Updated guidelines for predictive biomarker testing in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: a National Consensus of the Spanish Society of Pathology and the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology.

In 2011 the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) and the Spanish Society of Pathology (SEAP) started a joint project to establish guidelines on biomarker testing in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) based on current evidence. As this field is constantly evolving, these guidelines have been updated, previously in 2012 and 2015 and now in 2019. Current evidence suggests that the mandatory tests to conduct in all patients with advanced NSCLC are for EGFR and BRAF mutations, ALK and ROS1 rearrangements and PD-L1 expression. The growing need to study other emerging biomarkers has promoted the routine use of massive sequencing (next-generation sequencing, NGS). The coordination of every professional involved and the prioritisation of the most suitable tests and technologies for each case remains a challenge.

Phylogenetic analysis of ORF5 and ORF7 of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus and the frequency of wild-type PRRS virus in México.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) is caused by a genetically diverse RNA virus and is an economically significant disease in the swine industry. In this study, a total of 8,126 serum samples were obtained from 275 technified and semi-technified farms belonging to 30 of the 32 states of Mexico and representative of the eight regions of the country. Anti-PRRSv antibodies against the PRRS vaccine and an isolated wild Mexican virus were tested by ELISA. Antibodies were found in 15%-49% of the tested sera, with 2.4%-9.8% against the vaccine and 7.7%-26% against the wild virus. The PRRSv virus was detected by RT-PCR in 77 of the 1,630 pooled samples tested, representing seven of the eight geographic regions into which the Mexican Republic is divided. The complete sequences of open reading frames 5 and 7 from 20 PRRSv-positive samples were determined. The analysis of the sequences together with the previously published sequences of historic strains revealed that all the strains belonged to the one, five and eight lineages of the PRRSV2. Striking differences, particularly in ORF5 and ORF7, were found between sequences of the strains and the reference virus, due to insertions and substitutions in positions that play key roles in the recognition, structure and function of the virus. Overall, these results established the magnitude of PRRS virus genetic diversity, and the most frequent virus strain that predominates in Mexico. The PRRSV2 is presented in the porcine population of Mexico; the circulating strains have important changes in ORF5 and ORF7, which probably explain the results obtained in the serological analysis of the wild virus and vaccine strains.

Interaction between affordance and handedness recognition: a chronometric study

The visualization of tools and manipulable objects activates motor-related areas in the cortex, facilitating possible actions toward them. This pattern of activity may underlie the phenomenon of object affordance. Some cortical motor neurons are also covertly activated during the recognition of body parts such as hands. One hypothesis is that different subpopulations of motor neurons in the frontal cortex are activated in each motor program; for example, canonical neurons in the premotor cortex are responsible for the affordance of visual objects, while mirror neurons support motor imagery triggered during handedness recognition. However, the question remains whether these subpopulations work independently. This hypothesis can be tested with a manual reaction time (MRT) task with a priming paradigm to evaluate whether the view of a manipulable object interferes with the motor imagery of the subject's hand. The MRT provides a measure of the course of information processing in the brain and allows indirect evaluation of cognitive processes. Our results suggest that canonical and mirror neurons work together to create a motor plan involving hand movements to facilitate successful object manipulation.

Interaction between affordance and handedness recognition: a chronometric study.

The visualization of tools and manipulable objects activates motor-related areas in the cortex, facilitating possible actions toward them. This pattern of activity may underlie the phenomenon of object affordance. Some cortical motor neurons are also covertly activated during the recognition of body parts such as hands. One hypothesis is that different subpopulations of motor neurons in the frontal cortex are activated in each motor program; for example, canonical neurons in the premotor cortex are responsible for the affordance of visual objects, while mirror neurons support motor imagery triggered during handedness recognition. However, the question remains whether these subpopulations work independently. This hypothesis can be tested with a manual reaction time (MRT) task with a priming paradigm to evaluate whether the view of a manipulable object interferes with the motor imagery of the subject's hand. The MRT provides a measure of the course of information processing in the brain and allows indirect evaluation of cognitive processes. Our results suggest that canonical and mirror neurons work together to create a motor plan involving hand movements to facilitate successful object manipulation.

Lung adenocarcinoma in the era of targeted therapies: histological classification, sample prioritization, and predictive biomarkers.

The arrival of targeted therapies has presented both a conceptual and a practical challenge in the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs). The relationship of these treatments with specific histologies and predictive biomarkers has made the handling of biopsies the key factor for success. In this study, we highlight the balance between precise histological diagnosis and the practice of conducting multiple predictive assays simultaneously. This can only be achieved where there is a commitment to multidisciplinary working by the tumor board to ensure that a sensible protocol is applied. This proposal for prioritizing samples includes both recent technological advances and the some of the latest discoveries in the molecular classification of NSCLCs.

Chorionic gonadotropin hormone receptors on Taenia solium and Taenia crassiceps cysticerci in culture.

Hormones play a significant role in murine Taenia crassiceps cysticercosis, and they may also participate in the susceptibility to Taenia solium cysticercosis. In the present study, in vitro effects are reported for human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) on the larval stages of T. crassiceps (WFU strain) and T. solium. Our results reveal the presence of receptors for hCG in different developmental phases of both cultured parasites. On day 30, both taeniid species had the highest percentage of receptors in the neck, strobila, and suckers, but these receptors decreased by day 60, delimiting the segments and the exterior of the developing proglottids in T. solium. At the same time, there was a large number of hCG receptors in the area of the presumptive cirrus organ and in calcareous corpuscles within the parenchyma. This is the first report detecting receptors for hCG on different larval stages of T. crassiceps and T. solium. A direct effect of hCG could be recognized by the cysticerci as a factor contributing to the growth and development of T. crassiceps and T. solium cysticerci, respectively.

An improved method of 90% pancreatectomy using a low dose of streptozotocin at the pancreaticoduodenal artery results in a rapid diabetic stage in dogs.

An improved method of inducing diabetes in dogs was developed. This method included 90% pancreatectomy, 2 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ) perfused into pancreaticoduodenal artery, and the fixation suture of the duodenum to the costo-abdominal wall. Vasopressin injection administered to the animals before surgery reduced bleeding. All dogs used in this procedure survived and became diabetic. One month after the procedure the pancreatic islets were reduced in volume and the number compared with pancreas tissue obtained during the surgery. Acinar tissue remained with a normal histology, and exocrine function maintained the physiological parameters, except for a soft faecal consistency. We conclude that this procedure is effective in inducing experimental diabetes in dogs.

Arrangement of beta tubulin in bull spermatozoa during nuclei decondensation.

Eukaryotic cells have internal scaffolding of microtubules cytoskeleton that gives them their characteristic shapes. We analyzed by immuno-fluorescence the shift and distribution of tubuline during in vitro bull sperm nuclei swelling by the action of heparin-reduced glutathione physiological decondensing agents. Sperm tubulin display a pattern that shows tubulin fluorescence all over the head, leaving the acrosome tip devoid of tubulin. In the second stage we can observe that the acrosomal zone is practically devoid of fluorescence and a net of fluorescent microtubules that seems to be anchored in the basal plate in the postacrosomal region. It is also possible to observe green spots of tubulin fluorescence in the nucleus periphery, that might represent clusters of chromatin hub-like bodies and/or the microtubule organizing center (MTOC). In the third stage, practically all tubulin moves backwards to the basal plate in the neck region of the sperm nuclei remaining in only the green fluorescence spots in the periphery of the swollen sperm nuclei. The results allow us to assume that tubulin mechanism rearrangement is considered to be necessary for the normal fertilization process.

Entamoeba histolytica: DNA carrier vesicles in nuclei and kinetoplast-like organelles (EhkOs).

Entamoeba histolytica, the protozoan responsible for human amoebiasis, has a complex genome, whose linear chromosomes and DNA circles have so far eluded detailed analysis. We report the detection by transmission electron microscopy of nuclear vesicles (0.05-0.3 microm in diameter) carrying DNA in E. histolytica trophozoites. In late anaphase many of these nuclear vesicles were found to be organized in structures of approximately 2.5 x 1 microm, in association with chromosomes and microtubules. In glutaraldehyde-fixed and detergent-treated trophozoites, nuclear vesicles displayed a non-membranous envelope. Binding of phosphotungstate stain and recognition by serum from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus indicated that these vesicles contain DNA. Similar DNA carrier vesicles were found in the cytoplasm and in the E. histolytica kinetoplast-like organelle (EhkO). By Feulgen staining, we detected DNA carrier vesicles entering or leaving the nuclei, suggesting a structural relationship between the nuclear vesicles and the vesicles present in the EhkOs.

[Isoamylases and isolipases values in the serum from patients wtih renal insufficiency]. / Valoración de isoamilasas e isolipasas en el suero de pacientes con insuficiencia renal.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to test the utility os serum isoamylases and isolipases as determined from patients with renal insufficiency. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Serum levels of isoamylases and isolipases were determined in a group of sixty-eight patients with renal disease, 32 of them suffering acute insufficiency and 36 with chronic renal failure undergoing regular hemodialysis, results obtained were compared from a population of 44 healthy adults. We used a new method for isolipases determination in serum based on its separation on agarose gel. Two forms of lipase, L1 and L2, were identified by this method and quantitated by densitometry. RESULTS: Were found a significant increase of pancreatic isoamylase P2 and P/S isoenzymatic ratio in acute patients (p < 0.001) as chronic (p < 0.05). In both groups, the isolipase L1 activity and L1/L2 isoform ratio were showed significantly elevated (p < 0.01). We studied the relationship between isoamylases and isolipases establishing the P2/L2 ratio (normal range < 0.6) showing, in the two pathologic groups, significantly elevated values compared with the control group (p < 0.001) and a positive and significant correlation between the P2/L2 and P/S isoform ratios (r = 0.76, p < 0.05 in acute patients; r = 0.58, p < 0.05 in chronic patients). CONCLUSION: The combined study of serum levels of isoamylases and isolipases could be an effective marker for diagnosis and evolution of associated pancreatitis with acute or chronic renal failure.

Punción y cateterización yugular interna: vía de Daily / Puncture and catheterization of the internal yugular vein

Se estudian en forma prospectiva 50 casos de punción y cateterización de la vena yugular interna.Se realiza una técnica novedosa por el material utilizado,obteniéndose buenos resultados y demostrando ser una técnica sencilla, de alta positividad ,bajo nivel de complicaciones y gastos

Punción y cateterización yugular interna: vía de Daily / Puncture and catheterization of the internal yugular vein

Se estudian en forma prospectiva 50 casos de punción y cateterización de la vena yugular interna.Se realiza una técnica novedosa por el material utilizado,obteniéndose buenos resultados y demostrando ser una técnica sencilla, de alta positividad ,bajo nivel de complicaciones y gastos

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus among candidates for blood donation at the Hospital General de Mexico.

Among the NonA-nonB hepatitis, only hepatitis C is exclusively of parenteral transmission. The reported seroprevalence among blood donors in the world ranges from 0.5 to 6.0%. In order to discover the seroprevalence of anti-HCV in candidates for blood donation at the General Hospital of Mexico, 330 individuals were studied. Determination of anti-HCV was performed by the UBI HCV EIA diagnostic test. Risk factors such as history of major surgery, transfusions, drug addiction, etc were also assessed. There were only 4 seropositive patients (1.2%), 95% CI = (0, 2.75%). Only major surgery was associated with seropositivity. It was not possible to exclude hemotransfusion during surgery as a risk factor.

Neumonitis por radiación en pacientes con cáncer de mama tratados con radioterapia / Radiation neumonitis in patients with breast cancer treated with radiotherapy

La neumonitis por radiación es un síndrome acompañado de cambios radiológicos bien definidos a nivel pulmonar. Su presentación e intensidad están ralacionadas con diferentes factores. La frecuencia con que se presenta por irradiación a la mama y sus zonas linfoportadoras es variable. Para conocer la frecuencia y relación que guarda con el antecedente de patología pulmonar previa y asociación a tratamiento secuencial de radioterapia y quimioterapia se estudiaron 62 pacientes con cáncer de mama que recibieron radioterapia al tórax, con seguimiento radiológico mínimo de 52 semanas. En el 29 por ciento de las pacientes (18/62) se presentó el síndrome de neumonitis por radiacipon y el 45 por ciento (28/62) evolucionó a fibrosis pulmonar, con todas las pacientes asintomáticas al cierre del estudio. La patología pulmonar previa fue un factor de riesgo estadísticamente significativo (p=0.04) para el desarrollo de neumonitis y fibrosis pulmonar. Esto no se demostró con la asociación de radioterapia y quimioterapia.