Immunohistochemistry allows in situ detection of cell and extracellular components through specific antibodies. The objective was to compare the immunohistochemical expression patterns of the S-100, HMB-45 and MART-1 proteins for differential diagnosis of malignant melanoma and melanocytic nevus in human skin biopsies. Thirty-nine biopsies of human tissue were used. They were divided into two groups: 19 in malignant melanoma and 20 in melanocytic nevi. Next, the samples were fixed with paraformaldehyde and processed following the protocol for inclusion. Then, immunohistochemical staining was performed. Finally, the histological and qualitative analysis of the samples was carried out. S-100, HMB-45, and MART-1 markers showed positive immunoreaction in melanoma biopsies. HMB-45 marker was generally present with weaker expression than S-100 and MART-1 in melanocytic nevus biopsies. No expression pattern was observed which specifically associates one or more markers with some types of histopathological diagnosis. Immunohistochemistry is fundamental in differential diagnosis of melanomas and melanocytic nevi. However, there is no antibody or set of antibodies which allows unequivocal diagnosis between melanoma and nevus. It is therefore necessary to analyze with care the expression pattern and location of the lesion using standard morphological characteristics.

Physical inactivity impairs health by increasing morbidity. In childhood, modifiable risk factors associated with cardiovascular pathologies and related to mitochondrial function and structure are initiated by physical inactivity. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of high-intensity swimming interval training (HIIT-swim) on cardiac mitochondrial ultrastructure in young Sprague Dawley rats compared with a sedentary group. Five-week-old Sprague Dawley rats (n = 18) were divided into a control group (C) (n = 6), a sedentary group (S) (n = 6) and an HIIT-swim group (H-s) (n = 6), the last of which performed HIIT-swim for 4 weeks. A mitochondrial ultrastructural evaluation was performed using transmission electron microscopy. In the H-s rats, mitochondrial areas and perimeters were found to be statistically significantly different from those of the C and S rats. In addition, no predominant intramitochondrial multifragmentation was observed in the mitochondria of H-s rats, but multifragmentation was evident in the mitochondria of S rats.

Progesterone receptors are expressed in the reproductive organs of adult sheep, where they regulate morphofunctional and reproductive development. However, various studies have shown the presence of these receptors in the uterus of prepubertal females. It is not clear what role these receptors have at this level of development in uterine tissue. Therefore, it is relevant as a first step in the investigation, to determine the expression and histological distribution of the progesterone receptor in prepubertal sheep in order to determine possible functions at this level of reproductive development. Immunohistochemical analysis allows visualizing the specific presence of a protein in the cellular and histological context, however, the results displayed through digital images are qualitative data and subject to the observer's criteria. In this work, a quantitative analysis method of immunohistochemical expression of the progesterone receptor in ovine endometrium is presented, using digital analysis of images, by means of integrated optical density of digital photographs of histological sections processed with immunohistochemical methods. The results show the possibility of quantitatively evaluating the expression of progesterone receptors in the endometrial stroma and prepubertal endometrial glands by applying the integrated optical density analysis of digital images.

Berberis darwinii Hook es una especie que habita el sur de Chile y la Patagonia, utilizada por la etnia mapuche para el tratamiento de procesos inflamatorios, estados febriles y dolor de estomacal. El propósito del siguiente estudio fue evaluar in vitro las propiedades del extracto total y de alcaloides de raíz de B. darwinii sobre viabilidad celular y la translocación del factor nuclear NF-kB en línea celular RAW 264.7. Se observó que los extractos no afectan negativamente la viabilidad en las células e inhibieron la translocación del factor nuclear NF-kB asociado a la modulación de la inflamación solo frente al extracto total. Estos resultados indicarían que B. darwinii podría inhibir algunos mecanismos específicos de la defensa celular al modular la translocación de NF- kB.

Berberis empetrifolia is an endemic species from Chile that produces some bioactive compounds, highlighting the alkaloid berberine, which demonstrated antitumor properties. Taking into account the constant plant supply demand required for medicinal use, the establishment of in vitro propagation protocols allows plant multiplication, without affecting natural populations. Moreover, the in vitro germination is an efficient strategy to obtain axenic plants. The aim of this study was to establish the in vitro germination and to characterize seeds morphology and seedling development of B. empetrifolia. After decontamination of seeds, pre-germinative treatments were applied. Seed viability ranged from 75-90% and the embedding curve revealed permeable integument. The germination was characterized as epigeal phanerocotylar type. Seeds not submitted to pre-germinative treatments reached 10-30% germination rate (GR) and showed asynchronous germination. The most efficient pre-germinative treatment was the storage of seeds at 3˚C for 12 days followed by overnight soaking in GA3 solution associated to seed coat removal. This treatment allowed the seed dormancy to be overcome, reaching GR above 95% and resulting in synchronous germination. The in vitro germination protocol established for B.empetrifolia was efficient to produce phenotypically normal axenic seedlings, allowing their use as source of plant material for biotechnological, phytochemical and pharmacological studies.