A randomised controlled trial evaluating the use of polyglactin (Vicryl) mesh, polydioxanone (PDS) or polyglactin (Vicryl) sutures for pelvic organ prolapse surgery : outcomes at 2 years

Peer reviewedPostprin

An asymptotic theory for the re-equilibration of a micellar surfactant solution

Micellar surfactant solutions are characterized by a distribution of aggregates comprised predominantly of pre-micellar aggregates (monomers, dimers, trimers, etc.) and a region of proper micelles close to the peak aggregation number, connected by an intermediate region containing a very low concentration of aggregates. Such a distribution gives rise to a distinct two-timescale re-equilibration following a system dilution, known as the 1 and 2 processes, whose dynamics may be described by the Becker–Döring equations. We use a continuum version of these equations to develop a reduced asymptotic description that elucidates the behavior during each of these processes

Blood-feeding in the young adult filarial worms litomosoides sigmodontis

In this study with the filarial model Litomosoides sigmodontis, we demonstrate that the worms ingest host red blood cells at a precise moment of their life-cycle, immediately after the fourth moult. The red blood cells (RBC) were identified microscopically in live worms immobilized in PBS at 4 degrees C, and their density assessed. Two hosts were used: Mongolian gerbils, where microfilaraemia is high, and susceptible BALB/c mice with lower microfilaraemia. Gerbils were studied at 12 time-points, between day 9 post-inoculation (the worms were young 4th stage larvae) and day 330 p.i. (worms were old adults). Only the very young adult filarial worms had red blood cells in their gut. Haematophagy was observed between days 25 and 56 p.i. and peaked between day 28 and day 30 p.i. in female worms. In males, haematophagy was less frequent and intense. Similar kinetics of haematophagy were found in BALB/c mice, but frequency and intensity tended to be lower. Haematophagy seems useful to optimize adult maturation. These observations suggest that haematophagy is an important step in the life-cycle of L. sigmodontis. This hitherto undescribed phenomenon might be characteristic of other filarial species including human parasites

The impact of the lung environment on macrophage development, activation and function:diversity in the face of adversity

The last decade has been somewhat of a renaissance period for the field of macrophage biology. This renewed interest, combined with the advent of new technologies and development of novel model systems to assess different facets of macrophage biology, has led to major advances in our understanding of the diverse roles macrophages play in health, inflammation, infection and repair, and the dominance of tissue environments in influencing all of these areas. Here, we discuss recent developments in our understanding of lung macrophage heterogeneity, ontogeny, metabolism and function in the context of health and disease, and highlight core conceptual advances and key unanswered questions that we believe should be focus of work in the coming years

On the predictions and limitations of the BeckerDoring model for reaction kinetics in micellar surfactant solutions

We investigate the breakdown of a system of micellar aggregates in a surfactant solution following an order-one dilution. We derive a mathematical model based on the Becker–Döring system of equations, using realistic expressions for the reaction constants fit to Molecular Dynamics simulations. We exploit the largeness of typical aggregation numbers to derive a continuum model, substituting a large system of ordinary differential equations for a partial differential equation in two independent variables: time and aggregate size. Numerical solutions demonstrate that re-equilibration occurs in two distinct stages over well-separated time-scales, in agreement with experiment and with previous theories. We conclude by exposing a limitation in the Becker–Döring theory for re-equilibration and discuss potential resolutions

Effect of magnetic state on the γ−α\gamma -\alpha transition in iron: First-principle calculations of the Bain transformation path

Energetics of the fcc ($\gamma$) - bcc ($\alpha$) lattice transformation by the Bain tetragonal deformation is calculated for both magnetically ordered and paramagnetic (disordered local moment) states of iron. The first-principle computational results manifest a relevance of the magnetic order in a scenario of the $\gamma$ - $\alpha$ transition and reveal a special role of the Curie temperature of $\alpha$-Fe, $T_C$, where a character of the transformation is changed. At a cooling down to the temperatures $T < T_C$ one can expect that the transformation is developed as a lattice instability whereas for $T > T_C$ it follows a standard mechanism of creation and growth of an embryo of the new phase. It explains a closeness of $T_C$ to the temperature of start of the martensitic transformation, $M_s$.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitted in Phys. Rev. Letter

Strontium ranelate improves bone strength in ovariectomized rat by positively influencing bone resistance determinants

Summary: Treatment of adult ovariectomized (OVX) rats with strontium ranelate prevented vertebral biomechanics degradation as a result of the prevention of bone loss and micro-architecture deterioration associated to an effect on intrinsic bone material quality. Strontium ranelate influenced the determinants of bone strength by prevention of ovariectomy-induced changes which contribute to explain strontium ranelate antifracture efficacy. Introduction: Strontium ranelate effects on the determinants of bone strength in OVX rats were evaluated. Methods: Adult female Sprague-Dawley rats were OVX, then treated daily for 52weeks with 125, 250, or 625mg strontium ranelate/kg. Bone strength, mass, micro-architecture, turnover, and intrinsic quality were assessed. Results: Strontium ranelate prevented ovariectomy-induced deterioration in mechanical properties with energy necessary for fracture completely maintained vs. SHAM at 625mg/kg/day, which corresponds to the clinical dose. This was related to a dose-dependent effect on bone volume, higher trabeculae number, and lower trabecular separation in strontium ranelate vs. OVX. Load and energy required to induce lamella deformation were higher with strontium ranelate than in OVX and in SHAM, indicating that the bone formed with strontium ranelate is able to withstand greater damage before fracture. Bone formation was maintained high or even increased in strontium ranelate as shown by mineralizing surfaces and alkaline phosphatase while strontium ranelate led to reductions in deoxypyridinoline. Conclusion: Strontium ranelate administered at 625mg/kg/day for 52weeks prevented OVX-induced biomechanical properties deterioration by influencing the determinants of bone strength: it prevented bone loss and micro-architecture degradation in association with an effect on intrinsic bone quality. These beneficial effects on bone contribute to explain strontium ranelate antifracture efficac