Estradiol-Induced Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition and Migration Are Inhibited by Blocking c-Src Kinase in Breast Cancer Cell Lines.

PURPOSE: The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is the main event that favors cell migration and metastasis in breast cancer. Previously, we demonstrated that 1 nM estradiol (E2) promotes EMT, induced by c-Src kinase, causing changes in the localization of proteins that compose the tight junction (TJ) and adherens junction (AJ). METHODS: The present work highlights the central role of c-Src in the initiation of metastasis, induced by E2, through increasing the ability of MCF-7 and T47-D cells, which express estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), to migrate and invade before they become metastatic. RESULTS: Treatment with E2 can activate two signaling pathways, the first one by the phosphorylated c-Src (p-Src) which forms the p-Src/E-cadherin complex. This phenomenon was completely prevented by incubation with a selective inhibitor of c-Src (5 µM PP2). p-Src then promotes the downregulation of E-cadherin and occludin, which are epithelial phenotype marker proteins of the AJ and TJ, respectively. In the second pathway, E2 binds to ERα, creating a complex that translocates to the nucleus, inducing the synthesis of SNAIL1 and N-cadherin proteins, markers of the mesenchymal phenotype. Both processes increased the migratory and invasive capacities of both cell lines. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrate that E2 enhance EMT and migration, through c-Src activation, in human breast cancer cells that express ERα and become potential therapeutic targets.

Identification and validation of novel Blastocystis subtype ST41 in a Colombian patient undergoing colorectal cancer screening.

Blastocystis sp. is among the most frequent intestinal protists identified in humans globally. However, characterization of Blastocystis subtype diversity in humans is ongoing. We report here the identification of novel Blastocystis subtype ST41 in a Colombian patient undergoing colorectal cancer screening involving colonoscopy and fecal testing (microscopy, culture, PCR). The full-length ssu rRNA gene sequence of the protist was generated using MinION long-read sequencing technology. The validity of the novel subtype was confirmed via phylogenetic and pairwise distance analyses of the full-length ST41 sequence and all other valid subtypes. The study provides reference material essential for conducting subsequent experimental studies.

Surgical site infection in abdominal trauma patients: risk prediction and performance of the NNIS and SENIC indexes.

BACKGROUND: The National Nosocomial Infections Surveillance (NNIS) and Efficacy of Nosocomial Infection Control (SENIC) indexes are designed to develop control strategies and to reduce morbidity and mortality rates resulting from infections in surgical patients. We sought to assess the application of these indexes in patients undergoing surgery for abdominal trauma and to develop an alternative model to predict surgical site infections (SSIs). METHODS: We conducted a prospective cohort study between November 2000 and March 2002. The main outcome measure was SSIs. We evaluated the variables included in the NNIS and SENIC indexes and some preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative variables that could be risk factors related to the development of SSIs. We performed multivariate analyses using a forward logistic regression method. Finally, we assessed infection risk prediction, comparing the estimated probabilities with actual occurrence using the areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. RESULTS: Overall, 614 patients underwent an exploratory laparotomy. Of these, 85 (13.8%) experienced deep incisional and organ/intra-abdominal SSIs. The independent variables associated with this complication were an Abdominal Trauma Index score greater than 24, abdominal contamination and admission to the intensive care unit. We proposed a model for predicting deep incisional and organ/intra-abdominal SSIs using these variables (alternative model). The areas under the ROC curves were compared using the estimated probabilities for this alternative model and for the NNIS and SENIC scores. The analysis revealed a greater area under the ROC curve for the alternative model. The NNIS and SENIC scores did not perform as well as the alternative model in patients with abdominal trauma. CONCLUSION: The NNIS and SENIC indexes were inferior to the proposed alternative model for predicting SSIs in patients undergoing surgery for abdominal trauma.