Epidemiology and surveillance of human (neuro)cysticercosis in Europe: is enhanced surveillance required?

objectives To report on relevant national surveillance systems of (N)CC and taeniasis (the infection with the adult tapeworm) in the European Union/European Economic Area and to assess the magnitude of (N)CC occurrence by retrieving information on cases for the period 2000–2016. methods (N)CC cases were retrieved via national reporting systems, a systematic literature search, contact with clinicians and a search for relevant ‘International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems’ (ICD)-based data. results Mandatory notification systems for (N)CC were found in Hungary, Iceland and Poland. Ten cases were reported in Poland and none in Hungary and Iceland. Through the systematic literature review and information given by clinicians, 263 individual and 721 aggregated (N)CC cases from 19 European countries were identified. ICD-based data were obtained from five countries. From 2000 to 2016, a total of 3489 cases (N)CC cases were coded: 832 in Italy, eight in Latvia, 357 in Portugal, 2116 in Spain and 176 in Sweden. conclusion Despite being classified as a possible eradicable disease, (N)CC is still diagnosed across Europe, yet its true extent and impact remain unclear.Cost, Cystine

Aplicación del conocimiento como bien común y mejora social

En el presente artículo, se manifiesta que coexisten distintas maneras de usar el conocimiento; se reflexiona sobre la participación de las Instituciones de Educación Superior para consolidar auténticas sociedades del conocimiento como bien común y desarrollo social en el marco de política en sostenibilidad de la UNESCO. El objetivo consiste en identificar los enfoques dominantes que definen acciones tendientes a un desarrollo acorde a las exigencias actuales. Es un trabajo cualitativo en la lógica de investigación fenomenológica-hermenéutica. El resultado develo la influencia del enfoque económico antes que el social en las instituciones educativa mediante la creación de Clúster Tecnológicos formados por alianzas que llevan implícito características de competitividad educativa en la atención de necesidades de la industria regional, no obstante, carece de claridad en los temas de desarrollo social y bien común. Realidad expuesta en un caso de estudio

Structure and Function of Human Erythrocyte Pyruvate Kinase MOLECULAR BASIS OF NONSPHEROCYTIC HEMOLYTIC ANEMIA

Deficiency of human erythrocyte isozyme (RPK) is, together with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, the most common cause of the nonspherocytic hemolytic anemia. To provide a molecular framework to the disease, we have solved the 2.7 A resolution crystal structure of human RPK in complex with fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, the allosteric activator, and phosphoglycolate, a substrate analogue, and we have functionally and structurally characterized eight mutants (G332S, G364D, T384M, D390N, R479H, R486W, R504L, and R532W) found in RPK-deficient patients. The mutations target distinct regions of RPK structure, including domain interfaces and catalytic and allosteric sites. The mutations affect to a different extent thermostability, catalytic efficiency, and regulatory properties. These studies are the first to correlate the clinical symptoms with the molecular properties of the mutant enzymes. Mutations greatly impairing thermostability and/or activity are associated with severe anemia. Some mutant proteins exhibit moderate changes in the kinetic parameters, which are sufficient to cause mild to severe anemia, underlining the crucial role of RPK for erythrocyte metabolism. Prediction of the effects of mutations is difficult because there is no relation between the nature and location of the replaced amino acid and the type of molecular perturbation. Characterization of mutant proteins may serve as a valuable tool to assist with diagnosis and genetic counseling

Alteraciones Histopatológicas y de los niveles de Inmunoglobulina G en la Criptococosis inducida en mus musculus balb/c a diferentes tiempos de infección

The present study had the purpose of evaluate histopatological alterations and IgG levels in induced criptococosis in Mus musculus BALB/c "mouse" at different times of infection. For that it was worked with a culture of Cryptococcus neoformans and 45 specimens of Mus musculus BALB/c of both sexes, of 45 days of age and approximately 25g weigh, in 5 of those randomly chosen natural infection by C.neoformans was discarded by means of the test of negative tint with 10% nigrosine in brain samples and lungs, the 40 remaining were distributed at random in control group and experimental group of 20 especimens each one and were subdivided in 4 subgroups of 5 specimens each one. The mice of the experimental group were inoculated intraperitoneally with 0,5 mL of a suspension from the fungus in a similar concentration to the tube Nº 3 of of Mac Farland's Nefelometer, and for the control group it was used 0,5 mL of sterile physiologic saline solution (SSF). At the 10, 15, 20 and 25 days of the inoculation, there were taken samples of blood to evaluate the levels of IgG in serum, and after the sacrifice there were extracted the encephal, lungs, spleen, liver and kidneys for their macroscopic and histological evaluation after their conservation in 10% formol and were later colorated with Hematoxylin. eosin. In relation to the control group in the organs of the experimental group were observed macroscopic changes as: size Increase in longitude presenting marked hepatomegalia and esplenomegalia, change of color, hemorrhagic aspect and presence of abscesses that went increasing in number at more time of infection and histopatological alterations were also observed at the days 10 and 15 as hiperemia in meninxes, chronicle inflammatory infiltration in meninxes, alveolus and interstice in lung, liver and kidney; edema in cerebral cortex; necrosis in cerebral cortex, spleen, liver and kidney; areas of hemorrhages in brain, lung, and perirrenal adipose tissue; tendency to form granuloma in lung, and liver; hiperplasia of lymphatic nodules and megacarioblastos in spleen; proliferation of lymphocytes in spleen, sinusoids dilation in liver; Cryptococcus in meninxes, brain in bilateral form, lung, liver and kidney. At the 20 and 25 days of infection besides the histopatological alterations observed at the days 10 and 15, it was observed granulomatose chronic inflammatory Infiltration in meninxes and lung; hiperemy in cerebral cortex; chronicle inflammatory infiltration in spleen; multiple necrosis focuses in liver and kidney; abundant Cryptococcus in meninxes, brain, spleen, lung, liver and kidney. The evaluation of the levels of anticriptococosic IgG of experimental group and control was carried out by means of ELISA'S test, being the control group negative for anticriptococosic IgG, and the experimental group positive with titles of 1/80, 1/320, 1/160, 1/160 corresponding to the 10, 15, 20, and 25 days of infection. It was concluded that at more times of infection bigger histopatological alterations were presented in the evaluated organs and the levels of IgG increases until the 15 days of infection and then they diminish starting from the 20 days of infection. The test of correlation of Pearson was used, to determine if there is relationship between the size of the evaluated organs and the time of infection with C. neoformans, and it was found that it is highly significant, and the test of Chi squared to determine the dependence relationship between the histopalogical alterations and the levels of Ig G and it was found that dependence relationship exists.El presente estudio tuvo por finalidad evaluar las alteraciones histopatológicas y los niveles de IgG en la criptococosis inducida en Mus musculus BALB/c “ratón” a diferentes tiempos de infección. Se trabajó con Cryptococcus neoformans y 45 ejemplares de Mus musculus BALB/c de ambos sexos, de 45 días de edad y de aproximadamente 25g, en 5 de los cuales elegidos al azar se descartó infección natural por C.neoformans mediante la prueba de tinción negativa con nigrosina al 10 % en muestras de cerebro y pulmones, con los 40 restantes se distribuyeron al azar en grupo control y grupo experimental de 20 ejemplares cada uno y subdividiéndose en 4 subgrupos de 5 ejemplares cada uno. Los ratones del grupo experimental fueron inoculados intraperitonealmente con 0,5 mL de una suspensión del hongo a una concentración similar al tubo No 3 del Nefelómetro de Mac Farland, y para el grupo control se utilizó 0,5 mL solución salina fisiológica (SSF) estéril. A los 10, 15, 20 y 25 días de la inoculación, se tomaron muestras de sangre para evaluar los niveles de IgG en suero, y luego del sacrificio se extrajeron el encéfalo, los pulmones, el bazo, el hígado y los riñones para su evaluación macroscópica e histológica luego de su conservación en formol al 10% y su posterior coloración con Hematoxilina eosina. Se observó cambios macroscópicos como: Aumento de tamaño en longitud presentándose marcada hepatomegalia y esplenomegalia, cambio de color, aspecto hemorrágico y presencia de abscesos que iban aumentando en número a mayor tiempo de infección y alteraciones histopatológicas que variaron de acuerdo al tiempo de infección, así tenemos que : a los 10 y 15 días se observó hiperemia en meninges, infiltración inflamatoria crónica en meninges , alvéolos e intersticio en pulmón, hígado y riñón; edema en corteza cerebral; necrosis en corteza cerebral , bazo, hígado y riñón; zonas de hemorragias en cerebro, pulmón, y tejido adiposo perirrenal; tendencia a formar granuloma en pulmón, e hígado; hiperplasia de nódulos linfáticos y de megacarioblastos en bazo; proliferación de linfocitos en bazo, dilatación de sinusoides en hígado; Cryptococcus en meninges, cerebro en forma bilateral, pulmón, higado y riñón. A los 20 y 25 días de infección además de las alteraciones histopatológicas observadas a los 10 y 15 días, se encontró: Infiltración inflamatoria crónica granulomatosa en meninges y pulmón; hiperemia en corteza cerebral; infiltración inflamatoria crónica en bazo; múltiples focos de necrosis en hígado y riñón; abundantes Cryptococcus en meninges, cerebro, bazo, pulmón, hígado y riñón. La evaluación de los niveles de IgG anticriptococósico del grupo experimental y control se realizó mediante la prueba de ELISA, siendo el grupo control negativo para IgG anticriptococósico, y el grupo experimental positivo con títulos de 1/80, 1/320, 1/160, 1/160 correspondientes a los días 10, 15, 20, y 25 días de infección. Se concluyó que a mayores tiempos de infección se presentaron mayores alteraciones histopatológicas en los órganos evaluados y los niveles de IgG aumentan hasta los 15 días de infección y luego disminuyen a partir de los 20 días de infección. Se utilizó la prueba de correlación de Pearson, para determinar si hay relación entre el tamaño de los órganos evaluados y el tiempo de infección con C. neoformans, y la prueba de Chi cuadrado para determinar la relación de dependencia entre los niveles de alteración histopatológica y los niveles de Ig G encontrandose que existe relación de dependencia entre estos

Impact of COVID-19-Related Social Isolation on Behavioral Outcomes in Young Adults Residing in Northern Italy

: Social isolation affects our emotions, behavior and interactions. Worldwide, individuals experienced prolonged periods of isolation during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic when authorities-imposed restrictions to reduce the spread of the virus. In this study, we investigated the effects of social isolation on emotional and behavioral outcomes in young adults from Lombardy, Italy, a global hotspot of COVID-19. We leveraged baseline (pre-social isolation) and follow-up (mid- or post-isolation) data collected from young adults enrolled in the ongoing, longitudinal Public Health Impact of Metals Exposure (PHIME) study. At baseline, 167 participants completed the ASEBA questionnaires (ASR/YSR) by web link or in person; 65 completed the ASR 12-18 weeks after the onset of restrictions. Using the sign test and multiple linear regression models, we examined differences in ASR scores between baseline and follow-up adjusting for sex, age, pre-pandemic IQ and time with social restrictions (weeks). Further, we examined interactions between sex and time in social isolation. Participants completed the ASR after spending an average of 14 weeks in social isolation (range 12-18 weeks). Thought problems increased between baseline and follow-up (median difference 1.0; 1st, 3rd quartile: -1.0, 4.0; p = 0.049). Among males, a longer time in social isolation (≥14 weeks) was associated with increased rule-breaking behaviors of 2.8 points. These results suggest the social isolation related to COVID-19 adversely impacted mental health. In particular, males seem to externalize their condition. These findings might help future interventions and treatment to minimize the consequences of social isolation experience in young adults

Clinical characteristics and management of neurocysticercosis patients: a retrospective assessment of case reports from Europe

Objectives: Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is a parasitic disease caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Taenia solium. NCC mainly occurs in Africa, Latin America and South-East Asia and can cause a variety of clinical signs/symptoms. Although it is a rare disease in Europe, it should nonetheless be considered as a differential diagnosis. The aim of this study was to describe clinical characteristics and management of patients with NCC diagnosed and treated in Europe. Methods: We conducted a systematic search of published and unpublished data on patients diagnosed with NCC in Europe (2000-2019) and extracted demographic, clinical and radiological information on each case, if available. Results: Out of 293 identified NCC cases, 59% of patients presented initially with epileptic seizures (21% focal onset); 52% presented with headache and 54% had other neurological signs/symptoms. The majority of patients had a travel or migration history (76%), mostly from/to Latin America (38%), Africa (32%) or Asia (30%). Treatment varied largely depending on cyst location and number. The outcome was favorable in 90% of the cases. Conclusions: Management of NCC in Europe varied considerably but often had a good outcome. Travel and migration to and from areas endemic for Theridion solium will likely result in continued low prevalence of NCC in Europe. Therefore, training and guidance of clinicians is recommended for optimal patient management

A novel approach to fractional calculus: utilizing fractional integrals and derivatives of the Dirac delta function

While the definition of a fractional integral may be codified by Riemann and Liouville, an agreed-upon fractional derivative has eluded discovery for many years. This is likely a result of integral definitions including numerous constants of integration in their results. An elimination of constants of integration opens the door to an operator that reconciles all known fractional derivatives and shows surprising results in areas unobserved before, including the appearance of the Riemann Zeta Function and fractional Laplace and Fourier Transforms. A new class of functions, known as Zero Functions and closely related to the Dirac Delta Function, are necessary for one to perform elementary operations of functions without using constants. The operator also allows for a generalization of the Volterra integral equation, and provides a method of solving for Riemann's "complimentary" function introduced during his research on fractional derivatives

Searching novel therapeutic targets for scleroderma: P2X7-receptor is UP-regulated and promotes a fibrogenic phenotype in systemic sclerosis fibroblasts

Objectives: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disorder presenting fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, for which no effective treatments are currently available. Increasing evidence indicates that the P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), a nucleotide-gated ionotropic channel primarily involved in the inflammatory response, may also have a key role in the development of tissue fibrosis in different body districts. This study was aimed at investigating P2X7R expression and function in promoting a fibrogenic phenotype in dermal fibroblasts from SSc patients, also analyzing putative underlying mechanistic pathways. Methods: Fibroblasts were isolated by skin biopsy from 9 SSc patients and 8 healthy controls. P2X7R expression, and function (cytosolic free Ca2+ fluxes, α-smooth muscle actin [α-SMA] expression, cell migration, and collagen release) were studied. Moreover, the role of cytokine (interleukin-1β, interleukin-6) and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) production, and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) activation in mediating P2X7R-dependent pro-fibrotic effects in SSc fibroblasts was evaluated. Results: P2X7R expression and Ca2+ permeability induced by the selective P2X7R agonist 2'-3'-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl)ATP (BzATP) weremarkedly higher in SSc than control fibroblasts. Moreover, increased aSMA expression, cell migration, CTGF, and collagen release were observed in lipopolysaccharides-primed SSc fibroblasts after BzATP stimulation. While P2X7-induced cytokine changes did not affect collagen production, it was completely abrogated by inhibition of the ERK pathway. Conclusion: In SSc fibroblasts, P2X7R is overexpressed and its stimulation induces Ca2+-signaling activation and a fibrogenic phenotype characterized by increased migration and collagen production. These data point to the P2X7R as a potential, novel therapeutic target for controlling exaggerated collagen deposition and tissue fibrosis in patients with SSc

Carbohydrate Intake in the Etiology of Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis

Background: Diet may have a role in the etiology of inflammatory bowel disease. In previous studies, the associations between increased intakes of carbohydrates, sugar, starch, and inflammatory bowel disease are inconsistent. However, few prospective studies have investigated the associations between these macronutrients and incident Crohn's disease (CD) or ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: A total of 401,326 men and women were recruited between 1991 and 1998. At recruitment, dietary intakes of carbohydrate, sugar, and starch were measured using validated food frequency questionnaires. The cohort was monitored identifying participants who developed incident CD or UC. Cases were matched with 4 controls, and odds ratios were calculated for quintiles of total carbohydrate, sugar, and starch intakes adjusted for total energy intake, body mass index, and smoking. Results: One hundred ten participants developed CD, and 244 participants developed UC during follow-up. The adjusted odds ratio for the highest versus the lowest quintiles of total carbohydrate intake for CD was 0.87, 95% CI = 0.24 to 3.12 and for UC 1.46, 95% CI = 0.62 to 3.46, with no significant trends across quintiles for either (CD, Ptrend = 0.70; UC, Ptrend = 0.41). Similarly, no associations were observed with intakes of total sugar (CD, Ptrend = 0.50; UC, Ptrend = 0.71) or starch (CD, Ptrend = 0.69; UC, Ptrend = 0.17). Conclusions: The lack of associations with these nutrients is in agreement with many case–control studies that have not identified associations with CD or UC. As there is biological plausibility for how specific carbohydrates could have an etiological role in inflammatory bowel disease, future epidemiological work should assess individual carbohydrates, although there does not seem to be a macronutrient effect