Experimental Tumor Induction and Evaluation of Its Treatment in the Chicken Embryo Chorioallantoic Membrane Model: A Systematic Review.

The chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model, generated during avian development, can be used in cancer research as an alternative in vivo model to perform tumorigenesis in ovo due to advantages such as simplicity, low cost, rapid growth, and being naturally immunodeficient. The aim of this systematic review has been to compile and analyze all studies that use the CAM assay as a tumor induction model. For that, a systematic search was carried out in four different databases: PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and WOS. After eliminating duplicates and following the established inclusion and exclusion criteria, a total of 74 articles were included. Of these, 62% use the in ovo technique, 13% use the ex ovo technique, 9% study the formation of metastasis, and 16% induce tumors from patient biopsies. Regarding the methodology followed, the main species used is chicken (95%), although some studies use quail eggs (4%), and one article uses ostrich eggs. Therefore, the CAM assay is a revolutionary technique that allows a simple and effective way to induce tumors, test the effectiveness of treatments, carry out metastasis studies, perform biopsy grafts of patients, and carry out personalized medicine. However, unification of the methodology used is necessary.

Granulomatous mastitis with erythema nodosum: A breast cancer mimicking entity.

We present the case of a 42-year-old Hispanic patient who consulted with a left breast mass that showed clinical and imaging signs of breast cancer. During preprocedural examination before needle biopsy, the patient was found to have bilateral, purplish-brown skin lesions on her lower legs, suggestive of erythema nodosum. This clinical finding raised the diagnostic suspicion of granulomatous mastitis, which was later confirmed by histopathology. Granulomatous mastitis is a rare, nonmalignant entity that should be considered in patients of childbearing age who present with a breast mass. The coexistence with erythema nodosum contributes to the clinical suspicion of granulomatous mastitis; the mechanism of this association and the optimal treatment approach remain unknown.

Cancer Stem Cells in Sarcomas: In Vitro Isolation and Role as Prognostic Markers: A Systematic Review.

Sarcomas are a diverse group of neoplasms with an incidence rate of 15% of childhood cancers. They exhibit a high tendency to develop early metastases and are often resistant to available treatments, resulting in poor prognosis and survival. In this context, cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been implicated in recurrence, metastasis, and drug resistance, making the search for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of the disease crucial. The objective of this systematic review was to analyze the expression of CSC biomarkers both after isolation from in vitro cell lines and from the complete cell population of patient tumor samples. A total of 228 publications from January 2011 to June 2021 was retrieved from different databases, of which 35 articles were included for analysis. The studies demonstrated significant heterogeneity in both the markers detected and the CSC isolation techniques used. ALDH was identified as a common marker in various types of sarcomas. In conclusion, the identification of CSC markers in sarcomas may facilitate the development of personalized medicine and improve treatment outcomes.

Strigolactones: New players in the nitrogen-phosphorus signalling interplay.

Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are among the most important macronutrients for plant growth and development, and the most widely used as fertilizers. Understanding how plants sense and respond to N and P deficiency is essential to optimize and reduce the use of chemical fertilizers. Strigolactones (SLs) are phytohormones acting as modulators and sensors of plant responses to P deficiency. In the present work, we assess the potential role of SLs in N starvation and in the N-P signalling interplay. Physiological, transcriptional and metabolic responses were analysed in wild-type and SL-deficient tomato plants grown under different P and N regimes, and in plants treated with a short-term pulse of the synthetic SL analogue 2'-epi-GR24. The results evidence that plants prioritize N over P status by affecting SL biosynthesis. We also show that SLs modulate the expression of key regulatory genes of phosphate and nitrate signalling pathways, including the N-P integrators PHO2 and NIGT1/HHO. The results support a key role for SLs as sensors during early plant responses to both N and phosphate starvation and mediating the N-P signalling interplay, indicating that SLs are involved in more physiological processes than so far proposed.

Tratamiento no exitoso de tuberculosis en reclusos ecuatorianos: hacinamiento y otros factores asociados / Unsuccessful treatment tuberculosis in ecuadorian prisoners: overcrowding and other factors associated

La tuberculosis es uno de los principales contribuyentes a la carga mundial de morbilidad y ha recibido una atención considerable en los últimos años, especialmente en los países de ingresos bajos y medianos, donde está estrechamente asociada con el VIH / SIDA. El entorno penitenciario se ha citado a menudo como un posible reservorio de tuberculosis. La mala adherencia al tratamiento es común a pesar de diversas intervenciones destinadas a mejorar la finalización del tratamiento. Se realizó un estudio transversal, retrospectivo y descriptivo entre internos de dos centros penitenciarios, analizando el diagnóstico de TB, la comorbilidad TB-VIH y la finalización del tratamiento a partir de los registros nacionales. Se probó la significación de los factores de riesgo mediante análisis bivariado. Se consideró un valor de p <0,05 como estadísticamente significativo. Se observó una asociación significativa entre la TB y grupo etario (p=0,0032), tratamiento no exitoso (p=0,0093) y coinfección TB/VIH (p<0,001). Factores de riesgo asociados como el VIH y el tratamiento no exitoso resaltan la necesidad de revisar las estrategias de tratamiento con un enfoque interinstitucional(AU)

Tuberculosis is a major contributor to the global burden of disease and has received considerable attention in recent years, particularly in low- and iddle-income countries where it is closely associated with HIV/AIDS. The prison setting has been often cited as a possible reservoir of tuberculosis.Poor adherence to treatment is common despite various interventions aimed at improving treatment completion. A cross-sectional, retrospective and descriptive study was carried out among inmates of two prisons.We analyzed the diagnosis of TB, the TB-HIV comorbidity and the completion of the treatment from the national registries. The risk factors were tested for significance using bivariate analysis. P-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. A significant association was observed between TB and history of abortion (p=0,0032), unsuccessfully treated (p=0,0093) and TB/HIV coinfection (p<0,001). Associated risk factors such as HIV, and drugs, and being indigenous highlight the need to revise the treatment strategies with an inter-institutional approach(AU)

Identifying Anaerobic Bacteria Using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry: A Four-Year Experience.

Because of the special culture requirements of anaerobic bacteria, their low growth-rate and the difficulties to isolate them, MALDI-TOF MS has become a reliable identification tool for these microorganisms due to the little amount of bacteria required and the accuracy of MALDI-TOF MS identifications. In this study, the performance of MALDI-TOF MS for the identification of anaerobic isolates during a 4-year period is described. Biomass from colonies grown on Brucella agar was directly smeared onto the MALDI-TOF target plate and submitted to on-plate protein extraction with 1µl of 100% formic acid. Sequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA gene was used as a reference method for the identification of isolates unreliably or not identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Overall, 95.7% of the isolates were identified to the species level using the updated V6 database vs 93.8% with previous databases lacking some anaerobic species; 68.5% of the total were reliably identified with high-confidence score values (≥2.0) and 95.0% with low-confidence values (score value ≥1.7). Besides, no differences between Gram-positive and Gram-negative isolates were detected beyond a slight decrease of correct species assignment for gram positive cocci (94.1% vs 95.7% globally). MALDI-TOF MS has demonstrated its usefulness for the identification of anaerobes, with high correlation with phenotypic and conventional methods. Over the study period, only 2.1% of the isolates could not be reliably identified and required molecular methods for a final identification. Therefore, MALDI-TOF MS provided reliable identification of anaerobic isolates, allowing clinicians to streamline the most appropriate antibiotic therapy and manage patients accordingly.

Breast lactating adenoma, an example of the utility of the radiological-pathological correlation.

Lactating adenomas are benign breast tumors, of which etiology, pathogenesis, and management are not yet fully evident in the literature. The primary goal of the radiological evaluation is to make the differential diagnosis with malignant conditions. We present a case of a 34-year-old pregnant woman referred to our service with a progressively increasing mass in the right breast, in whom the histopathology was consistent with a lactating adenoma.

Breast pseudoaneurysm after core needle biopsy in a pregnant patient.

Breast pseudoaneurysm is an extremely rare complication of interventional breast procedures. Pregnancy and lactation are associated with increased breast vascularization, which may act as a risk factor. We present the case of a 36-year-old woman in the third trimester of a spontaneous twin pregnancy, who presented with a newly-detected BI-RADS 4 mass in her right breast. The patient requested not to defer a biopsy until after the pregnancy, and an ultrasound-guided breast core biopsy was performed. The patient presented bleeding during the procedure, but no hematomas or other vascular lesions were immediately detected. During follow-up, a breast ultrasound revealed an anechoic circumscribed mass and high-velocity blood flow. The color Doppler showed a spiral blood flow with the Yin-Yang sign, together with a communication channel between the sac and feeding artery. A diagnosis of breast pseudoaneurysm was made. The patient was managed conservatively, and breastfeeding continued normally. This case report highlights the importance of color Doppler in the detection of pseudoaneurysms, and the need to consider deferring invasive breast procedures in pregnant women when possible.

Régimen corto de tratamiento de tuberculosis farmacorresistente: hacia una menor pérdida del seguimiento de pacientes / Short drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment regimen: towards less loss to follow-up of patients

Los diversos fármacos para luchar contra el complejo Mycobacterium tuberculosis, causante de la tuberculosis, han sido utilizados por varias décadas, resultando de manera colateral en la mutación de cepas resistentes a uno o más de esos medicamentos. La tuberculosis multirresistente, identificada como TB-MDR, es una forma de tuberculosis causada por bacterias que no responden a la isoniazida y la rifampicina, los fármacos de primera línea más eficaces. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) describe dos esquemas de tratamiento con medicamentos de segunda línea para estos pacientes: el tradicional esquema alargado, y el más reciente esquema corto, que varían en duración y en los medicamentos administrados. Aquellos casos donde los pacientes que no finalizan su tratamiento se denominan Pérdida Del Seguimiento (PDS), aumentando los riesgos para el paciente y para la comunidad. En esta investigación se desarrolla un modelo predictivo, basándose en los datos del tratamiento de 3 grupos de pacientes con tuberculosis farmacorresistente en Ecuador entre los años 2010 y 2015, el cual permite concluir que la aplicación del régimen corto de tratamiento posibilita reducir a casi la mitad el número de pacientes que interrumpen su asistencia al programa, en comparación al régimen largo de 2 años, aunado a que factores como los desafíos psicológicos, las dificulades financieras o los efectos secundarios de los medicamentos pueden tener menor impacto en el paciente que es tratado en menor tiempo(AU)

Diverse drugs to fight the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, which causes tuberculosis, have been used for several decades, collaterally resulting in the mutation of strains resistant to one or more of these drugs. Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, identified as MDR-TB, is a form of tuberculosis caused by bacteria that do not respond to isoniazid and rifampin, the most effective first-line drugs. The World Health Organization (WHO) describes two treatment schemes with second-line drugs for these patients: the traditional long scheme, and the more recent short scheme, which vary in duration and in the drugs administered. Those cases where patients who do not finish their treatment are called Loss Of Follow-up, increasing the risks for the patient and the community. In this research, a predictive model is developed, based on data from the treatment of 3 groups of patients with drug-resistant tuberculosis in Ecuador between 2010 and 2015, which allows to conclude that the application of the short treatment regimen makes it possible to reduce by almost half the number of patients who interrupt their attendance to the program, compared to the long regimen of 2 years, joined factors such as psychological challenges, financial difficulties or side effects of medications may have less impact on the patient who is treated in less time(AU)

Diagnostic performance of shear wave elastography in discriminating malignant and benign breast lesions : Our experience with QelaXtoTM software.

STUDY AIMS: We sought to evaluate the diagnostic performance of quantitative elastography (shear wave elastography) and to establish the optimal cutoff value to differentiate malignant and benign breast lesions using QelaXtoTM software. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study of adult women with suspicious breast lesions (BIRADS 3, 4 or 5) who underwent programmed ultrasound-guided core biopsies. Breast lesions were assessed using quantitative elastography combined with B-mode ultrasound. Histopathology was used as reference standard. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were estimated, and a ROC curve analysis was conducted. Three elastography cutoff values were considered: 36, 50 and 80 kPa. RESULTS: We included 143 women (mean age of 56 years) with a total of 145 breast lesions: 68 benign tumors (47.26%) and 77 malignancies (52.74%). Mean elasticity measurements of benign and malignant lesions were significantly different (24.6 kPa, SD 28.47, vs. 101.49 kPa, SD 47.38, [Formula: see text]). Using the 50 kPa cutoff, elastography showed a global sensitivity of 87% to discriminate malignant lesions (AUC = 0.897). Moreover, sensitivity was 90.7% when lesions were located 5-40 mm below the skin surface (optimal elastographic field of view). Our false positive rate was 17.65%, comprised mainly of fibroepithelial neoplasms, fibroadenomas and fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative elastography can differentiate malignant and benign breast lesions with acceptable to excellent performance. In our sample, the QelaXtoTM software showed a lower optimal cutoff than other ultrasound systems.

Identification of Porphyromonas isolates from clinical origin using MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry.

Despite the wide implementation of MALDI-TOF MS for the rapid and reliable identification of most microorganisms, some taxonomic groups such as the Porphyromonas genus remain largely untested. In this study we evaluated the performance of MALDI-TOF MS on this genus using a collection of 39 isolates sent for routine identification to our institution over a 16-year period. All of them were identified by DNA-sequencing analysis of the 16S rRNA gene plus the hsp60 gene when the previous one did not yield species-level assignment. MALDI-TOF MS provided correct identification at least at the genus level of 21/39 isolates (53.9%). Twelve isolates were correctly identified at the species level with a score value ≥ 2.0 and 9 more with score values < 2.0 and ≥ 1.7. The species most represented in the database (P. gingivalis and P. somerae) lay within this category. However, the species poorly represented in this database (P. asaccharolytica and P. uenonis) were mostly identified with lower scores (1.35-1.67) or remained unidentified by MALDI-TOF MS. The addition of two P. asaccharolytica reference spectra to our in-house library allowed 72.9% of genus-level identifications with 17/37 isolates (45.9%) identified with score values ≥ 2.0. Our results showed a high level of correlation between MALDI-TOF MS and DNA-based identification for Porphyromonas spp. strains at the species level, even with score values < 2.0. The reliability provided by MALDI-TOF MS increased when the database was fed with spectra from the species poorly represented in the commercial database.

SWOT analysis to evaluate the programme of a joint online/onsite master's degree in environmental education through the students' perceptions.

This study shows the use of SWOT to analyse students' perceptions of an environmental education joint master's programme in order to determine if it runs as originally planned. The open answers given by students highlight the inter-university nature of the master's, the technological innovation used as major points, and the weaknesses in the management coordination or the duplicate contents as minor points. The external analysis is closely linked with the students' future jobs, their labour opportunities available to them after graduation. The innovative treatment of the data is exportable to the evaluation of programmes of other degrees because it allows the description linked to its characteristics and its design through the students' point of view.