Biochemical noise in single DNA molecule studied by optical trapping technique

Tesina realitzada en col.laboració amb l'IFCONoise spectra from single DNA molecules in their natural aqueous environment at different grades of stretching are presented. A DNA molecule is anchored between two dielectric beads. One of the beads is fixed to the surface and the other is optically trapped. The stiffness of each stage is calculated and compared with the previous results to verify the presence of one and only one single molecule. The results are compared with the preceding bibliography and are focused in the study of the spectral response which is not deeply studied yet

Interleukin 2 abrogates the nonresponsive state of T cells expressing a forbidden T cell receptor repertoire and induces autoimmune disease in neonatally thymectomized mice

El copyright pertenece a The Rockefeller University PressUnder physiological conditions, the vast majority of T cells differentiate in the thymus, an organ that provides an optimal microenvironment for T cell maturation and shapes the T cell repertoire via positive and negative selection processes. In the present report, we demonstrate that neonatal thymectomy of CBA/H mice results in a diminution of T cells in peripheral lymphoid organs (spleen, lymph nodes), but is followed by a marked transient (12 wk) increase in Thy-1+ CD3+ cells in the peritoneal cavity. These cells exhibit predominantly a double-negative (CD4 - CD8 - ) phenotype among which products of the T cell receptor (TCR) VO11 gene family (i.e., an I-Ereactive TCR normally deleted in I-E-bearing CBA/H mice) are selectively overexpressed . This observation suggests that, under athymic conditions, T cell differentiation and/or accumulation may occur in the peritoneal cavity. Intraperitoneal inoculation of an interleukin 2 (IL2) vaccinia virus construct that releases high titers of human IIr2 in vivo induces conversion of these doublenegative T cells to either CD4+CD8 - or CD4-CD8+ single positives, and allows in vitro stimulation of TCR V,311-bearing cells with a clonotypic antiVO antibody. Since IL-2 induces autoimmune manifestations (DNA autoantibodies, rheumatoid factors, and interstitial nephritis) in thymectomized CBA/H mice, but not in sham-treated littermates, this lymphokine is likely to enhance the autoaggressive function of T cells that bear forbidden, potentially autoreactive TCR gene products and that are normally deleted in the thymus.Peer reviewe

Evolution of polyphenolic compounds and sensory properties of wines obtained from grenache grapes treated by pulsed electric fields during aging in bottles and in oak barrels

The evolution of polyphenolic compounds and sensory properties of wines obtained from Grenache grapes, either untreated or treated with pulsed electric fields (PEF), in the course of bottle aging, as well as during oak aging followed by bottle aging, were compared. Immediately prior to aging in bottles or in barrels, enological parameters that depend on phenolic extraction during skin maceration were higher when grapes had been treated with PEF. In terms of color intensity, phenolic families, and individual phenols, the wine obtained with grapes treated by PEF followed an evolution similar to untreated control wine in the course of aging. Sensory analysis revealed that the application of a PEF treatment resulted in wines that are sensorially different: Panelists preferred wines obtained from grapes treated with PEF. Physicochemical and sensory analyses showed that grapes treated with PEF are suitable for obtaining wines that require aging in bottles or in oak barrels

Real-World Safety and Effectiveness Evidence of a Microcrystalline Tyrosine-Associated Mite Allergoid in Children and Adolescents with Allergic Rhinitis

Rinitis al·lèrgica; Infants i adolescents; Tirosina microcristal·linaRinitis alérgica; Niños y adolescentes; Tirosina microcristalinaAllerghic rhinitis; Children and adolescents; Microcrystalline tyrosineEvidence regarding allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in pediatric population is scarce. We have assessed safety and effectiveness of subcutaneous AIT with a microcrystalline tyrosine (MCT)-associated mite allergoid, Acarovac Plus®, in children and adolescents with allergic rhinitis (AR), with and without asthma, in the real-world setting. This was a retrospective, multicenter study including children and adolescents aged 5 years to 17 years with AR, with and without asthma, and sensitized to mites, receiving AIT with Acarovac Plus® during ≥6 months. Primary and secondary objectives were safety and effectiveness, respectively. Effectiveness variables were assessed during 12 months before and after AIT and included unscheduled visits to the healthcare center and emergency room admissions, rhinitis and asthma symptoms according to ARIA and GEMA classifications, respectively, medication use, and patients’ and physicians’ disease perception graded on a visual analog scale (VAS). All 79 patients included had a mean (SD) age of 12.7 (3.3) years. Two patients experienced systemic adverse reactions (none severe). Unscheduled visits to the healthcare center and emergency room admissions decreased (mean (SD) 3.02 [2.48] and 0.63 [1.35] vs. 1.08 [1.38] and 0.09 [0.38], before and after treatment, p < 0.001 and p = 0.001, respectively). After AIT, rhinitis and asthma classification changed (p < 0.0001 for all classifications), showing improvements in symptoms and a significant decrease in rhinitis and use of medication for asthma and VAS scores grading patients’ and physicians’ disease perception (p < 0.001). In conclusion, these results show that AIT with an MCT-associated mite allergoid appears safe and effective in children and adolescents with AR treated in the real-world setting.This study was supported by Allergy Therapeutics Ibérica

Sarcomas de partes blandas. Análisis de 42 casos

El objetivo de este estudio es valorar el pronóstico a largo plazo de una serie de pacientes tratados en nuestro hospital en relación con diversos factores clínicos, diagnósticos y terapéuticos que podrían condicionarlo. Se revisaron 123 pacientes tratado por tumores malignos de partes blandas entre los años 1979 y 1999, de estos solo 42 cumplieron las características para incluirles en nuestro estudio. Se valoró su evolución teniendo en cuenta las variables pronosticas identificadas en trabajos previamente publicados y nuestra propia experiencia y se realizó el estudio estadístico de las mismas. En el análisis estadístico del estudio se utilizó el programa SPSS versión 8.0WIN y se realizó el análisis de supervivencia mediante el método de Kaplan-Meier. El tiempo de supervivencia total descrito según este método para el total de los casos estudiados presenta una mediana de 33 meses con un error estándar de 8 y un intervalo de confianza del 95% de (17,49), el tiempo libre de enfermedad presenta una mediana de 9 meses con un error estándar de 2 y un intervalo de confianza del 95% de (6,12) y el tiempo de aparición de metástasis presenta una mediana de 26 meses con un error estándar de 5 y un intervalo de confianza del 95% de (17,35). A su vez se realizó el análisis bivariante de las múltiples variables pronosticas. El gran número de variables y la dispersión de la muestra hacen aconsejable estudios multicéntricos prospectivos más numerosos para obtener conclusiones definitivas sobre este tipo de tumores.The aim of this study is to evaluate the long-term prognosis of a series of patients treated in our hospital with regard to various clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic factors. A total of 123 patients who had been treated for malignant soft tissue tumours between 1979 and 1999 were reviewed. Of these, only 42 fulfilled the requirements to be included in our study. The outcome was evaluated taking into account prognostic variables identified in previously published studies and our own experience, and a statistical study of these factors as carried out with the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis method. The total survival time for all the cases studied was 33+8 (median + SE) months with a 95% confidence interval of 17.49 months. The time free of illness was 9+2 (median + SE) months with a 95% confidence interval of 6.12 months. The time-period until metastasis appeared was 26+5 (median + SE) months with a 95% confidence interval of 17.35 months. At the same time, the bivariant analysis of the many prognostic variables was performed. The high number of variables and the dispersion of the sample group suggest that it would be advisable to carry out more prospective, multicentric studies to reach definitive conclusions about this type of tumour

San Pedro Mártir observations of microvariability in obscured quasars

Fast brightness variations are a unique tool to probe the innermost regions of active galactic nuclei (AGN). These variations are called microvariability or intra-night variability, and this phenomenon has been monitored in samples of blazars and unobscured AGNs. Detecting optical microvariations in targets hidden by the obscuring torus is a challenging task because the region responsible for the variations is hidden from our sight. However, there have been reports of fast variations in obscured Seyfert galaxies in X-rays, which rises the question whether microvariations can also be detected in obscured AGNs in the optical regime. Because the expected variations are very small and can easily be lost within the noise, the analysis requires a statistical approach. We report the use of a one-way analysis of variance, ANOVA, with which we searched for microvariability. ANOVA was successfully employed in previous studies of unobscured AGNs. As a result, we found microvariable events during three observing blocks: in two we observed the same object (Mrk 477), and in another, J0759+5050. The results on Mrk 477 confirm previous findings. However, since Mrk 477 is quite a peculiar target with hidden broad-line regions, we cannot rule out the possibility that we have serendipitously chosen a target prone to variations.This research has been supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO) under the grant AYA2014-58861-C3-1. I.O. acknowledges support from the European Research Council (ERC) in the form of Advanced Grant, COSMICISM. J.A.D. is grateful for the support from the grant UNAM-DGAPA-PAPIIT IN110013 Program and the Canary islands CIE: Tricontinental Atlantic Campus. A.E. acknowledges support by the grant AYA2012-30789. J. I. González-Serrano is grateful for the support from AYA2011-29517-C03-02.Peer Reviewe