Varicella zoster virus glycoprotein C increases chemokine-mediated leukocyte migration

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is a highly prevalent human pathogen that establishes latency in neurons of the peripheral nervous system. Primary infection causes varicella whereas reactivation results in zoster, which is often followed by chronic pain in adults. Following infection of epithelial cells in the respiratory tract, VZV spreads within the host by hijacking leukocytes, including T cells, in the tonsils and other regional lymph nodes, and modifying their activity. In spite of its importance in pathogenesis, the mechanism of dissemination remains poorly understood. Here we addressed the influence of VZV on leukocyte migration and found that the purified recombinant soluble ectodomain of VZV glycoprotein C (rSgC) binds chemokines with high affinity. Functional experiments show that VZV rSgC potentiates chemokine activity, enhancing the migration of monocyte and T cell lines and, most importantly, human tonsillar leukocytes at low chemokine concentrations. Binding and potentiation of chemokine activity occurs through the C-terminal part of gC ectodomain, containing predicted immunoglobulin-like domains. The mechanism of action of VZV rSgC requires interaction with the chemokine and signalling through the chemokine receptor. Finally, we show that VZV viral particles enhance chemokine-dependent T cell migration and that gC is partially required for this activity. We propose that VZV gC activity facilitates the recruitment and subsequent infection of leukocytes and thereby enhances VZV systemic dissemination in humans

Calidad del registro del diagnóstico de demencia en atención primaria. La situación en España en el periodo 2002-2011

Objetivo: Comprobar el diagnóstico asociado al tratamiento específico para demencia en la historia clínica electrónica de atención primaria (HCE-AP) y analizar los factores asociados a la calidad del registro Método: Estudio descriptivo de los pacientes con anticolinesterásicos o memantina registrados en la Base para Investigación Farmacoepidemiológica en atención primaria (BIFAP) 2011: 24.575 pacientes entre 2002 y 2011. Los diagnósticos asociados a la primera prescripción de estos fármacos se agruparon en 5 categorías: «demencia», «alteraciones de memoria», «enfermedades relacionadas con demencia», «procesos intercurrentes» y «códigos de conveniencia». Se calculó la prevalencia de cada categoría por edad y sexo en cada año de estudio (IC 95%) y se analizaron asociaciones y tendencia 2002-2011, utilizando diferencias de proporciones para muestras independientes y regresión logística binaria. Resultados: El 56,5% (IC 95%: 55,8-57,1) de los pacientes tenían asociado código «demencia» a la primera prescripción. Se registró mejor en mujeres (OR: 1,09 [IC 95%: 1,03-1,15]) y al aumentar el tiempo transcurrido (OR: 1,07 [IC 95%: 1,06-1,08] por cada año de seguimiento). Los «códigos de conveniencia» (16,3% [IC 95%: 15,8-16,7]) se utilizaron más en mujeres y ≥ 80 años; las «alteraciones de memoria» (12,4% [IC 95%: 12,0-12,8]), «enfermedades relacionadas» (4,6% [IC 95%: 4,4-4,8]) y «procesos intercurrentes» (10,3% [IC 95%: 9,9-10,6]) más en hombres y < 80 años. De 2002 a 2011 mejoró el uso de «códigos de conveniencia». Conclusiones: Casi la mitad de los pacientes con anticolinesterásicos o memantina no tienen registrado diagnóstico de demencia en su HCE-AP. El registro mejora al aumentar el tiempo de seguimiento. Se requieren mejoras de la HCE-AP, coordinación asistencial adecuada y actitud activa para aumentar la calidad del registro de demencia

Patterns of sedentary behavior and compliance with public health recommendations in Spanish adolescents: the AFINOS study Patrones de sedentarismo y cumplimiento de las recomendaciones de salud pública en adolescentes españoles: estudio AFINOS

The aims of the present study were: (i) describe patterns of sedentary behavior in Spanish adolescents; and (ii) determine the proportion of adolescents that do not meet the public health recommendations for sedentary behavior. This study comprised 1,724 Spanish adolescents (882 girls), aged 13 to 16 years. Patterns of sedentary behavior (TV viewing, use of computer games, console games and surfing the Internet) were assessed using the HELENA sedentary behavior questionnaire. The total proportion of adolescents watching TV, using computer and console games, and surfing the internet for more than two hours daily was 24%, 9%, 7%, and 17%, respectively, on weekdays, and 50%, 22%, 16%, and 35%, respectively, on weekends. Over 63% of the adolescents from the study did not meet the recommendation for sedentary behavior (< 2 hours daily screen time) on weekdays and 87% did not comply with this recommendation on weekends. Since sedentary behavior plays a key role in adolescent health, public health interventions in Spain that take these factors into consideration are needed.<br>Los objetivos del estudio son: (i) describir los patrones de comportamiento sedentario en adolescentes españoles y (ii) establecer cuántos de ellos no cumplen las recomendaciones de salud pública sobre comportamiento sedentario. Participaron 1.724 adolescentes españoles (882 chicas) entre 13 y 16 años. Los patrones de comportamiento sedentario (ver la televisión, juegos de ordenador, videojuegos y navegar en Internet) fueron evaluados a través del cuestionario HELENA. La proporción total de adolescentes que ven la TV, usan juegos de ordenador o de consola y navegan en Internet durante > 2h los días de diario fue del 24%, 9%, 7% y 17%, respectivamente. Durante los fines de semana, la proporción fue del 50%, 22%, 16% y 35%. Más del 63% del total de la muestra no cumplen las recomendaciones de tiempo sedentario total < 2 horas durante los días de diario y el 87% no lo hace en días del fin de semana. Dado que las conductas sedentarias podrían ser relevantes en la salud de los adolescentes, las intervenciones de salud pública son necesarias en España

Spinning up a Daze: TESS Uncovers a Hot Jupiter orbiting the Rapid-Rotator TOI-778

NASA's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission, has been uncovering a growing number of exoplanets orbiting nearby, bright stars. Most exoplanets that have been discovered by TESS orbit narrow-line, slow-rotating stars, facilitating the confirmation and mass determination of these worlds. We present the discovery of a hot Jupiter orbiting a rapidly rotating (vsin(i)=35.1±1.0km/s) early F3V-dwarf, HD115447 (TOI-778). The transit signal taken from Sectors 10 and 37 of TESS's initial detection of the exoplanet is combined with follow-up ground-based photometry and velocity measurements taken from Minerva-Australis, TRES, CORALIE and CHIRON to confirm and characterise TOI-778b. A joint analysis of the light curves and the radial velocity measurements yield a mass, radius, and orbital period for TOI-778b of 2.76+0.24−0.23Mjup, 1.370±0.043Rjup and ∼4.63 days, respectively. The planet orbits a bright (V=9.1mag) F3-dwarf with M=1.40±0.05Msun, R=1.70±0.05Rsun, and logg=4.05±0.17. We observed a spectroscopic transit of TOI-778b, which allowed us to derive a sky-projected spin-orbit angle of 18∘±11∘, consistent with an aligned planetary system. This discovery demonstrates the capability of smaller aperture telescopes such as Minerva-Australis to detect the radial velocity signals produced by planets orbiting broad-line, rapidly rotating stars

An Observational Study of Dyspnea in Emergency Departments: The Asia, Australia, and New Zealand Dyspnea in Emergency Departments Study ( AANZDEM )

International audienceObjectives: The objective was to describe the epidemiology of dyspnea presenting to emergency departments (EDs) in the Asia-Pacific region, to understand how it is investigated and treated and its outcome.Methods: Prospective interrupted time series cohort study conducted at three time points in EDs in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia of adult patients presenting to the ED with dyspnea as a main symptom. Data were collected over three 72-hour periods and included demographics, comorbidities, mode of arrival, usual medications, prehospital treatment, initial assessment, ED investigations, treatment in the ED, ED diagnosis, disposition from ED, in-hospital outcome, and final hospital diagnosis. The primary outcomes of interest are the epidemiology, investigation, treatment, and outcome of patients presenting to ED with dyspnea.Results: A total of 3,044 patients were studied. Patients with dyspnea made up 5.2% (3,105/60,059, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 5.0% to 5.4%) of ED presentations, 11.4% of ward admissions (1,956/17,184, 95% CI = 10.9% to 11.9%), and 19.9% of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions (104/523, 95% CI = 16.7% to 23.5%). The most common diagnoses were lower respiratory tract infection (20.2%), heart failure (14.9%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (13.6%), and asthma (12.7%). Hospital ward admission was required for 64% of patients (95% CI = 62% to 66%) with 3.3% (95% CI = 2.8% to 4.1%) requiring ICU admission. In-hospital mortality was 6% (95% CI = 5.0% to 7.2%).Conclusion: Dyspnea is a common symptom in ED patients contributing substantially to ED, hospital, and ICU workload. It is also associated with significant mortality. There are a wide variety of causes however chronic disease accounts for a large proportion