Revisiting colorectal cancer animal model – An improved metastatic model for distal rectosigmoid colon carcinoma

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most frequent and fatal cancer in Western countries. Understanding its biology with different incidence along the colon and rectum, genetic profile and how these factors contribute to local/distant progression, has been hampered by the lack of a suitable CRC model.We report a reproducible model, using human CRC cell lines (CL) (WiDr, LS1034, C2BBe1) injected (1?×?10⁷ cells/animal) in RNU rats (n?=?55) which underwent cecostomy and descending colostomy with mucosal-cutaneous fistula of the sigmoid colon. CL were characterized by immunohistochemistry: CK20, CDX2, P53, vimentin, Ki67, CD44, CD133, E-cadherin, β-catenin and CEA; cancer stem cells-immune system interaction was studied and tumor progression was assessed with nuclear medicine imaging (^99mTc-MIBI).Animals developed locally invasive tumors and with WiDr neural invasion was registered. Cancer stem cells were detected in WiDr (CD44 positive). All the cell lines stimulated the immune system, being WiDr the most aggressive. Imaging studies demonstrated tumor uptake.With this CRC model we can study the microenvironment role and tumor-stroma interactions. All CL developed primary disease, but only the WiDR established neural invasion which may represent a metastatic pathway. This model can help unveiling the underlying metastatic mechanisms, and ultimately test better therapeutic approaches for CRC.     

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease and coronary artery dissection or aneurysm: a systematic review

Importance Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) has been associated with cardiovascular abnormalities such as intracranial and aortic aneurysms. Objective To systematically review the case reports and case series of ADPKD patients with coronary artery dissection or aneurysm. Evidence review Systematic review registration number: CRD42015015723. Data sources: MEDLINE, Web of Science and OpenGrey, reference lists of studies. Study selection: Published case reports and case series. Data extraction: Two parties analyzed the studies. Disagreements were solved by consensus or by a third party. Funding: none. Findings The reports of 23 patients (22 from 17 studies – six with coronary artery dissection and 16 with coronary artery aneurysm – and one with coronary dissection) were analyzed and reported here. Most patients were symptomatic. Coronary dissection showed female and left descending anterior artery predominance, features similar to non-ADPKD patients, but a median diagnostic age below expected (41 vs. 50 years old). Coronary aneurysms had male and right coronary artery predominance but lower median diagnostic age (44 years old) and higher rate of multiple vessel affection than reported for non-ADPKD patients. Conclusion and relevance Clinical disparities may suggest a different mechanism of aneurysm formation compared to the population without ADPKD. Nevertheless, lack of access to data of one patient and text of one article limited our conclusions. Coronary aneurysms and dissections represent a source of coronary syndromes and death in ADPKD. Mutation of ADPKD-related genes may predispose to coronary abnormalities, especially aneurysms. Further analysis regarding this association is necessary.     

Seasonal analysis and acaricidal activity of the thymol-type essential oil of Ocimum gratissimum and its major constituents against Rhipicephalus microplus (Acari: Ixodidae)

Parasitology Research - The tick Rhipicephalus microplus affects cattle health, with production loss in tropical and subtropical regions. Moreover, the use of commercial acaricides has been reduced...     

Effects of health care decentralization in Spain from a citizens’ perspective

The aim of this article is to analyze the impact of the decentralization of the public national health system in Spain on citizens’ satisfaction with different dimensions of primary and hospital care. Using micro-data from the Health Barometer 1996–2009 and taking advantage of the exogeneity of the different pace of decentralization across Spain using a difference-in-differences strategy, we find that, in general, decentralization has not improved citizens’ satisfaction with different features of the health services. In our base model, we find that there are even some small negative effects on a subset of variables. Sensitivity analysis confirms that there is no empirical evidence for supporting that decentralization has had a positive impact on citizens’ satisfaction with health care. We outline several possible reasons for this.