Glioblastoma: a comprehensive approach combining bibliometric analysis, Latent Dirichlet Allocation, and HJ-Biplot : Glioblastoma insights and trends: a 49-year bibliometric analysis.

Glioblastoma is a common and aggressive malignant central nervous system tumor in adults. This study aims to evaluate and analyze the scientific results, collaboration countries, main research topics, and topics over time reported about glioblastoma. A bibliometric analysis of glioblastoma publications was performed mainly using R and Multbiplot software for author, journal, and resume. Associated statistic methods Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) and HJ-Biplot. Inclusion criteria were research articles from the PubMed database published in English between 1973 and December 2022. A total of 64,823 documents with an annual growth rate of 8.27% indicates a consistent increase in research output over time. The results for the number of citations and significant publications showed Cancer Res, J Neuro-Oncol, and Neuro-Oncology are the most influential journals in the field of glioblastoma. The countries that concentrated research were the tumor United States, China, Germany, and Italy. Finally, there has been a marked growth in studies on prognosis and patient survival, therapies, and treatments for glioblastoma. These findings reinforce the need for increased global resources to address glioblastoma, particularly in underdeveloped countries. Glioblastoma research's exponential growth reflects sustained interest in early diagnosis and patient survival.

Neurological manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection: an updated review / Manifestaciones neurológicas asociadas con la infección por SARS-CoV-2: una revisión actualizada

Abstract SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus that belongs to the group of seven coronaviruses that affect humans, and its infection causes the COVID-19 disease. The association between the COVID-19 condition and risk factors of neurological manifestations is unclear to date. This review aims to update the main neurological manifestations associated with SARS-CoV-2 disease. First, we present the hypothesis of the neuroinvasion mechanisms of SARS-CoV-2. Then, we discuss the possible symptoms related to patients with COVID-19 infection in the central and peripheral nervous systems, followed by the perspectives of diagnosis and treatment of possible neurological manifestations. The hypothesis of the neuroinvasion mechanism includes direct routes, as the virus crosses the blood-brain barrier or the ACE2 receptor pathway role, and indirect pathways, such as malfunctions of the immune system and vascular system dysregulation. Various studies report COVID-19 consequences, such as neuroanatomic alterations and cognitive impairment, besides peripheral conditions, such as anosmia, ageusia, and Guillain Barré Syndrome. However, the heterogeneity of the studies about neurologic damage in patients after COVID-19 infection precludes any generalization of current findings. Finally, new studies are necessary to understand the adequate diagnosis, therapeutic method of early treatment, and risk group of patients for neurological manifestations of COVID-19 post-infection.

Resumen El SARS-CoV-2 es un virus de ARN monocatenario que pertenece al grupo de los siete coronavirus que afectan a los humanos y cuya infección causa la enfermedad COVID-19. La asociación entre la infección por COVID-19 y factores de riesgo de manifestaciones neurológicas aún no está clara. Esta revisión tiene como objetivo actualizar la descripción de las principales manifestaciones neurológicas asociadas a la infección por SARS-CoV-2. Presentamos la hipótesis de los mecanismos de neuroinvasión del SARS-CoV-2. Luego discutimos los posibles síntomas asociados a los pacientes con infección por COVID-19 en el sistema nervioso central y periférico y, posteriormente, las perspectivas de diagnóstico y tratamiento de las posibles manifestaciones neurológicas. La hipótesis del mecanismo de neuroinvasión incluye rutas directas cuando el virus cruza la barrera hematoencefálica o tiene acción vía del receptor ACE2 y vías indirectas tales como el mal funcionamiento del sistema inmunitario y la desregulación del sistema vascular. Diversos estudios reportan consecuencias del COVID-19, como la presencia de alteraciones neuroanatómicas y deterioro cognitivo, además de condiciones periféricas como anosmia, ageusia y Síndrome de Guillain Barré. La heterogeneidad de los estudios sobre el daño neurológico en pacientes después de la infección por COVID-19 impide cualquier generalización de los hallazgos actuales. Finalmente, son necesarios nuevos estudios enfocándose en comprender el diagnóstico adecuado, el método terapéutico de tratamiento temprano y el grupo de riesgo para las manifestaciones neurológicas de la pos infección por COVID-19.

Neuroendocrine Tumors: An Analysis of Prevalence, Incidence, and Survival in a Hospital-Based Study in Ecuador.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) represent a heterogeneous malignancy group of neoplasms, with a limited amount of data from Latin America. Thus, this observational study aimed to provide data about the prevalence, incidence, and survival rates for NET in Ecuadorian hospitals. The study was conducted using data from the Society for the Fight Against Cancer (SOLCA). We evaluated patients with NETs (2000−2020) using the HJ-Biplot method and Cox proportional hazards. Annual age-adjusted incidence and limited-duration prevalence in multivariable analyses as well as hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality and survival were obtained. In the years 2000−2020, the age-adjusted incidence rate increased by 9-fold in the stomach and by 7-fold in the breast. The incidence rates were 1.38 per 100,000 persons in the lung and at 1.79 per 100,000 persons in gastroenteropancreatic sites (rectum, stomach, and pancreas). The prevalence increased from 0.0027% in 2000 to 0.0736% in 2019 and 0.0245% in 2020. Overall survival was worse for metastatic NETs (HR, 4.061; 95% CI, 1.932−8.540; p < 0.001) and advanced local NETs (HR, 2.348; 95% CI, 1.007−5.475 p < 0.048) than for localized NETs. In conclusion, the NET incidence increased in the last 20 years and survival decreased over time, especially for metastatic tumors in the pancreas and the nostril.

Clinical related factors to neuroendocrine tumors in Ecuadorian patients: a logistic biplot approach / Factores clínicos asociados a tumores neuroendocrinos en pacientes ecuatorianos: un análisis biplot logístico

Abstract Neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) are relative rare, affecting neuroendocrine cells throughout the body. Most tumors are diagnosed at advanced stages. NETs prevalence has increased in the last years but there is little data available in developing countries. The aim of this study was to describe symptoms associated with NETs in patients of the Society for the Fight Against Cancer (SOLCA) in Ecuador from 2005 to 2020; using logistic biplots, in a hospital database, generating binary responses (presence/absence) relevant to this study. The results showed that the mean age was 59 and the study showed no difference in prevalence between genders. NETs were mainly found in lungs (19%), followed by stomach (18%) and skin (9%). Most patients had pathological diagnosis G2 and G3 (30% and 70%, respectively). Symptoms as cough, dyspnea, weight loss, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal pain, dyspepsia, hypertensive crisis, distended abdomen and intestinal obstruction had p values <0.05. Additionally, the statistical analysis showed that cough and intestinal obstruction were also common, bearing in mind that patients had most frequent NETs in the lungs and skin. In summary, our results indicate that symptoms of NETs patients were positively associated with lung and skin. Further investigation is needed focusing on the type of NETs and their symptoms in order to establish an early marker for diagnosis.

Resumen Los tumores neuroendocrinos (TNE) son relativamente raros y afectan a las células neuroendocrinas de todo el cuerpo. La mayoría de los tumores se diagnostican en etapas avanzadas. La prevalencia de los TNE ha aumentado en los últimos años, pero hay pocos datos en los países en desarrollo. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar los síntomas asociados a los TNE en pacientes de la Sociedad de Lucha contra el Cáncer (SOLCA) en Ecuador entre 2005 y 2020, utilizando biplots logísticos en una base de datos hospitalaria, generando respuestas binarias (presencia / ausencia) relevantes para este estudio. Los resultados mostraron que la edad promedio era de 59 años y el estudio no encontró diferencias en la prevalencia entre géneros. Los TNE se encontraron con mayor frecuencia en los pulmones (19%), seguidos del estómago (18%) y piel (9%). La mayoría de los pacientes tenían diagnóstico patológico G2 y G3 (30% y 70% respectivamente). Los síntomas como tos, disnea, pérdida de peso, diarrea, estreñimiento, dolor abdominal, dispepsia, crisis hipertensiva, abdomen distendido y obstrucción intestinal tuvieron valores de p <0,05. Además, el análisis estadístico mostró que la tos y la obstrucción intestinal también eran comunes, teniendo en cuenta que los pacientes tenían TNE más frecuentes en los pulmones y la piel. En resumen, nuestros resultados indican que los síntomas de los pacientes con TNE se asociaron positivamente con los pulmones y la piel. Se necesitan más investigaciones que se centren en el tipo de TNE y sus síntomas a fin de establecer un marcador más temprano para el diagnóstico.

Neurobiological mechanisms of antiallodynic effect of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in a mice model of neuropathic pain.

BACKGROUND: Neuropathic pain is relatively common and occurs in approximately 6-8% of the population. It is associated with allodynia and hyperalgesia. Thus, non-pharmacological treatments, such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may be useful for relieving pain. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the antiallodynic effect of tDCS in a mice model of neuropathic pain, and the underlying neurotransmission systems that could drive these effects. METHODS: Male, Swiss mice, weighing 25-35 g, were subjected to partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL). Allodynia was assessed using a Von Frey filament (0.6 g). First, the behavioral time-course of these mice was assessed after 5, 10, 15 and 20 min of tDCS (0.5 mA). Second, the mice that underwent PSNL were assigned to either the tDCS (0.5 mA, 15 min) or tDCS sham group, and further assigned to receive either saline or a drug (i.e., naloxone, yohimbine, a-methyl-p-tyrosine, q-chlorophenylalanine methyl ester, caffeine, 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine, AM281, AM630, flumazenil, MK-801, or lidocaine). RESULTS: The antiallodynic effect of tDCS lasted 2 h and 4 h, after 10 min and 15 or 20 min of treatment, respectively (P < .001, P < .01, and P < .05, respectively). The antiallodynic effect of tDCS was associated with all the systems that were analyzed, i.e., the opioidergic (P < .01), adenosinergic (P < .001), serotonergic (P < .01), noradrenergic (P < .001), cannabinoid (P < .001), GABAergic, and glutamatergic (P < .001) systems. Lidocaine did not reverse the antiallodynic effect of tDCS (P > .05). CONCLUSION: The antiallodynic effect of tDCS was associated with different neurotransmitters systems; the duration of these after-effects depended on the time exposure to tDCS.

High-Intensity Swimming Exercise Decreases Glutamate-Induced Nociception by Activation of G-Protein-Coupled Receptors Inhibiting Phosphorylated Protein Kinase A.

Several studies in humans have reported that improved pain control is associated with exercise in a variety of painful conditions, including osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and neuropathic pain. Despite the growing amount of experimental data on physical exercise and nociception, the precise mechanisms through which high-intensity exercise reduces pain remain elusive. Since the glutamatergic system plays a major role in pain transmission, we firstly analyzed if physical exercise could be able to decrease glutamate-induced nociception through G-protein-coupled receptor (G-PCR) activation. The second purpose of this study was to examine the effect of exercising upon phosphorylation of protein kinase A (PKA) isoforms induced by intraplantar (i.pl.) glutamate injection in mice. Our results demonstrate that high-intensity swimming exercise decreases nociception induced by glutamate and that i.pl. or intrathecal injections of cannabinoid, opioid, and adenosine receptor antagonists, AM281, naloxone, and 1,3-dipropyl-8-cyclopentylxanthine (DPCPX), respectively, prevent this effect. Furthermore, the peripheral A1 and opioid receptors, but not CB1, are also involved in exercise's effect. We also verified that glutamate injection increases levels of phosphorylated PKA (p-PKA). High-intensity swimming exercise significantly prevented p-PKA increase. The current data show the direct involvement of the glutamatergic system on the hyponociceptive effect of high-intensity swimming exercise as well as demonstrate that physical exercise can activate multiple intracellular pathways through G-PCR activation, which share the same endogenous mechanism, i.e., inhibition of p-PKA.