Curcumin promotes oxidative stress, apoptosis and autophagy in H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts

Iván Zepeda‑Quiróz,Helen Sánchez‑Barrera,Zaira Colín‑Val,Diana Xochiquetzal Robledo‑Cadena,Sara Rodríguez‑Enríquez,Rebeca López‑Marure 대한독성 유전단백체 학회 2020 Molecular & cellular toxicology Vol.16 No.4

Background Curcumin, a polyphenol derived from Curcuma longa, has some adverse efects on heart; however, its toxic efects on cardiac cells are poorly understood. Objective To evaluate the toxicity of curcumin on H9c2 rat cardiomyoblasts. To this, H9c2 cells were exposed to diferent concentrations of curcumin and proliferation, viability, cell cycle, oxidative stress, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), death and autophagy were evaluated. Results Curcumin caused concentration-dependent inhibition of H9c2 cells proliferation and viability. A higher sub-G1 population was observed in cells treated with curcumin, which was related with phosphatidylserine translocation and increase of activated caspase-9, indicating apoptotic death. Curcumin induced oxidative stress and decreased ΔΨm causing mitochondrial dysfunction. Additionally, it promoted autophagy, revealed by higher LC3B and beclin-1 protein expression and mitophagy. Conclusion Curcumin exhibited toxic efects in cardiac cells and further studies are required to validate its therapeutic potential and use as anti-infammatory and anti-oxidant agent in the cardiovascular system.

Hepatic alterations associated with fine particulate matter exposure

Iván Tavera Busso,Ana Carolina Mateos,Alicia González Peroni,Natalia Soledad Graziani,Hebe Alejandra Carreras 한국독성학회 2020 Toxicological Research Vol.36 No.2

Several studies have pointed to fine particulate matter ( PM2.5) as the main responsible for air pollution toxic effects. Indeed, PM2.5 may not only cause respiratory and cardiovascular abnormalities but it may also affect other organs such as the liver. Be that as it may, only a few studies have evaluated the PM2.5 effects on hepatic tissue. Moreover, most of them have not analyzed the relationship between particles composition and toxicological effects. In this study, healthy rats were subjected to urban levels of PM2.5 particles in order to assess their structural and functional effects on the liver. During the exposure periods, mean PM2.5 concentrations were slightly higher than the value suggested by the daily guideline of the World Health Organization. The exposed rats showed a hepatic increase of Cr, Zn, Fe, Ba, Tl and Pb levels. This group also showed leukocyte infiltration, sinusoidal dilation, hydropic inclusions and alterations in carbohydrates distribution. These histologic lesions were accompanied by serological changes, such as increase of total cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as genotoxic damage in their nuclei. We also observed significant associations between several biomarkers and PM2.5 composition. Our results show that exposure to low levels of PM2.5 might cause histologic and serological changes in liver tissue, suggesting that PM2.5 toxicity is influenced not only by their concentration but also by their composition and the exposure frequency.

Sustainability-Focused Multi-Objective Optimization of a Turning process

Iván La Fé Perdomo,Ramón Quiza,Dries Haeseldonckx,Marcelino Rivas 한국정밀공학회 2020 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.7 No.5

Using optimized cutting parameters can represent a key contribution for obtaining sustainable machining processes. This study presents the multi-objective optimization of the multi-passes cylindrical turning, where conflicting goals are simultaneously considered: economic, environmental and social sustainability. The first costs. The environmental impact was taking into account through the carbon dioxide emission. Finally, the key issue in the social sustainability was the operational safety. Also, the constraints resulting from the technical aspects of the turning process were also considered. From the decision-making point of view, an a posteriori approach was used, where the optimization process, which gives a Pareto front, is followed by the selection of the most convenient solution, depending on the specific workshop conditions. The nonsorting genetic algorithm (NSGA-II) was used as optimization heuristic. The main contribution of the paper is the use of a tridimensional Pareto front for selecting the best cutting conditions, by considering the three pillars of the sustainability.

Correction to: Sustainability-Focused Multi-objective Optimization of a Turning process

Iván La Fé Perdomo,Ramón Quiza,Dries Haeseldonckx,Marcelino Rivas 한국정밀공학회 2020 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.7 No.1

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Biogeography-Based Optimization of RC structures including static soil-structure interaction

Iván A. Negrin,Dirk Roose,Ernesto L. Chagoyén,Geert Lombaert 국제구조공학회 2021 Structural Engineering and Mechanics, An Int'l Jou Vol.80 No.3

A method to minimize the economic cost of the structural design of spatial reinforced concrete (RC) frame structures is presented. SAP2000 is used as computational engine, taking into account modelling aspects such as static soilstructure interaction (SSSI). The optimization problem is formulated to properly reflect an actual design problem, limiting e.g., the size of reinforcement bars to commercially available sections. The resulting discrete optimization problem is solved by using Biogeography-Based Optimization (BBO), an evolutionary algorithm selected for its convergence properties. Strategies to reduce the computational cost of the optimization procedure are proposed and an extensive tuning of the parameters of the BBO algorithm is performed, using a novel utility metric, evaluated for models of six simple RC frame structures. The parameters to deal with more complex structures are selected based on the use of utility landscapes. The resulting tuned optimization algorithm allows to reduce the direct cost of the construction of a particular structure project with 21% (15% when SSSI is not taken into account), compared to a design based on traditional criteria. The effect of considering SSSI on the cost of the superstructure is also evaluated, showing that this is an aspect that should not be neglected during modeling.

Sub-lethal effects of moxidectin on the Neotropical dung beetle Onthophagus landolti Harold (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae)

Roger Iván Rodríguez-Vivas,Gertrudis del Socorro Basto-Estrella,Enrique Reyes-Novelo,William Arcila-Fuentes,Melina Ojeda-Chi,Iris Trinidad-Martínez,Imelda Martínez-M 한국응용곤충학회 2019 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.22 No.1

Macrocyclic lactones can have adverse effects in dung beetles exposed to manure containing them. An assessment of the survival and fertility of adult Onthophagus landolti Harold fed with manure from cows treated with moxidectin was performed, as well as the emergence rate of the imagoes from the masses. Three cows (Bos indicus x B. taurus) were subcutaneously injected with 1% moxidectin (0.2 mg kg −1 b.w.) and another three were injected with 10% moxidectin (1.0 mg/kg −1 b.w.). Manure was collected from these animals one day prior to moxidectin administration, five days post-treatment in the 1% and 10% treatments, and fourteen days in the 10% treatment. Four bioassays were done: a control using manure without moxidectin; 1% moxidectin at five days post-treatment; 10% moxidectin at five days post-treatment; and 10% moxidectin at fourteen days posttreatment. In each replicate, for each pair of adult O. landolti was daily fed with 30 g manure according to the treatments. No lethal effects were observed in any of the four treatments. Sub-lethal effects (P < .05) were present in the 10% moxidectin treatments at five and fourteen days post-treatment. Fecundity was reduced by 78.2% at five days and 54.9% at fourteen days, and imago emergence was negatively affected at both times. Current moxidectin application methods may have negative effects on the environmental services provided by dung beetles, and therefore need to be modified to minimize any impacts they might have on these vital members of tropical livestock systems

Effects of D-002, a mixture of high molecular weight beeswax alcohols, on patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

José Illnait,Iván Rodríguez,Sarahí Mendoza,Yolanda Fernández,Rosa Mas,Mirtha Miranda,Jesús Piñera,Julio César Fernández,Meilis Mesa,Lilia Fernández,Daisy Carbajal,Rafael Gámez 대한내과학회 2013 The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine Vol.28 No.4

Background/Aims: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is intimately related to insulin resistance and ranges from a benign course to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. NAFLD management mainly involves dietary modification and weight loss. Although no fully successful pharmacological intervention is available, alternative therapies to treat NAFLD have shown promising results. Experimental studies have shown that D-002, a mixture of beeswax alcohols with antioxidant effects, is hepatoprotective. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of D-002 in patients with NALFD. Methods: Fifty patients with NAFLD were randomized to receive a placebo or D-002 (100 mg/day) for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was a significant ultrasonography-detected reduction of liver fat infiltration versus a placebo. Secondary endpoints were decreases in the homeostatic model assessment (HOMA) index,insulin levels, serum liver enzymes, increases in plasma total antioxidant status (TAS) and improved clinical symptoms versus the placebo recipients. Results: At randomization, all indicators were comparable in both groups. At study completion, seven (28.0%) D-002-patients, but none of the placebo recipients,exhibited a normal liver echo pattern on ultrasonography (p < 0.01). Also,D-002 significantly reduced (p < 0.01 vs. baseline and placebo) the HOMA index and insulin levels and increased the TAS, but did not affect other parameters. The proportion of D-002-patients (12/25, 48.0%) showing symptom improvement was higher (p < 0.001) than that of the placebo group (1/25, 4.0%). The treatment was safe and well tolerated. Three patients in each group withdrew from the study. Conclusions: D-002 (100 mg/day) improved ultrasonographic findings, indicators of insulin resistance, plasma TAS and clinical evolution on NAFLD patients. Further studies, however, are needed to confirm these results.

Development of a blockchain-based marketplace for the Internet of Things data

Luis Sánchez,Jorge Lanza,Iván González,Juan Ramón Santana,Pablo Sotres 한국통신학회 2023 ICT Express Vol.9 No.4

The Internet of Things (IoT) is recognised as a game-changer technology that expands its applicability to a huge variety of domains. The key asset is the data that the myriad of sensors embedded in the environment are constantly generating. The paper describes a Blockchain-based IoT Data Marketplace (BIDM) and presents the proof-of-concept implementation that has been developed to validate it from a functional standpoint. The BIDM enables an ecosystem where sensor owners can expose the observations that their sensors generate while retaining control over who accesses each observation and directly getting revenues according to the price they have set.

Trends and perspectives of Sustainable Product Design for Open Architecture Products: facing the Circular Economy model

Jaime A. Mesa,Iván Esparragoza,Heriberto Maury 한국정밀공학회 2019 International Journal of Precision Engineering and Vol.6 No.2

The purpose of this paper is to perform the analysis of literature review regarding the design of open architecture products (OAP) and their potential benefits within the circular economy (CE) model. The analysis involved studying more than 80 research articles during the last two decades in engineering journals. The articles were gathered through a bibliometric analysis using the most relevant keywords concerning product design, sustainability, OAP, and CE. Main trends, challenges and future scopes of research opportunities and development were identified. The study provides a framework to designers and researchers involved in the design of OAP to enhance their sustainability performance for a CE model, which integrates lifecycle considerations (reuse, remanufacturing, repair, and recycle), resource optimization, and emissions reduction. The findings include the need for design methods focused on the design of OAP to guarantee an effective circularity of resources during the whole lifecycle of products and the need of integrating manufacturing processes and material analysis to design products capable of adapting to the CE model.

A survey on the use of mice, pigs, dogs and monkeys as animal models in biomedical research in Spain

Olatz Goñi-Balentziaga,Iván Ortega-Saez,Sergi Vila,Garikoitz Azkona 한국실험동물학회 2022 Laboratory Animal Research Vol.38 No.2

Background: The use of animals in biomedical science remains controversial. An individual’s level of concern is generally influenced by their culture, previous or current experience with animals, and the specific animal species in question. In this study we aimed to explore what people in Spain who had never or who no longer worked with laboratory animals thought of the use of mice, pigs, dogs and monkeys for biomedical research purposes. We also aimed to determine whether or not people currently involved in biomedical research with the aforementioned species felt their work was justified. Results: The study comprised a total of 807 participants (never worked = 285, used to work = 56, currently working = 466), almost two thirds of whom were women. Our results revealed that the phylogenetic scale is an important factor in people’s opinions of the use of certain species in research. The percentage of people who were against the use of dogs or monkeys was higher than that of those who were against the use of mice or pigs. The main reasons given for having stopped working with laboratory animals were change of professional career and change in research project. Participants who were currently working with animals believed that their work was justified, but said they did not talk about it with people outside their immediate social circle. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that there is a difference in moral status between monkeys and mice, as well as between companion animals (dogs) and farm animals (pigs). Our results support the idea that working with laboratory animals is a sensitive issue in Spain.