Search results for " change"

2017

Air pollution and climate change are potential drivers for the increasing burden of allergic diseases. The molecular mechanisms by which air pollutants and climate parameters may influence allergic diseases, however, are complex and elusive. This article provides an overview of physical, chemical and biological interactions between air pollution, climate change, allergens, adjuvants and the immune system, addressing how these interactions may promote the development of allergies. We reviewed and synthesized key findings from atmospheric, climate, and biomedical research. The current state of knowledge, open questions, and future research perspectives are outlined and discussed. The Anthropo…

Light-induced structural changes in a monomeric bacteriophytochrome

2016

International audience; Phytochromes sense red light in plants and various microorganism. Light absorption causes structural changes within the protein, which alter its biochemical activity. Bacterial phytochromes are dimeric proteins, but the functional relevance of this arrangement remains unclear. Here, we use time-resolved X-ray scattering to reveal the solution structural change of a monomeric variant of the photosensory core module of the phytochrome from Deinococcus radiodurans. The data reveal two motions, a bend and a twist of the PHY domain with respect to the chromophore-binding domains. Infrared spectroscopy shows the refolding of the PHY tongue. We conclude that a monomer of th…

MiRNome of epileptic children suggests the involvement of antioxidant pathways in the neuroprotective role of ketogenic diet

2018

Ketogenic diet (KD) has been used as treatment for refractory epilepsy in children since the 1920s. However, the neuroprotective mechanism of this diet is still unknown. Recent evidence points to a multifactorial effect of KD that involves a decrease of oxidative stress. Mononuclear cells from 14 children with refractory epilepsy, from the Paediatric Hospital “Nino Jesus” in Madrid, were obtained before and after treatment with a ketogenic diet for 6 months. A global analysis of miRNA expression (miRNome) indicates that there are 230 miRNAs which are expressed differently before and after the treatment with KD. If additionally, we restrict the miRNAs with a fold change > |1.3|we obtain 11 r…

Abundance and δ13C values of fatty acids in lacustrine surface sediments: Relationships with in-lake methane concentrations

2018

Proxy-indicators in lake sediments provide the only approach by which the dynamics of in-lake methane cycling can be examined on multi-decadal to centennial time scales. This information is necessary to constrain how lacustrine methane production, oxidation and emissions are expected to respond to global change drivers. Several of the available proxies for reconstructing methane cycle changes of lakes rely on interpreting past changes in the abundance or relevance of methane oxidizing bacteria (MOB), either directly (e.g. via analysis of bacterial lipids) or indirectly (e.g. via reconstructions of the past relevance of MOB in invertebrate diet). However, only limited information is availabl…

Low level activity thresholds for changes in NMR biomarkers and genes in high risk subjects for type 2 diabetes

2017

AbstractOur objectives were to determine if there are quantitative associations between amounts and intensities of physical activities (PA) on NMR biomarkers and changes in skeletal muscle gene expressions in subjects with high risk for type 2 diabetes (T2D) performing a 3-month PA intervention. We found that PA was associated with beneficial biomarker changes in a factor containing several VLDL and HDL subclasses and lipids in principal component analysis (P = <0.01). Division of PA into quartiles demonstrated significant changes in NMR biomarkers in the 2nd - 4th quartiles compared to the 1st quartile representing PA of less than 2850 daily steps (P = 0.0036). Mediation analysis of PA-…

The genomic footprint of climate adaptation inChironomus riparius

2017

The gradual heterogeneity of climatic factors produces continuously varying selection pressures across geographic distances that leave signatures of clinal variation in the genome. Separating signatures of clinal adaptation from signatures of other evolutionary forces, such as demographic processes, genetic drift, and adaptation to specific non-clinal conditions of the immediate local environment is a major challenge. Here, we examine climate adaptation in five natural populations of the non-biting midge Chironomus riparius sampled along a climatic gradient across Europe. Our study integrates experimental data, individual genome resequencing, Pool-Seq data, and population genetic modelling.…

Scientific Reports

2019

Anthropogenic climate change ranks among the major global-scale threats to modern biodiversity. Extinction risks are known to increase via the interactions between rapid climatic alterations and environmentally-sensitive species traits that fail to adapt to those changes. Accumulating evidence reveals the influence of ecophysiological, ecological and phenological factors as drivers underlying demographic collapses that lead to population extinctions. However, the extent to which life-history traits influence population responses to climate change remains largely unexplored. The emerging 'cul-de-sac hypothesis' predicts that reptilian viviparity ('live-bearing' reproduction), a 'key innovati…

Antibacterial properties and reduction of MRSA biofilm with a dressing combining polyabsorbent fibres and a silver matrix

2016

Objective: This study was designed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of a wound dressing which combines polyacrylate fibres and a silver lipido-colloid matrix (UrgoClean Ag, silver polyabsorbent dressing), against biofilm of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Method: Samples of silver polyabsorbent dressing and the neutral form of this dressing (UrgoClean) were applied to biofilms of MRSA formed on a collagen I-coated surface, cultured for 24 hours. Different exposure times were tested (1, 2, 4 and 7 days) without dressing change. The biofilm reduction was quantified by using culture methods and by confocal laser scanning microscopy experiments. Results: The applicatio…

DEBATE: Do interventions based on behavioral theory work in the real world?

2019

Abstract Background Behavioral scientists suggest that for behavior change interventions to work effectively, and deliver population-level health outcomes, they must be underpinned by behavioral theory. However, despite implementation of such interventions, population levels of both health outcomes and linked behaviors have remained relatively static. We debate the extent to which interventions based on behavioral theory work in the real world to address population health outcomes. Discussion Hagger argues there is substantive evidence supporting the efficacy and effectiveness of interventions based on behavioral theory in promoting population-level health behavior change in the ‘real world…

High fat diets for weight loss among subjects with elevated fasting glucose levels: The PREDIMED study

2020

Abstract Aim We studied fasting plasma glucose (FPG) as a determinant of weight change on high-fat diets in the PREDIMED trial. Methods A total of 3,622 participants were randomized to receive one of two Mediterranean diets (n = 2,616) or a control diet (n = 1,006) for 5 years and had complete data for baseline FPG and body-weight development. Weight change by pre-treatment FPG categories ( Results The two Mediterranean diets contained 41.5 E% fat, 16.5 E% protein, and 40 E% carbohydrate whereas the control diet contained 37.8 E% fat, 16.8 E% protein and 43.2 E% carbohydrate. In the Mediterranean diet groups, participants with FPG≥115 lost 1.04 kg (95% CI 0.68; 1.41, n = 1115) whereas parti…