While many scholars have examined the relationships between public policies and advertising, few have studied such relationships in Latin America. This study explores how the limitations on foreign ...exchange transactions in Argentina affect the advertising strategies implemented by luxury brand advertising. A content analysis of 398 luxury brand ads placed in fashion magazines in Argentina was conducted to investigate changes in the luxury ads in the wake of the currency and import restrictions in Argentina. The analysis indicates that, during the restrictions, ads were less likely to convey strong emotional messages than before. Also, the result suggests that the creative strategies leaned to a more sober and simple approach during the restrictions era. Furthermore, the findings suggest that upon the restrictions implementations, ads used different visual cues as a way to engage the consumer and evoke stronger exclusivity, luxury, and global feelings. The results of the study confirm that changes in economic status serve as considerable factors wherein advertising has been transformed, as advertising has long been considered a mirror of the society.
Membrane-associated guanylate kinase inverted 2 (MAGI-2) is a component of the slit diaphragm (SD) of glomerular podocytes. Here, we investigated the podocyte-specific function of MAGI-2 using newly ...generated podocyte-specific MAGI-2-knockout (MAGI-2-KO) mice. Compared with podocytes from wild-type mice, podocytes from MAGI-2-KO mice exhibited SD disruption, morphologic abnormalities of foot processes, and podocyte apoptosis leading to podocyte loss. These pathologic changes manifested as massive albuminuria by 8 weeks of age and glomerulosclerosis and significantly higher plasma creatinine levels at 12 weeks of age; all MAGI-2-KO mice died by 20 weeks of age. Loss of MAGI-2 in podocytes associated with decreased expression and nuclear translocation of dendrin, which is also a component of the SD complex. Dendrin translocates from the SD to the nucleus of injured podocytes, promoting apoptosis. Our coimmunoprecipitation and
reconstitution studies showed that dendrin is phosphorylated by Fyn and dephosphorylated by PTP1B, and that Fyn-induced phosphorylation prevents Nedd4-2-mediated ubiquitination of dendrin. Under physiologic conditions
, phosphorylated dendrin localized at the SDs; in the absence of MAGI-2, dephosphorylated dendrin accumulated in the nucleus. Furthermore, induction of experimental GN in rats led to the downregulation of MAGI-2 expression and the nuclear accumulation of dendrin in podocytes. In summary, MAGI-2 and Fyn protect dendrin from Nedd4-2-mediated ubiquitination and from nuclear translocation, thereby maintaining the physiologic homeostasis of podocytes, and the lack of MAGI-2 in podocytes results in FSGS.
Noonan and LEOPARD syndromes are developmental disorders with overlapping features, including cardiac abnormalities, short stature and facial dysmorphia. Increased RAS signaling owing to PTPN11, SOS1 ...and KRAS mutations causes ∼60% of Noonan syndrome cases, and PTPN11 mutations cause 90% of LEOPARD syndrome cases. Here, we report that 18 of 231 individuals with Noonan syndrome without known mutations (corresponding to 3% of all affected individuals) and two of six individuals with LEOPARD syndrome without PTPN11 mutations have missense mutations in RAF1, which encodes a serine-threonine kinase that activates MEK1 and MEK2. Most mutations altered a motif flanking Ser259, a residue critical for autoinhibition of RAF1 through 14-3-3 binding. Of 19 subjects with a RAF1 mutation in two hotspots, 18 (or 95%) showed hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), compared with the 18% prevalence of HCM among individuals with Noonan syndrome in general. Ectopically expressed RAF1 mutants from the two HCM hotspots had increased kinase activity and enhanced ERK activation, whereas non-HCM-associated mutants were kinase impaired. Our findings further implicate increased RAS signaling in pathological cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.
Progressive kidney diseases affect approximately 500 million people worldwide. Podocytes are terminally differentiated cells of the kidney filter, the loss of which leads to disease progression and ...kidney failure. To date, there are no therapies to promote podocyte survival. Drug repurposing may therefore help accelerate the development of cures in an area of tremendous unmet need. In a newly developed high-throughput screening assay of podocyte viability, we identified the BRAFV600E inhibitor GDC-0879 and the adenylate cyclase agonist forskolin as podocyte-survival-promoting compounds. GDC-0879 protects podocytes from injury through paradoxical activation of the MEK/ERK pathway. Forskolin promotes podocyte survival by attenuating protein biosynthesis. Importantly, GDC-0879 and forskolin are shown to promote podocyte survival against an array of cellular stressors. This work reveals new therapeutic targets for much needed podocyte-protective therapies and provides insights into the use of GDC-0879-like molecules for the treatment of progressive kidney diseases.
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•HTS identifies the BRAFV600E inhibitor GDC-0879 as a podocyte-protective drug•GDC-0879 restores MAPK signaling in podocytes•GDC-0879 protects podocytes from an array of cell death inducers•The podocyte is the target of choice for the development of kidney therapeutics
Sieber et al. implement a high-throughput screening assay of podocyte viability and find that the BRAF inhibitor GDC-0879 protects podocytes by restoring MAPK signaling, offering a novel repurposing strategy for targeted kidney therapeutics.
Progressive kidney diseases affect approximately 500 million people worldwide. Podocytes are terminally differentiated cells of the kidney filter, the loss of which leads to disease progression and ...kidney failure. To date, there are no therapies to promote podocyte survival. Drug repurposing may therefore help accelerate the development of cures in an area of tremendous unmet need. In a newly developed high-throughput screening assay of podocyte viability, we identified the BRAF
inhibitor GDC-0879 and the adenylate cyclase agonist forskolin as podocyte-survival-promoting compounds. GDC-0879 protects podocytes from injury through paradoxical activation of the MEK/ERK pathway. Forskolin promotes podocyte survival by attenuating protein biosynthesis. Importantly, GDC-0879 and forskolin are shown to promote podocyte survival against an array of cellular stressors. This work reveals new therapeutic targets for much needed podocyte-protective therapies and provides insights into the use of GDC-0879-like molecules for the treatment of progressive kidney diseases.
A family is reported in which three of seven siblings were affected with an association of severe cerebral, cerebellar and ocular malformations. Brain malformations consisted of lissencephaly and the ...Dandy-Walker anomaly; congenital cataracts, retinal dysgenesis and coloboma of the choroid were found in the eyes. The pathogenesis of these developmental anomalies is probably related to abnormal neuron migration and abnormal closure of fetal fissures, occurring at an early stage of embryonic development. The association of these malformations is unique, and may point to a new malformation syndrome, inherited as an autosomal recessive trait.
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