Serum IgG antibodies from pregnant women reacting to mimotopes of simian virus 40 large T antigen, the viral oncoprotein

Simian virus 40 (SV40) large T antigen (LT) coding sequences were revealed in different human samples, whereas SV40 antibodies (Ab) were detected in human sera of cancer patients and healthy individuals, although with a lower prevalence. Previous studies carried out by the neutralization assay gave a SV40 seroprevalence, in the general population, up to 8%, although higher rates, 12%, were detected in kidney transplant children, in a group of HIV-positive patients, and in healthy females. In this study, serum samples from pregnant women, together with those from non-pregnant women, were analyzed to check the prevalence of IgG Ab reacting to SV40 LT antigens. Serum samples were collected from pregnant and non-pregnant women, with the same mean age. Women were in the range of 15-48 years old. Samples were assayed by an indirect ELISA employing specific SV40 LT mimotopes as antigens, whereas functional analysis was performed by neutralization of the viral infectivity in cell cultures. As a control, sera were analyzed for Ab against BK polyomavirus (BKPyV), which is a human polyomavirus homologous to SV40. Statistical analyses employed chi-square with Yates' correction, and Student's t tests. Indirect ELISAs indicated that pregnant women tested SV40 LT-positive with a prevalence of 17% (23/134), whereas non-pregnant women had a prevalence of 20% (36/180) (P > 0.05). Ab against BKPyV were detected with a prevalence of 80% in pregnant women and with a prevalence of 78% in non-pregnant women. These data indicate that SV40 infects at a low prevalence pregnant women. We may speculate that SV40, or a close human polyomavirus still undetected, could be transmitted from mother to fetus

Ariel stellar characterisation. I. Homogeneous stellar parameters of 187 FGK planet host stars: Description and validation of the method

Context. In 2020 the European Space Agency selected Ariel as the next mission to join the space fleet of observatories to study planets outside our Solar System. Ariel will be devoted to the characterisation of 1000 planetary atmospheres in order to understand what exoplanets are made of, how they form, and how they evolve. To achieve the last two goals all planets need to be studied within the context of their own host stars, which in turn must be analysed with the same technique, in a uniform way. Aims: We present the spectro-photometric method we developed to infer the atmospheric parameters of the known host stars in the Tier 1 of the Ariel Reference Sample. Methods: Our method is based on an iterative approach that combines spectral analysis, the determination of the surface gravity from Gaia data, and the determination of stellar masses from isochrone fitting. We validated our approach with the analysis of a control sample, composed of members of three open clusters with well-known ages and metallicities. Results: We measured effective temperature Teff, surface gravity log g, and the metallicity [Fe/H] of 187 F-G-K stars within the Ariel Reference Sample. We presented the general properties of the sample, including their kinematics, which allows us to classify them into thin- and thick-disc populations. Conclusions: A homogeneous determination of the parameters of the host stars is fundamental in the study of the stars themselves and their planetary systems. Our analysis systematically improves agreement with theoretical models and decreases uncertainties in the mass estimate (from 0.21 ± 0.30 to 0.10 ± 0.02 M⊙), providing useful data for the Ariel consortium and the astronomical community at large. Tables A.1 and A.2 are only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/cat/J/A+A/663/A161</A

Modelling human choices: MADeM and decision‑making

Research supported by FAPESP 2015/50122-0 and DFG-GRTK 1740/2. RP and AR are also part of the Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center for Neuromathematics FAPESP grant (2013/07699-0). RP is supported by a FAPESP scholarship (2013/25667-8). ACR is partially supported by a CNPq fellowship (grant 306251/2014-0)

Effect of cardiac resynchronization therapy on left atrial reverse remodeling: Role of echocardiographic AV delay optimization.

Abstract BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves left ventricular (LV) function in patients with advanced heart failure (HF) and there are some evidences about beneficial effects also on left atrial (LA) dimension and function. The contribution of atrioventricular delay (AVD) optimization on LA changes has not been evaluated. The purpose of the present study was to further investigate the effect of CRT on LA reverse remodelling and to evaluate the contribution of AVD optimization. METHODS AND RESULTS: From the Cardiology Department of Piacenza Hospital and Modena University Hospital fifty one patients with refractory systolic HF and left bundle branch block were prospectively enrolled before CRT implantation. Patients were 1:1 randomized to either an optimized AVD (AV Opt group) determined by continuous wave Doppler aortic velocity-time integral (VTI) or an empiric AVD of 110ms (AV Fixed group). Optimal AVD was defined as the AVD that yielded the largest aortic VTI at one of eight tested AV intervals (between 60 and 200ms). LA volumes and emptying fractions were assessed by two-dimensional echocardiography at baseline and 6months after CRT. At 6-month follow-up, CRT induced LA reverse remodeling in the whole population (maximal LA volume: 55.8±16.4ml/m² vs 50.3±18.9ml/m², p=0.006; pre-systolic LA volume: 47.0±15.2ml/m² vs 41.4±17.4ml/m², p=0.003; post-systolic LA volume: 36.4±15.0ml/m² vs 30.3±18.0ml/m(2), p=0.001); nevertheless, no substantial difference was observed about LA structural and functional remodeling between both AV Opt group and AV Fixed group. CONCLUSION: CRT induces LA reverse remodeling that appears independent from AVD optimization