Gut microbiota and inflammatory mediators differentiate IgE mediated and non-IgE mediated cases of cow's milk protein at diagnosis

OBJECTIVE

Analyze fecal and blood samples at point of diagnosis in IgE mediated cow's milk protein allergy (CMPA) and non-IgE mediated (NIM)-CMPA patients to look for potential new biomarkers.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Fourteen patients with IgE mediated CMPA and 13 with NIM-CMPA were recruited in three hospitals in the north of Spain, and were compared with 25 infants from a control group of the same age range. To characterize intestinal microbiota, 16S rDNA gene and internal transcribed spacer amplicons of bifidobacteria were sequenced with Illumina technology. Fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography, meanwhile intestinal inflammation markers were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and a multiplex system. Immunological analysis of blood was performed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The fecal results obtained in the NIM-CMPA group stand out. Among them, a significant reduction in the abundance of Bifidobacteriaceae and Bifidobacterium sequences with respect to controls was observed. Bifidobacterial species were also different, highlighting the lower abundance of Bifidobacterium breve sequences. Fecal calprotectin levels were found to be significantly elevated in relation to IgE mediated patients. Also, a higher excretion of IL-10 and a lower excretion of IL-1ra and platelet derived growth factor-BB was found in NIM-CMPA patients.

CONCLUSIONS

The differential fecal parameters found in NIM-CMPA patients could be useful in the diagnosis of NIM food allergy to CM proteins.

MicroRNAs in Tetrahymena thermophila: An epigenetic regulatory mechanism in the response to cadmium stress

Among the epigenetic mechanisms based on non-coding RNA are microRNAs (miRNAs) that are involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of mRNAs. In many organisms, the expression of genes involved in the cellular response to biotic or abiotic stress depends on the regulation, generally inhibitory, performed by miRNAs. For the first time in the eukaryotic microorganism (ciliate-model) Tetrahymena thermophila, miRNAs involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of transcripts linked to the response to cadmium have been isolated and analyzed. Forty de novo miRNAs (we named tte-miRNAs) have been isolated from control and Cd-treated populations (1 or 24 h exposures). An exhaustive comparative analysis of the features of these mature tte-miRNAs and their precursor sequences (pre-tte-miRNAs) confirms that they are true miRNAs. In addition to the three types of miRNA isoforms previously described in other organisms, two new types are also described among the tte-miRNAs studied. A certain percentage of the pre-tte-miRNA sequences are in introns from genes with many introns, and have been defined as 5', 3'-tailed mirtrons. A qRT-PCR analysis of selected tte-miRNAs together with some of their targets has validated them. Cd is one of the most toxic metals for the cell, which must defend itself against its toxicity by various mechanisms, such as expulsion by membrane pumps, chelation by metallothioneins, among others. Like other toxic metals, Cd also causes a well-known series of cellular effects such as intense proteotoxicity. Many of the targets that are regulated by the tte-miRNAs are transcripts encoding proteins that fit into these defense mechanisms and toxic metal effects.

Management of high-risk and post-operative non-metastatic prostate cancer in Catalonia: an expert Delphi consensus

BACKGROUND

To reach a consensus on recommendations for the management of high-risk and post-operative non-metastatic prostate cancer by a group of Radiation Oncologists in Catalonia dedicated to prostate cancer.

METHODS

A modified Delphi approach was employed to reach consensus on controversial topics in Radiation Oncology on high-risk non-metastatic (eight questions) and post-operative (eight questions) prostate cancer. An agreement of at least 75% was considered as consensus. The survey was electronically sent 6 weeks before an expert meeting where topics were reviewed and discussed. A second-round survey for the controversial questions only was sent and answered by participants after the meeting.

RESULTS

After the first round of the survey, 19 experienced Radiation Oncologists attended the meeting and 74% fulfilled the second-round online questionnaire. An agreement of 9 of the 16 questions was accounted for the first round. After the meeting, an additional agreement was reached in 3 questions leading to a final consensus on 12 of the 16 questions. There are still controversial topics like the use of PET for staging of high-risk and post-operative non-metastatic prostate cancer and the optimal dose to the prostate bed in the salvage setting.

CONCLUSION

This consensus contributes to establish recommendations and a framework to help in prostate cancer radiation therapy and pharmacological management in daily clinical practice of high-risk and post-operative non-metastatic prostate cancer.

First Longitudinal Study Using Binaural Beats on Parkinson Disease

This paper describes a longitudinal study to analyze the effects of acoustic stimulation with Binaural Beats (BBs) at 14[Formula: see text]Hz (beta band) in patients with Parkinson's Disease (PD). Participants ([Formula: see text], age [Formula: see text], stage [Formula: see text] Hoehn and Yahr scale) listened to binaural stimulation for 10[Formula: see text]min a day, 3 days a week, during six months and were assessed 3 times during this period using electroencephalography (EEG), cognitive (PD-CRS), quality of life (PDQ-39) and wearing-off (WOQ-19) tests. During each assessment (basal, and after 3 and 6 months), the relative power in theta band was analyzed before, during and after the stimulation. Focusing the analysis on the motor cortex, the results obtained have confirmed the initial hypothesis for the first session, but they have shown a habituation effect which decreases its efficiency with time. Also, different reactions have been detected among individuals, with some reacting as expected from the beginning, while others would react in an opposite way at the beginning but they have shown afterwards a tendency towards the expected outcome. Anyhow, the relative power of the theta band was reduced between the first and the last session for more than half of the participants, although with very different values. Subtle changes have also been observed in some items of the PD-CRS, PDQ-39 and WOQ-19 tests.

Clonal Complexes 23, 10, 131 and 38 as Genetic Markers of the Environmental Spread of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL)-Producing E. coli

In accordance with the global action plan on antimicrobial resistance adopted by the World Health Assembly in 2015, there is a need to develop surveillance programs for antimicrobial resistant bacteria. In this context, we have analyzed the clonal diversity of Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolated from aquatic environments and human and food samples in Spain, with the aim of determining possible clonal complexes (CCs) that act as markers of the potential risk of transmission of these resistant bacteria. The phylogenetic groups, sequence types (STs) and CCs were determined by different Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Multilocus Sequence Typing (MLST) techniques. Phylogroup A was prevalent and was mainly present in food and water strains, while human strains were mostly associated with phylogroup B2. According to the observed prevalence in the different niches, CC23 and CC10 are proposed as markers of phylogroups A and C, related with the spread of bla_CTX-M1 and bla_CTX-M15 genes. Similarly, CC131 and CC38 could be associated to the dissemination of pathogenic strains (phylogroups B2 and D) carrying mainly bla_CTX-M14 and bla_CTX-M15 genes. Some strains isolated from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) showed identical profiles to those isolated from other environments, highlighting the importance that water acquires in the dissemination of bacterial resistance. In conclusion, the detection of these genetic markers in different environments could be considered as an alert in the spread of ESBL.

Medical decision support system using weakly-labeled lung CT scans

Purpose

Determination and development of an effective set of models leveraging Artificial Intelligence techniques to generate a system able to support clinical practitioners working with COVID-19 patients. It involves a pipeline including classification, lung and lesion segmentation, as well as lesion quantification of axial lung CT studies.

Approach

A deep neural network architecture based on DenseNet is introduced for the classification of weakly-labeled, variable-sized (and possibly sparse) axial lung CT scans. The models are trained and tested on aggregated, publicly available data sets with over 10 categories. To further assess the models, a data set was collected from multiple medical institutions in Colombia, which includes healthy, COVID-19 and patients with other diseases. It is composed of 1,322 CT studies from a diverse set of CT machines and institutions that make over 550,000 slices. Each CT study was labeled based on a clinical test, and no per-slice annotation took place. This enabled a classification into Normal vs. Abnormal patients, and for those that were considered abnormal, an extra classification step into Abnormal (other diseases) vs. COVID-19. Additionally, the pipeline features a methodology to segment and quantify lesions of COVID-19 patients on the complete CT study, enabling easier localization and progress tracking. Moreover, multiple ablation studies were performed to appropriately assess the elements composing the classification pipeline.

Results

The best performing lung CT study classification models achieved 0.83 accuracy, 0.79 sensitivity, 0.87 specificity, 0.82 F1 score and 0.85 precision for the Normal vs. Abnormal task. For the Abnormal vs COVID-19 task, the model obtained 0.86 accuracy, 0.81 sensitivity, 0.91 specificity, 0.84 F1 score and 0.88 precision. The ablation studies showed that using the complete CT study in the pipeline resulted in greater classification performance, restating that relevant COVID-19 patterns cannot be ignored towards the top and bottom of the lung volume.

Discussion

The lung CT classification architecture introduced has shown that it can handle weakly-labeled, variable-sized and possibly sparse axial lung studies, reducing the need for expert annotations at a per-slice level.

Conclusions

This work presents a working methodology that can guide the development of decision support systems for clinical reasoning in future interventionist or prospective studies.

Deep Learning-Based Feature Extraction of Acoustic Emission Signals for Monitoring Wear of Grinding Wheels

Tool wear monitoring is a critical issue in advanced manufacturing systems. In the search for sensing devices that can provide information about the grinding process, Acoustic Emission (AE) appears to be a promising technology. The present paper presents a novel deep learning-based proposal for grinding wheel wear status monitoring using an AE sensor. The most relevant finding is the possibility of efficient feature extraction form frequency plots using CNNs. Feature extraction from FFT plots requires sound domain-expert knowledge, and thus we present a new approach to automated feature extraction using a pre-trained CNN. Using the features extracted for different industrial grinding conditions, t-SNE and PCA clustering algorithms were tested for wheel wear state identification. Results are compared for different industrial grinding conditions. The initial state of the wheel, resulting from the dressing operation, is clearly identified for all the experiments carried out. This is a very important finding, since dressing strongly affects operation performance. When grinding parameters produce acute wear of the wheel, the algorithms show very good clustering performance using the features extracted by the CNN. Performance of both t-SNE and PCA was very much the same, thus confirming the excellent efficiency of the pre-trained CNN for automated feature extraction from FFT plots.

A-306 MoCA-22: Criterion Validity and Classification Accuracy of the MoCA’s Auditory Items

Objective: Our research aims to evaluate criterion validity of the auditory Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-22; also disseminated as telephone-MoCA and MoCA-blind) when compared to individuals with and without vision impairment and of different dementia syndromal stages. Additionally, we explore the classification accuracy of MoCA-22 in distinguishing mild cognitive impairment (MCI) from unimpaired cognition and mild-to-moderate dementia from MCI.

Methods: The National Alzheimer’s Coordinated Center database included 11,284 participants who completed a portion of the MoCA during their first visit to an Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center. Participants were mostly women (57.64%), self-identified as White (77.98%), were older adults (M age=69.22), and college educated (M education years=15.89). Dementia stages included: unimpaired (43.73%), MCI (40.99%), and mild-to-moderate dementia (14.87%) with 71.7% having some visual impairment and 2.8% not benefitting from lenses. ANOVAs and t-tests were used to evaluate criterion validity. Area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were investigated for diagnostic accuracy.

Results: The visually mediated MoCA items had larger differences among those with and without visual impairment compared to the MoCA-22. There were also strong differences across the dementia syndromal stages which carried over to strong classification accuracy in distinguishing MCI from normal cognition (AUC = .79), and mild-to-moderate dementia from MCI (AUC = .85).

Conclusions: These findings add to the evidence of the MoCA-22’s utility for visual impaired individuals who otherwise cannot complete the full version of the MoCA. The MoCA-22 serves as a useful cognitive screening tool in differentiating between cognitive severities.

Tailoring of AlAs/InAs/GaAs QDs Nanostructures via Capping Growth Rate

The use of thin AlA capping layers (CLs) on InAs quantum dots (QDs) has recently received considerable attention due to improved photovoltaic performance in QD solar cells. However, there is little data on the structural changes that occur during capping and their relation to different growth conditions. In this work, we studied the effect of AlA capping growth rate (CGR) on the structural features of InAs QDs in terms of shape, size, density, and average content. As will be shown, there are notable differences in the characteristics of the QDs upon changing CGR. The Al distribution analysis in the CL around the QDs was revealed to be the key. On the one hand, for the lowest CGR, Al has a homogeneous distribution over the entire surface, but there is a large thickening of the CL on the sides of the QD. As a result, the QDs are lower, lenticular in shape, but richer in In. On the other hand, for the higher CGRs, Al accumulates preferentially around the QD but with a more uniform thickness, resulting in taller QDs, which progressively adopt a truncated pyramidal shape. Surprisingly, intermediate CGRs do not improve either of these behaviors, resulting in less enriched QDs.

Suppressing the Effect of the Wetting Layer through AlAs Capping in InAs/GaAs QD Structures for Solar Cells Applications

Recently, thin AlAs capping layers (CLs) on InAs quantum dot solar cells (QDSCs) have been shown to yield better photovoltaic efficiency compared to traditional QDSCs. Although it has been proposed that this improvement is due to the suppression of the capture of photogenerated carriers through the wetting layer (WL) states by a de-wetting process, the mechanisms that operate during this process are not clear. In this work, a structural analysis of the WL characteristics in the AlAs/InAs QD system with different CL-thickness has been made by scanning transmission electron microscopy techniques. First, an exponential decline of the amount of InAs in the WL with the CL thickness increase has been found, far from a complete elimination of the WL. Instead, this reduction is linked to a higher shield effect against QD decomposition. Second, there is no compositional separation between the WL and CL, but rather single layer with a variable content of InAlGaAs. Both effects, the high intermixing and WL reduction cause a drastic change in electronic levels, with the CL making up of 1–2 monolayers being the most effective configuration to reduce the radiative-recombination and minimize the potential barriers for carrier transport.

Antibacterial Activity of Kaolin-Silver Nanomaterials: Alternative Approach to the Use of Antibiotics in Animal Production

According to the search for alternatives to replace antibiotics in animal production suggested in the antimicrobial resistance action plans around the world, the objective of this work was to evaluate the bactericidal effect of kaolin-silver nanomaterial for its possible inclusion as an additive in animal feed. The antibacterial activity of the C3 (kaolin-silver nanomaterial) product was tested against a wide spectrum of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria (including multidrug resistant strains) by performing antibiograms, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), as well as growth inhibition curves against seven strains causing infections in animals. The C3 product generated inhibition halos in all the tested strains, and a higher activity against Gram-negative bacteria was found, with MBC values ranged from 7.8 µg/mL (P. aeruginosa) to 15.6 µg/mL (E. coli and Salmonella). In contrast, it was necessary to increase the concentration to 31.3 µg/mL or 250 µg/mL to eliminate 99.9% of the initial population of S. aureus ATCC 6538 and E. faecium ATCC 19434, respectively. Conversely, the inhibition growth curves showed a faster bactericidal activity against Gram-negative bacteria (between 2 and 4 h), while it took at least 24 h to observe a reduction in cell viability of S. aureus ATCC 6538. In short, this study shows that the kaolin-silver nanomaterials developed in the framework of the INTERREG POCTEFA EFA183/16/OUTBIOTICS project exhibit antibacterial activity against a wide spectrum of bacteria. However, additional studies on animal safety and environmental impact are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed alternative in the context of One Health.

The impact of water vapor on the OH reactivity toward CH3CHO at ultra-low temperatures (21.7-135.0 K): Experiments and theory

The role of water vapor (H2O) and its hydrogen-bonded complexes in the gas-phase reactivity of organic compounds with hydroxyl (OH) radicals has been the subject of many recent studies. Contradictory effects have been reported at temperatures between 200 and 400 K. For the OH + acetaldehyde reaction, a slight catalytic effect of H2O was previously reported at temperatures between 60 and 118 K. In this work, we used Laval nozzle expansions to reinvestigate the impact of H2O on the OH-reactivity with acetaldehyde between 21.7 and 135.0 K. The results of this comprehensive study demonstrate that water, instead, slows down the reaction by factors of ∼3 (21.7 K) and ∼2 (36.2-89.5 K), and almost no effect of added H2O was observed at 135.0 K.

Biomass fuel production from cellulosic sludge through biodrying: Aeration strategies, quality of end-products, gaseous emissions and techno-economic assessment

This study assesses the technological, environmental and economic feasibility of biodrying to valorise cellulosic sludge as a renewable energy source. Specifically, three different aeration strategies were compared in terms of biodrying performance, energetic consumption, gaseous emissions, quality of end-products and techno-economic analysis. These strategies were based on different combinations of convective drying with biogenic heat produced. Two innovative biodrying performance indicators (Energetic Biodrying Index and Biodrying Performance Index) were proposed to better assess the initial and operational conditions that favour the maximum energy process efficiency and the highest end-product quality. The end-products obtained consistently presented moisture contents below 40% and lower heating values above 9.4 MJ·kg-1. However, the best values achieved were 32.6% and 10.4 MJ·kg-1 for moisture content and lower heating value, respectively. Low N₂O and CH₄ emissions confirmed the effective aeration of all three strategies carried out, while NH₄ and tVOCs were related either to temperature or biological phenomena. A techno-economic analysis proved the economic viability and attractiveness of the biodrying technology for cellulosic sludge in all the strategies applied.

Long-term docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation in cystic fibrosis patients: a randomized, multi-center, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients have an alteration in fatty acid (FA) metabolism, associated with increased omega-6 and low omega-3 FA. Previous studies on supplementation with omega-3 FA in CF had contradictory results, and to date there is no evidence to recommend routine use of omega-3 supplements in CF patients. We hypothesized that long-term supplementation with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) will have beneficial effects in these patients, by reducing pulmonary, systemic and intestinal inflammation.

METHODS

This was a randomized, double-blind, parallel, placebo-controlled trial. CF patients (age >2 months) were randomized to receive a seaweed DHA oil solution (50 mg/Kg/day) or matching placebo for 48 weeks. Primary outcomes were pulmonary (interleukin [IL]-8), systemic (IL-8) and intestinal (calprotectin) inflammatory biomarkers. Secondary outcomes included other pulmonary (IL-1β, IL-6, neutrophil elastase, lactate and calprotectin) and systemic (serum-IL-1β, IL-6) inflammatory biomarkers, as well as clinical outcomes (FEV₁, pulmonary exacerbations, antibiotic use, nutritional status and quality of life).

RESULTS

Ninety six CF patients, 44 female, age 14.6±11.9 years (48 DHA and 48 placebo) were included. At trial completion, there were no differences in all primary outcomes [serum-IL-8 (p=0.909), respiratory-IL-8 (p=0.384) or fecal calprotectin (p=0.948)], all secondary inflammatory biomarkers, or in any of the clinical outcomes evaluated. There were few adverse events, with similar incidence in both study groups.

CONCLUSION

In this study, long-term DHA supplementation in CF patients was safe, but did not offer any benefit on inflammatory biomarkers, or in clinical outcomes compared with placebo. (NCT01783613).

CDrift: An Algorithm to Correct Linear Drift From A Single High-Resolution STEM Image

In this work, a new method to determine and correct the linear drift for any crystalline orientation in a single-column-resolved high-resolution scanning transmission electron microscopy (HR-STEM) image, which is based on angle measurements in the Fourier space, is presented. This proposal supposes a generalization and the improvement of a previous work that needs the presence of two symmetrical planes in the crystalline orientation to be applicable. Now, a mathematical derivation of the drift effect on two families of asymmetric planes in the reciprocal space is inferred. However, though it was not possible to find an analytical solution for all conditions, a simple formula was derived to calculate the drift effect that is exact for three specific rotation angles. Taking this into account, an iterative algorithm based on successive rotation/drift correction steps is devised to remove drift distortions in HR-STEM images. The procedure has been evaluated using a simulated micrograph of a monoclinic material in an orientation where all the reciprocal lattice vectors are different. The algorithm only needs four iterations to resolve a 15° drift angle in the image.

Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Different Aquatic Environments in the North of Spain and South of France

Due to the global progress of antimicrobial resistance, the World Health Organization (WHO) published the list of the antibiotic-resistant "priority pathogens" in order to promote research and development of new antibiotics to the families of bacteria that cause severe and often deadly infections. In the framework of the One Health approach, the surveillance of these pathogens in different environments should be implemented in order to analyze their spread and the potential risk of transmission of antibiotic resistances by food and water. Therefore, the objective of this work was to determine the presence of high and critical priority pathogens included in the aforementioned list in different aquatic environments in the POCTEFA area (North Spain-South France). In addition to these pathogens, detection of colistin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae was included due its relevance as being the antibiotic of choice to treat infections caused by multidrug resistant bacteria (MDR). From the total of 80 analyzed samples, 100% of the wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and collectors (from hospitals and slaughterhouses) and 96.4% of the rivers, carried antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) against the tested antibiotics. Fifty-five (17.7%) of the isolates were identified as target microorganisms (high and critical priority pathogens of WHO list) and 58.2% (n = 32) of them came from WWTPs and collectors. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization showed that 96.4% were MDR and resistance to penicillins/cephalosporins was the most widespread. The presence of bla genes, KPC-type carbapenemases, mcr-1 and vanB genes has been confirmed. In summary, the presence of clinically relevant MDR bacteria in the studied aquatic environments demonstrates the need to improve surveillance and treatments of wastewaters from slaughterhouses, hospitals and WWTPs, in order to minimize the dispersion of resistance through the effluents of these areas.

The Aquatic Ecosystem, a Good Environment for the Horizontal Transfer of Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence-Associated Factors Among Extended Spectrum β-lactamases Producing E. coli

One of the main public health problems nowadays is the increase of antimicrobial resistance, both in the hospital environment and outside it (animal environment, food and aquatic ecosystems, among others). It is necessary to investigate the virulence-associated factors and the ability of horizontal gene transfer among bacteria for a better understanding of the pathogenicity and the mechanisms of dissemination of resistant bacteria. Therefore, the objective of this work was to detect several virulence factors genes (fimA, papC, papG III, cnf1, hlyA and aer) and to determine the conjugative capacity in a wide collection of extended-spectrum β-lactamases-producing E. coli isolated from different sources (human, food, farms, rivers, and wastewater treatment plants). Regarding virulence genes, fimA, papC, and aer were distributed throughout all the studied environments, papG III was mostly related to clinical strains and wastewater is a route of dissemination for cnf1 and hlyA. Strains isolated from aquatic environments showed an average conjugation frequencies of 1.15 × 10⁻¹ ± 5 × 10⁻¹, being significantly higher than those observed in strains isolated from farms and food (p < 0.05), with frequencies of 1.53 × 10⁻⁴ ± 2.85 × 10⁻⁴ and 9.61 × 10⁻⁴ ± 1.96 × 10⁻³, respectively. The reported data suggest the importance that the aquatic environment (especially WWTPs) acquires for the exchange of genes and the dispersion of resistance. Therefore, specific surveillance programs of AMR indicators in wastewaters from animal or human origin are needed, in order to apply sanitation measures to reduce the burden of resistant bacteria arriving to risky environments as WWTPs.

Chemical signal cascading in a supramolecular network

A chemically-triggered signalling cascade between cucurbituril host-guest complexes by means of multi-step competitive displacement is demonstrated. The inter-complex communication of chemical information yields the release of bio-relevant cargo, reminiscent of cellular signalling pathways.

Extraction of a malpositioned maxillary anterior implant and simultaneous flapless ridge augmentation: a case report

Periimplantitis in a malpositioned maxillary anterior implant is one of the most challenging situations in implant dentistry. Since the regenerative treatment can often be unpredictable and have esthetic consequences such as soft tissue recession due to flap raising, extraction is sometimes recommended. In order to place a new implant after extraction, a bone regeneration procedure must be carried out. This implies raising a flap and therefore the risk of further interproximal gingival recession. In the case presented in this article, a hopeless implant at position 11 presented severe periimplantitis and soft tissue recession, which also affected the mesial part of tooth 12. Tooth 21 had a root canal treatment and a crown. After the implant extraction, a minimally invasive simultaneous bone regeneration and soft tissue graft procedure was performed to reconstruct the remaining ridge using xenograft, a collagen membrane, and a connective tissue graft (CTG). Ten months later, in order to improve the ridge profile, an augmentation procedure was carried out using a CTG. Three months later, an implant was placed and immediately loaded. Three months after loading, the right lateral incisor that still presented a mesial gingival recession was slowly extruded by orthodontic treatment until the papilla was symmetrical to the contralateral one. At the end of the orthodontic extrusion, an implant-supported crown was placed at position 11 and a tooth-supported crown delivered in place of tooth 21. A composite restoration was performed on tooth 12. One year later, the soft tissue level was almost symmetrical at incisor level and the periimplant bone level at implant 11 was stable.

Maxillary zirconia and mandibular composite resin-lithium disilicate-modified PEEK fixed implant-supported restorations for a completely edentulous patient with an atrophic maxilla and mandible: A clinical report

Bimaxillary implant-supported restorations for edentulous patients must include a comprehensive diagnosis, treatment plan, and careful selection of the restorative materials. The present clinical report described a completely edentulous patient rehabilitated with a zirconia framework with a facial ceramic veneer on the maxillary arch and a modified polyetheretherketone (PEEK) framework with gingival composite resin and cemented lithium disilicate crowns on the mandibular arch. The rationale for this combination of restorative materials is reviewed.

Is the "Habsburg jaw" related to inbreeding?

Background: The "Habsburg jaw" has long been associated with inbreeding due to the high prevalence of consanguineous marriages in the Habsburg dynasty. However, it is thought that mandibular prognathism (MP) is under the influence of a dominant major gene.Aim: To investigate the relationship between the "Habsburg jaw" and the pedigree-based inbreeding coefficient (F) as a relative measure of genome homozygosity.Subjects and methods: The degree of MP and maxillary deficiency (MD) of 15 members of the Habsburg dynasty was quantified through the clinical analysis of 18 dysmorphic features diagnosed from 66 portraits.Results: A statistically significant correlation (r = 0.711, p = 0.003) between MP and MD was observed among individuals. Only MP showed a statistically significant positive regression on F as evidenced from univariate analysis (b = 6.36 ± 3.34, p = 0.040) and multivariate analysis (PCA) performed from single dysmorphic features (b = 14.10 ± 6.62, p = 0.027, for the first PC).Conclusion: Both MP and MD are generally involved in the "Habsburg jaw." The results showed a greater sensitivity to inbreeding for the lower third of the face and suggest a positive association between the "Habsburg jaw" and homozygosity and therefore a basically recessive inheritance pattern.

Data-Driven GENERIC Modeling of Poroviscoelastic Materials

Biphasic soft materials are challenging to model by nature. Ongoing efforts are targeting their effective modeling and simulation. This work uses experimental atomic force nanoindentation of thick hydrogels to identify the indentation forces are a function of the indentation depth. Later on, the atomic force microscopy results are used in a GENERIC general equation for non-equilibrium reversible–irreversible coupling (GENERIC) formalism to identify the best model conserving basic thermodynamic laws. The data-driven GENERIC analysis identifies the material behavior with high fidelity for both data fitting and prediction.

Prevalence and characterization of β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in healthy human carriers

Presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL-E), AmpC-producing and carbapenemase-producing (CPE) Enterobacteriaceae has been observed not only in the clinical environment, but also in the out-of-hospital environment. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize strains of ESBL, AmpC, and CPE present in feces of healthy carriers in Navarra (n = 125). Despite the fact that no CPE strains were isolated, 16% and 11.2% of the studied population were ESBL-E and AmpC carriers, respectively. No significant differences were found by gender or age; young people (5-18 years old) showed the highest ESBL-E prevalence (31.8%). The isolates corresponded to E. coli (57.1%), Enterobacter spp. (28.6%), and Citrobacter freundii (14.3%), and all strains showed multidrug-resistant profiles. High resistance against cephalosporins, penicillins, and monobactams, and sensitivity to carbapenems, quinolones, and aminoglycosides were observed. With respect to ESBL producers, 52.4% were CTX-M-type (19.0% CTX-M-14, 9.5% CTX-M-1, and 28.6% CTX-M-15) and 47.6% were TEM-type (38.1% TEM-171). These results confirm the extensive dissemination of these resistances among a healthy population and pose the need to implement control measures and strategies according to the One Health approach in order to prevent the increase of severe and untreatable infections in a not far future.

Landrace maize varieties differ from conventional and genetically modified hybrid maize in response to inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Land area planted with genetically modified (GM) crops has grown rapidly, and Brazil has the second largest area with those plants. There is, however, limited information on the possible effects of that technology on non-target organisms, especially root symbionts, such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). We evaluated AMF symbiosis development in five maize genotypes: one landrace, two conventional hybrids (DKB 240 and Formula), and two GM hybrids (DKB 240-VT Pro and Formula TL). We evaluated symbiosis response in two separate experiments: one in autumn and the other in summer. Plants were inoculated with Rhizophagus clarus (Rc) and Gigaspora margarita (Gm) and compared to plants without inoculation. We evaluated root colonization, spore number, and plant biomass and phosphorous accumulation 30 and 60 days after inoculation. There were no consistent effects of GM crops, but AMF species and maize genotype affected symbiosis development. Formula genotype (isoline and GM) had a negative response to inoculation, with a decrease of around 30% in biomass and P concentration in Rc-inoculated plants. The maize landrace had a positive response, with increases of 17% and 14% in the same variables. DKB genotype (isoline and GM) showed negative, positive, and neutral effects. The results show that plant genetic identity is a determinant factor in symbiosis performance, suggesting that plants selected in low P availability can make better use of mycorrhizal symbiosis. Given the role that AMF play in different ecosystem processes, use of landrace maize may contribute to agrobiodiversity conservation.

Light-driven control of the composition of a supramolecular network

The composition of a supramolecular network, constituted by several cucurbituril receptors and guests, can be controlled by the reversible and all-photonic switching of a dithienylethene guest.

Increased exposure to extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae through the consumption of chicken and sushi products

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and patterns of resistance of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Enterobacteriaceae in food products purchased in Navarra, northern Spain. A total of 174 samples of fish and chicken were analyzed from September 2015 to September 2016, including raw and ready-to-eat products: trout (n = 25), salmon (n = 28), panga (n = 13), chicken nuggets and chicken scalopes (n = 32), sushi (n = 31) and sliced cooked poultry (n = 45). Cefpodoxime-resistant strains were isolated on ChromID ESBL agar and further phenotypic (antimicrobial study on MicroScan© NM37 panel) and genotypic characterization (multiplex PCR, sequencing and multi-locus sequence typing, MLST) was performed to confirm and characterize ESBL producers. Raw chicken and sushi have been determined as the most risky products regarding transmission of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (occurrence 53.1% and 19.4%, respectively), while sliced cooked poultry products appear to be a safe product in this aspect. With regard to raw fish, prevalence in salmon was lower (3.6%) than in trout and panga (16.0%). Ninety-eight per cent of ESBL isolates (n = 50) show multidrug-resistant profiles, highlighting the high resistances against quinolones and tetracyclines observed in chicken isolates, as well as against ertapenem and chloramphenicol in sushi strains. Predominant β-lactamase type was SHV-12 (50.1%), followed by TEM-type (24.5%) and CTX-M (20.8%). In addition, CTX-M type was only detected in chicken products. The phylogenetic study showed the prevalence of groups A (35%), F (25%) and B1 (15%), usually related to nonvirulent strains. MLST E. coli isolates (n = 20) were grouped into 5 clonal complexes (CC) and 15 sequence types (ST), showing high clonal diversity. ST117 was the prevalent sequence type, while the human pathogen ST131 was not detected in this study. The high prevalence of ESBL-producing multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae detected in products of widespread consumption such as chicken and sushi, increases the concern regarding human exposure to superbugs and encourages the need to improve surveillance of this public health issue.

Seroprevalence of HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18 and correlates of exposure in unvaccinated women aged 16-64 years in Puerto Rico

Background

To understand risk factors for HPV exposure in Puerto Rican women, we evaluated HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 serology in women aged living in the San Juan metropolitan area.

Methods

As part of a cross-sectional study, a population-based sample of 524 HPV unvaccinated Hispanic women ages 16–64 years completed face-to-face and computer assisted interviews and provided blood and self-collected anal and cervical specimens. Serology used multiplex virus-like particle based-IgG ELISA and HPV DNA was detected with L1-consensus PCR.

Results

32% and 47% were seropositive to HPV types included in the bivalent (16/18) and quadrivalent (6/11/16/18) vaccines, respectively. Type-specific seroprevalence was HPV6 − 29%, HPV11 − 18%, HPV16 − 23%, and HPV18 − 17%; seroprevalence was high in the youngest age-group (16–19: 26–37%). HPV seropositivity was associated with having ≥ 3 lifetime sexual partners (OR=2.5, 95% CI=1.7–3.9) and detection of anogenital HPV DNA (OR=1.8, 95% CI=1.2–2.6).

Conclusions

The high cumulative exposure of HPV vaccine types 6/11/16/18 in this Hispanic population was influenced by factors related to HPV exposure through sexual behavior. High seroprevalence in the youngest age-group indicates early age of exposure to HPV in Puerto Rico, highlighting the need for HPV vaccination starting prior to age 16.

Haptic simulation of tissue tearing during surgery

We present a method for the real-time, interactive simulation of tissue tearing during laparoscopic surgery. The method is designed to work at haptic feedback rates (ie, around 1 kHz). Tissue tearing is simulated under the general framework of continuum damage mechanics. The problem is stated as a general, multidimensional parametric problem, which is solved by means of proper generalized decomposition methods. One of the main novelties is the reduction of history-dependent problems, such as damage mechanics, by resorting to an approach in which a reduced-order field of initial damage values is considered as a parameter of the formulation. We focus on the laparoscopic cholecystectomy procedure as a general example of the performance of the method.

Reduced-order modeling of soft robots

We present a general strategy for the modeling and simulation-based control of soft robots. Although the presented methodology is completely general, we restrict ourselves to the analysis of a model robot made of hyperelastic materials and actuated by cables or tendons. To comply with the stringent real-time constraints imposed by control algorithms, a reduced-order modeling strategy is proposed that allows to minimize the amount of online CPU cost. Instead, an offline training procedure is proposed that allows to determine a sort of response surface that characterizes the response of the robot. Contrarily to existing strategies, the proposed methodology allows for a fully non-linear modeling of the soft material in a hyperelastic setting as well as a fully non-linear kinematic description of the movement without any restriction nor simplifying assumption. Examples of different configurations of the robot were analyzed that show the appeal of the method.

Uso de cascarilla de arroz durante el periodo de pre-montanera para dietas de bienestar. Resultados preliminares

En los sistemas de producción extensivos del cerdo Ibérico, la alimentación de los animales está restringida durante la premontanera. Con el propósito de incrementar el bienestar durante este periodo, tres dietas diferentes con niveles crecientes de fibra (5,0 %; 8,5 %; 12,0 %) procedentes de cascarilla de arroz, que es un subproducto infrautilizado, fueron evaluados en cerdo Ibérico durante la premontanera (desde los 9 a los 13 meses de edad). El bienestar animal fue evaluado mediante el test Welfare Quality©. Ninguno de los grupos de tratamientos tuvo problemas de diarrea, a pesar del contenido relativamente elevado en fibra de las dietas enriquecidas. El peso corporal al final de la premontanera no varió significativamente entre tratamientos. Sin embargo, la ganancia de peso desde el segundo mes del experimento hasta su conclusión fue significativamente superior en el grupo con el nivel de fibra más alto que en los otros 2 grupos. Por tanto, los resultados preliminares muestran que el uso de altos niveles de fibra (12 %) en dietas de cerdo Ibérico durante la premontanera podría ser usado para mejorar el bienestar animal en este periodo, lo que adicionalmente supondría un uso alternativo para este importante subproducto agrícola.

The three-layer technique for immediate implants on teeth without a buccal bone wall: a case report

The buccal bone wall is the part of the socket of an anterior tooth that is most susceptible to resorption. Immediate implants offer advantages in terms of time, comfort, and esthetics, especially regarding the maintenance of the papillae architecture. However, the loss of the buccal bone wall is often a limitation for such a therapy. This case report describes a clinical procedure designed to reconstruct the buccal bone wall to restore an anterior tooth where this wall was absent. The approach involved a flapless immediate implant based on the principles of guided bone regeneration (GBR), and consisted of the preparation of a large, flapless recipient bed ad modum envelope, immediate implant placement, deposition of xenograft surrounding the implant surface, and coverage with a collagen membrane. Finally, a palatal connective tissue graft (CTG) was placed, and the natural tooth crown acting as a temporary restoration was delivered. One year later, a zirconia-ceramic crown was delivered. Two years after implant placement, the soft tissue level was stable. No signs of inflammation or bleeding were observed, and periapical radiographic examination revealed bone stability.

Sb and N Incorporation Interplay in GaAsSbN/GaAs Epilayers near Lattice-Matching Condition for 1.0-1.16-eV Photonic Applications

As promising candidates for solar cell and photodetection applications in the range 1.0-1.16 eV, the growth of dilute nitride GaAsSbN alloys lattice matched to GaAs is studied. With this aim, we have taken advantage of the temperature gradient in the molecular beam epitaxy reactor to analyse the impact of temperature on the incorporation of Sb and N species according to the wafer radial composition gradients. The results from the combination of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopies (EDS) show an opposite rate of incorporation between N and Sb as we move away from the centre of the wafer. A competitive behaviour between Sb and N in order to occupy the group-V position is observed that depends on the growth rate and the substrate temperature. The optical properties obtained by photoluminescence are discussed in the frame of the double-band anticrossing model. The growth conditions define two sets of different parameters for the energy level and the coupling interaction potential of N, which must be taken into account in the search for the optimum compositions 1-1.15-eV photonic applications.

Quantitative analysis of the interplay between InAs quantum dots and wetting layer during the GaAs capping process

A procedure to quantitatively analyse the relationship between the wetting layer (WL) and the quantum dots (QDs) as a whole in a statistical way is proposed. As we will show in the manuscript, it allows determining, not only the proportion of deposited InAs held in the WL, but also the average In content inside the QDs. First, the amount of InAs deposited is measured for calibration in three different WL structures without QDs by two methodologies: strain mappings in high-resolution transmission electron microscopy images and compositional mappings with ChemiSTEM x-ray energy spectrometry. The area under the average profiles obtained by both methodologies emerges as the best parameter to quantify the amount of InAs in the WL, in agreement with high-resolution x-ray diffraction results. Second, the effect of three different GaAs capping layer (CL) growth rates on the decomposition of the QDs is evaluated. The CL growth rate has a strong influence on the QD volume as well as the WL characteristics. Slower CL growth rates produce an In enrichment of the WL if compared to faster ones, together with a diminution of the QD height. In addition, assuming that the QD density does not change with the different CL growth rates, an estimation of the average In content inside the QDs is given. The high Ga/In intermixing during the decomposition of buried QDs does not only trigger a reduction of the QD height, but above all, a higher impoverishment of the In content inside the QDs, therefore modifying the two most important parameters that determine the optical properties of these structures.

Oxidative stress prediction: A preliminary approach using a response surface based technique

A response surface was built to predict the lipid peroxidation level, generated in an iron-ascorbate in vitro model, of any organ, which is correlated with the oxidative stress injury in biological membranes. Oxidative stress studies are numerous, usually performed on laboratory animals. However, ethical concerns require validated methods to reduce the use of laboratory animals. The response surface described here is a validated method to replace animals. Tissue samples of rabbit liver, kidney, heart, skeletal muscle and brain were oxidized with different concentrations of FeCl₃ (0.1 to 8mM) and ascorbate (0.1mM), during different periods of time (0 to 90min) at 37°C. Experimental data obtained, with lipid content and antioxidant activity of each organ, allowed constructing a multidimensional surface capable of predicting, by interpolation, the lipid peroxidation level of any organ defined by its antioxidant activity and fat content, when exposed to different oxidant conditions. To check the predictive potential of the technique, two more experiments were carried out. First, in vitro oxidation data from lung tissue were collected. Second, the antioxidant capacity of kidney homogenates was modified by adding melatonin. Then, the response surface generated could predict lipid peroxidation levels produced in these new situations. The potential of this technique could be reinforced using collaborative databases to reduce the number of animals in experimental procedures.

In vitro osteoclastogenesis from Gaucher patients' cells correlates with bone mineral density but not with Chitotriosidase

Gaucher disease (GD) is caused by mutations on the gene encoding for the lysosomal enzyme glucocerebrosidase. Type I GD (GD1) patients present anemia, hepatosplenomegaly and bone alterations. In spite of treatment, bone alterations in GD patients persist, including poor bone mineral density (BMD). Mechanisms leading to bone damage are not completely understood, but previous reports suggest that osteoclasts are involved. Chitotriosidase (CHIT) is the most reliable biomarker used in the follow up of patients, although its correlation with bone status is unknown. The aim of this work was to study the pro-osteoclastogenic potential in patients and to evaluate its correlation with CHIT activity levels and clinical parameters. PBMCs from treated patients and healthy controls were cultured in the presence of M-CSF, and mature osteoclasts were counted. BMD, blood CHIT activity and serum levels of CTX, BAP, and cytokines were evaluated in patients. We found that blood CHIT activity and osteoclast differentiation were significantly increased in patients, but no correlation between them was observed. Interestingly, osteoclast numbers but not CHIT, presented a negative correlation with BMD expressed as Z-score. CTX, BAP and serum cytokines involved in bone remodeling were found altered in GD1 patients. These results show for the first time a correlation between osteoclast differentiation and BMD in GD1 patients, supporting the involvement of osteoclasts in the bone pathology of GD1. Our results also suggest that an altered immune response may play an important role in bone damage.

A new surgical procedure for hallux limitus treatment: Double-V osteotomy on the base of the proximal phalanx of the hallux

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the new Double-V osteotomy of the first metatarsophalangeal joint (1MPJ) in patients with hallux limitus (HL).A study of 66 patients was performed, 33 patients were treated Cheilectomy and 33 were treated Double-V. All patients underwent an assessment of the passive mobility of the 1MPJ before the procedure, reevaluated 12 months later evaluating dorsiflexion, plantarflexion, and patients status using both the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) for Hallux Metatarsophalangeal-Interphalangeal Scale.In comparing the improvement achieved regarding the increase of mobility obtained with surgical treatment, the feet operated with procedure Double-V gained significant degrees of movement increased in all analyzed parameters (P < .05). We achieved 13.33° more than average in dorsiflexion motion and 2.12° more than average in plantarflexion with regard to the feet that were operated with Cheilectomy procedure. Double-V scores on the AOFAS scale improved significantly (P = .000) 91.48 points postoperative, while with the following Cheilectomy only 79.30 points.This new surgical technique, easy to perform and with low complexity in surgical execution and a minimum of complications, produces better clinical and functional results that Cheilectomy alone.

Evaluation of high-quality image reconstruction techniques applied to high-resolution Z-contrast imaging

High-quality image reconstruction techniques allow the generation of high pixel density images from a set of low-resolution micrographs. In general, these techniques consist of two main steps, namely, accurate registration, and formulation of an appropriate forward image model via some restoration method. There exist a wide variety of algorithms to cope with both stages and depending on their practical applications, some methods can outperform others, since they can be sensitive to the assumed data model, noise, drift, etc. When dealing with images generated by Z-contrast scanning transmission electron microscopes, a current trend is based on non-rigid approximations in the registration stage. In our work we aimed at reaching similar accuracy but addressing the most complex calculations in the reconstruction stage, instead of in the registration stage (as the non-rigid approaches do), but using a much smaller number of images. We review some of the most significant methods and address their shortcomings when they are applied to the field of microscopy. Simulated images with known targets will be used to evaluate and compare the main approaches in terms of quality enhancement and computing time. In addition, a procedure to determine the reference image will be proposed to minimise the global drift on the series. The best registration and restoration strategies will be applied to experimental images in order to point up the enhanced capability of this high quality image reconstruction methodology in this field.

Clonal Diversity of ESBL-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Environmental, Human and Food Samples

This study presents a comprehensive approach of a clonal diversity analysis of 448 Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli isolated from environmental, human and food samples in Spain. The phenotypic confirmation of ESBL production was performed by disc diffusion and microdilution methods, while Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and sequencing were used for the molecular characterization of β-lactamase genes (bla_CTX-M, bla_SHV, bla_TEM, bla_OXA). Clonal relationship of isolates was determined by multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). Multidrug resistant strains were present in all the studied niches, with percentages above 50.0%. The most prevalent β-lactamase genes were bla_CTXM-14 (26%) and bla_CTXM-1 (21.4%), followed by bla_SHV-12, bla_CTX-M-15 and bla_TEM-42. MLST isolates were grouped into 26 clonal complexes (CC) and 177 different sequence types (ST) were detected. Despite the high clonal diversity observed, CC10 was the prevalent and the only CC detected in all niches, while other complexes as CC131 were mainly associated to human isolates. The observed prevalence and diversity of these resistant bacteria across the different environments encourages a One Health approach to prevent and control ESBL dissemination between environment and consumers.

Predicting muscle fatigue: a response surface approximation based on proper generalized decomposition technique

A novel technique is proposed to predict force reduction in skeletal muscle due to fatigue under the influence of electrical stimulus parameters and muscle physiological characteristics. Twelve New Zealand white rabbits were divided in four groups ([Formula: see text]) to obtain the active force evolution of in vitro Extensor Digitorum Longus muscles for an hour of repeated contractions under different electrical stimulation patterns. Left and right muscles were tested, and a total of 24 samples were used to construct a response surface based in the proper generalized decomposition. After the response surface development, one additional rabbit was used to check the predictive potential of the technique. This multidimensional surface takes into account not only the decay of the maximum repeated peak force, but also the shape evolution of each contraction, muscle weight, electrical input signal and stimulation protocol. This new approach of the fatigue simulation challenge allows to predict, inside the multispace surface generated, the muscle response considering other stimulation patterns, different tissue weight, etc.

Molecular epidemiology, genotype-phenotype correlation and BH4 responsiveness in Spanish patients with phenylketonuria

Phenylketonuria (PKU), the most common inborn error of amino acid metabolism, is caused by mutations in the phenylalanine-4-hydroxylase (PAH) gene. This study aimed to assess the genotype-phenotype correlation in the PKU Spanish population and the usefulness in establishing genotype-based predictions of BH4 responsiveness in our population. It involved the molecular characterization of 411 Spanish PKU patients: mild hyperphenylalaninemia non-treated (mild HPA-NT) (34%), mild HPA (8.8%), mild-moderate (20.7%) and classic (36.5%) PKU. BH4 responsiveness was evaluated using a 6R-BH4 loading test. We assessed genotype-phenotype associations and genotype-BH4 responsiveness in our population according to literature and classification of the mutations. The mutational spectrum analysis showed 116 distinct mutations, most missense (70.7%) and located in the catalytic domain (62.9%). The most prevalent mutations were c.1066-11G>A (9.7%), p.Val388Met (6.6%) and p.Arg261Gln (6.3%). Three novel mutations (c.61-13del9, p.Ile283Val and p.Gly148Val) were reported. Although good genotype-phenotype correlation was observed, there was no exact correlation for some genotypes. Among the patients monitored for the 6R-BH4 loading test: 102 were responders (87, carried either one or two BH4-responsive alleles) and 194 non-responders (50, had two non-responsive mutations). More discrepancies were observed in non-responders. Our data reveal a great genetic heterogeneity in our population. Genotype is quite a good predictor of phenotype and BH4 responsiveness, which is relevant for patient management, treatment and follow-up.

Prevalence, genotyping, and correlates of anogenital HPV infection in a population-based sample of women in Puerto Rico

Background

Oncogenic HPV infection is associated to anogenital cancer. We estimate the prevalence and correlates of anogenital HPV infection among a population-based sample of women aged 16–64 years living in the metropolitan area of Puerto Rico.

Methods

564 women completed face-to-face and computer assisted interviews and self-collected anal and cervical specimens. HPV DNA testing used MY09/MY11 consensus HPV L1 primers and beta-globin as an internal control for sample amplification. Positive specimens were typed by dot-blot hybridization.

Results

Weighted prevalence of cervical, anal, and cervical/anal co-infection was 29.4%, 38.6%, and 17.1%, respectively. The commonest oncogenic HPV types detected in the cervix and anus were: 68 (8% vs. 7%) and 16 (5.5% vs. 5.1%), correspondingly. Having ≥3 lifetime sexual partners (OR: 2.3; 95% CI: 1.5–3.5) and last year anal intercourse (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1–2.5) increased the odds of anogenital HPV infection. Cervical infection was independently associated to anal infection (OR: 3.0; 95% CI: 2.0–4.6).

Conclusions

Similar to others, our results confirm the burden of anogenital HPV infection in women and its relationship with sexual behavior. As vaccination increases, future studies should monitor changing trends in HPV infection in this population, and the relationship between anal and cervical HPV-related disease.