Combining proteomics and lipid analysis to unravel Confidor stress response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a useful model for studying the influence of different stress factors on eukaryotic cells. In this work we used the pesticide imidacloprid, in the Confidor formulation, as the stress factor and analyzed its influence on the metabolic activity, proteome and lipid content and composition of Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast. During the cultivation of yeast, the lowest recommended application dose of Confidor (0.025%, v/v) was added to the growth media and its influence on the mitochondria, cytosol with microsomes, and the whole yeast cells was monitored. The results show that under the stress provoked by the toxic effects of Confidor, yeast cells density significantly decreased and the percentage of metabolically disturbed cells significantly increased comparing with untreated control. Also, there was a downregulation of majority of glycolytic, gluconeogenesis, and TCA cycle enzymes (Fba1, Adh1, Hxk2, Tal1, Tdh1,Tdh3, Eno1) thus providing enough acetyl‐CoA for the lipid restructuring and accumulation mechanism since we have found the changes in the cell and mitochondrial lipid content and FA composition. This data suggest that lipids could be the molecules that orchestrate the answer of the cells in the stress response to the Confidor treatment.     

N-acetyl-l-cysteine protects porcine oocytes undergoing meiotic resumption from heat stress

Heat stress (HS) is a notable risk factor for female reproductive performance. In particular, impaired oocyte maturation was thought to contribute largely to the HS-induced reproductive dysfunctions. In this study, we confirmed that oocytes undergoing GVBD were much susceptible to HS, and thus compromising subsequent embryonic development. Using N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC), we found supplementation of a relatively high dose NAC during in vitro maturation, can protect oocytes from HS-induced complications, and thus rescuing impaired embryonic development. Further analysis indicated that mechanisms responsible for protecting GVBD oocytes from HS by NAC may include: (1) reversing disorganized spindle assembly and inhibited extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) signaling; (2) correcting erroneous H3K27me3 modification and dysregulated expression of imprinted genes; (3) alleviating increased intraoocyte reactive oxygen species accumulation and apoptosis initiation. Our study, focusing on the oocyte meiotic maturation, may provide a safe and promising strategy for protecting reproductive sows under environmental hyperthermal conditions.     

Daily coping moderates the relations between stress and actigraphic sleep: a daily intensive longitudinal study with ecological momentary assessments

BackgroundTheoretical models argue that coping reduces stress responses, yet no studies have tested whether coping moderates the prospective stress effects on sleep in daily life.PurposeThis study tested if coping moderates the stress-sleep association using a daily, intensive longitudinal design across 7–12 days.Methods326 young adults (M_age = 23.24 ± 5.46) reported perceived stress and coping (problem-focused, emotional-approach, and avoidance) every evening between 20:00–02:00, providing over 2400 nights of sleep data and 3000 stress surveys from all participants. Actigraphy and sleep diaries measured total-sleep-time and sleep efficiency. Multilevel models tested the interaction effects of within- and between-person stress and coping on sleep.ResultsWithin-person problem-focused and emotional-approach coping moderated the within-person stress effects on actigraphic total-sleep-time (both p = 0.02); higher stress predicted shorter total-sleep-time only during high use of problem-focused or emotional-approach coping (both p = 0.01). Between-person avoidance moderated the between-person stress effect on actigraphic total-sleep-time (p = 0.04); higher stress predicted shorter total-sleep-time for high avoidance coping (p = 0.02). Within-person emotional-approach coping buffered the between-person stress effect on actigraphic sleep efficiency (p = 0.02); higher stress predicted higher sleep efficiency for high emotional-approach coping (p = 0.04).ConclusionsThis study showed that daily coping moderates the effects of evening stress on sleep that night. More efforts to cope with stress before bedtime had a short-term cost of shorter sleep that night. However, high use of emotional-approach coping buffered the impact of stress to promote sleep efficiency.     

Relación entre exposición a riesgos psicosociales y salud: un estudio de cohorte mediante el COPSOQ-Istas21

ObjectiveTo estimate the prospective relationships between exposure to psychosocial risks dimensions included in the COPSOQ-Istas21 and the deterioration of general and mental health and sleep problems among workers residing in Spain.MethodCohort whose baseline corresponds to the 2016 Psychosocial Risks Survey with a new measurement after one year.ResultsSocial capital and interpersonal relations and leadership dimensions, as well as work?life conflict, were related to all health variables. Dimensions of work organization and job contents did it especially with the mental health, the quantitative demands with the general health and the emotional ones with the mental health. The dimensions related to job insecurity did not show relationships with health.ConclusionsThe results obtained reinforce the role of the COPSOQ-Istas21 as a useful instrument for the evaluation and prevention of psychosocial risks at work.     

Protective Role of Curcumin against N-Nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA)-Induced Toxicity in Rats

The present investigation was aimed at studying the possible role of curcumin against N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA)-induced toxicity in albino rats. Administration of NDEA to rats at a concentration of 0.1 mg/ml in drinking water ad libitum for 21 days produced toxicity in them, which was evident from histopathological changes in the rat livers, and increased levels of blood serum enzyme markers, i.e. aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, and lactate dehydrogenase. In addition, the levels of oxidative stress markers like lipid peroxidation (LPO), protein carbonyl (PCC), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity were elevated and the total glutathione (GSH) content was reduced in the livers. The administration of curcumin to rats at concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 mg/ml in drinking water along with 0.1 mg/ml of NDEA for 21 days effectively suppressed NDEA-induced toxicity and also resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in the levels of blood serum enzyme markers (AST, ALT, ALP, and LDH). Moreover, LPO, PCC, and GST activity were reduced and the GSH level was increased upon the administration of curcumin along with NDEA. The results obtained for the comet assay in rat hepatocytes and blood lymphocytes showed a significant dose-dependent decrease in the mean tail length. The micronucleus assay performed on rat hepatocytes also showed a dose-dependent reduction in the frequency of micronucleated cells along with curcumin administration. These results suggest that curcumin has a protective role against NDEA-induced toxicity in albino rats.     

Using business/law negotiation techniques in response to a ‘difficult’ family

Effective communication between clinicians, patients, and families at end of life is associated with better clinical outcomes. A large body of literature describes the key skills needed for effective communication. We believe that clinicians could also benefit from communication skills more commonly associated with business or law negotiations. We will demonstrate via analogy (i.e. buying a house) how four key business/law negotiation techniques – 1. Determine your Reservation and Aspiration Value; 2. Separate People from their Positions; 3. Separate Positions from Interests; and 4. Logrolling of Interests – can be applied to a difficult family meeting in a home hospice patient.     

Melatonin reduces oxidative stress and improves vascular function in pulmonary hypertensive newborn sheep

Pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PHN) constitutes a critical condition with severe cardiovascular and neurological consequences. One of its main causes is hypoxia during gestation, and thus, it is a public health concern in populations living above 2500 m. Although some mechanisms are recognized, the pathophysiological facts that lead to PHN are not fully understood, which explains the lack of an effective treatment. Oxidative stress is one of the proposed mechanisms inducing pulmonary vascular dysfunction and PHN. Therefore, we assessed whether melatonin, a potent antioxidant, improves pulmonary vascular function. Twelve newborn sheep were gestated, born, and raised at 3600 meters. At 3 days old, lambs were catheterized and daily cardiovascular measurements were recorded. Lambs were divided into two groups, one received daily vehicle as control and another received daily melatonin (1 mg/kg/d), for 8 days. At 11 days old, lung tissue and small pulmonary arteries (SPA) were collected. Melatonin decreased pulmonary pressure and resistance for the first 3 days of treatment. Further, melatonin significantly improved the vasodilator function of SPA, enhancing the endothelial‐ and muscular‐dependent pathways. This was associated with an enhanced nitric oxide‐dependent and nitric oxide independent vasodilator components and with increased nitric oxide bioavailability in lung tissue. Further, melatonin reduced the pulmonary oxidative stress markers and increased enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidant capacity. Finally, these effects were associated with an increase of lumen diameter and a mild decrease in the wall of the pulmonary arteries. These outcomes support the use of melatonin as an adjuvant in the treatment for PHN.