MicroRNAs control the apoptotic threshold in primed Pluripotent stem cells through regulation of BIM

Mammalian primed pluripotent stem cells have been shown to be highly susceptible to cell death stimuli due to their low apoptotic threshold, but how this threshold is regulated remains largely unknown. Here we identify microRNA (miRNA)-mediated regulation as a key mechanism controlling apoptosis in the post-implantation epiblast. Moreover, we found that three miRNA families, miR-20, miR-92, and miR-302, control the mitochondrial apoptotic machinery by fine-tuning the levels of expression of the proapoptotic protein BIM. These families therefore represent an essential buffer needed to maintain cell survival in stem cells that are primed for not only differentiation but also cell death

Anemia profile in critical septic patients hospitalized in the ICU

This article is part of the supplement: 31st International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency MedicineThe aim was to describe the anemia profile of medical or surgical patients with severe sepsis or septic shock in the ICU, assessing severity scale, length of stay and mortality. The prevalence of microcytic anemia is more than one-half of our septic patients. There are iron metabolism disorders without significant differences between medical and surgical patients. Transferrin, a protein related to malnutrition, inflammatory response and organ dysfunction, is significantly lower in the most severe patients with higher organ dysfunction scores.Ye

Study on the correlation between plasma electron temperature and penetration depth in laser welding processes

The plasma electron temperature has been estimated starting from the spectroscopic analysis of the optical emission of the laser-generated plasma plume during quite diverse stainless steel welding procedures (c.w. CO2 and pulsed Nd:YAG). Although the optical emissions present different spectral features, a discrete contribution of several iron lines can be highlighted in both types of welding. We have found that the electron temperature decreases as the laser power is enhanced, in static as well as dynamic conditions. Such a result could be useful to develop a closed loop control system of the weld penetration depth

CCR5 deficiency predisposes to fatal outcome in influenza virus infection

Influenza epidemics affect all age groups, although children, the elderly and those with underlying medical conditions are the most severely affected. Whereas co-morbidities are present in 50% of fatal cases, 25-50% of deaths are in apparently healthy individuals. This suggests underlying genetic determinants that govern infection severity. Although some viral factors that contribute to influenza disease are known, the role of host genetic factors remains undetermined. Data for small cohorts of influenza-infected patients are contradictory regarding the potential role of chemokine receptor 5 deficiency (CCR5-Δ32 mutation, a 32 bp deletion in the CCR5 gene) in the outcome of influenza virus infection. We tested 171 respiratory samples from influenza patients (2009 pandemic) for CCR5-Δ32 and evaluated its correlation with patient mortality. CCR5-Δ32 patients (17.4%) showed a higher mortality rate than WT individuals (4.7%; P = 0.021), which indicates that CCR5-Δ32 patients are at higher risk than the normal population of a fatal outcome in influenza infection.This work was supported by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Programa especial de investigación sobre la gripe pandémica GR09/0040 and GR09/0023), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Respiratorias (CIBERES) and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (BFU 2011-26175)S

Phase transitions in tumor growth VI: Epithelial–Mesenchymal transition

Herewith we discuss a network model of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) based on our previous proposed framework. The EMT appears as a “first order” phase transition process, analogous to the transitions observed in the chemical–physical field. Chiefly, EMT should be considered a transition characterized by a supercritical Andronov–Hopf bifurcation, with the emergence of limit cycle and, consequently, a cascade of saddle-foci Shilnikov's bifurcations. We eventually show that the entropy production rate is an EMT-dependent function and, as such, its formalism reminds the van der Waals equation.Fil: Guerra, A.. Universidad de La Habana; CubaFil: Rodriguez, D. J.. Universidad de La Habana; CubaFil: Montero, S.. Medical Sciences University Of Havana; CubaFil: Betancourt Mar, J. A.. Universidad de La Habana; CubaFil: Martín Pardo, Reinaldo Román. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - San Luis. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química. Universidad Nacional de San Luis. Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia. Instituto de Investigaciones en Tecnología Química; Argentina. Mexican Institute Of Complex Systems. Tamaulipas; MéxicoFil: Silva Lamar, Eduardo. Universidad de La Habana; CubaFil: Bizzarri, María Julia. Universidad de La Habana; CubaFil: Cocho, G.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Mansilla, R.. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México; MéxicoFil: Nieto Villar, José Manuel. Universidad de La Habana; Cub

Stomatal Density and its Relationship with Yield of Radish (Raphanus Sativus L.) Fertilized with Biol Produced from Sugar Cane Residues

The impact of agro-industrial waste can be reduced by using it in crop fertilization. The aim of this study was to evaluate the stomatal density and yield of radish (Raphanus Sativus L.) fertilized with biol at different concentrations, produced from sugar cane residues. A completely randomized blocks design statistical model was used, which consisted of 5 tests with 3 repetitions for each one, being T1 the control trial, and T2, T3, T4 and T5 the treatments using 2, 3, 4 and 5 L of biol in 200 L of water respectively. In terms of crop physical characteristics, the T5 treatment excelled in plant length, equatorial diameter, plant weight, as well as yield with 12.71 t/ha. Likewise, in the chemical analysis of the radish leaves, the T5 treatment showed an increase in K, Ca, Zn and MN, while the T2 did it in N, P and Cu, the T3 in Fe and the T4 in Mg. In terms of stomatal density, T5 stood out with 122 stomatal/mm2. Based on this, it is concluded that the increase in the dose of biol influences the increase in nutrient and stomatal density and hence the yield of the radish crop

Inhibition of PTP1B Restores IRS1-Mediated Hepatic Insulin Signaling in IRS2-Deficient Mice

[Objective]: Mice with complete deletion of insulin receptor substrate 2 (IRS2) develop hyperglycaemia, impaired hepatic insulin signaling and elevated gluconeogenesis, whereas mice deficient for protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) 1B display an opposing hepatic phenotype characterized by increased sensitivity to insulin. To define the relationship between these two signaling pathways in the regulation of liver metabolism, we used genetic and pharmacological approaches to study the effects of inhibiting PTP1B on hepatic insulin signaling and expression of gluconeogenic enzymes in IRS2−/− deficient mice. [Research design and methods]: We analyzed glucose homeostasis and insulin signaling in liver and isolated hepatocytes from IRS2−/− and IRS2−/−/PTP1B−/−. Additionally, hepatic insulin signaling was assessed in control and IRS2−/− mice treated with resveratrol, an anti-oxidant present in red wine. [Results]: In livers of hyperglycaemic IRS2−/− mice, the expression levels of PTP1B and its association with the insulin receptor (IR) were increased. The absence of PTP1B in the double mutant mice restored hepatic IRS1-mediated phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase/Akt/Foxo1 signaling. Moreover, resveratrol treatment of hyperglycaemic IRS2−/− mice decreased hepatic PTP1B mRNA and inhibited PTP1B activity, thereby restoring IRS1-mediated PI 3-kinase/Akt/Foxo1 signaling and peripheral insulin sensitivity. [Conclusions]: By regulating the phosphorylation state of IR, PTB1B determines sensitivity to insulin in liver and exerts a unique role in the interplay between IRS1 and IRS2 in the modulation of hepatic insulin action.This work was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Grants (Spain) BFU2008-02420, SAF2009- 08114 (to A.M.V.), BFU2008-04901-C03-03 (to M.R.), BFU2005-00084, and SAF2008-00011 (to D.J.B.) and the Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Diabetes y Enfermedades Metabólicas Asociadas (CIBERDEM) (Instituto Salud Carlos III). A.G.-R. holds a postdoctoral contract from CIBERDEM.Peer reviewe

Analysis of the Yield of Radish (Raphanus Sativus L.) Fertilized with Compost Based on Organic Waste from Markets and its Relationship with its Stomatal Density

For higher yields in vegetable cultivation, the availability of soil nutrients must be improved. Therefore, the aim of this research was to establish the relationship between stomatal density and the yield of the radish crop fertilized with compost made from organic market waste. A completely randomized block design was used, which consisted of 3 blocks and 5 treatments, which were T1, T2, T3, T4 and T5 with 00, 10, 15, 15, 20 and 25 g compost/plant respectively. The physical characteristics of the plants were evaluated from sowing to harvest and the data obtained were processed by analysis of variance and Duncan's test. Chemical analysis of the compost and soil was carried out, as well as a foliar analysis to determine the nutrient concentration by treatment. The results determined that the treatment (T4) stood out in plant length with 28.96 cm, plant weight with 43.33 g, yield of 10.82 t/ha and bulb diameter of 3.92 cm; likewise, in the concentration of nutrients in the leaves, the treatment (T5) highlighted in N with 5.94%, Ca 4.84%, Mg 1.29%, Zn 64.58 ppm and a stomatal density of 642 stomas/mm2. It is concluded that, at an adequate dose of compost, the concentration of nutrients increases, as well as the stomatal density, resulting in higher yields

IN VIVO AND IN VITRO ANTILEISHMANIAL EFFECTS OF METHANOLIC EXTRACT FROM BARK OF BURSERA APTERA

Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis lacks effective and well-tolerated treatments. The current therapies mainly rely on antimonial drugs that are inadequate because of their poor efficacy. Traditional medicine offers a complementary alternative for the treatment of various diseases. Additionally, several plants have shown success as anti-leishmanial agents. Therefore, we sought to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo activity of MEBA against Leishmania mexicana. Materials and Methods: Methanolic extract of B. aptera was obtained by macetration, after we determined in vitro antileishmanial activity of MEBA by MTT assay and the induced apoptosis in promastigotes by flow cytometry. To analyze the in vivo anti-leishmanial activity, we used infected mice that were treated and not treated with MEBA and we determined the levels of cytokines using ELISA. The phytochemical properties were determined by CG-MS and DPPH assay. Results: We determined of LC50 of 0.408 mg/mL of MEBA for in vitro anti-leishmanial activity. MEBA induced apoptosis in promastigotes (15.3% ± 0.86). Treated mice exhibited smaller lesions and contained significantly fewer parasites than did untreated mice; in addition, we found that IFN-γ and TNF-α increased in the sera of MEBA-treated mice. GC-MS analysis showed that podophyllotoxin was the most abundant compound. Evaluation of the activity by DPPH assay demonstrated an SC50 of 11.72 μg/mL. Conclusion: Based on the above data, it was concluded that MEBA is a good candidate in the search for new antileishmanial agents