Hypersensitivity reaction to Abiraterone, successful desensitization protocol in prostate cancer patient.

INTRODUCTION: In prostate cancer, androgens are key in the growth of both normal prostate and cancer cells. Abiraterone acetate inhibits CYP17, an important target in prostate cancer given its central role in the production of adrenal and tumor-derived androgens. Although abiraterone is generally well tolerated, common adverse effects such as hypertension, hypokalemia, and hepatotoxicity have been reported. CLINICAL CASE: We present the case of an 83-year-old Mexican man with high-volume EC IV prostate cancer resistant to castration, orchiectomy, and bone, liver, and lung metastases. First-line treatment with the CHAARTED scheme was indicated, by patient decision refuse chemotherapy treatment. On the fourth day of starting treatment, he developed pruritic erythematous macular skin lesions and urticaria on the posterior chest that resolved spontaneously. A generalized erythematous and pruritic maculopapular rash appeared 12 days after starting abiraterone, for which she was referred to allergies. MANAGEMENT AND RESULTS: An oral provocation test was performed for two days, presenting localized macular lesions eight hours after the administration of abiraterone. An oral desensitization protocol was carried out for ten days in which no hypersensitivity reactions were observed, thus achieving the successful administration of abiraterone.

Design and Characterization of pMyc/pMax Peptide-Coupled Gold Nanosystems for Targeting Myc in Prostate Cancer Cell Lines.

Myc and Max are essential proteins in the development of prostate cancer. They act by dimerizing and binding to E-box sequences. Disrupting the Myc:Max heterodimer interaction or its binding to E-box sequences to interrupt gene transcription represent promising strategies for treating cancer. We designed novel pMyc and pMax peptides from reference sequences, and we evaluated their ability to bind specifically to E-box sequences using an electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Then, we assembled nanosystems (NSs) by coupling pMyc and pMax peptides to AuNPs, and determined peptide conjugation using UV-Vis spectroscopy. After that, we characterized the NS to obtain the nanoparticle's size, hydrodynamic diameter, and zeta potential. Finally, we evaluated hemocompatibility and cytotoxic effects in three different prostate adenocarcinoma cell lines (LNCaP, PC-3, and DU145) and a non-cancerous cell line (Vero CCL-81). EMSA results suggests peptide-nucleic acid interactions between the pMyc:pMax dimer and the E-box. The hemolysis test showed little hemolytic activity for the NS at the concentrations (5, 0.5, and 0.05 ng/µL) we evaluated. Cell viability assays showed NS cytotoxicity. Overall, results suggest that the NS with pMyc and pMax peptides might be suitable for further research regarding Myc-driven prostate adenocarcinomas.

Interleukin-6 as a biomarker of hypersensitivity reactions in chemotherapeutics and monoclonal antibodies.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, a new type of immediate hypersensitivity reaction known as cytokine release began to emerge, and within this phenotype of reactions, interleukin-6 is the most frequently associated with the presence during drug administration. Chemotherapeutic agents (QT) and monoclonal antibodies. OBJECTIVE: Determine interleukin-6 levels in hypersensitivity reactions to QT and monoclonal antibodies. METHODS: Observational and prospective study that was carried out from March 1, 2021 to March 1, 2022 in a university hospital in northeastern Mexico. Symptoms, severity, interleukin-6 levels, and skin tests of hypersensitivity reaction were evaluated at QT and monoclonal antibodies. RESULTS: A total of 41 patients with oncological disease were included, the most frequent being ovarian cancer. Symptoms as initial hypersensitivity reaction were neuromuscular in taxanes and cutaneous in Platinums.41.5% presented elevation of interleukin-6, and it was found more frequently in presence of metastases. Positive skin tests were found more frequently in the carboplatin and doxorubicin groups. The most frequently presented phenotype was type I in paclitaxel, carboplatin, and doxorubicin, and mixed-reaction (type I and cytokine release) in oxaliplatin. CONCLUSION: With the increasing prevalence of hypersensitivity reactions to biologic and antineoplastic therapies, interleukin-6 should be recognized as a biomarker in immediate hypersensitivity reactions to QT and monoclonal antibodies.

Hypersensitivity Reactions to Taxanes: A Comprehensive and Systematic Review of the Efficacy and Safety of Desensitization.

Taxanes in the treatment of cancer are associated with a significant incidence of hypersensitivity reactions, which may preclude their use in patients in need of first line therapy. Drug desensitization induces transient immunological tolerance and has allowed the reintroduction of taxanes in highly allergic patients. Increase the knowledge of hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) during the administration of taxanes. A systematic review regarding the safety and efficacy of rapid drug desensitization (RDD) for taxanes HSR. The study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, was registered in PROSPERO(CRD42021242324) and a comprehensive search was conducted in Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus databases. 25 studies encompassing 10 countries were identified and 976 patients with initial HSR to paclitaxel (n = 707) and docetaxel (n = 284), that underwent a total of 2,396 desensitizations. The most common symptoms were cutaneous (74.6%) with paclitaxel and respiratory (72.6%) with docetaxel. Severe initial hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis occurred in 39.6% and 13% of paclitaxel and docetaxel cases respectively and during the first (87.4%) or second exposure (81.5%). Patients tolerated well RDD and breakthrough reactions (BTR) occurred in 32.2% of paclitaxel-treated patients and in 20.6% of docetaxel treated patients. Premedications included corticosteroids, antihistamines and leukotriene receptor antagonists. The most commonly used protocol was the BWH 3 bags 12 steps, all protocols showed a success rate between 95-100%, with no reported deaths. RDD is a safe and effective procedure in patients with HSR to taxanes and protocols should be standardized for wide range implementation.

Hypersensitivity reactions to anticancer chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies: Safety and efficacy of desensitization.

BACKGROUND: Hypersensitivity reactions to anticancer chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies may lead to discontinuation of first-line treatment options. Identification of these reactions can provide specific diagnosis and treatment by rapid drug desensitizations. OBJECTIVE: To determine the hypersensitivity reactions involved in anticancer chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies, and the safety and efficacy of rapid drug desensitization. METHODS: We conducted an observational study of hypersensitivity reaction presented after the administration of anticancer chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies in Mexico. We documented the symptoms of initial reaction and their severity, and the results of skin tests. We also report our experience of the administration of 12-step (mild-moderate reactions) and 16-step (severe reactions) desensitization protocols in these patients. RESULTS: Overall, 93 patients received 336 rapid drug desensitization; 105 to taxanes, 115 to platinum drugs, 101 to monoclonal antibodies, and 15 other anticancer chemotherapy. Hypersensitivity reaction to taxanes occurred in the first or second administration, platinum drugs after the sixth cycle, and rituximab in the first cycle. The most common symptom in carboplatin was urticaria, paclitaxel back pain, oxaliplatin and docetaxel dyspnea, and in the monoclonal antibodies cardiovascular symptoms. Skin tests were positive in 75% of the carboplatin group, and only 16.7% in docetaxel. There was a rapid drug desensitization success rate of 99.4% and 85.7% did not present any related hypersensitivity reaction. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of hypersensitivity reaction to anticancer chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies offers a panorama in the management of oncological diseases. Our standardized desensitization protocol is safe and effective and can be reproduced in other centers to treat patients who need to maintain first-line treatment.

SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibodies in Mexican Population: A Five Vaccine Comparison.

Neutralizing antibodies (NAs) are key immunological markers and are part of the humoral response of the adaptive immune system. NA assays determine the presence of functional antibodies to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. We performed a real-world evidence study to detect NAs that confer protection against SARS-CoV-2 after the application of five vaccines (Pfizer/BioNTech, AstraZeneca, Sinovac, Moderna, and CanSino) in the Mexican population. Side effects of COVID-19 vaccines and clinical and demographic factors associated with low immunogenicity were also evaluated. A total of 242 SARS-CoV-2-vaccinated subjects were recruited. Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna proved the highest percentage of inhibition in a mono-vaccine scheme. Muscular pain, headache, and fatigue were the most common adverse events. None of the patients reported severe adverse events. We found an estimated contagion-free time of 207 (IQR: 182-231) and 187 (IQR: 184-189) days for Pfizer/BioNTech and CanSino in 12 cases in each group. On the basis of our results, we consider that the emerging vaccination strategy in Mexico is effective and safe.

Identification of Germline Variants in Patients with Hereditary Cancer Syndromes in Northeast Mexico.

Hereditary cancer syndromes (HCS) are genetic diseases with an increased risk of developing cancer. This research describes the implementation of a cancer prevention model, genetic counseling, and germline variants testing in an oncologic center in Mexico. A total of 315 patients received genetic counseling, genetic testing was offered, and 205 individuals were tested for HCS. In 6 years, 131 (63.90%) probands and 74 (36.09%) relatives were tested. Among the probands, we found that 85 (63.9%) had at least one germline variant. We identified founder mutations in BRCA1 and a novel variant in APC that led to the creation of an in-house detection process for the whole family. The most frequent syndrome was hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) (41 cases with BRCA1 germline variants in most of the cases), followed by eight cases of hereditary non-polyposic cancer syndrome (HNPCC or Lynch syndrome) (with MLH1 as the primarily responsible gene), and other high cancer risk syndromes. Genetic counseling in HCS is still a global challenge. Multigene panels are an essential tool to detect the variants frequency. Our program has a high detection rate of probands with HCS and pathogenic variants (40%), compared with other reports that detect 10% in other populations.

Atopy, allergen sensitization and development of hypersensitivity reactions to paclitaxel.

BACKGROUND: Paclitaxel is a chemotherapeutic agent used in the treatment of multiple types of malignant tumors which was discovered from the Taxus brevofilia tree. In some patients, anaphylaxis develops during the first exposure to paclitaxel, suggesting that primary sensitization may have occurred through hidden or unidentified allergens that produce cross-reactivity. Skin testing may be useful in identifying sensitization to these allergens. Atopy has also been reported in patients with hypersensitivity reactions (HSR) to paclitaxel.The aim of this study is to evaluate the association between atopy and sensitization to allergens with the development of immediate HSR to paclitaxel. METHODS: Skin prick tests (SPT) for environmental and food allergens were applied to 76 patients recently diagnosed with cancer. A SPT to paclitaxel was applied and if negative, an intradermal test was performed. After paclitaxel's infusion, the development of immediate HSR was observed. RESULTS: Of 76 skin tests, 43% of patients had allergen sensitization and 57% did not. HSR occurred in 12.1% and 11.6% of each group, respectively. Five percent of patients tested positive to paclitaxel and only one had an immediate HSR. Eighty-nine percent of patients who developed an HSR had a family or personal history of atopy. CONCLUSIONS: Sensitization to environmental or food allergens does not appear to be a risk factor for the development of immediate HSR to paclitaxel, suggesting that there are other non-IgE-mediated immunologic mechanisms responsible for their development, however, a personal and family history of atopy increases 8x the risk of developing anaphylaxis.

Prolactin Expression in the Baboon (Papio hamadryas) Eye.

Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone expressed in lactotrophs cells of the pituitary gland in primates. Extra pituitary expression of PRL has been reported, including the eye; however, expression in the developing eye of primates is limited. The aim of the study was determining the expression of PRL and PRL receptor (PRLR) (mRNAs and proteins) in adult and fetal baboon (Papio hamadryas) ocular tissues. METHODS: We analyzed PRL and PRLR in baboon eyes tissues by immunofluorescence. The mRNAs of PRL and PRLR were detected by RT-PCR, cDNA was cloned, and sequenced. Furthermore, we performed a phylogenetic analysis to identify the evolutionary forces that underlie the divergence of PRL and PRLR primate genes. RESULTS: We observed the expression of PRL and PRLR (mRNAs and proteins) in all retinal cell lineages of fetal and adult baboon. PRL and PRLR fit the hypothesis of evolutionary purifying gene selection. CONCLUSIONS: mRNA and protein of PRL and PRLR are expressed in fetal and adult baboon retinal tissue. PRL may trigger autocrine and paracrine-specific actions in retinal cell lines.

Epidemiological Algorithm for Early Detection of COVID-19 Cases in a Mexican Oncologic Center.

An early detection tool for latent COVID-19 infections in oncology staff and patients is essential to prevent outbreaks in a cancer center. (1) Background: In this study, we developed and implemented two early detection tools for the radiotherapy area to identify COVID-19 cases opportunely. (2) Methods: Staff and patients answered a questionnaire (electronic and paper surveys, respectively) with clinical and epidemiological information. The data were collected through two online survey tools: Real-Time Tracking (R-Track) and Summary of Factors (S-Facts). Cut-off values were established according to the algorithm models. SARS-CoV-2 qRT-PCR tests confirmed the positive algorithms individuals. (3) Results: Oncology staff members (n = 142) were tested, and 14% (n = 20) were positives for the R-Track algorithm; 75% (n = 15) were qRT-PCR positive. The S-Facts Algorithm identified 7.75% (n = 11) positive oncology staff members, and 81.82% (n = 9) were qRT-PCR positive. Oncology patients (n = 369) were evaluated, and 1.36% (n = 5) were positive for the Algorithm used. The five patients (100%) were confirmed by qRT-PCR. (4) Conclusions: The proposed early detection tools have proved to be a low-cost and efficient tool in a country where qRT-PCR tests and vaccines are insufficient for the population.

Risk Association of TOX3 and MMP7 Gene Polymorphisms with Sporadic Breast Cancer in Mexican Women.

Breast cancer (BC) has one of the highest incidences and mortality worldwide. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TOX3 rs3803662 and MMP7 rs1943779 have been associated with susceptibility to BC. In this case-control study, we evaluated the association of rs3803662 (TOX3)/rs1943779 (MMP7) SNPs with clinical features, immunohistochemical reactivity, and risk association with BC in women from northeastern Mexico. We compared 212 BC cases and 212 controls. DNA was isolated from peripheral blood to perform the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay. We calculated genotype frequencies, odds ratios, and 95% confidence intervals. We found that CT (Cytocine-Thymine) and TT (Thymine -Thymine) genotypes, and T alleles of TOX3 rs3803662, were associated with BC risk (p = 0.034, p = 0.011, respectively). SNP TOX3 rs3803662 was associated with positive progesterone receptors (PR) and triple-negative BC (TNBC) but not with estrogen receptor (ER) or HER2 reactivity. CT and TT genotypes (p = 0.006) and T alleles (p = 0.002) of SNP MMP7 rs1943779 were associated with risk of BC. We found that T alleles of TOX3 rs3803662 and MMP7 rs1943779 SNPs are associated with BC risk. These findings contribute to personalized medicine in Mexican women.

Complete metabolic response after carboplatin desensitization in Peritoneal Carcinomatosis.

INTRODUCTION: High-grade serous primary peritoneal cancer is highly sensitive to platinum-based chemotherapy with response rates above 80%. Incidence of immediate hypersensitivity reactions to carboplatin is estimated to be between 15% and 20%, usually seen after a mean of 6-8 infusions, with patients developing moderate to severe reactions. CASE REPORT: A 62-year-old female patient with stage IIIC primary high-grade serous carcinoma of the peritoneum was diagnosed and chemotherapy with carboplatin and Paclitaxel was indicated by the oncology service and patient shows response. At 6 months the patient returns, a new PET/CT reports progression of the disease. Carboplatin/paclitaxel cycles are restarted and in the eight cycle of carboplatin within 40 min of administration, she presented severe anaphylaxis with skin, pulmonary, cardiac and atypical symptoms. Infusion is suspended and intramuscular epinephrine with hydrocortisone and chlorphenamine are administered resolving symptoms. MANAGEMENT AND OUTCOME: Intradermal skin test with carboplatin at the concentration of 10 mg / ml (dilution 1: 100) was positive. Due to the symptoms presented and to continue the safe reintroduction to carboplatin, a 4 bag 16-step drug desensitization protocol was carried out at a total dose of 620 mg with no hypersensitivity reactions. DISCUSSION: Prolonged carboplatin use is associated with an increased incidence of carboplatin-related hypersensitivity reactions. And in patients that present hypersensitivity reactions, a safe and effective carboplatin desensitization protocol can be carried out to reach the administration of a full dose. Desensitization protocol induces tolerance to a drug temporarily and is dependent on continuous exposure.

Evaluation of the Ovarian Reserve in Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disorder where the disease activity itself and the medications used for its treatment, may have adverse effects on ovarian function. This study aimed to assess the ovarian reserve (OR) in SLE patients. Materials and methods: The anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) and the antral follicle count (AFC), two markers to evaluate the OR was assessed in 64 SLE patients and compared to normal individuals. Additionally, we assessed whether the disease per se or the pharmacological treatments affect the OR. Results: Patients with SLE displayed alterations in the OR regardless of the presence of alterations of the menstrual cycle. The AFC and AMH were significantly lower in SLE patients with and without menstrual alterations when compared to control individuals (p<0.0001). However, the AFC and AMH levels were significantly correlated (p=0.006) in the SLE patients with menstrual alterations. Except for hydroxychloroquine that was statistically higher in SLE patients with menstrual alterations (p=0.04), the cumulative dose for cyclophosphamide, corticosteroid, and methotrexate was similar in SLE patients regardless of the occurrence of menstrual alterations. Conclusion: The monitoring of AMH and AFC in SLE patients should be used to detect the rapid and irreversible decline of the OR to provide a possibility of pregnancy to the SLE patients.

Analysis of HPV Integrations in Mexican Pre-Tumoral Cervical Lesions Reveal Centromere-Enriched Breakpoints and Abundant Unspecific HPV Regions.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA integration is a crucial event in cervical carcinogenesis. However, scarce studies have focused on studying HPV integration (HPVint) in early-stage cervical lesions. Using HPV capture followed by sequencing, we investigated HPVint in pre-tumor cervical lesions. Employing a novel pipeline, we analyzed reads containing direct evidence of the integration breakpoint. We observed multiple HPV infections in most of the samples (92%) with a median integration rate of 0.06% relative to HPV mapped reads corresponding to two or more sequence breakages. Unlike cancer studies, most integrations events were unique (supported by one read), consistent with the lack of clonal selection. Congruent to other studies, we found that breakpoints could occur, practically, in any part of the viral genome. We noted that L1 had a higher frequency of rupture integration (25%). Based on host genome integration frequencies, we found previously reported integration sites in cancer for genes like FHIT, CSMD1, and LRP1B and putatively many new ones such as those exemplified in CSMD3, ROBO2, and SETD3. Similar host integrations regions and genes were observed in diverse HPV types within many genes and even equivalent integration positions in different samples and HPV types. Interestingly, we noted an enrichment of integrations in most centromeres, suggesting a possible mechanism where HPV exploits this structural machinery to facilitate integration. Supported by previous findings, overall, our analysis provides novel information and insights about HPVint.

Identification of a Novel Pathogenic Rearrangement Variant of the APC Gene Associated with a Variable Spectrum of Familial Cancer.

Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) is an autosomal-dominant condition characterized by the presence of multiple colorectal adenomas, caused by germline variants in the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene. More than 300 germline variants have been characterized. The detection of novel variants is important to understand the mechanisms of pathophysiology. We identified a novel pathogenic germline variant using next-generation sequencing (NGS) in a proband patient. The variant is a complex rearrangement (c.422+1123_532-577 del ins 423-1933_423-1687 inv) that generates a complete deletion of exon 5 of the APC gene. To study the variant in other family members, we designed an endpoint PCR method followed by Sanger sequencing. The variant was identified in the proband patient's mother, one daughter, her brother, two cousins, a niece, and a second nephew. In patients where the variant was identified, we found atypical clinical symptoms, including mandibular, ovarian, breast, pancreatic, and gastric cancer. Genetic counseling and cancer prevention strategies were provided for the family. According to the American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) guidelines, this novel variant is considered a PVS1 variant (very strong evidence of pathogenicity), and it can be useful in association with clinical data for early surveillance and suitable treatment.

Evaluation of Ovarian Reserve in Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Objective: Subfertility is commonly observed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Although the causes are not well established, the alteration of the ovarian reserve is thought to contribute to the lower chances of pregnancy. This cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the ovarian reserve in patients with RA. Materials and methods: Two parameters associated with ovarian reserves such as the antral follicle count (AFC) and the anti-müllerian hormone (AMH) were assessed in 38 patients with RA. We also analyzed the correlation of these parameters with the medication used to treat this pathology and with the illness severity. Results: The AMH levels in women with RA were comparable to those found on healthy individuals although the RA patients were more likely to have a low AFC. Ovarian reserve and RA were neither influenced by parameters of disease activity nor by the use of medication. Conclusion: The ovarian reserve in women with RA was similar to that found in healthy individuals.

Clinical stage I synchronous bilateral testicular germ cell tumor with different histopathology: a case report.

Bilateral testicular germ cell tumors (BTGCT) occur in 1 to 4% of patients with testicular cancer and of these, 10-15% are synchronous. Overall, BTGCT represents less than 0.5% of all new cases of testicular cancer. There are few reports in the literature of synchronous BTGCT with different histology. We present the case of a 30-year-old man who presented to our genitourinary tumor unit with a bilateral increase of testicular volume. After initial assessment, a testicular ultrasound showed the presence of solid tumors in both testes. Staging studies were negative for metastatic disease. The patient was referred to the fertility clinic for sperm banking and later underwent a bilateral radical orchiectomy. The histopathology evaluation revealed a 5.5 cm right-sided mixed germ cell tumor and a 1.5 cm left-sided testicular seminoma. Because patient's poor compliance for surveillance was identified as a risk factor for relapse and poor outcome, adjuvant chemotherapy was favored. The patient underwent one cycle of bleomycin, etoposide and cisplatin (BEP). After four years of follow up, the patient shows no evidence of relapse, either clinically or radiologically. In men unlikely to carry out successful surveillance; active treatment is the preferred option for preventing disease recurrence, even in patients with no risk factors. The physician must consider all available therapeutic measures in this scenario to achieve the best possible therapeutic result.

Comparison of Automated and Manual DNA Isolation Methods of Liquid-Based Cytology Samples.

Liquid-based cytology (LBC) has been used as a diagnostic tool for cervical cancer for years and is now being adopted for other gynecological cancers. LBC represents an important challenge to ensure that the process yields representative biospecimens for quality control (QC) of diagnostic procedures. In this study, we compare QC parameters (integrity, yield and purity, and polymerase chain reaction [PCR] amplification) of DNA isolated from LBC (N = 296) using two different nucleic acid isolation methods, manual (n = 233) or automated (n = 63). We also evaluated two different types of cytological brushes for sampling from the cervix. Our results suggest that manual isolation (yield 22.81 ± 1.92 µg) resulted in increased DNA recovery when compared with automated isolation (yield 9.96 ± 1.11 µg) from LBC samples, with a p-value of <0.0003. We estimated that 98% (53/54) of the samples preserved the integrity of DNA and were suitable for standard molecular biology analyses. The ß-globin gene was amplified in 100% (296/296) of the DNA samples by endpoint PCR. We found no significant difference between the performance of the cytological brushes (p value of <0.6711) in a general overview. However, when looking at the results from using each brush individually, the manual isolation method was statistically superior to the automated method. Our work illustrates the impact of good QC of preanalytic conditions, which will be important for the application of LBC for developing early detection methods for gynecological cancers.

The elimination of apoptotic sperm in IVF procedures and its effect on pregnancy rate.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the effect of apoptotic sperm elimination with MACS in patients that require IVF. METHODS: An experimental, cross-sectional, descriptive, prospective and non-blinded study of diagnostic tests performed in patients who required IVF and ICSI from July 2011 to July 2012. Ninety-two couples participated according to the treatment administered to the semen sample; in the control group: the samples were subjected only to density gradients before ICSI, in the study group: the same procedure was performed plus the addition of the MACS technique. Comparing the groups, we assessed the fertilization, division, viable embryos and clinical pregnancy rates in all cases. RESULTS: We found significant differences when using MACS technique in sperm parameters. We found no differences between the total samples of the control and study groups. When separating the own and donated eggs in each group, we found an improvement in the fertilization rates (p<0.001) of the own eggs. In both groups, the handling of donated eggs lead to a significant improvement in the immunological pregnancy test (IPT) and fetal heart rate (FHR) results. Only in the donated eggs group, where MACS was applied, could we see that all cases with positive IPT had a fetal heart rate, which shows a significant difference (p<0.002) when compared with the control group, where the percentage decreased abruptly. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates the effectiveness of the use of annexins (MACS) in eliminating apoptotic sperm, and when the obtained sperm is applied to good-quality eggs.

Cardiac Tamponade as an Initial Manifestation of Cervical Cancer.

Cervical cancer is the second most common malignancy worldwide in women and the third most common cause of cancer death in developing countries. This type of cancer spreads mainly to the lung, the bone, and the brain; however, the pericardium is an unusual site of invasion, which is associated with a poor prognosis. We present a case of a 35-year-old woman with six months of leg edema and abnormal uterine bleeding. During the initial evaluation, cardiac tamponade and a bilateral pleural effusion were found. A left supraclavicular lymphadenopathy was identified on physical examination, while gynecological examination and MRI were irrelevant. Initial cytology of the pericardial fluid showed a poorly differentiated carcinoma, and a cervical biopsy revealed a squamous cell invasive carcinoma. Chemotherapy was started with carboplatin and paclitaxel, but no clinical improvement was noted and the patient died 46 days after arrival. Cardiac tamponade in a young female patient is a harbinger to widen the differential diagnosis to include not only infectious, cardiac, or metabolic etiology but also oncological causes since this will allow appropriate treatment.