Síndrome de Ehlers-Danlos y trasplantes de órganos

El Síndrome de Ehlers Danlos (SED) es una enfermedad rara, que afecta el colágeno. Existen pacientes con SED que fallecen prematuramente a causa de muerte súbita y complicaciones cardiovasculares como en el caso del tipo IV. Esto los convierte en potenciales donantes de órganos. También pueden ser posibles receptores. El siguiente estudio tiene como objetivo relevar la información sobre eventos postquirúrgicos en personas con SED y antecedentes de trasplantes de órganos en estos pacientes tanto donantes como receptores.Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Síndrome de Ehlers-Danlos y trasplantes de órganos

El Síndrome de Ehlers Danlos (SED) es una enfermedad rara, que afecta el colágeno. Existen pacientes con SED que fallecen prematuramente a causa de muerte súbita y complicaciones cardiovasculares como en el caso del tipo IV. Esto los convierte en potenciales donantes de órganos. También pueden ser posibles receptores. El siguiente estudio tiene como objetivo relevar la información sobre eventos postquirúrgicos en personas con SED y antecedentes de trasplantes de órganos en estos pacientes tanto donantes como receptores.Facultad de Ciencias Médica

Evaluación de tres clases de trigo para la cría de Sitotroga cerealella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) como hospedante utilizado en la cría de enemigos naturales

La estandarización de protocolos para la cría artificial es esencial para lograr una producción de insectos adecuada en calidad y cantidad. Los huevos de Sitotroga cerealella Olivier se utilizan para la cría de parasitoides del género Trichogramma. En el presente trabajo se evaluó el efecto de tres tipos de trigo (pan, candeal, Klein Tauro) sobre parámetros biológicos de la polilla y del parasitoide oófago Trichogramma nerudai (Pintureau & Gerding). La cría de la polilla se realizó sobre cada tipo de trigo y sobre los huevos obtenidos se evaluaron aspectos biológicos del parasitoide. Las clases de trigo se diferenciaron en la calidad de sus proteínas, lípidos y contenido de humedad. Para los distintas tipos de trigo se encontraron diferencias significativas en el porcentaje de emergencia, la fecundidad, el tiempo de desarrollo y la proporción sexual de las polillas. No existieron diferencias significativas en el porcentaje de emergencia, fecundidad y proporción sexual de parasitoides criados sobre huevos de polillas procedentes de diferentes clases de trigo. El análisis de aminoácidos y lípidos, los resultados sobre la biología de la polilla y cierta tendencia observada en la fecundidad del parasitoide, sugieren que los trigos más adecuados para la cría son pan y candeal.The development of standard protocols for artificial rearing is essential for a suitable production of insects. The eggs of the wheat moth Sitotroga cerealella Olivier are used to rear the oophagous parasitoids of the genus Trichogramma. In the present work we evaluated the effect of three wheat types (pan, candeal, Klein Tauro) on biological parameters of the moth adults and the parasitoid Trichogramma nerudai (Pintureau & Gerding). Also, the content of proteins, the carbohydrates and the moisture of each wheat type were analyzed. There were significant differences in the emergence, fertility, development time and sexual ratio of moths among wheat classes. No significant differences were found in the emergence, fertility and sex ratio of the parasitoid developed on eggs of moths coming from different classes of wheat. The analysis of amino acids and lipids, the biology of the moth and certain tendency observed in the fecundity of the parasitoid suggest that the most suitable wheat types for rearing these two insects are pan and candeal.Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología AgrícolaFil: Méndez, Lucía M. Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. Centro de Investigaciones en Biotecnología CIB; Costa RicaFil: Botto, Eduardo Norberto. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola. Insectario de Investigaciones para Lucha Biológica; ArgentinaFil: Flores, Dora. Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. Centro de Investigaciones en Biotecnología CIB; Costa RicaFil: Cagnotti, Cynthia Lorena. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola. Insectario de Investigaciones para Lucha Biológica; ArgentinaFil: Lopez, Silvia Noemi. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola. Insectario de Investigaciones para Lucha Biológica; ArgentinaFil: Viscarret, Mariana Mabel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Microbiología y Zoología Agrícola. Insectario de Investigaciones para Lucha Biológica; Argentin

WHO Global Survey on Maternal and Perinatal Health in Latin America: classifying caesarean sections

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Caesarean section rates continue to increase worldwide with uncertain medical consequences. Auditing and analysing caesarean section rates and other perinatal outcomes in a reliable and continuous manner is critical for understanding reasons caesarean section changes over time.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We analyzed data on 97,095 women delivering in 120 facilities in 8 countries, collected as part of the 2004-2005 Global Survey on Maternal and Perinatal Health in Latin America. The objective of this analysis was to test if the "10-group" or "Robson" classification could help identify which groups of women are contributing most to the high caesarean section rates in Latin America, and if it could provide information useful for health care providers in monitoring and planning effective actions to reduce these rates.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The overall rate of caesarean section was 35.4%. Women with single cephalic pregnancy at term without previous caesarean section who entered into labour spontaneously (groups 1 and 3) represented 60% of the total obstetric population. Although women with a term singleton cephalic pregnancy with a previous caesarean section (group 5) represented only 11.4% of the obstetric population, this group was the largest contributor to the overall caesarean section rate (26.7% of all the caesarean sections). The second and third largest contributors to the overall caesarean section rate were nulliparous women with single cephalic pregnancy at term either in spontaneous labour (group 1) or induced or delivered by caesarean section before labour (group 2), which were responsible for 18.3% and 15.3% of all caesarean deliveries, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The 10-group classification could be easily applied to a multicountry dataset without problems of inconsistencies or misclassification. Specific groups of women were clearly identified as the main contributors to the overall caesarean section rate. This classification could help health care providers to plan practical and effective actions targeting specific groups of women to improve maternal and perinatal care.</p

Modulation of the substrate specificity of the kinase PDK1 by distinct conformations of the full-length protein

The activation of at least 23 different mammalian kinases requires the phosphorylation of their hydrophobic motifs by the kinase PDK1. A linker connects the phosphoinositide-binding PH domain to the catalytic domain, which contains a docking site for substrates called the PIF pocket. Here, we used a chemical biology approach to show that PDK1 existed in equilibrium between at least three distinct conformations with differing substrate specificities. The inositol polyphosphate derivative HYG8 bound to the PH domain and disrupted PDK1 dimerization by stabilizing a monomeric conformation in which the PH domain associated with the catalytic domain and the PIF pocket was accessible. In the absence of lipids, HYG8 potently inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt (also termed PKB) but did not affect the intrinsic activity of PDK1 or the phosphorylation of SGK, which requires docking to the PIF pocket. In contrast, the small molecule valsartan bound to the PIF pocket and stabilized a second distinct monomeric conformation. Our study reveals dynamic conformations of full-length PDK1 in which the location of the linker and the PH domain relative to the catalytic domain determines the selective phosphorylation of PDK1 substrates. The study further suggests new approaches for the design of drugs to selectively modulate signaling downstream of PDK1

The discovery of Stromatolites developing at 3570 m above sea level in a high-altitude volcanic lake Socompa, Argentinean Andes

We describe stromatolites forming at an altitude of 3570 m at the shore of a volcanic lake Socompa, Argentinean Andes. The water at the site of stromatolites formation is alkaline, hypersaline, rich in inorganic nutrients, very rich in arsenic, and warm (20-24°C) due to a hydrothermal input. The stromatolites do not lithify, but form broad, rounded and low-domed bioherms dominated by diatom frustules and aragonite micro-crystals agglutinated by extracellular substances. In comparison to other modern stromatolites, they harbour an atypical microbial community characterized by highly abundant representatives of Deinococcus-Thermus, Rhodobacteraceae, Desulfobacterales and Spirochaetes. Additionally, a high proportion of the sequences that could not be classified at phylum level showed less than 80% identity to the best hit in the NCBI database, suggesting the presence of novel distant lineages. The primary production in the stromatolites is generally high and likely dominated by Microcoleus sp. Through negative phototaxis, the location of these cyanobacteria in the stromatolites is controlled by UV light, which greatly influences their photosynthetic activity. Diatoms, dominated by Amphora sp., are abundant in the anoxic, sulfidic and essentially dark parts of the stromatolites. Although their origin in the stromatolites is unclear, they are possibly an important source of anaerobically degraded organic matter that induces in situ aragonite precipitation. To the best of our knowledge, this is so far the highest altitude with documented actively forming stromatolites. Their generally rich, diverse and to a large extent novel microbial community likely harbours valuable genetic and proteomic reserves, and thus deserves active protection. Furthermore, since the stromatolites flourish in an environment characterized by a multitude of extremes, including high exposure to UV radiation, they can be an excellent model system for studying microbial adaptations under conditions that, at least in part, resemble those during the early phase of life evolution on Earth.Instituto de Biotecnologia y Biologia Molecular (IBBM

Identification of Thioredoxin Glutathione Reductase Inhibitors That Kill Cestode and Trematode Parasites

Parasitic flatworms are responsible for serious infectious diseases that affect humans as well as livestock animals in vast regions of the world. Yet, the drug armamentarium available for treatment of these infections is limited: praziquantel is the single drug currently available for 200 million people infected with Schistosoma spp. and there is justified concern about emergence of drug resistance. Thioredoxin glutathione reductase (TGR) is an essential core enzyme for redox homeostasis in flatworm parasites. In this work, we searched for flatworm TGR inhibitors testing compounds belonging to various families known to inhibit thioredoxin reductase or TGR and also additional electrophilic compounds. Several furoxans and one thiadiazole potently inhibited TGRs from both classes of parasitic flatworms: cestoda (tapeworms) and trematoda (flukes), while several benzofuroxans and a quinoxaline moderately inhibited TGRs. Remarkably, five active compounds from diverse families possessed a phenylsulfonyl group, strongly suggesting that this moiety is a new pharmacophore. The most active inhibitors were further characterized and displayed slow and nearly irreversible binding to TGR. These compounds efficiently killed Echinococcus granulosus larval worms and Fasciola hepatica newly excysted juveniles in vitro at a 20 µM concentration. Our results support the concept that the redox metabolism of flatworm parasites is precarious and particularly susceptible to destabilization, show that furoxans can be used to target both flukes and tapeworms, and identified phenylsulfonyl as a new drug-hit moiety for both classes of flatworm parasites

Influence of Food and lifestyle in Oxidative Stress

Las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles (ECNT) han sido identificadas por la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) como las causales de cáncer, diabetes, enfermedades cardiovasculares y respiratorias crónicas. Los cuatro factores de riesgo más importantes de las ECNT son los hábitos alimentarios inadecuados, el uso de tabaco, el sedentarismo y el abuso de alcohol, todos ellos determinantes sociales evitables y prevenibles. Las ECNT son la primera causa de muerte en Argentina al igual que en el resto del mundo