Parasitismo de Porocephalus (Penstastomida: Porocephalidae) en Bothrops asper (Viperidae) en Ecuador

We report the presence of Pentastomidae of the genus Porocephalus in specimens of Bothrops asper from the Herpetological collection of the National Institute of Biodiversity in Ecuador. Twenty-two individuals were processed, finding parasites in the respiratory tract and lungs of two specimens. A total of eight specimens of Porocephalus were identified. The parasites examined were identified as Porocephalus sp. due to the characteristics of their inflated head, ringed body and keyhole-shaped mouth, among others. A specific species could not be assigned due to overlapping body measurements. Although three species of Porocephalus have been reported in Latin America parasitizing Bothrops species, to date it had not been recorded in Ecuador.Se reporta la presencia de pentastómidos del género Porocephalus en especímenes de Bothrops asper que reposan en la colección Herpetológica del Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad en Ecuador. Se analizaron 22 individuos y se encontraron parásitos en el tracto respiratorio y pulmones de dos especímenes. Se identificaron un total de ocho especímenes de Porocephalus. Los parásitos examinados fueron identificados como Porocephalus sp., debido a las características de su cabeza inflada, cuerpo anillado y boca con forma de ojo de cerradura, entre otras. No se pudo asignar una especie concreta debido a la superposición de medidas corporales. Aunque en Latinoamérica se han reportado tres especies de Porocephalus parasitando especies de Bothrops, hasta la fecha no se había registrado en Ecuador

Resiliencia de la comunidad fitoplanctónica en la laguna andina de Papallacta y sus afluentes, ocho años después de un derrame petrolero

En abril de 2003 se produjo un derrame de crudo en la zona de Papallacta (región andina norte de Ecuador), luego del desastre se realizaron labores de biorremediación tanto en la laguna como en sus afluentes. El presente trabajo abordó la comunidad fitoplanctónica como bioindicadora de la calidad actual del cuerpo de agua, considerando 28 sitios en ríos afluentes y en la laguna, tanto en época seca, como en la de transición y lluviosa, desde diciembre 2010 hasta julio 2011. Se identificaron y contabilizaron los géneros de fitoplancton encontrados en cada sitio, abordando paralelalmente la historia natural de cada grupo de algas. Los géneros pertenecieron a tres grupos: diatomeas, cianobacterias y algas verdes; el primero es el grupo con mayor distribución y con los valores de riqueza y abundancia más altos. Las correlaciones entre géneros y variables abióticas presentaron diferencias relacionadas con la estacionalidad. Sin embargo, se observó la constante presencia de géneros indicadores de alta carga orgánica como Synedra y Oscillatoria. Se aporta también información acerca de los géneros que ahora predominan tanto en la laguna como en sus afluentes, y las características que influyen en su distribución y que permiten determinar el estado de salud ecológica de la Laguna de Papallacta, que ahora se la puede catalogar como mesotrófica. La presencia actual de crudo del derrame se concentra en puntos específicos en el fondo de la laguna, permitiendo que la productividad primaria en la zona fótica se desarrolle con normalidad

A world allergy organization international survey on diagnostic procedures and therapies in drug allergy/hypersensitivity.

RIGHTS : This article is licensed under the BioMed Central licence at http://www.biomedcentral.com/about/license which is similar to the 'Creative Commons Attribution Licence'. In brief you may : copy, distribute, and display the work; make derivative works; or make commercial use of the work - under the following conditions: the original author must be given credit; for any reuse or distribution, it must be made clear to others what the license terms of this work are.OBJECTIVE: To study the diagnostic and treatment modalities used in drug allergy/hypersensitivity among members of the World Allergy Organization (WAO). METHODS: A questionnaire comprising 39 questions was circulated electronically to member societies, associate member societies, and regional and affiliate organizations of WAO between June 29, 2009, and August 9, 2009. RESULTS: Eighty-two responses were received. Skin testing was used by 74.7%, with only 71.4% having access to penicillin skin test reagents. In vitro-specific IgE tests were used by 67.4%, and basophil activation test was used by 54.4%. Lymphocyte transformation tests were used by 36.8% and patch tests by 54.7%. Drug provocation tests were used by 68.4%, the most common indication being to exclude hypersensitivity where history/symptoms were not suggestive of drug hypersensitivity/allergy (76.9%). Rapid desensitization for chemotherapy, antibiotics, or biologic agents was used by 69.6%. Systemic corticosteroid was used in the treatment of Stevens-Johnson syndrome by 72.3%, and high-dose intravenous immunoglobulins in toxic epidermal necrolysis by 50.8%. Human leukocyte antigen screening before prescription of abacavir was used by 92.9% and before prescription of carbamazepine by 21.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this survey form a useful framework for developing educational and training needs and for improving access to drug allergy diagnostic and treatment modalities across WAO member societies

A World Allergy Organization International Survey on Diagnostic Procedures and Therapies in Drug Allergy/Hypersensitivity

OBJECTIVE: To study the diagnostic and treatment modalities used in drug allergy/hypersensitivity among members of the World Allergy Organization (WAO). METHODS: A questionnaire comprising 39 questions was circulated electronically to member societies, associate member societies, and regional and affiliate organizations of WAO between June 29, 2009, and August 9, 2009. RESULTS: Eighty-two responses were received. Skin testing was used by 74.7%, with only 71.4% having access to penicillin skin test reagents. In vitro–specific IgE tests were used by 67.4%, and basophil activation test was used by 54.4%. Lymphocyte transformation tests were used by 36.8% and patch tests by 54.7%. Drug provocation tests were used by 68.4%, the most common indication being to exclude hypersensitivity where history/symptoms were not suggestive of drug hypersensitivity/allergy (76.9%). Rapid desensitization for chemotherapy, antibiotics, or biologic agents was used by 69.6%. Systemic corticosteroid was used in the treatment of Stevens–Johnson syndrome by 72.3%, and high-dose intravenous immunoglobulins in toxic epidermal necrolysis by 50.8%. Human leukocyte antigen screening before prescription of abacavir was used by 92.9% and before prescription of carbamazepine by 21.4%. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this survey form a useful framework for developing educational and training needs and for improving access to drug allergy diagnostic and treatment modalities across WAO member societies

Saccharomyces cerevisiae-based system for studying clustered DNA damages

DNA-damaging agents can induce clustered lesions or multiply damaged sites (MDSs) on the same or opposing DNA strands. In the latter, attempts to repair MDS can generate closely opposed single-strand break intermediates that may convert non-lethal or mutagenic base damage into double-strand breaks (DSBs). We constructed a diploid S. cerevisiae yeast strain with a chromosomal context targeted by integrative DNA fragments carrying different damages to determine whether closely opposed base damages are converted to DSBs following the outcomes of the homologous recombination repair pathway. As a model of MDS, we studied clustered uracil DNA damages with a known location and a defined distance separating the lesions. The system we describe might well be extended to assessing the repair of MDSs with different compositions, and to most of the complex DNA lesions induced by physical and chemical agents

CoQ10 reduces glioblastoma growth and infiltration through proteome remodeling and inhibition of angiogenesis and inflammation

Purpose: Most monotherapies available against glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) target individual hallmarks of this aggressive brain tumor with minimal success. In this article, we propose a therapeutic strategy using coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) as a pleiotropic factor that crosses the blood-brain barrier and accumulates in cell membranes acting as an antioxidant, and in mitochondrial membranes as a regulator of cell bioenergetics and gene expression. Methods: Xenografts of U251 cells in nu/nu mice were used to assay tumor growth, hypoxia, angiogenesis, and inflammation. An orthotopic model was used to explore microglial infiltration, tumor growth, and invasion into the brain parenchyma. Cell proliferation, migration, invasion, proteome remodeling, and secretome were assayed in vitro. Conditioned media were used to assay angiogenesis, monocyte chemoattraction, and differentiation into macrophages in vitro. Results: CoQ10 treatment decreased tumor volume in xenografts and orthotopic models, although its effect on tumor cell proliferation was not direct. Tumors from mice treated with CoQ10 were less hypoxic and vascularized, having less infiltration from inflammatory cells. Treatment-induced downregulation of HIF-1α and NF-kB led to a complete remodeling of the tumor cells proteome and secretome, impacting angiogenesis, monocyte infiltration, and their differentiation into macrophages. Besides, tumor cell migration and invasion were drastically restricted by mechanisms involving modulation of the actin cytoskeleton and downregulation of matrix metalloproteases (MMPs). Conclusions: CoQ10 has a pleiotropic effect on GBM growth, targeting several hallmarks simultaneously. Thus, its integration into current treatments of this fatal disease should be considered. Keywords: Angiogenesis; Coenzyme Q10; Glioblastoma; Inflammation; Invasion.Propósito: La mayoría de las monoterapias disponibles contra el glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) se dirigen a las características individuales de este tumor cerebral agresivo con un éxito mínimo. En este artículo proponemos una estrategia terapéutica utilizando la coenzima Q 10 (CoQ 10 ) como factor pleiotrópico que atraviesa la barrera hematoencefálica y se acumula en las membranas celulares actuando como antioxidante, y en las membranas mitocondriales como regulador de la bioenergética celular y gen expresión. Métodos: Se utilizaron xenoinjertos de células U251 en ratones nu/nu para analizar el crecimiento tumoral, la hipoxia, la angiogénesis y la inflamación. Se utilizó un modelo ortotópico para explorar la infiltración microglial, el crecimiento tumoral y la invasión del parénquima cerebral. Se ensayaron in vitro la proliferación celular, la migración, la invasión, la remodelación del proteoma y el secretoma. Se usaron medios acondicionados para analizar la angiogénesis, la quimioatracción de monocitos y la diferenciación en macrófagos in vitro. Resultados: el tratamiento con CoQ 10 disminuyó el volumen tumoral en xenoinjertos y modelos ortotópicos, aunque su efecto sobre la proliferación de células tumorales no fue directo. Los tumores de ratones tratados con CoQ 10 eran menos hipóxicos y vascularizados, con menos infiltración de células inflamatorias. La regulación a la baja inducida por el tratamiento de HIF-1α y NF-kB condujo a una remodelación completa del proteoma y el secretoma de las células tumorales, lo que impactó en la angiogénesis, la infiltración de monocitos y su diferenciación en macrófagos. Además, la migración e invasión de células tumorales se vieron drásticamente restringidas por mecanismos que involucran la modulación del citoesqueleto de actina y la regulación a la baja de las metaloproteasas de matriz (MMP). Conclusiones: CoQ 10 tiene un efecto pleiotrópico en el crecimiento de GBM, apuntando a varios sellos simultáneamente. Por lo tanto, se debe considerar su integración en los tratamientos actuales de esta enfermedad mortal

Insulin and the kidneys: a contemporary view on the molecular basis

Insulin is a hormone that is composed of 51 amino acids and structurally organized as a hexamer comprising three heterodimers. Insulin is the central hormone involved in the control of glucose and lipid metabolism, aiding in processes such as body homeostasis and cell growth. Insulin is synthesized as a large preprohormone and has a leader sequence or signal peptide that appears to be responsible for transport to the endoplasmic reticulum membranes. The interaction of insulin with the kidneys is a dynamic and multicenter process, as it acts in multiple sites throughout the nephron. Insulin acts on a range of tissues, from the glomerulus to the renal tubule, by modulating different functions such as glomerular filtration, gluconeogenesis, natriuresis, glucose uptake, regulation of ion transport, and the prevention of apoptosis. On the other hand, there is sufficient evidence showing the insulin receptor’s involvement in renal functions and its responsibility for the regulation of glucose homeostasis, which enables us to understand its contribution to the insulin resistance phenomenon and its association with the progression of diabetic kidney disease

Future Perspectives of Bone Tissue Engineering with Special Emphasis on Extracellular Vesicles

Peer reviewe

Chemotherapy elicits pro-metastatic extracellular vesicles in breast cancer models

Cytotoxic chemotherapy is an effective treatment for invasive breast cancer. However, experimental studies in mice also suggest that chemotherapy has pro-metastatic effects. Primary tumours release extracellular vesicles (EVs), including exosomes, that can facilitate the seeding and growth of metastatic cancer cells in distant organs, but the effects of chemotherapy on tumour-derived EVs remain unclear. Here we show that two classes of cytotoxic drugs broadly employed in pre-operative (neoadjuvant) breast cancer therapy, taxanes and anthracyclines, elicit tumour-derived EVs with enhanced pro-metastatic capacity. Chemotherapy-elicited EVs are enriched in annexin A6 (ANXA6), a Ca2+-dependent protein that promotes NF-κB-dependent endothelial cell activation, Ccl2 induction and Ly6C+CCR2+ monocyte expansion in the pulmonary pre-metastatic niche to facilitate the establishment of lung metastasis. Genetic inactivation of Anxa6 in cancer cells or Ccr2 in host cells blunts the prometastatic effects of chemotherapy-elicited EVs. ANXA6 is detected, and potentially enriched, in the circulating EVs of breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy