Serum exosome inflamma-miRs are surrogate biomarkers for asthma phenotype and severity.

BACKGROUND: Asthma is a heterogeneous disease with several phenotypes, endotypes and severity degrees, in which different T-cell subpopulations are involved. These cells express specific miRNAs (i.e. inflamma-miRs) that can be released to serum in exosomes after activation and be used as biomarkers of underlying inflammation. Thus, we aim to evaluate specific T-cell miRNA signatures in serum exosomes from different subgroups of asthmatic patients. METHODS: Samples from healthy donors (N = 30) and patients (N = 119) with different asthma endotypes (T2high -Atopic/T2high -Non-atopic/T2low ) and severity degrees (mild/MA and moderate-severe/MSA) were used. Demographic, clinical, haematological and biochemical characteristics were collected. Twelve miRNAs previously associated with different Th subsets were preselected and their levels in serum exosome samples were measured using RTqPCR. RESULTS: We detected five miRNAs with high confidence in serum exosomes: miR-16-5p, miR-21-5p, miR-126-3p, miR146a-5p and miR-215-5p. All of them, except miR-16-5p were upregulated in MSA patients compared to MA. A logistic regression model including each of these miRNAs was created to discriminate both conditions, rendering a ROC curve AUC of 0.896 (0.830-0.961). miR-21-5p and miR-126-3p, both involved in Th1/Th2 differentiation, were specifically augmented in T2high -Atopic patients. Of note, all these changes were found in samples collected in autumn. On the contrary, IL-6high patients with MSA, which were more obese, older, with higher neutrophil and basophil counts and TNF levels, displayed a decrease of miR-21-5p, miR-126-3p and miR-146a-5p. CONCLUSION: Immune-related miRNAs, including miR-21-5p, miR-126-3p, miR-146a-5p and miR-215-5p, can be used as clinically relevant non-invasive biomarkers of the phenotype/endotype and severity of asthma.

Ansiedad y depresión en matronas del Área de Santiago de Compostela durante la pandemia de la COVID-19 / Anxiety and depression in midwives in the Santiago de Compostela Area during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objetivo: Identificar el nivel de ansiedad y depresión de las matronas del Área Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela durante la pandemia de la COVID-19. Métodos: Estudio transversal observacional descriptivo. La población de estudio fueron las matronas que ejercen su profesión en el ámbito público en atención primaria o especializada del Área Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela. En dicha área, un total de 20 matronas prestan servicio en atención especializada y 41 en atención primaria. Las principales variables fueron el nivel de ansiedad y depresión; para su medida se emplearon el Inventario de Ansiedad de Beck (BAI) y el Inventario de Depresión de Beck (BDI-II). Resultados: Se obtuvo una muestra de 42 matronas, lo cual supuso un 68,8 % de participación. De las matronas que respondieron el cuestionario, en cuanto al nivel de depresión, el 71,43 % (n= 30) presentó un nivel mínimo, el 21,43 % (n= 9) leve, el 4,76 %(n= 2) moderado y el 2,38 % (n= 1) grave. En lo referente a la ansiedad, el 88,09 % (n= 37) presentó un nivel bajo, el 9,52 % (n= 4) moderado y el 2,38 % (n= 1) severo. Además, el 88,10 % (n= 37) de las matronas percibió que el estrés aumentó en su lugar de trabajo y el 85,71 % (n= 36) estuvo preocupada por la posibilidad de contagiarse durante el desempeño de sus funciones. El 95,23 % (n= 40) declaró sentirse preocupada por el riesgo de contagiar a sus familiares. Conclusiones: Los niveles de ansiedad y depresión de las matronas del Área Sanitaria de Santiago de Compostela durante la pandemia de la COVID-19 fueron bajos. El miedo a contagiar a sus familiares ha sido la principal preocupación de dichas profesionales, siendo mayor que el miedo a contagiarse ellas mismas. Además, consideraban adecuado un plan de intervención por parte del Servicio Gallego de Salud (SERGAS) para minimizar el impacto psicológico que la pandemia ha generado en sus vidas. (AU)

Objective: Analyzing midwives’ anxiety and depression levels in the Health Area of Santiago de Compostela during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A descriptive observational cross-sectional study was carried out, and midwives who work at hospitals and at primary health care centers in the Health Area of Santiago de Compostela were included in it. On that Health Area, 20 midwives provide specialized care and 41, primary care. The main variables were anxiety and depression levels. They were measured by the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Results: 42 midwives completed the test, which meant a 68.8% participation rate. From those midwives, 71.43% (n=30) showed a minimum level of depression, 21.43% (n=9) showed a minor level, 4.76% (n=2) a moderate level and 2.38% (n=1) a severe level. Regarding anxiety, 88.09% (n=37) registered a low level, 9.52% (n=4) a moderate level and 2.38% (n=1) a serious level. In addition, 88.10% (n=37) of midwives perceived that the stress increased in their workplace and 85.71% (n=36) of midwives were concerned about de possibility of being infected in their workplace and 95.23% (n=40) were worried about infecting their families. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic is affecting physical and psychological health of healthcare workers, including midwives. The fear to infect their family members has been the main concern for these professionals being greater than the fear to get themselves infected. In addition, they consider that an intervention plan from Servicio Gallego de Salud (SERGAS) to reduce the psychological impact that pandemic has produced is needed. (AU)

Caspase 3 and Cleaved Caspase 3 Expression in Tumorogenesis and Its Correlations with Prognosis in Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Head and neck cancer (HNC) is an ascending and agressive disease. The search for new molecular markers is emerging to solve difficulties in diagnosis, risk management, prognosis and effectiveness of treatments. Proteins related to apoptotic machinery have been identified as potential biomarkers. Caspase 3 is the main effector caspase and has a key role in apoptosis. The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to review studies that analyze changes in Caspase 3 and Cleaved Caspase 3 expression both in oral premalignant disorders (OPMD) as well as in head and neck cancer (HNC). This study also proposes to review the prognostic values associated with HNC according to the expression of Caspase 3. Medline (via PubMed), EMBASE, Scopus, Cochrane, Web of Science and Grey Literature Database were screened from inception to june of 2022 and 18 studies were selected and 8 were included in the prognostic meta-analysis. Results related to the comparison of Caspase 3 expression demonstrated similar expression of Caspase 3 in HNC, with an average of 51.9% (9.5-98.1) showing high/moderate expression compared to 45.7% (14.6-84.7) in OPMD. Of interest, Cleaved Caspase 3 resulted incresed in HNC when compared with OPMD, being 73.3% (38.6-88.3) versus 22.9% (7.1-38.7). Pooled Fixed effect of HR values (95% CI) for OS related to Caspase 3 IHC expression in HNC patients was 1.48 (95% CI 0.95-2.28); also, the rate of heterogeneity was low, as revealed by I2 = 31%. For DFS was 1.07 (95% CI 0.79-1.45) with I2 = 0% and DSS showed a HR of 0.88 (95% CI 0.69-1.12) with I2 = 37%. Caspase 3 and Cleaved Caspase 3 expression could be linked with malignancy progression, but the expression of Caspase 3 did not influence the prognosis of patients with HNC.