Genome-wide chromatin accessibility and gene expression profiling during flatfish metamorphosis.

Metamorphosis is a widely studied post-embryonic process in which many tissues undergo dramatic modifications to adapt to the new adult lifestyle. Flatfishes represent a good example of metamorphosis in teleost fishes. During metamorphosis of flatfish, organ regression and neoformation occur, with one of the most notable changes being the migration of one of the eyes to the other side of the body. In order to create a useful and reliable tool to advance the molecular study of metamorphosis in flatfish, we generated a chromatin accessible atlas as well as gene expression profile during four developmental stages ranging from a phylotypic to a post-metamorphic stage. We identified 29,019 differentially accessible chromatin regions and 3,253 differentially expressed genes. We found stage-specific regulatory regions and gene expression profiles, supporting the quality of the results. Our work provides strongly reproducible data for further studies to elucidate the regulatory elements that ensure successful metamorphosis in flatfish species.

Gain of gene regulatory network interconnectivity at the origin of vertebrates.

SignificanceIn this manuscript, we address an essential question in developmental and evolutionary biology: How have changes in gene regulatory networks contributed to the invertebrate-to-vertebrate transition? To address this issue, we perturbed four signaling pathways critical for body plan formation in the cephalochordate amphioxus and in zebrafish and compared the effects of such perturbations on gene expression and gene regulation in both species. Our data reveal that many developmental genes have gained response to these signaling pathways in the vertebrate lineage. Moreover, we show that the interconnectivity between these pathways is much higher in zebrafish than in amphioxus. We conclude that this increased signaling pathway complexity likely contributed to vertebrate morphological novelties during evolution.

Coordination between cell proliferation and apoptosis after DNA damage in Drosophila.

Exposure to genotoxic stress promotes cell cycle arrest and DNA repair or apoptosis. These "life" or "death" cell fate decisions often rely on the activity of the tumor suppressor gene p53. Therefore, the precise regulation of p53 is essential to maintain tissue homeostasis and to prevent cancer development. However, how cell cycle progression has an impact on p53 cell fate decision-making is mostly unknown. In this work, we demonstrate that Drosophila p53 proapoptotic activity can be impacted by the G2/M kinase Cdk1. We find that cell cycle arrested or endocycle-induced cells are refractory to ionizing radiation-induced apoptosis. We show that p53 binding to the regulatory elements of the proapoptotic genes and its ability to activate their expression is compromised in experimentally arrested cells. Our results indicate that p53 genetically and physically interacts with Cdk1 and that p53 proapoptotic role is regulated by the cell cycle status of the cell. We propose a model in which cell cycle progression and p53 proapoptotic activity are molecularly connected to coordinate the appropriate response after DNA damage.

Cautionary note on the use of Caenorhabditis elegans to study muscle phenotypes caused by mutations in the human MYH7 gene.

Mutations in the human MYH7 gene, encoding a slow skeletal muscle/ß-cardiac myosin heavy chain, cause different types of myopathies. The nematode model Caenorhabditis elegans has frequently been employed to study the molecular and physiological consequences of MYH7 mutations in muscle function by introducing mutations into the unc-54 gene, the worm MYH7 ortholog. We report here that the C. elegans model is not appropriate for such studies if they involve expression of the UNC-54 protein (wild-type or fused to green fluorescent protein) above endogenous levels.

Photoluminescent lateral flow based on non-radiative energy transfer for protein detection in human serum.

A new paper-based lateral flow immunoassay configuration was engineered and investigated. The assay is intended for the detection of a model protein in human serum, that is, human immunoglobulin G, with the aim to demonstrate a virtually universal protein detection platform. Once the sample is added in the strip, the analyte is selectively captured by antibody-decorated silica beads (Ab-SiO2) onto the conjugate pad and the sample flows by capillarity throughout the strip until reaching the test line, where a sandwich-like immunocomplex takes place due to the presence of antibody-functionalized QDs (Ab-QDs) onto the test line. Eventually, GO is added as a revealing agent and the photoluminescence of those sites protected by the complex Ab-SiO2/Antigen/Ab-QDs will not be quenched, whereas those photoluminescent sites directly exposed are expected to be quenched by GO, including the control line, made of bare QDs, reporting that the assay occurred successfully. Hence, the photoluminescence of the test line is modulated by the formation of sandwich-like immunocomplexes. The proposed device achieves a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.35ngmL-1 in standard buffer, which is lower when compared with conventional lateral flow technology reported by gold nanoparticles, including other amplification strategies. Moreover, the resulting device was proven useful in human serum analysis, achieving a LOD of 6.30ngmL-1 in this complex matrix. This low-cost disposable and easy-to-use device will prove valuable for portable and automated diagnostics applications, and can be easily transferred to other analytes such as clinically relevant protein biomarkers.

Graphene-Based Biosensors: Going Simple.

The main properties of graphene derivatives facilitating optical and electrical biosensing platforms are discussed, along with how the integration of graphene derivatives, plastic, and paper can lead to innovative devices in order to simplify biosensing technology and manufacture easy-to-use, yet powerful electrical or optical biosensors. Some crucial issues to be overcome in order to bring graphene-based biosensors to the market are also underscored.

Molecularly Imprinted Polymer-Decorated Magnetite Nanoparticles for Selective Sulfonamide Detection.

Sulfonamides are known not only to be antimicrobial drugs that lead to antimicrobial resistance but also to be chemotherapeutic agents that may be allergenic and potentially carcinogenic, which represents a potentially hazardous compound once present in soil or water. Herein, a hybrid material based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP)-decorated magnetite nanoparticles for specific and label-free sulfonamide detection is reported. The composite has been characterized using different spectroscopic and imaging techniques. The magnetic properties of the composite are used to separate, preconcentrate, and manipulate the analyte which is selectively captured by the MIP onto the surface of the composite. Screen printed electrodes have been employed to monitor the impedance levels of the whole material, which is related to the amount of the captured analyte, via electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This composite-based sensing system exhibits an extraordinary limit of detection of 1 × 10(-12) mol L(-1) (2.8 × 10(-4) ppb) (S/N = 3), which is close to those obtained with liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, and it was demonstrated to screen sulfamethoxazole in a complex matrix such as seawater, where according to the literature sulfonamides content is minimum compared with other environmental samples.

IgG4-related disease: description of a case with pulmonary lesions, mediastinal lymphadenopathies and rapidly progressive renal failure.

This is a case report of a 73-year-old man with new-onset acute renal failure while being investigated for pulmonary infiltrates and mediastinal lymphadenopathies. Urine tests showed tubular range proteinuria with no microhaematuria. Immunology tests showed elevated serum IgG and hypocomplementaemia (classical pathway activation). Renal biopsy and clinical-pathological correlation were crucial in this case, reinforcing their important role in the final diagnosis of acute kidney injury.

Graphene Quantum Dots-based Photoluminescent Sensor: A Multifunctional Composite for Pesticide Detection.

Due to their size and difficulty to obtain, cost/effective biological or synthetic receptors (e.g., antibodies or aptamers, respectively), organic toxic compounds (e.g., less than 1 kDa) are generally challenging to detect using simple platforms such as biosensors. This study reports on the synthesis and characterization of a novel multifunctional composite material, magnetic silica beads/graphene quantum dots/molecularly imprinted polypyrrole (mSGP). mSGP is engineered to specifically and effectively capture and signal small molecules due to the synergy among chemical, magnetic, and optical properties combined with molecular imprinting of tributyltin (291 Da), a hazardous compound, selected as a model analyte. Magnetic and selective properties of the mSGP composite can be exploited to capture and preconcentrate the analyte onto its surface, and its photoluminescent graphene quantum dots, which are quenched upon analyte recognition, are used to interrogate the presence of the contaminant. This multifunctional material enables a rapid, simple and sensitive platform for small molecule detection, even in complex mediums such as seawater, without any sample treatment.

Label-free impedimetric aptasensor for ochratoxin-A detection using iridium oxide nanoparticles.

In this article, a novel aptasensor for ochratoxin A (OTA) detection based on a screen-printed carbon electrode (SPCE) modified with polythionine (PTH) and iridium oxide nanoparticles (IrO2 NPs) is presented. The electrotransducer surface is modified with an electropolymerized film of PTH followed by the assembly of IrO2 NPs on which the aminated aptamer selective to OTA is exchanged with the citrate ions surrounding IrO2 NPs via electrostatic interactions with the same surface. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in the presence of the [Fe(CN)6](-3/-4) redox probe is employed to characterize each step in the aptasensor assay and also for label-free detection of OTA in a range between 0.01 and 100 nM, obtaining one of the lowest limits of detection reported so far for label-free impedimetric detection of OTA (14 pM; 5.65 ng/kg). The reported system also exhibits a high reproducibility, a good performance with a white wine sample, and an excellent specificity against another toxin present in such sample.

Anestesis local en cirugía neonatal, el uso de la lidocaína y el diazepan, hospital materno infantil de `San Bartolomé' / Local anesthesia in neonatal surgery, the use og lidocaine and diazepan, Hospital Materno Infantil of `San Bartolomé'

The authors discuss their experiece over a period of years in the use of Lidocaine and Diazepan in Neonatar surgery. This technique was used in 175 cases with 173 exits. The advantages of this method are mentioned, the indication, dosages, the patology in wich the aplication is easily done