Transfer of malignant traits as opposed to migration of cells: A novel concept to explain metastatic disease

Abstract Metastatic disease is believed to develop following dissemination of cells to target organs. Inability of this theory to effectively explain certain phenomena such as patterns of metastatic spread, late metastasis formation, different gene patterns between primary cancer and metastasis have brought forward the need for alternative models. Recent discoveries have strengthened the validity of theories supporting a humoral transfer of malignant traits as opposed to migration of malignant cells to explain metastatic disease in cancer patients. In light of this new evidence, we would like to highlight a model that offers a new perspective to explain cancer metastasis. In the system that we theorize, genetic material released by cancer cells would travel, either free or packed in exosomes, through the blood. Target cells located in organs deriving from the same embryological layer might uptake this genetic material due to expression of specific receptors. Interplay with the immune system would determine the fate of these oncofactors and would regulate their ability to circulate in the blood, integrate in the genome and be transcribed. We also hypothesize that the expression of cell membrane receptors such as integrins, to which cancer exosomes ligate might be mediated by inherited or acquired oncosuppressor mutations

Alcohol consumption and domestic violence against women: a study with university students from mexico

La violencia doméstica contra la mujer y el consumo de alcohol son considerados problemas de salud pública. Esta investigación descriptiva presentó como objetivo general determinar la ocurrencia de violencia doméstica contra mujeres estudiantes de una Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia de la Ciudad de Celaya, en Guanajuato, México, y su relación con el consumo de alcohol por las parejas de estas mujeres. La muestra fue compuesta por 73 alumnas, seleccionadas aleatoriamente. Para efectos de recolección de datos, se utilizó el cuestionario estructurado y validado denominado CASIQUE-QUEJ TUN. Los datos fueron analizados con el paquete estadístico SPPS. En lo que se refiere a la violencia física, 91,9% manifestaron no haber sido maltratadas por sus parejas. En lo que se refiere al consumo de alcohol, 57,5% de las entrevistadas y 67,1% de sus parejas lo consumen en reuniones sociales. Los resultados apuntaron también que 41,1% de las participantes no conocen sus derechos con relación a la violencia doméstica. De esta forma, son necesarias acciones de concientización de las mujeres sobre sus derechos, y las posibilidades de buscar ayuda legal en casos de violencia.A violência doméstica contra a mulher e o consumo de álcool são considerados problemas de saúde pública. Esta pesquisa descritiva apresentou como objetivo geral determinar a ocorrência de violência doméstica contra mulheres, alunas da Faculdade de Enfermagem e Obstetrícia da cidade de Celaya, México, e sua relação com o consumo de álcool por seus parceiros íntimos. A amostra foi composta por 73 alunas, selecionadas aleatoriamente. Para a coleta de dados, foi utilizado o questionário estruturado e validado, denominado CASIQUE-QUEJ TUN. Os dados foram analisados através do programa SPSS. Quanto à violência física, 91,9% manifestaram não ter sido maltratadas por seus parceiros. Com relação ao consumo de álcool, 57,5% das entrevistadas e 67,1% de seus parceiros consomem álcool, especialmente em reuniões sociais. Os resultados apontaram também que 41,1% não conhecem seus direitos em relação à violência doméstica. Dessa forma, são necessárias ações de conscientização das mulheres sobre seus direitos e possibilidades de ajuda legal em casos de violência.Domestic violence against women and alcohol consumption are considered public health problems. This descriptive study aimed at determining the occurrence of domestic violence against women enrolled in the Nursing and Midwifery Program at the University of Celaya, Mexico and its relation with alcohol consumption by their partners. A sample of 73 students was randomly selected. Data were collected using the CASIQUE-QUEJ TUN questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS. With respect to physical violence, results showed that 91.9% were not maltreated by their partners. Regarding alcohol consumption, 57.5% of the women interviewed and 67.1% of their partners drank alcohol, especially at social events. Results also showed that 41.1% of the subjects did not know about their rights in cases of domestic violence. Thus, there is a need for actions which increase women’s awareness of their rights and the possibilities of legal support in cases of violence

Construcción y puesta en funcionamiento de una planta de concreto hidráulico para Pavimentos Andinos S.A

35 Páginas.PAVIMENTOS ANDINOS S.A es una empresa creada hace 18 años dedicada a la construcción de obras de infraestructura vial, construcción de obras de saneamiento básico, movimientos de tierra y la producción y comercialización de mezclas asfálticas en caliente con asfaltos convencionales y con asfaltos modificados. Se encuentra ubicada en Bucaramanga y su operación principal está en la región de Santander, sin embargo también tiene actividad y presencia en los departamentos del Atlántico, Arauca, Valle y Cundinamarca

Consumo de álcool e violência doméstica contra a mulher: estudo com estudantes universitárias mexicanas

Domestic violence against women and alcohol consumption are considered public health problems. This descriptive study aimed at determining the occurrence of domestic violence against women enrolled in the Nursing and Midwifery Program at the University of Celaya, Mexico and its relation with alcohol consumption by their partners. A sample of 73 students was randomly selected. Data were collected using the CASIQUE-QUEJ TUN questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS. With respect to physical violence, results showed that 91.9% were not maltreated by their partners. Regarding alcohol consumption, 57.5% of the women interviewed and 67.1% of their partners drank alcohol, especially at social events. Results also showed that 41.1% of the subjects did not know about their rights in cases of domestic violence. Thus, there is a need for actions which increase womens awareness of their rights and the possibilities of legal support in cases of violence.La violencia doméstica contra la mujer y el consumo de alcohol son considerados problemas de salud pública. Esta investigación descriptiva presentó como objetivo general determinar la ocurrencia de violencia doméstica contra mujeres estudiantes de una Facultad de Enfermería y Obstetricia de la Ciudad de Celaya, en Guanajuato, México, y su relación con el consumo de alcohol por las parejas de estas mujeres. La muestra fue compuesta por 73 alumnas, seleccionadas aleatoriamente. Para efectos de recolección de datos, se utilizó el cuestionario estructurado y validado denominado CASIQUE-QUEJ TUN. Los datos fueron analizados con el paquete estadístico SPPS. En lo que se refiere a la violencia física, 91,9% manifestaron no haber sido maltratadas por sus parejas. En lo que se refiere al consumo de alcohol, 57,5% de las entrevistadas y 67,1% de sus parejas lo consumen en reuniones sociales. Los resultados apuntaron también que 41,1% de las participantes no conocen sus derechos con relación a la violencia doméstica. De esta forma, son necesarias acciones de concientización de las mujeres sobre sus derechos, y las posibilidades de buscar ayuda legal en casos de violencia.A violência doméstica contra a mulher e o consumo de álcool são considerados problemas de saúde pública. Esta pesquisa descritiva apresentou como objetivo geral determinar a ocorrência de violência doméstica contra mulheres, alunas da Faculdade de Enfermagem e Obstetrícia da cidade de Celaya, México, e sua relação com o consumo de álcool por seus parceiros íntimos. A amostra foi composta por 73 alunas, selecionadas aleatoriamente. Para a coleta de dados, foi utilizado o questionário estruturado e validado, denominado CASIQUE-QUEJ TUN. Os dados foram analisados através do programa SPSS. Quanto à violência física, 91,9% manifestaram não ter sido maltratadas por seus parceiros. Com relação ao consumo de álcool, 57,5% das entrevistadas e 67,1% de seus parceiros consomem álcool, especialmente em reuniões sociais. Os resultados apontaram também que 41,1% não conhecem seus direitos em relação à violência doméstica. Dessa forma, são necessárias ações de conscientização das mulheres sobre seus direitos e possibilidades de ajuda legal em casos de violência

THE MIDDLE EOCENE CLIMATIC OPTIMUM (MECO) IMPACT ON THE BENTHIC AND PLANKTIC FORAMINIFERAL RESILIENCE FROM A SHALLOW-WATER SEDIMENTARY RECORD

We present here new quantitative analyses of planktic and benthic foraminifera to assess the impact of the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum (MECO, ~40 Ma) on these biotic groups studied along a shallow-water succession rich in larger benthic foraminifera (Sealza, Liguria, NW Italy). The MECO is one of the major Eocene global warming events, characterized by ~4–6°C warming, shifts in the global carbon cycle, and rise in atmospheric pCO2. The Sealza succession is interpreted as the product of a drowning ramp influenced by tectonic activity and provides an exceptional chance to compare biotic variations in shallow-water assemblages with deep-water communities across the MECO. In the section, the MECO interval is tentatively constrained by stable isotope oxygen data and calcareous plankton biostratigraphy. The marked decline in abundance of the epifaunal benthic Cibicidoides across the lower-middle part of the MECO suggests a decrease in oxygenation at the seafloor. Further evidence of oxygen depletion is the increase in organic matter content (TOC) of the sediment and the presence of infaunal genera Uvigerina and Bolivina. The planktic foraminiferal assemblages record the MECO warming in the upper water column as the mixed-layer warm index genera Acarinina and Morozovelloides markedly increase in abundance. In the post-MECO interval, here poorly exposed, cooler conditions are indicated by the dominance of the cold-water index genus Subbotina. Remarkably, Acarinina decline in abundance in the upper MECO interval and never recover. The MECO perturbance permanently impacted the benthic and planktic communities at Sealza that exceeded the tipping point to move to a new regime, thus proving the fauna to be not resilient, but also not recording any extinctions.

Pro-inflammatory monocyte profile in patients with major depressive disorder and suicide behaviour and how ketamine induces antiinflammatory M2 macrophages by NMDAR and mTOR

Background: Depression is a highly prevalent disorder that is one of the leading causes of disability worldwide. Despite an unknown aetiology, evidence suggests that the innate and adaptive immune systems play a significant role in the development and maintenance of major depressive disorder (MDD). The non-competitive glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonist, (R,S)-ketamine (ketamine), has demonstrated rapid and robust efficacy as an antidepressant when administered at sub-anaesthetic doses. Methods: Our goal was to characterize the pro-inflammatory profile of patients with MDD by measuring proinflammatory cytokines in plasma and circulating monocyte subsets and to understand how ketamine induces an anti-inflammatory program in monocyte and macrophages in vitro and vivo. Finding: Our results show that patients with MDD without other comorbidities (N= 33) exhibited significantly higher levels of pro-inflammatory IL-12 and IL-6 in plasma and that these cytokines were associated with increased numbers of non-classical (CD11b+ CD16brightCD14neg) monocytes and increased activation state (CD40+ CD86+ ) of classical monocytes in circulation. Remarkably, we have demonstrated that sub-anaesthetic doses of ketamine programs human monocytes into M2c-like macrophages by inducing high levels of CD163 and MERTK with intermediate levels of CD64 and stimulating mTOR-associated gene expression in vitro. The NMDAR antagonist MK-801, but not the a-amino-3‑hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid receptor (AMPAR) antagonist, NBQX, also polarizes macrophages to an M2c-like phenotype, but this phenotype disappears upon mTOR pathway inhibition. Subanaesthetic doses (10 mg/kg) of ketamine administration in mice both promote reduction of circulating classical pro-inflammatory monocytes and increase of alternative M2 macrophage subtypes in the spleen and CNS. Interpretation: Our results suggest an anti-inflammatory property of ketamine that can skew macrophages to an M2-like phenotype, highlighting potential therapeutic implications not only for patients with MDD but also other inflammatory-based diseases.Fil: Nowak, Wanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Farmacologia.; ArgentinaFil: Grendas, Leandro Nicolás. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Farmacologia.; ArgentinaFil: Sanmarco, Liliana María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Estecho, Ivana Gisele. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Farmacologia.; ArgentinaFil: Arena, Ángeles Romina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Farmacologia.; ArgentinaFil: Eberhardt, Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Rodante, Demián Emanuel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Farmacologia.; ArgentinaFil: Aoki, María Pilar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Córdoba. Centro de Investigaciones en Bioquímica Clínica e Inmunología; ArgentinaFil: Daray, Federico Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Farmacologia.; ArgentinaFil: Carrera Silva, Eugenio Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Medicina Experimental. Academia Nacional de Medicina de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Errasti, Andrea Emilse. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Farmacologia.; Argentin

A Structural Equations Modeling Approach

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (VH) has caused concerns due to the possible fluctuations that may occur directly impacting the control of the pandemic. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with COVID-19 VH in Portuguese-speaking countries. We developed a web survey (N:6,843) using an online, structured, and validated questionnaire. We used Measurement Models, Exploratory Factor Analysis, Exploratory Structural Equation Models, and Confirmatory Factor Analysis for the data analysis. The overall prevalence of COVID-19 VH in Portuguese-speaking countries was 21.1%. showed a statistically significant direct effect for VH: vaccine-related conspiracy beliefs (VB) (β = 0.886), perceived stress (PS) (β = 0.313), COVID-19 Misinformation (MIS) (β = 0.259) and individual responses to COVID-19 (CIR) (β = −0.122). The effect of MIS and CIR for VH was greater among men and of PS and VB among women; the effect of PS was greater among the youngest and of VB and CIR among the oldest. No discrepant differences were identified in the analyzed education strata. In conclusion, we found that conspiracy beliefs related to the vaccine strongly influence the decision to hesitate (not to take or to delay the vaccine). Specific characteristics related to gender, age group, social and cognitive vulnerabilities, added to the knowledge acquired, poorly substantiated and/or misrepresented about the COVID-19 vaccine, need to be considered in the planning of vaccination campaigns. It is necessary to respond in a timely, fast, and accurate manner to the challenges posed by vaccine hesitancy.publishersversionpublishe

A chemical survey of exoplanets with ARIEL

Thousands of exoplanets have now been discovered with a huge range of masses, sizes and orbits: from rocky Earth-like planets to large gas giants grazing the surface of their host star. However, the essential nature of these exoplanets remains largely mysterious: there is no known, discernible pattern linking the presence, size, or orbital parameters of a planet to the nature of its parent star. We have little idea whether the chemistry of a planet is linked to its formation environment, or whether the type of host star drives the physics and chemistry of the planet’s birth, and evolution. ARIEL was conceived to observe a large number (~1000) of transiting planets for statistical understanding, including gas giants, Neptunes, super-Earths and Earth-size planets around a range of host star types using transit spectroscopy in the 1.25–7.8 μm spectral range and multiple narrow-band photometry in the optical. ARIEL will focus on warm and hot planets to take advantage of their well-mixed atmospheres which should show minimal condensation and sequestration of high-Z materials compared to their colder Solar System siblings. Said warm and hot atmospheres are expected to be more representative of the planetary bulk composition. Observations of these warm/hot exoplanets, and in particular of their elemental composition (especially C, O, N, S, Si), will allow the understanding of the early stages of planetary and atmospheric formation during the nebular phase and the following few million years. ARIEL will thus provide a representative picture of the chemical nature of the exoplanets and relate this directly to the type and chemical environment of the host star. ARIEL is designed as a dedicated survey mission for combined-light spectroscopy, capable of observing a large and well-defined planet sample within its 4-year mission lifetime. Transit, eclipse and phase-curve spectroscopy methods, whereby the signal from the star and planet are differentiated using knowledge of the planetary ephemerides, allow us to measure atmospheric signals from the planet at levels of 10–100 part per million (ppm) relative to the star and, given the bright nature of targets, also allows more sophisticated techniques, such as eclipse mapping, to give a deeper insight into the nature of the atmosphere. These types of observations require a stable payload and satellite platform with broad, instantaneous wavelength coverage to detect many molecular species, probe the thermal structure, identify clouds and monitor the stellar activity. The wavelength range proposed covers all the expected major atmospheric gases from e.g. H2O, CO2, CH4 NH3, HCN, H2S through to the more exotic metallic compounds, such as TiO, VO, and condensed species. Simulations of ARIEL performance in conducting exoplanet surveys have been performed – using conservative estimates of mission performance and a full model of all significant noise sources in the measurement – using a list of potential ARIEL targets that incorporates the latest available exoplanet statistics. The conclusion at the end of the Phase A study, is that ARIEL – in line with the stated mission objectives – will be able to observe about 1000 exoplanets depending on the details of the adopted survey strategy, thus confirming the feasibility of the main science objectives.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio