Medicinal plant extracts interfere in gastric cancer stem cells fluorescence-based assays.

Fluorescence is used in various biological assays due to its high sensitivity, versatility, and precision. In recent years, studies using medicinal plant extracts have increased. However, fluorescence-based assays could be biased by plant metabolites autofluorescence. To address this issue, this study investigated the interference caused by methanolic extracts and chloroform fractions of three medicinal plants in three fluorescence-based assays on gastric cancer stem cells(CSC): resazurin reduction, confocal microscopy, and flow cytometry. CSC were isolated based on CD44 surface marker, incubated with methanolic extracts and chloroform fractions of Buddleja incana, Dracontium spruceanum, Piper aduncum. Resazurin assay evidenced that CSC exposed to extracts and fractions from the three plants showed significant differences in relative fluorescence units (RFU) levels (p < 0.001) compared to the unexposed groups after a 3-hour incubation. In addition, DMSO-treated CSC exposed to extracts and fractions had significantly lower fluorescence levels than living ones, but higher than extracts and fractions without cells. In confocal microscopy, cancer stem cells exposed to extracts and fractions of B. incana and P. aduncum were observed in the same emission spectra of the CSC markers. In flow cytometry, CSC exposed to extracts and fractions without any fluorescent dyes were detected in the double positive quadrants for CSC markers (CD44+/CD133 + ). Among the three plants, D. spruceanum exhibited the least interference. These results show that methanolic extracts and chloroform fractions contain autofluorescent metabolites that interfere with fluorescence-based assays. These results highlight the importance of a prior evaluation for possible fluorescence interference to avoid interpretation biases in fluorescence assays.

Robot-assisted Radical Prostatectomy Due to a Primary Carcinoid Prostatic Tumor in a Three-Year-Old Child: A Case Report.

We present an extremely rare case of a 3-year-old child with a primary carcinoid tumor of the prostate. A 3-year-old boy presented with failure to thrive, constipation, recurrent respiratory tract infections, and pain in the genital area. His karyotype was normal and cystic fibrosis and coeliac disease were excluded prior to further investigation. An abdominopelvic computed tomography scan revealed a prostatic mass. Transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy was therefore performed and pathological examination revealed a carcinoid tumor. A robotic radical prostatectomy was performed. As this is an innovative surgical approach, we describe the surgical technique used.

Parásitos gastrointestinales en cachorros caninos provenientes de la venta comercial en el Cercado de Lima / Gastrointestinal parasites in canine puppies for commercial sale in Lima downtown

Determinar la frecuencia de parásitos gastrointestinales en caninos menores de seis meses de edad provenientes de la venta comercial. También determinar si las variables raza, sexo y edad están asociadas a la presentación de cuadros de parasitosis. Metodología: Se recolectaron 97 muestras de heces de mascotas caninas que se comercializan en el cercado de Lima, las cuales fueron procesados mediante las técnicas de examen directo, de concentración por flotación, de concentración por sedimentación y de Ziehl Neelsen, considerándose positivas las muestras con presencia de huevos de parásito o parásitos bajo el microscopio. Resultados y Conclusiones: El 100% de las muestras analizadas fueron positivas a la presencia de parásitos. Las mayores frecuencias fueron del nemátode Toxocara canis fue (87.96%) y del protozoario Isospora canis (98.78%) ; los mismos como asociación biparasitaria (62.89%) y monoparasitarias Toxocara canis (17.56%); por primera vez se encontró una asociación de triprarasitismo de Toxocara canis - Isospora canis - Toxascaris leonina (12.37%). En los machos hubo una mayor presentación de parasitosis (57.7%) que en las hembras (42.3%). Caninos de raza pura tuvieron mayor frecuencia de presentación de parasitosis (82.5%); La edad no presentó diferencias estadísticas en los tres estratos estudiados, dándose en el estrato de mayor o igual que 8 y < 12 semanas representados por el 41.2% de casos. La parasitosis en caninos evaluados es del 100%, siendo Toxocara canis el más frecuente...

To determine the frequency of gastrointestinal parasites in canines younger that 6 months for commercial sale in Lima downtown. Methods: 97 dog fecal samples were analyzed using the techniques of direct examination, concentration by flotation, by sedimentation and Ziehl Neelsen, it was considered a positive sample the presence of parasites or parasite eggs under the microscope. Results and Conclusions: 100% of the samples tested were positive for the presence of eggs or parasites, where the nematode Toxocara canis (87.96%) and the protozoan Isospora canis (98.78%) were found more frequently; and both of them as biparasitism association (62.89%). Toxocara canis monoparasitism in (17.56%). Toxocara canis - Isospora canis - Toxascaris leonina (12.37%) triprarasitism association was found. In males there was a greater presence of parasites (57.7%) than females (42.3%). Pure breed had higher frequency of parasites (82.5%); Age does not show statistical differences in the three strata studied. 41.2% of cases were in the range of greater than or equal 8 and <12 weeks of age. The parasitism in the studied dogs is 100%, being the most common Toxocara canis...