Divergent effects of the antiretroviral drugs, dolutegravir, tenofovir alafenamide, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, on human adipocyte function.

Combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) has been associated with increased body weight accompanied by metabolic alterations in people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLWH). To gain insight into the combined effects of cART components on adipocyte dysfunction, we assessed whether and how treatment of human adipocytes with dolutegravir (DTG) and the nucleotide-analog reverse-transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs), tenofovir alafenamide (TAF) and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF), alone and in combination, altered biological processes related to adipose tissue dysfunction. DTG, TAF, and TDF were applied to human Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) adipose cells during differentiation (day 10) and ensuing differentiation (day 14). Expression of selected marker genes was determined by qPCR, the release of adipokines and inflammatory cytokines to the culture media was assessed, and cell respiration was measured. Adipogenesis was not altered by the combined treatment of human adipocytes. However, DTG at the highest dose repressed adipogenesis marker genes expression, and TAF and TDF appeared to mitigate this effect. DTG repressed the expression of adiponectin and the release of adiponectin and leptin in differentiating adipocytes, and these effects were mantained in combination with TAF and TDF. DTG plus TAF or TDF on human adipocytes enhanced inflammation and stress and increased the release of proinflammatory cytokines to the culture media. Together, our results show that combined therapy with these drugs can alter inflammation, cellular stress, and fibrosis in human adipocytes. These findings may improve our understanding and management of the effects of cART on body adiposity and metabolic dysregulation in PLWH.

Telomere and subtelomere high polymorphism might contribute to the specificity of homologous recognition and pairing during meiosis in barley in the context of breeding.

Barley (Hordeum vulgare) is one of the most popular cereal crops globally. Although it is a diploid species, (2n = 2x = 14) the study of its genome organization is necessary in the framework of plant breeding since barley is often used in crosses with other cereals like wheat to provide them with advantageous characters. We already have an extensive knowledge on different stages of the meiosis, the cell division to generate the gametes in species with sexual reproduction, such as the formation of the synaptonemal complex, recombination, and chromosome segregation. But meiosis really starts with the identification of homologous chromosomes and pairing initiation, and it is still unclear how chromosomes exactly choose a partner to appropriately pair for additional recombination and segregation. In this work we present an exhaustive molecular analysis of both telomeres and subtelomeres of barley chromosome arms 2H-L, 3H-L and 5H-L. As expected, the analysis of multiple features, including transposable elements, repeats, GC content, predicted CpG islands, recombination hotspots, G4 quadruplexes, genes and targeted sequence motifs for key DNA-binding proteins, revealed a high degree of variability both in telomeres and subtelomeres. The molecular basis for the specificity of homologous recognition and pairing occurring in the early chromosomal interactions at the start of meiosis in barley may be provided by these polymorphisms. A more relevant role of telomeres and most distal part of subtelomeres is suggested.

Effectiveness of mirror therapy in phantom limb pain: a literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a type of neuropathic pain that affects the territory of an amputated limb or other surgically removed body parts. Between 60% and 90% of amputees suffer from PLP during follow-up. There are a range of therapeutic options for PLP, both pharmacological (gabapentin, amitriptyline, tricyclic antidepressants, etc) and non-pharmacological (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, hypnosis, acupuncture, etc). A widely accepted hypothesis considers PLP to be the consequence of postamputation cortical reorganisation. New treatment approaches, such as mirror therapy (MT), have been developed as a result of Ramachandran's groundbreaking research in the 1990s. This review analyses the current evidence on the efficacy of MT for treating PLP. DEVELOPMENT: We performed a literature review of publications registered from 2012 to 2017 on the CINAHL, Cochrane, Scopus, and PubMed (including Medline) databases using the descriptors "phantom limb" and "mirror therapy." We identified 115 publications addressing MT in PLP. Of these, 17 (15%) contributed useful information for pooled analysis. CONCLUSIONS: MT seems to be effective in relieving PLP, reducing the intensity and duration of daily pain episodes. It is a valid, simple, and inexpensive treatment for PLP. The methodological quality of most publications in this field is very limited, highlighting the need for additional, high-quality studies to develop clinical protocols that could maximise the benefits of MT for patients with PLP.

Efectividad de la terapia de espejo en el dolor del miembro fantasma. Una revisión actual de la literatura / Effectiveness of mirror therapy in phantom limb pain: A literature review

Introducción: El dolor del miembro fantasma (DMF) es un dolor de tipo neuropático que afecta al territorio de una extremidad amputada o a otras partes del cuerpo extirpadas quirúrgicamente. El 60-90% de los amputados sufren DMF durante el seguimiento. Se han descrito opciones terapéuticas para DMF, farmacológicas (gabapentina, amitriptilina, antidepresivos tricíclicos...) y no farmacológicas (TENS, hipnosis, acupuntura...). Una hipótesis predominante considera este fenómeno consecuencia de la reorganización cortical postamputación, y, tras investigaciones innovadoras de Ramachandran en los 90, se han desarrollado nuevos enfoques de tratamiento como la terapia de espejo (TE). En la presente revisión se analiza la evidencia actual publicada sobre la eficacia de la TE para el tratamiento del DMF.DesarrolloSe realizó una revisión bibliográfica, abarcando desde 2012 a 2017, de publicaciones registradas en las bases de datos Cinahl, Cochrane, Scopus y Pubmed (incluyendo Medline). Los descriptores utilizados para la búsqueda fueron los términos Phantom Limb y Mirror Therapy. Se identificaron 115 publicaciones que abordaban TE en DMF. De estas, 17 (15%) aportaban información útil para el análisis conjunto.ConclusionesLa TE parece ser efectiva en el alivio del DMF, reduciendo la intensidad y duración de los episodios de dolor diarios. Por otra parte, constituye un método válido, sencillo y muy económico. La calidad metodológica de la mayoría de las publicaciones en este campo es muy limitada, destacando la necesidad de estudios adicionales de alta calidad para desarrollar protocolos clínicos que puedan maximizar los beneficios de TE en pacientes con DMF. (AU)

Introduction: Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a type of neuropathic pain that affects the territory of an amputated limb or other surgically removed body parts. Between 60% and 90% of amputees suffer from PLP during follow-up. There are a range of therapeutic options for PLP, both pharmacological (gabapentin, amitriptyline, tricyclic antidepressants, etc) and non-pharmacological (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, hypnosis, acupuncture, etc). A widely accepted hypothesis considers PLP to be the consequence of postamputation cortical reorganisation. New treatment approaches, such as mirror therapy (MT), have been developed as a result of Ramachandran's groundbreaking research in the 1990s. This review analyses the current evidence on the efficacy of MT for treating PLP.DevelopmentWe performed a literature review of publications registered from 2012 to 2017 on the CINAHL, Cochrane, Scopus, and PubMed (including Medline) databases Using the descriptors “phantom limb‿ and “mirror therapy.‿ We identified 115 publications addressing MT in PLP. Of these, 17 (15%) contributed useful information for pooled analysis.ConclusionsMT seems to be effective in relieving PLP, reducing the intensity and duration of daily pain episodes. It is a valid, simple, and inexpensive treatment for PLP. The methodological quality of most publications in this field is very limited, highlighting the need for additional, high-quality studies to develop clinical protocols that could maximise the benefits of MT for patients with PLP. (AU)

Influence of nanoemulsion/gum ratio on droplet size distribution, rheology and physical stability of nanoemulgels containing inulin and omega-3 fatty acids.

BACKGROUND: New consumer habits are forcing the food industry to develop new and healthy products. In response to this tendency, in this investigation, we obtained nanoemulgels by microfluidization containing inulin fibre and omega-3 fatty acids. First, the influence of the number of microfluidization cycles on the physical properties of the nanoemulsions was studied. Subsequently, an advanced-performance xanthan gum was added to the nanoemulsion in different nanoemulsion/xanthan ratios (1:1, 2:1, 3:1, 4:1, 1:2, and 1:3). RESULTS: Laser diffraction, multiple light scattering, and rheology techniques were used to characterize nanoemulsions and the corresponding nanoemulgels. The nanoemulsion with the lowest Sauter mean diameter (138 nm) and the longest physical stability was obtained after three passes through a microfluidization device at a fixed pressure of 103 421 kPa. Thus, these processing conditions were always used to obtain the nanoemulsion; these were subsequently mixed with a xanthan gum solution to produce nanoemulgels that showed weak gel-like viscoelastic and shear-thinning flow behaviours. A decrease in the nanoemulsion/xanthan ratio (i.e. by an increase in the content of xanthan gum in the nanoemulgel) increased the viscoelastic moduli and the zero shear viscosity values. A rise in the droplet size was observed with aging time, probably due to flocculation. The nanoemulsion/xanthan gum mass ratio of 1:3 yielded the most stable nanoemulgel. CONCLUSIONS: This work is a contribution to the development of functional foods. It has been demonstrated that it is possible to obtain a stable nanoemulgel-based food matrix containing fibre and omega-3 fatty acids. © 2022 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Effectiveness of mirror therapy in phantom limb pain: A literature review. / Efectividad de la terapia de espejo en el dolor del miembro fantasma. Una revisión actual de la literatura.

INTRODUCTION: Phantom limb pain (PLP) is a type of neuropathic pain that affects the territory of an amputated limb or other surgically removed body parts. Between 60% and 90% of amputees suffer from PLP during follow-up. There are a range of therapeutic options for PLP, both pharmacological (gabapentin, amitriptyline, tricyclic antidepressants, etc) and non-pharmacological (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, hypnosis, acupuncture, etc). A widely accepted hypothesis considers PLP to be the consequence of postamputation cortical reorganisation. New treatment approaches, such as mirror therapy (MT), have been developed as a result of Ramachandran's groundbreaking research in the 1990s. This review analyses the current evidence on the efficacy of MT for treating PLP. DEVELOPMENT: We performed a literature review of publications registered from 2012 to 2017 on the CINAHL, Cochrane, Scopus, and PubMed (including Medline) databases Using the descriptors "phantom limb‿ and "mirror therapy.‿ We identified 115 publications addressing MT in PLP. Of these, 17 (15%) contributed useful information for pooled analysis. CONCLUSIONS: MT seems to be effective in relieving PLP, reducing the intensity and duration of daily pain episodes. It is a valid, simple, and inexpensive treatment for PLP. The methodological quality of most publications in this field is very limited, highlighting the need for additional, high-quality studies to develop clinical protocols that could maximise the benefits of MT for patients with PLP.

[Current status of immersive virtual reality as a tool for physical and functional rehabilitation in patients with Parkinson´s disease: systematic review]. / Estado actual de la realidad virtual inmersiva como herramienta de rehabilitación física y funcional en pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson: revisión sistemática.

INTRODUCTION: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative process that usually appears from the 6th decade of life and is characterized by the appearance of motor and non-motor symptoms that progress, generating functional disability and negatively impacting in quality of life. Recently, Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) has great positive impact on health domains: as a support in psychotherapy or as a treatment of cognitive-behavioral pathologies in neurological patients. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the current published evidence in the fields of physical and functional PD rehabilitation in fully immersive environments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature review, covering publications registered until December 2020 in Cinahl, Scopus, Web of Science, Sport-Discus, Dialnet and Pubmed (including Medline) was carried out. The descriptors used for the search were the terms: Parkinson disease, Virtual Reality and Exercise therapy. 140 publications were identified that addressed IVR with physical rehabilitation proposes in PD. Of these, 7 contribute useful information for pooled analysis. RESULTS: The results support the application of IVR to improve physical and functional capacities in the population with PD. Its feasibility, usability and safety suggest potential benefits in the treatment of the prevalent symptoms of the parkinsonian patient. CONCLUSIONS: Research of high methodological quality is lacking, reflecting and early stage of preclinical development. Randomized control studies with larger sample size and IVR protocols that confirm the results, while analyzing their impact on the physical and functional variables related to PD are needed.

TITLE: Estado actual de la realidad virtual inmersiva como herramienta de rehabilitación física y funcional en pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson: revisión sistemática.Introducción. La enfermedad de Parkinson (EP) es un proceso neurodegenerativo que se caracteriza por la aparición de síntomas motores y no motores que progresan, generando discapacidad funcional e impactando negativamente en la calidad de vida del paciente. Recientemente, la realidad virtual inmersiva ha adquirido gran relevancia como apoyo al tratamiento de patologías cognitivo-conductuales del paciente neurológico. Objetivo. Analizar la evidencia actual publicada en el campo de la rehabilitación física y funcional de la EP en entornos completamente inmersivos. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica de publicaciones registradas en las bases de datos Medline, Cinahl, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Sport-Discus y Dialnet hasta diciembre de 2020. Los descriptores utilizados para la búsqueda fueron: Parkinson disease, Virtual Reality y Exercise therapy. Tras la aplicación de los criterios de selección, del total de 140 artículos identificados, se seleccionaron siete. Resultados. Describen una experiencia segura, positiva y factible, aunque obtenidos, en su mayoría, tras la aplicación de una única sesión. Los resultados hallados en las variables vinculadas a las capacidades funcionales que se deben mejorar en la EP apoyan potenciales beneficios en el tratamiento de la sintomatología prevalente del paciente parkinsoniano. Conclusiones. Los pocos estudios existentes muestran resultados preliminares, por lo que se hacen necesarias más investigaciones de mayor calidad metodológica, mayor tamaño muestral, con un proceso de control aleatorizado y protocolos que confirmen los resultados, al tiempo que analicen su impacto en las variables físicas y funcionales vinculadas a la patología parkinsoniana.

Estado actual de la realidad virtual inmersiva como herramienta de rehabilitación física y funcional en pacientes con enfermedad de Parkinson: revisión sistemática / Current status of immersive virtual reality as a tool for physical and functional rehabilitation in patients with Parkinson´s disease: systematic review

Introducción: La enfermedad de Parkinson (EP) es un proceso neurodegenerativo que se caracteriza por la aparición de síntomas motores y no motores que progresan, generando discapacidad funcional e impactando negativamente en la calidad de vida del paciente. Recientemente, la realidad virtual inmersiva ha adquirido gran relevancia como apoyo al tratamiento de patologías cognitivo-conductuales del paciente neurológico. Objetivo: Analizar la evidencia actual publicada en el campo de la rehabilitación física y funcional de la EP en entornos completamente inmersivos. Materiales y métodos: Se realizó una revisión bibliográfica de publicaciones registradas en las bases de datos Medline, Cinahl, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Sport-Discus y Dialnet hasta diciembre de 2020. Los descriptores utilizados para la búsqueda fueron: Parkinson disease, Virtual Reality y Exercise therapy. Tras la aplicación de los criterios de selección, del total de 140 artículos identificados, se seleccionaron siete.Resultados: Describen una experiencia segura, positiva y factible, aunque obtenidos, en su mayoría, tras la aplicación de una única sesión. Los resultados hallados en las variables vinculadas a las capacidades funcionales que se deben mejorar en la EP apoyan potenciales beneficios en el tratamiento de la sintomatología prevalente del paciente parkinsoniano. Conclusiones: Los pocos estudios existentes muestran resultados preliminares, por lo que se hacen necesarias más investigaciones de mayor calidad metodológica, mayor tamaño muestral, con un proceso de control aleatorizado y protocolos que confirmen los resultados, al tiempo que analicen su impacto en las variables físicas y funcionales vinculadas a la patología parkinsoniana.(AU)

Introduction: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative process that usually appears from the 6th decade of life and is characterized by the appearance of motor and non-motor symptoms that progress, generating functional disability and negatively impacting in quality of life. Recently, Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) has great positive impact on health domains: as a support in psychotherapy or as a treatment of cognitive-behavioral pathologies in neurological patients. Objective: To analyze the current published evidence in the fields of physical and functional PD rehabilitation in fully immersive environments. Materials and methods: A literature review, covering publications registered until December 2020 in Cinahl, Scopus, Web of Science, Sport-Discus, Dialnet and Pubmed (including Medline) was carried out. The descriptors used for the search were the terms: Parkinson disease, Virtual Reality and Exercise therapy. 140 publications were identified that addressed IVR with physical rehabilitation proposes in PD. Of these, 7 contribute useful information for pooled analysis. Results: The results support the application of IVR to improve physical and functional capacities in the population with PD. Its feasibility, usability and safety suggest potential benefits in the treatment of the prevalent symptoms of the parkinsonian patient. Conclusions: Research of high methodological quality is lacking, reflecting and early stage of preclinical development. Randomized control studies with larger sample size and IVR protocols that confirm the results, while analyzing their impact on the physical and functional variables related to PD are needed.(AU)

Aplicación de un programa de ejercicios con atención focalizada en 2 pacientes afectados por síndrome de Parkinson-plus / Application of a focused-attention exercise program in two patients affected by Parkinson-plus syndrome

Antecedentes y objetivo: El síndrome de Parkinson-Plus, también conocido como síndrome parkinsoniano atípico, es clínicamente muy heterogéneo y presenta una mala respuesta a los tratamientos farmacológicos antiparkinsonianos. Además, tiene peor pronóstico y una progresión más rápida comparado con la enfermedad de Parkinson. Dada la poca evidencia existente en la aplicación de terapia por ejercicio en este síndrome, y con la intención de ir formando un cuerpo de conocimiento sobre el uso de dichas terapias en estos pacientes, se presenta la intervención realizada en 2 pacientes. Material y métodos: Se intervino en 2 pacientes con síndrome de Parkinson-plus mediante un programa de ejercicios de atención focalizada, concebido específicamente para este colectivo y con la finalidad de atenuar o detener la vertiginosa pérdida de las capacidades físicas y mentales. Se realizaron 2 controles (pre y postintervención) y las escalas empleadas fueron la versión española del 39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire y la Escala de Tinetti, así como el Mini-Mental State Exam para descartar trastorno cognitivo que impidiese seguir la sesión. Resultados y conclusiones: Se objetiva una leve mejoría en los valores absolutos de equilibrio, marcha y calidad de vida. Los hallazgos sugieren una probable utilidad del programa de ejercicios implementado, como una estrategia rehabilitadora válida, ya que podría mejorar y/o evitar la rápida pérdida de capacidades funcionales que afectan al equilibrio, la marcha y la calidad de vida. Se hacen necesarios estudios más apropiados para refrendar estas conclusiones

Background and objective: Parkinson-plus syndrome, also known as atypical Parkinsonian syndrome, is very heterogeneous clinically and responds poorly to antiparkinsonian (drug) therapies. It is characterized by worse prognosis and faster clinical progression compared to Parkinson's Disease. Evidence supporting the application of exercise therapy in this syndrome is lacking, we present here a therapeutic approach to these subjects with the aim of proposing a framework for therapists. Material and methods: Two patients with Parkinson-plus syndrome were treated through a programme of focused-attention exercises, specifically designed for this group and with the aim of decreasing or stopping the loss of physical and mental abilities. Two controls were carried out (pre and post intervention) and the scales used were the Spanish version of the 39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire and the Tinetti Scale, as well as the Mini Mental State Exam to rule out cognitive disorder that would prevent the subjects following the sessions. Results and conclusions: A slight improvement was observed in the absolute values of balance, gait and quality of life. The findings suggest probable utility of the exercise programme implemented, as a valid rehabilitative strategy, since it could improve and/or prevent the rapid loss of functional capacities that affect balance, gait and quality of life. More appropriate studies are necessary to endorse these conclusions

Spatio-temporal patterns of sarcoptic mange in red deer and Iberian ibex in a multi-host natural park.

The reliance on multiple hosts to survive is what makes the management and control of multi-host infectious agents challenging. Sarcoptes scabiei causes sarcoptic mange in a wide range of mammal species with ungulates being an important host. Little is known about the role different ungulates play in sustaining endemic transmission of the disease and no study has yet to describe the long-term multi-host sarcoptic infestation dynamics in free-ranging wildlife. Here, we explore 24 years of sarcoptic mange infestation data for two Mediterranean ungulate species, red deer and Iberian ibex, living in the Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas Natural Park of southern Spain. The temporal analysis showed a clear seasonal pattern of infestation in both ungulates with a peak in early spring and a decline throughout the summer. The spatial analysis, however, showed that caprinae rather than cervidae is the most competent host for sarcoptic mange spreading and persistence. Considering that few studies have described the spatio-temporal pattern of mange outbreaks for long periods of time, the information reported in this work aims to improve our understanding of sarcoptic mange epizootic in wild ruminant populations.

Strontium hexaferrite platelets: a comprehensive soft X-ray absorption and Mössbauer spectroscopy study.

Platelets of strontium hexaferrite (SrFe12O19, SFO), up to several micrometers in width, and tens of nanometers thick have been synthesized by a hydrothermal method. They have been studied by a combination of structural and magnetic techniques, with emphasis on Mössbauer spectroscopy and X-ray absorption based-measurements including spectroscopy and microscopy on the iron-L edges and the oxygen-K edge, allowing us to establish the differences and similarities between our synthesized nanostructures and commercial powders. The Mössbauer spectra reveal a greater contribution of iron tetrahedral sites in platelets in comparison to pure bulk material. For reference, high-resolution absorption and dichroic spectra have also been measured both from the platelets and from pure bulk material. The O-K edge has been reproduced by density functional theory calculations. Out-of-plane domains were observed with 180° domain walls less than 20 nm width, in good agreement with micromagnetic simulations.

A Critical Overview on the Effect of Microwave Irradiation in Organic Synthesis.

Despite the great success of Microwave Assisted Organic Synthesis (MAOS) there is still a lack of knowledge about the interaction of the electromagnetic radiation with matter. In consequence, it has been very difficult to rationalize the effect of microwave irradiation in chemistry, to determine the existence of microwave effects (thermal and non-thermal) and to develop predictive models on the characteristics required for a reaction to be improved under microwaves. This has been a handicap to develop new chemistry under microwave irradiation and the origin of many controversies. This personal account collects some new findings in this field and our work on the use of computational chemistry to develop predictive models and to determine parameters related to thermal and non-thermal effects, with clear advantages over experimental methods where separation of these effect is almost impossible.

Correlation of the Glomerular Filtration Rate Measured With the Use of DTPA-Tc99m in Live Kidney Donors With Equations Based on Creatinine and Cystatin C.

BACKGROUND: Renal donation leads to a risk of developing chronic kidney disease, with an incidence of 0.47%. To evaluate for its presence, formulas based on serum creatinine are used, but up to 80% of these formulas underestimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in donors. The aim of this work was to confirm the highest correlation of the GFR as measured with the use of DTPA-Tc99m with the GFR as estimated by means of the formula based on serum cystatin C (CKD-EPI creatinine-cystatin C) in healthy kidney donors. METHODS: In this observational, analytic, cross-sectional study, the GFR of kidney donors was determined ≥1 year after donation by means of DTPA gammagram and estimation with the use of conventional formulations and with cystatin C. RESULTS: Of 112 donors, 38 (34%) were included, 20 (60%) were female, with an overall average age of 40 years, 36.5 months after donation, and body mass index of 25.5 kg/m2. Correlation with the GFR as measured by means of DTPA gammagram was better with the use of CKD-EPI cystatin C (0.402; P = .020) and CKD-EPI creatinine-cystatin (0.549; P < .001) than the conventional formulas. Linear correlation with serum cystatin C was 0.825 (P < .001; 95% confidence interval, -105.3 to -63.2) for the CKD-EPI cystatin C formula, 0.77 (P < .001; -89.9 to -48.1) for the CKD-EPI creatinine-cystatin formula, and 0.525 (P = .002; -91.1 to -23.2) for DTPA-Tc99m scintigraphy. CONCLUSIONS: There is a strong correlation between estimate the GFR by equations based on cystatin C and the measurement of the GFR by DTPA-Tc99m gammagram.

Peripheral Blood Regulatory T Cells Are Diminished in Kidney Transplant Patients With Chronic Allograft Nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Our aim in this study was to assess peripheral blood CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cell (Treg) levels in patients with chronic allograft nephropathy (CAN) 1 year after kidney transplantation. METHODS: Twelve renal transplant patients with an initial onset of CAN, 12 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage G5 on dialysis, and 13 healthy control individuals were evaluated regarding the proportion of Tregs in their peripheral blood via flow cytometry. RESULTS: The renal transplant patients with CAN had a significantly lower proportion of Tregs than the hemodialysis CKD patients and healthy controls (P < .0001). In contrast, the hemodialysis CKD patients showed higher levels of Tregs than the renal transplant patients with CAN and the healthy controls (P < .0001). CONCLUSION: The high level of peripheral blood Tregs in the hemodialysis CKD patients suggests a chronic inflammatory state. However, the low frequency of Tregs in the peripheral blood from the renal transplant patients with CAN suggests an unfavorable prognosis for allograft immune tolerance.

Cardiac Remodeling in Structure and Function Six Months After Kidney Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease accounts for 35% to 50% of the causes of mortality in chronic kidney disease. The majority of patients in substitution therapy in Mexico are subdialyzed owing to limited economic resources. This produces more cardiac deterioration than described in the statistics and has a direct impact on the prognosis of kidney transplantation. The aim of this work was to demonstrate and to quantify the improvement in the echocardiographic parameters 6 months after renal transplantation in patients with stable renal function. METHODS: This was an observational, analytic, prospective study of 23 patients with chronic kidney disease who received transplants in 2016 and had a glomerular filtration rate ≥80 mL/min (Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration) 6 months after transplantation. RESULTS: Echocardiographic results showed an increase in the left ventricular ejection fraction from 57.17 ± 10.46% to 64.09 ± 9.8%, an increase in the right ventricular ejection fraction from 0.56 ± 0.09% to 0.60 ± 0.08% and a reduction of the pulmonary arterial systolic pressure from 44.57 ± 13.88 mm Hg to 39.74 ± 11.04 mm Hg. There were also decreases in mitral regurgitation from 1.0 to 0.43, tricuspid insufficiency from 1.35 to 0.43, pulmonary insufficiency from 0.48 to 0.04, and aortic insufficiency from 0.35 to 0.04, all of these significant with P < .05. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant improvement in cardiovascular function in our population 6 months after transplantation, despite the fact that renal transplantation is performed with greater cardiac deterioration than described in patients in other countries.

Slow and ultra-rapid freezing protocols for cryopreserving mouflon (Ovis musimon) and fallow deer (Dama dama) epididymal sperm.

This study examines the effectiveness of two methods for cryopreserving post-mortem epididymal sperm - conventional slow freezing employing a short equilibration time with glycerol, and ultra-rapid freezing - from the wild ruminant species Ovis musimon (mouflon) and Dama dama (fallow deer). A Tris-citric acid-glucose (TCG) + 12% egg yolk-based medium was used for the conventional slow freezing of the fallow deer sperm, whereas a Tes-Tris-glucose (TEST) + 6% egg yolk-based medium was used for the mouflon sperm. Glycerol was added to a final concentration of 5% to both media. The same diluents were used for ultra-rapid freezing but replacing the glycerol with 100 mM of sucrose. Sperm variables (motility, viability, acrosome integrity, membrane integrity, and morphological abnormalities) were analyzed before and after cryopreservation. Although values were generally better after the thawing of the conventionally cryopreserved sperm, total sperm motility (38.40 ±â€¯4.44% in mouflon and 31.25 ±â€¯3.37% in fallow deer) and total live sperm (47.19 ±â€¯5.18% in mouflon and 43.13 ±â€¯2.43% in fallow deer) were acceptable for the ultra-rapidly cooled sperm. Independent of the cryopreservation method, membrane integrity, acrosome integrity and the percentages of dead sperm and sperms with a damaged acrosome were better for the cryopreserved mouflon sperm than the fallow deer sperm (P < 0.05). Despite exerting a more harmful effect on sperm variables than conventional freezing, ultra-rapid freezing may be a useful alternative for the cryopreservation of these species' epididymal sperm in the field, as this simple technique does not require sophisticated equipment and expertise.

Molecular lemmings: strategies to avoid when designing BODIPY ferrocene dyads for dye-sensitized solar cell applications.

BODIPY (4,4-difluoro-4-bora-3a,4a-diaza-s-indacenes) dyes possess intense absorption profiles that can be exploited in various light harvesting applications. However, redox stability and optimization of frontier molecular orbital energies in these dyes are critical for their successful incorporation into new solar cell materials. This article describes the synthesis and characterization of a family of ß-substituted BODIPY-ferrocene dyads with push-pull architectures. Designed to stabilize the photo-oxidized BODIPY for dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC) applications, some deleterious electron transfer behaviours emerged when the ferrocene unit was conjugated to electron deficient BODIPYs. These findings are discussed herein.

On the composition of gastroliths from broiler breeders.

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the composition and origin of certain gastroliths or gizzard stones from broiler breeders (Gallus gallus domesticus). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray powder diffraction techniques were used as analysis tools. The main components resulted to be organic fibre and minerals referred to a pegmatite rock (quartz, feldspar albite and haematite) used as grit. Although the generally accepted purpose of gastroliths in chicken is the crushing and grinding of foodstuff in the ventriculus, the importance of mineral uptake from grit of iron and other essential elements such as Al, Ca, K, Cl, P, Ti, Mn, Mg, Cu, Zn and Zr (in ppm) as a secondary effect of the abrasion and dissolution of gastroliths should not be disregarded.

Gut microbiome modulates response to anti-PD-1 immunotherapy in melanoma patients.

Preclinical mouse models suggest that the gut microbiome modulates tumor response to checkpoint blockade immunotherapy; however, this has not been well-characterized in human cancer patients. Here we examined the oral and gut microbiome of melanoma patients undergoing anti-programmed cell death 1 protein (PD-1) immunotherapy (n = 112). Significant differences were observed in the diversity and composition of the patient gut microbiome of responders versus nonresponders. Analysis of patient fecal microbiome samples (n = 43, 30 responders, 13 nonresponders) showed significantly higher alpha diversity (P < 0.01) and relative abundance of bacteria of the Ruminococcaceae family (P < 0.01) in responding patients. Metagenomic studies revealed functional differences in gut bacteria in responders, including enrichment of anabolic pathways. Immune profiling suggested enhanced systemic and antitumor immunity in responding patients with a favorable gut microbiome as well as in germ-free mice receiving fecal transplants from responding patients. Together, these data have important implications for the treatment of melanoma patients with immune checkpoint inhibitors.