Assessing tissue mechanical properties: Development of a custom-made tensile device and application on rodents sciatic nerves.

The development of biomaterials such as synthetic scaffolds for peripheral nerve regeneration requires a precise knowledge of the mechanical properties of the nerve in physiological-like conditions. Mechanical properties (Young's modulus, maximum stress and strain at break) for peripheral nerves are scarce and large discrepancies are observed in between reports. This is due in part to the absence of a robust testing device for nerves.

Integration of sex and gender in a continuing professional development course on diabetes and depression: a mixed methods feasibility study.

Objectives: Assess the feasibility and impact of a continuous professional development (CPD) course on type 2 diabetes and depression on health professionals' intention to include sex and gender considerations in patient care.

Design And Setting: In collaboration with CPD organisations and patient-partners, we conducted a mixed-methods feasibility controlled trial with postintervention measures in three Canadian provinces.

Participants: Of 178 eligible health professionals, 127 completed questionnaires and 67 participated in semistructured group discussions.

Approaches to considering sex and gender in continuous professional development for health and social care professionals: An emerging paradigm.

Consideration of sex and gender in research and clinical practice is necessary to redress health inequities and reduce knowledge gaps. As all health professionals must maintain and update their skills throughout their career, developing innovative continuing professional education programs that integrate sex and gender issues holds great promise for reducing these gaps. This article proposes new approaches to partnership, team development, pedagogical theory, content development, evaluation and data management that will advance the integration of sex and gender in continuing professional development (CPD).

Diabetes impairs an interleukin-1β-dependent pathway that enhances neurite outgrowth through JAK/STAT3 modulation of mitochondrial bioenergetics in adult sensory neurons.

Background: A luminex-based screen of cytokine expression in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and nerve of type 1 diabetic rodents revealed interleukin-1 (IL-1α) and IL-1β to be significantly depressed. We, therefore, tested the hypothesis that impaired IL-1α and IL-1β expression in DRG may contribute to aberrant axon regeneration and plasticity seen in diabetic sensory neuropathy. In addition, we determined if these cytokines could optimize mitochondrial bioenergetics since mitochondrial dysfunction is a key etiological factor in diabetic neuropathy.