FUMEPOC: Early detection of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in smokers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Currently is not feasible using conventional spirometry as a screening method in Primary Care especially among smoking population to detect chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in early stages. Therefore, the FUMEPOC study protocol intends to analyze the validity and reliability of Vitalograph COPD-6 spirometer as simpler tool to aid screening and diagnosis of this disease in early stages in primary care surgery.</p> <p>Methods / Design</p> <p>Study design: An observational, descriptive study of diagnostic tests, undertaken in Primary Care and Pneumology Outpatient Care Centre at San Juan Hospital and Elda Hospital. All smokers attending the primary care surgery and consent to participate in the study will undergo a test with Vitalograph COPD-6 spirometer. Subsequently, a conventional spirometry will be performed in the hospital and the results will be compared with those of the Vitalograph COPD-6 test.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>It is difficult to use the spirometry as screening for early diagnose test in real conditions of primary care clinical practice. The use of a simpler tool, Vitalograph COPD-6 spirometer, can help in the early diagnose and therefore, it could improve the clinical management of the disease.</p

Cytotoxic and Antiproliferative Effect of Tepary Bean Lectins on C33-A, MCF-7, SKNSH, and SW480 Cell Lines

For many years, several studies have been employing lectin from vegetables in order to prove its toxic effect on various cell lines. In this work, we analyzed the cytotoxic, antiproliferative, and post-incubatory effect of pure tepary bean lectins on four lines of malignant cells: C33-A; MCF-7; SKNSH, and SW480. The tests were carried out employing MTT and 3 [H]-thymidine assays. The results showed that after 24 h of lectin exposure, the cells lines showed a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect, the effect being higher on MCF-7, while C33-A showed the highest resistance. Cell proliferation studies showed that the toxic effect induced by lectins is higher even when lectins are removed, and in fact, the inhibition of proliferation continues after 48 h. Due to the use of two techniques to analyze the cytotoxic and antiproliferative effect, differences were observed in the results, which can be explained by the fact that one technique is based on metabolic reactions, while the other is based on the 3 [H]-thymidine incorporated in DNA by cells under division. These results allow concluding that lectins exert a cytotoxic effect after 24 h of exposure, exhibiting a dose-dependent effect. In some cases, the cytotoxic effect is higher even when the lectins are eliminated, however, in other cases, the cells showed a proliferative effect.Durante muchos años, varios estudios han estado empleando lectina de verduras para probar su efecto tóxico en varias líneas celulares. En este trabajo analizamos el efecto citotóxico, antiproliferativo y post-incubador de las lectinas de tepary bean puras en cuatro líneas de células malignas: C33-A; MCF - 7; SKNSH y SW480. Los ensayos se realizaron empleando ensayos de MTT y 3 [H] -timidina. Los resultados mostraron que después de 24 h de exposición a lectina, las líneas celulares mostraron un efecto citotóxico dependiente de la dosis, siendo el efecto mayor en MCF-7, mientras que C33-A mostró la resistencia más alta. Los estudios de proliferación celular demostraron que el efecto tóxico inducido por las lectinas es mayor aún cuando se eliminan las lectinas y, de hecho, la inhibición de la proliferación continúa después de 48 h. Debido al uso de dos técnicas para analizar el efecto citotóxico y antiproliferativo, se observaron diferencias en los resultados, lo que se puede explicar por el hecho de que una técnica se basa en reacciones metabólicas, mientras que la otra se basa en el análisis de los 3 [H] Timidina incorporada en el ADN por células bajo división. Estos resultados permiten concluir que las lectinas ejercen un efecto citotóxico después de 24 h de exposición, exhibiendo un efecto dosis-dependiente. En algunos casos, el efecto citotóxico es mayor aún cuando las lectinas son eliminadas, sin embargo, en otros casos, las células mostraron un efecto proliferativo

Triglycerides/Glucose and Triglyceride/High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Indices in Normal and Preeclamptic Pregnancies: A Longitudinal Study

Metabolic changes have been correlated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. The aim of the present study is to determine the TyG and TG/HDL-c indices in a cohort of healthy pregnant (n=142), preeclamptic (n=18), and healthy nonpregnant women (n=56). Preeclamptic women were selected from the same cohort. Pregnant women were followed during three periods of pregnancy and postpartum. The results showed a significant increase in the values of TyG and TG/HDL-c (p<0.01) as pregnancy progresses, without significant differences between healthy and preeclamptic women. TyG and TG/HDL-c indices are significantly low in nonpregnant and three months’ postpartum women when compared with each gestational period studied. TyG and TG/HDL-c indices are positively correlated with HOMA-IR in the early and middle pregnancy (p<0.05). Multiple linear regression using the TyG and TG/HDL-c indices as dependent variables showed that TyG index was significantly associated with HOMA-IR, gestational age, HDL-c, TC, LDL, fasting insulin, and mean BP (p<0.001); meanwhile, TG/HDL-c index was only associated with HOMA-IR (p<0.0242) and gestational age (p<0.001). In conclusion, the TyG and TG/HDL-c indices could be useful in monitoring insulin resistance during pregnancy

Tópicos selectos de ciencias químicas

La Química es una de las ramas de la ciencia que ha tomado mayor importancia en las últimas décadas. Es imposible no pensar en ella al escuchar los avances milagrosos de fármacos, materiales inteligentes, tecnología nanométrica, computadoras cuánticas o procesos catalíticos, donde la transformación controlada de la materia ha logrado la creación de sustancias con propiedades hechas a medida. En ese sentido, el papel de la Facultad de Química, en la formación de profesionales de dicha área, cobra una importancia superlativa; además del compromiso y la responsabilidad de formar sujetos no sólo con conocimiento, sino desarrollar su conciencia social y ecológica, indispensables para la situación actual y futura.Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México