Telocytes in Cutaneous Biology: A Reappraisal

The telocytes (TCs) are novel interstitial cells that have been overlooked for a long time due to their histologic similarity to other stromal cells. TCs can be separated from the stromal cells based on their distinct immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and molecular features. Functionally, TCs are involved in the tissue renewal, mechanical support, and immune modulation. These cells are also involved in the signal transduction either through their direct interactions with the neighboring cells or through the paracrine signaling via extracellular vesicles. TCs are damaged in several inflammatory and fibrotic conditions such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, hepatic fibrosis, psoriasis, and systemic sclerosis. The transplantation of TCs in the damaged tissue can promote tissue regeneration. Therefore, enhancing tissue TCs either by their transplantation or by promoting their survival and growth using novel medications represents novel therapeutic strategy in the future. In this review, we addressed several aspects of TCs including their origin, distribution, morphologic features, and functions. We also discussed their involvement of the cutaneous TCs in the development various pathologic conditions.

Telocytes in Cutaneous Biology: A Reappraisal

The telocytes (TCs) are novel interstitial cells that have been overlooked for a long time due to their histologic similarity to other stromal cells. TCs can be separated from the stromal cells based on their distinct immunohistochemical, ultrastructural, and molecular features. Functionally, TCs are involved in the tissue renewal, mechanical support, and immune modulation. These cells are also involved in the signal transduction either through their direct interactions with the neighboring cells or through the paracrine signaling via extracellular vesicles. TCs are damaged in several inflammatory and fibrotic conditions such as ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease, hepatic fibrosis, psoriasis, and systemic sclerosis. The transplantation of TCs in the damaged tissue can promote tissue regeneration. Therefore, enhancing tissue TCs either by their transplantation or by promoting their survival and growth using novel medications represents novel therapeutic strategy in the future. In this review, we addressed several aspects of TCs including their origin, distribution, morphologic features, and functions. We also discussed their involvement of the cutaneous TCs in the development various pathologic conditions.

Biomarcadores y endotipos en la sepsis. Nuevas evidencias

ANTECEDENTES

La sepsis es una causa importante de enfermedad y muerte en todo el mundo, y es un proceso complejo y heterogéneo. Ahora se reconoce que los marcadores biológicos mejoran la clasificación de la sepsis y pueden facilitar la identificación de distintas subclases o endotipos de pacientes.

OBJETIVO

Analizar los conceptos actuales en biología traslacional que ayudan a entender la heterogeneidad en la respuesta del paciente con sepsis.

CONCLUSIONES

Hay una serie de biomarcadores que podrían ser útiles para construir endotipos compuestos que predicen resultados no complicados en la sepsis. Estos endotipos podrían ayudar a identificar a los pacientes que merecen el inicio temprano de antimicrobianos o la interrupción de estos.

BACKGROUND

Sepsis is an important cause of disease and death worldwide, and it has a complex and heterogeneous disease process. It is now recognized that biological markers improve sepsis classification and may facilitate the identification of different subclasses or endotypes of patients.

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the current concepts in translational biology that help to understand the heterogeneity in the response of the patient with sepsis.

CONCLUSIONS

There are a number of biomarkers that could be useful for constructing endo-compound types that predict uncomplicated results in sepsis. These endotypes could help identify patients who deserve early antimicrobial onset or discontinuation.

Analysis of biomedical Spanish articles retracted between 1970 and 2018

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

To analyse articles retracted due to irregularities by authors helps to determine the state of scientific integrity of a discipline or country. The Retraction Watch (RW) database is the largest worldwide database on retracted articles. The objective was to determine the reasons for and features of retracted biomedical articles by Spanish authors.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A search was conducted in the RW database of 7 types of scientific articles from 9 biomedicine disciplines -biology, genetics, medicine, microbiology, neurosciences, nutrition, dentistry, public health and toxicology-, with at least one author working in a Spanish centre, and published between 1970 and 2018. The features of the articles and the reasons for their retraction were recorded.

RESULTS

Of the 18,621 retracted articles, 217 (1%) were by Spanish authors; 155 (74%) were on biomedicine and the types of articles of interest. In most cases, there were several reasons for retracting an article. Research misconduct (fabrication, falsification, plagiarism) and duplication were involved in 25% and 35% of the cases, respectively. Twenty-two percent of the articles were retracted due to errors by the authors or the journals. A dentist retracted 18 articles -all from the same journal and in the same year, 2018-, which accounts for 12% of all retracted biomedicine articles.

CONCLUSION

The number of retracted biomedicine articles by Spanish authors is low. Research misconduct was a frequent reason, with a similar percentage of articles retracted due to honest errors.

[Acute lymphoblastic leukemia of T progenitors: from biology to clinics]

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common cancer in children and the main cause of morbidity among childhood blood disorders. There are 2 subtypes according to the affected lymphoid progenitor: B-ALL and T-ALL. The T-ALL is the less common and, although historically was associated with poor prognosis in both adults and children, at present, treatment outcomes do not differ significantly between the 2 types of ALL. The T-ALL subtype is the most complex and heterogeneous at the genetic level and currently the one with less new therapeutic alternatives available. This trend is changing thanks to the remarkable progress upon understanding its biology. This review summarizes the most recent and important biological findings in T-ALL and their possible therapeutic implications.