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Key points Trabecular meshwork (TM) is a highly mechanosensitive tissue in the eye that regulates intraocular pressure through the control of aqueous humour drainage. Its dysfunction underlies the progression of glaucoma but neither the mechanisms through which TM cells sense pressure nor their role in aqueous humour outflow are understood at the molecular level. We identified the Piezo1 channel as a key TM transducer of tensile stretch, shear flow and pressure. Its activation resulted in intracellular signals that altered organization of the cytoskeleton and cell-extracellular matrix contacts and modulated the trabecular component of aqueous outflow whereas another channel, TRPV4, mediated a delayed mechanoresponse. This study helps elucidate basic mechanotransduction properties that may contribute to intraocular pressure regulation in the vertebrate eye. Abstract Chronic elevations in intraocular pressure (IOP) can cause blindness by compromising the function of trabecular meshwork (TM) cells in the anterior eye, but how these cells sense and transduce pressure stimuli is poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate functional expression of two mechanically activated channels in human TM cells. Pressure-induced cell stretch evoked a rapid increase in transmembrane current that was inhibited by antagonists of the mechanogated channel Piezo1, Ruthenium Red and GsMTx4, and attenuated in Piezo1-deficient cells. The majority of TM cells exhibited a delayed stretch-activated current that was mediated independently of Piezo1 by TRPV4 (transient receptor potential cation channel, subfamily V, member 4) channels. Piezo1 functions as the principal TM transducer of physiological levels of shear stress, with both shear and the Piezo1 agonist Yoda1 increasing the number of focal cell-matrix contacts. Analysis of TM-dependent fluid drainage from the anterior eye showed significant inhibition by GsMTx4. Collectively, these results suggest that TM mechanosensitivity utilizes kinetically, regulatory and functionally distinct pressure transducers to inform the cells about force-sensing contexts. Piezo1-dependent control of shear flow sensing, calcium homeostasis, cytoskeletal dynamics and pressure-dependent outflow suggests potential for a novel therapeutic target in treating glaucoma.

The evaluation of the ecological disturbance that could be generated in terrestrial environments contaminated by heavy metals in Peru, due to the presence of hundreds of tailings deposits present in various regions of our country, requires an inventory of vascular plant species that indicate contamination and with phytoremediation capacity. In the present investigation, the prospection of the flora was carried out during anthesis (flowering) and fruiting in two areas of mining tailings deposit in the district of Samne, Otuzco province, La Libertad region, Peru (Cushmun and Virgen de la Puerta Minerals Processing Plant Sectors). The sampling of each plant taxon was carried out in a non-probabilistic way in each tailings deposit. The results allowed us to identify 52 species of plants, in the Cushmun Creek, the Equisetopsida Class stands out with nine Orders and a greater representation of the Poales and Caryophyllales order; as well as 11 Families where the Poaceae Family is the one that stands out the most. Comparatively in the second environment, a single Class (Equisetopsida) was inventoried, 11 Orders with a greater representation of the Solanales order; as well as 13 Families where the Asteraceae and Solanaceae families are the ones that stand out the most. It is concluded that the prospects for the use of this natural vegetation for phytoremediation purposes is highly promising for our country. La evaluación de la perturbación ecológica que podría generase en ambientes terrestres contaminados por metales pesados en el Perú, debido a la presencia de cientos de depósitos de relaves presentes en diversas regiones de nuestro país, requiere del inventario de especies de plantas vasculares indicadoras de contaminación y con capacidad fitorremediadora. En la presente investigación la prospección de la flora se realizó durante la antesis (floración) y fructificación en dos áreas de depósito de relaves mineros en el distrito de Samne, prov. Otuzco, región La Libertad, Perú (Sectores Cushmun y Planta Procesadora de Minerales Virgen de la Puerta). El muestreo de cada taxón vegetal se efectuó en forma no probabilística en cada depósito de relaves. Los resultados nos permitieron identificar a 52 especies de plantas, en la Quebrada Cushmun, se destaca la Clase Equisetopsida con nueve Órdenes y una mayor representación del orden Poales y Caryophyllales; así como de 11 Familias donde la Familia Poaceae es la que más sobresale. Comparativamente en el segundo ambiente, se inventarió una sola Clase (Equisetopsida), 11 Órdenes con una mayor representación del orden Solanales; así como de 13 Familias donde las Familia Asteraceae y Solanaceae son las que más destacan. Se concluye que las perspectivas de uso de esta vegetación natural con fines de fitorremediación es altamente promisoria para nuestro país.

El tratamiento inadecuado y sus posibles efectos sociales es una de las preocupaciones ambientales. El propósito del estudio fue evaluar las fluctuaciones de parámetros físicoquímicos, costo ambiental y predicción ecotoxicológica mediante programa computacional Gecotoxic® en la laguna de oxidación de Yaurilla, Ica-Perú. Mediante un muestreo probabilístico aleatorio se midió el pH, sólidos totales, conductividad eléctrica y la temperatura del efluente en mayo, junio, julio y diciembre de 2019. Con los parámetros se estimó el costo ambiental sostenible relativo (COASOR) mediante un cociente entre el costo de evaluación (COA) y el costo de prevención normativo (CONP). Los valores hallados se introdujeron al descriptor análisis residual del programa computacional Gecotoxic® para su predicción ecotoxicológica. El rango de variación para los parámetros fue: pH = 6,01–8,01; sólidos totales = 451–818,9 mg.L-1; conductividad eléctrica = 921–1737,5 uS/cm y la temperatura = 25,75– 25,65°C. La estimación promedio del COASOR fue de recurso sostenible relativo y Gecotoxic® indicó, predicción ecotoxicológica de tipo bajo (30%). Se concluyó que, a pesar de las fluctuaciones entre los valores de los parámetros físico-químicos, el efluente mostró valor de uso como recurso, además, no representó ningún tipo riesgo. No obstante, se recomienda analizarse otros parámetros incluyendo los microbiológicos para la correcta toma de decisiones.

A construção do aquecedor solar foi uma atividade desenvolvida dentro do Programa Institucional de Bolsa de Iniciação à Docência – PIBID na Escola Estadual Levi Peres Durães com o objetivo de proporcionar aos acadêmicos do curso de licenciatura em Geografia a vivência da prática docente e trabalhar a teoria de sala de aula de forma participativa e interativa. A metodologia utilizada foi a apresentação de conceitos, como sustentabilidade, enquanto os alunos montavam o aquecedor solar com a reutilização de materiais. Resultado foi apresentado pelos alunos na feira de ciências, onde se tornaram instrutores dos conceitos aplicados.

Contains fulltext : 219877.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) OBJECTIVE: It was previously determined that group-based face-to-face Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) and individual internet-based MBCT (eMBCT) are equally efficacious compared with treatment as usual (TAU) in reducing psychological distress. In this study, the incremental cost-utility of both interventions compared with TAU was assessed. METHODS: This cost-utility study included 245 self-referred heterogeneous cancer patients with psychological distress who were randomized to MBCT, eMBCT or TAU. Healthcare costs and (informal) work-related productivity losses were assessed by interview. Outcomes were expressed in EuroQol-5D-3L utility scores and quality-adjusted life years (QALY). An economic evaluation with a time-horizon of 3 months was conducted from the societal perspective in the intention-to-treat sample. In addition, secondary explorative analyses of costs and quality of life during the 9-month follow-up were conducted based on linear extrapolation of TAU. RESULTS: Paid work-related productivity losses and societal costs were lower in both intervention conditions compared with TAU during the 3-month intervention period. Moreover, quality of life (utility scores) improved in eMBCT versus TAU (Cohen's d: .54) and MBCT versus TAU (.53). At a willingness to pay of euro20000 per QALY, the mean incremental net monetary benefit was euro1916 (SD=euro783) in eMBCT and euro2365 (SD=euro796) in MBCT versus TAU. Exploration of costs demonstrated an equal pattern of eMBCT and MBCT being superior to TAU. Quality of life at 9-month follow-up remained improved in both interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate that eMBCT and MBCT are cost-saving treatments whilst simultaneously improving quality of life for distressed cancer patients.

Objectives While efficacy research on mindfulness-based interventions in cancer patients is available, research on possible mechanisms of change is lacking. The current study investigated general and week-to-week changes and interrelations in mindfulness and positive and negative affect in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) for cancer patients. Methods In total, 163 cancer patients completed face-to-face or online MBCT. Mindfulness and positive and negative affect were measured weekly during the intervention. Autoregressive latent trajectory models were used to evaluate general and week-to-week effects. Results Overall, mindfulness and positive affect increased, and negative affect decreased during MBCT. Higher general levels of mindfulness were associated with higher general levels of positive affect. Regarding week-to-week effects, positive affect in weeks 3, 7, and 8 predicted an increase in mindfulness in the following week. Various general relations were observed between mindfulness and negative affect, showing that higher mindfulness was related to less negative affect. To the contrary, week-to-week effects showed higher mindfulness consistently predicted increased negative affect in the subsequent week. Conclusions In cancer patients, mindfulness appeared to be more robustly related to negative than to positive affect. Furthermore, mindfulness in one week was related to an increase of negative affect in the following week, possibly due to turning towards previously suppressed negative emotions. However, when focusing on the whole course from start to end, the increase of mindfulness was related to a decrease of negative affect, possibly due to acceptance of and exposure to negative emotions. Our findings reveal the complexity of mechanisms of MBCT and illustrate the necessity of sophisticated models with longitudinal measurements to truly elucidate these mechanisms. Trial Registration Clinical Trials.gov: NCT02138513.