In vitro-induced antibody production in chronic hepatitis C virus infection

The objectives of the present study were to assess the in vitro-induced anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody production (IVIAP) in relation to the clinical, biochemical, virologic and histologic variables of patients with HCV infection. The study included 57 patients (60% males) with HCV infection (anti-HCV and HCV-RNA positive). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was elevated in 89% of the patients. Mean viral load was 542,241 copies/ml and histology of the liver showed chronic hepatitis in 27/52 (52%) and cirrhosis in 11/52 (21%) patients. IVIAP levels were determined by immunoenzymatic assay at median absorbance of 0.781 at 450 nm. IVIAP was negative in 14% of the patients. When groups with IVIAP levels above and below the median were compared, high IVIAP levels were associated with the male sex, elevated ALT levels and more advanced disease stage. After logistic regression analysis, advanced histologic damage to the liver remained as the only independent variable associated with elevated IVIAP levels. Using a receiver operator characteristic curve, the best cut-off level for IVIAP was established (= 1.540), with 71% sensitivity and 94% specificity for the detection of more advanced disease stages (grades 3 and 4). These findings are consistent with the participation of immunological mechanisms in the genesis of the hepatic lesions induced by HCV and indicate that the IVIAP test may be useful as a noninvasive marker of liver damage either alone or in combination with other markers.

A novel missense mutation p.L76P in the GJB2 gene causing nonsyndromic recessive deafness in a Brazilian family

Mutations in the GJB2 gene, encoding connexin 26 (Cx26), are a major cause of nonsyndromic recessive hearing loss in many countries. We report here on a novel point mutation in GJB2, p.L76P (c.227C>T), in compound heterozygosity with a c.35delG mutation, in two Brazilian sibs, one presenting mild and the other profound nonsyndromic neurosensorial hearing impairment. Their father, who carried a wild-type allele and a p.L76P mutation, had normal hearing. The mutation leads to the substitution of leucine (L) by proline (P) at residue 76, an evolutionarily conserved position in Cx26 as well as in other connexins. This mutation is predicted to affect the first extracellular domain (EC1) or the second transmembrane domain (TM2). EC1 is important for connexon-connexon interaction and for the control of channel voltage gating. The segregation of the c.227C>T (p.L76P) mutation together with c.35delG in this family indicates a recessive mode of inheritance. The association between the p.L76P mutation and hearing impairment is further supported by its absence in a normal hearing control group of 100 individuals, 50 European-Brazilians and 50 African-Brazilians.

Búsqueda de selección en el polimorfismo 677C>T (c.665C>T) del gen de la metilentetrahidrofolato reductasa (MTHFR) en una población Colombiana

Se realizó un estudio genético – poblacional en dos grupos etarios de población colombiana con la finalidad de evaluar las diferencias genéticas relacionadas con el polimorfismo MTHFR 677C���T en busca de eventos genéticos que soporten la persistencia de este polimorfismo en la especie humana debido que este ha sido asociado con múltiples enfermedades. De esta manera se genotipificaron los individuos, se analizaron los genotipos, frecuencias alélicas y se realizaron diferentes pruebas genéticas-poblacionales. Contrario a lo observado en poblaciones Colombianas revisadas se identific�� la ausencia del Equilibrio Hardy-Weinberg en el grupo de los niños y estructuras poblacionales entre los adultos lo que sugiere diferentes historias demográficas y culturales entre estos dos grupos poblacionales al tiempo, lo que soporta la hip��tesis de un evento de selección sobre el polimorfismo en nuestra población. De igual manera nuestros datos fueron analizados junto con estudios previos a nivel nacional y mundial lo cual sustenta que el posible evento selectivo es debido a que el aporte de ácido fólico se ha incrementado durante las últimas dos décadas como consecuencia de las campañas de fortificación de las harinas y suplementación a las embarazadas con ácido fólico, por lo tanto aquí se propone un modelo de selección que se ajusta a los datos encontrados en este trabajo se establece una relación entre los patrones nutricionales de la especie humana a través de la historia que explica las diferencias en frecuencias de este polimorfismo a nivel espacial y temporal.  

Niveles de exposición a fungicidas ditiocarbamatos y su relación con las condiciones de trabajo en el sector floricultor en la Sabana de Bogotá D.C. (Cundinamarca) y Rionegro (Antioquia), Colombia, durante el año 2011

El interés del estudio de investigación se basó en recolectar datos de exposición ocupacional a plaguicidas ditiocarbamatos en el sector floricultor. Objetivo: Determinar los niveles de exposición a fungicidas ditiocarbamatos y su relación con las condiciones laborales de los trabajadores del sector floricultor en la Sabana de Bogotá D.C. (Cundinamarca) y Rionegro (Antioquia), Colombia, durante el año 2011. Materiales y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de corte transversal, en 358 trabajadores de un total de 3700 empleados de 27 empresas del sector floricultor, 12 ubicadas en la Sabana de Bogotá (Cundinamarca) y 3 en Rionegro (Antioquia). Se recoleto información sobre condiciones de trabajo y antecedentes de exposición de la población y se determinaron los niveles de exposición a fungicidas ditiocarbamatos en muestra en orina mediante método Montesano. Conclusiones: Este estudio describe la forma como se utilizan y los niveles de exposición a fungicidas ditiocarbamatos ETU, en el sector floricultor en Colombia. Se dan recomendaciones para mejorar los tiempos de re-ingreso al cultivo según la categoría toxicológica de los productos.

Factores de riesgo del comportamiento y readiness de aficionados inscritos a carreras atléticas de fondo de 18-64 años en Bogotá D.C., 2014”

La participación en carreras atléticas de calle ha aumentado; esto requiere detectar riesgos previos al esfuerzo físico. Objetivo. Identificar factores de riesgo del comportamiento y readiness de inscritos a una carrera. Método. Estudio transversal en aficionados de 18-64 años. Encuesta digital con módulos de IPAQ, PARQ+ y STEP. Muestreo aleatorio sistemático con n=510, para una inactividad física esperada de 35% (±5%). Se evaluó nivel de actividad física, consumo de alcohol (peligroso), de fruta, verdura, tabaco y sal, y readiness. Resultados. El cumplimiento de actividad física fue 97,4%; 2,4% consume nivel óptimo de fruta o verdura (diferencias por edad, sexo y estrato), 3,7% fuma y 44,1% consumo peligroso de alcohol. El 19,8% reportó PARQ+ positivo y 5,7% requiere supervisión. Hay diferencias por trabajo y estudio. Discusión. Los aficionados cumplen el nivel de actividad física; pero no de otros factores. Una estrategia de seguridad en el atletismo de calle es evaluar los factores de riesgo relacionados con el estilo de vida así como el readiness.

??C??mo hemos cambiado a partir de la comunidad de aprendizaje?

Expone el proceso de cambio que se ha producido en una escuela infantil de Lleida que se ha transformado en una Comunidad de Aprendizaje. Desde que se ha adoptado este modelo algunas cosas han mejorado y aumentado como la calidad de la participaci??n, la democratizaci??n de los espacios escolares, el conocimiento y reconocimiento del otro, y la educaci??n de los ni??os en general.

La ideolog??a de la escuela p??blica

Se exponen las se??as de identidad que deben caracterizar a un modelo de escuela p??blica que responda a las necesidades del siglo XXI. Se proponen nuevas estrategias que deben desarrollar el movimiento de padres y madres y los defensores de la escuela p??blica. Se precisa un debate interno de CEAPA que implique a los claustros de profesores y a cada una de las redes de centros y profesorado comprometidas con la escuela p??blica. Es necesario saber los motivos por los que cuesta tanto tiempo y trabajo conseguir que la escuela de titularidad p??blica sea m??s democr??tica, m??s laica, m??s integradora. Adem??s, las se??as de identidad de la escuela p??blica deben ser la consecuencia de la sinergia entre todas las organizaciones escolares. As??, las se??as de identidad del modelo que caracterizan a la escuela p??blica son independientes de la titularidad del centro. Se plantean cuestiones como: ??qu?? aspectos concretos trabajan la CEAPA y las APA para conseguir que la escuela de titularidad p??blica llegue a ser p??blica?, ??c??mo trabajan cada una de las se??as de identidad? o ??qu?? plan de trabajo existe desde CEAPA como coordinadora e impulsora de los objetivos del movimiento asociativo de padres y madres?.

Greater enrichment of triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins with apolipoproteins E and C-III after meals rich in saturated fatty acids than after meals rich in unsaturated fatty acids

Background: Although there is considerable interest in the postprandial events involved in the absorption of dietary fats and the subsequent metabolism of diet-derived triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins, little is known about the effects of meal fatty acids on the composition of these particles. Objective: We examined the effect of meal fatty acids on the lipid and apolipoprotein contents of triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins. Design: Ten normolipidemic men received in random order a mixed meal containing 50 L, of a mixture of palm oil and cocoa butter [rich in saturated fatty acids (SFAs)], safflower oil [n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)]. or olive oil [monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs)] on 3 occasions. Fasting and postprandial apolipoproteins B-48. B-100, E. C-II, and C-III and lipids (triacylglycerol and cholesterol) were measured in plasma fractions with Svedberg flotation rates (S-f) >400 S-f 60-400, and S-f 20 - 60. Results: Calculation of the composition of the triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins (expressed per mole of apolipoprotein B) showed notable differences in the lipid and apolipoprotein contents of the SFA-enriched particles in the S-f > 400 and S-f 60-400 fractions. After the SFA meal, triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins in these fractions showed significantly greater amounts of triacylglycerol and of apolipoproteins C-II (Sf 60-400 fraction only), C-III, and E than were found after the MUFA meal (P < 0.02) and more cholesterol, apolipoprotein C-III (Sf > 400 fraction only), and apolipoprotein E than after the PUFA meal (P < 0.02). Conclusions: Differences in the composition of S-f > 400 and S-f 60-400 triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins formed after saturated compared with unsaturated fatty acid-rich meals may explain differences in the metabolic handling of dietary fats.

Fulvalene titanium and zirconium complexes: synthesis and NMR study of phosphanido-, alkyl-, and alkynyl-derivatives. X-ray crystal structures of [{Ti(η5−C5H5)(μ−PPH2)}2{μ−(η5−C5H4−η5−C5H4)}] and [{Zr(η5−C5H5)(μ−C���CSiMe3)}2{μ−(η5−C5H4−η5−C5H4)}]

Reaction of with one or two equivalents of LiPPh2 afforded the new phosphanidometal(III) complexes . Reaction of 2 with LiC���CSiMe3 led to the diamagnetic zirconium(III) alkynyl derivative [{Zr(C5H5)(μ−C���CSiMe3)}2(μ−η5−C5H4−η5−C5H4], 7. Alkylation of 6 with LiCH2CMe2Ph gave [{Zr(η5−C5H5)(CH2CMe2Ph)2}2{μ−(η5−C5H4)}], 8. A detailed NMR study of complexes 3 and 4 allowed the observation of the spectral behaviour of the eight different fulvalene protons through their coupling to the 31P nucleus. The fluxional behaviour of complex 7 was studied by dynamic DNMR, and kinetic parameters for the σ-π-conversion of the alkynyl ligand were determined. The molecular structures of complexes 3 and 7 were determined by X-ray diffraction methods.

Cloning, expression, and characterization of human cytosolic aminopeptidase P: a single manganese(II)-dependent enzyme

The mammalian bradykinin-degrading enzyme aminopeptidase P (AP-P; E. C. 3.4.11.9) is a metal-dependent enzyme and is a member of the peptidase clan MG. AP-P exists as membrane-bound and cytosolic forms, which represent distinct gene products. A partially truncated clone encoding the cytosolic form was obtained from a human pancreatic cDNA library and the 5' region containing the initiating Met was obtained by 5' rapid accumulation of cDNA ends (RACE). The open reading frame encodes a protein of 623 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 69,886 Da. The full-length cDNA with a C-terminal hexahistidine tag was expressed in Escherichia coli and COS-1 cells and migrated on SDS-PAGE with a molecular mass of 71 kDa. The expressed cytosolic AP-P hydrolyzed the X-Pro bond of bradykinin and substance P but did not hydrolyze Gly-Pro-hydroxyPro. Hydrolysis of bradykinin was inhibited by 1,10-phenanthroline and by the specific inhibitor of the membrane-bound form of mammalian AP-P, apstatin. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy of AP-P expressed in E. coli revealed the presence of 1 mol of manganese/mol of protein and insignificant amounts of cobalt, iron, and zinc. The enzymatic activity of AP-P was promoted in the presence of Mn(II), and this activation was increased further by the addition of glutathione. The only other metal ion to cause slight activation of the enzyme was Co(II), with Ca(II), Cu(II), Mg(II), Ni(II), and Zn(II) all being inhibitory. Removal of the metal ion from the protein was achieved by treatment with 1,10-phenanthroline. The metal-free enzyme was reactivated by the addition of Mn(II) and, partially, by Fe(II). Neither Co(II) nor Zn(II) reactivated the metal-free enzyme. On the basis of these data we propose that human cytosolic AP-P is a single metal ion-dependent enzyme and that manganese is most likely the metal ion used in vivo.

Role for substance p-based nociceptive signaling in progenitor cell activation and angiogenesis during ischemia in mice and in human subjects

Our data highlight the role of SP in reparative neovascularization. Nociceptive signaling may represent a novel target of regenerative medicine.

Spaces of compact operators on C(2(m) circle plus [0, alpha]) spaces

We classify up to isomorphism the spaces of compact operators K(E, F), where E and F are Banach spaces of all continuous functions defined on the compact spaces 2(m) circle plus [0, alpha], the topological sum of Cantor cubes 2(m) and the intervals of ordinal numbers [0, alpha]. More precisely, we prove that if 2(m) and aleph(gamma) are not real-valued measurable cardinals and n >= aleph(0) is not sequential cardinal, then for every ordinals xi, eta, lambda and mu with xi >= omega(1), eta >= omega(1), lambda = mu < omega or lambda, mu is an element of [omega(gamma), omega(gamma+1)[, the following statements are equivalent: (a) K(C(2(m) circle plus [0, lambda]), C(2(n) circle plus [0, xi])) and K(C(2(m) circle plus [0, mu]), C(2(n) circle plus [0, eta]) are isomorphic. (b) Either C([0, xi]) is isomorphic to C([0, eta] or C([0, xi]) is isomorphic to C([0, alpha p]) and C([0, eta]) is isomorphic to C([0,alpha q]) for some regular cardinal alpha and finite ordinals p not equal q. Thus, it is relatively consistent with ZFC that this result furnishes a complete isomorphic classification of these spaces of compact operators. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Decay resistance of thermally-modified Eucalyptus grandis wood at 140 degrees C, 160 degrees C, 180 degrees C, 200 degrees C and 220 degrees C

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)