Classically, the estrogen signaling system has two core components: cytochrome P450 aromatase (
CYP19), the enzyme complex that catalyzes the rate limiting step in estrogen biosynthesis; and estrogen ...receptors (ERs), ligand activated transcription factors that interact with the regulatory region of target genes to mediate the biological effects of estrogen. While the importance of estrogens for regulation of reproduction, development and physiology has been well-documented in gnathostome vertebrates, the evolutionary origins of estrogen as a hormone are still unclear. As invertebrates within the phylum Chordata, cephalochordates (e.g., the amphioxus of the genus
Branchiostoma) are among the closest invertebrate relatives of the vertebrates and can provide critical insight into the evolution of vertebrate-specific molecules and pathways. To address this question, this paper briefly reviews relevant earlier studies that help to illuminate the history of the aromatase and ER genes, with a particular emphasis on insights from amphioxus and other invertebrates. We then present new analyses of amphioxus aromatase and ER sequence and function, including an
in silico model of the amphioxus aromatase protein, and
CYP19 gene analysis.
CYP19 shares a conserved gene structure with vertebrates (9 coding exons) and moderate sequence conservation (40% amino acid identity with human
CYP19). Modeling of the amphioxus aromatase substrate binding site and simulated docking of androstenedione in comparison to the human aromatase shows that the substrate binding site is conserved and predicts that androstenedione could be a substrate for amphioxus
CYP19. The amphioxus ER is structurally similar to vertebrate ERs, but differs in sequence and key residues of the ligand binding domain. Consistent with results from other laboratories, amphioxus ER did not bind radiolabeled estradiol, nor did it modulate gene expression on an estrogen-responsive element (ERE) in the presence of estradiol, 4-hydroxytamoxifen, diethylstilbestrol, bisphenol A or genistein. Interestingly, it has been shown that a related gene, the amphioxus “steroid receptor” (SR), can be activated by estrogens and that amphioxus ER can repress this activation.
CYP19,
ER and
SR are all primarily expressed in gonadal tissue, suggesting an ancient paracrine/autocrine signaling role, but it is not yet known how their expression is regulated and, if estrogen is actually synthesized in amphioxus, whether it has a role in mediating any biological effects. Functional studies are clearly needed to link emerging bioinformatics and
in vitro molecular biology results with organismal physiology to develop an understanding of the evolution of estrogen signaling.
This article is part of a Special Issue entitled ‘Marine organisms’.
Category:
Diabetes; Bunion; Midfoot/Forefoot
Introduction/Purpose:
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease with a high worldwide prevalence. People with DM are more likely to develop ...complications compared to non-diabetic patients undergoing foot and ankle surgery. Currently, orthopedic surgery tends to use minimally invasive surgery (MIS), this resource is used to successfully solve forefoot deformities such as Hallux Valgus (HV). So far there is no evidence enough on this type of surgery and its complications in people with DM. The objective of this study is to determine the types and rates of early complications of elective MIS procedure for hallux valgus in a population of diabetic patients (DBT) compared to a control group of non-diabetic patients (NDBT).
Methods:
This retrospective study was carried out at our institution between October 2017 and August 2020. During the study period, 874 feet were operated on with MIS technique. All diabetic adults with a diagnosis of HV who underwent percutaneous correction surgery with distal metaphyseal osteotomy and a minimum follow-up of 6 months were included. All diabetic patients who underwent surgery had controlled diabetes with glycosylated hemoglobin less than 7%.For each DBT patient, we randomly selected two aged-matched patients +-1 year without DM as controls. In bilateral surgery, only the first operated foot was taken into account. Patients with previous foot surgery, open lesions or history of previous ulceration, Charcot's neuropathy, metatarsophalangeal osteoarthritis, peripheral vascular disease, and incomplete clinical history were excluded. Complications were recorded and defined as any deviation from the normal postoperative course.
Results:
A total of 75 patients were analyzed, 25 DBT and 50 NDBT. The follow-up was 10.8 months (6-48). There were no significant differences in demographic characteristics except for the body mass index and the Charlson comorbidity index, both of them were higher in the DBT group (p = <0.001). The complication rate was 18% (n = 9) in NDBT and 24% (n = 6) in DBT patients (p=0.553). There were also no significant differences in the different types of complications. Table 1. It is important to highlight that 7 of 9 complications of the NDBT group required a new surgical intervention (5 osteosynthesis extractions, 1 pseudarthrosis treatment and 1 toilette). In the DBT group, superficial infections were successfully treated with oral antibiotics.
Conclusion:
This would be the first study that specifically evaluates complications in diabetes patients with elective hallux valgus MIS correction. In our results, diabetic patients have not been associated with a higher rate of complications compared to non- diabetic patients.
En cada deporte es importante optimizar peso y composición corporal y la genética y los datos antropométricos pueden influir en rendimiento deportivo y salud, sobre todo en deportistas menores.
Este ...estudio analiza 60 nadadoras artísticas entre 9 y 17 años, divididas en tres grupos de edad: ?12, 13-15 y 16-17 años. Se realizó un análisis de medidas antropométricas, edad de menarquia, genotipo relacionado con rendimiento (gen ACTN3) y resultados deportivos, con objetivo de relacionar estos parámetros entre sí en los grupos de edad.
Las nadadoras de mayor edad mostraron tendencia a portar el genotipo heterocigoto RX de ACTN3. En este estudio, la práctica de este deporte podría tener impacto en índice de masa corporal, pliegue tricipital, peso y edad de menarquia. La mayor prevalencia del genotipo heterocigoto ACTN3 R577X podría ofrecer una ventaja, pero el rendimiento en competición de las nadadoras artísticas tuvo poca relación con sus medidas antropométricas.
Caviomorph rodents represent one of the most distinctive groups of mammals in southern South America drylands; they colonized South America from Africa via trans‐oceanic dispersions in the Eocene ...(40–50 Ma) and underwent an extraordinary ecological radiation after their arrival, thus making this group of great interest for biogeographic and evolutionary studies. The aim of this article was to provide a working hypothesis regarding the biogeographical history and ecological diversification of one of its conspicuous families, the Octodontidae. We reconstruct the evolutionary theater where their ecological diversification took place, and potential events of dispersal, vicariance and extinctions. We analyzed the historical biogeography of the Octodontidae across the eight ecoregions where they occur, based on species phylogeny and divergence times. Four approaches were used to reconstruct ancestral area: (1) Statistical Dispersal–Vicariance Snalysis (S‐DIVA); (2) Bayesian binary Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) analysis implemented in Reconstruct Ancestral State in Phylogenies (RASP); (3) Fitch optimization method; and (d) weighted ancestral area analysis (WAAA). Parsimony ancestral state reconstructions were implemented in order to explore the evolutionary history of an ecological character, mode of life. We propose the northern portion of the Monte desert ecoregion as the ancestral area in the evolution of the Octodontidae, with subsequent dispersal and enlargement of the family geographic range. The evolution of their ecological specialization (i.e. modes of life) suggests an ambiguous ancestral condition (saxicolous, generalist terrestrial, semifossorial) linked to species adaptation to arid environments, with fossoriality appearing later in octodontid evolution. The evolution of the Octodontidae is associated with contrasting environmental conditions (i.e. climate and vegetation) produced by the Andean Uplift between eastern and western sides.
Rodents are a very diverse group with large chromosome variability. One of the most species rich linage in the Neotropics is the Sigmodontinae. Among them, the tribe Abrotrichini was recently defined ...and its taxonomy and phylogeny were mostly elucidated through molecular and morphological evidence. Meanwhile, chromosome data were only secondarily used because of fragmentary information. In this contribution, we conduct a chromosome characterization of
Abrothrix hirta
,
A. olivacea
,
A. andina
, and
Paynomys macronyx
, review the cytogenetic background of the tribe, and contrast it with molecular data. Chromosomes were analyzed by conventional and differential techniques. All
Abrothrix
species presented 2n = 52/FNa = 56, with a high similarity in the banding patterns reflecting a conserved karyotype, which does not coincide with its high molecular variability. In turn,
P. macronyx
have 2n = 54/FNa = 58–59, varying due to a heteromorphic pair of autosomes. In addition, in this last species, different morphologies of the X chromosome and the presence of B chromosomes were detected. Heterochromatin was involved in these variants. The telomeric probe in
P. macronyx
marks terminal regions of all chromosomes. B chromosomes generated strong telomeric signals. The Ag-NORs banding revealed the same patterns in
Abrothrix
and
Paynomys
. Cytogenetic data support phylogenetic relationships previously proposed and suggest that the specious genus
Abrothrix
could have retained the ancestral karyotype of the subfamily. In the tribe, the relatively conserved chromosome complement contrasts with its high molecular variability. This indicates decoupling between the rates of chromosomal and molecular divergence, as observed in other rodent lineages. In abrotrichines, chromosome evolution was slower.
To investigate the effect of estrogenic compounds on the marine mussel
Mytilus edulis, an assay was developed to measure the expression of two vertebrate estrogen responsive genes—estrogen receptor (
...ER) and vitellogenin (
VTG) genes. Expression was measured in
M. edulis gonads following a 10-day exposure to 200
ng/l 17β-estradiol (estradiol). The concentrations of esterified estradiol in mussel tissue increased 15-fold in a time-dependent manner—confirming uptake of the compound by the mussels, however there was no significant increase of free estradiol in mussel tissues during the exposure period. The
ER and
VTG mRNA levels in the gonads of both sexes were measured at days 1–3, 5, and 10 in control and exposed mussels. However, no significant change in the expression of either the
ER or
VTG genes was recorded at any of the sampled time points. The results suggest that either a regulatory mechanism exists in a mussel that is able to maintain constant levels of free estradiol by converting the excess estradiol into esterified products which may have reduced affinity for the estrogen receptor, or alternatively, that the
ER and
VTG genes are unresponsive to estrogens in these organisms. The significance of these findings in terms of the utility of
ER and
VTG as biomarkers of endocrine disruption in bivalve species is discussed.
•A structured methodology was developed for the for opportunity identification.•Additive manufacturing market, product, technology, and capacities evolution were analyzed.•A scenario was developed by ...analyzing global and regional trends.•Clusters development may push Additive Manufacturing Technology development in Mexico.
This study presents a Technological Roadmap for Additive Manufacturing Technology – also known as 3D printing –, which has been elaborated by the combination of three methodologies: technological surveillance, technological road mapping, and structural analysis. The resulting methodology allowed to establish landmarks in the future evolution of the technology selected at market, product, technology and capacities levels in a particular region, a specific scenario for Mexico. Additive Manufacturing Technology is an advanced manufacturing process different from the traditional subtracting manufacturing methods. This technology has generated great expectation in the last years, and a great future impact in the technology is anticipated; many authors think that the Additive Manufacturing Technology is the next “great thing”, similar to the development of the semiconductor, the computer or the Internet. The worldwide Additive Manufacturing Technology industry trends were compared with data corresponding to the state of the art in Mexico, in order to unfold a roadmap for the developed scenario which allowed to determine possible stages focused on taking advantage of the technology and identifying opportunities for Additive Manufacturing Technology in the country, in terms of its use and research and development.
: In order to assist in the identification of possible endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDC) in groundwater, we are developing Caenorhabolitis elegans as a high throughput bioassay system in which ...responses to EDC may be detected by gene expression using DNA microarray analysis. As a first step we examined gene expression patterns and vitellogenin responses of this organism to vertebrate steroids, in liquid culture. Western blotting showed the expected number and size of vitellogenin translation products after estrogen exposure. At 10−9 M, vitellogenin decreased, but at 10−7 and 10−5, vitellogenin was increased. Testosterone (10−5 M) increased the synthesis of vitellogenin, but progesterone‐treated cultures (10−5 M) had less vitellogenin. Using DNA microarray analysis, we examined the pattern of gene expression after progesterone (10−5, 10−7, and 10−9 M), estrogen (10−5 M), and testosterone (10−9 M) exposure, with special attention to the traditional biomarker genes used in environmental studies vitellogenin, cytochrome P450 (CYP), glutathione s‐transferase (GST), metallothionein (MT), and heat shock proteins (HSP). GST and P450 genes were affected by estrogen (10−5 M) and progesterone (10−5 and 10−7 M) treatments. For vitellogenin genes, estrogen treatment (10−5 M) caused overexpression of the vit‐2 and vit‐6 genes (2.68 and 3.25 times, respectively). After progesterone treatment (10−7 M), the vit‐5 and vit‐6 were down‐regulated and vit‐1 up‐regulated (3.59‐fold). Concentrations of testosterone and progesterone at 10−9 M did not influence the expression of the vit, CYP, or GST genes. Although the analysis is incomplete, and low doses and combinations of EDC need to be tested, these preliminary results indicate C. elegans may be a useful laboratory and field model for screening EDC.
PDF
