TGF-ß1 decreases CHOP expression and prevents cardiac fibroblast apoptosis induced by endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-ß1) is a cytokine with marked pro-fibrotic action on cardiac fibroblasts (CF). TGF-ß1 induces CF-to-cardiac myofibroblast (CMF) differentiation, defined by an increase in α-smooth muscle cells (α-SMA), collagen secretion and it has a cytoprotective effect against stimuli that induce apoptosis. In the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) lumen, misfolded protein accumulation triggers ER stress and induces apoptosis, and this process plays a critical role in cell death mediated by Ischemia/Reperfusion (I/R) injury and by ER stress inducers, such as Tunicamycin (Tn). Here, we studied the regulation of CHOP, a proapoptotic ER-stress-related transcription factor in CF under simulated I/R (sI/R) or exposed to Tn. Even though TGF-ß1 has been shown to participate in ER stress, its regulatory effect on CF apoptosis and ER stress-induced by sI/R or TN has not been evaluated yet. CF from neonatal rats were exposed to sI/R, and cell death was evaluated by cell count and apoptosis by flow cytometry. ER stress was assessed by western blot against CHOP. Our results evidenced that sI/R (8/24) h or Tn triggers CF apoptosis and an increase in CHOP protein levels. TGF-ß1 pre-treatment partially prevented apoptosis induced by sI/R or Tn. Furthermore, TGF-ß1 pre-treatment completely prevented CHOP increase by sI/R or Tn. Additionally, we found a decrease in α-SMA expression induced by sI/R and in collagen secretion induced by Tn, which were not prevented by TGF-ß1 treatment. In conclusion, TGF-ß1 partially protects CF apoptosis induced by sI/R or Tn, through a mechanism that would involve ER stress.

Menopausal symptoms are associated with non-adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy in human immunodeficiency virus-infected middle-aged women.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the association between the intensity of menopausal symptoms and highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) adherence in middle-aged women with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 313 Peruvian women with HIV infection (age 40-59 years) were surveyed and classified as adherent or non-adherent to HAART based on the Antiretroviral Treatment Adherence Evaluation Questionnaire. The intensity of menopausal symptoms was assessed with the Menopause Rating Scale, and categorized as none, mild, moderate, and/or severe. Age, sexual orientation, used HAART scheme, time since HIV diagnosis, menopausal status, risk of depression, and presence of comorbidities were also assessed. Poisson generalized linear models with robust variance were performed in order to estimate crude prevalence ratios (PRs) and adjusted PRs using statistical (a1PR) and epidemiological criteria (a2PR).Results: A total of 19.9%, 32.6%, and 15.0% of all women presented mild, moderate, and severe menopausal symptoms, respectively. Overall, 70.6% women were non-adherent to HAART. The probability of non-adherence was higher in women with mild, moderate, and severe symptoms as compared to asymptomatic women in the non-adjusted model (PR: 1.79, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.39-2.29; PR: 1.76, 95% CI: 1.38-2.23; and PR: 2.07, 95% CI: 1.64-2.61, respectively) and the adjusted model.Conclusion: The severity of menopausal symptoms was associated with HAART non-adherence in HIV-infected middle-aged women.

Estimación de la huella hídrica asociada al proceso de beneficio bovino de la cadena cárnica en los frigoríficos Vijagual y Jongovito (Colombia) / Estimation of the water footprint associated with the bovine benefit process of the network of meat in the Vijagual and Jongovito meat plant (Colombia)

RESUMEN La huella hídrica es un indicador de la apropiación de los recursos de agua dulce y aporta una valiosa información sobre el impacto ambiental que ocasiona un bien o servicio. Por ello, es interesante conocer el consumo de agua y los niveles de contaminación detrás de todo proceso productivo. El objetivo de este estudio fue dar una primera aproximación a la estimación de la huella hídrica en el proceso de beneficio bovino en el Frigorífico Vijagual S.A.S. de la ciudad de Bucaramanga y en el Frigorífico Jongovito S.A de la ciudad de San Juan de Pasto. Para el cálculo de la huella hídrica azul se hizo necesario conocer el volumen de agua empleada en el proceso y el del agua que retorna a la fuente hídrica después de su tratamiento. Para el cálculo de la huella hídrica gris se tomó como indicador la carga contaminante de materia orgánica expresada en DQO, por ser el parámetro de mayor concentración. La huella hídrica verde no se determinó por no tratarse de un proceso agroforestal. Para el Frigorífico Vijagual se obtuvo como resultado una huella hídrica total de 2.583l/res, mientras que para el Frigorífico Jongovito se obtuvo una huella hídrica de 1.358 l/res. Si bien es cierto estos valores son inferiores a datos nacionales e internacionales, en términos de sostenibilidad es muy importante disminuir el consumo de agua, mejorar cada vez más los sistemas de tratamiento y realizar un esfuerzo en concienciar respecto al uso responsable del agua a sus operarios, en beneficio de las generaciones presentes y futuras.

ABSTRACT The water footprint is an indicator of the appropriation of freshwater resources that contributes a valuable information on the environmental impact caused by a good and/or service. Therefore, it is interesting to know the water consumption and the pollution behind all productive processes. The objective of this study was to give a first approximation to the accounting of the water footprint in the process of bovine benefit in the Vijagual S.A.S. meat procesing plant in Bucaramanga city and the Jongovito S.A. meat plant in San Juan de Pasto City. To calculate the blue water footprint it was necessary to know the volume of water used in the process and the water that returns to the water source after its treatment. For the calculation of the gray water footprint, the pollutant load of organic matter expressed in DQO was taken as indicator, since it is the parameter with the highest concentration. The green water footprint was not determined because it was not an agroforestry process. As a result, the Vijagual meat plant the water footprint is 2.583 l/bovine, while the Jongovito meat plant the water footprint of 1.358 l/bovine was obteined. Altough it is true that these values are lower than national and international data, in terms of sustainability, it is very important to reduce water consumption, improve treatment systems more and more, and make an effort to raise awareness about the responsible use of water by its operators, for the benefit of present and future generations.

Ex-post analysis of landraces sympatric to a commercial variety in the center of origin of the potato failed to detect gene flow.

The possible introduction of genetically modified potato in the Andean region raises concerns about the unintentional introduction of transgenes into the native potato germplasm because it is perceived to convey negative impacts on biodiversity. We investigated this question by an ex-post analysis of existing landraces resulting from natural hybridization between an unknown landrace and the fertile commercial variety 'Yungay'. This variety can be regarded as exotic because it was bred in part from the southern Chilean germplasm of Solanum tuberosum Group Chilotanum. We sampled the landrace germplasm of 1,771 leaf samples comprising more than 400 different landraces from three regions where 'Yungay' and landraces have coexisted for 15-25 years in the Peruvian Andes. Simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used to identify putative hybrids based on allele sharing with those of 'Yungay'. The exclusion procedure was iterative, starting with the SSR markers with highest discriminating capacity based on allele frequency of the variety 'Yungay' in our large database of 688 landraces by 24 SSR makers. With only 12 of the 24 SSR markers assayed, all of the samples could be rejected as possible hybrids with 'Yungay' as a parent. This result demonstrates that the unintentional introduction of a transgene, not under farmers' selection, from a widely grown transgenic variety over a long period of time is unlikely to happen at a detectable scale. Our finding reinforces the prominent role of farmers in the selection and maintenance of landraces which, unlike hybrids, have specific characteristics that farmers appreciate.

4-Phenylbutyric acid prevent cytotoxicity induced by thapsigargin in rat cardiac fibroblast.

Cardiac fibroblast (CF) survival is important for the maintenance of the extracellular matrix homeostasis in the heart; providing a functional support to cardiomyocytes necessary for the correct myocardial function. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress causes cellular dysfunction and cell death by apoptosis; and thapsigargin is a well-known ER stress inducer. On the other hand, the chemical chaperone, 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) had showed to prevent ER stress; however, in cardiac fibroblast both the ER stress induced by thapsigargin and prevention by 4-PBA, have not been studied in detail. Neonate rat CF were treated with thapsigargin in presence or absence of 4-PBA, and cell viability was evaluated by trypan blue exclusion and apoptosis by flow cytometry; whereas CHOP, BIP, PDI, ATF4 and procollagen protein levels were assessed by western blot. In CF, thapsigargin triggered the unfolded protein response detected by early increases in ATF4, CHOP, PDI and BIP protein levels as well as, the accumulation of intracellular procollagen. Thapsigargin also stimulated CF death in a time and concentration-dependent manner. ER stress, CF death and apoptosis induced by thapsigargin were prevented by 4-PBA. Conclusion our data suggest that 4-PBA prevent ER stress, intracellular procollagen accumulation, CF death and apoptosis induced by thapsigargin.

Whole-Genome Sequencing and Comparative Analysis of Yersinia pestis, the Causative Agent of a Plague Outbreak in Northern Peru.

The plague is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of the Y. pestis strain INS, which was isolated from swollen lymph gland aspirate (bubo aspirate) of an infected patient from a pneumonic outbreak in 2010 in northern Peru.

Whole Genome Sequencing and Comparative Analysis of Bartonella bacilliformis Strain INS, the Causative Agent of Carrion's Disease.

Bartonella bacilliformis is the etiological agent of human bartonellosis, which is highly endemic to Peru. Here, we report the first genome that was sequenced and analyzed from an isolate of B. bacilliformis strain INS, which originally was isolated from the blood of an infected patient with an acute phase of Carrion's disease from Jaén-Cajamarca, Peru.

Prevalence of accessory pudendal artery.

This study investigated the frequency of an accessory pudendal artery in 15 adult cadavers fixed with formaldehyde solution. The prevalence of accessory pudendal artery varies between 7 and 75% according to the method of identification (imaging studies, microstereoscopic cadaveric dissection, and open and laparoscopic surgeries). Currently, under discussion is the role of this artery in postprostatectomy erectile dysfunction. Accordingly, it is important to know the true prevalence to appreciate its clinical significance. The internal pudendal system was examined through direct dissection, and findings were compared with the different methods of identification published.

Serological survey of selected pathogens of free-ranging foxes in southern Argentina, 1998--2001.

A serological survey was conducted in the Patagonia region of Argentina to estimate the prevalence of nine disease agents within the populations of free-ranging culpeo (Dusicyon culpaeus) and grey (Dusicyon griseus) foxes. The disease agents were Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV), Brucella, canine adenovirus (CAV), canine distemper virus (CDV), canine parvovirus (CPV), Encephalitozoon cuniculi, Leptospira, Neospora caninum, and Toxoplasma gondii. A total of 84 foxes were sampled (28 culpeo and 56 grey), and 73% of the sera had antibodies against one or more pathogens. Among these seropositive sera, 47% of them reacted to only one antigen, while the other 53% reacted to multiple antigens. The presence of antibodies to Toxoplasma (20%), Neospora (44%), Leptospira (30%) and Brucella (18%) suggests that these organisms actively circulate in the area. Antibodies against CDV, CAV and CPV were detected in 2%, 5% and 5% of foxes, respectively. Regarding Encephalitozoon cuniculi and ADV, no evidence of either was found.