SEM-2/SoxC regulates multiple aspects of postembryonic mesoderm development.

Development of multicellular organisms requires well-orchestrated interplay between cell-intrinsic transcription factors and cell-cell signaling. One set of highly conserved transcription factors that plays diverse roles in development is the SoxC group. contains a sole SoxC protein, SEM-2.

Placental expanded mesenchymal-like cells (PLX-R18) for poor graft function after hematopoietic cell transplantation: A phase I study.

Persistent cytopenia in the post-hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) setting can occur despite adequate engraftment of donor cells. PLX-R18, a placental-derived mesenchymal-like cell product, is expanded ex vivo in a 3-dimensional environment. PLX-R18 cells secrete a large array of hematopoietic factors, which promote regeneration, maturation, and differentiation of hematopoietic cells and stimulate their migration to peripheral blood.

Identification of potential invasive alien species in Spain through horizon scanning.

Invasive alien species have widespread impacts on native biodiversity and ecosystem services. Since the number of introductions worldwide is continuously rising, it is essential to prevent the entry, establishment and spread of new alien species through a systematic examination of future potential threats. Applying a three-step horizon scanning consensus method, we evaluated non-established alien species that could potentially arrive, establish and cause major ecological impact in Spain within the next 10 years.

Phenotypic and Genotypic Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Isolates from Patients with Persistent or Clinical Treatment Failure in Spain.

The aim of this multicentre project (seven hospitals across the Spanish National Health Service) was to study the phenotypic and genotypic susceptibility of to the main antimicrobials used (macrolides, doxycycline, and quinolones) in isolates from patients with clinical treatment failure in whom reinfection had been ruled out. During 2018-2019, 73 clinical isolates were selected. Sixty-nine clinical specimens were inoculated onto confluent McCoy cell monolayers for phenotypic susceptibility testing.

Genetic Characterization of Non- Indicates Distinct Infection Transmission Networks in Spain.

infection is an important public health problem. Our objective was to assess the dynamics of the transmission of this infection, analysing the distribution of circulating genotypes and multilocus sequence types of in Spain as a function of clinical and epidemiological variables. During 2018 and 2019, we genetically characterized in tertiary hospitals in six areas in Spain (Asturias, Barcelona, Gipuzkoa, Mallorca, Seville and Zaragoza), with a catchment population of 3.

Increases in the Macrolide Resistance of and the Emergence of the A2058T Mutation in the 23S rRNA Gene: Clonal Spread?

The management of Mycoplasma genitalium sexually transmitted infection (STI) is hindered by increasing resistance to the recommended antibiotics, macrolides and quinolones, worldwide. In Gipuzkoa (Basque Country, Spain), macrolide and quinolone resistance rates in 2014−2018 were reported as <20% and <10%, respectively. The aims of this study were to compare these rates with those in 2019−2021 and analyse the genetic and epidemiological features of the strains and cases associated with striking changes in the resistance trends.

An SDN-Based Solution for Horizontal Auto-Scaling and Load Balancing of Transparent VNF Clusters.

This paper studies the problem of the dynamic scaling and load balancing of transparent virtualized network functions (VNFs). It analyzes different particularities of this problem, such as loop avoidance when performing scaling-out actions, and bidirectional flow affinity. To address this problem, a software-defined networking (SDN)-based solution is implemented consisting of two SDN controllers and two OpenFlow switches (OFSs).

Re-emergence of enterovirus D68 in Europe after easing the COVID-19 lockdown, September 2021.

We report a rapid increase in enterovirus D68 (EV-D68) infections, with 139 cases reported from eight European countries between 31 July and 14 October 2021. This upsurge is in line with the seasonality of EV-D68 and was presumably stimulated by the widespread reopening after COVID-19 lockdown. Most cases were identified in September, but more are to be expected in the coming months.

O group is a protective factor for COVID19 in Basque population.

ABO blood groups have recently been related to COVID19 infection. In the present work, we performed this analysis using data from 412 COVID19 patients and 17796 blood donors, all of them from Gipuzkoa, a region in Northern Spain. The results obtained confirmed this relation, in addition to showing a clear importance of group O as a protective factor in COVID19 disease, with an OR = 0.

Robotic Revisional Experience. Single Centre Prospective Cohort Study and Review of the Literature.

Robotic bariatric surgery (RBS) has increased in recent years. Many doubts continue to exist regarding its utility in terms of postoperative complications, costs and technical aspects. RBS has increased its number and shows a more technical challenge associated with more post-operative complications compared to primary bariatric surgery.

Molecular Typing of -Positive Specimens Discriminates between Persistent and Recurrent Infections in Cases of Treatment Failure and Supports Contact Tracing.

causes a sexually transmitted infection that sometimes persists or recurs despite adequate antibiotic treatment. Between 2014 and 2018, molecular typing was applied to 75 -positive samples from 48 patients with repeated infection and/or couples/groups of other infected sexual contacts. MG191 adhesin, MG309 lipoprotein, and the rRNA operon were amplified, sequenced, and typed using phylogenetic, variable number tandem repeat, and single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis, respectively.

Unveiling the multi-step solubilization mechanism of sub-micron size vesicles by detergents.

The solubilization of membranes by detergents is critical for many technological applications and has become widely used in biochemistry research to induce cell rupture, extract cell constituents, and to purify, reconstitute and crystallize membrane proteins. The thermodynamic details of solubilization have been extensively investigated, but the kinetic aspects remain poorly understood. Here we used a combination of single-vesicle Förster resonance energy transfer (svFRET), fluorescence correlation spectroscopy and quartz-crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring to access the real-time kinetics and elementary solubilization steps of sub-micron sized vesicles, which are inaccessible by conventional diffraction-limited optical methods.

Mild to moderate hypersensitivity reactions to beta-lactams in children: a single-centre retrospective review.

Objective: Beta-lactam (BL) antibiotics are the most reported drugs in hypersensitivity reactions in children. More than 90% of these children tolerate the suspected drug after diagnostic work-up. Skin tests (STs) show low sensitivity.

Daratumumab plus carfilzomib and dexamethasone in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

Patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) have limited treatment options and poor survival outcomes. The increasing adoption of lenalidomide-based therapy for frontline treatment of multiple myeloma has resulted in a need for effective regimens for lenalidomide-refractory patients. This phase 1b study evaluated daratumumab plus carfilzomib and dexamethasone (D-Kd) in patients with RRMM after 1 to 3 prior lines of therapy, including bortezomib and an immunomodulatory drug; lenalidomide-refractory patients were eligible.

Infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis (including lymphogranuloma venereum) and Mycoplasma genitalium.

Sexually transmitted infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, including lymphogranuloma venereum and Mycoplasma genitalium have increased in last decade. This epidemiological scenario presents new challenges in order to improve and strengthen our control and prevention strategies. The routine clinical diagnosis of urethritis and cervicitis must be combined with the active search for the causal agent in men with symptoms of dysuria or proctitis, and in women with pelvic inflammatory disease.

Guided antibiotic therapy for Mycoplasma genitalium infections: Analysis of mutations associated with resistance to macrolides and fluoroquinolones.

Introduction: The objective of this study was to analyse the susceptibility of Mycoplasma genitalium to macrolides and fluoroquinolones using molecular techniques.

Methods: Susceptibility to macrolides was tested (Gipuzkoa, 2014-2017) by a rapid probe-based real-time polymerase chain reaction assay (23S rRNA gene) and to fluoroquinolones by sequencing the parC and gyrA genes.

Results: Mutations associated with macrolide resistance were detected in 43/263 (16.

Chlamydia trachomatis genotypes A and B from urogenital specimens of patients in Spain: molecular characterization.

Objectives: Chlamydia trachomatis ompA genotypes A and B, primarily associated with trachoma, were unexpectedly detected in urogenital samples of patients in Spain, a trachoma-free country. In this study, we aimed to explain this finding using analysis of organotropism-related genes and a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) technique.

Methods: C.

Incidence of varicella zoster virus infections of the central nervous system in the elderly: a large tertiary hospital-based series (2007-2014).

The aim of the study was to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the central nervous system (CNS) infection by varicella zoster virus (VZV) in patients older than 65 years in a tertiary community hospital. We retrospectively analysed the results of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing in patients older than 65 years between 2007 and 2014 with clinically suspected VZV infection with CNS involvement. Patients whose CSF samples were positive for VZV DNA were included, as were those with negative results who simultaneously presented herpes zoster and CSF or magnetic resonance imaging findings suggestive of CNS infection, and in whom other possible aetiologies had been ruled out.

Gustatory and general visceral centers and their connections in the brain of adult zebrafish: a carbocyanine dye tract-tracing study.

The central connections of the gustatory/general visceral system of the adult zebrafish (Danio rerio) were examined by means of carbocyanine dye tracing. Main primary gustatory centers (facial and vagal lobes) received sensory projections from the facial and vagal nerves, respectively. The vagal nerve also projects to the commissural nucleus of Cajal, a general visceral sensory center.

Prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in parturient women in Gipuzkoa, Northern Spain.

The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in Southern Europe is poorly understood and its identification is essential for the design of appropriate prevention policies. The prevalence of C. trachomatis in 2011-2014 was determined through polymerase chain reaction in urine samples from 11,687 unselected parturient women from the Basque Country, Spain (San Sebastián area).