The utility of transcranial magnetic stimulation in assessing the corticotherapy efficiency in multiple sclerosis patients during relapse

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is the most frequent chronic neurologic pathology diagnosed in young adults. The demyelinating process leads to axonal myelin loss, causing axonal and glial neuronal dysfunctions, clinically manifested by relapse. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive method useful in assessing corticospinal tract dysfunctions in Multiple Sclerosis patients, by recording the prolonged central motor conduction time (CMCT), the increase of the motor threshold and also the reduction in amplitude of the motor evoked potential (MEP). Thus, stimulating the cortical motor area will determine a recordable response characteristic for the electrophysiological behavior of the pyramidal tract. We investigated 37 MS patients with relapse, manifesting by motor defi cit, performing TMS prior to receiving corticosteroids (1000 mg intravenous Methylprednisolone daily, for 5 days), 5 days afterwards and also after one month from the treatment. 26 patients presented both electrophysiological and clinical improvement after therapy, whereas 11 patients did not show any electrophysiological improvement, in spite of a slight amelioration of the symptoms. TMS proves to be a sensitive tool for investigating the relapse and the corticotherapy efficiency

A platform for studying the transfer of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection between respiratory epithelium and phagocytes

The obligate intracellular bacterium, Chlamydia pneumoniae, has been identified as a risk factor for several chronic inflammatory diseases in addition to respiratory tract infections. The dissemination of C. pneumoniae from respiratory tract to secondary sites of infection occurs via infected monocyte / macrophage line cells, in which C. pneumoniae can persist as an antibiotic-refractory phenotype. To allow more detailed studies on the epithelium-monocyte/macrophage transition of the infection, new in vitro bioassays are needed. To this end, a coculture system with human continuous cell lines was established. Respiratory epithelial HL cells were infected with C. pneumoniae and THP-1 monocytes were added into the cultures at 67 h post infection. After a 5 h coculture, THP-1 cells were collected with a biotinylated HLA antibody and streptavidin-coated magnetic beads and C. pneumoniae genome copy numbers in THP-1 determined by quantitative PCR. The assay was optimized for cell densities, incubation time, THP-1 separation technique and buffer composition, and its robustness was demonstrated by a Z' value of 0.6. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors: SP600125 (JNK inhibitor), SB203580 (p38 inhibitor) and FR180204 (ERK inhibitor) suppressed the transfer of C. pneumoniae from HL to THP-1 cells, making them suitable positive controls for the assay. Based on analysis of separate steps of the process, the MAPK inhibitors suppress the bacterial entry to THP-1 cells. The transfer of C. pneumoniae from epithelium to phagocytes represents a crucial step in the establishment of persistent infections by this pathogen, and the presented methods enables future studies to block this process by therapeutic means.Peer reviewe

Multi-level governance and the management of European funds for regional development in Romania

Die im Rahmen dieses Forschungsprojektes entstandene Analyse basiert auf einer von einer Multi-Level Governance (MLG) Methode. Sinn der Studie ist es zu versuchen, herauszufinden, (i) in welchem Ausmaß das rumänische System organisiert ist und wie es auf unterschiedlichen Ebenen der regionalen Entwicklungspolitik funktioniert, (ii) welche die wichtigsten involvierten Institutionen sind, (iii) auf welcher politischen Ebene all dies stattfindet (Planung, Gründung, Erfassung, Beurteilung, finanzielle Kontrolle, Überprüfung), und schließlich (iv) in welchem Ausmaß die in Rumänien vorhandenen regionalen Strukturen den Politik-Gestaltenden Prozess beeinflussen. The analysis carried out in the framework of this research project is based on a methodology derived from the Multi-Level Governance theory. This study aims to analyse the extent to which the Romanian regional development policy-making system is organised in and functions at several levels, which are the most significant institutions involved and at which policy-making stage, i.e. programming, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, financial management and control, audit; and, finally, to which extent the regional structures in place in Romania contribute to this policy-making process and occupy a strong position in this institutional architecture

L'interculturel – facteur clé d'une bonne insertion professionnelle

Les cours de langue peuvent être considérés la plaque tournante de la communication en milieu universitaire dans la mesure où ils forment les futurs spécialistes à une interaction langagière efficace en contexte professionnel. Les compétences interculturelles en tant que savoirs et savoir-faire transversaux représentent une composante fondamentale, à même d’assurer la réussite de la communication, de faciliter l’apprentissage en milieu plurilingue et d’accroître l’employabilité des étudiants. Permettant au locuteur de se positionner correctement par rapport aux individus et aux institutions, l’interculturel est un facteur clé de la réussite de l’interaction sociale. Décliné en comportements, attitudes épistémologiques et affectives, pratiques discursives il est actuellement tout aussi nécessaire dans le monde du travail que les connaissances de spécialité

Les élections roumaines : le poids du passé

Depuis 1989, la Roumanie connaît les avatars de la redécouverte des dimensions locales et régionales de la construction territoriale. Le phénomène est très compliqué à cause de la complexité du territoire roumain, caractérisé par l’existence de tensions profondes dues à la jeunesse et à la rapidité de la construction de l’Etat moderne roumain. Cet article explore, à travers une analyse géographique des élections, la diminution des tensions ethniques et la lente émergence d’un comportement civique des habitants de la Roumanie. Le processus est caractérisé par un début d’affirmation des structures locales et régionales comme réaction aux tendances centralisatrices dues à l’héritage communiste.Since 1989 Romania has been experiencing the avatars of the rediscovery of the local and regional dimensions of the territorial building. The phenomenon is very complicated because Romania is a complex territory characterized by deep tensions determined by the quick and recent construction of the modern Romanian State. This paper explores, through a geographical analysis of the elections, the decrease of the ethnical tensions and demonstrates the slow emergence of a civic behaviour on the part of Romanian citizens. The process is characterized by a slow affirmation of local and regional structures as a reaction to centralizing trends inherited from communism

Regulation of the Exception for Non-performance Under The New Civil Code

Synallagmatic contracts present certain specific effects among which the exception for non-performance. The New Civil Code, following the opinions formulated in the doctrine under the authority of the Civil Code from 1864, legislatively consecrates this institution, for the first time, under Art. 1556. Despite the clear specification of the indicated norm, recently, opinions following the French doctrine have been expressed, to which we do not acquiesc