Miscellaneous bean viruses

Bean crops are attacked by several viruses transmitted by insects among which are: (1) the alfalfa mosaic virus (aphids); susceptibility is correlated with plant age; (2) curly top (Circulifer tenellus); the best control measure is the utitilization of resistant var.; (3) bean summer death (Orosius argentatus); (4) tomato spotted wilt virus, which is transmitted mechanically and by various types of thrips; (5) red node, which is transmitted mechanically and in the seed. Insect vectors have not been reported; it can be controlled using resistant var. (CIAT)El cultivo del frijol es atacado por varios virus transmitidos por insectos, entre los cuales estan: 1) el virus del mosaico de la alfalfa (afidos); la susceptibilidad esta correlacionada con la edad de la planta; 2) el virus del apice rizado (Circulifer tenellus); la mejor medida de control es el uso de var. resistentes; 3) la muerte de verano del frijol (Orosius argentatus); 4) virus del marchitamiento manchado del tomate, el cual se transmite mecanicamente y por varias clases de trips; 5) el nudo rojo, el cual se transmite mecanicamente y por medio de la semilla. No se han observado insectos vectores; se puede controlar usando var. resistentes. (CIAT

Virus miscelaneos del frijol

Bean crops are attacked by several viruses transmitted by insects among which are: (1) the alfalfa mosaic virus (aphids); susceptibility is correlated with plant age; (2) curly top (Circulifer tenellus); the best control measure is the utitilization of resistant var.; (3) bean summer death (Orosius argentatus); (4) tomato spotted wilt virus, which is transmitted mechanically and by various types of thrips; (5) red node, which is transmitted mechanically and in the seed. Insect vectors have not been reported; it can be controlled using resistant var. (CIAT)El cultivo del frijol es atacado por varios virus transmitidos por insectos, entre los cuales estan: 1) el virus del mosaico de la alfalfa (afidos); la susceptibilidad esta correlacionada con la edad de la planta; 2) el virus del apice rizado (Circulifer tenellus); la mejor medida de control es el uso de var. resistentes; 3) la muerte de verano del frijol (Orosius argentatus); 4) virus del marchitamiento manchado del tomate, el cual se transmite mecanicamente y por varias clases de trips; 5) el nudo rojo, el cual se transmite mecanicamente y por medio de la semilla. No se han observado insectos vectores; se puede controlar usando var. resistentes. (CIAT

Análisis comparativo de la rentabilidad económica de plátano y café en fincas de menos de 5 has. en Manizales.

Se definen criterios económicos sobre las bondades de las inversiónes comparadas en cultivos de plátano y café tecnificadas o no, a través de tasas internas de retorno y valores presentes netosPlátano-Musa sapientumCafé-Coffe

Expression of complement factor H by lung cancer cells: effects on the activation of the alternative pathway of complement

The complement system is important in immunosurveillance against tumors. However, malignant cells are usually resistant to complement-mediated lysis. In this study, we examine the expression of factor H, an inhibitor of complement activation, and factor H-like protein 1 (FHL-1), its alternatively spliced form, in lung cancer. We also evaluate the potential effect of factor H/FHL-1 in the protection of lung cancer cells against the activation of the complement cascade. By Northern blot analysis we demonstrate a high expression of factor H and FHL-1 in most non-small cell lung cancer cell lines, although neuroendocrine pulmonary tumors (small cell lung carcinoma and carcinoid cell lines) had undetectable levels. Western blot analysis of conditioned medium showed the active secretion of factor H and FHL-1 by cells that were positive by Northern blot. Expression of factor H/FHL-1 mRNA was also shown in a series of non-small cell lung cancer biopsies by in situ hybridization. Interestingly, many cultured lung cancer cells were able to bind fluorescence-labeled factor H to their surfaces. Deposition of C3 fragments from normal human serum on H1264, a lung adenocarcinoma cell line, was more efficient when factor H/FHL-1 activity was blocked by specific antibodies. Blocking factor H/FHL-1 activity also enhanced the release of anaphylatoxin C5a and moderately increased the susceptibility of these cells to complement-mediated cytotoxicity. In summary, we demonstrate the expression of factor H and FHL-1 by some lung cancer cells and analyze the contribution of these proteins to the protection against complement activation

Unleashing the Diagnostic, Prognostic and Therapeutic Potential of the Neuronostatin/GPR107 System in Prostate Cancer

Certain components of the somatostatin-system play relevant roles in Prostate Cancer (PCa), whose most aggressive phenotype (Castration-Resistant-PCa (CRPC)) remains lethal nowadays. However, neuronostatin and the G protein-coupled receptor 107 (GPR107), two novel members of the somatostatin-system, have not been explored yet in PCa. Consequently, we investigated the pathophysiological role of NST/GPR107-system in PCa. GPR107 expression was analyzed in well-characterized PCa patient′s cohorts, and functional/mechanistic assays were performed in response to GPR107-silencing and NST-treatment in PCa cells (androgen-dependent (AD: LNCaP) and androgen-independent (AI: 22Rv1/PC-3), which are cell models of hormone-sensitive and CRPC, respectively), and normal prostate cells (RWPE-1 cell-line). GPR107 was overexpressed in PCa and associated with key clinical parameters (e.g., advance stage of PCa, presence of vascular invasion and metastasis). Furthermore, GPR107-silencing inhibited proliferation/migration rates in AI-PCa-cells and altered key genes and oncogenic signaling-pathways involved in PCa aggressiveness (i.e., KI67/CDKN2D/MMP9/PRPF40A, SST5TMD4/AR-v7/In1-ghrelin/EZH2 splicing-variants and AKT-signaling). Interestingly, NST treatment inhibited proliferation/migration only in AI-PCa cells and evoked an identical molecular response than GPR107-silencing. Finally, NST decreased GPR107 expression exclusively in AI-PCa-cells, suggesting that part of the specific antitumor effects of NST could be mediated through a GPR107-downregulation. Altogether, NST/GPR107-system could represent a valuable diagnostic and prognostic tool and a promising novel therapeutic target for PCa and CRPC

Constitución de REMA (Red Española de Métodos Alternativos)

1 páginaLa puesta en marcha de una "Red Española para el desarrollo de Métodos Alternativos a la experimentación animal" (REMA), pretende integrar y coordinar las iniciativas de la Industria, la Administración y la Sociedad con las del mundo científico respecto al estudio, validación, aplicación e implementación legal del uso de métodos alternativosPeer reviewe

Clinical Utility of Ghrelin-O-Acyltransferase (GOAT) Enzyme as a Diagnostic Tool and Potential Therapeutic Target in Prostate Cancer

Recent data suggested that plasma Ghrelin O-Acyl Transferase enzyme (GOAT) levels could represent a new diagnostic biomarker for prostate cancer (PCa). In this study, we aimed to explore the diagnostic and prognostic/aggressiveness capacity of GOAT in urine, as well as to interrogate its putative pathophysiological role in PCa. We analysed urine/plasma levels of GOAT in a cohort of 993 patients. In vitro (i.e., cell-proliferation) and in vivo (tumor-growth in a xenograft-model) approaches were performed in response to the modulation of GOAT expression/activity in PCa cells. Our results demonstrate that plasma and urine GOAT levels were significantly elevated in PCa patients compared to controls. Remarkably, GOAT significantly outperformed PSA in the diagnosis of PCa and significant PCa in patients with PSA levels ranging from 3 to 10 ng/mL (the so-called PSA grey-zone). Additionally, urine GOAT levels were associated to clinical (e.g., Gleason-score, PSA levels) and molecular (e.g., CDK2/CDK6/CDKN2A expression) aggressiveness parameters. Indeed, GOAT overexpression increased, while its silencing/blockade decreased cell-proliferation in PCa cells. Moreover, xenograft tumors derived from GOAT-overexpressing PCa (DU145) cells were significantly higher than those derived from the mock-overexpressing cells. Altogether, our results demonstrate that GOAT could be used as a diagnostic and aggressiveness marker in urine and a therapeutic target in PCa

Oncogenic Role of Secreted Engrailed Homeobox 2 (EN2) in Prostate Cancer

Engrailed variant-2 (EN2) has been suggested as a potential diagnostic biomarker; however, its presence and functional role in prostate cancer (PCa) cells is still controversial or unknown. Here, we analyzed 1) the expression/secretion profile of EN2 in five independent samples cohorts from PCa patients and controls (prostate tissues and/or urine) to determine its utility as a PCa biomarker; and 2) the functional role of EN2 in normal (RWPE1) and tumor (LNCaP/22Rv1/PC3) prostate cells to explore its potential value as therapeutic target. EN2 was overexpressed in our two cohorts of PCa tissues compared to control and in tumor cell lines compared with normal-like prostate cells. This profile was corroborated in silico in three independent data sets [The Cancer Genome Atlas(TCGA)/Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC)/Grasso]. Consistently, urine EN2 levels were elevated and enabled discrimination between PCa and control patients. EN2 treatment increased cell proliferation in LNCaP/22Rv1/PC3 cells, migration in RWPE1/PC3 cells, and PSA secretion in LNCaP cells. These effects were associated, at least in the androgen-sensitive LNCaP cells, with increased AKT and androgen-receptor phosphorylation levels and with modulation of key cancer-associated genes. Consistently, EN2 treatment also regulated androgen-receptor activity (full-length and splicing variants) in androgen-sensitive 22Rv1 cells. Altogether, this study demonstrates the potential utility of EN2 as a non-invasive diagnostic biomarker for PCa and provides novel and valuable information to further investigate its putative utility to develop new therapeutic tools in PCa

Rol de sCD40L en la predicción de súper-respuesta a la terapia de resincronización cardiaca

Background. The aim of this paper is to analyze the role of the biomarkers Interleukin 6, Tumoral Necrosis Factor α, sCD40L, high sensitive Troponin T, high sensitive C-Reactive Protein and Galectin-3 in predicting super response (SR) to Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT), as they have not been studied in this field before. Methods. Clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic data was obtained preimplant and after one year. SR was defined as reduction in LVESV ≥ 30% at one year follow-up. Blood samples were extracted preimplant. Multivariate logistic regression and ROC curves were performed. Results. 50 patients were included, 23 (46%) were SR. Characteristics related to SR were: female (35 vs. 11%, p=0.04), suffering from less ischemic cardiomyopathy (13 vs. 63%, p<0.0001) and lateral (0 vs. 18%, p=0.03), inferior (4 vs. 33%, p=0.01) and posterior infarction (0 vs. 22%, p=0.01); absence of mitral regurgitation (47% vs. 22%, p=0.04), wider QRS width (157.7±22.9 vs. 140.8±19.2ms, p=0.01), higher concentrations of sCD40L (6.9±5.1 vs. 4.4±3.3 ng/mL, p=0.02), and left ventricular lead more frequent in lateral medial position (69 vs. 26%, p=0.002). QRS width, lateral medial position of the lead and absence of mitral regurgitation were independent predictors of SR. sCD40L showed a moderate direct correlation with SR (r=0.39, p=0.02) and with the reduction of LVESV (r=0.44, p=0.02). Conclusion. sCD40L correlates significantly with SR to CRT. QRS width, absence of mitral regurgitation and lateral medial position of the lead are independent predictors of SR in this cohort.Fundamento. Analizar los biomarcadores Interleuquina 6, factor de necrosis tumoral α, sCD40L, troponina T hipersensible, proteína C-reactiva hipersensible y galectina-3 en la predicción de súper-respuesta (SR) a la terapia de resincronización cardiaca (TRC), ya que no han sido valorados con anterioridad. Material y métodos. Se recopilaron datos clínicos, electrocardiográficos y ecocardiográficos preimplante y al año. Se definió SR como disminución del VTSVI ≥ 30% al año de seguimiento. Las muestras sanguíneas fueron extraídas preimplante. Se realizó regresión logística multivariante y curvas ROC. Resultados. Se incluyeron 50 pacientes, 23 (46%) fueron SR.Las características relacionadas con la SR fueron: ser mujer (35 vs. 11%, p=0,04), sufrir menos cardiopatía isquémica (13 vs. 63%, p<0,0001) e infarto lateral (0 vs. 18%, p=0,03), inferior (4 vs. 33%, p=0,01) y posterior (0 vs. 22%, p=0,01); ausencia de insuficiencia mitral (47% vs. 22%, p=0,04), mayor anchura del QRS (157,7±22,9 vs. 140,8±19,2 ms, p=0,01), mayor concentración de sCD40L (6,9±5,1 vs. 4,4±3,3 ng/mL, p=0,02), y electrodo ventricular izquierdo más frecuentemente en posición lateral media (69 vs. 26%, p=0,002). El QRS, la posición lateral media del electrodo y la ausencia de insuficiencia mitral fueron predictores independientes de SR. sCD40L mostró una correlación moderada directa con SR (r=0,39, p=0,02) y con la disminución del VTSVI (r=0,44, p=0,02). Conclusiones. sCD40L se correlaciona significativamente con SR a la TRC. El QRS, la ausencia de insuficiencia mitral y la posición lateral media del electrodo son predictores independientes de SR en esta cohorte