HTLV-1 infection in solid organ transplant donors and recipients in Spain

HTLV-1 infection is a neglected disease, despite infecting 10-15 million people worldwide and severe illnesses develop in 10% of carriers lifelong. Acknowledging a greater risk for developing HTLV-1 associated illnesses due to immunosuppression, screening is being widely considered in the transplantation setting. Herein, we report the experience with universal HTLV testing of donors and recipients of solid organ transplants in a survey conducted in Spain. All hospitals belonging to the Spanish HTLV network were invited to participate in the study. Briefly, HTLV antibody screening was performed retrospectively in all specimens collected from solid organ donors and recipients attended since the year 2008. A total of 5751 individuals were tested for HTLV antibodies at 8 sites. Donors represented 2312 (42.2%), of whom 17 (0.3%) were living kidney donors. The remaining 3439 (59.8%) were recipients. Spaniards represented nearly 80%. Overall, 9 individuals (0.16%) were initially reactive for HTLV antibodies. Six were donors and 3 were recipients. Using confirmatory tests, HTLV-1 could be confirmed in only two donors, one Spaniard and another from Colombia. Both kidneys of the Spaniard were inadvertently transplanted. Subacute myelopathy developed within 1 year in one recipient. The second recipient seroconverted for HTLV-1 but the kidney had to be removed soon due to rejection. Immunosuppression was stopped and 3 years later the patient remains in dialysis but otherwise asymptomatic. The rate of HTLV-1 is low but not negligible in donors/recipients of solid organ transplants in Spain. Universal HTLV screening should be recommended in all donor and recipients of solid organ transplantation in Spain. Evidence is overwhelming for very high virus transmission and increased risk along with the rapid development of subacute myelopathy

Diverse Large HIV-1 Non-subtype B Clusters Are Spreading Among Men Who Have Sex With Men in Spain

In Western Europe, the HIV-1 epidemic among men who have sex with men (MSM) is dominated by subtype B. However, recently, other genetic forms have been reported to circulate in this population, as evidenced by their grouping in clusters predominantly comprising European individuals. Here we describe four large HIV-1 non-subtype B clusters spreading among MSM in Spain. Samples were collected in 9 regions. A pol fragment was amplified from plasma RNA or blood-extracted DNA. Phylogenetic analyses were performed via maximum likelihood, including database sequences of the same genetic forms as the identified clusters. Times and locations of the most recent common ancestors (MRCA) of clusters were estimated with a Bayesian method. Five large non-subtype B clusters associated with MSM were identified. The largest one, of F1 subtype, was reported previously. The other four were of CRF02_AG (CRF02_1; n = 115) and subtypes A1 (A1_1; n = 66), F1 (F1_3; n = 36), and C (C_7; n = 17). Most individuals belonging to them had been diagnosed of HIV-1 infection in the last 10 years. Each cluster comprised viruses from 3 to 8 Spanish regions and also comprised or was related to viruses from other countries: CRF02_1 comprised a Japanese subcluster and viruses from 8 other countries from Western Europe, Asia, and South America; A1_1 comprised viruses from Portugal, United Kingom, and United States, and was related to the A1 strain circulating in Greece, Albania and Cyprus; F1_3 was related to viruses from Romania; and C_7 comprised viruses from Portugal and was related to a virus from Mozambique. A subcluster within CRF02_1 was associated with heterosexual transmission. Near full-length genomes of each cluster were of uniform genetic form. Times of MRCAs of CRF02_1, A1_1, F1_3, and C_7 were estimated around 1986, 1989, 2013, and 1983, respectively. MRCA locations for CRF02_1 and A1_1 were uncertain (however initial expansions in Spain in Madrid and Vigo, respectively, were estimated) and were most probable in Bilbao, Spain, for F1_3 and Portugal for C_7. These results show that the HIV-1 epidemic among MSM in Spain is becoming increasingly diverse through the expansion of diverse non-subtype B clusters, comprising or related to viruses circulating in other countries

Planta y sección de la Cueva Negra

In this paper we offer the ground plan and section of la Cueva Negra and its relation to the environment of the montains. It contains two photograpies: the ground plan, the section and a panoramic view of this place.En este trabajo se ofrece la planta y sección de la Cueva Negra y su relación con el entorno inmediato de la montaña. Consta de dos fotografías, planta, sección y visión general

Planta y sección de la Cueva Negra

Al comenzar los trabajos de estudio de la Cueva Negra se nos pidió que trazáramos la imagen del espacio interior del lugar y su ubicación en el terreno ambiente. Creímos entonces que lo más elemental y práctico era trazar la planta de la cueva tomando los puntos que fueran necesarios y ofrecer así a los estudiosos de los distintos aspectos un material en el que situar sus reflexiones. Así lo hicimos y ofrecemos aquí el resultado de nuestros trabajos de aquellos días, con la satisfacción de contemplar que en efecto fueron útiles en la redacción de otros capítulos. (...

La planimetría de la cueva de "La Camareta"

The authors explain briefly the contents of the four illustrations which they made when they were alked to mark out the planimetry of the cave of La Camareta.Los autores explican muy brevemente el contenido de las cuatro láminas en las que cumplen la misión que les fue encomendada de trazar la planimetría completa de la cueva de La Camareta

Fortificaciones y puerta de Begastri

Begastri tuvo una larga historia. Durante siglos fue una ciudad ibérica y vivió, al parecer, sin murallas, o por lo menos hasta ahora no han aparecido. Así como tampoco hay testimonios claros de que hubiera fortificaciones durante la época republicana o el Alto Imperio Romano. Es un tema, de todas formas, que habrá que tener siempre abierto y estar atentos a los datos que el avance de las excavaciones suministre ya que es raro que si no había preocupaciones defensivas la ciudad surgiera en lo alto de un cabezo; pero hoy por hoy las fuertes murallas que van apareciendo pertenecen a la época tardo romana. Son defensas surgidas tras de la crisis del siglo III y construidas aprisa reempleando lo que antes debió formar parte de diversos edificios. Por ello cuando a lo largo del presente trabajo hablemos de la ciudad fortificada de Begastri nos referiremos propiamente a la ciudad en su época tardo romana

La planificación del estudio de la cueva

The authors explain why it was necessary to establish a single reference system for al1 of the cave and how the problem was solved. They present a graphic sketch of each of the walls of the site which will permits the clarification of any doubts which may arise later.Los autores narran cómo se vio la necesidad de organizar un sistema de referencia único para toda la cueva y la manera cómo resolvieron el problema. Presentan un esquema gráfico de cada una de las paredes del yacimiento que permita aclarar dudas en el caso de que éstas se plantease

Usefulness of identifying G-protein-coupled receptor dimers for diagnosis and therapy of neurodegenerative diseases and of gliomas

y. Immunochemical detection of G-proteincoupled receptors (GPCRs) in cells and tissues was a technical challenge for years. After the discovery of formation of GPCR dimers/trimers/tetramers in transfected cells, a most recent challenge has been to confirm receptor-receptor interactions in natural sources. The occurrence of dimers or higher order oligomers is important from a therapeutic point of view, mainly because their physiology/pharmacology is different from those of individual receptors. On the one hand, pathophysiological factors need to count more on GPCR dimers than on individual receptors. On the other hand, the expression of dimers, trimers, etc. may change in pathological conditions and/or along the course of a disease. This review will focus on G-protein-coupled receptor dimers, on how to detect them by novel histological techniques and on how the detection may be used in diagnosis and therapy of ailments of the central nervous system, for instance in neurodegenerative diseases and gliomas

Usefulness of identifying G-protein-coupled receptor dimers for diagnosis and therapy of neurodegenerative diseases and of gliomas

Immunochemical detection of G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) in cells and tissues was a technical challenge for years. After the discovery of formation of GPCR dimers/trimers/tetramers in transfected cells, a most recent challenge has been to confirm receptor-receptor interactions in natural sources. The occurrence of dimers or higher order oligomers is important from a therapeutic point of view, mainly because their physiology/pharmacology is different from those of individual receptors. On the one hand, pathophysiological factors need to count more on GPCR dimers than on individual receptors. On the other hand, the expression of dimers, trimers, etc. may change in pathological conditions and/or along the course of a disease. This review will focus on G-protein-coupled receptor dimers, on how to detect them by novel histological techniques and on how the detection may be used in diagnosis and therapy of ailments of the central nervous system, for instance in neurodegenerative diseases and gliomas