A classe Cytisetea scopario-striati em Portugal continental

Giestais são a designação vulgar em português para as comunidades silicícolas que se inserem na classe Cytisetea scopario-striati e são dominadas por espécies de leguminosas dos géneros Cytisus, Genista, Adenocarpus e Retama. Esta classe tem o seu óptimo na Península Ibérica e representa normalmente as orlas ou etapas de regressão de bosques climácicos da Quercetalia roboris e da Quercion broteroi. No presente trabalho apresentam-se as diversas comunidades da classe Cytisetea scopario-striati que ocorrem em Portugal continental. Propõem-se os seguintes novos sintáxones: Ulici latebracteati-Cytisetum striati cytisetosum grandiflori, Cytiso multiflori-Retametum sphaerocarpae cytisetosum scoparii, Cytiso multiflori-Retametum sphaerocarpae cytisetosum eriocarpi, Cytisetum cabezudo

Mapa de series, geoseries y geopermaseries de vegetación de España (Memoria del mapa de vegetación potencial de España). Parte II

Peer Reviewe

Relation of IL28B Gene Polymorphism with Biochemical and Histological Features in Hepatitis C Virus-Induced Liver Disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Polymorphism at the IL28B gene may modify the course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic infection. Our aim was to study the influence of IL28B rs12979860 gene polymorphism on the biochemistry and pathology of HCV-induced disease in the clinical course from mild chronic hepatitis C to hepatocellular carcinoma. METHODS: We have determined the rs12979860 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) upstream IL28B gene in two groups of patients with HCV-induced chronic liver disease: 1) 268 patients (159 men) with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis C, to analyse its relation with biochemical, virological and histological features; and 2) 134 patients (97 men) with HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma. The distribution of the analysed SNP in hepatocellular carcinoma patients was compared with that found in untreated chronic hepatitis C patients. All patients were white and most were Spaniards. RESULTS: In multivariate analysis ALT values were higher (P = 0.001) and GGT values were lower (P<0.001) in chronic hepatitis C patients homozygotes for the major rs12979860C allele as compared with carriers of the mutated rs12979860T allele. Steatosis was more frequent (Odds ratio = 1.764, 95% C.I. 1.053-2.955) and severe (P = 0.026) in carriers of the rs12979860T allele. No relation was found between the analysed SNP and METAVIR scores for necroinflammation and fibrosis, and there were no differences in the distribution of the analysed SNP between hepatocellular carcinoma and untreated chronic hepatitis C patients. CONCLUSION: The IL28B rs12979860 polymorphism correlates with the biochemical activity and the presence and severity of liver steatosis in chronic hepatitis C

Genetic variability in CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 in primary liver, gastric and colorectal cancer patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Drug-metabolizing enzymes play a role in chemical carcinogenesis through enzymatic activation of procarcinogens to biologically reactive metabolites. The role of gene polymorphisms of several cytochrome P450 enzymes in digestive cancer risk has been extensively investigated. However, the drug-metabolizing enzymes with the broader substrate specificity, CYP3A4 and CYP3A5, have not been analyzed so far. This study aims to examine associations between common CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 polymorphisms and digestive cancer risk.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 genotypes were determined in 574 individuals including 178 patients with primary liver cancer, 82 patients with gastric cancer, 151 patients with colorectal cancer, and 163 healthy individuals.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The variant allele frequencies for patients with liver cancer, gastric cancer, colorectal cancer and healthy controls, respectively, were: <it>CYP3A4*1B</it>, 4.8 % (95% C.I. 2.6–7.0), 3.7 % (0.8–6.6) 4.3% (2.0–6.6) and 4.3% (2.1–6.5); <it>CYP3A5*3</it>, 91.8 % (93.0–97.4), 95.7% (92.6–98.8), 91.7% (88.6–94.8) and 90.8% (87.7–93.9). The association between <it>CYP3A4*1B </it>and <it>CYP3A5*3 </it>variant alleles did not significantly differ among patients and controls. No differences in genotypes, allele frequencies, or association between variant alleles were observed with regard to gender, age at diagnosis, tumour site or stage.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Common polymorphisms on <it>CYP3A4 </it>and <it>CYP3A5 </it>genes do not modify the risk of developing digestive cancers in Western Europe.</p

Ciencia en Sociedad. Reflexiones en el marco de su relación bidireccional

Con autorización de la editorial para este libro. La edición de este libro estuvo a cargo de Jesús Rey Rocha y Víctor Ladero.Este libro surge como una iniciativa para compilar una serie de artículos alumbrados a partir de la génesis del Grupo CURIE (Científic@s Unid@s por la Reactivación de la Investigación en España), semilla de la Asociación Española para el Avance de la Ciencia (AEAC). Durante meses sus miembros estuvieron intercambiando reflexiones y debatiendo sobre la distancia entre la ciencia y la sociedad, y la necesidad de crear una asociación que llenase ese vacío entre los científicos y los ciudadanos, que apostase por llevar la ciencia y los conocimientos generados por la misma a toda la sociedad, tal y como establecen la Declaración de Derechos Humanos y la Constitución Española, en su artículo 44.Peer reviewe

Optimizing dosage and duration therapy for chronic hepatitis C «difficult-to-treat patients»

Treatment response remains suboptimal for many patients with chronic hepatitis C, particularly those with genotype 1 and high levels of viremia. The efficacy of high-dose regimens of peginterferon α-2a and ribavirin was compared with conventional dose regimens in patients with features predicting poor treatment responses. Eligible treatment-naïve adults with genotype 1 infection, hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA > 800,000 IU/ mL and body weight > 85 kg were randomized to double- blind treatment with peginterferon α-2a at 180 or 270 microg/week plus ribavirin at 1,200 or 1,600 mg/ day for 48 weeks (four regimens were evaluated). The primary endpoint was viral kinetics during the first 24 weeks of therapy. Among patients receiving peginterferon α-2a (270 microg/week) the magnitude of HCV RNA reduction was significantly greater than for patients randomized to the conventional dose of peginterferon α-2a (180 microg/week) for the pairwise comparison for ribavirin at 1,600 mg/day (P = 0.036) and numerically greater for the pairwise comparison for ribavirin at 1200 mg/day (P = 0.060). Patients randomized to the highest doses of peginterferon α-2a (270 microg/week) and ribavirin (1,600 mg/day) experienced the numerically highest rates of sustained virologic response (HCV RNA < 50 IU/mL) and the lowest relapse rate (47% and 19%, respectively). The arm with the higher doses of both drugs was less welltolerated than the other regimens. Conclusion: Higher fixed doses of peginterferon alfa-2a (270 microg/ week) and ribavirin (1600 mg/day) may increase sustained virologic response rates compared with lower doses of both drugs in patients with a cluster of difficult- to-treat characteristics

Modification of Bacterial Cellulose Biofilms with Xylan Polyelectrolytes

The effect of the addition of two [4-butyltrimethylammonium]-xylan chloride polyelectrolytes (BTMAXs) on bacterial cellulose (BC) was evaluated. The first strategy was to add the polyelectrolytes to the culture medium together with a cell suspension of the bacterium. After one week of cultivation, the films were collected and purified. The second approach consisted of obtaining a purified and homogenized BC, to which the polyelectrolytes were added subsequently. The films were characterized in terms of tear and burst indexes, optical properties, surface free energy, static contact angle, Gurley porosity, SEM, X-ray diffraction and AFM. Although there are small differences in mechanical and optical properties between the nanocomposites and control films, the films obtained by BC synthesis in the presence of BTMAXs were remarkably less opaque, rougher, and had a much lower specular gloss. The surface free energy depends on the BTMAXs addition method. The crystallinity of the composites is lower than that of the control material, with a higher reduction of this parameter in the composites obtained by adding the BTMAXs to the culture medium. In view of these results, it can be concluded that BC–BTMAX composites are a promising new material, for example, for paper restoration

Production of sheep milk cheese with high γ-aminobutyric acid and ornithine concentration and with reduced biogenic amines level using autochthonous lactic acid bacteria strains

Consumer demand for health-promoting foods is generating the need to develop biofunctional dairy products. Lactic acid bacteria are employed in cheese-making and some of them are able to produce beneficial compounds on human health such as γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and ornithine but also to synthetize biogenic amines. The aim was to investigate the effect of four selected autochthonous co-cultures on the free amino acid profile, with special emphasis on GABA and ornithine, and on the biogenic amine content of pasteurized sheep milk cheese during ripening. High average concentrations of GABA (1296.75 mg/kg cheese) and ornithine (2355.76 mg/kg cheese) were found in all the cheese batches at 240 days of ripening. Batch 2, manufactured with the co-culture containing autochthonous Lactococcus lactis strains as starter and Lactobacillus plantarum TAUL1588 as adjunct, showed 2.37 fold reduced biogenic amines concentration with respect to the batch 1 made with the starter during the ripening time. The microstructure and microbiological counts of cheeses were affected (P ≤ 0.001) by the ripening time, without appreciating differences (P ≥ 0.05) in the physico-chemical composition between batches. This study could be a good approach to the development of functional sheep milk cheese.Peer reviewe