115 research outputs found
Apoptosis of peritoneal leucocytes during early stages of Fasciola hepatica infections in sheep
Several immunomodulatory properties have been described in Fasciola hepatica infections. Apoptosis has been shown to be an effective mechanism to avoid the immune response in helminth infections. The aim of the present work was to study apoptosis in peritoneal leucocytes of sheep experimentally infected with F. hepatica during the early stages of infection. Five groups (n = 5) of sheep were used. Groups 2–5 were orally infected with 200 metacercariae (mc) and sacrificed at 1, 3, 9 and 18 days post-infection (dpi), respectively. Group 1 was used as the uninfected control (UC). Apoptosis was detected using three different methods 1) immunocytochemistry (ICC) with a polyclonal antibody anti-active caspase-3; 2) an annexin V flow cytometry assay using the Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide (PI); and 3) transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The differential leucocyte count revealed that the majority of peritoneal granulocytes were eosinophils, which increased significantly at 9 and 18 dpi with respect to the uninfected controls. The ICC study revealed that the percentage of caspase-3+ apoptotic peritoneal leucocytes increased significantly from 3 dpi onwards with respect to the uninfected controls. The flow cytometry annexin V assay detected a very significant (P < 0.001) increase of apoptotic peritoneal macrophages, lymphocytes and granulocytes, which remained higher than in the UC until 18 dpi. Transmission electron microscopy studies also confirmed the presence of apoptosis in peritoneal eosinophils at 18 dpi. This is the first report of apoptosis induced by F. hepatica in the peritoneal leucocytes of sheep in vivo. The results of this work suggest the importance of apoptosis induction for the survival of the juvenile parasites in the peritoneal migratory stages of infection.This work was supported by EU grants (H2020-635408-PARAGONE) and the Spanish Ministry of Science grant AGL2015-67023-C2-1-R. The TEM studies were carried out by the Central Research Services (SCAI) of the University of CórdobaAccepted manuscriptVeterinari
Ribavirin as a First Treatment Approach for Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Transplant Recipient Patients
The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is the major cause of acute hepatitis of viral origin worldwide. Despite its usual course as an asymptomatic self-limited hepatitis, there are highly susceptible populations, such as those with underlying immunosuppression, which could develop chronic hepatitis. In this situation, implementation of therapy is mandatory in the sense to facilitate viral clearance. Currently, there are no specific drugs approved for HEV infection, but ribavirin (RBV), the drug of choice, is used for off-label treatment. Here, we present two cases of chronic HEV infection in transplant patients, reviewing and discussing the therapeutic approach available in the literature. The use of RBV for the treatment of an HEV infection in organ transplant patients seems to be effective. The recommendation of 12 weeks of therapy is adequate in terms of efficacy. Nevertheless, there are important issues that urgently need to be assessed, such as optimal duration of therapy and drug dosage
Evaluation of the students' perceptions about the virtual self-learning process in a postgraduate professional program
Objetivos: Evaluar la percepción de los estudiantes de postgrado sobre la enseñanza virtual en tres
cuestiones básicas: acceso al conocimiento, grado de satisfacción y preferencia temporal en enseñanza
virtual y presencial.
Metodología: El estudio se realizó a través de un cuestionario con tres grupos de ítems vinculados a los
objetivos arriba indicados. Se utilizó la prueba t de Student de doble cola.
Resultados y Discusión: Para los alumnos, la plataforma virtual permite acceder al profesor sin llegar a
sustituirlo (p=0,0000), e igual ocurre con la ampliación de conocimientos, la cual no sustituye a los libros ni a
otras fuentes (p=0,0003) (p=0,0158). La libertad de horario constituye la percepción más valorada,
superando significativamente a la dificultad de uso de la plataforma (p=0,0000), la modificación del horario
extralaboral (p=0,0652), el estrés académico (p=0,0020) o la conciliación de la vida familiar y laboral
(p=0,0016). Los estudiantes, a pesar de la accesibilidad y la satisfacción mostrada sobre la enseñanza
virtual, asignan más porcentaje a la enseñanza presencial que a la virtual, tanto en teoría como en práctica
(p=0,0000) y (p=0,0000).Objectives: To evaluate the perception of postgraduate students on virtual learning in three topics: access to
knowledge, satisfaction level, and time-distribution preferences in virtual and non-virtual education.
Methodology: This study was carried out by using a questionnaire with three groups of items associated with
the 3 objectives. The Student t test was used to analyze the results.
Results and Discussion: The virtual platform allowed the students to access the instructors, but without
replacing them (p=0.0000). Also the student's perception is that they can increase their knowledge without
replacing books or other resources (p=0.0003) (p=0.0158). The freedom of work time was significantly
more valued that the need to overcome the difficulty of using the platform (p=0.0000), changing the working
hours (p=0.0652), academic stress (p=0.0020) and balancing work and family life (p=0.0016). Despite the
accessibility and satisfaction with the platform, students gave more percentage of time to non-virtual
learning than to virtual learning in both theory and practice (p=0.0000) and (p=0.0000)
Measurement of the cosmic ray spectrum above eV using inclined events detected with the Pierre Auger Observatory
A measurement of the cosmic-ray spectrum for energies exceeding
eV is presented, which is based on the analysis of showers
with zenith angles greater than detected with the Pierre Auger
Observatory between 1 January 2004 and 31 December 2013. The measured spectrum
confirms a flux suppression at the highest energies. Above
eV, the "ankle", the flux can be described by a power law with
index followed by
a smooth suppression region. For the energy () at which the
spectral flux has fallen to one-half of its extrapolated value in the absence
of suppression, we find
eV.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO
Marco activo de recursos de innovación docente: Madrid
Una guía de espacios e instituciones para actividades educativas complementarias en enseñanza secundaria y Formación Profesional
Energy Estimation of Cosmic Rays with the Engineering Radio Array of the Pierre Auger Observatory
The Auger Engineering Radio Array (AERA) is part of the Pierre Auger
Observatory and is used to detect the radio emission of cosmic-ray air showers.
These observations are compared to the data of the surface detector stations of
the Observatory, which provide well-calibrated information on the cosmic-ray
energies and arrival directions. The response of the radio stations in the 30
to 80 MHz regime has been thoroughly calibrated to enable the reconstruction of
the incoming electric field. For the latter, the energy deposit per area is
determined from the radio pulses at each observer position and is interpolated
using a two-dimensional function that takes into account signal asymmetries due
to interference between the geomagnetic and charge-excess emission components.
The spatial integral over the signal distribution gives a direct measurement of
the energy transferred from the primary cosmic ray into radio emission in the
AERA frequency range. We measure 15.8 MeV of radiation energy for a 1 EeV air
shower arriving perpendicularly to the geomagnetic field. This radiation energy
-- corrected for geometrical effects -- is used as a cosmic-ray energy
estimator. Performing an absolute energy calibration against the
surface-detector information, we observe that this radio-energy estimator
scales quadratically with the cosmic-ray energy as expected for coherent
emission. We find an energy resolution of the radio reconstruction of 22% for
the data set and 17% for a high-quality subset containing only events with at
least five radio stations with signal.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DO
Measurement of the Radiation Energy in the Radio Signal of Extensive Air Showers as a Universal Estimator of Cosmic-Ray Energy
We measure the energy emitted by extensive air showers in the form of radio
emission in the frequency range from 30 to 80 MHz. Exploiting the accurate
energy scale of the Pierre Auger Observatory, we obtain a radiation energy of
15.8 \pm 0.7 (stat) \pm 6.7 (sys) MeV for cosmic rays with an energy of 1 EeV
arriving perpendicularly to a geomagnetic field of 0.24 G, scaling
quadratically with the cosmic-ray energy. A comparison with predictions from
state-of-the-art first-principle calculations shows agreement with our
measurement. The radiation energy provides direct access to the calorimetric
energy in the electromagnetic cascade of extensive air showers. Comparison with
our result thus allows the direct calibration of any cosmic-ray radio detector
against the well-established energy scale of the Pierre Auger Observatory.Comment: Replaced with published version. Added journal reference and DOI.
Supplemental material in the ancillary file
Population-based multicase-control study in common tumors in Spain (MCC-Spain): rationale and study design
Introduction: We present the protocol of a large population-based case-control study of 5 common tumors
in Spain (MCC-Spain) that evaluates environmental exposures and genetic factors.
Methods: Between 2008-2013, 10,183 persons aged 20-85 years were enrolled in 23 hospitals and primary
care centres in 12 Spanish provinces including 1,115 cases of a new diagnosis of prostate cancer,
1,750 of breast cancer, 2,171 of colorectal cancer, 492 of gastro-oesophageal cancer, 554 cases of chronic
lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) and 4,101 population-based controls matched by frequency to cases by age,
sex and region of residence. Participation rates ranged from 57% (stomach cancer) to 87% (CLL cases) and
from 30% to 77% in controls. Participants completed a face-to-face computerized interview on sociodemographic
factors, environmental exposures, occupation, medication, lifestyle, and personal and family
medical history. In addition, participants completed a self-administered food-frequency questionnaire
and telephone interviews. Blood samples were collected from 76% of participants while saliva samples
were collected in CLL cases and participants refusing blood extractions. Clinical information was recorded
for cases and paraffin blocks and/or fresh tumor samples are available in most collaborating hospitals.
Genotyping was done through an exome array enriched with genetic markers in specific pathways. Multiple
analyses are planned to assess the association of environmental, personal and genetic risk factors
for each tumor and to identify pleiotropic effects.
Discussion: This study, conducted within the Spanish Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology
& Public Health (CIBERESP), is a unique initiative to evaluate etiological factors for common cancers
and will promote cancer research and prevention in Spain.The study was partially funded by the “Accion Transversal
del Cancer”, approved on the Spanish Ministry Council on the
11th October 2007, by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III-FEDER
(PI08/1770, PI08/0533, PI08/1359, PS09/00773, PS09/01286,
PS09/01903, PS09/02078, PS09/01662, PI11/01403, PI11/01889,
PI11/00226, PI11/01810, PI11/02213, PI12/00488, PI12/00265,
PI12/01270, PI12/00715, PI12/00150), by the Fundación Marqués
de Valdecilla (API 10/09), by the ICGC International Cancer Genome
Consortium CLL, by the Junta de Castilla y León (LE22A10-2), by
the Consejería de Salud of the Junta de Andalucía (PI-0571), by the
Conselleria de Sanitat of the Generalitat Valenciana (AP 061/10),
by the Recercaixa (2010ACUP 00310), by the Regional Government
of the Basque Country by European Commission grants FOOD-CT-
2006-036224-HIWATE, by the Spanish Association Against Cancer
(AECC) Scientific Foundation, by the The Catalan Government
DURSI grant 2009SGR1489
CIBERER : Spanish national network for research on rare diseases: A highly productive collaborative initiative
Altres ajuts: Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII); Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación.CIBER (Center for Biomedical Network Research; Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red) is a public national consortium created in 2006 under the umbrella of the Spanish National Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII). This innovative research structure comprises 11 different specific areas dedicated to the main public health priorities in the National Health System. CIBERER, the thematic area of CIBER focused on rare diseases (RDs) currently consists of 75 research groups belonging to universities, research centers, and hospitals of the entire country. CIBERER's mission is to be a center prioritizing and favoring collaboration and cooperation between biomedical and clinical research groups, with special emphasis on the aspects of genetic, molecular, biochemical, and cellular research of RDs. This research is the basis for providing new tools for the diagnosis and therapy of low-prevalence diseases, in line with the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) objectives, thus favoring translational research between the scientific environment of the laboratory and the clinical setting of health centers. In this article, we intend to review CIBERER's 15-year journey and summarize the main results obtained in terms of internationalization, scientific production, contributions toward the discovery of new therapies and novel genes associated to diseases, cooperation with patients' associations and many other topics related to RD research
- …