Effect of Preexisting Neutralizing Antibodies on the Anti-tumor Immune Response Induced by Chimeric Human Papillomavirus Virus-like Particle Vaccines

AbstractChimeric human papillomavirus virus-like particles (HPV cVLPs) carrying HPV16 E7 protein are potent vaccines for inducing cell-mediated immunity (CMI) against HPV-induced tumors in animal models. We tested the hypothesis that virion-neutralizing antibodies generated during an initial vaccination might prevent effective boosting of CMI to the cVLPs. Mice with circulating HPV16-neutralizing antibodies, generated by direct immunization with wild-type VLPs or by passive transfer of hyperimmune anti-HPV16 VLP mouse sera, were subsequently vaccinated with HPV16 E7-containing cVLPs. Mice with preexisting neutralizing antibodies were not protected from HPV16 E7-positive TC-1 tumor challenge, compared to the protection seen in mice lacking these antibodies. Antibody-coated VLPs bound very inefficiently to receptor-positive cell lines, suggesting that one of the mechanisms of antibody interference is blocking of VLP binding to its receptor and thereby uptake of VLPs by antigen-presenting cells. Our results suggest that repetitive vaccination with a cVLP for induction of cellular immune responses to an incorporated antigen may be of limited effectiveness due to the presence of neutralizing antibodies against the capsid proteins induced after the first application. This limitation could potentially be overcome by boosting with cVLPs containing the same target antigen incorporated into other papillomavirus-type VLPs

Interpreter perspectives on working with trauma patients: Challenges and recommendations to improve access to care.

Given the growing number of immigrant and limited-English-proficiency individuals in the U.S., accessing language-congruent services can be a significant barrier for many seeking mental health treatment. The use of spoken-language interpreters can help address this barrier; however, the interpretation in the context of trauma therapy can be particularly challenging for interpreters without mental health training. This quality improvement study explores issues identified by interpreters assisting in the provision of trauma-focused treatment for primarily immigrant populations. Ten certified medical interpreters (nine Spanish-language interpreters and one American Sign Language interpreter) participated in a focus group at a specialty trauma clinic in the southeastern U.S. Core findings concerned the challenges of interpreting (i.e., use of mental health terminology, little time to process emotionally charged sessions, the impact of vicarious trauma, difficulties related to the speed of interpreting and interpreting for multiple patients at once, logistical difficulties, and the availability of interpreters). Interpreters also identified perceived needs and provided recommendations for overcoming challenges (i.e., holding presession meetings with clinicians, ensuring breaks between trauma patients, creating a support group for interpreters, ensuring a direct telephonic line between interpreters and the trauma clinic, providing interpreters with session materials before appointments, and training clinicians on the use of interpreters specifically for trauma treatment). Specific recommendations for agencies and clinicians new to the use of interpreters for trauma-focused services can ultimately enhance service provision for trauma patients in need of language-congruent services

Evaluation of a chitosan-based edible film as carrier of natamycin to improve the storability of saloio cheese

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the application of chitosan coating containing natamycin on the physicochemical and microbial properties of semi-hard cheese. Three cheese groups were prepared: samples without coating, samples coated with chitosan and with chitosan containing 0.50 mg mL−1 of natamycin, whose minimum inhibitory concentration was previously determinated on cheese surface. Microbiological analyses showed that natamycin coated samples presented a decrease on moulds/yeasts of 1.1 log (CFU g−1) compared to control after 27 days of storage. Addition of natamycin also affected O2 and CO2 permeability, increasing from 7.12 to 7.68 × 10−15 g·(Pa s m)−1, and from 10.69 to 64.58 × 10−14 g·(Pa s m)−1, respectively. The diffusion coefficient values of natamycin from the film to phosphate buffered saline solution and to the cheese were 3.60 × 10−10 and 1.29 × 10−12 cm2 s−1, respectively. This study demonstrated that chitosan-based coating/films can be used as release system containing natamycin to create an additional hurdle for moulds/yeasts in cheese thus contributing to extend its shelf-life.Plan Galego de Investigación, Desenvolvemento e Innovación Tecnolóxica-Incite (Xunta de GaliciaFundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Magnetite Nanoparticles as Solar Photo-Fenton Catalysts for the Degradation of the 5-Fluorouracil Cytostatic Drug

Heterogeneous catalysts based on magnetite nanoparticles, Fe3O4, were prepared by the chemical coprecipitation method using iron (III) chloride as a salt precursor. The physicochemical properties of the nanoparticles were determined by different techniques and the efficiency was evaluated for the degradation of the cytostatic drug, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), in aqueous solution by photo-Fenton process under simulated solar radiation. The most influential parameters, namely pH of the solution, catalyst load, H2O2 dosage, and use of radiation, were studied and optimized in the degradation process. The optimal conditions to achieve a 100% degradation of 5-FU (10 mg L-1) and a high mineralization degree (76%) were established at the acidic pH of 3.0, 100 mg L-1 of catalyst loading, and 58 mM of H2O2 under simulated solar radiation. The contribution of iron leaching to the catalyst deactivation, the role of the dissolved iron ions on homogenous reactions, and the stability of the catalyst were assessed during consecutive reaction cycles.Spanish Project, FEDER/Junta de Andalucia-Consejeria de Transformacion Economica, Industria, Conocimiento y Universidades B-RNM-486-UGR2

Design of graphene-based TiO2 photocatalysts - A review

There is a recent increase in the interest of de- signing high-performance photocatalysts using graphene- based materials. This review gathers some important aspects of graphene–TiO 2 , graphene oxide–TiO 2 , and reduced gra- phene oxide–TiO 2 composites, which are of especial rele- vance as next generation photocatalysts. The methods used for the preparation of these materials, the associated mech- anistic fundamentals, and the application of graphene-based composites on the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants are reviewed. Some structural, textural, and chemical prop- erties of these materials and other photo-assisted applica- tions, such as hydrogen production from water splitting and dye-sensitized solar cells, are also briefly includedFinancial support for this work was provided by the European Commission (Clean Water—grant agreement no 227017) and by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) and FEDER under Program COMPETE, project FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-022706 (Ref. FCT Pest-C/EQB/LA0020/2011) and FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER- 008442 (Ref. NANO/NTec-CA/0046/2007). Clean Water is a Collab- orative Project co-funded by the Research DG of the European Com- mission within the joint RTD activities of the Environment and NMP Thematic Priorities. SMT and AMTS acknowledge financial support from SFRH/BPD/74239/2010 and POCI/N010/2006, respectively

Does Integrated Behavioral Health Care Reduce Mental Health Disparities for Latinos? Initial Findings

Integrated behavioral health care (IBHC) is a model of mental health care service delivery that seeks to reduce stigma and service utilization barriers by embedding mental health professionals into the primary care team. This study explored whether IBHC service referrals, utilization, and outcomes were comparable for Latinos and non-Latino White primary care patients. Data for the current study were collected from 793 consecutive patients (63.8% Latino; M age = 29.02 years [SD = 17.96]; 35.1% under 18 years; 65.3% women; 54.3% uninsured) seen for behavioral health services in 2 primary care clinics during a 10.5 month period. The most common presenting concerns were depression (21.6%), anxiety (18.5%), adjustment disorder (13.0%), and externalizing behavior problems (9.8%). Results revealed that while Latino patients had significantly lower self-reported psychiatric distress, significantly higher clinician-assigned global assessment of functioning scores, and fewer received a psychiatric diagnosis at their initial visit compared to non-Latino White patients, both groups had comparable utilization rates, comparable and clinically significant improvements in symptoms (Cohen’s d values \u3e .50), and expressed high satisfaction with integrated behavioral services. These data provide preliminary evidence suggesting integration of behavioral health services into primary care clinics may help reduce mental health disparities for Latinos

Diagnoses, Intervention Strategies, and Rates of Functional Improvement in Integrated Behavioral Health Care Patients

Objective—Compared with more traditional mental health care, integrated behavioral health care (IBHC) offers greater access to services and earlier identification and intervention of behavioral and mental health difficulties. The current study examined demographic, diagnostic, and intervention factors that predict positive changes for IBHC patients. Method—Participants were 1,150 consecutive patients (mean age = 30.10 years, 66.6% female, 60.1% Hispanic, 47.9% uninsured) seen for IBHC services at 2 primary care clinics over a 34-month period. Patients presented with depressive (23.2%), anxiety (18.6%), adjustment (11.3%), and childhood externalizing (7.6%) disorders, with 25.7% of patients receiving no diagnosis. Results—The most commonly delivered interventions included behavioral activation (26.1%), behavioral medicine-specific consultation (14.6%), relaxation training (10.3%), and parent-management training (8.5%). There was high concordance between diagnoses and evidence-based intervention selection. We used latent growth curve modeling to explore predictors of baseline global assessment of functioning (GAF) and improvements in GAF across sessions, utilizing data from a subset of 117 patients who attended at least 3 behavioral health visits. Hispanic ethnicity and being insured predicted higher baseline GAF, while patients with an anxiety disorder had lower baseline GAF than patients with other diagnoses. Controlling for primary diagnosis, patients receiving behavioral activation or exposure therapy improved at faster rates than patients receiving other interventions. Demographic variables did not relate to rates of improvement. Conclusion—Results suggest even brief IBHC interventions can be focused, targeting specific patient concerns with evidence-based treatment components

Cross-neutralization of cutaneous and mucosal Papillomavirus types with anti-sera to the amino terminus of L2

AbstractVaccination with papillomavirus L2 has been shown to induce neutralizing antibodies that protect against homologous type infection and cross-neutralize a limited number of genital HPVs. Surprisingly, we found that antibodies to bovine papillomavirus (BPV1) L2 amino acids 1–88 induced similar titers of neutralizing antibodies against Human papillomavirus (HPV)16 and 18 and BPV1 pseudoviruses and also neutralized HPV11 native virions. These antibodies also neutralized each of the other pseudovirus types tested, HPV31, HPV6 and Cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) pseudoviruses, albeit with lower titers. HPV16, HPV18, HPV31, HPV6 and CRPV L2 anti-sera also displayed some cross-neutralization, but the titers were lower and did not encompass all pseudoviruses tested. This study demonstrates the presence of broadly cross-neutralizing epitopes at the N-terminus of L2 that are shared by cutaneous and mucosal types and by types that infect divergent species. BPV1 L2 was exceptionally effective at inducing cross-neutralizing antibodies to these shared epitopes

Atlas de Cuidados Paliativos en Latinoamérica. Edición Cartográfica 2013

El Atlas de Cuidados Paliativos en Latinoamérica es un estudio descriptivo de análisis comparativo de datos y/o estimaciones sobre el desarrollo de servicios e iniciativas de Cuidados Paliativos en Latinoamérica. El desarrollo y modelo del Atlas de Cuidados Paliativos en Latinoamérica se basó en el Atlas de Cuidados Paliativos de la Asociación Europea de Cuidados Paliativos (EAPC). La información se obtuvo por medio de una encuesta semi-estructurada a profesionales de Cuidados Paliativos en cada país. Este instrumento fue elaborado por Tania Pastrana, Carlos Centeno y Liliana De Lima y contó con la asesoría de Isabel Torres. El instrumento fue probado en un estudio piloto con 6 personas y de acuerdo a los resultados se hicieron los cambios necesarios. En esta primera versión del Atlas Latinoamericano de Cuidados Paliativos fueron incluidos 19 países latinoamericanos, con lenguaje oficial español o portugué