Ana Fernández Pérez

Nitric oxide synthase activity in human squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

Objectives: To test whether nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is expressed in primary otolaryngologic tumors and whether this expression is associated with the degree of malignancy. Study Design: Twenty‐six samples from the primary localization of human pharyngolaryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Materials and Methods: the activity of calcium‐dependent and calcium‐independent NOS was analyzed by the conversion of L‐[14C]‐arginine into L‐[14C]‐citrulline. Results: NOS activity is below detectable levels in pharyngolaryngeal mucosa from noncancer patients. In the primary localization of the tumor, calcium‐independent NOS activity is maximal at early stages of tumor growth, whereas calcium‐dependent activity increases from early to advanced stages. Conclusions: These data suggest that tumor growth and malignancy is associated with a change in the enzymatic source of NO from calcium‐independent NOS to calcium‐dependent NOS isoform in primary localization. These data suggest that the inhibition of calcium‐independent NOS activity in early stages and/or inhibition of calcium‐dependent NOS activity in later stages could delay growth of solid tumors.

La protección de los derechos fundamentales de los menores en Internet desde la perspectiva europea

Las nuevas tecnologias, especialmente internet, son las herramientas mas utilizadas por los menores e indudablemente tienen un efecto muy beneficioso, especialmente en su educacion. No obstante, la red no esta exenta de peligros que deben ser combatidos principalmente a traves de una correcta educacion en su uso y medidas que protejan de forma efectiva a los menores. A nivel europeo, existen multiples acciones respecto a la proteccion de menores en el entorno digital, que han ido evolucionando en los ultimos anos y que intenta mantener un equilibrio entre determinados derechos fundamentales y la necesaria proteccion de los menores.

A novel method for culturing human glottic cells.

The objective of this basic investigation was to describe a new method of preparing primary monolayer cultures of human glottic cells. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the culturing of healthy human glottic cells. This technique may be of use for other applications in the challenging field of laryngeal diseases.