Hepatitis E virus in pork liver sausage, France Berto, Alessandra; Grierson, Sylvia; Hakze-van der Honing, Renate ...
Emerging infectious diseases,
02/2013, Volume:
19, Issue:
2
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
We investigated viability of hepatitis E virus (HEV) identified in contaminated pork liver sausages obtained from France. HEV replication was demonstrated in 1 of 4 samples by using a 3-dimensional ...cell culture system. The risk for human infection with HEV by consumption of these sausages should be considered to be high.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The Yield Management System (YMS) described in this article has been developed by IBM for Trenitalia, main Italian and 3rd European railway undertaking, with 24 Million passengers and more than 260 ...High Speed Trains (“Frecce”) offered per day on average in 2017 first half, delivering good results in a period of raising competition. The YMS forecasts the unconstrained demand, using an additive method with an emphasis and a multiplicative correction, to account for censored data, allowing a capacity allocation optimization per Origin-Destination (O&D), and fare cluster. The system has been implemented gradually to most trains “Frecce” at Trenitalia, and since 2005 it has forecasted and optimized approximatively 4 Million model instances: nearly 120 Billion train-date-class-O&D-fare decisions.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Hepatitis C infection is a major public health concern in low- and middle-income countries where an estimated 71.1 million individuals are living with chronic infection. The World Health Organization ...(WHO) has recently released new guidance for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment programs, which include improving the access to new direct-acting antiviral agents. In Vietnam, a highly populated middle-income country, the seroprevalence of HCV infection is approximately 4% and multiple genotypes co-circulate in the general population. Here we review what is currently known regarding the epidemiology of HCV in Vietnam and outline options for reducing the significant burden of morbidity and mortality in our setting.
We performed a systematic review of the currently available literature to evaluate what has been achieved to date with efforts to control HCV infection in Vietnam.
This search retrieved few publications specific to Vietnam indicating a significant gap in baseline epidemiological and public health data. Key knowledge gaps identified included an understanding of the prevalence in specific high-risk groups, characterization of circulating HCV genotypes in the population and likely response to treatment, and the extent to which HCV treatment is available, accessed and utilized.
We conclude that there is an urgent need to perform up to date assessments of HCV disease burden in Vietnam, especially in high-risk groups, in whom incidence is high and cross infection with multiple genotypes is likely to be frequent. Coordinating renewed surveillance measures with forthcoming HCV treatment studies should initiate the traction required to achieve the WHO goal of eliminating HCV as a public health threat by 2030, at least in this region.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 and 4 can cause liver disease in human and has its main reservoir in pigs. HEV investigations in pigs worldwide have been performed but there is still a lack of ...information on the infection dynamics in pig populations.
The HEV transmission dynamics in commercial pig farms in six different European countries was studied. The data collected show prevalence in weaners ranging from 8% to 30%. The average HEV prevalence in growers was between 20% and 44%. The fatteners prevalence ranged between 8% and 73%. Sows prevalence was similar in all countries. Boar faeces were tested for HEV only in Spain and Czech Republic, and the prevalence was 4.3% and 3.5% respectively. The collected data sets were analyzed using a recently developed model to estimate the transmission dynamics of HEV in the different countries confirming that HEV is endemic in pig farms.
This study has been performed using similar detection methods (real time RT-PCR) for all samples and the same model (SIR model) to analyse the data. Furthermore, it describes HEV prevalence and within-herd transmission dynamics in European Countries (EU): Czech Republic, Italy, Portugal, Spain, The Netherlands and United Kingdom, confirming that HEV is circulating in pig farms from weaners to fatteners and that the reproductive number mathematical defined as R0 is in the same range for all countries studied.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Purpose.
Amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) has been used as a graft or as a dressing in ocular surface reconstruction, facilitating epithelization, maintaining normal epithelial phenotype, and ...reducing inflammation, vascularization, and scarring. The corneal transparency is due, at least in part, to the arrangement in orthogonal lamellae of collagen fibrils, surrounded by proteoglycans (PGs). These PGs regulate fibrilogenesis, the matrix assembly, and ultimately the corneal transparency. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of AMT upon the corneal PGs after severe limbal injury.
Methods.
Experiments were performed on the right corneas of 22 New Zealand female albino rabbits, and their left corneas were used as matched controls. These animals were divided into 3 groups: G1 (n=10): total peritomy and keratolimbectomy followed by application of 0.5 M NaOH; G2 (n=10): submitted to the same trauma as G1, and treated by AMT; G3: no trauma, only AMT (n=2). The right corneas of G2 and G3 were covered by DMSO4 cryopreserved human amniotic membrane, fixed by interrupted 9-0 mononylon sutures, with its stromal face toward the ocular surface. After 7 or 30 days, the corneas were removed and PGs were extracted.
Results.
Normal corneas contained approximately 9 mg of PGs per gram of dry tissue. AMT on intact cornea (G3) did not cause any changes in the concentration of PGs. In contrast, injured corneas contained much less PGs, both on the seventh and on the 30th day posttrauma. The PG concentration was even lower in injured corneas treated by AMT This decrease was due almost exclusively to dermatan sulfate PGs, and the structure of dermatan sulfate was also modified, indicating changes in the biosynthesis patterns.
Conclusions.
Although beneficial effects have been observed on clinical observation and concentration of soluble proteins after AMT, the normal PG composition of cornea was not attained, even 30 days postinjury indicating that the normal ocular surface reconstruction, if possible, is a long-term process.
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NUK, OILJ, SAZU, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Chondroitinases are very important tools for the identification and structural analysis of proteoglycans. Enzymic analysis with Flavobacterium heparinum chondroitinases has shown that chondroitin ...sulphate and dermatan sulphate structures are modified in many human diseases, suggesting a diagnostic value for these enzymes. Furthermore, it was recently shown that F. heparinum chondroitinases AC and B inhibit tumoural cell growth, invasion and angiogenesis. Due to the increasing importance of F. heparinum chondroitinases, we investigated optimized conditions for preparation and assay of chondroitinases AC, B and C. The Dimethylmethylene Blue assay was modified and fully developed to measure the chondroitinase activities of crude extracts of F. heparinum . This method estimates chondroitin sulphate or dermatan sulphate depolymerization upon the digestion of chondroitinase, and was compared with A 232, which measures the unsaturated products formed. Trypticase was the best culture medium, both for bacterial growth and enzyme induction. The chondroitinases were solubilized by ultrasound under conditions that do not completely disrupt the cells, suggesting that they are located at the periplasmic space. Maximum chondroitinase induction occurred in the presence of 0.2–1.0 g/l chondroitin sulphate. Chondroitin sulphate‐degradation products were also inducers, but heparin and heparan sulphate were not. Chondroitinases AC, B and C were separated from each other by hydrophobic‐interaction chromatography on Phenyl‐Sepharose HP. When contaminant proteins were first removed from crude extract by Q‐Sepharose, the chondroitinases could be purified to homogeneity in this phenyl‐Sepharose chromatographic step.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
The proximate compositions, mineral contents and fatty acid compositions of different parts (peel, pulp and seeds) of 10 native Amazonian fruits were chemically characterized. The peel and pulp ...showed high moisture contents (43.13 to 94.03%), while the seeds showed greater levels of ash values, total crude protein and total carbohydrates (0.55–3.35%, 1.55–15.34% and 17.78–65.64%, respectively). High levels of total lipids (from 14.40 to 34.70%) were found in piquiá (pulp and almond), in 2 varieties of umari (peel and pulp), uxi pulp and biribá seed. A wide range of mineral contents was detected (Mn: 0.32–11.96mg/100g; Zn: 0.39–4.75mg/100g; Cu: 0.52–16.21mg/100g; Fe: 0.91–9.88mg/100g; Mg: 30.02–219.44mg/100g; Na: 2.76–350.56mg/100g; P: 4.52–382.64mg/100g). The highest mineral levels were found in the samples of bacuri-azedo pulp (Mn, Zn), cubiu small seed (Cu), piquiá outer peel (Fe), cubiu large peel (Mg), all pajurá parts (Na) and piquiá almond (P). Fatty acid analysis identified and quantified 32 fatty acids. The highest levels of palmitic acid (16:0) and oleic acid (18:1n-9) were found in the peels and pulps of the 2 varieties of umari and uxi and in the pulp and almond of piquiá, while the highest levels of linoleic acid (18:2n-6) and α-linolenic acid (18:3n-3) were found in the seed of biribá and pulp of uxi, respectively. All samples of peels and pulps, except for piquiá pulp, had n-6/n-3 ratio less than 4. The samples showed good varied proximal composition and mineral levels, each being rich in at least one nutrient. Monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids were found in higher concentrations in most samples. Peels and pulps presented good n-6/n-3 ratios and are considered beneficial to human health.
•The proximal composition of 10 unexplored native Amazonian fruits•Minerals and fatty acids contents of peels, pulps and seeds•Inner peels of Caryocarvillosum (piquiá) showed high iron content.•Seeds of Caryocarvillosum (piquiá) presented high content of total lipids.•Endopleura uchi (pulps) presented the highest levels of oleic acid and α-linolenic acid.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
Leiomyoma is a benign smooth muscle tumor of the uterus that affects many women in active reproductive life. It is composed by bundles of smooth muscle cells surrounded by extracellular matrix. We ...have recently shown that the glycosylation of extracellular matrix proteoglycans is modified in leiomyoma: increased amounts of galactosaminoglycans with structural modifications are present. The data here presented show that decorin is present in both normal myometrium and leiomyoma but tumoral decorin is glycosylated with longer galactosaminoglycan side chains. Furthermore, these chains contain a higher ratio
d-glucuronate/
l-iduronate, as compared to normal tissue. To determine if these changes in proteoglycan glycosylation correlates with modifications in the extracellular matrix organization, we compared the general structural architecture of leiomyoma to normal myometrium. By histochemical and immunofluorescence methods, we found a reorganization of muscle fibers and extracellular matrix, with changes in the distribution of glycoproteins, proteoglycans, and collagen. Thin reticular fibers, possibly composed by types I and III collagen, were replaced by thick fibers, possibly richer in type I collagen. Type I collagen colocalized with decorin both in leiomyoma and normal myometrium, in contrast to type IV collagen that did not. The relative amount of decorin was increased and the distribution of decorin and collagen was totally modified in the tumor, as compared to the normal myometrium. These findings reveal that not only decorin structure is modified in leiomyoma but also the tissue architecture changed, especially concerning extracellular matrix.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
To evaluate the acute effects of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) upon the synthesis of proteoglycans (PGs) and collagen fibril organization in human corneal explants.
Human corneas that had been ...rejected for transplants were obtained at Banco de Olhos of Hospital São Paulo. For each eye pair, one cornea was submitted to refractive surgery, and the other was used as its matched control. After surgery, the corneas were excised from the eyes and immediately placed in a Ham F-12 nutrient mixture containing (35)S-sulfate for the metabolic labeling of PGs. After 24 h incubation, PGs were extracted and identified by a combination of agarose gel electrophoresis and enzymatic degradation with protease and specific glycosaminoglycan lyases. Histopathological and birefringence analysis were performed in fixed tissue slices.
A marked decrease in (35)S-sulfate incorporation in PGs was observed in corneal explants that received LASIK, especially concerning dermatan sulfate-PGs, with keratan sulfate- and heparan sulfate-PG synthesis reduced to a lower degree. Only low molecular weight PGs were present in the corneas, both before and 24 h after LASIK. No sign of wound healing processes were observed, but a marked change in corneal birefringence was seen following LASIK treatment.
Laser application led to decreased PG biosynthesis in human corneal explants, with marked changes in the collagen fibril organization, as revealed by changes in the tissue birefringence.
Quararibea cordata, an unexploited Amazonian fruit was investigated regarding the identification of phenolic compounds and the scavenging capacity of its pulp, peel and seed extracts against reactive ...oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS). The major phenolic compound in the pulp extract was epicatechin (320μg/g extract), while A-type proanthocyanidin dimer was the major one in the peel and seed extracts. Regarding the carotenoid composition, all-trans-zeaxanthin (2.5–42μg/g extract), all-trans-lutein and all-trans-β-carotene were the major compounds in all extracts. The seed extract, which presented the highest content of phenolic compounds and carotenoids, was the most effective scavenger against all RNS (IC50 from 19.5 to 37.6μg/mL), while the peel extract presented the highest efficiency against ROS, especially HOCl. Thus, Q. cordata fruit may present an excellent potential to be used as a bioactive compound source with high antioxidant capacity.
•The phenolic compounds of Q. cordata fruit were identified for the first time.•The seed extract presented the highest phenolic compound and carotenoid contents.•The seed extract was the most effective scavenger against all tested RNS.•The peel extract presented the highest efficiency against ROS, especially HOCl.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK
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