TRY plant trait database - enhanced coverage and open access.

Plant traits-the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants-determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits-almost complete coverage for 'plant growth form'. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait-environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives.

The potential role of the adipokine HMGB1 in obesity and insulin resistance. Novel effects on adipose tissue biology.

Discovery of the adipose tissue as a major source of signaling molecules almost three decades ago set a novel physiological paradigm that paved the way for the identification of metabolic organs as endocrine organs. Adipocytes, the main adipose tissue cell type, do not only represent the principal site of energy storage in form of triglycerides, but also produce a variety of molecules for short and long distance intercellular communication, named adipokines, which coordinate systemic responses. Although the best known adipokines identified and characterized hitherto are leptin and adiponectin, novel adipokines are continuously being described, what have significantly helped to elucidate the role of adipocyte biology in obesity and associated comorbidities. One of these novel adipokines is high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a ubiquitous nuclear protein that has been recently reported to be dysregulated in obese dysfunctional adipocytes. Although the classical function of HMGB1 is related to inflammation and immunity, acting as an alarmin, novel advances evidence an active implication of HMGB1 in tissue remodeling and fibrosis. This review summarizes the current evidence on the mechanisms controlling HMGB1 release, as well as its role as a regulator of adipocyte function and extracellular matrix remodeling, with special emphasis on the potential of this novel adipokine as a target in the obesity treatment.

Variation of serum uric acid levels in multiple sclerosis during relapses and immunomodulatory treatment.

Uric acid (UA), a product of purine metabolism, may be an antioxidant, perhaps acting as a scavenger of peroxynitrite. Patients with gout have a reduced incidence of multiple sclerosis (MS). A number of studies found that patients with MS have low serum levels of UA, although it has not been established whether this represents a primary deficit or a secondary effect. UA has also been proposed as a marker of disease activity and response to immunosuppressive or immunomodulatory treatment. We retrospectively reviewed 83 relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive MS patients (64 females and 19 males) followed in our Neurology Unit. We collected data concerning demographic variables as age and sex, and clinical variables as age of onset, clinical type, disease duration, EDSS score and total number of relapses. We considered UA levels in three different situations: during a relapse, during remission period and during remission period under immunomodulatory treatment [Interferon Beta 1a i.m. (Avonex; Biogen Idec Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA), Interferon Beta 1a s.c. (Rebif; Serono Europe Limited, London, UK), Interferon Beta 1b (Betaferon; Bayer Schering Pharma AG, Berlin, Germany) or Glatiramer Acetate (Copaxone; TEVA Neuroscience LLC, Kansas City, MO, USA)]. A Wilcoxon matched pairs test was carried out to determine differences between groups. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. In 33 patients, we were able to compare at least one UA value obtained during a relapse with at least one when remission without treatment. Mean serum UA levels were significantly lower when measured during a relapse (r: 0.39, P: 0.024). In 27 cases, we compared at least one remission value without treatment with at least one obtained during remission and immunomodulatory treatment. Mean serum UA levels significantly increased when determined during Interferon Beta or Glatiramer Acetate therapy (r: 0.84, P < 0.001). Although we do not know exactly whether and how UA is involved in MS pathogenesis, our data suggest that UA might reflect disease activity or treatment response in MS.

Apolipoprotein E genotype does not associate with disease severity measured by Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score.

OBJECTIVES: During the last years, the association between apolipoprotein E (APOE) polymorphism and disease severity in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been studied with conflicting results. As a result of a considerable individual variation in the clinical course of MS, there is no consensus method for measuring progression using single assessments of disability. Recently, Multiple Sclerosis Severity Score (MSSS) method has been proposed for comparing disease progression using single data. We evaluate in our population if there is any correlation between APOE genotype and severity according to MSSS. METHODS: We studied 82 patients followed up in our Neurology Unit throughout the year 2005, diagnosed with MS, and with disease duration of at least 2 years. We collected data concerning demographic and clinical variables including age of onset, disease duration, Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score and the total number of relapses. When reached, we determined the latency to EDSS scores of 4.0 and 6.0. We calculated progression index (PI) and relapse rate (RR). We ascertained MSSS for our patients in the global MSSS table. RESULTS: We found four patients heterozygous for the E2 allele and 16 for the E4 allele. No patient was homozygous for E2 or E4. RR (P = 0.017 with 95% CI: 0.005-0.57) and PI (P = 0.016 with 95% CI: 0.004-0.38) were significantly lower in E4 carriers. MSSS scores were not associated with carriership of E2 or E4. CONCLUSION: Our results show no effect of the APOE genotype on the severity of MS measured by MSSS, as a recently published meta-analysis has noticed. So, our data do not support a role for APOE in MS severity, in spite of the seeming influence shown using other measures such as PI. MSSS is probably the best method to measure severity with a single measure of disability and should be used more frequently when performing genetic research.

DNA double-strand breaks cooperate with loss of Ink4 and Arf tumor suppressors to generate glioblastomas with frequent Met amplification.

Glioblastomas (GBM) are highly radioresistant and lethal brain tumors. Ionizing radiation (IR)-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) are a risk factor for the development of GBM. In this study, we systematically examined the contribution of IR-induced DSBs to GBM development using transgenic mouse models harboring brain-targeted deletions of key tumor suppressors frequently lost in GBM, namely Ink4a, Ink4b, Arf and/or PTEN. Using low linear energy transfer (LET) X-rays to generate simple breaks or high LET HZE particles (Fe ions) to generate complex breaks, we found that DSBs induce high-grade gliomas in these mice which, otherwise, do not develop gliomas spontaneously. Loss of Ink4a and Arf was sufficient to trigger IR-induced glioma development but additional loss of Ink4b significantly increased tumor incidence. We analyzed IR-induced tumors for copy number alterations to identify oncogenic changes that were generated and selected for as a consequence of stochastic DSB events. We found Met amplification to be the most significant oncogenic event in these radiation-induced gliomas. Importantly, Met activation resulted in the expression of Sox2, a GBM cancer stem cell marker, and was obligatory for tumor formation. In sum, these results indicate that radiation-induced DSBs cooperate with loss of Ink4 and Arf tumor suppressors to generate high-grade gliomas that are commonly driven by Met amplification and activation.

[Coverage and immune response to hepatitis B vaccine in adolescents of the Guadalajara province]. / Cobertura e inmunorrespuesta a la vacunación frente al virus de la hepatitis B en adolescentes de la provincia de Guadalajara.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis B comprises one of the major health problems worldwide. One of the measures for the prevention thereof is the massive vaccination of adolescents. The purpose of our study is that of assessing the degree of coverage of the systematic hepatitis B prevention campaign among the 8th-grade population in the province of Guadalajara in addition to studying the immune response of said population, relating said response to other variables. METHODS: Cross-sectional study. The degree of coverage of the vaccination campaign was studied throughout the entire target population in the province in question. For the study of the immune response, a sample of 338 students was taken by systematic random sampling. The titres of anti-HB's were quantified 6 months following the third dosage, levels of 10 mU/ml or above being considered as being levels providing protection. RESULTS: The percentage of students properly vaccinated totaled 82.7%. The overall serum protection rate was 97.5%, and 46.7% of the sample responded showing titres of over 100 mU/ml. A statistically significant inverse relationship (p < 0.001) existed between the level of anti-HB's and the Quetelet level, we not having found any significant differences between the two sexes on comparing the postvaccination titres of anti-HB's. CONCLUSIONS: We consider the degree of coverage provided to be satisfactory and the immunogenic aspect of the vaccine to be good. Obesity is a factor providing a prior indication of a minor response to the same. This response is not influenced by the subject's sex.

MicroRNA silencing improves the tumor specificity of adenoviral transgene expression.

Adenoviral technology has been thoroughly evaluated for delivering genetic material to tumor tissue and the surrounding microenvironment. Almost any gene can be cloned into an adenovirus (Ad) vector, which when combined with strong, constitutively active promoters permit up to a million-fold amplification of the transgene in a single adenoviral particle, thus facilitating their use in cancer therapy and imaging. However, widespread infection of the liver and other non-targeted tissues by Ad vectors is a substantial problem that often results in significant liver inflammation and hepatotoxicity at doses required to achieve efficient tumor transduction. miR-122 is a highly expressed liver-specific microRNA (miRNA) that provides a unique opportunity for downregulating adenoviral transgene expression in liver tissue. The binding of endogenous miRNAs to complementary miRNA-targeting elements (miRTs) incorporated into the 3' untranslated region of adenoviral transgenes interferes with message stability and/or protein translation, and miRT elements against miR-122 (miRT-122) can selectively reduce adenoviral transgene expression in the liver. Previous studies using miR-122-based regulation, with and without other types of transcriptional targeting, have yielded promising preliminary results. However, investigations to date evaluating miRT-122 elements for improving tumor specificity have used either non-tumor-bearing animals or direct intratumoral injection as the mode of delivery. In the present study, we confirmed the ability of miRT-122 sequences to selectively downregulate adenoviral luciferase expression in the liver in vitro and in vivo, and show that this strategy can improve tumor-specific transgene expression in a HT1080 human fibrosarcoma model. Rapid growth and the inefficient flow of blood through tumor neovasculature often results in profound hypoxia, which provides additional opportunities for targeting solid tumors and their microenvironment using vectors incorporating hypoxia-responsive promoters to drive transgene expression. We therefore used a combinatorial approach using miRT-122 elements with hypoxia-responsive transcriptional targeting to further improve the tumor-specific expression of an adenoviral reporter gene. Results from this investigation reveal that miRT122 elements alone decrease off-target liver expression and improve tumor specificity of adenoviral vectors. Furthermore, increased tumor specificity can be achieved by combining miRT-122 elements with hypoxia-responsive promoters.

Study of different pretreatments for reverse osmosis reclamation of a petrochemical secondary effluent.

Conventionally treated petrochemical wastewaters contain substantial quantities of hazardous pollutants. In addition, wastewater reuse is being enhanced as a consequence of the shortage of fresh water. Advanced petrochemical wastewater treatment for water reuse will reduce hazardous pollutants discharges as well as water consumption. Reverse osmosis is a suitable technology to obtain pure water. This work studies the adequacy of different pretreatments applied to a petrochemical secondary effluent to produce a suitable feeding for reverse osmosis treatment. The permeate obtained can be used in the petrochemical industry for different processes. In this work, several experiments (granulated activated carbon filtration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration and granulated activated carbon filtration coupled with nanofiltration) were performed to improve the conventional pretreatment. Total organic carbon, chemical oxygen demand, turbidity and silt density index were used to evaluate water quality for reverse osmosis feeding. In granulated activated carbon filtration, all the measured parameters but silt density index indicated a good filtrate quality to feed reverse osmosis membranes. Although the ultrafiltration permeate obtained was suitable for reverse osmosis, nanofiltration and granulated activated carbon filtration coupled with NF provided a better effluent quality for reverse osmosis than the other pretreatments studied.

Increase of ejaculatory capacity by systemic administration of the oquichpatli (Senecio cardiophyllus) aqueous crude extract in male rats.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To analyse the pro-ejaculatory properties of the proverbial Mexican plant oquichpatli, Senecio cardiophyllus, in an animal model for the study of ejaculation in spinal and anaesthetised male rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The aqueous crude extract of Senecio cardiophyllus (at 0.4, 1.2 and 4 mg/kg) was i.v. administered to (a) anaesthetised and spinalised male rats after spinal cord transection and (b) anaesthetised and spinalised male rats previous to the inhibition of ejaculation elicited by repeated urethral stimulation. The motor pattern of ejaculation and the development of its inhibition were analysed under the influence of the aqueous crude extract of Senecio cardiophyllus and compared to urethrally induced ejaculations. RESULTS: Systemic administration of the Senecio cardiophyllus aqueous crude extract, at all tested doses, induced the ejaculatory response in male rats. This response was featured by a statistically significant augmented number of ejaculatory discharges when compared to control animals. Oquichpatli-induced ejaculatory responses included the expression of autonomic and motor components of ejaculation and the potent expulsion of urethral contents and seminal plugs. Administration of oquichpatli aqueous crude extract prevented the inhibition of ejaculation elicited by urethral stimulation by promoting a statistically significant increase in the expression of ejaculatory motor patterns. CONCLUSION: Present findings show by the first time that the aqueous crude extract of Senecio cardiophyllus possesses the ability to increase the ejaculatory capacity in male rats.

Frecuencia de síndrome metabólico en indígenas de la etnia Warao de Barrancas del Orinoco, estado Monagas: Venezuela

Objetivo: Determinar la frecuencia de Síndrome Metabólico (SM) en indígenas de la etnia Warao de Barrancas del Orinoco, Estado Monagas. Marzo, 2011. Materiales y Métodos: Tipo de estudio descriptivo, observacional y de corte transversal. Universo de 140 personas, muestra de 61 personas, con edades comprendidas entre 30-69 años. Se determinaron datos de identificación, parámetros antropométricos, determinación del perfil lipídico y glicemia en ayunas. El diagnóstico de SM se realizó de acuerdo a los criterios del Adult Panel Treatment III (ATP III), Federación Internacional de Diabetes (IDF) y la Asociación Latinoamericana de Diabetes (ALAD). Resultados: El promedio de circunferencia abdominal fue de 91,02±11,50 cm (femenino 91,44±9,95 cm; masculino 90,48±13,39 cm). La frecuencia de obesidad abdominal fue de 54,1% según ALAD; 75,4% según IDF y 44,3% por ATP III. La frecuencia de HDL-c bajo fue de 67,21% (85,3% femenino y 44,4% masculino). El 29,51% tuvieron triglicéridos altos. La frecuencia de glicemia ≥ 100 mg/dL fue de 9,84% (14,7% en mujeres y 3,7% en hombres). El 49,2% tenían cifras tensionales ≥130/85 mm Hg (41,2% femenino y 59,3% masculino). El 32,79% presentaron criterios para SM según la ALAD, el 40,98% según la IDF y el 27,87% según la ATP III. Conclusión: Los indígenas de la etnia Warao de Barrancas del Orinoco, Estado Monagas, presentaron una alta frecuencia de síndrome metabólico.

Objective: To determine the frequency of metabolic syndrome (MS) in Warao Indians from the Barrancas del Orinoco, Monagas State, Venezuela. Materials and Methods: Cross sectional study, descriptive and observational. The population was 140 subjects and the sample was 61 subjects of both sexes with ages between 30-69 years. Identification data, anthropometric parameters, lipid profile and fasting glucose were determined. The diagnosis was made according to the criteria of the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III), International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the American Diabetes Association (ALAD). Data were analyzed using SPSS 19. Results: The average of the abdominal circumference was 91.02 ± 11.50 cm (91.44±9.95 cm in female, 90.48±13.39 cm in male). The frequency of abdominal obesity was 54.1% according ALAD; the 75.4% and 44.3% according to IDF and ATP III respectively. The frequency of low HDL-c was 67.21% (85.3% in female and 44.4% in male). The 29.51% had high triglycerides. The frequency of blood glucose ≥ 100 mg/dl was 9.84% (14.7% in female and 3.7% in men). The 49.2% had blood pressure ≥ 130/85 mm Hg (41.2% in female and 59.3% in male). The 32.79% showed criteria for MS according to ALAD, 40.98% according to the IDF and 27.87% according to ATP III. Conclusion: The Warao Indians of the Orinoco Barrancas, Monagas State, presented a high frequency of metabolic syndrome.

Diabetes: manual para el manejo técnico de la alimentación / Diabetes: Handbook for feeding management technique

Uno de los pilares fundamentales del manejo y control de la diabetes mellitus es la alimentación. Cuando una persona con diabetes acude a la nutricionista y/o médico para recibir su dieta encuentra diferentes respuestas. Por esta razón se elaboró el Manual para el manejo Técnico de la Alimentación con el objetivo de tener una manera uniforme de orientación alimentaria entre el personal de salud, traducida en un plan de alimentación con un enfoque práctico y comprensible para la persona con diabetes. Este manual es producto de discusiones y acuerdos entre nueve profesionales en nutrición reunidas durante dos años, y luego con profesionales médicos en dos reuniones de trabajo, personal de enfermería, personas con diabetes y sus familiares en tres reuniones y una discusión final en el Taller de Diabetes en el VII Congreso de Nutrición, Santa Cruz 2002 con la participación de profesionales de la salud, personas con diabetes, familiares y voluntarios. Consta de dos partes: La primera donde aborda el manejo técnico por parte de la nutricionista, el médico y/o la enfermera contemplando la valoración nutricional, el cálculo de las necesidades nutricionales, la molécula calórica, la pirámide de los alimentos, el sistema de equivalencia de alimentos, la percepción y uso de productos naturales en el tratamiento de la enfermedad, y los edulcorantes. La seguda parte dirigida a las personas con diabetes incluyendo 10 consejos para personas con diabetes tipo 2, 6 consejos para las personas con diabetes tipo 1, y siete listas de intercambio de alimentos agrupados según su finción en el organismo y conveniencia en el manejo de la diabetes. Este documento cuenta con la Resolución Ministerial N° 0281 del 4 de mayo de 2004 que resuelve aprobarlo como un valioso instrumento que permita cambiar hábitos alimentarios en las personas con diabetes y prevenir complicaicones discapacitantes; el permanente apoyo de la OPS/OMS y de la Fundación San Gabriel desde el inicio de las reuniones de discusión y consenso hasta su publicacion.

Enfermedad tardía por citomegalovirus en el trasplante renal: dos casos clínicos / Late-onset cytomegalovirus disease following renal transplantation: a report of two cases

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