Analysis of the melon (Cucumis melo) small RNAome by high-throughput pyrosequencing

Abstract Background Melon (Cucumis melo L.) is a commercially important fruit crop that is cultivated worldwide. The melon research community has recently benefited from the determination of a complete draft genome sequence and the development of associated genomic tools, which have allowed us to focus on small RNAs (sRNAs). These are short, non-coding RNAs 21-24 nucleotides in length with diverse physiological roles. In plants, they regulate gene expression and heterochromatin assembly, and control protection against virus infection. Much remains to be learned about the role of sRNAs in melon. Results We constructed 10 sRNA libraries from two stages of developing ovaries, fruits and photosynthetic cotyledons infected with viruses, and carried out high-throughput pyrosequencing. We catalogued and analysed the melon sRNAs, resulting in the identification of 26 known miRNA families (many conserved with other species), the prediction of 84 melon-specific miRNA candidates, the identification of trans-acting siRNAs, and the identification of chloroplast, mitochondrion and transposon-derived sRNAs. In silico analysis revealed more than 400 potential targets for the conserved and novel miRNAs. Conclusion We have discovered and analysed a large number of conserved and melon-specific sRNAs, including miRNAs and their potential target genes. This provides insight into the composition and function of the melon small RNAome, and paves the way towards an understanding of sRNA-mediated processes that regulate melon fruit development and melon-virus interactions.This work was supported by grants AGL2009-07552/AGR, BIO2006-13107 (Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación, Spain) and MELONOMICS (Fundación Genoma España, Spain).Peer Reviewe

Consensus document for lipid profile testing and reporting in Spanish clinical laboratories: What parameters should a basic lipid profile include?

Las enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV) siguen siendo la principal causa de muerte en nuestro país. El control adecuado de las alteraciones del metabolismo lipídico es un reto clave en prevención cardiovascular que está lejos de alcanzarse en la práctica clínica real. Existe una gran heterogeneidad en los informes del metabolismo lipídico de los laboratorios clínicos españoles, lo que puede contribuir al mal control del mismo. Por ello, un grupo de trabajo de las principales sociedades científicas implicadas en la atención de los pacientes de riesgo vascular hemos elaborado este documento con una propuesta básica de consenso sobre la determinación del perfil lipídico básico en prevención cardiovascular, recomendaciones para su realización y unificación de criterios para incorporar los objetivos de control lipídico adecuados al riesgo vascular de los pacientes en los informes de laboratorio.Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) continue to be the main cause of death in our country. Adequate control of lipid metabolism disorders is a key challenge in cardiovascular prevention that is far from being achieved in real clinical practice. There is a great heterogeneity in the reports of lipid metabolism from Spanish clinical laboratories, which may contribute to its poor control. For this reason, a working group of the main scientific societies involved in the care of patients at vascular risk, has prepared this document with a consensus proposal on the determination of the basic lipid profile in cardiovascular prevention, recommendations for its realization and unification of criteria to incorporate the lipid control goals appropriate to the vascular risk of the patients in the laboratory reports10 página

Glycerylphytate compounds with tunable ion affinity and osteogenic properties

Phytic acid (PA) is a natural-occurring antioxidant, which plays an important role in many biological processes. PA is recognized as a potent inhibitor of lipid peroxidation because of its high affinity to multivalent cations, and it can play a role in osteogenic processes. However, its powerful chelating capacity is controversial because it can lead to a severe reduction of mineral availability in the organism. For this reason, compounds with beneficial biological properties of PA, but a modular ion binding capacity, are of high interest. In this work, we report the synthesis and physicochemical characterization of two hydroxylic derivatives of PA, named glycerylphytates (GPhy), through a condensation reaction of PA with glycerol (G). Both derivatives present antioxidant properties, measured by ferrozine/FeCl method and chelating activity with calcium ions depending on the content of glyceryl groups incorporated. Besides, the hydroxylic modification not only modulates the ion binding affinity of derivatives but also improves their cytocompatibility in human bone marrow mesenchymal cells (MSCs). Furthermore, GPhy derivatives display osteogenic properties, confirmed by COL1A and ALPL expression depending on composition. These positive features convert GPhy compounds into potent alternatives for those skeletal diseases treatments where PA is tentatively applied.The authors thank financial support to Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (Spain) (MAT2017- 2017-84277-R), Instituto Salud Carlos III (ISCIII)-Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), MINECOAES (PI18/00643 and PI15/01118). Ana Mora-Boza is supported by “La Caixa” foundation (Scholarship of, code LCF/BQ/ES16/11570018), Laura Saldaña is supported by a Miguel Servet contract from ISCIII-MINECO-AESFEDER- FSE. Nuria Vilaboa is supported by Program I2 from Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid. The authors are indebted to Rosana Ramirez (ICTP-CSIC) and Fatima Bensiamar (IdiPAZ and CIBER-BBN) for excellent technical assistance with cell culture experiments and gene expression analysis, respectively.Peer Reviewe

Deep cerebral venous thrombosis at puerperium

Caso clínico: dos semanas después de un parto inducido con oxitocina, una mujer primípara de 29 años comenzó con cefalea, fiebre y confusión. La TAC de cráneo mostró una hipodensidad bitalámica difusa y un signo 'delta vacío' a nivel de la vena de Galeno. El estudio angiográfico y una RM de cráneo demostraron la existencia de una trombosis venosa cerebral profunda (TVCP). Se detectó un anticoagulante lúpico y la enferma fue tratada con dicumarínicos, siguiendo una evolución favorable con recuperación completa en pocos días. Conclusiones: la TVCP aislada es muy infrecuente. La isquemia bitalámica extensa en el contexto de un estado protrombótico bien conocido, como el embarazo y el puerperio, debe hacer sospechar una trombosis de la vena de Galeno. La TVCP se considera una entidad grave, con alta mortalidad o graves secuelas. El curso clínico benigno de la TVCP es infrecuente y se ha relacionado con el desarrollo de circulación venosa colateral eficaz

Evaluation of glycerylphytate crosslinked semi- and interpenetrated polymer membranes of hyaluronic acid and chitosan for tissue engineering

n the present study, semi- and interpenetrated polymer network (IPN) systems based onhyaluronic acid (HA) and chitosan using ionic crosslinking of chitosan with a bioactive crosslinker,glycerylphytate (G1Phy), and UV irradiation of methacrylate were developed, characterized andevaluated as potential supports for tissue engineering. Semi- and IPN systems showed significantdifferences between them regarding composition, morphology, and mechanical properties afterphysicochemical characterization. Dual crosslinking process of IPN systems enhanced HA retentionand mechanical properties, providing also flatter and denser surfaces in comparison to semi-IPNmembranes. The biological performance was evaluated on primary human mesenchymal stemcells (hMSCs) and the systems revealed no cytotoxic effect. The excellent biocompatibility of thesystems was demonstrated by large spreading areas of hMSCs on hydrogel membrane surfaces.Cell proliferation increased over time for all the systems, being significantly enhanced in the semi-IPN,which suggested that these polymeric membranes could be proposed as an effective promoter systemof tissue repair. In this sense, the developed crosslinked biomimetic and biodegradable membranescan provide a stable and amenable environment for hMSCs support and growth with potentialapplications in the biomedical field

Consensus document for lipid profile testing and reporting in Spanish clinical laboratories: what parameters should a basic lipid profile include?

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) continue to be the main cause of death in our country. Adequate control of lipid metabolism disorders is a key challenge in cardiovascular prevention that is far from being achieved in real clinical practice. There is a great heterogeneity in the reports of lipid metabolism from Spanish clinical laboratories, which may contribute to its poor control. For this reason, a working group of the main scientific societies involved in the care of patients at vascular risk, has prepared this document with a consensus proposal on the determination of the basic lipid profile in cardiovascular prevention, recommendations for its realization and unification of criteria to incorporate the lipid control goals appropriate to the vascular risk of the patients in the laboratory reports

Interface entre as áreas de operações e meio ambiente: estudo de casos sobre os pontos de contato e seus potenciais conflitos

This research aims to identify how contact points between operations and environment areas have been happening in manufacturing companies, and also identify how any conflicts arising during that interaction have been mediated. The case study was composed by large manufacturing companies located in São Paulo state. The analysis was conducted using the cross case methodology, observing the companies’ organizational structure aspects of authority, activity and communication. The results show that the organizations studied explore all contacts points listed in the literature, with particular attention to manufacturing process modification activity, since there are formal procedures that require the approval of the environmental area. As for conflicts, none were highlighted by the companies studied, as these maintain collaborative or integrative relationships between operations and environment areas. Thus, it is concluded that the environmental maturity stage of the companies studied tends to be a potential factor in the absence of conflicts between areas, as well as the presence of all contact points raised