Plasma miRNAs as early biomarkers for detecting hepatocellular carcinoma.

The early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) presents a challenge because of the lack of specific biomarkers. Serum/plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) can discriminate HCC patients from controls. We aimed to identify and evaluate HCC-associated plasma miRNAs originating from the liver as early biomarkers for detecting HCC. In this multicenter three-phase study, we first performed screening using both plasma (HCC before and after liver transplantation or liver hepatectomy) and tissue samples (HCC, para-carcinoma and cirrhotic tissues). Then, we evaluated the diagnostic potential of the miRNAs in two case-control studies (training and validation sets). Finally, we used two prospective cohorts to test the potential of the identified miRNAs for the early detection of HCC. During the screening phase, we identified ten miRNAs, eight of which (miR-20a-5p, miR-25-3p, miR-30a-5p, miR-92a-3p, miR-132-3p, miR-185-5p, miR-320a and miR-324-3p) were significantly overexpressed in the HBV-positive HCC patients compared with the HBV-positive cancer-free controls in both the training and validation sets, with a sensitivity of 0.866 and specificity of 0.646. Furthermore, we assessed the potential for early HCC detection of these eight newly identified miRNAs and three previously reported miRNAs (miR-192-5p, miR-21-5p and miR-375) in two prospective cohorts. Our meta-analysis revealed that four miRNAs (miR-20a-5p, miR-320a, miR-324-3p and miR-375) could be used as preclinical biomarkers (pmeta  < 0.05) for HCC. The expression profile of the eight-miRNA panel can be used to discriminate HCC patients from cancer-free controls, and the four-miRNA panel (alone or combined with AFP) could be a blood-based early detection biomarker for HCC screening.

A dose-finding study of lanreotide (a somatostatin analog) in patients with colorectal carcinoma

BACKGROUND. Laboratory data suggest that insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGE-1) may stimulate the growth of different human tumors. At least in acromegalic patients, somatostatin (SMS) analogs, such as lanreotide, suppress the serum levels of growth hormone (GH) and IGE-1. METHODS. To evaluate the tolerability and biologic activity of different doses of lanreotide in patients with advanced colorectal carcinoma, consecutive groups of 3 patients each were subcutaneous treated with lanreotide at doses of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 mg three times a day for 2 months. In the event of Grade 3 side effects, 3 additional patients were treated with the same dose before the next dose escalation. Serum samples were obtained on Days 0, 15, 30, and 60 for serum GH, IGF-1, and lanreotide assessment. RESULTS. Twenty-four patients were enrolled and all were evaluable. Except for the 3 and 6 mg doses, for which the observation of a Grade 3 side effect required that an additional three patients be treated, it was sufficient to treat 3 patients at each dose. The overall incidence of side effects was as follows: changes in bowel habits, 83%; abdominal cramps, 79%; diarrhea, 17%; vomiting, 17%; nausea, 21%; steatorrhea, 78%; hyperglycemia, 35%; laboratory hypothyroidism, 39%; gallstones, 13%; and weight loss, 17%. No evidence of an increase in the incidence, intensity, or duration of side effects was observed with dose escalation. Serum IGF-1 levels were as follows: Day 13: 63%, 60%, and 67% of the baseline values for the low (12 mg), intermediate (3-4 mg), and high (5- 6 mg) dose groups, respectively; Day 30: 63%, 59%, and 51%, respectively; and Day 60: 73%, 69%, and 47%, respectively. Serum lanreotide levels declined during treatment in all of the dose groups (90 ng/mL on Day 15, and 35 ng/mL on Day 60 for the 5-6 mg group; 10 ng/mL on Day 15, and 1.5 ng/mL on Day 60 for the 1-2 mg group). No antitumor activity or tumor marker reduction was observed. CONCLUSIONS. No increase in toxicity was observed when subcutaneous lanreotide doses were escalated to 6 mg three times a day for 2 months. The highest doses seemed to maintain reduced serum IGF-1 levels; with the lowest doses, a 'rebound' in serum IGF-1 levels was observed during treatment. Nevertheless, intermittent subcutaneous injections do not ensure constant serum drug concentrations over time.

Logros y dificultades en la trayectoria de una empresa social : El Puente Verde

En el marco de nuevos paradigmas en torno a los derechos humanos, a finales del siglo XX, se desarrollan experiencias de educación y trabajo dirigidas a personas con discapacidad. A fines de los años 90, se crea El Puente Verde, una organización situada en el conurbano bonaerense, que desarrolla actividades formativas y productivas florihortícolas de manera agroecológica, integrando jóvenes y adultos con discapacidad. El objetivo general de este trabajo es describir el recorrido de El Puente Verde (EPV) hasta la actualidad y analizar su funcionamiento en términos sociales, productivos y económicos, identificando los factores que afectan/consolidan su funcionamiento a través de la combinación de herramientas metodológicas cualitativas y cuantitativas. Los resultados muestran que en la trayectoria de la organización se encuentran tres etapas, asociadas a su creación y consolidación como asociación, y a las crisis económicas que afrontó, que ponen en riesgo la continuidad del proceso desarrollado por EPV. Para el cumplimiento de sus actividades EPV articula con múltiples instituciones y áreas del Estado, por lo que, hasta el momento, los objetivos de la organización se siguen cumpliendo. Este trabajo pone en relieve las estrategias de educación y trabajo inclusivas, que para ser eficaces requieren de la articulación con las organizaciones del territorio. También subraya la importancia de los vínculos entre organizaciones, brindando referencias, contención y acompañamiento.

Variación de la temperatura máxima diaria primaveral en un espacio verde de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires y su relación con la brotación de las plantas

p.285-290

Evaluación de la eficacia de tratamientos químicos alternativos para el control del Pulgón Verde de los cereales

p.31-34

Regulación térmica y fotoperiódica del desarrollo de genotipos de soja verde y del crecimiento de sus granos

p.95-99

Comportamiento de cultivares de soja para consumo humano como grano verde

p.183-192

Evaluación del forraje diferido de panicum coloratum cv. verde fertilizado con nitrógeno

p.55-62