Background, current status and future prospects of transgenic crop plant development

Les plantes transgèniques són una part integral de l’agricultura contemporània. Durant l’any 2006 més de noranta milions d’hectàrees de plantes transgèniques van ser cultivades en vint-i-un països. Des de la comercialització de la primera planta transgènica el 1996 els nivells d’adopció d’aquests cultius han augmentat anualment amb percentatges de dos dígits. El desenvolupament i la comercialització de les plantes transgèniques van lligats estretament al comerç mundial, a la globalització, a la disponibilitat de suficient menjar, a la protecció del medi ambient i del consumidor i a la propietat intel·lectual. En aquest article exposem els avenços més recents i les tendències actuals en el desenvolupament dels cultius transgènics i de la seva utilització. També ens fem ressò d’alguns assumptes no científics que s’han de solucionar abans que aquests cultius arribin al màxim del seu potencial, proporcionant una agricultura més sostenible i ecològica. Finalment, ressaltarem la importància de com les plantes transgèniques poden contribuir en la disponibilitat de menjar i en la millora de la pobresa en els països en vies de desenvolupament.

APOE status modulates the changes in network connectivity induced by brain stimulation in non-demented elders.

Behavioral consequences of a brain insult represent an interaction between the injury and the capacity of the rest of the brain to adapt to it. We provide experimental support for the notion that genetic factors play a critical role in such adaptation. We induced a controlled brain disruption using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and show that APOE status determines its impact on distributed brain networks as assessed by functional MRI (fMRI).Twenty non-demented elders exhibiting mild memory dysfunction underwent two fMRI studies during face-name encoding tasks (before and after rTMS). Baseline task performance was associated with activation of a network of brain regions in prefrontal, parietal, medial temporal and visual associative areas. APOE ε4 bearers exhibited this pattern in two separate independent components, whereas ε4-non carriers presented a single partially overlapping network. Following rTMS all subjects showed slight ameliorations in memory performance, regardless of APOE status. However, after rTMS APOE ε4-carriers showed significant changes in brain network activation, expressing strikingly similar spatial configuration as the one observed in the non-carrier group prior to stimulation. Similarly, activity in areas of the default-mode network (DMN) was found in a single component among the ε4-non bearers, whereas among carriers it appeared disaggregated in three distinct spatiotemporal components that changed to an integrated single component after rTMS. Our findings demonstrate that genetic background play a fundamental role in the brain responses to focal insults, conditioning expression of distinct brain networks to sustain similar cognitive performance.

Current status of pediatric home enteral nutrition in Spain: The importance of the NEPAD register

Home enteral nutrition (HEN) is a type of enteral nutrition (EN) which is becoming progressively more widespread in pediatrics due to the benefits it affords to patients, their families and to reducing hospital costs. However, the true extent of its use is unknown in Spain as the data-base set up for this purpose is still underused (Registro de Nutrición Enteral Pediátrica Ambulatoria y Domiciliaria -NEPAD-). More thorough registration of patients in the NEPAD online register will provide information about the characteristics of HEN in Spain: prevalence, diagnosis, the population sector being administered HEN, complications and developments. Likewise, forecast and planning of the necessary resources could be made while those in use could be analysed.

Assessing positive mental health in people with chronic physical health problems: correlations with socio-demographic variables and physical health status

Background: A holistic perspective on health implies giving careful consideration to the relationship between physical and mental health. In this regard the present study sought to determine the level of Positive Mental Health (PMH) among people with chronic physical health problems, and to examine the relationship between the observed levels of PMH and both physical health status and socio-demographic variables. Methods: The study was based on the Multifactor Model of Positive Mental Health (Lluch, 1999), which comprises six factors: Personal Satisfaction (F1), Prosocial Attitude (F2), Self-control (F3), Autonomy (F4), Problem-solving and Self-actualization (F5), and Interpersonal Relationship Skills (F6). The sample comprised 259 adults with chronic physical health problems who were recruited through a primary care center in the province of Barcelona (Spain). Positive mental health was assessed by means of the Positive Mental Health Questionnaire (Lluch, 1999). Results: Levels of PMH differed, either on the global scale or on specific factors, in relation to the following variables: age: global PMH scores decreased with age (r=-0.129; p=0.038); b) gender: men scored higher on F1 (t=2.203; p=0.028) and F4 (t=3.182; p=0.002), while women scored higher on F2 (t -3.086; p=0.002) and F6 (t=-2.744; p=0.007); c) number of health conditions: the fewer the number of health problems the higher the PMH score on F5 (r=-0.146; p=0.019); d) daily medication: polymedication patients had lower PMH scores, both globally and on various factors; e) use of analgesics: occasional use of painkillers was associated with higher PMH scores on F1 (t=-2.811; p=0.006). There were no significant differences in global PMH scores according to the type of chronic health condition. The only significant difference in the analysis by factors was that patients with hypertension obtained lower PMH scores on the factor Autonomy (t=2.165; p=0.032). Conclusions: Most people with chronic physical health problems have medium or high levels of PMH. The variables that adversely affect PMH are old age, polypharmacy and frequent consumption of analgesics. The type of health problem does not influence the levels of PMH. Much more extensive studies with samples without chronic pathology are now required in order to be able to draw more robust conclusions.

Oncogenic K-Ras segregates at spatially distinct plasma membrane signaling platforms according to its phosphorylation status

Activating mutations in the K-Ras small GTPase are extensively found in human tumors. Although these mutations induce the generation of a constitutively GTP-loaded, active form of K-Ras, phosphorylation at Ser181 within the C-terminal hypervariable region can modulate oncogenic K-Ras function without affecting the in vitro affinity for its effector Raf-1. In striking contrast, K-Ras phosphorylated at Ser181 shows increased interaction in cells with the active form of Raf-1 and with p110α, the catalytic subunit of PI 3-kinase. Because the majority of phosphorylated K-Ras is located at the plasma membrane, different localization within this membrane according to the phosphorylation status was explored. Density-gradient fractionation of the plasma membrane in the absence of detergents showed segregation of K-Ras mutants that carry a phosphomimetic or unphosphorylatable serine residue (S181D or S181A, respectively). Moreover, statistical analysis of immunoelectron microscopy showed that both phosphorylation mutants form distinct nanoclusters that do not overlap. Finally, induction of oncogenic K-Ras phosphorylation - by activation of protein kinase C (PKC) - increased its co-clustering with the phosphomimetic K-Ras mutant, whereas (when PKC is inhibited) non-phosphorylated oncogenic K-Ras clusters with the non-phosphorylatable K-Ras mutant. Most interestingly, PI 3-kinase (p110α) was found in phosphorylated K-Ras nanoclusters but not in non-phosphorylated K-Ras nanoclusters. In conclusion, our data provide - for the first time - evidence that PKC-dependent phosphorylation of oncogenic K-Ras induced its segregation in spatially distinct nanoclusters at the plasma membrane that, in turn, favor activation of Raf-1 and PI 3-kinase.

Estimating the Ontogenetic Status of an Enantiornithine Bird from the Lower Barremian of El Montsec, Central Pyrenees, Spain.

An Enantiornithes specimen from El Montsec was initially described as an immature individual based upon qualitative traits such as its relatively large orbit and overall proportions of the skull and the postcranium. In this study we re-evaluate the precise determination of the ontogenetic stage of this individual, establishing a cross-talk among taphonomic, anatomic, and morphometric data. The exceptional preservation of the specimen has allowed pondering ontogenetic influence versus preservational bias in features like the external patterns of bone surfaces, instead of being aprioristically considered due to taphonomic alterations only. The rough texture of the periosteal bone associated with pores in the distal, proximal and mid-shaft areas of the humeral shaft, indicates a subadult stage when compared with long bones of modern birds. Forelimb proportions of embryo and juvenile Enanthiornithes are equivalent to those of adult individuals of other taxa within this clade, though this is not a reliable criterion for establishing a precise ontogenetic stage. The El Montsec specimen may be attributed a close adulthood, yet only if growth regimes in Enantiornithes are considered equivalent to those in Neornithes birds.

Status convulsivo

1. CONCEPTO Sindrome comicial prolongado (duración superior a los 30 minutos) o recidivante sin lograr recuperar la conciencia en los intervalos. Cualquier tipo de comicialidad tanto generalizada como focal puede cursar en forma de status, aunque lo más frecuente son las crisis tónico-clónicas generalizadas...

Ager Tarraconensis 4. Els Antigons, una vil·la senyorial del Camp de Tarragona = Els Antigons, a High Status Villa in the Camp de Tarragona

La vil·la romana dels Antigons (Reus, tocant amb la Canonja) fou una de les més riques de l’ager Tarraconensis, raó per la qual ha merescut un tractament monogràfic. El nom ja indica la rellevància de les restes que s’hi han trobat des del segle XIX. És un jaciment dissortat, però: la construcció d’un complex industrial els anys 70 el va destruir en gran part i avui no en queda cap resta visible. En les excavacions d’urgència entre el 1976 i el 1979 es va recollir una importantíssima documentació. Destaca un forn del segle I dC on es produïen materials constructius i àmfores vineres. La vil·la experimentà un moment de gran riquesa la primera meitat del segle III, com ho indica el luxós nimfeu decorat amb estàtues, així com l’important abocador del mateix moment, que ha permès estudiar un abundantíssim conjunt de ceràmiques romanes. La vil·la perdurà almenys fins al segle V, i hi ha traces de freqüentació i ús en època visigòtica.

Reliability of intraoperative ultrasound in margin status assessment in women undergoing breast conserving surgery

Background: Effective treatment for breast cancer requires accurate preoperative planning, developing and implementing a consistent definition of margin clearance, and using tools that provide detailed real-time intraoperative information on margin status. Intraoperative ultrasound (IOUS) may fulfil these requirements and may offer few advantages that other preoperative localization and intraoperative margin assessment techniques may notPurpose: The goal of the present work is to determine how accurate the intraoperative ultrasound should be to acquire complete surgical excision with negative histological margins in patients undergoing Breast Conservative SurgeryDesign: A diagnostic test study with a cross-sectional design carried out in a tertiary referral hospital in Girona within a Breast Pathology UnitParticipants: Women diagnosed with breast cancer undergoing a Breast Conservative Surgery in the Breast Pathology Unit at Hospital Universitari de Girona Dr. Josep Trueta