Current hepatitis E virus seroprevalence in Swiss blood donors and apparent decline from 1997 to 2016

Background and aimHepatitis E virus (HEV) is a virus of emerging importance to transfusion medicine. Studies from several European countries, including Switzerland, have reported high seroprevalence of hepatitis E as a consequence of endemic infections. Published HEV seroprevalence estimates within developed countries vary considerably; primarily due to improved diagnostic assays. The purpose of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of anti-HEV IgG in Swiss blood donations. Methods: We used the highly sensitive Wantai HEV IgG EIA and assessed regional distribution patterns. We analysed age- and sex-matched archive plasma dating back 20 years from canton Bern to investigate recent changes in HEV seroprevalence levels. Results: On average, 20.4% (95% confidence intervals: 19.1-21.8) of the 3,609 blood samples collected in 2014-16 were anti-HEV IgG positive; however, distinct differences between geographical regions were observed (range: 12.8-33.6%). Seroprevalence increased with age with 30.7% of males and 34.3% of women being positive donors over > 60 years old. Differences between sexes may be attributed to dissimilarities in the average age of this group. Within the specified region of the Bern canton, overall prevalence has declined over two decades from 30.3% in 1997/98 to 27.0% in 2006 and 22.3% in 2015/6. Conclusions: HEV seroprevalence in Switzerland is high, but has declined over the last decades. The result shows that primarily endemic HEV infections occur and that current blood products may pose a risk to vulnerable transfusion recipients. Nucleic acid screening of all blood products for HEV will begin in November 2018

Assessment of the Trace Element Status of Individuals and Populations: The Example of Zinc and Copper

This paper describes the proceedings of a workshop that was convened at the 11th International Symposium on Trace Elements in Man and Animals (TEMA-11) symposium to review recent advances concerning the assessment of the trace element status of individuals and populations, using zinc and copper as the primary examples to illustrate basic principles and recent advances in assessment methods. The workshop was initiated with a brief review of the importance of zinc nutriture for human health and a discussion of the likely common occurrence of zinc deficiency worldwide. This overview was followed by presentations on selected issues concerning the assessment of zinc status, with particular attention devoted to dietary assessment techniques, the use of isotopic tracers to assess zinc homeostasis and the relationship of these methods to biochemical indicators of zinc status. Because relatively little information is available on zinc toxicity, the discussion concerning the definition of excess intake of trace elements focused primarily on recent work concerning risk assessment of copper toxicity

CT-Osteoabsorptiometry (CT-OAM) - a new investigation technique in the field of mummy research

Introduction: The scientific study of mummies provides an insight into the life of past populations. Using CT-Osteoabsorptiometry (CT-OAM), a noninvasive technique based on conventional CT-data sets, it is possible to visualize the mineral density distribution in the subchondral bone plate, representing the long-term loading conditions of the articulation surface. The objective of the current study was to investigate the applicability of CT-OAM on mummies for the load analysis of joints as a new investigation technique in the field of mummy research. Material and methods: In order to clarify if apparent malpositions of the spinal column have existed during lifetime or occurred post-mortem, we evaluated the long-term loading patterns within the thoracic and lumbar endplates of 8 mummies. Results: The implementation of CT-OAM on mummies for load analysis of joints was feasible. The mineral density distribution within the endplates was not homogenous but followed distinct distribution patterns. In all of the endplates investigated the marginal zones were higher and the central areas lower mineralized, whereby the areas of greatest density were found in the peripheral marginal zones. The vertebra columns without malposition showed within the thoracic endplates an almost even circular allocation of the density maxima, whereas within the lumbar endplates an increased localization of the density maxima dorsomedial, dorsolateral and ventral was observed. The thoracic endplates of the spines with kyphosis did not show an even circular allocation anymore but a concentration of the density maxima in the ventral area and the endplates of the spines with scoliosis exhibited a predominant localization of the density maxima on the concave side. The examined endplates showed characteristic reproducible density patterns consistent with the long-term loading conditions. Conclusions: With help of CT-OAM pathological load distributions can be visualized before macroscopical changes appear and the information obtained can be useful to solve paleopathological and paleoarchaeological questions

Evidence of neurofibromatosis type 1 in a multi-morbid Inca child mummy: A paleoradiological investigation using computed tomography.

OBJECTIVE:In this study, an Inca bundle was examined using computed tomography (CT). The primary aim was to determine the preservation status of bony and soft tissues, the sex, the age at the time of death, possible indicators for disease or even the cause of death, as well as the kind of mummification. A secondary aim was to obtain a brief overview of the wrapping in order to gain additional information on the cultural background. MATERIALS AND METHODS:The bundle belongs to the Museum of Cultures in Basel, Switzerland, and was bought in Munich, Germany, in 1921. Radiocarbon dating of the superficial textile yielded a calibrated age between 1480 and 1650 AD. The mummy was investigated using multi-slice CT with slice thickness of 0.75 mm and 110 kilovolt. For standardized assessment of soft tissue preservation, a recently developed checklist was applied. RESULTS:CT revealed the mummy of a seven to nine year old boy with superior preservation of bony and soft tissues allowing detailed assessment. Indicators of neurofibromatosis type 1 (paravertebral and cutaneous neurofibromas, a breast neurofibroma, sphenoid wing dysplasia), Chagas disease (dilatation of the esophagus, stomach, rectum, and large amounts of feces), and lung infection (pleural adherence, calcifications), probably due to tuberculosis, were found. Furthermore, signs of peri-mortem violence (transection of the chest and a defect in the abdominal wall) were detected. CT images revealed a carefully performed wrapping. CONCLUSION:CT examination of the Inca bundle proved to be an important non-destructive examination method. Standardized assessment, especially of the soft tissue structures, allowed for diagnoses of several diseases, indicating a multi-morbid child at the time of death. The careful wrapping pointed to a ceremonial burial. Within the cultural background, the signs of fatal violence were discussed as a possible result of war, murder, accident, or human sacrifice

Functional Analyses of Bovine Foamy Virus-Encoded miRNAs Reveal the Importance of a Defined miRNA for Virus Replication and Host–Virus Interaction

In addition to regulatory or accessory proteins, some complex retroviruses gain a repertoire of micro-RNAs (miRNAs) to regulate and control virus–host interactions for efficient replication and spread. In particular, bovine and simian foamy viruses (BFV and SFV) have recently been shown to express a diverse set of RNA polymerase III-directed miRNAs, some with a unique primary miRNA double-hairpin, dumbbell-shaped structure not known in other viruses or organisms. While the mechanisms of expression and structural requirements have been studied, the functional importance of these miRNAs is still far from understood. Here, we describe the in silico identification of BFV miRNA targets and the subsequent experimental validation of bovine Ankyrin Repeat Domain 17 (ANKRD17) and Bax-interacting factor 1 (Bif1) target genes in vitro and, finally, the suppression of ANKRD17 downstream genes in the affected pathway. Deletion of the entire miRNA cassette in the non-coding part of the U3 region of the long terminal repeats attenuated replication of corresponding BFV mutants in bovine cells. This repression can be almost completely trans-complemented by the most abundant miRNA BF2-5p having the best scores for predicted and validated BFV miRNA target genes. Deletion of the miRNA cassette does not grossly affect particle release and overall particle composition