Diverse values of nature for sustainability.

Twenty-five years since foundational publications on valuing ecosystem services for human well-being1,2, addressing the global biodiversity crisis3 still implies confronting barriers to incorporating nature's diverse values into decision-making. These barriers include powerful interests supported by current norms and legal rules such as property rights, which determine whose values and which values of nature are acted on. A better understanding of how and why nature is (under)valued is more urgent than ever4. Notwithstanding agreements to incorporate nature's values into actions, including the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)5 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals6, predominant environmental and development policies still prioritize a subset of values, particularly those linked to markets, and ignore other ways people relate to and benefit from nature7. Arguably, a 'values crisis' underpins the intertwined crises of biodiversity loss and climate change8, pandemic emergence9 and socio-environmental injustices10. On the basis of more than 50,000 scientific publications, policy documents and Indigenous and local knowledge sources, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) assessed knowledge on nature's diverse values and valuation methods to gain insights into their role in policymaking and fuller integration into decisions7,11. Applying this evidence, combinations of values-centred approaches are proposed to improve valuation and address barriers to uptake, ultimately leveraging transformative changes towards more just (that is, fair treatment of people and nature, including inter- and intragenerational equity) and sustainable futures.

Experimental Verification of Inferred Regulatory Interactions of EARLY FLOWERING 3 ( GmELF3-1 ) in Glycine max.

Understanding the roles of evening complex (EC) genes in the circadian clock of plants can inform how diurnal transcriptional loops in the clock gene network function to regulate key physiological and developmental events, including flowering transition. Gene regulatory interactions among soybean's circadian clock and flowering genes were inferred using time-series RNA-seq data and the network inference algorithmic package CausNet. In this study, we seek to clarify the inferred regulatory interactions of the EC gene GmELF3-1. A gene expression analysis using soybean protoplasts as a transient model indicated regulatory roles of GmELF3-1 in expression of selected flowering genes.

Actin protein inside DMPC GUVs and its mechanical response to AC electric fields.

Cells are dynamic systems with complex mechanical properties, regulated by the presence of different species of proteins capable to assemble (and disassemble) into filamentous forms as required by different cells functions. Giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) of DMPC (1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine) are systems frequently used as a simplified model of cells because they offer the possibility of assaying separately different stimuli, which is no possible in living cells. Here we present a study of the effect of acting protein on mechanical properties of GUVs, when the protein is inside the vesicles in either monomeric G-actin or filamentous F-actin. For this, rabbit skeletal muscle G-actin is introduced inside GUVs by the electroformation method. Protein polymerization inside the GUVs is promoted by adding to the solution MgCl2 and the ion carrier A23187 to allow the transport of Mg+2 ions into the GUVs. To determine how the presence of actin changes the mechanical properties of GUVs, the vesicles are deformed by the application of an AC electric field in both cases with G-actin and with polymerized F-actin. The changes in shape of the vesicles are characterized by optical microscopy and from them the bending stiffness of the membrane are determined. It is found that G-actin has no appreciable effect on the bending stiffness of DMPC GUVs, but the polymerized actin makes the vesicles more rigid and therefore more resistant to deformations. This result is supported by evidence that actin filaments tend to accumulate near the membrane.

Expression of Endogenous Retroviral RNA in Prostate Tumors has Prognostic Value and Shows Differences among Americans of African Versus European/Middle Eastern Ancestry.

Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are abundant, repetitive elements dispersed across the human genome and are implicated in various diseases. We investigated two potential roles for ERVs in prostate cancer (PCa). First, the PCa of Black Americans (BA) is diagnosed at an earlier median age and at a more advanced stage than the PCa of White Americans (WA). We used publicly available RNA-seq data from tumor-enriched samples of 27 BA and 65 WA PCa patients in order to identify 12 differentially expressed ERVs (padj < 0.1) and used a tissue microarray of the PCa cores from an independent set of BA and WA patients to validate the differential protein expression of one of these ERVs, ERV3-1 (p = 2.829 × 10-7). Second, we used 57 PCa tumors from patients of all ancestries from one hospital as a training set to identify the ERVs associated with time to biochemical relapse. A 29-ERV prognostic panel was then tested and validated on 35 separate PCa tumors from patients obtained in two different hospitals with a dramatic increase in prognostic power relative to clinical parameters alone (p = 7.4 × 10-11). In summary, ERV RNA expression differences in the prostate tumors of patients of different ancestries may be associated with dissimilarities in the mechanism of cancer progression. In addition, the correlation of expression of certain ERVs in prostate tumors with the risk of biochemical relapse indicates a possible role for ERV expression in cancer progression.

Vitamin C Enhances Antiviral Functions of Lung Epithelial Cells.

Vitamin C is well documented to have antiviral functions; however, there is limited information about its effect on airway epithelial cells-the first cells to encounter infections. Here, we examined the effect of vitamin C on human bronchial epithelium transformed with Ad12-SV40 2B (BEAS-2B) cells, and observed that sodium-dependent vitamin C transporter 2 (SVCT2) was the primary vitamin C transporter. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that treating BEAS-2B cells with vitamin C led to a significant upregulation of several metabolic pathways and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) along with a downregulation of pathways involved in lung injury and inflammation. Remarkably, vitamin C also enhanced the expression of the viral-sensing receptors retinoic acid-inducible gene 1 (RIG-1) and melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA-5), which was confirmed at the protein and functional levels. In addition, the lungs of l-gulono-γ-lactone oxidase knockout (GULO-KO) mice also displayed a marked decrease in these genes compared to wild-type controls. Collectively, our findings indicate that vitamin C acts at multiple levels to exert its antiviral and protective functions in the lungs.

RNA expression differences in prostate tumors and tumor-adjacent stroma between Black and White Americans.

Prostate cancer (PCa) in Black Americans (BA) is diagnosed at an earlier median age and a more advanced stage than PCa in White Americans (WA). Tumor-adjacent stroma (TAS) plays a critical role in tumorigenesis of prostate cancer. We examined RNA expression in both tumor and TAS of BA compared to WA. After evaluating the geographical ancestry of each sample, preliminary analysis of our own RNA-seq data of 7 BA and 7 WA TAS revealed 1706 downregulated and 1844 upregulated genes in BA relative to WA PCa patients (p adj < 0.05). An assessment of published RNA-seq data of clinically matched tumor-enriched tissues from 15 BA and 30 WA patients revealed 932 upregulated and 476 downregulated genes in BA relative to WA (p adj < 0.05). When TAS and tumor epithelial cohorts were compared for the top 2500 statistically significant genes, immune responses were downregulated in BA vs WA TAS, while T cell-exhaustion pathways and the immune checkpoint gene CTLA4 were upregulated in BA vs WA tumors. We found fewer activated dendritic cells in tumor and more CD8 T-cells in TAS of BA versus WA PCa patients. Further characterization of these differences in the immune response of PCa patients of distinct geographical ancestry could help to improve diagnostics, prognostics, and therapy.

Transcriptome Analysis of Ovarian and Uterine Clear Cell Malignancies.

PURPOSE: Ovarian and uterine clear cell carcinomas (CCCs) are rare but associated with poor prognosis. This study explored RNA transcription patterns characteristic of these tumors. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) of 11 ovarian CCCs and five uterine CCCs was performed and compared to publicly available data from high grade serous ovarian cancers (HGSOCs). Ingenuity Pathway Analyses were performed. CIBERSORT analyses estimated relative fractions of 22 immune cell types in each RNA-seq sample. Sequencing data was correlated with PD-L1 immunohistochemical expression. RESULTS: RNA-seq revealed 1,613 downregulated and 1,212 upregulated genes (corrected p < 0.05, |FC |≥10) in ovarian CCC versus HGSOC. Two subgroups were identified in the ovarian CCC, characterized by ethnicity and expression differences in ARID1A. There were 3,252 differentially expressed genes between PD-L1+/- ovarian CCCs, revealing immune response, cell death, and DNA repair networks, negatively correlated with PD-L1 expression, whereas cellular proliferation networks positively correlated with expression. In clear cell ovarian versus clear cell uterine cancer, 1,607 genes were significantly upregulated, and 109 genes were significantly downregulated (corrected p < 0.05, |FC|≥10). Comparative pathway analysis of late and early stage ovarian CCCs revealed unique metabolic and PTEN pathways, whereas uterine CCCs had unique Wnt/Ca+, estrogen receptor, and CCR5 signaling. CIBERSORT analysis revealed that activated mast cells and regulatory T cell populations were relatively enriched in uterine CCCs. The PD-L1+ ovarian CCCs had enriched resting NK cells and memory B cell populations, while PD-L1- had enriched CD8 T-cells, monocytes, eosinophils, and activated dendritic cells. CONCLUSIONS: Unique transcriptional expression profiles distinguish clear cell uterine and ovarian cancers from each other and from other more common histologic subtypes. These insights may aid in devising novel therapeutics.

In vitro lytic activity and antifungal susceptibility of infrequently isolated yeasts.

Non-albicans Candida species have acquired relevance in the last decades as a cause of serious disease. The virulence factors and antifungal susceptibility of these rare pathogens remain largely unrecognized. We examined a total of 50 yeast isolates corresponding to 11 different infrequently isolated yeast species for their in vitro enzymatic profile and susceptibility pattern as first-line antifungals. We found aspartyl protease activity for 100% of the isolates tested as well as variable DNAse, hemolysin, phospholipase and esterase activities. All strains had low MICs for amphotericin B and showed a variable response to fluconazole (0.125-32 µg/mL) and the echinocandins tested (0.25-> 8 µg/mL).

In vitro virulence determinants, comparative pathogenicity of Diutina (Candida) mesorugosa clinical isolates and literature review of the D. rugosa complex.

Opportunistic mycoses by yeasts have increased considerably in the last three decades. Although Candida albicans is considered one of the most important causes of nosocomial infections, there is a recent shift to non-albicans Candida species as the most frequently isolated yeasts in particular risk groups. Diutina rugosa (formerly Candida rugosa) is a complex that includes four species: D. rugosa sensu stricto, D. neorugosa, D. pseudorugosa, and D. mesorugosa, and they are estimated to represent 0.2% of all Candida clinical isolates. In this study, we analyze nine clinical isolates of D. mesorugosa with focus on the virulence determinants and pathogenicity of the species by means of a Galleria mellonella survival model. Overall, we detected very strong aspartyl-protease and esterase activities. In contrast, both DNase and hemolysin activities were evident in only two of the isolates. None of the isolates was positive for phospholipase activity. All isolates studied were able to form biofilm after 72 h of incubation in a robust manner when compared with the C. albicans strain used as control. Susceptibility testing showed minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ≤1 µg/mL for amphotericin B in all isolates tested. Eight out of nine of the isolates had MICs ≤2 µg/mL for fluconazole. All isolates were resistant to both anidulafungin and caspofungin (MICs ≥1 µg/mL). We found a significant difference (P < 0.0001) amongst the survival curves for the different D. mesorugosa isolates in the Galleria mellonella survival model. Strains HPM309 and H259 produced an acute infection and exhibited the highest virulence, whereas the D. mesorugosa isolates 99-480 and DM17 proved to be the less virulent strains.

Intervenciones de Fomento al Bienestar Nutricional en América Latina y el Caribe: oportunidades para fortalecer las políticas y programas de alimentación y nutrición / Intervention that fostering nutritional well-being in Latin America and the Caribbean: opportunities to strengthen food and nutrition public policies

Fundamentos: América Latina y el Caribe (ALC) se encuentran actualmente en una transición epidemiológica, el sobrepeso y la obesidad se han incrementado rápidamente. El objetivo fue analizar experiencias nacionales para fomento del bienestar nutricional en ALC. Métodos: estudio descriptivo de fuentes secundarias y a través de entrevistas a profundidad para identificar intervenciones de fomento del bienestar nutricional que tengan potencial de escalabilidad. La información se obtuvo de fuentes primarias y secundarias en los 33 países participantes, de febrero a abril de 2016. Resultados: 204 intervenciones identificadas en tres subregiones, Mesoamérica, Sudamérica y Caribe. Las intervenciones buscan prevenir o reducir la malnutrición causadas por deficiencias o promover estilos de vida saludables entre grupos vulnerables. Pocas intervenciones encontradas para mejorar la cultura alimentaria, se incluyen como parte de programas que también abordan otros temas. Conclusión: Existe un potencial significativo para fortalecimiento de políticas públicas que fomenten el bienestar nutricional en ALC. La implementación de un marco de políticas públicas de nutrición regional podría complementar el compromiso continuo de la Década de las Naciones Unidas para la Nutrición con la lucha contra la doble carga de la malnutrición en ALC

Background: The Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) region is currently in an epidemiological transition, overweight and obesity have increased rapidly. The objective was to analyze national experiences that fostering nutritional well-being in LAC. Methods: This isa descriptive study including in-depth interview to identify interventions to foster nutritional well-being with potential of scalability. Information was obtained from primary and secondary sources in the 33 LAC countries, from February to April 2016. Results: 204 interventions were identified in the three sub regions, Mesoamerica, South America and the Caribbean. Most interventions seek to prevent or reduce malnutrition caused by deficiencies or promote healthy lifestyles among vulnerable groups. The few interventions found to improve food culture are included as part of programs that also address other issues. Conclusion: There is a significant potential for the strengthening of nutrition public policies to promote comprehensive interventions that foster nutritional well-being in LAC that currently faces the double burden of malnutrition and the NCD epidemic. The implementation of a regional nutrition policy framework could complement the continued commitment of the United Nations Decade of Action on Nutrition to the fight against the double burden of malnutrition in LAC

Use of hafnium(IV) oxide in biosensors.

Hafnium(IV) oxide is a material with properties that can increase the sensitivity, durability, and reliability of biosensors made from silicon dioxide and other semiconductor materials due to its high dielectric constant, thermodynamic stability, and the simplicity with which it can be deposited. This work describes the use of this material in biosensors based on field-effect transistors to detect ions and DNA, in immunosensors to detect an antigen-antibody complex, its use as a contrast material in computed tomography scans and the possibility of using it in optic biosensors in the infrared region. Its low cost and versatility in the field of biosensors is underscored.

La gran simuladora: tuberculosis meníngea: caso clínico / The Great Simulator: Meningeal Tuberculosis: Clinical Case

La Tuberculosis (TB) es la enfermedad infec-to-contagiosa más importante del mundo, asociada a alta morbimortalidad, principal-mente es pulmonar, sin embargo puede afec-tar otros órganos y tejidos. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) 2015, estimó un millón de niños con TB en el mundo y 169,000 fallecidos. Según la OMS, Hondu-ras ocupa el octavo lugar en carga de tuber-culosis en el hemisferio occidental. Estos datos reflejan que continúa siendo un proble-ma de salud pública prioritario. En países de alta endemicidad, la principal barrera es la pobreza y el escaso acceso al sistema sani-tario. La incidencia de tuberculosis meníngea (TBM) se relaciona directamente con la prevalencia de TB pulmonar (TBP) y aunque solo representa alrededor del 1% de los casos de TB y 5%-10% de TB extrapulmonar, su presencia es preocupante por su elevada tasa de mortalidad (30%) en aquellos pacien-tes que reciben tratamiento óptimo y de secuelas graves en el 50% de los sobrevi-vientes, por lo que el factor más importante que influye en el pronóstico es el diagnóstico precoz y el inicio temprano de tratamiento específico. El diagnóstico de la TBM con frecuencia representa un desafío para el médico; se necesita un alto grado de sospe-cha clínica para no retrasar el diagnóstico y tratamiento puesto que el cuadro clínico es inespecífico, heterogéneo y aunque el examen del líquido cefalorraquídeo (LCR) aporta datos sugestivos, habitualmente se inicia tratamiento empírico sin tener certeza de que el diagnóstico será confirmado. Las The Great Simulator: Meningeal Tuberculosis: Clinical CaseLa Gran Simuladora: Tuberculosis Meníngea: Caso Clínicomanifestaciones clínicas y su duración son de vital importancia para su sospecha...(AU)

Crisis convulsivas febriles: revisión integral / Febrile Seizures: Comprehensive Review

Las convulsiones febriles (CF) son el trastor-no convulsivo más frecuente en la niñez y motivo común de consulta en los departa-mentos de emergencia. Son eventos críticos que coinciden con procesos febriles, en niños de 6 a 60 meses, sin infección del SNC, trastornos metabólicos, ni anomalías neurológicas previas. Estos trastornos son de carácter benigno y autolimitado, sin secuelas neurológicas a largo plazo. La prevalencia de CF es de aproximadamente 2 - 5 %, se ha descrito una mayor incidencia en varones en un 60%, con una relación 2:1. Los niños con antecedentes familiares en primer grado con CF, tienen un riesgo de 4-5 veces más alto que la población general de presentar CF, a pesar de esto algunos casos son esporádicos, lo que sugiere que elemen-tos genéticos y ambientales influyen en su aparición. El diagnóstico es fundamental-mente clínico, los exámenes complementa-rios deben reservarse para casos específi-cos y descartar otras patologías. El trata-miento únicamente está indicado en el manejo de las crisis agudas persistentes...(AU)

Parte 1: alegría a la proteina de leche de vaca / Part 1: Cows Milk Protein Allergy

La alergia a la proteína de leche de vaca (APLV) es la alergia alimentaria más frecuente en niños menores de 3 años, con una incidencia estima- da entre 2-7.5%. Comprende reacciones media- das IgE, no mediadas por IgE y mixtas. La APLV involucra tres sistemas: respiratorio, gastrointes- tinal y piel. Su diagnóstico es clínico y se con r- ma o excluye con la eliminación del alérgeno. Si el lactante es alimentado con leche materna la madre debe continuar con su administración, evitando alimentos que contengan proteína de leche de vaca y ella deberá recibir suplementos de calcio 1000 mg al día. Si recibe fórmula arti - cial, ésta debe ser eliminada e iniciar una fórmu- la extensamente hidrolizada. Dado que cada día la APLV está incrementando a edades mayores y observamos un aumento en la severidad, deci- dimos realizar la presente revisión y dar a cono- cer los factores de riesgo involucrados, para hacer un diagnóstico precoz y evitar así el com- promiso sobre el estado nutricional, ya que por desconocer estos, la mayoría de los niños son sometidos a cambios frecuentes de fórmulas y eliminaciones dietéticas innecesarias...(AU)

Importancia de la nutricion: primeros 1000 días de vida / Importance of Nutrition: rst 1,000 days of life

La nutrición en los primeros 1000 días de vida es la clave esencial para una futura vida sana, ya que este subgrupo de la población es propenso a los desequilibrios e insu ciencias dietéticas. Es de vital importancia una correcta nutrición para apoyar el crecimiento y desarrollo adecuado. Además es importante controlar todos los trastor- nos nutricionales que ocurren en la gestación y en los primeros 2 años ya que subsecuentemente aumentan la morbi-mortalidad, que repercute permanentemente sobre la salud. En los últimos años, existe un considerable interés sobre los efectos que tiene el excesivo aumento ponderal durante la infancia, debido a que el desarrollo de tejido graso en este período es un factor determi- nante en la composición corporal del adulto. La leche materna es el alimento único e irrem- plazable, debido a que suministra todos los nutrientes que garantizaran un desarrollo adecuado. La OMS la recomienda durante los 2 primeros años. La misión de los pediatras durante esta etapa de ventana crítica es promover la lactancia materna exclusiva, ya que hay menor riesgo de diarreas, otitis media, neumonía, alergias alimentarias, infecciones urinarias, DM tipo 2, HTA y obesidad. El reloj de los 1000 dias no se puede reiniciar, debemos ser futuristas y tener los conocimien- tos adecuados sobre la alimentación en este importante periodo...(AU)