Cabrera asegura que con el Gobierno Socialista “la víctima de malos tratos nunca va a estar desprotegida”

Cabrera asegura que con el Gobierno Socialista “la víctima de malos tratos nunca va a estar desprotegida”

La secretaria de Igualdad del PSOE de Melilla, Dolores Cabrera, ha recordado la cantidad de medidas que el Gobierno Socialista ha ido implementando a lo largo de este mandato para combatir la violencia machista, y ha dejado claro que “si de algo pueden estar seguros los ciudadanos es de que la víctima nunca va a estar desprotegida”.

En una entrevista concedida a Onda Cero, la dirigente del PSOE melillense ha recalcado la asistencia jurídica “inmediata y especializada” de todas las víctimas que lo soliciten, que cuenta con carácter gratuito, así como los sistemas de teleasistencia móvil, por el cual se dota a las víctimas de un mecanismo telemático con el que las mujeres tienen contacto directo con la policía, y que, en nuestra ciudad, ya emplean 36 usuarias.

Cabrera, que ha destacado la inversión de 5 millones de euros del Ministerio de Interior para dotar de estos sistemas telemáticos, así como de pulseras de localización para maltratadores, ha querido huir de triunfalismos pero se ha querido dejar claro que se está en la buena dirección.

“Con que se dé un solo caso de violencia contra una mujer ya son demasiados, pero es verdad que las cifras dicen que vamos por el buen camino”, ha señalado y ha recordado que, en este año 2009, han sido asesinadas 49 mujeres en España, 10 menos que en 2008, y 14 menos que en 2007. “La mayor protección a las mujeres camina a la par de la reducción de asesinatos”, ha apuntado.

En lo que a Melilla se refiere, donde no se ha dado ninguna víctima mortal, hay 134 denuncias por malos tratos, de las cuales 106 “tienen un riesgo no apreciado o bajo”, según los datos oficiales.

Valores democráticos

La responsable de Igualdad de los socialistas melillenses también ha dedicado un especial apartado a la educación. “España ha sido durante siglos un país patriarcal y, de generación en generación, se ha transmitido una imagen de la mujer, llena de estereotipos, en la que, en muchas ocasiones, se la denigra, se la desprecia o se la anula”, ha lamentado.

Para hacer frente a esta imagen, tergiversada y malévola, Cabrera ha apostado por la educación en valores democráticos, que “implica colocar el papel de la mujer como persona en igualdad de derechos, ya sea en las aulas o en las casas”.

Al hilo ha señalado que “el desarrollo de programas específicos contra la Violencia de Género en las Escuelas, Institutos y Universidades debe abordarse como base fundamental, como el puntal definitivo para terminar con la violencia de género”.

“Estamos en un momento en que la sociedad debe asir, aún con más decisión, las riendas del cambio de valores en nuestros jóvenes y haga un llamamiento general al respeto, a la dignidad, al valor social imprescindible de las mujeres como sujetos poseedores de los derechos fundamentales a la libertad, a la igualdad y a la integridad”, ha apuntillado.

Acto del PSOE

En otro orden de cosas, la representante de la Ejecutiva de los socialistas melillenses ha invitado a todos los ciudadanos que quieran asistir al acto que el PSOE ha organizado con motivo del 25-N.

El Partido Socialista organizará este año los actos en la sede del partido. Una iniciativa que, además de leer un manifiesto a favor de los derechos de las mujeres y en contra de la violencia de género, contará con la proyección de varios cortos con esta temática, que dará paso a una charla coloquio.

Al acto, que será a las 18.30 horas, están invitados representantes de Melilla Acoge, UGT, CCOO, ACCEM, CETI, Acción Social Sin Fronteras, Amlega o la Universidad de Granada, entre otras instituciones, pero “a la que está invitados todos los ciudadanos que quieran asistir”, ha recalcado Cabrera
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Gene increases effectiveness of drugs used to fight cancer and allows reduction in dosage

Gene increases effectiveness of drugs used to fight cancer and allows reduction in dosage

Researchers at the University of Granada have found a suicide gene, called \’gene E\’, which leads to the death of tumour cells derived from breast, lung and colon cancer, and prevents their growth. The importance of this new gene is that its use to fight cancer can reduce the potent drugs that are currently used, so that could mean more effective treatment for cancer.

This research was conducted by Ana Rosa Rama Ballesteros, from the Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology at the University of Granada, and directed by professors Antonia Aránega Jimenez, José Carlos Prados Salazar and Consolación Melguizo Alonso. Its aim was to study the possibility of reducing the dosage of drugs currently administered to cancer patients using combination therapy with suicide gene E.

Scientists from the UGR have shown that the bacteriophage phiX174 killer gene called E, can be used to induce death in tumour cells. So far, attempts to use many chemotherapeutic (cytotoxic) agents similar to the E gene have shown severe limitations resulting from their toxicity and their poor affinity with the tumour.

Advantages of gene therapy

As Ana Rosa Rama explains, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery show at present «limited» results in advanced stages of cancer. «That is why it is urgent to find new therapies, and gene therapy has emerged as a potentially powerful therapeutic platform.» Her work has shown that «it is possible to use gene therapy as an aid to chemotherapy, improving its results when it comes to attacking cancer, thus allowing the dosage of agents to be reduced and contributing to a reduction in side effects for the patient.»

In order to understand how the E gene works, the researchers conducted studies using various techniques. The results indicate that the E gene\’s mechanism of action is to induce apoptosis (cell death), possibly through mitochondrial injury.

Therefore, they stress that «this new E gene appears as an ideal candidate to be transfected into tumour cells in order to induce apoptosis, possibly through mitochondrial activation, and to increase the sensitivity of these cells to the action of the drug developed specifically to act on them.»

The results of this research suggest the possibility of reducing the concentration of chemotherapeutic agents in current use with cancer patients. Thus, in lung cancer cell line A-549, scientists from the UGR achieved a 14% inhibition of tumour growth and reduced by 100 times the dose of Paclitaxel agent when it was combined with gene E. In the case of colon cancer, the results were similar. However, the most relevant fact was found in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7, in which the dose of the chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin, was reduced by 100 times, reaching up to a 21% greater inhibition of tumour proliferation when combined with gene E. Currently, researchers from the UGR are in the process of obtaining a patent for gene E.

Reference: Antonia Aránega Jiménez. Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, University of Granada. Tel: (+34) 958 243 534. E-mail: anarosarama@ugr.es
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Los videojuegos no son tan malos

Los videojuegos no son tan malos

Los videojuegos pueden llegar a tener una influencia positiva en la educación de los niños y, utilizados moderadamente, no perjudican su rendimiento académico, según una investigación realizada por profesoras de las Universidad de Granada y Salamanca.

El estudio tenía como objetivo investigar si las actitudes de los niños ante los videojuegos y la forma en que los utilizan repercuten de manera significativa en variables como la inteligencia espacial, la autoeficacia y el rendimiento académico de los usuarios.

Para ello, se analizó una muestra de 266 niños y niñas de entre 11 y 16 años, junto con sus respectivos padres. Los menores tuvieron que contestar una entrevista y una encuesta sobre el uso y las preferencias de los videojuegos, así como dos test de inteligencia y un inventario de autoeficacia. Por su parte, los padres rellenaron una encuesta sobre opinión, conocimiento y actitud personal ante los videojuegos.

El rendimiento académico de estos pequeños usuarios de los videojuegos se ve afectado en la medida de que el tiempo que dedican a este entretenimiento supone horas de estudio y atención perdidas.

Con todo, las investigadoras consideran que los videojuegos pueden representar «un vehículo útil para motivar la autoeficacia y mejorar el rendimiento escolar», siempre que los padres y educadores sean conscientes de las posibilidades pedagógicas y puedan proteger a los menores de los posibles peligros de su abuso.

Los resultados de estos análisis han de mostrado que a medida que el niño juega con mayor frecuencia a los videojuegos también lo hace durante más tiempo. Este hecho confirma la hipótesis de algunos investigadores sobre la posibilidad de que alguno de estos juegos creen adicción. La investigación ha revelado además ciertas diferencias de género entre los usuarios de los videojuegos. No sólo juegan con mayor frecuencia los chicos que las chicas, sino que éstos, además, se muestran mucho más exigentes a la hora de decantarse por unos productos u otros, prefiriendo los videojuegos con un mayor realismo, impactantes, con argumento, efectos gráficos y sonoros muy elaborados y que les planteen algún reto y permitan competir.

Este estudio ha detectado que casi un tercio de los adolescentes juegan sólo los fines de semana y que son pocos los muchachos que juegan todos los días. Sin embargo, más de la mitad de los padres encuestados tienen una opinión desfavorable sobre los videojuegos y consideran que sus hijos «juegan demasiado».

El trabajo ha sido realizado por Ángeles Llorca Díez, del Departamento de Didáctica de la Expresión Musical, Plástica y Corporal de la Universidad de Granada, dirigida por las profesoras Mª Ángeles Díez Sánchez, de la Universidad de Salamanca, y Mª Dolores Álvarez Rodríguez, de la Universidad de Granada.

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Gene increases effectiveness of drugs used to fight cancer and allows reduction in dosage

Gene increases effectiveness of drugs used to fight cancer and allows reduction in dosage

Researchers at the University of Granada have found a suicide gene, called \’gene E\’, which leads to the death of tumour cells derived from breast, lung and colon cancer, and prevents their growth. The importance of this new gene is that its use to fight cancer can reduce the potent drugs that are currently used, so that could mean more effective treatment for cancer.

This research was conducted by Ana Rosa Rama Ballesteros, from the Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology at the University of Granada, and directed by professors Antonia Arnega Jimenez, Jos Carlos Prados Salazar and Consolacin Melguizo Alonso. Its aim was to study the possibility of reducing the dosage of drugs currently administered to cancer patients using combination therapy with suicide gene E.

Scientists from the UGR have shown that the bacteriophage phiX174 killer gene called E, can be used to induce death in tumour cells. So far, attempts to use many chemotherapeutic (cytotoxic) agents similar to the E gene have shown severe limitations resulting from their toxicity and their poor affinity with the tumour.

Advantages of gene therapy

As Ana Rosa Rama explains, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery show at present «limited» results in advanced stages of cancer. «That is why it is urgent to find new therapies, and gene therapy has emerged as a potentially powerful therapeutic platform.» Her work has shown that «it is possible to use gene therapy as an aid to chemotherapy, improving its results when it comes to attacking cancer, thus allowing the dosage of agents to be reduced and contributing to a reduction in side effects for the patient.»

In order to understand how the E gene works, the researchers conducted studies using various techniques. The results indicate that the E gene\’s mechanism of action is to induce apoptosis (cell death), possibly through mitochondrial injury.

Therefore, they stress that «this new E gene appears as an ideal candidate to be transfected into tumour cells in order to induce apoptosis, possibly through mitochondrial activation, and to increase the sensitivity of these cells to the action of the drug developed specifically to act on them.»

The results of this research suggest the possibility of reducing the concentration of chemotherapeutic agents in current use with cancer patients. Thus, in lung cancer cell line A-549, scientists from the UGR achieved a 14% inhibition of tumour growth and reduced by 100 times the dose of Paclitaxel agent when it was combined with gene E. In the case of colon cancer, the results were similar. However, the most relevant fact was found in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7, in which the dose of the chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin, was reduced by 100 times, reaching up to a 21% greater inhibition of tumour proliferation when combined with gene E. Currently, researchers from the UGR are in the process of obtaining a patent for gene E.

Reference: Antonia Arnega Jimnez. Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, University of Granada. Tel: (+34) 958 243 534. E-mail: anarosarama@ugr.es
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Investigadores de las universidades de Granada y Salamanca destacan que el uso moderado de los videojuegos puede ser útil para los niños

Investigadores de las universidades de Granada y Salamanca destacan que el uso moderado de los videojuegos puede ser útil para los niños

Los videojuegos pueden llegar a tener una influencia positiva en la educación de los niños y, utilizados moderadamente, no perjudican su rendimiento académico. Así se desprende de los resultados de una investigación realizada por Ángeles Llorca Díez, del Departamento de Didáctica de la Expresión Musical, Plástica y Corporal de la Universidad de Granada, y dirigida por las profesoras María Ángeles Díez Sánchez, de la Universidad de Salamanca, y María Dolores Álvarez Rodríguez, de la Universidad de Granada.
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Diseñan un plan para promover aulas inclusivas

Diseñan un plan para promover aulas inclusivas

Investigadores de la Universidad de Granada y de la Universidad Nacional del Comahue (Argentina) han diseñado un programa de intervención basado en el modelo de educación inclusiva que ha logrado integrar al 100% de la población gitana en las aulas de un centro de Educación Secundaria granadino. El plan, desarrollado durante dos cursos académicos, ha servido para mejorar el rendimiento de estos niños y normalizar la relación con sus compañeros. Para llevarlo a cabo se realizó una recogida previa de información, después un diagnóstico y por último se llevó a cabo el programa de intervención.
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Gene increases effectiveness of drugs used to fight cancer and allows reduction in dosage

Gene increases effectiveness of drugs used to fight cancer and allows reduction in dosage

Researchers at the University of Granada have found a suicide gene, called \’gene E\’, which leads to the death of tumour cells derived from breast, lung and colon cancer, and prevents their growth. The importance of this new gene is that its use to fight cancer can reduce the potent drugs that are currently used, so that could mean more effective treatment for cancer. This research was conducted by Ana Rosa Rama Ballesteros, from the Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology at the University of Granada, and directed by professors Antonia Aránega Jimenez, José Carlos Prados Salazar and Consolación Melguizo Alonso. Its aim was to study the possibility of reducing the dosage of drugs currently administered to cancer patients using combination therapy with suicide gene E.

Scientists from the UGR have shown that the bacteriophage phiX174 killer gene called E, can be used to induce death in tumour cells. So far, attempts to use many chemotherapeutic (cytotoxic) agents similar to the E gene have shown severe limitations resulting from their toxicity and their poor affinity with the tumour.

Advantages of gene therapy

As Ana Rosa Rama explains, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery show at present «limited» results in advanced stages of cancer. «That is why it is urgent to find new therapies, and gene therapy has emerged as a potentially powerful therapeutic platform.» Her work has shown that «it is possible to use gene therapy as an aid to chemotherapy, improving its results when it comes to attacking cancer, thus allowing the dosage of agents to be reduced and contributing to a reduction in side effects for the patient.»

In order to understand how the E gene works, the researchers conducted studies using various techniques. The results indicate that the E gene\’s mechanism of action is to induce apoptosis (cell death), possibly through mitochondrial injury.

Therefore, they stress that «this new E gene appears as an ideal candidate to be transfected into tumour cells in order to induce apoptosis, possibly through mitochondrial activation, and to increase the sensitivity of these cells to the action of the drug developed specifically to act on them.»

The results of this research suggest the possibility of reducing the concentration of chemotherapeutic agents in current use with cancer patients. Thus, in lung cancer cell line A-549, scientists from the UGR achieved a 14% inhibition of tumour growth and reduced by 100 times the dose of Paclitaxel agent when it was combined with gene E. In the case of colon cancer, the results were similar. However, the most relevant fact was found in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7, in which the dose of the chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin, was reduced by 100 times, reaching up to a 21% greater inhibition of tumour proliferation when combined with gene E. Currently, researchers from the UGR are in the process of obtaining a patent for gene E.
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Una experiencia piloto permite mejorar el rendimiento escolar de niñas y niños gitanos

Una experiencia piloto permite mejorar el rendimiento escolar de niñas y niños gitanos

Investigadores de la Universidad de Granada y de la Universidad Nacional del Comahue (Argentina) han diseñado un programa de intervención educativa que ha permitido integrar al 100% a la población gitana en las aulas de un Centro de Educación Secundaria de la provincia de Granada.

Este plan, que se ha desarrollado durante dos cursos académicos, ha servido para mejorar el rendimiento escolar de los niños de etnia gitana y normalizar completamente la relación con sus compañeros.

Este trabajo ha sido elaborado por Sonia Cristina Iguacel y dirigido por Leonor Buendía Eisman, del departamento de Métodos de Investigación y Diagnóstico en Educación de la Universidad de Granada.

Para llevarlo a cabo, su autora trabajó directamente con el profesorado y con alumnos de origen gitano, de 1º ESO, con calificaciones muy bajas, absentismo escolar, numerosos partes disciplinarios y episodios conflictivos, y con un nivel de competencia curricular propio de un 2º y 3º de primaria, destinatarios del Plan de Compensación Educativa del centro escolar.

Iguacel utilizó diferentes estrategias de recogida de información durante todo el proceso de su investigación: un diario de campo, entrevistas en profundidad, registros fotográficos y en vídeo, un estudio de documentación producida en el centro, etc.

Aulas más inclusivas

El objetivo general de la investigación ha sido la construcción de aulas más inclusivas en un Centro de Educación Secundaria de la provincia de Granada. Para lograrlo, siguieron un proceso de investigación-acción durante dos cursos académicos. Comenzaron con un diagnóstico y evaluación de la situación del plan de compensatoria en el Centro y posteriormente procedieron a la elaboración, ejecución y evaluación de un programa de intervención en dichas aulas. Las investigadoras encontraron que todo el alumnado asignado a la clase de compensatoria pertenecía al pueblo gitano, por lo que todo el trabajo del primer año se realizó con estos alumnos.

Este trabajo se posiciona dentro del modelo de “educación inclusiva”, por lo que su pretensión básica es el logro de un centro educativo que no excluya a una parte de su alumnado por su pertenencia cultural y étnica, ni promueva como respuesta a esas peculiaridades la creación de aulas específicas y el diseño de prácticas docentes segregadoras que perpetúen así situaciones de desigualdad escolar y social y que dificulten la inclusión de este alumnado en la sociedad en condiciones de equidad con respecto al resto de la población no gitana.

Posicionamiento activo
Gracias a esta experiencia piloto, el alumnado de Compensatoria de 1º de ESO que participó obtuvo un posicionamiento muy activo y participativo en la dinámica del aula y del centro; disminuyó casi por completo el desfase curricular en el Ámbito Socio-lingüístico; disminuyeron mucho los episodios conflictivos y sanciones disciplinarias, se logró una mayor regulación de la asistencia a clases, y varias familias se implicaron en el proceso de aprendizaje de sus hijos y en las actividades del centro.

La labor del equipo directivo y de la profesora de compensatoria fue decisiva para integrar a este alumnado en clases regulares.

La experta cree que es absolutamente necesario “generar otra escuela pública, más respetuosa y atenta a la diversidad de su alumnado, no sólo desde declaraciones políticamente correctas sino también desde cada una de las prácticas que allí se realizan”.

Uno de los aspectos más originales de este trabajo es que ha demostrado que una práctica docente integradora no se agota con la “inclusión” de los alumnos y alumnas de diferentes procedencias y condiciones en una misma clase, “sino de que se debe apostar por la construcción conjunta del conocimiento, por el aprendizaje de competencias que les permitan una vida escolar y social activa, y eso sólo se puede lograr si, desde pequeños, los niños y las niñas se educan en un ambiente plural y democrático”.

Los resultados de esta investigación darán lugar a varios artículos científicos, e incluso una monografía que será publicada próximamente.
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Increases Effectiveness Of Drugs Used To Fight Cancer And Allows Reduction In Dosage

Increases Effectiveness Of Drugs Used To Fight Cancer And Allows Reduction In Dosage

Researchers at the University of Granada have found a suicide gene, called \’gene E\’, which leads to the death of tumour cells derived from breast, lung and colon cancer, and prevents their growth. The importance of this new gene is that its use to fight cancer can reduce the potent drugs that are currently used, so that could mean more effective treatment for cancer.

This research was conducted by Ana Rosa Rama Ballesteros, from the Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology at the University of Granada, and directed by professors Antonia Aránega Jimenez, José Carlos Prados Salazar and Consolación Melguizo Alonso. Its aim was to study the possibility of reducing the dosage of drugs currently administered to cancer patients using combination therapy with suicide gene E.

Scientists from the UGR have shown that the bacteriophage phiX174 killer gene called E, can be used to induce death in tumour cells. So far, attempts to use many chemotherapeutic (cytotoxic) agents similar to the E gene have shown severe limitations resulting from their toxicity and their poor affinity with the tumour.

Advantages of gene therapy

As Ana Rosa Rama explains, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery show at present «limited» results in advanced stages of cancer. «That is why it is urgent to find new therapies, and gene therapy has emerged as a potentially powerful therapeutic platform.» Her work has shown that «it is possible to use gene therapy as an aid to chemotherapy, improving its results when it comes to attacking cancer, thus allowing the dosage of agents to be reduced and contributing to a reduction in side effects for the patient.»

In order to understand how the E gene works, the researchers conducted studies using various techniques. The results indicate that the E gene\’s mechanism of action is to induce apoptosis (cell death), possibly through mitochondrial injury.

Therefore, they stress that «this new E gene appears as an ideal candidate to be transfected into tumour cells in order to induce apoptosis, possibly through mitochondrial activation, and to increase the sensitivity of these cells to the action of the drug developed specifically to act on them.»

The results of this research suggest the possibility of reducing the concentration of chemotherapeutic agents in current use with cancer patients. Thus, in lung cancer cell line A-549, scientists from the UGR achieved a 14% inhibition of tumour growth and reduced by 100 times the dose of Paclitaxel agent when it was combined with gene E. In the case of colon cancer, the results were similar. However, the most relevant fact was found in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7, in which the dose of the chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin, was reduced by 100 times, reaching up to a 21% greater inhibition of tumour proliferation when combined with gene E. Currently, researchers from the UGR are in the process of obtaining a patent for gene E.
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Gene Increases Effectiveness Of Drugs Used To Fight Cancer, Allows Dosage Reduction

Gene Increases Effectiveness Of Drugs Used To Fight Cancer, Allows Dosage Reduction

Researchers at the University of Granada have found a suicide gene, called \’gene E\’, which leads to the death of tumor cells derived from breast, lung and colon cancer, and prevents their growth. The importance of this new gene is that its use to fight cancer can reduce the potent drugs that are currently used, so that could mean more effective treatment for cancer.

This research was conducted by Ana Rosa Rama Ballesteros, from the Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology at the University of Granada, and directed by professors Antonia Aránega Jimenez, José Carlos Prados Salazar and Consolación Melguizo Alonso. Its aim was to study the possibility of reducing the dosage of drugs currently administered to cancer patients using combination therapy with suicide gene E.

Scientists from the UGR have shown that the bacteriophage phiX174 killer gene called E, can be used to induce death in tumor cells. So far, attempts to use many chemotherapeutic (cytotoxic) agents similar to the E gene have shown severe limitations resulting from their toxicity and their poor affinity with the tumor.

Advantages of gene therapy

As Ana Rosa Rama explains, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery show at present «limited» results in advanced stages of cancer. «That is why it is urgent to find new therapies, and gene therapy has emerged as a potentially powerful therapeutic platform.» Her work has shown that «it is possible to use gene therapy as an aid to chemotherapy, improving its results when it comes to attacking cancer, thus allowing the dosage of agents to be reduced and contributing to a reduction in side effects for the patient.»

In order to understand how the E gene works, the researchers conducted studies using various techniques. The results indicate that the E gene\’s mechanism of action is to induce apoptosis (cell death), possibly through mitochondrial injury.

Therefore, they stress that «this new E gene appears as an ideal candidate to be transfected into tumor cells in order to induce apoptosis, possibly through mitochondrial activation, and to increase the sensitivity of these cells to the action of the drug developed specifically to act on them.»

The results of this research suggest the possibility of reducing the concentration of chemotherapeutic agents in current use with cancer patients. Thus, in lung cancer cell line A-549, scientists from the UGR achieved a 14% inhibition of tumor growth and reduced by 100 times the dose of Paclitaxel agent when it was combined with gene E. In the case of colon cancer, the results were similar. However, the most relevant fact was found in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7, in which the dose of the chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin, was reduced by 100 times, reaching up to a 21% greater inhibition of tumor proliferation when combined with gene E. Currently, researchers from the UGR are in the process of obtaining a patent for gene E.

Reference: Antonia Aránega Jiménez. Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology, University of Granada.

Image Caption: This image shows the effect of gene therapy combined with cytotoxic agents in E spheroids derived from breast cancer cell line MCF-7. A. Control; B. Doxorubicin 10nm, C. Paclitaxel 10nm, D. Docetaxel 10nm, combined with gene E. Credit: University of Granada
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Gene increases effectiveness of drugs used to fight cancer and allows reduction in dosage

Gene increases effectiveness of drugs used to fight cancer and allows reduction in dosage

Researchers at the University of Granada have found a suicide gene, called \’gene E\’, which leads to the death of tumour cells derived from breast, lung and colon cancer, and prevents their growth. The importance of this new gene is that its use to fight cancer can reduce the potent drugs that are currently used, so that could mean more effective treatment for cancer.

This research was conducted by Ana Rosa Rama Ballesteros, from the Department of Anatomy and Human Embryology at the University of Granada, and directed by professors Antonia Aránega Jimenez, José Carlos Prados Salazar and Consolación Melguizo Alonso. Its aim was to study the possibility of reducing the dosage of drugs currently administered to cancer patients using combination therapy with suicide gene E.

Scientists from the UGR have shown that the bacteriophage phiX174 killer gene called E, can be used to induce death in tumour cells. So far, attempts to use many chemotherapeutic (cytotoxic) agents similar to the E gene have shown severe limitations resulting from their toxicity and their poor affinity with the tumour.

Advantages of gene therapy

As Ana Rosa Rama explains, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery show at present «limited» results in advanced stages of cancer. «That is why it is urgent to find new therapies, and gene therapy has emerged as a potentially powerful therapeutic platform.» Her work has shown that «it is possible to use gene therapy as an aid to chemotherapy, improving its results when it comes to attacking cancer, thus allowing the dosage of agents to be reduced and contributing to a reduction in side effects for the patient.»

In order to understand how the E gene works, the researchers conducted studies using various techniques. The results indicate that the E gene\’s mechanism of action is to induce apoptosis (cell death), possibly through mitochondrial injury.

Therefore, they stress that «this new E gene appears as an ideal candidate to be transfected into tumour cells in order to induce apoptosis, possibly through mitochondrial activation, and to increase the sensitivity of these cells to the action of the drug developed specifically to act on them.»

The results of this research suggest the possibility of reducing the concentration of chemotherapeutic agents in current use with cancer patients. Thus, in lung cancer cell line A-549, scientists from the UGR achieved a 14% inhibition of tumour growth and reduced by 100 times the dose of Paclitaxel agent when it was combined with gene E. In the case of colon cancer, the results were similar. However, the most relevant fact was found in the breast cancer cell line MCF-7, in which the dose of the chemotherapeutic agent, doxorubicin, was reduced by 100 times, reaching up to a 21% greater inhibition of tumour proliferation when combined with gene E. Currently, researchers from the UGR are in the process of obtaining a patent for gene E.
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Researchers characterize DNA from an animal species in its whole distribution, which will help to develop appropriate conservation plans

Scientists from the Biological Station of Doñana (CSIC) and the University of Granada have characterized the population genetic diversity of an animal species (a mouse, in this case) in its whole distribution. This information is essential for developing successful conservation plans for such species.

This work was conducted by Alejandro Centeno Cuadros at the Doñana Biological Station (CSIC) in Sevilla, and the Department of Animal Biology of the University of Granada. His work was directed by doctors Jose Antonio Godoy and Miguel Delibes from the Doñana Biological Station, who jointly addressed a population and phylogeographic genetic study of the water vole (Arvicola sapidus) in its whole distribution (France and the Iberian Peninsula).

This research has shown that it is necessary to study the DNA in three hierarchical scales: individual, population and species, in order to understand the current genetic distribution of animal species. It also urges managers and scientists to embrace these levels of study because, Alejandro Centeno Cuadros warns, as in the case of habitat quality and population status, «agencies responsible for management and conservation of species must also seek to preserve their genetic diversity».

The most comprehensive study
So far, a study had never before been conducted that addressed the complete genetic component on the species. «More importantly –the researcher points out– is that we have covered distribution patterns of genetic diversity of water voles, both in its whole distribution and as local populations in heterogeneous environments, like in Doñana natural environment, obtaining DNA from bones to individuals tricked by our research group.»

Thus, this work has deepened the understanding of the natural history of this protected species from previous research carried out by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Now there is enough information to properly develop conservation plans for the species, thanks to the information about the genetic component of the species that Centeno Cuadros has brought out.

To carry out this investigation, Centeno Cuadros obtained DNA from bones of water voles preyed on by raptors and museum material, fur of water voles from national and international scientific collections, and fresh tissue obtained in populations of water voles in the Doñana Natural Region and in the Río Bergantes (Castellón) environment.

From 250,000 years ago
Researchers have determined what happened to water vole from its origins up to the present population behaviour by studying distribution of genetic diversity. To this end, they achieved representative samples from its whole distribution (France and the Iberian Peninsula), as they were able to obtain DNA from bones found primarily in raptor pellets (regurgitated composed of undigested food debris) that were fed on water voles.

Because of this, they consider that the origin of this rodent species occurred in Iberia in the late Middle Pleistocene (250,000 years ago) as a result of isolation in the Iberian Peninsula of its ancestor species, which fled from heavy falls in temperature and advancing ice from North to South Europe during the Mindel Glaciation.

Scientists have found no evidence that landscape exerts strong influence on the genetic structure of water vole populations, contrary to expectations generated by a species described as habitat specialist. This dispersive behaviour may be a strategy of habitat specialists, whose population survival and persistence in space and time, will depend on their ability to colonize best areas for breeding, in the case of water voles, separated by great distances, far exceeding the expected for a rodent of its size.

Alejandro Centeno Cuadros stresses that the results of this research «should be considered for developing conservation plans and thus ensuring the survival of the genetic diversity of this species. In fact, water vole is listed as “Vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

References:
– Centeno-Cuadros, A, Delibes, M, Godoy, J. A. (2009), «Phylogeography of Southern Water Vole (Arvicola sapidus): evidence for refugia within the Iberian glacial refugium?», Molecular Ecology, 18, 3652-3667.
– Centeno-Cuadros, A, Delibes, M, Godoy, J. A. (in press), «Dating the divergence between Southern and European water voles using coalescent-based methods», Journal of Zoology, DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7998.2009.00632.x

Reference: Alejandro Centeno Cuadros, Conservation Biology Department, (Doñana Biological Station, CSIC) – Department of Animal Biology, University of Granada. Mobile: (+34) 616 055 695. E-mail: acenteno@ebd.csic.es