Expression of Epithelial and Mesenchymal Markers in Plasmatic Extracellular Vesicles as a Diagnostic Tool for Neoplastic Processes.

Tumor-derived extracellular vesicles (TD-EVs) have active roles as cancer hallmark enablers. EVs RNA of epithelial and stromal cells carry information that facilitates the communication processes that contribute to oncological progression, so the objective of this work was to validate by RT-PCR the presence of epithelial (KRT19; CEA) and stromal (COL1A2; COL11A1) markers in RNA of plasmatic EVs in healthy and diverse-malignancy patients for the development of a non-invasive cancer diagnosis system using liquid biopsy. Ten asymptomatic controls and 20 cancer patients were included in the study, and results showed that the isolated plasmatic EVs by scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) andBiomedical Research Institute A Coruña nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) contained most exosome structures with also a considerable percentage of microvesicles. No differences were found in concentration and size distribution between the two cohorts of patients, but significant gene expression in epithelial and mesenchymal markers between healthy donors and patients with active oncological disease was shown. Results of quantitative RT-PCR are solid and reliable for KRT19, COL1A2, and COL11A1, so the analysis of RNA extracted from TD-EVs could be a correct approach to develop a diagnostic tool in oncological processes.

Immunohistological study of the density and distribution of human penile neural tissue: gradient hypothesis.

Immunohistological patterns of density and distribution of neural tissue in the human penis, including the prepuce, are not fully characterized, and effects of circumcision (partial or total removal of the penile prepuce) on penile sexual sensation are controversial. This study analyzed extra- and intracavernosal innervation patterns on the main penile axes using formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human adult and fetal penile tissues, single- and double-staining immunohistochemistry and a variety of neural and non-neural markers, with a special emphasis on the prepuce and potential sexual effects of circumcision. Immunohistochemical profiles of neural structures were determined and the most detailed immunohistological characterizations to date of preputial nerve supply are provided. The penile prepuce has a highly organized, dense, afferent innervation pattern that is manifest early in fetal development. Autonomically, it receives noradrenergic sympathetic and nitrergic parasympathetic innervation. Cholinergic nerves are also present. We observed cutaneous and subcutaneous neural density distribution biases across our specimens towards the ventral prepuce, including a region corresponding in the adult anatomical position (penis erect) to the distal third of the ventral penile aspect. We also describe a concept of innervation gradients across the longitudinal and transverse penile axes. Results are discussed in relation to the specialized literature. An argument is made that neuroanatomic substrates underlying unusual permanent penile sensory disturbances post-circumcision are related to heightened neural levels in the distal third of the ventral penile aspect, which could potentially be compromised by deep incisions during circumcision.

The role of the obestatin/GPR39 system in human gastric adenocarcinomas.

Obestatin, a 23-amino acid peptide encoded by the ghrelin gene, and the GPR39 receptor were reported to be involved in the control of mitogenesis of gastric cancer cell lines; however, the relationship between the obestatin/GPR39 system and gastric cancer progression remains unknown. In the present study, we determined the expression levels of the obestatin/GPR39 system in human gastric adenocarcinomas and explored their potential functional roles. Twenty-eight patients with gastric adenocarcinomas were retrospectively studied, and clinical data were obtained. The role of obestatin/GPR39 in gastric cancer progression was studied in vitro using the human gastric adenocarcinoma AGS cell line. Obestatin exogenous administration in these GPR39-bearing cells deregulated the expression of several hallmarks of the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis. Moreover, obestatin signaling promoted phenotypic changes via GPR39, increasingly impacting on the cell morphology, proliferation, migration and invasion of these cells. In healthy human stomachs, obestatin expression was observed in the neuroendocrine cells and GPR39 expression was localized mainly in the chief cells of the oxyntic glands. In human gastric adenocarcinomas, no obestatin expression was found; however, an aberrant pattern of GPR39 expression was discovered, correlating to the dedifferentiation of the tumor. Altogether, our data strongly suggest the involvement of the obestatin/GPR39 system in the pathogenesis and/or clinical outcome of human gastric adenocarcinomas and highlight the potential usefulness of GPR39 as a prognostic marker in gastric cancer.

The NMR structure of human obestatin in membrane-like environments: insights into the structure-bioactivity relationship of obestatin.

The quest for therapeutic applications of obestatin involves, as a first step, the determination of its 3D solution structure and the relationship between this structure and the biological activity of obestatin. On this basis, we have employed a combination of circular dichroism (CD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and modeling techniques to determine the solution structure of human obestatin (1). Other analogues, including human non-amidated obestatin (2) and the fragment peptides (6-23)-obestatin (3), (11-23)-obestatin (4), and (16-23)-obestatin (5) have also been scrutinized. These studies have been performed in a micellar environment to mimic the cell membrane (sodium dodecyl sulfate, SDS). Furthermore, structural-activity relationship studies have been performed by assessing the in vitro proliferative capabilities of these peptides in the human retinal pigmented epithelial cell line ARPE-19 (ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation, Ki67 expression, and cellular proliferation). Our findings emphasize the importance of both the primary structure (composition and size) and particular segments of the obestatin molecule that posses significant α-helical characteristics. Additionally, details of a species-specific role for obestatin have also been hypothesized by comparing human and mouse obestatins (1 and 6, respectively) at both the structural and bioactivity levels.

Factors influencing health care utilization in older Hispanics with diabetes along the Texas-Mexico border.

Little is known about predictors of health care utilization for older Hispanics with chronic conditions. This study aimed to determine: (1) the level of health care access for older Hispanics with type 2 diabetes living in a US-Mexico border area; and (2) personal and health correlates to health care utilization (ie, physician visits, eye care, emergency room [ER] use). This was a cross-sectional study based on a community assessment conducted at a clinic, senior centers, and colonias. Colonias are impoverished neighborhoods with substandard living conditions along the US-Mexico border. Hispanics living in colonias are one of the most disadvantaged minority groups in the United States. The study sample consisted of 249 Hispanics age 60 years and older who have type 2 diabetes. Descriptive analyses, multiple linear regression, and generalized linear models were conducted. Older age (P = 0.02) and affordability of physician fees (P = 0.02) were significant correlates to more frequent physician visits. Factors significantly associated with eye care were being insured (P = 0.001) and reporting high cholesterol (P = 0.005). ER use was significantly associated with younger age (60-64 years old; P = 0.03) and suffering from hypertension (P = 0.02). Those who received diabetes education (P = 0.04) were less likely to use the ER. Identifying patterns of health care utilization services in aging underserved minorities who are disproportionately affected by diabetes may lead to culturally appropriate preventive practices and timely access to health care. Adequate health care access can decrease or delay the onset of diabetes complications in older Hispanics with type 2 diabetes who live along the US-Mexico border.

A pilot walking program for Mexican-American women living in colonias at the border.

PURPOSE: To test the effectiveness of ¡Vamos a Caminar! (Let's Walk!), an intervention for Mexican-American women living in economically disadvantaged, poorly urbanized areas in the South Texas border region. DESIGN: This was a nonexperimental, one-group, pretest and posttest intervention with a duration of 12 weeks. SETTING: The intervention was conducted in Hidalgo County, Texas, 1 of the 10 poorest counties in the United States, located at the border with Mexico. Participants resided in areas known as colonias, which are unincorporated and impoverished settlements along the border where many people live in trailers or self-built houses and lack basic services. SUBJECTS: Spanish-speaking Mexican-American women (n  =  16) 18 years of age and older. INTERVENTION: The program was home-based, culturally sensitive, theoretically driven, and facilitated by community health workers. MEASURES: Changes in walking levels, depressive symptoms, and stress levels were assessed. ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics and the Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-ranks test were used. RESULTS: A majority of participants were unemployed, had low levels of education, were born in Mexico, and were obese. After exposure to the program, the participants reported a significant increase in walking (915.8 metabolic equivalent min/wk; p  =  .002) and lower depressive symptoms (p  =  .055) and stress level scores (p  =  .017). CONCLUSIONS: Culturally sensitive programs promoting walking in underserved, minority populations are promising in reducing physical activity disparities.

Ethnic and health correlates of diabetes-related amputations at the Texas-Mexico border.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between diabetes-related lower-extremity amputation (LEA) and ethnicity, age, source of payment, geographic location, diabetes severity, and health condition in adults with diabetes mellitus type 2 living in border and non-border counties in Texas, United States of America, and to assess intra-border region geographic differences in post-LEA treatment. METHODS: This correlational study was based on secondary data from the 2003 Texas Inpatient Hospital Discharge Data. The sample consisted of individuals 45 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes who had undergone a nontraumatic LEA (n = 5,865). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were applied. RESULTS: The following characteristics were predictors of LEA: being Hispanic or African American, male, ≥ 55 years old, and a Medicare or Medicaid user, and living in a border county. Persons with moderate diabetes and those who suffered from cardiovascular disease or stroke also had higher odds of undergoing an LEA. Post-LEA occupational therapy was significantly less prevalent among border residents (9.5%) than non-border residents (15.3%) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Understanding the factors that influence diabetes-related LEA may lead to early detection and effective treatment of this disabling consequence of diabetes along the U.S.-Mexico border.

Ethnic and health correlates of diabetes-related amputations at the Texas-Mexico border / Correlatos étnicos y de salud de las amputaciones relacionadas con la diabetes en la frontera entre Texas y México

OBJECTIVE: To examine the association between diabetes-related lower-extremity amputation (LEA) and ethnicity, age, source of payment, geographic location, diabetes severity, and health condition in adults with diabetes mellitus type 2 living in border and non-border counties in Texas, United States of America, and to assess intra-border region geographic differences in post-LEA treatment. METHODS: This correlational study was based on secondary data from the 2003 Texas Inpatient Hospital Discharge Data. The sample consisted of individuals 45 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes who had undergone a nontraumatic LEA (n = 5 865). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses were applied. RESULTS: The following characteristics were predictors of LEA: being Hispanic or African American, male, > 55 years old, and a Medicare or Medicaid user, and living in a border county. Persons with moderate diabetes and those who suffered from cardiovascular disease or stroke also had higher odds of undergoing an LEA. Post-LEA occupational therapy was significantly less prevalent among border residents (9.5 percent) than non-border residents (15.3 percent) (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Understanding the factors that influence diabetes-related LEA may lead to early detection and effective treatment of this disabling consequence of diabetes along the U.S.-Mexico border.

OBJETIVO: Analizar la asociación entre las amputaciones de extremidades inferiores (AEI) relacionadas con la diabetes y el grupo étnico, la edad, la procedencia del pago, la ubicación geográfica, la gravedad de la diabetes y el estado de salud de los adultos que padecen diabetes tipo 2 residentes en los condados fronterizos y no fronterizos de Texas (Estados Unidos de América), y evaluar la diferencias geográficas dentro de la zona fronteriza en cuanto al tratamiento posterior a la amputación. MÉTODOS: Este estudio correlacional se basó en datos secundarios procedentes de la información de egreso de pacientes hospitalizados en Texas durante el año 2003. La muestra estuvo integrada por personas de 45 años o mayores con diabetes tipo 2, que habían sido sometidas a la amputación no traumática de una extremidad inferior (n = 5 865). Se aplicaron estadística descriptiva y análisis de regresión logística. RESULTADOS: Las siguientes características constituyeron factores predictivos de AEI: ser hispano o afroestadounidense, hombre, de 55 años o mayor, beneficiario de Medicare o Medicaid, y residente en un condado fronterizo. Las personas con diabetes moderada que padecían enfermedades cardiovasculares o habían sufrido un accidente cerebrovascular también tenían una mayor probabilidad de ser sometidas a una AEI. La terapia ocupacional posterior a la amputación fue significativamente menos prevalente entre los residentes fronterizos (9,5 por ciento) que entre los no fronterizos (15,3 por ciento) (P < 0,001). CONCLUSIONES: La comprensión de los factores que influyen en las AEI relacionadas con la diabetes puede conducir a la detección temprana y el tratamiento eficaz de esta secuela discapacitante en la zona fronteriza entre los Estados Unidos y México.

Hallazgo parasitológico en una niña saharaui / Parasitologic finding in a saharan girl

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Meningitis por Salmonella sp. en el adulto. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la bibliografía española / Salmonella sp. in the adult. Case report and review of the spanish bibliography

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Infección urinaria por salmonella no typhi / Urinary infection by Salmonella non thypi

Fundamento: Conocer la frecuencia y las características clínicas de la infección urinaria por Salmonella no typhi en nuestro medio. Pacientes y métodos: Se revisaron retrospectivamente las historias clínicas de los pacientes con bacteriuria por Salmonella no typhi diagnosticados en el Hospital General de Guadalajara entre enero de 1990 y julio de 1999. Resultados: Durante los casi 10 años revisados 9 pacientes fueron diagnosticados de bacteriuria por Salmonella no typhi, lo que representa el 0,056 por ciento de las infecciones urinarias diagnosticadas en nuestro hospital durante dicho período de tiempo. Todos los enfermos presentaron enfermedad de base subyacente y cinco estuvieron sometidos a tratamiento inmunosupresor. Cuatro pacientes presentaron afecciones urológicas. El serogrupo más frecuente fue Salmonella enteritidis (7 casos). Todos los episodios fueron sintomáticos. En 4 enfermos se aisló el mismo microorganismo en las heces. La evolución fue favorable en 5 de los 9 casos. Se produjo recurrencia en 2 pacientes y bacteriemia secundaria en uno. Seis enfermos requirieron tratamiento antibiótico durante dos o más semanas. La duración media del tratamiento fue de 2,5 semanas. Conclusiones: La infección urinaria por Salmonella no typhi ocurre predominantemente en pacientes con inmunosupresión o afecciones urológicas. Recomendamos realizar tratamiento antibiótico prolongado por su tórpida evolución. (AU)