Fasciola hepatica phenotypic characterization in Andean human endemic areas: valley versus altiplanic patterns analysed in liver flukes from sheep from Cajamarca and Mantaro, Peru

Fascioliasis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica. Of both species, F. hepatica is the only one described in the Americas, mainly transmitted by lymnaeid snail vectors of the Galba/Fossaria group. Human fascioliasis endemic areas are mainly located in high altitude areas of Andean countries. Given the necessity to characterize F. hepatica populations involved, the phenotypic features of fasciolid adults infecting sheep present in human fascioliasis endemic areas were analysed in the Cajamarca Valley and Mantaro Valley (valley transmission patterns) and the northern Bolivian Altiplano (altiplanic transmission pattern). A computer image analysis system (CIAS) was applied on the basis of standardized measurements. The aforementioned highland populations were compared to standard lowland natural and experimental populations of European origin. Liver fluke size was studied by multivariate analyses. Two phenotypic patterns could be distinguished in F. hepatica adult size: the valley pattern (Cajamarca and Mantaro, Peru) and the altiplanic pattern (northern Altiplano, Bolivia). Results showed that the Andean valley population and European standard populations presented a phenotypic homogeneity. The Altiplano population showed a large size range with a pronouncedly lower minimum size indicating that uterus gravidity is reached at a smaller size than in valley populations. The results of this study demonstrate that there is no apparent relationship between the shape of fasciolid adults with regard to altitudinal difference or geographical origin and that allometry-free shape appears as a more stable trait than size in fasciolid species. Results are analysed in terms of intensity/crowding effect aspects and permanent/seasonal transmission characteristics.     

A New Biologically Inspired Fuzzy Expert System-Based Voiced/Unvoiced Decision Algorithm for Speech Enhancement

In this paper, we propose a speech enhancement approach for a single-microphone system. The main idea is to apply a specific transformation on the speech signal depending on the voicing state of the signal. We apply a voiced/unvoiced algorithm based on the multi-scale product analysis with the use of fuzzy logic to make more cognitively inspired use of speech information. A comb filtering is applied on the voiced frames of the noisy speech signal, and a spectral subtraction is operated on the unvoiced frames of the same signal. Further, the harmonics are enhanced by performing a designed comb filtering using an adjustable bandwidth. The comb filter is tuned by an accurate fundamental frequency estimation method. The fundamental frequency estimation method is based on computing the multi-scale product analysis of the noisy speech. Experimental results show that the proposed approach is capable of reducing noise in adverse noise environments with little speech degradation and outperforms several competitive methods.     

A case of primary erythermalgia with encephalopathy

Journal of Neurology -     

Escherichia coli extensive cellulitis after laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

A 59-year-old patient underwent laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) in our department. After surgery, he had an extensive cellulitis of the right flank develop. Urine, drainage effluent, and blood cultures were all positive for Escherichia coli. Prolonged broad spectrum antibiotherapy allowed progressive resolution of the cellulitis. This case shows that severe cellulitis can occur after LRP. Urinary tract infection and vesicourethral anastomotic leakage may contribute to this complication.     

Allopeptide-pulsed dendritic cells and composite tissue allograft survival

Composite tissue allografts (CTAs) contain their own reservoir of vascularized bone marrow, offering novel aspects for the induction of donor-specific tolerance. Additionally, the manipulation of recipient dendritic cells, pulsed with donor allopeptide, has been shown to engender solid organ allograft survival. To exploit these modalities, we have developed a protocol utilizing injection of recipient bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) pulsed with a donor-derived peptide for use in CTA transplantation. Six days prior to orthotopic hind-limb transplantation, Lewis rats received IV injection of donor allopeptide-pulsed, recipient BMDCs, in conjunction with a single dose of anti-lymphocyte serum. Control groups displayed signs of allograft rejection within 5 days postoperatively. Animals within the primary experimental cohort demonstrated prolongation of graft survival to an average of 8 days, and exhibited low numbers of donor T cells. The use of BMDCs in conjunction with transient immunosuppression has potential therapeutic application for induction of donor-antigen-specific tolerance to hind limb allografts.     

c.1643_1644delTG XPC mutation is more frequent in Moroccan patients with xeroderma pigmentosum

Xeroderma pigmentosum is a rare autosomal recessive disease characterized by hypersensitivity to UV light which is due to alterations of the nucleotide excision repair pathway. Eight genes (XPA to XPG and XPV) are responsible for the disease. Among them, the XPC gene is known to be the most mutated in Mediterranean patients. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of the most common XPC mutation and describe the clinical features of Moroccan patients with xeroderma pigmentosum. Twenty four patients belonging to 21 unrelated Moroccan families and 58 healthy subjects were investigated. After clinical examination, the screening for the c.1643_1644delTG (p.Val548AlafsX25) mutation in the XPC gene was performed by PCR and automated sequencing of exon 9 in all patients and controls. The molecular analysis showed that among the 24 patients, 17 were homozygous for the c.1643_1644delTG mutation and all their tested parents were heterozygous, whereas the others (7 patients) did not carry the mutation. The frequency of this mutation was estimated to be 76.19 % (16/21 families). None of the 58 healthy individuals carried this mutation. In addition, clinical investigation showed that the majority of the patients bearing this mutation have the same clinical features. Our results revealed that the p.Val548AlafsX25 mutation is the major cause (76.19 %) of xeroderma pigmentosum in Moroccan families. This would have an important impact on improving management of patients and their relatives.