Pollination in Nicotiana alata stimulates synthesis and transfer to the stigmatic surface of NaStEP, a vacuolar Kunitz proteinase inhibitor homologue

After landing on a wet stigma, pollen grains hydrate and germination generally occurs. However, there is no certainty of the pollen tube growth through the style to reach the ovary. The pistil is a gatekeeper that evolved in many species to recognize and reject the self-pollen, avoiding endogamy and encouraging cross-pollination. However, recognition is a complex process, and specific factors are needed. Here the isolation and characterization of a stigma-specific protein from N. alata, NaStEP (N. alata Stigma Expressed Protein), that is homologous to Kunitz-type proteinase inhibitors, are reported. Activity gel assays showed that NaStEP is not a functional serine proteinase inhibitor. Immunohistochemical and protein blot analyses revealed that NaStEP is detectable in stigmas of self-incompatible (SI) species N. alata, N. forgetiana, and N. bonariensis, but not in self-compatible (SC) species N. tabacum, N. plumbaginifolia, N. benthamiana, N. longiflora, and N. glauca. NaStEP contains the vacuolar targeting sequence NPIVL, and immunocytochemistry experiments showed vacuolar localization in unpollinated stigmas. After self-pollination or pollination with pollen from the SC species N. tabacum or N. plumbaginifolia, NaStEP was also found in the stigmatic exudate. The synthesis and presence in the stigmatic exudate of this protein was strongly induced in N. alata following incompatible pollination with N. tabacum pollen. The transfer of NaStEP to the stigmatic exudate was accompanied by perforation of the stigmatic cell wall, which appeared to release the vacuolar contents to the apoplastic space. The increase in NaStEP synthesis after pollination and its presence in the stigmatic exudates suggest that this protein may play a role in the early pollen–stigma interactions that regulate pollen tube growth in Nicotiana

Mechanism of vascular toxicity in rats subjected to treatment with a tyrosine kinase inhibitor

Sunitinib (Su) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor with antiangiogenic and antineoplastic effects that is recommended therapy for renal cell carcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Arterial hypertension is one of the adverse effects observed in the treatment with Su. The aim of this work was to deepen our understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in the development of this side effect. Studies on endothelial function, vascular remodeling and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH oxidase) system were carried out in thoracic aortas from rats treated with Su for three weeks. Animals subjected to Su treatment presented with increased blood pressure and reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilation, the latter being reverted by NADPH oxidase blockade. Furthermore, vascular remodeling and stronger Masson trichrome staining, together with enhanced immunofluorescence signal for collagen 1 alpha 1 (Col1ff1), were observed in aortas from treated animals. These results were accompanied by a significant elevation in superoxide anion production and the activity/protein/gene expression of NADPH oxidase isoforms (NOX1, NOX2, and NOX4), which was also prevented by NOX inhibition. Furthermore, a decrease in nitric oxide (NO) levels and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation was observed in aortas from Su-treated animals. All these results indicate that endothelial dysfunction secondary to changes in vascular remodeling and oxidative stress might be responsible for the typical arterial hypertension that develops following treatment with Su.Junta de Andalucía 2017/44

Sentido social del hábitat. IV Congreso sobre Arquitectura y Cooperación al Desarrollo: libro de resúmenes

Resúmenes del IV Congreso sobre Arquitectura y Cooperación al Desarrollo, celebrado los días 29 y 30 de septiembre de 2016 en A Coruña

Una perspectiva multidisciplinaria

Derivado de la necesidad de fomentar la investigación multidisciplinaria, la Facultad de Economía de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México llevó a cabo los días 8 y 9 de septiembre de 2016, el VIII Coloquio de Investigación intitulado “Desarrollo económico, regional y sustentable”. En este magno evento se presentaron 36 ponencias agrupadas en cinco mesas de trabajo: sectores productivos, crecimiento económico y mercado de trabajo; tecnología, innovación y organizaciones; desigualdad regional, pobreza y migración; economía financiera e internacional; y medio ambiente y sociedad. Del material expuesto en el VIII Coloquio, se eligieron 16 investigaciones, mismas que integran este libro. Los estudios presentados en cada uno de los subsiguientes capítulos fueron seleccionados de acuerdo a un proceso de rigurosidad científica, siendo sometidos a dictamen por pares ciegos a partir de la integración de un Comité Académico de expertos. Lo anterior con la finalidad de proporcionar al lector un material de investigación de calidad y solidez científica respecto a temas de trascendencia vinculados con los sectores productivos, la innovación, las organizaciones, la responsabilidad social, la desigualdad, la educación y el medioambiente.Consecuencia de la apertura de los mercados y los preceptos competitivos dictados por la globalización, se manifiesta la necesidad de vincular los diversos saberes provenientes de las ciencias naturales y sociales, con el fin de complementar el conocimiento y generar nuevas formas de visualizar el entorno. A raíz de ello, la investigación multidisciplinaria asume un papel cada vez más importante en los círculos académicos, empresariales y gubernamentales. En este marco, entra en desuso la visualización del individuo como un sujeto atomístico desvinculado del medio ambiente que le rodea. El objetivo de este libro es otorgar una visión multidisciplinaria al estudio de temas económicos incorporando visiones teóricas y empíricas procedentes de las ciencias sociales y naturales. La obra está compuesta por 16 capítulos agrupados en cuatro secciones. La primera parte, conglomera cinco capítulos en torno a los tópicos sectores productivos y crecimiento económico.Facultad de Economía. Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Méxic

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

Respuesta de la soya (Glycine max) a la deficiencia de fosfato

El fósforo es uno de los principales nutrimentos requeridos por las plantas, pero también es uno de los elementos menos disponible en los suelos. La forma de fósforo asimilada por las plantas es como iones ortofosfato H2PO4 - y HPO4 2- (Pi), pero su concentración rara vez excede 10 µM; por tanto, las plantas están expuestas a una deficiencia continua de Pi. No se encontraron reportes que describan los cambios que ocurren en plantas de soya (Glycine max) ante la deficiencia de Pi. Por ello, este trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar la respuesta de la soya ante la deficiencia de Pi. En la variedad de soya Tapachula 86 en un medio con Pi o diferentes deficiencias de Pi, no cambió el crecimiento de la raíz, pero se detuvo el crecimiento del vástago. La actividad de las fosfatasas ácidas secretadas en plantas desarrolladas en ausencia de fosfato (-Pi) se incrementó casi diez veces, mientras que en los otros tratamientos de deficiencia sólo aumentó entre cuatro y cinco veces. La cantidad de Pi fue mayor en los tratamientos de ácido fítico y fosfato de aluminio, lo que sugiere que las plantas de soya también producen fitasas y ácidos orgánicos que ayudan a movilizar el Pi. Sin embargo, estas adaptaciones no fueron suficientes para promover el crecimiento normal de las plantas

Mechanism of Vascular Toxicity in Rats Subjected to Treatment with a Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor

Sunitinib (Su) is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor with antiangiogenic and antineoplastic effects that is recommended therapy for renal cell carcinoma, gastrointestinal stromal tumors, and pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. Arterial hypertension is one of the adverse effects observed in the treatment with Su. The aim of this work was to deepen our understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in the development of this side effect. Studies on endothelial function, vascular remodeling and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase (NADPH oxidase) system were carried out in thoracic aortas from rats treated with Su for three weeks. Animals subjected to Su treatment presented with increased blood pressure and reduced endothelium-dependent vasodilation, the latter being reverted by NADPH oxidase blockade. Furthermore, vascular remodeling and stronger Masson trichrome staining, together with enhanced immunofluorescence signal for collagen 1 alpha 1 (Col1α1), were observed in aortas from treated animals. These results were accompanied by a significant elevation in superoxide anion production and the activity/protein/gene expression of NADPH oxidase isoforms (NOX1, NOX2, and NOX4), which was also prevented by NOX inhibition. Furthermore, a decrease in nitric oxide (NO) levels and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation was observed in aortas from Su-treated animals. All these results indicate that endothelial dysfunction secondary to changes in vascular remodeling and oxidative stress might be responsible for the typical arterial hypertension that develops following treatment with Su.This study was supported by Junta de Andalucía - Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad (2017/440). We thank Centro de Innovación, Tecnología e Innovación de la Universidad de Sevilla (CITIUS, Servicio de Biología y Microscopía) for technical support. This study was supported by Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de Economía, Conocimiento, Empresas y Universidad (2017/440). C.R.-G. was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades, Ayudas para la Promoción de Empleo Joven e Implantación de la Garantía Juvenil en I+D+i 2017-2020 (PEJ2018-004474-A). A.S.-G. is the recipient of an FPU predoctoral fellowship from Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (FPU17/03465)