Sphingolipids and Lymphomas: A Double-Edged Sword.

Lymphomas are a highly heterogeneous group of hematological neoplasms. Given their ethiopathogenic complexity, their classification and management can become difficult tasks; therefore, new approaches are continuously being sought. Metabolic reprogramming at the lipid level is a hot topic in cancer research, and sphingolipidomics has gained particular focus in this area due to the bioactive nature of molecules such as sphingoid bases, sphingosine-1-phosphate, ceramides, sphingomyelin, cerebrosides, globosides, and gangliosides. Sphingolipid metabolism has become especially exciting because they are involved in virtually every cellular process through an extremely intricate metabolic web; in fact, no two sphingolipids share the same fate. Unsurprisingly, a disruption at this level is a recurrent mechanism in lymphomagenesis, dissemination, and chemoresistance, which means potential biomarkers and therapeutical targets might be hiding within these pathways. Many comprehensive reviews describing their role in cancer exist, but because most research has been conducted in solid malignancies, evidence in lymphomagenesis is somewhat limited. In this review, we summarize key aspects of sphingolipid biochemistry and discuss their known impact in cancer biology, with a particular focus on lymphomas and possible therapeutical strategies against them.

Spatial interaction between breast cancer and environmental pollution in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area.

This research examines the spatial structure of a sample of breast cancer (BC) cases and their spatial interaction with contaminated areas in the Monterrey Metropolitan Area (MMA). By applying spatial statistical techniques that treat the space as a continuum, degrees of spatial concentration were determined for the different study groups, highlighting their concentration pattern. The results indicate that 65 percent of the BC sample had exposure to more than 56 points of PM10. Likewise, spatial clusters of BC cases of up to 39 cases were identified within a radius of 3.5 km, interacting spatially with environmental contamination sources, particularly with refineries, food processing plants, cement, and metals. This study can serve as a platform for other clinical research by identifying geographic clusters that can help focus health policy efforts.

COVID-19, ACE -inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers: The need to differentiate between early infection and acute lung injury / COVID-19, y IECA -inhibidores y bloqueadores de los receptores de angiotensina: la necesidad de diferenciar entre una infección temprana y una lesión pulmonar aguda

SARS-CoV-2, along with SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, forms part of the three highly pathogenic coronaviruses identified since the start of the millennium.1,2 While SARS-CoV was identified on 2003 and MERS-CoV on 2012, the initial reports of SARS-CoV-2 (the etiological agent of COVID-19) were first released at the end of December 2019.3,4 Now, after less than four months, the virus has distributed globally and has become the focus of extensive medical research, as the number of cases keeps rising.A significant part of the investigative effort has been directed to the search for an effective therapy or intervention that could stop the spread of the disease or be used to effectively treat infected patients. Likewise, potential predisposing factors to develop a more severe clinical presentation are progressively being identified. Some of the more relevant are older age and the presence of certain comorbidities, such as cerebrovascular and coronary heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.5­8 It is important to highlight that the last two are chronic conditions commonly treated with ACE-inhibitors and angiotensin II type-I receptor blockers.9­11 However, the evidence suggests that these medications can upregulate the expression of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the cellular receptor for both SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2.11­16 Thus, a group of researchers hypothesized that ACE2-increasing drugs could raise the risk of infection and prompt a more severe clinical course or a fatal outcome in diabetic and hypertensive patients.

Tipificación de serotipos del virus del papiloma humano de alto riesgo / Typification of high-risk human papilomavirus serotypes

Resumen: OBJETIVO: Identificar los serotipos más frecuentes de virus del papiloma humano mediante pruebas al azar en pacientes previamente diagnosticadas con cáncer cervicouterino. MATERIALES Y MÉTODOS: Estudio prospectivo y observacional, efectuado en pacientes con displasia cervical, atendidas en el Hospital Regional Materno Infantil de Alta Especialidad de Nuevo León, Monterrey, entre enero y marzo de 2016. Criterios de inclusión: pacientes mayores de 18 años, que acudieron a la unidad médica para seguimiento y control ginecológico, con reporte anormal en la prueba de Papanicolaou, confirmado por histopatología, mediante biopsia dirigida por colposcopia. Criterios de exclusión: mujeres con histerectomía total por indicación de enfermedad benigna, sin antecedente de neoplasia intracervical; mayores a 70 años después de 3 citologías cervicales negativas en la década previa; pacientes que recibieron quimioterapia, radioterapia u otros tratamientos farmacológicos y quienes acudieron a revisión médica durante su ciclo menstrual. Para el análisis de los datos se utilizó estadística descriptiva. RESULTADOS: Se registraron 30 pacientes. Las clasificaciones más frecuentes de neoplasia cervical fueron: NIC-1 (n = 15), NIC-2 (n = 9) y NIC-3 (n = 6). Todas las pacientes analizadas tuvieron, al menos, un serotipo de VPH de alto riesgo. Los serotipos identificados con mayor frecuencia fueron el 31 y 33 (n = 18). En 18 pacientes se encontraron 6 o más serotipos de VPH. De 15 pacientes con lesiones de alto grado, 8 tuvieron la asociación de serotipos 31 y 33, y en 6 se identificó un serotipo aislado (16 y 51). CONCLUSIONES: Los serotipos identificados con mayor frecuencia fueron el 31 y 33. Desafortunadamente, la vacuna nonavalente que protege contra los serotipos más frecuentes de VPH no se encuentra disponible en Latinoamérica.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To identify the most frequent serotypes of human papillomavirus through random testing of patients previously diagnosed with cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective, observational study carried out in patients with cervical dysplasia, treated at the High Specialty Regional Maternal and Child Hospital of Nuevo León, Monterrey. Inclusion criteria: patients over 18 years of age, who attended the Dysplasia Clinic of the High Specialty Regional Maternal and Child Hospital for gynecological follow-up and control, with an abnormal result in the Papanicolaou test, confirmed by histopathology, by means of colposcopy-directed biopsy. Before the procedures (cervical cytology), Exclusion criteria: women with total hysterectomy due to indications of benign disease, without a history of intracervical neoplasia; older than 70 years after 3 negative cervical cytology in the previous decade; patients who received chemotherapy, radiotherapy or other pharmacological treatments and who received medical check-ups during their menstrual cycle. Descriptive statistics were used for data analysis. RESULTS: 30 patients were registered. The most frequent classification of cervical neoplasia was: CIN1 (n = 15), CIN2 (n = 9) and CIN3 (n = 6). All the patients analyzed had at least one high-risk HPV serotype. The most frequently identified serotypes were 31 and 33 (n = 18 of 30). 6 or more HPV serotypes were found in 18 patients. Of 15 patients with high-grade lesions, 8 had the association of serotypes 31 and 33, and in 6 an isolated serotype was identified (16 and 51). CONCLUSIONS: The most frequently identified serotypes were 31 and 33. Unfortunately, the nonavalent vaccine that protects against the most frequent serotypes of HPV is not available in Latin America.

Una década de monitoreo de plomo en sangre en niños escolares del área metropolitana de Monterrey, NL / A decade of lead monitoring in schoolchildren in the metropolitan area of Monterrey NL, Mexico

Objetivo. Establecer las concentraciones de plomo (Pb) en sangre en niños escolares de 1998 y 2008, así como su asociación con factores de riesgo. Material y métodos. Se llevó a cabo un monitoreo de Pb en sangre de niños de entre 6 y 12 años que cursan educación primaria en 17 escuelas diferentes, ubicadas en distintas zonas del área metropolitana de Monterrey, de 1998 a 2008. Resultados. Se obtuvieron niveles séricos de 9.6 ± 3.0 (µg/dL rango de 3.18 a 20.88) en 1998 y de 4.5±4.8 µg/dL (rango de 3.3 a 53.7) en 2008, lo que mostró una disminución de 2.1 veces en nivel de Pb (p<0.01). Conclusiones. La reducción de los niveles séricos de Pb demuestran los mejores controles ambientales e industriales y probablemente el éxito de retirar el Pb de la gasolina durante los años noventa.

Objective. To establish the blood lead concentration and associated risk factors in schoolchildren during 1998 and 2008. Materials and methods. A blood lead screening was conducted in schoolchildren of 6-12 years of age, enrolled in 17 elementary schools of the metropolitan area of Monterrey, México, during 1998 and 2008. Results. The mean blood lead level were 9.6 ± 3.0 (µg/dL range of 3.18 to 20.88) in 1998 and 4.5±4.8 µg/dL (range of 3.3 to 53.7) showing a 2.1-times reduction in blood lead levels (p<0.01). Conclusions. This reduction in blood lead levels demonstrate environmental and industrial control improvements and the benefits of fading out the leaded gasoline during the 1990's.