Effect of intrapartum antibiotics prophylaxis on the bifidobacterial establishment within the neonatal gut

Antibiotics are important disruptors of the intestinal microbiota establishment, linked to immune and metabolic alterations. The intrapartum antibiotics prophylaxis (IAP) is a common clinical practice that is present in more than 30% of labours, and is known to negatively affect the gut microbiota composition. However, little is known about how it affects to Bifidobacterium (sub)species level, which is one of the most important intestinal microbial genera early in life. This study presents qualitative and quantitative analyses of the bifidobacterial (sub)species populations in faecal sam-ples, collected at 2, 10, 30 and 90 days of life, from 43 healthy full-term babies, sixteen of them delivered after IAP use. This study uses both 16S rRNA–23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequencing and q-PCR techniques for the analyses of the relative proportions and absolute levels, respectively, of the bifidobacterial populations. Our results show that the bifidobacterial populations establishment is affected by the IAP at both quantitative and qualitative levels. This practice can promote higher bifidobacterial diversity and several changes at a compositional level. This study underlines specific targets for developing gut microbiota-based products for favouring a proper bifidobacterial microbiota development when IAP is required

IgM antibodies against malondialdehyde and phosphorylcholine in different systemic rheumatic diseases

IgM antibodies against phosphorylcholine (anti-PC) and malondialdehyde (anti-MDA) may have protective properties in cardiovascular and rheumatic diseases. We here compare these antibodies in systemic rheumatic conditions and study their properties. Anti-PC and anti-MDA was measured using ELISA in patients with SLE (374), RA (354), Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD, 77), Systemic sclerosis (SSc, 331), Sj\uf6gren\u2019s syndrome (SjS, 324), primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPs, 65), undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD, 118) and 515 matched healthy controls (HC). Cardiovascular score (CV) was broadly defined based on clinical disease symptoms. Anti-PC and anti-MDA peptide/protein characterization were compared using a proteomics de novo sequencing approach. anti-MDA and anti-PC were extracted from total IgM. The proportion of Treg cells was determined by flow cytometry. The maximal difference between cases and controls was shown for MCTD: significantly lower IgM Anti-PC but not anti-MDA among patients (median 49.3RU/ml vs 70.4 in healthy controls, p(t-test) = 0.0037). IgM low levels were more prevalent in MCTD, SLE, SjS, SSc and UCTD. IgM anti-PC variable region profiles were different from and more homologous than anti-MDA. Anti-PC but not anti-MDA were significantly negatively correlated with CV in the whole patient group. In contrast to IgM anti-PC, anti-MDA did not promote polarization of Tregs. Taken together, Anti-PC is decreased in MCTD and also in SLE, SjS and SSc but not in other studied diseases. Anti-PC may thus differentiate between these. In contrast, anti-MDA did not show these differences between diseases studied. Anti-PC level is negatively correlated with CV in the patient group cohort. In contrast to anti-PC, anti-MDA did not promote Treg polarization. These findings could have both diagnostic and therapeutic implications, one possibility being active or passive immunization with PC in some rheumatic conditions

The role of earnout financing on the valuation effects of global diversification

This article examines the impact of earnout financing on the value of acquiring firms engaged in cross-border acquisitions (CBAs), using a dataset of UK, US, Canadian and Australian firms from 1992 to 2012. The results show that firms initiating international business operations via earnout-financed CBAs enhance their value more than acquirers in (a) domestic acquisitions and (b) remaining CBAs by established multinational corporations (MNCs). Our findings demonstrate the superiority of earnout financing in CBAs announced by acquirers that have no prior international business experience. The results are robust to the firms’ endogenous choice to diversify globally and to the use of earnout financing. We contend that earnouts contribute to the reduction of valuation risk faced by firms acquiring a foreign target firm for the first time. Our empirical findings contribute to the existing debate on the merit of international expansion through CBAs and the role of earnout contingent payment

Cerdeira Bravo de Mansilla, Guillermo, Aspectos jurídicos del Coronavirus, Reus, Madrid, 2020

Recensión de la última publicación del catedrático de Derecho civil D. Guillermo Cerdeira, tratando los temas más relevantes con ocasión de los Decretos reguladores del estado de alarma con ocasión de la reciente pandemia de Covid-19. Se tratan aspectos como la interpretación de las normas, la posibilidad de pasear animales, los menores de edad y su ámbito de confinamiento, las residencias de estudiantes, o la interrupción de plazos y la mediación como posible remedio de la litigiosidad

Early-life development of the bifidobacterial community in the infant gut

The establishment of the gut microbiota poses implications for short and long-term health. Bifidobacterium is an important taxon in early life, being one of the most abundant genera in the infant intestinal microbiota and carrying out key functions for maintaining host-homeostasis. Recent metagenomic studies have shown that different factors, such as gestational age, delivery mode, or feeding habits, affect the gut microbiota establishment at high phylogenetic levels. However, their impact on the specific bifidobacterial populations is not yet well understood. Here we studied the impact of these factors on the different Bifidobacterium species and subspecies at both the quantitative and qualitative levels. Fecal samples were taken from 85 neonates at 2, 10, 30, 90 days of life, and the relative proportions of the different bifidobacterial populations were assessed by 16S rRNA–23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequencing. Absolute levels of the main species were determined by q-PCR. Our results showed that the bifidobacterial population establishment is affected by gestational age, delivery mode, and infant feeding, as it is evidenced by qualitative and quantitative changes. These data underline the need for understanding the impact of perinatal factors on the gut microbiota also at low taxonomic levels, especially in the case of relevant microbial populations such as Bifidobacterium. The data obtained provide indications for the selection of the species best suited for the development of bifidobacteria-based products for different groups of neonates and will help to develop rational strategies for favoring a healthy early microbiota development when this process is challenged

The IPO market as a screening device and the going public decision: evidence from acquisitions of privately and publicly held firms

IPO, Merger, Private equity, Screening, Adverse selection, G32, G34,

BSA immobilization on amine-functionalized superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles

Immobilization of bovine serum albumin (BSA) on surface-modified superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION) has been performed by two different double-step immobilization approaches. The first approach consists of preparation of SPION by controlled chemical coprecipitation in the presence of BSA solution, whereas the second approach includes preliminary surface modification of SPION with an amine group using a coupling agent of 3-aminepropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS). Both procedures are followed by 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminepropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) activation with sequential immobilization of the layer of BSA. Additionally, an attempt to modify the surface of SPION with amine and carboxylic groups is undertaken by using L-aspartic acid (LAA). TEM shows that the particle size varies in the range 10-15 nm and does not change significantly after the coating process. The presence of BSA and amine groups on the surface of SPION is confirmed by FT-IR. Magnetic properties are investigated by VSM and results indicate that the superparamagnetic properties are retained for BSA-coated SPION while reducing the value of saturation magnetization (M<sub>s</sub>). The binding capacity is estimated from thermogravimetric and chemical analyses. APTMS-coated SPION show higher BSA binding capacity compared to that of coprecipitated SPION in the presence of BSA. In vitro tests have been performed after the functionalization of SPION with LAA and BSA. Human dermal fibroblasts are incubated with the surface-modified SPION for 6 and 24 h to observe cell behavior, morphology, cytoskeletal organization, and interactions between cell and SPION. BSA-coated SPION incubated with cells demonstrated a cell response similar to that of control cells, with no adverse cell damage and no endocytosis, whereas LAA-coated SPION show partial endocytosis without cytoskeletal disorganization