Galectins in epithelial-mesenchymal transition: roles and mechanisms contributing to tissue repair, fibrosis and cancer metastasis.

Galectins are soluble glycan-binding proteins that interact with a wide range of glycoproteins and glycolipids and modulate a broad spectrum of physiological and pathological processes. The expression and subcellular localization of different galectins vary among tissues and cell types and change during processes of tissue repair, fibrosis and cancer where epithelial cells loss differentiation while acquiring migratory mesenchymal phenotypes. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) that occurs in the context of these processes can include modifications of glycosylation patterns of glycolipids and glycoproteins affecting their interactions with galectins. Moreover, overexpression of certain galectins has been involved in the development and different outcomes of EMT. This review focuses on the roles and mechanisms of Galectin-1 (Gal-1), Gal-3, Gal-4, Gal-7 and Gal-8, which have been involved in physiologic and pathogenic EMT contexts.

Lithraea caustic (Litre) Extract Promotes an Antitumor Response Against B16 Melanoma.

Melanoma immunotherapy, specifically the autotransplant of dendritic cells charged with tumors antigens, has shown promising results in clinical trials. The positive clinical effects of this therapy have been associated to increased Th17 response and delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) against to tumor antigens. Some synthetic compounds, such as diphenylcyclopropenone (DPCP), are capable of triggering a DTH response in cutaneous malignancies and also to induce clinically relevant effects against melanoma. In this work, we evaluated Litre extract (LExT), a standardized extract of a Chilean stinging plant, Lithraea caustic (Litre). As Litre plant is known to induce DTH, we used a murine B16 melanoma model to compare the topical and intratumor efficacy of LExT with synthetic DTH inducers (DPCP and 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene [DNCB]). LExt contained mainly long chain catechols and sesquiterpenes. The intratumor injection of LExT induced a significant delay in tumor growth, similarly topical treatment of an established tumor with 0.1% LExT ointment induced a growth delay and even tumor regression in 15% of treated animals. No significant changes were observed on the T-cell populations associated to LExT treatment, and neither DNCB nor DPCP were capable to induce none of the LExT-induced antitumoral effects. Interestingly, our results indicate that LExT induces an antitumor response against melanoma in a mouse model and could bring a new -and affordable- treatment for melanoma in humans.

Manejo protocolizado de los trastornos en los hidratos de carbono en la embarazada: resultados perinatales / Protocolized aproach of disorders of carbohydrates in pregnancy: perinatal results

1. El manejo protocolizado de los trastornos de los carbohidratos durante el embarazo nos conduce a resultados perinatales similares a los de la población embarazada general, tal y como lo demuestran en nuestro estudio: La incidencia de muertes fetales y neonatales. Los marcadores de asfixia neonatal. La hiperbilirrubinemia. El síndrome de insuficiencia respiratoria. 2. La incidencia de macrosomía lo hemos logrado reducir a cifras muy aceptables. 3. El momento de interrupción del embarazo nos garantiza obtener neonatos maduros, contrario a lo que ocurría en tiempos pasados

Trauma en la embarazada / Trauma in the pregnancy

Los traumatismos durante el embarazo representan hoy la causa principal de muerte materna no obstétrica. Medidas preventivas como el uso adecuado del cinturón de seguridad, el respeto a las leyes de tránsito, la identificación e intervención temprana en casos de violencia doméstica son medidas educativas obligatorias que debe implementar todo obstetra con su paciente en la consulta prenatal. Una vez ocurrido el trauma, un abordaje organizado, por un equipo multidisciplinario es de suma importancia para obtener resultados óptimos. Las primeras medidas deben ir siempre dirigidas a la estabilización materna y una vez logrado esto, debe enfocarse la atención al feto