Literatura e Interculturalidad: José Saramago, Claudio Magris y Albert Camus

Tesis doctoral inédita cotutelada por la Universidad París Diderot - Paris 7 y por la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Departamento de Lingüística, Lenguas Modernas, Lógica y Fª de la Ciencia y Tª de la Literatura y Literatura Comparada. Fecha de lectura 08-02-201

Anti-peptide antibodies sensitive to the ‘active’ state of the β2-adrenergic receptor

AbstractAntibodies directed against a peptide corresponding to the second loop of the human β2-adrenergic receptor were induced in rabbits by immunisation with the free peptide in complete Freund's adjuvant. The resulting antibodies were affinity-purified and shown to be monospecific for the target receptor. They were able to stimulate the L-type Ca2+ channels in whole-cell patch-clamp experiments on isolated adult guineapig cardiomyocytes. This effect was similar to that obtained by the specific β2-adrenergic agonist zinterol. The antibody effects could be blocked with the specific β2-adrenergic inverse agonist ICI118,551 but not with the neutral antagonist alprenolol. These results suggest that the antibodies recognise the active conformer of the β2-adrenergic receptor

Stage‐dependent teratogenic and lethal effects exerted by ultraviolet B radiation on Rhinella (Bufo ) arenarum embryos

The adverse effects of ultraviolet B radiation from 547.2 to 30,096 J/m2 on morphogenesis, cell differentiation, and lethality of amphibian embryos at six developmental stages were evaluated from 24 up to 168 h postexposure. The ultraviolet B radiation lethal dose 10, 50, and 90 values were obtained for all developmental stages evaluated. The lethal dose 50 values, considered as the dose causing lethality in the 50% of the organisms exposed, in J/m2 at 168 h postexposure, ranged from 2,307 to 18,930; gill circulation and blastula were the most susceptible and resistant stages, respectively. Ultraviolet B radiation caused malformations in all developmental stages but was significantly more teratogenic at the gill circulation and complete operculum stages. Moreover, at the gill circulation stage, even the lowest dose (547.2 J/m2) resulted in malformations to 100% of embryos. The most common malformations were persistent yolk plug, bifid spine, reduced body size, delayed development, asymmetry, microcephaly and anencephaly, tail and body flexures toward the irradiated side, agenesia or partial gill development, abnormal pigment distribution, and hypermotility. The stage-dependent susceptibility to ultraviolet B radiation during amphibian embryogenesis could be explained in the framework of evoecotoxicology, considering ontogenic features as biomarkers of environmental signatures of living forms ancestors during the evolutionary process. The stage-dependent susceptibility to ultraviolet B radiation on Rhinella (Bufo) arenarum embryos for both lethal and teratogenic effects could contribute to a better understanding of the role of the increased ultraviolet B radiation on worldwide amphibian populations decline.Fil: Castañaga, Luis Alfredo. Fundación Pro Salud y Medio Ambiente. Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Salud; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Asorey, Cynthia M.. Fundación Pro Salud y Medio Ambiente. Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Salud; ArgentinaFil: Sandoval, María Teresa. Fundación Pro Salud y Medio Ambiente. Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Salud; ArgentinaFil: Perez Coll, Cristina Silvia. Fundación Pro Salud y Medio Ambiente. Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Salud; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Argibay, Teresa I.. Fundación Pro Salud y Medio Ambiente. Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Salud; ArgentinaFil: Herkovits, Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación Pro Salud y Medio Ambiente. Instituto de Ciencias Ambientales y Salud; Argentin

Standardized incidence ratios and risk factors for cancer in patients with systemic sclerosis: Data from the Spanish Scleroderma Registry (RESCLE)

Aim: Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) are at increased risk of cancer, a growing cause of non-SSc-related death among these patients. We analyzed the increased cancer risk among Spanish patients with SSc using standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and identified independent cancer risk factors in this population. Material and methods: Spanish Scleroderma Registry data were analyzed to determine the demographic characteristics of patients with SSc, and logistic regression was used to identify cancer risk factors. SIRs with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) relative to the general Spanish population were calculated. Results: Of 1930 patients with SSc, 206 had cancer, most commonly breast, lung, hematological, and colorectal cancers. Patients with SSc had increased risks of overall cancer (SIR 1.48, 95% CI 1.36-1.60; P < 0.001), and of lung (SIR 2.22, 95% CI 1.77-2.73; P < 0.001), breast (SIR 1.31, 95% CI 1.10-1.54; P = 0.003), and hematological (SIR 2.03, 95% CI 1.52-2.62; P < 0.001) cancers. Cancer was associated with older age at SSc onset (odds ratio [OR] 1.22, 95% CI 1.01-1.03; P < 0.001), the presence of primary biliary cholangitis (OR 2.35, 95% CI 1.18-4.68; P = 0.015) and forced vital capacity <70% (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.24-2.70; P = 0.002). The presence of anticentromere antibodies lowered the risk of cancer (OR 0.66, 95% CI 0.45-0.97; P = 0.036). Conclusions: Spanish patients with SSc had an increased cancer risk compared with the general population. Some characteristics, including specific autoantibodies, may be related to this increased risk

Immuno-modulation des récepteurs couplés aux protéines g dans la régulation du canal calcique des cellules cardiaques

TOURS-BU Sciences Pharmacie (372612104) / SudocSudocFranceF

Exploration de perturbations spécifiques du systèpme cardiovasculaire par l'étude de la variabilité du rythme sinusal

La mesure de la variabilité du rythme sinusal (VRS) permet d'explorer les influences cardiaques su système nerveux autonome mais certains mécanismes modifiant la VRS en physiopathologie restent mal compris. Après mise au point d'une méthode fiable de mesure de la VRS avec analyse spectrale chez le rat conscient, nous avons étudié la VRS dans un modèle d'hypertension artérielle pulmonaire (HTAP) avec hypertrophie ventriculaire droite (HVD) induite par une hypoxie chronique hypobarique intense. L'HTAP et l'HVD étaient associées à une baisse de la VRS alors que la fréquence cardiaque était inchangée. Néanmoins, la conservation de modifications de la VRS par blocage pharmacologique du système nerveux auronome laisse penser que les anomalies de la VRS restaient modérées. Nous avons ensuite évalué les effets aigus du verapamil sur la VRS. L'injection de Verapamil était associée à une tachycardie et à un effondrement de la VRS similaires chez les rats normaux et les rats avec HTAP. Ceci suggérait une activation sympathique qui pourrait être la conséquence de la vasodilatation artérielle systémique. Nous avons émis l'hypothèse que l'hypoxie chronique modérée, pouvait avoir un effet bénéfique en cas d'hypoxie aigue. Nous avons retrouvé que l'effondrement de la VRS provoque par l'hypoxie aigue était moins marqué chez des rats préalablement exposés à une hypoxie hypobarique modérée prolongée. L'exposition à une hypoxie modérée prolongée pourrait ainsi diminuer une part de l'activation sympathique provoquée par une hypoxie aigue. Nous avons évalué les effets sur la VRS de l'immunisation contre un peptide synthétique susceptible de produire des anticorps dirigés contre le récepteur cardiaque muscarinique M2. Les mesures de la fréquence cardiaque et de la VRS sur 15 semaines n'ont pas montré de différence significative entre les rats immunisés et les témoins. Ces résultats laissent envisager une meilleure compréhension des modifications de la VRS dans les cardiomyopathies.TOURS-BU Sciences Pharmacie (372612104) / SudocSudocFranceF

A dual effect of cardiac glycosides on Ca current in single cells of frog heart

International audienceThe effects of cardiac glycosides (1 µM ouabain, 50 µM dihydroouabain, 1 #H strophanthidin) on Ca current (ICa) were investigated on Cs-loaded single frog ventrlcular cells using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Cardiac glycosides exert both inhibitory and stimulatory effects on ICa in 20 Cs Ringer solution, but have only a stimulatory effect in 0 Cs, when the Na,K pump is blocked. The inhibitory response seems related to the inhibition of the Na,K pump by glycosides. The stimulatory effect on ICa may contribute to the positive inotropic effect of cardiac glycosides

Antibodies from Trypanosoma cruzi infected mice recognize the second extracellular loop of the β1-adrenergic and M2-muscarinic receptors and regulate calcium channels in isolated cardiomyocytes

Sera from T. cruzi infected mice were tested in an enzyme immunoassay on peptides corresponding to the second extracellular loops of the β1-, the β2-adrenergic receptor and the M2 muscarinic receptor. All sera of mice (4/4) in the acute phase recognized the β1-adrenergic receptor and the M2 muscarinic receptor peptides but not the β2-adrenergic receptor peptide. The same peptides were recognized during the chronic phase in half of the mice (6/12). The immunoglobulin fractions of the mice were tested for their activity on L-type Ca++ channels of isolated guinea-pig cardiomyocytes using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. The immunoglobulin fractions of acute phase mice were able to activate the Ca++ channels by stimulation of the β-adrenergic receptors, as assessed by inhibition with propranolol. Those of the chronic phase mice reduced the Ca++ current by stimulation of the muscarinic receptors, as assessed by inhibition with atropine. These results confirm the existence of functional epitopes on the second extracellular loops of both receptors. They suggest that, as in humans, the parasite is able to elicit functional autoantibodies against these epitopes. They give evidence that these autoantibodies mediate their physiological effects by modulating the cAMP activated Ca++ channels.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe