idioma: Francé