The application of Pulsed electric field (PEF) is a method for liquid treatment in the food industry and for water decontamination. To process water and study this phenomenon, we have developed a ...pulsed high voltage generator. The parent project for this generator is to ascertain the benefits of nanosecond generators over other methods against E. coli and Legionella in water.
Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a member of endothelin peptide family is released by many different tissues including uterine smooth muscle. ET-1 acts through ETA and ETB receptors and is implicated in a wide ...range of biological and pathological functions that explain the great attention of the pharmacological industry for ET-1 receptors as potential therapeutic targets in vascular pathologies and cancers. It is now well established that ET-1 is also able to regulate myometrial functions. In the present review, we focused on ET axis and related signaling pathways involved in the regulation of myometrial contraction, as well as cell proliferation and survival. Such ET-1-mediated cellular functions play a critical role in normal pregnancy, preterm birth and uterine leiomyoma.
Display omitted
We have developed injectable microparticles functionalized with fucoidan, in which sulfated groups mimic the anchor sites of P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1), one of the ...principal receptors supporting leukocyte adhesion. These targeted microparticles were combined with a fluorescent dye and a T2∗ magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agent, and then tracked in vivo with small animal imaging methods. Microparticles of 2.5μm were obtained by a water-in-oil emulsification combined with a cross-linking process of polysaccharide dextran, fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran, pullulan and fucoidan mixed with ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxide. Fluorescent intravital microscopy observation revealed dynamic adsorption and a leukocyte-like behaviour of fucoidan-functionalized microparticles on a calcium ionophore induced an activated endothelial layer of a mouse mesentery vessel. We observed 20times more adherent microparticles on the activated endothelium area after the injection of functionalized microparticles compared to non-functionalized microparticles (197±11 vs. 10±2). This imaging tool was then applied to rats presenting an elastase perfusion model of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and 7.4T in vivo MRI was performed. Visual analysis of T2∗-weighted MR images showed a significant contrast enhancement on the inner wall of the aneurysm from 30min to 2h after the injection. Histological analysis of AAA cryosections revealed microparticles localized inside the aneurysm wall, in the same areas in which immunostaining shows P-selectin expression. The developed leukocyte mimetic imaging tool could therefore be relevant for molecular imaging of vascular diseases and for monitoring biologically active areas prone to rupture in AAA.
Central illustration. Evolution of acute procedural success rates. Partial acute procedural success was defined as termination of clinical arrhythmia with subsequent verification of bidirectional ...conduction block with additional arrhythmias induced not targeted or not successfully targeted or absence of final programmed stimulation performance. Complete acute procedural success was defined as termination of clinical arrhythmia(s) with subsequent verification of bidirectional conduction block and non-inducibility of other arrhythmias or successful ablation of all secondary arrhythmias induced (except inducible atrial fibrillation AF). Final programmed stimulation performance was not required to consider complete acute procedural success when the targeted arrhythmia was AF, premature ventricular contraction or atrioventricular node. The red line represents the rate of final programmed stimulation. FAT: focal atrial tachycardia; IART: intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia. ▪
•The number of catheter ablations in patients with ACHD is notably increasing.•New mapping/ablative technologies are yielding significant improvement in outcomes.•Catheter ablation appears to be a safe and effective first-line therapy in ACHD.
With the growing adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) population, the number of catheter ablation procedures is expected to dramatically increase. Data reporting experience and evolution of catheter ablation in patients with ACHD, over a significant period of time, remain scarce.
We aimed to describe temporal trends in volume and outcomes of catheter ablation in patients with ACHD.
This was a retrospective observational study including all consecutive patients with ACHD undergoing attempted catheter ablation in a large tertiary referral centre over a 15-year period. Acute procedural success rate and freedom from recurrence at 12 and 24 months were analysed.
From November 2004 to November 2019, 302 catheter ablations were performed in 221 patients with ACHD (mean age 43.6±15.0 years; 58.9% male sex). The annual number of catheter ablations increased progressively from four to 60 cases per year (P<0.001). Intra-atrial reentrant tachycardia/focal atrial tachycardia was the most common arrhythmia (n=217, 71.9%). Over the study period, acute procedural success rate increased from 45.0% to 93.4% (P<0.001). Use of irrigated catheters (odds ratio OR 4.03, 95% confidence interval CI 1.86–8.55), a three-dimensional mapping system (OR 3.70, 95% CI 1.72–7.74), contact force catheters (OR 3.60, 95% CI 1.81–7.38) and high-density mapping (OR 3.69, 95% CI 1.82–8.14) were associated with acute procedural success. The rate of freedom from any recurrence at 12 months increased from 29.4% to 66.2% (P=0.001). Seven (2.3%) non-fatal complications occurred.
The number of catheter ablation procedures in patients with ACHD has increased considerably over the past 15 years. Growing experience and advances in ablative technologies appear to be associated with a significant improvement in acute and mid-term outcomes.
Devant l’augmentation de la population d’adultes avec une cardiopathie congénitale (ACHD), une augmentation importante du nombre d’ablations par cathéter est attendue. Les données sur l’évolution des procédures d’ablation chez les ACHD, sur une large période de temps, sont rares.
L’objectif de cette étude était de décrire les tendances temporelles en volume et résultats des ablations par cathéters dans les ACHD.
Étude rétrospective observationnelle incluant tous les patients ACHD consécutifs avec tentative d’ablation par cathéter dans un centre tertiaire pendant une période de 15 ans. Les taux de succès aigus et la survie sans récidive à 12 et 24 mois étaient analysés.
De novembre 2004 à novembre 2019, 302 ablations par cathéter ont été réalisées chez 221 patients ACHD (43,6±15,0 ans; 58,9 % d’hommes). Le nombre annuel d’ablations a augmenté progressivement de 4 à 60 cas par an (p<0,001). Les arythmies atriales organisées (réentrantes ou focales) étaient l’arythmie la plus fréquente (n=217; 71,9 %). Au cours de l’étude, le taux de succès aigu augmentait de 45,0 % à 93,4 % (p<0,001). L’utilisation de cathéters irrigués (OR 4,03, IC95 % 1,86–8,55), de système de mapping 3D (OR 3,70, IC95 % 1,72–7,74), de cathéters contact (OR 3,60, IC95 % 1,81–7,38) et de mapping haute densité (OR 3,69, IC95 % 1,82–8,14) étaient associés avec le succès aigu. Le taux de survie sans récidive à 12 mois augmentait de 29,4 % à 66,2 % (p=0,001). Sept (2,3 %) complications non-fatales étaient survenues.
Le nombre d’ablations par cathéter chez les patients ACHD a considérablement augmenté au cours des 15 dernières années. L’expérience accumulée et les progrès dans les techniques ablatives sont associés avec une amélioration significative des résultats à court et moyen termes.
Objective The aim of the study was to monitor the insecticide susceptibility status of malaria vectors in 12 sentinel districts of Tanzania.
Methods WHO standard methods were used to detect ...knock‐down and mortality in the wild female Anopheles mosquitoes collected in sentinel districts. The WHO diagnostic doses of 0.05% deltamethrin, 0.05% lambdacyhalothrin, 0.75% permethrin and 4% DDT were used.
Results The major malaria vectors in Tanzania, Anopheles gambiae s.l., were susceptible (mortality rate of 98–100%) to permethrin, deltamethrin, lambdacyhalothrin and DDT in most of the surveyed sites. However, some sites recorded marginal susceptibility (mortality rate of 80–97%); Ilala showed resistance to DDT (mortality rate of 65% 95% CI, 54–74), and Moshi showed resistance to lambdacyhalothrin (mortality rate of 73% 95% CI, 69–76) and permethrin (mortality rate of 77% 95% CI, 73–80).
Conclusions The sustained susceptibility of malaria vectors to pyrethroid in Tanzania is encouraging for successful malaria control with Insecticide‐treated nets and IRS. However, the emergency of focal points with insecticide resistance is alarming. Continued monitoring is essential to ensure early containment of resistance, particularly in areas that recorded resistance or marginal susceptibility and those with heavy agricultural and public health use of insecticides.
Objectif: Surveiller l’état de la sensibilité aux insecticides des vecteurs du paludisme dans 12 districts sentinelles de la Tanzanie.
Méthodes: Les méthodes standard de l’OMS ont été utilisées pour mesurer l’inhibition et la mortalité des moustiques anophèles femelles sauvages recueillis dans les districts sentinelles. Les doses diagnostiques OMS de 0,05% pour le deltaméthrine, 0,05% pour le lambdacyhalothrine, 0,75% pour la perméthrine et 4% pour le DDT ont été utilisées.
Résultats: Les vecteurs majeurs du paludisme en Tanzanie, Anopheles gambiae sl, étaient sensibles (taux de mortalité de 98–100%) à la perméthrine, au deltaméthrine, au lambdacyhalothrine et au DDT dans la plupart des sites étudiés. Cependant, certains sites ont enregistré une sensibilité marginale (taux de mortalité de 80 à 97%). Une résistance au DDT (taux de mortalité de 65% IC 95%: 54–74) a été observée à Ilala et une résistance au lambdacyhalothrine (taux de mortalité de 73% IC 95%: 69–76) et à la perméthrine (taux de mortalité de 77% IC 95%: 73–80) a été observée à Moshi.
Conclusions: La sensibilité maintenue des vecteurs du paludisme aux pyréthrinoïdes en Tanzanie est encourageante pour la lutte efficace contre le paludisme avec les moustiquaires imprégnées et les pulvérisations de résidus d’intérieur. Cependant, l’émergence de foyers avec une résistance aux insecticides est alarmante. La surveillance continue est essentielle pour permettre le confinement précoce de la résistance, en particulier dans les zones qui ont enregistré une résistance ou une sensibilité marginale et celles avec un usage intensif d’insecticides dans la santé publique et agricole.
Objetivo: Monitorizar el nivel de susceptibilidad frente a insecticidas de los vectores de malaria en 12 distritos centinela de Tanzania.
Métodos: Se utilizaron métodos estándar de la OMS para detectar mosquitos abatidos y mortalidad en hembras anófeles recogidas en los distritos centinela. Se utilizaron las dosis diagnósticas de la OMS de Deltametrina0.05%, Lambdacialotrina 0.05%, Permetrina0.75%, y DDT 4%.
Resultados: Los principales vectores de malaria en Tanzania, Anopheles gambiae s.l., eran susceptibles (tasa de mortalidad de 98–100%) a la permetrina, deltametrina, Lambdacialotrina y al DDT en la mayoría de los lugares estudiados. Sin embargo, en algunos de los emplazamientos se registró una susceptibilidad marginal (tasa de mortalidad de 80–97%); en Ilala se observó resistencia al DDT (tasa de mortalidad del 65% 95% IC: 54–74); y en Moshi se observó resistencia a la Lambdacialotrina (tasa de mortalidad de 73% 95% IC: 69–76) y permetrina (tasa de mortalidad del 77% 95% IC: 73–80)
Conclusiones: La susceptibilidad sostenida a piretroides de los vectores de malaria en Tanzania es esperanzadora para un control de malaria exitoso con mosquiteras impregnadas y rociamiento intradomiciliario. Sin embargo, la aparición de puntos focales con resistencia a insecticidas es alarmante. Una monitorización continuada es esencial para asegurar el control temprano de la resistencia, particularmente en áreas en las que se haya detectado resistencia o susceptibilidad marginal y aquellas con un uso intensivo de insecticidas en agricultura y salud pública.
IntroductionShort peripheral intravenous catheters (PVCs) are the most frequently used invasive medical devices in hospitals. Unfortunately, PVCs often fail before the end of treatment due to the ...occurrence of mechanical, vascular or infectious complications, which prolongs hospitalisation and increases healthcare costs and mortality.Prevention of these complications is mainly based on the respect of hygiene rules and the use of biocompatible catheters. In critically ill patients, 2% chlorhexidine-alcohol is superior to 5% povidone iodine-alcohol for skin preparation before central venous and arterial catheters; whether this finding can be extended to PVC inserted in the wards remains speculative. Similarly, the use of new technologies such as catheters designed to minimise blood exposure, zero-reflux needleless connectors, disinfecting caps and flushing PVCs before and after each medication administration to maintain catheter patency are of theoretical interest to prevent PVC failure, but little scientific data support their routine use.Methods and analysisThe CLEAN 3 study is an open-label, single-centre, randomised, two-by-two factorial trial. One thousand patients visiting our emergency department and requiring hospital admission in the wards will be randomised to one of four strategies according to skin preparation and devices used. The two primary endpoints will be (1) the incidence of infectious complications related to the catheters (colonisation, local infection or bloodstream infection) and (2) the time between catheter insertion and catheter failure defined as any premature removal of PVC before end of treatment, other than for routine replacement.Ethics and disseminationThis protocol has been approved by an independent ethics committee and will be carried out according to the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and the Good Clinical Practice guidelines. The results of this study will be disseminated through presentation at scientific conferences and publication in peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberEudraCT 2018-A02535-50; NCT03757143.
The objective of the present study was to provide a detailed histopathological description of fatal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID 19), and compare the lesions in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and ...non-ICU patients.
In this prospective study we included adult patients who died in hospital after presenting with confirmed COVID-19. Multiorgan biopsies were performed. Data generated with light microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and RT-PCR assays were reviewed.
20 patients were enrolled in the study and the main pulmonary finding was alveolar damage, which was focal in 11 patients and diffuse in 8 patients. Chronic fibrotic and inflammatory lesions were observed in 18 cases, with acute inflammatory lesions in 12 cases. Diffuse lesions, collapsed alveoli and dystrophic pneumocytes were more frequent in the ICU group (62.5%, vs. 25%; 63%, vs. 55%; 87.5%, vs. 54%). Acute lesions (82%, vs. 37.5%;
= 0.07) with neutrophilic alveolitis (63.6% vs. 0%, respectively;
= 0.01) were observed more frequently in the non-ICU group. Viral RNA was detected in 12 lung biopsies (60%) up to 56 days after disease upset. TEM detected viral particles in the lung and kidney biopsy samples up to 27 days after disease upset. Furthermore, abundant networks of double-membrane vesicles (DMVs, a hallmark of viral replication) were observed in proximal tubular epithelial cells.
Lung injury was different in ICU and non-ICU patients. Extrapulmonary damage consisting in kidney and myocardial injury were more frequent in ICU patients. Our TEM experiments provided the first description of SARS-CoV-2-induced DMVs in kidney biopsy samples-a sign of intense viral replication in this organ.
We analyze the gravitational binary-lensing event OGLE-2016-BLG-0156, for which the lensing light curve displays pronounced deviations induced by microlens-parallax effects. The light curve exhibits ...three distinctive widely separated peaks and we find that the multiple-peak feature provides a very tight constraint on the microlens-parallax effect, enabling us to precisely measure the microlens parallax . All the peaks are densely and continuously covered from high-cadence survey observations using globally located telescopes and the analysis of the peaks leads to the precise measurement of the angular Einstein radius . From the combination of the measured and , we determine the physical parameters of the lens. It is found that the lens is a binary composed of two M dwarfs with masses M1 = 0.18 0.01 M and M2 = 0.16 0.01 M located at a distance . According to the estimated lens mass and distance, the flux from the lens comprises an important fraction, ∼25%, of the blended flux. The bright nature of the lens combined with the high relative lens-source motion, = 6.94 0.50 mas yr−1, suggests that the lens can be directly observed from future high-resolution follow-up observations.
The thermal behaviors of cetyl (C
16
OH) and stearyl (C
18
OH) alcohols, alone or in mixture (C
16/18
OH), or flooded with water in the absence or presence of cetyl trimetyl ammonium chloride (CTAC), ...have been investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and X-ray scattering. Additional endothermic temperature transitions were observed at 16.9, 58.8, and 70.7 °C and also an unusual exothermic transition at 63.5 °C, when C
16/18
OH is in the presence of CTAC. The two first transitions at 16.9 and 58.8 °C seems to be, respectively, linked to the hydration mechanism and the melting of long-chain alcohols, while the exothermic one at 63.5 °C is corresponding to the crystallization of a swollen lamellar phase
L
β
. The crystallized swollen lamellar phase
L
β
melts at 70.7 °C into a
L
α
swollen liquid lamellar mesomorph phase, inducing an endothermic transition. This
L
β
→
L
α
transition is reversible upon cooling and reheating. Those data are key information to control the dispersion state of swollen lamellar crystals of long-chain alcohols.
A host of gastrointestinal (GI) peptides influence the regulation of vital functions, such as growth, appetite, stress, gut motility, energy expenditure, digestion and inflammation, as well as ...glucose and lipid homeostasis. Hence, impairments in the synthesis/secretion of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), leptin, nesfatin-1, glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP), ghrelin (acylated and unacylated forms), oxyntomodulin, vasoactive intestinal peptide, somatostatin, cholecystokinin, peptide tyrosine‒tyrosine, GLP-2 and pancreatic polypeptide were previously associated with the development of obesity-related disorders. It is currently emphasized that the beneficial metabolic outcomes associated with the normalization of the gut microbiota (GM) is influenced by increases in GLP-1 and peptide YY secretion as well as by decreases in acylated ghrelin production. These effects are associated with reductions in body weight and adiposity in combination with the normalization of glucose and lipid metabolism. However, important questions remain unanswered regarding how GLP-1, peptide tyrosine‒tyrosine, acylated ghrelin and other metabolically relevant GI peptides interact with the GM to modulate the host’s metabolic functions. In addition, it is likely that the GM and other biologically active GI peptides influence metabolic functions, such as glucose control, although the mechanisms remain ill-defined. In this review, we investigate how GM and GI peptides influence glucose metabolism in experimental models, such as germ-free animals and dietary interventions. Emphasis is placed on pathways through which GM and GI peptides could modulate intestinal permeability, nutrient absorption, short-chain fatty acid production, metabolic endotoxemia, oxidative stress and low-grade inflammation.
Un grand nombre de peptides gastro-intestinaux (GI) influencent la régulation de fonctions vitales telles que la croissance, l'appétit, le stress, la digestion, la motilité intestinale, la dépense énergétique, l'inflammation ainsi que l'homéostasie des glucides et des lipides. Les altérations de la synthèse et de la sécrétion du GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1), de la leptine, de la nesfatine 1, du GIP (glucose-dependant insulinotropic peptide), de la ghréline (formes acylée ou des-acylée), de l'oxyntomodulin, du VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide), de la somatostatine, du CCK (cholecystokinine), du PYY (peptide tyrosine-tyrosine), du GLP-2 et du PP (pancreatic polypeptide) influencent le développement de désordres métaboliques. Des données récentes indiquent les effets métaboliques bénéfiques d'une normalisation du microbiote intestinal (MI) est associée à une augmentation des niveaux circulants de GLP-1 et de PYY ainsi qu’à une réduction de la production de ghréline acylée. Ces effets sont associés à la réduction de la masse corporelle, de l'adiposité ainsi qu’à une amélioration du métabolisme des glucides et des lipides. Toutefois, des questions importantes demeurent quant au mécanismes par lesquels le GLP-1, le PYY, la ghréline acylée et d'autres peptides GI interagissent avec le MI pour moduler les fonctions métaboliques de l'hôte. Le présent article de revue vise à mettre en lumiére l'état des connaissances sur les effets de l'interaction entre le MI et les peptides GI sur le métabolisme glucidique en se basant sur des données expérimentales dérivées de modéles animaux et d'interventions cliniques. L'emphase sera particuliérement mise sur la description des voies par lesquelles les peptides GI et le MI modulent la perméabilité intestinale, l'absorption des nutriments, la production d'acides gras à chaîne courte, l'endotoxémie métabolique, l'altération de l'équilibre rédox et l'inflammation de bas grade.
PDF
