The knockdown of eIF4AI interferes with the respiratory syncytial virus replication cycle.

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the main etiological agents in acute respiratory infections. To date, the replicative cycle of this virus is not completely known, and the events as well as the role of cellular and viral proteins that participate in the infectious cycle of RSV are still a matter of intense research. An important protein that is a control point for many viruses is the helicase eIF4AI, which participates at the beginning of the cap-dependent translation of eukaryotes and cap-independent translation of certain viral mRNAs. Recently, eIF4AI has been considered as a potential viral therapeutic target. In order to understand the role of eIF4AI during the infectious cycle of RSV, we evaluated the effect of eIF4AI knockdown on the amount of positive-strand viral RNA and viral progeny of this virus. Our results showed a decrease for both parameters, suggesting a possible involvement of eIF4AI during replicative cycle of RSV. In addition, using confocal microscopy, it was observed that eIF4AI colocalized with RSV viral protein, supporting the possible participation of eIF4AI during the replicative cycle of RSV. Keywords: eIF4AI; RSV; translation; antiviral.

Sociodemographic Barriers to Physical Activity and Healthy Diet Through Social Networks in Mexican Breast Cancer Survivors.

Introduction Female breast cancer (BC) survivors are affected by poor eating habits and physical inactivity due to certain environmental, physical, and social barriers to healthy lifestyles. This study aimed to identify the sociodemographic, physical, and economic barriers hindering the adoption of physical activity (PA) and a healthy diet, as well as providing insights into how BC survivors cope with these barriers using social networks. Methods A cross-sectional mixed-methods study was conducted, with a self-administered questionnaire and open-ended questions to determine the barriers to PA and healthy eating, while in the second phase, an interpretive qualitative study was carried out with semi-structured interviews. Descriptive statistics, odds ratios (ORs), correspondence analysis, and multivariate analysis were used to estimate the association between moderate to vigorous PA and fruit and vegetable consumption and BC covariates. Results During the COVID-19 lockdown, 150 Mexican BC survivors were studied. The multivariate analysis showed that age (OR = 2.7, 95% CI: 1.0 to 7.03), socioeconomic level (OR = 3.2, 95% CI: 1.3 to 8.2), and overweight (OR = 3.6, 95% CI: 1.5 to 9.7) were significantly associated with low schooling. BC diagnosis of less than three years and age > 40 years were associated with lack of exercise. Survivors individually addressed the challenges associated with BC without the support of specialists. As a result, they sought information on social networks. Conclusions Regarding BC survivors, age > 40 years, low socioeconomic status, and being overweight were important gaps to PA and a healthy diet. In the testimonials, the primary obstacle to engaging in PA was lack of time, while the high cost of food was the most frequently cited reason for not following a healthy diet. Many of the individuals maintained a poor diet with a low intake of fruits and vegetables. Thus, appropriate information must be provided using technologies to develop skills to deal with BC.

Efecto de un multivitamínico sobre la resistencia a la insulina, inflamación y estrés oxidante en un modelo de obesidad inducida en ratas Wistar / Effect of a multivitamin on insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress in a Wistar rat model of induced obesity

Introducción: la acumulación excesiva de tejido adiposo se acompaña de alteraciones en el estado inflamatorio y aumento del estrés oxidativo, variables que se asocian con la resistencia a la insulina e incremento en los niveles de glucosa e insulina. las vitaminas y minerales refuerzan la capacidad antioxidante e inflamatoria, por lo que planteamos que podrían coadyuvar en el control de resistencia a la insulina y en el metabolismo de la glucosa y lípidos en un modelo de obesidad en rata. Objetivo: analizar el efecto de un suplemento multivitamínico sobre marcadores de resistencia a la insulina, inflamación y estrés oxidativo en ratas obesas con dieta de cafetería. Métodos: se dividieron aleatoriamente 35 ratas macho Wistar de 28 días de edad en cuatro grupos: 1, control dieta estándar; 2, dieta estándar más multivitamínico; 3, obesas con dieta de cafetería; y 4, obesas con dieta de cafetería más multivitamínico. Después de los tratamientos se analizaron los niveles de glucosa, HbA1c, insulina, TNF-α, IL-6, estrés oxidativo y perfil de lípidos por métodos colorimétricos, así como el porcentaje de tejido adiposo y los índices Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) y Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI). Resultados: el suplemento multivitamínico disminuyó significativamente el tejido adiposo visceral, el índice HOMA, la glucosa, la HbA1c, el estrés oxidante y los marcadores inflamatorios en el grupo obeso más multivitamínico, en comparación con el grupo obeso con dieta de cafetería y el grupo control con dieta estándar. Sin embargo, en el grupo al que se le administró solo el multivitamínico sin dieta de cafetería aumentaron sus niveles de tejido adiposo total, glucosa y estrés oxidativo, así como el índice QUICKI con relación al grupo control con dieta estándar. (AU)

Introduction: excessive accumulation of adipose tissue is accompanied by alterations in the inflammatory state and increased oxidative stress, and these variables are associated with insulin resistance and increased glucose and insulin levels. On the other hand, vitamins and minerals reinforce the antioxidant and inflammatory capacity, for this reasons we propose that they could contribute to the control of insulin resistance, glucose and lipid metabolism in a rat model of obesity. Objective: to analyze the effect of a multivitamin supplement on markers of insulin resistance, inflammation, and oxidative stress in obese rats on a cafeteria diet. Methods: thirty-five 28-day-old male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: 1, standard diet control; 2, standard diet plus multivitamin; 3, obese on a cafeteria diet; and 4, obese on a cafeteria diet plus multivitamin. After the treatments, glucose levels, HbA1c, insulin, TNF-α, IL-6, oxidative stress and lipid profile were analyzed by colorimetric methods, as well as the percentage of adipose tissue, Homeostasis Model Assessment (HOMA) index y Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI). Results: multivitamin supplementation significantly decreased visceral adipose tissue, HOMA index, glucose, HbA1c, oxidant stress, and inflammatory markers in the obese plus multivitamin rat group, compared with the obese cafeteria diet rat group and the standard diet rat control group. However, the group that was administered only the multivitamin without the cafeteria diet had increased levels of total adipose tissue, glucose, and oxidative stress, as well as the QUICKI index relative to the control group with the standard diet. (AU)

Isolation of Vibrio cholera El Tor Inaba From Lemna minor and Eichhornia crassipens Roots in Veracruz, Mexico.

BACKGROUND: During epidemic periods, the strain Vibrio cholera El Tor has been isolated from the aquatic macrophyte roots of Eichhornia crassipens and Lemna minor, suggesting that aquatic plants could be environmental reservoirs through either a non-specific association or a commensalism relationship. Therefore, it is important to understand V. cholera reservoirs in order to establish prevention strategies against this pathogen. OBJECTIVES: Our interest was to determine whether V. cholera could be isolated and typified from L. minor and E. crassipens roots. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2004 to 2005, plants were collected from various ecological niches and the roots were used to isolate V. cholera. Standard bacteriological, biochemical and serological tests were used for its typification. RESULTS: In five out of the nine ecological niches explored, we collected either L. minor or E. crassipens, as these specimens cohabited only in two niches. V. cholera was isolated from both L. minor and E. crassipens roots. The isolated V. cholera showed the same biochemical characteristics as the pure V. cholera strain which was used as a control. The isolated V. cholera corresponded to V. cholera O1 El Tor Inaba, which is the same serotype related to the last outbreak in Mexico. CONCLUSIONS: For first time V. cholera El Tor Inaba has been isolated several years after the last emergence of cholera in Mexico. A viable and cultivable V. cholera strain, sourced from freshwater niches in E. crassipens and L. minor roots, suggests the importance of these plants as a permanent aquatic reservoir for these organisms. The monitoring of E. crassipens and L. minor is the responsibility of health institutions in order to evaluate the ongoing risks.