Microbial richness and air chemistry in aerosols above the PBL confirm 2,000-km long-distance transport of potential human pathogens.

The existence of viable human pathogens in bioaerosols which can cause infection or affect human health has been the subject of little research. In this study, data provided by 10 tropospheric aircraft surveys over Japan in 2014 confirm the existence of a vast diversity of microbial species up to 3,000 m height, which can be dispersed above the planetary boundary layer over distances of up to 2,000 km, thanks to strong winds from an area covered with massive cereal croplands in Northeast (NE) Asia. Microbes attached to aerosols reveal the presence of diverse bacterial and fungal taxa, including potential human pathogens, originating from sewage, pesticides, or fertilizers. Over 266 different fungal and 305 bacterial genera appeared in the 10 aircraft transects. Actinobacteria, Bacillota, Proteobacteria, and Bacteroidetes phyla dominated the bacteria composition and, for fungi, Ascomycota prevailed over Basidiomycota. Among the pathogenic species identified, human pathogens include bacteria such as Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Prevotella melaninogenica, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Cutibacterium acnes, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium botulinum, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Shigella sonnei, Haemophillus parainfluenzae and Acinetobacter baumannii and health-relevant fungi such as Malassezia restricta, Malassezia globosa, Candida parapsilosis and Candida zeylanoides, Sarocladium kiliense, Cladosporium halotolerans, and Cladosporium herbarum. Diversity estimates were similar at heights and surface when entrainment of air from high altitudes occurred. Natural antimicrobial-resistant bacteria (ARB) cultured from air samples were found indicating long-distance spread of ARB and microbial viability. This would represent a novel way to disperse both viable human pathogens and resistance genes among distant geographical regions.

Adapting Schools to Climate Change with Green, Blue, and Grey Measures in Barcelona: Study Protocol of a Mixed-Method Evaluation.

Under the framework of the Urban Innovative Actions program of the European Commission, in 2020, 11 primary schools in Barcelona were transformed into climate shelters by implementing green, blue, and grey measures. Schoolyards were also opened to the local community to be used during non-school periods. Here we present the study protocol of a mixed-method approach to evaluate the effectiveness of the interventions in terms of improving environmental quality and health for users. We evaluated school level through the following: (1) quantitative pre-post quasi-experimental study, and (2) qualitative evaluation. The quantitative study included measures of (a) environmental variables (collected via low-cost and non-low-cost sensors), (b) students' health and well-being (collected via health questionnaires, attention levels test, and systematic observations), and (c) teachers' health and well-being (collected via thermal comfort measurements and health questionnaires). The qualitative methods evaluated the perceptions about the effects of the interventions among students (using Photovoice) and teachers (through focus groups). The impact of the interventions was assessed at community level during summer non-school periods through a spontaneous ethnographic approach. Data collection started in August 2019 and ended in July 2022. The evaluation provides the opportunity to identify those solutions that worked and those that need to be improved for future experiences, as well as improve the evaluation methodology and replication for these kinds of interventions.

Phytotherapeutic alternatives for neurodegenerative dementias: Scientific review, discussion and therapeutic proposal.

The incidence and prevalence of age-related neurodegenerative dementias have been increasing. There is no curative therapy and conventional drug treatment can cause problems for patients. Medicinal plants traditionally used for problems associated with ageing are emerging as a therapeutic resource. The main aim is to give a proposal for use and future research based on scientific knowledge and tradition. A literature search was conducted in several searchable databases. The keywords used were related to neurodegenerative dementias, ageing and medicinal plants. Boolean operators and filters were used to focus the search. As a result, there is current clinical and preclinical scientific information on 49 species used in traditional medicine for ageing-related problems, including neurodegenerative dementias. There are preclinical and clinical scientific evidences on their properties against protein aggregates in the central nervous system and their effects on neuroinflammation, apoptosis dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, gabaergic, glutamatergic and dopaminergic systems alterations, monoamine oxidase alterations, serotonin depletion and oestrogenic protection. In conclusion, the potential therapeutic effect of the different medicinal plants depends on the type of neurodegenerative dementia and its stage of development, but more clinical and preclinical research is needed to find better, safer and more effective treatments.

Medicinal Plants for Insomnia Related to Anxiety: An Updated Review.

Sleep disorders are common among the general population and can generate health problems such as insomnia and anxiety. In addition to standard drugs and psychological interventions, there are different complementary plant-based therapies used to treat insomnia and anxiety. This review aimed to find and examine the most recent research on the use of herbal medicines for treating anxiety and insomnia as compiled from clinical trials, as well as to assess the safety and efficacy of these medicines and to elucidate their possible mechanisms of action. The process entailed a search of PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library databases from 2010 to 2020. The search terms included "sleep disorder", "insomnia", "sedative", "hypnotic", "anxiety", "anxiolytic", and "clinical trial", combined with the search terms "herbs" and "medicinal plants", in addition to individual herbal medicines by both their common and scientific names. This updated review, which focuses mainly on clinical trials, includes research on 23 medicinal plants and their combinations. Essential oils and their associations have also been reviewed. The efficacy of medicinal plants depends on treatment duration, types of study subjects, administration route, and treatment method. More clinical trials with an adequate, standardized design are necessary, as are more preclinical studies to continue studying the mechanisms of action. As a result of our work, we can conclude that the 3 plants with the most potential are valerian, passionflower, and ashwagandha, with the combination of valerian with hops and passionflower giving the best results in the clinical tests.

Citizen science and social innovation as citizen empowerment tools to address urban health challenges: The case of the urban health citizen laboratory in Barcelona, Spain.

Urban health faces significant challenges due to the rapid growth of cities and the concentration of population in urban settings that have a strong impact on people's health. The approach to characterize and address these challenges requires increased societal involvement and interdisciplinary solutions to ensure their effectiveness and democratic nature. With this purpose, it is necessary to explore methodologies for citizen participation that foster a critical understanding of the environment and promote their active role in generating scientific knowledge and change. This article describes the creation of a collaborative space for experimentation and learning that, through the intersection of citizen science and social innovation, aims to engage citizens in the research and diagnosis of their local environment, as well as in the design and implementation of local solutions, while raising awareness about the main challenges to urban health. Through a collaborative and participatory framework, the community identified relevant challenges to urban health they wanted to investigate, co-designed and developed the methodology for data collection and analysis, and ultimately, they devised, designed, and implemented innovative solutions based on the scientific evidence obtained. The framework and results of this project hold potential interest for the scientific community, facilities, institutions, and society by offering an innovative and participatory approach to addressing the present and future urban health challenges.

Air monitoring by nanopore sequencing.

While the air microbiome and its diversity are essential for human health and ecosystem resilience, comprehensive air microbial diversity monitoring has remained rare, so that little is known about the air microbiome's composition, distribution, or functionality. Here we show that nanopore sequencing-based metagenomics can robustly assess the air microbiome in combination with active air sampling through liquid impingement and tailored computational analysis. We provide fast and portable laboratory and computational approaches for air microbiome profiling, which we leverage to robustly assess the taxonomic composition of the core air microbiome of a controlled greenhouse environment and of a natural outdoor environment. We show that long-read sequencing can resolve species-level annotations and specific ecosystem functions through de novo metagenomic assemblies despite the low amount of fragmented DNA used as an input for nanopore sequencing. We then apply our pipeline to assess the diversity and variability of an urban air microbiome, using Barcelona, Spain, as an example; this randomized experiment gives first insights into the presence of highly stable location-specific air microbiomes within the city's boundaries, and showcases the robust microbial assessments that can be achieved through automatable, fast, and portable nanopore sequencing technology.

Microbial contamination in grocery stores from Portugal and Spain - The neglected indoor environment to be tackled in the scope of the One Health approach.

Microbial contamination in grocery shops (GS) should be evaluated since food commodities are commonly handled by workers and customers increasing the risk of food contamination and disease transmission. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial contamination in Portuguese and Spanish GS with a multi-approach protocol using passive (electrostatic dust cloths and surface swabs) sampling methods. The molecular detection of Aspergillus sections, mycotoxin analysis, screening of azole resistance as well as cytotoxicity measurement were conducted to better estimate the potential health risks of exposure and to identify possible relations between the risk factors studied. Fruits/vegetables sampling location was the one identified has being the most contaminated (bacteria and fungi) area in GS from both countries. Aspergillus section Fumigati and Fusarium species were observed in samples from Portuguese groceries with reduced susceptibilities to azoles commonly used in the clinical treatment of fungal infections. Fumonisin B2 was detected in Portuguese GS possible unveiling this emergent threat concerning occupational exposure and food safety. Overall, the results obtained raise concerns regarding human health and food safety and must be surveilled applying a One Health approach.

Analysis of fluoroquinolones in animal feeds by liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

An analytical method for the analysis of six fluoroquinolones (FQs) in animal feeds was developed. The sample treatment consists of a simple and rapid extraction of the analytes by manual shaking with an acetonitrile-water mixture containing hydrochloric acid without further sample cleanup. Matrix effects were minimized by diluting the extract with water. Determination was carried out by liquid chromatography using fluorimetric detection. The method was validated in-house in four different feed matrices (poultry, cow, pig, and lamb feed). Mean recoveries ranging from 80 to 105%, with relative standard deviations below 12%, were achieved from spiked animal feed samples on the 0.2-2.0 µg/g level. No relevant differences were observed between the studied feeds, this ensuring that the method was reliable for a wide variety of feed matrices. Decision limit and detection capability values are below 0.08 and 0.13 mg/kg, respectively, for most FQs. The results obtained demonstrate the feasibility of the analytical method developed for a routine use to control the illegal use of these substances in feeding stuffs.

Natural history of hepatitis C virus infection in a cohort of asymptomatic post-transfused subjects.

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND & AIMS. Studies about the natural history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection report variable progression to cirrhosis depending on study design. Retrospective cross-sectional liver clinic studies overestimate the rate of fibrosis progression due to inclusion of patients with more severe disease leaving mild and asymptomatic patients underrepresented. We evaluated fibrosis progression in a group of "healthy" asymptomatic subjects, attending to a voluntary campaign for the detection of HCV infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A detection campaign was launched on subjects transfused before 1993. Of 1699 volunteers, 61(3.6%) had HCV infection. A liver biopsy was performed in 40 (65%). Assessed risk factors for liver fibrosis were: sex, body mass index, alcohol consumption (> 20 g/d - > 40g/d ), genotype, HLA-DRB1 alleles, present age, age at infection and duration of infection. RESULTS: 25 (62.5%) were women with a median age of 52.5 years. The median duration of infection was 21.5 years with a median age at infection of 27 years. As regards fibrosis, 25 (62.5%) had a Low Stage (F0-F1), 8 patients, 20%, had severe fibrosis, one patient (2.5%) had cirrhosis. Alcohol consumption was the only risk factor associated with fibrosis progression. CONCLUSIONS: The low progression to cirrhosis may be explained by the clinical characteristics of our population: asymptomatic middle-aged "healthy" subjects infected at young age. The progression to severe fibrosis was noticeable; hence a longer follow-up might demonstrate changes in this outcome. Significant alcohol consumption clearly worsens the natural history of HCV infection; this is no so evident for occasional or mild alcohol consumers.

A history of the MetaSUB consortium: Tracking urban microbes around the globe.

The MetaSUB Consortium, founded in 2015, is a global consortium with an interdisciplinary team of clinicians, scientists, bioinformaticians, engineers, and designers, with members from more than 100 countries across the globe. This network has continually collected samples from urban and rural sites including subways and transit systems, sewage systems, hospitals, and other environmental sampling. These collections have been ongoing since 2015 and have continued when possible, even throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The consortium has optimized their workflow for the collection, isolation, and sequencing of DNA and RNA collected from these various sites and processing them for metagenomics analysis, including the identification of SARS-CoV-2 and its variants. Here, the Consortium describes its foundations, and its ongoing work to expand on this network and to focus its scope on the mapping, annotation, and prediction of emerging pathogens, mapping microbial evolution and antibiotic resistance, and the discovery of novel organisms and biosynthetic gene clusters.

Distribution of HLA-DRB1 alleles in Argentinean patients with Chagas' disease cardiomyopathy.

Chronic Chagas' disease occurs in a variable number of infected individuals and mainly manifests as an inflammatory cardiomyopathy that may lead to a fatal course. The factors underlying the establishment of chronic myocardial lesions are not fully understood. The study included 71 unrelated individuals serologically positive for T. cruzi. A group of 81 no related healthy individuals with neither symptoms nor previous diagnosis of Chagas' disease was studied as control group. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood using the standard salting out method and used as a template to amplify by the PCR the polymorphic second exon of the HLA-DRB1. PCR products were hybridized separately with sequence-specifics oligonucleotides (SSOP). DRB1*0409 and DRB1*1503 alleles were significantly more prevalent in seropositives (pC = 0.002, OR: 26.17 and 24.87 respectively). The prevalence of DRB1*1103 allele was statistically significant in the group control and could be associated with resistance Chagas' disease (pC = 0.026, OR: 0.19). Increased significance frequency of DRB1*1503 allele was found among cardiomyopathy patients suggesting that this antigen might be related with the genetic susceptibility to cardiac damage in these patients (pC = 0.014, OR: 9.22).

Effects of aging on antioxidant response and phagocytosis in senescent erythrocytes.

Red blood cell (RBC) aging is a complex process affected by immunological and biochemical parameters. In this work we studied the antioxidant response in RBC of different ages. We also investigated their interaction with peripheral blood monocytes. Anticoagulated blood samples from 19 O RhD+ volunteers' donors were processed. Young (Y) RBC and Senescent (Se) RBC were obtained by self-formed gradients of Percoll. The fractionation of the erythrocytes suspensions was demonstrated by statistically significant density-related changes in hematological determinations. Activities of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), of soluble NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase (b5Rs) and membrane-bound b5R (b5Rm) were determined spectrophotometrically. The interaction between monocytes and different RBC suspensions was evaluated by the erythrophagocytosis assay. The G6PD and b5Rm activities in SeRBC were significantly lower than that observed in YRBC. No differences were found in the b5Rs of both groups. We observed an increased rate of erythrophagocytosis the SeRBC compared to YRBC. The decline in the activities of G6PD and b5Rm would indicate a decrease in the antioxidant response associated to RBC aging. These findings would signify that the oxidative changes of membrane occurring during the life span of the RBC might be relevant in the process of removal of SeRBC from the circulation.

On the interpretation of the atmospheric mechanism transporting the environmental trigger of Kawasaki Disease.

Recent advances on the environmental determinants of Kawasaki Disease have pointed to the important role of the atmospheric transport of a still unknown agent potentially triggering the disease. The hypothesis arose from an innovative methodology combining expertise in climate dynamics, the analysis of ocean and atmosphere data, the use of dispersion models and the search for biological agents in air samples. The approach offered a new perspective to reveal the identity of the potential trigger, but at the same time, it increased the level of complexity, which could potentially lead to the misinterpretation of the mechanisms. Some years after it was originally formulated, we here provide a brief clarification on the approach and limits of the methodology in order to prevent an eventual misuse of our research ideas and theory, so that further research can better focus on the knowledge gaps that still remain open.

Distribution of the FYBES and RHCE*ce(733C>G) alleles in an Argentinean population: implications for transfusion medicine.

BACKGROUND: The understanding of the molecular bases of blood groups makes possible the identification of red cell antigens and antibodies using molecular approaches, especially when haemagglutination is of limited value. The practical application of DNA typing requires the analysis of the polymorphism and allele distribution of the blood group genes under study since genetic variability was observed among different ethnic groups. Urban populations of Argentina are assumed to have a white Caucasian European genetic component. However, historical and biological data account for the influence of other ethnic groups. In this work we analyse FY and RH blood group alleles attributed to Africans and that could have clinical implications in the immune destruction of erythrocytes. METHODS: We studied 103 white trios (father, mother and child, 309 samples) from the city of Rosario by allele specific PCRs and serological methods. The data obtained were analysed with the appropriate statistical test considering only fathers and mothers (n = 206). RESULTS: We found the presence of the FY*BES and RHCE*ce(733C>G) alleles and an elevated frequency (0.0583) for the Dce haplotype. The number of individuals with a concomitant occurrence of both alleles was significantly higher than that expected by chance. We found that 4.68% of the present gene pool is composed by alleles primarily associated with African ancestry and about 10% of the individuals carried at least one RH or FY allele that is predominantly observed among African populations. Thirteen percent of Fy(b-) subjects were FY*A/FY*BES. CONCLUSION: Taken together, the results suggest that admixture events between African slaves and European immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century made the physical characteristics of black Africans to be invisible nowadays. Considering that it was a recent historical event, the FY*BES and RHCE*ce(733C>G) alleles did not have time to become widespread but remain concentrated within families. These findings have considerable impact for typing and transfusion strategy in our population, increasing the pool of compatible units for Fy(b-) individuals requiring chronic transfusion. Possible difficulties in transfusion therapy and in genotyping could be anticipated and appropriately improved strategies devised, allowing a better management of the alloimmunization in the blood bank.

Association of leprosy with HLA-DRB1 in an Argentinean population.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have suggested an influence of HLA molecules on the regulation of the anti Mycobacterium leprae immune response. METHODS: DNA typing of HLA-DRB1 alleles in 71 leprosy patients and 81 healthy controls was performed. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and used as a template to amplify the polymorphic second exon of the HLA-DRB1 by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR products were hybridized separately with sequence-specific oligonucleotides. RESULTS: DRB1*1401 and DRB1*1406 alleles were significantly more prevalent in leprosy patients, whereas a decreased frequency of DRB1*0808 and DRB1*1103 alleles was found, by comparison with the group control. CONCLUSIONS: The HLA-DRB1 alleles could act alone or in combination with other genes to confer differential susceptibility and also protection to leprosy disease in endemic areas of the American continent.

Secretor status and ABH antigens expression in patients with oral lesions.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work was to investigate the secretor status of patients with oral pre-cancerous and cancerous lesions and ABH antigens expression in fixed tissue sections of these patients. STUDY DESIGN: To reveal A, B and H antigens in tissue sections of patients with precancerous and cancerous oral lesions (n= 54) we used a modified specific red cell adherence technique (SRCA-test). Normal endothelial cells expressed ABH antigens, the presence of indicator erythrocytes at the lumen of the blood vessels served as a built in positive control. The test results were graded from negative adherence to very strongly positive adherence. Negative adherence was defined as a complete absence of adhered indicator erythrocytes. A strongly positive reaction was defined as a sheet of indicator erythrocytes adhered to the epithelia cells. RESULTS: In 31 of the 54 samples analyzed the test showed slightly positive results on atypical areas, and there was a complete antigen deletion in areas histologically affected by neoplasia. Sixteen samples showed a total absence of ABH antigens in both histologically normal and pathological areas. As a working hypothesis, we propose that areas of SRCA-test negative epithelium are closely related to invasive carcinomas and may be their precursor lesions. Further it is suggested that areas of blood group isoantigen negative epithelium showing atypia, or in some instances near normal histology, may give rise to relatively low grade carcinomas. CONCLUSIONS: Considering these results we suggest the use of this method to monitor probable preneoplastic lesions in risk population, specially in those with no secretor status.

Genotyping approach for non-invasive foetal RHD detection in an admixed population.

BACKGROUND: Non-invasive foetal RHD genotyping can predict haemolytic disease of the foetus and the newborn in pregnancies with anti-D alloantibodies and also avoid antenatal anti-D prophylaxis in pregnant women carrying an RHD negative foetus. Considering that the Argentine genetic background is the result of generations of intermixing between several ethnic groups, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of a non-invasive foetal RHD determination strategy to guide targeted antenatal RhD immunoprophylaxis. This algorithm is based on the analysis of four regions of the RHD gene in cell-free foetal DNA in maternal plasma and maternal and paternal RHD genotyping. MATERIALS AND METHODS: DNA from 298 serologically D negative pregnant women between 19-28 weeks gestation were RHD genotyped. Foetal RHD status was determined by real-time PCR in 296 maternal plasma samples. In particular cases, RHDΨ and RHD-CE-Ds alleles were investigated in paternal DNA. Umbilical cord blood was collected at birth, and serological and molecular studies were performed. RESULTS: Of the 298 maternal samples, 288 were D-/RHD- and 10 D-/RHD+ (2 RHD*DAR; 5 RHD-CE-Ds; 3 RHDΨ). Plasma from RHD*DAR carriers was not analysed. Real-time PCR showed 210 RHD+ and 78 RHD- foetuses and 8 inconclusive results. In this latter group, paternal molecular studies were useful to report a RHD negative status in 5 foetuses while only 3 remained inconclusive. All the results, except one false positive due to a silent allele (RHD[581insG]), agreed with the neonatal typing performed in cord blood. DISCUSSION: The protocol used for non-invasive prenatal RHD genotyping proved to be suitable to determine foetal RHD status in our admixed population. The knowledge of the genetic background of the population under study and maternal and paternal molecular analysis can reduce the number of inconclusive results when investigating foetal RHD status.

HLA class II DRB1 polymorphism in Argentinians undergoing chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection.

DNA typing of human lymphocyte antigen (HLA)-dicloro-1-[beta]-D-ribofuranosyl-benzimidazole 1 (DRB1) alleles in 35 individuals serologically positive for T. cruzi and in 41 healthy controls was performed. DRB1*0409 allele was significantly more prevalent in seropositive individuals, with a trend being also observed for the DRB1*0701 and DRB1*1503 alleles. Although statistically insignificant, the latter was found more frequent in cases with cardiomyopathy.

[Alloimmunization to a high frequency Rh antigen]. / Aloinmunizacion a un antigeno del sistema Rh de alta frecuencia.

We report the case of a pregnant woman sensitized with a panreactive anti-Rh17 alloantibody. Patient's red blood cells showed a partial deletion of Rh antigens, which was responsible for the alloimmunization. An autotransfusion program was instrumented so as to cover possible demands. Molecular analysis of the RH locus showed the presence of a hybrid RHCE-D(5-7)-CE allele that gave origin to the deleted phenotype.

Revisiting the role of environmental and climate factors on the epidemiology of Kawasaki disease.

Can environmental factors, such as air-transported preformed toxins, be of key relevance to the health outcomes of poorly understood human ailments (e.g., rheumatic diseases such as vasculitides, some inflammatory diseases, or even severe childhood acquired heart diseases)? Can the physical, chemical, or biological features of air masses be linked to the emergence of diseases such as Kawasaki disease (KD), Henoch-Schönlein purpura, Takayasu's aortitis, and ANCA-associated vasculitis? These diseases surprisingly share some common epidemiological features. For example, they tend to appear as clusters of cases grouped geographically and temporarily progress in nonrandom sequences that repeat every year in a similar way. They also show concurrent trend changes within regions in countries and among different world regions. In this paper, we revisit transdisciplinary research on the role of environmental and climate factors in the epidemiology of KD as a paradigmatic example of this group of diseases. Early-warning systems based on environmental alerts, if successful, could be implemented as a way to better inform patients who are predisposed to, or at risk for, developing KD. Further research on the etiology of KD could facilitate the development of vaccines and specific medical therapies.