PIK3CA mutational status in tissue and plasma as a prognostic biomarker in HR+/HER2- breast cancer.

Introduction: Hotspots (HS) mutations in the PIK3CA gene may lead to poorer oncological outcomes and endocrine resistance in advanced breast cancer (BC), but their prognostic role in early-stage disease remains controversial. The overall agreement within plasma and tissue methods has not been well explored. Our aim was to correlate tissue and plasma approaches and to analyze the prognostic impact of PIK3CA mutations (PIK3CAm) in HR+/HER2- BC.

Clinical, genetic and pharmacological data support targeting the MEK5/ERK5 module in lung cancer.

Despite advances in its treatment, lung cancer still represents the most common and lethal tumor. Because of that, efforts to decipher the pathophysiological actors that may promote lung tumor generation/progression are being made, with the final aim of establishing new therapeutic options. Using a transgenic mouse model, we formerly demonstrated that the sole activation of the MEK5/ERK5 MAPK route had a pathophysiological role in the onset of lung adenocarcinomas.

MEK5 promotes lung adenocarcinoma.

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Factors influencing malignant evolution and long-term survival in solitary fibrous tumours of the pleura.

Solitary pleuro-pulmonary fibrous tumours are relatively uncommon neoplasms that are difficult to manage therapeutically and which, cytogenetically, have been poorly studied. The aim of the present work was to analyse the characteristics of a series of consecutive operated solitary pleural fibrous tumours in an attempt to discover a malignant pattern of evolution. This was a retrospective observational study of 19 cases.

Cell culture in autologous fibrin scaffolds for applications in tissue engineering.

In tissue engineering techniques, three-dimensional scaffolds are needed to adjust and guide cell growth and to allow tissue regeneration. The scaffold must be biocompatible, biodegradable and must benefit the interactions between cells and biomaterial. Some natural biomaterials such as fibrin provide a structure similar to the native extracellular matrix containing the cells.

Lymphoma outbreak in a GASH:Sal hamster colony.

We have detected a high incidence of lymphomas in a colony of GASH:Sal Syrian golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). This strain is characterised by its ability to present convulsive crises of audiogenic origin. Almost 16 % (90 males and 60 females) of the 975 animals were affected during a 5-year period by the development of a progressing lymphoid tumour and exhibited similar clinical profiles characterised by lethargy, anorexia, evident abdominal distension, and a rapid disease progression resulting in mortality within 1 to 2 weeks.

Differentiation within autologous fibrin scaffolds of porcine dermal cells with the mesenchymal stem cell phenotype.

Porcine mesenchymal stem cells (pMSCs) are an attractive source of cells for tissue engineering because their properties are similar to those of human stem cells. pMSCs can be found in different tissues but their dermal origin has not been studied in depth. Additionally, MSCs differentiation in monolayer cultures requires subcultured cells, and these cells are at risk of dedifferentiation when implanting them into living tissue.

Autologous fibrin scaffolds cultured dermal fibroblasts and enriched with encapsulated bFGF for tissue engineering.

Autologous fibrin scaffolds (AFSs) enriched with cells and specific growth factors represent a promising biocompatible scaffold for tissue engineering. Here, we analyzed the in vitro behavior of dermal fibroblasts (DFs) (cellular attachment, distribution, viability and proliferation, histological and immunohistochemical changes), comparing AFS with and without alginate microcapsules loaded with basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), to validate our scaffold in a future animal model in vivo. In all cases, DFs showed good adhesion and normal distribution, while in scaffolds with bFGF at 14 days, the cell counts detected in proliferation and viability assays were greatly improved, as was the proliferative state, and there was a decrease in muscle specific actin expression and collagen synthesis in comparison with the scaffolds without bFGF.

Dexamethasone and betamethasone for prenatal lung maturation: differences in vascular endothelial growth factor expression and alveolarization in rats.

Background: Fetal and postnatal lung development is regulated by glucocorticoids. The use of antenatal corticosteroids is reported to produce effects on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which plays a crucial role in pulmonary development.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare pulmonary VEGF expression in newborn rats that were exposed to antenatal betamethasone versus dexamethasone and to evaluate its impact on the alveolarization period of rats (0-14 days of life).

Effects of antenatal betamethasone and dexamethasone on the lung expression of vascular endothelial growth factor and alveolarization in newborn rats exposed to acute hypoxia and recovered in normoxia or hyperoxia.

The use of antenatal corticosteroids is widespread and it is important to know their effect(s) on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which plays a crucial role in pulmonary development. The purpose of this study was to compare pulmonary VEGF expression in newborn rats that were exposed to antenatal betamethasone versus dexamethasone under normoxia, hypoxia and oxidative stress, and to evaluate its impact on alveolarization. Betamethasone, dexamethasone or equivalent saline solution (control group) was administered to pregnant rats.

Pulmonary expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and alveolar septation in a newborn rat model exposed to acute hypoxia and recovered under conditions of air or hyperoxia.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an endothelial cell growth factor expressed in normal lung tissue. The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of VEGF and its repercussions as regards alveolarization in the developing rat lung. We studied pulmonary VEGF expression at 0 and 14 days of life in Wistar rats.

Nodulation of Lupinus albus by strains of Ochrobactrum lupini sp. nov.

The nodulation of legumes has for more than a century been considered an exclusive capacity of a group of microorganisms commonly known as rhizobia and belonging to the alpha-Proteobacteria. However, in the last 3 years four nonrhizobial species, belonging to alpha and beta subclasses of the Proteobacteria, have been described as legume-nodulating bacteria. In the present study, two fast-growing strains, LUP21 and LUP23, were isolated from nodules of Lupinus honoratus.