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Jorge Dreyse,1 Orlando Díaz,1 Paula Repetto,2 Arturo Morales,1 Fernando Saldías,1 Carmen Lisboa11Department of Pulmonary Diseases, School of Medicine, 2School of Psychology, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, ChileBackground: In addition to smoking, acute exacerbations are considered to be a contributing factor to progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, these findings come from studies including active smokers, while results in ex-smokers are scarce and contradictory. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if frequent acute moderate exacerbations are associated with an accelerated decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and impairment of functional and clinical outcomes in ex-smoking COPD patients.Methods: A cohort of 100 ex-smoking patients recruited for a 2-year follow-up study was evaluated at inclusion and at 6-monthly scheduled visits while in a stable condition. Evaluation included anthropometry, spirometry, inspiratory capacity, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation, severity of dyspnea, a 6-minute walking test, BODE (Body mass index, airflow Obstruction, Dyspnea, Exercise performance) index, and quality of life (St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire and Chronic Respiratory Disease Questionnaire). Severity of exacerbation was graded as moderate or severe according to health care utilization. Patients were classified as infrequent exacerbators if they had no or one acute exacerbation/year and frequent exacerbators if they had two or more acute exacerbations/year. Random effects modeling, within hierarchical linear modeling, was used for analysis.Results: During follow-up, 419 (96% moderate) acute exacerbations were registered. At baseline, frequent exacerbators had more severe disease than infrequent exacerbators according to their FEV1 and BODE index, and also showed greater impairment in inspiratory capacity, forced vital capacity, peripheral capillary oxygen saturation, 6-minute walking test, and quality of life. However, no significant difference in FEV1 decline over time was found between the two groups (54.7±13 mL/year versus 85.4±15.9 mL/year in frequent exacerbators and infrequent exacerbators, respectively). This was also the case for all other measurements.Conclusion: Our results suggest that frequent moderate exacerbations do not contribute to accelerated clinical and functional decline in COPD patients who are ex-smokers.Keywords: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, acute exacerbations, disease progression, FEV1, BODE index, health status

Focal epithelial hyperplasia is a rare, benign, and asymptomatic disorder, characterized by soft papules on the oral cavity. It is primarily associated with human papillomavirus genotypes 13 and 32. It most commonly affects children and young adults. When it affects young adults, it is important to differentiate it from oral condyloma acuminata. Its diagnosis may be made clinically, but histologic examination and PCR genotyping are often useful. Treatment is not always mandatory.

Background: Penile cancer is rising in most European countries. Several risk factors have been identified, namely human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. However, the exact role of HPV in penile cancer carcinogenesis is still unknown. Clarifying the contribution of HPV in penile cancer is crucial as it may improve prevention and treatment strategies. Objective: To describe the characteristics of patients with penile cancer and penile intraepithelial neoplasia (PeIN), evaluate the prevalence of HPV‐DNA in tumour tissue and identify differences between patients with and without HPV‐DNA. Methods: A retrospective observational study including patients with histological diagnosis of penile squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or PeIN between 2012 and 2021 in a university hospital was carried out. HPV analysis was performed using Anyplex™ II HPV28 Detection that detects and identifies 28 HPV types. (sensitivity of 95.9%). Results: A total of 25 patients were included. Most of the tumours identified were invasive SCC (n = 11) and SCC in situ (PeIN 3) (n = 8). PeIN1/2 was found in the remaining six patients. HPV‐DNA was tested in all tissue specimens and was detected in 18 of them. High risk HPV DNA was identified in all positive HPV samples, except one. HPV types included in the nonavalent HPV vaccine were identified in 16 of the 18 samples positive for HPV‐DNA. Stratifying patients according to HPV‐DNA detection, we found that patients with HPV‐DNA were younger (57.5 years vs. 70 years, p = 0.047), less likely to have phimosis (5.8% vs. 42.9%, p = 0.022) and more likely to have PeIN lesions than invasive SCC (85.7% vs. 27.8%, p = 0.025). Conclusion: This study shows a prevalence of HPV‐DNA in penile SCC and premalignant lesions of 45.5% and 92.9%, respectively. Identifying HPV involvement in SCC and PeIN pathology has the potential to guide treatment and enhance follow‐up strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Byline: A. Nogueira, C. Lisboa, C. Eloy, A. Mota, F. Azevedo A full-term female newborn, with no history of consanguinity in the parents, presented at birth with generalized vesicles, pustules [...]

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Background Anogenital warts ( AGW) are one of the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease worldwide. Approximately, 90% of AGWs are related to infection by HPV 6 and 11. However, AGW have been associated with infection by multiple genotypes, including HR- HPV, which may be associated with a long-term increased risk of anogenital cancer. Objective This observational prospective epidemiological study aims to estimate the type-specific HPV distribution on incident AGWs in both genders, and additionally to assess the frequency of anal and oral HPV infection in patients with AGWs. Methods According to defined inclusion criteria, individuals with incident clinical diagnosis of AGWs were recruited in seven Portuguese Centres. HPV genotyping was performed using CLART HPV2 test. Results Between November 2012 and March 2014, 162 women and 400 men (mean age: 34 years), were enrolled. After exclusion of patients with unqualified AGW samples, HPV was detected in 95.3% (505/530) AGW patients, 96.8% males and 91.6% females. Among men who have sex with men, HPV was detected in 98.5% patients. HPV 6 and/or HPV 11 were the most frequent genotypes (87.5%), and HPV 16 the most common HR- HPV (9.2%). Infection with HPV 6/11 and any HR- HPV was observed in 35.8% patients. HPV prevalence on the anal canal and oral mucosa was 83.1% and 15.0%, respectively. Conclusion Incident AGWs were more frequent in males than in females. LR- HPVs were more common among males and HR- HPVs among females. HPV 6 and 11 were the most common genotypes on both genders. However, there was also a high prevalence of HR- HPVs, particularly of HPV 16. AGWs represent a clinical marker of both anal and oral HPV infections, including anal HR- HPV infections in women and men who have sex with men. The HERCOLES study could be a clue to further investigations concerning HPV burden of disease by gender and sexual behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of microalgae is of great interest due to the high yields and rapid growth rates that can be produced. The fatty acids from microalgal biomass may have therapeutic effects for humans and can be used for biodiesel production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fatty acid profile of microalgae grown in a heterotrophic mode. Cultures that were carried out with BG11 medium supplemented with 10 g.L-1 of glucose produced the highest cellular concentrations (1.62; 1.53; 1.14 g.L-1) for Chlorella sp., C. homosphaera and C. minutissima, respectively, while the assays without glucose remained at a cellular concentration equal to that at the beginning of the experiments (0.15 g.L-1). The microalga C. homosphaera grown in BG11 supplemented with 10 g.L-1 of glucose had the highest concentration of lipids in dry biomass (22.4% w/w). The maximum concentration of total PUFA (35.25% w/w) and essential fatty acids (35.05% w/w) was found in C. homosphaera in Basal medium without glucose, which is the most suitable method for producing PUFAs and essential fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]