Axon and myelin morphology in animal and human spinal cord

Characterizing precisely the microstructure of axons, their density, size and myelination is of interest for the neuroscientific community, for example to help maximize the outcome of studies on white matter (WM) pathologies of the spinal cord (SC). The existence of a comprehensive and structured database of axonal measurements in healthy and disease models could help the validation of results obtained by different researchers. The purpose of this article is to provide such a database of healthy SC WM, to discuss the potential sources of variability and to suggest avenues for robust and accurate quantification of axon morphometry based on novel acquisition and processing techniques. The article is organized in three sections. The first section reviews morphometric results across species according to range of densities and counts of myelinated axons, axon diameter and myelin thickness, and characteristics of unmyelinated axons in different regions. The second section discusses the sources of variability across studies, such as age, sex, spinal pathways, spinal levels, statistical power and terminology in regard to tracts and protocols. The third section presents new techniques and perspectives that could benefit histology studies. For example, coherent anti-stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS) imaging can provide sub-micrometric resolution without the need for fixation and staining, while slide scanners and stitching algorithms can provide full cross-sectional area of SC. In combination with these acquisition techniques, automatic segmentation algorithms for delineating axons and myelin sheath can help provide large-scale statistics on axon morphometry

Assentadas Rurais nos Territórios da Cidadania: Capacitaçao e Perspectivas para o Empoderamento?

This paper describes the work of Sempreviva Organização Feminista – SOF in partnership with Assessoria Especial de Gênero, Raça e Etnia – AEGRE of the Ministry of Agrarian Development – MDA, and rural women in the Territories of Citizenship in Pontal do Paranapanema and Southwest Sao Paulo, during the period June 2009 to March 2011. This article offers some reflections on gender inequalities in rural areas, the sexual division of labor and, consequently, the invisibility of rural women's work. Finally, based on the author's own experiences as social work educator and the important role she has played in this partnership, this paper discusses the implementation of public policies aimed at ensuring equal access for women in rural areas, including those in two MDA territories, and ponders over whether or not the effectiveness of this implementation can be questioned, taking into account not only the positive effects of the policies but also the performance of the covenants, and the women's inequality and gender relations in rural areas, especially in rural settlements.Keywords: public policy, rural women, rural settlement.O presente artigo relata o trabalho realizado, através de convênio entre a Sempreviva Organização Feminista – SOF e a Assessoria Especial de Gênero, Raça e Etnia – AEGRE do Ministério do Desenvolvimento Agrário – MDA, com mulheres rurais dos Territórios da Cidadania do Pontal do Paranapanema e Sudoeste Paulista, no período de junho de 2009 a março de 2011. Este trabalho traz algumas reflexões acerca da desigualdade de gênero no meio rural a partir da divisão sexual do trabalho e, conseqüentemente, a invisibilidade do trabalho da mulher rural. A partir da vivência da autora enquanto educadora social desse convênio, o presente artigo, por fim, discute as políticas públicas para as mulheres rurais do MDA nos dois territórios trabalhados e traz algumas reflexões sobre o questionamento ou não, a partir da implantação dessas políticas e da atuação de convênios dessa natureza, das relações de desigualdade de gênero no meio rural, em especial, de assentamentos rurais.

Indole 3-acetic acid, indoxyl sulfate and paracresyl-sulfate do not influence anemia parameters in hemodialysis patients

International audienceBackground: The main reason for anemia in renal failure patients is the insufficient erythropoietin production by the kidneys. Beside erythropoietin deficiency, in vitro studies have incriminated uremic toxins in the pathophysiology of anemia but clinical data are sparse. In order to assess if indole 3-acetic acid (IAA), indoxyl sulfate (IS), and paracresyl sulfate (PCS)-three protein bound uremic toxins-are clinically implicated in end-stage renal disease anemia we studied the correlation between IAA, IS and PCS plasmatic concentrations with hemoglobin and Erythropoietin Stimulating Agents (ESA) use in hemodialysis patients. Methods: Between June and July 2014, we conducted an observational cross sectional study in two hemodialysis center. Three statistical approaches were conducted. First, we compared patients treated with ESA and those not treated. Second, we performed linear regression models between IAA, IS, and PCS plasma concentrations and hemoglobin, the ESA dose over hemoglobin ratio (ESA/Hemoglobin) or the ESA resistance index (ERI). Third, we used a polytomous logistic regression model to compare groups of patients with no/low/high ESA dose and low/high hemoglobin statuses

Etude de la prescription des antidépresseurs

ANGERS-BU Médecine-Pharmacie (490072105) / SudocSudocFranceF

Profil d'expression génique de cellules endothéliales soumises à une toxine urémique, l'indoxyl sulfate

AIX-MARSEILLE2-BU Méd/Odontol. (130552103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Investigation of Nanoparticle Metallic Core Antibacterial Activity: Gold and Silver Nanoparticles against <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria constitute a global health issue. Over the past ten years, interest in nanoparticles, particularly metallic ones, has grown as potential antibacterial candidates. However, as there is no consensus about the procedure to characterize the metallic nanoparticles (MNPs; i.e., metallic aggregates) and evaluate their antibacterial activity, it is impossible to conclude about their real effectiveness as a new antibacterial agent. To give part of the answer to this question, 12 nm gold and silver nanoparticles have been prepared by a chemical approach. After their characterization by transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), and UltraViolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, their surface accessibility was tested through the catalytic reduction of the 4-nitrophenol, and their stability in bacterial culture medium was studied. Finally, the antibacterial activities of 12 nm gold and silver nanoparticles facing Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli have been evaluated using the broth microdilution method. The results show that gold nanoparticles have a weak antibacterial activity (i.e., slight inhibition of bacterial growth) against the two bacteria tested. In contrast, silver nanoparticles have no activity on S. aureus but demonstrate a high antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 128 µmol/L. This high antibacterial activity is also maintained against two MDR-E. coli strains

Cancer-related fatigue in childhood cancer survivors : a systematic scoping review on contributors of fatigue and how they are targeted by non-pharmacological interventions

Objectives We aimed to identify contributors to cancer-related fatigue (CRF), explore non-pharmacological interventions addressing CRF, and highlight which contributors were targeted by these interventions in childhood cancer survivors. Methods We performed a search in various databases and used the PRISMA-ScR checklist. Findings were synthesized in various different tables and figures in accordance with our objectives. Results We included 49 articles in this systematic scoping review. We identified 59 significant contributors. Depression and physical activity level were some of the most studied significant contributors. Ten interventional studies were identified (e.g., yoga, physical activity intervention) that addressed 6 contributors (e.g., physical activity level). Discussion This review is the first to describe and relate contributors and non-pharmacological interventions targeting CRF in childhood cancer survivors. Important clinical implications could be derived from the variety of factors explaining CRF and how it is currently addressed