Fighting against cancer: one step further

Imprimir entrada

The CNIO (Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) has found a new possible pharmacological target against one of the most important and evasive oncogene: c-MYC

The MYC oncogene is related to many types of cancer, some of which are very aggressive. For this reason, researchers suspect that controlling its activity would be the key for new treatments. Unfortunately, research in this oncogene are stuck, since MYC is very  resistant to therapeutic manipulation.

Looking for possible indirect solutions, Spanish researchers had identified a protein that is essential for MYC to cause cancer in mouse models: a new possible target for future anti-cancer drugs.

More about MYC:

• Is one of the main proteins that regulate gene expression in cells
• Most of regulating proteins act on <1% of the genes in the genome
• MYC regulates + 15% (2.000-3.000 genes)!!

• Intervenes in many cellular functions:
• Cellular growth
• Proliferation
• Differentiation
• Apoptosis

What's more, the head of the CNIO's Epithelial Carcinogenesis Group has also said   "MYC is really a general controller of cell activity; it is one of the few genes, that if eliminated, makes cells unviable"

• When deregulated, it promotes the formation of multiple types of cancer:
• Pancreas
• Colon
• Ovary
• Lymphomas

• It is altered in >50% of human cancers. And often associated with very aggressive tumors -> reason for being targeted 

The identified gene is called BPTF. When BPTF becomes inactive, cells do not grow, so it's a potentially important gene in cancer. This has also been explained in the published article by the researchers: "we saw that when we perturbed the function of BPTF, this affected many genes that are known to depend on MYC; this led us to think that MYC needs BPTF for tis biological functions". Indeed, in a mouse model of pancreatic cancer dependent on MYC they have showed that by inhibiting the action of BPTF, the aggressiveness of the tumors is reduced.

If you're interested in this study and you want to know more details, I give you the URL where you can found the entire article published 5th January 2016 in Nature Communications:

BPTF is required for c-MYC transcriptional activity and in vivo tumorigenesis

Carlos Matallanas and ALS

Some of you probably have already bought all your Christmas presents. But for those of you who are waiting for a good gift, I can show you an option.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a disease characterized by neuronal death. The cause is not fully known, but there is percentage that is inherited. There is not a cure right now and most people die due to respiratory failure. The disease mainly affects muscles and that's why there is stiffness and weakness.

This disease happened to a young journalist, Carlos Matallanas that one day he went to the doctor after felling some weird sensations in his tonge and his speach. He didn't suffer any shock, even knowing the end of this pathology. For this reason, he started writting a blog in which he tries to explain how he feels and how the ALS is being gradually affecting his day.


As I told you before, the cause of this disease is unknown and it is important to have some research about this topic. He decided, as a patient, to start writting a book telling all his experiences. All the benefits obtained will be given to finance a research involving the genetical analysis of the patients suffering this condition. The book cost 15 euros and it is available in Vips and El Corte Inglés.

In his blog, he also tries to make people aware of this disease by posting some informative and educational post. http://blogs.elconfidencial.com/alma-corazon-vida/mi-batalla-contra-la-ela/


He never felt tired and he never has decided to give up, for this reason I consider that as medical students we should try to contribute in discovering more and more in order to help our patients in the future.

Viruses: are they our "new friends"?

We have been fighting against bacteria through antibiotics, but bacterial resistance is an increasing concerning issue. For this reason, new lines of investigation are focusing in something that was discovered during the 20th century: bacteriophages (also called phages). Its name tells us everything: they eat bacterias (literally). 

How is the study going to be?

The first step is isolating natural phages from different environments. Then examine their activity against the main pathogen bacterias and finally test them as antibacterial agents in experimental animals.

However, some of the new studies are not based on complete phages, but by isolating some of their proteic components such as Tailokines and Lisines that are involved in fixation and breaking the bacterial cell wall, respectively. Both of them have lethal effects on the host and can be genetically manipulated to attack different bacterial varieties.

Which bacterial families have been selected as targets?

As mentioned before, those in which there's an increasing developing resistance against antibiotics. Some of them are:

• Pseudomonas aeruginosa: responsible for severe lung and kidney infections. They are highly resistant to antibiotics
• Staphylococcus aureus: commonly causes skin and respiratory infections. It's also the responsible for some intoxications. The increasing resistance to Vancomycin, gives us no more antibiotic options to those people suffering from VRSA
• Clostridium difficile: causes a colitis type that's frequently resistant to antibiotics

Has this ever been studied before?

Yes. Some drugs have achieved clinical trials phase I (to determine if they are tolerated by the body) and phase II (to establish their efficacy in a small scale)

Which has been the more successful study?

It's known as PHAGOBURN and it's focused on the treatment of infections related with burns. It started in 2013 and is funded by the European Commission. In the project are involved Pherecydes Pharma (French biotechnology laboratories) and more than 10 hospitals from France, Belgium and Switzerland.

In fact, some drugs based on bacteriophages are already in the market, although they aren't used to treat patients, but to help food industry to avoid contaminations by E. coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes. In this case, regulatory procedures are faster and less exigent, since they do not precise clinical trials.

We'll have to wait until next year (June) to know the conclusion of Phagoburn. Would it be the beginning of a new era?

Bibliography:

El País: Este virus podría curarte [Internet]. Madrid: Javier Sampedro (10 de diciembre de 2015). Available from: http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/12/09/ciencia/1449684423_617874.htm

BLANCA CARRERAS 

Preventing mistreatment of women during childbirth

Bad conditions and abuse during the labor is a common problem in many countries of the world. This affects both the mother and the baby. I have found a publication of WHO about this situation, particularly in Poland (not a very far place). Here there are some interesting parts of the article. I hope this will make us aware of the importance of taking care of the pregnant women and let them enjoy the childbirths and remember them as a happy experience.

Raising the voices of pregnant women in Poland

When Milena, a gynaecologist and obstetrician, began delivering babies more than 30 years ago in Poland, pregnant women did not have the right to choose how they gave birth, how to be supported by her partner in the delivery ward or share a room with her newborn.

Although Milena was a doctor, the birth of her own child lacked respect and dignity.

“When I was a birthing mum the ward closely resembled prison,” says Milena. “Being devoid of human support is a hugely stressful experience. I’m happy that now my memories are exactly that – memories.”

A campaign for change

Twenty years ago, as a response to a nationwide campaign entitled "Childbirth with dignity", Polish women began sharing their childbirth stories and advocating for respectful maternal care.

Lack of privacy, loneliness and inadequate support during birth were common themes. Most women experienced mandatory episiotomies, felt humiliated and had no choice in the administration of pain reliefs. Since babies were not rooming with their mothers after birth, breastfeeding rates were low.

 “Today more women are now enjoying their labour, they don’t feel so lonely anymore, labour is treated more as a family and intimate event. We believe it has influence on their first month at home making it easier and gentler for woman”. Infant mortality has improved: perinatal and maternal health in Poland has significantly improved since women began advocating for respectful care. Infant mortality has dropped from 1 in 66 in 1990, to 1 in 222 in 2013.

http://www.who.int/features/2015/childbirth-dignity-poland/en/

By Marta Iris

'Es tiempo de volver a casa'

La soledad es la realidad que muestra este anuncio y el mensaje, que nunca es tarde para el reencuentro. El protagonista es un anciano que llega a casa con su perro, cargado de bolsas, y empieza a escuchar en el contestador los mensajes de sus hijos lamentando que no podrán pasar la Navidad con él. Están lejos, hay trabajo...

Día tras días, el señor sufre la misma soledad. Mientras cocina, ve cómo otros vecinos sí reciben la visita de sus nietos, mientras que él come solo, con el árbol de Navidad como única compañía.

De pronto, sus hijos reciben esquelas y llamadas. Sus fiestas se tiñen de luto... hasta que descubren que el anciano había fingido su muerte. "¿Tengo que hacer esto para veros a todos juntos?", dice, lo que da paso a un estallido de alegría. El anuncio termina con el deseo cumplido del protagonista: volver a disfrutar de una cena familiar.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V6-0kYhqoRo

By Damian

January exams are coming. A little nervousness before a test is normal and can help sharpen your mind and focus your attention. But with test anxiety, feelings of worry and self-doubt can interfere with your test-taking performance and make you miserable.

 Some people may take beta-blockers or other drugs, but here are some strategies that may help reduce your test anxiety rather than taking those:

 • Learn how to study efficiently. Your school may offer study-skills classes or other resources that can help you learn study techniques and test-taking strategies. You'll feel more relaxed if you systematically study and practice the material that will be on a test.

• Establish a consistent pretest routine. Learn what works for you, and follow the same steps each time you get ready to take a test. This will ease your stress level and help assure you that you're well-prepared.

 • Learn relaxation techniques. There are a number of things you can do right before and during the test to help you stay calm and confident, such as deep breathing, relaxing your muscles one at a time, or closing your eyes and imagining a positive outcome.

 • Don't forget to eat and drink. Your brain needs fuel to function. Eat the day of the test and drink plenty of water. Avoid sugary drinks such as soda pop, which can cause your blood sugar to peak and then drop, or caffeinated beverages such as energy drinks or coffee, which can increase anxiety.

• Get some exercise. Regular aerobic exercise, and exercising on exam day, can release tension.

 • Get plenty of sleep. Sleep is directly related to academic performance. Preteens and teenagers especially need to get regular, solid sleep.

 • Talk to your teacher. Make sure you understand what's going to be on each test and know how to prepare. In addition, let your teacher know that you feel anxious when you take tests. He or she may have suggestions to help you succeed.

1st OF DECEMBER, WORLDS AIDS DAY

As we  were talking about antiviral drugs yesterday, I wanted to share this video from a project in order to finish with the stigma related to AIDS from doctors without borders. Also, remind you that the 1st of december was the world's day against AIDS.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=886FEUzsy1A