Sponges as biomonitors of heavy metals in spatial and temporal surveys in northwestern mediterranean: multispecies comparison

Contamination by heavy metals has increased drastically in the coastal Mediterranean during the last 20 years. A comparative study on metal bioaccumulation by four widespread sponge species (Crambe crambe, Chondrosia reniformis, Phorbas tenacior, and Dysidea avara) has been performed to select the most suitable species for metal monitoring. Copper bioaccumulation fits an accumulation strategy while Pb concentration seems to be regulated in most sponges. Crambe crambe was the only studied species that bioaccumulated Pb and Cu as a function of the available metal, proving its suitability for monitoring purposes. Then, we examined its effectiveness as a bioindicator at large spatial and temporal scales, comparing metal accumulation in this species and in sediments. Crambe crambe provided accurate information on the background levels of metals in the area at both spatial and temporal scales, and furthermore it reflected seasonal fluctuations of the bioavailable metals, which would be impossible to assess by means of a sediment survey.     

Ovarian granulosa cell tumors: an unusual cause of precocious thelarche

Precocious thelarche usually results from a physiological process but can sometimes be the first sign of precocious pseudopuberty. Ovarian granulosa cell tumors are highly unusual in childhood, appearing as precocious puberty in most prepuberal patients. During adolescence these tumors may cause menstrual irregularities, virilization and abdominal pain. Their malignancy is low and surgical treatment is usually curative if the tumors are limited to the ovaries. More advanced stages require chemotherapy, are difficult to cure and produce high mortality. We present the case of a 16-month-old girl with a granulosa cell tumor who presented with progressive precocious thelarche over 1 month that was satisfactorily resolved after resective surgery. This case demonstrates that other causes of puberal development should be investigated when precocious thelarche with fast progression is observed, with special attention paid to tumoral disease in the differential diagnosis.     

Bcl-2 and BLIMP-1 expression predict worse prognosis in gastric diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLCBL) while other markers for nodal DLBCL are not useful

Martin‐Arruti M, Vaquero M, Díaz de Otazu R, Zabalza I, Ballesteros J, Roncador G & García‐Orad A
(2012) Histopathology  60, 785–792 Bcl‐2 and BLIMP‐1 expression predict worse prognosis in gastric diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLCBL) while other markers for nodal DLBCL are not useful Aims: Previous studies have identified clinicopathological and immunohistochemical differences among diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCL) as a function of disease location. Nevertheless, there is a continuing tendency to generalize the prognostic value of various identified markers without taking into account tumour site. Accordingly, we analysed the prognostic value of several of the immunohistochemical markers that have been proposed for nodal DLBCL in a group of patients with gastric DLBCL. Methods and results: Using histochemical methods, CD10, Bcl‐6, Gcet1, MUM‐1, Bcl‐2 and BLIMP‐1 expression was investigated in 43 cases of gastric DBLCL. As in nodal DLBCLs, expression of BLIMP‐1, and of Bcl‐2 in non‐germinal centre B cell‐like (non‐GCB) patients, was associated with a worse prognosis. However, unlike nodal DBLCL, there was no significant association of prognosis with expression of CD10, Bcl‐6, Gcet1 or MUM‐1, or with categorization according to Hans or Muris algorithms. Conclusions: Although most markers of prognosis in nodal DLBCL are not useful indicators for gastric DLBCL, Bcl‐2 or BLIMP‐1 expression does correlate with worse prognosis. These data support the notion that clinicopathological features in DLBCL vary according to the disease location.     

Multipotent adult progenitor cells sustain function of ischemic limbs in mice

Despite progress in cardiovascular research, a cure for peripheral vascular disease has not been found. We compared the vascularization and tissue regeneration potential of murine and human undifferentiated multipotent adult progenitor cells (mMAPC-U and hMAPC-U), murine MAPC-derived vascular progenitors (mMAPC-VP), and unselected murine BM cells (mBMCs) in mice with moderate limb ischemia, reminiscent of intermittent claudication in human patients. mMAPC-U durably restored blood flow and muscle function and stimulated muscle regeneration, by direct and trophic contribution to vascular and skeletal muscle growth. This was in contrast to mBMCs and mMAPC-VP, which did not affect muscle regeneration and provided only limited and transient improvement. Moreover, mBMCs participated in a sustained inflammatory response in the lower limb, associated with progressive deterioration in muscle function. Importantly, mMAPC-U and hMAPC-U also remedied vascular and muscular deficiency in severe limb ischemia, representative of critical limb ischemia in humans. Thus, unlike BMCs or vascular-committed progenitors, undifferentiated multipotent adult progenitor cells offer the potential to durably repair ischemic damage in peripheral vascular disease patients.     

Nutritional Imbalances in Adult Celiac Patients Following a Gluten-Free Diet

Celiac disease (CD) is a chronic autoimmune disorder of the small intestine, whose only effective treatment is a gluten-free diet (GFD). It is characterized by the atrophy of the intestinal villi that leads to altered nutrient absorption. This study describes the nutritional imbalances which may be found in adults with CD following a GFD. During the first year of treatment, deficiencies will overcome as the intestinal mucosa recovers. Thus, biochemical data will show this progression, together with the decrease in symptoms. In contrast, in the long term, when a strict GFD is followed and mucosal recovery is achieved, analyzing nutrient intake makes more sense. Macronutrient consumption is characterized by its low complex carbohydrate and fiber intakes, and high fat (especially SFA) and sugar intakes. This profile has been related to the consumption of GFP and their nutritional composition, in addition to unbalanced dietary habits. The most notable deficiencies in micronutrients are usually those of iron, calcium and magnesium and vitamin D, E and some of group B. It is necessary to follow up patients with CD and to promote nutritional education among them, since it could help not only to achieve a gluten free but also a balanced diet.     

Genomic Analysis of Three Metastatic Prostate Cancer Patients with Exceptional Responses to Carboplatin Indicating Different Types of DNA Repair Deficiency

Platinum-based regimens have not been proved to increase survival from advanced prostate cancer (PCa). Incontrovertible evidence that a proportion of prostate cancers have homologous recombination DNA (HRD) repair defects, and that such genomic aberrations are synthetically lethal with both poly(ADP)-ribose polymerase inhibition and platinum, has increased interest in the utilisation of these drugs against a subset of these diseases. Here in we report three patients with advanced castration-resistant PCa with HRD defects having exceptional responses to carboplatin.