Identification of PARP-1 in cancer stem cells of gastrointestinal cancers: A preliminary study.

Advanced-stage gastrointestinal tumors have high mortality due to chemotherapy limitations. One of the causes of treatment failure is the presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which show resistance mechanisms against DNA damage, such as poly (adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP-1). However, little is known about the relevance of PARP-1 in these tumor cells. Our purpose is to analyze the expression of PARP-1 in cancer cells and CSCs from gastrointestinal tumors, its relationship with the DNA damage repair process and its modulation by cytotoxic and PARP-1 inhibitors. We used pancreatic, liver and colon cancer cell lines and isolated CSCs using Aldefluor technology to analyze PARP-1 expression. In addition, we examined the effect of classic cytotoxic drugs (Doxorubicin, Gemcitabine, Irinotecan and 5-Fluorouracil) and a PARP-1 inhibitor (Olaparib) in cultured cells and 3D tumorspheres. We demonstrated that PARP-1 is highly expressed in pancreatic, liver and colon tumor cells and that this expression was significantly higher in cell populations with CSC characteristics. In addition, Doxorubicin and Gemcitabine increased their cytotoxic effect when administered simultaneously with Olaparib, decreasing the formation of 3D tumorspheres. Our findings suggest that PARP-1 is a common and relevant resistance mechanism in CSCs from gastrointestinal tumors and that the use of PARP-1 inhibitors may be an adjuvant therapy to increase apoptosis in this type of cells which are responsible to cancer recurrence and metastasis.

Hurdle processing of turbid fruit juices involving encapsulated citral and vanillin addition and UV-C treatment.

The aim of this study was to evaluate a hurdle strategy for orange-tangerine (OT) and orange-banana-mango-kiwi-strawberry (OBMKS) juices processing based on UV-C treatment assisted or not by mild heat and the addition of natural antimicrobials. Vanillin and citral emulsions were successfully encapsulated using maltodextrin and HI-CAP (5,18,3) and characterized. The susceptibility of Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae KE 162 to binary mixtures of the encapsulated agents was examined in culture media according to the Berenbaum experimental design. The boundary between growth and non-growth as a function of vanillin and citral concentrations was predicted by means of the probabilistic model using logistic regression. Microbial inactivation achieved by pilot-scale UV-C light (0-390 mJ/cm2) on its own, assisted by mild heat (50 °C, UV-C/H) and combined with antimicrobials (1000 ppm vanillin plus 100 ppm citral) addition (UV-C + A/UV-C/H + A) was assessed in OT and OBMKS. Yeast induced damage in a model solution treated by UV-C + A was studied by flow cytometry (FC). All the antimicrobial mixtures resulted in additive effects (FICindex = 1), thus offering through the probabilistic models a range of formulation possibilities with antimicrobial capacity encompassing lower vanillin and citral concentrations compared to those required when used alone (Vrange = 0-1875 ppm plus Crange = 392-0 ppm). UV-C led up to 3.7-3.8, 2.4-3.6 and 1.5-1.6 log-reductions of E. coli, L. plantarum and S. cerevisiae in OT and OBMKS, respectively. A significant increase of 1.7-2.2, 2.1-2.7 and 4.1-5.3 log cycles in microbial inactivation was observed after UV-C/H treatment. Additional inactivation of 0.7-3.1 and 0.5-2.7 log reductions were observed for E. coli and S. cerevisiae, respectively, when UV-C + A and UV-C/H + A were applied in both juices. Therefore, the addition of antimicrobials to the UV-C treated juices, showed additive to synergistic effects on E. coli and S. cerevisiae, respectively along refrigerated storage. A shift from yeast cells with intact membrane and esterase activity in control samples to cells with permeabilized membrane in C + A, UV-C and UV-C + A samples were determined by FC. The shift was more noticeable in UV-C + A samples. Sublethally damaged cells were only detected in C + A and UV-C samples. This study demonstrates that combining a pilot-scale UV-C treatment with the addition of chosen binary mixtures of vanillin and citral, can ensure more than 5 log-reductions of E. coli, L. plantarum and S. cerevisiae in OT and OBKMS juice blends.

Effect of pilot-scale UV-C light treatment assisted by mild heat on E. coli, L. plantarum and S. cerevisiae inactivation in clear and turbid fruit juices. Storage study of surviving populations.

Consumer growing demands for high-quality and safe food and beverages have stimulated the interest in alternative preservation technologies. Short-wavelength ultraviolet light (UV-C, 254 nm) has proven to be useful for the decontamination of a great variety of clear juices while improving their quality compared to traditional thermal treatments. Suspended solids and coloured compounds in turbid juices, diminish light transmission. The use of UV-C under a hurdle approach, may be a promising strategy for their treatment. The purpose of this study was to analyse Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Saccharomyces cerevisiae KE 162 and Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 8014 inactivation in clear pear juice (PJ), turbid orange-tangerine (OT) and orange-banana-mango-kiwi-strawberry (OBMKS) juices processed by single UV-C (390 mJ/cm2, 20 °C) and UV-C assisted by mild heat (UV-C/H, 50 °C) at pilot-scale in a coiled tubing unit and stored under refrigeration (5 °C). Inactivation studies were also conducted in peptone water (PW) and model solution (MS). The adequacy of the Coroller, Weibull and Biphasic Plus Shoulder models was studied. UV-C was highly effective in PW, MS and PJ, achieving up to 5.5-6.3-4.7, 4.8-5.1-4.6 and 4.4-5.5 log reductions for L. plantarum, E. coli,and S. cerevisiae, respectively. Whereas, a moderate inactivation by single UV-C was recorded in the turbid blends, reducing up to 2.4-3.8-1.6 and 3.6-3.7-1.3 log-cycles in OT and OBMKS, respectively. When the UV-C/H treatment was applied, high bacterial inactivation was observed achieving 5.2-5.6, 6.3-6.6 and 5.5-6.7 log reductions in OT, OBMKS and PJ, respectively, while 4.6-4.9 log reductions were determined for the yeast in OBMKS and OT, respectively. Thus, additive inactivation effects between UV-C and H were observed. All the models tested gave useful information regarding the existence of microbial subpopulations with varying resistances. However, the cumulative Weibull distribution function was the most versatile one, fitting inactivation curves with different shapes. Additionally, the frequency distributions of resistances showed that UV-C/H not only increased the UV-C microbicidal effect but changed the distribution of inactivation times. Principal component analysis revealed that UV-C effectiveness was associated to low particle size, a⃰, turbidity and high UV-C transmittance. An increase on the inactivation of treated bacterial populations was recorded along storage, while no yeast recovery was observed, thus emphasizing the contribution of refrigerated storage to microbial inactivation. Microbial inactivation in clear and turbid juices achieved by UV-C (390 mJ/cm2) assisted by mild heat (50 °C) and subsequent refrigerated storage may represent an useful alternative for multiple applications in the juice industry.

Exploración del contexto y las necesidades de educación en salud en un grupo indígena uitoto en Bogotá / Survey on the context and healthcare education needs of a uitoto indigenous group in Bogota

Introducción: Colombia es un país multiétnico y multilingüe con seis millones (14%) de habitantes que pertenecen a grupos étnicos minoritarios, por lo que la situación actual de las comunidades indígenas ha sido precaria por las limitantes de acceso a los planes de salud. Objetivo: realizar una exploración de la comunidad uitoto ubicada en la ciudad de Bogotá D.C., Colombia, del contexto y las necesidades de educación frente al cáncer del cuello uterino y la salud sexual y reproductiva. Materiales y métodos: estudio cualitativo de enfoque etnográfico (prueba piloto) en la comunidad uitoto con una observación participante, registrado en un diario de campo. Resultados: las personas de la comunidad uitoto manifiestan que muchos de sus integrantes no cuentan con un servicio de salud contributivo, sino subsidiado por condiciones de desplazamiento. Discusión: se reconoce la existencia latente de las barreras de salud en comunidades indígenas en estado de vulnerabilidad en las áreas urbanas. Conclusión: se destaca la importancia de integrar en la medicina occidental y tradicional en los procesos de salud para esta comunidad.

Introduction: Colombia is a multiethnic and multilingual country with six million (14%) of inhabitants belonging to minority ethnic groups. These indigenous communities are currently living in a precarious situation due to their limited access to healthcare plans. Objective: to conduct a survey on a uitoto community living in the city of Bogotá D.C., Colombia, predominantly on their context and their education needs regarding uterine cervix cancer and sexual and reproductive health. Materials and Methods: a qualitative study with a focus on ethnography (pilot study) on a uitoto community, using participant observation recorded in a fieldwork diary. Results: uitoto community members interviewed manifest that many of them do not count with a contributive healthcare service. They only count with a subsidiary service as a result from being displaced people. Discussion: better awareness of the latent existence of barriers to healthcare for vulnerable indigenous communities living in urban areas was achieved. Conclusion: we stress the importance of integrating traditional medicine into Western medicine healthcare processes for this community.

Una experiencia de atención plena (mindfulness): nivel de estrés y ansiedad de los estudiantes / A bare attention, mindfulness-based experience: stress and anxiety levels in students

Introducción: atención, conciencia plena o mindfulness en idioma pali "sati" significa "rememorar o recordar". Algunas intervenciones basadas en mindfulness muestran mejora en problemas de salud mental y del bienestar psicológico en los estudiantes y personal de salud. Objetivo: determinar el nivel de estrés y ansiedad en los alumnos de práctica I del programa de instrumentación quirúrgica, antes y después de una experiencia de atención plena mindfulness. Métodos: estudio cuasi experimental con participación inicial de 42 estudiantes de los cuales 42.8% (n=18 permanecieron. En la preprueba se aplicó el cuestionario de personalidad big five, en las pre y pospruebas se evaluaron con la escala de estrés percibido (EEP) el nivel de estrés y de ansiedad con el inventario de Beck (BAI) y en la posprueba se evalúo la experiencia mindfulness con el cuestionario five facetmindfulness.Resultados: en la posprueba hubo niveles de estrés iguales a la preprueba (RIQ: 49) (p: 0.79) y más bajos de ansiedad (RIQ:22 / RIQ:16) (p:0.004). Conclusiones: los participantes vivieron la experiencia (Me= 114); los programas basados en mindfulness generan una mejor percepción a nivel intra e interpersonal.

ntroduction: Mindfulness is a word Pali "sati", which means "remember" and allows to connect with the here and now. Some interventions in care in educational and health contexts show an improvement in mental health and psychological well-being problems in students and health personnel. Objective: To determine the level of stress and anxiety in the practice students, from the surgical assitant program, before and after a mindfulness experience. Methods: It ́s was quasi-experimental study was carried out. Initially, n = 42 practice students (100%) participated, of which 42.8% (n = 18) remained in the entire study. In the pretest, the Big Five personality questionnaire was applied; in the pre-test and post-test, the perceived stress scale (PSS), stress level and anxiety level were evaluated with Beck's anxiety inventory (BAI); In the post-test the mindfulness experience is evaluated with the Five Facet Mindfulness questionnaire. Results: The results in the post-test to the experience of mutual attention in stress levels similar to the pre-test (RIQ: 49) (p: 0.79), and lower levels of anxiety (RIQ: 22 / RIQ: 16) (p: 0.004). The participants managed to experience the mindfulness (Me = 114). Martin et al., report that mindfulness-based programs, participants generated a better perception of intrapersonal and interpersonal level.