During embryonic development, organ morphogenesis requires major tissue rearrangements that are tightly regulated at the genetic level. A large number of studies performed in recent decades assigned ...a central role to programmed cell death for such morphogenetic tissue rearrangements that often sculpt the shape of embryonic organs. However, accumulating evidence indicates that far from being the only factor responsible for sculpting organ morphology, programmed cell death is accompanied by other tissue remodeling events that ensure the outcome of morphogenesis. In this regard, cell senescence has been recently associated with morphogenetic degenerative embryonic processes as an early tissue remodeling event in development of the limbs, kidney and inner ear. Here, we have explored cell senescence by monitoring β‐galactosidase activity during embryonic heart development where programmed cell death is believed to exert an important morphogenetic function. We report the occurrence of extensive cell senescence foci during heart morphogenesis. These foci overlap spatially and temporally with the areas of programmed cell death that are associated with remodeling of the outflow tract to build the roots of the great arteries and with the septation of cardiac cavities. qPCR analysis allowed us to identify a gene expression profile characteristic of the so‐called senescence secretory associated phenotype in the remodeling outflow tract of the embryonic heart. In addition, we confirmed local upregulation of numerous tumor suppressor genes including p21, p53, p63, p73 and Btg2. Interestingly, the areas of cell senescence were also accompanied by intense lysosomal activation and non‐apoptotic DNA damage revealed by γH2AX immunolabeling. Considering the importance of sustained DNA damage as a triggering factor for cell senescence and apoptosis, we propose the coordinated contribution of DNA damage, senescence and apoptotic cell death to assure tissue remodeling in the developing vertebrate heart.
The study reports the presence of cell senescence in the areas of cell death that mediate vertebrate heart remodeling during embryonic development. Senescence hallmarks are detected in these areas, including high lysosomal activity, activation of the senescence‐associated secretory phenotype (SASP) and H3K9 trimethylation. Additionally, DNA damage is appreciated in the same areas and it is suggested as an upstream activator of senescence and cell death in this model.
Stable isotopes have been used historically to track food webs. Our approach used a combination of δ13C and radiocarbon (14C) dating to identify carbon sources in cave shrimp within caves of the ...Karstic Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. Three sister species of stygobitic Typhlatya shrimps were collected from the cenote pool (cenote hereafter), cavern and cave hydro regions. New and previously reported 14C and δ13C values of whole tissues from the organisms were determined at the AMS laboratory (LEMA) of the Institute of Physics of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. This new set of isotopic values of biomass and potential sources were incorporated into the Bayesian Mixing Modeling Software SIAR. In two hypothetical scenarios, the contribution from each feeding source among three species of the Typhlatya genus was determined. Slight differences were also observed between isotopic values of two groups of the same species collected in two distant cenote pools, suggesting this species may feed on a wider array of sources than previously found, and that the oligotrophic environment may have a strong influence on cave shrimp diet.
To determine and identify antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) of oral streptococci from active dental infections in adults and its association with age and gender.
This cross-sectional study included ...59 subjects from 18 to 62 years old. Ninety-eighth samples obtained from the subjects were cultivated in agar plates containing antibiotics amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (A-CA), clindamycin, and moxifloxacin (concentrations of 16, 32 or 64 µg/ml). PCR assay was performed to identify bacterial species.
The bacterial species that showed more antibiotic-resistance (AR) was S. mutans (45.9%), followed by S. gordonii (21.6%), S. oralis (17.6%), S. sanguinis (9.5%), S. salivarius (5.4%) and S. sobrinus (0%). Moreover, clindamycin (59.4%) showed the highest frequency of AR. Moxifloxacin and A-CA showed an susceptibility >99.1%, while clindamycin showed the lowest efficacy (93.3%); there was a significant statistically difference (p < .01). The age group between 26 and 50 years old (32.2%) and females (28.8%) showed more multiresistance. Clindamycin showed a statistical difference (p < .05) when comparing groups by gender.
Clindamycin was the antibiotic with the highest frequency of ARB and lower bactericidal effect. Moxifloxacin and A-CA showed the highest efficacy and the lowest ARB frequency. Streptococcus mutans was the bacterial specie that showed an increased frequency of AR.
There is interest in the production of gluten‐free foods with high dietary fibre content and low caloric supply. It is well known that gluten‐free foods present a poor matrix due to the absence of ...gluten, a protein that builds the network which provides the accepted textural characteristics of bakery products and pasta. Moreover, gluten‐free products have a low dietary fibre content due to the use of starch or refined flours. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of unripe plantain flour (UPF) to prepare gluten‐free cookies with high dietary fibre content. A commercial high dietary fibre ingredient (Hi‐Maize 260®) was used for comparison. The hardness, chemical composition, and starch digestibility of the cookies were assessed. The texture and the proximal composition of both cookies was similar, but the dietary fibre content of the cookie with UPF was 100% higher than that of Hi‐Maize 260®, and the former showed a lower predicted glycaemic index. These results indicated that unripe plantain flour can be used as a substitute for commercial ingredients to produce gluten‐free cookies with high dietary fibre content and a low predicted glycaemic index.
Introducción: El neumomediastino espontáneo es la presencia de aire libre en el mediastino que no ocurre por un trauma torácico o esofágico directo. Es un padecimiento muy raro, que usualmente ocurre ...en pacientes con asma, infecciones respiratorias o aspiración de cuerpo extraño. Se reportan pocos casos asociados a eventos de singultos por reflujo grave. Caso clínico: Se presenta el caso de una paciente de 10 años con neumomediastino espontáneo y extensión al cuello secundario a un episodio grave y persistente de hipo sin antecedentes de asma, trauma, cirugía, infección aguda, aspiración de cuerpo extraño ni ejercicio intenso con Vasalva. Conclusiones: La irritación del tercio distal del esófago produjo los episodios graves y persistentes de hipo que incrementaron la presión intratorácica, que a su vez por efecto Macklin, desencadenó el neumomediastino. El diagnóstico se realiza con estudios de imagen. El tratamiento es conservador, con resolución del cuadro clínico entre 5 y 7 días después de la hospitalización.
Abstract
A systematic investigation of Planacon MCP-PMTs was performed using 64 XP85002/ FIT-Q photosensors. These devices are equipped with microchannel plates of reduced resistance. Results of a ...study of their gain stability over time and saturation level in terms of the average anode current are presented. This information allows one to determine the lower limit of the MCP resistance for stable Planacon operation. The spread of the electron multiplication characteristics for the entire production batch is also presented, indicating the remarkably low voltage requirements of these MCP-PMTs. Detection efficiency and noise characteristics, such as dark count rate and afterpulsing level, are also reviewed.
We have measured and compared the characteristics of ALD-coated Planacon® MCP-PMTs (XP85112/A1-Q-L) with their non-ALD counterparts (XP85012/A1-Q). While the latter show excellent performance, the ...ALD-coated sensors have surprisingly low current saturation levels (∼ two orders of magnitude lower than expected) and extremely high gain recovery time (more than 7 orders of magnitude higher than expected). We suspect that these problems might be caused by the unexpected side-effects of the ALD process. To make a definite conclusion, more samples need to be tested, preferably from different production runs. If our observation were confirmed, it would mean a serious technological setback for ALD-coated MCP-PMTs.
Over the last few years, latrepirdine, a démodé antihistamine drug, has been proposed to be useful for treating neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases, and more ...recently schizophrenia. The mechanisms and pharmacological targets that are responsible for the beneficial effects on neurodegenerative diseases remain unknown. But it has been proposed that latrepirdine may modulate several targets including voltage-gate Ca+2 channels, mitochondrial permeability pore transition, or several neurotransmitter receptors. Herein, we present a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials to ascertain the efficacy and safety of latrepirdine on cognitive function. By doing a search in electronic databases, we found five clinical trials in which the effect of latrepirdine on cognition function has been studied, and this was evaluated using MMSE, ADAS-cog, ADCS-ADL, and NPI scores. Latrepirdine generally presented a good safety profile; it was well tolerated when given alone or in combination with a variety of other drugs. We observed heterogeneous results between trials; latrepirdine failed to exert a significant beneficial effect although it tended to improve cognitive scores. The only significant benefit that we found was for the NPI score in Alzheimer's disease patients.
Pickering emulsions (PE) have gained attention in food engineering applications. This study aimed to elaborate stable PE of canola oil by using barley starch nanocrystals (BSNC) as stabilizers which ...were prepared by acid hydrolysis of the starch and used in five nanocrystals to oil weight ratios (0.026, 0.038, 0.051, 0.076 and 0.102) to stabilize the emulsions. The size of the nanocrystals ranged between 43 and 396 nm and their average size was 141 nm. Emulsion droplet size decreased as the content of BSNC increased. It was observed by backscattering that the sedimentation of the droplets occurred slower in the systems having a higher amount of BSNC. All emulsions were stable to coalescence and creaming during storage and it was observed that, the most stable emulsions were those having nanocrystals to oil ratio of 0.24. Apparent viscosities of the emulsions increased with the content of nanocrystals. It was concluded that barley starch nanocrystals are suitable to produce and stabilize food-grade Pickering emulsions.
•Barley starch nanocrystals were obtained by acid hydrolysis of starch.•Barley starch nanocrystals positively stabilized Pickering emulsions of canola oil.•A relatively small number of nanocrystals adequately protected Pickering emulsions against coalescence and phase separation.•Emulsions showed shear thinning behaviors and G′ values were larger that G¨ ones.