DMTs and Covid-19 severity in MS: a pooled analysis from Italy and France

We evaluated the effect of DMTs on Covid-19 severity in patients with MS, with a pooled-analysis of two large cohorts from Italy and France. The association of baseline characteristics and DMTs with Covid-19 severity was assessed by multivariate ordinal-logistic models and pooled by a fixed-effect meta-analysis. 1066 patients with MS from Italy and 721 from France were included. In the multivariate model, anti-CD20 therapies were significantly associated (OR = 2.05, 95%CI = 1.39–3.02, p < 0.001) with Covid-19 severity, whereas interferon indicated a decreased risk (OR = 0.42, 95%CI = 0.18–0.99, p = 0.047). This pooled-analysis confirms an increased risk of severe Covid-19 in patients on anti-CD20 therapies and supports the protective role of interferon

Thulium spiked gel for internal standardisation in LA-ICP-MS bio-imaging: quantitative elemental distribution of uranium in kidney tissue

International audienceThe quantitative analysis of trace metals in different organs or cellular structures is a topic of emerging interest for the assessment of toxicological risk. The kidney is recognized as a major site for uranium accumulation able to induce renal toxicity. Due to its heterogeneous distribution within the tissue, the quantification appears to be of significant interest. Mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) has been employed for mapping and quantifying uranium in histological tissue sections of mouse kidney. Samples were immediately immersed into a PFA solution during 24h, OCT embedded and stored at -80°C until cutting in cryostat and mounting in gel covered glass slides. Sample preparation (tissue section thickness) and laser conditions were carefully optimized to assure the complete ablation of the sample matrix. This works presents the development of internal standard correction methodology based on doped gelatine. In order to correct matrix effects, lack of tissue homogeneity and instrumental drift, a thulium (Tm, internal standard) spiked 10% (m/v) gel was prepared and deposited on the top of glass microscope slides. The reproducibility and homogeneity of the deposited gel was assessed by ablating several areas (0.5 x 0.5 mm, n=20) in which Tm was recorded. For quantification purposes, matrix-matched laboratory standards were prepared from a pool of mouse kidneys by dosing each level with different concentration of uranium. In the same way, several quality control (QC) samples were synthetized to prove the accuracy and precision of the analytical method. The unspiked tissue was used for blank control. The concentrations were verified by conventional liquid ICP-MS after acid digestion. These standards were cut and mounted onto glass slides in the same way as the samples.Thulium spiked gel was demonstrated to be adequate for compensation of instrumental drifts during measuring time and matrix effects, which improves the quantification of elemental distributions and allows a trustworthy comparison of experiments performed at different times. The proposed analytical bio-imaging approach was successfully applied for quantification of uranium of kidney samples. The comparison of the calculated average concentration obtained by LA-ICP-MS and the results obtained after liquid ICP-MS analysis were in good accordance

The nature of colored dissolved organic matter in the southern Canada Basin and East Siberian Sea

http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/mirai/mr08-04/

Applications de l’imagerie SIMSau sein de la plateforme PATERSON de l’IRSN

International audienceLa microscopie ionique analytique SIMS, permet l’analyse élémentaire et isotopique d’une surface solide par faisceau d’ions couplée à un spectromètre de masse. Le principe consiste à bombarder l’échantillon à étudier à l’aide d’un faisceau de particules chargées (dizaine de kV). Ce faisceau d’ions primaires rentre en collision avec l’échantillon cible provoquant l’éjection de particules provenant des couches superficielles de l’échantillon. Une fraction de ces particules est spontanément ionisée. Ces ions dit secondaires, sont ensuite accélérés et dirigés à l’entrée d’un spectromètre de masse. L’analyse de ces ions secondaires permet ainsi de caractériser et d’imager la composition chimique élémentaire et isotopique de la surface de l’échantillon.Cette technique est d’un apport essentiel dans le domaine du nucléaire notamment pour l’étude de la distribution d’éléments stables ou de radio-isotopes aussi bien dans des matrices biologiques par des études de micro localisation de l’uranium dans des tissus rénaux contaminés que géologiques avec mise en évidence de la signature radiogénique en plomb de phase uranifère issue de résidu de traitement de minerai d’Uranium . Ainsi l’équipement SIMS 4FE7 implanté au sein de la plateforme PATERSON de l’IRSN est utilisé dans le domaine de la radioprotection pour améliorer la compréhension des mécanismes de transport ainsi que d’accumulations des radionucléides. Dans le domaine de la sûreté nucléaire, il permet également d’aider à la compréhension de la tenue des gaines de combustible à l’irradiation en cartographiant les éléments hydrogène et oxygène

Applications de l’imagerie SIMSau sein de la plateforme PATERSON de l’IRSN

International audienceLa microscopie ionique analytique SIMS, permet l’analyse élémentaire et isotopique d’une surface solide par faisceau d’ions couplée à un spectromètre de masse. Le principe consiste à bombarder l’échantillon à étudier à l’aide d’un faisceau de particules chargées (dizaine de kV). Ce faisceau d’ions primaires rentre en collision avec l’échantillon cible provoquant l’éjection de particules provenant des couches superficielles de l’échantillon. Une fraction de ces particules est spontanément ionisée. Ces ions dit secondaires, sont ensuite accélérés et dirigés à l’entrée d’un spectromètre de masse. L’analyse de ces ions secondaires permet ainsi de caractériser et d’imager la composition chimique élémentaire et isotopique de la surface de l’échantillon.Cette technique est d’un apport essentiel dans le domaine du nucléaire notamment pour l’étude de la distribution d’éléments stables ou de radio-isotopes aussi bien dans des matrices biologiques par des études de micro localisation de l’uranium dans des tissus rénaux contaminés que géologiques avec mise en évidence de la signature radiogénique en plomb de phase uranifère issue de résidu de traitement de minerai d’Uranium . Ainsi l’équipement SIMS 4FE7 implanté au sein de la plateforme PATERSON de l’IRSN est utilisé dans le domaine de la radioprotection pour améliorer la compréhension des mécanismes de transport ainsi que d’accumulations des radionucléides. Dans le domaine de la sûreté nucléaire, il permet également d’aider à la compréhension de la tenue des gaines de combustible à l’irradiation en cartographiant les éléments hydrogène et oxygène

Horses’ Tactile Reactivity Differs According to the Type of Work: The Example of Equine-Assisted Intervention

International audienceTactile perception in humans varies between individuals and could depend on extrinsic factors such as working activity. In animals, there is no study relating the influence of animals’ work and their tactile reactivity per se. We investigated horses’ tactile reactivity using von Frey filament in different body areas and compared horses working only in equine-assisted interventions (EAI), in riding school (RS) lessons, and in both activities (EAI-RS). We further compared tactile actions by people with or without mental and/or developmental disorders during brushing sessions. The results indicated that EAI horses showed higher tactile reactivity compared to EAI-RS and RS horses, both in terms of number of reactions overall, and especially when the test involved thin filaments. All horses showed high tactile reactivity when tested on the stifle, and this was particularly true for EAI horses. These differences could be related to humans’ actions, as participants diagnosed with disorders brushed more the hindquarters and showed more fragmented actions. This study opens new lines of thought on the influence of EAI working activity on horses’ tactile reactivity, and hence, on horses’ sensory perception. Tactile reactivity outside work, may be directly (via tactile stimulations) or indirectly (via the welfare state), influenced by working conditions