Comparative proteomics of a versatile, marine, iron-oxidizing chemolithoautotroph.

This study conducted a comparative proteomic analysis to identify potential genetic markers for the biological function of chemolithoautotrophic iron oxidation in the marine bacterium Ghiorsea bivora. To date, this is the only characterized species in the class Zetaproteobacteria that is not an obligate iron-oxidizer, providing a unique opportunity to investigate differential protein expression to identify key genes involved in iron-oxidation at circumneutral pH. Over 1000 proteins were identified under both iron- and hydrogen-oxidizing conditions, with differentially expressed proteins found in both treatments. Notably, a gene cluster upregulated during iron oxidation was identified. This cluster contains genes encoding for cytochromes that share sequence similarity with the known iron-oxidase, Cyc2. Interestingly, these cytochromes, conserved in both Bacteria and Archaea, do not exhibit the typical ß-barrel structure of Cyc2. This cluster potentially encodes a biological nanowire-like transmembrane complex containing multiple redox proteins spanning the inner membrane, periplasm, outer membrane, and extracellular space. The upregulation of key genes associated with this complex during iron-oxidizing conditions was confirmed by quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. These findings were further supported by electromicrobiological methods, which demonstrated negative current production by G. bivora in a three-electrode system poised at a cathodic potential. This research provides significant insights into the biological function of chemolithoautotrophic iron oxidation.

Iberia Consensus on Strategies to Prevent and Manage Irritation by Topical Retinoids in Facial and Trunk Acne. / Consenso Iberia sobre estrategias de prevención y manejo de la irritación por retinoides tópicos en acné localizado en cara y tronco.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of agreement on various prevention and management strategies for irritation caused by topical retinoids in facial and trunk acne in an attempt to alleviate it and minimize treatment discontinuations as much as possible. METHOD: After reviewing the scientific medical literatura currently available, 4 different areas of uncertainty in the management of irritation caused by topical retinoids in acne were identified. A questionnaire with 34 recommendations was created and evaluated by a group of 133 dermatologists (Delphi methodology). RESULTS: In 82.3% of the recommendations (28 out of 34), some level of agreement was reached (≥85% agreement in 22 recommendations and≥70% agreement in 6). The results with the highest level of agreement focused on specific patient education strategies (explaining that irritation is an expected reaction at the beginning of treatment and tends to decrease over time), gradual and/or spaced application of topical retinoids (at night time to prevent and/or reduce skin irritation), and the importance of using adjuvant products, specific for acne-prone skin, hydration, photoprotection, and skin cleansing. These recommendations reflect a comprehensive approach to managing irritation associated with topical retinoids and promoting long-term adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Skin irritation caused by topical retinoids in facial and trunk acne is an expected, mild, and controllable reaction if proper prevention and management guidelines are followed, meaning that it should not be a reason for treatment discontinuation.

[Translated article] Iberia Consensus on Strategies to Prevent and Manage Irritation by Topical Retinoids in Facial and Trunk Acne.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the level of agreement on various prevention and management strategies for irritation caused by topical retinoids in facial and trunk acne in an attempt to alleviate it and minimize treatment discontinuations as much as possible. METHOD: After reviewing the scientific medical literatura currently available, 4 different areas of uncertainty in the management of irritation caused by topical retinoids in acne were identified. A questionnaire with 34 recommendations was created and evaluated by a group of 133 dermatologists (Delphi methodology). RESULTS: In 82.3% of the recommendations (28 out of 34), some level of agreement was reached (≥85% agreement in 22 recommendations and≥70% agreement in 6). The results with the highest level of agreement focused on specific patient education strategies (explaining that irritation is an expected reaction at the beginning of treatment and tends to decrease over time), gradual and/or spaced application of topical retinoids (at night time to prevent and/or reduce skin irritation), and the importance of using adjuvant products, specific for acne-prone skin, hydration, photoprotection, and skin cleansing. These recommendations reflect a comprehensive approach to managing irritation associated with topical retinoids and promoting long-term adherence. CONCLUSIONS: Skin irritation caused by topical retinoids in facial and trunk acne is an expected, mild, and controllable reaction if proper prevention and management guidelines are followed, meaning that it should not be a reason for treatment discontinuation.

Being a deaf student in a face mask world: Survey data from Italian university students.

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, universities made face masks mandatory during face-to-face classes and/or switched to virtual classes. Such situations pose a challenge for students with hearing loss as they generate listening conditions that make speech comprehension difficult. This study aimed to explore the listening difficulties perceived by Italian university students with hearing loss (HL) and typical hearing (TH) as well as their adoption of self-advocacy strategies . We measured listening difficulties as a function of teaching modality (face-to-face and virtual classes) and the type of face mask (opaque and transparent) worn by the lecturer. In face-to-face classes, the most challenging situations for HL students involved speech comprehension when groups of students were working simultaneously and lecturers talked and moved at the same time during their lessons. The use of transparent masks, compared to opaque one, by the lecturer did not reduce the perceived listening difficulties . In virtual classes, the greatest listening difficulties for HL students occurred when the lecturer's face was not visible or she/he did not use a microphone, while subtitles and sign language interpreters were speech comprehension facilitators. The TH group perceived the same situations as most challenging both in face-to-face and virtual classes, albeit to a lesser extent than the HL respondents. Despite most students demonstrated proactive self-advocacy strategies to improve speech comprehension, in some listening contexts inactive behaviors still persisted. To reduce the listening difficulties posed by pandemic measures, training to improve students' self-advocacy strategies and educators' hearing loss awareness behaviors, as well as the development of interventions aimed at reducing noise in classes, are essential to improve speech perception among HL students.

Linseed oil supplementation and DGAT1 K232A polymorphism affect the triacylglycerol composition and crystallization of milk fat.

We studied the effect of dietary linseed oil (LSO) supplementation and DGAT1 K232A (DGAT1) polymorphism on the triacylglycerol composition and crystallization of bovine milk fat. LSO supplementation increased unsaturated triacylglycerols, notably in the C52-C54 carbon range, while reducing the saturated C29-C49 triacylglycerols. These changes were associated with an increase in the low-melting fraction and the crystal lamellar thickness, as well as a reduction in the medium and high-melting fractions and the formation of the most abundant crystal type at 20 °C (ß'-2 polymorph). Furthermore, DGAT1 KK was associated with higher levels of odd-chain saturated triacylglycerols than DGAT1 AA, and it was also associated with an increase in the high-melting fraction and the endset melting temperature. An interaction between diet and DGAT1 for the unsaturated C54 triacylglycerols accentuated the effects of LSO supplementation with DGAT1 AA. These findings show that genetic polymorphism and cows' diet can have considerable effects on milk fat properties.

Nuclear PARP-1 protein overexpression is associated with poor overall survival in early breast cancer.

BACKGROUND: Poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 (PARP-1) is a highly promising novel target in breast cancer. However, the expression of PARP-1 protein in breast cancer and its associations with outcome are yet poorly characterized. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Quantitative expression of PARP-1 protein was assayed by a specific immunohistochemical signal intensity scanning assay in a range of normal to malignant breast lesions, including a series of patients (N = 330) with operable breast cancer to correlate with clinicopathological factors and long-term outcome. RESULTS: PARP-1 was overexpressed in about a third of ductal carcinoma in situ and infiltrating breast carcinomas. PARP-1 protein overexpression was associated to higher tumor grade (P = 0.01), estrogen-negative tumors (P < 0.001) and triple-negative phenotype (P < 0.001). The hazard ratio (HR) for death in patients with PARP-1 overexpressing tumors was 7.24 (95% CI; 3.56-14.75). In a multivariate analysis, PARP-1 overexpression was an independent prognostic factor for both disease-free (HR 10.05; 95% CI 5.42-10.66) and overall survival (HR 1.82; 95% CI 1.32-2.52). CONCLUSIONS: Nuclear PARP-1 is overexpressed during the malignant transformation of the breast, particularly in triple-negative tumors, and independently predicts poor prognosis in operable invasive breast cancer.

Adverse events risk associated with bevacizumab addition to breast cancer chemotherapy: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody against vascular endothelial growth factor with the ability to increase progression-free survival in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to determine the risk of the most clinically relevant adverse outcomes associated with the use of bevacizumab in the treatment of breast cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We included phase III clinical trials that used bevacizumab alone or in combination with chemotherapy as for MBC or locally recurrent. Statistical analyses were conducted to calculate summary odds ratio (OR) of the eight most relevant adverse outcomes related with bevacizumab. RESULTS: Five clinical trials were included in the meta-analysis. Summary odds ratios obtained showed a statistically significant bevacizumab-associated increased risk in four of the adverse outcomes studied: proteinuria (OR = 27.68), hypertension (OR = 12.76), left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) (OR = 2.25), and hemorrhagic events (OR = 4.07). No statistically significant differences were found for gastrointestinal (GI) perforation, vascular events, fatal events, or febrile neutropenia. CONCLUSIONS: Bevacizumab did increase the risk of LVD and hemorrhagic events. The addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy in patients with metastatic breast cancer was not associated with a significant increase in grade ≥ 3 arterial or venous thromboembolic events, GI perforation, or fatal events.

Targeted and untargeted metabolomic analysis of Procambarus clarkii exposed to a "chemical cocktail" of heavy metals and diclofenac.

Water pollution poses an important problem, but limited information is available about the joined effects of xenobiotics of different chemical groups to evaluate the real biological response. Procambarus clarkii (P. clarkii) has been demonstrated to be a good bioindicator for assessing the quality of aquatic ecosystems. In this work, we studied the bioaccumulation of cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As) and diclofenac (DCF) in different tissues of P. clarkii during 21 days after the exposure to a "chemical cocktail" of As, Cd and DCF, and until 28 days considering a depuration period. In addition, a combined untargeted and targeted metabolomic analysis was carried out to delve the metabolic impairments caused as well as the metabolization of DCF. Our results indicate that As and Cd were mainly accumulated in the hepatopancreas followed by gills and finally abdominal muscle. As and Cd show a general trend to increase the concentration throughout the exposure experience, while a decrease in the concentration of these elements is observed after 7 days of the depuration process. This is also the case in the abdominal muscle for Cd, but not for As and DCF, which increased the concentration in this tissue in the depuration phase. The hepatopancreas showed the greatest number of metabolic pathways affected. Thus, we observed a crucial bioaccumulation of xenobiotics and impairments of metabolites in different tissues. This is the first study combining the exposure to metals and pharmaceutically active compounds in P. clarkii by untargeted metabolomics including the biotransformation of DCF.

Electronic health records and patient registries in medical oncology departments in Spain.

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the current situation of electronic health records (EHRs) and patient registries in the oncology departments of hospitals in Spain. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted from December 2018 to September 2019. The survey was designed ad hoc by the Outcomes Evaluation and Clinical Practice Section of the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) and was distributed to all head of medical oncology department members of SEOM. RESULTS: We invited 148 heads of oncology departments, and 81 (54.7%) questionnaires were completed, with representation from all 17 Spanish autonomous communities. Seventy-seven (95%) of the respondents had EHRs implemented at their hospitals; of them, over 80% considered EHRs to have a positive impact on work organization and clinical practice, and 73% considered that EHRs improve the quality of patient care. In contrast, 27 (35.1%) of these respondents felt that EHRs worsened the physician-patient relationship and conveyed an additional workload (n = 29; 37.6%). Several drawbacks in the implementation of EHRs were identified, including the limited inclusion of information on both outpatients and inpatients, information recorded in free text data fields, and the availability of specific informed consent. Forty-six (56.7%) respondents had patient registries where they recorded information from all patients seen in the department. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that EHRs are almost universally implemented in the hospitals surveyed and are considered to have a positive impact on work organization and clinical practice. However, EHRs currently have several drawbacks that limit their use for investigational purposes. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not applicable.

SEOM clinical guideline for secondary prevention (2019).

Cancer is one of the major public health problems in our society. It is estimated that more than 18 million new cases are diagnosed worldwide every year; 280,000 in Spain. Incidence in following a growing trend. This epidemic could be controlled with research into new treatments and, above all, with adequate prevention. Primary prevention could prevent avoid up to half of all cases. For many others, secondary prevention is essential, as it make diagnosis possible in the stages of the disease when it is easily curable. These guidelines present the scientific evidence regarding secondary prevention in tumors in which its use is well-accepted: breast, cervical, colorectal, prostate, lung, ovarian, melanoma, and gastric cancer.

Perioperative management of a female diagnosed with heterozygous X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy scheduled for shoulder arthroscopy. / Manejo perioperatorio de una mujer portadora del gen de la adrenoleucodistrofia ligada al X para artroscopia de hombro.

X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD) belongs to a family of rare diseases due to inborn errors of metabolism. It has a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations that anaesthesiologists should recognise during the perioperative period (respiratory centre dysfunction, hypotonia, adrenal or hepatic failure, gastroesophageal reflux disease, osteopenia, seizures).The case is presented of a 42-year-old X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy female carrier, who underwent combined general and an ultrasound-guided interscalene brachial plexus block anaesthesia for shoulder arthroscopy. Induction was performed with thiopentone and fentanyl, and sevoflurane was used as inhaled maintenance agent. No events were recorded during the procedure. Her post-operative recovery was satisfactory and she was later discharged home.

HIV-1, sexual practices, and contact with foreigners in homosexual men in Colombia, South America.

From October 1985 to November 1987, a sample of 294 Colombian homosexual men volunteered to answer a questionnaire on sexual practices and consented to HIV-1 testing. Testing for HIV-1 was performed using an ELISA and those positive were confirmed with envelope- and core-specific ELISAs. Statistical methods for data analysis included Mantel-Haenszel methods on contingency tables. The overall seropositivity rate was 21.1%. Subjects who reported a receptive role (either as predominantly receptive or as mixed receptive-insertive intercourse) had a seropositivity rate of 23.7%, which was significantly higher than the 10.3% found in those reporting predominantly insertive intercourse (RR = 2.30, 95% C.I. = 1.16-4.57). For subjects reporting receptive intercourse, sexual contact with foreign visitors was a significant risk factor for HIV-1 infection (RR = 1.84, 95% C.I. = 1.13-3.00). Factors of borderline significance included having had more than ten homosexual partners in the preceding year (RR = 1.53) and a history of international travel (RR = 1.43). These associations did not hold for those reporting predominantly insertive intercourse. The data indicate the need to monitor the spread of HIV-1 at the international level and provide information on subgroups of high transmission rates.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF PHYCOCYANIN EXTRACT IN ACETIC ACID-INDUCED COLITIS IN RATS.

The anti-inflammatory effect of c-phycocyanin extract was studied in acetic acid-induced colitis in rats. Phycocyanin (150, 200 and 300 mg kg-1 p.o.) was administered 30 min before induction of colitis with enema of 1 ml of 4% acetic acid per rat. Twenty-four hours later myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity was determined as well as histopathological and ultrastructural studies were carried out in colonic tissue. Phycocyanin substantially reduced MPO activity which was increased in the control colitis group. Also, histopathological and ultrastructural studies showed inhibition in inflammatory cell infiltration and reduction to some extent in colonic damage in rats treated with phycocyanin. The probable role of antioxidative and the scavenging properties of phycocyanin against reactive oxygen species in the anti-colitic effect is discussed in this paper. To our knowledge this is the first report on the anti-inflammatory effect of phycocyanin in an experimental model of colitis.(c) 1999 The Italian Pharmacological Society.

Histopathological evaluation on the effect of red propolis on liver damage induced by CCl4 in rats.

A histopathological evaluation was performed on liver of rats treated with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) and 25,50 and 100 mg/kg of Cuban red propolis (RP) extract. Additionally, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum and liver triglycerides were determined in all animals. The morphometric study included the count of ballooned cells at the zone III of the Rappaport acini and the assessment of a software program to estimate the extension of steatosis area. A significant reduction of ballooned cells count in liver was observed at three dose levels of RP extract with respect to rats treated only with CCl4. Also, a certain reduction of steatosis degree as well as decreased concentration of liver triglycerides and ALT activity were found in three groups of rats treated with RP extract and CCl4 in relation to those treated with the hepatotoxin. Taken together, the histopathological and biochemical findings show hepatoprotective effects of RP extract in CCl4-induced liver damage in rats, probably due to the antioxidant effect of RP.

Hyperresponsiveness to bronchoconstrictor agents in experimental animals treated with terbutaline and its effect on pancreatic beta cells.

Attempts have been made to obtain further experimental evidence in the development of hyperresponsiveness measured as mortality rate in terbutaline-treated animals after the administration of carbachol in rats and ovoalbumin in sensitized guinea pigs. The dose of terbutaline chosen was approximately the dose an asthmatic patient might use in an attack, and its effect on pancreatic insulin synthesis was studied in rats since it has been suggested that insulin is a pro-inflammatory hormone. Our results show that prolonged treatment with terbutaline increases the mortality from bronchoconstrictor stimuli. Increased levels of pancreatic insulin synthesis were also observed by immunocytochemical study carried out on pancreas from terbutaline-treated rats.

Passive cutaneous anaphylaxis in diabetic rats.

The effect of diabetic condition on heterologous passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) reaction was studied. In alloxan diabetic rats, PCA reaction was inhibited by 68.2% of control values. The skin hyposensitivity in diabetic rats could not be attributed to a lower quantity of skin mast cells; it is suggested that alterations in the endothelial cells of the microcirculatory blood vessels decrease permeability to biologically active mast cell factors.

[Splenic hydatid cyst. A report of 16 cases]. / Quiste hidatídico de bazo. Aportación de dieciséis casos.

The authors' experience with splenic hydatidosis is presented. Sixteen cases, representing 3% of the hydatidosis treated surgically in our center, are reviewed. Pain in the left upper quadrant, splenomegaly and calcifications detected by simple abdominal radiology are the most suggestive indications. The definitive diagnosis is based on abdominal echography and CT scan, which have the greatest sensitivity and specificity. The treatment should be surgical, attempting to preserve as much splenic tissue as possible, although in our experience, it is infrequent that conservative treatment can be used due to massive involvement of the spleen.

[Hemoperitoneum secondary to acute cholecystitis in kidney transplant]. / Hemoperitoneo secundario a colecistitis aguda en el trasplante renal.

We present two cases of acute cholecystitis occurring more than two years after renal transplantation. The course of the acute event was complicated by the presence of hemobilia in one of the patients and severe hemoperitoneum in both patients. We comment the possible etiologic factors, the high efficiency of the diagnostic procedures and the importance of prompt cholecystectomy as the best treatment method.