Gene Expression Behavior of a Set of Genes in Platelet and Tissue Samples from Patients with Breast Cancer.

The tumor microenvironment (TME) is constituted by a great diversity of highly dynamic cell populations, each of which contributes ligands, receptors, soluble proteins, mRNAs, and miRNAs, in order to regulate cellular activities within the TME and even promote processes such as angiogenesis or metastasis. Intravasated platelets (PLT) undergo changes in the TME that convert them into tumor-educated platelets (TEP), which supports the development of cancer, angiogenesis, and metastasis through the degranulation and release of biomolecules. Several authors have reported that the deregulation of PF4, VEGF, PDGF, ANG-1, WASF3, LAPTM4B, TPM3, and TAC1 genes participates in breast cancer progression, angiogenesis, and metastasis. The present work aimed to analyze the expression levels of this set of genes in tumor tissues and platelets derived from breast cancer patients by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RTqPCR) assays, in order to determine if there was an expression correlation between these sources and to take advantage of the new information to be used in possible diagnosis by liquid biopsy. Data from these assays showed that platelets and breast cancer tumors present similar expression levels of a subset of these genes' mRNAs, depending on the molecular subtype, comorbidities, and metastasis presence.

Platelet Membrane: An Outstanding Factor in Cancer Metastasis.

In addition to being biological barriers where the internalization or release of biomolecules is decided, cell membranes are contact structures between the interior and exterior of the cell. Here, the processes of cell signaling mediated by receptors, ions, hormones, cytokines, enzymes, growth factors, extracellular matrix (ECM), and vesicles begin. They triggering several responses from the cell membrane that include rearranging its components according to the immediate needs of the cell, for example, in the membrane of platelets, the formation of filopodia and lamellipodia as a tissue repair response. In cancer, the cancer cells must adapt to the new tumor microenvironment (TME) and acquire capacities in the cell membrane to transform their shape, such as in the case of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in the metastatic process. The cancer cells must also attract allies in this challenging process, such as platelets, fibroblasts associated with cancer (CAF), stromal cells, adipocytes, and the extracellular matrix itself, which limits tumor growth. The platelets are enucleated cells with fairly interesting growth factors, proangiogenic factors, cytokines, mRNA, and proteins, which support the development of a tumor microenvironment and support the metastatic process. This review will discuss the different actions that platelet membranes and cancer cell membranes carry out during their relationship in the tumor microenvironment and metastasis.

Right ventricular remodeling in idiopathic and scleroderma-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension: two distinct phenotypes.

Patients with scleroderma (SSc)-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have worse survival than patients with idiopathic PAH (IPAH). We hypothesized that the right ventricle (RV) adapts differently in SSc-PAH versus IPAH. We used cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) and hemodynamic characteristics to assess the relationship between RV morphology and RV load in patients with SSc-PAH and IPAH. In 53 patients with PAH (35 with SSc-PAH and 18 with IPAH) diagnosed by right heart catheterization (RHC), we examined cMRIs obtained within 48 hours of RHC and compared RV morphology between groups. Regression analysis was used to assess the association between diagnosis (IPAH vs. SSc-PAH) and RV measurements after adjusting for age, sex, race, body mass index (BMI), left ventricular (LV) mass, and RV load. There were no significant differences in unadjusted comparisons of cMRI measurements between the two groups. Univariable regression showed RV mass index (RVMI) was linearly associated with measures of RV load in both the overall cohort and within each group. Multivariable linear regression models revealed a significant interaction between disease type and RVMI adjusting for pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), age, sex, race, BMI, and LV mass. This model showed a decreased slope in the relationship between RVMI and PVR in the SSc-PAH group compared with the IPAH group. RVMI varies linearly with measures of RV load. After adjusting for multiple potential confounders, patients with SSc-PAH demonstrated significantly less RV hypertrophy with increasing PVR than patients with IPAH. This difference in adaptive hypertrophy may in part explain previously observed decreased contractility and poorer survival in SSc-PAH.

Accesibilidad a los servicios de salud mental con perspectiva diversidad de género. En el primer y segundo nivel de atención en la localidad de Alta Gracia

En décadas recientes, organizaciones sociales y políticas a nivel internacional y local han rebatido las perspectivas psi-hegemónicas que consideran a las identidades desde una visión normativa y polarizada en relación al género y a las sexualidades, entre ellas, la consideración de las identidades transgénero como una expresión patológica del género y la sexualidad que no tienen en cuenta el contexto social, cultural y político del binomio hombre/mujer y sexo/género. En base a estas situaciones de discriminación vividas por las personas LGBTI (Lesbianas, Gays, Bisexuales, Transgénerxs, Intersexuales) en su cotidianeidad, en los servicios de salud en particular; y por otro lado, por las recientemente aprobadas leyes de Salud Mental a nivel nacional y provincial, la Modificación del Matrimonio Civil entre personas del mismo sexo y la ley de Identidad de Género, enmarcadas en el paradigma de los derechos humanos se propone como objetivo: Identificar los obstáculos y facilitadores a la Accesibilidad de los Servicios de Salud Mental del Primer y Segundo Nivel de Atención en la ciudad de Alta Gracia de las personas con identidades LGBTI. A tal efecto, se trabajó desde la Metodología Cualitativa con un Estudio de Tipo Interpretativo y se realizaron entrevistas en profundidad a tres grupos de personas: profesionales de Salud Mental, Organizaciones Socio-Políticas de Diversidad de Género y personas que se autodefinen como LGBTI. Los datos producidos fueron sistematizados y analizados con el M.C.C –Método Comparativo Constante- una de las estrategias principales de la teoría fundamentada, con la utilización del programa de análisis cualitativo Atlas...

In recent decades, social policy and international and local organizations have challenged the psi - hegemonic perspectives that consider the identities from a normative and polarized vision in relation to gender and sexualities, including consideration of transgender identities as a pathological expression of gender and sexuality that do not take into account the social, cultural and political context of the binomial man / woman and sex / gender. Based on these situations of discrimination experienced by LGBTI ( Lesbians, Gays, Bisexual, Transgénerxs , Intersex ) in their daily lives , in particular health services and on the other hand, recently approved by the laws of Mental Health at national and provincial Modification Civil Marriage between same sex and gender identity law , framed in the paradigm of human rights has as objective: To identify barriers and facilitators to the Accessibility of Mental Health Services first and second level of care in the city of Alta Gracia people with LGBTI identities. For this purpose, we worked from a Qualitative methodology Interpretive Study type and three groups of people interviews were conducted in depth: Mental Health professionals, Socio- Political Organizations Diversity Gender and people who define themselves as LGBTI. The data produced were systematized and analyzed with the constant comparative method - MCC - one of the main strategies of grounded theory, the use of qualitative analysis software Atlas...

Cytogenetic damage in female Chilean agricultural workers exposed to mixtures of pesticides.

The VIII Region of Bio-Bio is a major fruit-growing area of Chile that makes intensive use of agricultural pesticides. The cytogenetic damage associated with exposure to mixtures of pesticides was evaluated by comparing peripheral blood lymphocyte micronucleus (MN) frequencies in a group of 64 female agricultural workers and 30 female controls. The exposed subjects worked during the spring and summer in thinning and pruning fruit trees and in harvesting and packing different fruits, such as raspberries, grapes, apples, and kiwis. They did not use any protective measures during their work activities. A significant increase in the frequency of binucleated cells with micronuclei (BNMN) was found in the exposed women as compared with the controls (36.94 +/- 14.47 vs. 9.93 +/- 6.17 BNMN/1000 BN cells; P < 0.001). The frequency of BNMN varied as a function of age in both the exposed and control groups, but no correlation was found between BNMN frequency and the duration of exposure. Also, smoking and other habits had no effect on MN frequency. Our study confirms that occupational exposure to pesticide mixtures results in cytogenetic damage.

HLA-B27 subtypes determination in patients with ankylosing spondylitis from Zulia, Venezuela.

To perform an investigation regarding the distribution of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 subtypes in the Zulian population with ankylosing spondylitis (AS), 48 unrelated Mestizos, HLA-B27 positive by serology, were studied using the polymerase chain reaction-specific sequence oligonucleotides probe (PCR-SSOP) and specific sequence primers (SSP) to analyze the polymorphism in exons 2 and 3 of the HLA-B27 gene. Only two of eight HLA-B27 subtypes studied (B*2701-B*2708) were found. The distribution of these alleles in the population of patients was: B*2705, 68.8%, and B*2702, 31.2%. B*2705 subtype showed significant association with patients being male. In the healthy controls, the most common subtype was B*2708. These results were compared with frequencies reported in other Mestizo and Spanish populations and showed significant differences, such as a high frequency of B*2702. Such results show that HLA*B2705 and HLA*B2702 are the subtypes most frequently associated with AS in our Mestizo population and suggest a possible protector role for HLA*B2708, which was found only in the healthy population.