Production of interleukin-2 in response to synthetic peptides from hepatitis C virus E1 protein in patients with chronic hepatitis C: relationship with the response to interferon treatment

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The role of cellular immunity in the clearance of hepatitis C virus after interferon therapy has not yet been elucidated. Here, we analyzed the T cell response to peptides from hepatitis C virus E1 protein in untreated and interferon-treated patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. METHODS: We used thirty-six 15-mer synthetic peptides from hepatitis C virus E1 protein (genotype 1a) in a sensitive interleukin-2 production assay in two groups of controls (healthy seronegative individuals and patients with liver diseases unrelated to hepatitis C virus), and three groups of patients with chronic hepatitis C: nine patients who cleared the virus after interferon treatment (group 1), nine patients who failed to respond to the therapy (group 2) and nine previously untreated patients (group 3). RESULTS: None of the controls responded to any of the peptides tested, whereas 8/9 (88%) of patients from group 1 responded positively. In contrast, only 2/9 (22%) of patients from group 2 showed peptide recognition. In group 3, 5/9 patients (55%) displayed positive response against E1 peptides. When E1 peptides from the sequence corresponding to genotype 1b (the commonest in patients who were non-responders to interferon) were tested in nine additional interferon-resistant patients (group 2*) a positive response was detected in only three of them (33%). CONCLUSIONS: T cell recognition of hepatitis C virus E1 peptides in patients with chronic hepatitis C who exhibit sustained response to interferon therapy is increased as compared with interferon-resistant cases, suggesting that T cell immunity to hepatitis C virus structural proteins may play a role in the clearance of this viral infection

OPTIMIZATION OF TISSUE SAMPLES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF DISEASE BIOMARKERS: THE OPTIMARK PROJECT

Europe Biobank Week, Sept 13-16, 2016. Vienna, AustriaS

APPROACH AND TREATMENT OF SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR IN THE CLINICAL PRACTICE OF DIFFERENT GROUPS OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IN SPAIN: RESULTS OF THE PROJECT EUREGENA.

According to the WHO (World Health Organization) and the European Union, suicide is considered to be a health problem of prime importance and to be one of the principal causes of unnatural death. In Spain, the number of suicides has increased 12% since 2005 . The Research Project “European Regions Enforcing Actions against Suicide (EUREGENAS), funded by the Health Program 2008-2013, has as main objective the description of an integrated model of Mental Health orientated to the prevention of suicide. The differences that allow distinguishing the meaning of prevention in suicide behavior are described and explained through a qualitative methodological strategy and through the creation of discussion groups formed by different groups of health professionals. The results highlight the existing differences between the diverse health professionals who come more in contact with this problem and it shows as well the coincidence of meaning that suicide has to be considered as a priority in the field of health

Chemical and sensory stability of fried-salted soybeans prepared in different vegetable oils

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the stability of fried-salted soybeans prepared in normal and high-oleic sunflower and normal peanut oils. Three products were obtained: fried-salted soybeans prepared in sunflower oil (FSS), in high-oleic sunflower oil (FSH) and in peanut oil (FSP). Products were stored for 112 days at 22 and 40°C. Samples were removed from storage for chemical and sensory descriptive analyses. Fatty acid composition of raw soybeans changed after the frying process. Palmitic, linoleic, linolenic acids, iodine value and saturated/unsaturated ratio decreased while oleic acid and the oleic/linoleic ratio (O/L) increased after the frying process of soybeans. Soybeans fried in FSH had the highest O/L (2.42), followed by FSP (1.07), FSS (0.52), and finally by raw soybeans (0.37). Peroxide values higher than 10 mequiv O 2 kg -1 were reached after 23 days in FSS, 223 days in FSH, and 159 days in FSP at 22°C. The shelf life was 10 (at 22°C) and 7 (at 40°C) times longer in FSH than in FSS. Soybeans fried in high-oleic sunflower and peanut oils had a higher stability than soybeans fried in sunflower oil, making them more resistant to lipid oxidation and the development of rancid flavors. © 2012 AOCS.Fil: Jauregui, María P.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Riveros, Cecilia Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Nepote, Valeria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Grosso, Nelson. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; ArgentinaFil: Gayol, Maria Fernanda. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto para el Desarrollo Agroindustrial y de la Salud; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentin

Production of interleukin-2 in response to synthetic peptides from hepatitis C virus E1 protein in patients with chronic hepatitis C: relationship with the response to interferon treatment

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The role of cellular immunity in the clearance of hepatitis C virus after interferon therapy has not yet been elucidated. Here, we analyzed the T cell response to peptides from hepatitis C virus E1 protein in untreated and interferon-treated patients with chronic hepatitis C virus infection. METHODS: We used thirty-six 15-mer synthetic peptides from hepatitis C virus E1 protein (genotype 1a) in a sensitive interleukin-2 production assay in two groups of controls (healthy seronegative individuals and patients with liver diseases unrelated to hepatitis C virus), and three groups of patients with chronic hepatitis C: nine patients who cleared the virus after interferon treatment (group 1), nine patients who failed to respond to the therapy (group 2) and nine previously untreated patients (group 3). RESULTS: None of the controls responded to any of the peptides tested, whereas 8/9 (88%) of patients from group 1 responded positively. In contrast, only 2/9 (22%) of patients from group 2 showed peptide recognition. In group 3, 5/9 patients (55%) displayed positive response against E1 peptides. When E1 peptides from the sequence corresponding to genotype 1b (the commonest in patients who were non-responders to interferon) were tested in nine additional interferon-resistant patients (group 2*) a positive response was detected in only three of them (33%). CONCLUSIONS: T cell recognition of hepatitis C virus E1 peptides in patients with chronic hepatitis C who exhibit sustained response to interferon therapy is increased as compared with interferon-resistant cases, suggesting that T cell immunity to hepatitis C virus structural proteins may play a role in the clearance of this viral infection

Determinación de enfermedad mínima residual molecular en sangre periférica mediante NGS como nueva herramienta en el seguimiento posttrasplante alogénico de progenitores hematopoyéticos

La determinación de la EMR en médula ósea y del quimerismo hematopoyético (QH) en sangre periférica (SP), son herramientas imprescindibles para detectar recaídas en el seguimiento post-alo-TPH. La combinación de tecnologías más sensibles, que identifiquen cambios en el QH, y más específicos que detecten recaídas en sangre periférica, pueden complementar los estudios de EMR realizados en médula ósea (MO) y permitir tomar decisiones clínicas más precoces y específicas. El objetivo de este estudio fue valorar la aplicabilidad clínica de determinar la EMR molecular mediante Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) en SP en aquellos momentos en los que se observa un cambio del QH

Assessment of minimal residual disease by next generation sequencing in peripheral blood as a complementary tool for personalized transplant monitoring in myeloid neoplasms

Patients with myeloid neoplasms who relapsed after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) have poor prognosis. Monitoring of chimerism and specific molecular markers as a surrogate measure of relapse is not always helpful; therefore, improved systems to detect early relapse are needed. We hypothesized that the use of next generation sequencing (NGS) could be a suitable approach for personalized follow-up post-HSCT. To validate our hypothesis, we analyzed by NGS, a retrospective set of peripheral blood (PB) DNA samples previously evaluated by high-sensitive quantitative PCR analysis using insertion/deletion polymorphisms (indel-qPCR) chimerism engraftment. Post-HCST allelic burdens assessed by NGS and chimerism status showed a similar time-course pattern. At time of clinical relapse in 8/12 patients, we detected positive NGS-based minimal residual disease (NGS-MRD). Importantly, in 6/8 patients, we were able to detect NGS-MRD at time points collected prior to clinical relapse. We also confirmed the disappearance of post-HCST allelic burden in non-relapsed patients, indicating true clinical specificity. This study highlights the clinical utility of NGS-based post-HCST monitoring in myeloid neoplasia as a complementary specific analysis to high-sensitive engraftment testing. Overall, NGS-MRD testing in PB is widely applicable for the evaluation of patients following HSCT and highly valuable to personalized early treatment intervention when mixed chimerism is detected

Assessment of minimal residual disease by next generation sequencing in peripheral blood as a complementary tool for personalized transplant monitoring in myeloid neoplasms

Patients with myeloid neoplasms who relapsed after allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) have poor prognosis. Monitoring of chimerism and specific molecular markers as a surrogate measure of relapse is not always helpful; therefore, improved systems to detect early relapse are needed. We hypothesized that the use of next generation sequencing (NGS) could be a suitable approach for personalized follow-up post-HSCT. To validate our hypothesis, we analyzed by NGS, a retrospective set of peripheral blood (PB) DNA samples previously evaluated by high-sensitive quantitative PCR analysis using insertion/deletion polymorphisms (indel-qPCR) chimerism engraftment. Post-HCST allelic burdens assessed by NGS and chimerism status showed a similar time-course pattern. At time of clinical relapse in 8/12 patients, we detected positive NGS-based minimal residual disease (NGS-MRD). Importantly, in 6/8 patients, we were able to detect NGS-MRD at time points collected prior to clinical relapse. We also confirmed the disappearance of post-HCST allelic burden in non-relapsed patients, indicating true clinical specificity. This study highlights the clinical utility of NGS-based post-HCST monitoring in myeloid neoplasia as a complementary specific analysis to high-sensitive engraftment testing. Overall, NGS-MRD testing in PB is widely applicable for the evaluation of patients following HSCT and highly valuable to personalized early treatment intervention when mixed chimerism is detected

Comparative study measuring the dilatory effect of a mydriatic device (Mydriasert(®)) versus topical drops

AIM: To compare the mydriatic efficacy of an ophthalmic insert (Mydriasert, MY) versus phenylephrine and tropicamide (PT) eye drops. METHODS: Two controlled, prospective, randomized, single-blind studies were performed. In the first study, a total of 80 eyes from 40 outpatient-clinic patients were analyzed. PT drops were applied to the right eye, and a MY device was inserted in the left eye for 30min. Time until maximal pupil dilation for each eye was then assessed. In the second study, 80 eyes from 80 patients undergoing cataract surgery were analyzed. Pupil dilation was achieved using either PT drops three-times for one hour prior to surgery (40 patients), or a MY device was inserted one hour prior to surgery (40 patients). RESULTS: In the first study, MY achieved superior mydriasis compared to PT eye drops at 90min (9.04 +/- 1.33mm vs 8.78 +/- 1.37mm, P=0.012). However MY took longer than PT drops to achieve maximal dilation, and mydriasis was inferior in eyes with MY compared to PT drops at 30min (7.21 +/- 1.73mm vs8.22 +/- 1.43mm, P < 0.001), the two groups only becoming similar by 60min (8.85 +/- 1.44mm vs8.71 +/- 1.27mm, P=0.236). In the second study, both MY and PT achieved similar levels of mydriasis at the beginning of surgery (8.75 +/- 0.76mm with MY vs8.77 +/- 0.63mm with PT), and also at the end of surgery (7.96 +/- 1.06mm with MY vs 8.32 +/- 0.72mm with PT), with no significant difference between groups (P=0.08). MY was well tolerated and cardiovascular effects were not influenced by dilation method. CONLUSION: MY could be a safe and efficacious alternative for mydriasis. The mydriatic effect of MY is as good as conventional PT eye drops after 60min, and is superior after 90min. MY also maintains good pupil dilation during cataract surgery

Comparative study measuring the dilatory effect of a mydriatic device (Mydriasert(®)) versus topical drops

AIM: To compare the mydriatic efficacy of an ophthalmic insert (Mydriasert, MY) versus phenylephrine and tropicamide (PT) eye drops. METHODS: Two controlled, prospective, randomized, single-blind studies were performed. In the first study, a total of 80 eyes from 40 outpatient-clinic patients were analyzed. PT drops were applied to the right eye, and a MY device was inserted in the left eye for 30min. Time until maximal pupil dilation for each eye was then assessed. In the second study, 80 eyes from 80 patients undergoing cataract surgery were analyzed. Pupil dilation was achieved using either PT drops three-times for one hour prior to surgery (40 patients), or a MY device was inserted one hour prior to surgery (40 patients). RESULTS: In the first study, MY achieved superior mydriasis compared to PT eye drops at 90min (9.04 +/- 1.33mm vs 8.78 +/- 1.37mm, P=0.012). However MY took longer than PT drops to achieve maximal dilation, and mydriasis was inferior in eyes with MY compared to PT drops at 30min (7.21 +/- 1.73mm vs8.22 +/- 1.43mm, P < 0.001), the two groups only becoming similar by 60min (8.85 +/- 1.44mm vs8.71 +/- 1.27mm, P=0.236). In the second study, both MY and PT achieved similar levels of mydriasis at the beginning of surgery (8.75 +/- 0.76mm with MY vs8.77 +/- 0.63mm with PT), and also at the end of surgery (7.96 +/- 1.06mm with MY vs 8.32 +/- 0.72mm with PT), with no significant difference between groups (P=0.08). MY was well tolerated and cardiovascular effects were not influenced by dilation method. CONLUSION: MY could be a safe and efficacious alternative for mydriasis. The mydriatic effect of MY is as good as conventional PT eye drops after 60min, and is superior after 90min. MY also maintains good pupil dilation during cataract surgery