Distintos tipos de reparación quirúrgica en nervios periféricos. Estudio E. N. G

Se utilizan cuatro técnicas de reparación de nervio en perros, estudiando por medio de un analizador de ondas DIDAC, la velocidad de conducción y la morfología de los potenciales desencadenados con estímulos eléctrico-rectangulares. Se comparan los resultados con los valores hallados en animales utilizados como control

LTR retrotransposon dynamics in the evolution of the olive (Olea europaea) genome.

Improved knowledge of genome composition, especially of its repetitive component, generates important information for both theoretical and applied research. The olive repetitive component is made up of two main classes of sequences: tandem repeats and retrotransposons (REs). In this study, we provide characterization of a sample of 254 unique full-length long terminal repeat (LTR) REs. In the sample, Ty1-Copia elements were more numerous than Ty3-Gypsy elements. Mapping a large set of Illumina whole-genome shotgun reads onto the identified retroelement set revealed that Gypsy elements are more redundant than Copia elements. The insertion time of intact retroelements was estimated based on sister LTR's divergence. Although some elements inserted relatively recently, the mean insertion age of the isolated retroelements is around 18 million yrs. Gypsy and Copia retroelements showed different waves of transposition, with Gypsy elements especially active between 10 and 25 million yrs ago and nearly inactive in the last 7 million yrs. The occurrence of numerous solo-LTRs related to isolated full-length retroelements was ascertained for two Gypsy elements and one Copia element. Overall, the results reported in this study show that RE activity (both retrotransposition and DNA loss) has impacted the olive genome structure in more ancient times than in other angiosperms

Numerical Simulation of Asymmetrically Altered Growth as Initiation Mechanism of Scoliosis

The causes of idiopathic scoliosis are still uncertain; buckling is mentioned often, but never proven. The authors hypothesize another option: unilateral postponement of growth of MM Rotatores or of ligamentum flavum and intertransverse ligament. In this paper, both buckling and the two new theories of scoliotic initiation are studied using a new finite element model that simulates the mechanical behavior of the human spine. This model was validated by the stiffness data of Panjabi et al. (J. Biomech. 9:185–192, 1976). After a small correction of the prestrain of some ligaments and the MM Rotatores the model appeared to be valid. The postponement in growth was translated in the numerical model in an asymmetrical stiffness. The spine was loaded axially and the resulting deformation was analyzed for the presence of the coupling of lateral deviation and axial rotation that is characteristic for scoliosis. Only unilateral postponement of growth of ligamentum flavum and intertransverse ligament appeared to initiate scoliosis. Buckling did not initiate scoliosis

A Discontinuous RNA Platform Mediates RNA Virus Replication: Building an Integrated Model for RNA–based Regulation of Viral Processes

Plus-strand RNA viruses contain RNA elements within their genomes that mediate a variety of fundamental viral processes. The traditional view of these elements is that of local RNA structures. This perspective, however, is changing due to increasing discoveries of functional viral RNA elements that are formed by long-range RNA–RNA interactions, often spanning thousands of nucleotides. The plus-strand RNA genomes of tombusviruses exemplify this concept by possessing different long-range RNA–RNA interactions that regulate both viral translation and transcription. Here we report that a third fundamental tombusvirus process, viral genome replication, requires a long-range RNA–based interaction spanning ∼3000 nts. In vivo and in vitro analyses suggest that the discontinuous RNA platform formed by the interaction facilitates efficient assembly of the viral RNA replicase. This finding has allowed us to build an integrated model for the role of global RNA structure in regulating the reproduction of a eukaryotic RNA virus, and the insights gained have extended our understanding of the multifunctional nature of viral RNA genomes

The Tnt1 Retrotransposon Escapes Silencing in Tobacco, Its Natural Host

Retrotransposons' high capacity for mutagenesis is a threat that genomes need to control tightly. Transcriptional gene silencing is a general and highly effective control of retrotransposon expression. Yet, some retrotransposons manage to transpose and proliferate in plant genomes, suggesting that, as shown for plant viruses, retrotransposons can escape silencing. However no evidence of retrotransposon silencing escape has been reported. Here we analyze the silencing control of the tobacco Tnt1 retrotransposon and report that even though constructs driven by the Tnt1 promoter become silenced when stably integrated in tobacco, the endogenous Tnt1 elements remain active. Silencing of Tnt1-containing transgenes correlates with high DNA methylation and the inability to incorporate H2A.Z into their promoters, whereas the endogenous Tnt1 elements remain partially methylated at asymmetrical positions and incorporate H2A.Z upon induction. Our results show that the promoter of Tnt1 is a target of silencing in tobacco, but also that endogenous Tnt1 elements can escape this control and be expressed in their natural host

Distintos tipos de reparación quirúrgica en nervios periféricos. Estudio E. N. G

Se utilizan cuatro técnicas de reparación de nervio en perros, estudiando por medio de un analizador de ondas DIDAC, la velocidad de conducción y la morfología de los potenciales desencadenados con estímulos eléctrico-rectangulares. Se comparan los resultados con los valores hallados en animales utilizados como control

Are hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance programs effective at improving the therapeutic options?: ¿mejoran las opciones terapéuticas de estos pacientes? Eficacia de los programas de cribado de hepatocarcinoma

Aim: to evaluate whether the current surveillance programs (ultrasonography and alpha-fetoprotein testing every six months) are successful in detecting patients in the early stages. Material and methods: the health records of all patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma in Donostia Hospital between 2003 and 2005 were reviewed retrospectively. Eighty-five patients (11 women and 74 men) were included in the study and demographic data, risk factors and clinical data were obtained. Patients were split into two groups according to whether or not they had been included in a surveillance program. Results: seventy per cent of patients of the surveillance group is diagnosed in early stage opposite to 26.7% of patients in no surveillance group (p < 0.05). Thirteen patients cannot receive curative treatment in spite of the diagnosis in early stage (9 in the surveillance group and 4 in the no surveillance group. The global sensibility of the surveillance program in our series is 95%. Conclusions: current hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance programs, which comprise six-monthly ultrasonography and alpha-fetoprotein tests, are highly sensitive and effective. These programs result in the detection of hepatocellular carcinoma in its early-stages, when potentially curative treatment may be offered.<br>Objetivo: determinar si la utilización en nuestro medio del programa de cribado de HCC establecido -alfa-fetoproteína (AFP) y ecografia semestral- en pacientes con hepatopatía crónica permite detectar pacientes en estadios precoces de la enfermedad. Material y métodos: Diseño experimental: estudio retrospectivo. Criterios diagnósticos de HCC: 2 o más técnicas de imagen con lesión hipervascular mayor de 2 cm o 1 técnica de imagen con lesión hipervascular mayor de 2 cm asociado a AFP mayor de 400 ng/ml. Pacientes: 85 pacientes diagnosticados de HCC en el Hospital Donostia entre los años 2003 y 2005. Datos analizados: información demográfica (sexo, edad), factores de riesgo (alcohol, virus de hepatitis, hemocromatosis, otras enfermedades asociadas), e información clínica (etiología de la hepatopatía, estadio de Child-Pugh, determinación de AFP, hallazgos radiológicos, criterios de resecabilidad, tratamiento recibido, evolución). Se divide la muestra en dos grupos según hubieran seguido o no un programa de cribado. Resultados: el 70% de los pacientes del grupo de cribado se diagnostican en estadio precoz frente al 26,7% del grupo de no cribado (p < 0,05). Trece pacientes no pueden recibir tratamiento curativo a pesar del diagnóstico en fase precoz (9 en el grupo de cribado y 4 en el de no cribado). La sensibilidad global del cribado en nuestra serie es del 95%. Conclusiones: en nuestro medio, el programa de cribado de hepatocarcinoma es eficaz en términos de aplicación de tratamientos curativos