Exosomes in Bone Sarcomas: Key Players in Metastasis

Bone sarcomas are rare cancers which often present with metastatic disease and are still associated with poor survival rates. Studies in the last decade have identified that exosomes, a type of extracellular vesicle released by cells, play an important role in tumour progression and dissemination. Through the transfer of their cargo (RNAs, proteins, and lipids) across cells, they are involved in cellular cross-talk and can induce changes in cellular behaviour. Exosomes have been shown to be important in metastasis organotropism, induction of angiogenesis and vascular permeability, the education of cells towards a pro-metastatic phenotype or the interaction between stromal and tumour cells. Due to the importance exosomes have in disease progression and the high incidence of metastasis in bone sarcomas, recent studies have evaluated the implications of these extracellular vesicles in bone sarcomas. In this review, we discuss the studies that evaluate the role of exosomes in osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and preliminary data on chondrosarcoma

Envejeciendo en un mundo cambiante. El entorno rural una nueva realidad social

Els entorns rurals catalans es caracteritzen per tenir un percentatge de població major elevat. Aquesta població es troba en un procés de canvi tant a nivell poblacional com de valors i dinàmiques socials. L'arribada dels "de fora" implica la necessitat de "construir un nucli de coneixements compartits", que dificulta la continuïtat de la vida quotidiana basada en les relacions "cara-cara" que ja existeixen i en significats compartits construïts socialment. Es van fer entrevistes en profunditat a experts, professionals, i gent gran, i dos grups focals de professionals i agents socials significatius. Amb un total de 53 participants. En els resultats s'identifiquen els moviments de població que contribueixen al canvi de les dinàmiques socials i, es defineix l'impacte d'aquest canvi en les persones grans. Els resultats també mostren els moviments de població més significatius per a la gent gran estudiades i els canvis en les dinàmiques socials percebudes per elles.Catalan rural areas are characterized for having a high percentage of aging population. Rural population is changing in its demography as well as in its values and social dynamics. The “outsiders” arrival implies the need of " building a nucleus of shared meanings", that complicates the continuity of the everyday life based on "face to face" relationships that already exist and in shared meanings socially built. In-depth Interviews to experts, professionals, and older people and two focal groups of professionals and significant social agents were conducted, with a total of 53 participants. In the results section movements of population contributing to the change of the social dynamics are identified and the impact of this social change in older people is defined. Results also show the most significant movements of population for the older people studied and the changes in the social dynamics perceived by them.Los entornos rurales catalanes se caracterizan por tener un porcentaje de población mayor elevado. Esta población se encuentra en un proceso de cambio tanto a nivel poblacional como de valores y dinámicas sociales. La llegada de los “de fuera” implica la necesidad de "construir un núcleo de conocimientos compartidos", que dificulta la continuidad de la vida cotidiana basada en las relaciones "cara-cara" que ya existen y en significados compartidos construidos socialmente. Se hicieron entrevistas en profundidad a expertos, profesionales, y personas mayores, y dos grupos focales de profesionales y agentes sociales significativos. Con un total de 53 participantes. En los resultados se identifican los movimientos de población que contribuyen al cambio de las dinámicas sociales y, se define el impacto de este cambio en las personas mayores. Los resultados también muestran los movimientos de población más significativos para las personas mayores estudiadas y los cambios en las dinámicas sociales percibidas por ellas

El proceso de reconstrucción de la identidad de las personas afectadas de una paraplejia o tetraplejia

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is perceived as a source of biographical disruption, not only at a physical level but also in terms of people’s life stories, their motivation and their self-esteem. The aim of this study is to explore the factors that people with spinal cord injuries perceive as contributing to rebuilding their sense of self. Two focus groups were established from the SCI community, one of which was made up of 14 people with paraplegia and theother of 9 people with tetraplegia. In addition, four individual interviews were conducted with the participants. The results of content analysis show that the two most prominent factors in the process of identity renegotiation are the partial transformation of the subject’s identity followed by a coming to terms with that new identity. To rebuild self-worth, the importance of finding a balance between change and continuity was identified. Renegotiation of identity after a spinal cord injury is a complex phenomenon that greatly influences the SCI individual’s quality of life perceptions. Reaching a balance between the changes experienced due to the injury and finding a sense of continuity can be either facilitated or obstructed by the economic, political, legal, architectural,and social context.La adquisición de una lesión medular es percibida como una disrupción biográfica no solo a nivel físico sino también a nivel biográfico, de intereses y valores. El objetivo de este estudio ha sido explorar los factores que contribuyen en la redefinición de la identidad en personas con lesión medular. Se realizaron dos grupos de discusión y cuatro entrevistas individuales con 14 personas con paraplejia y 9 personas con tetraplejia de la comunidad. Se realizó un análisis de contenido. Los resultados muestran que los principales factores en el proceso de renegociación de la identidad son la transformación parcial de la identidad y la definición de una nueva identidad. Hemos identificado la importancia de encontrar un equilibrio entre el cambio y la continuidad en la reconstrucción de un yo satisfactorio. Concluimos que la renegociación de la identidad después de una lesión medular es un fenómeno complejo que influencia la percepción de calidad de vida. El proceso para alcanzarun equilibrio entre los cambios experimentados y el sentido de continuidad está influido por el contexto económico, político, legal, arquitectónicoy social

CT scan exposure in Spanish children and young adults by socioeconomic status: Cross-sectional analysis of cohort data

Recent publications reported that children in disadvantaged areas undergo more CT scanning than others. The present study is aimed to assess the potential differences in CT imaging by socioeconomic status (SES) in Spanish young scanned subjects and if such differences vary with different indicators or different time point SES measurements. The associations between CT scanning and SES, and between the CT scan rate per patient and SES were investigated in the Spanish EPI-CT subcohort. Various SES indicators were studied to determine whether particular SES dimensions were more closely related to the probability of undergoing one or multiple CTs. Comparisons were made with indices based on 2001 and 2011 censuses. We found evidence of socio-economic variation among young people, mainly related to autonomous communities of residence. A slightly higher rate of scans per patient of multiple body parts in the less affluent categories was observed, possibly reflecting a higher rate of accidents and violence in these groups. The number of CT scans per patient was higher both in the most affluent and the most deprived categories and somewhat lower in the intermediate groups. This relation varied with the SES indicator used, with lower CT scans per patients in categories of high unemployment and temporary work, but not depending on categories of unskilled work or illiteracy. The relationship between these indicators and number of CTs in 2011 was different than that seen with the 2001 census, with the number of CTs increasing with higher unemployment. Overall we observed some differences in the SES distribution of scanned patients by Autonomous Community in Spain. There was, however, no major differences in the frequency of CT scans per patient by SES overall, based on the 2001 census. The use of different indicators and of SES data collected at different time points led to different relations between SES and frequency of CT scans, outlining the difficulty of adequately capturing the social and economic dimensions which may affect health and health service utilisation

Relationship Between Biofilm Formation and Antimicrobial Resistance in Gram-Negative Bacteria

Gram-negative microorganisms are a significant cause of infection in both community and nosocomial settings. The increase, emergence, and spread of antimicrobial resistance among bacteria are the most important health problems worldwide. One of the mechanisms of resistance used by bacteria is biofilm formation, which is also a mechanism of virulence. This study analyzed the possible relationship between antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation among isolates of three Gram-negative bacteria species. Several relationships were found between the ability to form biofilm and antimicrobial resistance, being different for each species. Indeed, gentamicin and ceftazidime resistance was related to biofilm formation in Escherichia coli, piperacillin/tazobactam, and colistin in Klebsiella pneumoniae, and ciprofloxacin in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. However, no relationship was observed between global resistance or multidrug-resistance and biofilm formation. In addition, compared with other reported data, the isolates in the present study showed higher rates of antimicrobial resistance. In conclusion, the acquisition of specific antimicrobial resistance can compromise or enhance biofilm formation in several species of Gram-negative bacteria. However, multidrug-resistant isolates do not show a trend to being greater biofilm producers than non-multiresistant isolates

Múltiples culturas, una sola atención

Envelliment; Multiculturalitat; Estudi qualitatiuEnvejecimiento; Multiculturalidad; Estudio cualitativoAging; Multiculturalism; Qualitative studyL'objectiu va ser identificar que dona sentit a l'envelliment a persones més grans de 50 anys d'orígens i cultures diferents residents a l'Alt Empordà, comarca amb 145.000 habitants (24,3% d'immigració). Estudi qualitatiu amb grups de discussió i entrevistes en profunditat. Com a conclusions, hi ha factors que poden facilitar un envelliment ple, però hi ha reptes com els canvis culturals. Un dels principals és l'atenció al domicili i els serveis per a la cura i l'acompanyament juntament amb l'ampliació de sistemes habitacionals i formes de convivència adaptades a aquests reptes.The aim was to identify what gives meaning to aging to people over 50 of different origins and cultures resident in Alt Empordà, a region with 145,000 inhabitants (24.3% immigration). Qualitative study with discussion groups and in-depth interviews. As conclusions, there are factors that can facilitate full aging, but there are challenges such as cultural changes. One of the main ones is home care and services for care and support along with the expansion of housing systems and ways of living together adapted to these challenges

¿Qué da sentido al envejecimiento?

Envelliment; Dignitat; AutonomiaAging; Dignity; AutonomyEnvejecimiento; Dignidad; AutonomíaCon el objetivo de identificar que da sentido al envejecimiento a personas mayores de 50 años de orígenes y culturas diferentes residentes en el Alt Empordà se realizó un estudio cualitativo con siete grupos de discusión y dos entrevistas en profundidad. Se incluyeron personas según: grupo de edad (50-65, 65-75,>75), sexo, tipos de convivencia, años de residencia en el país y religión. Como resultado encontramos tres perfiles diferentes, el perfil de "Supervivencia", el perfil de "Pasarlo bien" y el perfil de "Reafirmación". Según los resultados obtenidos se concluye que mantener los estándares básicos para vivir una vida en tranquilidad y recogimiento, gozar de las oportunidades o reivindicar un papel activo en la sociedad son perfiles transversales en personas de orígenes o cultura diferentes.Amb l'objectiu d'identificar que dona sentit a l'envelliment a persones més grans de 50 anys d'orígens i cultures diferents residents a l'Alt Empordà es va realitzar un estudi qualitatiu amb set grups de discussió i dues entrevistes en profunditat. S'hi van incloure persones segons: grup d'edat (50-65, 65-75,>75), sexe, tipus de convivència, anys de residència al país i religió. Com a resultat trobem tres perfils diferents, el perfil de "Supervivència", el perfil de "Passar-ho bé" i el perfil de "Reafirmació". Segons els resultats obtinguts es conclou que mantenir els estàndards bàsics per viure una vida en tranquil·litat i recolliment, gaudir de les oportunitats o reivindicar un paper actiu a la societat són perfils transversals en persones d'orígens o cultura diferents.With the aim of identifying what gives meaning to age to people over 50 of different origins and cultures resident in the Alt Empordà, a qualitative study was carried out with seven discussion groups and two in-depth interviews. People were included according to: age group (50-65, 65-75, >75), sex, type of cohabitation, years of residence in the country and religion. As a result, we find three different profiles, the "Survival" profile, the "Having a good time" profile and the "Reaffirmation" profile. According to the results obtained, it is concluded that maintaining the basic standards to live a life in tranquility and recollection, enjoying opportunities or claiming an active role in society are transversal profiles in people of different origins or cultures

Acyl-CoA synthetase 3 promotes lipid droplet biogenesis in ER microdomains

Control of lipid droplet (LD) nucleation and copy number are critical, yet poorly understood, processes. We use model peptides that shift from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to LDs in response to fatty acids to characterize the initial steps of LD formation occurring in lipid-starved cells. Initially, arriving lipids are rapidly packed in LDs that are resistant to starvation (pre-LDs). Pre-LDs are restricted ER microdomains with a stable core of neutral lipids. Subsequently, a first round of “emerging” LDs is nucleated, providing additional lipid storage capacity. Finally, in proportion to lipid concentration, new rounds of LDs progressively assemble. Confocal microscopy and electron tomography suggest that emerging LDs are nucleated in a limited number of ER microdomains after a synchronized stepwise process of protein gathering, lipid packaging, and recognition by Plin3 and Plin2. A comparative analysis demonstrates that the acyl-CoA synthetase 3 is recruited early to the assembly sites, where it is required for efficient LD nucleation and lipid storag