Epidemiology of environmental factors related to beta-catenin pathway and its impact on the development and progression of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a complex disease, determined by genetic, environmental and lifestyle-associated risk factors. Genetic (inherited) factors have great influence on its development; however, most cases of CRC are sporadic and gradually develop over several years. The main environmental risk factors are associated with b-catenin signaling pathway, including obesity, lack of physical activity, consumption of red and processed meats, alcoholism, and smoking. The pathway is related to cell homeostasis regulation and cell self-renewal during embryogenesis and adulthood. The main recommendation for preventing the development of CRC is to reduce the risk factors, increase the consumption of fruits, vegetables and grains, exercise regularly and limit the consumption of both alcohol and tobacco. However, family history and the presence of a hereditary syndrome increase the risk, which is why carrying out periodic examinations to detect CRC is suggested, using development predictors such as biochemical and molecular markers, which are discussed in this work.

El cáncer colorrectal (CCR) es una enfermedad compleja determinada por factores de riesgo genéticos, ambientales y de estilo de vida. Los factores genéticos (hereditarios) tienen gran influencia en su desarrollo, sin embargo, la mayoría de los casos de CCR son esporádicos y se desarrollan gradualmente a lo largo de varios años. Los principales factores ambientales de riesgo están asociados a la vía de señalización de ß-catenina, entre ellos obesidad, falta de actividad física, consumo de carnes rojas y procesadas, alcoholismo y tabaquismo. La vía está relacionada con la regulación de la homeostasis celular, autorrenovación celular durante la embriogénesis y edad adulta. La principal recomendación para evitar el desarrollo del CCR es reducir los factores de riesgo, aumentar el consumo de frutas, verduras y granos, hacer ejercicio de manera rutinaria y limitar el consumo tanto de alcohol como de tabaco. Dado que los antecedentes familiares y la presencia de un síndrome hereditario aumentan el riesgo, se sugiere hacer exámenes periódicos para detectar CCR y emplear predictores del desarrollo como los marcadores bioquímicos y moleculares, los cuales se presentan en este trabajo.

Epidemiología de los factores ambientales relacionados con la vía β-catenina y su impacto en el desarrollo y progresión del cáncer colorrectal / Epidemiology of environmental factors related to beta-catenin pathway and its impact on the development and progression of colorectal cancer

Resumen El cáncer colorrectal (CCR) es una enfermedad compleja determinada por factores de riesgo genéticos, ambientales y de estilo de vida. Los factores genéticos (hereditarios) tienen gran influencia en su desarrollo, sin embargo, la mayoría de los casos de CCR son esporádicos y se desarrollan gradualmente a lo largo de varios años. Los principales factores ambientales de riesgo están asociados a la vía de señalización de β-catenina, entre ellos obesidad, falta de actividad física, consumo de carnes rojas y procesadas, alcoholismo y tabaquismo. La vía está relacionada con la regulación de la homeostasis celular, autorrenovación celular durante la embriogénesis y edad adulta. La principal recomendación para evitar el desarrollo del CCR es reducir los factores de riesgo, aumentar el consumo de frutas, verduras y granos, hacer ejercicio de manera rutinaria y limitar el consumo tanto de alcohol como de tabaco. Dado que los antecedentes familiares y la presencia de un síndrome hereditario aumentan el riesgo, se sugiere hacer exámenes periódicos para detectar CCR y emplear predictores del desarrollo como los marcadores bioquímicos y moleculares, los cuales se presentan en este trabajo.

Abstract Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a complex disease, determined by genetic, environmental and lifestyle-associated risk factors. Genetic (inherited) factors have great influence on its development; however, most cases of CRC are sporadic and gradually develop over several years. The main environmental risk factors are associated with β-catenin signaling pathway, including obesity, lack of physical activity, consumption of red and processed meats, alcoholism, and smoking. The pathway is related to cell homeostasis regulation and cell self-renewal during embryogenesis and adulthood. The main recommendation for preventing the development of CRC is to reduce the risk factors, increase the consumption of fruits, vegetables and grains, exercise regularly and limit the consumption of both alcohol and tobacco. However, family history and the presence of a hereditary syndrome increase the risk, which is why carrying out periodic examinations to detect CRC is suggested, using development predictors such as biochemical and molecular markers, which are discussed in this work.

Evaluation of a new Argovit as an antiviral agent included in feed to protect the shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei against White Spot Syndrome Virus infection.

In this study, four experimental assays were conducted to evaluate the use of a new silver nanoparticle formulation named Argovit-4, which was prepared with slight modifications to enhance its biological activity against white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) in shrimp culture. The goals of these assays were to (1) determine the protective effect of Argovit-4 against WSSV, (2) determine whether Argovit-4 supplemented in feed exhibits toxicity towards shrimp, (3) determine whether Argovit-4 as antiviral additive in feed can prevent or delay/reduce WSSV-induced shrimp mortality, and (4) determine whether Argovit-4 supplemented in feed alters the early stages of the shrimp immune response. In bioassay 1, several viral inocula calibrated at 7 SID50(shrimp infectious doses 50% endpoint) were exposed to 40, 100, 200 and 1,000 ng/SID50 of Ag+ and then intramuscularly injected into shrimp for 96 h. In bioassay 2, shrimp were fed Argovit-4 supplemented in feed at different concentrations (10, 100 and 1,000 µg per gram of feed) for 192 h. In bioassay 3, shrimp were treated with Argovit-4 supplemented in feed at different concentrations and then challenged against WSSV for 192 h. In bioassay 4, quantitative real-time RT-qPCR was performed to measure the transcriptional responses of five immune-relevant genes in haemocytes of experimental shrimp treated with Argovit-4 supplemented in feed at 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h. The intramuscularly injected Argovit-4 showed a dose-dependent effect (p < 0.05) on the cumulative shrimp mortality from 0-96 h post-infection. In the second bioassay, shrimp fed Argovit-4 supplemented in feed did not show signs of toxicity for the assayed doses over the 192-h experiment. The third and fourth bioassays showed that shrimp challenged with WSSV at 1,000 µg/g feed exhibited reduced mortality without altering the expression of some immune system-related genes according to the observed level of transcriptional. This study is the first show that the new Argovit-4 formulation has potential as an antiviral additive in feed against WSSV and demonstrates a practical therapeutic strategy to control WSSV and possibly other invertebrate pathogens in shrimp aquaculture.

Antioxidants benefits in hepatitis C infection in the new DAAs era.

Some of the evidence on whether antioxidant supplements are effective in treatment of liver diseases is contradictory. Here we perform a descriptive analysis of the available data in vivo and in vitro of the possible antiviral action and controversy of several antioxidant molecules against HCV.

Silver nanoparticles enhance survival of white spot syndrome virus infected Penaeus vannamei shrimps by activation of its immunological system.

The global aquaculture has shown an impressive growth in the last decades contributing with a major part of total food fish supply. However, it also helps in the spread of diseases that in turn, causes great economic losses. The White Spot Syndrome Virus (WSSV) is one of the major viral pathogen for the shrimp aquaculture industry. Several attempts to eliminate the virus in the shrimp have been addressed without achieving a long-term effectiveness. In this work, we determine the capacity of the commercial non-toxic PVP-coated silver nanoparticles to promote the response of the immune system of WSSV-infected shrimps with or without an excess of iron ions. Our results showed that a single dose of metallic silver in the nanomolar range (111 nmol/shrimp), which is equivalent to 12 ng/mL of silver nanoparticles, produces 20% survival of treated infected shrimps. The same concentration administered in healthy shrimps do not show histological evidence of damage. The observed survival rate could be associated with the increase of almost 2-fold of LGBP expression levels compared with non-treated infected shrimps. LGBP is a key gene of shrimp immunological response and its up-regulation is most probably induced by the recognition of silver nanoparticles coating by specific pathogen-associated molecular pattern recognition proteins (PAMPs) of shrimp. Increased LGBP expression levels was observed even with a 10-fold lower dose of silver nanoparticles (1.2 ng/shrimp, 0.011 nmol of metallic silver/shrimp). The increase in LGBP expression levels was also observed even in the presence of iron ion excess, a condition that favors virus proliferation. Those results showed that a single dose of a slight amount of silver nanoparticles were capable to enhance the response of shrimp immune system without toxic effects in healthy shrimps. This response could be enhanced by administration of other doses and might represent an important alternative for the treatment of a disease that has still no cure, white spot syndrome virus.

In vitro digestibility of specific dsRNA by enzymes of digestive tract of shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei / Digestibilidad in vitro del dsRNA específico por enzimas del tracto digestivo del camarón Litopenaeus vannamei

ABSTRACT Objective. The digestibility of specific dsRNA by action of the enzymes of digestive tract of the whiteleg shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei was determined in vitro. Materials and methods. Digestive enzyme activity (amylase, lipase, protease, DNase and RNase) was measured in the stomach, digestive gland, and anterior, middle, and posterior intestine of juvenile shrimp, and the digestibility of DNA, RNA and the dsRNA-ORF89, specific to WSSV, was determined by in vitro assays, as well as electrophoretic and densitometric analyses. Results. The highest enzymatic activity was found in the digestive gland: amylase (81.41%), lipase (92.60%), protease (78.20%), DNase (90.85%), and RNase (93.14%). The highest digestive capacity against DNA, RNA, and dsRNA was found in the digestive gland (5.11 ng of DNA ​​per minute, 8.55 ng of RNA per minute, and 1.48 ng dsRNA per minute). Conclusions. The highest digestibility of dsRNA-ORF89, specific to WSSV, was found in the digestive gland, whereas the lowest digestibility was observed in the posterior intestine. This is the first report regarding the digestibility of dsRNA-ORF89 by whiteleg shrimp digestive tract enzymes, with potential therapeutic importance in shrimp culture to prevent WSSV disease through balanced feed.

RESUMEN Objetivo. La digestibilidad del dsRNA específico para el virus de la mancha blanca (WSSV) por acción de las enzimas del tracto digestivo del camarón Litopenaeus vannamei fue analizada in vitro. Materiales y métodos. Se midió la actividad de enzimas digestivas (proteasa, amilasa, lipasa, ADNasa y ARNasa) en el estómago, la glándula digestiva, el intestino anterior, medio y posterior en juveniles de camarón patiblanco y se evaluó la digestibilidad de ácidos nucleicos ADN, ARN y dsRNA-ORF89 especifico contra el virus WSSV, por análisis electroforéticos y densitometría. Resultados. La actividad enzimática más alta se encontró en la glándula digestiva del camarón: amilasa (81.41%), lipasa (92.60%), proteasa (78.20%), ADNasa (90.85%) y ARNasa (93.14%). Se evidenció la capacidad digestiva del camarón patiblanco contra el ADN, ARN y dsRNA-ORF89 encontrando en la glándula digestiva la mayor digestión (5.11 ng de ADN por minuto, 8.55 ng de ARN por minuto y 1.48 ng de dsRNA por minuto). Conclusiones. La mayor digestibilidad del dsRNA-ORF89, específico contra el virus WSSV, se encontró en la glándula digestiva y la menor en el intestino posterior. Este es el primer informe relacionado con la digestibilidad del dsRNA-ORF89 por las enzimas del camarón patiblanco con potencial importancia terapéutica en el cultivo de camarón para prevenir la enfermedad del WSSV a través del alimento balanceado.

Human milk probiotic Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 reduces the incidence of gastrointestinal and upper respiratory tract infections in infants.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to examine the effects of a follow-on formula containing Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716 (L. fermentum) on the incidence of infections in infants between the ages of 6 and 12 months. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A randomized double-blinded controlled study including infants at the age of 6 months was conducted. Infants were assigned randomly to either follow-on formula supplemented with L. fermentum plus galactooligosaccharide (experimental group, EG), or the same formula supplemented with only galactooligosaccharide (control group, CG). The main outcome was the incidence of infections for the 6-month duration of the study. RESULTS: The EG showed a significant 46% reduction in the incidence rate (IR) of gastrointestinal infections (EG: 0.196 ±â€Š0.51, CG: 0.363 ±â€Š0.53, IR ratio 0.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.307-0.950, P = 0.032), 27% reduction in the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections (EG: 0.969 ±â€Š0.96, CG: 1.330 ±â€Š1.23, IR ratio 0.729, 95% CI 0.46-1.38, P = 0.026), and 30% reduction in the total number of infections (EG: 1.464 ±â€Š1.15, CG: 2.077 ±â€Š1.59, IR ratio 0.70, 95% CI 0.46-1.38, P = 0.003), at the end of the study period compared with CG. CONCLUSIONS: Administration of a follow-on formula with L. fermentum CECT5716 may be useful for the prevention of community-acquired gastrointestinal and upper respiratory infections.

La salud ambiental en Mexico / The environmental health in Mexico

Es solo una primera aproximacion al problema de la salud ambiental en Mexico, que busca senalar los cabos sueltos en relacion con el tema para propiciar, en los anos venideros, un hilado mas fino de la trama que constituye este campo, sobre todo en la medida en que existe y existira una necesidad real de saber hasta que punto el deterioro del ambiente esta danando la salud de los habitantes del pais y de plantearse alternativasd, flexibles y eficaces, para intervenir preventiva y correctivamente a ese respecto