Association of neutrophil/lymphocyte and platelet/lymphocyte ratios with inflammation and survival in Mexican patients on chronic hemodialysis.

INTRODUCTION: Neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are markers of systemic inflammatory status. The relationship between NLR, PLR, and mortality is controversial among hemodialysis (HD) patients. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate NLR and PLR in the prediction of mortality in chronic HD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 130 patients with a follow-up for 66 months. Four groups were established according to NLR-PLR values. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards analysis were used. RESULTS: NLR-PLR correlated positively with C-reactive protein. Cox regression analysis for overall mortality among the four groups included age (HR 1.027, 95% CI 1.003-1.053) and albumin (HR 0.25, 95% CI 0.073-0.85). For cardiovascular (CV) mortality only pulse pressure differential (PPD) was included (HR 1.033; 95% CI 1.014-1.052). Low NLRs and high PLRs were associated with CV mortality (Log Rank test, p = 0.033). CONCLUSIONS: Low NLRs and high PLRs predict the risk of CV mortality among HD patients.

Primary pulmonary botryomycosis. Report of a case and literature review.

Botryomycosis is a rare chronic suppurative infection characterised by a granulomatous inflammatory response to bacterial pathogens. Among the two forms, the visceral form is an even rarer finding that mainly affects the lungs and whose main causative agents are Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, although many other non-filamentous bacteria have been identified. Here, we present a case of primary pulmonary botryomycosis, which to our knowledge is the first case of this type reported in Mexico. In addition, we review the 18 cases of primary pulmonary botryomycosis reported in the literature, where we focus on evaluating the clinical characteristics, predisposing factors, causative agents and treatments used in these patients. This helps physicians to improve the differential diagnosis of this disease.

Fas (CD95)/FasL (CD178) system during ageing.

The Fas/FasL system plays a central role in the physiological regulation of apoptosis and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of several neoplasms and diseases of the immune system. Until now, it has received little attention in the context of ageing, but there is sufficient evidence that it plays an important role in this process and its deregulation favours the development of age-related diseases such as osteoarthritis, diabetes, eye diseases, ischaemic processes, anaemia, Alzheimer's disease and cancer. With this in mind, the aim of this work was to describe the main changes that occur in the Fas/FasL system during ageing and their association with the development of age-related diseases. Furthermore, it discusses how exercise and diet, considered the cornerstone of almost all healthy ageing programmes, produce beneficial effects through the regulation of the Fas/FasL system.

Current trends in Zika vaccine development.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) was first isolated in 1947 in Uganda. While it took 60 years for this virus to cause major outbreaks, an important shift in its ability to cause epidemics took place in the first and second decades of the this century: in 2007 in Yap Island, Micronesia, followed by French Polynesia in 2013 and, finally in 2015 and 2016, when ZIKV infections occurred throughout South America, Central America and the Caribbean, spreading rapidly to reach North America in just a single year. No licensed prophylactic vaccine is yet available but recent efforts towards the development of a vaccine have been remarkable from both the private and public sectors and include new candidate vaccines ranging from the classical live-attenuated or inactivated vaccines to more sophisticated approaches such as mRNA or genetically engineered viral platforms. Previous successes with licensed flavivirus vaccines indicate that a protective ZIKV vaccine should be an achievable goal. Nevertheless, numerous pre- and post-licensure challenges need to be taken into account, such as the interaction of vaccine-induced immune responses with other flaviviruses, in particular with dengue, where antibody-dependent enhancement could become an issue, and the importance of a rapid induction of protective responses during pregnancy.