Modification of HIF-1α, NF-aκB, IGFBP-3, VEGF and adiponectin in diabetic foot ulcers treated with hyperbaric oxygen.

Introduction: Diabetic foot ulcers are a frequent complication of diabetes and the first cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputation. They affect quality of life, restrict social productivity and generate a high economic burden for health care systems. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO2) therapy is an adjunctive treatment option because it improves wound healing in the short term. However, its ability to modulate the pro- and anti-inflammatory balance and the hypoxic cell response in the clinical setting has not been fully described. Objective: To determine modifications in HIF-1α, NF-κB, IGFBP-3, and VEGF expression in wounds as well as circulating inflammatory cytokines in patients with diabetic foot ulcers subjected to HBO2. Materials and methods: We studied 17 ambulatory patients and one hospitalized patient with diabetic foot ulcers classified as Grade 3 or 4 according to the Wagner scale. All underwent HBO2 therapy. Tissue expression of HIF-1α, NF-κB, IGFBP-3, and VEGF was determined by immunohistochemistry. Plasma levels of adiponectin, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-10 and IL-4 were measured by ELISA and chemiluminescence. Fibrosis and angiogenesis were determined by Masson's trichrome staining. Results: Ulcers in all patients healed after one month of HBO2, and none presented relapses at the one-year follow-up. At the beginning of treatment, HIF-1α and NF-κB expression was observed mainly in the nucleus, whereas these proteins were localized in the cytoplasm at the end of HBO2. There were significant modifications in VEGF expression after therapy, an increase in the plasma level of proinflammatory IL-6, and a decrease in that of IFN-γ. IGFBP-3 expression and plasma levels of adiponectin were increased at the end of HBO2. Increases in fibrosis and angiogenesis were also observed. Conclusion: These results suggest that adjuvant HBO2 modifies the proinflammatory balance related to the cellular response to hypoxia.

Bacteremia en terapia intensiva / Bacteremia in intensive therapy

Se efectuó un estudio retrospectivo, observacional, transversal y descriptivo en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos del Hospital de Infectología del Centro Médico La Raza, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, de febrero a septiembre de 1990, a pacientes atendidos por diversas enfermedades infecciosas y a los cuales se efectuó toma de hemocultivo en periodos febriles de 38ºC o mayores. El objetivo fue determinar la prevalencia de bacteremia, riesgo relativo de muerte y agentes microbianos más frecuentemente aislados. Se tomaron un total de 75 hemocultivos de 29 pacientes, en 10 de ellos 12 hemocultivos presentaron desarrollo bacteriano y en los 19 restantes 62 hemocultivos no presentaron desarrollo. Del grupo de pacientes con bacteremia seis fallecieron y cuatro sobrevivieron; cinco de aquéllos que no la presentaron fallecieron y 14 sobrevivieron. La prevalencia de bacteremia fue de 16 por ciento, las bacterias más frecuentemente aisladas pertenecieron a la familia Streptococcus. El riesgo relativo de muerte con análisis estadístico de razón de nomios, presentó un asociación positiva entre bacteremia y muerte. Aún se requieren de estudios con un mayor número de pacientes y con grupos de enfermedades bien delimitados para establecer con más certeza la relación bacteremia-muerte