Disruption of HOX activity leads to cell death that can be enhanced by the interference of iron uptake in malignant B cells.

The HOX genes encode a family of transcription factors that are dysregulated in several malignancies and have been implicated in oncogenesis and cancer cell survival. Disruption of HOX protein function using the peptide HXR9 has shown anti-tumor effects against melanoma, lung cancer and renal cancer. In this report, we evaluated the expression of all 39 HOX genes in a panel of six malignant B-cell lines, including multiple myeloma cells and found different levels of expression of HOX family members suggesting that they also have a role in malignant B-cell survival. We show that disrupting HOX function using the peptide HXR9 induces significant cytotoxicity in the entire panel of cell lines. Importantly, we found that the cytotoxic effects of HXR9 can be enhanced by combining it with ch128.1Av, an antibody-avidin fusion protein specific for the human transferrin receptor 1 (CD71). Iron starvation induced by the fusion protein contributes to the enhanced effect and involves, at least in part, the induction of a caspase-independent pathway. These results show the relevance of HOX proteins in malignant B-cell survival and suggest that our therapeutic strategy may be effective in the treatment of incurable B-cell malignancies such as multiple myeloma

Analyzing the quality of crowd sensed WiFi data

The widely extended WLAN infrastruc- ture has often been used as geographic landmark to support localization applications and human mobility studies. In these applications a WiFi network made of static nodes seems to be always assumed. Here, evidence is presented to show that this is hardly ever the case. Several independently collected datasets were analyzed to show that dynamic, moving Access Points are often present and could have a significant negative impact in this kind of applications. Additionally other irregularities in these traces are also exposed. The possible impact of these irregularities is evaluated in one specific application, Proximity Maps. The node degree distribution of Proximity Maps is studied and the influence of the proposed solution on the degree distribution is analyzed. Finally some possible simple solutions to mitigate the problem are presented.Research supported by FEDER funds through COMPETE and National funds through FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia under project numbers 13843 and PEst-OE/EEI/UI0319/2014

Factores condicionales de rendimiento en remo

Literature has established strong relationships between some anthropometric and strength measures with rowing performance. However these studies have not correlated rower’s success with absolute (watt average) and relative weight values (watts per unit weight). The aim of this study was to correlate performance and efficiency in rowing with anthropometric and strength factors. Twenty-two elite rowers (11 male and 11 female) volunteered to participate in this study. Anthropometric measurements and body composition was obtained for each rower. Participants performed 2000 m maximal effort on a Concept II rowing ergometer and strength lower extremities were evaluated with jump height protocol using a jump mat (Chronojump-Boscosystem, Barcelona, Spain). Performance and efficiency in rowing ergometer test strongly correlated with anthropometric characteristics of height (r=0.873; r=0.815), weight (r=0.894; r=0.703), body muscles (r=0.973; r=0.829) and free body fat (r=-0.705; r=-0.856). However, positive correlations of strength factors with performance and efficiency in rowers have not been strong enough to use them like success predictors. This study concludes that present results provide an argument for coaches and rowers to increase strength training and to use anthropometric characteristics to predict rowing efficiency and performance using strength factors such as complementary performance predictor. Furthermore, anthropometric variables could be used to identify success in potential rowers.La literatura ha establecido fuertes relaciones entre algunas medidas antropométricas y de fuerza con el rendimiento en remo. Sin embargo, estos estudios no han correlacionado el éxito de los remeros con valores absolutos (media de vatios) y valores relativos de peso (vatios por unidad de peso). El objetivo de este estudio fue correlacionar el rendimiento y la eficiencia con factores antropométricos y de fuerza. Veintidós remeros de élite (11 chicos y 11 chicas) participaron voluntariamente en este estudio. Se obtuvieron las medidas antropométricas y la composición corporal de cada remero. Los participantes realizaron un test de máximo esfuerzo de 2000 m en un remoergómetro Concept II y la fuerza de las extremidades inferiores fue evaluada con un protocolo de salto con una plataforma de contacto (Chronojump-Boscosystem, Barcelona, España). El rendimiento y la eficiencia en el test de remoergómetro correlacionó fuertemente con las características antropométricas de altura (r=0.873; r=0.815), peso (r=0.894; r=0.703), masa muscular (r=0.973; r=0.829) and masa libre de grasa (r=-0.705; r=-0.856). Sin embargo, las correlaciones positivas de los factores de fuerza con el rendimiento y la eficiencia en remeros no ha sido lo suficientemente fuerte para usarlos como factores de éxito. Este estudio concluye que los presente resultados proporcionan un argumento para que entrenadores y remeros incrementen el entrenamiento de fuerza y para que puedan utilizar las caracterpotenciales zadas para identificar remeros potnciales. de fuerza como predictores complementarios de rendimiento. no ha sido lo ísticas antropométricas como predictores de rendimiento y eficiencia en remo utilizando los factores de fuerza como predictores complementarios de rendimiento. Además, las variables antropométricas podrían ser utilizadas para identificar remeros potenciales

Stabilometry profile in fixed seat rowers

Balance in rowing boats is crucial for experienced and non-experienced rowers, allowing them to keep their blades off the water and keep the boat from rolling that requires rowers to contract muscles to even out the boat and to stabilize their bodies. The purpose of this study was to create reference stabilometric values in fixed seat rowing and compare them between male and female rowers in different sensorial conditions with eyes open and closed. Fifteen subjects voluntarily participated in this study, six male rowers and nine female rowers from University of Alicante fixed seat rowing team, all belonging to the senior category. A FreeMed baropodometric platform (Rome, Italy) was used for the stabilometric measurements: (TE) total excursion of the CoP, (CEA) area of the 95 % confidence ellipse, (MV) mean velocity, (MDx) mediolateral direction, (MDy) anteroposterior direction, (RMSx) amplitude in mediolateral direction and (RMSy) amplitude in anteroposterior direction. Results indicate that male rowers had greater ability to maintain balance than female rowers in bipodal stance with eyes open and closed. Female rowers demonstrated more ability to preserve sitting position than male rowers with eyes open and closed. However, there was no clear trend in relation to a greater balance between male and female in monopodal stance

Elevated numbers of PD-L1 expressing B cells are associated with the development of AIDS-NHL.

The risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is markedly increased in persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, and remains elevated in those on anti-retroviral therapy (cART). Both the loss of immunoregulation of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infected cells, as well as chronic B-cell activation, are believed to contribute to the genesis of AIDS-related NHL (AIDS-NHL). However, the mechanisms that lead to AIDS-NHL have not been completely defined. A subset of B cells that is characterized by the secretion of IL10, as well as the expression of the programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1/CD274), was recently described. These PD-L1+ B cells can exert regulatory function, including the dampening of T-cell activation, by interacting with the program cell death protein (PD1) on target cells. The role of PD-L1+ B cells in the development of AIDS-NHL has not been explored. We assessed B cell PD-L1 expression on B cells preceding AIDS-NHL diagnosis in a nested case-control study of HIV+ subjects who went on to develop AIDS-NHL, as well as HIV+ subjects who did not, using multi-color flow cytometry. Archival frozen viable PBMC were obtained from the UCLA Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). It was seen that the number of CD19+CD24++CD38++and CD19+PD-L1+cells was significantly elevated in cases 1-4 years prior to AIDS-NHL diagnosis, compared to controls, raising the possibility that these cells may play a role in the etiology of AIDS-NHL. Interestingly, most PD-L1+ expression on CD19+ cells was seen on CD19+CD24++CD38++ cells. In addition, we showed that HIV can directly induce PD-L1 expression on B cells through interaction of virion-associated CD40L with CD40 on B cells

Human mobility analysis by collaborative radio landscape observation

A new method to analyze the spatio-temporal activities of humans based on the symbolic information that can be extracted from a set of observations of mobile networks taken through smart phones is presented. Specifically, GSM andWiFi network observations collected by several users are gathered to collaboratively build a symbolic base map of the logical structure of the geography. At the same time a map of the mobility of each individual is also created from the same set of observations. The Proximity Map is then used to provide some spatial context to the Individual Mobility Maps. This information is intended to be used for the analysis of transportation efficiency.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Injuries and pathologies in beach volleyball players: A systematic review

The aim of this paper is to review the available literature published on injuries and pathology in beach volleyball. The databases consulted were the Web of Sciende and Pubmed. After establishing the criteria for selection and filtering, a total of 32 articles were selected. All items found can be classified into four research lines. First are the studies focused on specific injuries such as shoulder, shoveling, knee and foot. The second line of research focuses on the study of the incidence, prevalence and frequency of injuries of beach volleyball players, whereas the third line deals on infections reported in the literature produced by nematodes or fungi. Finally, the last line of research includes articles addressing different objectives related to health such as the effects of training programs related to injuries, influence of weather conditions on the players, as well as publications for validation of assessment instruments or develop of guidelines and protocols for the evaluation and diagnosis of injuries

Actividad de los bloqueadores durante el Campeonato de Europa Universitario de vóley playa

In this paper, we present a study of blocker’s activity in university beach volleyball players. A total of n=1166 blocking actions were analyzed from 24 European men's teams at the Ninth European Beach Volleyball Championship EUSA GAMES. The analysis of the videos was carried out using the free software program LongoMatch v.0.27. Statistical significance of the comparison of systems was calculated using the Z test to compare proportions. Results showed that blockaders do not have a leading role in the Direct Intervention (DI) of the ball (37%, p<0.001). The most blocking actions were Line Blocking (LB) (46.9%), Net Exits (NE) (21.1%) and Diagonal Blocking (DB) (18.1%). When comparing periods of points (F1: 1 to 7, F2: 8 to 14, F3: 15 to 21), statistical differences (p<0.001) where observed between periods F1 and F3 for the most used blocking actions: LB, NE and DB. Finally, similar efficiency values were observed for the most common blocking actions (29.3% for LB and 23.2% for DB). Higher efficiencies can be found in less common defensive actions, such as V Blocking (VB) (31.4%) and Fighting (F) (34.6%).En este artículo se presenta un estudio de la actividad del bloqueador en jugadores universitarios de voley playa. Fueron analizados un total de 1166 acciones de bloqueo de 24 equipos europeos masculinos durante el Noveno Campeonato Europeo de Voleibol de Playa EUSA GAMES. El análisis de los videos se llevó a cabo utilizando el programa de software libre LongoMatch v.0.27. La prueba estadística aplicada para la comparación de las proporciones fue la prueba Z. Los resultados mostraron que los bloqueadores no realizan una intervención directa (DI) de la pelota (37%, p <0,001) como acción principal defensiva. Las acciones de bloqueo más utilizadas fueron Bloqueo en Línea (LB) (46,9%), Salidas de Red (NE) (21,1%) y Bloqueo Diagonal (DB) (18,1%). Cuando se comparan periodos de puntos (F1: 1 a 7, F2: 8 a 14, F3: 15 a 21), se observan diferencias estadísticas (p <0,001) entre los períodos F1 y F3 para las acciones de bloqueo más utilizadas: LB, NE y DB. Finalmente, se observaron valores de eficiencia similares para las acciones de bloqueo más comunes (29,3% para LB y 23,2% para DB). Se pueden encontrar mayores eficacias en acciones defensivas menos comunes, como V Bloqueo (VB) (31,4%) y Lucha (F) (34,6%)

Human Mast Cells From Adipose Tissue Target and Induce Apoptosis of Breast Cancer Cells

Mast cells (MC) are important immune sentinels found in most tissue and widely recognized for their role as mediators of Type I hypersensitivity. However, they also secrete anti-cancer mediators such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF). The purpose of this study was to investigate adipose tissue as a new source of MC in quantities that could be used to study MC biology focusing on their ability to bind to and kill breast cancer cells. We tested several cell culture media previously demonstrated to induce MC differentiation. We report here the generation of functional human MC from adipose tissue. The adipose-derived mast cells (ADMC) are phenotypically and functionally similar to connective tissue expressing tryptase, chymase, c-kit, and FcεRI and capable of degranulating after cross-linking of FcεRI. The ADMC, sensitized with anti-HER2/neu IgE antibodies with human constant regions (trastuzumab IgE and/or C6MH3-B1 IgE), bound to and released MC mediators when incubated with HER2/neu-positive human breast cancer cells (SK-BR-3 and BT-474). Importantly, the HER2/neu IgE-sensitized ADMC induced breast cancer cell (SK-BR-3) death through apoptosis. Breast cancer cell apoptosis was observed after the addition of cell-free supernatants containing mediators released from FcεRI-challenged ADMC. Apoptosis was significantly reduced when TNF-α blocking antibodies were added to the media. Adipose tissue represents a source MC that could be used for multiple research purposes and potentially as a cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy through the expansion of autologous (or allogeneic) MC that can be targeted to tumors through IgE antibodies recognizing tumor specific antigens