Galanin evokes a cytosolic calcium bursting mode and hormone release in GH3/B6 pituitary cells

AbstractThe effects of galanin on secretion and cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+i) have been studied in GH3/B6 pituitary cells. Prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) release was measured in column Perifusion experiments; [Ca2+]i was monitored in single cells by dual emission microspectrofluorimetry using indo-1 as intracellular Ca2+ probe. Galanin (0.1–1 nM) caused PRL and GH release coincident with a modest rise in [Ca2+]i The increase in [Ca2+]i comprises the establishment of characteristic long-lasting bursts of [Ca2+]i transients. Galanin acts on Ca2+ entry through voltage-gated Ca2+ channels since there was no response to the peptide when Cd2+ - a Ca2+ channel blocker - was added to the bath solution. The stimulation of bursting activity by galanin may provide a fine Ca2+ -signalling mechanism which maximally stimulates hormone release while avoiding refractory periods

Open access. Regards croisés

Nul n’ignore les débats en cours sur l’open access, alimentés par diverses prises de position professionnelles. L\u27enssib proposait lors de cette rencontre d\u27 interroger les conditions économiques d’un système éditorial qui permettrait (ou pas) de trouver un équilibre entre archives ouvertes, revues en libre accès et publications traditionnelles tout en préservant la qualité scientifique de ces productions. En croisant des points du vue et des données, ces échanges ont été l’occasion de mettre en perspective un état de la question

Understanding PE teachers’ opinions about physical fitness assessment in children aged 10-11 years

Introduction: Physical fitness assessments for children, aged 10-11 years were performed in the province of Luxembourg. Children went to sports centres with their teachers to achieve a battery of 8 tests, evaluating different parameters of their physical fitness. However, this assessment campaign was restricted to the evaluation physical fitness and was focused on performances. Moreover, PE teacher’s involvement in this campaign seemed limited. From October 2023, the framework of the campaign will be modified following recommendations of the new curriculum for health and physical education. Objectives: The aim of this study was to collect PE teachers' opinions about the objectives of the campaign, their role and how the campaign fitted into their PE lessons. Methods: Interviews were conducted to meet forty-five PE teachers involved in the 2022-campaign. Discussions were recorded. Ideas discussed in each interview were transcribed. This procedure was used to create an online survey. Results: Thirty-seven PE teachers completed the online survey. Very few PE teachers were involved in projects regarding the new curriculum. Ninety-two percent of PE teachers prepared their students for the tests. Ninety-two percent of PE teachers informed their students about their results. Results were not discussed with parents. Three-quarters of PE teachers wanted to further integrate the campaign. Conclusion: This survey analysed the impact of this campaign on teachers' interventions, as well as the barriers encountered. This study could allow a better collaboration between PE teachers, parents, researchers, and members of the sports service for the development of future campaigns

The fitness barometer, a tool for physical education teachers

Introduction: Belgium has been working on physical fitness assessment since a couple of years (1994, 2004, 2013). In the Province of Luxembourg, a physical fitness campaign was organised every year for children in grades 5 and 6 (10-11 years). In October 2023 this campaign will be modified to provide motor and physical assessment, and health promotion. Several fitness tests will be removed. Objectives: The aim of this study was to provide a complete fitness barometer with the results of the campaign 2022. Methods: In 2022, 4,344 children aged 10 and 11 years performed 8 fitness tests, assessing upper and lower limbs explosive power, cardio-respiratory endurance, speed, flexibility, and abdominal endurance. Tests were assessed by external assessors. Data were analysed by researchers. R software (Rcmdr) was used for statistical analysis. Four groups were categorized by gender and age. Descriptive statistical analysis of percentiles was conducted for each group. Results: Percentiles divided statistical series into different categories that allowed each child to be placed in relation to usual values of children of his/her province, age, and gender. Results for each child highlight some qualities and weaknesses of his/her physical fitness, at the assessment time. Conclusion: This barometer delivered to PE teachers an individualized profile for each student. Collective results were provided for the PE teacher showing strengths and weaknesses of their class. Physical fitness is one domain of competencies that a person must develop to be physically active. Other domains of competencies should be added to this campaign

Ulcerative Colitis-Associated Colorectal Cancer Prevention by 5-Aminosalicylates: Current Status and Perspectives

International audienc

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in behavioral and food addiction: a systematic review of efficacy, technical, and methodological issues

Objectives: Behavioral addictions (BA) are complex disorders for which pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatments have shown their limits. Non-invasive brain stimulation, among which transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), has opened up new perspectives in addiction treatment. The purpose of this work is to conduct a critical and systematic review of tDCS efficacy, and of technical and methodological considerations in the field of BA. Methods: A bibliographic search has been conducted on the Medline and ScienceDirect databases until December 2014, based on the following selection criteria: clinical studies on tDCS and BA (namely eating disorders, compulsive buying, Internet addiction, pathological gambling, sexual addiction, sports addiction, video games addiction). Study selection, data analysis, and reporting were conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Results: Out of 402 potential articles, seven studies were selected. So far focusing essentially on abnormal eating, these studies suggest that tDCS (right prefrontal anode/left prefrontal cathode) reduces food craving induced by visual stimuli. Conclusions: Despite methodological and technical differences between studies, the results are promising. So far, only few studies of tDCS in BA have been conducted. New research is recommended on the use of tDCS in BA, other than eating disorders

Adequacy of Nutritional Intakes during the Year after Critical Illness: An Observational Study in a Post-ICU Follow-Up Clinic.

peer reviewedWhether nutritional intakes in critically ill survivors after hospital discharge are adequate is unknown. The aims of this observational study were to describe the energy and protein intakes in ICU survivors attending a follow-up clinic compared to empirical targets and to explore differences in outcomes according to intake adequacy. All adult survivors who attended the follow-up clinic at 1, 3 and 12 months (M1, M3, M12) after a stay in our intensive care unit (ICU) ≥ 7 days were recruited. Average energy and protein intakes over the 7 days before the face-to-face consultation were quantified by a dietician using food anamnesis. Self-reported intakes were compared empirically to targets for healthy people (FAO/WHO/UNU equations), for critically ill patients (25 kcal/kg/day and 1.3 g protein/kg/day). They were also compared to targets that are supposed to fit post-ICU patients (35 kcal/kg/day and 1.5 g protein/kg/day). Blood prealbumin level and handgrip strength were also measured at each timepoint. A total of 206 patients were analyzed (49, 97 and 60 at the M1, M3 and M12, respectively). At M1, M3 and M12, energy intakes were 73.2 [63.3-86.3]%, 79.3 [69.3-89.3]% and 82.7 [70.6-93.7]% of healthy targets (p = 0.074), respectively. Protein intakes were below 0.8 g/kg/day in 18/49 (36.7%), 25/97 (25.8%) and 8/60 (13.3%) of the patients at M1, M3 and M12, respectively (p = 0.018), and the protein intakes were 67.9 [46.5-95.8]%, 68.5 [48.8-99.3]% and 71.7 [44.9-95.1]% of the post-ICU targets (p = 0.138), respectively. Prealbumin concentrations and handgrip strength were similar in patients with either inadequate energy intakes or inadequate protein intakes, respectively. In our post-ICU cohort, up to one year after discharge, energy and protein intakes were below the targets that are supposed to fit ICU survivors in recovery phase

O-Glycosylation of the N-terminal region of the serine-rich adhesin Srr1 of Streptococcus agalactiae explored by mass spectrometry.

International audienceSerine-rich (Srr) proteins exposed at the surface of Gram-positive bacteria are a family of adhesins that contribute to the virulence of pathogenic staphylococci and streptococci. Lectin-binding experiments have previously shown that Srr proteins are heavily glycosylated. We report here the first mass-spectrometry analysis of the glycosylation of Streptococcus agalactiae Srr1. After Srr1 enrichment and trypsin digestion, potential glycopeptides were identified in collision induced dissociation spectra using X! Tandem. The approach was then refined using higher energy collisional dissociation fragmentation which led to the simultaneous loss of sugar residues, production of diagnostic oxonium ions and backbone fragmentation for glycopeptides. This feature was exploited in a new open source software tool (SpectrumFinder) developed for this work. By combining these approaches, 27 glycopeptides corresponding to six different segments of the N-terminal region of Srr1 [93-639] were identified. Our data unambiguously indicate that the same protein residue can be modified with different glycan combinations including N-acetylhexosamine, hexose, and a novel modification that was identified as O-acetylated-N-acetylhexosamine. Lectin binding and monosaccharide composition analysis strongly suggested that HexNAc and Hex correspond to N-acetylglucosamine and glucose, respectively. The same protein segment can be modified with a variety of glycans generating a wide structural diversity of Srr1. Electron transfer dissociation was used to assign glycosylation sites leading to the unambiguous identification of six serines and one threonine residues. Analysis of purified Srr1 produced in mutant strains lacking accessory glycosyltransferase encoding genes demonstrates that O-GlcNAcylation is an initial step in Srr1 glycosylation that is likely required for subsequent decoration with Hex. In summary, our data obtained by a combination of fragmentation mass spectrometry techniques associated to a new software tool, demonstrate glycosylation heterogeneity of Srr1, characterize a new protein modification, and identify six glycosylation sites located in the N-terminal region of the protein

Nutrition During Critical Care: An Audit on Actual Energy and Protein Intakes

peer reviewedIntroduction: Oral nutrition is delivered frequently in intensive care units (ICUs) but rarely studied. The primary objective of this study was to quantify nutrition intakes in patients exclusively orally fed (OF) and in those receiving medical nutrition solutions or both. Methods: Adults who stayed in a mixed ICU for ≥3 days were studied. Nutrition deficits were calculated as the difference between estimated energy or protein targets (determined by weight-based formulas) and actual intakes (recorded on a daily basis by nurses). Total volumes of enteral or parenteral nutrition solutions, propofol, and glucose infused over 24 hours were collected and energy and protein amounts were calculated. In OF patients, food intake at each meal (breakfast, lunch, and dinner) was estimated using the "one-quarter portion" method. Results: Among the 289 included patients aged 67 (57-75.5) years, 253 were fed and received, on average, 14.3 (7.8-19) kcal/kg/d and 0.53 (0.27-0.8) g/kg/d protein. In OF patients (n = 126), intakes were 9.7 (5.8-19) kcal/kg/d and 0.35 (0.17-0.57) g/kg/d protein. In the subset of OF patients with ICU stay ≥ 7 days (n = 37), respectively, 51% and 94% never received ≥80% of their energy and protein targets. Conclusion: Nutrition intakes were lower by oral feeding compared with other exclusive or combined medical nutrition. Compared with the prescribed amounts, the deficit was larger for proteins than for energ