Cyclooxygenase 2 Effector Genes as Potential Inflammation-Related Biomarkers for Colorectal Cancer Circulating Tumor Cells Detection by Liquid Biopsy

Cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) has been implicated in cancer development and metastasis. We have identified several COX2-regulated inflammation-related genes in human colorectal cancer cells and shown that some of them play important roles in tumor progression. In this work, we have studied the COX2-regulated genes in the mouse colorectal cancer cell line CT26, to find that many are also regulated by COX2 over-expression. On the other hand, we generated a CT26 cell line expressing Gfp and Luciferase, to study tumor growth and metastasis in immunocompetent Balb/c mice. We then collected solid tissue, and blood samples, from healthy and tumor-bearing mice. Using the Parsortix cell separation system and taking advantage of the fact that the tumor cells expressed Gfp, we were able to identify circulating tumor cells (CTCs) in some of the mice. We compared the mRNA expression levels of Ptgs2 and effector genes in the samples obtained from tumor-bearing or healthy mice, namely, tumor or healthy colon, Ficoll purified buffy coat, and Parsortix-isolated cells to find different patterns between healthy, tumor-bearing mice with or without CTCs. Although for genes like Il15 we did not observe any difference between healthy and tumor-bearing mice in Ficoll or Parsortix samples; others, such as Egr1, Zc3h12a, Klf4, or Nfat5, allowed distinguishing for cancer or CTC presence. Gene expression analysis in Ficoll or Parsortix processed samples, after liquid biopsy, may offer valuable diagnostic and prognostic information and thus should be further studied.This research was funded by grants from “Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación” (SAF2013-42850-R, SAF2016-75988-R, and PID2019-104760RB-I00), “Comunidad de Madrid (S2017/BMD-3671. INFLAMUNE-CM), Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias” (BIOIMID) to MF and Institutional grants from “Fundación Ramón Areces” and “Banco de Santander”. KS was the recipient of a Spanish Association Against Cancer Oncology Investigator grant (AECC AIO)

Geographical variation in therapy for bloodstream infections due to multidrug-resistant enterobacteriaceae: a post hoc analysis of the INCREMENT study

We aimed to describe regional differences in therapy for bloodstream infection (BSI) caused by extended-spectrum ?-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) or carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). 1,482 patients in 12 countries were included from an observational study of BSI caused by ESBL-E or CPE. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for the influence of country of recruitment on empirical use of ?-lactam/?-lactamase inhibitors (BLBLI) or carbapenems, targeted use of BLBLI for ESBL-E and use of targeted combination therapy for CPE. The use of BLBLI for empirical therapy was least likely in sites from Israel (aOR 0.34, 95% CI 0.14-0.81), Greece (aOR 0.49, 95% CI 0.26-0.94) and Canada (aOR 0.31, 95% CI 0.11-0.88) but more likely in Italy (aOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.11-2.2) and Turkey (aOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.14-3.81), compared to Spain as a reference. Empirical carbapenems were more likely to be used in sites from Taiwan (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.03-2.92) and USA (aOR 1.89; 95% CI 1.05-3.39), and less likely in Italy (aOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.28-0.69) and Canada (aOR 0.10, 95% CI 0.01-0.74). Targeted BLBLI for ESBL-E was more likely in sites from Italy. Treatment at sites within Israel, Taiwan, Turkey and Brazil was associated with less combination therapy for CPE. Although this study does not provide precise data on the relative prevalence of ESBL-E or CPE, significant variation in therapy exists across countries even after adjustment for patient factors. A better understanding of what influences therapeutic choices for these infections will aid antimicrobial stewardship efforts.PH is supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award from the University of Queensland. The study was funded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Instituto de Salud Carlos III - co-financed by European Development Regional Fund "A way to achieve Europe" ERDF, Spanish Network for the Research in Infectious Diseases (REIPI RD12/0015). BGG, JRB, APH and YC also received funds from the COMBACTE-CARE project (grant agreement 115620), Innovative Medicines Initiative (IMI), the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) and in-kind contributions from EFPIA companies

RICORS2040 : The need for collaborative research in chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a silent and poorly known killer. The current concept of CKD is relatively young and uptake by the public, physicians and health authorities is not widespread. Physicians still confuse CKD with chronic kidney insufficiency or failure. For the wider public and health authorities, CKD evokes kidney replacement therapy (KRT). In Spain, the prevalence of KRT is 0.13%. Thus health authorities may consider CKD a non-issue: very few persons eventually need KRT and, for those in whom kidneys fail, the problem is 'solved' by dialysis or kidney transplantation. However, KRT is the tip of the iceberg in the burden of CKD. The main burden of CKD is accelerated ageing and premature death. The cut-off points for kidney function and kidney damage indexes that define CKD also mark an increased risk for all-cause premature death. CKD is the most prevalent risk factor for lethal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the factor that most increases the risk of death in COVID-19, after old age. Men and women undergoing KRT still have an annual mortality that is 10- to 100-fold higher than similar-age peers, and life expectancy is shortened by ~40 years for young persons on dialysis and by 15 years for young persons with a functioning kidney graft. CKD is expected to become the fifth greatest global cause of death by 2040 and the second greatest cause of death in Spain before the end of the century, a time when one in four Spaniards will have CKD. However, by 2022, CKD will become the only top-15 global predicted cause of death that is not supported by a dedicated well-funded Centres for Biomedical Research (CIBER) network structure in Spain. Realizing the underestimation of the CKD burden of disease by health authorities, the Decade of the Kidney initiative for 2020-2030 was launched by the American Association of Kidney Patients and the European Kidney Health Alliance. Leading Spanish kidney researchers grouped in the kidney collaborative research network Red de Investigación Renal have now applied for the Redes de Investigación Cooperativa Orientadas a Resultados en Salud (RICORS) call for collaborative research in Spain with the support of the Spanish Society of Nephrology, Federación Nacional de Asociaciones para la Lucha Contra las Enfermedades del Riñón and ONT: RICORS2040 aims to prevent the dire predictions for the global 2040 burden of CKD from becoming true

Actas de las V Jornadas ScienCity 2022. Fomento de la Cultura Científica, Tecnológica y de Innovación en Ciudades Inteligentes

ScienCity es una actividad que viene siendo continuada desde 2018 con el objetivo de dar a conocer los conocimientos y tecnologías emergentes siendo investigados en las universidades, informar de experiencias, servicios e iniciativas puestas ya en marcha por instituciones y empresas, llegar hasta decisores políticos que podrían crear sinergias, incentivar la creación de ideas y posibilidades de desarrollo conjuntas, implicar y provocar la participación ciudadana, así como gestar una red internacional multidisciplinar de investigadores que garantice la continuación de futuras ediciones. En 2022 se recibieron un total de 48 trabajos repartidos en 25 ponencias y 24 pósteres pertenecientes a 98 autores de 14 instituciones distintas de España, Portugal, Polonia y Países Bajos.Fundación Española para la Ciencia y la Tecnología-Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades; Consejería de la Presidencia, Administración Pública e Interior de la Junta de Andalucía; Estrategia de Política de Investigación y Transferencia de la Universidad de Huelva; Cátedra de Innovación Social de Aguas de Huelva; Cátedra de la Provincia; Grupo de investigación TEP-192 de Control y Robótica; Centro de Investigación en Tecnología, Energía y Sostenibilidad (CITES

Identification of circulating lncRNAs associated with gallbladder cancer risk by tissue-based preselection, cis-eQTL validation, and analysis of association with genotype-based expression.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play key roles in cell processes and are good candi-dates for cancer risk prediction. Few studies have investigated the association between individual genotypes and lncRNA expression. Here we integrate three separate datasets with information on lncRNA expression only, both lncRNA expression and genotype, and genotype information only to identify circulating lncRNAs associated with the risk of gallbladder cancer (GBC) using robust linear and logistic regression techniques. In the first dataset, we preselect lncRNAs based on expression changes along the sequence “gallstones → dysplasia → GBC”. In the second dataset, we validate associations between genetic variants and serum expression levels of the preselected lncR-NAs (cis-lncRNA-eQTLs) and build lncRNA expression prediction models. In the third dataset, we predict serum lncRNA expression based on individual genotypes and assess the association between genotype-based expression and GBC risk. AC084082.3 and LINC00662 showed increasing expression levels (p-value = 0.009), while C22orf34 expression decreased in the sequence from gallstones to GBC (p-value = 0.04). We identified and validated two cis-LINC00662-eQTLs (r2 = 0.26) and three cis-C22orf34-eQTLs (r2 = 0.24). Only LINC00662 showed a genotyped-based serum expression associated with GBC risk (OR = 1.25 per log2 expression unit, 95% CI 1.04–1.52, p-value = 0.02). Our results suggest that preselection of lncRNAs based on tissue samples and exploitation of cis-lncRNA-eQTLs may facilitate the identification of circulating noncoding RNAs linked to cancer risk

Predictive factors of six-week mortality in critically ill patients with SARS-CoV-2: A multicenter prospective study.

The objective of the study is to identify the risk factors associated with mortality at six weeks, especially by analyzing the role of antivirals and munomodulators. Prospective descriptive multicenter cohort study. 26 Intensive care units (ICU) from Andalusian region in Spain. Consecutive critically ill patients with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were included from March 8 to May 30. None. Variables analyzed were demographic, severity scores and clinical condition. Support therapy, drug and mortality were analyzed. An univariate followed by multivariate Cox regression with propensity score analysis was applied. 495 patients were enrolled, but 73 of them were excluded for incomplete data. Thus, 422 patients were included in the final analysis. Median age was 63 years and 305 (72.3%) were men. ICU mortality: 144/422 34%; 14 days mortality: 81/422 (19.2%); 28 days mortality: 121/422 (28.7%); 6-week mortality 152/422 36.5%. By multivariable Cox proportional analysis, factors independently associated with 42-day mortality were age, APACHE II score, SOFA score at ICU admission >6, Lactate dehydrogenase at ICU admission >470U/L, Use of vasopressors, extrarenal depuration, %lymphocytes 72h post-ICU admission 6, Lactate dehydrogenase at ICU admission >470U/L, Use of vasopressors, extrarenal depuration, %lymphocytes 72h post-ICU admission 470U/L, Use of vasopressors, extrarenal depuration, %lymphocytes 72h post-ICU admission Age, APACHE II, SOFA>value of 6 points, along with vasopressor requirements or renal replacement therapy have been identified as predictor factors of mortality at six weeks. Administration of corticosteroids showed no benefits in mortality, as did treatment with tocilizumab. Lopinavir/ritonavir administration is identified as a protective factor

Geographical variation in therapy for bloodstream infections due to multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae: a post-hoc analysis of the INCREMENT study

We describe regional differences in therapy for bloodstream infection (BSI) caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) or carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). Patients (n = 1482) in 12 countries from an observational study of BSI caused by ESBL-E or CPE were included. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for the influence of country of recruitment on empirical use of β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors (BLBLIs) or carbapenems, targeted use of BLBLIs for ESBL-E and use of targeted combination therapy for CPE. Compared with Spain, BLBLI use for empirical therapy was least likely in sites from Israel (aOR 0.34, 95% CI 0.14–0.81), Greece (aOR 0.49, 95% CI 0.26–0.94) and Canada (aOR 0.31, 95% CI 0.11–0.88) but more likely in Italy (aOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.11–2.25) and Turkey (aOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.14–3.81). Empirical carbapenem use was more likely in sites from Taiwan (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.03–2.92) and USA (aOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.05–3.39) and less likely in Italy (aOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.28–0.69) and Canada (aOR 0.10, 95% CI 0.01–0.74). Targeted BLBLIs for ESBL-E was more likely in Italian sites. Treatment at sites within Israel, Taiwan, Turkey and Brazil was associated with less combination therapy for CPE. Although this study does not provide precise data on the relative prevalence of ESBL-E or CPE, significant variation in therapy exists across countries even after adjustment for patient factors. Better understanding of what influences therapeutic choices for these infections will aid antimicrobial stewardship efforts. © 2017 Elsevier B.V. and International Society of Chemotherap

Geographical variation in therapy for bloodstream infections due to multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae: a post-hoc analysis of the INCREMENT study

We describe regional differences in therapy for bloodstream infection (BSI) caused by extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) or carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). Patients (n = 1482) in 12 countries from an observational study of BSI caused by ESBL-E or CPE were included. Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) for the influence of country of recruitment on empirical use of β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitors (BLBLIs) or carbapenems, targeted use of BLBLIs for ESBL-E and use of targeted combination therapy for CPE. Compared with Spain, BLBLI use for empirical therapy was least likely in sites from Israel (aOR 0.34, 95% CI 0.14–0.81), Greece (aOR 0.49, 95% CI 0.26–0.94) and Canada (aOR 0.31, 95% CI 0.11–0.88) but more likely in Italy (aOR 1.58, 95% CI 1.11–2.25) and Turkey (aOR 2.09, 95% CI 1.14–3.81). Empirical carbapenem use was more likely in sites from Taiwan (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.03–2.92) and USA (aOR 1.89, 95% CI 1.05–3.39) and less likely in Italy (aOR 0.44, 95% CI 0.28–0.69) and Canada (aOR 0.10, 95% CI 0.01–0.74). Targeted BLBLIs for ESBL-E was more likely in Italian sites. Treatment at sites within Israel, Taiwan, Turkey and Brazil was associated with less combination therapy for CPE. Although this study does not provide precise data on the relative prevalence of ESBL-E or CPE, significant variation in therapy exists across countries even after adjustment for patient factors. Better understanding of what influences therapeutic choices for these infections will aid antimicrobial stewardship efforts. © 2017 Elsevier B.V. and International Society of Chemotherap