Núria Margall

Early Detection of Toxoplasma Infection by Molecular Monitoring of Toxoplasma gondii in Peripheral Blood Samples after Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation

BACKGROUND Isolated case reports have shown that recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplants (HSCTs) who develop toxoplasmosis may have circulating Toxoplasma gondii DNA in peripheral blood before the onset of clinical symptoms. METHODS We prospectively studied 106 T. gondii-seropositive adult recipients of HSCTs for the incidence of reactivation of toxoplasmosis in the first 6 months after transplantation. Toxoplasmosis infection (TI) was defined by a positive result of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of peripheral blood specimens, whereas toxoplasmosis disease (TD) was defined as an invasive infection. RESULTS The incidence of TI was 16% (95% confidence interval [CI], 8%-21%), whereas the incidence of TD was 6% (95% CI, 1%-10%). In the 16 patients with TI, the incidence of disease was 38%, whereas it was 0% in patients without TI (P<.0001). In most patients, the onset of TD or treatment for TI was preceded by an increase in the parasite load in peripheral blood samples, as determined by quantitative PCR. CONCLUSIONS Toxoplasmosis occurs more commonly after HSCT than has previously been suggested, and routine PCR testing of peripheral blood specimens may be an appropriate tool for guiding preemptive therapy in patients at very high risk of developing invasive disease.

Smoking as a major risk factor for cervical cancer and pre-cancer: Results from the EPIC cohort

A total of 308,036 women were selected from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study to evaluate the association between tobacco smoking and the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia of grade 3 (CIN3)/carcinoma in situ (CIS) and invasive cervical cancer (ICC). At baseline, participants completed a questionnaire and provided blood samples. During a mean follow‐up time of 9 years, 261 ICC cases and 804 CIN3/CIS cases were reported. In a nested case–control study, the baseline sera from 609 cases and 1,218 matched controls were tested for L1 antibodies against HPV types 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 45, 52, 58, and antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), and Human Herpes Virus 2 (HHV‐2). Cervical samples were not available for HPV‐DNA analysis in this study. Multivariate analyses were used to estimate associations between smoking and risk of CIN3/CIS and ICC in the cohort and the case–control studies. In the cohort analyses smoking status, duration and intensity showed a two‐fold increased risk of CIN3/CIS and ICC, while time since quitting was associated with a two‐fold reduced risk. In the nested case–control study, consistent associations were observed after adjustment for HPV, CT and HHV‐2 serostatus, in both HPV seronegative and seropositive women. Results from this large prospective study confirm the role of tobacco smoking as an important risk factor for both CIN3/CIS and ICC, even after taking into account HPV exposure as determined by HPV serology. The strong beneficial effect of quitting smoking is an important finding that will further support public health policies for smoking cessation.

The Influence of Hormonal Factors on the Risk of Developing Cervical Cancer and Pre- Cancer: Results from the EPIC Cohort

Background In addition to HPV, high parity and hormonal contraceptives have been associated with cervical cancer (CC). However, most of the evidence comes from retrospective case-control studies. The aim of this study is to prospectively evaluate associations between hormonal factors and risk of developing cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3)/carcinoma in situ (CIS) and invasive cervical cancer (ICC). Methods and Findings We followed a cohort of 308,036 women recruited in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) Study. At enrollment, participants completed a questionnaire and provided serum. After a 9-year median follow-up, 261 ICC and 804 CIN3/CIS cases were reported. In a nested case-control study, the sera from 609 cases and 1,218 matched controls were tested for L1 antibodies against HPV types 11,16,18,31,33,35,45,52,58, and antibodies against Chlamydia trachomatis and Human herpesvirus 2. Multivariate analyses were performed to estimate hazard ratios (HR), odds ratios (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). The cohort analysis showed that number of full-term pregnancies was positively associated with CIN3/CIS risk (p-trend = 0.03). Duration of oral contraceptives use was associated with a significantly increased risk of both CIN3/CIS and ICC (HR = 1.6 and HR = 1.8 respectively for ≥15 years versus never use). Ever use of menopausal hormone therapy was associated with a reduced risk of ICC (HR = 0.5, 95%CI: 0.4–0.8). A non-significant reduced risk of ICC with ever use of intrauterine devices (IUD) was found in the nested case-control analysis (OR = 0.6). Analyses restricted to all cases and HPV seropositive controls yielded similar results, revealing a significant inverse association with IUD for combined CIN3/CIS and ICC (OR = 0.7). Conclusions Even though HPV is the necessary cause of CC, our results suggest that several hormonal factors are risk factors for cervical carcinogenesis. Adherence to current cervical cancer screening guidelines should minimize the increased risk of CC associated with these hormonal risk factors.

Prospective seroepidemiologic study on the role of Human Papillomavirus and other infections in cervical carcinogenesis: Evidence from the EPIC cohort

To evaluate prospectively the association between serological markers of selected infections, including HPV, and risk of developing cervical cancer (CC) and precancer, we performed a nested case–control study within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study that included 184 cases of invasive CC (ICC), 425 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 3 or carcinoma in situ (CIS), and 1,218 matched control women. At enrollment participants completed lifestyle questionnaires and provided sera. Subjects were followed‐up for a median of 9 years. Immunoassays were used to detect serum antibodies to Human Herpes Virus 2 (HHV‐2), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Chlamydia pneumoniae, L1 proteins of mucosal and cutaneous HPV types, E6/E7 proteins of HPV16/18, as well as to four polyomaviruses. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) [and 95% confidence intervals (CI)] for CIN3/CIS and ICC risk were respectively: 1.6 (1.2–2.0) and 1.8 (1.1–2.7) for L1 seropositivity to any mucosal HPV type, 1.0 (0.4–2.4) and 7.4 (2.8–19.7) for E6 seropositivity to HPV16/18, 1.3 (0.9–1.9) and 2.3 (1.3–4.1) for CT seropositivity, and 1.4 (1.0–2.0) and 1.5 (0.9–2.6) for HHV‐2 seropositivity. The highest OR for ICC was observed for HPV16 E6 seropositivity [OR = 10.2 (3.3–31.1)]. Increasing number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was associated with increasing risk. Non‐STIs were not associated with CC risk. In conclusion, this large prospective study confirms the important role of HPV and a possible contribution of CT and HHV‐2 in cervical carcinogenesis. It further identifies HPV16 E6 seropositivity as the strongest marker to predict ICC well before disease development.

Combining cell lines to optimize isolation of human enterovirus from clinical specimens: Report of 25 years of experience†

Cell culture is still the gold standard for the diagnosis of human enteroviruses (HEVs) although molecular techniques are required for detection of some serotypes. Due to the diversity of HEVs, a single cell line is not susceptible to all serotypes, and several lines are required to optimize the isolation of HEVs. In this study, the results of HEV isolation during the last 25 years are reported. A total of 1,192 HEVs were isolated and isolation rates varied depending on the cell line used. MRC5 cells yielded the best results (70.7%), followed by A549 cells (52.6%), RD cells (37.5%), and HEp‐2 cells (29.7%). A total of 521 HEVs were characterized, and HEV‐B was the most frequent species (81%). Polioviruses (PV) and HEV‐A were isolated less frequently (17% and 1%, respectively). None of the cell lines detected all the enteroviruses. MRC5 cells were the most susceptible for isolation of echoviruses (85.7%) and PVs (85.4%), whereas HEp2 was the most susceptible for Coxsackieviruses B (82.6%). Some serotypes were isolated in one cell line only. 40.5% of echoviruses were isolated in MRC5 cells whereas 42.3% and 23.9% of Coxsackieviruses B were isolated in RD cells and HEp2 cells, respectively. Although A549 cells did not achieve the best performance for any enterovirus serotypes, they isolated 52.6% of the total HEVs. In view of these results, MRC5 cells, A549 cells, and RD cells should be combined to optimize isolation of HEVs. J. Med. Virol. 85:116–120, 2012.

Escherichia coli enterohemorrágica

Se describen los grupos de Escherichia coli enteropatogena, con especial atencion a EC. enterohemorragica. Algunos serotipos de E. Coli verotoxigenica son capaces de producir enteritis hemorragica, que puede complicarse con el sindrome hemolitico uremico. Esta complicacion, se da en particular en los ninos y presenta una elevada letalidad. La transmision a traves de los alimentos y la capacidad de producir brotes epidemicos junto a la gravedad de las complicaciones de las enteritis confieren a este microorganismo una gran importancia en salud publica. Se revisa la epidemiologia del microorganismo en nuestro pais.

Antiviral Susceptibility of Herpes Simplex Viruses and Its Clinical Correlates: A Single Center's Experience

The in vitro susceptibility to acyclovir of 204 herpes simplex virus isolates from 165 immunocompromised patients treated at our hospital was determined by the cytopathic effect reduction assay. Approximately 95% of herpes simplex virus 1 and 73% of herpes simplex virus 2 isolates were inhibited by acyclovir at concentrations of <2 microgram/mL. From 8 patients (5%), an isolate with low susceptibility to acyclovir (50% inhibitory dose, >3 microgram/mL) was recovered. Medical records of 83 patients were reviewed. Lesions resolved in most of the patients, independent of treatment. Treatment failures were not always associated with isolation of an in vitro-resistant virus. On the contrary, when a virus with low susceptibility to acyclovir was isolated, resolution of the lesion was the rule. In 9 of 10 patients with subsequent recurrent episodes of disease, the susceptibility of the viruses isolated was similar to that of the first episode. Routine susceptibility testing in our geographic area is not encouraged because of the low incidence of acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex viruses.

Erratum: The influence of hormonal factors on the risk of developing cervical cancer and pre-cancer: Results from the EPIC cohort (PLoS ONE (2016) 11:1 (e0147029) DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0147029)

Roura, Esther; Travier, Noémie; Waterboer, Tim; de Sanjosé, Silvia; Bosch, F Xavier; Pawlita, Michael; Pala, Valeria; Weiderpass, Elisabete; Margall, Núria; Dillner, Joakim; Gram, Inger T; Tjønneland, Anne; Munk, Christian; Palli, Domenico; Khaw, Kay-Tee; Overvad, Kim; ClavelChapelon, Françoise; Mesrine, Sylvie; Fournier, Agnès; Fortner, Renée T; Ose, Jennifer; Steffen, Annika; Trichopoulou, Antonia; Lagiou, Pagona; Orfanos, Philippos; Masala, Giovanna; Tumino, Rosario; Sacerdote, Carlotta; Polidoro, Silvia; Mattiello, Amalia; Lund, Eiliv; Peeters, Petra H; Bueno-de-Mesquita, H B As; Quirós, J Ramón; Sánchez, María-José; Navarro, Carmen; Barricarte, Aurelio; Larrañaga, Nerea; Ekström, Johanna; Lindquist, David; Idahl, Annika; Travis, Ruth C; Merritt, Melissa A; Gunter, Marc J; Rinaldi, Sabina; Tommasino, Massimo; Franceschi, Silvia; Riboli, Elio; Castellsagué, Xavier

Diagnóstico de la enfermedad meningocócica por PCR

La meningitis bacteriana es una enfermedad grave del sistema nervioso central (SNC), causada por un conjunto de microorganismos cuya frecuencia varia segun diversos factores, entre los que destacan la edad y localizacion geografica. En nuestro ambito, el agente causal mas frecuente es Neisseria meningitidis, a continuacion Streptococcus pneumoniae y, con una incidencia mucho mas reducida, Streptococcus agalactiae, Haemophilus influenzae, Escherichia coli y Listeria monocytogenes entre otros. Los actuales metodos de diagnostico microbiologico de las meningitis bacterianas son poco sensibles y/o especificos. En los ultimos anos se han puesto a punto tecnicas de diagnostico molecular, como la reaccion en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR ), con el fin de detectar de forma rapida la presencia de bacterias en diferentes tipos de muestras. En el caso de las meningitis bacterianas se han realizado estudios, en muestras de liquido cefalorraquideo (LCR) y sangre, por la tecnica de PCR, para la deteccion de un unico agente causal como H.influenzae, N.meningitidis o S.pneumoniae respectivamente. Para el analisis de las meningitis meningococicas en muestras de LCR, se han amplificado secuencias especificas de N.meningitidis presentes en el gen de la dihidropteroato sintasa (dhps) o la secuencia de insercion IS1106, obteniendose resultados de sensibilidad adecuados de hasta cinco unidades formadoras de colonias

Prospective seroepidemiologic study on the role of Human Papillomavirus and other infections in cervical carcinogenesis

To evaluate prospectively the association between serological markers of selected infections, including HPV, and risk of developing cervical cancer (CC) and precancer, we performed a nested case–control study within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study that included 184 cases of invasive CC (ICC), 425 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 3 or carcinoma in situ (CIS), and 1,218 matched control women. At enrollment participants completed lifestyle questionnaires and provided sera. Subjects were followed‐up for a median of 9 years. Immunoassays were used to detect serum antibodies to Human Herpes Virus 2 (HHV‐2), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Chlamydia pneumoniae, L1 proteins of mucosal and cutaneous HPV types, E6/E7 proteins of HPV16/18, as well as to four polyomaviruses. Adjusted odds ratios (OR) [and 95% confidence intervals (CI)] for CIN3/CIS and ICC risk were respectively: 1.6 (1.2–2.0) and 1.8 (1.1–2.7) for L1 seropositivity to any mucosal HPV type, 1.0 (0.4–2.4) and 7.4 (2.8–19.7) for E6 seropositivity to HPV16/18, 1.3 (0.9–1.9) and 2.3 (1.3–4.1) for CT seropositivity, and 1.4 (1.0–2.0) and 1.5 (0.9–2.6) for HHV‐2 seropositivity. The highest OR for ICC was observed for HPV16 E6 seropositivity [OR = 10.2 (3.3–31.1)]. Increasing number of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) was associated with increasing risk. Non‐STIs were not associated with CC risk. In conclusion, this large prospective study confirms the important role of HPV and a possible contribution of CT and HHV‐2 in cervical carcinogenesis. It further identifies HPV16 E6 seropositivity as the strongest marker to predict ICC well before disease development.