ABSTRACT
Yeasts capable of growing and surviving at high temperatures are regarded as thermotolerant. For appropriate functioning of cellular processes and cell survival, the maintenance of an optimal redox state is critical of reducing and oxidizing species. We studied mitochondrial functions of the thermotolerant Kluyveromyces marxianus SLP1 and the mesophilic OFF1 yeasts, through the evaluation of its mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), ATPase activity, electron transport chain (ETC) activities, alternative oxidase activity, lipid peroxidation. Mitochondrial membrane potential and the cytoplasmic free Ca2+ ions (Ca2+ cyt) increased in the SLP1 yeast when exposed to high temperature, compared with the mesophilic yeast OFF1. ATPase activity in the mesophilic yeast diminished 80% when exposed to 40° while the thermotolerant SLP1 showed no change, despite an increase in the mitochondrial lipid peroxidation. The SLP1 thermotolerant yeast exposed to high temperature showed a diminution of 33% of the oxygen consumption in state 4. The uncoupled state 3 of oxygen consumption did not change in the mesophilic yeast when it had an increase of temperature, whereas in the thermotolerant SLP1 yeast resulted in an increase of 2.5 times when yeast were grown at 30o, while a decrease of 51% was observed when it was exposed to high temperature. The activities of the ETC complexes were diminished in the SLP1 when exposed to high temperature, but also it was distinguished an alternative oxidase activity. Our results suggest that the mitochondria state, particularly ETC state, is an important characteristic of the thermotolerance of the SLP1 yeast strain.
Subject(s)
Electron Transport , Hot Temperature , Kluyveromyces/metabolism , Electron Transport Chain Complex Proteins/metabolism , Lipid Peroxidation , Mitochondria/metabolism , Mitochondria/physiology , Oxidation-Reduction , Oxidoreductases/metabolism , Oxygen ConsumptionABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Meteorin (METRN) is a recently described neutrophic factor with angiogenic properties. This is a nested case-control study in a longitudinal cohort study that describes the serum profile of METRN during different periods of gestation in healthy and preeclamptic pregnant women. Moreover, we explore the possible application of METRN as a biomarker. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Serum METRN was measured by ELISA in a longitudinal prospective cohort study in 37 healthy pregnant women, 16 mild preeclamptic women, and 20 healthy non-pregnant women during the menstrual cycle with the aim of assessing serum METRN levels and its correlations with other metabolic parameters. Immunostaining for METRN protein was performed in placenta. A multivariate logistic regression model was proposed and a classifier model was formulated for predicting preeclampsia in early and middle pregnancy. The performance in classification was evaluated using measures such as sensitivity, specificity, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. In healthy pregnant women, serum METRN levels were significantly elevated in early pregnancy compared to middle and late pregnancy. METRN levels are significantly lower only in early pregnancy in preeclamptic women when compared to healthy pregnant women. Decision trees that did not include METRN levels in the first trimester had a reduced sensitivity of 56% in the detection of preeclamptic women, compared to a sensitivity of 69% when METRN was included. CONCLUSIONS: The joint measurements of circulating METRN levels in the first trimester and systolic blood pressure and weight in the second trimester significantly increase the probabilities of predicting preeclampsia.
Subject(s)
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/blood , Nerve Tissue Proteins/blood , Pre-Eclampsia/blood , Adult , Anthropometry , Case-Control Studies , Decision Trees , Female , Humans , Immunohistochemistry , Logistic Models , Placenta/metabolism , Pregnancy , Pregnancy Trimesters/blood , Risk Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
Divulgar conocimiento científico sobre el hidroarsenicismo en América Latina, y determinar la presencia de arsénico en agua utilizada para consumo humano en lugares de riesgo en Costa Rica, específicamente en la provincia de Cartago, en los cantones de Oreamuno, Central Paraíso y Alvarado. Métodos: Cuantificación de arsénico en su forma reducida trivalente, mediante generación de hidruros metálicos volátiles por absorción atómica de llama, metodología 7062 de la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de Estados Unidos. Resultados: Ninguna de las muestras analizadas superó el límite máximo permitido por la legislación actual costarricense, de 10 ug/L. Conclusión: A pesar de que las áreas de investigación correspondieron a zonas de alto riesgo por su naturaleza volcánica, la amplia oferta hídrica de los cantones marco del estudio, con áreas de relativa protección circundando las zonas de recarga de las nacientes, hace que la población consuma agua de origen subterráneo, pero de influjo directo superficial, con menor influencia de rocas volcánicas que se encuentran a mayor profundidad.
To disclose scientific knowledge about hydroarsenicism in Latin America, as well as to determine the presence of arsenic in water used for human consumption in risk areas of CostaRica, specifically at the Central, Oreamuno, Paraíso and Alvarado counties of the province of Cartago. Methods: Quantification of inorganic arsenic by hydride generation and flame atomic absorption, according to method 7062 of the US Agency of Environmental Protection. Results: None of the analyzed samples surpassed the maximum limit of 10 μg/L allowed by the present Costa Rican legislation.Conclusion: Even though sampled areas are of volcanic nature and therefore of arsenic risk, the population consumes water of direct underground origin with a great superficial influence and little or no contact to deeper volcanic rock, thus not contaminated with arsenic.
Subject(s)
Humans , Arsenic , Domestic Water Consumption , Water Microbiology , Water Characteristics , Water Pollution , Water Supply , Costa RicaABSTRACT
Se realizó un estudio prospectivo y comparativo en el período junio-diciembre 2005, en el Servicio de Obstetricia del Hopsital Universitrio de Caracas. Se midieron concentraciones de testorterona libre en sangre periférica en 50 pacientes con hipertensión inducida por el embarazo (HIE) tipo preeclampsia severa, y un grupo control de 50 gestantes normotensas. Variables estudiadas: edad materna, antecendentes obstétricos, edad gestacional, complicaciones maternas durante el embarazo, y peso al nacer del recién nacido. Las concentraciones de testosterona libre en sangre fueron significativamente elevadas en el grupo de pacientes con HIE (2,55 +/- 1,9 pg/ml) con respecto al grupo control (1,81 +/- 0,96 pg/ml). Hubo un rango de edad materna promedio amplio de 20 a 35 años en ambos grupos. El antecende obstétrico de dos o más gestaciones y la edad gestacional entre 27 y 38 semanas fue significativamente mayor en ambos grupos. En el grupo HIE el 60 por ciento fueron recién nacidos con peso menor 2500grs con una P<0.001
Subject(s)
Humans , Pregnancy , Hypertension/pathology , Pre-Eclampsia , Testosterone , Obstetrics , VenezuelaABSTRACT
Se presenta el primer caso de cirugía cardíaca con circulación extracorpórea, durante el embarazo, realizado en el Hospital Universitario de Caracas, en paciente con estenosis mitral e hipertensión pulmonar severa. Es de hacer notar que, a pesar del riesgo materno-fetal al cual el equipo médico se enfrenta, el resultado final de tomarse todas las precausiones, fue bueno. La intervensión debería realizarse después de completada la organogénesis, para así tratar de evitar el riesgo de malformaciones congénitas y disminuir la incidencia de aborto. Se hace revisión de la literatura nacional e internacional al respecto y se sugiere la conducta quirúrgica (de ser necesaria) preferiblemente fuera de la gestación
