Improving mental healthcare for the elderly in Belgium.

Introduction: The organisation of mental healthcare for the elderly (MHCE) remains suboptimal.

Objective: To identify specific organisational models that could address the mental healthcare needs of the elderly in community and primary care.

Method: A multi-modal approach, consisting of a literature review, an online survey of Belgian professional stakeholders, and an international comparison.

Burden of frailty in the elderly population: perspectives for a public health challenge.

Frailty is a major health condition associated with ageing. Although the concept is almost universally accepted, its operational definition remains controversial. Anyway, this geriatric condition represents a huge potential public health issue at both the patient and the societal levels because of its multiple clinical, societal consequences and its dynamic nature.

Differential IFN-alpha/beta production suppressing capacities of the leader proteins of mengovirus and foot-and-mouth disease virus.

Picornaviruses encompass a large family of RNA viruses. Some picornaviruses possess a leader (L) protein at the N-terminus of their polyprotein. The L proteins of encephalomyocarditis virus, a cardiovirus, and foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), an aphthovirus, are both dispensable for replication and their major function seems to be the suppression of antiviral host cell responses.

Random mutagenesis defines a domain of Theiler's virus leader protein that is essential for antagonism of nucleocytoplasmic trafficking and cytokine gene expression.

The leader protein of cardioviruses, Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) and encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV), is a multifunctional protein known to antagonize type I interferon expression and to interfere with nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of host proteins and mRNA. This protein plays an important role in the capacity of TMEV to establish persistent infection of the central nervous system. Mutant forms of the TMEV leader protein were generated by random mutagenesis and selected after retroviral transduction on the basis of the loss of the highly toxic nature of this protein.

Inhibition of mRNA export and dimerization of interferon regulatory factor 3 by Theiler's virus leader protein.

Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV or Theiler's virus) is a neurotropic picornavirus that can persist lifelong in the central nervous system of infected mice, causing a chronic inflammatory demyelinating disease. The leader (L) protein of the virus is an important determinant of viral persistence and has been shown to inhibit transcription of type I interferon (IFN) genes and to cause nucleocytoplasmic redistribution of host proteins. In this study, it was shown that expression of the L protein shuts off synthesis of the reporter proteins green fluorescent protein and firefly luciferase, suggesting that it induces a global shut-off of host protein expression.

The mengovirus leader protein blocks interferon-alpha/beta gene transcription and inhibits activation of interferon regulatory factor 3.

Viral infection of mammalian cells triggers the synthesis and secretion of type I interferons (i.e. IFN-alpha/beta), which induce the transcription of genes that cause cells to adopt an antiviral state.

Type I interferon response in the central nervous system.

This review is dedicated to the influence of type I IFNs (also called IFN-alpha/beta) in the central nervous system (CNS). Studies in mice with type I IFN receptor or IFN-beta gene deficiency have highlighted the importance of the type I IFN system against CNS viral infections and non-viral autoimmune disorders. Direct antiviral effects of type I IFNs appear to be crucial in limiting early spread of a number of viruses in CNS tissues.