Vacunas contra el virus del papiloma humano

Persistent infection by human papilloma virus (HPV) is considered to be the main cause of cervical cancer and other ano-genital cancers. Of more than 30 genotypes able to infect the anogenital tract, it is estimated that, worldwide, HPV 16 and 18 cause 70% of cervical cancers and that HPV 6 and 11 cause more than 90% of genital warts. In the last few years, the morbidity and mortality and health costs associated with cervical cancer and its precursor lesions have stimulated intense research activity to achieve primary prevention of this disease through prophylactic vaccines.     

Sequence-Based analysis of the HLA-DRB1 polymorphism in Metalsa Berber and Chaouya Arabic-speaking groups from Morocco

To examine the genetic diversity in Morocco, the polymorphism at the HLA-DRB1 locus was investigated in two populations: the Metalsa group consisting of Berbers from north Morocco (who speak the Tarifit language and live in the Nador area), and the Chaouya group who are Arabic-speaking people from west Morocco (Atlantic coast) living in the Settat area. The DRB1 alleles of 197 healthy unrelated individuals were identified by direct DNA sequencing of exon 2 using fluorescently-labeled primers. A total of 28 and 29 alleles at DRB1 locus were identified in the Metalsa and Chaouya groups, respectively. The most frequent alleles in the Metalsa group are DRB1*03011 (20.2%), DRB1*0701 (12.12%), and DRB1*1302 (11.11%). In the Chaouya group, DRB1*0701 (16.33%), DRB1*15011 (12.76%), and DRB1*03011 (11.73%) are most common. Each population exhibits some specific variants and some uncommon alleles. The frequency of the DRB1*03011 allele differs significantly between the two populations (p = 0.0311). The DRB1 frequency distributions in the two groups suggest the effects of balancing selection. The interpopulation analysis highlighted a strong relatedness, based on genetic distances, between the two Moroccan groups and the other north Africans (the Moroccans from El Jadida area, Moroccan Souss Berbers, Algerians, and Tunisians), and to a lesser extent with the Iberians, French, and Ethiopians.     

Absence of histochemical immunoreactivity to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in spinal cord motoneurons from (+)-tubocurarine-treated chick embryos

A physiological neuronal death that implicates about 50% of the motoneuron population occurs in the chick embryo between the 6th (E6) and 9th (E9) day of incubation. This natural death can be prevented by administration of neuromuscular blocking agents (e.g. (+)-tubocurarine ((+)-Tc)). In this study, calcitonin gene-related peptide-like immunoreactivity (CGRP-LIR) was studied in spinal cord motoneurons from normal and (+)-Tc-treated chick embryos. In normal embryos CGRP-LIR was found in a neuronal subpopulation of the spinal cord lateral motor column (LMC) that was maximal between the 14th (E14) and 16th (E16) embryonic days with a subsequent decrease. In LMC neurons from (+)-Tc-treated chick embryos examined at E14-16 days no histochemically detectable CGRP-LIR could be observed.     

Intestinal toxemia botulism in Italy, 1984–2005

Botulism in humans is caused by botulinum neurotoxins, produced in most cases by Clostridium botulinum, although other Clostridia species are implicated as well. Of the five forms of botulism in humans, three are referred to as “infective”: wound botulism, infant botulism, and adult intestinal botulism; the latter two forms are also referred to as “intestinal toxemia botulism” because the organism colonizes the lumen of the intestinal tract and produces botulinum neurotoxin in vivo. Twenty-three cases of infant botulism and three cases of adult intestinal botulism occurred in Italy between 1984 and 2005. Microbiological analyses of clinical, environmental, and food samples and analysis of clinical and epidemiological data revealed two main characteristics of intestinal toxemia botulism in Italy that are not common in cases in other countries: the isolation of a strain of C. butyricum that produced botulinum neurotoxin type E in 6 of 26 cases, including two cases of adult intestinal toxemia botulism, and the onset of botulism in these cases with concomitant severe gastrointestinal symptomatology. This report summarizes the microbiological, clinical, and epidemiological data of all cases of intestinal toxemia botulism that have occurred in Italy in the period 1984–2005.     

Characterization of an organism that produces type E botulinal toxin but which resembles Clostridium butyricum from the feces of an infant with type E botulism.

The apparent causative organism from the only reported case of type E infant botulism was isolated and characterized. Except for its ability to produce type E botulinal toxin, this organism (strain 5262) would be unquestionably identified as Clostridium butyricum. This is the second time an organism resembling a defined Clostridium species other than a member of the C. botulinum group has been implicated in infant botulism.     

A case of infant botulism associated with honey feeding in Italy

A case of infant botulism in a 9 week-old female is described. A strain of C. botulinum type B was isolated from the feces of the baby. The epidemiologic study detected in a sample of home canned honey Clostridium botulinum spores of the same serotype that was isolated from the patient. The honey had been used only to sweeten the pacifier of the baby. This is the first case of infant botulism in Europe linked conclusively to honey.Corresponding author.     

S-laminin and N-acetylgalactosamine located at the synaptic basal lamina of skeletal muscle are involved in synaptic recognition by growing neurites

Summary The purpose of the work reported here is to identify molecular components of the synaptic basal lamina of skeletal muscle fibres which allow recognition of original synaptic sites by regenerating motor axons. We focused on s-larninin and components recognized by the lectinDolichos biflorus agglutinin previously shown to be specifically located at the synaptic basal lamina. We used a cryoculture bioassay in which chick ciliary ganglion neurons grow on rat skeletal muscle cryostat sections. In control cultures, neurites extended over the muscle sections in close association with the muscle cell surface. It was observed that most of the neurites that extended towards the endplate zone and reached an area of 40 m around the neuromuscular junction ceased to grow when they contacted the synaptic site. Masking either lectin receptors or some s-laminin molecule epitopes prior to the culture of neurons alters the behaviour of growing neurites. On sections treated either withDolichos biflorus agglutinin or anti s-laminin monoclonal antibodies (D5 and C4) most of the neurites did not stop their growth at the synaptic regions. Moreover, treating muscle sections withDolichos biflorus agglutinin removed the gradient of substratum affinity around the endplate. These results indicate that the s-laminin andDolichos biflorus agglutinin receptors present on muscle cell surfaces may play a functional role in the interaction of growing neurites with original synaptic sites in the process of neuromuscular regeneration.     

Infant Manipulative Actions upon Customary and Uncustomary Objects in Independent and Joint Activity

Eight 12 month-olds acting on objects were observed in two sessions: 1) the objects were home objects; 2) they were brought by the observer as new exemplars of previous toys. Infants were observed manipulating objects independently and with their mothers. Type and cognitive level of infant's actions were coded. Conventional actions were more frequent in joint than independent activity. In independent activity, conventional actions were more frequent with customary objects. High cognitive level was more frequent with customary objects. Acting with an adult is the major influential factor in promoting conventional usage of an object. However, acting on customary objects influences both conventional usage and organization of the actions. Notion of joint activity as a social practice rather than interactional event can be useful in accounting for this influence.     

Paraaortic sentinel lymph node detection in intermediate and high-risk endometrial cancer by transvaginal ultrasound-guided myometrial injection of radiotracer (TUMIR)

ObjectiveWe aimed to evaluate the accuracy of sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping with transvaginal ultrasound-guided myometrial injection of radiotracer (TUMIR) to detect lymph node (LN) metastases, in patients with intermediate and high-risk endometrial cancer (EC), focusing on its performance to detect paraaortic involvement.MethodsProspective study including women with preoperative intermediate or high-risk EC, according to ESMO-ESGO-ESTRO consensus, who underwent SLN mapping using the TUMIR approach. SLNs were preoperatively localized by planar and single photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography images, and intraoperatively by gamma-probe. Immediately after SLN excision, all women underwent systematic pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy by laparoscopy.ResultsThe study included 102 patients. The intraoperative SLN detection rate was 79.4% (81/102). Pelvic and paraaortic drainage was observed in 92.6% (75/81) and 45.7% (37/81) women, respectively, being exclusively paraaortic in 7.4% (6/81). After systematic lymphadenectomy, LN metastases were identified in 19.6% (20/102) patients, with 45.0% (9/20) showing paraaortic involvement, which was exclusive in 15.0% (3/20). The overall sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) of SLNs by the TUMIR approach to detect lymphatic involvement were 87.5% and 97.0%, respectively; and 83.3% and 96.9%, for paraaortic metastases. After applying the MSKCC SLN mapping algorithm, the sensitivity and NPV were 93.8% and 98.5%, respectively.ConclusionThe TUMIR method provides valuable information of endometrial drainage in patients at higher risk of paraaortic LN involvement. The TUMIR approach showed a detection rate of paraaortic SLNs greater than 45% and a high sensitivity and NPV for paraaortic metastases in women with intermediate and high-risk EC.     

Age at sexual initiation and number of sexual partners in the female Spanish population Results from the AFRODITA survey

Objectives

The AFRODITA study was designed to describe patterns relating to the number of lifetime sexual partners (SP) and age at first sexual intercourse (AFSI) by geographic region in a representative sample of Spanish women.

Study design

A representative sample of the female Spanish population was obtained using the Access Panel Technique. Postal questionnaires were sent to 11,086 women aged 18–70 years. Data were collected on AFSI, number of sexual partners, contraceptive methods, cervical cancer screening and socio-demographic characteristics.

Results

The average AFSI was 20.9 years. AFSI below the age of 19 years was reported by 30.8% of the women. Among sexually active women, 70.6% reported being monogamous and 6.4% reported ≥5 lifetime sexual partners. Younger age at interview was strongly related to earlier AFSI and to higher number of lifetime sexual partners. Women younger than 25 were 39 times more likely to have an AFSI before age 18 than women over age 55. The percentage of women aged less than 25 reporting two or more sexual partners was four times higher than that of women 56 and older. In the multivariate analysis, having two or more sexual partners was independently associated with young age, early AFSI, having ever used oral contraceptives, living in an urban area, having had a screening Pap test in the last 3 years, having a sexually transmitted infection and nuliparity.

Conclusions

This study confirms important changes in the sexual behaviour of Spanish women. Younger cohorts show a younger age at sexual initiation and higher number of sexual partners. These are key factors that may induce changes in the human papillomavirus (HPV) prevalence and the cervical cancer incidence in Spain.