Caspase-1 activation, IL-1/IL-6 signature and IFNγ-induced chemokines in lungs of COVID-19 patients.

Rationale: COVID-19-associated acute-respiratory distress syndrome (C-ARDS) results from a direct viral injury associated with host excessive innate immune response mainly affecting the lungs. However, cytokine profile in the lung compartment of C-ARDS patients has not been widely studied, nor compared to non-COVID related ARDS (NC-ARDS).

Objectives: To evaluate caspase-1 activation, IL-1 signature, and other inflammatory cytokine pathways associated with tissue damage using post-mortem lung tissues, bronchoalveolar lavage fluids (BALF), and serum across the spectrum of COVID-19 severity.

Differences in the intrahepatic expression of immune checkpoint molecules on T cells and natural killer cells in chronic HBV patients.

Background: Patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are characterized by impaired immune response that fails to eliminate HBV. Immune checkpoint molecules (ICMs) control the amplitude of the activation and function of immune cells, which makes them the key regulators of immune response.

Methods: We performed a multiparametric flow cytometry analysis of ICMs and determined their expression on intrahepatic lymphocyte subsets in untreated and treated patients with HBV in comparison with non-pathological liver tissue.

WHO public health laboratories webinar series - an online platform to disseminate testing recommendations and best practices during health emergencies.

Laboratories play a central role in managing public health emergencies. The COVID-19 pandemic imposed unique challenges on global laboratory systems, including testing protocol uncertainties, supply shortages, rapid need for information dissemination, and disruptions to traditional training methods. In response, the WHO established the Public Health Laboratories (PHL) knowledge sharing webinar series whose goals were to respond to the increased demand in up-to-date and reliable information, which WHO is in a unique position to provide.

Impact of light and nutrient availability on the phagotrophic activity of harmful bloom-forming dinoflagellates.

Phagotrophy is a key nutritional mode for many bloom-forming dinoflagellates that can supplement their carbon and nutrient requirements. However, the environmental drivers and ecological relevance of phagotrophy in algal blooms are still poorly understood. This study evaluates the effect of light and nutrient availability on the phagotrophic activity of three common bloom-forming dinoflagellates (, and ) using three fluorescently labeled preys: bacteria, and the haptophyte .

Association Between GABRG2 and Self-Rating of the Effects of Alcohol in a French Young Adult Sample.

Purpose: Alcohol use is a leading risk factor for preventable death, injury, and disease globally. Low sensitivity to the effects of alcohol is influenced by genes and predicts risk for harmful alcohol use and alcohol use disorder (AUD). Alcohol induces effects partly by modulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid receptors type A (GABARs).

Power spectral analysis of voltage-gated channels in neurons.

This article develops a fundamental insight into the behavior of neuronal membranes, focusing on their responses to stimuli measured with power spectra in the frequency domain. It explores the use of linear and nonlinear (quadratic sinusoidal analysis) approaches to characterize neuronal function. It further delves into the random theory of internal noise of biological neurons and the use of stochastic Markov models to investigate these fluctuations.

Synthesis of an exfoliated kaolinite-poly(urea-formaldehyde) nanocomposite.

In this study, kaolinite-poly(urea-formaldehyde) was successfully prepared through the polymerization of urea intercalated within the kaolinite structure. Polymerization was carried out under ambient conditions by immersing kaolinite-urea in formaldehyde. Evidence of urea intercalation and polymerization was obtained from FTIR, XRD, and thermal analysis (TG-DSC).

A scalable and eco-friendly carbohydrate-based oleogelator for vitamin E controlled delivery.

Supramolecular oleogels, in which low-molecular weight oleogelators self-assemble into various nanostructures through non-covalent interactions, have witnessed increasing research activity in various fields of science, including food, cosmetics or remediation of marine oil spills. Herein, we report a simple scalable and environmentally friendly carbohydrate-based oleogelator, namely, the sodium salt of ,'-dimethyl β- glucosyl barbiturate (GlcBMe) that self-assembles through sonication to induce the gelation of polar organic solvent and later of non-polar vegetable oils by cationic exchange with quaternary ammonium surfactants. Water-soluble GlcBMe was capable of forming self-assembled fibrillar network bridging insoluble particles in the oil by sonication in the presence of a small amount of water.

Uncovering novel KCC2 regulatory motifs through a comprehensive transposon-based mutant library.

Introduction: The neuron-specific K-Cl cotransporter KCC2 maintains low intracellular chloride levels, which are crucial for fast GABAergic and glycinergic neurotransmission. KCC2 also plays a pivotal role in the development of excitatory glutamatergic neurotransmission by promoting dendritic spine maturation. The cytoplasmic C-terminal domain (KCC2-CTD) plays a critical regulatory role in the molecular mechanisms controlling the cotransporter activity through dimerization, phosphorylation, and protein interaction.

The role of vitamin K2 in cognitive impairment: linking vascular health to brain health.

Cognitive impairment, marked by a decline in essential mental aspects such as attention, memory, and problem-solving, is significantly correlated with advancing age. This condition presents a major challenge for the elderly, adversely affecting quality of life, diminishing independence, and imposing substantial burdens on healthcare systems. Recent research indicates that vitamin K2 may be vital for preserving brain health and cognitive function.

Structural validity of the French version of the Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation (CASP-Fr) and factors influencing the participation of children with neuromuscular diseases.

Purpose: (1) To examine the structural validity of the French version of the Child and Adolescent Scale of Participation (CASP-Fr) in children with neuromuscular diseases (NMD). (2) To determine the influence of demographic and clinical factors on the participation of children with NMD.

Materials And Methods: We conducted an observational, cross-sectional, multicentre study in 3 centres in France.

[Addiction : what's new in 2024].

Addiction medicine is confronting challenges brought about by changes in our modern world, including shifts in the drug market and the increasing digitalization of our environments. This article highlights some of these challenges and explores potential strategies to address them. The field is also advancing through robust research momentum in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy.

Clinical utility of myocardial work assessment in arterial hypertension and cardiovascular diseases.

In clinical practice, ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and global longitudinal strain (GLS) are the most often used parameters for evaluating left ventricular systolic function, despite the impact that variable loading conditions have. Alternatively, the myocardial efficiency (ME) of the heart, encompassing cardiac energy formation and dissipation, along with myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2), is a useful surrogate for assessing myocardial work (MW), a parameter correlated with the pressure-strain loop (PSL), arterial pressure, and cardiac output (CO). This refinement proves especially practical in defining cardiac work across various clinical contexts, including arterial hypertension and heart failure (HF), the primary conditions associated with cardiovascular mortality.

The Banning of Engineered Stone in Australia: An Evidence-Based and Precautionary Policy.

On December 13, 2023, Australia became the first country to ban engineered stone. This material contains more than 80 percent crystalline silica, agglomerated with resins, metal oxides and other (potentially toxic) substances. Engineered stone has become a mass-market product since the late 1990s and has contributed to a worldwide resurgence of accelerated forms of silicosis and a notable incidence of systemic diseases.

Impact of the Angular Alignment on the Crystal Field and Intrinsic Doping of Bilayer Graphene/BN Heterostructures.

The ability to tune the energy gap in bilayer graphene makes it the perfect playground for the study of the effects of internal electric fields, such as the crystalline field, which are developed when other layered materials are deposited on top of it. Here, we introduce a novel device architecture allowing simultaneous control over the applied displacement field and the crystalline alignment between two materials. Our experimental and numerical results confirm that the crystal field and electrostatic doping due to the interface reflect the 120° symmetry of the bilayer graphene/BN heterostructure and are highly affected by the commensurate state.

Thinking about the Box: Exploring the Electronic Structure of a Cuboidal-Shaped Mo Anionic Nanocapsule.

The cubic-shaped polyoxothiomolybdate first reported by Cadot and collaborators has been characterized by DFT methods for the first time, elucidating its electronic structure by means of the analysis of the density of states as well as its frontier molecular orbitals. Moreover, the electron density of this complex molecular oxo-cluster has been studied through QTAIM analysis, focusing on the characteristic Mo(V)-Mo(V) bonding pattern appearing at the corner subunits of the nanocapsule.

The role of renal dual-energy computed tomography in exploring the gouty kidney: the RENODECT study.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the ability of dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) to detect monosodium urate (MSU) crystal deposits in the kidneys and renal artery walls, and uric acid urolithiasis, in patients with gout and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: Patients with gout and with stage 2-4 CKD were prospectively included in this cross-sectional study. Patients underwent renal, knee and feet DECT scans.

Outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy with elastomeric pumps, what is the flowrate accuracy?

Background: Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) services have expanded throughout the world thanks to elastomeric pumps (EP). Their flowrate is known to vary by ±15%. Treatment effectiveness and the organization of care at home may be impacted, especially with piperacillin/tazobactam infusion (TAZ).

Digital Representation of Patients as Medical Digital Twins: Data-Centric Viewpoint.

Precision medicine involves a paradigm shift toward personalized data-driven clinical decisions. The concept of a medical "digital twin" has recently become popular to designate digital representations of patients as a support for a wide range of data science applications. However, the concept is ambiguous when it comes to practical implementations.

The Explo'Santé mixed methods protocol: an interventional research school health promotion project in France.

Background: According to WHO, "noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) kill 41 million people" annually, as the primary cause of death globally. WHO's Global Action Plan for the prevention and control of NCDs 2013-2020 (extended) tackles this issue and its implications regarding inequalities between countries and populations. Based on combined behavioural, environmental and policy approaches, health promotion aims to reduce health inequities and address health determinants through 3 strategies: education, prevention and protection.

The PROPHECI trial: a phase II, double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial for the treatment of pseudoxanthoma elasticum with oral pyrophosphate.

Background: /aims. Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum (PXE, OMIM 264800) is an autosomal, recessive, metabolic disorder characterized by progressive ectopic calcification in the skin, the vasculature and Bruch's membrane. Variants in the ABCC6 gene are associated with low plasma pyrophosphate (PPi) concentration.

Turning residues into valuable compounds: organic waste conversion into odd-chain fatty acids via the carboxylate platform by recombinant oleaginous yeast.

Environmental concerns are rising the need to find cost-effective alternatives to fossil oils. In this sense, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are proposed as carbon source for microbial oils production that can be converted into oleochemicals. This investigation took advantage of the outstanding traits of recombinant Yarrowia lipolytica strains to assess the conversion of SCFAs derived from real digestates into odd-chain fatty acids (OCFA).

Neurocognitive impact of different irradiation modalities for patients with grade I-II skull base meningioma: a prospective multi-arm cohort study (CANCER COG).

Background: Radiotherapy as a complement or an alternative to neurosurgery has a central role in the treatment of skull base grade I-II meningiomas. Radiotherapy techniques have improved considerably over the last two decades, becoming more effective and sparing more and more the healthy tissue surrounding the tumour. Currently, hypo-fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) for small tumours and normo-fractionated intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) or proton-therapy (PT) for larger tumours are the most widely used techniques.

Identification of major trauma using the simplified abbreviated injury scale to estimate the injury severity score: a diagnostic accuracy and validation study.

Background: The Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) and Injury Severity Score (ISS) grade the severity of injuries and are useful for trauma audit and benchmarking. However, AIS coding is complex and requires specifically trained staff. A simple yet reliable scoring system is needed.