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This article analyses the results of a survey among Spanish exporters, and the experiences of four organisations implementing a formal competitive intelligence programme. The research confirms that a formal approach to competitive intelligence, rather than informal or discontinuous approaches, gives businesses of all sizes competitive advantage, and justifies the value of its implementation by Spanish exporters. However, competitive intelligence as a business discipline remains largely unknown and misunderstood in Spain, and few organisations implement systematic programmes to benefit from the intelligence effort. To reach this conclusion the article offers a view of the information needs of Spanish exporters, the use of different intelligence techniques, and the main obstacles they find when implementing formal intelligence systems.

Resumen del póster presentado al XXXVII Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, celebrado en Granada del 9 al 12 de septiembre de 2014., Collagen-type-II-induced arthritis (CIA) is milder in CD38-/- than in WT mice. Their serum samples were treated with ProteoMiner-beads to equalize protein concentrations resulting in a signifi cant enrichment in proteins from extracellular vesicles (blood microparticles, exosomes). ProteoMinerequalized samples were subjected to 2D-DiGE and MS-MALDI-TOF/TOF analyses to identify proteins that were differentially expressed in CD38-/- versus WT mice either with arthritis (Col.II+/CIA+), with no arthritis (Col. II+/CIA-), or with inflmmation (CFA-treated). Altered proteins included those involved in acute phase response (SAA1), inflammation (B2MG, HABP2, Hemoglobin), complement activation (Ficolins, C4-B fragments, C1qb, C3-b-chain), polyclonal B-cell activation (Ig-kappa-light-chain) and lipid metabolism (APOE, APOAI, APOAII, APOAIV, APOJ/Clusterin). Of the proteins that changed in abundance, Hemoglobin and APOE could be indicative of the milder pathological process found in CIA+CD38-/- mice, whereas another set of proteins such as HABP2, Ig-kappa-light-chain, SAA1, Ficolin-1, and Ficolin-2 were clearly associated to the stronger response of WT mice to either collagen immunization or CFA-treatment. Multivariate analyses revealed that the differential protein abundance of 28 distinct protein spots was able to discriminate between CIA+ and CIA- mice, independently of their genetic background. This approach is suitable for the identifi cation of arthritis, or infl ammation serum proteome signatures in mice with distinct genetic backgrounds.

Resumen del trabajo presentado al 13th Human Proteome Organization World Congress celebrado en Madrid (España) del 5 al 8 de octubre de 2014., [Introduction and objectives]: Collagen type II-induced arthritis (CIA) is an autoimmune disease that is accompanied by a complex host systemic response, which includes inflammatory and autoimmune reactions. Since to develop CIA is required the injection of antigen in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), which is a water-in-mineral-oil emulsion containing killed Mycobacteria, systemic response proteins related with inflammation can confound the detection or diagnosis of arthritis. CIA in CD38 deficient mice (CD38 KO) is milder than that in C57BL/6 (B6 WT) mice. The purpose of this study was to identify CD38-dependent changes in serum protein abundance in mice with CIA versus mice with overt inflammation caused by CFA injection alone. [Methods]: Blood serum samples were treated with ProteoMiner beads to equalize protein concentrations and subjected to 2D-DiGE and MS-MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis to identify proteins that were differentially expressed in CD38 KO and B6 WT mice with arthritis or with inflammation. Differential protein expression was validated by ELISA, or Western-blotting. [Results and Discussion]: Altered proteins included those involved in acute phase response (SAA1), inflammation (B2m), complement activation (Ficolins, C4-B fragments, C1qb, C3 chain) and lipid metabolism (ApoE, ApoAI, ApoAII and ApoJ/Clusterin). Multivariate analyses of serum protein profiles between the autoimmune and inflammation models revealed a set of proteins that were distinct to arthritis-bearing mice, whereas other protein changes were clearly part of the non-specific host inflammatory response. Moreover, the proteins that were differentially expressed were useful to discriminate between CD38 KO and B6 WT mice in their response to either collagen immunization or to CFA injection. [Conclusions]: This proteomic approach provides a basis for distinguishing between protein changes in serum or plasma that are arthritis-related and those that are part of a non-specific host inflammatory response.

En esta tesis planteamos como hipótesis que aquellos mecanismos que incrementan la intensidad de la señal a través de TGFß, regulan positivamente la diferenciación y actividad funcional de los linfocitos Treg. En este sentido, planteamos que la proteína transmembrana BAMBI, un inhibidor de la señalización TGFß, interviene en estos procesos de diferenciación y función de los linfocitos Treg. En esta tesis hemos observado que ratones deficientes en BAMBI presentan una señalización celular mediada por TGFß incrementada, cuantificada mediante el estudio de la expresión de Smad-3 fosforilado. Además estos ratones están protegidos contra el desarrollo de CIA, y esta protección esta mediada por linfocitos Treg, ya que un tratamiento anti-CD25 en estos ratones re-establece la artritis. Ello convierte a ésta proteína en una diana potencial de nuevas terapias tanto para enfermedades inflamatorias/autoinmunes como en estrategias de vacunación donde se persiga una potenciación de la respuesta inmune.

Comunicación presentada al "XXXVI Congreso Nacional de la Sociedad Española de Inmunología" celebrado en Salamanca en junio de 2011.-- et al.

Trabajo presentado al XXXV Congreso Nacional de la Sociedad Española de Inmunología (SEI) celebrado en San Sebastian (España) del 23 al 26 de Junio de 2010.

Resumen de la comunicación oral presentada al XXXV Congreso Nacional de la Sociedad Española de Inmunología (SEI) celebrado en San Sebastian (España) del 23 al 26 de Junio de 2010.

Comunicación oral presentada al XXXV Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Inmunología celebrado en San Sebastian (España) del 23 al 26 de Junio de 2010.

OBJECTIVE To compare the results of an immunochromatographic test performed on whole blood, Chagas Stat-Pak (R), with those of an ELISA test using recombinant antigens. METHOD We tested 995 subjects of a rural population of all ages in the south of Bolivia, 459 pregnant women of the same population and 1030 urban women giving birth from the east of Bolivia. RESULTS The sensitivity of the CSP test for the entire studied population (n = 2484) was 94.73% [93.35-96.10]; the specificity was 97.33% [96.50-98.15]. However, the specificity differed significantly between rural pregnant and urban birthing women, which could be attributed either to differences of parasite strain or Chagas prevalence. CONCLUSION The test is simple of use, reliable, relatively inexpensive(< 2 US$ each test) and its performances are compatible with a field use for large-scale screenings.

Objective: Data on the epidemiology of the Teniasis/Cysticercosis complex in the Department of a Paz, Bolivia, are very scarce, even if #Taenia solium$ is known to be endemic in the area. Thus, in the present study, we tried to identify the way of contamination of the human by the larvae of #Taenia solium$, and to evaluate the prevalence of teniasis in several communities located in the Altiplano. Methods: A cross-sectional survey has been concluted in three rural communities located in the privince of Los Andes. the prevalence of taeniasis has been measured through coprological examinations including a direct microscopic examination and examination using Ritchie's concentration methods. A questionnaire has been aplied to collect information on the socio-economic environment, the displacements and the nutritional habits of each person. Another questionnaire, elaborated by the IENT, will be applied to identify people who suffer of epilepsy and to characterize the clinical presentation of the latter. The a CT-scan examination and a serodetection of antigens of #T. solium$ will be performed on people with epilepsy in order to identify those patients with neurocysticercosis. The study of the contaminant potential in order to identify those patients with neurocysticercosis. The study of the contaminant potential of food was realized in a rural community, as well as in the cities of La Paz and El Alto. Samples of cooked ig meat had been bought, dissected (thickness 0.5 cm wide) and the viability of the cysticerci present in the pieces of meat has been analyzed. The infective potential of the parasite was assessed by the capacity of evagination of the cysticerci preciously washed with a saline solution and left to incubate in a Petri box containing a saline solution at 20% of fresh bovine bile diluted in physiological serum. Results: A total of 269 faecal samples has been collected among the three communities visited. No egg of #Taenia$ sp. was found neither by direct examination of stools nor by te Ritchie's concentration techniques. Three cases of infection by helminth parasites have been recorded: two cases with #Hymenolepis nana$ (1,!%) and one with #Enterobius vermicularis$ (0,4%). In addition, the patients showed high rates of infection by protozoan parasites: #Entamoeba coli$ (59,8%), #Endolimx nana$ (49,8%), #Blastocystis hominis$ (47,6%), #Chilomastix mesnili$ (14,1%), #Giardia lamblia$ (10,8%), #Entamoeba histolytica$ (10,8%) and #Iodamoeba butschlii$ (9,7%). A rigorous disection of the 120 food samples was made. 75 samples were bought in La Paz, 38 in El Alto and 7 in the village of Batallas on the Altiplano. Cysticerci were found in only one of the 75 samples which represents 0,8% of all the samples. The 10 cysticerci found were incubated during 24h in bovine bile diluted in physiological serum for testing their viability. None of them started to evaginate, thus they were al non-viable. Conclusion: According to our results, the prevalence of teniasis is very low in this part of the Bolivian Altiplano. A decrease of the prevalence of taeniasis probably occurred durging this last years, thanks to the National Programme for the Prevention and Control of Teniasis-Cysticercosis started in 1994. The apparent low rate of porcine infection by cysticercosis in this region may be due to changes in the husbandry practices or to an improvement in hygiene habits (90% of the population have latrines). No contaminating food was found during the study. the contamination of the human by infectious food may occur at Chrstmas when the marketing of pork meat increases dramatically in the city. (résumé d'auteur)

Trabajo presentado al XXXIV Congreso Nacional de la Sociedad Española de Inmunología celebrado en Palma de Mallorca del 21 al 24 de Mayo de 2008., Recientemente nuestro grupo ha demostrado que la sobre-expresión de Bcl-2 humano en linfocitos T (hBcl-2-T) de ratones transgénicos (Tg), protege contra el desarrollo de autoinmunidad. Este efecto protector esta mediado por linfocitos T reguladores CD4+CD25+. Dada la relación existente entre el desarrollo de autoinmunidad y el sexo, estudiamos la influencia de las hormonas sexuales sobre la capacidad moduladora de Bcl-2 en el desarrollo de artritis autoinmune inducida tras inmunización con colágeno bovino de tipo II (AIC). Para ello, se comparó en primer lugar el desarrollo de AIC entre ratones (DBA/1 x C57BL/6)F1-hBcl-2-T Tg y no-Tg machos y hembras. Tal y como ya se ha descrito anteriormente, los machos (DBA/1 x C57BL/6)F1 no-Tg desarrollan una AIC más acelerada e intensa que las hembras y los animales (DBA/1 x C57BL/6)F1-hBcl-2-T Tg hembras están protegidos contra el desarrollo de la enfermedad. Sin embargo, los ratones (DBA/1 x C57BL/6)F1-hBcl-2-T Tg machos desarrollan una AIC similar a la observada en las hembras F1 no-Tg. En segundo lugar, se observó que la castración de los machos F1 Tg inhibe el desarrollo de AIC y que la administración de 5¿-dihidrotestosterona a ratones (DBA/1 x C57BL/6)F1-hBcl-2-T Tg hembras bloquea el efecto protector observado en los controles no tratados. En conclusión, nuestros resultados muestran que las hormonas sexuales condicionan la capacidad de Bcl-2 para modular la actividad de los linfocitos CD4+CD25+ reguladores y el desarrollo de AIC.

Trabajo presentado al XXXIV Congreso Nacional de la Sociedad Española de Inmunología celebrado en Palma de Mallorca del 21 al 24 de Mayo de 2008., En estudios previos hemos demostrado que la enterotoxina termolabil de Escherichia Coli (LT) promueve apoptosis en linfocitos T y B inmaduros en el timo y médula ósea, respectivamente. Esta apoptosis no implica a las vías de membrana de Fas o TNF, pero es inhibida tras la hiperexpresión de Bcl-2. Así mismo, demostramos que LT induce la secreción por las glándulas suprarrenales de niveles elevados de glucocorticoides que son los responsables directos de la apoptosis en linfocitos inmaduros. En vista de estos hallazgos, nos planteamos analizar en primer lugar la posible participación de receptores de muerte diferentes de Fas y TNFR, o de mecanismos independientes de la activación de caspasas mediados por AIF, en el efecto pro-apoptótico de LT sobre los timocitos inmaduros (como ejemplo de linfocitos inmaduros). En segundo lugar, analizamos si LT promueve también apoptosis en linfocitos T y B maduros y sus posibles mecanismos. Para ello, estudiamos el efecto pro-apoptótico de LT sobre timocitos y linfocitos T maduros en ratones deficientes AIF en linfocitos T o en Bim así como en animales transgénicos para un dominante negativo de FADD (FADD-DN Tg) en linfocitos T, que bloquea la apoptosis inducida por todos los receptores de muerte. Nuestros resultados muestran que la ausencia de AIF o la sobre-expresión de FADD-DN en timocitos no bloquea la apoptosis inducida por LT. La ausencia de Bim reduce significativamente esta apoptosis en concordancia con el papel regulador de Bcl-2 en la misma. Por el contrario, la apoptosis inducida por LT en linfocitos T maduros esta reducida en los animales FADD-DN Tg a un nivel similar al observado en ratones que sobre-expresan Bcl-2 en linfocitos T o adrenalectomizados. En este sentido, la inhibición fue completa en ratones FADD-DN/Bcl-2 doble-Tg. Estudios preliminares con ratones lpr o tratados con un mAb anti-TRAIL sugieren que el receptor Fas es el responsable de la muerte inducida por LT mediada a través receptores de membrana. En conclusión, nuestro estudio demuestra que LT promueve apoptosis de linfocitos maduros e inmaduros mediante mecanismos diferentes.

Trabajo presentado al XXXIV Congreso Nacional de la Sociedad Española de Inmunología celebrado en Palma de Mallorca del 21 al 24 de Mayo de 2008., La administración de antígenos proteicos en superficies mucosas induce tolerancia sistémica a los mismos. Este efecto se evita administrando determinados >adyuvantes orales>, como la enterotoxina termolabil de Escherichia Coli (LT) junto al antígeno vacunal. No obstante, el uso de LT en vacunación en mucosas se ve lastrado por su gran toxicidad y por el desconocimiento de los mecanismos inmunológicos implicados en su efecto adyuvante. Para investigar estos mecanismos se analizó la capacidad de LT para inducir la activación y proliferación de los linfocitos a diferentes periodos tras su administración por vía parenteral. El análisis de la expresión de diferentes marcadores de activación linfocitaria y de la incorporación de BrdU en linfocitos, muestra que LT induce selectivamente la expresión de GITR en linfocitos T, pero no su proliferación. Este efecto es dependiente de la actividad mono-ADPribosiltransferasa de LT, dado que LTK63, un mutante atóxico de LT carente de esta actividad y con un efecto pro-adyuvante reducido, no es capaz de inducir GITR en linfocitos T. Así mismo, otro adyuvante inmunológico ampliamente utilizado en animales de experimentación como el adyuvante completo de Freund, tampoco induce la expresión de GITR en linfocitos T. El tratamiento de ratones adultos con gammaglobulina humana monomérica (GGHM) induce un estado de tolerancia linfocitaria que impide la respuesta frente a la forma inmunogénica del antígeno, la gammaglobulina humana agregada (GGHA). Usando este modelo experimental, observamos que LT, pero no LTK63, bloquea la inducción de tolerancia a la GGH. Un bloqueo similar se observa si se administra DTA-1, un AcM agonista anti-GITR, al mismo tiempo que la GGHM. Por el contrario, LT no bloquea la inducción de tolerancia a la GGH en ratones deficientes en GITR. En conjunto, nuestros resultados demuestran que la inducción de GITR en linfocitos T por LT constituye uno de los mecanismos implicados en la actividad adyuvante de esta toxina.

OBJECTIVES To determine the risk factors of congenital Chagas disease and the consequences of the disease in newborns. METHODS Study of 2712 pregnant women and 2742 newborns in Yacuiba, south Bolivia. Chagas infection was determined serologically in mothers and parasitologically in newborns. Consequences of congenital Chagas disease were assessed clinically. RESULTS The prevalence of Chagas disease in pregnant women was 42.2%. Congenital transmission was estimated at 6% of infected mothers leading to an incidence rate of 2.6% among newborns. Main risk factors of congenital transmission were mothers' seropositivity and maternal Trypanosoma cruzi parasitaemia. Parity was higher in infected than in non-infected mothers, but it was not associated with the risk of congenital transmission. The rate of congenital infection was significantly higher in newborns from multiple pregnancies than in singletons. However, we did not observe statistically significant consequences of Chagas disease in newborns from single pregnancies or among twins. CONCLUSION The main risk factors for congenital transmission were infection and parasitaemia of mothers. Consequences of the disease seemed mild in newborns from single pregnancies and perhaps more important in multiple births.