Presence of atrial natriuretic factor prohormone in enterochromaffin cells of the human large intestine

Atrial natriuretic factor is a hormone intimately involved in water and salt homeostasis. The heart constitutes the major but not exclusive site of synthesis of this hormone. Among other functions, the gastrointestinal tract has endocrine functions, plays an important role in volume regulation of the body, and seems to be a target organ for atrial natriuretic factor. Therefore, the presence of atrial natriuretic factor was investigated in the human gut. Immunoreactive atrial natriuretic factor was found in intraoperatively obtained samples of normal human colon. Acidic extracts of human large intestine contained about 0.4 pmol/g wet wt of atrial natriuretic factor. Analysis of atrial natriuretic factor immunoreactivity by gel-filtration and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography showed that about 65% of the immunoreactivity corresponded to the atrial natriuretic factor phohormone and about 35% corresponded to the C-terminal ANF99-126. Immunohistochemistry showed atrial natriuretic factor prohormone location in enterochromaffin cells of the colon mucosa. Altogether, these findings show the presence of atrial natriuretic factor prohormone in enterochromaffin cells of the human large intestine and may suggest this organ as a site of atrial natriuretic factor synthesis in humans

Work, Health, Music: The enduring Rusyn model of a good life amid changing socioeconomic contexts of progress

Rusyns in Eastern and Central Europe have experience with two predominant models of “progress”: the Soviet-style communist and the neoliberal.  Proponents of each system promised to better the lives of all but did not take into account what “better” meant to local populations, including Rusyns.  Increasingly, European governmental and nongovernmental organizations are redefining notions of progress and development to accord with values of sustainability and a capability approach (CA) to well-being.  Giovanola (2005) and Robeyns (2005) have argued that scholars of the CA need to better develop concepts of “personhood” and “human flourishing”, and to better explain the importance of social group membership and norms to living a valued life.  The emerging anthropological focus on well-being, emphasizing culturally specific definitions of what happiness and a good life mean, can provide these conceptualizations.  As a case in point, I use freelist and interview data obtained from residents in the Prešov Region of Slovakia and the Zakarpattia Oblast of Ukraine along with Rusyn cultural narratives drawn from poems, folktales, plays, songs, interviews, and speeches to identify prevalent models of “personhood” and “a good life”. I discuss how these narratives intersect and diverge with discourses of happiness and progress along with the implications for Rusyns' ability to flourish.

Laboratory studies on a spherically curved Bragg spectrometer for cosmic X-ray spectroscopy

A spherical array of twenty LiF 200 crystals was built to test the performances of a freestanding, self-focussing spherical crystal cosmic X-ray spectrometer. Measurements presently available show that the size of the image for a point source at infinite distance would be 3 mm (FWHM) along the focalisation axis and 2.1 mm (FWHM) along the dispersion axis. The mosaic spread on individual crystals is less than 0.1 degree. A slightly systematic deviation from the ideal bending (0.1 degree) is observed at the edges of most crystals and this appears to be the major limitation to spectrometer performance

Stellar Populations in Barred Galaxies

We developed an iterative technique to better characterize stellar populations and the central activity of barred galaxies using evolutionary synthesis codes and OASIS data. The case of NGC5430 is presented here. Our results are reinforcing the role played by the bar and nuclear structures for the evolution of galaxies.Comment: 2 pages, 1 figure, to be published in the proceedings of IAU Symp. 262 "Stellar Populations - Planing for the Next Decate" (Aug. 2009

Labio leporino en la terminología biomédica

Cantin, M (reprint author), Univ Talca, Dept Ciencias Basicas & Biomed, Talca, Chile

Different behaviour of the N-terminal and C-terminal fragment of proatrial natriuretic factor in plasma of healthy subjects as well as of patients with cirrhosis

N-terminal (atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) 1-98) and C-terminal (ANF 99-126) fragments of proatrial natriuretic factor (NTA and CTA, respectively) were determined in plasma of healthy subjects adopting different postures and in patients with cirrhosis. Seven healthy subjects were investigated while seated and 30 min after assuming a horizontal position. NTA plasma concentrations increased in subjects in the horizontal position (from 734±250 (SE) fmol/ml to 9021227 fmol/ml; p<0.05). In contrast, CTA plasma concentrations remained unchanged (9.2+1.3 fmol/ml vs 8.9±1.6 fmol/ml). In 10 patients with cirrhosis of the liver, NTA concentrations were markedly (p<0.001) elevated compared to 11 healthy subjects (2334±291 fmol/ml vs 743±155 fmol/ml). However, there was no difference of CTA plasma levels between cirrhotic patients and healthy subjects (8.7±1.3 fmol/ml vs 8.2±0.9 fmol/ml). These data demonstrate changes of the plasma concentration of the N-terminal fragment of proatrial natriuretic factor by posture and in liver disease, in contrast to unchanged levels of the C-terminal fragment

Nanopartículas Poliméricas en Dermocosmética

Indexación: Web of Science; Scielo.Recent advances in the fields of biomaterials and nanotechnology have allowed the development of advanced nanoparticles for biomedical applications. Despite a vast number of nanostructures such as liposomes, solid­lipid nanocapsules, polymeric and hybrid lipid­polymer nanoparticles have been studied as carriers for drug delivery for different pathologies with remarkable promising results; the use of polymeric nanoparticles in dermocosmetic still has not been widely explored. The evolution of cosmetic into the care skin and dermatology represents novel technological challenges. Also, the increasing knowledge about normal skin physiology and advances in nanotechnology provide an attractive environment for the creation of innovative dermocosmetic formulations. In this work, we discuss the state of the art of polymeric nanoparticles formulated for dermocosmetics, its mechanisms of action, and diffusion into the skin.Los recientes avances en el campo de los biomateriales y la nanotecnología han permitido el desarrollo de nanopartículas avanzadas para aplicaciones biomédicas. A pesar de que un gran número de nanoestructuras tales como liposomas, nanocápsulas lípido-sólidas, nanopartículas poliméricas y lípido-polímero híbridas han sido estudiadas como vehículos para la administración de fármacos en diferentes patologías con notables resultados prometedores, el uso de nanopartículas poliméricas en dermocosmética todavía no ha sido ampliamente explorado. La evolución de la cosmética en el cuidado de la piel y la dermatología nos enfrentan a nuevos retos tecnológicos. Además, el aumento de los conocimientos sobre la fisiología de la piel normal y los avances en la nanotecnología proporcionan un entorno atractivo para la creación de formulaciones dermocosméticas innovadoras. En este trabajo se discute el estado del arte de las nanopartículas poliméricas desarrolladas para dermocosmética, sus mecanismos de acción y la difusión en la piel.http://ref.scielo.org/b68hz

Bases Morfológicas, Implicancias Clínicas y Reporte de Caso

Roa, I (reprint author), Univ Talca, Unidad Anat Normal, Oficina 104, Fac Ciencias Salud, Ave Lircay S-N, Talca, Chile.Roa, I (Roa, Ignacio); Moraga, JI (Ignacio Moraga, Jose); Cantin, M (Cantin, Mario)During fetal life and infancy, flat bones of the cranial vault are separated by dense connective tissue membranes, fibrous joints called sutures, which are aimed early on in life to promote brain development. Eventually these sutures close over the years to form a synostosis between the bones of the skull. One of these is the frontal suture, which joins the two frontal bones in the embryonic period and the newborn. This suture may persist over time, generating the condition known as metopism. Alteration showing different presentations and incidents depending on the ethnic group studied. The purpose of this paper is to show the features found in this condition, frequency, description, varieties, etc. This analysis was performed on different databases and the description of a case. It raises the importance that clinicians approaching the area at the time of surgery consider possible confusion at the radiographic level which can lead to subsequent complications. Therefore, real knowledge of the morphological bases of this condition is important for correct diagnosis and surgical procedure if warranted

Evaluation of Facial Asymmetry Using Soft-Tissue Thickness for Forensic Purposes

Munoz, SRT (reprint author), Univ Talca, Dept Ciencias Basicas Biomed, Ave Lircay S-N, Talca, Chile. Munoz, SRT (Torres Munoz, Sebastian Rene); Galdames, IS (Suazo Galdames, Ivan)Facial reconstruction for forensic sculpture aims to reproduce the face of an individual for identification. This technique is based on the knowledge of the facial soft-tissue thickness, which differs in terms of sexual dimorphism. However, in terms of asymmetry, the real significance of the soft-tissue thickness on both sides of the face is not considered to make an approximation of the morphofacial characteristics of an individual. This study analyzed the facial tissue thickness of 32 adult Spanish corpses of both sexes in six bilateral cephalometric landmarks through the needle puncture technique, comparing the measurements of right and left sides. No significant differences were found when comparing the soft-tissue thickness on the right and left sides in the total sample (p <0.05), or when comparing the values in men and women (p<0.05). The facial morphology is created by internal and external forces exerted on the soft tissue and influenced by their evolutionary development in vivo, where asymmetry parameters have a genetic and muscular determination, which in normal individuals do not represent a significant difference in the process of reconstruction of forensic sculpture, and can reliably standardize the entire information of facial thickness to the right or left side of the face

Percentage of Lateral Pterygoid Muscle Inserted in the Disc of Human Temporomandibular Joint

Galdames, IS (reprint author), Univ Talca, Ave Lircay S-N Oficina 104, Talca, Chile. Contreras, JT (Tapia Contreras, Jorge); Cantin, M (Cantin, Mario); Zavando, D (Zavando, Daniela); Galdames, IS (Suazu Galdames, Ivan)Insertion of the upper head of the lateral pterygoid (UHLP) in the temporomandibular joint disc (TMJ) has been linked to anterior displacement of the disc and temporomandibular disfunction. The aim of this study was to determine in human adults, the percentage of muscle fiber in the upper head of the lateral pterygoid muscle inserted in the articular disc. A systematic review of the literature was designed beginning with articles published in Medline, Lilacs and Scielo data bases between the years 1990 and 2010. Key words "Lateral Pterygoid Muscle" and Pterygoid Lateral Muscle" were used, and the term MeSH "Pterygoid Muscle" with Boolean OR "Lateral Ptrerygoid Muscle" AND "Insertion" and the free terms "Pterygoid Lateral Muscle Disc Articular" and "Pterygoid lateral Muscle Meniscus". Of the 156 articles obtained and analyzed, 18 articles meeting eligibility criteria were selected. Based on those articles the percentage of insertion of the CSPL in the TMJ disc was evaluated, each one was subsequently assigned a level of evidence according to OCEBM Oxford Centre Evidence Based Medicine. Only four articles answered the research inquiry, three studies were histological and one used imaging techniques with cross section slices with an adequate evidence level (1B). However, results differed with insertion percentages from 2% to 69.8% being reported in the superior head of the lateral pterygoid muscle in the articular disc