UNA MIRADA SOBRE LA INVESTIGACIÓN EN LA UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL DE MAR DEL PLATA

Las expectativas de este trabajo están centradas en el conocimiento del desarrollo de la investigación en la UNMDP, los recursos disponibles para cumplir con los objetivos propuestos y su estado actual. Para ello se procedió a la recolección y el análisis de datos, fundamentalmente los correspondientes a esta última década. Una observación importante, que define el campo de análisis de la información expuesta en este trabajo, es que sólo se tienen en cuenta los aspectos de la investigación que promueve o fomenta la UNMDP, (proyectos, subsidios, becas, etc), sin considerar el aporte de otras instituciones u organizaciones que ayudan considerablemente al desarrollo de la ciencia en la Universidad, como el CONICET, o las agencias de cooperación internacional, por ejemplo. En este trabajo se han seleccionado algunos aspectos fundamentales del desarrollo de la investigación, unos por lo reveladores que resultan en la observación general, otros por ser los que reúnen una mayor confiabilidad en sus datos. Así aparecen: la evolución histórica, el sistema organizativo, los proyectos de investigación, las becas, los fondos para la investigación, la producción científica y el impacto de la investigación en la docencia. Se intenta de este modo perfilar a la UNMDP con indicadores que permitan, en breve, conformar un verdadero proceso de autoevaluación y su comparación con Instituciones similares. La investigación en la UNMDP posee historia y tiene presencia en su continuo hacer. Hoy es posible concebir a la trilogía docencia - investigación - extensión como síntesis de la finalidad que le cabe como Institución. Podrán cambiar los mecanismos de financiamiento, los objetos de la investigación, las estructuras organizativas y los planes de formación y estímulo de los recursos humanos, pero no se puede dejar de pensar en la investigación como una función primordial de la Universidad, creando conocimiento, y especialmente aquel conocimiento que tienda a resolver los problemas que el medio requiere. De lo presentado y analizado podría deducirse que esta Universidad está, en esta década tendiendo a encontrar sus propias dimensiones en el campo de la investigación: el número de proyectos se ha estabilizado, también los recursos y las cantidades de becas, existe una marcada presencia de las Facultades de Ingeniería, Humanidades, Cs. Exactas y Naturales, Cs. Agrarias y Arquitectura por sobre las demás, se tiende lentamente a incrementar la dedicación de sus docentes, se fomenta su formación a nivel cuaternario, se establecen convenios que permitan el intercambio y la cooperación y, así, tantas otras actividades que remarcan la intención de integrar la investigación al quehacer de nuestra Universidad. Queda mucho por hacer. Y, seguramente seguirán marchas y contramarchas, persistiendo el anhelo de que la institución encuentre el modo de concretar el trascendente fin para el que ha sido creada

High Specificity of Quantitative Methylation-Specific PCR Analysis for MGMT Promoter Hypermethylation Detection in Gliomas

Normal brain tissue from 28 individuals and 50 glioma samples were analyzed by real-time Quantitative Methylation-Specific PCR (QMSP). Data from this analysis were compared with results obtained on the same samples by MSP. QMSP analysis demonstrated a statistically significant difference in both methylation level (P = .000009 Mann Whitney Test) and frequencies (P = .0000007, Z-test) in tumour samples as compared with normal brain tissues. Although QMSP and MSP showed similar sensitivity, the specificity of QMSP analysis was significantly higher (93%; CI95%: 84%–100%) as compared with MSP (64%; 95%CI: 46%–82%). Our results suggest that QMSP analysis may represent a powerful tool to identify glioma patients that will benefit from alkylating agents chemotherapy

Molecular Characterization of Cancer Associated Fibroblasts in Prostate Cancer

Background: Stromal components surrounding epithelial cancer cells seem to play a pivotal role during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), tumor invasion, and metastases. To identify the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor–stroma interactions may yield novel therapeutic targets for prostate cancer. Methods: Gene expression profile of prostate-cancer associated fibroblast (PCAF) and prostate non-cancer associated fibroblast (PNAF) cells isolated from radical prostatectomy was performed by Illumina, analyzed, and further processed by Ingenuity®: IPA® software. qRT-PCR was performed on an independent set of 17 PCAF, 12 PNAF, and 12 fibroblast cell lines derived from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPHF). Results: Using microarray analysis, we found six upregulated genes and two downregulated genes in PCAFs compared to PNAFs. To validate microarray results, we performed qRT-PCR for the most significantly regulated genes involved in the modulation of proliferation and androgen resistance on an independent set of PNAF, PCAF, and BHPF samples. We confirmed the increased expression of SCARB1, MAPK3K1, and TGF-β as well as the decreased expression of S100A10 in PCAFs compared to PNAFs and BPHFs. Conclusions: These results provide strong evidence that the observed changes in the gene expression profile of PCAFs can contribute to functional alteration of adjacent prostate cancer cells

Molecular Characterization of Cancer Associated Fibroblasts in Prostate Cancer

Background: Stromal components surrounding epithelial cancer cells seem to play a pivotal role during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), tumor invasion, and metastases. To identify the molecular mechanisms underlying tumor-stroma interactions may yield novel therapeutic targets for prostate cancer. Methods: Gene expression profile of prostate-cancer associated fibroblast (PCAF) and prostate non-cancer associated fibroblast (PNAF) cells isolated from radical prostatectomy was performed by Illumina, analyzed, and further processed by Ingenuity (R) : IPA (R) software. qRT-PCR was performed on an independent set of 17 PCAF, 12 PNAF, and 12 fibroblast cell lines derived from patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPHF). Results: Using microarray analysis, we found six upregulated genes and two downregulated genes in PCAFs compared to PNAFs. To validate microarray results, we performed qRT-PCR for the most significantly regulated genes involved in the modulation of proliferation and androgen resistance on an independent set of PNAF, PCAF, and BHPF samples. We confirmed the increased expression of SCARB1, MAPK3K1, and TGF-beta as well as the decreased expression of S100A10 in PCAFs compared to PNAFs and BPHFs. Conclusions: These results provide strong evidence that the observed changes in the gene expression profile of PCAFs can contribute to functional alteration of adjacent prostate cancer cells

Diagnosis, treatment and prevention of pediatric obesity: consensus position statement of the Italian Society for Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology and the Italian Society of Pediatrics

The Italian Consensus Position Statement on Diagnosis, Treatment and Prevention of Obesity in Children and Adolescents integrates and updates the previous guidelines to deliver an evidence based approach to the disease. The following areas were reviewed: (1) obesity definition and causes of secondary obesity; (2) physical and psychosocial comorbidities; (3) treatment and care settings; (4) prevention.The main novelties deriving from the Italian experience lie in the definition, screening of the cardiometabolic and hepatic risk factors and the endorsement of a staged approach to treatment. The evidence based efficacy of behavioral intervention versus pharmacological or surgical treatments is reported. Lastly, the prevention by promoting healthful diet, physical activity, sleep pattern, and environment is strongly recommended since the intrauterine phase

A functional magnetic resonance imaging study of left hemisphere language dominance in children.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging is a noninvasive method of assessing language dominance in a pediatric population. To determine the pattern of receptive language lateralization in healthy children. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess an auditory language task in 11 children (7 girls, 4 boys; mean age, 8.5 years). Participants alternately rested and listened to descriptors of nouns presented auditorily, naming the object described silently. Asymmetry indices ([(left - right)/(left + right)]) were calculated for a priori-determined regions of interest. The results showed strong activation bilaterally, with greater activation on the left in the superior and middle temporal gyri. Other areas of activation included the cuneus, the left inferior temporal gyrus, the prefrontal area, and the left fusiform and lingual gyri. Regions of interest analysis of individual scans showed additional activation in the left frontal lobe. Asymmetry indices showed strong left lateralization of the inferior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, and the Wernicke region. Hemispheric lateralization was clearly demonstrated in 8 children. As in adults, left hemisphere lateralization of receptive language is present at age 8 years

Rare Somatic MEN1 Gene Pathogenic Variant in a Patient Affected by Atypical Parathyroid Adenoma

Objective. Atypical parathyroid adenoma is a rare neoplasm, showing atypical histological features intermediate between classic benign adenoma and the rarest parathyroid carcinoma, whose the clinical behaviour and outcome is not yet understood or predictable. Up to date only two cases of atypical adenoma were found associated to a MEN1 syndrome, and only one was proved to carry a pathogenic variant of the MEN1 gene. Design. We report the clinical, histologic, and molecular findings of a 44-year-old woman, presenting with a histologically proved atypical parathyroid adenoma with an apparent aggressive behaviour. Methods and Results. CDC73 gene was screened at germline and somatic levels with no results. Whole exome sequencing performed on DNA extracted from blood leukocytes and tumour tissue revealed a somatic MEN1 gene heterozygous variant, c.912+1G > A, of the splicing donor site of exon 6. On immunohistochemistry, downregulation of the menin protein expression in the neoplastic cells was also observed. Conclusions. We report the second case of a rare association of a somatic MEN1 gene mutation in a patient with atypical parathyroid adenoma. We suggest that MEN1 gene could be an underestimate genetic determinant of these rare histological entities, and we highlight the utility of a complete genetic screening protocol, by the use of next-generation sequencing technology in such undetermined clinical cases with no frank clinical presentation

Urological dysfunction in young women: an inheritance of childhood?

Objective: To investigate the correlation of a history of lower urinary tract symptomatology during childhood with lower urinary tract dysfunction in young adult women. Subjects and Methods: This was a multicentre, prospective, case–control study conducted between April 2013 and November 2015. A total of 300 women, aged 18–40 years, participated. The case group comprised women attending urogynaecology clinics for various lower urinary tract complaints and the control group was recruited from a healthy population. Exclusion criteria were designed to avoid common causes of lower urinary tract dysfunction and symptoms and included diabetes mellitus, neurological disease and pelvic inflammatory disease. All women completed a self-administered 77-item questionnaire, exploring childhood urological and bowel history, as well as current urological, bowel and sexual symptoms. Statistical analysis was performed using chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests to compare categorical variables. Multivariate logistic regression models were fit for the prediction of the adult outcomes, incorporating as explanatory variables all those that showed a significant P value in bivariate analysis. P values < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: Women with childhood urinary voiding and storage symptoms had a higher prevalence of these symptoms in adult life compared with women without such history. Women with urinary tract infections (UTIs) during childhood had a higher incidence of adult UTIs compared with women without this problem in childhood. Conclusions: Lower urinary tract dysfunction in childhood seems to ‘persist’ in young adult life but the implications of this finding in clinical practice need to be defined in future studies