494 research outputs found
Optical coherence tomography in central retinal artery occlusion
CLINICAL CASES: Three eyes with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) have been
studied. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed in each of them.
Ophthalmoscopic signs of CRAO were equivocal in the three eyes. However, the
presence of a hyporeflective signal in the OCT scan could be seen clearly in each
of them. DISCUSSION: The presence of a hyporeflective band between the
neurosensory retina and the retinal pigment epithelium in OCT images, that
persist for several months after a CRAO episode, is useful in establishing the
diagnosis in these patient
The LSM1-7 Complex Differentially Regulates Arabidopsis Tolerance to Abiotic Stress Conditions by Promoting Selective mRNA Decapping
This work was supported by Grants BIO2010-17545 and BIO2013-47788-R from MINECO to J.S., GA14-34792S from CSFtoO.N., andMCB-1022435 fromtheNationalScience Foundation to L.S. R.C. is supported by a JAE-DOCcontract fromtheCSIC, andC.C.-L. is a recipient of a FPI fellowship from MINECO.International audienceIn eukaryotes, the decapping machinery is highly conserved and plays an essential role in controlling mRNA stability, a key step in the regulation of gene expression. Yet, the role of mRNA decapping in shaping gene expression profiles in response to environmental cues and the operating molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we provide genetic and molecular evidence that a component of the decapping machinery, the LSM1-7 complex, plays a critical role in plant tolerance to abiotic stresses. Our results demonstrate that, depending on the stress, the complex from Arabidopsis thaliana interacts with different selected stress-inducible transcripts targeting them for decapping and subsequent degradation. This interaction ensures the correct turnover of the target transcripts and, consequently, the appropriate patterns of downstream stress-responsive gene expression that are required for plant adaptation. Remarkably, among the selected target transcripts of the LSM1-7 complex are those encoding NCED3 and NCED5, two key enzymes in abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. We demonstrate that the complex modulates ABA levels in Arabidopsis exposed to cold and high salt by differentially controlling NCED3 and NCED5 mRNA turnover, which represents a new layer of regulation in ABA biosynthesis in response to abiotic stress. Our findings uncover an unanticipated functional plasticity of the mRNA decapping machinery to modulate the relationship between plants and their environment
High Temperature Corrosion of Inconel 600 in NaCl-KCl Molten Salts
In this work the corrosion resistance of a high content nickel alloy, Inconel 600, was investigated in mixed NaCl-KCl salts at 700, 800, and 900°C for 100 hours in static air. Investigation was carried out using electrochemical techniques such as polarization curves, rest potential measurements, linear polarization resistance, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Corroded specimens were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Electrochemical measurements showed an increased degradation rate of Inconel 600 with increasing test temperature. SEM and EDS analysis show that the damage experienced by Inconel 600 is greater than that determined by electrochemical measurements. This damage was identified as internal corrosion due to the reaction of Cl2 with the alloying elements (Cr and Fe); however, at 900°C the internal damage was minor and it was associated with the nickel content in the alloy
Neuropatía óptica autoinmune recidivante bilateral en la infancia
Clinical case: A ten year-old girl, after a Yersinia
gastroenteritis, developed an optic neuritis in the
left eye. She was not treated and resulted ultimately
in optic atrophy on the affected side. Six months
later a similar episode occurred in the contralateral
eye. On this occasion corticosteroid therapy was
given. During this therapy the neuritis diminished;
however the patient had three relapses, so it was
decided to give her immunosuppressive treatment
with azathioprine and continue this indefinitely.
Discussion: After considering the differential diagnoses
of bilateral recurrent optical neuritis in childhood,
we concluded that it was most likely to have
an autoimmune basis. After considering the benefits
and risks of the long-term treatment, we believe
immunosuppressive therapy is most useful in controlling
the disease allowing corticosteroid therapy
to be reduced (Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol 2006; 81:
607-610)
Hemorragia submacular traumática tratada con rt-PA y SF6
This patient was afflicted by a traumatic submacular hemorrhage. A
posterior vitrectomy was performed and intravitreal rt-PA and SF6 were
administered. Four weeks later, the visual acuity had increased from 0.1 to 0.8.
No complications due to the treatment with rt-PA were reported. DISCUSSION: It is
known that waiting for the spontaneous blood removal in such cases results in a
poor visual acuity recovery due to a toxic effect of the blood products. Both
rt-PA and the SF6 are useful for the treatment of submacular hemorrhages
secondary to age-related macular degeneration, and this case report has shown
they are also useful to lyse traumatic blood clots, thus contributing to a better
recovery of visual acuity
Total and high molecular weight adiponectin have similar utility for the identification of insulin resistance
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Insulin resistance (IR) and related metabolic disturbances are characterized by low levels of adiponectin. High molecular weight adiponectin (HMWA) is considered the active form of adiponectin and a better marker of IR than total adiponectin. The objective of this study is to compare the utility of total adiponectin, HMWA and the HMWA/total adiponectin index (S<sub>A </sub>index) for the identification of IR and related metabolic conditions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional analysis was performed in a group of ambulatory subjects, aged 20 to 70 years, in Mexico City. Areas under the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve for total, HMWA and the S<sub>A </sub>index were plotted for the identification of metabolic disturbances. Sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative predictive values, and accuracy for the identification of IR were calculated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The study included 101 men and 168 women. The areas under the ROC curve for total and HMWA for the identification of IR (0.664 <it>vs</it>. 0.669, <it>P </it>= 0.74), obesity (0.592 <it>vs</it>. 0.610, <it>P </it>= 0.32), hypertriglyceridemia (0.661 <it>vs</it>. 0.671, <it>P </it>= 0.50) and hypoalphalipoproteinemia (0.624 <it>vs</it>. 0.633, <it>P </it>= 0.58) were similar. A total adiponectin level of 8.03 μg/ml was associated with a sensitivity of 57.6%, a specificity of 65.9%, a positive predictive value of 50.0%, a negative predictive value of 72.4%, and an accuracy of 62.7% for the diagnosis of IR. The corresponding figures for a HMWA value of 4.25 μg/dl were 59.6%, 67.1%, 51.8%, 73.7% and 64.2%.</p> <p>The area under the ROC curve of the S<sub>A </sub>index for the identification of IR was 0.622 [95% CI 0.554-0.691], obesity 0.613 [95% CI 0.536-0.689], hypertriglyceridemia 0.616 [95% CI 0.549-0.683], and hypoalphalipoproteinemia 0.606 [95% CI 0.535-0.677].</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Total adiponectin, HMWA and the S<sub>A </sub>index had similar utility for the identification of IR and metabolic disturbances.</p
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