Atención domiciliaria para pacientes con infección por el VIH: cuatro años de experiencia personal

Tesis doctoral inédita leida en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Medicina. Fecha de lectura: 2 de Junio de 200

Predict the effects of dolutegravir (DTG) plus lamivudine (3TC) on immunological responses in people living with HIV (PLWHIV)

Producción CientíficaBackground: Immune recovery in people living with HIV (PLWHIV) is a residual aspect of antiretroviral treatment (ART) in most patients, but in a non-negligible proportion of them, the CD4+ lymphocytes count, or CD4/CD8 ratio remains suboptimal. Methods: We performed a model of the immune response after 24 weeks of switching to a 2DR with DTG plus 3TC in a retrospective multicenter cohort of undetectable and experienced patients using significant predictor variables associated with the parameters or situations defined as success and failure. Clinical variables studied were CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocyte count, percentage of CD4, and CD4/CD8 ratio. These parameters were assessed at baseline and 24 weeks after the switch. Based on the evolution of each variable, four categories of immune response and four categories of non-immune response were defined. Immune response was defined as CD4+ count > 500 cells/mm3, %CD4 > 30%, CD8+ count 500 cells/mm3 (p = 0.054); CD4 > 30% (p = 0.054, p = 0.084); CD8 < 1000 cells/mm3 (p = 0.018), and CD4/CD8 ≥ 0.9 (p = 0.013, p = 0.09) are detected as stimulating or conducive to DTG plus 3TC treatment success. Conclusion: These models represent a proof of concept that could become a valuable tool for clinicians to predict the effects of DTG plus 3TC on immunological responses prior to the switch in undetectable pre-treated PLWHIV with immune dysfunction. The main predictors for immunological failure were late HIV diagnosis, stage of AIDS, and current age over 50 years. In contrast, starting with a normalized immune status was detected as stimulating or conducive to DTG plus 3TC treatment success

Antifungal activity of chitosan oligomers-amino acid conjugate complexes against Fusarium culmorum in spelt (Triticum spelta L.)

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a complex disease of cereals caused by Fusarium species, which causes severe damages in terms of yield quality and quantity worldwide, and which produces mycotoxin contamination, posing a serious threat to public health. In the study presented herein, the antifungal activity against Fusarium culmorum of chitosan oligomers (COS)–amino acid conjugate complexes was investigated both in vitro and in vivo. The amino acids assayed were cysteine, glycine, proline and tyrosine. In vitro tests showed an enhancement of mycelial growth inhibition, with EC50 and EC90 effective concentration values ranging from 320 to 948 µg·mL−1 and from 1107 to 1407 µg·mL−1 respectively, for the conjugate complexes, as a result of the synergistic behavior between COS and the amino acids, tentatively ascribed to enhanced cell membrane damage originating from lipid peroxidation. Tests on colonies showed a maximum percentage reduction in the number of colonies at 1500 µg·mL−1 concentration, while grain tests were found to inhibit fungal growth, reducing deoxynivalenol content by 89%. The formulation that showed the best performance, i.e., the conjugate complex based on COS and tyrosine, was further investigated in a small-scale field trial with artificially inoculated spelt (Triticum spelta L.), and as a seed treatment to inhibit fungal growth in spelt seedlings. The field experiment showed that the chosen formulation induced a decrease in disease severity, with a control efficacy of 83.5%, while the seed tests showed that the treatment did not affect the percentage of germination and resulted in a lower incidence of root rot caused by the pathogen, albeit with a lower control efficacy (50%). Consequently, the reported conjugate complexes hold enough promise for crop protection applications to deserve further examination in larger field trials, with other Fusarium spp. pathogens and/or Triticum species

Dosimetric impact of bladder filling on organs at risk with barium contrast in the small bowel for adjuvant vaginal cuff brachytherapy

Purpose: The aim of this prospective study was to analyze dosimetric impact of modifying bladder filling on dose distribution in organs at risk (OARs) when using contrast in the small bowel of patients under adjuvant therapy with high-dose-rate vaginal cuff brachytherapy (HDR-VCB) for endometrial cancer. Material and methods: This research included 19 patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery. They were treated with HDR-VCB and 2.5-3.5 cm diameter cylinders. Two successive computerized tomography (CT) scans were performed, with empty bladder and with bladder filled with 180 cc of saline solution. Bladder, rectum, sigmoid, and small bowel were delineated as OARs. Oral barium contrast was used to clearly visualize small bowel loops. Prescription dose was 7 Gy. Dose-volume histograms were generated for each OAR, with full and empty bladder to compare doses received. Results: Bladder distension had no dosimetric impact on the bladder, rectum, or sigmoid, unlike the small bowel. With full bladder, mean minimum dose at 2 cc (D2cc) was not significantly higher for full vs. empty bladder (5.56 vs. 5.06 Gy, p = 0.07), whereas there was a significant reduction in the small bowel (1.68 vs. 2.70 Gy, p < 0.001). With full bladder, the dose increased to 50% of the volume (D50%) of the bladder (2.11 vs. 1.28 Gy, p < 0.001), and decreased in the small bowel (0.70 vs. 1.09 Gy, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The present study describes the dose received by organs at risk during HDR-VCB, making it possible to define the dose received by small bowel loops, when visualized with oral barium contrast. In patients undergoing laparoscopic surgery, a full bladder during HDR-VCB reduces the dose to the small bowel without a clinically relevant dose increase in the bladder, and no dose increase in other OARs

Antifungal activity against Fusarium culmorum of stevioside, Silybum marianum seed extracts, and their conjugate complexes

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is a disease that poses a major challenge in cereal production that has important food and feed safety implications due to trichothecene contamination. In this study, the effect of stevioside—a glycoside found in the leaves of candyleaf (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni)—was evaluated in vitro against Fusarium culmorum (W.G. Smith) Sacc., alone and in combination (in a 1:1 molar ratio) with polyphenols obtained from milk thistle seeds (Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn). Different concentrations, ranging from 32 to 512 µg·mL−1, were assayed, finding EC50 and EC90 inhibitory concentrations of 156 and 221 µg·mL−1, respectively, for the treatment based only on stevioside, and EC50 and EC90 values of 123 and 160 µg·mL−1, respectively, for the treatment based on the stevioside–polyphenol conjugate complexes. Colony formation inhibition results were consistent, reaching full inhibition at 256 µg·mL−1. Given that synergistic behavior was observed for this latter formulation (SF = 1.43, according to Wadley’s method), it was further assessed for grain protection at storage, mostly directed against mycotoxin contamination caused by the aforementioned phytopathogen, confirming that it could inhibit fungal growth and avoid trichothecene contamination. Moreover, seed tests showed that the treatment did not affect the percentage of germination, and it resulted in a lower incidence of root rot caused by the pathogen in Kamut and winter wheat seedlings. Hence, the application of these stevioside–S. marianum seed extract conjugate complexes may be put forward as a promising and environmentally friendly treatment for the protection of cereal crops and stored grain against FHB

Photogrammetry as a New Scientific Tool in Archaeology: Worldwide Research Trends

Archaeology has made significant advances in the last 20 years. This can be seen by the remarkable increase in specialised literature on all archaeology-related disciplines. These advances have made it a science with links to many other sciences, both in the field of experimental sciences and in the use of techniques from other disciplines such as engineering. Within this last issue it is important to highlight the great advance that the use of photogrammetry has brought for archaeology. In this research, through a systematic study with bibliometric techniques, the main institutions and countries that are carrying them out and the main interests of the scientific community in archaeology related to photogrammetry have been identified. The main increase in this field has been observed since 2010, especially the contribution of UAVs that have reduced the cost of photogrammetric flights for reduced areas. The main lines of research in photogrammetry applied to archaeology are close-range photogrammetry, aerial photogrammetry (UAV), cultural heritage, excavation, cameras, GPS, laser scan, and virtual reconstruction including 3D printin

#commonfabbing. Experiencia piloto de fabricación digital comunitaria en Cáceres

El término #commonfabbing define la construcción de un concepto en tiempo real que se está llevando a cabo desde el Laboratorio de Fabricación Digital de la Universidad de Sevilla. El concepto reside en los condicionantes de la aplicación del diseño y la fabricación digital para la construcción de comunidades y la producción social del espacio. En la intersección de teoría y práctica, este ensayo presenta el proyecto Fabbing CC[*], experiencia piloto de intervención en dos solares de Cáceres, España. Fabbing CC consiste en dos intervenciones urbanas colaborativas a través de talleres en los que se involucren instituciones locales, diversos agentes sociales, y arquitectos y artistas especializados en fabricación digital, el resultado de los cuales fue la fabricación y la instalación in situ de varias piezas de mobiliario urbano. El objetivo final del proyecto es generar una red comunitaria en torno al diseño y la fabricación digital de código abierto de arquitecturas y otros elementos urbanos.The hashtag #commonfabbing refers to the real-time construction of a concept, that is being performed by the Laboratorio de Fabricación Digital at the University of Seville. The concept deals with virtualities of the application of digital design and fabrication to community building and social production of space. At the intersection of theory and practice, this paper presents Fabbing CC, a pilot intervention in two sites in Cáceres, Spain. Fabbing CC consisted in two participatory urban interventions, developed through a series of workshops engaging local institutions, various social agents and architects and designers specialized in digital fabrication, the result of which was the fabrication and on-site installation of various pieces of urban furniture. The final goal of the Project is to generate a community based worknet dedicated to open source digital design and fabrication of architectural and urban component

Dextran sulfate from Leuconostoc mesenteroides B512F exerts potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and in vivo

The emergent human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and its resistance to current drugs makes the need for new potent treatments for COVID-19 patients strongly necessary. Dextran sulfate (DS) polysaccharides have long demonstrated antiviral activity against different enveloped viruses in vitro. However, their poor bioavailability has led to their abandonment as antiviral candidates. Here, we report for the first time the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of a DS-based extrapolymeric substance produced by the lactic acid bacterium Leuconostoc mesenteroides B512F. Time of addition assays with SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses in in vitro models confirm the inhibitory activity of DSs in the early stages of viral infection (viral entry). In addition, this exopolysaccharide substance also reports broad-spectrum antiviral activity against several enveloped viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, HCoV229E, HSV-1, in in vitro models and in human lung tissue. The toxicity and antiviral capacity of DS from L. mesenteroides was tested in vivo in mouse models which are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The described DS, administered by inhalation, a new route of administration for these types of polymers, shows strong inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vivo, significantly reducing animal mortality and morbidity at non-toxic doses. Therefore, we suggest that it may be considered as a potential candidate for antiviral therapy against SARS-CoV-2Financial support for the study was provided by the REACT-EU 2021 grant from Comunidad de Madrid to the Project COVTRAVI19-CM, Plataformas y modelos preclínicos para el abordaje multidisciplinar en COVID-19 y en respuesta a futuras pandemia

Dextran sulfate from Leuconostoc mesenteroides B512F exerts potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 in vitro and in vivo

The emergent human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and its resistance to current drugs makes the need for new potent treatments for COVID-19 patients strongly necessary. Dextran sulfate (DS) polysaccharides have long demonstrated antiviral activity against different enveloped viruses in vitro. However, their poor bioavailability has led to their abandonment as antiviral candidates. Here, we report for the first time the broad-spectrum antiviral activity of a DS-based extrapolymeric substance produced by the lactic acid bacterium Leuconostoc mesenteroides B512F. Time of addition assays with SARS-CoV-2 pseudoviruses in in vitro models confirm the inhibitory activity of DSs in the early stages of viral infection (viral entry). In addition, this exopolysaccharide substance also reports broad-spectrum antiviral activity against several enveloped viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, HCoV229E, HSV-1, in in vitro models and in human lung tissue. The toxicity and antiviral capacity of DS from L. mesenteroides was tested in vivo in mouse models which are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The described DS, administered by inhalation, a new route of administration for these types of polymers, shows strong inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vivo, significantly reducing animal mortality and morbidity at non-toxic doses. Therefore, we suggest that it may be considered as a potential candidate for antiviral therapy against SARS-CoV-2