Differential expression of versican isoforms is a component of the human melanoma cell differentiation process

AbstractVersican is a large chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan produced by human melanoma cell lines and malignant melanocytic lesions. In the present work, we have analyzed the expression of versican spliced variants V0, V1, V2 and V3 in human melanoma cell lines at several differentiation degrees. The isoform expression pattern depends on the degree of cell differentiation. Differentiated cell lines do not produce any of the versican isoforms as analyzed by Western blot, Northern blot and RT-PCR. All cell lines with an early or intermediate degree of differentiation (AX3, SK-mel-37, Rider, SK-mel-1.36-1–5 and SK-mel-3.44) expressed V0 and V1 transcripts, whereas V2 and V3 expression was shown only by the undifferentiated cell lines SK-mel-1.36-1–5 and Rider. Furthermore, we have analyzed the expression of versican isoforms in SK-mel-3.44 and SK-mel-1.36-1–5 cells induced to differentiate by TPA treatment. The expression of the large V0, V1 and V2 isoforms practically disappears in differentiated cells, whereas V3 remains detectable by RT-PCR analysis

Naiads and fish, coupled destiny: the case of basins of north-eastern Catalonia

Póster presentado en: 2nd International Seminar Rearing of unionoid mussels (Clervaux, Luxembourg - Tuesday 24th November – Friday 27th November 2015)Native unionids are among the most threatened groups, as a whole, of the fauna of the Iberian continental waters. Most species are currently in regression, and in fact many of these are cataloged at some level of threat, whether international, national or regional level. Several factors explain this situation, including the destruction or alteration of river habitats and declining water quality, but also the degradation of fish communities. In north-eastern Catalonia four species of naiads are considered native: Potomida littoralis, Unio mancus, Unio ravoisieri and Anodonta anatina. The conservation status of these species in Catalonia is uneven, but generally we can consider all of them highly threatened, given the clear regression observed in their distribution. Much of the historical citations are probably missing at present, or have become residual populations with very low population densities and often on the verge of local extinction due to lack of recent recruitment. In north-eastern Catalonia P. littoralis is in the worst situation, with only four known small populations, with a few observed living animals in each site. On the other hand, recently has been detected an exotic naiad, Sinanodonta woodiana, which is currently expanding. We give a general revision of the known populations of naiads on the area, on the basis of their current structure, and in relation with the recent evolution of local fish communities. In general, it is confirmed that the few native unionid populations with current regular recruitment are placed on river stretches with not severely modified fish communities. These fish communities are characterized by a stable presence of at least one native fish species, and also in general by the absence of exotic fish species, or at most a not stable presence. In contrast, the exotic S. woodiana is now expanding in areas where original fish communities are nowadays strongly altered, often without native fish species.Peer reviewe

Circulating fatty acid synthase in pregnant women: relationship to blood pressure, maternal metabolism and newborn parameters.

The enzyme FASN (fatty acid synthase) is potentially related with hypertension and metabolic dysfunction. FASN is highly expressed in the human placenta. We aimed to investigate the relationship circulating FASN has with blood pressure, maternal metabolism and newborn parameters in healthy pregnant women. Circulating FASN was assessed in 115 asymptomatic pregnant women in the second trimester of gestation along with C-peptide, fasting glucose and insulin, post-load glucose lipids, HMW-adiponectin and blood pressure (the latter was assessed in each trimester of gestation). At birth, newborns and placentas were weighed. FASN expression was also able to be assessed in 80 placentas. Higher circulating FASN was associated with lower systolic blood pressure (SBP), with a more favourable metabolic phenotype (lower fasting glucose and insulin, post load glucose, HbAc1, HOMA-IR and C-peptide), and with lower placental and birth weight (all p < 0.05 to p < 0.001). Placental FASN expression related positively to circulating FASN (p < 0.005) and negatively to placental weight (p < 0.05). Our observations suggest a physiological role of placental FASN in human pregnancy. Future studies will clarify whether circulating FASN of placental origin does actually regulate placental and fetal growth, and (thereby) has a favourable influence on the pregnant mother's insulin sensitivity and blood pressure

Serum haptoglobin dynamics in pigs vaccinated or not vaccinated against porcine circovirus type 2

The present work describes the serum haptoglobin (Hp) dynamics in piglets vaccinated and non-vaccinated with a commercial porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccine at 3 weeks of age, and its relationship with the average daily weight gain (ADWG). The field study was carried out on two farms (A and B) with a previous clinical history of PCV2-systemic disease (PCV2-SD). The aim of the study was to assess whether Hp could be used as a surrogate marker of PCV2 vaccine efficacy. PCV2 infection was confirmed by quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) in pigs from both farms, but PCV2-SD was only diagnosed in farm A. No statistically significant relation was found between serum Hp concentration and the percentage of qPCR positive animals and the treatment applied (PCV2 vaccination) in both farms. On the other hand, using linear regression analysis, a significant negative correlation between the area under the curve of Hp (AUC) and ADWG was observed for farm A (p < 0.00001) and B (p = 0.01). Based on the obtained determination coefficient (R 2) values, AUC explained 20.0 and 11.6% of the observed ADWG for farms A and B, respectively. The present study supports that the measurement of acute phase proteins may be an indicator of ADWG in pig farms, but it was not apparently feasible to use the serum Hp concentration as a surrogate marker of PCV2 vaccine efficacy

Jacques Lacan et le sujet de la folie

Nous interrogeons le phénomène de la folie à la lumière de l’enseignement de Jacques Lacan. Elle a supposé une restitution de la dimension du sujet de la parole et du langage, ainsi que du sujet de la jouissance, dans un renversement éthique qui n’est repérable que dans l’expérience de la psychanalyse. Nous faisons un parcours des premiers textes de Lacan, lors de son passage de la psychiatrie à la psychanalyse, jusqu’aux conséquences repérables dans la dernière partie de son enseignement, où les termes du « sinthome » et de « lalangue » permettent de replacer le sujet de la folie dans la structure

Denaro

Il denaro è «fra i significanti il più annichilente ogni significazione». Questa è l’affermazione di Lacan nel suo testo Seminario su “La lettera rubata” a proposito dell’operazione fatta da Dupin, l’investigatore privato, che a un certo momento si ritira dal circuito simbolico del percorso della lettera rubata per fare la sua manovra, scoprire quello che si trovava alla vista di tutti, e poi riscuotere il suo onorario. Con la messa in gioco del denaro, Dupin si sottrae agli effetti di amore ..

Des de "la pàgina en blanc": la feminitat i la lletra

In this article the author takes the short story by Isak Dinesen ldquo;The Blank Pagerdquo; as an enacting of the feminine position in relation to sexual difference and the logics of Not-All developed by the psychoanalytical discourse of Jacques Lacan. This position is situated beyond the phallic logic in the unspeakable blank between the letters. The Freudian uncounscious is signified in an exemplary way in the blank page in front of which the subject stands still