Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the main cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality. The complex evolution of RSV creates a need for worldwide surveillance, which may assist in the understanding ...of multiple viral aspects.
This study aimed to investigate RSV features under the Brazilian Influenza Surveillance Program, evaluating the role of viral load and genetic diversity in disease severity and the influence of climatic factors in viral seasonality.
We have investigated the prevalence of RSV in children up to 3 years of age with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) in the state of Espirito Santo (ES), Brazil, from 2016 to 2018. RT-qPCR allowed for viral detection and viral load quantification, to evaluate association with clinical features and mapping of local viral seasonality. Gene G sequencing and phylogenetic reconstruction demonstrated local genetic diversity.
Of 632 evaluated cases, 56% were caused by RSV, with both subtypes A and B co-circulating throughout the years. A discrete inverse association between average temperature and viral circulation was observed. No correlation between viral load and disease severity was observed, but children infected with RSV-A presented a higher clinical severity score (CSS), stayed longer in the hospital, and required intensive care, and ventilatory support more frequently than those infected by RSV-B. Regarding RSV diversity, some local genetic groups were observed within the main genotypes circulation RSV-A ON1 and RSV-B BA, with strains showing modifications in the G gene amino acid chain.
Local RSV studies using the Brazilian Influenza Surveillance Program are relevant as they can bring useful information to the global RSV surveillance. Understanding seasonality, virulence, and genetic diversity can aid in the development and suitability of antiviral drugs, vaccines, and assist in the administration of prophylactic strategies.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Context.
Until recently, camera networks designed for monitoring fireballs worldwide were not fully automated, implying that in case of a meteorite fall, the recovery campaign was rarely immediate. ...This was an important limiting factor as the most fragile – hence precious – meteorites must be recovered rapidly to avoid their alteration.
Aims.
The Fireball Recovery and InterPlanetary Observation Network (FRIPON) scientific project was designed to overcome this limitation. This network comprises a fully automated camera and radio network deployed over a significant fraction of western Europe and a small fraction of Canada. As of today, it consists of 150 cameras and 25 European radio receivers and covers an area of about 1.5 × 10
6
km
2
.
Methods.
The FRIPON network, fully operational since 2018, has been monitoring meteoroid entries since 2016, thereby allowing the characterization of their dynamical and physical properties. In addition, the level of automation of the network makes it possible to trigger a meteorite recovery campaign only a few hours after it reaches the surface of the Earth. Recovery campaigns are only organized for meteorites with final masses estimated of at least 500 g, which is about one event per year in France. No recovery campaign is organized in the case of smaller final masses on the order of 50 to 100 g, which happens about three times a year; instead, the information is delivered to the local media so that it can reach the inhabitants living in the vicinity of the fall.
Results.
Nearly 4000 meteoroids have been detected so far and characterized by FRIPON. The distribution of their orbits appears to be bimodal, with a cometary population and a main belt population. Sporadic meteors amount to about 55% of all meteors. A first estimate of the absolute meteoroid flux (mag < –5; meteoroid size ≥~1 cm) amounts to 1250/yr/10
6
km
2
. This value is compatible with previous estimates. Finally, the first meteorite was recovered in Italy (Cavezzo, January 2020) thanks to the PRISMA network, a component of the FRIPON science project.
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Cholesteatomas are frequent middle ear benign tumors of unknown etiology. Infectious agents have been considered as possible contributing factors in the pathogenesis of cholesteatomas. Aiming to ...investigate the presence of respiratory viruses in primary cholesteatoma tissues, 26 formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded primary cholesteatoma tissues obtained from patients seen at the of the Clinical Hospital of the University of São Paulo School of Medicine, in Ribeirão Preto, Brazil were tested by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Considering the PCR results, 35% of the tissues were positive for human rhinovirus (HRV), 15.3% for human enterovirus (EV), 3.8% for human metapneumovirus (HMPV), and 3.8% for human bocavirus (HBoV). Serial immunohistochemistry for virus antigens and cell surface markers evidenced that the viruses were associated with fibroblasts, dendritic cells, macrophages, B lymphocytes, CD4+, and CD8+ T lymphocytes. These findings indicate for the first time the presence of active respiratory virus infection in primary cholesteatoma tissues, suggesting that persisting virus infection in the middle could play a role in the pathogenesis and evolution of cholesteatomas.
Highlights
Primary cholesteatoma tissues are sites of respiratory virus infections.
Genomes and proteins of HBoV, HMPV, HEV and HRV were detected in primary cholesteatomas.
Viral antigens and cell surface markers evidenced that infected cells were fibroblasts, dendritic cells, macrophages, B lymphocytes, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
Noroviruses are the major cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide in all age groups. The several genotypes, mutation, and recombination events guarantee the broad diffusion and maintenance of ...these viruses in the general human population. We described an outbreak caused by a norovirus recombinant strain screened in samples obtained from children and hospital staff affected in an outbreak of diarrhea at neonatal and pediatric intensive care units in Southeastern Brazil.
Noroviruses were investigated by PCR and the genotype was determined by sequencing both partial genes regions of RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (ORF1) and capsid protein (ORF2); the recombination event was performed using SimPlot. Rotaviruses were investigated by real-time PCR targeting the NSP3 gene.
The GII.Pe-GII.4 Sidney_2012 norovirus recombinant was detected in four from among six children with diarrhea and in four symptomatic contacts; the rotavirus was negative in all samples. The virus was introduced by a hospital staff member affecting other staff members and patients of the pediatric intensive care unit. Five days lapsed between the first and last diarrhea case caused by norovirus and the outbreak was restrained through strict hand hygiene, environment disinfection and limiting the contact of infected persons.
The outbreak was due to the GII.Pe-GII.4 Sydney_2012 variant that occurred in the same year of its first description in the world.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
ABSTRACT
Two meteorite pieces have been recovered in Italy, near the town of Cavezzo (Modena), on 2020 January 4th. The associated fireball was observed on the evening of New Year’s Day 2020 by eight ...all-sky cameras of the PRISMA fireball network, a partner of FRIPON. The computed trajectory had an inclination angle of approximately 68° and a velocity at infinity of 12.8 km s−1. Together with the relatively low terminal height, estimated as 21.5 km, those values were indicating the significant possibility of a meteorite dropping event, as additionally confirmed by the non-zero residual total mass. The strewn-field was computed taking into account the presence of two bright light flashes, revealing that the meteoroid had been very likely subject to fragmentation. Three days after the event, two samples, weighing 3.1 and 52.2 g, were collected as a result of a dedicated field search and thanks to the involvement of the local people. The two pieces were immediately recognized as freshly fallen fragments of meteorite. The computed orbital elements, compared with the ones of known Near-Earth Asteroids from the NEODyS database, are compatible with one asteroid only; 2013 VC10. The estimated original mass of the meteoroid, 3.5 kg, and size, approximately 13 cm, is so far the smallest among the current 35 cases in which meteorites were recovered from precise strewn-field computation thanks to observational data. This result demonstrates the effectiveness of accurate processing of fireball network data even on challenging events generated by small size meteoroids.
Cervical cancer screening might contribute to the prevention of anal cancer in women. We aimed to investigate if routine cervical cancer screening results—namely high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) ...infection and cytohistopathology—predict anal HPV16 infection, anal high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and, hence, anal cancer.
We did a systematic review of MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane library for studies of cervical determinants of anal HPV and HSIL published up to Aug 31, 2018. We centrally reanalysed individual-level data from 13 427 women with paired cervical and anal samples from 36 studies. We compared anal high-risk HPV prevalence by HIV status, cervical high-risk HPV, cervical cytohistopathology, age, and their combinations, using prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% CIs. Among 3255 women with anal cytohistopathology results, PRs were similarly calculated for all anal HSIL and HPV16-positive anal HSIL.
Cervical and anal HPV infections were highly correlated. In HIV-negative women, anal HPV16 prevalence was 41% (447/1097) in cervical HPV16-positive versus 2% (214/8663) in cervical HPV16-negative women (PR 16·5, 95% CI 14·2–19·2, p<0·0001); these values were 46% (125/273) versus 11% (272/2588) in HIV-positive women (4·4, 3·7–5·3, p<0·0001). Anal HPV16 was also associated with cervical cytohistopathology, with a prevalence of 44% 101/228 for cervical cancer in HIV-negative women (PR vs normal cytology 14·1, 11·1–17·9, p<0·0001). Anal HSIL was associated with cervical high-risk HPV, both in HIV-negative women (from 2% 11/527 in cervical high-risk HPV-negative women up to 24% 33/138 in cervical HPV16-positive women; PR 12·9, 95% CI 6·7–24·8, p<0·0001) and HIV-positive women (from 8% 84/1094 to 17% 31/186; 2·3, 1·6–3·4, p<0·0001). Anal HSIL was also associated with cervical cytohistopathology, both in HIV-negative women (from 1% 5/498 in normal cytology up to 22% 59/273 in cervical HSIL; PR 23·1, 9·4–57·0, p<0·0001) and HIV-positive women (from 7% 105/1421 to 25% 25/101; 3·6, 2·5–5·3, p<0·0001). Prevalence of HPV16-positive anal HSIL was 23–25% in cervical HPV16-positive women older than 45 years (5/20 in HIV-negative women, 12/52 in HIV-positive women).
HPV-based cervical cancer screening programmes might help to stratify anal cancer risk, irrespective of HIV status. For targeted secondary anal cancer prevention in high-risk groups, HIV-negative women with cervical HPV16, especially those older than 45 years, have a similar anal cancer risk profile to that of HIV-positive women.
International Agency for Research on Cancer.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Background Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is the main cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality. The complex evolution of RSV creates a need for worldwide surveillance, which may assist in the ...understanding of multiple viral aspects. Objectives This study aimed to investigate RSV features under the Brazilian Influenza Surveillance Program, evaluating the role of viral load and genetic diversity in disease severity and the influence of climatic factors in viral seasonality. Methodology We have investigated the prevalence of RSV in children up to 3 years of age with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) in the state of Espirito Santo (ES), Brazil, from 2016 to 2018. RT-qPCR allowed for viral detection and viral load quantification, to evaluate association with clinical features and mapping of local viral seasonality. Gene G sequencing and phylogenetic reconstruction demonstrated local genetic diversity. Results Of 632 evaluated cases, 56% were caused by RSV, with both subtypes A and B co-circulating throughout the years. A discrete inverse association between average temperature and viral circulation was observed. No correlation between viral load and disease severity was observed, but children infected with RSV-A presented a higher clinical severity score (CSS), stayed longer in the hospital, and required intensive care, and ventilatory support more frequently than those infected by RSV-B. Regarding RSV diversity, some local genetic groups were observed within the main genotypes circulation RSV-A ON1 and RSV-B BA, with strains showing modifications in the G gene amino acid chain. Conclusion Local RSV studies using the Brazilian Influenza Surveillance Program are relevant as they can bring useful information to the global RSV surveillance. Understanding seasonality, virulence, and genetic diversity can aid in the development and suitability of antiviral drugs, vaccines, and assist in the administration of prophylactic strategies.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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A infecção pelo papilomavirus humano (HPV) é o principal fator de risco para o desenvolvimento de cânceres anogenitais. Alguns genótipos, denominados de alto risco (HR-HPV), e suas variantes gênicas estão mais associados ao desenvolvimento de lesões malignas, sendo o HPV16 o mais frequente. Fatores de risco, como a infecção pelo HIV, aumenta a propensão à infecção persistente pelo HPV e câncer.;
Metodologias moleculares para identificação e tipagem do HPV podem ser úteis para triagem de mulheres com citologia negativa, principalmente naquelas soropositivas para HIV. Este estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar os tipos de HPV e variantes de HPV16 em espécimes cervicais e anais de mulheres soropositivas para HIV, com;
citologia cervical normal, atendidas no Centro de Referência em DST/AIDS, Vitória-ES. DNA viral foi pesquisado por PCR com conjuntos de iniciadores PGMY09/11 a partir de ácido nucleico extraído com kit QIAamp DNA Mini Kit (QIAGEN). O genótipo foi determinado por Reverse Line Blot (RLB), Restriction Fragment Length;
Polymorphism (RFLP) ou sequenciamento gênico e as variantes de HPV16, por sequenciamento gênico. DNA de HPV foi detectado em um total de 71,4% (90/126) das mulheres, sendo 38,9% (49/126) presentes em amostras cervicais e 60,3% (76/126), em anais; 38,9% (35/90), em ambos os sítios concomitantemente. Foram detectados 34 tipos distintos de HPV, sendo os HR-HPVs encontrados em 83,7%;
(41/49) e 77,6% (59/76) das amostras cervicais e anais, respectivamente. O HPV16 foi o tipo mais prevalente em ambos os sítios, seguido pelos tipos 45>31,35,44,69>18,52,66 na região cervical e pelos tipos 44>6>53 na região anal. Variante europeia de HPV16 esteve presente em 70,8% (17/24) dos casos e as não;
europeias, em 29,2% (7/24). Mesmo genótipo de HPV em ambos os sítios anatômicos esteve presente em 48,6% das amostras e destes, 76,5% eram HR-HPV. Infecção com pelo menos três tipos de HPV foi uma ocorrência comum, sendo na maioria dos casos, na região anal (78,6%). Dentre as variáveis estudadas, idade entre 18-35 anos,;
contagem de CD4 abaixo de 500 cél/mm3 e carga viral do HIV acima de 50 cópias/cél estiveram estatisticamente relacionadas à presença de HPV anal. A alta frequência de HR-HPV em mulheres de um grupo de risco e com citologia cervical normal contribui para que novas políticas de rastreio possam ser implementadas para o monitoramento dessa população. Palavras-chave: HPV. HIV. Genotipagem. Variantes.
EuCARD-2 is a project supported by FP7-European Commission that includes, inter alia, a work-package (WP10) called "Future Magnets." This project is part of the long term development that CERN is ...launching to explore magnet technology at 16 T to 20 T dipole operating field, within the scope of a study on Future Circular Colliders. The EuCARD2 collaboration is closely liaising with similar programs for high field accelerator magnets in the USA and Japan. The main focus of EuCARD2 WP10 is the development of a 10 kA-class superconducting, high current density cable suitable for accelerator magnets, The cable will be used to wind a stand-alone magnet 500 mm long and with an aperture of 40 mm. This magnet should yield 5 T, when stand-alone, and will enable to reach a 15 to 18 T dipole field by placing it in a large bore background dipole of 12-15 T. REBCO based Roebel cables is the baseline. Various magnet configurations with HTS tapes are under investigation and also use of Bi-2212 round wire based cables is considered. The paper presents the structure of the collaboration and describes the main choices made in the first year of the program, which has a breadth of five to six years of which four are covered by the FP7 frame.
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