Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and Hepatic Steatosis: Could Low-Grade Chronic Inflammation Be Mediated by the Spleen?:

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by an extreme variety of phenotypes and controversial metabolic implications. Hepatic Steatosis (HS) and low-grade chronic inflammation (LGCI) might be common findings in PCOS. We conducted a cross-sectional study to evaluate the LGCI and HS in young women with PCOS according to their Body Mass index (BMI), Insulin Resistance (IR), and PCOS phenotypes. Sixty young premenopausal PCOS women and 20 age-matched controls participated. Primary outcome measures were the presence/severity of HS; LGCI index evaluated as spleen longitudinal diameter (SLD) by UltraSound, C-Reactive Protein (CRP) and Interleukin (IL)-6 levels; BMI and the Homeostasis Model Assessment (HoMA) of IR. The second outcome measures were testosterone, Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin (SHBG) levels, and Free Androgen Index (FAI). The presence of HS and LGCI was not significantly different between NW and O/O patients, while there were significant differences particularly when the PCOS-women were grouped according to IR or to PCOS phenotypes. At multiple regression adjusted for BMI, HoMA-IR and the spleen size were the major determinants of the severity of HS (β= 0.36, p=0.007, and β= 0.28, p=0.034, respectively). At multiple regression SLD represented the unique predictor of FAI (β=0.32; p=0.018). In young women with PCOS, HS was detected independently from obesity and was well predicted not only by IR but also by spleen size, with variable expression of the liver-spleen axis across the different PCOS subtypes. A possible role of the spleen in determining LGCI also in women with PCOS is emphasized

Un abordaje para el modelo exponencial

Coincidimos con la postura que señala que para el aprendizaje de la matemática es indispensable que los alumnos construyan el sentido de los conceptos que trabajan en el aula. La modelización encaminada a resolver problemas propios de la matemática o ajenos a la misma, contribuye a este fin. Para ello les presentamos a los alumnos diferentes problemas en los cuales pueden avanzar con los conocimientos que poseen pero, en algún momento éstos se vuelven insuficientes o poco económicos para completar la resolución. Surge así la necesidad del nuevo concepto como herramienta que permitirá avanzar en forma más eficaz. En este trabajo presentamos una secuencia sobre modelos exponenciales que apunta a ese fin y que ponemos en práctica hace varios años con alumnos de cuarto y quinto año.Sección Exactas.Departamento de Ciencias Exactas y Naturale

Moonlighting in mitosis:Analysis of the mitotic functions of transcription and splicing factors

Moonlighting proteins can perform one or more additional functions besides their primary role. It has been posited that a protein can acquire a moonlighting function through a gradual evolutionary process, which is favored when the primary and secondary functions are exerted in different cellular compartments. Transcription factors (TFs) and splicing factors (SFs) control processes that occur in interphase nuclei and are strongly reduced during cell division, and are therefore in a favorable situation to evolve moonlighting mitotic functions. However, recently published moonlighting protein databases, which comprise almost 400 proteins, do not include TFs and SFs with secondary mitotic functions. We searched the literature and found several TFs and SFs with bona fide moonlighting mitotic functions, namely they localize to specific mitotic structure(s), interact with proteins enriched in the same structure(s), and are required for proper morphology and functioning of the structure(s). In addition, we describe TFs and SFs that localize to mitotic structures but cannot be classified as moonlighting proteins due to insufficient data on their biochemical interactions and mitotic roles. Nevertheless, we hypothesize that most TFs and SFs with specific mitotic localizations have either minor or redundant moonlighting functions, or are evolving towards the acquisition of these functions

Eco-Friendly 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition Reactions on Graphene Quantum Dots in Natural Deep Eutectic Solvent

Due to their outstanding physicochemical properties, the next generation of the graphene family-graphene quantum dots (GQDs)-are at the cutting edge of nanotechnology development. GQDs generally possess many hydrophilic functionalities which allow their dispersibility in water but, on the other hand, could interfere with reactions that are mainly performed in organic solvents, as for cycloaddition reactions. We investigated the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-DCA) reactions of the C-ethoxycarbonyl N-methyl nitrone 1a and the newly synthesized C-diethoxyphosphorylpropilidene N-benzyl nitrone 1b with the surface of GQDs, affording the isoxazolidine cycloadducts isox-GQDs 2a and isox-GQDs 2b. Reactions were performed in mild and eco-friendly conditions, through the use of a natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES), free of chloride or any metal ions in its composition, and formed by the zwitterionic trimethylglycine as the -bond acceptor, and glycolic acid as the hydrogen-bond donor. The results reported in this study have for the first time proved the possibility of performing cycloaddition reactions directly to the p-cloud of the GQDs surface. The use of DES for the cycloaddition reactions on GQDs, other than to improve the solubility of reactants, has been shown to bring additional advantages because of the great affinity of these green solvents with aromatic systems

Mercury Levels in Locally Manufactured Mexican Skin-Lightening Creams

Mercury is considered one of the most toxic elements for plants and animals. Nevertheless, in the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, whitening creams containing mercury are being manufactured and purchased, despite their obvious health risks. Due to the mass distribution of these products, this can be considered a global public health issue. In Mexico, these products are widely available in pharmacies, beauty aid and health stores. They are used for their skin lightening effects. The aim of this work was to analyze the mercury content in some cosmetic whitening creams using the cold vapor technique coupled with atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS). A total of 16 skin-lightening creams from the local market were investigated. No warning information was noted on the packaging. In 10 of the samples, no mercury was detected. The mercury content in six of the samples varied between 878 and 36,000 ppm, despite the fact that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that the limit for mercury in creams should be less than 1 ppm. Skin creams containing mercury are still available and commonly used in Mexico and many developing countries, and their contents are poorly controlled

Biodiversity and bioprospecting of fungal endophytes from the Antarctic plant Colobanthus quitensis

Microorganisms from extreme environments are considered as a new and valuable reservoir of bioactive molecules of biotechnological interest and are also utilized as tools for enhancing tolerance to (a)biotic stresses in crops. In this study, the fungal endophytic community associated with the leaves of the Antarctic angiosperm Colobanthus quitensis was investigated as a new source of bioactive molecules. We isolated 132 fungal strains and taxonomically annotated 26 representative isolates, which mainly belonged to the Basidiomycota division. Selected isolates of Trametes sp., Lenzites sp., Sistotrema sp., and Peniophora sp. displayed broad extracellular enzymatic profiles; fungal extracts from some of them showed dose-dependent antitumor activity and inhibited the formation of amyloid fibrils of α-synuclein and its pathological mutant E46K. Selected fungal isolates were also able to promote secondary root development and fresh weight increase in Arabidopsis and tomato and antagonize the growth of pathogenic fungi harmful to crops. This study emphasizes the ecological and biotechnological relevance of fungi from the Antarctic ecosystem and provides clues to the bioprospecting of Antarctic Basidiomycetes fungi for industrial, agricultural, and medical applications

South American medicinal flora: a promising source of novel compounds with antiprotozoal activity

Native populations of South America have employed herb-based preparations for the treatment of parasite diseases. In this review, some examples of South American medicinal plants from which bioactive molecules have been isolated are presented. Results of our research related to the study of novel compounds with antiprotozoal activity are also presented herein. Peruvin and psilostachyin, two sesquiterpene lactones isolated from the Argentine medicinal species Ambrosia tenuifolia, presented significative in vitro activity on Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes and trypomastigotes. Psilostachyin also presented in vivo activity in T. cruzi infected mice. Both compounds were also active on Leishmania spp. The results obtained suggest that psilostachyin could be considered a potential lead molecule in the development of novel trypanocidal agents.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Anti-CD25 Treatment Depletes Treg Cells and Decreases Disease Severity in Susceptible and Resistant Mice Infected with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are fundamental in the control of immunity and excessive tissue pathology. In paracoccidioidomycosis, an endemic mycosis of Latin America, the immunoregulatory mechanisms that control the progressive and regressive forms of this infection are poorly known. Due to its modulatory activity on Treg cells, we investigated the effects of anti-CD25 treatment over the course of pulmonary infection in resistant (A/J) and susceptible (B10.A) mice infected with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. We verified that the resistant A/J mice developed higher numbers and more potent Treg cells than susceptible B10.A mice. Compared to B10.A cells, the CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cells of A/J mice expressed higher levels of CD25, CTLA4, GITR, Foxp3, LAP and intracellular IL-10 and TGF-beta. In both resistant and susceptible mice, anti-CD25 treatment decreased the CD4(+)CD25(+)Foxp3(+) Treg cell number, impaired indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase expression and resulted in decreased fungal loads in the lungs, liver and spleen. In A/J mice, anti-CD25 treatment led to an early increase in T cell immunity, demonstrated by the augmented influx of activated CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, macrophages and dendritic cells to the lungs. At a later phase, the mild infection was associated with decreased inflammatory reactions and increased Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokine production. In B10.A mice, anti-CD25 treatment did not alter the inflammatory reactions but increased the fungicidal mechanisms and late secretion of Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokines. Importantly, in both mouse strains, the early depletion of CD25(+) cells resulted in less severe tissue pathology and abolished the enhanced mortality observed in susceptible mice. In conclusion, this study is the first to demonstrate that anti-CD25 treatment is beneficial to the progressive and regressive forms of paracoccidioidomycosis, potentially due to the anti-CD25-mediated reduction of Treg cells, as these cells have suppressive effects on the early T cell response in resistant mice and the clearance mechanisms of fungal cells in susceptible mice.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (CNPq