The Role of Chiggers as Human Pathogens

Trombiculid mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) are distributed worldwide ectoparasites of a wide range of vertebrates. More than 50 species are known to bite humans, and about 20 have medical importance. The larval stages (chiggers) of the genus Leptotrombidium are vectors of Orientia tsutsugamushi, causative agent of scrub typhus. This life-threatening disease is widely endemic in Asian Pacific regions where more than one billion people are at risk of acquiring the infection and around one million new cases are estimated to occur annually. In addition, although underreported and often misdiagnosed, trombiculiasis, defined as a dermatitis caused by the salivary secretion of biting chiggers, is present in America and Europe

Role of Birds in Dispersal of Etiologic Agents of Tick-borne Zoonoses, Spain, 2009

We amplified gene sequences from Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia garinii, B. valaisiana, B. turdi, Rickettsia monacensis, R. helvetica, R. sibirica sibirica, and Rickettsia spp. (including Candidatus Rickettsia vini) in ticks removed from birds in Spain. The findings support the role of passerine birds as possible dispersers of these tick-borne pathogens

Optimized EDXRF system for simultaneous detection of gold and silver nanoparticles in tumor phantom

An energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence system (EDXRF) was optimized for simultaneous detection of gold and silver nanoparticles inside water-equivalent phantoms applied to theranostics. The optimization process was carried out in order to maximize the fluorescence detection, keeping dose levels as low as possible. Gold and silver fluorescent emissions were simultaneously detected emerging from phantom's volume, allowing the future development of multi-parametric imaging associated to specific tumor characteristics. For fluorescence detection, gold LIII-edge and silver K-edge emission lines were used, exited with a conventional X-ray source with a tungsten target. Several combinations of filters of different thickness were used to hardening the Bremsstrahlung spectrum, thus producing energetically narrow beams with central energy according to both excitation edges. In the case of gold, incident spectrum was optimized by means of strontium (Sr) and yttrium (Y) filters to relatively incrementing photons capable of exciting gold LIII-edge, while silver K-edge excitation was improved using a tin (Sn) filter. Filtering combinations made of 212.0 μm Sr with 94.5 μm Sn, and 130.2 μm Y with 94.5 μm Sn maximized fluorescence detection sensitivity and minimized delivered dose, resulting in doses 2.24 and 2.36 times lower than individual gold or silver fluorescent detection. Furthermore, when dual gold and silver fluorescent detection was performed, the minimum detectable concentration was lower than single element detection: 0.042 ± 0.002 mg/mL of Au and 0.024 ± 0.005 mg/mL of Ag in dual detection against 0.058 ± 0.003 mg/mL of Au and 0.124 ± 0.007 mg/mL of Ag when measured independently.Fil: Santibáñez, M.. Universidad de La Frontera; ChileFil: Saavedra, R.. Universidad de La Frontera; ChileFil: Vedelago, José Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física; ArgentinaFil: Malano, Francisco Mauricio. Universidad de La Frontera; ChileFil: Valente, Mauro Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Física Enrique Gaviola; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Matemática, Astronomía y Física; Argentina. Universidad de La Frontera; Chil

Test de Zohlen y su relación con el ángulo Q en población sin dolor patelofemoral

ResumenObjetivoDeterminar qué porcentaje de una población sin dolor anterior de rodilla tiene un test de Zohlen positivo, además determinar el ángulo Q de esta población y buscar si existe alguna relación entre la positividad del test de Zohlen y alteraciones en el ángulo Q.Material y métodoEstudio descriptivo-prospectivo observacional. Aplicación del test de Zohlen y medición del ángulo Q. La población se dividió en 2 grupos: test de Zohlen positivo y test de Zohlen negativo. Cuantificación y comparación de medias del ángulo Q en los dos grupos.Resultados90 sujetos evaluados, promedio de edad 20,18 años (18-40). Veinte sujetos (22,2%) con test de Zohlen positivo. Ángulo Q promedio en los sujetos con test de Zohlen negativo: 14,95°; ángulo Q promedio en los sujetos con test de Zohlen positivo: 16,9° (p < 0,05).Ángulo Q promedio en hombres con test de Zohlen negativo13,4°; ángulo Q promedio en hombres con test de Zohlen positivo: 16° (p < 0,05). Ángulo Q promedio en mujeres con test de Zohlen negativo: 16,5°; ángulo Q promedio en mujeres con test de Zohlen positivo: 18°, sin diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre ambos grupos.ConclusionesEl test de Zohlen tiene una correlación positiva con el ángulo Q en sujetos de sexo masculino. Dada la correlación entre un ángulo Q alterado y la presencia de dolor anterior de rodilla, en los pacientes que presentan un test de Zohlen positivo sin haber consultado por dolor anterior de rodilla, la prevención primaria de dolor anterior de rodilla puede ser de utilidad.AbstractObjectiveTo determine the percentage of a population without anterior knee pain with a positive Zohlen test, and also to determine the Q angle of this population and to determine if there is any relationship between the Zohlen test and Q angle anomalies.MethodsA prospective observational study was conducted in which Zohleńs test was applied and the Q angle was measured. The population was divided into 2 groups: Zohleńs positive and Zohleńs negative. Q angle was compared in the 2 groups.ResultsThe study included 90 subjects, with a mean age 20.18 years (18-40), of whom 20 subjects (22.2%) had positive Zohleńs test. The mean Q angle in subjects with negative Zohleńs test was 14.95°, and the mean Q angle in subjects with positive Zohleńs test was 16,9° (p<.05). The mean Q angle in men with negative Zohleńs test was 13.4°, and the mean Q angle in men with positive Zohleńs test was 16° (p < .05). The mean Q angle in women with negative Zohleńs test was 16.5°, with a mean Q angle of 18° in women with positive Zohleńs test, with no statistically significant differences found between groups.ConclusionsZohleńs test has a positive correlation with the Q angle in male subjects. Given the correlation between the Q angle and the presence of anterior knee pain in patients who have a positive test without symptoms, primary prevention of anterior knee pain can be achieved

Prognostic value of plasma pentraxin 3 levels in patients with septic shock admitted to intensive care

Objective: To evaluate the usefulness of a new marker, pentraxin, as a prognostic marker in septic shock patients. Materials and methods: Single-centre prospective observational study that included all consecutive patients 18 years or older who were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with septic shock. Serum levels of procalcitonin (PCT), C reactive protein (CRP) and pentraxin (PTX3) were measured on ICU admission. Results: Seventy-five septic shock patients were included in the study. The best predictors of inhospital mortality were the severity scores: SAPS II (AUC = 0.81), SOFA (AUC = 0.79) and APACHE II (AUC = 0.73). The ROC curve for PTX3 (ng/mL) yielded an AUC of 0.70, higher than the AUC for PCT (0.43) and CRP (0.48), but lower than lactate (0.79). Adding PTX3 to the logistic model increased the predictive capacity in relation to SAPS II, SOFA and APACHE II for in-hospital mortality (AUC 0.814, 0.795, and 0.741, respectively). In crude regression models, significant associations were found between in-hospital mortality and PTX3. This positive association increased after adjusting for age, sex and immunosuppression: adjusted OR T3 for PTX3 = 7.83, 95% CI 1.35?45.49, linear P trend = 0.024. Conclusion: Our results support the prognostic value of a single determination of plasma PTX3 as a predictor of hospital mortality in septic shock patients

Linkage studies in a Li-Fraumeni family with increased expression of p53 protein but no germline mutation in p53.

We report a family with the Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS) in whom we have been unable to detect a mutation in the coding sequence of the p53 gene. Analysis of linkage to three polymorphic markers within p53 enabled direct involvement of p53 to be excluded. This is the first example of a LFS family in whom exclusion of p53 has been possible. Four affected members of the family with sarcoma or premenopausal breast cancer showed increased expression of p53 protein in their normal tissues as detected by immunohistochemistry. It therefore appears that the LFS phenotype has been conferred by an aberrant gene, showing a dominant pattern of inheritance, which may be acting to compromise normal p53 function rather than by a mutation in p53 itself. In order to try to determine the chromosomal location of this putative gene, we have carried out studies of linkage to candidate loci. By these means we have excluded involvement of Rb1 and BRCA1 on chromosomes 13q and 17q respectively. The MDM2 oncogene on chromosome 12q was considered to be the prime candidate as MDM2 is amplified in sarcomas and the MDM2 product binds to p53. Furthermore, p53 mutation and amplification of MDM2 have been shown to be mutually exclusive events in tumour development. Linkage analysis to two polymorphic markers within MDM2 yielded a three-point LOD score of -5.4 at a recombination fraction theta equal to zero. Therefore MDM2 could be excluded. It is possible that the gene which is responsible for cancer susceptibility in this family, possibly via interaction with p53, will be important in the histogenesis of breast cancer in general. We are now carrying out further studies to locate and identify this gene

In vitro anti-canine distemper virus activity of fucoidan extracted from the brown alga Cladosiphon okamuranus

Canine distemper virus (CDV) is a morbillivirus related to measles virus that infects dogs and other carnivores. CDV has a significant global impact on animal health; however, there is no current antiviral treatment for CDV infection. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that sulfated polysaccharides exhibit antiviral properties both in vivo and in vitro, despite their low cytotoxicity to host cells. Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide found in the cell wall matrix of brown algae. In this study, we evaluated in vitro anti-CDV activity of fucoidan, which was derived from Cladosiphon okamuranus. Fucoidan actively inhibited CDV replication in Vero cells at a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.1 lg/ml. The derived selectivity index (SI50) was[20,000. This polysaccharide likely inhibits viral infection by interference in the early steps and by inhibiting CDV-mediated cell fusion. Fucoidan may be useful in development of pharmacological strategies to treat and control CDV infection

Overexpression of aurora B kinase (AURKB) in primary non-small cell lung carcinoma is frequent, generally driven from one allele, and correlates with the level of genetic instability

Aurora kinases are key regulators of chromosome segregation during mitosis. We have previously shown by microarray analysis of primary lung carcinomas and matched normal tissue that AURKB (22 out of 37) and AURKA (15 out of 37) transcripts are frequently over-represented in these tumours. We now confirm these observations in a second series of 44 carcinomas and also show that aurora B kinase protein levels are raised in the tumours compared to normal tissue. Elevated levels of expression in tumours are not a consequence of high-level amplification of the AURKB gene. Using a coding sequence polymorphism we show that in most cases (seven out of nine) tumour expression is predominantly driven from one AURKB allele. Given the function of aurora B kinase, we examined whether there was an association between expression levels and genetic instability. We defined two groups of high and low AURKB expression. Using a panel of 10 microsatellite markers, we found that the group showing the higher level of expression had a higher frequency of allelic imbalance (P=0.0012). Analysis of a number of other genes that are strongly and specifically expressed in tumour over normal lung, including SERPINB5, TERT and PRAME, showed marked allelic expression imbalances in the tumour tissue in the context of balanced or only marginally imbalanced relative allelic copy numbers. Our data support a model of early carcinogenesis wherein defects in the process of inactivation of lung stem-cell associated genes during differentiation, contributes to the development of carcinogenesis