Mobilise-D insights to estimate real-world walking speed in multiple conditions with a wearable device

This study aimed to validate a wearable device’s walking speed estimation pipeline, considering complexity, speed, and walking bout duration. The goal was to provide recommendations on the use of wearable devices for real-world mobility analysis. Participants with Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Proximal Femoral Fracture, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Congestive Heart Failure, and healthy older adults (n = 97) were monitored in the laboratory and the real-world (2.5 h), using a lower back wearable device. Two walking speed estimation pipelines were validated across 4408/1298 (2.5 h/laboratory) detected walking bouts, compared to 4620/1365 bouts detected by a multi-sensor reference system. In the laboratory, the mean absolute error (MAE) and mean relative error (MRE) for walking speed estimation ranged from 0.06 to 0.12 m/s and − 2.1 to 14.4%, with ICCs (Intraclass correlation coefficients) between good (0.79) and excellent (0.91). Real-world MAE ranged from 0.09 to 0.13, MARE from 1.3 to 22.7%, with ICCs indicating moderate (0.57) to good (0.88) agreement. Lower errors were observed for cohorts without major gait impairments, less complex tasks, and longer walking bouts. The analytical pipelines demonstrated moderate to good accuracy in estimating walking speed. Accuracy depended on confounding factors, emphasizing the need for robust technical validation before clinical application. Trial registration: ISRCTN – 12246987

Les effets de confinement SARS-CoV-2 sur le sommeil : enquête en ligne au cours de la quatrième semaine de confinement

International audienc

Parallel and antiparallel A*A-T intramolecular triple helices.

Intramolecular triple helices have been obtained by folding back twice oligonucleotides formed by decamers bound by non-nucleotide linkers: dA10-linker-dA10-linker-dT10 and dA10-linker-dT10-linker-dA10. We have thus prepared two triple helices with forced third strand orientation, respectively antiparallel (apA*A-T) and parallel (pA*A-T) with respect to the adenosine strand of the Watson-Crick duplex. The existence of the triple helices has been shown by FTIR, UV and fluorescence spectroscopies. Similar melting temperatures have been obtained in very different oligomer concentration conditions (micromolar solutions for thermal denaturation classically followed by UV spectroscopy, milimolar solutions in the case of melting monitored by FTIR spectroscopy) showing that the triple helices are intramolecular. The stability of the parallel triplex is found to be slightly lower than that of the antiparallel (deltaT(m) = 6 degrees C). The sugar conformations determined by FTIR are different for both triplexes. Only South-type sugars are found in the antiparallel triplex whereas both South- and North-type sugars are detected in the parallel triplex. In this case, thymidine sugars have a South-type geometry, and the adenosine strand of the Watson-Crick duplex has North-type sugars. For the antiparallel triplex the experimental results and molecular modeling data are consistent with a reverse-Hoogsteen like third-strand base pairing and South-type sugar conformation. An energetically optimized model of the parallel A*A-T triple helix with a non-uniform distribution of sugar conformations is discussed

TGFβi is involved in the chondrogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells and is dysregulated in osteoarthritis

International audienceObjective: Transforming growth factor-b (TGFb) is a major regulator of cartilage homeostasis and its deregulation has been associated with osteoarthritis (OA). Deregulation of the TGFb pathway in mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) has been proposed to be at the onset of OA. Using a secretome analysis, we identified a member of the TGFb family, TGFb-induced protein (TGFbi or bIGH3), expressed in MSCs and we investigated its function and regulation during OA. Design: Cartilage, bone, synovium, infrapatellar fat pad and bone marrow-MSCs were isolated from patients with OA or healthy subjects. Chondrogenesis of BM-MSCs was induced by TGFb3 in micropellet culture. Expression of TGFbi was quantified by RT-qPCR, ELISA or immunohistochemistry. Role of TGFbi was investigated in gain and loss of function experiments in BM-MSCs and chondrocytes. Results: TGFbi was up-regulated in early stages of chondrogenesis and its knock-down in BM-MSCs resulted in the down-regulation of mature and hypertrophic chondrocyte markers. It likely occurred through the modulation of adhesion molecules including integrin (ITG)b1, ITGb5 and N-cadherin. We also showed that TGFbi was upregulated in vitro in a model of OA chondrocytes, and its silencing enhanced the hypertrophic marker type X collagen. In addition, TGFbi was up-regulated in bone and cartilage from OA patients while its expression was reduced in BM-MSCs. Similar findings were observed in a murine model of OA. Conclusions: Our results revealed a dual role of TGFbi during chondrogenesis and pointed its deregulation in OA joint tissues. Modulating TGFbi in BM-MSCs might be of interest in cartilage regenerative medicine

Un programme court de TCCi en groupe par visioconférence dans l'insomnie modifie-t-il les croyances erronées ?

International audienceIntroduction: The Morphee Sleep network runs a short group CBT programme. During the pandemic, the programme was administered by videoconference. The programme focuses on behavioral modification. The objective of our study was to evaluate whether the videoconference programme produced changes in dysfunctional beliefs about sleep and whether these changes were linked to improvements in insomnia. Methods: Observational study of 3 × 90 minute sessions of group CBT by videoconference over one month delivered by experienced psychologists. The outcome measures : insomnia severity scale (ISI), dysfunctional beliefs and attitudes about sleep short version (DBAS 16), hospital anxiety and depression scale (subscales depression HADD and anxiety HADA), and epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) completed before session 1 and at the end of session 3. The effectiveness of the programme on insomnia was evaluated by the decrease in the ISI score : full response R+ (>7 points), partial response, R- (4 - 6 points) non response, NR (9 points) and no response CNR (<9 points). Results: There were fifty-five participants, 64 % women with a mean age of 49.1 ± 16.1 years. The DBAS 16 was reduced by 6.12 ± 1.29 to 5.09 ± 1.57 (P< 0.0001) with 67 % of participants showing a response CR. The ISI score reduced from 17.7 ± 3.6 to 14.0 ± 4.9 (P< 0.0001) with 49 % showing at least a partial response (R+ and R-). A significant correlation (0.327, P = 0.015) between the CBT response and dysfunctional beliefs about sleep was observed with a significant reduction in the DBAS 16 between responders R+ and non-responders (R+ vs. NR 1.67 ± 1.3 vs. 0.57 ± 1.28 P = 0.012). Seventy-nine of R+ showed improvements in the DBAS 16 vs. 69 % of R- and 61 % of non-responders NR. Conclusion: A short group CBT programme by videoconference focused on behavioral modification can reduce dysfunctional beliefs about sleep