Blockade of the SNARE protein syntaxin 1 inhibits glioblastoma tumor growth.

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most prevalent adult brain tumor, with virtually no cure, and with a median overall survival of 15 months from diagnosis despite of the treatment. SNARE proteins mediate membrane fusion events in cells and are essential for many cellular processes including exocytosis and neurotransmission, intracellular trafficking and cell migration. Here we show that the blockade of the SNARE protein Syntaxin 1 (Stx1) function impairs GBM cell proliferation. We show that Stx1 loss-of-function in GBM cells, through ShRNA lentiviral transduction, a Stx1 dominant negative and botulinum toxins, dramatically reduces the growth of GBM after grafting U373 cells into the brain of immune compromised mice. Interestingly, Stx1 role on GBM progression may not be restricted just to cell proliferation since the blockade of Stx1 also reduces in vitro GBM cell invasiveness suggesting a role in several processes relevant for tumor progression. Altogether, our findings indicate that the blockade of SNARE proteins may represent a novel therapeutic tool against GBM.

¿Doctor, qué piensa usted sobre sus pacientes con EPOC? / Doctor, what do you think about your patients with COPD?

La evaluación del trabajo que desarrollamos en atención primaria es una forma de detectar los puntos débiles, ayudándonos a mejorar. El objetivo del presente trabajo es conocer la opinión de los médicos de familia de un centro de salud (CS) sobre sus pacientes con EPOC. Como método se ha utilizado una encuesta a la que respondieron los médicos antes y después de presentar los resultados de la evaluación de esos pacientes. Se ha evaluado anualmente durante un periodo de tres años (junio 2008 - mayo 2011) una muestra aleatoria de 137 pacientes con diagnóstico activo de EPOC en su historia clínica electrónica (HCE). La prevalencia registrada de EPOC en el CS ha pasado de 3,07% en 2009 a 3,23% en 2011. El porcentaje de pacientes diagnosticados incorrectamente de EPOC en la HCE ha sido del 20,4%. La edad media era de 70,3 años (DE 12,4) y el 69,3% eran varones. En el tercer año evaluado, constaba un 31% de pacientes fumadores, un porcentaje similar de no fumadores y en el 38% restante no había registro de dicho hábito. Se registraron 89 espirometrías. En el 69,3% se realizó una radiografía de tórax. La vacuna antineumocócica sólo constaba en el 12,4% de los casos. A la vista de estos datos cuantitativos nos damos cuenta de que existen aspectos susceptibles de mejorar, pero esto sólo si conocemos la realidad objetiva que nos aporta la evaluación de nuestro trabajo y no sólo la sensación subjetiva de cómo creemos tener controlados a nuestros pacientes.

The assessment of our work in primary health care is a way of detecting the weak points, helping us to improve. The objective of this study is to find out the opinion of the general practitioners (GP) from a health care center (HCC) about their chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients. The methodology consisted in using a questionnaire to which the GPs responded before and after presenting these patients assessment data. A random sample of 137 patients with COPD active diagnosis in their electronic medical records was evaluated yearly for a period of three years (from June, 2008 to May, 2011). COPD registered prevalence in the HCC turned from 3.07% in 2009 to 3.23% in 2011. There were a 20.4% of patients incorrectly diagnosed with COPD. Mean age was 70.3 years old (SD 12.4) and 69.3% were males. In the third evaluation year, there were 31% of them registered as smokers, a similar percentage as non-smokers and the rest of them (38%) didn't have any registered data regarding the smoking habit. There were 89 spirometries registered. In 69.3% of the patients a chest X-ray was performed. Anti-pneumococcal vaccination was registered in 12.4% of the cases only. Taking into account these quantitative data we realize that there are aspects to improve. This becomes possible only if we get to know the objective reality that our work assessment brings to light and not just guiding ourselves by the subjective sensation of how we think we have our patients controlled.