Land management shapes drought responses of dominant soil microbial taxa across grasslands.

Soil microbial communities are dominated by a relatively small number of taxa that may play outsized roles in ecosystem functioning, yet little is known about their capacities to resist and recover from climate extremes such as drought, or how environmental context mediates those responses. Here, we imposed an in situ experimental drought across 30 diverse UK grassland sites with contrasting management intensities and found that: (1) the majority of dominant bacterial (85%) and fungal (89%) taxa exhibit resistant or opportunistic drought strategies, possibly contributing to their ubiquity and dominance across sites; and (2) intensive grassland management decreases the proportion of drought-sensitive and non-resilient dominant bacteria-likely via alleviation of nutrient limitation and pH-related stress under fertilisation and liming-but has the opposite impact on dominant fungi. Our results suggest a potential mechanism by which intensive management promotes bacteria over fungi under drought with implications for soil functioning.

Inhaled Litsea glaucescens K. (Lauraceae) leaves' essential oil has anxiolytic and antidepressant-like activity in mice by BDNF pathway activation.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Litsea glaucescens K. (Lauraceae) is a small tree from the Mexican and Central American temperate forests, named as "Laurel". Its aromatic leaves are ordinarily consumed as condiments, but also are important in Mexican Traditional Medicine, and among the most important non wood forest products in this area. The leaves are currently used in a decoction for the relief of sadness by the Mazahua ethnic group. Interestingly, "Laurel" has a long history. It was named as "Ehecapahtli" (wind medicine) in pre-Columbian times and applied to heal maladies correlated to the Central Nervous System, among them depression, according to botanical texts written in the American Continent almost five centuries ago. AIM OF THE STUDY: Depression is the first cause of incapacity in the world, and society demands alternative treatments, including aromatherapy. We have previously demonstrated the antidepressant-like activity of L. glaucescens leaves' essential oil (LEO), as well as their monoterpenes linalool, and beta-pinene by intraperitoneal route in a mice behavioral model. Here we now examined if LEO and linalool exhibit this property and anxiolytic activity when administered to mice by inhalation. We also investigated if these effects occur by BDNF pathway activation in the brain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The LEO was prepared by distillation with water steam and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The monoterpenes linalool, eucalyptol and ß-pinene were identified and quantified. Antidepressant type properties were determined with the Forced Swim Test (FST) on mice previously exposed to LEO or linalool in an inhalation chamber. The spontaneous locomotor activity and the sedative effect were assessed with the Open Field Test (OFT), and the Exploratory Cylinder (EC), respectively. The anxiolytic properties were investigated with the Elevated Plus Maze Apparatus (EPM) and the Hole Board Test (HBT). All experiments were video documented. The mice were subjected to euthanasia, and the brain hippocampus and prefrontal cortex were dissected. RESULTS: The L. glaucescens essential oil (LEO) contains 31 compounds according to GC/MS, including eucalyptol, linalool and beta-pinene. The LEO has anxiolytic effect by inhalation in mice, as well as linalool, and ß-pinene, as indicated by OFT and EC tests. The LEO and imipramine have antidepressant like activity in mice as revealed by the FST; however, linalool and ketamine treatments didn't modify the time of immobility. The BDNF was increased in FST in mice treated with LEO in both areas of the brain as revealed by Western blot; but did not decrease the level of corticosterone in plasma. The OFT indicated that LEO and imipramine didn't reduce the spontaneous motor activity, while linalool and ketamine caused a significant decrease. CONCLUSION: Here we report by the first time that L. glaucescens leaves essential oil has anxiolytic effect by inhalation in mice, as well as linalool, and ß-pinene. This oil also maintains its antidepressant-like activity by this administration way, similarly to the previously determined intraperitoneally. Since inhalation is a common administration route for humans, our results suggest L. glaucescens essential oil deserve future investigation due to its potential application in aromatherapy.

Sedentarismo en el embarazo: efectos sobre la madre y el recién nacido / Sedentary lifestyle in pregnancy: Effects on the mother and the newborn

Objetivo Identificar el estado de sedentarismo durante el embarazo y los factores asociados a este comportamiento, los posibles factores, su situación de salud y del recién nacido. Material y métodos Este estudio observacional transversal de 2 fases se desarrolló en el Hospital Universitario y Politécnico de La Fe, y participaron 228 mujeres embarazadas. Las características sociodemográficas maternas se obtuvieron mediante cuestionario estructurado e información de salud de la historia clínica electrónica, así como los resultados perinatales del recién nacido. Para evaluar el sedentarismo se valoró el ejercicio en el tiempo libre y el ejercicio en horario laboral, categorizándolos en función de la intensidad (sedentarismo, actividad leve, actividad moderada e intenso). Resultados En total, la prevalencia de sedentarismo fue del 31,14%. El perfil de este grupo tiene menor nivel educativo y desempleo (p<0,05), presentando una mayor prevalencia de problemas durante el parto, que requirió cesárea, así como problemas posparto en el recién nacido (p<0,05). Conclusiones La inactividad física es altamente prevalente entre las mujeres embarazadas. Debido a los beneficios (o no daños) atribuidos al ejercicio durante el embarazo. Se deben realizar mayores esfuerzos para superar las barreras para promover actividades entre las mujeres embarazadas que son más jóvenes, menos educadas y desempleadas, y aquellas con varios hijos y menores ingresos tienen menos probabilidades de participar en una cantidad adecuada de actividad física, conscientes de la importancia de hacerlo, resolviendo dudas y disipando temores que puedan surgir por una mala comprensión del mecanismo de su beneficio (AU)

Objective Identify the state of sedentary lifestyle during pregnancy and the factors associated with this behavior, the possible factors of your health situation and that of the newborn. Material and methods This two-phase, cross-sectional observational study was developed at the La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital and 228 pregnant women participated. Maternal sociodemographic characteristics were obtained using structured questionnaire and health information from the electronic medical records, as well as perinatal results of the newborn. To assess sedentary lifestyle, exercise in free time and exercise during working hours were assessed, categorizing them based on intensity (sedentary lifestyle, light activity, moderate and intense activity). Results In total, the prevalence of physical inactivity was 31.14%. The profile of this group has a lower level of education and unemployment (P<.05), presenting a higher prevalence of problems during childbirth, which required a caesarean section, as well as problems after birth in the newborn (P<.05). Conclusions Physical inactivity is highly prevalent among pregnant women. Due to the benefits (or non-harm) attributed to exercise during pregnancy. Further efforts should be taken to overcome the barriers to promote activities among pregnant women who are younger, less well educated, and unemployed and those with multiple children and a lower income are less likely to engage in an adequate amount of physical activity, aware of the importance of doing it, resolving doubts and allaying fears that may arise from a poor understanding of the mechanism of its benefit (AU)

[Sedentary lifestyle in pregnancy: Effects on the mother and the newborn]. / Sedentarismo en el embarazo: efectos sobre la madre y el recién nacido.

OBJECTIVE: Identify the state of sedentary lifestyle during pregnancy and the factors associated with this behavior, the possible factors of your health situation and that of the newborn. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This two-phase, cross-sectional observational study was developed at the La Fe University and Polytechnic Hospital and 228 pregnant women participated. Maternal sociodemographic characteristics were obtained using structured questionnaire and health information from the electronic medical records, as well as perinatal results of the newborn. To assess sedentary lifestyle, exercise in free time and exercise during working hours were assessed, categorizing them based on intensity (sedentary lifestyle, light activity, moderate and intense activity). RESULTS: In total, the prevalence of physical inactivity was 31.14%. The profile of this group has a lower level of education and unemployment (P<.05), presenting a higher prevalence of problems during childbirth, which required a caesarean section, as well as problems after birth in the newborn (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Physical inactivity is highly prevalent among pregnant women. Due to the benefits (or non-harm) attributed to exercise during pregnancy. Further efforts should be taken to overcome the barriers to promote activities among pregnant women who are younger, less well educated, and unemployed and those with multiple children and a lower income are less likely to engage in an adequate amount of physical activity, aware of the importance of doing it, resolving doubts and allaying fears that may arise from a poor understanding of the mechanism of its benefit.

A shared accretion instability for black holes and neutron stars.

Accretion disks around compact objects are expected to enter an unstable phase at high luminosity1. One instability may occur when the radiation pressure generated by accretion modifies the disk viscosity, resulting in the cyclic depletion and refilling of the inner disk on short timescales2. Such a scenario, however, has only been quantitatively verified for a single stellar-mass black hole3-5. Although there are hints of these cycles in a few isolated cases6-10, their apparent absence in the variable emission of most bright accreting neutron stars and black holes has been a continuing puzzle11. Here we report the presence of the same multiwavelength instability around an accreting neutron star. Moreover, we show that the variability across the electromagnetic spectrum-from radio to X-ray-of both black holes and neutron stars at high accretion rates can be explained consistently if the accretion disks are unstable, producing relativistic ejections during transitions that deplete or refill the inner disk. Such a new association allows us to identify the main physical components responsible for the fast multiwavelength variability of highly accreting compact objects.

A persistent ultraviolet outflow from an accreting neutron star binary transient.

All disc-accreting astrophysical objects produce powerful disc winds. In compact binaries containing neutron stars or black holes, accretion often takes place during violent outbursts. The main disc wind signatures during these eruptions are blue-shifted X-ray absorption lines, which are preferentially seen in disc-dominated 'soft states'1,2. By contrast, optical wind-formed lines have recently been detected in 'hard states', when a hot corona dominates the luminosity3. The relationship between these signatures is unknown, and no erupting system has as yet revealed wind-formed lines between the X-ray and optical bands, despite the many strong resonance transitions in this ultraviolet (UV) region4. Here we report that the transient neutron star binary Swift J1858.6-0814 exhibits wind-formed, blue-shifted absorption lines associated with C IV, N V and He II in time-resolved UV spectroscopy during a luminous hard state, which we interpret as a warm, moderately ionized outflow component in this state. Simultaneously observed optical lines also display transient blue-shifted absorption. Decomposing the UV data into constant and variable components, the blue-shifted absorption is associated with the former. This implies that the outflow is not associated with the luminous flares in the data. The joint presence of UV and optical wind features reveals a multi-phase and/or spatially stratified evaporative outflow from the outer disc5. This type of persistent mass loss across all accretion states has been predicted by radiation-hydrodynamic simulations6 and helps to explain the shorter-than-expected duration of outbursts7.

Tumoración esternal benigna autolimitada, un diagnóstico para tener en cuenta / Self-limiting benign sternal tumor, a diagnosis to consider

La aparición de tumoraciones en Pediatría es una causa de gran angustia familiar. En concreto, las masas esternales son entidades poco frecuentes pero que se deben conocer. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con aparición súbita de una tumoración a nivel esternal. Tras realizar anamnesis y exploración física se llevaron a cabo las siguientes exploraciones complementarias: análisis sanguíneo, radiografía de tórax y ecografía de la lesión. Mediante estos procedimientos, se diagnosticó al paciente de una entidad denominada tumor esternal autolimitado de la infancia o SELSTOC (self limiting sternal tumors of childhood) por sus siglas en inglés. Es aconsejable reconocer esta entidad dado que se trata de un proceso benigno que no requiere de la realización de pruebas cruentas y que permite transmitir tranquilidad a los familiares por su buen pronóstico (AU)

The appearance of tumors in pediatric patients is a cause of great family distress. Specifically, sternal masses are infrequent entities, but they should be known. We present the case of a patient with sudden onset of a sternal tumor. After anamnesis and physical examination, the following complementary examinations were performed: blood analysis, chest X-ray and ultrasound of the lesion. By means of these procedures, the patient was diagnosed with an entity called self-limiting sternal tumor of childhood or SELSTOC (self-limiting sternal tumors of childhood). It is advisable to recognize this tumor since it is a benign process that does not require invasive tests and that allows us to reassure family members of its good prognosis. (AU)

Decoding signaling pathways involved in prolactin-induced neuroprotection: A review.

It has been well recognized that prolactin (PRL), a pleiotropic hormone, has many functions in the brain, such as maternal behavior, neurogenesis, and neuronal plasticity, among others. Recently, it has been reported to have a significant role in neuroprotection against excitotoxicity. Glutamate excitotoxicity is a common alteration in many neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, leading to neuronal death. In this sense, several efforts have been made to decrease the progression of these pathologies. Despite various reports of PRL's neuroprotective effect against excitotoxicity, the signaling pathways that underlie this mechanism remain unclear. This review aims to describe the most recent and relevant studies on the molecular signaling pathways, particularly, PI3K/AKT, NF-κB, and JAK2/STAT5, which are currently under investigation and might be implicated in the molecular mechanisms that explain the PRL effects against excitotoxicity and neuroprotection. Remarkable neuroprotective effects of PRL might be useful in the treatment of some neurological diseases.

Promising biomarkers of human aging: In search of a multi-omics panel to understand the aging process from a multidimensional perspective.

The aging process has been linked to the occurrence of chronic diseases and functional impairments, including cancer, sarcopenia, frailty, metabolic, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases. Nonetheless, aging is highly variable and heterogeneous and represents a challenge for its characterization. In this sense, intrinsic capacity (IC) stands as a novel perspective by the World Health Organization, which integrates the individual wellbeing, environment, and risk factors to understand aging. However, there is a lack of quantitative and qualitative attributes to define it objectively. Therefore, in this review we attempt to summarize the most relevant and promising biomarkers described in clinical studies at date over different molecular levels, including epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and the microbiome. To aid gerontologists, geriatricians, and biomedical researchers to understand the aging process through the IC. Aging biomarkers reflect the physiological state of individuals and the underlying mechanisms related to homeostatic changes throughout an individual lifespan; they demonstrated that aging could be measured independently of time (that may explain its heterogeneity) and to be helpful to predict age-related syndromes and mortality. In summary, we highlight the areas of opportunity and gaps of knowledge that must be addressed to fully integrate biomedical findings into clinically useful tools and interventions.

Identification of putative miRNA biomarkers in early rheumatoid arthritis by genome-wide microarray profiling: A pilot study.

Despite the existing research, the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), an autoimmune disease remains poorly understood with early and accurate diagnosis difficult to achieve. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role in biological processes as modulators of transcription and translation. Previous studies have demonstrated a downregulation of several genes in early RA stages and in addition, miRNAs may serve as early biomarkers of subclinical changes in early RA. When comparing the four groups (ANOVA P < 0.01, fold change > 4), we found 253 differentially expressed miRNAs. Of these, 97 miRNAs were identified as overexpressed in early rheumatoid arthritis. The validation of miRNA microarray expression was performed in a set by RT-qPCR and showed strong agreement with microarray expression data. The putative targets of overexpressed microRNAs in early RA were significantly enriched in apoptosis, tolerance loss and Wnt pathways. Moreover, ROC analysis showed values of AUC 0.76 and P < 0.05 for miR 361-5p, identifying this miRNA as a potential biomarker of disease. We identified specific microRNAs associated with early rheumatoid arthritis and proposed them as early biomarkers of disease. Our results provide novel insight into immune disease physiopathology and describe unreported microRNAs in RA with potential for clinical use.

Prolactin prevents mitochondrial dysfunction induced by glutamate excitotoxicity in hippocampal neurons.

Prolactin (PRL) is a pleiotropic hormone secreted by several cells and tissues in the body, such as mammary glands, T-lymphocytes, hypothalamus, among others. This hormone possess neuroprotective properties against glutamate-excitotoxicity through the activation of NF-kB, suggesting it could exert an antioxidant action. However, the role of PRL on the antioxidant defense during glutamate-induced excitotoxicity is not clear to date. Therefore, in the present study, we have evaluated the effect of PRL on SOD activity and protein content of both of its isoforms (Mn2+-SOD and Cu2+/Zn2+-SOD), as well as, its action on mitochondrial activity in primary culture of hippocampal neurons of rats. Additionally, we have evaluated the possible antioxidant effect of PRL through the determination of lipid peroxidation products (LPO), measured as malondialdehyde (MDA). Results show that PRL enhances the activity and the protein content of Mn2+-SOD and Cu2+/Zn2+-SOD in neurons exposed to glutamate-induced excitotoxicity. Moreover, our results demonstrate that PRL prevents mitochondrial dysfunction induced by glutamate and significantly decreases the levels of LPO products. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a potential antioxidant effect of PRL has been described in hippocampal neurons exposed to glutamate excitotoxicity, opening questions of its potentiality for therapeutics.

The RNA world of human ageing.

Ageing is one of the most complex processes in nature; how could we prevent the associated biological changes and chronic diseases that string along with this process, is a challenge in healthcare around the world. Recent advances in next-generation sequencing have reached a stage where it is possible to know from a specific tissue the most abundant transcripts, alternative splicing process and, non-coding RNA molecules (microRNA's, long non-coding RNA's, and circular RNAs). Moreover, our knowledge of several biological processes related to ageing such as senescence and autophagy have dramatically increased in the last years. In the present review, we attempt to summarise the latest scientific advances from the most critical studies performed in human clinical samples, specific to the RNA studies about ageing. Overall, human transcriptomics research indicates that although there are common alterations of the regular expression patterns of the energetic and oxidative metabolism, extracellular matrix regulation and inflammation pathways, ageing seems to be gender and tissue-specific in general. Additionally, there is an age-related implication in several numbers of impaired events on the normal alternative splicing process. On the other hand, there is a direct relation of several non-coding RNA molecules with age-related changes which indicates its possible use as biomarkers for diagnostics and therapeutically purposes. Together, these findings highlight the importance to continue focusing research on RNA studies to improve our knowledge in the pathophysiology of age-related diseases.

Transcriptional signature associated with early rheumatoid arthritis and healthy individuals at high risk to develop the disease.

BACKGROUND: Little is known regarding the mechanisms underlying the loss of tolerance in the early and preclinical stages of autoimmune diseases. The aim of this work was to identify the transcriptional profile and signaling pathways associated to non-treated early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and subjects at high risk. Several biomarker candidates for early RA are proposed. METHODS: Whole blood total RNA was obtained from non-treated early RA patients with <1 year of evolution as well as from healthy first-degree relatives of patients with RA (FDR) classified as ACCP+ and ACCP- according to their antibodies serum levels against cyclic citrullinated peptides. Complementary RNA (cRNA) was synthetized and hybridized to high-density microarrays. Data was analyzed in Genespring Software and functional categories were assigned to a specific transcriptome identified in subjects with RA and FDR ACCP positive. Specific signaling pathways for genes associated to RA were identified. Gene expression was evaluated by qPCR. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to evaluate these genes as biomarkers. RESULTS: A characteristic transcriptome of 551 induced genes and 4,402 repressed genes were identified in early RA patients. Bioinformatics analysis of the data identified a specific transcriptome in RA patients. Moreover, some overlapped transcriptional profiles between patients with RA and ACCP+ were identified, suggesting an up-regulated distinctive transcriptome from the preclinical stages up to progression to an early RA state. A total of 203 pathways have up-regulated genes that are shared between RA and ACCP+. Some of these genes show potential to be used as progression biomarkers for early RA with area under the curve of ROC > 0.92. These genes come from several functional categories associated to inflammation, Wnt signaling and type I interferon pathways. CONCLUSION: The presence of a specific transcriptome in whole blood of RA patients suggests the activation of a specific inflammatory transcriptional signature in early RA development. The set of overexpressed genes in early RA patients that are shared with ACCP+ subjects but not with ACCP- subjects, can represent a transcriptional signature involved with the transition of a preclinical to a clinical RA stage. Some of these particular up-regulated and down-regulated genes are related to inflammatory processes and could be considered as biomarker candidates for disease progression in subjects at risk to develop RA.

Blazar spectral variability as explained by a twisted inhomogeneous jet.

Blazars are active galactic nuclei, which are powerful sources of radiation whose central engine is located in the core of the host galaxy. Blazar emission is dominated by non-thermal radiation from a jet that moves relativistically towards us, and therefore undergoes Doppler beaming. This beaming causes flux enhancement and contraction of the variability timescales, so that most blazars appear as luminous sources characterized by noticeable and fast changes in brightness at all frequencies. The mechanism that produces this unpredictable variability is under debate, but proposed mechanisms include injection, acceleration and cooling of particles, with possible intervention of shock waves or turbulence. Changes in the viewing angle of the observed emitting knots or jet regions have also been suggested as an explanation of flaring events and can also explain specific properties of blazar emission, such as intra-day variability, quasi-periodicity and the delay of radio flux variations relative to optical changes. Such a geometric interpretation, however, is not universally accepted because alternative explanations based on changes in physical conditions-such as the size and speed of the emitting zone, the magnetic field, the number of emitting particles and their energy distribution-can explain snapshots of the spectral behaviour of blazars in many cases. Here we report the results of optical-to-radio-wavelength monitoring of the blazar CTA 102 and show that the observed long-term trends of the flux and spectral variability are best explained by an inhomogeneous, curved jet that undergoes changes in orientation over time. We propose that magnetohydrodynamic instabilities or rotation of the twisted jet cause different jet regions to change their orientation and hence their relative Doppler factors. In particular, the extreme optical outburst of 2016-2017 (brightness increase of six magnitudes) occurred when the corresponding emitting region had a small viewing angle. The agreement between observations and theoretical predictions can be seen as further validation of the relativistic beaming theory.

Mould and grass pollen allergy as risk factors for childhood asthma in Zaragoza, Spain

OBJECTIVE: Examine the prevalence of asthma and associated predictive factors in a group of 468 students. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional observational study in a randomly selected population of 468 children aged 10-12, in the city of Zaragoza. We used the ISAAC questionnaire on asthma completed by children under supervision of the investigators. We assessed the genetic risk (family history of asthma) and environmental risks. The risk for atopy was assessed by the presence of positive skin prick tests. RESULTS: 25.3% of the children had symptoms consistent with asthma in the city of Zaragoza. Among them 33.1% reported a history of asthma in close relatives (OR=1.78, p < 0.001). The history of hospitalisations for lower respiratory tract illness was strongly associated with the presence of asthma (OR=6.72, p < 0.0001). Positive skin tests to Alternaria (OR=2.00, p < 0.0001) and grass pollen (OR=1.76, p < 0.001) were predictors of asthma. 63.6% of asthmatic children had presented clinical rhinitis in the previous 12 months, compared with 32% of non-asthmatics, and this difference was statistically significant (OR=3.89, p < 0.0001). 47% of asthmatics presented with or previously had eczema, whereas only 26.9% of non-asthmatics presented with or previously had these types of lesions (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: The following are predictors of asthma: History of hospital admissions for lower respiratory tract illness, presence of rhinitis and/or eczema, positive prick test for certain aeroallergens, especially Alternaria and grass pollen, and family history of asthma

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Mould and grass pollen allergy as risk factors for childhood asthma in Zaragoza, Spain.

OBJECTIVE: Examine the prevalence of asthma and associated predictive factors in a group of 468 students. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional observational study in a randomly selected population of 468 children aged 10-12, in the city of Zaragoza. We used the ISAAC questionnaire on asthma completed by children under supervision of the investigators. We assessed the genetic risk (family history of asthma) and environmental risks. The risk for atopy was assessed by the presence of positive skin prick tests. RESULTS: 25.3% of the children had symptoms consistent with asthma in the city of Zaragoza. Among them 33.1% reported a history of asthma in close relatives (OR=1.78, p<0.001). The history of hospitalisations for lower respiratory tract illness was strongly associated with the presence of asthma (OR=6.72, p<0.0001). Positive skin tests to Alternaria (OR=2.00, p<0.0001) and grass pollen (OR=1.76, p<0.001) were predictors of asthma. 63.6% of asthmatic children had presented clinical rhinitis in the previous 12 months, compared with 32% of non-asthmatics, and this difference was statistically significant (OR=3.89, p<0.0001). 47% of asthmatics presented with or previously had eczema, whereas only 26.9% of non-asthmatics presented with or previously had these types of lesions (p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The following are predictors of asthma: History of hospital admissions for lower respiratory tract illness, presence of rhinitis and/or eczema, positive prick test for certain aeroallergens, especially Alternaria and grass pollen, and family history of asthma.

Toxicogenomic analysis of pharmacological active coumarins isolated from Calophyllum brasiliense.

Calophyllum brasiliense (Calophyllaceae) is a tropical rain forest tree, mainly distributed in South and Central America. It is an important source of bioactive natural products like, for instance soulatrolide, and mammea type coumarins. Soulatrolide is a tetracyclic dipyranocoumarins and a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Mammea A/BA and A/BB coumarins, pure or as a mixture, are highly active against several leukemia cell lines, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania amazonensis. In the present work, a toxicogenomic analysis of Soulatrolide and Mammea A/BA + A/BB (3:1) mixture was performed in order to validate the toxicological potential of this type of compounds. Soulatrolide or mixture of mammea A/BA + A/BB (3:1) was administered orally to male mice (CD-1) at dose of 100 mg/kg/daily, for 1 week. After this time, mice were sacrificed, and RNA extracted from the liver of treated animals. Transcriptomic analysis was performed using Affymetrix Mouse Gene 1.0 ST Array. Robust microarray analysis (RMA) and two way ANOVA test revealed for mammea mixture treatment 46 genes upregulated and 72 downregulated genes; meanwhile, for soulatrolide 665 were upregulated and 1077 downregulated genes. Enrichment analysis for such genes revealed that in both type of treatments genetic expression were mainly involved in drug metabolism. Overall results indicate a safety profile. The microarray data complies with MIAME guidelines and are deposited in GEO under accession number GSE72755.

Coinfección vírica en las infecciones respiratorias infantiles / Viral Coinfection in Childhood Respiratory Tract Infections

Introducción: Las técnicas moleculares han permitido un mejor conocimiento de la etiología de las infecciones respiratorias infantiles. El objetivo del estudio fue analizar la coinfección viral y su relación con la gravedad clínica. Métodos: Se estudió a pacientes pediátricos hospitalizados con diagnóstico clínico de infección respiratoria durante el periodo comprendido entre 2009 y 2010. Se recogieron datos clínicos, epidemiológicos, duración de la hospitalización, necesidad de oxigenoterapia, coinfección bacteriana y necesidad de ventilación mecánica. Etiología estudiada con técnica PCR múltiple y microarrays de baja densidad para 19 virus. Resultados: Un total de 385 pacientes presentaron resultados positivos, 44,94% menores de 12 meses. Los virus más detectados fueron: VRS-B: 139, rhinovirus: 114, VRS-A: 111, influenza A H1N1-2009: 93 y bocavirus: 77. Se detectó coinfección en el 61,81%, un 36,36% con 2 virus, 16,10% con 3 y 9,35% con 4 o más. La coinfección fue superior en 2009 con 69,79 frente 53,88% en 2010. Rhinovirus/VRS-B en 10 ocasiones y VRS-A/VRS-B en 5 fueron las coinfecciones más detectadas. Menor hospitalización a mayor número de virus detectados (p < 0,001). Necesitaron oxigenoterapia el 26,75% (en 55,34% se aisló un virus), objetivando a mayor número de virus menor necesidad de oxígeno (p < 0,001). Precisaron ventilación mecánica 9 casos, 4 de ellos con coinfección bacteriana y 5 con coinfección vírica (p = 0,69). Conclusiones: Objetivamos una relación inversamente proporcional entre número de virus detectados en aspirado nasofaríngeo, necesidad de oxigenoterapia y días de hospitalización. Se necesitan más estudios epidemiológicos y mejoría en las técnicas de detección cuantitativa para definir el papel de las coinfecciones víricas en la enfermedad respiratoria y su correlación con la gravedad clínica

Introduction: The introduction of molecular techniques has enabled better understanding of the etiology of respiratory tract infections in children. The objective of the study was to analyze viral coinfection and its relationship to clinical severity. Methods: Hospitalized pediatric patients with a clinical diagnosis of respiratory infection were studied during the period between 2009-2010. Clinical and epidemiological data, duration of hospitalization, need for oxygen therapy, bacterial coinfection and need for mechanical ventilation were collected. Etiology was studied by multiplex PCR and low-density microarrays for 19 viruses. Results: A total of 385 patients were positive, 44.94% under 12 months. The most frequently detected viruses were RSV-B: 139, rhinovirus: 114, RSV-A: 111, influenza A H1N1-2009: 93 and bocavirus: 77. Coinfection was detected in 61.81%, 36.36% with 2 viruses, 16.10% and 9.35% with 3 to 4 or more. Coinfection was higher in 2009 with 69.79 vs. 53.88% in 2010. Rhinovirus/RSV-B on 10 times and RSV-A/RSV-B on 5 times were the most detected coinfections. Hospitalization decreased with greater number of viruses (P < 0,001). Oxygen therapy was required by 26.75% (one virus was detected in 55.34% of cases). A larger number of viruses resulted in less need for oxygen (P < 0,001). Ten cases required mechanical ventilation, 4 patients with bacterial coinfection and 5 with viral coinfection (P = 0,69). Conclusions: An inverse relationship was found between the number of viruses detected in nasopharyngeal aspirate, the need for oxygen therapy and hospitalization days. More epidemiological studies and improved quantitative detection techniques are needed to define the role of viral coinfections in respiratory disease and its correlation with the clinical severity

Viral coinfection in childhood respiratory tract infections.

INTRODUCTION: The introduction of molecular techniques has enabled better understanding of the etiology of respiratory tract infections in children. The objective of the study was to analyze viral coinfection and its relationship to clinical severity. METHODS: Hospitalized pediatric patients with a clinical diagnosis of respiratory infection were studied during the period between 2009-2010. Clinical and epidemiological data, duration of hospitalization, need for oxygen therapy, bacterial coinfection and need for mechanical ventilation were collected. Etiology was studied by multiplex PCR and low-density microarrays for 19 viruses. RESULTS: A total of 385 patients were positive, 44.94% under 12 months. The most frequently detected viruses were RSV-B: 139, rhinovirus: 114, RSV-A: 111, influenza A H1N1-2009: 93 and bocavirus: 77. Coinfection was detected in 61.81%, 36.36% with 2 viruses, 16.10% and 9.35% with 3 to 4 or more. Coinfection was higher in 2009 with 69.79 vs. 53.88% in 2010. Rhinovirus/RSV-B on 10 times and RSV-A/RSV-B on 5 times were the most detected coinfections. Hospitalization decreased with greater number of viruses (P<0,001). Oxygen therapy was required by 26.75% (one virus was detected in 55.34% of cases). A larger number of viruses resulted in less need for oxygen (P<0,001). Ten cases required mechanical ventilation, 4 patients with bacterial coinfection and 5 with viral coinfection (P=0,69). CONCLUSIONS: An inverse relationship was found between the number of viruses detected in nasopharyngeal aspirate, the need for oxygen therapy and hospitalization days. More epidemiological studies and improved quantitative detection techniques are needed to define the role of viral coinfections in respiratory disease and its correlation with the clinical severity.

Analysis of the genetic variability and structure of Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) populations from the Colombian Atlantic coast on the basis of random amplified polymorphic DNA markers.

Ochlerotatus taeniorhynchus (Diptera: Culicidae) is a mosquito, which is an efficient vector of the virus causing epidemic-epizootic Venezuelan equine encephalitis in Colombia. This study used 9 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers to analyze the mosquito's genetic variability and genetic structure of 122 specimens in 7 populations from the Colombian Atlantic coast. Assuming that all loci were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, diversity statistics and analyses were performed. The average number of amplified fragments for each primer was 8.3, and the size of these fragments ranged from 350 to 3600 bp. The expected average heterozygosity was 0.358 ± 0.103. The genetic heterogeneity among the populations studied was small (GST = 0.05 ± 0.01); meanwhile, the gene flow estimates (Nm = 7.32 ± 1.35) were high. In an identical way, the Nei's genetic distances obtained yielded very small values amongst the populations that were studied in this Colombian region. Furthermore, a spatial autocorrelation analysis with Moran's I index revealed a very weak, or inexistent, spatial genetic structure among these populations. The comparison of these results with those performed for other markers (isoenzymes and microsatellites) in populations of this same mosquito from the Colombian Atlantic coast was discussed. The results of our RAPD analysis showed scarce genetic differentiation among the mosquito populations on the Colombian Atlantic coast, which was probably determined by high gene flow levels.