Genetic polymorphisms as non-modifiable susceptibility factors to laryngeal cancer.

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a highly disabling disease to the patient, affecting speech, swallowing and respiratory skills. Smoking and alcohol abuse are principal risk factors linked to this disease. Genetic factors can be involved in carcinogenesis by controlling the cell cycle, cell survival, angiogenesis, and invasiveness. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) involving specific genes could modulate the risk of LSCC related to known carcinogens by modifying cellular responses, but not all genetic associations are known. In a case-control study, we assess the associations between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), epidermal growth factor (EGF), EGF receptor (EGFR), and tumor suppressor P53 SNPs on the risk of LSCC development in the Chilean population. A total of 85 LSCC patients and 95 healthy volunteers were recruited. SNPs genotype were analyzed from genomic DNA by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) and associations were estimated by odds ratios (ORs) using unconditional logistic regressions. A significant association between COX2 and TP53 SNP and LSCC risk was found, with an OR = 3.27 for COX2 c.-1329A>G (rs689466) SNP, and an OR = 1.94 for TP53 c.215C>G, Pro72Arg (rs1042522) SNP. These findings suggest that COX2 c.-1329A>G and TP53 c.215C>G (Pro72Arg) SNPs may be risk factors for LSCC. Through this research, we identify two low penetrance genetic variants that may be evaluated as novel biomarkers for this disease, in South American Mestizo populations.

Analysis of Yarrowia lipolytica extracellular lipase Lip2p glycosylation.

Wild-type (WT) Yarrowia lipolytica strain secretes a major extracellular lipase Lip2p which is glycosylated. In silico sequence analysis reveals the presence of two potential N-glycosylation sites (N113IS and N134NT). Strains expressing glycosylation mutant forms were constructed. Esterase activities for the different forms were measured with three substrates: p-nitrophenol butyrate (p-NPB), tributyrin and triolein. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of supernatant indicated that the suppression of the two sites of N-glycosylation did not affect secretion. S115V or N134Q mutations led to lipase with similar specific activity compared with WT lipase while a T136V mutation reduced specific activity toward p-NPB and tributyrin. Electrospray ionization MS of the WT entire protein led to an average mass of 36 950 Da, higher than the mass deduced from the amino acid sequence (33 385 Da) and to the observation of at least two different mannose structures: Man(8)GlcNAc(2) and Man(9)GlcNAc(2). LC-tandem MS analysis of the WT Lip2p after trypsin and endoproteinase Asp-N treatments led to high coverage (87%) of protein sequence but the peptides containing N113 and N134 were not identified. We confirmed that the presence of N-glycosylation occurred at both N113 and N134 by MS of digested proteins obtained after enzymatic deglycosylation or from mutant forms.

Introducción al concepto de espacio de relación: su construcción como estrategia de intervención comunicativa en pacientes no verbales / Introduction to relationship space concept: it construction as intervention strategy in nonverbal patients

Este artículo presenta una discusión acerca del <> como un concepto que puede ser usado como una unidad de intervención comunicativa. Comenzando por el contacto ocular, la interacción entre un niño y un adulto abarca muchas conductas diferentes y complejas. Son discutidas las implicancias en la práctica clínica del desarrollo gradual del espacio de relación con respecto a los trastornos severos de la comunicación