Chaperone Mediated Autophagy (CMA) is a lysosomal-dependent protein degradation pathway. At least 30% of cytosolic proteins can be degraded by this process. The two major protein players of CMA are LAMP-2A and HSC70. While LAMP-2A works as a receptor for protein substrates at the lysosomal membrane, HSC70 specifically binds protein targets and takes them for CMA degradation. Because of the broad spectrum of proteins able to be degraded by CMA, this pathway has been involved in physiological and pathological processes such as lipid and carbohydrate metabolism, and neurodegenerative diseases, respectively. Both, CMA, and the mentioned processes, are affected by aging and by inadequate nutritional habits such as a high fat diet or a high carbohydrate diet. Little is known regarding about CMA, which is considered a common regulation factor that links metabolism with neurodegenerative disorders. This review summarizes what is known about CMA, focusing on its molecular mechanism, its role in protein, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. In addition, the review will discuss how CMA could be linked to protein, lipids and carbohydrate metabolism within neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, it will be discussed how aging and inadequate nutritional habits can have an impact on both CMA activity and neurodegenerative disorders.

The relationship between the use of immunosuppressants in solid-organ transplant patients and oral tissue abnormalities has been recognized. The objective of this study was to determine the state of oral tissue integrity in renal, heart, and liver transplant patients who are on continuous medical and dental control. Forty patients of both sexes were clinically evaluated at the Clinical Hospital of the University of Chile to identify pathologies of oral mucosa, gingival enlargement (GE), decayed, missing, filled teeth (DMFT) index, and salivary flow. The average age of the transplant subjects was 49.4 years, and the age range was 19 to 69 years. Most subjects maintained a good level of oral hygiene, and the rate mean of DMFT was 14.7. The degree of involvement of the oral mucosa and GE was low (10%). Unlike other studies, the frequency of oral mucosal diseases and GE was low despite the fact that these patients were immunosuppressed. Care and continuous monitoring seem to be of vital importance in maintaining the oral health of transplant patients.

Abstract. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contained in tobacco smoke acquire carcinogenicity following their activation by xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes to highly reactive metabolites. The cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) enzyme is central to the metabolic activation of these PAHs, and GSTM1 is the main enzyme responsible for its detoxification. CYP1A1 and GSTM1 polymorphisms were evaluated in 124 Chilean healthy controls and 48 oral cancer patients through PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism. In the healthy controls, frequencies of the CYP1A1 variant alleles for m1 (CYP1A1 * 2A) and the GSTM1null genotype were found to be 0.25 and 0.19, respectively. In the oral cancer patients, these frequencies were 0.33 and 0.50, respectively. Thus, the GSTM1 and m1 rare alleles were significantly more frequent in the oral cancer patients compared to the controls. The estimated relative risk for oral cancer associated with the single genotype CYP1A1 or GSTM1 was 2.08 for wt/m1, 1.04 for m1/m1 and 4.16 for the GSTM1null genotype. For smokers, the estimated relative risk (adjusted by age and gender) was higher in the individuals carrying the m1 allele of CYP1A1 [wt/m1: odds ratio (OR)=5.68, P=0.0080; m1/m1: OR=7.77, P=0.0420] or GSTM1null genotype (OR=20.81, P<0.0001). Combined genotypes CYP1A1 and GSTM1 increased the risk significantly (wt/m1/GSTM1null: OR=19.14, P=0.0030; m1/ m1/GSTM1null: OR=21.39, P=0.0130). Taken together, these findings suggest that Chilean individuals carrying single or combined GSTM1 and CYP1A1 polymorphisms may be more susceptible to oral cancer induced by environmental tobacco smoking.

Introducción: muchos pacientes que viven con VIH-SIDA (PVVS) se sienten discriminados por su enfermedad, tanto en el ámbito social como en establecimientos de salud, incluyendo la atención odontológica. Sin embargo, en la actualidad no existen en Argentina estudios que permitan establecer las preferencias de estos pacientes al momento de acudir a un odontólogo, como el lugar donde prefieren ser atendidos, o si mencionan su condición de VIH(+), entre otros aspectos. Objetivo: determinar la apreciación de las PVVS sobre la atención odontológica en Salta, Argentina. Métodos: estudio descriptivo, de corte transversal. La población estudiada fueron sujetos que acudieron al Programa Provincial VIH/ITS de Salta entre junio y septiembre de 2015. Se recolectaron datos sociodemográficos, enfermedad de base y atención odontológica, en una encuesta diseñada para tal fin. Resultados: se encuestaron 200 PVVS: 54% de género masculino, con una edad promedio de 37 años (RIC 29,2-45), tiempo mediano de evolución de la enfermedad de 78 meses (RIC 30-126). Un 78% consultó al odontólogo en los últimos dos años y 60% utilizó establecimientos públicos como lugar de atención. Un 70% percibió que el odontólogo tiene conocimientos sobre VIH. El 50,5% manifestó su estado serológico al profesional tratante. 87% refirió que recibieron atención odontológica sin ningún prejuicio. Del 49,6% que no dio a conocer su diagnóstico, el 55% adujo miedo a la discriminación. Conclusión: si bien la apreciación de las PVVS sobre la atención odontológica fue positiva, mayoritariamente sin prejuicios, el miedo a la discriminación es la principal causa para no dar a conocer el diagnóstico al odontólogo. El trabajo interdisciplinario ayudaría a las PVVS en la atención integral, evitando ser un motivo más para la falta de adherencia al tratamiento.