Overexpression of CDC25C affects the cell cycle of ovarian granulosa cells from adult and young goats

Background: CDC25 is a dual-specificity phosphatase that was first identified in the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe as a cell cycle-defective mutant. Although CDC25 is involved in the cell cycle of ovarian granulosa cells, the CDC25 signaling pathway has not been clarified fully. To explore the role of CDC25C in the cell cycle of goat ovarian granulosa cells, a CDC25C-overexpressing vector, pCMV-HA-CDC25C, was constructed and transfected into granulosa cells from adult and young white goats from Jiangsu Nantong. RT-PCR was used to measure CDC25C, CDK1, and WEE1 gene expression levels, and flow cytometry was used to distinguish ovarian granulosa cells in different phases of the cell cycle. Progesterone and estradiol levels in transfected ovarian granulosa cells were also measured. Results: In adult goat follicular granulosa cells transfected with pCMV-HA-CDC25C, CDC25C expression increased significantly, which greatly increased the relative gene expression levels of both CDK1 and WEE1. Additionally, progesterone and estradiol levels were increased in goat follicular granulosa cells overexpressing CDC25C. And the cell cycle results showed that transfection of pCMV-HA-CDC25C leads to a higher proportion of cells in S phase compared to the no vector-transfected groups. Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that the overexpression of CDC25C may increase the gene expression levels of both WEE1 and CDK1 in S phase and accelerate the transition of cells from G1 phase to S phase.

Maltrato institucional hacia el adulto mayor: percepciones del prestador de servicios de salud y de los ancianos / Institutional abuse toward the elderly: Perceptions of health care providers and older adults

Objetivo. Analizar la percepción que el prestador de servicios de salud y el adulto mayor (AM) tienen sobre el maltrato al AM en los servicios públicos de salud, en ciudades seleccionadas de México. Material y métodos. De 2009 a 2012 se realizó un estudio con diseño cualitativo y estrategia de triangulación de fuentes de datos; se efectuaron entrevistas semiestructuradas a 13 prestadores y a 12 ancianos para recuperar su experiencia en el tema. El análisis utilizó procedimientos de la Teoría Fundamentada. Resultados. El maltrato contra el AM es una práctica naturalizada por el personal y por el anciano, la cual se manifiesta de formas diversas. Conclusiones. La institucionalización, profesionalización histórica y falta de conciencia sobre las necesidades de los AM demandan cambios de planeación, organización y supervisión del Sistema de Salud. El personal requiere intervenciones de formación, capacitación y cambio de actitudes/comportamiento, para otorgar atención integral, digna, humana y de respeto a los Derechos Humanos de los AM.

Objective. To analyze the health care providers (HCP) and elderly patients' perceptions about abuse of the elderly by health personnel of public health services, in selected cities in Mexico. Materials and methods. A qualitative study and a strategy of data triangulation were performed during 2009 and 2012; 13 HCPs and 12 elders were interviewed, in order to obtain their experience regarding elder abuse. Grounded Theory proceedings were used for the analysis. Results. Elder abuse is a naturalized practice, from HCP and elderly people's point of view; these perceptions are showed in different ways. Conclusion. Institutionalization, historical professionalization and lack of consciousness about needs of the elderly (sociocultural and economic), require changes in planning, organization and monitoring process in the Health System; training and educational interventions on staff and exchange attitudes and behavior are necessary in order to offer a health care that is comprehensive, decent, human and with respect for the human rights.

The function of p27(KIP1) during tumor development

Timely cell cycle regulation is conducted by sequential activation of a family of serine-threonine kinases called cycle dependent kinases (CDKs). Tight CDK regulation involves cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs) which ensure the correct timing of CDK activation in different phases of the cell cycle. One CKI of importance is p27(KIP1). The regulation and cellular localization of p27(KIP1) can result in biologically contradicting roles when found in the nucleus or cytoplasm of both normal and tumor cells. The p27(KIP1) protein is mainly regulated by proteasomal degradation and its downregulation is often correlated with poor prognosis in several types of human cancers. The protein can also be functionally inactivated by cytoplasmic localization or by phosphorylation. The p27(KIP1) protein is an unconventional tumor suppressor because mutation of its gene is extremely rare in tumors, implying the normal function of the protein is deranged during tumor development. While the tumor suppressor function is mediated by p27(KIP1)'s inhibitory interactions with the cyclin/CDK complexes, its oncogenic function is cyclin/CDK independent, and in many cases correlates with cytoplasmic localization. Here we review the basic features and novel aspects of the p27(KIP1) protein, which displays genetically separable tumor suppressing and oncogenic functions.