Punta Querandí: disputas por el espacio entre las urbanizaciones cerradas y los movimientos sociales

El presente informe es el resultado del trabajo llevado a cabo por los alumnos del sexto año de la Escuela Secundaria del Colegio San Simón, de la ciudad de La Plata, en el marco de la asignatura de la Orientación en Ciencias Sociales denominada Proyectos de Investigación en Ciencias Sociales, durante el ciclo lectivo 2012. Se estudió el conflicto alrededor del paraje denominado Punta Querandí, ubicado entre los partidos de Tigre y Escobar, para abordar la problemática de las disputas por el espacio entre las urbanizaciones cerradas y los movimientos sociales. Se da cuenta de las sucesivas etapas de elaboración del diseño de investigación, la realización del trabajo de campo y las conclusiones alcanzadas al finalizar el año lectivo.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació

Is acetazolamide effective in the treatment of diabetic macular edema? A pilot study.

To investigate whether acetazolamide, already found to be helpful in decreasing cystoid macular edema in patients with retinitis pigmentosa, was also effective in the treatment of diabetic macular edema in nonproliferative retinopathy. Two randomized age- and sex-matched groups (cases and controls) of 12 diabetics (five Type 1 and seven Type 2) were selected for this pilot study and graded for retinopathy (Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study-Airlie House Classification). Cases were treated with acetazolamide for three months according to a standard protocol. The Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study chart was used for assessing far-best corrected visual-acuity, and fluorescein angiography was performed using the Heidelberg Retina Angiograph. The Amsler grid-test and computerized-perimetry (Octopus 2000R) were also performed. Fluorescein-angiographic findings and perimetric data improved significantly (p < 0.01) in the acetazolamide-treated cases compared to the controls while visual-acuity varied only slightly (p > 0.01). The Amsler grid-test resulted insignificant in our study (p > 0.05). No adverse effects or significant variations in laboratory tests were recorded. Further clinical investigations involving larger numbers of patients and a longer follow-up are required to confirm these preliminary results. However, the present study seems to suggest that acetazolamide could be effective in reducing fluorescein-angiographic findings and improving perimetric data in diabetics with macular edema, even though the mechanism of action remains obscure. Visual-acuity varied only slightl

Serum levels of 90K glycoprotein in type-1 diabetic patients

Purpose. The n-glycoprotein termed 90K was first identified in the serum of healthy individuals, and was found to be elevated in the serum of patients with various types of cancer and in patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). More recently, abnormal serum 90K levels were found in significant fractions of patient populations with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These findings suggest an important role for 90K in immune-related disorders and led us to evaluate whether diabetic patients could bear an alteration of its circulating values. Insuline-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), better known as type-1 DM, is a relatively frequent systemic disease has a well known aumoimmune pathogenesis even if its etiology is certainly multifactorial. The aim of our study was to evaluate 90K serum levels in a group of IDDM patients with retinopathy at various stages of severity, in order to investigate the potential role of this glycoprotein as a further monitoring parameter for this category of patients. Methods. Blood samples of 8 ml were obtained from a group of 40 IDDM (mean age was 39.7) and from 40 age- and sex-matched healthy blood donors as controls. Excluded from the study were all patients with systemic diseases that could potentially bias 90K measurements (e.g., cancer, immunodepression, other immune-related diseases), and patients using immunomodulating or immuno-suppressive agents. 90K values were detected by a radioimmunological assay. Results showed significantly (p=0.0031) elevated 90K titles in IDDM patients (mean 6.4 U/ml) compared to normals (mean 3.4 U/ml). Patients with background retinopathy (BR, grades 1-4) showed, on average, higher 90K levels (6.77±4.66 U/ml) than diabetic subjects with no retinopathy (5.68±3.51 U/ml) while no statistically significant difference was seen between diabetics with no retinopathy and normals. Conclusions. We can consider that IDDM patients serum levels of this novel marker of immunological alterations may reflect different stages of the diseases and that immune system contributes to the retinal damage as monitored by 90K elevated values

Coagulation pathways and diabetic retinopathy: abnormal modulation in a selected group of insulin dependent diabetic patients

Aims-To investigate whether diabetic retinopathy (DR), already associated with microvascular alterations, ischaemia, and endothelial dysfunction, was also characterised by abnormal modulation of coagulation pathways. Methods-Plasma samples, collected from 67 type 1 diabetics comparable for age, duration of disease (DD), and metabolic control (MC), were processed for prothrombin degradation products (F1+2) and factor VII coagulant activity (FVII:c). 50 normal subjects served as a control group. The ETDRS-Airlie House Classification of DR was used. Results-A significant correlation between FVII:c and F1+2 plasma concentrations was observed (p 0.05). Conclusions-These findings pointed out the presence of a hypercoagulable state associated with endothelial dysfunction in patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), demonstrated both by increased FVII:c and F1+2 plasma levels. Moreover, the observation of different DR related degrees of procoagulant activity, despite comparable DD and IMC, strengthens the hypothesis of multiple risk factors in the pathogenesis of DR

Dynamin controls extracellular level of Awd/Nme1 metastasis suppressor protein

Dynamin GTPase (Dyn) plays a critical role in membrane-remodelling events underlying endocytosis. Studies in Drosophila identified a functional interaction between the Dyn homologue, encoded by the shibire (shi) gene, and Abnormal wing discs (Awd), a nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) that is the homologue of group I Nme human genes. These Drosophila studies showed that awd mutations enhance mutant shi phenotype and thus indicated the existence of a highly specific interaction between these genes. Furthermore, in human cells, it has been shown that Nme proteins promote Dyn activity in different membrane compartments through spatially controlled supply of GTP. Interestingly, Awd and Nme proteins have been detected in the extracellular environment. While no role has been inferred to extracellular Awd, presence of Nme1 in cancer patient serum is an unfavourable prognostic marker. In the present work, we used Drosophila and human cell line models to investigate the shuttling Awd/Nme1 proteins between intracellular and extracellular spaces. By using classic and reverse genetic approaches, we show that downregulation of Shi/Dyn1 activity enhances extracellular Awd/Nme1 in both Drosophila and human colon cell lines. We extended our analyses to colon cancer cell lines and found that knocking down Dyn1, besides to raise Nme1 extracellular amount, downregulates expression of molecular components that play key roles in tumour invasion. Interestingly, in vivo analyses of Drosophila larval adipocytes show that the conditional block of Shi activity greatly reduces intracellular amount of Awd confirming that Shi plays a key role in controlling the balance between intracellular and extracellular Awd

SCREENING OF EARLY COLOR-VISION DEFECTS IN INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETIC-PATIENTS WITH BACKGROUND RETINOPATHY

The most reliable procedure for the screening and the monitoring of colour vision defects in IDDM patients is the Lanthony D-15 Desaturated test.Particularly, CCS appeared to be a useful indicator of the metabolic monitoring, while Dsat reflected more directly the severity of anatomical abnormalities

Combining current knowledge of Cypripedium calceolus with a new analysis of genetic variation in Italian populations to provide guidelines for conservation actions

The split between conservation science and real-world application is an ongoing issue despite several calls for unification. Researchers are empowered to partially bridge the research-implementation gap by making their findings more accessible. Cypripedium calceolus is the most recognizable orchid of the European flora, and is currently facing habitat change and fragmentation, in addition to threats from collectors and illegal traders. Although several studies have focused on the ecological and genetic features of the species, a comprehensive account of how such aspects can be translated into concrete conservation recommendations is still missing. In this study, we describe microsatellite genetic variation in 188 individuals from different Italian populations of C. calceolus. Our results indicate the need for immediate conservation action for the most isolated populations in the Central Apennines and north-western Italy. Although our genetic findings are specific to the Italian populations, our aim is to review ecological and population genetic aspects in C. calceolus and their implications for conservation against the existing threats. Therefore, our detailed guidelines for translocation, habitat management and post-translocation monitoring can be used to inform conservation strategies in threatened populations of C. calceolus across its range.The genetic part of the present study was partially funded by Natural England (UK)

Ultrafast Transverse Modulation of Free Electrons by Interaction with Shaped Optical Fields

Spatiotemporal electron-beam shaping is a bold frontier of electron microscopy. Over the past decade, shaping methods evolved from static phase plates to low-speed electrostatic and magnetostatic displays. Recently, a swift change of paradigm utilizing light to control free electrons has emerged. Here, we experimentally demonstrate arbitrary transverse modulation of electron beams without complicated electron-optics elements or material nanostructures, but rather using shaped light beams. On-demand spatial modulation of electron wavepackets is obtained via inelastic interaction with transversely shaped ultrafast light fields controlled by an external spatial light modulator. We illustrate this method for the cases of Hermite-Gaussian and Laguerre-Gaussian modulation and discuss their use in enhancing microscope sensitivity. Our approach dramatically widens the range of patterns that can be imprinted on the electron profile and greatly facilitates tailored electron-beam shaping.LUME

Clinical outcomes and management of JAK inhibitor-associated acne in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis undergoing upadacitinib: A multicenter retrospective study

Clinical outcomes and management of JAK inhibitor-associated acne in patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis undergoing upadacitinib: A multicenter retrospective stud