Epitope Mapping of Food Allergens Using Noncontact Piezoelectric Microarray Printer.

Peptide microarrays have been used to study protein-protein interaction, enzyme-substrate profiling, epitope mapping, vaccine development, and immuno-profiling. Unlike proteins, peptides are cheap to produce, and can be produced in a high-throughput manner, in a reliable and consistent procedure that reduces batch-to-batch variability. All this provides the peptide microarrays a great potential in the development of new diagnostic tools. Noncontact printing, such as piezoelectric systems, results in a considerable advance in protein and peptide microarray production. In particular, they improve drop deposition, sample distribution, quality control, and flexibility in substrate deposition and eliminate cross-contamination and carryover. These features contribute to creating reproducible assays and generating more reliable data. Here we describe the methods and materials for epitope mapping of food allergens using peptide microarrays produced with a noncontact piezoelectric microarray printer.

Increased HIV infection in patients with stroke in Spain. A 16-year population-based study / Aumento de la infección por VIH en pacientes con ictus en España. Estudio poblacional a nivel nacional a lo largo de 16 años

INTRODUCTION: An increased incidence of stroke in HIV-infected patients has already been reported, suggesting that HIV infection may be a cerebrovascular risk factor. The objective of this study was to assess temporal trends in the proportion of HIV infection among patients with stroke in Spain. METHODS: Data were obtained from the minimum basic dataset (MBDS) of all patients hospitalized in Spain between 1997 and 2012 with a primary or secondary diagnosis of stroke. The annual proportion of HIV infection and time trends (stratifying by type of stroke and HIV stage) were calculated, and predictors of HIV infection and the social and economic impact of HIV-infected (HIV+) and non-infected (HIV−) patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 857,371 patients hospitalized with an incident stroke, 2134 (0.25%) had HIV infection. A 2.5% year-on-year increase (OR 1.025, 95% CI 1.015-1.036, p < 0.0001) of the proportion of HIV-infected patients was observed due to an increase in the asymptomatic stage of the infection (per year OR 1.077, 95% CI 1.057-1.097, p < 0.0001), as the proportion of patients with AIDS remained stable. Factors independently associated with HIV infection and stroke were active smoking, stimulating drugs and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A higher mortality rate, longer hospital stay and a higher cost per hospitalized patient was observed among HIV+ patients. CONCLUSIONS: From 1997 to 2012, there was an increase in the proportion of HIV infection among patients hospitalized with stroke irrespective of the classical vascular risk factors, reinforcing the role of HIV infection as a cerebrovascular risk factor

INTRODUCCIÓN: Se ha observado previamente un aumento de la incidencia de ictus en pacientes con VIH (VIH+), lo que sugiere que esta infección es un factor de riesgo cerebrovascular (FRCV). El objetivo fue analizar las tendencias temporales del porcentaje de VIH+ en pacientes con ictus en España. MÉTODOS: Los datos se obtuvieron del Conjunto Mínimo Básico de Datos (CMBD), incluyendo a todos los pacientes hospitalizados en España entre 1997 y 2012 con un diagnóstico primario o secundario de ictus. Se calcularon el porcentaje anual de infección por VIH y las tendencias temporales (estratificados por el tipo de ictus y el estadio del VIH), así como los factores predictores independientes de infección por VIH en pacientes con ictus. La mortalidad, las estancias hospitalarias y el coste por paciente fueron similares entre los pacientes VIH+ y los pacientes no infectados por el VIH (VIH-). RESULTADOS: De los 857.371 pacientes hospitalizados con un ictus incidente, 2.134 (0,25%) presentaban infección por VIH. Se observó un aumento de un 2,5% anual (OR: 1,025; IC del 95%: 1,015-1,036; p < 0,0001) en el porcentaje de infección por VIH, secundario a un aumento en el estadio asintomático de la infección (OR anual: 1,077; IC del 95%: 1,057-1,097; p < 0,0001), puesto que el porcentaje permaneció estable en pacientes con SIDA. La infección por el virus de la hepatitis C (VHC), el consumo de drogas estimulantes y el tabaquismo activo fueron factores independientemente asociados a sufrir un ictus y presentar VIH. Se observó una mayor mortalidad (OR: 1,81; p < 0,0001) y una mayor estancia hospitalaria y coste por paciente hospitalizado en los pacientes VIH+. CONCLUSIONES: De 1997 a 2012, se ha observado un aumento del porcentaje de infección por VIH en pacientes hospitalizados con ictus independientemente de los factores de riesgo clásicos, lo que refuerza el papel de las infecciones por VIH como FRCV

Clinical utility of microarray B-cell epitope mapping in food allergies: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Peptide microarray technology has been proposed as a useful tool for diagnosing food allergy. However, there is considerable heterogeneity in the clinical methods and analytical procedures used to assess its diagnostic and prognostic performance. We performed a systematic review of studies that have used B-cell epitopes by peptide microarray in food allergies to identify the clinical utility of this immunologic technique. METHODS: Studies were screened in PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase according to an established keyword algorithm. Data extraction was performed, and information was collected in an Excel database. Descriptive analysis was carried out using Stata software. RESULTS: Thirty relevant studies were identified. Most articles were cross-sectional (n = 24), included epitope mapping (n = 9), and assessed diagnostic utility (n = 11). All studies recruited allergic patients, and some included additional patients (sensitized, persistent, and tolerant). The primary microarray variables studied were IgE intensity (n = 29), IgG4 intensity (n = 15), and number of peptides (n = 17). Statistical approaches differed significantly between studies, with the Wilcoxon test being the most frequently used (n = 10). CONCLUSIONS: Sensitization to particular epitopes of milk, peanut, and shrimp allergens can be used to determine clinical reactivity, persistence, severity, or response to oral immunotherapy; however, important methodological questions need to be addressed before drawing definitive conclusions. More research is needed to address the accuracy and clinical benefits of microarray-based technology. Standards are required to improve consistency and reproducibility, and to allow for better understanding of research findings.

Increased HIV infection in patients with stroke in Spain. A 16-year population-based study.

INTRODUCTION: An increased incidence of stroke in HIV-infected patients has already been reported, suggesting that HIV infection may be a cerebrovascular risk factor. The objective of this study was to assess temporal trends in the proportion of HIV infection among patients with stroke in Spain. METHODS: Data were obtained from the minimum basic dataset (MBDS) of all patients hospitalized in Spain between 1997 and 2012 with a primary or secondary diagnosis of stroke. The annual proportion of HIV infection and time trends (stratifying by type of stroke and HIV stage) were calculated, and predictors of HIV infection and the social and economic impact of HIV-infected (HIV+) and non-infected (HIV-) patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 857,371 patients hospitalized with an incident stroke, 2134 (0.25%) had HIV infection. A 2.5% year-on-year increase (OR 1.025, 95% CI 1.015-1.036, p<0.0001) of the proportion of HIV-infected patients was observed due to an increase in the asymptomatic stage of the infection (per year OR 1.077, 95% CI 1.057-1.097, p<0.0001), as the proportion of patients with AIDS remained stable. Factors independently associated with HIV infection and stroke were active smoking, stimulating drugs and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. A higher mortality rate, longer hospital stay and a higher cost per hospitalized patient was observed among HIV+ patients. CONCLUSIONS: From 1997 to 2012, there was an increase in the proportion of HIV infection among patients hospitalized with stroke irrespective of the classical vascular risk factors, reinforcing the role of HIV infection as a cerebrovascular risk factor.