Frequency of respiratory virus infections and next-generation analysis of influenza A/H1N1pdm09 dynamics in the lower respiratory tract of patients admitted to the ICU

Recent molecular diagnostic methods have significantly improved the diagnosis of viral pneumonia in intensive care units (ICUs). It has been observed that 222G/N changes in the HA gene of H1N1pdm09 are associated with increased lower respiratory tract (LRT) replication and worse clinical outcome. In the present study, the frequency of respiratory viruses was assessed in respiratory samples from 88 patients admitted to 16 ICUs during the 2014\u20132015 winter-spring season in Lombardy. Sixty-nine out of 88 (78.4%) patients were positive for a respiratory viral infection at admission. Of these, 57/69 (82.6%) were positive for influenza A (41 A/H1N1pdm09 and 15 A/H3N2), 8/69 (11.6%) for HRV, 2/69 (2.9%) for RSV and 2/69 (2.9%) for influenza B. Phylogenetic analysis of influenza A/H1N1pdm09 strains from 28/41 ICU-patients and 21 patients with mild respiratory syndrome not requiring hospitalization, showed the clear predominance of subgroup 6B strains. The median influenza A load in LRT samples of ICU patients was higher than that observed in the upper respiratory tract (URT) (p<0.05). Overall, a greater number of H1N1pdm09 virus variants were observed using next generation sequencing on partial HA sequences (codons 180\u2013286) in clinical samples from the LRT as compared to URT. In addition, 222G/N/A mutations were observed in 30% of LRT samples from ICU patients. Finally, intra-host evolution analysis showed the presence of different dynamics of viral population in LRT of patients hospitalized in ICU with a severe influenza infection

The licensing of a laboratory for manipulating radionuclides in Brazil

Radionuclides take a major role in guidelines of environmental agencies/national organizations of countries worldwide. In Brazil, CNEN-Comissão Nacional de Energia Nuclear is responsible for managing all subjects related to nuclear energy in the country. Thus, laboratories employing radionuclides for the development of their activities must submit a Radioprotection Plan to CNEN in order to get an operation license. Such plan must indicate that the laboratory is exempt of risks to the people involved and designed to fit all related environmental aspects. This was the case of LABIDRO-Hydrochemical and Isotopes Laboratory that belongs to IGCE-Geosciences and Exact Sciences Institute from UNESP - the University of the State of São Paulo Júlio de Mesquita Filho, located at Rio Claro city, São Paulo State, Brazil. The total monthly activity of the radionuclides utilized during the laboratorial activities held at LABIDRO corresponds to 0.01 μCi. This paper describes all information provided by LABIDRO in order to get the CNEN license. The LABIDRO plan also showed the expected radioactive waste released when the experiments take place and CNEN decided that it fits the guidelines established by Brazilian legislation. Therefore, LABIDRO received its license for utilizing radionuclides, which is valid until September 2016. © 2013 WIT Press

RENDIMIENTO DE MAÍZ Y CAMBIOS EN PROPIEDADES EDÁFICAS LUEGO DE LA APLICACIÓN DE EFLUENTES LÍQUIDOS PORCINOS

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el efecto de la aplicación de efluentes líquidos porcinos sobre la productividad del cultivo de maíz y diversas propiedades químicas y físicas de un Argiudol del centro de Santa Fe. Para ello se realizó un experimento a campo donde se aplicaron tres dosis de efluente en un diseño en bloques completamente aleatorizado con tres repeticiones. No se registraron variaciones en el número de plantas entre el inicio y el fin del ensayo. La productividad del cultivo se incrementó marcadamente por la adición del efluente lográndose la mayor respuesta en grano con la dosis intermedia. Las propiedades químicas del suelo mostraron cambios debido a la adición de efluentes porcinos mientras que las físicas, a excepción de la resistencia mecánica, no sufrieron cambios significativos. Se considera necesario realizar nuevos ensayos para monitorear fundamentalmente las propiedades químicas para minimizar riesgos de contaminación del suelo y toxicidad sobre las plantas.The aim of this paper was to assess the effect of the swine effluent application on the corn production and some chemical and physical properties of an Argiudoll of the center of Santa Fe. A field experiment was carried out applying three rates of swine liquid effluent in a randomized complete block design with three replications. No changes were observed on crop density from the the beginning to the end of the experiment. The crop productivity increased notably due to the swine effluent application and the highest yield was obtained with the intermediate rate. Soil chemical properties showed some changes related to swine effluent application while the physical properties did not show significant changes, with the exception of soil mechanical resistance. More research and continuous monitoring of the soil chemical properties are needed in order to minimize potential risks of environmental contamination and toxicity over plants. and continuous monitoring of the soil chemical properties are needed in order to minimize potential risks of environmental contamination and toxicity over plants.Fil: Micheloud, H.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Carrizo, Maria Eugenia. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Agrobiotecnologia del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Alesso, Carlos Agustín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Santa Fe. Instituto de Agrobiotecnologia del Litoral; ArgentinaFil: Girello, G.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Capeletti, M.. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; ArgentinaFil: Imhoff, Silvia del Carmen. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentin

Acute respiratory distress syndrome in adenovirus type 4 pneumonia : a case report

Human adenoviruses (HAdVs) cause a wide spectrum of clinical syndromes, depending on species and types, from mild respiratory infections to deadly pneumonia: in particular, severe infections occur in immunocompromised patients. In this report, we describe the case of a 36 years-old woman admitted to our intensive care unit (ICU) with severe respiratory distress syndrome caused by adenovirus pneumonia, that required invasive respiratory support (mechanical ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation). Molecular assays detected the virus in respiratory and plasma specimen and sequencing procedure identified HAdV type 4. Patient improved after cidofovir administration. Leukopenia and subsequent bacterial infection occurred, but the patient recovered completely and was discharged from the hospital after 54days

Cytomegalovirus and Epstein-Barr Virus DNA Kinetics in Whole Blood and Plasma of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Recipients

Currently, no consensus has been reached on the optimal blood compartment to be used for surveillance of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) DNAemia. Although several comparative studies have been performed correlating CMV and EBV DNA loads in whole blood (WB) versus plasma, to our knowledge, no studies to date have analyzed the kinetics of both viruses in the 2 blood compartments. In this retrospective noninterventional multicenter cohort study, the kinetics of CMV and EBV DNA in 121 hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients were investigated by analyzing in parallel 569 and 351 paired samples from 80 and 58 sequential episodes of CMV and EBV DNAemia, respectively. Unlike previous studies, this study used a single automated molecular method that was CE-marked and Food and Drug Administration-approved for use in quantifying CMV and EBV DNA in both plasma and WB. Furthermore, the complete viral replication kinetics of all episodes (including both the ascending and the descending phases of the active infection) was examined in each patient. The previously observed overall correlation between CMV DNA levels in WB and plasma was confirmed (Spearman's \u3c1\u2009=\u2009.85; P\u2009<\u2009.001). However, although WB and plasma CMV DNAemia reached peak levels simultaneously, in the ascending phase, the median CMV DNA levels in plasma were approximately 1 log10 lower than WB. Furthermore, in patients who received preemptive therapy, CMV DNA showed a delayed decrease in plasma compared with WB. A lower correlation between EBV DNA levels in plasma versus WB was found (Spearman's \u3c1\u2009=\u2009.61; P\u2009<\u2009.001). EBV DNA kinetics was not consistent in the 2 blood compartments, mostly due to the lower positivity in plasma. Indeed, in 19% of episodes, EBV DNA was negative at the time of the EBV DNA peak in WB. Our results suggest a preferential use of WB for surveillance of CMV and EBV infection in HSCT recipients