Analysis of Hepatitis D Virus in Minor Salivary Gland of Sjögren's Disease.

Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) has been detected in the minor salivary gland (MSG) tissue of Sjögren's disease (SjD) patients in the absence of a hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection. Previous research has shown that HDV antigen (HDAg) expression can trigger an SjD-like phenotype in vivo, demonstrating a potential cause-and-effect relationship. We hypothesize that if HDV plays a role in the development of SjD, then HDV profiles may be correlated with disease manifestations. This retrospective study characterized HDV in a cohort of 48 SjD MSG samples collected between 2014 and 2021. Analyses of HDAg expression, including cell type and subcellular localization, in situ hybridization of HDV RNA, and comparative analyses with associated SjD and viral hepatitis clinical features, were conducted. HDAg was detected in MSG acinar, ductal, myoepithelial, and adipose cells and localized with the nuclei, cytoplasm, and mitochondria. In situ hybridization detected HDV genomic RNA localization in the MSG nuclei. A significant negative correlation was found between HDAg intensity and focal lymphocytic inflammation and in patients with both anti-SSA/Ro-52 and anti-SSA/Ro-60. In analyzing autoimmune disease comorbidities with SjD, it was found that SjD patients diagnosed with autoimmune thyroiditis and/or hypothyroidism were significantly more represented in the high HDAg intensity group compared to the negative and moderate HDAg intensity groups. No significant associations were detected between MSG-localized HDAg and liver enzymes or an evident HBV coinfection. This study has further confirmed that there is a nonhepatic reservoir for chronic HDV persistence in SjD-affected salivary gland tissue in a third independent SjD patient cohort. In addition, this study describes the unique colocalization of HDAg with mitochondria. The detection of HDV antigen and sequence within SjD-affected salivary gland tissue, and in the absence of an evident current or past HBV coinfection, warrants further investigation.

Host preferences in host-seeking and blood-fed mosquitoes in Switzerland.

The avian zoonotic agent for West Nile virus (WNV) can cause neuroinvasive disease in horses and humans and is expanding its range in Europe. Analyses of the risk for transmission to these hosts in non-endemic areas are necessary. Host preferences of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae), the main vectors of WNV, were determined in Switzerland using animal-baited trap (horse, chickens) experiments at a natural and a periurban site. This was undertaken on four occasions during May-September 2014. In addition, the hosts of 505 blood-fed mosquitoes collected in a zoo and in the field were determined. Mosquito data obtained in the animal bait experiments were corrected for host weight and body surface area and by Kleiber's scaling factor. Collections of 11-14 different mosquito species were achieved with these approaches. Statistically significant host preferences were identified in three species in both approaches. The other species showed opportunistic feeding behaviours to varying extents. Specifically, the invasive species Hulecoeteomyia japonica (= Aedes japonicus) was identified for the first time as feeding on avians in nature. Abundance data, spatiotemporal activity and laboratory vector competence for WNV suggested that, in addition to the main WNV vector Culex pipiens, H. japonica and Aedimorphus vexans (= Aedes vexans) are the most likely candidate bridge vectors for WNV transmission in Switzerland.

Digestive physiology, metabolism and methane production of captive Linné's two-toed sloths (Choloepus didactylus).

Sloths are renowned for their low metabolic rate, low food intake and low defecation frequency. We investigated factors of digestive physiology and energy metabolism in four captive individuals (mean body mass 10.0 ± SD 3.7 kg) of a hitherto mostly unstudied sloth species, Linné's two-toed sloth (Choloepus didactylus), in a 2-week digestion recording and 23-h respiration experiment on animals fed a standard zoo diet of vegetables and starchy components. Dry matter intake, defecation frequency and particle mean retention time (MRT) in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) were 12 ± 3 g/(kg(0.75)  day), once every 5 days and >140 h in three individuals, but 53 g/(kg(0.75)  day), daily and 82 h in one individual that was apparently compensating for a period of weight loss prior to the experiment. In all animals, solute marker was eliminated at a faster rate than the particle marker, indicating 'digesta washing' in the sloths' GIT. The overall metabolic rate calculated from oxygen consumption matched the metabolisable energy intake in three individuals [173 ± 22 vs. 168 ± 44 kJ/(kg(0.75)  day)] but not in the fourth one [225 vs. 698 kJ/(kg(0.75)  day)], supporting the interpretation that this animal was replenishing body stores. In spite of the low food intake and the low-fibre diet (209 ± 26 g neutral detergent fibre/kg dry matter), methane production was rather high accounting for 9.4 ± 0.8% of gross energy intake (2.7% in the fourth individual), which exceeded literature data for ruminants on forage-only diets. These results corroborate literature reports on low intake, low defecation frequency, low metabolic rate and long MRT in other sloth species. The long MRT is probably responsible for the comparatively high methane production, providing more opportunity for methanogenic archaea than in other non-ruminant mammals to produce significant amounts of methane.

Factors influencing the onset and progression of pododermatitis in captive flamingos (Phoenicopteridae).

Pododermatitis is a worldwide problem in captive flamingos. We performed an evaluation of different influence factors (age, sex, weight, origin, breeding status) and a comparison of foot lesions between several zoological institutions and the feet of free-ranging Greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus). A scoring system was used to determine the prevalence and types of lesions and severity. Cracks and nodules developed as early as 3 months of age and papillomatous growths as early as 6 to 7 months of age in captivity. Nodules with ulceration occurred significantly more often in birds older than 31 years and heavier than 4 kg. The comparison of different institutions revealed that birds kept in enclosures with natural-floored water ponds had significantly less severe lesions than birds kept in concrete water ponds. None of the free-ranging flamingos, which live on a muddy underground, showed any lesion. This study demonstrates that flooring, weight and age are important in the onset and progression of pododermatitis in flamingos.

Les pododermatites représentent dans tout le monde un problème chez les flamants détenus en captivité. Dans la présente étude, on examine divers facteurs (âge, sexe, poids, origine, couvaison) pouvant influencer cette pathologie et on compare les lésions constatées dans diverses conditions de détention entre elles ainsi que par rapport aux pattes de flamants roses (Phoenicopterus roseus) sauvages. La prévalence et les divers types de lésions, de même que leur gravité sont déterminées sur la base d'un catalogue de critères. Des fissures et des nodules se développent déjà chez des animaux âgés de trois mois; on peut observer des proliférations papillomateuses pour la première fois vers l'âge de 6 à 7 mois. Les nodules avec ulcération centrale s'observent significativement plus souvent chez des animaux de plus de 31 ans de même que chez ceux qui pèsent plus de 4 kg. Les flamants provenant d'enclos avec des étangs au fond naturel présentent des lésions moins fréquentes et plus bénignes que ceux détenus dans des enclos avec des étangs au fond en béton. On n'a observé aucune lésion podale chez les flamants roses sauvages vivant sur un sol argileux. La présente étude démontre que le sol, le poids et l'âge jouent un rôle dans l'apparition et le développement des pododermatites chez les flamants détenus en captivité.

Response to psychotherapy in borderline personality disorder and methylation status of the BDNF gene.

Downregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene expression with corresponding increased methylation at specific promoters has been associated with stressful experiences in early life and may explain later adulthood psychopathology. We measured the percentage of methylation at BDNF CpG exons I and IV as well as plasma BDNF protein levels in 115 subjects with borderline personality disorder (BPD) and 52 controls. BPD subjects then underwent a 4-week course of intensive dialectical behavior therapy (I-DBT). BDNF methylation status and protein levels were re-assessed at the end of treatment. BPD subjects had significantly higher methylation status in both CpG regions than controls. In addition, the higher the number of childhood trauma, the higher was the methylation status. In BPD subjects, BDNF methylation significantly increased after I-DBT. Nonresponders accounted for the majority of this increase, whereas responders showed a decrease in methylation status over time. Accordingly, the changes in methylation status over time were significantly associated with changes in depression scores, hopelessness scores and impulsivity. No association was found between protein levels and BDNF methylation status. We here found a relationship between child maltreatment and higher DNA methylation of BDNF. These results moreover support the idea that these epigenetic marks may be changed through psychotherapeutic approaches and that these changes underline changes in cognitive functions.

Nuestra experiencia en epitelioma espinocelular y metastasis. / Spinocellular epithelioma and metastasis

Sobre un total de 920 pacientes, se encontraron 167 epiteliomas sepinocelulares (E.E.) en 155 de ellos; en 5 casos se detectaron metastasis, todas en ganglios linfaticos regionales. Se efectuo un estudio sobre los E.E. considerando: sexo: hombres (75.5%), mujeres (24.5%); edad: en la primera consulta el grupo etario mas frecuente fue de 60 a 69 anos (30,32%); formas clinicas: la mas frecuente fue la ulcerada (27.54%), siendo importante la incipiente (19.16%); localizacion: en piel el 62.28% y en mucosas t seminucosas el 37.72%; predominando en regiones expuestas de cara y en labio inferior respectivamente; tamano: el grupo mas numeroso fue de hasta 10 mm. (39.52%); tiempo de evolucion el mayor porcentaje consulto antes de los 6 primeros meses (34.13%); antecedentes de manifestaciones predisponentes y/o determinantes: sobresale netamente la accion carcinogenetica solar; histopatologia: la variedad semideferenciada fue la mas numerosa (42.50%) siguiendo en importancia la diferenciada (39.54%), se hallo un alto porcentaje de incipientes y un solo indiferenciado

Nuestra experiencia en epitelioma espinocelular y metastasis. / Spinocellular epithelioma and metastasis

Sobre un total de 920 pacientes, se encontraron 167 epiteliomas sepinocelulares (E.E.) en 155 de ellos; en 5 casos se detectaron metastasis, todas en ganglios linfaticos regionales. Se efectuo un estudio sobre los E.E. considerando: sexo: hombres (75.5%), mujeres (24.5%); edad: en la primera consulta el grupo etario mas frecuente fue de 60 a 69 anos (30,32%); formas clinicas: la mas frecuente fue la ulcerada (27.54%), siendo importante la incipiente (19.16%); localizacion: en piel el 62.28% y en mucosas t seminucosas el 37.72%; predominando en regiones expuestas de cara y en labio inferior respectivamente; tamano: el grupo mas numeroso fue de hasta 10 mm. (39.52%); tiempo de evolucion el mayor porcentaje consulto antes de los 6 primeros meses (34.13%); antecedentes de manifestaciones predisponentes y/o determinantes: sobresale netamente la accion carcinogenetica solar; histopatologia: la variedad semideferenciada fue la mas numerosa (42.50%) siguiendo en importancia la diferenciada (39.54%), se hallo un alto porcentaje de incipientes y un solo indiferenciado

Parapsoriasis en gotas leucodermica en la infancia. / Guttate leukodermic parapsoriasis in childhood

Se presenta dos casos de parapsoriasis en gotas leucodermica en dos ninas. Se destaca la infrecuencia de su observacion y las dificultades diagnosticas que puede presentar este tipo de parapsoriasis

Parapsoriasis en gotas leucodermica en la infancia. / Guttate leukodermic parapsoriasis in childhood

Se presenta dos casos de parapsoriasis en gotas leucodermica en dos ninas. Se destaca la infrecuencia de su observacion y las dificultades diagnosticas que puede presentar este tipo de parapsoriasis

Esclerodermia en placas diseminada y carcinoma mamario. / Disseminated scleroderma in plaque and breast carcinoma

Se presenta el caso de esclerodermia localizada y cancer de mama simultaneos. El tratamiento del tumor causo la involucion de la esclerodermia. Se discute la vinculacion de ambas patologias

Causas de consulta tardia en epiteliomas basocelulares y espinocelulares. / Causes of late consultation in basal cell and squamous cell epitholiomas

En un trabajo epidemiologico descriptivo, se analizan las causas de consulta tardia en 170 enfermos con epiteliomas basocelulares y espinocelulares, de la seccion oncologia, de la II Catedra de Dermatologia de la Facultad de Medicina de la U.B.A. Las causas imputables al enfermo representaron el 75%, las mas frecuentes sobre todo por restarle importancia a lesiones asintomaticas. En un importante porcentaje, 45%, el medico participo en la solucion precoz del problema. El promedio de demora fue de 42,5 meses. Se analizan y estudian las medidas tendientes a solucionar estas fallas

Esclerodermia en placas diseminada y carcinoma mamario. / Disseminated scleroderma in plaque and breast carcinoma

Se presenta el caso de esclerodermia localizada y cancer de mama simultaneos. El tratamiento del tumor causo la involucion de la esclerodermia. Se discute la vinculacion de ambas patologias

Causas de consulta tardia en epiteliomas basocelulares y espinocelulares. / Causes of late consultation in basal cell and squamous cell epitholiomas

En un trabajo epidemiologico descriptivo, se analizan las causas de consulta tardia en 170 enfermos con epiteliomas basocelulares y espinocelulares, de la seccion oncologia, de la II Catedra de Dermatologia de la Facultad de Medicina de la U.B.A. Las causas imputables al enfermo representaron el 75%, las mas frecuentes sobre todo por restarle importancia a lesiones asintomaticas. En un importante porcentaje, 45%, el medico participo en la solucion precoz del problema. El promedio de demora fue de 42,5 meses. Se analizan y estudian las medidas tendientes a solucionar estas fallas