A Blueberry-Enriched Diet Attenuates Nephropathy in a Rat Model of Hypertension via Reduction in Oxidative Stress

To assess renoprotective effects of a blueberry-enriched diet in a rat model of hypertension. Oxidative stress (OS) appears to be involved in the development of hypertension and related renal injury. Pharmacological antioxidants can attenuate hypertension and hypertension-induced renal injury; however, attention has shifted recently to the therapeutic potential of natural products as antioxidants. Blueberries (BB) have among the highest antioxidant capacities of fruits and vegetables.Male spontaneously hypertensive rats received a BB-enriched diet (2% w/w) or an isocaloric control diet for 6 or 12 weeks or 2 days. Compared to controls, rats fed BB-enriched diet for 6 or 12 weeks exhibited lower blood pressure, improved glomerular filtration rate, and decreased renovascular resistance. As measured by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, significant decreases in total reactive oxygen species (ROS), peroxynitrite, and superoxide production rates were observed in kidney tissues in rats on long-term dietary treatment, consistent with reduced pathology and improved function. Additionally, measures of antioxidant status improved; specifically, renal glutathione and catalase activities increased markedly. Contrasted to these observations indicating reduced OS in the BB group after long-term feeding, similar measurements made in rats fed the same diet for only 2 days yielded evidence of increased OS; specifically, significant increases in total ROS, peroxynitrite, and superoxide production rates in all tissues (kidney, brain, and liver) assayed in BB-fed rats. These results were evidence of "hormesis" during brief exposure, which dissipated with time as indicated by enhanced levels of catalase in heart and liver of BB group.Long-term feeding of BB-enriched diet lowered blood pressure, preserved renal hemodynamics, and improved redox status in kidneys of hypertensive rats and concomitantly demonstrated the potential to delay or attenuate development of hypertension-induced renal injury, and these effects appear to be mediated by a short-term hormetic response

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Synthesis and applications of multilayer membranes by layer-by-layer technique

Layer-by-layer deposition (LbL) of multilayers has emerged as a simple and versatile technique to prepare thin films in the nanometer range for different applications. The main advantages of this method are the ability to tune the film thickness at the nanometer level and tailor the structure, composition and properties of the multilayer films. Due to its versatility, this LbL technique has been widely used to make nano-structured layers in different membrane separation areas. Two different types of multilayer membranes were studied in this dissertation: polyelectrolyte multilayer membranes (PEMMS) by electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonded multilayer membranes (HBMMS). The first section of the dissertation focuses on the buildup of polyelectrolyte multilayer membranes for solvent resistant nanofiltration. The second section deals with the fabrication of hydrogen bonded multilayer membranes for aqueous filtrations. PEMMs are considered to be feasible candidates for use in solvent resistant nanofiltration (SRNF). Despite their huge potential in the different fields of membrane separation, such membranes are not commercially available yet due to their time consuming preparation procedure. In the first part of the dissertation, the optimization of the membrane preparation was examined to render it more feasible from a practical view point. Two polyion combinations were investigated in this work: poly(diallyldimethylammoniumchloride) with poly(styrene sulfonate) and poly(diallyldimethylammoniumchloride) with poly(vinylsulfonicacid). The optimized fabrication procedure involved the construction of 3 bilayers in just 12 min without compromising the SRNF properties, thus facilitating the upscaling of these membranes. The next part of the dissertation focused on further simplifying the LbL approach and on enhancing the SRNF capacity of these PEMMs. An ultrathin nanostructured membrane comprised of a 7 nm thick selective layer was successfully fabricated, consisting of one single bilayer of poly(diallyldimethylammoniumchloride) and hyperbranched sulfonated poly(aryleneoxindole). A detailed investigation of the SRNF performance was done on the membrane structure, together with a systematic variation of the structure of the hyperbranched polyelectrolyte, including its linear analogue. These membranes exhibit excellent SRNF performance, superior to that of the commercially avaliable membranes. Moreover, the fabrication of the membranes can be done in a simple 2 step procedure, which further significantly reduced the overall preparation time while realizing excellent filtration properties. In the final part of this dissertation, multilayer membranes were successfully fabricated on a crosslinked polyimide support by the alternate deposition of one tannic acid and poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline). The self-assembly is enabled by the hydrogen bonding between the amide groups of the poly(2-alkyl-2-oxazoline) and the multiple phenol groups of tannic acid. The applicability of these HBMMs in aqueous filtrations was demonstrated by optimizing various preparation parameters. It is shown that 7 to 10 bilayers are required to have a defect-free membrane with an optimal separation performance. The promising NF performance, together with the facile and scalable fabrication process, suggests the potential use of these membranes in separation applications.status: publishe

Produire de la soie et accumuler de l'or : dynamiques sociopolitiques d'une ville d'Inde du Sud à l'heure des réformes libérales

Cette thèse traitera de l'impact des réformes de libéralisation sur un cluster de production de soie vieux de deux siècles, situé à Ramanagaram, une ville du sud de l'Inde. Dans ce cluster, les propriétaires d'unités de production et les travailleurs, issus de groupes sociaux marginalisés, sont engagés dans l'extraction de fils de soie brute dans de petites unités à domicile. Cette thèse présente une étude sectorielle localisée afin de comprendre les diverses façons dont le néolibéralisme a façonné les politiques et les processus de production et d'accumulation dans l'économie indienne.This thesis discusses the impact of liberalisation reforms on a two century old silk reeling cluster, in a South Indian town called Ramanagaram, where production unit owners and hired workers from marginalised social groups are engaged in the extraction of raw silk thread in home-based units. It presents a localized, sector-based study that contributes to understanding the diverse ways in which neoliberalism has entered policy and has impacted production and accumulation in the Indian economy

Layer-by-layer preparation of polyelectrolyte multilayer membranes for separation

Polymer membranes provide a highly promising platform for the development of an efficient and sustainable technique for separation. Ideally such membranes combine a high flux with a high selectivity requiring thin defect-free membranes. The layer by layer (LBL) assembly technique has proven to be a versatile and simple method for the fabrication of very thin polyelectrolyte multilayers making it highly suitable for the preparation of separation membranes. Recent developments in this field related to membrane preparation and their applications in separation processes are presented and discussed in this review. An overview of the different fabrication techniques of such membranes will be first provided. In addition, the formation mechanism and the parameters that can be varied to tune the properties of the membranes will be discussed. Finally, the potential applications of these membranes in different separation areas such as pervaporation, nanofiltration, solvent resistant nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, gas separation and forward osmosis will be addressed

COVID-19 and the Unequalizing Infrastructures of Financial Inclusion in Tamil Nadu

International audienceThis article discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on micro-finance borrowers in Tamil Nadu, India. Through an examination of the so-cial and financial infrastructures underpinning inclusive finance, the articledemonstrates how the COVID-19 pandemic exposes the limits and exclu-sionary tendencies of the for-profit financial inclusion industry. The unequal-izing breakdown of financial inclusion infrastructures during the pandemicprioritizes future revenue extraction over current livelihood needs, throw-ing hard-hit bor rowers back on hierarchical informal financial and social in-frastructures to cope with COVID-19-induced risk. Tracing the experiencesof poor microfinance borrowers in Tamil Nadu, this article examines howCOVID-19 is reshaping inclusive financial infrastructures in ways that re-veal the dynamics of exclusion at the heart of financial inclusion