Adipokines and Inflammatory Markers in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients with and without Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A Comparative Analysis.

An association has been suggested between acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Considering the role of adipose-tissue-derived inflammatory mediators (adipokines) and the shared risk factor of obesity in OSA and AMI, this study aimed to investigate the involvement of adipokines in AMI patients with and without OSA. Serum levels of adipokines and inflammatory mediators were quantified, and home respiratory polygraphy was conducted. A total of 30 AMI patients and 25 controls were included. Patients with AMI exhibited elevated levels of resistin (7.4 vs. 3.7 ng/mL), interleukin-6 (8.8 vs. 1.3 pg/mL), and endothelin-1 (3.31 vs. 1.8 pg/mL). Remarkably, AMI patients with concomitant OSA exhibited higher levels of resistin (7.1 vs. 3.7 ng/mL), interleukin-6 (8.9 vs. 1.3 pg/mL), endothelin-1 (3.2 vs. 1.8 pg/mL), creatin kinase (1430 vs. 377 U/L), creatine kinase-MB (64.6 vs. 9.7 ng/mL), and troponin T (2298 vs. 356 pg/mL) than their non-OSA counterparts. Leptin showed a correlation with OSA severity markers. OSA was associated with greater cardiac damage in AMI patients. Our findings underscore that adipokines alone are not sufficient to discriminate the risk of AMI in the presence of OSA. Further research is necessary to determine the potential mechanisms contributing to exacerbated cardiac damage in patients with both conditions.

Prolonged Computer Use by Office Workers Induces Ocular Symptoms Associated With Tear Film Alterations and Overexpression of Mucin 5 AC and Catalase.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate office workers for symptoms of computer vision syndrome (CVS) and alterations in the tear film relate to the hours of daily computer use. METHODS: Sixty-seven volunteers were divided into 2 groups: 2 to 6 and 7 to 12 hours of daily computer use. Computer vision syndrome symptoms, tear film stability by tear film break-up time test, and composition of mucin 5 AC, catalase, and IL-6 was assessed by relative gene expression of conjunctival impression cytology samples were examined. RESULTS: All participants exhibited moderate symptoms of CVS, whereas 90% showed reduced tear film stability. For the 7- to 12-hour (vs 2- to 6-hour) group, these effects were more pronounced and overexpression of mucin 5 AC and catalase was detected. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged computer use induced an overexpression of mucin 5 AC and catalase and instability of the tear film, associated with ocular symptoms.

Correlation of the DNA Concentration of Human Samples to Electrical Bioimpedance Measurements: A Pilot Study.

It is necessary to evaluate the total deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) concentration in gene expression assays. The existing techniques require equipment that is expensive for many labs in developing countries. Portable and inexpensive equipment is needed for easy and economical DNA quantification. Electrical bioimpedance spectroscopy (EBiS) is a non-invasive and inexpensive technique for examining the electrical properties of biological materials. The aim of this study was to explore a potential correlation between the measurement of total DNA extracted from human samples by UV-Vis spectrophotometry and EBiS. Hence, after quantifying the total DNA extracted from each sample by UV-Vis spectroscopy, EBiS was recorded and a possible correlation between the two measurements was analyzed. Considering the bioimpedance phase parameter at 5.24 MHz, a significant correlation was found with total DNA, especially when the concentration was below 100 ng/µL (Spearman coefficient = 0.82, p<0.005). Additional experiments are warranted to confirm these findings.

Sensitivity analysis of electrical bioimpedance patterns of breast cancer cells labeled with magnetic nanoparticles: forming the foundation for a biosensor of circulating tumor cells.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the sensitivity of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements for the detection of a small concentration of breast cancer cells in suspension, previously labeled with magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) and separated. Additionally, the relation of electrical impedance to the expression of molecular markers was established. APPROACH: MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3 breast cancer cell lines at different concentrations (50, 500 and 5000 cells/500 µl) were labeled with a magnetic nanoparticle-antibody (MNP-ab) bioconjugate that recognizes the corresponding molecular markers (EpCAM, MUC-1 and HER-2, respectively). Electrical bioimpedance spectra (100 Hz to 1 MHz) were recorded in each case. MAIN RESULTS: At the frequency centered at 100 KHz, EIS displayed a greater sensitivity for magnitude when using 50 cells/500 µl (4.11 ± 0.23, 8.81 ± 1.73 and 17.5 ± 3.61 ohms for MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3, respectively). There were no significant differences between the phases of impedance tested at the greatest sensitivity of 1 KHz (-78.05 ± 0.53, -79.23 ± 0.93 and -75.26 ± 0.72 degrees for MCF-7, MDA-MB-231 and SK-BR-3, respectively). SIGNIFICANCE: Under the present conditions, EIS was sensitive enough to detect a low concentration of breast cancer cells (50 cells/500 µl) and classify the distinct cells lines with a signature impedance pattern, as long as the MNP concentration was very low (⩽0.125 mg MNPs/50 000 cells). The relative expression of the molecular markers on each cancer cell line was related to the magnitude of the electrical impedance.

Biosensor of Inflammation Biomarkers Based on Electrical Bioimpedance Analysis on Immobilized DNA Without Chemical Modification.

The development of biosensors to identify molecular markers or specific genes is fundamental for the implementation of new techniques that allow the detection of specific Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences in a fast, economic and simple way. Different detection techniques have been proposed in the development of biosensors. Electrical Bioimpedance Spectroscopy (EBiS) has been used for diagnosis and monitoring of human pathologies, and is recognized as a safe, fast, reusable, easy and inexpensive technique. This study proves the development of a complementary DNA (cDNA) biosensor based on measurements of EBiS and DNA's immobilization with no chemical modifications. The evaluation of its potential utility in the detection of the gene expression of three inflammation characteristic biomarkers (NLRP3, IL-1ß and Caspase 1) is presented. The obtained results demonstrate that EBiS can be used to identify different gene expression patterns, measurements that were validated by Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (qPCR). These results indicate the technical feasibility for a biosensor of specific genes through bioimpedance measurements on the immobilization of cDNA.

Evaluation of the effect of heat damage on DNA extracted from the dental pulp of restored teeth.

We evaluate structural damage effects of heat on DNA obtained from the dental pulp of restored premolars. We studied three groups (A, B and C) each group comprised twenty premolars extracted from five patients. Three of the four premolars of each donator were restored with different materials: amalgam, glass ionomer and resin, and one unrestored premolar was used as control. The group A was not exposed to heat, while B and C groups were exposed to 100 °C and 300 °C, respectively. The DNA damage was evaluated as percentage of genotyping of 15 Short Tandem Repeats (STRs) and amelogenin and by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results showed 100% genotyping in all unheated premolars; however, the increase in heat decreased genotyping percentage due to DNA degradation. The amplifications from the premolars restored with glass ionomer and those unrestored were less affected, amplifying by approximately 80% at 300 °C. FTIR revealed that DNA structural damage occurred in the phosphate region, and changes in ribose were also shown; in addition, we detected presence of ß- three-calcium-phosphate (ß - TCP) due to heat treatment. Moreover, the phosphate region of DNA was a good indicator of DNA integrity related to the ratio of 1230/1085 cm-1 in the second derivative (asymmetric/symmetric PO2), which was major in premolars restored with glass ionomer heated at 100 °C, and this ratio is related to less DNA alterations and better genotyping; however this changes only were detected at 100 °C, suggesting that dental restoration with this material only protects dental pulp at temperatures below 300 °C.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori from the oral cavity of Mexican asymptomatic children under 5 years of age through PCR.

OBJETIVE: H. pylori infection is acquired early in life, but symptoms occur mainly in adults. The mode of transmission remains unclear, but several studies have demonstrated that the microorganism may be transmitted orally. H. pylori has been detected in the oral cavity of children, and some authors have studied infection prevalence due to the importance of the bacteria in gastric and extragastric pathology. In México, little is known about H. pylori prevalence in the oral cavity of asymptomatic children, so the aims of this study were to estimate the prevalence of H. pylori in asymptomatic children and evaluate factors associated with the infection. DESING: We studied 162 asymptomatic children of 3.025±1.474 years of age from a kindergarten in México City. Oral swabs, rotating around to cheeks inside of oral cavity were obtained to determine H. pylori, using the polymerase chain reaction for 16S rRNA and glmM genes. RESULTS: We detected a 13% prevalence of H. pylori infection by PCR, and the results were confirmed by sequencing and showed a >97% identity with H. pylori. We observed increased infection with age. No association between H. pylori infection and variables such as sex, family history of gastric diseases, crowding or pets in the home were found. CONCLUSION: H. pylori infection in the oral cavity is frequent among asymptomatic children in México, which represents a risk of infection for other family members and for other children in educational facilities. Early diagnosis is essential for control of the infection and for the development of preventive strategies in childhood.

Sepsis relacionada con Cateterismo Centrovenoso Percutáneo en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos / Sepsis related to Percutaneous Central Venous Catheterization in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

Se realizó un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo comprendido entre el 1o de enero del año 2002 hasta el 31 de diciembre del mismo año, en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos del Hospital Pediátrico Docente Provincial de Sancti Spíritus, en el que se estudiaron los pacientes a los que se les realizó cateterismo centrovenoso percutáneo, con el objetivo de describir la sepsis y colonización relacionada con dicho proceder, La tasa de infección asociada a cateterismo venoso profundo fue de 4.6% y 7.8 x 1000 catéter/día. La sepsis por catéter predominó en los pacientes ingresados por sepsis respiratoria. La frecuencia de la sepsis por catéter fue mayor en los pacientes que se utilizó la vía femoral. La sepsis asociada a los catéteres tuvo mayor incidencia en aquellos en los que el cateterismo se utilizó más de 7 días. Los gérmenes que con mayor frecuencia se aislaron fueron los Gram negativos.(AU)