Wnt and vitamin D at the crossroads in solid cancer

The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is aberrantly activated in most colorectal cancers and less frequently in a variety of other solid neoplasias. Many epidemiological and experimental studies and some clinical trials suggest an anticancer action of vitamin D, mainly against colorectal cancer. The aim of this review was to analyze the literature supporting the interference of Wnt/β-catenin signaling by the active vitamin D metabolite 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. We discuss the molecular mechanisms of this antagonism in colorectal cancer and other cancer types. Additionally, we summarize the available data indicating a reciprocal inhibition of vitamin D action by the activated Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Thus, a complex mutual antagonism between Wnt/β-catenin signaling and the vitamin D system seems to be at the root of many solid cancers. Abnormal activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway is common in many types of solid cancers. Likewise, a large proportion of cancer patients have vitamin D deficiency. In line with these observations, Wnt/β-catenin signaling and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), the active vitamin D metabolite, usually have opposite effects on cancer cell proliferation and phenotype. In recent years, an increasing number of studies performed in a variety of cancer types have revealed a complex crosstalk between Wnt/β-catenin signaling and 1,25(OH)2D3. Here we review the mechanisms by which 1,25(OH)2D3 inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling and, conversely, how the activated Wnt/β-catenin pathway may abrogate vitamin D action. The available data suggest that interaction between Wnt/β-catenin signaling and the vitamin D system is at the crossroads in solid cancers and may have therapeutic applications.The work in the authors’ laboratory is funded by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (PID2019-104867RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033), the Agencia Estatal de Investigación—Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (SAF2016-76377-R, MINECO/AEI/FEDER, EU), the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (SAF2017-90604-REDT/NuRCaMeIn), and the Instituto de Salud Carlos III—Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (CIBERONC; CB16/12/00273

Igualdad de género percibida en el reparto de cuidados y salud mental: impacto de la crisis sanitaria por COVID-19 en una muestra de mujeres andaluzas

The restrictions during COVID-19 seem to have had an unequal impact on the mental health and habits of the population in terms of gender. The literature states that crises such as this have a more negative impact on women. We explored perceived overload due to household chores and informal caregiving in a sample of Andalusian women, their perception of an increase in this overload after the pandemic, and its possible effect on mental health. To do this, we administered an online retrospective questionnaire to explore the perception of 166 women on care economy variables by estimating hours, effort, overload, and sharing of chores at three different times: before the onset of the pandemic, during lockdown, and at the time of data collection (one year after lockdown). We also measured depression, anxiety, stress, and life satisfaction at the time of data collection through validated scales. Results showed that women estimated significantly more time and effort on household chores and caregiving for the lockdown period. The retrospective estimation of the sharing of tasks was similar over the three moments but women perceived that they did more than their heterosexual partners. One in four women perceived an increase in caregiving overload after the pandemic. Women who felt mental overload due to caregiving scored higher in depression than those who felt physical overload. Considering these findings, and despite the limitations of this study, the pandemic may have led to an increase in informal caregiving overload for many women. Furthermore, the relation between depression and overload one year after lockdown was demonstrated. Measures are required to reduce the impact of gender in crises by designing prevention policies and programs that promote co-responsibility.Las restricciones vividas durante la COVID-19 parecen haber causado un impacto diferencial de género en la salud mental y en los hábitos de gran parte de la población. Asimismo, la literatura indica que las situaciones de crisis como la vivida tienen peor impacto en las mujeres. El objetivo de este trabajo es explorar la sobrecarga percibida por las tareas del hogar y cuidados informales en una muestra de mujeres andaluzas, su percepción de un incremento en la misma tras la pandemia, y su posible relación con variables de salud mental. Para ello se administró un cuestionario online para explorar la percepción de 166 mujeres en variables de economía de cuidados estimando retrospectivamente las horas, esfuerzo, sobrecarga y reparto de tareas del hogar para el momento de recogida de datos (un año tras el confinamiento), para el momento previo al inicio de la pandemia y durante el confinamiento. También se administraron instrumentos validados para medir depresión, ansiedad, estrés y satisfacción vital en el momento de recogida de datos. Los resultados mostraron una percepción de mayor dedicación y esfuerzo debido a los cuidados y tareas del hogar estimado para el momento de confinamiento. El reparto de tareas se estimó similar para los tres momentos sobre los que se preguntó, y percibieron que ellas hacían más estas tareas que sus parejas heterosexuales. Una de cada cuatro mujeres percibió un aumento de la sobrecarga debida a cuidados tras la pandemia y los niveles de depresión fueron mayores en mujeres que sentían una sobrecarga mental debida a los cuidados, por encima de quien identificó sobrecarga física. Aun considerando las limitaciones de este trabajo, la pandemia ha podido suponer un incremento en la sobrecarga por los cuidados informales para muchas mujeres y, evidenciada la relación entre depresión y sobrecarga, podría entenderse que esta relación también se diera durante el confinamiento. Se requieren medidas que reduzcan el impacto de género en situaciones de crisis y políticas y programas de prevención que fomenten la corresponsabilidad.This work has been funded by Fundación María Fulmen (Sevilla) within their Third Call for Grants for Projects Aimed at Women Promotion (2021) [III Convocatoria de ayudas 2021 a proyectos dirigidos a la promoción de mujeres]

Randomised clinical trial of a manual therapy programme to reduce the evolution time of axillary web syndrome in women affected by breast cancer: study protocol

Introduction Breast cancer is the most common malignant tumour in women, with more than 2 million new cases annually worldwide. One of the most frequent and well-known surgical and post-actinic sequelae is post-mastectomy lymphoedema. The axillary web syndrome is another sequela that limits the functionality of the patient and delays the protocol time of administering cancer treatments; and in many cases, this sequela is misdiagnosed. This surgical sequela usually disappears spontaneously after the third month of appearance, but this implies a long period of discomfort and limitations for the patient, at the same time, it may delay the application of radiotherapy within the indicated protocol deadline (due to a need for body posture). Methods and analysis With the present quasi-experimental study, we intend to show the application of physiotherapy and stretching from the beginning of the appearance of the axillary cord, in a controlled and scheduled way by the physiotherapist. It is possible to reduce the time in which the lymphatic thrombus is present and, therefore, recover functionality and mobility, reduce pain and be able to apply treatments within the established deadline. We intend to apply this therapy into the intervention group and compare thrombus evolution time with the control group. Ethics and dissemination This trial has the approval of the Andalucia Ethics Committee (PEIBA code 1909-N1-21, reg. number 171.21)

Batch and Continuous Chromate and Zinc Sorption from Electroplating Effluents Using Biogenic Iron Precipitates

Nanoparticles of iron precipitates produced by a microbial consortium are a suitable adsorbent for metal removal from electroplating industry wastewaters. Biogenic iron precipitates were utilized as adsorbents for chromate and zinc in batch conditions. Furthermore, the iron precipitates were embedded in alginate beads for metal removal in fixed-bed columns, and their performance was evaluated in a continuous system by varying different operational parameters such as flow rate, bed height, and feeding system (down- and up-flows). The influence of different adsorption variables in the saturation time, the amount of adsorbed potentially toxic metals, and the column performance was investigated, and the shape of the breakthrough curves was analyzed. The optimal column performance was achieved by increasing bed height and by decreasing feed flow rate and inlet metal concentration. The up-flow system significantly improved the metal uptake, avoiding the preferential flow channels.Depto. de Ingeniería Química y de MaterialesFac. de Ciencias QuímicasTRUEMinisterio de Economía y Competitividadpu

LOS CONTENIDOS DE LA FORMACIÓN CONTINUADA DEL PROFESORADO: ¿QUÉ DOCENTES SE ESTÁN FORMANDO?

The contents of in-service teacher education are only one of the components of the teacher professional development programs. However, they are important and even decisive because they represent the knowledge base and the wisdom of the practice with which teachers are building their professional knowledge and practice. They make it possible to learn certain values and concepts, practical skills and dispositions that are necessary in order to understand and properly deal with teaching tasks and responsibilities. An updated specialized review on the contents of the training literature has allowed us to compose the theoretical framework used to conduct research on the in-service teacher training, in recent years, in various autonomous regions, Murcia included.The methodology has consisted of a survey type research where a total of1,413 questionnaires have been collected from teachers who teach at the stage of compulsory schooling. After the analysis and discussion of the data, certain implications have emerged; on the one hand, they provide insight into what is happening and, on the other, they allow us to formulate a well-founded set of implications for policy and practice related to in-service teacher education in our context.Los contenidos de la formación continuada del profesorado son tan solo uno de los elementos que componen los programas de desarrollo profesional docente. Son, sin embargo, relevantes e incluso decisivos, pues representan tanto el conocimiento de base como la sabiduría de la práctica con la que los docentes van construyendo su conocimiento y prácticas profesionales. Hacen posible el aprendizaje de determinados valores y concepciones, habilidades prácticas y disposiciones que son necesarias para entender de forma adecuada y afrontar las tareas y responsabilidades del ejercicio de la docencia. Una revisión actualizada de la literatura especializada sobre los contenidos de la formación nos ha permitido componer el marco teórico utilizado para llevar a cabo una investigación sobre la formación continuada del profesorado, durante los últimos años, en diversas Comunidades Autónomas, la Región de Murcia entre ellas. La metodología ha consistido en una investigación tipo encuesta, donde se han recabado un total de 1413 cuestionarios de profesores que imparten clase en la etapa de escolarización obligatoria. Tras el análisis y la discusión de los datos se desprenden ciertas implicaciones, que de una parte, permiten conocer lo que viene ocurriendo y, de otra, formular un conjunto fundado de implicaciones para las políticas y las prácticas en materia de formación del profesorado

Ethanol production from fractionated eucalyptus wood

Eucalyptus globulus wood (EGW) is a lignocellulosic material with high cellulose and hemicellulose content, suitable for the simultaneous production of hemicellulosic and cellulosic ethanol. Processing of EGW by autohydrolysis yields a liquid phase rich in hemicellulosic-derived compounds (13.73 kg of xylooligosaccharides/ 100 kg of raw material). The liquid phase was processed by membranes, achieving a concentrated-liquor of 52.9 g of xylooligosaccharides/L. The liquor from membrane processing was hydrolyzed with sulphuric acid, detoxified and fermented. The maximal concentration of ethanol from liquid phase was 19.3 g/L (volumetric productivity Qp=0.19 g/Lh and YP/S=0.38 g/g). The solid phase from autohydrolysis was submitted to delignification organosolv, obtained a solid with 81 kg of cellulose/100 kg of delignified solid. The simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of delignified solid was carried out, achieving 62.7 g/L of ethanol with cellulose to ethanol conversion of 92% (based in a cellulose content of delignified solid)

La innovación en la Universidad de Murcia desde una perspectiva institucional

[SPA] En este trabajo se establece un marco conceptual sobre la innovación educativa y sus significados desde las teorías que las sustentan y se ofrece una descripción de los proyectos y experiencias de innovación avalados/as por la Universidad de Murcia y desarrollados/as por las Facultades que la forman. [ENG] This paper provides a conceptual framework on educational innovation and their meanings from the theories that underpin them and provides a description of the projects and experiences of innovation backed by Universidad de Murcia and developed by the centres that form them

The Possibilities of Kinect as an Access Device for People with Cerebral Palsy A Preliminary Study

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a general term for a group of permanent, nonprogressive movement disorders that cause physical disability in development, mainly in the areas of body movement but it might also affect intellectual capabilities. Among all this diversity of profiles, we find that, for some of them, access to a computer application is almost impossible in spite of the great variety of commercial devices based of different technologies. Kinect might be a viable possibility in order to facilitate access to games and computer applications that help users improve their skills or communication

Combined flow cytometry and high-throughput image analysis for the study of essential genes in Caenorhabditis elegans

Background: Advances in automated image-based microscopy platforms coupled with high-throughput liquid workflows have facilitated the design of large-scale screens utilising multicellular model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans to identify genetic interactions, therapeutic drugs or disease modifiers. However, the analysis of essential genes has lagged behind because lethal or sterile mutations pose a bottleneck for high-throughput approaches, and a systematic way to analyse genetic interactions of essential genes in multicellular organisms has been lacking. Results: In C. elegans, non-conditional lethal mutations can be maintained in heterozygosity using chromosome balancers, commonly expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the pharynx. However, gene expression or function is typically monitored by the use of fluorescent reporters marked with the same fluorophore, presenting a challenge to sort worm populations of interest, particularly at early larval stages. Here, we develop a sorting strategy capable of selecting homozygous mutants carrying a GFP stress reporter from GFP-balanced animals at the second larval stage. Because sorting is not completely error-free, we develop an automated high-throughput image analysis protocol that identifies and discards animals carrying the chromosome balancer. We demonstrate the experimental usefulness of combining sorting of homozygous lethal mutants and automated image analysis in a functional genomic RNA interference (RNAi) screen for genes that genetically interact with mitochondrial prohibitin (PHB). Lack of PHB results in embryonic lethality, while homozygous PHB deletion mutants develop into sterile adults due to maternal contribution and strongly induce the mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR mt ). In a chromosome-wide RNAi screen for C. elegans genes having human orthologues, we uncover both known and new PHB genetic interactors affecting the UPR mt and growth. Conclusions: The method presented here allows the study of balanced lethal mutations in a high-throughput manner. It can be easily adapted depending on the user's requirements and should serve as a useful resource for the C. elegans community for probing new biological aspects of essential nematode genes as well as the generation of more comprehensive genetic networks.European Research Council ERC-2011-StG-281691Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad BFU2012–3550

Cystic lesion of pectoralis minor muscle: learning from mistakes

Hydatidosis is a frequent infestation in large endemic areas, caused by helminths. Primary localization within the muscle or bone tissues is rare. We report the case of a 52-year-old woman with a cystic lesion located in the right pectoralis minor muscle, who was initially diagnosed with cystic lymphangioma by imaging examination. She was submitted for surgical treatment; in block resection of the tumor along with the involved muscle was performed. The histopathological diagnosis was of hydatid cyst. The contribution of the ancillary lab tests is analyzed for a precise preoperative diagnostic approach. This case well illustrates that the most likely is not always what it appears to be. Facing of a cystic lesion in the lungs, liver or muscle, clinicians should always think on hydatid disease, particularly in endemic areas