Astrocyte Apoptosis and HIV Replication Are Modulated in Host Cells Coinfected with Trypanosoma cruzi

The protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease. In immunosuppressed individuals, as it occurs in the coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the central nervous system may be affected. In this regard, reactivation of Chagas disease is severe and often lethal, and it accounts for meningoencephalitis. Astrocytes play a crucial role in the environment maintenance of healthy neurons; however, they can host HIV and T. cruzi. In this report, human astrocytes were infected in vitro with both genetically modified-pathogens to express alternative fluorophore. As evidenced by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, HIV and T. cruzi coexist in the same astrocyte, likely favoring reciprocal interactions. In this context, lower rates of cell death were observed in both T. cruzi monoinfected-astrocytes and HIV-T. cruzi coinfection in comparison with those infected only with HIV. The level of HIV replication is significantly diminished under T. cruzi coinfection, but without affecting the infectivity of the HIV progeny. This interference with viral replication appears to be related to the T. cruzi multiplication rate or its increased intracellular presence but does not require their intracellular cohabitation or infected cell-to-cell contact. Among several Th1/Th2/Th17 profile-related cytokines, only IL-6 was overexpressed in HIV-T. cruzi coinfection exhibiting its cytoprotective role. This study demonstrates that T. cruzi and HIV are able to coinfect astrocytes thus altering viral replication and apoptosis.Fil: Urquiza, Javier Mariano. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida; ArgentinaFil: Burgos, Juan Miguel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Ojeda, Diego Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida; ArgentinaFil: Pascuale, Carla Antonela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Leguizamon, Maria Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Quarleri, Jorge Fabian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas en Retrovirus y Sida; Argentin

Development of Novel Models to Study Ovarian Cancer Stem Cells.

Cancer stem cells (CSC) are rare cells within a tumor reported to be resistant to standard chemotherapy, which can serve to populate the bulk of a tumor with more differentiated daughter cells and potentially contribute to recurrent disease and metastasis. A better understanding of ovarian CSC could lead to novel therapeutic approaches to specifically target CSC. We developed two in vivo models for the study of ovarian CSC. We first generated a human embryonic stem cell derived teratoma (hESCT) tumor model, creating a human tumor microenvironment for CSC growth. We demonstrate that unlike other tumor models, this model has human tumor vessels, a critical part of the CSC niche. These vessels express tumor vascular specific markers (TVMs). We showed the ability of the hESCT model, with human tumor vascular niche, to enhance the engraftment rate of primary human ovarian cancer stem-like cells. Furthermore, this model can be used to test anti-human specific TVM immunotherapeutics. Unfortunately, the study of human CSC can be hampered by heterogeneity of primary tumor samples, long requirements for tumor growth in vivo, and the need for tumor growth in immune-deficient mice. We therefore evaluated CSC in a transgenic murine model of ovarian cancer. Using flow cytometry to characterize a cell line derived from this tumor model we identified that CD24+ cells have a enhanced ability to form tumor spheres, to passage, and to initiate tumors in vivo; hallmarks of CSC. CD24+ cells preferentially express stem cell markers Nanog and c-myc and demonstrate preferential phosphorylation of STAT3. Suggesting an important role for STAT3 in CD24+ CSC, CD24+ cells were preferentially sensitive to inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation with the JAK2 inhibitor TG101209. Finally, in vivo therapy with TG101209 appeared to decrease tumor metastasis and combined with chemotherapy, prolonged overall survival. Furthermore, preliminary data suggests a role of CD24+ cells in tumor migration. Combined we have characterized two distinct models for the characterization of ovarian CSC targeted therapeutics.PHDCellular & Molecular BiologyUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/107182/1/danivane_1.pd

No evidence of firstly acquired acute hepatitis C virus infection outbreak among HIV-infected patients from Southern Spain: a multicentric retrospective study from 2000-2014

Background: Acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (AHCVI) outbreaks have been described recently within defined areas worldwide among HIV-infected homosexual men. This study aims to describe the cumulative frequency and incidence of firstly acquired AHCVI in an HIV-infected population in Southern Spain. Methods: This is a retrospective study conducted at the Infectious Diseases Units of eight hospitals in Andalusia, Southern Spain. Primary AHC was considered as HCV immunoglobulin G antibody seroconversion. The time of infection was considered the moment between the last negative and the first positive HCV antibody determination. Results: A total of 23 cases of primary AHCVI have been detected from 2000 to 2014. Incidence rates [IR; 95 % confidence interval (CI)] were 0.036 (2.272–0.054) per 100 person-years (py) in the overall population over a follow-up period of 64170 py. Of the 22 (95.7 %) male subjects, 21 (95.5 %) had acquired AHCVI by homosexual contact, the IR (95 % CI) was 0.039 (0.024–0.06) per 100 py in this subpopulation. There was no evidence of an increase of AHCVI IR. The incidence of AHCVI was slightly lower between 2000 and 2004 as compared to 2005–2009 [IR ratio (IRR) of 8.8 (95 % CI: 1.279–378.794; p = 0.01)] but reached a plateau afterwards [IRR between 2010 and 2014 versus 2005–2009: 0.727 (0.286–1.848; p = 0.5)]. The median (Q1-Q3) time between the last negative anti-HCV and the first positive anti-HCV determination was 4.7 (1.9–11.2) months. Peak (Q1-Q3) ALT and total bilirubin values during AHCVI were 496 (291–656) IU/mL and 1.15 (0.9–1.98) mg/dL, respectively. Conclusions: In contrast to what has been reported from other areas, the incidence of primary AHCVI in the HIVinfected population is stable in Southern Spain and there is no evidence of an epidemic, in spite of the high prevalence of HIV/HCV-coinfection in this area.Plan Nacional R + D + I RD12/0017/0012ISCIII-Subdirección General de EvaluaciónFondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) European Union (EU)Instituto de Salud Carlos III PI15/01124, CP13/00187, Programa-I3SN

Derecho de petición en la modalidad de consulta – IVA en tiquetes aéreos en viajes ida y regreso “Round Trip”

El cincuenta por ciento (50%) de los ingresos por concepto de tiquetes aéreos internacionales de ida y regreso (Round Trip), se debe considerar ingreso no gravado en IVA por diferentes consideraciones explicadas en el documento, entre otras: porque el hecho económico / generador se realiza por fuera del territorio nacional, razón por la cual, en virtud del principio de territorialidad de la norma tributaria no deben ser considerado como hecho gravado y porque no existe norma expresa que les dé el tratamiento de excluido.The fifty percent (50%) of round trip international tickets revenue need to be considered Nontaxable revenue for VAT purposes, there are many reasons explained in the document, among others: the economic fact is performed out of Colombian territory therefore under tax territoriality principle the revenue should not be considered as fully taxable, and there is no expressive law that consider this fact as excluded revenue.Especialista en Derecho TributarioEspecializació

El casino gaditano ante las crisis sanitarias del Cádiz decimonónico

El presente trabajo estudia cuatro situaciones que supusieron crisis sanitarias en el Cádiz de la segunda mitad del siglo XIX y en los que el filantropismo del Casino Gaditano se puede calificar de excepcional: la epidemia de cólera-morbo de 1854,la repatriación de militares procedentes de la Guerra de África de 1859, la epidemia de cólera-morbo de 1885 y la repatriación de militares procedentes de la Guerra de Cuba de 1898.131 págs

Digestibility of Duddingtonia flagrans chlamydospores in ruminants: in vitro and in vivo studies

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The use of <it>Duddingtonia flagrans </it>as a tool for the biological control of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) is a promising alternative to anthelmintics. The chlamydospores of <it>D. flagrans </it>are orally dosed and their thick cell wall gives them the capacity to resist digestion and pass through the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Chlamydospores reaching the faeces are able to germinate and trap nematode larvae. The efficacy of this control method is based on reducing the numbers of infective larvae leaving the faeces. Techniques have recently been developed for quantifying the numbers of chlamydospores in faeces. As the number of non-digested spores could be relevant in the design and optimization of dosing programmes for the control of GIN infective larvae, the aim of the present study was to estimate the loss of <it>D. flagrans </it>chlamydospores during their passage through the ruminant gastrointestinal tract using <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>techniques.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>After <it>in vitro </it>rumen digestion, chlamydospore recovery was not different from the quantity originally incubated (undigested spores) (P > 0.05). <it>In vitro </it>rumen+abomasum digestion caused nearly 36% loss of the chlamydospores originally incubated (P < 0.05). Germination of chlamydospores classified as viable was 24.3%. Chlamydospores classified as non-viable did not germinate. Rumen digestion resulted in more spore germination (R1 = 35.7% and R2 = 53.3%) compared to no digestion (time 0 h = 8.7%). Subsequent abomasal digestion reduced germination (R1+A = 25%) or stopped it (R2+A = 0%). <it>In vivo </it>apparent chlamydospore digestibility in sheep showed a loss of 89.7% of the chlamydospores (P < 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The loss of chlamydospores was evident under <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>conditions. Negligible amounts of spores were lost during the <it>in vitro </it>rumen digestion. However, <it>in vitro </it>rumen+abomasum digestion resulted in a chlamydospore loss of approximately 36%. <it>In vivo </it>passage through the sheep GIT resulted in a total loss of 89.7% of the orally administered spores.</p

Sitios de nidificación y comportamiento reproductivo de tres aves en la Laguna Mayor en el Refugio de Vida Silvestre “Pantanos de Villa”, Lima, Perú.

The "Pantanos de Villa" wetland is a Wildlife Refuge (RVSPV), in Lima, Peru for many resident and migratory birds and is an important space for their development because it provides favorable spaces for their feeding and reproduction. Currently there is no delimitation for the breeding colonies of birds in the RVSPV Laguna Mayor, due to the lack of studies on nesting sites. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the nesting sites and the reproductive behavior of three species of birds that nest in the Laguna Mayor. Monitoring was carried out once a week between the months of March and May 2022, and the nesting sites of three species were recorded: Nannnopterum brasilianum "Neotropical Cormorant", Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus "Gray-headed Gull" and Anas bahamensis "white-cheeked pintail", of which the microhabitat of the nest, the vegetation cover, characteristics of the eggs and chicks and biological factors such as predation are described.El humedal “Pantanos de Villa” es un Refugio de Vida Silvestre (RVSPV), Lima, Perú para muchas aves residentes y migratorias y es un espacio importante para el desarrollo de las mismas debido que provee espacios propicios para su alimentación y reproducción. En la actualidad no existe una delimitación para las colonias de reproducción de las aves en la Laguna Mayor del RVSPV, debido a la falta de estudios sobre los sitios de nidificación. Por ello, se tuvo como objetivo evaluar los sitios de nidificación y el comportamiento reproductivo de tres especies de aves que nidifican en la Laguna Mayor. Se realizaron monitoreos una vez por semana entre los meses de marzo a mayo del 2022, y se registraron los sitios de nidificación de tres especies: Nannnopterum brasilianum “Cormorán neotropical”, Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus “Gaviota capucha gris” y Anas bahamensis “Pato gargantillo”, de las cuales se describe el microhábitat del nido, la cobertura vegetal, características de los huevos y pichones, y finalmente los factores biológicos como la depredación

Comparison between computed tomography and silicone-casting methods to determine gunshot cavities in ballistic soap

Current methods used in terminal ballistics to determine the volume of temporary cavities created by projectiles in soft tissue simulants (such as ballistic soap) usually involve silicone-casting to obtain the cavity moulds. However, these methods have important drawbacks including their little sensitivity and precision, besides the fact that they are destructive. Imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) might not only overcome those limitations but also offer useful tools for digitally reporting the scientific results. This work accomplished the 3D digital reconstruction of the cavities created by different projectiles in ballistic soap blocks. This way, the total volume of the cavities, the projectile penetration depths, and other measurements were determined, rendering better capabilities when compared to the current silicone method. All these features were achieved through the CT analysis and 3D Slicer imaging software. In addition, it is worth mentioning that the method can preserve the evidence by digitally obtaining, signing, and storing the infographic videos displaying the 3D-reconstructed cavities