The Effect of Combined Treatment of Psilocybin and Eugenol on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Brain Inflammation in Mice.

Inflammation is an organism's biological defense mechanism. Acute and chronic inflammation of the body triggers the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory pathways that can affect the content of cytokines in the brain and thus cause brain inflammation. Disorders such as depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are often associated with elevated inflammation. Recently, positive and promising clinical results of psilocybin for the treatment of depression and PTSD were reported. Thus, we decided to test whether psilocybin alone or in combination with eugenol, an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agent, would prevent the increase in or decrease the content of cytokines in the brain of C57BL/6J mice injected with lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Two experiments were performed, one with pre-treatment of mice through gavage with psilocybin (0.88 mg/kg), eugenol (17.6 mg/kg), or combinations of psilocybin and eugenol (1:10, 1:20, or 1:50), followed by intraperitoneal injection of LPS, and the second, post-treatment, with initial injection with LPS, followed by treatment with psilocybin, eugenol, or their combination. Brain tissues were collected, and cytokines were analyzed by qRT-PCR, Western blot, and ELISA. Data were analyzed with a one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test or with multiple unpaired t-tests. LPS upregulated mRNA expression of COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6. All pre-treatments decreased the expression of COX-2 and TNF-α, with psilocybin alone and in 1:50 combination, with eugenol being the most effective. In the post-treatment, all combinations of psilocybin and eugenol were effective in reducing inflammation, with the 1:50 ratio displaying the most prominent results in reducing the mRNA content of tested cytokines. Western blot analysis confirmed the effect on COX-2 and IL-1ß proteins. Finally, the ELISA showed that post-treatment with psilocybin + eugenol (1:50) demonstrated the best results, decreasing the expression of multiple markers including IL-6 and IL-8. This demonstrates the anti-inflammatory effects of a combination of psilocybin and eugenol in the brain of animals with systemically induced inflammation.

A suppressive role of guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunit beta-4 inhibited by DNA methylation in the growth of anti-estrogen resistant breast cancer cells.

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide. Although the endocrine therapy that targets estrogen receptor α (ERα) signaling has been well established as an effective adjuvant treatment for patients with ERα-positive breast cancers, long-term exposure may eventually lead to the development of acquired resistance to the anti-estrogen drugs, such as fulvestrant and tamoxifen. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying antiestrogen resistance and identification of the key molecules involved may help in overcoming antiestrogen resistance in breast cancer. METHODS: The whole-genome gene expression and DNA methylation profilings were performed using fulvestrant-resistant cell line 182R-6 and tamoxifen-resistant cell line TAMR-1 as a model system. In addition, qRT-PCR and Western blot analysis were performed to determine the levels of mRNA and protein molecules. MTT, apoptosis and cell cycle analyses were performed to examine the effect of either guanine nucleotide-binding protein beta-4 (GNB4) overexpression or knockdown on cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle. RESULTS: Among 9 candidate genes, GNB4 was identified and validated by qRT-PCR as a potential target silenced by DNA methylation via DNA methyltransferase 3B (DNMT3B). We generated stable 182R-6 and TAMR-1 cell lines that are constantly expressing GNB4 and determined the effect of the ectopic GNB4 on cell proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis of the antiestrogen-resistant cells in response to either fulvestrant or tamoxifen. Ectopic expression of GNB4 in two antiestrogen resistant cell lines significantly promoted cell growth and shortened cell cycle in the presence of either fulvestrant or tamoxifen. The ectopic GNB4 induced apoptosis in 182R-6 cells, whereas it inhibited apoptosis in TAMR-1 cells. Many regulators controlling cell cycle and apoptosis were aberrantly expressed in two resistant cell lines in response to the enforced GNB4 expression, which may contribute to GNB4-mediated biologic and/or pathologic processes. Furthermore, knockdown of GNB4 decreased growth of both antiestrogen resistant and sensitive breast cancer cells. CONCLUSION: GNB4 is important for growth of breast cancer cells and a potential target for treatment.

ACE and ACE2 Gene Variants Are Associated With Severe Outcomes of COVID-19 in Men.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, affecting more than 219 countries and causing the death of more than 5 million people worldwide. The genetic background represents a factor that predisposes the way the host responds to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this sense, genetic variants of ACE and ACE2 could explain the observed interindividual variability to COVID-19 outcomes. In order to improve the understanding of how genetic variants of ACE and ACE2 are involved in the severity of COVID-19, we included a total of 481 individuals who showed clinical manifestations of COVID-19 and were diagnosed by reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR). Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and saliva samples. ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism was evaluated by the high-resolution melting method; ACE single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs4344) and ACE2 SNPs (rs2285666 and rs2074192) were genotyped using TaqMan probes. We assessed the association of ACE and ACE2 polymorphisms with disease severity using logistic regression analysis adjusted by age, sex, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and obesity. The severity of the illness in our study population was divided as 31% mild, 26% severe, and 43% critical illness; additionally, 18% of individuals died, of whom 54% were male. Our results showed in the codominant model a contribution of ACE2 gene rs2285666 T/T genotype to critical outcome [odds ratio (OR) = 1.83; 95%CI = 1.01-3.29; p = 0.04] and to require oxygen supplementation (OR = 1.76; 95%CI = 1.01-3.04; p = 0.04), in addition to a strong association of the T allele of this variant to develop critical illness in male individuals (OR = 1.81; 95%CI = 1.10-2.98; p = 0.02). We suggest that the T allele of rs2285666 represents a risk factor for severe and critical outcomes of COVID-19, especially for men, regardless of age, hypertension, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

Atypical conduction aphasia and the right hemisphere: Cross-hemispheric plasticity of phonology in a developmentally dyslexic and dysgraphic patient with early left frontal damage.

We report the rare case of a patient, JNR, with history of mixed handedness, developmental dyslexia, dysgraphia, and attentional deficits associated with a Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome and a small subcortical frontal lesion involving the left arcuate fasciculus. In adulthood, he suffered a large right perisylvian stroke and developed atypical conduction aphasia with deficits in input and output phonological processing and poor auditory-verbal short-term memory. Lexical-semantic processing for single words was intact, but he was unable to access meaning in sentence comprehension and repetition. Reading and writing deficits worsened after the stroke and he presented a combination of developmental and acquired dysgraphia and dyslexia with mixed lexical and phonological processing deficits. This case suggest that a small lesion sustained prenatally or early in life could induce a selective rightward shift of phonology sparing the standard left hemisphere lateralisation of lexical-semantic functions.

Fighting the storm: could novel anti-TNFα and anti-IL-6 C. sativa cultivars tame cytokine storm in COVID-19?

The main aspects of severe COVID-19 disease pathogenesis include hyper-induction of proinflammatory cytokines, also known as 'cytokine storm', that precedes acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and often leads to death. COVID-19 patients often suffer from lung fibrosis, a serious and untreatable condition. There remains no effective treatment for these complications. Out of all cytokines, TNFα and IL-6 play crucial roles in cytokine storm pathogenesis and are likely responsible for the escalation in disease severity. These cytokines also partake in the molecular pathogenesis of fibrosis. Therefore, new approaches are urgently needed, that can efficiently and swiftly downregulate TNFα, IL-6, and the inflammatory cytokine cascade, in order to curb inflammation and prevent fibrosis, and lead to disease remission. Cannabis sativa has been proposed to modulate gene expression and inflammation and is under investigation for several potential therapeutic applications against autoinflammatory diseases and cancer. Here, we hypothesized that the extracts of novel C. sativa cultivars may be used to downregulate the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and pathways involved in inflammation and fibrosis. Initially, to analyze the anti-inflammatory effects of novel C. sativa cultivars, we used a well-established full thickness human 3D skin artificial EpiDermFTTM tissue model, whereby tissues were exposed to UV to induce inflammation and then treated with extracts of seven new cannabis cultivars. We noted that out of seven studied extracts of novel C. sativa cultivars, three (#4, #8 and #14) were the most effective, causing profound and concerted down-regulation of COX2, TNFα, IL-6, CCL2, and other cytokines and pathways related to inflammation and fibrosis. These data were further confirmed in the WI-38 lung fibroblast cell line model. Most importantly, one of the tested extracts had no effect at all, and one exerted effect that may be deleterious, signifying that careful cannabis cultivar selection must be based on thorough pre-clinical studies. The observed pronounced inhibition of TNFα and IL-6 is the most important finding, because these molecules are currently considered to be the main targets in COVID-19 cytokine storm and ARDS pathogenesis. Novel anti-TNFα and anti-IL-6 cannabis extracts can be useful additions to the current anti-inflammatory regimens to treat COVID-19, as well as various rheumatological diseases and conditions, and 'inflammaging' - the inflammatory underpinning of aging and frailty.

Current situation of congenital heart diseases in two public hospitals in the state of Jalisco.

Introduction: Congenital heart disease represents a public health issue worldwide. Objective: To know the number of patients with heart disease treated in two public hospitals of the State of Jalisco, as well as the mortality and resources available to participating hospitals for the care of these patients in the period from 2015 to 2018; the information was requested to the -National Transparency Platform, and the database of pediatric cardiology services and pediatric cardiovascular surgery of the participating hospitals were also reviewed. Results: The second level hospital has human resources, but not the material to attend to these patients; so it is not possible to offer any type of palliative or corrective treatment. A total of 624 patients were evaluated, of which 92.2% corresponded to non-critical heart disease; overall mortality was 12% but in critical heart disease it was 79.5%. The third level hospital has human and material resources to care for these patients. During the study period, 289 operations were performed and the overall mortality was 20.4%. Conclusion: Congenital heart disease in the State of Jalisco is an important cause of mortality, with a high incidence and a very limited resolution capacity since the health services in the State of Jalisco for the care of these patients are insufficient and inadequate. It is essential to strengthen the health system for the care for these patients.

Introducción: Las cardiopatías congénitas representan un problema de salud pública a nivel mundial. Objetivo: Conocer la cantidad de pacientes cardiópatas atendidos en dos hospitales públicos del estado de Jalisco, así como la mortalidad y los recursos con que cuentan los hospitales participantes para la atención de estos pacientes en el período del 2015 al 2018. Se solicitó la información a la Plataforma Nacional de Transparencia y además se revisaron las bases de datos de los servicios de cardiología pediátrica y cirugía cardiovascular pediátrica de los hospitales participantes. Resultados: El hospital de segundo nivel cuenta con los recursos humanos, pero no con el material para atender a estos pacientes, por lo que no es posible ofrecer ningún tipo de tratamiento paliativo o correctivo (sólo se cierran algunos conductos arteriosos en la etapa neonatal). Se valoró a un total de 624 pacientes, de los cuales el 92.2% correspondió a cardiopatías no críticas; la mortalidad global fue del 12% pero en las cardiopatías críticas fue del 79.5%. El hospital de tercer nivel cuenta con recursos humanos y material para atender a estos pacientes; en el período de estudio se realizaron 289 operaciones y la mortalidad global fue del 20.4%. Conclusión: Las cardiopatías congénitas en el estado de Jalisco son una causa importante de mortalidad, con una incidencia elevada y una capacidad de resolución sumamente limitada, ya que los servicios de salud de Jalisco para la atención de estos pacientes son insuficientes e inadecuados. Es esencial fortalecer el sistema de salud para atender a estos pacientes.

Current situation of congenital heart diseases in two public hospitals in the state of Jalisco.

Introduction: Congenital heart disease represents a public health issue worldwide. Objective: To know the number of patients with heart disease treated in two public hospitals of the State of Jalisco, as well as the mortality and resources available to participating hospitals for the care of these patients in the period from 2015 to 2018; the information was requested to the -National Transparency Platform, and the database of pediatric cardiology services and pediatric cardiovascular surgery of the participating hospitals were also reviewed. Results: The second level hospital has human resources, but not the material to attend to these patients; so it is not possible to offer any type of palliative or corrective treatment. A total of 624 patients were evaluated, of which 92.2% corresponded to non-critical heart disease; overall mortality was 12% but in critical heart disease it was 79.5%. The third level hospital has human and material resources to care for these patients. During the study period, 289 operations were performed and the overall mortality was 20.4%. Conclusion: Congenital heart disease in the State of Jalisco is an important cause of mortality, with a high incidence and a very limited resolution capacity since the health services in the State of Jalisco for the care of these patients are insufficient and inadequate. It is essential to strengthen the health system for the care for these patients.

Introducción: Las cardiopatías congénitas representan un problema de salud pública a nivel mundial. Objetivo: Conocer la cantidad de pacientes cardiópatas atendidos en dos hospitales públicos del estado de Jalisco, así como la mortalidad y los recursos con que cuentan los hospitales participantes para la atención de estos pacientes en el período del 2015 al 2018. Se solicitó la información a la Plataforma Nacional de Transparencia y además se revisaron las bases de datos de los servicios de cardiología pediátrica y cirugía cardiovascular pediátrica de los hospitales participantes. Resultados: El hospital de segundo nivel cuenta con los recursos humanos, pero no con el material para atender a estos pacientes, por lo que no es posible ofrecer ningún tipo de tratamiento paliativo o correctivo (sólo se cierran algunos conductos arteriosos en la etapa neonatal). Se valoró a un total de 624 pacientes, de los cuales el 92.2% correspondió a cardiopatías no críticas; la mortalidad global fue del 12% pero en las cardiopatías críticas fue del 79.5%. El hospital de tercer nivel cuenta con recursos humanos y material para atender a estos pacientes; en el período de estudio se realizaron 289 operaciones y la mortalidad global fue del 20.4%. Conclusión: Las cardiopatías congénitas en el estado de Jalisco son una causa importante de mortalidad, con una incidencia elevada y una capacidad de resolución sumamente limitada, ya que los servicios de salud de Jalisco para la atención de estos pacientes son insuficientes e inadecuados. Es esencial fortalecer el sistema de salud para atender a estos pacientes.

Inequity of congenital heart disease care in the public hospitals of Mexico. The false right to health.

La cardiología pediátrica y la cirugía cardiovascular han tenido avances importantes en los últimos años; las cardiopatías congénitas (CC) son una de las principales causas de mortalidad en niños. Muchos de los factores que determinan la evolución final de estos pacientes incluyen el tipo de cardiopatía y el tiempo del diagnóstico y tratamiento; infortunadamente, dos de los que presentan mayores efectos son el estado socioeconómico y el área geográfica de atención en México. El objetivo de este estudio es conocer el tipo de atención para los pacientes con CC en hospitales públicos del país.Pediatric cardiology and cardiovascular surgery have made significant advances in recent years, congenital heart diseases (CHD) are one of the leading causes of mortality in children. Many of the factors that determine the final evolution of these patients include the type of heart disease, the time of diagnosis and treatment; unfortunately, in our country, two of those greatest impact area the socioeconomic status and the geographic area of attention. The objective of this study is to know the type of care for patients with CHD in public hospitals in the country.

Presentation and management of congenital heart disease in the first year of age / Presentación y manejo de las cardiopatías congénitas en el primer año de edad

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is defined as a structural abnormality of the heart or large intrathoracic vessels. They constitute the most frequent congenital malformation at birth. At least one third of patients require some type of intervention before the year of age. The clinical manifestations of heart disease in the neonatal stage are presented with a wide clinical context and can be confused with problems at the pulmonary or infectious level making difficult to diagnose them and thereby contributing significantly to the mortality and morbility of these patients since the diagnosis is delayed and timely handling. Pulse oximetry monitoring in the neonatal period is currently used as a diagnostic method for the detection of critical congenital heart disease. Although it detects them early, in many countries it is not yet carried out. The objective of this article is to offer an overview of the clinical presentation, diagnostic aspect and initial management of CHD in the first year of age that may be useful to first contact physicians to improve the management of this group of patients.

Las cardiopatías congénitas (CC) se definen como una anomalía estructural del corazón o de los grandes vasos intratorácicos. Constituyen la malformación congénita más frecuente al nacimiento. Al menos un tercio de los pacientes requieren algún tipo de intervención antes del año de edad. Las manifestaciones clínicas de las cardiopatías en la etapa neonatal se presentan con un amplio contexto clínico y se pueden confundir con problemas a nivel pulmonar o infeccioso, lo que dificulta su diagnóstico y con ello contribuyendo de forma importante a la mortalidad y morbilidad de estos pacientes, ya que se retrasa el diagnóstico y manejo oportuno. El monitoreo por oximetría de pulso en el periodo neonatal se utiliza actualmente como método diagnóstico para la detección de cardiopatías congénitas críticas; a pesar de que las detecta en forma temprana, en muchos países aún no se lleva a cabo. El objetivo de este artículo es ofrecer un panorama general de la presentación clínica, aspectos diagnósticos y manejo inicial de las CC en el primer año de edad que pueda ser de utilidad a los médicos de primer contacto para mejorar la atención en este grupo de pacientes.

In search of preventive strategies: novel high-CBD Cannabis sativa extracts modulate ACE2 expression in COVID-19 gateway tissues.

With the current COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), there is an urgent need for new therapies and prevention strategies that can help curtail disease spread and reduce mortality. The inhibition of viral entry and thus spread is a plausible therapeutic avenue. SARS-CoV-2 uses receptor-mediated entry into a human host via the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), which is expressed in lung tissue as well as the oral and nasal mucosa, kidney, testes and gastrointestinal tract. The modulation of ACE2 levels in these gateway tissues may be an effective strategy for decreasing disease susceptibility. Cannabis sativa, especially those high in the anti-inflammatory cannabinoid cannabidiol (CBD), has been found to alter gene expression and inflammation and harbour anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties. However, its effects on ACE2 expression remain unknown. Working under a Health Canada research license, we developed over 800 new C. sativa cultivars and hypothesized that high-CBD C. sativa extracts may be used to down-regulate ACE2 expression in target COVID-19 tissues. Using artificial 3D human models of oral, airway and intestinal tissues, we identified 13 high-CBD C. sativa extracts that decrease ACE2 protein levels. Some C. sativa extracts down-regulate serine protease TMPRSS2, another critical protein required for SARS-CoV-2 entry into host cells. While our most effective extracts require further large-scale validation, our study is important for future analyses of the effects of medical cannabis on COVID-19. The extracts of our most successful novel high-CBD C. sativa lines, pending further investigation, may become a useful and safe addition to the prevention/treatment of COVID-19 as an adjunct therapy.

The crucial role of DNA-dependent protein kinase and myelin transcription factor 1-like protein in the miR-141 tumor suppressor network.

Glioblastoma is the most aggressive brain tumor. Although miR-141 has been demonstrated to primarily function as a tumor suppressor in numerous malignancies, including glioblastoma, the mechanisms involved remain poorly understood. Here, it is shown that miR-141 is downregulated in glioblastoma cell lines and tissues and may exert its biological function via directly targeting myelin transcription factor 1-like (MYT1L). Using two glioblastoma cell lines that differ from each other by the functionality of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNAPK), a functional involvement of DNAPK in the miR-141 tumor suppression network was observed. In M059K cells with a normal function of DNAPK, the enforced expression of miR-141 attenuated MYT1L expression and suppressed cell proliferation. Conversely, the inhibition of miR-141 expression promoted cell proliferation; however, in M059J cells with a loss-of-function DNAPK, miR-141 constitutively inhibited cell proliferation upon ectopic overexpression or inhibition. An overexpression of miR-141 suppressed M059J cell migration, while it had no effect on M059K. Furthermore, the ectopic expression of miR-141 induced an S-phase arrest in both cell lines, whereas the inhibition of miR-141 caused a G1 arrest in M059J and accelerated the S phase in M059K. An overexpression and suppression of miR-141 resulted in an aberrant expression of cell-cycle proteins, including p21. Moreover, MYT1L may be a transcription factor of p21 in p53-mutant cells, whereas DNAPK may function as a repressor of MYT1L. The findings revealed the crucial role of DNAPK in miR-141-mediated suppression of gliomagenesis and demonstrated that it may be a target molecule in miR-141-associated therapeutic interventions for glioblastoma.

Comparison of oximeters for the detection of critical congenital heart diseases.

Introduction and objectives: In some centers, the pulse oximetry is not performed with the justification of lack of the adequate oximeter. We compared the effectiveness of two brands of oximeters to perform it. Methods: In neonates, a term of the joint housing service of the Hospital General de Occidente in Zapopan, Jalisco, Mexico, from May to November 2018, an examination of the characteristics of the American Academy of Pediatrics with both oximeters (ChoiceMMed® and Masimo SET®) was carried out, comparing the detection of critical congenital heart disease, time of intake, and false positives. Results: In each group, 1022 patients were analyzed; with the Masimo SET® oximeter, 83 positive tests were obtained (8.12%), of which 22 cases had some heart disease (26.5%), which represents a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 93.9%, positive predictive value of 26.5%, and negative predictive value of 100% (odds ratio [OR]: 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.6-0.8). With the ChoiceMMed® oximeter, 168 positive tests were obtained (16.4%), of which 22 cases had some heart disease (13.09%), with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 85.4%, positive predictive value of 13.09%, and negative predictive value 100% (OR: 0.86; 95%CI: 0.8-0.92). Regarding the time to perform the cardiac sieve, the mean in minutes of the Masimo SET® oximeter was 5.38 and the ChoiceMMed® oximeter was 9.7 min. Conclusions: The ChoiceMMed® oximeter contains a large number of false positives and a greater number of echocardiograms and comparatively longer cardiac screen printing with Masimo SET®, however, both with a negative predictive value of 100% eliminating such excuses.

Introducción y objetivos: En algunos centros el tamiz cardíaco no se realiza con la justificación de no tener el oxímetro adecuado. Comparamos la efectividad de dos marcas de oxímetros para realizarlo. Métodos: En los neonatos a término del Servicio de alojamiento conjunto del Hospital General de Occidente en Zapopan Jalisco México de mayo a noviembre del 2018 se realizó tamiz cardíaco según las guías de la Academia Americana de Pediatría con dos oxímetros, el Masimo SET® (aprobado por la FDA) y el ChoiceMMed®, comparando su efectividad para la detección de cardiopatías congénitas críticas, el tiempo de toma y los falsos positivos. Resultados: En cada grupo se analizaron 1,022 pacientes; con el oxímetro Massimo SET® se obtuvieron 83 pruebas positivas (8.12%) de las cuales 22 casos presentaron alguna cardiopatía (26.5%), lo que representa una sensibilidad del 100%, una especificidad del 93.9%, un valor predictivo positivo del 26.5% y un valor predictivo negativo del 100% (Odd Ratio [OR]: 0.73; IC 95%: 0.6-0.8). Con el oxímetro ChoiceMMed® se obtuvieron 168 pruebas positivas (16.4%), de las cuales 22 casos presentaron alguna cardiopatía (13.09%), con una sensibilidad del 100%, una especificidad del 85.4%, un valor predictivo positivo del 13.09% y un valor predictivo negativo del 100% (OR: 0.86; IC 95%: 0.8-0.92). En cuanto al tiempo para realizar el tamiz cardíaco, la media en minutos del oxímetro Masimo SET® fue 5.38 y del oxímetro ChoiceMMed® fue 9.7 minutos. Conclusiones: El oxímetro ChoiceMMed® presentó mayor cantidad de falsos positivos y mayor tiempo de realización del tamiz cardíaco en comparación al Masimo SET®, sin embargo, ambos presentan un valor predictivo negativo del 100%, siendo igualmente útiles como método de detección de cardiopatías críticas.

Comparación de oxímetros para detección de cardiopatías congénitas críticas.

Introduction and objectives: In some centers the pulse oximetry is not performed with the justification of lack of the adequate oximeter. We compared the effectiveness of two brands of oximeters to perform it. Methods: In neonates a term of the joint housing service of a Hospital General de Occidente in Zapopan Jalisco Mexico from May-November 2018, an examination of the characteristics of the American Academy of Pediatrics with both oximeters (ChoiceMMed® and Masimo SET®) was carried out, comparing the detection of critical congenital heart disease (CCC), time of intake and false positives. Results: In each group 1,022 patients were analyzed; with the Masimo SET® oximeter 83 positive tests were obtained (8.12%), of which 22 cases had some heart disease (26.5%), which represents a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 93.9%, positive predictive value of 26.5% and negative predictive value of 100% (OR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.6-0.8). With the ChoiceMMed® oximeter, 168 positive tests were obtained (16.4%), of which 22 cases had some heart disease (13.09%), with a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 85.4%, positive predictive value of 13.09% and negative predictive value 100% (OR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.8-0.92). Regarding the time to perform the cardiac sieve, the mean in minutes of the Masimo SET® oximeter was 5.38 and the ChoiceMMed® oximeter was 9.7 minutes. Conclusions: The ChoiceMMed® oximeter contains a large number of false positives and a greater number of echocardiograms and comparatively longer cardiac screen printing with Masimo SET®, however, both with a negative predictive value of 100% eliminating such excuses.

Introducción y objetivos: En algunos centros el tamiz cardíaco no se realiza con la justificación de no tener el oxímetro adecuado. Comparamos la efectividad de dos marcas de oxímetros para realizarlo. Métodos: En los neonatos a término del Servicio de alojamiento conjunto del Hospital General de Occidente en Zapopan Jalisco México de mayo a noviembre del 2018 se realizó tamiz cardíaco según las guías de la Academia Americana de Pediatría con dos oxímetros, el Masimo SET® (aprobado por la FDA) y el ChoiceMMed®, comparando su efectividad para la detección de cardiopatías congénitas críticas, el tiempo de toma y los falsos positivos. Resultados: En cada grupo se analizaron 1,022 pacientes; con el oxímetro Massimo SET® se obtuvieron 83 pruebas positivas (8.12%) de las cuales 22 casos presentaron alguna cardiopatía (26.5%), lo que representa una sensibilidad del 100%, una especificidad del 93.9%, un valor predictivo positivo del 26.5% y un valor predictivo negativo del 100% (Odd Ratio [OR]: 0.73; IC 95%: 0.6-0.8). Con el oxímetro ChoiceMMed® se obtuvieron 168 pruebas positivas (16.4%), de las cuales 22 casos presentaron alguna cardiopatía (13.09%), con una sensibilidad del 100%, una especificidad del 85.4%, un valor predictivo positivo del 13.09% y un valor predictivo negativo del 100% (OR: 0.86; IC 95%: 0.8-0.92). En cuanto al tiempo para realizar el tamiz cardíaco, la media en minutos del oxímetro Masimo SET® fue 5.38 y del oxímetro ChoiceMMed® fue 9.7 minutos. Conclusiones: El oxímetro ChoiceMMed® presentó mayor cantidad de falsos positivos y mayor tiempo de realización del tamiz cardíaco en comparación al Masimo SET®, sin embargo, ambos presentan un valor predictivo negativo del 100%, siendo igualmente útiles como método de detección de cardiopatías críticas.

Radiation-induced bystander effects in vivo are sex specific.

Ionizing radiation (IR) effects span beyond the area of direct exposure and can be observed in neighboring and distant naïve cells and organs. This phenomenon is termed a 'bystander effect'. IR effects in directly exposed tissue in vivo are epigenetically mediated and distinct in males and females. Yet, IR-induced bystander effects have never been explored in a sex-specificity domain. We used an in vivo mouse model, whereby the bystander effects are studied in spleen of male and female animals subjected to head exposure when the rest of the body is protected by a medical-grade lead shield. We analyzed the induction of DNA damage and alterations in global DNA methylation. Molecular parameters were correlated with cellular proliferation and apoptosis levels. The changes observed in bystander organs are compared to the changes in unexposed animals and animals exposed to predicted and measured scatter doses. We have found the selective induction of DNA damage levels, global DNA methylation, cell proliferation and apoptosis in exposed and bystander spleen tissue of male and female mice. Sex differences were significantly diminished in animals subjected to a surgical removal of gonads. These data constitute the first evidence of sex differences in radiation-induced bystander effects in mouse spleen in vivo. We show the role of sex hormones in spleen bystander responses and discuss implications of the observed changes.

[Vasopressors and inotropes: use in paediatrics]. / Vasopresores e inotrópicos: uso en pediatría.

The cardiovascular system is a dynamic system, which is required to ensure adequate delivery of oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to the tissues that are necessary for cell metabolism. It also synthesises and modifies the vasoactive components that regulate vascular tone and myocardial function. These vasoactive components have demonstrated their beneficial effects in the management of paediatric patients in a critical condition with heart failure and shock. However, their use and abuse brings harmful effects, increases mortality, and is associated with arrhythmias. An increase in myocardial oxygen consumption favours the presence of ischaemia, therefore it is necessary to know the mechanism of action and indications of these drugs to minimise their harmful effects. The purpose of this review is to describe the pharmacology and clinical applications of inotropic and vasopressor agents in the paediatric patient in acritical condition.

[Cardiac manifestations in the acute phase of Kawasaki disease in a third level children's hospital in Mexico City]. / Manifestaciones cardiacas en la etapa aguda de la enfermedad de Kawasaki en un hospital pediátrico de tercer nivel en la Ciudad de México.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the cardiac manifestations in the acute phase of patients with Kawasaki disease treated in a third level Children's hospital in Mexico City, Mexico. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in patients with a diagnosis of Kawasaki disease treated in this hospital from August 1995 to December 2016. Information included patient demographics, clinical features, treatment used, electrocardiographic findings, extra-coronary echocardiographic findings, and the development of coronary artery aneurysms in the acute phase of the disease. RESULTS: The study included 508 cases of Kawasaki disease, with a mean age at diagnosis of 37.64±35.56 months (range from 2 to 200 months). Almost two-thirds (65.4%) of the patients were male, with a male/female ratio of 1.88:1. Complete Kawasaki disease was diagnosed in 79.2% of cases. Almost all cases (92.4%) received intravenous immunoglobulin. Twenty-eight patients (5.5%) developed arrhythmias, ST changes developed in 29 patients (5.6%), and 5 patients presented with ischaemic changes. In the initial echocardiographic evaluation, 51 patients (9.9%) were diagnosed with myocarditis, 72 patients (14.0%) with pericarditis and 77 cases (15.0%) developed pericardial effusion. Coronary artery anomalies were detected in 169 cases (32.9%). 32 cases were diagnosed as giant coronary aneurysms. Four patients died from cardiac complications in the acute phase of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: There has been an increase in the diagnosis of Kawasaki disease in Mexico. They presented with more cardiac complications than reported in literature. An increased knowledge of Kawasaki disease is required in Mexico in order to establish the cardiac outcomes of this group of patients.

Growth of Triple Negative and Progesterone Positive Breast Cancer Causes Oxidative Stress and Down-Regulates Neuroprotective Transcription Factor NPAS4 and NPAS4-Regulated Genes in Hippocampal Tissues of TumorGraft Mice-an Aging Connection.

While the refinement of existing and the development of new chemotherapeutic regimens has significantly improved cancer treatment outcomes and patient survival, chemotherapy still causes many persistent side effects. Central nervous system (CNS) toxicity is of particular concern, as cancer patients experience significant deficits in memory, learning, cognition, and decision-making. These chemotherapy-induced cognitive changes are termed chemo brain, and manifest in more than half of cancer survivors. Moreover, recent studies have emerged suggesting that neurocognitive deficits manifest prior to cancer diagnosis and treatment, and thus may be associated with tumor presence, a phenomenon recently termed "tumor brain." To dissect the molecular mechanisms of tumor brain, we used TumorGraftTM models, wherein part of a patient's tumor is grafted into immune-deficient mice. Here, we analyzed molecular changes in the hippocampal tissues of mice carrying triple negative (TNBC) or progesterone receptor positive (PR+BC) xenografts. TNBC growth led to increased oxidative damage, as detected by elevated levels of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, a product of lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, the growth of TNBC and PR+BC tumors altered global gene expression in the murine hippocampus and affected multiple pathways implicated in PI3K-Akt and MAPK signaling, as well as other pathways crucial for the proper functioning of hippocampal neurons. TNBC and PR+BC tumor growth also led to a significant decrease in the levels of neuronal transcription factor NPAS4, a regulator that governs the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and several other key brain neurotrophic factors and pro-survival molecules. The decreased expression of ERK1/2, NPAS4, and BDNF are also seen in neurodegenerative conditions and aging, and may constitute an important tumor brain mechanism.

Adverse effects of paternal chemotherapy exposure on the progeny brain: intergenerational chemobrain.

Recent advances in cancer treatments have led to significant increases in cure rates. Most cancer patients are treated with various cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens. These treatment modalities are mutagenic and genotoxic and cause a wide array of late-occurring health problems, and even exert a deleterious influence on future offspring. The adverse effects from exposed parents on offspring are referred to as transgenerational effects, and currently little is known about chemotherapy-induced transgenerational effects. Furthermore, transgenerational effects have not been studied in the brains of progeny of exposed parents. In this study, we analyzed the existence and molecular nature of transgenerational effects in the brains of progeny of animals exposed to three common chemotherapy agents: cyclophosphamide (CPP), procarbazine (PCB) and mitomycin C (MMC). For the first time, our results show that paternal exposure to chemotherapy drugs causes transgenerational changes in the brain of unexposed progeny. Although no DNA damage was observed in terms of γH2AX levels, some alterations were found in levels of PCNA, protein involved in DNA repair, replication and profileration. Furthermore, there were changes in proliferation and apoptosis proteins BCL2 and AKT1, the proteins associated with DNA methylation, DNMT1 and MeCP2. Some altered expression trends were noted in proteins involved in myelin biogenesis, MBP and MYT1L. Moreover, global transcriptome profiling revealed changes in over 200 genes in the whole brains of progeny of animals exposed to CPP, and the changes in the levels of FOXP2 and ELK1proteins were confirmed by western blot analysis. These findings suggest that paternal chemotherapy significantly affects offspring brain development and may affect brain functioning. This research provides a key roadmap for future investigations of the novel phenomenon of transgenerational effects of chemotherapy in the brain of progeny of exposed parents.

A dual role of miR-22 modulated by RelA/p65 in resensitizing fulvestrant-resistant breast cancer cells to fulvestrant by targeting FOXP1 and HDAC4 and constitutive acetylation of p53 at Lys382.

Antiestrogen resistance is a major challenge encountered during the treatment of estrogen receptor alpha positive (ERα+) breast cancer. A better understanding of signaling pathways and downstream transcription factors and their targets may identify key molecules that can overcome antiestrogen resistance in breast cancer. An aberrant expression of miR-22 has been demonstrated in breast cancer; however, its contribution to breast cancer resistance to fulvestrant, an antiestrogen drug, remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated a moderate elevation in miR-22 expression in the 182R-6 fulvestrant-resistant breast cancer line we used as a model system, and this elevation was positively correlated with the expression of the miRNA biogenesis enzymes AGO2 and Dicer. The level of phosphorylated HER2/neu at Tyr877 was also upregulated in these cells, whereas the level of RelA/p65 phosphorylated at Ser536 (p-p65) was downregulated. Knockdown of HER2/neu led to an induction of p-p65 and a reduction in miR-22 levels. Luciferase assays identified two NF-κB binding motifs in the miR-22 promoter that contributed to transcriptional repression of miR-22. Activation of RelA/p65, triggered by LPS, attenuated miR-22 expression, but this expression was restored by sc-514, a selective IKKß inhibitor. Inhibition of miR-22 suppressed cell proliferation, induced apoptosis and caused cell cycle S-phase arrest, whereas enhancing expression of p21Cip1/Waf1 and p27Kip1. Surprisingly, ectopic expression of miR-22 also suppressed cell proliferation, induced apoptosis, caused S-phase arrest, and promoted the expression of p21Cip1/Waf1 and p27Kip1. Ectopic overexpression of miR-22 repressed the expression of FOXP1 and HDAC4, leading to a marked induction of acetylation of HDAC4 target histones. Conversely, inhibition of miR-22 promoted the expression of both FOXP1 and HDAC4, without the expected attenuation of histone acetylation. Instead, p53 acetylation at lysine 382 was unexpectedly upregulated. Taken together, our findings demonstrated, for the first time, that HER2 activation dephosphorylates RelA/p65 at Ser536. This dephosphoryalted p65 may be pivotal in transactivation of miR-22. Both increased and decreased miR-22 expression cause resensitization of fulvestrant-resistant breast cancer cells to fulvestrant. HER2/NF-κB (p65)/miR-22/HDAC4/p21 and HER2/NF-κB (p65)/miR-22/Ac-p53/p21 signaling circuits may therefore confer this dual role on miR-22 through constitutive transactivation of p21.