Incidence of childhood cancer in Latin America and the Caribbean: coverage, patterns, and time trends / Incidencia del cáncer infantil en América Latina y el Caribe: cobertura de los registros, patrones y tendencias a lo largo del tiempo / Incidência de câncer infantil na América Latina e no Caribe: cobertura, padrões e tendências temporais

ABSTRACT Objective. To provide a comprehensive overview of geographical patterns (2001-2010) and time trends (1993-2012) of cancer incidence in children aged 0-19 years in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and interpret the findings in the context of global patterns. Methods. Geographical variations in 2001-2010 and incidence trends over 1993-2012 in the population of LAC younger than 20 years were described using the database of the third volume of the International Incidence of Childhood Cancer study containing comparable data. Age-specific incidence per million person-years (ASR) was calculated for population subgroups and age-standardized (WSR) using the world standard population. Results. Overall, 36 744 unique cases were included in this study. In 2001-2010 the overall WSR in age 0-14 years was 132.6. The most frequent were leukemia (WSR 48.7), central nervous system neoplasms (WSR 23.0), and lymphoma (WSR 16.6). The overall ASR in age group 15-19 years was 152.3 with lymphoma ranking first (ASR 30.2). Incidence was higher in males than in females, and higher in South America than in Central America and the Caribbean. Compared with global data LAC incidence was lower overall, except for leukemia and lymphoma at age 0-14 years and the other and unspecified tumors at any age. Overall incidence at age 0-19 years increased by 1.0% per year (95% CI [0.6, 1.3]) over 1993-2012. The included registries covered 16% of population aged 0-14 years and 10% of population aged 15-19 years. Conclusions. The observed patterns provide a baseline to assess the status and evolution of childhood cancer occurrence in the region. Extended and sustained support of cancer registration is required to improve representativeness and timeliness of data for childhood cancer control in LAC.

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RESUMO Objetivo. Apresentar uma visão abrangente dos padrões geográficos (2001 a 2010) e das tendências temporais (1993 a 2012) da incidência de câncer em crianças e jovens de 0 a 19 anos na América Latina e no Caribe (ALC) e interpretar os resultados no contexto de padrões mundiais. Métodos. Foram descritas variações geográficas de 2001 a 2010 e tendências de incidência de 1993 a 2012 na população com menos de 20 anos da ALC usando informações comparáveis da base de dados do terceiro volume do estudo International Incidence of Childhood Cancer. Foram calculadas taxas de incidência específica por idade por milhão de pessoas-ano (ASR, na sigla em inglês) para subgrupos populacionais e taxas padronizadas por idade usando a população padrão mundial (WSR, na sigla em inglês). Resultados. No total, foram incluídos 36 744 casos únicos. No período de 2001 a 2010, a WSR para todos os tumores combinados na faixa etária de 0 a 14 anos foi de 132,6. Os diagnósticos mais frequentes foram leucemia (WSR de 48,7), neoplasias do sistema nervoso central (WSR de 23,0) e linfoma (WSR de 16,6). A ASR para todos os tumores combinados na faixa etária de 15 a 19 anos foi de 152,3, e a maior taxa foi a de linfoma (ASR de 30,2). A incidência foi maior no sexo masculino do que no sexo feminino e maior na América do Sul do que na América Central e no Caribe. De modo geral, em comparação com as estimativas mundiais, a incidência na ALC foi menor, exceto para leucemia e linfoma entre 0 e 14 anos e para outros tumores e tumores não especificados em qualquer idade. A taxa de incidência na faixa etária de 0 a 19 anos aumentou em 1,0% ao ano (IC de 95% [0,6, 1,3]) entre 1993 e 2012. Os registros incluídos cobriam 16% da população de 0 a 14 anos e 10% da população de 15 a 19 anos. Conclusões. Os padrões observados servem de referência para avaliar o status e a evolução da ocorrência de câncer infantil na região. É necessário garantir um apoio ampliado e consistente aos registros de câncer para aprimorar a representatividade e a disponibilidade das informações em tempo adequado para o controle do câncer infantil na ALC.

Development of Anxiolytic and Depression-like Behavior in Mice Infected with Mycobacterium lepraemurium.

Murine leprosy is a systemic infectious disease of mice caused by Mycobacterium lepraemurium (MLM) in which the central nervous system (CNS) is not infected; nevertheless, diseased animals show measurable cognitive alterations. For this reason, in this study, we explored the neurobehavioral changes in mice chronically infected with MLM. BALB/c mice were infected with MLM, and 120 days later, the alterations in mice were evaluated based on immunologic, histologic, endocrine, neurochemical, and behavioral traits. We found increases in the levels of IL-4 and IL-10 associated with high bacillary loads. We also found increase in the serum levels of corticosterone, epinephrine, and norepinephrine in the adrenal gland, suggesting neuroendocrine deregulation. Mice exhibited depression-like behavior in the tail suspension and forced swimming tests and anxiolytic behavior in the open field and elevated plus maze tests. The neurobehavioral alterations of mice were correlated with the histologic damage in the prefrontal cortex, ventral hippocampus, and amygdala, as well as with a blood-brain barrier disruption in the hippocampus. These results reveal an interrelated response of the neuroimmune--endocrinological axis in unresolved chronic infections that result in neurocognitive deterioration.

Recidiva de endometriosis en pared abdominal. Reporte de caso / Recurrence of endometriosis in the abdominal wall. A case report

Introducción: La endometriosis de pared abdominal es una patología infrecuente, que generalmente se desarrolla en una cicatriz quirúrgica posterior a un procedimiento ginecológico y/o ginecoobstétrico. Caso clínico: Mujer de 29 años, G3C2A1V2, antecedentes de esterilización quirúrgica, quien un año después a su última cesárea presenta cuadro de dolor pélvico crónico asociado a ciclo menstrual, que se acompañaba de sangrado menstrual abundante y sensación de masa en hipogastrio. Con diagnóstico de endometriosis en pared abdominal, razón por la cual realizan resección. Sin embargo, tras un año posterior al procedimiento recidiva de endometriosis en pared abdominal, en esta ocasión, con requerimiento de resección amplia de fascia, colocación de malla y cierre por planos. Conclusiones: La endometriosis de pared abdominal es de difícil diagnóstico, ya que comparativamente es una entidad infrecuente, que no ha recibido una adecuada atención. Es importante sospecharla en mujeres con dolor abdominal cíclico y presencia de masa en la pared abdominal, adicionalmente con la utilización de imágenes diagnósticas. La resección quirúrgica es el tratamiento ideal, sin embargo, es importante recalcar la importancia de una resección amplia de márgenes para evitar recidivas. Adicionalmente el cierre por planos que evite defectos en la pared abdominal.(AU)

Introduction: Abdominal wall endometriosis is an uncommon pathology, which usually develops in a surgical scar following a gynaecological and/or gynaecological-obstetric procedure. Case study: Female, 29 years old, G3C2A1V2, history of surgical sterilization. One year after her last cesarean section, she presented with chronic pelvic pain associated with the menstrual cycle, accompanied by heavy menstrual bleeding and a sensation of a mass in the hypogastrium. She was diagnosed with endometriosis in the abdominal wall, and resection was performed. However, one year after the procedure, the endometriosis in the abdominal wall recurred, this time requiring wide fascia resection, mesh placement and layered closure. Conclusions: Abdominal wall endometriosis is difficult to diagnose, since it is a comparatively infrequent entity, which has not received adequate attention. It is important to suspect it in women with cyclic abdominal pain and the presence of a mass in the abdominal wall, in addition to the use of diagnostic imaging. Surgical resection is the ideal treatment, however, it is important to emphasize the importance of a wide margin resection to avoid recurrence. Layered closure is also important to avoid defects in the abdominal wall.(AU)

Response to Early Generation Genomic Selection for Yield in Wheat.

We investigated increasing genetic gain for grain yield using early generation genomic selection (GS). A training set of 1,334 elite wheat breeding lines tested over three field seasons was used to generate Genomic Estimated Breeding Values (GEBVs) for grain yield under irrigated conditions applying markers and three different prediction methods: (1) Genomic Best Linear Unbiased Predictor (GBLUP), (2) GBLUP with the imputation of missing genotypic data by Ridge Regression BLUP (rrGBLUP_imp), and (3) Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Space (RKHS) a.k.a. Gaussian Kernel (GK). F2 GEBVs were generated for 1,924 individuals from 38 biparental cross populations between 21 parents selected from the training set. Results showed that F2 GEBVs from the different methods were not correlated. Experiment 1 consisted of selecting F2s with the highest average GEBVs and advancing them to form genomically selected bulks and make intercross populations aiming to combine favorable alleles for yield. F4:6 lines were derived from genomically selected bulks, intercrosses, and conventional breeding methods with similar numbers from each. Results of field-testing for Experiment 1 did not find any difference in yield with genomic compared to conventional selection. Experiment 2 compared the predictive ability of the different GEBV calculation methods in F2 using a set of single plant-derived F2:4 lines from randomly selected F2 plants. Grain yield results from Experiment 2 showed a significant positive correlation between observed yields of F2:4 lines and predicted yield GEBVs of F2 single plants from GK (the predictive ability of 0.248, P < 0.001) and GBLUP (0.195, P < 0.01) but no correlation with rrGBLUP_imp. Results demonstrate the potential for the application of GS in early generations of wheat breeding and the importance of using the appropriate statistical model for GEBV calculation, which may not be the same as the best model for inbreds.

Sub-basal increases of GABA enhance the synthesis of TNF-α, TGF-ß, and IL-1ß in the immune system organs of the Nile tilapia.

The cells of the immune and neuronal systems share different receptors for cytokines or neurotransmitters, producing feedback responses between both systems. Cytokines such as IL-1ß and TNF-α can induce inflammation; however, the secretion of these molecules can be modulated by anti-inflammatory cytokines, as is the case for TGF-ß, as well as by different hormones or neurotransmitters such as the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In this study, we evaluated the secretion of IL-1ß, TNF-α, and TGF-ß under basal conditions, in the head of the kidney, spleen, thymus, and serum of the Nile tilapia, as well as their release induced by different sub-basal increases of GABA. We found that at the higher dose of GABA these cytokines were synthesised at a higher concentration compared to the control group. These results may suggest that there is feedback between both systems and that GABA plays a role in the modulation of the immune response.

Diaphragm pacing in a pediatric patient with Acquired Central Hypoventilation syndrome. / Marcapasos diafragmático en paciente pediátrico con síndrome de Hipoventilación Central Adquirido.

INTRODUCTION: Diaphragmatic pacemaker is a device that reduces or eliminates the need of mechanical ventilation in patients with chronic respiratory failure who keep the phrenic nerve-diaphragm axis intact, as long as they do not present intrinsic lung disease. Although its implantation has been practiced for deca des, its use is not widespread and to date, there is little published literature about it, mostly related to high spinal cord injury and congenital central hypoventilation syndrome. OBJECTIVE: To describe an experience of diaphragmatic pacemaker implantation in a pediatric patient with acquired cen tral hypoventilation syndrome. CLINICAL CASE: Female patient with central hypoventilation syndrome secondary to ischemic brainstem lesion as a result of ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction. For this reason, for 5 years she was supported by inpatient mechanical ventilation. At 7 years of age, a diaphragmatic pacemaker was implanted by thoracoscopic surgery, which allowed, after a period of rehabilitation and respiratory conditioning, mechanical ventilation withdrawal, and hospital dischar ge. CONCLUSIONS: Diaphragmatic pacemaker is a feasible, potentially safe, and cost-effective option for decreasing or eliminating mechanical ventilation dependence and improve life quality in patients with acquired central hypoventilation syndrome.

Marcapasos diafragmático en paciente pediátrico con síndrome de Hipoventilación Central Adquirido / Diaphragm pacing in a pediatric patient with Acquired Central Hypoventilation syndrome

Resumen: Introducción: El marcapasos diafragmático permite reducir o eliminar la necesidad de ventilación mecánica en pacientes con insuficiencia respiratoria crónica que conservan el eje nervio frénico-diafragma in tacto, siempre que no presenten enfermedad pulmonar intrínseca. Aunque su implantación ha sido practicada por décadas, su uso no está ampliamente difundido, y existe poca literatura pu blicada al respecto, la mayoría relacionada con lesión medular alta y síndrome de hipoventilación central congénito. Objetivo: Describir una experiencia de implantación de marcapasos diafragmático en paciente pediátrico con síndrome de hipoventilación central adquirido. Caso Clínico: Pa ciente femenino con síndrome de hipoventilación central secundario a lesión isquémica de tronco cerebral como resultado de disfunción de válvula de derivación ventrículo peritoneal, motivo por el cual durante 5 años se mantuvo con asistencia de ventilación mecánica intrahospitalaria. A los 7 años de edad se implantó marcapasos diafragmático mediante cirugía toracoscópica, lo que per mitió posterior a un periodo de rehabilitación y acondicionamiento respiratorio el destete de la ventilación mecánica y el egreso hospitalario. Conclusiones: El marcapasos diafragmático es una opción factible, potencialmente segura y costo efectiva para disminuir o eliminar la dependencia de ventilación mecánica y mejorar la calidad de vida en pacientes con síndrome de hipoventilación central adquirido.

Abstract: Introduction: Diaphragmatic pacemaker is a device that reduces or eliminates the need of mechanical ventilation in patients with chronic respiratory failure who keep the phrenic nerve-diaphragm axis intact, as long as they do not present intrinsic lung disease. Although its implantation has been practiced for deca des, its use is not widespread and to date, there is little published literature about it, mostly related to high spinal cord injury and congenital central hypoventilation syndrome. Objective: To describe an experience of diaphragmatic pacemaker implantation in a pediatric patient with acquired cen tral hypoventilation syndrome. Clinical Case: Female patient with central hypoventilation syndrome secondary to ischemic brainstem lesion as a result of ventriculoperitoneal shunt malfunction. For this reason, for 5 years she was supported by inpatient mechanical ventilation. At 7 years of age, a diaphragmatic pacemaker was implanted by thoracoscopic surgery, which allowed, after a period of rehabilitation and respiratory conditioning, mechanical ventilation withdrawal, and hospital dischar ge. Conclusions: Diaphragmatic pacemaker is a feasible, potentially safe, and cost-effective option for decreasing or eliminating mechanical ventilation dependence and improve life quality in patients with acquired central hypoventilation syndrome.

SWEET Transporters for the Nourishment of Embryonic Tissues during Maize Germination.

In maize seed germination, the endosperm and the scutellum nourish the embryo axis. Here, we examined the mRNA relative amount of the SWEET protein family, which could be involved in sugar transport during germination since high [14-C]-glucose and mainly [14-C]-sucrose diffusional uptake were found in embryo tissues. We identified high levels of transcripts for SWEETs in the three phases of the germination process: ZmSWEET4c, ZmSWEET6b, ZmSWEET11, ZmSWEET13a, ZmSWEET13b, ZmSWEET14b and ZmSWEET15a, except at 0 h of imbibition where the abundance of each ZmSWEET was low. Despite the major sucrose (Suc) biosynthesis capacity of the scutellum and the high level of transcripts of the Suc symporter SUT1, Suc was not found to be accumulated; furthermore, in the embryo axis, Suc did not decrease but hexoses increased, suggesting an efficient Suc efflux from the scutellum to nourish the embryo axis. The influx of Glc into the scutellum could be mediated by SWEET4c to take up the large amount of transported sugars due to the late hydrolysis of starch. In addition, sugars regulated the mRNA amount of SWEETs at the embryo axis. These results suggest an important role for SWEETs in transporting Suc and hexoses between the scutellum and the embryo axis, and differences in SWEET transcripts between both tissues might occur because of the different sugar requirements and metabolism.

c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-dependent internalization and Rab5-dependent endocytic sorting mediate long-distance retrograde neuronal death induced by axonal BDNF-p75 signaling.

During the development of the sympathetic nervous system, signals from tropomyosin-related kinase receptors (Trks) and p75 neurotrophin receptors (p75) compete to regulate survival and connectivity. During this process, nerve growth factor (NGF)- TrkA signaling in axons communicates NGF-mediated trophic responses in signaling endosomes. Whether axonal p75 signaling contributes to neuronal death and how signaling endosomes contribute to p75 signaling has not been established. Using compartmentalized sympathetic neuronal cultures (CSCGs) as a model, we observed that the addition of BDNF to axons increased the transport of p75 and induced death of sympathetic neurons in a dynein-dependent manner. In cell bodies, internalization of p75 required the activity of JNK, a downstream kinase mediating p75 death signaling in neurons. Additionally, the activity of Rab5, the key GTPase regulating early endosomes, was required for p75 death signaling. In axons, JNK and Rab5 were required for retrograde transport and death signaling mediated by axonal BDNF-p75 in CSCGs. JNK was also required for the proper axonal transport of p75-positive endosomes. Thus, our findings provide evidence that the activation of JNK by p75 in cell bodies and axons is required for internalization to a Rab5-positive signaling endosome and the further propagation of p75-dependent neuronal death signals.

Stress transfer patterns and local seismicity related to reservoir water-level variations. A case study in central Costa Rica.

This study main aim was to analyse the spatio-temporal trend in seismicity recorded in the proximity of the Pirrís Reservoir (central Costa Rica), where impoundment for the purposes of filling the reservoir to its total volume (3,6 * 107 m3) started in 2011. We differentiated between the events that occurred before, during and after this filling operation. Using a seismic analysis, we sought to define and understand the effects which such reservoir operations have on seismic activity in the area. To this end, we evaluated the spatio-temporal evolution of Coulomb failure stress (ΔCFS) changes due to surface water load, and its correlation with seismicity. Overall, the results of this study provide a perspective of how the water load in the reservoir can affect the stress state in the close area. In our study case, we have detected: an increase in b-value after impoundment, an increment of rate for shallowest events (h ≤ 10 km), an increasing trend of higher magnitude events and a possible trigger effect on local faults. All these aspects could be useful to control the reservoir operations and to help in decision making in order to guarantee the safety of these critical emplacements.

A Novel Disease of Big-Leaf Mahogany Caused by Two Fusarium Species in Mexico.

Big-leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) is valued for its high-quality wood and use in urban landscapes in Mexico. During surveys of mango-producing areas in the central western region of Mexico, symptoms of malformation, the most important disease of mango in the area, were observed on big-leaf mahogany trees. The objectives of this research were to describe this new disease and determine its cause. Symptoms on big-leaf mahogany at four sites in Michoacán, Mexico resembled those of the vegetative phase of mango malformation, including compact, bunched growth of apical and lateral buds, with greatly shortened internodes and small leaves that curved back toward the supporting stem. Of 163 isolates that were recovered from symptomatic tissues, most were identified as Fusarium pseudocircinatum (n = 121) and F. mexicanum (n = 39) using molecular systematic data; two isolates represented unnamed phylospecies within the F. incarnatum-equiseti species complex (FIESC 20-d and FIESC 37-a) and another was in the F. solani species complex (FSSC 25-m). However, only F. mexicanum and F. pseudocircinatum induced malformation symptoms on 14-day-old seedlings of big-leaf mahogany. The results indicate that F. mexicanum and F. pseudocircinatum, previously reported in Mexico as causal agents of mango malformation disease, also affect big-leaf mahogany. This is the first report of this new disease and the first time that F. mexicanum was shown to affect a host other than mango.

The yin/yang of inflammatory status: Blood-brain barrier regulation during sleep.

Sleep loss induces a low-grade inflammatory status characterized by a subtle but sustained increase of pro-inflammatory mediators, which are key regulators of blood-brain barrier function. To investigate the influence of inflammatory status on blood-brain barrier dysfunction induced by sleep restriction we performed an experiment using two strains of mice with different immunological backgrounds, C57BL/6 mice that have a predominant pro-inflammatory response and BALB/c mice that have a predominant anti-inflammatory response. Mice were sleep-restricted during 10 days using the flowerpot technique during 20 h per day with 4 h of daily sleep opportunity. The systemic inflammatory status, blood-brain barrier permeability, and the hippocampal expression of neuroinflammatory markers were characterized at the 10th day. Serum levels of TNF and IFN-γ increased in sleep-restricted C57BL/6 but not in BALB/c mice; no changes in other cytokines were found. Sleep restriction increased blood-brain barrier permeability in C57BL/6 strain but not in BALB/c. The hippocampus of sleep-restricted C57BL/6 mice exhibited an increase in the expression of the neuroinflammatory markers Iba-1, A2A adenosine receptor, and MMP-9; meanwhile in sleep-restricted BALB/c mice the expression of this markers was lesser than the control group. These data suggest that cytokines may be playing a key role in modulating blood-brain barrier function during sleep restriction, and probably the effects are related to Iba-1, MMP-9 and A2A adenosine receptor overexpression.

Characterization of Leaf Rust and Stripe Rust Resistance in Spring Wheat 'Chilero'.

Since 1984, the 'Chilero' spring wheat line developed by CIMMYT has proven to be highly resistant to leaf rust and stripe rust. Amid efforts to understand the basis of resistance of this line, a recombinant inbred line (RIL) population derived from a cross between Avocet and Chilero was studied. The parents and RILs were characterized in field trials for leaf rust and stripe rust in three locations in Mexico between 2012 and 2015 and genotyped with DArT-array, DArT-GBS, and SSR markers. A total of 6,168 polymorphic markers were used to construct genetic linkage maps. Inclusive composite interval mapping detected four colocated resistance loci to both rust diseases and two stripe rust resistant loci in the Avocet × Chilero population. Among these, the quantitative trait locus (QTL) on chromosome 1BL was identified as a pleotropic adult plant resistance gene Lr46/Yr29, whereas QLr.cim-5DS/QYr.cim-5DS was a newly discovered colocated resistance locus to both rust diseases in Chilero. Additionally, one new stripe rust resistance locus on chromosome 7BL was mapped in the current population. Avocet also contributed two minor colocated resistance QTLs situated on chromosomes 1DL and 4BS. The flanking SNP markers can be converted to breeder friendly Kompetitive Allele Specific PCR (KASP) markers for wheat breeding programs.

Chronic sleep restriction disrupts interendothelial junctions in the hippocampus and increases blood-brain barrier permeability.

Chronic sleep loss in the rat increases blood-brain barrier permeability to Evans blue and FITC-dextrans in almost the whole brain and sleep recovery during short periods restores normal blood-brain barrier permeability. Sleep loss increases vesicle density in hippocampal endothelial cells and decreases tight junction protein expression. However, at the ultrastructural level the effect of chronic sleep loss on interendothelial junctions is unknown. In this study we characterised the ultrastructure of interendothelial junctions in the hippocampus, the expression of tight junction proteins, and quantified blood-brain barrier permeability to fluorescein-sodium after chronic sleep restriction. Male Wistar rats were sleep restricted using the modified multiple platform method during 10 days, with a daily schedule of 20-h sleep deprivation plus 4-h sleep recovery at their home-cages. At the 10th day hippocampal samples were obtained immediately at the end of the 20-h sleep deprivation period, and after 40 and 120 min of sleep recovery. Samples were processed for transmission electron microscopy and western blot. Chronic sleep restriction increased blood-brain barrier permeability to fluorescein-sodium, and decreased interendothelial junction complexity by increasing the frequency of less mature end-to-end and simply overlap junctions, even after sleep recovery, as compared to intact controls. Chronic sleep loss also induced the formation of clefts between narrow zones of adjacent endothelial cell membranes in the hippocampus. The expression of claudin-5 and actin decreased after chronic sleep loss as compared to intact animals. Therefore, it seems that chronic sleep loss disrupts interendothelial junctions that leads to blood-brain barrier hyperpermeability in the hippocampus.

Plant Hexokinases are Multifaceted Proteins.

Sugars are the main carbon and energy source in cells, but they can also act as signaling molecules that affect the whole plant life cycle. Certain tissues can produce sugars and supply them to others, and this plant tissue heterogeneity makes sugar signaling a highly complex process that requires elements capable of perceiving changes in sugar concentrations among different tissues, cell compartments and developmental stages. In plants, the regulatory effects of glucose (Glc) have been the most studied to date. The first Glc sensor identified in plants was hexokinase (HXK), which is currently recognized as a dual-function protein. In addition to its catalytic activity, this enzyme can also repress the expression of some photosynthetic genes in response to high internal Glc concentrations. Additionally, the catalytic activity of HXKs has a profound impact on cell metabolism and other sugar signaling pathways that depend on phosphorylated hexoses and intermediate glycolytic products. HXKs are the only proteins that are able to phosphorylate Glc in plants, since no evidence has been provided to date concerning the existence of a glucokinase. Moreover, the intracellular localization of HXKs seems to be crucial to their activity and sensor functions. Recently, two new and surprising functions have been described for HXKs. In this review, we discuss the versatility of HXKs in regard to their catalytic and glucose sensor activities, intracellular location, protein-protein and hormone interactions, as well as how these HXK characteristics influence plant growth and development, in an effort to understand this enzyme's role in improving plant productivity.

Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption Induced by Chronic Sleep Loss: Low-Grade Inflammation May Be the Link.

Sleep is a vital phenomenon related to immunomodulation at the central and peripheral level. Sleep deficient in duration and/or quality is a common problem in the modern society and is considered a risk factor to develop neurodegenerative diseases. Sleep loss in rodents induces blood-brain barrier disruption and the underlying mechanism is still unknown. Several reports indicate that sleep loss induces a systemic low-grade inflammation characterized by the release of several molecules, such as cytokines, chemokines, and acute-phase proteins; all of them may promote changes in cellular components of the blood-brain barrier, particularly on brain endothelial cells. In the present review we discuss the role of inflammatory mediators that increase during sleep loss and their association with general disturbances in peripheral endothelium and epithelium and how those inflammatory mediators may alter the blood-brain barrier. Finally, this manuscript proposes a hypothetical mechanism by which sleep loss may induce blood-brain barrier disruption, emphasizing the regulatory effect of inflammatory molecules on tight junction proteins.