Excess mortality in the myelodysplastic syndromes

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are the commonest hematologic malignancies in the elderly. Since many patients with MDS actually die from age‐related ailments, the very disease burden of MDS remains largely unknown. This registry‐based study was aimed at investigating the excess mortality attributable to MDS. We analyzed 7,408 adult patients diagnosed with primary MDS from 1980 to 2014. Excess mortality was estimated by comparing the patients' survival with that expected in the matched general population. Median age of patients was 74 years, 58% were males, and 65% belonged to the lower risk categories of the Revised International Prognostic Scoring System (IPSS‐R). Excess mortality accounted for three‐fourths of the all‐cause mortality and was mainly driven by factors unrelated to leukemic transformation. Excess mortality increased with the IPSS‐R risk category [Incidence rate ratio (IRR): 2.1, 95% CI: 1.9–2.3; P < .001]. Older age and male sex retained an independent association with higher excess mortality after discounting demographic effects. Excess mortality increased in the most recent periods just in the higher risk IPSS‐R categories (IRR: 1.2; 95% CI: 1.1–1.3 when comparing periods 2007–14, 2000–06, and 1980–99). In conclusion, MDS carry a significant excess mortality, even in the lower risk categories, that is mainly driven by factors unrelated to leukemic transformation, and increases with older age, male sex, and poorer risk categories. Excess mortality has increased in recent years in the higher risk patients, which might be ascribed to a parallel increase in age‐related comorbidities. Our results claim for more comprehensive treatment strategies for patients with MDS. Am. J. Hematol. 92:149–154, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Efectividad de la aplicación de toques terapéuticos en el peso,las complicaciones y los días de estancia,en recién nacidos pretérmino ingresados en una unidad de neonatología

ObjectiveTo determine the effectiveness of therapeutic touch on weight, the presence of postnatal complications, and length of hospital stay in preterm newborns, as well as on parental satisfaction with the care provided.MethodWe performed an experimental study in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of the Virgen Macarena University Hospital in Seville (Spain). Seventy eight premature neonates were randomly assigned to one of the comparison groups (39 in the control group and 39 in the experimental group). The outcome variables of weight, length of hospital stay, the presence of complications, and parental satisfaction were evaluated. Control variables related to maternal socio-demographic and clinic characteristics were also measured. The intervention was based on the application of therapeutic touch.ResultsThe mean weight in grams was 1,867.80 (SD=149.72) in the experimental group and 1,860 (SD=181.92) in the control group (t=0.148; p=0.883). Length of hospital stay was 16.82 (SD=6.47) in the experimental group and 20.30 (SD=8.04) in the control group (t=2.100; p=0.039). Complications developed in 5.3% of the premature neonates in the experimental group and in 20% of those in the control group (χ²=3.78; p=0.049). The odds ratio for developing complications was 1.673 (CI 1.089–2.571).ConclusionsThe application of therapeutic touch reduces the length of hospital stay and the presence of complications. Nevertheless, further research in larger samples is required.     

Chemical stress by different agents affects the melatonin content of barley roots

Abstract:  The presence of melatonin ( N -acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) in plants has been clearly demonstrated. However, while this indoleamine has been intensively studied in animals, especially in mammals, the same is not true in the case of plants, where one of the most interesting aspects is its possible role as antioxidative molecule in physiological processes. Some data reflect the possible protective role that melatonin may exert in some stress situations such as ultraviolet (UV)-radiation, induced senescence and copper stress. The present work was designed to establish how the melatonin content changes in plants as a result of chemically induced stress. For this, barley plants were exposed in different treatments to the chemical-stress agents: sodium chloride, zinc sulphate or hydrogen peroxide. After different times, the content of melatonin in treated roots and control roots were determined using liquid chromatography (LC) with time-of-flight/mass spectrometry and LC with fluorescence detection for identification and quantification, respectively. The data show that the melatonin content in roots increased due to stress, reaching up to six times the melatonin content of control roots. Induction was time dependent, while hydrogen peroxide (10 m m ) and zinc sulphate (1 m m ) were the most effective inducers. The capacity of roots to absorb melatonin from soil was also studied. The data establish, for first time, that the chemical-stress agents assayed can induce the biosynthesis of melatonin in barley roots and produce a significant increase in their melatonin content. Such an increase in melatonin probably plays an important antioxidative role in the defense against chemically induced stress and other abiotic/biotic stresses.     

Useful pharmacological parameters for G-protein-coupled receptor homodimers obtained from competition experiments. Agonist–antagonist binding modulation

Many G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are expressed on the plasma membrane as dimers. Since drug binding data are currently fitted using equations developed for monomeric receptors, the interpretation of the pharmacological data are equivocal in many cases. As reported here, GPCR dimer models account for changes in competition curve shape as a function of the radioligand concentration used, something that cannot be explained by monomeric receptor models. Macroscopic equilibrium dissociation constants for the agonist and homotropic cooperativity index reflecting the intramolecular communication within the dopamine D₁ or adenosine A_2A receptor homodimer as well as hybrid equilibrium dissociation constant, which reflects the antagonist/agonist modulation may be calculated by fitting binding data from antagonist/agonist competition experiments to equations developed from dimer receptor models. Comparing fitting the data by assuming a classical monomeric receptor model or a dimer model, it is shown that dimer receptor models provide more clues useful in drug discovery than monomer-based models.