Evaluation of a community-based trapping program to collect simulium ochraceum sensu lato for verification of onchocerciasis elimination

Background: Collection of the black fly vectors of onchocerciasis worldwide relies upon human landing collections. Recent studies have suggested that the Esperanza Window Trap baited with a human scent lure and CO2 had the potential to replace human hosts for the collection of Simulium ochraceum sensu lato in Southern Chiapas focus, Mexico. The feasibility of utilizing these traps in a community-based approach for the collection of S. ochraceum s.l. was evaluated. Methodology/Principal findings: Local residents of a formerly endemic extra-sentinel community for onchocerciasis were trained to carry out collections using the traps. The residents operated the traps over a 60-day period and conducted parallel landing collections, resulting in a total of 28,397 vector black flies collected. None of the flies collected were found to contain parasite DNA when tested by a polymerase chain reaction assay targeting a parasite specific sequence, resulting in a point estimate of infection in the vectors of zero, with an upper bound of the 95% confidence interval 0.13 per 2,000. This meets the accepted criterion for demonstrating an interruption of parasite transmission. Conclusions/Significance: These data demonstrate that Esperanza Window Traps may be effectively operated by minimally trained residents of formerly endemic communities, resulting in the collection of sufficient numbers of flies to verify transmission interruption of onchocerciasis. The traps represent a viable alternative to using humans as hosts for the collection of vector flies as part of the verification of onchocerciasis elimination

IAA : Información y actualidad astronómica (62) (2020)

REPORTAJES : El ecuador del proyecto Severo Ochoa del IAA.-- Shapley, Curtis y el Gran Debate.--Deconstrucción. El Observatorio de Calar Alto.-- El Moby Dick de ... Olga Muñoz (IAA-CSIC).--Historias ... ¿Por qué no hemos vuelto a la Luna.-- Actualidad.-- Sala limpia.Este número ha contado con el apoyo económico de la Agencia Estatal de Investigación (Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades) a través de la acreditación de Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa para el Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (SEV-2017-0709). La página web de esta revista ha sido financiada por la Sociedad Española de Astronomía (SEA).Peer reviewe

Unexplored olive cultivars from the Valencian Community (Spain): some chemical characteristics as a valorization strategy

[EN] The olive processing industry has till date been dominated by a small group of cultivars, leading to the possibility of some olive cultivars becoming extinct in the near future. In this study, we determined the composition of some chemical components in the olive oils from 31 minor olive cultivars of the Valencian Community. Our main aim was to identify suitable cultivars, which could produce differentiated olive oils, thus aiming towards their valorization. The average oil content of minor olive cultivars was found to be good, with some of them reporting approximately 60% (dry basis). On average, the total phenolic content was 229mg kg(-1), with cv. Mas Blanc reporting the highest content (570mg kg(-1)). Among the various tocopherols found in olives, -tocopherol was the main constituent, with a maximum concentration of 290.6mg kg(-1). Linoleic acid was the main polyunsaturated fatty acid and varied between 3.4% (cv. Del Pomet) and 16.9% (cv. Blanqueta Enguera). Special attention needs to be paid to the composition of sterols, since some olive oils exceeded the limits established for some sterols by the current European legislation. Some of the cultivars studied were highly productive, and originated differentiated olive oils with a rich composition of antioxidants and essential fatty acids. In some cases, these beneficial compounds were higher than those of commercial oils obtained from the most common cultivars worldwide. These results could contribute to the commercial exploitation of some of the studied cultivars.Salazar-García, DC.; Malheiro, R.; Pereira, JA.; López- Cortés, I. (2019). Unexplored olive cultivars from the Valencian Community (Spain): some chemical characteristics as a valorization strategy. European Food Research and Technology. 245(2):325-334. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00217-018-3164-7S3253342452Avidan B, Birger R, Abed-El-Hadi F, Salmon O, Hekster O, Friedman Y, Lavee S (2011) Adopting vigorous olive cultivars to high density hedgerow cultivation by soil applications of uniconazole, a gibberellin synthesis inhibitor. Span J Agric Res 9:821–830Barranco D, Rallo L (2000) Olive cultivars in Spain. HortTechnology 10:107–110Navero DB (2000) World catalogue of olive varieties. International Olive Oil Council, MadridBorges TH, Pereira JA, Cabrera-Vique C, Lara L, Oliveira AF, Seiquer I (2017) Characterization of Arbequina virgin olive oils produced in different regions of Brazil and Spain: physicochemical properties, oxidative stability and fatty acid profile. Food Chem 215:454–462Laroussi-Mezghani S, Le Dréau Y, Molinet J, Hammami M, Grati-Kamoun N, Artaud J (2016) Biodiversity of Tunisian virgin olive oils: varietal origin classification according to their minor compounds. Eur Food Res Technol 242:1087–1099Kosma I, Vavoura M, Kontakos S, Karabagias I, Kontominas M, Apostolos K, Badeka A (2016) Characterization and classification of extra virgin olive oil from five less well-known Greek olive cultivars. J Am Oil Chem Soc 93:837–848Reboredo-Rodríguez P, González-Barreiro C, Cancho-Grande B, Valli E, Bendini A, Toschi TG, Simal-Gandara J (2016) Characterization of virgin olive oils produced with autochthonous Galician varieties. Food Chem 212:162–171Kyçyk O, Aguillera MP, Gaforio JJ, Jiménez A, Beltrán G (2016) Sterol composition of virgin olive oil of forty-three olive cultivars from the World Collection Olive Germplasm Bank of Cordoba. J Sci Food Agric 96:4143–4150Ruiz-Domínguez ML, Raigón MD, Prohens J (2013) Diversity for olive oil composition in a collection of varieties from the region of Valencia (Spain). Food Res Int 54:1941–1949Mateos R, Dominguez MM, Espartero JL, Cert A (2003) Antioxidant effect of phenolic compounds, α-tocopherol, and other minor components in virgin olive oil. J Agric Food Chem 51:7170–7175Hermoso M, Uceda M, García A, Morales B, Frias ML, Fernández A (1991) Elaboración de Aceite de Calidad. Consejeria de Agricultura y Pesca, SevillaMalheiro R, Rodrigues N, Bissaro C, Leimann F, Casal S, Ramalhosa E, Pereira JA (2017) Improvement of sensorial and volatile profiles of olive oil by addition of olive leaves. Eur J Lipid Sci Technol 119:1700177Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2016/2095 amending Regulation (EEC) No 2568/91 on the characteristics of olive oil and olive-residue oil and on the relevant methods of analysis. Off J Eur Union L:326Slover HT, Thompson RH, Merola GV (1983) Tocopherol and sterol determination by capillary gas chromatography. J Am Oil Chem Soc 60:1524–1528Sousa A, Casal S, Malheiro R, Lamas H, Bento A, Pereira JA (2015) Aromatized olive oil: Influence of flavouring in quality, composition, stability, antioxidants, and antiradical potential. LWT Food Sci Technol 60:22–28Limón P, Malheiro R, Casal S, Acién-Fernández FG, Fernández-Sevilla JM, Rodrigues N, Cruz R, Bermejo R, Pereira JA (2015) Improvement of stability and carotenoids fraction of virgin olive oil by addition of microalgae Scenedesmus almeriensis extracts. Food Chem 175:203–211Motilva MJ, Tovar MJ, Romero MP, Alegre S, Girona J (2000) Influence of regulated deficit irrigation strategies applied to olive trees (Arbequina cultivar) on oil yield and oil composition during the fruit ripening period. J Sci Food Agric 80:2037–2043Palese AM, Nuzzo V, Favati F, Pietrafesa A, Celano G, Xiloyannis C (2010) Effects of water deficit on the vegetative response, yield and oil quality of olive trees (Olive europaea L., cv Coratina) grown under intensive cultivation. Sci Hortic 125:222–229Allalout A, Krichèn D, Methenni K, Taamalli A, Oueslati I, Daoud D, Zarrouk M (2009) Characterization of virgin olive oil from Super Intensive Spanish and Greek varieties grown in northern Tunisia. Sci Hortic 120:77–83Simopoulos AP, DiNicolantonio JJ (2016) The importance of a balanced ω-6 to ω-3 ratio in the prevention and management of obesity. Open Heart 3:e000385Marongui B, Özcan MM, Rosa A, Dessi MA, Piras A, AlJuhaimi F (2015) Monitoring of the fatty acid compositions of some olive oils. Riv Ital Sostanze Grasse 92:39–42Paiva-Martins F, Kiritsakis A (2017) Olive fruit and olive oil composition and their functionalcompounds. In: Kiritsakis A, Shahidi F (eds) Olives and olive oil as functional foods. Bioactivity, chemistry and processing. Wiley, Hoboken, pp 81–116Shahzad N, Khan W, Shadab MD, Ali A, Saluja SS, Sharma S, Al-Allaf FA, Abduljaleel Z, Ibrahim IAA (2017) Phytosterols as a natural anticancer agent: current status and future perspective. Biomed Pharmacol 88:786–794Covas MI, Ruiz-Gutiérrez V, de la Torre R, Kafatos A, Lamuela-Raventós RM, Osada J, Owen RW, Visioli F (2006) Minor components of olive oil: evidence to date of health benefits in humans. Nutr Rev 64:S20–S30Pirodi M, Albini A, Fabiani R, Giovannelli L, Luceri C, Natella F, Rosignoli P, Rossi T, Taticchi A, Servili M, Galli F (2017) Nutrigenomics of extra-virgin olive oil: a review. Biofactors 43:17–41Franco MN, Galeano-Díaz T, Sánchez J, De Miguel C, Martín-Vertedor D (2014) Total phenolic compounds and tocopherols profiles of seven olive oil varieties grown in the South-West of Spain. J Oleo Sci 63:115–125Aparicio R, Roda L, Albi MA, Gutiérrez F (1999) Effect of various compounds on virgin olive oil stability measured by Rancimat. J Agric Food Chem 47:4150–4155Bullota S, Celano M, Lepore SM, Montalcini T, Pujia A, Russo D (2014) Beneficial effects of the olive oil phenolic components oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol: focus on protection against cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. J Transl Med 12:1–9Krychene D, Salvador MD, Fregapane G (2015) Stability of virgin olive oil phenolic compounds during long-term storage (18 months) at temperatures of 5–50 °C. J Agric Food Chem 63:6779–6786Aparicio-Ruiz R, García-González DL, Oliver-Pozo C, Tena N, Morales MT, Aparicio A (2016) Phenolic profile of virgin olive oils with and without sensory defects: oils with non-oxidative defects exhibit a considerable concentration of phenols. Eur J Lipid Sci Technol 118:299–307Yorulmaz A, Poyrazoğlu ES, Özcan MM, Tekin A (2012) Phenolic profiles of Turkish olives and olive oils. Eur J Lipid Sci Technol 14:1083–1093Arslan A, Özcan MM (2011) Phenolic profile and antioxidant activity of olive fruits of the Turkish variety “Sarıulak” from different locations. Grasas Aceites 64:453–461Dağdelen A, Tümen G, Özcan MM, Dündar E (2013) Phenolics profiles of olive fruits (Olea europaea L.) and oils from Ayvalık, Domat and Gemlik varieties at different ripening stages. Food Chem 136:41–45Malheiro R, Rodrigues N, Pereira JA (2015). In: Boskou D (ed) Olive and olive oil bioactive constituents. AOCS Press, UrbanaCriado MN, Morelló JR, Motilva MJ, Romero MP (2004) Effect of growing area on pigment and phenolic fractions of virgin olive oils of the Arbequina variety in Spain. J Am Oil Chem Soc 81:633–640Gómez-Rico A, Fregapane G, Salvador MD (2008) Effect of cultivar and ripening on minor components in Spanish olive fruits and their corresponding virgin olive oils. Food Res Int 41:433–440Parkinson L, Cicerale S (2016) The health benefiting mechanisms of virgin olive oil phenolic compounds. Molecules 21:1734Lerma-García MJ, Herrero-Martínez JM, Ramis-Ramos G, Simó-Alfonso EF (2008) Prediction of the genetic variety of Spanish extra virgin olive oils using fatty acid and phenolic compound profiles established by direct infusion mass spectrometry. Food Chem 108:1142–1148Luna G, Morales MT, Aparicio R (2006) Characterisation of 39 varietal virgin olive oils by their volatile compositions. Food Chem 98:243–252Arslan A, Özcan MM (2011) Influence of growing area and harvest date on the organic acid composition of olive fruits from Gemlik variety. Sci Hortic 130:633–64

Relationship between olive oil consumption and ankle-brachial pressure index in a population at high cardiovascular risk

The aim of this study was to ascertain the association between the consumption of different categories of edible olive oils (virgin olive oils and olive oil) and olive pomace oil and ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI) in participants in the PREDIMED-Plus study, a trial of lifestyle modification for weight and cardiovascular event reduction in individuals with overweight/obesity harboring the metabolic syndrome. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the PREDIMED-Plus trial. Consumption of any category of olive oil and olive pomace oil was assessed through a validated food-frequency questionnaire. Multivariable linear regression models were fitted to assess associations between olive oil consumption and ABI. Additionally, ABI ≤1 was considered as the outcome in logistic models with different categories of olive oil and olive pomace oil as exposure. Results: Among 4330 participants, the highest quintile of total olive oil consumption (sum of all categories of olive oil and olive pomace oil) was associated with higher mean values of ABI (beta coefficient: 0.014, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.002, 0.027) (p for trend = 0.010). Logistic models comparing the consumption of different categories of olive oils, olive pomace oil and ABI ≤1 values revealed an inverse association between virgin olive oils consumption and the likelihood of a low ABI (odds ratio [OR] 0.73, 95% CI [0.56, 0.97]), while consumption of olive pomace oil was positively associated with a low ABI (OR 1.22 95% CI [1.00, 1.48]). Conclusions: In a Mediterranean population at high cardiovascular risk, total olive oil consumption was associated with a higher mean ABI. These results suggest that olive oil consumption may be beneficial for peripheral artery disease prevention, but longitudinal studies are needed

CIBERER : Spanish national network for research on rare diseases: A highly productive collaborative initiative

Altres ajuts: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.CIBER (Center for Biomedical Network Research; Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red) is a public national consortium created in 2006 under the umbrella of the Spanish National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII). This innovative research structure comprises 11 different specific areas dedicated to the main public health priorities in the National Health System. CIBERER, the thematic area of CIBER focused on rare diseases (RDs) currently consists of 75 research groups belonging to universities, research centers, and hospitals of the entire country. CIBERER's mission is to be a center prioritizing and favoring collaboration and cooperation between biomedical and clinical research groups, with special emphasis on the aspects of genetic, molecular, biochemical, and cellular research of RDs. This research is the basis for providing new tools for the diagnosis and therapy of low-prevalence diseases, in line with the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) objectives, thus favoring translational research between the scientific environment of the laboratory and the clinical setting of health centers. In this article, we intend to review CIBERER's 15-year journey and summarize the main results obtained in terms of internationalization, scientific production, contributions toward the discovery of new therapies and novel genes associated to diseases, cooperation with patients' associations and many other topics related to RD research

A pathogenic role for germline PTEN variants which accumulate into the nucleus.

The PTEN gene encodes a master regulator protein that exerts essential functions both in the cytoplasm and in the nucleus. PTEN is mutated in the germline of both patients with heterogeneous tumor syndromic diseases, categorized as PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome (PHTS), and a group affected with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Previous studies have unveiled the functional heterogeneity of PTEN variants found in both patient cohorts, making functional studies necessary to provide mechanistic insights related to their pathogenicity. Here, we have functionally characterized a PTEN missense variant [c.49C>G; p.(Gln17Glu); Q17E] associated to both PHTS and ASD patients. The PTEN Q17E variant displayed partially reduced PIP3-catalytic activity and normal stability in cells, as shown using S. cerevisiae and mammalian cell experimental models. Remarkably, PTEN Q17E accumulated in the nucleus, in a process involving the PTEN N-terminal nuclear localization sequence. The analysis of additional germline-associated PTEN N-terminal variants illustrated the existence of a PTEN N-terminal region whose targeting in disease causes PTEN nuclear accumulation, in parallel with defects in PIP3-catalytic activity in cells. Our findings highlight the frequent occurrence of PTEN gene mutations targeting PTEN N-terminus whose pathogenicity may be related, at least in part, with the retention of PTEN in the nucleus. This could be important for the implementation of precision therapies for patients with alterations in the PTEN pathway

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Albiglutide and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (Harmony Outcomes): a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled trial

Background: Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists differ in chemical structure, duration of action, and in their effects on clinical outcomes. The cardiovascular effects of once-weekly albiglutide in type 2 diabetes are unknown. We aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of albiglutide in preventing cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Methods: We did a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in 610 sites across 28 countries. We randomly assigned patients aged 40 years and older with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (at a 1:1 ratio) to groups that either received a subcutaneous injection of albiglutide (30–50 mg, based on glycaemic response and tolerability) or of a matched volume of placebo once a week, in addition to their standard care. Investigators used an interactive voice or web response system to obtain treatment assignment, and patients and all study investigators were masked to their treatment allocation. We hypothesised that albiglutide would be non-inferior to placebo for the primary outcome of the first occurrence of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke, which was assessed in the intention-to-treat population. If non-inferiority was confirmed by an upper limit of the 95% CI for a hazard ratio of less than 1·30, closed testing for superiority was prespecified. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02465515. Findings: Patients were screened between July 1, 2015, and Nov 24, 2016. 10 793 patients were screened and 9463 participants were enrolled and randomly assigned to groups: 4731 patients were assigned to receive albiglutide and 4732 patients to receive placebo. On Nov 8, 2017, it was determined that 611 primary endpoints and a median follow-up of at least 1·5 years had accrued, and participants returned for a final visit and discontinuation from study treatment; the last patient visit was on March 12, 2018. These 9463 patients, the intention-to-treat population, were evaluated for a median duration of 1·6 years and were assessed for the primary outcome. The primary composite outcome occurred in 338 (7%) of 4731 patients at an incidence rate of 4·6 events per 100 person-years in the albiglutide group and in 428 (9%) of 4732 patients at an incidence rate of 5·9 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group (hazard ratio 0·78, 95% CI 0·68–0·90), which indicated that albiglutide was superior to placebo (p&lt;0·0001 for non-inferiority; p=0·0006 for superiority). The incidence of acute pancreatitis (ten patients in the albiglutide group and seven patients in the placebo group), pancreatic cancer (six patients in the albiglutide group and five patients in the placebo group), medullary thyroid carcinoma (zero patients in both groups), and other serious adverse events did not differ between the two groups. There were three (&lt;1%) deaths in the placebo group that were assessed by investigators, who were masked to study drug assignment, to be treatment-related and two (&lt;1%) deaths in the albiglutide group. Interpretation: In patients with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, albiglutide was superior to placebo with respect to major adverse cardiovascular events. Evidence-based glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists should therefore be considered as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes. Funding: GlaxoSmithKline

Search for new particles in events with energetic jets and large missing transverse momentum in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

A search is presented for new particles produced at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at root s = 13 TeV, using events with energetic jets and large missing transverse momentum. The analysis is based on a data sample corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 101 fb(-1), collected in 2017-2018 with the CMS detector. Machine learning techniques are used to define separate categories for events with narrow jets from initial-state radiation and events with large-radius jets consistent with a hadronic decay of a W or Z boson. A statistical combination is made with an earlier search based on a data sample of 36 fb(-1), collected in 2016. No significant excess of events is observed with respect to the standard model background expectation determined from control samples in data. The results are interpreted in terms of limits on the branching fraction of an invisible decay of the Higgs boson, as well as constraints on simplified models of dark matter, on first-generation scalar leptoquarks decaying to quarks and neutrinos, and on models with large extra dimensions. Several of the new limits, specifically for spin-1 dark matter mediators, pseudoscalar mediators, colored mediators, and leptoquarks, are the most restrictive to date.Peer reviewe