Halogen bonds direct the solid state architectures of a multivalent iodopropargylcalix[4]arene

The iodoalkynyl group is a ditopic synthon, able to act as a halogen bond (XB) donor through the iodine atom and as an XB acceptor on the C≡C triple bond. With the aim of exploring the self-assembly properties via XB of calix[4]arene macrocycles containing this synthon, we synthesized and characterized a tetra(iodopropargyl)calix[4]arene (3). In the solid state, all the iodoalkynyl units of 3 are involved in intermolecular XB interactions as both donors and acceptors, resulting in a two-dimensional network of calixarene double layers. On the contrary, in the cocrystal of 3 with 4,4′-bipyridine, a bidentate XB acceptor, the iodine atoms are halogen bonded to the pyridine nitrogen atoms forming a one-dimensional ribbon of calixarenes alternated by two 4,4′-bipyridine units. These supramolecular architectures are the first example of solid-state networks of calixarene derivatives where the self-assembly is mostly driven by XBs

JCV-specific T-cells producing IFN-gamma are differently associated with PmL occurrence in HIV patients and liver transplant recipients

Aim of this work was to investigate a possible correlation between the frequency of JCV-specific T-cells and PML occurrence in HIV-infected subjects and in liver transplant recipients. A significant decrease of JCV-specific T-cells was observed in HIV-PML subjects, highlighting a close relation between JCV-specific T-cell immune impairment and PML occurrence in HIV-subjects. Interestingly, liver-transplant recipients (LTR) showed a low frequency of JCV-specific T-cells, similar to HIV-PML subjects. Nevertheless, none of the enrolled LTR developed PML, suggesting the existence of different immunological mechanisms involved in the maintenance of a protective immune response in LT

Salivary gland ultrasonography: a highly specific tool for the early diagnosis of primary Sjögren's syndrome

INTRODUCTION:Recently, a great interest has arisen for salivary gland ultrasonography (SGUS) as a valuable tool for the assessment of major salivary gland involvement in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS. The aims of this study were to test the accuracy of SGUS for the early detection of pSSand to compare the diagnostic performance of SGUS with minor salivary gland biopsy (MSGB) and unstimulated salivary flow (USFR) in this context. METHOD:Patients with suspected pSS and symptoms duration of ≤5 years were consecutively enrolled in this study. The diagnosis of pSS was made according to the AECG criteria. SGUS was performed by two radiologists blinded to the diagnosis and a previously reported ultrasound scoring system (De Vita et al. 1992, cut-off ≥ 1) was used to grade the echostructure alterations of the salivary glands. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v16. RESULTS: This study included 50 pSS patients and 57 controls with no-SS sicca symptoms. The mean(SD) age of the pSS group was lower than non-SS group (47(13) vs 53(12)yrs, p = 0.006). No further differences between the two groups were observed. Patients with pSS showed a significantly higher SGUS score in comparison with controls (mean(SD) = 2.1(1.8) vs 0.0(0.4), p = 0.000). The SGUS cut-off ≥ 1 showed a sensitivity (SE) of 66 %, a specificity (SP) of 98 %, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 97 % and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 73 % for pSS diagnosis. The SGUS score correlated also with patients' MSGB/FS and USFR. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirmed the good performance of SGUS for the early non-invasive diagnosis of pSS. Further research in larger international cohort of patients is mandatory in order to assess the role of SGUS in the diagnostic algorithm of pSS

Avaliação da reatividade cruzada entre antígenos de Leishmania spp e Trypanosoma cruzi na resposta sorológica de cães pela técnica de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI)

Visceral Leishmaniasis (VL) is a zoonosis caused by Leishmania spp. protozoa. Dog is the main parasite's reservoir, especially in urban areas. Indirect Immunofluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT) is commonly used for canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) diagnosis, by detection of antibodies against the parasite. However, Trypanosoma cruzi (T.cruzi) cross reactions can occur in serological diagnosis. In order to evaluate the occurrence of cross reactions between antigens of Leishmania spp. and T.cruzi, 150 blood samples of CVL epidemiological inquiry positive dogs were collected and sera were tested by IFAT. Dogs were culled at Zoonosis Control Center of Bauru (SP), an endemic area for VL. Another 150 dogs' blood samples were collected in Botucatu (SP), a non endemic area for LV, and sera were also tested by IFAT. Serum samples of dogs from Bauru were positive, both for Leishmania spp. and for T. cruzi, showing high cross-reactions incidence, reinforcing the need of diagnosis confirmation by other tests. Serum samples of dogs from Botucatu demonstrated low prevalence of positive results by IFAT, both for Leishmania spp. and T.cruzi. However,despite the low number of positive serological results for these parasites, the epidemiological and serological investigation for LV and Chagas disease in dogs from Botucatu must be kept, considering the importance of dog as domestic reservoir for both parasites.A leishmaniose visceral (LV) é uma zoonose causada por protozoários do gênero Leishmania. O cão é o principal reservatório do parasito, especialmente em áreas urbanas. A Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI) é comumente empregada para o diagnóstico da leishmaniose visceral canina (LVC), baseada na detecção de anticorpos contra o parasito. Entretanto, reações cruzadas com Trypanosoma cruzi podem ocorrer à sorologia. Com o objetivo de avaliar as reações cruzadas entre os antígenos de Leishmania spp. e de T.cruzi, foram colhidas 150 amostras de sangue de cães positivos para LVC em inquérito epidemiológico e os soros foram testados pela RIFI. Os cães foram submetidos à eutanásia no Centro de Controle de Zoonoses de Bauru (SP), área endêmica para LV. Outras 150 amostras de sangue de cães foram colhidas em Botucatu (SP), área não endêmica para LV, e os soros foram também testados pela RIFI. Os soros de cães procedentes de Bauru resultaram positivos, tanto para Leishmania spp. quanto para T.cruzi, demonstrando uma grande incidência de reações cruzadas, reforçando a necessidade da confirmação diagnóstica por outras técnicas. As amostras de soros de cães procedentes de Botucatu (SP), pela técnica de RIFI, demonstraram baixa prevalência de resultados positivos para Leishmania spp. e para T.cruzi. Entretanto, apesar do reduzido número de resultados positivos à sorologia para ambos parasitos, a investigação sorológica e epidemiológica para LV e doença de Chagas em cães de Botucatu deve ser mantida, considerando a importância do cão como reservatório doméstico no contexto destas zoonoses

FRI0272 Early damage assessment and prediction of damage accrual in primary sjÖgren's syndrome using salivary gland ultrasonography during 2 years of follow-up

n/

Re-emergence of human leishmaniasis in northern Italy, 2004 to 2022: a retrospective analysis

Background. Human leishmaniasis is a protozoan disease transmitted by sand flies and endemic in the Mediterranean region. In Italy, leishmaniasis is present in the south and the western coastal regions, with an epidemic peak detected in northern Italy in the early 1970s.AimTo examine temporal trends, and demographic, clinical, geographical and environmental features of human leishmaniasis cases recorded by the local health unit (LHU) of Bologna, northern Italy.MethodsIn this retrospective observational study, we analysed human leishmaniasis cases recorded from 2004 to 2022 within the Bologna LHU. We also conducted serological investigations for canine leishmaniasis in owned dogs living near the place of infection of human cases. Results. In total, 173 cases of human leishmaniasis were detected, and 154 cases were considered autochthonous. An increase of human cases was observed since 2004, with incidence peaks above 2 cases/100,000 inhabitants in 2013, 2018 and 2022; epidemic peaks were preceded by dry summers. Most cases lived in the plain and hilly areas less than 400 m above sea level and many resided in isolated housing, in city outskirts, and/or near uncultivated areas, watercourses and railway sections. The incidence of canine leishmaniasis did not increase in the study period.Conclusion. An epidemic of human leishmaniasis with fluctuating annual numbers of cases, probably related to environmental and climatic factors, was identified in the Bologna LHU. Understanding the risk factors and the environmental characteristics related to places of infection is crucial to evaluate the public health implications of leishmaniasis

XIPE: the X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer

X-ray polarimetry, sometimes alone, and sometimes coupled to spectral and temporal variability measurements and to imaging, allows a wealth of physical phenomena in astrophysics to be studied. X-ray polarimetry investigates the acceleration process, for example, including those typical of magnetic reconnection in solar flares, but also emission in the strong magnetic fields of neutron stars and white dwarfs. It detects scattering in asymmetric structures such as accretion disks and columns, and in the so-called molecular torus and ionization cones. In addition, it allows fundamental physics in regimes of gravity and of magnetic field intensity not accessible to experiments on the Earth to be probed. Finally, models that describe fundamental interactions (e.g. quantum gravity and the extension of the Standard Model) can be tested. We describe in this paper the X-ray Imaging Polarimetry Explorer (XIPE), proposed in June 2012 to the first ESA call for a small mission with a launch in 2017 but not selected. XIPE is composed of two out of the three existing JET-X telescopes with two Gas Pixel Detectors (GPD) filled with a He-DME mixture at their focus and two additional GPDs filled with pressurized Ar-DME facing the sun. The Minimum Detectable Polarization is 14 % at 1 mCrab in 10E5 s (2-10 keV) and 0.6 % for an X10 class flare. The Half Energy Width, measured at PANTER X-ray test facility (MPE, Germany) with JET-X optics is 24 arcsec. XIPE takes advantage of a low-earth equatorial orbit with Malindi as down-link station and of a Mission Operation Center (MOC) at INPE (Brazil).Comment: 49 pages, 14 figures, 6 tables. Paper published in Experimental Astronomy http://link.springer.com/journal/1068

First detection of X-ray polarization from the accreting neutron star 4U 1820-303

This paper reports the first detection of polarization in the X-rays for atoll-source 4U 1820-303, obtained with the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE) at 99.999% confidence level (CL). Simultaneous polarimetric measurements were also performed in the radio with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). The IXPE observations of 4U 1820-303 were coordinated with Swift-XRT, NICER, and NuSTAR aiming to obtain an accurate X-ray spectral model covering a broad energy interval. The source shows a significant polarization above 4 keV, with a polarization degree of 2.0(0.5)% and a polarization angle of -55(7) deg in the 4-7 keV energy range, and a polarization degree of 10(2)% and a polarization angle of -67(7) deg in the 7-8 keV energy bin. This polarization also shows a clear energy trend with polarization degree increasing with energy and a hint for a position-angle change of about 90 deg at 96% CL around 4 keV. The spectro-polarimetric fit indicates that the accretion disk is polarized orthogonally to the hard spectral component, which is presumably produced in the boundary/spreading layer. We do not detect linear polarization from the radio counterpart, with a 99.97% upper limit of 50% at 7.25 GHz