The Rab4 effector Rabip4 plays a role in the endocytotic trafficking of Glut 4 in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Insulin regulates glucose uptake in the adipocytes by modulating Glut 4 localization, a traffic pathway involving the endocytic small GTPases Rab4, Rab5, and RabThe expression of the Rab4 effector Rabip4 leads to a 30% increase in glucose uptake and Glut 4 translocation in the presence of insulin, without modifications in the basal condition. This effect was not due to modifications of Glut 4 expression or insulin signaling, suggesting that Rabip4 controls Glut 4 trafficking. We present evidence that Rabip4 defines a subdomain of early endosomes and that Rabip4 is redistributed to the plasma membrane by insulin.

A rapid and sensitive ELISA to quantify an HBsAg specific monoclonal antibody and a plant-derived antibody during their downstream purification process.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to quantify the mAb CB.Hep-1 during downstream purification process was standardized and validated. This assay is characterized by a short time of incubation at high temperature, allowing the detection of this antibody with high specificity and sensitivity.

CD2AP, Rabip4, and Rabip4': analysis of interaction with Rab4a and regulation of endosomes morphology.

In this chapter, we describe various approaches that allow us to study interactions between the small GTPase Rab4a and its two effectors, Rabip4 and CD2AP. Two complementary approaches, one using the yeast two-hybrid system and the other using a GST pull-down assay, are described. We document the studies of the localization of these proteins by cellular fractionation.

[Presence of temporomandibular joint discomfort related to pacifier use].

: The goal of the present study was to analyze if the duration of pacifier use influenced the stomatognathic system in children that did not present any other parafunctional habits. : Transversal cohort study. : To collect data, a questionnaire was used and answered by the mothers of 90 children aged three to seven years old.

Ricin induces IL-8 secretion from human monocyte/macrophages by activating the p38 MAP kinase pathway.

Polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) infiltration is a hallmark of ricin-induced mucosal inflammation, yet the cellular processes involved in initiating this reaction remain undefined. In this study we report that ricin stimulates the human monocyte/macrophages cell line 28SC to secrete IL-8, a potent PMN chemoattractant. IL-8 release in response to ricin was both dose- and time-dependent.

Synthesis and characterization of new palladium-clotrimazole and palladium-chloroquine complexes showing cytotoxicity for tumor cell lines in vitro.

New palladium complexes of chloroquine (CQ) and clotrimazole (CTZ) have been prepared, characterized, and evaluated against four tumor cell lines in vitro. [Pd (CQ)2Cl2] (1) was synthesized by the reaction of PdCl2(CH3CN)2 with CQ, and the [Pd (CTZ)2Cl2] (2) complex by a similar reaction. The new compounds were characterized by a combination of FAB-MS (fast atom bombardment-mass spectrum), elemental analysis, molar conductivity, IR, and NMR spectroscopy.

[The search for new autoantigens in Sjögren's syndrome].

Objective: To identify new autoantigens related to Sjögren's syndrome and to determine their prevalence in patients and healthy individuals.

Material And Methods: Serological sampling was performed in a patient with Sjögren's syndrome through the use of a human brain expression genotec (SEREX technique) to determine expression of known autoantigens and previously undescribed proteins. The presence of a previously unknown protein was found.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of a medicinal tincture from Pedilanthus tithymaloides.

Pedilanthus tithymaloides (L.) Poit. (Euphorbiaceae) is a low tropical American shrub with a reported wide range of healing properties such as emetic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, antiseptic, antihemorrhagic, antiviral, antitumoral, and abortive.

Microwave detection at 110 Ghz by nanowires with broken symmetry.

By using arrays of nanowires with intentionally broken symmetry, we were able to detect microwaves up to 110 GHz at room temperature. This is, to the best of our knowledge, the highest speed that has been demonstrated in different types of novel electronic nanostructures to date. Our experiments showed a rather stable detection sensitivity over a broad frequency range from 100 MHz to 110 GHz.

Mucinous carcinoid as an unusual manifestation of endodermal differentiation in ovarian yolk sac tumors.

We present, for the first time, two yolk sac tumors (YST) in women 37 and 18 years of age, one with a typical parietovisceral pattern and the other with a glandular pattern, which were associated with extensive areas of mucinous carcinoid (MC). The tumor in the first case had numerous nodules of tubulopapillary YST that merged with well-differentiated MC. This patient responded well to chemotherapy.

Structural basis for competition between drug binding and Kvbeta 1.3 accessory subunit-induced N-type inactivation of Kv1.5 channels.

Kvbeta subunits are accessory proteins that modify gating of Kv1 channels. Kvbeta1.3 subunits bind to the N termini of Kv1.

Vertebrate GLD2 poly(A) polymerases in the germline and the brain.

Cytoplasmic polyadenylation is important in the control of mRNA stability and translation, and for early animal development and synaptic plasticity. Here, we focus on vertebrate poly(A) polymerases that are members of the recently described GLD2 family. We identify and characterize two closely related GLD2 proteins in Xenopus oocytes, and show that they possess PAP activity in vivo and in vitro and that they bind known polyadenylation factors and mRNAs known to receive poly(A) during development.

{Omega}-3 and {omega}-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids block HERG channels.

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have been reported to exhibit antiarrhythmic properties, which have been attributed to their availability to modulate Na(+), Ca(2+), and several K(+) channels. However, their effects on human ether-a-go-go-related gene (HERG) channels are unknown. In this study we have analyzed the effects of arachidonic acid (AA, omega-6) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, omega-3) on HERG channels stably expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells by using the whole cell patch-clamp technique.

The interaction between the adaptor protein APS and Enigma is involved in actin organisation.

APS (adaptor protein with PH and SH2 domains) is an adaptor protein phosphorylated by several tyrosine kinase receptors including the insulin receptor. To identify novel binding partners of APS, we performed yeast two-hybrid screening. We identified Enigma, a PDZ and LIM domain-containing protein that was previously shown to be associated with the actin cytoskeleton.

Library preparation of derivatives of 1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diaza-cycloctadecane and their fluorescence behavior for signaling purposes.

In the present work, we report the library preparation on solid supports of 20 derivatives of 1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,15-diaza-cycloctadecane 1(a-e)(w,x,y,z) carrying a fluorescent dansyl group. The sensing fluorescence behavior of these materials toward alkali and alkali earth metal ions was studied by packing the beads into a conventional flow-through cell in a FIA (flow injection analysis) approach. The fluorescence emission of these materials' responses shows a fluorescence increase to Li+, Na+, K+, NH4+, Ca2+, and Mg2+ with maximum sensitivity for Mg2+ over the rest of the ions.

Antitumor effectiveness of different amounts of electrical charge in Ehrlich and fibrosarcoma Sa-37 tumors.

Background: In vivo studies were conducted to quantify the effectiveness of low-level direct electric current for different amounts of electrical charge and the survival rate in fibrosarcoma Sa-37 and Ehrlich tumors, also the effect of direct electric in Ehrlich tumor was evaluate through the measurements of tumor volume and the peritumoral and tumoral findings.

Methods: BALB/c male mice, 7-8 week old and 20-22 g weight were used. Ehrlich and fibrosarcoma Sa-37 cell lines, growing in BALB/c mice.

Standardization and validation of an alkaline phosphatase-linked immunoassay to quantify a plant-derived antibody directed against the hepatitis B virus surface antigen.

Immunopurification is one of the most effective chromatography steps to purify the hepatitis B surface antigen, which have successfully been used as an active pharmaceutical ingredient of hepatitis B vaccines. Plant-derived antibodies could be an appropriated ligand for such purposes because plants are the most cost-effective production systems and have the additional advantage that plant viruses cannot infect humans. In this work, a polyclonal antibody alkaline phosphatase-linked immunoassay was standardized and validated to quantify a plant-derived antibody directed against the HBsAg.

Gluconic acid production and phosphate solubilization by the plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum spp.

In vitro gluconic acid formation and phosphate solubilization from sparingly soluble phosphorus sources by two strains of the plant growth-promoting bacteria A. brasilense (Cd and 8-I) and one strain of A. lipoferum JA4 were studied.

The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire: a validated Spanish version to assess the health status in women with fibromyalgia.

Objective: To translate, adapt, validate and assess the sensitivity to change of a Spanish version of the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ-S).

Methods: The FIQ-S was adapted following the translation and back-translation methodology. Female patients with fibromyalgia (FM) were invited to participate.

Tannic acid interferes with the commonly used laccase-detection assay based on ABTS as the substrate.

Laccase enzymatic activity in biological samples is usually detected spectrophotometrically through its capacity to oxidize several specific aromatic compounds. One of the most commonly used substrates is the compound 2-2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), which becomes green-blue coloured when it is oxidized by laccase. In this work we study the interference of tannic acid with the spectrophotometric assay to detect laccase by using ABTS as the substrate.

Synthesis and reactivity of iridium complexes with pyridine and piperidine ligands: models for hydrodenitrogenation.

The complexes [Ir(H)2(eta1-N-L)2(PPh3)2]PF6, L = py (1), iQ (2) and pip (3) (py = pyridine, iQ = isoquinoline, pip = piperidine) have been synthesized in high yields by hydrogenation of [Ir(cod)(PPh3)2]PF6 in the presence of the appropriate nitrogen compound. When hydrogen is bubbled through 1,2-dichloroethane solutions of 1 or 2, two new species were formed in each case by C-Cl bond activation of the solvent, Ir(H)2Cl(eta1-N-L)(PPh3)2 (L = py, 4; iQ, 5) and IrH(Cl)2(eta1-N-L)(PPh3)2 (L = py, 6; iQ, 7). Reaction of 3 with py or iQ yielded complexes 1 and 2, respectively, while under a slow stream of carbon monoxide the complex [Ir(H)2(eta1-N-pip)(CO)(PPh3)2]PF6 (8) was produced.

Structural close-related aromatic compounds have different effects on laccase activity and on lcc gene expression in the ligninolytic fungus Trametes sp. I-62.

Nine phenolic compounds (p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, guaiacol, syringol, p-methoxyphenol, pyrocatechol, phloroglucinol, 3,5-dihydroxybenzoic acid, and syringaldazine) were tested for their ability to increase laccase production in the ligninolytic basidiomycete Trametes sp. I-62. All these compounds resulted in increases in laccase activity, with the highest levels being detected in the presence of p-coumaric acid (273-fold) and guaiacol (73-fold).

The use of ozone, ozone plus UV radiation, and aerobic microorganisms in the purification of some agro-industrial wastewaters.

The oxidation of the pollutant organic matter present in wastewaters generated during different stages in the black table-olive industry was investigated by using ozone alone or combined with UV radiation; by using aerobic microorganisms; and finally, by aerobic degradation of the previously ozonated wastewaters. In the ozonation processes, the removal of substrate (COD) and aromatic compounds, the decreases in BOD5 and pH, and the ozone consumed in the reaction were evaluated. A kinetic study was conducted that led to the evaluation of the stoichiometric ratio for the chemical reaction, as well as the rate constants for the substrate reduction and ozone disappearance.