Analysis of the response of human keratinocytes to Malassezia globosa and restricta strains

Malassezia spp. are saprophyte yeasts involved in skin diseases with different degrees of severity. The aim of our study was to analyze the response of human epidermal keratinocytes to Malassezia globosa and restricta strains evaluating the host defence mechanisms induced by Malassezia spp. colonization. Our results showed a different modulation of the inflammatory and immunomodulatory cytokine pathways obtained with the different strains of Malassezia tested. In addition, this expression is altered by blocking the TLR2 receptor. In comparison with M. furfur, M. globosa and restricta displayed an unexpected and striking cytotoxicity on keratinocytes. The differences observed could be related to the different modalities of interaction between keratinocytes and Malassezia strains, but also to their growth condition. Taken together, these results indicate that M. globosa or M. restricta colonization exert a different control on the cytokine inflammatory response activated in the human keratinocyte in which TLR2 might be involved. M. globosa and M. restricta may play a synergistic role in the exacerbation of skin diseases in which both are found.     

Screening of the topical anti-inflammatory activity of some Central American plants

Hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts of seven herbal drugs used in the folk medicine of Central America against skin disorders (Aristolochia trilobata leaves and bark, Bursera simaruba bark, Hamelia patens leaves, Piper amalago leaves, and Syngonium podophyllum leaves and bark) were evaluated for their topical anti-inflammatory activity against the Croton oil-induced ear oedema in mice. Most of the extracts induced a dose-dependent oedema reduction. The chloroform extract of almost all the drugs exhibited interesting activities with ID(50) values ranging between 108 and 498 micro g/cm(2), comparable to that of indomethacin (93 micro g/cm(2)). Therefore, the tested plants are promising sources of principles with high anti-inflammatory activity.     

Hospitalizaciones por cáncer de cuello de útero en la Comunidad de Madrid, 1999-2002

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and characteristics of cervical cancer hospitalizations in the Autonomous Region of Madrid, and to estimate the resource consumption and costs related to hospital treatment of the disease.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted by using information of the cervical cancer patients hospitalized in the Autonomous Region of Madrid from the national surveillance system for hospital data, Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos. Data on resource consumption for costs analysis was collected from clinical records of women admitted to Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre of Madrid with cervical cancer.

Results

During the study period (1999-2002) an annual average of 667 hospitalizations with cervical cancer in the Autonomous Region of Madrid hospitals were reported. Hospitalization rate were 30.7 per 100,000 women ≥ 20 years of age and the average number of hospitalizations per patient was 2.2. A total of 126 deaths among hospitalized women were reported during the study period (average annual number of 32 deaths). The mean cost per patient of the hospital treatment was estimated in 5.247 €.

Conclusion

Each year more approximately 700 cervical cancer cases are notified in the Autonomous Region of Madrid hospitals. These represent an annual expenditure for the health care system of about 3,5 millions €.     

Coexistence of primary central nervous system lymphoma and primary breast lymphoma: Clinical presentation,imaging features,and treatment management

The presence of synchronous dual hematological diseases is an uncommon finding. We report an unusual case of coexistence of primary central nervous system lymphoma and primary breast lymphoma without systemic involvement in an immunocompetent patient. To our knowledge a similar case has not yet been reported in the literature. We especially focus on presenting the imaging features, the associated clinical findings and treatment management of each entity, with the aim of raising awareness on these two rare types of lymphomas and the possibility of their coexistence.     

Valorization of Grape Pomace and Berries as a New and Sustainable Dietary Supplement: Development,Characterization, and Antioxidant Activity Testing

Grape pomace and berries represent natural sources of phytochemicals that can increase the quality of life of consumers by contributing to the prevention of chronic diseases; thus, the development of a dietary supplement was necessary. The raw material (r.m.) used for the development of the dietary supplement consisted of dried and powdered bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.), red currants (Ribes rubrum L.), and red fermented pomaces (Vitis vinifera L.) from Feteasca Neagra and Cabernet Sauvignon cultivars. The particle size distribution, powder flow, total phenolic content (TPC), HPLC-DAD phenolic profile assessment, and radical scavenging assay (RSA) were employed for the analysis of the raw material. After encapsulation, the average mass and uniformity of mass, the disintegration, and the uniformity of content for the obtained capsules were performed to obtain a high-quality dietary supplement. All the assays performed complied to the compendial requirements and the TPC was determined at 9.07 ± 0.25 mg gallic acid equivalents/g r.m. and RSA at 48.32 ± 0.74%. The highest quantities of phenolic compounds determined were 333.7 ± 0.50 µg/g r.m. for chlorogenic acid, followed by rutin, ferulic acid, and (+)-catechin with 198.9 ± 1.60 µg/g r.m., 179.8 ± 0.90 µg/g r.m. and 118.7 ± 0.75 µg/g r.m., respectively. The results of this study can be used for the manufacturing and assessing of pilot scale-up capsule batches and thinking of quality assurance, we recommend that the industrial batch extracts should be standardized in polyphenols, and the manufacturing process should be validated.     

Inflammaging and Cancer: A Challenge for the Mediterranean Diet

Aging is considered the major risk factor for cancer, one of the most important mortality causes in the western world. Inflammaging, a state of chronic, low-level systemic inflammation, is a pervasive feature of human aging. Chronic inflammation increases cancer risk and affects all cancer stages, triggering the initial genetic mutation or epigenetic mechanism, promoting cancer initiation, progression and metastatic diffusion. Thus, inflammaging is a strong candidate to connect age and cancer. A corollary of this hypothesis is that interventions aiming to decrease inflammaging should protect against cancer, as well as most/all age-related diseases. Epidemiological data are concordant in suggesting that the Mediterranean Diet (MD) decreases the risk of a variety of cancers but the underpinning mechanism(s) is (are) still unclear. Here we review data indicating that the MD (as a whole diet or single bioactive nutrients typical of the MD) modulates multiple interconnected processes involved in carcinogenesis and inflammatory response such as free radical production, NF-κB activation and expression of inflammatory mediators, and the eicosanoids pathway. Particular attention is devoted to the capability of MD to affect the balance between pro- and anti-inflammaging as well as to emerging topics such as maintenance of gut microbiota (GM) homeostasis and epigenetic modulation of oncogenesis through specific microRNAs.     

‘I was cracking more than everyone else’: young adults' daily life experiences of hypermobility and jaw disorders

Most studies on general joint hypermobility (GJH) and temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are quantitative and have concluded that joint hypermobility is a risk factor for development of TMD. The present qualitative study aimed to explore young adults' daily life experiences of GJH, specifically these relating to jaw function, and their experiences of medical and dental care providers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine young adults (18–22 yr of age) and data were analysed using qualitative content analysis. The overarching thematic category that emerged was ‘Hypermobility in daily life’, which was broken into six subthemes and three themes: ‘emotional perception’, ‘dealing with symptoms’, and ‘outside influences’. Participants' narratives centred on experiences of complex symptoms, awkward jaw function and joint noises, feeling different, and a lack of support from general medical and dental care providers. The findings show that young adults with joint hypermobility need early support from medical and dental care providers for managing their symptoms and conditions related to GJH. Future studies are warranted to develop guidelines for professionals in medical and dental care to detect and prevent forthcoming problems and to offer relevant support to hypermobile youths.