Adubação Fosfatada para Alta Produtividade de Soja, Milho e Cereais de Inverno Cultivados em Rotação em Latossolos em Plantio Direto no Centro-Sul do Paraná

O Estado do Paraná não dispõe de um sistema de recomendação de adubação para rotação de culturas em plantio direto (PD). Em razão disso, utiliza indicações geradas para culturas individuais há mais de 30 anos e em preparo convencional. Este estudo teve como objetivo consolidar a calibração de P e avaliar a resposta das culturas à adubação fosfatada, visando à proposição de um sistema de indicações técnicas para a adubação fosfatada das culturas da soja, do milho, do trigo e da cevada cultivadas em sistema de rotação em Latossolos com longo histórico de PD (>30 anos) na região centro-sul do Paraná, que se caracteriza por possuir alto potencial produtivo. Três experimentos de calibração foram conduzidos de 2008 a 2013 e consistiram na criação de níveis de P pela aplicação de doses a lanço de até 640 kg ha-1 de P2O5. Quarenta e quatro experimentos de resposta a P foram conduzidos entre as safras de 2011 a 2012/13, tendo como foco avaliar a resposta das culturas a P em solos com distinta disponibilidade do nutriente. Os rendimentos relativos [RR = (rendimento sem P/rendimento máximo) × 100] das culturas e os teores de P no solo (Mehlich-1) foram relacionados, obtendo-se os teores críticos e as classes de disponibilidade de P no solo. Para a estimativa das doses nas classes de disponibilidade Baixa e Média, foram utilizadas as curvas de resposta à adubação de P, seguindo a filosofia de suficiência (adubação de cultura). Nas classes de disponibilidade Alta e Muito Alta, as doses foram com base na exportação pelos grãos. Os cereais de inverno se evidenciaram mais exigentes e determinaram o teor crítico de P de 8 mg dm-3 para a rotação de culturas, considerando a camada de 0-20 cm. As doses de P indicadas para soja, milho, trigo e cevada em solos em PD de longa duração são superiores às de adubação atualmente indicadas no PR, o que, ao menos em parte, justificam-se pelas altas produtividades das culturas e alta capacidade de retenção de P dos solos da região. Embora adotada a filosofia de suficiência/adubação de cultura para a indicação das doses de adubação fosfatada em solos abaixo do teor crítico, estima-se que as doses estipuladas para as culturas elevem o teor de P no solo ao teor crítico após um ciclo da rotação de culturas (três anos).

Smed454 dataset: unravelling the transcriptome of Schmidtea mediterranea

Background: Freshwater planarians are an attractive model for regeneration and stem cell research and have become a promising tool in the field of regenerative medicine. With the availability of a sequenced planarian genome, the recent application of modern genetic and high-throughput tools has resulted in revitalized interest in these animals, long known for their amazing regenerative capabilities, which enable them to regrow even a new head after decapitation. However, a detailed description of the planarian transcriptome is essential for future investigation into regenerative processes using planarians as a model system. Results: In order to complement and improve existing gene annotations, we used a 454 pyrosequencing approach to analyze the transcriptome of the planarian species Schmidtea mediterranea Altogether, 598,435 454-sequencing reads, with an average length of 327 bp, were assembled together with the ~10,000 sequences of the S. mediterranea UniGene set using different similarity cutoffs. The assembly was then mapped onto the current genome data. Remarkably, our Smed454 dataset contains more than 3 million novel transcribed nucleotides sequenced for the first time. A descriptive analysis of planarian splice sites was conducted on those Smed454 contigs that mapped univocally to the current genome assembly. Sequence analysis allowed us to identify genes encoding putative proteins with defined structural properties, such as transmembrane domains. Moreover, we annotated the Smed454 dataset using Gene Ontology, and identified putative homologues of several gene families that may play a key role during regeneration, such as neurotransmitter and hormone receptors, homeobox-containing genes, and genes related to eye function. Conclusions: We report the first planarian transcript dataset, Smed454, as an open resource tool that can be accessed via a web interface. Smed454 contains significant novel sequence information about most expressed genes of S. mediterranea. Analysis of the annotated data promises to contribute to identification of gene families poorly characterized at a functional level. The Smed454 transcriptome data will assist in the molecular characterization of S. mediterranea as a model organism, which will be useful to a broad scientific community.

Smed454 dataset: unravelling the transcriptome of Schmidtea mediterranea

Background Freshwater planarians are an attractive model for regeneration and stem cell research and have become a promising tool in the field of regenerative medicine. With the availability of a sequenced planarian genome, the recent application of modern genetic and high-throughput tools has resulted in revitalized interest in these animals, long known for their amazing regenerative capabilities, which enable them to regrow even a new head after decapitation. However, a detailed description of the planarian transcriptome is essential for future investigation into regenerative processes using planarians as a model system. Results In order to complement and improve existing gene annotations, we used a 454 pyrosequencing approach to analyze the transcriptome of the planarian species Schmidtea mediterranea Altogether, 598,435 454-sequencing reads, with an average length of 327 bp, were assembled together with the ~10,000 sequences of the S. mediterranea UniGene set using different similarity cutoffs. The assembly was then mapped onto the current genome data. Remarkably, our Smed454 dataset contains more than 3 million novel transcribed nucleotides sequenced for the first time. A descriptive analysis of planarian splice sites was conducted on those Smed454 contigs that mapped univocally to the current genome assembly. Sequence analysis allowed us to identify genes encoding putative proteins with defined structural properties, such as transmembrane domains. Moreover, we annotated the Smed454 dataset using Gene Ontology, and identified putative homologues of several gene families that may play a key role during regeneration, such as neurotransmitter and hormone receptors, homeobox-containing genes, and genes related to eye function. Conclusions We report the first planarian transcript dataset, Smed454, as an open resource tool that can be accessed via a web interface. Smed454 contains significant novel sequence information about most expressed genes of S. mediterranea. Analysis of the annotated data promises to contribute to identification of gene families poorly characterized at a functional level. The Smed454 transcriptome data will assist in the molecular characterization of S. mediterranea as a model organism, which will be useful to a broad scientific community.

Quantification of human adenoviruses in European recreational waters

The presence of human adenoviruses in recreational water might cause disease in the population upon exposure. Human adenoviruses detected by PCR could also serve as indicators of the virological water quality. In order to assess the applicability of human adenoviruses to the evaluation of the faecal contamination in European bathing waters, a real-time quantitative PCR assay was developed for the quantification of human adenoviruses in 132 samples collected from 24 different recreational marine and freshwater sites in nine European countries.Selected samples presenting positive nested-PCR results for human adenoviruses were analyzed using quantitative PCR and 80 samples from a total of 132 produced quantitative results with mean values of 3.2x102 10 per 100 ml of water, human adenovirus 41 being the most prevalent serotype. Human adenoviruses were quantified in samples from all 15 surveillance laboratories. Statistical analysis showed no homogeneous linear relation between humanadenoviruses and E. coli, intestinal enterococci or somatic coliphages concentrations in the tested samples when considering all the data together. Significant correlations between human adenoviruses and at least one of the other indicators were observed only when data from individual Laboratories were considered. The quantification of human adenoviruses may provide complementary information in relation to the use of bacterial standards in the control of water quality in bathing water.

Transtorno de déficit de atenção/hiperatividade e psicologia histórico-cultural

O Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade tem sido evocado como justificativa corrente para o fracasso escolar de um número expressivo de crianças, atribuindo-se a elas a responsabilidade por não aprender e isentando de análise a escola e a sociedade nas quais estão inseridas. A situação se torna mais alarmante uma vez que a literatura a respeito aponta dificuldades no diagnóstico e na intervenção sobre esse tipo de transtorno, devidas à falta de clareza sobre o que é esse quadro clínico e em razão da não existência de estudos consistentes acerca das consequências futuras do uso de estimulantes nas crianças. Para discutir essas questões, a primeira parte do artigo apresenta a concepção hegemônica desse tipo de transtorno e sua compreensão do psiquismo infantil. A segunda parte aborda a maneira como a psicologia histórico-cultural analisa o desenvolvimento da atenção e o controle voluntário do comportamento humano, redimensionando a compreensão sobre o transtorno. Finalmente, são feitas algumas reflexões acerca do processo ensino-aprendizagem em crianças com desenvolvimento parcial das funções psicológicas superiores e do papel da psicologia e da pedagogia na compreensão do fenômeno para que sirvam de subsídio a medidas práticas em relação ao problema.

Two randomized trials of canakinumab in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-1 is pivotal in the pathogenesis of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). We assessed the efficacy and safety of canakinumab, a selective, fully human, anti-interleukin-1β monoclonal antibody, in two trials. METHODS: In trial 1, we randomly assigned patients, 2 to 19 years of age, with systemic JIA and active systemic features (fever; ≥2 active joints; C-reactive protein, >30 mg per liter; and glucocorticoid dose, ≤1.0 mg per kilogram of body weight per day), in a double-blind fashion, to a single subcutaneous dose of canakinumab (4 mg per kilogram) or placebo. The primary outcome, termed adapted JIA ACR 30 response, was defined as improvement of 30% or more in at least three of the six core criteria for JIA, worsening of more than 30% in no more than one of the criteria, and resolution of fever. In trial 2, after 32 weeks of open-label treatment with canakinumab, patients who had a response and underwent glucocorticoid tapering were randomly assigned to continued treatment with canakinumab or to placebo. The primary outcome was time to flare of systemic JIA. RESULTS: At day 15 in trial 1, more patients in the canakinumab group had an adapted JIA ACR 30 response (36 of 43 [84%], vs. 4 of 41 [10%] in the placebo group; P<0.001). In trial 2, among the 100 patients (of 177 in the open-label phase) who underwent randomization in the withdrawal phase, the risk of flare was lower among patients who continued to receive canakinumab than among those who were switched to placebo (74% of patients in the canakinumab group had no flare, vs. 25% in the placebo group, according to Kaplan-Meier estimates; hazard ratio, 0.36; P=0.003). The average glucocorticoid dose was reduced from 0.34 to 0.05 mg per kilogram per day, and glucocorticoids were discontinued in 42 of 128 patients (33%). The macrophage activation syndrome occurred in 7 patients; infections were more frequent with canakinumab than with placebo. CONCLUSIONS: These two phase 3 studies show the efficacy of canakinumab in systemic JIA with active systemic features. (Funded by Novartis Pharma; ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT00889863 and NCT00886769.).

Gurt Esparraguera, J. M., Buxeda i Garrigòs M. i Cau Ontiveros, M. A (eds.), LRCW 1 Late Roman Coarte Wares, Cocking Wares and Amphorae in the Mediterranean, Archaeology and Archaeometry BAR 1340

No es exagerado afirmar que, en las últimas décadas, los estudios dedicados a la cultura material de la antigüedad tardía y, en particular, a sus producciones cerámicas, han experimentado un desarrollo acelerado. Este fenómeno se ha traducido en una auténtica explosión de títulos que, con diversa extensión y profundidad, abarcan todas las posibilidades de análisis: desde las monografías de excavación, en las que se describen los repertorios asociados a las formas de vida y trabajo de un asentamiento, hasta las síntesis regionales que abordan cuestiones relacionadas con los mecanismos económicos, culturales y políticos que impulsaron la creación de unos circuitos de intercambio de alcance mediterráneo.

Poblamiento y sociedad rural en el litoral del Garraf en época romana: una inscripción prodedente de la villa del Vinyet (Sitges, Barcelona)

Una excavación de urgencia realizada junto a la iglesia del Vinyet, en Sitges, ha permitido localizar un asentamiento rural, ocupado entre los siglos I y V d.C., con una organización espacial y una evolución muy compleja. Entre los elementos recuperados, destaca una inscripción funeraria del siglo I d.C. que permite conocer mejor a la sociedad de este período.

Arva: prospecciones en un centro productor de ánforas Dressel 20 (Alcolea del Río, Sevilla)

La campaña de excavación realizada en 1991 en las proximidades de sector termal de la ciudad romana de Arva (Alco1ea del Río, Sevilla) ha permitido localizar tres hornos dedicados a la producción de ánforas Dressel20. Uno de ellos se data en época flavio-trajanea; los dos restantes se sitúan en un momento post-severiano. El conjunto parece formar parte del sector artesanal de Arva, situado junto al Guadalquivir.

Arva: Prospección en un centro productor de ánforas Dressel 20 (Alcolea del Río, Sevilla)

La campaña de excavación realizada en 1991 en las proximidades de sector termal de la ciudad romana de Arva (Alco1ea del Río, Sevilla) ha permitido localizar tres hornos dedicados a la producción de ánforas Dressel20. Uno de ellos se data en época flavio-trajanea; los dos restantes se sitúan en un momento post-severiano. El conjunto parece formar parte del sector artesanal de Arva, situado junto al Guadalquivir.

Nuevos tituli picti vinarios del litoral noreste de la Hispania Citerior.

Los tituli picti constituyen uno de los componentes más importantes del aparato epigráfico de las ánforas romanas. Sin embargo, los problemas de conservación y de recuperación arqueológica, junto a las propias características de su redacción (concisa y abreviada y, por tanto, ambigua), hacen que la evidencia disponible sea muy limitada y de valoración dificil. Dos hallazgos de procedencia diversa, que identifican productos vinarios de origen distinto, permiten ampliar, aunque sea de modo limitado, el corpus de la epigrafia anfórica de la Cataluña romana.

PPARβ/δ activation blocks lipid-induced inflammatory pathways in mouse heart and human cardiac cells.

Owing to its high fat content, the classical Western diet has a range of adverse effects on the heart, including enhanced inflammation, hypertrophy, and contractile dysfunction. Proinflammatory factors secreted by cardiac cells, which are under the transcriptional control of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), may contribute to heart failure and dilated cardiomyopathy. The underlying mechanisms are complex, since they are linked to systemic metabolic abnormalities and changes in cardiomyocyte phenotype. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are transcription factors that regulate metabolism and are capable of limiting myocardial inflammation and hypertrophy via inhibition of NF-κB. Since PPARβ/δ is the most prevalent PPAR isoform in the heart, we analyzed the effects of the PPARβ/δ agonist GW501516 on inflammatory parameters. A high-fat diet induced the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and interleukin-6, and enhanced the activity of NF-κB in the heart of mice. GW501516 abrogated this enhanced proinflammatory profile. Similar results were obtained when human cardiac AC16 cells exposed to palmitate were coincubated with GW501516. PPARβ/δ activation by GW501516 enhanced the physical interaction between PPARβ/δ and p65, which suggests that this mechanism may also interfere NF-κB transactivation capacity in the heart. GW501516-induced PPARβ/δ activation can attenuate the inflammatory response induced in human cardiac AC16 cells exposed to the saturated fatty acid palmitate and in mice fed a high-fat diet. This is relevant, especially taking into account that PPARβ/δ has been postulated as a potential target in the treatment of obesity and the insulin resistance state.

Two randomized trials of canakinumab in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

BACKGROUND: Interleukin-1 is pivotal in the pathogenesis of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). We assessed the efficacy and safety of canakinumab, a selective, fully human, anti-interleukin-1β monoclonal antibody, in two trials. METHODS: In trial 1, we randomly assigned patients, 2 to 19 years of age, with systemic JIA and active systemic features (fever; ≥2 active joints; C-reactive protein, >30 mg per liter; and glucocorticoid dose, ≤1.0 mg per kilogram of body weight per day), in a double-blind fashion, to a single subcutaneous dose of canakinumab (4 mg per kilogram) or placebo. The primary outcome, termed adapted JIA ACR 30 response, was defined as improvement of 30% or more in at least three of the six core criteria for JIA, worsening of more than 30% in no more than one of the criteria, and resolution of fever. In trial 2, after 32 weeks of open-label treatment with canakinumab, patients who had a response and underwent glucocorticoid tapering were randomly assigned to continued treatment with canakinumab or to placebo. The primary outcome was time to flare of systemic JIA. RESULTS: At day 15 in trial 1, more patients in the canakinumab group had an adapted JIA ACR 30 response (36 of 43 [84%], vs. 4 of 41 [10%] in the placebo group; P<0.001). In trial 2, among the 100 patients (of 177 in the open-label phase) who underwent randomization in the withdrawal phase, the risk of flare was lower among patients who continued to receive canakinumab than among those who were switched to placebo (74% of patients in the canakinumab group had no flare, vs. 25% in the placebo group, according to Kaplan-Meier estimates; hazard ratio, 0.36; P=0.003). The average glucocorticoid dose was reduced from 0.34 to 0.05 mg per kilogram per day, and glucocorticoids were discontinued in 42 of 128 patients (33%). The macrophage activation syndrome occurred in 7 patients; infections were more frequent with canakinumab than with placebo. CONCLUSIONS: These two phase 3 studies show the efficacy of canakinumab in systemic JIA with active systemic features. (Funded by Novartis Pharma; ClinicalTrials.gov numbers, NCT00889863 and NCT00886769.).

Secretory IgA and intestinal epithelial cells at the interface between homeostasis regulation and protection against infection

RESUME DESTINE A UN LARGE PUBLICL'intestin est le siège d'intenses agressions de la part de l'ensemble des aliments ingérés, de bactéries agressives dites pathogènes mais également de bactéries dites commensales peuplant naturellement les surfaces intestinales muqueuses. Pour faire face, notre organisme arbore de nombreux niveaux de protections tant physiques, chimiques, mécaniques mais aussi immunitaires. La présence d'un type particulier de cellules, les cellules épithéliales (IEC) assurant une protection physique, ainsi que la production d'anticorps spécialisés par le système immunitaire appelés immunoglobulines sécrétoires A (SlgA) servent conjointement de première ligne de défense contre ces agressions externes. Néanmoins, comment le dialogue s'articule entre ces deux partenaires reste incomplet.Nous avons donc décidé de mimer ces interactions en modélisant les surfaces muqueuses par une monocouche de cellules différenciées en laboratoire. Des souches bactériennes isolées de l'intestin humain seules ou associées à des SlgA non-spécifiques ont été mises au contact de ce modèle cellulaire nous permettant de conclure quant à la présence effective d'une modulation du dialogue bactérie/lEC impliquant une activation de la réponse cellulaire vers un état de tolérance mutuelle. De façon surprenante, nous avons par ailleurs mis en évidence un type d'interaction nouveau entre ces anticorps et ces bactéries. Une étude biochimique nous a permis de détailler un nouveau rôle des SlgA médié par les sucres présents à leur surface dans le maintien d'une relation pacifique avec les commensaux perpétuellement présents, relations qualifiées d'homésostase intestinale.Le rôle protecteur des SlgA a par ailleurs été abordé pour avoir une meilleure appréhension de leur impact au niveau cellulaire lors d'infection par Shigella flexneri, bactérie causant la Shigellose, diarrhée sanglante responsable de la mort de plus d'un million de personnes chaque année. Basée sur le même modèle cellulaire, cette étude nous a permis de démontrer une nouvelle entrée de ce pathogène directement via les IEC. La présence d'anticorps spécifiques à la surface des bactéries restreint leur champs d'action contre les cibles intracellulaires identifiées que sont les filaments soutenant le squelette de la cellule, les fibres d'actine ainsi que les jonctions serrées, réseaux de protéines clés des interactions entre cellules. Cette ouverture au niveau cellulaire apporte un nouvel élan quant à la compréhension du rôle protecteur des SlgA lors d'attaques de l'intestin, protection semblant dépendante d'une agrégation des bactéries.Pour finir, nous avons mis en évidence la détection directe par les cellules de la présence d'anticorps libres dans l'intestin ajoutant une nouvelle réplique dans le dialogue complexe entre ces deux piliers de l'équilibre intestinal que sont les SlgA et les cellules épithéliales.RESUMELa muqueuse intestinale est dotée d'un réseau complexe de protections physico-chimiques, mécaniques ou immunologiques. Associées à un système immunitaire omniprésent, les cellules épithéliales intestinales {IEC) bordant la lumière intestinale ont la double tâche de protéger l'intérieur de l'organisme stérile contre l'invasion et la dissémination d'agents pathogènes, et de maintenir une relation pacifique avec la flore intestinale, rôles également joués par les immunoglobulines sécrétoires A (SlgA), anticorps les plus abondamment présents à la surface des muqueuses. Tant les IEC que les SlgA sont ainsi décrites comme convergeant vers le même objectif ; néanmoins, les rouages de leurs interactions restent largement inconnus.Pour répondre à cette question, des monocouches épithéliales reconstituées in vitro ont été incubées avec des souches commensales telles que des Lactobacillus ou des Bifodobacteria, seules ou complexées avec des SlgA non-spécifiques, nous permettant de décrypter l'influence des SlgA sur la détection des bactéries par les IEC, favorisant l'adhésion bactérienne et la cohésion cellulaire, augmentant l'activation de la voie NF-κΒ ainsi que la sécrétion de la cytokine thymic stromal lymphopoietin contrairement à celle de médiateurs pro-inflammatoires qui reste inchangée. Par ailleurs, une interaction Fab-indépendante est suggérée dans l'interaction SlgA/bactéries. Comme une interaction de faible affinité a été décrite comme prenant naturellement place au niveau de l'intestin, nous avons donc disséqué les mécanismes sous- jacents en utilisant un large spectre de bactérie associés à des protéines soit recombinantes soit isolées à partir de colostrum, mettant en évidence un rôle crucial des N-glycanes présents sur la pièce sécrétoire et soulignant une nouvelle propriété des SlgA dans l'homéostase intestinale.Intrinsèquement liés aux caractéristiques des SlgA, nous nous sommes également focalisés sur leur rôle protecteur lors d'infection par l'enteropathogène Shigella flexneri reproduites in vitro sur des monocouches polarisées. Nous avons tout d'abord démontré une nouvelle porte d'entrée pour ce pathogène directement via les IEC. L'agrégation des bactéries par les SlgA confère aux cellules une meilleure résistance à l'infection, retardant croissance bactérienne et entrée cellulaire, affectant par ailleurs leur capacité à cibler le cytosquelette et les jonctions serrées. La formation de tels cargos détectés de façon biaisée par les IEC apparaît comme une explication plausible au maintien de la cohésion cellulaire médiée par les SlgA.Enfin, le retrotransport des SlgA à travers les IEC a été abordé soulignant une participation active de ces cellules dans la détection de l'environnement extérieur, les impliquant possiblement dans l'activation d'un état muqueux stable.Conjointement, ces résultats indiquent que les SlgA représentent l'un des éléments-clés à la surface de la muqueuse et soulignent la complexité du dialogue établi avec l'épithélium en vue du maintien d'un fragile équilibre intestinal.ABSTRACTThe intestinal mucosa is endowed with a complex protective network melting physiochemical, mechanical and immunological features. Beyond the ubiquitous intestinal immune system, intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) lying the mucosal surfaces have also the dual task to protect the sterile core against invasion and dissemination of pathogens, and maintain a peaceful relationship with commensal microorganisms, aims also achieved by the presence of high amounts of secretory immunoglobulins A (SlgA), the most abundant immunoglobulin present at mucosal surfaces. Both IEC and SlgA are thus described to converge toward the same goal but how their interplay is orchestrated is largely unknown.To address this question, in vitro reconstituted IEC monolayers were first apically incubated with commensal bacteria such as Lactobacillus or Bifodobacteria strains either alone or in complexes with non-specific SlgA. Favoring the bacterial adhesion and cellular cohesion, SlgA impacts on the cellular sensing of bacteria, increasing NF-κΒ activation, and leading to cytokine releases restricted to the thymic stromal lymphopoietin and unaffected expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. Of main interest, bacterial recognition by SlgA suggested a Fab-independent interaction. As this low affinity, called natural coating occurs in the intestine, we further dissected the underlying mechanisms using a larger spectrum of commensal strains associated with recombinant as well as colostrum-derived proteins and pinpointed a crucial role of N-glycans of the secretory component, emphasizing an underestimated role of carbohydrates and another properties of SlgA in mediating intestinal homeostasis.As mucosal protection is also anchored in SlgA and IEC features, we focused on the cellular role of SlgA. Using IEC apical infection by the enteropathogen Shigella flexneri, we have first demonstrated a new gate of entry for this pathogen directly via IEC. Specific SlgA bacterial aggregation conferred to the cells a better resistance to infection, delaying bacterial growth and cellular entry, affecting their ability to damage both the cytoskeleton and the tight junctions. Formation of such big cargos differentially detected by IEC appears as a plausible explanation sustaining at the cellular level the antibody-mediated mucosal protection.Finally, SlgA retrotransport across IEC has been tackled stressing an active IEC sensing of the external environment possibly involved in the steady-state mucosal activation.All together, these results indicate that SlgA represents one of the pivotal elements at mucosal surfaces highlighting the complexity of the dialogue established with the epithelium sustaining the fragile intestinal balance.The Intestinal mucosa is endowed with a complex protective network melting physiochemical, mechanical and immunological features. Beyond the ubiquitous intestinal immune system, intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) lying the mucosal surfaces have also the dual task to protect the sterile core against invasion and dissemination of pathogens, and maintain a peaceful relationship with commensal microorganisms, aims also achieved by the presence of high amounts of secretory immunoglobulins A (SlgA), the most abundant immunoglobulin present at mucosal surfaces. Both IEC and SlgA are thus described to converge toward the same goal but how their interplay is orchestrated is largely unknown.To address this question, in vitro reconstituted IEC monolayers were first apically incubated with commensal bacteria such as Lactobacillus or Bifodobacteria strains either alone or in complexes with non-specific SlgA. Favoring the bacterial adhesion and cellular cohesion, SlgA impacts on the cellular sensing of bacteria, increasing NF-κΒ activation, and leading to cytokine releases restricted to the thymic stromal lymphopoietin and unaffected expression of pro-inflammatory mediators. Of main interest, bacterial recognition by SlgA suggested a Fab-independent interaction. As this low affinity, called natural coating occurs in the intestine, we further dissected the underlying mechanisms using a larger spectrum of commensal strains associated with recombinant as well as colostrum-derived proteins and pinpointed a crucial role of N-glycans of the secretory component, emphasizing an underestimated role of carbohydrates and another properties of SlgA in mediating intestinal homeostasis.As mucosal protection is also anchored in SlgA and IEC features, we focused on the cellular role of SlgA. Using IEC apical infection by the enteropathogen Shigella flexneri, we have first demonstrated a new gate of entry for this pathogen directly via IEC. Specific SlgA bacterial aggregation conferred to the cells a better resistance to infection, delaying bacterial growth and cellular entry, affecting their ability to damage both the cytoskeleton and the tight junctions. Formation of such big cargos differentially detected by IEC appears as a plausible explanation sustaining at the cellular level the antibody-mediated mucosal protection.Finally, SlgA retrotransport across IEC has been tackled stressing an active IEC sensing of the external environment possibly involved in the steady-state mucosal activation.All together, these results indicate that SlgA represents one of the pivotal elements at mucosal surfaces highlighting the complexity of the dialogue established with the epithelium sustaining the fragile intestinal balance.

Diseño de un protocolo para el cambio de prolongador en Diálisis Peritoneal

El cambio de prolongador del equipo de Diálisis Peritoneal es una intervención competencia de la enfermería que debe ser cumplimentada siguiendo un protocolo que minimice el riesgo de contaminación y por tanto de la aparición de peritonitis. No existen recomendaciones claras y unánimes sobre cómo desinfectar las conexiones, ya que esto va a depender fundamentalmente de si el conector del catéter es de titanio o no y de cómo debe cebarse el nuevo prolongador. Objetivo: Conocer como se realiza el cambio de prolongador en las diferentes unidades nefrológicas del Estado con el fin de consensuar el procedimiento más adecuado. Material y método: Estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en febrero de 2008 a partir de un cuestionario estructurado y autocumplimentado de diseño propio del que garantizó su validez y fiabilidad. En la encuesta se recogió la experiencia de la persona encuestada en el campo de la DP, el sistema utilizado, y el cumplimiento de los ítems que se consideraron fundamentales para una buena praxis en el procedimiento del cambio de prolongador, basados en la literatura consultada y el las recomendaciones de los proveedores de los productos para DP. Resultados: Se obtuvieron 53 encuestas de enfermeras que manifestaron tener experiencia en DP entre 3 meses y 32 años. El grado de cumplimiento de las acciones necesarias para cambiar el prolongador (lavado de manos, preparación campo estéril, lavado del conector) fue entre un 95 y un 100%, mientras que los ítems desinfección de la conexión y drenaje de líquido peritoneal tras el cambio obtuvieron grados de cumplimentación entre un 28 y un 83%. Conclusiones: Nuestro estudio presenta limitaciones, ya que se trataba de hacer una prospección inicial sobre el tema, se debe profundizar en él y consensuar un protocolo válido de cambio de prolongador para cualquiera de los sistemas que ofrece la industria y definir muy claramente el proceso de desinfección del conector y la conveniencia o no de realizar un recambio peritoneal completo tras el cambio.