Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)1.

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field

Effet des Prétraitements sur la Germination des Semences de Afzelia africana Smith ex Pers. en Milieu Semi Contrôlé en Basse Casamance (Senegal)

Afzelia africana Smith ex Pers. est une espèce très prisée pour son importance socioéconomique au niveau des pays du Sahel, ce qui entraine une forte pression anthropique sur elle. A cela, s’ajoute les conditions climatiques défavorables qui handicapent souvent la régénération de l’espèce ainsi que sa conservation en milieu naturel. L’objectif de cette étude est de contribuer à la connaissance des conditions de germination des graines de A. africana. Pour ce faire, les semences ont subi trois (3) types de traitement au laboratoire d’Agroforesterie et d’Écologie à savoir le trempage dans cinq (5) différentes concentrations d’acide sulfurique (H2SO4) (10 % ; 30 % ; 50 % ; 75 % et 98 %) à des durées différentes (5 mn ; 10 mn ; 30 mn et 60 mn), le trempage dans de l’eau tiède et la scarification mécanique. Les résultats révèlent que les meilleures germinations ont été obtenues respectivement à l’acide sulfurique (75 %) avec une durée de trempage de 30 mn pour la catégorie acide, l’eau tiède pour une durée de trempage de 12 h pour la catégorie eau tiède et la scarification mécanique à 1 mm. L’application des résultats obtenus présenterait des intérêts majeurs dans la disponibilité en quantité et qualité d’individus de A. africana pour assurer la régénération de l’espèce et ralentir les risques de disparition dans certaines zones du monde.   Afzelia africana Smith ex Pers. is a species that is highly prized for its socio-economic importance in the Sahelian countries, which results in strong anthropic pressure on it. In addition to this, unfavourable climatic conditions often handicap the regeneration of the species as well as its conservation in the wild. The objective of this study is to contribute to the knowledge of the germination conditions of the A. africana’s seeds. To this end, the seeds under went three (3) types of treatment in the laboratory, namely soaking in five (5) different concentrations of sulphuric acid (H2SO4) (10%; 30%; 50%; 75% and 98%) at different durations (5min; 10min; 30min and 60min), soaking in warm water and mechanical scarification. The results reveal that the best germinations were obtained respectively with 75% acid with a soaking time of 30 min for the acid category, warm water with a soaking time of 12 h for the warm water category and mechanical scarification at 1mm

Abstracts of the 1st International Colloquium in Mine & Society

This book presents the abstracts of the selected contributions to the First International Colloquium on Mines and Society (CIMS) organized by The Higher Institute of Mining and Geology of Boke. The theme of this colloquium was "Mining and Sustainable Development, a major challenge for an Emerging Africa" which aims to bring together teachers, researchers, and Professionals from different backgrounds in order to exchange the results of their research work, share their points of view on the issue of mining and sustainable development. It also aims to define, in a collaborative and inclusive manner, research prospects or future projects between all the actors involved in this field. Colloquium Title: 1st International Colloquium in Mine & SocietyTheme: Mining and Sustainable Development, A Major Challenge for an Emerging AfricaColloquium Date: 20-22 May 2022Colloquium Location: A L’Hôtel Rio Nunez de BokeColloquium Organizer: The Higher Institute of Mining and Geology of Bok

Mortality after surgery in Europe: a 7 day cohort study

Background: Clinical outcomes after major surgery are poorly described at the national level. Evidence of heterogeneity between hospitals and health-care systems suggests potential to improve care for patients but this potential remains unconfirmed. The European Surgical Outcomes Study was an international study designed to assess outcomes after non-cardiac surgery in Europe.Methods: We did this 7 day cohort study between April 4 and April 11, 2011. We collected data describing consecutive patients aged 16 years and older undergoing inpatient non-cardiac surgery in 498 hospitals across 28 European nations. Patients were followed up for a maximum of 60 days. The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcome measures were duration of hospital stay and admission to critical care. We used χ² and Fisher’s exact tests to compare categorical variables and the t test or the Mann-Whitney U test to compare continuous variables. Significance was set at p<0·05. We constructed multilevel logistic regression models to adjust for the differences in mortality rates between countries.Findings: We included 46 539 patients, of whom 1855 (4%) died before hospital discharge. 3599 (8%) patients were admitted to critical care after surgery with a median length of stay of 1·2 days (IQR 0·9–3·6). 1358 (73%) patients who died were not admitted to critical care at any stage after surgery. Crude mortality rates varied widely between countries (from 1·2% [95% CI 0·0–3·0] for Iceland to 21·5% [16·9–26·2] for Latvia). After adjustment for confounding variables, important differences remained between countries when compared with the UK, the country with the largest dataset (OR range from 0·44 [95% CI 0·19 1·05; p=0·06] for Finland to 6·92 [2·37–20·27; p=0·0004] for Poland).Interpretation: The mortality rate for patients undergoing inpatient non-cardiac surgery was higher than anticipated. Variations in mortality between countries suggest the need for national and international strategies to improve care for this group of patients.Funding: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine, European Society of Anaesthesiology