Cytochrome c levels affect the TOR pathway to regulate growth and metabolism under energy-deficient conditions.

Mitochondrial function is essential for plant growth, but the mechanisms involved in adjusting growth and metabolism to changes in mitochondrial energy production are not fully understood. We studied plants with reduced expression of CYTC-1, one of two genes encoding the respiratory chain component cytochrome c (CYTc) in Arabidopsis, to understand how mitochondria communicate their status to coordinate metabolism and growth. Plants with CYTc deficiency show decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and lower ATP content, even when carbon sources are present. They also exhibit higher free amino acid content, induced autophagy, and increased resistance to nutritional stress caused by prolonged darkness, similar to plants with triggered starvation signals. CYTc deficiency affects target of rapamycin (TOR)-pathway activation, reducing S6 kinase (S6K) and RPS6A phosphorylation, as well as total S6K protein levels due to increased protein degradation via proteasome and autophagy. TOR overexpression restores growth and other parameters affected in cytc-1 mutants, even if mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP levels remain low. We propose that CYTc-deficient plants coordinate their metabolism and energy availability by reducing TOR-pathway activation as a preventive signal to adjust growth in anticipation of energy exhaustion, thus providing a mechanism by which changes in mitochondrial activity are transduced to the rest of the cell.

Cross-talk between mitochondrial function, growth, and stress signalling pathways in plants.

Plant mitochondria harbour complex metabolic routes that are interconnected with those of other cell compartments, and changes in mitochondrial function remotely influence processes in different parts of the cell. This implies the existence of signals that convey information about mitochondrial function to the rest of the cell. Increasing evidence indicates that metabolic and redox signals are important for this process, but changes in ion fluxes, protein relocalization, and physical contacts with other organelles are probably also involved. Besides possible direct effects of these signalling molecules on cellular functions, changes in mitochondrial physiology also affect the activity of different signalling pathways that modulate plant growth and stress responses. As a consequence, mitochondria influence the responses to internal and external factors that modify the activity of these pathways and associated biological processes. Acting through the activity of hormonal signalling pathways, mitochondria may also exert remote control over distant organs or plant tissues. In addition, an intimate cross-talk of mitochondria with energy signalling pathways, such as those represented by TARGET OF RAPAMYCIN and SUCROSE NON-FERMENTING1-RELATED PROTEIN KINASE 1, can be envisaged. This review discusses available evidence on the role of mitochondria in shaping plant growth and stress responses through various signalling pathways.

The tip of the iceberg: emerging roles of TORC1, and its regulatory functions in plant cells.

Target of Rapamycin (TOR) is an evolutionarily conserved protein kinase that plays a central role in coordinating cell growth with light availability, the diurnal cycle, energy availability, and hormonal pathways. TOR Complex 1 (TORC1) controls cell proliferation, growth, metabolism, and defense in plants. Sugar availability is the main signal for activation of TOR in plants, as it also is in mammals and yeast. Specific regulators of the TOR kinase pathway in plants are inorganic compounds in the form of major nutrients in the soils, and light inputs via their impact on autotrophic metabolism. The lack of TOR is embryo-lethal in plants, whilst dysregulation of TOR signaling causes major alterations in growth and development. TOR exerts control as a regulator of protein translation via the action of proteins such as S6K, RPS6, and TAP46. Phytohormones are central players in the downstream systemic physiological TOR effects. TOR has recently been attributed to have roles in the control of DNA methylation, in the abundance of mRNA splicing variants, and in the variety of regulatory lncRNAs and miRNAs. In this review, we summarize recent discoveries in the plant TOR signaling pathway in the context of our current knowledge of mammalian and yeast cells, and highlight the most important gaps in our understanding of plants that need to be addressed in the future.

La generalización de resultados científico técnicos en las instituciones de salud: preguntas frecuentes para su abordaje / Generalization of scientific and technical results in health institutions: Frequent questions on its approach

CONCEPTO, PREGUNTAS y RESPUESTAS El resultado científico técnico (RCT) es el aporte de la investigación científica que se materializa en sistemas de conocimientos sobre la esencia del objeto o sobre su comportamiento en la práctica, tales como: metodologías, estrategias; modelos, sistemas, y producciones materiales, entre otros. 1. ¿Qué es la generalización? R: Proceso de asimilación e implantación por parte de las entidades, territorios, empresas y OACE de aquellos resultados científicos y técnicos ya probados y útiles, generados en el país o fuera de este, que les permitan elevar la eficiencia, eficacia, calidad y competitividad. 2 ¿Cómo se organiza? R: La organización y ejecución de las tareas generalizables fluyen a través del Plan de generalización teniendo como norma de referencia la aplicación de la resolución 23 del 2000 del CITMA. La cual establece normativas que organizan, planifican y controlan este...(AU)

Resultados científico-técnicos en el Policlínico Antonio Maceo del municipio Cerro entre 1997-2011 / Scientific and Technical Results at Antonio Maceo Polyclinic, Cerro Municipality between 1997-2011

Introducción: el sistema de ciencia e innovación tecnológica no es exclusivo de los institutos de investigación, se ha extendido a la Atención Primaria y Secundaria de Salud con el fin de comprometer a todos sus profesionales y personal técnico en la actividad científico técnica, y utilizar el método científico como herramienta básica en su quehacer cotidiano. Objetivo: caracterizar los resultados derivados de la actividad científico técnica del Policlínico Universitario "Antonio Maceo" en el periodo 1997-2011. Métodos: estudio descriptivo y retrospectivo de todos los resultados científicos técnicos alcanzados en el Policlínico Universitario "Antonio Maceo" en el periodo 1997-2011, teniendo en cuenta su relación con las prioridades de salud, sus impactos, salidas, resultados por año y número de autores. Resultados: se obtuvieron 83 resultados, donde participaron 168 investigadores que tributan a los programas ramales de materno infantil, crónicas no transmisibles, riesgos y accidentes, cáncer, adulto mayor, calidad de vida y bienestar; salud de los trabajadores y atención primaria, con alcance territorial e impacto social. No disponían de resultados relacionados con medicamentos, informática, evaluación de tecnologías sanitarias, ni de formación de recursos humanos a pesar de ser un policlínico universitario. Conclusiones: no todas las áreas priorizadas de la salud tienen cubiertas sus prioridades con la actividad científico técnica en el policlínico. El número de resultados ha tenido un comportamiento estable en el periodo 1997-2011, aunque no existe una correspondencia adecuada con el potencial científico que se dispone.

Introduction: the system of science and technological innovation is not exclusive of research institutes, it has spread to Primary and Secondary Health Care in order to engage all professional and technical personnel in the technical scientific activity, and in order to use the scientific method as a basic tool in their daily work. Objective: characterize the results from the technical scientific activity at Antonio Maceo University Polyclinic from 1997 to 2011. Method: a retrospective study was conducted of all technical scientific achievements at Antonio Maceo University Polyclinic from 1997 to 2011 taking into account these achievements' relationship with health priorities, impacts, outputs, outcomes per year and number of authors. Results: 83 results were found. 168 researchers participated and they contribute to the branch programs with territorial scope and social impact: mother and child health, non-communicable chronic diseases, risks and accidents, cancer, elderly, quality of life and workers wellbeing, workers' health and primary care. No results related drug, information technology, health technology assessment, training and human resources are available despite being a university clinic. Conclusions: not all prioritized health areas have covered with technical scientific activity at this polyclinic. The number of results has been stable over the period 1997-2011, although there is no adequate correspondence with the available scientific potential.

Bases legales de la calidad en los servicios de salud / Legal basis of quality in health services

La calidad de los servicios de salud se fundamenta en la satisfacción de la población, la excelencia profesional, la eficiencia en el uso de los recursos, en ofrecer una atención con un riesgo mínimo para los pacientes y en la evaluación del impacto final de las acciones en términos de ganancia en salud para los ciudadanos. Para el logro de este fin los servicios deben organizarse de forma adecuada y establecer o aplicar las normas, guías de práctica clínica, procedimientos y protocolos diagnóstico terapéuticos necesarios, además de realizar los procesos relacionados con la verificación de los instrumentos de medición y de la tecnología biomédica basados en el cumplimiento de las legislaciones vigentes. Con el objetivo de identificar el marco legal relacionado con la calidad de los servicios asistenciales en el sector de la salud se realizó una revisión del tema y se identificaron los Decretos leyes y Resoluciones Ministeriales correspondientes que refrendan y soportan la calidad en los servicios de salud. Estos decretos y resoluciones están vigentes y su conocimiento es indispensable para su control y cumplimiento

The quality of health services is founded on the population's satisfaction, the professional excellence, the efficient use of resources, the provision of care with minimum risks for the patients, and the evaluation of the final impact of actions in terms of better health for the citizens. To this end, the services must be adequately organized and one must set or apply the required standards, clinical practice guidelines, procedures and therapeutic diagnosis protocols, in addition to implementing methods related to checking of measuring instruments and of biomedical technology, on the basis of the fulfillment of the present legislation. With the objective of identifying the legal framework associated to the quality of medical assistance services, a literature review on this topic was made and then the corresponding decree-laws and resolutions passed by the Ministry, which endorse the quality of health services, were identified. These decree-laws and resolutions are in effect, so it is indispensable to know them for their control and compliance