Autophagy, tissue repair, and fibrosis: a delicate balance

Tissue repair and fibrosis, an abnormal form of repair, occur in most human organs in response to injury or inflammation. Fibroblasts play a major role in the normal repair process by differentiating into myofibroblasts that synthesize extracellular matrix (ECM) components and favor tissue remodeling to reestablish normal function and integrity. However, their persistent accumulation at the site of injury is a hallmark of fibrosis. Autophagy is a catabolic process that occurs in eukaryotic cells as a stress response to allow cell survival and maintenance of cellular homeostasis by degrading and recycling intracellular components. Recent advances identify autophagy as an important regulator of myofibroblast differentiation, tissue remodeling, and fibrogenesis. In this mini-review, we provide an overview of the interactions between autophagy, ECM, and fibrosis, and emphasize the molecular mechanisms involved in myofibroblast differentiation. We also describe the emerging concept of secretory autophagy as a new avenue for intercellular communication at the site of tissue injury and repair

Une pratique marginale du roman-feuilleton : celle d'Hector Berthelot

Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal

Stratégies d’adaptation et idéations suicidaires chez un groupe d’adolescentes ayant dévoilé une agression sexuelle

Une étude réalisée auprès de 52 adolescentes ayant été victimes d’agression sexuelle et provenant du Centre jeunesse de Montréal, du Centre jeunesse de la Montérégie et du Centre d’intervention en abus sexuel pour la famille de Gatineau (CIASF) a permis de documenter la prévalence des idéations suicidaires dans cet échantillon. L’objectif de cette étude était d’investiguer les stratégies d’adaptation utilisées par ces participantes pour faire face à l’agression sexuelle (recherche de soutien social, réévaluation positive / résolution de problèmes et évitement / distanciation). De plus, les liens existants entre les stratégies de coping et les idéations suicidaires ont été explorés. Les résultats indiquent que les adolescentes ayant été victimes d’agression sexuelle et ayant un désir suicidaire élevé se distinguent des victimes non suicidaires ou légèrement suicidaires, au niveau des stratégies d’adaptation employées pour faire face à l’agression sexuelle vécue. Finalement, l’implication de ces résultats en matière d’intervention est abordée afin d’orienter les pratiques des intervenants côtoyant des adolescentes présentant une double problématique (agression sexuelle et idéations suicidaires).Fifty-two female sexual abuse victims aged 12 to 17 years old were interviewed as part of a research project. They were recruited in three different settings : Centre jeunesse de Montreal, Centre jeunesse de la Montérégie and Centre d’intervention en abus sexuel pour la famille (CIASF) in Gatineau. The aim of the project was to document the prevalence of suicidal ideations in the sample and to explore the coping strategies (seeking social support, problem-solving and avoidance/distanciation) used by participants to face the sexual abuse. Moreover, the relationship between coping strategies and the presence/absence of suicidal ideations was investigated. Results indicate that sexually abused adolescents who present high suicidal intent differ from non-suicidal or low intent suicidal participants with regards to coping strategies used to face the sexual abuse. Finally, in light of the results, therapeutic implications are discussed to guide clinical workers who intervene with teenagers displaying this double problem (sexual abuse and suicidal thoughts)

The use of personalized medicine for patient selection for renal transplantation: Physicians' views on the clinical and ethical implications

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The overwhelming scarcity of organs within renal transplantation forces researchers and transplantation teams to seek new ways to increase efficacy. One of the possibilities is the use of personalized medicine, an approach based on quantifiable and scientific factors that determine the global immunological risk of rejection for each patient. Although this approach can improve the efficacy of transplantations, it also poses a number of ethical questions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The qualitative research involved 22 semi-structured interviews with nephrologists involved in renal transplantation, with the goal of determining the professionals' views about calculating the global immunological risk and the attendant ethical issues.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results demonstrate a general acceptance of this approach amongst the participants in the study. Knowledge of each patient's immunological risk could improve treatment and the post-graft follow-up. On the other hand, the possibility that patients might be excluded from transplantation poses a significant ethical issue. This approach is not seen as something entirely new, given the fact that medicine is increasingly scientific and evidence-based. Although renal transplantation incorporates scientific data, these physicians believe that there should always be a place for clinical judgment and the physician-patient relationship.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The participants see the benefits of including the calculation of the global immunological risk within transplantation. Such data, being more precise and rigorous, could be of help in their clinical work. However, in spite of the use of such scientific data, a place must be retained for the clinical judgment that allows a physician to make decisions based on medical data, professional expertise and knowledge of the patient. To act in the best interests of the patient is key to whether the calculation of the global immunological risk is employed.</p

Quality of collaboration in a distant collaborative architectural educational setting

peer reviewedThis paper analyses the quality of collaboration of two student teams in a longitudinal study of a collaborative distant architectural studio. Based on a simple method to assess several dimensions of this quality of collaboration, we compared the two groups at three stages of the design process. We also analysed how the quality of collaboration evolved over time and as a function of the design stage. We finally discuss the interests of the method and some insights to support a better understanding of mechanisms of collaboration

Classification et relations entre les traits fonctionnels des crustacés zooplanctoniques : de l’organisme à l’écosystème

Les écologistes reconnaissent depuis longtemps que les organismes sont soutenus par le flux, l’emmagasinage et le renouvellement d’énergie et de matériel de l’écosystème, puisqu’ils sont nécessaires au métabolisme biologique et à la construction de biomasse. L’importance des organismes dans la régularisation des processus écosystémiques est maintenant de plus en plus considérée. Situé au centre des chaînes trophiques aquatiques, le zooplancton influence les flux d’énergie et de matériel dans les écosystèmes. Plusieurs de leurs caractéristiques sont connues comme étant de bons indicateurs de leur effet sur l’environnement, notamment leur taille, contenu corporel et taux métabolique. La plupart de ces caractéristiques peuvent être appelées « traits fonctionnels ». Alors que l’emploi des traits devient de plus en plus populaire en écologie des communautés aquatiques, peu ont su utiliser cette approche afin de concrètement lier la structure des communautés zooplanctoniques aux processus écosystémiques. Dans cette étude, nous avons colligé les données provenant d’une grande variété de littérature afin de construire une base de données sur les traits du zooplancton crustacé contribuant directement ou indirectement aux flux de C, N et P dans les écosystèmes. Notre méta-analyse a permis d’assembler plus de 9000 observations sur 287 espèces et d’identifier par le fait même ce qu’il manque à nos connaissances. Nous avons examiné une série de corrélations croisées entre 16 traits, dont 35 étaient significatives, et avons exploré les relations entre les unités taxonomiques de même qu’entre les espèces marines et d’eaux douces. Notre synthèse a entre autres révélé des patrons significativement différents entre le zooplancton marin et dulcicole quant à leur taux de respiration et leur allométrie (masse vs. longueur corporelle). Nous proposons de plus une nouvelle classification de traits liant les fonctions des organismes à celles de l’écosystème. Notre but est d’offrir une base de données sur les traits du zooplancton, des outils afin de mieux lier les organismes aux processus écosystémiques et de stimuler la recherche de patrons généraux et de compromis entre les traits.Ecologists have long recognized that organisms are sustained by the flux, storage and turnover of ecosystem energy, which fuels biological metabolism, and material, used to construct biomass. Over the past three decades, the importance of individual organisms in regulating ecosystem processes, such as consumer-driven nutrient cycling, has been increasingly recognized. Occupying a central position in aquatic food webs, zooplankton are known to influence other trophic levels and exert a strong influence on energy fluxes or material processing in ecosystems. Several species’ characteristics have been pointed out as being good indicators, or predictors, of the effect of zooplankton on their environment, including individual body size, corporal stoichiometry and specific physiological rates. Most of these characteristics can also be termed “functional traits”. While the use of traits has recently gained popularity amongst aquatic community ecologists, few have applied this approach to concretely link zooplankton community structure to ecosystem processes. In the present study, we compiled data from a wide variety of literature to construct a database of crustacean zooplankton species and their traits contributing directly or indirectly to C, N or P ecosystem fluxes. Our literature search yielded over 9000 empirical observations on 287 different species and thereby allowed identification of knowledge gaps in the literature. We explored trait relationships amongst taxonomic units and between marine and freshwater habitats. Of all cross-correlations tested among 16 zooplankton traits, 35 were significant, with most traits being related to body mass. Our synthesis revealed significantly different patterns between freshwater and marine zooplankton respiration and allometry (body mass vs. length). We propose a novel trait classification scheme according to both organismal and ecosystem functions. Our goal is to provide a database for zooplankton functional traits, tools to link organisms to ecosystem processes, and to promote a search for general patterns and trade-offs amongst traits

The 24-h lung-function profile of once-daily tiotropium and olodaterol fixed-dose combination in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: This study investigated the effects on 24-h lung function and lung volume of a once-daily fixed-dose combination (FDC) of the long-acting muscarinic antagonist tiotropium and the long-acting beta(2)-agonist olodaterol in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Methods: This was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase III trial with an incomplete crossover design. Patients received four of the following six treatment options for 6 weeks each: placebo, olodaterol 5 mu g, tiotropium 2.5 mu g, tiotropium 5 mu g, tiotropium + olodaterol FDC 2.5/5 mu g and tiotropium + olodaterol FDC 5/5 mu g, all delivered via the Respimat (R) inhaler. The primary end point was forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) area under the curve from 0 to 24 h (AUC(0-24)) response after 6 weeks of treatment; key secondary end points were FEV1 AUC from 0 to 12 h and AUC from 12 to 24 h, and further end points included lung-volume parameters measured using body plethysmography (subset of patients), measures of peak and trough FEV1, and incidence of adverse events. Results: A significant improvement in FEV1 AUC(0-24) response was observed with tiotropium + olodaterol 5/5 mu g and 2.5/5 mu g versus placebo and monotherapies after 6 weeks of treatment; mean response with tiotropium + olodaterol 5/5 mu g versus placebo was 0.280 L (p < 0.0001). Differences to monotherapies with tiotropium + olodaterol 5/5 mu g were 0.115 L versus olodaterol 5 mu g, 0.127 L versus tiotropium 2.5 mu g and 0.110 L versus tiotropium 5 mu g (p < 0.0001 for all comparisons). Secondary end points supported these data. No safety concerns were identified. Conclusions: Overall, this study demonstrated improvements in lung function over 24 h with an FDC of tiotropium + olodaterol over tiotropium or olodaterol alone, with no observed difference in tolerability. ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT01559116