Regulated expression of galectin-1 after in vitro productive infection with herpes simplex virus type 1: implications for T cell apoptosis

Apoptosis of cytotoxic T lymphocytes by herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) has been reported to be a relevant mechanism of viral immune evasion. Galectin-1 (Gal-1), an endogenous lectin involved in T-cell apoptosis, has recently gained considerable attention as a novel mechanism of tumor-immune evasion. Here we investigated whether infection of cells with HSV-1 can modulate the expression of Gal-1. Results show that pro-apoptotic Gal-1, but not Gal-3, is remarkably up-regulated in cell cultures infected with HSV-1. In addition, this protein is secreted to the extracellular milieu, where it contributes to apoptosis of activated T cells in a carbohydrate-dependent manner. Since many viruses have evolved mechanisms to counteract the antiviral response raised by the infected host, our results suggest that HSV-1 may use galectin-1 as a weapon to kill activated T cells and evade specific immune responses.Fil: Gonzalez, Maria Ines. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología; ArgentinaFil: Rubinstein, Natalia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ilarregui, Juan Martin. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Toscano, Marta Alicia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Sanjuan, Norberto Aníbal. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología; ArgentinaFil: Rabinovich, Gabriel Adrián. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Departamento de Microbiología; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Hospital de Clínicas General San Martín; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Fundación de Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental; Argentin

The experiences of older individuals providing care to older dependents: A phenomenological study in Spain

Objective: Non-professional care provided in domestic settings by a family member or someone from the close environment and without a connection to a professional care service, is increasingly assumed by older people, mainly the spouses of those requiring care. The aim of this study was to describe the experience of older people providing care at home to older dependents. Methods: A qualitative study was carried out to describe and explore the experience of older people, caregivers of dependent older people in the home. Results: Four themes emerged as a result of the analysis: interpersonal relationships established in the caregivers’ immediate environment; the need and request for public and private resources; consequences of providing care during old age; and adaptation to the circumstance of being a caregiver during old age. Older people who provide home-based care, experience their situation as stressful, feel that it limits their daily life, deprives them of their freedom, and affects their interpersonal relationships and social activities. Discussion: Older caregivers learn quickly and can manage the skills issues. The volume of work is their challenge. Interpersonal relationships are altered depending on the length of time spent together and the demand for care. Public services and benefits are not adapted to the demands of caregivers or dependent persons

Real-time PCR optimization to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains in clinical samples.

Resumen del artículo publicado en FEBS Journal,http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/febs.12919During recent years several molecular techniques have become available for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) detection,both for clinical samples and for isolates. One of the techniques more widely used is real time PCR in combination with nucleic acid amplification protocols. There are numerous studies based on PCR for the diagnosis of tuberculosis although the different protocols and primers used in the laboratory, together with the variability in the diagnostic performance of the methods tested, require that a comparative study be performed. Furthermore,the fact that the detection from clinical samples requires using highly sensitive targets suggests that this type of study should include multicopy targets to compare their efficiency with respect to the single copy. Our aim was to identify the members of the MTC using real-time PCR assays based on SYBR Green,among a large panel of isolated bacterial strains and clinical samples.We chose three targets (IS6110, senx3-regx3 and cfp32) and the optimal values for each PCR assay were empirically defined by testing in triplicate different concentrations of MgCl2 and primer sets and different annealing temperatures. These conditions were determined based on the specific amplification reactions that showed a lower Ct value, higher fluorescence and absence of non-specific PCR products. The analytical sensitivity was evaluated by ten-fold serial dilutions of DNA from MTC and the specificity was tested by 62 different microorganisms, including bacteria related with the MTC. The diagnostic yield was evaluated in 66 specimens from patients with suspected tuberculosis;30 had tuberculosis and 36 (control group) had different diseases.Under the conditions that resulted in optimization, standard curves showed that senx3-regx3 assay was the most efficient, followed by IS6110 and cfp32. However, the detection of bacterial DNA was faster with the repetitive element IS6110, with Ct values of up to 3 and 9 cycles of difference with respect to senx3-regx3 and cfp32. The analytical specificity, done only with the senx3-regx3 and IS6110 targets, was in the order of 100 and 93.5%, since IS6110 amplified various non-tuberculous micobacteria.For all the clinical samples studied, the sensitivity of both assays was identical (93.3%) but the specificity of senx3-regx3(100%) was higher than that of IS6110 (94.7%). In conclusion,real time PCR assay-SYBR Green based on the targets senx3-regx3 is highly reproducible and more sensitive and specific than the assays based on IS6110 or cfp32. The protocol developed in this study provides an appropriate and rapid tool to identify the strains of MTC in different clinical isolates and specimens.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Affective Impact on Informal Caregivers over 70 Years of Age: A Qualitative Study

Given today’s rapidly ageing society, family members providing informal care to dependent older adults face ever-increasing challenges. The aim of this study was to describe the affective impact on older adults over 70 years of age caring for a dependent older person at home. A qualitative study was designed from a phenomenological perspective. Thirteen in-depth interviews were conducted with caregivers aged 70 or older. A content analysis of the interviews was carried out in five stages. Three themes were identified: “Emotions”, “Feelings”, and “Looking to the future”. Caregivers express negative emotions (sadness, anger, and fear) and feelings of social and emotional isolation, and they feel abandoned by health professionals, family, and friends. In conclusion, prolonged caregiving by older adults has a negative affective impact and creates uncertainty about the future. There is a need to devise social and healthcare policies and actions, creating social support networks to improve their health and emotional wellbeing