Longitudinal association between ideal cardiovascular health status and muscular fitness in adolescents: The LabMed Physical Activity Study

Background and aims

Muscular fitness is an emerging predictor for cardiovascular disease mortality. The ideal cardiovascular health metrics has been inversely related to a subsequent cardiometabolic health in adulthood. However, evidence regarding muscular fitness and ideal cardiovascular health in adolescents is scarce. This study aimed to examine the longitudinal association between ideal cardiovascular health index and muscular fitness.

Sensitization to Lolium multiflorum grass pollen in pollinosis patients: evaluation of allergenic fractions recognized by specific IgE antibodies

BACKGROUND: Lolium multiflorum (Lm) pollen allergens are the major causative agents for rhinoconjunctivitis in Southern Brazil. There have been no studies about the sensitization and allergenic cross-reactivity between Lm and other grass pollens. We evaluated the sensitization of Brazilian pollinosis patients to Lm pollen allergens through skin prick test (SPT) and immunoassays (ELISA and immunoblot). METHODS: Serum samples from 60 patients with pollinosis and positive SPT to grass pollen extracts (Lm+ group), 30 patients with negative SPT to grass pollen, but positive SPT to mite extracts (Lm- group), and 30 nonatopic subjects (NA group) were tested by SPT, ELISA, and immunoblot using Lm extract. Inhibition immunoassays with Lolium perenne (Lp), mixed grass (Gmix) and Lm extracts were also performed. RESULTS: A high concordance was found between the Gmix and Lm extracts in SPT. Positivity rates in SPT were also highly concordant with IgE-ELISA results. The assay was able to detect Lm-specific IgE in >95% of Lm+ patients. A significant self- and cross-inhibition was observed in IgE-ELISA, reflecting a high cross-reactivity between the grass pollen allergens. Immunoblot revealed 13 IgE-binding Lm fractions, from which the bands 28-30 kDa and 31-34 kDa were recognized by >90% of Lm+ patients. CONCLUSION: Lm-specific IgE antibodies are highly cross-reactive with pollen proteins from other grass species. The results indicate that Lm extracts could be used in both SPT and ELISA for a more specific evaluation of IgE responses to Lm grass pollen in Brazilian pollinosis patients.     

Monocarboxylate Transporters 1 and 4 Are Associated with CD147 in Cervical Carcinoma

Due to the highly glycolytic metabolism of solid tumours, there is an increased acid production, however, cells are able to maintain physiological pH through plasma membrane efflux of the accumulating protons. Acid efflux through MCTs (monocarboxylate transporters) constitutes one of the most important mechanisms involved in tumour intracellular pH maintenance. Still, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of these proteins are not fully understood. We aimed to evaluate the association between CD147 (MCT1 and MCT4 chaperone) and MCT expression in cervical cancer lesions and the clinico-pathological significance of CD147 expression, alone and in combination with MCTs. The series included 83 biopsy samples of precursor lesions and surgical specimens of 126 invasive carcinomas. Analysis of CD147 expression was performed by immunohistochemistry. CD147 expression was higher in squamous and adenocarcinoma tissues than in the non-neoplastic counterparts and, importantly, both MCT1 and MCT4 were more frequently expressed in CD147 positive cases. Additionally, co-expression of CD147 with MCT1 was associated with lymph-node and/or distant metastases in adenocarcinomas. Our results show a close association between CD147 and MCT1 and MCT4 expressions in human cervical cancer and provided evidence for a prognostic value of CD147 and MCT1 co-expression.     

The Effect of Taurine on Hepatic Steatosis Induced by Thioacetamide in Zebrafish (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Danio rerio</Emphasis>)

Background  

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease is one of the most prevalent forms of chronic liver disease in the Western world. Taurine is a conditionally essential amino acid in humans that may be a promising therapy for treating this disease.     

BKCa Channel Activation Attenuates the Pathophysiological Progression of Monocrotaline-Induced Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Wistar Rats

Cardiovascular Drugs and Therapy - In the present study, the therapeutic efficacy of a selective BKCa channel opener (compound X) in the treatment of monocrotaline (MCT)-induced pulmonary arterial...     

Documento de posicionamiento de la AEG,la SEED y la SEAP sobre calidad de la endoscopia digestiva alta para la detección y vigilancia de las lesiones precursoras de cáncer gástrico

This position paper, sponsored by the Asociación Española de Gastroenterología [Spanish Association of Gastroenterology], the Sociedad Española de Endoscopia Digestiva [Spanish Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Society] and the Sociedad Española de Anatomía Patológica [Spanish Anatomical Pathology Society], aims to establish recommendations for performing an high quality upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for the screening of gastric cancer precursor lesions (GCPL) in low-incidence populations, such as the Spanish population. To establish the quality of the evidence and the levels of recommendation, we used the methodology based on the GRADE system (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). We obtained a consensus among experts using a Delphi method. The document evaluates different measures to improve the quality of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in this setting and makes recommendations on how to evaluate and treat the identified lesions. We recommend that upper gastrointestinal endoscopy for surveillance of GCPL should be performed by endoscopists with adequate training, administering oral premedication and use of sedation. To improve the identification of GCPL, we recommend the use of high definition endoscopes and conventional or digital chromoendoscopy and, for biopsies, NBI should be used to target the most suspicious areas of intestinal metaplasia. Regarding the evaluation of visible lesions, the risk of submucosal invasion should be evaluated with magnifying endoscopes and endoscopic ultrasound should be reserved for those with suspected deep invasion. In lesions amenable to endoscopic resection, submucosal endoscopic dissection is considered the technique of choice.