In vivo activity of plant-based interleukin-12 in the lung of Balb/c mouse

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the last years, plants are being used for the production of a wide variety of biopharmaceuticals, including cytokines, and have the potential to serve as vehicles for mucosal administration of these molecules. We had previously reported the expression of a cytokine, interleukin-12 (IL-12), in transgenic tomato plants and had demonstrated that it retained its biologic activity <it>in vitro</it>.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>In this work, we administered crude extracts of IL-12-containing tomato fruits to mice through the intratracheal route, measuring endogenous IL-12 and determining biologic activity by quantification of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) in lungs and by histological analysis. IFN-γ expression in lungs, as well as histological analysis, indicate that tomato-expressed IL-12 retains its biologic activity and, most importantly, its effects are restricted to the site of administration.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results indicate that the functional activity of tomato-expressed IL-12 is comparable to that of commercial recombinant IL-12 when given via the mucosal route. This opens the possibility of using crude extracts prepared from tomatoes expressing IL-12 for certain immunotherapies.</p

EPIdemiology of Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) : Study protocol for a multicentre, observational trial

More than 300 million surgical procedures are performed each year. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication after major surgery and is associated with adverse short-term and long-term outcomes. However, there is a large variation in the incidence of reported AKI rates. The establishment of an accurate epidemiology of surgery-associated AKI is important for healthcare policy, quality initiatives, clinical trials, as well as for improving guidelines. The objective of the Epidemiology of Surgery-associated Acute Kidney Injury (EPIS-AKI) trial is to prospectively evaluate the epidemiology of AKI after major surgery using the latest Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) consensus definition of AKI. EPIS-AKI is an international prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study including 10 000 patients undergoing major surgery who are subsequently admitted to the ICU or a similar high dependency unit. The primary endpoint is the incidence of AKI within 72 hours after surgery according to the KDIGO criteria. Secondary endpoints include use of renal replacement therapy (RRT), mortality during ICU and hospital stay, length of ICU and hospital stay and major adverse kidney events (combined endpoint consisting of persistent renal dysfunction, RRT and mortality) at day 90. Further, we will evaluate preoperative and intraoperative risk factors affecting the incidence of postoperative AKI. In an add-on analysis, we will assess urinary biomarkers for early detection of AKI. EPIS-AKI has been approved by the leading Ethics Committee of the Medical Council North Rhine-Westphalia, of the Westphalian Wilhelms-University Münster and the corresponding Ethics Committee at each participating site. Results will be disseminated widely and published in peer-reviewed journals, presented at conferences and used to design further AKI-related trials. Trial registration number NCT04165369

Sexualidad e infarto agudo del miocardio: angina postcoito

La cardiopatía isquémica es una de las principales causas de morbilidad  y mortalidad en la época contemporánea. Posterior al infarto agudo del miocardio el paciente siente incertidumbre acerca de su capacidad para satisfacer su sexualidad y la de su pareja. En el paciente isquémico puede aparecer una angina de pecho durante la actividad sexual, para cuya atención el médico general integral siente la necesidad de información para desempeñarse competentemente ante esta situación. Dar solución a este problema científico justificó esta investigación, con la que se ofrecen referentes teóricos y aparecen aspectos relacionados con la epidemiología, la fisiopatología, la valoración del paciente isquémico con angina postcoito y su atención médica. La utilización de los contenidos ofrecidos podrá elevar la competencia profesional para el desempeño ante un paciente isquémico con angina de pecho provocada por la actividad sexual, así como orientar y contribuir a la mejora de la calidad de vida de dichos pacientes

Sexualidad e infarto agudo del miocardio: angina postcoito

La cardiopatía isquémica es una de las principales causas de morbilidad  y mortalidad en la época contemporánea. Posterior al infarto agudo del miocardio el paciente siente incertidumbre acerca de su capacidad para satisfacer su sexualidad y la de su pareja. En el paciente isquémico puede aparecer una angina de pecho durante la actividad sexual, para cuya atención el médico general integral siente la necesidad de información para desempeñarse competentemente ante esta situación. Dar solución a este problema científico justificó esta investigación, con la que se ofrecen referentes teóricos y aparecen aspectos relacionados con la epidemiología, la fisiopatología, la valoración del paciente isquémico con angina postcoito y su atención médica. La utilización de los contenidos ofrecidos podrá elevar la competencia profesional para el desempeño ante un paciente isquémico con angina de pecho provocada por la actividad sexual, así como orientar y contribuir a la mejora de la calidad de vida de dichos pacientes

Síndrome de Möbius. Informe de un caso

Se presenta por primera vez en la provincia, según lo registrado en la literatura, el caso, en consulta de oftalmología, de una paciente de 8 años de edad que se interconsulta con especialidades afines a la entidad (Genética, Neurología, Otorrinolaringología) con diagnóstico de síndrome de Möbius, enfermedad poco frecuente en nuestro medio. Se presenta su cuadro clínico y evolución

Self-rated health among people living with HIV in Spain in 2019: a cross-sectional study

Background: HIV infection has become a chronic disease and well-being of people living with HIV (PLHIV) is now of particular concern. The objectives of this paper were to describe self-rated health among PLHIV, on ART and on ART virally suppressed and to analyse its determinants. Methods: Data were obtained from a second-generation surveillance system based on a cross-sectional one-day survey in public hospitals. Epidemiological and clinical data were collected among HIV-infected inpatients and outpatients receiving HIV-related care the day of the survey in 86 hospitals in 2019. Self-rated health was measured using a question included in the National Health Survey: "In the last 12 months, how would you rate your health status?" an ordinal variable with five categories (very good, good, moderate, bad and very bad). For the analysis, these responses were dichotomized into two categories: 1 = very good/good and 0 = moderate, bad or very bad health status. Factors associated with very good/good self-rated health were estimated using logistic regression. Results: Of 800 PLHIV, 67.5% perceived their health as very good/good, 68.4% among PLHIV on ART and 71.7% of those virally suppressed. Having university education (adjusted odds ratio (aOR):2.1), being unemployed (aOR:0.3) or retired (aOR:0.2), ever being diagnosed of AIDS (aOR:0.6), comorbidities (aOR:0.3), less than 2 year since HIV diagnosis (aOR:0.3) and not receiving ART (aOR:0.3) were associated with good self-rated health. Moreover, among PLHIV on ART, viral load less than 200 copies (aOR:3.2) were related to better perceived health. Bad adherence was inversely associated with good self-rated health among PLHIV on ART (aOR:0.5) and of those virally suppressed (aOR:0.4). Conclusions: Nearly seven in 10 PLHIV in Spain considered their health status as very good/good, being higher among virally suppressed PLHIV. Both demographic and clinical determinants affect quality of life.Sin financiación3.670 JCR (2021) Q3, 60/94 Infectious Diseases1.042 SJR (2021) Q2, 89/301 Infectious DiseasesNo data IDR 2020UE