Protein Quality Control Disruption by PKCβII in Heart Failure; Rescue by the Selective PKCβII Inhibitor, βIIV5-3

Myocardial remodeling and heart failure (HF) are common sequelae of many forms of cardiovascular disease and a leading cause of mortality worldwide. Accumulation of damaged cardiac proteins in heart failure has been described. However, how protein quality control (PQC) is regulated and its contribution to HF development are not known. Here, we describe a novel role for activated protein kinase C isoform βII (PKCβII) in disrupting PQC. We show that active PKCβII directly phosphorylated the proteasome and inhibited proteasomal activity in vitro and in cultured neonatal cardiomyocytes. Importantly, inhibition of PKCβII, using a selective PKCβII peptide inhibitor (βIIV5-3), improved proteasomal activity and conferred protection in cultured neonatal cardiomyocytes. We also show that sustained inhibition of PKCβII increased proteasomal activity, decreased accumulation of damaged and misfolded proteins and increased animal survival in two rat models of HF. Interestingly, βIIV5-3-mediated protection was blunted by sustained proteasomal inhibition in HF. Finally, increased cardiac PKCβII activity and accumulation of misfolded proteins associated with decreased proteasomal function were found also in remodeled and failing human hearts, indicating a potential clinical relevance of our findings. Together, our data highlights PKCβII as a novel inhibitor of proteasomal function. PQC disruption by increased PKCβII activity in vivo appears to contribute to the pathophysiology of heart failure, suggesting that PKCβII inhibition may benefit patients with heart failure. (218 words

Social Skills and Psychological Disorders: Converging and Criterion-Related Validity for YSR and IHSA-Del-Prette in Adolescents at Risk

This study evaluated indexes of converging and criterion-related validity for the Social Skills Inventory for Adolescents (IHSA-Del-Prette) and the Youth Self-Report (YSR) in two samples: one referring to clinical service (CLIN), with 28 adolescents (64.3% boys), 11 through 17 years old (M = 13.75; SD = 1.74), and the other referring to a psycho-educational program (PME = 46.2%), mainly composed of boys (91.7%) aged 13 through 17 (M = 15.33; SD = 1.47). Both samples completed the two inventories. Results showed a high incidence of psychological disorders in both samples (between 4% and 79% in the borderline or clinical range on YSR scales) and accentuated deficits in the general and subscale scores of IHSA-Del-Prette, especially on the frequency scale (25% to 58%). The correlations between the instruments in the two groups supported criterion-related and converging validity. Some issues concerning the differences between the samples and about the construct of social competence, underlying these inventories, are discussed. Key words authors

A broad spectrum of genomic changes in Latinamerican patients with EXT1/EXT2-CDG

Multiple osteochondromatosis (MO), or EXT1/EXT2-CDG, is an autosomal dominant O-linked glycosylation disorder characterized by the formation of multiple cartilage-capped tumors (osteochondromas). In contrast, solitary osteochondroma (SO) is a non-hereditary condition. EXT1 and EXT2, are tumor suppressor genes that encode glycosyltransferases involved in heparan sulfate elongation. We present the clinical and molecular analysis of 33 unrelated Latin American patients (27 MO and 6 SO). Sixty-three percent of all MO cases presented severe phenotype and two malignant transformations to chondrosarcoma (7%). We found the mutant allele in 78% of MO patients. Ten mutations were novel. The disease-causing mutations remained unknown in 22% of the MO patients and in all SO patients. No second mutational hit was detected in the DNA of the secondary chondrosarcoma from a patient who carried a nonsense EXT1 mutation. Neither EXT1 nor EXT2 protein could be detected in this sample. This is the first Latin American research program on EXT1/EXT2-CDG

A novel nonsense mutation of EXT1 gene in an Argentinian patient with Multiple Hereditary Exostoses

Multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE), also known as multiple osteochondromatosis, is an autosomal-dominant O-linked glycosylation disorder recently classified as EXT1/EXT2-CDG in the congenital disorder of glycosylation (CDG)nomenclature. MHE is characterized by the presence of multiple cartilage-capped tumors,called “osteochondromas,” which usually develop in the juxta-epiphyseal regions of the long bones. The prevalence of MHE is estimated at 1:50,000 in the general population1,2. The Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database classified it as either 133700 or 133701, according to whether the mutations occurred in the EXT1 or the EXT2 gene. These genes are located at 8q24 and 11p11-11p12, respectively, and they encode the copolymerases responsible for heparan sulfate biosynthesis. EXT1 and EXT2 are tumor suppressor genes of the EXT gene family. The EXT1 gene contains eleven exons with a coding region of 2238 base pairs (bp), and the EXT2 gene contains sixteen exons with a coding region of 2154 bp3-6. These genes encode two glycosyltransferases involved in heparan sulphate biosynthesis, exostosin-1 (EXT1) (EC2.4.1.224)and exostosin-2 (EXT2) (EC2.4.1.225), whose impairment leads to the formation of exostoses4,7-9. Inactivating mutations (nonsense, frameshift, and splice site mutations) in EXT1 and EXT2 genes represent the majority of mutations that cause MHE. An overview of the reported variants is provided by the online Multiple Osteochondroma Mutation Database10. The most important complication of MHE is the malignant transformation of osteochondroma to chondrosarcoma, which is estimated to occur in 0.5% to 5% of patients6. Chondrosarcomas arise de novo (primary) or as a result of a preexistingcartilage lesion (secondary). The biological aggressiveness of chondrosarcomas can be predicted by means of a histological grading system (grade I to grade III), based on three parameters: cellularity, degree of nuclear atypia, and mitotic activity11,12.In our case report, we investigated the clinical, radiographic, and genetic aspects of a patient with MHE with a severe phenotype and malignant transformation to chondrosarcoma.Fil: Delgado, María Andrea. Gobierno de la Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital de Niños de la Santísima Trinidad; ArgentinaFil: Sarrión, Patricia. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Azar, Nydia Beatríz. Gobierno de la Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital de Niños de la Santísima Trinidad; ArgentinaFil: Zecchini, Lorena del Valle. Gobierno de la Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital de Niños de la Santísima Trinidad; ArgentinaFil: Robledo, Hector Hugo. Gobierno de la Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital de Niños de la Santísima Trinidad; ArgentinaFil: Segura, Florencio Vicente. Gobierno de la Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital de Niños de la Santísima Trinidad; ArgentinaFil: Balcells, Susana. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Grinberg Vaisman, Daniel Raúl. Universidad de Barcelona; EspañaFil: Dodelson de Kremer, Raquel. Gobierno de la Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital de Niños de la Santísima Trinidad; ArgentinaFil: Asteggiano, Carla Gabriela. Gobierno de la Provincia de Córdoba. Ministerio de Salud. Hospital de Niños de la Santísima Trinidad; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba; Argentina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba; Argentin

Genetic Analysis of High Bone Mass Cases from the BARCOS Cohort of Spanish Postmenopausal Women

The aims of the study were to establish the prevalence of high bone mass (HBM) in a cohort of Spanish postmenopausal women (BARCOS) and to assess the contribution of LRP5 and DKK1 mutations and of common bone mineral density (BMD) variants to a HBM phenotype. Furthermore, we describe the expression of several osteoblast-specific and Wnt-pathway genes in primary osteoblasts from two HBM cases. A 0.6% of individuals (10/1600) displayed Z-scores in the HBM range (sum Z-score >4). While no mutation in the relevant exons of LRP5 was detected, a rare missense change in DKK1 was found (p.Y74F), which cosegregated with the phenotype in a small pedigree. Fifty-five BMD SNPs from Estrada et al. [NatGenet 44:491-501,2012] were genotyped in the HBM cases to obtain risk scores for each individual. In this small group of samples, Z-scores were found inversely related to risk scores, suggestive of a polygenic etiology. There was a single exception, which may be explained by a rare penetrant genetic variant, counterbalancing the additive effect of the risk alleles. The expression analysis in primary osteoblasts from two HBM cases and five controls suggested that IL6R, DLX3, TWIST1 and PPARG are negatively related to Z-score. One HBM case presented with high levels of RUNX2, while the other displayed very low SOX6. In conclusion, we provide evidence of lack of LRP5 mutations and of a putative HBM-causing mutation in DKK1. Additionally, we present SNP genotyping and expression results that suggest additive effects of several genes for HBM

Mutations in the EXT1 and EXT2 genes in Spanish patients with multiple osteochondromas

Multiple osteochondromas is an autosomal dominant skeletal disorder characterized by the formation of multiple cartilage-capped tumours. Two causal genes have been identified, EXT1 and EXT2, which account for 65% and 30% of cases, respectively. We have undertaken a mutation analysis of the EXT1 and EXT2 genes in 39 unrelated Spanish patients, most of them with moderate phenotype, and looked for genotype-phenotype correlations. We found the mutant allele in 37 patients, 29 in EXT1 and 8 in EXT2. Five of the EXT1 mutations were deletions identified by MLPA. Two cases of mosaicism were documented. We detected a lower number of exostoses in patients with missense mutation versus other kinds of mutations. In conclusion, we found a mutation in EXT1 or in EXT2 in 95% of the Spanish patients. Eighteen of the mutations were novel

Genetic analysis of high bone mass cases from the BARCOS cohort of spanish postmenopausal women

The aims of the study were to establish the prevalence of high bone mass (HBM) in a cohort of Spanish postmenopausal women (BARCOS) and to assess the contribution of LRP5 and DKK1 mutations and of common bone mineral density (BMD) variants to a HBM phenotype. Furthermore, we describe the expression of several osteoblast-specific and Wnt-pathway genes in primary osteoblasts from two HBM cases. A 0.6% of individuals (10/1600) displayed Z-scores in the HBM range (sum Z-score >4). While no mutation in the relevant exons of LRP5 was detected, a rare missense change in DKK1 was found (p.Y74F), which cosegregated with the phenotype in a small pedigree. Fifty-five BMD SNPs from Estrada et al. [NatGenet 44:491-501,2012] were genotyped in the HBM cases to obtain risk scores for each individual. In this small group of samples, Z-scores were found inversely related to risk scores, suggestive of a polygenic etiology. There was a single exception, which may be explained by a rare penetrant genetic variant, counterbalancing the additive effect of the risk alleles. The expression analysis in primary osteoblasts from two HBM cases and five controls suggested that IL6R, DLX3, TWIST1 and PPARG are negatively related to Z-score. One HBM case presented with high levels of RUNX2, while the other displayed very low SOX6. In conclusion, we provide evidence of lack of LRP5 mutations and of a putative HBM-causing mutation in DKK1. Additionally, we present SNP genotyping and expression results that suggest additive effects of several genes for HBM

Prevalence of dementia subtypes in a developing country: a clinicopathological study

OBJECTIVES: To assess the distribution of dementia subtypes in Brazil using a population-based clinicopathological study. METHOD: Brains from deceased individuals aged ≥50 years old were collected after the next of kin signed an informed consent form and provided information through standardized questionnaires. Post-mortem clinical diagnoses were established in consensus meetings, and only cases with moderate or severe dementia or without cognitive impairment were included in the analysis. Immunohistochemical neuropathological examinations were performed following the universally accepted guidelines. A diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease was made when there were at least both a moderate density of neuritic plaques (Consortium to Establish a Register for Alzheimer's disease B or C) and Braak stage III for neurofibrillary tangle distribution. For the diagnosis of vascular dementia, at least three zones or strategic areas had to be affected by infarcts, lacunae, or microinfarcts. RESULTS: From 1,291 subjects, 113 cases were classified as having moderate or severe dementia, and 972 cases were free of cognitive impairment. The neuropathological diagnoses of the dementia sub-group were Alzheimer's disease (35.4%), vascular dementia (21.2%), Alzheimer's disease plus vascular dementia (13.3%), and other causes of dementia (30.1%). Small-vessel disease, which alone was not considered sufficient for a vascular dementia diagnosis, was present in 38.9% of all of the dementia cases and in 16.8% of the group without cognitive impairment (odds ratio = 2.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.53-5.51), adjusted for age, sex, and education. CONCLUSIONS: The relatively high frequencies of vascular dementia and small-vessel disease in the dementia sub-group constitute relevant findings for public health initiatives because control of vascular risk factors could decrease the prevalence of dementia in developing countries

Convergencias transculturales en el Caribe y Centroamérica

Editores: Mauricio Chaves, Werner Mackenbach, Héctor Pérez BrignoliLos ensayos recopilados en este libro se basan en trabajos presentados en el Simposio Internacional: Convergencias transculturales en el Caribe. Literatura, arte, cultura, historia, comunicación realizada en noviembre de 2015 en la Universidad de Costa Rica.4 Exploran algunas dimensiones de los “entrecruzamientos”, “branchementes” y “entanglements” entre Centroamérica y el Caribe).UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Sociales::Centro de Investigaciones Históricas de América Central (CIHAC

Socialización escolar : procesos, experiencias y trayectos

En los artículos que forman parte de este libro se despliega un conjunto de temas, problemas y debates que, en un primer momento, se hicieron presentes entre el equipo coordinador del libro y que luego fueron compartidos con los investigadores miembros del Grupo de Trabajo "Juventudes, Infancias: Políticas, Culturas e Instituciones Sociales" (GT) del Consejo Latinoamericano de Ciencias Sociales (CLACSO). En tal sentido, el propósito de la compilación consiste en aportar a la actualización de un área o campo que, desde sus inicios, fue y es pensado por las ciencias sociales: la escuela y los sistemas educativos. Sin embargo, en los últimos años, el campo de estudios sobre la escuela se ha diversificado y especializado, encontrando nuevos objetos de estudio y ampliando los ya existentes, al tiempo que los temas y problemas educativos se hablan y debaten por toda la sociedad