Síndrome del intestino permeable: Una nueva diana terapéutica en el control de la inflamación sistémica de origen autoinmune a tener en cuenta

Los hallazgos clínicos y experimentales recientes orientan al intestino delgado como posible asiento etiológico de los desórdenes autoinmunes sistémicos. El síndrome del intestino permeable constituye un modelo teórico que justificaría la génesis de distintos procesos inmunológicos que a su vez podrían explicar en diferente medida la aparición o la persistencia de manifestaciones de enfermedades sistémicas reumatológicas. El presente trabajo pretende resumir algunos aspectos relevantes de este modelo y comentar la información científica disponible más significativa

Deep Vein Thrombosis in Upper Limb in a Weightlifter

AIM: We report an unusual case of a male weightlifter with upper extremity venous thrombosis.CASE PRESENTATION: Thrombosis affecting subclavian-axillo-humeral venous trunk produced by the compression of these veins by the trained muscles of the shoulder girdle (Paget-Schroetter syndrome) has been reported. During the study, a renal carcinoma was detected. Renal carcinoma has rarely been associated with thrombosis in the upper extremities.CONCLUSION: This case shows the importance of performing a complete study to rule out malignancies in patients with unusual venous thromboembolism

Clubes y selecciones nacionales de fútbol : La dimensión etnoterritorial del fútbol español

La primera parte de este trabajo muestra, desde una perspectiva general, la simultaneidad histórica en el surgimiento y desarrollo del fútbol y la construcción de los modernos Estados-nación, así como su posterior diferenciación en el contexto socioeconómico de la globalización. Esa diferenciación o separación institucional implica una alteración y reajuste de las dinámicas identitarias asociadas a este deporte. Sobre ese trasfondo histórico y conceptual se plantea una investigación de la dimensión etnoterritorial del fútbol español actual. Tras dedicar la segunda parte del artículo a revisar los aspectos etnoterritoriales de su evolución histórica, en la tercera parte se presenta el análisis del caso español. El estudio se realiza en cuatro apartados. En primer lugar, se presentan diversos datos que muestran el interés por el fútbol en la sociedad española. En segundo lugar, se analiza la capacidad de adscripción identitaria de los clubes de fútbol de Primera División, en general, y del F.C. Barcelona, en particular. En tercer lugar, se examina la ambivalencia simbólica de la selección española de fútbol. En cuarto lugar, se presentan datos sobre el apoyo a la creación de selecciones deportivas regionales y la valoración de su participación internacional cuando se trata de selecciones catalanas.The first part of this paper shows, from a general viewpoint, the historical simultaneity in the emergence and development of football and the building of modern Nation-States, as well as their next differentiation in the socio-economical context of globalization. This differentiation or institutional separation implies an alteration and readjustment of the identity dynamic associated to this sport. Above this historical and conceptual background we consider a research on the ethnoterritorial dimension of the Spanish football. After dedicating the second part of the article to study some ethnoterritorial keys of his historic development, in the third part we present the analysis of the Spanish case. The study is carried out in four ways. First, we present some data about the interest in football in the Spanish society. Second, we analyze the capacity of identity adscription of the Spanish First Division football clubs, in general, and we analyze in more detail the case of F.C. Barcelona. Third, we examine the symbolic ambivalence of the Spanish national football team. Fourth, we present some data about support to the creation of regional sportive teams, as well as assessment of international participation in the case of Catalan national [email protected]

Ascending midbrain dopaminergic axons require descending GAD65 axon fascicles for normal pathfinding

The Nigrostriatal pathway (NSP) is formed by dopaminergic axons that project from the ventral midbrain to the dorsolateral striatum as part of the medial forebrain bundle. Previous studies have implicated chemotropic proteins in the formation of the NSP during development but little is known of the role of substrate-anchored signals in this process. We observed in mouse and rat embryos that midbrain dopaminergic axons ascend in close apposition to descending GAD65-positive axon bundles throughout their trajectory to the striatum. To test whether such interaction is important for dopaminergic axon pathfinding, we analyzed transgenic mouse embryos in which the GAD65 axon bundle was reduced by the conditional expression of the diphtheria toxin. In these embryos we observed dopaminergic misprojection into the hypothalamic region and abnormal projection in the striatum. In addition, analysis of Robo1/2 and Slit1/2 knockout embryos revealed that the previously described dopaminergic misprojection in these embryos is accompanied by severe alterations in the GAD65 axon scaffold. Additional studies with cultured dopaminergic neurons and whole embryos suggest that NCAM and Robo proteins are involved in the interaction of GAD65 and dopaminergic axons. These results indicate that the fasciculation between descending GAD65 axon bundles and ascending dopaminergic axons is required for the stereotypical NSP formation during brain development and that known guidance cues may determine this projection indirectly by instructing the pathfinding of the axons that are part of the GAD65 axon scaffold

3D spectroscopy of merger Seyfert galaxy Mrk 334: nuclear starburst, superwind and the circumnuclear cavern

We are presenting new results on kinematics and structure of the Mrk 334 Seyfert galaxy. Panoramic (3D) spectroscopy is performed at the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences using the MPFS integral-field spectrograph and scanning Fabry--Perot interferometer. The deep images have revealed that Mrk 334 is observed during the final stage of its merging with a massive companion. A possible mass ratio ranges from 1/5 to 1/3. The merger has triggered mass redistribution in the disk resulting in an intensification of nuclear activity and in a burst of star formation in the inner region of the galaxy. The circumnuclear starburst is so intense that its contribution to the gas ionization exceeds that contribution of the AGN. We interpret the nuclear gas outflow with velocities of ~200 km/s as a galactic superwind that accompanies the violent star formation. This suggestion is consistent with the asymmetric X-ray brightness distribution in Mrk 334. The trajectory of the fragments of the disrupted satellite in the vicinity of the main galaxy nucleus can be traced. In the galaxy disk a cavern is found that is filled with a low-density ionized gas. We consider this region to be the place where the remnants of the companion have recently penetrated through the gaseous disk of the main galaxy.Comment: 13 pages, 13 figures, 2 table; accepted for publication by MNRA

Macroalgal responses to ocean acidification depend on nutrient and light levels

Ocean acidification may benefit algae that are able to capitalize on increased carbon availability for photosynthesis, but it is expected to have adverse effects on calcified algae through dissolution. Shifts in dominance between primary producers will have knock-on effects on marine ecosystems and will likely vary regionally, depending on factors such as irradiance (light vs. shade) and nutrient levels (oligotrophic vs. eutrophic). Thus experiments are needed to evaluate interactive effects of combined stressors in the field. In this study, we investigated the physiological responses of macroalgae near a CO2 seep in oligotrophic waters off Vulcano (Italy). The algae were incubated in situ at 0.2 m depth using a combination of three mean CO2 levels (500, 700-800 and 1200 μatm CO2), two light levels (100 and 70% of surface irradiance) and two nutrient levels of N, P, and K (enriched vs. non-enriched treatments) in the non-calcified macroalga Cystoseira compressa (Phaeophyceae, Fucales) and calcified Padina pavonica (Phaeophyceae, Dictyotales). A suite of biochemical assays and in vivo chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters showed that elevated CO2 levels benefitted both of these algae, although their responses varied depending on light and nutrient availability. In C. compressa, elevated CO2 treatments resulted in higher carbon content and antioxidant activity in shaded conditions both with and without nutrient enrichment-they had more Chla, phenols and fucoxanthin with nutrient enrichment and higher quantum yield (Fv/Fm) and photosynthetic efficiency (αETR) without nutrient enrichment. In P. pavonica, elevated CO2 treatments had higher carbon content, Fv/Fm, αETR, and Chla regardless of nutrient levels-they had higher concentrations of phenolic compounds in nutrient enriched, fully-lit conditions and more antioxidants in shaded, nutrient enriched conditions. Nitrogen content increased significantly in fertilized treatments, confirming that these algae were nutrient limited in this oligotrophic part of the Mediterranean. Our findings strengthen evidence that brown algae can be expected to proliferate as the oceans acidify where physicochemical conditions, such as nutrient levels and light, permit

SCREENING FOR ANTIBACTERIAL AND ANTIPROTOZOAL ACTIVITIES OF CRUDE EXTRACTS DERIVED FROM MEXICAN MEDICINAL PLANTS

Background: Crataegus mexicana, Hyptis albida, Larrea tridentata, Ocimum baislicum, Prunus serotina, and Smilax spp. are used in Mexican traditional medicine to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases such as flu, cough, diarrhea, dysentery, and other parasitic or microbial infections. Therefore this study was aimed at the pharmacological prospection of these plants against eleven bacterial species and three amitochondrial protist pathogens. Material and methods: The fruits or aerial parts of C. mexicana, H. albida, L. tridentata, O. baislicum, P. serotina, and Smilax spp. were extracted with different solvents. The antibacterial properties of organic and aqueous extracts of these plants were determined by the microdilution method and the microplate alamar blue assay against Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter cloacae, Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Enterococcus faecalis, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis, whereas anti-protozoal activities of extracts were evaluated by a vial micro-assay against strains of Entamoeba histolytica, Trichomonas vaginalis, and Giardia lamblia. Results: H. albida, Smilax spp, and C. mexicana showed good activity against the Gram-positive strains, S. aureus, methicillin-resistant S. aureus, and E. faecalis. Four extracts (C. mexicana, H. albida, O. basilicum, and L. tridentata) showed good activity against E. histolytica, T. vaginalis, and G. lamblia. Conclusion: The extracts of these six medicinal plants could be a source for new antibacterial and antiprotozoal drugs. For this reason they are currently under investigation to isolate and characterize their active compounds

Revisiting cAMP signaling in the carotid body

Chronic carotid body (CB) activation is now recognized as being essential in the development of hypertension and promoting insulin resistance; thus, it is imperative to characterize the chemotransduction mechanisms of this organ in order to modulate its activity and improve patient outcomes. For several years, and although controversial, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) was considered an important player in initiating the activation of the CB. However, its relevance was partially displaced in the 90s by the emerging role of the mitochondria and molecules such as AMP-activated protein kinase and O(2)-sensitive K(+) channels. Neurotransmitters/neuromodulators binding to metabotropic receptors are essential to chemotransmission in the CB, and cAMP is central to this process. cAMP also contributes to raise intracellular Ca(2+) levels, and is intimately related to the cellular energetic status (AMP/ATP ratio). Furthermore, cAMP signaling is a target of multiple current pharmacological agents used in clinical practice. This review (1) provides an outline on the classical view of the cAMP-signaling pathway in the CB that originally supported its role in the O(2)/CO(2) sensing mechanism, (2) presents recent evidence on CB cAMP neuromodulation and (3) discusses how CB activity is affected by current clinical therapies that modify cAMP-signaling, namely dopaminergic drugs, caffeine (modulation of A(2A)/A(2B) receptors) and roflumilast (PDE4 inhibitors). cAMP is key to any process that involves metabotropic receptors and the intracellular pathways involved in CB disease states are likely to involve this classical second messenger. Research examining the potential modification of cAMP levels and/or interactions with molecules associated with CB hyperactivity is currently in its beginning and this review will open doors for future explorations