Simultaneous electrochemical immunosensing of relevant cytokines to diagnose and track cancer and autoimmune diseases.

This work reports the first dual magnetic beads (MBs) assisted immunoplatform for the simultaneous determination of BAFF (B cell activation factor) and APRIL (a proliferation-induced ligand), two cytokines related to immunity and tumour invasion, growth and metastasis. The electrochemical immunoplatform involves sandwich-type immunoassays implemented on magnetic microparticles functionalized with neutravidin (NA-MBs) or carboxylic groups (HOOC-MBs), and amperometric detection (Eapp =  - 0.20 V vs. Ag pseudo-reference electrode) at screen-printed dual carbon electrodes (SPdCE) using the H2O2/hydroquinone (HQ) system. The developed immunosensors provide improved sensitivity, with LOD values of 0.33 and 16.4 pg mL-1 for BAFF and APRIL, respectively, and much shorter assay time that those claimed for ELISA kits and allow their simultaneous determination. The dual immunosensor permits discrimination between healthy individuals and patients diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) or colorectal cancer (CRC) through the determination of both cytokines in 100-times diluted human sera with results in agreement with those provided by the individual ELISA methodologies.

COVID-19 presenting with nystagmus. / COVID-19 asociada a nistagmo.

This case reports a 20-year-old female patient who was in northern Italy when the state of emergency was declared on the 31st of January 2020, developing 15days after return to Spain upper respiratory symptoms characterized by fever, headache and anosmia that was treated as sinusitis. Three weeks later presented with dizziness and an intermittent horizontal nystagmus with rotatory component. Otorhinolaryngology and neurological examination including MRI were normal. COVID-19 IgG antibodies where positive. In the context of the ongoing pandemic, and associating the symptoms with positive IgG antibodies, we can consider the infection of SARS-CoV-2 as a probable cause of the acquired nystagmus.

[COVID-19 presenting with nystagmus]. / COVID-19 asociada a nistagmo.

This case reports a 20-year-old female patient who was in northern Italy when the state of emergency was declared on the 31st of January 2020, developing 15 days after return to Spain upper respiratory symptoms characterized by fever, headache and anosmia that was treated as sinusitis. Three weeks later presented with dizziness and an intermittent horizontal nystagmus with rotatory component. Otorhinolaryngology and neurological examination including MRI were normal. COVID-19 IgG antibodies where positive. In the context of the ongoing pandemic, and associating the symptoms with positive IgG antibodies, we can consider the infection of SARS-CoV-2 as a probable cause of the acquired nystagmus.

Efectividad de la terapia triple antirretroviral en lactante menor con diagnóstico de SIDA categoría C / Effectiveness of triple antiretroviral therapy in a young infant diagnosed with AIDS category C

La falta de medicación antirretroviral durante el embarazo, la no aplicación del protocolo de prevención perinatal del VIH-1 y VIH-2 (PACTG 076) en el momento de la cesárea y la administración de inhibidores de la transcriptasa inversa al recién nacido, es la respuesta más directa a la falta de acciones de protección para los niños (as) que nacen de sus progenitoras que se encuentran viviendo con el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH). En el caso de la nena de 4 meses de edad que nace de un vientre donde se encontraba el presente el VIH, presentan una evolución clínica, inmunológica y virológica que progresivamente la va llevando al estado de caquexia, además de presentar procesos infecciosos secundarios a oportunistas, que se complican con una sepsis determinando la necesidad de ventilación asistida. La administración de forma inmediata de los antirretrovirales (ARV) recomendados por el Programa Nacional de Lucha Contra el VIH/SIDA, sin incluso contar con resultados de carga viral materna, tampoco de la pacientita se asocia dos inhibidores nucleótidos de la transcriptasa inversa, con un inhibidor de la transcriptasa inversa no nucleósido, y los antimicóticos y antimicrobianos adecuados, la respuesta clínica, celular es satisfactoria, así ocurrió con la lactante menor que tratamos. Es cierto que nuestra preferencia es hacer asociaciones con principios químicos de mejor acción sobre este virus, como en nuestro caso ante la evidencia de que la nevirapina nos produjo al quinto día de tratamiento una reacción de alergia (la literatura relata que los casos de esta naturaleza generalmente evolucionan a la muerte), habiéndose además asociado antihistamínicos por vía venosa, y la administración de un inhibidor de la proteasa viral que también es un químico asociado (lopinavir + Ritonavir), habiéndose obtenido una respuesta espectacular, a pesar del fondo de caquexia en que se encontraba la lactante menor de 4 meses de edad. Todo estos acontecimientos de ver cada día más casos de mujeres embarazadas que se enteran de ser portadoras de este virus cuando sus bebes evolucionan atípicamente y/o se encuentran en situaciones clínicas gravísimas, tendrían un mejor pronóstico si se decidiera considerar al VIH/SIDA como el problema de salud número uno en nuestro país.

The lack of antiretroviral medication during pregnancy, failure to apply the protocol perinatal HIV-1 and HIV-2 (PACTG 076) at the time of cesarean delivery and administration of inhibitors of reverse transcriptase newborn is the more directly to the lack of protective actions for children (as) that arise from their mothers who are living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) response. In the case of the baby 4 months of age born from a womb where HIV was present, present a clinical, immunological and virological evolution is progressively moving the state of cachexia, besides presenting secondary to opportunistic infectious processes which are complicated by sepsis determining the need for assisted ventilation. The administration immediately antiretroviral (ARV) recommended by the National Programme for the Fight Against HIV/AIDS, without even having maternal viral load results, either of two nucleotides pacientita reverse transcriptase inhibitors dela associated with an inhibitor of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase and appropriate antifungal and antimicrobial, clinical, cellular response is satisfactory, so it happened with the lowest infant who try. It is true that our preference is to make partnerships with chemical principles of best action on this virus, as in our case given the evidence that nevirapine we came on the fifth day of treatment an allergic reaction (literature reports that cases of this nature death usually evolve), having further associated antihistamines intravenously, and administration of a viral protease inhibitor which is also an associated chemical (lopinavir + ritonavir), a dramatic response being obtained, despite the background of cachexia that infants under 4 months of age was. All these events to see more and more cases of pregnant women who learn to be carriers of this virus when their babies evolve atypically and / or are in very serious clinical situations, would have a better prognosis if it decides to treat HIV/AIDS as the number one health problem in our country.

Intracellular free calcium concentration and calcium transport in human erythrocytes of lead-exposed workers.

Erythrocytes are the route of lead distribution to organs and tissues. The effect of lead on calcium homeostasis in human erythrocytes and other excitable cells is not known. In the present work we studied the effect of lead intoxication on the uptake and efflux (measured as (Ca(2+)-Mg(2+))-ATPase activity) of calcium were studied in erythrocytes obtained from lead-exposed workers. Blood samples were taken from 15 workers exposed to lead (blood lead concentration 74.4+/-21.9 microg/dl) and 15 non-exposed workers (9.9+/-2 microg/dl). In erythrocytes of lead-exposed workers, the intracellular free calcium was 79+/-13 nM, a significantly higher concentration (ANOVA, P<0.01) than the one detected in control (30+/-9 nM). The enhanced intracellular free calcium was associated with a higher osmotic fragility and with important modifications in erythrocytes shape. The high intracellular free calcium in lead-exposed workers was also related to a 100% increase in calcium incorporation and to 50% reduction of (Ca(2+)-Mg(2+))-ATPase activity. Lipid peroxidation was 1.7-fold higher in erythrocytes of lead-exposed workers as compared with control. The alteration on calcium equilibrium in erythrocytes is discussed in light of the toxicological effects in lead-exposed workers.