Dysfunction of endothelial progenitor cells is associated with the type I IFN pathway in patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis

Objective. Alterations in phenotype and function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been associated with poor vascular outcomes and impaired vascular repair in various conditions. Our hypothesis was that patients with PM and DM have dysregulation of EPCs driven by type I IFN and IL-18 similar to other autoimmune diseases. Methods. Quantification of circulating EPCs was performed by flow cytometry in patients with PM/DM and matched healthy controls. The ability of EPCs to differentiate into mature endothelial cells was investigated by light and fluorescence microscopy quantification in the presence or absence of PM/DM or control serum, neutralizing antibodies to type I IFN receptor or IL-18. Serum type I IFN activity was quantified by induction of type I IFN-inducible genes in HeLa cells. Circulating IL-18 concentrations were assessed by ELISA. Results. Circulating EPCs were significantly lower in PM/DM patients compared with controls. PM/DM EPCs displayed a decreased capacity to differentiate into mature endothelial cells and PM/DM serum significantly inhibited differentiation of control EPCs. This effect was reversed in the majority of samples with neutralizing antibodies to IL-18 or to type I IFN receptor or by a combination of these antibodies. Patients with associated impairments in EPC function had higher type I IFN serum activity. Conclusion. PM/DM is associated with dysregulation of EPC phenotype and function that may be attributed, at least in part, to aberrant IL-18 and type I IFN pathways. The implication of these vasculopathic findings for disease prognosis and complications remains to be determined

Conjunctival bacterial and fungal flora in clinically normal sheep.

ABSTRACT Objectives: The aim was to identify conjunctival bacterial and fungal flora in clinically normal sheep. Design: Prospective study. Setting: Tuscany. Participants: 100 eyes from 50 adult Massese female sheep were examined. The sheep included in the study were considered free of anterior ophthalmic abnormalities. Primary and secondary outcome measures: Bacteria were identified by morphological assessment, Gram staining, biochemical tests. Identification of filamentous fungi was achieved at the genus level, and Aspergillus species were identified based on keys provided by other authors. Yeast colonies were highlighted, but not identified. Results: Positive cultures were obtained from 100/100 eyes for bacteria, and from 86/100 eyes for fungi. A total of 14 types of bacteria and 5 types of fungi were isolated. Yeasts were isolated from 13/100 eyes. The most frequent fungal isolates were saprophytic fungi. Conclusions: Conjunctival bacterial and fungal flora of clinically normal eyes were reported in sheep. The positivity obtained for conjunctival bacteria was higher compared to findings in the literature by other authors in the same species (100 per cent v 40 per cent), while our results were in line with a recent work performed on mouflons (Ovis Musimon) with a 100 per cent positivity for bacterial conjunctival fornix. In our survey, Gram-positive species were prevalent, as reported by other authors in different species. Few data are available in the literature regarding conjunctival fungal flora in healthy small ruminants. The prevalence of conjunctival fungal flora in this study was higher than findings reported in mouflons (86 per cent v 45 per cent). Differences in fungal prevalence may be due to different methods of managing herds, though further studies are required to verify this hypothesis. The similarities in bacterial and fungal isolates between sheep and mouflons suggest a genera pattern of conjunctival colonisation by bacteria and fungi

On ne naît pas entrepreneuse dans l’ESS, on est aidée à le devenir : une approche genrée de l’accompagnement à l’entrepreneuriat associatif dans une structure d’éducation populaire

While the social economy’s organizations introduce themselves as leader in equality and inclusion, the reality of practices is less rewarding. This study deals with the coaching of “associative entrepreneurship” which include project leaders who create associations with the aim of employment. Knowledge about the support of women entrepreneurs seems to be limited to traditional forms of entrepreneurship, neglecting the weight of gender in social economy’s entrepreneurship and its support. However, social economy is a big source of employment. Our approach is based on a gender perspective, which aims to study the social relations between the sexes. The methodology adopted is a single case study about Cap Berriat (public education association) based on interviews (11), participant observation and a collection of internal and external documentation. The coaches have gender biases, which shape the relationship with the accompanied public, and they try to be adaptive. Adopting the gender approaches in the organization would formalize and legitimize the “tinkered” solutions and the various practices.Ce mémoire porte sur l’accompagnement à l’entrepreneuriat associatif et vise à comprendre dans quelle mesure le genre exerce une influence dans la relation entre les accompagnatrices ou accompagnateurs et les personnes accompagnées. Les connaissances sur l'accompagnement des entrepreneuses semblent limitées aux formes traditionnelles d'entrepreneuriat, négligeant le poids du genre dans l'entrepreneuriat en ESS et son accompagnement. Pourtant l’ESS, en particulier le secteur associatif, est porteuse d’emploi et très féminisée. Nous nous inscrivons dans une perspective de genre, qui vise l’étude des rapports sociaux entre les sexes. La méthodologie adoptée est une étude de cas unique fondée sur des entretiens auprès de personnes accompagnatrices et accompagnées (11), d'observation participante et un recueil de documentation interne et externe. Les données sont analysées par la perspective de genre mobilisée. L’étude de cas concerne l’association d’éducation populaire Cap Berriat. Les accompagnateurs et accompagnatrices ont des biais de genre, qui façonnent la relation avec les publics accompagnés. En l’absence de stratégie de l’association à cet égard, ils « bricolent » des pratiques pour s’adapter au genre. Une approche plus formalisée et généralisée à l’échelle de la structure permettrait de légitimer les pratiques existantes et d’aller plus loin, dans une démarche proactive pour l’égalité