Improving degradation of paracetamol by integrating gamma radiation and Fenton processes.

Degradation of paracetamol (N-(4-hydroxiphenyl)acetamide) in aqueous solution by gamma radiation, gamma radiation/H2O2 and gamma radiation/Fenton processes was studied. Parameters affecting the radiolysis of paracetamol such as radiation dose, initial concentration of pollutant, pH and initial oxidant concentration were investigated. Gamma radiation was performed using a (60)Co source irradiator. Paracetamol degradation and mineralization increased with increasing absorbed radiation dose, but decreased with increasing initial concentration of the drug in aqueous solution. The addition of H2O2 resulted in an increased effect on irradiation-driven paracetamol degradation in comparison with the performance of the irradiation-driven process alone: paracetamol removal increased from 48.9% in the absence of H2O2 to 95.2% for H2O2 concentration of 41.7 mmol/L. However, the best results were obtained with gamma radiation/Fenton process with 100% of the drug removal at 5 kGy, for optimal H2O2 and Fe(2+) concentrations at 13.9 and 2.3 mmol/L, respectively, with a high mineralization of 63.7%. These results suggest gamma radiation/H2O2 and gamma radiation/Fenton processes as promising methods for paracetamol degradation in polluted wastewaters.

Unraveling the Role of AtSRT2 in Energy Metabolism, Stress Responses, and Gene Expression during Osmotic Stress in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Sirtuins participate in chromatin remodeling and gene expression regulation during stress responses. They are the only deacetylases that couple the cellular NAD+-dependent energy metabolism with transcriptional regulation. They catalyze the production of nicotinamide, inhibiting sirtuin 2 (SIR2) activity in vivo. The SIR2 homolog, AtSRT2, deacetylates non-histone proteins associated with mitochondrial energy metabolism. To date, AtSRT2 mechanisms during stress responses in Arabidopsis thaliana remain unclear. The transduction of mitochondrial metabolic signals links the energy status to transcriptional regulation, growth, and stress responses. These signals induce changes by regulating nuclear gene expression. The present study aimed to determine the role of SRT2 and its product nicotinamide in the development of A. thaliana and the expression of osmotic stress-response genes. Leaf development was greater in srt2+ plants than in the wild type, indicating that SET2 plays a role in energy metabolism. Treatment with polyethylene glycol activated and inhibited gene expression in srt2- and srt2+ lines, respectively. Therefore, we concluded that SRT2-stimulated plant growth and repressed signaling are associated with osmotic stress.

Compositional Changes in Sediment Microbiota Are Associated with Seasonal Variation of the Water Column in High-Altitude Hyperarid Andean Lake Systems.

The lacustrine systems of La Brava and La Punta, located in the Tilopozo sector in the extreme south of Salar de Atacama, are pristine high-altitude Andean lakes found along the central Andes of South America. This shallow ecosystem suffers from permanent evaporation, leading to falling water levels, causing it to recede or disappear during the dry season. This dynamic causes physicochemical changes in lakes, such as low nutrient availability, pH change, and dissolved metals, which can influence the composition of the microbial community. In this study, we used a metataxonomic approach (16S rRNA hypervariable regions V3 to V4) to characterize the sedimentary microbiota of these lakes. To understand how the water column affects and is structured in the microbiota of these lakes, we combined the analysis of the persistence of the water column through satellite images and physicochemical characterization. Our results show a significant difference in abiotic factors and microbiota composition between La Punta and La Brava lakes. In addition, microbiota analysis revealed compositional changes in the ecological disaggregation (main and isolated bodies) and antagonistic changes in the abundance of certain taxa between lakes. These findings are an invaluable resource for understanding the microbiological diversity of high Andean lakes using a multidisciplinary approach that evaluates the microbiota behavior in response to abiotic factors. IMPORTANCE In this study, we analyzed the persistence of the water column through satellite images and physicochemical characterization to investigate the composition and diversity in High Andean Lake Systems in a hyperarid environment. In addition to the persistence of the water column, this approach can be used to analyze changes in the morphology of saline accumulations and persistence of snow or ice; for example, for establishing variable plant cover over time and evaluating the microbiota associated with soils with seasonal changes in plants. This makes it an ideal approach to search for novel extremophilic microorganisms with unique properties. In our case, it was used to study microorganisms capable of resisting desiccation and water restriction for a considerable period and adapting to survive in ecological niches, such as those with high UV irradiation, extreme drought, and high salt concentration.

A tripartite SNARE-K+ channel complex mediates in channel-dependent K+ nutrition in Arabidopsis.

A few membrane vesicle trafficking (SNARE) proteins in plants are associated with signaling and transmembrane ion transport, including control of plasma membrane ion channels. Vesicle traffic contributes to the population of ion channels at the plasma membrane. Nonetheless, it is unclear whether these SNAREs also interact directly to affect channel gating and, if so, what functional impact this might have on the plant. Here, we report that the Arabidopsis thaliana SNARE SYP121 binds to KC1, a regulatory K(+) channel subunit that assembles with different inward-rectifying K(+) channels to affect their activities. We demonstrate that SYP121 interacts preferentially with KC1 over other Kv-like K(+) channel subunits and that KC1 interacts specifically with SYP121 but not with its closest structural and functional homolog SYP122 nor with another related SNARE SYP111. SYP121 promoted gating of the inward-rectifying K(+) channel AKT1 but only when heterologously coexpressed with KC1. Mutation in any one of the three genes, SYP121, KC1, and AKT1, selectively suppressed the inward-rectifying K(+) current in Arabidopsis root epidermal protoplasts as well as K(+) acquisition and growth in seedlings when channel-mediated K(+) uptake was limiting. That SYP121 should be important for gating of a K(+) channel and its role in inorganic mineral nutrition demonstrates an unexpected role for SNARE-ion channel interactions, apparently divorced from signaling and vesicle traffic. Instead, it suggests a role in regulating K(+) uptake coordinately with membrane expansion for cell growth.

Study of Wetland Soils of the Salar de Atacama with Different Azonal Vegetative Formations Reveals Changes in the Microbiota Associated with Hygrophile Plant Type on the Soil Surface.

Salar de Atacama is located approximately 55 km south of San Pedro de Atacama in the Antofagasta region, Chile. The high UV irradiation and salt concentration and extreme drought make Salar de Atacama an ideal site to search for novel soil microorganisms with unique properties. Here, we used a metataxonomic approach (16S rRNA V3-V4) to identify and characterize the soil microbiota associated with different surface azonal vegetation formations, including strict hygrophiles (Baccharis juncea, Juncus balticus, and Schoenoplectus americanus), transitional hygrophiles (Distichlis spicata, Lycium humile, and Tessaria absinthioides), and their various combinations. We detected compositional differences among the soil surface microbiota associated with each plant formation in the sampling area. There were changes in soil microbial phylogenetic diversity from the strict to the transitional hygrophiles. Moreover, we found alterations in the abundance of bacterial phyla and genera. Halobacteriota and Actinobacteriota might have facilitated water uptake by the transitional hygrophiles. Our findings helped to elucidate the microbiota of Salar de Atacama and associate them with the strict and transitional hygrophiles indigenous to the region. These findings could be highly relevant to future research on the symbiotic relationships between microbiota and salt-tolerant plants in the face of climate change-induced desertification. IMPORTANCE The study of the composition and diversity of the wetland soil microbiota associated with hygrophilous plants in a desert ecosystem of the high Puna in northern Chile makes it an ideal approach to search for novel extremophilic microorganisms with unique properties. These microorganisms are adapted to survive in ecological niches, such as those with high UV irradiation, extreme drought, and high salt concentration; they can be applied in various fields, such as biotechnology and astrobiology, and industries, including the pharmaceutical, food, agricultural, biofuel, cosmetic, and textile industries. These microorganisms can also be used for ecological conservation and restoration. Extreme ecosystems are a unique biological resource and biodiversity hot spots that play a crucial role in maintaining environmental sustainability. The findings could be highly relevant to future research on the symbiotic relationships between microbiota and extreme-environment-tolerant plants in the face of climate change-induced desertification.

Physicochemical Parameters Affecting the Distribution and Diversity of the Water Column Microbial Community in the High-Altitude Andean Lake System of La Brava and La Punta.

Due to the low incidence of precipitation attributed to climate change, many high-altitude Andean lakes (HAALs) and lagoons distributed along the central Andes in South America may soon disappear. This includes La Brava-La Punta, a brackish lake system located south of the Salar de Atacama within a hyper-arid and halophytic biome in the Atacama Desert. Variations in the physicochemical parameters of the water column can induce changes in microbial community composition, which we aimed to determine. Sixteen sampling points across La Brava-La Punta were studied to assess the influence of water physicochemical properties on the aquatic microbial community, determined via 16S rRNA gene analysis. Parameters such as pH and the concentrations of silica, magnesium, calcium, salinity, and dissolved oxygen showed a more homogenous pattern in La Punta samples, whereas those from La Brava had greater variability; pH and total silica were significantly different between La Brava and La Punta. The predominant phyla were Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia. The genera Psychroflexus (36.85%), Thiomicrospira (12.48%), and Pseudomonas (7.81%) were more abundant in La Brava, while Pseudospirillum (20.73%) and Roseovarius (17.20%) were more abundant in La Punta. Among the parameters, pH was the only statistically significant factor influencing the diversity within La Brava lake. These results complement the known microbial diversity and composition in the HAALs of the Atacama Desert.

Dataset of genome identification and characterization of microsatellite markers loci in Atriplex atacamensis and Atriplex deserticola.

In this work, we partially sequenced genomes of two Atriplex species (A. deserticola Phil. and A. atacamensis Phil.), using Illumina technology (Hiseq 2500 paired-end system) and de novo assembly strategy. Raw data of A. deserticola and A. atacamensis are available from NCBI-Bioproject, PRJNA495747 and PRJNA495763 accessions, respectively. A total of 127086 and 134984 microsatellite or simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were identified within A. deserticola and A. atacamensis genomic DNA, respectively. In addition, predicted putative genes in A. deserticola and A. atacamensis sequences are also presented in this article.

Patrón inflamatorio de las vías aéreas en pacientes fumadores con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica / Inflammatory pattern of the airways in COPD smokers

Introducción: La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica cursa con un patrón inflamatorio en la vía aérea que incluye neutrófilos, macrófagos, linfocitos, los cuales se pueden obtener mediante un cepillado bronquial citológico. Objetivos: Identificar patrón inflamatorio según células inflamatorias presentes en la vía aérea, mediante el cepillado bronquial citológico e índice tabáquico de paquetes/año en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, que concurrieron al Hospital Neumológico Benéfico-Jurídico, en el período comprendido de junio de 2018 a junio de 2019, con indicación para la realización de fibrobroncoscopía con cepillado bronquial. Resultados: El 53,1 por ciento de los pacientes corresponden al sexo masculino. Un 46,1 por ciento presentó un índice tabáquico de paquetes/año entre 21-40. Predominaron las criptas y estrías como hallazgos broncoscópicos con un 51 por ciento y 40,8 por ciento respectivamente en pacientes con índice paquetes/año mayor que 40. De los pacientes con índice paquetes/año mayor de 40 (13 para un 26,5 por ciento) presentaron hiperplasia de células basales. El 46,9 por ciento de los pacientes presentaron un patrón inflamatorio neutrofílica. Conclusiones: Se identificaron a los pacientes con EPOC que presentaron patrón inflamatorio neutrofílica en la vía aérea y elevado índice tabáquico y desde el punto de vista broncoscópico tienen varios hallazgos que sugieren cronicidad(AU)

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease presents with an inflammatory pattern in the airway that includes neutrophils, macrophages, and lymphocytes, which can be obtained by cytological bronchial brushing. Objectives: To identify inflammatory pattern according to inflammatory cells present in the airway, through cytological bronchial brushing and smoking rate of packs/year in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, who attended Benefico-Jurídico Pneumological Hospital, from June 2018 to June 2019, with an indication for fiberoptic bronchoscopy with bronchial brushing. Results: 53.1percent of the patients correspond to the male sex. 46.1percent ad a smoking rate of packs/year between 21-40. Crypts and striae predominated as bronchoscopic findings with 51percent and 40.8percent respectively in patients with a pack/year index greater than 40. Patients with a pack/year index greater than 40 (13 for 26.5percent) showed basal cell hyperplasia. 46.9percent of the patients had a neutrophilic inflammatory pattern. Conclusions: Patients with COPD who had a neutrophilic inflammatory pattern in the airway and high smoking index were identified, and from the bronchoscopic point of view they have several findings that suggest chronicity(AU)

VPEgamma exhibits a caspase-like activity that contributes to defense against pathogens.

BACKGROUND: Caspases are a family of aspartate-specific cysteine proteases that play an essential role in initiating and executing programmed cell death (PCD) in metazoans. Caspase-like activities have been shown to be required for the initiation of PCD in plants, but the genes encoding those activities have not been identified. VPEgamma, a cysteine protease, is induced during senescence, a form of PCD in plants, and is localized in precursor protease vesicles and vacuoles, compartments associated with PCD processes in plants. RESULTS: We show that VPEgamma binds in vivo to a general caspase inhibitor and to caspase-1-specific inhibitors, which block the activity of VPEgamma. A cysteine protease inhibitor, cystatin, accumulates to 20-fold higher levels in vpegamma mutants. Homologs of cystatin are known to suppress hypersensitive cell death in plant and animal systems. We also report that infection with an avirulent strain of Pseudomonas syringae results in an increase of caspase-1 activity, and this increase is partially suppressed in vpegamma mutants. Plants overexpressing VPEgamma exhibit a greater amount of ion leakage during infection with P. syringae, suggesting that VPEgamma may regulate cell death progression during plant-pathogen interaction. VPEgamma expression is induced after infection with P. syringae, Botrytis cinerea, and turnip mosaic virus, and knockout of VPEgamma results in increased susceptibility to these pathogens. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that VPEgamma is a caspase-like enzyme that has been recruited in plants to regulate vacuole-mediated cell dismantling during cell death, a process that has significant influence in the outcome of a diverse set of plant-pathogen interactions.

Frecuencia de hipertensión pulmonar en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica / Frequency of pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Introducción: La enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica es uno de los padecimientos pulmonares más frecuente a nivel mundial. Tiene repercusión sobre la mortalidad, causa importante discapacidad y afecta un número considerable de sujetos en edad productiva. La hipertensión pulmonar es una complicación usual de las enfermedades respiratorias crónicas y en particular de la pulmonar obstructiva crónica. Objetivo: Caracterizar a pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica y sospecha de hipertensión pulmonar. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo, prospectivo en 50 pacientes atendidos en el Hospital Neumológico Benéfico Jurídico desde noviembre 2016 a enero 2018. Se analizaron variables tales como la edad, el sexo, la prueba de función ventilatoria, la radiografía de tórax, el electrocardiograma y el ecocardiograma. Resultados: De 700 pacientes portadores de enfermedad pulmonar crónica, se sospechó hipertensión pulmonar en 7 por ciento y fue confirmada en 34. Las frecuencias por sexo fueron similares y primaron los mayores de 60 años. El 41,6 por ciento de los pacientes tuvo afectación respiratoria severa, 70,6 por ciento presentó hipertensión pulmonar ligera y 64,7 por ciento tenía disnea grado 3. Los índices kappa entre las técnicas utilizadas para el diagnóstico de la hipertensión pulmonar superaron la cifra de 0,74. Conclusiones: La frecuencia de hipertensión pulmonar en pacientes con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica fue elevada. Primaron pacientes con afectación severa de la función respiratoria e hipertensión pulmonar ligera. El grado de enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica no determinó la severidad de hipertensión pulmonar. Los mayores valores de concordancia entre las técnicas diagnósticas se obtuvieron para la radiografía y el ecocardiograma(AU)

Introduction: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is one of the most frequent, worldwide. It has impact on mortality, causing significant disability and affecting a considerable number of subjects of productive age. Pulmonary hypertension is a common complication of chronic respiratory diseases, particularly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Objective: To describe patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and suspected pulmonary hypertension. Methods: A descriptive, prospective study was carried out in 50 patients treated at Benéfico Jurídico Pneumological Hospital from November 2016 to January 2018. Variables such as age, sex, ventilatory function test, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram and the echocardiogram were analyzed. Results: Out of 700 patients with chronic lung disease, pulmonary hypertension was suspected in 7 por ciento and confirmed in 34. The frequencies by sex were similar and those older than 60 years prevailed. 41.6 por ciento of the patients had severe respiratory involvement, 70.6 por ciento had mild pulmonary hypertension and 64.7 por ciento had grade 3 dyspnea. The kappa indices between the techniques used for the diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension exceeded the figure of 0.74. Conclusions: The frequency of pulmonary hypertension in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was high. Patients with severe impairment of respiratory function and mild pulmonary hypertension predominated. The degree of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease did not determine the severity of pulmonary hypertension. The highest concordance values between diagnostic techniques were obtained for radiography and echocardiography(AU)

Evaluación de la respuesta aguda al broncodilatador en pacientes asmáticos sobrepesos y obesos / Evaluation of the acute response to the bronchodilator in overweight and obese asthmatic patients

Introducción: La obesidad está asociada al uso frecuente de medicación de rescate y padecer asma de mayor gravedad. Los obesos asmáticos tienen menor reactividad bronquial, sin embargo, existe información limitada sobre la magnitud de la reversibilidad aguda al broncodilatador (RAB). Objetivo: Evaluar la magnitud de respuesta aguda al broncodilatador en pacientes asmáticos sobrepesos y obesos. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal con 49 pacientes asmáticos sobrepesos y obesos atendidos en consulta externa del Hospital Neumológico Benéfico Jurídico (enero 2017˗ enero 2018) y se constató mediante espirometría la respuesta aguda al broncodilatador. Resultados: Predominó la edad (40-59 años), mayor asociación de padecer asma, poca mejoría con la aplicación del broncodilatador. El sexo femenino (20-59 años) presentó mayor número que el masculino y menor reversibilidad al broncodilatador. Los pacientes con antecedentes patológicos familiares de asma o atopia representaron 73,5 por ciento del total. El 76,5 por ciento de los obesos no presentó mejoría con la aplicación del broncodilatador. Predominó la categoría de gravedad persistente moderada. Conclusiones: El sexo femenino tiene más riesgo de padecer asma y no tener mejoría al aplicar el broncodilatador. Los obesos mayores de 40 años tienen mayor riesgo de no presentar reversibilidad aguda al broncodilatador. Los antecedentes patológicos familiares de asma o atopia y personales de otras enfermedades no predisponen a menor reversibilidad aguda al broncodilatador. La gravedad del asma no influye en la reversibilidad aguda al broncodilatador(AU)

Introduction: Obesity is associated with the frequent use of rescue medication and suffering from more severe asthma. Obese asthmatics have less bronchial reactivity, however, there is limited information on the magnitude of acute bronchodilator reversibility. Objective: To assess the magnitude of the acute response to the bronchodilator in overweight and obese asthmatic patients. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in 49 overweight and obese asthmatic patients seen in the outpatient clinic at Benéfico Jurídico Pneumologic Hospital from January 2017 to January 2018, and the acute response to bronchodilator was verified by spirometry. Results: Age predominated (40-59 years), greater association of suffering from asthma, and little improvement with the use of bronchodilator. The female sex (20-59 years) showed greater number than the male and less reversibility to bronchodilator. Patients with family pathological history of asthma or atopy represented 73.5 percent of the total. 76.5 percent of the obese did not show improvement with the use of bronchodilator. The category of moderate persistent severity predominated. Conclusions: The female sex has greater risk of suffering from asthma and has no improvement when applying bronchodilator. Obese individuals over 40 years of age have higher risk of not having acute reversibility to the bronchodilator. Family pathological history of asthma or atopy and personal history of other diseases do not predispose to less acute reversibility of bronchodilator. The severity of asthma does not influence acute reversibility to bronchodilator(AU)

Caracterización clínico-espirométrica de pacientes asmáticos con síntomas nocturnos / Clinical-spirometric characterization of asthmatic patients with nocturnal symptoms

Introducción: Los síntomas nocturnos son frecuentes en asmáticos y pueden relacionarse con la gravedad, el grado de control del asma y la función pulmonar. Objetivos: Determinar las características demográficas, clínicas y espirométricas de pacientes asmáticos con síntomas nocturnos, que acuden a consulta externa de neumología. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal en 50 pacientes asmáticos con síntomas nocturnos, atendidos por consulta externa en el Hospital Neumológico Benéfico Jurídico, en el período comprendido de mayo de 2017 a mayo de 2018. Resultados: Predominó el sexo femenino (74,0 por ciento), la edad entre 40 y 59 años (52,0 por ciento), los antecedentes familiares de asma o alergia (60,0 por ciento) y múltiples comorbilidades asociadas (78,0 por ciento). La hipersomnia diurna estuvo presente en 80,0 por ciento de los casos, con una frecuencia significativamente elevada en pacientes con asma persistente moderada y severa, disminución de la reversibilidad aguda al broncodilatador, mal control de la enfermedad y limitación de la actividad física. Conclusiones: Los síntomas nocturnos en los pacientes asmáticos son frecuentes y se relacionan con la hipersomnia diurna, la gravedad del asma, el grado de control, la respuesta al broncodilatador y limitación de la actividad física(AU)

Introduction: Nighttime symptoms are frequent in asthmatics and can be related to severity, degree of asthma control and lung function. Objectives: To determine the demographic, clinical and spirometric characteristics of asthmatic patients with nocturnal symptoms, who go to an outpatient pulmonology clinic. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in 50 asthmatic patients with nocturnal symptoms, they were assisted in the outpatient consultation at the Hospital Neumológico Benéfico Jurídico, from May 2017 to May 2018. Results: Female sex (74.0 percent), age ranging 40 and 59 years (52.0 percent), family history of asthma or allergy (60.0 percent) and multiple associated comorbidities (78.0 percent) predominated. Daytime hypersomnia was present in 80.0 percent of cases, with significantly elevated frequency in patients with moderate and severe persistent asthma, decreased acute reversibility to the bronchodilator, poor disease control, and limited physical activity. Conclusions: Nocturnal symptoms in asthmatic patients are frequent and are related to daytime hypersomnia, asthma severity, degree of control, response to the bronchodilator and limitation of physical activity(AU)

Estudio del estado clínico-funcional en pacientes asmáticos / Study of the clinical and functional conditions of asthmatic patients

Introducción: Las principales alteraciones funcionales del asma bronquial son la obstrucción del flujo aéreo, su reversibilidad, variabilidad y la hiperrespuesta bronquial. Objetivo: Determinar el estado clínico-funcional en pacientes con asma que asisten por primera vez a consulta de neumología. Material y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio descriptivo transversal con 110 pacientes que asistieron por primera vez y fueron atendidos por asma en la consulta externa del Hospital Neumológico Benéfico Jurídico (HNBJ) en el año 2014-2015, se comprobó por la clínica y la espirometría la severidad de la enfermedad. Entre las variables de estudio están: edad, sexo, antecedentes patológicos familiares de asma o alergia, índice de masa corporal, gravedad o severidad del asma. Resultados: Predominó el asma de mayor gravedad entre los pacientes comprendidos entre los 40-59 años, con riesgo 4,4 veces superior en mayores de 40 años. El sexo femenino presentó 2,1 veces más riesgo. El 75,5 por ciento de pacientes tenía antecedentes patológicos familiares (APF) de asma o alergia y riesgo 3,4 veces superior de mayor gravedad. Más de la mitad presentó antecedentes patológicos personales (APP) de otras enfermedades y mayor proporción de asma de mayor gravedad. El 53.6 por ciento presentó sobrepeso u obesidad y 4,1 veces más riesgo de mayor gravedad. La mayoría de los pacientes no presentó adicción tabáquica. Conclusiones: Los pacientes mayores de 40 años, sexo femenino y con APF de asma o alergia, presentan asma de mayor gravedad. La obesidad es frecuente en pacientes asmáticos y constituye un riesgo importante de padecer asma más grave. Existe bajo porcentaje de asmáticos fumadores aunque esta condición favorece a padecer un asma más grave(AU)

Introduction: The main functional alterations in bronchial asthma are the obstruction of the air flow, its reversibility, variability, and bronchial hyper- responsiveness. Objective: To determine the clinical and functional conditions in patients with asthma who go to the outpatient pneumology service for the first time. Material and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in 110 patients with asthma that were treated for the first time in the outpatient department of the Pneumology Service at the "Benéfico Jurídico" Teaching Hospital in Havana from June 1st,2014 to June 31st,2015. The severity of asthma was confirmed by clinical diagnosis and spirometric tests. The variables consisted of age, sex, family pathological antecedents of asthma or allergy, body mass index, and seriousness or severity of asthma. Results: The most serious asthma prevailed in patients aged 40 to 59 years, and the patients 40 years old and older presented 4.4 times higher risks. The female sex exhibited 2.1 times higher risks. 75.5 percent of patients with family pathological antecedents (FPA) of asthma or allergy showed 3.4 times higher risk levels for more serious conditions. More than half of patients presented personal pathological antecedents (PPA) of other diseases and a more serious asthma. 53.6 percent were overweight or obese who were 4.1 times at higher risks of suffering from more serious conditions. Most patients did not report smoking addiction. Conclusions: Asthmatic patients over 40 years showed a more serious asthma during their first visit to the outpatient pneumology service, and the female sex prevailed. Asthma or allergy, FPA and PPA were the risk factors for suffering from both asthma and more serious conditions. There is a low percentage of smoking asthmatics although this condition provokes more serious symptoms(AU)

Infección respiratoria por mycobacterium kansasii / Respiratory infection by mycobacterium kansasii

INTRODUCCIÓN: la afectación pulmonar por micobacterias no tuberculosas puede ocurrir en pacientes con enfermedades pulmonares previas o en inmunodeprimidos, aunque también se presenta en personas sin enfermedad anterior. OBJETIVO: conocer el comportamiento de las infecciones respiratorias por Mycobacterium kansasii en pacientes expuestos al polvo del mineral laterítico. MÉTODOS: se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo, prospectivo, de serie de casos, sobre infección respiratoria por Mycobacterium kansasii en pacientes ingresados en el Hospital "Guillermo Luis Fernández" del municipio Moa, Holguín, durante los años 2003-2012. RESULTADOS: la enfermedad fue diagnosticada en 6 pacientes, todos del sexo masculino; el 70 % tenía de 30 a 39 años; 83,33 % presentó tos, la cual fue el síntoma predominante; en el 66,66 % el examen físico resultó normal. El 100 % de los enfermos presentaron imágenes cavitarias en la radiografía de tórax. CONCLUSIONES: la infección respiratoria por Mycobacterium kansasii predominó en pacientes jóvenes, del sexo masculino, el síntoma fundamental fue la tos y predominó la imagen cavitaria en la radiografía de tórax.

INTRODUCTION: pulmonary involvement non-tuberculous mycobacteria may occur in patients suffering pre-existing lung diseases or who are immune-suppressed, but it also occurs in persons with no previous illness. OBJECTIVE: know the behavior of Mycobacterium kansasii respiratory infections in patients exposed to dust from lateritic ore. METHODS: an observational, descriptive, prospective, case series study on Mycobacterium kansasii respiratory infection was performed in patients admitted to Guillermo Luis Fernández Hospital in Moa, Holguin, from 2003 to 2012. RESULTS: the disease was diagnosed in 6 patients, all males. 70 % were 30 to 39 years old; 83.33 % had cough, which was the predominant symptom; 66.66 % was normal at the physical examination. 100% of patients had cavity images in chest x-rays. CONCLUSIONS: a Mycobacterium kansasii respiratory infection was most frequent in male younger patients. The main symptom was cough, and most frequent cavity images in x-ray.

Cuerpo Extraño Endobronquial. Presentación de un caso / Foreign body in airway. Case presentation

Introducción: los cuerpos extraños bronquiales en pacientes adultos constituyen una entidad clínica poco frecuente. La localización más habitual para un cuerpo extraño de vías respiratorias es el bronquio principal derecho. Objetivo: reflejar lo difícil que resulta en ocasiones diagnosticar un cuerpo extraño como causa de tos y disnea en un paciente adulto. Presentación del Caso: paciente de 72 años de edad, sin clínica respiratoria previa. Relata la enferma que 5 meses antes de acudir a nuestro Centro se encontraba tomando sopa, cuando nota como si hubiese broncoaspirado algo, inicialmente comienza con tos seca y sensación de ahogo, que cede espontáneamente pero no desaparece. Acude a nuestro hospital y se realiza fibrobroncoscopía observándose la presencia de un cuerpo extraño (hueso de pollo) a nivel de bronquio del lóbulo superior izquierdo procediéndose a su extracción. Conclusiones: en presencia de un paciente con tos y disnea después de un cuadro de broncoaspiración se debe tener en cuenta el diagnóstico de aspiración de un cuerpo extraño y la extracción de este resulta la solución definitiva(AU)

Introduction: the bronchial strange bodies in adult patient constitute a clinic entity a little frequent. The more frequent location for strange body of respiratory tract is the right main bronchial. Objective: to show the difficulty to diagnose a foreign body as cause of cough and dyspnea in an adult patient. Case presentation: a patient of 72 years old is presented, without a previous respiratory clinic. The sick patient report that 5 month before going to our center, she was having soup, when she notes as if she had bronchoaspired something, first she started with a dry cough and a sensation of shortness of breath, which cedes spontaneously but didn't disappear. She came up to our hospital we made a fibrobronchoscopy to her, we could observe the presence of strange body (chicken bone) to the left upper lobule of the bronchial level; therefore we proceeded with the extraction of it. Conclusions: in the case of a patient presenting with cough and dyspnea after bronchoaspired something it is essential to take into account the diagnosis of the foreign body and the remove of strange body is the definitive solution(AU)

Cuerpo Extraño Endobronquial. Presentación de un caso / Foreign body in airway. Case presentation

Introducción: los cuerpos extraños bronquiales en pacientes adultos constituyen una entidad clínica poco frecuente. La localización más habitual para un cuerpo extraño de vías respiratorias es el bronquio principal derecho. Objetivo: reflejar lo difícil que resulta en ocasiones diagnosticar un cuerpo extraño como causa de tos y disnea en un paciente adulto. Presentación del Caso: paciente de 72 años de edad, sin clínica respiratoria previa. Relata la enferma que 5 meses antes de acudir a nuestro Centro se encontraba tomando sopa, cuando nota como si hubiese "broncoaspirado algo", inicialmente comienza con "tos seca y sensación de ahogo", que cede espontáneamente pero no desaparece. Acude a nuestro hospital y se realiza fibrobroncoscopía observándose la presencia de un cuerpo extraño (hueso de pollo) a nivel de bronquio del lóbulo superior izquierdo procediéndose a su extracción. Conclusiones: en presencia de un paciente con tos y disnea después de un cuadro de broncoaspiración se debe tener en cuenta el diagnóstico de aspiración de un cuerpo extraño y la extracción de este resulta la solución definitiva.

Introduction: the bronchial strange bodies in adult patient constitute a clinic entity a little frequent. The more frequent location for strange body of respiratory tract is the right main bronchial. Objective: to show the difficulty to diagnose a foreign body as cause of cough and dyspnea in an adult patient. Case presentation: a patient of 72 years old is presented, without a previous respiratory clinic. The sick patient report that 5 month before going to our center, she was having soup, when she notes as if she had bronchoaspired something, first she started with a dry cough and a sensation of shortness of breath, which cedes spontaneously but didn't disappear. She came up to our hospital we made a fibrobronchoscopy to her, we could observe the presence of strange body (chicken bone) to the left upper lobule of the bronchial level; therefore we proceeded with the extraction of it. Conclusions: in the case of a patient presenting with cough and dyspnea after bronchoaspired something it is essential to take into account the diagnosis of the foreign body and the remove of strange body is the definitive solution.

Neumonías adquiridas en la comunidad / Community - Acquired Pneumonias

Introducción: las Neumonías Adquiridas en la Comunidad constituyen un importante problema de salud en el mundo y nuestro país no está exento de ello. Existe una alta morbilidad y mortalidad por esta causa, siendo las neumonías la cuarta causa de muerte en Cuba. Objetivo: profundizar en el conocimiento de las Neumonías Adquiridas en la Comunidad para contribuir a mejorar la calidad de la atención a estos pacientes en la Atención Primaria de Salud. Desarrollo: se enfatiza en aspectos relacionados con el concepto, la patogenia, el diagnóstico, la evolución y pronóstico, incluida la correcta evaluación del paciente, el manejo de la enfermedad y el tratamiento actual recomendado de conformidad con nuestras posibilidades y praxis habituales en nuestro medio. Finalmente se enfatiza en los criterios de remisión a otro nivel de atención, tras el correcto seguimiento del proceso infeccioso en la comunidad. Conclusiones: las Neumonías Adquiridas en la Comunidad constituyen un común y frecuente problema de salud que debe ser afrontado de forma adecuada desde la Atención Primaria de Salud por parte del personal médico. El auxilio de guías prácticas y de escalas pronósticas contribuye a perfeccionar la calidad de la atención a estos pacientes, desde el consultorio del médico de familia hasta el paciente ingresado en el hogar o en el hospital(AU)

Background: community-Acquired Pneumonias are an important health problem in the world and our country is not exempted from them. There is a high morbidity and mortality from this cause, being pneumonias the fourth cause of death in Cuba.Objective: to deepen in the knowledge of Community-Acquired Pneumonias to contribute to improve the quality of the attention of these patients in Primary Health Care.Development: we made emphasis on the aspects related to the concept, pathogenesis, diagnosis, evolution and prognosis including the correct evaluation of the patient, the management of the disease and the current recommended treatment in accordance with our possibilities and the habitual praxis in our environment. Finally, we also made emphasis on the criteria for referral to other health care level, after the correct follow-up of the infectious process in the community.Conclusions: community-Acquired Pneumonias constitute a common and frequent health problem which should be properly faced from the Primary Health Care by the medical staff. The aid of practical guidelines and prognostic scales contributes to improving the quality in the attention of these patients, from the family doctor's offices to the patient who is admitted to home or hospital(AU)

Neumonías adquiridas en la comunidad / Community - Acquired Pneumonias

Las Neumonías Adquiridas en la Comunidad constituyen un importante problema de salud en el mundo y nuestro país no está exento de ello. Existe una alta morbilidad y mortalidad por esta causa, siendo las neumonías la cuarta causa de muerte en Cuba. Objetivo: profundizar en el conocimiento de las Neumonías Adquiridas en la Comunidad para contribuir a mejorar la calidad de la atención a estos pacientes en la Atención Primaria de Salud. Desarrollo: se enfatiza en aspectos relacionados con el concepto, la patogenia, el diagnóstico, la evolución y pronóstico, incluida la correcta evaluación del paciente, el manejo de la enfermedad y el tratamiento actual recomendado de conformidad con nuestras posibilidades y praxis habituales en nuestro medio. Finalmente se enfatiza en los criterios de remisión a otro nivel de atención, tras el correcto seguimiento del proceso infeccioso en la comunidad. Conclusiones: las Neumonías Adquiridas en la Comunidad constituyen un común y frecuente problema de salud que debe ser afrontado de forma adecuada desde la Atención Primaria de Salud por parte del personal médico. El auxilio de guías prácticas y de escalas pronósticas contribuye a perfeccionar la calidad de la atención a estos pacientes, desde el consultorio del médico de familia hasta el paciente ingresado en el hogar o en el hospital...

Community-Acquired Pneumonias are an important health problem in the world and our country is not exempted from them. There is a high morbidity and mortality from this cause, being pneumonias the fourth cause of death in Cuba.Objective: to deepen in the knowledge of Community-Acquired Pneumonias to contribute to improve the quality of the attention of these patients in Primary Health Care.Development: we made emphasis on the aspects related to the concept, pathogenesis, diagnosis, evolution and prognosis including the correct evaluation of the patient, the management of the disease and the current recommended treatment in accordance with our possibilities and the habitual praxis in our environment. Finally, we also made emphasis on the criteria for referral to other health care level, after the correct follow-up of the infectious process in the community.Conclusions: community-Acquired Pneumonias constitute a common and frequent health problem which should be properly faced from the Primary Health Care by the medical staff. The aid of practical guidelines and prognostic scales contributes to improving the quality in the attention of these patients, from the family doctor's offices to the patient who is admitted to home or hospital...

Selective targeting of plasma membrane and tonoplast traffic by inhibitory (dominant-negative) SNARE fragments.

Vesicle traffic underpins cell homeostasis, growth and development in plants, and is facilitated by a superfamily of proteins known as SNAREs [soluble NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor) attachment protein receptors] that interact to draw vesicle and target membrane surfaces together for fusion. Structural homologies, biochemical and genetic analyses have yielded information about the localization and possible roles of these proteins. However, remarkably little evidence is yet available that speaks directly to the functional specificities of these proteins in selected trafficking pathways in vivo. Previously, we found that expressing a cytosolic (so-called Sp2) fragment of one plasma membrane SNARE from tobacco and Arabidopsis had severe effects on growth, tissue development and secretory traffic to the plasma membrane. We have explored this dominant-negative approach further to examine the specificity and overlaps in Sp2 activity by generating a toolbox of truncated SNARE constructs and antibodies for transient expression and analysis. Using a quantitative ratiometric approach with secreted green fluorescent protein (secGFP), we report here that traffic to the plasma membrane is suppressed selectively by Sp2 fragments of plasma membrane SNAREs AtSYP121 and AtSYP122, but not of the closely related SNARE AtSYP111 nor of the SNARE AtSYP21 that resides at the pre-vacuolar compartment (PVC). By contrast, traffic of the YFP-tagged aquaporin fusion protein TIP1;1-YFP to the tonoplast was blocked (leading to its accumulation in the PVC) when co-expressed with the Sp2 fragment of AtSYP21, but not when co-expressed with that of AtSYP121. Export of secGFP was also sensitive to the Sp2 fragment of the novel, plant-specific SNARE AtSYP71 that was recently found to be present in detergent-resistant, plasma membrane fractions. Co-incubation analyses of the plasma membrane SNAREs with the regulatory subdomain included within the Sp2 fragments showed activity in destabilizing protein complexes, but only with the complementary SNAREs. We conclude that the Sp2 fragment action accurately reflects the known specificity and targeting of these SNAREs, implies functional overlaps that are of potential physiological interest, and underscores the use of a dominant-negative strategy in functional studies of a major subfamily of SNAREs in plants.

Differential distribution of the lipoxygenase pathway enzymes within potato chloroplasts.

The lipoxygenase pathway is responsible for the production of oxylipins, which are important compounds for plant defence responses. Jasmonic acid, the final product of the allene oxide synthase/allene oxide cyclase branch of the pathway, regulates wound-induced gene expression. In contrast, C6 aliphatic aldehydes produced via an alternative branch catalysed by hydroperoxide lyase, are themselves toxic to pests and pathogens. Current evidence on the subcellular localization of the lipoxygenase pathway is conflicting, and the regulation of metabolic channelling between the two branches of the pathway is largely unknown. It is shown here that while a 13-lipoxygenase (LOX H3), allene oxide synthase and allene oxide cyclase proteins accumulate upon wounding in potato, a second 13-lipoxygenase (LOX H1) and hydroperoxide lyase are present at constant levels in both non-wounded and wounded tissues. Wound-induced accumulation of the jasmonic acid biosynthetic enzymes may thus commit the lipoxygenase pathway to jasmonic acid production in damaged plants. It is shown that all enzymes of the lipoxygenase pathway differentially localize within chloroplasts, and are largely found associated to thylakoid membranes. This differential localization is consistently observed using confocal microscopy of GFP-tagged proteins, chloroplast fractionation, and western blotting, and immunodetection by electron microscopy. While LOX H1 and LOX H3 are localized both in stroma and thylakoids, both allene oxide synthase and hydroperoxide lyase protein localize almost exclusively to thylakoids and are strongly bound to membranes. Allene oxide cyclase is weakly associated with the thylakoid membrane and is also detected in the stroma. Moreover, allene oxide synthase and hydroperoxide lyase are differentially distributed in thylakoids, with hydroperoxide lyase localized almost exclusively to the stromal part, thus closely resembling the localization pattern of LOX H1. It is suggested that, in addition to their differential expression pattern, this segregation underlies the regulation of metabolic fluxes through the alternative branches of the lipoxygenase pathway.