Stress decreases spermatozoa quality and induces molecular alterations in zebrafish progeny.

BACKGROUND: Chronic stress can produce a severe negative impact on health not only in the exposed individuals but also in their offspring. Indeed, chronic stress may be contributing to the current worldwide scenario of increasing infertility and decreasing gamete quality in human populations. Here, we evaluate the effect of chronic stress on behavior and male reproductive parameters in zebrafish. Our goal is to provide information on the impact that chronic stress has at molecular, histological, and physiological level in a vertebrate model species. RESULTS: We evaluated the effects of a 21-day chronic stress protocol covering around three full waves of spermatogenesis in Danio rerio adult males. The induction of chronic stress produced anxiety-like behavior in stressed males as assessed by a novel tank test. At a molecular level, the induction of chronic stress consistently resulted in the overexpression of two genes related to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the brain. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of testes suggested a dysregulation of the nonsense-mediated decay (NMD) pathway, which was also confirmed on qPCR analysis. Histological analysis of the testicle did not show significant differences in terms of the relative proportions of each germ-cell type; however, the quality of sperm from stressed males was compromised in terms of motility. RNA-seq analysis in stress-derived larval progenies revealed molecular alterations, including those predicted to affect translation initiation, DNA repair, cell cycle control, and response to stress. CONCLUSIONS: Induction of chronic stress during a few cycles of spermatogenesis in the vertebrate zebrafish model affects behavior, gonadal gene expression, final gamete quality, and progeny. The NMD surveillance pathway (a key cellular mechanism that regulates the stability of both normal and mutant transcripts) is severely affected in the testes by chronic stress and therefore the control and regulation of RNAs during spermatogenesis may be affected altering the molecular status in the progeny.

Orbital mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma as the initial presentation in patients with hepatitis C virus infection.

Hepatitis C virus infection may be implicated in 12.7% of ocular adnexal marginal zone lymphomas. We present the first case of an orbital-systemic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma that responded to hepatitis C virus medical treatment. A 62-year-old male with a right-sided orbital mass was diagnosed with stage IIA orbital marginal zone lymphoma in addition to hepatitis C virus infection based on clinical, imaging, laboratory, and histological examinations. The systemic and orbital responses were achieved 1 year after undergoing hepatitis C virus treatment with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir. The association between the hepatitis C virus infection and orbital-systemic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma is relevant. Accordingly, patients with orbital mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma should be assessed for hepatitis C virus seroreactivity for therapeutic and prognostic purposes.

Iridochorioretinal coloboma associated with buried optic nerve drusen: a case report.

Improper closure of the embryonic fissure results in ocular coloboma. Optic nerve head drusen are hyaline deposits located anterior to the lamina cribosa that grow and calcify over time. It is rarely associated with ocular coloboma, with only two cases reported. We present a patient with an irido-chorioretinal coloboma, poorly defined optic nerve limits in the right eye, and increased papillary vascular ramification and peripapillary atrophy in the left eye, without any visible drusen. Fundus autofluorescence, high-resolution optical coherence tomography, and B-scan ultrasonography confirmed the diagnosis of bilateral buried optic nerve head drusen. The association between irido-chorioretinal colobomas and optic nerve drusen in the absence of a systemic disease is exceptional. Our case demonstrates that multimodal imaging is important to correctly diagnose buried optic nerve head drusen.

Gene polymorphisms associated with an increased risk of exudative age-related macular degeneration in a Spanish population.

PURPOSE: To identify the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in CFH, ARMS2, HTRA1, CFB, C2, and C3 genes and exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a Spanish population. METHODS: In 187 exudative AMD patients and 196 healthy controls (61% women, mean age 75 years), 12 SNPs as risk factors for AMD in CFH (rs1410996, rs1061170, r380390), ARMS2 (rs10490924, rs10490923), HTRA1 (rs11200638), CFB (rs641153), C2 (rs547154, rs9332739), and C3 (rs147859257, rs2230199, rs1047286) genes were analyzed. RESULTS: The G allele was the most frequent in CFH gene (rs1410996) with a 7-fold increased risk of AMD (OR 7.69, 95% CI 3.17-18.69), whereas carriers of C allele in CFH (rs1061170) showed a 3-fold increased risk for AMD (OR 3.22, 95% CI 1.93-5.40). In CFH (rs380390), the presence of G allele increased the risk for AMD by 2-fold (OR 2.52, 95% CI 1.47-4.30). In ARMS2 (rs10490924), the T-allele was associated with an almost 5-fold increased risk (OR 5.49, 95% CI 3.23-9.31). The A allele in HTRA1 (rs11200638) was more prevalent in AMD versus controls (OR 6.44, 95% CI 3.62-11.47). In C2 gene (rs9332739) the presence of C increased risk for AMD by 3-fold (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.06-9.06). CONCLUSION: SNPs in CFH, ARMS2, HTRA1, and C2 genes were associated in our study with an increased risk for exudative AMD in Spanish patients.

Anemia in Chronic Kidney Disease: From Pathophysiology and Current Treatments, to Future Agents.

Anemia is a common complication in chronic kidney disease (CKD), and is associated with a reduced quality of life, and an increased morbidity and mortality. The mechanisms involved in anemia associated to CKD are diverse and complex. They include a decrease in endogenous erythropoietin (EPO) production, absolute and/or functional iron deficiency, and inflammation with increased hepcidin levels, among others. Patients are most commonly managed with oral or intravenous iron supplements and with erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESA). However, these treatments have associated risks, and sometimes are insufficiently effective. Nonetheless, in the last years, there have been some remarkable advances in the treatment of CKD-related anemia, which have raised great expectations. On the one hand, a novel family of drugs has been developed: the hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHIs). These agents induce, among other effects, an increase in the production of endogenous EPO, improve iron availability and reduce hepcidin levels. Some of them have already received marketing authorization. On the other hand, recent clinical trials have elucidated important aspects of iron supplementation, which may change the treatment targets in the future. This article reviews the current knowledge of the pathophysiology CKD-related anemia, current and future therapies, the trends in patient management and the unmet goals.

Sterile, recurrent, and bilateral corneal perforation related to primary biliary cirrhosis complicated by secondary Sjögren syndrome and vitamin A deficiency.

Primary biliary cirrhosis is a rare progressive autoimmune liver disease that causes chronic cholestasis. Of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, 75% develop secondary Sjogren syndrome and could develop vitamin A deficiency. Here, we report the case of a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis who developed a secondary Sjogren syndrome and vitamin A deficiency, which led to severe and unusual eye involvement with multiple and recurrent spontaneous corneal perforations. Corneal perforations in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and secondary Sjogren syndrome are rare but devastating complications, in contrast to other eye clinical manifestations of the disease.

Orbital mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma as the initial presentation in patients with hepatitis C virus infection

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus infection may be implicated in 12.7% of ocular adnexal marginal zone lymphomas. We present the first case of an orbital-systemic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma that responded to hepatitis C virus medical treatment. A 62-year-old male with a right-sided orbital mass was diagnosed with stage IIA orbital marginal zone lymphoma in addition to hepatitis C virus infection based on clinical, imaging, laboratory, and histological examinations. The systemic and orbital responses were achieved 1 year after undergoing hepatitis C virus treatment with glecaprevir/pibrentasvir. The association between the hepatitis C virus infection and orbital-systemic mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma is relevant. Accordingly, patients with orbital mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma should be assessed for hepatitis C virus seroreactivity for therapeutic and prognostic purposes.

Increased Prevalence of Thyroid Disease in Patients with Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies-associated Vasculitis.

OBJECTIVE: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) has been linked with thyroid disease as a result of antithyroid medications. We assessed the prevalence of thyroid disease in our patients with AAV. METHODS: Clinical records of 279 patients with AAV diagnosed between 1991 and 2014 were analyzed. RESULTS: Thyroid disease was identified in 21.5% of patients, but only 2 had previously received propylthiouracil. There was a greater proportion of female patients, patients with antimyeloperoxidase antibodies, and patients with renal disease in the group with thyroid disease. CONCLUSION: Our data show a higher prevalence of thyroid disease in patients with AAV than the general population. This was not attributable to antithyroid drugs.

Iridochorioretinal coloboma associated with buried optic nerve drusen: a case report / Coloboma irido-coriorretiniano associado a drusas enterradas do nervo óptico: Relato de caso

ABSTRACT Improper closure of the embryonic fissure results in ocular coloboma. Optic nerve head drusen are hyaline deposits located anterior to the lamina cribosa that grow and calcify over time. It is rarely associated with ocular coloboma, with only two cases reported. We present a patient with an irido-chorioretinal coloboma, poorly defined optic nerve limits in the right eye, and increased papillary vascular ramification and peripapillary atrophy in the left eye, without any visible drusen. Fundus autofluorescence, high-resolution optical coherence tomography, and B-scan ultrasonography confirmed the diagnosis of bilateral buried optic nerve head drusen. The association between irido-chorioretinal colobomas and optic nerve drusen in the absence of a systemic disease is exceptional. Our case demonstrates that multimodal imaging is important to correctly diagnose buried optic nerve head drusen.

RESUMO O coloboma ocular é o resultado de um fechamento impróprio da fissura embrionária. As drusas da cabeça do nervo óptico são depósitos hialinos localizados anteriormente à lâmina cribosa que crescem e se calcificam com o tempo. A associação de ambos é rara, com apenas dois casos descritos na literatura. Apresentamos um paciente com coloboma irido-coriorretiniano e limites do nervo óptico mal definidos em seu olho direito, e aumento da ramificação vascular papilar e atrofia peripapilar em seu olho esquerdo, sem drusas visíveis. Autofluorescência de fundo, tomografia de coerência óptica de alta resolução e ultrassonografia B-scan foram realizadas confirmando o diagnóstico de drusas enterradas bilaterais da cabeça do nervo óptico. A associação entre colobomas irido-coriorretinianos com drusas do nervo óptico na ausência de doença sistêmica é excepcional. Nosso caso demonstra a importância da imagem multimodal para o diagnóstico correto de drusas enterradas de cabeça do nervo óptico.

Sterile, recurrent, and bilateral corneal perforation related to primary biliary cirrhosis complicated by secondary Sjögren syndrome and vitamin A deficiency / Perfuração estéril, recorrente e bilateral da córnea relacionada à cirrose biliar primária agravada com síndrome de Sjögren secundária e deficiência de vitamina A

ABSTRACT Primary biliary cirrhosis is a rare progressive autoimmune liver disease that causes chronic cholestasis. Of patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, 75% develop secondary Sjogren syndrome and could develop vitamin A deficiency. Here, we report the case of a patient with primary biliary cirrhosis who developed a secondary Sjogren syndrome and vitamin A deficiency, which led to severe and unusual eye involvement with multiple and recurrent spontaneous corneal perforations. Corneal perforations in patients with primary biliary cirrhosis and secondary Sjogren syndrome are rare but devastating complications, in contrast to other eye clinical manifestations of the disease.

RESUMO A cirrose biliar primária é uma doença hepática autoimune progressiva rara que causa colestase crônica. 75% dos pacientes com Cirrose Biliar Primária desenvolvem Síndrome de Sjögren Secundária, e podem também desenvolver deficiência de vitamina A. Aqui, relatamos um paciente com Cirrose Biliar Primária que desenvolveu Síndrome de Sjögren Secundária e deficiência de vitamina A, levando a envolvimento ocular grave e incomum com perfurações espontâneas múltiplas e recorrentes da córnea. Perfurações da córnea em pacientes com Cirrose Biliar Primária e Síndrome de Sjögren Secundária são complicações raras, mas devastadoras, em contraste com outras manifestações clínicas oculares da doença.

[Non-invasive ventilation in 'do-not-intubate' patients in a chronic disease hospital. One year follow-up study]. / Resultados de la ventilación mecánica no invasiva en pacientes no candidatos a intubación en un hospital de subagudos. Estudio de seguimiento a un año.

UNLABELLED: Elderly patients with multiple morbidity and do not intubate (DNI) orders frequently present with acute respiratory failure. There are data supporting the effectiveness of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in this context. Our chronic disease hospital developed an integrated care clinical pathway for the use of NIV in acute respiratory failure in the emergency room and wards in 2010. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of NIV in patients with acute respiratory failure who had a DNI order in a sub-acute care hospital. METHODS: Observational, one year-follow up study. The main variables were in-hospital mortality and one year mortality. Other variables recorded were: demographics, clinical data, functional data, performance of daily life activities, dementia, arterial blood gases and re-admissions. RESULTS: The study included a total of 102 patients, of which 22% were in institutions. The mean age 81±7.47% males, with a Charlson index 3.7±1, and Barthel index 54±31. The overall mortality during the admission was 33% (34 patients). Among those patients ventilated outside the protocol indication, the mortality was significantly greater, at 71% (P>.05). Overall one-year survival rate was 46%. This survival rate was statistically higher in patients with obesity hypoventilation syndrome and a Barthel >50. CONCLUSIONS: NIV is a useful technique in a hospital for chronic patients in an elderly population with a therapeutic ceiling. Despite their disease severity and comorbidity, acceptable survival rates are achieved. A correct case selection is needed. Obesity hypoventilation syndrome and those with Barthel index >50 have a better prognosis.

Serum biomarkers in uncontrolled no heart-beating donors may identify kidneys that will never work after transplantation.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Kidneys from uncontrolled non heart-beating donors achieve a good level of renal function after transplantation. However, a number of them will never function in the recipient. Our aim was to determine if serum biomarkers associated with platelet activity, inflammation and the nitric oxide system in uncontrolled non heart-beating donors may help to predict no renal function recovery after renal transplantation. METHODS: Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), nitrite + nitrate and platelet factor-4 (PF4) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits in 88 uncontrolled non heart-beating donors divided according to the renal functionality achieved in the recipients into functional (n = 76) and non functional (n = 12). RESULTS: Kidneys from donors with higher IL-6 levels (>900 pg/ml) were functional after transplantation. Serum cGMP levels below 372.3 fmol/l were also associated with kidneys that recovered the renal function. However, serum levels of PF4 showed the best correlation with recovery of renal functional in the recipients since they were significantly lower in the donors whose kidneys functioned after transplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Serum PF4 levels in uncontrolled non heart-beating donors may be a good predictor for kidneys that never will reach functional recovery. Some serum cGMP, IL-6 and IL-10 levels may simply help identify kidneys that will function after transplantation.