Las familias homoparentales y sus redes de apoyo social

Este trabajo tiene como objetivo avanzar en conocimiento con respecto a las familias homoparentales, estudiando sus redes de apoyo social, aspecto crucial en cualquier contexto familiar. Se estudiaron 28 familias homoparentales con hijos o hijas entre los 3 y los 16 años. De ellas, 15 provenían de la Comunidad Andaluza y 13 de la Comunidad de Madrid. Los resultados indican que estas familias disponen de una red amplia de figuras de apoyo, que incluye tanto a familiares como a amistades, así como personas heterosexuales y homosexuales. Entre estas figuras, se incluyen con mucha frecuencia otras familias con niños o niñas. Padres y madres estudiados se encuentran altamente satisfechos con el apoyo que reciben de estas personas relevantes en su vida. Asimismo, hallamos que estas familias mantienen frecuentes y cálidas relaciones con sus propias familias de origen.The objective of this work is to advance in the knowledge of gay-lesbian families by studying their social support networks, which is a crucial aspect of any family context. Twenty-eight gay-lesbian families were included in the study, all with children between the ages of 3 and 16. Of these families, 15 were from the Andalusian region while 13 were from the Madrid area. The results indicate that these families have an extensive network of support figures, which include both family members and friends, who are both heterosexuals and homosexuals. In many cases, among these figures, other families with children are included. The mothers and fathers studies are highly satisfied with the support received from those people who are relevant in their lives. Likewise, we found that these families maintain frequent and warm relationships with their own families

Overtopping of harbour breakwaters: a comparison of semi-empirical equations, neural networks, and physical model tests

This paper reports extensive tests of empirical equations developed by different authors for harbour breakwater overtopping. First, the existing equations are compiled and evaluated as tools for estimating the overtopping rates on sloping and vertical breakwaters. These equations are then tested using the data obtained in a number of laboratory studies performed in the Centre for Harbours and Coastal Studies of the CEDEX, Spain. It was found that the recommended application ranges of the empirical equations typically deviate from those revealed in the experimental tests. In addition, a neural network model developed within the European CLASH Project is tested. The wind effects on overtopping are also assessed using a reduced scale physical mode

Electrophysiological Evidence of a Delay in the Visual Recognition Process in Young Children

The present study analyzes the development of the visual recognition processing of the relevant stimulus in a Delayed Match-To-Sample (DMS) task during the matching phase. To do so, Electroencephalograms of 170 subjects between 6 and 26 years old were recorded. Behavioral responses and Event Related Potentials (ERPs) induced by the stimuli were obtained. Reaction times and errors, mainly omissions, were inversely related to age. The ERPs analysis showed a parietal negativity in the P7 and P8 electrodes when the relevant stimulus was presented in the contralateral site. This negativity resulting from the recognition and selection of the relevant stimulus was present in all age groups. However, the youngest children showed an extended latency in the recognition process. The results suggest that children and adults use similar processes to recognize the item maintained in visual short-term memory (VSTM), but children need more time to successfully recognize the memorized item.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PSI2013-47506-RJunta de Andalucía CTS-153.C

Tracking soluble and nanoparticulated titanium released in vivo from metal dental implant debris using (single-particle)-ICP-MS

Background: This work studies the presence of the Ti, Al and V metal ions and Ti nanoparticles released from the debris produced by the implantoplasty, a surgical procedure used in the clinic, in rat organs. Methods: The sample preparation for total Ti determination was carefully optimized using microsampling inserts to minimize the dilution during the acid attack of the lyophilized tissues by a microwave-assisted acid digestion method. An enzymatic digestion method was optimized and applied to the different tissue samples in order to extract the titanium nanoparticles for the single-particle ICP-MS analysis.Results: A statistically significant increase was found for Ti concentrations from control to experimental groups for several of the studied tissues, being and particularly significant in the case of brain and spleen. Al and V concentrations were detected in all tissues but they were not different when comparing control and experimental animals, except for V in brain. The possible presence of Ti-containing nanoparticles mobilized from the implantoplasty debris was tested using enzymatic digestions and SP-ICP-MS. The presence of Ti-containing nanoparticles was observed in all the analyzed tissues, however, differences on the Ti mass per particle were found between the blanks and the digested tissue and between control and experimental animals in some organs.Conclusion: The developed methodologies, both for ionic and nanoparticulated metal contents in rat organs, have shown the possible increase in the levels of Ti both as ions and nanoparticles in rats subjected to implantoplasty

Gene network downstream plant stress response modulated by peroxisomal H2O2

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) act as secondary messengers that can be sensed by specific redox-sensitive proteins responsible for the activation of signal transduction culminating in altered gene expression. The subcellular site, in which modifications in the ROS/oxidation state occur, can also act as a specific cellular redox network signal. The chemical identity of ROS and their subcellular origin is actually a specific imprint on the transcriptome response. In recent years, a number of transcriptomic studies related to altered ROS metabolism in plant peroxisomes have been carried out. In this study, we conducted a metaanalysis of these transcriptomic findings to identify common transcriptional footprints for plant peroxisomal-dependent signaling at early and later time points. These footprints highlight the regulation of various metabolic pathways and gene families, which are also found in plant responses to several abiotic stresses. Major peroxisomal-dependent genes are associated with protein and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) protection at later stages of stress while, at earlier stages, these genes are related to hormone biosynthesis and signaling regulation. Furthermore, in silico analyses allowed us to assign human orthologs to some of the peroxisomal-dependent proteins, which are mainly associated with different cancer pathologies. Peroxisomal footprints provide a valuable resource for assessing and supporting key peroxisomal functions in cellular metabolism under control and stress conditions across species.Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MCIU)State Research Agency (AEI)FEDER grant PGC2018-098372-B-I00MCIU Research Personnel Training (FPI) grant BES-2016-07651

Fetal undernutrition is associated with perinatal sex-dependent alterations in oxidative status

This is the published version of a work that was accepted for publication in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemestry. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in The Journal of Nutritional Biochemestry 26.12 (2015). DOI: 10.1016/jnubio.2015.09.004Intrauterine growth retardation predisposes to hypertension development, known as fetal programming. Females are less susceptible, which has been mainly attributed to estrogen influence. We hypothesize that perinatal differences in oxidative status might also contribute. We studied 21-day-old (prepuberal) and 6-month-old male and female Intrauterine growth retardation predisposes to hypertension development, known as fetal programming. Females are less susceptible, which has been mainly attributed to estrogen influence. We hypothesize that perinatal differences in oxidative status might also contribute. We studied 21-day-old (prepuberal) and 6-month-old male and female offspring from rats fed ad libitum during gestation (Control) or with 50% of Control daily intake from day 10 to delivery (maternal undernutrition, MUN). We assessed in vivo blood pressure and the following plasma biomarkers of oxidative status: protein carbonyls, thiols, reduced glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity, superoxide anion scavenging activity (SOSA) and catalase activities; we calculated a global score (oxy-score) from them. Estradiol and melatonin concentration was measured in young rats. Prepuberal MUN males were normotensive but already exhibited increased carbonyls and lower thiols, GSH, SOSA and melatonin; oxy-score was significantly lower compared to Control males. Prepuberal MUN females only exhibited reduced SOSA compared to Control females. Adult rats from all experimental groups showed a significant increase in carbonyls and a decrease in antioxidants compared to prepuberal rats; oxy-score was negative in adult rats suggesting the development of a prooxidative status as rat age. Adult MUN males were hypertensive and exhibited the highest increase in carbonyls despite similar or even higher antioxidant levels compared to Controls. Adult MUN females remained normotensive and did not exhibit differences in any of the biomarkers compared to Controls. The better global antioxidant status developed by MUN females during perinatal life could contribute to their protection against hypertension programming.offspring from rats fed ad libitum during gestation (Control) or with 50% of Control daily intake from day 10 to delivery (maternal undernutrition, MUN). We assessed in vivo blood pressure and the following plasma biomarkers of oxidative status: protein carbonyls, thiols, reduced glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity, superoxide anion scavenging activity (SOSA) and catalase activities; we calculated a global score (oxy-score) from them. Estradiol and melatonin concentration was measured in young rats. Prepuberal MUN males were normotensive but already exhibited increased carbonyls and lower thiols, GSH, SOSA and melatonin; oxy-score was significantly lower compared to Control males. Prepuberal MUN females only exhibited reduced SOSA compared to Control females. Adult rats from all experimental groups showed a significant increase in carbonyls and a decrease in antioxidants compared to prepuberal rats; oxy-score was negative in adult rats suggesting the development of a prooxidative status as rat age. Adult MUN males were hypertensive and exhibited the highest increase in carbonyls despite similar or even higher antioxidant levels compared to Controls. Adult MUN females remained normotensive and did not exhibit differences in any of the biomarkers compared to Controls. The better global antioxidant status developed by MUN females during perinatal life could contribute to their protection against hypertension programming.This work was supported by Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad Spain (grant number FEM2012-37634-C03-01 to S. M. Arribas) and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Banco - Santander (Interuniversity Cooperation Project, Center for Latin American Studies, Santander, USA 2013–2014 to M. A. Martín-Cabrejas)

Leishmania spp. epidemiology of canine leishmaniasis in the Yucatan Peninsula

Canine Leishmaniasis is widespread in various Mexican states, where different species of Leishmania have been isolated from dogs. In the present study, we describe the detection of L. braziliensis, L. infantum, and L. mexicana in serum of dogs from the states of Yucatan and Quintana Roo in the Yucatan Peninsula (Mexico). A total of 412 sera were analyzed by ELISA using the total extract of the parasite and the iron superoxide dismutase excreted by different trypanosomatids as antigens. We found the prevalence of L. braziliensis to be 7.52%, L. infantum to be 6.07%, and L. mexicana to be 20.63%, in the dog population studied. The results obtained with ELISA using iron superoxide dismutase as the antigen were confirmed by western blot analysis with its greater sensitivity, and the agreement between the two techniques was very high

The effects of sildenafil citrate on the fetoplacental development and hemodynamics in a rabbit model of intrauterina growth restriction

The present study evaluated the effectiveness of sildenafil citrate (SC) to improve placental and fetal growth in a diet-induced rabbit model of intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Pregnant rabbits were fed either ad libitum (Group C) or restricted to 50% of dietary requirements (Group R) or restricted and treated with SC (Group SC). The treatment with SC improved placental development by increasing vascularity and vessel hypertrophy in the decidua. The assessment of feto–placental haemodynamics showed higher resistance and pulsatility indices at the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in fetuses treated with SC when compared with Group R, which had increased systolic peak and time-averaged mean velocities at the MCA. Furthermore, fetuses in the SC group had significantly higher biparietal and thoracic diameters and longer crown–rump lengths than fetuses in Group R. Hence, the SC group had a reduced IUGR rate and a higher kit size at birth compared with Group R. In conclusion, SC may provide potential benefits in pregnancies with placental insufficiency and IUGR, partially counteracting the negative effects of food restriction on placental development and fetal growth. However, the present study also found evidence of a possible blood overflow in the brain that warrants further investigation