Unravelling molecular mechanisms in atherosclerosis using cellular models and omics technologies.

Despite the discovery and prevalent clinical use of potent lipid-lowering therapies, including statins and PCSK9 inhibitors, cardiovascular diseases (CVD) caused by atherosclerosis remain a large unmet clinical need, accounting for frequent deaths worldwide. The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is a complex process underlying the presence of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors affecting several cell types including endothelial cells (ECs), monocytes/macrophages, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and T cells. Heterogeneous composition of the plaque and its morphology could lead to rupture or erosion causing thrombosis, even a sudden death.

Tree mortality and recruitment in secondary Andean tropical mountain forests along a 3000 m elevation gradient.

This study addresses the understudied dynamics of mortality and recruitment in Tropical Mountain forests, critical determinants of forest structural processes and biomass turnover. We examine how these demographic processes change with elevation and varying degrees of forest recovery by utilizing two forest censuses (2015 and 2019) from 16 plots (0.36 ha) across a 600-3500 m asl elevation gradient in the Ecuadorian Andes.

Abiotic and biotic factors influencing heavy metals pollution in fisheries of the Western Amazon.

The escalating industrial and artisanal extraction of natural resources in the Amazon Basin has centered it into the spotlight of global environmental concern. This study deals with the environmental problems of heavy metals pollution and biomagnification, which stem from mining, agricultural, petrochemical, and industrial discharges. We conducted an extensive investigation, analyzing 360 fish specimens representing 58 species, to assess the concentrations of 11 metals (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, He, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Hg) along the Ecuadorian sections of the Napo and Pastaza watersheds.

Historical Assembly of Andean Tree Communities.

Patterns of species diversity have been associated with changes in climate across latitude and elevation. However, the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms underlying these relationships are still actively debated. Here, we present a complementary view of the well-known tropical niche conservatism (TNC) hypothesis, termed the multiple zones of origin (MZO) hypothesis, to explore mechanisms underlying latitudinal and elevational gradients of phylogenetic diversity in tree communities.

Strategies of diaspore dispersal investment in Compositae: the case of the Andean highlands.

Background And Aims: Understanding diaspore morphology and how much a species invests on dispersal appendages is key for improving our knowledge of dispersal in fragmented habitats. We investigate diaspore morphological traits in high-Andean Compositae and their main abiotic and biotic drivers and test whether they play a role in species distribution patterns across the naturally fragmented high-Andean grasslands.

Methods: We collected diaspore trait data for 125 Compositae species across 47 tropical high-Andean summits, focusing on achene length and pappus-to-achene length ratio, with the latter as a proxy of dispersal investment.

A Molecular (Not Very Becoming) Picture of Stressed Arteries and Heart, with Some Therapeutic Hope.

This Special Issue has focused on molecular mechanisms (vascular calcification, endothelial dysfunction, cardiac remodelling, inflammation, oxidative stress, etc [...

Tunable localization of light using nested invisible metasurface cavities.

An invisible cavity is an open resonant device that confines a localized field without producing any scattering outside of the device volume. By exploiting the scatter-less property of such device, it is possible to nest two invisible cavities, as the outer cavity would simply not notice the presence of the inner one, regardless of their relative position. As a result, the position of the inner cavity becomes a means to easily control the field localized inside the cavity and its quality factor.

Elevational biodiversity gradients in the Neotropics: Perspectives from freshwater caddisflies (Insecta: Trichoptera).

Aquatic insects in the order Trichoptera are extremely diverse in number of species and their trophic roles. However, their distribution and diversity patterns are poorly known in the Neotropics, including the species restricted to tropical mountain ecosystems. Recent studies in tropical mountains have shown high levels of endemism of aquatic insects and changes in the composition of communities over short distances.

Angiotensin-(1-7), a protective peptide against vascular aging.

Vascular aging is a complex and multifaceted process that provokes profound molecular, structural, and functional changes in the vasculature. Eventually, these profound aging alterations make arteries more prone to vascular disease, including hypertension, atherosclerosis and other arterial complications that impact the organism beyond the cardiovascular system and accelerate frailty. For these reasons, preventing or delaying the hallmarks of vascular aging is nowadays a major health goal, especially in our aged societies.

NLRP3 Inflammasome in Vascular Disease: A Recurrent Villain to Combat Pharmacologically.

Despite the great advances in medicine, mortality from cardiovascular diseases keeps on growing. This tendency is not likely to change considering the pandemic proportions of obesity and diabetes. Besides, the global population is more aged as life expectancy increases, and vascular aging plays a key role in the increased risk of vascular disease.

Pharmacological Blockade of NLRP3 Inflammasome/IL-1β-Positive Loop Mitigates Endothelial Cell Senescence and Dysfunction.

The clinical relevance of IL-1β in chronic inflammation underlying atherosclerosis has been reinforced by recent evidence associating pharmacological inhibition of the cytokine with lower cardiovascular risk. Previously, we have demonstrated a direct involvement of IL-1β in endothelial senescence. Therefore, this can be a key mechanism contributing to the sterile inflammatory milieu associated with aging, termed inflammaging.

Bernoulli and binomial proliferation on evolutionary graphs.

In this paper we introduce random proliferation models on graphs. We consider two types of particles: type-1/mutant/invader/red particles proliferates on a population of type-2/wild-type/resident/blue particles. Unlike the well-known Moran model on graphs -as introduced in Lieberman et al.

Potential Roles of Extracellular Vesicles as Biomarkers and a Novel Treatment Approach in Multiple Sclerosis.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous group of bilayer membrane-wrapped molecules that play an important role in cell-to-cell communication, participating in many physiological processes and in the pathogenesis of several diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). In recent years, many studies have focused on EVs, with promising results indicating their potential role as biomarkers in MS and helping us better understand the pathogenesis of the disease. Recent evidence suggests that there are novel subpopulations of EVs according to cell origin, with those derived from cells belonging to the nervous and immune systems providing information regarding inflammation, demyelination, axonal damage, astrocyte and microglia reaction, blood-brain barrier permeability, leukocyte transendothelial migration, and ultimately synaptic loss and neuronal death in MS.

Calculation of full process freezing time in minced fish muscle.

The present manuscript is the expansion of the method described in a previous paper. This modeling was used for simulating freezing times required for the inactivation of anisakids. The method described here can also be used for a number of other applications where the time or the temperature of the food needs to be modeled.

Climate and sea surface trends in the Galapagos Islands.

The Galapagos Islands are a global hotspot of environmental change. However, despite their potentially major repercussions, little is known about current and expected changes in regional terrestrial climate variables and sea surface temperatures (SST). Here, by analysing existing meteorological observations and secondary datasets, we find that the Islands have warmed by about 0.

Prediction of the early response to spironolactone in resistant hypertension by the combination of matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity and arterial stiffness parameters.

Aims: The aim of this study was to determine whether arterial stiffness assessed with the biochemical parameter active matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and the clinical parameters pulse pressure (PP) and pulse wave velocity predicts the response to spironolactone in resistant hypertension (RH).

Methods And Results: Ambulatory blood pressure (BP) and active MMP-9 (measured by zymography and ELISA) were measured at baseline, and patients were classified as having pseudo-RH or RH. Patients with RH received spironolactone and the response was determined after 8 weeks by ambulatory BP monitoring: those who achieved BP goals were considered controlled (CRH) and those who did not were considered uncontrolled (UCRH).

Carbon sequestration rates indicate ecosystem recovery following human disturbance in the equatorial Andes.

Few studies exist that document how high-elevation Andean ecosystems recover naturally after the cessation of human activities and this can limit the implementation of cost-effective restoration actions. We assessed Andean forest (Polylepis stands) and páramo grassland recovery along an elevation gradient (3,600-4,350 m.a.

Extracellular vesicle cross-talk between pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells and endothelium during excessive TGF-β signalling: implications for PAH vascular remodelling.

Background: Excessive TGF-β signalling has been shown to underlie pulmonary hypertension (PAH). Human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMCs) can release extracellular vesicles (EVs) but their contents and significance have not yet been studied. Here, we aimed to analyse the contents and biological relevance of HPASMC-EVs and their transport to human pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (HPAECs), as well as the potential alteration of these under pathological conditions.

Mentoplasty with Customized Guides and Plates Using 3D Technology: a More Precise and Safer Technique.

Mentoplasty or genioplasty is a common operation to enhance function and appearance of the chin, which has major impact on character impressions and facial beauty. With the advent of new 3D technologies, the technique can be performed using customized guides and plates (with 3D planning and printing), addressing the drawbacks of the procedure, making it minimally invasive, safe, very accurate, and predictable. In this article, we describe a surgical technique using customized surgical guides and plates and performed under local anesthesia and oral sedation, with a surgical time of approximately 45 minutes.