Publications by authors named "Jean L"

Background: The malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum replicates within red blood cells, then ruptures the cell in a process called egress in order to continue its life cycle. Egress is regulated by a proteolytic cascade involving an essential parasite subtilisin-like serine protease called SUB1. Maturation of SUB1 initiates in the parasite endoplasmic reticulum with autocatalytic cleavage of an N-terminal prodomain (p31), which initially remains non-covalently bound to the catalytic domain, p54.

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Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) are severe autoimmune diseases with poorly understood pathogenesis and unmet medical needs. Here, we examine the role of interferon γ (IFNγ) using NOD female mice deficient in the inducible T cell co-stimulator (Icos), which have previously been shown to develop spontaneous IFNγ-driven myositis mimicking human disease. Using muscle proteomic and spatial transcriptomic analyses we reveal profound myofiber metabolic dysregulation in these mice.

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Olesoxime, a cholesterol derivative with an oxime group, possesses the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier, and has demonstrated excellent safety and tolerability properties in clinical research. These characteristics indicate it may serve as a centrally active ligand of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), whose disruption of activity with organophosphate compounds (OP) leads to uncontrolled excitation and potentially life-threatening symptoms. To evaluate olesoxime as a binding ligand and reactivator of human AChE and BChE, we conducted kinetic studies with the active metabolite of insecticide parathion, paraoxon, and the warfare nerve agents sarin, cyclosarin, tabun, and VX.

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CAR-T cells are T cells expressing a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) rendering them capable of killing tumor cells after recognition of a target antigen. CD19 CAR-T cells have revolutionized the treatment of hematological malignancies. Their function is typically assessed by cytotoxicity assays using human allogeneic cell lines expressing the target antigen CD19 such as Nalm-6.

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Public experiences of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown differed dramatically between countries and socio-economic groups. Low-income countries raise unique empirical and ethical concerns about (1) the balance between benefits and social harms and (2) how explanatory disease models and everyday life realities influenced the experience and interpretation of lockdown itself. In this paper, we present qualitative data on community perceptions and experiences of the pandemic from a remote area of Haiti, with a focus on the 2020 lockdown.

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The uncharged 3-hydroxy-2-pyridine aldoximes with protonatable tertiary amines are studied as antidotes in toxic organophosphates (OP) poisoning. Due to some of their specific structural features, we hypothesize that these compounds could exert diverse biological activity beyond their main scope of application. To examine this further, we performed an extensive cell-based assessment to determine their effects on human cells (SH-SY5Y, HEK293, HepG2, HK-2, myoblasts and myotubes) and possible mechanism of action.

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Thioaurone chromophores, part of the indigoid family and commonly named hemithioindigos, have recently gained attention due to their interesting photoswitching properties. The study focuses on heterocyclic hemithioindigos (Het-HTIs) and investigates their synthesis using electron-rich and electron-poor heterocycles and modifications to the thioindigo moiety. Furthermore, it aims to evaluate the photoswitching performances of these synthesised compounds, with a particular emphasis on the influence of the heterocycles on the photoisomerization capabilities, which was found to be more prominent than the modifications made to the thioindigo moiety.

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Article Synopsis
  • The article outlines the development and validation of the Three Domains of Judgment Test (3DJT), a remote assessment tool for practical, moral, and social judgment.
  • Experts evaluated the tool's content and scenarios, leading to a refined version tested on 70 individuals without cognitive impairment to determine the best scenarios for future clinical use.
  • Results indicated that the improved 3DJT shows good internal consistency and validity, making it a promising option for judgment assessment, though further research is required before clinical application.
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Background: Compassionate communities build on health promoting palliative care that aims to address gaps in access, quality, and continuity of care in the context of dying, death, loss, and grief. While community engagement is a core principle of public health palliative care, it has received little attention in empirical studies of compassionate communities.

Objectives: The objectives of this research are to describe the process of community engagement initiated by two compassionate communities projects, to understand the influence of contextual factors on community engagement over time, and assess the contribution of community engagement on proximal outcomes and the potential for sustaining compassionate communities.

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A postmenopausal female patient was suffering from vulvovaginal symptoms such as dryness and irritation, which were affecting her relationship with her partner and her overall quality of life. The patient was instructed to apply an estriol 0.1% vaginal ointment (PCCA Ellage Anhydrous Vaginal) for a duration of three months.

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Background: Community engagement (CE) plays a critical role in malaria control and elimination. CE approaches vary substantially, with more participatory programmes requiring higher levels of adaptive management. This study evaluates the effectiveness of a volunteer-based CE programme developed in Haiti in 2018.

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Aims: Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are autoimmune inflammatory disorders leading to skeletal muscle weakness and disability. The pathophysiology of IIM is poorly understood due to the scarcity of animal disease models. Genetic deletion of Icos or Icosl (inducible T cell co-stimulator/ligand) in non-obese diabetic (NOD) mice leads to muscle disease.

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In veterinary clinical practice, conventional pharmacological treatments such as commercial capsules, tablets, or oral liquids may be difficult to administer to feline patients. Noncompliance, which is estimated to account for the majority of treatment failures, may potentially be overcome with alternative, customized treat- ment options such as topically applied, permeation-enhancing (transdermal) unlicensed medications. These medications allow for the percutaneous absorption of drugs into and through the animal's skin, bypassing the first-pass metabolism, potentially allowing for greater bioavailability, and thus decreasing dosage to achieve therapeutic effects.

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Background: COVID-19 affected healthcare worldwide, limited access to healthcare, and delayed cancer screening and diagnosis. In this study, the effect of the first year of COVID-19 was determined on cancer diagnoses in the province of Quebec, Canada.

Methods: Data were collected from the 13 Quebec Cancer Registry health institutions.

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Article Synopsis
  • Immune-mediated necrotising myopathy (IMNM) is linked to specific antibodies that activate the complement system, prompting muscle damage.
  • Zilucoplan, a potential treatment that inhibits complement component C5, was tested in mouse models to assess its effectiveness in preventing muscle strength loss caused by IMNM.
  • Results showed that early use of zilucoplan significantly prevented muscle damage and strength loss in specific mouse strains, whereas its effectiveness was less pronounced when given after the onset of the disease.
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Chronic Myeloid Leukemia is a neoplastic disease characterized by the abnormal expansion of hematopoietic cells with compromised functions. Leukemic cells often display a multidrug resistance phenotype, enabling them to evade a number of structurally unrelated cytotoxic compounds. One of those mechanisms relies on the high expression of efflux transporters, such as the ABC proteins, whose activity depends on the hydrolysis of ATP to reduce intracellular drug accumulation.

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Malaria parasites such as Plasmodium falciparum have exerted formidable selective pressures on the human genome. Of the human genetic variants associated with malaria protection, beta thalassaemia (a haemoglobinopathy) was the earliest to be associated with malaria prevalence. However, the malaria protective properties of beta thalassaemic erythrocytes remain unclear.

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Retrograde intrarenal surgery (RIRS) requires urologists to adopt an awkward body posture for long durations. Few urologists receive training in ergonomics despite the availability of ergonomic best practices utilized by other surgical specialties. We characterize ergonomic practice patterns and rates of musculoskeletal (MSK) pain among urologists performing RIRS.

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Recent events demonstrated that organophosphorus nerve agents are a serious threat for civilian and military populations. The current therapy includes a pyridinium aldoxime reactivator to restore the enzymatic activity of acetylcholinesterase located in the central nervous system and neuro-muscular junctions. One major drawback of these charged acetylcholinesterase reactivators is their poor ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.

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Objective: To investigate the clinical phenotype and hearing prognosis of patients with unilateral and bilateral (simultaneous and nonsimultaneous) sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).

Study Design: Retrospective cohort.

Setting: Otology outpatient clinic of a tertiary university hospital.

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The ankle plantar flexor muscles are stronger in ankle dorsiflexion than plantar flexion. However, heel lift is commonly observed during ankle plantar flexor strength testing, a phenomenon that would alter ankle angle. The effect of heel lift on the relation between ankle angle and plantar flexor strength has largely been ignored.

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When anesthesia checklists and preparations are performed urgently, omissions may occur and be deleterious to the patient. The aim of this study was to evaluate in simulation the interest of a cognitive aid to effectively prepare an anesthetic room for an emergency. In a prospective single-center simulation-based study, 32 anesthesia residents had to prepare an anesthetic room in an emergency scenario, without cognitive aid in the first phase.

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Jean, LMY, Gross, DP, and Chiu, LZF. Knee extensor strength in anterior cruciate ligament-deficient individuals following normal and modified squats: a randomized controlled trial. J Strength Cond Res 36(1): 47-54, 2022-Training with barbell squats, which load the quadriceps, increases knee extensor strength.

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Skin aging is the most visible element of the aging process, giving rise to a major concern for many people. Plants from the Ericaceae family generally have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, making them potential anti-aging active ingredients. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and anti-aging efficacy of a extract using reconstructed skin substitutes.

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