Biliary atresia

Biliary atresia (BA) is a rare disease characterised by a biliary obstruction of unknown origin that presents in the neonatal period. It is the most frequent surgical cause of cholestatic jaundice in this age group. BA occurs in approximately 1/18,000 live births in Western Europe. In the world, the reported incidence varies from 5/100,000 to 32/100,000 live births, and is highest in Asia and the Pacific region. Females are affected slightly more often than males. The common histopathological picture is one of inflammatory damage to the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts with sclerosis and narrowing or even obliteration of the biliary tree. Untreated, this condition leads to cirrhosis and death within the first years of life. BA is not known to be a hereditary condition. No primary medical treatment is relevant for the management of BA. Once BA suspected, surgical intervention (Kasai portoenterostomy) should be performed as soon as possible as operations performed early in life is more likely to be successful. Liver transplantation may be needed later if the Kasai operation fails to restore the biliary flow or if cirrhotic complications occur. At present, approximately 90% of BA patients survive and the majority have normal quality of life

Call for emergency action to restore dietary diversity and protect global food systems in times of COVID-19 and beyond: Results from a cross-sectional study in 38 countries

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the global food system, sending shockwaves across countries' societies and economy. This has presented formidable challenges to sustaining a healthy and resilient lifestyle. The objective of this study is to examine the food consumption patterns and assess diet diversity indicators, primarily focusing on the food consumption score (FCS), among households in 38 countries both before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 37 207 participants (mean age: 36.70 ± 14.79, with 77 % women) was conducted in 38 countries through an online survey administered between April and June 2020. The study utilized a pre-tested food frequency questionnaire to explore food consumption patterns both before and during the COVID-19 periods. Additionally, the study computed Food Consumption Score (FCS) as a proxy indicator for assessing the dietary diversity of households. Findings: This quantification of global, regional and national dietary diversity across 38 countries showed an increment in the consumption of all food groups but a drop in the intake of vegetables and in the dietary diversity. The household's food consumption scores indicating dietary diversity varied across regions. It decreased in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, including Lebanon (p < 0.001) and increased in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries including Bahrain (p = 0.003), Egypt (p < 0.001) and United Arab Emirates (p = 0.013). A decline in the household's dietary diversity was observed in Australia (p < 0.001), in South Africa including Uganda (p < 0.001), in Europe including Belgium (p < 0.001), Denmark (p = 0.002), Finland (p < 0.001) and Netherland (p = 0.027) and in South America including Ecuador (p < 0.001), Brazil (p < 0.001), Mexico (p < 0.0001) and Peru (p < 0.001). Middle and older ages [OR = 1.2; 95 % CI = [1.125–1.426] [OR = 2.5; 95 % CI = [1.951–3.064], being a woman [OR = 1.2; 95 % CI = [1.117–1.367], having a high education (p < 0.001), and showing amelioration in food-related behaviors [OR = 1.4; 95 % CI = [1.292–1.709] were all linked to having a higher dietary diversity. Conclusion: The minor to moderate changes in food consumption patterns observed across the 38 countries within relatively short time frames could become lasting, leading to a significant and prolonged reduction in dietary diversity, as demonstrated by our findings.Revisión por pare

Call for emergency action to restore dietary diversity and protect global food systems in times of COVID-19 and beyond: Results from a cross-sectional study in 38 countries

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the fragility of the global food system, sending shockwaves across countries\u27 societies and economy. This has presented formidable challenges to sustaining a healthy and resilient lifestyle. The objective of this study is to examine the food consumption patterns and assess diet diversity indicators, primarily focusing on the food consumption score (FCS), among households in 38 countries both before and during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional study with 37 207 participants (mean age: 36.70 ± 14.79, with 77 % women) was conducted in 38 countries through an online survey administered between April and June 2020. The study utilized a pre-tested food frequency questionnaire to explore food consumption patterns both before and during the COVID-19 periods. Additionally, the study computed Food Consumption Score (FCS) as a proxy indicator for assessing the dietary diversity of households. Findings: This quantification of global, regional and national dietary diversity across 38 countries showed an increment in the consumption of all food groups but a drop in the intake of vegetables and in the dietary diversity. The household\u27s food consumption scores indicating dietary diversity varied across regions. It decreased in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries, including Lebanon (p \u3c 0.001) and increased in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries including Bahrain (p = 0.003), Egypt (p \u3c 0.001) and United Arab Emirates (p = 0.013). A decline in the household\u27s dietary diversity was observed in Australia (p \u3c 0.001), in South Africa including Uganda (p \u3c 0.001), in Europe including Belgium (p \u3c 0.001), Denmark (p = 0.002), Finland (p \u3c 0.001) and Netherland (p = 0.027) and in South America including Ecuador (p \u3c 0.001), Brazil (p \u3c 0.001), Mexico (p \u3c 0.0001) and Peru (p \u3c 0.001). Middle and older ages [OR = 1.2; 95 % CI = [1.125–1.426] [OR = 2.5; 95 % CI = [1.951–3.064], being a woman [OR = 1.2; 95 % CI = [1.117–1.367], having a high education (p \u3c 0.001), and showing amelioration in food-related behaviors [OR = 1.4; 95 % CI = [1.292–1.709] were all linked to having a higher dietary diversity. Conclusion: The minor to moderate changes in food consumption patterns observed across the 38 countries within relatively short time frames could become lasting, leading to a significant and prolonged reduction in dietary diversity, as demonstrated by our findings

Nucleic acid sensing at the interface between innate and adaptive immunity in vaccination

The demand is currently high for new vaccination strategies, particularly to help combat problematic intracellular pathogens, such as HIV and malarial parasites. In the past decade, the identification of host receptors that recognize pathogen-derived nucleic acids has revealed an essential role for nucleic acid sensing in the triggering of immunity to intracellular pathogens. This Review first addresses our current understanding of the nucleic acid-sensing immune machinery. We then explain how the study of nucleic acid-sensing mechanisms not only has revealed their central role in driving the responses mediated by many current vaccines, but is also revealing how they could be harnessed for the design of new vaccines

Esejistični slog Walterja Benjamina

Članek obravnava tipični esejistični stil Walterja Benjamina. Za vse žanre njegovega pisanja je značilna alegoričnost in surrealističnost s skritimi ter zasebnimi (in esejističnimi) pomeni, a tudi s preroško halucinatorično napetostjo.This paper examines the peculiar essayistic style of Walter Benjamin. All of the various genres of his writing have an allegorical and surrealistic quality, with hidden and private (and essayistic) meanings, but also with a prophetic, hallucinatory tension

Multiplex microarray ELISA versus classical ELISA, a comparison study of pollutant sensing for environmental analysis.

International audienceThe present study describes the development, optimization and performance comparison of three ELISAs and one multiplex immunoassay in a microarray format. The developed systems were dedicated to the detection of three different classes of pollutants (pesticide, explosive and toxin) in water. The characteristics and performances of these two types of assays were evaluated and compared, in order to verify that multiplex immunoassays can replace ELISA for multiple analyte sensing. 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and okadaic acid were chosen as model targets and were immobilized in classical microtiter plate wells or arrayed at the surface of a microarray integrated within a classical 96-well plate. Once optimized, the classical ELISAs and microarray-based ELISA performances were evaluated and compared in terms of limit of detection, IC50, linearity range and reproducibility. Classical ELISAs provided quite good sensitivity (limit of detection down to 10 μg L(-1)), but the multiplex immunoassay was proven to be more sensitive (limit of detection down to 0.01 μg L(-1)), more reproducible and an advantageous tool in terms of cost and time expenses. This multiplex tool was then used for the successful detection of the three target molecules in spiked water samples and achieved very promising recovery rates

High-Throughput Multiplexed Competitive Immunoassay for Pollutants Sensing in Water

International audienceThe present study described the development and evaluation of a new fully automated multiplex competitive enabling the of five water pollutants (okadaic acid (OA), 2-chloro-4-ethylamino-6-isopropylamino-1,3,5-triazine (atrazine), 2.4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), and 1,3,5trinitroperhydro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX)). The technology is taking advantage of an optical-clear pressure-sensitive adhesive on which biomolecules can be immobilized and that can be integrated within a classical 96-well format. The optimization of the microarray composition and cross-reaction was performed using an original approach where probe molecules (haptens) were conjugated to different carriers such as protein (bovine serum albumin or ovalbumin), amino-functionalized latex beads, or dextran polymer and arrayed at the surface of the adhesive. A total of 17 different probes were then arrayed together with controls on the adhesive surface and screened toward their specific reactivity and cross-reactivity. Once optimized, the complete setup was used for the detection of the five target molecules (less than 3 h for 96 samples). Limits of detection of 0.02, 0.01, 0.01, 100, and 0.02 pg were found for OA, atrazine, 2,4-D, TNT, and RDX, respectively. The proof of concept of the multiplex competitive detection (semiquantitative or qualitative) of the five pollutants was also demonstrated on 16 spiked samples