Immune-responsive gene 1 (IRG1) and dimethyl itaconate are involved in the mussel immune response.

Immune-responsive gene 1 (irg1) is a gene that is well-conserved among different taxa and is highly expressed in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis at the constitutive level. The expression of this gene increases after a bacterial infection, primarily in haemocytes. irg1 catalyses the production of itaconic acid from cis-aconitic acid in the Krebs cycle. Recently, itaconate has been revealed as an immune metabolite involved in macrophage polarization. In this work, we studied the effects of exogenous dimethyl itaconate (DI) on mussels in vitro and in vivo at relevant previously described endogenous concentrations and in mussels infected with Vibrio splendidus. DI did not have adverse effects on the haemocytes viability, apoptotic cells, proliferation and phagocytic activity; however, haemocyte size, velocity and accumulated distance were decreased. The antibacterial activity of DI in vitro and in vivo was observed with high concentrations of DI, that is, 30 and 50 mM, respectively. Furthermore, DI inhibited total ROS, increased mitochondrial ROS and modulated antioxidant genes, such as SOD and CAT, related to Nrf2 activation. In this research, we have demonstrated some important pathways in haemocytes in which itaconate can be involved after its production in a bacterial infection.

Nanoplastics: From tissue accumulation to cell translocation into Mytilus galloprovincialis hemocytes. resilience of immune cells exposed to nanoplastics and nanoplastics plus Vibrio splendidus combination.

Plastic litter is an issue of global concern. In this work Mytilus galloprovincialis was used to study the distribution and effects of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS NPs) of different sizes (50 nm, 100 nm and 1 µm) on immune cells. Internalization and translocation of NPs to hemolymph were carried out by in vivo experiments, while endocytic routes and effects of PS NPs on hemocytes were studied in vitro. The smallest PS NPs tested were detected in the digestive gland and muscle. A fast and size-dependent translocation of PS NPs to the hemolymph was recorded after 3 h of exposure. The internalization rate of 50 nm PS NPs was lower when caveolae and clathrin endocytosis pathways were inhibited. On the other hand, the internalization of larger particles decreased when phagocytosis was inhibited. The hemocytes exposed to NPs had changes in motility, apoptosis, ROS and phagocytic capacity. However, they showed resilience when were infected with bacteria after PS NP exposure being able to recover their phagocytic capacity although the expression of the antimicrobial peptide Myticin C was reduced. Our findings show for the first time the translocation of PS NPs into hemocytes and how their effects trigger the loss of its functional parameters.

Correlation of 18F-FDG uptake on PET/CT with Ki67 immunohistochemistry in pre-treatment epithelial ovarian cancer. / Correlación de la captación de 18F-FDG de la PET/TC con el Ki67 de la inmunohistoquímica en el cáncer epitelial de ovario pretratamiento.

OBJECTIVE: Standardised uptake value (SUV) and volumetric parameters such as metabolic tumour volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) from 18F-FDG PET/CT are useful criteria for disease prognosis in pre-operative and post-treatment epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Ki67 is another prognostic biomarker in EOC, associated with tumour aggressiveness. The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between 18F-FDG PET/CT measurements and Ki67 in pre-treatment EOC to determine if PET/CT parameters could non-invasively predict tumour aggressiveness. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A pre-treatment PET/CT was performed on 18 patients with suspected or newly diagnosed EOC. Maximum SUV (SUVmax), mean SUV (SUVmean), whole-body MTV (wbMTV), and whole-body TLG (wbTLG) with a threshold of 30% and 40% of the SUVmax were obtained. Furthermore, Ki67 index (mean and hotspot) was estimated in tumour tissue specimens. Immunohistochemical findings were correlated with PET parameters. RESULTS: The mean age was 57.0 years old (standard deviation 13.6 years). A moderate correlation was observed between mean Ki67 index and SUVmax (r=0.392), SUVmean 30% (r=0.437), and SUVmean 40% (r=0.443), and also between hotspot Ki67 index and SUVmax (r=0.360), SUVmean 30% (r=0.362) and SUVmean 40% (r=0.319). There was a weaker correlation, which was inversely negative, between mean and hotspot Ki67 and volumetric PET parameters. However, no statistical significant differences were found for any correlations. CONCLUSIONS: SUVmax and SUVmean were moderately correlated with Ki67 index, whereas volumetric PET parameters overall, showed a weaker correlation. Thus, SUVmax and SUVmean could be used to assess tumour aggressiveness in pre-treatment EOC.

Clinical onset of celiac disease after duodenal switch: a case report.

To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of clinical onset of celiac disease (CD) following duodenal switch surgery. A 61-year-old obese woman developed severe diarrhea soon after bariatric surgery (BS), which was unresponsive to standard medical treatment. After the most common diarrhea etiologies in the immediate postoperative period have been excluded, serological tests were performed. Final diagnosis was determined by anti-tissue transglutaminase antibody positivity. In light of this case report, we propose that CD should be ruled out in any patient presenting with typical or atypical symptoms after BS, regardless of the latency of onset.

[Cancer of the operated stomach: a descriptive study on the experience of the last 12 years]. / Cáncer de estómago operado: estudio descriptivo sobre la experiencia de los últimos doce años.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of gastric remnant carcinoma ranges between 1% and 9%. We report here our experience in a sanitary area in which, on account of different social and working reasons, the surgical indication for treatment of peptic disease was very common in previous decades. PATIENTS AND METHODS: An analysis was made of the 52 cases of patients operated over the last 12 years, which represents 7.13% of 729 gastric cancers operated over the same time period. RESULTS: In 67% of cases the carcinoma sat on a type-II stump, in 25% on a B-I type stump, and in the remaining 8% on stomachs with vagotomy and pyloroplasty. Seventy-five percent of patients had two characteristics: to be older than 60 years and to have undergone primary surgery at least 15 years before. Over half of patients were admitted on an emergency basis with no diagnosis and had received prolonged symptomatic therapies without previous examinations. The carcinoma involved the anastomotic mouth in 56% of cases and the histologic intestinal type predominated. Twenty-seven percent of patients had stages I and II, whereas almost half of patients had stage IV. Surgical resection was feasible in 42 cases (81%), with a surgical mortality rate of 21% for resections. The overall survival rate estimated at 5 years was 23%. CONCLUSIONS: The possibility of performing surgery with a curative aim is the main prognostic factor for the gastric remnant carcinoma. The endoscopic study of patients at risk allows for diagnosis in earlier stages and therefore and improvement in results.