Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (BC30) improves lactose digestion in rats exposed to a high-lactose meal.

PURPOSE: Bacillus coagulans GBI-30, 6086 (BC30) was previously shown to improve nutrient digestibility and amino acid absorption from milk protein in vitro. However, the effect of supplementation with this probiotic on lactose digestibility has not yet been evaluated in vivo. METHODS: Wistar female rats were exposed to an acute high-lactose diet (LD; 35% lactose) meal challenge after 7 days of administration of BC30 (LD-BC; n = 10) or vehicle (LD-C; n = 10). Rats treated with vehicle and exposed to control diet (CD; 35% corn starch) meal were used as controls (CD-C; n = 10). Carbohydrate oxidation (CH_OX) and lipid oxidation (L_OX) were monitored by indirect calorimetry before and after lactose challenge. After the challenge, rats were treated daily with vehicle or probiotic for an additional week and were fed with CD or LD ad libitum to determine the effects of BC30 administration in a lactose-induced diarrhoea and malnutrition model. RESULTS: LD-C rats showed lower CH_OX levels than CD rats, while LD-BC rats showed similar CH_OX levels compared to CD rats during the lactose challenge, suggesting a better digestion of lactose in the rats supplemented with BC30. BC30 completely reversed the increase in the small intestine length of LD-C animals. LD-BC rats displayed increased intestinal mRNA Muc2 expression. No significant changes were observed due to BC30 administration in other parameters, such as serum calprotectin, intestinal MPO activity, intestinal A1AT and SGLT1 levels or intestinal mRNA levels of Claudin2 and Occludin. CONCLUSION: Treatment with BC30 improved the digestibility of lactose in an acute lactose challenge and ameliorated some of the parameters associated with lactose-induced malnutrition.

Cytologic features of meningioma: An analysis of common and uncommon subtypes and diagnostic difficulties during intraoperative procedures.

Despite common histogenesis meningiomas have a wide morphologic spectrum, and the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes 15 subtypes. They are the most common brain tumour in adults and typically have an extra-axial location. Although there have been important advances in the molecular biology of meningiomas its diagnosis is based on histopathologic features. The great majority are benign WHO grade 1 tumours. There are specific criteria for assigning WHO grade 2 and 3 that can be applied to all meningioma subtypes. Regardless of these criteria, chordoid and clear cell morphologic subtypes are considered grade 2. WHO grade 3 tumours exhibit a very high mitotic index, frank anaplasia or specific molecular abnormalities. The impressive morphologic diversity shown by meningiomas makes them a diagnostic challenge, which can be even greater in intraoperative studies. The focus of this article is to describe and illustrate their main cytologic features, with emphasis on the most infrequent subtypes.

A comprehensive review of the "tigroid" background cytological concept: what, when, where and why?

The concept of "tigroid" background is used in cytology to describe a peculiar smear background characterized by the presence of a relatively granular, reticulated material that was described as "foamy, lazy, tiger-striped or astrakhan". It was used to describe the background seen in smears obtained from seminoma. In addition to seminoma, we now know that it can be present in different tumours, mostly carcinomas and round cell sarcomas. These share with seminoma a cytoplasm with high glycogen content and many times clear cell morphology. The "tigroid" background is seen when smears are air-dried and Romanowsky-based stains are used (May-Grunwald-Giemsa and Diff-Quik stains). It is only seen in fine needle aspiration or intraoperative squashing or scrapping samples, but not in specimens obtained from effusions or liquid-based cytology. Wet-fixed cytologic samples with alcohol or with formaldehyde tend to dissolve the background so it is not usually present in Papanicolaou stained smears. In this review, we discuss tumours in which the "tigroid" background is observed and its potential diagnostic utility and aetiology. It is interesting to remark that except for parathyroid adenoma and adenomatoid tumour all the neoplasms in which this background has been observed are malignant.

PI3K-Akt signaling controls PFKFB3 expression during human T-lymphocyte activation.

Lymphocyte activation is associated with rapid increase of both the glycolytic activator fructose 2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2) and the enzyme responsible for its synthesis, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase (PFK-2/FBPase-2). PFKFB3 gene, which encodes for the most abundant PFK-2 isoenzyme in proliferating tissues, has been found overexpressed during cell activation in several models, including immune cells. However, there is limited knowledge on the pathways underlying PFKFB3 regulation in human T-lymphocytes, and the role of this gene in human immune response. The aim of this work is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of PFKFB3 induction during human T-lymphocyte activation by mitotic agents. The results obtained showed PFKFB3 induction during human T-lymphocyte activation by mitogens such as phytohemagglutinin (PHA). PFKFB3 increase occurred concomitantly with GLUT-1, HK-II, and PCNA upregulation, showing that mitotic agents induce a metabolic reprograming process that is required for T-cell proliferation. PI3K-Akt pathway inhibitors, Akti-1/2 and LY294002, reduced PFKFB3 gene induction by PHA, as well as Fru-2,6-P2 and lactate production. Moreover, both inhibitors blocked activation and proliferation in response to PHA, showing the importance of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the antigen response of T-lymphocytes. These results provide a link between metabolism and T-cell antigen receptor signaling in human lymphocyte biology that can help to better understand the importance of modulating both pathways to target complex diseases involving the activation of the immune system.

Refractory pseudoseptic arthritis in Behçet's disease successfully treated with infliximab: a case report and literature review.

Arthritis associated with Behçet's disease is typically nonerosive and nondeforming, and most patients respond to colchicine treatment. However, destructive arthritis and refractory arthritis have also been reported on occasion. Elevated white blood cell counts may occur in synovial fluid in BD, but pseudoseptic arthritis is a very rare event in this disease. We report a patient with BD and rapidly progressive deforming pseudoseptic arthritis refractory to colchicine, corticosteroids, and methotrexate, who entered remission after infliximab treatment.

Cytopathological findings of intranodal palisaded myofibroblastoma: Case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Intranodal palisaded myofibroblastoma (IPM) is an exceedingly rare benign mesenchymal tumor of the lymph nodes. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings are unspecific, which may present diagnostic challenges to fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). The histological and immunohistochemical features of IPM are unique. CASE REPORT: A previously healthy 40-year-old male patient presented a slow-growing solitary left inguinal mass. FNAC revealed clustered cells within a metachromatic stroma, single spindle cells without atypia, hemosiderin pigment, and siderophages. An MRI showed a central hyperintense septum in fat-suppressed, T2-weighted sequences. The excised lymph node contained central haphazard fascicles of spindle cells with focal nuclear palisading, hemosiderin pigment, extravasated erythrocytes, and hemorrhagic areas. Vimentin and smooth muscle actin were diffusely positive. Amianthoid collagen fibers were not clearly observed. CONCLUSION: IPM is an extremely rare mesenchymal benign intranodal tumor that should be included in the differential diagnosis of spindle cell lesions in the inguinal region.

Evaluating remission and low disease activity from the perspective of the patient with axial spondyloarthritis: The cross-sectional ConREspAx study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the properties of a single question to determine patient perception of remission and disease activity; to compare this with existing definitions for remission and low disease activity (LDA). METHODS: Single-center, cross-sectional study in a tertiary care hospital. Patients with axSpA (fulfilling ASAS criteria) were consecutively included. Both the patient's perception of remission and LDA and that of the physician were evaluated with a single question. Agreement between the patients' perception and other current definitions was tested using the prevalence-adjusted and bias-adjusted kappa (PABAK). The sensitivity (S) and specificity (Sp) of current definitions of disease states were tested against the patient's perception as the gold standard. RESULTS: The study population included 105 axSpA patients (63.8% males; 67.6% with radiographic sacroiliitis). Patients considered themselves to be in remission in 21% of cases and in LDA in 51.4%; physicians considered patients to be in remission in 45.7% of cases and in LDA in 35.2%. The poorest agreement was recorded for the patient's and the physician's perception of remission. The best agreement for patients' perception of remission was for a BASDAI < 2 and normal C-reactive protein values. This definition was also the most sensitive (S=72.7%) and specific (Sp=83.1%) when the patient's perception was taken as the gold standard. CONCLUSION: In a real-life setting, the evaluation of remission by the patient through a single question was the hardest criterion to achieve, although it did prove to be a feasible, valid, and specific way to assess remission.

Impact of the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound by rheumatologists in patients with shoulder and hand complaints compared with traditional clinical care.

OBJECTIVES: To compare the routine use of musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) with traditional clinical care in daily practice at shoulder and hand level. METHODS: An observational study was performed in four rheumatology departments. Within each department, 2 rheumatologists were selected; one rheumatologist used MSUS, and the other followed traditional rheumatology care. Consecutive patients with nontraumatic pain, hand numbness or disability, or pain and/or limitations in the shoulder were selected. We collected information regarding the clinical and MSUS diagnoses, changes in diagnosis and treatment following MSUS, local injections, the rheumatologist's satisfaction and the use of health care resources. A descriptive analysis was performed. RESULTS: A total of 168 patients were analysed, with 104 and 64 patients in the MSUS and traditional care groups, respectively. MSUS led to a diagnosis and therapeutic change in 53 (52%) and 55 patients (54%), respectively. The rate of local injection was 47% in the MSUS group (73% unexpected, 61% performed using US) compared with 21% in the traditional group (p=0.001). According to the rheumatologists, MSUS was useful in 72 cases (71%) and extremely useful in 20 cases (20%), and the rheumatologists reported a higher satisfaction with their patient evaluations (p<0.001). The MSUS group required fewer additional tests (38% vs. 81%, respectively, p<0.001), fewer medical visits (46% vs. 84%, p<0.001), and lower direct costs (11 vs. 30 euros, p<0.001) than the traditional care group. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with traditional care, the routine use of MSUS in rheumatology practice at hand and shoulder level can lead to important improvements in care, thereby reducing the number of additional tests and medical visits.

Classification of follicular-patterned thyroid lesions using a minimal set of epigenetic biomarkers.

Objective: The minimally invasive fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is the current gold standard for the diagnosis of thyroid nodule malignancy. However, the correct discrimination of follicular neoplasia often requires more invasive diagnostic techniques. The lack of suitable immunohistochemical markers to distinguish between follicular thyroid carcinoma and other types of follicular-derived lesions complicates diagnosis, and despite most of these tumours being surgically resected, only a small number will test positive for malignancy. As such, the development of new orthogonal diagnostic approaches may improve the accuracy of diagnosing thyroid nodules. Design: This study includes a retrospective, multi-centre training cohort including 54 fresh-frozen follicular-patterned thyroid samples and two independent, multi-centre validation cohorts of 103 snap-frozen biopsies and 33 FNAC samples, respectively. Methods: We performed a genome-wide genetic and epigenetic profiling of 54 fresh-frozen follicular-patterned thyroid samples using exome sequencing and the Illumina Human DNA Methylation EPIC platform. An extensive validation was performed using the bisulfite pyrosequencing technique. Results: Using a random forest approach, we developed a three-CpG marker-based diagnostic model that was subsequently validated using bisulfite pyrosequencing experiments. According to the validation cohort, this cost-effective method discriminates between benign and malignant nodules with a sensitivity and specificity of 97 and 88%, respectively (positive predictive value (PPV): 0.85, negative predictive value (NPV): 0.98). Conclusions: Our classification system based on a minimal set of epigenetic biomarkers can complement the potential of the diagnostic techniques currently available and would prioritize a considerable number of surgical interventions that are often performed due to uncertain cytology. Significance statement: In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the number of people diagnosed with thyroid nodules. The current challenge is their etiological diagnosis to discount malignancy without resorting to thyroidectomy. The method proposed here, based on DNA pyrosequencing assays, has high sensitivity (0.97) and specificity (0.88) for the identification of malignant thyroid nodules. This simple and cost-effective approach can complement expert pathologist evaluation to prioritize the classification of difficult-to-diagnose follicular-patterned thyroid lesions and track tumor evolution, including real-time monitoring of treatment efficacy, thereby stimulating adherence to health promotion programs.

Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown in a European Regional Monitoring Network (Spain): Are We Free from Pollution Episodes?

The impact of the lockdown, during the period from March to June in 2020, upon the air quality of the Basque Country in northern Spain is analyzed. The evaluation accounts for the meteorology of the period. Daily and sub-daily analysis of aerosol and ozone records show that the territory was repeatedly affected by episodes of pollutants from outer regions. Three episodes of PM10 and ten of PM2.5 were caused by transported anthropogenic European sulfates, African dust, and wildland fires. The region, with a varied orographic climatology, shows high and diverse industrial activity. Urban and interurban road traffic of the region decreased by 49% and 53%, respectively, whereas industrial activity showed a lower reduction of 20%. Consequently, the average concentrations of NO2 in the cities during the period fell to 12.4 µg·m-3 (-45%). Ozone showed up to five exceedances of the WHOAQG for the daily maximum 8-h average in both rural and urban sites, associated with transport through France and the Bay of Biscay, under periods of European blocking anticyclones. However, averages showed a moderate decrease (-11%) in rural environments, in line with the precursor reductions, and disparate changes in the cities, which reproduced the weekend effect of their historical records. The PM10 decreased less than expected (-10% and -21%, in the urban and rural environments, respectively), probably caused by the modest decrease of industrial activity around urban sites and favorable meteorology for secondary aerosol formation, which could also influence the lower changes observed in the PM2.5 (-1% and +3% at the urban and rural sites, respectively). Consequently, in a future low NOx traffic emission scenario, the inter-regional PM and ozone control will require actions across various sectors, including the industry and common pollution control strategies.

Risk of Severe COVID-19 Infection in Patients With Inflammatory Rheumatic Diseases.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the cohort of patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) hospitalized due to SARS-CoV-2 infection in the Ramón y Cajal Hospital, and to determine the increased risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with no IRD. METHODS: This is a retrospective single-center observational study of patients with IRD actively monitored in the Department of Rheumatology who were hospitalized due to COVID-19. RESULTS: Forty-one (1.8%) out of 2315 patients admitted due to severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia suffered from an IRD. The admission OR for patients with IRD was 1.91 against the general population, and it was considerably higher in patients with Sjögren syndrome, vasculitis, and systemic lupus erythematosus. Twenty-seven patients were receiving treatment for IRD with corticosteroids, 23 with conventional DMARDs, 12 with biologics (7 rituximab [RTX], 4 anti-tumor necrosis factor [anti-TNF], and 1 abatacept), and 1 with Janus kinase inhibitors. Ten deaths were registered among patients with IRD. A higher hospitalization rate and a higher number of deaths were observed in patients treated with RTX (OR 12.9) but not in patients treated with anti-TNF (OR 0.9). CONCLUSION: Patients with IRD, especially autoimmune diseases and patients treated with RTX, may be at higher risk of severe pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2 compared to the general population. More studies are needed to analyze this association further in order to help manage these patients during the pandemic.

Fine needle aspiration cytology of polymorphous adenocarcinoma of the salivary glands: A report of 11 patients and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Polymorphous adenocarcinoma (PAC) is a rare malignant tumor of the minor salivary glands. It has an infiltrative growth, variable architectural patterns, neurotropism and cellular monomorphism. Approximately 75% of the cases show a specific mutation in the protein kinase D1 (PRKD1) gene. Reflecting the rarity of the tumor and intraoral location, the cytologic experience is limited with few reported series. In this study we analyze our cytologic experience to determine if a preoperative diagnosis is possible. METHODS: A retrospective study of 11 patients with PAC in which a cytologic study was available. A review of the literature was also performed. RESULTS: Our study shows that PAC has relatively constant cytological features. The analysis of the cytological literature although it shows some heterogeneity, also reveals repetitive cytological findings. Smears are cellular with irregular groups some showing pseudopapillary branching morphology. Monolayered clusters and small acinar structures are also present. Most cases have small metachromatic globules embedded within the groups determining a cylindromatous pattern. Tumoral cells are small and uniform with scarce to moderate cytoplasm. Nuclei are round and oval with occasional grooves and small nucleoli. CONCLUSION: PAC has characteristic cytological features that together with its location in minor salivary gland must make us consider it preoperatively. It may resemble basal cell adenoma and epithelial-rich pleomorphic adenoma so we should be cautious in the final diagnosis. Whenever possible, the characteristic cytomorphology of PCA should make us evaluate the mutational status of PRKD1 gene since it may permit a more accurate diagnosis.

Thyroid hormone availability in the human fetal brain: novel entry pathways and role of radial glia.

Thyroid hormones (TH) are crucial for brain development; their deficiency during neurodevelopment impairs neural cell differentiation and causes irreversible neurological alterations. Understanding TH action, and in particular the mechanisms regulating TH availability in the prenatal human brain is essential to design therapeutic strategies for neurological diseases due to impaired TH signaling during neurodevelopment. We aimed at the identification of cells involved in the regulation of TH availability in the human brain at fetal stages. To this end, we studied the distribution of the TH transporters monocarboxylate transporter 8 (MCT8) and organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1C1 (OATP1C1), as well as the TH-metabolizing enzymes types 2 and 3 deiodinases (DIO2 and DIO3). Paraffin-embedded human brain sections obtained from necropsies of thirteen fetuses from 14 to 38 gestational weeks were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. We found these proteins localized along radial glial cells, in brain barriers, in Cajal-Retzius cells, in migrating fibers of the brainstem and in some neurons and glial cells with particular and complex spatiotemporal patterns. Our findings point to an important role of radial glia in controlling TH delivery and metabolism and suggest two additional novel pathways for TH availability in the prenatal human brain: the outer, and the inner cerebrospinal fluid-brain barriers. Based on our data we propose a model of TH availability for neural cells in the human prenatal brain in which several cell types have the ability to autonomously control the required TH content.

FNA cytology of postoperative pseudotumoral lesions induced by oxidized cellulose hemostatic agents.

BACKGROUND: The use of topically applied hemostatic substances during surgery has become a common practice. In some cases, the material is not absorbed or induces a granulomatous reaction resulting in a pseudotumoral lesion. With imaging studies, it is not possible to differentiate this from a tumor recurrence or abscess. This study describes the authors' cytologic experience with a large series of pseudotumoral lesions induced by oxidized cellulose, one of the most commonly used hemostatic agents. Almost no cytologic descriptions are available in the medical literature. METHODS: Sixteen patients were evaluated, and the most common sites of fine-needle aspiration (FNA) were the mediastinum and thyroid surgical bed. Other locations were the axilla, neck, vulva, liver, and retroperitoneum. All these lesions appeared after surgical procedures in which oxidized cellulose was used as a topical hemostatic agent. The interval time between surgery and FNA varied from 4 to 46 months with a mean of 15 months. RESULTS: Cytology samples showed very similar findings. In all cases, foreign-body material with a variable granulomatous reaction was present. Oxidized cellulose was seen as laminated inorganic fragments and most often showed an elongated, quadrangular appearance. Amorphous, ill-defined fragments as well as a dense proteinaceous background with phagocytic cells were also present. CONCLUSIONS: The current study demonstrates that FNA cytology is a very useful method for the detection of pseudotumoral lesions induced by hemostatic agents. Pathologists must be familiarized with this finding because cytology permits easy differentiation from tumor recurrence.

The potential utility of PFKFB3 as a therapeutic target.

INTRODUCTION: It has been known for over half a century that tumors exhibit an increased demand for nutrients to fuel their rapid proliferation. Interest in targeting cancer metabolism to treat the disease has been renewed in recent years with the discovery that many cancer-related pathways have a profound effect on metabolism. Considering the recent increase in our understanding of cancer metabolism and the enzymes and pathways involved, the question arises as to whether metabolism is cancer's Achilles heel. Areas covered: This review summarizes the role of 6-Phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) in glycolysis, cell proliferation, and tumor growth, discussing PFKFB3 gene and isoenzyme regulation and the changes that occur in cancer and inflammatory diseases. Pharmacological options currently available for selective PFKFB3 inhibition are also reviewed. Expert opinion: PFKFB3 plays an important role in sustaining the development and progression of cancer and might represent an attractive target for therapeutic strategies. Nevertheless, clinical trials are needed to follow up on the promising results from preclinical studies with PFKFB3 inhibitors. Combination therapies with PFKFB3 inhibitors, chemotherapeutic drugs, or radiotherapy might improve the efficacy of cancer treatments targeting PFKFB3.

Fructose 2,6-Bisphosphate in Cancer Cell Metabolism.

For a long time, pioneers in the field of cancer cell metabolism, such as Otto Warburg, have focused on the idea that tumor cells maintain high glycolytic rates even with adequate oxygen supply, in what is known as aerobic glycolysis or the Warburg effect. Recent studies have reported a more complex situation, where the tumor ecosystem plays a more critical role in cancer progression. Cancer cells display extraordinary plasticity in adapting to changes in their tumor microenvironment, developing strategies to survive and proliferate. The proliferation of cancer cells needs a high rate of energy and metabolic substrates for biosynthesis of biomolecules. These requirements are met by the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells and others present in the tumor microenvironment, which is essential for tumor survival and spread. Metabolic reprogramming involves a complex interplay between oncogenes, tumor suppressors, growth factors and local factors in the tumor microenvironment. These factors can induce overexpression and increased activity of glycolytic isoenzymes and proteins in stromal and cancer cells which are different from those expressed in normal cells. The fructose-6-phosphate/fructose-1,6-bisphosphate cycle, catalyzed by 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase/fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (PFK1/FBPase1) isoenzymes, plays a key role in controlling glycolytic rates. PFK1/FBpase1 activities are allosterically regulated by fructose-2,6-bisphosphate, the product of the enzymatic activity of the dual kinase/phosphatase family of enzymes: 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase (PFKFB1-4) and TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator (TIGAR), which show increased expression in a significant number of tumor types. In this review, the function of these isoenzymes in the regulation of metabolism, as well as the regulatory factors modulating their expression and activity in the tumor ecosystem are discussed. Targeting these isoenzymes, either directly or by inhibiting their activating factors, could be a promising approach for treating cancers.

TGF-ß1 targets Smad, p38 MAPK, and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways to induce PFKFB3 gene expression and glycolysis in glioblastoma cells.

In human cancers, transforming growth factor-ß1 (TGF-ß1) plays a dual role by acting as both a tumor suppressor and a promoter of tumor metastasis. Although TGF-ß1 contributes to the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells and tumor-associated stromal cells, little is known of the molecular mechanisms connecting this cytokine with enhanced glycolysis. PFKFB3 is a homodymeric bifunctional enzyme, belonging to the family of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatases, that controls the conversion of fructose-6-phosphate (Fru-6-P) to fructose-2,6-bisphosphate (Fru-2,6-P2 ). This metabolite is important for the dynamic regulation of glycolytic flux by allosterically activating phosphofructokinase-1, a rate-limiting enzyme in glycolysis. The PFKFB3 gene is involved in cell proliferation via its role in carbohydrate metabolism. Here, we studied the mechanisms connecting TGF-ß1, glucose metabolism, and PFKFB3 in glioblastoma cell lines. We demonstrate that TGF-ß1 upregulates PFKFB3 mRNA and protein expression resulting in an increase in fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentration, glucose uptake, glycolytic flux and lactate production. Moreover, these increases in PFKFB3 mRNA and protein expression and Fru-2,6-P2 concentration were reduced when the Smad3, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathways were inhibited. We demonstrate that inhibition of PFKFB3 activity with 3PO or siRNA-mediated knockdown of PFKFB3 significantly eliminated the capacity of the T98G cells to form colonies by TGF-ß1, one of the hallmarks of transformation. Taken together, these results show that TGF-ß1 induces PFKFB3 expression through activation of the p38 MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways that complement and converge with early activation of Smad signaling. This suggests that PFKFB3 induction by TGF-ß1 can be one of the main mechanisms mediating the reprogramming of glioma cells.

Akt mediates TIGAR induction in HeLa cells following PFKFB3 inhibition.

Neoplastic cells metabolize higher amounts of glucose relative to normal cells in order to cover increased energetic and anabolic needs. Inhibition of the glycolytic enzyme 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) diminishes cancer cell proliferation and tumour growth in animals. In this work, we investigate the crosstalk between PFKFB3 and TIGAR (TP53-Induced Glycolysis and Apoptosis Regulator), a protein known to protect cells from oxidative stress. Our results show consistent TIGAR induction in HeLa cells in response to PFKFB3 knockdown. Upon PFKFB3 silencing, cells undergo oxidative stress and trigger Akt phosphorylation. This leads to induction of a TIGAR-mediated prosurvival pathway that reduces both oxidative stress and cell death. As TIGAR is known to have a role in DNA repair, it could serve as a potential target for the development of effective antineoplastic therapies.

[Ascaris lumbricoides-caused risk factors for intestinal occlusion and subocclusion]. / Factores de riesgo para oclusión y suboclusión intestinal por Ascaris lumbricoides.

OBJECTIVES: Our objective was to determine risk factors and mortality for partial and complete bowel obstruction caused by Ascaris lumbricoides as well as diagnostic validity of eosinophilia in peripheral blood. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 50 patients with partial or complete bowel obstruction and expulsion of Ascaris lumbricoides by mouth or anus, as well as 50 patients as controls; no patient had a negative coproparasitoscopic study. The period of study was from January 1995-December 2001 at the General Hospital of Ciudad Valles, San Luis Potosí State, Mexico. RESULTS: Cases with partial bowel obstruction had average age of 3.1 years against 10.13 years for those with complete obstruction (p = 0.029). Females accounted for 55% and males 43%, respectively. We do not find a relationship among nutritional status, gestational order in the family, and place of excreta deposition in this study group. In the case of eosinophilia, best point of section found was three or more eosinophils with sensitivity of 34% but specificity of 100%; mortality was 2%. CONCLUSIONS: We do not find a statistical difference between partial and complete bowel obstruction for different variables studied with the exception of age. To find 3% or more of eosinophils in peripheral blood strongly suggests the etiology of the obstruction as Ascaris lumbricoides at prevalence sites of this parasite.

Mercury, lead and cadmium levels in the urine of 170 Spanish adults: a pilot human biomonitoring study.

Human biomonitoring is a well-recognized tool for estimating the exposure of human populations to environmental pollutants. However, information regarding biomarker concentrations of many environmental chemicals in the general population is limited for many countries. The Spanish Environment Ministry has recently funded a human biomonitoring study on the Spanish general population. This study aims to determine reference levels for several biomarkers, especially heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and cotinine, in urine, whole blood, serum and hair, and will involve 2000 volunteers throughout Spain. Samples were taken during 2009-2010 and analyses are currently underway. The results presented herein were obtained in a pilot study carried out in the Madrid region. The study group comprised 170 volunteers, of which 79% were female and 21% male (age: 23-66 years). All participants were asked to complete a questionnaire regarding diet and living habits and provides a morning urine sample. The geometric means for total mercury (Hg), lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) were 1.23, 1.11 and 0.25 µg/g creatinine, respectively. Levels of Pb and Hg were higher than those reported for the general population in the USA and Germany, whereas Cd was in the same range (CDC, 2009; Becker et al., 2003). The values reported here are similar to those reported in other Spanish studies.