Bacterial translocation detected by microbiological cultures and MALDI-TOF showed that Escherichia coli predominates in mesenteric lymph nodes of BDL rats. Intestinal bacterial load analyzed by qPCR indicates a dramatic Escherichia/Shigella overgrowth at 8 and 30 days post-BDL. IFN-γ, IL-4, and IL-17 evaluated by Western blotting were increased at 8 and 30 days in the small intestine. In the colon, in contrast, only IFN-γ was significantly increased. The colonic mucus layer and mucin-2 expression determined by Alcian blue staining and immunohistochemistry surprisingly showed an increase in the mucus layer thickness related to increased mucin-2 expression during the entire process of liver damage. Hepatic enzymes, as well as collagen I, collagen III, TNF-α, and IL-6 liver gene expression were increased. In conclusion, bacterial overgrowth associated with bacterial translocation is linked to the over-expression of IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-17 and mucin-2. These molecules might facilitate the intestinal permeability through exacerbating the inflammatory process and disturbing tight junctions, leading to the perpetuation of the liver damage.

Background SARS‐CoV‐2 has become a global pandemic due to its capacity for rapid transmission. In this context, an early and rapid diagnosis of infected patients that do not require expensive equipment or highly trained personnel is crucial in order to reduce the contagious rate. The aim of this study was to evaluate a chromatographic immunoassay's performance for the rapid diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐antigen. Methods A cross‐sectional study included 369 adults from Western México with diagnosis or suspicion of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Two samples were collected; a naso‐oropharyngeal was used for a molecular determination of SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA. The molecular analysis was carried out using DeCoV19 Kit Triplex (Genes2life S.A.P.I.) based on the CDC diagnostic panel for N1, N2, and N3 regions. The second sample was retrieved from a nasopharyngeal rub and used for the rapid diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2 antigen employing the commercial STANDARD™ Q COVID‐19 Ag Test (SD BIOSENSOR). Results Overall, in 28.2% of the patients was detected the SARS‐CoV‐2 RNA, and 21.4% were positive for antigen detection. The rapid antigen test showed a sensitivity and specificity of 75.9% and 100%, respectively, with a positive predictive and negative values of 100% and 91%. Symptoms as anosmia presented a high OR for the positive diagnosis for both test, reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR), and the rapid antigen test of 8.86 (CI = 4.91–16) and 6.09 (CI = 3.42–10.85), respectively. Conclusion SD BIOSENSOR is a useful assay, but some caveats must be considered before the general implementation.

The results demonstrate ethnic, race, age and gender disparities in iCCA incidence and survival, and confirm continued increase in iCCA incidence in the United States.

Chronic periodontitis (CP) is characterized by gingival inflammation and bone destruction. It has been reported that interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels are high in CP patients; however, the IFN-γ receptor (IFN-γR) has not been studied in gingival tissue from these patients.Objective:To evaluate IFN-γ levels and IFN-γR expression in gingival tissue biopsies from chronic periodontitis patients compared with healthy subjects (HS).Material and Methods:Gingival tissues were obtained from all study subjects, CP (n = 18) and healthy subjects (HS) (n = 12). A tissue section of each study subject was embedded in paraffin blocks to determine the expression of IFN-γ R (IFN-γR1 and IFN-γR2) through immunohistochemistry. Another section of the tissue was homogenized and IFN-γ was measured by the ELISA technique.Results:No significant differences were found in the IFN-γR1 expression within the cell layers of the gingival tissue of the study groups. When analyzing the IFN-γR2 expression it was found that IFN-γR2 is strongly expressed in the endothelial cells of CP patients when compared to HS (p<0.05). IFN-γ concentrations in the gingival tissue were significantly higher in CP patients than in HS. No significant correlation between IFN-γ levels and the expression of IFN-γR1 and IFN-γR2 was found. However, a positive correlation between IFN-γ levels and clinical parameters [probing depth (PD) and clinical attachment level (CAL)] was found.Conclusion:The study of IFN-γR expression in gingival tissue samples from patients with CP showed an increase only in the IFN-γR2 chain in endothelial cells when compared to HS.

ADAM10 has been implicated in the progression of various solid tumors. ADAM10 regulates the cleavage of the FasL ectodomain from the plasma membrane of different cell types, generating the soluble FasL fragment (sFasL). Currently, there are few studies in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) that correlate levels of ADAM10 and FasL in the tumor microenvironment with clinical parameters of the disease. To determine the expression of ADAM10, Fas, FasL and sFasL in patients with OSCC and its association with TNM stage. Twenty-five patients with OSCC and 25 healthy controls were included. Biopsies of tumor tissue from patients with OSCC and buccal mucosa in controls were obtained. ADAM10, Fas, and FasL were analyzed by Western blotting. sFasL was quantified by ELISA. ADAM10 and Fas decreased significantly in OSCC compared with controls. Relatedly, within the OSCC group, Fas and ADAM10 decreased in accordance with tumor disease stage; in stages I/II, as well as in tumors of smaller diameter (T1-T2), ADAM10 showed higher levels when compared to patients with T3-T4 tumors and in stage III-IV. FasL in the tumor microenvironment and serum FasL showed no significant differences between both groups. Levels of complete FasL and cleaved FasL were positively correlated in controls; this correlation is preserved in patients with tumors in early stages (I-II), but is lost in later stage (III-IV). The dysregulation of ADAM10, Fas and FasL could be useful indicators of the progression and severity of OSCC.

Animal digestive systems host microorganism ecosystems, including integrated bacteria, viruses, fungi, and others, that produce a variety of compounds from different substrates with healthy properties. Among these substrates, α-galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are considered prebiotics that promote the grow of gut microbiota with a metabolic output of Short Chain Fatty Acids (SCFAs). In this regard, we evaluated Lupinus albus GOS (LA-GOS) as a natural prebiotic using different animal models. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of LA-GOS on the gut microbiota, SCFA production, and intestinal health in healthy and induced dysbiosis conditions (an ulcerative colitis (UC) model). Twenty C57BL/6 mice were randomly allocated in four groups (n = 5/group): untreated and treated non-induced animals, and two groups induced with 2% dextran sulfate sodium to UC with and without LA-GOS administration (2.5 g/kg bw). We found that the UC treated group showed a higher goblet cell number, lower disease activity index, and reduced histopathological damage in comparison to the UC untreated group. In addition, the abundance of positive bacteria to butyryl-CoA transferase in gut microbiota was significantly increased by LA-GOS treatment, in healthy conditions. We measured the SCFA production with significant differences in the butyrate concentration between treated and untreated healthy groups. Finally, the pH level in cecum feces was reduced after LA-GOS treatment. Overall, we point out the in vivo health benefits of LA-GOS administration on the preservation of the intestinal ecosystem and the promotion of SCFA production.

Aim Intestinal dysfunction in cirrhosis patients is linked to death by bacterial infections. Currently, there is no effective therapy for this complication. This study aims to evaluate butyrate, a novel postbiotic, on the intestinal inflammatory response, tight junction proteins and the microbiota in the cholestasis model. Methods and Results Wistar rats underwent 15 days of bile duct ligation (BDL). We administered butyrate at a concentration of 1%. The BDL group did not receive treatment. The results showed that butyrate could significantly reduce pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐17A, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α) in the ileum and colon while promoting IL‐10 expression in the colon. Moreover, it significantly promotes tight junction protein (cld‐1, occludin and ZO‐1) expression in the ileum. A similar effect was observed in the colon except for ZO‐1. Additionally, butyrate limited taxa diversity loss and promoted probiotic genera expansion such as Lachnospira, Prevotella and Lactobacillus. The increase in Turicibacter and Clostridiaceae distinguished the BDL group. Conclusions Butyrate is effective in regulating the inflammatory response, tight junction proteins and limits bacterial diversity loss. Significance and Impact of the Study This research reveals that butyrate could represent an interesting postbiotic metabolomic intervention for intestinal epithelium dysfunction in liver disease.

Natural killer (NK) cells play a crucial role in cervical cancer (CC). As estrogens and prolactin (PRL) have been reported to be involved in CC, the present study attempted to elucidate the effects of both hormones on NK cells in CC. For this purpose, NKL cells, as well as CC-derived cell lines (HeLa, SiHa and C33A) and non-tumorigenic keratinocytes (HaCaT cells) were stimulated with 17β-estradiol (E2; 10 nM), PRL (200 ng/ml), or both (E2 and PRL) for 48 h. The expression of hormone receptors (estrogen receptor α and β, G protein-coupled estrogen receptor 1 and PRL receptor) and NK cell activating receptors [natural killer group 2D (NKG2D), natural cytotoxicity triggering receptor 3, natural cytotoxicity triggering receptor 2 and natural cytotoxicity triggering receptor 1] were measured using western blot analysis and flow cytometry, respectively. In the HeLa, SiHa, C33A and HaCaT cells stimulated with the hormones, the expression of NKG2D ligands [MHC class I polypeptide-related sequence A/B (MICA/B)] on the membrane and the soluble form of MICA was evaluated using flow cytometry and ELISA. Cytotoxicity assay was performed using GFP-transfected K562 cells as target cells. E2 reduced NKL cell-mediated cytotoxicity, while PRL exerted the opposite effect. NKL cells expressed different hormone receptor forms, of which PRL only induced a decrease in NKG2D expression compared to the untreated control NKL cells. PRL increased MICA/B expression in HeLa cells and E2 and PRL reversed this effect. However, in SiHa cells, the concurrent incubation with the two hormones decreased MICA/B expression. E2 and PRL, either alone or in combination, decreased soluble MICA secretion in all CC cell lines, while E2 solely increased soluble MICA secretion in SiHa cells. On the whole, the present study provides evidence that E2 and PRL mediate the mechanisms through which NK and CC cells mediate a cytotoxic response and these have an antagonistic effect on NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity.