529 research outputs found
Paraoxonase 1 and 2 gene variants and the ischemic stroke risk in Gran Canaria population: an association study and meta-analysis
No full textPURPOSE OF THE STUDY: The present study aims to evaluate the relationship between rs662 (Gln(Q)192Arg(R)) and rs854560 (L55M) and the rs7493 (S311C) in the paraoxonase genes and ischemic stroke (IS) in the population of Gran Canaria (Canary Islands). The association with stroke was also evaluated using systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: A total of 129 IS patients and 176 age and gender matched controls were enrolled. For meta-analysis, eligible studies were identified through search in public databases. RESULTS: In multivariate regression analysis only the PON2 S311C variant showed to be an independent predictor of IS (OR = 0.093, 95% CI: 0.014–0.627). Overall, no significant association was found between L55M and IS when all studies were pooled nor by subgroup analysis by ethnicity. Gln192Arg showed a modest risk for IS in the global and in Asian population but with high heterogeneity among studies. A modest risk under a dominant inheritance model was found for the S311C variant with an overall random effect OR of 1.004 (95% CI: 1.00–1.35). There was strong evidence of heterogeneity among studies (p = 0.0097, I2 = 25.35%) which did not disappear after stratification by ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: The overall analysis shows a significant contribution of the rs662 variant to IS risk. We found that the CC genotype of the PON2 S311C polymorphism is a risk factor for IS. Results of the meta-analysis partially support this conclusion.1981910,6751,848Q2Q4SCI
Homocysteinylated protein levels in internal mammary artery (IMA) fragments and its genotype-dependence. S-Homocysteine-induced methylation modifications in IMA and aortic fragments
No full textThe resistance of internal mammary artery (IMA) toward atherosclerosis is not well understood. In plasma, homocysteine (Hcy) occurs in reduced, oxidized, homocysteine thiolactone and a component of proteins as a result of N- or S-homocysteinylation. We evaluated S/N-homocysteinylated protein levels in IMA fragments of patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, and whether they were affected by genetic common variants. We tested whether tHcy, Hcy-S-protein levels, genotypes or Hcy-induced methylation modifications were related to differences in iNOS, Ddah2, and eNOS gene expression between territories. A small percentage of Hcy-S-proteins were found in IMA fragments. The Mthfr C677T (rs1801133) and Pon-1 Leu55Met (rs854560) variants were associated with Hcy-S-proteins. We observed a gradual difference according to Hcy-S-protein levels in the methylation degree of the Ddah2 gene promoter in aortic, but not in IMA, fragments. No correlation between the degree of methylation and the Ddah2 gene expression levels was found in both types of analyzed fragments. Total Hcy but not Hcy-S-proteins correlated with iNOS promoter methylation. Analyzed variants seem to contribute to the in vivo Hcy binding properties to IMA. The contribution of the Hcy-derived methylation modifications to Ddah2 and eNOS gene expression seems to be tissue-specific and independent of the Ddah2/ADMA/eNOS pathway. Hcy-derived methylation modifications to the iNOS gene promoter contribute to a lesser extent to iNOS gene expression.246235120,9482,329Q2Q3SCI
Anti-Albuminuric Effects of the Angiotensin AT1 Receptor Blocker Telmisartan in Hypertensive Patients
No full textWe evaluated the anti-hypertensive and anti-albuminuric effect of the angiotensin receptor blocker telmisartan alone and in combination with torasemide and amlodipine. Patients were hypertensive, both diabetics and non-diabetics with persistent microalbuminuria. Our primary endpoint was a change in microalbuminuria levels, while the secondary endpoints were changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), serum creatinine levels, and glomerular filtration rate. After the 16-week treatment period, the patients significantly reduced microalbuminuria levels (76.4 +/- 52.4 mu g/min; p < 0.001), SBP (16.4 +/- 8.7 mmHg; p < 0.001) and DBP (17.7 +/- 5.9 mmHg; p < 0.001). Both diabetics and non-diabetics showed an identical pattern of significance with respect to the whole population. Systolic blood pressure, DBP, and microalbuminuria were significantly reduced as a consequence of therapy, both in diabetics and non-diabetics.5105060,4031,074Q2Q4SCI
Progression of chronic kidney disease. Prevalence of anxiety and depression in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease
No full text39939730,2941,274Q3Q4SCI
At limits of life: multidisciplinary insights reveal environmental constraints on biotic diversity in continental Antarctica
No full textData source: Supporting information, http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0044578#s5Multitrophic communities that maintain the functionality of the extreme Antarctic terrestrial ecosystems, while the simplest of any natural community, are still challenging our knowledge about the limits to life on earth. In this study, we describe and interpret the linkage between the diversity of different trophic level communities to the geological morphology and soil geochemistry in the remote Transantarctic Mountains (Darwin Mountains, 80uS). We examined the distribution and diversity of biota (bacteria, cyanobacteria, lichens, algae, invertebrates) with respect to elevation, age of glacial drift sheets, and soil physicochemistry. Results showed an abiotic spatial gradient with respect to the diversity of the organisms across different trophic levels. More complex communities, in terms of trophic level diversity, were related to the weakly developed younger drifts (Hatherton and Britannia) with higher soil C/N ratio and lower total soluble salts content (thus lower conductivity). Our results indicate that an increase of ion concentration from younger to older drift regions drives a succession of complex to more simple communities, in terms of number of trophic levels and diversity within each group of organisms analysed. This study revealed that integrating diversity across multi-trophic levels of biotic communities with abiotic spatial heterogeneity and geological history is fundamental to understand environmental constraints influencing biological distribution in Antarctic soil ecosystems.Catarina Magalhães, Mark I. Stevens, S. Craig Cary, Becky A. Ball, Bryan C. Storey, Diana H. Wall, Roman Tűrk and Ulrike Ruprech
Exploring the Influence of Small-Scale Geographical and Seasonal Variations Over the Microbial Diversity in a Poly-extreme Athalosaline Wetland
No full textIndexación: ScopusMicroorganisms are the most diverse life form on the planet and are critical for maintaining the geochemical cycles, especially in extreme environments. Bacterial communities are dynamic and respond directly to changes in abiotic conditions; among these communities, poly-extremophiles are particularly sensitive to perturbations due to their high specialization. Salar de Huasco is a high-altitude wetland located on the Chilean Altiplano exhibiting several conditions considered extreme for life, including negative water balance, extreme variations in temperature and pH values, high UV radiation, and the presence of various toxic metal(oids). However, previous reports have revealed a diverse bacterial community that has adapted to these conditions, here, we aimed to determine whether microbial community diversity and composition changed in response to geographical and seasonal variations. We found that there are significant differences in diversity, abundance, and composition in bacterial taxa that could be attributed to local geographical and seasonal variations, which in turn, can be associated with microbial traits. In conclusion, in this poly-extreme environment, small-scale changes can trigger significant changes in the microbial communities that maintain basic biogeochemical cycles. Further in depth analysis of microbial functionality and geo-ecological dynamics are necessary to better understand the relationships between seasonal changes and bacterial communities. © 2023, The Author(s).https://link-springer-com.recursosbiblioteca.unab.cl/article/10.1007/s00284-023-03395-wFunding This research was sponsored by ANID (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo de Chile) grants. CPS was funded by ANID-FONDECYT Regular 1210633, ANID-ECOS 170023 and ANID-Anillo ATE 220007. CP-E was funded by ANID-FONDECYT Post-Doctoral 3230189. JC-S was funded by ANID-FONDECYT Post-Doctoral 3210156. SGL was funded by ANID-FONDECYT PostDoctoral 3210547. FR was funded by ANID-FONDECYT Regular 1220902 and ANID Estrategia en Sequía FSEQ210029. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Acknowledgements We thank Michael G. Handford for the technical English writing edition.S
The TriTryp Phosphatome: analysis of the protein phosphatase catalytic domains
No full textAbstract Background The genomes of the three parasitic protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania major are the main subject of this study. These parasites are responsible for devastating human diseases known as Chagas disease, African sleeping sickness and cutaneous Leishmaniasis, respectively, that affect millions of people in the developing world. The prevalence of these neglected diseases results from a combination of poverty, inadequate prevention and difficult treatment. Protein phosphorylation is an important mechanism of controlling the development of these kinetoplastids. With the aim to further our knowledge of the biology of these organisms we present a characterisation of the phosphatase complement (phosphatome) of the three parasites. Results An ontology-based scan of the three genomes was used to identify 86 phosphatase catalytic domains in T. cruzi, 78 in T. brucei, and 88 in L. major. We found interesting differences with other eukaryotic genomes, such as the low proportion of tyrosine phosphatases and the expansion of the serine/threonine phosphatase family. Additionally, a large number of atypical protein phosphatases were identified in these species, representing more than one third of the total phosphatase complement. Most of the atypical phosphatases belong to the dual-specificity phosphatase (DSP) family and show considerable divergence from classic DSPs in both the domain organisation and sequence features. Conclusion The analysis of the phosphatome of the three kinetoplastids indicates that they possess orthologues to many of the phosphatases reported in other eukaryotes, including humans. However, novel domain architectures and unusual combinations of accessory domains, suggest distinct functional roles for several of the kinetoplastid phosphatases, which await further experimental exploration. These distinct traits may be exploited in the selection of suitable new targets for drug development to prevent transmission and spread of the diseases, taking advantage of the already extensive knowledge on protein phosphatase inhibitors.</p
In vivo mechanical loading conditions of pectorally implanted cardiac pacemakers : feasibility of a force measurement system and concept of an animal-human transfer function
No full textIncludes abstract.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-98).The objectives of this study were to assess the feasibility of this system for measuring in vivo mechanical loading on pectorally implanted pacemakers, to compare differences in mechanical loading experienced by pacemakers in different pectoral implant positions (i.e. sub-muscular and sub-coetaneous) and to formulate a concept of an interspecific transfer function for predicting the in vivo mechanical loads on sub-muscularly implanted pacemakers in humans, by using data obtained from baboons
Identifying and prioritising services in European terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems
No full textEcosystems are multifunctional and provide humanity with a broad array of vital services. Effective management of services requires an improved evidence base, identifying the role of ecosystems in delivering multiple services, which can assist policy-makers in maintaining them. Here, information from the literature and scientific experts was used to systematically document the importance of services and identify trends in their use and status over time for the main terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems in Europe. The results from this review show that intensively managed ecosystems contribute mostly to vital provisioning services (e.g. agro-ecosystems provide food via crops and livestock, and forests provide wood), while semi-natural ecosystems (e.g. grasslands and mountains) are key contributors of genetic resources and cultural services (e.g. aesthetic values and sense of place). The most recent European trends in human use of services show increases in demand for crops from agro-ecosystems, timber from forests, water flow regulation from rivers, wetlands and mountains, and recreation and ecotourism in most ecosystems, but decreases in livestock production, freshwater capture fisheries, wild foods and virtually all services associated with ecosystems which have considerably decreased in area (e.g. semi-natural grasslands). The condition of the majority of services show either a degraded or mixed status across Europe with the exception of recent enhancements in timber production in forests and mountains, freshwater provision, water/erosion/natural hazard regulation and recreation/ecotourism in mountains, and climate regulation in forests. Key gaps in knowledge were evident for certain services across all ecosystems, including the provision of biochemicals and natural medicines, genetic resources and the regulating services of seed dispersal, pest/disease regulation and invasion resistance
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