C57BL/6J offspring mice reared by a single-mother exhibit, compared to mice reared in a biparental parenting structure, distinct neural activation patterns and heightened ethanol-induced anxiolysis.

RATIONALE: Parenting experiences with caregivers play a key role in neurodevelopment. We recently reported that adolescents reared by a single-mother (SM) display an anxiety-prone phenotype and drink more alcohol, compared to peers derived from a biparental (BP) rearing condition. OBJECTIVES: To investigate if SM and BP offspring infant mice exhibit differential sensitivity to ethanol-induced locomotor activity and differential activity patterns in brain areas related to anxiety response. We also analyzed anxiety response and ethanol-induced anxiolysis in SM and BP adolescents. METHODS: Mice reared in SM or BP conditions were assessed for (a) ethanol-induced locomotor activity at infancy, (b) central expression of Fos-like proteins (likely represented mostly by FosB, a transcription factor that accumulates after chronic stimuli exposure and serves as a molecular marker of neural plasticity) and cathecolaminergic activity, and (c) anxiety-like behavior and ethanol-induced anxiolysis in adolescence. RESULTS: Infant mice were sensitive to the stimulating effects of 2.0 g/kg alcohol, regardless parenting structure. SM mice exhibited, relative to BP mice, a significantly greater number of Fos-like positive cells in the central amygdala and basolateral amygdala nuclei. Ethanol treatment, but not parenting condition, induced greater activation of dopaminergic neurons in ventral tegmental area. SM, but not BP, adolescent mice were sensitive to ethanol-induced anxiolysis. CONCLUSIONS: These results highlight the complex relationship between parenting experiences and neurodevelopment. The SM parenting may result in greater neural activation patterns in brain areas associated with anxiety response, potentially contributing to increased basal anxiety and alcohol sensitivity.

Evaluation and Characterization of the Insecticidal Activity and Synergistic Effects of Different GroEL Proteins from Bacteria Associated with Entomopathogenic Nematodes on Galleria mellonella.

GroEL is a chaperonin that helps other proteins fold correctly. However, alternative activities, such as acting as an insect toxin, have also been discovered. This work evaluates the chaperonin and insecticidal activity of different GroEL proteins from entomopathogenic nematodes on G. mellonella. The ability to synergize with the ExoA toxin of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was also investigated. The GroELXn protein showed the highest insecticidal activity among the different GroELs. In addition, it was able to significantly activate the phenoloxidase system of the target insects. This could tell us about the mechanism by which it exerts its toxicity on insects. GroEL proteins can enhance the toxic activity of the ExoA toxin, which could be related to its chaperonin activity. However, there is a significant difference in the synergistic effect that is more related to its alternative activity as an insecticidal toxin.

Optical Detection of Cancer Cells Using Lab-on-a-Chip.

The global need for accurate and efficient cancer cell detection in biomedicine and clinical diagnosis has driven extensive research and technological development in the field. Precision, high-throughput, non-invasive separation, detection, and classification of individual cells are critical requirements for successful technology. Lab-on-a-chip devices offer enormous potential for solving biological and medical problems and have become a priority research area for microanalysis and manipulating cells. This paper reviews recent developments in the detection of cancer cells using the microfluidics-based lab-on-a-chip method, focusing on describing and explaining techniques that use optical phenomena and a plethora of probes for sensing, amplification, and immobilization. The paper describes how optics are applied in each experimental method, highlighting their advantages and disadvantages. The discussion includes a summary of current challenges and prospects for cancer diagnosis.

Shotgun Proteomics of Co-Cultured Leukemic and Bone Marrow Stromal Cells from Different Species as a Preliminary Approach to Detect Intercellular Protein Transfer.

Cellular interactions within the bone marrow microenvironment modulate the properties of subsets of leukemic cells leading to the development of drug-resistant phenotypes. The intercellular transfer of proteins and organelles contributes to this process but the set of transferred proteins and their effects in the receiving cells remain unclear. This study aimed to detect the intercellular protein transfer from mouse bone marrow stromal cells (OP9 cell line) to human T-lymphoblasts (CCRF-CEM cell line) using nanoLC-MS/MS-based shotgun proteomics in a 3D co-culture system. After 24 h of co-culture, 1513 and 67 proteins from human and mouse origin, respectively, were identified in CCRF-CEM cells. The presence of mouse proteins in the human cell line, detected by analyzing the differences in amino acid sequences of orthologous peptides, was interpreted as the result of intercellular transfer. The transferred proteins might have contributed to the observed resistance to vincristine, methotrexate, and hydrogen peroxide in the co-cultured leukemic cells. Our results suggest that shotgun proteomic analyses of co-cultured cells from different species could be a simple option to get a preliminary survey of the proteins exchanged among interacting cells.

Comparative Genomics and Pathogenicity Analysis of Two Bacterial Symbionts of Entomopathogenic Nematodes: The Role of the GroEL Protein in Virulence.

Bacteria of the genera Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus are symbionts of entomopathogenic nematodes. Despite their close phylogenetic relationship, they show differences in their pathogenicity and virulence mechanisms in target insects. These differences were explored by the analysis of the pangenome, as it provides a framework for characterizing and defining the gene repertoire. We performed the first pangenome analysis of 91 strains of Xenorhabdus and Photorhabdus; the analysis showed that the Photorhabdus genus has a higher number of genes associated with pathogenicity. However, biological tests showed that whole cells of X. nematophila SC 0516 were more virulent than those of P. luminescens HIM3 when both were injected into G. mellonella larvae. In addition, we cloned and expressed the GroEL proteins of both bacteria, as this protein has been previously indicated to show insecticidal activity in the genus Xenorhabdus. Among these proteins, Cpn60-Xn was found to be the most toxic at all concentrations tested, with an LC50 value of 102.34 ng/larva. Sequence analysis suggested that the Cpn60-Xn toxin was homologous to Cpn60-Pl; however, Cpn60-Xn contained thirty-five differentially substituted amino acid residues that could be responsible for its insecticidal activity.

Saliva as a promising biofluid for SARS-CoV-2 detection during the early stages of infection.

Background: Diagnostic testing for coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 is performed using nasopharyngeal swabs. This type of sampling is uncomfortable for the patient, dangerous for health workers, and its high demand has led to a global shortage of swabs. One of the alternative specimens is saliva. However, the optimal conditions for the test have not been established. Methods: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the viral genome in saliva samples kept at room temperature, in the fridge or frozen for 2 days. In addition, the influence of brushing teeth and feeding on the detection of the virus in saliva was addressed. Finally, the efficiency of saliva in revealing the presence of the virus during the hospitalization period was determined in children. Results: The viral genome was consistently detected regardless of the storage conditions of saliva samples. Brushing teeth and feeding did not influence the sensitivity of the test. In hospitalized children, positive results were obtained only during the early days. Conclusions: These results support the idea of the use of saliva as an alternative specimen for diagnostic testing for COVID-19. The viral genome is stable and endures perturbations in the oral cavity. However, clearance of the virus from the mouth during the infection may limit the use of the test only to the early stages of the disease.

Introducción: El diagnóstico de COVID-19 (enfermedad por coronavirus 2019) se realiza con un hisopado nasofaríngeo. El procedimiento de toma de muestra es molesto para el paciente y peligroso para el personal de salud, y la alta demanda de análisis ha conducido a la escasez de hisopos. Una alternativa es el uso de saliva, pero las condiciones óptimas para realizar el estudio no han sido establecidas. Métodos: Se usó la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con transcriptasa reversa para detectar el genoma viral en muestras de saliva mantenidas a temperatura ambiente, en refrigeración o congeladas. Además, se evaluó la influencia del aseo bucal y de la ingesta de alimento en la detección del virus. Finalmente, se determinó el desempeño de la saliva para reportar la presencia del virus durante el periodo de hospitalización en niños. Resultados: El genoma viral fue estable durante 2 días a las diferentes temperaturas ensayadas. El aseo bucal y la ingesta de alimento no influyeron en la detección del virus. En los niños hospitalizados solo se obtuvieron resultados positivos durante los primeros días. Conclusiones: Los resultados coinciden con la idea del uso de la saliva como biofluido alternativo para el diagnóstico de COVID-19. El genoma viral es estable y no se ve afectado por perturbaciones en la cavidad oral; sin embargo, la dinámica de la infección puede provocar que el ensayo solo sea útil durante las primeras etapas de la enfermedad.

Saliva as a promising biofluid for SARS-CoV-2 detection during the early stages of infection / La saliva como biofluido promisorio para la detección del SARS-CoV-2 durante las primeras etapas de la infección

Abstract Background: Diagnostic testing for coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 is performed using nasopharyngeal swabs. This type of sampling is uncomfortable for the patient, dangerous for health workers, and its high demand has led to a global shortage of swabs. One of the alternative specimens is saliva. However, the optimal conditions for the test have not been established. Methods: Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction was used to detect the viral genome in saliva samples kept at room temperature, in the fridge or frozen for 2 days. In addition, the influence of brushing teeth and feeding on the detection of the virus in saliva was addressed. Finally, the efficiency of saliva in revealing the presence of the virus during the hospitalization period was determined in children. Results: The viral genome was consistently detected regardless of the storage conditions of saliva samples. Brushing teeth and feeding did not influence the sensitivity of the test. In hospitalized children, positive results were obtained only during the early days. Conclusions: These results support the idea of the use of saliva as an alternative specimen for diagnostic testing for COVID-19. The viral genome is stable and endures perturbations in the oral cavity. However, clearance of the virus from the mouth during the infection may limit the use of the test only to the early stages of the disease.

Resumen Introducción: El diagnóstico de COVID-19 (enfermedad por coronavirus 2019) se realiza con un hisopado nasofaríngeo. El procedimiento de toma de muestra es molesto para el paciente y peligroso para el personal de salud, y la alta demanda de análisis ha conducido a la escasez de hisopos. Una alternativa es el uso de saliva, pero las condiciones óptimas para realizar el estudio no han sido establecidas. Métodos: Se usó la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa con transcriptasa reversa para detectar el genoma viral en muestras de saliva mantenidas a temperatura ambiente, en refrigeración o congeladas. Además, se evaluó la influencia del aseo bucal y de la ingesta de alimento en la detección del virus. Finalmente, se determinó el desempeño de la saliva para reportar la presencia del virus durante el periodo de hospitalización en niños. Resultados: El genoma viral fue estable durante 2 días a las diferentes temperaturas ensayadas. El aseo bucal y la ingesta de alimento no influyeron en la detección del virus. En los niños hospitalizados solo se obtuvieron resultados positivos durante los primeros días. Conclusiones: Los resultados coinciden con la idea del uso de la saliva como biofluido alternativo para el diagnóstico de COVID-19. El genoma viral es estable y no se ve afectado por perturbaciones en la cavidad oral; sin embargo, la dinámica de la infección puede provocar que el ensayo solo sea útil durante las primeras etapas de la enfermedad.

Monofrequency electrical impedance mammography (EIM) diagnostic system in breast cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: Some evidence has shown that malignant breast tumours have lower electrical impedance than surrounding normal tissues. Electrical impedance could be used as an indicator for breast cancer detection. The purpose of our study was to analyse the sensitivity and specificity of electrical impedance mammography (EIM) and its implementation for the differential diagnosis of pathological lesions of the breast, either alone or in combination with mammography/ultrasound, in 1200 women between 25 and 70 years old. METHODS: This study is a prospective, cross-sectional epidemiological observational study of serial screening. The women were invited to participate and signed a consent letter. Impedance imaging of the mammary gland was evaluated with the computerized mammography equipment of MEIK electroimpedance v.5.6. (0.5 mA, 50 kHz), developed and manufactured by PKF SIM-Technika®. The successful identification of breast cancer along with the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of EIM were determined as follows: % sensitivity; % specificity; % positive predictive value (PPV); and % negative predictive value (NPV). RESULTS: EIM had a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 96%; the positive predictive value was 12%, and the negative predictive value was 99%. Seven cases were biopsy confirmed cancers. Significant correlations between the electrical conductivity index and body mass index (BMI) (p = 0.04) and patient age were observed (p = 0.01). We also observed that the average conductivity distribution increased according to age group (p = 0.001). We used the chi-squared test to assess the interactions between percent density and BMI (normal < 25 kg/m2 (n = 310), overweight 25-29.9 kg/m2 (n = 418) and obese ≥30 (n = 437)) (p <  0.05). The patients with a diagnosis of mammary carcinoma had a BMI of 35.51 kg/m2. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that the use of monofrequency electrical impedance mammography (EIM) in the detection of breast cancer had a sensitivity and specificity of 85 and 96%, respectively. These findings may support future research in the early detection of breast cancer. EIM is a non-radiation method that may also be used as a screening method for young women with dense breasts and a high risk of developing breast cancer.

Biparental care in C57BL/6J mice: effects on adolescent behavior and alcohol consumption.

RATIONALE: Social attachment plays an important role in offspring development. Different parenting experiences during lactation may shape offspring behavior and later alcohol use. OBJECTIVES: We tested the hypothesis that differential rearing conditions (single mother, SM or biparental, BP) in the non-monogamous C57BL/6J mice may affect (1) parental behavior during lactation, (2) adolescent behavior, and (3) adolescent initiation of alcohol drinking. METHODS: Mice were reared in SM or BP (cohabitation of father-mother since copulation) condition until weaning (postnatal day, PND, 21). Litters from both conditions were filmed during PNDs 6, 9, and 12 and an ethogram was made taking into account nest-, pup-, or self-directed behaviors. At PNDs, 28-29 adolescent animals were evaluated in a modified version of the concentric square field for measurement of behavioral patterns. Other groups of adolescents were tested in a 4-h daily, two-bottle choice alcohol consumption test (10% alcohol vs. water) during 3 weeks (4 days per week). RESULTS: Single mothers spent less time in the nest, left unattended the nest more times, displayed more self-directed and less pup-directed behaviors than BP parents. SM-reared adolescents displayed more anxiogenic-like and less risk-associated behaviors than BP counterparts. The alcohol consumption test indicated a strong effect of rearing condition. Since the fifth day of test, SM adolescents consumed more quantities of alcohol than BP adolescents. CONCLUSIONS: During single-mother parenting, pups are left unattended more often, and during adolescence, these organisms exhibited increased anxiety responses. This behavioral phenotype may act as a risk factor for alcohol initiation during adolescence.

Axillobifemoral bypass for total abdominal occlusion secondary to Takayasu's arteritis: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a rare disease that mainly affects large arteries. Approximately 20% of TA patients will require surgical intervention secondary to arterial complications such as intermittent claudication, persistent hypertension refractory to treatment, and heart failure. PRESENTATION OF CASE: The case of a 22-year-old female with TA of five years of evolution is presented. The patient deteriorated clinically after five years of corticosteroid and immunosuppressant management requiring surgical intervention with an axillobifemoral bypass for a total abdominal occlusion. Onset, pre-surgical and post-surgical Doppler ultrasonography as well as abdominal angiotomographies document and corroborate the patient's clinical and hemodynamic improvement. DISCUSSION: Very limited literature exists regarding surgical interventions for TA patients. While most reported cases present an endovascular surgical management. Open surgical procedures have lower rates of restenosis than endovascular management. Although endovascular management is less invasive than extra-anatomical axillobifemoral bypass, the patient was not a candidate for endovascular stent graft placement due to the increased risk for vascular injury and subsequent perforation. Approximately a fifth of TA patients are candidates for surgical intervention over time. CONCLUSION: Vascular surgery in TA cases becomes an option when the patient does not improve clinically after administration of medical treatment. Although endovascular management has fewer complications, the rate of restenosis is higher. Patients at risk of restenosis and who have increased perioperative vascular risk can benefit from open surgical procedures. Surgical management should be tailored to the patient's needs.

Artificial intelligence based model for optimization of COD removal efficiency of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor in the saline wastewater treatment.

The complex non-linear behavior presented in the biological treatment of wastewater requires an accurate model to predict the system performance. This study evaluates the effectiveness of an artificial intelligence (AI) model, based on the combination of artificial neural networks (ANNs) and genetic algorithms (GAs), to find the optimum performance of an up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor (UASB) for saline wastewater treatment. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was predicted using conductivity, organic loading rate (OLR) and temperature as input variables. The ANN model was built from experimental data and performance was assessed through the maximum mean absolute percentage error (= 9.226%) computed from the measured and model predicted values of the COD. Accordingly, the ANN model was used as a fitness function in a GA to find the best operational condition. In the worst case scenario (low energy requirements, high OLR usage and high salinity) this model guaranteed COD removal efficiency values above 70%. This result is consistent and was validated experimentally, confirming that this ANN-GA model can be used as a tool to achieve the best performance of a UASB reactor with the minimum requirement of energy for saline wastewater treatment.

Formato de registros clínicos de enfermería quirúrgica / Format of records clinical nursing

Introducción: Los registros clínicos de enfermería son testimonios documentales sobre actos y conductas profesionales donde queda reconocida toda la información sobre la actividad de enfermería, la cual hace referencia al paciente, su diagnóstico, tratamiento y evolución. Éstos se llevan a cabo en un nuevo formato (instrumento) que sirve como documento médico legal que cumple con la NOM-168-SSA-1998 ya que forma parte del expediente clínico; se utiliza para registrar las intervenciones que se desempeñan, apoyándose en el Proceso Enfermero; en él se registra la atención que se proporciona a la persona que va a ser intervenida, garantizando así la seguridad del paciente de acuerdo a la Cuarta Meta Internacional propuesta en la Cirugía Segura; así mismo, se registra la continuidad de los cuidados de forma racional y sistemática, favoreciendo también la calidad de la atención y siendo una prueba objetiva de los cuidados que se brindan. Se basa en la teoría de Orem. Objetivo: Analizar las necesidades de los profesionales de enfermería para realizar el diseño de un instrumento de registros clínicos de enfermería quirúrgica. Metodología: Cualitativa, apoyados en la fenomenología; se llevan a cabo reuniones de profesionales de enfermería quirúrgica turno matutino con más de 30 años de experiencia para diseñar un instrumento de registros clínicos de enfermería quirúrgica. Resultados: El grupo de expertos, al terminar el diseño del formato, lo da a evaluar a colegas que lo van a utilizar y es modificado en dos ocasiones por medio de entrevista directa; se establece su viabilidad a través de encuestas al personal del área quirúrgica. Conclusiones: El instrumento de registro clínico quirúrgico cumple con los criterios de seguridad para el paciente a través de las metas internacionales y cumple con la NOM-168-SSA-1998 del expediente clínico, permite registrar todos los cuidados que se brindan durante el transcurso de la cirugía.

Introduction: Clinical records are documentary evidence on nursing actions and professional conduct, which is recognized all the information about the nursing activity, which refers to the patient their diagnosis, treatment and outcome. These are carried out in a new format (instrument) that serves as a forensic document to comply with NOM-168-SSA-1998 as part of the clinical record, is used to record the interventions play, based on the Nursing Process, it records the care provided to the person who will be wiretapped; thereby, ensuring patient safety according to the fourth goal in the proposed International Safe Surgery and record the same continuity of care rational and systematic way and to encourage the quality of care and being an objective test of care are provided. It is based on Orem’s theory. Objective: Analyze the needs of nurses for the design of an instrument of surgical nursing clinical records. Methodology: Qualitative supported by phenomenology, was conducted meetings surgical nurses morning shift with over 30 years of experts to design an instrument of surgical nursing clinical records. Results: The group of experts to complete the design of format is given to assess colleagues who will use it and amended twice by direct interview, establishing its feasibility through staff surveys surgical area. Conclusions: instrument surgical clinical record meets the criteria for patient safety through international targets and comply with NOM- 168-SSA-1998 from clinical files, allows you to record all care is provided during the course of surgery.

Phentolamine mesylate in postmenopausal women with female sexual arousal disorder: a psychophysiological study.

The objective of this study was to assess the potential of phentolamine as a treatment of postmenopausal women with female arousal disorder (FSAD). Vaginal photoplethismography and a subjective questionnaire were used. Forty one women were enrolled and four treatments were tested: vaginal solutions 5 mg and 40 mg and an oral tablet each of 40 mg of phentolamine and placebo. Physiological readings were significantly different from placebo in the women using hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with 40 mg of phentolamine in vaginal solution (p = 0.0186). Subjective reports also were significantly different from placebo with the vaginal solution 40 mg and the oral tablet of 40 mg of phentolamine among hormone replacement users. No significant differences were found among women not receiving HRT. Results indicate that phentolamine may show promise as treatment for FSAD in estrogenized postmenopausal women.