MicroRNA-7 Regulates Migration and Chemoresistance in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Cells Through Regulation of KLF4 and YY1.

The discovery and description of the role of microRNAs has become very important, specifically due to their participation in the regulation of proteins and transcription factors involved in the development of cancer. microRNA-7 (miR-7) has been described as a negative regulator of several proteins involved in cancer, such as YY1 and KLF4. We have recently reported that YY1 and KLF4 play a role in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and that the expression of KLF4 is regulated by YY1. Therefore, in this study we analyzed the role of miR-7 in NHL through the negative regulation of YY1 and KLF4. qRT-PCR showed that there is an inverse expression of miR-7 in relation to the expression of YY1 and KLF4 in B-NHL cell lines. The possible regulation of YY1 and KLF4 by miR-7 was analyzed using the constitutive expression or inhibition of miR-7, as well as using reporter plasmids containing the 3 'UTR region of YY1 or KLF4. The role of miR-7 in NHL, through the negative regulation of YY1 and KLF4 was determined by chemoresistance and migration assays. We corroborated our results in cell lines, in a TMA from NHL patients including DLBCL and follicular lymphoma subtypes, in where we analyzed miR-7 by ISH and YY1 and KLF4 using IHC. All tumors expressing miR-7 showed a negative correlation with YY1 and KLF4 expression. In addition, expression of miR-7 was analyzed using the GEO Database; miR-7 downregulated expression was associated with pour overall-survival. Our results show for the first time that miR-7 is implicate in the cell migration and chemoresistance in NHL, through the negative regulation of YY1 and KLF4. That also support the evidence that YY1 and KLF4 can be a potential therapeutic target in NHL.

Tumors of the salivary gland in Mexicans. A retrospective study of 360 cases.

OBJECTIVE: To establish distribution frequency and demographic characteristics of salivary gland tumours (SGT) in order to identify possible risk profiles. DESIGN OF STUDY: The present report constitutes an eight year retrospective study (January 2000-August 2007). The archives of the Clinical and Experimental Pathology Laboratory (Graduate and Research Division, Dental School, National Autonomous University of Mexico) as well as archives of the Surgical Pathology Service (General Hospital, Mexico City) were subject to revision in order to select all cases where SGT tumour diagnoses were emitted. Age and gender of patients as well as SGT topography were obtained from medical records. Selected cases were classified according to location of the lesion, histological lineage and biological behaviour. RESULTS: 360 cases of SGT were included, 227 (67%) cases were benign tumours, while 83 cases (23%) were malignant tumours. SGT were most frequent in women with ages ranging from their 3rd to 5th decades of life. 275 tumours were located in major salivary glands, 78.9% of them were identified in the parotid gland. The most frequent location of tumours arising from minor salivary glands (33 cases, 38%) was found in the palatine glands. Tumours of epithelial lineage were the predominant histological type. The most frequent benign tumours were pleomorphic adenomas (86.1%) and papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum (7.3%). The most frequent malignant tumours were adenoid cystic carcinomas (25%) and mucoepidermoid carcinomas (23.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Salivary gland tumours in Mexican population appear principally in major salivary glands of women in their 3rd to 5th decade of life.

Evaluating linkage disequilibrium and recombination provides a haplotype-tagging SNP panel of the major histocompatibility complex in African Americans.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) (Chromosome 6p21.3) is a dynamic, immune gene-rich region that is associated with multiple diseases. Haplotype-tagging single-nucleotide polymorphism (htSNP) panels for the MHC can aid association studies but have only been reported for African, Asian and Caucasian populations to date. We genotyped 2154 SNPs spanning a 3.8-Mb region of the classical MHC in 94 healthy African Americans using Illumina BeadArray technology. We describe the haplotype structure of the MHC in African Americans, calculate the recombination rate (0.35 cM Mb(-1)) across the region, identify recombination hot spots and develop a panel of htSNPs for future genetic association studies in this population. We conclude that while patterns of LD and recombination are similar within the MHC to that reported in other populations, differences in minor allele frequency at specific markers necessitates an htSNP panel unique to African Americans, which we provide here for use in future genetic association studies.

Mechatronic resectoscope emulator for a surgery simulation training system of the prostate.

In this work is presented the development of a mechatronic interface for a surgery simulation system for training Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP). The interface emulates a real resectosope and allows to perform the most important movements of the surgical tool during a TURP. The interface is able to work in conjunction with a virtual reality software with a deformable tissue model of the prostate, in order to simulate tissue resection and deformation. The current prototype has five degrees of freedom, which are enough to have a realistic simulation of the surgery movements. The results show that the interface is suitable for a real time surgery simulation training system of the prostate without force feedback.

Pancreas transcription factor 1alpha expression is regulated in pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND: Expression of acinar cell-specific genes requires the pancreas transcription factor 1alpha (Ptf1alpha). p48 is the only component of Ptf1alpha that is involved in both acinar gene regulation and pancreatic ontogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To determine whether Ptf1alpha/p48 expression is regulated during pancreatitis, acute pancreatitis was induced in rats by repeated caerulein injections; early chronic pancreatitis by the combined administration of caerulein and cyclosporin A; and focal pancreas fibrosis by trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid infusion into the pancreatic duct. AR42J cells were used to examine caerulein effects on acinar cells. Ptf1alpha/p48 expression was examined using immunohistochemistry, Western blotting, and qRT-PCR methods. RESULTS: In acute pancreatitis, Ptf1alpha/p48 decreased markedly within 6 h as determined by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry. After 24 h, Ptf1alpha/p48 increased continuously and normalized at day six. In contrast, pancreas amylase reached a nadir at 48 h, when Ptf1alpha/p48 had largely recovered. In the early chronic pancreatitis model Ptf1alpha/p48 levels did not completely recover even at day 14, and this was associated with a failure to restore normal histology and amylase content. qRT-PCR showed that p48 mRNA were reduced after pancreatitis induction and were followed by a decrease in elastase mRNA. In the focal pancreas fibrosis model, Ptf1alpha/p48 expression was undetectable in areas with substantial acinar cell loss and tubular complexes. Caerulein did not affect Ptf1alpha/p48 expression in AR42J cells. CONCLUSIONS: Ptf1alpha/p48 protein and mRNA levels are regulated in acute and chronic experimental pancreatitis. Inability to re-express Ptf1alpha/p48 after injury may preclude acinar cell differentiation and appropriate pancreatic regeneration.

[Enamel hypoplasia in tuberous sclerosis]. / La hipoplasia del esmalte en la esclerosis tuberosa.

Dental enamel hypoplasia is a constant and pathognomonic sign in patients with TS. The defect consists in small cavities (pits) that measure average 80 microns and affect only the enamel without producing lesion to the dentin. We studied the morphology of retained dental pieces of three patients with TS. The pits showed conical and cylindrical shape and measured from 50 to 500 microns. The identification of enamel hypoplasia in deciduous and permanent teeth is of a great value for early diagnosis when other anomalies of TS are not yet produced.

[Atypical biological behavior of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma in five patients]. / Comportamiento biológico atípico del rabdomiosarcoma alveolar en cinco pacientes.

Five cases of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma with atypical clinical features are reported. Three patients showed lymphadenopathy as the first clinical manifestation, mimicking a lymphoma or a non identified primary tumor with lymph node metastases. One patient presented systemic neoplastic disease and two had the primary tumor in atypical locations, such as the mediastinum and retroperitoneum. All patients died and in four of them an autopsy was performed. The histological diagnosis was confirmed by immunohistochemical studies on four cases. The alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma has a poor prognosis and can have a variable clinical presentation and morphology, simulating lymphomas, leukemias and systemic metastatic disease with an unknown primary neoplasm, such as in the cases here in reported.

[Puerperal infection. Analysis of 618 cases]. / Infección puerperal. Análisis de 618 casos.

From September 1993 to March 1995 a prospective, descriptive study was performed at Obstetrical Department of the General Hospital 2A the Mexican Institute of Social Security. An attempt to know the real puerperal infection incidence in our own hospital to be able to make hypothesis and take specific measures in puerperal infection control. Dairy account of interesting data of cases under inclusion criteria. Entering data in personal computer. Graphics and analysis were accomplished using Lotus 123, Statgraphics, EPI-6 of CDC and Freelance computational programs. Search of central tendency measures were performed, (media, median, mode, standard deviation). Odds ratio and relative risk were calculated, including hospitalization time and its temporary variation to data cross. X square and pi were including hospitalization time and its temporary variation to data cross. X square and pi were determined to statistic validates. The cumulated rate of general puerperal infection were 1.2%. By stratification, the cumulated rate of infection after cesarean section, vaginal delivery and miscarriage were 5.4%, 0.8% and 0.3%, respectively. There was predominance of infection after cesarean section, over infection after vaginal delivery and after miscarriage. (monthly media of 24.6, 7.3 and 0.47, respectively). The puerperal infection was present principally in primiparous and in patients with one previous cesarean section. The patients in which the termination of pregnancy was by cesarean section, (0.015 infection cumulated incidence), had an infection risk 5.76 and 18.66 times greater than the patients with vaginal delivery and miscarriage. (Relative risk of 6.76 and 19.66) The site of puerperal infection was implicated in combinations or isolated, under nine clinical situation. The five most frequent clinical situation, between these nine, in incidence order from major to minor were the following: Endometritis alone, Endometritis combined with wound abscess. Endometritis with urinary infection, complicated endometritis, (sub vesical abscess, parametritis, peritonitis, salpingitis), and wound abscess alone). The greater hospitalization time was present in cases of complicated endometritis followed by wound abscess alone or combined. Complicated endometritis, (incidence 0.0010), compel us to hysterectomy in 15 cases. No death was registered among the patients with puerperal infection studied.

Artificial nerve graft using collagen as an extracellular matrix for nerve repair compared with sutured autograft in a rat model.

A study was conducted to compare the regeneration of rat peroneal nerves across 0.5-cm gaps repaired with artificial nerve grafts versus sutured autografts. The artificial nerve graft model is composed of a synthetic biodegradable passive conduit made of polyglycolic acid filled with a collagen extracellular matrix (predominantly Type I collagen, derived from calf skin, and with the telopeptide ends left intact). Axonal regeneration was studied in 22 long-term animals (11 or 12 months). The nerves were studied by qualitative and quantitative histological and electrophysiological methods, and by functional analysis in 9 of the animals. The axonal regeneration of the artificial nerve graft is equal to sutured autografts as measured by axonal counts, and by physiological and functional methods, although the sutured autografts demonstrated statistically superior axonal diameters.

[Infant mortality in Peru]. / Mortalidad infantil en el Perú.

PIP: Bolivia, Haiti, and Peru have infant mortality levels as high as those of the developed countries a century ago. The decline of general and especially infant mortality experienced in Latin America beginning in the 1940s was uneven throughout the continent. Cuba's infant mortality rate declined by 86% between 1940-80, but Peru's declined by only 48% despite its higher initial level. In 1984, 34% of all deaths in Peru were to children under 1 year and about 21% were to children 1-5 years old. Socioeconomic factors are the major explanation of Peru's poor infant mortality levels. Regional and social disparities in access to housing, food, urban infrastructure, and other vital goods and services are reflected in infant mortality statistics. Infant mortality has declined in both rural and urban areas, but the magnitude of the decline was much greater in urban areas. Between 1960-75, the infant mortality rate declined from 133 to 80/1000 live births in urban areas, but only from 180 to 150/1000 in rural areas. Investment in the infrastructure and services of the cities during the 1950s and 60s was not matched by any significant investment in rural infrastructure. Rural-urban mortality differentials are not as profound in countries which distribute public investment more evenly between rural and urban areas. Cuba's rural infant mortality rate is only 16% greater than its urban rate, while Peru's rural rate is 47% higher. The rural-urban differential in Peru hides a steep gap between the metropolitan zone of Lima-Callao, which has an infant mortality rate of 55/1000, and that of all cities, which have a rate 45% higher. Metropolitan Lima has the highest levels of living in Peru, including the highest incomes and best housing and service infrastructure. A majority of Peru's economic and industrial development has been concentrated in Lima. Peru's infant mortality differentials are also striking at the departmental level. The 5 departments with the highest infant mortality rats are all located in the southern sierra. The departments with higher infant mortality rates than the national average also have the least coverage of potable water and sewage systems in their housing. Between 1965-75, the infant mortality differential by maternal educational level actually increased, as children of more educated mothers made greater improvements. In 1975, the infant mortality rate was 158/1000 live births for children of illiterate mothers, 73 for children of mothers with 4-6 years of schooling, and 44 for those with 7 or more years. A regression analysis demonstrated that illiteracy of the mother was most highly correlated with the infant mortality rate, followed closely by rural residence.^ieng