The use of caspase inhibitors in pulsed-field gel electrophoresis may improve the estimation of radiation-induced DNA repair and apoptosis

Background: Radiation-induced DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair can be tested by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) in agarose-encapsulated cells. However, previous studies have reported that this assay is impaired by the spontaneous DNA breakage in this medium. We investigated the mechanisms of this fragmentation with the principal aim of eliminating it in order to improve the estimation of radiation-induced DNA repair. Methods: Samples from cancer cell cultures or xenografted tumours were encapsulated in agarose plugs. The cell plugs were then irradiated, incubated to allow them to repair, and evaluated by PFGE, caspase-3, and histone H2AX activation (gamma H2AX). In addition, apoptosis inhibition was evaluated through chemical caspase inhibitors. Results: We confirmed that spontaneous DNA fragmentation was associated with the process of encapsulation, regardless of whether cells were irradiated or not. This DNA fragmentation was also correlated to apoptosis activation in a fraction of the cells encapsulated in agarose, while non-apoptotic cell fraction could rejoin DNA fragments as was measured by gamma H2AX decrease and PFGE data. We were able to eliminate interference of apoptosis by applying specific caspase inhibitors, and improve the estimation of DNA repair, and apoptosis itself. Conclusions: The estimation of radiation-induced DNA repair by PFGE may be improved by the use of apoptosis inhibitors. The ability to simultaneously determine DNA repair and apoptosis, which are involved in cell fate, provides new insights for using the PFGE methodology as functional assay

Integral chain management of wildlife diseases

The chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis has caused the most prominent loss of vertebrate diversity ever recorded, which peaked in the 1980s. Recent incursion by its sister species B. salamandrivorans in Europe raised the alarm for a new wave of declines and extinctions in western Palearctic urodeles. The European Commission has responded by restricting amphibian trade. However, private amphibian collections, the main end consumers, were exempted from the European legislation. Here, we report how invasion by a released, exotic newt coincided with B. salamandrivorans invasion at over 1000 km from the nearest natural outbreak site, causing mass mortality in indigenous marbled newts (Triturus marmoratus), and posing an acute threat to the survival of nearby populations of the most critically endangered European newt species (Montseny brook newt, Calotriton arnoldi). Disease management was initiated shortly after detection in a close collaboration between policy and science and included drastic on site measures and intensive disease surveillance. Despite these efforts, the disease is considered temporarily contained but not eradicated and continued efforts will be necessary to minimize the probability of further pathogen dispersal. This precedent demonstrates the importance of tackling wildlife diseases at an early stage using an integrated approach, involving all stakeholders and closing loopholes in existing regulations

Anàlisi dels casos d’hepatitis C crònica tractats a Catalunya durant el període 2006-2008

Hepatitis víriques; Genotip; InfeccionsViral infections; Genotype; InfectionsHepatitis víricas; Genotipo; InfeccionesAquest article exposa l'evolució de la infecció del virus de la hepatitis C en funció dels factors que determinen la cronicitat de la malaltia. A més, es presenten els resultats de l’anàlisi de les dades de la malaltia de caràcter clínic i epidemiològic de la població catalana recollides durant el període comprès entre els anys 2006 i 2008.Este artículo expone la evolución de la infección del virus de la hepatitis C en función de los factores que determinan la cronicidad de la enfermedad. Además, se presentan los resultados del análisis de los datos de la enfermedad de carácter clínico y epidemiológico de la población catalana recogidas durante el periodo comprendido entre los años 2006 y 2008.This article presents the evolution of hepatitis C virus based on factors that determine the chronicity of this disease. Besides, it shows the results of the desease analysis data for both epidemiological and clinical character of Catalan population collected during the period between 2006 and 2008

Anàlisi dels casos dʼhepatitis C crònica tractats a Catalunya durant el període 2009-2010

Genotip; Hepatitis víriques; InfeccionsGenotype; Viral hepatitis; InfectionsGenotipo; Hepatitis víricas; InfeccionesEn aquest article es presenten els resultats de lʼanàlisi de les dades referents als casos d'hepatitis C crònica de la població catalana recollides durant el període comprès entre els anys 2009 i 2010 així com lʼevolució dʼaquestes dades durant la primera dècada del segle XXI.This article presents the results of the data analysis linked to chronic hepatitis C of Catalan population collected during the period between 2009 and 2010 as well as the evolution of this data during the first decade of the XXIth century.En este artículo se presentan los resultados del análisis de datos relacionados con la hepatitis C crónica de la población catalana recogidos durante el periodo comprendido entre los años 2009 y 2010, así como la evolución de estos datos durante la primera década del siglo XXI

The use of caspase inhibitors in pulsed-field gel electrophoresis may improve the estimation of radiation-induced DNA repair and apoptosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Radiation-induced DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair can be tested by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) in agarose-encapsulated cells. However, previous studies have reported that this assay is impaired by the spontaneous DNA breakage in this medium. We investigated the mechanisms of this fragmentation with the principal aim of eliminating it in order to improve the estimation of radiation-induced DNA repair.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Samples from cancer cell cultures or xenografted tumours were encapsulated in agarose plugs. The cell plugs were then irradiated, incubated to allow them to repair, and evaluated by PFGE, caspase-3, and histone H2AX activation (γH2AX). In addition, apoptosis inhibition was evaluated through chemical caspase inhibitors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We confirmed that spontaneous DNA fragmentation was associated with the process of encapsulation, regardless of whether cells were irradiated or not. This DNA fragmentation was also correlated to apoptosis activation in a fraction of the cells encapsulated in agarose, while non-apoptotic cell fraction could rejoin DNA fragments as was measured by γH2AX decrease and PFGE data. We were able to eliminate interference of apoptosis by applying specific caspase inhibitors, and improve the estimation of DNA repair, and apoptosis itself.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The estimation of radiation-induced DNA repair by PFGE may be improved by the use of apoptosis inhibitors. The ability to simultaneously determine DNA repair and apoptosis, which are involved in cell fate, provides new insights for using the PFGE methodology as functional assay.</p

práticas artísticas no ensino básico e secundário

A Educação Artística joga-se em muito mais locais que no ensino formal. As oportunidades formativas têm sido aproveitadas por museus, bibliotecas, centros culturais, exposições, festivais, associações e plataformas culturais, eventos, plataformas de disseminação artística, edições. Os artistas individuais têm vindo a integrar as dinâmicas relacionais e de criação de públicos nas suas obras, ao convocarem as audiências e implicarem o espectador. O terreno é limitado apenas pela imaginação, e as oportunidades de convocação alargam-se aos novos conteúdos e plataformas digitais, a par com a valorização do que é local e identitário: a revolução pode fazer-se pela cidadania.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio