Immunomodulatory effect of Polypodium leucotomos (Anapsos) in child palatine tonsil model.

BACKGROUND: Recurrent tonsillitis might reduce the immunological capability of fighting against the infection of tonsil tissue. Polypodium leucotomos (Anapsos) immunomodulating effect has been subject of research in the last years. The aim of this research is to test the in vitro immunomodulating capacity of Anapsos in a child palatine tonsil explants model. METHODS: Palatine tonsils explants of children undergoing amigdalectomy were stimulated with mononuclear cells obtained from their own blood by density gradient centrifugation. Some were then treated with Anapsos while others rest untreated. Cytokines were measured by ELISA, immune cells activation was measured by flow cytometry and activation of immunoglobulins was appreciated by indirect immunofluorescence in tonsils tissue. RESULTS: Anapsos activates Natural Killers cells. It increases IL-2 and IFN-γ levels by the activation of Th2 lymphocytes, and IL-10, by the Th1 lymphocytes. Anapsos also increases immunoglobulins IgM, IgD and IgG4 by B-lymphocyte activation in tonsils tissue. CONCLUSION: Anapsos has an immunomodulating effect, both in humoral and cellular responses, which might benefit children suffering of recurrent tonsillitis as it could enhance their immune system. This effect might reduce the number of episodes suffered and therefore the number of children undergoing surgery.

Efecto de la inmunoterapia con el bacilo de Calmette-Guérin sobre la capacidad migratoria e invasiva del cáncer escamoso de cabeza y cuello en un modelo in vitro 3D / Effect of immunotherapy with bacillus Calmette-Guérin on migratory and invasive capacity in a 3 D head and neck squamous cell carcinoma model

El cáncer escamoso de cabeza y cuello se caracteriza por su tendencia a la invasión local y a distancia, además de una alta predisposición a la aparición de segundas neoplasias. El proceso de invasión y metástasis es complejo y tiene múltiples etapas. Las metaloproteinasas de matriz 2 y 9, se sobreexpresan en el cáncer escamoso de cabeza y cuello donde actúan degradando la membrana extracelular favoreciendo así la invasión tumoral y la metástasis. El bacilo de Calmette-Guérin (BCG) ha sido usado como inmunomodulador en el tratamiento de algunos tipos de cáncer con buenos resultados. El propósito de este estudio es determinar el efecto de la activación inmune mediada por el BCG sobre la migración e invasión usando un modelo in vitro 3 D de cultivos de células tumorales de faringe cocultivadas con células mononucleares de sangre periférica en contacto o no con el BCG. Para determinar la expresión de las metaloproteinasas y p53 se realizó Western blot y para la migración e invasión, kits comerciales. Los resultados muestran disminución en la expresión de metaloproteinasas, p53 y en la migración en el grupo BCG (AU)

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is characterized by local invasion and a propensity for dissemination to cervical lymph nodes and recurrence. Cancer cell invasion and metastasis represent complex, multistep process. The remodelling of ECM by MMPs is one of the most crucial steps for cancer progression. MMP-2 and MMP-9, are over expressed in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma where they act to degrade the basement membrane thus promoting tumor invasion and metastasis. Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) has been used as an immunomodulator in treating some cancers with good results. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of BCG immune activation in migration and metastasis using in vitro 3 D cultures pharyngeal tumor cells were co-cultured with previously isolated peripheral blood mononuclear cells, in experimental groups or cultured alone. MMPs and p53 was determinate by Western blot and the invasion-migration using commercial assays. Our results showed decreasing expression of MMPs, p53 and significantly reduced migration in BGC group (AU)

Tirotoxicosis en paciente con enfermedad trofoblástica gestacional. A propósito de un caso / Hyperthyroidism in metastatic gestational trophoblastic disease. A case report

La gonadotropina coriónica humana (hCG) es producida por el trofoblasto tanto en el embarazo como en la enfermedad trofoblástica gestacional (ETG). La subunidad α de la hCG es idéntica a las subunidades α de otras hormonas, como hormona luteinizante (LH), la hormona folículo estimulante (FSH) y la hormona estimulante de la tiroides (TSH). Una elevación marcada de hCG se asocia a la presencia de complicaciones como la hiperémesis gravídica, el desarrollo precoz de preeclampsia y, ocasionalmente, con el hipertiroidismo. Los procedimientos de laboratorio utilizados para la medición de los niveles de hCG son bastante sensibles y específicos para el estudio de las condiciones del trofoblasto (AU)

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is produced by trophoblasts in pregnancy as well as in gestational trophoblastic diseases (GTD). The alpha subunit is identical to that for luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). Elevated serum levels of hCG can lead to complications that include hyperemesis gravidarum, early development of preeclampsia, and occasionally hyperthyroidism. Laboratory test for hCG are very sensitive and specific (AU)