Profile of risks for genital infections in university students

Las infecciones genitales causadas por Chlamydia trachomatis se transmiten por contacto sexual. Son infecciones asintomáticas en la mayoría de los casos, y su portación crónica que puede ocasionar la aparición de complicaciones de variada gravedad. Los datos de prevalencia de esta infección en nuestro país, son escasos y dispersos. El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido profundizar el conocimiento de la epidemiología de la infección por C. trachomatis en jóvenes, y generar información respecto de su perfil de riesgo para la adquisición de infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS) en general. Para ello, participaron del estudio 204 jóvenes universitarios de edad promedio 23 años, que remitieron una muestra de orina de primera micción y llenaron una encuesta que entregaron en forma anónima. Analizando las muestras remitidas mediante dos técnicas distintas de amplificación génica, no se obtuvo detección de marcadores moleculares de C. trachomatis en ninguna de las orinas procesadas. Los resultados de las encuestas mostraron en la población en estudio, una muy baja tasa de cambio de pareja en el último año, así como una edad promedio de inicio de relaciones sexuales (17,6 años) relativamente alta. Sin embargo, se documentó un deficiente uso del preservativo, y la referecia concomitante a ITS anteriores. La ausencia de detección de C. trachomatis refleja su baja circulación en la población estudiada. Ésto, junto a lo reflejado en algunos aspectos de las encuestas, indicaría una población con bajo riesgo para adquisición de ITS. Pero otros de los datos recabados presentarían evidencia contraria, alertando sobre la necesidad de mantener la vigilancia.The genital infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis are sexually transmitted infections (STI). These C. trachomatis infections are mostly asymptomatic, so they can lead to complications of diverse graveness. The prevalence data generated in our country in regard to this infection is limited and scattered. The aim of this study was to go deep into the knowledge of the epidemiology of the C. trachomatis genital infection among young people, and to arise some information about their risk profiles to acquire STI. 204 young college students with average age of 23 were involved in this study. Each participant delivered a sample of fist void urine and filled in a questionnaire wich was then submitted anonymously. Analyzing every specimen by two different techniques of DNA amplification, no molecular marker of the presence of C. trachomatis were detected among the processed urines. The results of the questionnaires showed that the studied population had a very low rate of changing partners over the last year, as well as relatively high age (17,6 years old) for the first sexual intercourse. However, a deficient use of condom was observed, and there were references regarding history of STI. The absence of C. trachomatis detection reflects its low circulation among the studied population. This fact, along with some aspects showed by the results of the questionnaires, would characterize a population with a low risk profile to acquire STIs. But, some other information arised from that questionnaires would give some opposite evidence, wich would alert us on the need of keeping the watch on these populations.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Profile of risks for genital infections in university students

Las infecciones genitales causadas por Chlamydia trachomatis se transmiten por contacto sexual. Son infecciones asintomáticas en la mayoría de los casos, y su portación crónica que puede ocasionar la aparición de complicaciones de variada gravedad. Los datos de prevalencia de esta infección en nuestro país, son escasos y dispersos. El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido profundizar el conocimiento de la epidemiología de la infección por C. trachomatis en jóvenes, y generar información respecto de su perfil de riesgo para la adquisición de infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS) en general. Para ello, participaron del estudio 204 jóvenes universitarios de edad promedio 23 años, que remitieron una muestra de orina de primera micción y llenaron una encuesta que entregaron en forma anónima. Analizando las muestras remitidas mediante dos técnicas distintas de amplificación génica, no se obtuvo detección de marcadores moleculares de C. trachomatis en ninguna de las orinas procesadas. Los resultados de las encuestas mostraron en la población en estudio, una muy baja tasa de cambio de pareja en el último año, así como una edad promedio de inicio de relaciones sexuales (17,6 años) relativamente alta. Sin embargo, se documentó un deficiente uso del preservativo, y la referecia concomitante a ITS anteriores. La ausencia de detección de C. trachomatis refleja su baja circulación en la población estudiada. Ésto, junto a lo reflejado en algunos aspectos de las encuestas, indicaría una población con bajo riesgo para adquisición de ITS. Pero otros de los datos recabados presentarían evidencia contraria, alertando sobre la necesidad de mantener la vigilancia.The genital infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis are sexually transmitted infections (STI). These C. trachomatis infections are mostly asymptomatic, so they can lead to complications of diverse graveness. The prevalence data generated in our country in regard to this infection is limited and scattered. The aim of this study was to go deep into the knowledge of the epidemiology of the C. trachomatis genital infection among young people, and to arise some information about their risk profiles to acquire STI. 204 young college students with average age of 23 were involved in this study. Each participant delivered a sample of fist void urine and filled in a questionnaire wich was then submitted anonymously. Analyzing every specimen by two different techniques of DNA amplification, no molecular marker of the presence of C. trachomatis were detected among the processed urines. The results of the questionnaires showed that the studied population had a very low rate of changing partners over the last year, as well as relatively high age (17,6 years old) for the first sexual intercourse. However, a deficient use of condom was observed, and there were references regarding history of STI. The absence of C. trachomatis detection reflects its low circulation among the studied population. This fact, along with some aspects showed by the results of the questionnaires, would characterize a population with a low risk profile to acquire STIs. But, some other information arised from that questionnaires would give some opposite evidence, wich would alert us on the need of keeping the watch on these populations.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Profile of risks for genital infections in university students

Las infecciones genitales causadas por Chlamydia trachomatis se transmiten por contacto sexual. Son infecciones asintomáticas en la mayoría de los casos, y su portación crónica que puede ocasionar la aparición de complicaciones de variada gravedad. Los datos de prevalencia de esta infección en nuestro país, son escasos y dispersos. El objetivo de este trabajo ha sido profundizar el conocimiento de la epidemiología de la infección por C. trachomatis en jóvenes, y generar información respecto de su perfil de riesgo para la adquisición de infecciones de transmisión sexual (ITS) en general. Para ello, participaron del estudio 204 jóvenes universitarios de edad promedio 23 años, que remitieron una muestra de orina de primera micción y llenaron una encuesta que entregaron en forma anónima. Analizando las muestras remitidas mediante dos técnicas distintas de amplificación génica, no se obtuvo detección de marcadores moleculares de C. trachomatis en ninguna de las orinas procesadas. Los resultados de las encuestas mostraron en la población en estudio, una muy baja tasa de cambio de pareja en el último año, así como una edad promedio de inicio de relaciones sexuales (17,6 años) relativamente alta. Sin embargo, se documentó un deficiente uso del preservativo, y la referecia concomitante a ITS anteriores. La ausencia de detección de C. trachomatis refleja su baja circulación en la población estudiada. Ésto, junto a lo reflejado en algunos aspectos de las encuestas, indicaría una población con bajo riesgo para adquisición de ITS. Pero otros de los datos recabados presentarían evidencia contraria, alertando sobre la necesidad de mantener la vigilancia.The genital infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis are sexually transmitted infections (STI). These C. trachomatis infections are mostly asymptomatic, so they can lead to complications of diverse graveness. The prevalence data generated in our country in regard to this infection is limited and scattered. The aim of this study was to go deep into the knowledge of the epidemiology of the C. trachomatis genital infection among young people, and to arise some information about their risk profiles to acquire STI. 204 young college students with average age of 23 were involved in this study. Each participant delivered a sample of fist void urine and filled in a questionnaire wich was then submitted anonymously. Analyzing every specimen by two different techniques of DNA amplification, no molecular marker of the presence of C. trachomatis were detected among the processed urines. The results of the questionnaires showed that the studied population had a very low rate of changing partners over the last year, as well as relatively high age (17,6 years old) for the first sexual intercourse. However, a deficient use of condom was observed, and there were references regarding history of STI. The absence of C. trachomatis detection reflects its low circulation among the studied population. This fact, along with some aspects showed by the results of the questionnaires, would characterize a population with a low risk profile to acquire STIs. But, some other information arised from that questionnaires would give some opposite evidence, wich would alert us on the need of keeping the watch on these populations.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

The masked demos: Associational anonymity and democratic practice

The increased use of anonymous digital platforms raises substantive concerns about accountability in digital spaces. However, contemporary evaluations of anonymity focus too narrowly on its protective function: its ability to protect a diversity of speakers and ideas. Drawing on two examples of anonymous political engagements – Publius’s writing of the Federalist Papers and college students’ use of the social media platform Yik Yak – we develop an account of anonymity’s associational function: the processes by which people generate and negotiate collective identities, discussions, and actions in wider publics. As we argue, anonymity’s associational function can (1) generate conditions under which individuals develop collective interests and identities to foster collective action, and (2) enable novel interactions between these individuals and communities and the larger publics of which they are part. We conclude with a discussion of how attention to associational anonymity can contribute to a more nuanced account of democracy in practice

Differential utilization of ketone bodies by neurons and glioma cell lines: a rationale for ketogenic diet as experimental glioma therapy

Background: Even in the presence of oxygen, malignant cells often highly depend on glycolysis for energy generation, a phenomenon known as the Warburg effect. One strategy targeting this metabolic phenotype is glucose restriction by administration of a high-fat, low-carbohydrate (ketogenic) diet. Under these conditions, ketone bodies are generated serving as an important energy source at least for non-transformed cells. Methods: To investigate whether a ketogenic diet might selectively impair energy metabolism in tumor cells, we characterized in vitro effects of the principle ketone body 3-hydroxybutyrate in rat hippocampal neurons and five glioma cell lines. In vivo, a non-calorie-restricted ketogenic diet was examined in an orthotopic xenograft glioma mouse model. Results: The ketone body metabolizing enzymes 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase 1 and 2 (BDH1 and 2), 3-oxoacid-CoA transferase 1 (OXCT1) and acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 1 (ACAT1) were expressed at the mRNA and protein level in all glioma cell lines. However, no activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) pathway was observed in glioma cells, consistent with the absence of substantial 3-hydroxybutyrate metabolism and subsequent accumulation of succinate. Further, 3-hydroxybutyrate rescued hippocampal neurons from glucose withdrawal-induced cell death but did not protect glioma cell lines. In hypoxia, mRNA expression of OXCT1, ACAT1, BDH1 and 2 was downregulated. In vivo, the ketogenic diet led to a robust increase of blood 3-hydroxybutyrate, but did not alter blood glucose levels or improve survival. Conclusion: In summary, glioma cells are incapable of compensating for glucose restriction by metabolizing ketone bodies in vitro, suggesting a potential disadvantage of tumor cells compared to normal cells under a carbohydrate-restricted ketogenic diet. Further investigations are necessary to identify co-treatment modalities, e.g. glycolysis inhibitors or antiangiogenic agents that efficiently target non-oxidative pathways

The international primary ciliary dyskinesia cohort (iPCD Cohort): methods and first results

Data on primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) epidemiology is scarce and published studies are characterised by low numbers. In the framework of the European Union project BESTCILIA we aimed to combine all available datasets in a retrospective international PCD cohort (iPCD Cohort). We identified eligible datasets by performing a systematic review of published studies containing clinical information on PCD, and by contacting members of past and current European Respiratory Society Task Forces on PCD. We compared the contents of the datasets, clarified definitions and pooled them in a standardised format. As of April 2016 the iPCD Cohort includes data on 3013 patients from 18 countries. It includes data on diagnostic evaluations, symptoms, lung function, growth and treatments. Longitudinal data are currently available for 542 patients. The extent of clinical details per patient varies between centres. More than 50% of patients have a definite PCD diagnosis based on recent guidelines. Children aged 10–19 years are the largest age group, followed by younger children (⩽9 years) and young adults (20–29 years). This is the largest observational PCD dataset available to date. It will allow us to answer pertinent questions on clinical phenotype, disease severity, prognosis and effect of treatments, and to investigate genotype–phenotype correlations

Molecular imaging of hypoxia with radiolabelled agents

Tissue hypoxia results from an inadequate supply of oxygen (O2) that compromises biological functions. Structural and functional abnormalities of the tumour vasculature together with altered diffusion conditions inside the tumour seem to be the main causes of tumour hypoxia. Evidence from experimental and clinical studies points to a role for tumour hypoxia in tumour propagation, resistance to therapy and malignant progression. This has led to the development of assays for the detection of hypoxia in patients in order to predict outcome and identify patients with a worse prognosis and/or patients that would benefit from appropriate treatments. A variety of invasive and non-invasive approaches have been developed to measure tumour oxygenation including oxygen-sensitive electrodes and hypoxia marker techniques using various labels that can be detected by different methods such as positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), autoradiography and immunohistochemistry. This review aims to give a detailed overview of non-invasive molecular imaging modalities with radiolabelled PET and SPECT tracers that are available to measure tumour hypoxia