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Cytokine production, prevalence of viral isolation, and surface marker expression of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were analyzed in HIV+ individuals with different patterns of disease progression to establish correlations between these parameters. Thus, mitogen-stimulated in vitro production of interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and interleukin 2 (IL-2) (type 1 cytokines), and of IL-4 and IL-10 (type 2 cytokines) as well as prevalence of viral isolation were evaluated in 26 HIV+ long-term nonprogressors (LTNPs), in 28 HIV+ patients with progressive HIV infection (PI), and in 24 HIV-seronegative controls (HCs). Surface expression of activation and nonactivation markers was also analyzed in a group of these donors. We report that (1) IL-2 and IFN-gamma production is reduced and IL-4 and IL-10 production is increased in PI patients compared to HCs and LTNPs; (2) prevalence of HIV isolation is lower in LTNPs compared to PI, and the primary viral isolates in LTNPs show a slow/low (S/L) phenotype; and (3) the elevated production of type 2 cytokines is paralleled by an increase in CD57+CD4+CD7- lymphocytes. Thus, whereas a high IL-2, high IFN-gamma/low IL-4, low IL-10 cytokine production pattern is present in HC and in LTNP HIV+, progression of HIV infection is associated with a low IL-2 low IFN-gamma/high IL-4, high IL-10 cytokine profile; increased prevalence of HIV isolation; and an augmented percentage of CD57+CD4+CD7- lymphocytes. These findings further confirm that a dominant type 1 cytokine profile together with reduced prevalence of virus isolation is associated with lack of progression in HIV infection.

We herein provide an overview of the most recent multidisciplinary process advances that have occurred in the food industry as a result of changes in consumer lifestyle and expectations. The demand for fresher and more natural foods is driving the development of new technologies that may efficiently operate at room temperature. Moreover, the huge amount of material discarded by the agro-food production chain lays down a significant challenge for emerging technologies that can provide new opportunities by recovering valuable by-products and creating new applications. Aiming to design industrial processes, there is a need for pilot scale plants such as the ‘green technologies development platform’, which was established by the authors. The platform is made up of a series of multifunctional laboratories that are equipped with non-conventional pilot reactors, developed in direct collaboration with partner companies, in order to bridge the enormous gap between academia and industry via the large-scale exploitation of relevant research achievements. Selected key, enabling technologies for process intensification make this scale-up feasible. We make use of two selected examples, the grape and olive production chains, to show how cavitational reactors, which are based on high-intensity ultrasound and rotational hydrodynamic units, can assist food processing and the sustainable recovery of waste, to produce valuable nutraceuticals as well as colouring and food–beverage additives.

No abstract

Overall CT prevalence is currently lower than in other European countries, although it could increase as a result of immigration. Rates of HIV-1 and of NG are higher among homosexual than among heterosexual men.