Data Model for the Comprehensive Management of Biobanks and Its Contribution to Personalized Medicine.

Biobanks are infrastructures essential for research involving multi-disciplinary teams and an increasing number of stakeholders. In the field of personalized medicine, biobanks play a key role through the provision of well-characterized and annotated samples protecting at the same time the right of donors. The Andalusian Public Health System Biobank (SSPA Biobank) has implemented a global information management system made up of different modules that allow for the recording, traceability and monitoring of all the information associated with the biobank operations.

Serum from postmenopausal women treated with a by-product of olive-oil extraction process stimulates osteoblastogenesis and inhibits adipogenesis in human mesenchymal stem-cells (MSC).

Aging may enhance both oxidative stress and bone-marrow mesenchymal stem-cell (MSC) differentiation into adipocytes. That reduces osteoblastogenesis, thus favoring bone-mass loss and fracture, representing an important worldwide health-issue, mainly in countries with aging populations. Intake of antioxidant products may help to retain bone-mass density.

IL28B single-nucleotide polymorphism rs12979860 is associated with spontaneous HIV control in white subjects.

The single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs12979860 near the IL28B gene has been associated with the spontaneous clearance of hepatitis C virus. We sought to determine whether this SNP could be associated with the spontaneous control of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. We studied the prevalence of the IL28B CC genotype among 53 white HIV controllers, compared with the prevalence among 389 HIV-infected noncontrollers.

Role of defective thymic function in onset of ganciclovir-resistant cytomegalovirus after cord blood transplantation.

A case of recurrent cytomegalovirus reactivations in a cytomegalovirus-seropositive woman who received allogeneic cord blood transplantation is described. Thirteen months posttransplantation, her CD3(+) T cell count was extremely low whereas natural killer cells represented 66% of her total lymphocytes. She showed defective thymic function that might contribute to the onset of valganciclovir resistance.

The association between serum levels of potential biomarkers with the presence of factors related to the clinical activity and poor prognosis in spondyloarthritis.

Background: Serum biomarkers traditionally associated with inflammatory activity and a poor prognosis in rheumatic diseases do not show the same relationship in spondyloarthritis.

Objective: To establish the association between serum levels of potential biomarkers with the presence of factors related to clinical activity and poor prognosis in spondyloarthritis.

Methods: Sixty-two patients were included: 13 with reactive arthritis, 19 with ankylosing spondylitis, and 30 with undifferentiated spondyloarthritis.

HIV-1 tropism evolution after short-term maraviroc monotherapy in HIV-1-infected patients.

We analyzed the evolution of viral tropism after 8 days of maraviroc monotherapy, i.e., we used the maraviroc clinical test (MCT), in 21 patients with and 14 without virological response to the drug (MCT(+) and MCT(-) patients, respectively).

T-cell changes after a short-term exposure to maraviroc in HIV-infected patients are related to antiviral activity.

Objectives: Analyze the short-term immunological effect directly attributable to MRV without interference of other drugs.

Methods: MRV group included experienced HIV-infected patients undergoing an 8-day MRV monotherapy. A comparison population included naïve HIV-infected patients starting combined antiretroviral therapy (cART group).

Thymic function failure and C-reactive protein levels are independent predictors of all-cause mortality in healthy elderly humans.

Relationship between thymic function and elderly survival has been suspected, despite the fact that formal proof is elusive due to technical limitations of thymic function-related markers. The newly described sj/β-TREC ratio allows now, by overcoming these limitations, an accurate measurement of thymic output in elderly humans. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the impact of thymic function and inflammatory markers on healthy elderly human survival.

HIV infection-related premature immunosenescence: high rates of immune exhaustion after short time of infection.

Premature immunosenescence has been reported in different HIV scenarios. However, how premature is the HIV-related immunosenescent phenotype is still unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to analyze the immunosenescent status of young viraemic naive HIV-infected individuals, with less than four years from infection.

Long-term immunovirogical effect and tolerability of a maraviroc-containing regimen in routine clinical practice.

Objectives: to analyze the long-term immunovirological effect and tolerability of a maraviroc-containing antiretroviral therapy in viraemic and pretreated HIV-infected patients with a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) coinfection.

Methods: forty-six R5 HIV-infected patients (48% HCV-coinfected) started a maraviroc-containing antiretroviral regimen, including patients with multidrug resistant virus and patients after first virologic failure. A retrospective study was performed, analysing percentage of patients with undetectable viral load, mean CD4+ gain, liver enzymes, clinical events and treatment modification up to week 48.