Photo-identification as a tool to study small-spotted catshark Scyliorhinus canicula.

Photo-identification (photo-ID) was tested as a means to identify individual small-spotted catsharks Scyliorhinus canicula. The spotting pattern of the caudal region of S. canicula was used for the tests and revealed that photo-ID is an efficient method to identify individuals. Photo-ID is logistically simple, making it a potential alternative to traditional tagging to provide information on the distribution patterns and population dynamics of S. canicula and related species.

Bacterial adaptation to cold.

Micro-organisms react to a rapid temperature downshift by triggering a physiological response to ensure survival in unfavourable conditions. Adaptation includes changes in membrane composition and in the translation and transcription machineries. The cold shock response leads to a growth block and overall repression of translation; however, there is the induction of a set of specific proteins that help to tune cell metabolism and readjust it to the new conditions. For a mesophile like E. coli, the adaptation process takes about 4 h. Although the bacterial cold shock response was discovered over two decades ago we are still far from understanding this process. In this review, we aim to describe current knowledge, focusing on the functions of RNA-interacting proteins and RNases involved in cold shock adaptation.

DNA repair BER pathway inhibition increases cell death caused by oxidative DNA damage in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Trypanosoma cruzi, a parasitic protozoan, is the etiological agent of Chagas disease, an endemic and neglected pathology in Latin America. It presents a life cycle that involves a hematophagous insect and man as well as domestic and wild mammals. The parasitic infection is not eliminated by the immune system of mammals; thus, the vertebrate host serves as a parasite reservoir. Additionally, chronic processes leading to dysfunction of the cardiac and digestive systems are observed. To establish a chronic infection some parasites should resist the oxidative damage to its DNA exerted by oxygen and nitrogen free radicals (ROS/RNS) generated in host cells. Till date there are no reports directly showing oxidative DNA damage and repair in T. cruzi. We establish that ROS/RNS generate nuclear and kinetoplastid DNA damage in T. cruzi that may be partially repaired by the parasite. Furthermore, we determined that both oxidative agents diminish T. cruzi cell viability. This effect is significantly augmented in parasites subsequently incubated with methoxyamine, a DNA base excision repair (BER) pathway inhibitor, strongly suggesting that the maintenance of T. cruzi viability is a consequence of DNA repair mechanisms.

Waterborne exposure of gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) to polymethylmethacrylate nanoplastics causes effects at cellular and molecular levels.

This study evaluated the effect of a short-term exposure to 45 nm polymethylmethacrylate nanoplastics (PMMA-NPs) on the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), by assessing biomarkers at different levels of biological organization in liver and plasma. Fish were exposed via water to PMMA-NPs (0, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg L-1) and sampled after 24 and 96 h. Results showed a general up-regulation of mRNA levels of key genes associated with lipid metabolism (e.g. apolipoprotein A1 and retinoid X receptor). Together with the modulation of the lipid pathway genes we also found a global increase in cholesterol and triglycerides in plasma. Antioxidant-related genes (e.g. glutathione peroxidase 1) were also up-regulated after 24 h of exposure, but their expression levels returned to control afterwards. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) was increased throughout the experiment, however at 96 h the antioxidant capacity became less efficient, reflected by an increase in the total oxidative status (TOS). Concomitantly, we found an increase in the erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities (ENAs) throughout the trial. Altogether, PMMA-NPs activated the organism's antioxidant defenses and induced alterations in lipid metabolism pathways and genotoxicity in the blood cells of gilthead seabream.

Short-term exposure to polymethylmethacrylate nanoplastics alters muscle antioxidant response, development and growth in Sparus aurata.

Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) plastic fragments have been found abundant in the environment, but the knowledge regarding its effects on the physiology of aquatic animals is still poorly studied. Here the short-term (96 h) effects of waterborne exposure to PMMA nanoplastics (PMMA-NPs) on the muscle of gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) fingerlings was evaluated at a concentration range that includes 0.001 up to 10 mg/L. The expression of key transcripts related to cell stress, tissue repair, immune response, antioxidant status and muscle development, together with several biochemical endpoints and metabolic parameters. Results indicate that exposure to PMMA-NPs elicit mildly antioxidant responses, enhanced the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, and inhibited key regulators of muscle development (growth hormone receptors ghr-1/ghr-2 and myostatin, mstn-1 transcripts). However, no effects on pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin 1ß, il1ß and tumor necrosis factor α, tnfα) expression nor on the levels of energetic substrates (glucose, triglycerides and cholesterol) were found.

[Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF): a key factor in the onset and progression of kidney damage]. / El factor de crecimiento de tejido conectivo (CTGF): factor clave en el inicio y la progresión del daño renal.

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is increased in several pathologies associated with fibrosis, including multiple renal diseases. CTGF is involved in biological processes such as cell cycle regulation, migration, adhesion and angiogenesis. Its expression is regulated by various factors involved in renal damage, such as transforming growth factor- , Angiotensin II, high concentrations of glucose and cellular stress. CTGF is involved in the initiation and progression of renal damage to be able to induce an inflammatory response and promote fibrosis, identified as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of kidney diseases. In this paper we review the main actions of CTGF in renal disease, the intracellular action mechanisms and therapeutic strategies for its blocking.

Studies of cholecystokinin in the rat bed nucleus of stria terminalis.

The release of cholecystokinin from the dorsal and ventral region of the rat bed nucleus of stria terminalis was studied. Minislices from both regions were superfused with Krebs-Ringer-phosphate, and the cholecystokinin released into the physiological medium was concentrated previous to radioimmunoassay determination. For this purpose, cholecystokinin was adsorbed onto a C18 reverse-phase column and eluted with acetonitrile. Cholecystokinin standards (10-50 pg) were subjected to the above procedure, which allowed a 20- to 50-fold concentration of the peptide with an 80% recovery. Potassium-induced release of cholecystokinin from minislices of dorsal and ventral regions of the bed nucleus of stria terminalis was measured successfully using the above procedure to concentrate the peptide. Lesion of the stria terminalis, a fiber tract originating in the amygdala, provoked a significant decrease in cholecystokinin levels in the ventral region of the bed nucleus of strial terminalis. Thus, cholecystokinin released from minislices of the ventral region of the stria terminalis may be of amygdaloid origin.

[10 cases of psychosis in Mapuche indians]. / Estudio de diez casos de psicosis en mapuches.

Ten Mapuche indians have been studied with the purpose of observing the particularities of mental disorders in this ethnic group, composed of rural migrants. In each case a syndromatic and an etiological diagnosis has been made. Our cases correspond to six women and four men with an average age of 24.5 years. All are single with a low educational level. Our results show a great frequency of the acute oniroid psychotic syndrome. These results agree with a retrospective study made by Muñoz et al (1966) who found the same syndrome in 66.6% of their Mapuche patients against only 16.3% in non Mapuche chilean patients.

Isolation, purification and preliminary characterization of cryophilic proteases of marine origin.

The isolation and preliminary characterization of a trypsin-like protease with high activity at 20 degrees C is described. This protease was isolated from Antarctic krill (Euphasia superba) by a two-step chromatography process and the use of zymogram analyses. The protease has a molecular weight of 30 kDa and a pI of 4.1. Its specific activity at 20 degrees C on BAPNA is 0.5 U/mg.

El factor de crecimiento de tejido conectivo (CTGF): factor clave en el inicio y la progresión del daño renal / No disponible

El factor de crecimiento de tejido conectivo (CTGF) aparece aumentado en diferentes patologías asociadas a fibrosis, incluidas múltiples enfermedades renales. CTGF participa en procesos biológicos, como la regulación del ciclo celular, migración, adhesión y angiogénesis. Su expresión está regulada por diversos factores implicados en el daño renal, entre los que destacan el factor la angiotensina II, el factor de crecimiento transformante-beta, altas concentraciones de glucosa y situaciones de estres celular. CTGF participa en el inicio y progresión del daño renal al ser capaz de inducir una respuesta inflamatoria y promover la fibrosis, señalándole como una posible diana terapéutica en el tratamiento de patologías renales. En este trabajo revisamos las principales acciones de CTGF en la patología renal, los mecanismos intracelulares de actuación y las estrategias terapéuticas para su bloqueo (AU)

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is increased in several pathologies associated with fibrosis, including multiple renal diseases. CTGF is involved in biological processes such as cell cycle regulation, migration, adhesion and angiogenesis. Its expression is regulated by various factors involved in renal damage, such as Angiotensin II, transforming growth factor-beta, high concentrations of glucose and cellular stress. CTGF is involved in the initiation and progression of renal damage to be able to induce an inflammatory response and promote fibrosis, identified as a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of kidney diseases. In this paper we review the main actions of CTGF in renal disease, the intracellular action mechanisms and therapeutic strategies for its blocking (AU)

Preservación de cápsula prostática y vesículas seminales en cirugía radical del cáncer vesical órgano confinado / Prostate and seminal vesicles sparing radical cystectomy for organ-confined bladder cancer

En los últimos años se ha incrementado el interés por la preservación de la cápsula prostática y vesículas seminales en la cirugía radical del cáncer vesical localmente confinado. Las indicaciones para esta técnica son pacientes jóvenes en buenas condiciones, tumores órgano confinados, cuello vesical indemne y ausencia de sospecha de cáncer prostático (CP) sincrónico. La preservación sémino-prostática logra mejores resultados postoperatorios en relación a la continencia, capacidad eréctil y eyaculatoria, comparada con la técnica quirúrgica estándar. Nuestro Servicio decidió evaluar esta situación estudiando en nuestros pacientes sometidos a cistoprostatectomía radical (CPR) por cáncer vesical estadio clínico T2, la incidencia de cáncer prostático incidental (CPI) y el compromiso neoplásico de la uretra prostática. De un total de 17 pacientes sometidos a CPR en nuestro Servicio entre junio de 2002 y abril de 2004 por cáncer vesical órgano confinado, se seleccionaron 15 casos con estadio pT2- pT3 (edad promedio 64 años, rango 52-72). Se descartó un paciente por presentar sospecha clínica de cáncer de próstata con confirmación histopatológica a la biopsia por punción ecodirigida y de la pieza operatoria, y otro paciente en quien se demostró con biopsia preoperatoria, una invasión del tumor vesical transicional a cuello vesical y uretra prostática. En cada caso seleccionado se estudiaron detenidamente los resultados de la anatomía patológica con especial énfasis en determinar la presencia de un CPI y/o la invasión neoplásica de la uretra prostática. De los pacientes sometidos a la cirugía radical estándar (n=15), ninguno manifestó sospecha clínica ni serológica de CP previo a la cirugía. Sólo en un caso se evidenció un CPI Gleason 3+3 intraglandular en50 por ciento del tejido prostático (paciente de 63 años con CPR más neovejiga ileal ortotópica). Además de este caso no se observó ninguna otra neoplasia a nivel prostático...

In the last years the interest for preserving the prostatic capsule and seminal vesicles in the radical surgery for organ confined bladder cancer has increased. The indications for this technique are: young patients in good conditions, organ confined tumors, unharmed bladder neck and no suspicion of a synchronic prostate cancer (PC). Prostate and seminal sparing achieves better results after surgery in regard to continence, erectile and ejaculatory function, compared with the standard surgical technique. Our Department decided to assess this situation in our patients subjected to radical cystoprostatectomy (RCP) for bladder cancer with clinical stage cT2, in regard to the incidence of incidental prostate cancer (IPC) and the tumoral extension to the prostatic urethra. 17 patients were indicated a RCP for organ confined bladder cancer in our Department between June 2002 and April 2004. Of these, 15 cases were identified with stage pT2-pT3 (mean age 64 years, range 52 to 72). Two patients were not included in the series: one patient with clinical suspicion for prostate cancer, (Prostate cancer was then confirmed by ultrasound guided biopsy and final pathology report after surgery), and another patient with verified transitional cell carcinoma invasion to the bladder neck and prostatic urethra. In each selected case the pathological features were carefully studied with special emphasis in determine the presence of a IPC or the tumoral invasion of the prostatic urethra. Any patient with indication of radical surgery (n=15) showed clinical or serological suspicion of PC preoperatively. In only one case, a intraglandular IPC score Gleason 3+3 was demonstrated in 50 percent of the prostatic tissue (63 year old patient with RPC and orthotopic ileal neobladder). Besides this case, no other neoplasia was observed in the prostate, prostatic urethra or seminal vesicles. A 6.6 percent of the RCP of our series presented a IPC...

Fusión esplenogonadal: reporte de 1 caso / Splenogonadal fusion: report of one case

Se presenta el caso de un paciente operado por tumor testicular izquierdo, cuyo estudio anatomopatológico concluyó una fusión esplenogonadal. Se entrega información respecto a esta rara malformación y se mencionan herramientas diagnósticas que pueden ayudar al diagnóstico preoperatorio con la consiguiente reducción de la cirugía radical testicular.

Validación de un modelo predictivo para la presencia y localización del compromiso extracapsular en cancer de próstata / Validation of predictive model for the presence and location of the extracapsular commitment in prostate cancer

El conocimiento de la presencia y localización de la extensión extracapsular (EEC) en el cáncer de próstata antes de la cirugía, ayuda sustancialmente a la toma de decisiones y prevee resultados postoperatorios más confiables para el Urólogo y su paciente. Hasta antes de la creación del nomograma de Ohori no existía un modelo predictivo que determinar la presencia y localización de la invasión extracapsular en el cáncer clínicamente localizado. El objetivo del estudio fue validar la utilidad clínica de un modelo predictivo para establecer la probabilidad lado específica de la EEC en la prostatectomía radical (PR), basado en la utilización de algunas variables clínico-patológicas del cáncer prostático. Estudiamos 48 hombres con estadio clínico TIc-T3 sometidos a PR, divididos en 2 grupos: 17 pacientes que presentaron compromiso extracapsular en la biopsia postoperatoria (estadios pT3) y otro grupo de 31 pacientes sin EEC (estadios pT2). A todos se les aplicó retrospectivamente las variables predictivas del nomograma de Ohori las que incluían para cada lóbulo: el estadio T clínico, el score Gleason, porcentaje de muestras positivas, porcentaje de cáncer en las muestras y el PSA preoperatorio. Las predicciones obtenidas en ambos grupos fueron confrontadas con el resultado anatomopatológico definitivo de la pieza operatoria. Del total de lóbulos prostáticos con EEC (n=20 lóbulos) el nomograma arrojó una probabilidad de 50 por ciento en todos ellos menor o igual al 80 por ciento en 90 por ciento de éstos (n=18 lóbulos). Al analizar los 76 lóbulos sin EEC obtuvimos una probabilidad mayor o igual al 10 por ciento e incluso menor o igual al 5 por ciento en 90 por ciento de los especímenes (n=69 lóbulos). Recomendamos el uso rutinario de este modelo predictivo en la práctica clínica, ya que es una herramienta válida para la elección del tipo de cirugía y principalmente en la decisión de preservar o no los nervios cavernosos.

Estudio de diez casos de psicosis en Mapuches. / 10 cases of psychosis in Mapuche indians

Se estudian diez casos de psicosis en pacientes indigenas (mapuches) que enferman en un medio urbano, al poco tiempo de su emigracion desde la comunidad rural de origen. El cuadro mas frecuente es el de una forma reactiva que denominamos psicosis aguda oniroide, basandonos en la nomenclatura de Mayer-Gross. Se analizan los casos, encontrandose en la fenomenologia de esta psicosis: perburbacion de conciencia; influencia de la desadaptacion cultural tanto en el inicio como en el tema del delirio, vivencias paranoideas de grandeza y de fin de mundo, con alucinaciones escenograficas. La curacion es sin secuelas, con reaceptacion de su identidad etnica