Highly pathogenic adapted HIV-1 strains limit host immunity and dictate rapid disease progression.

OBJECTIVE:: The study of HIV-1 rapid progressors has been limited to specific case reports. Nevertheless, identification and characterization of the viral and host factors involved in rapid progression are crucial when attempting to uncover the correlates of rapid disease outcome. DESIGN:: We carried out comparative functional analyses in rapid progressors (n = 46) and standard progressors (n = 46) early after HIV-1 seroconversion (≤1 year). The viral traits tested were viral replicative capacity, co-receptor usage, and genomic variation. Host CD8 T-cell responses, humoral activity, and HLA immunogenetic markers were also determined. RESULTS:: Our data demonstrate an unusual convergence of highly pathogenic HIV-1 strains in rapid progressors. Compared with standard progressors, rapid progressor viral strains show higher in-vitro replicative capacity (81.5 vs. 67.9%; P = 0.025) and greater X4/DM co-receptor usage (26.3 vs. 2.8%; P = 0.006) in early infection. Limited or absent functional HIV-1 CD8 T-cell responses and neutralizing activity were measured in rapid progressors. Moreover, the increase in common HLA allele-restricted CD8 T-cell escape mutations in rapid progressors acts as a signature of uncontrolled HIV-1 replication and early impairment of adaptive cellular responses. CONCLUSION:: Our data support a dominant role for viral factors in rapid progressors. Robust HIV-1 replication and intrinsic viral properties limit host adaptive immune responses, thus driving rapid disease progression.

Added Value of Deep Sequencing Relative to Population Sequencing in Heavily Pre-Treated HIV-1-Infected Subjects.

OBJECTIVE: To explore the potential of deep HIV-1 sequencing for adding clinically relevant information relative to viral population sequencing in heavily pre-treated HIV-1-infected subjects. METHODS: In a proof-of-concept study, deep sequencing was compared to population sequencing in HIV-1-infected individuals with previous triple-class virological failure who also developed virologic failure to deep salvage therapy including, at least, darunavir, tipranavir, etravirine or raltegravir. Viral susceptibility was inferred before salvage therapy initiation and at virological failure using deep and population sequencing genotypes interpreted with the HIVdb, Rega and ANRS algorithms. The threshold level for mutant detection with deep sequencing was 1%. RESULTS: 7 subjects with previous exposure to a median of 15 antiretrovirals during a median of 13 years were included. Deep salvage therapy included darunavir, tipranavir, etravirine or raltegravir in 4, 2, 2 and 5 subjects, respectively. Self-reported treatment adherence was adequate in 4 and partial in 2; one individual underwent treatment interruption during follow-up. Deep sequencing detected all mutations found by population sequencing and identified additional resistance mutations in all but one individual, predominantly after virological failure to deep salvage therapy. Additional genotypic information led to consistent decreases in predicted susceptibility to etravirine, efavirenz, nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and indinavir in 2, 1, 2 and 1 subject, respectively. Deep sequencing data did not consistently modify the susceptibility predictions achieved with population sequencing for darunavir, tipranavir or raltegravir. CONCLUSIONS: In this subset of heavily pre-treated individuals, deep sequencing improved the assessment of genotypic resistance to etravirine, but did not consistently provide additional information on darunavir, tipranavir or raltegravir susceptibility. These data may inform the design of future studies addressing the clinical value of minority drug-resistant variants in treatment-experienced subjects.

El préstec de documents en un campus virtual : generant un nou concepte

El préstec de documents és un dels pilars fonamentals de la biblioteca per donar suport a l'estudi, docència i recerca. A la Biblioteca de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya, la diferència principal respecte a altres biblioteques universitàries, és el nou concepte virtual sense parets, i aquest concepte s'estén també a aquest servei de préstec. Els usuaris no han d'accedir necessàriament a un espai físic per consultar les fonts d'informació disponibles, ni per endur-se documents en préstec. Des de casa, i de manera remota, poden demanar els documents en els que estiguin interessats, des del mateix catàleg i sense cap tipus d'intermediari gràcies al desenvolupament d'un nou servei de préstec de documents, que genera alhora un nou model dins d'un campus virtual.

La Biblioteca Virtual de la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya : un nuevo concepto de biblioteca

The Virtual Library of the UOC not only contains its own bibliographic resources distributed in small physical libraries in the Support Centres of the University spread throughout the main cities of Catalonia, it also allows online access from one's place of residence to all the information registered and stored anywhere in the world. Because of this, we can define the Virtual Library of the UOC as a "library without walls". Currently, services offered by the library are available through a website interface within the Virtual Campus of the University.

The biology of three Mexican-American species of Triatominae (Hemiptera: Reduviidae): Triatoma recurva, Triatoma protracta and Triatoma rubida

The values of biological parameters related to hatching, lifespan, the number of blood meals between moults, mortality, time lapse before the beginning of feeding, feeding time and defecation delay for each instar of three Mexican-American species of Triatominae, Triatoma recurva, Triatoma protracta (former subspecies protracta) and Triatoma rubida (former subspecies uhleri), were evaluated and compared. No significant (p > 0.05) differences were recorded among the three species with respect to the average time required to hatch. This time was approximately 19 days. The average egg-to-adult development time was significantly (p < 0.05) shorter for T. rubida. The number of blood meals at each nymphal instar varied from one-five for each species. The mortality rates were higher for the first-instar nymphs of the three species studied. The mean time lapse before the beginning of feeding was between 0.3-3 min for most nymphs of all instars of each species studied. The mean feeding time was the longest for T. recurva, followed by T. protracta. The defecation delay was less than 10 min for T. recurva and T. rubida. Given these results, only T. rubida should be considered an important potential vector of Trypanosoma cruzi transmission to humans in areas of Mexico where these species exist, whereas T. recurva and T. protracta would be of secondary importance.

Dipolo impreso para aplicaciones Wi-fi y caracterización de la ganancia por medio de la celda TEM

Este trabajo recoge el estudio, diseño, fabricación y análisis de dos dipolos de media onda para aplicaciones Wi-fi, con objeto de caracterizar sus respectivas ganancias mediante el uso de dos sistemas de medida distintos, el primero basado en el análisis del balance de enlace entre antenas mediante un analizador de redes y el segundo mediante una celda TEM. Para obtener un correcto funcionamiento de los dipolos, resulta de vital importancia conseguir un buen ajuste de las dimensiones de los mismos durante el desarrollo práctico del proyecto, consiguiendo una máxima transferencia de potencia y un ancho de banda suficientemente amplio para asegurar que las antenas presenten una buena adaptación en la banda de los 2.4 GHz – 2.5 GHz.

Prótesis unicompartimental como opción quirúrgica en la gonartrosis medial en el adulto joven

OBJECTIVE: Assess the degree of satisfaction in a series of patients between 50 and 60 years of age who underwent surgery in our unicompartmental prosthesis unit (UPU) for monocompartmental gonarthrosis. Likewise, the definition based on current literature is assessed, as well as our experience in the indications, inconveniences and results of the internal knee unicompartmental arthroplasty discussed with supra-tuberosity tibial osteotomy, which was the common surgical option in these cases.MATERIAL AND METHOD: This study included 19 patients between 50 and 60 years of age (average age 56.7 years) (Interval of 51-60 years) intervened between 7/2007 and 11/2011 by the same surgeon (GDFB). Functional assessment used the Oxford Knee Score (OKS) questionnaire. A bibliographic search was performed in the MEDLINE, COCHRANE and EMBASE databases from 1988 to 2012. RESULTS: With an average follow-up of 29.4 months, 16 of 19 patients stated that they were satisfied with the results obtained and would repeat the intervention. One patient sufered a prosthetic infection and was reviewed for total knee replacement with good results. CONCLUSIONS: the medial, unicompartmental arthroplasty of the knee is a valid surgical option and reproducible in the medium term treatment of monocompartmental gonarthrosis in patients between 50 and 60 years of age.

Complications of laparoscopic gynecologic surgery.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES To analyze the frequency of complications during laparoscopic gynecologic surgery and identify associated risk factors. METHODS A descriptive observational study was performed between January 2000 and December 2012 and included all gynecologic laparoscopies performed at our center. Variables were recorded for patient characteristics, indication for surgery, length of hospital stay (in days), major and minor complications, and conversions to laparotomy. To identify risk factors and variables associated with complications, crude and adjusted odds ratios were calculated with unconditional logistic regression. RESULTS Of all 2888 laparoscopies included, most were procedures of moderate difficulty (adnexal surgery) (54.2%). The overall frequency of major complications was 1.93%, and that of minor complications was 4.29%. The level of technical difficulty and existence of prior abdominal surgery were associated with a higher risk of major complications and conversions to laparotomy. CONCLUSION Laparoscopic gynecologic surgery is associated with a low frequency of complications but is a procedure that is not without risk. Greater technical difficulty and prior surgery were factors associated with a higher frequency of complications.

Mapas de actividades comunitarias y activos para la salud: ¿Cómo trabajar con ellos?

Especial XXII Congreso Español de Pediatría Social

Comparativa de equipos de síntesis mecánica : aleaciones de base Al-Cu y Fe-Ni

La síntesis mecánica es un proceso basado en la molturación de una mezcla de polvosometida a altas energías que se producen por los choques entre las partículas y lasbolas de un micromolino, entre las partículas y las paredes del recipiente y entre lasmismas partículas. Los dos procesos involucrados en el proceso de síntesis mecánicason la soldadura en frío y la fractura.El proyecto que se presenta es una continuación de los diferentes estudios realizadosen el departamento de Recerca de Materials i Termodinàmica de la Universidad deGirona sobre el proceso de aleado mecánico, en especial del proyecto de Ivan Darnés(Abril 2005) donde se realizaba un estudio comparativo de los micromolinosPulverisette 7 (P7) y SPEX8000 a partir de dos aleaciones en polvo de base Fe.El presente proyecto tiene como objetivo principal realizar nuevamente unacomparación de los equipos P7 y SPEX8000, pero utilizando otras mezclas de polvoiniciales y modificando los parámetros del proceso. Para tal comparación se estudiaránlas muestras obtenidas a nivel estructural, térmico y morfológico

Angioinvasive lymphomatoid papulosis: a new variant simulating aggressive lymphomas.

Lymphomatoid papulosis (LyP) belongs to the spectrum of primary cutaneous CD30-positive lymphoproliferative disorders. Clinically, LyP is characterized by a variable number of self-healing papulo-nodular lesions, with the typical waxing and waning course. Histologically, 4 types (A, B, C, and D) have been delineated. Angioinvasive growth and large ulcers are rare findings in LyP and simulate aggressive lymphoma. We retrospectively analyzed the clinicopathologic and molecular features of angioinvasive LyP in a series of 16 patients. This new form of LyP is characterized by oligolesional papules that rapidly ulcerate and evolve into large necrotic eschar-like lesions with a diameter of 1 to 4 cm and an angiocentric and angiodestructive infiltrate of small-sized to medium-sized atypical lymphocytes expressing CD30 and frequently CD8. As in other forms of LyP, the lesions underwent spontaneous regression after a few weeks. Recurrences were common, but the prognosis was excellent with no extracutaneous spread or disease-related deaths. Complete remission occurred in 9 of 16 patients (56%). This LyP variant should be distinguished from aggressive forms of angiocentric and angiodestructive and cytotoxic T-cell lymphomas. We propose the term LyP type E for this clinically and histologically unusual variant.

Flora de Cabo Verde - Plantas Vasculares. 67. Apiaceae

Er-vas frequentemente com cau!es sukados, muito raramente arbustos ou pequenasá rvores. Caulese m regra ocos ou com medulab em desenvolvida. Folhas alternas,e m regra muito divididas, ocasionalmentes implese , muito raramente, peltadas. Flores em umbelas simples ou mais frequentemente compostasr,a ramentev erticiladaso u capitadas,e m regra bissexuadams asp or vezes unissexuadapso r redu@o. Tubo do cálice unido ao ovário; limbo de 5 dentes em regra minúsculos ou ausentes. Pétalas 5, valvadas, epigínicas, brancas ou, raramente, amareladase, sverdeadaso u rosadaso u, muito raramente, azuis. Estames 5, livres, alternando com as pétalas; anteras 2-loculares, deiscentesp or fendas longitudinais. Estiletes 2, em regra divergentes, muitas vezes parcialmente unidos e frequentcmente com estilopódio bem desenvolvido. Ovario ínfero, Zlocular, com 1 óvulo pêndulo em cada lóculo. Fruto seco, em regra dividindo-se na maturacão em 2 mericarpos ligados a um carpóforo central resultante dos feixes vasculares principais do fruto. Os carpelosa presentamfr equentementec ostasb em desenvolvidase as paredes são providas em regra de canais oleíferos característicos. 0 fruto pode ser lateral- ou dorsahnentec omprimidoe ter asasla terais bem desenvolvidas ou apresentar espinhos ou ganchos. Sementes providas de endosperma oleoso abundante e com embriões muito pequenos. Familia com cerca de 418 génerose 3100e speciese, ssencialmentcea racterística dasr egiõest emperadamentqe uentesd o Globo. Facilmenter econhecível pelo hábito geralmente herbáceo, a disposicão característica das flores em umbelas e principalmente pelo fruto em regra divisivel em 2 mericarpos

Genome-wide association study of major recurrent depression in the U.K. population.

OBJECTIVE: Studies of major depression in twins and families have shown moderate to high heritability, but extensive molecular studies have failed to identify susceptibility genes convincingly. To detect genetic variants contributing to major depression, the authors performed a genome-wide association study using 1,636 cases of depression ascertained in the U.K. and 1,594 comparison subjects screened negative for psychiatric disorders. METHOD: Cases were collected from 1) a case-control study of recurrent depression (the Depression Case Control [DeCC] study; N=1346), 2) an affected sibling pair linkage study of recurrent depression (probands from the Depression Network [DeNT] study; N=332), and 3) a pharmacogenetic study (the Genome-Based Therapeutic Drugs for Depression [GENDEP] study; N=88). Depression cases and comparison subjects were genotyped at Centre National de Génotypage on the Illumina Human610-Quad BeadChip. After applying stringent quality control criteria for missing genotypes, departure from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, and low minor allele frequency, the authors tested for association to depression using logistic regression, correcting for population ancestry. RESULTS: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in BICC1 achieved suggestive evidence for association, which strengthened after imputation of ungenotyped markers, and in analysis of female depression cases. A meta-analysis of U.K. data with previously published results from studies in Munich and Lausanne showed some evidence for association near neuroligin 1 (NLGN1) on chromosome 3, but did not support findings at BICC1. CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies several signals for association worthy of further investigation but, as in previous genome-wide studies, suggests that individual gene contributions to depression are likely to have only minor effects, and very large pooled analyses will be required to identify them.

Aspectos biológico-pesqueros de la Lisa Mugil cephalus L. en el litoral peruano

La lisa Mugil cephalus, es uno de los recursos que sustentan la pesquería artesanal en el Perú; a pesar de su importancia, escasos son los estudios relacionados con su biología. Con el objeto de determinar su biología y pesquería, se analizan las cifras de desembarques de las Estadísticas de la Pesquería Marina (Flores et al., 1994) de los años 1980 a 1992, las cifras de captura por artes de pesca obtenidas por la pesca artesanal en once caletas del litoral peruano entre los años 1986 y 1988, y, para el estudio de los aspectos biológicos, la información de los Laboratorios Costeros del IMARPE: Paita (05°05 ' S), Callao (12°03 'S), Pisco (13°44 'S) e Ilo (17°38.4 'S), periodo 1979 a 1992. La lisa se distribuye en toda la costa del Perú con mayores volúmenes de captura en el norte del país (5° a 7° S); en el sur, los valores suelen ser bajos. En Paita los ejemplares capturados se encontraron por encima de la talla mínima reglamentaria de captura (35 cm), mientras que en Callao, Pisco e Ilo, por debajo de la misma. La longitud media a la cual el 50% de individuos alcanza su primera madurez es 29 cm y 34 cm al primer desove. Los valores de índice gonadosomático (IGS), indican que la lisa desova en primavera-verano. El análisis de la relación peso-longitud separada por sexos en las zonas de Paita, Callao, Pisco e Ilo mostró que las hembras alcanzaron mayores pesos que los machos a la misma longitud. En ambos sexos se evidenció un crecimiento isométrico.

Características del subsistema demersal durante el crucero de evaluación del recurso merluza (Cr. BIC SNP-1, 9505-06)

Describe la composición por especies de las capturas obtenidas durante la etapa de evaluación del crucero BIC SNP-1 9505-06, entre el 10 de mayo al 13 de junio de 1995, comprendiendo desde Huarmey hasta Puerto Pizarro. Se capturaron 80 especies entre peces (64), crustáceos (10), moluscos (4), equinodermos (1). La mayor diversidad de especies se encontró al norte de los 6°S (subáreas A, B, C, D); se destaca una disminución hacia el sur de este paralelo.