Parasites extracted from the lungs and the pterygoid sinus complex of 6 species of odontocetes stranded along the north-west Spanish coast (Northeast Atlantic) between 2009 and 2019 were ...morphologically identified. The samples belonged to 14 specimens, including 3 harbour porpoises, Phocoena phocoena, 6 short-finned pilot whales, Globicephala macrorhynchus, 1 long-finned pilot whale, Globicephala melas, 1 Risso's dolphin, Grampus griseus, 1 striped dolphin, Stenella coeruleoalba and 2 bottlenose dolphins, Tursiops truncatus. All animals (14/14) were infected by nematodes of the genus Stenurus spp.; moreover, two of them presented a mixed lung nematode infection by Stenurus spp. and Halocercus spp., and another two a mixed infection by Stenurus spp. and the trematode Nasitrema spp. in the pterygoid sinuses. The morphological characterization of the Stenurus specimens revealed the existence of three different species: Stenurus minor, present in the pterygoid sinuses of harbour porpoises with a mean intensity of 43.0 ± 9.0; Stenurus globicephalae, in the pterygoid sinuses of pilot whales and the Risso's dolphin (370.3 ± 579.4); and Stenurus ovatus infecting bottlenose and striped dolphins’ lungs (47.7 ± 76.5). This is the first citation of S. minor and S. ovatus in odontoceti from the Galician coast. Nematodes of the genus Stenurus are frequent in odontocetes stranded along the north-west Spanish coast. A clear host-parasite association was observed between S. minor and the Phocoenidae family, between S. globicephalae and the subfamily Globicephalinae and between S. ovatus and subfamily Delphininae. Different trophic position and niche segregation may lead to different patterns of specificity.
Display omitted
•Stenurus is the most prevalent lungworm in odontoceti.•First description of S. minor and S. ovatus in Galician waters.•Short-finned whales are the most intensely infected odontocetes.•Stenurus infection is favored by the greater length of the host.•Stenurus spp show a clear pattern of specificity with their hosts.
Insulin resistance (IR) is the main feature of prediabetes (PD), which ultimately leads to diabetes. High-dose streptozotocin-treated rodents often show irreversible β-cell mass loss and function, ...leaving the premorbid diabetic state (PD/IR) unnoticed. This study aimed to re-evaluate the synergistic/independent effect of a sub-chronic consumption (1–5 weeks) of a high-fat diet (60% gross energy from fat, 3.8 kcal.g−1) with PD/IR-2 (week 2) to PD/IR-5 week five) or without HFD-5 (week five) a single intraperitoneal dose (35 mg.kg−1) of streptozotocin in Wistar rats. Bioassay performance and clinical/histological features suggesting PD/IR or diabetes, were documented weekly and compared to standard chow-fed (3.5 kcal.g−1) rats (healthy controls, HC). PD/IR1–5 (fed with HFD for 1 to 5 weeks plus a single dose of streptozotocin) and HFD-5 (just fed with HFD for 5 weeks) groups reduced their food intake yet gained more body weight than HC. Groups exhibited hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and impaired glucose tolerance in decreasing order as follows: PD/IR-5, PD/IR-4, HFD-5, PD/IR-2-3, and HC. Histological disturbances in the pancreas, Soleus muscle, and liver were mostly observed in HFD-5 and PD/IR4–5 groups. HFD administration for 4 weeks white a single moderate dose of streptozotocin four days before sacrifice, leads to a convenient PD/IR rat model.
•A prediabetes/Insulin resistance (PD/IR) rat model is revisited.•4w high-fat diet (HFD) fed rats + mild dose of streptozotocin (STZ) induced PD/IR.•The PD/IR rat model exhibit moderate hyperglycemia and pancreas/liver lipotoxicity.•The PD/IR is convenient for investigation early dietary/drug interventions.
The use of smart materials as implantable devices for bone repair is an emerging field in which alternatives have been explored in the last decade, such as using piezoelectric ceramics to mimic bone ...self-healing ability using the direct piezoelectric effect (generation of charges under mechanical stress). Here, the feasibility of using (Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3 dense ceramics as a potential biomaterial for bone repair was studied. The effect of poling direction on the osteogenic properties of (Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3 ceramics was assessed through several indicators of osteoblast differentiation, including gene expression, cell morphology, and mineralization. An enhanced osteoconductivity, reflected in a higher amount of calcium deposits and the presence of large filopodia and dendritic cell morphology was observed on the negative side compared to non-poled, positive side, and controls. Regarding the ability of (Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3 ceramics to accelerate osteoblastic differentiation, after 14 days, the gene expression measured by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction showed an up-regulation of osteopontin and osteocalcin from exposure, usually expressed during the late stages of osteoblastic differentiation. In addition, the positive side surface generated an antibacterial ratio of almost 50% on gram + bacteria, possibly due to the interaction between the positively charged surface and the membrane's negatively charged bacteria. The results reported here show that tunable (Na0.5Bi0.5)TiO3 ceramics have osteoconductive and antibacterial properties suitable for bone repair applications. Further studies are needed to deepen the understanding of the effect of the polarization level on the osteogenic and antibacterial properties.
Abstract
Funding Acknowledgements
Type of funding sources: None.
The Triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index is emerging as a novel marker of insulin resistance, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk. ...The TyG index is calculated as Ln(triglyceride mg/dl*fasting plasma glucosemg/dl)/2. It is being assessed in both primary and secondary prevention.
The aim of this study was to measure the TyG index in a group of patients in cardiac rehabilitation (CH) and relate it to cardiovascular events, the severity of coronary arterial disease (CAD) and compare it with other indexes for cardiovascular disease.
This unicenter, retrospective and observational study recruited patients who attended to CH program of a tertiary-level hospital between 1st January and 31st December, 2020. New cardiovascular events were registered until 15th October 2022. The TyG index was estimated according to the first blood sample at admission, we considered it abnormal above 8.8. The severity of CAD was measured using coronariography and stratified as single or multi-vessel (50% of stenosis in ≥2 main coronary arteries). MACCE was defined as myocardial infarction, stroke or cardiovascular death. We also calculated TG/HDL ratio (Triglycerides mg/dl/HDL cholesterol mg/dl), TC/HDL ratio (Total Cholesterol mg/dl/HDL mg/dl) and Remnant Cholesterol (non-HDL cholesterol mg/dl – LDL mg/dl). Statistical analyses were performed using R project.
A total of 238 patients were enrolled, 190 (79.8%) were men, mean age 60.5 ± 11.3 years. The main indication for CH was CAD. Percutaneous coronary intervention was done in 175 patients (73.5%), coronary artery bypass grafting was performed in 9 (3.8%); 36 (15.1%) individuals had suffered MACCE previously. During the follow up, 12 underwent another MACCE. The TyG index was statistically higher between patients who suffered MACCE (8.9±0.6, p<0.01). This connection was also found with TG/HDL ratio (p=0.03), TC/HDL ratio (p<0.01) and remnant (p=0.03)(Figure1). As for our cutoff of 8.8 the TyG index established a sensitivity of 49.7%, specificity of 72.5% and positive predictive value of 86.9% for MACCE. TyG index predicted better a second event (AUC=74.6%)(Figure2A) than TC/HDL (AUC=59.03%)(Figure2B). An elevated TyG index was linked with abnormal TG/HDL, TC/HDL remnants particles, VLDL, non-HDL, lower HDL and higher HbA1c and lower HDL but not with higher LDL and total cholesterol. There was no statistical relationship between TyG index with body mass index (p=0.14)(Figure2C) nor abdominal circumference (p=0.38)(Figure2D). Among patients with CAD, the average of stenotic vessels was 1.5±0.8. There were 7 in-stent-restenosis (ISR). We didn´t find a correlation between TyG index and multivessel disease (p=0.37), nor ISR (p=1.0).
TyG index is an easy and early sign of diabetic dyslipemia. In association with others indicators, it can help us to focus on those patients at high cardiovascular risk or with higher residual risk, specially nowadays that new non-statin therapies are about to come.
Bee pollen is a highly nutritive natural foodstuff. Because of its use as a comestible, the association of bacteria with bee pollen is commercially and biologically important. We report here the ...bacterial diversity of seven bee pollen samples (five from Europe, one from Chile, and one from Mexico) based on 16S rRNA gene amplicon metagenome sequencing.
To better understand the ionizing properties of galaxies in the EoR, we investigate deep, rest-frame ultraviolet (UV) spectra of $\simeq 500$ star-forming galaxies at $3 \leq z \leq 5$ selected from ...the public ESO-VANDELS spectroscopic survey. The absolute ionizing photon escape fraction ($f_{\rm esc}^{\rm abs}$) is derived by combining absorption line measurements with estimates of the UV attenuation. The ionizing production efficiency ($\xi_{ion}$) is calculated by fitting the far-UV (FUV) stellar continuum of the VANDELS galaxies. We find that the $f_{\rm esc}^{\rm abs}$ and $\xi_{ion}$ parameters increase towards low-mass, blue UV-continuum slopes and strong Ly$\alpha$ emitting galaxies, and both are just slightly higher-than-average for the UV-faintest galaxies in the sample. Potential Lyman Continuum Emitters (LCEs) and selected Lyman Alpha Emitters (LAEs) show systematically higher $\xi_{ion}$ ($\log \xi_{ion}$ (Hz\erg) $\approx 25.38, 25.41$) than non-LCEs and non-LAEs ($\log \xi_{ion}$ (Hz\erg) $\approx 25.18, 25.14$) at similar UV magnitudes. This indicates very young underlying stellar populations ($\approx 10~{\rm Myr}$) at relatively low metallicities ($\approx 0.2~{\rm Z_{\odot}}$). The FUV non-ionizing spectra of potential LCEs is characterized by very blue UV slopes ($\leq -2$), enhanced Ly$\alpha$ emission ($\leq -25$A), strong UV nebular lines (e.g., high CIV1550/CIII1908 $\geq 0.75$ ratios), and weak absorption lines ($\leq 1$A). The latter suggests the existence of low gas-column-density channels in the interstellar medium which enables the escape of ionizing photons. By comparing our VANDELS results against other surveys in the literature, our findings imply that the ionizing budget in the EoR was likely dominated by UV-faint, low-mass and dustless galaxies.
Calcium-activated chloride channels (CaCC) formed by anoctamin1/TMEM16A subunits are ubiquitously expressed, and these channels are known to prevent polyspermy in amphibian oocytes. Here, we describe ...a TMEM16A clone isolated from
Xenopus tropicalis
oocytes (xtTMEM16A) and how the anion permeation properties are modified in single-site mutants of the ion pore. The anion permeability sequence was SCN
-
> I
-
> Br
-
> Cl
-
> gluconate (relative permeabilities 5.6:3.0:2.1:1:0.2, respectively). Dose–response curves indicated that the voltage-dependent half-maximal concentration for Ca
2+
activation (
K
d
of the Hill equation at +100 mV) was 120 nM in normal external Cl
-
, whereas it was displaced leftward to 75 nM Ca
2+
, when I
-
replaced Cl
-
. The I
-
:Cl
-
mole fraction (MF) of the external solution was varied in order to gain insight into the permeation mechanism of the pore. No anomaly in MF behavior was observed for conductance, but it was observed for current reversal potential, which deviated from the prediction of the Goldman–Hodgkin–Katz equation. Mutations of positively charged amino acids in the pore, R646 and R761, to glutamate resulted in reduction of the relative permeability to I
-
. Data from the wild type and mutants could be well fitted by a three-barrier, two-site permeation model. This suggests a multi-ion pore with at least two binding sites for anions, with R646 mole fraction closer to the extracellular membrane surface—being important for the stability of both sites—and R761—located deeper within the membrane—mainly affecting the innermost binding site. Considerations of xtTMEM16A putative pore region topology are discussed in the light of two alternative topological models of the protein.
Australian
Acacia
species have been widely planted worldwide for different purposes. Some of them have spread and altered the native ecosystem functions to the extent of being considered economic and ...ecologic threats. Understanding factors that allow these species to become invasive is an important step for mitigating or preventing the damaging effects of invasive species. We aimed to test the importance of native niche climatic width and average, plant functional traits (plant height, leaf area, seed mass and length of flowering season) and anthropogenic factors (number of uses, time since introduction) for predicting invasive success, in terms of abundance and range, of 16 Australian
Acacia
species in South Africa. By using multiple regression analysis, we constructed one different model for each type of predicting factors. When more than two predicting variables were available in a category, they were reduced to a maximum of two predictors by means of principal component analysis.
Acacia
spp. abundance and range in South Africa were highly correlated. The anthropogenic model (using number of human uses as predictor) was the best to explain both abundance and range of acacias in South Africa. This may be attributed to the importance of humans as dispersal vectors and to the relatively recent introduction of these species (circa 150 years). The functional traits model was the next best model explaining
Acacia
range, but not abundance, acacias with higher height and leaf area being more widespread in South Africa. Taller plants may disperse their seeds more efficiently by attracting dispersal agents, such as birds. The climatic affinities model was the following in the ranking explaining both range and abundance, acacias coming from moister, cooler and less seasonal regions in Australia being more successful in South Africa. This pattern may be attributed to the fast growth genotype generally selected for under low climatic stress conditions. Acacias with wide climatic niche in the native region were also more widespread and abundant in South Africa, probably because the same traits that allow them to be widespread in Australia, also contribute to overcome the climatic filters to establish throughout South Africa. This study provides managers with tools to identify those exotic
Acacia
ssp. having more chances to become successful invaders in South Africa.
We present Lyman continuum (LyC) radiation escape fraction (f_esc) measurements for 183 spectroscopically confirmed star-forming galaxies in the redshift range 3.11 < z < 3.53 in the Chandra Deep ...Field South. We use ground-based imaging to measure f_esc, and use ground- and space-based photometry to derive galaxy physical properties using spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting. We additionally derive O iii + H β equivalent widths (that fall in the observed K band) by including nebular emission in SED fitting. After removing foreground contaminants, we report the discovery of 11 new candidate LyC leakers at ≳ 2σ level, with f_esc in the range 0.14−0.85. From non-detections, we place 1σ upper limits of f_esc <0.12, where the Lyman-break selected galaxies have f_esc <0.11 and ‘blindly’ discovered galaxies with no prior photometric selection have f_esc <0.13. We find a slightly higher 1σ limit of f_esc <0.20 from extreme emission line galaxies with rest-frame O iii + H β equivalent widths >300 Å. For candidate LyC leakers, we find a weak negative correlation between f_esc and galaxy stellar masses, no correlation between f_esc and specific star-formation rates (sSFRs) and a positive correlation between f_esc and EW_0(O iii + H β). The weak/no correlations between stellar mass and sSFRs may be explained by misaligned viewing angles and/or non-coincident time-scales of starburst activity and periods of high f_esc. Alternatively, escaping radiation may predominantly occur in highly localized star-forming regions, or f_esc measurements may be impacted by stochasticity of the intervening neutral medium, obscuring any global trends with galaxy properties. These hypotheses have important consequences for models of reionization.
PDF
