Activation of thermogenic brown adipose tissue (BAT) and inducible beige adipose tissue (BeAT) is triggered by environmental or metabolic stimuli, including cold ambient temperatures and nutrient stress. Thioesterase superfamily member 1 (Them1), a long-chain fatty acyl-CoA thioesterase that is enriched in BAT, suppresses acute cold-induced thermogenesis. Here, we demonstrate that expression was induced in BAT and BeAT by the carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP) in response to chronic cold exposure or to the activation of the integrated stress response (ISR) by nutrient excess.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGABAergic neurons and GABA receptors (GABARs) are critical elements of almost all neuronal circuits. Most GABARs of the CNS are heteropentameric ion channels composed of two α, two β, and one γ subunits. These receptors serve as important drug targets for benzodiazepine (BDZ) site agonists, which potentiate the action of GABA at GABARs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Central nervous system opportunistic infections can be the first presentation of an HIV infection. Our aim is to describe clinical and laboratory characteristics of HIV-associated Cryptococcal Meningitis (CM), in-hospital outcomes and analyze associations of these parameters with adverse outcomes.
Methods: Observational study of local cohort of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis in a high complexity tertiary urban hospital in Santiago, Chile.
Objective: To determine the branching patterns of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and to describe the clinical applicability of computed tomography (CT) angiography in the evaluation of these vessels to facilitate the planning of colorectal cancer surgery.
Materials And Methods: We included 100 patients who underwent CT angiography of the abdomen and pelvis. The branching patterns of the IMA were examined and classified as type 1 (bifurcated), including 1A (sigmoid and left colic arteries arising from a common trunk), 1B (sigmoid and superior rectal arteries arising from a common trunk) and 1C (sigmoid arteries arising from both trunks); type 2 (trifurcated); and type 3 (no left colic branch).
The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays a crucial role in the perception of pain. It is consistently activated by noxious stimuli and its hyperactivity in chronic pain indicates plasticity in the local neuronal network. However, the way persistent pain effects and modifies different neuronal cell types in the ACC and how this contributes to sensory sensitization is not completely understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMetabolic syndrome (MS) is frequently associated with an increased body mass index (BMI), and related to an adverse cardiovascular prognosis. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence and association between MS, obesity and subclinical atherosclerosis (SA). This cross-sectional study included healthy adults, allocated to normal weight (NW) when BMI <25 kg/m, overweight (OW) BMI ≥25 and <30 kg/m, or obese (OB) BMI ≥30 kg/m groups.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Multisystem inflammatory syndrome associated to Covid-19 (MIS-C) is one of the most severe outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 in children. Covid-19 vaccines were successfully implemented in Chile for the pediatric population since 2021, using both mRNA and inactivated platforms. Effectiveness against MIS-C has been reported for mRNA vaccines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Endoscopic skull base surgery is constantly evolving and its scope has expanded. The acquisition of surgical skills involves a long learning curve with significant risks for the patient. Therefore, training in the laboratory has become essential to achieve appropriate proficiency and reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with these procedures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe estimated the incubation period for mpox during an outbreak in Pereira, Colombia, using data from 11 confirmed cases. Mean incubation period was 7.1 (95% CI 4.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancer is a genomic disease, with driver mutations contributing to tumorigenesis. These potentially heritable variants influence risk and underlie familial breast cancer (BC). This study evaluated associations between BC risk and 13 SNPs in driver genes , , , , , , , , and , in -negative Chilean families.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) and major bleeding (MB) are common in cancer patients. Reduced-doses of antithrombotics as secondary prophylaxis have limited data. This work aims to describe and to compare treatments and outcomes for cancer-associated VTE.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFChronic pain is a complex experience with multifaceted behavioral manifestations, often leading to pain avoidance at the expense of reward approach. How pain facilitates avoidance in situations with mixed outcomes is unknown. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) plays a key role in pain processing and in value-based decision-making.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProstaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids
September 2023
Introduction: There is a growing interest in vegetarian and vegan diets, but both can potentially affect tissue fatty acids (FA) composition. We aimed to evaluate the effect of vegetarian diets on plasma, erythrocytes, and sperm n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) status in healthy young men.
Methods: Four groups were studied: i) men consuming a regular omnivore diet (OMV-1, n = 35); ii) men consuming an omnivore diet but excluding fish and seafood (OMV-2, n = 34); iii) men consuming a pescetarian diet (including dairy, eggs, fish, and seafood) (PESC, n = 36); and iv) men following a strict vegan diet (VEG, n = 35).
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
June 2023
The perception of pain is a multidimensional sensory and emotional/affective experience arising from distributed brain activity. However, the involved brain regions are not specific for pain. Thus, how the cortex distinguishes nociception from other aversive and salient sensory stimuli remains elusive.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPersistent pain is a prevalent medical concern correlating with a hyperexcitable anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Its activity is modulated by inputs from several brain regions, but the maladjustments that these afferent circuits undergo during the transition from acute to chronic pain still require clarification. We focus on ACC-projecting claustrum (CLA) neurons and their responses to sensory and aversive stimuli in a mouse model of inflammatory pain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCancer cells use acetate to support the higher demand for energy and lipid biosynthesis during uncontrolled cell proliferation, as well as for acetylation of regulatory proteins. Acyl-CoA thioesterase 12 (Acot12) is the enzyme that hydrolyzes acetyl-CoA to acetate in liver cytosol and is downregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A mechanistic role for Acot12 in hepatocarcinogenesis was assessed in mice in response to treatment with diethylnitrosamine(DEN)/carbon tetrachloride (CCl) administration or prolonged feeding of a diet that promotes non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDepression is a common comorbidity of chronic pain with many patients being affected. However, efficient pharmacological treatment strategies are still lacking. Therefore, it is desirable to find additional alternative approaches.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe CIMAR program (Marine Research Cruises to Remote Areas) run by the Chilean Navy through the National Oceanographic Committee has been developed since 1995, focused on Chilean fjord and channel zones (~41-56°S; "CIMAR-Fjords") and Chilean remote islands ("CIMAR-Islands"). Samples and data was collected on biotic and abiotic variables on all these cruises, both from the water column and benthos. Our work standardizes, compiles, and summarizes the published information on benthic organisms for twenty-one CIMAR-Fjords cruises developed in the first 25 years of the program, plus the Southern Ice Fields Cruise 1995 (precursor of the CIMAR program), which includes the distribution, abundance and geographic location of cruises sampling stations.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSubstantial increases in the conjugation of the main human SUMO paralogs, SUMO1, SUMO2, and SUMO3, are observed upon exposure to different cellular stressors, and such increases are considered important to facilitate cell survival to stress. Despite their critical cellular role, little is known about how the levels of the SUMO modifiers are regulated in the cell, particularly as it relates to the changes observed upon stress. Here we characterize the contribution of alternative splicing towards regulating the expression of the main human SUMO paralogs under normalcy and three different stress conditions, heat-shock, cold-shock, and Influenza A Virus infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBinge Drinking (BD) corresponds to episodes of ingestion of large amounts of ethanol in a short time, typically ≤2 h. BD occurs across all populations, but young and sports-related people are especially vulnerable. However, the short- and long-term effects of episodic BD on skeletal muscle function have been poorly explored.
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