Seasonal variability of antioxidant biomarkers in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis from the Spanish N-NW coast.

Marine organisms are highly seasonal animals in relation to their physiology which depends, among other factors, on their annual cycle of reproduction. In bivalves, reproductive cycle is regulated by two main environmental factors: temperature and food availability. Specifically, bivalves are undergoing high variable environmental conditions. Integrated pollution monitoring carried out by the IEO along the N-NW coast of Spain has evidenced that the variability of the environmental conditions produce spatial differences in mussel condition which seems to mask the biomarker responses to pollution. Thus, there is a need to study the natural variability of biological responses used as pollution biomarkers at different seasons and in different habitats in order to establish an adequate link between chemical pollution and biological responses. This study aims to assess the natural variability of some biomarker responses on the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in 5 different sites from the Spanish Marine Pollution Monitoring Program which are differentiated in their natural ecology and their anthropogenic pressure. The potential influence of environmental and endogenous factors that can cause biomarker´s seasonal fluctuations was examined. Biomarkers analyzed in this study are considered among the most usefull biological tools applied in pollution monitoring programs, including exposure indicators (superoxide dismutase –SOD-, catalase –CAT-, glutathione reductase –GR-, glutathione peroxidase –GPx-, glutathione-s-transfersase –GST-) and a damage indicator (lipid peroxidation –LPO-). Mussel biological characterization from a histological and anatomical point of view was also performed. Results evidenced that biomarkers were clearly influenced by the annual cycle (all of them were affected by the season) but also significant differences between sites were found in some biomarkers (GR and GST). Thus, not only environmental but also endogenous factors must be considered in monitoring programs in the study of biomarkers responses.Society of Environmenta Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC

HLA Allele E∗01:01 Is associated with a reduced risk of EBV-related classical hodgkin lymphoma independently of HLAA∗01/∗02

Background An inefficient immune response against Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is related to the pathogenesis of a subgroup of classical Hodgkin lymphomas (cHL). Some EBV immuneevasion mechanisms target HLA presentation, including the non-classical HLA-E molecule. HLA-E can be recognized by T cells via the TCR, and it also regulates natural killer (NK) cell signaling through the inhibitory CD94/NKG2A receptor. Some evidences indicate that EBVinfected B-cells promote the proliferation of NK subsets bearing CD94/NKG2A, suggesting a relevant function of these cells in EBV control. Variations in CD94/NKG2A-HLA-E interactions could affect NK cell-mediated immunity and, consequently, play a role in EBV-driven transformation and lymphomagenesis. The two most common HLA-E alleles, E*01:01 and E*01:03, differ by a single amino acid change that modifies the molecule function. We hypothesized that the functional differences in these variants might participate in the pathogenicity of EBV. Aim We studied two series of cHL patients, both with EBV-positive and-negative cases, and a cohort of unrelated controls, to assess the impact of HLA-E variants on EBV-related cHL susceptibility. Results We found that the genotypes with at least one copy of E*01:01 (i.e., E*01:01 homozygous and heterozygous) were underrepresented among cHL patients from both series compared to controls (72.6% and 71.6% vs 83%, p = 0.001). After stratification by EBV status, we found low rates of E*01:01-carriers mainly among EBV-positive cases (67.6%). These reduced frequencies are seen independently of other factors such as age, gender, HLAA* 01 and HLA-A*02, HLA alleles positively and negatively associated with the disease (adjusted OR = 0.4, p = 0.001). Furthermore, alleles from both HLA loci exert a cumulative effect on EBV-associated cHL susceptibility. Conclusions These results indicate that E*01:01 is a novel protective genetic factor in EBV-associated cHL and support a role for HLA-E recognition on the control of EBV infection and lymphomagenesisThis work was supported by Miguel Servet programs CP09/00182 (NGL) and CP08/00218 (PM) and the Spanish Cancer Network (RTICC RD 06/ 0020/0047) all from Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FEDER)

Human papillomavirus genotype distribution in Madrid and correlation with cytological data

BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women worldwide. Infection with certain human papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes is the most important risk factor associated with cervical cancer. This study analysed the distribution of type-specific HPV infection among women with normal and abnormal cytology, to assess the potential benefit of prophylaxis with anti-HPV vaccines. METHODS: Cervical samples of 2,461 women (median age 34 years; range 15-75) from the centre of Spain were tested for HPV DNA. These included 1,656 samples with normal cytology (NC), 336 with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), 387 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSILs), and 82 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs). HPV detection and genotyping were performed by PCR using 5'-biotinylated MY09/11 consensus primers, and reverse dot blot hybridisation. RESULTS: HPV infection was detected in 1,062 women (43.2%). Out of these, 334 (31%) samples had normal cytology and 728 (69%) showed some cytological abnormality: 284 (27%) ASCUS, 365 (34%) LSILs, and 79 (8%) HSILs. The most common genotype found was HPV 16 (28%) with the following distribution: 21% in NC samples, 31% in ASCUS, 26% in LSILs, and 51% in HSILs. HPV 53 was the second most frequent (16%): 16% in NC, 16% in ASCUS, 19% in LSILs, and 5% in HSILs. The third genotype was HPV 31 (12%): 10% in NC, 11% in ASCUS, 14% in LSILs, and 11% in HSILs. Co-infections were found in 366 samples (34%). In 25%, 36%, 45% and 20% of samples with NC, ASCUS, LSIL and HSIL, respectively, more than one genotype was found. CONCLUSIONS: HPV 16 was the most frequent genotype in our area, followed by HPV 53 and 31, with a low prevalence of HPV 18 even in HSILs. The frequency of genotypes 16, 52 and 58 increased significantly from ASCUS to HSILs. Although a vaccine against HPV 16 and 18 could theoretically prevent approximately 50% of HSILs, genotypes not covered by the vaccine are frequent in our population. Knowledge of the epidemiological distribution is necessary to predict the effect of vaccines on incidence of infection and evaluate cross-protection from current vaccines against infection with other types

Booklets. Del 16 de mayo al 18 de junio en la Sala de Exposiciones de la Biblioteca

La muestra que inauguramos en las vitrinas de la Sala de Exposiciones de la Biblioteca de la Facultad de Bellas Artes de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid podría haberse titulado"Pequeños libros, librillos o libritos". Se habría perdido entonces la sonoridad del término correspondiente en inglés y su bella construcción tipográfica: booklets, puro grafismo. Admitimos que nos hemos dejado seducir por lo anglosajón y por el gusto por la forma. Sin embargo, la idea de esta exposición surge, por un lado, de la amable invitación del profesor y compañero Luis Mayo y, por el otro, de los booklets del artista alemán Hans Peter Feldmann, sobre el que publicamos un artículo a raíz de su gran exposición en el Museo Centro de Arte Reina Sofía de Madrid de 2010. Extraemos del mismo, fragmentos de texto que ayudan a ilustrar la obra seleccionada. Confeccionados a finales de los años sesenta con cubiertas de cartoncillo gris y reproducciones fotográficas en offset y blanco y negro en su interior, estos librillos de apariencia modesta que llevaban los títulos estampados sobre la portada en azul, títulos que rezaban tan sólo Bild (imagen) o Bilder (imágenes) con el número de imágenes que incluían. Fueron publicados hasta 1976, manteniendo siempre una estética sobria, con materiales sencillos y temas como una pirámide, once piernas de mujer, un abrigo, doncellas, calles, ambulancias, paisajes nevados, sillas, palmeras, océanos, herramientas, cuadros con árboles, volcanes, etc. Se pueden describir como simples libros carentes de expresión, pero, a pesar de su condición modesta, componen, junto a ediciones como los libros de fotografías del estadounidense Ed Ruscha, una de las series de libros de artista más relevantes del siglo XX. El libro se convierte por tanto en un formato ideal, porque actúa como contenedor de la información y abre al lector las puertas a mundos, esferas y realidades infinitas. Su portabilidad y su posibilidad de reproducirse, duplicarse o multiplicarse lo dotan de una ventaja añadida, la de convertirse en uno de los soportes artísticos más accesibles y populares. Feldmann lo elige para explorar otro aspecto más de los límites entre arte y entretenimiento. Los fabrica en serie y de manera barata para hacérsela llegar a sus amigos. No hay pretensiones añadidas. Tampoco las hay en esta muestra. Hemos querido hacer visibles diferentes líneas de trabajo de los estudiantes de Bellas Artes. La mayor parte son alumnos de 1º de Grado que han cursado asignaturas de dibujo en las que el libro se utiliza como vehículo para dar forma y construir diarios con los retratos de los compañeros, o bien cuadernos de viaje que traspasan la barrera del ejercicio para convertirse en testigos y acompañantes de pequeñas experiencias vitales. Era de esperar que los alumnos de Grado en Bellas Artes volcaran su creatividad en este tipo de actividades. Lo que supone una novedad es que el recién estrenado Grado en Conservación y Restauración del Patrimonio Cultural contara con alumnos altamente motivados y muy trabajadores cuya respuesta positiva nos ha producido una grata sorpresa