Cytokines, chemokines and growth factors present different expression profiles related to the prognosis of COVID-19. We analyzed clinical parameters and assessed the expression of these biomarkers in patients with different disease severity in a hospitalized Peruvian cohort to determine those associated with worse prognosis. We measured anti-spike IgG antibodies by ELISA and 30 cytokines by quantitative suspension array technology in 123 sera samples. We analyzed differences between patients with moderate, severe and fatal COVID-19 by logistic regression at baseline and in longitudinal samples. Significant differences were found among the clinical parameters: hemoglobin, neutrophils, lymphocytes and C-reactive protein (CRP), creatinine and D-dimer levels. Higher anti-spike IgG antibody concentrations were associated to fatal patient outcomes. At hospitalization, IL-10, IL-6, MIP-1α, GM-CSF, MCP-1, IL-15, IL-5, IL1RA, TNFα and IL-8 levels were already increased in fatal patients´ group. Meanwhile, multivariable analysis revealed that increased GM-CSF, MCP-1, IL-15, and IL-8 values were associated with fatal outcomes. Moreover, longitudinal analysis identified IL-6 and MCP-1 as the main risk factors related to mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. In this Peruvian cohort we identified and validated biomarkers related to COVID-19 outcomes. Further studies are needed to identify novel criteria for stratification of SARS-CoV-2 infected patients at hospital entry. BackgroundIn the most severe forms of SARS-CoV-2 infection, large numbers of innate and adaptive immune cells become activated and begin to produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, establishing an exacerbated feedback loop of inflammation.MethodsA total of 55 patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to the Hospital Nacional Guillermo Almenara Irigoyen in Lima, Peru were enrolled during August-October 2020. Of these, 21 had moderate disease, 24 severe diseases and 10 died. We measured 30 cytokines and chemokines by quantitative suspension array technology and anti-spike IgG antibodies using a commercial ELISA. We evaluated these parameters in peripheral blood every 2-5 days until patient discharge or death. Patient information and clinical parameters related were obtained from the respective clinical histories.ResultsThe frequency of obesity differed among the 3 groups, being most frequent in patients who died. There were also significant differences in clinical parameters: hemoglobin, segmented neutrophils, lymphocytes,C-reactive protein, creatinine and D-dimer levels. Greater anti-spike IgG antibody concentrations were associated to fatal outcomes. In univariate analyses, higher baseline concentrations of IL-6, MIP-1α, GM-CSF, MCP-1, IL-15, IL-5, IL1RA, TNFα, IL-8 and IL-12p70 correlated with severity, while multivariable analysis showed that increased concentrations in 4 biomarkers (GM-CSF, MCP-1, IL-15, IL-8) were associated with fatal outcomes. Longitudinal analysis showed IL-6 (hazard ratio [HR] 6.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-28.7) and MCP-1 (HR 4.61, 95%CI 1.1-19.1) to be related to mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.ConclusionsCytokine, chemokine and growth factor profiles were identified and validated related to severity and outcomes of COVID-19. Our findings may be useful to identify novel criteria for COVID-19 patient stratification at hospital entry.

Background: Buddleja incana Ruiz & Pav. (Scrophulariaceae) is an ancestral medicinal plant from the South American Andes used in traditional medicine since the Inca culture, but little studied in its chemical components at present. The aim of this review is to gather all the scientific information about this plant in order to use it in alternative medicine and at the same time to stimulate its study in research groups in the Andean countries.Materials and methods: Several electronic search engines and specialized reference tools were used, such as Google, Google Scholar, Scopus, Web of Science, publication sites and electronic databases (Pubmed, Springer, Wiley and Science Direct).Results: Phytochemical studies have found the following chemical components:flavonoids, steroids, saponins, leukoanthocyanidins, triterpenes, phenols, tannins, reducing sugars, coumarins, alkaloids, terpenes and verbascosides. This plant is used to treat several diseases and pathological conditions, having demonstrated anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic, antispasmodic, antibacterial, antifungal and febrifuge effects, in the following conditions. wounds, neuralgias, cutaneous and gastrointestinal ulcers, papillomatosis, skin cancer, photosensitization, immunomodulator.Conclusions: Buddleja incana was a sacred and medicinal plant of the Incas. Nowadays it is used for the treatment of hepatic, bronchial and urogenital diseases. It has diuretic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antirheumatic, antimicrobial, antihyperglycemic, wound regenerating effects, for the treatment of warts, skin ulcers, antiproliferative, and for its photoprotective effect on the skin. In veterinary medicine it is used to treat skin photosensitization in sheep, in bovine warts and in oral canine papillomatosis.

Objetivos: Evaluar la actividad citotóxica de la fracción clorofórmica del extracto metanólico de Piper aduncum (PAMoCl) y su efecto en el ciclo celular en dos líneas celulares de cáncer gástrico: AGS y KATO III. Materiales y métodos: El efecto citotóxico de PAMoCl se evaluó en las líneas celulares: AGS y KATO III. Se probaron concentraciones de PAMoCl: 1,25; 2,5; 5; 10; 20; 40; 80 y 160 µg/mL. Para evaluar la viabilidad celular se usó el reactivo resazurina. En el ensayo de ciclo celular las células fueron tratadas con 19,62 µg/mL y 39,23 µg/mL de PAMoCl para AGS, así como 87,49 µg/mL y 160 µg/mL para KATO III. Después de 24 horas ambas líneas celulares fueron analizadas por citometría de flujo. Resultados: PAMoCl mostró actividad citotóxica con una inhibición del crecimiento celular en un 50% (IC50) de 39,23 µg/mL y 87,49 µg/mL a las 24 horas y un IC50 de 49,47 µg/mL y 64,68 µg/mL a las 48 horas frente a las líneas celulares AGS y KATO III, respectivamente. Además, se observó que PAMoCl tiene efecto a nivel del ciclo celular: provoca una acumulación de células en la fase G2/M. Conclusiones: PAMoCl contiene metabolitos secundarios con actividad citotóxica que tienen efecto en la fase G2/M del ciclo celular, en dos líneas celulares de cáncer gástrico tanto primario como metastásico. Los resultados de este estudio permitirán profundizar en la búsqueda de principios activos presentes en PAMoCl que tengan mayor eficacia en la eliminación de células de cáncer gástrico, pero con menor toxicidad en células sanas.

Las células madre humanas nacen con la creación de la vida misma y algunas de estas permanecen durante toda la vida. Por consiguiente, se pueden hallar en tejidos adultos y utilizarlas para investigaciones a nivel básico y aplicado. Actualmente, en nuestro país existe un creciente interés en el estudio y aplicación de células madre; sin embargo, existe poco conocimiento acerca del procedimiento para su identificación. Es por ello que este artículo tiene como objetivo dar a conocer, desde un punto de vista práctico, un procedimiento para el cultivo e identificación de células madre/estromales obtenidas de lipoaspirado humano (Adipose Stem Cells) con fines de investigación, el cual incluye la caracterización a nivel de inmunofenotipo, el potencial de diferenciación celular, la expresión génica y el control de calidad del cultivo celular, que sirva de apoyo para los profesionales de la comunidad científica peruana que deseen desarrollar esta línea de investigación.