Blood cells are constantly produced in the bone marrow (BM) of adult mammals. This constant turnover ultimately depends on a rare population of progenitors that displays self-renewal and multilineage ...differentiation potential, the hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). It is generally accepted that HSCs are generated during embryonic development and sequentially colonize the fetal liver, the spleen, and finally the BM. Here we discuss the experimental evidence that argues for the extrinsic origin of HSCs and the potential locations where HSC generation might occur. The identification of the cellular components playing a role in the generation process, in these precise locations, will be important in understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in HSC production from undifferentiated mesoderm.
Given the relevance of paternal involvement in maternal care, there is a need to prepare first-time fathers to participate in pregnancy and childbirth actively. This study explores the experiences ...and needs of first-time fathers; and how these influences their involvement during pregnancy and childbirth in Nigeria.
A descriptive qualitative study was conducted. Semi-structured interviews with 50 men recruited from rural and urban workplaces, hospitals, and markets, generated data used to explore the experiences, views and needs of first-time fathers' in pregnancy-related care in south-east Nigeria. All data were transcribed and analysed using thematic analysis.
Six major themes were identified: gender roles, antenatal involvement, care costs and delivery choices, need to be informed, dealing with emotions, and dealing with the delivery day. The key finding reveals that inexperience and perceptions of gender roles greatly influenced the support provided by first-time fathers to their spouses and the support they received from their social support networks. Two primary needs were identified: need to be informed and the need to know about the cost of care in health settings. First-time fathers acknowledged the role of information on their decision making and final choices.
Findings reveal the influence of gender norms, beliefs, and social support on first-time fathers' involvement in pregnancy and childbirth. This study also highlights the urgent need to provide informational support for first-time fathers and presents insights into what hospitals can do to achieve this need.
Using comparative data from five countries, this study investigates the psychometric properties of the effort–reward imbalance (ERI) at work model. In this model, chronic work-related stress is ...identified as non-reciprocity or imbalance between high efforts spent and low rewards received. Health-adverse effects of this imbalance were documented in several prospective and cross-sectional investigations. The internal consistency, discriminant validity and factorial structure of ‘effort’, ‘reward’, and ‘overcommitment’ scales are evaluated, using confirmatory factor analysis. Moreover, content (or external) validity is explored with respect to a measure of self-reported health.
Data for the analysis is derived from epidemiologic studies conducted in five European countries: the Somstress Study (Belgium;
n=3796), the GAZEL-Cohort Study (France;
n=10,174), the WOLF-Norrland Study (Sweden;
n=960), the Whitehall II Study (UK;
n=3697) and the Public Transport Employees Study (Germany;
n=316). Internal consistency of the scales was satisfactory in all samples, and the factorial structure of the scales was consistently confirmed (all goodness of fit measures were >0.92). Moreover, in 12 of 14 analyses, significantly elevated odds ratios of poor health were observed in employees scoring high on the ERI scales.
In conclusion, a psychometrically well-justified measure of work-related stress (ERI) grounded in sociological theory is available for comparative socioepidemiologic investigations. In the light of the importance of work for adult health such investigations are crucial in advanced societies within and beyond Europe.
Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) is a mitochondrial flavoprotein that, beyond its apoptotic function, is required for the normal expression of major respiratory chain complexes. Here we identified an ...AIF-interacting protein, CHCHD4, which is the central component of a redox-sensitive mitochondrial intermembrane space import machinery. Depletion or hypomorphic mutation of AIF caused a downregulation of CHCHD4 protein by diminishing its mitochondrial import. CHCHD4 depletion sufficed to induce a respiratory defect that mimicked that observed in AIF-deficient cells. CHCHD4 levels could be restored in AIF-deficient cells by enforcing its AIF-independent mitochondrial localization. This modified CHCHD4 protein reestablished respiratory function in AIF-deficient cells and enabled AIF-deficient embryoid bodies to undergo cavitation, a process of programmed cell death required for embryonic morphogenesis. These findings explain how AIF contributes to the biogenesis of respiratory chain complexes, and they establish an unexpected link between the vital function of AIF and the propensity of cells to undergo apoptosis.
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•AIF interacts with CHCHD4, a regulator of the intermembrane space import machinery•AIF regulates specific respiratory chain complexes by acting upstream of CHCHD4•AIF is indispensable for translation-coupled mitochondrial import of CHCHD4•Restoring CHCHD4 reverses the metabolic and cell death phenotypes of Aif−/y ESCs
Hangen et al. show that the mitochondrial protein AIF regulates the biogenesis of respiratory chain complexes by interacting with, and by controlling the mitochondrial import of the mammalian homolog of yeast MIA40, CHCHD4, which is the central component of a redox-sensitive mitochondrial intermembrane space import machinery.
Abstract
Background
Since 2009, Morocco has been implementing the Maternal Death Surveillance System (MDSS). The results obtained indicate significant regional variations in terms of implementation ...stage, completeness of maternal death reporting, and information use for action. The objective of this research is to better understand the contextual factors involved in the implementation process and use of MDSS, with a focus on the facilitators and barriers, as experienced by stakeholders in health regions.
Methods
Evaluation research was conducted in 2017 based on a descriptive qualitative study using semi-structured in-depth interviews, in four out of the twelve health regions of Morocco. A total of thirty-one in-depth interviews were held with members of regional committees of maternal death reviews (RC-MDR) and other key informant staff. Interviews focused on participants’ views and their experiences with the MDSS since the introduction in 2009. We conducted thematic analysis relied on inductive and deductive approaches. Applying the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research guided data analysis and reporting findings.
Findings
Engaging leadership at all health system levels, regular training of district and regional MDSS coordinators and supportive supervision at a national level were the most important MDSS implementation facilitators. Reported barriers were essentially related to the review system: Irregular review meetings, blame culture, high turn-over of RC-MDR members, lack of analytical capacity to inform the review process and formulate recommendations, finally limited accountability for recommendation follow-up. While financial incentives boosted MDSS adoption, they were nonetheless a substantial barrier to its sustainability.
Conclusions
The MDSS is a complex process that requires taking numerous steps, including the commitment of multiple stakeholders with varying roles as well as information sharing across health system levels. Contextual factors that influence MDSS implementation at the sub-national level are to be considered. Horizontal and vertical communication about MDSS goals and feedback is crucial to strengthen stakeholders’ commitment, hence improving quality and use of MDSS. Furthermore, health regions should place emphasis on making high-quality recommendations in partnerships between the regional management teams, RC-MDR members and external stakeholders.
Recent studies have shown that tissue macrophages (MΦ) arise from embryonic progenitors of the yolk sac (YS) and fetal liver and colonize tissues before birth. Further studies have proposed that ...developmentally distinct tissue MΦ can be identified based on the differential expression of F4/80 and CD11b, but whether a characteristic transcriptional profile exists is largely unknown. Here, we took advantage of an inducible fate‐mapping system that facilitated the identification of CD45+c‐kit−CX3CR1+F4/80+ (A2) progenitors of the YS as the source of F4/80hi but not CD11bhi MΦ. Large‐scale transcriptional profiling of MΦ precursors from the YS stage to adulthood allowed for building computational models for F4/80hi tissue macrophages being direct descendants of A2 progenitors. We further identified a distinct molecular signature of F4/80hi and CD11bhi MΦ and found that Irf8 was vital for MΦ maturation. Our data provide new cellular and molecular insights into the origin and developmental pathways of tissue MΦ.
Synopsis
In vivo fate mapping combined with transcriptomics shows the existence of different mouse macrophage subsets, and an important role for the transcription factor Irf8 in regulating their development.
Two distinct macrophage subsets are characterized by differential expression of F4/80 and CD11b.
F4/80hi but not CD11bhi macrophages originate from the yolk sac.
Distinct gene profile of F4/80hi and CD11bhi macrophages from embryogenesis until adulthood.
Irf8 is expressed in F4/80hi and CD11bhi macrophages during ontogeny.
Irf8 regulates tissue macrophage maturation.
In vivo fate mapping combined with transcriptomics shows the existence of distinct mouse macrophage subsets and an important role for the transcription factor Irf8 in regulating their development.
Hypertension remains one of the leading risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Contrasting with the high-income countries where the rates of hypertension decline, it increases in Sub-Saharan ...African countries. The age group most affected by hypertension is the working population. Several studies carried out in Europe, North America, and Asia, underline the influence of job stress on the occurrence of hypertension. The objective of this review was to explore current knowledge about hypertension and job stress in Sub-Saharan Africa.
We conducted a scoping review using Arksey and O'Malley's framework to synthesize findings. We searched in PubMed, Scopus, and ProQuest databases. The inclusion criteria were peer-reviewed manuscripts published on March 1, 2023, conducted among workers in Sub-Saharan Africa, reported hypertension and job stress, and using quantitative methodologies. Data were assessed independently by two researchers.
In total, 295 articles were identified from databases. Of these, only 12 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review (9 cross-sectional studies and 3 case-control studies). These studies focused on sectors reported as stressful (health, banking, education, and industries). The prevalence of hypertension varied from 14.3% to 45.9%, with a high proportion of hypertensive participants (35.4%-70.6%) who were unaware that they had hypertension. Job stress was significantly associated with hypertension (OR = 2.4 1.5-4.4) and stress management was inversely associated with hypertension (r = -0.14, p < 0.05). However, no study reported an existing workplace health promotion program implemented, especially regarding cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Data available in the literature show that stressful working conditions may be associated with hypertension. We are faced with an increasing prevalence of hypertension among workers in Sub-Saharan Africa, where a large proportion of them are unaware that they have hypertension. Thus, there is a need to implement workplace prevention and health promotion strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa.
This study tests associations between psychosocial stress at work measured by the effort-reward imbalance model in a dynamic perspective, and multiple indicators of poor mental health, in a ...prospective design.
1986 male and female employees from four Belgian enterprises were followed-up over one year within the framework of the Somstress study. Based on two consecutive measurements, an index of cumulative job stress was constructed and its associations with five indicators of mental health were studied, excluding caseness at entry (for depression, anxiety, somatisation, chronic fatigue and psychotropic drug consumption respectively). Taking into account the longitudinal design, four categories of job stress are defined: 1) employees free from stress at both measures, 2) job stress present at first measure but not at the second one, 3) recent onset of job stress as evidenced by second measure 4) workers exposed to stress at both measures. Multivariate logistic regression with appropriate adjustments was applied.
In bivariate analysis, a clear graded association of cumulative job stress with all five mental health indicators is observed, both in men and women. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, recent onset of stress is strongly associated with poor mental health among men (odds ratios ranging from 1.8 to 4.6), while cumulative stress shows strongest effects on mental health in women (odds ratios ranging from 1.4 to 7.1).
Cumulative experience and recent onset of job stress in terms of high effort spent and low reward received is associated with elevated risk of all five indicators of poor mental health at follow-up in a large cohort of employees.
Education in relational, emotional and sexual life (EVRAS) is a project which has been in place for many years in French-speaking BCR. Despite the active involvement of politicians, numerous ...stakeholders and schools, it took more than ten years after its integration into the missions of education for EVRAS to become compulsory as of the 2023 school year, in a minimal form. The lack of a true implementation of EVRAS throughout schooling is problematic and contributes to the social inequalities in health which already exist in Brussels. This study is part of the impetus recently given by COCOF and aims to contribute to the definition of future public policies in this area, by proposing three scenarios for the widespread introduction of EVRAS in French-language compulsory education in Brussels, each accompanied by a budget model.
La généralisation de l’éducation à la vie relationnelle, affective et sexuelle (EVRAS) est un projet mis en place depuis de nombreuses années en RBC francophone. Malgré la mobilisation de politiques, ...de nombreux acteurs et d’établissements scolaires, plus de dix ans ont été nécessaires après son intégration dans les missions de l’enseignement pour que l’EVRAS devienne obligatoire à la rentrée 2023, sous une forme minimale. L’absence d’un réel parcours EVRAS tout au long de la scolarité est problématique et participe aux inégalités sociales de santé déjà fortement présentes à Bruxelles. Cette étude participe à l’élan récemment impulsé par la COCOF et a pour objectif de contribuer à la définition de futures politiques publiques ambitieuses à ce sujet : elle propose trois scénarios de généralisation de l’EVRAS dans l’enseignement obligatoire bruxellois francophone, accompagné chacun d’une modélisation budgétaire.
De veralgemening van relationele, affectieve en seksuele opvoeding (Éducation à la Vie Relationnelle, Affective et Sexuelle of kortweg EVRAS in het Frans) is een plan dat al jarenlang wordt uitgevoerd in het Franstalig Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest (BHG). Ondanks de inzet van beleidsmaatregelen, vele actoren en scholen wordt relationele, affectieve en seksuele opvoeding – en dan nog in minimale vorm – pas vanaf september 2023 verplicht, meer dan tien jaar nadat relationele, affectieve en seksuele opvoeding opgenomen werd in de onderwijsopdrachten. Dat er voor de hele schooltijd geen echt traject ontwikkeld werd rond seksuele opvoeding is een probleem, omdat dit bijdraagt aan de sociale gezondheidsongelijkheden, die zo al sterk aanwezig zijn in Brussel. Dit onderzoek draagt bij aan de recente impuls van de Franse Gemeenschapscommissie en wil ook bijdragen aan de uitstippeling van toekomstige ambitieuze beleidsmaatregelen op het vlak van relationele, affectieve en seksuele opvoeding. Het biedt namelijk drie scenario’s voor de veralgemening van relationele, affectieve en seksuele opvoeding in het Franstalig verplicht onderwijs in Brussel, met telkens ook een budgettering.
Education in relational, emotional and sexual life (EVRAS) is a project which has been in place for many years in French-speaking BCR. Despite the active involvement of politicians, numerous stakeholders and schools, it took more than ten years after its integration into the missions of education for EVRAS to become compulsory as of the 2023 school year, in a minimal form. The lack of a true implementation of EVRAS throughout schooling is problematic and contributes to the social inequalities in health which already exist in Brussels. This study is part of the impetus recently given by COCOF and aims to contribute to the definition of future public policies in this area, by proposing three scenarios for the widespread introduction of EVRAS in French-language compulsory education in Brussels, each accompanied by a budget model.
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