Oxytocin injections in the postpartal period affect mammary tight junctions in sows

The potential impacts of injecting oxytocin (OXY) to sows in the early postpartum period on the quality of mammary tight junctions, milk composition, and immune status of sows and piglets were studied. Postparturient sows received i.m. injections of either saline (control [CTL]; = 10) or 75 IU of OXY ( = 10). Injections were given twice daily (0800 and 1630 h) starting on d 2 of lactation (i.e., between 12 and 20 h after birth of the last piglet), totaling 4 injections. Milk samples were obtained before the first injection (d 2 morning [AM]), before the second injection (d 2 afternoon [PM]), and on d 4 PM and d 5 PM. Blood samples were obtained from sows before milking on d 2 AM, d 2 PM, and d 5 PM. On d 5 of lactation, a blood sample was obtained from 3 piglets per litter. Circulating concentrations of prolactin, IGF-I, lactose, and IgA in sows did not differ between treatments at any time ( > 0.10), but OXY sows had less IgG than CTL sows ( 0.10). Injecting OXY to sows in the early postpartum period increased leakiness of the mammary tight junctions, improved composition of early milk, and may potentially affect immune status of neonatal piglets

The Construction and (Re)Construction of Mentoring Relations, Conversations, Observations and Cameras

The purpose of this study is to better understand mentoring as a relational process. Employing a constructionist form of Action Research called ‘Appreciative Inquiry’ (AI), twelve teachers, six pairs of Mentors and Newly Qualified Teachers explored through their joint actions with a digital camera, alternative forms of ‘observation’ and ‘feedback’ practices. The study took a fresh theoretical approach to mentoring, enabling the teachers to focus on the ‘positive’ aspects of their mentoring experiences. This approach provided constructionist tools with which to analyse the teachers’ experiences. These included ‘joint action’ (Shotter, 1993); the application of ‘in-vivo’ and ‘values’ coding (Saldana, 2009) and a form of discourse analysis known as ‘Interpretative Repertoires’ (Wetherell and Potter, 1988). Emerging themes showed how the teachers developed an understanding of how they co-constructed their observation and feedback practices; developed their teaching identities; and how filming enabled them to see how their practices connected or disconnected them to children’s learning; resources; the environment; and to the wider school and beyond. Findings show how co-constructed learning with a digital camera can support the professional development of both Mentors and Newly Qualified Teachers as part of the induction process, through everyday local mentoring practices. It also shows how mentoring practices can be more effectively aligned with the GTCS (2012) Standards. This small co-study addresses issues raised in key ‘policy’ texts shaping mentoring practices in Scottish education. For these continue to highlight the need for coherence in the language of ‘mentoring’; how ‘feedback’ might be more productive in supporting Newly Qualified Teachers; how training for Mentors is required and how pedagogical skills might be enhanced through the Mentoring Process (Evaluation of Teaching Scotland’s Future, Scottish Government, March 2016)

Alveolar fluid in acute respiratory distress syndrome promotes fibroblast migration: role of platelet-derived growth factor pathway

OBJECTIVES: Fibroblast migration is an initiating step in fibroproliferation; its involvement during acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome remains poorly understood. The aims of this study were: 1) to determine whether bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from patients with acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome modulate lung fibroblast migration; 2) to assess lung fibroblast migration\u27s clinical relevance; and 3) to evaluate the role of the platelet-derived growth factor pathway in this effect. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING: Three intensive care units of a large tertiary referral center. PATIENTS: Ninety-three ventilated patients requiring bronchoalveolar lavage fluids were enrolled (48 with acute respiratory distress syndrome, 33 with acute lung injury, and 12 ventilated patients without acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome). INTERVENTIONS: After bronchoalveolar lavage fluids collection during standard care, the patients were followed up for 28 days and clinical outcomes were recorded. Migration assays were performed by using a Transwell model; bronchoalveolar lavage fluids platelet-derived growth factor and soluble platelet-derived growth factor receptor-alpha were characterized by Western blot and measured by ELISA. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Most of the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids inhibited basal fibroblast migration. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluids chemotactic index increased with severity of lung injury (28% in patients without acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome and with acute lung injury vs. 91% in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients; p = .016). In acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome patients, inhibition of basal fibroblast migration by bronchoalveolar lavage fluids below 52% was independently associated with a lower 28-day mortality (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] 0.313 [0.10-0.98], p = .046). Platelet-derived growth factor-related peptides and soluble platelet-derived growth factor-Ralpha were detected in all bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome patients. The effect of bronchoalveolar lavage fluids stimulating migration was inhibited by a specific platelet-derived growth factor receptor inhibitor (AG1296). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluids inhibiting migration reversed the effect of rh-platelet-derived growth factor-BB and reduced by 40% the binding of 125I-platelet-derived growth factor-BB to fibroblast cell surface in favor of a role for platelet-derived growth factor-sRalpha. CONCLUSIONS: : Together, our results suggest that during acute lung injury, fibroblast migration is modulated by bronchoalveolar lavage fluids through a platelet-derived growth factor/platelet-derived growth factor-sRalpha balance. Migration is associated with clinical severity and patient 28-day mortality

New Integrated High-Resolution Dinoflagellate Cyst Stratigraphy and Litho- and Chemostratigraphy from the Paris and Dieppe–Hampshire Basins for the “Sparnacian”

The Paris Basin represents an historical cradle of Palaeogene stratigraphy, where during the nineteenth century the Palaeocene Series and the “Sparnacian Stage” were established. As highlighted by Aubry et al. (2005), whereas the chronostratigraphic connotation of the “Sparnacian Stage” has been controversial since its definition, modern studies of the late Palaeocene–early Eocene interval have revealed that the so-called “Sparnacian” deposits encompass a remarkable and short (~170 kyr) episode of the Cenozoic, the Palaeocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM, ~55.8–55.6 Ma). Dinoflagellate assemblages from the “Sparnacian” of the Dieppe–Hampshire and Paris basins do not contain the key species Apectodinium augustum, whereas it is present in the northern Belgian Basin Tienen Formation and is coeval there with the CIE and the Apectodinium acme interval. However, our calibration of the Apectodinium acme to the CIE in the Dieppe–Hampshire and Paris basins suggests its attribution to the A. augustum zone. The absence of species A. augustum in the Anglo–Paris Basin may be explained by its restriction to more offshore conditions

Financial loss and depressive symptoms in university students during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic: comparison between 23 countries

Objectives: To assess the association between students’ financial loss and depressive symptoms during the first wave of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and whether this association varied by countries having different levels of lockdown measures. Methods: This cross-sectional survey, conducted in spring 2020, included 91,871 students from 23 countries. Depressive symptoms were measured using the shortened Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and information on lockdowns retrieved from the COVID-19 government response tracker. The association between financial loss and depressive symptoms was investigated estimating prevalence ratios (PR) with multilevel Poisson models. Results: Some 13% of students suffered financial loss during the lockdown and 52% had a relatively high depression score, with large between-countries differences. Minimally and maximally adjusted models showed a 35% (PR = 1.35, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 1.29–1.42) and 31% (PR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.26–1.37) higher prevalence of depressive symptoms in students who lost economic resources compared to students with stable economic resources. No substantial differences in the association were found across countries. Conclusion: Depressive symptoms were more frequent among students who suffered financial loss during the pandemic. Policy makers should consider this issue in the implementation of COVID-19 mitigating measure

Imaging tests in determination of brain death

In this issue, an excellent review is published on the imaging findings in non-neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy [1]. The authors also go into detail on imaging “brain death”, an entity that is currently causing debate as far as the imaging approach is concerned. Brain death refers to the irreversible end of all brain activity due to necrosis of neurons. The diagnosis of brain death allows organ donation for transplantation or withdrawal of life support. Legal standard and/or practice guidelines are currently present in most countries. There is uniform agreement on the clinical neurological examination to evaluate absence of brain function. This examination includes the assessment of coma, the absence of brain reflexes, and the assessment of apnea. Some guidelines require a confirmatory test for the diagnosis o