A Computational Chemistry Approach for the Catalytic Cycle of AHAS

Acetohydroxy acid synthase (AHAS) is a thiamin diphosphate (ThDP)-dependent enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of branched-chain amino acids (valine, leucine, and isoleucine) in plants, bacteria, and fungi. This makes AHAS an attractive target for herbicides and bactericides, which act by interrupting the catalytic cycle and preventing the synthesis of acetolactate and 2-keto-hydroxybutyrate intermediates, in the biosynthetic pathway toward the synthesis of branched amino acids, causing the death of the organism. Several articles on the catalytic cycle of AHAS have been published in the literature; however, there are certain aspects, which continue being controversial or unknown. This lack of information at the molecular level makes difficult the rational development of novel herbicides and bactericides, which act inhibiting this enzyme. In this chapter, we review the results from our group for the different stages of the catalytic cycle of AHAS, using both quantum chemical cluster and Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics approaches

The initial human settlement of Northwest South America during the Pleistocene/Holocene transition: Synthesis and perspectives

The northwestern corner of South America, represented by the current territory of Colombia, is a key region to asses some relevant issues linked with the initial human peopling of the area, including population dispersals, cultural diversity, and early adaptations to the changing environmental conditions experienced by lowland and highland north-Andean Neotropical ecosystems at the Pleistocene/Holocene transition. The aim of this paper is to present a synthesis of the archaeological research about early peopling carried out in Northwest South America during the last four decades. Specifically, it will focus on the adaptive strategies and the cultural diversity patterns exhibited by the early hunter-gatherer groups that entered the region since late Pleistocene times. The classic ideas about the time of arrival of the first settlers, the dispersal routes, the incidence of the climate change in on the rate of dispersal and colonization of different habitats, and the role of the megafauna in the subsistence will be reviewed, prior to the formulation of new hypotheses about the meaning of the apparent intraregional diversity of the archaeological record and the evolution of economic strategies over time.Fil: Aceituno, Francisco J.. Universidad de Antioquia; ColombiaFil: Loaiza, Nicolás. Universidad de Antioquia; Colombia. Temple University; Estados UnidosFil: Delgado Burbano, Miguel Eduardo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Barrientos, Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentin

Automatic Personality Assessment through Movement Analysis

Obtaining accurate and objective assessments of an individual’s personality is vital in many areas including education, medicine, sports and management. Currently, most personality assessments are conducted using scales and questionnaires. Unfortunately, it has been observed that both scales and questionnaires present various drawbacks. Their limitations include the lack of veracity in the answers, limitations in the number of times they can be administered, or cultural biases. To solve these problems, several articles have been published in recent years proposing the use of movements that participants make during their evaluation as personality predictors. In this work, a multiple linear regression model was developed to assess the examinee’s personality based on their movements. Movements were captured with the low-cost Microsoft Kinect camera, which facilitates its acceptance and implementation. To evaluate the performance of the proposed system, a pilot study was conducted aimed at assessing the personality traits defined by the Big-Five Personality Model. It was observed that the traits that best fit the model are Extroversion and Conscientiousness. In addition, several patterns that characterize the five personality traits were identified. These results show that it is feasible to assess an individual’s personality through his or her movements and open up pathways for several research.This research was partially funded by the Spanish National Project, grant number RTI2018- 101857-B-I00. Additionally, by Instituto Salud Carlos III, grant number DTS21/00091. It has been also partially supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PID2020-114911GB-I00

Fracturas patológicas en la región de la cadera

Entre 1973 y 1992, fueron tratados en nuestra institución 20 casos de fracturas patológicas a nivel de la cadera, secundarias a metástasis esqueléticas. Se realizó tratamiento quirúrgico mediante osteosíntesis o artroplastias según la localización y la extensión de la lesión. En 8 casos, la fractura fué subcapital, en 6 fué pertrocantérea y en otros 6 casos fué subtrocantérea. En el tratamiento quirúrgico, se recalca la importancia de la fijación interna inmediata con la adición de metilmetacrilato y el uso de la radioterapia postoperatoria. Siempre se obtuvo la mejoría del dolor y un resultado funcional bueno en el 70% de los casos. En 7 casos, aparecieron complicaciones locales. El tratamiento quirúrgico debe ser agresivo en estos pacientes, ya que la rehabilitación inmediata es primordial en su calidad de vida.From 1973 to 1992, 20 cases of pathological fractures around the hip secondary to skeletal metastases were treated in our institution. The surgical treatment was performed by internal fixation or arthroplasty according the location and extension of the lesion. In 8 cases the fracture was located in the femoral neck, 6 cases were intertrochanteric fractures and 6 cases were subtrochanteric fractures. In the surgical management the importance of inmediately internal fixation, with the use of methylnietacrilate and post surgical radiotherapy are justified. Always the pain was relieved and the functional result was good in 70%. In 7 cases were local complications. The surgical treatment should be more agresive in these special patients, because the inmediately rehabilitation is essential in your quality lifes

The use of low level laser therapy in the treatment of temporomandibular joint disorders. Review of the literature

Introduction: The temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) have been identified as the most important cause of pain in the facial region. The low level laser therapy (LLLT) has demonstrated to have an analgesic, anti-inflammatory and biostimulating effects. The LLLT is a noninvasive, quick and safe, non-pharmaceutical intervention that may be beneficial for patients with TMDs. However the clinical efficiency of LLLT in the treatment of this kind of disorders is controversial. Objectives: Literature review in reference to the use of LLLT in the treatment of TMDs, considering the scientific evidence level of the published studies. Material and methods: A MEDLINE and COCHRANE database search was made for articles. The keywords used were 'temporomandibular disorders' and 'low level laser therapy' or 'phototherapy' and by means of the Boolean operator 'AND'. The search provided a bank of 35 articles, and 16 relevant articles were selected to this review. These articles were critically analyzed and classified according to their level of scientific evidence. This analysis produced 3 literature review articles and 13 are clinical trials. The SORT criteria (Strength of Recommendation Taxonomy) was used to classify the articles. Results: Only one article presented an evidence level 1, twelve presented an evidence level 2, and three presented an evidence level 3. According to the principle of evidence-based dentistry, currently there is a scientific evidence level B in favor of using LLLT for treatment of TMDs. Discussion and conclusions: Publications on the use of LLLT for treatment of TMDs are limited making difficult to compare the different studies due to the great variability of the studied variables and the selected laser parameters. The great majority of the studies concluded that the results should be taken with caution due to the methodological limitations

Retinal pigment epithelium degeneration caused by aggregation of PRPF31 and the role of HSP70 family of proteins

Background Mutations in pre-mRNA splicing factor PRPF31 can lead to retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Although the exact disease mechanism remains unknown, it has been hypothesized that haploinsufficiency might be involved in the pathophysiology of the disease. Methods In this study, we have analyzed a mouse model containing the p.A216P mutation in Prpf31 gene. Results We found that mutant Prpf31 protein produces cytoplasmic aggregates in the retinal pigment epithelium and decreasing the protein levels of this splicing factor in the nucleus. Additionally, normal protein was recruited in insoluble aggregates when the mutant protein was overexpressed in vitro. In response to protein aggregation, Hspa4l is overexpressed. This member of the HSP70 family of chaperones might contribute to the correct folding and solubilization of the mutant protein, allowing its translocation to the nucleus. Conclusions Our data suggests that a mechanism haploinsufficiency and dominant-negative is involved in retinal degeneration due to mutations in PRPF31. HSP70 over-expression might be a new therapeutic target for the treatment of retinal degeneration due to PRPF31 mutations.This project has been financed through a) The ISCIII (Miguel Servet-I, 2015), co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), No CP15/00071. b) The European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, under grant agreement No 634479. c) Regional Ministry of Economy, Innovation and Science of the Junta de Andalucía, No P09-CTS-04967.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Clonal propagation, callus induction and biotransformation of precursor feeding in cellular suspension of Piper aduncum L.

Piper aduncum es un arbusto o arbolillo distribuido a lo largo de América en el que se han identificado numerosos compuestos biológicamente activos. Diferentes combinaciones de reguladores de crecimiento fueron ensayadas para la propagación clonal, la inducción y mantenimiento de callos y el establecimiento de suspensiones celulares. Los resultados mostraron una significativa mayor elongación del brote en el tratamiento con medio de cultivo B5 suplementado con AIA 0,02 mg/L y AG3 0,02 mg/L en comparación con otros tratamientos, la inducción de callos en varios tratamientos con BAP o ANA-BAP y el establecimiento de suspensiones celulares en varias combinaciones de auxinas (AIA, ANA o 2,4-D) - citocininas (BAP o KIN). A partir de los callos formados se establecieron suspensiones celulares y estudió la acumulación de metabolitos secundarios. En ese sentido, en suspensiones celulares se examinó el efecto de L-fenilalanina, ácido ferúlico, alcohol coniferílico y eugenol, como precursores en la producción de metabolitos secundarios. La adición de 1,0 o 5,0 mg/L de estos precursores al medio de cultivo MS estimuló la biosíntesis de diversos productos naturales. Como se había asumido, los extractos del medio de cultivo en su fase estacionaria (24 días de cultivo) mostraron la más alta variedad de compuestos acumulados. La identificación de los metabolitos secundarios acumulados en las suspensiones celulares puede proporcionar importante información para la caracterización y estudio de la biosíntesis de los compuestos fenólicos.Piper aduncum is a shrub or small tree distributed throughout the American in which many biologically active compounds were identified. The different combinations of plant growth regulators were tested for clonal propagation, callus induction and maintained and cellular suspension established. The results showed significantly higher shoot elongation in the treatment with B5 medium supplemented with 0.02 mg/L IAA and 0.02 mg/L GA3 compared to the other treatments; callus induction in several tretaments with BAP or NAA-BAP, and cellular suspension with several combinations of auxins (IAA, NAA or 2,4-D) - citokinins (BAP or KIN). From a callus culture, cell suspension were established and their metabolite accumulation studied. In this sense, the effect of L-phenyalanine, ferulic acid, coniferyl alcohol and eugenol, as precursor feeding, on production of secondary metabolites in suspension cultures was examined. The addition of 1.0 or 5.0 mg/L of these precursor feeding to the MS culture medium stimulated the byosinthesis of several natural products. As predicted, extracts from the culture medium at the stationary phase (24 days of culture) showed the highest variety of accumulated compounds. The identification of secondary metabolites accumulated in cell suspension culture may provide important information for characterization and studying phenolic metabolites biosynthesis