Direct evidence for the expression of multiple endogenous retroviruses in the synovial compartment in rheumatoid arthritis

Objective. Circumstantial evidence links retroviruses (RVs) with human autoimmune diseases, The aim of the present study was to obtain direct evidence of RV gene expression in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. Synovial samples were obtained from patients with RA, patients with osteoarthritis (OA), and normal control subjects, Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed using synovial RNA and primers to conserved sequences in the polymerase (pol) genes of known RVs. Results. PCR products (n = 857) were cloned and sequenced, Multiple pol transcripts, many with open reading frames, were expressed in every sample, Sequences were aligned and classified into 6 families (F1-F6) that contained 33 groups of known and unknown endogenous RVs (ERVs), each distinguished by a specific, deduced peptide motif, The frequency of sequences in each family was similar between RA, OA, and normal synovial tissue, but differed significantly in RA synovial fluid cells, F1 sequences (undefined, but related to murine and primate type C RVs) were lower in frequency, F2 (ERV-9-related), F4 (HERV-K-related), and F6 (HERV-L-related) sequences were higher in frequency, and F3 (RTVL-H-related) sequences were not detected, in the RA synovial fluid cells compared with the RA synovial tissues. Conclusion. Multiple ERVs are expressed in normal and diseased synovial compartments, but specific transcripts can be differentially expressed in RA.

Spirometric Function Improves in the Morbidly Obese After 1-Year Post-surgery

Obesity can negatively affect pulmonary function tests, with or without clinical symptoms, but the impact of bariatric weight loss is still debated. Aiming to document such profile in a consecutive homogeneous population, a prospective cohort study was undertaken. Sixty-one patients (100% females, age 40 +/- 8 years, BMI 49 +/- 5 kg/m(2) and without respiratory disease) were enrolled. Spirometric analysis was carried out to compare preoperative respiratory pattern with outcome after 6 and 12 months. Variables included vital capacity (VC), expiratory reserve volume (ERV), forced expiratory volume (1 s) (FEV1), FEV1/FVC ratio and maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV). Correlation of results with weight loss was examined. The following initial variables exhibited significant difference when compared to the 12-month postoperative control: FVC (P = 0.0308), FEV1/FVC (P = 0.1998), MVV (P = 0.0004) and ERV (P = 0.2124). Recovery of FVC and FEV1/FVC occurred earlier by 6 months. The most seriously depressed preoperative finding was ERV, which even after 1 year still remained inadequate. (1) Pulmonary limitations were diagnosed in approximately one third of the population. (2) Changes were demonstrated for FVC, FEV1/FVC, ERV and MVV. (3) FEV1 and FEV1/FVC were acceptable due to the absence of an obstructive pattern. (4) Two variables increased by 6 months (FEV1/FVC and ERV), whereas recovery for others was confirmed after 1 year. (5) The only exception was ERV which continued below the acceptable range.

Association of candidate genes with phenotypic traits relevant to anorexia nervosa.

This analysis is a follow-up to an earlier investigation of 182 genes selected as likely candidate genetic variations conferring susceptibility to anorexia nervosa (AN). As those initial case-control results revealed no statistically significant differences in single nucleotide polymorphisms, herein, we investigate alternative phenotypes associated with AN. In 1762 females, using regression analyses, we examined the following: (i) lowest illness-related attained body mass index; (ii) age at menarche; (iii) drive for thinness; (iv) body dissatisfaction; (v) trait anxiety; (vi) concern over mistakes; and (vii) the anticipatory worry and pessimism versus uninhibited optimism subscale of the harm avoidance scale. After controlling for multiple comparisons, no statistically significant results emerged. Although results must be viewed in the context of limitations of statistical power, the approach illustrates a means of potentially identifying genetic variants conferring susceptibility to AN because less complex phenotypes associated with AN are more proximal to the genotype and may be influenced by fewer genes. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association.

Medidas de Perda na Avalia ção do Desempenho de Fundos de Investimentos

Uma das medidas de performance mais utilizada e a medida de Sharpe. A sua utiliza c~ao e inadequada quando as rendibilidades n~ao seguem uma distribui c~ao normal, assim originou o aparecimento de uma variedade de medidas alternativas. Em fun c~ao disso, surge ent~ao a quest~ao de saber se essas medidas alternativas produzem rankings signi cativamente diferentes da que se obt em com a medida de Sharpe. Apesar da exist^encia de muitos estudos emp ricos sobre esta problem atica a resposta n~ao e consensual. Neste trabalho fez-se a compara c~ao entre o ranking produzido pela medida de Sharpe e as algumas medidas alternativas, as que se baseiam no Low Partial Moments (Omega, Sortino, Kappa3 e Upside Potential Ratio) e, as que se baseiam no VaR - Value-at-Risk (ERV - Excess Return on VaR, ERMV - Excess Return on Modi ed VaR, ERCV - Excess Return on Conditional VaR e ERV? - Excess Return com VaR hist orico). Utilizando 26 fundos de investimentos norte-americanos, com registo di ario das rendibilidades para o per odo de Janeiro 2000 a Setembro 2009, encontrou-se um elevado coe ciente de correla c~ao de Spearman e de Kendall entre a medida de Sharpe e as alternativas, bem como as alternativas entre si, excepto para Upside Potential Ratio que os coe cientes s~ao relativamente baixos. Os resultados permitem concluir que existe uma medida que proporciona ordena c~oes diferentes.

Medidas de Perda na Avaliacão do Desempenho de Fundos de Investimentos

Uma das medidas de performance mais utilizada e a medida de Sharpe. A sua utilizacão e inadequada quando as rendibilidades não seguem uma distribuicão normal, assim originou o aparecimento de uma variedade de medidas alternativas. Em fun c~ao disso, surge então a questão de saber se essas medidas alternativas produzem rankings signi cativamente diferentes da que se obt em com a medida de Sharpe. Apesar da existencia de muitos estudos emp ricos sobre esta problem atica a resposta não e consensual. Neste trabalho fez-se a comparacão entre o ranking produzido pela medida de Sharpe e as algumas medidas alternativas, as que se baseiam no Low Partial Moments (Omega, Sortino, Kappa3 e Upside Potential Ratio) e, as que se baseiam no VaR - Value-at-Risk (ERV - Excess Return on VaR, ERMV - Excess Return on Modi ed VaR, ERCV - Excess Return on Conditional VaR e ERV? - Excess Return com VaR hist orico). Utilizando 26 fundos de investimentos norte-americanos, com registo di ario das rendibilidades para o per odo de Janeiro 2000 a Setembro 2009, encontrou-se um elevado coe ciente de correla c~ao de Spearman e de Kendall entre a medida de Sharpe e as alternativas, bem como as alternativas entre si, excepto para Upside Potential Ratio que os coe cientes s~ao relativamente baixos. Os resultados permitem concluir que existe uma medida que proporciona ordena c~oes diferentes.

Isolement et caractérisation de bactériophages comme moyen de lutte naturel contre les infections nosocomiales

Les infections nosocomiales sont causées par des germes opportunistes souvent résistants aux antibiotiques et persistants sur les surfaces, représentant une source constante de risque d’infection en milieu hospitalier. Dans ce contexte, l’isolement et la caractérisation de bactériophages s’attaquant spécifiquement aux bactéries nosocomiales telles que Staphylococcus aureus résistant (SARM), Enterococcus résistant (ERV), Pseudomonas aeruginosa et Acinetobacter baumanii, pourraient fournir une alternative bactéricide naturelle contre la transmission de ces infections. Des phages isolés des eaux usées, ont été sélectionnés selon leur capacité d’amplification, leur profil génomique et leur potentiel lytique envers différentes souches bactériennes cliniques. Les meilleurs ont été caractérisés en détail pour s’assurer de leur spécificité, sécurité, stabilité et efficacité préalablement à leur utilisation in vivo. Sept phages contre SARM et trois contre Acinetobacter baumanii ont été caractérisés. Quatre phages SARM s’avèrent être de bons candidats potentiels et pourraient être testés en milieu hospitalier comme agents désinfectants dans le but de lutter contre les infections nosocomiales.

Detección de portadores de gérmenes multiresisttentes en la unidad de cuidado intensivo medico fundación cardioinfantil

Introducción: En Colombia la prevalencia de Staphylococcus aureus resistente a la meticilina (SARM) oscila entre 6% y 15% para el personal medico, entre el 13 % y el 26 % de SARM en pacientes atendidos en la unidades de cuidado intensivo, no se reportan gérmenes productores de Betalactamasas de espectro extendido (ESBL) en fosas nasales y se reportan cifras alarmantes para Enterococcus resistente a la Vancomicina (VRE). Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de portadores de microorganismos multiresistentes en pacientes que ingresan a la unidad de cuidado intensivo médico, y en personal asistencial dedicado su cuidado. Metodología: estudio descriptivo de corte transversal, se estudiaron 114 sujetos, se llevo a cabo toma de muestra nasal, faringe y rectal. Resultados: se encontró una prevalencia de 18 % en los pacientes (muestra nasal) y 12.5 % (muestra nasal) en el personal medico y paramédico para el SARM, y en muestra faringe para el personal asistencial una prevalencia de 6.3 % y 25.6 % para los pacientes, la prevalencia de ESBL fue 0% en muestra nasal y faringe para los dos grupos, en la muestra rectal se encontró una prevalencia de 7.3 % y 13.4 % para Klebsiella pneumoniae ESBL positivo y Escherichia coli ESBL respectivamente. Discusión: Las prevalencias encontradas en este estudio en comparación con datos publicados reflejan el uso racional de los antibióticos en la FCI-IC y la adherencia a los protocolos de vigilancia epidemiológica; lo cual no significa que no pueda existir una exposición del personal medico y paramédico al paciente colonizado. Palabras claves: Gérmenes multiresistentes – Infecciones Intrahospitalarias – SARM – ERV- BLEE Key words : multiresistant germs, hospital infections, ESBL, VRE, MRSA

Personalidad, inteligencia, motivación y rendimiento académico en BUP.

Predicción del rendimiento académico en BUP a través de variables pedagógicas, psicológicas de tipo intelectual (cognitivas) y psicológicas de tipo no cognitivo (variables de personalidad y motivación). Exploración de aspectos estructurales en el rendimiento académico y en las variables psicológicas investigadas. Toda la población que cursó el primero de BUP en centros oficiales de la provincia de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria: 1199 varones y 1288 mujeres. Edad media de la muestra, quince años y un mes. Para el estudio se utiliza una prueba factorial de inteligencia. A la vez se ha intentado construir una prueba de factores exclusivamente verbales. Según los aspectos orécticos se han construido dos pruebas: A) Se refiere a aspectos básicos de personalidad. B) Factores motivacionales. Las pruebas se aplicarán por orden 1: el cuestionario ERN después el MA, PMA y ERV siempre éstos antes que los tests. Después de un intervalo aproximado de 4 meses se eligieron unos grupos de referencia para cumplimentar de nuevo todas las pruebas con el fin de estudiar la fiabilidad test-retest. Test PMA de Thustone. Test ERV (Ejercicios de Razonamiento Verbal), ENR (Extraversión-Neuroticismo-Rigidez) y MA (Motivación-Ansiedad). Tipificación de instrumentos psicológicos y análisis de fiabilidad. Factorización de las escalas psicológicas no cognitivas. Análisis correlacional entre los predictores psicológicos factorizados e índices criteriales. Análisis modulador zonal en función de las variables: edad, nivel socio-económico y zona de residencia, además del rendimiento académico. Análisis correlacional y factorial de las variables de criterio. Se revela un valor predictivo satisfactorio de las variables intelectuales en relación con el rendimiento académico. Se hace necesario una revisión de las variables de criterio al demostrarse entre ellas una máxima redundancia y un escasísimo poder diferenciador intrasujeto. Las variables modulares (sexo y nivel socio-económico) arrojan resultados diferenciales de importancia. El poder predictor de las variables psicológicas es claramente diferente, dependiendo del rendimiento académico de cada sujeto. Se coadyuva, desde aquí, a crear seres humanos que valoran positivamente estas normas, stándars sociales de excelencia y, a la vez, que castigan, desprecian o ignoran aquellos aspectos que como la ansiedad perjudican el rendimiento. Estos factores perturbadores deberían ser analizados en profundidad, ayudando a aquellos alumnos que los sufren con mayor intensidad para no fomentar frustraciones y ansiedades que puedan llevar consigo desencadenamiento de conductas violentas.

History of eating disorder in mothers of children with early onset eating disorder or disturbance

The literature suggests that there is significant familial aggregation of eating disorders. A specific association has also been reported between childhood feeding problems and maternal eating disorder. This study investigates whether subgroups of children with early onset eating disturbance are distinguished by maternal eating disorder history. The mothers of 66 children with either anorexia nervosa (AN), food avoidance emotional disorder (FAED) or selective eating (SE) were interviewed to ascertain eating disorder history. Seventeen per cent of mothers reported a history of eating disorder, compared with 3%–5% reported for community samples. A history of eating disorder was reported by 5.9% of mothers of children with SE, 12.9% of mothers of children with AN and 33.3% of mothers of children with FAED. The findings, based on this small sample, suggest that children with FAED are especially likely to have grown up in a dysfunctional food environment.

Efeitos da perda de peso induzida pela cirurgia bariátrica sobre a função respiratória

Background: Obesity leads to alteration of lung volumes and capacities due to accumulation of fat in the chest wall and abdomen. Few studies have shown that weight loss induced by surgery improves lung function. Our objective was to evaluate the anthropometric development, pulmonary function, respiratory muscle, strength and endurance after weight loss induced by bariatric surgery. Methods: We evaluated in pre and post operative period variables of weight, BMI, NC, WHR and spirometric and respiratory pressure. Results: 39 subjects were evaluated, with age mean 35.9 ± 10.9 years, predominantly by women (76.3%). The weight mean decreased from 124.8 ± 17.5 kg to 88.8 ± 14.28 kg in post operative. The mean BMI ranged from 47,9 ± 5,6 Kg/m² to 34,3 ± 4,75 Kg/m². There was a significant increase in FVC from 3,63 ± 0,94 to 4,01±1,03, FEV1 from 3,03 ± 0,72 to 3,39 ± 0,85, FEF 25-75% from 3,41 ± 0,72 to 3,82 ± 0,94, PEF from 6,56 ± 1,47 to 7,81 ± 1,69, ERV from 0,35 ± 0,39 to 0,66 ± 0,38, MVV ranged from 103,43 ± 22,21 to 137,27 ± 29,84, all of them to p<0,01. The MIP and MEP showed no significant difference in pre and post operative. It was noted that for every centimeter reduced in neck circumference, an increase of 0.06 in FVC and 5.98 in MVV is observed. This is also observed in weight and BMI. Conclusion: We conclude that weight loss induced by bariatric surgery in obese provides a significant improvement in lung function and reduction of fat around the neck is more important in the generation of lung volume than the reduction of BMI

CD8(+) T-cell-mediated immunity against malaria: a novel heterologous prime-boost strategy

Evaluation of: Rodriguez D, Gonzalez-Aseguinolaza G, Rodriguez JR et al. Vaccine efficacy against malaria by the combination of porcine parvovirus-like particles and vaccinia virus vectors expressing CS of Plasmodium. PLoS ONE 7(4), e34445 (2012). Recently, a vaccine against malaria was successfully tested in a human Phase III trial. The efficacy of this vaccine formulation, based on the Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein, was approximately 50% and correlated with the presence of antibodies specific to the infective stages of the malaria parasites. Different strategies are being pursued to improve vaccine efficacy levels. One such strategy is the induction of specific cytotoxic T cells that can destroy the intracellular hepatocyte stages of the malaria parasite. In this study, a novel vaccination protocol was developed to elicit strong immune responses mediated by CD8(+) cytotoxic cells specific to the circumsporozoite protein. As proof-of-concept, the authors used the rodent malaria Plasmodium yoelii parasite. The vaccination strategy consisted of a heterologous prime-boost vaccination regimen involving porcine parvovirus-like particles for priming and the modified vaccinia virus Ankara for the booster immunization, both of which expressed the immunodominant CD8 epitope of the P. yoelii circumsporozoite protein. Results from this experimental model were extremely meaningful. This vaccination strategy led to a significant T-cell immune response mediated by CD8(+) multifunctional T effector and effector-memory cells. However, most importantly for the malaria vaccine development was the fact that following a sporozoite challenge, immunized mice eliminated more than 97% of the malaria parasites during the hepatocyte stages. These results confirm and extend a vast body of knowledge showing that a heterologous prime-boost vaccination strategy can elicit strong CD8(+) T-cell-mediated protective immunity and may increase the efficacy of malaria vaccines.

Gereformeerde willekeuren ende stadt-rechten van Harderwyck.

Mode of access: Internet.

Plano estratégico de intervenção para a prevenção das dislipidemias na Unidade Básica de Saúde de São Domingos no município de Araponga, Minas Gerais

No Brasil, as mudanças demográficas, socioeconômicas e epidemiológicas permitiram que ocorresse uma transição nos padrões nutricionais, com a diminuição progressiva da desnutrição e o aumento da obesidade, tornando-se um novo problema de saúde pública. A obesidade é frequentemente associada à hiperlipidemia, hipertensão arterial e ao diabetes mellitus tipo 2, condições sabidamente mórbidas relacionadas com a ocorrência de doenças cardiovasculares. Na Unidade Básica de Saúde de São Domingos no município de Araponga, Minas Gerais, observou-se considerável prevalência de casos de dislipidemias e comorbidades associadas, como a Hipertensão arterial e o Diabetes mellitus. Assim, este estudo objetivou elaborar um plano de intervenção que permita a redução dos níveis lipêmicos da população adscrita à UBS de São Domigos, Araponga, Minas Gerais. Anteriormente à elaboração do plano, fez-se pesquisa bibliográfica nas bases de dados da LILACS e do SciELO, com os descritores: dislipidemia, educação em saúde, promoção em saúde. Espera-se promover saúde com abordagem do coletivo através de ferramentas mobilizadoras da reflexão e possível mudança dos hábitos nocivos à saúde, estimular atividade física, reeducar hábitos alimentares, combater o tabagismo. A proposta inicial está direcionada para a triagem dos pacientes com dislipidemia, sendo alvo prioritário de investigação a população de hipertensos e diabéticos, uma vez que o risco cardiovascular aumenta na presença de múltiplos fatores condicionantes do processo de adoecimento. Espera-se, ainda, obter maior integração e interação com a comunidade, a fim de estabelecer uma rede de saberes, que facilite a compreensão e o tecimento de respostas continuadas e permanentemente reavaliadas quanto a sua efetividade.