Sphaerococcus coronopifolius bromoterpenes as potential cancer stem celltargeting agents

Cancer is one of the major threats to human health and, due to distinct factors, it is expected that its incidence will increase in the next decades leading to an urgent need of new anticancer drugs development. Ongoing experimental and clinical observations propose that cancer cells with stem-like properties (CSCs) are involved on the development of lung cancer chemoresistance. As tumour growth and metastasis can be controlled by tumourassociated stromal cells, the main goal of this study was to access the antitumor potential of five bromoterpenes isolated from Sphaerococcus coronopifolius red alga to target CSCs originated in a co-culture system of fibroblast and lung malignant cells. Cytotoxicity of compounds (10–500 μM; 72 h) was evaluated on monocultures of several malignant and non-malignant cells lines (HBF, BEAS-2B, RenG2, SC-DRenG2) and the effects estimated by MTT assay. Co-cultures of non-malignant human bronchial fibroblasts (HBF) and malignant human bronchial epithelial cells (RenG2) were implemented and the compounds ability to selectively kill CSCs was evaluated by sphere forming assay. The interleucine-6 (IL-6) levels were also determined as cytokine is crucial for CSCs. Regarding the monocultures results bromosphaerol selectively eliminated the malignant cells. Both 12S-hydroxy-bromosphaerol and 12R-hydroxy-bromosphaerol steroisomers were cytotoxic towards non-malignant bronchial BEAS-2B cell line, IC50 of 4.29 and 4.30 μM respectively. However, none of the steroisomers induced damage in the HBFs. As to the co-cultures, 12R-hydroxy-bromosphaerol revealed the highest cytotoxicity and ability to abrogate the malignant stem cells; however its effects were IL-6 independent. The results presented here are the first evidence of the potential of these bromoterpenes to abrogate CSCs opening new research opportunities. The 12R-hydroxy-bromosphaerol revealed to be the most promising compound to be test in more complex living models.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Reductive nanometric patterning of graphene oxide paper using electron beam lithography

Electron beam lithography (EBL) was used for preparing nanostructured reduced patterns on the GO paper surface, while preserving its mechanical resistance and flexibility. Different EBL parameters, like dose and time of exposure for patterning were tested. SEM analysis showed the consequent increase of contrast of the reduced stripes on the patterned regions due to the increase of electron beam doses. Moreover, surface potential microscopy experiments also exhibited a clear contrast between the patterned and non-patterned regions. Structural analysis of the patterned paper through X-ray diffraction and nanoindentation showed that the interlayer distance between GO sheets decreases after reduction allowing the increase of the Hardness and Young modulus that makes this material able to be manipulated and integrated on different devices. Furthermore, we also observe that exposed areas to electron beam reduction process show an increase in the electrical conductivity up to 3 × 104 times. The developed flexible GO films can have interesting applications such as biosensors or templates for inducing tissue regeneration, by providing a surface with differently patterned cues with contrasting electron mobility. Preliminary in vitro studies with L929 fibroblasts support the cytocompatible nature of this patterned GO paper.Gil Gonçalves thanks the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia for the PostDoc grant (SFRH/BDP/84419/2012). P.A.A.P.M. acknowledge the FCT/MCTES for a research contract under the Program Investigator 2013 (IF/00917/2013/CP1162/CT0016) and TEMA – Centre for Mechanical Technology and Automation (UID/EMS/00481/2013), financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC. I.B. wish to acknowledge the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology for the financial support (grant IF/00582/2015). H·I·S.N. acknowledges CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007679 (FCT Ref. UID/CTM/50011/2013), financed by national funds through the FCT/MEC and when appropriate co-financed by FEDER under the PT2020 Partnership Agreement. The biological studies of this work have been funded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad and the Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (MAT2016-78857-R, MINECO/FEDER, UE). AGM and MCS acknowledge ISCIII-MINECO-FEDER for respective contracts. Authors would like to thank Dr M. Teresa Portolés from the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department at Universidad Complutense de Madrid for the generous supply of L929 fibroblasts. Dr José Ángel Rodríguez and Dr Javier Mazarío from the Service of Microscopy and Image Analysis at the Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos are acknowledged for assistance with CLSM studies and Dr Enrique Rodríguez from the Servicio Interdepartamental de Investigación at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid for SEM studies.info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersio

Estructura de stock de sable negro (Aphanopus carbo Lowe, 1839) en el sur del Atlántico nordeste

Black scabbardfish stock structure is still unknown in European waters where, due to the scarcity of biological information, the ICES considers that there is a single stock unit. This study is the final outcome of a scientific project that applies a holistic approach to research on the population structure of the black scabbardfish and aims to define the most appropriate strategy for the conservation of this resource in southern NE Atlantic waters. The factors studied include life history parameters, otolith shape analysis, parasites, landings-and-effort data and contaminants. Sampling was conducted between 2005 and 2007 in three areas of the southern NE Atlantic: mainland Portugal, Madeira and the Azores. The mainland and the Azores have an established commercial fishery, whereas the Azores has only an exploratory fishery. The majority of results indicated the existence of different stocks of black scabbardfish in the study area. Of the 8 parameters, 6 were in agreement with separate stocks between the mainland and Madeira, 5 were in agreement with separate stocks between the mainland and the Azores, and 4 were in agreement with separate stocks between Madeira and the Azores.La estructura de la población de sable negro en las aguas europeas es todavía desconocida y, debido a la escasez de la información biológica disponible, ICES ha considerado una sola unidad de stock en la totalidad de dichas aguas. El proyecto que originó este estudio es un trabajo integrado para investigar la estructura poblacional de sable negro y pretende definir la estrategia más apropiada para la conservación de este recurso en aguas del sur del Atlántico nordeste. Para cumplir con el objetivo del proyecto se llevaron a cabo varios estudios: determinación de parámetros que definen el ciclo vital, análisis de forma del otolito, parásitos, datos de desembarques y esfuerzo pesquero, y contaminantes. El muestreo fue realizado entre 2005 y 2007 en tres áreas del sur del Atlántico nordeste: Portugal continental, aguas de Madeira y Azores. Las dos primeras áreas tienen una pesquería comercial establecida, mientras que en Azores existe una pesquería exploratoria. La mayoría de los resultados concluyeron la existencia de diferentes unidades poblacionales del sable negro en el área sur del Atlántico nordeste. Seis de los ocho parámetros confirman la separación entre los individuos del continente y Madeira, mientras que 5 parámetros corroboran la separación entre el continente y Azores. Solamente 4 técnicas corroboran la separación entre Madeira y Azores

Myoglobinopathy is an adult-onset autosomal dominant myopathy with characteristic sarcoplasmic inclusions

Myoglobin, encoded by MB, is a small cytoplasmic globular hemoprotein highly expressed in cardiac myocytes and oxidative skeletal myofibers. Myoglobin binds O-2, facilitates its intracellular transport and serves as a controller of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species. Here, we identify a recurrent c.292C>T ( p.His98Tyr) substitution in MB in fourteen members of six European families suffering from an autosomal dominant progressive myopathy with highly characteristic sarcoplasmic inclusions in skeletal and cardiac muscle. Myoglobinopathy manifests in adulthood with proximal and axial weakness that progresses to involve distal muscles and causes respiratory and cardiac failure. Biochemical characterization reveals that the mutant myoglobin has altered O-2 binding, exhibits a faster heme dissociation rate and has a lower reduction potential compared to wild-type myoglobin. Preliminary studies show that mutant myoglobin may result in elevated superoxide levels at the cellular level. These data define a recognizable muscle disease associated with MB mutation.Peer reviewe

Defining Chlorophyll-a Reference Conditions in European Lakes

The concept of “reference conditions” describes the benchmark against which current conditions are compared when assessing the status of water bodies. In this paper we focus on the establishment of reference conditions for European lakes according to a phytoplankton biomass indicator—the concentration of chlorophyll-a. A mostly spatial approach (selection of existing lakes with no or minor human impact) was used to set the reference conditions for chlorophyll-a values, supplemented by historical data, paleolimnological investigations and modelling. The work resulted in definition of reference conditions and the boundary between “high” and “good” status for 15 main lake types and five ecoregions of Europe: Alpine, Atlantic, Central/Baltic, Mediterranean, and Northern. Additionally, empirical models were developed for estimating site-specific reference chlorophyll-a concentrations from a set of potential predictor variables. The results were recently formulated into the EU legislation, marking the first attempt in international water policy to move from chemical quality standards to ecological quality targets

Artistas sobre outras obras

Alternativas. A perspetiva sobre a produção artística tem vindo a ganhar nitidez, contornos e ao mesmo tempo novas difusões, desde que em 2010 a revista Estúdio começou a sua publicação. Abre-se um campo de contactos e de autorias que se afirma como um circuito alternativo aos mecanismos hegemónicos de legitimação. Tem-se vindo a afirmar uma produção ensaística sobre artistas emergentes, oriundos das novas potências criativas. A proposta tem sido consequente e perseguida de modo sustentado; surgem novas ligações, ano após ano. Os autores dos países de língua portuguesa e espanhola tomam conhecimento alargado, não do convencionalismo eurocêntrico do grande mercado, mas das alternativas discursivas no mundo.Esta é uma alternativa, uma instância de afirmação, uma concretização para uma perspetiva inovadora e criadora, congregadora e geradora de pensamento crítico.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Structure and non-structure of centrosomal proteins

Here we perform a large-scale study of the structural properties and the expression of proteins that constitute the human Centrosome. Centrosomal proteins tend to be larger than generic human proteins (control set), since their genes contain in average more exons (20.3 versus 14.6). They are rich in predicted disordered regions, which cover 57% of their length, compared to 39% in the general human proteome. They also contain several regions that are dually predicted to be disordered and coiled-coil at the same time: 55 proteins (15%) contain disordered and coiled-coil fragments that cover more than 20% of their length. Helices prevail over strands in regions homologous to known structures (47% predicted helical residues against 17% predicted as strands), and even more in the whole centrosomal proteome (52% against 7%), while for control human proteins 34.5% of the residues are predicted as helical and 12.8% are predicted as strands. This difference is mainly due to residues predicted as disordered and helical (30% in centrosomal and 9.4% in control proteins), which may correspond to alpha-helix forming molecular recognition features (α-MoRFs). We performed expression assays for 120 full-length centrosomal proteins and 72 domain constructs that we have predicted to be globular. These full-length proteins are often insoluble: Only 39 out of 120 expressed proteins (32%) and 19 out of 72 domains (26%) were soluble. We built or retrieved structural models for 277 out of 361 human proteins whose centrosomal localization has been experimentally verified. We could not find any suitable structural template with more than 20% sequence identity for 84 centrosomal proteins (23%), for which around 74% of the residues are predicted to be disordered or coiled-coils. The three-dimensional models that we built are available at http://ub.cbm.uam.es/centrosome/models/index.php

Model del Programa d’atenció domiciliària (ATDOM) de l’atenció primària i comunitària (APiC)

Atenció domiciliària; Atenció primària i comunitària; Cartera de serveisHome care; Primary and community care; Portfolio of servicesAtención domiciliaria; Atención primaria y comunitaria; Cartera de serviciosAquest document defineix les bases del Programa d’atenció domiciliària (ATDOM) de l’atenció primària i comunitària a Catalunya: els principis en els quals s’inspira, la cartera de serveis, uns elements clau en la prestació i els resultats esperats, el seguiment i l’avaluació

Distribution of infectious and parasitic agents among three sentinel bee species across European agricultural landscapes

Infectious and parasitic agents (IPAs) and their associated diseases are major environmental stressors that jeopardize bee health, both alone and in interaction with other stressors. Their impact on pollinator communities can be assessed by studying multiple sentinel bee species. Here, we analysed the field exposure of three sentinel managed bee species (Apis mellifera, Bombus terrestris and Osmia bicornis) to 11 IPAs (six RNA viruses, two bacteria, three microsporidia). The sentinel bees were deployed at 128 sites in eight European countries adjacent to either oilseed rape fields or apple orchards during crop bloom. Adult bees of each species were sampled before their placement and after crop bloom. The IPAs were detected and quantified using a harmonised, high-throughput and semi-automatized qPCR workflow. We describe differences among bee species in IPA profiles (richness, diversity, detection frequencies, loads and their change upon field exposure, and exposure risk), with no clear patterns related to the country or focal crop. Our results suggest that the most frequent IPAs in adult bees are more appropriate for assessing the bees' IPA exposure risk. We also report positive correlations of IPA loads supporting the potential IPA transmission among sentinels, suggesting careful consideration should be taken when introducing managed pollinators in ecologically sensitive environments