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INTRODUCTION: Systemic therapy of patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) has improved in the past years, with the advent of new immunotherapy-based combinations as a standard treatment option for first-line therapy. Nevertheless, particularly in good-risk patients by IMDC criteria, tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKI) may remain as an option for some patients. We reviewed our experience with TKI as first-line therapy for mRCC patients, trying to identify subgroups of patients that may still benefit from this strategy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All patients with mRCC treated with first-line TKI, and adequate follow-up, in University Hospital La Paz (Madrid, Spain) between 2007 and 2020 were analyzed. Patients treated inside a clinical trial were excluded from this analysis. RESULTS: A total of 90 patients treated with first-line TKI were included. Regarding IMDC criteria, 33 patients (36.7%) were good-risk, 41 patients (45.5%) intermediate-risk, and 16 patients (17.8%) poor-risk. With a median follow-up of 49 months, the median overall survival (OS) for good, intermediate, and poor-risk patients was 54, 24, and 16 months (p = 0.004). When intermediate-risk was divided into patients with 1 or 2 risk factors, differences in OS were also statistically significant: patients with 1 risk factor had a median OS of 33 months, while patients with 2 risk factors had a median OS of 16 months, the same as poor-risk patients (p = 0.003). In the multivariate analysis, trying to find out which of the IMDC factors had a more remarkable weight in the prognosis of the patients, both ECOG and hemoglobin levels by themselves were significantly associated with OS. CONCLUSION: In our group of patients, survival outcomes were different among patients with intermediate-risk with 1 or 2 risk factors by IMDC criteria. These could help select patients that may benefit from first-line treatment with a TKI, particularly in settings with difficult access to novel therapies, such as immunotherapy-based combinations.

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The paper studies the changes in physicochemical properties of three types of hydroxyapatite (HAp): HAp-HB (from bovine sources), HAp-SC (chemically synthesized), and bioinspired HAp-SE (synthesized using eggshells) calcined under identical thermally controlled conditions from room temperature to 400, 500, 600, 650, 680, 700, 720, 750, 800, and 900 °C in furnace air. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated distinct thermal transitions and coalescence phenomena at different temperatures for these samples due to their sources and mineral composition differences. Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) showed that HAp-H (human), HAp-HB (bovine), and HAp-SE (bioinspired) have similar Ca, P, and Mg contents. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the coalescence phenomena increased in the crystallite size as the temperature increased. X-Ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed partial phase changes in the bioinspired sample (HAp-SE) and crystallite growth in all samples, resulting in full width at the half maximum (FWHM) and peak position alterations. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that HAp-SE exhibited a partial phase change due to dehydroxylation and the presence of functional groups (PO43-, OH, and CO32-) with varying vibrational modes influenced by the obtained method and calcination temperature. Raman spectra of the HAp-SE samples exhibited fluorescence at 400 °C and revealed vibrational modes of surface P-O. It observed the bands of the internal phosphates of the crystal lattice and shifts in the band positions at higher temperatures indicated phosphorus interacting with carbon and oxygen, triggering dehydroxylation.

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BACKGROUND: Families living from artisanal fisheries are vulnerable to food insecurity. OBJECTIVE: This research aimed to assess the determinants and consequences of food insecurity in artisanal fishing families from the coastal community of Sonora, Mexico, and to understand how these families face food insecurity. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study with 116 mothers. A socioeconomic, demographic, and nutritional knowledge survey was applied to assess determinants. A survey about food in the community and food security scale were collected to evaluate food insecurity and two 24-hour dietary recalls and anthropometric measures to assess consequences. Field notes about facing food insecurity were collected. RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent of families have food insecurity. Being above the poverty line, higher father education, knowing how many glasses of water should be drunk per day, and how many minutes of physical activity should be done per day were associated with lower food insecurity. Not having medical service and lower mother education were associated with higher food insecurity. Higher food insecurity was associated with buying in a convenience store; higher food insecurity and higher mother education were associated with lower dietary score; and higher father education was associated with higher dietary score. Being below the extreme poverty line by income and number of children were associated with lower waist circumference; lower father education was associated with higher waist circumference of mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Artisanal fishing families residing in the coastal community of Sonora, Mexico, experience high food insecurity associated with social and economic determinants and their dietary quality.

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Introducción: La adaptación del corazón humano al acondicionamiento físico ha sido un tema de interés médico-científico, pues el remodelado cardíaco que comprende variación en el tamaño, forma, grosor de las paredes, y masa ventricular responde al tipo de actividad física. Objetivo: Determinar las modificaciones anatómicas del ventrículo izquierdo en kayacistas y canoístas femeninos y masculinos de alto rendimiento. Material y Métodos: Se realizó un estudio prospectivo, descriptivo de corte transversal en deportistas de canotaje de alto rendimiento que acudieron al Instituto de Medicina del Deporte durante la preparación especial con vistas a participar en los Juegos Olímpicos de Rio de Janeiro 2016. La muestra se conformó con 20 deportistas que cumplieron los criterios de inclusión establecidos, se recogieron los resultados de los diferentes parámetros ecocardiográficos que fueron estudiados para comprobar si existía modificación anatómica del ventrículo izquierdo (MAVI). Se empleó la estadística descriptiva e inferencial. Resultados: Edad promedio 20,9 ± 1,18 años, predominio del sexo masculino (65 por ciento); kayak (60 por ciento) y velocidad (55 por ciento) fueron las disciplinas deportivas y modalidades competitivas predominantes , fue frecuente la hipertrofia concéntrica en ambos sexos (65 por ciento), la edad deportiva de igual o menos de 10 años (60 por ciento), espesor relativo de la pared aumentado (65 por ciento), el índice AKS mayor se encontró en la hipertrofia excéntrica (1,3 por ciento) y el porciento de grasa predominante fue en la hipertrofia concéntrica para un (7,9 por ciento). Conclusiones: El espesor relativo de la pared ventricular tuvo una relación significativa con la modalidad competitiva(AU)

Introduction: The adaptation of the human heart to physical conditioning has been a medical and scientific topic of interest where cardiac remodeling involving changes in size, form, thickness of the walls and ventricular mass responds to the type of physical activity. Objective: To determine the anatomical modifications of the left ventricle in high performance male and female canoeing and kayaking athletes. Material and methods: A prospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in high performance canoeing athletes that attended the Instituto de Medicina del Deporte during the special training in view of the preparation for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, 2016. The sample was composed of 20 athletes that fulfilled the established inclusion criteria. The results of the different echocardiographic parameters were collected and analyzed in order to check whether there were anatomical modifications of the left ventricle (AMLV). Differential and descriptive statistics were used. Results: The average age was 20, 9 ± 1, 18 years, the male sex predominated in the study (65 percent), kayak (60 percent) and velocity (55 percent) were the predominant sports disciplines and competitive modalities, respectively. Concentric hypertrophy in both sexes (65 percent), sporting age of 10 years or less (60 percent), and increase in relative wall thickness (65 percent) were frequent; the highest AKS index was found in eccentric hypertrophy (1,3 percent) and predominant fat percentage was observed in concentric hypertrophy (7,9 percent). Conclusions: The relative thickness of the ventricular wall had a significant relationship with the competitive modalities(AU)

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Ultrasound (US) has been used in many food systems and model systems, such as starch, whey protein concentrates and soy, to modify their chemical and techno-functional properties. At present, the use of ultrasound has yielded diverse results, ranging from potentiating the technological and functional properties of various foods to different operating conditions. Similarly, the results that were obtained vary according to the ultrasonic equipment used and the power, frequency and times of sonication, as well as the characteristics of the food system used. However, not all results have been favourable because US can cause damage to the structure of some food components, such as starch, and affect the technological and functional properties of the food. In the literature, there is little research on the effect of sonication on fibre; this gap in the literature is worrisome because fibre is found in a wide variety of foods and provides health benefits. Such research would represent an opportunity for researchers to make use of this technology for the generation of knowledge and improve the techno-functional properties in fibre, which could benefit the human population and the food industry. In this review, we present current results obtained with US in different treatments affecting processes of strong importance in the food industry, emphasizing the effects in the different model systems.

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The aim of the study was to evaluate the physical and mechanical properties of the nut and kernel of the Mexican pink pinion (Pinus pinea L.), as well as the physicochemical and functional properties of whole pink pinion meal (WPPM) as well defatted pink pinion meal (DPPM). The length, width, thickness, geometric diameter, arithmetic diameter, sphericity, aspect ratio, surface area, volume, density and hardness of the nut were higher than those of the kernels. The kernel had the highest coefficient of friction, while the nut had the highest angle of repose. WPPM had high fat and protein contents, at 40.5 g/100 g and 41.1 g/100 g, respectively. The major component of DPPM was protein (64.85 g/100 g). The DPPM had higher water absorption, oil absorption, emulsifying and lower gelation capacities (4%), indicating that the meal is a potential source of protein isolates or additives for functional foods and WPPM in food formulations.

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Mojarra of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) skeleton was used as protein source for the preparation of protein hydrolysates and peptide fractions with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity. The flour presented a content of 34.92% protein and a brightness (luminosity, L*) of 82.29. Protein hydrolysates were obtained from the protein-rich flour with the enzymes Flavourzyme® and Alcalase® reaching degree of hydrolysis (%DH) of 52% and 67% at 100 min of reaction, respectively. Both hydrolysates showed low-molecular-weight (MW) peptides estimated by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The hydrolysates obtained with Flavourzyme at 60 min and at 80 min with Alcalase showed greater ACE inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 0.238 and 0.344 mg/mL, respectively. The peptide fraction A (MW >10 kDa) with Flavourzyme and fraction B (MW = 10-5 kDa) with Alcalase obtained by ultrafiltration of hydrolysates with higher DH presented IC50 of 0.728 and 0.354 mg/mL, respectively, whereas peptide fraction C (MW = 5-3 kDa) with both enzymes hydrolysates with greater ACE inhibitory activity showed IC50 values of 0.470 and 0.634 mg/mL. The components obtained in this study could be used as functional ingredients in the design and development of functional foods.

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Palaemonetes argentinus, an abundant freshwater prawn species in the northern and central region of Argentina, has been used as a bioindicator of environmental pollutants as it displays a very high sensitivity to pollutants exposure. Despite their extraordinary ecological relevance, a lack of genomic information has hindered a more thorough understanding of the molecular mechanisms potentially involved in detoxification processes of this species. Thus, transcriptomic profiling studies represent a promising approach to overcome the limitations imposed by the lack of extensive genomic resources for P. argentinus, and may improve the understanding of its physiological and molecular response triggered by pollutants. This work represents the first comprehensive transcriptome-based characterization of the non-model species P. argentinus to generate functional genomic annotations and provides valuable resources for future genetic studies. Trinity de novo assembly consisted of 24,738 transcripts with high representation of detoxification (phase I and II), anti-oxidation, osmoregulation pathways and DNA replication and bioenergetics. This crustacean transcriptome provides valuable molecular information about detoxification and biochemical processes that could be applied as biomarkers in further ecotoxicology studies.

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Energy buffering systems are key for homeostasis during variations in energy supply. Spiders are the most important predators for insects and therefore key in terrestrial ecosystems. From biomedical interest, spiders are important for their venoms and as a source of potent allergens, such as arginine kinase (AK, EC 2.7.3.3). AK is an enzyme crucial for energy metabolism, keeping the pool of phosphagens in invertebrates, and also an allergen for humans. In this work, we studied AK from the Argentininan spider Polybetes pythagoricus (PpAK), from its complementary DNA to the crystal structure. The PpAK cDNA from muscle was cloned, and it is comprised of 1068 nucleotides that encode a 384-amino acids protein, similar to other invertebrate AKs. The apparent Michaelis-Menten kinetic constant (Km ) was 1.7 mM with a kcat of 75 s-1. Two crystal structures are presented, the apoPvAK and PpAK bound to arginine, both in the open conformation with the active site lid (residues 310-320) completely disordered. The guanidino group binding site in the apo structure appears to be organized to accept the arginine substrate. Finally, these results contribute to knowledge of mechanistic details of the function of arginine kinase.

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The effects of amplitude and time of ultrasound-assisted extraction on the physicochemical properties and the fatty acid profile of pumpkin seed oil (Cucurbita pepo) were evaluated. Ultrasound time (5-30 min) and the response variables amplitude (25-100%), extraction yield, efficiency, oxidative stability in terms of the free fatty acids (FFA) of the plant design comprising two independent experiments variables, peroxide (PV), p-anisidine (AV), totox value (TV) and the fatty acid profile were evaluated. The results were analyzed by multiple linear regression. The time and amplitude showed significant differences (P<0.05) for all variables. The highest yield of extraction was achieved at 5 min and amplitude of 62.5% (62%). However, the optimal ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions were as follows: ultrasound time of 26.34 min and amplitude of 89.02%. All extracts showed low FFA (2.75-4.93% oleic acid), PV (1.67-4.68 meq/kg), AV (1.94-3.69) and TV (6.25-12.55) values. The main fatty acids in all the extracts were oleic and linoleic acid. Therefore, ultrasound-assisted oil extraction had increased performance and reduced extraction time without affecting the oil quality.

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Nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDK; EC 2.7.4.6) is an enzyme that catalyzes the third phosphorylation of nucleoside diphosphates, leading to nucleoside triphosphates for DNA replication. Expression of the NDK from Litopenaeus vannamei (LvNDK) is known to be regulated under viral infection. Also, as determined by isothermal titration calorimetry, LvNDK binds both purine and pyrimidine deoxynucleoside diphosphates with high binding affinity for dGDP and dADP and with no heat of binding interaction for dCDP [Quintero-Reyes et al. (2012), J. Bioenerg. Biomembr. 44, 325-331]. In order to investigate the differences in selectivity, LvNDK was crystallized as binary complexes with both acceptor (dADP and dCDP) and donor (ADP) phosphate-group nucleoside diphosphate substrates and their structures were determined. The three structures with purine or pyrimidine nucleotide ligands are all hexameric. Also, the binding of deoxy or ribonucleotides is similar, as in the former a water molecule replaces the hydrogen bond made by Lys11 to the 2'-hydroxyl group of the ribose moiety. This allows Lys11 to maintain a catalytically favourable conformation independently of the kind of sugar found in the nucleotide. Because of this, shrimp NDK may phosphorylate nucleotide analogues to inhibit the viral infections that attack this organism.

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of micronized insoluble fiber from starfruit bagasse as an ingredient of a functional food (FF) or as micronized insoluble fiber-rich fraction (IFRF) and its effects in vivo on lipids metabolism in a murine model. Experimental animals were divided in four isoproteic (15.8%) treatments differing on the fiber and cholesterol level used. The micronized IFRF particle size ranged from 37.5 to 149 µm. Treatments with added IFRF and those including the FF lowered serum triacylglycerols, total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) concentrations (IFRF: 14.2, 25.4, 55.06, and 12.18%, respectively; FF: 30.18, 39.47, 35.11, and 43.18%, respectively). IFRF produced the overall highest serum hypolipidemic effect and prevented the development of non-alcoholic fatty liver. Both the IFRF and the FF exhibited hypolipidemic effects that suggest a potential role of starfruit insoluble fiber as a component of FFs aimed against cardiovascular diseases.

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Arginine kinase (AK) is a key enzyme for energetic balance in invertebrates. Although AK is a well-studied system that provides fast energy to invertebrates using the phosphagen phospho-arginine, the structural details on the AK-arginine binary complex interaction remain unclear. Herein, we determined two crystal structures of the Pacific whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) arginine kinase, one in binary complex with arginine (LvAK-Arg) and a ternary transition state analog complex (TSAC). We found that the arginine guanidinium group makes ionic contacts with Glu225, Cys271 and a network of ordered water molecules. On the zwitterionic side of the amino acid, the backbone amide nitrogens of Gly64 and Val65 coordinate the arginine carboxylate. Glu314, one of proposed acid-base catalytic residues, did not interact with arginine in the binary complex. This residue is located in the flexible loop 310-320 that covers the active site and only stabilizes in the LvAK-TSAC. This is the first binary complex crystal structure of a guanidine kinase in complex with the guanidine substrate and could give insights into the nature of the early steps of phosphagen biosynthesis.

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Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), a member of the sliding clamp family of proteins, interacts specifically with DNA replication and repair proteins through a small peptide motif called the PCNA-interacting protein or PIP box. PCNA is recognized as one of the key proteins involved in DNA metabolism. In the present study, the recombinant PCNA from Litopenaeus vannamei (LvPCNA) was heterologously overexpressed and purified using metal ion-affinity chromatography. Crystals suitable for diffraction grew overnight using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method. LvPCNA crystals belong to space group C2 with unit-cell parameters a=144.6, b=83.4, c=74.3 Å, ß=117.6°. One data set was processed to 3 Šresolution, with an overall Rmeas of 0.09 and a completeness of 93.3%. Initial phases were obtained by molecular replacement using a homology model of LvPCNA as the search model. Refinement and structural analysis are underway. This report is the first successful crystallographic analysis of a marine crustacean decapod shrimp (L. vannamei) proliferating cell nuclear antigen.

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La Epilepsia es una enfermedad crónica que en muchos casos se encuentra ligada a conceptos mágico-religiosos que condicionan rechazo social. Objetivo: Elaborar y validar un cuestionario que permita medir el grado de conocimientos y creencias sobre epilepsia en los padres de familia. Material y métodos: Se realizó un estudio transversal para la construcción de un instrumento válido y confiable. Se determinó la validez cualitativa por medio del análisis de expertos y la validez cuantitativa, (confiabilidad y validez interna), a través del cálculo del KR-20, el índice de correlación intraclase y el índice de discriminación, respectivamente. Resultados: El coeficiente KR- 20 fue de 0,89 y el coeficiente de correlación intraclase 0,986, ambos considerados como valores altos. Además, se obtuvo valores para el índice de discriminación de cada ítem dentro de los límites aceptados. Conclusiones: El instrumento elaborado es válido y confiable.

Epilepsy is a chronic disease that is mostly associated with magic-religious concepts that generate social rejection. Objective: To develop and validate a questionnaire that allows measurement of the degree of knowledge and beliefs on epilepsy in parents. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to develop and validate a valid and reliable instrument. Qualitative validity of the instrument was performed by analysis of experts, and quantitative validity (reliability and internal validity) was evaluated by calculating KR-20, index of intra-class correlation and discriminative index. Results: KR-20 coefficient was 0.89 and the intra-class correlation coefficient was 0.986, both were considered high values. In addition, the discriminative index value for each item was within accepted limits. Conclusions: The instrument developed is valid and reliable.

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OBJECTIVE: To compare vascular resistance, renal volume and insulin levels in preterm infants with and without antenatal steroids. METHODS: We studied 61 preterm infants (37 with (group A) and 24 without antecedent of antenatal steroids (group B)). We measured insulin levels at birth in cord blood samples. Ultrasound measurements to evaluate renal arteries resistance index and renal volume were performed during the first 72 h of birth. RESULTS: Preterm infants from group A tended to have lower weight and gestational age than those from group B. Resistance index in renal arteries was lower in preterm infants with steroid therapy compared with group B (right renal artery 0.73 vs. 0.80; P=0.001, and left renal artery 0.75 vs. 0.79; P=0.01, respectively). Renal volume and insulin levels were not different between the groups. In the multiple regression analysis for factors associated with resistance index of renal arteries, only antenatal steroids use was included in the model (R2=0.13; P=0.003 and R2=0.10; P=0.01 for left and right renal arteries, respectively). CONCLUSION: Antenatal dexamethasone in preterm infants during the first 72 h of birth seems to decrease resistance index in renal arteries without affecting renal volume and insulin levels.

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Se evaluó la precisión diagnóstica de la ecocardiografía de estrés con dobutamina y con dipiridamol en 15 pacientes con angina de esfuerzo estable, a los que se les realizó una coronarografía cuya indicación no estaba relacionada con los objetivos de este estudio. La sensibilidad global de la estrés ecocardiografía con dobutamina (100 porciento) fue superior a la del dipiridamol (77 porciento). La especificidad fue del 50 porciento para ambas pruebas y la precisión diagnóstica fue mayor para la dobutamina. La concordancia para cada vaso también resultó superior en el test con dobutamina al igual que el índice de movilidad de la pared entre el reposo y el pico estrés. La fracción de eyección del ventrículo izquierdo disminuyó significativamente durante el test con dipiridamol y tuvo un aumento no significativo en la prueba con dobutamina. Con ambos fármacos se produjeron efectos colaterales pero ninguno obligó a la suspensión de la prueba

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