The Role of IL-33 in Host Response to Candida albicans

Background. Interleukin (IL) 33 is a recently identified pleiotropic cytokine that influences the activity of multiple cell types and orchestrates complex innate and adaptive immune responses. Methods. We performed an extensive review of the literature published between 2005 and 2013 on IL-33 and related cytokines, their functions, and their regulation of the immune system following Candida albicans colonization. Our literature review included cross-references from retrieved articles and specific data from our own studies. Results. IL-33 (IL-1F11) is a recently identified member of the IL-1 family of cytokines. Accumulating evidence suggests a pivotal role of the IL-33/ST2 axis in host immune defense against fungal pathogens, including C. albicans. IL-33 induces a Th2-type inflammatory response and activates both innate and adaptive immunity. Studies in animal models have shown that Th2 inflammatory responses have a beneficial role in immunity against gastrointestinal and systemic infections by Candida spp. Conclusions. This review summarizes the most important clinical studies and case reports describing the beneficial role of IL-33 in immunity and host defense mechanisms against pathogenic fungi. The finding that the IL-33/ST2 axis is involved in therapeutic target has implications for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory diseases, including acute or chronic candidiasis

Habilidades del psicólogo en drogodependencias

Las habilidades del terapeuta constituyen un aspecto fundamental para la consecución de los distintos objetivos que al psicólogo se le plantean en el transcurso de su intervención con el usuario drogodependiente. En este articulo se presenta una revisión de las habilidades que los autores consideran imprescindibles, aportando ejemplos prácticos y con independencia de la orientación teórica del psicólogo. Las habilidades técnicas o profesionales se refieren a conocimientos teóricos y prácticos; el afltocontrol emocional, incluyendo tanto el afrontamiento ef caz por parte del psicólogo de ciertas situaciones ante el usuario, y especificamente si éste es un drogodelincuente, como el afrontamiento del burn out; y por último, las habilidades sociales, en las que se sustenta la interacción entre el psicólogo y el usuario, destacando la asertividad y la empatia. Finalmente se revisan distintos aspectos y principios generales referidos a la ética profesional en la práctica de la Psicologia Clínica

Control strategies for DFIG wind turbines under grid fault conditions

The classical control techniques for regulating the active and reactive power delivery in doubly fed induction generators (DFIG), for wind power applications, are normally based on voltage oriented control (VOC) strategies. Among these algorithms, those that work in a synchronous reference frame, attached to the magnetic flux vector, became very popular. In spite of the good behaviour of such algorithms their performance depends highly on an accurate detection of the stator flux position, something that can be critical under unbalanced or distorted grid voltage conditions. This paper presents a new VOC strategy able to control the operation of a DFIG in the αβ reference frame, with no need of flux position estimation, something that conducts to a more simple and robust algorithm. In order to evaluate the advantages of this new control proposal, namely VOC-RRF, their performance will be compared with the response obtained with a classical VOC algorithm by means of PSCAD/EMTDC® simulation models.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Short-Term Changes in Algometry, Inclinometry, Stabilometry, and Urinary pH Analysis After a Thoracolumbar Junction Manipulation in Patients with Kidney Stones

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of a high-velocity low-amplitude manipulation of the thoracolumbar junction in different urologic and musculoskeletal parameters in subjects suffering from renal lithiasis. Design: Randomized, controlled blinded clinical study. Settings/Location: The Nephrology departments of two hospitals and one private consultancy of physiotherapy in Valencia (Spain). Subjects: Forty-six patients suffering from renal lithiasis. Interventions: The experimental group (EG, n¿=¿23) received a spinal manipulation of the thoracolumbar junction, and the control group (CG, n¿=¿23) received a sham procedure. Outcome measures: Pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) of both quadratus lumborum and spinous processes from T10 to L1, lumbar flexion range of motion, stabilometry, and urinary pH were measured before and immediately after the intervention. A comparison between pre- and postintervention phases was performed and an analysis of variance for repeated measures using time (pre- and postintervention) as intrasubject variable and group (CG or EG) as intersubject variable. Results: Intragroup comparison showed a significant improvement for the EG in the lumbar flexion range of motion (p¿<¿0.001) and in all the PPT (p¿<¿0.001 in all cases). Between-group comparison showed significant changes in PPT in quadratus lumborum (p¿<¿0.001), as well as in the spinous processes of all of the evaluated levels (p¿<¿0.05). No changes in urinary pH were observed (p¿=¿0.419). Conclusion: Spinal manipulation of the thoracolumbar junction seems to be effective in short term to improve pain sensitivity, as well as to increase the lumbar spine flexion

A model for the biochemical degradation of inosine monophosphate in hake (Merluccius merluccius)

7 páginas, 3 tablas, 3 figuras, 1 apéndiceATP-derived products are typically used as early indicators of fish quality loss during storage. In this work, we explore different biochemical routes that are potentially relevant in contributing to nucleotide degradation in hake (Merluccius merluccius). A major motivation of this study is to get more insight on the biochemical degradation mechanisms of nucleotide catabolites in hake muscle at fish storage and transport conditions. This requires the identification of its relevant pathways. To that purpose, different degradation routes proposed in the literature are considered and a mathematical model for the degradation process is derived. First order kinetics are assumed for all the reactions and temperature dependence is taken into account through the Arrhenius equation. Unknown model parameters, namely activation energies and pre-exponential Arrhenius coefficients, are estimated via fitting to experimental data. From the estimation results, relevant routes are identified. The kinetic study is performed on sterile fish juice to avoid coupling with microbial degradation mechanisms or possible interferences of the food matrix that might hide biochemical interactions. The proposed scheme adequately describes biochemical changes in nucleotide catabolites under variable temperature profiles. It also reveals a pathway which at least seems relevant for nucleotide degradation in hakeThe authors acknowledge financial support from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Projects ISFORQUALITY AGL2012-39951-C02-01, PIE 201230E042 and RESISTANCE DPI2014-54085-JIN)Peer reviewe

Global mRNA expression analysis in myosin II deficient strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae reveals an impairment of cell integrity functions

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The <it>Saccharomyces cerevisiae MYO1 </it>gene encodes the myosin II heavy chain (Myo1p), a protein required for normal cytokinesis in budding yeast. Myo1p deficiency in yeast (<it>myo1Δ</it>) causes a cell separation defect characterized by the formation of attached cells, yet it also causes abnormal budding patterns, formation of enlarged and elongated cells, increased osmotic sensitivity, delocalized chitin deposition, increased chitin synthesis, and hypersensitivity to the chitin synthase III inhibitor Nikkomycin Z. To determine how differential expression of genes is related to these diverse cell wall phenotypes, we analyzed the global mRNA expression profile of <it>myo1Δ </it>strains.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Global mRNA expression profiles of <it>myo1Δ </it>strains and their corresponding wild type controls were obtained by hybridization to yeast oligonucleotide microarrays. Results for selected genes were confirmed by real time RT-PCR. A total of 547 differentially expressed genes (p ≤ 0.01) were identified with 263 up regulated and 284 down regulated genes in the <it>myo1Δ </it>strains. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed the significant over-representation of genes in the protein biosynthesis and stress response categories. The <it>SLT2/MPK1 </it>gene was up regulated in the microarray, and a <it>myo1Δslt2Δ </it>double mutant was non-viable. Overexpression of ribosomal protein genes <it>RPL30 </it>and <it>RPS31 </it>suppressed the hypersensitivity to Nikkomycin Z and increased the levels of phosphorylated Slt2p in <it>myo1Δ </it>strains. Increased levels of phosphorylated Slt2p were also observed in wild type strains under these conditions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Following this analysis of global mRNA expression in yeast <it>myo1Δ </it>strains, we conclude that 547 genes were differentially regulated in <it>myo1Δ </it>strains and that the stress response and protein biosynthesis gene categories were coordinately regulated in this mutant. The <it>SLT2/MPK1 </it>gene was confirmed to be essential for <it>myo1Δ </it>strain viability, supporting that the up regulated stress response genes are regulated by the <it>PKC1 </it>cell integrity pathway. Suppression of Nikkomycin Z hypersensitivity together with Slt2p phosphorylation was caused by the overexpression of ribosomal protein genes <it>RPL30 </it>and <it>RPS31</it>. These ribosomal protein mRNAs were down regulated in the <it>myo1Δ </it>arrays, suggesting that down regulation of ribosomal biogenesis may affect cell integrity in <it>myo1Δ </it>strains.</p

Relaxation Dynamics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Re^I(C)O_3(α-diimine)(HisX)^+ (X=83, 107, 109, 124, 126)Cu-^(II) Azurins

Photoinduced relaxation processes of five structurally characterized Pseudomonas aeruginosa Re^I(CO)_3(α-diimine)(HisX) (X = 83, 107, 109, 124, 126)Cu^(II) azurins have been investigated by time-resolved (ps−ns) IR spectroscopy and emission spectroscopy. Crystal structures reveal the presence of Re-azurin dimers and trimers that in two cases (X = 107, 124) involve van der Waals interactions between interdigitated diimine aromatic rings. Time-dependent emission anisotropy measurements confirm that the proteins aggregate in mM solutions (D2O, KPi buffer, pD = 7.1). Excited-state DFT calculations show that extensive charge redistribution in the ReI(CO)_3 → diimine ^3MLCT state occurs: excitation of this ^3MLCT state triggers several relaxation processes in Re-azurins whose kinetics strongly depend on the location of the metallolabel on the protein surface. Relaxation is manifested by dynamic blue shifts of excited-state ν(CO) IR bands that occur with triexponential kinetics: intramolecular vibrational redistribution together with vibrational and solvent relaxation give rise to subps, 2, and 8−20 ps components, while the ~10^2 ps kinetics are attributed to displacement (reorientation) of the Re^I(CO)_3(phen)(im) unit relative to the peptide chain, which optimizes Coulombic interactions of the Re^I excited-state electron density with solvated peptide groups. Evidence also suggests that additional segmental movements of Re-bearing β-strands occur without perturbing the reaction field or interactions with the peptide. Our work demonstrates that time-resolved IR spectroscopy and emission anisotropy of Re^I carbonyl−diimine complexes are powerful probes of molecular dynamics at or around the surfaces of proteins and protein−protein interfacial regions

Estado comparativo de las masas de Pinus uncinata Ram. potencialmente protectoras frente a aludes de una zona de Andorra y Cataluña

A comparative study was carried out among stands of Pinus uncinata Ram. located, respectively, in La Massana (Andorra) and in the Catalonian Pyrenees, and give these sites an important role against snow avalanches. To check if there exist some differential attributes between Andorran and Catalonian sites, a dendrometric database was generated from sampling (Andorra) and from the information provided by the Third Forest National Inventory (Catalonian Pyrenees). As for their tendency towards uneven-aged stand structure, both geographical regions are quite similar. In fact, stand regeneration is not associated to other stocking variables, and stand stocking is not closely linked to the altitudinal gradient (which little affects mortality). However, Catalonian stands have shown less stocking and, in general, they offer worse characteristics for their protective role against avalanches compared with the Andorran stands.Se aborda el estudio comparativo entre las masas de Pinus uncinata Ram., localizadas en la parroquia La Massana de Andorra y en el Pirineo catalán, desde la perspectiva de su potencial papel protector frente a aludes. La base de datos dasométricos se obtuvo, en el primer caso, de un inventario ad hoc, y en el segundo, de la información proporcionada por el Tercer Inventario Forestal Nacional. Los resultados sugieren que las masas de ambos entornos geográficos ofrecen aspectos comunes en cuanto a que muestran tendencia hacia la irregularidad, con una regeneración no ligada a las otras variables de masa y con una espesura poco condicionada por el gradiente altitudinal y que escasamente incide en la mortalidad. Las diferencias advertidas se centran en que en las masas de Cataluña se aprecia menores niveles de espesura, aunque aparecen estructuras capitalizadas en existencias volumétricas ausentes en Andorra, y que de modo general, ofrecen peores características en cuanto a su papel protector frente al desencadenamiento de avalanchas