Analysis of phenanthrene degradation by Ascomycota fungi isolated from contaminated soil from Reynosa, Mexico.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic compounds generated mainly by anthropogenic sources. They are considered toxic to mammals, since they have carcinogenic, mutagenic and genotoxic properties, among others. Although mycoremediation is an efficient, economical and eco-friendly technique for degrading PAHs, the fungal degradation potential of the phylum Ascomycota has not been widely studied. In this work, we evaluated different fungal strains from the polluted soil of 'La Escondida' lagoon in Reynosa, Mexico to know their potential to degrade phenanthrene (PHE). Forty-three soil isolates with the capacity to grow in the presence of PHE (0·1% w/v) were obtained. The fungi Aspergillus oryzae MF13 and Aspergillus flavipes QCS12 had the best potential to degrade PHE. Both fungi germinated and grew at PHE concentrations of up to 5000 mg l-1 and degraded 235 mg l-1 of PHE in 28 days, with and without an additional carbon source. These characteristics indicate that A. oryzae MF13 and A. flavipes QCS12 could be promising organisms for the remediation of sites contaminated with PAHs and detoxification of recalcitrant xenobiotics.

Primary and post-chemoradiotherapy MRI detection of extramural venous invasion in rectal cancer: the role of diffusion-weighted imaging.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the added value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) to high-resolution T2-weighted sequences (HRT2w) in MRI detection of extramural venous infiltration (EMVI), according to the previous experience of radiologists. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of a retrospective database including 1.5 T MRI records from 100 patients with biopsy-proven rectal cancer (2011-2016; 75 male/25 female, average 63 y/o), which included primary staging (54) and post-chemoradiotherapy follow-up MRIs (46). The reference standard was histology of surgical specimens. All cases were individually blindly reviewed by ten radiologists: three specialists in abdominal radiology, three specialized in different areas and four residents. In each case, the presence of EMVI was assessed twice: first, using just HRT2w; second, with DWI added to HRT2w. The results were pooled by experience, analyzing sensitivity, specificity, accuracy (area under ROC curve), likelihood ratios, predictive values and overstaging/understaging. RESULTS: Addition of DWI improved diagnostic performance by specialists radiologists, particularly post-chemoradiotherapy (accuracy 0.74-0.84; positive likelihood ratio 3.9-9.1; overstaging 16-8%), less so at primary staging (specificity 76-87.2%; overstaging 21-11%). Non-specialist radiologists also improved, but only at primary staging (accuracy 0.59-0.63). Residents showed small changes, except for notably increased sensitivity in both primary staging (35.7-43%) and post-chemoradiotherapy (41.7-58.3%) staging, at the expense of increased overstaging. CONCLUSIONS: The addition of DWI improved the diagnostic performance of EMVI by experienced radiologists, downgrading overstaging, especially in post-chemoradiotherapy follow-up. It resulted in fewer changes for inexperienced radiologists (enhanced primary staging) and residents (increased sensitivity).

Evaluation of four phenotypic methods to detect plasmid-mediated AmpC ß-lactamases in clinical isolates.

Four phenotypic methods (three dimensional test, AmpC test, cloxacillin synergy test and cefotetan/cefotetan-cloxacillin E-test) to detect plasmid-mediated AmpC ß-lactamases (pAmpC) were compared in 125 clinical Enterobacteriaceae isolates with AmpC profile: 74 E. coli (bla (CMY-2): 70; bla (DHA-1): 4), five K. pneumoniae (bla (CMY-2): 2; bla (DHA-1): 3), six P. mirabilis (bla (CMY-2): 6) and 40 negative isolates for pAmpC ß-lactamases. All evaluated methods showed a good sensitivity (>95%) but low values of specificity (<60%) in E. coli, explained by an increase of AmpC expression caused by chromosomal ampC promoter/attenuator mutations (-42, -18, -1, +58, predominantly). The cefotetan/cefotetan-cloxacillin or cloxacillin synergy test may be advocated as phenotypic screening test, and the AmpC test as confirmatory test for detection of pAmpC in isolates that lack or minimally express chromosomally encoded AmpC ß-lactamases. In the case of E. coli, the phenotypic evaluated tests were not able to differentiate between chromosomal ampC overexpression or acquisition of plasmid-encoded ampC genes.

La incapacidad permanente en una empresa pública en el periodo 1995-2009 / Permanent incapacity in a public company from 1995-2009

Objetivos: La cuantificación de las relaciones entre salud, medio laboral y capacidad para el trabajo nos permite descifrar aspectos importantes de la incapacidad permanente. Este trabajo tiene como objetivo describir las características de la población trabajadora de la Diputación Provincial de Cádiz a la que se le concedió una incapacidad permanente en el periodo 1995-2009.Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo sobre el total de trabajadores/as con incapacidad permanente en el periodo descrito que considera las siguientes variables: sexo, edad, antigüedad, tipo de ocupación, causa de la incapacidad permanente, días de incapacidad temporal y número de incapacidades temporales concedidas en los 5 años previos, recogidas a través de archivos documentales. Resultados: El número de incapacidades permanentes concedidas ascendió a 192. Un 53,1% fueron mujeres; funcionarios el 59,9%; la edad de concesión fue de 54,06 años de media con 24,98 años de antigüedad en la empresa; el tipo de trabajo en el que más incapacidad permanente se concedieron es el manual, 44,8%; El tipo de patología más frecuente de incapacidad permanente fueron las enfermedades musculo-esqueléticas (29,7%), neoplasias (23,4%) y trastornos mentales (18,8%), asociándose significativamente dicha variable con el sexo (p=0,006), el tipo de trabajo desempeñado (p=0,007), la edad de concesión(p<0,001) y el grado asignado (p<0,000).Conclusiones: Este estudio aporta indicios sobre la frecuencia y distribución de factores sociodemográficos y propios del proceso de incapacidad permanente que permiten ir descifrando algunos aspectos susceptibles de ser abordados desde el punto de vista de la prevención (AU)

Objectives: The quantifying relationship between health, working environment and work capacity allows us to unravel important aspects of permanent incapacity (PI). One of the objectives of this study is to describe working population characteristics of the Provincial Council of Cadiz who were granted permanent incapacity from 1995 to 2009.Method: A retrospective descriptive study was carried out amongst all the workers with PI in the period described with the following variables taken into account: gender, age, time working for the company, type of occupation, cause of PI, temporary work incapacity (TWI) days and number of TWI in the last 5 years that have been recorded in the company´s archives. Results: The number of PI granted to workers was 192, 53,1% of which were women; 59,9% officials. The average age of workers who were granted PI was 54,06 years having worked in the company for an average of 24,98 years. Within the company most PIs’ were manual labor, 44,8%; the most frequent type of pathology for PI was musculoskeletal (29,7%) followed by neoplasia (23,4%) and mental diseases (18,8%),the last one in particular was associated to gender (p= 0,006), the type of work done (p=0,007), the age of PIacceptance (p<0,001) and the grade assigned (p<0,000).Conclusion: This study shows us signs regarding the frequency and the distribution of socialdemographic factors as well as signs belonging to the PI process. This enables us to see some key aspects to be taken into account from the point of view of prevention (AU)

Exposición a contaminantes ambientales y patología respiratoria / Exposure to environmental contaminants & respiratory pathology

Objetivo: Tras la aparición de 5 casos con sintomatología respiratoria en una empresa aeronáutica y su exposición a diferentes sustancias químicas, nos propusimos investigar su posible relación con el medio laboral. Material y métodos: Se realizaron mediciones ambientales de polvo de aluminio, tricloroetileno y glicol, estudio alergológico con dichas sustancias además de neumoalergenos y tests epicutáneos con batería estándar europea, análisis de sangre, radiografías de tórax, mediciones de flujo pico y pruebas funcionales respiratorias, test de metacolina y electrocardiograma. Resultados: La medición del flujo pico y el test de hiperreactividad bronquial directo con metacolina fueron negativos. El estudio alergológico de las sustancias expuestas fue negativo detectándose en 3 casos resultados positivos a neumoalergenos. Conclusiones: La negatividad en las mediciones del flujo pico y el test de metacolina estando el trabajador en activo, prácticamente descartarían un cuadro de asma laboral, en la actualidad. No podemos descartar la posibilidad concomitante de un Síndrome de disfunción reactiva de la vía aérea en un momento previo al estudio. En tal caso, la existencia de una hiperreactividad bronquial inicial podría haber cedido sin llegar a objetivarse en la actualidad con metacolina. La creación de equipos multidisciplinarios es fundamental para la detección de enfermedades respiratorias de posible origen laboral

Target: After the appearance of 5 cases with respiratory symptoms in an aeronautical company and their exposal to different chemical substances, we proposed to investigate their possible link with the working environment. Material and methods: Aluminium environmental dust measurements, trichloroethylene and glycol, alergic study with these substances as well as with aero alergens and epicutaneos tests with a european standard accumulator were made, blood analysis, thorax x-rays, peak-flow measurements and functional respiratory tests, Methacholine test and electrocardiogram. Results: The peak-flow measurement and the direct bronchial hyperactivity test using metacholine were negative. The alergic tests performed were generally negative with the exception of 3 positive results concerning aero alergens test. Conclusions: The negative results of the peak-flow measurements and the metacholine test of an active worker, would practically disguard a cadre of work related asthma, at the present time. We cannot discard the concomitant possibility of a reactive disfunction syndrome via the aerial route in a precise moment of time previous to the study. In such case, the existence of an initial bronchial hyperreactivity could have yielded finally not being detectable with metacholine. The creation of multidisciplinary equipment is fundamental for the detection of respiratory diseases of possible work origin

Los alimentos funcionales en la dieta / Functional nutriments in diet

los alimentos funcionales contribuyen a mejorar la salud o reducen el riesgo de padecer enfermedades, pero no curan por sí solos. No son indispensables en la dieta equilibrada de una persona sana, que ya ingiere todos los nutrientes que necesita. Pueden complementar las necesidades de algunos nutrientes en situaciones especiales, pero algunas de las sustancias consideradas beneficiosas pueden ser perjudiciales si se toman en exceso. Se analizan los más habituales valorando sus ventajas e inconvenientes, así como aquellos casos en los que su empleo se considera adecuado

Functional nutriments contribute to improve one's health or to reduce the risk of suffering diseases, but they are not cures by themselves. They are nor indispensable in the balanced diet of a healthy person, who already ingests all the nutrients which are needed. These may supplement the needs of some nutriments under special circumstances, but some of the substances considered beneficial can be prejudicial if taken in excess. The authors analyze the most common of these functional nutriments and they evaluate their advantages and inconveniences; furthermore, the authors analyze those cases in which the, use of these nutriments is deemed adequate

The KlCYC1 gene, a downstream region for two differentially regulated transcripts.

KlCYC1 encodes for cytochrome c in the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis and is transcribed in two mRNAs with different 3'-processing points. This is an uncommon transcription mechanism in yeast mRNAs. The 3' sequence encompassing the whole region that is needed to produce both mRNAs is analysed. We have determined identical processing points in K.lactis and in Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells transformed with KlCYC1; positions 698 and 1092 (with respect to the TAA) are the major polyadenylation points. This shows that the cis-elements present in the KlCYC1 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) direct a processing mechanism that has been conserved in yeast. In K. lactis there is a high predominance of the shorter transcript (1.14 kb) only at the initial logarithmic growth phase. Interestingly, this growth phase-dependent regulation of 3'-UTR processing is lost when the gene is expressed in S. cerevisiae.

Haem regulation of the mitochondrial import of the Kluyveromyces lactis 5-aminolaevulinate synthase: an organelle approach.

The enzyme 5-aminolaevulinate acid synthase (ALAS) catalyses the first reaction in the haem biosynthetic pathway. In eukaryotes this protein is translated by cytosolic ribosomes and then targeted to the mitochondria. We present evidence that in the yeast Kluyveromyces lactis haem exerts a feedback control upon the import of the ALAS into mitochondria. The ALAS from K. lactis (KlALAS) contains two haem regulatory motifs (HRM) in the mitochondrial targeting signal. Mutagenesis experiments reveal the involvement of these HRM in the response of the KlALAS to haem.

Heme-mediated transcriptional control in Kluyveromyces lactis.

Heme is of great importance in oxygen-dependent biological functions, since it serves as a prosthetic group for many proteins related to oxygen-binding, oxidative damage prevention and electron transport. It also regulates gene expression through the action of specific transcriptional regulatory factors. In this paper, we present an analysis of heme-dependent transcriptional regulation of several respiration-related genes in an aerobic respiratory yeast, Kluyveromyces lactis. We also report that the KlHEM13 gene, encoding the heme biosynthetic enzyme coproporphyrinogen oxidase, is under heme and oxygen transcriptional regulation, thereby controlling the synthesis of the effector, heme. KlHEM13 is induced during hypoxia, which represents the first report of a transcriptionally regulated gene with this behaviour in K. lactis.

Respirofermentative metabolism in Kluyveromyces lactis: Insights and perspectives.

Yeasts do not form a homogeneous group as far as energy-yielding metabolism is concerned and the fate of pyruvate, a glycolytic intermediate, determines the type of energy metabolism. Kluyveromyces lactis has become an alternative to the traditional yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae owing to its industrial applications as well as to studies on mitochondrial respiration. In this review we summarize the current knowdeledge about the K. lactis respirofermentative metabolism, taking into account the respiratory capacity of this yeast and the molecular mechanisms controlling its regulation, giving an up-to-date picture.

Isolation and characterization of the KlHEM1 gene in Kluyveromyces lactis.

The KlHEM1 gene from Kluyveromyces lactis encodes a functional 5-aminolevulinate synthase (deltaALA synthase), as confirmed by complementation of a hem1 mutant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain, homology search, and detection of a 2.3 kb transcript. The gene is highly homologous to the ScHEM1 gene, and the sequence of the promoter region contains a complex combination of putative regulatory signals. Some of them are related to phospholipid biosynthesis, glycolytic metabolism, and regulation by carbon source. Transcription of KlHEM1 increased significantly in response to limited oxygen, and only slightly with the change from repressed (glucose) to derepressed conditions (glycerol). The deltaALA synthase from K. lactis contains, in the amino-terminal region, two heme-responsive elements that are not present in the protein from Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Sequence analysis of a 10 kb DNA fragment from yeast chromosome VII reveals a novel member of the DnaJ family.

We report the sequence analysis of a 10 kb DNA fragment of Saccharomyces cerevisiae chromosome VII. This sequence contains four complete open reading frames (ORFs) of greater than 100 amino acids. There are also two incomplete ORFs flanking the extremes: one of these, G2868, is the 5' part of the SCS3 gene (Hosaka et al., 1994). ORFs G2853 and G2856 correspond to the genes CEG1, coding for the alfa subunit of the mRNA guanylyl transferase and a 3' gene of unknown function previously sequenced (Shibagaki et al., 1992). G2864 is identical to SOH1 also reported (Fan and Klein, 1994).