Gallbladder cancer during pregnancy treated with surgery and adjuvant gemcitabine: A case report and review of the literature.

Gallbladder cancer (GBC) represents the most common biliary tract cancer. Prognosis remains poor with 5-year overall survival rates less than 5% in advanced stages. GBCs are diagnosed more frequently in women, supposedly due to endocrine factors. A 35-year-old woman, diagnosed with a non-metastatic GBC in the 22nd week of gestation, underwent a complete surgical resection 5 weeks later. Adjuvant gemcitabine was administered without complications, temporarily discontinued in the 32nd week to allow childbirth. The patient was disease-free for more than 3 years with ongoing remission at the last visit in July 2022. During the follow-up period, the child had no developmental, cognitive, or other health issues. Malignant tumors occur in about 0.1% of pregnant women, many are treated with chemotherapy. In oncology, the need to deliver optimal treatment in these patients represents a major concern. Both surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy of locally advanced GBC can be performed safely, with certain considerations, in the second trimester of pregnancy

Aislamiento de un extracto de BMP y estudio anatomopatológico del fenómeno de inducción ósea tras su implante en defectos óseos

El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar el potencial osteogénico de la proteína morfogenética ósea (BMP) en la reparación de grandes defectos diafisarios. Además, se investiga la acción coadyuvante de la fibronectina (FN). La BMP fue extraída a partir de hueso cortical bovino. Se utilizaron un total de 108 ratas Sprague Dawley. En cada animal, se resecó un segmento de diáfisis femoral de 1.5 cm, siendo inmovilizado el defecto óseo con una aguja en omega. Se rellenó el defecto implantando 25 mg de BMP con o sin 0.5 mg de FN en una cápsula de gelatina (36 animales en ambos grupos). Los resultados se compararon con los obtenidos en otro grupo (36 animales) en el que sólo se implantó FN que sirvió como grupo control. El proceso de reparación se evaluó mediante métodos histológicos y ultraestructurales. La aparición del fenómeno de inducción ósea con reconstrucción del defecto óseo fue mayor en el grupo con implante de BMP más FN (23 animales, 64%) que en el grupo en el que sólo se implantó BMP (20 animales, 56%). Ningún animal del grupo control manifestaba signos de inducción ósea.The aim of the present work was to evaluate the osteogenic potential of Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) for reparation of large segmental bone defects. In addition, the coadjuvant efect of fibronectin (FN) was investigated. BMP was partially purified from bovine cortical bone. A total of 108 Sprague Dawley rats were used in the experiment. Diaphyseal segments of the femur (1.5 cm) were removed in each animal, manteinant the bone defect with a wire. A gelatine capsula containing 25 mg of BMP without or with 0.5 mg of FN, were implanted into the bone defect (36 animal in each group). Results were compared to those obtained in a control group (36 animals) in which FN alone was implanted. The bone repair process was assessed by histologic and ultrastructural methods. Bone induction with reconstruction of the defect was found more of ten in the group with both BMP and FN implanted (23 animals, 64%) than in the group with BMP implant alone (20 animals, 56%). Animals of the control group showed no bone induction. The results suggest that BMP augments the capacity of the host bed to sucessfully regenerate large segmental bone defects. FN seens to increase bone induction. This protein migth stabilize BMP locally improving contact between BMP and the surrounding cells

Antimicrobial activity of Bursera morelensis ramírez essential oil

Background: Bursera morelensis, known as “Aceitillo”, is an endemic tree of Mexico. Infusions made from the bark of this species have been used for the treatment of skin infections and for their wound healing properties. In this work, we present the results of a phytochemical and antimicrobial investigation of the essential oil of B. morelensis.Materials and Methods: The essential oil was obtained by a steam distillation method and analyzed using GC-MS. The antibacterial and antifungal activities were evaluated.Results: GC-MS of the essential oil demonstrated the presence of 28 compounds. The principal compound of the essential oil was α-Phellandrene (32.69%). The essential oil had antibacterial activity against Gram positive and negative strains. The most sensitive strains were S. pneumoniae, V. cholerae (cc) and E. coli (MIC 0.125 mg/mL, MBC 0.25 mg/mL). The essential oil was bactericidal for V. cholera (cc). The essential oil inhibited all the filamentous fungi. F. monilifome (IC50 = 2.27 mg/mL) was the most sensitive fungal strain.Conclusions: This work provides evidence that confirms the antimicrobial activity of the B. morelensis essential oil and this is a scientific support about of traditional uses of this species.Keywords: Essential oil; Medicinal plants; Tehuacan-Cuicatlan Valley; Burseraceae; Burser

Radiological profile of anemia on unenhanced MDCT of the thorax.

Our aim was to investigate the diagnostic value of unenhanced MDCT in anemic patients. Fifty consecutive patients with proven anemia and 50 nonanemic matched group for age, sex and body mass index were evaluated. In either group, hemoglobin levels were assessed no more than 24 h from an unenhanced CT of the thorax. For each patient, the presence of a hyperattenuating aortic wall (aortic ring sign) and/or dense interventricular septum (subjective parameters) were identified by two radiologists who were blinded to the laboratory findings. Furthermore, the aortic CT attenuation values (objective parameter) were also obtained and correlated with the hemoglobin levels. The sensitivity and specificity in detecting anemia were calculated for each variable, and ROC analysis was generated for subjective and objective parameters. Subjective image analysis revealed that the aortic ring sign was more sensitive than the interventricular septum sign for anemia detection (84% vs. 72%), whereas this latter sign was more specific (100% vs. 92%). A good correlation (r = 0.60) was observed between the aortic CT attenuation values and the hemoglobin levels in the whole study population. Using a threshold of < or = 35 HU for anemia diagnosis, the sensitivity and specificity of aortic CT attenuation value were 84% and 94%, respectively, with the largest area under the curve (0.89) among all diagnostic criteria. However, the best trade-off between sensitivity (80%) and specificity (100%) was obtained from combining both subjective and objective analysis. Interpreting anemia upon unnenhanced MDCT of the thorax is quite feasible. A diagnostic approach that considers both subjective and objective analysis offers the best trade-off between sensitivity and specificity

Ingeniería molecular en "Triticum"

Se resumen las investigaciones realizadas sobre genética bioquímica de la especie aloploide de Triticum aestivum L. (trigo común). Dichas investigaciones abarcan los siguientes aspectos: a) localización cromosómica de genes que controlan sistemas moleculares; b) formas de interacción entre los genomios integrados en dicha especie; c) transferencia genética extraespecífica y extragenérica desde Aegilops ventricosa, Sécale cereale y Agropyron elongatum a trigo. Se especula sobre las implicaciones evolutivas de los resultados obtenidos y se enumeran las aplicaciones prácticas

A comparison of twice-daily exenatide and biphasic insulin aspart in patients with type 2 diabetes who were suboptimally controlled with sulfonylurea and metformin: a non-inferiority study

WSTĘP. Celem opisanego w niniejszym artykule, trwającego 52 tygodnie otwartego badania klinicznego typu non-inferiority (sprawdzenie, czy badany lek spełnia warunek nie mniejszej skuteczności) było porównanie bezpieczeństwa i skuteczności eksenatydu (leku stymulującego efekt inkretynowy) oraz dwufazowej insuliny aspart. MATERIAŁ I METODY. Pacjentów uprzednio leczonych metforminą i pochodnymi sulfonylomocznika losowo przydzielano do grupy, w której stosowano eksenatyd (n = 253; 5 &#956;g 2 x d. przez 4 tygodnie, następnie 10 &#956;g 2 x d.) lub do grupy leczonej dwufazową insuliną aspart (n = 248; 2 x d. w dawkach odpowiednich do uzyskania optymalnej kontroli glikemii). W czasie trwania badania wszyscy pacjenci kontynuowali przyjmowanie metforminy i pochodnych sulfonylomocznika. WYNIKI. Kontrola glikemii w trakcie leczenia eksenatydem nie była gorsza od wartości stwierdzanych w grupie otrzymującej dwufazową insulinę aspart [wartość średnia &#177; SEM; zmiana stężenia HbA1c: eksenatyd -1,04 &#177; 0,07%, dwufazowa insulina aspart -0,89 &#177; 0,06%: różnica -0,15% (95% CI: -0,32 do 0,01)]. U pacjentów przyjmujących eksenatyd stwier dzano spadek masy ciała, natomiast w grupie leczonej dwufazową insuliną aspart odnotowywano przyrosty masy ciała [różnica między grupami: -5,4 kg (95% CI: -5,9 do -5,0]. Oba schematy leczenia przyczyniły się do zmniejszenia wartości glikemii na czczo (eksenatyd: -1,8 &#177; 0,2 mmol/l, p < 0,002; dwufazowa insulina aspart: -1,7 &#177; 0,2 mmol/l, p < 0,001). Większą redukcję poposiłkowych wahań glikemii rano (p < 0,001), w południe (p < 0,001) i wieczorem (p < 0,001) odnotowano wśród pacjentów leczonych eksenatydem. Odsetek pacjentów, którzy wycofali się z leczenia, wyniósł w grupie eksenatydu 21,3% (54/253), a w grupie leczonej dwufazową insuliną aspart - 10,1% (25/248). W pierwszej z wymienionych grup najczęściej występującym działaniem niepożądanym leczenia były nudności (częstość występowania: 33%; była to przyczyna zaprzestania leczenia u 3,5% pacjentów). WNIOSKI/INTERPRETACJA. Leczenie eksenatydem powodowało obniżenie stężenia HbA1c w podobnym stopniu jak zastosowanie dwufazowej insuliny aspart, ale zapewniało lepszą kontrolę glikemii po posiłkach. Postępowanie takie może więc się stać alternatywą w leczeniu cukrzycy typu 2. Stosowanie dwufazowej insuliny aspart wiązało się w badanej grupie z przyrostem masy ciała, ale także z mniejszą częstością występowania działań niepożądanych ze strony przewodu pokarmowego. Wprawdzie dostępność leków hipoglikemicznych powodujących chudnięcie można uznać za istotną zaletę (w leczeniu cukrzycy typu 2), jednak odległe skutki postępującego spadku masy ciała, obserwowanego u osób leczonych eksenatydem, wymagają przeprowadzenia dalszych badań.AIMS/HYPOTHESIS. The aim of this 52-week, openlabel, noninferiority trial was to compare the safety and efficacy of exenatide (an incretin mimetic) with that of biphasic insulin aspart. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Patients on metformin and a sulfonylurea were randomised to exenatide (n = 253; 5 &#956;g twice daily for 4 weeks, 10 &#956;g thereafter) or biphasic insulin aspart (n = 248; twice-daily doses titrated for optimal glucose control), while continuing with metformin and sulfonylurea treatment. RESULTS. Glycaemic control achieved with exenatide exenatide was non-inferior to that achieved with biphasic insulin aspart [mean &#177; SEM, HbA1c change: exenatide -1.04 &#177; 0.07%, biphasic insulin aspart -0.89 &#177; 0.06%; difference -0.15% (95% CI -0.32 to 0.01)]. Exenatide-treated patients lost weight, while patients treated with biphasic insulin aspart gained weight [betweengroup difference -5.4 kg (95% CI -5.9 to -5.0)]. Both treatments reduced fasting serum glucose (exenatide -1.8 &#177; 0.2 mmol/l; p < 0.001; biphasic insulin aspart -1.7 &#177; 0.2 mmol/l; p < 0.001). Greater reductions in postprandial glucose excursions following morning (p < 0.001), midday (p = 0.002) and evening meals (p < 0.001) were observed with exenatide. The withdrawal rate was 21.3% (54/253) for exenatide and 10.1% (25/248) for biphasic insulin aspart. Nausea (33% incidence, 3.5% discontinuation) was the most common adverse event observed with exenatide. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION. Exenatide treatment resulted in HbA1c reduction similar to biphasic insulin aspart and provided better postprandial glycaemic control, making it a potential alternative for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Treatment with biphasic insulin aspart was associated with weight gain and lower risk of adverse gastrointestinal events. Although the availability of glucose-lowering agents associated with weight reduction may be considered a therapeutic advance, the long-term implications of progressive weight reduction observed with exenatide have yet to be defined

New molecular approaches in adipogenesis regulation: The connexin 43 role

Indexación: Scopus; Redalyc.La prevalencia de la obesidad a nivel mundial se ha incrementado rápidamente durante los últimos años debido principalmente a los cambios en el estilo de vida de la población con un aumento significativo en el consumo de energía y disminución de los niveles de actividad física. Es por esto que la comunidad científica está interesada en comprender de forma más profunda los mecanismos que regulan la fisiopatología de la obesidad. Dentro de los diferentes blancos de estudio se encuentra la adipogénesis, cuyo entendimiento es fundamental para comprender el desarrollo de la obesidad y las patologías asociadas a esta. Recientemente ha surgido importantes evidencias que involucran a la proteína de canales de “Gap Junction” conexina 43 (Cx43) en la regulación de los procesos relacionados con adipogénesis, cuyo papel es básicamente anti-adipogénico, sin embargo, nuevas funciones de Cx43 en la regulación de la formación del tejido adiposo siguen descubriéndose.The global prevalence of obesity has been increased rapidly over the past few years mainly due to changes in the lifestyle of the population with a significant increase in energy consumption and decreased levels of physical activity. As a result, the scientific community is interested in a deeper understanding of the mechanisms that regulate the pathophysiology of obesity. In this context, adipogenesis process is an important target of study to understand the obesity and associated pathologies. Recently has been emerged important evidence that involve gap junction channel protein connexin 43 (Cx43) in the regulation of processes related to adipogenesis, whose role is fundamentally anti-adipogenic. However, new functions of Cx43 in the regulation of adipose tissue function also continued to emerge.http://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=5594990800

Maturation, Peer Context, and Indigenous Girls\u27 Early-Onset Substance Use

This paper examines a biosocial model of the impact of puberty on Indigenous girls\u27 early-onset substance use by considering the potential mediating role of peer context (i.e. mixed-sex peer groups and substance use prototypes) on the puberty and substance use relationship. Data include responses from 360 girls of a common Indigenous cultural group residing on reservations/reserves in the upper Midwest and Canada. Results of structural equation modeling revealed that the statistically significant relationship between girls\u27 pubertal development and early-onset substance use was mediated by both mixed-sex/romantic peer groups and favorable social definitions of substance use. Implications for substance use prevention work include addressing the multiple and overlapping effects of peer influence from culturally-relevant perspectives