PrediCTC, liquid biopsy in precision oncology: a technology transfer experience in the Spanish health system.

PURPOSE: Management of metastatic disease in oncology includes monitoring of therapy response principally by imaging techniques like CT scan. In addition to some limitations, the irruption of liquid biopsy and its application in personalized medicine has encouraged the development of more efficient technologies for prognosis and follow-up of patients in advanced disease. METHODS: PrediCTC constitutes a panel of genes for the assessment of circulating tumor cells (CTC) in metastatic colorectal cancer patients, with demonstrated improved efficiency compared to CT scan for the evaluation of early therapy response in a multicenter prospective study. In this work, we designed and developed a technology transfer strategy to define the market opportunity for an eventual implementation of PrediCTC in the clinical practice. RESULTS: This included the definition of the regulatory framework, the analysis of the regulatory roadmap needed for CE mark, a benchmarking study, the design of a product development strategy, a revision of intellectual property, a cost-effectiveness study and an expert panel consultation. CONCLUSION: The definition and analysis of an appropriate technology transfer strategy and the correct balance among regulatory, financial and technical determinants are critical for the transformation of a promising technology into a viable technology, and for the decision of implementing liquid biopsy in the monitoring of therapy response in advanced disease.

Especies promisorias para el ecoturismo en Campo Aventura Roca Madre, Toluviejo-Sucre, Colombia / Promising species for the development of ecotourism in Campo Aventura Roca Madre, Toluviejo-Sucre, Colombia

Objetivo. Determinar las especies de flora y fauna más importantes para el desarrollo del ecoturismo, en una localidad del departamento de Sucre, Colombia. Materiales y métodos. Se hizo un listado de las especies de flora y fauna observadas en el sendero ecológico de un centro de ecoturismo en Toluviejo, Sucre y se calculó su abundancia, importancia económica, estado de conservación y adaptaciones, que fueron evaluadas mediante un índice de importancia potencial para el ecoturismo, que suma los valores que se asignan a las variables consideradas de interés. Resultados. Se detectaron 18 especies promisorias de fauna, de 91 especies observadas y 16 especies vegetales de 53 observadas. Los animales de mayor potencial ecoturístico resultantes, fueron: Dendrobates truncatus y Saguinus oedipus, especies endémicas de Colombia, seguidas por Basiliscus basiliscus, Atta sp., Morpho peleides, Lycorea halia y Ara ararauna; todas estas con una alta abundancia y fácil detección. Dentro de las plantas, Anacardium excelsum obtuvo el mayor índice de importancia, como resultado de su endemismo y sus adaptaciones. Las especies Piper auritum, Matayba escrobiculata, Tabernaemontana cymosa y la comúnmente conocida como jazmín de monte, fueron fácilmente detectables y abundantes, además Brownea ariza y Tabebuia rosea resultaron las más representativas por la belleza de sus flores. Conclusiones. Se determinaron las especies que pueden ser de interés para los ecoturistas y esto hace posible mejorar el producto que se oferta a partir de profundizar en su conocimiento.

Objectives. To determine the species of flora and fauna relevant for development of ecotourism in a location of Sucre, Colombia. Materials and methods. A list of various species at the ecotourism center in the municipality of Toluviejo, Sucre, was studied which included abundance, economic and conservation relevance and adaptation data. The census was estimated and evaluated according to our index of potential importance for ecotourism, by adding the values assigned to each of the variables of interest. Results. 18 promising species of fauna and 16 promising species of plants were found. Animals with higher ecotourism potential were Dendrobates truncatus and Saguinus oedipus, endemic to Colombia, followed by Basiliscus basiliscus, Atta sp. Morpho peleides, Lycorea halia, Ara ararauna, all these of high abundance and easy detection. Regarding plants, Anacardium excelsum obtained the highest value as a result of endemism and their adaptations. Piper auritum, Matayba escrobiculata, Tabernaemontana cymosa and the specie commonly known as "jazmín de monte", were easily detectable and abundant. Brownea ariza and Tabebuia rosea were the best candidates because of the beauty of their flowers. Conclusions. The species that may be of interest to eco-tourists were determined and this makes it possible to improve the product offering from deepening their knowledge.

Estilo de vida: Precursor de factores de riesgo cardiovascular en adultos sanos / Lifestyle: Cardiovascular risk factor precursor in healthy adult people", "_i": "

Introducción: El estilo de vida es un aspecto de la actividad vital de la persona y contribuye a desarrollar factores de riesgo para diferentes enfermedades. En la población adulta mexicana, la alta prevalencia de sobrepeso y obesidad coloca a este grupo etario en situaciones de riesgo relacionadas a enfermedades cardiovasculares. Objetivo: Determinar los factores de riesgo cardiovascular (FRCV) y su asociación con el estilo de vida promotor de salud (EVPS) en adultos sanos. Material y métodos: Estudio descriptivo, transversal; con una muestra de 160 hombres y mujeres de 20 a 59 años. Se realizó medición de presión arterial y antropométrica para determinar el índice de masa corporal, se tomaron muestras sanguíneas para determinación de glucosa y colesterol. El estilo de vida promotor de salud se midió con el cuestionario perfil de estilo de vida promotor de salud II (PEPS-II). Los datos fueron analizados con estadística descriptiva y modelos de regresión lineal múltiple. Resultados: Los FRCV identificados fueron obesidad 64.4%, hiperglucemia 35%, hipercolesterolemia 7.5% y presión arterial normal alta 4.4%. El perfil de estilo de vida promotor de salud fue bajo (media = 49.6 ± 13.86). Los factores personales biológicos mostraron efecto sobre el EVPS (F (3,156) = 3.856, p = .011), explicando el 5.1% de la varianza (R2 ajustada = .051). Conclusiones: Los factores de riesgo en la población estudiada fueron obesidad e hiperglucemia que pueden explicarse por la baja percepción que se tiene de la relación del estilo de vida con el riesgo para la salud.

Introduction: Lifestyle is an aspect of a person’s vital activity and contributes to the development of risk factors for different illnesses. In the adult Mexican population, the high prevalence of over-weight and obesity places this group in situations of risk related to cardiovascular illnesses. Objective: To determine cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) and their association with Health promoting lifestyle (HPLS) in healthy adults. Material and methods: Cross-sectional descriptive study; with a sample made up of 160 men and women between 20 and 59 years of age. Blood pressure and anthropometrical readings were carried out to determine the body mass index, blood samples were taken in order to ascertain glucose and cholesterol levels. Health promoting lifestyles which promote health were measured using the Profile for Lifestyles which Promote Health II (PLPH-II). The information was analyzed utilizing descriptive statistics and multiple lineal regression models. Results: The CVRF identified were obesity 64.4%, hyperglycemia 35%, hypercholesterolemia 7.5% and normal high blood pressure 4.4%. The profile for lifestyles which promote health was low (average = 49.6 ± 13.86). Personal biological factors were shown to affect the HPLS (F (3,156) = 3.856, p = .011), explaining the 5.1% variance (R2 adjusted = .051).Conclusions: Risk factors in the population studied were obesity and hyperglycemia which may be explained by the low perception which these have in relation to a lifestyle that risks health.

Mannan from Aloe saponaria inhibits tumoral cell activation and proliferation.

In this study, we tested the antiproliferative effects of mannan from Aloe saponaria using normal murine (SpMC) and human cells (PBMC) and several tumoral cell lines. Employing flow cytometry, it could be determined that mannan inhibits the proliferative response in normal and tumoral cells. Mannan affects the expression of CD3(+) SpMC indicating that mannan inhibits mainly T lymphocyte proliferative response. Also in SpMC cultured with or without mitogen mannan produces an increase of an activation marker (CD25). On C1498 cell line, mannan reduces CD3 expression and abolishes the CD25 expression. In conclusion, mannan has a dual beneficial effect when applied to normal and tumoral cells at the same time by inhibiting the activation of cancer cells and improving that of normal ones.

VLDL modulates the cytokine secretion profile to a proinflammatory pattern.

Human very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) inhibits DNA synthesis in lymphocytes activated by the nonspecific mitogen concanavalin A (Con A). We studied the effects of VLDL on lymphocyte activation (IL-2 receptor expression), cell cycle progression, and production of IL-2 and of IL-4 (a proinflammatory and an anti-inflammatory interleukin, respectively) to understand why an atherogenic lipoprotein inhibits cell proliferation. After 48 h of stimulation with the mitogen, VLDL decreased the population of cells bearing IL-2 receptor and the population of T-cells that progress through the cell cycle, increasing the population of T-cells in G(0)/G(1). Cells cultured in the presence of Con A and VLDL produced higher levels of IL-2 and lower levels of IL-4 than cells cultured without VLDL. These results suggest that VLDL inhibits lymphocyte proliferation by reducing IL-2 receptor and enhancing the levels of IL-2. Probably, one atherogenic effect of VLDL is to modulate the cytokine secretion profile of lymphocytes to a predominantly proinflammatory response.