Active Human and Porcine Serum Induce Competence for Genetic Transformation in the Emerging Zoonotic Pathogen Streptococcus suis.

The acquisition of novel genetic traits through natural competence is a strategy used by bacteria in microbe-rich environments where microbial competition, antibiotics, and host immune defenses threaten their survival. Here, we show that virulent strains of Streptococcus suis, an important zoonotic agent and porcine pathogen, become competent for genetic transformation with plasmid or linear DNA when cultured in active porcine and human serum. Competence was not induced in active fetal bovine serum, which contains less complement factors and immunoglobulins than adult serum and was strongly reduced in heat-treated or low-molecular weight fractions of active porcine serum. Late competence genes, encoding the uptake machinery for environmental DNA, were upregulated in the active serum. Competence development was independent of the early competence regulatory switch involving XIP and ComR, as well as sigma factor ComX, suggesting the presence of an alternative stress-induced pathway for regulation of the late competence genes required for DNA uptake

Assessing Creativity In Engineering Students: A Comparative Between Degrees and Sudents In First And Last Year

An online open access test (CREAX self-assessment) has been used in this work so that students from degrees in engineering in the Universidad Polite¿cnica of Madrid (UPM) could self-assess their creative competence after several classroom activities. Different groups from the first year course have been statistically compared using data from their assessment. These first year students had different professors in the subject ?Technical Drawing? and belonged to several degrees in the UPM. They were as well compared regarding sex and a group of first year students was also compared to another last year group of the degree so as to observe possible differences in the achievement of this competence. Only one difference was detected concerning sex in one of the degrees. Among degrees, the higher marks obtained by students who had done specific exercises for the development of creativity in class is highlighted. Finally, a significantly high mark was observed in students during their last year of degree with respect to first year students. The tool CREAX has become very useful in the assessment of this competence in the UPM degrees in which it has been implemented

Association of Thymidylate Synthase Polymorphisms with Acute Pancreatitis and/or Peripheral Neuropathy in HIV-Infected Patients on Stavudine-Based Therapy

Altres ajuts: Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS 02/1280, 05/1591, 07/0976, 08/00256), Fundación para la Prevención del SIDA en España (FIPSE 36610, 36572/06), and Red de Investigación en SIDA (RIS RD06/006/0022)Low expression thymidylate synthase (TS) polymorphism has been associated with increased stavudine triphosphate intracellular (d4T-TP) levels and the lipodystrophy syndrome. The use of d4T has been associated with acute pancreatitis and peripheral neuropathy. However, no relationship has ever been proved between TS polymorphisms and pancreatitis and/or peripheral neuropathy. We performed a case-control study to assess the relationship of TS and methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms with acute pancreatitis and/or peripheral neuropathy in patients exposed to d4T. Student's t test, Pearson's correlations, one-way ANOVA with Bonferroni correction and stepwise logistic regression analyses were done. Forty-three cases and 129 controls were studied. Eight patients (18.6%) had acute pancreatitis, and 35 (81.4%) had peripheral neuropathy. Prior AIDS was more frequent in cases than in controls (OR = 2.36; 95%CI 1.10-5.07, P = 0.0247). L7ow expression TS and MTHFR genotype associated with increased activity were more frequent in patients with acute pancreatitis and/or peripheral neuropathy than in controls (72.1% vs. 46.5%, OR = 2.97; 95%CI: 1.33-6.90, P = 0.0062, and 79.1% vs. 56.6%, OR = 2.90, 95%CI: 1.23-7.41, P = 0.0142, respectively). Independent positive or negative predictors for the development of d4T-associated pancreatitis and/or peripheral neuropathy were: combined TS and MTHFR genotypes (reference: A+A; P = 0.002; OR = 0.34 [95%CI: 0.08 to 1.44], OR = 3.38 [95%CI: 1.33 to 8.57], OR = 1.13 [95%CI: 0.34 to 3.71]), nadir CD4 cell count >200 cells/mm 3 (OR = 0.38; 95%CI: 0.17-0.86, P = 0.021), and HALS (OR = 0.39 95%CI: 0.18-0.85, P = 0.018). Low expression TS plus a MTHFR genotype associated with increased activity is associated with the development of peripheral neuropathy in d4T-exposed patients

The impact of CD160 deficiency on alloreactive CD8 T cell responses and allograft rejection

.CD160 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily with a pattern of expression mainly restricted to cytotoxic cells. To assess the functional relevance of the HVEM/CD160 signaling pathway in allogeneic cytotoxic responses, exon 2 of the CD160 gene was targeted by CRISPR/Cas9 to generate CD160 deficient mice. Next, we evaluated the impact of CD160 deficiency in the course of an alloreactive response. To that aim, parental donor WT (wild-type) or CD160 KO (knock-out) T cells were adoptively transferred into non-irradiated semiallogeneic F1 recipients, in which donor alloreactive CD160 KO CD4 T cells and CD8 T cells clonally expanded less vigorously than in WT T cell counterparts. This differential proliferative response rate at the early phase of T cell expansion influenced the course of CD8 T cell differentiation and the composition of the effector T cell pool that led to a significant decreased of the memory precursor effector cells (MPECs) / short-lived effector cells (SLECs) ratio in CD160 KO CD8 T cells compared to WT CD8 T cells. Despite these differences in T cell proliferation and differentiation, allogeneic MHC class I mismatched (bm1) skin allograft survival in CD160 KO recipients was comparable to that of WT recipients. However, the administration of CTLA-4.Ig showed an enhanced survival trend of bm1 skin allografts in CD160 KO with respect to WT recipients. Finally, CD160 deficient NK cells were as proficient as CD160 WT NK cells in rejecting allogeneic cellular allografts or MHC class I deficient tumor cells. CD160 may represent a CD28 alternative costimulatory molecule for the modulation of allogeneic CD8 T cell responses either in combination with costimulation blockade or by direct targeting of alloreactive CD8 T cells that upregulate CD160 expression in response to alloantigen stimulation.S

Reduction rate by decompression as a treatment of odontogenic cysts

Background: Odontogenic cysts are defined as those cysts that arise from odontogenic epithelium and occur in the tooth-bearing regions of the jaws. Cystectomy, marsupialization or decompression of odontogenic cyst are treatment approach to this pathology. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the decompression as the primary treatment of the cystic lesions of the jaws and them reduction rates involving different factors. Material and Methods: 23 patients with odontogenic cysts of the jaws, previously diagnosed by anatomical histopathology (follicular cysts (7) and radicular cysts (16)) underwent decompression as an initial treatment. Clinical examination and pre and post panoramic radiograph were measured and analyzed. In addition, data as gender, age, time reduction and location of the lesion were collected. Results: Significant results were obtained in relation to the location of lesions and the reduction rate (p<0.01). In a higher initial lesion, a greater reduction rate was observed (p<0.05). Conclusions: Decompression as an initial treatment of cystic lesions of the jaws was effective; it reduces the size of the lesions avoiding a possible damage to adjacent structures. Cystic lesions in the mandible, regardless of the area where they occur will have a higher reduction rate if it is compared with the maxilla. Similar behavior was identified in large lesions compared to smaller. Key words:Decompression, reduction rate, cyst, maxilla, mandible

Chitosan feasibility to retain retinal stem cell phenotype and slow proliferation for retinal transplantation

Retinal stem cells (RSCs) are promising in cell replacement strategies for retinal diseases. RSCs can migrate, differentiate, and integrate into retina. However, RSCs transplantation needs an adequate support; chitosan membrane (ChM) could be one, which can carry RSCs with high feasibility to support their integration into retina. RSCs were isolated, evaluated for phenotype, and subsequently grown on sterilized ChM and polystyrene surface for 8 hours, 1, 4, and 11 days for analysing cell adhesion, proliferation, viability, and phenotype. Isolated RSCs expressed GFAP, PKC, isolectin, recoverin, RPE65, PAX-6, cytokeratin 8/18, and nestin proteins. They adhered (28 ± 16%, 8 hours) and proliferated (40 ± 20 cells/field, day 1 and 244 ± 100 cells/field, day 4) significantly low on ChM. However, they maintained similar viability (>95%) and phenotype (cytokeratin 8/18, PAX6, and nestin proteins expression, day 11) on both surfaces (ChM and polystyrene). RSCs did not express alpha-SMA protein on both surfaces. RSCs express proteins belonging to epithelial, glial, and neural cells, confirming that they need further stimulus to reach a final destination of differentiation that could be provided in in vivo condition. ChM does not alternate RSCs behaviour and therefore can be used as a cell carrier so that slow proliferating RSCs can migrate and integrate into retina

La imagen y la narrativa como herramientas para el abordaje psicosocial en escenarios de violencia. Departamento de Arauca y Boyacá.

Este documento expone las concepciones teóricas y prácticas desde la perspectiva de intervención psicosocial en escenarios de violencia, mediante el análisis de casos; donde se desarrolla una descripción de cada uno de ellos. En primer lugar, realizando un análisis de caso de vida y esperanza, impactos psicosociales en la vida de la víctima. La adversidad solo es un medio en el cual desarrollar más el proyecto de vida que está determinado a seguir. El posicionamiento subjetivo del papel activo de la víctima, que no es solamente un actor aislado, sino que decide hacer frente a las circunstancias hostiles desde las posibilidades de resurgimiento a las cuales se aferra. Para establecer un contacto con la víctima, desde una estrategia narrativa, se desarrollan tres tipos de preguntas, con la intención de desplazar la identidad de víctima a identidad de sobreviviente. Preguntas estratégicas, que buscan movilizar por medio de confrontación; preguntas circulares, que buscan identificar contextos- relaciones; y preguntas reflexivas, que buscan generar aperturas, auto- observación, proyección y nuevos significados. Se plasman estrategias de abordaje psicosocial para el caso de Peñas Coloradas, una comunidad víctima del desplazamiento forzado por parte del estado, en el que analizan afectaciones como la estigmatización, el desarraigo, pérdida de identidad, entre otras. Dichas estrategias se enfocan en la autogestión, la potenciación, estrategias de afrontamiento y la construcción y re- construcción de memoria histórica. Por otro lado, se hace un análisis de la elaboración de foto voz, como estrategia narrativa de las comunidades víctimas de violencia. Las cualidades y fortalezas que desarrollan en los procesos socio – históricos, en el reconocimiento, en la búsqueda de sentido y reestructuración de tejido social que se ha visto vulnerado por las situaciones que se han vivido. Se comparte elaboración de wix con la narrativa desde la estrategia de foto voz, identificando las situaciones que se han evidenciado y como se ha realizado el ejercicio. Finalmente se presentan conclusiones frente al proceso académico realizado, en el aprendizaje, las nuevas formas de concebir la participación ciudadana, y como desde el ejercicio profesional se pueden apoyar estos procesos que permiten a las comunidades fortalecer su capacidad de afrontamiento.In this document, theoretical and practical conceptions are presented from the perspective of psychosocial intervention in scenes of violence, through the analysis of cases, where a description of each of them is developed. In the first place, carrying out a case analysis of life and hope, psychosocial impacts on the life of the victim. Adversity is only a means in which to further develop the life project that you are determined to follow. The subjective positioning of the active role of the victim, who is not only an isolated actor, but decides to face hostile circumstances from the possibilities of resurgence to which he clings. To establish contact with the victim, from a narrative strategy, three types of questions are developed, with the intention of moving the victim identity to the survivor identity. Strategic questions, which seek to mobilize through confrontation; circular questions, which seek to identify contexts-relationships; and reflexive questions, which seek to generate openings, self-observation, projection, and new meanings. Psychosocial approach strategies are elaborated in the case of Peñas Coloradas, a community victim of forced displacement by the state, in which they analyze effects such as stigmatization, uprooting, loss of identity, among others. These strategies focus on self-management, empowerment, coping strategies and the construction and reconstruction of historical memory. On the other hand, an analysis is made of the elaboration of photo voices, as a narrative strategy of the communities’ victims of violence. The qualities and strengths that they develop in the socio-historical processes, in the recognition, in the search for meaning and restructuring of the social fabric that has been violated by the situations that have been experienced. The elaboration of wix is shared with the narrative from the photo-voice strategy, identifying the situations that have been evidenced and how the exercise has been carried out. Finally, conclusions are presented regarding the academic process carried out, in learning, new ways of conceiving citizen participation, and how these processes can be supported from professional practice that allow communities to strengthen their coping capacity

miRNA profiling during antigen-dependent T cell activation: A role for miR-132-3p

microRNAs (miRNAs) are tightly regulated during T lymphocyte activation to enable the establishment of precise immune responses. Here, we analyzed the changes of the miRNA profiles of T cells in response to activation by cognate interaction with dendritic cells. We also studied mRNA targets common to miRNAs regulated in T cell activation. pik3r1 gene, which encodes the regulatory subunits of PI3K p50, p55 and p85, was identified as target of miRNAs upregulated after T cell activation. Using 3'UTR luciferase reporter-based and biochemical assays, we showed the inhibitory relationship between miR-132-3p upregulation and expression of the pik3r1 gene. Our results indicate that specific miRNAs whose expression is modulated during T cell activation might regulate PI3K signaling in T cells.We thank Miguel Vicente-Manzanares for help with English editing and Almudena R. Ramiro for helpful discussions. We appreciate help from Gloria Martinez del Hoyo on DCs experiments set up. We also thank the CNIC Genomics, Bioinformatics and Cellomics Units for technical support. This work was supported by grants SAF2014-55579R from Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad-Spain, ERC-2011-AdG 294340-GENTRIS, CIBER CARDIOVASCULAR (FEDER and Instituto de Salud Carlos III), PIE-13-00041 and INDISNET S2011-BMD-2332 (F.S.M.). The Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC, Spain) is supported by the Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad-Spain and the Pro-CNIC Foundation.S

Safety and Biocompatibility of a New High-Density Polyethylene-Based Spherical Integrated Porous Orbital Implant: An Experimental Study in Rabbits

Purpose. To evaluate clinically and histologically the safety and biocompatibility of a new HDPE-based spherical porous orbital implants in rabbits. Methods. MEDPOR (Porex Surgical, Inc., Fairburn, GA, USA), OCULFIT I, and OCULFIT II (AJL Ophthalmic S.A., Vitoria, Spain) implants were implanted in eviscerated rabbis. Animals were randomly divided into 6 groups (n=4 each) according to the 3 implant materials tested and 2 follow-up times of 90 or 180 days. Signs of regional pain and presence of eyelid swelling, conjunctival hyperemia, and amount of exudate were semiquantitatively evaluated. After animals sacrifice, the implants and surrounding ocular tissues were processed for histological staining and polarized light evaluation. Statistical study was performed by ANOVA and Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results. No statistically significant differences in regional pain, eyelid swelling, or conjunctival hyperemia were shown between implants and/or time points evaluated. However, amount of exudate differed, with OCULFIT I causing the smallest amount. No remarkable clinical complications were observed. Histological findings were similar in all three types of implants and agree with minor inflammatory response. Conclusions. OCULFIT ophthalmic tolerance and biocompatibility in rabbits were comparable to the clinically used MEDPOR. Clinical studies are needed to determine if OCULFIT is superior to the orbital implants commercially available