Adult height and long-term outcomes after rhIGF-1 therapy in two patients with PAPP-A2 deficiency

PAPP-A2 deficiency is a novel syndrome characterized by short stature due to low IGF bioactivity, skeletal abnormalities and decreased bone mineral density (BMD). Treatment with recombinant human IGF-1 (rhIGF-1) for 1 year demonstrated to increase growth velocity and BMD, without reported adverse effects, but data regarding the long-term efficacy and safety of rhIGF-1 administration in this entity has not yet been reported. Two Spanish siblings with short stature due to a homozygous loss-of-function mutation in the PAPP-A2 gene (p.D643fs25*) were treated with rhIGF-1 twice daily for six years. Growth velocity continued to increase and both patients achieved their target height. Free IGF-1 concentrations increased notably after rhIGF-1 administration, with serum IGFBP-3, IGFBP-5 and ALS levels also being higher during treatment. BMD was progressively normalized and an increase in lean mass was also noted during treatment. No episodes of hypoglycemia or any other adverse effects were documented. An increase in the growth of kidney and spleen length was observed in one of the patientsThis work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Health with the help of European FEDER funding (FIS-PI19/00166

A cancer-associated point mutation disables the steric gate of human PrimPol

PrimPol is a human primase/polymerase specialized in re-starting stalled forks by repriming beyond lesions such as pyrimidine dimers, and replication-perturbing structures including G-quadruplexes and R-loops. Unlike most conventional primases, PrimPol proficiently discriminates against ribonucleotides (NTPs), being able to start synthesis using deoxynucleotides (dNTPs), yet the structural basis and physiological implications for this discrimination are not understood. In silico analyses based on the three-dimensional structure of human PrimPol and related enzymes enabled us to predict a single residue, Tyr100, as the main effector of sugar discrimination in human PrimPol and a change of Tyr100 to histidine to boost the efficiency of NTP incorporation. We show here that the Y100H mutation profoundly stimulates NTP incorporation by human PrimPol, with an efficiency similar to that for dNTP incorporation during both primase and polymerase reactions in vitro. As expected from the higher cellular concentration of NTPs relative to dNTPs, Y100H expression in mouse embryonic fibroblasts and U2OS osteosarcoma cells caused enhanced resistance to hydroxyurea, which decreases the dNTP pool levels in S-phase. Remarkably, the Y100H PrimPol mutation has been identified in cancer, suggesting that this mutation could be selected to promote survival at early stages of tumorigenesis, which is characterized by depleted dNTP pools.We are thankful to Professor Ian J. Holt (BioDonostia, San Sebastian, Spain), for critical reading of the manuscript. We thank Sara Rodriguez-Acebes (CNIO) for advice regarding the assays with stretched DNA fibers. This study was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (MINECO; BFU2012–3769, BFU2014– 51672-REDC and BFU2015–65880-P (co-funded with European Union FEDER funds) to L.B.; BFU2013– 49153-P and BFU2016–80402-R (co-funded with European Union FEDER funds) to J.M.). A.D.T., P.A.C. and D.G.A. are recipients of MINECO FPI-predoctoral fellowships. M.D. was the recipient of a FPI-predoctoral fellowship from Programa de Excelencia “Severo Ochoa” (CNIO-MINECO). G.S.M was the recipient of a JAE Predoctoral Fellowship from the Spanish Research Council (CSIC). Funding for open access charge: Spanish MINECO [BFU2015–65880-P]S

Treatment with tocilizumab or corticosteroids for COVID-19 patients with hyperinflammatory state: a multicentre cohort study (SAM-COVID-19)

Objectives: The objective of this study was to estimate the association between tocilizumab or corticosteroids and the risk of intubation or death in patients with coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) with a hyperinflammatory state according to clinical and laboratory parameters. Methods: A cohort study was performed in 60 Spanish hospitals including 778 patients with COVID-19 and clinical and laboratory data indicative of a hyperinflammatory state. Treatment was mainly with tocilizumab, an intermediate-high dose of corticosteroids (IHDC), a pulse dose of corticosteroids (PDC), combination therapy, or no treatment. Primary outcome was intubation or death; follow-up was 21 days. Propensity score-adjusted estimations using Cox regression (logistic regression if needed) were calculated. Propensity scores were used as confounders, matching variables and for the inverse probability of treatment weights (IPTWs). Results: In all, 88, 117, 78 and 151 patients treated with tocilizumab, IHDC, PDC, and combination therapy, respectively, were compared with 344 untreated patients. The primary endpoint occurred in 10 (11.4%), 27 (23.1%), 12 (15.4%), 40 (25.6%) and 69 (21.1%), respectively. The IPTW-based hazard ratios (odds ratio for combination therapy) for the primary endpoint were 0.32 (95%CI 0.22-0.47; p < 0.001) for tocilizumab, 0.82 (0.71-1.30; p 0.82) for IHDC, 0.61 (0.43-0.86; p 0.006) for PDC, and 1.17 (0.86-1.58; p 0.30) for combination therapy. Other applications of the propensity score provided similar results, but were not significant for PDC. Tocilizumab was also associated with lower hazard of death alone in IPTW analysis (0.07; 0.02-0.17; p < 0.001). Conclusions: Tocilizumab might be useful in COVID-19 patients with a hyperinflammatory state and should be prioritized for randomized trials in this situatio

100 años investigando el mar. El IEO en su centenario (1914-2014).

Se trata de un libro que pretende divulgar a la sociedad las principales investigaciones multidisciplinares llevadas a cabo por el Instituto Español de Oceanografía durante su primer siglo de vida, y dar a conocer la historia del organismo, de su Sede Central y de los nueve centros oceanográficos repartidos por los litorales mediterráneo y atlántico, en la península y archipiélagos.Kongsberg 20

Colombian consensus recommendations for diagnosis, management and treatment of the infection by SARS-COV-2/ COVID-19 in health care facilities - Recommendations from expert´s group based and informed on evidence

La Asociación Colombiana de Infectología (ACIN) y el Instituto de Evaluación de Nuevas Tecnologías de la Salud (IETS) conformó un grupo de trabajo para desarrollar recomendaciones informadas y basadas en evidencia, por consenso de expertos para la atención, diagnóstico y manejo de casos de Covid 19. Estas guías son dirigidas al personal de salud y buscar dar recomendaciones en los ámbitos de la atención en salud de los casos de Covid-19, en el contexto nacional de Colombia

Proyecto, investigación e innovación en urbanismo, arquitectura y diseño industrial

Actas de congresoLas VII Jornadas de Investigación “Encuentro y Reflexión” y I Jornadas de Investigación de becarios y doctorandos. Proyecto, investigación e innovación en Urbanismo, Arquitectura y Diseño Industrial se centraron en cuatro ejes: el proyecto; la dimensión tecnológica y la gestión; la dimensión social y cultural y la enseñanza en Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño Industrial, sustentados en las líneas prioritarias de investigación definidas epistemológicamente en el Consejo Asesor de Ciencia y Tecnología de esta Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Con el objetivo de afianzar continuidad, formación y transferencia de métodos, metodología y recursos se incorporó becarios y doctorandos de los Institutos de investigación. La Comisión Honoraria la integraron las tres Secretarias de Investigación de la Facultad, arquitectas Marta Polo, quien fundó y María del Carmen Franchello y Nora Gutiérrez Crespo quienes continuaron la tradición de la buena práctica del debate en la cotidianeidad de la propia Facultad. Los textos que conforman las VII Jornadas son los avances y resultados de las investigaciones realizadas en el bienio 2016-2018.Fil: Novello, María Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Repiso, Luciana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Mir, Guillermo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Brizuela, Natalia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Herrera, Fernanda. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Períes, Lucas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Romo, Claudia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Gordillo, Natalia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Andrade, Elena Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; Argentin

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Seven years of follow up of trabecular bone score, bone mineral density, body composition and quality of life in adults with growth hormone deficiency treated with rhGH replacement in a single center

Background: Adult growth hormone deficiency (AGHD) is characterized by impaired physical activity, diminished quality of life (QoL), weight and fat mass gain, decreased muscle mass and decreased bone mineral density (BMD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term treatment (7 years) with recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH) on metabolic parameters, body composition (BC), BMD, bone microarchitecture and QoL. Patients and Methods: In this prospective study, BMD and BC were assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Bone microarchitecture was assessed with the trabecular bone score (TBS). The QoL-AGHDA test was used to assess QoL. Results: A total of 18 AGHD patients (mean age, 37.39 ± 12.42) were included. Body weight and body mass index (BMI) showed a significant increase after 7 years ( p = 0.03 and p = 0.001, respectively). There was a significant tendency of body fat mass (BFM) ( p = 0.028) and lean body mass (LBM) ( p = 0.005) to increase during the 7 years of rhGH treatment. There was a significant increase in lumbar spine (LS) BMD ( p = 0.01). TBS showed a nonsignificant decrease after 7 years of treatment, with a change of -0.86% ± 1.95. QoL showed a large and significant improvement ( p = 0.02). Conclusion: Long-term rhGH treatment in AGHD patients induces a large and sustained improvement in QoL. Metabolic effects are variable with an increase in LBM as well as in BMI and BFM. There is a positive effect on BMD based on the increase in LS BMD, which stabilizes during long-term therapy and is not associated with a similar increase in bone microarchitecture

Hormonas tiroideas, TSH, cáncer de tiroides y hueso en mujeres pre y postmenopáusicas

In recent years, progress has been made in regulating skeletal development and maintenance of bone mass of the adult by the hypothalamus-pituitary-thyroid axis. Studies have been carried out into the effect of thyroid hormones on the osteoblasts, osteoclast and the chondrocyte. This research has led to better genetic knowledge into the physiology of the cellular action of these hormones. Recently, possible D2 deodinase interventions in osteoporosis have been proposed. The link between bone mineral dignity, bone quality and the risk of fractures with thyroid hormones in normal postmenopausal women suggest a role for these hormones, even within the range of normal thyroid, in these diseases. On the other hand, the incidence of differentiated thyroid cancer, experimental in vivo thyroid hormone suppression by therapy, recurrent disease, has increased significantly. There are management guides, but it is clear that the secondary derivatives require a precise balance-adjusted indication, risk-benefit ratio of thyroid hormone dosage, prescribed long term, especially in cases of low tumor aggressiveness, advanced age and even in fragile patients. High risk patients should be referred for a bone densitometry, to consider treating future fractures. Prevention of osteoporosis, particularly in postmenopausal women, is highly desirable and should include adequate diet in calcium and vitamin D supplementation if necessary. There is still no consensus on osteoporosis treatment in the patient with thyroid cancer and suppressive treatment, but the indicated criteria for postmenopausal osteoporosis seem to be applicable in general.En los últimos años se han realizado progresos en el conocimiento de la regulación del desarrollo del esqueleto y del mantenimiento de la masa ósea del adulto por el eje hipotálamo-hipófisis-tiroides. Se han hecho estudios sobre el efecto de las hormonas tiroideas sobre el osteoblasto, osteoclasto y el condrocito, que han implicado un mejor conocimiento genético y fisiológico de la acción celular de estas hormonas. Recientemente se han propuesto posibles intervenciones de las deiodinasas D2 en la osteoporosis, e incluso se ha señalado la relación entre la densidad mineral ósea, la calidad del hueso y el riesgo de fracturas con las hormonas tiroideas en mujeres postmenopáusicas normales, lo que sugiere un papel de estas hormonas, incluso dentro del rango de la normalidad tiroidea, en estas patologías. Por otro lado, la incidencia del cáncer diferenciado de tiroides, modelo experimental in vivo de la supresión de la hormona tiroidea por la terapia preventiva de recidivas, ha aumentado significativamente. Existen guías clínicas para su manejo, pero es evidente que los posibles efectos secundarios derivados requieren una precisa indicación ajustada al balance riesgo-beneficio de la dosificación de las hormonas tiroideas, prescritas a largo plazo, especialmente en los casos de baja agresividad tumoral, edad avanzada e incluso en pacientes frágiles. Las pacientes con elevado riesgo, deben ser referidas para una densitometría ósea, para considerar el tratamiento de futuras fracturas. La prevención de osteoporosis, en particular en la mujer postmenopáusica, es altamente conveniente y debe incluir dieta adecuada en calcio y suplementación de vitamina D si es necesario. No existe aún un consenso sobre el tratamiento de la osteoporosis en la paciente con cáncer de tiroides y tratamiento supresor, pero los criterios indicados para la osteoporosis postmenopáusica en general parecen aplicables