Liver fibrosis secondary to bile duct injury: correlation of Smad7 with TGF-β and extracellular matrix proteins

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Liver fibrosis is the result of continuous liver injury stemming from different etiological factors. Bile duct injury induces an altered expression of TGF-β, which has an important role in liver fibrosis because this cytokine induces the expression of target genes such as collagens, PAI-1, TIMPs, and others that lead to extracellular matrix deposition. Smad7 is the principal inhibitor that regulates the target gene transcription of the TGF-β signaling. The aim of the study was to determine whether Smad7 mRNA expression correlates with the gene expression of <it>TGF-β, Col I</it>, <it>Col III</it>, <it>Col IV</it>, or <it>PAI-1 </it>in liver fibrosis secondary to bile duct injury (BDI).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Serum TGF-β concentration was higher in BDI patients (39 296 pg/ml) than in liver donors (9008 pg/ml). Morphometric analysis of liver sections showed 41.85% of tissue contained fibrotic deposits in BDI patients. mRNA expression of Smad7, Col I, and PAI-1 was also significantly higher (<it>P </it>< 0.05) in patients with BDI than in controls. Smad7 mRNA expression correlated significantly with TGF-β concentration, Col I and Col III expression, and the amount of fibrosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We found augmented serum concentration of TGF-β and an increase in the percentage of fibrotic tissue in the liver of BDI patients. Contrary to expected results, the 6-fold increase in <it>Smad7 </it>expression did not inhibit the expression of <it>TGF-β, collagens</it>, and <it>PAI-1</it>. We also observed greater expression of Col I and Col III mRNA in BDI patients and significant correlations between their expression and TGF-β concentration and Smad7 mRNA expression.</p

Innate activation of human primary epithelial cells broadens the host response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the airways

Early events in the human airways determining whether exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) results in acquisition of infection are poorly understood. Epithelial cells are the dominant cell type in the lungs, but little is known about their role in tuberculosis. We hypothesised that human primary airway epithelial cells are part of the first line of defense against Mtb-infection and contribute to the protective host response in the human respiratory tract. We modelled these early airway-interactions with human primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs) and alveolar macrophages. By combining in vitro infection and transwell co-culture models with a global transcriptomic approach, we identified PBECs to be inert to direct Mtb-infection, yet to be potent responders within an Mtb-activated immune network, mediated by IL1β and type I interferon (IFN). Activation of PBECs by Mtb-infected alveolar macrophages and monocytes increased expression of known and novel antimycobacterial peptides, defensins and S100-family members and epithelial-myeloid interactions further shaped the immunological environment during Mtb-infection by promoting neutrophil influx. This is the first in depth analysis of the primary epithelial response to infection and offers new insights into their emerging role in tuberculosis through complementing and amplifying responses to Mtb

Nurses' perceptions of aids and obstacles to the provision of optimal end of life care in ICU

Contains fulltext : 172380.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Actividad física y factores de riesgo cardiovascular en empleados de un hospital

 Introduction: Occupational tasks and the environment are important influences on individuals' physical activity and sedentary behaviors. Aim: To describe the cardiovascular risk and level of physical activity, in addition to exploring the association between these variables in working adults of a health institution. Methodology: Cross-sectional correlational descriptive study in hospital employees. Results: The sample consisted of 165 workers with an age range of 30 to 58 years (x ̅ = 43.16, SD = 6.10), female n = 104 (63.0%) and male n = 61 (37%), with respect to health data, it is highlighted that the mean abdominal circumference, SAT and BMI are higher than the health recommendations. Conclusions: The CVR factors with the greatest presence in the study population were: age, arterial hypertension, smoking, diabetes mellitus and overweight / obesity, all of them highly linked to physical inactivity.  Introducción: Las tareas ocupacionales y el medio ambiente son influencias importantes en la actividad física de los individuos y conductas sedentarias. Objetivo: Describir el riesgo cardiovascular y nivel de actividad física, además de explorar la asociación entre estas variables en adultos trabajadores de una institución de salud. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo correlacional de corte transversal en empleados de un hospital. Resultados: La muestra estuvo compuesta por 165 trabajadores con rango de edad de 30 a 58 años (x ̅ = 43,16, DE = 6,10), sexo femenino n=104 (63,0 %) y masculino n=61 (37%), respecto a los datos de salud se destaca que la media del perímetro abdominal, TAS e IMC son mayores a las recomendaciones de salud. Conclusiones: Los factores de RCV con mayor presencia en la población estudiada fueron: edad, hipertensión arterial, tabaquismo, diabetes mellitus y sobrepeso/obesidad, todos ellos altamente ligados a la inactividad física.

Pequeños empresarios mexicanos y canadienses; un estudio comparativo en cuanto a su orientación emprendedora

This comparative study examines the entrepreneurial orientation of 140 Mexican and 125 Canadian small business entrepreneurs. Mexican and Canadian small business managers were similar in terms of the entrepreneurial orientation dimensions of innovation and proactivity, whereas Mexican managers had a higher risk-taking entrepeneurial orientation. Although Canada and Mexico have significant cultural differences and are geographically separated by the U.S., this study found substantial similarities in the entrepreneurial orientation of small business managers in these two countries. These findings suggest that international research on entrepreneurship should investigate not only cross-cultural national differences but also identify the influence of individual characteristics and organizational factors on managers' entrepreneurial orientations.El proyecto de investigación muestra los resultados comparativos con respecto a la orientación emprendedora de 140 empresarios mexicanos y 125 empresarios canadienses de pequeñas empresas. Los resultados demuestran que no hay diferencias significativas entre los parámetros de innovación y pro actividad y que existen diferencias significativas ligeras en cuanto a toma de riesgos. Aunque Canadá y México son países divididos espacialmente por Estados Unidos y tienen diferencias culturales importantes, han encontrado grandes puntos de coincidencia donde se han realizado acuerdos de colaboración. Se concluye que no existe una gran diferencia entre la orientación emprendedora de los empresarios de ambos países y que será necesario investigar en los entornos económicos particulares, los detonantes del fenómeno de creación de empresas

Pequeños empresarios mexicanos y canadienses; un estudio comparativo en cuanto a su orientación emprendedora

El proyecto de investigación muestra los resultados comparativos con respecto a la orient a ción emprendedor a de 140 empresarios mexicanos y 125 empresarios canadienses de pequeñas empresas. Los resultados demuestran que no hay diferencias significativas entre los par á metros de innovación y pro actividad y que existen diferencias significativas ligeras en cuanto a toma de riesgos. Aunque Canadá y México son países divididos espacialmente por Estados Unidos y tienen diferencias culturales importantes, han encontrado grandes puntos de coinc i dencia donde se han realizado acuerdos de colaboración. Se con cluye que no existe una gran diferencia entre la orientación emprendedora de los empresarios de ambos países y que será necesario investigar en los entornos económicos particulares , los detonantes del fenómeno de creación de empresas

Potential distribution zones for soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) in Mexico

Asian Soybean Rust is one of the most important soybean diseases. Since the past decade, some important soybean production areas in America, like Brazil and the United States of America, have been affected by this disease. Due to the seriousness of this threaten, in 2009, the Mexican government implemented a surveillance program based on the installation and monitoring of sentinel plots in areas planted with crops considered as susceptible hosts for this organism. In order to support the strategy to prevent the establishment of the disease in Mexico, in the present study the potential distribution of the organism was evaluated considering the following criteria: 1) the suitability of climatic conditions for soybean rust; 2) the extent of the cultivated areas with susceptible hosts, and 3) the inoculums availability. Favorable days for Asian soybean rust infection were calculated with a simple model which uses climatic variables as inputs. The model was applied to classify the agricultural areas of the country according to the probability of occurrence of favorable conditions for infection of soybean rust in the summer and winter growing seasons. The Results indicate that in the summer the greatest number of favorable days for infection occurs, mainly in Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Yucatan, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Michoacan, Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa and Sonora. In the winter, the favorable days decrease considerably. Based on these results we conclude that the probability that the Asian soybean rust would be overwintering in Mexico is low.La roya asiática es una de las enfermedades más importantes para el cultivo de la soya. Desde la década pasada zonas productoras de soya en América en Brasil y Estados Unidos se han visto afectadas por esta enfermedad. Debido a la gravedad de esta amenaza, en el 2009 el Gobierno mexicano puso en marcha un programa de vigilancia basado en la instalación y seguimiento de parcelas centinelas en zonas con cultivos hospederos. Con el fin de mejorar la delimitación de las zonas de riesgo para esta enfermedad se evaluó el potencial de distribución en México. Para ello, se tomó en cuenta factores que pueden causar una epidemia: 1) la idoneidad de las condiciones climáticas para la roya de la soya, 2) superficie sembrada con cultivos hospederos y 3) cantidad de inoculo. Para esto se cuantificaron los días favorables para la infección utilizando un modelo con datos meteorológicos diarios de temperatura, precipitación y humedad relativa de todo el país, para clasificar las zonas agrícolas de acuerdo a la probabilidad de ocurrencia de condiciones favorables para la infección de roya asiática en verano e invierno. Los resultados indicaron que en verano se tienen más días con condiciones favorables para la infección en los estados de Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Yucatán, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Guerrero, Michoacán, Jalisco, Nayarit, Sinaloa y Sonora. En temporada de invierno el número de días favorables disminuyeron de forma considerable. Basado en los resultados podemos concluir que la probabilidad de que la roya asiática hiberne en México es baja

Organic Compounds Determined at Different Levels of Ripening of the Pineapple (Ananas comosus L. Merr.) Cv Cayenne in Two Cultivation Systems under Subtropical Conditions

This article studies the organic compounds of pineapple fruit, during ripening in two cultivation systems (greenhouse and field), in a subtropical region. Total reducing sugars, organic acids, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity were measured during fruit growth (60, 90, 120 and 150 days after full bloom). In addition, leaf ¨D¨ was used for determination of chlorophyll content, pH and malic acid in three moments of the day during the same cycle. The concentrations of reducing sugars, total phenolic content and acidity increased at the end of the growth of the pineapple fruits in both cultivation systems. Field conditions were more favorable for the accumulation of reducing sugars and total phenolic content in fruits.Fil: Gómez Herrera, Melanie Desirée. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Alayón Luaces, Paula. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste; ArgentinaFil: Avanza, María Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Nordeste. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agrimensura. Instituto de Química Básica y Aplicada del Nordeste Argentino; Argentin