Comparison of the effect of Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) with Hyaluronic Acid (HA) injections to treat chronic Jumper's knee

Introduction: Patellar Tendinopathies (PT) represent a very frequent disorder which incidence can reach 30-50% among jumping sports. This trouble is often rebel to classical treatment. Objective: To compare the efficacy of a single injection of RPR to a double infiltration of HA at one week interval. Patients/Methods: Thirty-three patients suffering from PT were enrolled into the study and split into two randomized groups . Eighteen patients (Group 1) have received one PRP injection and the other fifteen subjects (Group 2) received two HA infiltrations. Pain and functionality of the knee were evaluated before injection (T0), 6 weeks (T2) and 3 months (T3) after injections: pain with VAS and pressure algometer, algofunctional scores with IKDC and VISA-P questionnaires, ultrasound, isokinetic evaluation (quadriceps contractions : concentric 60°/sec (C60), concentric 240°/sec (C240), excentric 30°/sec (E30) and VAS during testing). Results: At baseline, difference existed only between groups for algometer, tendon thickness and axial hypoechoic area. In both groups, VAS, algometer, IKCD, VISA-P, VAS for isokinetic testing C60, C240 and E30 were significantly improved at T2 and T3 compared to T0. Comparison between the 2 groups showed no difference excepted for algometer, tendon thickness (T2, T3) and axial hypoechoic area (T2). Discussion and conclusions: There existed a similar improvement of the symptoms in both groups. PRP has already shown its efficacy in PT. HA should probably be a new therapeutic opportunity in this indication. Nevertheless, it should better, for further studies, to include a more homogeneous population and a longer follow-up period of time

Nrf2, a PPARγ Alternative Pathway to Promote CD36 Expression on Inflammatory Macrophages: Implication for Malaria

CD36 is the major receptor mediating nonopsonic phagocytosis of Plasmodium falciparum-parasitized erythrocytes by macrophages. Its expression on macrophages is mainly controlled by the nuclear receptor PPARγ. Here, we demonstrate that inflammatory processes negatively regulate CD36 expression on human and murine macrophages, and hence decrease Plasmodium clearance directly favoring the worsening of malaria infection. This CD36 downregulation in inflammatory conditions is associated with a failure in the expression and activation of PPARγ. Interestingly, using siRNA mediating knock down of Nrf2 in macrophages or Nrf2- and PPARγ-deficient macrophages, we establish that in inflammatory conditions, the Nrf2 transcription factor controls CD36 expression independently of PPARγ. In these conditions, Nrf2 activators, but not PPARγ ligands, enhance CD36 expression and CD36-mediated Plasmodium phagocytosis. These results were confirmed in human macrophages and in vivo where only Nrf2 activators improve the outcome of severe malaria. Collectively, this report highlights that the Nrf2 transcription factor could be an alternative target to PPARγ in the control of severe malaria through parasite clearance

Chemometrics for the evaluation of white pudding ageing on the basis of near infrared spectroscopy

CONSALI

The Near Infrared Microscopic (NIRM) Method: A Combination of the Advantages of Optical Microscopy and Near Infrared Specgtroscopy (WP5)

In this paper the authors describe the suitability of an alternative technique for the detection of meat and bone meal (MBM) in feed, which is based on the measurement of IR-spectra from individual particles of the feed. Subjecting hte spectra to multivariate analysis allows for the differentiation of particles from plant and animal origin, respectively.JRC.D.8-Food safety and qualit