Chronic bronchial infection in stable COPD: To treat or not to treat

Chronic bronchial infection; COPDInfección bronquial crónica; EPOCInfecció bronquial crònica; MPO

Identification of ovule and seed genes from Citrus clementina

[EN] Seedlessness is a highly desirable trait in fresh fruit. Citrus varieties, such as Clementine mandarin and other related species, show parthenocarpic fruit development without seeds due to self-incompatibility. In spite of that, these fruits frequently contain seeds as a result of cross-pollination by insects with compatible pollen from other citrus cultivars grown nearby. To solve this problem using a biotechnological approach we aim at the destruction of ovules and/or seeds by directing the expression of a toxic gene using the promoter of an ovule and/or seed specific gene. With the purpose of isolating this kind of genes we constructed two cDNA libraries from ovules and seeds at different developmental stages of the Clementine mandarin (Citrus clementina cv. Clemenules). A total of 1,014 ESTs from the ovule library and 1,042 ESTs from the seed library were generated, with a novelty percentage of 27% and 36% among the Spanish Citrus Functional Genomic Project (CFGP) ESTs database, respectively. Quantitative PCR analysis confirmed nearly specific expression in ovule and/or seed of two genes, TRANSPARENT TESTA16 (CcTT16) and TRANSPARENT TESTA7 (CcTT7). Expression of these two genes is restricted to early seed development, and is localized in the embryo sac and endothelium. The promoters of those genes may be useful to genetically engineer citrus species to avoid seed formation in fruits of commercial varieties.The authors thank Dr. L. Navarro and J. Juarez, from the Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (Generalitat Valenciana), for the use of the Clementine orchard and Fortune pollen; Dr. J Forment and the Genomics Facility at the IBMCP for sequence analysis and maintenance of to the CFGP database; and Drs. F Tadeo and J Carbonell for critical reading of the manuscript. This work was supported by grants from the Conselleria de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentacion (Generalitat Valenciana) and Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnologia (research grant GEN2001-4885-C05). A.G-L. received a PhD fellowship from the Conselleria de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentacion.García Lor, A.; Garcia Martinez, JL.; Perez Amador, MA. (2012). Identification of ovule and seed genes from Citrus clementina. Tree Genetics and Genomes. 8(2):227-235. doi:10.1007/s11295-011-0435-xS22723582Al-Shahrour F, Diaz-Uriarte R, Dopazo J (2005) Discovering molecular functions significantly related to phenotypes by combining gene expression data and biological information. Bioinformatics 21:2988–2993Al-Shahrour F, Minguez P, Tarraga J, Montaner D, Alloza E, Vaquerizas JMM, Conde L, Blaschke C, Vera J, Dopazo J (2006) BABELOMICS: a systems biology perspective in the functional annotation of genome-scale experiments. Nucleic Acids Res 34:W472–W476Alos E, Cercos M, Rodrigo MJ, Zacarias L, Talon M (2006) Regulation of color break in citrus fruits. Changes in pigment profiling and gene expression induced by gibberellins and nitrate, two ripening retardants. J Agric Food Chem 54:4888–4895Bugos RC, Chiang VL, Zhang XH, Campbell ER, Podila GK, Campbell WH (1995) RNA isolation from plant tissues recalcitrant to extraction in guanidine. Biotechniques 19:734–737Costantini E, Landi L, Silvestroni O, Pandolfini T, Spena A, Mezzetti B (2007) Auxin synthesis-encoding transgene enhances grape fecundity. Plant Physiol 143:1689–1694Debeaujon I, Nesi N, Perez P, Devic M, Grandjean O, Caboche M, Lepiniec L (2003) Proanthocyanidin-accumulating cells in Arabidopsis testa: regulation of differentiation and role in seed development. Plant Cell 15:2514–2531Dorcey E, Urbez C, Blazquez MA, Carbonell J, Perez-Amador MA (2009) Fertilization-dependent auxin response in ovules triggers fruit development through the modulation of gibberellin metabolism in Arabidopsis. Plant J 58:318–332Debeaujon I, Peeters AJ, Léon-Kloosterziel KM, Koornneef M (2001) The TRANSPARENT TESTA12 gene of Arabidopsis encodes a multidrug secondary transporter-like protein required for flavonoid sequestration in vacuoles of the seed coat endothelium. Plant Cell 13:853–571Forment J, Gadea J, Huerta L, Abizanda L, Agusti J, Alamar S, Alos E, Andres F, Arribas R, Beltran JP, Berbel A, Blazquez MA, Brumos J, Canas LA, Cercos M, Colmenero-Flores JM, Conesa A, Estables B, Gandia M, Garcia-Martinez JL, Gimeno J, Gisbert A, Gomez G, Gonzalez-Candelas L, Granell A, Guerra J, Lafuente MT, Madueno F, Marcos JF, Marques MC, Martinez F, Martinez-Godoy MA, Miralles S, Moreno P, Navarro L, Pallas V, Perez-Amador MA, Perez-Valle J, Pons C, Rodrigo I, Rodriguez PL, Royo C, Serrano R, Soler G, Tadeo F, Talon M, Terol J, Trenor M, Vaello L, Vicente O, Vidal C, Zacarias L, Conejero V (2005) Development of a citrus genome-wide EST collection and cDNA microarray as resources for genomic studies. Plant Mol Biol 57:375–391Forment J, Gilabert F, Robles A, Conejero V, Nuez F, Blanca JM (2008) EST2uni: an open, parallel tool for automated EST analysis and database creation, with a data mining web interface and microarray expression data integration. BMC Bioinformatics 9:5Fos M, Nuez F, Garcia-Martinez JL (2000) The gene pat-2, which induces natural parthenocarpy, alters the gibberellin content in unpollinated tomato ovaries. Plant Physiol 122:471–480Fos M, Proaño K, Nuez F, Garcia-Martinez JL (2001) Role of gibberellins in parthenocarpic fruit development induced by the genetic system pat-3/pat-4 in tomato. Physiol Plant 111:545–550Hashimoto JG, Beadles-Bohling AS, Wiren KM (2004) Comparison of RiboGreen and 18S rRNA quantitation for normalizing real-time RT-PCR expression analysis. Biotechniques 36:54–60Haughn G, Chaudhury A (2005) Genetic analysis of seed coat development in Arabidopsis. Trends Plant Sci 10:472–477Hartley RW (1988) Barnase and barstar. Expression of its cloned inhibitor permits expression of a cloned ribonuclease. J Mol Biol 202:913–915Jackson DP (1992) In situ hybridization in plants. In: Bowles DJ, Gurr SJ, Pherenson M (eds) Molecular plant pathology: a practical approach. Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, pp 163–174Koltunow AM (1993) Isolation and construction of genes to control seed production in Citrus. In: Hyashi T, Omura M, Scott NS (eds) Techniques on gene diagnosis and breeding. Fruit Tree Research Station, Tsukuba, Japan, pp 101–108Koltunow AM, Soltys K, Nito N, Mcclure S (1995) Anther, ovule, seed and nucellar embryo development in Citrus sinensis cv Valencia. Can J Bot 73:1567–1582Koltunow AM, Brennan P, Bond JE, Barker SJ (1998) Evaluation of genes to reduce seed size in Arabidopsis and tobacco and their application to Citrus. Mol Breeding 4:235–251Le BH, Cheng C, Bui AQ, Wagmaister JA, Henry KF, Pelletier J, Kwong L, Belmonte M, Kirkbride R, Horvath S, Drews GN, Fischer RL, Okamuro JK, Harada JJ, Goldberg RB (2010) Global analysis of gene activity during Arabidopsis seed development and identification of seed-specific transcription factors. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 107:8063–8070Li DD, Shi W, Deng XX (2002) Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of embryogenic calluses of Ponkan mandarin and the regeneration of plants containing the chimeric ribonuclease gene. Plant Cell Rep 21:153–156Marques MC, Alonso-Cantabrana H, Forment J, Arribas R, Alamar S, Conejero V, Perez-Amador MA (2009) A new set of ESTs and cDNA clones from full-length and normalized libraries for gene discovery and functional characterization in citrus. BMC Genomics 10:428Mezzetti B, Landi L, Pandolfini T, Spena A (2004) The DefH9-iaaM auxin-synthesizing gene increases plant fecundity and fruit production in strawberry and raspberry. BMC Biotechnology 4:4Nesi N, Debeaujon I, Jond C, Stewart AJ, Jenkins GI, Caboche M, Lepiniec L (2002) The TRANSPARENT TESTA16 locus encodes the ARABIDOPSIS BSISTER MADS domain protein and is required for proper development and pigmentation of the seed coat. Plant Cell 14:2463–2479Olimpieri I, Siligato F, Caccia R, Mariotti L, Ceccarelli N, Soressi GP, Mazzucato A (2007) Tomato fruit-set driven by pollination or by the parthenocarpic fruit allele are mediated by transcriptionally regulated gibberellin biosynthesis. Planta 226:877–888Peer AW, Brown DE, Tague BW, Muday GK, Taiz L, Murphy AS (2001) Flavonoid accumulation patterns of transparent testa mutants of Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol 126:536–548Rommens CM, Haring MA, Swords K, Davies HV, Belknap WR (2007) The intragenic approach as a new extension to traditional plant breeding. Trends Plant Sci 12:397–403Rotino GL, Acciarri N, Sabatini E, Mennella G, Scalzo RL, Maestrelli A, Molesini B, Pandolfini T, Scalzo J, Mezzetti B, Spena A (2005) Open field trial of genetically modified parthenocarpic tomato: seedlessness and fruit quality. BMC Biotechnol 5:32Schoenbohm C, Martens S, Eder C, Forkmann G, Weisshaar B (2000) Identification of the Arabidopsis thaliana flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase gene and functional expression of the encoded P450 enzyme. Biol Chem 381:749–753Schwabe WW, Mills JJ (1981) Hormones and parthenocarpic fruit set: a literature survey. Hort Abstr 51:661–698Singh DP, Filardo FF, Storey R, Jermakow AM, Yamaguchi S, Swain SM (2010) Overexpression of a gibberellin inactivation gene alters seed development, KNOX gene expression, and plant development in Arabidopsis. Physiol Plant 138:74–90Talon M, Zacarias L, Primo-Millo E (1992) Gibberellins and parthenocarpic ability in developing ovaries of seedless mandarins. Plant Physiol 99:1575–1581Zimmermann P, Hirsch-Hoffmann M, Hennig L, Gruissem W (2004) GENEVESTIGATOR: Arabidopsis microarray database and analysis toolbox. Plant Physiol 136:2621–2632Zhulidov PA, Bogdanova EA, Shcheglov AS, Vagner LL, Khaspekov GL, Kozhemyako VB, Matz MV, Meleshkevitch E, Moroz LL, Lukyanov SA, Shagin DA (2004) Simple cDNA normalization using Kamchatka crab duplex-specific nuclease. Nucleic Acids Res 32:e3

Search for H alpha emitters in Galaxy Clusters with Tunable Filters

The studies of the evolution of galaxies in Galaxy Clusters have as a traditional complication the difficulty in establishing cluster membership of those sources detected in the field of view. The determination of spectroscopic redshifts involves long exposure times when it is needed to reach the cluster peripherical regions of/or clusters at moderately large redshifts, while photometric redshifts often present uncertainties too large to offer significant conclusions. The mapping of the cluster of galaxies with narrow band tunable filters makes it possible to reach large redshifts intervals with an accuracy high enough to establish the source membership of those presenting emission/absorption lines easily identifiable, as H alpha. Moreover, the wavelength scan can include other lines as [NII], [OIII] or $H_{\beta}$ allowing to distinguish those sources with strong stellar formation activity and those with an active galactic nuclei. All this makes it possible to estimate the stellar formation rate of the galaxies observed. This, together with ancillary data in other wavelengths may lead to a good estimation of the stellar formation histories. It will shed new light over the galaxy evolution in clusters and will improve our understanding of galaxy evolution, especially in the outer cluster regions, usually less studied and with significant unexploited data that can not be correctly interpreted without redshift determination.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. "Highlights of Spanish Astrophysics V", Proceedings of the VIII Scientific Meeting of the Spanish Astronomical Society (SEA) held in Santander, 7-11 July, 200

Gestión de Recursos Humanos: El sistema de compensación como clave para la motivación laboral

Este trabajo documental se ha realizado bajo una estructura metodológica, tomando en consideración el área de gestión de recursos humanos y enfatizando el estudio en el sistema de compensación como factor indispensable para la motivación laboral; siendo, ésta el motor que impulsa a los trabajadores a alcanzar metas y objetivos empresariales. Esta investigación tiene como finalidad analizar el sistema de compensaciones, como factor clave para la motivación laboral, generalmente utilizado por las empresas. La investigación documental está compuesta por cuatro capítulos; en el primer capítulo de esta investigación se abordan las generalidades de las compensaciones. en el segundo capítulo de este trabajo se desarrollará lo referente a la motivación laboral; en el tercer capítulo se exponen los planes de incentivos y en un cuarto capítulo se clasifican las prestaciones sociales. El presente trabajo se ha desarrollado tomando como base un esquema investigativo que inicia con la delimitación del tema y subtema, introducción, justificación, los objetivos de la investigación, marco teórico y las conclusiones; se ha tomado como referencia una base de apoyo de información científica de muchos autores; entre los que se destacan Idalberto Chiavenato, Gary Dessler, Wayne Mondy, B. Werther, P. Kotler, Robbins, entre otros

ROSE: radiology, obstruction, symptoms and exposure – a Delphi consensus definition of the association of COPD and bronchiectasis by the EMBARC Airways Working Group

Consensus; COPD; Clinical practiceConsenso; EPOC; Práctica clínicaConsens; MPOC; Pràctica clínicaIntroduction The coexistence of COPD and bronchiectasis seems to be common and associated with a worse prognosis than for either disease individually. However, no definition of this association exists to guide researchers and clinicians. Methods We conducted a Delphi survey involving expert pulmonologists and radiologists from Europe, Turkey and Israel in order to define the “COPD– [bronchiectasis] BE association”. A panel of 16 experts from EMBARC selected 35 statements for the survey after reviewing scientific literature. Invited participants, selected on the basis of expertise, geographical and sex distribution, were asked to express agreement on the statements. Consensus was defined as a score of ≥6 points (scale 0 to 9) in ≥70% of answers across two scoring rounds. Results 102 (72.3%) out of 141 invited experts participated in the first round. Their response rate in the second round was 81%. The final consensus definition of “COPD–BE association” was: “The coexistence of (1) specific radiological findings (abnormal bronchial dilatation, airways visible within 1 cm of pleura and/or lack of tapering sign in ≥1 pulmonary segment and in >1 lobe) with (2) an obstructive pattern on spirometry ([forced expiratory volume in 1 s] FEV1/[forced vital capacity] FVC <0.7), (3) at least two characteristic symptoms (cough, expectoration, dyspnoea, fatigue, frequent infections) and (4) current or past exposure to smoke (≥10 pack-years) or other toxic agents (biomass, etc.)”. These criteria form the acronym “ROSE” (Radiology, Obstruction, Symptoms, Exposure). Conclusions The Delphi process formulated a European consensus definition of “COPD–BE association”. We hope this definition will have broad applicability across clinical practice and research in the future

Bronchiectasis-COPD Overlap Syndrome: Role of Peripheral Eosinophil Count and Inhaled Corticosteroid Treatment

Both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and bronchiectasis are highly prevalent diseases. In both cases, inhaled corticosteroids (ICs) are associated with a decrease in exacerbations in patients with a high peripheral blood eosinophil count (BEC), but it is still not known what occurs in bronchiectasis-COPD overlap syndrome (BCOS). The present study aimed to assess the effect of ICs on various outcomes in patients with BCOS, according to BEC values. We undertook a post-hoc analysis of a cohort of 201 GOLD II-IV COPD patients with a long-term follow-up (median 74 [IQR: 40-106] months). All participants underwent computerized tomography and 115 (57.2%) had confirmed BCOS. A standardized clinical protocol was followed and two sputum samples were collected at each medical visit (every 3-6 months), whenever possible. During follow-up, there were 68 deaths (59.1%), and the mean rate of exacerbations and hospitalizations per year was 1.42 (1.2) and 0.57 (0.83), respectively. A total of 44.3% of the patients presented at least one pneumonic episode per year. The mean value of eosinophils was 402 (112) eosinophils/mu L, with 27 (23.5%), 63 (54.8%), and 25 patients (21.7%) presenting, respectively, less than 100, 101-300, and more than 300 eosinophils/mu L. A total of 84 patients (73.1%) took ICs. The higher the BEC, the higher the annual rate of exacerbations and hospitalizations. Patients with less than 100 eosinophils/mu L presented more infectious events (incident exacerbations, pneumonic episodes, and chronic bronchial infection via pathogenic bacteria). Only those patients with eosinophilia (>300 eosinophils/mu L) treated with ICs decreased the number (1.77 (1.2) vs. 1.08 (0.6), p < 0.001) and the severity (0.67 (0.8) vs. 0.35 (0.5), p = 0.011) of exacerbations, without any changes in the other infectious outcomes or mortality. In conclusion, ICs treatment in patients with BCOS with increased BEC decreased the number and severity of incident exacerbations without any negative influence on other infectious outcomes (incidence of pneumonia or chronic bronchial infection)

Percepción social de los servicios ecosistémicos proporcionados por los huertos familiares en el Altiplano Central de México

Los servicios ecosistémicos, se refieren a los beneficios que las personas obtienen del ecosistema. En este sentido los agroecosistemas con huertos familiares albergan una gran diversidad de especies, asociada a la prestación de dichos servicios, no obstante, que estos han sido escasamente estudiados bajo esta perspectiva. En el presente trabajo identificamos los principales servicios ecosistémicos de los agroecosistemas con huertos familiares y analizamos las percepciones sociales sobre la importancia que tienen en las localidades rurales de El Carmen, Colonia Juárez y Progreso Hidalgo, ubicadas en el sur del Estado de México. A partir de una revisión profunda de la literatura, aplicación de encuestas, observación directa y recorridos en campo, identificamos 17 servicios ecosistémicos, los cuales fueron percibidos como importantes, siendo los más representativos, de acuerdo con su categoría ecosistémica: culturales (belleza del paisaje, relajación y descanso), soporte (conservación de la biodiversidad), regulación (mejoramiento de la polinización y control de la erosión) y provisión (diversidad de alimentos). El análisis de percepción social de los servicios ecosistémicos funciona como estrategia para el mantenimiento y conservación de los huertos familiares

Association between sleep-disordered breathing and breast cancer aggressiveness

Background Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has been associated with cancer aggressiveness, but studies focused on specific tumors are lacking. In this pilot study we investigated whether SDB is associated with breast cancer (BC) aggressiveness. Methods 83 consecutive women <65 years diagnosed with primary BC underwent a home respiratory polygraphy. Markers of SDB severity included the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and the 4% oxygen desaturation index (ODI4). The Ki67 proliferation index, lack of hormone receptors (HR-), Nottingham Histological Grade (NHG), and tumor stage were used as markers of BC aggressiveness. The association between SDB and molecular subtypes of BC was also assessed. Results The mean (SD) age was 48.8 (8.8) years and body mass index was 27.4 (5.4) Kg/m2. 42 women (50.6%) were post-menopausal. The median (IQR) AHI was 5.1 (2–9.4), and ODI4 was 1.5 (0.5–5.8). The median (IQR) AHI did not differ between the groups with Ki67>28% and Ki6728% and Ki67<29% (51.2% vs 52.3%, p = 0.90), HR- and HR+ (58.3% vs 49.1%, p = 0.47), NHG categories (p = 0.89), different tumor stages (p = 0.71), or molecular subtypes (p = 0.73). These results did not change when the ODI4 was used instead of the AHI. Conclusion Our results do not support an association between the presence or severity of SDB and BC aggressiveness.Asociación de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica del Sur (NEUMOSUR) 1/201