Characterization of the global profile of genes expressed in cervical epithelium by Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE)

BACKGROUND: Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE) is a new technique that allows a detailed and profound quantitative and qualitative knowledge of gene expression profile, without previous knowledge of sequence of analyzed genes. We carried out a modification of SAGE methodology (microSAGE), useful for the analysis of limited quantities of tissue samples, on normal human cervical tissue obtained from a donor without histopathological lesions. Cervical epithelium is constituted mainly by cervical keratinocytes which are the targets of human papilloma virus (HPV), where persistent HPV infection of cervical epithelium is associated with an increase risk for developing cervical carcinomas (CC). RESULTS: We report here a transcriptome analysis of cervical tissue by SAGE, derived from 30,418 sequenced tags that provide a wealth of information about the gene products involved in normal cervical epithelium physiology, as well as genes not previously found in uterine cervix tissue involved in the process of epidermal differentiation. CONCLUSION: This first comprehensive and profound analysis of uterine cervix transcriptome, should be useful for the identification of genes involved in normal cervix uterine function, and candidate genes associated with cervical carcinoma

Properties of Portland Cement Mortar with Substitutions of Natural and Expanded Perlite

The present research deals with the feasibility of using high-temperature pozzolans such as Natural Perlite (NP) and Expanded Perlite (EP), different dosagues of additions were made to mortars in order to perform their mechanical properties. Mortars were subjected to destructive tests in hardened state: compression, tension, flexion and adhesion strength; as well as non-destructive tests in hardened state: ultrasonic pulse velocity (UPV), electrical resistivity (ER), density (ρ) and total porosity (PT); in addition to attack by sodium sulfate at 90 days. The percentages of the substitutions were 5%, 10%, 15%, 20% and 30% by weight of Portland cement mass (PC) relative to a control mortar (cement-sand-water). With the partial replacement of the cement and according to the tests carried out, it can be observed that the problem of durability and CO2 emissions is significantly reduced and, consequently, an energy saving and a lower environmental impact are promoted

Histomorphological evaluation, cell proliferation and endothelial immunostaining in oral and maxillofacial myofibroblastic lesions

Myofibroblasts (MF) are mesenchymal cells with features of both fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells. Although these are usually reactive cells, they can lead to myofibroblastic tumors that may share clinical and histomorphological characteristics but with different prognosis. The aim of this study is to perform a histomorphological evaluation as well as to compare and evaluate two different cell proliferation immunomarkers and two endothelial markers in a group of oral and maxillofacial myofibroblastic lesions (MFL). Cross-sectional and retrospective study. Demographic, clinical, histomorphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of 39 cases of MFL were analyzed. Immunohistochemical reactions were performed with the Ki67, MCM2, CD34 and CD105 antibodies. Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman correlation analysis were used. Four cases of nodular fasciitis (NF), 18 myofibromas (My), 6 desmoplastic fibromas (DF), 7 inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors (IMT) and 4 myofibroblastic sarcomas (MFS) were studied. There were twenty women (51.2%); the median age was 13 [Q1-Q3: 8-24] years and most cases occurred in the mandible (48.7%). A statistically significant difference with MCM2 immunostaining (p=0.0221) was observed between the MFL; furthermore, a correlation between CD34 and CD105 immunostaining in NF (p <0.0001) and IMT (p=0.0408), between MCM2 and CD34 in IMT (p=0.0362) and between MCM2 and CD105 in MFS (p <0001) were found. MCM2 immunostaining could assess more clearly the cell growth fraction in MFL. The correlation between MCM2 and CD34 in IMT and between MCM2 and CD105 in MFS are indicative of the high activity of these lesions. These results emphasize the importance of the studied immunohistochemistry markers as possible tools for a better characterization of some of the MFL

Contribución del aplanado de morteros de cal para restauración sobre muretes de mampostería

Los morteros con base cal, han sido materiales descritos en los tratados antiguos de arquitectura, permitidos en muchos documentos que rigen los trabajos de restauración de bienes inmuebles patrimoniales y actualmente son los materiales más empleados en la restauración y conservación del patrimonio de mampostería natural en muchos sitios del mundo. La cal puede ser normalizada o bien puede ser apagada en sitio como describe Vitrubio en sus Libros de Arquitectura; los áridos pueden ser ígneos, metamórficos o sedimentarios; para modificar las propiedades físicas y mecánicas básicas de los morteros de cal suelen agregarse aditivos orgánicos e inorgánicos. La restauración y conservación de los edificios de mampostería coloniales es un reto en México. Tenemos 9 ciudades coloniales cuyos centros históricos están en el listado de Patrimonio de la Humanidad de la Unesco. Todas edificadas con mamposterías de rocas naturales y aplanadas con morteros de cal y aditivos orgánicos. Inicialmente se recubrían las rocas que carecían de labrado, cánones dictados por la arquitectura en boga. Con la modernización y masificación del transporte, los residuos vertidos a la atmósfera han deteriorado la calidad del aire ambiental resultando en pátinas, costras negras, daño antropogénico en superficies expuestas, devitrificación de la matriz de las rocas. Del uso sugerido de emplear morteros como protección en los monumentos arquitectónicos coloniales, método relativamente simple y económico, se ha revisado también su efecto sobre la resistencia mecánica. Este trabajo hace una comparación entre pilas de mampostería de arcilla recocida adheridas con mortero de cal adicionado con fibras desecadas y pulverizadas de nopal cactus opuntia y pilas con las mismas características, pero recubiertas en ambas caras con el mortero mencionado.Tópico 4.- Morteros de cal, materiales cálcicos y cementíceos. Evaluación de propiedades y composición. Mampostería de ladrillos. Caracterización. Evaluación de patologías y Refuerzo

Modelado espacial bayesiano de la enfermedad de Chagas en la Huasteca Potosina

RESUMEN Introducción. La enfermedad de Chagas es una infección sistémica, causada por el protozoario Trypanosoma cruzi. Está documentado como la influencia de factores ambientales favorecen la presencia de la infección. Objetivo. Comprender los patrones de distribución espacial de riesgo y los factores ambientales y socioeconómicos que favorecen la propagación de la enfermedad de Chagas. Material y métodos. Se aplicó un análisis de regresión espacial bayesiano a datos de la incidencia de la enfermedad de Chagas en la Huasteca Potosina en el periodo de 2003–2012. Resultados. Se observó un patrón claro de distribución espacial en la incidencia de la enfermedad en la Huasteca Potosina, misma que se vio significativamente correlacionada en el modelo de regresión multivariante final con la temperatura mínima, los porcentajes de viviendas con piso de tierra, de viviendas sin agua entubada, de población de tres años y más que habla lengua indígena y no habla español, de población mayor a 15 años analfabeta, derechohabiente a servicios de salud, de viviendas con algún nivel de hacinamiento y de viviendas habitadas que cuentan con servicios. Conclusiones. El análisis pone de manifiesto que es la población indígena la más afectada, ya que este grupo es el que más carece de acceso a servicios (salud, educación, vivienda), por lo tanto, favorece la presencia del vector causante de la enfermedad. En la Huasteca Potosina, esta población habita en zonas de difícil acceso, lo que dificulta la implementación de programas adecuados de control del vector y la infección

Effects of Sewage Discharge on Trophic State and Water Quality in a Coastal Ecosystem of the Gulf of California

This paper provides evidence of the effects of urban wastewater discharges on the trophic state and environmental quality of a coastal water body in a semiarid subtropical region in the Gulf of California. The concentrations of dissolved inorganic nutrients and organic matter from urban wastewater primary treatment were estimated. La Salada Cove was the receiving water body and parameters measured during an annual cycle were temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nitrite, nitrate, ammonia, orthophosphate, and chlorophyll a. The effects of sewage inputs were determined by using Trophic State Index (TRIX) and the Arid Zone Coastal Water Quality Index (AZCI). It was observed that urban wastewater of the city of Guaymas provided 1,237 ton N yr−1 and 811 ton P yr−1 and TRIX indicated that the receiving water body showed symptoms of eutrophication from an oligotrophic state to a mesotrophic state; AZCI also indicated that the environmental quality of the water body was poor. The effects of urban wastewater supply with insufficient treatment resulted in symptoms of eutrophication and loss of ecological functions and services of the coastal ecosystem in La Salada Cove

Microarray comparative genomic hybridization detection of chromosomal imbalances in uterine cervix carcinoma

BACKGROUND: Chromosomal Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) has been applied to all stages of cervical carcinoma progression, defining a specific pattern of chromosomal imbalances in this tumor. However, given its limited spatial resolution, chromosomal CGH has offered only general information regarding the possible genetic targets of DNA copy number changes. METHODS: In order to further define specific DNA copy number changes in cervical cancer, we analyzed 20 cervical samples (3 pre-malignant lesions, 10 invasive tumors, and 7 cell lines), using the GenoSensor microarray CGH system to define particular genetic targets that suffer copy number changes. RESULTS: The most common DNA gains detected by array CGH in the invasive samples were located at the RBP1-RBP2 (3q21-q22) genes, the sub-telomeric clone C84C11/T3 (5ptel), D5S23 (5p15.2) and the DAB2 gene (5p13) in 58.8% of the samples. The most common losses were found at the FHIT gene (3p14.2) in 47% of the samples, followed by deletions at D8S504 (8p23.3), CTDP1-SHGC- 145820 (18qtel), KIT (4q11-q12), D1S427-FAF1 (1p32.3), D9S325 (9qtel), EIF4E (eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E, 4q24), RB1 (13q14), and DXS7132 (Xq12) present in 5/17 (29.4%) of the samples. CONCLUSION: Our results confirm the presence of a specific pattern of chromosomal imbalances in cervical carcinoma and define specific targets that are suffering DNA copy number changes in this neoplasm