Ricerche istofisiologiche sullo spadice di arum

Riassunto

L'A. studia la struttura anatomica della clava dello spadice di Arum, indaga le intime modificazioni cellulari che avvengono durante il suo periodo di accrescimento, di maturità e di senescenza, e viene a rilevare alcuni segni della senescenza cellulare. Inoltre mette in evidenza le differenze morfologiche tra i procossi di necrobiosi in natura e in ambiente asfittico; segnala la vacuolizzazione delle masse cromatiniche come la causa principale della cariocinesi. Fa infine osservare che il parossismo termico (funzione prima di tale organo) rimane nei limiti biologici senza dirette azioni deleterie sulla struttura citologica della clava.     

The intracellular fate of zonula occludens 2 is regulated by the phosphorylation of SR repeats and the phosphorylation/O-GlcNAcylation of S257

Zona occludens 2 (ZO-2) has a dual localization. In confluent epithelia, ZO-2 is present at tight junctions (TJs), whereas in sparse proliferating cells it is also found at the nucleus. Previously we demonstrated that in sparse cultures, newly synthesized ZO-2 travels to the nucleus before reaching the plasma membrane. Now we find that in confluent cultures newly synthesized ZO-2 goes directly to the plasma membrane. Epidermal growth factor induces through AKT activation the phosphorylation of the kinase for SR repeats, serine arginine protein kinase 1, which in turn phosphorylates ZO-2, which contains 16 SR repeats. This phosphorylation induces ZO-2 entry into the nucleus and accumulation in speckles. ZO-2 departure from the nucleus requires intact S257, and stabilizing the β-O-linked N-acetylglucosylation (O-GlcNAc) of S257 with O-(2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucopyranosylidene)amino-N-phenylcarbamate, an inhibitor of O-GlcNAcase, triggers nuclear exportation and proteosomal degradation of ZO-2. At the plasma membrane ZO-2 is not O-GlcNAc, and instead, as TJs mature, it becomes phosphorylated at S257 by protein kinase Cζ. This late phosphorylation of S257 is required for the correct cytoarchitecture to develop, as cells transfected with ZO-2 mutant S257A or S257E form aberrant cysts with multiple lumens. These results reveal novel posttranslational modifications of ZO-2 that regulate the intracellular fate of this protein.     

Numerical Analysis of Titanium Cast Devices for Dental Implantology

The present work pertains to a numerical investigation of the casting process of titanium devices adopted for dental implantology. The analysis of the titanium framework that connects different abutments, in a multi-implant configuration, is performed evaluating the characteristics of the material that depend on the manufacturing procedure. The connecting bar is obtained by a foundry process that is controlled through a numerical simulation by using a control volume technique. This analysis leads to the possibility to have detailed information on the process and control of the quality of the microstructure of the material produced that proves to be highly beneficial for defining mechanical properties. On the basis of the results obtained, a subsequent stress analysis can be performed, addressed to highlight critical conditions. Functional response of the whole bar-implant framework is studied by means of a numerical model, based on the geometric element method. This technique is particularly suited for describing complex morphology of the implant site. The present approach addresses a higher quality definition of the reliability of the device used in dental practice and represents a valuable tool in assisting optimisation procedures pertaining to manufacturing. In fact, the improvement of titanium devices is intended not only with regard to their mechanical performances, but also to requirements pertaining to manufacturing and clinical practice.     

Human Tracks from Quaternary Tufa Deposits,Cuatro Cienegas,Coahuila, Mexico

In 1961, two human footprints were excavated from the Cuatro Cienegas region of Coahuila, Mexico, but for decades were not studied scientifically or deposited in any museum. Consequently, knowledge of the locality where they were found was lost. Once the two tracks were relocated they found their way to the Museo del Desierto, Saltillo (Coahuila) where they were placed on display with a tentative label suggesting an early Holocene age (10,000 B.C.). This inference was based only on the known antiquity of humans in the region determined from previous archaeological work and two dated sediment cores close to the footprint site. It was not until 2006 that the presumed footprint discovery site was rediscovered, revealing more than 20 additional well-preserved prints, in at least four trackways representing several different individuals with foot lengths ranging from about 23–27 cm. The tracks include one well-preserved trackway providing step and stride measurements. A poorly preserved cervid trackway and a possible duck footprint have also been identified. The footprints are preserved in hard tufa. Geochemical evidence suggests the tracks were made during periods of increased aridity.     

Costes por incapacidad temporal en España derivados de la diabetes mellitus y sus complicaciones

Introduction and objectivesTo ascertain the socioeconomic impact of diabetes, it is essential to estimate overall costs, including both direct and indirect costs (premature retirements, working hours lost, or sick leaves). This study analyzed indirect costs for temporary disability (TD) due to diabetes and its complications in Spain in 2011 by assessing the related ICD-9 MC codes.Material and methodFor this purpose, the number of TD processes and their mean duration were recorded. The indirect costs associated to loss of working days were also estimated.ResultsIn 2011, diabetes and its complications were related to 2.567 TD processes, which resulted in the loss of 154.214 days. In terms of costs, this disease represented for Spanish public health administrations an expense of 3,297.095.3 €, with an estimated cost per patient and year of 141 €.ConclusionsThese data suggest an urgent need to devise plans for prevention and early diagnosis of diabetes and its complications, as well as programs to optimize the available health care resources by creating multidisciplinary teams where occupational medical services assume an important role. A decrease in absenteeism would result in benefits for diabetic patients, society overall, and companies or public institutions.     

Predicting seasonal and spatial variations in diet quality of Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) using near infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Monitoring nutritional status of wildlife is key to understanding the population response to changes in food availability. Several direct and indirect methods have been proposed for such purposes, but faecal nitrogen (FN) is by far the most commonly used indirect non-invasive indicator of free-ranging ruminant diet quality. In this work, two methods were used to estimate the FN content in 291 pellet samples of Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) collected during a 2-year period (May 2009 to May 2011) in two chamois populations from the Catalan Pyrenees, Spain: the Dumas LECO analyzer and near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS). In order to optimize further FN estimations we performed three different NIRS calibrations: (1) general, across year, season and populations; (2) population-specific; and (3) season-specific, i.e., different periods of vegetation growth. FN ranged from 1.66 % to 2.85 % (dry matter basis) and was higher in the main vegetation growing season than in winter. Concerning NIRS calibration, our study confirmed that FN of Pyrenean chamois can be accurately determined by NIRS, since the general calibration was accurate enough to predict FN. It is concluded that NIRS represents a non-destructive, emission-free and low-cost analytical technique which may reduce the use of conventional laborious methods for estimating FN in long-term wildlife monitoring.     

Distribution and diversity of springtails (Hexapoda: Collembola) on the altitudinal gradient of a temperate forest in Mexico

Mountain ecosystems have shown slow mineralization activity due to weather conditions, and to some groups with arthropods with special roles. The Collembola is an important group for litter fragmentation, showing different distribution patterns. The objective of the present study was to determine the diversity of Collembola along a volcano altitudinal gradient. For this, four sampling expeditions evaluated four altitudinal levels (I = 2 753, II = 3 015, III = 3 250 and IV = 3 687 masl) in Iztaccihuatl Volcano, from November 2003, and March, June and August 2004. Shannon diversity (H'), Pielou evenness (J') and Simpson dominance (1/lambda) indices were calculated. The similarity between the associations of springtails between the sampling sites was evaluated by a cluster analysis using the Pearson correlation coefficient, as distance and the unpaired arithmetic averages (UPGMA) as amalgamation method. A total of 24 075 springtails, distributed in 12 families, 46 genera and 86 species was collected. The higher species abundance was found at the altitudinal area II. The lowest diversity value was recorded in IV, while the higher diversity values were found in III. Significant differences between Shannon indices were found between zones II-III (t(0.01, 187) = 4.11, p < 0.05) and between III-IV (t(0.01, 187) = 3.8, p < 0.05) according to modified t-test. When considering sampling dates, no significant differences were found. The dendrogram showed that in composition the level I is more homogeneous throughout the year. In conclusion, a statistically significant seasonal variation in springtail abundances was not found, but it was observed that, the lower altitude (I) resulted more homogeneous along the studied period, followed by level II and III. There is a particular assemblage of springtails community in each altitudinal area studied; in general, the sites with low slope resulted more diverse in Collembola communities. These results show that there are important factors such as altitude, vegetation type and microhabitat heterogeneity that may affect the distribution of springtails communities along an altitudinal gradient.     

Flow regulation by dams affects ecosystem metabolism in Mediterranean rivers

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A Combined “Omics” Approach Identifies N-Myc Interactor as a Novel Cytokine-induced Regulator of IRE1α Protein and c-Jun N-terminal Kinase in Pancreatic Beta Cells

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease with a strong inflammatory component. The cytokines interleukin-1β and interferon-γ contribute to beta cell apoptosis in type 1 diabetes. These cytokines induce endoplasmic reticulum stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR), contributing to the loss of beta cells. IRE1α, one of the UPR mediators, triggers insulin degradation and inflammation in beta cells and is critical for the transition from “physiological” to “pathological” UPR. The mechanisms regulating inositol-requiring protein 1α (IRE1α) activation and its signaling for beta cell “adaptation,” “stress response,” or “apoptosis” remain to be clarified. To address these questions, we combined mammalian protein-protein interaction trap-based IRE1α interactome and functional genomic analysis of human and rodent beta cells exposed to pro-inflammatory cytokines to identify novel cytokine-induced regulators of IRE1α. Based on this approach, we identified N-Myc interactor (NMI) as an IRE1α-interacting/modulator protein in rodent and human pancreatic beta cells. An increased expression of NMI was detected in islets from nonobese diabetic mice with insulitis and in rodent or human beta cells exposed in vitro to the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β and interferon-γ. Detailed mechanistic studies demonstrated that NMI negatively modulates IRE1α-dependent activation of JNK and apoptosis in rodent and human pancreatic beta cells. In conclusion, by using a combined omics approach, we identified NMI induction as a novel negative feedback mechanism that decreases IRE1α-dependent activation of JNK and apoptosis in cytokine-exposed beta cells.     

Preservation of high phenylalanine ammonia lyase activities in roots of Japanese Striped corn: A potential oral therapeutic to treat phenylketonuria

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an inherited metabolic disorder caused by deficient phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) activity, the enzyme responsible for the disposal of excess amounts of the essential amino acid phenylalanine (Phe). Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL, EC 4.3.1.5) has potential to serve as an enzyme substitution therapy for this human genetic disease. Using 7-day-old Japanese Striped corn seedlings (Japonica Striped maize, Zea mays L. cv. japonica) that contain high activities of PAL, we investigated a number of methods to preserve the roots as an intact food and for long-term storage. The cryoprotectant effects of maple syrup and other edible sugars (mono- and oligosaccharides) were evaluated. Following thawing, the preserved roots were then examined to determine whether the rigid plant cell walls could protect the PAL enzyme from proteolysis during simulated (in vitro) digestion comprised of gastric and intestinal phases. While several treatments led to retention of PAL activity during freezing, upon thawing and in vitro digestion, root tissues that had been previously frozen in the presence of maple syrup exhibited the highest residual PAL activities (∼50% of the initial enzyme activity), in marked contrast to all of the treatments using other edible sugars. The structural integrity of the root cells, and the stability of the functional PAL tetramer were also preserved with the maple syrup protocol. These results have significance for the formulation of oral enzyme/protein therapeutics. When plant tissues are adequately preserved, the rigid cell walls constitute a protective barrier even under harsh (e.g. gastrointestinal-like) conditions.