Germaine Guèvremont (1900‑1968)

Éloge funèbre de Germaine Guèvremont, écrit en 1969 pour la Société royal

REPK: an analytical web server to select restriction endonucleases for terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis

Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis is a widespread technique for rapidly fingerprinting microbial communities. Users of T-RFLP frequently overlook the resolving power of well-chosen restriction endonucleases and often fail to report how they chose their enzymes. REPK (Restriction Endonuclease Picker) assists in the rational choice of restriction endonucleases for T-RFLP by finding sets of four restriction endonucleases that together uniquely differentiate user-designated sequence groups. With REPK, users can provide their own sequences (of any gene, not just 16S rRNA), specify the taxonomic rank of interest and choose from a number of filtering options to further narrow down the enzyme selection. Bug tracking is provided, and the source code is open and accessible under the GNU Public License v.2, at http://code.google.com/p/repk. The web server is available without access restrictions at http://rocaplab.ocean.washington.edu/tools/repk

Low TLR7 gene expression in atherosclerotic plaques is associated with major adverse cardio- and cerebrovascular events

AIMS: Processes in the development of atherosclerotic lesions can lead to plaque rupture or erosion, which can in turn elicit myocardial infarction or ischaemic stroke. The aims of this study were to determine whether Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) gene expression levels influence patient outcome and to explore the mechanisms linked to TLR7 expression in atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Atherosclerotic plaques were removed by carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and subjected to gene array expression analysis (n = 123). Increased levels of TLR7 transcript in the plaques were associated with better outcome in a follow-up study over a maximum of 8 years. Patients with higher TLR7 transcript levels had a lower risk of experiencing major cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) during the follow-up period after CEA (hazard ratio: 2.38, P = 0.012, 95% CI 1.21–4.67). TLR7 was expressed in all plaques by T cells, macrophages and endothelial cells in capillaries, as shown by immunohistochemistry. In short-term tissue cultures, ex vivo treatment of plaques with the TLR7 ligand imiquimod elicited dose-dependent secretion of IL-10, TNF-α, GM-CSF, and IL-12/IL-23p40. This secretion was blocked with a TLR7 inhibitor. Immunofluorescent tissue analysis after TLR7 stimulation showed IL-10 expression in T cells, macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells. TLR7 mRNA levels in the plaques were correlated with IL-10 receptor (r = 0.4031, P < 0.0001) and GM-CSF receptor A (r = 0.4354, P < 0.0001) transcripts. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that TLR7 is abundantly expressed in human atherosclerotic plaques. TLR7 ligation elicits the secretion of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines, and high TLR7 expression in plaques is associated with better patient outcome, suggesting that TLR7 is a potential therapeutic target for prevention of complications of atherosclerosis

Snow Buntings Maintain Winter-Level Cold Endurance While Migrating to the High Arctic

Arctic breeding songbirds migrate early in the spring and can face winter environments requiring cold endurance throughout their journey. One such species, the snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis), is known for its significant thermogenic capacity. Empirical studies suggest that buntings can indeed maintain winter cold acclimatization into the migratory and breeding phenotypes when kept captive on their wintering grounds. This capacity could be advantageous not only for migrating in a cold environment, but also for facing unpredictable Arctic weather on arrival and during preparation for breeding. However, migration also typically leads to declines in the sizes of several body components linked to metabolic performance. As such, buntings could also experience some loss of cold endurance as they migrate. Here, we aimed to determine whether free-living snow buntings maintain a cold acclimatized phenotype during spring migration. Using a multi-year dataset, we compared body composition (body mass, fat stores, and pectoralis muscle thickness), oxygen carrying capacity (hematocrit) and metabolic performance (thermogenic capacity – Msum and maintenance energy expenditure – BMR) of birds captured on their wintering grounds (January–February, Rimouski, QC, 48°N) and during pre-breeding (April–May) in the Arctic (Alert, NU, 82°). Our results show that body mass, fat stores and Msum were similar between the two stages, while hematocrit and pectoralis muscle thickness were lower in pre-breeding birds than in wintering individuals. These results suggest that although tissue degradation during migration may affect flight muscle size, buntings are able to maintain cold endurance (i.e., Msum) up to their Arctic breeding grounds. However, BMR was higher during pre-breeding than during winter, suggesting higher maintenance costs in the Arctic

Phenotypic constraints at the top of the world: an Arctic songbird faces the cumulative cost of maintaining a winter-like phenotype during breeding

Among birds, several body composition traits typically decrease in size or mass during breeding likely as a result of competing demands during this critical life history stage. However, a recent outdoor captive study in an Arctic-breeding cold-specialist songbird (snow buntings – Plectrophenax nivalis) demonstrated that these birds maintain winter cold acclimatization during the spring and summer, despite facing summer temperatures much warmer than on their Arctic breeding grounds. This suggests that buntings may face a cumulative physiological cost during breeding: having to support a winter phenotype while also upregulating additional traits for reproduction. The current study aimed to test this hypothesis. Between 2016 and 2019, we examined how body composition and metabolic performance (thermogenic capacity and physiological maintenance costs) changed from pre-breeding to chick provisioning in free-living birds captured at the northern limit of their breeding range in the Canadian Arctic (Alert, NU, 82°). While body mass and fat reserves deceased significantly between pre-breeding and territory defense independent of thermal conditions, cold endurance and associated traits remained stable and elevated up to the nestling provisioning period, as long as ambient temperature remained below a threshold level of 0–2°C. These results indicate that snow buntings must maintain a high thermogenic capacity after arrival on the breeding grounds if temperatures remain below freezing, regardless of whether birds are actively breeding or not. In this context, our research suggests that these birds, and possibly other arctic breeding songbirds, may experience cumulative physiological costs during years with a late onset of spring, when breeding activities (i.e., egg production and incubation) begin while temperatures are still below 0–2°C

La gestion des médicaments dans les simulations en établissement de santé

Objectif : Développer une politique et des procédures pour la gestion des médicaments réels et factices utilisés dans les simulations et la formation du personnel au Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine. Description de la problématique : Plusieurs simulations et formations ont lieu au Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine chaque année. Les gestionnaires du département de pharmacie reçoivent plusieurs demandes pour des médicaments réels ou factices malgré l’existence d’une politique et des procédures sur les simulations à l’hôpital. La décision quant au type de matériel à fournir leur revient. La procédure à appliquer doit être uniformisée pour permettre un accès équitable entre les divers secteurs, mais également pour assurer la sécurité du personnel et des patients. Résolution de la problématique : Nous avons d’abord effectué une revue de littérature pour comprendre les enjeux liés à la gestion des médicaments réels ou factices lors d’une simulation. Ensuite, nous avons fait des entrevues avec des pharmaciens participant aux simulations dans les centres hospitaliers universitaires, des gestionnaires des centres d’enseignement et des représentants des ordres professionnels pour dresser un portrait de la situation au Québec. Enfin, nous avons rédigé une politique ainsi qu’un algorithme décisionnel résumé. Conclusion : L’utilisation de médicaments dans les simulations est bénéfique, mais comporte des risques. Le choix de représentation médicamenteuse doit donc être évalué pour chaque simulation et tenir compte du but de l’exercice, des risques associés à chaque type de représentation médicamenteuse et de l’endroit où se déroule la simulation. Abstract Objective: To develop policies and procedures for managing real and mock medication used in simulation-based trainings at the Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine and to create a decision-tree algorithm for the type of medication to supply. Problem description: Many simulation-based training sessions take place at the Centre hospitalier universitaire Sainte-Justine every year. Despite the existence of policies and procedures on simulation-based training at the hospital, members of the pharmacy department’s leadership teams receive a large number of requests for real and mock medication and therefore bear the responsibility to determine which type of supplies to provide. The procedure should be standardized to allow equitable access between departments, but also to ensure the safety of staff and patients. Problem resolution: First, we conducted a literature review to understand the issues associated with managing real and mock medication during simulation-based trainings. Furthermore, we conducted interviews with pharmacists involved in simulation-based trainings at the teaching hospitals, members of the pharmacy department’s leadership teams, and representatives from professional orders to obtain an overview of the situation in Quebec. Lastly, we drafted a policy and a summary decision-tree algorithm. Conclusion: The use of drugs in simulation-based trainings is beneficial, but it also entails certain risks. The type of medication to supply must therefore be evaluated for each simulation-based training and take into account the purpose of the training exercise, the risks associated with each type of medication, and the setting of the training