Efecto de la época de siembra sobre el crecimiento y el rendimiento de okra (Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench) en el valle de Lerma, Salta

El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la época de siembra más apropiada para lograr un alto rendimiento de okra (cultivar Blue Sky) para el valle de Lerma (Salta) evaluando su efecto sobre los componentes del rendimiento. Los tratamientos consistieron en cinco fechas de siembra (24/09, 6/10, 15/10, 25/10 y 3/11 de 2010) bajo un diseño en bloques completos al azar con seis repeticiones. Las semillas emergieron en promedio a los trece días (rango de 11 a 19 días). Los frutos inmaduros con una longitud de 5 a 7 cm, fueron cosechados desde el 29/11/10 hasta el 20/04/11. Se analizaron las variables altura de la planta (cada 15 días), peso y número total de frutos cosechados en todo el ciclo de producción y por fecha de cosecha. La altura de las plantas durante el ciclo de cultivo presentó cambios significativos por efecto de tratamientos, encontrándose una tendencia a que las plantas tengan mayor altura a medida que la época de siembra se retrasa. No se observaron cambios significativos para el número y peso fresco de frutos debido a la fecha de siembra.The purpose of this paper was to determine the more appropriate sowing date to achieve a high yield of okra (cultivar Blue Sky) in Lerma valley (Salta), evaluating its effect on the components of the yield. The treatments consisted in five sowing dates (24/09, 6/10, 15/10, 25/10 and 3/11 of 2010) under a randomized complete block design with six repetitions. The seeds emerged on average to the thirteen days (range from 11 to 19 days). The immature fruits with a longitude from 5 to 7 cm, were harvested from 29/ 11/10 to 20/04/11. The variable height of the plant, weight and total number of fruits harvested were analyzed in the whole production cycle and for crop date. The height of the plants during the cultivation cycle varied significantly with the treatments being a tendency of the plants to have bigger height in late growing season. Significant changes were not observed as regard of the number of the fruits and their fresh weight, due to the sowing date.Fil: Lozano, Leila Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Tálamo, Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico - Conicet - Salta. Instituto de Bio y Geociencias del Noa; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Artinián, Ana Laura. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Núñez, M. E.. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales; Argentin

Inclusión escolar de primera infancia con necesidades educativas especiales: imaginarios de los docentes

Este artículo exploró los imaginarios y referentesque poseen los docentes acerca de la atención educativaintegral de la primera infancia con necesidadeseducativas especiales en Florencia (Caquetá). Laaplicación de una encuesta estructurada recolectóinformación relacionada con primera infancia, necesidadeseducativas especiales y atención educativaintegral. Se evidencia poca apropiación de la norma yacompañamiento interinstitucional. A pesar de existirla legislación no se han garantizado las condicionespara su implementación

Parathyroid hormone-related protein (107-111) improves the bone regeneration potential of gelatin-glutaraldehyde biopolymer-coated hydroxyapatite

Biopolymer-coated nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (HA) made as macroporous foams which are degradable and flexible are promising candidates as orthopaedic implants. The C-terminal (107-111) epitope of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) exhibits osteogenic properties. The main aim of this study was to evaluate whether PTHrP (107-111) loading into gelatin-glutaraldehyde biopolymer-coated HA (HA(GIu)) scaffolds would produce an optimal biomaterial for tissue engineering applications. HA(GIu) scaffolds with and without PTHrP (107-111) were implanted into a cavitary defect performed in both distal tibial metaphysis of adult rats. Animals were sacrificed after 4 weeks for histological, microcomputerized tomography and gene expression analysis of the callus. At this time, bone healing occurred only in the presence of PTHrP (107-111)-containing HA(Giu) implant, related to an increase in bone volume/tissue volume and trabecular thickness, cortical thickness and gene expression of osteocalcin and vascular cell adhesion molecule I, but a decreased gene expression of Wnt inhibitors, SOST and dickkopf homolog 1. The autonomous osteogenic effect of the PTHrP (107-111)-loaded HA(Giu) scaffolds was confirmed in mouse and human osteoblastic cell cultures. Our findings demonstrate the advantage of loading PTHrP (107-111) into degradable HA(GIu) scaffolds for achieving an optimal biomaterial that is promising for low load bearing clinical applications. (C) 2014 Acta Materialia Inc. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Sistema de gestión de la seguridad y salud en el trabajo de la empresa MAN&TEC

MAN & TEC es una empresa dedicada a prestar Servicios técnicos industriales y de mantenimiento. Dentro del desarrollo de sus actividades se observó que, al momento de llevar a cabo sus responsabilidades, los empleados deben realizar trabajos en alturas. Como resultado de lo anterior, exponen su vida. Por esto y para minimizar el riesgo, el trabajador debe estar afiliado a una ARL y a una AFP y contar con el curso avanzado de alturas. Además, la empresa deberá entregar a los empleados los elementos de protección personal tales como cascos, arneses, líneas de posicionamiento, salva caídas troll o arrestador y conector doble con absorbedor de choque. Todos estos elementos son cruciales para el personal que trabaja en alturas ya que, si no se cumple con la documentación y los EPP, estos empleados no podrían realizar su trabajo. Todas las recomendaciones deben ser tenidas en cuenta ya que el principal objetivo es velar por la seguridad de cada empleado y evitar accidentes laborales. Para finalizar, la persona encargada del SG-SST deberá asegurarse que las personas que realizan trabajos en alturas tengan la afiliación al orden día, estén anclados de la forma correcta y que los implementos herramientas y materiales estén perfectas condiciones, teniendo en cuenta que es una actividad de alto riesgo y al mínimo detalle deficiente puede ocasionar la muerte del empleado.MAN & TEC is a company dedicated to providing industrial technical and maintenance services. Within the development of its activities, it was observed that, at the time of carrying out their responsibilities, employees must perform work at heights. As a result, they expose their lives. To minimize the risk, employees must be affiliated with an ARL and an AFP and have an advanced course on heights. In addition, the company must provide employees with personal protection elements such as helmets, harnesses, positioning lines, troll fall arresters and double connectors with shock absorbers. All these elements are crucial for the personnel working at heights because, if the documentation and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) are not complied with, these employees would not be able to perform their jobs. All recommendations must be taken into account since the main objective is to ensure the safety of each employee and to avoid work-related accidents. Finally, the person in charge of the OSHMS (Occupational Safety and Health Management Systems) must ensure that the people who work at heights have their affiliations up to date, that they are anchored correctly, and that the tools and materials are in perfect conditions, taking into account that this is a high-risk activity, and the slightest missed detail can result in the death of employees

Acute Colon Inflammation Triggers Primary Motor Cortex Glial Activation, Neuroinflammation, Neuronal Hyperexcitability, and Motor Coordination Deficits

Neuroinflammation underlies neurodegenerative diseases. Herein, we test whether acute colon inflammation activates microglia and astrocytes, induces neuroinflammation, disturbs neuron intrinsic electrical properties in the primary motor cortex, and alters motor behaviors. We used a rat model of acute colon inflammation induced by dextran sulfate sodium. Inflammatory mediators and microglial activation were assessed in the primary motor cortex by PCR and immunofluorescence assays. Electrophysiological properties of the motor cortex neurons were determined by whole-cell patch-clamp recordings. Motor behaviors were examined using open-field and rotarod tests. We show that the primary motor cortex of rats with acute colon inflammation exhibited microglial and astrocyte activation and increased mRNA abundance of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and both inducible and neuronal nitric oxide synthases. These changes were accompanied by a reduction in resting membrane potential and rheobase and increased input resistance and action potential frequency, indicating motor neuron hyperexcitability. In addition, locomotion and motor coordination were impaired. In conclusion, acute colon inflammation induces motor cortex microglial and astrocyte activation and inflammation, which led to neurons’ hyperexcitability and reduced motor coordination performance. The described disturbances resembled some of the early features found in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients and animal models, suggesting that colon inflammation might be a risk factor for developing this disease.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación 18.06.07.3005 PID2019-105632RB-I00, Grant RTI-2018.099908-B-C21Agencia Estatal de Investigación AEI/10.13039/50110001103

Multicentric Standardization of protocols for the diagnosis of human mitochondrial respiratory chain defects

The quantification of mitochondrial respiratory chain (MRC) enzymatic activities is essential for diagnosis of a wide range of mitochondrial diseases, ranging from inherited defects to secondary dysfunctions. MRC lesion is frequently linked to extended cell damage through the generation of proton leak or oxidative stress, threatening organ viability and patient health. However, the intrinsic challenge of a methodological setup and the high variability in measuring MRC enzymatic activities represents a major obstacle for comparative analysis amongst institutions. To improve experimental and statistical robustness, seven Spanish centers with extensive experience in mitochondrial research and diagnosis joined to standardize common protocols for spectrophotometric MRC enzymatic measurements using minimum amounts of sample. Herein, we present the detailed protocols, reference ranges, tips and troubleshooting methods for experimental and analytical setups in different sample preparations and tissues that will allow an international standardization of common protocols for the diagnosis of MRC defects. Methodological standardization is a crucial step to obtain comparable reference ranges and international standards for laboratory assays to set the path for further diagnosis and research in the field of mitochondrial diseases

Local delivery of parathyroid hormone-related protein-derived peptides coated onto a hydroxyapatite-based implant enhances bone regeneration in old and diabetic rats

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and aging are associated with bone fragility and increased fracture risk. Both (1-37) N- and (107-111) C-terminal parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) exhibit osteogenic properties. We here aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of either PTHrP (1-37) or PTHrP (107-111) loaded into gelatin-glutaraldehyde-coated hydroxyapatite (HA-Gel) foams to improve bone repair of a transcortical tibial defect in aging rats with or without DM, induced by streptozotocin injection at birth. Diabetic old rats showed bone structural deterioration compared to their age-matched controls. Histological and -computerized tomography studies showed incomplete bone repair at 4 weeks after implantation of unloaded Ha-Gel foams in the transcortical tibial defects, mainly in old rats with DM. However, enhanced defect healing, as shown by an increase of bone volume/tissue volume and trabecular and cortical thickness and decreased trabecular separation, occurred in the presence of either PTHrP peptide in the implants in old rats with or without DM. This was accompanied by newly formed bone tissue around the osteointegrated HA-Gel implant and increased gene expression of osteocalcin and vascular endothelial growth factor (bone formation and angiogenic markers, respectively), and decreased expression of Sost gene, a negative regulator of bone formation, in the healing bone area. Our findings suggest that local delivery of PTHrP (1-37) or PTHrP (107-111) from a degradable implant is an attractive strategy to improve bone regeneration in aged and diabetic subjects. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 104A: 2060-2070, 2016

microRNA-based signatures obtained from endometrial fluid identify implantative endometrium

STUDY QUESTION Is it possible to use free and extracellular vesicle-associated microRNAs (miRNAs) from human endometrial fluid (EF) samples as non-invasive biomarkers for implantative endometrium? SUMMARY ANSWER The free and extracellular vesicle-associated miRNAs can be used to detect implantative endometrium in a non-invasive manner. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY miRNAs and extracellular vesicles (EVs) from EF have been described as mediators of the embryo-endometrium crosstalk. Therefore, the analysis of miRNA from this fluid could become a non-invasive technique for recognizing implantative endometrium. This analysis could potentially help improve the implantation rates in ART. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION In this prospective study, we first optimized different protocols for EVs and miRNA analyses using the EF of a setup cohort (n = 72). Then, we examined differentially expressed miRNAs in the EF of women with successful embryo implantation (discovery cohort n = 15/validation cohort n = 30) in comparison with those for whom the implantation had failed (discovery cohort n = 15/validation cohort n = 30). Successful embryo implantation was considered when pregnancy was confirmed by vaginal ultrasound showing a gestational sac 4 weeks after embryo transfer (ET). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS The EF of the setup cohort was obtained before starting fertility treatment during the natural cycle, 16-21 days after the beginning of menstruation. For the discovery and validation cohorts, the EF was collected from women undergoing frozen ET on Day 5, and the samples were collected immediately before ET. In this study, we compared five different methods; two of them based on direct extraction of RNA and the other three with an EV enrichment step before the RNA extraction. Small RNA sequencing was performed to determine the most efficient method and find a predictive model differentiating between implantative and non-implantative endometrium. The models were confirmed using quantitative PCR in two sets of samples (discovery and validation cohorts) with different implantation outcomes. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE The protocols using EV enrichment detected more miRNAs than the methods based on direct RNA extraction. The two most efficient protocols (using polymer-based precipitation (PBP): PBP-M and PBP-N) were used to obtain two predictive models (based on three miRNAs) allowing us to distinguish between an implantative and non-implantative endometrium. The first Model 1 (PBP-M) (discovery: AUC = 0.93; P-value = 0.003; validation: AUC = 0.69; P-value = 0.019) used hsa-miR-200b-3p, hsa-miR-24-3p and hsa-miR-148b-3p. Model 2 (PBP-N) (discovery: AUC = 0.92; P-value = 0.0002; validation: AUC = 0.78; P-value = 0.0002) used hsa-miR-200b-3p, hsa-miR-24-3p and hsa-miR-99b-5p. Functional analysis of these miRNAs showed strong association with key implantation processes such as in utero embryonic development or transforming growth factor-beta signaling. LARGE SCALE DATA The FASTQ data are available in the GEO database (access number GSE178917). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION One important factor to consider is the inherent variability among the women involved in the trial and among the transferred embryos. The embryos were pre-selected based on morphology, but neither genetic nor molecular studies were conducted, which would have improved the accuracy of our tests. In addition, a limitation in miRNA library construction is the low amount of input RNA. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS We describe new non-invasive protocols to analyze miRNAs from small volumes of EF. These protocols could be implemented in clinical practice to assess the status of the endometrium before attempting ET. Such evaluation could help to avoid the loss of embryos transferred to a non-implantative endometrium. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) J.I.-P. was supported by a predoctoral grant from the Basque Government (PRE_2017_0204). This study was partially funded by the Grant for Fertility Innovation (GFI, 2011) from Merck (Darmstadt, Germany). It was also supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness MINECO within the National Plan RTI2018-094969-B-I00, the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (860303), the Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence Innovative Research Grant (SEV-2016-0644) and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI20/01131). The funding entities did not play any role in the study design, collection, analysis and interpretation of data, writing of the report or the decision to submit the article for publication. The authors declare no competing interests.J.I.-P. was supported by a predoctoral grant from the Basque Government (PRE_2017_0204). This study was partially funded by the Grant for Fertility Innovation (GFI, 2011) from Merck (Darmstadt, Germany). The project was also supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness MINECO within the national plan RTI2018-094969-B-I00, the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (860303), the Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence Innovative Research Grant (SEV-2016-0644) and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI20/01131). The funding entities did not have any role in study design, sample collection, analysis and interpretation of data, report writing or decision to submit the article for publication

Association of Functional Polymorphisms of KIR3DL1/DS1 With Behçet's Disease

Behçet's disease (BD) is an immune-mediated vasculitis related to imbalances between the innate and adaptive immune response. Infectious agents or environmental factors may trigger the disease in genetically predisposed individuals. HLA-B51 is the genetic factor stronger associated with the disease, although the bases of this association remain elusive. NK cells have also been implicated in the etiopathogenesis of BD. A family of NK receptors, Killer-cell Immunoglobulin-like Receptor (KIR), with a very complex organization, is very important in the education and control of the NK cells by the union to their ligands, most of them, HLA class I molecules. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of certain KIR functional polymorphisms to the susceptibility to BD. A total of 466 BD patients and 444 healthy individuals were genotyped in HLA class I (A, B, and C). The set of KIR genes and the functional variants of KIR3DL1/DS1 and KIR2DS4 were also determined. Frequency of KIR3DL1004 was lower in patients than in controls (0.15 vs. 0.20, P = 0.005, Pc = 0.015; OR = 0.70; 95% CI 0.54-0.90) in both B51 positive and negative individuals. KIR3DL1004, which encodes a misfolded protein, is included in a common telomeric haplotype with only one functional KIR gene, KIR3DL2. Both, KIR3DL1 and KIR3DL2 sense pathogen-associated molecular patterns but they have different capacities to eliminate them. The education of the NK cells depending on the HLA, the balance of KIR3DL1/KIR3DL2 licensed NK cells and the different capacities of these receptors to eliminate pathogens could be involved in the etiopathogenesis of BD

Optimización de infraestructuras, desarrollo de nuevas estrategias docentes, implantación de metodologías experimentales, diseño de una coordinación entre asignaturas, laboratorios, talleres y cursos, y mejora de los modos de evaluación

Memoria ID-0010. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2014-2015