Patterns of Differentially Expressed circRNAs in Human Thymocytes.

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are suggested to play a discriminative role between some stages of thymocyte differentiation. However, differential aspects of the stage of mature single-positive thymocytes remain to be explored. The purpose of this study is to investigate the differential expression pattern of circRNAs in three different development stages of human thymocytes, including mature single-positive cells, and perform predictions in silico regarding the ability of specific circRNAs when controlling the expression of genes involved in thymocyte differentiation. We isolate human thymocytes at three different stages of intrathymic differentiation and determine the expression of circRNAs and mRNA by RNASeq. We show that the differential expression pattern of 50 specific circRNAs serves to discriminate between the three human thymocyte populations. Interestingly, the downregulation of RAG2, a gene involved in T-cell differentiation in the thymus, could be simultaneously controlled by the downregulation of two circRNASs (hsa_circ_0031584 and hsa_circ_0019079) through the hypothetical liberation of hsa-miR-609. Our study provides, for the first time, significant insights into the usefulness of circRNAs in discriminating between different stages of thymocyte differentiation and provides new potential circRNA-miRNA-mRNA networks capable of controlling the expression of genes involved in T-cell differentiation in the thymus.

Differential molecular response in mice and human thymocytes exposed to a combined-dose radiation regime.

In the quest for more effective radiation treatment options that can improve both cell killing and healthy tissue recovery, combined radiation therapies are lately in the spotlight. The molecular response to a combined radiation regime where exposure to an initial low dose (priming dose) of ionizing radiation is administered prior to a subsequent higher radiation dose (challenging dose) after a given latency period have not been thoroughly explored. In this study we report on the differential response to either a combined radiation regime or a single challenging dose both in mouse in vivo and in human ex vivo thymocytes. A differential cell cycle response including an increase in the subG1 fraction on cells exposed to the combined regime was found. Together with this, a differential protein expression profiling in several pathways including cell cycle control (ATM, TP53, p21CDKN1A), damage response (γH2AX) and cell death pathways such as apoptosis (Cleaved Caspase-3, PARP1, PKCδ and H3T45ph) and ferroptosis (xCT/GPX4) was demonstrated. This study also shows the epigenetic regulation following a combined regime that alters the expression of chromatin modifiers such as DNMTs (DNMT1, DNMT2, DNMT3A, DNMT3B, DNMT3L) and glycosylases (MBD4 and TDG). Furthermore, a study of the underlying cellular status six hours after the priming dose alone showed evidence of retained modifications on the molecular and epigenetic pathways suggesting that the priming dose infers a "radiation awareness phenotype" to the thymocytes, a sensitization key to the differential response seen after the second hit with the challenging dose. These data suggest that combined-dose radiation regimes could be more efficient at making cells respond to radiation and it would be interesting to further investigate how can these schemes be of use to potential new radiation therapies.

Evolución neurológica y resultados de la cirugía pediátrica del arco aórtico mediante perfusión cerebral selectiva / Neurological changes and outcomes of paediatric surgery of the aortic arch using selective cerebral perfusion

INTRODUCCIÓN: Los objetivos son analizar las alteraciones neuropsicológicas a medio plazo de los niños intervenidos del arco aórtico mediante perfusión cerebral selectiva (PCS) y detectar posibles factores modificables en la técnica quirúrgica que pueden ayudar a minimizar la afectación neurológica posterior. MATERIAL Y MÉTODOS: Se establecieron como criterios de inclusión: patología del arco aórtico intervenida mediante PCS durante el primer año de vida, entre el 10 de agosto del 2004 y el 24 de mayo del 2016, fisiología biventricular y edad gestacional mayor de 31 semanas. En ausencia de cromosomopatía, se clasificaron desde el punto de vista neurológico siguiendo el modified Rankin score. En mayores de 4 años se realizaron estudios de inteligencia, nivel de atención, maduración y aptitudes psicolingüísticas. RESULTADOS: Se incluyeron ochenta y dos pacientes, cuya edad media en el momento de la cirugía fue de 1,8 meses. El flujo medio en PCS fue de 32 ml/kg/min. El tiempo medio de PCS fue de 31 min. La mortalidad global de la serie fue del 14,8%. Con disfunción neurológica se observaron un 35,9% y se detectaron como factores de riesgo: cirugía en menores de 10 días de edad, duración de PCS mayor de 40 min y la duración del enfriamiento o calentamiento. Un 35,2% de los pacientes mayor de 5 años fueron diagnosticados de déficit de atención. CONCLUSIONES: Los pacientes intervenidos en el primer año de vida con PCS precisan un seguimiento neuropsicológico y hay factores modificables quirúrgicos que pueden influir en el desarrollo neurológico

INTRODUCTION: The aims of this article are to analyse the neuropsychological changes in the medium-term in children subjected to aortic arch surgery using selective cerebral perfusion (SCP), as well as to detect any modifiable factors in the surgical technique that may contribute to minimising the subsequent neurological involvement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Inclusion criteria were established as: aortic arch disease operated on using SCP during the first year of life, between 10 August 2004 and 24 May 2016, biventricular physiology, and gestational age greater than 31 weeks. In the absence of a chromosomal disease, they were classified, from a neurological point of view, using the Rankin score. Children over 4-years of age were subjected to intelligence studies, including attention level, development, and psycho-lingual skills. RESULTS: The study included a total of 82 patients with a mean age of 1.8 months. The mean SCP flow was 32 ml/kg/min. The mean time of SCP was 31 minutes. The overall mortality of the series was 14.8%. Neurological dysfunction was observed in 35.9% of patients, and the following were detected as risk factors: surgery in patients less than 10-days-old, duration of SCP greater than 40minutes, and the time required for the cooling down and/or warming-up. Attention deficit was diagnosed in 35.2% of patients greater than 5-years-old. CONCLUSIONS: Patients operated on using SCP in in the first year of life required a neuropsychological follow-up, and there are modifiable surgical factors that may have an influence on neurological development

[Neurological changes and outcomes of paediatric surgery of the aortic arch using selective cerebral perfusion]. / Evolución neurológica y resultados de la cirugía pediátrica del arco aórtico mediante perfusión cerebral selectiva.

INTRODUCTION: The aims of this article are to analyse the neuropsychological changes in the medium-term in children subjected to aortic arch surgery using selective cerebral perfusion (SCP), as well as to detect any modifiable factors in the surgical technique that may contribute to minimising the subsequent neurological involvement. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Inclusion criteria were established as: aortic arch disease operated on using SCP during the first year of life, between 10 August 2004 and 24 May 2016, biventricular physiology, and gestational age greater than 31 weeks. In the absence of a chromosomal disease, they were classified, from a neurological point of view, using the Rankin score. Children over 4-years of age were subjected to intelligence studies, including attention level, development, and psycho-lingual skills. RESULTS: The study included a total of 82 patients with a mean age of 1.8 months. The mean SCP flow was 32ml/kg/min. The mean time of SCP was 31minutes. The overall mortality of the series was 14.8%. Neurological dysfunction was observed in 35.9% of patients, and the following were detected as risk factors: surgery in patients less than 10-days-old, duration of SCP greater than 40minutes, and the time required for the cooling down and/or warming-up. Attention deficit was diagnosed in 35.2% of patients greater than 5-years-old. CONCLUSIONS: Patients operated on using SCP in in the first year of life required a neuropsychological follow-up, and there are modifiable surgical factors that may have an influence on neurological development.

The use of PanDrugs to prioritize anticancer drug treatments in a case of T-ALL based on individual genomic data.

BACKGROUND: Acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive disorder derived from immature thymocytes. The variability observed in clinical responses on this type of tumours to treatments, the high toxicity of current protocols and the poor prognosis of patients with relapse or refractory make it urgent to find less toxic and more effective therapies in the context of a personalized medicine of precision. METHODS: Whole exome sequencing and RNAseq were performed on DNA and RNA respectively, extracted of a bone marrow sample from a patient diagnosed with tumour primary T-ALL and double negative thymocytes from thymus control samples. We used PanDrugs, a computational resource to propose pharmacological therapies based on our experimental results, including lists of variants and genes. We extend the possible therapeutic options for the patient by taking into account multiple genomic events potentially sensitive to a treatment, the context of the pathway and the pharmacological evidence already known by large-scale experiments. RESULTS: As a proof-of-principle we used next-generation-sequencing technologies (Whole Exome Sequencing and RNA-Sequencing) in a case of diagnosed Pro-T acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. We identified 689 disease-causing mutations involving 308 genes, as well as multiple fusion transcript variants, alternative splicing, and 6652 genes with at least one principal isoform significantly deregulated. Only 12 genes, with 27 pathogenic gene variants, were among the most frequently mutated ones in this type of lymphoproliferative disorder. Among them, 5 variants detected in CTCF, FBXW7, JAK1, NOTCH1 and WT1 genes have not yet been reported in T-ALL pathogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: Personalized genomic medicine is a therapeutic approach involving the use of an individual's information data to tailor drug therapy. Implementing bioinformatics platform PanDrugs enables us to propose a prioritized list of anticancer drugs as the best theoretical therapeutic candidates to treat this patient has been the goal of this article. Of note, most of the proposed drugs are not being yet considered in the clinical practice of this type of cancer opening up the approach of new treatment possibilities.

Monitorización continua de glucosa en niños tratados con bomba de insulina / Continuous glucose monitoring in insulin pump treated children

Introducción: El tratamiento con bomba infusora de insulina trata de mejorar el control glucémico y disminuir el riesgo de hipoglucemia en diabetes tipo 1.Objetivo: Valorar las concentraciones de glucosa intersticial y la duración y los síntomas de las hipoglucemias e hiperglucemias con el uso de un monitor continuo de glucosa en niños y adolescentes con diabetes mellitus tipo 1 tratados con infusión de insulina, así como la tolerancia de esta prueba en estos pacientes. Pacientes y método: Se estudia a 13 pacientes (4 varones) con diabetes mellitus tipo 1 tratados con infusor de insulina, edad 10,6 ± 3,5 (intervalo,3,2-13,6) años; tiempo de evolución de la diabetes mellitus, 5,0 ± 3,2 años; tiempo de tratamiento con bomba, 12,0 ± 4,6 meses; dosis de insulina,0,99 ± 0,19 U/kg/día, y último valor de glucohemoglobina, 7,1 ± 0,8. Se utilizó el sistema CGMS de Minimed durante 72 h. Resultados: El sensor no fue tolerado por el niño preescolar de 3 años. La concentración de glucosa intersticial captada por el sensor fue 187 ± 40mg/dl. El tiempo en hipoglucemia (menor de 70 mg/dl) fue del 3,6% ± 5,6% del total y el tiempo en hiperglucemia (mayor de 180 mg/dl) fue del 47,3% ±17,4% del total. En ningún caso se detectaron hipoglucemias subclínicas. Conclusiones: Los niños y adolescentes con infusor de insulina muestran un perfil de glucosa intersticial muy irregular y no consiguen la normoglucemia. Nuestros pacientes conservan la sintomatología de alarma frente a la hipoglucemia y en general toleran bien el CGMS (AU)

Introduction: Insulin pump therapy aims to improve glycemic control and decrease the risk of hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes. Objective: To evaluate interstitial glucose levels and the frequency, duration and symptoms of hypo- and hyperglycemia through the use of a continuous glucose monitoring system (GGMS) in children and adolescents with insulin pump-treated type 1 diabetes, and to determine whether this monitoring method is well tolerated by these patients. Patients and method: Thirteen patients (4 boys) with insulin pump-treated type 1 diabetes mellitus were monitored. Age was 10.6 ± 3.5 (range, 3.2-13.6) years, diabetes duration was 5.0 ± 3.2 years, pump therapy duration was 12.0 ± 4.6 months, insulin dose was 0.99 ± 0.19 U/kg/day, and last hemoglobin A1c level was 7.1% ± 0.8%. The Minimed CGMS was used for 72 hours. Results: A 3-year-old preschool child did not tolerate the CGMS. Interstitial glucose concentration was 187 ± 40 mg/dl. Hypoglycemia (below 70 mg/dl) accounted for 3.6% ± 5.6% of total time, while hyperglycemia (above 180 mg/dl) occurred 47.3% ± 17.4% of the time. No asymptomatic hypoglycemia episodes were detected. Conclusions: Insulin pump-treated children and adolescents showed an irregular interstitial glucose level and did not achieve normoglycemia. In our patients, adrenergic symptoms of hypoglycemia were preserved and the CGMS was generally well tolerated (AU)

Continuous glucose monitoring in insulin pump treated children.

INTRODUCTION: Insulin pump therapy aims to improve glycemic control and decrease the risk of hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate interstitial glucose levels and the frequency, duration and symptoms of hypo- and hyperglycemia through the use of a continuous glucose monitoring system (GGMS) in children and adolescents with insulin pump-treated type 1 diabetes, and to determine whether this monitoring method is well tolerated by these patients. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Thirteen patients (4 boys) with insulin pump-treated type 1 diabetes mellitus were monitored. Age was 10.6±3.5 (range, 3.2-13.6) years, diabetes duration was 5.0±3.2 years, pump therapy duration was 12.0±4.6 months, insulin dose was 0.99 ± 0.19 U/kg/day, and last hemoglobin A1c level was 7.1% ± 0.8%. The Minimed CGMS was used for 72 hours. RESULTS: A 3-year-old preschool child did not tolerate the CGMS. Interstitial glucose concentration was 187±40 mg/dl. Hypoglycemia (below 70mg/dl) accounted for 3.6% ± 5.6% of total time, while hyperglycemia (above 180 mg/dl) occurred 47.3% ± 17.4% of the time. No asymptomatic hypoglycemia episodes were detected. CONCLUSIONS: Insulin pump-treated children and adolescents showed an irregular interstitial glucose level and did not achieve normoglycemia. In our patients, adrenergic symptoms of hypoglycemia were preserved and the CGMS was generally well tolerated.