Cardiotrophin-1 defends the liver against ischemia-reperfusion injury and mediates the protective effect of ischemic preconditioning

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) liver injury occurs when blood flow is restored after prolonged ischemia. A short interruption of blood flow (ischemic preconditioning [IP]) induces tolerance to subsequent prolonged ischemia through ill-defined mechanisms. Cardiotrophin (CT)-1, a cytokine of the interleukin-6 family, exerts hepatoprotective effects and activates key survival pathways like JAK/STAT3. Here we show that administration of CT-1 to rats or mice protects against I/R liver injury and that CT-1-deficient mice are exceedingly sensitive to this type of damage. IP markedly reduced transaminase levels and abrogated caspase-3 and c-Jun-NH2-terminal kinase activation after I/R in normal mice but not in CT-1-null mice. Moreover, the protective effect afforded by IP was reduced by previous administration of neutralizing anti-CT-1 antibody. Prominent STAT3 phosphorylation in liver tissue was observed after IP plus I/R in normal mice but not in CT-1-null mice. Oxidative stress, a process involved in IP-induced hepatoprotection, was found to stimulate CT-1 release from isolated hepatocytes. Interestingly, brief ischemia followed by short reperfusion caused mild serum transaminase elevation and strong STAT3 activation in normal and IL-6-deficient mice, but failed to activate STAT3 and provoked marked hypertransaminasemia in CT-1-null animals. In conclusion, CT-1 is an essential endogenous defense of the liver against I/R and is a key mediator of the protective effect induced by IP

Old lineage on an old island : Pixibinthus, a new cricket genus endemic to New Caledonia shed light on gryllid diversification in a hotspot of biodiversity

Few studies have focused on the early colonization of New Caledonia by insects, after the re-emergence of the main island, 37 Myr ago. Here we investigate the mode and tempo of evolution of a new endemic cricket genus, Pixibinthus, recently discovered in southern New Caledonia. First we formally describe this new monotypic genus found exclusively in the open shrubby vegetation on metalliferous soils, named 'maquis minier', unique to New Caledonia. We then reconstruct a dated molecular phylogeny based on five mitochondrial and four nuclear loci in order to establish relationships of Pixibinthus within Eneopterinae crickets. Pixibinthus is recovered as thesister clade of the endemic genus Agnotecous, mostly rainforest-dwellers. Dating results show that the island colonization by their common ancestor occurred around 34.7 Myr, shortly after New Caledonia re-emergence. Pixibinthus and Agnotecous are then one of the oldest insect lineages documented so far for New Caledonia. This discovery highlights for the first time two clear-cut ecological specializations between sister clades, as Agnotecous is mainly found in rainforests with 19 species, whereas Pixibinthus is found in open habitats with a single documented species. The preference of Pixibinthus for open habitats and of Agnotecous for forest habitats nicely fits an acoustic specialization, either explained by differences in body size or in acoustic properties of their respective habitats. We hypothesize that landscape dynamics, linked to major past climatic events and recent change in fire regimes are possible causes for both present-day low diversity and rarity in genus Pixibinthus. The unique evolutionary history of this old New Caledonian lineage stresses the importance to increase our knowledge on the faunal biodiversity of 'maquis minier', in order to better understand the origin and past dynamics of New Caledonian biota

The mycobacterial glycoside hydrolase LamH enables capsular arabinomannan release and stimulates growth

Mycobacterial glycolipids are important cell envelope structures that drive host-pathogen interactions. Arguably, the most important are lipoarabinomannan (LAM) and its precursor, lipomannan (LM), which are trafficked from the bacterium to the host via unknown mechanisms. Arabinomannan is thought to be a capsular derivative of these molecules, lacking a lipid anchor. However, the mechanism by which this material is generated has yet to be elucidated. Here, we describe the identification of a glycoside hydrolase family 76 enzyme that we term LamH (Rv0365c in Mycobacterium tuberculosis) which specifically cleaves α−1,6-mannoside linkages within LM and LAM, driving its export to the capsule releasing its phosphatidyl-myo-inositol mannoside lipid anchor. Unexpectedly, we found that the catalytic activity of this enzyme is important for efficient exit from stationary phase cultures, potentially implicating arabinomannan as a signal for growth phase transition. Finally, we demonstrate that LamH is important for M. tuberculosis survival in macrophages

Decreased cardiotrophin-1 levels are associated with a lower risk of developing the metabolic syndrome in overweight/obese children after a weight loss program

Objective: Cardiotrophin-1 (CT-1) shares some similarities with other cytokines, and participates in the control of energy metabolism. Higher circulating levels are observed in obese humans, but little information is gathered in weight loss (WL) programs. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the association of serum CT-1 levels with metabolic variables and the risk of developing metabolic syndrome (MetS) after a WL program in overweight/obese children. Subjects and Methods: Forty-four overweight/obese children (mean age 11.5 yr; 50% males) undergoing a 10-week WL program were enrolled. Subjects were dichotomized at the median of Body Mass Index-Standard Deviation Score (BMI-SDS) change, as high and low responders after intervention. Results: CT-1 levels were significantly reduced (-48 fmol/mL, p=0.043) in the high responder group after the WL program. They had significantly lower body weight (-3.7 kg, p<0.001), body fat mass (-8%, p<0.001), BMI-SDS (-0.78, p<0.001) and waist circumference (-5.4 cm, p<0.001), and a significant improvement in lipid and glucose profiles (p<0.05). Interestingly, decreased CT-1 levels significantly predicted changes in total cholesterol (41%) and LDL-cholesterol (28%). Moreover, in our participants the lower the CT-1 levels, the higher the reduction in MetS risk components, after the 10- week intervention, (p-ANCOVA=0.040, p-trend=0.024). Conclusion: We showed, for the first time, a reduction in serum CT-1 levels after a WL program and this decrease in CT-1 was strongly associated with a reduction in cholesterol levels and in MetS risk factors in overweight/obese children. Our findings may suggest that CT-1 could be an indirect marker for the diagnosis of MetS in this population

De la escuela a la calle : la socialización de los jóvenes desescolarizados

Conocer las dimensiones reales del abandono escolar durante la EGB y de la no continuación de estudios después de la EGB. Estudiar la situación familiar, escolar y 'callejera' de estos jóvenes. Programas de Educación Compensatoria. Constituyen la muestra 317 alumnos que no continuaron estudios después de EGB en la ciudad de Zaragoza. Tipo: 60 al azar. 40 de los centros de Educación Compensataria (dado el caracter clínico del estudio). Listado de todos los alumnos que en el 84-85 cursaban octavo de EGB en la ciudad o abandonaron estudios sin llegar a octavo. Listado de todos los alumnos que en el 85 cursaban primero de Enseñanzas Medias o repetían octavo. Obtenido el listado de quienes no siguieron estudios o los interrumpieron y seleccionada la muestra se les encuestó o entrevistó. Variables independientes: la familia: estudios padres, relaciones entre ellos y con los hijos, vivienda. Escuela: su historial académico. Relaciones con los profesores y compañeros. Calle: grupo de amigos. Relación con ellos y con los adultos. Actividades, etc.. Encuesta a todos los centros de EGB y EEMM para poder detectar a los alumnos que no siguieron estudios. Entrevista a los alumnos seleccionados en la muestra para conocer como influían características familiares o escolares sobre el abandono y que comportamientos sociales tenían los mismos. Por medio del ordenador se obtuvo un listado alfabético de todos los alumnos, año académico, curso que realizaban y colegio, lo cual facilitaba el descubrimiento de los casos de abandono. Se ha obtenido de cada variable su frecuencia y se han realizado cruces entre ellas. Muy deficiente formación académica de los padres de estos alumnos pertenecientes en la mayoría de los casos a familias numerosas. Frecuentes conflictos familiares no compensados en la escuela. Pésimo historial académico y poca ayuda por parte del profesor y de los compañeros, aspectos estos últimos (y no las notas) que tienden a repercutir sobre un comportamiento social en algunos casos agresivo. Los alumnos procedentes de ambientes con carencias afectivas o culturales no encuentran en los centros escolares la compensación de esas carencias. La Educación Compensatoria sólo compaginándose con la Educación General Básica conseguirá solucionar las carencias en el tiempo correspondiente.AragónES

Crickets of New Caledonia (Insecta, Orthoptera, Grylloidea) : a key to genera, with diagnoses of extant genera and descriptions of new taxa &#91;plus erratum : Zoosystema, 2017, 39, 1, p. 137-138&#93;

Crickets (Insecta, Orthoptera, Gryllidea) are amongst the most abundant and diverse insects in New Caledonia: 40 genera are recorded today from the Archipelago and 180 cricket species have been reported; 19 genera and more than 90% of the species are endemic. Owing to this diversity, crickets prove an interesting model to test evolutionary hypotheses about New Caledonia and its fauna. They also reveal useful ecological indicators to survey and manage New Caledonian biodiversity. Both research and conservation developments need however that crickets are properly identified. In the present paper, an illustrated key to the identification of New Caledonian cricket genera is proposed, based on specimen examination; an emended diagnosis is given for each genus, using general morphology, coloration and the main traits of male genitalia, together with available data on habitat and biology. The genus Paora Gorochov, 1986 n. stat. is restored from its synonymy with Apteronemobius Chopard, 1929, Trigonidomorpha Chopard, 1925 n. stat. is restored as a valid genus, not a subgenus of Trigonidium Rambur, 1839, and one new genus and five new species are described: Archenopterus adamantus Desutter-Grandcolas, n. sp. (Gryllidae, Podoscirtinae), Caledonina Desutter-Grandcolas, n. gen., with Caledonina chopardi Desutter-Grandcolas, n. gen., n. sp. as the type species, Koghiella minima Desutter-Grandcolas, n. sp. and Orintia cornuta Desutter-Grandcolas, n. sp. (Trigonidiidae, Nemobiinae), and Lepidogryllus darthvaderi Desutter-Grandcolas & Anso, n. sp. (Gryllidae, Gryllinae)