miR-19b-3p and miR-20a-5p are associated with the levels of antiphospholipid antibodies in patients with antiphospholipid syndrome.

Monocytes play a key role in pathophysiology of antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), nevertheless it is unclear if microRNA expression is associated with particular APS features. Identify whether miR-19b-3p and miR-20a-5p expression in monocytes are associated with hallmarks of the APS. Fifty-seven APS patients and 18 healthy controls were studied. Expression of miR-19b-3p and miR-20a-5p was measured in monocytes by RT-qPCR. Both miR-19b-3p (AUC = 0.835, 95% CI 0.733-0.938; P < 0.001) and miR-20a-5p (AUC = 0.857, 0.757-0.957; P < 0.001) discriminated APS patients from healthy individuals. A cut-off point of 1.98 for miR-19-3p and 2.18 for miR-20a-5p showed that APS patients with low microRNA expression had higher levels of IgM and IgG anticardiolipin antibodies than patients with high microRNA expression. In addition, APS patients with low microRNA expression had higher IgG anti-ß2 glycoprotein I antibody levels than their counterparts with high microRNA expression. Finally, miR-19b-3p and miR-20a-5p expression levels were significantly higher in APS patients using oral anticoagulants. Monocyte expression of miR-19b-3p and miR-20a-5p is low in APS, and patients with the lowest microRNA expression presented the highest levels of antiphospholipid antibodies.

The presence of IFL3/4 rs12979860 C allele influences the in vitro IP-10 production by mononuclear cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether the IFNL3/4 rs12979860 genotype may influence serum levels or production of interferon-inducible protein-10 (IP-10) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: Sixty-six patients with SLE and 22 healthy blood donors (controls) were included. The IFNL3/4 rs12979860 polymorphism was genotyped by real-time polymerase chain reaction. IP-10 levels in sera supernatants of IFNα stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured by enzime-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: Allelic frequencies were CC (29%), CT (52%) and TT (20%) in SLE, and CC (32%), CT (41%) and TT (27%) in healthy controls. Median serum IP-10 levels were higher in SLE patients than in controls (190.8 versus 118.1 pg/ml; p < 0.001), particularly in those with high disease activity (278.5 versus 177.2 pg/ml; p = 0.037). However, serum IP-10 levels were not influenced by IFNL3/4 genotypes. Higher IP-10 production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells was found in both SLE patients (median 519.3 versus 207.6 pg/ml; p = 0.012) and controls (median 454.0 versus 201.7 pg/ml; p = 0.034) carrying the IFNL3/4 C allele compared with carriers of the T allele. CONCLUSIONS: Although IFNL3/4 rs12979860 allele C does not appear to influence serum IP-10 levels in SLE, it plays an important role in the production of IP-10 by peripheral blood mononuclear cells after IFNα stimulation.

Eye lens radiation exposure in paediatric interventional treatment of retinoblastoma.

Retinoblastoma represents 3% of cancers in children under fifteen years of age. The standard paediatric treatment for saving the affected eye is supraselective intra-arterial chemotherapy performed in interventional rooms. In order to address the radiation toxicity due to the angiography, the aim of this study was to determine the typical dose value corresponding to the procedure, estimate the paediatric patients' eye lens dose and study the relationship between dose indicators and dose to the lens. An automatic dose management software was installed in two interventional rooms to obtain the distribution of the dose indicators kerma-area product and reference-point air kerma, getting a typical value 16 Gy·cm2 and 130 mGy, respectively (n = 35). The eye lens dose estimates were obtained with photoluminescent dosimeters placed on the patient's eyelids. In the left eye, the entrance surface air kerma was 44.23 ± 2.66 mGy, and 12.72 ± 0.89 mGy in the right eye (n = 10). There was a positive correlation between dose to the lens per procedure and dose indicators, with R2 > 0.65 for both eyes. Based on this information, the threshold for the onset of radiation-induce cataracts (500 mGy) will be exceeded if the treatment is performed for more than 8 sessions.

Radiation dose optimisation for conventional imaging in infants and newborns using automatic dose management software: an application of the new 2013/59 EURATOM directive.

Objective: The new 2013/59 EURATOM Directive (ED) demands dosimetric optimisation procedures without undue delay. The aim of this study was to optimise paediatric conventional radiology examinations applying the ED without compromising the clinical diagnosis. METHODS: Automatic dose management software (ADMS) was used to analyse 2678 studies of children from birth to 5 years of age, obtaining local diagnostic reference levels (DRLs) in terms of entrance surface air kerma. Given local DRL for infants and chest examinations exceeded the European Commission (EC) DRL, an optimisation was performed decreasing the kVp and applying the automatic control exposure. To assess the image quality, an analysis of high-contrast resolution (HCSR), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and figure of merit (FOM) was performed, as well as a blind test based on the generalised estimating equations method. RESULTS: For newborns and chest examinations, the local DRL exceeded the EC DRL by 113%. After the optimisation, a reduction of 54% was obtained. No significant differences were found in the image quality blind test. A decrease in SNR (-37%) and HCSR (-68%), and an increase in FOM (42%), was observed. CONCLUSION: ADMS allows the fast calculation of local DRLs and the performance of optimisation procedures in babies without delay. However, physical and clinical analyses of image quality remain to be needed to ensure the diagnostic integrity after the optimisation process. Advances in knowledge: ADMS are useful to detect radiation protection problems and to perform optimisation procedures in paediatric conventional imaging without undue delay, as ED requires.

Composition of gut microbiota in obese and normal-weight Mexican school-age children and its association with metabolic traits.

BACKGROUND: Childhood obesity is a serious public health problem in Mexico. Adult gut microbiota composition has been linked to obesity, but few studies have addressed the role of gut microbiota in childhood obesity. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to compare gut microbiota composition in obese and normal-weight children and to associate gut microbiota profiles with amino acid serum levels and obesity-related metabolic traits. METHODS: Microbial taxa relative abundance was determined by 16S rRNA sequencing in 67 normal-weight and 71 obese children aged 6-12 years. Serum amino acid levels were measured by mass spectrometry. Associations between microbiota composition, metabolic parameters and amino acid serum levels were tested. RESULTS: No significant differences in phyla abundances or Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratios were observed between normal-weight and obese children. However, Bacteroides eggerthii abundance was significantly higher in obese children and correlated positively with body fat percentage and negatively with insoluble fibre intake. Additionally, Bacteroides plebeius and unclassified Christensenellaceae abundances were significantly higher in normal-weight children. Abundance of both these species correlated negatively with phenylalanine serum levels, a metabolite also found to be associated with obesity in Mexican children. CONCLUSIONS: The study identified bacterial species associated with obesity, metabolic complications and amino acid serum levels in Mexican children.

Changes in protein and gene expression of angiotensin II receptors (AT1 and AT2) in aorta of diabetic and hypertensive rats.

Diabetes and hypertension have been associated with cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Some reports have related the coexistence of hypertension and diabetes with increase in the risk of developing vascular complications. Recently some studies have shown results suggesting that in the early stages of diabetes and hypertension exist a reduced functional response to vasopressor agents like angiotensin II (Ang II), which plays an important role in blood pressure regulation mechanism through the activation of its AT1 and AT2 receptors. For that reason, the aim of this work was to study the gene and protein expression of AT1 and AT2 receptors in aorta of diabetic SHR and WKY rats. Diabetes was induced by the administration of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg i.p.). After 4 weeks of the onset of diabetes, the protein expression was obtained by western blot and the mRNA expression by RT-PCR. Our results showed that the hypertensive rats have a higher mRNA and protein expression of AT1 receptors than normotensive rats while the AT2 expression remained unchanged. On the other hand, the combination of diabetes and hypertension increased the mRNA and protein expression of AT1 and AT2 receptors significantly. In conclusion, our results suggest that diabetes with hypertension modifies the mRNA and protein expression of AT1 and AT2 receptors. However, the overexpression of AT2 could be associated with the reduction in the response to Ang II in the early stage of diabetes.

Levels of uric acid may predict the future development of pulmonary hypertension in systemic lupus erythematosus: a seven-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this paper is to assess whether pulmonary hypertension (PH) may be detected at one point in time or longitudinally predicted by serum uric acid (sUA) levels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). METHODS: We conducted a post-hoc analysis of a long-term followed cohort of Mexican SLE patients. Echocardiography-based definitions of PH by the ESC/ERS/ISHLT and its associations with clinical and laboratory data on enrollment were studied. Especially, the impact that sUA levels at baseline may have on the future development of PH in patients with normal pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) was explored. RESULTS: Out of the 156 SLE patients originally enrolled in the cohort, 44 met the inclusion criteria for the present study and were grouped as having (n =10) or not having (n = 34) PH. At baseline, sUA levels of 5.83 ± 1.79 and 5.82 ± 1.97 mg/dl (p = ns) were found in patients with and without PH, respectively. No association between PASP and other markers was found. In patients with normal PASP, the presence of sUA ≥ 7 mg/dl at baseline predicted future development of PH (relative risk 8.5, 1.0009 to 72; p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: In SLE, sUA levels at one point in time are useless to detect PH. However, steady hyperuricemia may predict the future development of PH in patients with normal PASP at baseline.

[IL-6 and TNF-α gene expression in the rectal mucosal of patients with chronic idiopathic ulcerative colitis and controls]. / Expresion del gen de IL-6 y TNF-α en la mucosa rectal de pacientes con colitis ulcerosa crónica idiopática y controles.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that pro-inflammatory cytokines levels like IL-6 and TNF-α can determine the degree of inflammation of ulcerative colitis (UC). AIMS: To measure the gene expression of IL-6 and TNF-á in patients with UC and controls and to correlate with histological activity. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied 36 patients with UC, 13 healthy controls and 11 with inflammation. After total ribonucleic acid (RNA) extraction, complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was synthesized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and relative expression was determined through real-time PCR for IL-6 and TNF-á. Statistical analysis was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman correlation. RESULTS: The expression of IL-6 increases in patients with active UC compared to controls (p = 0.004) as well as UC patients in remission (p = 0.014). There was no significant difference between patients with active UC and controls with inflammation. (p = 0.446). Gene expression of TNF-α was higher in biopsies from patients with UC activity compred with control subjects (p = 0.004), as well as those in remission (p = 0.001). The expression of IL-6 correlated significantly (p = 0.02) with histological activity. CONCLUSIONS: The gene expression of IL-6 and TNF-α is increased in active UC. Interleukin 6 is better marker of bowel inflammation because its expression correlates with histological activity.

Test para la Evaluación de la Calidad de Vida en Adictos a Sustancias Psicoactivas (TECVASP): estudios de fiabilidad y validez / Assessment of the quality of life in psychoactive substance addicts test: reliability and validity studies

Objetivo. Estudiar la fiabilidad y aportar evidencias de validez del Test para la Evaluación de la Calidad de Vida en Adictos a Sustancias Psicoactivas (TECVASP). Método. En la investigación participaron 359 pacientes de cinco comunidades terapéuticas gestionadas por la Fundación Andaluza para la Atención a las Drogodependencias. Además del TECVASP, se aplicó la sección de «uso de sustancias» de la versión española del Maudsley Addiction Profile (MAP) y se recogió información sociodemográfica de los pacientes. Resultados. La estimación de fiabilidad, calculada con el coeficiente alfa de Cronbach, fue adecuada, con un valor de 0,861. En los tres estudios de validación se muestran evidencias a favor del uso de las puntuaciones del test para el objetivo previsto, ya que se detectan diferencias en la calidad de vida relacionada con la salud (CVRS) en pacientes: 1) incluidos en programa de desintoxicación con la de otros que están en deshabituación, 2) consumidores de «rebujo» (mezcla de heroína y cocaína base) que están en programa de tratamiento con metadona con la de otros que no están en tratamiento con metadona, y 3) al ingreso en comunidad terapéutica y al finalizar el tratamiento. Conclusiones. Las propiedades métricas obtenidas señalan la pertinencia del TECVASP para medir la CVRS de personas drogodependientes, recomendando su uso cuando se quiera estimar la CVRS de pacientes que se encuentran en distintas fases del tratamiento de la dependencia

Objective. In this work, different studies of the metric properties —estimate of reliability and evidences of validity— of Test for the Evaluation of the Quality of Life in Addicts to Psychoactive Substances (TEQLAPS) is carried out. Method. In the investigation 359 patients of five therapeutic communities participated egotiated by the Andalusian Foundation for Attention to Drugs Addictions. Besides the TEQLASP, the section of «use of substances» of the Spanish version of the Maudsley Addiction Profile (MAP) were delivered, and the patients’ sociodemographics information was picked up. Results. The estimate of reliability, calculated with Cronbach alpha coefficient, it was adequate, with a value of 0,861. In the three studies of validation evidences are shown in favour of test use for foreseen objective, since: 1) differences in the Health Related Quality of Live (HRQL) between patients in detoxification and dishabituation program are detected; 2) differences in the HRQL between heroin with base cocaine abusers that are in treatment program with methadone and not in treatment with methadone are detected; and, 3) differences in the HRQL from the patients to the entrance in the therapeutic communities and when concluding the treatment are detected. Conclusions. The obtained metric properties point out the relevancy of the TEQLASP to measure the HRQL of drug addict people, recommending their use when the HRQL of patients that are in different phases of the treatment of the dependence to differ

Presencia de Entamoeba histolytica en la uretritis crónica / Presence of Entamoeba hystolitica in chronic urethritis

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