Cytotoxic furanoditerpenes from the sponge Spongia tubulifera collected in the Mexican Caribbean

[Abstract] Two new spongian furanoditerpenes, 3β-hydroxyspongia-13(16),14-dien-2-one (1) and 19-dehydroxy-spongian diterpene 17 (2), along with five known terpenes, the spongian furanoditerpenes 9-nor-3-hydroxyspongia-3,13(16),14-trien-2-one (3), 3β,19 dihydroxyspongia-13(16),14-dien-2-one (epispongiadiol) (4) and spongian diterpene 17 (5), the furanoditerpene ambliol C (6), and the sesterterpene scalarin (7), were isolated from the methanolic extract of the sponge Spongia tubulifera, collected in the Mexican Caribbean. The planar structures of the new compounds were elucidated by 1D/2D NMR and IR spectroscopic analysis, high resolution electrospray mass spectrometry (HRESIMS), and comparison of their spectral data with those reported in the literature. Absolute configurations were determined by comparison of the experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectrum with those calculated by time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). Compounds 1, 4, and 6 displayed weak cytotoxic activity against different human tumour cell lines.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad; AGL2015-63740-C2-2-RMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad; RTC-2016-4611-

Nucleolin promotes in vitro translation of feline calicivirus genomic RNA

AbstractFeline calicivirus depends on host-cell proteins for its replication. We previously showed that knockdown of nucleolin (NCL), a phosphoprotein involved in ribosome biogenesis, resulted in the reduction of FCV protein synthesis and virus yield. Here, we found that NCL may not be involved in FCV binding and entry into cells, but it binds to both ends of the FCV genomic RNA, and stimulates its translation in vitro. AGRO100, an aptamer that specifically binds and inactivates NCL, caused a strong reduction in FCV protein synthesis. This effect could be reversed by the addition of full-length NCL but not by a ΔrNCL, lacking the N-terminal domain. Consistent with this, FCV infection of CrFK cells stably expressing ΔrNCL led to a reduction in virus protein translation. These results suggest that NCL is part of the FCV RNA translational complex, and that the N-terminal part of the protein is required for efficient FCV replication

OBSERVADOR LINEAL PARA FLUJO DE CALOR UTILIZANDO ELEMENTOS FINITOS EN UN INVERNADERO.

ResumenUn problema clásico en la teoría de control es el diseño de una ley de retroalimentación, teniendo el propósito de que la salida de cualquier sistema siga asintóticamente una señal de referencia. En este trabajo, se pretende estimar el flujo de calor ( ) por radiación para un sólido. Se utiliza una figura geométrica con la intención de aproximar las dimensiones a un invernadero, donde bajo el principio de los elementos finitos se calculan algunos  coeficientes de la variable a controlar (temperatura). El control es diseñado por un PID y el flujo de calor mediante la teoría de regulación lineal vía retroalimentación de estados como una solución idónea a nuestro problema ya que se supone la medición de la temperatura (T) con un sensor Termostato Digital XH-W1209 (Sensor tipo NTC 10K). Los actuadores que integraremos en este artículo serán un ventilador y nebulizadores. En esta  investigación se realiza la formalización matemática de esta  teoría y se observa por medio de la simulación de Matlab-Simulink al flujo de calor y la temperatura.Palabra(s) Clave: Elementos finitos, Flujo de calor, Retroalimentación de Estado. LINEAR OBSERVER FOR HEAT FLOW USING FINITE ELEMENTS IN A GREENHOUSEAbstractA Classic problem of the control theory, is the design of a feedback law, it has the purpose of the output of any system follows asymptotically to a reference signal.  In this paper we aim to estimate the flow of heat ( ) by radiation to a solid. A geometric figure is used with the intention of approximated the dimensions to a greenhouse, where some coefficients of the controlled variable (T) are calculated under the principle of finite elements. The control is designed for a PID and the heat flow using the feedback- state lineal theory as an ideal solution to our problem, because we assumed that the temperature is measurement with a sensor Termostato Digital XH-W1209 (Sensor tipo NTC 10K). The actuators that we will integrate in this paper will be a fan and nebulizers. In this investigation we do the mathematical model of this theory and also we see through of simulations in Matlab-Simulink to the heat flow and temperature.      Keyboards: Finite element, Feedback state, Heat flow

Implementación de un sistema para el aprendizaje de lenguajes de programación mediante tutoriales interactivos

Depto. de Sistemas Informáticos y ComputaciónFac. de InformáticaFALSEsubmitte

Es el reimplante valvular mejor que el bentall biológico modificado para tratar aneurismas de la raíz asociados a insuficiencia?

Es el reimplante valvular mejor que el Bentall Biológico Modificado para tratar aneurismas de la raíz asociados a insuficiencia? Obando CE; Gutiérrez HF; Santamaría G, Bresciani R; Camacho J; Sandoval N; Umaña J. Departamento de Cirugía Cardiovascular, Fundación Cardio Infantil, Bogotá, Colombia. Objetivo: comparar resultados funcionales, morbilidad y sobrevida a corto y mediano plazo, tras la realización de Bentall modificado con prótesis Freestyle vs reimplante valvular de Tirone David, en insuficiencia aortica secundaria a aneurisma de la raíz. Diseño: revisión de registros institucionales de 88 pacientes tratados entre enero de 2003 y agosto de 2009 con insuficiencia aortica secundaria a aneurisma de la raíz sin daño valvular, distribuidos en dos cohortes: Grupo 1 (Bentall modificado) y Grupo 2 (reimplante valvular). Se evaluaron complicaciones perioperatorias, transfusiones, estancias hospitalarias y en el seguimiento a mediano plazo insuficiencia valvular, clase funcional, función ventricular y sobrevida. Solidez de los resultados verificada mediante análisis de propensidad con balanceo de grupos. Resultados: Grupo (1) 51(57.9%) pacientes y grupo (2) 37(42.1%). Aunque el grupo 2 es mas joven, patrones similares de coomorbilidad, anatomía de la raíz, función y diámetros ventriculares hacen comparables los dos grupos. Seguimiento de 3.3 años (IQR 2.0-4.4). Mortalidad temprana 2(3.8%) vs 0 p =0.2 y tardía de 2(4.1%) vs 0 p=0.33. El análisis estratificado de covariables en bloques de distribución tampoco identifica diferencias en mortalidad. El análisis de sobrevida de mortalidad y sobrevida libre de eventos identifica desenlaces similares entre los grupos (Log-Rank chi2=0.9, p=0.3); incluyendo Insuficiencia aortica = II temprana (3.8% vs 0, p=0.2) y tardía (3.8%vs 0, p=0.1), transfusiones perioperatorias, reintervenciones por sangrado (2.3% vs 3.4%, p=0.4), arritmias (25.5% vs 13.5%, p=0.2) y disfunción neurológica (5.7% vs 2.9%, p=0.9). Finalmente la hospitalización total (6.5 {1-35} vs 4{3-16} p=0.001) y estancia en Cuidado intensivo (2.5 {1-21} vs 1{1-16} p=0.001) es superior en el grupo1. Conclusiones: el tratamiento de los aneurismas de la raíz aortica asociados a insuficiencia valvular sin daño estructural, mediante reimplante valvular o Bentall biológico modificado ofrece resultados similares a corto y mediano plazo. La preservación valvular se asocia a estancias mas cortas, pero no hay diferencia en complicaciones postoperatorias, estatus funcional, insuficiencia valvular, función ventricular, mortalidad y sobrevida libre de eventos adversos.Compare functional results, Morbility and median and short term survival, after modified Bentall procedure with Freestyle valve vs. Valvular Reimplantation Tirone David, for the aortic valve insufficiency secondary to aortic root aneurysm. DESIGN: Revision of institutional registers of 88 patients treated from January 2003 to august 2009 with aortic insufficiency secondary to aortic root aneurysm without valve damage, distributed in two cohorts: Group 1 (Modified Bentall), Group 2 (Valvular Reimplantation). Perioperative complications were evaluated as well as transfusions, hospitalization days, median term observation for valve insufficiency, functional class, ventricular function and survival. The solidity of the results were verified by propensity analysis with balance of groups. RESULTS: Group (1) 51(57.9%) patients and group (2) 37(42.1%). Although group 2 is younger, similar patterns of comorbility, aortic root anatomy, function and ventricular diameters of both groups make them comparable. Follow up for 3.3 years (IQR 2.0-4.4). Early Mortality 2(3.8%) vs. 0 p =0.2 and late 2(4.1%) vs. 0 p=0.33. The analysis of stratified co variables in blocks of distribution does not identify differences in mortality. The analysis of survival of mortality and survival free of events identifies similar results between the groups (Log-Rank chi2=0.9, p=0.3); including aortic insufficiency = II early (3.8% vs. 0, p=0.2) and late (3.8%vs 0, p=0.1), perioperative transfusions, reinterventions by bleeding (2.3% vs. 3.4%, p=0.4), arrhythmias (25.5% vs. 13.5%, p=0.2), and neurologic dysfunction(5.7% vs. 2.9%, p=0.9). Finally total hospitalization (6.5 {1-35} vs. 4{3-16} p=0.001) and Intensive care staying (2.5 {1-21} vs. 1{1-16} p=0.001) is superior in group 1. CONCLUSIONS: The treatment of aortic root aneurysm associated to aortic valve insufficiency without structural damage, with valve reimplantation or Modified Bentall (Biological) offers similar results. Valve preservation is associated to shorter hospitalization stay, but there is no difference in post operative complications, functional status, valve insufficiency, ventricular function, mortality, and survival free of adverse events

Substrate-induced dimerization of engineered monomeric variants of triosephosphate isomerase from Trichomonas vaginalis

"The dimeric nature of triosephosphate isomerases (TIMs) is maintained by an extensive surface area interface of more than 1600 angstrom 2. TIMs from Trichomonas vaginalis (TvTIM) are held in their dimeric state by two mechanisms: a ball and socket interaction of residue 45 of one subunit that fits into the hydrophobic pocket of the complementary subunit and by swapping of loop 3 between subunits. TvTIMs differ from other TIMs in their unfolding energetics. In TvTIMs the energy necessary to unfold a monomer is greater than the energy necessary to dissociate the dimer. Herein we found that the character of residue I45 controls the dimer-monomer equilibrium in TvTIMs. Unfolding experiments employing monomeric and dimeric mutants led us to conclude that dimeric TvTIMs unfold following a four state model denaturation process whereas monomeric TvTIMs follow a three state model. In contrast to other monomeric TIMs, monomeric variants of TvTIM1 are stable and unexpectedly one of them (I45A) is only 29-fold less active than wild-type TvTIM1. The high enzymatic activity of monomeric TvTIMs contrast with the marginal catalytic activity of diverse monomeric TIMs variants. The stability of the monomeric variants of TvTIM1 and the use of cross-linking and analytical ultracentrifugation experiments permit us to understand the differences between the catalytic activities of TvTIMs and other marginally active monomeric TIMs. As TvTIMs do not unfold upon dimer dissociation, herein we found that the high enzymatic activity of monomeric TvTIM variants is explained by the formation of catalytic dimeric competent species assisted by substrate binding.

Genetic characterization of a reptilian calicivirus (Cro1)

Background: Vesiviruses in the family Caliciviridae infect a broad range of animal hosts including mammals, birds, fish, amphibians and reptiles. The vesivirus Cro1 strains were isolated from diseased snakes in the San Diego zoo in 1978 and reported as the first caliciviruses found in reptiles. The goal of this study was to characterize the Cro1 strain 780032I that was isolated in cell culture from a rock rattlesnake (Crotalus lepidus) in the original outbreak. Results: We re-amplified the original virus stock in Vero cells, and determined its full-length genome sequence. The Cro1 genome is 8296 nucleotides (nt) in length and has a typical vesivirus organization, with three open reading frames (ORF), ORF1 (5643 nt), ORF2 (2121 nt), and ORF3 (348 nt) encoding a nonstructural polyprotein, the major capsid protein precursor, and a minor structural protein, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the full-length genome sequence revealed that the Cro1 virus clustered most closely with the VESV species of the genus Vesivirus, but was genetically distinct (82-83% identities with closest strains). Conclusions: This is the first description of a full-length genome sequence from a reptile calicivirus (Cro1). The availability of the Cro1 genome sequence should facilitate investigation of the molecular mechanisms involved in Cro1 virus evolution and host range