Molecular Profiles of HCV Cirrhotic Tissues Derived in a Panel of Markers with Clinical Utility for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Surveillance

Background Early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) detection is difficult because low accuracy of surveillance tests. Genome-wide analyses were performed using HCV-cirrhosis with HCC to identify predictive signatures. Methodology/Principal Findings Cirrhotic liver tissue was collected from 107 HCV-infected patients with diagnosis of HCC at pre-transplantation and confirmed in explanted livers. Study groups included: 1) microarray hybridization set (n = 80) including patients without (woHCC = 45) and with (wHCC = 24) HCC, and with incidental HCC (iHCC = 11); 2) independent validation set (n = 27; woHCC = 16, wHCC = 11). Pairwise comparisons were performed using moderated t-test. FDR\u3c1% was considered significant. L1-penalized logistic regression model was fit for woHCC and wHCC microarrays, and tested against iHCC. Prediction model genes were validated in independent set by qPCR. The genomic profile was associated with genetic disorders and cancer focused on gene expression, cell cycle and cell death. Molecular profile analysis revealed cell cycle progression and arrest at G2/M, but progressing to mitosis; unregulated DNA damage check-points, and apoptosis. The prediction model included 17 molecules demonstrated 98.6% of accuracy and correctly classified 6 out of 11 undiagnosed iHCC cases. The best model performed even better in the additional independent set. Conclusions/Significances The molecular analysis of HCV-cirrhotic tissue conducted to a prediction model with good performance and high potential for HCC surveillance

Genes Involved in Viral Carcinogenesis and Tumor Initiation in Hepatitis C Virus–Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The role of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the pathogenesis of HCV-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains controversial. To understand the transition from benign to malignant, we studied the gene expression patterns in liver tissues at different stages, including normal, cirrhosis, and different HCC stages. We studied 108 liver tissue samples obtained from 88 distinct patients (41 HCV-cirrhotic tissues, 17 HCV-cirrhotic tissues from patients with HCC, and 47 HCV-HCC tissues). Differentially expressed genes (DEG) were studied by use of high-density oligonucleotide arrays. Among probe sets identified as differentially expressed via the F test, all pairwise comparisons were performed. Cirrhotic tissues with and without concomitant HCC were further evaluated, and a classifier was used to predict whether the tissue type was associated with HCC. Differential expression profiles were analyzed using Interaction Networks and Functional Analysis. Characteristic gene signatures were identified when normal tissue was compared with cirrhosis, cirrhosis with early HCC, and normal with HCC. Pathway analysis classified the cellular and biological functions of the DEG as related to cellular growth and proliferation, cell death and inflammatory disease in cirrhosis; cell death, cell cycle, DNA replication, and immune response in early HCCs; and cell death, cell growth and proliferation, cell cycle, and DNA repair in advanced HCCs. Characteristic gene signatures were identified at different stages of HCV-HCC progression. A set of genes were identified to predict whether the cirrhotic tissue was associated with HCC

Análisis de la relación entre la planeación estratégica, actividades de producción y operaciones, aseguramiento de calidad y comercialización de las PYMES del sector manufactura dedicadas a la fabricación de prendas de vestir de Lima Metropolitana, 2021

Hoy en día, en el Perú, las PYMES componen el principal motor de la economía peruana tanto en crecimiento económico de cara al PBI y como generador de empleado para millones de peruanos. Este estudio se ha realizado con el objetivo de poder identificar aspectos de mejoras en las PYMES para que puedan explotar de mejor manera las áreas estratégicas o críticas para el negocio y puedan aumentar su competitividad en el mercado. Por ello, la presente investigación busca evaluar la relación que existe entre ciertas actividades y áreas funcionales, entre ellas, la planeación estratégica, actividades de producción y operaciones, aseguramiento de calidad y comercialización de las PYMES en el sector manufactura de Lima Metropolitana, en el 2021. La metodología empleada en esta investigación fue cuantitativa probabilístico aleatorio simple, el cual sirve para investigaciones de carácter cuantitativo, que cuentan con una población delimitada. Para ello, se elaboró un instrumento con 46 preguntas con distintas variables que conforman estas dimensiones, mediante la escala de Likert. El mismo que fue aplicado sobre toda la muestra de 121 encargados de altos mandos de las PYMES para el sector estudiado entre el año 2021 y 2022.Nowadays, in Peru, SMEs are the main engine of the Peruvian economy, both in terms of economic growth in terms of GDP and as a generator of employment for millions of Peruvians. This study has been carried out with the objective of identifying aspects of improvement in SMEs so that they can better exploit the strategic or critical areas for the business and increase their competitiveness in the market. Therefore, this research seeks to evaluate the relationship between certain activities and functional areas, including strategic planning, production and operations activities, quality assurance and marketing of SMEs in the manufacturing sector of Metropolitan Lima, in 2021. The methodology used in this research was quantitative, simple randomized probabilistic, which is used for quantitative research with a delimited population. For this purpose, an instrument was developed with 46 questions with different variables that make up these dimensions, using the Likert scale. It was applied to the entire sample of 121 top managers of SMEs in the sector studied between 2021 and 2022.Tesi

Uso de antimicrobianos y percepción de riesgo de resistencia antimicrobiana en veterinarios. Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Resultados preliminares)

Comunicación científica en formato E- PÓSTER, realizada en las III Jornadas Internacionales de Investigación, Ciencia y Universidad y las XII Jornadas de Investigación UMaza, en el Bloque de comunicaciones científicas: "MEDICINA VETERINARIA EN PEQUEÑOS ANIMALES", el mismo fue moderado por el Vet. MARTÍN QUERO. Las jornadas se llevaron adelante desde 19 al 23 de octubre del 2020 en formato totalmente virtual bajo plataforma Zoom y fueron transmitidas por el canal YouTube de la UMaza y el Facebook del Área de Ciencia y Técnica UMaza (Somos Ciencia y Técnica UMaza)

Primer aislamiento de <i>Enterobacter cloacae</i> productor de Nueva Delhi Metalobetalactamasa (NDM) en un felino de Argentina

La resistencia a carbapenemes es una preocupación para la salud pública ya que estos antibióticos se consideran una de las últimas terapias eficaces disponibles para tratar infecciones graves causadas por microorganismos multirresistentes. En 2009, se describe una metalo-β-lactamasa Nueva Delhi (NDM), aislada en una persona hospitalizada en India. Estas enzimas, capaces de hidrolizar carbapenemes, se encuentran con frecuencia en elementos genéticos móviles y están extendidas mundialmente. Enterobacter spp. constituye uno de los géneros donde se suele informar, aunque en muchos países no está bien documentado y, en animales, menos aún. Reportamos el primer aislamiento clínico de Enterobacter cloacae, productor de NDM en mascota con infección urinaria en CABA.Trabajo publicado en Cagliada, Maria del Pilar Lilia y Galosi, Cecilia Mónica (comps.). I Congreso de Microbiología Veterinaria. Libro de resúmenes. La Plata: Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, 2021.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Los estucos de la iglesia de los Santos Juanes de Valencia. La restauración en curso

El presente artículo expone los primeros resultados de la restauración escultórico-ornamental de los paramentos perimetrales de la nave central de la Iglesia de los Santos Juanes de Valencia, poniendo el foco en la intervención sobre los estucos y elementos escultóricos-ornamentales, obra de Giacomo Bertesi y Antonio Aliprandi. La intervención tiene como objetivo la recuperación de los estratos originales de terminación y la corrección volumétrica de piezas alteradas o desaparecidas. Para ello se llevan a cabo diversos procesos de limpieza de las superficies, eliminación de repintes, consolidación de volúmenes fragmentados, corrección volumétrica y reintegración de las partes faltantes, así como la recuperación de los dorados originales y su reposición respetuosa con las huellas de la historia

Reduced Expression of Inflammatory Genes in Deceased Donor Kidneys Undergoing Pulsatile Pump Preservation

Background The use of expanded criteria donor kidneys (ECD) had been associated with worse outcomes. Whole gene expression of pre-implantation allograft biopsies from deceased donor kidneys (DDKs) was evaluated to compare the effect of pulsatile pump preservation (PPP) vs. cold storage preservation (CSP) on standard and ECD kidneys. Methodology/Principal Findings 99 pre-implantation DDK biopsies were studied using gene expression with GeneChips. Kidneys transplant recipients were followed post transplantation for 35.8 months (range = 24–62). The PPP group included 60 biopsies (cold ischemia time (CIT) = 1,367+/−509 minutes) and the CSP group included 39 biopsies (CIT = 1,022+/−485 minutes) (P Conclusions/Significance Inflammation was the most important up-regulated pattern associated with pre-implantation biopsies undergoing CSP even when the PPP group has a larger number of ECD kidneys. No significant difference was observed in delayed graft function incidence and graft function post-transplantation. These findings support the use of PPP in ECD donor kidneys

Biomarkers of disease differentiation: HCV recurrence versus acute cellular rejection

The wound-healing process induced by chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection triggers liver damage characterized by fibrosis development and finally cirrhosis. Liver Transplantation (LT) is the optimal surgical treatment for HCV-cirrhotic patients at end-stage liver disease. However, acute cellular rejection (ACR) and HCV recurrence disease represent two devastating complications post-LT. The accurate differential diagnosis between both conditions is critical for treatment choice, and similar histological features represent a challenge for pathologists. Moreover, the HCV recurrence disease severity is highly variable post-LT. HCV recurrence disease progression is characterized by an accelerated fibrogenesis process, and almost 30% of those patients develop cirrhosis at 5-years of follow-up. Whole-genome gene expression (WGE) analyses through well-defined oligonucleotide microarray platforms represent a powerful tool for the molecular characterization of biological process. In the present manuscript, the utility of microarray technology is applied for the ACR and HCV-recurrence biological characterization in post-LT liver biopsy samples. Moreover, WGE analysis was performed to identify predictive biomarkers of HCV recurrence severity in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded liver biopsies prospectively collected