Helicobacter pylori infection induces abnormal expression of pro-angiogenic gene ANGPT2 and miR-203a in AGS gastric cell line.

Helicobacter pylori colonizes the stomach and induces an inflammatory response that can develop into gastric pathologies including cancer. The infection can alter the gastric vasculature by the deregulation of angiogenic factors and microRNAs. In this study, we investigate the expression level of pro-angiogenic genes (ANGPT2, ANGPT1, receptor TEK), and microRNAs (miR-135a, miR-200a, miR-203a) predicted to regulate those genes, using H. pylori co-cultures with gastric cancer cell lines. In vitro infections of different gastric cancer cell lines with H. pylori strains were performed, and the expression of ANGPT1, ANGPT2, and TEK genes, and miR-135a, miR-200a, and miR-203a, was quantified after 24 h of infection (h.p.i.). We performed a time course experiment of H. pylori 26695 infections in AGS cells at 6 different time points (3, 6, 12, 28, 24, and 36 h.p.i.). The angiogenic response induced by supernatants of non-infected and infected cells at 24 h.p.i. was evaluated in vivo, using the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay. In response to infection, ANGPT2 mRNA was upregulated at 24 h.p.i, and miR-203a was downregulated in AGS cells co-cultured with different H. pylori strains. The time course of H. pylori 26695 infection in AGS cells showed a gradual decrease of miR-203a expression concomitant with an increase of ANGPT2 mRNA and protein expression. Expression of ANGPT1 and TEK mRNA or protein could not be detected in any of the infected or non-infected cells. CAM assays showed that the supernatants of AGS-infected cells with 26695 strain induced a significantly higher angiogenic and inflammatory response. Our results suggest that H. pylori could contribute to the process of carcinogenesis by downregulating miR-203a, which further promotes angiogenesis in gastric mucosa by increasing ANGPT2 expression. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Whole blood transfusion in small animals: indications and effects.

Transfusion therapy is a major resource that can improve the patient's capability to overcome the underlying disease. However, the effects of whole blood infusion, and how they affect the patient's outcome, are not yet clear. For this study, a protocol was developed in order to monitor a group of 15 animals (9 dogs, 6 cats) that received a total of 19 transfusions; 3 animals received more than one transfusion each. The most common indications for blood transfusion included acute blood loss (47%), coagulopathy (33%) and other anaemias (20%). The mean pre-transfusion packed cell volume (PCV) of animals with acute blood loss (18%) was higher than in the group of coagulopathy (15%) or other anaemias (15%). The survival rates at 6 days after transfusion were greater in the coagulopathy (80.0%) and other anaemias (66.7%) than in the group of acute blood loss (42.9%). After transfusion, pulse rate ( p <0.01) and platelet count ( p <0.05) decreased significantly, and there was a significant increase in body temperature of the animals that suffered from hypothermia before the transfusion ( p <0.05). Overall survival was predictable based upon posttransfusion body temperature, observed PCV change, the difference between the obtained and the calculated PCV, and administered transfusion volume ( p <0.05).

Whole blood transfusion in small animals: indications and effects

Transfusion therapy is a major resource that can improve the patient's capability to overcome the underlying disease. However, the effects of whole blood infusion, and how they affect the patient's outcome, are not yet clear. For this study, a protocol was developed in order to monitor a group of 15 animals (9 dogs, 6 cats) that received a total of 19 transfusions; 3 animals received more than one transfusion each. The most common indications for blood transfusion included acute blood loss (47 percent), coagulopathy (33 percent) and other anaemias (20 percent). The mean pre-transfusion packed cell volume (PCV) of animals with acute blood loss (18 percent) was higher than in the group of coagulopathy (15 percent) or other anaemias (15 percent). The survival rates at 6 days after transfusion were greater in the coagulopathy (80.0 percent) and other anaemias (66.7 percent) than in the group of acute blood loss (42.9 percent). After transfusion, pulse rate ( p <0.01) and platelet count ( p <0.05) decreased significantly, and there was a significant increase in body temperature of the animals that suffered from hypothermia before the transfusion ( p <0.05). Overall survival was predictable based upon posttransfusion body temperature, observed PCV change, the difference between the obtained and the calculated PCV, and administered transfusion volume ( p <0.05).

A terapia transfusional é um importante recurso que pode auxiliar na recuperação do doente face à patologia primária. No entanto, não estão totalmente esclarecidos os efeitos de uma transfusão sanguínea, e que consequências podem ter no desfecho clínico. Para este estudo, foi desenvolvido um protocolo de forma a monitorizar 15 animais (9 cães e 6 gatos) que receberam um total de 19 transfusões; 3 animais receberam mais do que uma unidade de sangue. As indicações mais comuns para realização da transfusão foram hemorragia aguda (47 por cento), coagulopatia (33 por cento) e outras anemias (20 por cento). O hematócrito pré-transfusional médio dos animais com hemorragia aguda (18 por cento) foi superior ao dos animais com coagulopatia (15 por cento) ou outras anemias (15 por cento). A taxa de sobrevivência ao sexto dia pós-transfusão foi maior no grupo da coagulopatia (80,0 por cento) e de outras anemias (66,7 por cento), do que no grupo da hemorragia aguda (42,9 por cento). Após a transfusão, a frequência de pulso ( p <0,01) e a contagem de plaquetas ( p <0,05) diminuíram significativamente, e houve um aumento significativo da temperatura corporal nos animais com hipotermia antes da transfusão ( p <0,05). A sobrevivência foi predizível com base na temperatura pós-transfusão, a variação do Ht, a diferença entre o Ht real e o Ht esperado, e o volume de transfusão aplicado ( p <0,05).