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"Vázquez, M"
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Painting the skin : pigments on bodies and codices in pre-Columbian Mesoamerica
\"The book brings together exciting research on painted skins--human, animal, and vegetal--in Mesoamerica. It offers physicochemical analysis and interdisciplinary understandings of the materiality, uses, and cultural meanings of the colors applied on a multitude of skins, including bodies, codices, and even building 'skins'\"--Provided by publisher.
Book
Organic Bee Pollen: Botanical Origin, Nutritional Value, Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Activity and Microbiological Quality
Organic bee pollen (BP, n = 22) harvested from the Douro International Natural Park (DINP, Portugal) was studied. Nine botanical families were found in the mixture of the samples. The water activity and pH ranged 0.21–0.37 and 4.3–5.2, respectively. The BP analyses averaged 67.7% carbohydrates, 21.8% crude protein, 5.2% crude fat and 2.9% ash. The energy ranged from 396.4 to 411.1 kcal/100 g. The principal fatty acid found was linolenic, followed by linoleic acid, palmitic acid and oleic acid. The phenolic and flavonoid contents varied from 12.9 to 19.8 mg of gallic acid equivalents/g of extract and from 4.5 to 7.1 mg of catechin equivalents/g of extract, respectively. The scavenger activity and β-carotene bleaching assays values (EC50) were 3.0 ± 0.7 mg/mL and 4.6 mg/mL ± 0.9 mg/mL, respectively. E. coli, sulphite-reducing Clostridia, Salmonella and S. aureus were not found. Since there are studies indicating appreciable differences among BPs from different regions, the full characterization of BP from diverse origins still appears to be a sound research priority in order to obtain reliable data about this beehive product.
Journal Article
Effects of two different peptides on pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in larval zebrafish
Epilepsy is a common and severe neurological disease characterized by spontaneous and recurrent seizures. Although anti-seizure treatments are effective for most patients, approximately 30% remain pharmacoresistant. Moreover, uncontrolled seizures are associated with increased health risks and shortened life expectancy in individuals with refractory epilepsy. Preclinical studies play a crucial role in drug discovery, and the zebrafish ( Danio rerio ) have been successfully employed for this purpose. In this study, we utilized the zebrafish PTZ-induced seizure model to evaluate the effects of two peptides on seizure responses: Tripeptide (p-BTX-I) and the CX2 (a Cx43derivated peptide). Zebrafish larvae at 6 days post-fertilization were pre-treated with these peptides at various concentrations, depending on their experimental groups, 24h prior to seizure induction. We assessed seizure frequency, quantified swimming activity, measured transcript levels of genes related to inflammation and apoptosis ( il1b, tnfa, cox1, cox2a, il6, casp3a, casp9, baxa, bcl2a, and c-fos ), and analyzed the biodistribution of both peptides. Our results indicate that the Tripeptide exhibited anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects, particularly through reducing the expression of il1b and casp9 . CX2 pre-treatment significantly downregulated inflammatory markers ( il1b, il6, tnfa, and cox1 ). Biodistribution analysis confirmed that the CX2 peptide reached the zebrafish brain, suggesting a direct role in modulating seizure-related pathways. Our findings demonstrate that Tripeptide and CX2 peptides can modulate gene expression and mitigate molecular response associated with epileptic seizures in the zebrafish brain. These peptides thus represent promising candidates for future research aimed at developing novel anti-epileptic therapies. However, additional studies are required to evaluate their long-term efficacy, elucidate underlying mechanisms of action, and explore potential translational applications.
Journal Article
Oleate prevents saturated-fatty-acid-induced ER stress, inflammation and insulin resistance in skeletal muscle cells through an AMPK-dependent mechanism
Aims/hypothesis
Although the substitution of saturated fatty acids with oleate has been recommended in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus, the mechanisms by which oleate improves insulin resistance in skeletal muscle cells are not completely known. Here, we examined whether oleate, through activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), prevented palmitate-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which is involved in the link between lipid-induced inflammation and insulin resistance.
Methods
Studies were conducted in mouse C2C12 myotubes and in the human myogenic cell line LHCN-M2. To analyse the involvement of AMPK, activators and inhibitors of this kinase and overexpression of a dominant negative AMPK construct (K45R) were used.
Results
Palmitate increased the levels of ER stress markers, whereas oleate did not. In palmitate-exposed cells incubated with a lower concentration of oleate, the effects of palmitate were prevented. The induction of ER stress markers by palmitate was prevented by the presence of the AMPK activators AICAR and A-769662. Moreover, the ability of oleate to prevent palmitate-induced ER stress and inflammation (nuclear factor-kappa B [NF-κB] DNA-binding activity and expression and secretion of
IL6
) as well as insulin-stimulated Akt phosphorylation and 2-deoxyglucose uptake was reversed in the presence of the AMPK inhibitor compound C or by overexpression of a dominant negative AMPK construct. Finally, palmitate reduced phospho-AMPK levels, whereas this was not observed in oleate-exposed cells or in palmitate-exposed cells supplemented with oleate.
Conclusions/interpretation
Overall, these findings indicate that oleate prevents ER stress, inflammation and insulin resistance in palmitate-exposed skeletal muscle cells by activating AMPK.
Journal Article
Ecosystem-level effects of large-scale disturbance in kelp forests
Understanding the effects of ecological disturbances in coastal habitats is crucial and timely as these are anticipated to increase in intensity and frequency in the future due to increasing human pressure. In this study we used directed kelp trawling as a scientific tool to quantify the impacts of broad-scale disturbance on community structure and function. We tested the ecosystem- wide effects of this disturbance in a BACI design using two 15 km² areas. The disturbance had a substantial impact on the kelp forests in this study, removing 2986 tons of kelp and causing a 26% loss of total kelp canopy at trawled stations. This loss created a 67% reduction of epiphytes, an 89% reduction of invertebrates and altered the fish populations living within these habitats. The effect of habitat loss on fish was variable and depended on how the different species used the habitat structure. Our results show that large-scale experimental disturbances on habitat-forming species have ecological consequences that extend beyond the decline of the single species to affect multiple trophic levels of the broader ecosystem. Our findings have relevance for understanding how increasing anthropogenic disturbances, including kelp trawling and increased storm frequency caused by climate change, may alter ecosystem structure and function.
Journal Article
Prevalence of Depression during Pregnancy in Spanish Women: Trajectory and Risk Factors in Each Trimester
The aims of this research were to determine the trajectories of probable depression and major depression during pregnancy and to identify the associated and predictor variables (sociodemographic, pregnancy-related, and psychological) for both conditions in each trimester of pregnancy. A longitudinal study was carried out with 569 pregnant Spanish women who were assessed in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy. Depression was assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and a clinical interview. Measures of anxiety and stress were also included. The prevalence of probable depression in the first, second, and third trimesters was 23.4%, 17.0%, and 21.4%, respectively, and that of major depression was 5.1%, 4.0%, and 4.7%. Thus, the prevalence of both conditions was the highest in the first and third trimesters. The trajectories of probable depression and major depression followed the same pattern throughout pregnancy. All of the psychological variables studied were associated with both conditions in all three trimesters, with perceived stress being a predictor at all times. The association between the other variables and both conditions of depression was similar. Two exceptions stand out: having had previous miscarriages, which was only associated with probable depression and was also a predictor, in the first trimester; and complications during pregnancy, which was only associated with probable and major depression in the third trimester. These findings should be taken into account in routine pregnancy follow-ups, and necessary interventions should be started in the first trimester.
Journal Article
Gene amplification of the histone methyltransferase SETDB1 contributes to human lung tumorigenesis
Disruption of the histone modification patterns is one of the most common features of human tumors. However, few genetic alterations in the histone modifier genes have been described in tumorigenesis. Herein we show that the histone methyltransferase SETDB1 undergoes gene amplification in non-small and small lung cancer cell lines and primary tumors. The existence of additional copies of the
SETDB1
gene in these transformed cells is associated with higher levels of the corresponding mRNA and protein. From a functional standpoint, the depletion of SETDB1 expression in amplified cells reduces cancer growth in cell culture and nude mice models, whereas its overexpression increases the tumor invasiveness. The increased gene dosage of SETDB1 is also associated with enhanced sensitivity to the growth inhibitory effect mediated by the SETDB1-interfering drug mithramycin. Overall, the findings identify SETDB1 as a
bona fide
oncogene undergoing gene amplification-associated activation in lung cancer and suggest its potential for new therapeutic strategies.
Journal Article
Development of Technologies for Local Composting of Food Waste From Universities
[Abstract] The amount of biowaste generated by university canteens (BWUC) in the faculties of the University of A Coruña (UDC) varies between 6 and 100 kg/day. In addition, the gardening services of the campus generate even higher amounts of garden waste (GrW), including pruning, which, once crushed, serves as bulking material for composting the biowaste from the canteens. Decentralized composting has been chosen with the aim of producing high quality organic fertilizers for university urban gardens while reducing the environmental burdens of both waste management and agricultural practice. Small static home composters of 340 L (SHC) for smaller amounts of generation (up to 20 kg BWUC/day) were used, while, for faculties of higher generation (up to 40 kg BWUC/day on average), the first composting stage was carried out in a closed and dynamic composter (DC). The dynamic composter was designed and built specifically for this project and its features were improved and optimized throughout the study. The pilot project was carried out in two centers of the UDC, which are known as the Philology Faculty (PF) and the School of Architecture (SA). All the organic waste generated by the canteens of these two colleges from January 2011 to July 2011 (approximately 3000 kg) was treated. Composting in SHC included a thermophilic phase that extended one month beyond the loading period for which thermophilic temperatures were also recorded. The use of the DC as the first stage in combination with static composters (SC) for the maturation stage reduced the overall thermophilic phase to 6–8 weeks. The complete maturation (Rottegrade class IV-V) was achieved after about four months in SHC and after two months when using the combined DC-SC system, if the right conditions of moisture were maintained. The chemical quality of the compost produced was compatible with Class A of Spanish legislation (equivalent to organic farmer quality) and the C/N ratio ranged from 9 to 15 depending on the relation BWUC:GrW.
Journal Article
Dysregulation of macrophage PEPD in obesity determines adipose tissue fibro-inflammation and insulin resistance
Resulting from impaired collagen turnover, fibrosis is a hallmark of adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction and obesity-associated insulin resistance (IR). Prolidase, also known as peptidase D (PEPD), plays a vital role in collagen turnover by degrading proline-containing dipeptides but its specific functional relevance in AT is unknown. Here we show that in human and mouse obesity, PEPD expression and activity decrease in AT, and PEPD is released into the systemic circulation, which promotes fibrosis and AT IR. Loss of the enzymatic function of PEPD by genetic ablation or pharmacological inhibition causes AT fibrosis in mice. In addition to its intracellular enzymatic role, secreted extracellular PEPD protein enhances macrophage and adipocyte fibro-inflammatory responses via EGFR signalling, thereby promoting AT fibrosis and IR. We further show that decreased prolidase activity is coupled with increased systemic levels of PEPD that act as a pathogenic trigger of AT fibrosis and IR. Thus, PEPD produced by macrophages might serve as a biomarker of AT fibro-inflammation and could represent a therapeutic target for AT fibrosis and obesity-associated IR and type 2 diabetes.
Obesity-associated AT fibro-inflammation and metabolic disturbances are linked to PEPD activity and PEPD extracellular levels.
Journal Article