The RNA from Pseudomonas aeruginosa Reduces Neutrophil Responses Favoring Bacterial Survival.

Introduction: Epithelial and endothelial cells modulate innate immune responses in the lung, including the arrival of neutrophils (PMN), which are crucial cells for the antibacterial host defense. Cells are exposed to prokaryotic RNA (pRNA) during bacterial infections and different pRNA may promote or attenuate the inflammatory response on different immune cells. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAE) can cause severe pneumonia and has several immune-evading mechanisms.

Beyond its preferential niche: Brucella abortus RNA down-modulates the IFN-γ-induced MHC-I expression in epithelial and endothelial cells.

Brucella abortus (Ba) is a pathogen that survives inside macrophages. Despite being its preferential niche, Ba infects other cells, as shown by the multiple signs and symptoms humans present. This pathogen can evade our immune system.

Are ipRGCs involved in human color vision? Hints from physiology, psychophysics, and natural image statistics.

Human photoreceptors consist of cones, rods, and melanopsin-expressing intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs). First studied in circadian regulation and pupillary control, ipRGCs project to a variety of brain centers suggesting a broader involvement beyond non-visual functions. IpRGC responses are stable, long-lasting, and with a particular codification of photoreceptor signals.

Platelets promote human macrophages-mediated macropinocytosis of .

is the main causative agent of hospital-acquired diarrhea and the potentially lethal disease, infection. The cornerstone of the current therapy is the use of antibiotics, which is not fully effective. The molecular mechanisms, inflammatory conditions and host-immune responses that could benefit the persistence or elimination of remain unclear.

Brucella abortus RNA does not polarize macrophages to a particular profile but interferes with M1 polarization.

Monocytes and macrophages play a central role in chronic brucellosis. Brucella abortus (Ba) is an intracellular pathogen that survives inside these cells. On the other hand, macrophages could be differentiated into classical (M1), alternative (M2) or other less-identified profiles.

Comparing flickering and pulsed chromatic pupil light responses.

The pupil light reflex (PLR) can serve as a biomarker of the photoreceptor function. Protocols for chromatic PLR consider mostly pulsed stimulation. A more sophisticated and promising technique is based on the PLR to flickering stimulation.

Temporal integration of rod signals in luminance and chromatic pathways.

We assessed how rod excitation (R) affects luminance (L + M + S) and chromatic [L/(L + M)] reaction times (RTs). A four-primary display based on the overlapped images of two spectrally modified monitors, which allowed specific or combined [L + M + S + R, L/(L + M) + R] photoreceptor stimulation, was used to present a C-target stimulus differing from the background only by the selected stimulation. For the luminance pathway, rod input increased RTs, suggesting a suppressive rod-cone interaction.

Is melanopsin activation affecting large field color-matching functions?

Color theory is based on the exclusive activation of cones. However, since the discovery of melanopsin expressing cells in the human retina, evidence of its intrusion in brightness and color vision is increasing. We aimed to assess if differences between peripheral or large field and foveal color matches can be accounted for by melanopsin activation or rod intrusion.

Optical stimulation systems for studying human vision.

This chapter describes the most common setups that scientists use for generating light stimulation, from lab-made approaches to commercially available technologies. The studied optical stimulation systems are divided into nonimage-forming and image-forming arrangements. Two classical systems widely used are among the first: the Maxwellian view system and the Ganzfeld stimulator.

Fatty acid oxidation of alternatively activated macrophages prevents foam cell formation, but Mycobacterium tuberculosis counteracts this process via HIF-1α activation.

The ability of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) to persist inside host cells relies on metabolic adaptation, like the accumulation of lipid bodies (LBs) in the so-called foamy macrophages (FM), which are favorable to Mtb. The activation state of macrophages is tightly associated to different metabolic pathways, such as lipid metabolism, but whether differentiation towards FM differs between the macrophage activation profiles remains unclear. Here, we aimed to elucidate whether distinct macrophage activation states exposed to a tuberculosis-associated microenvironment or directly infected with Mtb can form FM.

SLAMF1 signaling induces Mycobacterium tuberculosis uptake leading to endolysosomal maturation in human macrophages.

Tuberculosis dates back to ancient times but it is not a problem of the past. Each year, millions of people die from tuberculosis. After inhalation of infectious droplet nuclei, Mycobacterium tuberculosis reaches the lungs where it can manipulate the immune system and survive within host macrophages, establishing a persistent infection.

-Stimulated Platelets Activate Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells Increasing Cell Transmigration through the Erk1/2 Pathway.

Central nervous system invasion by bacteria of the genus results in an inflammatory disorder called neurobrucellosis. A common feature associated with this pathology is blood-brain barrier (BBB) activation. However, the underlying mechanisms involved with such BBB activation remain unknown.

Brucella abortus-infected platelets modulate the activation of neutrophils.

Brucellosis is a contagious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. Platelets (PLTs) have been widely involved in the modulation of the immune response. We have previously reported the modulation of Brucella abortus-mediated infection of monocytes.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the management of visceral artery aneurysms.

Background: The evidence supporting management decisions of visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) is sparse. Practice guidelines are needed to help patients and surgeons choose between endovascular and open surgery approaches.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane databases, and Scopus for studies of patients with VAAs.

World Health Organization (WHO) antibiotic regimen against other regimens for the treatment of leprosy: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the World Health Organization antibiotic regimen for the treatment of paucibacillary (PB) and multibacillary (MB) leprosy compared to other available regimens.

Methods: We performed a search from 1982 to July 2018 without language restriction. We included randomized controlled trials, quasi-randomized trials, and comparative observational studies (cohorts and case-control studies) that enrolled patients of any age with PB or MB leprosy that were treated with any of the leprosy antibiotic regimens established by the WHO in 1982 and used any other antimicrobial regimen as a controller.

Bacterial RNA Contributes to the Down-Modulation of MHC-II Expression on Monocytes/Macrophages Diminishing CD4 T Cell Responses.

, the causative agent of brucellosis, displays many resources to evade T cell responses conducive to persist inside the host. Our laboratory has previously showed that infection of human monocytes with down-modulates the IFN-γ-induced MHC-II expression. outer membrane lipoproteins are structural components involved in this phenomenon.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of the management of visceral artery aneurysms.

Background: The evidence supporting management decisions of visceral artery aneurysms (VAAs) is sparse. Practice guidelines are needed to help patients and surgeons choose between endovascular and open surgery approaches.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane databases, and Scopus for studies of patients with VAAs.

Women's Values and Preferences Regarding Osteoporosis Treatments: A Systematic Review.

Background: Several treatments are available to reduce the risk of fragility fractures associated with osteoporosis. The choice of treatment requires knowledge of patients' values and preferences. The aim of the present study was to summarize what is known about the values and preferences relevant to the management of osteoporosis in women.

Efficacy of Pharmacological Therapies for the Prevention of Fractures in Postmenopausal Women: A Network Meta-Analysis.

Background: Osteoporosis and osteopenia are associated with increased fracture incidence in postmenopausal women. We aimed to determine the comparative effectiveness of various available pharmacological therapies.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, ISI Web of Science, and Scopus for randomized controlled trials that enrolled postmenopausal women with primary osteoporosis and evaluated the risk of hip, vertebral, or nonvertebral fractures.

Inhibition of antigen presentation by Brucella: many more than many ways.

Brucella infection activates the immune system and favors the differentiation of CD4 and CD8 T cells. To persist during a long time inside macrophages evading immune surveillance of these T cells the pathogen must exploit different evasion strategies. We review the mechanisms whereby Brucella, through TLR signaling, inhibits MHC class I and II antigen presentation, allowing infected macrophages to become effective niches for Brucella survival.

Non-linearities in the Rod and Cone Photoreceptor Inputs to the Afferent Pupil Light Response.

To assess the nature and extent of non-linear processes in pupil responses using rod- and cone-isolating visual beat stimuli. A four-primary photostimulating method based on the principle of silent substitution was implemented to generate rod or cone isolating and combined sinusoidal stimuli at a single component frequency (1, 4, 5, 8, or 9 Hz) or a 1 Hz beat frequency (frequency pairs: 4 + 5, 8 + 9 Hz). The component frequencies were chosen to minimize the melanopsin photoresponse of intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs) such that the pupil response was primarily driven by outer retinal photoreceptor inputs.

Intraocular Light Scatter in Eyes With the Boston Type 1 Keratoprosthesis.

Purpose: The Boston keratoprosthesis (KPro) is the most commonly used artificial cornea. It has been proven to be successful for severe corneal disease not amenable to keratoplasty. We have observed our patients reporting debilitating glare despite attaining good visual acuities.

Traverses Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells Using Infected Monocytes as a Trojan Horse.

Neurobrucellosis is an inflammatory disease caused by the invasion of spp. to the central nervous system (CNS). The pathogenesis of the disease is not well characterized; however, for to gain access to the brain parenchyma, traversing of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) must take place.