Limpets as bioindicators of element pollution in the coasts of Tenerife (Canary Islands).

Currently, there is an increase in marine pollution around the world; the most affected areas are the coastal ones since on the coast is where anthropogenic pollution first acts. Therefore, it is important to have natural bioindicators as organisms that indicate us in the first instance of this pollution. The main objective of the present research is to determine if Patella aspera and Patella candei crenata show statistical differences in their element content in contaminated areas of the Island of Tenerife and to verify if limpets can be good bioindicators of marine pollution by trace elements and non-essential elements. A total of 160 limpets were taken from 4 slopes of the Island of Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The samples were analyzed using the ICP-OES to obtain results of essential trace elements (Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Ni, and Zn) and non-essential elements (Al, B, Cd, Pb, and V). P. aspera showed a higher concentration of elements than P. candei crenata, and it was in the Buenavista locality where alarming values of Cd 0.658 ± 0.124 mg/kg were observed for P. aspera. These two limpet species have been found to be useful as bioindicators of marine pollution based on the concentrations of metals especially for Cd and Cu.

RNA-Seq blood transcriptome profiling in familial attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

We have carried an exploratory study by blood transcriptome to find RNA expression signatures in familial ADHD. Samples were collected from three cases with familial ADHD and their paired controls and evaluated by RNA-Seq. Transcriptome profiling identified 7 differentially expressed transcripts with a FDR <0.05 that were involved in pathways in Huntington's disease or axonal guidance signaling previously implicated in ADHD, and enriched for signal peptide, growth factor binding, and notably the lipid metabolism pathways. These findings show that blood transcriptome can have an associated signature and highlight a potential to use blood transcriptome to identify patterns of ADHD.

Fast skeletal myofibers of mdx mouse, model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy, express connexin hemichannels that lead to apoptosis.

Skeletal muscles of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) show numerous alterations including inflammation, apoptosis, and necrosis of myofibers. However, the molecular mechanism that explains these changes remains largely unknown. Here, the involvement of hemichannels formed by connexins (Cx HCs) was evaluated in skeletal muscle of mdx mouse model of DMD. Fast myofibers of mdx mice were found to express three connexins (39, 43 and 45) and high sarcolemma permeability, which was absent in myofibers of mdx Cx43(fl/fl)Cx45(fl/fl):Myo-Cre mice (deficient in skeletal muscle Cx43/Cx45 expression). These myofibers did not show elevated basal intracellular free Ca(2+) levels, immunoreactivity to phosphorylated p65 (active NF-κB), eNOS and annexin V/active Caspase 3 (marker of apoptosis) but presented dystrophin immunoreactivity. Moreover, muscles of mdx Cx43(fl/fl)Cx45(fl/fl):Myo-Cre mice exhibited partial decrease of necrotic features (big cells and high creatine kinase levels). Accordingly, these muscles showed similar macrophage infiltration as control mdx muscles. Nonetheless, the hanging test performance of mdx Cx43(fl/fl)Cx45(fl/fl):Myo-Cre mice was significantly better than that of control mdx Cx43(fl/fl)Cx45(fl/fl) mice. All three Cxs found in skeletal muscles of mdx mice were also detected in fast myofibers of biopsy specimens from patients with muscular dystrophy. Thus, reduction of Cx expression and/or function of Cx HCs may be potential therapeutic approaches to abrogate myofiber apoptosis in DMD.

Prepartum and postpartum rumen fluid microbiomes: characterization and correlation with production traits in dairy cows.

Microbes present in the rumen of dairy cows are essential for degradation of cellulosic and nonstructural carbohydrates of plant origin. The prepartum and postpartum diets of high-producing dairy cows are substantially different, but in what ways the rumen microbiome changes in response and how those changes may influence production traits are not well elucidated. Here, we sequenced the 16S and 18S rRNA genes using the MiSeq platform to characterize the prepartum and postpartum rumen fluid microbiomes in 115 high-producing dairy cows, including both primiparous and multiparous animals. Discriminant analysis identified differences between the microbiomes of prepartum and postpartum samples and between primiparous and multiparous cows. 18S rRNA sequencing revealed an overwhelming dominance of the protozoan class Litostomatea, with over 90% of the eukaryotic microbial population belonging to that group. Additionally, fungi were relatively more prevalent and Litostomatea relatively less prevalent in prepartum samples than in postpartum ones. The core rumen microbiome (common to all samples) consisted of 64 bacterial taxa, of which members of the genus Prevotella were the most prevalent. The Chao1 richness index was greater for prepartum multiparous cows than for postpartum multiparous cows. Multivariable models identified bacterial taxa associated with increased or reduced milk production, and general linear models revealed that a metagenomically based prediction of productivity is highly associated with production of actual milk and milk components. In conclusion, the structure of the rumen fluid microbiome shifts between the prepartum and first-week postpartum periods, and its profile within the context of this study could be used to accurately predict production traits.

Hypothalamic adipic hypernatraemia syndrome with normal osmoregulation of vasopressin.

UNLABELLED: Adipsic hypernatraemia is an uncommon disorder in childhood caused by a defect in the osmoregulation of thirst, leading to impairment of water homeostasis and chronic hyperosmolality of body fluids. Adipsia is often associated with an abnormality in osmoregulated vasopressin secretion due to the close proximity of the hypothalamic osmoreceptors that control thirst with those regulating vasopressin secretion. Hypothalamic lesions of diverse aetiology (vascular abnormalities, neoplasms, granulomatous diseases, trauma etc.) have been described in this syndrome. We report a 12-year-old boy with evident weight loss due to hypernatraemic dehydration with a selective defect in osmoregulation of thirst and normal vasopressin secretion with no demonstrable structural lesion. To date, only six paediatric patients with this condition have been described in the literature. CONCLUSION: Hypothalamic adipsic hypernatraemia syndrome must be suspected when a dehydrated patient denies thirst. The study of antidiuretic function is necessary because the osmoregulation of vasopressin secretion could be altered.