Las diosas saben crear: Alejandra Pizarnik y Sylvia Plath

Aquest article analitza dos poemaris, Árbol de Diana (1963) d'Alejandra Pizarnik i Ariel (1965), de Sylvia Plath en directa relació amb les idees plantejades per Robert Graves en The White Goddess: A Historical Grammar of Poetical Myth (1948). La lectura aquí plantejada neix, d'una banda, de la necessitat crítica de crear un espai de diàleg que reveli una estructura mítica comuna a totes dues poetes radicada fora de l’àmbit biogràfic. Per una altra, d'observar com sobre la base d'aquesta mateixa estructura mítica la seva poesia ressignifica el rol de la dona creadora com a idea, símbol, metàfora, ideal, i finalment, com a dona de carn i os amb veu pròpia.This article analyzes two poetry collections, Árbol de Diana (1963) by Alejandra Pizarnik and Ariel (1965) by Sylvia Plath, in direct relation to the ideas put forward by Robert Graves in The White Goddess: A Historical Grammar of Poetical Myth (1948). The reading offered here is born out of the critical necessity, on the one hand, to create a space of dialogue that may reveal a common mythical structure shared by both poets and that lies outside the merely biographical. On the other, from observing how this same mythical structure in their poetry resignifies the role of the female creator as idea, symbol, metaphor, ideal and, ultimately, as a woman of flesh and bone with a voice of her own.Este artículo analiza dos poemarios, Árbol de Diana (1963) de Alejandra Pizarnik y Ariel (1965) de Sylvia Plath, en directa relación con las ideas planteadas por Robert Graves en The White Goddess: A Historical Grammar of Poetical Myth (1948). La lectura aquí planteada nace, por un lado, de la necesidad crítica de crear un espacio de diálogo que revele una estructura mítica común a ambas poetas radicada fuera de lo biográfico. Por otro, de observar cómo en base a esta misma estructura mítica su poesía resignifica el rol de la mujer creadora como idea, símbolo, metáfora, ideal, y finalmente, como mujer de carne y hueso con voz propia

Gendering the marvellous: Strategies of response in Remedios Varo, Elena Garro and Carmen Boullosa

My doctoral research constitutes three case studies dealing with the work of the painter Remedios Varo and the writers Elena Garro and Carmen Boullosa. Their works incorporate a mixed imagery and iconography to which criticism has attached the label of surrealist, fantastic or magical realist respectively and sometimes even indiscriminately. Uncertain about the usefulness of defining this artist and these writers as ‘surrealist’ or ‘marvelous realist’, I would rather suggest that their work enters into dialogue with surrealism, as well with the specific American vocabulary Carpentier attributed to lo real maravilloso americano. The fundamental objective of this thesis is to prove how this dialogue creates a counter aesthetic of ‘revisionist mythmaking’ that foregrounds the existing gender problematic within these two discourses, while strategically reassessing the role woman has played in relationship to love, myth, history and creativity. It is my belief that a different account of surrealism and lo real maravilloso lies within the work of these women and that to start writing the story of such account will reveal important connections between Varo’s assimilation of Latin American narratives and Garro’s and Boullosa’s absorption of surrealism. On the one hand, this study provides a new insight from which to comprehend the transcendence of surrealism in the ambit of Mexican culture, amplifying the already existing critical work on the field. On the other, it provides a new lens through which to understand and read the specific work of Remedios Varo, Elena Garro and Carmen Boullosa while discerning a common strategy of response between them

Propuesta pastoral para acompañar el duelo a partir de Lc 24, 13-35

Este trabajo de grado pretende ofrecer una propuesta pastoral para acompañar a las personas que han tenido la pérdida de algún ser querido. La base de la reflexión teológica es la interpretación de Le 24, 13-35. Cuando las pérdidas son inesperadas, casos mejor conocidos como muertes súbitas, conllevan muchas veces un proceso de duele complicado. Esto fue lo que vivieron los familiares y los amigos de Jesús. Este trabajo consta de tres capítulos. En el primer capítulo se explica el tema del duele desde el punto de vista psicológico y social. En el segundo capítulo explicaré el duelo de los discípulos de Emaús después de haber perdido al Maestro. En el tercer capítulo estableceré una relación entre los dos capítulos anteriores como una propuesta pastoral para acompañar el duelo desde el punto de vista humano y de fe.This work aims to offer a pastoral degree proposal to accompany people who have lost a loved one. The basis of theological reflection is the interpretation of Luke 24: 13-35. When losses are unexpected, better known as sudden death cases, often involving a process of complicated grief. This was what they lived family and friends of Jesus. This work consists of three chapters. In the first chapter the subject of grief is explained from the point of psychological and social. In the second chapter I will explain the grief of the disciples of Emmaus after losing the Master. In the third chapter I establish a relationship between the previous two chapters as a pastoral proposal to accompany the duel from the human point of view and faith.Teólogo (a)Pregrad

Ovarian steroids regulate tachykinin and tachykinin receptor gene expression in the mouse uterus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the mouse uterus, pregnancy is accompanied by changes in tachykinin and tachykinin receptor gene expression and in the uterotonic effects of endogenous tachykinins. In this study we have investigated whether changes in tachykinin expression and responses are a result of changes in ovarian steroid levels.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We quantified the mRNAs of tachykinins and tachykinin receptors in uteri from ovariectomized mice and studied their regulation in response to estrogen and progesterone using real-time quantitative RT-PCR. Early (3 h) and late (24 h) responses to estrogen were evaluated and the participation of the estrogen receptors (ER), ERalpha and ERbeta, was analyzed by treating mice with propylpyrazole triol, a selective ERalpha agonist, or diarylpropionitrile, a selective agonist of ERbeta.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>All genes encoding tachykinins (Tac1, Tac2 and Tac4) and tachykinin receptors (Tacr1, Tacr2 and Tacr3) were expressed in uteri from ovariectomized mice. Estrogen increased Tac1 and Tacr1 mRNA after 3 h and decreased Tac1 and Tac4 expression after 24 h. Tac2 and Tacr3 mRNA levels were decreased by estrogen at both 3 and 24 h. Most effects of estrogen were also observed in animals treated with propylpyrazole triol. Progesterone treatment increased the levels of Tac2.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results show that the expression of tachykinins and their receptors in the mouse uterus is tightly and differentially regulated by ovarian steroids. Estrogen effects are mainly mediated by ERalpha supporting an essential role for this estrogen receptor in the regulation of the tachykinergic system in the mouse uterus.</p

Autocrine regulation of human sperm motility by tachykinins

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We examined the presence and function of tachykinins and the tachykinin-degrading enzymes neprilysin (NEP) and neprilysin-2 (NEP2) in human spermatozoa.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Freshly ejaculated semen was collected from forty-eight normozoospermic human donors. We analyzed the expression of substance P, neurokinin A, neurokinin B, hemokinin-1, NEP and NEP2 in sperm cells by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blot and immunocytochemistry assays and evaluated the effects of the neprilysin and neprilysin-2 inhibitor phosphoramidon on sperm motility in the absence and presence of tachykinin receptor-selective antagonists. Sperm motility was measured using WHO procedures or computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mRNAs of the genes that encode substance P/neurokinin A (TAC1), neurokinin B (TAC3), hemokinin-1 (TAC4), neprilysin (MME) and neprilysin-2 (MMEL1) were expressed in human sperm. Immunocytochemistry studies revealed that tachykinin and neprilysin proteins were present in spermatozoa and show specific and differential distributions. Phosphoramidon increased sperm progressive motility and its effects were reduced in the presence of the tachykinin receptor antagonists SR140333 (NK1 receptor-selective) and SR48968 (NK2 receptor-selective) but unmodified in the presence of SR142801 (NK3 receptor-selective).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data show that tachykinins are present in human spermatozoa and participate in the regulation of sperm motility. Tachykinin activity is regulated, at least in part, by neprilysins.</p

Continuous versus Cyclic Progesterone Exposure Differentially Regulates Hippocampal Gene Expression and Functional Profiles

This is the published version. Copyright 2012 Public Library of Science.This study investigated the impact of chronic exposure to continuous (CoP4) versus cyclic progesterone (CyP4) alone or in combination with 17β-estradiol (E2) on gene expression profiles targeting bioenergetics, metabolism and inflammation in the adult female rat hippocampus. High-throughput qRT-PCR analyses revealed that ovarian hormonal depletion induced by ovariectomy (OVX) led to multiple significant gene expression alterations, which were to a great extent reversed by co-administration of E2 and CyP4. In contrast, co-administration of E2 and CoP4 induced a pattern highly resembling OVX. Bioinformatics analyses further revealed clear disparities in functional profiles associated with E2+CoP4 and E2+CyP4. Genes involved in mitochondrial energy (ATP synthase α subunit; Atp5a1), redox homeostasis (peroxiredoxin 5; Prdx5), insulin signaling (insulin-like growth factor I; Igf1), and cholesterol trafficking (liver X receptor α subtype; Nr1h3), differed in direction of regulation by E2+CoP4 (down-regulation relative to OVX) and E2+CyP4 (up-regulation relative to OVX). In contrast, genes involved in amyloid metabolism (β-secretase; Bace1) differed only in degree of regulation, as both E2+CoP4 and E2+CyP4 induced down-regulation at different efficacy. E2+CyP4-induced changes could be associated with regulation of progesterone receptor membrane component 1(Pgrmc1). In summary, results from this study provide evidence at the molecular level that differing regimens of hormone therapy (HT) can induce disparate gene expression profiles in brain. From a translational perspective, confirmation of these results in a model of natural menopause, would imply that the common regimen of continuous combined HT may have adverse consequences whereas a cyclic combined regimen, which is more physiological, could be an effective strategy to maintain neurological health and function throughout menopausal aging

(Pro)renin Receptor Expression Increases throughout the Colorectal Adenoma-Adenocarcinoma Sequence and It Is Associated with Worse Colorectal Cancer Prognosis

(Pro)renin receptor (PRR) is a protein that takes part in several signaling pathways such as Renin Angiotensin System and Wnt signalling. Its biological role has recently been related to cancer progression and in this study, we investigated its relevance in colorectal cancer (CRC). To that end, we analysed the immunohistochemical expression of PRR in adenomatous polyps and CRCs from the same patients (n = 42), and in primary tumours and nodal and liver metastases from advanced CRC patients (n = 294). In addition, the soluble fraction of PRR was measured by ELISA in plasma samples from 161 CRC patients. The results showed that PRR expression was gradually augmented along the uninvolved mucosa-adenoma-adenocarcinoma sequence. Besides, the stronger expression of PRR in primary tumours was markedly associated with local tumour extent and the onset of metastases. Moreover, PRR expression in both primary and distant metastases was associated with worse 5- and 10-year survival of CRC patients. Plasmatic PRR levels did not change with respect to controls and were not associated with CRC aggressiveness. These results suggest a key role of PRR in the development and progression of CRC and a potential use of this protein as a new prognostic biomarker and/or therapeutic target for this disease.We wish to thank Gangoiti Barrera's Foundation for it support to this research project

Altered expression of fibroblast activation protein-α (FAP) in colorectal adenoma-carcinoma sequence and in lymph node and liver metastases

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a major health problem in elderly people because of its high incidence and high mortality rate. Despite early screening programs, more than half of CRC patients are diagnosed at advanced stages. Fibroblast activation protein-alpha (FAP) expression in cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) has been associated with a higher risk of metastases and poor survival. Here, we have analyzed the immunohistochemical expression of FAP in 41 adenoma-carcinoma sequences. In addition, FAP expression was analyzed individually and in combination with beta-catenin (BCAT), CD44 and Cyclin-D1 expression in primary tumors and in their corresponding lymph node and liver metastases (n=294). Finally, soluble FAP (sFAP) levels in plasma from CRC patients (n=127) were also analyzed by ELISA. FAP was expressed only in CRC tissue and its expression level was found to be higher in tumors exhibiting deeper local invasion and poorer cancer cell differentiation. FAP and concomitant nuclear BCAT expression in cancer cells at the infiltrating front of primary tumors and in lymph node metastases was independently associated with 5- and 10-year cancer specific and disease-free survival. Moreover, lower sFAP levels correlated with poorer survival. These findings support the potential importance of FAP as a biomarker of CRC development and progression.This work was partially funded by the ELKARTEK 18/10 grant from the Basque Government

Congenital ablation of Tacr2 reveals overlapping and redundant roles of NK2R signaling in the control of reproductive axis

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