Isolation and characterization of a Coffea canephora ERF-like cDNA

ERFs (Ethylene-Responsive Element Binding Factors) are members of a transcription factors family unique to plants. They contain a well-conserved segment, which interacts specifically with sequences containing AGCCGCC motifs (GCC box) located in the promoter region of genes activated during biotic or environmental stress in plants. A cDNA corresponding to an ERF gene has been isolated from a Coffea canephora fruit cDNA library. The cDNA was 1,317 nucleotides long and has an open reading frame of 987 bp. The predicted polypeptide showed a great similitude with equivalent proteins from others plant species. The binding domain shows 98.3% identity in amino acids sequence with Lycopersicon esculentum ERF. This transcription factor may possibly be involved in differential cell growth or in fruit ripening process. Although it was not possible to isolate it from a leaf cDNA library, its presence in such library was confirmed.African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 4 (2), pp. 157-159, 200

Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Molecular characterization of an ethylene receptor gene (CcETR1) in coffee trees, its relationship with fruit development and caffeine content

To understand the importance of ethylene receptor genes in the quality of coffee berries three full-length cDNAs corresponding to a putative ethylene receptor gene (ETR1) were isolated from Coffea canephora cDNA libraries. They differed by their 3'UTR and contained a main ORF and a 5'UTR short ORF putatively encoding a small polypeptide. The CcETR1 gene, present as a single copy in the C. canephora genome, contained five introns in the coding region and one in its 5'UTR. Alternative splicing can occur in C. canephora and C. pseudozanguebariae, leading to a truncated polypeptide. C. pseudozanguebariae ETR1 transcripts showed various forms of splicing alterations. This gene was equally expressed at all stages of fruit development. A segregation study on an inter-specific progeny showed that ETR1 is related to the fructification time, the caffeine content of the green beans, and seed weight. Arabidopsis transformed etiolated seedlings, which over-expressed CcETR1, displayed highly reduced gravitropism, but the triple response was observed in an ethylene enriched environment. These plants behaved like a low-concentration ethylene-insensitive mutant thus confirming the receptor function of the encoded protein. This gene showed no induction during the climacteric crisis but some linkage with traits related to quality

Recomendaciones de la SECTCV para la cirugía cardiovascular. 2019 actualización de los estándares en organización, actividad profesional, calidad asistencial y formación en la especialidad

Resumen: La cirugía cardiovascular es la especialidad médica que se ocupa de la prevención, diagnóstico y tratamiento quirúrgico de los trastornos y enfermedades del sistema cardiocirculatorio. Los continuos y rápidos avances en el diagnóstico y tratamiento de las enfermedades cardiovasculares justifican la necesidad de llevar a cabo una actualización de los principales aspectos definitorios y organizativos de la especialidad, relacionados con la profesión (de la práctica, calidad asistencial), con el programa docente de la especialidad, la formación continuada de los cirujanos, los procesos de acreditación desde la Sociedad Española de Cirugía Torácica-Cardiovascular, entre otros.Este documento, elaborado por expertos de la cirugía cardiovascular, representa la opinión de la Sociedad Española de Cirugía Torácica-Cardiovascular y actualiza los principales aspectos de la especialidad en nuestro país. Abstract: Cardiovascular surgery is the medical specialty that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and surgical treatment of disorders and diseases of the circulatory system. The continuous and rapid advances in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases justify the need to update the main, defining, and organisational aspects of the specialty, related to the profession (its practice, quality care), aspects on the teaching program of the specialty, the continuing education program of the surgeons, the processes of accreditation from the Spanish Society of Thoracic-Cardiovascular Surgery, etc.This document, prepared by experts in cardiovascular surgery, represents the opinion of the Spanish Society of Thoracic-Cardiovascular surgery and updates the main aspects of the specialty in our country. Palabras clave: Cirugía cardiovascular, Cirugía cardíaca, Cirugía torácica, Cirugía vascular, Recomendaciones, Keywords: Cardiovascular surgery, Cardiac surgery, Thoracic surgery, Vascular surgery, Recommendation