Vitamin A deficiency regulates the expression of ferritin in young male Wistar rats / A deficiência de vitamina A regula a expressão de ferritina em ratos Wistar machos jovens

ABSTRACT Objective Iron deficiency and vitamin A deficiency are two of the main micronutrient deficiencies. Both micronutrients are essential for human life and children's development. This study aimed to investigate the effects of vitamin A deficiency on ferritin and transferrin receptors' expression and its relationship with iron deficiency. Methods Five diets with different vitamin A-to-iron ratios were given to thirty five 21-day-old male Wistar rats (separated in groups of seven animals each). The animals received the diet for six weeks before being euthanized. Serum iron and retinol levels were measured as biochemical parameters. Their duodenums, spleens, and livers were analyzed for the expression of ferritin and transferrin receptors by Western Blotting. Results Regarding biochemical parameters, the results show that when both vitamin A and iron are insufficient, the serum iron content (74.74µg/dL) is significantly lower than the control group (255.86µg/dL). The results also show that vitamin A deficiency does not influence the expression of the transferrin receptor, but only of the ferritin one. Conclusion Vitamin A deficiency regulates the expression of ferritin in young male Wistar rats.

RESUMO Objetivo A deficiência de ferro e de vitamina A são duas das principais deficiências de micronutrientes, sendo que ambos são essenciais para a vida humana e o desenvolvimento das crianças. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o efeito da deficiência de vitamina A na expressão de ferritina e o receptor de transferrina e sua relação com a deficiência de ferro. Métodos Cinco dietas com diferentes proporções de vitamina A para ferro foram administradas a 35 ratos Wistar machos de 21 dias de vida (sete animais por grupo). Os animais receberam a dieta por seis semanas antes de serem eutanasiados. Os níveis séricos de ferro e retinol foram medidos como parâmetros bioquímicos. Duodeno, baço e fígado foram analisados quanto à expressão de ferritina e o receptor de transferrina por Western Blotting. Resultados Em relação aos parâmetros bioquímicos, os resultados mostram que quando a vitamina A e o ferro são insuficientes, o teor de ferro sérico (74.74µg/dL) é significativamente menor do que no grupo controle (255.86µg/dL). Os resultados também mostram que a deficiência de vitamina A não influencia a expressão do receptor da transferrina, mas da ferritina. Conclusão A deficiência de vitamina A regula a expressão de ferritina em ratos Wistar machos jovens.

Aptamers as a promising approach for the control of parasitic diseases

ABSTRACT Aptamers are short single-stranded RNA or DNA oligonucleotides that are capable of binding various biological targets with high affinity and specificity. Their identification initially relies on a molecular process named SELEX (Systematic Evolution of Ligands by EXponential enrichment) that has been later modified in order to improve aptamer sensitivity, minimize duration and cost of the assay, as well as increase target types. Several biochemical modifications can help to enhance aptamer stability without affecting significantly target interaction. As a result, aptamers have generated a large interest as promising tools to compete with monoclonal antibodies for detection and inhibition of specific markers of human diseases. One aptamer-based drug is currently authorized and several others are being clinically evaluated. Despite advances in the knowledge of parasite biology and host-parasite interactions from "omics" data, protozoan parasites still affect millions of people around the world and there is an urgent need for drug target discovery and novel therapeutic concepts. In this context, aptamers represent promising tools for pathogen identification and control. Recent studies have reported the identification of "aptasensors" for parasite diagnosis, and "intramers" targeting intracellular proteins. Here we discuss various strategies that have been employed for intracellular expression of aptamers and expansion of their possible application, and propose that they may be suitable for the clinical use of aptamers in parasitic infections.

Reparación a las víctimas de dictaduras, conflictos armados y violencia política en sus componente de compensación, satisfacción, rehabilitación y no repetición / Reparation for victims of dictatorships, armed conflicts and political violence in their components of compensation, satisfaction, rehabilitation, and non-repetition

El presente texto segundo de dos entregas, realiza un acercamiento a lasinvestigaciones realizadas en la pasada década y a comienzos de la presente sobre los procesos de reparación, en el marco de procesos de justicia transicional en países en procesos que van de la guerra a la paz y de la dictadura a la democracia. Se revisan investigaciones que versan sobre las consecuencias de los procesos dereparación y de transición en las víctimas, en la reconstrucción del tejido social, en la generación de procesos de reconciliación y la transformación del sujeto individual y colectivo.

This current text, which is the second of two issues, carries out an approach ofinvestigations conducted in the past decade and at the beginning of the present decade on the reparation processes, within the context of transitional justice processes, in countries which are on the way to peace, and from dictatorship todemocracy. We review research dealing with the consequences of the reparationand transition processes of victims, in the reconstruction of the social fabric, inthe generation of reconciliation processes, and the transformation of the individual and collective subject.

Reparación a las víctimas de dictaduras, conflictos armados y violencia política. Parte I / Repair to the victims of dictatorships, armed conflicts, and political violence. Part I

El presente trabajo, el primero de dos entregas, trae a colación investigaciones y reflexiones teóricas que dan cuenta de las experiencias de diversos países que han desarrollado procesos transicionales, teniendo como centro de análisis el proceso de reparación a las víctimas. Es importante anotar que la perspectiva psicosocial constituye el punto de referencia desde el cual se lleva a cabo la revisión y que, en congruencia con ésta, se hace especial énfasis en aquellos estudios que han dado protagonismo a la voz, percepción y significación de las personas víctimas en torno a los fenómenos aquí abordados.

This current paper, the first of two issues, brings up some research and theoretical reflections, which report the experiences of several countries that have developed some transitional processes, taking as the center of analysis, the process of the repair of victims. It is important to highlight that the psycho-social perspective constitutes the point of reference from which the revision is carried out, and that, in line with it, a special emphasis is made on those studies, which have given a leading role to the voice, perception, and significance to those victims of the phenomena addressed here.

Horizontalidad, expresión y saberes compartidos enfoque psicosocial en procesos de acompañamiento a víctimas de violencia política en Colombia / Horizontality, expression, and shared knowledge: an approach on psychosocial processes of accompaniment to victims of political violence in Colombia

El siguiente artículo plantea una discusión profunda sobre los procesos de intervención psicosocial con víctimas de violencia política, a la luz de sus relatos de vida en un contexto de investigación sobre el papel de la memoria en la reconstrucción del tejido social. La categoría de lo psicosocial surgió como emergente de estos relatos de vida y grupos de discusión y posibilitó una mirada crítica a procesos de intervención que se realizan en Colombia, desde la voz y el testimonio de los y las participantes. Finalmente, recoge desde esta misma voz, la de la gente, propuestas y formas de acción que impliquen una revisión a los modelos individualistas, patologizantes, verticales, tecnócratas y burocráticos de la acción, para proponer acciones integrales y sistémicas de recuperación de la dignidad y transformación subjetiva desde la participación, diálogo de saberes, expresión lúdica y performativa, relaciones horizontales, apoyo mutuo y construcción de ciudadanía y subjetividad de derechos.

the following article presents a deep discussion about the processes of psychosocial intervention with victims of political violence, in the light of their life stories in a context of research on the role of memory in the reconstruction of the social fabric. The category of the psychosocial emerged as a result of these life stories and discussion groups and allowed a critical look at the intervention processes that take place in Colombia, from the voice and the testimony of the participants. Finally, it also collects proposals from this same voice, that of the people, and forms of action involving a revision to the individualistic, pathological, vertical, technocratic, and bureaucratic models of the action, to propose comprehensive and systemic actions for the recovery of dignity and the subjective transformation from participation, dialogue of knowledge, playful and performative expression, and horizontal relationships, mutual support and construction of citizenship and subjectivity of rights.