Increased expression of interleukin-6 gene in gastritis and gastric cancer

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) induces an intense inflammatory response, mediated by proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6 and its membrane receptor (IL-6R), which activates important signaling pathways in the development of gastric disease and cancer. We investigated the gene and protein expression of IL-6 and IL-6R and the influence of polymorphisms rs1800795, rs1800796, and rs1800797 on its gene expression together with H. pylori infection. Furthermore, an in-silico analysis was performed to support our results. Gastric biopsies were obtained from patients with gastric symptoms and patients with gastric cancer (GC) and were divided into groups (Control, Gastritis, and Cancer). H. pylori was detected by PCR. Real-time-qPCR was employed to determine gene expression, and western blot assay was used to analyze protein expression levels. PCR-RFLP was used to characterize IL-6 polymorphisms. Bioinformatics analyses were performed using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and GEO2R to screen out differentially expressed genes (DEGs). H. pylori was detected in 43.3% of the samples. Statistically significant differences were found for IL-6 (P=0.0001) and IL-6R (P=0.0005) genes among the three groups, regardless of the presence of H. pylori. Among patients with H. pylori infection, the IL-6 and IL-6R gene and protein expressions were significantly increased, highlighting IL-6 gene overexpression in patients with GC. No statistically significant differences were found for the rs1800795, rs1800796, and rs1800797 polymorphisms compared to IL-6 gene expression. The results indicated that the IL-6 polymorphisms do not influence its expression, but IL-6 and IL-6R expression seems to be altered by the presence of H. pylori.

Multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from a dog with a history of urolithiasis: case report / Escherichia coli multirresistente isolada de cão com histórico de urolitíase: relato de caso

Bacterial resistance is a reality in both human and veterinary health, it limits the therapeutic arsenal and raises the costs of the patient's treatment. A dog with signs of cystitis received treatment with 5mg/kg enrofloxacin at three consecutive times, with low effectiveness. The presence of urethral uroliths was identified and urohydropulsion was done. The animal presented a new obstruction, for which a cystotomy was performed, but continued with signs of infection. Uroculture and antimicrobial susceptibility test were then performed. Escherichia coli was identified, which was resistant to 13 antibiotics, being sensitive only to piperacillin-tazobactam and amikacin. In the screening test for ß-lactamase, the production of ESßL was detected. The qPCR indicated the presence of the bla CTXm, bla DHA, bla OXA, bla IMP, bla TEM, bla GIM, bla SIM, bla SPM and bla SME genes, which may lead to a phenotypic resistance profile for ampicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, aztreonam, cefepime cefoxitin, cefuroxime, ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, imipenem, and piperacillin-tazobactam. This case reaffirms the value that laboratory analysis adds to the diagnosis and treatment of cystitis and urolithiasis, which can define the direction of evolution of the prognosis and the speed at which the patient's health will be restored.(AU)

A resistência bacteriana aos antibióticos é uma realidade, tanto na saúde humana quanto veterinária, limita o arsenal terapêutico e eleva os custos relacionados ao tratamento do paciente. Um cão, com sinais de cistite, recebeu tratamento com enrofloxacina, na dose de 5mg/kg, em três momentos seguidos, com baixa efetividade. Identificou-se presença de urólitos uretrais e foi feita uro-hidropropulsão. O animal apresentou nova obstrução, para a qual foi realizada uma cistotomia, mas continuou com sinais de infecção. Realizou-se, então, urocultura e teste de antibiograma. Foi identificada Escherichia coli, que se mostrou resistente a 13 antibióticos, sendo sensível somente à piperacilina-tazobactam e amicacina. No teste de triagem para ß-lactamase, detectou-se a produção de ESßL. A qPCR indicou presença dos genes blaCTXm, blaDHA, blaOXA, blaIMP, blaTEM, blaGIM, blaSIM, blaSPM e blaSME, que podem conduzir um perfil fenotípico de resistência para ampicilina, amoxicilina-ácido clavulânico, aztreonam, cefepima, cefoxitina, cefuroxima, ceftazidima, ceftriaxona, imipenem, piperacilina-tazobactam. Este caso reafirma o valor que a análise laboratorial agrega ao diagnóstico e tratamento da cistite e da urolitíase, podendo definir o sentido de evolução do prognóstico e a velocidade em que a saúde do paciente será restabelecia.(AU)

Incidência de endometrite citológica e desempenho reprodutivo em vacas de corte Nelore / Incidence of cytological endometritis and its effects on reproductive performance in Nelore beef cows

Avaliaram-se a incidência de endometrite citológica dos 29 aos 90 dias pós-parto e seus efeitos sobre o desempenho reprodutivo de vacas de corte Nelore submetidas a uma estação de monta (EM) de 90 dias. Foram utilizadas 49 matrizes Nelores, sem histórico de retenção de placenta, sem a presença de uma infecção uterina clínica, e com escore de condição corporal acima de 2,5. Realizou-se exame ultrassonográfico para avaliar a parede uterina e a atividade ovariana. O diagnóstico de endometrite citológica foi feito pela técnica de lavagem uterina, considerando-se caso de endometrite ≥5% de neutrófilos em cada lâmina. A incidência de endometrite citológica do rebanho foi de 22%, não diferindo entre as categorias analisadas (primíparas versus multíparas) (P>0,05), a taxa de concepção à primeira inseminação também foi semelhante entre primíparas versus multíparas (P>0,05), porém a taxa de gestação ao final da EM foi maior nas vacas multíparas (83,8%) quando comparadas às primíparas (50,0%) (P<0,05). A presença ou ausência da endometrite citológica não influenciou a taxa de concepção (P>0,05), tampouco a taxa de gestação ao final da EM (P>0,05). Conclui-se que o uso da citologia endometrial não se justifica como ferramenta de diagnóstico em vacas de corte Nelore.

Were evaluated the incidence of cytological endometritis from 29 to 90 days postpartum and its effect on the reproductive performance of Nelore beef cows submitted to a breeding season (BS) for 90 days. A total of 49 cows, with no history of retained placenta, without the presence of a clinic uterine infection, and with a body condition score above 2.5 were used. Ultrasound examination was performed to evaluate the uterine wall and ovarian activity. The cytological diagnosis of endometritis was done by uterine lavage, and endometritis was considering cases of ≥5% neutrophils in each blade. The incidence of cytological endometritis in the herd was 22%, and did not differ between the categories analyzed (primiparous versus multiparous) (P>0.05), and the conception rate for first insemination was also similar between primiparous versus multiparous (P>0.05). However, the pregnancy rate at the end of BS was higher in multiparous cows (83.8%) when compared to primiparous (50.0%) cows (P<0.05). The presence or absence of cytological endometritis did not influence the conception rate (P>0.05) nor pregnancy rate at the end of the BS (P>0.05). Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of endometrial cytological cannot be justified as a diagnostic tool in Nelore beef cows.