Morphologically Conditioned Changes in Wanka-Quechua

published or submitted for publicationis peer reviewe

Early removal of senescent cells protects retinal ganglion cells loss in experimental ocular hypertension.

Experimental ocular hypertension induces senescence of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) that mimics events occurring in human glaucoma. Senescence-related chromatin remodeling leads to profound transcriptional changes including the upregulation of a subset of genes that encode multiple proteins collectively referred to as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Emerging evidence suggests that the presence of these proinflammatory and matrix-degrading molecules has deleterious effects in a variety of tissues. In the current study, we demonstrated in a transgenic mouse model that early removal of senescent cells induced upon elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) protects unaffected RGCs from senescence and apoptosis. Visual evoked potential (VEP) analysis demonstrated that remaining RGCs are functional and that the treatment protected visual functions. Finally, removal of endogenous senescent retinal cells after IOP elevation by a treatment with senolytic drug dasatinib prevented loss of retinal functions and cellular structure. Senolytic drugs may have the potential to mitigate the deleterious impact of elevated IOP on RGC survival in glaucoma and other optic neuropathies

Increased prevalence of val(66)met BDNF genotype among subjects with cervical dystonia

Abnormalities of cortical representational maps and their plasticity have been described in dystonia. A common polymorphism for BDNF has been associated with abnormal cortical plasticity, and thus might contribute to pathogenesis of dystonia in some subjects. As a first step towards this suggestion, the current study examined the prevalence of this polymorphism. BDNF genotype was examined in 34 subjects with cervical dystonia, 54 age-matched healthy controls, and 53 subjects with a different movement disorder, Parkinson\u27s disease. ApoE genotype, known to influence neurological outcome in some conditions, was also examined as a control. In subjects with cervical dystonia, the val(66)met polymorphism was approximately twice as prevalent when compared to either control group. This was not true of ApoE genotype, which was similarly distributed across subject groups. The current findings suggest that the BDNF val(66)met polymorphism might play a role in the pathogenesis of cervical dystonia in some subjects

EVALUACION SOBRE EL USO DE PLANTAS MEDICINALES EN EL TRATAMIENTO DE HIPERTENSIÓN ARTERIAL HNERM ESSALUD – JUNIO 2015

Introducción: La hipertensión arterial (HTA) es un problema que constituyente para la salud pública, la cual es una enfermedad crónica que afecta a una gran parte de nuestra población, lo cual tiene como uno de los principales factores de riesgo a las enfermedades cardiovasculares. Objetivos: Evaluar el uso de las plantas medicinales en pacientes con o sin  tratamiento farmacológico en pacientes con Hipertensión arterial de dicha institución. Material y Métodos: Estudio Prospectivo Transversal. Se realizó una evaluación sobre el uso de plantas medicinales a los pacientes con HTA del Hospital Nacional Edgardo RebagliatiMartins. Se hizo una encuesta a pacientes con dicha enfermedad. Resultados: Se evaluaron 100 personas del cual 83% usan plantas medicinales y el 17% no usan como tratamiento hipertensivo. Del 100% de pacientes hipertensos (Mujeres = 64%; Varones = 36 %) la edad promedio de encuestados era entre 50 a 70 años de edad, del cual el 47% del total (Mujeres=29%; Varones=18%).  Con respecto a cómo iniciaron su tratamiento de plantas medicinales para la HTA (Consejo de familiares o amistades= 47%). De las plantas más utilizadas para tratar la Hipertensión arterial Maíz morado (Zea Mays)=32%, seguido del Perejil (PetroselinumCrispum)= 30%, ajo (Alliumsativum) =25%, maracuyá (PassifloraEdulisSims) = 23%. Conclusiones: Existe una alta tasa de pacientes en un 83% que utilizan plantas medicinales. Se resalta que las tres plantas medicinales más utilizadas para el tratamiento de la Hipertensión arterial es el Maíz morado (Zea Mays), Perejil (PetroselinumCrispum), ajo (Alliumsativum). Pacientes necesitan iniciar su tratamiento de plantas medicinales con un especialista que conozca bien de las plantas medicinales y no de familiares y/o amistades

Versatility of a Nitrogen-Containing Monolithic Porous Carbon for Lithium-Based Energy Storage

N-containing monolithic porous carbon material with dual micro and mesoporous structures was synthesized using an innovative, cheap and easy synthesis route based on the classical resorcinol-formaldehyde synthesis. A completely chemical, structural and morphological characterization was carried out. The N content in the carbonaceous material was 7.3 % and XPS data showed that is present in two different surrounds, as N-pyrrolic and N-pyridinic atoms. Is known that, the last one, can acts as a catalyst at surface level in heterogeneous reactions. In addition, using this material, we were able to fabricate lithium-ion and lithium-sulfur batteries obtaining high values of discharge capacity and cycle stability and demonstrating the multifunctional character of this carbon in energy storage devices

On stability and performance of highly c-oriented columnar AlPO4-5 and CoAPO-5 membranes

[EN] Continuous films comprised of highly c-oriented aluminophosphate AlPO4-5 or cobalt-substituted AlPO4-5 (CoAPO-5) were grown on porous supports and subjected to heat treatment in order to investigate the potential for membrane applications. A study in the early stages of in-plane crystalline intergrowth revealed a potential mechanism for flake-like crystal formation between the original oriented columnar crystals. Variations in metal substitution (AlPO4-5, CoAPO-5), support (glass, silicon, porous alumina), and calcination method (conventional, rapid thermal processing) were chosen to examine the conditions by which structural integrity was compromised following secondary (or tertiary) growth, resulting in reduced membrane functionality. Through the use of rapid thermal processing, the structure debilitation could be partially avoided. The membrane quality was inspected through pervaporation measurements consisting of a liquid hydrocarbon feed of n-heptane and 1,3,5-triisopropylbenzene. By investigating the effect of template removal on the oriented, columnar crystalline structure, useful insight is provided into the potential for the membranes to participate in applications such as molecular separations, catalysis, or host-guest assemblies. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Support by the American Chemical Society (ACS-PRF) and the European Community through the FP7 NextGTL project and a Marie Curie International Reintegration Grant (FP7, Grant agreement No. 210947) is greatly appreciated. M.P. thanks CSIC for a JAE doctoral fellowship. We would like to thank Kumar Varoon for assistance with membrane sectioning and imaging using the focused ion beam technique. Parts of this work were carried out in the Characterization Facility on the campus of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, which receives partial support from NSF through the MRSEC program.Stoeger, JA.; Veziri, CM.; Palomino Roca, M.; Corma Canós, A.; Kanellopoulos, NK.; Tsapatsis, M.; Karanikolos, GN. (2012). On stability and performance of highly c-oriented columnar AlPO4-5 and CoAPO-5 membranes. Microporous and Mesoporous Materials. 147(1):286-294. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2011.06.028286294147

First Detection of Mycobacterium ulcerans DNA in Environmental Samples from South America

The occurrences of many environmentally-persistent and zoonotic infections are driven by ecosystem changes, which in turn are underpinned by land-use modifications that alter the governance of pathogen, biodiversity and human interactions. Our current understanding of these ecological changes on disease emergence however remains limited. Buruli ulcer is an emerging human skin disease caused by the mycobacterium, Mycobacterium ulcerans, for which the exact route of infection remains unclear. It can have a devastating impact on its human host, causing extensive necrosis of the skin and underlying tissue, often leading to permanent disability. The mycobacterium is associated with tropical aquatic environments and incidences of the disease are significantly higher on floodplains and where there is an increase of human aquatic activities. Although the disease has been previously diagnosed in South America, until now the presence of M. ulcerans DNA in the wild has only been identified in Australia where there have been significant outbreaks and in western and central regions of Africa where the disease is persistent. Here for the first time, we have identified the presence of the aetiological agent's DNA in environmental samples from South America. The DNA was positively identified using Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on 163 environmental samples, taken from 23 freshwater bodies in French Guiana (Southern America), using primers for both IS2404 and for the ketoreductase-B domain of the M. ulcerans mycolactone polyketide synthase genes (KR). Five samples out of 163 were positive for both primers from three different water bodies. A further nine sites had low levels of IS2404 close to a standard CT of 35 and could potentially harbour M. ulcerans. The majority of our positive samples (8/14) came from filtered water. These results also reveal the Sinnamary River as a potential source of infection to humans. © 2014 Morris et al

Morphological characterization of contourite and mass-wasting recent processes at the Guadalquivir Bank Margin uplift, Gulf of Cádiz

The Gulf of Cadiz records the interplay of a variety of sedimentary processes related to the circulation of water masses. The most important one is the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) that exits the Mediterranean Sea, but other water masses also affect the seafloor, with complex variations along time and space. This work studies the interplay between oceanographic and gravitational sedimentary processes on the Guadalquivir Ridge, based on bathymetry and high-resolution seismic profiles. A series of morphological features including flat terraces, circular/elliptical depressions, semicircular scarps and valley-shaped features are analysed in order to better understand the interaction between water masses circulation and mass-wasting processes of the Gulf of Cadiz.Versión del edito

Application of Life Cycle Assessment in the Environmental Study of Sustainable Ceramic Bricks Made with 'alperujo' (Olive Pomace)

Investigations on the application of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to the construction sector have shown that the environmental impact of construction products can be significantly reduced. To achieve this, the use of best available techniques and eco-innovation in production plants must be promoted. In this way, the use of finite natural resources can be replaced by waste generated in other production processes, preferably available locally, stimulating the creation of more sustainable products. Conducting a comparative LCA study between the traditional ceramic brick manufacturing process and the ceramic brick manufacturing process incorporating 'alperujo' (waste generated in the virgin oil extraction process), is an inevitable step to achieve the integration of circularity and eco-innovation in the production system of traditional ceramic materials, through the CML(Centrum voor Milieukunde Leiden) and IPCC(The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) methodology. The obtained results suggest that the environmental benefits in this practice are very limited, even taking into account the contribution of different amounts of this waste to the production of bricks

Analysis of the Energy Deposit in the Air by Radiation of Alpha Particles Emitted by the Water of a Spring Through the Geant4 Software

This work presents the development of an analysis of the potential radiological risk generated by alpha particles emitted by radon-222, content in a spring water, for the population that usually swims in the place and for the people who live near this spring. This spring is located in the state of Puebla. Several measurements in the water of this place by researchers from IF-UNAM showed that it contains an average radon concentration level of 70 Bq/m3. To evaluate this radiological risk, it has been developed a computational simulation to know the area and the height where the alpha particles deposit their energy to the medium, as well as the amount of energy that they transfer. This simulation was developed in the Geant4 scientific software and the calculations were executed in the supercomputer of the Laboratorio Nacional de Supercomputo del Sureste de Mexico of the BUAP. The results show that the energy deposit occurs within the superficial limits of the spring, between 7 and 8 meters high. This deposited is not only by the alpha particles, but also by the secondary particles that are generated by the interaction of alpha particles with the environment. Based on these results, it is confirmed that there is no radiological risk by energy deposit by alpha particles for the people