Synthèse améliorée de molécules hybrides estradiol-Pt(II) pour le traitement des cancers féminins hormono-dépendants : étude de l'influence de la longueur de la chaîne alkyle sur l'activité biologique

Le cisplatine est un agent anticancéreux actuellement utilisé en clinique. Ce composé, administré par voie intraveineuse, s'attaque aux cellules à prolifération rapide dont les cellules cancéreuses, mais il agit aussi sur certains organes sains. L'utilisation de ce médicament occasionne plusieurs effets secondaires ce qui affecte grandement la condition physique des patients. Le ciblage thérapeutique constituerait une solution à ce problème majeur dans le domaine du cancer. Une molécule résultant de la combinaison du cisplatine et de l'hormone sexuelle féminine, l'estradiol, fut synthétisée il y a quelques années dans le laboratoire du Dr. Bérubé à l'Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières. Cette dernière fut testée in vitro et in vivo, et les résultats se sont révélés très prometteurs. L'objectif de ce présent travail consiste à améliorer la synthèse de ce type de molécule ainsi que changer la structure de celle-ci, soit en variant la longueur de la chaîne alkyle séparant le dérivé cisplatine du stéroïde

A competency-based approach to nurses' continuing education for clinical reasoning and leadership through reflective practice in a care situation

Newly graduated nurses need to demonstrate high levels of competencies when they enter the workplace. A competency-based approach to their education is recommended to ensure patients' needs are met. A continuing education intervention consistent with the competency-based approach to education was designed and implemented in eight care units in two teaching hospitals. It consists of a series of 30-min reflective practice groups on clinical events that newly graduated nurses encountered in their practice. It was evaluated using a descriptive longitudinal evaluative research design, combining individual and group interviews with stakeholders, the analysis of facilitators' journal entries, and a research assistant's field notes. The results suggest that issues associated with the implementation of the continuing education intervention revolved around leadership for managers, flexibility for nursing staff, and role shifting for the facilitators. Newly graduated nurses who participated in the study noted that the reflective practice sessions contributed to the development of both clinical reasoning and leadership. Nursing managers stated the advantages of the intervention on nurses' professional development and for the quality and safety of care. Following the end of the study, participants from two units managed to pursue the activity during their work time

Synthesis, antiproliferative activity and estrogen receptor α affinity of novel estradiol-linked platinum(II) complex analogs to carboplatin and oxaliplatin. Potential vector complexes to target estrogen-dependent tissues

In the course of efforts to develop 17β-estradiol-linked to anticancer agents targeting estrogen-dependent tissue, we identified three estradiol-linked platinum(II) complex analogs to cisplatin (E-CDDP) derivatives namely: VP-128 (1), CD-38 (2) and JMP-39 (3) that exhibit potent in vitro and in vivo (for derivative VP-128) activity along with interaction with the estrogen receptor α (ERα). In this study, we prepared and biologically evaluated two novel classes of estradiol-linked platinum(II) complex analogs to carboplatin (E-CarboP, 1a-3a) and oxaliplatin (E-OxaP, 1b-3b). E-CarboP and E-OxaP were designed and based on the estradiol-linker scaffold of E-CDDP derivatives previously identified. Consequently, we assessed the importance of the nature of platinum(II) salt on the antiproliferative activity on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human mammary carcinoma cell lines together with affinity for the ERα by replacing the dichloroplatinum(II) moiety by a cyclobutane-1,1-dicarboxylateplatinum(II) or an oxalateplatinum(II) moiety. Except for compound 3b which is inactive at the concentration tested, the antiproliferative activity of all compounds on both human mammary carcinomas cell lines are in micromolar range and are more active than carboplatin and oxaliplatin alone but less active that their E-CDDP counterparts (1-3). In addition, E-CarboP derivatives 1a-3a show very low affinity for ERα whereas E-OxaPs 1b and 2b show higher affinity for ERα than their parents E-CDDPs (1-2), suggesting that the nature of the platinum(II) salt involved in the vector complexes is extremely important to both retain significant antiproliferative activity and selectivity for the ERα and possibility to target estrogen-dependent tissues. Finally, E-OxaPs 1b and 2b are potentially promising alternatives vector complexes to target estrogen-dependent tissues

La bataille de l'imprimé

Il est difficile d'exagérer l'ampleur de la révolution que nous sommes en train de vivre et la tourmente dans laquelle est entraîné inexorablement le livre. Celui-ci n'est déjà plus le vecteur du savoir qu'il a été depuis plus de cinq millénaires. Le bouleversement dont nous sommes témoins sera plus radical que l'invention de l'imprimerie et de plus longue portée que le passage du volumen (ou rouleau de papyrus) au codex (ou cahier cousu et ancêtre de notre livre).Pour Sandrine et Hélène Arwe