Influenza vaccination among Health Care Workers at a Regional University Adult Acute-Care Hospital in Genoa, Liguria, Italy: results from a project promoting awareness and active offer during the period 2005-2011

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Apuntes de cuarentena II ¿Tecnologías para ser felices?

El escrito propone un análisis sobre cómo las tecnologías del yo viralizadas por los medios de comunicación, en tiempos del Aislamiento Social Preventivo y Obligatorio (ASPO) llevado adelante en Argentina durante el 2020 producto de la pandemia de COVID-19, tienen como fin la producción de un sujeto que pueda adaptarse rápidamente a los cambios que se dan en la sociedad y ajustarse, con la misma velocidad, a las actualizaciones de la organización social del trabajo que el presente acontecimiento propone.Fil: Alberti, Cristian Javier. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencias Politicas y Relaciones Internacionales. Escuela de Comunicación Social; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Germain, Marisa. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Psicología; ArgentinaFil: Maroni, Adriel Jorge. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Psicología; ArgentinaFil: Montiel, Luz Belén. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencia Política y Relaciones Internacionales; Argentin

Heterologous Chimeric Construct Comprising a Modified Bacterial Superantigen and a Cruzipain Domain Confers Protection Against Trypanosoma cruzi Infection

Chagas disease is an endemic chronic parasitosis in Latin America affecting more than 7 million people. Around 100 million people are currently at risk of acquiring the infection; however, no effective vaccine has been developed yet. Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of this parasitosis and as an intracellular protozoan it can reside within different tissues, mainly muscle cells, evading host immunity and allowing progression towards the chronic stage of the disease. Considering this intracellular parasitism triggers strong cellular immunity that, besides being necessary to limit infection, is not sufficient to eradicate the parasite from tissues, a differential immune response is required and new strategies for vaccines against Chagas disease need to be explored. In this work, we designed, cloned and expressed a chimeric molecule, named NCz-SEGN24A, comprising a parasite antigen, the N-terminal domain of the major cysteine protease of T. cruzi, cruzipain (Nt-Cz), and a non-toxic form of the staphylococcal superantigen (SAg) G, SEG, with the residue Asn24 mutated to Ala (N24A). The mutant SAg SEGN24A, retains its ability to trigger classical activation of macrophages without inducing T cell apoptosis. To evaluate, as a proof of concept, the immunogenicity and efficacy of the chimeric immunogen vs. its individual antigens, C3H mice were immunized intramuscularly with NCz-SEGN24A co-adjuvanted with CpG-ODN, or the recombinant proteins Nt-Cz plus SEGN24A with the same adjuvant. Vaccinated mice significantly produced Nt-Cz-specific IgG titers after immunization and developed higher IgG2a than IgG1 titers. Specific cell-mediated immunity was assessed by in-vivo DTH and significant responses were obtained. To assess protection, mice were challenged with trypomastigotes of T. cruzi. Both schemes reduced the parasite load throughout the acute phase, but only mice immunized with NCz-SEGN24A showed significant differences against control; moreover, these mice maintained 100% survival. These results encourage testing mutated superantigens fused to specific antigens as immune modulators against pathogens.Fil: Antonoglou, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Sanchez Alberti, Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Redolfi, Daniela María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Bivona, Augusto Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Fernández Lynch, María Julieta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Noli Truant, Sofia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Sarratea, Maria Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Iannantuono López, Laura Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Malchiodi, Emilio Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Marisa Mariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología y Biotecnología; Argentin

Epidemiology of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis and Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in the Northwestern Argentina

Background. Endemic areas of tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) in Salta, Argentina, present some overlap zones with the geographical distribution of Chagas disease, with mixed infection cases being often detected. Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude of Leishmania sp. infection and potential associated risk factors, the serologic prevalence of T. cruzi, and the presence of T. cruzi-Leishmania sp. mixed infection in a region of the northwest of Argentina. Methods. Crosssectional studies were conducted to detect TL prevalence and T. cruzi seroprevalence. A case-control study was conducted to examine leishmaniasis risk factors. Results. Prevalence of TL was 0.17%, seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection was 9.73%, and mixed infection proportion-within the leishmaniasic patients group-was 16.67%. The risk factors associated with TL transmission were sex, age, exposure to bites at work, staying outdoors more than 10 hours/day, bathing in the river, and living with people who had lesions or were infected during the study. Discussion. The endemic pattern of TL seems to involve exposure of patients to vectors in wild as well as peridomestic environment. Cases of T. cruzi infection are apparently due to migration. Therefore, a careful epidemiological surveillance is necessary due to the contraindication of antimonial administration to chagasic patients

Turismo, sostenibilità e governo del territorio, tra minacce e opportunità

Per l’Organizzazione Mondiale del Turismo il turismo è un fenomeno sociale, culturale ed economico che comporta lo spostamento di visitatori e ha a che fare con le loro attività, alcune delle quali comportano una spesa turistica. Nelle sue diverse tipologie – l’OMT ne elenca 14, ma si tratta di una classificazione molto parziale – tale fenomeno incrocia un’ampia gamma di interessi, ambienti e attività – dall’educazione alla produzione culturale, dall’arte allo sport, dalle risorse naturali alla salute – con possibili effetti diretti o indiretti su tutti e 17 gli Obiettivi di sviluppo sostenibile dell’Agenda 2030 dell’ONU, nell’ambito dei quali è espressamente citato, in particolare, nei target degli Obiettivi 8 (“Lavoro dignitoso e crescita economica”), 12 (“Consumo e produzione responsabili”) e 14 (“La vita sott’acqua”, riguardante la tutela degli ecosistemi marini) Scopo dell’OMT è promuovere un “turismo responsabile, sostenibile e universalmente accessibile” facendone un tema di politiche nazionali e internazionali finalizzate allo sviluppo socio-economico, partendo dai dati che – al netto delle istanze di responsabilità, sostenibilità e accessibilità universale – connotano il settore come “potenza economica”: è infatti “la terza categoria mondiale per ricavi da esportazione nel 2015 e rappresenta il 10% del PIL mondiale, il 30% delle esportazioni di servizi e un posto di lavoro su 10 nel mondo”. Nelle sue molteplici declinazioni, il turismo può quindi costituire una lente interessante per osservare i processi di trasformazione della città e del territorio contemporanei, soprattutto in un paese come l’Italia, in cui il settore, con il suo indotto, contribuisce per circa il 13% al PIL nazionale, e, dopo essere stato colpito in modo particolarmente pesante dalla pandemia da Covid-19, è ora tra i principali responsabili della ripresa economica: un andamento che ne dimostra da un lato la debolezza strutturale di fronte a possibili crisi globali e, di converso, la reattività sul medio periodo

Confecção do mapa de uso e cobertura da terra da Fazenda Capivara, sede da Embrapa Arroz e Feijão utilizando imagens ALOS

The technologies integrated into the geoprocessing data from remote sensing has been used to assist in the processes and phenomena that occur on the surface. Several industries use these technologies to monitor activities and assist in the processes of decision making. EMBRAPA may be cited as an example, is a company where they developed research in the areas of agriculture and livestock and a more efficient use of these areas, has sought to implement the Management Plan, to promote the connection of farms to environmental legislation, is essential to planning, to map and organize the information regarding the use and land coverage, infrastructure, water resources, Permanent Preservation Areas and Legal Reserves. In this context this study was to perform the mapping of the use and land coverage of ranch Capivara headquarters unit Embrapa Rice and Beans. The completion of the mapping images were recorded from the sensors AVNIR-2 and PRISM, the ALOS satellite, then merged the methods HSV Color Normalized Grand-Schmidt, PC Spectral Sharpening in order to verify the most effective visual interpretation of the elements to be extracted in the step of tracing the use classes and land coverage. With ALOS images and fusion methods applied, the objectives were achieved in the work, and with it the possibility of continuing to create georeferenced database, allowing the spatial and thematic information provision and subsidy in the implementation support the planning of experiments and control useful in administrative decision-making EMBRAPA, projects to be implemented.Pages: 6516-652

RET genotypes in sporadic medullary thyroid cancer: studies in a large Italian series

BACKGROUND: Highly discrepant data about the different distribution of RET germline single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) among patients with sporadic medullary thyroid cancer (sMTC) and controls are available. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: In the present case-control study, a wide panel of seven RET SNPs has been tested in the largest sMTC series and in a matched control group. RESULTS: None of the investigated polymorphisms show a significantly different distribution in patients with sMTC when compared to controls. Twenty haplotypes and 57 genotypes were generated, and their association with the disease and with the clinical features were statistically evaluated. Interestingly, 14 genotypes were found to be unique to sMTC patients and 25 to controls. Two haplotypes and three genotypes, all including the intronic variants IVS1-126 and IVS14-24, were significantly associated with sMTC patients and with a higher tumour aggression. The functional activity of the only nonsynonymous RET variant (c.2071C > A, G691S) was tested for the first time. Interestingly, Western blot analyses showed that the fraction of Ret9-G691S protein located at the plasma membrane level was overrepresented when compared to Ret9-WT, suggesting facilitated targeting at the cell membrane for this variant. However, no transforming activity was shown in a focus formation assay on cells carrying the Ret9-G691S, against a possible oncogenic role of G691S variant. CONCLUSIONS: RET genotypes including two intronic RET variants were associated with the risk of developing sMTC and to more aggressive behaviour. Further studies are warranted to elucidate whether these RET genotypes are in linkage disequilibrium with another susceptibility gene or whether these variants could play a role in the genesis of sMTC per se

Epidemiology of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis and Trypanosoma cruzi Infection in the Northwestern Argentina

Background. Endemic areas of tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) in Salta, Argentina, present some overlap zones with the geographical distribution of Chagas disease, with mixed infection cases being often detected. Objectives. The purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude of Leishmania sp. infection and potential associated risk factors, the serologic prevalence of T. cruzi, and the presence of T. cruzi-Leishmania sp. mixed infection in a region of the northwest of Argentina. Methods. Cross-sectional studies were conducted to detect TL prevalence and T. cruzi seroprevalence. A case-control study was conducted to examine leishmaniasis risk factors. Results. Prevalence of TL was 0.17%, seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection was 9.73%, and mixed infection proportion—within the leishmaniasic patients group—was 16.67%. The risk factors associated with TL transmission were sex, age, exposure to bites at work, staying outdoors more than 10 hours/day, bathing in the river, and living with people who had lesions or were infected during the study. Discussion. The endemic pattern of TL seems to involve exposure of patients to vectors in wild as well as peridomestic environment. Cases of T. cruzi infection are apparently due to migration. Therefore, a careful epidemiological surveillance is necessary due to the contraindication of antimonial administration to chagasic patients