ß-NGF Stimulates Steroidogenic Enzyme and VEGFA Gene Expression, and Progesterone Secretion via ERK 1/2 Pathway in Primary Culture of Llama Granulosa Cells.

The beta-nerve growth factor (ß-NGF) from llama seminal plasma exerts ovulatory and luteotrophic effects following intramuscular or intrauterine infusion in llamas and alpacas. In this study, we investigate the in vitro effect of llama ß-NGF on the expression of genes involved in angiogenesis and progesterone synthesis as well as progesterone release in preovulatory llama granulosa cells; we also determine whether these changes are mediated via the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. From adult female llamas, we collected granulosa cells from preovulatory follicles by transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration; these cells were pooled and incubated. After 80% confluence, the cultured granulosa cells were treated with ß-NGF, ß-NGF plus the MAPK inhibitor U0126, or luteinizing hormone, and the abundance of angiogenic and steroidogenic enzyme mRNA transcripts were quantified after 10 and 20 h by RT-qPCR. We also quantified the progesterone concentration in the media after 48 h by radioimmunoassay. We found that application of ß-NGF increases the abundance of mRNA transcripts of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGFA) and the steroidogenic enzymes cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage (P450scc/CYP11A1), steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (STAR), and 3ß-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (HSD3B1) at 10 and 20 h of treatment. Application of the MAPK inhibitor U0126 resulted in downregulation of the genes encoding these enzymes. ß-NGF also enhanced progesterone synthesis, which was prevented by the prior application of the MAPK inhibitor U0126. Finally, western blot analysis confirmed that ß-NGF activates the ERK1/2 signaling pathway. In conclusion, our results indicate that ß-NGF exerts direct luteotropic effects on llama ovarian tissue via the ERK 1/2 pathway.

Six simple questions to detect malnutrition or malnutrition risk in elderly women.

UNLABELLED: Of the numerous instruments available to detect nutritional risk, the most widely used is the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), but it takes 15-20 min to complete and its systematic administration in primary care units is not feasible in practice. We developed a tool to evaluate malnutrition risk that can be completed more rapidly using just clinical variables. Between 2008 and 2013, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 418 women aged ≥60 years from Mexico. Our outcome was positive MNA and our secondary variables included were: physical activity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, educational level, dentition, psychological problems, living arrangements, history of falls, age and the number of tablets taken daily. The sample was divided randomly into two groups: construction and validation. Construction: a risk table was constructed to estimate the likelihood of the outcome, and risk groups were formed. VALIDATION: the area under the ROC curve (AUC) was calculated and we compared the expected and the observed outcomes. The following risk factors were identified: physical activity, hypertension, diabetes, dentition, psychological problems and living with the family. The AUC was 0.77 (95% CI [0.68-0.86], p < 0.001). No differences were found between the expected and the observed outcomes (p = 0.902). This study presents a new malnutrition screening test for use in elderly women. The test is based on six very simple, quick and easy-to-evaluate questions, enabling the MNA to be reserved for confirmation. However, it should be used with caution until validation studies have been performed in other geographical areas.

Multicenter validation of two nomograms to predict non-sentinel node involvement in breast cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Nomograms are used to predict the involvement of non-sentinel nodes (nSN) in breast cancer. This study attempts to externally validate two of the more commonly used nomograms (MSKCC and Stanford University). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred and one cases of positive SNB with posterior axillary lymphadenectomy from 11 Spanish hospitals with widespread experience of the technique were studied. In all cases, an estimate of the probability of nSN involvement was made using the MSKCC and the Stanford University nomograms. Discrimination was assessed by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. To assess the calibration of the nomogram, observed probability was plotted against the nomogram-calculated predicted probability. RESULTS: The overall predictive accuracy of the MSKCC nomogram was 0.684 (95 % confidence interval, 0.635-0.732), while in the case of that from Stanford the predictive accuracy was 0.658 (95 % confidence interval 0.607-0.709). The mean predicted probability of nSN metastases in each group of patients was correlated with the observed probability with an acceptable concordance (r = 0.820; p < 0.004 in MSKCC nomogram and r = 0.888; p < 0.001 in Stanford nomogram). CONCLUSION: These nomograms can be useful tools in the evaluation of patients with breast cancer and positive sentinel nodes but other factors, including a comprehensive clinical assessment, must be used to decide the most appropriate surgical approach for an individual patient, especially with regard to avoiding unnecessary lymphadenectomy.

Primary intracranial malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour responding to chemotherapy.

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours (MPNST) are a rare variety of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) arising from major peripheral nerve branches and typically located in the lower extremity, chest wall or the retroperitoneum. It is a biologically aggressive neoplasm for which the treatment of choice is surgery, but usually requires a multimodality approach, having been generally labelled as chemoresistant. We present a case of MPNST located intracranially with a good response to chemotherapy.

Changeover during in situ compositional modulation of hexacyanoferrate (Prussian Blue) material.

This paper describes the importance of (H2O)6 clusters in controlling the properties of hexacyanoferrate (Prussian Blue) materials. A careful in situ study of compositional changes by using electrogravimetric techniques (in ac and dc modes) in hexacyanoferrates containing K+ alkali metals reveals the existence of a changeover in the properties of these films in a narrow potential range. Control of the compositional variation of the changeover is dependent on the K+ stoichiometric number in the compound structure. However, a specific K+ occupation in the compound structure activates the occupation of the (H2O)6 cluster by H3O+ and/or H+, causing the changeover in the properties of hexacyanoferrate film. Thus, the information thus obtained is very useful for understanding the mechanisms involved in the electrochemical reversible switch between ferrimagnetism/paramagnetism, "semiconductor/metal" and electroluminescence/nonelectroluminescence properties of molecular cyanide materials.

Giant splenic metastasis due to lung adenocarcinoma.

Lung cancer is the most prevalent malignancy in western countries and most of the patients present at advanced stages, but single splenic metastasis is exceptional instead. We report on a case of a seventy- three-year old male presenting with non-hemoptoic productive cough, constitutional syndrome and pain in the left lower quadrant. Physical examination and complementary radiological and histological procedures revealed the presence of an adenocarcinoma of the left lung with probable splenic metastasis. The patient underwent splenectomy, which confirmed the diagnose of splenic metastasis of lung adenocarcinoma and, secondly, lung resection was performed. Topics about lung cancer metastasis are discussed.

Leiomiomatosis uterina en el Hospital Provincial Cotopaxi

Se realiza un estudio retrospectivo en el servicio de Gineco-obstetricia del Hospital General Provincial Cotopaxi de pacientes con diagnóstico de miomatósis uterina desde enero a diciembre de 1994. Se obtuvieron un total de 36 casos en 2039 historias clínicas investigadas, la media de edad de las pacientes fue de 44.44 años con una desviación estándar de 8.04, el 97,23 por ciento fueron multíparas y sólo el 13.88 por ciento utilizaron anticonceptivos orales. El cuadro clínico principal fue: dolor hipogástrico, sangrado genital; el examen físico, palpitación dolorosa, irregularidad uterina y masa pélvica. El diagnóstico se confirmó por ecosonografía en el 88.88 por ciento de pacientes...