Diabetes relacionada a la fibrosis quística (DRFQ)

Importancia: el paciente con fibrosis quística después de las complicaciones gastrointestinales y pulmonares debe enfrentar otras comorbilidades como la diabetes relacionada a su condición . Dado el aumento en la esperanza de vida y el hecho de que virtualmente todas los pacientes con esta enfermedad pueden desarrollar alteración en el metabolismo de los carbohidratos, se requiere una sensibilización frente al tema que posibilite una detección temprana de esta entidad y un tratamiento óptimo que evite las complicaciones microvasculares e impacte entre otros el crecimiento pondo-estatural en pacientes en desarrollo y la función pulmonar. Objetivo : realizar una revisión actualizada de la literatura sobre la diabetes relacionada a la fibrosis quística, destacando las indicaciones de tamización y tratamiento. Conclusión : la FQ dentro de su abordaje requiere la detección temprana de la alteración del metabolismo de los carbohidratos con una prueba de tolerancia a la glucosa , el daño del islote pancreático , la disfunción inmune, la resistencia a la insulina, el estrés oxidativo entre otros elementos fisiopatológicos conllevan a un estado de depleción de insulina que producirán un efecto negativo microvascular así como a una reducción marcada de la función pulmonar, mayores tasa de infección e incremento de la mortalidad. La piedra angular del tratamiento en pacientes con o sin hiperglicemia es la insulina que mejora tanto el estado nutricional como la función pulmonar ; nuevos antidiabéticos orales con efecto incretinas y fármacos modificadores de la enfermedad se vislumbran como alternativas al corto plazo

Comparación del efecto de mera exposición y el condicionamiento clásico en la formación de preferencias

El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar la eficacia del condicionamiento clásico (CC) y el efecto de mera exposición (ME), en condiciones supraliminales (2000 milisegundos –ms-), sobre la formación de preferencias hacia marcas publicitarias. Se realizó un experimento con diseño intrasujeto, donde se manipuló la variable tratamiento afectivo representada por los dos procedimientos a comparar y se midió la variable dependiente –preferencia hacia las marcas- a través de una tarea de elección forzosa y un diferencial semántico. En el experimento participaron 70 hombres, estudiantes de medicina de la Universidad del Rosario con edades entre 18 y 22 años. El CC se realizó a través de un procedimiento simultáneo y en ambas condiciones la variable independiente se expuso el estímulo 8 veces con una duración de 2000 ms. Los resultados mostraron que los dos procedimientos generaron preferencias en los sujetos, pero no diferencias significativas entre la efectividad de los procedimientos.

Free radicals, metals and antioxidants in oxidative stress-induced cancer

Oxygen-free radicals, more generally known as reactive oxygen species (ROS) along with reactive nitrogen species (RNS) are well recognised for playing a dual role as both deleterious and beneficial species. The "two-faced" character of ROS is substantiated by growing body of evidence that ROS within cells act as secondary messengers in intracellular signalling cascades, which induce and maintain the oncogenic phenotype of cancer cells, however, ROS can also induce cellular senescence and apoptosis and can therefore function as anti-tumourigenic species. The cumulative production of ROS/RNS through either endogenous or exogenous insults is termed oxidative stress and is common for many types of cancer cell that are linked with altered redox regulation of cellular signalling pathways. Oxidative stress induces a cellular redox imbalance which has been found to be present in various cancer cells compared with normal cells; the redox imbalance thus may be related to oncogenic stimulation. DNA mutation is a critical step in carcinogenesis and elevated levels of oxidative DNA lesions (8-OH-G) have been noted in various tumours, strongly implicating such damage in the etiology of cancer. It appears that the DNA damage is predominantly linked with the initiation process. This review examines the evidence for involvement of the oxidative stress in the carcinogenesis process. Attention is focused on structural, chemical and biochemical aspects of free radicals, the endogenous and exogenous sources of their generation, the metal (iron, copper, chromium, cobalt, vanadium, cadmium, arsenic, nickel)-mediated formation of free radicals (e.g. Fenton chemistry), the DNA damage (both mitochondrial and nuclear), the damage to lipids and proteins by free radicals, the phenomenon of oxidative stress, cancer and the redox environment of a cell, the mechanisms of carcinogenesis and the role of signalling cascades by ROS; in particular. ROS activation of AP-1 (activator protein) and NF-kappa B (nuclear factor kappa B) signal transduction pathways, which, in turn lead to the transcription of genes involved in cell growth regulatory pathways. The role of enzymatic (superoxide dismutase (Cu. Zn-SOD. Mn-SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (Vitamin C, Vitamin E, carotenoids, thiol antioxidants (glutathione, thioredoxin and lipoic acid), flavonoids, selenium and others) in the process of careinogenesis as well as the antioxidant interactions with various regulatory factors, including Ref-1, NF-kappa B, AP-1 are also reviewed. 2006 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Role of oxygen radicals in DNA damage and cancer incidence

The development of cancer in humans and animals is a multistep process. The complex series of cellular and molecular changes participating in cancer development are mediated by a diversity of endogenous and exogenous stimuli. One type of endogenous damage is that arising from intermediates of oxygen (dioxygen) reduction - oxygen-free radicals (OFR), which attacks not only the bases but also the deoxyribosyl backbone of DNA. Thanks to improvements in analytical techniques, a major achievement in the understanding of carcinogenesis in the past two decades has been the identification and quantification of various adducts of OFR with DNA. OFR are also known to attack other cellular components such as lipids, leaving behind reactive species that in turn can couple to DNA bases. Endogenous DNA lesions are genotoxic and induce mutations. The most extensively studied lesion is the formation of 8-OH-dG. This lesion is important because it is relatively easily formed and is mutagenic and therefore is a potential biomarker of carcinogenesis. Mutations that may arise from formation of 8-OH-dG involve GC. TA transversions. In view of these findings, OFR are considered as an important class of carcinogens. The effect of OFR is balanced by the antioxidant action of non-enzymatic antioxidants as well as antioxidant enzymes. Non-enzymatic antioxidants involve vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids (CAR), selenium and others. However, under certain conditions, some antioxidants can also exhibit a pro-oxidant mechanism of action. For example, beta-carotene at high concentration and with increased partial pressure of dioxygen is known to behave as a pro-oxidant. Some concerns have also been raised over the potentially deleterious transition metal ion-mediated (iron, copper) pro-oxidant effect of vitamin C. Clinical studies mapping the effect of preventive antioxidants have shown surprisingly little or no effect on cancer incidence. The epidemiological trials together with in vitro experiments suggest that the optimal approach is to reduce endogenous and exogenous sources of oxidative stress, rather than increase intake of anti-oxidants. In this review, we highlight some major achievements in the study of DNA damage caused by OFR and the role in carcinogenesis played by oxidatively damaged DNA. The protective effect of antioxidants against free radicals is also discussed.

Neoglycolipid probes prepared via oxime ligation for microarray analysis of oligosaccharide-protein interactions

Neoglycolipid technology is the basis of a microarray platform for assigning oligosaccharide ligands for carbohydrate-binding proteins. The strategy for generating the neoglycolipid probes by reductive amination results in ring opening of the core monosaccharides. This often limits applicability to short-chain saccharides, although the majority of recognition motifs are satisfactorily presented with neoglycolipids of longer oligosaccharides. Here, we describe neoglycolipids prepared by oxime ligation. We provide evidence from NMR studies that a significant proportion of the oxime-linked core monosaccharide is in the ring-closed form, and this form selectively interacts with a carbohydrate-binding protein. By microarray analyses we demonstrate the effective presentation with oxime-linked neoglycolipids of (1) Lewis(x) trisaccharide to antibodies to Lewisx, (2) sialyllactose analogs to the sialic acid-binding receptors, siglecs, and (3) N-glycans to a plant lectin that requires an intact N-acetylglucosamine core.

Synchronisation error resistant multiuser detection for asynchronous CDMA

Linear CDMA detectors have emerged as a promising solution to multiple access interference (MAI) suppression. Unfortunately, most existing linear detectors suffer from high sensitivity to synchronisation errors (also termed parameter estimation error), and synchronisation error resistant detectors have so far not been as widely investigated as they should have. This paper extends the minimum variance distortionless response (MVDR) detector, proposed previously by this author (Zheng 2000) for synchronous systems, to asynchronous systems. It has been shown that the MVDR structure is equally effective for asynchronous systems, especially for the weaker users.

Rapamycin carbonate esters

Certain embodiments include carbonate esters of rapamycin at position 42 that are synthesized by a lipase catalyzed regio-specific process. These compounds or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof are useful in the treatment of organ and tissue transplant rejection, autoimmune disease, proliferative disorder, restenosis, cancer, or microbial infection.

Biocompatible, biomimetic ampholyte materials

New ampholyte biomaterial compounds containing ampholyte moieties are synthesized and integrated into polymeric assemblies to provide hydrophilic polymers exhibiting improved biocompatibility, haemocompatibility, hydrophilicity non-thrombogenicity, anti-bacterial ability, and mechanical strength, as well as suitability as a drug delivery platform.

New age estimates for the Palaeolithic assemblages and Pleistocene succession of Casablanca, Morocco

Marine and aeolian Quaternary sediments from Casablanca, Morocco were dated using the optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) signal of quartz grains. These sediments form part of an extensive succession spanning the Pleistocene, and contain a rich faunal and archaeological record, including an Acheulian lithic assemblage from before the Brunhes–Matayama boundary, and a Homo erectus jaw from younger cave deposits. Sediment samples from the sites of Reddad Ben Ali, Oulad J’mel, Sidi Abderhamane and Thomas Quarries have been dated, in order to assess the upper limits of OSL. The revision of previously measured mammalian tooth enamel electron spin resonance (ESR) dates from the Grotte des Rhinocéros, Oulad Hamida Quarry 1, incorporating updated environmental dose rate measurements and attenuation calculations, also provide chronological constraint for the archaeological material preserved at Thomas Quarries. Several OSL age estimates extend back to around 500,000 years, with a single sample providing an OSL age close to 1 Ma in magnetically reversed sediments. These luminescence dates are some of the oldest determined, and their reliability is assessed using both internal criteria based on stratigraphic consistency, and external lithostratigraphic, morphostratigraphic and independent chronological constraints. For most samples, good internal agreement is observed using single aliquot regenerative-dose OSL measurements, while multiple aliquot additive-dose measurements generally have poorer resolution and consistency. Novel slow-component and component-resolved OSL approaches applied to four samples provide significantly enhanced dating precision, and an examination of the degree of signal zeroing at deposition. A comparison of the OSL age estimates with the updated ESR dates and one U-series date demonstrate that this method has great potential for providing reliable age estimates for sediments of this antiquity. We consider the cause of some slight age inversion observed at Thomas Quarries, and provide recommendations for further luminescence dating within this succession.

Potential of the slow component of quartz OSL for age determination of sedimentary samples

The slow component of quartz OSL exhibits a high thermal stability, and, in many of the samples studied, a high dose saturation level (several hundreds or, even thousands, of Grays). These properties suggest that the slow component has potential as a long-range dating tool. Initial attempts have been made to obtain equivalent doses for a number of sedimentary samples. Single- and multiple-aliquot techniques were modified for use with the slow component. The results indicate that there is a good potential for sediment dating, particularly for samples of significant age. Experiments concerning the optical resetting of the slow component suggest that, given its slow optical depletion rate, dating may be restricted to aeolian sediments.