Baade’s window and APOGEE Schultheis, M; Rojas-Arriagada, A; Perez, A E Garcia ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
04/2017, Letnik:
600
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Context. Baade's window (BW) is one of the most observed Galactic bulge fields in terms of chemical abundances. Owing to its low and homogeneous interstellar absorption it is considered the perfect ...calibration field for Galactic bulge studies. Aims. In the era of large spectroscopic surveys, calibration fields such as BW are necessary for cross calibrating the stellar parameters and individual abundances of the APOGEE survey. Methods. We use the APOGEE BW stars to derive the metallicity distribution function (MDF) and individual abundances for alpha- and iron-peak elements of the APOGEE ASPCAP pipeline (DR13), as well as the age distribution for stars in BW. Results. We determine the MDF of APOGEE stars in BW and find a remarkable agreement with that of the Gaia-ESO survey (GES). Both exhibit a clear bimodal distribution. We also find that the Mg-metallicity planes of the two surveys agree well, except for the metal-rich part (Fe/H > 0.1), where APOGEE finds systematically higher Mg abundances with respect to the GES. The ages based on the C/N ratio reveal a bimodal age distribution, with a major old population at ~ 10 Gyr, with a decreasing tail towards younger stars. A comparison of stellar parameters determined by APOGEE and those determined by other sources reveals detectable systematic offsets, in particular for spectroscopic surface gravity estimates. In general, we find a good agreement between individual abundances of O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Co, and Ni from APOGEE with that of literature values. Conclusions. We have shown that in general APOGEE data show a good agreement in terms of MDF and individual chemical abundances with respect to literature works. Using the C/N ratio we found a significant fraction of young stars in BW.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death. The mainly risks factors for CVD are diabetes, hypertension and high levels of homocysteine (Hcys), among others. Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) has ...been proposed as an antiatherogenic target for its ability to hydrolyzing oxi-Low-Density-Lipoproteins (LDL) and Hcys-thiolactone. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of Hcys levels, and the activities and concentration of PON1, as well as vitamin B from the diet with a risk for CVD.
A case-control study was carry out in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), Arterial hypertension, but not CVD (AH), and in healthy controls (control group) from the Mexican Institute of Social Security. Lipid profile, intake of vitamin B, Hcys, serum amyloid A (SAA), PON1 concentration, and PON1 activities (Arylesterase activity (ARE), Lactonase activity (LAC), and CMPA activity (CMPA)) were evaluated.
The CVD group had the highest concentration of Hcys and SAA than in the AH and control groups (p < 0.01). ARE, LAC, and CMPA activities and PON1 concentration were lowest in the CVD group. A positive-independent association between Hcys levels and CVD was found (OR = 2.09; 95% CI: 1.69–2.56) and this increase when it was adjusted by age, BMI, ApoA1, vitamin B intake, SAA, and PON1 (OR = 14.41; 95% CI: 1.75–118.71). LAC and CMPA, as well as PON1 concentration, were inversely associated with CVD.
LAC activity, PON1 concentration, and Hcys levels might be good biomarkers for CVD and their association could be modified by the intake of vitamin B.
•Patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) had higher Hcys and SAA levels than controls.•Activities and concentration of PON1 were low in patients with CVD.•Hcys levels were associated with an increase in the OR of belonging to the CVD group.•LAC activity, PON1 concentration, and Hcys levels might be good biomarkers for CVD.
•Patients with CVD had lower activity of PON1 Lactonase (LACase) than control patients.•LACase activity might be a new potential biomarker in CVD.•LACase activity is not influenced by the genetic ...polymorphisms of PON1.
Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is important in the development of atherosclerosis, and it has become the subject of intensive research. Our aim was to evaluate the association of serum PON1 activity and polymorphisms with cardiovascular disease (CVD) using four different substrates.
Activity of PON1-related to arylesterase (AREase and 4-CMPAse), paraoxonase (PONase), and lactonase (LACase), and polymorphisms (A-162G, T-108C, L55M, and Q192R) were evaluated in subjects with CVD, cardiovascular risk factor (CFR), and controls. An ordered logistic-regression analysis of PON1 phenotypes was performed in the CVD group with respect to the control group.
Logistic-regression analysis showed that CC-108 genotype was associated with CRF and CVD. The CVD group had the lowest activities of PON1. The LACase might be a better biomarker for CVD (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.44–0.61) followed by CMPAse (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.77–0.86), AREase (OR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.97–0.99) and PONase (OR, 0.99, 95% CI, 0.99–0.99). Logistic regression of PON1 phenotypes by haplotypes showed that LACase activity was not influenced by the polymorphisms and that it could be a new potential biomarker in the development of CVD. Larger scale longitudinal studies are required.
Aims.
In this work we study 35 stellar clusters in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) in order to provide their mean metallicities and ages. We also provide mean metallicities of the fields surrounding ...the clusters.
Methods.
We used Strömgren photometry obtained with the 4.1 m SOAR telescope and take advantage of (
b
−
y
) and
m
1 colors for which there is a metallicity calibration presented in the literature.
Results.
The spatial metallicity and age distributions of clusters across the SMC are investigated using the results obtained by Strömgren photometry. We confirm earlier observations that younger, more metal-rich star clusters are concentrated in the central regions of the galaxy, while older, more metal-poor clusters are located farther from the SMC center. We construct the age–metallicity relation for the studied clusters and find good agreement with theoretical models of chemical enrichment, and with other literature age and metallicity values for those clusters. We also provide the mean metallicities for old and young populations of the field stars surrounding the clusters, and find the latter to be in good agreement with recent studies of the SMC Cepheid population. Finally, the Strömgren photometry obtained for this study is made publicly available.
► Endosulfan is a toxic environment found in soils. ► Lipoperoxidation and growth of
Ocimum spp. in soil with/out endosulfan was studied. ► Endosulfan does not alter
Ocimum spp growth rate. ► Soil ...with
O. basilicum showed less endosulfan content than control at 30 days. ► Transplant to endosulfan-polluted soil increases lipid peroxidation in
O. basilicum.
Endosulfan is a hazardous organochlorine pesticide banned or restricted in several countries. However, it has been found in the environment and in animal samples. To study a potential way to bioremediate soils contaminated with this pesticide, two plant species of the genus
Ocimum were studied:
Ocimum basilicum L. and
Ocimum minimum L., since they are economically feasible and well adapted to the climatic conditions of the Nayarit zone (Mexican pacific coast). Young plants were transplanted into soil experimentally polluted with endosulfan. Growth of both species was not affected by endosulfan, the plants grew, flourished, and produced seeds; 30 days later, endosulfan concentration was lower in the soil with
O. basilicum than in the soil without plants. On day 90, no differences in endosulfan concentrations were found between soil with or without
O. minimum. At day 1, plants in the polluted soil showed lipoperoxidation, as measured by thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS). Interestingly, a higher TBARS value was observed at day 3 in transplanted plants as compared to non-transplanted plants. In conclusion, both species can endure endosulfan pollution (as high as 1
g
kg
−1) in soils.
O. basilicum seems to be an adequate candidate for bioremediation of soils polluted with endosulfan.
Fish rearing under intensive farming conditions can be easily disturbed by pesticides, substances that have immunotoxic properties and may predispose to infections. Organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) ...are widely used in agricultural activities; however, the mechanism of immunotoxicity of these substances is unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of diazinon pesticides (OPs) on the cholinergic system of immune cells as a possible target of OP immunotoxicity. We evaluated ACh levels and cholinergic (nicotinic and muscarinic) receptor concentration. Additionally, AChE activity was evaluated in mononuclear cells of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), a freshwater fish mostly cultivated in tropical regions around the world. The obtained results indicate that acute exposure to diazinon induces an increase in ACh concentration and a decrease in nAChR and mAChR concentrations and AChE activity in fish immune cells, This suggests that the non-neuronal lymphocytic cholinergic system may be the main target in the mechanism of OP immunotoxicity. This study contributes to the understanding of the mechanisms of immunotoxicity of pollutants and may help to take actions for animal health improvement.
Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is a calcium-dependent lactonase synthesized primarily in the liver and secreted into the plasma, where it is associates with high density lipoproteins (HDL). PON1 acts as ...antioxidant preventing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, a process considered critical in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. Additionally, PON1 hydrolyzes and detoxifies some toxic metabolites of organophosphorus compounds (OPs). Thus, PON1 activity and expression levels are important for determining susceptibility to OPs intoxication and risk of developing diseases related to inflammation and oxidative stress. Increasing evidence has demonstrated the modulation of PON1 expression by many factors is due to interaction with nuclear receptors (NRs). Here, we briefly review the studies in this area and discuss the role of nuclear receptors in the regulation of PON1 expression, as well as how understanding these mechanisms may allow us to manipulate PON1 levels to improve drug efficacy and treat disease.
•Human Paraoxonase 1 is regulated through nuclear receptors.•Nuclear receptors AhR, PXR, GR, PPARs, and Nrf2 may regulate PON1.•PON1 is also regulated by proinflammatory cytokines and epigenetic mechanisms.•Nuclear receptors GR, PPAR, AhR, and PXR regulate PON1 expression.
•Cytostatic effect was observed in lymphocytes treated with 10μM temephos.•Temephos increased the frequency of apoptotic cells in human lymphocytes.•Temephos causes stable DNA damage in HepG2 cells ...but not in human lymphocytes.
Temephos is an organophosphorus pesticide that is used in control campaigns against Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which transmit dengue. In spite of the widespread use of temephos, few studies have examined its genotoxic potential. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic, cytostatic and genotoxic effects of temephos in human lymphocytes and hepatoma cells (HepG2). The cytotoxicity was evaluated with simultaneous staining (FDA/EtBr). The cytostatic and genotoxic effects were evaluated using comet assays and the micronucleus technique. We found that temephos was not cytotoxic in either lymphocytes or HepG2 cells. Regarding the cytostatic effect in human lymphocytes, temephos (10μM) caused a significant decrease in the percentage of binucleated cells and in the nuclear division index as well as an increase in the apoptotic cell frequency, which was not the case for HepG2 cells. The comet assay showed that temephos increased the DNA damage levels in human lymphocytes, but it did not increase the MN frequency. In contrast, in HepG2 cells, temephos increased the tail length, tail moment and MN frequency in HepG2 cells compared to control cells. In conclusion, temephos causes stable DNA damage in HepG2 cells but not in human lymphocytes. These findings suggest the importance of temephos biotransformation in its genotoxic effect.
Boca de Camichin Estuary is one of the main producers of Crassostrea corteziensis oysters in Mexico, but the presence of pollutants can affect oyster production. Molluscs produce reactive oxygen ...species (ROS) in response to changes in the environment and pollution. These ROS induce oxidative damage in biomolecules. The main objective of this study was to evaluate pollution in the estuary and the subsequent oxidative stress in C. corteziensis oysters during the 2010 production cycle. For this aim, we performed monthly samplings in the oyster farms from January to May. We took water samples to quantify polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) and metal content; also, we evaluated oxidative damage (lipoperoxidation, lipidic hydroperoxides, protein oxidation) and enzyme activity (CAT, SOD, GPx, GST and AChE) in oyster gills. The results show the presence of Cu, Fe, Mn, naphthalene, benzaanthracene, pyrene, benzapyrene and benzokfluoranthene. On the other hand, AChE activity was not inhibited, which suggests that organophosphorus pollutants or carbamates were absent. Regarding oxidative stress, oysters from the estuary had oxidative damage in lipids, not proteins, and altered antioxidant enzyme activity, when compared to control organisms. Interestingly, we did not observe any correlation between the pollutants and the oxidative stress parameters evaluated in this study. Thus, we cannot rule out that a synergistic effect between the environmental variables and the pollutants is causing the oxidative stress in these oysters.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are the leading cause of death globally. In recent years, follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL1) has been proposed as an emerging potential clinical biomarker of CVD, since ...its concentration is upregulated in heart failure. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association of FSTL1 levels and classic biomarkers with the risk of CVD in Mexican population. A case–control study was carried out in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), arterial hypertension, but not CVD (cardiovascular risk factor—CRF), and healthy controls (control group) from the Mexican Institute of Social Security. Lipid profile, homocysteine (Hcys), serum amyloid A (SAA), FSTL1 concentration, PON1 concentration and activities Arylesterase (ARE), and Lactonase (LAC) were evaluated. High levels of FSTL1 were found in the CRF group and a positive association of FSTL1 (OR = 4.55; 95% CI 1.29–16.04,
p
= 0.02) with the presence of arterial hypertension, as well as Hcys (OR, 3.09; 95% CI 1.23–7.76,
p
= 0.02) and SAA (OR, 1.03; 95% CI 1.01–1.05,
p
< 0.01) with the presence of CVD. LAC activity (OR, 0.26; 95% CI 0.07–0.94,
p
= 0.04) and PON1 concentration (OR, 0.17; 95% CI 0.05–0.62,
p
= 0.01) were associated with a decrease in OR belonging to the group with CVD. Our results suggest that FSTL1 may be a useful biomarker for monitoring cardiovascular risk in clinical settings. However, longitudinal studies are needed to evaluate how FSTL1 could influence the association of PON1 activity and Hcys with CVD.
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