Regulation of Kv2.1 channel inactivation by phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate.

Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) is a membrane phospholipid that regulates the function of multiple ion channels, including some members of the voltage-gated potassium (Kv) channel superfamily. The PIP2 sensitivity of Kv channels is well established for all five members of the Kv7 family and for Kv1.2 channels; however, regulation of other Kv channels by PIP2 remains unclear. Here, we investigate the effects of PIP2 on Kv2.1 channels by applying exogenous PIP2 to the cytoplasmic face of excised membrane patches, activating muscarinic receptors (M1R), or depleting endogenous PIP2 using a rapamycin-translocated 5-phosphatase (FKBP-Inp54p). Exogenous PIP2 rescued Kv2.1 channels from rundown and partially prevented the shift in the voltage-dependence of inactivation observed in inside-out patch recordings. Native PIP2 depletion by the recruitment of FKBP-Insp54P or M1R activation in whole-cell experiments, induced a shift in the voltage-dependence of inactivation, an acceleration of the closed-state inactivation, and a delayed recovery of channels from inactivation. No significant effects were observed on the activation mechanism by any of these treatments. Our data can be modeled by a 13-state allosteric model that takes into account that PIP2 depletion facilitates inactivation of Kv2.1. We propose that PIP2 regulates Kv2.1 channels by interfering with the inactivation mechanism

Modelado espacial bayesiano de la enfermedad de Chagas en la Huasteca Potosina

RESUMEN Introducción. La enfermedad de Chagas es una infección sistémica, causada por el protozoario Trypanosoma cruzi. Está documentado como la influencia de factores ambientales favorecen la presencia de la infección. Objetivo. Comprender los patrones de distribución espacial de riesgo y los factores ambientales y socioeconómicos que favorecen la propagación de la enfermedad de Chagas. Material y métodos. Se aplicó un análisis de regresión espacial bayesiano a datos de la incidencia de la enfermedad de Chagas en la Huasteca Potosina en el periodo de 2003–2012. Resultados. Se observó un patrón claro de distribución espacial en la incidencia de la enfermedad en la Huasteca Potosina, misma que se vio significativamente correlacionada en el modelo de regresión multivariante final con la temperatura mínima, los porcentajes de viviendas con piso de tierra, de viviendas sin agua entubada, de población de tres años y más que habla lengua indígena y no habla español, de población mayor a 15 años analfabeta, derechohabiente a servicios de salud, de viviendas con algún nivel de hacinamiento y de viviendas habitadas que cuentan con servicios. Conclusiones. El análisis pone de manifiesto que es la población indígena la más afectada, ya que este grupo es el que más carece de acceso a servicios (salud, educación, vivienda), por lo tanto, favorece la presencia del vector causante de la enfermedad. En la Huasteca Potosina, esta población habita en zonas de difícil acceso, lo que dificulta la implementación de programas adecuados de control del vector y la infección

Syndemic factors associated with adult sexual HIV risk behaviors in a sample of Latino men who have sex with men in New York City

Objective: Syndemic theory has been proposed as a framework for understanding the role of multiple riskfactors driving the HIV epidemic among sexual and gender minority individuals. As yet, the frameworkhas been relatively absent in research on Latinos/as.Methods: We used logistic regression to assess relationships among cumulative syndemic conditions –including clinically significant depression, high-risk alcohol consumption, discrimination, and childhoodsexual abuse – engagement with multiple partners and condomless anal intercourse (CAI) in a sample of176 Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) in New York City.Results: In bivariate analyses, an increase in the number of syndemic factors experienced was associatedwith an increased likelihood of reporting multiple partners and CAI. In multivariable analyses, participantswith 2, 3, and 4 factors were significantly more likely to report multiple partners than those with 0(aOR = 4.66, 95% CI [1.29, 16.85); aOR = 7.28, 95% CI [1.94, 27.28] and aOR = 8.25, 95% CI [1.74, 39.24]respectively; p \u3c 0.05. Regarding CAI, only participants with 3 and 4 factors differed from those with 0aOR = 7.35, 95% CI [1.64, 32.83] and OR = 8.06, 95% CI [1.39, 46.73] respectively.Conclusions: Comprehensive approaches that address syndemic factors, and capitalize on resiliency, areneeded to address the sexual health needs of Latino MSM

Syndemic factors associated with adult sexual HIV risk behaviors in a sample of Latino men who have sex with men in New York City

Objective: Syndemic theory has been proposed as a framework for understanding the role of multiple riskfactors driving the HIV epidemic among sexual and gender minority individuals. As yet, the frameworkhas been relatively absent in research on Latinos/as.Methods: We used logistic regression to assess relationships among cumulative syndemic conditions –including clinically significant depression, high-risk alcohol consumption, discrimination, and childhoodsexual abuse – engagement with multiple partners and condomless anal intercourse (CAI) in a sample of176 Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) in New York City.Results: In bivariate analyses, an increase in the number of syndemic factors experienced was associatedwith an increased likelihood of reporting multiple partners and CAI. In multivariable analyses, participantswith 2, 3, and 4 factors were significantly more likely to report multiple partners than those with 0(aOR = 4.66, 95% CI [1.29, 16.85); aOR = 7.28, 95% CI [1.94, 27.28] and aOR = 8.25, 95% CI [1.74, 39.24]respectively; p \u3c 0.05. Regarding CAI, only participants with 3 and 4 factors differed from those with 0aOR = 7.35, 95% CI [1.64, 32.83] and OR = 8.06, 95% CI [1.39, 46.73] respectively.Conclusions: Comprehensive approaches that address syndemic factors, and capitalize on resiliency, areneeded to address the sexual health needs of Latino MSM

Microarray comparative genomic hybridization detection of chromosomal imbalances in uterine cervix carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Chromosomal Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) has been applied to all stages of cervical carcinoma progression, defining a specific pattern of chromosomal imbalances in this tumor. However, given its limited spatial resolution, chromosomal CGH has offered only general information regarding the possible genetic targets of DNA copy number changes. METHODS: In order to further define specific DNA copy number changes in cervical cancer, we analyzed 20 cervical samples (3 pre-malignant lesions, 10 invasive tumors, and 7 cell lines), using the GenoSensor microarray CGH system to define particular genetic targets that suffer copy number changes. RESULTS: The most common DNA gains detected by array CGH in the invasive samples were located at the RBP1-RBP2 (3q21-q22) genes, the sub-telomeric clone C84C11/T3 (5ptel), D5S23 (5p15.2) and the DAB2 gene (5p13) in 58.8% of the samples. The most common losses were found at the FHIT gene (3p14.2) in 47% of the samples, followed by deletions at D8S504 (8p23.3), CTDP1-SHGC- 145820 (18qtel), KIT (4q11-q12), D1S427-FAF1 (1p32.3), D9S325 (9qtel), EIF4E (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E, 4q24), RB1 (13q14), and DXS7132 (Xq12) present in 5/17 (29.4%) of the samples. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm the presence of a specific pattern of chromosomal imbalances in cervical carcinoma and define specific targets that are suffering DNA copy number changes in this neoplasm

A study of relationship between locus of control and satisfaction with two vocational counseling treatments

This sudy was designed to determine the relationship of Locus of Control to undecide college students' satisfaction with a self-administered vocational counseling treatment. It was predicted that internally oriented students would be more satisfied with the self-administered, while etxternally oriented students would be more satisfied with a counselor-mediated treatment. A sample of 160 students was given the Rotter Internal-External Scale, alternately the Self-Directed Search (SDS) or Vocational Preference Inventary (VPI), and previously used satisfaction questionnaire. No significant relationship was founded between Locus of Control and students' level of satisfaction with either treatment. These findings suggest that Locus of Control is not a discriminating variable mediating satisfactions with a self-administered or an interview-oriented vocational counseling treatment

Influencia de la temperatura en el carbón producido mediante pirólisis solar de hojas de Agave Angustifolia

4 figures, 2 tables.[EN] The coupling of concentrated solar technologies and thermochemical biomass conversion is a promising alternative because there is an improvement on the process efficiency and a reduction of the environmental impact related to the use of fossil fuels for heat process. Therefore, the use of solar pyrolysis of agro-industrial wastes into fuels results attractive due to the biomass versatility to be transformed in a variety of products. In the present work, leaves of agave Angustifolia were used as raw material to performed the solar pyrolysis in the IER-UNAM solar furnace (Mexico) to produce amorphous carbon. The experiments were performed in a borosilicate reactor at different temperatures (450-1550 °C), with an average heating rate of 30 °C/min and 60 min of residence time. The main results show a variety of yields in the char produced from 28-14%, and conversion up to 85%. In addition, according to the temperature range, the amorphous chars produced may be suitable for energy storage in symmetric supercapacitors as carbon electrodes.[ES] El acoplamiento de tecnologías de concentración solar y los procesos termoquímicos de conversión de biomasa son una alternativa prometedora, debido al mejoramiento de la eficiencia del proceso y reducción del impacto medioambiental asociado al uso de combustibles fósiles para la generación de calor de proceso. Por ello, el uso de pirólisis solar de desechos agroindustriales hacia combustibles resulta atractiva debido a la versatilidad de la biomasa para ser convertida en una variedad de productos. En el presente trabajo, hojas de agave Angustifolia fueron usadas como materia prima para llevar a cabo la pirólisis solar en el horno solar del IER-UNAM (México) para la producción de carbón amorfo. Los experimentos se realizaron a diferentes temperaturas (450-1550 °C), con una rampa de calentamiento promedio de 30 °C/min y 60 min de tiempo de residencia. Los resultados principales muestran una variedad en los rendimientos de 28-14 % y una conversión de hasta 85%. Adicionalmente, de acuerdo al rango de temperatura analizado, la producción de carbones amorfos puede ser adecuada para su uso como electrodos en supercapacitores simétricos, para el almacenamiento de energía.The authors are grateful for the funding received from the Ministry of Science and Innovation (MCIN) with NextGenerationEU funds from the European Union (PRTR-C17-I1) within the Green Energy and Hydrogen-CSIC program, as part of the CSIC Interdisciplinary Thematic Platform (PTI+) Sustainable Energy Transition+ (PTI-TRANSENER+).Peer reviewe

Injury prevention counselling to improve safety practices by parents in Mexico

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effectiveness of educational counselling programmes aimed at increasing parents' practice of childhood safety in Monterrey, Mexico, and to provide information aimed at helping to improve the effectiveness of future efforts in this field. METHODS: Three different counselling programmes were designed to meet the needs of the upper, middle and lower socioeconomic strata. Evaluation involved the use of baseline questionnaires on parents' existing safety-related practices for intervention and control groups and the administration of corresponding questionnaires after the programmes had been carried out. FINDINGS: Data were obtained on 1124 children before counselling took place and on 625 after it had been given. Overall safety scores (% safe responses) increased from 54% and 65% for the lower and upper socioeconomic strata, respectively, before counselling to 62% and 73% after counselling (P <0.001 for all groups). Improvements occurred both for activities that required caution and for activities that required the use of safety-related devices (e.g. helmets, car seats). However, scores for the use of such devices remained suboptimal even after counselling and there were wide discrepancies between the socioeconomic strata. The post-counselling scores for the use of safety-related devices were 55%, 38% and 19% for the upper, middle and lower socioeconomic strata, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Brief educational interventions targeting parents' practice of childhood safety improved safe behaviours. Increased attention should be given to specific safety-related devices and to the safety of pedestrians. Educational efforts should be combined with other strategies for injury prevention, such as the use of legislation and the improvement of environmental conditions