Outcomes and Survival for Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Following Wedge Resection or Lobectomy: A Propensity Score-Matched Analysis Using a Novel Peruvian Registry.

Background: Using a previously unreported Peruvian registry of patients treated for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), this study explored whether wedge resection and lobectomy were equivalent regarding survival and impact on radiologic-pathologic variables. Methods: This observational, analytical, longitudinal study used propensity score-matched (PSM) analysis of a single-center retrospective registry of 2,570 patients with pathologic stage I-II NSCLC who were treated with wedge resection (n=1,845) or lobectomy (n=725) during 2000-2020. After PSM, 650 cases were analyzed (resection, n=325; lobectomy, n=325) through preoperative and clinical variables, including patients with ≥1 lymph node removed. Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were created for 5-year overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and locoregional-recurrence-free survival (LRFS). Results: The principal complication was operative pain persisting >7 days for lobectomy versus wedge resection (58% vs. 23%, p=0.034) and shorter hospital stays for resection than for lobectomy (5.3 days vs. 12.8 days, p=0.009). The 5-year OS (84.3% vs. 81.2%, p=0.09) and DFS (79.1% vs. 74.1%, p=0.07) were similar and statistically insignificant between resections and lobectomies, respectively. LRFS was worse overall following wedge resection than lobectomy (79.8% vs. 91.1%, p<0.02). Nevertheless, in the PSM analysis, both groups experienced similar LRFS when the resection margin was >10 mm (90.9% vs. 87.3%, p<0.048) and ≥4 lymph nodes were removed (82.8% vs. 79.1%, p<0.011). Conclusion: Both techniques led to similar OS and DFS at 5 years; however, successful LRFS required a wedge resection with a surgical margin and adequate lymph node removal to obtain outcomes similar to lobectomy.

Cloning and functional characterization of the gene encoding the transcription factor Acel in the basidiomycete Phanerochaete chrysosporium

In this report we describe the isolation and characterization of a gene encoding the transcription factor Acel (Activation protein of cup 1 Expression) in the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium. Pc-acel encodes a predicted protein of 633 amino acids containing the copper-fist DNA binding domain typically found in fungal transcription factors such as Acel, Macl and Haal from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The Pc-acel gene is localized in Scaffold 5, between coordinates 220841 and 222983. A S. cerevisiae acel null mutant strain unable to grow in high-copper medium was fully complemented by transformation with the cDNA of Pc-acel. Moreover, Northern blot hybridization studies indicated that Pc-acel cDNA restores copper inducibility of the yeast cup 1 gene, which encodes the metal-binding protein metallothionein implicated in copper resistance. To our knowledge, this is first report describing an Acel transcription factor in basidiomycetes.

Efecto agudo del aloe vera linneo y ciclanthera pedata shrad en ratas diabéticas / Acute hypoglycemic effect of aloe vera linneo and cyclanthera pedata shrad on diabetic rats

Se compara el efecto hipoglicemiante y la toxicidad del gel gel Aloe vera linneo y del extracto de Ciclanthera pedata schrad en ratas hiperglicémicas y ratones normales utilizando un estudio randomizado, cohorte de inicio de tipo longitudinal, con seguimiento de 48 horas. Se utilizaron 36 ratas albinas "Wistar". Se dividió en dos grupos de 18 ratas c/u A y B, que a su vez se subdividieron en 3 grupos de 6 ratas c/u. Al grupo A se le administró 125 mg/Kg de peso de aloxano y al grupo B 100 mg/Kg de peso via subcutanea. Posteriormente se dio a los grupos A1 y B1 aloe 10 mg/Kg, A2 y B2 caihua 10 mg/Kg; por último A3 y B3 reciben aloe (4 mg.Kg) y Caihua (6 mg/Kg) juntos. Todos los extractos se dieron por vía intraperitoneal (IP). Además, se utilizó 24 ratones blancos normales para la prueba de Dosis Letal 50 (DL50) agudo, recibieron via IP la dosis de 1, 10, 100 y 1000 mg/Kg de peso de aloe, caihua y ambos. Para la DL50 no se reportó ninguna muerte dentro de las 72 horas siguientes. En los animales del grupo A no se observó efecto hipoglicemiante de los extractos. En los 3 subgrupos B se observó una disminución de los niveles de glucosa con relación a la glicemia basal; la estadística fue estadística significativa en los subgrupos B1 y B3 (p<0,05). El grupo B3 mostró efecto a partir de la 3ra hora, mientras los otros grupos lo conseguian a la 5ta o 7ma hora. Se demuestra la carencia de toxicidad del gel del Aloe vera linneo y el extracto de Ciclanthera pedata schrad a dosis aguda; también sus efectos hipoglicemiantes con mejor resultado al administrarlos juntos.

Biotechnology in Chile (Overview)

This article provides a brief overview of biotechnological activities in Chile. The role played by the scientific community is emphasized and aspects of technology transfer are commented