Primary lung cancer cell culture from transthoracic needle biopsy samples

Artículo de investigación1-14Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the world. The high mortality rate of this pathology is directly related to its late detection, since its symptoms can be masked by other diseases of lower risk. Although in recent years the number of research related to this subject has increased, molecular mechanisms that trigger this disease remains poorly understood. Experimental models are therefore vital for use in research. Immortalized cell lines have inherent limitations. Explanted tumoral cells obtained by transthoracic needle biopsy can be a potential source of primary culture of human lung tumor cells. Tumor specimens from 14 patients suspected of primary or metastatic lung cancer were obtained by CT-guided transthoracic lung biopsy. Solid tumors were mechanically disaggregated under a stereoscope. Cells were cultured in Base C growth media supplemented with 5% fetal bovine serum in 24-well cell culture plates. Primary lung cancer cell culture was successfully cultured from 12 out of 14 patients. Once a confluent monolayer was obtained, cells were enzymatically harvested and passaged to Petri culture dishes. These primary cell cultures were characterized by cytogenetic tests and gene expression analysis of diagnostic markers. These primary cell cultures revealed chromosome rearrangements and changes in their chromosome complement typical of tumoral cells. Additionally, Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis demonstrated that three cultures exhibited EGFR amplification. Finally, expression profiles of CK7, NAPSIN A, TTF1, and P63 genes allowed in some cases to confirm sample tumor phenotype. These results demonstrate that primary lung cancer cell culture is possible from percutaneous puncture and provides an important biological source to asses and investigate the molecular mechanisms of lung cancer

Invasive fungal infection in immunosuppressed patients treated in a tertiary hospital

Antecedentes: las infecciones fúngicas invasivas son una causa importante de morbimortalidad mundial. El aumento en la incidencia de estas micosis se relaciona con el incremento de las condiciones de inmunosupresión. Objetivo: Describir las características demográficas y clínicas de pacientes inmunosuprimidos tratados con antifúngicos por sospecha de infecciones fúngicas invasivas en una institución de tercer nivel. Materiales y métodos: estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, en el que se incluyeron pacientes que recibieron tratamiento antifúngico durante 2012 y 2013, por sospecha de infecciones fúngicas invasivas (aspergilosis, criptococosis, histoplasmosis y mucormicosis) y condición de inmunosupresión. Resultados: se analizaron 81 pacientes, con predominio masculino (66,5%) y una media de edad de 44 años. El diagnóstico de base más frecuente fue neoplasia hematolinfoide seguido de infección por el virus de la inmunodeficiencia humana (VIH). La aspergilosis angioinvasiva (52%) y la criptococosis (28%) fueron las sospechas clínicas más frecuentes. El 43 y 85% de los pacientes tuvieron hallazgos anormales en radiografía y tomografía axial computarizada de tórax respectivamente. De aquellos con sospecha de aspergilosis, el 23% tuvo prueba de galactomanano positiva, en tanto que en aquellos con sospecha de criptococosis pulmonar, el 75% fue positivo para el antígeno capsular. El 22% de los pacientes fallecieron y el 17% requirieron estancia en UCI y soporte hemodinámico. Conclusión: es importante sospechar de forma temprana la infecciones fúngicas invasivas, así como establecer un algoritmo diagnóstico e instaurar el tratamiento antifúngico de manera anticipada para disminuir los desenlaces fatales. La dificultad en la confirmación microbiológica de las infecciones fúngicas invasivas continúa siendo una problemática local, similar a lo reportado en la literatura mundial.Artículo original10-17Background: invasive fungal infections (IFI) are a major cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The increased incidence of these fungal infections are associated with an increase in immunosuppressive conditions. Objective: to describe demographic and clinical characteristics of immunosuppressed patients treated with antifungals for suspected invasive fungal infection (IFI) in a tertiary hospital. Materials and methods: in this descriptive cross-sectional study, immunosuppressed patients receiving antifungal treatment during 2012 and 2013, with suspected IFI (aspergillosis, cryptococcosis, mucormicosis and histoplasmosis) were included. Results: 81 patients, predominantly men (66.5%), with a mean age of 43.8 years were analyzed. The most common underlying conditions were lymphoproliferative disorders followed by HIV infection. Angioinvasive aspergillosis (52%) and cryptococcosis (28%) were most frequently suspected. 43% and 85% of patients had abnormal findings on chest radiograph and CT, respectively. 22% of the patients died and 17% required monitoring in the ICU and hemodynamic support. Conclusion: This highlights the importance of a high index of suspicion and early diagnosis of IFI, following an algorithm that enables the timely initiation of antifungal treatment to reduce fatal outcomes. It also identifies the obstacles of getting microbiological confirmation of these pathogens; the difficulties being similar in our institution to those reported elsewhere

Entre periodistas

En las páginas de este libro encontrarán las entrevistas hechas por periodistas en formación del Politécnico Grancolombiano, que buscaron a periodistas profesionales para preguntarles sobre su vida laboral. Encontrarán anécdotas, conceptos personales de los personajes entrevistados, consejos con respecto a la profesión, datos de las historias que ellos les han contado al mundo y cómo afrontaron la pandemia producida por la Covid-19. Estos diálogos ENTRE PERIODISTAS emergen de la práctica de la entrevista como género periodístico. Bajo la compilación de los resultados obtenidos con diferentes personajes se ha logrado constituir un libro para la consulta de los profesionales de la información, los estudiantes de comunicación social y periodismo, las personas que quieren conocer a quienes realizan los contenidos que ven en los medios de comunicación y a todo aquel que le interese saber cómo trabajan seres humanos que han entregado su fuerza laboral a investigar e informar

Ala Este. Revista de Teoría de la Literatura y Literatura Comparada

Ala Este. Revista de Teoría de la Literatura y Literatura Comparada consiste en la consolidación de una revista creada en 2020/2021, de carácter anual, liderada por alumnos y alumnas de la UCM, que siga los estándares de calidad de las revistas científicas (evaluación por pares de ciego, índices de impacto…) y en la que publiquen alumnos y alumnas de la UCM y de otras universidades. Este año se ha seguido trabajando los estándares de calidad que requieren las revistas científicas, se ha realizado un congreso para jóvenes investigadores, El brillo inútil. Experimentación, juventud y creación, del cual se están editando las actas, y se ha lanzado una nueva publicación de carácter anual, Ala Este. Revista de creación literaria, que se publicará a finales de 2023.Depto. de Lengua Española y Teoría de la LiteraturaFac. de FilologíaFALSEsubmitte

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

Relevance of infections on the outcomes of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, and acute myeloid leukemia treated with hypomethylating agents: a cohort study from the GESMD.

The consequences of infectious toxicity of hypomethylating agents (HMAs) on overall survival (OS) of patients diagnosed with high-risk myeloid neoplasms have not been thoroughly investigated. We aimed to evaluate whether infectious events (IEs) negatively influenced the results of HMA treatment in a real-world setting. Observational study. We obtained data from 412 non-selected consecutive patients from 23 Spanish hospitals who were diagnosed with high-risk myelodysplastic syndrome, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, or acute myeloid leukemia and were treated with HMA. HMAs received after chemotherapy or stem cell transplant were excluded. All IEs were recorded. Outcomes included OS, modifications to the pre-planned treatment, incidence and characteristics of IEs, hospitalization, red blood cell transfusions, and factors associated with infection. The rate of infection was 1.2 per patient/year. Next-cycle delay (p = 0.001) and hospitalizations (p = 0.001) were significantly influenced by IEs. Transfusion requirements during each cycle were significantly higher after infection compared with cycles without infection (coefficient = 1.55 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.26-1.84], p 20% (HR = 1.57 [95% CI = 1.19-2.01], p 9 g/dl (HR = 0.65 [95% CI = 0.51-0.82], p  HMA infectious toxicity worsens OS, hinders the adherence to antineoplastic treatment and results in significant morbidity. Preventive strategies are fundamental in vulnerable patients

Confinement experiences : informative stories

Experiencias de confinamiento reúne diferentes relatos sobre las prácticas cotidianas que marcaron o transformaron nuestras vidas a causa de la pandemia de la COVID-19, y que permitieron la exploración de nuevos aprendizajes, hábitos y habilidades. En este libro, profesores, estudiantes y egresados relatan las experiencias, miedos y pensamientos que los acompañaron durante el confinamiento y, así mismo, reflexionan acerca de la adaptación a las clases virtuales, al teletrabajo y a una nueva cotidianidad. Estos relatos son el producto de experiencias personales que apelan a vivencias compartidas mediante un lenguaje que interviene los esquemas de la escritura académica para que los sentimientos, las experiencias de vida y las reflexiones fluyan a través de la escritura.Bogot

sj-docx-1-tah-10.1177_20406207221127547 – Supplemental material for Relevance of infections on the outcomes of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, and acute myeloid leukemia treated with hypomethylating agents: a cohort study from the GESMD

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-tah-10.1177_20406207221127547 for Relevance of infections on the outcomes of patients with myelodysplastic syndromes, chronic myelomonocytic leukemia, and acute myeloid leukemia treated with hypomethylating agents: a cohort study from the GESMD by Laura Vilorio-Marqués, Christelle Castañón Fernández, Elvira Mora, Lorena Gutiérrez, Beatriz Rey Bua, Maria José Jiménez Lorenzo, Marina Díaz Beya, Miriam Vara Pampliega, Antonieta Molero, Joaquín Sánchez-García, Marisa Calabuig, Maria Teresa Cedena, Tzu Chen-Liang, Johana Alejandra Díaz Santa, Irene Padilla, Francisca Hernández, Rosana Díez, Pedro Asensi, Blanca Xicoy, Guillermo Sanz, David Valcárcel, María Diez-Campelo and Teresa Bernal in Therapeutic Advances in Hematology</p