BIOTECHNOLOGY ISSUES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES - Genomics and proteomics offers new hopes towards a personalized approach to lung cancer prevention and treatment

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Strategic approaches to informing the public about biotechnology in Latin America

The benefits of today's biotechnology products are not evident to consumers. The public will accept biotechnology only when individuals decide for themselves that biotec products will contribute to their personal well-being. To make such a decision, people will need greater awareness and understanding of how biotechnology will affect the environment, human health, local and national economies, and the well-being of society. A low level of awareness and understanding about biotechnology is characteristic of Latin America and the Caribbean countries, as elsewhere, efforts to remedy poor public perception often seem inadequate and do not reflect a well-designed strategy. In order to improve the understanding of the biotechnology and their human applications, a strategic plan for public communications is required. Specific objectives for this initiative may include: (1) to make evident to decision makers that modern biotechnology can be an effective tool for increasing agricultural productivity, and thereby economic growth, without imposing unacceptable risk to the environment or human and animal health; (2) to enable members of the public to make informed decisions about appropriate uses of biotechnology by providing accurate information about benefits, risks and impacts; or (3) to incorporate modern biotechnology into science curricula for secondary schools, university and college students, and agriculture extension officers. A variety of specialized expertise, including communication specialists, technical writers, graphic artists and illustrators to design information materials and conduct training is needed to implement this. Ideally, members bring expertise in biotechnology and biosafety, public communications and project management. The plan will need to identify scientists and technical experts who can provide expertise in science writing for general audiences, advertising, graphic arts, public opinion polling and media communications. These people can provide basic information about the techniques of modern biotechnology; the products now available and those being developed; what is known about the nature, probability and consequences of potential risks. Governments, industry, universities and media must play an important role to improve public perception about biotechnology, this is a requirement to develop biotechnology in the Region

Arsenic Biotransformation as a Cancer Promoting Factor by Inducing DNA Damage and Disruption of Repair Mechanisms

Chronic exposure to arsenic in drinking water poses a major global health concern. Populations exposed to high concentrations of arsenic-contaminated drinking water suffer serious health consequences, including alarming cancer incidence and death rates. Arsenic is biotransformed through sequential addition of methyl groups, acquired from s-adenosylmethionine (SAM). Metabolism of arsenic generates a variety of genotoxic and cytotoxic species, damaging DNA directly and indirectly, through the generation of reactive oxidative species and induction of DNA adducts, strand breaks and cross links, and inhibition of the DNA repair process itself. Since SAM is the methyl group donor used by DNA methyltransferases to maintain normal epigenetic patterns in all human cells, arsenic is also postulated to affect maintenance of normal DNA methylation patterns, chromatin structure, and genomic stability. The biological processes underlying the cancer promoting factors of arsenic metabolism, related to DNA damage and repair, will be discussed here

Will fungal strains preserved in culture collections maintain the same biotechnological performance after years of preservation?

The methods of fungal preservation currently used are highly empirical and, in many instances, there is not clear information if it provides reliable genetic and phenotypic stability. Freeze-drying is commonly used to preserve fungal strains. However, genetic and phenotypic alterations after long term-storage are yet unknown. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the freezedrying preservation method for the effective long-term preservation of strains belonging to Aspergillus section Nigri. Twenty-one strains representative of Aspergillus section Nigri were selected and preserved by freeze-drying. Strains were subjected to accelerated storage by subject the ampoules temperature at 37 °C for 4 weeks. Samples were morphological, physiological and genotypic analysed. For morphological changes assessment, fungi were grown for 7 days at 25 °C on 4 different culture media. Ochratoxin A and fumonisin B2 were assessed by HPLC. DNA fingerprinting techniques using the oligonucleotides M13 and (GACA)4 were performed. All assays were evaluated at 3 points in time: before preservation, and 2 and 4 weeks after preservation. At morphological and mycotoxigenic point of view, no changes were observed before and after ageing. However, after ageing different DNA fingerprinting was observed. It means thatfungal strains preserved in freeze-dried ampoule could affect the biotechnological performance offungi within the time of preservation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Predicción de la afinidad de ligandos antagonistas por receptores de adenosina A2A usando árboles de decisión

Neurodegenerative diseases are being treated by modulating adenosine receptors with more effective, safe and selective antagonists. The objective of the study was to develop a methodology to obtain classification models based on decision tree algorithms and descriptors from 0D to 2D of non-congenital families of organic compounds to qualitatively predict ligand-RAA2A affinity. For this purpose, a non-congeneric database of 315 antagonists was constructed and cured with its inhibition constant in nano molar, labeled as potent and weak. The Dragon and ISIDA / QSPR programs were used to calculate molecular descriptors and five groups of descriptors were obtained. In each group 50 descriptors were selected using the mRMR criterion. The database was divided into Training, Test and External series through a random selection and a generalized k-means cluster analysis. Classifiers were developed and validated using the WEKA program. The results were analyzed using the statistical tests of Friedman and Wilcoxon. The significant influence of parameter m of algorithm J48 on the predictivity was verified for the models that used the descriptors of the aug.a-b and hyb.aug.a groups of ISIDA / QSPR. The best performance model was obtained from the selected descriptors of the ISIDA-all group with a value of m = 6 and reached 90.6% prediction on the External series. The methodology developed to obtain classification models based on decision tree algorithms and descriptors from 0D to 2D of non-congenital families of organic compounds is effective in qualitatively predicting ligand-RAA2A affinity with accuracy, specificity and selectivity greater than 90 %. Keywords: classification, machine learning, modeling, QSARLas enfermedades neurodegenerativas están siendo tratadas mediante la modulación de los receptores de adenosina con antagonistas más eficaces, seguros y selectivos. El objetivo del estudio consistió en desarrollar una metodología para obtener modelos de clasificación sobre la base de algoritmos de árboles de decisión y descriptores de 0D a 2D de familias no congenéricas de compuestos orgánicos para predecir cualitativamente la afinidad ligando-RAA2A. Para ello se construyó y curó una base de datos no congenérica de 315 antagonistas con su constante de inhibición en nano molar, etiquetados como potentes y débiles. Se utilizaron los programas Dragon e ISIDA/QSPR para calcular descriptores moleculares y se obtuvieron cinco grupos de descriptores. En cada grupo se seleccionaron 50 descriptores usando el criterio mRMR. La base de datos se dividió en series de Entrenamiento, Prueba y Externa mediante una selección aleatoria y un análisis de clúster k-means generalizado. Se desarrollaron y validaron clasificadores utilizando el programa WEKA. Los resultados fueron analizados mediante las pruebas estadísticas de Friedman y Wilcoxon. Se comprobó la influencia significativa del parámetro m del algoritmo J48 en la predictividad, para los modelos que usaron los descriptores de los grupos aug.a-b e hyb.aug.a del ISIDA/QSPR. El modelo de mejor desempeño se obtuvo de los descriptores seleccionados del grupo ISIDA-todos con un valor de m=6 y alcanzó 90.6% de predicción sobre la serie Externa. La metodología desarrollada para obtener modelos de clasificación sobre la base de algoritmos de árboles de decisión y descriptores de 0D a 2D de familias no congenéricas de compuestos orgánicos es efectiva para predecir cualitativamente la afinidad ligando-RAA2A con una exactitud, especificidad y selectividad superiores al 90%. Palabras clave: aprendizaje automatizado; clasificación; modelación; QSA

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

Correction to: Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

The original version of this article unfortunately contained a mistake

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat

A Global Scientific Vision - Prevention, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the number one cause of cancer deaths around the world. This devastating disease takes strength not only in people who smoke but also in poor people that eat polluted food and use heating sources, and in those exposed naturally to toxic compounds present in indoor and outdoor environments. Lung cancer patients and their families wait actions from the science that give not only answer to their demands but also a light of hope at the moment of receiveing the diagnosis. This book meets the experience of several researchers who dedicate many hours a day to find not only the cure of lung cancer but also the way to convert the pathology of this chronic disease. In 12 chapters, the lectures will give information related to the relationship of lung cancer and smoking habit, the crucial role of the image technology for diagnosis of lung cancer, and a molecular vision of prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer. The authors with a clinic and/or lab vision and with a great spirit to collaborate with the science and with each past, present, and future patient and their families have dedicated many hours to write each chapter. Probably, the final answer to find the cure of lung cancer is not in this book. However, the lectures will give scientific information that will contribute in the near future improvement to the life quality of the patients

Urban Air Pollution by Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Santiago, Chile.

The air in Santiago, Chile, is among the most highly polluted in the world. Due to the high levels of pollutants and the high incidence of respiratory diseases, especially in the most susceptible groups, Santiago has been declared a saturated zone for PM10, O3, and CO. The levels of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined by HPLC in organic extracts from total suspended particles (OETSP) and respirable particles (OERP). Respirable particulate matter (fine and coarse) contain high levels of PAHs including six classified by IARC as carcinogenic, and represented at least 45 % of total PAH concentrations. A seasonal effect was observed with higher values in months with lower temperatures. Although a substantial decrease in PAH levels from OETSP and OERP has been observed in recent years, the levels of carcinogenic PAHs are still higher than those reported in cities in the USA, Australia and Europe. OETSP and OERP were highly mutagenic and contained direct and indirect mutagens which produced both frameshift and base substitution mutations in Salmonella thyphimurium. OETSP were also highly mutagenic at the tk locus in hlAlv2 human lymphoblasts in culture and their mutagenic potencies were 400 fold higher than those reported for PM10 in Los Angeles, USA. In vitro incubation of OETSP and OERP with calf thymus DNA allowed the identification of five nitro-PAH-DNA adducts, suggesting a relevant contribution of nitroarenes to particle toxicity. In spite of the important decrease in PAHs in the period 1991-1996, direct mutagenic responses have not changed significantly, suggesting that the levels of direct mutagenic pollutants (e. g nitroarenes) have not decreased substantially during recent years. Aditionally, indoor air pollution was investigated in an area of extreme poverty in Santiago; high levels of PM10, CO and PAHs were found which might explain the high incidence of respiratory diseases in this subpopulation. These results suggest that Santiago's inhabitants are exposed to pollutants adsorbed onto respirable particles that are highly mutagenic, thus representing a risk for human health