Evidence for TGF-β1/Nrf2 Signaling Crosstalk in a Cuprizone Model of Multiple Sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic and degenerative disease that impacts central nervous system (CNS) function. One of the major characteristics of the disease is the presence of regions lacking myelin and an oxidative and inflammatory environment. TGF-β1 and Nrf2 proteins play a fundamental role in different oxidative/inflammatory processes linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as MS.

A preclinical mice model of multiple sclerosis based on the toxin-induced double-site demyelination of callosal and cerebellar fibers.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an irreversible progressive CNS pathology characterized by the loss of myelin (i.e. demyelination).

Anodic stripping voltammetry of arsenic determination with edible mushroom-nafion-modified glassy carbon electrode.

An edible Mushroom-Nafion modified glassy carbon electrode (MN-GCE) was prepared using a homogeneous mixture varying the concentrations of these, in addition to the origin of the mushroom (Shiitake, Lentinula edodes, M and Abrantes, Agariscus bisporus, M) and applied to the As(III) determination by anodic stripping voltammetry. After choosing the optimal conditions in the preparation of the electrode, the second stage was to study the effects of various parameters such as supporting electrolyte, pH, accumulation potential, and time (E, t). The optimum experimental conditions chosen were Britton Robinson buffer 0.

The First Latin American Consensus on Superficial and Perforating Venous Mapping.

With the aim of obtaining a map which is useful as a diagnostic tool and therapeutical orientation, complementing the written report of duplex ultrasound venous study, Latin-American Scientific Societies of Phlebology, Vascular Surgery and Vascular Imaging were invited to participate, through their regional representatives, to the First Consensus of Superficial and Perforating Venous Mapping. A consensus process using a modified Delphi method was carried out. An International Working Group was formed, which developed a Prototype of the Venous Mapping that worked as a starting point for consensus, and was presented in a first virtual meeting of 54 experts (societies' representatives) when the methodology was explained.

Longitudinal deep learning clustering of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus trajectories using routinely collected health records.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a highly heterogeneous chronic disease with different pathophysiological and genetic characteristics affecting its progression, associated complications and response to therapies. The advances in deep learning (DL) techniques and the availability of a large amount of healthcare data allow us to investigate T2DM characteristics and evolution with a completely new approach, studying common disease trajectories rather than cross sectional values. We used an Kernelized-AutoEncoder algorithm to map 5 years of data of 11,028 subjects diagnosed with T2DM in a latent space that embedded similarities and differences between patients in terms of the evolution of the disease.

[Age does not affect the outcome of allogeneic hematopoietic precursor transplantation for acute myeloid leukemia].

Background: In our country, transplantation centers differ in the age limit for allogeneic hematopoietic transplantation (ALOHT). In our program, transplants with age- adjusted conditioning are performed in patients until 70 years old. Currently more than 60% of ALOHT reported to the Center for International Bone Marrow Transplantation Research (CIBMTR) are performed in patients older than 40 years.

Sonographic evolution of the superficial vein thrombosis of the lower extremity.

Background: Superficial venous thrombosis (SVT) is a common clinical problem across various treatment settings. SVT shares risk factors with deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and carries a risk of thromboembolic complications, greater than previously expected. Little is known about the pathophysiology, resolution and recurrence of this disease.

Antioxidative and neurotoxicity effects of acute and chronic exposure of the estuarine polychaete Hediste diversicolor to paracetamol.

The presence of anthropogenic drugs in the aquatic ecosystems is a reality nowadays, and a large number of studies have been reporting their putative toxic effects on wildlife. However, the majority of the studies published so far uses standard organisms, whose probability of becoming in contact with drugs in real scenarios of contamination is at least, low. The use of autochthonous organisms in ecotoxicity testing is thus mandatory, and the present study aimed to assess the feasibility of assessing oxidative based stress responses (enzymatic defenses, such as catalase, glutathione-s-transferases, and lipid peroxidation; neurotoxicity as an indirect outcome of oxidizing conditions) on a polychaete species, Hediste diversicolor, after being acutely and chronically exposed to the widely employed drug paracetamol.

Reaffirmation of the importance of follow-up ultrasound studies in patients with high D-dimers and clinical suspicion of vein thrombosis.

Background: Venous thromboembolism is a common disease seen in the emergency department and a cause of high morbidity and mortality, constituting a major health problem.

Objectives: To assess the potential benefit of follow-up ultrasound of patients who attended the emergency department with suspected superficial venous thrombosis or deep venous thrombosis and were found to have an initial negative whole-leg (or arm) ultrasound study.

Methods: This retrospective study included patients aged 18 years or older who were consecutively referred to a thrombosis clinic from the emergency department, with abnormal D-dimer test and moderate to high pre-test probability of deep venous thrombosis (Well's score ≥ 1), but a negative whole-leg (or arm) ultrasound.

Haploidentical transplantation outcomes are comparable with those obtained with identical human leukocyte antigen allogeneic transplantation in Chilean patients with benign and malignant hemopathies.

Introduction: Patients with benign or malignant blood disorders, who require allogeneic stem cell transplantation and lack an identical human leukocyte antigen HLA identicalHL sibling donor, could be transplanted with hematopoietic stem cells from unrelated adult or umbilical cord donors. However, in our country, both approaches are costly and time-consuming options.

Methods: Over the last few years, haploidentical modalities have been investigated as an alternative donor source, showing similar results to those obtained with identical HLA donors.

Advantages of non-cryopreserved autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation against a cryopreserved strategy.

Autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-HSCT) is an effective treatment strategy for hematological malignancies. The standard mode of handling hematopoietic progenitors for the autologous procedure (CRYO) consists on its collection and freezing with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and its subsequent thawing and re-infusion. This process is toxic and expensive.

Magnesium, zinc, arsenic, selenium and platinum urinary excretion from cancer patients of Antofagasta region, Chile: multi-metal approach.

Objectives: To evaluate the short-term 24 h urinary excretion of platinum, arsenic, selenium, magnesium and zinc in patients with lung cancer and with cancer other than lungs treated with cisplatin or/and carboplatin from Antofagasta, Chile.

Design: Urine measurements of Pt and Se were made by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, As by hydride-generation atomic absorption spectrometry and Mg and Zn by means of flame furnace atomic absorption spectrometry.

Setting: All samples were provided by the Oncological Centre of Antofagasta Regional Hospital (Region of Antofagasta, Chile).

Bioaccessibility and arsenic speciation in carrots, beets and quinoa from a contaminated area of Chile.

Consumption of vegetables grown in arsenic (As)-contaminated soils is an important exposure route to the element for humans. The present study is focused on locally-grown, frequently-consumed vegetables, such as carrots (Daucus carota), beets (Beta vulgaris) and quinoa (Chenopodium) from the As-polluted Chiu Chiu area in Northern Chile. The latter region is affected both by As discharge from copper mining activity and natural As contamination, leading to a high As content in local food and water.

Blood component usage during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation: experience in 98 patients at a Latin-American tertiary hospital.

Background/aims: Hemorrhagic complications during ECMO may affect a large proportion of the patients depending on the clinical setting. To guarantee optimal delivery of blood products to these patients, blood banks require updated information on the transfusion requirements. Few studies to date provide this information.

[Allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with unrelated cord blood: report of three cases from the Chilean cord blood bank].

Public cord blood banks are a source of hematopoietic stem cells for patients with hematological diseases who lack a family donor and need allogeneic transplantation. In June 2007 we started a cord blood bank with units donated in three maternity wards in Santiago, Chile. We report the first three transplants done with cord blood units form this bank.

Umbilical cord blood transplantation in hematologic diseases in patients over 15 years old: long-term experience at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Most patients who require a sibling stem cell transplantation do not have a matched donor. In our experience, only 1/3 patients have a matched unrelated donor (MUD); therefore, the majority of the patients will require umbilical cord blood (UCB). Patients treated for hematologic diseases with UCB transplants were included.

Urinary excretion of platinum, arsenic and selenium of cancer patients from the Antofagasta region in Chile treated with platinum-based drugs.

Background: Arsenic exposure increases the risk of non-cancerous and cancerous diseases. In the Antofagasta region in Chile, an established relationship exists between arsenic exposure and the risk of cancer of the bladder, lung and skin. Platinum-based drugs are first-line treatments, and many works recognise selenium as a cancer-fighting nutrient.

An approach to the arsenic status in cardiovascular tissues of patients with coronary heart disease.

Among non-cancer effects of arsenic, cardiovascular diseases have been well documented; however, few are known about the arsenic fate in cardiovascular tissues. We studied the analytic bioinorganic arsenic behaviour in cardiovascular tissues from an arsenic exposure coronary heart disease patient group from Antofagasta-Chile against a small unexposed arsenic coronary heart patient group. Total arsenic concentrations were measured in pieces of cardiovascular tissues of the arsenic-exposed and unexposed coronary heart patient groups by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HG-AAS); speciation analysis was made by high performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS).

[Endovascular management of acute complications of type B aortic dissection].

Background: Type B aortic dissection is usually managed by intensive care medical therapy and surgery is reserved for treating the complications that can occur during the evolution of a case.

Aim: To assess the endovascular management of acute complications of type B aortic dissection and the closure of the intimal defect and aortic false lumen.

Material And Methods: Retrospective analysis of 8 consecutive patients aged 40 to 57 years (seven males) treated for acute complications in the initial episode of a type B aortic dissection between August 2006 and July 2008.

Prevalence of heparin-induced antibodies in patients with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis.

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) type II is a serious complication of heparin therapy. It presents initially as thrombocytopenia, and is associated with thrombosis in 20-50% of the cases. HIT is related to the presence of heparin-induced antibodies (HIA), which show specificity for the PF4-heparin (PF4-H) complex.

Distribution and biotransformation of arsenic species in chicken cardiac and muscle tissues.

This study evaluated the bioaccumulation and biotransformation of arsenic species in chicken heart and meat tissues. The experimental study was carried out using two sets of samples. In the first one, 10-d-old chickens were exposed to sodium arsenate, using spiked drinking water.

Evaluation of stability of arsenic species in rice.

Although most edible vegetables do not accumulate As at a high rate, rice, carrots and certain others are exceptions. In addition to nutritional or toxicological considerations, the relatively high level and variety of As species present in rice make it a very suitable matrix for a candidate reference material representative of terrestrial biological samples.An analytical procedure was developed for As speciation in rice based on the use of a 1:1 methanol-water mixture for species extraction, an anion Hamilton PRPX-100 column (at pH 6, and phosphate mobile phase 10 mM), and a cation Hamilton PRP-X200 column (at pH 2.

Plasma lipoprotein alterations in patients with chronic hepatocellular liver disease resulting from alcohol abuse: effects of alcohol intake cessation.

Cholesterol and triglyceride in plasma and lipoprotein fractions and serum apoprotein concentrations were measured in 51 chronic alcoholic subjects; 23 had minimal or mild hepatic changes (steatosis and/or fibrosis) and 28 had cirrhosis. Of the latter, 16 had stopped alcohol consumption at least 3 months before the study, while the other 12 and all the mildly affected patients had continued drinking. None of the patients presented with cholestasis or alcoholic hepatitis.