Calidad ósea en poblaciones contemporáneas. Análisis de la estructura trabecular calcánea en una muestra esqueletal / Bone Quality in Contem porary Populations. Calcaneal Trabecular Structure Analysis in a Skeletal Sample

Resumen Objetivo: La osteoporosis es una condición de relevancia a nivel epidemiológico en Argentina, así como en el resto del mundo. Si bien actualmente la herramienta diagnóstica más relevante es la densitometría ósea, los análisis radiológicos pueden aportar información, principalmente en lo referente a la calidad ósea. En ese sentido, nos proponemos evaluar la estructura trabecular calcánea de una población local. Métodos: El material para dicho estudio consistió en 91 calcáneos de esqueletos pertenecientes a una muestra esqueletal. Fueron analizados individuos adultos, de ambos sexos, mediante imágenes radiográficas, a fin de clasificar su estructura trabecular de acuerdo al índice propuesto por Jhamaria y col., en una escala de V (normal) a I (osteoporosis severa). Resultados: Las prevalencias estimadas fueron de 23,1% de osteoporosis (fases I y II), 16,5% de borderline (fase III) y 48,4% se clasificó como estructura trabecular normal (fases IV y V). En relación a la edad de los individuos, se encontró una correlación significativa negativa entre ella y la pérdida trabecular (tau-b = -0,524, p = 0,00). No se encontraron diferencias significativas en cuanto a la afección dimórfica de la patología. Discusión: La relación entre envejecimiento y osteoporosis hallada es coincidente con estudios nacionales e internacionales que reconocen una disminución en la densidad mineral ósea (DMO) y una mala calidad ósea en individuos adultos mayores. La ausencia de afección dimórfica podría deberse a la edad promedio de la muestra, sumada a la posible resistencia de la estructura esponjosa del calcáneo a los cambios generados por el déficit estrogénico en las mujeres, característica de la osteoporosis tipo I. Conclusión: Creemos que es necesario revalorizar el análisis óseo por medio de radiografías, puesto que pueden ser de utilidad tanto en la clínica como en la investigación básica, debido a la mayor disponibilidad de equipos y a que posibilitan el análisis de otras propiedades del tejido óseo.

Abstract Objective: Osteoporosis is an important condition in an epidemiologic level in Argentina as in the rest of the world. Even though nowadays the most relevant diagnostic technique is bone densitometry, radiological studies can provide useful information, mainly in relation to bone quality. For this purpose, we aim to evaluate the calcaneus trabecular structure in a contemporary local population. Methods: The sample for this study consisted of 91 calcaneus from skeletons belonging to the skeletal repository. Adult individuals from both sexes were analyzed, to classify their trabecular structure according to the index proposed by Jhamaria et al., on a scale of V (normal) to I (severe osteoporosis). Results: The estimated prevalence were 23,1% of osteoporosis (phase I and II), 16,5% of borderline (phase III) and 48,4% were classified as normal trabecular structure (phase IV and V). In relation to the age of the individuals, a significant negative correlation was found between the first and the trabecular loss (tau-b = -0.524, p = 0.00). No significant differences were found in relation to the sex prevalence of this pathology. Discussion: The association found between aging and osteoporosis matches with the results of national and international studies that recognize that a decrease in Bone Mineral Density (BMD) and a bad bone quality in older adults. Absence of differences between sexes in this condition could be due to age average of the sample, added to the possible resistance of the calcaneus spongy structure to changes generated by estrogen deficit in women, characteristic of osteoporosis type I. Conclusion: We believe that it is necessary to revalue bone analysis by radiographic means, since they can be of use both in clinic and in basic research, due to a greater equipment availability and because they allow the analysis of other properties of bone tissue.

A Th1/IFNγ Gene Signature Is Prognostic in the Adjuvant Setting of Resectable High-Risk Melanoma but Not in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

PURPOSE: Immune components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) have been associated with disease outcome. We prospectively evaluated the association of an immune-related gene signature (GS) with clinical outcome in melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) tumor samples from two phase III studies. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The GS was prospectively validated using an adaptive signature design to optimize it for the sample type and technology used in phase III studies. One-third of the samples were used as "training set"; the remaining two thirds, constituting the "test set," were used for the prospective validation of the GS. RESULTS: In the melanoma training set, the expression level of eight Th1/IFNγ-related genes in tumor-positive lymph node tissue predicted the duration of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in the placebo arm. This GS was prospectively and independently validated as prognostic in the test set. Building a multivariate Cox model in the test set placebo patients from clinical covariates and the GS score, an increased number of melanoma-involved lymph nodes and the GS were associated with DFS and OS. This GS was not associated with DFS in NSCLC, although expression of the Th1/IFNγ-related genes was associated with the presence of lymphocytes in tumor samples in both indications. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide evidence that expression of Th1/IFNγ genes in the TME, as measured by this GS, is associated with clinical outcome in melanoma. This suggests that, using this GS, patients with stage IIIB/C melanoma can be classified into different risk groups.

Comparación entre referencias de las prevalencias de sobrepeso y obesidad, estimadas a través del índice de masa corporal, en niños de Argentina / Comparison between references of the overweight and obesity prevalence, through the body mass index, in Argentinean children

La evaluación de la situación nutricional de los niños, depende en gran medida de las curvas de crecimiento utilizadas. El objetivo de esta investigación es comparar las prevalencias de sobrepeso y obesidad estimadas con tres referencias internacionales en una población de niños, a través del Índice de Masa Corporal. Se incluyeron 737 niños/as nacidos de término sanos, de 2 a 5 años (estudio transversal). La Participación fue voluntaria y consentida. Se estableció el Índice de Masa Corporal (kg/m²). Las técnicas de medición se basaron en guías nacionales. Las referencias utilizadas fueron: 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (>Pc85: sobrepeso; > Pc95: obesidad); 2. International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) (valores límites sexo-edad específicos) y 3. Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) (+2 desvíos estándar: sobrepeso; >+3: obesidad). Los resultados fueron evaluados estadísticamente mediante el programa Epi Info 6.0 (χ², p < 0,05 por ciento). La prevalencia de niños con sobrepeso estimada con la referencia del CDC es 1,1 veces mayor que la de IOTF y 2,33 veces la de OMS y la de IOTF es 2,1 veces la de OMS (p= 0,00001). La prevalencia de niños con obesidad estimada con la referencia del CDC es 5,4 veces la de IOTF y 23,9 veces la de OMS, mientras que la de IOTF es 4,4 veces la de OMS (p= 0,0000001). Las prevalencias de sobrepeso y obesidad, difieren substancialmente de acuerdo a la referencia y valores límite utilizados. No existiendo aún un criterio único, cada una de las referencias debe utilizarse con precaución.

The evaluation of child nutritional status is highly dependent on the growth charts used. The aim of this study was to compare different references assessing overweight and obesity in children population, through the Body Mass Index. A total of 737 healthy children born at term, aged 2-5 years, were included (cross-sectional study). The participation was voluntary and consent. Body Mass Index (kg/m²) was estimated. The measurements techniques were based on national guidelines. We compared three references: (1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (>Pc85: overweight; >Pc95: obesity; (2) International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) (sex-age-specific body mass index cut-offs); (3) World Health Organization (WHO) (+2 standard deviation: overweight; +3: obesity). The Epi Info 6.0 software was used to the statistical evaluation ((χ2, p≤ , 05 percent). The prevalence of overweight was 1,1 and 2,33 times higher in CDC application respect to the IOTF and the WHO references respectively. The prevalence of overweight was 2,1 times higher in IOTF application respect to the WHO references (p=, 00001). The prevalence of obesity was 5,4 and 23,9 times higher in CDC application respect to the IOTF and the WHO references respectively. The prevalence of obesity was 4,4 times higher in IOTF application respect to the WHO references (p=, 0000001). The prevalence of overweight and obesity, calculated through the BMI, differs substantially according to the reference and cut-off points used. In the absence of even a single criterion, each of the references should be used with care.

[Comparison between references of the overweight and obesity prevalence, through the Body Mass Index, in Argentinean children]. / Comparación entre referencias de las prevalencias de sobrepeso y obesidad, estimadas a través del Indice de Masa Corporal, en niños de Argentina.

The evaluation of child nutritional status is highly dependent on the growth charts used. The aim of this study was to compare different references assessing overweight and obesity in children population, through the Body Mass Index. A total of 737 healthy children born at term, aged 2-5 years, were included (cross-sectional study). The participation was voluntary and consent. Body Mass Index (kg/m2) was estimated. The measurements techniques were based on national guidelines. We compared three references: (1) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (> Pc85: overweight; > Pc95: obesity; (2) International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) (sex-age-specific body mass index cut-offs); (3) World Health Organization (WHO) (+2 standard deviation: overweight; +3: obesity). The Epi Info 6.0 software was used to the statistical evaluation (chi2, p < or = .05%). The prevalence of overweight was 1.1 and 2.33 times higher in CDC application respect to the IOTF and the WHO references respectively. The prevalence of overweight was 2.1 times higher in IOTF application respect to the WHO references (p = .00001). The prevalence of obesity was 5.4 and 23.9 times higher in CDC application respect to the IOTF and the WHO references respectively. The prevalence of obesity was 4.4 times higher in IOTF application respect to the WHO references (p = .0000001). The prevalence of overweight and obesity, calculated through the BMI, differs substantially according to the reference and cut-off points used. In the absence of even a single criterion, each of the references should be used with care.

The immunomodulatory protein B7-H4 is overexpressed in breast and ovarian cancers and promotes epithelial cell transformation.

B7-H4 protein is expressed on the surface of a variety of immune cells and functions as a negative regulator of T cell responses. We independently identified B7-H4 (DD-O110) through a genomic effort to discover genes upregulated in tumors and here we describe a new functional role for B7-H4 protein in cancer. We show that B7-H4 mRNA and protein are overexpressed in human serous ovarian cancers and breast cancers with relatively little or no expression in normal tissues. B7-H4 protein is extensively glycosylated and displayed on the surface of tumor cells and we provide the first demonstration of a direct role for B7-H4 in promoting malignant transformation of epithelial cells. Overexpression of B7-H4 in a human ovarian cancer cell line with little endogenous B7-H4 expression increased tumor formation in SCID mice. Whereas overexpression of B7-H4 protected epithelial cells from anoikis, siRNA-mediated knockdown of B7-H4 mRNA and protein expression in a breast cancer cell line increased caspase activity and apoptosis. The restricted normal tissue distribution of B7-H4, its overexpression in a majority of breast and ovarian cancers and functional activity in transformation validate this cell surface protein as a new target for therapeutic intervention. A therapeutic antibody strategy aimed at B7-H4 could offer an exciting opportunity to inhibit the growth and progression of human ovarian and breast cancers.

Alteraciones cromosómicas en niños con malnutrición proteico-energética: resultados preliminares / Chromosomic alterations in child by malnutrition energetics-proteine: results preliminary

Objetivos: algunos autores encontraron una relación entre la Malnutrición Proteico Energética (MPE) y elaumento de la frecuencia de Aberraciones Cromosómicas Estructurales (ACE) en niños menores de 5 años.El objetivo del siguiente trabajo es analizar la incidencia de ACE en una población de niños del partido de La Plata que presentan MPE. Material y Métodos: se tomó una muestra de 30 niños de 1 a 60 meses de edad cronológica, 15 controles sanos y 15 diagnosticados como MPE primarios a través de una evaluación antropométrica y clínica. Se aplicó una encuesta semiestructurada en la que se tuvieron en cuenta peso al nacimiento, variables antropométricas, alimentación, enfermedades virales, y/o infecciosas y exposición a agentes potencialmente genotóxicos. Se realizaron cultivos de sangre periférica y se analizó la frecuencia de ACE en 100 células por individuo. Los resultados obtenidos fueron sometidos a evaluación estadística utilizando el programa Epi Info 6.0. Resultados: la diferencia en la frecuencia global de ACE entre ambas muestras resultó significativa. Al tratar cada tipo de aberración en forma independiente se encontraron diferencias significativas para gaps y fracturas de mono e isocromátidas, cromosomas dicéntricos, fragmentos y asociaciones telométricas. No se encontraron diferencias significativas respecto a la exposición de los niños a agentes potencialmente genotóxicos tales como medicamentos, radiaciones, pesticidas y desechos industriales. Conclusiones: la MPE es capaz de inducir daño genotóxico, este efecto podria explicarse por la distorsión del ambiente químico interno o bien por la disminución de la acción de los mecanismos de reparación del ADN como consecuencia del déficit proteico

Amazonia boliviana: arqueología de los Llanos de Mojos / Bolivian Amazonia: archaeology of the Llanos de Mojos

A arqueologia da Amazônia boliviana ou das "Terras Baixas" compreende um imenso território que mostra, a luz da informação disponível, significativas descontinuidades espaço-temporais. A identificação nesta área de sociedades constituindo "cacicados da floresta tropical" a partir de critérios baseados em preconceitos, requer a reavaliação da pré-história regional do ponto de vista causal. A arqueologia beniana (de Llanos de Mojos) é conhecida, fundamentalmente, a partir das escavações de Erland Nordenskiöld, que sem dúvida estabeleceu as bases conceituais existentes atualmente. Entre os anos de 1977 e 1981 uma missão do Museu de La Plata (Argentina), sob a direção de B. Dougherty, e em estreita colaboração com o Instituto de Arqueologia de La Paz (Bolívia) e com o Amazonian Ecosystem Research (EUA), conduziu pesquisas sistemáticas considerando variados itens antropológicos e produzindo numerosas datações de radiocarbono. Estas contribuições ajudaram a esclarecer, mas não a simplificar o panorama pré-hispânico regional, tão importante na temática arqueológica sul-americana. Complementa este artigo uma exaustiva lista de bibliografias que facilita o acesso ao conhecimento sobre este grande território.