Influenza surveillance using data from a telemedicine centre.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed at investigating whether data from medical teleconsultations may contribute to influenza surveillance. METHODS: International Classification of Primary Care 2nd Edition (ICPC-2) codes were used to analyse the proportion of teleconsultations due to influenza-related symptoms. Results were compared with the weekly Swiss Sentinel reports. RESULTS: When using the ICPC-2 code for fever we could reproduce the seasonal influenza peaks of the winter seasons 07/08, 08/09 and 09/10 as depicted by the Sentinel data. For the pandemic influenza 09/10, we detected a much higher first peak in summer 2009 which correlated with a potential underreporting in the Sentinel system. CONCLUSIONS: ICPC-2 data from medical teleconsultations allows influenza surveillance in real time and correlates very well with the Swiss Sentinel system.

Interactions between Siglec-7/9 receptors and ligands influence NK cell-dependent tumor immunosurveillance.

Alteration of the surface glycosylation pattern on malignant cells potentially affects tumor immunity by directly influencing interactions with glycan-binding proteins (lectins) on the surface of immunomodulatory cells. The sialic acid-binding Ig-like lectins Siglec-7 and -9 are MHC class I-independent inhibitory receptors on human NK cells that recognize sialic acid-containing carbohydrates. Here, we found that the presence of Siglec-9 defined a subset of cytotoxic NK cells with a mature phenotype and enhanced chemotactic potential. Interestingly, this Siglec-9+ NK cell population was reduced in the peripheral blood of cancer patients. Broad analysis of primary tumor samples revealed that ligands of Siglec-7 and -9 were expressed on human cancer cells of different histological types. Expression of Siglec-7 and -9 ligands was associated with susceptibility of NK cell-sensitive tumor cells and, unexpectedly, of presumably NK cell-resistant tumor cells to NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Together, these observations have direct implications for NK cell-based therapies and highlight the requirement to consider both MHC class I haplotype and tumor-specific glycosylation.

Sciences et technologies émergentes : pourquoi tant de promesses?

Les technosciences (numériques, bio- et nanotechnologies, neurosciences, médecine personnalisée, biologie de synthèse) sont accompagnées de promesses fabuleuses à l'attention du public et des décideurs. L'économie des promesses qui en résulte affecte le régime de financement de la recherche et la gouvernance du changement sociotechnique. Elle crée de l'engouement, soutient la compétition scientifique, attire des ressources financières et légitime d'importantes dépenses publiques. Cet ouvrage met en évidence les cycles accélérés d'enthousiasme et de désillusion, les décalages entre horizons d'attente et les questions démocratiques qu'ils soulèvent. Fondé sur des recherches de terrain relevant de l'étude sociale des sciences et des techniques, de la philosophie et de l'histoire, il examine les formes alternatives d'organisation de la recherche, de participation citoyenne et de répartition des droits de propriété et des bénéfices, et montre qu'une forme de ralentissement des promesses, non des sciences, favoriserait l'articulation de ces dernières avec les besoins de la société. L'ambition des textes réunis ici est d'ouvrir le débat en langue française en interrogeant directement le régime des promesses technoscientifiques.

Transient hyperglycemia in patients with tuberculosis in Tanzania: implications for diabetes screening algorithms.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases tuberculosis risk while tuberculosis, as an infectious disease, leads to hyperglycemia. We compared hyperglycemia screening strategies in controls and patients with tuberculosis in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. METHODS: Consecutive adults with tuberculosis and sex- and age-matched volunteers were included in a case-control study between July 2012 and June 2014. All underwent DM screening tests (fasting capillary glucose [FCG] level, 2-hour CG [2-hCG] level, and glycated hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] level) at enrollment, and cases were tested again after receipt of tuberculosis treatment. Association of tuberculosis and its outcome with hyperglycemia was assessed using logistic regression analysis adjusted for sex, age, body mass index, human immunodeficiency virus infection status, and socioeconomic status. Patients with tuberculosis and newly diagnosed DM were not treated for hyperglycemia. RESULTS: At enrollment, DM prevalence was significantly higher among patients with tuberculosis (n = 539; FCG level > 7 mmol/L, 4.5% of patients, 2-hCG level > 11 mmol/L, 6.8%; and HbA1c level > 6.5%, 9.3%), compared with controls (n = 496; 1.2%, 3.1%, and 2.2%, respectively). The association between hyperglycemia and tuberculosis disappeared after tuberculosis treatment (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] for the FCG level: 9.6 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 3.7-24.7] at enrollment vs 2.4 [95% CI, .7-8.7] at follow-up; aOR for the 2-hCG level: 6.6 [95% CI, 4.0-11.1] vs 1.6 [95% CI, .8-2.9]; and aOR for the HbA1c level, 4.2 [95% CI, 2.9-6.0] vs 1.4 [95% CI, .9-2.0]). Hyperglycemia, based on the FCG level, at enrollment was associated with tuberculosis treatment failure or death (aOR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.2-9.3). CONCLUSIONS: Transient hyperglycemia is frequent during tuberculosis, and DM needs confirmation after tuberculosis treatment. Performance of DM screening at tuberculosis diagnosis gives the opportunity to detect patients at risk of adverse outcome.

Differenzierung von blauen Kugelschreibertinten mit LDI-MS: ein Vergleich gegenüber Routinemethoden

Die Differenzierung von Tinten erweist sich oft als wichtig in der Echtheitsprüfung von Dokumenten. Sie wird üblicherweise durch optische Vergleiche und Dünnschicht Chromatographie durchgeführt (TLC). Laser Desorption Ionisation Massenspektrometrie (LDI-MS) ist auch als nützlich gefunden worden und besonders leistungsfähig um Farbstoffe aus Kugelschreibertinte zu analysieren. Diese analytische Methode ist mit Hochleistungs Dünnschichtchromatografie TLC (HPTLC) verglichen worden, mit dem Ziel deren Tinten-Differenzierungskapazität zu testen. Tinteneinträge von 31 blauen Kugelschreibern sind analysiert worden und gemäß deren Farbstoffzusammensetzung klassifiziert worden. Typische Farbstoffe sind durch beide Methoden identifiziert worden und mehrere sind in vielen Tinten-Zusammensetzungen gefunden worden. LDI-MS ist leistungsfähiger als HPTLC um Tinten zu differenzieren, weil es Informationen über Farbstoffstrukturen (Molekular Gewicht) enthält und eine präzise relative Quantifizierung (Signalfläche) erlaubt. Dazu ist für LDI-MS Proben die Vorbereitung minimal und die Analysezeit kurz im Vergleich zu HPTLC mehr komplexen Schritte, wie Extraktionen, Spots Applikationen und Lösungsmittelelution. Allerdings sind mit LDI-MS zwei Analysen nötig um kationische und anionische Farbstoffe zu analysieren, während mit HPTLC nur eine Analyse nötig ist.

Vitamin D deficiency and a CYP27B1-1260 promoter polymorphism are associated with chronic hepatitis C and poor response to interferon-alfa based therapy

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D is an important immune modulator and preliminary data indicated an association between vitamin D deficiency and sustained virologic response (SVR) rates in patients with chronic hepatitis C. We therefore performed a comprehensive analysis on the impact of vitamin D serum levels and of genetic polymorphisms within the vitamin D cascade on chronic hepatitis C and its treatment. METHODS: Vitamin D serum levels, genetic polymorphisms within the vitamin D receptor and the 1α- hydroxylase were determined in a cohort of 468 HCV genotype 1, 2 and 3 infected patients who were treated with interferon-alfa based regimens. RESULTS: Chronic hepatitis C was associated with a high incidence of severe vitamin D deficiency compared to controls (25(OH)D3<10 ng/mL in 25% versus 12%, p<0.00001), which was in part reversible after HCV eradication. 25(OH)D3 deficiency correlated with SVR in HCV genotype 2 and 3 patients (63% and 83% SVR for patients with and without severe vitamin D deficiency, respectively, p<0.001). In addition, the CYPB27-1260 promoter polymorphism rs10877012 had substantial impact on 1-25- dihydroxyvitamin D serum levels and SVR rates in HCV genotype 1, 2 and 3 infected patients. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic hepatitis C virus infection is associated with vitamin D deficiency. Reduced 25- hydroxyvitamin D levels and CYPB27-1260 promoter polymorphism are associated with failure to achieve SVR in HCV genotype 1, 2, 3 infected patients.

Ein digitales Kulturobjekt. Der Fall der »Restaurierung« des Ecce homo von Borja

Im August 2012 brachte der Heimatverein von Borja, in Spanien, auf seinem Blog seine »tiefe Betroffenheit« über einen, wie es hieß, »unbeschreiblichen Vorgang« zum Ausdruck: Ein Wandgemälde in der Iglesia del Santuario de la Misericordia war in einer Form restauriert worden, die das ursprüngliche Motiv - den Schmerzensmann - fast unkenntlich machte. Die Affäre ging in kürzester Zeit durch die internationale Presse und durch das Internet. Sie schlug dabei unerwartet hohe Wellen, mit denen sich Hohn und Spott über den in fast allen Kommentaren als »misslungen« bezeichneten Restaurierungsakt ergoss. Im Web 2.0 hingegen gab das dergestalt »restaurierte« Antlitz des Ecce homo Anlass zu einer Vielzahl von Neuinterpretationen, es avancierte zu einem regelrechten Internet-Phänomen, das in der vorliegenden Studie in Hinblick auf den Umgang mit und die Aneignung von Bildern im digitalen Zeitalter untersucht werden soll.