Protein kinase B (AKT) upregulation and Thy-1-αβ integrin-induced phosphorylation of Connexin43 by activated AKT in astrogliosis.

Background: In response to brain injury or inflammation, astrocytes undergo hypertrophy, proliferate, and migrate to the damaged zone. These changes, collectively known as "astrogliosis", initially protect the brain; however, astrogliosis can also cause neuronal dysfunction. Additionally, these astrocytes undergo intracellular changes involving alterations in the expression and localization of many proteins, including αβ integrin.

Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 and Adiponectin Are Associated With Metabolic Syndrome Components.

Background: We aimed to study the associations of adipocytokines, endothelial damage markers, and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with metabolic syndrome (MetS) components.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 202 subjects categorized into MetS and No-MetS according to Harmonizing Adult Treatment Panel III.

Results: Subjects with MetS showed higher levels of proinflammatory molecules but significantly lower adiponectin levels than subjects with No-MetS.

Dynamic DNA methylation changes in early versus late adulthood suggest nondeterministic effects of childhood adversity: a meta-analysis.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with a high risk of developing chronic diseases and decreased life expectancy, but no ACE epigenetic biomarkers have been identified until now. The latter may result from the interaction of multiple factors such as age, sex, degree of adversity, and lack of transcriptional effects of DNA methylation changes. We hypothesize that DNA methylation changes are related to childhood adversity levels and current age, and these markers evolve as aging proceeds.

Maternal obesity is associated with a sex-specific epigenetic programming in human neonatal monocytes.

To determine changes in global DNA methylation in monocytes from neonates of women with obesity, as markers of an immune programming resulting from maternal obesity. Cord blood monocytes were obtained from neonates born to women with obesity and normal weight, genome-wide differentially methylated CpGs were determined using an Infinium MethylationEPIC-BeadChip (850K). No clustering of samples according to maternal BMI was observed, but sex-specific analysis revealed 71,728 differentially methylated CpGs in female neonates from women with obesity (p < 0.

Epigenetic mechanisms activated by childhood adversity.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACE) impair health and life expectancy and may result in an epigenetic signature that drives increased morbidity primed during early stages of life. This literature review focuses on the current evidence for epigenetic-mediated programming of brain and immune function resulting from ACE. To address this aim, a total of 88 articles indexed in PubMed before August 2019 concerning ACE and epigenetics were surveyed.

Clinico-Pathologic Subtypes of Breast Cancer Primary Tumors Are Related to Prognosis after Recurrence.

Background: Pathological factors, based mainly on immunohistochemistry (IHC) and histological differentiation, are mostly used to differentiate breast cancer (BC) subtypes. Our present aim was to describe the characteristics and survival of a relapsing BC patient cohort based on clinico-pathologic subtypes determined for the primary tumors. Methods: We used a clinico- pathological definition of BC subtypes based on histological grade (HG), estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR),and epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) expression assessed by IHC.

High prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in women with breast cancer: The first Chilean study.

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the leading cause of female death from malignancy worldwide. One factor that has been associated to a higher incidence and poor prognosis is a Vitamin D deficiency (measured as 25-Hydroxi-Vitamin D (25OHD)). Our aim was to determine 25OHD levels in serum samples of Chilean BC patients before endocrine therapy and its association to clinical parameters at the time of diagnosis.

Correlation between Ki67 and histological grade in breast cancer patients treated with preoperative chemotherapy.

Background And Aim: Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease and cell proliferation markers may help to identify subtypes of clinical interest. We here analyzed the correlation between cell proliferation determined by Ki67 and HG in BC patients undergoing preoperative chemotherapy (PCT).

Materials And Methods: We obtained clinical/pathological data from patients with invasive BC treated at our institution from 1999 until 2012.

[Possible pathogenetic role of 11 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11betaHSD1) gene polymorphisms in arterial hypertension].

Background: Cortisol has been implicated in hypertension and lately reported to be regulated at the pre-receptor level by the 11betaHSD1 enzyme, which converts cortisone (E) to cortisol (F). Over-expression of this enzyme in adipose tissue could determine an increase in available cortisol that interacts with the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in renal, brain and heart tissue, leading to similar hypertensive effects as in 11betaHSD2 impaired patients. Several polymorphisms have been reported in HSDl IB 1 gene (CAI5, CAI9 and InsA83557), which could modify HSDl IB 1 gene expression or activity.

A novel adrenocorticotropin receptor mutation alters its structure and function, causing familial glucocorticoid deficiency.

Context: Familial glucocorticoid deficiency (FGD) is an autosomal recessive disorder characterized by unresponsiveness to ACTH. In this study, two mutations of the ACTH receptor (MC2R) gene are reported in this FGD clinical case.

Objective: The objective of the study was to characterize a novel MC2R gene mutation in a compound heterozygous patient with FGD phenotype.

Refractory depression in a patient with peripheral resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) and the effect of triiodothyronine treatment.

We here described a 39-year-old woman with a severe chronic mood disorder, refractory to antidepressive therapy who showed a significant improvement after a self-prescription of high doses of liothyronine (T(3)). A modified Refetoff protocol was carried out to study the role of thyroid hormones on her clinical and biochemical responses. Depression severity was assessed by the HAM-D and MADRS Depression Rating Scales.

A possible association between primary aldosteronism and a lower beta-cell function.

Objective: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common secondary cause of hypertension and recently has been implicated as a cause of impaired glucose tolerance. We investigated the glucose insulin sensitivity and insulin secretion in patients with idiopathic primary aldosteronism.

Design: Thirty PA patients and 60 essential hypertensive (EH) patients as controls were included, matched (1: 2) by their body mass index (BMI) (29.