Savoirs locaux sur la maladie chez les Gbe au Bénin, le cas du paludisme: éléments empiriques pour une anthropoplogie de la santé

L’objectif de ce travail est de décrire et d’analyser les représentations et les pratiques liées au paludisme auprès des communautés Fon et Waci (sud et centre du Bénin). L’étude a porté sur un échantillon de 425 enquêtés. On a procédé à des entretiens individuels approfondis et à des discussions de groupe. Dans les nosologies Fon et Waci le paludisme est considéré comme une “maladie de la chaleur ou du soleil”, “maladie de la fatigue”, “maladie d’une mauvaise alimentation”, “maladie du sorci..

The electro-spinning devices the opened door to the nano dimension

Nano tim u Laboratoriju za fizikalna i mehanička ispitivanja tekstila (Laboratoire de Physique et Mécanique Textiles- LPMT) razvija i istražuje od 2004. uređaje za elektroispredanje sa svrhom dobivanja filamentnih proizvoda promjera u nano dimenzijama. Da bi se to postiglo, provedena su istraživanja u različitim smjerovima, jedno u smjeru razvoja uređaja za elektroispredanje, drugo u smjeru razvoja uvjeta elektroispredanja i njihovog optimiranja, i treće u smjeru razvoja proizvoda posebnih svojstava s obzirom na strukturu i orijentaciju filamenata. Tako dobiveni proizvodi uglavnom su razvijeni za medicinske svrhe.Since 2004, the Nano-team of LPMT has developed and investigated the electro-spinning facilities in order to produce products made of filament presenting a nano-size in diameters. In order to achieve these goals, the following studies have been carried out in different directions, one on the electro-spinning devices, one on the electro-spinning conditions and their optimisation and the last area to be studied has been the development of product with specific properties in terms of structure and filament orientations. These products are mainly developed for medical purposes

Comparison between french and portuguese sensory evaluation applied on wool light fabrics

In the frame of bilateral collaboration, the same samples made of wool and dedicated to men suits (light fabrics) have been tested through sensory evaluation panel that has been developed in France (Mulhouse) and Portugal (Guimarães). In this paper, the obtained results have been analyzed, discussed, simulated and differences obtained have been statistically analyzed. It is appeared that for some samples the two panels have highlighted the same marking or the same trends and for others the evaluations have been really different. An analysis, attribute per attribute, have been carried out and it has been shown that some attributes have not been evaluated in the same manner depending on the nationality of the panelists.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT

Savoirs locaux sur la maladie chez les Gbe au Bénin, le cas du paludisme: éléments empiriques pour une anthropoplogie de la santé

L’objectif de ce travail est de décrire et d’analyser les représentations et les pratiques liées au paludisme auprès des communautés Fon et Waci (sud et centre du Bénin). L’étude a porté sur un échantillon de 425 enquêtés. On a procédé à des entretiens individuels approfondis et à des discussions de groupe. Dans les nosologies Fon et Waci le paludisme est considéré comme une “maladie de la chaleur ou du soleil”, “maladie de la fatigue”, “maladie d’une mauvaise alimentation”, “maladie du sorci..

Crime and gambling disorders: A systematic review

It is generally believed that there is an instrumental relationship between problem gambling and crime such that some gamblers resort to illegal activity to recoup financial shortfalls resulting from their gambling. However, a clear understanding of the risk factors for the commission of crimes beyond financial stresses is absent in the literature. The aim of this review was to identify the nature of crimes perpetrated by problem gamblers and the factors that contribute to the commission of gambling-related crimes. A systematic review adhering to guidelines outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement searching eight databases – PsycINFO, Westlaw AU, Heinonline, Legal Source via Ebsco, Legaltrac via Gale, PubMed, Scopus, and Medline – was conducted. A total of 21 papers were included after screening and application of exclusion criteria. All studies examined reported crimes committed by problem gamblers, with a validated assessment tool measuring problem gambling. The review provided evidence that gambling-related crime typically consists of non-violent, income-generating offences. However, it also revealed that problem gamblers may commit violent crimes at a higher than expected rate, which may have been concealed by deliberate and unintentional under-reporting of gambling-related crimes. The causal relationship between problem gambling and violent crime, however, remains uncertain. Based on this review, suggestions are offered for the evaluation of perpetrators of gambling-related crime on a case-by-case basis, to better understand the relationship between gambling and crime and facilitate more frequent application of therapeutic jurisprudence in future.This work was supported by funding provided by the School of Psychology, Science Faculty, the University of Sydney. This work was supported by an Australian Research Council Discovery Early Career Research Award [DE1060100459] awarded to Dr. Sally Gainsbury

Patched receptors sense, interpret and establish an epidermal Hedgehog signalling gradient

By employing the sensitivity of single molecule fluorescent in situ hybridisation (smFISH) we have precisely quantified the levels and defined the temporal and spatial distribution of Hedgehog signalling activity during embryonic skin development, and uncovered that there is a Hedgehog signalling gradient along the proximal-distal axis of developing hair follicles. In order to explore the contribution of Hedgehog receptors Ptch1 and Ptch2 in establishing the epidermal signalling gradient, we quantitated the level of pathway activity generated in Ptch1 and Ptch1;Ptch2-deficient skin and defined the contribution of each receptor to regulation of the levels of Hedgehog signalling identified in wild-type skin. Moreover, we show that both the cellular phenotype and level of pathway activity featured in Ptch1;Ptch2-deficient cells faithfully recapitulates the Peak level of endogenous Hedgehog signalling detected at the base of developing follicles, where the concentration of endogenous Shh is predicted to be highest. Taken together, these data demonstrate that both Ptch1 and Ptch2 play a crucial role in sensing the concentration of Hedgehog ligand and regulating the appropriate dose-dependent response

An in vivo comparative study of sonic, desert and Indian hedgehog reveals that hedgehog pathway activity regulates epidermal stem cell homeostasis

Despite the well-characterised role of sonic hedgehog (Shh) in promoting interfollicular basal cell proliferation and hair follicle downgrowth, the role of hedgehog signalling during epidermal stem cell fate remains largely uncharacterised. In order to determine whether the three vertebrate hedgehog molecules play a role in regulating epidermal renewal we overexpressed sonic (Shh), desert (Dhh) and Indian (Ihh) hedgehog in the basal cells of mouse skin under the control of the human keratin 14 promoter. We observed no overt epidermal morphogenesis phenotype in response to Ihh overexpression, however Dhh overexpression resulted in a range of embryonic and adult skin manifestations indistinguishable from Shh overexpression. Two distinct novel phenotypes were observed amongst Shh and Dhh transgenics, one exhibiting epidermal progenitor cell hyperplasia with the other displaying a complete loss of epidermal tissue renewal indicating deregulation of stem cell activity. These data suggest that correct temporal regulation of hedgehog activity is a key factor in ensuring epidermal stem cell maintenance. In addition, we observed Shh and Dhh transgenic skin from both phenotypes developed lesions reminiscent of human basal cell carcinoma (BCC), indicating that BCCs can be generated despite the loss of much of the proliferative (basal) compartment. These data suggest the intriguing possibility that BCC can arise outside the stem cell population. Thus the elucidation of Shh (and Dhh) target gene activation in the skin will likely identify those genes responsible for increasing the proliferative potential of epidermal basal cells and the mechanisms involved in regulating epidermal stem cell fate

Genetic and functional interaction network analysis reveals global enrichment of regulatory T cell genes influencing basal cell carcinoma susceptibility

Published online: 06 February 2021BACKGROUND: Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin is the most common form of human cancer, with more than 90% of tumours presenting with clear genetic activation of the Hedgehog pathway. However, polygenic risk factors affecting mechanisms such as DNA repair and cell cycle checkpoints or which modulate the tumour microenvironment or host immune system play significant roles in determining whether genetic mutations culminate in BCC development. We set out to define background genetic factors that play a role in influencing BCC susceptibility via promoting or suppressing the effects of oncogenic drivers of BCC. METHODS: We performed genome-wide association studies (GWAS) on 17,416 cases and 375,455 controls. We subsequently performed statistical analysis by integrating data from population-based genetic studies of multi-omics data, including blood- and skin-specific expression quantitative trait loci and methylation quantitative trait loci, thereby defining a list of functionally relevant candidate BCC susceptibility genes from our GWAS loci. We also constructed a local GWAS functional interaction network (consisting of GWAS nearest genes) and another functional interaction network, consisting specifically of candidate BCC susceptibility genes. RESULTS: A total of 71 GWAS loci and 46 functional candidate BCC susceptibility genes were identified. Increased risk of BCC was associated with the decreased expression of 26 susceptibility genes and increased expression of 20 susceptibility genes. Pathway analysis of the functional candidate gene regulatory network revealed strong enrichment for cell cycle, cell death, and immune regulation processes, with a global enrichment of genes and proteins linked to TReg cell biology. CONCLUSIONS: Our genome-wide association analyses and functional interaction network analysis reveal an enrichment of risk variants that function in an immunosuppressive regulatory network, likely hindering cancer immune surveillance and effective antitumour immunity.Christelle Adolphe, Angli Xue, Atefeh Taherian Fard, Laura A. Genovesi, Jian Yang and Brandon J. Wainwrigh

Heterosexual oral and anal sex in Kinshasa (D.R.Congo): Data from OKAPI prospective cohort

Background Sexually transmitted infections can be spread through oral and anal heterosexual sex. There are few data on these practices in Sub-Saharan Africa. We analyzed the prevalence of heterosexual oral and anal sex among HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) attendees in Kinshasa and the associated sociodemographics, perceptions and behavioral factors. Methods OKAPI (Observational Kinshasa AIDS Prevention Initiative) prospective cohort study. It evaluates the VCT impact on HIV-related knowledge and behaviors at 6 and 12-month follow-up. Since April 2016 until April 2018, 797 persons aged 15–59 years were HIV tested and replied to a baseline interview, including information about anal and oral sex. Descriptive, bi- and multivariate analyses were performed using baseline data. Results Among 718 sexually active participants reporting heterosexual sex, 59% had had oral sex, 22% anal sex and 18% both practices. Among participants reporting “not” having had sex, 6% reported oral sex, 3% anal sex and 1% both. Oral sex was associated with a daily use of the Internet/mobile phone, perceiving low community HIV risk, reporting HIV-related behaviors (multiple partners, inconsistent condom use, anal, paid and forced sex) and having been pregnant. Being married-monogamous was inversely associated with oral sex. Anal sex was directly associated with having other risk sexual behaviors. Conclusions Oral and anal sex were common among people reporting heterosexual sex in Kinshasa. Perceiving a low community HIV risk and having other sexual risk behaviors are associated with these practices, which are commonly not considered as risky despite their strong association with HIV/STIs. They need to be considered when designing preventive strategies in Kinshasa