Extracellular acidosis enhances Zika virus infection both in human cells and ex-vivo tissue cultures from female reproductive tract.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus transmitted by mosquitoes of the genus Aedes, but unlike other flaviviruses, ZIKV can be sexually transmitted by vaginal intercourse. The healthy vaginal pH ranges from 4.0 to 6.0, reaching values of 6.0-7.0 after semen deposition. Here, we report that low extracellular pH values (range 6.2-6.6) dramatically increase ZIKV infection on cell lines of different origin including some derived from the female genital tract and monocyte-derived macrophages. Furthermore, low pH significantly increased ZIKV infection of human ectocervix and endocervix cultured ex-vivo. Enhancement of infection by low pH was also observed using different ZIKV strains and distinct methods to evaluate viral infection, i.e. plaque assays, RT-PCR, flow cytometry, and fluorescence microscopy. Analysis of the mechanisms involved revealed that the enhancement of ZIKV infection induced by low pH was associated with increased binding of the viral particles to the heparan sulphate expressed on the target cell surface. Acidosis represents a critical but generally overlooked feature of the female genital tract, with major implications for sexual transmission diseases. Our results suggest that low vaginal pH might promote male-to-female transmission of ZIKV infection.

Recuento leucocitario y riesgo cardiovascular tras un síndrome coronario agudo / Leukocyte count as a risk factor for coronary adverse events among patients admitted for an acute coronary syndrome

Background: Leukocytosis occurs as a response to a variety of infammatory processes. Aim: To determine if white blood cell count (WBCC) at admission among patients who suffer an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has an independent prog-nostic value for the occurrence of new cardiovascular adverse events (CAE). Patients and Methods: Prospective study of 558 patients aged 68 ± 13 years (122 women) admitted to the hospital for an acute coronary syndrome. WBCC was measured at admission. A logistic regression model was used to assess the association of WBCC with the occurrence of CAE during the next six months after admission (post infarction angina, re-infarction, cardiac failure and mortality). Results: An univariate analysis showed that patients with a WBCC > 15.000 cell/mm³ had a signifcantly higher mortality and occurrence of CAE. The multivariate analysis showed that subjects with WBCC < 10.000 cell/mm³ experienced fewer CAE than subjects with a WBCC > 15.000 cell/mm³, with an odds ratio of 0.46 (95 percent confdence intervals = 0.21-0.97, p = 0,042). Conclusions: An elevated WBCC at admission among patients with an ACS is associated with a higher incidence of CAE in the ensuing six months.

Piercing oral: una amenaza para la salud periodontal / Oral piercing: a threat for periodontal health

La colocación de piercing oral es hoy en día muy frecuente en la población por una cuestión de moda. Las complicaciones que puede ocasionar esta práctica son numerosas y cada vez más frecuentes debido principalmente a que se lleva a cabo por personal no sanitario, el cual carece de conocimientos médicos y anatómicos, y a que el portador del piercing no es informado adecuadamente sobre las complicaciones y los posibles riesgos que puede acarrear esta práctica en la salud oral (AU)

Nowadays oral piercings are commonplace due to their rise in fashion. Complications that can arise from this practice are numerous and increasingly more frequent, principally due to the fact that they are carried out by non-healthcare workers who lack medical and anatomy training. Due to this, the wearer is not adequately informed about the complications and possible risks to their oral health (AU)