RESUMEN
STUDY QUESTION: Are JC polyomavirus (JCPyV) and BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) infections associated with spontaneous abortion (SA)? SUMMARY ANSWER: There is no association of JCPyV or BKPyV with SA. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: A large number of risk factors have been associated with SA. The role of polyomaviruses, including JCPyV and BKPyV, in SA remains to be clarified. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION: This is a case-control study including women affected by spontaneous abortion (SA, n = 100, the cases) and women who underwent voluntary interruption of pregnancy (VI, n = 100, the controls). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Viral DNAs were investigated by qualitative PCR and quantitative droplet-digital PCR (ddPCR) in matched chorionic villi tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from SA (n = 100) and VI (n = 100). Indirect ELISAs with mimotopes/synthetic peptides corresponding to JCPyV and BKPyV viral capsid protein 1 epitopes were then employed to investigate specific IgG antibodies against JCPyV and BKPyV in human sera from SA (n = 80) and VI (n = 80) cohorts. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE: JCPyV DNA was detected in 51% and 61% of SA and VI samples, respectively, with a mean viral DNA load of 7.92 copy/104 cells in SA and 5.91 copy/104 cells in VI (P > 0.05); BKPyV DNA was detected in 11% and 12% of SA and VI specimens, respectively, with a mean viral DNA load of 2.7 copy/104 cells in SA and 3.08 copy/104 cells in VI (P > 0.05). JCPyV was more prevalent than BKPyV in both SA and VI specimens (P < 0.0001). In PBMCs from the SA and VI cohorts, JCPyV DNA was detected with a prevalence of 8% and 12%, respectively, with a mean viral DNA load of 2.29 copy/104 cells in SA and 1.88 copy/104 cells in VI (P > 0.05). The overall prevalence of serum IgG antibodies against JCPyV detected by indirect ELISAs was 52.5% and 48.7% in SA and VI groups, respectively, whereas BKPyV-positive sera were found in 80% SA and 78.7% VI samples. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION: This study did not investigate the presence of viral mRNA and/or proteins, which are indicative of an active viral infection, and these might be taken into consideration in future studies. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS: JCPyV and BKPyV DNA sequences were detected and quantitatively analyzed for the first time by PCR/ddPCR in chorionic villi tissues and PBMCs from SA and VI specimens. Moreover specific immunological approaches detected serum IgG against JCPyV/BKPyV. Statistical analyses, however, do not indicate an association between these polyomaviruses and SA. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S): This work was supported by the University of Ferrara, FAR research grants and the University Hospital of Ferrara/University of Ferrara joint grant. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.
Asunto(s)
Aborto Espontáneo/virología , Virus BK , Virus JC , Leucocitos Mononucleares/virología , Complicaciones Infecciosas del Embarazo/virología , Adolescente , Adulto , Estudios de Casos y Controles , ADN Viral , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Femenino , Humanos , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Infecciones por Polyomavirus/complicaciones , Embarazo , Factores de Riesgo , Infecciones Tumorales por Virus/complicaciones , Carga Viral , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
An early double case of acute Ophthalmia neonatorum in 3-day-old twins is reported. Culture of eye swabs showed a wide bacterial polymorphism, in which common bacteria, such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Corynebacterium ulcerans and other Enterobacteriaceae, coexisted with atypical Mycoplasmataceae and Chlamydiaceae from resident cervical-vaginal maternal microbiota. The neonates were in an apparently healthy state, but showed red eyes with abundant greenish-yellow secretion, mild chemosis and lid edema. The maternal cervical-vaginal ecosystem resulted differently positive to the same common cultivable, atypical bacteria culturally and molecularly determined. This suggested a direct maternal-foetal transmission or a further foetal contamination before birth. An extended culture analysis for common bacteria to atypical ones was decisive to describe the involvement of Mycoplasmas (M. hominis and U. urealyticum) within the scenario of the Ophthalmia neonatorum in a Caucasian couple. The introduction of a routine PCR molecular analysis for Chlamydiaceae and N. gonorrhoeae allowed to establish which of these were present at birth, and contributed to determine the correct laboratory diagnosis and to define an adequate therapeutic protocol obtaining a complete resolution after one year for culture and atypical bacteria controls. This study suggests to improve the quality of laboratory diagnosis as unavoidable support to a correct clinical diagnosis and therapy, in a standardized modality both for swabbing and scraping, to check the new-born microbial programming starting in uterus, overtaking the cultural age to the molecular age, and to revise the WHO guidelines of SAFE Strategy for trachoma eye disease, transforming it into SAFES Strategy where the S letter is the acronym of Sexual ecosystem and behavioural valuation/education.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por Chlamydiaceae , Chlamydiaceae/genética , ADN Bacteriano/genética , Neisseria gonorrhoeae/genética , Oftalmía Neonatal , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa , Infecciones por Chlamydiaceae/diagnóstico , Infecciones por Chlamydiaceae/genética , Infecciones por Chlamydiaceae/microbiología , Infecciones por Chlamydiaceae/terapia , Femenino , Humanos , Recién Nacido , Oftalmía Neonatal/diagnóstico , Oftalmía Neonatal/genética , Oftalmía Neonatal/microbiología , Oftalmía Neonatal/terapia , GemelosRESUMEN
Melatonin, a metabolic product of the amino acid tryptophan, induces a dose-dependent energy drop correlated with a decrease in the oxidative phosphorylation process in isolated rat liver mitochondria. This effect involves a gradual decrease in the respiratory control index and significant alterations in the state 4/state 3 transition of membrane potential (ΔΨ). Melatonin, alone, does not affect the insulating properties of the inner membrane but, in the presence of supraphysiological Ca2+, induces a ΔΨ drop and colloid-osmotic mitochondrial swelling. These events are sensitive to cyclosporin A and the inhibitors of Ca2+ transport, indicative of the induction or amplification of the mitochondrial permeability transition. This phenomenon is triggered by oxidative stress induced by melatonin and Ca2+, with the generation of hydrogen peroxide and the consequent oxidation of sulfydryl groups, glutathione and pyridine nucleotides. In addition, melatonin, again in the presence of Ca2+, can also induce substantial release of cytochrome C and AIF (apoptosis-inducing factor), thus revealing its potential as a pro-apoptotic agent.
Asunto(s)
Apoptosis , Melatonina/metabolismo , Melatonina/farmacología , Potencial de la Membrana Mitocondrial/efectos de los fármacos , Mitocondrias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Permeabilidad/efectos de los fármacos , Animales , Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Factor Inductor de la Apoptosis/metabolismo , Calcio/metabolismo , Calcio/farmacología , Ciclosporina/farmacología , Citocromos c/metabolismo , Metabolismo Energético/efectos de los fármacos , Peróxido de Hidrógeno/metabolismo , Potencial de la Membrana Mitocondrial/fisiología , Mitocondrias Hepáticas/fisiología , Membranas Mitocondriales/efectos de los fármacos , Estrés Oxidativo/efectos de los fármacos , RatasRESUMEN
In experiments to evaluate responses to the activation of cerebral delta-opioid receptors, repeated daily injection of the selective delta-opioid agonist Tyr-D-Ala-Phe-Glu-Val-Val-Gly-NH2 ([D-Ala2]deltorphin II) into rat brain resulted in the development of tolerance, whereas repeated daily injection or continuous infusion of morphine resulted in sensitization to the behavioral activating effects of the delta-opioid agonist. Although the rats did not modify their spontaneous locomotor activity after morphine withdrawal, they became markedly hyperresponsive to the locomotor and stereotypy-producing effects of a challenge dose of the delta-opioid agonist. Sensitization to activation of delta-opioid receptors persisted for at least 60 days after discontinuing morphine treatment. These results show that the development of tolerance and long-term sensitization to opioids involves delta-opioid as well as mu-opioid receptors.
Asunto(s)
Encéfalo/efectos de los fármacos , Morfina/administración & dosificación , Oligopéptidos/administración & dosificación , Receptores Opioides/efectos de los fármacos , Animales , Secuencia de Bases , Esquema de Medicación , Masculino , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Actividad Motora/efectos de los fármacos , Oligopéptidos/química , Ratas , Ratas Endogámicas , Receptores Opioides delta , Síndrome de Abstinencia a Sustancias/fisiopatologíaRESUMEN
A longitudinal behavioral study was performed in mice exposed to the bovine brain phospholipid phosphatidylserine (BC-PS) from birth until sixty days. Examination of treated and control pups revealed no effect of the treatment on body weight nor on sensorimotor reflexes. At one and two months of age, when placed in an open field and, particularly, in the presence of a novel object, treated mice were found more interactive with their environment than control mice. Finally, when submitted to a radial eight-arm maze problem, choice accuracy was higher and maze-running strategies more adaptive in treated than in control adult mice. These results suggest a stimulating effect of the treatment on subject-environment interactions during ontogeny underlying improved cognitive abilities in adulthood.