Estudio de algunos haploxerolles de la provincia de Murcia

This paper gives account of the results obtained on the macromorphological, analytical and rninerailogical study of three representative HAPLOXEROLLS from the province of Murcia (Spain). They show an A-B-C profile, with an A horizon reaching 40-50 cm in depth, and enough organic matter content to be a moUic epipedon. Taking into account the variations of the organic mater and equivalen calcium carbonate contents with depth, the fluventic characteristics of the profile are evidents. Calcareous from the surface, these soiis are saturated, being calcium the dominant exchangeáble catión. The heavy mineral fraction from the fine sand is made up by resistant minerals with tourmaline as the main component, making up several associations with other minerals. The clay fraction shows a rather complex mineralogical composition, with illite and caolinite as the main components and vermiculite, chlorite, smectites, quartz and athapulgite in minor amounts.En el presente trabajo se da cuenta del estudio macromorfalógico, analítico y mineralógico de tres perfiles de suelos representativos de HAPLOXEROLLES de la provincia de Murcia. Se trata de suelos con perfil A-B-C, en los que el horizonte A alcanza profundidades de 40 a 50 cm o más, con contenidos en materia orgánica suficientes para ser epipedon móllico, y se ponen en evidencia las características fluvénticas de los perfiles, dadas las variaciones que sufren en profundidad tanto los contenidos en materia orgánica como en carbonato calcico equivalente. Calizos desde la superficie, son suelos totalmente saturados en bases, siendo el calcio el catión dominante en el complejo de cambio. La fracción pesada de Ja arena fina está constituida por minerales resistentes entre los que predomina la turmalina, que forma diversas asociaciones con otros minerales. La fracción arcilla posee una composición mineralógica bastante compleja, con ilita, caolinita, vermicuilita, clorita, smectitas, cuarzo y en ocasiones atapulgita, pero, en general, es bastante similar en los distintos perfiles estudiados

Genetic variability in grapevine clones of 'Muscat of Alexandria'

[EN] Among grapevine cultivars, the `Muscat¿ family includes several widespread types that share a characteristic pronounced floral aroma and a typical `Muscat¿ flavor. `Muscat blanc à petits grains¿ and `Muscat of Alexandria¿ are the most representative and ancient cultivars. The grapevine cultivar `Muscat of Alexandria¿ is of great importance within the Valencia and Vinos de Alicante PDOs (Protected Designations of Origin, a prestigious Spanish regional product classification). Fruits from these cultivars are the basis of various appreciated wines, also being consumed as table grapes or used for raisin production. We used a set of selected simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to confirm the identity of different clones of `Muscat of Alexandria¿, some of them showing differential ampelographic traits. Additionally, we found intravarietal genetic variability using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Now, more accurate genotyping has been conducted by GBS (genotyping by sequencing). The GBS generated 2-4 million reads per sample, 85% of which were mapped to the reference genome developed by the French-Italian consortium (Vitis vinifera IGGP 12×). Around 40,000 SNPs were identified, with a coverage greater than 10×. Polymorphisms between and within the analyzed clones were found. Experimental validations of the identified SNPs will provide markers to fingerprint these clones accurately. They will be also suitable for association studies or to develop molecular markers useful in selection programs.This study was partially supported by project PRPCGL2015-70843-R co-funded with FEDER Funds.Esteras Gómez, C.; Peiró Barber, RM.; Soler, J.; Martínez-Gil, F.; Ruiz, J.; Picó Sirvent, MB.; Gisbert Domenech, MC. (2019). Genetic variability in grapevine clones of 'Muscat of Alexandria'. Acta Horticulturae. 1248:77-80. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2019.1248.11S7780124

The Puzzling Stability of Monatomic Gold Wires

We have examined theoretically the spontaneous thinning process of tip-suspended nanowires, and subsequently studied the structure and stability of the monatomic gold wires recently observed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The methods used include thermodynamics, classical many-body force simulations, Local Density (LDA) and Generalized Gradient (GGA) electronic structure calculations as well as ab-initio simulations including the two tips. The wire thinning is well explained in terms of a thermodynamic tip suction driving migration of surface atoms from the wire to the tips. For the same reason the monatomic wire becomes progressively stretched. Surprisingly, however, all calculations so far indicate that the stretched monatomic gold wire should be unstable against breaking, contrary to the apparent experimental stability. The possible reasons for the observed stability are discussed.Comment: 4 figure

Single-channel transmission in gold one-atom contacts and chains

We induce superconductivity by proximity effect in thin layers of gold and study the number of conduction channels which contribute to the current in one-atom contacts and atomic wires. The atomic contacts and wires are fabricated with a Scanning Tunneling Microscope. The set of transmission probabilities of the conduction channels is obtained from the analysis of the $I(V)$ characteristic curve which is highly non-linear due to multiple Andreev reflections. In agreement with theoretical calculations we find that there is only one channel which is almost completely open.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. To be published in Phys. Rev. B, Rapid Communications (2003

HTLV-1 infection in solid organ transplant donors and recipients in Spain

Background: HTLV-1 infection is a neglected disease, despite infecting 10–15 million people worldwide and severe illnesses develop in 10% of carriers lifelong. Acknowledging a greater risk for developing HTLV-1 associated illnesses due to immunosuppression, screening is being widely considered in the transplantation setting. Herein, we report the experience with universal HTLV testing of donors and recipients of solid organ transplants in a survey conducted in Spain. Methods: All hospitals belonging to the Spanish HTLV network were invited to participate in the study. Briefly, HTLV antibody screening was performed retrospectively in all specimens collected from solid organ donors and recipients attended since the year 2008. Results: A total of 5751 individuals were tested for HTLV antibodies at 8 sites. Donors represented 2312 (42.2%), of whom 17 (0.3%) were living kidney donors. The remaining 3439 (59.8%) were recipients. Spaniards represented nearly 80%. Overall, 9 individuals (0.16%) were initially reactive for HTLV antibodies. Six were donors and 3 were recipients. Using confirmatory tests, HTLV-1 could be confirmed in only two donors, one Spaniard and another from Colombia. Both kidneys of the Spaniard were inadvertently transplanted. Subacute myelopathy developed within 1 year in one recipient. The second recipient seroconverted for HTLV-1 but the kidney had to be removed soon due to rejection. Immunosuppression was stopped and 3 years later the patient remains in dialysis but otherwise asymptomatic. Conclusion: The rate of HTLV-1 is low but not negligible in donors/recipients of solid organ transplants in Spain. Universal HTLV screening should be recommended in all donor and recipients of solid organ transplantation in Spain. Evidence is overwhelming for very high virus transmission and increased risk along with the rapid development of subacute myelopath

Rapid subacute myelopathy following kidney transplantation from HTLV-1 donors: role of immunosuppresors and failure of antiretrovirals

Two kidney transplant recipients from a single donor became infected with HTLV-1 (human T-lymphotropic virus type 1) in Spain. One developed myelopathy 8 months following surgery despite early prescription of antiretroviral therapy. The allograft was removed from the second recipient at month 8 due to rejection and immunosuppressors discontinued. To date, 3 years later, this patient remains infected but asymptomatic. HTLV-1 infection was recognized retrospectively in the donor, a native Spaniard who had sex partners from endemic regions. Our findings call for a reappraisal of screening policies on donor-recipient organ transplantation. Based on the high risk of disease development and the large flux of persons from HTLV-1 endemic regions, pre-transplant HTLV-1 testing should be mandatory in Spain

Prognostic value of apoptosis in breast cancer (pT1-pT2). A TUNEL, p53, bcl-2, bag-1 and Bax immunohistochemical study

Apoptosis or programmed cell death produces cells breaking into several fragments of nuclei, cytoplasm or both nuclei and cytoplasm, known as apoptotic bodies which can be visualized in haematoxylin-eosin staining. Some genes (promoters and suppressors) control this process and certain mutations may induce the expression of abnormal proteins, which can be detected by immunohistochemical staining. Apoptosis can be detected by the TUNEL method either identifying apoptotic bodies or cells at the initial stages of the fragmentation process. We have studied 186 cases of infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma, stages pT1-pT2, and analysed the prognostic significance of tumour recurrence and overall survival of apoptotic index (AI) through univariate and multivariate analysis. We have also studied the immunohistochemical protein expression of apoptosis promoter and suppressors gene (p53, nuclear expression; bcl-2 and Bax, cytoplasm expression; BAG-1, nuclear and cytoplasm expression). The results indicate prognostic significance of p53 and bcl-2 related to patient death and bcl-2 and tumour size to tumour recurrence, bcl-2 acting as a protector factor (apoptotic suppressor) in both situations. On the other hand, we have not found useful prognostic information of AI either to tumour recurrence or overall survival in univariate or multivariate studies. In this study, Bax expression does not provide a new prognostic role in breast carcinoma, although it contrasts to the bcl-2 action and accelerates death

Hormonal receptors, cell proliferation fraction Ki-67 and c-erbB-2 amplification in breast cancer. Relationship between differentiation degree and ...

In view of the limitations of conventional prognostic factors such as differentiation degree, metastatic lymph nodes, hormonal receptors and others, especially when early lesions are found, additional new markers have been studied, such as gene amplification and cell proliferation index, in order to choose the appropriate treatment. Primary breast carcinoma tumors from 97 patients were examined for differentiation degree, metastatic lymph nodes, hormonal receptors, c-erbB-2 amplification and cell proliferation index (Ki-67). A negative relationship with hormonal receptors and c-erbB-2 amplification, Ki-67 and differentiation degree was found, whereas the relationship between c-erb13-2, Ki-67 and differentiation degree was positive. No relationship was found between these factors and metastatic lymph nodes. The concurrence of high cell proliferation index, cerbB- 2 amplification and negative hormonal receptor presence would indicate a subpopulation with a high risk of recurrence. But a larger survival study is necessary to correlate these factors with clinical outcome

p53 in breast cancer. Its relation to histological grade, lymph-node status, hormone receptors, cell-proliferation fraction (ki-67) and c-erbB-2. Immunohistochemical study of 153 cases

The mutation of the p53 gene is a common phenomenon in numerous human tumors, leading to the accumulation of nonfunctioning p53 protein in the cell nucleus, which can be detected by immunohistochemistry. In breast cancer, it has been suggested that the overexpression of p53 protein in the nucleus is an indicator of poor prognosis, which must be borne in mind in selecting coadjuvant treatment for each patient. This study is an immunohistochemical analysis of p53 expression in 153 cases of mammary carcinoma, correlating it with histological grade, axillary node status, hormone receptors, cell-proliferation fraction and expression of the c-erbB-2 oncoprotein. Of al1 the breast-cancer tissue analyzed, 43.79% was positive for p53. The overexpression of this protein bears a direct statistically significant relationship to histological grade, cell-proliferation fraction and c-erbB- 2, and an inverse relationship to estrogen and progesterone receptors. No statistically significant relationship was found with axillary node status. The expression of p53 in poorly differentiated tumors-commonly receptor negative and with a high proliferation fraction-may indicate greater tumor agressiveness and a high risk of relapse

Caspase-3 and caspase-6 in ductal breast carcinoma: a descriptive study

Caspases are the main point in the apoptotic process. We have collected some information from 210 cases of Ductal breast cancer (pT1 - pT2) such as tumour size, histological differentiation degree, lymph node status and tumor necrosis in the infiltrating component and we have evaluated the number of apoptotic cells or bodies by TUNEL technique as well as immunohistochemical studies to evaluate the expression of caspase 3 and caspase 6, and proliferation index. Our results show that lymph node status and cell atypism are independent prognostic factors for recurrence and mortality and only tumour size is an independent prognostic factor for recurrence. However, the apoptotic index and the immunohistochemical expression of caspases and cell proliferation index have not turned out to be independent prognostic factors neither for recurrence nor mortality. These results show that classic prognostic factors known until now are the most important factors to predict the evolution of the illness