Knockout of reactive astrocyte activating factors slows disease progression in an ALS mouse model.

Reactive astrocytes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including a non-cell autonomous effect on motor neuron survival in ALS. We previously defined a mechanism by which microglia release three factors, IL-1α, TNFα, and C1q, to induce neurotoxic astrocytes. Here we report that knocking out these three factors markedly extends survival in the SOD1 ALS mouse model, providing evidence for gliosis as a potential ALS therapeutic target.

[Quality management at the University Hospital and Orthopedic Hospital of French-speaking Switzerland: coherence in diversity].

All hospitals in Switzerland will have to set up and run a quality management system, according to legal and contract requirements. However, their context and characteristics are quite different, and will have an impact on the type of system they will select and implement. The University Hospital in Lausanne and the Hôpital Orthopédique de la Suisse Romande are neighbour hospitals, which run an orthopaedic ward on both locations.

[Computerized analysis of cardiovascular activity in the conscious unrestrained rat. Application to the study of a new antihypertensive agent].

A more precise knowledge of cardiovascular activity in rats needs its direct recording for long periods of time, in conscious unrestrained animals. A system has been developed, which allows direct recording of blood pressure (BP) in freely moving rats, by means of a floating catheter chronically inserted in the abdominal aorta, connected to a rotating swivel, and then to a pressure transducer. A mini-computer performs on-line processing of BP curves, and stores the values of 5 cardiovascular parameters on hard disk: systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures, heart rate and dp/dt max.