Risk factors in gastric cancer

STATE OF THE ART: Gastric cancer (GC) is still a major health problem worldwide due to its frequency, poor prognosis and limited treatment options. At present prevention is likely to be the most effective means of reducing the incidence and mortality from this disease. The most important etiological factors implicated in gastric carcinogenesis are diet and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. High intake of salted, pickled or smoked foods, as well as dried fish and meat and refined carbohydrates significantly increased the risk of developing GC while fibers, fresh vegetables and fruit were found to be inversely associated with GC risk. Epidemiological investigations (retrospective, case-control and prospective) and several meta-analyses have demonstrated that concurrent or previous H. pylori infection is associated with an increased risk of GC in respect to uninfected people. H. pylori colonizes gastric mucosa where it induces a complex inflammatory and immune reaction that on time leads to a severe mucosal damage i.e., atrophy, intestinal metaplasia (IM) and dysplasia. The risk of GC is closely related to the grade and extension of gastric atrophy, IM and dysplasia. PERSPECTIVES AND CONCLUSIONS: Today a plausible program for GC prevention means: (1) a correct dietary habit since childhood increasing vegetables and fruit intake, (2) a decrease of H. pylori spread improving family and community sanitation and hygiene, (3) a search and treat H. pylori strategy in offspring of GC, (4) a search and treat H. pylori strategy in patients with chronic atrophic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia (IM), (5) a careful endoscopic and histologic follow-up if precancerous lesions persist irrespective of H. pylori eradication

Snail1 transcription factor controls telomere transcription and integrity

Besides controlling epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cell invasion, the Snail1 transcriptional factor also provides cells with cancer stem cell features. Since telomere maintenance is essential for stemness, we have examined the control of telomere integrity by Snail1. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis indicates that Snail1-depleted mouse mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) have both a dramatic increase of telomere alterations and shorter telomeres. Remarkably, Snail1-deficient MSC present higher levels of both telomerase activity and the long non-coding RNA called telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA), an RNA that controls telomere integrity. Accordingly, Snail1 expression downregulates expression of the telomerase gene (TERT) as well as of TERRA 2q, 11q and 18q. TERRA and TERT are transiently downregulated during TGF-induced EMT in NMuMG cells, correlating with Snail1 expression. Global transcriptome analysis indicates that ectopic expression of TERRA affects the transcription of some genes induced during EMT, such as fibronectin, whereas that of TERT does not modify those genes. We propose that Snail1 repression of TERRA is required not only for telomere maintenance but also for the expression of a subset of mesenchymal genes

Protective effects of Lactobacillus paracasei F19 in a rat model of oxidative and metabolic hepatic injury

The liver is susceptible to such oxidative and metabolic stresses as ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) and fatty acid accumulation. Probiotics are viable microorganisms that restore the gut microbiota and exert a beneficial effect on the liver by inhibiting bacterial enzymes, stimulating immunity, and protecting intestinal permeability. We evaluated Lactobacillus paracasei F19 (LP-F19), for its potential protective effect, in an experimental model of I/R (30 min ischemia and 60 min reperfusion) in rats fed a standard diet or a steatogen [methionine/choline-deficient (MCD)] diet. Both groups consisted of 7 sham-operated rats, 10 rats that underwent I/R, and 10 that underwent I/R plus 8 wk of probiotic dietary supplementation. In rats fed a standard diet, I/R induced a decrease in sinusoid perfusion (P < 0.001), severe liver inflammation, and necrosis besides an increase of tissue levels of malondialdehyde (P < 0.001), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (P < 0.001), interleukin (IL)-1beta (P < 0.001), and IL-6 (P < 0.001) and of serum levels of transaminase (P < 0.001) and lipopolysaccharides (P < 0.001) vs. sham-operated rats. I/R also induced a decrease in Bacterioides, Bifidobacterium, and Lactobacillus spps (P < 0.01, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, respectively) and an increase in Enterococcus and Enterobacteriaceae (P < 0.01 and P < 0.001, respectively) on intestinal mucosa. The severity of liver and gut microbiota alterations induced by I/R was even greater in rats with liver inflammation and steatosis, i.e., MCD-fed animals. LP-F19 supplementation significantly reduced the harmful effects of I/R on the liver and on gut microbiota in both groups of rats, although the effect was slightly less in MCD-fed animals. In conclusion, LP-F19 supplementation, by restoring gut microbiota, attenuated I/R-related liver injury, particularly in the absence of steatosis

Arte gráfico activo

Tomamos para el desarrollo del presente escrito una obra de Marcel Duchamp y a través de sus líneas conceptuales revisamos los tópicos del arte contemporáneo, a la vez que los implementamos de manera teórica y práctica en la enseñanza de arte en el taller de grabado complementario. Concebimos la producción de la teoría como una práctica activa del arte y en este repensar se construye la obra con el otro alumno. Obras implican un sinnúmero de acciones y procesos de construcciones sensibles que incluyen las charlas, las estrategias de abordaje, las decisiones tomadas, las construcciones colectivas, lo afectivo puesto en juego, la apertura a nuevas redes y los vínculos comunitarios, es ahí donde detectamos la gráfica activa.Facultad de Bellas Artes (FBA

The proliferation marker Chromatin Assembly Factor-1 is of clinical value in predicting the biological behaviour of salivary gland tumours.

Salivary gland tumours (SGT) constitute a diagnostically challenging group of neoplasms with frequently unpredictable clinical outcome. The proliferation rate facilitates the identification of aggressive SGT. The Chromatin Assembly Factor-1 (CAF-1) is a major epigenetic regulator of nuclear chromatin organization during DNA replication. It plays a critical function in human tumourigenesis and has been proposed as a new proliferation and prognostic marker for some malignancies. This study focused on the role of CAF-1/p60 protein as a marker of clinical value for SGT. The expression of CAF-1/p60 was evaluated by immunohistochemistry on a retrospective series of 362 surgically excised benign and malignant SGT with different histogenesis and, when available, on fine-needle pre-surgical cytological biopsies. The resulting data were compared with traditional prognostic parameters, including the expression of the routine proliferation marker ki67/MIB1. CAF-1/p60 was detectable in all SGT, with highest degree of expression in metastasizing malignant tumours. Moreover, the cases of benign tumours which progressed to carcinoma during the follow-up, showed significantly higher CAF-1/p60 expression than non-progressing benign SGT, both on histological sections and cytological smears of the primary tumour. Cox's multiple regression analysis selected CAF-1/p60 expression as the best independent predictor of cancer development for benign SGT (p<0.0001), and the best independent predictor of metastasis onset for malignant tumours (p<0.0004). Overexpression of CAF-1/p60, on histological and/or cytological samples, characterizes malignant SGT with aggressive behaviour, irrespective of their specific histotype, and allows the early diagnosis of progression toward malignancy of morphologically benign tumours

Inmanencias: proyecto para una galería a cielo abierto

En el presente trabajo queremos compartir una experiencia colectiva e innovadora en la que participamos docentes y estudiantes de la Cátedra de Pintura Complementaria de la FBA y del Área de Artes Visuales del Liceo Víctor Mercante; la misma surge de la invitación del cuerpo docente de la Cátedra de Pintura Complementaria de la FBA para participar en su proyecto denominado “Inmanencias” en el marco de la Cuarta Bienal de Arte y Cultura de la UNLP (4 BUAyC). La propuesta que definía claramente sus objetivos desde las primeras líneas del proyecto, consistía en el armado y montaje de una galería a cielo abierto en el muro exterior del Liceo; propuesta que permitió desarrollar una actividad entre dos instituciones, poner en diálogo los trabajos realizados por estudiantes de ambas unidades académicas, compartir una jornada de montaje más allá del espacio del aula y darle a las imágenes el carácter de públicas.Eje 5: Las prácticas de producción artística en ámbitos de talleres académicos y otros.Facultad de Bellas Arte

Arte gráfico y nuevos modos de convivio

Pensar un arte en contexto, con todo lo que implican las tecnologías actuales y sus posibles derivaciones al arte, más el abordaje de espacios sociales en el relacionamiento público contemporáneo, supone un estar distinto frente a la experiencia de construir comunidad en la ciudad. Transitando esos espacios desde la práctica y desde la investigación, indagando las formas de producción, circulación y consumo artísticos contemporáneas a través de teorías propias entre lo tradicional y los nuevos marcos de entendimiento del arte en la escena local. La vanguardia instala nuestra tradición, a partir de ella tomamos los aportes que nutren a la contemporaneidad, y nuestra plataforma técnica opera desde el libro de artista, la poesía visual, el arte correo y la gráfica de tipos móviles. La contemporaneidad reorganiza los elementos tradicionales, presentado un convivio, o al menos una dificultad en precisar bordes y delimitar campos estancos. Obra, contexto, y artista o colectivo artístico son una unidad, donde los límites no se definen claramente.Eje 4: Materiales y tecnologías tradicionales. Transgresiones actuales.Facultad de Bellas Arte

Encapsulados

En nuestra práctica docente buscamos indagar, crear, accionar en lo emergente, explorar la multiescalaridad de lo posible, involucrándonos en territorios así como en infraestructuras, materialidades y operatividades diversas. Buscamos producir nuevos imaginarios, nuevos paradigmas y nuevos paisajes en el entorno propicio que nos determinen las estrategias de actuación en cada posibilidad que se habilita. En este marco de trabajo, nos sorprendió la pandemia, y como habituamos complementar las prácticas áulicas pensando un arte en contexto, con todo lo que implican las tecnologías actuales y sus posibles derivaciones artísticas, sumamos acciones específicas que propiciaron el abordaje de espacios sociales en relación con el público contemporáneo: propusimos un estar distinto frente a la experiencia de construir comunidad, una reflexión situada en relación con el problema mundial, y compartir estas reflexiones con pares de otras latitudes. En este ejemplar recopilamos el accionar docente durante la pandemia, nuestras estrategias abordadas para potenciar el alcance de nuestras palabras y también el resultado de las reflexioines gráficas que impulsamos acerca de nuestro estar en el mundo actual.Facultad de Arte

Proteomic Analysis of Chloroplast-to-Chromoplast Transition in Tomato Reveals Metabolic Shifts Coupled with Disrupted Thylakoid Biogenesis Machinery and Elevated Energy-Production Components

A comparative proteomic approach was performed to identify differentially expressed proteins in plastids at three stages of tomato(Solanum lycopersicum) fruit ripening (mature-green, breaker, red). Stringent curation and processing of the data from three independent replicates identified 1,932 proteins among which 1,529 were quantified by spectral counting. The quantification procedures have been subsequently validated by immunoblot analysis of six proteins representative of distinct metabolic or regulatory pathways. Among the main features of the chloroplast-to-chromoplast transition revealed by the study, chromoplastogenesis appears to be associated with major metabolic shifts: (1) strong decrease in abundance of proteins of light reactions (photosynthesis, Calvin cycle, photorespiration)and carbohydrate metabolism (starch synthesis/degradation), mostly between breaker and red stages and (2) increase in terpenoid biosynthesis (including carotenoids) and stress-response proteins (ascorbate-glutathione cycle, abiotic stress, redox, heat shock). These metabolic shifts are preceded by the accumulation of plastid-encoded acetyl Coenzyme A carboxylase D proteins accounting for the generation of a storage matrix that will accumulate carotenoids. Of particular note is the high abundance of proteins involved in providing energy and in metabolites import. Structural differentiation of the chromoplast is characterized by a sharp and continuous decrease of thylakoid proteins whereas envelope and stroma proteins remain remarkably stable. This is coincident with the disruption of the machinery for thylakoids and photosystem biogenesis (vesicular trafficking, provision of material for thylakoid biosynthesis, photosystems assembly) and the loss of the plastid division machinery. Altogether, the data provide new insights on the chromoplast differentiation process while enriching our knowledge of the plant plastid proteome

Latin American immigrants in Indianapolis: Perceptions of prejudice and discrimination

The article focuses on immigrants’ interactions with the Indiana natives, with emphasis in the city of Indianapolis and its suburbs. More specifically, this study aims at providing an understanding of the experiences of Latin American immigrants with special attention to perceptions of prejudice and discrimination and to feelings of social exclusion. A substantial proportion of Latin American immigrants interviewed indicated that they considered Indiana natives to be prejudiced and that they had personally experienced discrimination. The study reveals specific examples of discrimination experienced by the immigrants at the work place, in housing, in stores, restaurants and by various service providers. The results of the study demonstrate the relevance of the normative and power resource theories to explain prejudice and discrimination