Light-dependent functions of the Fusarium fujikuroi CryD DASH cryptochrome in development and secondary metabolism

DASH (Drosophila, Arabidopsis, Synechocystis, human) cryptochromes (cry-DASHs) constitute a subgroup of the photolyase cryptochrome family with diverse light-sensing roles, found in most taxonomical groups. The genome of Fusarium fujikuroi,a phytopathogenic fungus with a rich secondary metabolism, contains a gene encoding a putative cry-DASH, named CryD. The expression of the cryD gene is induced by light in the wild type, but not in mutants of the “white collar” gene wcoA. Targeted acryD mutants show light-dependent phenotypic alterations, including changes in morphology and pigmentation, which disap- pear upon reintroduction of a wild-type cryD allele. In addition to microconidia, the colonies of the acryD mutants produced under illumination and nitrogen starvation large septated spores called macroconidia, absent in wild-type colonies. The acryD mutants accumulated similar amounts of carotenoids to the control strain under constant illumination, but produced much larger amounts of bikaverin under nitrogen starvation, indicating a repressing role for CryD in this biosynthetic pathway. Addi- tionally, a moderate photoinduction of gibberellin production was exhibited by the wild type but not by the acryD mutants. The phenotypic alterations of the acryD mutants were only noticeable in the light, as expected from the low expression of cryD in the dark, but did not correlate with mRNA levels for structural genes of the bikaverin or gibberellin biosynthetic pathways, suggest- ing the participation of CryD in posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms. This is the first report on the participation of a cry- DASH protein in the regulation of fungal secondary metabolism

Análisis de competitividad de cuatro sistema- producto estatales de tilapia en México

En la agricultura y pesca en México, las cadenas productivas nacionales y estatales, identificadas como Sistema- Producto (SP) han sido con sideradas un objetivo de política pública sectorial para incrementar su competitividad. En los hechos, las acciones para fortalecerlas, no necesariamente han sido emprendidas desde el gobierno y/o instituciones. Con base en la organización (SP), la definición de competitividad se asume en este estudio en función de sus capacidades organizacionales y visión de futuro, así como de factores técnicos y de mercado de las empresas productoras. Con base en ésta, se reporta su nivel en los SP de tilapia en Colima, Sonora, Tabasco y Yucatán con información del 2006-2008. Se analizaron treinta integrantes (internos y externos al SP) y, de acuerdo con seis variables consideradas como las de mayor relevancia en el análisis discriminante, se encontró que se agrupan en tres conglomerados (clusters). Con base en quince variables significativas obtenidas mediante ANOVA de una vía, el SP de Sonora es más competitivo, seguido por los de Tabasco, Colima y Yucatán. Los SP presentan en diferente medida problemas de inclusión, representación y participación. Se toman en cuenta las principales tendencias mundiales en este cultivo y las características internas de las organizaciones y, a partir de los resultados, se emiten recomendaciones orientadas a incidir en la mejora de su competitividad

The CarO rhodopsin of the fungus Fusarium fujikuroi is a light-driven proton pump that retards spore germination

Rhodopsins are membrane-embedded photoreceptors found in all major taxonomic kingdoms using retinal as their chromophore. They play well-known functions in different biological systems, but their roles in fungi remain unknown. The filamentous fungus Fusarium fujikuroi contains two putative rhodopsins, CarO and OpsA. The gene carO is light-regulated, and the predicted polypeptide contains all conserved residues required for proton pumping. We aimed to elucidate the expression and cellular location of the fungal rhodopsin CarO, its presumed proton-pumping activity and the possible effect of such function on F. fujikuroi growth. In electrophysiology experiments we confirmed that CarO is a green-light driven proton pump. Visualization of fluorescent CarO-YFP expressed in F. fujikuroi under control of its native promoter revealed higher accumulation in spores (conidia) produced by light-exposed mycelia. Germination analyses of conidia from carO2 mutant and carO1 control strains showed a faster development of light-exposed carO2 germlings. In conclusion, CarO is an active proton pump, abundant in light-formed conidia, whose activity slows down early hyphal development under light. Interestingly, CarO-related rhodopsins are typically found in plant-associated fungi, where green light dominates the phyllosphere. Our data provide the first reliable clue on a possible biological role of a fungal rhodopsi

La música navideña y su proyección periodística

Equipo de Investigación de Análisis y Técnica de la Información HUM21

Ultrasound-guided umbilical venous catheterisation: A cost-effectiveness analysis

Introduction: Although the use of ultrasound for the insertion of central catheters has proven to be cost-effective in adults, it is not known if this is the case in the neonatal population. This study compared the cost-effectiveness of ultrasound-guided umbilical venous catheterisation with conventional catheterisation in a neonatal intensive care unit of a Public University Hospital. Patients and methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on newborns that required an umbilical venous catheter before completing their first 24 h of extra-uterine life. Two retrospective cohorts were formed, including one with ultrasound-guided catheterisation and the other with conventional catheterisation. The effectiveness was measured using 2 variables: placement of ideal position and insertion without complications. The cost of human and material resources (consumable and non-consumable), the cost-effectiveness ratio, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio were estimated, as well as carrying out a sensitivity analysis. Results: Catheter obstruction was more frequent in guided catheterisation than in conventional catheterisation (7.7% vs. 0%, P = .04) and catheter dysfunction was higher in the latter (79% vs. 3.8%, P < .0001). The cost-effectiveness ratio of the guided catheterisation wa

A global perspective on carotenoids: metabolism, biotechnology, and benefits for nutrition and health.

Carotenoids are lipophilic isoprenoid compounds synthesized by all photosynthetic organisms and some non-photosynthetic bacteria and fungi. With some notable exceptions, animals (including humans) do not produce carotenoids de novo but take them in their diets. In photosynthetic systems carotenoids are essential for photoprotection against excess light and contribute to light harvesting, but perhaps they are best known for their properties as natural pigments in the yellow to red range. Carotenoids can be associated to fatty acids, sugars, proteins, or other compounds that can change their physical and chemical properties and influence their biological roles. Furthermore, oxidative cleavage of carotenoids produces smaller molecules such as apocarotenoids, some of which are important pigments and volatile (aroma) compounds. Enzymatic breakage of carotenoids can also produce biologically active molecules in both plants (hormones, retrograde signals) and animals (retinoids). Both carotenoids and their enzymatic cleavage products are associated with other processes positively impacting human health. Carotenoids are widely used in the industry as food ingredients, feed additives, and supplements. This review, contributed by scientists of complementary disciplines related to carotenoid research, covers recent advances and provides a perspective on future directions on the subjects of carotenoid metabolism, biotechnology, and nutritional and health benefits

Carotenoides en agroalimentación y salud

Los carotenoides son compuestos especiales; si bien es común referirse a ellos como pigmentos, lo cierto es que son compuestos de gran versatilidad e importancia en la naturaleza. Más específicamente, son de gran interés en agroalimentación y salud. Así, por ejemplo, son pigmentos naturales y por lo tanto tienen un importante papel en la elección de alimentos por parte de los consumidores. Asimismo, algunos de ellos son precursores de la vitamina A. Sin embargo, que cada vez exista más interés en los carotenoides en este contexto se debe en gran parte a muchos estudios de distinta naturaleza que indican que pueden proporcionar beneficios para la salud. Su interés en alimentación funcional es por lo tanto indudable. En este libro se refleja la experiencia en carotenoides de un gran número de profesionales de la región iberoamericana. En conjunto, se ofrece una visión general de la investigación sobre estos compuestos en agroalimentación y salud. Los autores son miembros de la red IBERCAROT (http://carotenoides.us.es), que tiene entre sus objetivos conformar una red estable y funcional de profesionales que aúnen esfuerzos en pos de identificar nuevas fuentes de carotenoides de interés nutricional, mejorar su producción y aumentar el valor de los productos que los contengan

Direct Oral Anticoagulants versus Warfarin in Octogenarians with Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) have been demonstrated to be more effective and safer than vitamin-K antagonist (VKA) for stroke prevention in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (AF). This meta-analysis aims to assess the effect of DOACS vs. VKA in patients ≥ 80 and AF. Primary endpoints were stroke or systemic embolism and all-cause death. Secondary endpoints included major bleeding, intracranial bleeding, and gastrointestinal bleeding. A random-effects model was selected due to significant heterogeneity. A total of 147,067 patients from 16 studies were included, 71,913 (48.90%) treated with DOACs and 75,154 with VKA (51.10%). The stroke rate was significantly lower in DOACs group compared with warfarin group (Relative risk (RR): 0.72; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.63-0.82; p < 0.001). All-cause mortality was significantly lower in DOACs group compared with warfarin group (RR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.70-0.96; p = 0.012). Compared to warfarin, DOACs were not associated with reductions in major bleeding (RR: 0.85, 95% CI 0.69-1.04; p = 0.108) or gastrointestinal bleeding risk (RR: 1.08, 95% CI 0.76-1.53; p = 0.678) but a 43% reduction of intracranial bleeding (RR: 0.47, IC 95% 0.36-0.60; p < 0.001) was observed. Our meta-analysis demonstrates that DOACs are effective and safe with statistical superiority when compared with warfarin in octogenarians with AF

A DNA damage repair gene-associated signature predicts responses of patients with advanced soft-tissue sarcoma to treatment with trabectedin

Predictive biomarkers of trabectedin represent an unmet need in advanced soft-tissue sarcomas (STS). DNA damage repair (DDR) genes, involved in homologous recombination or nucleotide excision repair, had been previously described as biomarkers of trabectedin resistance or sensitivity, respectively. The majority of these studies only focused on specific factors (ERCC1, ERCC5, and BRCA1) and did not evaluate several other DDR-related genes that could have a relevant role for trabectedin efficacy. In this retrospective translational study, 118 genes involved in DDR were evaluated to determine, by transcriptomics, a predictive gene signature of trabectedin efficacy. A six-gene predictive signature of trabectedin efficacy was built in a series of 139 tumor samples from patients with advanced STS. Patients in the high-risk gene signature group showed a significantly worse progression-free survival compared with patients in the low-risk group (2.1 vs 6.0 months, respectively). Differential gene expression analysis defined new potential predictive biomarkers of trabectedin sensitivity (PARP3 and CCNH) or resistance (DNAJB11 and PARP1). Our study identified a new gene signature that significantly predicts patients with higher probability to respond to treatment with trabectedin. Targeting some genes of this signature emerges as a potential strategy to enhance trabectedin efficacy.This study was funded by the Spanish Group for Research on Sarcoma (GEIS) and partially by PharmaMar. The authors would like to thank the GEIS data center for data management. The authors also thank the donors and the Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío—Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla Biobank (Andalusian Public Health System Biobank and ISCIII-Red de Biobancos PT17/0015/0041) for part of the human specimens used in this study. David S. Moura is recipient of a Sara Borrell postdoctoral fellowship funded by the National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII) (CD20/00155)

Cateterización venosa umbilical guiada por ultrasonografía: un análisis de coste-efectividad

Introducción: El uso de ultrasonografía para la inserción de catéteres centrales ha mostrado ser coste-efectivo en adultos; en neonatos se desconoce esta información. El objetivo del estudio fue comparar el coste-efectividad de la cateterización venosa umbilical guiada por ultrasonografía con la cateterización convencional en un servicio de cuidados intensivos neonatales de un hospital universitario y público. Pacientes y métodos: Estudio observacional retrospectivo en recién nacidos que requirieron catéter venoso umbilical antes de cumplir las primeras 24 h de vida extrauterina; se conformaron 2 cohortes históricas, una con cateterización guiada por ultrasonografía y otra con cateterización convencional. La efectividad se midió con 2 variables: colocación de posición ideal e inserción sin complicaciones. Se estimó el coste de recursos humanos y materiales (fungibles y no fungibles), la razón coste-efectividad y la razón coste-efectividad incremental; y se realizó análisis de sensibilidad. Resultados: La obstrucción del catéter fue más frecuente en la cateterización guiada que en la convencional (7,7 vs. 0%, p = 0,04) y la disfunción del catéter fue superior en esta última (79 vs. 3,8%, p < 0,0001). La razón coste-efectividad de la cateterización guiada fue 153,9 euros y de la convencional 484,6 euros; la razón coste-efectividad incremental fue 45,5 euros. El análisis de sensibilidad incrementó 2,6 euros en la razón coste-efectividad de la cateterización guiada y 47 euros, en la convencional. Conclusiones: El uso de la ultrasonografía para guiar la cateterización umbilical es más eficienteya que, a pesar de suponer un mayor consumo de recursos económicos, ofreció una mayorefectividad