A novel method to prepare highly enriched primary cultures of chicken retinal horizontal cells

The retina is a heterogeneous tissue composed of different neuronal cells (photoreceptor (PRC), horizontal (HC), amacrine, bipolar and retinal ganglion RGC cells) and glial cells. Our aim in this work was to purify HCs from the chicken embryonic retina to obtain primary cultures highly enriched in these cells for further characterization. To this end, disaggregated retinas of chicken embryos at day 15 were subjected to a discontinuous bovine serum albumin (BSA) gradient of concentrations raging from 1 to 4%. After centrifugation, cells collected from the different phases were cultured for 4 days and characterized by immunochemistry and cell morphology. Phases were examined with specific antibodies against HC markers such as PROX-1, Islet-1 and calretinin, together with markers for other retinal cell populations. The results show that only in the fraction corresponding to 2.5% BSA did most of the cells display PROX-1 and Islet-1 positive immunoreactivities with a typical HC morphology. Moreover, Western blot assays indicate that the 2.5 % BSA phase exhibits the strongest PROX-1 immunolabeling, denoting the typical molecular weight (MW) of ~ 83KDa. Based on an accurate morphological analysis, a number of cells in this fraction resembled H1- and H3-type HCs (axon-bearing ?brush-shaped? and axon-less ?candelabrum-shaped? HCs respectively). In conclusion, the BSA gradient has so far proved to be a simple yet very useful method to selectively separate specific retinal cell types for the further study and characterization of their molecular, biochemical and electrophysiological properties.Fil: Morera, Luis Pedro. Universidad Empresarial Siglo XXI. Vicerrectorado de Innovación e Investigación. Instituto de Organizaciones Saludables; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Díaz, Nicolás Maximiliano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Guido, Mario Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba; Argentin

Stress, dietary patterns and cardiovascular disease: a Mini-Review

According to the World Health Organization, an unhealthy diet and insufficient physical activity are the leading global risks to health. Dietary behavior is a modifiable factor in cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention. Furthermore, the fact that cardiovascular events and stress-related emotional disorders share a common epidemiology may indicate the existence of pathways linking these two diseases (Chauvet-Gelinier and Bonin, 2017). Psychosocial stress can lead to changes in dietary patterns (DP) and under chronic stress conditions, high caloric and hyperpalatable foods are preferred. The interplay between these two factors impacts on several biological pathways: for example, it can prime the hippocampus to produce a potentiated neuroinflammatory response, generating memory deficits; it can also affect gut microbiota composition, ultimately influencing behavior and brain health and creating a predisposition to the development of diseases such as obesity, CVD, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Though both cognition and emotion can be heavily affected by caloric intake, diet composition and stress, the molecular pathways involved remain elusive (Spencer et al., 2017). In this review, we describe the interplay between stress and DP at a molecular level, and how these factors relate to brain health and mental fitness. Finally, we show how these findings could give rise to novel therapeutic targets for chronic diseases.Fil: Morera, Luis Pedro. Universidad Empresarial Siglo Xxi. Vicerrectorado de Innovacion E Investigacion. Instituto de Organizaciones Saludables.; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Marchiori, Georgina Noel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; ArgentinaFil: Medrano, Leonardo Adrián. Universidad Empresarial Siglo Xxi. Vicerrectorado de Innovacion E Investigacion. Instituto de Organizaciones Saludables.; Argentina. Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra; República DominicanaFil: Defagó, María Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentin

In Vitro Evaluation of Monohalogenated Semicarbazones and Thiosemicarbazones as Potential Cytotoxic Agents Induction of Apoptosis and Genotoxicity

A series of halogenated Semicarbazones (SCs) and Thiosemicarbazones (TSCs) (11-30) were synthesized from mono fluorinated-, bromine- and chlorinated acetophenones (1-10). Structures were confirmed by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectral data. Both effects, the halogenated substituent and the position of the substitution on the antiproliferative activity, were systematically investigated for the first time. Cytotoxic activity was evaluated, using tetrazolium salt method (MTT), in two murine cell lines: CT26 (colon cancer) and B16 (melanoma). Only, o-, m- and p-fluorinated SCs and TSCs showed significant cytotoxic activity. Among them, compounds with fluorine at m-position in thephenyl ring showed the superior antiproliferative activity. The most actives derivatives were: m-Fluoroacetophenone semicarbazone (13) (μM; IC50 =7.2 ± 0.5, IC50=8.1 ± 0.2) and m-Fluoroacetophenone Thiosemicarbazone (23) (μM; IC50 = 3.1 ± 0.4, IC50=4.9 ± 0.5) in CT26 and B16, respectively. In addition, studying the genes Bcl-2 and Bax, compound 23 showed apoptosis induction and non-genotoxic properties.Fil: Morera, Luis Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química; ArgentinaFil: Novoa, Rodrigo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química; ArgentinaFil: Di Genaro, Maria Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas de San Luis; ArgentinaFil: Cifuente, Diego Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química; Argentin

From Work Well-Being to Burnout: A Hypothetical Phase Model

Upon exposure to chronic stressors, how do individuals move from being in a healthy state to a burnout? Strikingly in literature, this has prevailed a categorical view rather than a dimensional one, thus the underlying process that explains the transition from one state to another remains unclear. The aims of the present study are (a) to examine intermediate states between work engagement and burnout using cluster analysis and (b) to examine cortisol differences across these states. Two-hundred and eighty-one Argentine workers completed self-report measures of work engagement and burnout. Salivary cortisol was measured at three time-points: immediately after awakening and 30 and 40min thereafter. Results showed four different states based on the scores in cynicism, exhaustion, vigor, and dedication: engaged, strained, cynical, and burned-out. Cortisol levels were found to be moderate in the engaged state, increased in the strained and cynical states, and decreased in the burned-out state. The increase/decrease in cortisol across the four stages reconciles apparent contradictory findings regarding hypercortisolism and hypocortisolism, and suggests that they may represent different phases in the transition from engagement to burnout. A phase model from engagement to burnout is proposed and future research aimed at evaluating this model is suggested.Fil: Morera, Luis Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Siglo 21; ArgentinaFil: Gallea, Jose Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Siglo 21; ArgentinaFil: Trógolo, Mario Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Siglo 21; ArgentinaFil: Guido, Mario Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Químicas. Centro de Investigaciones en Química Biológica de Córdoba; ArgentinaFil: Medrano, L. A.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Siglo 21; Argentin

Desarrollo y validación de una escala para medir satisfacción con los recursos laborales

En los últimos 30 años la investigación empírica ha mostrado consistentemente la influencia positiva de los recursos laborales en el bienestar y desempeño de los trabajadores. Sin embargo, se ha señalado que estos resultados positivos se asocian más con la satisfacción percibida que con los recursos provistos por la organización. En esta línea y tomando como referencia el modelo HERO se diseñó un instrumento para medir la satisfacción con los recursos laborales. Los análisis factoriales exploratorio y confirmatorio utilizando muestras de 492 y 508 trabajadores, respectivamente, respaldaron las cuatro dimensiones teóricas propuestas: satisfacción con los recursos de tarea, satisfacción con los recursos de equipo, satisfacción con los recursos de líder y satisfacción con los recursos de la organización. Se obtuvieron índices satisfactorios de consistencia interna y de fiabilidad del constructo, y evidencias de validez test-criterio con medidas de engagement y burn out. Se discute el valor práctico del nuevo instrumento y algunas sugerencias tendientes a examinar en mayor profundidad sus propiedades psicométricas.Fil: Spontón, Carlos Luis. Universidad Siglo 21; ArgentinaFil: Trógolo, Mario Alberto. Universidad Siglo 21; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Laboratorio de Evaluación Psicológica y Educativa; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Castellano, Estanislao. Universidad Siglo 21; ArgentinaFil: Morera, Luis Pedro. Universidad Siglo 21; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Medrano, Leonardo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Psicología. Laboratorio de Evaluación Psicológica y Educativa; Argentina. Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra; República Dominican

THOR is a targetable epigenetic biomarker with clinical implications in breast cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and a leading cause of death among women worldwide. Early BC is potentially curable, but the mortality rates still observed among BC patients demon‑ strate the urgent need of novel and more efective diagnostic and therapeutic options. Limitless self-renewal is a hallmark of cancer, governed by telomere maintenance. In around 95% of BC cases, this process is achieved by telom‑ erase reactivation through upregulation of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). The hypermethylation of a specifc region within the hTERT promoter, termed TERT hypermethylated oncological region (THOR) has been associated with increased hTERT expression in cancer. However, its biological role and clinical potential in BC have never been studied to the best of our knowledge. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the role of THOR as a biomarker and explore the functional impact of THOR methylation status in hTERT upregulation in BC.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Guía para la elaboración de trabajos académicos de investigación

Prólogo. Guía de Buenas Prácticas. Guía para la elaboración del TFG del Grado en Estudios Árabes e Islámicos. Guía para la elaboración del TFG del Grado en Estudios Franceses. Guía para la elaboración del TFG del Grado en Estudios Ingleses. Guía para la elaboración del TFG del Grado en Filología Clásica. Guía para la elaboración del TFG del Grado en Filología Hispánica. Guía para la elaboración del TFG del Grado en Historia. Guía para la elaboración del TFG del Grado en Humanidades. Guía para la elaboración del TFG del Grado en Lingüística y Lenguas Aplicadas.Se trata de un manual de ayuda, que consta de una guía de buenas prácticas y de una guía académica, que fijan unos criterios objetivos para la preparación del TFG por parte del estudiante, que orientan al tutor/director en el desarrollo del trabajo y que sirven de punto de partida a la comisión evaluadora que finalmente tendrá que valorarlo.Este documento es una obra derivada de la Actuación Avalada para la Mejora Docente, Formación del Profesorado y Difusión de Resultados (modalidad A, UCA/R099REC/2013), “Guía Académica y de Buenas Prácticas para la realización de los TFG de los planes de estudio de grado de la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras” (Ref. AAA_14_043), financiado por la de la Unidad de Innovación Docente del Vicerrectorado de Docencia y Formación de la Universidad de Cádiz durante el curso académico 2013-2014.Formato PDF. 225 páginas

Impact of interstitial lung disease on the survival of systemic sclerosis with pulmonary arterial hypertension

To assess severity markers and outcomes of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with or without pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH-SSc/non-PAH-SSc), and the impact of interstitial lung disease (ILD) on PAH-SSc. Non-PAH-SSc patients from the Spanish SSc registry and PAH-SSc patients from the Spanish PAH registry were included. A total of 364 PAH-SSc and 1589 non-PAH-SSc patients were included. PAH-SSc patients had worse NYHA-functional class (NYHA-FC), worse forced vital capacity (FVC) (81.2 ± 20.6% vs 93.6 ± 20.6%, P < 0.001), worse tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (17.4 ± 5.2 mm vs 19.9 ± 6.7 mm, P < 0.001), higher incidence of pericardial effusion (30% vs 5.2%, P < 0.001) and similar prevalence of ILD (41.8% vs. 44.9%). In individuals with PAH-SSc, ILD was associated with worse hemodynamics and pulmonary function tests (PFT). Up-front combination therapy was used in 59.8% and 61.7% of patients with and without ILD, respectively. Five-year transplant-free survival rate was 41.1% in PAH-SSc patients and 93.9% in non-PAH-SSc patients (P < 0.001). Global survival of PAH-SSc patients was not affected by ILD regardless its severity. The multivariate survival analysis in PAH-SSc patients confirmed age at diagnosis, worse NYHA-FC, increased PVR, reduced DLCO, and lower management with up-front combination therapy as major risk factors. In conclusion, in PAH-SSc cohort risk of death was greatly increased by clinical, PFT, and hemodynamic factors, whereas it was decreased by up-front combination therapy. Concomitant ILD worsened hemodynamics and PFT in PAH-SSc but not survival regardless of FVC impairment

Impact of interstitial lung disease on the survival of systemic sclerosis with pulmonary arterial hypertension

To assess severity markers and outcomes of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) with or without pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH-SSc/non-PAH-SSc), and the impact of interstitial lung disease (ILD) on PAH-SSc. Non-PAH-SSc patients from the Spanish SSc registry and PAH-SSc patients from the Spanish PAH registry were included. A total of 364 PAH-SSc and 1589 non-PAH-SSc patients were included. PAH-SSc patients had worse NYHA-functional class (NYHA-FC), worse forced vital capacity (FVC) (81.2 +/- 20.6% vs 93.6 +/- 20.6%, P < 0.001), worse tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) (17.4 +/- 5.2 mm vs 19.9 +/- 6.7 mm, P < 0.001), higher incidence of pericardial effusion (30% vs 5.2%, P < 0.001) and similar prevalence of ILD (41.8% vs. 44.9%). In individuals with PAH-SSc, ILD was associated with worse hemodynamics and pulmonary function tests (PFT). Up-front combination therapy was used in 59.8% and 61.7% of patients with and without ILD, respectively. Five-year transplant-free survival rate was 41.1% in PAH-SSc patients and 93.9% in non-PAH-SSc patients (P < 0.001). Global survival of PAH-SSc patients was not affected by ILD regardless its severity. The multivariate survival analysis in PAH-SSc patients confirmed age at diagnosis, worse NYHA-FC, increased PVR, reduced DLCO, and lower management with up-front combination therapy as major risk factors. In conclusion, in PAH-SSc cohort risk of death was greatly increased by clinical, PFT, and hemodynamic factors, whereas it was decreased by up-front combination therapy. Concomitant ILD worsened hemodynamics and PFT in PAH-SSc but not survival regardless of FVC impairment

The number of tree species on Earth

One of the most fundamental questions in ecology is how many species inhabit the Earth. However, due to massive logistical and financial challenges and taxonomic difficulties connected to the species concept definition, the global numbers of species, including those of important and well-studied life forms such as trees, still remain largely unknown. Here, based on global groundsourced data, we estimate the total tree species richness at global, continental, and biome levels. Our results indicate that there are 73,000 tree species globally, among which ∼9,000 tree species are yet to be discovered. Roughly 40% of undiscovered tree species are in South America. Moreover, almost one-third of all tree species to be discovered may be rare, with very low populations and limited spatial distribution (likely in remote tropical lowlands and mountains). These findings highlight the vulnerability of global forest biodiversity to anthropogenic changes in land use and climate, which disproportionately threaten rare species and thus, global tree richness