Efficacy of radiation attenuating caps in reducing radiation doses received at the cerebral level in interventional physicians: a systematic review.

Background.Anecdotal reports are appearing in the scientific literature about cases of brain tumors in interventional physicians who are exposed to ionizing radiation. In response to this alarm, several designs of leaded caps have been made commercially available. However, the results reported on their efficacy are discordant.Objective.To synthesize, by means of a systematic review of the literature, the capacity of decreasing radiation levels conferred by radiation attenuating devices (RADs) at the cerebral level of interventional physicians.Methodology.A systematic review was performed including the following databases: MEDLINE, SCOPUS, EBSCO, Science Direct, Cochrane Controlled Trials Register (CENTRAL), WOS, WHO International Clinical Trials Register, Scielo and Google Scholar, considering original studies that evaluated the efficacy of RAD in experimental or clinical contexts from January 1990 to May 2023. Data selection and extraction were performed in triplicate, with a fourth author resolving discrepancies.Results.Twenty articles were included in the review from a total of 373 studies initially selected from the databases. From these, twelve studies were performed under clinical conditions encompassing 3801 fluoroscopically guided procedures, ten studies were performed under experimental conditions with phantoms, with a total of 88 procedures, four studies were performed using numerical calculations with a total of 63 procedures. The attenuation and effectiveness of provided by the caps analyzed in the present review varying from 12.3% to 99.9%, and 4.9% to 91% respectively.Conclusion.RAD were found to potentially provide radiation protection, but a high heterogeneity in the shielding afforded was found. This indicates the need for local assessment of cap efficiency according to the practice.

Circulación colateral en enfermedad oclusiva aórtica y visceral. Síndrome de Leriche / Collateral pathways on aortoiliac and mesenteric occlusive disease. Leriche syndrome

Introducción: La enfermedad aortoilíaca oclusiva, o enfermedad de Leriche, se presenta mayormente en hombres de 40 a 60 años con antecedentes de hipertensión, tabaquismo, hiperlipemia o diabetes. Su lenta progresión permite el desarrollo de colateralidad arterial compensatoria. Caso clínico: Se trata de un paciente de 53 años con hipertensión arterial y síndrome de isquema crónica de miembros inferiores grado IIb de Fontaine, que presenta en angiotomografía estenosis significativa de ambas arterias renales, oclusión aortoilíaca y de troncos viscerales con importante circulación colateral compensatoria. Discusión: La prevalencia exacta de la enfermedad de Leriche es desconocida, usualmente no evoluciona a isquemia crítica de miembros inferiores gracias a la red colateral que debe ser valorada de cara a la planificación de cualquier intervención en la que pueda verse involucrada. La sospecha clínica debe presentarse ante la tríada clásica: claudicación de miembros inferiores, disfunción sexual y ausencia de pulsos femorales. A pesar de las múltiples opciones quirúrgicas conocidas en la actualidad, el tratamiento individualizarse para cada paciente acorde a la clínica que presente.(AU)

Genomic and phenotypic analyses suggest moderate fitness differences among Zika virus lineages.

RNA viruses have short generation times and high mutation rates, allowing them to undergo rapid molecular evolution during epidemics. However, the extent of RNA virus phenotypic evolution within epidemics and the resulting effects on fitness and virulence remain mostly unknown. Here, we screened the 2015-2016 Zika epidemic in the Americas for lineage-specific fitness differences. We engineered a library of recombinant viruses representing twelve major Zika virus lineages and used them to measure replicative fitness within disease-relevant human primary cells and live mosquitoes. We found that two of these lineages conferred significant in vitro replicative fitness changes among human primary cells, but we did not find fitness changes in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Additionally, we found evidence for elevated levels of positive selection among five amino acid sites that define major Zika virus lineages. While our work suggests that Zika virus may have acquired several phenotypic changes during a short time scale, these changes were relatively moderate and do not appear to have enhanced transmission during the epidemic.

Schwannoma del nervio vago / Vagus-nerve schwannoma

Introducción:los schwannomas, también llamados neurilemomas o neurinomas, son tumores de origen neuroectodérmico, encapsulados y benignos, que generalmente aparecen como una masa laterocervical asintomática de crecimiento lento. Son pocos frecuentes en el área de cabeza y cuello.Caso clínico:mujer de 39 años con una historia de un año de evolución de una masa cervical derecha de crecimiento lento, pulsátil, dolorosa y móvil en el lado derecho del cuello. La imagen de la angiotomografía computarizada preoperatoria demostró que la masa involucraba la bifurcación carotídea, compatible con un paraganglioma carotídeo. La disección cuidadosa a través de una cervicotomía longitudinal mostró que la masa surgía de un único fascículo del nervio vago. La masa se envió a anatomía patológica con el resultado de schwannoma. En el posoperatorio la paciente presentó una función sensorial y motora del vago normal, con un leve síndrome de Horner.Discusión:los tumores nerviosos del cuello surgen a partir de grandes troncos nerviosos, los IX, X, XI y XII pares craneales, el simpático cervical, el plexo cervical y el plexo braquial. El nervio vago es un lugar infrecuente de aparición, con muy pocos casos reportados. Son lesiones de diagnóstico preoperatorio difícil, cuyo tratamiento de elección es la exéresis quirúrgica; en ocasiones, es difícil conservar el nervio de origen.(AU)

Introduction:schwannomas, neurilemomas or neurinomas, are benign, encapsulated, neuroectodermal tumors that generally appear as a slow-growing, asymptomatic laterocervical mass. They are rare in the head and neck area.Clinical case:a 39-year-old woman with a one-year history of a slowly enlarging, pulsatile, painful and movable right cervical mass on the right side of the neck. Preoperative computed angiotomography image demonstrated that the mass involved the carotid bifurcation compatible with a carotid paraganglioma. Careful dissection through a longitudinal cervicotomy, showed that the mass arose from a single fascicle of the vagus nerve. The mass was sent to the pathologists and found to be a schwannoma. The patient had normal vagus sensory and motor function postoperatively, with a slight Horner syndrome.Discussion:nerve tumors of the neck arise from large nerve trunks, the IX, X, XI, and XII cranial nerves, the cervical sympathetic, the cervical plexus, and the brachial plexus. The vagus nerve is an infrequent place of appearance with very few reported cases. They are difficult preoperative diagnosis lesions; whose treatment of choice is surgical excision; sometimes it is difficult to preserve the nerve of origin.(AU)

Chemical Characterization of Plant Extracts and Evaluation of their Nematicidal and Phytotoxic Potential.

Nacobbus aberrans ranks among the "top ten" plant-parasitic nematodes of phytosanitary importance. It causes significant losses in commercial interest crops in America and is a potential risk in the European Union. The nematicidal and phytotoxic activities of seven plant extracts against N. aberrans and Solanum lycopersicum were evaluated in vitro, respectively. The chemical nature of three nematicidal extracts (EC50,48h ≤ 113 µg mL-1) was studied through NMR analysis. Plant extracts showed nematicidal activity on second-stage juveniles (J2): (≥87%) at 1000 µg mL-1 after 72 h, and their EC50 values were 71.4-468.1 and 31.5-299.8 µg mL-1 after 24 and 48 h, respectively. Extracts with the best nematicidal potential (EC50,48h < 113 µg mL-1) were those from Adenophyllum aurantium, Alloispermum integrifolium, and Tournefortia densiflora, which inhibited L. esculentum seed growth by 100% at 20 µg mL-1. Stigmasterol (1), ß-sitosterol (2), and α-terthienyl (3) were identified from A. aurantium, while 1, 2, lutein (4), centaurin (5), patuletin-7-ß-O-glucoside (6), pendulin (7), and penduletin (8) were identified from A. integrifolium. From T. densiflora extract, allantoin (9), 9-O-angeloyl-retronecine (10), and its N-oxide (11) were identified. The present research is the first to report the effect of T. densiflora, A. integrifolium, and A. aurantium against N. aberrans and chemically characterized nematicidal extracts that may provide alternative sources of botanical nematicides.

EVALUATION OF ANTICANCER POTENTIAL OF EIGHT VEGETAL SPECIES FROM THE STATE OF OAXACA.

BACKGROUND: Eight plant species from Oaxaca, some of them used in traditional medicine, were subjected to screening of several biological activities to provide data regarding their anticancer potential, although no scientific information is available about their pharmacological effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Methanol extracts from stems or roots of the eight plants were tested for antioxidant activity by the DPPH- method. Antimicrobial activity was determined using the agar diffusion method and the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was obtained by broth dilution method. Antitopoisomerase activity was assessed using mutant strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae JN362a, JN394, JN394t-1, JN394t2.4 and JN394t2-5. The mutagenic activity was evaluated using the Ames test (Salmonella typhimurium TA1535). RESULTS: No extract showed significant antioxidant activity. The best antimicrobial activity was observed for Salpianthus arenarius (MIC 56.25 µg/mL) and Lantana achyranthifolia (MIC 78.12 µg/mL) against Staphylococcus aureus. Extracts of Acalypha cuspidata, Alloispermum integrifolium and L. achyranthifolia stems showed antitopoisomerase II activity with JN394t-1 growth of -30.88±0.0%, -38.11±4.95%, and -70.97±12.02% respectively. Galium mexicanum stem extract showed antitopoisomerase I activity with growth of 35.31±6.36% on the same mutant strain. All plant extracts were non-mutagenic. Fractionation of A. cuspidata extract led to identification of two subfractions with antitopoisomerase I and II activity at 154µg/mL (Positive controls 50 and 100µg/mL). CONCLUSION: Methanol extracts of A. cuspidata, A. integrifolium, G. mexicanum, and L. achyranthifolia stems showed antitopoisomerase and non-mutagenic activities, and consequently could be promising as a source of anticancer drugs.

[Chemoprotective effect of the alkaloid extract of Melocactus bellavistensis against colon cancer induced in rats using 1,2-dimethylhydrazine]. / Efecto quimioprotector del extracto alcaloideo de Melocactus bellavistensis (cactus globoso) sobre el cáncer de colon inducido con 1,2-dimetilhidrazina en ratas.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the toxicity and chemoprotective effect of the alkaloid extract of Melocactus bellavistensis against colon cancer induced in rats using 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The alkaloid extract was obtained from the fleshy part of M. bellavistensis, and an acute toxicity test was then carried out on 30 mice of the Balb C57 strain. To assess its chemoprotective effect, colon cancer was induced in 45 Holtzman rats using DMH according to the following experimental design: one control group received 2 mL/kg sodium polysorbate, and four groups received 20 mg/kg DMH plus 0, 1, 5, or 10 mg/kg M. bellavistensis alkaloid extract. RESULTS: With a sample of 5 g of alkaloid extract, an LD50 greater than 1000 mg/mL was determined in the acute toxicity test. Histological indicators revealed that the 5 and 10 mg/kg doses had significant anti-tumor activity with 100% neoplasia inhibition against DMH- induced colon cancer in rats. CONCLUSIONS: Under experimental conditions, the alkaloid extract of M. bellavistensis has a chemoprotective effect against DMH-induced colon cancer in rats.

Efecto quimioprotector del extracto alcaloideo de Melocactus bellavistensis (cactus globoso) sobre el cáncer de colon inducido con 1,2-dimetilhidrazina en ratas / Chemoprotective effect of the alkaloid extract of Melocactus bellavistensis against colon cancer induced in rats using 1,2-dimethylhydrazine

RESUMEN Objetivos Determinar la toxicidad y el efecto quimioprotector del extracto alcaloideo de Melocactus bellavistensis (cactus globoso) sobre el cáncer de colon inducido en ratas con 1,2 dimetilhidrazina (DMH). Materiales y métodos Se obtuvo el extracto alcaloideo de la parte carnosa de Melocactus bellavistensis, posteriormente, se realizó un ensayo de toxicidad aguda en 30 ratones de cepas Balb C57. Para evaluar su efecto quimioprotector se indujo el cáncer de colon en 45 ratas Holtzmann con DMH, según el siguiente diseño experimental: un grupo control con: polisorbato de sodio (PS) a 2 mL/kg y cuatro grupos con DMH 20 mg/kg más 0, 1, 5 y 10 mg/kg de extracto alcaloideo de Melocactus bellavistensis respectivamente. Resultados Con una muestra de 5 g de extracto alcaloideo se determinó una DL50 mayor a 1000 mg/mL en el ensayo de toxicidad aguda del extracto alcaloideo de Melocactus bellavistensis. Los resultados del efecto quimioprotector en los indicadores de estudio histopatológico revelaron que a las dosis de 5 y 10 mg/kg demostraron actividad antitumoral significativa en el cáncer de colon inducido por dimetilhidrazina en ratas con 100% de inhibición de neoplasia. Conclusiones En condiciones experimentales, el extracto de alcaloides de Melocactus bellavistensis demostró tener efecto quimioprotector en cáncer de colon inducido por dimetilhidrazina en ratas.

ABSTRACT Objectives To determine the toxicity and chemoprotective effect of the alkaloid extract of Melocactus bellavistensis against colon cancer induced in rats using 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH). Materials and methods The alkaloid extract was obtained from the fleshy part of M. bellavistensis, and an acute toxicity test was then carried out on 30 mice of the Balb C57 strain. To assess its chemoprotective effect, colon cancer was induced in 45 Holtzman rats using DMH according to the following experimental design: one control group received 2 mL/kg sodium polysorbate, and four groups received 20 mg/kg DMH plus 0, 1, 5, or 10 mg/kg M. bellavistensis alkaloid extract. Results With a sample of 5 g of alkaloid extract, an LD50 greater than 1000 mg/mL was determined in the acute toxicity test. Histological indicators revealed that the 5 and 10 mg/kg doses had significant anti-tumor activity with 100% neoplasia inhibition against DMH- induced colon cancer in rats. Conclusions Under experimental conditions, the alkaloid extract of M. bellavistensis has a chemoprotective effect against DMH-induced colon cancer in rats.

Effectiveness of the Engagement and Counseling for Latinos (ECLA) intervention in low-income Latinos.

BACKGROUND: Persistent disparities in access and quality of mental health care for Latinos indicate a need for evidence-based, culturally adapted, and outside-the-clinic-walls treatments. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate treatment effectiveness of telephone (ECLA-T) or face-to-face (ECLA-F) delivery of a 6-8 session cognitive behavioral therapy and care management intervention for low-income Latinos, as compared to usual care for depression. DESIGN: Multisite randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Eight community health clinics in Boston, Massachusetts and San Juan, Puerto Rico. PARTICIPANTS: 257 Latino patients recruited from primary care between May 2011 and September 2012. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The primary outcome was severity of depression, assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist-20. The secondary outcome was functioning over the previous 30 days, measured using the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHO-DAS 2.0). RESULTS: Both telephone and face-to-face versions of the Engagement and Counseling for Latinos (ECLA) were more effective than usual care. The effect sizes of both intervention conditions on Patient Health Questionnaire-9 were moderate when combined data from both sites are analyzed (0.56 and 0.64 for face-to-face and telephone, respectively). Similarly, effect sizes of ECLA-F and ECLA-T on the Hopkins Symptom Checklist were quite large in the Boston site (0.64 and 0.73. respectively) but not in Puerto Rico (0.10 and 0.03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: The intervention appears to help Latino patients reduce depressive symptoms and improve functioning. Of particular importance is the higher treatment initiation for the telephone versus face-to-face intervention (89.7% vs. 78.8%), which suggests that telephone-based care may improve access and quality of care.

Effect of crude plant extracts from some Oaxacan flora on two deleterious fungal phytopathogens and extract compatibility with a biofertilizer strain.

The antimicrobial activity of 12 plant extracts was tested against the phytopathogens Alternaria alternata and Fusarium solani. In addition, the compatibility of the extracts toward Bacillus liqueniformis, a biofertilizer and a non-target microorganism, was assessed. Plants tested belong to the Euphorbiaceae, Asteraceae, Crassulaceae, Rubiaceae, Convolvulaceae, Verbenaceae, Orchidaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Boraginaceae, and Tiliaceae families and were collected in the State of Oaxaca. The antifungal activity of the plant extracts (50-100 mg/mL) against A. alternata and F. solani, was determined by measuring the mycelium radial growth and obtaining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of fungal growth. In addition, with the aim of finding plant extracts which are compatible with a B. licheniformis biofertilizer strain and to test the non-toxic nature of the treatments, the toxicity of the extracts toward this strain was evaluated using the agar diffusion method. Azoxystrobin (12 µg) and chloramphenicol (30 µg) were used as positive controls for the pathogens and for the non-target bacteria, respectively. Plant extracts inhibited fungal growth in the ranges of 0.76-56.17% against F. solani and 2.02-69.07% against A. alternata. The extracts of Acalypha subviscida, Ipomoea murucoides, Tournefortia densiflora and Lantana achyranthifolia showed MIC values between 5.77-12.5 mg/mL for at least one of the fungal species. The best treatment, Adenophyllum aurantium, exhibited a maximum inhibition for both F. solani (56.17%, MIC = 7.78 mg/mL) and A. alternata (68.64% MIC = 7.78 mg/mL), and resulted innocuous toward B. licheniformis. Therefore, this plant has an outstanding potential for the agroecological control of fungal phytopathogens in industrial crops.

Molecular mechanism of tau aggregation induced by anionic and cationic dyes.

Abnormal tau filaments are a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. Anionic dyes such as Congo Red, Thiazine Red, and Thioflavin S are able to induce tau fibrillization in vitro. SH-SY5Y cells were incubated with each dye for seven days leading to intracellular aggregates of tau protein, with different morphological characteristics. Interestingly, these tau aggregates were not observed when the Methylene Blue dye was added to the cell culture. In order to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying this phenomenon, we developed a computational model for the interaction of the tau paired helical filament (PHF) core with every dye by docking analysis. The polar/electrostatic and nonpolar contribution to the free binding energy in the tau PHF core-anionic dye interaction was determined. We found that the tau PHF core can generate a positive net charge within the binding site localized at residuesLys311 and Lys340 (numbering according to the longest isoform hTau40). These residues are important for the binding affinity of the negative charges present in the anionic dyes causing an electrostatic environment that stabilizes the complex. Tau PHF core protofibril-Congo Red interaction has a stronger binding affinity compared to Thiazine Red or Thioflavin S. By contrast, the cationic dye Methylene Blue does not bind to nor stabilize the tau PHF core protofibrils. These results characterize the driving forces responsible for the binding of tau to anionic dyes leading to their self-aggregation and suggest that Methylene Blue may act as a destabilizing agent of tau aggregates.

Tau oligomers and aggregation in Alzheimer's disease.

We are analyzing the physiological function of Tau protein and its abnormal pathological behavior when this protein is self-assemble into pathological filaments. These aggregates of Tau protein are the main components in many diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent studies suggest that Tau acquires complex oligomeric conformations which may be toxic. In this review, we emphasized the possible phenomena implicated in the formation of these oligomers. Studies with chemical inductors indicates that the microtubule-binding domain is the most important region involved in Tau aggregation and showed the requirement of a pre-arrange Tau in abnormal conformation to promote self-assembly. Transgenic animal models and AD neuropathology studies showed that post-translational modifications are also implicated in Tau aggregation and neural cell death during AD development. Therefore, we analyzed some events that could be present during Tau aggregation. Finally, we included a brief discussion of the possible relation between glucose metabolism dysfunction in AD, and data of Tau aggregation by using aggregation inhibitors. In conclusion, the process Tau aggregation deserves further investigations to design possible therapeutic targets to inhibit the toxicity of these aggregates and it is possible that could be extended to other diseases with similar etiology.