Testimonios arqueológicos del Oriente Próximo reflejados en el Séfer-Masa'ot de Benjamín de Tudela (Siria-Palestina, Mesopotamia y Egipto)

Benjamín de Tudela (en hebreo Biniamín ben rabbí Yonah mi- Tudela) es, sin duda, un navarro universal. Judío de la aljama tudelana, se ignora la fecha de su nacimiento (acaso hacia 1130). Hijo de rabino y viajero infatigable, sólo sabemos de este personaje lo poco que de él se menciona en su famoso Libro de Viajes o Séfer-masa`ot, fruto de sus vivas experiencias -las más de las veces directas- exquisitamente plasmadas en su relación de viaje, redactadas en hebreo. Conocedor del romance navarro vernáculo de la época, sabía hebreo - su lengua de instrucción y cultivo literario- y árabe, entendiendo acaso el griego y el latín.

Gorilla genome structural variation reveals evolutionary parallelisms with chimpanzee

Structural variation has played an important role in the evolutionary restructuring of human and great ape genomes. Recent analyses have suggested that the genomes of chimpanzee and human have been particularly enriched for this form of genetic variation. Here, we set out to assess the extent of structural variation in the gorilla lineage by generating 10-fold genomic sequence coverage from a western lowland gorilla and integrating these data into a physical and cytogenetic framework of structural variation. We discovered and validated over 7665 structural changes within the gorilla lineage, including sequence resolution of inversions, deletions, duplications, and mobile element insertions. A comparison with human and other ape genomes shows that the gorilla genome has been subjected to the highest rate of segmental duplication. We show that both the gorilla and chimpanzee genomes have experienced independent yet convergent patterns of structural mutation that have not occurred in humans, including the formation of subtelomeric heterochromatic caps, the hyperexpansion of segmental duplications, and bursts of retroviral integrations. Our analysis suggests that the chimpanzee and gorilla genomes are structurally more derived than either orangutan or human genomes.

Tomografia computadorizada na avaliação da distribuição do tecido adiposo abdominal de ratos alimentados com rações hiperlipídicas após desnutrição neonatal

OBJETIVO: Descrever repercussões da ração suplementada com óleo de soja ou óleo de canola, por meio da tomografia computadorizada, na distribuição do tecido adiposo abdominal, após desmame de ratos desnutridos durante a lactação. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: Ratas lactantes submetidas a restrição alimentar (RA) em 50%, de acordo com o consumo das lactantes controles (C). Após o desmame, filhotes desnutridos receberam ração contendo 19% de óleo de soja (RA-soja 19%) ou óleo de canola (RA-canola 19%). Os filhotes do grupo controle receberam ração contendo 7% de óleo de soja (C-soja 7%). Aos 60 dias de idade, foram realizadas medidas corporais e das áreas de tecido adiposo abdominal por meio de tomografia computadorizada. Após sacrifício, tecido adiposo abdominal foi excisado e pesado. Os dados foram expressos como média ± erro-padrão da média, considerando o nível de significância de p < 0,05. RESULTADOS: Os grupos RA 19% desenvolveram similares comprimento, massa corporal e depósito de tecido adiposo visceral. Todas as avaliações realizadas foram significantemente menores em relação ao grupo C-soja 7%. Entretanto, na tomografia computadorizada, os grupos RA-soja 19% e RA-canola 19% apresentaram diferenças significativas da distribuição do tecido adiposo abdominal. CONCLUSÃO: A tomografia computadorizada mostrou que a distribuição de tecido adiposo, na cavidade abdominal, pode ser dependente do tipo de óleo vegetal na dieta.

El impresor Claudio Page durante la Guerra de Sucesión en Xàtiva y Alacant

Claudio Page tuvo un taller de imprenta en plena Guerra de Sucesión. Tras llegar a Xàtiva en 1702 e imprimir un impreso en 1702 y cinco en 1704, desapareció. El siguiente rastro con que contamos es su llegada a Alacant donde imprimió en 1713 y 1714 un total de cinco impresos. La actividad de este impresor local reflejó los intereses de los cabildos, eclesiástico y civil, que lograron la instalación de una imprenta (y también librería) que podía abastecer los amplios territorios controlados por el municipio. Era un impresor sobre el que apenas se conocían datos, y del que no se sabía cuál había sido su producción. En este trabajo se reconstruye su trayectoria y se analizan los impresos, lo que nos ha permitido detectar la continuidad del material tipográfico utilizado en Xàtiva y Alacant. Los impresos indican unos usos ligados a los intereses más directos de las comunidades locales: por una parte la comunicación de las actividades de la Corona, la gestión administrativa de los cabildos, tanto civil como eclesiástico, pero además contribuyó a promover las actividades de las órdenes y los particulares que contaron con un medio muy útil para promocionar sus causas judiciales.

Autoradiographic thyroid evaluation in short-term experimental diabetes mellitus

Previous studies have shown that in vitro thyroid peroxidase (TPO) iodide oxidation activity is decreased and thyroid T4-5'-deiodinase activity is increased 15 days after induction of experimental diabetes mellitus (DM). In the present study we used thyroid histoautoradiography, an indirect assay of in vivo TPO activity, to determine the possible parallelism between the in vitro and in vivo changes induced by experimental DM. DM was induced in male Wistar rats (about 250 g body weight) by a single ip streptozotocin injection (45 mg/kg), while control (C) animals received a single injection of the vehicle. Seven and 30 days after diabetes induction, each diabetic and control animal was given ip a tracer dose of 125I (2 µCi), 2.5 h before thyroid excision. The glands were counted, weighed, fixed in Bouin's solution, embedded in paraffin and cut. The sections were stained with HE and exposed to NTB-2 emulsion (Kodak). The autohistograms were developed and the quantitative distribution of silver grains was evaluated with a computerized image analyzer system. Thyroid radioiodine uptake was significantly decreased only after 30 days of DM (C: 0.38 ± 0.05 vs DM: 0.20 ± 0.04%/mg thyroid, P<0.05) while in vivo TPO activity was significantly decreased 7 and 30 days after DM induction (C: 5.3 and 4.5 grains/100 µm2 vs DM: 2.9 and 1.6 grains/100 µm2, respectively, P<0.05 ). These data suggest that insulin deficiency first reduces in vivo TPO activity during short-term experimental diabetes mellitus

Helicobacter pylori adhesion to gastric epithelial cells is mediated by glycan receptors

Helicobacter pylori adhesion to gastric epithelial cells constitutes a key step in the establishment of a successful infection of the gastric mucosa. The high representation of outer membrane proteins in the bacterial genome suggests the relevance of those proteins in the establishment of profitable interactions with the host gastric cells. Gastric epithelial cells are protected by a mucous layer gel, mainly consisting of the MUC5AC and MUC6 mucins. In addition to this protective role, mucins harbor glycan-rich domains that constitute preferential binding sites of many pathogens. In this article we review the main players in the process of H. pylori adhesion to gastric epithelial cells, which contribute decisively to the high prevalence and chronicity of H. pylori infection. The BabA adhesin recognizes both H-type 1 and Lewis b blood-group antigens expressed on normal gastric mucosa of secretor individuals, contributing to the initial steps of infection. Upon colonization, persistent infection induces an inflammatory response with concomitant expression of sialylated antigens. The SabA adhesin mediates H. pylori binding to inflamed gastric mucosa by recognizing sialyl-Lewis a and sialyl-Lewis x antigens. The expression of the BabA and SabA adhesins is tightly regulated, permitting the bacteria to rapidly adapt to the changes of glycosylation of the host gastric mucosa that occur during infection, as well as to escape from the inflammatory response. The growing knowledge of the interactions between the bacterial adhesins and the host receptors will contribute to the design of alternative strategies for eradication of the infection.

Vies de saints de janvier et février.

Adelardus (17). - Agatha (259 v°). - Agnes (187 v°). - Aldegundis (236). - Amandus (270 v°). - Andreas, ep. Fesuz. (32 v°). - Ansbertus (293). - Antonius abbas (147 v°). - Arcadius (89). - Austreberta (298). - Babylas (209). - Bathildis (227 v°). - Bazianus, ep. Laudensis (169). - Benedictus Anglus (90). - Berardus et alii discipuli s. Francisci (142 v°). - Bertulphus (260 v°). - Blasius (255). - Bonitus (128 v°). - Brigitta (249). - Canutus rex (40). - Clans Vienn. 13). - Constantius, ep. Perus.(234 v°). - Desiderius Vienn. (309 v°). - Dorothea (267). - Ephrem (245 v°). - Epiphanius Ticin. (192). - Eutimius (176 v°). - Felix Nolanus (113). - Fructuosus (190 v°). - Fulgentius Rusp. (1v°). - Furseus (141). - Gaudentius (200). - Gentilis Ravenn. (233). - Gertrudes ab Oesten (37). - Godefridus, comes Cappenb. (107 v°). - Gordius centurio (23 v°). - Guarinus, ep. Praenest. (274). - Gudula (62). - Guill. dux Aquit. (301). - Guill. archiep. Bitur. (81). - Helena (275). - Herminus (28). - Hilerius (91 v°). - Honoratus Lirin. (133 v°). - Ignatius (244). - Ildephonsus (207 v°). - Joh. elem. (202). - Julianus Saba (115 v°). - Juventius et Maximus (210 v°). - Laurentius Cantuar. (254 v°). - Laurentius Justinianus (66 v°). - Leobardus (162 v°). - Macarius (14). - Marcella (239). - Marcus (241). - Marguareta Hungar. (230 v°). - Martina (1). - Maurus (119 v°). - Odilo (9 v°). - Patroclus (189 v°). - Paula (223). - Petrus Aulonensis (23). - Polycarpus (220 v°). - Poppo Stabul. (214). - Praejectus (242). - Rambertus (256). - Remigius (95 v°). - Remundus a Penia Forti (46). - Richardus, rex Angl. (275 v°). - Romualdus (276). - Sebastianus (171). - Severinus Nauric. (52). - Severinus Agaun. (308 v°). - Severus Ravenn. (251 v°). - Sigebertus rex (252 v°). - Speusippus (145). - Sulpitius (159). - Vedastus (268). - Vincentius diac. (199). - Volstanus, ep. Wigorn. (165 v°).

L-Glutamate uptake, decarboxylation to -aminobutyric acid and GABA efflux in isolated Asparagus sprengeri mesophyll cells

Addition of L-glutamate caused alkalinization of the medium surrounding Asparagus spreng.ri mesophyll cells. This suggests a H+/L-glutmate symport uptake system for L-glutamate. However stoichiometries of H+/L-glutamate symport into Asparagus cells were much higher than those in other plant systems. Medium alkalinization may also result from a metabolic decarboxylation process. Since L-glutmate is decarboxylated to r-amino butyric acid (SABA) in this system, the origin of medium alkalinization was reconsidered. Suspensions of mechanically isolated and photosyntheically competent Asparagus sprengeri mesophyll cells were used to investigate the H+/L-glutamate symport system, SABA production, GABA transport, and the origin of L-glutamate dependent medium alkalinization. The major results obtained are summarized as follows: 1. L-Glutamate and GABA were the second or third most abundant amino acids in these cells. Cellular concentrations of L-glutamate were 1.09 mM and 1.31 mM in the light and dark, respectively. Those of SABA were 1.23 mM and 1.17 mM in the light and dark, respectively. 2. Asparagine was the most abundant amino acid in xylem sap and comprised 54 to 68 1. of the amino acid pool on a molar basis. GABA was the second most abundant amino acid and represented 10 to 11 1. of the amino acid pool. L-Slutamate was a minor component. 3. A 10 minute incubation with 1 mM L-glutamate increased the production of GABA in the medium by 2,743 7. and 2,241 7. in the light and dark, respectively. 4. L-Glutamate entered the cells prior to decarboxylation. 5. There was no evidence for a H+/GABA symport process • 6. GABA was produced by loss of carbon-1 of L-glutamate. 7. The specific activity of newly synthesized labeled GABA suggests that it is not equilibrated with a storage pool of GABA. 8. The mechanism of GABA efflux appears to be a passive process. 9. The evidence indicates that the origin of L-glutamate dependent medium alkalinization is a H+/L-glutamate symport not an extracellular decarboxylation. The possible role of GABA production in regulating cytoplasmic pH and L-glutamate levels during rapid electrogenic H+/L-glutamate symport is discussed.