Endoscopy mitigation strategy with telemedicine and low-cost device use for COVID-19 prevention: A fourth-level Colombian center experience

Background and study aimsThe COVID-19 outbreak has reorganized surgical team conditions regarding endoscopy. The number of interventions has been reduced, the number of healthcare professionals must be limited, and both the patients and physicians are more protected than ever.Patients and MethodsIn the highest peak of contagion in Colombia, endoscopy, colonoscopy, and esophagogastroduodenoscopy were performed using a low-cost disposable device. A total of 1388 procedures were performed. Every patient was assessed for symptoms via a telephone call, at the health center, and after the procedure, following specific attention routes.ResultsAfter procedure follow-up, no positive cases of COVID-19 were noted.ConclusionThe methodology reduced the risk of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic.     

HLA-B*27 subtyping by PCR-RFLP in Spanish patients with ankylosing spondyiitis

Abstract: We describe the use of restriction analysis on PCR-amplified DNA for detecting all B*27 subtypes except B*2710 and B*2711 (i.e. from B*2701 to B*2709). After detecting B*27 by Sty I, double digestions consisting of Sty I plus another informative enzyme led to subtype assignment. We used mismatched primers to create restriction sites when necessary. The method avoids group-specific amplifications and other laborious optimization procedures. It was successfully tested on a panel of well characterized cell lines covering different B*27 subtypes. Then, we studied a group of 57 ankylosing spondyiitis patients and 746 controls from the south of Spain. B*27 showed a very strong association with the disease (OR=211.27, P=\0˜7). B*2702 and B*2705 distribution in controls (20% and 77.1%, respectively) differed from previously reported data in the Spanish population. We unexpectedly found the B*2707 allele in our population (one control).     

Using polymerase chain reaction to human papillomavirus in oral and pharyngolaryngeal carcinomas

Purpose: Increasingly, evidence has shown that human papillomavirus (HPV) plays a role in the induction of certain carcinomas. The presence of HPV sequences in 56 previously untreated oral and pharyngolaryngeal carcinomas was examined by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).Materials and Methods: After DNA extraction, samples underwent 40 replication cycles with specific oligonucleotide primers corresponding to sequences from the E6 open-reading frame of HPV-6b, HPV-16, and HPV-18. To determine the E6 genomic integration, positive samples were processed with specific primers for the corresponding HPV L1 genes. Genomic HPV DNA cloned into PBR 322 was used as positive control.Results: HPV E6 DNA of the 6b and 16 types was detected in 14 patients (25%). The L1 gene was not present.Conclusion: Detected HPV E6 DNA might be integrated into the cell genome in the positive cases as indicated by the absence of the L1 gene-coding for the viral capside. Histological and clinical parameters, such as tumor location, degree of differentiation, stage, recurrence, and survival rates, were unrelated to the presence of HPV.     

Hepatic stellate cells and oxidative stress]

Hepatic fibrosis is a wound-healing response that takes place during chronic liver injury and is characterized by excessive production and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, mainly collagen type I. Hepatic stellate cells (HSC) are responsible for the excessive production of scar tissue during liver fibrosis. Activation of HSC, the main step in the development of hepatic fibrosis, is mediated by cytokines and reactive oxygen species (ROS) released by damaged hepatocytes and/or activated Kupffer cells and even HSC themselves. While HSC usually remain quiescent, in response to factors promoting liver injury they undergo activation and become highly proliferative and fibrogenic. Indeed a key feature of HSC activation is uncontrolled production of collagen type I. Collagen is a heterotrimeric protein composed of two a1 chains and one a2 chain forming a triple helix structure. Initiation of HSC activation is largely due to paracrine stimulation, whereas the perpetuation of such activated state involves autocrine as well as paracrine loops. This review focuses on the role of oxidant stress on the activation of stellate cells.     

Phenotype traits associated with different alleles at the RPS5 locus in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Summary The RPS5 gene has been characterised through its ability to reduce invertase production by the SUC5 gene. In this paper we show that RPS5 acts by maintaining low levels of SUC5 mRNA. We also show that RPS5 acts on the SUC1 and SUC4 genes but not on SUC2 and SUC3, which are members of the SUC family. RPS5 also shows a pleiotropic effect on the amount of mitochondrial cytochromes.     

Cesarean section and maternal age in low-risk nulliparas.

The relationship between maternal age and cesarean section in low-risk nulliparas was analysed in 7454 perinatal clinical records selected from eleven databases of Latin American institutions obtained with a comprehensive perinatal information system. The risk of cesarean section in nulliparas between 29 and 49 years of age was found to be three times higher than that corresponding to pregnant women of lesser age. This clearly more aggressive obstetrical conduct could not be explained by the main indications for cesarean section.     

Effect of cyclosporin a on proteinuria in patients with Alport's syndrome

Eight patients with Alport's syndrome and massive proteinuria (129±60.57 mg/m² per hour) were treated with cyclosporin A (CyA) for 8 months. The average dose of CyA administered to all patients was 4.21±0.26 mg/kg per day and blood CyA levels of 63.4±4.1 ng/ml were attained. In five patients, proteinuria abated during the 3rd week of treatment. In the remaining three, all of whom had low creatinine clearance (82.0, 46.0 and 43.2 ml/min per 1.73 m² respectively), proteinuria persisted but at levels lower than before treatment: 32.5±15.9 mg/m² per hour versus 183.3±29.7 mg/m² per hour. No permanent decrease in creatinine clearance was observed in any of these patients throughout treatment. In those patients in whom proteinuria abated, it reappeared 2 weeks after discontinuation of CyA treatment. We observed no significant increases in angiotensin II plasma levels in our patients during CyA administration. Although we have shown that CyA will reduce massive proteinuria in patients with Alport's syndrome, we cannot yet recommend its use as a therapeutic measure.     

An Eph-related receptor protein tyrosine kinase gene segmentally expressed in the developing mouse hindbrain.

In search of genes possibly involved in the regulation of hindbrain segmentation, we have isolated mouse cDNA clones corresponding to putative protein kinase genes by polymerase chain reaction amplification of cDNA from 9.5-day-old embryo hindbrains. In situ hybridization analysis revealed that one of these genes, Sek, was expressed in an alternating segment-restricted pattern in the developing hindbrain. Isolation and analysis of Sek cDNAs covering the entire coding sequence indicated that Sek encoded a putative receptor protein tyrosine kinase, belonging to the Eph family. These data are consistent with a role of the Sek gene product in a signal transduction process involved in pattern formation in the hindbrain.