Search

The use of labelled antibodies in inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) linked immunoassays permits the accurate and sensitive determination of target analytes of biochemical importance. In this regard, the determination of the biomolecules responsible for iron homeostasis in cell cultures is crucial to understand the dysregulation of this element in breast cancer. For this aim, fast, simple, sensitive and accurate analytical strategies have to be developed. In this work, iodinated antibodies have been applied for the sensitive determination of transferrin in breast cancer cell lines using a novel immunoassay coupled to ICP-MS detection of iodine. Firstly, a study on the antibody iodination efficiency revealed an iodine: transferrin molar ratio of 27:1 which corresponds to the iodination of all the tyrosine residues present in the antibody. Secondly, the reactivity of the antibody after labelling was assessed in a quantitative immune subtraction experiment showing that the labelled species maintained their recognition capabilities by capturing 95% of the soluble transferrin. Finally, implementation of the iodinated antibody in a sandwich ICP-MS linked immunoassay was conducted in combination with a secondary biotinylated antibody and the use of streptavidin coated magnetic microparticles. Such set up was used for the determination of transferrin in cell cultures of breast cancer cells of different malignancy. Such determination revealed significant differences among lines with higher transferrin concentration in the line exhibiting higher iron levels, stressing the key aspects of this protein as importer of iron in cells., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Video-assisted thoracic surgery is traditionally carried out with general anaesthesia and endotracheal intubation with double lumen tube. However, in the last few years procedures, such as lobectomies, are being performed with loco-regional anaesthesia, with and without sedation, maintaining the patient awake and with spontaneous breathing, in order to avoid the inherent risks of general anaesthesia, double lumen tube intubation and mechanical ventilation. This surgical approach has also shown to be effective in that it allows a good level of analgesia, maintaining a correct oxygenation and providing a better post-operative recovery. Two case reports are presented in which video-assisted thoracic surgery was used, a lung biopsy and a lung resection, both with epidural anaesthesia and maintaining the patient awake and with spontaneous ventilation, as part of a preliminary evaluation of the anaesthetic technique in this type of surgery., (Copyright © 2013 Sociedad Española de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapéutica del Dolor. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The case is presented of a 71 year-old male, diagnosed with a thymoma. A thoracoscopic thymectomy was performed using the carbon dioxide insufflation technique in the mediastinum. During the procedure, while performing one-lung ventilation, the patient's respiration worsened. The contralateral lung had collapsed, as carbon dioxide was travelling from the mediastinum to the thorax through the opened pleura. Two-lung ventilation was decided upon, which clearly improved oxygenation in the arterial gases and airway pressures. Both pH and pCO2 stabilized. The surgical approach and the carbon dioxide technique were continued because 2-lung ventilation did not affect the surgical procedure. This technique has many serious complications and it should always be performed using 2-lung ventilation., (Copyright © 2014 Sociedad Española de Anestesiología, Reanimación y Terapéutica del Dolor. Publicado por Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)