Gustavo Bolívar : el hombre de las narcotelenovelas

El presente artículo reseñará la principal obra del creador de la narcotelenovela en Colombia, Gustavo Bolívar, quien desde su primer trabajo para la televisión sobre el tema del narcotráfico, Sin tetas no hay paraíso, no dejó de revolucionar el género a través de la escritura de sus siguientes obras: Tres Caínes y cada una de las temporadas de El capo.El present article ressenyarà la principal obra del creador de la narcotelenovel·la a Colòmbia, Gustavo Bolívar, qui des del seu primer treball per la televisió sobre el tema del narcotràfic, com és Sin tetas no hay paraíso, no va deixar de revolucionar el gènere a través de l'escriptura de les seves següents obres, com van ser Tres Caínes i cadascuna de les temporades de El capo.This article focuses on Gustavo Bolívar's work as a creator of the narcotelenovela, genre born in Colombia. Since his first work, Sin tetas no hay paraíso (Without breasts there is no paradise), he revolutions the gener with the writing of Tres Caínes (Three Caínes) and with the three seasons of El Capo

Relationship between Barthel Index scores during the acute phase of rehabilitation and subsequent ADL in stroke patients

The Barthel Index (BI) cannot be used to measure initial stroke severity or by extension, to stratify patients by severity in acute stroke trials because most patients are bedbound in the first few hours after stroke, either by their deficit or by medical directive. Our objectives were to clarify the threshold of acute BI for use in the prediction of subsequent independence in activities of daily living (ADL) and to assist in the definition of acute stroke rehabilitation goals. Subjects comprised 78 patients out of 191 inpatients admitted with acute stroke at our hospital during 2006-2007. The BI ADL score was divided into 2 ranges (BI≧60 and≦40), in a process similar to previous studies. During the acute period (from onset to approximately 3 weeks), all patients with a BI≧40 could improve their ADL in 6 months. Patients with a BI≦40 exhibited two ADL recovery outcomes (improved and no change) at 6 months. We also found that the skill level of basic activities related to standing was significant indicator of BI improvement (P<0.001). BI scores determined at approximately 3 weeks were reliable predictors of ADL disabilities at 6 months

Expression of Serum Exosomal and Esophageal MicroRNA in Rat Reflux Esophagitis

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common upper gastrointestinal disease. However, the role of exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs) and esophageal miRNAs in GERD has not been studied. A rat model of acid reflux esophagitis was used to establish a novel diagnosis marker for GERD and examine dynamics of miRNA expression in GERD. Rats were sacrificed 3 (acute phase), 7 (sub-acute phase) and 21 days (chronic phase) after induction of esophagitis. Exosomes were extracted from serum, and the expression patterns of serum miRNAs were analyzed. Four upregulated miRNAs (miR-29a-3p, 128-3p, 223-3p and 3473) were identified by microarray analysis. The expression levels of exosomal miR-29a-3p were significantly higher in the chronic phase of reflux esophagitis compared with controls, and increased expression of miR-29a-3p was specific to chronic reflux esophagitis. Esophageal miR-223-3p expression was higher compared with controls, and gradually decreased from acute to chronic phase in esophagitis. In conclusion, exosomal miR-29a-3p and esophageal miR-223-3p might play roles in GERD

Light-Driven Bending Crystals of Salicylidenephenylethylamines in Enantiomeric and Racemate Forms

The photomechanical bending behavior of chiral crystals composed of S- and R-enantiomers of photochromic <i>N</i>-3,5-di-<i>tert</i>-butylsalicylidene-1-phenylethylamine in enol form [enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> and enol-(<i>R</i>)-<b>1</b>] has been compared with that of achiral crystals of the racemic compound [enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b>] of S- and R-enantiomers. Both platelike chiral and achiral crystals, a few millimeters in length, exhibited similar reversible bending upon alternate irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) and visible light. The reversible bending of the achiral enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal could be repeated over 100 times, while the tip displacement angles of the chiral enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> and enol-(<i>R</i>)-<b>1</b> crystals gradually decreased with repeated cycles. In situ X-ray measurements revealed that the bending motion of the chiral and achiral crystals was caused by a slight shrinkage of the <i>a</i> and <i>b</i> axes of the unit cell, respectively, corresponding to the long axis of the platelike crystals; shrinkage was induced by the shape change of component salicylidenephenylethylamine molecules upon photoinduced proton transfer. The Young’s modulus of the enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal was 0.8 GPa, which is smaller than that of the enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal (2.6 GPa). The crystal cantilevers made of enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> and enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b> lifted metal rings that were up to 50 and 300 times heavier, respectively, than the cantilevers upon UV irradiation. Overall, the achiral enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal was found to be superior to the chiral enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal as a light-driven actuator

Light-Driven Bending Crystals of Salicylidenephenylethylamines in Enantiomeric and Racemate Forms

The photomechanical bending behavior of chiral crystals composed of S- and R-enantiomers of photochromic <i>N</i>-3,5-di-<i>tert</i>-butylsalicylidene-1-phenylethylamine in enol form [enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> and enol-(<i>R</i>)-<b>1</b>] has been compared with that of achiral crystals of the racemic compound [enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b>] of S- and R-enantiomers. Both platelike chiral and achiral crystals, a few millimeters in length, exhibited similar reversible bending upon alternate irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) and visible light. The reversible bending of the achiral enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal could be repeated over 100 times, while the tip displacement angles of the chiral enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> and enol-(<i>R</i>)-<b>1</b> crystals gradually decreased with repeated cycles. In situ X-ray measurements revealed that the bending motion of the chiral and achiral crystals was caused by a slight shrinkage of the <i>a</i> and <i>b</i> axes of the unit cell, respectively, corresponding to the long axis of the platelike crystals; shrinkage was induced by the shape change of component salicylidenephenylethylamine molecules upon photoinduced proton transfer. The Young’s modulus of the enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal was 0.8 GPa, which is smaller than that of the enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal (2.6 GPa). The crystal cantilevers made of enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> and enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b> lifted metal rings that were up to 50 and 300 times heavier, respectively, than the cantilevers upon UV irradiation. Overall, the achiral enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal was found to be superior to the chiral enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal as a light-driven actuator

Light-Driven Bending Crystals of Salicylidenephenylethylamines in Enantiomeric and Racemate Forms

The photomechanical bending behavior of chiral crystals composed of S- and R-enantiomers of photochromic <i>N</i>-3,5-di-<i>tert</i>-butylsalicylidene-1-phenylethylamine in enol form [enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> and enol-(<i>R</i>)-<b>1</b>] has been compared with that of achiral crystals of the racemic compound [enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b>] of S- and R-enantiomers. Both platelike chiral and achiral crystals, a few millimeters in length, exhibited similar reversible bending upon alternate irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) and visible light. The reversible bending of the achiral enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal could be repeated over 100 times, while the tip displacement angles of the chiral enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> and enol-(<i>R</i>)-<b>1</b> crystals gradually decreased with repeated cycles. In situ X-ray measurements revealed that the bending motion of the chiral and achiral crystals was caused by a slight shrinkage of the <i>a</i> and <i>b</i> axes of the unit cell, respectively, corresponding to the long axis of the platelike crystals; shrinkage was induced by the shape change of component salicylidenephenylethylamine molecules upon photoinduced proton transfer. The Young’s modulus of the enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal was 0.8 GPa, which is smaller than that of the enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal (2.6 GPa). The crystal cantilevers made of enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> and enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b> lifted metal rings that were up to 50 and 300 times heavier, respectively, than the cantilevers upon UV irradiation. Overall, the achiral enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal was found to be superior to the chiral enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal as a light-driven actuator

Light-Driven Bending Crystals of Salicylidenephenylethylamines in Enantiomeric and Racemate Forms

The photomechanical bending behavior of chiral crystals composed of S- and R-enantiomers of photochromic <i>N</i>-3,5-di-<i>tert</i>-butylsalicylidene-1-phenylethylamine in enol form [enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> and enol-(<i>R</i>)-<b>1</b>] has been compared with that of achiral crystals of the racemic compound [enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b>] of S- and R-enantiomers. Both platelike chiral and achiral crystals, a few millimeters in length, exhibited similar reversible bending upon alternate irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) and visible light. The reversible bending of the achiral enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal could be repeated over 100 times, while the tip displacement angles of the chiral enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> and enol-(<i>R</i>)-<b>1</b> crystals gradually decreased with repeated cycles. In situ X-ray measurements revealed that the bending motion of the chiral and achiral crystals was caused by a slight shrinkage of the <i>a</i> and <i>b</i> axes of the unit cell, respectively, corresponding to the long axis of the platelike crystals; shrinkage was induced by the shape change of component salicylidenephenylethylamine molecules upon photoinduced proton transfer. The Young’s modulus of the enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal was 0.8 GPa, which is smaller than that of the enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal (2.6 GPa). The crystal cantilevers made of enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> and enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b> lifted metal rings that were up to 50 and 300 times heavier, respectively, than the cantilevers upon UV irradiation. Overall, the achiral enol-(<i>rac</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal was found to be superior to the chiral enol-(<i>S</i>)-<b>1</b> crystal as a light-driven actuator

Identification of a Spermidine Excretion Protein Complex (MdtJI) in Escherichia coli▿

A spermidine excretion protein in Escherichia coli was looked for among 33 putative drug exporters thus far identified. Cell toxicity and inhibition of growth due to overaccumulation of spermidine were examined in an E. coli strain deficient in spermidine acetyltransferase, an enzyme that metabolizes spermidine. Toxicity and inhibition of cell growth by spermidine were recovered in cells transformed with pUCmdtJI or pMWmdtJI, encoding MdtJ and MdtI, which belong to the small multidrug resistance family of drug exporters. Both mdtJ and mdtI are necessary for recovery from the toxicity of overaccumulated spermidine. It was also found that the level of mdtJI mRNA was increased by spermidine. The spermidine content in cells cultured in the presence of 2 mM spermidine was decreased, and excretion of spermidine from cells was enhanced by MdtJI, indicating that the MdtJI complex can catalyze excretion of spermidine from cells. It was found that Tyr4, Trp5, Glu15, Tyr45, Tyr61, and Glu82 in MdtJ and Glu5, Glu19, Asp60, Trp68, and Trp81 in MdtI are involved in the excretion activity of MdtJI