Mapuche health experiences in Primary Health Care from health workers and users in urban Chile

This study describes experiences and perceptions on interculturality in Primary Health Care (PHC) from the perspective of health workers and Mapuche health users. For this purpose, a qualitative systematization of these experiences was carried out in a PHC Intercultural Health Program at an urban commune in Chile. Data were collected by means of individual and group interviews, respectively, with 19 users and 13 professionals. The semantic content analysis was performed. While service users perceive Mapuche health positively, assimilating it to the concept of interculturality, health workers reported that Mapuche health is respected but no integrated work is promoted. As barriers, participants cited administrative aspects, lack of integration, and scientific issues. In conclusion, recognition of indigenous health and greater occupational training on indigenous health and interculturality is necessary.Este estudio describe experiencias y percepciones sobre interculturalidad en Atención Primaria de Salud (APS) desde la perspectiva de trabajadores/as y usuarios/as de salud mapuche. Se realizó una sistematización cualitativa de experiencias de un Programa de Salud Intercultural en APS en una comuna urbana de Chile. Participaron 19 usuarios/as y 13 trabajadores/as en entrevistas individuales y tres entrevistas grupales, respectivamente. Se realizó un análisis de contenido semántico. Para los participantes, la salud mapuche es percibida positivamente, los/as usuarios/as la asimilan al concepto de interculturalidad, mientras que los/as trabajadores/as señalan que, si bien se respeta, no se promueve un trabajo integrado. Los/las participantes identifican como barreras aspectos administrativos, falta de integración y cuestionamientos científicos. Se requiere reconocimiento de la salud indígena y mayor formación de trabajadores/as sobre salud indígena e interculturalidad

Protein kinase C ζ interacts with a novel binding region of Gαq to act as a functional effector

Heterotrimeric G proteins play an essential role in the initiation of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling through specific interactions with a variety of cellular effectors. We have recently reported that GPCR activation promotes a direct interaction between Gαq and protein kinase C ζ (PKCζ), leading to the stimulation of the ERK5 pathway independent of the canonical effector PLCβ. We report herein that the activation-dependent Gαq/PKCζ complex involves the basic PB1-type II domain of PKCζ and a novel interaction module in Gαq different from the classical effector-binding site. Point mutations in this Gαq region completely abrogate ERK5 phosphorylation, indicating that Gαq/PKCζ association is required for the activation of the pathway. Indeed, PKCζ was demonstrated to directly bind ERK5 thus acting as a scaffold between Gαq and ERK5 upon GPCR activation. The inhibition of these protein complexes by G proteincoupled receptor kinase 2, a known Gαq modulator, led to a complete abrogation of ERK5 stimulation. Finally, we reveal thatGαq/ PKCζ complexes link Gαq to apoptotic cell death pathways. Our data suggest that the interaction between this novel region in Gαq and the effector PKCζ is a key event in Gαq signaling.Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (SAF2011-23800, SAF2014-55511-R), Fundación Ramón Areces, The Cardiovascular Diseases Network of Ministerio Sanidad y Consumo-Instituto Carlos III (RD12/0042/0012), Comunidad de Madrid (S-2011/BMD-2332), and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI11/00126, PI14/00201) (to F. M. and C. R.). This work was also supported in part by the NIGMS, National Institutes of Health Grant R01-GM088242 (to G. T.), the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) (MOP-GMX-231013) (to S. M.), an EMBO Short Fellowship (to G. S. F.), and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER, European Union)Peer Reviewe

Denser brain capillary network with preserved pericytes in Alzheimer's disease

Pericytes are vascular mural cells that surround capillaries of the central nervous system (CNS). They are crucial for brain development and contribute to CNS homeostasis by regulating blood-brain barrier function and cerebral blood flow. It has been suggested that pericytes are lost in Alzheimer's disease (AD), implicating this cell type in disease pathology. Here, we have employed state-of-the-art stereological morphometry techniques as well as tissue clearing and two-photon imaging to assess the distribution of pericytes in two independent cohorts of AD (n = 16 and 13) and non-demented controls (n = 16 and 4). Stereological quantification revealed increased capillary density with a normal pericyte population in the frontal cortex of AD brains, a region with early amyloid beta deposition. Two-photon analysis of cleared frontal cortex tissue confirmed the preservation of pericytes in AD cases. These results suggest that pericyte demise is not a general hallmark of AD pathology

Experiencias de salud mapuche en Atención Primaria de Salud desde trabajadores sanitarios y usuarios/as en zona urbana de Chile

This study describes experiences and perceptions on interculturality in Primary Health Care (PHC) from the perspective of health workers and Mapuche health users. For this purpose, a qualitative systematization of these experiences was carried out in a PHC Intercultural Health Program at an urban commune in Chile. Data were collected by means of individual and group interviews, respectively, with 19 users and 13 professionals. The semantic content analysis was performed. While service users perceive Mapuche health positively, assimilating it to the concept of interculturality, health workers reported that Mapuche health is respected but no integrated work is promoted. As barriers, participants cited administrative aspects, lack of integration, and scientific issues. In conclusion, recognition of indigenous health and greater occupational training on indigenous health and interculturality is necessary.Este estudio describe experiencias y percepciones sobre interculturalidad en Atención Primaria de Salud (APS) desde la perspectiva de trabajadores/as y usuarios/as de salud mapuche. Se realizó una sistematización cualitativa de experiencias de un Programa de Salud Intercultural en APS en una comuna urbana de Chile. Participaron 19 usuarios/as y 13 trabajadores/as en entrevistas individuales y tres entrevistas grupales, respectivamente. Se realizó un análisis de contenido semántico. Para los participantes, la salud mapuche es percibida positivamente, los/as usuarios/as la asimilan al concepto de interculturalidad, mientras que los/as trabajadores/as señalan que, si bien se respeta, no se promueve un trabajo integrado. Los/las participantes identifican como barreras aspectos administrativos, falta de integración y cuestionamientos científicos. Se requiere reconocimiento de la salud indígena y mayor formación de trabajadores/as sobre salud indígena e interculturalidad

Chronic Exercise Improves Mitochondrial Function and Insulin Sensitivity in Brown Adipose Tissue

The aim of the present work was to study the consequences of chronic exercise training on factors involved in the regulation of mitochondrial remodeling and biogenesis, as well as the ability to produce energy and improve insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in rat brown adipose tissue (BAT). Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: (1) control group (C; n = 10) and (2) exercise-trained rats (ET; n = 10) for 8 weeks on a motor treadmill (five times per week for 50 min). Exercise training reduced body weight, plasma insulin, and oxidized LDL concentrations. Protein expression of ATP-independent metalloprotease (OMA1), short optic atrophy 1 (S-OPA1), and dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1) in BAT increased in trained rats, and long optic atrophy 1 (L-OPA1) and mitofusin 1 (MFN1) expression decreased. BAT expression of nuclear respiratory factor type 1 (NRF1) and mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM), the main factors involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, was higher in trained rats compared to controls. Exercise training increased protein expression of sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC1α) and AMP-activated protein kinase (pAMPK/AMPK ratio) in BAT. In addition, training increased carnitine palmitoyltransferase II (CPT II), mitochondrial F1 ATP synthase α-chain, mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase 2 (mMDH) and uncoupling protein (UCP) 1,2,3 expression in BAT. Moreover, exercise increased insulin receptor (IR) ratio (IRA/IRB ratio), IRA-insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF-1R) hybrids and p42/44 activation, and decreased IGF-1R expression and IR substrate 1 (p-IRS-1) (S307) indicating higher insulin sensitivity and favoring glucose uptake in BAT in response to chronic exercise training. In summary, the present study indicates that chronic exercise is able to improve the energetic profile of BAT in terms of increased mitochondrial function and insulin sensitivity

Origin and pathways of the mineral dust transport to two Spanish EARLINET sites: Effect on the observed columnar and range-resolved dust optical properties

In this paper, is presented a method for estimation of the effect of the transport process to aerosol optical properties. Aerosol optical data retrieved by lidars and sun-photometer measurements, are applied to Saharan dust events observed simultaneously at the two EARLINET/AERONET sites of Barcelona and Granada during the periods of June–September of 2012 and 2013. For this purpose, elastic lidar profiles and sun-photometer columnar retrievals are analyzed together with satellite observations and dust forecast models. Granada presents more than twice Saharan dust outbreaks compared to Barcelona. The scenarios favoring the Saharan dust outbreaks are identified in both places. The mineral dust originating in the Sahara region and arriving at both stations is usually transport wither over the Atlas Mountains or through an Atlantic pathway. Analyses of dust events affecting both stations reveal how differences in the transport process lead to differences in the aerosol optical properties measured at each station. Mean dust related Ångström exponent is 1.8 times higher in Barcelona than in Granada. This difference is a result of the additional contribution of anthropogenic aerosol, mainly in the aerosol fine mode, during the transport of the mineral dust plume over the Iberian Peninsula.Andalusia Regional Government through the project P12-RNM-2409Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness through the project CGL2013-45410-

Structural and mechanistic insights into s-block bimetallic catalysis : sodium magnesiate-catalyzed guanylation of amines

To advance the catalytic applications of s-block mixed-metal complexes, sodium magnesiate [NaMg(CH2SiMe3)3] (1) is reported as an efficient precatalyst for the guanylation of a variety of anilines and secondary amines with carbodiimides. First examples of hydrophosphination of carbodiimides by using a Mg catalyst are also described. The catalytic ability of the mixed-metal system is much greater than that of its homometallic components [NaCH2SiMe3 ] and [Mg(CH2SiMe3)2]. Stoichiometric studies suggest that magnesiate amido and guanidinate complexes are intermediates in these catalytic routes. Reactivity and kinetic studies imply that these guanylation reactions occur via (tris)amide intermediates that react with carbodiiimides in insertion steps. The rate law for the guanylation of N,N'-diisopropylcarbodiimide with 4-tert-butylaniline catalyzed by 1 is first order with respect to [amine], [carbodiimide], and [catalyst], and the reaction shows a large kinetic isotopic effect, which is consistent with an amine-assisted rate-determining carbodiimide insertion transition state. Studies to assess the effect of sodium in these transformations denote a secondary role with little involvement in the catalytic cycle

"Bioinformática con Ñ v1.0": a collaborative project of young Spanish scientists to write a complete book about Bioinformatics

Here we present a project aiming to provide specialized educational bibliography on Bioinformatics for Spanish speakers. The idea of writing a book in Spanish language covering the most important topics in the field of Bioinformatics was born in the XIth Spanish Symposium on Bioinformatics in Barcelona two years ago. Different scientists have been involved in the project, from senior scientists to PhD students from different countries. The book intends to be the beginning of an open project, where all the chapters are susceptible of being updated and new topics can be incorporated in future versions. Current book version can be accessed online at http://goo.gl/UYG0o7.Peer Reviewe

Sarcoma classification by DNA methylation profiling

Sarcomas are malignant soft tissue and bone tumours affecting adults, adolescents and children. They represent a morphologically heterogeneous class of tumours and some entities lack defining histopathological features. Therefore, the diagnosis of sarcomas is burdened with a high inter-observer variability and misclassification rate. Here, we demonstrate classification of soft tissue and bone tumours using a machine learning classifier algorithm based on array-generated DNA methylation data. This sarcoma classifier is trained using a dataset of 1077 methylation profiles from comprehensively pre-characterized cases comprising 62 tumour methylation classes constituting a broad range of soft tissue and bone sarcoma subtypes across the entire age spectrum. The performance is validated in a cohort of 428 sarcomatous tumours, of which 322 cases were classified by the sarcoma classifier. Our results demonstrate the potential of the DNA methylation-based sarcoma classification for research and future diagnostic applications