Effectiveness of autologous lipoinjection into the hand to improve function in patients with scleroderma: pilot study

Background: Scleroderma is a rare disease of the tissues that is characterized for being inflammatory and developing fibrosis in the skin. Typically, this disease affects middle-aged women.Methods: A study was conducted in which 10 patients with scleroderma with involvement in the sclerotic stage were included. One of the hands was chosen randomly for treatment with fatty graft processed by Coleman technique and the other hand, physiological solution was placed. Patients were evaluated at 45 and 90 days after the procedure using the Cochin Hand Functional Scale (CHFS) questionnaire, modified Rodnan scale for the skin (mRSS), grip strength with dynamometer and measurement of fingertip to palm of hand in flexion.Results: The average of CHFS before treatment was 42.30 and 25.70 at 90 days p=0.007. The average strength in the experimental hand before treatment was 11.67 and 14.58 at 90 days p=0.007, in the control hand p=0.873. The mean finger-palm tip distance before treatment was 44.80 and from 36.00 to 90 days p=0.019, in the control hand p=0.149. There is a significant difference in the degree of severity at 90 days of the mRSS of the back of the hands p=0.011 and phalanges p=0.000 between the patients with lipoinjection and physiological solution.Conclusion: Significant improvement was observed in patients with scleroderma treated with autologous lipoinjection.

MicroRNAs in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common type of cancer worldwide, currently representing the most common gastrointestinal cancer with 13% of all malignant tumors. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that repress the translation of target genes. Since their discovery, they have been shown to play an important role in the development of cancer, since they can act as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. A literature review was performed in different databases such as Medline, PubMed, Cochrane, nature, Wolters Kluwer, ScienceDirect, Scopus, SpringerLink, Wiley Online Library. Studies were included from 2003 to 2018. Colorectal cancer presents genetic heterogeneity, because it can develop in different ways, the pathway through which cancer occurs depends on the gene initially altered. The aberrant expression of microRNAs is implicated in the development of colorectal cancer and its progression. Three existing steps in the maturation of the microRNAs have been identified: 1) transcription of the pri-miRNA, 2) cleavage in the nucleus to form the pre-miRNA and 3) a final excision in the cytoplasm to form the mature microRNA. It has been discovered that miRNAs have an impact on cell proliferation, apoptosis, stress response, maintenance of stem cell potency and metabolism, all important factors in the etiology of cancer. The data analyzed in this article highlights the importance of the study of microRNAs in colorectal cancer, however, for the carcinogenic process, progression, therapeutic management and prognosis, more multicenter randomized clinical trials are needed with a detailed analysis.

Tubular electrospun scaffolds tested in vivo for tissue engineering

Tissue engineering has been widely used for its great variety of functions. It has been seen as a solution to satisfy the need for vascular substitutes like small diameter vessels, veins, and nerves. One of the most used methods is electrospinning, due to the fact that it allows the use of various polymers, sizes, mandrels and it can adjust the conditions to create personalized scaffolds. For the creation of scaffolds is fundamental to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each polymer, of this, will depend the biodegradability, biocompatibility, porosity, cellular adhesion, and cell proliferation as it is essential to mimic the extracellular matrix and provide structural support for the cells. The aim of this review was to investigate which materials are being used for the creation of tubular scaffolds by electrospinning. Here we selected only in vivo evaluation to demonstrate remodeling of the grafts into native-like tissues, in vitro evaluations had been excluded from this review. We analyze the conditions like speed, distance and voltage and the modifications like growth factors and combinations of natural and synthetic polymers that allow the authors to have a functional scaffold that will suit its purpose.

Clinical profile of the first 1000 fatalities for influenza A (H1N1) in Mexico.

Background: Influenza is an acute respiratory disease responsible for several episodes of high mortality throughout human history. In 2009, Mexico experienced an atypical influenza outbreak caused by a mutant strain of the influenza A (H1N1) subtype, which generated significant mortality. The aim of this paper was to analyze the clinical and sociodemographic conditions of the first 1000 fatalities recorded during this outbreak. Methods: We conducted a study based on an analysis of the clinical files of patients positive for influenza A (H1N1) using Real-Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) to conduct an analysis of deaths compared to deaths in the general population. Results: The majority of deaths occurred in patients aged 35-84 years (65.8%). Average time between symptom onset and death was 13.8 days, with an average of 7.8 days from time of hospitalization until death. Ca. 25% of deaths occurred in residents from Mexico City and from the nearby State of Mexico. In the majority of cases, we found that patients who died had a low educational and socioeconomic status along with co-morbidities such as metabolic syndrome and its individual components, as well as respiratory illnesses. In 80% of cases, patients received mechanical ventilation, and a similar percentage received antiviral therapy (oseltamivir, zanamivir). Conclusions: The primary-care level was not utilized by patients who died from influenza. The higher prevalence of chronic degenerative diseases among deaths compared with the general population indicates that these groups of patients should be considered and prioritized in the event of future outbreaks.