Effectiveness of treatment with nebulized colistin in patients with COPD

To analyze whether the introduction of nebulized colistin in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) is associated with a decrease of the number and duration of severe exacerbations. Thirty six patients with COPD and infection with PA treated with nebulized colistin attending a day hospital during a 5-year (January 2010-December 2014) period were prospectively included. Repeated-measures t -tests were used to assess whether the introduction of colistin was associated with changes in the number of exacerbations or the length of the hospitalizations, comparing for each patient the year prior to the introduction of colistin with the year after. After the introduction of colistin, the number of admissions decreased from 2.0 to 0.9 per individual year (P =0.0007), and hospitalizations were shorter (23.3 vs 10.9 days, P =0.00005). These results persisted when patients with and without bronchiectasis or with and without persistence of Pseudomonas were separately analyzed. No pre-post differences were detected in the number of exacerbations not requiring admission. Nebulized colistin seems associated with a strong decrease in the number and duration of hospitalizations due to exacerbation in patients with COPD and infection with PA. Clinical trials with a larger number of patients are needed in order to confirm these results

Confirmation of preeclampsia-like syndrome induced by severe COVID-19 : An Observational Study

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, some studies have reported an increased preeclampsia (PE) incidence in pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Several explanations for this association have been proposed, including a preeclampsia-like syndrome induced by severe COVID-19. This syndrome was described in a small case series and has not been confirmed in larger studies and its impact in perinatal outcomes has not been studied. The aim of this study was to confirm the preeclampsia-like syndrome due to COVID-19 and to investigate its implications in pregnancy outcomes and prognosis. This was a prospective, observational study conducted in a tertiary referral hospital. Inclusion criteria were pregnant women admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for severe pneumonia due to COVID-19. They were classified in three groups based on clinical and laboratory findings: PE, PE-like syndrome, and women without PE features. The three cohorts were analyzed and compared at three different times: before, during and after severe pneumonia. The main outcomes were incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes and signs and symptoms of PE, such as hypertension, proteinuria, thrombocytopenia, elevated liver enzymes and increased angiogenic factors (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 to placental growth factor ratio [sFlt-1/PlGF]). A total of 106 women were admitted to Intensive Care Unit due to severe pneumonia and 68 were included in the study. Of those, 53 (50.0%) did not meet the diagnostic criteria for PE and remained pregnant after pneumonia (non-PE), seven (6.6%) met the diagnostic criteria for PE, had abnormal (>38) sFlt-1/PlGF (PE) and delivered during severe pneumonia, and eight (7.5%) met the diagnostic criteria for PE, had normal (≤38) sFlt-1/PlGF (PE-like) and did not deliver during pneumonia. Despite not having delivered, most PE-related features improved after severe pneumonia in women with PE-like syndrome. Women with PE had significantly poorer outcomes than women with PE-like syndrome or without PE. More than 50% of women with severe COVID-19 and diagnostic criteria for PE may not be PE but a PE-like syndrome, which may affect up to 7.5% of women with severe COVID-19. PE-like syndrome might have similar perinatal outcomes to those of normotensive women with severe pneumonia due to COVID-19. For these reasons, PE-like syndrome should be excluded by using sFlt-1/PlGF in future research and before making clinical decisions

Confirmation of preeclampsia-like syndrome induced by severe COVID-19: an observational study

COVID-19; Preeclampsia; PregnancyCOVID-19; Preeclampsia; EmbarazoCOVID-19; Preeclampsia; EmbaràsBACKGROUND Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, some studies have reported an increased preeclampsia incidence in pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Several explanations for this association have been proposed, including a preeclampsia-like syndrome induced by severe COVID-19. This syndrome was described in a small case series and has not been confirmed in larger studies, and its effect on perinatal outcomes has not been studied. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to confirm the preeclampsia-like syndrome because of COVID-19 and to investigate its implications on pregnancy outcomes and prognosis. STUDY DESIGN This was a prospective, observational study conducted in a tertiary referral hospital. The inclusion criteria were pregnant women admitted to the intensive care unit for severe pneumonia because of COVID-19. They were classified into 3 groups based on clinical and laboratory findings: preeclampsia, preeclampsia-like syndrome, and women without preeclampsia features. The 3 cohorts were analyzed and compared at 3 different times: before, during, and after severe pneumonia. The main outcomes were incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes and signs and symptoms of PE, such as hypertension, proteinuria, thrombocytopenia, elevated liver enzymes, and increased angiogenic factors (soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1–to–placental growth factor ratio). RESULTS A total of 106 women were admitted to the intensive care unit because of severe pneumonia, and 68 women were included in the study. Of those, 53 (50.0%) did not meet the diagnostic criteria for preeclampsia and remained pregnant after pneumonia (non-preeclampsia); 7 (6.6%) met the diagnostic criteria for preeclampsia, had abnormal (>38) soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1–to–placental growth factor ratio (preeclampsia), and delivered during severe pneumonia, and 8 (7.5%) met the diagnostic criteria for preeclampsia, had normal (≤38) soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1–to–placental growth factor ratio (preeclampsia like), and did not deliver during pneumonia. Despite not having delivered, most preeclampsia-related features improved after severe pneumonia in women with preeclampsia-like syndrome. Women with preeclampsia had significantly poorer outcomes than women with preeclampsia-like syndrome or without preeclampsia. CONCLUSION More than 50% of women with severe COVID-19 and diagnostic criteria for preeclampsia may not be preeclampsia but a preeclampsia-like syndrome, which may affect up to 7.5% of women with severe COVID-19. Preeclampsia-like syndrome might have similar perinatal outcomes to those of normotensive women with severe pneumonia because of COVID-19. For these reasons, preeclampsia-like syndrome should be excluded by using soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1–to–placental growth factor ratio in future research and before making clinical decisions

Identification of Niemann-Pick C1 protein as a potential novel SARS-CoV-2 intracellular target

Niemann-Pick type C1 (NPC1) receptor is an endosomal membrane protein that regulates intracellular cholesterol traffic. This protein has been shown to play an important role for several viruses. It has been reported that SARS-CoV-2 enters the cell through plasma membrane fusion and/or endosomal entry upon availability of proteases. However, the whole process is not fully understood yet and additional viral/host factors might be required for viral fusion and subsequent viral replication. Here, we report a novel interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 nucleoprotein (N) and the cholesterol transporter NPC1. Furthermore, we have found that some compounds reported to interact with NPC1, carbazole SC816 and sulfides SC198 and SC073, were able to reduce SARS-CoV-2 viral infection with a good selectivity index in human cell infection models. These findings suggest the importance of NPC1 for SARS-CoV-2 viral infection and a new possible potential therapeutic target to fight against COVID-19

The EMT signaling pathways in endometrial carcinoma

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecologic malignancy of the female genital tract and the fourth most common neoplasia in women. In EC, myometrial invasion is considered one of the most important prognostic factors. For this process to occur, epithelial tumor cells need to undergo an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), either transiently or stably, and to differing degrees. This process has been extensively described in other types of cancer but has been poorly studied in EC. In this review, several features of EMT and the main molecular pathways responsible for triggering this process are investigated in relation to EC. The most common hallmarks of EMT have been found in EC, either at the level of E-cadherin loss or at the induction of its repressors, as well as other molecular alterations consistent with the mesenchymal phenotype-like L1CAM and BMI-1 up-regulation. Pathways including progesterone receptor, TGFβ, ETV5 and microRNAs are deeply related to the EMT process in EC

GGPS1 Mutation and Atypical Femoral Fractures with Bisphosphonates

Atypical femoral fractures have been associated with long-term bisphosphonate treatment.1,2 However, the underlying mechanisms remain obscure. We studied three sisters who had atypical femoral fractures after receiving various oral bisphosphonates for 6 years. Two of the sisters had a single fracture (at the ages of 64 and 73 years), and one had bilateral fractures (one at the age of 60 years and the other at the age of 61 years). Given the low incidence of atypical femoral fractures in the general population (5.9 per 10,000 person-years),3 we hypothesized that these sisters might have an underlying genetic background that contributed to these fractures

Red de investigación PalmerNET. La unión hace la fuerza

4 Pág.[EN] PalmerNET is a Research Network (RED2022-134285-T), financed by the Agencia Española de Investigación, tofi ght against Amaranthus palmeri (A. palmeri) S. Wats., an invasive weed species established in Lleida, Huesca and Extremadura, with the ability to evolve herbicide resistance. Under the leadership of researcher Joel Torra, the Agrotechnology Research CERCA Centre (Agrotecnio) and the Universitat de Lleida (UdL) have started PalmerNET, where three other universities participate, namely the Universidad Pública de Navarra, the Universidad de Vigo and the Universitat Politècnica de València, and three other research institutes namely the Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria de Aragón (CITA), the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrarias of Madrid (INIA-CSIC) and the Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas de Extremadura (CICYTEX). A total of 25 people, including researchers, professors and PhD students, integrate PalmerNET. The net will promote the collaboration and research between these research groups to understand and contribute to containing the spread of this invasive weed, and disseminate the available knowledge regarding this worrying crop protection problem. During the period of the network PalmerNET (from 2023 to 2025), several activities will be undertaken, like technical seminars with the sector, periodic meetings of the net members, and the creation of a web page. This network will foster cooperation between the participating members to reach a global view of the problem and join research and action efforts.[ES] PalmerNET es una Red de Investigación (RED2022-134285-T), financiada por la Agencia Española de Investigación, para combatir Amaranthus palmeri (A. palmeri) S. Wats., especie invasora establecida en Lleida, Huesca y Extremadura, con capacidad de generar resistencias a herbicidas. Bajo la dirección del investigador Joel Torra, la Fundación Centro de Investigación en Agrotecnología (Agrotecnio) y la Universitat de Lleida (UdL) han puesto en marcha PalmerNET, donde participan, además, otras tres universidades: la Universidad Pública de Navarra, la Universidad de Vigo y la Universitat Politècnica de València, y otros tres centros de investigación: el Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria de Aragón (CITA), el Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrarias de Madrid (INIA-CSIC) y el Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas de Extremadura (CICYTEX). Un total de 25 personas, entre investigadores, profesores y estudiantes predoctorales, integran PalmerNET. La red promoverá la colaboración e investigación entre los grupos participantes para comprender y poder contener la expansión de la mala hierba y divulgar el concimiento disponible sobre este grave problema fitosanitario. Durante la vigencia de la red PalmerNET (de 2023 a 2025), se realizarán Jornadas Técnicas de divulgación, se actualizará la información mediante reuniones de los miembros y la creación de una página web. La red potenciará la cooperación entre los investigadores participantes para alcanzar una visión global del problema, uniendo esfuerzos de investigación y de actuación.PalmerNET es una Red de Investigación (RED2022-134285-T), financiada por la Agencia Española de Investigación.Peer reviewe

Molecular markers of endometrial carcinoma detected in uterine aspirates.

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most frequent of the invasive tumors of the female genital tract. Although usually detected in its initial stages, a 20% of the patients present with advanced disease. To date, no characterized molecular marker has been validated for the diagnosis of EC. In addition, new methods for prognosis and classification of EC are needed to combat this deadly disease. We thus aimed to identify new molecular markers of EC and to evaluate their validity on endometrial aspirates. Gene expression screening on 52 carcinoma samples and series of real-time quantitative PCR validation on 19 paired carcinomas and normal tissue samples and on 50 carcinoma and noncarcinoma uterine aspirates were performed to identify and validate potential biomarkers of EC. Candidate markers were further confirmed at the protein level by immunohistochemistry and Western blot. We identified ACAA1, AP1M2, CGN, DDR1, EPS8L2, FASTKD1, GMIP, IKBKE, P2RX4, P4HB, PHKG2, PPFIBP2, PPP1R16A, RASSF7, RNF183, SIRT6, TJP3, EFEMP2, SOCS2 and DCN as differentially expressed in ECs. Furthermore, the differential expression of these biomarkers in primary endometrial tumors is correlated to their expression level in corresponding uterine fluid samples. Finally, these biomarkers significantly identified EC with area under the receiver-operating-characteristic values ranging from 0.74 to 0.95 in uterine aspirates. Interestingly, analogous values were found among initial stages. We present the discovery of molecular biomarkers of EC and describe their utility in uterine aspirates. These findings represent the basis for the development of a highly sensitive and specific minimally invasive method for screening ECs

Research Network PalmerNET. Unity makes strength

PalmerNET es una Red de Investigación (RED2022-134285-T), financiada por la Agencia Española de Investigación, para combatir Amaranthus palmeri (A. palmeri)S. Wats., especie invasora establecida en Lleida, Huesca y Extremadura, con capacidad de generar resistencias a herbicidas. Bajo la dirección del investigador Joel Torra, la Fundación Centro de Investigación en Agrotecnología (Agrotecnio) y la Universitat de Lleida (UdL) han puesto en marcha PalmerNET, donde participan, además, otras tres universidades: la Universidad Pública de Navarra, la Universidad de Vigo y la Universitat Politècnica de València, y otros tres centros de investigación: el Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria de Aragón (CITA), el Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrarias de Madrid (INIA-CSIC) y el Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas de Extremadura (CICYTEX). Un total de 25 personas, entre investigadores, profesores y estudiantes predoctorales, integran PalmerNET. La red promoverá la colaboración e investigación entre los grupos participantes para comprender y poder contener la expansión de la mala hierba y divulgar el concimiento disponible sobre este grave problema fitosanitario. Durante la vigencia de la red PalmerNET (de 2023 a 2025), se realizarán Jornadas Técnicas de divulgación, se actualizará la información mediante reuniones de los miembros y la creación de una página web. La red potenciará la cooperación entre los investigadores participantes para alcanzar una visión global del problema, uniendo esfuerzos de investigación y de actuación.PalmerNET is a Research Network (RED2022-134285-T), financed by the Agencia Española de Investigación, to fight against Amaranthus palmeri (A. palmeri)S. Wats., an invasive weed species established in Lleida, Huesca and Extremadura, with the ability to evolve herbicide resistance. Under the leadership of researcher Joel Torra, the Agrotechnology Research CERCA Centre (Agrotecnio) and the Universitat de Lleida (UdL) have started PalmerNET, where three other universities participate, namely the Universidad Pública de Navarra, the Universidad de Vigo and the Universitat Politècnica de València, and three other research institutes namely the Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria de Aragón (CITA), the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agrarias of Madrid (INIA-CSIC) and the Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas de Extremadura (CICYTEX). A total of 25 people, including researchers, professors and PhD students, integrate PalmerNET. The net will promote the collaboration and research between these research groups to understand and contribute to containing the spread of this invasive weed and disseminate the available knowledge regarding this worrying crop protection problem. During the period of the network PalmerNET (from 2023 to 2025), several activities will be undertaken, like technical seminars with the sector, periodic meetings of the net members, and the creation of a web page. This network will foster cooperation between the participating members to reach a global view of the problem and join research and action effortsPalmerNET es una Red de Investigación (RED2022-134285-T), financiada por la Agencia Española de Investigación.Figura 2 - Logo de la Red de Investigación PalmerNET.Palmer amaranthinvasive weeddisseminationcooperationAmaranthus palmeriPublishe