Impact of CD68/(CD3+CD20) Ratio at the Invasive Front of Primary Tumors on Distant Metastasis Development in Breast Cancer

Tumors are infiltrated by macrophages, T and B-lymphocytes, which may favor tumor development by promoting angiogenesis, growth and invasion. The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical relevance of the relative amount of macrophages (CD68⁺), T-cells (CD3⁺ and B-cells (CD20⁺) at the invasive front of breast carcinomas, and the expression of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs) either at the invasive front or at the tumor center. We performed an immunohistochemical study counting CD3, CD20 and CD68 positive cells at the invasive front, in 102 breast carcinomas. Also, tissue sections were stained with MMP-2, -9, -11, -14 and TIMP-2 antibodies, and immunoreactivity location, percentage of reactive area and intensity were determined at the invasive front and at the tumor center. The results showed that an increased CD68 count and CD68/(CD3+CD20) ratio were directly associated with both MMP-11 and TIMP-2 expression by mononuclear inflammatory cells at the tumor center (p = 0.041 and p = 0.025 for CD68 count and p = 0.001 and p = 0.045 for ratio, respectively for MMP-11 and TIMP-2). In addition, a high CD68/(CD3+CD20) ratio (>0.05) was directly associated with a higher probability of shortened relapse-free survival. Multivariate analysis revealed that CD68/(CD3+CD20) ratio was an independent factor associated with distant relapse-free survival (RR: 2.54, CI: (1.23-5.24), p<0.01). Therefore, CD68/(CD3+CD20) ratio at the invasive front could be used as an important prognostic marker

Psycho-emotional disorders as incoming risk factors for myocardial infarction with non-obstructive coronary arteries

  Background: There is an emerging field underlying the myocardial infarction (MI) with non-obstruc­tive coronary arteries (MINOCA). The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of psycho-emotional disorders and social habits in MINOCA patients. Methods: The study included 95 consecutive patients diagnosed of MINOCA and 178 patients with MI and obstructive lesions. MINOCA patients were included when they fulfilled the three main criteria: accomplishment of the Third Universal Definition of Myocardial Infarction, absence of obstructive coronary arteries and no clinically overt specific cause for the acute presentation. Results: MINOCA patients had a higher frequency of previous psychiatric illnesses than the obstructive coronary arteries group (29.7% vs. 12.9%, p = 0.001). MINOCA patients recognized emotional stress in 75.7% of the cases, while only 32.1% of the obstructive related group did (p &lt; 0.001). The relation­ship remained after excluding takotsubo syndrome from the analysis (26 cases, 27.4%): psychiatric diseases (27.9% vs. 12.9%, p &lt; 0.01) and recognition of emotional stress (70.8% vs. 32.1%, p &lt; 0.001). Social habits which could act as stress modulating showed no significant relation with MINOCA. Conclusions: Psycho-emotional disorders are related to MINOCA and they could act as risk fac­tor. This relationship is maintained after excluding takotsubo from the analysis. (Cardiol J 2018; 25, 1: 24–31

Light regulates the expression of the BDNF/TrkB system in the adult Zebrafish retina

The retina of the adult zebrafish express brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its signaling receptor TrkB. This functional system is involved in the biology of the vertebrate retina and its expression is regulated by light. This study was designed to investigate the effects of cyclic (12 h light/12 h darkness) or continuous (24 h) exposure during 10 days to white light, white‐blue light, and blue light, as well as of darkness, on the expression of BDNF and TrkB in the retina. BDNF and TrkB were assessed in the retina of adult zebrafish using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. Exposure to white, white‐blue, and blue light causes a decrease of BDNF mRNA and of BDNF immunostaining, independently of the pattern of light exposition. Conversely, in the same experimental conditions, the expression of TrkB mRNA was upregulated and TrkB immunostaining increased. Exposition to darkness diminished BDNF and TrkB mRNAs, and abolished the immunostaining for BDNF but not modified that for TrkB. These results demonstrate the regulation of BDNF and TrkB by light in the retina of adult zebrafish and might contribute to explain some aspects of the complex pathophysiology of light‐induced retinopathies.Depto. de Optometría y VisiónFac. de Óptica y OptometríaTRUEpu

Zika and dengue but not chikungunya are associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome in Mexico: A case-control study.

Background Zika, dengue and chikungunya viruses (ZIKV, CHIKV and DENV) are temporally associated with neurological diseases, such as Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS). Because these three arboviruses coexist in Mexico, the frequency and severity of GBS could theoretically increase. This study aims to determine the association between these arboviruses and GBS in a Mexican population and to establish the clinical characteristics of the patients, including the severity of the infection. A case-control study was conducted (2016/07/01-2018/06/30) in Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social (Mexican Social Security Institute) hospitals, using serum and urine samples that were collected to determine exposure to ZIKV, DENV, CHIKV by RT-qPCR and serology (IgM). For the categorical variables analysis, Pearson's χ2 or Fisher exact tests were used, and the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables. To determine the association of GBS and viral infection diagnosis through laboratory and symptomatology before admission, we calculated the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) using a 2x2 contingency table. A p-value ≤ 0.05 was considered as significant. Ninety-seven GBS cases and 184 controls were included. The association of GBS with ZIKV acute infection (OR, 8.04; 95% CI, 0.89-73.01, p = 0.047), as well as laboratory evidence of ZIKV infection (OR, 16.45; 95% CI, 2.03-133.56; p = 0.001) or Flavivirus (ZIKV and DENV) infection (OR, 6.35; 95% CI, 1.99-20.28; p = 0.001) was observed. Cases of GBS associated with ZIKV demonstrated a greater impairment of functional status and a higher percentage of mechanical ventilation. According to laboratory results, an association between ZIKV or ZIKV and DENV infection in patients with GBS was found. Cases of GBS associated with ZIKV exhibited a more severe clinical picture. Cases with co-infection were not found