Vertebral pathologies and related activity patterns in two mediaeval populations from Spain

The main aim of this study was to explore the usefulness of several types of vertebral pathology as activity markers in osteological populations. A total of 2165 vertebrae from 124 individuals were studied. They were derived from cemeteries in two villages: Villanueva de Soportilla (Burgos, north of Spain), with a Christian population, and La Torrecilla (Granada, south of Spain), inhabited by Muslims. Degenerative joint diseases, Schmorl's nodes, compression fractures and spondylolysis with spondylolisthesis were analysed in individuals and separate vertebral pieces. All pathological conditions, except compression fractures, were significantly more frequent in males than in females, reflecting more intensive labour conditions for males. They were significantly more frequent in males from Villanueva, a border population of peasant-soldiers, than in males from La Torrecilla. They were also significantly more frequent in females from Christian Villanueva than in those from Muslim La Torrecilla, where the women mainly worked at home. The benefits and limitations of the study of these vertebral pathologies are discussed.     

Influenza A viral replication is blocked by inhibition of the inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) stress pathway

Known therapies for influenza A virus infection are complicated by the frequent emergence of resistance. A therapeutic strategy that may escape viral resistance is targeting host cellular mechanisms involved in viral replication and pathogenesis. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response, also known as the unfolded protein response (UPR), is a primitive, evolutionary conserved molecular signaling cascade that has been implicated in multiple biological phenomena including innate immunity and the pathogenesis of certain viral infections. We investigated the effect of influenza A viral infection on ER stress pathways in lung epithelial cells. Influenza A virus induced ER stress in a pathway-specific manner. We showed that the virus activates the IRE1 pathway with little or no concomitant activation of the PERK and the ATF6 pathways. When we examined the effects of modulating the ER stress response on the virus, we found that the molecular chaperone tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) significantly inhibits influenza A viral replication. In addition, a specific inhibitor of the IRE1 pathway also blocked viral replication. Our findings constitute the first evidence that ER stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of influenza A viral infection. Decreasing viral replication by modulating the host ER stress response is a novel strategy that has important therapeutic implications.     

Acinetobacter baumannii as a community foodborne pathogen: Peptide mass fingerprinting analysis,genotypic of biofilm formation and phenotypic pattern of antimicrobial resistance

Acinetobacter baumannii (A. baumannii) is one of the most common Gram-negative pathogens that represent a major threat to human life. Because the prevalence of Multidrug-resistant biofilm-forming A. baumannii is increasing all over the world, this may lead to outbreaks of hospital infections. Nonetheless, the role of raw meat as a reservoir for A. baumannii remains unclear. Here our research was aimed to exhibit the frequency, precise identification, and genotyping of biofilm-related genes as well as antimicrobial resistance of A. baumannii isolates of raw meat specimens. Fifty-five A. baumannii strains were recovered from 220 specimens of different animal meat and then identified by Peptide Mass Fingerprinting Technique (PMFT). All identified isolates were genotyped by the qPCR method for the existence of biofilm-related genes (ompA, bap, blaPER-1, csuE, csgA, and fimH). In addition, the antimicrobial resistance against A. baumannii was detected by the Kirby-Bauer method. Based on our findings, the frequency rate of 55 A. baumannii isolates was 46.55%, 32.50%, 15.00%, and 9.68% of sheep, chicken, cow, and camel raw meat samples, respectively. The PMFT was able to identify all strains by 100%. the percentages of csuE, ompA, bla_PER-1, bap, and csgA genes in biofilm and non-biofilm producer A. baumannii were 72.73%, 60%, 58.2%, 52.74%, and 25.45%, respectively. In contrast, the fimH was not detected in all non-biofilm and biofilm producer strains. The ompA, bap, blaPER-1, csgA were detected only in biofilm-producing A. baumannii isolates. The maximum degree of resistance was observed against amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (89.10%), gentamicin (74.55%), tetracycline (72.73%), ampicillin (65.45%), and tobramycin (52.73%). In conclusion, our investigation demonstrated the high incidence of multi-drug resistant A. baumannii in raw meat samples, with a high existence of biofilm-related virulence genes of ompA, bap, blaPER-1, csgA. Therefore, it has become necessary to take the control measures to limit the development of A. baumannii.     

Preoperative T Staging of Potentially Resectable Esophageal Cancer: A Comparison between Free-Breathing Radial VIBE and Breath-Hold Cartesian VIBE,with Histopathological Correlation

Purpose: To compare the T staging of potentially resectable esophageal cancer using free-breathing radial VIBE (r-VIBE) and breath-hold Cartesian VIBE (C-VIBE), with pathologic confirmation of the T stage. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients with endoscopically proven esophageal cancer and indeterminate T1/T2/T3 stage by CT scan were examined on a 3-T scanner. The MRI protocol included C-VIBE at 150 seconds post–IV contrast, immediately followed by a work-in-progress r-VIBE with identical spatial resolution (1.1 mm × 1.1 mm × 3.0 mm). Two independent readers assigned a T stage on MRI according to the 7th edition of UICC-AJCC TNM Classification, and postoperative pathologic confirmation was considered the gold standard. Interreader agreement was also calculated. Results: The T staging agreement between both VIBE techniques and postoperative pathologic T staging was 52% (26/50) for C-VIBE, 80% (40/50) for r-VIBE for reader 1, and 50% (25/50), 82% (41/50) for reader 2, respectively. For the esophageal cancer with invading lamina propria, muscularis mucosae, or submucosa (T1 stage), r-VIBE achieved 86% (12/14) agreement for both readers 1 and 2. For invasion of muscularis propria (T2 stage), r-VIBE achieved 83% (25/30) for both readers 1 and 2, whereas for the invasion of adventitia (T3 stage), r-VIBE could only achieve agreement in 50% (3/6) and 67% (4/6) for readers 1 and 2, respectively. Conclusion: Contrast-enhanced free-breathing r-VIBE is superior to breath-hold CVIBE in T staging of potentially resectable esophageal cancer, especially for T1 and T2.