NaStEP, an essential protein for self-incompatibility in Nicotiana, performs a dual activity as a proteinase inhibitor and as a voltage-dependent channel blocker.

The S-specific pollen rejection response in Nicotiana depends on the interaction between S-RNase and a suite of SLF proteins. However, the biochemical pathway requires other essential proteins. One of them is the stigmatic protein NaStEP, which belongs to the Kunitz-type protease inhibitor family. Within the pollen tubes, NaStEP is a positive regulator of HT-B stability, likely inhibiting its degradation and, additionally, interacts with NaSIPP, a mitochondrial phosphate carrier. To gain a deeper understanding of the biochemical role of NaStEP in pollen rejection, we evaluated whether the activity of NaStEP as protease inhibitor is specific to a particular type of protease and whether it has the function of a voltage-dependent channel (VDC) blocker. Our findings indicate that, in vitro, NaStEP inhibits a subtilisin-like protease in an irreversible manner, but not other proteases, such as thermolysin and papain. Furthermore, we found that subtilisin processes the native NaStEP (24 kDa) into two lower molecular weight peptides of 21 and 14 kDa. Moreover, when we incubated NaStEP along with Xenopus leavis oocytes expressing the voltage-dependent potassium channel Kv 1.3, the current was blocked, indicating that NaStEP acts as a VDC blocker. These data allow us to propose NaStEP acts as a key molecule with two functions, one protecting HT-B from degradation by inhibiting a subtilisin-like protease and the second one by forming a complex with a mitochondrial VDC that could destabilize the mitochondria to trigger cell death, which would reinforce S-specific pollen rejection in Nicotiana.

Effect of platform subway depth on the presence of Airborne PM2.5, metals, and toxic organic species.

PM2.5 that have been related to public health risks, were collected during two seasons with High-Vol samplers in platforms of a Mexican subway station, which interconnects through transfers three lines having different depths. The objective was to study the influence of depth on the PM2.5 concentrations and their species. PM2.5 concentrations in cold-dry and warm-dry seasons presented statistical differences, being in average 57 and 66 µgm-3 respectively, in the shallower line 9; 90 µgm-3 and 111 µgm-3 in line 1; and 104 and 122 µgm-3in the deepest line 7. During the cold-dry season and warm-dry season PM2.5concentrations in the subway environment were respectively up to 3.5 times and up to 5 times greater than in the ambient air. Like PM2.5, metals analyzed with an OES-ICP presented higher concentrations in deeper lines as well as PAHs quantified with CG-MS, which ranged from 4.5 to 11.7 ngm-3. High PM2.5, metals and organic toxic concentrations found in deeper lines of the subway environment represent a risk for commuters endorsing the need for ventilation systems to reduce them. Zn, Pb, V and Ni in subway particles presented the highest solubility in artificial lysosomal fluid suggesting high bioavailability in the lung fluids.

Generation of long-range curved-surface plasmonic modes and their propagation through thin metal films in a tandem array.

We describe the generation of plasmonic modes that propagate in a curved trajectory. This is performed by masking a metal surface with two screens containing a randomly distributed set of holes that follow a Gaussian statistic. The diameter of the holes is less than the wavelength of the illuminating plane wave. By implementing scaling and rotations on each screen, we control the correlation trajectory and generate long-range curved plasmonic modes. The study is generalized for the transmission of a plasmonic mode propagating in a tandem array of thin metal films using the evanescent character of the electric field.

Topological properties of the interaction between focusing regions kind cusped.

We study here the cusped-cusped interaction between two kinds of Pearcey optical fields by analyzing its topological structure. We do it in two steps; the first one is an irradiance interaction that allows us to identify organization regions. The second one is an amplitude interaction, where it is shown that the interference fringes are organized around the irradiance distribution. The topological behavior of the optical field is analyzed identifying regions with different phase functions, one of them, corresponds with a catastrophe function which has associated a focusing region, the other region can be approximated by a quadratic function. The main consequence heritage from the phase structure is interference fringes emerge from focusing regions having similar features like a topological charges. We show computational and experimental results which are in very well agreement with the theoretical model.

Diffraction by three-dimensional slit-shape curves: decomposition in terms of Airy and Pearcey functions.

We analyze the diffraction field generated by coherent illumination of a three-dimensional transmittance characterized by a slit-shape curve. Generic features are obtained using the Frenet-Serret equations, which allow a decomposition of the optical field. The analysis is performed by describing the influence of the curvature and torsion on osculating, normal, and rectifying planes. We show that the diffracted field has a decomposition in three optical fields propagating along three optical axes that are mutually perpendicular. The decomposition is in terms of the Pearcey and Airy functions, and the generalized Airy function. Experimental results are shown.

Markovian optical modes.

We describe the transition of a set of optical modes following a Markov chain process, where the mean value of the amplitude converge to a new type of partially coherent mode, with the property that the coherence features are easily tunable with the parameters of the chain. The amplitude of the resulting mode depends on the probability transition of the chain. As a prototype, we establish an analogy with gambler's chain ruin, using as a basis for the vector space the Bessel modes of integer order. Computer simulations are shown.

An improved strategy for evaluating the extent of chronic arterial baroreceptor denervation in conscious rats

There is no index or criterion of aortic barodenervation, nor can we differentiate among rats that have suffered chronic sham, aortic or sino-aortic denervation. The objective of this study was to develop a procedure to generate at least one quantitative, reproducible and validated index that precisely evaluates the extent of chronic arterial barodenervation performed in conscious rats. Data from 79 conscious male Wistar rats of about 65-70 days of age with diverse extents of chronic arterial barodenervation and used in previous experiments were reanalyzed. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the heart rate (HR) of all rats were measured systematically before (over 1 h) and after three consecutive iv bolus injections of phenylephrine (PHE) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Four expressions of the effectiveness of barodenervation (MAP lability, PHE ratio, SNP ratio, and SNP-PHE slope) were assessed with linear fixed models, three-level average variance, average separation among levels, outlier box plot analysis, and overlapping graphic analysis. The analysis indicated that a) neither MAP lability nor SNP-PHE slope was affected by the level of chronic sodium intake; b) even though the Box-Cox transformations of both MAP lability [transformed lability index (TLI)] and SNP-PHE slope [transformed general sensitivity index (TGSI), {((3-(ΔHRSNP-ΔHRPHE/ΔMAPSNP-ΔMAPPHE))-0.4-1)/-0.04597}] could be two promising indexes, TGSI proved to be the best index; c) TLI and TGSI were not freely interchangeable indexes for this purpose. TGSI ranges that permit differentiation between sham (10.09 to 11.46), aortic (8.40 to 9.94) and sino-aortic (7.68 to 8.24) barodenervated conscious rats were defined.

An improved strategy for evaluating the extent of chronic arterial baroreceptor denervation in conscious rats.

There is no index or criterion of aortic barodenervation, nor can we differentiate among rats that have suffered chronic sham, aortic or sino-aortic denervation. The objective of this study was to develop a procedure to generate at least one quantitative, reproducible and validated index that precisely evaluates the extent of chronic arterial barodenervation performed in conscious rats. Data from 79 conscious male Wistar rats of about 65-70 days of age with diverse extents of chronic arterial barodenervation and used in previous experiments were reanalyzed. The mean arterial pressure (MAP) and the heart rate (HR) of all rats were measured systematically before (over 1 h) and after three consecutive iv bolus injections of phenylephrine (PHE) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Four expressions of the effectiveness of barodenervation (MAP lability, PHE ratio, SNP ratio, and SNP-PHE slope) were assessed with linear fixed models, three-level average variance, average separation among levels, outlier box plot analysis, and overlapping graphic analysis. The analysis indicated that a) neither MAP lability nor SNP-PHE slope was affected by the level of chronic sodium intake; b) even though the Box-Cox transformations of both MAP lability [transformed lability index (TLI)] and SNP-PHE slope [transformed general sensitivity index (TGSI), {((3-(ΔHR(SNP)-ΔHR(PHE)/ΔMAP(SNP)-ΔMAP(PHE)))(-0.4)-1)/-0.04597}] could be two promising indexes, TGSI proved to be the best index; c) TLI and TGSI were not freely interchangeable indexes for this purpose. TGSI ranges that permit differentiation between sham (10.09 to 11.46), aortic (8.40 to 9.94) and sino-aortic (7.68 to 8.24) barodenervated conscious rats were defined.

Progresión de la polineuropatía amiloidótica familiar tras el trasplante hepático / The progression of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy following a liver transplant

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Forensic potential of the STR DXYS156 in Mexican populations: inference of X-linked allele null.

The pentanucleotide STR (TAAAA)n DXYS156 offers advantages for genetic identity testing. In addition to establish the gender, DXYS156 expands the DNA profile and is able to indicate the possible geographic origin of the individual. We analyzed DXYS156 in 757 individuals of both sexes from Mexican populations. We studied the cosmopolitan Mestizo population and six Mexican ethnic groups: Tarahumaras, Purépechas, Nahuas, Mayas, Huicholes and Mezcala Indians. The six shorter (4-10) and the three larger alleles (11-13) were specific for the X and Y-chromosomes, respectively. A random distribution of alleles into genotypes was observed in males and females from each population. We estimated the power of exclusion for paternity testing according to the son's gender, and the power of discrimination in forensic casework. In addition, we detected a relatively high frequency of an X-linked allele null, principally in Mexican-Mestizos (3.6%), which must be considered when DXYS156 be applied for identification purposes.

Allele frequency distributions of six Amp-FLPS (D1S80, APO-B, VWA, TH01, CSF1PO and HPRTB) in a Mexican population.

Six amplified fragment length polymorphisms or Amp-FLPs, two VNTRs (D1S80 and APO-B) and four STRs (VWA, TH01, CSF1PO and HPRTB), were typed in a Mexican population of the Jalisco state by means of non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (native PAGE) in standard gel units and silver staining. Genotype distribution was in agreement with Hardy-Weinberg expectations (HWE) for all six markers. Heterozygosity ranged from 70.6 to 83.5%, the cumulated chance of exclusion (CE) and power of discrimination (PD) were 99.4 and 99.99%, respectively. STRs and D1S80 allele frequency distributions (AFD) were similar (P > 0.05) to U.S. Hispanics, but different to U.S. Caucasians and African-Americans. APO-B exhibited similarities with White Brazilians, Spaniards, but differences (P < 0.05) with Amerindian and Black Brazilians.

[Noncompliance with programmed appointments in dyslipidemia patients in pharmacologic treatment]. / El incumplimiento a las citas programadas en los pacientes dislipémicos con tratamiento farmacológico.

OBJECTIVES: To find the non-compliance of patients with Lipaemia with scheduled appointments, to define the profile of non-attending patients and to study the best way of identifying them. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: Primary Care Centres in the province of Alicante. PATIENTS: 107 patients with Lipaemia from five General Medical clinics who received treatment with lipid-lowering drugs. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Non-compliance was assessed by reviewing the appointment books. Non-compliant patients were defined as those who had not attended 80-100% of the appointments made in the six months since the beginning of the study. Non-compliance with appointments was 16.8% (CI: 9.7-23.9). In the profile study none of the variables analysed showed significant differences. Of the methods validated, level of knowledge had the highest sensitivity (88.9%: CI 81.9-94.1); and medical judgement the greatest specificity (86.5%: CI 79.5-92.5), with the coefficient for probability of low compliance 2.9 and best Kappa index 0.25. CONCLUSIONS: One out of every six patients with Lipaemia does not attend follow-up appointments. There is no profile of the non-compliant patient. Only medical judgement can be valid for suspecting non-compliance with scheduled appointments.

Amnioinfusion: an aid in the ultrasonographic evaluation of severe oligohydramnios in pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: Amnioinfusion was used in pregnancy complicated by severe oligohydramnios to enable a more comprehensive ultrasonographic evaluation of the pregnancy. STUDY DESIGN: Thirteen patients were referred to the Division of Obstetrical and Gynecological Ultrasound at the University of Miami because of severe oligohydramnios in which a definitive diagnosis could not be made. Nine patients were in the second trimester and four were in the early third trimester. All patients underwent amnioinfusion with warm physiologic saline solution and instillation of indigo carmine. Genetic amniocentesis was performed in 11 patients. RESULTS: After amnioinfusion a satisfactory comprehensive ultrasonographic examination could be performed on all patients. In most cases we were able to achieve a definitive diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Amnioinfusion with the addition of indigo carmine was a satisfactory technique to enable a more comprehensive ultrasonographic evaluation of pregnancy complicated by severe oligohydramnios.