Interleukin-27 Regulates Adaptative Immune Responses Associated With Control of Parasite Replication in Canine Leishmaniasis.

Interleukin 27 (IL-27) is a cytokine that regulates susceptibility to Leishmania infantum infection in humans and experimental models. This cytokine has not yet been described in canine leishmaniasis (CanL). Therefore, we investigated whether IL-27 has a regulatory role in CanL. The EBI3 and p28 subunits of IL-27 were measured in splenic leukocytes culture supernatant from dogs with CanL and compared to control dogs. We also correlated EBI3 and p28 levels with IL-21, anti-L. infantum antibodies and parasite loads. We performed functional assays followed by IL-27 blockade and measured parasite loads, production of cytokines in splenic leukocytes culture supernatant, and the expression of PD-1, CTLA-4, phospho-Stat-1/3, T-bet, GATA3 and nitric oxide production (NO). Both IL-27 subunits increased in the supernatant of dogs with CanL compared to control dogs. EBI3 and p28 levels showed a moderate positive correlation with IL-21 (r = 0.67, p < 0.0001 and r = 0.45, p < 0.012, respectively), and the EBI3 subunit was positively associated with anti-L. infantum IgG antibodies (r = 0.38, p < 0.040) and parasite load (r = 0.47, p < 0.009). IL-27 and IL-21 participate of immune responses in CanL. IL-27 may be associated with the failure of immunity to control parasite replication via upregulation of the expression of PD-1, CTLA-4, T-bet and NO in splenic leukocytes from dogs with CanL. These findings suggest that the pathways regulated by IL-27 are involved in CanL pathogenesis in the host, and may be targets for new therapies.

Pseudoquiste esplénico espontáneo: Enfoque diagnóstico y terapéutico. Reporte de un caso / Spontaneous splenic pseudocyst: Diagnostic and therapeutic approach. A case report

Introducción. Los quistes esplénicos son entidades anatómicas y clínicas poco frecuentes, con una incidencia aproximada de 0,07 %. Se clasifican como quistes esplénicos primarios, que contienen revestimiento epitelial y se subdividen en parasitarios y no parasitarios según su etiología, y quistes secundarios, que no poseen revestimiento epitelial en la luz quística y suelen ser el resultado de un traumatismo abdominal. Por lo general, son asintomáticos y se pueden encontrar de manera incidental durante estudios de imagen o en cirugía. Los síntomas están relacionados con el tamaño de los quistes. El tratamiento ideal es la resección quirúrgica, que puede ser total o parcial. Caso clínico. Paciente femenina de 23 años, sin antecedentes de trauma, con dolor abdominal intermitente, de varios meses de evolución. En los estudios imagenológicos se identificó un pseudoquiste esplénico gigante. Fue tratada mediante esplenectomía total por laparoscopia, sin complicaciones quirúrgicas. Resultados. Tuvo una adecuada evolución postoperatoria. Conclusión.El diagnóstico de quiste esplénico se realiza mediante estudios imagenológicos y se confirma con el análisis histopatológico. La esplenectomía total ha sido el tratamiento tradicional; sin embargo, ahora mediante la implementación de abordajes mínimamente invasivos, se prefiere la esplenectomía parcial, con el fin de preservar tejido esplénico y su función inmunológica.

Introduction.Splenic cysts are rare anatomical and clinical entities, with an approximate incidence of 0.07%. They are classified as primary splenic cysts, which contain epithelial lining and are subdivided into parasitic and non-parasitic depending on their etiology, and the secondary splenic cysts, which do not have an epithelial lining in the cystic lumen and are usually the result of abdominal trauma. They are usually asymptomatic and can be found incidentally during imaging studies or in surgery. The symptoms are related to the size of the cysts. The ideal treatment is surgical resection, which can be total or partial. Clinical case. A 23-year-old female patient, with no history of trauma, with intermittent abdominal pain, lasting several months. Imaging studies identified a giant splenic pseudocyst. She was treated by total laparoscopic splenectomy, without surgical complications. Results. She had an adequate postoperative evolution. Conclusion. The diagnosis of splenic cyst is made through imaging studies and confirmed with histopathological analysis. Total splenectomy has been the traditional treatment; however, now through the implementation of minimally invasive approaches, partial splenectomy is preferred, in order to preserve splenic tissue and its immunological function.

Enucleation of insulinoma using laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy with a focus on vascular and splenic preservation: a case report.

Insulinomas represent <10% of pancreatic tumors. It is a functional neuroendocrine tumor that can cause recurrent and severe episodes of loss of consciousness due to hypoglycemia. Surgical removal is the only curative treatment. The selection of the optimal surgical technique must be individualized for each patient. Currently, there are emerging innovations in less invasive techniques that reduce morbidity. We present the case of a 23-year-old woman who underwent enucleation of an insulinoma localized at the tip of the pancreatic tail after laparoscopic surgery, with a focus on vascular and splenic preservation. The tumor was safely identified during surgery and enucleated without injury to the spleen and adjacent vascular structures or postoperative complications.

Analysis of VEGFR-2 and PDGFR-ß expression in canine splenic hemangiosarcoma to identify drug repositioning candidates.

Splenic tumors are very common in dogs, and canine hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is one of the most important malignant splenic tumors. Surgery followed by chemotherapy (anthracycline-based protocols) is recommended for treating canine HSA; however, patients still do not achieve long-term survival. Therefore, this research aimed to assess vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) and platelet-derived growth factor receptor-ß (PDGFR-ß) gene expression in formalin-fixed tissues, evaluate the quality of mRNA for quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysis and identify drug repositioning candidates based on VEGFR-2 and PDGFR-ß. qPCR analysis identified the relative expression of heterogeneous VEGFR-2 and PDGFR-ß, with samples showing no transcripts or very low expression and those with higher relative quantification for both genes. We then used immunohistochemistry to correlate the relative quantification of VEGFR-2 and PDGFR-ß transcripts with respective higher protein expression to validate our results. In the next step, we evaluated drug repositioning candidates and identified small molecule inhibitors (i.e. sorafenib) and natural compounds (curcumin and resveratrol) with the ability to block VEGFR-2 and PDGFR-ß genes. Overall, our results indicated that VEGFR-2 and PDGFR-ß expression is highly variable among canine HSA samples and different drugs can block the expression of both genes. Therefore, a personalized approach could be useful for selecting anti-VEGFR-2 and PDGFR-ß therapies and both genes are potential candidates for future oncological panels.

Os tumores esplênicos são muito comuns em cães, e o hemangiosarcoma (HSA) é um dos tumores esplênicos malignos mais importantes em cães. A cirurgia seguida de quimioterapia (protocolos baseados em antraciclinas) é a abordagem terapêutica mais recomendada para o tratamento da HSA canino; no entanto, os pacientes ainda não alcançam longa sobrevida após tratamento. Portanto, esta pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar a expressão do receptor do fator de crescimento endotelial vascular-2 (VEGFR-2) e do receptor do fator de crescimento derivado de plaquetas-ß (PDGFR-ß) em tecidos fixados em formalina e identificar candidatos ao reposicionamento de medicamentos baseado na expressão desses genes. A análise qPCR identificou a expressão relativa heterogênea de VEGFR-2 e PDGFR-ß, com amostras sem transcritos ou com expressão muito baixa ou amostras com alta quantificação relativa para ambos os genes. Em seguida, foi realizada o exame imuno-histoquímico para correlacionar a quantificação relativa dos transcritos de VEGFR-2 e PDGFR-ß com a respectiva maior expressão proteica para validar nossos resultados. Na próxima etapa, avaliamos candidatos ao reposicionamento de medicamentos e identificamos inibidores de moléculas pequenas (ou seja, sorafenibe) e compostos naturais (curcumina e resveratrol) com capacidade de bloquear os genes VEGFR-2 e PDGFR-ß. No geral, nossos resultados indicaram que a expressão de VEGFR-2 e PDGFR-ß é altamente variável entre amostras caninas de HSA e diferentes drogas podem bloquear a expressão de ambos os genes. Portanto, uma abordagem personalizada poderia ser útil para selecionar terapias anti-VEGFR-2 e PDGFR-ß e ambos os genes são potenciais candidatos para futuros painéis oncológicos.

Frequency of splenectomy for pediatric splenic injury in Brazil: a retrospective analysis.

Background: Non-operative management for pediatric blunt splenic injury is well established in high-income countries, leading to a low splenectomy rate in hemodynamically stable children. Splenectomy rate became a quality indicator for Trauma Center verification utilized by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. However, data on splenectomy rate in children from countries with different income levels, such as Brazil, remain limited. This study aimed to assess the post-traumatic splenectomy rate among Brazilian children over the past decade and the relation with local resources. Methods: Data on pediatric splenic injuries and splenectomies from 2008 to 2019, including patient age and admitting service (adult or pediatric), were obtained from FioCruz database, a public, free, cloud-based platform that offers extensive national health data. The regional numbers of pediatric surgeons, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) beds, and computed tomography scanners were obtained from Brazilian national databases. A national analysis of splenectomy rate by year and service of admission and an analysis of splenectomy rate by the level of regional resources, the number of pediatric surgeons, PICU beds, and computed tomography scanners was performed. Findings: 4061 children were hospitalized with a splenic injury, and 2287 (51.8%) of them underwent splenectomy, unchanged over time. 76.8% were male and 23.1% female patients with splenic injury. Mean age was 11.61 years old. The odds of splenectomy was 14.77 times higher for pediatric patients admitted under adult surgical service compared to pediatric service (OR = 14.77, 95% CI 11.75-18.56, p < 0.0001). The overall increase in pediatric surgeons, PICU beds, and CT scanner availability did not correspond with changes in splenectomy rate. Interpretation: The post-traumatic splenectomy rate among Brazilian children is high, far exceeding that of high-income countries. Increased regional pediatric resources did not correspond to a decrease in splenectomy rate. Further research is essential to understand Brazil's barriers to adopting non-operative management for pediatric splenic injuries. Funding: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Spleen anomalies and lesions in CT and MRI: essentials for radiologists and clinicians-a pictorial review.

The precise evaluation of splenic lesions using cross-sectional imaging presents a complex challenge due to the overlapping imaging characteristics of most splenic diseases and the absence of specific symptoms, complicating the diagnosis process. This pictorial review highlights the essential elements that should be included in a radiology report to interpret cross-sectional imaging studies of splenic lesions. To augment the diagnostic accuracy, we propose the implementation of a stepwise algorithmic approach. This approach offers a comprehensive analysis of splenic anomalies and lesions, providing an invaluable tool for radiologists and clinicians.

Esplenúnculo intrapancreático simulando neoplasia / Intrapancreatic splenunculus simulating neoplasia

Introducción. El esplenúnculo se ha descrito con una incidencia global del 10 al 30 %. Puede ser una entidad de origen congénito o adquirida, frecuentemente está asociada a trauma abdominal o antecedente de esplenectomía por diversas causas. Caso clínico. Mujer en edad media, con antecedente de trauma abdominal y esplenectomía por ruptura traumática, quien 30 años después presenta un cuadro de dolor abdominal. Los estudios imagenológicos identificaron una masa sólida intrapancreática. Resultados. Fue llevada a pancreatectomía distal. Los hallazgos histológicos e inmunohistoquímicos confirmaron que la masa pancreática correspondía a un esplenúnculo intrapancreático adquirido, asociado al evento traumático previo. Conclusión. Los esplenúnculos suelen constituir un "incidentaloma". Los estudios imagenológicos se encuentran limitados, pues la tomografía computarizada, la resonancia nuclear magnética y la ultrasonografía presentan características imagenológicas similares con los tumores pancreáticos hipervascularizados, por lo que se debe practicar el estudio histopatológico durante su valoración. Esta entidad se debe incluir dentro de los diagnósticos diferenciales, con mayor énfasis en aquellos pacientes con historia de trauma abdominal y esplenectomía asociada, un escenario en el que esta lesión puede simular una neoplasia sólida del páncreas, con características malignas.

Introduction. Splenunculus has been described with an overall incidence of 10 to 30%. It can be an entity of congenital or acquired origin, it is frequently associated with abdominal trauma or a history of splenectomy for various reasons. Clinical case. Middle-aged woman, with a history of abdominal trauma and splenectomy due to traumatic rupture, who 30 years later presents with abdominal pain. Imaging studies identified a solid intrapancreatic mass. Results. She was taken to OR for distal pancreatectomy. The histological and immunohistochemical findings confirmed that the pancreatic mass corresponded to an acquired intrapancreatic splenunculus, associated with the previous traumatic event. Conclusion. Splenuncles usually constitute an "incidentaloma". Imaging studies are limited, since computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasonography present similar imaging characteristics with hypervascularized pancreatic tumors, so histopathological study must be included during their evaluation. This entity should be included in the differential diagnoses, with greater emphasis on those patients with a history of abdominal trauma and associated splenectomy, a scenario in which this lesion can simulate a solid neoplasm of the pancreas, with malignant characteristics.

Evaluating Dielectric Properties for Assessing Water Content at Acupuncture Points: New Methodology.

Importance: Understanding acupuncture point microenvironments is vital for optimizing treatment efficacy. Evaluating changes in water content at these points can provide further insights into the effects of acupuncture on tissues. Objective: This study aimed to measure tissue dielectric constant (TDC) and assess changes in water content, specifically at stomach 36 (ST36, Zusanli) and spleen 6 (SP6, Sanyinjiao) acupuncture points. Methods: In a controlled, blinded, randomized trial, 113 healthy volunteers were divided into six groups based on TDC sensor diameters (XS, M, and L): three control groups and three acupuncture groups. They were assessed at three time points: T1, baseline; T2, 20 min post-needle withdrawal; and T3, 40 min post-needle withdrawal. Electrical impedance (EI) was also analyzed. Significance level was set at p < 0.001. Results: TDC at ST36 and SP6 significantly decreased with the XS probe at T2 and T3 compared with that at T1 (F8, 452: 54.61). TDC did not significantly vary between T2 and T3 with M and L probes. EI data indicated that the current passage increased in the SP (F2, 226: 39.32) and ST (F2, 226: 37.32) groups during T2 and T3 compared with that during T1 within their respective groups and controls. Conclusions: and Relevance: This study demonstrated the efficacy of TDC measurements in detecting water content fluctuations at acupuncture points and their responses to needles. TDC measurements, which were validated against EI, provide valuable insights into acupuncture point microenvironments and thus help optimize treatments.

Splenic Embolism in Infective Endocarditis: A Systematic Review of the Literature with an Emphasis on Radiological and Histopathological Diagnoses.

Infective endocarditis (IE) is characterised by fever, heart murmurs, and emboli. Splenic emboli are frequent in left-sided IE. A systematic review of the literature published on splenic embolism (SE) between 2000 and 2023 was conducted. Search strategies in electronic databases identified 2751 studies published between 1 January 2000 and 4 October 2023, of which 29 were finally included. The results showed that the imaging tests predominantly used to detect embolisms were computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography (PET)/CT, single-photon emission computed tomography/CT, ultrasound, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound. More recent studies typically used 18F-FDG PET-CT. The proportion of SE ranged from 1.4% to 71.7%. Only seven studies performed systematic conventional CT screening for intra-abdominal emboli, and the weighted mean frequency of SE was 22% (range: 8-34.8%). 18F-FDG PET-CT was performed systematically in seven studies, and splenic uptake was found in a weighted mean of 4.5%. There was a lack of uniformity in the published literature regarding the frequency and management of splenic embolisation. CT scans were the most frequently used method, until recently, when 18F-FDG PET-CT scans began to predominate. More data are necessary regarding the frequency of SE, especially focusing on their impact on IE management and prognosis.

Participation of the spleen in the neuroinflammation after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus: implications for epileptogenesis and epilepsy.

Epilepsy, a chronic neurological disorder characterized by recurrent seizures, affects millions of individuals worldwide. Despite extensive research, the underlying mechanisms leading to epileptogenesis, the process by which a normal brain develops epilepsy, remain elusive. We, here, explored the immune system and spleen responses triggered by pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE) focusing on their role in the epileptogenesis that follows SE. Initial examination of spleen histopathology revealed transient disorganization of white pulp, in animals subjected to SE. This disorganization, attributed to immune activation, peaked at 1-day post-SE (1DPSE) but returned to control levels at 3DPSE. Alterations in peripheral blood lymphocyte populations, demonstrated a decrease following SE, accompanied by a reduction in CD3+ T-lymphocytes. Further investigations uncovered an increased abundance of T-lymphocytes in the piriform cortex and choroid plexus at 3DPSE, suggesting a specific mobilization toward the Central Nervous System. Notably, splenectomy mitigated brain reactive astrogliosis, neuroinflammation, and macrophage infiltration post-SE, particularly in the hippocampus and piriform cortex. Additionally, splenectomized animals exhibited reduced lymphatic follicle size in the deep cervical lymph nodes. Most significantly, splenectomy correlated with improved neuronal survival, substantiated by decreased neuronal loss and reduced degenerating neurons in the piriform cortex and hippocampal CA2-3 post-SE. Overall, these findings underscore the pivotal role of the spleen in orchestrating immune responses and neuroinflammation following pilocarpine-induced SE, implicating the peripheral immune system as a potential therapeutic target for mitigating neuronal degeneration in epilepsy.

Pathological Characterization and Risk Factors of Splenic Nodular Lesions in Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris).

In dogs, the spleen is a secondary lymphoid organ that can be affected by both neoplastic and non-neoplastic nodules. In general, few studies relate histopathological diagnosis to tumor size and the number of nodules in spleen biopsies. Some of these studies are inconclusive regarding the difference between neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions and have small sample sizes or do not consider all splenic lesions. This study aimed to characterize splenic masses and determine risk factors for spleen tumors in dogs. A total of 507 histological reports corresponding to the diagnosis of splenic lesions in dogs from a private laboratory of animal pathology in the Metropolitan Region, Chile, were used. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression. The most frequent neoplastic and non-neoplastic diagnoses were hemangiosarcoma and hyperplasia, respectively. Most of the cases occurred in male (265 cases, 52.3%), senior (421 cases, 83%), and purebred individuals (342 cases, 67.5%). The most affected breeds were the Cocker Spaniel, German Shepherd, and Labrador Retriever. The most frequent lesion was a single nodule. The variables that exhibited a greater risk for the presentation of splenic neoplasia were male sex (odds ratio (OR) = 16.21; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.741-150.879; p = 0.014), the presence of two or more splenic nodules (OR = 3.94; 95% CI 2.168-7.177; p < 0.001), an increase in nodule size greater than 2 cm (OR for quartiles 2, 3 and 4 of 2.2; 95% CI 1.036-4.941; p = 0.041, 2.9; 95% CI 1.331-6.576; p = 0.008, and 3.6; 95% CI 1.562-8.499; p = 0.003, respectively), and increasing age (OR = 1.23; 95% CI 1.048-1.436; p = 0.011). On the other hand, males exhibited a lower risk as age increases (OR = 0.76; 95% CI 0.615-0.928; p = 0.008). In conclusion, this study identified that males, multinodular presentation, nodule size, and age are risk factors for the occurrence of splenic neoplasia in dogs, knowledge that will contribute to the diagnostic management of dogs with spleen lesions.

Changes in splenic tissue and immune response profile of Schistosoma mansoni infected mice submitted to chronic ethanol intake.

In Schistosoma mansoni infection, the spleen is one of the organs affected, causing its enlargement (splenomegaly). Intake of ethanol through alcoholic beverages can cause spleen atrophy and interfere with immune activity. To gain knowledge of this association on the spleen and on the immune response profile, male mice were used as an experimental model. These animals were divided into four groups: C. control; EC. uninfected/ethanol gavage; I. infected; and IE. infected/ethanol gavage. Groups I and IE were infected with about 100 cercariae (BH strain) of S. mansoni and in the fifth week of infection, gavage 200 µL/day/animal of 18 % ethanol was started for 28 consecutive days. At the end of the gavage (9th week of infection) all animals were euthanized. The spleen was removed and longitudinally divided in two parts. After histological processing, the sections were stained with H&E and Gomori's Reticulin for histopathological and stereological analyses, white pulp morphometry and quantification of megakaryocytes. The other fragment was macerated (in laminar flow) and the cell suspension, after adjusting the concentration (2 × 106), was plated to obtain cytokines produced by spleen cells that were measured by flow cytometry (Citometric Bead Array). Histopathological and quantitative analyzes in the spleen of the IE group showed an increase in the number of trabeculae and megakaryocytes, a decrease in reticular fibers, as well as important organizational changes in the white pulp and red pulp. Due to the decrease in the levels of cytokines measured and the result of the calculation of the ratio between the IFN-y and IL-10 cytokines (p = 0.0079) of the infected groups, we suggest that ethanol decreased the inflammatory and anti-inflammatory response generated by the infection (group IE, the production of cytokines was significantly decreased (p < 0.01). These changes demonstrate that ethanol ingestion interferes with some parameters of experimental S. mansoni infection, such as changes in splenic tissue and in the pattern of cytokine production.

Phospholipase D regulates ferroptosis signal transduction in mouse spleen hypoxia response

High-altitude hypoxia exposure can lead to phospholipase D-mediated lipid metabolism disorder in spleen tissues and induce ferroptosis. Nonetheless, the key genes underlying hypoxia-induced splenic phospholipase D and the ferroptosis pathway remain unclear. This study aimed to establish a hypoxia animal model. Combined transcriptomic and proteomic analyses showed that 95 predicted target genes (proteins) were significantly differentially expressed under hypoxic conditions. Key genes in phospholipase D and ferroptosis pathways under hypoxic exposure were identified by combining Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis techniques. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) showed that the differential gene sets of the phospholipase D and ferroptosis signaling pathways were upregulated in the high-altitude hypoxia group. The genes in the phospholipase D signalling pathway were verified, and the expression levels of KIT and DGKG were upregulated in spleen tissues under hypoxic exposure. Subsequently, the mRNA and protein expression levels of genes from the exogenous pathway such as TFRC, SLC40A1, SLC7A11, TRP53, and FTH1 and those from the endogenous pathway such as GPX4, HMOX1, and ALOX15 differentials in the ferroptosis signalling pathway were verified, and the results indicated significant differential expression. In summary, exposure to high-altitude hypoxia mediated phospholipid metabolism disturbance through the phospholipase D signalling pathway and further induced ferroptosis, leading to splenic injury.

IL-10-induced STAT3/NF-κB crosstalk modulates pineal and extra-pineal melatonin synthesis.

Immune-pineal axis activation is part of the assembly of immune responses. Proinflammatory cytokines inhibit the pineal synthesis of melatonin while inducing it in macrophages by mechanisms dependent on nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation. Cytokines activating the Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathways, such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin-10 (IL-10), modulate melatonin synthesis in the pineal, bone marrow (BM), and spleen. The stimulatory effect of IFN-γ upon the pineal gland depends on STAT1/NF-κB interaction, but the mechanisms controlling IL-10 effects on melatonin synthesis remain unclear. Here, we evaluated the role of STAT3 and NF-κB activation by IL-10 upon the melatonin synthesis of rats' pineal gland, BM, spleen, and peritoneal cells. The results show that IL-10-induced interaction of (p)STAT3 with specific NF-κB dimmers leads to different cell effects. IL-10 increases the pineal's acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase (ASMT), N-acetylserotonin, and melatonin content via nuclear translocation of NF-κB/STAT3. In BM, the nuclear translocation of STAT3/p65-NF-κB complexes increases ASMT expression and melatonin content. Increased pSTAT3/p65-NF-κB nuclear translocation in the spleen enhances phosphorylated serotonin N-acetyltransferase ((p)SNAT) expression and melatonin content. Conversely, in peritoneal cells, IL-10 leads to NF-κB p50/p50 inhibitory dimmer nuclear translocation, decreasing (p)SNAT expression and melatonin content. In conclusion, IL-10's effects on melatonin production depend on the NF-κB subunits interacting with (p)STAT3. Thus, variations of IL-10 levels and downstream pathways during immune responses might be critical regulatory factors adjusting pineal and extra-pineal synthesis of melatonin.

Reference genes for gene expression profiling in mouse models of Listeria monocytogenes infection.

RT-qPCR dissects transcription-based processes but requires reference genes (RGs) for data normalization. This study prospected RGs for mouse macrophages (pMØ) and spleen infected with Listeria monocytogenes. The pMØ were infected in vitro with L. monocytogenes or vehicle for 4 h. Mice were injected with L. monocytogenes (or vehicle) and euthanized 24 h post-injection. The RGs came from a multispecies primer set, from the literature or designed here. The RG ranking relied on GeNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper, Delta-CT and RefFinder. B2m-H3f3a-Ppia were the most stable RGs for pMØ, albeit RG indexes fine-tuned estimations of cytokine relative expression. Actß-Ubc-Ppia were the best RGs for spleen but modestly impacted the cytokine relative expression. Hence, mouse models of L. monocytogenes require context-specific RGs for RT-qPCR, thus reinforcing its paramount contribution to accurate gene expression profiling.

Anatomía Comparada del Bazo de la Rata Blanca (Rattus norvegicus albinus), Una Revisión de la Literatura / Comparative Anatomy of the Spleen of the White Rat, (Rattus norvegicus albinus) a Literature Review

El bazo es el órgano linfático intraperitoneal más grande del organismo, presentando dos funciones principales: defensiva, mediante respuesta inmunitaria y filtración sanguínea. El objetivo de la presente revisión, fue obtener información actualizada sobre la anatomía del bazo de la rata albina (Rattus norvegicus albinus) y comparativa con la anatomía del bazo humano, perro, gato y cerdo, al representar las principales especies de importancia en la medicina, medicina veterinaria y en las ciencias biomédicas. Se realizó una búsqueda de material bibliográfico actualizado en diferentes sitios web científicos. Es así como, se revisaron 71 fuentes bibliográficas, en su gran mayoría artículos científicos (31), libros de anatomía humana y veterinaria (17), artículos especializados (17) y tesis (6). En general existe consenso, sobre la descripción anatómica del bazo, el cual se sitúa en la región hipocondriaca izquierda del abdomen, entre el fondo del estómago y el diafragma, irrigado por la arteria y vena esplénica. Se evidenció que existen similitudes en aspectos macroscópicos, al comparar el bazo de la rata blanca, con el bazo de otras especies (funcionalidad, peso relativo, ubicación topográfica). En aspectos microscópicos, el bazo en humanos y otros mamíferos se compone de estroma, además de parénquima, constituido a su vez por pulpa blanca y roja. En particular, existen diferencias entre el bazo de rata, humano, gato, perro y cerdo, en formas, tamaños y aspectos microscópicos, relacionados con la microcirculación e inmunidad. Mientras que existen semejanzas en procesos patológicos y respuestas a tratamientos farmacológicos y clínicos. Por lo anteriormente expuesto, se concluye que la rata albina constituye un buen modelo biológico, específicamente en aspectos anatómicos microscópicos del bazo de tipo inmunológico. Mientras que el bazo de cerdo es mejor comparativamente, en estudios anatómicos macroscópicos de tipo quirúrgicos, resultando ambos extrapolables, especialmente a la medicina humana.

SUMMARY: The spleen is the largest intraperitoneal lymphatic organ of the body, presenting two main functions: defensive, through immune response and blood filtration. The objective of the present review was to obtain updated information on the anatomy of the spleen of the albino rat (Rattus norvegicus albinus) and to compare it with the anatomy of the human, dog, cat and pig spleen, representing the main species of importance in medicine, veterinary medicine and biomedical sciences. A search for updated bibliographic material was carried out in different scientific websites. Thus, 71 bibliographic sources were reviewed, mostly scientific articles (31), human and veterinary anatomy books (17), specialized articles (17) and theses (6). In general, there is consensus on the anatomical description of the spleen, which is located in the left hypochondriac region of the abdomen between the fundus of the stomach and the diaphragm, irrigated by the splenic artery and vein. It was evidenced that there are similarities in macroscopic aspects when comparing the spleen of the white rat with the spleen of other species (functionality, relative weight, topographic location). In microscopic aspects, the spleen in humans and other mammals is composed of stroma, in addition to parenchyma, constituted in turn by white and red pulp. In particular, there are differences between rat, human, cat, dog and pig spleens in shapes, sizes and microscopic aspects related to microcirculation and immunity. While there are similarities in pathological processes and responses to pharmacological and clinical treatments. For the above mentioned, it is concluded that the albino rat constitutes a good biological model, specifically in microscopic anatomical aspects of the spleen of immunological type. While the pig spleen is comparatively better in macroscopic anatomical studies of surgical type, both are extrapolable especially to human medicine.

Quiste esplénico epidérmico infectado. Reporte de caso

Los quistes esplénicos son infrecuentes y presentan una baja incidencia (0.07%). Las etiologías son varias, pero en su mayoría se deben a parasitarios y no parasitarios. Entre los primeros se encuentran los quistes hidatídicos por equinococosis que son más comunes sobre todo en zonas endémicas. En el siguiente trabajo se presenta el caso de una paciente de sexo femenino de 17 años de edad que consulta por un cuadro de 6 días de evolución que inicia con dolor, tipo puntada de moderada intensidad, localizado en hipocondrio izquierdo, acompañado de fiebre graduada en 38 grados con escalofríos.

Splenic cysts are uncommon and have a low incidence rate (0.07%). The etiologies are diverse, but mostly attributed to both parasitic and non-parasitic origins. Among the former, hydatid cysts due to echinococcosis are more prevalent, especially in endemic areas. This report describes the case of a 17-year-old female patient who presented with a 6-day history of pain, of moderate intensity and stabbing type, localized in the left hypochondrium. The pain was accompanied by a fever reaching 38 degrees Celsius and chills.

[Spontaneous splenic rupture. Case report and literature review]. / Ruptura esplénica espontánea. Reporte de caso y revisión de la literatura.

Background: Spontaneous splenic rupture is often life threatening due to delay in diagnosis and treatment. Abdominal pain, Kehr's sign, nausea, bloating, altered consciousness, and intestinal obstruction may be present. In larger splenic lesions, signs of peritonitis and hypovolemic shock are present. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography is the election study. Diagnosis is confirmed by negative viral serology and normal spleen on gross and histopathologic inspection. The most frequent treatment in splenectomy. Clinic case: A 30-year-old male with no medical history presented with generalized abdominal pain accompanied by Kehr's sign. He is diagnosed with ruptured spleen by contrast-enhanced computed tomography and successfully treated with splenectomy. He was discharged 6 days after surgery. Conclusions: Spontaneous rupture of the spleen is uncommon, but with high morbidity and mortality. It must be a differential diagnosis in the face of abdominal and/or chest pain, and the corresponding imaging studies should be carried out if the patient's conditions allow it, or their search during an exploratory laparotomy.

Introducción: la ruptura esplénica espontánea frecuentemente es mortal debido a la demora en el diagnóstico y tratamiento. Se puede presentar dolor abdominal, signo de Kehr, náuseas, distensión abdominal, alteración de la consciencia y obstrucción intestinal. En lesiones esplénicas más grandes, se presentan signos de peritonitis y shock hipovolémico. El estudio de elección es la tomografía computarizada contrastada. El diagnóstico se confirma por serología viral negativa y bazo normal en la inspección macroscópica e histopatológica. El tratamiento más frecuente es la esplenectomía. Caso clínico: paciente hombre de 30 años de edad, sin antecedentes patológicos, con dolor abdominal generalizado, acompañado del signo de Kehr. Es diagnosticado con ruptura de bazo por tomografía computarizada contrastada y tratado exitosamente con esplenectomía. Se egresa a los 6 días postquirúrgicos. Conclusiones: la ruptura espontánea del bazo es poco común, pero con alta morbimortalidad. Debe ser un diagnóstico diferencial ante un dolor abdominal y/o torácico, y realizar los estudios de imagen correspondientes si las condiciones del paciente lo permiten o bien su búsqueda durante una laparotomía exploratoria.

Absceso esplénico en un paciente adulto. Reporte de caso

El absceso esplénico es una entidad poco común. Se define como la presencia de una lesión ocupante de espacio en el bazo asociada a infección. Ha sido descrito en 0,14-0,7 % de los estudios de autopsias. Se presenta el caso de un paciente de 60 años, de color de piel blanca, que acudió al hospital por presentar fiebre y diarreas, con dolor en fosa lumbar izquierda. Fue ingresado y trasladado a Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos debido a fallo renal agudo por deshidratación. Al trasladarse a sala abierta se diagnosticó un absceso esplénico mediante ultrasonido y tomografía. No se decidió operar en ese momento porque no tenía criterio. Posteriormente sufrió de abdomen agudo y shock séptico por ruptura del absceso hacia cavidad abdominal y fue intervenido de urgencia; se realizó esplenectomía y toilette de la cavidad. Su evolución posterior fue favorable. Por lo poco común de esta entidad, se decidió la publicación del caso.

The splenic abscess is a rare entity. It is defined as the presence of a space-occupying lesion in the spleen associated with infection. It has been described in 0.14-0.7% of autopsy studies. The case of a 60-years-old patient, white-skinned, who came to the hospital due to fever and diarrhea, with pain in the left lumbar fossa is presented. He was admitted and transferred to the Intensive Care Unit due to acute renal failure due to dehydration. When transferred to the open room, a splenic abscess was diagnosed by ultrasound and tomography. It was not decided to operate at that time because there are no criteria. Subsequently, he presented acute abdomen and septic shock due to rupture of the abscess into the abdominal cavity and underwent emergency surgery, performing splenectomy and the cavity's toilette. His subsequent evolution was positive. Due to the unusual nature of this entity, it was decided to publish the case.

Laparoscopia con preservación de órgano en lesión esplénica en dos tiempos por traumatismo cerrado de abdomen / Laparoscopy with spleen preservation for delayed splenic rupture due to blunt abdominal trauma

RESUMEN El tratamiento no operatorio (TNO) de lesiones abdominales en traumatismo cerrado de abdomen (TCA) se basa en pilares clínicos y radiológicos. Presentamos el de caso de paciente masculino de 16 años que ingresa en el Servicio de Emergencias por dolor abdominal en hipocondrio izquierdo y antecedente de traumatismo cerrado de abdomen reciente. Se establece protocolo de TNO basado en cuadro clínico e imágenes pero, en forma posterior, ante la evolución desfavorable, se cambia la conducta y se realiza tratamiento laparoscópico conservador de órgano.

ABSTRACT Nonoperative management (NOM) of organ injuries in abdominal blunt trauma (ABT) is based on clinical and imaging test findings. We herein present a 16-year-old male patient with a history of recent blunt abdominal trauma was admitted to the emergency department for abdominal pain in the left hypochondrium. A protocol for NOM was established based on the clinical picture and imaging findings, but afterwards, in view of the unfavorable progression, the approach was modified to laparoscopic organ-preserving surgery.