This study describes the first record of the whale shark Rhincodon typus association with the cannonball jellyfish Stomolophus meleagris in the Gulf of California, Mexico. Whale sharks were observed ...swimming and feeding among swarms of jellyfish, suggesting competition and predatory behaviour given the overlap in food preferences between both species. This finding is relevant because of the species‐wide distribution and the importance of these interactions, which should be considered in conservation strategies of R. typus and management of cannonball jellyfish fisheries.
The diet and feeding pattern of scyphomedusa Stomolophus meleagris (Rhizostomeae) was studied, by comparing stomach samples from different developmental stages and environmental zooplankton with the ...aim to determine diet composition, trophic niche breadth, selectivity and feeding overlap of this edible jellyfish species. Samplings were performed during April and December 2010 and in January 2011, in the coastal lagoon Las Guásimas (27°49′–27°54′N 110°40′–110°35′W), central Gulf of California, which consisted of zooplankton tows and jellyfish collections for stomach content. More than 39 prey items were identified in the gut contents (N = 69), from which eight taxa formed over 90% of the total. Fish eggs were considered main prey (58.6%), copepods (10.8%), veliger larvae of gastropod (13.0%) and bivalve (12.7%) were secondary prey while cirriped and decapod larvae were incidental prey (<3%). However, these proportions varied significantly between small, medium and large size classes of medusa as well as number and type of prey increasing as a function of medusa size. Values of Levin's index confirmed S. meleagris is a specialist predator and Pearre's index showed positive selection of fish eggs, gastropods, bivalves and cirripeds while selectivity was negative for copepods and appendicularians. The relative timing of these changes suggests that ontogenetic processes are closely related with shift in the diet, which indicates increasing predation pressure during development of the medusoid stage of this species, thus emphasizing their ecological importance in coastal ecosystems.
Abstract This article analyses the relationship between institutions and human capital formation. We use literacy rates in 1860 at the municipal level in Valencia where the expulsion of the Moriscos ...in 1609 was followed by the Christian resettlement. Our findings show that male literacy was consistently lower in Morisco areas by mid-19th century. Yet, the analysis also shows the disappearance of this effect at the beginning of the 20th century. We argue that the deployment of the liberal state would have entailed the gradual decoupling of educational outcomes from the institutional heterogeneity characteristic of the Old Regime.
Efficient lignin depolymerization is unique to the wood decay basidiomycetes, collectively referred to as white rot fungi. Phanerochaete chrysosporium simultaneously degrades lignin cellulose, ...whereas the closely related species, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora, also depolymerizes lignin but may do so with relatively little cellulose degradation. To investigate the basis for selective ligninolysis, we conducted comparative genome analysis of C. subvermispora and P. chrysosporium. Genes encoding man-ganese peroxidase numbered 13 and five in C. subvermispora and P. chrysosporium, respectively. In addition, the C subvermispora genome contains at least seven genes predicted to encode laccases, whereas the P. chrysosporium genome contains none. We also observed expansion of the number of C subvermispora desaturase-encoding genes putatively involved m lipid metabolism. Microarray-based transcriptome analysis showed substantial up-regulation of severdesaturase and MnP genes in wood-containing medium. MS identified MnP proteins in C subvermispora culture filtrates, but none in P. chrysosporium cultures. These results support the importance of MnP and a lignin degradation mechanism whereby Cleavage of the dominant nonphenolic Structures ¡s mediated by lipid peroxidation products. Two C. subvermispora genes were predicted to encode peroxidases structurally Similar to P. Chrysosporium lignin peroxidase and, following heterologous expression in Escherichia coli, the enzymes were Shown to oxidize high redox potential Substrates, but not Mn²⁺. Apart from oxidative lignin degradation, we also examined cellulolytic and hemicellulolytic systems in both fungi. In summary, the C. subvermispora genetic inventory and expression patterns exhibit increased oxidoreductase potential and diminished celluloand lytic capability relative to P. chrysosporium.
Cutaneous malignant melanoma remains the leading cause of skin cancer death in industrialized countries. Clinical and histological variables that predict survival, such as Breslow's index, tumor ...size, ulceration, or vascular invasion have been identified in malignant melanoma. Nevertheless, the potential relevance of biological variables still awaits an in-depth exploration. Using tissue microarrays (TMAs), we retrospectively analyzed 165 malignant melanoma samples from 88 patients corresponding to distinct histological progression phases, radial, vertical, and metastases. A panel of 39 different antibodies for cell cycle, apoptosis, melanoma antigens, transcription factors, DNA mismatch repair, and other proteins was used. Integrating the information, the study has identified expression profiles distinguishing specific melanoma progression stages. Most of the detected alterations were linked to the control of cell cycle G1/S transition; cyclin D1 was expressed in radial cases 48% (12 of 25) with significant lost of expression in vertical cases 14% (9 of 65), P = 0.002; whereas p16(INK4a) (89% in vertical versus 71% in metastatic cases, P = 0.009) and p27(KIP1) (76% in radial versus 45% in vertical cases, P = 0.010) were diminished in advanced stages. The study also defines a combination of biological markers associated with shorter overall survival in patients with vertical growth phase melanoma, that provided a predictor model with four antibodies (Ki67, p16(INK4a), p21(CIP1), and Bcl-6). This predictor model was validated using an independent series of 72 vertical growth phase melanoma patients.
Purpose
Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by an inability of phagocytes to produce reactive oxygen species, impairing their killing of various bacteria ...and fungi. We summarize here the 93 cases of CGD diagnosed in Mexico from 2011 to 2019.
Methods
Thirteen Mexican hospitals participated in this study. We describe the genetic, immunological, and clinical features of the 93 CGD patients from 78 unrelated kindreds.
Results
Eighty-two of the patients (88%) were male. All patients developed bacterial infections and 30% suffered from some kind of fungal infection. Fifty-four BCG-vaccinated patients (58%) presented infectious complications of BCG vaccine. Tuberculosis occurred in 29%. Granulomas were found in 56% of the patients. Autoimmune and inflammatory diseases were present in 15% of patients. A biological diagnosis of CGD was made in 89/93 patients, on the basis of NBT assay (
n
= 6), DHR (
n
= 27), and NBT plus DHR (
n
= 56). The deficiency was complete in all patients. The median age of biological diagnosis was 17 months (range, 0–186 months). A genetic diagnosis was made in 83/93 patients (when material was available), corresponding to
CYBB
(
n
= 64),
NCF1
(
n
= 7),
NCF2
(
n
= 7), and
CYBA
(
n
= 5) mutations.
Conclusions
The clinical manifestations in these Mexican CGD patients were similar to those in patients elsewhere. This cohort is the largest in Latin America. Mycobacterial infections are an important cause of morbidity in Mexico, as in other countries in which tuberculosis is endemic and infants are vaccinated with BCG. X-linked CGD accounted for most of the cases in Mexico, as in other Latin American countries. However, a significant number of
CYBA
and
NCF2
mutations were identified, expanding the spectrum of known causal mutations.
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a common human neoplasia with poor prognosis and survival that frequently displays Akt overactivation. Here we show that mice displaying constitutive ...Akt activity (myrAkt) in combination with Trp53 loss in stratified epithelia develop oral cavity tumors that phenocopy human HNSCC. The myrAkt mice develop oral lesions, making it a possible model of human oral dysplasia. The malignant conversion of these lesions, which is hampered due to the induction of premature senescence, is achieved by the subsequent ablation of Trp53 gene in the same cells in vivo. Importantly, mouse oral tumors can be followed by in vivo imaging, show metastatic spreading to regional lymph nodes, and display activation of nuclear factor-kappaB and signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 pathways and decreased transforming growth factor-beta type II receptor expression, thus resembling human counterparts. In addition, malignant conversion is associated with increased number of putative tumor stem cells. These data identify activation of Akt and p53 loss as a major mechanism of oral tumorigenesis in vivo and suggest that blocking these signaling pathways could have therapeutic implications for the management of HNSCC.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has serious physiological and psychological consequences. The long-term (>12 weeks post-infection) impact of COVID-19 on mental health, specifically in older ...adults, is unclear. We longitudinally assessed the association of COVID-19 with depression symptomatology in community-dwelling older adults with metabolic syndrome within the framework of the PREDIMED-Plus cohort.
Participants (
= 5486) aged 55-75 years were included in this longitudinal cohort. COVID-19 status (positive/negative) determined by tests (e.g. polymerase chain reaction severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, IgG) was confirmed via event adjudication (410 cases). Pre- and post-COVID-19 depressive symptomatology was ascertained from annual assessments conducted using a validated 21-item Spanish Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Multivariable linear and logistic regression models assessed the association between COVID-19 and depression symptomatology.
COVID-19 in older adults was associated with higher post-COVID-19 BDI-II scores measured at a median (interquartile range) of 29 (15-40) weeks post-infection fully adjusted
= 0.65 points, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15-1.15;
= 0.011. This association was particularly prominent in women (
= 1.38 points, 95% CI 0.44-2.33,
= 0.004). COVID-19 was associated with 62% increased odds of elevated depression risk (BDI-II ≥ 14) post-COVID-19 when adjusted for confounders (odds ratio; 95% CI 1.13-2.30,
= 0.008).
COVID-19 was associated with long-term depression risk in older adults with overweight/obesity and metabolic syndrome, particularly in women. Thus, long-term evaluations of the impact of COVID-19 on mental health and preventive public health initiatives are warranted in older adults.
Recently, there has been an increase in the number of patients with Chagas disease outside of areas that are generally considered endemic. The aim of this investigation is to describe the clinical ...profile of a series of patients with Chagas disease in Alicante, Spain, which is a province located on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This study was performed at four general hospitals in Alicante between January 2002 and May 2011. A total of 128 patients from seven countries were diagnosed with Trypanosoma cruzi. The main country of origin of these patients was Bolivia (n = 101; 78·9%), and the median of age of these patients was 35 years (range: 0-72 years). Four (3·3%) patients were children under 14 years of age, and 81 (63·3%) were female. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to analyze 106 patients, 66·0% of whom demonstrated positive PCR results. Visceral involvement was diagnosed in 26·8%: 24·1% demonstrated cardiac involvement, 0·9% demonstrated gastrointestinal involvement, 0·9% demonstrated cardiac and gastrointestinal involvement, and 0·9% demonstrated involvement of the central nervous system. Syncope was found to be associated with cardiomyopathy (28·0% versus 5·2%) (odds ratio: 6·5; 95% confidence interval: 1·5-27·1). Seventy-six patients received treatment with benznidazole, of whom 57 (75·0%) completed the treatment course without significant adverse events and 17·1% discontinued benznidazole due to adverse events. In total, 50% of patients experienced documented adverse reactions. Among patients with positive PCR results before treatment, all demonstrated negative PCR results following treatment. In conclusion, majority of our patients were female Bolivians immigrants, one of four of our patients demonstrated cardiac involvement, and treatment tolerance was poor. It is important to improve the clinical and epidemiological knowledge of Chagas disease in nonendemic with additional multicenter studies in order to determine the magnitude of this problem and provide improved public health and health resource planning.
PDF
