Reducing gut microbiome-driven adipose tissue inflammation alleviates metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: The gut microbiota contributes to macrophage-mediated inflammation in adipose tissue with consumption of an obesogenic diet, thus driving the development of metabolic syndrome. There is a need to identify and develop interventions that abrogate this condition. The hops-derived prenylated flavonoid xanthohumol (XN) and its semi-synthetic derivative tetrahydroxanthohumol (TXN) attenuate high-fat diet-induced obesity, hepatosteatosis, and metabolic syndrome in C57Bl/6J mice. This coincides with a decrease in pro-inflammatory gene expression in the gut and adipose tissue, together with alterations in the gut microbiota and bile acid composition. RESULTS: In this study, we integrated and interrogated multi-omics data from different organs with fecal 16S rRNA sequences and systemic metabolic phenotypic data using a Transkingdom Network Analysis. By incorporating cell type information from single-cell RNA-seq data, we discovered TXN attenuates macrophage inflammatory processes in adipose tissue. TXN treatment also reduced levels of inflammation-inducing microbes, such as Oscillibacter valericigenes, that lead to adverse metabolic phenotypes. Furthermore, in vitro validation in macrophage cell lines and in vivo mouse supplementation showed addition of O. valericigenes supernatant induced the expression of metabolic macrophage signature genes that are downregulated by TXN in vivo. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings establish an important mechanism by which TXN mitigates adverse phenotypic outcomes of diet-induced obesity and metabolic syndrome. TXN primarily reduces the abundance of pro-inflammatory gut microbes that can otherwise promote macrophage-associated inflammation in white adipose tissue. Video Abstract.

Decay of waves in strain gradient porous elasticity with Moore-Gibson-Thompson dissipation.

We study a one-dimensional problem arising in strain gradient porous-elasticity. Three different Moore-Gibson-Thompson dissipation mechanisms are considered: viscosity and hyperviscosity on the displacements, and weak viscoporosity. The existence and uniqueness of solutions are proved. The energy decay is also shown, being polynomial for the two first situations, unless a particular choice of the constitutive parameters is made in the hyperviscosity case. Finally, for the weak viscoporosity, only the slow decay can be expected. This article is part of the theme issue 'Wave generation and transmission in multi-scale complex media and structured metamaterials (part 1)'.

Limit on Excitation and Stabilization of Atoms in Intense Optical Laser Fields.

Atomic excitation in strong optical laser fields has been found to take place even at intensities exceeding saturation. The concomitant acceleration of the atom in the focused laser field has been considered a strong link to, if not proof of, the existence of the so-called Kramers-Henneberger (KH) atom, a bound atomic system in an intense laser field. Recent findings have moved the importance of the KH atom from being purely of theoretical interest toward real world applications; for instance, in the context of laser filamentation. Considering this increasing importance, we explore the limits of strong-field excitation in optical fields, which are basically imposed by ionization through the spatial field envelope and the field propagation.

Historical insights on growth rates of the reef-building corals Pavona gigantea and Porites panamensis from the Northeastern tropical Pacific.

Historical coral growth assessed by sclerochronology records provides an environmental retrospective and future perspective on the maintenance of coral-reef ecosystems. Three growth parameters, extension rate, skeletal density, and calcification rate were evaluated over the past two decade's interval (1988-2013) in different gender of two massive corals Pavona gigantea and Porites panamensis. The species P. gigantea calcified two-times faster (0.84 ± 0.29 g cm-2 yr-1) than P. panamensis (0.36 ± 0.15 g cm-2 yr-1); and male colonies presents13-58% higher calcification rates than females. Annual growth parameters do not show significant trends over the period 1988-2013, but significant, growth disruption associated with ENSO events. The data presented here suggest that P.gigantea and P.panamensis from the area have developed phenotypic plasticity to a wide range of environmental condition; the life history of both species is reflected in their calcification rates during both optimal and non-optimal conditions over the last two decades. Massive species develop denser structures that provide a permanent habitat to many marine species and contributes to the long-term maintenance of coral reef communities in the eastern tropical Pacific.

High Temperature Ferromagnetism in a GdAg2 Monolayer.

Materials that exhibit ferromagnetism, interfacial stability, and tunability are highly desired for the realization of emerging magnetoelectronic phenomena in heterostructures. Here we present the GdAg2 monolayer alloy, which possesses all such qualities. By combining X-ray absorption, Kerr effect, and angle-resolved photoemission with ab initio calculations, we have investigated the ferromagnetic nature of this class of Gd-based alloys. The Curie temperature can increase from 19 K in GdAu2 to a remarkably high 85 K in GdAg2. We find that the exchange coupling between Gd atoms is barely affected by their full coordination with noble metal atoms, and instead, magnetic coupling is effectively mediated by noble metal-Gd hybrid s,p-d bands. The direct comparison between isostructural GdAu2 and GdAg2 monolayers explains how the higher degree of surface confinement and electron occupation of such hybrid s,p-d bands promote the high Curie temperature in the latter. Finally, the chemical composition and structural robustness of the GdAg2 alloy has been demonstrated by interfacing them with organic semiconductors or magnetic nanodots. These results encourage systematic investigations of rare-earth/noble metal surface alloys and interfaces, in order to exploit them in magnetoelectronic applications.

Genes from pUM505 plasmid contribute to Pseudomonas aeruginosa virulence.

The pUM505 plasmid was isolated from a clinical strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This plasmid contains a genomic island with sequence similar to islands found in chromosomes of virulent P. aeruginosa clinical isolates. The objective of this work was to determine whether pUM505 increases the virulence of P. aeruginosa and to identify the genes responsible for this property. First, using the lettuce-leaf model, we found that pUM505 significantly increases the virulence of P. aeruginosa reference strain PAO1. pUM505 also increased the PAO1 virulence in a murine model and increased cytotoxicity of this strain toward HeLa cells. Thus, we generated a pUM505 gene library of 103 clones in the pUCP20 binary vector. The library was transferred to Escherichia coli TOP10 and P. aeruginosa PAO1 to identify genes. The lettuce-leaf model allowed us to identify three recombinant plasmids that increased the virulence of both E. coli and P. aeruginosa strains. These recombinant plasmids also increased the virulence of the PAO1 strain in mice and induced a cytotoxic effect in HeLa cells. Eleven genes were identified in the virulent transformants. Of these genes, only the pUM505 ORF 2 has homology with a gene previously implicated in virulence. These results indicate that pUM505 contains several genes that encode virulence factors, suggesting that the plasmid may contribute directly to bacterial virulence.

Nucleotide sequence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa conjugative plasmid pUM505 containing virulence and heavy-metal resistance genes.

We determined the complete nucleotide sequence of conjugative plasmid pUM505 isolated from a clinical strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The plasmid had a length of 123,322bp and contained 138 complete coding regions, including 46% open reading frames encoding hypothetical proteins. pUM505 can be considered a hybrid plasmid because it presents two well-defined regions. The first region corresponded to a larger DNA segment with homology to a pathogenicity island from virulent Pseudomonas strains; this island in pUM505 was comprised of genes probably involved in virulence and genes encoding proteins implicated in replication, maintenance and plasmid transfer. Sequence analysis identified pil genes encoding a type IV secretion system, establishing pUM505 as a member of the family of IncI1 plasmids. Plasmid pUM505 also contained virB4/virD4 homologues, which are linked to virulence in other plasmids. The second region, smaller in length, contains inorganic mercury and chromate resistance gene clusters both flanked by putative mobile elements. Although no genes for antibiotic resistance were identified, when pUM505 was transferred to a recipient strain of P. aeruginosa it conferred resistance to the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin. pUM505 also conferred resistance to the superoxide radical generator paraquat. pUM505 could provide Pseudomonas strains with a wide variety of adaptive traits such as virulence, heavy-metal and antibiotic resistance and oxidative stress tolerance which can be selective factors for the distribution and prevalence of this plasmid in diverse environments, including hospitals and heavy metal contaminated soils.

Phosphine induced migratory CO insertion into the Fe-CH2 bond of the organometallic polymer -[(eta(5)-C5H4)Fe(CO)2CH2SiMe2]n- and characterization of model iron complexes.

Thermal and photochemical treatment of 1-sila-3-ferracyclobutane, (eta(5)C(5)H(4))Fe(CO)(2)CH(2)SiMe(2) (1) results in ring-opening polymerization (ROP). Phosphine-induced migratory CO insertion into the Fe-CH(2) bond of the preformed polymer, -[(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))Fe(CO)(2)CH(2)SiMe(2)](n)- (2) results in either linear polymers, -[(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))Fe(CO)(PR(3))C(O)CH(2)SiMe(2)](n)- [R(3) = Me(2)Ph (3), Ph(3) (4)] or diphosphine bridged polymers, -{[(eta(5)-C(5)H(4))Fe(CO)C(O)CH(2)SiMe(2)](2)(P-P)}(n)- [P-P = dppe (5), dppp (6), dppb (7), trans-dppen (8), dmpe (9); dppe = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane, dppp = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)propane, dppb = 1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)butane, cis-dppen = cis-1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethylene, dmpe = 1,2-bis(dimethylphosphino)ethane]. The analogous model complexes, {[(eta(5)-C(5)H(5))Fe(CO)C(O)CH(3)](2)P-P} [P-P = dppp (10), dppb (11), trans-dppen (12), dmpe (13)] were synthesized and characterized as models of the acylated polymers. The X-ray crystal structure of 11 and 13 were determined to establish the bridging nature of the diphosphines in the model complexes and to get insight of the crystal packing.

[Enterovirus determination in cases with a diagnosis of the Guillain-Barré syndrome by using the acid-concentration technic]. / Determinación de enterovirus en casos con diagnóstico de síndrome de Guillain-Barré mediante la utilización de la técnica de concentración ácida.

The purpose of this work was to detect enteroviruses in feces by an acid concentration technique (ACT). Fifty-eight samples from children less than 5 years age with diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) were analyzed using the routine technique and ACT. Nine positive samples with the routine technique were used as controls. Nine control samples and 22 additional (31 cases) non-polio enteroviruses were isolated and identified with the ACT (53%). Thus, 38% more isolates were obtained by ACT. Isolation was more successful in the RD cellular line (59%) than in Hep-2c (41%). In most cases most titers (71%) obtained were low. ACT improved the detection of enteroviruses but because it is very expensive and laborious, it should be used in the case of laboratories that analyze multiple samples, for special cases such as with autopsy cases and when results are compatible to poliovirus using the routine technique and only in samples obtained during the first 15 days of symptomatology.

Examining a paradox: does religiosity contribute to positive birth outcomes in Mexican American populations?

A particularly interesting and consistent finding regarding the health of the Latino population is that Mexican American women, despite their relatively lower socioeconomic status, deliver significantly fewer low birth weight babies and lose fewer babies to all causes during infancy than do women of other ethnic groups. A central thesis of this discussion is that the religiosity and spirituality of many of these Latinas, a key factor in their culture, may protect them and their infants through the pre- and antenatal phases of life. We also suggest that lack of research, related to cultural similarities and differences in Hispanic/Latino subgroups, can lead to faulty or simplistic understanding regarding their health behavior and health status.

All-solid-state single-mode sum-frequency generation of sodium resonance radiation.

We have generated 65 mJ of single-mode sodium resonance radiation in 20-ns-duration pulses by the sum-frequency mixing of the output from two injection-seeded pulsed Nd:YAG lasers operating at 20 Hz. The observed spectral linewidth of the 589.158-nm radiation is measured to be less than 100 MHz, and the frequency stability is better than 100 MHz/h.

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Report of 60 cases]. / Colecistectomía por laparoscopia. Informe de 60 casos.

We present our experience in 60 patients operated of Laparoscopy cholecistectomy, in the last 10 months of activity (we started in June 1990), 25 patients were operated on in the General Hospital No. 8 IMSS, 18 patients in General Hospital "Dr Fdo Quiroz" of ISSSTE and another 17 patients in different places. All of them had gallstones, 51 of the patients were women and 9 were men, the age of the patients was 42.2 years old. The surgery average time was 1.24 hrs with time between 0.32 and 2.25 hours. We operated on 4 patients with acute cholecystitis, three patients were operated on with conventional surgery, and other patient were operated on 10 days later for an Gallbladder Bed Abscess. We have no mortality, all the patients stay at the hospital just for 48 hours and they were ready to work in the next 4 or 8 days.

Expressed emotion and patient-relative interaction in families of recent onset schizophrenics.

This article examines the interaction patterns of relatives of young, recent onset schizophrenic patients classified as displaying either high or low expressed emotion (EE) by two measures, the original Camberwell interview method and a recently developed brief method. The former was administered during the hospitalization period and the latter was administered approximately 2 months later when the patient was in the community. Family interactions were coded with an observational coding system that permitted sequential patterns to be analyzed as a function of the EE status of the family. No relation between the Camberwell EE rating and interactional behavior was found. However, high EE-critical relatives, defined by the brief EE method, were more negative in direct interactions than low EE relatives or high EE relatives classified as emotionally overinvolved. Sequential analyses indicated that high EE-critical relatives showed extreme negative escalation patterns. Patients' reactions to high EE-critical relatives were characterized by self-justification and negative nonverbal behavior.

A brief method for assessing expressed emotion in relatives of psychiatric patients.

A measure of the attitudes and feelings that a relative expresses about a mentally ill family member, termed expressed emotion (EE), is derived from an extensive, semistructured interview, the Camberwell Family Interview (CFI). The present article describes a method for the assessment of EE attitudes that uses a variation of the 5-minute speech sample, originally developed by Gottschalk and Gleser (1969). The measure is derived from responses made by a patient's key relative when prompted to give thoughts and feelings about the patient for a 5-minute period. A coding system was developed to score behaviors analogous to those rated on the CFI, such as criticism and emotional overinvolvement. The relationship between blind EE ratings derived from the 5-minute speech samples and those from the CFI was investigated with two separate samples of relatives of schizophrenics. The relationship between the sets of ratings was very close and supports the value of the 5-minute speech sample as a brief EE screening procedure.

Aspectos epidemiologicos de la lactancia materna en una poblacion derechohabiente del IMSS en Mexico. / Epidemiologic aspects of breast feeding in an insured population of the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS)

Entre los objetivos del presente estudio, se pueden senalar dos, como los mas importantes: explorar en forma retrospectiva los cambios en el patron de alimentacion infantil, en los ultimos 20 anos en Mexico, e investigar algunos factores socieconomicos y culturales, que afectarian la ocurrencia y duracion de la lactancia natural