In cattle, clinical and subclinical inflammation in the bovine female reproductive tract (FRT) significantly reduces fertility. PMN participate in this FRT-associated inflammation by eliminating pathogens by eliciting various defense mechanisms, with the release of neutrophil extracellular traps NETs) being the latest process discovered. Consistently, human-, bovine- and porcine-derived spermatozoa induce release of NETs in exposed PMN of the same species origin, and thereby decreasing sperm motility through NETs-mediated entrapment. The release of NETs in the presence of different sperm sub-populations is evaluated in this work. Cryopreserved bovine sperm were selected and different sperm populations were used: viable sperm, sperm with oxidative stress, capacitated sperm, and sperm with loss of viability. Isolated PMN of dairy cows were co-incubated with these sperm populations for 4 h. Neutrophil elastase (NE) and DNA were detected by fluorescence microscopy analysis. It was noted that exposed bovine PMN released NETs in the presence of sperm. Moreover, sperm-triggered NETosis resulted different phenotypes of NETs, i. e. spread NETs (sprNETs), diffused NETs (diffNETs) and aggregated NETs (aggNETs). Viable/motile spermatozoa induced a higher proportion of NETotic cells at 15, 60 and 120 min in comparison to controls. In conclusion, all bovine sperm populations in co-culture with PMN generated NETs extrusion while viable sperm activated NETotic cells to a greater extent. With this being an early event in the activation of bovine PMN.
Cattle Diseases , Extracellular Traps , Swine Diseases , Cattle , Male , Animals , Female , Humans , Swine , Extracellular Traps/physiology , Neutrophils , Semen , Sperm Motility , Spermatozoa , Inflammation/veterinary
Infectious vaginitis is a microbiological syndrome of great importance in public health that affects millions of women worldwide. However, no studies have explored the phenomenon of the production of the neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that are released into the female reproductive tract in these pathologies. This study aimed to determine the presence of NETosis in vaginal discharges of women with bacterial vaginosis, candidiasis, and trichomoniasis by characterizing NETs. Extracellular DNA with neutrophil elastase and citrullinated histones was identified to confirm the NET components (n = 10). The concentration, phenotypes of NETs, and number of NETotic cells were determined. The results showed an increase in NETotic cells in women with Candida albicans (CA) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV) and an increase in NETs in TV-induced vaginitis. Samples of CA- and TV-infected women showed different NET phenotypes (diffNETs, sprNETs, and aggNETs); diffNETs were found in high concentrations in samples with CA and were increased in three types of NETs in TV infections. Samples with intermediate microbiota and bacterial vaginosis showed increased NETotic cells while the intermediate microbiota presented a higher concentration of NETs. Therefore, alterations in the microbiota and the presence of fungal and parasitic infections are important stimuli for the activation and induction of NETosis, and their cytotoxic effects could enhance tissue damage.
Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal , Extracellular Traps , Trichomonas Vaginitis , Trichomonas vaginalis , Vaginal Discharge , Vaginosis, Bacterial , Female , Humans , Vaginosis, Bacterial/microbiology , Leukocyte Elastase , Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal/microbiology , Histones , Trichomonas Vaginitis/microbiology , Candida albicans
Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) play a key role in fertilisation by eliminating microorganisms and entrapping spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract (FRT). The deleterious effects of NETs on spermatozoa have been previously described; however, individual exposure to NET-derived components in bull spermatozoa has not been explored. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the main NET-derived proteins, histone 2A (H2A), neutrophil elastase (ELA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), pentraxin 3 (PTX), cathepsin G (Cat-G), and cathelicidin LL37 (LL-37), at concentrations of 1, 10, and 30 µg/mL, on sperm parameters. Sperm were selected and incubated with different NET-derived proteins for 4 h. Membrane and acrosome integrity, lipoperoxidation, and membrane phospholipid disorders were also evaluated. Bovine polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)/sperm co-cultures were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and immunofluorescence. All NET-derived proteins/enzymes resulted in a reduction in membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, and lipoperoxidation at a concentration of 30 µg/mL. Bovine PMN/sperm co-cultures showed marked NET formation in the second hour. In conclusion, all NET-derived proteins/enzymes exerted cytotoxic effects on bull sperm, and this effect should be considered in future investigations on the uterine microenvironment and the advancement of spermatozoa in the FRT.
Recently, the Chilean Senate approved the main ideas of a constitutional reform and a Neuro-rights bill. This bill aims to protect people from the potential abusive use of "neuro-technologies". Unfortunately, a literal interpretation of this law can produce severe negative effects both in the development of neuroscience research and medical practice in Chile, interfering with current treatments in countless patients suffering from neuropsychiatric diseases. This fear stems from the observation of the negative effects that recent Chilean legislations have produced, which share with the Neuro-Rights Law the attempt to protect vulnerable populations from potential abuse from certain medical interventions. In fact, Law 20,584 promulgated in 2012, instead of protecting the most vulnerable patients "incapacitated to consent", produced enormous, and even possibly irreversible, damage to research in Chile in pathologies that require urgent attention, such as many neuropsychiatric diseases. This article details the effects that Law 20.584 had on research in Chile, how it relates to the Neuro-Rights Law, and the potential negative effects that the latter could have on research and medical practice, if it is not formulated correcting its errors.
Patient Rights , Vulnerable Populations , Chile , Humans
Recently, the Chilean Senate approved the main ideas of a constitutional reform and a Neuro-rights bill. This bill aims to protect people from the potential abusive use of "neuro-technologies". Unfortunately, a literal interpretation of this law can produce severe negative effects both in the development of neuroscience research and medical practice in Chile, interfering with current treatments in countless patients suffering from neuropsychiatric diseases. This fear stems from the observation of the negative effects that recent Chilean legislations have produced, which share with the Neuro-Rights Law the attempt to protect vulnerable populations from potential abuse from certain medical interventions. In fact, Law 20,584 promulgated in 2012, instead of protecting the most vulnerable patients "incapacitated to consent", produced enormous, and even possibly irreversible, damage to research in Chile in pathologies that require urgent attention, such as many neuropsychiatric diseases. This article details the effects that Law 20.584 had on research in Chile, how it relates to the Neuro-Rights Law, and the potential negative effects that the latter could have on research and medical practice, if it is not formulated correcting its errors.
Humans , Patient Rights , Vulnerable Populations , Chile
Las enfermedades infecciosas bacterianas con un adecuado diagnóstico y tratamiento apoyado en un apropiado antibiótico, permiten una alta eficacia en la reducción de la morbilidad y mortalidad. Esta situación sitúa los antibióticos como un grupo particular de medicamentos, de amplio uso por los clínicos, desde la medicina general a prácticamente todas las especialidades, y únicos con efectos ecológicos cuya utilización puede contribuir a la selección de cepas resistentes, con la consiguiente diseminación de este atributo. Dado el aumento de la resistencia bacteriana, este artículo busca actualizar el problema, con la finalidad de potenciar la creación de programas de optimización de uso de antibióticos en la red pública de salud de Chile y su implementación a través de la gestión clínica.
Adequate diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic treatment of bacterial infectious diseases is effective in reducing morbidity and mortality. This situation places antibiotics in a special group among drugs widely used by clinicians, unique ecologically whereby use may contribute to the selection and subsequent dissemination of resistant strains. Given the rise of bacterial resistance, this article aims to serve as an update, promoting programs that optimize antibiotic use in Public medical care in Chile, and their implementation through Clinical Management.
Humans , Communicable Diseases/drug therapy , Clinical Governance , Antimicrobial Stewardship/organization & administration , Anti-Bacterial Agents/standards , Chile , Public Health , Global Health , Drug Resistance, Bacterial
Dado el aumento de la resistencia bacteriana y la necesidad de implementar acciones de Control de la Prescripción, este artículo pretende describir experiencias utilizadas en algunos hospitales vinculados a la Universidad de Harvard (Boston, Estados Unidos), con la finalidad de evaluar su utilización en la creación de Programas de Optimización de Uso de Antibióticos en la Red Pública de Salud de Chile y su implementación a través de la Gestión Clínica.
Given the increase in bacterial resistance and the need to implement Prescription Control strategies, this article aims to describe experiences used in a few of the hospitals affilated to Harvard University (Boston, USA), in order to evaluate their use in the creation of Antibiotic Use Optimization Programs for the Chilean Public Health Network, as well their implementation via clinical management.
Humans , Drug Prescriptions/standards , Practice Patterns, Physicians' , Antimicrobial Stewardship , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Chile , Public Health , Clinical Governance , Health Services/standards , Medication Systems, Hospital , Anti-Bacterial Agents/standards
Patients with hypothyroidism may have a minor increase in their bleeding tendency, causing easy bruising and menorrhagia. There is a positive correlation between factor VIII coagulant activity and thyroxin serum levels. Thus, patients with hypothyroidism have an acquired coagulation defect that is reversible with thyroxin supplementation. We report two sisters, aged 13 and 11 years, who met the criteria for von Willebrand's disease at the age of eight. Both sisters had a primary hypothyroidism due to Hashimoto's thyroiditis, diagnosed three years later. Thyroid hormone replacement normalized von Willebrand factor, factor VIII, and the bleeding diathesis disappeared. Acquired von Willebrand's disease is an unusual manifestation of hypothyroidism. However the possibility of hypothyroidism should be considered in patients presenting with von Willebrand disease.
Hypothyroidism/complications , von Willebrand Diseases/etiology , von Willebrand Factor/analysis , Adolescent , Child , Female , Hashimoto Disease/complications , Humans , Hypothyroidism/diagnosis , Thyroxine/therapeutic use , von Willebrand Diseases/diagnosis , von Willebrand Diseases/drug therapy
