Impact of sodium butyrate and mild hypothermia on metabolic and physiological behaviour of CHO TF 70R cells

Background: To reduce costs associated with productivity of recombinant proteins in the biopharmaceutical industry, research has been focused on regulatory principals of growth and survival during the production phases of the cell culture. The main strategies involve the regulation of cell proliferation by the modulation of cell cycle control points (G1/S or G2/M) with mild hypothermia and the addition of sodium butyrate (NaBu). In this study, batch culture strategies were evaluated using CHO TF 70R cells producing the recombinant human tissue plasminogen activator (rh-tPA), to observe their individual and combined effect on the cellular physiological state and relevant kinetic parameters. Results: NaBu addition has a negative effect on the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), the values of which are remarkably diminished in cultures exposed to this cytotoxic compound. This effect was not reflected in a loss of cell viability. NaBu and mild hypothermic conditions increased the doubling time in the cell cultures, suggesting that these strategies triggered a general slowing of each cell cycle phase in a different way. Finally, the individual and combined effect of NaBu and mild hypothermia produced an increase in the specific rh-tPA productivity in comparison to the control at 37°C without NaBu. Nevertheless, both strategies did not have a synergistic effect on the specific productivity. Conclusions: The combination of NaBu addition and mild hypothermic condition causes an impact on physiological and metabolic state of CHO TF 70R cells, decreasing cell growth rate and improving glucose consumption efficiency. These results therefore provide a promising strategy to increase specific productivity of rh-tPA.

Situación del cáncer en Chile 2000 – 2010 / Cancer status in Chile 2000 – 2010

La situación epidemiológica de mortalidad en Chile en el año 2010, muestra que el cáncer ocupa el segundo lugar dentro de las causas de muerte. La prevalencia nacional para cáncer es un 24,6 por ciento y se observa una prevalencia mayor en las regiones de Antofagasta (29,0 por ciento), Coquimbo (26,2 por ciento), Valparaíso (25,5 por ciento) y Región Metropolitana (25,1 por ciento). Además, en las Regiones de Arica y Parinacota y Antofagasta, el cáncer es la primera causa de muerte, con un 22,4 por ciento y un 29,0 por ciento, respectivamente. El análisis de las tasas de seis de los cánceres más prevalentes en nuestro país: estómago, mama, próstata, pulmón, vesícula y colon por región de norte a sur, muestra que la región de Valparaíso y desde Maule hasta Magallanes, tienen tasas de cáncer de estómago superiores a la media nacional. Se aprecia además quela tasa de cáncer de próstata es mayor a la media nacional en las regiones de Valparaíso y desde Maule a Los Ríos. Con respecto a cáncer a pulmón, las regiones de Arica y Parinacota, Antofagasta, Atacama, Valparaíso, Metropolitana de Santiago y Aisén presentan tasas mayores al promedio del país. En general, los datos muestran que la región de Valparaíso presenta tasas de cáncer superiores al promedio del país en 13 de los 16 cánceres analizados en este documento, le sigue la región de Los Ríos con 12 y finalmente Aisén con 9. De acuerdo al perfil epidemiológico y las relaciones de causalidad descritas para el cáncer en Chile, podemos sugerir que las recomendaciones de salud pública para la prevención de este mal en Chile deberían considerar, además de la limitación del consumo de bebidas alcohólicas y la restricción del hábito tabáquico, una serie de factores que abordan la problemática general con recomendaciones simples pero efectivas, tales como las sugeridas por la OMS. Sin perjuicio de lo anterior, es importante realizar estudios epidemiológicos y clínicos que incorporen...

The epidemiological situation of the mortality in Chile in the year 2010 shows that cancer ranks second among death causes. Cancer rates in Antofagasta (29.0 percent), Coquimbo (26.2 percent), Valparaiso (25.5 percent) and Metropolitan (25.1 percent) regions are higher than the country average (24.6 percent). In addition, in Arica and Parinacota, and Antofagasta, cancer is the first cause of death, with 22.4 percent and 29.0 percent, respectively. Data of six more prevalent cancers (2008 to 2010): Stomach, Breast, Prostate, Lung, Bladder and Colon along the country. In Valparaiso and from Maule to Magallanes there are rates of Stomach cancer higher than the national average. The rate of Prostate cancer is higher than the national average in Valparaiso and from Maule to Los Ríos. In relation to Lung cancer the regions of Arica and Parinacota, Antofagasta, Atacama, Valparaiso, Metropolitan of Santiago and Aisén present rates higher than the national rate. In summary, the Valparaiso region presents rates of cancer higher than the average of the country in 13 of 16 cancers analyzed in this document, following by Los Ríos with 12 and finally Aisén with 9. According to the epidemiological profile and causality relationships for cancer in Chile, we suggest that public health recommendations for cancer prevention should consider, besides limitation of alcohol/drinking and restriction of the smoking habit, additional simple but effective recommendations to address general problematic, as for example those suggested by the WHO. Furthermore, it is important to do epidemiological and clinical studies that incorporate environmental and dietary factors of our country and genetics in the specific regions where some cancers have major prevalence.

The lithotripsy table height: a novel predictor of outcome in shockwave lithotripsy

BACKGROUND: Outcome of Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy (SWL) is determined by physical factors that affect stone fragmentation and clearance. PURPOSE: To evaluate the predictive value of the Lithotripsy Table Height (LTH) in SWL outcome. Lithotripsy Table Height (LTH) is a variable that represents skin to therapy head distance, and it is proportional to the energy that reaches the stone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A prospective study enrolled patients undergoing SWL for radiopaque urinary stones. All procedures were performed using a Modulith SLX (Karl Storz, Germany) Lithotripter. Patient weight, height and age; stone location and size; number of shock waves delivered, and LTH were recorded. One month post-procedure a KUB was obtained. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the effects of these variables on stone-free outcome. A ROC curve was plotted. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were enrolled. After one month follow-up, overall success rate (Stone Free) was 83.9 percent (n = 47). LTH was the only independent predictor of outcome in both univariate and multivariate analysis (p = 0.029). Stone size (p = 0.45) and BMI (p = 0.32) were not significant. In the ROC curve, LTH showed an Area under the Curve = 0.791. Patients with LTH < 218 (n = 8) had relative risk of residual stones = 7.5, odds Ratio: 6.6 (Stone free rate 37.5 percent vs. 91.5 percent). CONCLUSION: LTH appears to be an independent predictor of SWL outcome. High success rates can be expected if LTH > 218. Patients with lower LTH had a less effective therapy, therefore, worse stone fragmentation and clearance. These findings may help improve patient selection for SWL therapy.

Characterization of a gelatin/chitosan/hyaluronan scaffold-polymer

Gelatin, chitosan and hyaluronic acid are natural components used to prepare polymeric scaffold in tissue engineering. The physical properties of these materials confer an appropriate microenvironment for cells, which can be used as a regeneration system for skin and cartilage. In this work, we prepared and characterized a Gelatin/Chitosan/Hyaluronan lyophilized-polymer. Physical properties of lyophilized-polymer changed slightly with moisture, but when polymer was totally hydrated the elasticity changed significantly. Thermophysical characterisation indicated that temperatures higher than 30ºC could modify irreversibly the polymeric matrix probably due to protein denaturation. Besides, we used the polymer as scaffold to prepare a biosynthetic-skin, reporting biological behaviour and its mechanical properties.

Measuring b-Galactosidase activity at pH 6 with a differential pH sensor

The b-Galactosidase activity at pH 6 is used as a cellular marker to identify senescent cell cultures. The classic method to identify this enzymatic activity is using cytochemical staining with X-Gal after 16 hrs. In this work, a differential pH sensor was used to measure b-Galactosidase activity at pH 6. The measurement is easy and only takes 3 min.

Relación entre índice de masa corporal, cáncer de próstata, antígeno prostático específico y score de Gleason / Is body mass index related to prostate cancer, PSA and Gleason score?

Objetivo: Evaluar la relación entre índice de masa corporal (IMC), riesgo de cáncer de próstata, antígeno prostático específico (APE) y score de Gleason en 505 pacientes sometidos a biopsia prostática. Pacientes y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio caso control evaluando la relación entre IMC y cáncer de próstata. En los pacientes con cáncer de próstata se evaluó la relación entre IMC (<25, <25<30, <30), APE y score de Gleason. Resultados: Adenocarcinoma de próstata fue diagnosticado en 201 pacientes. Al estratificar el IMC (<25, <25<30, <30) de los pacientes y relacionarlo con la presencia o ausencia de cáncer no se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa entre los grupos. Se encontró un mayor riesgo de cáncer de próstata en los pacientes de mayor estatura. En los pacientes con cáncer no se encontró asociación estadísticamente significativa entre IMC, APE y score de Gleason. Conclusión: No se encontró asociación entre obesidad y cáncer de próstata. Existe un mayor riesgo de cáncer de próstata a mayor estatura. En los pacientes con diagnóstico de cáncer de próstata no se encontró asociación entre obesidad, APE y score de Gleason.

Objetive: To evaluate the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI), prostate cancer risk, prostate specific antigen (PSA) and Gleason score in 505 patients who underwent transrectal prostatic biopsy. Patients and Methods: We designed a Case-Control study to evaluate the relationship between BMIand the presence of prostate cancer. In the patients with the diagnosis of prostate cancer we evaluated the relationship between BMI (<25, <25<30, <30), PSA levels and Gleason score. Results: Prostate cancer was diagnosed in 201 patients. BMI (<25, <25<30, <30) was not related to the presence of prostate cancer. Height was associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. Noassociation was found between BMI, PSA levels and Gleason score in patients with prostate cancer. Conclusions: The results of this study support the hypothesis that BMI is not associated with prostate cancer risk in Chilean population. Height is associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer. Inpatients with prostate cancer no association was found between BMI, PSA levels and Gleason score.

Volatile Organic Compounds Produced by Human Skin Cells

Skin produces volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released to the environment with emission patterns characteristic of climatic conditions. It could be thought that these compounds are intermediaries in cell metabolism, since many intermediaries of metabolic pathways have a volatile potential. In this work, using gas chromatography, we answered the question of whether VOC profiles of primary cultures of human dermal fibroblasts were affected by the type of culture conditions. VOCs were determined for different types of culture, finding significant differences between skin cells grown in classical monolayer culture -2D- compared with 3D matrix immobilized cultures. This indicates that VOC profiles could provide information on the physiological state of skin cells or skin.

Respuesta inflamatoria sistémica y complicaciones en pacientes gastrectomizados / Systemic inflammatory response syndrome and complications in gastrectomized patients

El Síndrome de Respuesta Inflamatoria Sístematica (SRIS) es una condición clínica que surge frente a una agresión no específica, caracterizada por dos o más de los siguentes elementos: 1) fiebre o hipotermia; 2) taquicardia; 3) taquipnea y 4) leucocitosis. Para evaluar su significado en cirugía gastrointestinal mayor revisamos los pacientes gastrectomizados en el Servicio de Cirugía de nuestro hospital, entre los años 1996 y 1998, dividiéndolos en dos grupos: Complicados y No Complicados. Se evaluaron retrospectivamente 41 pacientes. Del total se descartan 3 por datos incompletos. Se analizaron 38 pacientes, con un promedio de edad de 61,4 años (SEM 0.38). Diecinueve pacientes presentaron algún tipo de complicación postoperatoria inmediata. En estos pacientes, la duración promedio del SRIS fue de 4,63 días (SEM 0,8) versus 1,52 días (SEM 0,26). Promedio en pacientes no complicados (p<0.0004). El diagnóstico de las complicaciones se hizo en promedio a los 6,47 días (SEM 0,225). El Valor Predictivo Positivo (VPP) de SRIS mayor de 3 días de duración para complicaciones fue 91,6 por ciento y su Valor Predictivo Negativo 69 por ciento. Expresado de otra forma, el riesgo relativo de tener una complicación con SRIS >3 días fue 2,98 (intervalo de confianza 1,63 <5,44, x2 corregido según Mantel-Haenszel 11,86, p <0,0005). Nuestros datos sugieren que la duración del SRIS postoperatorio puede tener un rol predictor de complicaciones en pacientes gastrectomizados