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To evaluate the variation of hematological profiles of patients infected with uncomplicated Plasmodium vivax (Pv) and P. falciparum (Pf) malaria before, during and after treatment in a population of the Loreto region.This study was conducted between 2010 and 2012, in Zungarococha (Iquitos). The 425 participants had three visits (visit 1-day 0-before treatment, visit 2-day 7-during treatment, visit 3-day 28-after treatment), complete blood count, microscopic and molecular diagnosis (PCR).At the first visit, 93 (21.9%) participants were found positive for Pv and 34 (8.0%) for Pf. All positives showed a reduction in hematocrit, white blood cell count (WBC), ablated and segmented neutrophils, eosinophils and platelets (p0.001) compared to the negative group. A higher percentage of ablated neutrophils was found in Pf and segmented neutrophils in Pv compared to the negative group. Variations in hematological profiles were observed after treatment for both species; ablated neutrophils decreased, platelets increased, eosinophils increased at day 7 and declined at day 28, hematocrit and segmented neutrophils decreased at day 7 and normalized at day 28. Interspecies differences over time showed a bigger daily decrease in ablated neutrophils in Pv-infected when compared to Pf.The hematological profile in uncomplicated malaria-positive patients varies over time during and after treatment. These are indicators of disease progression and help in the therapeutic surveillance of Plasmodium-infected patients.Evaluar la variación de los perfiles hematológicos antes, durante y después del tratamiento de pacientes infectados con malaria no complicada por Plasmodium vivax (Pv) y P. falciparum (Pf) en una población de la región Loreto.El estudio se realizó entre 2010 y 2012, en Zungarococha (Iquitos). Los 425 participantes tuvieron tres visitas (visita 1-día 0-antes del tratamiento, visita 2-día 7-durante tratamiento, visita 3-día 28-después del tratamiento), hemograma completo, diagnóstico microscópico y molecular (PCR).En la primera visita, se encontraron 93 (21,9%) positivos a Pv y 34 (8,0%) a Pf. Todos los positivos mostraron una reducción en los indicadores hematológicos de hematocrito, recuento de glóbulos blancos (RGB), neutrófilos abastonados y segmentados, eosinófilos y plaquetas (p0.001) en comparación con el grupo negativo. Se encontró un porcentaje mayor de neutrófilos abastonados en Pf y de neutrófilos segmentados en Pv comparado al grupo negativo. Se observó variaciones en los perfiles hematológicos después del tratamiento para ambas especies, los neutrófilos abastonados disminuyeron, las plaquetas aumentaron, los eosinófilos se incrementaron al día 7 y decaen el día 28, el hematocrito y los neutrófilos segmentados disminuyeron al día 7 y se normalizaron el día 28. Las diferencias entre especies en el tiempo mostraron una disminución diaria de neutrófilos abastonados en infectados con Pv que en Pf.El perfil hematológico en pacientes positivos a malaria no complicada varía en el tiempo durante y después del tratamiento. Estos son indicadores de la progresión de la enfermedad y ayudan en la vigilancia terapéutica de pacientes infectados con Plasmodium.

This paper aims to calculate and analyze the human capital returns of micro-enterprises on Mexico’s northern border by examining the education levels of the micro-entrepreneurs in charge of the production unit. Analyzing data from the National Survey of Occupation and Employment from 2010 to 2019, we estimated econometric cross-section models based on Mincer equations. The results suggest that elementary education is not sufficient to achieve high monetary income in micro-enterprises, even its rates are negative, generating losses systematically. The turning point starts in high school, where positive rates are beginning to be observed. However, it highlights that undergraduate and postgraduate education doubles their positive returns, although the number of business owners with this education level is lower.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the third in men in North America and Europe. CRC is associated with inflammatory responses in which intestinal pathology is caused by different cell populations including a T cell dysregulation that concludes in an imbalance between activated T (Tact) and regulatory T (Treg) cells. Treg cells are CD4+Foxp3+ cells that actively suppress pathological and physiological immune responses, contributing to the maintenance of immune homeostasis. A tumor-promoting function for Treg cells has been suggested in CRC, but the kinetics of Treg cells during CRC development are poorly known. Therefore, using a mouse model of colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC) induced by azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate, we observed the dynamic and differential kinetics of Treg cells in blood, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) as CAC progresses, highlighting a significant reduction in Treg cells in blood and spleen during early CAC development, whereas increasing percentages of Treg cells were detected in late stages in MLNs. Interestingly, when Treg cells were decreased, Tact cells were increased and vice versa. Treg cells from late stages of CAC displayed an activated phenotype by expressing PD1, CD127 and Tim-3, suggesting an increased suppressive capacity. Suppression assays showed that T-CD4+ and T-CD8+ cells were suppressed more efficiently by MLN Treg cells from CAC animals. Finally, an antibody-mediated reduction in Treg cells during early CAC development resulted in a better prognostic value, because animals showed a reduction in tumor progression associated with an increased percentage of activated CD4+CD25+Foxp3- and CD8+CD25+ T cells in MLNs, suggesting that Treg cells suppress T cell activation at early steps during CAC development.

The structural changes produced by ion irradiation, He+ (2.5 MeV), O4+ (13.5 MeV), Si4+ (24.4 MeV), and Cu7+ (32.6 MeV), in different types of silica (KU1, KS-4V and Infrasil 301) were observed by IR reflection spectroscopy. The IR reflectance spectra were measured between 400 and 1400 cm−1. Structural bands wavenumber of the three silica grades, irradiated with the same ion and fluence, is independent on OH or impurity content of silica. Modification in the surface structure of the irradiated face of a silica sample was studied monitoring the changes in the wavenumber of fundamental structural bands as function of the ion fluence. Samples irradiated at high ion fluence present a shift of known structural bands and new IR reflection bands around 608 cm−1 and between 920 and 990 cm−1, corresponding to a new structure. The spectra of neutron irradiated samples at fluences 1017 and 1018 n/cm2 were also measured and compared with ion irradiated samples.

Infection of C57BL/6J mice with the parasite Toxoplasma gondii triggers a powerful Th1 immune response that is detrimental to the host. During acute infection, a reduction in CD4(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells (Treg) has been reported. We studied the role of Treg during T. gondii infection by adoptive transfer of cells purified from transgenic Foxp3(EGFP) mice to infected wild type animals. We found a less severe weight loss, a significant delayed mortality in infected Treg-transferred mice, and reduced pathology of the small intestine that were associated with lower IFN-γ and TNF-α levels. Nevertheless, higher cyst number and parasite load in brain were observed in these mice. Treg-transferred infected mice showed reduced levels of both IFN-γ and TNF-α in sera. A reduced number of CD4(+) T cells producing IFN-γ was detected in these mice, while IL-2 producing CD4(+) T cells were restored to levels nearly similar to uninfected mice. CD25 and CD69 expression of CD4(+) T cells were also down modulated. Our data show that the low Treg cell number are insufficient to modulate the activation of CD4(+) T cells and the production of high levels of IFN-γ. Thus, a delicate balance between an optimal immune response and its modulation by Treg cells must exist.

The $$YZ\beta $$YZβ shock-capturing technique, which is residual-based, was introduced in conjunction with the Streamline-Upwind/Petrov---Galerkin (SUPG) formulation of compressible flows in conservation variables. It was later also combined with the variable subgrid scale (V-SGS) formulation of compressible flows in conservation variables and successfully tested on 2D and 3D computation of inviscid flows with shocks. In this paper we extend that combined method to inviscid flow computations with particle tracking and particle---shock interaction. Particles are tracked individually, assuming one-way dependence between the particle dynamics and the flow. We present two steady-state test computations with particle---shock interaction, one in 2D and one in 3D, and show that the overall method is effective in particle tracking and particle---shock interaction analysis in compressible flows.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in women and the third in men in North America and Europe. CRC is associated with inflammatory responses in which intestinal pathology is caused by different cell populations including a T cell dysregulation that concludes in an imbalance between activated T (Tact) and regulatory T (Treg) cells. Treg cells are CD4+Foxp3+ cells that actively suppress pathological and physiological immune responses, contributing to the maintenance of immune homeostasis. A tumor-promoting function for Treg cells has been suggested in CRC, but the kinetics of Treg cells during CRC development are poorly known. Therefore, using a mouse model of colitis-associated colon cancer (CAC) induced by azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate, we observed the dynamic and differential kinetics of Treg cells in blood, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) as CAC progresses, highlighting a significant reduction in Treg cells in blood and spleen during early CAC development, whereas increasing percentages of Treg cells were detected in late stages in MLNs. Interestingly, when Treg cells were decreased, Tact cells were increased and vice versa. Treg cells from late stages of CAC displayed an activated phenotype by expressing PD1, CD127 and Tim-3, suggesting an increased suppressive capacity. Suppression assays showed that T-CD4+ and T-CD8+ cells were suppressed more efficiently by MLN Treg cells from CAC animals. Finally, an antibody-mediated reduction in Treg cells during early CAC development resulted in a better prognostic value, because animals showed a reduction in tumor progression associated with an increased percentage of activated CD4+CD25+Foxp3- and CD8+CD25+ T cells in MLNs, suggesting that Treg cells suppress T cell activation at early steps during CAC development.

Three types of fused silica with different OH and impurity content (KU1, KS-4V and Infrasil 301) have been irradiated with high energy ions: Si 4+ (24.37 MeV), O 4+ (13.5 MeV) and He + (2.46 MeV), at different fluences (from 5 × 10 12 to 1.6 × 10 15 ions/cm 2 ). After ion implantation the optical absorption of the samples was measured at room temperature from vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) to near infrared (NIR). A saturation of the absorption spectra was observed in the samples implanted with Si and O when fluence increases, which indicates a defect density saturation with the ion fluence. A surface cracking was observed in all samples irradiated with Si and O ions at fluences (ion beam shutdown) corresponding to energy densities of irradiation between 10 23 eV/cm 3 and 10 24 eV/cm 3 . No macroscopic cracks were detected at fluences for which an optical absorption saturation was reached.

In the northern coastal and jungle areas of Peru, cocoa beans are dried using artisan methods, such as direct exposure to sunlight. This traditional process is time intensive, leading to a reduction in productivity and, therefore, delays in delivery times. The present study was intended to numerically characterise the thermal behaviour of three configurations of solar air heating collectors in order to determine which demonstrated the best thermal performance under several controlled operating conditions. For this purpose, a computational fluid dynamics model was developed to describe the simultaneous convective and radiative heat transfer phenomena under several operation conditions. The constructed computational fluid dynamics model was firstly validated through comparison with the data measurements of a one-step solar air heating collector. We then simulated two further three-step solar air heating collectors in order to identify which demonstrated the best thermal performance in terms of outlet air temperature and thermal efficiency. The numerical results show that under the same solar irradiation area of exposition and operating conditions, the three-step solar air heating collector with the collector plate mounted between the second and third channels was 67% more thermally efficient compared to the one-step solar air heating collector. This is because the air exposition with the surface of the collector plate for the three-step solar air heating collector former device was twice than the one-step solar air heating collector.

Analysis of regulatory T cells (Tregs) in vivo during infection is crucial for the understanding of immune response modulation. Depletion experiments using anti-CD25 monoclonal antibody (mAb) in order to eliminate Tregs have been widely used for this purpose despite the fact that this approach may also lead to the elimination of activated T cells. We show in this paper that treatment with anti-CD25 mAb before Toxoplasma gondii infection eliminates a different pattern of cell subsets in the resistant BALB/c and the susceptible C57BL/6J mouse strain. Injection with PC61 mAb leads to the elimination of most Tregs in BALB/c mice, while in C57BL/6J animals, treatment depletes other activated subsets [natural killer (NK), B and CD4(+) T cells]. This difference is a consequence of the dramatic cell activation observed in the latter, but not in the former strain. The different effect of the depletion reported here demonstrates that careful analysis in each model is mandatory in order to avoid misleading conclusions.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) areCD4+Foxp3+cells that modulate autoimmune responses. Tregs have been shown to be also involved during the immune response against infectious agents. The aim of this work is to study the role of Tregs during the infection with the intracellular protozoanToxoplasma gondii. Resistant BALB/c mice were injected with 200 μg of anti-CD25 mAb (clone PC61) and 2 days later they were infected with 20 cysts of the ME49 strain ofT. gondii. We observed that depleted mice showed 50–60% mortality during the acute infection. When FACS analysis was carried out, we observed that although injection of PC61 mAb eliminated 50% of Tregs, infected-depleted mice showed a similar percentage of CD25+Foxp3−(activated T cells, Tact) to those observed in infected nondepleted animals, demonstrating that in our depletion/infection system, injection of PC61 mAb did not hamper T cell activation while percentage of Tregs was reduced by 75% 10 days post infection. We concluded that Tregs are essential during protection in the acute phase ofT. gondiiinfection.

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) exerts either a protective or a deleterious role in the immune response to different pathogens. We ana- lyzed herein the role of MIF in the host control of toxoplasmosis using MIF / mice backcrossed to ei- ther the BALB/c or the C57BL/6 genetic backgrounds. Both, wild-type (WT) BALB/c and MIF / BALB/c mice were susceptible to infection with highly virulent RH as well as moderately virulent ME49 strains of T. gondii. MIF / mice, however, showed greater liver damage and more brain cysts, produced less proinflam- matory cytokines, and succumbed significantly faster than WT mice. Bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) from MIF / mice produced less interleu- kin-1, interleukin-12, and tumor necrosis factor- than WT BMDCs after stimulation with soluble Toxo- plasma antigen (STAg). Similar observations were made in CD11c low-density cells isolated from the spleens of MIF / mice challenged with STAg. MIF / C57BL/6 mice succumbed to ME49 infection faster than their WT counterparts. C57BL/6 mice that suc- cumbed to infection with the ME49 strain produced less MIF than resistant BALB/c mice similarly infected. Interestingly, an analysis of brains from patients with cerebral toxoplasmosis showed low levels of MIF ex- pression. Together, these findings demonstrate that MIF plays a critical role in mediating host resistance against T. Gondii.—Flores, M., Saavedra, R., Bautista, R., Viedma, R., Tenorio, E. P., Leng, L., Sanchez, Y., Juarez, I., Satoskar, A. A., Shenoy, A. S., Terrazas, L. I., Bucala, R., Barbi J., Satoskar, A. R., Rodriguez-Sosa, M. Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is criti- cal for the host resistance against Toxoplasma gondii. FASEB J. 22, 000 - 000 (2008)

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) mediates immunity againstToxoplasma gondiiinfection by inducing inflammatory cytokines required to control the parasite replication. However, the role of this inflammatory mediator in the cell-mediated immune response against this infection is still poorly understood. Here, we usedT. gondii-infected WT andMif−/−mice to analyze the role of MIF in the maturation of CD11b+and CD8α+dendritic cells (DCs). We found that MIF promotes maturation of CD11b+but not CD8α+DCs, by inducing IL-12p70 production and CD86 expression. InfectedMif−/−mice showed significantly lower numbers of TNF and inducible nitric oxide synthase- (iNOS-) producing DCs (TipDCs) compared to infected WT mice. The adoptive transfer ofLy6Chighmonocytes into infected WT orMif−/−mice demonstrated that MIF participates in the differentiation ofLy6Chighmonocytes into TipDCs. In addition, infectedMif−/−mice display a lower percentage of IFN-γ-producing natural killer (NK) cells compared to WT mice, which is associated with reducing numbers of TipDCs inMif−/−mice. Furthermore, administration of recombinant MIF (rMIF) intoT. gondii-infectedMif−/−mice restored the numbers of TipDCs and reversed the susceptible phenotype ofMif−/−mice. Collectively, these results demonstrate an important role for MIF inducing cell-mediated immunity toT. gondiiinfection.

The YZp shock-capturing technique was introduced recently for use in combination with the streamline-upwind/Petrov-Galerkin formulation of compressible flows in conservation variables. The YZβ shock-capturing parameter is much simpler than an earlier parameter derived from the entropy variables for use in conservation variables. In this paper, we propose to use the YZβ shock-capturing in combination with the variable subgrid scale (V-SGS) formulation of compressible flows in conservation variables. The V-SGS method is based on an approximation of the class of SGS models derived from the Hughes variational multiscale method. We evaluate the performance of the V-SGS and YZβ combination in a number of standard, 2D test problems. Compared to the earlier shock-capturing parameter derived from the entropy variables, in addition to being much simpler, the YZβ shock-capturing parameter yields better shock quality in these test problems.

Protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis is based on cell-mediated immunity, most importantly involving CD4 + and CD8 + T-cell subsets. One of the key features of the tubercle bacillus is its cell envelope, characterized by extremely abundant and specific lipids. The cell-surface glycolipid 2,3-di- O -acyl-trehalose (DAT) has been consistently found in M. tuberculosis strains. In this study, analysis of proliferation, activation markers and cytokine release was performed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) activated in the presence and absence of DAT. We present evidence that mycobacterial DAT is able to reduce antigen-induced proliferation of human CD4 + and CD8 + T-cell subsets. We show that the effect is associated with a decrease of cells expressing the T-cell surface activation markers CD25 and CD69, and down-modulation of IL-2, IL-12, TNF-α and IL-10 cytokines. Data indicating that fine acyl chain structural variations in the trehalose-containing lipid may be involved in the degree of immune modulation are also presented.

Chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa is characteristic of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Helminth parasites have developed immunomodulatory strategies that may impact the outcome of several inflammatory diseases. Therefore, we investigated whether Taenia crassiceps infection is able to decrease the inflammatory effects of dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced ulcerative colitis in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Preinfection significantly reduced the manifestations of DSS-induced colitis, as weight loss and shortened colon length, and decreased the disease activity index independently of the genetic background of the mice. Taenia infection decreased systemic levels of proinflammatory cytokines while increasing levels of IL-4 and IL-10, and the inflammatory infiltrate into the colon was also markedly reduced. RT-PCR assays from colon showed that T. crassiceps-infected mice displayed increased expression of Arginase-1 but decreased expression of iNOS compared to DSS-treated uninfected mice. The percentages of T regulatory cells were not increased. The adoptive transfer of alternatively activated macrophages (AAMФs) from infected mice into mice with DSS-induced colitis reduced the severity of colon inflammation. Administration of indomethacin abrogated the anticolitic effect of Taenia. Thus, T. crassiceps infection limits the pathology of ulcerative colitis by suppressing inflammatory responses mechanistically associated with AAMФs and prostaglandins.

En este artículo, se estudiará el comportamiento tridimensional de la combustión del bagazo al interior de la cámara de una hornilla panelera, con el objetivo de mejorar la eficiencia de combustión, reducir costos de producción y asegurar su autosuficiencia energética. El procedimiento consistió en aplicar, en primer lugar, un modelo matemático implementado en MATLAB® para simular la combustión en fase sólida del bagazo, el cual forma un lecho sobre una parrilla. Como resultado de esta simulación se obtiene la composición de un combustible gaseoso cuya combustión se simula en el programa comercial ANSYS FLUENT®, utilizando la geometría de la cámara de combustión de una hornilla panelera ubicada en la sierra de Piura-Perú. Se estudiaron tres casos de relaciones aire primariosecundario de 70-30%, 60-40% y 50-50%, así como el efecto de introducir aire secundario en dos modos: solo por tubos y por tubos así como por la puerta de alimentación del bagazo. De los resultados obtenidos se concluye que con el ingreso de aire secundario solo por tubos y en una proporción del 50% del aire total, se consigue una mayor temperatura promedio de los gases de combustión a la salida de la cámara llegando a superar los 1500 K. This research will study the three-dimensional behavior of bagasse combustion within the combustion chamber of a production module of organic sugar, with the aim of improve the combustion efficiency, reduce production costs and ensure its energy selfsufficiency. The procedure consisted, firstly, of a simulation of the combustion of bed of solid fuel, bagasse, on a grate, with a mathematical model implemented in MATLAB® giving as a result the composition of a gaseous fuel. Secondly, the combustion of the resulting gaseous fuel was simulated with the commercial software ANSYS FLUENT® using the geometry of the combustion chamber of a production module of organic sugar located in the highlands of Piura- Peru. Three cases of primary-secondary air ratio were studied: 70-30%, 60-40% and 50-50% as well as the effect of the addition of secondary air in two ways: through tubes and, the second way, through tubes plus through the door for feeding bagasse. From the results, it is concluded that the greatest average temperature of the combustion products at the outlet of the chamber is obtained by the addition of secondary air by tubes in a proportion of 50% of total air admitted; temperatures higher than 1500 K are reached.

The fenestration of the basilar artery is an uncommon anatomical variant that may be associated with saccular aneurysms; however this association is rare. We report the case of a patient who presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage that was successfully treated by coil embolization and review the literature.

Chronic inflammation of the intestinal mucosa is characteristic of inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Helminth parasites have developed immunomodulatory strategies that may impact the outcome of several inflammatory diseases. Therefore, we investigated whether Taenia crassiceps infection is able to decrease the inflammatory effects of dextran sulfate sodium- (DSS-) induced ulcerative colitis in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Preinfection significantly reduced the manifestations of DSS-induced colitis, as weight loss and shortened colon length, and decreased the disease activity index independently of the genetic background of the mice. Taenia infection decreased systemic levels of proinflammatory cytokines while increasing levels of IL-4 and IL-10, and the inflammatory infiltrate into the colon was also markedly reduced. RT-PCR assays from colon showed that T. crassiceps-infected mice displayed increased expression of Arginase-1 but decreased expression of iNOS compared to DSS-treated uninfected mice. The percentages of T regulatory cells were not increased. The adoptive transfer of alternatively activated macrophages (AAMФs) from infected mice into mice with DSS-induced colitis reduced the severity of colon inflammation. Administration of indomethacin abrogated the anticolitic effect of Taenia. Thus, T. crassiceps infection limits the pathology of ulcerative colitis by suppressing inflammatory responses mechanistically associated with AAMФs and prostaglandins.

2,3-Di-O-acyl-trehalose (DAT) is a glycolipid located on the outer layer of theMycobacterium tuberculosiscell envelope. Due to its noncovalent linkage to the mycobacterial peptidoglycan, DAT could easily interact with host cells located in the focus of infection. The aim of the present work was to study the effects of DAT on the proliferation of murine spleen cells. DAT was purified from reference strains ofM. tuberculosis,orM. fortuitumas a surrogate source of the compound, by various chromatography and solvent extraction procedures and then chemically identified. Incubation of mouse spleen cells with DAT inhibited in a dose-dependent manner concanavalin A-stimulated proliferation of the cells. Experiments, including the propidium iodide exclusion test, showed that these effects were not due to death of the cells. Tracking of cell division by labeling with 5,6-carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester revealed that DAT reduces the rounds of cell division. Immunofluorescence with an anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody indicated that T lymphocytes were the population affected in our model. Our experiments also suggest that the extent of the suppressive activity is strongly dependent on the structural composition of the acyl moieties in DATs. Finally, the inhibitory effect was also observed on antigen-induced proliferation of mouse spleen cells specific forToxoplasma gondii. All of these data suggest that DAT could have a role in the T-cell hyporesponsiveness observed in chronic tuberculosis.

To identify and evaluate the cerebral aneurysm remnants after clipping and the endovascular treatment in our institution.We made a clinical ambispective collection of all aneurysms microsurgically clipped during four years and we analyzed their endovascular treatment.There were 290 cerebral aneurysms; in 270 a digital subtraction angiography was made. Ten aneurysm remnants were found (3.7%); of these, a second operation was performed on two, and coil placement was done in six patients.The cerebral aneurysm remnants after clipping in our institution are equivalent to international results. The endovascular treatment of this aneurysm is safe and effective.

Objective To establish the frequency and results in patients carriers with multiple aneurysms (MA) treated by microsurgery and/or neurological endovascular therapy (NET) in the Hospital of Specialties on The National Medical Center La Raza. Method It is an ambispective, descriptive and longitudinal study that includes patients carriers of MA treated in the National Medical Center La Raza from March the 1st of 2009 to April the 30th of 2014. Results 62 patients carriers of 151 aneurysms were treated. According to the type of treatment, 30 patients (49%) were included in the surgical group (GQ), 25 (40%) in the endovascular group (GE) and 7 (11%) in the combinated group (GC). The number of aneurysms was distributed this way: 69 (46%) in the GQ, 61 (40%) in the GE and 21 (14%) in the GC. At GQ, it was not possible to exclude all their aneurysms on 21% of the patients, while it was feasible in only 27%. In all GE patients (40%) the exclusion of all aneurysms was achieved. The GC, meaning surgical cases that were not completed by NET, formed 11% of the cases. At GQ there was a rate of 6% of complications, meanwhile at GE it was 0.5%.

Ion irradiation with energetic He+ (2.5 MeV), O4+ (13.5 MeV), Si4+ (24.4 MeV) and Cu7+ (32.6 MeV) species at several fluences (from 5 × 1012 to 1.65 × 1015 ion/cm2) were performed in three types of SiO2 glasses with different OH content (KU1, KS-4V and Infrasil 301). After ion implantation the Raman spectra were measured and compared with the spectra of unirradiated samples. Irradiated samples of the three fused silica grades exhibit changes in the broad and asymmetric R-band (ω1 around 445 cm−1), in D1 (490 cm−1) and D2 (605 cm−1) bands associated to small-membered rings. The D2 band shows an increase with increasing fluences for different ions, indicating structural changes. Raman spectra of ion-irradiated samples were compared with the spectra of neutron irradiated samples at fluences 1017 n/cm2 and 1018 n/cm2. Macroscopic surface cracking was detected, mainly at fluences corresponding to deposited energies between 1023 eV/cm3 and 1024 eV/cm3 (after ion beam shutdown).

Persistent primitive trigeminal artery is a rare anatomical variant resulting from the absence of obliteration of the embryonic trigeminal artery. The shunt between the persistent primitive trigeminal artery and the cavernous sinus is called trigeminal-cavernous fistula. We report the case of a woman with a trigeminal-cavernous fistula secondary to head trauma who was treated by transarterial embolization.

An endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach is reported as less invasive, allowing an earlier discharge. Published series have never focused on its use in acromegalic patients.To assess the effectiveness of an endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach in the management of growth hormone-secreting adenomas.Nineteen consecutively operated patients were assessed with a prospective follow-up of one year.Sex ratio was 0.7/1 and gross total removal was obtained in 16 cases (84%), subtotal in three (16%). The only complication was a cerebrospinal fluid leak requiring spinal drainage. The median in-hospital stay was 2.5 days. Sixteen patients experienced clinical improvement (84%) and no changes were observed in three (16%). Residual tumor was seen in two cases (11%). Growth hormone levels2 ng/dl were seen in 17 cases (89%) and only two patients (11%) had a level2 ng/dl. Insulin-like growth factor-1 levels were normalized in 16 cases (84%) and remained elevated in three patients (16%). One patient presented an isolated elevated level of insulin-like growth factor-1. Patients with residual tumor and elevated growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 levels underwent complementary radiosurgery.The endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach seems to be useful in acromegaly, with a high rate of clinical and biochemical cure among other benefits.

Acute Toxoplasma gondii infection comprises an immunosuppression stage, characterized by a reduction in T-cell proliferation in vitro. Treg cells maintain the homeostasis of the immune system, but their role in T. gondii-induced suppression has not been addressed. We show herein that immunosuppression, affecting both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell proliferation, concurs with a reduction in Treg-cell number. The residual Treg cells, however, are activated and display an increased suppressive capacity. We show that selective elimination of Treg cells using Foxp3(EGFP) mice leads to a full recovery of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T-cell proliferation. After Treg-cell removal, a reduced production of IL-10 was observed, but IL-2 levels were unchanged. The numbers of IL-10-producing Treg cells also increased during infection, although the in vitro neutralization of this cytokine did not modify T-cell proliferation, suggesting that IL-10 does not mediate the Treg-mediated suppression. However, addition of rIL-2 in vitro fully restored T-cell proliferation from infected animals. Thus, we show that Treg cells mediate the T-cell suppression observed during acute T. gondii infection through an IL-2-dependent mechanism. Our results provide novel insights into the regulation of the immune response against T. gondii.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is part of a signaling system that is mainly triggered by xenobiotic agents. Increasing evidence suggests that AhR may regulate immunity to infections. To determine the role of AhR in the outcome of toxoplasmosis, we used AhR-/- and wild-type (WT) mice. Following an intraperitoneal infection withToxoplasma gondii(T. gondii), AhR-/- mice succumbed significantly faster than WT mice and displayed greater liver damage as well as higher serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, nitric oxide (NO), and IgE but lower IL-10 secretion. Interestingly, lower numbers of cysts were found in their brains. Increased mortality was associated with reduced expression of GATA-3, IL-10, and 5-LOX mRNA in spleen cells but higher expression of IFN-γmRNA. Additionally, peritoneal exudate cells from AhR-/- mice produced higher levels of IL-12 and IFN-γbut lower TLR2 expression than WT mice. These findings suggest a role for AhR in limiting the inflammatory response during toxoplasmosis.

The YZβ shock-capturing technique was introduced originally for use in combination with the streamline-upwind/Petrov–Galerkin (SUPG) formulation of compressible flows in conservation variables. It is a simple residual-based shock-capturing technique. Later it was also combined with the variable subgrid scale (V-SGS) formulation of compressible flows in conservation variables and tested on standard 2D test problems. The V-SGS method is based on an approximation of the class of SGS models derived from the Hughes variational multiscale method. In this paper, we carry out numerical experiments with inviscid supersonic flows around cylinders and spheres to evaluate the performance of the YZβ shock-capturing combined with the V-SGS method. The cylinder computations are carried out at Mach numbers 3 and 8, and the sphere computations are carried out at Mach number 3. The results compare well to those obtained with the YZβ shock-capturing combined with the SUPG formulation, which were shown earlier to compare very favorably to those obtained with the well established OVERFLOW code.

We present an appropriate extension of the stabilized finite element formulation, introduced in [A. Corsini, F. Rispoli, A. Santoriello, A variational multiscale high-order finite element formulation for turbomachinery flow computations, Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Engrg. 194 (2005) 4797–4823] for the prediction of incompressible flows, aimed at compressible flows. The stabilized formulation is the so-called variable subgrid scale method (V-SGS) based on an approximation of the class of subgrid scale models (SGS) derived from the Hughes variational multiscale method (Hughes-VMS) introduced in [T.J.R. Hughes, Multiscale phenomena: Green’s functions, the Dirichlet-to-Neumann formulation, subgrid scale models, bubbles and the origins of stabilized methods, Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Engrg. 127 (1995) 387–401]. It is characterized by a variable stabilization parameter within the domain of element. We also propose an innovative procedure for computing the stabilization parameter by using the one-dimensional element Green’s functions corresponding to an advective–diffusive differential operator. The stabilization parameter is defined as the sum of two components, the first providing its mean value and the second its element-wise space dependency. On this basis the present work proposes the stabilization matrix for the multidimensional advective–diffusive system of equations governing compressible flows. The procedure developed for computing the stabilization parameter can be applied to other differential operators as it has been shown in [A. Corsini, F. Rispoli, A. Santoriello, A variational multiscale high-order finite element formulation for turbomachinery flow computations, Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Engrg. 194 (2005) 4797–4823]. The proposed stabilization device is validated by simulation of inviscid and viscous supersonic flow configurations.

Some proteins of the Toxoplasma gondii are recognized by IgG, IgM and IgA antibodies in patients with acute and chronic toxoplasmosis, depending on the strain and stage of the Toxoplasma. Sixty-nine sera from immunocompetent individuals were studied through the Western-Blot Test: 20 has an acute infection, 29 has a chronic toxoplasmosis infection and 20 were healthy (seronegatives). The protein analysis revealed by IgG and IgM antibodies were performed through the Immunoplot method in order to know their recognition frequency (f) and be valued as infection markers. In the acute phase, the IgM antibodies showed a recognition frequency (f = 0.60) for the 60kDa protein, and in the chronic phase the IgG antibodies showed a recognition frequency (f = 0.68) for the 12kDa protein. Seronegatives revealed no type of band. The protein of 12kDa can be a diagnostic marker of the chronic phase while protein 60kDa of the acute phase of toxoplasmosis.

A 54-kDa protein antigen of Toxoplasma gondii recently was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli and shown to display immunoprotective properties. To determine the subcellular localization of this antigen, a fusion protein containing the 330 carboxy-terminal residues of the sequence coded by cDNA clone Tg34 was expressed in E. coli, purified, and used to raise antibodies in mice. Western blot analysis confirmed that the resulting antibody reacted with the 54-kDa antigen of T. gondii. Immunofluorescence and immunoelectron-microscopy showed that the antibody reacted with an antigen localized in the rhoptries, 1 of the organelles of the apical complex of the zoites involved in host cell invasion. Western blot studies using a recombinant fusion protein containing the full amino acid sequence encoded by the cDNA clone Tg34 and rhoptry protein-specific monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) previously described showed a reactivity of the recombinant antigen with 2 mAbs (T4 2F8 and T5 2D1) specific for the ROP2 protein, and with a mAb (T3 4A7) directed against an epitope shared by ROP2 and ROP4, but not with a mAb (T2 2H3) specific for the ROP4 protein. We thus conclude that the 54-kDa T. gondii antigen encoded by cDNA clone Tg34 is the previously described rhoptry protein ROP2.

The ROP2 protein of Toxoplasma gondii possesses immunological and biological properties which have led to its proposal as a vaccine candidate. To identify epitopes recognized by human T cells in the ROP2 antigen, we submitted the sequence of this protein to three reported T-cell epitope prediction algorithms. Three sequences that were predicted by all three methods were selected (sequences 197 to 216, 393 to 410, and 501 to 524), and the corresponding peptides were synthesized. The peptides were first tested in a proliferation assay with a DPw4-restricted, ROP2-specific human T-cell clone, and the peptide corresponding to residues 197 to 216 was shown to stimulate the T-cell clone. The three peptides were further tested in proliferation assays with peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a panel of T. gondii-seropositive and -seronegative individuals. We found that cells from a high proportion of the seropositive donors (64%) recognized at least one of the three peptides. The most frequently recognized ones were peptides 197 to 216 (45%) and 501 to 524 (36%). None of the seronegative donors responded to any peptide. These results show that the ROP2 antigen of T. gondii contains T-cell epitopes recognized by a high percentage of the immune population and further strengthen its potential as a vaccine candidate.