Spirituality, Religiosity and Coping Strategies Among Spanish People Diagnosed with Cancer.

The present study evaluates the influence of spirituality/religiosity (S/R) on the coping strategies used by people with cancer (breast and prostate) compared with those without cancer, in a sample of 445 Spanish participants (160 with cancer and 285 without). Significant interactions between the presence of cancer and S/R are observed in the use of coping strategies such as religion, humor and disconnection. Spirituality as a predictor variable through the use of religion as a strategy, increased the explanatory capacity of age by 58.9% (ß = .794) while praying/talking to God predicts the use of this strategy with a ß = .383. In people with cancer, active coping was predicted by spirituality (ß = .327). However, spirituality was a negative predictor of maladaptive coping, with a beta coefficient equal to .383. The data suggest that patients' beliefs need to be considered by health care professionals when designing interventions.

Lymphomagenesis-related gene expression in B cells from sustained virological responders with occult hepatitis C virus infection.

The expression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase, B-aggressive lymphoma, cyclin D1 and serine/threonine kinase 15 genes, among others, is increased in B cells from patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. It is unknown whether the level of expression of these genes in B cells is increased in patients with hepatitis C who have achieved a sustained virological response (SVR) but who have persistent, detectable HCV RNA, so-called occult infection. Eighty-three patients who achieved and SVR, 27 with detectable HCV and 56 without detectable HCV RNA, 28 chronic hepatitis C patients and 32 healthy controls were studied. RNA was extracted from B cells, and gene expression levels were measured by RT-PCR. Patients with chronic HCV and those who achieved an SVR (with and without persistent low-level HCV RNA) showed a statistically significant higher expression compared to healthy controls, of activation-induced cytidine deaminase (P = 0.004, P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively), B-aggressive lymphoma (P < 0.001, P = 0.001 and P = 0.006) and cyclin D1 (P = 0.026, P = 0.001; P = 0.038). For activation-induced cytidine deaminase patients with an SVR and 'occult infection' had a statistically significantly higher expression level than patients with and SVR without 'occult infection' (P = 0.014). The higher expression levels found for activation-induced cytidine deaminase, together with other genes indicates that these B lymphomagenesis-related genes are upregulated following HCV therapy and this is more marked when HCV can be detected in PBMCs.

Printed disposable colorimetric array for metal ion discrimination.

One of the main limiting factors in optical sensing arrays is the reproducibility in the preparation, typically by spin coating and drop casting techniques, which produce membranes that are not fully homogeneous. In this paper, we increase the discriminatory power of colorimetric arrays by increasing the reproducibility in the preparation by inkjet printing and measuring the color from the image of the array acquired by a digital camera, using the H coordinate of the HSV color space as the analytical parameter, which produces robust and precise measurements. A disposable 31 mm × 19 mm nylon membrane with 35 sensing areas with 7 commercial chromogenic reagents makes it possible to identify 13 metal ions and to determine mixtures with up to 5 ions using a two-stage neural network approach with higher accuracy than with previous approaches.

Impact of genetic diversity and antibiotic-resistance of Salmonella isolated from feral cats: One Health approach.

Free-living cats usually live in colonies in urban areas, especially close to parks and neighbourhoods where people feed them without any sanitary control. This can pose a human, animal and environmental health concern due to the close contact between uncontrolled colonies, the population and other domestic and/or wild animals. Thus, this study aimed to assess the genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica strains isolated from feral cats in a previous epidemiological study in the Gran Canaria island (Spain). A total of nineteen Salmonella isolates were obtained from November 2018 to January 2019 in a Salmonella epidemiological study in feral cats. All isolates obtained were genotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PGFE) and were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility, in accordance with Decision 2013/652/EU. PFGE analysis revealed isolates clustering by serovar, with identical clones for serovars Bredeney and Grancanaria, while differing pulsotypes were observed for serovars Florida (88.89 % similarity) and Nima (83.23 % similarity). All but two isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial. The results obtained demonstrate that feral cats in the region investigated are a reservoir of Salmonella strains resistant to gentamicin (94.1 %) and of the critically important antimicrobial tigecycline (23.5 %). Hence, they could excrete AMR strains through their faeces and contaminate the environment, favoring the spread of such bacteria to cohabiting pets. Moreover, this widespread presence of AMR Salmonella clones across various serovars highlights the urgent need to implement efficient antimicrobial stewardship and control programs by the local governments due to the ongoing need to protect human and animal health under a One Health concept.

Expression of CD81, SR-BI and LDLR in lymphocytes and monocytes from patients with classic and occult hepatitis C virus infection.

CD81, the scavenger receptor-BI (SR-BI) and the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) are involved in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry. To investigate if these molecules are altered by HCV, 20 controls and 66 patients: 37 untreated and 29 sustained virological responders, were studied. CD81 and LDLR expression, measured the percentage of cells expressing the HCV-receptors and their mean fluorescence intensity (MFI), was analyzed on lymphocytes and monocytes, as well as SR-BI on monocytes by flow cytometry. RNA was extracted from PBMCs and detection of the HCV-RNA positive and negative strands was performed by strand-specific RT-PCR. A statistically significant increase of CD81 expression was observed on lymphocytes, a higher percentage of LDLR on lymphocytes and monocytes, as well as SR-BI on monocytes was found in the patients as compared to the controls (P < 0.05 in all cases). Untreated patients showed a higher percentage of LDLR(+) lymphocytes than sustained virological responders (P = 0.025). Nineteen sustained virological responders bore the HCV-RNA positive strand in PBMCs; nine of them the negative strand too. Sustained virological responders with occult infection and viral replication, showed a higher expression of LDLR on lymphocytes (P < 0.05) and a higher LDLR MFI on monocytes (P = 0.011) than those without viral replication. In conclusion, HCV exposure modifies expression levels of the receptors studied, being LDLR related with HCV replication, not only in the classic but also in the occult infection.

Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in human serum and adipose tissue from Bolivia.

Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are synthetic chemicals that are highly resistant to biodegradation and have proven adverse health effects. The objectives of this study were to determine concentrations of three selected organochlorine pesticides (p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDE, HCB) and three specific PCB congeners (PCB 138, 153, 180) in adipose tissue and serum samples from an urban adult population (n=112) in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, and to investigate their relationships within and between the two matrices and with selected socio-demographic characteristics. The percentages of samples positive for these compounds ranged from 40% for PCB 180 to 100% for p,p'-DDE in adipose tissue, and from 21% for HCB to 93% for p,p'-DDE in serum. Median number of residues per sample was five for adipose tissue and three for serum. Geometric mean concentrations indicate a considerable historical and recent exposure to organochlorine pesticides and PCBs in this population. Adipose tissue:serum ratios ranged from 149.3 to 590.3 (wet basis) and from 0.9 to 3.5 (lipid basis). We found positive and statistically significant correlations between adipose tissue and serum concentrations only in p,p'-DDE and HCB. This novel study in Bolivia underlines the need for human biomonitoring to assess exposure to environmental pollutants in South America.

Factors influencing combined exposure to three indicator polychlorinated biphenyls in an adult cohort from Bolivia.

Polychlorinated biphenyls are persistent organic pollutants that have been used for decades in several industrial applications. Although production of polychlorinated biphenyls was restricted from the 1970s in most countries, substantial amounts remain in old equipment and buildings and they have been detected in various environmental and biological matrices. The main objective of this study was to analyze predictors of the combined exposure to three non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (congeners 138, 153 and 180) in serum and adipose tissue from an adult cohort (n=112) living in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra (Bolivia) and surrounding towns/villages. A second aim was to identify modifiers that might influence the statistical associations found, using crude, partially-adjusted, and global multiple linear regression models. Main predictors of serum concentrations were occupation and fatty food consumption, while those for adipose tissue concentrations included age, smoking habit, fatty food consumption, and residence. The differences between the two matrices might be derived from their biological meaning, given that adipose tissue concentrations are an indicator of chronic exposure to polychlorinated biphenyls while serum levels are a good predictor of ongoing exposure and the mobilization of polychlorinated biphenyls stored in fatty tissues. Body mass index was found to be an important modifier of these associations.

Research Note: Persistent Salmonella problems in slaughterhouses related to clones linked to poultry companies.

Salmonellosis remains one of the main foodborne zoonoses in Europe, with poultry products as the main source of human infections. The slaughterhouse has been identified as a potential source for Salmonella contamination of poultry meat. Despite the mandatory programme of the EU, there are companies with persistent Salmonella that are unable to remove the bacteria from their processing environment, compromising the entire production line. In this context, an intensive sampling study was conducted to investigate a slaughterhouse with persistent Salmonella problems, establishing the genetic relationship among Salmonella strains isolated during the slaughter process. A total of 36 broiler flocks were sampled during processing at the slaughterhouse. Salmonella was identified based on ISO 6579-1:2017 (Annex D), serotyped by Kauffman-White-Le-Minor technique, and the genetic relationship was assessed with ERIC-PCR followed by PFGE. The outcomes showed that 69.4% of the batches sampled carried Salmonella upon arrival at the slaughterhouse and that 46.3% of the different samples from carcasses were contaminated with Salmonella. The two serovars isolated at the different steps in the slaughterhouse were Enteritidis (98.2%) and Kentucky (1.8%). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis revealed a low genetic diversity, with all S. Enteritidis isolates showing a nearly identical pulsotype (similarity >85%) and S. Kentucky strains showed the same XbaI PFGE profile (95.0% genetic similarity). The results of this study showed a high genetic relationship among isolates recovered from carcasses and environmental samples in the slaughterhouse from both Salmonella-positive and Salmonella-free flocks. Salmonella strains re-circulated across to poultry flocks and re-entered the slaughterhouse to survive on the processing line. Thus, it is necessary to implement molecular diagnosis methods in time at the field level to determine the Salmonella epidemiology of the flock, to make rapid decisions for the control of Salmonella and prevent entry into the slaughterhouse environment.

SELNET clinical practice guidelines for bone sarcoma.

Bone sarcoma are infrequent diseases, representing < 0.2% of all adult neoplasms. A multidisciplinary management within reference centers for sarcoma, with discussion of the diagnostic and therapeutic strategies within an expert multidisciplinary tumour board, is essential for these patients, given its heterogeneity and low frequency. This approach leads to an improvement in patient's outcome, as demonstrated in several studies. The Sarcoma European Latin-American Network (SELNET), aims to improve clinical outcome in sarcoma care, with a special focus in Latin-American countries. These Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) have been developed and agreed by a multidisciplinary expert group (including medical and radiation oncologist, surgical oncologist, orthopaedic surgeons, radiologist, pathologist, molecular biologist and representatives of patients advocacy groups) of the SELNET consortium, and are conceived to provide the standard approach to diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of bone sarcoma patients in the Latin-American context.

Cellular immune responses and occult infection in seronegative heterosexual partners of chronic hepatitis C patients.

It is unknown whether hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific cellular immune responses can develop in seronegative sexual partners of chronically HCV-infected patients and whether they have occult infection. Thirty-one heterosexual partners of patients with chronic HCV were studied, fifteen of them with HCV transmission risks. Ten healthy individuals and 17 anti-HCV seropositive patients, without viremia, were used as controls. Virus-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell responses were measured by flow cytometry against six HCV peptides, situated within the nonstructural (NS) proteins NS3, NS4 and NS5, through intracellular detection of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) or interleukin 4 (IL-4) production and CD69 expression. Sexual partners had a higher production of IFN-γ and IL-4 by CD4+ cells against NS3-p124 (P = 0.003), NS5b-p257 (P = 0.005) and NS5b-p294 (P = 0.012), and CD8+ cells against NS3-p124 (P = 0.002), NS4b-p177 (P = 0.001) and NS3-p294 (P = 0.004) as compared with healthy controls. We observed elevated IFN-γ production by CD4+ T cells against NS5b-p257 (P = 0.042) and NS5b-p294 (P = 0.009) in the sexual partners with HCV transmission risks (sexual, professional and familial altogether) than in those without risks. RNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), and detection of HCV-RNA positive and replicative (negative) strands was performed by strand-specific real-time PCR. In four sexual partners, the presence of positive and negative HCV- RNA strands in PBMC was confirmed. Hence, we found an HCV-specific cellular immune response as well as occult HCV infection in seronegative and aviremic sexual partners of chronically HCV-infected patients.

Perspectives on cervical cancer screening and prevention: challenges faced by providers and patients along the Texas-Mexico border.

BACKGROUND: The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) and Laredo regions located along the Texas-Mexico border consist of seven counties with a population of approximately 1.5 million people and a high uninsured rate (33.5%). Cervical cancer mortality in these border counties is approximately 30% higher than the rest of Texas. The RGV and Laredo areas were studied to better understand the state of access to cervical cancer prevention services along the Texas-Mexico border. METHODS: Data on the population served and the services provided were analyzed to determine the gap between cervical cancer screenings recommended versus those received. Through interviews, we gathered the perspectives of 16 local stakeholders regarding cervical cancer screening for underserved individuals in the region. FINDINGS: It is estimated that 69,139 uninsured women aged 21-64 years in the RGV/Laredo per year are recommended to undergo cervical cancer screening with Papanicolaou (Pap) and/or human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, but only 8941 (12.9%) Pap tests are being performed by the Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) serving uninsured women in these regions. Systemic barriers identified include insufficient provider clinical capacity, the high cost of healthcare, and uncertainty about government funding sources. Patient barriers identified include inadequate knowledge on navigating the local healthcare system, low health literacy, lack of money and childcare, an inability to miss work, limited transportation, and fear of deportation. CONCLUSION: Decreasing the disparity between cervical cancer screening services provided and those recommended requires addressing the barriers, identified by local experts, which prevent uninsured women from accessing care. These challenges are being addressed through ongoing programs and collaborations.

Heterologous expression of phaC2 gene and poly-3-hydroxyalkanoate production by recombinant Cupriavidus necator strains using canola oil as carbon source.

Many heterologous transformation studies have been carried out using the Cupriavidus necator PHB-4 strain to investigate the expression characteristics of various polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthase enzymes. In this study, we generated a recombinant C. necator PHB-4 strain by transforming a plasmid (pMRC03) harbouring the synthetic phaC2 gene of Pseudomonas putida CA-3. Under conditions favourable for expression of the phaC2 P.putCA-3 gene, canola oil was used as carbon source for the synthesis of PHAs. The expressed synthase polymerised monomers of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HB), 3-hydroxyvalerate (3-HV) and 3-hydroxyhexanoate (3-HHx) in the recombinant C. necator PHB-4 (pMRC03) strain. We then co-expressed the phaC2P.putCA-3 gene with the native phaC1C.ne gene in wild type Cupriavidus necator H16 (C. necator H16 (pMRC03)). This co-expression produced a PHA blend of 3-HB, 3-HV, 3-HHx and 3-hydroxyoctanoate (3-HO) monomers in the presence of canola oil. Gas chromatography analysis revealed the presence of 94mol% 3-HB, 1mol% 3-HV, 4mol% 3-HHx and 1mol% 3-HO in a tetra-polymer. Thus, we confirmed that a synthetic phaC2 gene encoding the synthase enzyme is functionally active with substrates ranging from short to medium chain length PHAs.

First isolation of Haemophilus parasuis and other NAD-dependent Pasteurellaceae of swine from European wild boars.

Haemophilus parasuis is a colonizer of the upper respiratory tract of pigs and the etiological agent of Glässer's disease, which is characterized by a fibrinous polyserositis, meningitis and arthritis. Glässer's disease has never been reported in wild boar (Sus scrofa), although antibodies against H. parasuis have been detected. The goal of this study was to confirm the presence of this bacterium in wild boar by bacterial isolation and to compare the strains to H. parasuis from domesticated pigs. Therefore, nasal swabs from 42 hunted wild boars were processed for bacterial isolation and subsequent H. parasuis identification by specific PCR, biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Two different strains of H. parasuis from two wild boars were isolated. These strains belonged to serotype 2 and were included by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and MLST analysis in a cluster with other H. parasuis strains of nasal origin from domestic pigs. During this study, Actinobacillus minor and Actinobacillus indolicus, which are NAD-dependent Pasteurellaceae closely related to H. parasuis, were also isolated. Our results indicate similarities in the respiratory microbiota of wild boars and domestic pigs, and although H. parasuis was isolated from wild boars, more studies are needed to determine if this could be a source of H. parasuis infection for domestic pigs.

Dynamics of Haemophilus parasuis genotypes in a farm recovered from an outbreak of Glässer's disease.

Haemophilus parasuis is a colonizer of the upper respiratory tract of pigs, although it is better known as the etiological agent of Glässer's disease. Interestingly, several strains can be isolated from a single farm, as determined by both genotyping and serotyping. However, it is not known how an outbreak and the subsequent treatment affect the population of H. parasuis strains. In this study, a farm was studied during an outbreak of Glässer's disease and 1 year after antimicrobial treatment and elimination of clinical signs. Bacterial isolation was attempted from nasal swabs and lesions. After isolation, antimicrobial susceptibility, serotype and genotype were determined. Two different genotyping techniques, enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) were used. The H. parasuis strain that was isolated from lesions during the disease outbreak clustered with other virulent strains by both MLST and serotyping analysis. Nasal isolates were included in the corresponding nasal cluster by MLST, but they presented high variability by serotyping. These nasal isolates included serotypes previously classified as virulent and non-virulent. Finally, we found that during the antimicrobial treatment the diversity of strains isolated in the farm was affected and just one strain, which was resistant to the treatment, was detected. One year after the treatment strain diversity was back to normal (three strains).

Charcot-like arthropathy: A newly-recognized subset of psoriatic arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to describe a group of patients with a highly destructive and asymptomatic form of psoriatic arthritis, mimicking a Charcot-like joint disease. METHODS: We studied 180 patients with psoriatic arthritis and identified 4 patients with arthritis mutilans mimicking a Charcot-like joint disease. Clinical history, physical exam, and immunological testing were performed as well as X-ray of affected joints. Synovial membrane and sural nerve biopsies were performed and diagnosis of psoriasis was confirmed by skin biopsy. RESULTS: Four patients with psoriatic arthritis mutilans according to Moll and Wright classification criteria (1) and Charcot-like joint disease were identified and evaluated. There were 2 males and 2 females, all Caucasians. The mean age +/- SD was 57.8 +/- 14.2 years. Mean arthritis duration +/- SD was 6 +/- 4.6 years and mean cutaneous duration +/- SD was 13 +/- 10.4 years. All patients had polyarthritis and a sudden onset of bilateral, painless, and highly destructive arthropathy involving large, non-weight bearing (elbows) and weight bearing (knees), and also small joint of hands and feet. Synovial membrane biopsy showed findings similar to those found in Charcot joint disease, including ischemic neuropathy. CONCLUSION: A newly-recognized subset of patients with psoriatic arthritis and Charcot-like joint disease according to clinical, radiographic and histological features is described. The proposed neurovascular theory may explain the pathogenesis of this presentation.

MLL-ENL causes a reversible and myc-dependent block of myelomonocytic cell differentiation.

The translocation t(11;19) is a recurrent feature of a subgroup of acute leukemias occurring in infants. This event fuses the genes MLL and ENL and creates the leukemogenic oncoprotein MLL-ENL. We studied the effect of retroviral MLL-ENL expression in primary mouse hematopoietic cells and show here that MLL-ENL requires the oncoprotein Myc to establish a reversible differentiation arrest of a myelomonocytic precursor population. MLL-ENL-transduced cells proliferated as immature myeloid cells in the presence of interleukin 3. The addition of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor reversed the maturation block set by MLL-ENL and induced the development of mature granulocytes and macrophages accompanied by growth arrest. Gene expression analysis indicated a down-regulation of the proto-oncogene c-myc and of several c-myc target genes during granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-mediated differentiation. The role of c-myc in the MLL-ENL transformation pathway was tested by modulating the effective Myc protein concentrations in MLL-ENL transduced cells. Cotransduction of dominant-negative Myc neutralized the MLL-ENL effect and precluded transformation. In contrast, constitutive expression of Myc cooperated with MLL-ENL and caused the transformation of a cell population with an irreversible maturation arrest.

Time-frequency analysis of the EEG mu rhythm as a measure of sensorimotor integration in the later stages of swallowing.

OBJECTIVE: Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to map the temporal dynamics of sensorimotor integration relative to the strength and timing of muscular activity during swallowing. METHODS: 64-channel EEG data and surface electromyographic (sEMG) data were recorded from 25 neurologically-healthy adults during swallowing and tongue-tapping. Events were demarcated so that sensorimotor activity primarily from the pharyngeal and esophageal phases of swallowing could be compared to activity resulting from tongue tapping. RESULTS: Independent component analysis identified bilateral clusters of sensorimotor mu components localized to the premotor and primary motor cortices as well as an infrahyoid myogenic cluster. Subsequent event-related spectral perturbations (ERSP) analyses showed event-related desynchronization (ERD) in the spectral power in the alpha (8-13Hz) and beta (15-25Hz) frequency bands of the mu clusters in both tasks. Mu ERD was stronger during swallowing when compared to tongue tapping (pFDR<.05) and the differences in sensorimotor processing between conditions was greater in the right hemisphere than the left, suggesting stronger right hemisphere lateralization for swallowing than tongue-tapping. CONCLUSION: Mu activity was interpreted as representing a normal feed forward and feedback driven sensorimotor loop during the later stages of swallowing. SIGNIFICANCE: Results support further use of this novel neuroimaging technique to concurrently map neural and muscle activity during swallowing in clinical populations using EEG.