Hepatitis C virus quasispecies and pseudotype analysis from acute infection to chronicity in HIV-1 co-infected individuals

HIV-1 infected patients who acquire HCV infection have higher rates of chronicity and liver disease progression than patients with HCV mono-infection. Understanding early events in this pathogenic process is important. We applied single genome sequencing of the E1 to NS3 regions and viral pseudotype neutralization assays to explore the consequences of viral quasispecies evolution from pre-seroconversion to chronicity in four co-infected individuals (mean follow up 566 days). We observed that one to three founder viruses were transmitted. Relatively low viral sequence diversity, possibly related to an impaired immune response, due to HIV infection was observed in three patients. However, the fourth patient, after an early purifying selection displayed increasing E2 sequence evolution, possibly related to being on suppressive antiretroviral therapy. Viral pseudotypes generated from HCV variants showed relative resistance to neutralization by autologous plasma but not to plasma collected from later time points, confirming ongoing virus escape from antibody neutralization

Los vacíos normativos de la prueba de refutación en el sistema penal acusatorio colombiano

The Colombian Criminal process of accusatory tendency, implemented by the Law 906 of 2004, does not expressly define or regulate the refutation test, being mentioned only plainly in the final paragraph of Article 362. -This situation creates inconveniences in the course of criminal proceedings, since obviously the legislative omission on this figure prevents clarity on its proper practice. The present investigation addresses the problem that arises from the lack of legislative development in Colombia of the refutation test, proposing a specific dynamic of regulation of this figure in the national accusatory criminal process, based on the contributions of the international development of the same and taking into account the Constitutional and legal context of Colombia. -When examining international contemporary law (Anglo-Saxon, Central American and South American), regarding the refutation test; the existing gaps in the Colombian legislation on the rebuttal test emerge; hence, it is necessary to formulate criteria for the decree and practice of the refutation test at the trial stage in the Colombian accusatory criminal process. Given the evidence of lack of legal regulation regarding the subject, a proposal for action to the Law 906 of 2004 is formulated, with the purpose that the principle of legality contemplated in article 29 of the political constitution materialize at the trial stage without any disquisition.  El proceso penal colombiano de tendencia acusatoria, implementado por la Ley 906 de 2004, no define ni regula expresamente la prueba de refutación, siendo sólo mencionada llanamente en el inciso final del artículo 362. -Esta situación genera inconvenientes en el curso de las actuaciones penales, pues evidentemente la omisión legislativa sobre esta figura impide que haya claridad sobre su adecuada práctica. La presente investigación aborda el problema que surge ante la carencia de desarrollo legislativo en Colombia de la prueba de refutación, proponiendo una dinámica específica de regulación de esta figura en el proceso penal acusatorio nacional, a partir de los aportes del desarrollo internacional de la misma y teniendo en cuenta el contexto Constitucional y legal de Colombia. -Al examinar el derecho contemporáneo internacional (anglosajón, centroamericano y suramericano), en lo concerniente a la prueba de refutación; emergen los vacíos existentes en la legislación Colombiana sobre la prueba de refutación; de ahí que sea necesario formular criterios para el decreto y práctica de la prueba de refutación en la etapa de juzgamiento en el  proceso penal acusatorio colombiano. Ante la evidencia de falta de regulación legal respecto al tema, se formula una propuesta de adición a la ley 906 de 2004 con el propósito de que el principio de legalidad contemplado en el artículo 29 de la Constitución Política se materialice en la etapa del juicio sin disquisición alguna

HCV genotypes are differently prone to the development of resistance to linear and macrocyclic protease inhibitors

Because of the extreme genetic variability of hepatitis C virus (HCV), we analyzed whether specific HCV-genotypes are differently prone to develop resistance to linear and macrocyclic protease-inhibitors (PIs)

The problematic use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in adolescents by the cross sectional JOITIC study

Background: The emerging field of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) has brought about new interaction styles. Its excessive use may lead to addictive behaviours. The objective is to determine the prevalence of the problematic use of ICT such as Internet, mobile phones and video games, among adolescents enrolled in mandatory Secondary Education (ESO in Spanish) and to examine associated factors. Methods: Cross sectional, multi-centric descriptive study. Population: 5538 students enrolled in years one to four of ESO at 28 schools in the Vallès Occidental region (Barcelona, Spain). Data collection: self-administered socio-demographic and ICT access questionnaire, and validated questionnaires on experiences related to the use of the Internet, mobile phones and video games (CERI, CERM, CERV). Results: Questionnaires were collected from 5,538 adolescents between the ages of 12 and 20 (77.3 % of the total response), 48.6 % were females. Problematic use of the Internet was observed in 13.6 % of the surveyed individuals; problematic use of mobile phones in 2.4 % and problematic use in video games in 6.2 %. Problematic Internet use was associated with female students, tobacco consumption, a background of binge drinking, the use of cannabis or other drugs, poor academic performance, poor family relationships and an intensive use of the computer. Factors associated with the problematic use of mobile phones were the consumption of other drugs and an intensive use of these devices. Frequent problems with video game use have been associated with male students, the consumption of other drugs, poor academic performance, poor family relationships and an intensive use of these games. Conclusions: This study offers information on the prevalence of addictive behaviours of the Internet, mobile phones and video game use. The problematic use of these ICT devices has been related to the consumption of drugs, poor academic performance and poor family relationships. This intensive use may constitute a risk marker for ICT addictio

Bioética y bioseguridad en la atención estomatológica al paciente con VIH/sida

Introduction: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is not a single disease, but the final stage of HIV infection, characterized by a set of potentially fatal diseases. Objective: to determine the level of knowledge of dentists on biosafety and the bioethical principle of justice in the treatment of HIV patients at Epifanio Rojas Gil Polyclinic in San Luis municipality, Pinar del Río province.Method: a descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out. The target group consisted of 25 dentists. The results were taken to a database using descriptive statistics and were organized, summarized and presented in tables of frequency distribution using the percentage method.Results: the knowledge of dentists on bioethical aspects according to their professional training was not satisfactory; knowledge about biosafety standards in the treatment of HIV / aids patients was not enough either.Conclusions: at the end of the study, the knowledge of professionals regarding bioethical and biosafety aspects in the treatment of HIV / aids patients was evaluated as not satisfactory.Introducción: el síndrome de inmunodeficiencia adquirida no es una sola enfermedad, sino la etapa final de la infección por VIH, caracterizada por un conjunto de enfermedades potencialmente fatales.Objetivo: determinar el nivel de conocimientos de estomatólogos sobre bioseguridad y el principio bioético de justicia en el tratamiento a pacientes con VIH, en el Policlínico Universitario Epifanio Rojas Gil, en el municipio San Luis, provincia de Pinar del Río.Método: se realizó un estudio descriptivo, de corte transversal; el universo estuvo constituido por 25 estomatólogos. Los resultados obtenidos fueron llevados a una base de datos utilizando la estadística descriptiva y fueron organizados, resumidos y presentados en tablas de distribución de frecuencias aplicando el método porcentual.Resultados: los conocimientos de los estomatólogos sobre aspectos bioéticos según su formación profesional no eran satisfactorios; tampoco fueron suficientes los conocimientos sobre normas de bioseguridad en el tratamiento del paciente con VIH/sida.Conclusiones: al finalizar el estudio se evaluó como no adecuados los conocimientos de los profesionales sobre aspectos bioéticos y de bioseguridad en el tratamiento del paciente con VIH/sida

Bioethics and biosafety in dentistry care for patients with HIV / aids

Introduction: acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is not a single disease, but the final stage of HIV infection, characterized by a set of potentially fatal diseases.  Objective: to determine the level of knowledge of dentists on biosafety and the bioethical principle of justice in the treatment of HIV patients at Epifanio Rojas Gil Polyclinic in San Luis municipality, Pinar del Río province. Method: a descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out. The target group consisted of 25 dentists. The results were taken to a database using descriptive statistics and were organized, summarized and presented in tables of frequency distribution using the percentage method. Results: the knowledge of dentists on bioethical aspects according to their professional training was not satisfactory; knowledge about biosafety standards in the treatment of HIV / aids patients was not enough either. Conclusions: at the end of the study, the knowledge of professionals regarding bioethical and biosafety aspects in the treatment of HIV / aids patients was evaluated as not satisfactory

An integrated machine-learning model to predict nucleosome architecture

We demonstrate that nucleosomes placed in the gene body can be accurately located from signal decay theory assuming two emitters located at the beginning and at the end of genes. These generated wave signals can be in phase (leading to well defined nucleosome arrays) or in antiphase (leading to fuzzy nucleosome architectures). We found that the first (+1) and the last (-last) nucleosomes are contiguous to regions signaled by transcription factor binding sites and unusual DNA physical properties that hinder nucleosome wrapping. Based on these analyses, we developed a method that combines Machine Learning and signal transmission theory able to predict the basal locations of the nucleosomes with an accuracy similar to that of experimental MNase-seq based methods. Graphical Abstrac

Half a century of newborn screening in Spain: Evolution of ethical, legal and social issues (ELSIs). Part II, legal system

[ES] El cribado neonatal es una actuación sanitaria regulada específicamente en nuestra legislación. El ordenamiento jurídico establece que el cribado sanitario es una actuación de salud pública, enfocada a la prevención de la salud de la sociedad en general y, a la vez, una prestación sanitaria, es decir, un derecho de los individuos, cuyo interés constituye el eje de la regulación. En su diseño e implantación están involucradas las autoridades sanitarias estatales y autonómicas. La eficacia, eficiencia y calidad son los criterios para valorar su idoneidad, y la adopción de medidas que garanticen los derechos de los participantes, la trasparencia y la voluntariedad, son imprescindibles para su aprobación. Estas exigencias generales se refuerzan cuando el cribado se dirige a la población pediátrica y cuando se trata de cribados genéticos, caso en que está prevista la revisión por parte de un comité de ética como requisito previo a su autorización. [EN] Neonatal screening is a health action specifically regulated in our legislation. The legal system establishes that health screening is a public health action, focused on the prevention of health of the community in general and, at the same time, a health service, that is, a right of individuals, whose interest is the focus of the regulation. In its design and implementation are involved the State and Regional Health Authorities. The effectiveness, efficiency and quality, are the criteria for assessing its suitability, and the adoption of measures to ensure the rights of participants, transparency and voluntariness, are essential for approval. These general requirements are reinforced when the screening is aimed at the paediatric population and when it comes to genetic screening, in which case a review by an ethics committee is foreseen as a prerequisite for authorization.Grupo de Investigación Cátedra de Derecho y Genoma Humano. Financiado por el Departamento de Educación del Gobierno Vasco (Grupos de Investigación del Sistema Universitario Vasco. Referencia número IT1066-16).N