Development and application of two novel monoclonal antibodies against overexpressed CD26 and integrin α3 in human pancreatic cancer.

Monoclonal antibody (mAb) technology is an excellent tool for the discovery of overexpressed cell surface tumour antigens and the development of targeting agents. Here, we report the development of two novel mAbs against CFPAC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells. Using ELISA, flow cytometry, immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, Western blot and immunohistochemistry, we found that the target antigens recognised by the two novel mAbs KU44.22B and KU44.13A, are integrin α3 and CD26 respectively, with high levels of expression in human pancreatic and other cancer cell lines and human pancreatic cancer tissue microarrays. Treatment with naked anti-CD26 mAb KU44.13A did not have any effect on the growth and migration of cancer cells nor did it induce receptor downregulation. In contrast, treatment with anti-integrin α3 mAb KU44.22B inhibited growth in vitro of Capan-2 cells, increased migration of BxPC-3 and CFPAC-1 cells and induced antibody internalisation. Both novel mAbs are capable of detecting their target antigens by immunohistochemistry but not by Western blot. These antibodies are excellent tools for studying the role of integrin α3 and CD26 in the complex biology of pancreatic cancer, their prognostic and predictive values and the therapeutic potential of their humanised and/or conjugated versions in patients whose tumours overexpress integrin α3 or CD26

Sobre la incorporación de los datos del aprendizaje del español como lengua extranjera en la enseñanza del español como lengua materna.

Sin resume

Changes in frequency-doubling perimetry in patients with type i diabetes prior to retinopathy

Purpose. To evaluate the ability of frequency-doubling technology (FDT) perimetry in detecting visual field defects in young adults with type I diabetes prior to retinopathy or with minor retinovascular changes. Methods. This comparative cross-sectional study included 30 healthy subjects and 73 age-matched patients with type I diabetes mellitus. All subjects underwent a full ocular examination including an FDT with the threshold C-20-5 strategy. Only one eye per subject was randomly included in the statistical analysis. FDT results and time to perform the test were compared between the groups. Results. The mean age was 27.1 years in the control group and 26.6 years in the diabetic group ( ). The mean period from the onset of diabetes was years, while minimal retinovascular changes were observed in 18 eyes. Mean deviation of FDT did not differ between the groups. Although global indices of FDT were within normal limits, pattern standard deviation of FDT was higher in the diabetic group ( ). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.647 for pattern standard deviation of FDT (standard error = 0.052; ). Conclusion. FDT can detect retinal dysfunctions in diabetic patients prior to the onset of significant vascular complications

Escuela saludable a partir del arte para convivir /

La experiencia Escuela Saludable a partir del arte para convivir, se desarrolló en la localidad 11 (Suba), de la ciudad de Bogotá, en el Colegio Prado Veraniego, Sede B, ubicado en el barrio del mismo nombre, que cuenta con las condiciones físicas de un colegio tradicional, sin pertenecer a los llamados “mega” colegios. Se trabajó con estudiantes de los grupos de niveles tercero y cuarto correspondientes al ciclo II de la educación básica. En las preguntas realizadas a los estudiantes, se identificaron factores culturales presentes en las condiciones sociales y en el origen de sus familias que afectan la convivencia en el aula y el desarrollo de procesos educativos en el colegio. Esta experiencia tiene como objetivo apoyar la labor que se adelanta en la educación por ciclos, especialmente en las dimensiones práctica, social y cognitiva, para mejorar la convivencia escolar, mediante la creación de rutas didácticas y adaptación como tácticas fundamentales para mejorar la calidad de los procesos de enseñanza-aprendizaje desde la búsqueda de estrategias pedagógicas que permitan contrarrestar los impactos negativos que genera la violencia en el aula y en el colegio.Primera edició

Astrocytes and Müller Cell Alterations During Retinal Degeneration in a Transgenic Rat Model of Retinitis Pigmentosa

Purpose: Retinitis pigmentosa includes a group of progressive retinal degenerative diseases that affect the structure and function of photoreceptors. Secondarily to the loss of photoreceptors, there is a reduction in retinal vascularization, which seems to influence the cellular degenerative process. Retinal macroglial cells, astrocytes, and Müller cells provide support for retinal neurons and are fundamental for maintaining normal retinal function. The aim of this study was to investigate the evolution of macroglial changes during retinal degeneration in P23H rats. Methods: Homozygous P23H line-3 rats aged from P18 to 18 months were used to study the evolution of the disease, and SD rats were used as controls. Immunolabeling with antibodies against GFAP, vimentin, and transducin were used to visualize macroglial cells and cone photoreceptors. Results: In P23H rats, increased GFAP labeling in Müller cells was observed as an early indicator of retinal gliosis. At 4 and 12 months of age, the apical processes of Müller cells in P23H rats clustered in firework-like structures, which were associated with ring-like shaped areas of cone degeneration in the outer nuclear layer. These structures were not observed at 16 months of age. The number of astrocytes was higher in P23H rats than in the SD matched controls at 4 and 12 months of age, supporting the idea of astrocyte proliferation. As the disease progressed, astrocytes exhibited a deteriorated morphology and marked hypertrophy. The increase in the complexity of the astrocytic processes correlated with greater connexin 43 expression and higher density of connexin 43 immunoreactive puncta within the ganglion cell layer (GCL) of P23H vs. SD rat retinas. Conclusions: In the P23H rat model of retinitis pigmentosa, the loss of photoreceptors triggers major changes in the number and morphology of glial cells affecting the inner retina

How sustainable is the increase in the water footprint of the Spanish agricultural sector? A provincial analysis between 1955 and 2005-2010

In the context of a relatively scarce water country, the article analyzes the changes in 50 years in the water footprint (WF) in Spain evaluating its sustainability. For that purpose, firstly we make use of the regional information of the water footprints and crop production to estimate the WF of production over the 50 provinces in Spain, looking at the variation between the years 1955 and 2005–2010. The detail in the information of crops (more than 150 of them) statistics allows us to examine the types and origin of changes (in volume produced, shifts towards more or less water intensive crops). Secondly, we estimate sustainability indicators also at the provincial level, which let us evaluate whether this change has created or incremented the risk of physical and economic water stress. Thirdly, we introduce the economic perspective, providing evidence on the infrastructures built and public sector expenditure, as an approximation to the costs of the increases in WF, particularly meaningful for those water stressed areas

The Effect of Slamming Impact on Out-of-Autoclave Cured Prepregs of GFRP Composite Panels for Hulls

This paper proposes a methodology that employs an experimental apparatus that reproduces, in pre-impregnated and cured out-of-autoclave Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) panels, the phenomenon of slamming or impact on the bottom of a high-speed boat during planing. The pressure limits in the simulation are defined by employing a finite element model (FEM) that evaluates the forces applied by the cam that hits the panels in the apparatus via microdeformations obtained in the simulation. The methodology requires that various impact series be performed at different energies and that the evolution of the damage be followed via immersion ultrasound inspection to quantify how the material behaves, in addition to evaluating the delamination process via penetrating dyes using UV radiation. Slamming impacts were performed on the order of 105, and the micromechanisms of interlaminar and intralaminar damage propagation were observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results were analyzed by correlating them with pressure, deformation, impact energy, and applied cycles, in addition to conducting compression experiments after impact to relate the material damage with the residual strength of the impacted panels

Management of diabetic macular edema patients in clinical practice in Spain

Purpose: Diabetic macular edema is the main cause of blindness in diabetic patients. Vascular endothelial growth factor is involved in diabetic macular edema pathogenesis. Vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors are an important option in diabetic macular edema therapy. This survey investigates actual clinical practice in diabetic macular edema in Spain. Methods: An expert advisory panel of 17 Spanish ophthalmologists developed a 30-item anonymous questionnaire about diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up in diabetic macular edema. A total of 137 ophthalmologists from 10 Spanish regions completed the questionnaire online. Results: Almost all of the respondents (99.3%) record the measured visual acuity and perform biomicroscopic anterior (94.9%) and posterior (91.2%) segment examinations. Similarly, 100% of responding ophthalmologists always/almost always or frequently perform optical coherence tomography. Most respondents (65%) always/almost always or frequently perform a retinography. More than 50% rarely perform fluorescein angiography. Nearly, all (96.4%) of the specialists responded that, in center-involved diabetic macular edema, the first treatment is an anti–vascular endothelial growth factor drug. For corticosteroids, the first choice of most respondents (91.2%) was the dexamethasone implant. In the follow-up, almost all (96.4%) specialists record the measured visual acuity and most also perform biomicroscopic anterior (82.5%) and posterior (83.2%) segment examination. Conclusion: This survey shows the actual clinical practice in diabetic macular edema in Spain, finding that anti–vascular endothelial growth factor therapy is frequently used, and that diagnosis, treatments, and follow-up examinations used by specialists are homogeneous and according to diabetic macular edema guidelines

Garnet-clinopyroxene bearing assemblages in the 'upper catazonal unit' of the Cabo Ortega! Complex (NW Spain)

[Resumen] Se han estudiado los siguientes materiales de la 'unidad catazonal superior' del Complejo del Cabo Ortegal conteniendo asociaciones con granate-clinopiroxeno: eclogitas, granulitas básicas, intercalaciones gneísicas en las granulitas, piroxenitas con granate, gneises de la aureola de contacto de las rocas ultramáficas, metabasitas de la 'formación Candelaria' y 'carbonatitas'. Los datos termobarométricos obtenidos sugieren que, mientras que los minerales de algunos de estos materiales han sufrido importantes reajustes composicionales durante los procesos de retromorfosis (e. g. granulitas con distena, intercalaciones gneísicas en granulitas, -intercalaciones u1tramáficas en gneises, etc.), otros han conservado elementos mineralógicos con la composición alcanzada durante el episodio metamórfico que originó la formación de las asociaciones con granate-clinopiroxeno. Este segundo grupo de materiales puede subdividirse en dos categorías: 1) aquellos materiales en los que la asociación granate-clinopiroxeno se formó en torno a los 800 oC y 15 ± 1. 5 kbar (eclogitas 'tipo-I', granulitas de la 'formación Bracariza', piroxenitas con granate de los macizos de rocas u1tramáficas 'carbonatitas'), y, 11) aquellos en los que dicha asociaci6n se formó a unos 700 oC y la misma P aproximadamente (eclogitas y granulitas intercaladas en las formaciones gneísicas). Aunque las diferencias no son muy importantes, es posible que los dos conjuntos litológicos representen dos gradientes metamórficos distintos y, por tanto, la existencia en dicha 'unidad' de materiales con diferentes historias tectono-metamórficas.[Abstract] The following materials from the 'uper' catazonal unit' of the Cabo Ortegal Complex, containing garnet-clinopyroxene assemblages, have been studied: eclogites, basic granulites, gneissic intercalations within granulites, garnetbearing pyroxenites, gneisses from the contact aureole of the ultramafic rocks, metabasites from the 'Candelaria formation' and 'carbonatites'. The thermobarometric data obtained from this study suggest that the minerals from several of those materials underwent strong compositional readjustements during the subsequent retromorphic events (e. g. the kyanite-bearing granulites, the gneissic intercalations in granulites, the u1tramafic intercalations in gneisses, etc.). The remaining materials have preserved mineral compositions attained during the metamorphic episode that produced the garnetclinopyroxene assemblages; these materials may be classified as follows: 1) those in which the garnet-clinopyroxene assemblage formed at ca. 800 oC and 15 ± ± 1,5 kbar ('type-I' eclogites, granulites from the 'Bacariza formation', garnetbearing pyroxenites from the ultramafic massifs and 'carbonatites'), and, 11) those where the same association developed at ca 700 oC and more or less the same P conditions (eclogites and granulites intercaled in gneisses). Although these differences in P and Tare not very important, it is possible that these two groups represent two different metamorphic gradients, and therefore the existence in this 'unit' of the Complex of two lithological sub-units with different tectono-metamorphic histories