Short report: Semi-quantitative scoring of an immunochromatographic test for circulating filarial antigen

The value of a semi-quantitative scoring of the filarial antigen test (Binax Now Filariasis card test, ICT) results was evaluated during a field survey in. the Republic of Congo. One hundred and thirty-four (134) of 774 tests (17.3%) were clearly positive and were scored 1, 2, or 3; and 11 (1.4%) had questionable results. Wuchereria bancrofti microfilariae (mf) were detected in 41 of those 133 individuals with an ICT test score 1 who also had a night blood smear; none of the 11 individuals with questionable ICT results harbored night mf. Cuzick's test showed a significant trend for higher microfilarial densities in groups with higher ICT scores (P < 0.001). The ICT scores were also significantly correlated with blood mf counts. Because filarial antigen levels provide an indication of adult worm infection intensity, our results suggest that semi-quantitative reading of the ICT may be useful for grading the intensity of filarial infections in individuals and populations

Results from 2 cohort studies in central Africa show that clearance of Wuchereria bancrofti infection after repeated rounds of mass drug administration with albendazole alone is closely linked to individual adherence

BACKGROUND: Two community trials conducted from 2012 to 2018 in the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo demonstrated the efficacy of semiannual mass drug administration (MDA) with albendazole (ALB) alone on lymphatic filariasis (LF). However, a high interindividual heterogeneity in the clearance of infection was observed. METHODS: We analyzed trial data to assess the effect of individual adherence to ALB MDA on clearance of circulating filarial antigenemia (CFA) and microfilaremia. Community residents were offered a single dose of ALB every 6 months and tested for LF with a rapid test for CFA at baseline and then annually. CFA test results were scored on a semiquantitative scale. At each round, microfilaremia was assessed in CFA-positive individuals. All CFA-positive individuals for whom at least 1 follow-up measure was available were included in the analyses. Parametric survival models were used to assess the influence of treatment adherence on LF infection indicators. RESULTS: Of 2658 individuals enrolled in the trials, 394 and 129 were eligible for analysis of CFA and microfilaremia clearance, respectively. After adjusting for age, sex, and initial CFA score, the predicted mean time for clearing CFA was shorter in persons who had taken 2 doses of ALB per year (3.9 years) than in persons who had taken 1 or 0 dose (4.4 and 5.3 years; P \u3c .001 for both). A similar pattern was observed for microfilaremia clearance. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate a clear dose-response relationship for the effect of ALB on clearance of CFA and microfilaremia

Instruments for science & technology policies in developing countries

Co-published by: Francois Chesnai

High content Image Analysis to study phenotypic heterogeneity in endothelial cell monolayers

Endothelial cells (ECs) are heterogeneous across and within tissues, reflecting distinct, specialised functions. EC heterogeneity has been proposed to underpin EC plasticity independently from vessel microenvironments. However, heterogeneity driven by contact-dependent or short-range cell-cell crosstalk cannot be evaluated with single cell transcriptomic approaches, as spatial and contextual information is lost. Nonetheless, quantification of EC heterogeneity and understanding of its molecular drivers is key to developing novel therapeutics for cancer, cardiovascular diseases and for revascularisation in regenerative medicine. Here, we developed an EC profiling tool (ECPT) to examine individual cells within intact monolayers. We used ECPT to characterise different phenotypes in arterial, venous and microvascular EC populations. In line with other studies, we measured heterogeneity in terms of cell cycle, proliferation, and junction organisation. ECPT uncovered a previously under-appreciated single-cell heterogeneity in NOTCH activation. We correlated cell proliferation with different NOTCH activation states at the single-cell and population levels. The positional and relational information extracted with our novel approach is key to elucidating the molecular mechanisms underpinning EC heterogeneity

A Novel UPLC-MS Metabolomic Analysis-Based Strategy to Monitor the Course and Extent of iPSC Differentiation to Hepatocytes

ms2 raw data, peak tables generated in Quantitative Analysis Software from Agilent and Matlab functions for QC-SVRC, data clean-up and analysis for the publication with title "Monitoring the differentiation of iPSC to hepatocytes by means of UPLC-MS metabolomics"

A construção de uma agenda para as questões de gênero, desastres socioambientais e desenvolvimento The construction of an agenda concerning gender, socio-environmental disasters, and development

Este artigo¹ tem como objetivo discutir questões relacionadas a desenvolvimento, desastres socioambientais e gênero, as quais, por estarem inscritas no debate contemporâneo brasileiro, constituem elementos que devem pautar pesquisas e estratégias de ação. Apresenta a relação entre gênero, classe, raça/etnia e desastres socioambientais, examinando conceito-schave sobre desenvolvimento, meio ambiente e igualdade no contexto das políticas econômicas recentes. Reflete sobre a situação das mulheres inseridas em uma situação de subalternidade na sociedade capitalista, que sofrem as consequências dos desastres socioambientais. Conclui com sugestões para a inclusão nesses processos do enfoque de gênero na elaboração de agendas de pesquisas e de ação<br>The purpose of this essay is to discuss issues related to development, socio-environmental disasters, and gender, which, for being important elements of the public debate in Brazil today, should be addressed in research and public policy strategies. The relationship between gender, class, race/ethnicity and socio-environmental disasters is presented, and key concepts about development, the environment, and equality are examined in the context of recent economic policies. The essay reflects on the condition of women found in a subaltern condition in capitalist society who suffer the consequences of socio-environmental disasters. It concludes with suggestions for including a focus on gender in the preparation of research and action strategie