Ecological filtering shapes the impacts of agricultural deforestation on biodiversity.

The biodiversity impacts of agricultural deforestation vary widely across regions. Previous efforts to explain this variation have focused exclusively on the landscape features and management regimes of agricultural systems, neglecting the potentially critical role of ecological filtering in shaping deforestation tolerance of extant species assemblages at large geographical scales via selection for functional traits. Here we provide a large-scale test of this role using a global database of species abundance ratios between matched agricultural and native forest sites that comprises 71 avian assemblages reported in 44 primary studies, and a companion database of 10 functional traits for all 2,647 species involved. Using meta-analytic, phylogenetic and multivariate methods, we show that beyond agricultural features, filtering by the extent of natural environmental variability and the severity of historical anthropogenic deforestation shapes the varying deforestation impacts across species assemblages. For assemblages under greater environmental variability-proxied by drier and more seasonal climates under a greater disturbance regime-and longer deforestation histories, filtering has attenuated the negative impacts of current deforestation by selecting for functional traits linked to stronger deforestation tolerance. Our study provides a previously largely missing piece of knowledge in understanding and managing the biodiversity consequences of deforestation by agricultural deforestation.

Evaluation of metabolic syndromes and parasitic infection in Muscovy ducks under different management conditions.

Proper health management is essential for productivity in duck farming. However, there is limited information on the effect of management conditions on rates of metabolic problems and parasitic infections in anatids. We evaluated the rates of metabolic syndromes and gastrointestinal parasite involvement in Muscovy ducks up to 12 weeks of age, under 3 management conditions: backyard, organized, and organized with probiotics. Individuals under organized management developed 2 metabolic problems: ascites, which was rare (3.5%), fatal, and affected both males and females, and angel wing syndrome, which was more frequent (10.6%), has low impact on general health, and only affected males. The treatments do not have a significant effect on the development of ascites, but only individuals in controlled conditions presented this syndrome, and due to its low prevalence, further studies with a larger sample size are required. The risk of angel wing syndrome increased significantly with probiotic supplementation. Regarding to parasitic infection, the improvement of sanitary management and the use of probiotics supplementation reduced the occurrence of coccidiosis. Similarly organized management with probiotic supplementation showed a protective effect on helminthiasis by reducing the frequency of Heterakis gallinarum and greatly reducing the helminth egg load. Coccidiosis and helminthiasis infections were not significantly correlated with the final weight of the ducks. Therefore, organized management and the use of probiotics seems to reduce the impact of parasitic infection, although it increases the risk of developing metabolic syndrome.

Understanding the Role of Telomere Dynamics in Normal and Dysfunctional Human Reproduction.

In modern society, fertility problems and demand of treatment seem to be on the rise, which led to an increased interest in research regarding human reproduction. Among these efforts, the study of the molecular senescence process has gain notorious popularity as aging is one of the most important variables involved in reproductive capacity and since the comprehension of telomere dynamics has become an important and influential theme. This new knowledge regarding the reproductive aging process is expected to offer new tools to understand the acquisition, maintenance, and loss of fertility potential. Therefore, this review seeks to clarify the relevance of molecular aging (evaluated by telomere shortening) in human reproduction, showing that it is a dynamic and variable process modulated according to the specific tissue and stage of development. As well, it is discussed how telomere status influence the development and progression of some fertility pathologies, the outcome of assisted reproductive treatments, and programming of aging in the offspring.

Genetic and epigenetic variations associated with idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss.

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is a reproductive disorder defined as two or more successive and spontaneous pregnancy losses (before 20 weeks of gestation), which affects approximately 1-2% of couples. At present, the causes of RPL remain unknown in a considerable number of cases, leading to complications in treatment and high levels of stress in couples. Idiopathic recurrent pregnancy loss (iRPL) has become one of the more complicated reproductive problems worldwide due to the lack of information about its etiology, which limits the counseling and treatment of patients. For that reason, iRPL requires further study of novel factors to provide scientific information for determining clinical prevention and targeted strategies. The aim of this study is to describe the most recent and promising progress in the identification of potential genetic and epigenetic risk factors for iRPL, expanding the genetic etiology of the disease.

Uso de micro RNA en el manejo de la insuficiencia cardiaca / Use of microRNAs in heart failure management

Resumen: La insuficiencia cardiaca (IC) es una enfermedad de alto impacto que afecta en gran medida a todas las poblaciones humanas, por lo que se ha hecho necesario el desarrollo de nuevas estrategias y métodos para manejarla. Entre estas encontramos a los microRNA, pequeños RNA no codificantes que regulan la expresión genética y que aparecen como una importante opción en el diagnóstico, pronóstico y tratamiento de esta patología. Resultados de múltiples investigaciones han establecido miRNA específicos como notorios biomarcadores de la IC, puesto que estos pueden ser aislados en fluidos corporales como la sangre y la cuantificación de sus niveles se puede correlacionar con la presencia, estado o características específicas de la enfermedad. Desde el punto de la terapéutica, por su importante rol en el control de la expresión génica y la homeostasis celular, se ha explorado su uso en la prevención o tratamiento de las características patológicas de la IC. Por ello, en esta revisión se busca mostrar la importancia de la investigación biomédica en el uso de miRNA como método para el manejo de la IC, mostrando la afectación de enfermedad en el mundo, aspectos importantes sobre la biología de los miRNA, así como avances en su uso como biomarcadores y dianas terapéuticas.

Abstract: Heart failure (HF) is a high impact disease that affects all human populations, demanding the development of new strategies and methods to manage this pathology. That's why microRNAs, small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression, appear as an important option in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of this disease. MiRNAs seems to have a future on HF handling, because can be isolated from body fluids such as blood, and changes in its levels can be associated with the presence, stage and specific disease features, which makes them an interesting option as biomarkers. Also, due to the important role of these molecules on regulation of gene expression and cell homeostasis, it has been explored its potential use as a therapeutic method to prevent or treat HF. That is why this review seeks to show the importance of biomedical research involving the use of miRNAs as a method to approach the HF, showing the impact of disease in the world, aspects of miRNAs biology, and their use as biomarkers and as important therapeutic targets.

[Deregulation of microRNAs in gastric cancer: up regulation by miR-21 and miR-106]. / Alteración en la regulación de microRNAs en el cáncer gástrico: sobrerregulación demiR-21 y miR-106.

Gastric cancer (GC) exhibits significant rates of mortality worldwide, a situation that is even more disturbing in Colombia, because it has had historically high rate for that disease; At regional context we have found that Boyacá has the second place of gastric cancer mortality rate in the country, with displeasing numbers. Early detection is critical to the survival of people, so in this article, major based on world literature search, we show that the microRNA could be a useful tool for the diagnosis, prognosis and can be designed as important therapeutic target. Aims to this are demonstrate howmiRNAs are deregulated during the emergence and development of gastric cancer and how their biological functions can place them as oncogenes or tumor suppressors; finally, we showed that two microRNAs (miR-21 and miR-106b) are significantly upregulated in the disease and may have a pro-oncogenic action, blocking normal cell cycle, apoptosis and migration.

[Use of microRNAs in heart failure management]. / Uso de micro RNA en el manejo de la insuficiencia cardiaca.

Heart failure (HF) is a high impact disease that affects all human populations, demanding the development of new strategies and methods to manage this pathology. That's why microRNAs, small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression, appear as an important option in the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of this disease. MiRNAs seems to have a future on HF handling, because can be isolated from body fluids such as blood, and changes in its levels can be associated with the presence, stage and specific disease features, which makes them an interesting option as biomarkers. Also, due to the important role of these molecules on regulation of gene expression and cell homeostasis, it has been explored its potential use as a therapeutic method to prevent or treat HF. That is why this review seeks to show the importance of biomedical research involving the use of miRNAs as a method to approach the HF, showing the impact of disease in the world, aspects of miRNAs biology, and their use as biomarkers and as important therapeutic targets.

Alteración en la regulación de microRNAs en el cáncer gástrico: sobrerregulación de miR-21 y miR-106 / Deregulation of microRNAs in gastric cancer: up regulation by miR-21 and miR-106

El cáncer gástrico presenta una de las tasas de mortalidad más importante a nivel mundial, situación que es aún más preocupante en Colombia cuyas tasas son históricamente altas y en nuestro contexto regional particularmente para Boyacá, en la región nororiental de Colombia, es la primera causa de muerte por cáncer y aporta el segundo lugar a la mortalidad por esta enfermedad en el país. La detección temprana y la atención primaria idónea es fundamental en la supervivencia de las personas con cáncer gástrico, por lo que, con el presente artículo, queremos proponer la validación en Latinoamérica de microRNAs (miRNA) como biomarcadores de diagnóstico precoz, pronóstico y seguimiento de esta enfermedad. Gracias a la suficiente evidencia científica de que los miRNA se ven desregulados durante la aparición y el desarrollo del cáncer gástrico ya sea como oncogenes o supresores tumorales, su medida en conjunto para investigaciones clínicas puede hacerlos candidatos específicos de cáncer; por último, resaltar la asociación de dos miRNA (miR-21 y miR-106b) que muestran sus niveles significativamente altos en pacientes con cáncer gástrico.

Gastric cancer (GC) exhibits significant rates of mortality worldwide, a situation that is even more disturbing in Colombia, because it has had historically high rate for that disease; At regional context we have found that Boyacá has the second place of gastric cancer mortality rate in the country, with displeasing numbers. Early detection is critical to the survival of people, so in this article, major based on world literature search, we show that the microRNA could be a useful tool for the diagnosis, prognosis and can be designed as important therapeutic target. Aims to this are demonstrate howmiRNAs are deregulated during the emergence and development of gastric cancer and how their biological functions can place them as oncogenes or tumor suppressors; finally, we showed that two microRNAs (miR-21 and miR-106b) are significantly upregulated in the disease and may have a pro-oncogenic action, blocking normal cell cycle, apoptosis and migration.