Análisis de la tendencia a la bilateralización y la fragmentación de la normatividad internacional: caso injerencia de algunos estados en la redacción del proyecto de las Naciones Unidas relativo a la responsabilidad internacional de los estados por el hecho internacionalmente ilícito (2001).

El presente estudio de caso analiza la tendencia a la fragmentación del derecho internacional desde la ciencia política y el derecho internacional y su relación con la injerencia de los Estados en la redacción del Proyecto de Responsabilidad del Estado por el Hecho Internacionalmente Ilícito, el cual estudia como documento legal y posible modelo de análisis político internacional. El texto busca definir la tendencia a la fragmentación del derecho internacional, analiza la injerencia del Estado en el Proyecto a favor de las tesis bilateralistas en razón de su interés nacional, como manifestación de esa tendencia y ofrece evidencia de la participación e injerencia del Estado respecto al trabajo de la Comisión de Derecho Internacional.

Aplicación en Colombia de la responsabilidad internacional agravada del Estado por violaciones graves a Derechos Humanos

Al igual que ocurre en los regímenes de responsabilidad Estatal internacional y Regional -SIDH-, donde se hace una distinción entre los hechos ilícitos internacionales y las violaciones a normas Ius cogens, se plantea la posibilidad de aplicar en el régimen interno de responsabilidad estatal la denominada “responsabilidad internacional agravada”, en aquellos casos específicos de violaciones graves a derechos humanos, dada la necesidad de establecer la aludida distinción frente a la imputación del daño al Estado en ese tipo de casos.

HMGB1-derived peptide acts as adjuvant inducing immune responses to peptide and protein antigen

There is a need for new adjuvants that will induce immune responses to subunit vaccines. We show that a short peptide, named Hp91, whose sequence corresponds to an area within the endogenous molecule high mobility group box (HMGB1) protein 1 potentiates cellular immune responses to peptide antigen and cellular and humoral immune responses to protein antigen in vivo. Hp91 promoted the in vivo production of the immunomodulatory cytokines, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-12 (p70), as well as antigen-specific activation of CD8+ T cells. These results demonstrate the ability of a short immunostimulatory peptide to serve as an adjuvant for subunit vaccines. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Luteinizing hormone (LH) acts through PKA and PKC to modulate T-type calcium currents and intracellular calcium transients in mice Leydig cells

LH increases the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in mice Leydig cells, in a process triggered by calcium influx through T-type Ca(2+) channels. Here we show that LH modulates both T-type Ca(2+) currents and [Ca(2+)]; transients through the effects of PKA and PKC. LH increases the peak calcium current (at -20 mV) by 40%. A similar effect is seen with PMA. The effect of LH is completely blocked by the PKA inhibitors H89 and a synthetic inhibitory peptide (IP-20), but only partially by chelerythrine (PKC inhibitor). LH and the blockers induced only minor changes in the voltage dependence of activation, inactivation or deactivation of the currents. Staurosporine (blocker of PKA and PKC) impaired the [Ca(2+)](i) changes induced by LH. A similar effect was seen with H89. Although PMA slowly increased the [Ca(2+)](i) the subsequent addition of LH still triggered the typical transients in [Ca(2+)](i). Chelerythrine also does not avoid the Ca(2+) transients, showing that blockage of PKC is not sufficient to inhibit the LH induced [Ca(2+)](i) rise. In summary, these two kinases are not only directly involved in promoting testosterone synthesis but also act on the overall calcium dynamics in Leydig cells, mostly through the activation of PKA by LH. (c) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Damages for wrongful conception : moving away from policy considerations?

The House of Lords addressed the issue of damages in a wrongful conception case, in McFarlane and Another v Tayside Health Board - decision provides a strong indication that damages will be awarded for pain and suffering associated with childbirth but not for the costs of maintaining the child until adulthood - no case involving a claim of raising a child in a wrongful birth case has yet come before the High Court of Australia.