Urban Roadway Runoff Is Lethal to Juvenile Coho, Steelhead, and Chinook Salmonids, But Not Congeneric Sockeye.

We compared the sensitivity of closely related Pacific salmon and steelhead (Oncorhynchus spp.) to untreated urban stormwater runoff across three storm events. Juvenile coho, sockeye, steelhead, and Chinook were exposed for 24 h to untreated urban runoff and then transferred to clean water for 48 h. As anticipated from previous studies, coho were highly susceptible to runoff toxicity, with cumulative mortality rates ranging from 92%-100% across the three storms. By contrast, juvenile sockeye were unaffected (100% survival), and cumulative mortality rates were intermediate for steelhead (4%-42%) and Chinook (0%-13%). Furthermore, coho died rapidly following the onset of stormwater exposure (generally <4 h), whereas mortality in Chinook and steelhead was delayed by 1-2 days. Similar to previous findings for coho, steelhead and Chinook did not recover when transferred to clean water. Lastly, significant mortality occurred in coho even when roadway runoff was diluted by 95% in clean water. Our findings extend the urban runoff mortality syndrome in salmonids and point to a near-term need for sublethal studies in steelhead and Chinook to more precisely understand stormwater risks to threatened species recovery efforts in the western United States.

Dark Energy Survey Year 1 Results: Cosmological Constraints from Cluster Abundances, Weak Lensing, and Galaxy Correlations.

We present the first joint analysis of cluster abundances and auto or cross-correlations of three cosmic tracer fields: galaxy density, weak gravitational lensing shear, and cluster density split by optical richness. From a joint analysis (4×2pt+N) of cluster abundances, three cluster cross-correlations, and the auto correlations of the galaxy density measured from the first year data of the Dark Energy Survey, we obtain Ω_{m}=0.305_{-0.038}^{+0.055} and σ_{8}=0.783_{-0.054}^{+0.064}. This result is consistent with constraints from the DES-Y1 galaxy clustering and weak lensing two-point correlation functions for the flat νΛCDM model. Consequently, we combine cluster abundances and all two-point correlations from across all three cosmic tracer fields (6×2pt+N) and find improved constraints on cosmological parameters as well as on the cluster observable-mass scaling relation. This analysis is an important advance in both optical cluster cosmology and multiprobe analyses of upcoming wide imaging surveys.

Antibiotic susceptibility testing and species identification of Nocardia isolates: a retrospective analysis of data from a French expert laboratory, 2010-2015.

OBJECTIVES: Nocardia, a Gram-positive bacterium, is responsible for rare and severe infections. Accurate microbiological data are essential to guide antibiotic treatment. Our primary objective was to describe species identification and results of antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for Nocardia isolates analysed over a 6-year period. Secondary objectives were to study temporal trends in species distribution and AST results. METHODS: We retrospectively analysed results from Nocardia isolates sent between January 2010 and December 2015 to a French laboratory dedicated to Nocardia (Observatoire Français des Nocardioses). Species identification was obtained by amplification and sequencing of a 600-bp fragment of the 16S rRNA gene (for all isolates) and of hsp65 (when required). AST was performed using disk diffusion. RESULTS: We included 793 Nocardia isolates, mostly from the lungs (53.8%). The most frequent species were Nocardia farcinica (20.2%), Nocardia abscessus complex (19.9%) and Nocardia nova complex (19.5%). The proportion of N. farcinica increased significantly over time from 13% in 2010 to 27.6% in 2014. Linezolid, amikacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, minocycline and imipenem were the most frequently identified active antibiotics with, respectively, 0% (0/734), 2.9% (21/730), 5.4% (40/734), 9.4% (69/734) and 19.5% (143/732) of isolates not susceptible. Nocardia farcinica was frequently not susceptible to cefotaxime (118/148, 79.7% of the isolates), but only about 5% of Nocardia cyriacigeorgica and N. abscessus complex isolates were not susceptible to cefotaxime. CONCLUSIONS: In this first epidemiological study of Nocardia isolated from human samples in France, N. farcinica was the species most frequently identified and its prevalence increased over time.

Community strategies to tackle tuberculosis according to the WHO region of origin of immigrant communities.

Setting: Tuberculosis (TB) control requires the proper identification and treatment of affected patients and investigation of their contacts. In certain vulnerable immigrant groups, however, these tasks may be hindered due to their ethnic and sociocultural characteristics. Objective: To analyse the results of a community programme designed to locate hard-to-reach immigrants with TB. Design: Descriptive study of all cases diagnosed with confirmed TB referred to the Public and Community Health team of the Drassanes International Health Unit in Barcelona during 2012-2014 due to difficulties in tracing these patients. Both cases and contacts were categorised based on their World Health Organization region of origin. The sociodemographic characteristics of each group and the community interventions carried out during the tracing period are described. Results: A total of 122 cases and 316 contacts were detected. As a result of community-based strategies, 73% of the initial cases completed treatment; 3.8% of the contacts were diagnosed with TB, 91.7% of whom were treated appropriately; 17.1% contacts had latent infection, 79.3% of whom completed chemoprophylaxis. Conclusions: Intervention strategies with a community approach for follow-up and control of TB in certain immigrant communities seem to be effective.

Contexte : La lutte contre la tuberculose (TB) requiert l'identification et le traitement appropriés des patients affectés et l'examen de leurs contacts. Ces tâches peuvent néanmoins être entravées dans certains groupes vulnérables d'immigrants en raison de leurs spécificités ethniques et socioculturelles.Objectif : Analyser les résultats d'un programme communautaire conçu pour localiser les immigrants atteints de TB dont le suivi s'avère difficile.Schéma : Etude descriptive de tous les cas ayant un diagnostic de TB confirmé référés à l'équipe de santé publique et communautaire dans l'unité de santé internationale Drassanes de Barcelone en 2012­2014 en raison des difficultés à les localiser. A la fois les cas et les contacts ont été classés en se basant sur leur région Organisation Mondiale de la Santé d'origine. Les caractéristiques sociodémographiques de chaque groupe et les interventions communautaires réalisées pendant leur recherche sont décrites.Résultats : Ont été détectés 122 cas et 316 contacts. Grâce aux stratégies communautaires, 73% des cas initiaux ont achevé leur traitement, 3,8% des contacts ont eu un diagnostic de TB, dont 91,7% ont été traités correctement ; 17,1% des contacts avaient une infection latente, dont 79,3% ont achevé la chimioprophylaxie.Conclusions: Les stratégies d'intervention par approche communautaire du suivi et de la lutte contre la TB dans certaines communautés d'immigrants semblent efficaces.

Marco de Referencia: El control de la tuberculosis (TB) requiere identificar y tratar adecuadamente a los pacientes afectados y realizar el seguimiento de sus contactos. Sin embargo, la realización de estas tareas puede ser complicada de llevar a cabo en ciertos colectivos de inmigrantes vulnerables debido a sus peculiaridades étnicas y socioculturales.Objetivo: Analizar los resultados de un programa comunitario diseñado para realizar el seguimiento de inmigrantes afectados de TB.Diseño: Estudio descriptivo de todos los casos con diagnóstico confirmado de TB remitidos al equipo de Salud Pública y Salud Comunitaria de la Unidad de Salud Internacional de Drassanes de Barcelona debido a las dificultades para realizar su seguimiento, durante el período 2012­2014. Se describen las características sociodemográficas tanto de los casos como de los contactos categorizados según su región de origen como intervenciones comunitarias llevadas a cabo durante su seguimiento.Resultados: Se detectaron 122 casos y 316 contactos. Como resultado de las estrategias comunitarias el 73% de los casos iniciales completaron el tratamiento. Un 3,8% de los contactos fueron diagnosticados de TB, de los cuales el 91,7% fueron tratados correctamente. El 17,1% de los contactos tenían una infección tuberculosa latente, de los cuales el 79,3% completaron la quimioprofilaxis.Conclusiones: Las estrategias de intervención comunitarias para el seguimiento y control de la TB en ciertos colectivos inmigrantes parecen ser efectivas.

Swept-source and optical coherence tomography angiography in patients with X-linked retinoschisis.

PurposeTo explore the structural features of juvenile X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS) using swept-source-optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A).DesignRetrospective, observational cross-sectional study.Patients and methodsNine patients (18 eyes) diagnosed with juvenile XLRS were included. SS-OCT and OCT-A were used to evaluate the characteristics of the inner/outer retina and the choroid.ResultsSS-OCT showed that the inner nuclear layer (INL) was the most commonly affected area (16/18 eyes; 89%). No significant differences in central macular thickness (CMT) or subfield choroidal thickness (SFCT) were evidenced between eyes (CMT: 364 µm in the right eye vs 320 µm in the left eye; SFCT: 305 vs 307 µm; P=0.895). Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) did not correlate with CMT (rs= -0.19; P=0.445) or SFCT (rs=0.06; P=0.795). BCVA was significantly correlated with the following defects: outer plexiform layer (OPL; rs=0.50; P=0.036); external limiting membrane (ELM; rs=0.65; P=0.003); ellipsoid portion of inner segment (EPIS; rs=0.67; P=0.002); and the cone outer segment tips (COST; rs=0.69; P=0.001). Schisis at the INL revealed a spoke-like pattern in the foveal region and a reticular pattern in the parafoveal region on en-face imaging. In cases in which the schisis affected the OPL, multiple polygonal hyporeflective cavities were observed in the foveal region.ConclusionsThe hyporeflective spaces on SS-OCT were primarily located at the INL and OPL. BCVA did not correlate with CMT or SFCT; however, ELM, EPIS, and COST defects were significantly correlated with worse BCVA. There was a positive correlation between age and SFCT.

[When should gestation of a gastroschisis be terminated?] / ¿Cuándo debe terminarse la gestación de una gastrosquisis?

OBJECTIVES: In gastroschisis pregnancies, a) to correlate prenatal ultrasound variables with postnatal outcome and b) to determine the ideal time for setting the delivery in order to achieve the best neonatal outcome. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review (2000-2015) of all available gastroschisis whose prenatal findings could be correlated with the neonatal outcome. Two study groups have been defined according to the complications present after birth: favorable gastrosquisis and complicated. Prenatal variables were compared by groups using McWhitney or Chi tests as needed. RESULTS: Twenty-two gastroschisis fulfilled the requirement. Twelve cases had uneventful outcomes. Ten patients experienced complications, including death in five. In the complicated group there were 15 episodes of sepsis and 17 reoperations. Any single ultrasound parameter could predict a bad follow up. In thirteen cases, delivery was forced due to sudden changes on ultrasound bowel appearance. Nine of these patients had very good neonatal outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Finishing pregnancy when sudden changes on the fetal bowel were identified was the only strategy that leaded us to diminish the complication rate in gastroschisis.

OBJETIVOS: En las gestaciones con gastrosquisis, a) valorar la presencia de algún dato ecográfico prenatal que pueda predecir la evolución postnatal de la gastrosquisis, y b) determinar el momento ideal del nacimiento de los pacientes con gastrosquisis que se relacione con una mejor evolución postnatal. MATERIAL Y METODOS: Revisión retrospectiva (2000-2015) de las gastrosquisis cuyos datos ecográficos prenatales hemos podido relacionar con las características de los pacientes y su evolución clínica posterior. Se han determinado dos grupos en función de la evolución favorable o complicada de la gastrosquisis. Todas las variables ecográficas prenatales se han comparado entre grupos según los test de McWitney o Chi cuadrado. RESULTADOS: Veintidós gastrosquisis cumplieron el requisito anterior. Doce casos tuvieron una evolución sin incidencias significativas. Diez pacientes tuvieron una evolución complicada, de los cuales cinco fueron exitus. En este grupo hubo 15 episodios de sepsis y 17 reintervenciones. Ningún parámetro ecográfico prenatal predijo con fiabilidad una evolución desfavorable. En 13 casos se finalizó la gestación porque aparecieron cambios súbitos en la ecografía. Nueve de estos pacientes evolucionaron sin ninguna complicación. CONCLUSIONES: Terminar la gestación cuando se produce un cambio súbito de la apariencia ecográfica de los intestinos fetales es la única estrategia que nos ha permitido disminuir la incidencia de complicaciones en los pacientes con gastrosquisis.

¿Cuándo debe terminarse la gestación de una gastrosquisis? / When should gestation of a gastroschisis be terminated?

Objetivos. En las gestaciones con gastrosquisis, a) valorar la presencia de algún dato ecográfico prenatal que pueda predecir la evolución postnatal de la gastrosquisis, y b) determinar el momento ideal del nacimiento de los pacientes con gastrosquisis que se relacione con una mejor evolución postnatal. Material y métodos. Revisión retrospectiva (2000-2015) de las gastrosquisis cuyos datos ecográficos prenatales hemos podido relacionar con las características de los pacientes y su evolución clínica posterior. Se han determinado dos grupos en función de la evolución favorable o complicada de la gastrosquisis. Todas las variables ecográficas prenatales se han comparado entre grupos según los test de McWitney o Chi cuadrado. Resultados. Veintidós gastrosquisis cumplieron el requisito anterior. Doce casos tuvieron una evolución sin incidencias significativas. Diez pacientes tuvieron una evolución complicada, de los cuales cinco fueron exitus. En este grupo hubo 15 episodios de sepsis y 17 reintervenciones. Ningún parámetro ecográfico prenatal predijo con fiabilidad una evolución desfavorable. En 13 casos se finalizó la gestación porque aparecieron cambios súbitos en la ecografía. Nueve de estos pacientes evolucionaron sin ninguna complicación. Conclusiones. Terminar la gestación cuando se produce un cambio súbito de la apariencia ecográfica de los intestinos fetales es la única estrategia que nos ha permitido disminuir la incidencia de complicaciones en los pacientes con gastrosquisis (AU)

Objectives. In gastroschisis pregnancies, a) to correlate prenatal ultrasound variables with postnatal outcome and b) to determine the ideal time for setting the delivery in order to achieve the best neonatal outcome. Material and methods. Retrospective review (2000-2015) of all available gastroschisis whose prenatal findings could be correlated with the neonatal outcome. Two study groups have been defined according to the complications present after birth: favorable gastrosquisis and complicated. Prenatal variables were compared by groups using McWhitney or Chi tests as needed. Results. Twenty-two gastroschisis fulfilled the requirement. Twelve cases had uneventful outcomes. Ten patients experienced complications, including death in five. In the complicated group there were 15 episodes of sepsis and 17 reoperations. Any single ultrasound parameter could predict a bad follow up. In thirteen cases, delivery was forced due to sudden changes on ultrasound bowel appearance. Nine of these patients had very good neonatal outcome. Conclusions. Finishing pregnancy when sudden changes on the fetal bowel were identified was the only strategy that leaded us to diminish the complication rate in gastroschisis (AU)

Unprecedented W2(0) quadruply bonded complex supported by π-donor ligands.

A quadruply bonded complex W2(DippF)2K2 with a W2(0) core was synthesized and structurally characterized. The observed W-W distance of 2.407(1) Å and DFT calculations are consistent to the unprecedented electronic structure in D(2h) symmetry of σ(2)π(2)π(2)δ(2)δ(2)δ*(2) where the HOMO is the δ* orbital.

Prevalence of antibodies to Rickettsia conorii in human beings and dogs from Catalonia: a 20-year perspective.

The incidence of Mediterranean spotted fever (MSF) in Catalonia (Spain) has decreased in the last two decades. The prevalence of antibodies to Rickettsia conorii in human beings and dogs in the region of Vallès Occidental (Catalonia) was assessed by indirect immunofluorescence, and the results compared with those obtained in a similar study from 1987. Nineteen (5·0%) out of 383 human serum samples had antibodies to R. conorii. This seroprevalence was significantly lower (11·5%) (P = 0·003) than that recorded in the 1987 survey. Forty-two out (42·0%) of 100 canine serum samples had antibodies to R. conorii. A high proportion of the studied dogs (91·0%) were receiving anti-tick treatment, mainly with permethrin-imidacloprid spot-on (Advantix, Bayer, Germany). The current canine seroprevalence was not significantly different from that recorded in the 1987 survey (36.9%). In conclusion, this study shows a significant decrease in the prevalence of antibodies to R. conorii in the human population of Catalonia in the last 20 years, which corresponds with a decrease in the number of cases of MSF. We suggest that the widespread use of anti-tick treatment in dogs could limit the introduction of ticks to humans due to a reduction of infestation duration in dogs, thus contributing to the decrease in MSF incidence.

Surface behavior of peptides from E1 GBV-C protein: Interaction with anionic model membranes and importance in HIV-1 FP inhibition.

The interaction between a peptide sequence from GB virus C E1 protein (E1P8) and its structural analogs (E1P8-12), (E1P8-13), and (E1P8-21) with anionic lipid membranes (POPG vesicles and POPG, DPPG or DPPC/DPPG (2:1) monolayers) and their association with HIV-1 fusion peptide (HIV-1 FP) inhibition at the membrane level were studied using biophysical methods. All peptides showed surface activity but leakage experiments in vesicles as well as insertion kinetics in monolayers and lipid/peptide miscibility indicated a low level of interaction: neither E1P8 nor its analogs induced the release of vesicular content and the exclusion pressure values (πe) were clearly lower than the biological membrane pressure (24-30 mN m(-1)) and the HIV-1 FP (35 mN m(-1)). Miscibility was elucidated in terms of the additivity rule and excess free energy of mixing (GE). E1P8, E1P8-12 and E1P8-21 (but not E1P8-13) induced expansion of the POPG monolayer. The mixing process is not thermodynamically favored as the positive GE values indicate. To determine how E1 peptides interfere in the action of HIV-1 FP at the membrane level, mixed monolayers of HIV-1 FP/E1 peptides (2:1) and POPG were obtained. E1P8 and its derivative E1P8-21 showed the greatest HIV-1 FP inhibition. The LC-LE phase lipid behavior was morphologically examined via fluorescence microscopy (FM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Images revealed that the E1 peptides modify HIV-1 FP-lipid interaction. This fact may be attributed to a peptide/peptide interaction as indicated by AFM results. Finally, hemolysis assay demonstrated that E1 peptides inhibit HIV-1 FP activity.

Combinación de distintos dispositivos de Terapia V. A. C. (R) para el cierre de defectos abdominales complejos / Combination of different V. A. C. (R) therapy devices for the closure of complex abdominal defects

La terapia de presión negativa Vacuum-Assisted Closure o V.A.C.(R) (KCI Clinic Spain SL) ha resultado ser de gran utilidad en la curación de heridas complejas de la pared abdominal, desde la fase aguda con abdomen abierto o grandes desbridamientos, hasta las fases de granulación y cobertura final del defecto, gracias a los distintos tipos de apósitos que pueden aplicarse sucesivamente, incluso ante una posible exposición intestinal con drenaje purulento hasta la granulación del defecto, y que empleados conjuntamente con matrices dérmicas y/o injertos cutáneos. Aceleran el cierre definitivo del defecto de forma poco lesiva y confortable para el paciente. Presentamos 3 casos de heridas complejas de pared abdominal en los que logramos la cicatrización de los defectos combinando técnicas quirúrgicas más tradicionales con los distintos apósitos de terapia V.A.C.(R) (ABTheraTM, V.A.C. GranuFoamTM, V.A.C. GranuFoam Silver(R) y V.A.C.(R) WhiteFoam dressing) (AU)

The negative-pressure therapy Vacuum-Assisted Closure, or V.A.C.(R) (KCI Clinic Spain SL) has proved to be useful in healing complex abdominal wall wounds, from the acute phase, with open abdomen or large debridement, to the stages of granulation and final defect coverage, thanks to the different types of dressings that can be applied on, even against a possible intestinal exposure with purulent drainage, until default's granulation, and also used together with dermal matrices and / or skin grafts accelerate the closure of the defect in a little harmful and comfortable way to the patient. We present 3 cases of complex abdominal wall wounds in which has been achieved the defects healing combining traditional surgical techniques with different VAC (R) therapy dressings (ABTheraTM, VAC Granu-FoamTM, VAC GranuFoam Silver(R) and VAC(R) dressing WhiteFoam) (AU)

Modification of FP-HIV activity by peptide sequences of GB virus C: a biophysical approach.

Three synthetic peptide sequences of 18 amino acid each, corresponding to different fragments of the E2 capsid protein of GB virus C (GBV-C): SDRDTVVELSEWGVPCAT (P45), GSVRFPFHRCGAGPKLTK (P58) and RFPFHRCGAGPKLTKDLE (P59) have been characterized in order to find a relationship between their physicochemical properties and the results obtained in cellular models. Experiments were performed in presence and absence of the HIV fusion peptide (FP-HIV) due to the evidences that GBV-C inhibits AIDS progression. P45 peptide showed lower surface activity and less extent of penetration into 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DMPC) and 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-L-serine (DMPS) (3:2, mol/mol) lipid monolayers than P58 and P59. However, P45 peptide presented higher capacity to inhibit FP-HIV induced cell-cell fusion than the other two sequences. These results were supported by fluorescence anisotropy measurements which indicated that P45 had a significant effect on the inhibition of FP-HIV perturbation of liposomes of the same lipid composition. Finally, atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies have evidenced the modification of the changes induced by the FP-HIV in the morphology of lipid bilayers when P45 was present in the medium.

Trypanosoma cruzi infection in a non-endemic country: epidemiological and clinical profile.

Chagas disease has been increasingly diagnosed in non-endemic countries. This is a prospective observational study performed at the Tropical Medicine Units of the International Health Program of the Catalan Health Institute, Barcelona (PROgrama de Salud Internacional del Instituto Catalán de la Salud, PROSICS Barcelona, Spain), that includes all patients with Chagas disease who attended from June 2007 to May 2012. Clinical and epidemiological data were collected. Overall, 1274 patients were included, the mean age of the patients was 37.7 years, 67.5% were women and 97% came from Bolivia. Thirteen patients had immunosuppressive conditions. The prevalence of cardiac involvement was 16.9%, lower than in previous studies performed in endemic areas (20-60%). Cardiac alterations were found in 33.8% of symptomatic and 14.1% of asymptomatic patients. The prevalence of digestive involvement was 14.8%. The rate of digestive involvement is very different among previous studies because of different diagnostic tools and strategies used. Barium enema alterations were found in 21.4% of symptomatic and 10.3% of asymptomatic patients, and oesophageal alterations were found in 3.7% of symptomatic and in 2.3% of asymptomatic patients. As shown in previous studies, Chagas disease in non-endemic countries affects younger patients and has lower morbidity.

Evaluation of fetal vocal cords to select candidates for successful fetoscopic treatment of congenital high airway obstruction syndrome: preliminary case series.

OBJECTIVE: Congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS) normally has a dire prognosis due to laryngeal atresia and association with other anomalies. However, rare cases with an isolated tracheal membrane have been described. We assessed systematically the larynx and vocal cords in fetuses with CHAOS, with the goal of identifying such cases and attempting fetoscopic deobstruction. METHODS: Between 2008 and 2012, 7 cases of CHAOS were referred to our institution. The ultrasonographic aspect of the larynx and trachea was assessed. We report the ultrasound findings, necropsy findings of 6 cases and perinatal outcome in 1 case undergoing therapy. RESULTS: In 6 cases, laryngeal atresia was presumed by ultrasound and confirmed by necropsy after termination of pregnancy. In 1 case, normal appearance of the vocal cords led to suspicion of a possible isolated tracheal web completely occluding the trachea. Fetoscopy confirmed the finding, thus the membrane was perforated. Lung size normalized and hydrops resolved. A normal fetus was delivered at term, requiring no respiratory support. At 9 months of age, the infant showed a normal laryngoscopy and was developing well. CONCLUSIONS: Systematic ultrasound assessment of the vocal cords can be performed in fetuses with CHAOS. We report the first case of long-term intact survival after fetoscopic airway deobstruction.

Atherosclerosis prevention by nutritional factors: a meta-analysis in small animal models.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Atherosclerosis prevention in small laboratory models has been used as a preclinical stage in the development of functional foods with claimed antiatherogenic properties. However, a high heterogeneity of experimental atherosclerosis models as well as species-specific differences in lipoprotein metabolism could limit the usefulness of these developments. To solve this, we have performed a meta-analysis on the effects of nutritional complements (i.e. less than 2% of diet) with potential antiatherogenic properties in mice, rabbits and hamsters, and compared the outcomes with those obtained in humans. METHODS AND RESULTS: A meta-analysis comprising works dealing with dietary prevention of experimental atherosclerosis (i.e. macroscopic and/or pathological evidences of atheromatosis in aorta) has been performed (n = 110 works). Quality criteria were applied resulting in selection of 16 works comprising 511 animals. Despite high heterogeneity, there is a significant effect of nutritional interventions reducing atheroma globally (mean effect 24.38% (95% CI: 13.24-35.51%) of prevention). In mouse studies (20.64% (95% CI: 8.38-32.90%)) and in rabbits (40.48% (95% CI: 6.73-74.23%)) this effect was significant, in contrast with hamster-based works (95% CI: 13.66-49.48%). Meta-regression showed that reduction of atheroma plaque formation was not linked to changes either in total circulating cholesterol or LDL cholesterol levels. CONCLUSION: Nutritional addition of selected compounds significantly prevents experimental atheromatosis, but the reproduction of positive effects observed in humans was very limited. These analyses reinforce the need for adequate standardization of atherosclerosis studies in preclinical models and for human intervention trials.

Interaction of two overlapped synthetic peptides from GB virus C with charged mono and bilayers.

The physical chemistry properties and interactions of E2 (125-139) and E2 (120-139) peptide sequences from GB virus C with model cell membranes were investigated by means of several biophysical techniques in order to gain better understanding of the effect of peptide length and lipid charge on membrane binding. The peptides, having one net negative charge at the pH of the assays, interacted with monolayers of all the phospholipids regardless of the charge but with more extent with the cationic DPTAP thus indicating that the interaction had both a hydrophobic and an electrostatic component as has been observed for other peptides of the same family. The peptides were able to leakage contents of liposomes and showed fluorescence energy transfer in vesicles depending on the vesicles lipid composition. On another hand, circular dichroism has shown that the peptides exist mainly as a mixture of disordered structure and ß-type conformations in aqueous solution but diminished its unstructured content, folding preferentially into α-helical conformation upon interaction with hydrophobic solvents or positively charged lipid surfaces. Altogether, results of this work indicate that the peptides interact at a surface level, penetrate into bilayers composed of fluid lipids and that conformational changes could be responsible for this effect.

Decompression through tracheobronchial endoscopy of bronchial atresia presenting as massive pulmonary tumor: a new indication for fetoscopic surgery.

This is the first report of fetoscopy to successfully treat a case of bilobar bronchial atresia presenting in the form of a massive right lung tumor causing severe thoracic compression with mediastinal shift, pulmonary hypoplasia and eventually fetal hydrops. The presence of an echolucent tubular structure in the pulmonary hilum was identified as the intrapulmonary continuation of the interrupted main bronchus, and led to the diagnosis of main bronchial atresia. After extensive discussion and counseling, a fetoscopic operation was designed and indicated. The procedure consisted of a fetal tracheoscopy and access to the right main bronchus, which was perforated with a diode laser until a communication with the dead end of the intrapulmonary main bronchus was achieved. After the operation a significant reduction in size was observed, hydrops and mediastinal shift disappeared and O/E LHR increased to 85%. The fetus was born at term and lobectomy of two dysplastic pulmonary lobes was performed. The infant is developing well at 14 months of age. This report demonstrates that fetoscopic airway decompression can achieve fetal survival in the rare event of main bronchus atresia.