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1.
Rev Sci Tech ; 40(1): 173-188, 2021 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34140732

ABSTRACT

In the field of diagnostic test validation, World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Reference Laboratories (RLs) have a pivotal role and provide the international community with impartial advice and support in the selection, development and validation of diagnostic tests, which can be applied to the specialist diseases for which they are designated. National RLs provide an invaluable function in supporting the introduction, ongoing validation and application of validated diagnostic tests in line with international standards. Experienced staff with extensive knowledge of such systems and access to specialist facilities for conducting work are available to monitor changes or advancements in technology. They consider their relevance and value to evolving diagnostic test requirements. Reference Laboratories often have a broad mandate of activity linking research or development programmes and surveillance activities to benefit the continual assessment and, if necessary, improvement of diagnostic tools. Reference Laboratories maintain or have access to unique biological archives (known positive and negative sample populations) and produce international reference standards, both of which are vital in establishing the necessary and detailed validation of any diagnostic test. Reference Laboratories act either singularly or in collaborative partnerships with other RLs or science institutes, but also, when required, and with impartiality, with the commercial sector, to ensure new tests are validated according to OIE standards. They promote and apply formal programmes of quality assurance (including proficiency testing programmes) for newly validated tests, ensuring ongoing monitoring and compliance with standards, or as required set out any limitations or uncertainties. Reference Laboratories publish information on test validation in the scientific literature and on relevant websites, as well as disseminating information at workshops and international conferences. Furthermore, they can offer training in the processes and systems underpinning test validation.


Dans le domaine de la validation des tests de diagnostic, les Laboratoires de référence de l'Organisation mondiale de la santé animale (OIE) jouent un rôle central et fournissent à la communauté internationale des conseils impartiaux ainsi qu'un soutien pour la sélection, la mise au point et la validation des tests de diagnostic utilisés pour la détection des maladies correspondant à leur domaine de spécialisation. Les Laboratoires de référence nationaux remplissent une fonction inestimable en facilitant l'introduction, la validation continue et l'application de tests de diagnostic validés conformément aux normes internationales. Ces laboratoires sont dotés de personnels expérimentés possédant une connaissance approfondie de ces systèmes et qui ont accès à des installations spécialisées pour mener à bien leurs opérations et suivre de près les changements ou les avancées technologiques. Ils peuvent ainsi examiner leur pertinence et intérêt au regard de l'évolution des exigences relatives aux tests de diagnostic. Le mandat des Laboratoires de référence recouvre souvent un large éventail d'activités reliant les programmes de recherche ou développement et les activités de surveillance, ce qui permet de réaliser une évaluation continue des outils diagnostiques et, si besoin, de procéder à leur amélioration. Les Laboratoires de référence entretiennent ou ont accès à des banques de matériels biologiques uniques (panels d'échantillons positifs et négatifs connus) et produisent des réactifs de référence internationale, deux catégories de matériels essentielles pour procéder à la validation point par point d'un test diagnostique suivant les critères requis. Les Laboratoires de référence interviennent individuellement ou en partenariat avec d'autres Laboratoires de référence ou instituts scientifiques, mais aussi, lorsque c'est nécessaire et dans le respect des règles d'impartialité, avec le secteur privé, afin de s'assurer que les nouveaux tests sont validés conformément aux normes de l'OIE. Ils soutiennent et appliquent des programmes officiels d'assurance de la qualité (y compris en participant à des programmes d'essais d'aptitude inter-laboratoires) pour les tests nouvellement validés et garantissent leur suivi continu ainsi que leur conformité avec les normes, ou, suivant les cas, définissent les limites ou le niveau d'incertitude à prendre en considération. Les Laboratoires de référence publient les données relatives à la validation des tests dans des journaux scientifique et sur les sites Web pertinents et diffusent également des informations sur le sujet lors d'ateliers et de conférences internationales. En outre, ils peuvent proposer des formations sur les procédures et les systèmes qui sous-tendent la validation des tests.


En el terreno de la validación de pruebas de diagnóstico, los Laboratorios de Referencia de la Organización Mundial de Sanidad Animal (OIE) cumplen una función central y proporcionan a la comunidad internacional servicios de apoyo y asesoramiento imparcial para la selección, el desarrollo y la validación de pruebas de diagnóstico, que pueden aplicarse a la enfermedad para la que cada laboratorio esté designado. Los laboratorios de referencia nacionales cumplen una inestimable función de apoyo a la implantación, la continua validación y la utilización de pruebas de diagnóstico validadas con arreglo a las normas internacionales. Disponen de personal experimentado y muy buen conocedor de estos sistemas y de acceso a instalaciones especializadas de trabajo, lo que les permite seguir de cerca los cambios o adelantos tecnológicos y estudiar su utilidad o interés en relación con la evolución de los requisitos de las pruebas de diagnóstico. Los Laboratorios de Referencia suelen tener un mandato amplio, que a los programas de investigación y desarrollo aúna actividades de vigilancia, en aras de la continua evaluación y, en caso necesario, mejora de las herramientas de diagnóstico. Estos laboratorios poseen (o tienen acceso a) archivos biológicos únicos (conjuntos de muestras probadamente positivas y negativas) y elaboran patrones de referencia internacional, elementos ambos indispensables para llevar a buen fin la necesaria validación detallada de toda prueba de diagnóstico. Los Laboratorios de Referencia pueden trabajar en solitario o en colaboración con otros Laboratorios de Referencia, con institutos científicos e incluso, cuando hace falta, y procediendo con imparcialidad, con entidades del sector privado, a fin de garantizar que toda nueva prueba sea validada con arreglo a las normas de la OIE. También promueven y llevan adelante programas oficiales de garantía de la calidad de pruebas recién validadas (incluidos programas de pruebas de competencia), lo que asegura un seguimiento continuo y el cumplimiento de la normativa en todo momento, o fijan, cuando es necesario, limitaciones o niveles de incertidumbre. Asimismo, estos laboratorios publican datos sobre la validación de pruebas en revistas científicas y sitios web conexos y difunden información al respecto en talleres y conferencias internacionales. Además, pueden impartir formación sobre los procesos y sistemas que fundamentan la validación de pruebas de diagnóstico.


Subject(s)
Animal Diseases , International Cooperation , Animal Diseases/diagnosis , Animals , Certification , Commerce , Global Health , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
2.
Acta Gastroenterol Belg ; 83(2): 322-324, 2020.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32603054

ABSTRACT

A 14-year-old male was admitted to the Emergency Department with sore throat and cough. One hour after his admission, he presented a hemodynamic compromise with a respiratory failure. The thoracic tomodensitometry highlighted a tension bilateral pneumothorax and mediastinum consecutive to an esophageal rupture in the left posterolateral wall also known as Boerhaave's syndrome which was treated successfully with a non-operative management. To avoid a recurrence of bilateral pneumothorax, a left pleuroscopy with talc pleurodesis was performed.


Subject(s)
Esophageal Perforation , Mediastinal Diseases , Pharyngitis , Pneumothorax , Adolescent , Cough , Esophageal Perforation/complications , Esophageal Perforation/diagnosis , Humans , Male , Mediastinal Diseases/complications , Mediastinal Diseases/diagnosis , Pharyngitis/etiology , Pneumothorax/complications
3.
Parasitology ; 147(6): 689-698, 2020 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32102697

ABSTRACT

The increase of contact between natural and rural areas is prominent in Brazil, due to agricultural activities and concern with the environmental conservation. In this context, domestic animals, wild fauna and humans are exposed to mutual exchange of parasites, microorganisms and diseases. We studied tick parasitism of wild carnivores and domestic dogs, and the environmental of questing ticks, in extensive cattle ranch areas intermingled with natural vegetation, and in a natural reserve, both in a region of Cerrado biome, Midwestern Brazil. From 2008 to 2015, we inspected 119 wild carnivores from nine species, and collected six tick species (Amblyomma sculptum, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma dubitatum, Amblyomma tigrinum, Dermacentor nitens and Rhipicephalus microplus). The most numerous and infested hosts were Cerdocyon thous, Lycalopex vetulus, Chrysocyon brachyurus, Puma concolor and Conepatus amazonicus. From 139 domestic dogs, we collected A. sculptum, Rhipicephalus sanguineus and R. microplus. From vegetation, samplings resulted in A. sculptum, A. dubitatum, A. ovale, Amblyomma rotundatum and R. microplus, with dominance of A. sculptum. Domestics and wild animals presented high overlapping of infestations by A. sculptum, a generalist and anthropophilic tick species. This tick is the most important vector of the Brazilian spotted fever, a lethal human disease. This fact elicits attention and requires efforts to monitor the presence of pathogens vectored by ticks circulating in this type of agroecosystem, including in other regions of the Brazil, because the most of the natural vegetation remaining have been increasingly immersed in pastures and agricultural matrix.


Subject(s)
Amblyomma/physiology , Carnivora , Dermacentor/physiology , Dog Diseases/epidemiology , Rhipicephalus/physiology , Tick Infestations/epidemiology , Amblyomma/growth & development , Animals , Brazil/epidemiology , Dermacentor/growth & development , Dog Diseases/parasitology , Dogs , Ecosystem , Female , Larva/growth & development , Larva/physiology , Male , Nymph/growth & development , Nymph/physiology , Prevalence , Rhipicephalus/growth & development , Tick Infestations/parasitology
4.
Trop Anim Health Prod ; 51(3): 735, 2019 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30617723

ABSTRACT

The original version of this article unfortunately contains an error. Vanessa do Nascimento Ramos was not included in the original article as one of the contributors. The name is now included in the authorgroup.

5.
Autoimmunity ; 51(3): 111-117, 2018 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29733234

ABSTRACT

The N-glycosylation of human immunoglobulins, especially IgGs, plays a critical role in determining affinity of IgGs towards their effector (pro- and anti-inflammatory) receptors. However, it is still not clear whether altered glycosylation is involved in only antibody-dependent disorders like seropositive rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or also in pathologies with similar clinical manifestations, but no specific autoantibodies like seronegative RA. The clarification of that uncertainty was the aim of the current study. Another study aim was the detection of specific glycan forms responsible for altered exposure of native glycoepitopes. We studied sera from seropositive RA (n = 15) and seronegative RA (n = 12) patients for exposure of glycans in native IgG molecules, followed by determination of specific glycans by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescent detection (CE-LIF). Aged-matched groups of normal healthy donors (NHD) and samples of intravenous immunoglobulin IgG preparations (IVIG) served as controls. There was significantly stronger binding of Lens culinaris agglutinin (LCA) and Aleuria aurantia lectin (AAL) lectins towards IgG from seropositive RA compared to seronegative RA or NHD. CE-LIF analysis revealed statistically significant increases in bisecting glycans FA2BG2 (p = .006) and FABG2S1 (p = .005) seropositive RA, accompanied by decrease of bisecting monogalactosylated glycan FA2(6)G1 (p = .074) and non-bisecting monosialylated glycan FA2(3)G1S1 (p = .055). The results suggest that seropositive RA is distinct from seronegative RA in terms of IgG glycan moieties, attributable to specific immunoglobulin molecules present in seropositive disease. These glycans were determined to be bisecting GlcNAc-bearing forms FA2BG2 and FABG2S1, and their appearance increased the availability of LCA and AAL lectin-binding sites in native IgG glycoepitopes.


Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/blood , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/immunology , Autoantibodies/metabolism , Immunoglobulin G/metabolism , Polysaccharides/metabolism , Autoantibodies/blood , Autoantibodies/immunology , Female , Glycosylation , Humans , Immunoglobulin G/blood , Immunoglobulin G/immunology , Lectins/metabolism , Male , Middle Aged , Plant Lectins/metabolism
6.
Magn Reson Chem ; 55(10): 928-935, 2017 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28474424

ABSTRACT

High-field 1 H NMR T2 relaxation studies were used to characterize the changes in the physical phases of water, NaCl, and dextrose solutions over a temperature range of -65 to 15 °C. The data were analyzed with the inverse Laplace transform and with a linear fit to the logarithm of the time domain signal. Two liquid phases were detected for the NaCl and dextrose solutions at lower temperatures and assigned to low and high concentrated solution domains. The high concentrated solution domain was found to be present between -30 and -5 °C in the NaCl solution and between -55 and -5 °C in the dextrose solution. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

7.
Trop Anim Health Prod ; 49(3): 555-559, 2017 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28124730

ABSTRACT

Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of world importance, and its transmission depends on the interaction between humans and animals. Given the necessity to investigate potential hosts of Leptospira spp., this study verified the prevalence of different serovars in the species of Rhipidomys spp., a widespread sigmodont rodent in Brazil. The studied population originates from a semi-evergreen forest located in the county of Uberlândia, in the state of Minas Gerais. The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) was performed with 14 serovars. Thirteen out of the 43 wild rodents captured showed a positive agglutination reaction, with a greater prevalence of the serovars Pyrogenes, Copenhageni, and Canicola. This study found a prevalence of 30.3% anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies; all positive animals were reactive to more than one serovar.


Subject(s)
Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Leptospira/immunology , Leptospirosis/veterinary , Rodent Diseases/epidemiology , Agglutination Tests/veterinary , Animals , Arvicolinae , Brazil/epidemiology , Forests , Leptospirosis/epidemiology , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Rodent Diseases/blood , Rodent Diseases/microbiology , Tropical Climate , Zoonoses/epidemiology
8.
Spectrochim Acta A Mol Biomol Spectrosc ; 173: 637-646, 2017 Feb 15.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27780126

ABSTRACT

Correlating the Raman and infrared spectra of shocked minerals in Csátalja ordinary chondrite (H4, S2, W2) with controlling the composition by EPMA measurements, we identified and improved various shock indicators, as infrared spectro-microscopic analysis has been poorly used for shock impact alteration studies of meteorites to date. We also provide reference spectra as SOM for the community with local mineralogical and shock alteration related context to support further standardization of the IR ATR based measurements. Raman band positions shifted in conjunction with the increase in full width half maximum (FWHM) with shock stage in olivine minerals while in the infrared spectra when comparing the IR band positions and IR maximal absorbance, increasing correlation was found as a function of increasing shock effects. This is the first observational confirmation with the ATR method of the already expected shock related disordering. In the case of shocked pyroxenes the well-known peak broadening and peak shift was confirmed by Raman method, beyond the level that could have been produced by only chemical changes. With increasing shock level the 852-864cm-1 and 1055-1071cm-1 FTIR bands finally disappeared. From the shock effect occasionally mixed mineral structures formed, especially feldspars together with pyroxene. Feldspars were only present in the shock melted volumes, thus produced by the shock effect itself. Based on the above mentioned observations in Csátalja meteorite the less shocked (only fractured) part witnessed 2-6GPa shock pressure with temperature below 100°C. The moderately shocked parts (minerals with mosaicism and mechanical twins) witnessed 5-10GPa pressure and 900°C temperature. The strongly shocked area (many olivine and pyroxene grains) was subject to 10-15GPa and 1000°C. The existence of broad peak near 510cm-1 and disappearance of other peaks of feldspar at 480 and 570cm-1 indicate the presence of maskelynite, which proposes that the peak shock pressure could reach 20GPa at certain locations. We identified higher shock levels than earlier works in this meteorite and provided examples how heterogeneous the shock effect and level could be at small spatial scale. The provided reference spectra support the future improvement for the standardization of infrared ATR based methods and the understanding of shock-related mineral alterations beyond the optical appearance.

9.
Infection ; 42(5): 891-8, 2014 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25015432

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Serratia marcescens is a known cause of bloodstream infections (BSIs) and outbreaks in neonates receiving intensive care. Our aim was to analyze clinical and epidemiological characteristics of two outbreaks detected in our unit to prevent and control further epidemic infections. METHODS: Two episodes of BSI outbreaks in neonates have been investigated in a 20-month period at a pediatric department of a medical university in Hungary. We collected all S. marcescens strains that were isolated in the study period, and two strains that were isolated before the outbreaks. Strains were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Clinical data were collected for the BSIs during and between the outbreaks (n = 14). RESULTS: Out of the 28 S. marcescens isolates investigated by PFGE, 16 were blood isolates. All isolates represented four PFGE types. Pathogenic strains that caused epidemic BSIs were related to a single PFGE type (SM009). Strains with the same pulsotype could be detected before, between, and after the outbreak periods from surveillance cultures of neonates, and a water tap in the infant care unit despite intensive infection control measures. Case fatality rate of BSIs was 29%. Rate of complications in central nervous system was high: 3/14 neonates developed meningitis. CONCLUSIONS: Rapid spread and high mortality rate of S. marcescens infections necessitate a high suspicion when isolating this species in neonatal intensive care. Early identification of outbreaks is essential, that can be facilitated by determination of clonal relatedness using molecular methods, and with regular surveillance cultures of patients and environment.


Subject(s)
Cross Infection/epidemiology , Disease Outbreaks , Intensive Care Units, Neonatal , Serratia Infections/epidemiology , Cross Infection/microbiology , Cross Infection/mortality , Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field , Humans , Hungary/epidemiology , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Serratia Infections/microbiology , Serratia Infections/mortality , Serratia marcescens/isolation & purification
10.
Eur J Cancer ; 50(10): 1717-1721, 2014 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24726055

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Afatinib prolongs progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who were previously sensitive to erlotinib or gefitinib. This study investigated experience of afatinib under a Named Patient Use (NPU) programme. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective data for 63 patients were collected, including demographics, dose, toxicity and clinical efficacy. RESULTS: Response rate and median PFS were 14.3% and 2.6months, respectively. Diarrhoea and rash were the most common toxicities; 46% of patients required a dose reduction and 41% had a dose delay. CONCLUSIONS: Efficacy and safety in the NPU programme are consistent with the LUX-Lung 1 trial.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy , ErbB Receptors/antagonists & inhibitors , Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/therapeutic use , Quinazolines/therapeutic use , Adult , Afatinib , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Antineoplastic Agents/administration & dosage , Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/enzymology , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/mortality , Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology , Disease-Free Survival , ErbB Receptors/genetics , ErbB Receptors/metabolism , Female , Humans , Lung Neoplasms/enzymology , Lung Neoplasms/genetics , Lung Neoplasms/mortality , Lung Neoplasms/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Mutation , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/administration & dosage , Protein Kinase Inhibitors/adverse effects , Quinazolines/administration & dosage , Quinazolines/adverse effects , Retrospective Studies , Time Factors , Treatment Outcome , United Kingdom
11.
Stress Health ; 30(1): 82-8, 2014 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23349135

ABSTRACT

The purpose of the present study was to examine the construct validity of the Hungarian language version of the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). A sample of 653 healthcare professionals (420 physicians and 233 nurses and nursing assistants) completed the MBI-HSS. A series of confirmatory factor analyses showed that a hierarchical bifactor model including a global burnout factor and three specific factors of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and reduced personal accomplishment had the closest fit to the data, compared with an alternative second-order three-factor hierarchical model as well as to non-hierarchical one-factor, two-factor, three-factor, four-factor and five-factor models. However, only the global burnout factor and the specific personal accomplishment factor explained a considerable unique proportion of variance in observed scores. Our study confirms the validity of the MBI-HSS and suggests an alternative structural model, which may contribute to further understanding of the burnout construct.


Subject(s)
Burnout, Professional/diagnosis , Health Personnel/psychology , Models, Psychological , Psychometrics/standards , Adult , Aged , Burnout, Professional/psychology , Cross-Sectional Studies , Depersonalization/psychology , Emotions , Factor Analysis, Statistical , Female , Health Surveys , Humans , Hungary , Male , Middle Aged , Professional Competence , Reproducibility of Results , Young Adult
13.
Biomed Res Int ; 2013: 402737, 2013.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23936795

ABSTRACT

The distribution of Rickettsia parkeri in South America has been associated with Amblyomma triste ticks. The present study evaluated under laboratory conditions two colonies of A. triste: one started from engorged females that were naturally infected by R. parkeri (designated as infected group); the other started from noninfected females (designated as control group). Both colonies were reared in parallel for five consecutive generations. Tick-naïve domestic rabbits were used for feeding of each tick stage and generation. R. parkeri was preserved by transstadial maintenance and transovarial transmission in A. triste ticks for five consecutive generations, because all tested larvae, nymphs, and adults from the infected group were shown by PCR to contain rickettsial DNA. All rabbits infested by larvae, nymphs, and adults from the infected group seroconverted, indicating that these tick stages were all vector competent for R. parkeri. Expressive differences in mortality rates were observed between engorged nymphs from the infected and control groups, as indicated by 65.9% and 92.4% molting success, respectively. Our results indicate that A. triste can act as a natural reservoir for R. parkeri. However, due to deleterious effect caused by R. parkeri on engorged nymphs, amplifier vertebrate hosts might be necessary for natural long-term maintenance of R. parkeri in A. triste.


Subject(s)
DNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification , Rickettsia Infections/transmission , Rickettsia/pathogenicity , Ticks/genetics , Animals , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , Female , Humans , Insect Vectors/genetics , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Rabbits , Rickettsia/genetics , Rickettsia Infections/genetics , Ticks/pathogenicity
14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23742211

ABSTRACT

The effect of the number of pesticide residue values below the LOQ/LOD of analytical methods, the variability of residues in individual fruits, mass of fruit units and the number of bootstrap iterations was studied on the probabilistically estimated acute exposure of consumers. The 4720 daily apple consumption data and the results of 1239 apple sample analyses for captan residues, performed within the Hungarian monitoring programme between 2005 and 2011, were used in this study as model matrix. Up to about 95th percentile exposure (µg/(kg bw·day)), simply multiplying each residue in composite samples with each consumption value gave similar estimates to those obtained with the complex procedure taking also into account the mass of and residues in individual fruits. However, the exposure above the 95th percentile calculated with the complex procedure gradually increased with increasing percentile level compared to the simple procedure. Including the high number of non-detects reduced the estimated exposure, which was the highest when only the residues measured in treated fruits were taken into account. The number of bootstrap iterations between 100 and 10,000 did not significantly affect the calculated exposure. The 99.99th percentile exposure amounted to 17.9% of the acute reference dose of 300 µg/(kg bw·day) for women of childbearing age.


Subject(s)
Captan/administration & dosage , Diet , Environmental Exposure , Fungicides, Industrial/administration & dosage , Malus , Probability , Humans , Hungary , Limit of Detection
15.
Acta Paediatr ; 102(7): 707-11, 2013 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23586497

ABSTRACT

AIM: Both hypothermia and central nervous system (CNS) drugs may alter the predictive accuracy of amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) in hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE). The aim was to assess the predictive value of aEEG in hypothermia-treated HIE infants. Furthermore, we intended to investigate the association of cumulative doses of CNS drugs with aEEG recovery. METHODS: Seventy term HIE infants treated with hypothermia for 72 h were continuously monitored by single-channel aEEG. Doses of administered morphine, phenobarbitone and midazolam were recorded. Poor outcome was defined as death or severe neurodevelopmental delay at 18-24 months (Bayley Scales of Infant Development II), good outcome as absence of these criteria. RESULTS: Poor outcome n = 26, good outcome n = 44. Positive predictive values (PPV) of an abnormal background pattern to predict poor outcome were 0.5 at 6 h; 0.65 at 24 h; 0.82 at 48 h and 0.92 at 60 h. All infants who developed sleep-wake cycling (SWC) had a favourable outcome; the nondevelopment of SWC resulted in a PPV of 0.73 for a poor outcome. Cumulative doses of the investigated drugs did not differ between infants having an onset of a recovered background pattern before or after 24 h. CONCLUSION: Amplitude-integrated electroencephalography provides reliable prediction of outcome from the 48th hour during hypothermia in HIE infants. Commonly used CNS drugs in HIE infants do not significantly delay aEEG recovery.


Subject(s)
Asphyxia Neonatorum/diagnosis , Electroencephalography , Hypothermia, Induced , Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain/diagnosis , Nervous System/growth & development , Anticonvulsants/pharmacology , Asphyxia Neonatorum/complications , Asphyxia Neonatorum/therapy , Child Development , Electroencephalography/drug effects , Female , Humans , Hypnotics and Sedatives/pharmacology , Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain/etiology , Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain/therapy , Infant, Newborn , Male , Nervous System/physiopathology , Prognosis , Retrospective Studies
16.
Neuroscience ; 241: 280-95, 2013 Jun 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23535251

ABSTRACT

Selected morphological, molecular and functional aspects of various microglial cell populations were characterized in cell cultures established from the forebrains of E18 rat embryos. The mixed primary cortical cultures were maintained for up to 28days using routine culturing techniques when the microglial cells in the culture were not stimulated or immunologically challenged. During culturing, expansion of the microglial cell populations was observed, as evidenced by quantitative assessment of selected monocyte/macrophage/microglial cell-specific markers (human leukocyte antigen (HLA) DP, DQ, DR, CD11b/c and Iba1) via immunocyto- and histochemistry and Western blot analysis. The Iba1 immunoreactivity in Western blots steadily increased about 750-fold, and the number of Iba1-immunoreactive cells rose at least 67-fold between one day in vitro (DIV1) and DIV28. Morphometric analysis on binary (digital) silhouettes of the microglia revealed their evolving morphology during culturing. Microglial cells were mainly ameboid in the early stages of in vitro differentiation, while mixed populations of ameboid and ramified cell morphologies were characteristic of older cultures as the average transformation index (TI) increased from 1.96 (DIV1) to 15.17 (DIV28). Multiple immunofluorescence labeling of selected biomarkers revealed different microglial phenotypes during culturing. For example, while HLA DP, DQ, DR immunoreactivity was present exclusively in ameboid microglia (TI<3) between DIV1 and DIV10, CD11b/c- and Iba1-positive microglial cells were moderately (TI<13) and progressively (TI<81) more ramified, respectively, and always present throughout culturing. Regardless of the age of the cultures, proliferating microglia were Ki67-positive and characterized by low TI values (TI<3). The microglial function was assessed by an in vitro phagocytosis assay. Unstimulated microglia with low TI values were significantly more active in phagocytosing fluorescent microspheres than the ramified forms. In vitro studies on microglial population dynamics combined with phenotypic characterization can be of importance when different in vivo pathophysiological situations are modeled in vitro.


Subject(s)
Microglia/cytology , Microglia/physiology , Animals , Blotting, Western , Cell Culture Techniques , Cells, Cultured , Embryo, Mammalian , Immunohistochemistry , Phenotype , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley
17.
Parasitology ; 140(6): 719-28, 2013 May.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23363571

ABSTRACT

Recently, a novel human rickettsiosis, namely Atlantic rainforest spotted fever, was described in Brazil. We herein report results of a survey led around the index case in an Atlantic rainforest reserve in Peruibe municipality, southeastern Brazil. A Rickettsia parkeri-like agent (Rickettsia sp. Atlantic rainforest genotype) and Ricketsia bellii were isolated from adult Amblyomma ovale ticks collected from dogs. Molecular evidence of infection with strain Atlantic rainforest was obtained for 30 (12.9%) of 232 A. ovale adult ticks collected from dogs. As many as 88.6% of the 35 examined dogs had anti-Rickettsia antibodies, with endpoint titres at their highest to R. parkeri. High correlation among antibody titres in dogs, A. ovale infestations, and access to rainforest was observed. Amblyomma ovale subadults were found predominantly on a rodent species (Euryoryzomys russatus). From 17 E. russatus tested, 6 (35.3%) displayed anti-Rickettsia antibodies, with endpoint titres highest to R. parkeri. It is concluded that Atlantic rainforest genotype circulates in this Atlantic rainforest area at relatively high levels. Dogs get infected when bitten by A. ovale ticks in the forest, and carry infected ticks to households. The role of E. russatus as an amplifier host of Rickettsia to A. ovale ticks deserves investigation.


Subject(s)
Dog Diseases/microbiology , Ixodidae/microbiology , Rickettsia Infections/microbiology , Rodent Diseases/microbiology , Tick-Borne Diseases/veterinary , Animals , Antibodies, Bacterial/blood , Antibodies, Bacterial/immunology , Arachnid Vectors/microbiology , Brazil/epidemiology , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , DNA, Bacterial/isolation & purification , Dog Diseases/epidemiology , Dog Diseases/transmission , Dogs , Ecology , Fever , Genotype , Hemolymph/microbiology , Humans , Larva , Nymph , Prevalence , Rickettsia/genetics , Rickettsia/immunology , Rickettsia/isolation & purification , Rickettsia Infections/epidemiology , Rickettsia Infections/transmission , Rodent Diseases/epidemiology , Rodent Diseases/transmission , Rodentia , Tick Infestations/parasitology , Tick Infestations/veterinary , Tick-Borne Diseases/microbiology , Tick-Borne Diseases/transmission , Trees
18.
J Biomech ; 46(1): 2-6, 2013 Jan 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23063771

ABSTRACT

Bone is a heterogeneous, anisotropic natural composite material. Several studies have measured human cortical bone elastic properties in different anatomical directions and found that the Young's modulus was highest in the longitudinal, followed by the tangential and then by the radial direction. This study compared the Young's modulus, the accumulated microdamage and local strains related to the failure process in these three anatomical directions. Cortical bone samples (≈360 µm×360 µm) were mechanically tested in three-point bending and concomitantly imaged to assess local strains using digital image correlation technique. The bone whitening effect was used to detect microdamage formation and propagation. No statistically significant difference was found between the Young's modulus of longitudinal (9.4±2.0 GPa) and tangential (9.9±1.8 GPa) bovine bone samples, as opposed to previous findings on human bone samples. The same similarity was found for the whitening values (5000±1900 pix/mm(2) for longitudinal, 5800±2600 pix/mm(2) for tangential) and failure strains (16.8±7.0% for longitudinal, 19.1±3.2% for tangential) as well. However, significantly lower values were observed in the radial samples for Young's modulus (5.92±0.77 GPa), whitening (none or minimal) and failure strain (10.8±3.8%). For strains at whitening onset, no statistically significant difference was seen for the longitudinal (5.1±1.6%) and radial groups (4.2±2.0%), however, the tangential values were significantly greater (7.0±2.4%). The data implies that bovine cortical bone tissue in long bones is designed to withstand higher loads in the longitudinal and tangential directions than in the radial one. A possible explanation of the anisotropy in the mechanical parameters derived here might be the structure of the tissues in the three directions tested.


Subject(s)
Femur/physiology , Animals , Anisotropy , Cattle , Compressive Strength , Elastic Modulus , Stress, Mechanical , Tensile Strength
19.
Mol Immunol ; 53(1-2): 111-7, 2013 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22898186

ABSTRACT

ZAP-70 kinase is a key regulator of early T-cell signaling; moreover, it also participates in non-genomic glucocorticoid (GC) signaling. Short-term high-dose GC-analogue treatment induces the phosphorylation of the kinase, and its association with the GC receptor (GR). In the present work, first, we identified those tyrosine (Y) residues of the ZAP-70 kinase which were involved in non-genomic GC signaling using an array of P116 cells (ZAP-70-deficient Jurkat subclone) lentivirally-transfected with wild type or point-mutated ZAP-70 constructs where Y-residues were replaced with phenylalanine (F) at positions 069, 126, 178, 238, 292, 315, 492 or 493. Then, we characterized the GC-analogue-induced Y-phosphorylation of 3 key substrates of the ZAP-70 kinase: SLP-76, LAT and Cbl. Finally, we studied the cross talk between the non-genomic GC- and TcR/CD3 signaling pathways. Y-F mutations at positions 315 or 492 abolished the short high-dose Dexamethasone (DX) treatment-induced ZAP-70 phosphorylation suggesting that these Y-residues were involved in ZAP-70-mediated non-genomic GC actions. DX treatment alone induced Y-phosphorylation of LAT, SLP-76 and Cbl; moreover, in F315- and F492-ZAP-70 mutated cells decreased DX-induced Y-phosphorylation of SLP-76 and Cbl was observed indicating that these molecules might transmit downstream non-genomic GC signals in a ZAP-70 dependent manner. Short, high dose DX treatment influenced significantly the anti-CD3-induced signaling events: we observed alterations in LAT, SLP-76 and Cbl Y-phosphorylation and a decreased Ca(2+)-signal. These results confirm that ZAP-70 represents an important link between the non-genomic GC and TcR/CD3 signaling pathways. Importantly, the DX-induced effects on resting and activated T-cells are differentially mediated. These fine molecular details help to better understand the complex mechanism of non-genomic GC effects in T-cells.


Subject(s)
Dexamethasone/immunology , Glucocorticoids/immunology , Signal Transduction/immunology , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase/immunology , Blotting, Western , Dexamethasone/pharmacology , Flow Cytometry , Glucocorticoids/pharmacology , Humans , Immunoprecipitation , Jurkat Cells , Signal Transduction/drug effects , T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , T-Lymphocytes/metabolism , Tyrosine/immunology , Tyrosine/metabolism , ZAP-70 Protein-Tyrosine Kinase/drug effects
20.
Exp Parasitol ; 132(4): 389-93, 2012 Dec.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23078993

ABSTRACT

Rhipicephalus sanguineus is believed to be the most widespread tick species of the world and its dissemination seems to rely on the diffusion of its main host, the dog. Empirical observations indicate that several bird species in urban areas regularly steal dog food. Such circumstances create a chance for R. sanguineus ticks to climb on birds and carry ticks to another site. In this work we evaluated experimentally the likelihood of birds (chicks) to either feed and/or carry R. sanguineus ticks from an infested site to another and to infest a host (rabbit) in the new location. Chicks were not suitable hosts for R. sanguineus ticks. Not a single adult tick engorged on chicks, yield as well as weight of engorged larvae and nymphs were very low and feeding period of these ticks was very long. However, a few larvae and, chiefly, nymphs were delivered to a new location either mechanically or after attachment and engorging total or partially on chicks. A few of these ticks fed successfully on rabbits. Further evidence on the capacity of birds to introduce R. sanguineus into non-infested dog settings should be provided by systematic examination of birds from urban areas, close to tick infested households.


Subject(s)
Chickens/parasitology , Poultry Diseases/transmission , Rhipicephalus sanguineus/physiology , Tick Infestations/veterinary , Animals , Dogs , Female , Host Specificity , Host-Parasite Interactions , Larva/physiology , Nymph/physiology , Poultry Diseases/parasitology , Rabbits , Tick Infestations/parasitology , Tick Infestations/transmission
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