Diethylnitrosamine enhances hepatic tumorigenic pathways in mice fed with high fat diet (Hfd).

Obesity has been implicated in the genesis of metabolic syndromes including insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Given the association between T2DM and the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), our specific goal was to determine whether the liver of HFD-induced T2DM mice is more sensitive to the carcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN), due to a modification of the molecular pathways implicated in the early stages of HCC pathogenesis. C57BL/6 male mice (five-week-old) were divided into 4 groups: C, C + DEN, HFD and HFD + DEN. Mice were euthanized twenty-five weeks after DEN-injection. Livers of HDF-fed mice showed a higher proliferative index than Control groups. In line with this, HFD groups showed an increase of nuclear ß-catenin, and interestingly, DEN treatment led to a slight increase in the expression of this protein in HFD group. Based on these results, and to confirm this effect, we analyzed ß-catenin target genes, finding that DEN treatment in HFD group led to a significant increase of Vegf, c-myc, c-jun and cyclin D1 expression levels. According to our results, the expression of TCF4 showed to be significantly increased in HFD + DEN vs. HFD. In this regard, the ß-catenin/TCF4 complex enhanced its association with pSmads 2/3, as we observed an increase of nuclear Smads expression in HFD + DEN, suggesting a possible role of TGF-ß1/Smads signaling pathway in this phenomenon. Our results show that the liver of HFD fed model that resembles early T2DM pathology in mice, is more sensitive to DEN, by inducing both Wnt/ß-catenin and TGF ß1/Smads tumorigenic pathways.

Diethylnitrosamine Increases Proliferation in Early Stages of Hepatic Carcinogenesis in Insulin-Treated Type 1 Diabetic Mice.

Diethylnitrosamine (DEN) induces hepatocarcinogenesis, increasing mitotic hepatocytes and leading to chronic inflammation. In addition, type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is also characterized by a proinflammatory state and by requiring insulin exogenous treatment. Given the association of diabetes, insulin treatment, and cell proliferation, our specific goal was to determine whether the liver in the diabetic state presents a greater response to DEN-induced cell cycle alteration, which is essential for the malignant transformation. Male C57BL/6 mice (four-week-old) were divided into 4 groups: C, C + DEN, T1DM, and T1DM + DEN. Mice were euthanized ten weeks after DEN injection. DEN per se produced an increase in liver lipid peroxidation levels. Besides, in T1DM + DEN, we found a greater increase in the proliferation index, in comparison with C + DEN. These results are in agreement with the increased expression observed in cell cycle progression markers: cyclin D1 and E1. In addition, a proapoptotic factor, such as activated caspase-3, evidenced a decrease in T1DM + DEN, while the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and the protooncogene p53 showed a higher increase with respect to C + DEN. Overall, the results allow us to highlight a major DEN response in T1DM, which may explain in part the greater predisposition to the development of hepatocarcinoma (HCC) during the diabetic state.

Underlying sources of cognitive-anatomical variation in multi-modal neuroimaging and cognitive testing.

Healthy adults have robust individual differences in neuroanatomy and cognitive ability not captured by demographics or gross morphology (Luders, Narr, Thompson, & Toga, 2009). We used a hierarchical independent component analysis (hICA) to create novel characterizations of individual differences in our participants (N=190). These components fused data across multiple cognitive tests and neuroanatomical variables. The first level contained four independent, underlying sources of phenotypic variance that predominately modeled broad relationships within types of data (e.g., "white matter," or "subcortical gray matter"), but were not reflective of traditional individual difference measures such as sex, age, or intracranial volume. After accounting for the novel individual difference measures, a second level analysis identified two underlying sources of phenotypic variation. One of these made strong, joint contributions to both the anatomical structures associated with the core fronto-parietal "rich club" network (van den Heuvel & Sporns, 2011), and to cognitive factors. These findings suggest that a hierarchical, data-driven approach is able to identify underlying sources of individual difference that contribute to cognitive-anatomical variation in healthy young adults.

Cognitive and anatomical data in a healthy cohort of adults.

We present data from a sample of 190 healthy adults including assessments of 4 cognitive factor scores, 12 cognitive tests, and 115 MRI-assessed neuroanatomical variables (cortical thicknesses, cortical and sub-cortical volumes, fractional anisotropy, and radial diffusivity). These data were used in estimating underlying sources of individual variation via independent component analysis (Watson et al., In press) [25].

Water versus DNA: new insights into proton track-structure modelling in radiobiology and radiotherapy.

Water is a common surrogate of DNA for modelling the charged particle-induced ionizing processes in living tissue exposed to radiations. The present study aims at scrutinizing the validity of this approximation and then revealing new insights into proton-induced energy transfers by a comparative analysis between water and realistic biological medium. In this context, a self-consistent quantum mechanical modelling of the ionization and electron capture processes is reported within the continuum distorted wave-eikonal initial state framework for both isolated water molecules and DNA components impacted by proton beams. Their respective probability of occurrence-expressed in terms of total cross sections-as well as their energetic signature (potential and kinetic) are assessed in order to clearly emphasize the differences existing between realistic building blocks of living matter and the controverted water-medium surrogate. Consequences in radiobiology and radiotherapy will be discussed in particular in view of treatment planning refinement aiming at better radiotherapy strategies.

Distorted wave calculations for electron loss process induced by bare ion impact on biological targets.

Distorted wave models are employed to investigate the electron loss process induced by bare ions on biological targets. The two main reactions which contribute to this process, namely, the single electron ionization as well as the single electron capture are here studied. In order to further assess the validity of the theoretical descriptions used, the influence of particular mechanisms are studied, like dynamic screening for the case of electron ionization and energy deposition on the target by the impacting projectile for the electron capture one. Results are compared with existing experimental data.

Serotonin 5-HT(2A) receptor antagonists in the treatment of insomnia: present status and future prospects.

Benzodiazepine (BZD) and non-BZD hypnotics improve sleep induction and sleep maintenance. BZD induces a further reduction of slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, whereas SWS and REM values remain decreased during non-BZD administration. There is evidence indicating that the nonselective serotonin 5-HT(2A/2C) receptor antagonists, ritanserin, ketanserin, seganserin and ICI-169369, the selective 5-HT(2A) receptor antagonist eplivanserin and the 5-HT(2A) receptor inverse agonist pimavanserin, increase SWS in subjects with normal sleep. In addition, it has been shown that prior administration of ritanserin prevents the nitrazepam-induced suppression of SWS in normal subjects. Of note, ritanserin also induced an increase of SWS in poor sleepers, patients with chronic primary insomnia and psychiatric patients with a generalized anxiety disorder or a mood disorder. The 5-HT(2A) receptor inverse agonist APD-125 gave rise to a similar effect in patients with chronic primary insomnia. Thus, presently available evidence tends to indicate that the association of a 5-HT(2A) receptor antagonist or a 5-HT(2A) receptor inverse agonist with a BZD or a non-BZD hypnotic could be a valid alternative to normalize SWS in patients with primary or comorbid insomnia.

Embarazo Tubárico Asociado a Teratoma de Ovario, Hallazgos Ecográficos y Laparoscopicos: Reporte de un Caso / Tubal Pregnancy Asociated with oVarian Teratoma, Ecographic and Laparoscopic Findings: Case Report

RESUMEN Mujer de 28 años con retraso menstrual de 15 días. Examen físico: dolor en ambas fosas ilíacas, escaso sangrado, fondos de saco laterales dolorosos no abombados y fondo de saco de Douglas (FSD) levemente doloroso. Se realizaron 3 ecografías diferentes. Observamos la evolución del embarazo ectópico desde la típica imagen ecográfica redondeada con saco en su interior hasta la imagen heterogénea (hemática) que resultó ser un aborto tubárico por laparoscopia y biopsia. Hubo correlación con el BHCG en descenso. La búsqueda bibliográfica no encontró descripciones de asociaciones iguales al caso descrito.

ABSTRACT We report a case of a 28 year old woman with 15 days menstrual delay, abdominal pain and small bleeding. During physical examination, we found no pain in lateral pouches and slight pain in pouch of Douglas. Three different vaginal ultrasounds were perfomed by 3 professionals. We saw ultrasonographic evolution of an ectopic pregnancy from typical image with a sac within it to heterogeneous image (blood). Laparoscopy and biopsy confirm these findings. BHCG correlates with them, showing descendent levels. Bibliographic search didn’t find similar cases to our patient.

Improvement of fractional flow reserve and collateral flow by treatment with external counterpulsation (Art.Net.-2 Trial).

BACKGROUND: Arteriogenesis (collateral artery growth) is nature's most efficient rescue mechanism to overcome the fatal consequences of arterial occlusion or stenosis. The goal of this trial was to investigate the effect of external counterpulsation (ECP) on coronary collateral artery growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 23 patients (age 61 +/- 2.5 years) with stable coronary artery disease and at least one haemodynamic significant stenosis eligible for percutaneous coronary intervention were prospectively recruited into the two study groups in a 2 : 1 manner (ECP : control). One group (ECP group, n = 16) underwent 35 1-h sessions of ECP in 7 weeks. In the control group (n = 7), the natural course of collateral circulation over 7 weeks was evaluated. All patients underwent a cardiac catheterization at baseline and after 7 weeks, with invasive measurements of the pressure-derived collateral flow index (CFIp, primary endpoint) and fractional flow reserve (FFR). RESULTS: In the ECP group, the CFIp (from 0.08 +/- 0.01 to 0.15 +/- 0.02; P < 0.001) and FFR (from 0.68 +/- 0.03 to 0.79 +/- 0.03; P = 0.001) improved significantly, while in the control group no change was observed. Only the ECP group showed a reduction of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS, P = 0.008) and New York Heart Association (NYHA, P < 0.001) classification. CONCLUSION: In this study, we provide direct functional evidence for the stimulation of coronary arteriogenesis via ECP in patients with stable coronary artery disease. These data might open a novel noninvasive and preventive treatment avenue for patients with non-acute vascular stenotic disease.

Secuestro pulmonar infradiafragmático asociado a malformación adenomatoidea quística congénita / Infradiaphragmatic pulmonary sequestration combined with cystic adenomatoid malformation

El secuestro pulmonar (SP) es raro, es la presencia de tejido pulmonar no unido al resto del pulmón pudiendo ser intralobar o extralobar (más común). El diagnóstico definitivo de una masa abdominal superior fetal sólo puede hacerse después del nacimiento, tras una serie de revisiones ultrasonográficas o de imágenes. Presentamos caso clínico de primigesta, 34 años. Ecografía en la 17ª semana: imagen multiquística de 15 mm de diámetro en polo superior del riñón izquierdo fetal. Cariotipo fetal tras amniocentesis: 46 XX. Ecografía en la 20ª semana: ausencia de otras alteraciones estructurales. Ecografía en la 33ª semana: imagen multiquística de 20 mm de diámetro, independiente del riñón. Se sugiere diagnóstico de neuroblastoma suprarrenal izquierdo. En la 39ª semana: nacido de 3160 gramos, Apgar de 9/10, sin complicaciones. Ecografía neonatal: tumoración mixta de predominio líquido de 3 cm de diámetro sobre el riñón izquierdo pero independiente. Resonancia magnética: masa adrenal izquierda compatible con neuroblastoma. Al 36º día de vida: laparotomía subcostal izquierda, riñón y glándulas suprarrenales izquierdas normales, comprimidos por tumor quístico de 3 x 2,5 cm, semisólido, adherido al diafragma. Extirpación completa. Diagnóstico anatomopatológico: secuestro pulmonar infradiafragmático con cambios de malformación adenomatoidea congénita de tipo II. Los tumores abdominales constituyen el 5 % de las anormalidades detectadas en ecografía prenatal. El diagnóstico diferencial incluye neuroblastoma, hemorragia adrenal, tumores renales, teratomas y secuestro pulmonar extralobar intraabdominal (SPEI). El SPEI constituye el 2 a 5 % de los secuestros pulmonares y tiene una alta incidencia de coexistencia con MAQC tipo II.

The pulmonary sequestration (SP) is rare and characterized by the presence of pulmonary tissue not joined to the rest of the normal lung. It could be intralobar or more commonly extralobar. The definite diagnosis of a fetal upper abdominal mass can be made only after birth and following a series of ultrasonographic or image exams. We present the clinical case of a primipara of 34 years old. A 17th week ultrasound showed a multicystic image of 15 mm diameter in the upper pole of the fetal left kidney. The fetal cariotype after amniocentesis was 46 XX. The 20th week ultrasound showed the absence of other structure alterations. The 33th week ultrasound showed a multicystic image of 20mm diameter separated from the kidney. A diagnosis of left adrenal neuroblastoma is suggested. The labor occurred at 39th week with a newborn of 3,160 grams, Apgar of 9/10 without complications. The neonatal ultrasound revealed a mixed tumor of liquid predominance of 3 cm diameter above but independent from the left kidney. A magnetic resonance imaging showed a left adrenal mass compatible with a neuroblastoma. At the 36th day of life, a left subcostal laparotomy showed a normal left kidney and left suprarenal glandules compressed by a semisolid cystic tumor of 3 x 2.5 cm adhered to diaphragm. A complete extirpation was carried out and the anatomopathological diagnosis showed an infradiaphragmatic pulmonary sequestration combined with a type II cystic adenomatoid malformation. Abdominal tumors represent 5 % of the abnormalities detected in prenatal ultrasound. The differential diagnosis includes neuroblastoma, adrenal hemorrhage, kidney tumors, teratomas and intraabdominal pulmonary sequestration (IPS). The IPS constitutes 2 to 5 % of the pulmonary sequestration and has a high frequency of coexistence with type II cystic adenomatoid malformation.

Preparative purification of antiamyloidogenic stilbenoids from Vitis vinifera (Chardonnay) stems by centrifugal partition chromatography.

Five stilbenoids, E-resveratrol, E-piceatannol, (+) E-(epsilon)-viniferin, (+)-ampelopsin A and vitisin C were isolated from methyl tert-butyl ether (MtBE) stem extract of Vitis vinifera (Chardonnay cv). Their purification on a preparative scale was obtained by centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) using quaternary Arizona solvent systems composed of n-heptane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water. We tested 23 Arizona solvent systems to partition the extract and found that systems K and M (Hept/EtOAc/MeOH/water, 1:2:1:2 and 5:6:5:6, respectively; v/v) were the best to separate the stilbenes mentioned above. This support-free liquid-liquid chromatographic procedure made it possible to isolate ampelopsin A from V. vinifera for the first time. The antiamyloidogenic activity of the isolated stilbenes was evaluated versus beta-amyloid fibrils. E-resveratrol and (+)-ampelopsin A were found to be the most active compounds with 63 and 46% inhibition at 10microM, respectively. These findings suggest that E-resveratrol and (+)-ampelopsin A may function as attractive new candidates for protecting against brain cell dysfunction in vivo in AD by inhibiting the aggregation of Abeta.

Granuloma actinico de O'Brien / O'Brien actinic granuloma

Se comunica un caso de granuloma actínico en una paciente de sexo femenino, caucásica, la cual presentaba concomitantemente arteritis de la temporal y polimialgia reumática. Actualmente se considera que debido a la fisiopatogenia de las tres entidades mencionadas, podría tratarse la primera, de un marcador de las dos restantes.

We present a female, white, with an actinic granuloma, concomitantly with temporal arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica. Today it is considered that, due to the phisiopathogenia of the three entities mentioned before, the first one could be used as a reference for the other two.

Angiomixoma cutáneo primario / Primary cutaneous angiomyxoma

Se describe el caso de un paciente de 50 años de edad con angiomixoma cutáneo, sin evidencia del complejo de Carney y con compromiso de la región témporo-frontal. Dicho tumor cutáneo poseía el diagnóstico ecográfico erróneo de lipoma. El tratamiento fue la exéresis amplia; no se ha evidenciado recurrencia tras 4 años de seguimiento. Se describe el caso clínico debido a la rareza de la patología y a la confusión con otros tumores del tejido celular subcutáneo. Revisamos también los estudios histopatológicos y diagnósticos diferenciales, así como la terapéutica y los índices de recidiva (AU)

We present a 50 years old patient with a cutaneous angiomixoma without evidence of Carney’s complex that affected the temporo-frontal region. This tumour had an echography misdiagnosis of lipoma. The treatment was exeresis with safe margins. There was no evidence of recurrence of the tumour in a 4 year follow up. Due to the uncommonness of the pathology, we describe this clinical case, histopathology studies, differential diagnosis, as well as therapeutic and recurrence indexes (AU)

Investigación de seromas postliposucción y dermolipectomía abdominal / Investigation about seromas in liposuction and abdominal dermolipectomy

El seroma es una de las complicaciones de los procedimientos estéticos de la pared abdominal. Este líquido contenido en el tejido celular subcutáneo y en el espacio supraaponeurótico es frecuente tema de discusión debido a que hay opiniones divergentes y contradictorias con respecto a los factores etiológicos, los elementos que contribuyen a su formación a su tratamiento. El presente estudio de 2 años de duración, fue diseñado para investigar la incidencia de seromas en liposucciones y dermolipectomías abdominales aisladas, y cuando ambos procedimientos se realizan directamente en el colgajo abdominal. Se estudió esta complicación desde diferentes aspectos: experimental (15 conejos albinos de Nueva Zelanda),histopatológico y mediante análisis retrospectivo en 60casos.Se concluye, desde el punto de vista experimental, que los seromas son exudados. Su origen linfático se demostró por la presencia de linfangiectasias en las biopsias de los animales. El análisis retrospectivo de los casos clínicos y los resultados de laboratorio determinaron que cuando la dermolipectomía y liposucción se realizan en forma aislada el riesgo de desarrollar seromas es menor (13,04%) que cuando ambos procedimientos se realizan juntos sobre el colgajo(50%). La aparición de células polimorfomucleares en el líquido indica la contaminación del seroma (AU)

Seroma is one of the complications of the aesthetic procedures in the abdominal wall. This fluid collected in the subcutaneous cellular tissue and in the supraaponeurotic space is a frequent subject of discussion since there are many divergent and contradictory opinions with regard to the etiologic factors and the elements that contribute in its formation and or its treatment. A two-year study was conducted to investigate incidence of seromas in liposuction and abdominal dermolipectomy and when both procedures was performed in the abdominal flap. We studied this complication from different aspects: experimental (15 New Zealand albino rabbits), histopathology examinations, as well as retrospective clinical analysis (60 cases). It is concluded, from the laboratorial point of view, that seromas are exudates. Their lymphatic origin was assessed by the presence of lymphagiectasia in the biopsies in animals. The retrospective clinical analysis and the laboratory results determined that when dermolipectomy and liposuctions are performed in isolation, the risk of developing seromas is less (13,04%) than in the cases where both techniques are associated in the abdominal flap (50%). The presence of polymorphonuclear cells in the fluid indicates the contamination of the seroma (AU)

Recognition characters in peptide-polyphenol complex formation.

Dietary polyphenols have received attention for their anti-oxidative, anti-carcinogenic and anti-neurodegenerative effects. Polyphenols bind to proteins leading to the formation of soluble or insoluble protein-polyphenol complexes which could significantly influence their biological activities. NMR and molecular modeling studies were performed to investigate the influence of the bulk, flexibility and hydrophobicity of polyphenols on the association with bradykinin, the peptide model. Our results show that the strength of the interactions could be positively correlated with polyphenol hydrophobicity and a comparison between pentagalloylglucose and vescalagin indicated that flexibility might play a positive role in the interaction with peptides and proteins.

Role of peptide primary sequence in polyphenol-protein recognition: an example with neurotensin.

Polyphenols are known for their impact on health and one of their major properties is the formation of complexes with proteins. To investigate the involvement of polyphenol-protein complexes in health, the interactions between bioactive polyphenols and neurotensin were examined by structural NMR and molecular modeling. Neurotensin is a linear bioactive tridecapeptide and polyphenols seem to affect the NT metabolism. We studied the polyphenols resveratrol and its glucoside the piceid in order to observe the possible role of glucose group and the penta-O-galloyl-D-glucopyranose (PGG). NMR data and molecular modeling showed that interaction occurred with the three polyphenols involving hydrophobic stacking and hydrogen bonds. Moreover, the peptide primary sequence plays a role in the specificity of complex formation.

Is the C-terminal region of bradykinin the binding site of polyphenols?

Bradykinin is a bioactive hormone involved in a variety of physiological processes. In various solvents, this peptide adopts beta-turn structures. The C-terminal turn is a structural feature for the receptor affinity of agonists and antagonists while the N-terminal turn might be important for antagonistic activities. Polyphenols like dimeric proanthocyanidin B3 interact with the peptide. Thus to investigate the effects of polyphenols on bradykinin activity and structure, we studied the interaction in the structuring solvent DMSO which can be a close mimic of aqueous physiological environments like receptor-binding sites. Bradykinin alone presented a folded structure with two turns. B3 interacted with the peptide C-terminus and involved the loss of the bend structure of this region, while the N-terminus turn was maintained. Numerous studies have shown that polyphenolic molecules can act upon various biological targets, and the formation of this type of complex might be one of the possible modes of action.

A new B-chain mutant of insulin: comparison with the insulin crystal structure and role of sulfonate groups in the B-chain structure.

The solution structure of a new B-chain mutant of bovine insulin, in which the cysteines B7 and B19 are replaced by two serines, has been determined by circular dichroism, 2D-NMR and molecular modeling. This structure is compared with that of the oxidized B-chain of bovine insulin [Hawkins et al. (1995) Int. J. Peptide Protein Res.46, 424-433]. Circular dichroism spectroscopy showed in particular that a higher percentage of helical secondary structure for the B-chain mutant is estimated in trifluoroethanol solution in comparison with the oxidized B-chain. 2D-NMR experiments confirmed, among multiple conformations, that the B-chain mutant presents defined secondary structures such as a alpha-helix between residues B9 and B19, and a beta-turn between amino acids B20 and B23 in aqueous trifluoroethanol. The 3D structures, which are consistent with NMR data and were obtained using a simulated annealing protocol, showed that the tertiary structure of the B-chain mutant is better resolved and is more in agreement with the insulin crystal structure than the oxidized B-chain structure described by Hawkins et al. An explanation could be the presence of two sulfonate groups in the oxidized insulin B-chain. Either by their charges and/or their size, such chemical groups could play a destructuring effect and thus could favor peptide flexibility and conformational averaging. Thus, this study provides new insights on the folding of isolated B-chains.

Lepra infantil / Infantile lepra

La lepra en la infancia es poco frecuente en la República Argentina, así como en la provincia de Santa Fe. De acuerdo con los datos epidemiológicos de los últimos 5 años, se encuentran registrados sólo cinco niños hasta el año 2000 inclusive. Se presentan 2 casos muy particulares de lepra infantil de formas clínicas paucibacilares, familiares entre sí, en los que se realizó tratamiento según esquema de la OMS para paucibacilares (P.B.), con buena evolución de sus lesiones, y que en la actualidad se encuentran en vigilancia post-terapéutica (VPT) (AU)