Ultrastructural Morphometry of Renal Tubule Epithelium in Rats Treated with Conventional Amphotericin B Deoxycholate or Amphotericin B Colloidal Dispersion

The aim of our study was to compare the nephrotoxicity of AmB deoxycholate and ABCD in rat model. The effects of AmB and ABCD on ultrastructure of the epithelium of proximal and distal tubules in rat kidney were studied and evaluated by using of morphometric and statistical methods. Two groups of rats (n = 3) were used: rats of Group 1 were treated with AmB deoxycholate (Amphotericin B Squibb ® , Bristol-Myers Squibb; 4 mg/kg of body weight daily for a period of 14 days), Group 2 included animals, to which ABCD was given (Amphocil ® , Torrex Pharma; 12 mg/kg of body weight daily for a period of 14 days). Tissue samples from kidney were taken and processed for transmission electron microscopic (morphometric) study. It was observed that AmB caused more than ABCD morphological changes in cytoplasm of the epithelial cells: damage of mitochondria, vacuolation of cytoplasm, and increased values of volume density of peroxisomes. However, we did not observe significant differences in morphology and density of lysosomes, pinocytotic vesicules, lipid droplets, Golgi apparatus and granular endoplasmic reticulum. It seems that proximal tubules are more sensitive to nephrotoxic influence of both formulas than distal tubules. In the rat, both AmB and ABCD causes damage to renal tubuli. AmB causes more severe damage than ABCD. Morphological and statistical results of our study did not reveal any significant differences (except in volume density of peroxisomes). From the point of view of nephrotoxic effects on the renal tubule epithelium AmB is approximately comparable to ABCD

A framework for remission in SLE: consensus findings from a large international task force on definitions of remission in SLE (DORIS)

Objectives Treat-to-target recommendations have identified 'remission' as a target in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but recognise that there is no universally accepted definition for this. Therefore, we initiated a process to achieve consensus on potential definitions for remission in SLE. Methods An international task force of 60 specialists and patient representatives participated in preparatory exercises, a face-to-face meeting and follow-up electronic voting. The level for agreement was set at 90%. Results The task force agreed on eight key statements regarding remission in SLE and three principles to guide the further development of remission definitions: 1. Definitions of remission will be worded as follows: remission in SLE is a durable state characterised by . (reference to symptoms, signs, routine labs). 2. For defining remission, a validated index must be used, for example, clinical systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI)=0, British Isles lupus assessment group (BILAG) 2004 D/E only, clinical European consensus lupus outcome measure (ECLAM)=0; with routine laboratory assessments included, and supplemented with physician's global assessment. 3. Distinction is made between remission off and on therapy: remission off therapy requires the patient to be on no other treatment for SLE than maintenance antimalarials; and remission on therapy allows patients to be on stable maintenance antimalarials, low-dose corticosteroids (prednisone ≤5 mg/day), maintenance immunosuppressives and/or maintenance biologics. The task force also agreed that the most appropriate outcomes (dependent variables) for testing the prognostic value (construct validity) of potential remission definitions are: death, damage, flares and measures of health-related quality of life. Conclusions The work of this international task force provides a framework for testing different definitions of remission against long-term outcomes

Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020

We show the distribution of SARS-CoV-2 genetic clades over time and between countries and outline potential genomic surveillance objectives. We applied three available genomic nomenclature systems for SARS-CoV-2 to all sequence data from the WHO European Region available during the COVID-19 pandemic until 10 July 2020. We highlight the importance of real-time sequencing and data dissemination in a pandemic situation. We provide a comparison of the nomenclatures and lay a foundation for future European genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2.Peer reviewe

Magnetic Properties of Biocompatible Magnetic Fluid after Electron Irradiation

The magnetic particles in the water-based magnetic uids were sterically stabilized by natrium oleate to prevent their agglomeration and consequently the adsorption of poly-ethylene-glycol (PEG) was carried out to improve the biocompatibility of the magnetic particles. Two sets of samples were prepared. The rst set of the samples was with dierent molar weight of PEG (Mw = 400, 1000, 10 000 and 20 000) at the constant weight ratio of PEG/Fe3O4 = 0.25 and the second one was with dierent weight ratio of PEG/Fe3O4 and constant molar weight of PEG (Mw = 1000). The samples were irradiated with 20 Gy. The same reduction of saturated magnetization (about 10%) after electron irradiation with 20 Gy was observed for all prepared samples

Patrons de diversité des communautés végétales de steppes de Sibérie méridionale (République de Khakassie, Russie)

International audienceComprendre les mécanismes construisant la biodiversité est une question majeure en écologie. Les écosystèmes présentant une forte diversité et des menaces sur leur pérennité, telles que les pelouses sèches du Paléarctique, en font des objets d’études particulièrement pertinents. Dans l’objectif de comprendre les facteurs déterminants la diversité des communautés végétales à différentes échelles spatiales, le European Dry Grassland Group organise depuis 2009 des expéditions permettant de récolter des données sur la composition et les relations aire-espèces de pelouses sèches à travers l’Europe, en respectant un protocole uniforme. Ce protocole « aire-diversité » consiste à relever la présence des espèces de plantes vasculaires, bryophytes et lichens sur des quadrats de 0.0001–0.001–0.1–1–10 et 100m² ; les quadrats plus petits étant répliqués deux fois à l’intérieur de celui de 100m² ; et les pourcentages de recouvrement sont donnés pour les quadrats de 10m². Sur chacun de ces relevés « aire-diversité », ainsi que sur des relevés « normaux » de 10m², des informations relatives aux conditions écologiques locales sont également enregistrés : altitude, pente, microrelief, profondeur du sol, propriétés granulométriques et chimiques du sol, usage/gestion. La dernière expédition s’est déroulée en Aout 2013, dans la partie sud de la Sibérie, au Nord-Ouest du massif de l’Altaï en République de Khakassie, Russie. Elle a permis de réaliser 39 relevés « aire-diversité » et 55 relevés « normaux » sur des steppes euro-sibériennes (Festuco-Brometea) et centro-asiatiques (Cleistogenetea squarrosae). Ce poster présente les résultats préliminaires des données issues de cette expédition