Regulation of progesterone biosynthesis in the human placenta by estradiol 17 beta and progesterone

Ex vivo addition of estradiol 17 beta to first trimester or term human placental minces caused a significant increase in the quantity of progesterone produced. Addition of an aromatase inhibitor, CGS 16949 A or the estrogen receptor antagonist, ICI 182780, significantly inhibited progesterone production confirming the role of estradiol 17 beta in the regulation of progesterone synthesis in human placenta. RU 486 and ZK 98299, which are antagonists of progesterone receptor, significantly modulated progesterone synthesis in the human placenta but exhibited paradoxical effects on the first trimester and term placenta We conclude that progesterone synthesis in the human placenta is regulated by estradiol 17 beta and progesterone. This is the first report providing evidence for autoregulation of progesterone synthesis in the human placenta.

The electrical switching and thermal behavior of bulk Ge(15)Te(85-x)Sn(x) and Ge(17)Te(83-x)Sn(x) glasses

Bulk Ge(15)Te(85 - x)Sn(x) and Ge(17)Te(83 - x)Sn(x) glasses, are found to exhibit memory type electrical switching. The switching voltages (V(t)) and thermal stability of Ge(15)Te(85 - x)Sn(x) and Ge(17)Te(83 - x)Sn(x) glasses are found to decrease with Sn content. The composition dependence of v, has been understood on the basis of the decrease in the OFF state resistance and thermal stability of these glasses with tin addition. X-ray diffraction studies reveal that no elemental Sn or Sn compounds with Te or Ge are present in thermally crystallized Ge-Te-Sn samples. This indicates that Sn atoms do not interact with the host matrix and form a phase separated network of its own, which remains in the parent glass matrix as an inclusion. Consequently, there is no enhancement of network connectivity and rigidity. The thickness dependence of switching voltages of Ge(15)Te(85 - x)Sn(x) and Ge(17)Te(83 - x)Sn(x) glasses is found to be linear, in agreement with the memory switching behavior shown by these glasses. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Differential cellular recognition pattern to M. tuberculosis targets defined by IFN-gamma and IL-17 production in blood from TB plus patients from Honduras as compared to health care workers: TB and immune responses in patients from Honduras

Background: A better understanding of the quality of cellular immune responses directed against molecularly defined targets will guide the development of TB diagnostics and identification of molecularly defined, clinically relevant M.tb vaccine candidates. Methods: Recombinant proteins (n = 8) and peptide pools (n = 14) from M. tuberculosis (M.tb) targets were used to compare cellular immune responses defined by IFN-gamma and IL-17 production using a Whole Blood Assay (WBA) in a cohort of 148 individuals, i.e. patients with TB + (n = 38), TB- individuals with other pulmonary diseases (n = 81) and individuals exposed to TB without evidence of clinical TB (health care workers, n = 29). Results: M.tb antigens Rv2958c (glycosyltransferase), Rv2962c (mycolyltransferase), Rv1886c (Ag85B), Rv3804c (Ag85A), and the PPE family member Rv3347c were frequently recognized, defined by IFN-gamma production, in blood from healthy individuals exposed to M.tb (health care workers). A different recognition pattern was found for IL-17 production in blood from M.tb exposed individuals responding to TB10.4 (Rv0288), Ag85B (Rv1886c) and the PPE family members Rv0978c and Rv1917c. Conclusions: The pattern of immune target recognition is different in regard to IFN-gamma and IL-17 production to defined molecular M.tb targets in PBMCs from individuals frequently exposed to M.tb. The data represent the first mapping of cellular immune responses against M.tb targets in TB patients from Honduras.

Non-polio enteroviruses and their association with acute diarrhea in children in India

A causative agent in approximately 40% of diarrhea] cases. still remains unidentified. Though many enteroviruses (EVs) are transmitted through fecal-oral route and replicate in the intestinal cells, their association with acute diarrhea has not so far been recognized due to lack of detailed epidemiological investigations. This long-term, detailed molecular epidemiological study aims to conclusively determine the association of non-polio enteroviruses (NPEVs) with acute diarrhea in comaparison with rotavirus (RV) in children. Diarrheal stool specimens from 2161 children aged 0-2 years and 169 children between 2 and 9 years, and 1800 normal stool samples from age-matched healthy children between 0 and 9 years were examined during 2008-2012 for enterovirus (oral polio vaccine strains (OPVs) and NPEVs). Enterovirus serotypes were identified by complete VP1 gene sequence analysis. Enterovirus and rotavirus were detected in 19.01% (380/2330) and 13.82% (322/2330) diarrheal stools. During the study period, annual prevalence of EV- and RV-associated diarrhea ranged between 8% and 22%, but with contrasting seasonal prevalence with RV predominating during winter months and NPEV prevailing in other seasons. NPEVs are associated with epidemics-like outbreaks during which they are detected in up to 50% of diarrheic children, and in non-epidemic seasons in 0-10% of the patients. After subtraction of OPV-positive diarrheal cases (1.81%), while NPEVs are associated with about 17% of acute diarrhea, about 6% of healthy children showed asymptomatic NPEV excretion. Of 37 NPEV serotypes detected in diarrheal children, seven echovirus types 1, 7, 11, 13, 14, 30 and 33 are frequently observed, with Ell being more prevalent followed by E30. In conclusion, NPEVs are significantly associated with acute diarrhea, and NPEVs and rotavirus exhibit contrasting seasonal predominance. This study signifies the need for a new direction of research on enteroviruses involving systematic analysis of their contribution to diarrheal burden. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chaperone protein HYPK interacts with the first 17 amino acid region of Huntingtin and modulates mutant HTT-mediated aggregation and cytotoxicity

Huntington's disease is a polyglutamine expansion disorder, characterized by mutant HTT-mediated aggregate formation and cytotoxicity. Many reports suggests roles of N-terminal 17 amino acid domain of HTT (HTT-N17) towards subcellular localization, aggregate formation and subsequent pathogenicity induced by N-terminal HTT harboring polyQ stretch in pathogenic range. HYPK is a HTT-interacting chaperone which can reduce N-terminal mutant HTT-mediated aggregate formation and cytotoxicity in neuronal cell lines. However, how HYPK interacts with N-terminal fragment of HTT remained unknown. Here we report that specific interaction of HYPK with HTT-N17 is crucial for the chaperone activity of HYPK. Deletion of HTT-N17 leads to formation of tinier, SDS-soluble nuclear aggregates formed by N-terminal mutant HTT. The increased cytotoxicity imparted by these tiny aggregates might be contributed due to loss of interaction with HYPK. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

One-step synthesis of a cyclic 2,17-dioxo3,3](4,4 `)biphenylophane and first preparation of a microporous polymer network from a macrocyclic precursor by cyclotrimerization

One-step synthesis of a cyclic 2,17-dioxo3,3](4,4') biphenylophane (MC) was achieved in high yield; its structure was verified by single crystal X-ray analysis. As a first example, a microporous polymer network was formed from macrocycle MC via acid-catalysed cyclotrimerization yielding a BET surface area of ca. 570 m(2) g(-1).

Neonatal exposure to 17 beta-estradiol down-regulates the expression of synaptogenesis related genes in selected brain regions of adult female rats

Aims: Administration of estradiol or compounds with estrogenic activity to newborn female rats results in irreversible masculinization as well as defeminization in the brain and the animals exhibit altered reproductive behavior as adults. The cellular and molecular mechanism involved in inducing the irreversible changes is largely unknown. In the present study, we have monitored the changes in the expression of selected synaptogenesis related genes in the sexually dimorphic brain regions such as POA, hypothalamus and pituitary following 17 beta-estradiol administration to neonatal female rats. Main methods: Female Wistar rats which were administered 17 beta-estradiol on day 2 and 3 after birth were sacrificed 120 days later and the expression levels of genes implicated in synaptogenesis were monitored by semi-quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Since estradiol induced up-regulation of COX-2 in POA is a marker for estradiol induced masculinization as well as defeminization, in the present study only animals in which the increase in expression of COX-2 gene was observed in POA were included in the study. Key findings: Down-regulation of genes such as NMDA-2B, NETRIN-1, BDNF, MT-5 MMP and TNF-alpha was observed in the pre-optic area of neonatally E2 treated female rat brain but not in hypothalamus and pituitary compared to the vehicle- treated controls as assessed by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis. Significance: Our results suggest a possibility that down-regulation of genes associated with synaptogenesis in POA, may be resulting in disruption of the cyclical regulation of hormone secretion by pituitary the consequence of which could be infertility and altered reproductive behavior. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

蛋白质吸附和竞争吸附对ROS 17/2.8细胞粘附和生长的影响

细胞在材料表面的粘附是贴壁依赖型细胞生长的前提.本文以胶原和牛血清蛋白(BSA)为模型蛋白,研究了两者的吸附和竞争吸附对细胞粘附和生长的影响.

Prácticas productivas de sanidad animal comprendidas desde: 1 Oct - 17 Dic 1992

I. INTRODUCCION..............1; 1.1. Objetivos................ 3; 1.2. Deberes y Derechos........4; 1.3. Logros obtenidos...........5; II. CARACTERIZACION DEL CENTRO DE PRODUCCION...........6; III. GINECOLOGIA Y OBSTETRICIA......................16; IV. SANIDAD ANIMAL.......34; 4.1. Anatomía patológica (necropsia>.... 34; 4.2. Parasitología.....38; 4.3. Epizootiología....42; V. SITUACION TOXICOLOGICA DE LA ZONA.....46; VI. EVALUACION DE LAS PERDIDAS ECONOMICAS.....49; VII. CONCLUSIONES........54; VIII. RECOMENDACIONES.......55; IX. BIBLIOGRAFIA.........56; X. ANEXOS .............57

Evaluación del protectante nufilm-17 en la efectividad de los insecticidas botánicos y biológicos sobre la entomofauna en el cultivo del repollo (Brassica oleraceae L.) hibrido izalco en época de apante

Con el objetivo de evaluar el efecto del protectante Nufilm-17 sobre la efectividad de los productos Botánicos y Biológicos contra Plutella xylostella L. en el cultivo de repollo se llevó a cabo el presente trabajo en el Centro Experimental del valle de Sébaco "Raúl Gonzalez”, de Dic.91 - Marzo 92. El diseño utilizado fué de Bloques Completos al Azar (BCA), con 4 repeticiones y 7 tratamientos que fueron distribuidos al azar en el campo: las variables a medir fueron: número de larvas de P. xylostella números de arañas, números de polybias porcentaje de parasitismo de Diadegma insularis sobre larvas de P. xylostella números de cabezas/ha. precio/cabeza, daño foliar. Además se hizo análisis económico para conocer la rentabilidad del uso de las alternativas en el control de las principales plaga en el cultivo. Los recuento se hicieron cada 8 días hasta el final de la cosecha. El comportamiento de P. xylostella fue diferente en la distintas etapas del cultivo siendo la etapa de crecimiento vegetativo y formación de cabeza (0-30 y 30-60 DDT) donde se presentaron las mayores poblaciones. Siendo notorio el control que efectuo el tratamiento Nim + Nufilm-17 sobre P. xylostella que logró mantener las poblaciones bajas. El porcentaje de parasitismo observado en larvas de P. xylostella registró valores entre 5 y 30 %. El análisis económico, demostró que los tratamientos Nim + Nufilm-17 y B. thuringiesis presentaron mayor rentabilidad teniendo una tasa de retorno marginal superior a la tasa comparativa que es de 125 %.

169 GHz repetition rate passively harmonically mode-locked VECSEL emitting 265 fs pulses

High repetition rate passively mode-locked sources are of significant interest due to their potential for applications including optical clocking, optical sampling, communications and others. Due to their short excited state lifetimes mode-locked VECSELs are ideally suited to high repetition rate operation, however fundamentally mode-locked quantum well-based VECSELs have not achieved repetition rates above 10 GHz due to the limitations placed on the cavity geometry by the requirement that the saturable absorber saturates more quickly than the gain. This issue has been overcome by the use of quantum dot-based saturable absorbers with lower saturation fluences leading to repetition rates up to 50 GHz, but sub-picosecond pulses have not been achieved at these repetition rates. We present a passively harmonically mode-locked VECSEL emitting pulses of 265 fs duration at a repetition rate of 169 GHz with an output power of 20 mW. The laser is based around an antiresonant 6 quantum well gain sample and is mode-locked using a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror. Harmonic modelocking is achieved by using an intracavity sapphire etalon. The sapphire then acts as a coupled cavity, setting the repetition rate of the laser while still allowing a tight focus on the saturable absorber. RF spectra of the laser output show no peaks at harmonics of the fundamental repetition rate up to 26 GHz, indicating stable harmonic modelocking. Autocorrelations reveal groups of pulses circulating in the cavity as a result of an increased tendency towards Q-switched modelocking due to the low pulse energies.

Comentario a la sentencia de la Rota Romana del 27/10/2006, Coram R. P. D. Mauricio Monier, ponente prot. N. 17.557 – sent. 136/06

Introducción: La presente Sentencia contempla la nulidad de un matrimonio en que las partes tuvieron un noviazgo de más de cuatro años y una convivencia matrimonial de dos años y medio, en la que no hubo hijos. La separación de las partes definitiva tuvo lugar porque el convenido era incapaz de instalar una vida verdaderamente conyugal. Se me solicita un comentario a esta Sentencia, publicada en su texto original latino y en su traducción castellana, cuando ya existe un breve, pero medular y excelente comentario del Revdo. Mons. Dr. Alejandro W. Bunge, Juez de la Rota, publicado en el libro “Pius et Prudens”, con el título de “Una Sentencia integradora”1. Además, el indicado comentario, se encuentra en el contexto de un generoso elogio a la persona de quien suscribe por la preocupación acerca de la indebida omnipresencia de las causas psíquicas de nulidad matrimonial en los Tribunales eclesiásticos, cuando muchas veces es más ajustada a la verdad y se deberían tener en cuenta, las causas éticas, concretamente las exclusiones de algunos de los fines o de las propiedades esenciales del matrimonio que tiene lugar por parte de los cónyuges...

Sapientia, 1950, Vol. V, nº 17 (número completo)

Contenido: Descartes o la aventura del angelismo (1650-1950) / La Dirección – El método y la certidumbre en la ciencia política / Benito R. Raffo Magnasco – Thibon intérprete de Nietzsche / Héctor Delfor Mandrioni – La nueva orientación filosófica del Brasil / Evaldo Pauli – El problema moral / Carlo Giacon – Notas y comentarios -- Bibliografía