Entre el santo y el rey: los festejos realizados en Quito en el año de 1603 por la Canonización de San Raimundo de Peñafort

Esta tesis estudia las festividades que se celebraron en Quito por la canonización de San Raimundo de Peñafort en 1603. Su propósito fundamental es abordar el tema desde una propuesta de análisis a través de la cual sea posible analizar tanto los conflictos que se sucedieron en ellas. Así como los procesos de conformación de identidades individuales o colectivas que se generaron en estas fiestas. En la fiesta de San Raimundo, se pretendió construir una memoria colectiva para todos los quiteños a partir de la jerarquización social colonial que primaba en la época, donde la clasificación social a partir de elementos étnicos tenía mucha importancia; de la religiosidad militante del catolicismo de la Contrarreforma y de una mentalidad de la fiesta en la que el exceso y el derroche cobraban mayor importancia que el ahorro y la mesura. No obstante, esta memoria no era estable ni permanente porque en ella se hacía presente el conflicto social en toda su intensidad y complejidad. El conflicto social que se manifiesta con mayor claridad en la fiesta que se estudia es el que se existía entre el poder local y el poder central; es decir entre criollos y la Corona española. Sin embargo, esto no significa que entre las élites locales y los demás sectores de la sociedad colonial no se hubiera presentado conflictos; pero lastimosamente las fuentes disponibles solo permiten apreciar el conflicto antes mencionado, ya que ellas fueron escritas por personas totalmente vinculadas a los intereses de las élites locales o de los criollos.

Leyes racistas del siglo XVI: Edictos del Rey Carlos II para etnias marginadas en las Américas (Tema Central)

A continuación apuesto por la metodología de lectura histórica marxista propuesta por Frederic Jameson basada en una “reescritura fuerte” (Jameson 1989, 48). Del texto sobre las clases oprimidas (Mömer 1992, 28), y sus tres marcos concéntricos (Jameson 1989, 61-72): a) Historia política, b) Sociedad y tensión constitutiva entre la lucha de clases, c) Historia constitutiva de los modos de producción y el devenir de las formaciones sociales humanas. La Recopilación de las leyes de los reinos de las Indias (De Paredes 1973, 1), emitidas por el Rey Carlos II de España y su Corte, fueron compiladas por primera vez en 1681. Su importancia para la presente investigación radica en las disposiciones emitidas para las clases dominadas por la Corona Española mediante el discurso de “condición racial inferior” y exclusión social establecidas por el poder monárquico, durante la época de la esclavitud en los reinos americanos del siglo XVI, cuando se estipulan castigos para “vagabundos, gitanos, mulatos, negros, berberiscos (norteafricanos) e indios” (De Paredes 1973, 285- 295), quienes sobrevivían en la América de esas fechas. Estos documentos retratan las ideologías dominadoras, el castigo sobre el cuerpo, los intereses del orden imperial frente al auge económico y las formas de explotación y crueldad a las cuales fueron sometidos estos grupos étnicos.

Cannabidiol displays antiepileptiform and antiseizure properties in vitro and in vivo

Plant-derived cannabinoids (phytocannabinoids) are compounds with emerging therapeutic potential. Early studies suggested that cannabidiol (CBD) has anticonvulsant properties in animal models and reduced seizure frequency in limited human trials. Here, we examine the anti-epileptiform and anti-seizure potential of CBD using in vitro electrophysiology and an in vivo animal seizure model, respectively. CBD (0.01-100 muM) effects were assessed in vitro using the Mg(2+)-free and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) models of status epilepticus-like epileptiform activity in hippocampal brain slices via multi-electrode array (MEA) recordings. In the Mg(2+)-free model, CBD decreased epileptiform local field potential (LFP) burst amplitude (in CA1 and dentate gyrus (DG) regions) and burst duration (in all regions) and increased burst frequency (in all regions). In the 4-AP model, CBD decreased LFP burst amplitude (in CA1, only at 100 muM CBD), burst duration (in CA3 and DG), and burst frequency (in all regions). CBD (1, 10 and 100 mg/kg) effects were also examined in vivo using the pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) model of generalised seizures. CBD (100 mg/kg) exerted clear anticonvulsant effects with significant decreases in incidence of severe seizures and mortality in comparison to vehicle-treated animals. Finally, CBD acted with only low affinity at cannabinoid CB(1) receptors and displayed no agonist activity in [(35)S]GTPgammaS assays in cortical membranes. These findings suggest that CBD acts to inhibit epileptiform activity in vitro and seizure severity in vivo. Thus, we demonstrate the potential of CBD as a novel anti-epileptic drug (AED) in the unmet clinical need associated with generalised seizures.

Ex Vivo Construction of an Artificial Ocular Surface by Combination of Corneal Limbal Epithelial Cells and a Compressed Collagen Scaffold Containing Keratocytes

We have investigated the use of a laminin coated compressed collagen gel containing corneal fibroblasts (keratocytes) as a novel scaffold to support the growth of corneal limbal epithelial stem cells. The growth of limbal epithelial cells was compared between compressed collagen gel and a clinically proven conventional substrate, denuded amniotic membrane. Following compression of the collagen gel, encapsulated keratocytes remained viable and scanning electron microscopy showed that fibres within the compressed gel were dense, homogeneous and similar in structure to those within denuded amniotic membrane. Limbal epithelial cells were successfully expanded upon the compressed collagen resulting in stratified layers of cells containing desmosome and hemidesmosome structures. The resulting corneal constructs of both the groups shared a high degree of transparency, cell morphology and cell stratification. Similar protein expression profiles for cytokeratin 3 and cytokeratin 14 and no significant difference in cytokeratin 12 mRNA expression levels by real time PCR were also observed. This study provides the first line of evidence that a laminin coated compressed collagen gel containing keratocytes can adequately support limbal epithelial cell expansion, stratification and differentiation to a degree that is comparable to the leading conventional scaffold, denuded amniotic membrane.

CD40 Triggering of Heterodimeric IL-12 p70 Production by Dendritic Cells In Vivo Requires a Microbial Priming Signal

CD40 ligation triggers IL-12 production by dendritic cells (DC) in vitro. Here, we demonstrate that CD40 cross-linking alone is not sufficient to induce IL-12 production by DC in vivo. Indeed, resting DC make neither the IL-12 p35 nor IL-12 p40 subunits and express only low levels of CD40. Nevertheless, after DC activation by microbial stimuli that primarily upregulate IL-12 p40 and augment CD40 expression, CD40 ligation induces a significant increase in IL-12 p35 and IL-12 p70 heterodimer production. Similarly, IL-12 p70 is produced during T cell activation in the presence but not in the absence of microbial stimuli. Thus, production of bioactive IL-12 by DC can be amplified by T cell–derived signals but must be initiated by innate signals.

Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin suppresses in vitro epileptiform and in vivo seizure activity in adult rat

Purpose: We assessed the anticonvulsant potential of the phytocannabinoid Δ9-tetrahydrocannabivarin (Δ9-THCV) by investigating its effects in an in vitro piriform cortex (PC) brain slice model of epileptiform activity, on cannabinoid CB1 receptor radioligand-binding assays and in a generalized seizure model in rats. Methods: Δ9-THCV was applied before (10 μmΔ9-THCV) or during (10–50 μmΔ9-THCV) epileptiform activity induced by Mg2+-free extracellular media in adult rat PC slices and measured using multielectrode array (MEA) extracellular electrophysiologic techniques. The actions of Δ9-THCV on CB1 receptors were examined using [3H]SR141716A competition binding and [35S]GTPS assays in rat cortical membranes. Effects of Δ9-THCV (0.025–2.5 mg/kg) on pentylenetetrazole (PTZ)–induced seizures in adult rats were also assessed. Results: After induction of stable spontaneous epileptiform activity, acute Δ9-THCV application (≥20 μm) significantly reduced burst complex incidence and the amplitude and frequency of paroxysmal depolarizing shifts (PDSs). Furthermore, slices pretreated with 10 μmΔ9-THCV prior to induction of epileptiform activity exhibited significantly reduced burst complex incidence and PDS peak amplitude. In radioligand-binding experiments, Δ9-THCV acted as a CB1 receptor ligand, displacing 0.5 nm [3H]SR141716A with a Ki∼290 nm, but exerted no agonist stimulation of [35S]GTPS binding. In PTZ-induced seizures in vivo, 0.25 mg/kg Δ9-THCV significantly reduced seizure incidence. Discussion: These data demonstrate that Δ9-THCV exerts antiepileptiform and anticonvulsant properties, actions that are consistent with a CB1 receptor–mediated mechanism and suggest possible therapeutic application in the treatment of pathophysiologic hyperexcitability states.

Peptides generated ex vivo from serum proteins by tumor-specific exopeptidases are not useful biomarkers in ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND: The serum peptidome may be a valuable source of diagnostic cancer biomarkers. Previous mass spectrometry (MS) studies have suggested that groups of related peptides discriminatory for different cancer types are generated ex vivo from abundant serum proteins by tumor-specific exopeptidases. We tested 2 complementary serum profiling strategies to see if similar peptides could be found that discriminate ovarian cancer from benign cases and healthy controls. METHODS: We subjected identically collected and processed serum samples from healthy volunteers and patients to automated polypeptide extraction on octadecylsilane-coated magnetic beads and separately on ZipTips before MALDI-TOF MS profiling at 2 centers. The 2 platforms were compared and case control profiling data analyzed to find altered MS peak intensities. We tested models built from training datasets for both methods for their ability to classify a blinded test set. RESULTS: Both profiling platforms had CVs of approximately 15% and could be applied for high-throughput analysis of clinical samples. The 2 methods generated overlapping peptide profiles, with some differences in peak intensity in different mass regions. In cross-validation, models from training data gave diagnostic accuracies up to 87% for discriminating malignant ovarian cancer from healthy controls and up to 81% for discriminating malignant from benign samples. Diagnostic accuracies up to 71% (malignant vs healthy) and up to 65% (malignant vs benign) were obtained when the models were validated on the blinded test set. CONCLUSIONS: For ovarian cancer, altered MALDI-TOF MS peptide profiles alone cannot be used for accurate diagnoses.

Tanniniferous Dichrostachys cinerea fruits do not require detoxification for goat nutrition: in sacco and in vivo evaluations

This study investigated the potential of Dichrostachys cinerea fruits as a protein supplement in semi-arid areas of Zimbabwe. The tanniniferous fruits were treated with aqueous solutions of polyethylene glycol (PEG) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH). Both treatments increased the soluble fraction, rate of degradation and effective degradability (ED) of nitrogen (N) in sacco. The PEG effects were higher than the NaOH effects (e.g. a 25% vs. 6% increase in effective N degradabilities, respectively). Five treatments were evaluated in a N-balance trial using Matebele goats: ground, PEG- or NaOH-treated D. cinerea fruits, a commercial protein supplement (CPS) and no supplement. Animals offered ground fruits or CPS retained most N (3.7 or 4.1 g N/day, respectively), while those offered NaOH- or PEG-treated fruits retained significantly less N (2.7 or 1.0 g/day, respectively). Unsupplemented animals were in negative N balance (-2.4 g/day). PEG treatment deactivated the tannins more than the NaOH treatment. PEG treatment resulted in excessive protein degradation in the rumen leading to high urine N loss. It is concluded that the D. cinerea fruits were beneficial for goat N-nutrition and that the tannins did not require inactivation. D. cinerea fruits can, therefore, replace the expensive commercial protein supplement. It is also suggested that the collection and grinding of fruits could be used as a management tool to control bush encroachment. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

In vivo expression technology (IVET) selection of genes of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viciae A34 expressed in the rhizosphere

IVET was used to identify genes that are specifically expressed in the rhizosphere of the pea-nodulating bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum A34. A library of R. leguminosarum A34 cloned in the integration vector pIE1, with inserts upstream of a promoter-less purN:gfp:gusA, was conjugated into purN host RU2249 and recombined into the genome. After removal of colonies that expressed the reporter genes of the vector under laboratory conditions, the library was inoculated into a nonsterile pea rhizosphere. The key result is that 29 rhizosphere-induced loci were identified. Sequence analysis of these clones showed that a wide variety of R. leguminosarum A34 genes are expressed specifically in the rhizosphere including those encoding proteins involved in environmental sensing, control of gene expression, metabolic reactions and membrane transport. These genes are likely to be important for survival and colonization of the pea rhizosphere.