Effect of the aniline fragment in Pt(II) and Pt(IV) complexes as anti-proliferative agents. Standard reduction potential as a more reliable parameter for Pt(IV) compounds than peak reduction potential

The problems of resistance and side effects associated with cisplatin and other chemotherapeutic drugs have boosted research aimed at finding new compounds with improved properties. The use of platinum(IV) prodrugs is one alternative, although there is some controversy regarding the predictive ability of the peak reduction potentials. In the work described here a series of fourteen chloride Pt(II) and Pt(IV) compounds was synthesised and fully characterised. The compounds contain different bidentate arylazole heterocyclic ligands. Their cytotoxic properties against human lung carcinoma (A549), human breast carcinoma (MCF7) and human colon carcinoma (HCT116 and HT29) cell lines were studied. A clear relationship between the type of ligand and the anti-proliferative properties was found, with the best results obtained for the Pt(II) compound that contains an aniline fragment, (13), thus evidencing a positive effect of the NH2 group. Stability and aquation studies in DMSO, DMF and DMSO/water mixtures were carried out on the active complexes and an in-depth analysis of the two aquation processes, including DFT analysis, of 13 was undertaken. It was verified that DNA was the target and that cell death occurred by apoptosis in the case of 13. Furthermore, the cytotoxic derivatives did not exhibit haemolytic activity. The reduction of the Pt(IV) compounds whose Pt(II) congeners were active was studied by several techniques. It was concluded that the peak reduction potential was not useful to predict the ability for reduction. However, a correlation between the cytotoxic activity and the standard reduction potential was found.This work has been funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MCIU), Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI) and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) (RTI2018-100709-B-C21 to BRM, RTI2018-100709-B-C22 to AM, RTI2018-094093-B-I00 to RSP), Junta de Comunidades de Castilla-La Mancha-FEDER (JCCM) (grant SBPLY/19/180501/000260 to BRM), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Project PID2019-104381GB-I00 to GC), Fundación Leticia Castillejo Castillo to MJRH, Junta de Castilla y León, Consejería de Educación y Cultura y Fondo Social Europeo (Projects BU263P18 and BU087G19 to JVC) as well as UCLM-FEDER (grants 2019-GRIN-27183 and 2019-GRIN-27209 to BRM) and University of Girona (MPCUdG2016/076 to AM)

New data on the Quaternary of Navarre: the paleontological collection from Koskobilo (Olazti/Olazagutía)

Libro de resúmenes disponible para su descarga gratuita en el enlace: http://www.aranzadi.eus/catalogo/xv-reunion-nacional-cuaternario-libro-de-resumenesThe archaeopaleontological collection from Koskobilo is composed of hundreds of fossil and thousands of lithic remains, mostly recovered during the middle part of the 20th century. Here we present the complete paleontological study of the collection, which includes 36 mammal taxa, 6 avian taxa and a small fish vertebral collection. Additionally we have performed direct dating of a speleothem crust covering one of the rhinoceros teeth, which provides a minimum of 219 ka for part of the collection, the rest being from the Upper Pleistocene, mixed with some Holocene/recent elements. The paleontological collection from Koskobilo is one of the most important in the Western Pyrenees due to the scarcity of the local Middle Pleistocene fossil record and the rarity of some of the taxa represented, such as Ursus thibetanus, Macaca sylvanus and cf. Megaceroides.La presente investigación ha contado con el apoyo del grupo de investigación IT1044-16 de Eusko Jaurlaritza-Gobierno Vasco, del Grupo PPG17/05 de la Universidad del País Vasco-Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea y del Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (proyecto PGC2018-093925-B-C33)

Influence of the Seasonal Thermocline on the Vertical Distribution of Larval Fish Assemblages Associated with Atlantic Bluefin Tuna Spawning Grounds

Temperature is often an important variable influencing the vertical position of fish larvae in the water column. The same species may show different vertical distributions in areas with a strong near-surface seasonal thermocline compared to isothermal near-surface regions. In areas with a strong surface thermocline, tuna larvae show a significant preference for the near-surface warmer layers. Little is known regarding larval tuna vertical distribution in isothermal waters and on the vertical distribution of the associated larval fish assemblages. We conducted vertical stratified sampling using the same methodology and fishing device (MOCNESS) in the two major spawning areas of Atlantic bluefin tuna (BFT): western Mediterranean Sea (MED), characterized by a surface thermocline, and the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) which lacks thermal stratification. Tuna larvae occupied the upper 30 m in both areas, but the average larval depth distribution was consistently deeper in the GOM. In the MED, vertical distribution of larval fish assemblages was explained by temperature, and species such as BFT, Thunnus alalunga, and Ceratoscopelus maderensis, among others, coexist above the thermocline and are separated from species such as Cyclothone braueri and Hygophum spp. (found below the thermocline). In the GOM, the environmental correlates of the vertical distribution of the larvae were salinity and fluorescence. Mesopelagic taxa such as Ceratoscopelus spp. and Cyclothone spp., among others, had a shallower average distribution than Lampanyctus spp., Hygophum spp., and Myctophum spp.Versión del edito

Linezolid for infective endocarditis. A structured approach based on a national database experience

Current data on the frequency and efficacy of linezolid (LNZ) in infective endocarditis (IE) are based on small retrospective series. We used a national database to evaluate the effectiveness of LNZ in IE. This is a retrospective study of IE patients in the Spanish GAMES database who received LNZ. We defined 3 levels of therapeutic impact: LNZ 50% of the total treatment, and > 50% of the LNZ doses prescribed in the first weeks of treatment), and LNZ ? 7 days not fulfilling the high-impact criteria (LNZ-NHI). Effectiveness of LNZ was assessed using propensity score matching and multivariate analysis of high-impact cases in comparison to patients not treated with LNZ from the GAMES database matched for age-adjusted comorbidity Charlson index, heart failure, renal failure, prosthetic and intracardiac IE device, left-sided IE, and Staphylococcus aureus. Primary outcomes were in-hospital mortality and one-year mortality. Secondary outcomes included IE complications and relapses

Evidence of association of the NLRP1 gene with giant cell arteritis

Recent studies have focused attention on the involvement of NLRP1 to confer susceptibility for extended autoimmune/inflammatory disorders, being considered a common risk factor in autoimmunity. NLRP1 provides a scaffold for the assembly of the inflammasome that activates caspases 1 and 5, required for processing and activation of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 1β (IL-1β), IL-18 and IL-33 and promoting inflammation

Coordinación entre las asignaturas del área de ingeniería térmica y energía de los grados y el Máster Universitario en Ingeniería Naval y Oceánica de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

El trabajo que se presenta tiene por objetivo establecer la coordinación existente entre los objetivos y actividades de las asignaturas del área de ingeniería térmica, energía y propulsión del Máster en Ingeniería Naval y Oceánica, y los objetivos y actividades del mismo tipo de asignaturas en los Grados en Ingeniería Marítima y en Arquitectura Naval de la ETSI Navales de la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid. Igualmente, se plantea estudiar la coordinación de estas materias entre sí dentro de los Grados. Pueden mencionarse asignaturas obligatorias tales como Termodinámica, Ingeniería Térmica, Energía y Propulsión, Motores Diésel Marinos, Turbomáquinas Térmicas y Diseño integral de plantas de Energía y Propulsión. Entre las asignaturas optativas se encuentran Refrigeración y Climatización en Buques y Tecnología de las Pilas de Combustible y Energía del Hidrógeno. Para poder coordinar dos especialidades de Grado universitario con campos tan dispares, pero a la vez tan relacionados, con el Máster Universitario que se cursará en ambos casos, se deben exigir unas pautas muy marcadas para no solapar las actividades y/o habilidades necesarias para alcanzar dichas capacidades. De la necesidad de comprender mejor y con mayor exactitud las necesidades de cada uno de los planes de estudios en el área de ingeniería térmica, energía y propulsión, y más concretamente, las relaciones que existen entre ellos, nace este trabajo. Para mejorar la eficacia de la enseñanza de los actuales y futuros alumnos, será fundamental desarrollar, entre otras, una serie de acciones que incluyen un estudio a fondo de los objetivos del Máster y de los Grados en relación con estas materias; el diseño y aplicación de una plantilla de descripción de las asignaturas en Máster y en Grado, que permita la elaboración de árboles de relación entre Máster-Grados; partiendo del Máster que vinculen los objetivos, las competencias generales, específicas y transversales (y el nivel de desarrollo propuesto) y los conocimientos previos; la confección y análisis de encuestas dirigidas a alumnos egresados, profesores y empresas, que emplean a estos alumnos con el fin de evaluar el nivel de consecución de los objetivos planteados. Esto permitirá determinar, en cuanto al área de ingeniería térmica, energía y propulsión, la viabilidad de la consecución de los objetivos del Máster en función de los objetivos planteados en los Grados al identificar vacíos y redundancias en cuanto a los objetivos, las competencias y los conocimientos previos del Máster en relación con los Grados. Con todo ello será posible proponer las modificaciones oportunas, en los casos en los que se consideren necesarias.Los autores desean agradecer a la Universidad Politécnica de Madrid su soporte y ayuda en este trabajo, en el marco del Proyecto de Innovación Educativa IE1415-08002

Second Workshop on Atlantic chub mackerel (Scomber colias) (WKCOLIAS2)

The Atlantic chub mackerel Scomber colias has become an increasingly important commercial species in the European Atlantic waters in the last 10–15 years, probably through an expansion process from NW African waters and due to market needs. However, at present there are no assessment or advice requirements. In the WK framework, available information of the species in the West Atlantic waters has been compiled in order to evaluate possible geographical differences and trends, and the feasibility to describe its population structure. Though the Atlantic chub mackerel is not routinely included among the target species in the acoustic surveys performed in the Atlantic Iberian waters and the Mediterranean Sea, a synoptic overview of the species is possible over all its West Atlantic distribution. Moreover, the data available have indicated latitudinal trends, mainly in the landings’ length composition, L50 and the spawning periods. Nevertheless, even if some degree of connectivity likely exists and migrations are occurring between adjacent areas, some subunits could be considered for management purposes. From the assessment models’ trials carried out, the results or reference points obtained for the European fisheries cannot be retained at present. Therefore, continuing collating information from fisheries and biological sampling of the species, obtaining reliable biomass estimations from scientific surveys and identifying management units seem the main priorities to address in future research work and in case of assessment requirements