8 fs laser pulses from a compact gas-filled multi-pass cell.

Compression of 42 fs, 0.29 mJ pulses from a Ti:Sapphire amplifier down to 8 fs (approximately 3 optical cycles) is demonstrated by means of spectral broadening in a compact multi-pass cell filled with argon. The efficiency of the nonlinear pulse compression is limited to 45 % mostly by losses in the mirrors of the cell. The experimental results are supported by 3-dimensional numerical simulations of the nonlinear pulse propagation in the cell that allow us to study spatio-spectral properties of the pulses after spectral broadening.

Diagnostic, treatment, and follow-up of osteoporosis-position statement of the Latin American Federation of Endocrinology.

The Latin American Federation of Endocrinology position statement on osteoporosis was developed by endocrinologists from 9 countries. It encompasses the definition, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of the disease, the identification of barriers to healthcare, and proposals to improve the disease care in the region. INTRODUCTION: There is a gap in the understanding of osteoporosis in Latin America. The objective of this work is to state the position of the Latin American Federation of Endocrinology on osteoporosis care in postmenopausal women to better bridge this gap. METHODS: An experts' panel was formed comprising of 11 endocrinologists from 9 countries. A data search was conducted with a conceptual approach and data selection was based on the hierarchy of the EBHC pyramid. Unpublished data was considered for local epidemiological data and expert opinion for the identification of barriers to healthcare. An expert consensus based on the Delphi methodology was carried out. Experts were asked to respond on a 5-point Likert Scale to two provided answers to guiding questions. RESULTS: Consensus was agreed on the answer for the questions with the higher median on the Likert scale and synthetized on 16 statements covering the definition of osteoporosis, diagnostic approach, treatment options, and follow-up. Besides clinical topics, unmet needs in osteoporosis were identified in relation to local epidemiological data, barriers to treatment, and misclassification of programs within health systems. CONCLUSIONS: Through a process based on recognized methodological tools, FELAEN's position on osteoporosis was developed. This made it possible to state an optimum scenario for the care of the disease and helped to identify knowledge gaps. There is great variability in the approach to osteoporosis in Latin America and barriers in all the stages of healthcare persist.

Welfare of broiler chickens reared in two different industrial house types during the winter season in Southern Brazil.

1. The following trial compared broiler chicken welfare in closed-sided (CS) versus open-sided (OS) industrial house types during the winter season in the South of Brazil.2. Ten flocks in each house type were evaluated as follows: a) bird health: contact dermatitis on the breast and abdominal areas (CDE), bird soiling (BSO), footpad dermatitis (FPD), hock burn (HBU), lameness (LAM), fractures (FRA), bruising (BRU), scratches (SCR), dead on arrival (DOA), and diseases (DIS); b) house environmental measurements: relative humidity (RHU), temperature (TEM), air velocity (AVE), illuminance (ILL), ammonia concentration (NH3), and carbon dioxide concentration (CO2), and c) bird behaviour and affective states: bird behaviour (BBE), touch test (TTE), and qualitative behaviour assessment (QBA).3. Statistical analyses were based on regression models for CDE, BSO, FPD, HBU, LAM and generalised linear models for DOA, FRA, BRU, SCR, and DIS. The Mann-Whitney test was used for RHU, TEM, AVE, ILL, NH3, CO2, and the t-test for TTE and LMO, with a specific regression model for BBE data and Principal Component Analysis for QBA.4. According to odds ratio for worse scores for CS relative to OS, birds were less likely to have severe scores for CDE (P = 0.040 and P = 0.007), BSO (P = 0.031, P = 0.016, and P = 0.038), and HBU (P = 0.017), and had higher median values for AVE (2.3, 0.0-7.8 m s-1 vs. 0.0, 0.0-4.3 m s-1), lower NH3 concentration (9.0, 0.0-64.0 ppm vs. 12.0, 0.0-60.0 ppm) and TTE scores (98, 96-100 vs. 67, 25-100). Worse results were observed in CS houses for higher stocking density (13.8 ± 0.2 birds/m2 vs. 12.0 ± 0.2 birds/m2), RHU (74.5, 50.7-99.9% vs 72.3, 47.4-99.9%), and TEM (23.9, 14.6-29.2°C vs. 21.7, 12.9-30.1°C), lower ILL (16.0, 1.0-60.0 lx vs. 161.0, 8.0-2380.0 lx), less drinking (P = 0.007), more inactive behaviour (P < 0.001) and lower positive emotions, according to QBA (P = 0.028).5. In the studied region and season, CS houses seemed to offer fewer welfare problems in terms of the health indicators; however, OS houses showed fewer behavioural restrictions and higher positive emotional states.

Unravelling the Photocatalytic Behavior of All-Inorganic Mixed Halide Perovskites: The Role of Surface Chemical States.

Within the most mesmerizing materials in the world of optoelectronics, mixed halide perovskites (MHPs) have been distinguished because of the tunability of their optoelectronic properties, balancing both the light-harvesting efficiency and the charge extraction into highly efficient solar devices. This feature has drawn the attention of analogous hot topics as photocatalysis for carrying out more efficiently the degradation of organic compounds. However, the photo-oxidation ability of perovskite depends not only on its excellent light-harvesting properties but also on the surface chemical environment provided during its synthesis. Accordingly, we studied the role of surface chemical states of MHP-based nanocrystals (NCs) synthesized by hot-injection (H-I) and anion-exchange (A-E) approaches on their photocatalytic (PC) activity for the oxidation of ß-naphthol as a model system. We concluded that iodide vacancies are the main surface chemical states that facilitate the formation of superoxide ions, O2●-, which are responsible for the PC activity in A-E-MHP. Conversely, the PC performance of H-I-MHP is related to the appropriate balance between band gap and a highly oxidizing valence band. This work offers new insights on the surface properties of MHP related to their catalytic activity in photochemical applications.

Barreras para la atención en salud del cáncer gástrico, Santander, Colombia. Etapa exploratoria / Barriers to Health Care for Gastric Cancer Patients in Santander, Colombia: Exploratory Stage

Resumen Introducción: el cáncer gástrico es un problema de salud pública; ocupa el quinto y tercer lugar en incidencia y mortalidad mundial, respectivamente. Objetivo: describir las barreras para la atención en salud percibidas por el adulto con cáncer gástrico, su cuidador y el médico tratante en el departamento de Santander, Colombia-etapa exploratoria en el período 2015-2016. Metodología: estudio cualitativo utilizando algunas técnicas del proceso de análisis de la teoría fundamentada a partir de la aplicación de entrevistas semiestructuradas que fueron codificadas y categorizadas con el software N-VIVO 10. Resultados: Emergieron 13 categorías, 182 códigos descritos en 6 ejes: el primero relacionado con el significado del cáncer y sus barreras; el segundo con las principales barreras para la atención en salud, cuyo orden de mayor a menor frecuencia fue: administrativas, económicas, culturales, de conocimiento, de comunicación e institucionales; el tercero es las estrategias para superar las barreras; el cuarto, las estrategias para disminuirlas; el quinto, sentimientos y el rol de la familia; y el sexto, necesidades del paciente. Conclusión: la fragmentación y segmentación del sistema de salud impone barreras que limitan el diagnóstico temprano del cáncer gástrico y su manejo oportuno. Además, amenazan la calidad de vida del adulto enfermo y su familia.

Abstract Introduction: Gastric cancer is a public health problem that ranks fifth in world incidence and third in mortality. Objective: The aim of the exploratory stage of this study was to describe the barriers to health care perceived by adults with gastric cancer, their caregivers, and their attending physicians in the department of Santander, Colombia in 2015 and 2016. Methodology: This is a qualitative study using process techniques and grounded theory analysis based on semi-structured interviews that were codified and categorized with N-VIVO 10. Results: Thirteen categories and 182 codes described along 6 axes emerged. The first axis is related to the meaning of cancer and its barriers. The second is related to the primary barriers to health care which are, in order from most frequent to least frequent: administrative, economic, cultural, knowledge, communication and institutional. The third axis consists of strategies to overcome barriers. The fourth consists of strategies to diminish barriers. The fifth is related to feelings and the role of the family, and the sixth contains the patient's needs. Conclusion: Fragmentation and segmentation of the health care system imposes barriers that limit early diagnosis of gastric cancer and timely management. In addition, they threaten the quality of life of the sick adult and her or his family.

The antigenic variability of HCV in viral HLA-Ag binding is related to the activation of the host immune response.

Our previous data show that hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 patients expressing the HLA-DQB1 * 0301 allele have a combined response probability of 69%, while the remaining 31% do not respond, probably because the HCV immunodominant epitope (IE) against the DQB1 * 0301 allele is mutated. HCV IE (region sequenced in NS3 is a region encoding aa 1253-1272) from 37 patients (21 Sustained Virological Response, SVR; 16 non-SVR) HLA-DQB1 * 0301+, were analysed by pyrosequencing. In vitro cultures were also determined by CD4+ proliferation, using non-mutated IE (wild-type synthetic peptide) and synthetic mutated peptide. The pyrosequencing study revealed 34 different haplotypes. The SVR patients had fewer haplotypes (P = 0.07), mutations/haplotypes (P = 0.01) and polymorphic sites (P = 0.02) than non-SVR. Three polymorphic sites were associated with the non-SVR patients: haplotype 7 (L5P); haplotype 11 (L7P); and haplotype 15, (L15S) (P = 0.02). The in vitro study (n = 7) showed that in 4/7 patients (Group 1) the CD4+ proliferation obtained with wild-type synthetic peptide was higher than that obtained with the negative control and with the synthetic mutated peptide (P = 0.039). However, in the remaining 3/7 patients (Group 2) this pattern was not observed (P = 0.7). Our findings suggest that HLA-DQB1 * 0301+ patients with high antigenic variability in HCV IE (NS31253-1272) have a lower SVR rate, due to reduced CD4+ proliferation as a result of incorrect viral HLA-Ag binding.

Influence of HLA class I, HLA class II and KIRs on vertical transmission and chronicity of hepatitis C virus in children.

BACKGROUND & AIM: There is evidence that maternal viral load of HCV during delivery influences the risk for Mother-to-child transmission (MTCT), but this does not explain all cases. We study the role of the immunogenetic profile (HLA, KIRs and KIR-ligand binding) of mothers and children in HCV-MTCT and in chronicity in the children. METHODOLOGY: 79 HCV-RNA (+) mothers and their 98 children were included. 24 children were infected, becoming chronic in 8 cases and clearing in 16. HLA-class-I and II and KIRs were determined by Luminex. RESULTS: MTCT study: The presence of HLA-C1-ligand in mothers and/or their children reduces the risk of transmission (mothers: Pc = 0.011, children: P = 0.033), whereas the presence of HLA-C2C2-ligand in mothers increases it (Pc = 0.011). In children KIR2DL3-HLA-C1 is a protector factor (Pc = 0.011). Chronicity in children study: Maternal DQA1*01 allele (Pc = 0.027), KIR2DS1 (Pc = 0.011) or KIR3DS1 (Pc = 0.011) favours chronicity in the child. The presence of the DQB1*03 allele (Pc = 0.027) and KIR2DS3 (P = 0.056) in the child and homozygosity for KIR3DL1/3DL1 (Pc = 0.011) and for the HLA-Bw4/Bw4 ligand (P = 0.027) is associated with viral clearance, whereas the presence of HLA-Bw6 ligand (P = 0.027), the binding of KIR3DS1-HLA-Bw4 (P = 0.037) and heterozygosity for KIR3DL1/3DS1 (Pc = 0.011) favour viral chronicity. Mother/child allele matching: In the joint HLA analysis, matching was greater between mothers and children with chronic infection vs those who had cleared the virus (67%±4.1 vs 57%±1.2, P = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The HLA-C1 ligand in the mother is related to MTCT, while several genetic factors of the mother or child are involved in the chronification or clearance of infection in the child. Matching allelic data is considered to be an indicator of HCV chronicity in the child and can be used as a potential prognostic test. This implies that NK cells may play a previously undocumented role in protecting against MTCT and that both NK cell immunity and adaptive T-cell responses may influence viral clearance in infected children.

Development of a novel lateral flow assay for detection of African swine fever in blood.

BACKGROUND: African swine fever (ASF) is a viral infectious disease of domestic and wild suids of all breeds and ages, causing a wide range of hemorrhagic syndromes and frequently characterized by high mortality. The disease is endemic in Sub-Saharan Africa and Sardinia. Since 2007, it has also been present in different countries of Eastern Europe, where control measures have not been effective so far. The continued spread poses a serious threat to the swine industry worldwide. In the absence of vaccine, early detection of infected animals is of paramount importance for control of the outbreak, to prevent the transmission of the virus to healthy animals and subsequent spreading of the disease. Current laboratory diagnosis is mainly based on virological methods (antigen and genome detection) and serodiagnosis. RESULTS: In the present work, a Lateral Flow Assay (LFA) for antigen detection has been developed and evaluated. The test is based on the use of a MAb against VP72 protein of ASFV, the major viral capsid protein and highly immunogenic. First experiments using VP72 viral and recombinant protein or inactivated culture virus showed promising results with a sensitivity similar to that of a commercially available Antigen-ELISA. Moreover, these strips were tested with blood from experimentally infected pigs and field animals and the results compared with those of PCR and Antigen-ELISA. For the experimentally infected samples, there was an excellent correlation between the LFA and the ELISA, while the PCR always showed to be more sensitive (38 % positive samples by PCR versus 27 % by LFA). The LFA was demonstrated to be positive for animals with circulating virus levels exceeding 10(4) HAU. With the field samples, once again, the PCR detected more positives than either the Antigen-ELISA or LFA, although here the number of positive samples scored by the LFA exceeded the values obtained with the Antigen-ELISA, showing 60 % positivity vs 48 % for the ELISA. For the two groups of sera, the specificity was close to 100 % indicating that hardly any false positive samples were found. CONCLUSIONS: The newly developed LFA allows rapid and reliable detection of ASFV, at field and laboratory level, providing a new useful tool for control programs and in situations where laboratory support and skilled personnel are limited.

Development of a Microsphere-based Immunoassay for Serological Detection of African Horse Sickness Virus and Comparison with Other Diagnostic Techniques.

African horse sickness (AHS) is a viral disease that causes high morbidity and mortality rates in susceptible Equidae and therefore significant economic losses. More rapid, sensitive and specific assays are required by diagnostic laboratories to support effective surveillance programmes. A novel microsphere-based immunoassay (Luminex assay) in which beads are coated with recombinant AHS virus (AHSV) structural protein 7 (VP7) has been developed for serological detection of antibodies against VP7 of any AHSV serotype. The performance of this assay was compared with that of a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and commercial lateral flow assay (LFA) on a large panel of serum samples from uninfected horses (n = 92), from a reference library of all AHSV serotypes (n = 9), on samples from horses experimentally infected with AHSV (n = 114), and on samples from West African horses suspected of having AHS (n = 85). The Luminex assay gave the same negative results as ELISA when used to test the samples from uninfected horses. Both assays detected antibodies to all nine AHSV serotypes. In contrast, the Luminex assay detected a higher rate of anti-VP7 positivity in the West African field samples than did ELISA or LFA. The Luminex assay detected anti-VP7 positivity in experimentally infected horses at 7 days post-infection, compared to 13 days for ELISA. This novel immunoassay provides a platform for developing multiplex assays, in which the presence of antibodies against multiple ASHV antigens can be detected simultaneously. This would be useful for serotyping or for differentiating infected from vaccinated animals.

Testing Eurasian wild boar piglets for serum antibodies against Mycobacterium bovis.

Animal tuberculosis (TB) caused by infection with Mycobacterium bovis and closely related members of the M. tuberculosis complex (MTC), is often reported in the Eurasian wild boar (Sus scrofa). Tests detecting antibodies against MTC antigens are valuable tools for TB monitoring and control in suids. However, only limited knowledge exists on serology test performance in 2-6 month-old piglets. In this age-class, recent infections might cause lower antibody levels and lower test sensitivity. We examined 126 wild boar piglets from a TB-endemic site using 6 antibody detection tests in order to assess test performance. Bacterial culture (n=53) yielded a M. bovis infection prevalence of 33.9%, while serum antibody prevalence estimated by different tests ranged from 19% to 38%, reaching sensitivities between 15.4% and 46.2% for plate ELISAs and between 61.5% and 69.2% for rapid immunochromatographic tests based on dual path platform (DPP) technology. The Cohen kappa coefficient of agreement between DPP WTB (Wildlife TB) assay and culture results was moderate (0.45) and all other serological tests used had poor to fair agreements. This survey revealed the ability of several tests for detecting serum antibodies against the MTC antigens in 2-6 month-old naturally infected wild boar piglets. The best performance was demonstrated for DPP tests. The results confirmed our initial hypothesis of a lower sensitivity of serology for detecting M. bovis-infected piglets, as compared to older wild boar. Certain tests, notably the rapid animal-side tests, can contribute to TB control strategies by enabling the setup of test and cull schemes or improving pre-movement testing. However, sub-optimal test performance in piglets as compared to that in older wild boar should be taken into account.

Effects of ribavirin monotherapy on the viral population in patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1: direct sequencing and pyrosequencing of the HCV regions.

Ribavirin remains essential to chronic hepatitis C treatment. This paper investigates the influence of ribavirin priming to steady state before combined pegylated-interferon/ribavirin treatment on viral kinetics, ribavirin trough concentrations, genetic variability within HCV-core, -NS5B and -NS5A, and response to antiviral therapy. A prospective cohort study was made of 27 chronic hepatitis C genotype 1 naïve patients who received four weeks of ribavirin followed by pegIFN-α-2a/ribavirin for 48 weeks (Group A). The results obtained were compared with those for a control/historical group (Group B). In addition, direct sequencing and pyrosequencing were applied to determine ribavirin monotherapy-induced sequence changes. The rapid, early, and sustained virological response values obtained were 48%, 89%, and 52%, respectively, in Group A, and 52%, 90%, and 52% in Group B (P > 0.05). In the four-week combined treatment, the Group A patients showed a greater decrease in HCV-RNA (2.3 log10 IU/ml vs. 1.2 log10 IU/ml; P = 0.04), lower alanine aminotransferase levels (23.5 ± 1.33 U/L vs. 60.11 ± 18 U/L; P < 0.001) and higher mean ribavirin trough concentrations (3.28 ± 1.26 mg/L vs. 1.74 ± 0.7 mg/L; P = 0.001). No general increase in rates of nucleotide substitutions in the ribavirin monotherapy-treated patients was observed in NS5B, ISDR, or PKRbd, but there was a decrease in silent mutations in the HCV core (P = 0.04). This result was confirmed by pyrosequencing in the NS5A region. It is concluded that the ribavirin priming combined treatment with pegIFN-α-2a does not improve sustained virological response rates in HCV genotype 1 naïve infected patients. However, the greater reductions in viral load and alanine aminotransferase levels, together with the higher ribavirin trough concentration values obtained, could reflect the greater effectiveness of the treatment. Ribavirin does not have a mutagenic effect on the virus in patients with chronic hepatitis C.

TMPRSS4 regulates levels of integrin α5 in NSCLC through miR-205 activity to promote metastasis.

BACKGROUND: TMPRSS4 is a membrane-anchored protease involved in cell migration and invasion in different cancer types including lung cancer. TMPRSS4 expression is increased in NSCLC and its inhibition through shRNA reduces lung metastasis. However, molecular mechanisms leading to the protumorigenic regulation of TMPRSS4 in lung cancer are unknown. METHODS: miR-205 was identified as an overexpressed gene upon TMPRSS4 downregulation through microarray analysis. Cell migration and invasion assays and in vivo lung primary tumour and metastasis models were used for functional analysis of miR-205 overexpression in H2170 and H441 cell lines. Luciferase assays were used to identify a new miR-205 direct target in NSCLC. RESULTS: miR-205 overexpression promoted an epithelial phenotype with increased E-cadherin and reduced fibronectin. Furthermore, miR-205 expression caused a G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and inhibition of cell growth, migration, attachment to fibronectin, primary tumour growth and metastasis formation in vivo. Integrin α5 (a proinvasive protein) was identified as a new miR-205 direct target in NSCLC. Integrin α5 downregulation in lung cancer cells resulted in complete abrogation of cell migration, a decreased capacity to adhere to fibronectin and reduced in vivo tumour growth, compared with control cells. TMPRSS4 silencing resulted in a concomitant reduction of integrin α5 levels. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated for the first time a new molecular pathway that connects TMPRSS4 and integrin α5 through miR-205 to regulate cancer cell invasion and metastasis. Our results will help designing new therapeutic strategies to inhibit this novel pathway in NSCLC.

Polymorphisms in histone deacetylases improve the predictive value of IL-28B for chronic hepatitis C therapy.

Histone deacetylases (HDACs) influence many cellular processes, including the modulation of signal transducer and activator of transcription activity (STAT) in response to interferon (IFN). To identify genetic markers that help optimize the IL-28B prediction of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) sustained virological response (SVR), we evaluated 27 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in HDAC1-11. Three SNPs, rs3778216, rs976552 and rs368328 in HDAC2, HDAC3 and HDAC5, respectively, were independently associated with SVR (P<0.05). The addition of these three HDAC's SNPs to the IL-28B predictive model (area under the curve (AUC)=0.630) rendered an important improvement of AUC-receiver operating characteristic value (AUC=0.747, P=0.021). Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) analysis denoted the significance of the rs3778216 C/C genotype in identifying a group of good responders despite carrying IL-28B T allele (79.2% of SVR), whereas HDAC5 G allele characterized a subgroup with poor response rate (25.5%). However, HDAC3 rs976552 did not display a relevant role for the hierarchical classification of patients. Variables related to SVR in hepatitis C virus genotype 1 (HCV-1) cohort were the same of those obtained for the overall population. Interestingly, in non-HCV-1 patients (n=56) the HDAC2 C/C genotype was the unique predictive variable related to SVR (AUC=0.733, P<0.007). Thus, these preliminary results suggest the potential usefulness of combined IL-28B and HDAC genotyping for the CHC patients' classification by likelihood of an SVR.

Genetic associations between flight speed and growth traits in Nellore cattle.

The aim of the present study was to estimate genetic parameters for flight speed and its association with growth traits in Nellore beef cattle. The flight speed (FS) of 7,402 yearling animals was measured, using a device composed of a pair of photoelectric cells. Time interval data (s) were converted to speed (m/s) and faster animals were regarded as more reactive. The growth traits analyzed were weaning weight (WW), ADG from weaning to yearling age, and yearling scrotal circumference (SC). The (co)variance components were estimated using REML in a multitrait analysis applying an animal model. The model included random direct additive genetic and residual effects, fixed effects of contemporary groups, age of dam (classes), and age of animal as covariable. For WW, the model also included maternal genetic and permanent environmental random effects. The direct heritability estimate for FS was 0.26 ± 0.05 and direct heritability estimates for WW, SC, and ADG were 0.30 ± 0.01, 0.48 ± 0.02, and 0.19 ± 0.01, respectively. Estimates of the genetic correlation between FS and the growth traits were -0.12 ± 0.07 (WW), -0.13 ± 0.08 (ADG), and -0.11 ± 0.07 (SC). Although the values were low, these correlations showed that animals with better temperaments (slower FS) tended to present better performance. It is possible to infer that longterm selection for weight and scrotal circumference can promote a positive genetic response in the temperament of animals. Nevertheless, to obtain faster genetic progress in temperament, it would be necessary to perform direct selection for such trait. Flight speed is an easily measured indicator of temperament and can be included as a selection criterion in breeding programs for Nellore cattle.

Histological and immunohistochemical assessment of liver biopsies in morbidly obese patients.

AIMS: To study liver lesions in morbidly obese patients who underwent liver biopsy at the time of bariatric surgery to define histological lesions, especially inflammatory infiltrate, diagnostic categories and the possible influence of gender in this respect. METHODS AND RESULTS: 110 biopsies (36 males-M- and 76 females -F-) were evaluated and categorised, according to the NAS (NAFLD -non alcoholic fatty liver disease- Activity Score) system and other criteria, as non-NAFLD (15.5%, F predominance), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) (16.5%, M predominance), non-alcoholic hepatosteatosis (NAHS) (21%, F predominance) and, the most numerous group, NASH-borderline (NASH-BORD) (47%), with three subgroups, characterised by centrozonal lesions, portal area preferential involvement or affecting both areas. The predominant form of hepatocytesteatosis was mixed with a multivesicular component that was present in most cases with fibroinflammatory portal involvement. Nuclear glycogenosomes were found in greater number of biopsies in patients in the third and sixth decades. Portal inflammation was present in a large number of cases (M predominance); the application of immunohistochemical techniques (myeloperoxidase and CD68 antibodies) to evaluate lobular inflammation revealed "surgical hepatitis" in one third of the cases, and the presence of microgranulomas (CD68+) (M predominance), which were more abundant with increasing lesion severity. CONCLUSIONS: Portal inflammation and multivesicular hepatocytesteatosis are highly prevalent in morbidly obese patients. This study identifies a new subtype of NASH-BORD characterized by centrizonal and porto-periportal area involvement and the existence of liver biopsies without steatosis. CD68+ microgranulomas constitute an unequivocal marker of lobular inflammation in surgical biopsies and of lesion severity, which is gender-related.

Genetic variants of interferon-stimulated genes and IL-28B as host prognostic factors of response to combination treatment for chronic hepatitis C.

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) is a worldwide health problem that is highly related to liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The achievement of response to the current standard of care-pegylated interferon plus ribavirin-has recently been described to be associated with single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near the IL-28B gene. Additionally, baseline expression levels of genes involved in interferon (IFN)-stimulated genes (ISGs) have been found to be related to treatment outcome. In the present study, 285 patients were genotyped for 63 SNPs within genes of the IFN signaling pathway (IPGs) and ISGs. Two ISG polymorphisms-OASL rs12819210 (odds ratio (OR)=2.1, P=0.03) and IFIT1 rs304478 (OR=2.5, P=0.01)-were found to be independent predictive factors of sustained virological response (SVR) after adjusting for other clinical covariates. Furthermore, the predictive value of IL-28B SNP was notably improved by simultaneous genotyping of rs12819210 and rs304478, particularly in patients with the worst prognosis (viral genotype 1, area under the curve (AUC)=0.74). In conclusion, ISG SNPs could constitute a valuable tool for individualizing CHC therapy.

Influence of ß-glucan on innate immunity and resistance of Lutjanus guttatus to an experimental infection of dactylogyrid monogeneans.

The present study investigated the effect of ß-1,3/1,6-glucan on growth, haematology, innate immunity and resistance against dactylogyrids on the spotted rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus). Fish were fed during 5 weeks with commercial diet (control group) and same diet supplemented with three levels of ß-glucans (0·05%, 0·1% and 0·5%/kg feed). The results showed that at concentrations of 0·05% and 0·1%, fish growth was enhanced, and in weeks 2 and 4, an increase in cellular responses such as percentage of monocytes, neutrophils, respiratory burst activity and nitric oxide activity was observed. In diet with 0·5%ß-glucans, changes were registered at the end of the experiment. At week 2, 0·05%ß-glucans showed the best response to most of the analysed parameters. In a second trial, diet with 0·05%ß-glucans was chosen to prove its effect on the resistance of infected fish with monogeneans. The results showed that fish reduce significantly the number of dactylogyrids, and parameters such as WBC, percentage of lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils were increased. In addition, WBC and percentage of thrombocytes increased in the control (+). The ß-glucans have the potential to be use in diet formulations of the spotted rose snapper and to limit the adverse effects of dactylogyrids.

Hematological characteristics of the spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus (Steindachner, 1869) healthy and naturally infected by dactylogyrid monogeneans.

The aim of the present study was to obtain a basic knowledge of the hematology in order to determine changes in blood parameters of the spotted rose snapper Lutjanus guttatus. The morphological features of blood cells were described according to the observations made by light microscopy of Wright-Giemsa-stained blood films. The reference intervals and the mean value were determined for each hematological parameter evaluated in healthy fish and data were compared to those of naturally infected, with dactylogyrid monogeneans fish. Infected fish showed a prevalence of 100% and a mean intensity of 246.6 parasites per fish. Mean values of HCT, WBC, thrombocytes percentage and eosinophils percentage were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the infected fish. In addition, lymphocytes percentage and total protein were significantly lower (P<0.05) in the infected fish compared to healthy fish. Only total WBC count, lymphocytes percentage and eosinophils percentage in infected fish were outside reference interval. The hematology of the spotted rose snapper of this study might serve as a basis for future studies and diagnosis. Changes observed in blood parameters in infected fish suggest that the immune system of L. guttatus was affected by the presence of the parasites.

Serum antibody response to respiratory syncytial virus F and N proteins in two populations at high risk of infection: children and elderly.

Human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV) is the main viral cause of severe respiratory infections in children and a common cause of morbidity in the elderly. The nucleocapsid (N) and fusion (F) proteins of hRSV were expressed in insect cells and used as antigens in two independent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) to measure the serum antibody response in two populations at high risk of hRSV infection, children and the elderly. Fifty-seven serum specimens from children aged from 1 to 10 years old and 91 sera from adults over 60 years old were tested. The ELISA results were compared with those obtained by an immunofluorescence assay (IFA) based on hRSV-infected cells, which was considered as the reference technique. Sensitivity and specificity were 94% and 85% for the N-ELISA and 86% and 81% for the F-ELISA, respectively. When the immune responses of the two groups of individuals were compared, it appeared that almost 100% of the elderly had antibodies against the N or F protein whereas only 50% of the sera from children had antibodies against either of the two viral proteins. In conclusion, the F and N ELISAs can be used successfully for detecting a specific antibody response to hRSV.