Regulation of DELLA proteins by post-translational modifications

[EN] DELLA proteins are the negative regulators of the gibberellin (GA) signaling pathway. GAs have a pervasive effect on plant physiology, influencing processes that span the entire life cycle of the plant. All the information encoded by GAs, either environmental or developmental in origin, is canalized through DELLAs, which modulate the activity of many transcription factors and transcriptional regulators. GAs unlock the signaling pathway by triggering DELLA polyubiquitination and degradation by the 26S proteasome. Recent reports indicate, however, that there are other pathways that trigger DELLA polyubiquitination and degradation independently of GAs. Moreover, results gathered during recent years indicate that other post-translational modifications (PTMs), namely phosphorylation, SUMOylation and glycosylation, modulate DELLA function. The convergence of several PTMs in DELLA therefore highlights the strict regulation to which these proteins are subject. In this review, we summarize these discoveries and discuss DELLA PTMs from an evolutionary perspective and examine the possibilities these and other post-translational regulations offer to improve DELLA-dependent agronomic traits.The Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (PID2019-109925GB-I00 to D.A.) and the European Union (H2020-MSCA-IF-2016-746396 to A.S.-M.). We acknowledge support of the publication fee by the CSIC Open Access Publication Support Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI).Blanco-Touriñán, N.; Serrano-Mislata, A.; Alabadí Diego, D. (2020). Regulation of DELLA proteins by post-translational modifications. Plant and Cell Physiology. 61(11):1891-1901. https://doi.org/10.1093/pcp/pcaa113S18911901611

Antigens and antibodies of the antiphospholipid syndrome as new allies in the pathogenesis of COVID-19 coagulopathy

High prevalence of both criteria and extra-criteria antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) has been reported in COVID-19 patients. However, the differences in aPL prevalence decreased when an age-matched control group was included. The association of aPL with thrombotic events in COVID-19 is very heterogeneous. This could be influenced by the fact that most of the studies carried out were conducted on small populations enriched with elderly patients in which aPL was measured only at a single point and they were performed with non-standardized assays. The few studies that confirmed aPL in a second measurement showed that aPL levels hardly changed, with the exception of the lupus anticoagulant that commonly reduced. COVID-19 coagulopathy is an aPL-independent phenomenon closely associated with the onset of the disease. Thrombosis occurs later in patients with aPL presence, which is likely an additional prothrombotic factor. B2-glycoprotein deficiency (mainly aPL antigen caused both by low production and consumption) is very common during the SARS-CoV2 infection and has been associated with a greater predisposition to COVID-19 complications. This could be a new prothrombotic mechanism that may be caused by the blockage of its physiological functions, the anticoagulant state being the most important

Application of an oral health-related quality of life questionnaire in primary care patients with orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders

Objectives: To examine whether patients who report orofacial pain (OP) and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) have a poorer perception of their oral health-related quality of life and, if so, to what extent, and to analyze the association between oral health perception, sociodemographic variables and reported pain duration. Study Design: 407 patients treated at the OP and TMD units in the Healthcare District of Cordoba, Spain, diag - nosed following the standard criteria accepted by the scientific community - the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) - were administered the Spanish version of the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (OHIP-14). Bivariate and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the de - gree of association between the patients` OHIP-14 score and pain duration, pain intensity, and various sociode - mographic variables. Results: The observed distribution was 89.4% women and 10.6% men. The mean OHIP-14 score was 20.57 ± 10.73 (mean ± standard deviation). A significant association (p<0.05) was found for gender, age, marital status, chronic pain grade, self-perceived oral health status and pain duration. Conclusions: The analysis of self-perceived oral health status in patients with OP and TMD, as measured by the OHIP-14, showed that oral health is perceived more negatively by women. Moreover, a one-point increase in the Chronic Pain Grade indicator increases the OHIP-14 indicator by 4.6 points, while chronic pain, defined as pain suf - fered by patients for one year or more, increases the OHIP-14 indicator by 3.2 points

Prevalence of the different Axis I clinical subtypes in a sample of patients with orofacial pain and temporomandibular disorders in the Andalusian Healthcare Service

Background: The main objective of this paper is to analyze the prevalence of each of the different clinical subtypes of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in a sample of patients with this pathology. In addition, a second objective was to analyze their distribution according to gender. Material and Methods: To this end, the results of 1603 patients who went to the Unit of Temporomandibular Disorders in the Córdoba Healthcare District because they suffered from this pathology were analyzed. In order to diagnose them, the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders (RDC/TMD) were applied, analyzing the different Axis I subtypes (myopathy, discopathy and arthropathy) and obtaining the combined Axis I for each patient and the relation of all these variables according to gender. The null-hypothesis test confirmed the lack of connection between the gender variable and the different subtypes in the clinical analysis, and between the former and the combined Axis I of the RDC/TMD. Results: The prevalence was high for the muscle disorders subtype in general, showing an 88.7% prevalence, while the presence of discopathies or arthropathies was much lower. Among discopathies, the most frequent ones were disc displacements with reduction, with 39.7% and 42.8% for the left and right temporomandibular joints (TMJ), respectively, while the prevalence of arthropathies was 26.3% for the right TMJ and 32.9% for the left TMJ. The bivariate analysis on the connection with gender reveals a p≥ 0.05 value for the muscle and arthralgia subtypes. Conclusions: The patients seen at the TMD Unit where mostly middle-aged women whose main clinical axis subtype was the muscle disorder subtype. For their part, both discopathies and arthropathies, although present, are much less prevalent

Influence of clinical and psychological variables upon the oral health-related quality of life in patients with temporomandibular disorders

To analyze the association between the OHIP-14 and the different subtypes making up the clinical and psychological axis obtained using the RDC/TMD. 407 patients treated at the TMD unit of the Andalusian Healthcare Service were administered the Spanish version of the Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders questionnaire (RDC/TMD), together with the Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (OHIP-14). The degree of association between the patients? score in the OHIP-14 and the clinical and biopsychosocial variables was analyzed through bivariate and multivariate analyses, specifically through linear regression. 89.4% of the treated patients were women, while 10.6% were men, with an average age of 42.08 ± 14.9 years. The mean score and standard deviation for the OHIP-14 was 20.57 ± 10.73. A significant association (p<0.05) was observed with the following variables: Axis I, jaw disability checklist, depression, somatization, perceived pain duration, and pain interference with activities of daily living. The analysis of the relation between self-perceived health in patients with TMD, as measured by the OHIP-14, showed a R2 of 0.3979, with a higher Beta value for the association between the OHIP and patients with both myofascial pain and arthopathy, jaw disability, depression, a higher pain duration and a higher pain interference with activities of daily living

Pasarela metálica excéntrica suspendida y apoyada en un arco metálico en Orense, España

The article explains the design and project of a steel footbridge, suspended and supported by an eccentric arc, situated in Orense. The footbridge, known as “Bellour”, has a main span of 20 meters, with a leaned steel eccentric arc that supports the deck. The deck was designed with a uniform slope of 8%, due the difference of level between each end. It is suspended from the arc in the Orense side and supported in the other boarder, because of the headway limitations. The deck is 2,80 meters wide. The cross section is composed of a steel eccentric tube with steel cantilever beams, of variable depth, and is joined at the other edge to a small steel tube. The pedestrian zone is narrower than the board, leaving individual empty spaces at both sides, and is constituted by a structural concrete slab of 7 centimeters thick and 2 meters wide, linked to the deck top sheet, with a steel profiles. The board was designed with a structural skeleton, spine shaped, suspended or supported from the arc, and it´s joined to the skin, a rough concrete surface that avoids frost and slides due to the rain.En este artículo se expone el diseño de una pasarela metálica excéntrica suspendida y apoyada en un arco metálico situada en la ciudad de Orense. La pasarela, conocida por «Bellour», tiene un único vano de 20 metros de luz, soportado excéntricamente por un arco metálico inclinado. Las cotas de inicio y fin de la pasarela obligaron a diseñar un tablero inclinado que está suspendido del arco en el lado Orense y apoyado en el otro extremo al permitirlo el gálibo de la carretera. La sección transversal del tablero está formada por un tubo excéntrico del que parten unas ménsulas metálicas de canto variable, unidas en su otro extremo por otro tubo más pequeño. El pavimento de la pasarela, que es más estrecho que el propio tablero, dejando sendos espacios vacíos a ambos lados, está formado por una losa de hormigón armado conectada a una chapa metálica que está soldada a la parte superior de las ménsulas. La geometría del tablero responde al concepto de diseñar una espina resistente, con una plataforma que se puede pisar de hormigón rugoso, de gran adherencia y resistente a las heladas

Oleoylethanolamide restores alcohol-induced inhibition of neuronal proliferation and microglial activity in striatum

Previous findings demonstrate a homeostatic role for oleoylethanolamide (OEA) signaling in the ethanol-related neuroinflammation and behavior. However, extensive research is still required in order to unveil the effects of OEA on a number of neurobiological functions such as adult neurogenesis, cell survival and resident neuroimmunity that become notably altered by alcohol. Daily consumption of ethanol (10%) for 2 weeks (6.3& #x202F;± 1.1 g/kg/day during last 5 days) caused hypolocomotor activity in rats. This effect appears to rely on central signaling mechanisms given that alcohol increased the OEA levels, the gene expression of OEA-synthesizing enzyme Nape-pld and the number of PPARα-immunoreactive neurons in the striatum. Ethanol-related neurobiological alterations such as a reduction in the number of microglial cells expressing iNOS (a cytokine-inducible immune defense) and in adult neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPC) proliferation (phospho-H3 and BrdU) and maturation (BrdU/β3-tubulin), as well as an increase in damage cell activity (FosB) and apoptosis (cleaved caspase 3) were also observed in the rat striatum. Pharmacological administration of OEA (10 mg/kg) for 5 days during ethanol exposure exacerbated ethanol-induced hypolocomotion and cell apoptosis in the striatum. Interestingly, OEA abrogated the impaired effects of ethanol on PPARα-positive cell population and NSPC proliferation and maturation. OEA also decreased astrocyte-related vimentin immunoreactivity and increased microglial cell population (Iba-1, iNOS) in the striatum. These results suggest that OEA-PPARα signaling modulates glial activation, cell apoptosis and NSPC proliferation and maturation in response to striatal-specific neurobiological alterations induced by prolonged ethanol intake in rats.This work was supported by RETICS Red de Trastornos Adictivos, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad and European Regional Development Funds-European Union (ERDF-EU) (RD16/0017/0001); ISCIII, MINECO, ERDF-EU (JS: PI16/01374; FRF: PI16/01698; FJP: PI16/01953; AS: PI17/02026); Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicios Sociales e Igualdad and Plan Nacional sobre Drogas (JS: PNSD2015/047; AS: PND2017/043); Consejería de Economía, Innovación y Ciencia, Junta de Andalucía, ERDF-EU (FRF: CTS-8221); Consejería de Salud, Junta de Andalucía, ERDF-EU (FRF: SAS111224); German Research Foundation DFG (BL: FOR926, project CP1). FJP (CP14/00212) and AS (CP14/00173) are recipients of a research contract from “Miguel Servet” Program of ISCIII, ERDF-EU. JS holds a “Miguel Servet II” research contract from the National System of Health, ISCIII, ERDF-EU, FIMABIS (CPII17/00024). PR holds a “Sara Borrel” research contract from ISCIII, ERDF-EU (CD16/00067)

Pasarela peatonal atirantada en la carretera de acceso a la Universidad de Vigo

This paper deals with the design and the construction of a stayed foot-bridge in Vigo, crosses the main access to the university. The foot-bridge have the shape in plant of one U, suspended from four sets of ties, arranged along the inner side of the deck. The deck is built in a metallic box, which is suspended from the ties. The cantilever of the deck with a variable depth results in a very light structure whose grace can be seen at a glance.En este artículo se expone una pasarela peatonal atirantada, situada en la carretera de acceso a la Universidad de Vigo. La pasarela tiene una planta en forma de U, estando atirantada en su borde interior, formado por un cajón metálico, del que se suspende y en el que se empotra el tablero, constituido por una estructura mixta nervada, de canto variable, muy esbelta

Influence of sociodemographic factors upon pain intensity in patients with temporomandibular joint disorders seen in the primary care setting

Objective: A study is made of the influence of gender, educational level, marital status, income, social support, and perceived general and oral health upon pain intensity in a sample of patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJD) explored in primary care (AP). Design: A review was made of 899 patients from Córdoba Healthcare District (Spain) referred to the primary care TMJD Unit by their primary care physician and/or dentist. Of these subjects, 151 failed to meet the inclusion criteria. The remaining 748 subjects were explored according to the corresponding research diagnostic criteria (RDC/ TMJD). A bivariate analysis was made the association of pain intensity to the demographic and psychological characteristics of the patients, and to perceived general and oral health, followed by a multivariate linear regression analysis to explain pain intensity as a function of the rest of the variables. The SPSS version 19.0 statistical package was used. Results: The patient age ranged from 18-86 years, with a mean of 45.8 years (± 15.8), and a female predominance of 5:1. The characteristic pain intensity (CPI) score was almost 15 points higher on average in women than in men Objective: A study is made of the influence of gender, educational level, marital status, income, social support, and perceived general and oral health upon pain intensity in a sample of patients with temporomandibular joint disorders (TMJD) explored in primary care (AP). Design: A review was made of 899 patients from Córdoba Healthcare District (Spain) referred to the primary care TMJD Unit by their primary care physician and/or dentist. Of these subjects, 151 failed to meet the inclusion criteria. The remaining 748 subjects were explored according to the corresponding research diagnostic criteria (RDC/ TMJD). A bivariate analysis was made the association of pain intensity to the demographic and psychological characteristics of the patients, and to perceived general and oral health, followed by a multivariate linear regression analysis to explain pain intensity as a function of the rest of the variables. The SPSS version 19.0 statistical package was used. Results: The patient age ranged from 18-86 years, with a mean of 45.8 years (± 15.8), and a female predominance of 5:1. The characteristic pain intensity (CPI) score was almost 15 points higher on average in women than in men (p<0.05). A lower educational level, and separation or divorce, were correlated to an increased intensity of pain. Social support, depression and general and oral health also explained part of pain intensity. The regression model established with these variables accounted for 13.3% of the variability of pain (R2 = 0.133). Conclusions: Women suffer more intense pain than men. Perceived health partially explains the variability of the CPI score. However, it is empirically seen that the variables gender, educational level and marital status exert an important and independent influence upon pain intensity