Rev Invest Clin
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Zika virus (ZIKV) has gained great importance worldwide since the past epidemic that occurred in 2015 in Brazil. Early identification of ZIKV is critical to minimize transmission and prevents potentially devastating consequences, including microcephaly in neonates of infected women, congenital blindness, or Guillain-Barré Syndrome. However, this is not an easy task, considering that approximately 80% of ZIKV infection cases are asymptomatic or oligosymptomatic, there are diverse modes of transmission (vertical transmission is through vectors and horizontal transmission through blood, saliva, semen, and urine from infected people), and the fact that ZIKV has a high identity percentage with other cocirculating Flaviviruses such as dengue. Here, we review ZIKV diagnostic methods, with special emphasis on the development of point-of-care diagnostic assays, since these devices commonly have two important advantages: they provide prompt screening and are affordable.
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The presence of clinically relevant mutations in KRAS and NRAS genes determines the response of anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). The only quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR)-based diagnostic tests approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) screen merely for mutations in codons 12 and 13 of KRAS. ⋯ While these kits based on qPCR can be very practical and highly sensitive, their mutation coverage ignores mutations from poorly genetically characterized populations.
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Echinococcus granulosus (Eg) is a parasite causing an incidental infection in humans. The disease can be observed as a hydatid cyst in the liver and lungs and is found in dogs and wolves as definitive hosts. It is considered a neglected infectious disease which has rarely been studied in Mexico1.
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Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic cancer. Although most patients respond adequately to the first-line therapy, up to 85% experience a recurrence of disease, which carries a poor prognosis. Mitotic arrest deficiency 1 is a protein that helps in the assembly of the mitotic spindle assembly checkpoint by preventing anaphase until all chromatids are properly aligned. A single-nucleotide polymorphism in the MAD1L1 gene is prevalent in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer and alters the way in which it responds to chemotherapy. ⋯ The rs1801368 polymorphism of MAD1L1 gene worsens prognosis in patients with ovarian adenocarcinoma. Traditional therapy for ovarian cancer might not be optimal in patients carrying this polymorphism.
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A 6 s spirometry with an inexpensive pocket spirometer efficiently selects individuals for a diagnostic-quality spirometry for airflow limitation, but could also be useful to identify individuals with a restrictive pattern. ⋯ An FEV1 < 87%P from a pre-BD 6 s spirometry correctly identified individuals with spirometric ventilatory defects, either obstructive or restrictive.