Passive stiffness of rat skeletal muscle undernourished during fetal development

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of fetal undernutrition on the passive mechanical properties of skeletal muscle of weaned and young adult rats. INTRODUCTION: A poor nutrition supply during fetal development affects physiological functions of the fetus. From a mechanical point of view, skeletal muscle can be also characterized by its resistance to passive stretch. METHODS: Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups according to their mother's diet during pregnancy: a control group (mothers fed a 17% protein diet) and an isocaloric low-protein group (mothers fed a 7.8% protein diet). At birth, all mothers received a standardized meal ad libitum. At the age of 25 and 90 days, the soleus muscle and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles were removed in order to test the passive mechanical properties. A first mechanical test consisted of an incremental stepwise extension test using fast velocity stretching (500 mm/s) enabling us to measure, for each extension stepwise, the dynamic stress (σd) and the steady stress (σs). A second test consisted of a slow velocity stretch in order to calculate normalized stiffness and tangent modulus from the stress-strain relationship. RESULTS: The results for the mechanical properties showed an important increase in passive stiffness in both the soleus and EDL muscles in weaned rat. In contrast, no modification was observed in young adult rats. CONCLUSIONS: The increase in passive stiffness in skeletal muscle of weaned rat submitted to intrauterine undernutrition it is most likely due to changes in muscle passive stiffness

Cortical thinning over two years after first-episode psychosis depends on age of onset

First-episode psychosis (FEP) patients show structural brain abnormalities at the first episode. Whether the cortical changes that follow a FEP are progressive and whether age at onset modulates these changes remains unclear. This is a multicenter MRI study in a deeply phenotyped sample of 74 FEP patients with a wide age range at onset (15–35 years) and 64 neurotypical healthy controls (HC). All participants underwent two MRI scans with a 2-year follow-up interval. We computed the longitudinal percentage of change (PC) for cortical thickness (CT), surface area (CSA) and volume (CV) for frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes. We used general linear models to assess group differences in PC as a function of age at FEP. We conducted post-hoc analyses for metrics where PC differed as a function of age at onset. We found a significant age-by-diagnosis interaction effect for PC of temporal lobe CT (d = 0.54; p = 002). In a post-hoc-analysis, adolescent-onset (≤19 y) FEP showed more severe longitudinal cortical thinning in the temporal lobe than adolescent HC. We did not find this difference in adult-onset FEP compared to adult HC. Our study suggests that, in individuals with psychosis, CT changes that follow the FEP are dependent on the age at first episode, with those with an earlier onset showing more pronounced cortical thinning in the temporal lobe

Tarteso. Nuevas Fronteras (II)

El presente volumen recoge las contribuciones presentadas al II Congreso Internacional sobre Tarteso, Nuevas Fronteras, que tuvo lugar en Mérida entre los días 17 y 19 de noviembre de 2021. Su lectura permite un viaje desde el extremo oriental del Mediterráneo hasta el suroeste de la península ibérica, mostrando las diversas realidades históricas acontecidas en este territorio durante la I Edad del Hierro. El objetivo de esta publicación es mostrar la situación que atravesaba el Mediterráneo durante los años de surgimiento y desarrollo de la cultura tartésica para así comprender mejor la formación y evolución de dicha cultura. El conocimiento de Tarteso ha evolucionado sensiblemente en la última década, desde la celebración y publicación de las actas del I Congreso Internacional, Tarteso. El emporio del metal (Almuzara, 2013). La incorporación de nuevas voces y visiones enfocadas al conocimiento de la protohistoria peninsular, así como de algunos temas nunca antes abordados en el conocimiento de Tarteso, permiten presentar en este volumen una visión renovada, donde destaca la incorporación de unos nuevos límites territoriales para esta cultura.Esta publicación se ha beneficiado de las siguientes ayudas para su financiación: Proyecto de Investigación del Plan Nacional I+D+i: “Construyendo Tarteso 2.0: análisis constructivo, espacial y territorial de un modelo arquitectónico en el valle medio del Guadiana” (PID2019-108180GBI00), financiado por MCIN (AEI/10.13039/501100011033). Subvención global de la Secretaría General de Ciencia, Tecnología, Innovación y Universidad de la Junta de Extremadura al Instituto de Arqueología.Peer reviewe

Multi-messenger searches via IceCube’s high-energy neutrinos and gravitational-wave detections of LIGO/Virgo

We summarize initial results for high-energy neutrino counterpart searches coinciding with gravitational-wave events in LIGO/Virgo\u27s GWTC-2 catalog using IceCube\u27s neutrino triggers. We did not find any statistically significant high-energy neutrino counterpart and derived upper limits on the time-integrated neutrino emission on Earth as well as the isotropic equivalent energy emitted in high-energy neutrinos for each event

Global disparities in surgeons’ workloads, academic engagement and rest periods: the on-calL shIft fOr geNEral SurgeonS (LIONESS) study

: The workload of general surgeons is multifaceted, encompassing not only surgical procedures but also a myriad of other responsibilities. From April to May 2023, we conducted a CHERRIES-compliant internet-based survey analyzing clinical practice, academic engagement, and post-on-call rest. The questionnaire featured six sections with 35 questions. Statistical analysis used Chi-square tests, ANOVA, and logistic regression (SPSS® v. 28). The survey received a total of 1.046 responses (65.4%). Over 78.0% of responders came from Europe, 65.1% came from a general surgery unit; 92.8% of European and 87.5% of North American respondents were involved in research, compared to 71.7% in Africa. Europe led in publishing research studies (6.6 ± 8.6 yearly). Teaching involvement was high in North America (100%) and Africa (91.7%). Surgeons reported an average of 6.7 ± 4.9 on-call shifts per month, with European and North American surgeons experiencing 6.5 ± 4.9 and 7.8 ± 4.1 on-calls monthly, respectively. African surgeons had the highest on-call frequency (8.7 ± 6.1). Post-on-call, only 35.1% of respondents received a day off. Europeans were most likely (40%) to have a day off, while African surgeons were least likely (6.7%). On the adjusted multivariable analysis HDI (Human Development Index) (aOR 1.993) hospital capacity > 400 beds (aOR 2.423), working in a specialty surgery unit (aOR 2.087), and making the on-call in-house (aOR 5.446), significantly predicted the likelihood of having a day off after an on-call shift. Our study revealed critical insights into the disparities in workload, access to research, and professional opportunities for surgeons across different continents, underscored by the HDI

Desnutrição e manipulação serotoninérgicaneonatais : repercussões sobre o desenvolvimento da mo rfologia cardíaca

Foram investigados os efeitos da desnutrição e da inibição farmacológica da recaptação da serotonina neonatais sobre a morfologia do coração de ratos aos 30 e 71 dias de vida. Os ratos machos Wistar foram divididos em dois grupos: nutrido e desnutrido, de acordo com a dieta oferecida à mãe (LABINA ou DBR), do 1º ao 21º dias pós-natais. Durante este período, os filhotes receberam 10mg/kg de fluoxetina, via s.c. ou solução fisiológica de cloreto de sódio a 0,9%. Após o desmame os filhotes receberam dieta padrão do biotério e água ad libitum. O crescimento corporal foi avaliado diariamente, até o 21º dia de vida e aos 30 e 71 dias de vida pós-natal. O crescimento cardíaco foi avaliado através das análises do peso cardíaco, relação PCa/PC, distância entre o sulco atrioventricular e o ápice do coração (distância AV) e análises da área de secção transversa e do perímetro transverso do órgão aos 30 e 71 dias de vida. As dimensões celulares e nucleares também foram avaliadas nas duas fases do desenvolvimento. Os animais nutridos tratados com fluoxetina apresentaram uma redução no peso corporal e no peso cardíaco, bem como na área e no perímetro das células miocárdicas numa fase precoce da vida. A desnutrição também acarretou um déficit ponderal que persistiu até uma fase tardia do desenvolvimento. O peso do coração mostrou-se menor nos animais desnutridos e a relação PCa/PC apresentou-se aumentada aos 30 dias. Não foi observada diferença nesta relação aos 71 dias. A distância AV e a área das células miocárdicas apresentaram-se menores nos animais desnutridos. A área de secção transversa, o perímetro transverso do coração e o perímetro das células miocárdicas mostraram-se menores nos ratos desnutridos em comparação aos nutridos nas duas fases do desenvolvimento. O tratamento farmacológico associado à desnutrição causou alterações no peso corporal e na morfologia cardíaca numa fase precoce da vida, porém em menor intensidade comparado aos animais nutridos que receberam o tratamento com fluoxetina. Estas agressões, durante o período neonatal, parecem não causar alterações nos núcleos das células miocárdicas. Este trabalho demonstra que a desnutrição e a manipulação serotoninérgica neonatal podem causar alterações na estrutura cardíaca e reforçam a participação do sistema serotoninérgico nos eventos de crescimento e desenvolviment

Dénutrition prénatale : répercussion sur le développement du système locomoteur chez le rat

COMPIEGNE-BU (601592101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Development of an early intervention programme for adolescents with emotion dysregulation and their families: Actions for the treatment of adolescent personality (ATraPA)

Aim Borderline personality disorder and severe emotion dysregulation in adolescence is a major public health concern. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy is a promising treatment for suicidality in adolescents. The aim of this work is to present an adaptation of this intervention to the Spanish national health system, Actions for the Treatment of Adolescent Personality (ATraPA). Method Data consists of a description of the different ATraPA subprogrammes, including interventions for adolescents aged 13 to 17 and their families. Participants were referred to ATraPA from different hospitals within the region of Madrid, Spain. Results ATraPA has been developed as an intensive outpatient treatment and it comprises different subprogrammes. ATraPA-TAI is an intensive outpatient treatment, including a skills-based group, individual therapy and email therapy. ATraPA-FAL is a psychoeducational intervention for families, including emotion regulation strategies for parents themselves. Finally, the Alternatives Group is offered to adolescents during the hospital admission, with the aim of promoting alternative coping skills. The group of therapists provides a support network to the professionals involved in ATraPA. Conclusions ATraPA has been successfully implemented in a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service within the Spanish national health system. Future studies should address the efficacy of ATraPA using a controlled design