Calendarios en la Antigüedad: el calendario de ofrendas del templo de Ramses III en Medinet Habu

El calendario grabado en las paredes del templo de Medinet Habu, en Egipto, fue promulgado hacia el año 1182 a.C. por el faraón Ramses III (c. 1185-1153 a.C.) y constituye un claro precedente del calendario utilizado actualmente, tanto por su estructura como por su función, en el mundo occidental. En el artículo se analiza este calendario, la estructura del calendario en el Antiguo Egipto y su evolución hasta el calendario actual, a través del faraón Ptolomeo III (c. 282-221 a.C.), de los líderes romanos Julio César (100-44 a.C.) y Octavio Augusto (63 a.C.-14 d.C.), y del Papa Gregorio XIII (1502-1585).The calendar engraved on the walls of the temple of Medinet Habu, in Egypt, was enacted by the year 1182 BC, Pharaoh Ramses III (c. 1185-1153 BC) and is a clear precedent for the calendar used today, both in structure as its role in the Western world. The article discusses this calendar, the structure of the ancient Egyptian calendar and its evolution to the current, through the Pharaoh Ptolemy III (c. 282-221 BC), the Roman leaders Julius Caesar (100-44 BC) and Octavian Augustus (63 BC-14 AD) and Pope Gregory XIII (1502-1585)

Nuclear envelope defects cause stem cell dysfunction in premature-aging mice

et al.Nuclear lamina alterations occur in physiological aging and in premature aging syndromes. Because aging is also associated with abnormal stem cell homeostasis, we hypothesize that nuclear envelope alterations could have an important impact on stem cell compartments. To evaluate this hypothesis, we examined the number and functional competence of stem cells in Zmpste24 -null progeroid mice, which exhibit nuclear lamina defects. We show that Zmpste24 deficiency causes an alteration in the number and proliferative capacity of epidermal stem cells. These changes are associated with an aberrant nuclear architecture of bulge cells and an increase in apoptosis of their supporting cells in the hair bulb region. These alterations are rescued in Zmpste24 -/- Lmna+/- mutant mice, which do not manifest progeroid symptoms. We also report that molecular signaling pathways implicated in the regulation of stem cell behavior, such as Wnt and microphthalmia transcription factor, are altered in Zmpste24-/- mice. These findings establish a link between age-related nuclear envelope defects and stem cell dysfunction.This work was supported by grants from Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia (Spain), Fundación Lilly, Fundación La Caixa, Fundación M. Botín, and the European Union. I. Flores is a Ramón y Cajal senior scientist. M.A. Blasco´s laboratory is funded by the Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia (Spain), the regional government of Madrid, the European Union, and Josef Steiner Cancer Research Award 2003. The Instituto Universitario de Oncología is supported by Obra Social Cajastur.Peer Reviewe

Melanin-binding colorants: updating molecular modeling, staining and labeling mechanisms, and biomedical perspectives

Melanin and melanoma tumors are two fields of increasing interest in biomedical research. Melanins are ubiquitous biopigments with adaptive value and multiple functions, and occur in the malignant melanoma. Although several chemical structures have been proposed for eumelanin, molecular modeling and orbitals indicate that a planar or spiral benzoquinone-porphycene polymer would be the model that better explains the broad-band light and ultrasound absorption, electric conductivity, and graphite-like organization shown by X-ray crystallography and electron microscopy. Lysosomes and melanosomes are selectively labeled by vital probes, and melanin also binds to metal cations, colorants, and drugs, with important consequences in pharmacology, pathology, and melanoma therapy. In addition to traditional and recent oncologic treatments, photodynamic, photothermal, and ultrasound protocols represent novel modalities for melanoma therapy. Since eumelanin is practically the ideal photothermal and ultrasound sensitizer, the vibrational decay from photo-excited electrons after NIR irradiation, or the electrochemical production of ROS and radicals after ultrasound absorption, induce an efficient heating or oxidative response, resulting in the damage and death of tumor cells. This allows repetitive treatments due to the remaining melanin contained in tumoral melanophages. Given that evolution and prognosis of the advanced melanoma is still a concern, new biophysical procedures based on melanin properties can now be developed and applie

Diferències en les amplituds articulars entre homes i dones en edat escolar

Introducció: En aquest estudi s’han analitzat les diferències existents entre homes i dones respecte de l’amplitud articular en el transcurs de la vida escolar. Mètodes: S’analitza una població de 420 alumnes, nois i noies, amb edats compreses entre els 7 i 17 anys (educació primària i educació secundària obligatòria). L’estudi s’ha fet mitjançant l’aplicació d’una bateria de tests de valoració de la flexibilitat per mitjà de mesuraments goniomètrics. La bateria consta de 10 proves, de les quals s’extreuen dades referents a la mobilitat articular d’espatlles, maluc, genoll i turmells. Resultats: Els resultats obtinguts indiquen que l’amplitud articular dels subjectes estudiats disminueix amb l’edat. Així mateix, aquests resultats són millors en les dones que en els homes, amb diferències significatives en tres de les proves del test. Els pics d’escurçaments varien en funció del sexe del subjecte

Hedgehog signalling as a target in cancer stem cells

[Abstract] Hedgehog (Hh) is one of the most important signalling pathways. Together with the Wnt, TGF-β/BMP and Notch pathways, it is involved in both embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis. This is because Hh plays a central role in the proliferative control and differentiation of both embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. In this way, an alteration in the Hh pathway, either by misexpression of components of that pathway or by changes in the expression of other cellular components that interfere with the Hh signalling system, may trigger the development of several types of cancer. This occurs because normal stem cells or their intermediaries toward differentiated mature cells are not part of the normal proliferative/differentiation balance and begin to expand without control, triggering the generation of the so-called cancer stem cells. In this review, we will focus on the molecular aspects and the role of Hh signalling in normal tissues and in tumour development

Efecto de la fertilización nitrogenada sobre la producción y vecería en olivares jóvenes (Empeltre y Arbequina)

Comunicación presentada en el X Congreso Nacional de Ciencias Hortícolas (Pontevedra, mayo de 2003), en su apartado "Fruticultura".Para evaluar el efecto que tiene las distintas dosis de abonado nitrogenado so-bre la producción y la vecería, se seleccionaron dos olivares de distinta variedad. En cada uno, de forma aleatoria, se hicieron tres bloques con olivos de un volumen de copa similar. Cada bloque estaba formado por ocho árboles, siendo la unidad experimental de muestreo dos árboles y el número de repeticiones cuatro. Para estudiar si las diferencias entre los resultados obtenidos se debían a efectos reales de los tratamientos o eran debidas al azar se realizó un análisis de varianza utilizando el test de rangos múltiples de Duncan. Los resultados de la concentración de nitrógeno en hojas demuestran que no hay diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos D-0, D-1 y D-2 dentro del mismo año o entre las diferentes campañas de ensayo y que únicamente los valores al inicio del ensayo (1999) mostraron diferencias significativas con los alcanzados durante el resto de años.Este trabajo ha sido subvencionado por el MAPA con el Programa Mejora Producción Aceite, proyecto CAO99-020-C2 y por el Gobierno de Aragón con los Proyec-tos I+D con referencias P29/97 I.Peer reviewe

Fertilización nitrogenada en olivo cv. Empeltre. I.- Contenido en nutrientes y crecimiento del árbol

4 Pags.- 2 Tabls.- 2 Figs.En este trabajo se estudia el efecto que produce el abonado nitrogenado sobre el contenido de nutrientes en hoja y la productividad en un olivar muy joven, aplicando tres dosis de nitrógeno durante tres campañas (1999-2001).Esta trabajo ha sido subvencionado por el MAPA dentro del Programa Mejora Producción Aceite, proyecto CAO99-020-C2 y por el Gobierno de Aragón con los Proyectos I+D con referencias P29/97 I.Peer reviewe

Extraction of Anthocyanins and Total Phenolic Compounds from Açai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) Using an Experimental Design Methodology. Part 3: Microwave-Assisted Extraction

In this work, two methods based on microwave-assisted extraction techniques for the extraction of both anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds from acai have been developed. For that, a full factorial design (Box-Behnken design) has been used to optimize the following four variables: solvent composition (25-75% methanol in water), temperature (50-100 degrees C), pH (2-7), and sample/solvent ratio (0.5 g: 10 mL-0.5 g: 20 mL). The anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds content have been determined by ultra high-pressure liquid chromatography and Folin-Ciocalteu method, respectively. The optimum conditions for the extraction of anthocyanins were 38% MeOH in water, 99.63 degrees C, pH 3.00, at 0.5 g: 10 mL of ratio, while for the extraction of total phenolic compounds they were 74.16% MeOH in water, 99.14 degrees C, pH 5.46, at 0.5 g: 20 mL of ratio. Both methods have shown a high repeatability and intermediate precision with a relative standard deviation lower than 5%. Furthermore, an extraction kinetics study was carried out using extraction periods ranging from 2 min until 25 min. The optimized methods have been applied to acai-containing real samples. The results with such real samples have confirmed that both methods are suitable for a rapid and reliable extraction of anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds

Extraction of anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds from açai (euterpe oleracea mart.) using an experimental design methodology. part 1: Pressurized liquid extraction

Currently, açai is one of the most important fruits present in the world. Several studies have demonstrated its high content in phenolic compounds and anthocyanins. Both of them are responsible of interesting properties of the fruit such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant or anticancer. In the present study, two optimized pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) methods have been developed for the extraction of anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds from açai. A full factorial design (Box-Behnken design) with six variables (solvent composition (25%-75% methanol-in-water), temperature (50-100°C), pressure (100-200 atm), purge time (30-90 s), pH (2-7) and flushing (50%-150%)) were employed. The percentage of methanol in the extraction solvent was proven to be the most significant variable for the extraction of anthocyanins. In the case of total phenolic compounds, the extraction temperature was the most influential variable. The developed methods showed high precision, with relative standard deviations (RSD) of less than 5%. The applicability of the methods was successfully evaluated in real samples. In conclusion, two rapid and reliable PLE extraction methods to be used for laboratories and industries to determine anthocyanins and total phenolic compounds in açai and its derived products were developed in this work