Factors associated with noncompliance of sodium restriction in hypertensive and heart failure patients at the National Hospital of Cotonou, Benin

Introduction: Nutritional therapy in the treatment of high blood pressure and heart failure is a real challenge in terms of compliance of sodium restriction for success of the treatment. The study aims to assess the level of patient compliance with the sodium restriction by salt consumption, prescribed by care providers and the associated factors. Materials and Methods: Total daily salt intake was estimated in a cross-sectional study of 166 hypertensive and heart failure subjects monitored in the cardiology department of the “Centre Hospitalier Universitaire - Hubert Koutoukou Maga” (CNHU-HKM), using two 24-hour recalls combined with a food frequency questionnaire for salt-providing foods. Results: Out of the study, 83.7% of patients had a daily intake above recommendations. Factors associated with the non-compliance of salt restriction were the lack of knowledge of palliative spices and herbs of salty taste (p=0.009) and the consumption of salty snack foods and salty peanuts (p=0.032). Conclusion: Nutritional education and support activities should be carried out to improve the salt reduction compliance for these patients

Estimativa da altura dominante em povoamentos decíduos através de dados LIDAR com múltiplos retornosEstimating dominant height in deciduous stands using multi-echo LIDAR data

A altura dominante (Ho) de 120 parcelas georreferenciadas (600m² cada) foi estimada através de diversas medidas de distribuição, máximas locais e densidade derivada da varredura a laser com pequena impressão obtida em um povoamento florestal decíduo irregular. As parcelas foram distribuídas de forma a contemplar toda a variabilidade de alturas dominantes e o tipo de regeneração existente nos 112km² da área estudada, localizada na floresta de Haye, França. O modelo construído com variáveis de máxima local (Hmv5) e densidade de retornos (d9) foi capaz de estimar a Ho com alta acurácia, além de ser independente do tipo de povoamento, o que possibilitou sua aplicação em toda a floresta. A validação cruzada do modelo final mostrou que este explicou 98% da variabilidade observada nas parcelas em campo, com um RMSE de 0.77m (3.31%). Nenhum efeito drástico da escolha do MNT, densidade de retornos ou do posicionamento das parcelas foi detectado no modelo, sugerindo grande estabilidade. AbstractThe mean dominant heights of 120 georeferenced field sample plots (600m² each) were estimated from a range of canopy densities, distributions and local maxima metrics derived by a small-footprint laser scanner over various deciduous forest stands using regression analysis. The sample plots were distributed in order to better represent the variability in stand dominant height and regeneration practices throughout a 112km² study areas in Haye forest, France. The model constructed with local maxima (Hmv5) and a LIDAR density metric (d9) was able to estimate Ho with a very high accuracy and was not sensitive to stand types. Cross-validation showed that the final model explained 98% of the variability in ground-truth dominant height, with a RMSE of 0.77m (3.31%). No drastic effects of DTM, echo densities, or positioning errors were found in the models

Dynamic distribution of Spatial during mouse spermatogenesis and its interaction with the kinesin KIF17b.

International audienceThe Spatial gene is expressed in highly polarized cell types, such as epithelial cells in the thymus, neurons in the brain and germ cells in the testis. In this study, we report the characterization and distribution of Spatial proteins during mouse spermatogenesis. Besides Spatial-epsilon and -delta, we show that the newly described short isoform Spatial-beta is expressed specifically in round spermatids. Using indirect immunofluorescence, we detected Spatial in the cytosol of the early round spermatid. By the end stages of round spermatids, Spatial is concentrated at the opposite face of the acrosome near the nascent flagellum and in the manchette during the elongation process. Finally in mature sperm, Spatial persists in the principal piece of the tail. Moreover, we found that Spatial colocalizes with KIF17b, a testis-specific isoform of the brain kinesin-2 motor KIF17. This colocalization is restricted to the manchette and the principal piece of the sperm tail. Further, coimmunoprecipitation experiments of native proteins from testis lysates confirmed Spatial-KIF17b association through the long Spatial-epsilon isoform. Together, these findings imply a function of Spatial in spermatid differentiation as a new cargo of kinesin KIF17b, in a microtubule-dependent mechanism specific to the manchette and the principal piece of the sperm tail

Micropatterning of endothelial cells to create a capillary-like network with defined architecture by laser-assisted bioprinting

Development of a microvasculature into tissue-engineered bone substitutes represents a current challenge. Seeding of endothelial cells in an appropriate environment can give rise to a capillary-like network to enhance prevascularization of bone substitutes. Advances in biofabrication techniques, such as bioprinting, could allow to precisely define a pattern of endothelial cells onto a biomaterial suitable for in vivo applications. The aim of this study was to produce a microvascular network following a defined pattern and preserve it while preparing the surface to print another layer of endothelial cells. We first optimise the bioink cell concentration and laser printing parameters and then develop a method to allow endothelial cells to survive between two collagen layers. Laser-assisted bioprinting (LAB) was used to pattern lines of tdTomato-labeled endothelial cells cocultured with mesenchymal stem cells seeded onto a collagen hydrogel. Formation of capillary-like structures was dependent on a sufficient local density of endothelial cells. Overlay of the pattern with collagen I hydrogel containing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) allowed capillary-like structures formation and preservation of the printed pattern over time. Results indicate that laser-assisted bioprinting is a valuable technique to pre-organize endothelial cells into high cell density pattern in order to create a vascular network with defined architecture in tissue-engineered constructs based on collagen hydrogel

The AMINO experiment: methane photolysis under Solar VUV irradiation on the EXPOSE-R facility of the International Space Station

International audienceThe scientific aim of the present campaign is to study the whole chain of methane photo-degradation, as initiated by Solar vacuum-ultraviolet irradiation in Titan's atmosphere. For this purpose, the AMINO experiment on the EXPOSE-R mission has loaded closed cells for gas-phase photochemistry in space conditions. Two different gas mixtures have been exposed, named Titan 1 and Titan 2, involving both N2-CH4 gas mixtures, without and with CO2, respectively. CO2 is added as a source of reactive oxygen in the cells. The cell contents were analysed thanks to infrared absorption spectroscopy, gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. Methane consumption leads to the formation of saturated hydrocarbons, with no detectable influence of CO2. This successful campaign provides a first benchmark for characterizing the whole methane photochemical system in space conditions. A thin film of tholin-like compounds appears to form on the cell walls of the exposed cells

The PROCESS Experiment: An Astrochemistry Laboratory for Solid and Gaseous Organic Samples in Low-Earth Orbit

International audienceThe PROCESS (PRebiotic Organic ChEmistry on the Space Station) experiment was part of the EXPOSE-E payload outside the European Columbus module of the International Space Station from February 2008 to August 2009. During this interval, organic samples were exposed to space conditions to simulate their evolution in various astrophysical environments. The samples used represent organic species related to the evolution of organic matter on the small bodies of the Solar System (carbonaceous asteroids and comets), the photolysis of methane in the atmosphere of Titan, and the search for organic matter at the surface of Mars. This paper describes the hardware developed for this experiment as well as the results for the glycine solid-phase samples and the gas-phase samples that were used with regard to the atmosphere of Titan. Lessons learned from this experiment are also presented for future low-Earth orbit astrochemistry investigations