Characterization of p53/p63/p73 and Myc expressions during embryogenesis of the sea urchin.

BACKGROUND: Some marine invertebrate organisms are considered not to develop tumors due to unknown mechanisms. To gain an initial insight into how tumor-related genes may be expressed and function during marine invertebrate development, we here leverage sea urchin embryos as a model system and characterize the expressions of Myc and p53/p63/p73 which are reported to function synergistically in mammalian models as an oncogene and tumor suppressor, respectively. RESULTS: During sea urchin embryogenesis, a combo gene of p53/p63/p73 is found to be maternally loaded and decrease after fertilization both in transcript and protein, while Myc transcript and protein are zygotically expressed. p53/p63/p73 and Myc proteins are observed in the cytoplasm and nucleus of every blastomere, respectively, throughout embryogenesis. Both p53/p63/p73 and Myc overexpression results in compromised development with increased DNA damage after the blastula stage. p53/p63/p73 increases the expression of parp1, a DNA repair/cell death marker gene, and suppresses endomesoderm gene expressions. In contrast, Myc does not alter the expression of specification genes or oncogenes yet induces disorganized morphology. CONCLUSIONS: p53/p63/p73 appears to be important for controlling cell differentiation, while Myc induces disorganized morphology yet not through conventional oncogene regulations or apoptotic pathways during embryogenesis of the sea urchin.

Microwave System: A Novel Treatment for Localized Adiposity Reduction in a Latin American Population.

Background: The microwave body remodeling system is indicated for people who want to improve their physical appearance as it can penetrate deep tissues, causing thermic stress on adipocytes to produce adipolysis while in superficial tissues, it dissolves fibrous tracts and stimulates new collagen. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the localized adiposity reduction in Latin American patients using a microwave system. Methods: A total of 35 patients with a mean age of 47.5 (±9.0) years received body remodeling treatment, using the microwave system between the years 2019-2022 in a Bogota, Colombia reference center. Data descriptive analysis was made as well as single-factor repeated measures ANOVA to show pre- and post-treatment difference, and mixed ANOVA for body mass index (BMI) subgroup analysis was performed. Results: In all patients examined, statistical significant differences were found in pre- and post-treatment skinfold test for each body area: superior abdomen (F(1,27) = 63.13; p=0.001), iliac crest (F(1, 23) = 114.33; p < 0.001), posterior waist (F(1, 20) = 27.36; p < 0.001), trochanter (F(1, 17) = 26.94; p < 0.001), among others. Conclusions: According to the study's findings, this microwave system is an innovative and effective technique for body remodeling and cellulite and localized fat reduction.

Vasa, a regulator of localized mRNA translation on the spindle.

Localized mRNA translation is a biological process that allows mRNA to be translated on-site, which is proposed to provide fine control in protein regulation, both spatially and temporally within a cell. We recently reported that Vasa, an RNA-helicase, is a promising factor that appears to regulate this process on the spindle during the embryonic development of the sea urchin, yet the detailed roles and functional mechanisms of Vasa in this process are still largely unknown. In this review article, to elucidate these remaining questions, we first summarize the prior knowledge and our recent findings in the area of Vasa research and further discuss how Vasa may function in localized mRNA translation, contributing to efficient protein regulation during rapid embryogenesis and cancer cell regulation.

New Structures, Spectrometric Quantification, and Inhibitory Properties of Cardenolides from Asclepias curassavica Seeds.

Cardiac glycosides are a large class of secondary metabolites found in plants. In the genus Asclepias, cardenolides in milkweed plants have an established role in plant-herbivore and predator-prey interactions, based on their ability to inhibit the membrane-bound Na+/K+-ATPase enzyme. Milkweed seeds are eaten by specialist lygaeid bugs, which are the most cardenolide-tolerant insects known. These insects likely impose natural selection for the repeated derivatisation of cardenolides. A first step in investigating this hypothesis is to conduct a phytochemical profiling of the cardenolides in the seeds. Here, we report the concentrations of 10 purified cardenolides from the seeds of Asclepias curassavica. We report the structures of new compounds: 3-O-ß-allopyranosyl coroglaucigenin (1), 3-[4'-O-ß-glucopyranosyl-ß-allopyranosyl] coroglaucigenin (2), 3'-O-ß-glucopyranosyl-15-ß-hydroxycalotropin (3), and 3-O-ß-glucopyranosyl-12-ß-hydroxyl coroglaucigenin (4), as well as six previously reported cardenolides (5-10). We test the in vitro inhibition of these compounds on the sensitive porcine Na+/K+-ATPase. The least inhibitory compound was also the most abundant in the seeds-4'-O-ß-glucopyranosyl frugoside (5). Gofruside (9) was the most inhibitory. We found no direct correlation between the number of glycosides/sugar moieties in a cardenolide and its inhibitory effect. Our results enhance the literature on cardenolide diversity and concentration among tissues eaten by insects and provide an opportunity to uncover potential evolutionary relationships between tissue-specific defense expression and insect adaptations in plant-herbivore interactions.

Human intestinal mucus proteins isolated by transanal irrigation and proctosigmoidoscopy / Proteínas del moco intestinal humano aislado por irrigación transanal y rectosigmoidoscopia / Proteinas do muco intestinal humano isolado por irrigação transanal e retossigmoidoscopia

Human intestinal mucus essentially consists of a network of Mucin2 glycoproteins embedded in many lower molecular weight proteins. This paper contributes to the proteomic study of human intestinal mucus by comparing two sample collection methods (transanal irrigation and brush cytology during proctosigmoidoscopy) and analysis techniques (electrophoresis and digestion in solution). The entire sample collection and treatment process is explained, including protein extraction, digestion and desalination and peptide characterisation using a nanoAcquity UPLC chromatograph coupled to an HDMS spectrometer equipped with a nanoESI source. Collecting mucus via transanal irrigation provided a larger sample volume and protein concentration from a single patient. The proctosigmoidoscopy sample could be analysed via digestion in solution after depleting albumin. The analysis indicates that a simple mucus lysis method can evaluate the electrophoresis and digestion in solution techniques. Studying human intestinal mucus complexes is important because they perform two essential survival functions for humans as the first biochemical and physical defences for the gastrointestinal tract and a habitat for intestinal microbiota, which are primarily hosted in the colon and exceeds the human genetic information and cell number 100- and 10-fold (1).

El moco intestinal humano está formado, esencialmente, por una red de la glicoproteína Mucina2, en la cual se encuentran inmersas muchas otras proteínas de menor peso molecular. El objetivo principal del presente trabajo es realizar una contribución al estudio proteómico del moco intestinal humano, mediante la comparación de dos métodos de recolección de muestra (irrigación transanal y cepillos de citología durante rectosigmoidoscopia) y de dos técnicas de análisis (electroforesis y digestión en solución). Se explica todo el proceso de recolección y tratamiento de la muestra para extraer las proteínas, la digestión y desalinización de las mismas, hasta llegar a la caracterización de los péptidos en un cromatógrafo nanoAcquity UPLC acoplado a un espectrómetro HDMS, equipado con una fuente nanoESI. La recolección del moco por irrigación transanal aportó mayor volumen de muestra de un solo paciente y mayor concentración de proteínas. La muestra obtenida por rectosigmoidoscopia se pudo analizar por digestión en solución, previa depleción de albúmina. El análisis indica que una metodología sencilla de lisis del moco puede ser utilizada para evaluación por las técnicas de electroforesis y de digestión en solución. El estudio del complejo moco intestinal humano es importante por las dos funciones primordiales que cumple para la supervivencia del ser humano: como la primera línea de defensa bioquímica y física del tracto gastrointestinal, y como el hábitat de la microbiota intestinal, la cual se hospeda principalmente en el colon, y supera en información genética hasta 100x la del humano y en 10x su número de células (1).

O muco intestinal humano está formado essencialmente por uma rede da glicoproteína Mucin2, constituída por outras proteínas de menor massa molecular. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é contribuir ao estudo proteômico do muco mediante a comparação de dois métodos de amostragem (irrigação transanal e escovas de citologia durante retossigmoidoscopia) e dois técnicas de análise (e digestão em solução). São descritos os processos de amostragem, extração, digestão e dessalinização de proteínas até chegar na caracterização dos peptídeos digeridos em um cromatógrafo nanoAcquity UPLC acoplado a um espectrómetro HDMS, equipado com uma fonte nanoESI. A coleta do muco por irrigação transanal forneceu um volume maior de amostra por pessoa e maior concentração de proteínas. As amostras obtidas por retossigmoidoscopia foram analisadas por digestão em solução, após a depleção de albumina. As análises mostraram que uma metodologia simples de lise do muco pode ser utilizada para avaliação mediante as técnicas eletroforese e digestão em solução. O estudo do complexo MIH é importante pelas suas duas funções fundamentais na sobrevivência humana, sendo a primeira linha de defesa bioquimica e física do trato gastrointestinal, e o habitat da microbiota intestinal, hospedada principalmente no cólon e que contem informação genética até 100 X superior à do humano e 10 X seu número de células (1).

Assessing and redesigning the nursing practice environment.

With an aging population, aging nurse workforce, and high nurse vacancy rates, our hospital had a clear mandate to assess and redesign our practice environment. The authors describe a project created to provide a framework for current and ongoing evaluation of the practice environment.

Estado nutricional materno de las mujeres indígenas de Río Sucio Caldas 2004-2005 y la asociación directa con el peso de sus recién nacidos / Maternal nutritional state of indigenous women of Riosucio, Caldas 2004-2005 and its direct association with the body weight of the newborns / Estado nutricional materno das mulheres indígenas de rio sucio caldas 2004-2005 e a associação direta com o peso se seus recém nascidos

El presente estudio se llevo a cabo a partir del análisis de los datos rutinarios de las historias clínicas de gestantes indígenas que asistieron a control prenatal y tuvieron parto de nacidos-vivos en el Hospital San Juan de Dios en Riosucio (Caldas), entre Agosto de 2004 y Julio de 2005. Para ello, se examinó la relación existente entre el estado nutricional materno, -el cual es estimado por el Índice de Masa Corporal (IMC) presente en el control prenatal inicial, en dos grupos de comparación (expuestos-no expuestos)-, con el crecimiento fetal, expresado como peso promedio del recién nacido a término, Entre los embarazos seleccionados, consideramos la siguiente información relevante: la edad gestacional conocida por ecografía y/o amenorrea, partos a término (38 - 42 semanas), gestaciones únicas sin enfermedad diagnosticada asociada. De la muestra estudiada el 63.5 por ciento de las gestantes tenían peso normal; sin embargo, el 44.7 por ciento de los recién nacidos del total de la muestra tuvieron peso por debajo de 3.000 g., de los cuales el 13.9 por ciento correspondían a recién nacidos, hijos de madres de bajo peso. Se obtuvieron datos de gestantes con sobrepeso y obesidad (53 casos), de los cuales 4.6 por ciento tuvieron bebes catalogados con peso deficiente. Con base en estos resultados, se pudo concluir que, no existe una relación directa, es decir, estadísticamente significativa, entre el estado nutricional materno y el peso de los recién nacidos. En esta muestra de población (X2 mayor que 3,841, cruza el alfa de 5 por ciento); se pudo establecer un riesgo relativo, a saber: del 3,8 de cada recién nacido de peso deficiente o bajo, hijo de madre de peso normal/sobrepeso/obesidad, hay un 3,8 de recién nacidos de peso bajo o deficiente hijos de madres con bajo peso (IC 95 por ciento= 3,18 – 5,18)

A descriptive and retrospective study about the case histories of pregnant women was realized, analyzing the existent relation between the nutricional condition of the mother estimated by Corporal Mass Rate (CMR) which represented an initial prenatal control, along with the fetal growth refered as average weight of the newborn, in indigenous mothers who attended a prenatal control and delivered alive innates at San Juan de Dios Hospital in Riosucio (Caldas) within August 2004 and July 2005 with selected pregnancies: gestational age known by ecography and /or amenorrhoea deliveries between (38 and 42 weeks) unique gestations and without any associated diagnosed illnesses. From the sample studied, 63.5% of the pregnant women had normal weight. However 44.7% of the newborns from the whole total of the sampling had weight under 3.000 g. From which 13.9% were newborns from low weight mothers, equally some important data were obtained from the overweight mothers (53 cases) from which 4.6% had babies considered to have insufficient weight. You could conclude that a direct relationship doesn't exist statistically significant between the maternal nutritional state and the weight of the newly born ones in population's sample (bigger X2 that 3,841, it crosses the alpha of 5%), however he/she put on to establish a relative risk of 3, 8, this is that for each newly born of weight insufficient or low son of mother of weight Normal/sobrepeso/obesidad, there are 3, 8 newly born of weight under or insufficient children of mothers with under weight (IC 95% = 3, 18 - 5, 18).

O presente estudo leva-se a seu fim a partir duma análise retrospectivo baseado em dados rotineiros das historias clinicas de gestantes. Para isso examino-se a relação existente entre o estado nutricional materno, o qual é estimado por o Indice de Massa Corporal (IMC) presente no controle pré-natal inicial, em dois grupos de comparação (expostos- não expostos)-, com o crescimento fetal, expressado como peso meio do recém nascido a termino, em mulheres indígenas que assistiram ao controle pré-natal e tiveram partos de nascidos- vivos no Hospital São João de Deus em Riosucio (Caldas), entre Agosto de 2004 e Julho de 2005. Entre os embaraços selecionados, consideramos a seguinte informação relevante: A idade gestacional conhecida por ecografia e/ou amenorréia, partos a termino (38 ­ 42 semanas), gestacionais únicas sem enfermidade diagnosticada associada. Da amostra estudada 63.5% das gestantes tinham peso normal; sem embargo, 44.7% dos recém nascidos do total da amostra tiveram peso por debaixo de 3.000 g. dos quais 13.9% correspondiam a recém nascidos, filhos de mães de baixo peso. Obtiveram ­ se dados de gestantes com sobrepeso e obesidade (53 casos), dos quais 4.6% tiveram bebês catalogados com peso deficiente. Com base em estes resultados, pode-se concluir que, não existe uma relação direta, é dizer estadisticamente significativa, entre o estado nutricional materno e o peso dos recém nascidos. Em esta amostra de povoação (X2 maior que 3,841, cruza o alfa de 5%); pode-se estabelecer um risco relativo, a saber: do 3,8 de cada recém nascido de peso deficiente ou baixo, filho de mãe de peso normal/ sobrepeso/obesidade, têm um 3,8 recém nascidos de peso baixo ou deficiente filhos de mães com baixo peso (IC 95%=3,18 ­ 5,18)