La dirección de arte en el cine del expresionismo alemán; El gabinete del Doctor Caligari, Metrópolis y su posterior influencia en Blade Runner.

El presente trabajo aborda el estudio de cómo el expresionismo alemán se manifiesta en el cine, centrándonos principalmente en el concepto de dirección artística. Vamos a tratar la cuestión de cómo la escenografía se vuelve completamente relevante, es capaz de construir una atmósfera, e incluso pasa a ser parte de la trama cinematográfica en las películas expresionistas. Vamos a centrarnos en el análisis de dos películas del movimiento, El Gabinete del Doctor Caligari (Das cabinet des Dr. Caligari, Robert Wiene, 1920) y Metrópolis (Metropolis, Fritz Lang, 1927). También abordaremos la cuestión de cómo esta estética escenográfica pasa a la posterioridad en películas como Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982.)The present work addresses the study of how German expressionism manifests itself in cinema, focusing mainly on the concept of artistic direction. We are going to deal with the question of how the scenery becomes completely relevant, is able to build an atmosphere, and even becomes part of the cinematic plot in expressionist films. We are going to focus on the analysis of two films of the movement, The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari (Das cabinet des Dr. Caligari, Robert Wiene, 1920) and Metrópolis (Metropolis, Fritz Lang, 1927). We will also address the question of how this scenographic aesthetic passes into later life in films like Blade Runner (Ridley Scott, 1982.)<br /

Molecular Interplay Between the Sigma-1 Receptor, Steroids, and Ion Channels

Cell excitability is tightly regulated by the activity of ion channels that allow for the passage of ions across cell membranes. Ion channel activity is controlled by different mechanisms that change their gating properties, expression or abundance in the cell membrane. The latter can be achieved by forming complexes with a diversity of proteins like chaperones such as the Sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R), which is one with unique features and exhibits a role as a ligand-operated chaperone. This molecule also displays high intracellular mobility according to its activation level since, depletion of internal Ca+2 stores or the presence of specific ligands, produce Sig-1R’s mobilization from the endoplasmic reticulum toward the plasma membrane or nuclear envelope. The function of the Sig-1R as a chaperone is regulated by synthetic and endogenous ligands, with some of these compounds being a steroids and acting as key endogenous modifiers of the actions of the Sig-1R. There are cases in the literature that exemplify the close relationship between the actions of steroids on the Sig-1R and the resulting negative or positive effects on ion channel function/abundance. Such interactions have been shown to importantly influence the physiology of mammalian cells leading to changes in their excitability. The present review focuses on describing how the Sig-1R regulates the functional properties and the expression of some sodium, calcium, potassium, and TRP ion channels in the presence of steroids and the physiological consequences of these interplays at the cellular level are also discussed

Lysophosphatidic Acid and Ion Channels as Molecular Mediators of Pain

Lysophosphatidic acid or LPA is a phospholipid which has been extensively linked to the generation and maintenance of pain. Several ion channels have also been shown to participate in this pathological process but the link between LPA and these proteins in pain has just recently gained interest. In this respect, the field has advanced by determining the molecular mechanisms by which LPA promotes changes in the function of some ion channels. While some of the actions of LPA include modulation of signaling pathways associated to its specific receptors, other include a direct interaction with a region in the structure of ion channels to affect their gating properties. Here, we focus on the known effects of LPA on some transient receptor potential, sodium, potassium, and calcium channels. As the field moves forward, mechanisms are unveiled with the hope of understanding the underlying causes of pain in order to target these and control this pathophysiological state

Nociceptive TRP Channels and Sex Steroids

Proteins belonging to Transient Receptor Potential (TRP) family are nonselective cation channels that play an essential role in mammalian physiology, functioning as transducers of several environmental signals including those of chemical, thermal and mechanical natures. A subgroup of these receptors is expressed in sensory neurons where they are activated by noxious stimuli and are key players of pain responses in the organism. Some TRP channels are molecular targets for the classical and non-classical effects of sex steroids. This chapter will describe the close relationship between nociceptive TRP channels and sex steroids as well as their impact on nociception and pain-related responses

Expression of LPP3 in Bergmann glia is required for proper cerebellar sphingosine-1-phosphate metabolism/signaling and development

Bioactive lipids serve as intracellular and extracellular mediators in cell signaling in normal and pathological conditions. Here we describe that an important regulator of some of these lipids, the lipid phosphate phosphatase-3 (LPP3), is abundantly expressed in specific plasma membrane domains of Bergmann glia (BG), a specialized type of astrocyte with key roles in cerebellum development and physiology. Mice selectively lacking expression of LPP3/Ppap2b in the nervous system are viable and fertile but exhibit defects in postnatal cerebellum development and modifications in the cytoarchitecture and arrangement of BG with a mild non-progressive motor coordination defect. Lipid and gene profiling studies in combination with pharmacological treatments suggest that most of these effects are associated with alterations in sphingosine-1- phosphate (S1P) metabolism and signaling. Altogether our data indicate that LPP3 participates in several aspects of neuron-glia communication required for proper cerebellum developmen

Splenic rupture as a complication of an infectious mononucleosis

Presentamos el caso de un varón de 16 años que consultó en Urgencias por dolor abdominal brusco de varias horas de evolución asociando pérdida de conciencia. En días previos había presentado odinofagia y fiebre alta. En las pruebas complementarias destacaba la presencia de leucocitosis de predominio linfocítico, mientras que tanto la ecografía como la tomografía computarizada desvelaron una rotura esplénica con hemoperitoneo, por lo que se llevó a cabo cirugía urgente (esplenectomía), que cursó sin incidencias. La rotura esplénica supone una situación de emergencia vital en el paciente joven, por lo que una buena anamnesis y exploración física es esencial para así evitar errores en la práctica clínica que puedan conllevar un desenlace potencialmente fatal.We present the case of a 16-year-old male who asked in an emergency department for sudden abdominal pain since many hours and loss of consciousness. Few days before, he had odynophagia and high fever. Leucocytosis with lymphocytosis predominance in analysis and splenic rupture with hemoperitoneum in echography and computerized tomography was shown. The treatment consisted in urgent surgery (splenectomy), which was uneventful. Splenic rupture is an emergency in young patients, so it is essential to do a good anamnesis and physical exploration to avoid mistakes with a potentially fatal outcome

Publishing data to support the fight against human vector-borne diseases

Vector-borne diseases are responsible for more than 17% of human cases of infectious diseases. In most situations, effective control of debilitating and deadly vector-bone diseases (VBDs), such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, yellow fever, Zika and Chagas requires up-to-date, robust and comprehensive information on the presence, diversity, ecology, bionomics and geographic spread of the organisms that carry and transmit the infectious agents. Huge gaps exist in the information related to these vectors, creating an essential need for campaigns to mobilise and share data. The publication of data papers is an effective tool for overcoming this challenge. These peer-reviewed articles provide scholarly credit for researchers whose vital work of assembling and publishing well-described, properly-formatted datasets often fails to receive appropriate recognition. To address this, GigaScience 's sister journal GigaByte partnered with the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) to publish a series of data papers, with support from the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), hosted by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Here we outline the initial results of this targeted approach to sharing data and describe its importance for controlling VBDs and improving public health

Formación del profesorado de Geografía y ciencias afines en docencia online y semipresencial basada en tecnologías de la información geográfica y ODS (DIDGEOTIG-II)

Este proyecto de innovación docente ha pretendido incorporar la semipresencialidad a la capacitación del profesorado/alumnado de Geografía y ciencias afines en docencia virtual basada en TIG abiertas y ODS, aportando soluciones a la brecha digital, la insostenibilidad y la educación despersonalizada. Se ha configurado una guía didáctica de actividades basadas en TIG para enseñar contenidos de educación geográfica para el desarrollo sostenible, combinando tareas virtuales con intervenciones presenciales, en favor de la salud mental de los agentes educativos y una mayor eficacia didáctica. La guía ha tenido en cuenta una encuesta de detección y valoración de problemas y soluciones en la enseñanza virtual de la Geografía, y algunas de sus actividades han sido testadas empíricamente, con una valoración docente y discente que ha validado la adecuación del enfoque semipresencial, geodigital y sostenible de la guía didáctica

The evolution of the ventilatory ratio is a prognostic factor in mechanically ventilated COVID-19 ARDS patients

Background: Mortality due to COVID-19 is high, especially in patients requiring mechanical ventilation. The purpose of the study is to investigate associations between mortality and variables measured during the first three days of mechanical ventilation in patients with COVID-19 intubated at ICU admission. Methods: Multicenter, observational, cohort study includes consecutive patients with COVID-19 admitted to 44 Spanish ICUs between February 25 and July 31, 2020, who required intubation at ICU admission and mechanical ventilation for more than three days. We collected demographic and clinical data prior to admission; information about clinical evolution at days 1 and 3 of mechanical ventilation; and outcomes. Results: Of the 2,095 patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU, 1,118 (53.3%) were intubated at day 1 and remained under mechanical ventilation at day three. From days 1 to 3, PaO2/FiO2 increased from 115.6 [80.0-171.2] to 180.0 [135.4-227.9] mmHg and the ventilatory ratio from 1.73 [1.33-2.25] to 1.96 [1.61-2.40]. In-hospital mortality was 38.7%. A higher increase between ICU admission and day 3 in the ventilatory ratio (OR 1.04 [CI 1.01-1.07], p = 0.030) and creatinine levels (OR 1.05 [CI 1.01-1.09], p = 0.005) and a lower increase in platelet counts (OR 0.96 [CI 0.93-1.00], p = 0.037) were independently associated with a higher risk of death. No association between mortality and the PaO2/FiO2 variation was observed (OR 0.99 [CI 0.95 to 1.02], p = 0.47). Conclusions: Higher ventilatory ratio and its increase at day 3 is associated with mortality in patients with COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation at ICU admission. No association was found in the PaO2/FiO2 variation

Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles 2018 (MISEV2018):a position statement of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles and update of the MISEV2014 guidelines

The last decade has seen a sharp increase in the number of scientific publications describing physiological and pathological functions of extracellular vesicles (EVs), a collective term covering various subtypes of cell-released, membranous structures, called exosomes, microvesicles, microparticles, ectosomes, oncosomes, apoptotic bodies, and many other names. However, specific issues arise when working with these entities, whose size and amount often make them difficult to obtain as relatively pure preparations, and to characterize properly. The International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) proposed Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles (“MISEV”) guidelines for the field in 2014. We now update these “MISEV2014” guidelines based on evolution of the collective knowledge in the last four years. An important point to consider is that ascribing a specific function to EVs in general, or to subtypes of EVs, requires reporting of specific information beyond mere description of function in a crude, potentially contaminated, and heterogeneous preparation. For example, claims that exosomes are endowed with exquisite and specific activities remain difficult to support experimentally, given our still limited knowledge of their specific molecular machineries of biogenesis and release, as compared with other biophysically similar EVs. The MISEV2018 guidelines include tables and outlines of suggested protocols and steps to follow to document specific EV-associated functional activities. Finally, a checklist is provided with summaries of key points