Strong-Isospin-Breaking Correction to the Muon Anomalous Magnetic Moment from Lattice QCD at the Physical Point.

All lattice-QCD calculations of the hadronic-vacuum-polarization contribution to the muon's anomalous magnetic moment to date have been performed with degenerate up- and down-quark masses. Here we calculate directly the strong-isospin-breaking correction to a_{µ}^{HVP} for the first time with physical values of m_{u} and m_{d} and dynamical u, d, s, and c quarks, thereby removing this important source of systematic uncertainty. We obtain a relative shift to be applied to lattice-QCD results obtained with degenerate light-quark masses of δa_{µ}^{HVP,m_{u}≠m_{d}}=+1.5(7)%, in agreement with estimates from phenomenology.

Sirtuins in stress response: guardians of the genome.

Sirtuins, a family of NAD(+)-dependent deacetylases, help organisms to respond to metabolic and genotoxic stress through diverse pathways, including metabolic homeostasis, cell survival pathways and cell-cycle control. Evidence accumulated over the past decade, including recent descriptions of mouse knockout models for each of the seven mammalian Sirtuins, suggests that protection of genome stability is among the most important roles of Sirtuins during stress response. Our current knowledge suggests that Sirtuins promote genome integrity through a variety of mechanisms, the majority of which involve a direct role in chromatin-related functions. Here, we review these mechanisms and discuss their implications for cell physiology and tumorigenesis.

Estudio morfométrico de las organelas del hepatocito tras la administración de drogas de abuso / Morphometric analysis of the liver cell after administration of different abuse drugs

Se han descrito, diferentes alteraciones producidas por el consumo de las drogas de abuso a nivel de distintos órganos siendo uno de los más relevantes, por las funciones por el desarrolladas, el hígado. Cuantificar estas alteraciones es el objetivo principal marcado en el trabajo. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: se realiza un trabajo experimental en el ratón albino con el fin de valorar desde el punto de vista morfométrico las posibles alteraciones que tres drogas de abuso como son la cocaína, el extasis y la heroína , producen a nivel del hígado desde el punto de vista ultraestructural. Se realiza la intoxicación de los animales y se realiza un estudio del hígado, después del procesamiento de las piezas bajo microscopía electrónica de transmisión y valoración morfométrica de las organelas intracelulares. RESULTADOS: el estudio mostró una disminución de la densidad y área mitocondrial con abalonamiento de estas organelas. Incremento del número de lisosomas y de su tamaño también con engrosamiento de las mismas. Diminución muy significativa del retículo endoplásmico y número de ribosomas. También se muestran disminuidas las rosetas de glúcógeno, pero incrementado el tamaño y número de vacuolas grasas. Alteraciones que se muestran en todos los animales intoxicados con las drogas siendo mas relevantes las del grupo de heroína. DISCUSIÓN. Los resultados muestran una grave alteración de las organelas intracelulares hepáticas tanto en el número como en las estructura de las mismas, siendo indicativo de sufrimiento celular y mal funcionamiento del complejo ultraestructural del hepatocito. Estas alteraciones son más relevantes en el grupo intoxicado con heroína y menos en el de extasis y cocaína. Se puede considerar que aunque a las dosis tratadas a los animales no exista una gran destrucción intracelular, si que hay una alteración a nivel de organelas y sobre todo las relacionadas con el aparato energético de la célula o de producción proteica como mitocondrias o ribosomas, apareciendo o incrementándose las de lisis celular como son los lisosomas (AU)

Have been described, various changes caused by the consumption of drugs of abuse at the level of different organs is one of the most relevant, by the developed functions, the liver. Quantifying these changes is the main goal scored at work. MATERIAL AND METHODS: we performed an experimental study in the albino mouse in order to evaluate from the standpoint of possible alterations morphometric three drugs of abuse such as cocaine, ecstasy and heroin, produced in the liver from the ultrastructural view. Poisoning takes animal and a study is made of the liver, after processing of the parts under transmission electron microscopy, and morphometric evaluation of the intracellular organelles. RESULTS: the study showed a decrease in mitochondrial density and area of these organelles ballooning. Increase in number of lysosomes and their size also thickening them. Significant diminution of the endoplasmic reticulum and number of ribosomes. Also shown glycogen rosettes decreased but increased the size and number of fat vacuoles. Alterations shown in all animalsintoxicated with drugs being the most relevant group of heroin. DISCUSSION. The results show a severe disruption of the intracellular organelles liver both the number and the structure thereof, being indicative of cell suffering and malfunctioning complex ultrastructural hepatocyte. These changes are most relevant in the group intoxicated with heroin and less on that of ecstasy and cocaine. Can be considered that although the dose treated animals there is a large intracellular destruction if there is a disturbance at the level of organelles and especially those related to energy device or cell protein production as mitochondria or ribosome, appearing or increasing the cell lysis such as lysosomes (AU)

Estudio morfométrico del hepatocito tras la administración de drogas de abuso / Morphometric evaluation of liver cell after adminstration of abuse drugs

Las drogas ocasionan diferentes alteraciones a nivel de los diversos órganos y aparatos del cuerpo humano. Por sus mecanismos de acción, la mayoría de las drogas tienen una especial implicación a nivel del hígado, considerando su papel metabólico a nivel del organismos. En el presente estudio de base experimental, realizado en el ratón se ha evaluado las posibles acciones de tres drogas de abuso como son la cocaína, el éxtasis y la heroína a nivel del hepatocito. Se han valorado aspectos celulares y del núcleo. Los resultados muestran escasa alteraciones constatadas mediante morfometría a nivel del hepatocito y se centran fundamentalmente a nivel de elementos vasculares del espacio porta con alteraciones a nivel de la pared de los vasos y elementos estructurales de esta formación estructural. Los resultados cuantificados no se pueden considerar muy relevantes y los que han presentado alteraciones pueden en parte interpretarse de acuerdo a la relación con la droga suministrada y de acuerdo a otras alteraciones descritas en la bibliografía (AU)

Drugs cause different alterations in the various organs and systems of the human body. For their mechanisms of action, most drugs are particularly liver involvement level, considering its metabolic role at the level of organisms. In the present study experimental basis, conducted in mice was evaluated three possible actions of drugs of abuse such as cocaine, ecstasy and heroin hepatocyte level. We evaluated the nucleus and cellular aspects. The results show little alterations which are established by morphometry hepatocyte level and focus mainly vascular level space holder elements with alterations in the vessel wall and structural elements of the structural formation. The quantified results can not be considered very important and those who submitted alterations may in part be interpreted according to the relationship with the drug tested and according to other conditions described in the literatura (AU)

Repercusiones ponderales y en la morbimortalidad tras la intoxicación de drogas de abuso / Effect of weight, morbidity and mortality after poisoning abuse drugs

La adicción a las drogas es una de las mayores lacras sociales en el momento actual y que desarrollan una importante tasa de morbimortalidad al individuo. Se pretende en el estudio evidenciar las repercusiones de las drogas a nivel de la morbimortalidad, efectos orgánicos y repercusiones ponderales a nivel experimental. Se utilizan en el estudio un total de 48 ratones sometidos de forma subaguda a las drogas con la administración durante 21 días de cocaína, extasis y heroína, comparados con un grupo control. Se valora la tasa de mortalidad, los efectos a nivel corporal y las repercusiones sobre el peso del animal. Se discuten los resultados valorando estas repercusiones de forma comparativa en relación a los diferentes tipos de intoxicación y se intenta relacionar los efectos con respectos de las diferentes actuaciones de cada droga a nivel corporal interpretando cada fenómeno fisiopatológico (AU)

Addiction to drugs is one of the biggest social evils at the moment and have a significant morbidity and mortality rate of the individual. The study is intended to demonstrate the impact of drugs morbidity level, organic effects and repercussions weights experimentally. They are used in the study a total of 48 mice submitted to subacute to drugs for 21 days administration of cocaine, ecstasy and heroin, compared with a control group. We assess the mortality rate, level effects and effects on body weight of the animal. Results are discussed assessing these impacts comparatively in relation to different types of poisoning and attempts to relate the effects respects the different actions of each drug at interpreting body each underlying process (AU)

Studio ultraetructural de los efectos de las drogas de adicción a nivel del hígado. Estudio experimental / Ultraestructural study of the effects on the liver of the abuse drugs. Experimental study

Los consumidores de drogas de adicción suelen desarrollar alteraciones hepáticas con lesiones a nivel histopatológico. El propósito del presente trabajo es evaluar a nivel ultraestructural, la acción de diferentes drogas de abuso en el hígado del ratón. La lesión hepática, es inducida en el estudio por dosis repetitivas durante 21 días de diferentes drogas como la cocaína, el éxtasis y la heroína en cada grupo de estudio. Se ha realizado un estudio ultraestructural, tras el procesado de las muestras hepáticas tratadas por las diferentes drogas administradas a los animales integrados en los diferentes grupos de estudio. En los resultados se muestran a nivel de las diferentes estructuras y organelas intracelulares los cambios inducidos por la administración de las diferentes drogas. Se intenta correlacionar las alteraciones ultraestructurales con las repercusiones desde el punto de vista fisiopatológico y sus consecuencias clínicas en el humano (AU)

Drugs abusers are frequently found to have abnormal liver function tests and hepatic histology. The aim of the present work was to analyse, at the ultrastructural level, the action of drugs abuse in the liver mice. Liver injury was induced by a repetitive dose of cocaine, ecstasy and heroin in male albino Swiss mice during 21 days. There has been an ultrastructural study, after processing of the liver samples treated by different drugs given to animals integrated into different groups. The results are shown different level of intracellular organelle structures and changes induced by the administration of different drugs. It attempts to correlate ultrastructural changes with repercussions from the physiological point of view and its clinical consequences in humans (AU)

Estudio histológico de los efectos de diferentes drogas de adicción a nivel del hígado / Histologic study of the effects on the liver of the abuse drugs. Experimental study

INTRODUCCIÓN. Los consumidores de drogas de abuso presentan graves alteraciones psicológicas, orgánicas y con frecuenciapresentan pruebas anormales de la función hepática y de la histología hepática. Los autores realizan un estudio experimental en ratones, con el objeto de hacer la valorización de los efectos de las drogas de adicción a nivel del hígado y en especial sus repercusiones, en el hepatocito, el núcleo, la vena y arteria del sistema portal, la vena hepática centrolobulillar y también en otras estructuras como los conductos canaliculares biliares. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue analizar, a nivel histopatológico, el efecto de las drogas de abuso en el hígado de ratones. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS. La lesión hepática fue inducida por una dosis de droga de cocaína, heroína y MDMA durante un periodode exposición de 21 días, en ratones macho albinos. Se realizó tras el tiempo de exposición, la extracción de un segmento de hígado para su procesamiento y posterior evaluación bajo microscopio óptico. RESULTADOS. Las estructuras evaluadas en las preparaciones histológicas, mostraron los efectos de la exposición de las drogas a nivel del hepatocito y los diferentes cambios inducidos a nivel celular y en el parénquima hepático. DISCUSIÓN. La presente investigación pone de relieve que, la posible inducción de lesiones hepáticas que se añadirían a las distintas alteraciones provocadas por las drogas a otros niveles, considerando la alta incidencia de enfermedades agudas y crónicas que afectan de forma asociada a los drogadictos, y que podrían dañar gravemente órganos vitales con la consiguientealteración del estado de salud de los consumidores de drogas de abuso (AU)

INTRODUCTION. Drugs abusers are frequently found to have abnormal liver function tests and hepatic histology. The authors have a experimental study in the mice with the object of make un valorization of effects of addiction drugs on hepatic cells and others structures as arterial, portal vein and intralobulillar hepatic vein and canallicular biliar ducts. The aim of the present work was to analyse, at the histopathological level, the action of drugs abuse in the liver mice. MATERIAL AND METHODS. Liver injury was induced by a daily dose of cocaine, MDMA and heroin in male albino Swiss mice during 21 days. After the exposure time, the animals were sacrificed, and liver samples, processed for examination under optical microscopy.RESULTS. The results evaluated with observations preparations and morphologic methods show the effects of the different factorsrisks and the proportional changes with respect groups of study. DISCUSSION. The present investigation emphasizes that, in addition to the risk of death by overdose, the high incidence ofacute and chronic diseases could seriously undermine the health status of different abuse drug consumers (AU)

Replacement of dietary fish oil by vegetable oils affects humoral immunity and expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines genes in gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata.

Commercial gilthead sea bream feeds are highly energetic, fish oil traditionally being the main lipid source. But the decreased fish oil production together with the increased prices of this oil encourages its substitution by vegetable oils, imposing new nutritional habits to aquaculture species. Partial replacement of fish oil by vegetable oils in diets for marine species allows good feed utilization and growth but may affect fish health, since imbalances in dietary fatty acids may alter fish immunological status. The effect of dietary oils on different aspects of fish immune system has been reported for some species, but very little is known about the effect of dietary oils on immune-related genes expression in fish. Thus, the objective of this study was to elucidate the role of dietary oils on the expression of two pro-inflammatory cytokines, Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) and Interleukine 1ß (IL-1ß) on intestine and head kidney after exposure to the bacterial pathogen Photobacterium damselae sp. piscicida. For that purpose, 5 iso-nitrogenous and iso-lipidic diets (45% crude protein, 22% crude lipid content) were formulated. Anchovy oil was the only lipid source used in the control diet (FO), but in the other diets, fish oil was totally (100%) or partially (70%) substituted by linseed (rich in n-3 fatty acids) or soybean (rich in n-6 fatty acids) (100L, 100S, 70L, 70S). Fish were fed experimental diets during 80 days and after this period were exposed to an experimental intestinal infection with the pathogen. Serum and tissue samples were obtained at pre-infection and after 1, 3 and 7 days of infection. RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized by reverse transcription from intestine and head kidney and the level expression of TNF-α and IL-1ß were assayed by using quantitative real time PCR. The expression level of genes analysed was represented as relative value, using the comparative Ct method (2(-ΔΔCt)). Serum anti-bacterial activity was measured as serum bactericidal capacity and lysozyme activity. Reduction of FO tends to reduce basal (pre-infection) genetic expression of both cytokines. However, complete FO replacement caused an over expression of both pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly after 3 days of induced infection in fish fed soybean oil based diets. On the other hand, fish fed diets with low content of n-6 fatty acids showed better serum bactericidal capacity after infection, suggesting that the substitution of fish oil by vegetable oils containing high levels of n-6 fatty acids may induce imbalances on fish immune response, leading to a lower potential response against infections.

Acquired chronic hepatocerebral degeneration due to cirrhosis from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Acquired chronic hepatocerebral degeneration, acquired hepatolenticular degeneration or pseudo-Wilson is an infrequent disorder with a hepatic origin. Cases in the literature are scarce and it is frequently confused with hepatic encephalopathy and Wilson s disease. The aim of this essay is to report a patient suffering from this disorder due to cirrhosis from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. CASE REPORT: We present a 54-year-old man diagnosed from cirrhosis grade B9 of the Child Pugh classification. He progressively developed a picture with bradylalia, mild postural and action tremor and spatial and temporal disorientation. Further studies demonstrated an increase of the values of hepatic transaminases and a hyperintensity in the basal nuclei in the cerebral magnetic resonance imaging. Clinical and radiological data established the diagnosis of hepatocerebral degeneration. CONCLUSIONS: Acquired chronic hepatocerebral degeneration is a disorder rarely reported in the literature that it is usually confused with other diseases. We alert about the need of having this diagnosis into account with patients developing neurological symptoms after hepatic disease.

Síndrome hepatocerebral crónico secundario a cirrosis por esteatohepatitis no alcohólica / Acquired chronic hepatocerebral degeneration due to cirrhosis from non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

Fundamento y objetivo: el síndrome hepatocerebral crónico,también denominado degeneración hepatolenticular crónicaadquirida (DHCA) o pseudo-Wilson, es un trastorno poco frecuentede origen hepático. Los casos recogidos en la literatura son escasosy frecuentemente es confundido con la encefalopatía hepáticay con la enfermedad de Wilson. El objetivo de este artículo espresentar un paciente que sufre este trastorno de forma secundariaa una cirrosis por esteatohepatitis no alcohólica.Caso clínico: se trata de un varón de 54 años diagnosticadode cirrosis en grado funcional de Child-Pugh B9 que presentó uncuadro progresivo de bradilalia, temblor postural y de acción levey, en ocasiones, desorientación temporoespacial. Los estudioscomplementarios evidenciaron una elevación de las transaminasashepáticas y una hiperintensidad de los núcleos basales en la resonanciamagnética cerebral estableciéndose el diagnóstico deDHCA.Conclusiones: la DHCA es un trastorno poco descrito en laliteratura que en ocasiones es confundido con otras entidades. Esnecesario descartar la presencia de esta patología en los pacientescirróticos con alteraciones neurológicas tras una enfermedad hepática(AU)

Introduction and objective: acquired chronic hepatocerebraldegeneration, acquired hepatolenticular degeneration orpseudo-Wilson is an infrequent disorder with a hepatic origin.Cases in the literature are scarce and it is frequently confused withhepatic encephalopathy and Wilson’s disease. The aim of this essayis to report a patient suffering from this disorder due to cirrhosisfrom non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.Case report: we present a 54-year-old man diagnosed fromcirrhosis grade B9 of the Child Pugh classification. He progressivelydeveloped a picture with bradylalia, mild postural and actiontremor and spatial and temporal disorientation. Further studiesdemonstrated an increase of the values of hepatic transaminasesand a hiperintensity in the basal nuclei in the cerebral magneticresonance imaging. Clinical and radiological data established thediagnosis of hepatocerebral degeneration.Conclusions: acquired chronic hepatocerebral degenerationis a disorder rarely reported in the literature that it is usually confusedwith other diseases. We alert about the need of having thisdiagnosis into account with patients developing neurologicalsymptoms after hepatic disease(AU)

[Quality of neurological care in the emergency services: a study from the community-hospital]. / Calidad de la asistencia neurológica en urgencias: un estudio desde el área.

INTRODUCTION: The medical conditions shared by hospital emergency services and community-hospital neurology clinics (CHNC) have not been described, and the quality of the medical care received in these conditions has not been evaluated in our environment. METHODS: Over a 2 month period, those patients presenting at any of the seven CHNC in a Health Care Area 1 of Madrid due to previously attended medical conditions in the emergency services were systematically registered. The area neurologists of the CHNC collected administrative and clinical variables and made a judgment on the medical care (primary outcome measure) and diagnoses (secondary outcome measure) received. RESULTS: A total of 181 patients were included (mean age: 58 years; 60% women). The inclusion rate was one patient per working day, and 31% of patients were visited out of the established quota number of patients for the clinic. The most frequent reasons for visiting the emergency room were: headache (20%), focal neurological syndrome (16%) and loss of consciousness (14%). The most frequent diagnoses at the CHNC were: primary headache (19 %), stroke (11%) and epilepsy (9 %). Emergency care was deemed correct in 56 % of patients. When the patients with intervention were compared to those with no intervention, participation of the neurology service in the emergency room was associated to a greater percentage of correct diagnoses (59% vs. 41%; p=0.019) and care (69% vs. 47%; p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The medical conditions shared with the emergency services represent a small but relevant proportion of the patients assisted in the CHNC. Some of these conditions (primary headaches, syncopes) should be canalized into primary health care. Others (epilepsy) require a circuit between emergency room and CNNC, but the appointment system should be adapted. The intervention of a neurologist in the emergency room raises the quality of the care.

Calidad de la asistencia neurológica en urgencias: un estudio desde el área / Quality of neurological care in the emergency services: a study from the community-hospital

Introducción. Los procesos compartidos por los servicios hospitalarios de urgencias y las consultas de neurología del área sanitaria (CNA) no han sido descritos y su calidad asistencial no ha sido evaluada en nuestro medio. Métodos. Durante 2 meses se registraron todos los pacientes que acudieron a las siete CNA 1 de Madrid debido a procesos médicos que habían sido previamente atendidos en urgencias. Los neurólogos del área sanitaria recogieron variables organizativas y clínicas y emitieron un juicio acerca de la asistencia (variable de efecto primaria) y del diagnóstico (variable de efecto secundaria) realizados. Resultados. Fueron incluidos 181 pacientes (edad media: 58 años; 60% mujeres), a un promedio de un paciente por día de consulta. El 31% estaban citados fuera del cupo. Los motivos más frecuentes de la visita a urgencias habían sido: cefalea (20%), focalidad neurológica (16 %) y pérdida de conciencia (14 %). Los diagnósticos más frecuentes en la CNA fueron: cefalea primaria (19%), accidente cerebrovascular (11%) y epilepsia (9 %). La asistencia en urgencias fue correcta en el 56% de los pacientes. Comparado con los procesos en que no intervino, la participación de neurología se asoció a un mayor porcentaje de diagnóstico y de asistencia correctos (59 frente a 41%; p=0,019, y 69 frente a 47%; p=0,003, respectivamente). Conclusiones. Los procesos compartidos con urgencias suponen una proporción pequeña pero no desdeñable del total de pacientes atendidos en las CNA. Algunos de estos procesos (cefaleas primarias, síncopes) deberían canalizarse hacia la asistencia primaria. Otros (epilepsia) precisan del circuito urgencias-CNA, pero el sistema de citaciones debe adaptarse. La actuación del neurólogo en urgencias eleva la calidad asistencial (AU)

Introduction: The medical conditions shared by hospital emergency services and community-hospital neurology clinics (CHNC) have not been described, and the quality of the medical care received in these conditions has not been evaluated in our environment. Methods: Over a 2 month period, those patients presenting at any of the seven CHNC in a Health Care Area 1 of Madrid due to previously attended medical conditions in the emergency services were systematically registered. The area neurologists of the CHNC collected administrative and clinical variables and made a judgment on the medical care (primary outcome measure) and diagnoses (secondary outcome measure) received. Results: A total of 181 patients were included (mean age: 58 years; 60% women). The inclusion rate was one patient per working day, and 31% of patients were visited out of the established quota number of patients for the clinic. The most frequent reasons for visiting the emergency room were: headache (20%), focal neurological syndrome (16%) and loss of consciousness (14%). The most frequent diagnoses at the CHNC were: primary headache (19 %), stroke (11%) and epilepsy (9 %). Emergency care was deemed correct in 56 % of patients. When the patients with intervention were compared to those with no intervention, participation of the neurology service in the emergency room was associated to a greater percentage of correct diagnoses (59% vs. 41%; p=0.019) and care (69% vs. 47%; p=0.003). Conclusions: The medical conditions shared with the emergency services represent a small but relevant proportion of the patients assisted in the CHNC. Some of these conditions (primary headaches, syncopes) should be canalized into primary health care. Others (epilepsy) require a circuit between emergency room and CNNC, but the appointment system should be adapted. The intervention of a neurologist in the emergency room raises the quality of the care (AU)

NAD+-dependent deacetylation of H4 lysine 16 by class III HDACs.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) catalyse the removal of acetyl groups from the N-terminal tails of histones. All known HDACs can be categorized into one of four classes (I-IV). The class III HDAC or silencing information regulator 2 (Sir2) family exhibits characteristics consistent with a distinctive role in regulation of chromatin structure. Accumulating data suggest that these deacetylases acquired new roles as genomic complexity increased, including deacetylation of non-histone proteins and functional diversification in mammals. However, the intrinsic regulation of chromatin structure in species as diverse as yeast and humans, underscores the pressure to conserve core functions of class III HDACs, which are also known as Sirtuins. One of the key factors that might have contributed to this preservation is the intimate relationship between some members of this group of proteins (SirT1, SirT2 and SirT3) and deacetylation of a specific residue in histone H4, lysine 16 (H4K16). Evidence accumulated over the years has uncovered a unique role for H4K16 in chromatin structure throughout eukaryotes. Here, we review the recent findings about the functional relationship between H4K16 and the Sir2 class of deacetylases and how that relationship might impact aging and diseases including cancer and diabetes.

Infestación por Hirudo medicinalis (sanguijuela) / Hirudo medicinalis (leech) infestation

Las sanguijuelas son anélidos hermafroditas de los que existen más de 700 especies, siendo Hirudo medicinalis la más conocida por su empleo durante más de 2000 años en Medicina. Sin embargo, con el advenimiento de la Medicina científica cayeron en desuso siendo hoy día poco conocidas. Presentamos el caso de un varón de 71 años que consultó en el Servicio de Urgencias por el hallazgo de restos hemáticos en la saliva y sensación de cuerpo extraño en la orofaringe, descubriéndose como causa de los síntomas una infestación accidental por este gusano. Se comenta la rareza de este hallazgo y se describe el empleo actual de la sanguijuela en técnicas de microcirugía reconstructiva, así como los últimos estudios publicados por la producción de sustancias anticoagulantes (AU)

Leeches are hermaphroditic annelides, and over 700 species have been described. Hirudo medicinalis is the best-known one, because of its medicinal use over the last 2,000 years or more. However, the advent of scientific Medicine has led to their being proressively forgotten, and leeches are at present almost unknown to the physician. We report the case of a 71-year-old male who was seen at the Emergency Outpatient Clinic because of bloody residues in his saliva and a sensation of oropharyngeal foreign body. The cause of these symptoms was found to be an accidental infestation by these blood-sucking worms. The rarity of this findings is discussed, as well as the present use of leeches in reconstructive surgery techniques and procedures, and the latest published studies of their use in the production of anticoagulant agents (AU)

Hemopoietic stem cell transplantation in childhood: reduction in mortality and improvement of survival over the years.

Stem cell transplantation (SCT) is an effective treatment for life-threatening hematologic and nonhematologic pediatric diseases. Reducing transplant-related mortality (TRM), a major complication of SCT, to improve long-term survival, therefore, is one of the main objectives of transplantation teams. We analyzed TRM and overall survival (OS) over the years in children undergoing SCT in our center. From June 1998 to October 2002, 156 consecutive children, 105 boys and 51 girls, median age 10 years (range, 2-18), with different diagnoses underwent SCT (100 autologous and 56 allogeneic). OS and TRM were analyzed in 2 different periods (June 1989-December 1998 and January 1999-October 2002) and grouped according to the different SCT modalities. The median follow-up was 18 months (range, 1-160). Autologous TRM showed a statistically significant improvement within 1999-2002 (0%) compared with 1989-1998 (12.2%) (P < .05). There were no statistical differences for allogeneic SCT. OS was 34% in the first period and 80.4% in the second period (P < .01), the improvement being for both autologous and allogeneic SCT. In our study, TRM decreased significantly for those children receiving autologous SCT in recent years. OS was significantly better in the latter period (1999-2002), both globally and for each SCT modality.

Analysis of the effects of daunorubicin and WP631 on transcription.

The proficiency with which anthracyclines and other DNA-binding drugs target certain sequences in eukaryotic promoters offers a potential approach to interfere with the mechanisms that regulate gene expression in tumor cells. An in vitro transcription assay has been used to compare the ability of the bisintercalating anthracycline WP631 and the monointercalating anthracycline daunorubicin in terms of their ability to inhibit initiation of transcription of the adenovirus major late promoter linked to a G-less transcribed DNA template. Both drugs inhibit basal transcription by RNA polymerase II. However, WP631 is approximately 15 times more efficient at inhibiting transcription initiation from an adenovirus promoter containing an upstream Sp1-protein binding site. The differences in the ability of each drug to inhibit transcription initiation appear to be related to the competition between Sp1 and the anthracyclines for binding to the same site. To see whether WP631's strong effect on transcription can also be observed in cells, we compared the effects of WP631 and other anthracyclines on the transcription of the c-myc gene, which promoter contains Sp1 binding sites. The resulting data suggest that WP631 might circumvent some kinds of tumor resistance at rather low drug concentrations, inhibit c-myc expression in some cell lines, and exert its antitumoral effect by inducing apoptosis.

Sobreexpresión de MMP-2 en cultivos de fibroblastos procedentes de fascia transversalis de pacientes jóvenes portadores de hernias inguinales directas (II) / MMP-2 overexpression in cultured fibroblasts derived from fascia transversalis in young patients with direct inguinal hernias (II)

Introducción. Entre las estructuras que conforman la pared posterior del canal inguinal que puedan impedir la formación de hernias, y de una manera especial las hernias de tipo directo, se encuentra la fascia transversalis. En estudios previos demostramos la existencia en muestras in vivo de un aumento en la expresión de metaloproteinasa 2 (MMP-2). El objetivo del presente trabajo ha sido investigar, a través de cultivos de fibroblastos tomados de fascia transversalis, la expresión de algunas MMP con el fin de comprobar si las modificaciones encontradas en tejido se mantenían en condiciones de cultivo. Pacientes y métodos. La fascia transversalis fue obtenida de pacientes portadores de hernias indirectas y directas, siempre de una misma zona situada en la pared posterior del canal inguinal. Las muestras control se obtuvieron de pacientes donantes en el transcurso de extracciones multiorgánicas destinadas a trasplante. Se establecieron los siguientes grupos de estudio: control (n = 10), pacientes con hernia directa (n = 32), pacientes con hernia indirecta (n = 36). Las edades de los pacientes oscilaron entre 20 y 60 años (media, 39,8 años). Atendiendo a este parámetro, se diseñaron dos subgrupos de estudio, I: 20-40 años y II: 41-60 años. Las muestras de fascia transversalis fueron procesadas para estudio en cultivo y obtención de fibroblastos. La expresión celular y de los medios de cultivo para MMP-2 y MMP-9 fueron analizada por inmunohistoquímica, ELISA, immunobloting y zimografía. El análisis estadístico fue realizado empleando un test no paramétrico (test de la U de Mann-Whitney). Resultados. La sobreexpresión de MMP-2 fue siempre detectada en los fibroblastos procedentes de pacientes con hernia inguinal directa del subgrupo I. No fue detectada actividad de MMP-9. La cuantificación de MMP-2 por ELISA en los medios de cultivo puso de manifiesto un incremento significativo de esta enzima en el subgrupo I en relación con pacientes con hernia indirecta y controles de la misma edad (p < 0,05). En el subgrupo II, la cantidad de MMP-2 secretada al medio de cultivo fue menor en pacientes con hernia directa, en relación con pacientes control y con hernia indirecta de la misma edad (p < 0,05). Comparando grupos de edades, solamente se detectaron diferencias, significativas en los pacientes portadores de hernia directa (p < 0,05). La zimografía evidenció un aumento significativo para MMP-2 en el subgrupo I, con respecto a controles de la misma edad. La cantidad de enzima activa demostraba un patrón similar al observado para el ELISA del subgrupo II, manteniéndose una disminución significativa en los pacientes portadores de hernia directa en relación con controles y pacientes con hernia indirecta (p < 0,05). Conclusiones. Los fibroblastos de fascia transversalis procedentes de pacientes jóvenes con hernia inguinal directa demuestran una mayor expresión para MMP-2. Esta enzima podría estar implicada en el proceso degradativo de la matriz extracelular de las fascia transversalis de pacientes portadores de este tipo de hernias (AU)