Alteraciones en el eje simpatoadrenal con el desarrollo de la enfermedad de Alzheimer

Tesis Doctoral inédita leída en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Farmacología. Fecha de Lectura: 22-07-202

Pactar y dominar: discurso y servicio en el ejercicio del señorío en la Castilla del final de la Edad Media (el ejemplo de Villalón de Campos)

El objetivo de este trabajo es el examen de la noción de servicio en el marco de las relaciones sostenidas ente el concejo de Villalón de Campos y sus respectivos señores a finales de la Edad Media. Se atiende aquí a la instrumentalización discursiva del servicio realizada por ambas agencias en sus comunicaciones a la hora de legitimar o sancionar el ejercicio del poder señorial o concejil

Alterations of the Sympathoadrenal Axis Related to the Development of Alzheimer’s Disease in the 3xTg Mouse Model

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is becoming a global health problem and public health priority. In the advanced stages of AD, besides the initial cognitive symptoms, behavioral problems, particularly agitation and aggressiveness, become prevalent in AD patients. These non-cognitive symptoms could be related to a noradrenergic overactivation. In this study, we used chromaffin cells (CCs) isolated from the adrenal gland of 3xTg AD model mice to characterize potential alterations in the autocrine-paracrine modulation of voltage-dependent calcium channels (VDCCs), which in turn serve to regulate the release of catecholamines. We used mice at the presymptomatic stage (2 months) and mice over 12 months of age, when AD-related cognitive impairment was fully established. We found that the modulation of inward currents through VDCCs induced by extracellular ATP was stronger in CCs isolated from the adrenal medulla of 3xTg mice older than 12 months of age, an effect likely related to disease progression as it was not observed in CCs from age-matched WT mice. This enhanced modulation leads to increased catecholamine release in response to stressful situations, which may explain the non-cognitive behavioral problems found in AD patientsThis research was funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO), grant number SAF2017-78892-R. Additionally, A.M.M. has a fellowship from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (Ref. FPU2016/02559

Nanomechanical properties of composite protein networks of erythroid membranes at lipid surfaces

Erythrocyte membranes have been particularly useful as a model for studies of membrane structure and mechanics. Native erythroid membranes can be electroformed as giant unilamellar vesicles (eGUVs). In the presence of ATP, the erythroid membrane proteins of eGUVs rearrange into protein networks at the microscale. Here, we present a detailed nanomechanical study of individual protein microfilaments forming the protein networks of eGUVs when spread on supporting surfaces. Using Peak Force tapping Atomic Force Microscopy (PF-AFM) in liquid environment we have obtained the mechanical maps of the composite lipid-protein networks supported on solid surface. In the absence of ATP, the protein pool was characterized by a Young’s Modulus Epool ≈ 5–15 MPa whereas the complex filaments were found softer after protein supramolecular rearrangement; Efil ≈ 0.4 MPa. The observed protein softening and reassembling could be relevant for understanding the mechanisms of cytoskeleton reorganization found in pathological erythrocytes or erythrocytes that are affected by biological agents

PKD phosphorylation and COP9/Signalosome modulate intracellular Spry2 protein stability

Spry2 is a molecular modulator of tyrosine kinase receptor signaling pathways that has cancer-type-specific effects. Mammalian Spry2 protein undergoes tyrosine and serine phosphorylation in response to growth factor stimulation. Spry2 expression is distinctly altered in various cancer types. Inhibition of the proteasome functionality results in reduced intracellular Spry2 degradation. Using in vitro and in vivo assays, we show that protein kinase D (PKD) phosphorylates Spry2 at serine 112 and interacts in vivo with the C-terminal half of this protein. Importantly, missense mutation of Ser112 decreases the rate of Spry2 intracellular protein degradation. Either knocking down the expression of all three mammalian PKD isoforms or blocking their kinase activity with a specific inhibitor contributes to the stabilization of Spry2 wild-type protein. Downregulation of CSN3, a component of the COP9/Signalosome that binds PKD, significantly increases the half-life of Spry2 wild-type protein but does not affect the stability of a Spry2 after mutating Ser112 to the non-phosphorylatable residue alanine. Our data demonstrate that both PKD and the COP9/Signalosome play a significant role in control of Spry2 intracellular stability and support the consideration of the PKD/COP9 complex as a potential therapeutic target in tumors where Spry2 expression is reduced.JMR-C received grant support from MINECO-FEDER (SAF2016-78852-R), AESI-ISCIII (PI20CIII/00029) and Spanish Association against Cancer (AECC, CGB14143035THOM). ES group was supported by grants from ISCIII-MCUI (FIS PI19/00934), JCyL (SA264P18-UIC-076), Areces Foundation (CIVP19A5942), Solorzano-Barruso Foundation (FS/32–2020) and by ISCIII-CIBERONC (group CB16/12/00352). Funding to AM group was provided by the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (PID2019-104867RB-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) and by ISCIII-CIBERONC (group CB16/12/00273). TI was supported by grant PID2020-115218RB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/ 10.13039/501100011033 and by “ERDF A way of making Europe” and by ISCIII-CIBERNED. RB received grant support from AESI-ISCIII (PI20CIII/00019). Finally, DP-J and MY groups were supported by grants 1.012.022 (to DP-J), 1.010.929 and 1.400.002 (both to MY) from Fundación Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio (FUAX). All research co-financed by FEDER funds.S

Serum amyloid a1/toll-like receptor-4 Axis, an important link between inflammation and outcome of TBI patients

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability world-wide without any validated biomarker or set of biomarkers to help the diagnosis and evaluation of the evolution/prognosis of TBI patients. To achieve this aim, a deeper knowledge of the biochemical and pathophysiological processes triggered after the trauma is essential. Here, we identified the serum amyloid A1 protein-Toll-like receptor 4 (SAA1-TLR4) axis as an important link between inflammation and the outcome of TBI patients. Using serum and mRNA from white blood cells (WBC) of TBI patients, we found a positive correlation between serum SAA1 levels and injury severity, as well as with the 6-month outcome of TBI patients. SAA1 levels also correlate with the presence of TLR4 mRNA in WBC. In vitro, we found that SAA1 contributes to inflammation via TLR4 activation that releases inflammatory cytokines, which in turn increases SAA1 levels, establishing a positive proinflammatory loop. In vivo, post-TBI treatment with the TLR4-antagonist TAK242 reduces SAA1 levels, improves neurobehavioral outcome, and prevents blood–brain barrier disruption. Our data support further evaluation of (i) post-TBI treatment in the presence of TLR4 inhibition for limiting TBI-induced damage and (ii) SAA1-TLR4 as a biomarker of injury progression in TBI patientsThis work was supported by grants from Fundación Mutua Madrileña and Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS) (ISCIII/FEDER) (Programa Miguel Servet CP14/00008; CPII19/00005; PI16/00735; PI19/00082) to JE, RYC2019-026870-I to JMR and PI18/01387 to A

Healthcare workers hospitalized due to COVID-19 have no higher risk of death than general population. Data from the Spanish SEMI-COVID-19 Registry

Aim To determine whether healthcare workers (HCW) hospitalized in Spain due to COVID-19 have a worse prognosis than non-healthcare workers (NHCW). Methods Observational cohort study based on the SEMI-COVID-19 Registry, a nationwide registry that collects sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data on patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in Spain. Patients aged 20-65 years were selected. A multivariate logistic regression model was performed to identify factors associated with mortality. Results As of 22 May 2020, 4393 patients were included, of whom 419 (9.5%) were HCW. Median (interquartile range) age of HCW was 52 (15) years and 62.4% were women. Prevalence of comorbidities and severe radiological findings upon admission were less frequent in HCW. There were no difference in need of respiratory support and admission to intensive care unit, but occurrence of sepsis and in-hospital mortality was lower in HCW (1.7% vs. 3.9%; p = 0.024 and 0.7% vs. 4.8%; p<0.001 respectively). Age, male sex and comorbidity, were independently associated with higher in-hospital mortality and healthcare working with lower mortality (OR 0.211, 95%CI 0.067-0.667, p = 0.008). 30-days survival was higher in HCW (0.968 vs. 0.851 p<0.001). Conclusions Hospitalized COVID-19 HCW had fewer comorbidities and a better prognosis than NHCW. Our results suggest that professional exposure to COVID-19 in HCW does not carry more clinical severity nor mortality

Hacia una práctica de aprendizaje-servicio a través de la literatura y el cine en el Grado de Estudios Ingleses: herramientas pedagógicas y educativas para desmantelar discursos colectivos de miedo

Memoria ID-096. Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2019-2020.[ES]El objetivo del proyecto es fomentar el aprendizaje-servicio en el Grado de Estudios Ingleses, en temáticas consideradas no canónicas (literaturas y cines postcoloniales de diversidad racial, de género y sexual) para estudiar y promover análisis e intervenciones sobre cómo constructos culturales y performativos vertebran discursos de miedo, y establecer dinámicas de intervención, ordenación y, en la mayoría de los casos, subalternida

Prácticas de Aprendizaje-servicio a través de la literatura y el cine en el Grado de Estudios Ingleses: Creación de un archivo virtual de pedagogías y acciones disidentes contra los discursos de miedo

Memoria ID-067 Ayudas de la Universidad de Salamanca para la innovación docente, curso 2020-2021

Role of age and comorbidities in mortality of patients with infective endocarditis

[Purpose]: The aim of this study was to analyse the characteristics of patients with IE in three groups of age and to assess the ability of age and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) to predict mortality. [Methods]: Prospective cohort study of all patients with IE included in the GAMES Spanish database between 2008 and 2015.Patients were stratified into three age groups:<65 years,65 to 80 years,and ≥ 80 years.The area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was calculated to quantify the diagnostic accuracy of the CCI to predict mortality risk. [Results]: A total of 3120 patients with IE (1327 < 65 years;1291 65-80 years;502 ≥ 80 years) were enrolled.Fever and heart failure were the most common presentations of IE, with no differences among age groups.Patients ≥80 years who underwent surgery were significantly lower compared with other age groups (14.3%,65 years; 20.5%,65-79 years; 31.3%,≥80 years). In-hospital mortality was lower in the <65-year group (20.3%,<65 years;30.1%,65-79 years;34.7%,≥80 years;p < 0.001) as well as 1-year mortality (3.2%, <65 years; 5.5%, 65-80 years;7.6%,≥80 years; p = 0.003).Independent predictors of mortality were age ≥ 80 years (hazard ratio [HR]:2.78;95% confidence interval [CI]:2.32–3.34), CCI ≥ 3 (HR:1.62; 95% CI:1.39–1.88),and non-performed surgery (HR:1.64;95% CI:11.16–1.58).When the three age groups were compared,the AUROC curve for CCI was significantly larger for patients aged <65 years(p < 0.001) for both in-hospital and 1-year mortality. [Conclusion]: There were no differences in the clinical presentation of IE between the groups. Age ≥ 80 years, high comorbidity (measured by CCI),and non-performance of surgery were independent predictors of mortality in patients with IE.CCI could help to identify those patients with IE and surgical indication who present a lower risk of in-hospital and 1-year mortality after surgery, especially in the <65-year group