Ca2+ signaling driving pacemaker activity in submucosal interstitial cells of Cajal in the murine colon.

Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) generate pacemaker activity responsible for phasic contractions in colonic segmentation and peristalsis. ICC along the submucosal border (ICC-SM) contribute to mixing and more complex patterns of colonic motility. We show the complex patterns of Ca2+ signaling in ICC-SM and the relationship between ICC-SM Ca2+ transients and activation of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) using optogenetic tools. ICC-SM displayed rhythmic firing of Ca2+transients ~ 15 cpm and paced adjacent SMCs. The majority of spontaneous activity occurred in regular Ca2+ transients clusters (CTCs) that propagated through the network. CTCs were organized and dependent upon Ca2+ entry through voltage-dependent Ca2+ conductances, L- and T-type Ca2+ channels. Removal of Ca2+ from the external solution abolished CTCs. Ca2+ release mechanisms reduced the duration and amplitude of Ca2+ transients but did not block CTCs. These data reveal how colonic pacemaker ICC-SM exhibit complex Ca2+-firing patterns and drive smooth muscle activity and overall colonic contractions.

A high throughput machine-learning driven analysis of Ca2+ spatio-temporal maps.

High-resolution Ca2+ imaging to study cellular Ca2+ behaviors has led to the creation of large datasets with a profound need for standardized and accurate analysis. To analyze these datasets, spatio-temporal maps (STMaps) that allow for 2D visualization of Ca2+ signals as a function of time and space are often used. Methods of STMap analysis rely on a highly arduous process of user defined segmentation and event-based data retrieval. These methods are often time consuming, lack accuracy, and are extremely variable between users. We designed a novel automated machine-learning based plugin for the analysis of Ca2+ STMaps (STMapAuto). The plugin includes optimized tools for Ca2+ signal preprocessing, automated segmentation, and automated extraction of key Ca2+ event information such as duration, spatial spread, frequency, propagation angle, and intensity in a variety of cell types including the Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). The plugin is fully implemented in Fiji and able to accurately detect and expeditiously quantify Ca2+ transient parameters from ICC. The plugin's speed of analysis of large-datasets was 197-fold faster than the commonly used single pixel-line method of analysis. The automated machine-learning based plugin described dramatically reduces opportunities for user error and provides a consistent method to allow high-throughput analysis of STMap datasets.

Can the life-history strategy explain the success of the exotic trees Ailanthus altissima and Robinia pseudoacacia in Iberian floodplain forests?

Ailanthus altissima and Robina pseudoacacia are two successful invasive species of floodplains in central Spain. We aim to explain their success as invaders in this habitat by exploring their phenological pattern, vegetative and sexual reproductive growth, and allometric relations, comparing them with those of the dominant native tree Populus alba. During a full annual cycle we follow the timing of vegetative growth, flowering, fruit set, leaf abscission and fruit dispersal. Growth was assessed by harvesting two-year old branches at the peaks of vegetative, flower and fruit production and expressing the mass of current-year leaves, stems, inflorescences and infrutescences per unit of previous-year stem mass. Secondary growth was assessed as the increment of trunk basal area per previous-year basal area. A. altissima and R. pseudoacacia showed reproductive traits (late flowering phenology, insect pollination, late and long fruit set period, larger seeds) different from P. alba and other native trees, which may help them to occupy an empty reproductive niche and benefit from a reduced competition for the resources required by reproductive growth. The larger seeds of the invaders may make them less dependent on gaps for seedling establishment. If so, these invaders may benefit from the reduced gap formation rate of flood-regulated rivers of the study region. The two invasive species showed higher gross production than the native, due to the higher size of pre-existing stems rather than to a faster relative growth rate. The latter was only higher in A. altissima for stems, and in R. pseudoacacia for reproductive organs. A. altissima and R. pseudoacacia showed the lowest and highest reproductive/vegetative mass ratio, respectively. Therefore, A. altissima may outcompete native P. alba trees thanks to a high potential to overtop coexisting plants whereas R. pseudoacacia may do so by means of a higher investment in sexual reproduction.

[Splenosis and pelvic pain. A report of a case and literature review]. / Esplenosis y dolor pélvico. Reporte de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

Initially described by Buchbinder and Lipkoff in 1929, esplenosis is the transplant of the splenic heterotopy weave in the abdominal cavity. It is observed after the splenic traumatic rupture and appendectomy. It occurs also during the embryonic development. The most frequent places where it takes place are: the intrathoraxic cavity, intraperitoneal, retroperitoneo, and brain. Although the presence of this ectopic splenic weave is symptomatic, this pathology can be evident by pain in the pelvis or it can be confused with other pathologies such as hemangiomas of intestine, and endometriosis including metastasis carcinoma. It is impossible to predict which patients will develop the splenosis after the splenic trauma. The time of rupture or damage of the splectonomy and the amount of blood in the peritoneal cavity are not related with the number of implants. The symptoms are the clue. When the splenosis is diagnosed incidentally in a symptomatic patient, the complete surgery removal is not indicated. However this surgery is recommended when the abdominal pain or the diagnosis is uncertain. In this paper a case with a secondary pelvic pain, probably due to a tubaric abortion, agreeing with secondary splenosis and a traumatic splenic rupture, is reported.

Realidad ambiental en América Latina

Anuncia que en los países de América Latina y el Caribe, al igual que en otras regiones del mundo, existe un conjunto de presiones socioeconómicas similares que afectan el ambiente; la pobreza y la desigualdad de ingresos están entre las más graves. Además se puede señalar el desarrollo insostenible de la agricultura, la industria y el turismo, la urbanización no planificada, el crecimiento demográfico y la densidad poblacional. Sin embargo también hay en estos países una variedad importante en términos climáticos, biofísicos, geomorfológicos y socioeconómicos. Esta diversidad dificulta la aplicación de políticas únicas en cuestiones ambientales

Realidad ambiental en América Latina

Anuncia que en los países de América Latina y el Caribe, al igual que en otras regiones del mundo, existe un conjunto de presiones socioeconómicas similares que afectan el ambiente; la pobreza y la desigualdad de ingresos están entre las más graves. Además se puede señalar el desarrollo insostenible de la agricultura, la industria y el turismo, la urbanización no planificada, el crecimiento demográfico y la densidad poblacional. Sin embargo también hay en estos países una variedad importante en términos climáticos, biofísicos, geomorfológicos y socioeconómicos. Esta diversidad dificulta la aplicación de políticas únicas en cuestiones ambientales

Procedimientos, técnicas y comunicaciones en Endocrinología Medicina legal, dolor y Medicina molecular: Prolactinoma. Generalidades, epidemiología, manifestaciones clínicas, diagnóstico y tratamiento / Proccedings, communications and techniques in Endocrinology, Legal Medicine, pain and Molecular Medicine: prolactinoma, Epidemiology, clinical picture, diagnosisi and treatment

Los prolactinomas son adenomas hipofisiarios frecuentes y son causa importante de infertilidad. Son más frecuentes en mujeres entre la segunda y quinta décadas de la vida. Morfólogicamente se clasifican como microprolactinomas (<10 mm) y macroprolactinomas (>10 mm). Sus manifestaciones pueden ser endocrinas (que son las más frecuentes) o por efecto de masa y neurológicas

Eficacia de Sulbactam/Ampicilina en la profilaxis de infecciones postquirúrgicas en gineco-obstetricia: estudio abierto comparativo / Eficacy of sulbactam/Ampicillin in prophylaxis of post-surgical infections in gyneco-obstetries. open comparative study

Se llevó a cabo un estudio multicéntrico, abierto, comparativo, de distribución al azar, para conocer el efecto como profiláctico de infecciones post-quirúrgicas en gineco-obstetricia, de la combinación de Sulbactam/Ampicilina vs. la no adminstración del fármaco. Se incluyeron 100 pacientes, 50 en cada grupo, a las que se le practicó tipo de cirugía gineco-obstetricia. Las pacientes en el grupo de Sulbactam/Ampicilina recibieron el fármaco en dosis de 0.5/1.0 g, por vía intravenosa en el momento del acto quirúrgico, lo cual se repirió 6 horas después. En este grupo no hubo ninguna infección post-quirúrgica, mientras que en el grupo que no recibió medicamento profiláctico se presentaron 4 casos de infección post/quirúrgica. Se concluye que la combinación de Sulbactam/Ampicilina es eficaz como tratamiento profiláctico en este tipo de cirugía además de ser bien tolerado y fácil de administrar