We use a simple method for evaluating antioxidative status, by measuring the redox potential of urine, and correlate the findings with measures of anxiety and depression. We include 63 individuals (28 males and 35 females aged between 20 and 65 years). The validated anxiety State-Trait Anxiety Inventory questionnaire and the validated BDI (Beck Depression Inventory) questionnaire were used to evaluate anxiety and depression. Antioxidative status was determined by measuring the redox potential of urine collected in standard conditions. Correlation of the antioxidant capacity of urines evaluated using the ferric ion/specific dye method or through redox potential using the platinum electrode demonstrated the suitability of this last procedure. We found that normal anxiety state values corresponded to low urine redox potentials, whereas higher anxiety states were associated with high urinary redox potential. We also found that individuals with normal BDI values had significantly lower urine redox potentials than individuals with higher BDI values.

Cereblon is the direct binding target of the immunomodulatory drugs that are commonly used to treat Multiple Myeloma, the second most frequent hematologic malignancy. Patients respond well to initial IMiD treatment but virtually all develop drug resistance over time with the underlying mechanisms poorly understood. We identified a yet undescribed DNA hypermethylation in an active intronic CRBN enhancer. Differential hypermethylation in this region was found increased in healthy plasma cells, but more pronounced in IMiD refractory MM. Methylation significantly correlated with decreased CRBN expression levels. DNTMi in vitro experiments induced CRBN enhancer demethylation and sensitizing effects on Lenalidomide treatment were observed in two MM cell lines. Thus, we provide first evidence that aberrant CRBN DNA methylation is a novel mechanism of IMiD resistance in Multiple Myeloma and may predict IMiD response prior treatment.

Calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) papillary calculi can be initiated by subepithelial calcification of the renal papillae. Hydroxyapatite disruption of the papillary epithelial layer can become the nidus of a COM papillary calculus. This study evaluated the causes of papillary tissue calcifications in 60 patients with calcium oxalate lithiasis, 30 with COM papillary and 30 with calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) calculi. Urinary redox potential was higher in the COM than the COD group, suggesting that the former is more deficient in antioxidants due to increased oxidative stress. Urinary calcium was significantly higher in the COD group, whereas urinary oxalate was significantly higher in the COM group, suggesting a greater degree of oxidative injury of renal cells. Evaluations of their diets showed that both groups consumed low amounts of phytate-rich products. Of chronic diseases possibly associated with urolithiasis, only the prevalence of gastroduodenal ulcer differed significantly, being higher in the COM group and suggesting that epithelial lesions are common to gastroduodenal ulcers and COM papillary renal stones. Occupational exposure to cytotoxic products occurred in 47 % of the COM and 27 % of the COD group, but this difference was not statistically significant. These findings indicate that oxidative stress is associated with injury to papillary tissue and that this is the origin of intrapapillary calcifications. The continuation of this process is due to modulators and/or deficiencies in inhibitors of crystallization. Identifying and eliminating the causes of injury may prevent recurrent episodes in patients with papillary COM calculi.

The use of viral vectors for transgenic expression of immunogenic proteins is a current trend in the poultry industry. The objective of this work was to assess the protection against the variant E of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), conferred by day-one vaccination with a commercial recombinant herpesvirus of turkey (HVT) vaccine (VAXXITEK) expressing the immunogenic viral protein 2 from a classical IBDV. In separate trials, 1-day-old specific-pathogen-free (SPF) or broiler chickens were vaccinated by the subcutaneous route and challenged with the variant E strain at 18 or 28 days of age. Bursa/body weight ratio and bursal histopathology were assessed as protection criteria. Protection was demonstrated at both challenge points, bursal indexes in vaccinated SPF and broiler groups were significantly higher than in the challenged controls. The commercial vaccine protected against bursal damage as indicated by significantly lower bursal lesion scores in the vaccinated birds. These experimental results indicate that a single dose of the recombinant HVT-IBDV confers protection against variant E challenge even though the VP2 expressed by the recombinant herpes virus belongs to a standard strain.