The times are changing: resetting CSDP and European Defence

La Política Común de Seguridad y Defensa (PCSD) de la Unión no ha supuesto un cambio fundamental en la defensa europea que sus artífices esperaban. No podría ser de otra manera, dada la naturaleza de la Unión y las diferentes prioridades estratégicas de sus miembros. Tiene una finalidad, sin embargo, como instrumento de gestión de crisis para tareas de seguridad limitadas y puede actuar como plataforma de solidaridad en apoyo de operaciones dirigidas por Estados Miembros, como en Sahel. Europa se enfrenta a un momento estratégico, ante el pivot de Estados Unidos a Asia y el consiguiente replanteamiento de políticas por Estados Miembros clave. El viejo objetivo de una Defensa Europea independiente no se va a realizar a corto plazo, dada la crisis de defensa en Europa, que podría hacer inalcanzables incluso objetivos de autonomía estratégica limitada. Es necesaria una perspectiva más flexible y realista, que busque establecer coherencia entre los distintos marcos de cooperación en Europa (OTAN, UE, acuerdos bilaterales o trilaterales, etc.), sobre la base de una mayor convergencia estratégica. Recibido: 30 enero 2014 Aceptado: 12 febrero 2014 Publicación en línea: 15 abril 201

Biomechanical Consequences of the Elastic Properties of Dental Implant Alloys on the Supporting Bone: Finite Element Analysis

The objective of the present study is to evaluate how the elastic properties of the fabrication material of dental implants influence peri-implant bone load transfer in terms of the magnitude and distribution of stress and deformation. A three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis was performed; the model used was a section of mandibular bone with a single implant containing a cemented ceramic-metal crown on a titanium abutment. The following three alloys were compared: rigid (Y-TZP), conventional (Ti-6Al-4V), and hyperelastic (Ti-Nb-Zr). A 150-N static load was tested on the central fossa at 6° relative to the axial axis of the implant. The results showed no differences in the distribution of stress and deformation of the bone for any of the three types of alloys studied, mainly being concentrated at the peri-implant cortical layer. However, there were differences found in the magnitude of the stress transferred to the supporting bone, with the most rigid alloy (Y-TZP) transferring the least stress and deformation to cortical bone. We conclude that there is an effect of the fabrication material of dental implants on the magnitude of the stress and deformation transferred to peri-implant bone

Hypoxia Reduces Cell Attachment of SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein by Modulating the Expression of ACE2, Neuropilin-1, Syndecan-1 and Cellular Heparan Sulfate

A main clinical parameter of COVID-19 pathophysiology is hypoxia. Here we show that hypoxia decreases the attachment of the receptor-binding domain (RBD) and the S1 subunit (S1) of the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 to epithelial cells. In Vero E6 cells, hypoxia reduces the protein levels of ACE2 and neuropilin-1 (NRP1), which might in part explain the observed reduction of the infection rate. In addition, hypoxia inhibits the binding of the spike to NCI-H460 human lung epithelial cells by decreasing the cell surface levels of heparan sulfate (HS), a known attachment receptor of SARS-CoV-2. This interaction is also reduced by lactoferrin, a glycoprotein that blocks HS moieties on the cell surface. The expression of syndecan-1, an HS-containing proteoglycan expressed in lung, is inhibited by hypoxia on a HIF-1αdependent manner. Hypoxia or deletion of syndecan-1 results in reduced binding of the RBD to host cells. Our study indicates that hypoxia acts to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection, suggesting that the hypoxia signalling pathway might offer therapeutic opportunities for the treatment of COVID-19.This research was supported by the SPRI I+D COVID-19 fund (Basque Government, bG-COVID-19), the European Research Council (ERC) (grant numbers: ERC-2018-StG 804236-NEXTGEN-IO to A.P and ERC-2017-AdG 788143-RECGLYCANMR to J.J-B.), the Severo Ochoa Excellence Accreditation from MCIU (SEV-2016-0644) and the FERO Foundation. Personal fellowships: E.P. (Juan de la Cierva-Formación, FJC2018-035449-I), L.V. (Juan de la Cierva-Formación, FJCI-2017-34099), A.B. (AECC Bizkaia Scientific Foundation, PRDVZ19003BOSC), A.G. (Programa Bikaintek from the Basque Government, 48-AF-W1-2019-00012), A.A (La Caixa Inphinit, LCF/BQ/DR20/11790022), B.J. (Basque Government, PRE_2019_1_0320), L.M. (Juan de la Cierva-Formación, FJC2019-039983-I), E.B. (MINECO, BFU2016-76872-R; Excellence Networks, SAF2017-90794-REDT) and A.P. (Ramón y Cajal, RYC2018-024183-I; Proyectos I+D+I, PID2019-107956RA-I00; and Ikerbasque Research Associate)

Sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion by flow cytometry reveals the presence of nucleoprotein-reactive antibodies in unexposed individuals

There is an ongoing need of developing sensitive and specific methods for the determination of SARS-CoV-2 seroconversion. For this purpose, we have developed a multiplexed flow cytometric bead array (C19BA) that allows the identification of IgG and IgM antibodies against three immunogenic proteins simultaneously: the spike receptor-binding domain (RBD), the spike protein subunit 1 (S1) and the nucleoprotein (N). Using different cohorts of samples collected before and after the pandemic, we show that this assay is more sensitive than ELISAs performed in our laboratory. The combination of three viral antigens allows for the interrogation of full seroconversion. Importantly, we have detected N-reactive antibodies in COVID-19-negative individuals. Here we present an immunoassay that can be easily implemented and has superior potential to detect low antibody titers compared to current gold standard serology methods.Acknowledgements: We thank Petros Tyrakis and Iván Martínez-Forero for critical reading and editing of the manuscript. Support was provided by the Severo Ochoa Excellence Accreditation from MCIU (SEV-2016-0644) and the SPRI I+D COVID-19 fund (Gobierno Vasco). Personal fellowships: A.A.-V. (La Caixa Inphinit LCF/BQ/DR20/11790022), A.B. (AECC Bizkaia), A.G.d.R (Bikaintek), A.P. (Ramón y Cajal), B.J.-L. (Gob. Vasco), and E.P.-F. (Juan de la Cierva-Formación). M.L.M.-C. acknowledges RTC2019-007125-1, DTS20/00138, SAF2017-87301-R, and BBVA UMBRELLA project. M.L.-H. acknowledges the ISCIII for grant COV20-0170 and the Government of Cantabria for grant 2020UIC22-PUB-0019. O.M., J.-M.M., and N.G.A.A. acknowledge the Agencia Estatal de Investigación (Spain) for grants CTQ2015-68756-R, RTI2018-101269-BI00, and RTI2018-095700-B-I00, respectively. A.P. has received grant funding from the European Research Council (ERC), grant agreement number 804236 (Horizon 2020), and the FERO Foundation

Biomechanical Consequences of the Elastic Properties of Dental Implant Alloys on the Supporting Bone: Finite Element Analysis

The objective of the present study is to evaluate how the elastic properties of the fabrication material of dental implants influence peri-implant bone load transfer in terms of the magnitude and distribution of stress and deformation. A three-dimensional (3D) finite element analysis was performed; the model used was a section of mandibular bone with a single implant containing a cemented ceramic-metal crown on a titanium abutment. The following three alloys were compared: rigid (Y-TZP), conventional (Ti-6Al-4V), and hyperelastic (Ti-Nb-Zr). A 150-N static load was tested on the central fossa at 6° relative to the axial axis of the implant. The results showed no differences in the distribution of stress and deformation of the bone for any of the three types of alloys studied, mainly being concentrated at the peri-implant cortical layer. However, there were differences found in the magnitude of the stress transferred to the supporting bone, with the most rigid alloy (Y-TZP) transferring the least stress and deformation to cortical bone. We conclude that there is an effect of the fabrication material of dental implants on the magnitude of the stress and deformation transferred to peri-implant bone

A flow cytometry-based neutralization assay for simultaneous evaluation of blocking antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 variants

Vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 have alleviated infection rates, hospitalization and deaths associated with COVID-19. In order to monitor humoral immunity, several serology tests have been developed, but the recent emergence of variants of concern has revealed the need for assays that predict the neutralizing capacity of antibodies in a fast and adaptable manner. Sensitive and fast neutralization assays would allow a timely evaluation of immunity against emerging variants and support drug and vaccine discovery efforts. Here we describe a simple, fast, and cell-free multiplexed flow cytometry assay to interrogate the ability of antibodies to prevent the interaction of Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and the receptor binding domain (RBD) of the original Wuhan-1 SARS-CoV-2 strain and emerging variants simultaneously, as a surrogate neutralization assay. Using this method, we demonstrate that serum antibodies collected from representative individuals at different time-points during the pandemic present variable neutralizing activity against emerging variants, such as Omicron BA.1 and South African B.1.351. Importantly, antibodies present in samples collected during 2021, before the third dose of the vaccine was administered, do not confer complete neutralization against Omicron BA.1, as opposed to samples collected in 2022 which show significant neutralizing activity. The proposed approach has a comparable performance to other established surrogate methods such as cell-based assays using pseudotyped lentiviral particles expressing the spike of SARS-CoV-2, as demonstrated by the assessment of the blocking activity of therapeutic antibodies (i.e. Imdevimab) and serum samples. This method offers a scalable, cost effective and adaptable platform for the dynamic evaluation of antibody protection in affected populations against variants of SARS-CoV-2.Funding: This research was supported by the SPRI I+D COVID-19 fund (Basque Government, bG-COVID-19), BIOEF EITB Maratoia (BIO21/COV/037 to AP), the European Research Council (ERC) (ERC-2018-StG 804236-NEXTGEN-IO to AP), the Instituto de Salud Carlos iii (ISCiii, DTS21/00094 to AP and DTS20/00138 to MM-C), Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (MICINN, PID2019-107956RA-I00 and TED2021-129433B-C21 to AP; PID2020-117116RB-I00 and RTC2019-007125-1 to MM-C) and the FERO Foundation to AP. Personal fellowships: EP-F (Juan de la Cierva-Formación, FJC2018-035449-I), ABo (AECC Bizkaia Scientific Foundation, PRDVZ19003BOSC), AG (Programa Bikaintek from the Basque Government, 48-AF-W1-2019-00012), AA-V (La Caixa Inphinit, LCF/BQ/DR20/11790022), BJ-L (Basque Government, PRE_2019_1_0320), ABl (AECC Bizkaia Scientific Foundation, PRDVZ21640DEBL), PV-B (Proyectos I +D+I, PRE2020-092342) and AP (Ramón y Cajal, RYC2018- 024183-I; and Ikerbasque Research Associate). Acknowledgments: The plasmids for the generation of pseudotyped lentiviral particles were kindly provided by Dr Jesse D. Bloom (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center) and Dr Jean-Philippe Julien (The Hospital for Sick Children). HEK293T-ACE2 cells were kindly provided by Dr. June Ereño-Orbea (CIC bioGUNE) and Dr. Jean-Philippe Julien (The Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Toronto)

Detección in situ de la depresión postparto (DPP) y alteración del vínculo materno-filial en el Hospital Universitario Quirón Dexeus. Resultados preliminares

Tras la implementación de un sistema de detección sistemática de la DPP en nuestro Hospital, nos planteamos determinar la incidencia de DPP y alteraciones del vínculo madrehijo en la cuarentena, en todas las mujeres con seguimiento puerperal en el H.U. Quirón Dexeus y analizar la influencia de diversas variables reproductivas, obstétricas y psicopatológicas sobre dicha patología. Material y Método: Se estudió una muestra de 271 mujeres en la cuarentena de forma sistemática, mediante la EPDS y el PBQ. Resultados: La incidencia de DPP fue del 9,2 % y del 5 % para las alteraciones del vínculo. La presencia de DPP se asoció significativamente a: antecedentes de ansiedad/depresión a lo largo de la vida (p=0.03) y en el embarazo (p=0.000), estrés perinatal (0.001), mayor edad (p=0.032) y vínculo alterado (0.000). Las alteraciones del vínculo fueron superiores en primíparas (p=0.013). Conclusiones: Las cifras de DPP mediante la detección sistemática �in situ� en nuestro Centro fueron similares a otros estudios, evidenciándose un elevado correlato con las alteraciones del vínculo materno-filial. Es importante la detección sistemática para evitar consecuencias, no solo en la madre, sino también sobre el vínculo materno-filia

Risk factors for postpartum depression in mothers of newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care unit

Background: There is a lack of information on how maternal stress coping styles during admission of the newborn to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) influences the onset of the postpartum depression (PPD). We examined potential risk factors for the emergence of the PPD in mothers whose infants were admitted to the NICU. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 401 mothers, 125 were mothers whose infants were admitted to the NICU and 276 mothers without NICU care. Newborn illness severity information score was taken throughout NICU admission via the Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB). Six weeks after giving birth, participants from both groups individually completed the Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Postpartum Bonding Questionnaire (PBQ) and the Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI) using an online platform. Results: No differences were found regarding PPD and bonding in either groups. Multivariate analysis provided a final model in which cognitive restructuring, problem avoidance, severity of neonatal health problems during the first 12 hours of life, and problem solving were the best predictors of postpartum depression explaining, 43.7% of the variance in the NICU group. Conclusion: It is necessary to obtain early detailed information on coping styles in the NICU environment to prevent the possible onset of PPD. © 2020 Society for Reproductive and Infant Psychology