Risk factors associated with the occurrence of autoimmune diseases in adult coeliac patients

Objectives. Autoimmune diseases (AD) may be associated with coeliac disease (CD), but specific risk factors have been poorly investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the spectrum of AD and its specific risk factors associated in a series of adult coeliac patients. Materials and Methods. We performed a single-center case-control study including adult newly diagnosed CD patients. To evaluate the risk factors of the association between AD and CD, 341 coeliac patients included were categorized on the basis of AD presence: 91 cases with at least one AD and 250 controls without AD were compared for clinical, serological, and histological features. Eighty-seven cases were age-gender-matched with 87 controls. Results. Among 341 CD patients, 26.6% of CD patients had at least one AD. Endocrine and dermatological diseases were the most prevalent AD encountered: autoimmune thyroiditis was present in 48.4% of cases, psoriasis in 17.6%, and type I diabetes and dermatitis herpetiformis in 11%, respectively. At logistic regression, factors associated with AD were a positive 1st-degree family history of AD (OR 3.7, 95% CI 1.93–7), a body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2 at CD diagnosis (OR 2.95%, CI 1.1–3.8), and long standing presentation signs/symptoms before CD diagnosis (>10 years) (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1–3.7). Analysis on age-gender-matched patients confirmed these results. Conclusions. CD patients with family history of AD, overweight at CD diagnosis, and a delay of CD diagnosis had an increased risk of having another AD. The benefit of CD screening in these specific subsets of patients with AD awaits further investigation

New regional dynamics : the consequences of sugar cane expansion in the Triangulo Mineiro-MG

Nesse artigo procura-se compreender as mudanças que a expansão da cultura da canade- açúcar produz no território. Dessa forma, identificam-se as transformações provocadas pela expansão desta atividade produtiva nos subsistemas que compõem o arranjo territorial do Triân- gulo Mineiro. Os subsistemas considerados são o político-institucional, o soioeconômico, e o ambiental. Partindo desses objetivos, levantamos a hipótese de que a expansão da atividade estaria provocando alterações consideráveis no arranjo territorial regional, visto através das alterações ocorridas em cada um dos subsistemas citados. Concluímos que o comportamento padrão desses subsistemas, o político institucional, o socioeconômico e o ambiental, nos municípios da região, forma um conjunto de características comuns, que define as particularidades que diferenciam o Triângulo de outras regiões. A nova geografia da produção canavieira no Brasil condiz com a realização dos ajustes nas relações de produção e o avanço de novas formas produtivas, que redefinem o papel dos lugares nos processos mais amplos de transformação do território. Subordina-se a natureza e as localidades aos interesses do capital, através da adaptação do meio técnico científico informacional.The purpose of this paper is to understand the changes that the expansion of the sugar cane produces in the Triângulo Mineiro, Brasil. For that purpose, we identify the consequences of this expansion in three basic territorial subsystems which are the institutional, the socioeconomic and the environmental. From this main purpose, we build our hypothesis that the expansion is causing a great transformation in the territorial dynamics of the region which can be seen through the alterations in each subsystem. We conclude that the standard behaviour of these subsystems in the cities of the region forms a set of features that define and diferentiate the Triângulo Mineiro from other regions. The new geography of sugar cane production in Brazil is part of the adjustments in the production relations and of the consolidation of new forms of production that redefine the role of places in the wider processes of territorial transformations. Nature and places are subordinated to the interests of capital through the adaptation of the technic, cientific and informational space

Improving basic skills in celiac-like disease diagnosis. A case report

Background: The diagnosis of Coeliac disease (CD) requires a combination of sign/symptoms, positivity of specific antibodies and duodenal histological evidence of villous atrophy. Duodenal villous atrophy, despite representing the CD landmark, is not specific since it is found in many gastrointestinal disorders. Giardiasis is one of the most common human intestinal protozoan infestations in industrialized countries whose histological duodenal mucosa damage could mimic that of CD. The present report shows how a wise clinical and laboratory assessment led us shortly to a correct diagnosis. Case presentation: A 42-year-old outpatient woman without previous significant gastrointestinal diseases, was referred with dyspeptic symptoms, fatigue and mild diarrhea from 4 months. Her first investigations including immunoglobulin A (IgA) anti-tissue transglutaminase antibodies (anti-tTG) and stool parasitological and cultural analysis were negative. An esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS) showed no mucosal alteration. But histology demonstrated a Helicobacter Pylori (HP) pan-gastritis while duodenal mucosa showed villous atrophy consistent with a diagnosis of CD Marsh type 3b. While on gluten-free diet (GFD) the patient didn't experience any improvement of symptoms. Duodenal biopsies were then reviewed showing the presence of trophozoites of Giardia on the luminal surface of the duodenal wall and at the same time, a second stool examination revealed the presence of trophozoites and cysts of Giardia. Treated with metronidazole, 500 mg twice daily for 6 days the patient reduced diarrhea after few days. After about 2 months of GFD she was invited to discontinue it. At the same time stool examination was repeated with negative results. She subsequently performed eradication for Hp with triple therapy (Pylera®). Around 6 months later, the patient did not complain any gastrointestinal symptoms. Serological tests were normal and at a follow-up EGDS, duodenal mucosa had normal histology with normal finger-like villi and absence of Giardia trophozoites. Conclusion: This case report shows how CD diagnosis can sometimes be manifold. Intestinal villous atrophy alone may not automatically establish a diagnosis of CD. In the present case the clinical scenario could be fully explained by giardiasis. Indeed, different diagnostic tools and a multi-step approaches have been used to determine the final correct diagnosis

CONTRA-MANUAL PARA CÂMERAS INTELIGENTES: VIGILÂNCIA, TECNOLOGIA E PERCEPÇÃO

O artigo realiza um breve mapeamento dos sistemas de videovigilância chamados “inteligentes”. Tais sistemas são programados para detecção automatizada e em tempo real de situações consideradas irregulares e/ou suspeitas em ambientes específicos, de modo a prever e prevenir eventos indesejáveis. Três aspectos serão focalizados: 1) O regime de visibilidade em curso, atento à captura de irregularidades; 2) O tipo de categorização dos corpos vigente nestes sistemas, voltado para a superfície da conduta humana; 3) A temporalidade destas câmeras, cujo caráter proativo pretende antever e intervir em eventos futuros. Compreendendo a videovigilância inteligente como um sistema sociotécnico, ressaltam-se procedimentos e discursos que identificam não apenas o funcionamento deste aparato, mas também os modos específicos de controle e vigilância nele implicados. Neste sentido, este texto é uma espécie de contramanual do dispositivo aqui em foco

Chronic HBV infection in pregnant immigrants: a multicenter study of the Italian Society of Infectious and Tropical Diseases

The aims of the study were to estimate the clinical impact of HBV infection in pregnant immigrants and their family members and to identify a useful approach to managing the healthcare of HBsAg-positive immigrants. Included in this study were 143 HBsAg-positive pregnant immigrants of the 1,970 from countries with intermediate/high HBV endemicity who delivered in 8 Italian hospitals in 2012-2013. In addition, 172 family members of 96 HBsAg-positive pregnant immigrants were tested for serum HBsAg. The median age of the 143 HBsAg-positive pregnant immigrants was 31.0±12.1 years and the length of stay in Italy 5.0±4.1 years; 56.5% were unaware of their HBsAg positivity. HBV DNA was detected in 74.5% of the pregnant immigrants, i.e., 94.3% from Eastern Europe, 72.2% from East Asia and 58.1% from Sub-Saharan Africa. HBV DNA ≥2000 IU/mL was detected in 47.8% of pregnant immigrants, associated with ALT ≥1.5 times the upper normal value in 15% of cases. Anti-HDV was detected in 10% of cases. HBsAg was detected in 31.3% of the 172 family members. All HBsAg-positive immigrants received counseling on HBV infection and its prevention, and underwent a complete clinical evaluation. The findings validate the approach used for the healthcare management of the HBsAg-positive immigrant population

Validation of a method for ionospheric electron density reconstruction by means of vertical incidence data during quiet and storm periods

A preliminary validation of the technique developed using the NeQuick ionospheric model and the «effective ionization parameter» Az, based on vertical total electron content data ingestion, was carried out in a previous study. The current study was performed to extend the analyzed conditions and confirm the results. The method to validate this technique is based on a comparison between hourly F2 peak values measured with Vertical Incidence (VI) soundings and those calculated with the new technique. Data corresponding to different hours and seasons (equinox, summer solstice, and winter solstice) during the period 2000-2003 (high and medium solar activity conditions) were compared for all available ionosonde stations. The results show a good agreement between foF2 and hmF2 values obtained with the new technique and measurements from vertical incidence soundings during quiet and storms conditions.European Community Fifth Framework Programm

Efectos de la libre competencia y las tecnologías disruptivas en el marco jurídico real de las tasas de interés

La presente investigación analiza los efectos de la libre competencia -dentro de la economía social de mercado- y de las tecnologías disruptivas en el Artículo 1243° del Código Civil relacionado con las tasas de interés que se establecen dentro y fuera del sistema financiero, con la finalidad de demostrar que este Artículo resulta obsoleto convirtiéndose en un obstáculo para el desarrollo del país y no facilita la inclusión financiera. El tipo de investigación fue Explicativa y el nivel de investigación Aplicada por cuanto busca relaciones causales entre sus variables para medirlas: libre competencia, tecnologías disruptivas y marco jurídico real de las tasas de interés. El Método utilizado fue Ex Post Facto porque se estudiaron las variables después que ocurrieron los hechos. Es una investigación cualitativa con enfoque mixto. El Diseño usado fue Explicativo porque responde a una relación causal. Se utilizó como Técnica la Entrevista estructurada directa e interactiva y como Instrumento la Guía de Entrevista a expertos en el sistema financiero. Los resultados fueron que este Artículo se considera obsoleto y debe ser redefinido tomando en consideración que las tasas de interés se regulan por la libre competencia y la evolución de las tecnologías. Así, se evitaría la discriminación entre aquellos que utilizan el sistema financiero y aquellos que no tienen acceso a él

Analgesia induced by the epigenetic drug, L-acetylcarnitine, outlasts the end of treatment in mouse models of chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain

Background: L-acetylcarnitine, a drug marketed for the treatment of chronic pain, causes analgesia by epigenetically up-regulating type-2 metabotropic glutamate (mGlu2) receptors in the spinal cord. Because the epigenetic mechanisms are typically long-lasting, we hypothesized that analgesia could outlast the duration of L-acetylcarnitine treatment in models of inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Results: A seven-day treatment with L-acetylcarnitine ( 100 mg/kg, once a day, i.p.) produced an antiallodynic effect in the complete Freund adjuvant mouse model of chronic inflammatory pain. L-Acetylcarnitine-induced analgesia persisted for at least 14 days after drug withdrawal. In contrast, the analgesic effect of pregabalin, amitryptiline, ceftriaxone, and N-acetylcysteine disappeared seven days after drug withdrawal. L-acetylcarnitine treatment enhanced mGlu2/3 receptor protein levels in the dorsal region of the spinal cord. This effect also persisted for two weeks after drug withdrawal and was associated with increased levels of acetylated histone H3 bound to the Grm2 gene promoter in the dorsal root ganglia. A long-lasting analgesic effect of L-acetylcarnitine was also observed in mice subjected to chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve. In these animals, a 14-day treatment with pregabalin, amitryptiline, tramadol, or L-acetylcarnitine produced a significant antiallodynic effect, with pregabalin displaying the greatest efficacy. In mice treated with pregabalin, tramadol or L-acetylcarnitine the analgesic effect was still visible 15 days after the end of drug treatment. However, only in mice treated with L-acetylcarnitine analgesia persisted 37 days after drug withdrawal. This effect was associated with an increase in mGlu2/3 receptor protein levels in the dorsal horns of the spinal cord. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that L-acetylcarnitine has the unique property to cause a long-lasting analgesic effect that might reduce relapses in patients suffering from chronic pain

NOVAS DINÂMICAS REGIONAIS: AS CONSEQÜÊNCIAS DA EXPANSÃO DA CULTURA DA CANA-DE AÇÚCAR NO TRIANGULO MINEIRO-MG

Nesse artigo procura-se compreender as mudanças que a expansão da cultura da cana-de-açúcar produz no território. Dessa forma, identificam-se as transformações provocadas pela expansão desta atividade produtiva nos subsistemas que compõem o arranjo territorial do Triângulo Mineiro. Os subsistemas considerados são o político-institucional, o soioeconômico, e o ambiental. Partindo desses objetivos, levantamos a hipótese de que a expansão da atividade estaria provocando alterações consideráveis no arranjo territorial regional, visto através das alterações ocorridas em cada um dos subsistemas citados. Concluímos que o comportamento padrão desses subsistemas, o político institucional, o socioeconômico e o ambiental, nos municípios da região, forma um conjunto de características comuns, que define as particularidades que diferenciam o Triângulo de outras regiões. A nova geografia da produção canavieira no Brasil condiz com a realização dos ajustes nas relações de produção e o avanço de novas formas produtivas, que redefinem o papel dos lugares nos processos mais amplos de transformação do território. Subordina-se a natureza e as localidades aos interesses do capital, através da adaptação do meio técnico científico informacional. Palavras Chave: Triângulo Mineiro. Cana-de-açúcar. Sistemas regionais. Subsistemas territoriais. New regional dynamics: the consequences of sugar cane expansion in the Triangulo Mineiro-MG The purpose of this paper is to understand the changes that the expansion of the sugar cane produces in the Triângulo Mineiro, Brasil. For that purpose, we identify the consequences of this expansion in three basic territorial subsystems which are the institutional, the socioeconomic and the environmental. From this main purpose, we build our hypothesis that the expansion is causing a great transformation in the territorial dynamics of the region which can be seen through the alterations in each subsystem. We conclude that the standard behaviour of these subsystems in the cities of the region forms a set of features that define and diferentiate the Triângulo Mineiro from other regions. The new geography of sugar cane production in Brazil is part of the adjustments in the production relations and of the consolidation of new forms of production that redefine the role of places in the wider processes of territorial transformations. Nature and places are subordinated to the interests of capital through the adaptation of the technic, cientific and informational space. Key words: Triângulo Mineiro. Sugar cane. Regional systems. Territorial subsystems

The host micro-RNA cfa-miR-346 is induced in canine leishmaniasis

none8noBackground Leishmaniases are a group of anthropo-zoonotic parasitic diseases caused by a protozoan of the Leishmania genus, affecting both humans and other vertebrates, including dogs. L. infantum is responsible for the visceral and occasionally cutaneous form of the disease in humans and canine leishmaniasis. Previously, we have shown that L. infantum induces a mild but significant increase in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress expression markers to promote parasites survival in human and murine infected macrophages. Moreover, we demonstrated that the miRNA hsa-miR-346, induced by the UPR-activated transcription factor sXBP1, was significantly upregulated in human macrophages infected with different L. infantum strains. However, the ER stress response in infected dogs, which represent an important reservoir for Leishmania parasite, was described once recently, whereas the miR-346 expression was not reported before. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate these pathways in the canine macrophage-like cell line DH82 infected by Leishmania spp. and to evaluate the presence of cfa-miR-346 in plasma of non-infected and infected dogs. The DH82 cells were infected with L. infantum and L. braziliensis parasites and the expression of cfa-mir-346 and several ER stress markers was evaluated by quantitative PCR (qPCR) at different time points. Furthermore, the cfa-miR-346 was monitored in plasma collected from non-infected dogs (n = 11) and dogs naturally infected by L. infantum (n = 18). Results The results in DH82 cells showed that cfa-mir-346 was induced at both 24 h and 48 h post-infection with all Leishmania strains but not with tunicamycin, accounting for a mechanism of induction independent from sXBP1, unlike what was previously observed in human cell lines. Moreover, the cfa-miR-346 expression analysis on plasma revealed a significant increase in infected dogs compared to non-infected dogs. Conclusions Here for the first time, we report the upregulation of cfa-miR-346 induced by Leishmania infection in canine macrophage-like cells and plasma samples of naturally infected dogs. According to our results, the cfa-miR-346 appears to be linked to infection, and understanding its role and identifying its target genes could contribute to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the host–pathogen interaction in leishmaniasis.Buffi, Gloria; Diotallevi, Aurora; Ceccarelli, Marcello; Bruno, Federica; Castelli, Germano; Vitale, Fabrizio; Magnani, Mauro; Galluzzi, LucaBuffi, Gloria; Diotallevi, Aurora; Ceccarelli, Marcello; Bruno, Federica; Castelli, Germano; Vitale, Fabrizio; Magnani, Mauro; Galluzzi, Luc