Publications by authors named "J E Betancourth Alvarenga"

Background And Aims: To better understand C4 evolution in monocots, we characterized C3-C4 intermediate phenotypes in the grass genus Homolepis (subtribe Arthropogoninae).

Methods: Carbon isotope ratio (δ13C), leaf gas exchange, mesophyll (M) to bundle sheath (BS) tissue characteristics, organelle size and numbers in M and BS tissue, and tissue distribution of the P-subunit of glycine decarboxylase (GLDP) were determined for five Homolepis species and the C4 grass Mesosetum loliiforme from a phylogenetic sister clade. We generated a transcriptome-based phylogeny for Homolepis and Mesosetum species to interpret physiological and anatomical patterns in an evolutionary context, and to test for hybridization.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Pregnancy- and lactation-associated osteoporosis (PLO) is a rare condition impacting women postpartum, exemplified by a case of a 29-year-old with severe back pain due to vertebral fractures.
  • Diagnosis involves ruling out other causes of osteoporosis, with treatment typically including calcium and vitamin D supplements alongside lactation suppression; however, pain may persist even after treatment.
  • The condition remains poorly understood, with potential causes including genetic factors and calcium metabolism changes, highlighting the need for early diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies for better patient outcomes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin condition that significantly affects patients' quality of life, with traditional treatments often having limited effectiveness and safety issues.
  • - New biologic therapies aim to specifically target immune pathways involved in AD, including various interleukins and the OX40-OX40L axis, offering potential improvements in treatment efficacy and safety compared to conventional methods.
  • - Emerging treatments, such as bispecific antibodies and thymic stromal lymphopoietin inhibitors, show promise in managing AD symptoms, but further long-term studies are needed to validate their effectiveness and safety in real-world settings.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hyperstable arousal regulation during a 15-min resting electroencephalogram (EEG) has been linked to a favorable response to antidepressants. The EMBARC study, a multicenter randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial, provides an opportunity to examine arousal stability as putative antidepressant response predictor in short EEG recordings. We tested the hypothesis that high arousal stability during a 2-min resting EEG at baseline is related to better outcome in the sertraline arm and explored the specificity of this effect.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF