High OCT4 Expression Might Be Associated with an Aggressive Phenotype in Rectal Cancer.

Rectal cancer (RC) is one of the most common malignant neoplasms, and cancer stem cells (CSCs) of the intestinal tract have been implicated in its origin. The oncofetal protein OCT4 has been linked to neoplastic processes, but its role and clinical significance in RC are unknown. This study investigates the expression of the stem cell marker OCT4 related to clinical-pathological characteristics and its clinical significance in RC patients. The expression level of stem cell marker OCT4 was analyzed in 22 primary rectal tumors by western blot. The association between OCT4 protein expression and the clinical-pathological features of tumors was evaluated by χ2 test and Fisher's exact test. We demonstrated that the expression of the stem cell marker OCT4 was observed in tumor tissue but not adjacent non-tumor tissue. High expression of the stem cell marker OCT4 was significantly associated with histological differentiation grade (p = 0.039), tumor invasion level (p = 0.004), lymph node involvement (p = 0.044), tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (p = 0.002), and clinical stage (p = 0.021). These findings suggest that high OCT4 expression is associated with a more aggressive RC phenotype, with a greater likelihood of progression and metastasis. These results shed light on the importance of targeting this CSC marker to attenuate RC progression.

Condiciones de vida, violencia sexual y sintomatología psiquiátrica de mujeres afrocolombianas víctimas del conflicto armado colombiano: estudio de corte transversal en Cartagena, Colombia

Objetivo: Evaluar el fenómeno de violencia sexual y condición de vida de mujeres afrocolombianas víctimas del conflicto armado, asentadas en la ciudad de Cartagena, Colombia. Materiales y métodos: Estudio prospectivo de corte transversal, tipo encuesta poblacional, realizado entre septiembre de 2019 y marzo del 2020, en la ciudad de Cartagena, Colombia. Se evaluaron variables sociodemográficas, tipo de delitos sufridos en el conflicto armado y factores relacionados, además de antecedentes o presencia de sintomatología psiquiátrica asociada a los eventos traumáticos. A través de análisis descriptivo, se caracterizó las condiciones de vida actuales de las participantes y se exploraron asociaciones entre la condición de violencia sexual y sintomatología psiquiátrica, por medio de Odds Ratio (OR). Resultados: Participaron 215 mujeres, con una mediana de edad de 40 años y desplazadas principalmente del departamento de Bolívar (55%). El 85% eran amas de casa y solo el 60% tiene vivienda propia, encontrándose más del 65% del total de las viviendas en zonas de riesgo por inundación. Por lo menos el 35% habían sufrido discriminación de género, racial o habían sido víctima de violencia sexual. Aproximadamente la mitad de la muestra declaró padecer insomnio, ansiedad y depresión. El 40% mencionó haber tenido pensamientos suicidas y solo 1 de cada 5 mujeres recibió apoyo psicológico. Haber sido secuestrada (OR 4,71; IC 95%, 1,05-21,07), perseguida (OR 3,33; IC 95%, 1,61-6,89) y abusada sexualmente (OR 3,09; IC 95%, 1,60-5,96), son hechos que se asociaron de forma sostenida y significativa con sintomatología psiquiátrica. Conclusión: Las mujeres afrocolombianas víctimas del conflicto armado colombiano asentadas en Cartagena, presentan condiciones de vida inestables, no han recibido la ayuda adecuada de redes de apoyo, han sido discriminadas por su etnia, género y condición de víctima, y tienen una prevalencia elevada de sintomatología psiquiátrica asociada a los hechos traumáticos vividos.

Objective: To evaluate the phenomenon of sexual violence and the living conditions of Afro-Colombian women victims of the armed conflict, who lives in city of Cartagena, Colombia. Materials and methods: Prospective cross-sectional study, population-based survey type, conducted between September 2019 and March 2020, in the city of Cartagena, Colombia. Sociodemographic variables, type of crimes suffered in the armed conflict and related factors were evaluated, as well as history or presence of psychiatric symptoms associated with traumatic events. Through descriptive analysis, it was characterized the current living conditions of the participants; and also explored associations between the condition of sexual violence and psychiatric symptomatology, through Odds Ratio (OR). Results: 215 women participated, with a median age of 40 years and displaced mainly from the department of Bolívar (55%). 85% percent were housewives and only 60% have their own house, with more than 65% of the total number of houses located in flood risk areas. 35% had suffered gender or racial discrimination or had been victims of sexual violence. Approximately half of the sample reported suffering from insomnia, anxiety and depression. 40% mentioned having had suicidal thoughts and only 1 in 5 women received psychological support. Having been kidnapped (OR 4.71; 95% CI, 1.05-21.07), persecuted (OR 3.33; 95% CI, 1.61-6.89) and sexually abused (OR 3.09; 95% CI, 1.60-5.96), are events that were consistently and significantly associated with psychiatric symptomatology. Conclusion: The Afro-Colombian women victims of the Colombian armed conflict who lives in Cartagena, present unstable living conditions, have not received adequate help from support networks, have been discriminated against because of their ethnicity, gender and victim status, and have a high prevalence of psychiatric symptoms associated with the traumatic events experienced.

Epidemiological, Clinical, and Virological Investigation of the First Four Cases of Monkeypox in Cartagena during the 2022 Outbreak.

Since early May 2022, numerous cases of Monkeypox (Mpox) have been reported globally in non-endemic areas. However, despite numerous reports worldwide, the epidemiological and genomic information related to the 2022 multi-country outbreak remains scarce in South America. By late June 2022, the first Mpox cases were detected in Colombia. Cartagena is a Colombian Caribbean city with high domestic and international connectivity, and, therefore, is vulnerable to the introduction of the Monkeypox virus (MPXV). This report provides an in-depth description of the epidemiological, clinical, and virological characteristics of the first four cases detected in Cartagena including three cases with no history of recent travel and one imported case. Using various laboratory tools based on PCR, next-generation sequencing, and viral isolation and quantification methods, the MPXV clade IIB was detected and isolated. Importantly, infectious viral particles were identified in lesion swabs collected from all cases and in oropharyngeal swabs collected from two cases. Blood samples tested negative using PCR and isolation. In summary, our work contributes complete genomic, clinical, and epidemiological information that will be useful for a number of studies going forward, and it also documents local information that contributes to our understanding of Mpox at the local level.