Ethanol modulation of mammalian BK channels in excitable tissues: molecular targets and their possible contribution to alcohol-induced altered behavior

In most tissues, the function of Ca(2+)- and voltage-gated K(+) (BK) channels is modified in response to ethanol concentrations reached in human blood during alcohol intoxication. In general, modification of BK current from ethanol-naive preparations in response to brief ethanol exposure results from changes in channel open probability without modification of unitary conductance or change in BK protein levels in the membrane. Protracted and/or repeated ethanol exposure, however, may evoke changes in BK expression. The final ethanol effect on BK open probability leading to either BK current potentiation or BK current reduction is determined by an orchestration of molecular factors, including levels of activating ligand (Ca(2+) i), BK subunit composition and post-translational modifications, and the channel\u27s lipid microenvironment. These factors seem to allosterically regulate a direct interaction between ethanol and a recognition pocket of discrete dimensions recently mapped to the channel-forming (slo1) subunit. Type of ethanol exposure also plays a role in the final BK response to the drug: in several central nervous system regions (e.g., striatum, primary sensory neurons, and supraoptic nucleus), acute exposure to ethanol reduces neuronal excitability by enhancing BK activity. In contrast, protracted or repetitive ethanol administration may alter BK subunit composition and membrane expression, rendering the BK complex insensitive to further ethanol exposure. In neurohypophyseal axon terminals, ethanol potentiation of BK channel activity leads to a reduction in neuropeptide release. In vascular smooth muscle, however, ethanol inhibition of BK current leads to cell contraction and vascular constriction

β-(1,4)-Galactan remodelling in Arabidopsis cell walls affects the xyloglucan structure during elongation

Galactan turnover occurs during cell elongation and affects the cell wall xyloglucan structure which is involved in the interaction between cellulose and xyloglucan. β-(1,4)-Galactan is one of the main side chains of rhamnogalacturonan I. Although the specific function of this polymer has not been completely established, it has been related to different developmental processes. To study β-(1,4)-galactan function, we have generated transgenic Arabidopsis plants overproducing chickpea βI-Gal β-galactosidase under the 35S CaMV promoter (35S::βI-Gal) to reduce galactan side chains in muro. Likewise, an Arabidopsis double loss-of-function mutant for BGAL1 and BGAL3 Arabidopsis β-galactosidases (bgal1/bgal3) has been obtained to increase galactan levels. The characterization of these plants has confirmed the role of β-(1,4)-galactan in cell growth, and demonstrated that the turnover of this pectic side chain occurs during cell elongation, at least in Arabidopsis etiolated hypocotyls and floral stem internodes. The results indicate that BGAL1 and BGAL3 β-galactosidases act in a coordinate way during cell elongation. In addition, this work indicates that galactan plays a role in the maintenance of the cell wall architecture during this process. Our results point to an involvement of the β-(1,4)-galactan in the xyloglucan structure and the interaction between cellulose and xyloglucan

Restoration of native Atlantic salmon runs in northern Spain: do cost outweigh benefits

ABSTRACT Atlantic salmon stocks in northern Spain are at the southern range of the species distribution. As such they are likely more vulnerable to environmental change and human disturbance. The Nalon-Narcea River salmon is one such population in Asturias, Spain. The river is dammed throughout the watershed with few fish passage facilities. However, angling data show that salmon returns are consistent although the population is relatively small. We have employed one tributary as a model, the River Trubia. Although some problems of agriculture and industrial pollution have been detected downstream, an upstream habitat evaluation suggests that adequate spawning and juvenile habitat exists. The regional Government has proposed to construct fishways for allowing upstream passage of salmon. This would potentially increase salmon production, but there are also some concerns like increased hybridization of salmon and trout which is already evident downriver and which previous work suggests will increase as salmon colonize new habitat, and potential changes in fishing regulations as salmon distributions shift upriver and away from traditional angling areas. Here, we present an overview of ecological and social aspects of salmon habitat restoration in the River Nalon-Narcea that we hope will provide solutions that balance costs and benefits and may be applicable to other anadromous populations. RÉSUMÉ La restauration du saumon de l'Atlantique natif fonctionne dans le nord de l'Espagne : les coûts dépassent-ils les avantages ? Les stocks de saumon atlantique dans le nord de l'Espagne sont à la limite sud de la distribution de l'espèce. Comme tels, ils sont probablement plus vulnérables aux changements environnementaux et aux perturbations humaines. Le saumon de la rivière Nalon-Narcea est une de ces populations dans les Asturies, en Espagne. La rivière est endiguée, avec quelques passes à poissons. Toutefois, les données de pêche montrent que les retours de saumon sont bons bien que la population soit relativement faible. Nous avons employé un affluent comme modèle, la rivière Trubia. Bien que certains problèmes de pollution agricole e

Nuestra experiencia en esplenectomía laparoscópica versus convencional. Our experience in laparoscopic splenectomy versus conventional splenectomy

Se realizó un estudio comparativo transversal de 28 pacientes con enfermedades hematológicas a los cuales se les realizó esplenectomía, 14 por la vía convencional y 14 por cirugía de mínimo acceso, con el objetivo de realizar una comparación entre ambas técnicas quirúrgicas, en el Servicio de Cirugía del Hospital Universitario Abel Santamaría, en el período comprendido desde Mayo de1996 hasta Mayo del 2002. Se aplicó una encuesta tomando como fuente las historias clínicas que se encuentran en el archivo del hospital, donde se analizó la edad, diagnóstico preoperatorio, tiempo quirúrgico, complicaciones, estadía hospitalaria, y a los resultados les fue aplicado el método estadístico de Chi cuadrado. Los principales resultados encontrados en nuestro trabajo fueron: en el grupo de esplenectomía laparoscópica 12 pacientes se fueron de alta en las primeras 96 horas, se operaron 8 pacientes entre 180 y 240 minutos y este grupo presentó costos hospitalarios menores. En el grupo de Esplenectomía convencional 11 pacientes se fueron de alta entre los 7 y 20 días, 12 pacientes se operaron entre 60 y 180 minutos y presentaron sepsis de la herida quirúrgica 6 casos. Palabras clave: BAZO/cirugía, ESPLENECTOMIA PERITONEOSCOPIA ABSTRACT A comparative cross ? sectional study is performed in 28 patients suffering from blood disorders who underwent a splecnectomy (14 using the conventional approach and 14, the minimal access procedures) aimed at performing a comparison between both surgical procedures by Surgical Department at Abel Santamaría University Hospital during May 1996 ? May 2002. A survey was being carried out taking the clinical records from the hospital archive and age, preoperative diagnosis, surgery time, complications, hospital stay were analyzed and it was used the chi ? square statistical method. The main results found in out study were: 12 patients were discharged from the hospital after 96 hours (laparoscopic splenectomy group), the surgery time in patients ranged between 180 and 240 minutes and this group presented the lower hospital cost. In the conventional splenectomy group, 11 patients were discharged ranged between 60 and 180 minutes and presented wound sepsis (6 cases).Key words: SPLEEN/surgery, SPLENECTOMY, PERITONEOSCOPY

Nuestra experiencia en esplenectomía laparoscópica versus convencional. Our experience in laparoscopic splenectomy versus conventional splenectomy

Se realizó un estudio comparativo transversal de 28 pacientes con enfermedades hematológicas a los cuales se les realizó esplenectomía, 14 por la vía convencional y 14 por cirugía de mínimo acceso, con el objetivo de realizar una comparación entre ambas técnicas quirúrgicas, en el Servicio de Cirugía del Hospital Universitario Abel Santamaría, en el período comprendido desde Mayo de1996 hasta Mayo del 2002. Se aplicó una encuesta tomando como fuente las historias clínicas que se encuentran en el archivo del hospital, donde se analizó la edad, diagnóstico preoperatorio, tiempo quirúrgico, complicaciones, estadía hospitalaria, y a los resultados les fue aplicado el método estadístico de Chi cuadrado. Los principales resultados encontrados en nuestro trabajo fueron: en el grupo de esplenectomía laparoscópica 12 pacientes se fueron de alta en las primeras 96 horas, se operaron 8 pacientes entre 180 y 240 minutos y este grupo presentó costos hospitalarios menores. En el grupo de Esplenectomía convencional 11 pacientes se fueron de alta entre los 7 y 20 días, 12 pacientes se operaron entre 60 y 180 minutos y presentaron sepsis de la herida quirúrgica 6 casos. Palabras clave: BAZO/cirugía, ESPLENECTOMIA PERITONEOSCOPIA ABSTRACT A comparative cross ? sectional study is performed in 28 patients suffering from blood disorders who underwent a splecnectomy (14 using the conventional approach and 14, the minimal access procedures) aimed at performing a comparison between both surgical procedures by Surgical Department at Abel Santamaría University Hospital during May 1996 ? May 2002. A survey was being carried out taking the clinical records from the hospital archive and age, preoperative diagnosis, surgery time, complications, hospital stay were analyzed and it was used the chi ? square statistical method. The main results found in out study were: 12 patients were discharged from the hospital after 96 hours (laparoscopic splenectomy group), the surgery time in patients ranged between 180 and 240 minutes and this group presented the lower hospital cost. In the conventional splenectomy group, 11 patients were discharged ranged between 60 and 180 minutes and presented wound sepsis (6 cases).Key words: SPLEEN/surgery, SPLENECTOMY, PERITONEOSCOPY

Jurassic cooling ages in Paleozoic to early Mesozoic granitoids of northeastern Patagonia : 40Ar/39Ar, 40K–40Ar mica and U–Pb zircon evidence

University of Buenos Aires (PICTUBACYT X183), CONICET and ANPCYT (PICT20131162) financial support is acknowledged.U–Pb SHRIMP zircon crystallization ages and Ar–Ar and K–Ar mica cooling ages for basement rocks of the Yaminué and Nahuel Niyeu areas in northeastern Patagonia are presented. Granitoids that cover the time span from Ordovician to Early Triassic constitute the main outcrops of the western sector of the Yaminué block. The southern Yaminué Metaigneous Complex comprises highly deformed Ordovician and Permian granitoids crosscut by undeformed leucogranite dikes (U–Pb SHRIMP zircon age of 254 ± 2 Ma). Mica separates from highly deformed granitoids from the southern sector yielded an Ar–Ar muscovite age of 182 ± 3 Ma and a K–Ar biotite age of 186 ± 2 Ma. Moderately to highly deformed Permian to Early Triassic granitoids made up the northern Yaminué Complex. The Late Permian to Early Triassic (U–Pb SHRIMP zircon age of 252 ± 6 Ma) Cabeza de Vaca Granite of the Yaminué block yielded Jurassic mica K–Ar cooling ages (198 ± 2, 191 ± 1, and 190 ± 2 Ma). At the boundary between the Yaminué and Nahuel Niyeu blocks, K–Ar muscovite ages of 188 ± 3 and 193 ± 5 Ma were calculated for the Flores Granite, whereas the Early Permian Navarrete granodiorite, located in the Nahuel Niyeu block, yielded a K–Ar biotite age of 274 ± 4 Ma. The Jurassic thermal history is not regionally uniform. In the supracrustal exposures of the Nahuel Niyeu block, the Early Permian granitoids of its western sector as well as other Permian plutons and Ordovician leucogranites located further east show no evidence of cooling age reset since mica ages suggest cooling in the wake of crystallization of these intrusive rocks. In contrast, deeper crustal levels are inferred for Permian–Early Triassic granitoids in the Yaminué block since cooling ages for these rocks are of Jurassic age (198–182 Ma). Jurassic resetting is contemporaneous with the massive Lower Jurassic Flores Granite, and the Marifil and Chon Aike volcanic provinces. This intraplate deformational pulse that affected northeastern Patagonia during the Early Jurassic (Sinemurian–Pliensbachian) was responsible for the partial (re)exhumation of the mid-crustal Paleozoic basement along reactivated discrete NE–SW to ENE–WSW lineaments and the resetting of isotopic systems. These new thermochronological data indicate that Early Permian magmatic rocks of the Nahuel Niyeu block were below 300 °C for ca. 20 Ma prior to the onset of the main magmatic episode of the Late Permian to Triassic igneous and metaigneous rocks of the Yaminué block.PostprintPeer reviewe