Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and ovulation, lessons from morphology

Ovulation constitutes the central event in ovarian physiology, and ovulatory disfunction is a relevant cause of female infertility. Non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), widely used due to their analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties, consistently inhibit ovulation in all mammalian species investigated so far, likely due to the inhibition of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), the inducible isoform of COX, that is the ratelimiting enzyme in prostaglandin (PG) synthesis. COX-2 inhibition has major effects on ovulation, fertilization and implantation, and NSAID therapy is likely implicated in human infertility and could be an important, frequently overlooked, cause of ovulatory disfunction in women. Although there is compelling evidence for a role of PGs in ovulation, the molecular targets and the precise role of these compounds in the ovulatory process are not fully understood. Morphological studies from rats treated with indomethacin (INDO), a potent inhibitor of PG synthesis, provide evidence on the actions of NSAIDs in ovulation, as well as on the posible roles of PGs in the ovulatory process. Cycling rats treated with INDO during the preovulatory period show abnormal ovulation, due to disruption of the spatial targeting of follicle rupture at the apex. Noticeably, gonadotropinprimed immature rats (widely used as a model for the study of ovulation) show age-dependent ovulatory defects similar to those of cycling rats treated with INDO. These data suggest that NSAID treatment disrupts physiological mechanisms underlying spatial targeting of follicle rupture at the apex, which are not fully established in very young rats. We summarize herein the ovulatory defects after pharmacologic COX-2 inhibition, and discuss the posible mechanisms underlying the anti-ovulatory actions of NSAIDs

Impact of the popping process on the structural and thermal properties of sorghum grains (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench)

The popping process has been widely used as a technique for obtaining snacks. This study evaluated the effect of the popping process on the structural and thermal properties of sorghum. Seven varieties of sorghum were used. Raw sorghum grains were adjusted to 11% moisture and popped at 210 °C for 90 s with hot air. Microstructure, thermal and viscosity properties, and X-Ray and infrared spectrum were measured in raw and popped sorghum. The popping process produced an ordered honeycomb-like structure in the sorghum. The viscosity profile showed an increase in the thermal stability of popped sorghum. DSC measurements showed a starch gelatinization and a second transition about to 145 °C. XRD diffractograms display a reduction in the amplitude of the crystalline orthorhombic structure peaks. Finally, infrared indicated a change in the short-range structure and protein denaturation due to the popping process.Authors F.G. Castro-Campos and A.H. Cabrera-Ramírez thanks the “Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología” (CONACYT-Mexico) for the financial support of their post-graduate position [Grant numbers: 712859 and 734975, respectively]. This research was supported by the FOPER-2018 and 2019 of the Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro.Peer reviewe

Gastrointestinal tract and liver graft-versus-host disease in pediatric patients with hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation at a tertiary care center in Mexico

Introduction and aims: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a common multisystemic complication of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. The most frequent presentations of graft-versus-host disease involve the skin, the gastrointestinal tract, and the liver. The aim of the present study was to know the frequency of gastrointestinal tract and liver GVHD and the characteristics of disease presentation in pediatric patients that underwent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) at a tertiary care hospital center in Mexico City. Material and methods: A retrospective study was carried out, utilizing the case records of patients that underwent HSCT in 2015, to determine the frequency of GVHD in pediatric patients at a Mexican tertiary care hospital center. Results: In 2015, 16 HSCT were performed, 11 of which were carried out in males (68%). Only 3 patients developed graft-versus-host disease (18.7%). One patient presented with skin and liver GVHD and 2 patients presented with gastrointestinal tract and liver GVHD, which was the most frequent type. Conclusions: HSCT is still an uncommon procedure in Mexico and there is a lower frequency of gastrointestinal tract and liver GVHD than that reported in other studies. Most certainly, there will be an increase in this type of patient and risk factors in the Mexican population must still be determined to help predict the onset of GVHD. Resumen: Introducción y objetivos: La enfermedad de injerto contra huésped (EICH) es una complicación común y multisistémica del trasplante alogénico de células hematopoyéticas. La presentación clínica más frecuente de la EICH involucra la piel, el tracto gastrointestinal y el hígado. El objetivo de este estudio fue conocer la frecuencia y características de presentación de EICH gastrointestinal y hepático en pacientes pediátricos receptores de trasplante de células progenitoras hematopoyéticas (TCPH), que son atendidos en una institución pediátrica de tercer nivel de atención en México. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo de los expedientes de los pacientes receptores de TCPH durante el año 2015, para conocer la frecuencia de EICH en pacientes pediátricos de una institución de tercer nivel de atención en México. Resultados: Durante el transcurso del año 2015 se realizaron 16 TCPH, 11 de los cuales correspondieron al sexo masculino (68%). Solo 3 pacientes desarrollaron EICH (18.7%). De estos, uno cursó con EICH hepático aislado, y 2 presentaron EICH tanto gastrointestinal como hepático, siendo esta la presentación más frecuente; mientras que solamente un paciente presentó EICH de tipo cutáneo. Conclusiones: El TCPH es aún un procedimiento poco frecuente en nuestro medio y la frecuencia de EICH hepático y gastrointestinal es menor que la reportada en otros estudios, sin embargo, cada vez con mayor frecuencia tendremos que enfrentarnos a este tipo de pacientes. Existen factores de riesgo aún por determinar en nuestra población, factores que ayudarían a predecir la aparición de este padecimiento. Keywords: Graft-versus-host disease, Hematopoietic progenitor cell transplantation, Pediatric patients, Palabras clave: Enfermedad injerto contra huésped, Trasplante de células progenitoras hematopoyéticas, Pacientes pediátrico

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in a patient with osteopetrosis and mutation in CLCN7: long-term follow-up

Background: Osteopetrosis is a rare hereditary bone dysplasia characterized by insufficient osteoclast activity that results in increased bone mineral density. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) can reverse skeletal abnormalities and restore hematopoiesis. Case report: We present the case of a 3-year and 2-month-old male patient with the diagnosis of osteopetrosis. The patient underwent allogeneic HSCT (Allo-HSCT) using 100% compatible bone marrow from a related donor and received a myeloablative conditioning regimen and a CD34 cell dose (4.7 × 107/kg). In the early post-transplant, frequent complications such as pneumonitis, hypercalcemia, and hyperphosphatemia ocurred. With a suitable granulocytic graft and chimerism of 100%, it was considered a successful transplant. However, the patient showed a delayed platelet graft treated with a platelet-stimulating factor for 6 months. The patient is currently disease-free, outpatient follow-up, with no data on graft-versus-host disease, and no progressive neurological damage. Conclusions: Osteopetrosis is a childhood disease that requires clinical suspicion and early diagnosis. HSCT is necessary at an early age to prevent disease progression and sensorineural, hematological, and endocrinological functions damage that can lead to death

Respiratory viral infections in pediatric patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Background: Viral respiratory infections in pediatric patients with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) significantly impact morbidity and mortality. It is necessary to determine the viral agents and their frequency of presentation to understand their impact on transplantation patients’ evolution. Methods: From January 2017 to December 2019, we conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive, and observational study of patients who underwent HSCT with a viral respiratory infection. Viral identification was performed using multiplex polymerase chain reaction for nine respiratory viruses. Descriptive statistics were performed with a report of central tendency measures and percentages. Results: Of the 54 pediatric patients who underwent HSCT, 59.2% presented an airway infection; in turn, at least one viral agent was identified in 59.3% of these patients. The most frequent viral agents were influenza (25.9%), human rhinovirus (18.5%), and respiratory syncytial virus (18.5%). Viral co-infections occurred in 36.8% of the cases. The reported complications were supplemental oxygen requirement (73.6%), support with mechanical ventilation (21%), admission to the pediatric intensive care unit (15.7%), and mortality associated with a viral respiratory infection (10.5%). Conclusions: Viral respiratory infections are frequent in pediatric patients with HSCT; influenza A/B virus was the most frequent agent. As morbidity and mortality increase due to these infections in patients with HSCT, strategies are necessary for its prevention and timely treatment after transplantation