Discurso de Orden 25 de julio de 2008

Es para mí un honor haber sido seleccionada para dirigirme a esta colectividad de periodistas y personas vinculadas con la comunicación social en el Estado Zulia por muchas razones pero especialmente por do

Phytoestrogens Enhance the Vascular Actions of the Endocannabinoid Anandamide in Mesenteric Beds of Female Rats

In rat isolated mesenteric beds that were contracted with NA as an in vitro model of the vascular adrenergic hyperactivity that usually precedes the onset of primary hypertension, the oral administration (3 daily doses) of either 10 mg/kg genistein or 20 mg/kg daidzein potentiated the anandamide-induced reduction of contractility to NA in female but not in male rats. Oral treatment with phytoestrogens also restored the vascular effects of anandamide as well as the mesenteric content of calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) that were reduced after ovariectomy. The enhancement of anandamide effects caused by phytoestrogens was prevented by the concomitant administration of the estrogen receptor antagonist fulvestrant (2.5 mg/kg, s.c., 3 daily doses). It is concluded that, in the vasculature of female rats, phytoestrogens produced an estrogen-receptor-dependent enhancement of the anandamide-vascular actions that involves the modulation of CGRP levels and appears to be relevant whenever an adrenergic hyperactivity occurs

Internet como fuente de información con propósitos periodísticos en Venezuela

This paper describes the use of Internet as a source of information (ISI) on the part of journalists in Venezuela. Learning processes and technological assimilation are analyzed in reference to these professionals. The study is based on the theory of technological renovation, beginning with the category of technological capacity, and on participation in courses on Internet, and its application in the journalistic world. It is a descriptive study with a transversal design in which an on-line questionnaire is applied to a population of 373 journalists using electronic mail as an interface. The principle findings were that the great majority of journalists who utilize ISI do so with the criteria of “observing and confronting” the data generated in the virtual environment with that of other media, and develop little initiative in participating and researching more interactive services in the web, such as forums and discussion lists. One quarter of the population interviewed have inactive internet accounts, and only 13.4% state that they are active in “telematic” webs.La presente investigación describe el uso de Internet como fuente de información, (IFI), por parte de los periodistas en Venezuela. Se analizan los procesos de aprendizaje y asimilación tecnológica en estos profesionales. El trabajo se fundamenta en la teoría de la innovación tecnológica, a partir de su categoría capacidad tecnológica, y en los estudios realizados sobre Internet y su aplicación en el mundo de la comunicación social. Es una investigación descriptiva con un diseño transversal en la que se aplicó un cuestionario en línea a una población de 373 periodistas utilizando como interfase el correo electrónico. Los principales hallazgos dan cuenta que en su gran mayoría, los periodistas que usan IFI lo hacen bajo el criterio de “observar y cotejar” los datos que se generan en el ambiente virtual a nivel de los otros medios de comunicación y desarrollan escasas iniciativas de participación e investigación en los servicios de mayor interactividad de la red, tales como foros y listas de discusión. Una cuarta parte de la población de periodistas encuestados tienen cuentas de correo electrónico inactivas, y sólo el 13,4% manifestó su quehacer activo en las redes telemáticas

ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile:Coronaviridae 2023

The family Coronaviridae includes viruses with positive-sense RNA genomes of 22-36 kb that are expressed through a nested set of 3' co-terminal subgenomic mRNAs. Members of the subfamily Orthocoronavirinae are characterized by 80-160 nm diameter, enveloped virions with spike projections. The orthocoronaviruses, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus and Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus are extremely pathogenic for humans and in the last two decades have been responsible for the SARS and MERS epidemics. Another orthocoronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, was responsible for the recent global COVID-19 pandemic. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the family Coronaviridae which is available at www.ictv.global/report/coronaviridae.</p

A Mitochondrial Kinase Complex Is Essential to Mediate an ERK1/2-Dependent Phosphorylation of a Key Regulatory Protein in Steroid Biosynthesis

ERK1/2 is known to be involved in hormone-stimulated steroid synthesis, but its exact roles and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Both ERK1/2 phosphorylation and steroidogenesis may be triggered by cAMP/cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA)-dependent and-independent mechanisms; however, ERK1/2 activation by cAMP results in a maximal steroidogenic rate, whereas canonical activation by epidermal growth factor (EGF) does not. We demonstrate herein by Western blot analysis and confocal studies that temporal mitochondrial ERK1/2 activation is obligatory for PKA-mediated steroidogenesis in the Leydig-transformed MA-10 cell line. PKA activity leads to the phosphorylation of a constitutive mitochondrial MEK1/2 pool with a lower effect in cytosolic MEKs, while EGF allows predominant cytosolic MEK activation and nuclear pERK1/2 localization. These results would explain why PKA favors a more durable ERK1/2 activation in mitochondria than does EGF. By means of ex vivo experiments, we showed that mitochondrial maximal steroidogenesis occurred as a result of the mutual action of steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein –a key regulatory component in steroid biosynthesis-, active ERK1/2 and PKA. Our results indicate that there is an interaction between mitochondrial StAR and ERK1/2, involving a D domain with sequential basic-hydrophobic motifs similar to ERK substrates. As a result of this binding and only in the presence of cholesterol, ERK1/2 phosphorylates StAR at Ser232. Directed mutagenesis of Ser232 to a non-phosphorylable amino acid such as Ala (StAR S232A) inhibited in vitro StAR phosphorylation by active ERK1/2. Transient transfection of MA-10 cells with StAR S232A markedly reduced the yield of progesterone production. In summary, here we show that StAR is a novel substrate of ERK1/2, and that mitochondrial ERK1/2 is part of a multimeric protein kinase complex that regulates cholesterol transport. The role of MAPKs in mitochondrial function is underlined

Post–COVID-19 Conditions Among Children 90 Days After SARS-CoV-2 Infection

IMPORTANCE Little is known about the risk factors for, and the risk of, developing post-COVID-19 conditions (PCCs) among children. OBJECTIVES To estimate the proportion of SARS-CoV-2-positive children with PCCs 90 days after a positive test result, to compare this proportion with SARS-CoV-2-negative children, and to assess factors associated with PCCs. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This prospective cohort study, conducted in 36 emergency departments (EDs) in 8 countries between March 7, 2020, and January 20, 2021, included 1884 SARS-CoV-2-positive children who completed 90-day follow-up; 1686 of these children were frequency matched by hospitalization status, country, and recruitment date with 1701 SARS-CoV-2-negative controls. EXPOSURE SARS-CoV-2 detected via nucleic acid testing. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Post-COVID-19 conditions, defined as any persistent, new, or recurrent health problems reported in the 90-day follow-up survey. RESULTS Of 8642 enrolled children, 2368 (27.4%) were SARS-CoV-2 positive, among whom 2365 (99.9%) had index ED visit disposition data available; among the 1884 children (79.7%) who completed follow-up, the median age was 3 years (IQR, 0-10 years) and 994 (52.8%) were boys. A total of 110 SARS-CoV-2-positive children (5.8%; 95% CI, 4.8%-7.0%) reported PCCs, including 44 of 447 children (9.8%; 95% CI, 7.4%-13.0%) hospitalized during the acute illness and 66 of 1437 children (4.6%; 95% CI, 3.6%-5.8%) not hospitalized during the acute illness (difference. 5.3%; 95% CI, 2.5%-8.5%). Among SARS-CoV-2-positive children, the most common symptom was fatigue or weakness (21 [1.1%]). Characteristics associated with reporting at least 1 PCC at 90 days included being hospitalized 48 hours or more compared with no hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.67 [95% CI, 1.63-4.38]); having 4 or more symptoms reported at the index ED visit compared with 1 to 3 symptoms (4-6 symptoms: aOR, 2.35 [95% CI, 1.28-4.31]; >= 7 symptoms: aOR, 4.59 [95% CI, 2.50 8.44]); and being 14 years of age or older compared with younger than 1 year (aOR, 2.67 [95% CI, 1.43-4.99]). SARS-CoV-2-positive children were more likely to report PCCs at 90 days compared with those who tested negative, both among those who were not hospitalized (55 of 1295 [4.2%; 95% CI, 3.2%-5.5%] vs 35 of 1321[2.7%; 95% CI, 1.9%-3.7%]; difference, 1.6% [95% CI, 0.2%-3.0%]) and those who were hospitalized (40 of 391[10.2%; 95% CI, 7.4%-13.7%] vs 19 of 380 [5.0%; 95% CI, 3.0%-7.7%]; difference, 5.2% [95% CI, 1.5%-9.1%]). In addition, SARS-CoV-2 positivity was associated with reporting PCCs 90 days after the index ED visit (aOR, 1.63 [95% CI, 1.14-2.35]), specifically systemic health problems (eg, fatigue, weakness, fever; aOR, 2.44 [95% CI, 1.19-5.00]). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this cohort study, SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with reporting PCCs at 90 days in children. Guidance and follow-up are particularly necessary for hospitalized children who have numerous acute symptoms and are older.This studywas supported by grants from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (operating grant: COVID-19-clinical management); the Alberta Health Services-University of Calgary-Clinical Research Fund; the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute; the COVID-19 Research Accelerator Funding Track (CRAFT) Program at the University of California, Davis; and the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center Division of Emergency Medicine Small Grants Program. Dr Funk is supported by the University of Calgary Eyes-High PostDoctoral Research Fund. Dr Freedman is supported by the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation Professorship in Child Health andWellness

Asesoramiento Genético en Cancer Hereditario

Fil: Neuman, Isabel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina; ArgentinaSe han creado unidades especiales en algunos servicios hospitalarios, llamadas unidades de consejo o asesoramiento genético con el fin de abarcar los síndromes familiares en forma multidisciplinaria, detectar la presencia de estos factores hereditarios en una familia y contar con herramientas a su disposición para contener el riesgo. En el presente trabajo se analizarán las distintas etapas de las unidades de consejo genético, haciendo hincapié en los aspectos bioéticos y en los posibles dilemas que se pueden presentar durante el proceso de asesoramiento

relationship and function of cytosolic and mitochondrial proteins involved in the activation of steroidogenesis : Hormonal regulation of an acyI-CoA thioesterase - intermediary in steroidogenesis - in heart, a non steroidogenic tissue.

La proteína ARTISt (Arachidonic acid-Related Thioesterase Involved in Steroidogenesis) es miembro de una nueva familia de acil-CoA tioesterasas recientemente caracterizadas que catalizan la liberación de ácidos grasos de cadena larga utilizandocomo sustrato acil-CoAs. Se ha comprobado que esta proteína interviene en la liberación de ácido araquidónico por estimulación hormonal en tejidos esteroidogénicos, siendo éste un paso obligatorio en el control de la esteroidogénesis. La proteína ARTISt fue detectada tanto en tejidos esteroidogénicos, como no esteroidogénicos. Dado que se encontró una alta expresión de la proteína en corazón y el ácido araquidónico cumple un rol esencial en la función cardíaca, el objetivo del presente trabajo de Tesis fue investigar si ARTISt es activa en tejido cardíaco y si la activación y expresión de la misma pueden ser regulados por agonistas β-adrenérgicos. Los resultados muestran que ARTISt es activa en tejido cardíaco y su bioactividad puede ser regulada por agonistas β-adrenérgicos a través de la estimulación de los sistemas de transducción AMPc-dependientes. Los agonistas β-adrenérgicos regulan también los niveles del ARN mensajero de ARTISt. Se ha demostrado que los aumentos en la abundancia del ARNm de ARTISt son al menos, debidos a un aumento en la transcripción. Por otra parte, la abundancia del ARN mensajero de ARTISt aumentó cuando las ratas fueron sometidas a ayuno. Estos resultados sugieren la existencia de un nuevo camino de liberación de ácido araquidónico en tejido cardíaco regulado por agonistas β-adrenérgicos. Este sistema puede representar un camino alternativo o paralelo al de la fosfolipasa A2 para la regulación hormonal de los niveles intracelulares de ácido araquidónico.ARTISt (Arachidonic acid Related Thioesterase Involved in Steroidogenesis) is member of a recently characterized family of acyl-CoA thioesterases that are involved in the hydrolysis of the thioester linkage of very long-chain fatty acids, using acyl-CoAs as substrates. It has been demonstrated that this protein is involved in arachidonic acid release by hormonal stimulation in steroidogenic tissues, an obligatory pathway in steroidogenesis control. ARTISt has been detected in steroidogenic and non steroidogenic tissues. Given the presence of ARTISt in heart and the involvement of arachidonic acid in the regulation of cardiac function, the aim of the present work was to determinate if ARTISt is active in cardiac tissue and if activation and expression of ARTISt could be regulated by β-adrenergic agonists. The results show that ARTISt presents activity in cardiac tissue and its bioactivity can be regulated by β-adrenergic agonists through the stimulation of cAMP-dependent transduction pathways. β-adrenergic agonists also regulate the mRNA levels of cardiac ARTISt. It has been demonstrated that the increase of the abundance of ARTISt mRNA is, at least, due to enhanced transcription. Otherwise, starvation also increased the abundance of ARTISt mRNA. These results suggest the existence of a new pathway of arachidonic acid release in cardiac tissue regulated by β-adrenergic agonists. This system can represent an alternative or parallel pathway to phospholipase A2 for the hormonal regulation of the intracellular levels of arachidonic acid.Fil:Neuman de Kurlat, María Isabel. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina