Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the Anthropocene Series: Where and how to look for potential candidates

International audienc

Alcohol Consumption for People Admitted in French Emergency Departments: A Protocol for a Multi-Center Cluster Trial

International audienceBackground: According to a 2014 report by the World Health Organization, the highest alcohol consumption levels per capita continue to be found in the developed world, particularly in the European region. Drinking alcohol does not only lead to alcohol dependence; it also be linked to a higher risk for acute medical and surgical events. In France, recent data show that alcohol consumption levels in the general population are important and have remained relatively stable since 2010. In the Emergency Department population, few French data are available, while studies conducted across the Atlantic show that patients admitted into emergency rooms are reported to have high levels of alcohol consumption. Emergency Departments are an important location for the identification and early intervention of issues related to alcohol consumption. Therefore, the aim of this study is to carry out an epidemiological picture of alcohol consumption and search for indicators of harmful alcohol use in patients in the French emergency rooms of the Rhône-Alpes-Auvergne interregion. Methods and Analysis: This observational, and descriptive and randomized clinical study on human beings will consists of a collection of clinical variables on all patients that will be admitted to the Emergency Departments of the RAA Rhône-Alpes-Auvergne interregion aged of (16 years or older) and who will be agree to participate to the study. It will include one visit where the patient will respond to three auto-administrating screening tests on his or her alcohol consumption: Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test – C (AUDIT C), Cut-down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener test (CAGE) and the Rapid Alcohol Problems Screen – Quantity Frequency test (RAPS4 – QF). Similarly, they will answer two self-administering questionnaires on socio-demographic and emergency data

Adherence to treatment guidelines in clinical practice for using electroconvulsive therapy in major depressive episode

International audienceBackground: ECT is the most effective treatment of major depressive episode (MDE) but remains a neglected treatment. The French Society for Biological Psychiatry and Neuropsychopharmacology aimed to determine whether prescribing practice of ECT followed guidelines recommendations. Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study included adult patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) or bipolar disorder (BD), who have been treated with ECT for MDE. Duration of MDE and number of lines of treatment received before ECT were collected. The reasons for using ECT, specifically first-line indications (suicidality, urgency, presence of catatonic and psychotic features, previous ECT response, patient preference) were recorded. Statistical comparisons between groups used standard statistical tests. Results: Seven hundred and forty-five individuals were included. The mean duration of MDE before ECT was 10.1 months and the mean number of lines of treatment before ECT was 3.4. It was significantly longer for MDD single episode than recurrent MDD and BD. The presence of first-line indications for using ECT was significantly associated to shorter duration of MDE (9.1 vs 13.1 months, p<0.001) and lower number of lines of treatment before ECT (3.3 vs 4.1, p<0.001). Limitations: This is a retrospective study and not all facilities practicing ECT participated that could limit the extrapolation of the results. Conclusion: : Compared to guidelines, ECT was not used as first-line strategy in clinical practice. The presence of first-line indications seemed to reduce the delay before ECT initiation. The improvements of knowledge and access of ECT are needed to decrease the gap between guidelines and clinical practice

Fluorescence characteristics and photoinhibition in saplings of manwood on clear days and under overcast conditions Características da fluorescência e fotoinibição em arvoretas de acariquara em dias nublados e ensolarados

High irradiance may reduce the productivity of tropical plants by exacerbating photoinhibition of photosynthesis, particularly in the case of shade-adapted plants. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of cloud cover on the fluorescence characteristics and photoinhibition on saplings of manwood (Minquartia guianensis Aubl.). Three-year-old saplings were exposed to full irradiance either on clear days (10, 45 and 90 min) or under overcast conditions (120, 180, and 420 min). Changes in the population of functional photosystem II (PSII), the initial (Fo) and maximum fluorescences (Fm), and the Fv/Fm ratio (maximum potential quantum yield of PSII) were monitored after plant exposure to full irradiance and during recovery (within 48 h) at low light intensity. Although photoinhibition of PSII (Fv/Fm) was determined by the number of photons reaching the leaf surface (photon fluence), cloudiness tended to reduce the photoinhibitory effect of irradiance. Fo increased with fluence on cloudy days and was unaffected by irradiance on clear days, except for a sharp rise during the first 10 min of exposure to full sunlight. For a given photon fluence, Fm was lower on clear days. Recovery from photoinhibition was similar in both light environments. Although photon fluence is the preponderant factor determining the extent of photoinhibition, cloudiness might alleviate the photoinhibitory effect of irradiance.<br>Alta irradiância pode reduzir a produtividade de plantas tropicais por intensificar a fotoinibição da fotossíntese, particularmente em plantas adaptadas à sombra. O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar o efeito da nebulosidade nas características da fluorescência e na fotoinibição em arvoretas de acariquara (Minquartia guianensis Aubl.). Plantas jovens de três anos de idade foram expostas à irradiância em dias ensolarados (10, 45 e 90 min) ou nublados (120, 180 e 420 min). Foram monitoradas mudanças na população de fotossistemas II (FSII) funcionais, na fluorescência inicial (Fo) e máxima (Fm) e na relação Fv/Fm (rendimento quântico potencial do FSII), antes da exposição das plantas à irradiância e durante a recuperação (até 48 h) sob baixa intensidade luminosa. Apesar de a fotoinibição (Fv/Fm) ser determinada pelo número de fótons incidentes na superfície da folha (fluência), houve tendência de a nebulosidade reduzir o efeito da irradiância na fotoinibição. Fo aumentou com a fluência em dias nublados, mas não em dias ensolarados, exceto pelo aumento nos primeiros 10 min de exposição à luz solar plena. Para uma dada fluência, Fm foi menor nos dias ensolarados. A recuperação da fotoinibição foi similar em ambos os ambientes de luz. Apesar de a fluência de fótons ser o fator preponderante na determinação do grau de fotoinibição, a nebulosidade ameniza o efeito fotoinibitório da irradiância