Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles (MISEV2023): From basic to advanced approaches

Extracellular vesicles (EVs), through their complex cargo, can reflect the state of their cell of origin and change the functions and phenotypes of other cells. These features indicate strong biomarker and therapeutic potential and have generated broad interest, as evidenced by the steady year-on-year increase in the numbers of scientific publications about EVs. Important advances have been made in EV metrology and in understanding and applying EV biology. However, hurdles remain to realising the potential of EVs in domains ranging from basic biology to clinical applications due to challenges in EV nomenclature, separation from non-vesicular extracellular particles, characterisation and functional studies. To address the challenges and opportunities in this rapidly evolving field, the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) updates its 'Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles', which was first published in 2014 and then in 2018 as MISEV2014 and MISEV2018, respectively. The goal of the current document, MISEV2023, is to provide researchers with an updated snapshot of available approaches and their advantages and limitations for production, separation and characterisation of EVs from multiple sources, including cell culture, body fluids and solid tissues. In addition to presenting the latest state of the art in basic principles of EV research, this document also covers advanced techniques and approaches that are currently expanding the boundaries of the field. MISEV2023 also includes new sections on EV release and uptake and a brief discussion of in vivo approaches to study EVs. Compiling feedback from ISEV expert task forces and more than 1000 researchers, this document conveys the current state of EV research to facilitate robust scientific discoveries and move the field forward even more rapidly

Acceptability and feasibility of using raltegravir oral granules for the treatment of neonates in a low-resource setting

Background: Raltegravir granules for oral suspension, now recommended by World Health Organization for use in neonates with HIV infection, may be challenging for caregivers because of the multistep preparation required. Methods: We evaluated the acceptability and feasibility of preparing granules for oral suspension in a low-to-middle-income country setting. Thirty-four caregivers and 10 health-care workers were enrolled from an HIV clinic in Durban, South Africa. Health-care workers were provided with pictorial instruction booklet, demonstration kit and guidance on preparation of granules for oral suspension. The health-care workers then trained caregivers on the preparation of granules for oral suspension. Caregivers were evaluated during the preparation process and instructed to practice at home with a sample kit and return to the clinic for repeat evaluation 5-7 days later. Caregivers and health-care workers were interviewed and participated in a focus group discussion regarding their experiences. Results: The median age of the caregivers was 31 years (interquartile range: 9.7); 70% had received secondary-level education, 37% were employed. The median preparation time was 7.95 minutes (interquartile range: 5.08 minutes) and 7.48 minutes (3.55 minutes) at initial and repeated observation, respectively. Major errors were insufficient mixing time and incorrect suspension volume. The average number of errors between the 2 observation time points was significantly reduced at the repeat session (2.5 vs. 0.87, P = 0.023). Most participants found the preparation difficult at first but gained confidence over time. Conclusion: Despite the complexity involved in the preparation of the granules for oral suspension, with practice, this formulation was found to be acceptable and feasible to majority of participants in this low-resource setting. As a result, this formulation was included in the 2018 World Health Organization recommendations for first line in neonates living with HIV

The photoelectrocatalytic oxidative treatment of textile wastewater containing disperse dyes

This paper presents a study of a prospective photoeletrocatalytic oxidation treatment system for disperse dyes obtained from a textile industry. The process utilizes titanium dioxide thin-film electrodes prepared by the sol-gel method as a photo-oxidative anode. Using UV irradiation and ail applied potential of + 1.0 V on the nanoporous photoanode of Ti/TiO(2) it is Possible to reach a reduction of color removal of 90%, 94% and 100% and 63%, 45% and 61% for TOC removal of DOD, DRD and DRR dyes. The method has been successfully applied to treat textile industry effluent collected at different steps in the industrial process namely before and after conventional wastewater treatment. The results were satisfactory for both effluent samples, leading to a reduction from 52.6% to 69.0% of COD, a diminishing of 80-89% of discoloration and a removal of TOC in the range of 47 to 50%. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Photoeletrocatalytic oxidation of anionic surfactant used in leather industry on nanoporous Ti/TiO2 eletrodes

A oxidação fotoeletrocatalítica de solução 0,009% (m/v) do surfactante aniônico comercial, Tamol®, foi investigada em Na2SO4 0,1 mol L-1 empregando-se ânodos de filme fino de Ti/TiO2. Utilizando-se as melhores condições experimentais, potencial de +1,0 V, irradiação UV e pH 2,0 foi possível obter 100% de remoção do dispersante monitorado por espectrofotometria na região do UV e 94% de remoção de carbono orgânico total (COT) após 90 min de fotoeletrólise. O método foi ainda aplicado para remoção do surfactante na presença do corante acido vermelho 151 e após 90 min de tratamento observa-se que o método promove a remoção de 98% da cor concomitante à diminuição de 81% do carbono orgânico total da solução.The photoeletrocatalytic oxidation of 0.009% (m/v) of commercial surfactant Tamol. in 0.1 mol L-1 Na2SO4 was investigated on thin-film of TiO2 as photoanode. Using the best experimental condition, E = + 1.0 V, pH 2.0 and UV irradiation were obtained 100% of surfactant removal followed by 94% of total organic carbon (TOC) removal after 90 min of photoelectrocatalytic treatment. The method was applied to surfactant removal in the presence of acid red 151 dye. After 90 min of treatment the method promoted 98% of discoloration concomitant to reduction of 81% total organic carbon of the resulting solution.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP

[Heifer breeding farms as a source for spreading the BVD virus?]

It is well known that, in Switzerland, communal grazing of livestock on alpine pastures plays an important role in the spread of BVD virus. Analogously, we might expect that the communal raising on farms specialising in raising heifers of animals born on different farms would also favour the spread of BVDV. This study investigated whether a persistently infected (PI) breeding heifer kept on this type of farm over a period of 26 months would put the other animals at risk of being infected.The PI-animal was in contact with 75 heifers (here defined as contact animals) on this farm. Thirty-two of the contact animals that were probably pregnant (animals at risk of giving birth to a PI-calf) were moved to 8 different breeding farms (here defined as farms at risk). On these 8 farms, 246 calves were found to be at risk of being infected with BVDV. We examined 78 calves and investigated whether the move of the pregnant animals from their original farm had permitted the virus to spread to these 8 other farms.The contact animals had a seroprevalence of 92% and the animals at risk a seroprevalence of 100%. Only one PI-animal was found on the farms at risk.This BVD infection, however, occurred independently of the PI-breeding animal. Seropositive calves were found only on 2 farms. This study did not provide any proof for a spread of BVDV with the PI-breeding animal as a source; likewise, no persistent infection was proven to exist on the farms at risk. This result is likely to be representative for the endemic situation of BVD in Switzerland. Thus, PI-animals present on heifer raising farms infect calves well before servicing. Hence, no new PI-animals are generated, and the infection becomes self-limiting. When we reconstructed the animal movements between the farms and determined the animals to be examined with the aid of the Swiss national animal traffic database (TVD) we found the data of 37% of the heifers to be incomplete and failed to successfully establish the whereabouts of 3 animals

Mapping the progressive geologic history at the junction of the Alpine Mountain Belt and the Western Mediterranean Ocean

International audienceThis contribution illustrates a new type of map, the “geological event map” (1:250,000 scale), which highlights the progressive steps of the geologic history recorded in the polycyclic orogenic belt of the European Alps, at their southwestern termination facing the western Mediterranean Sea. The formula of historical progression simplifies comprehension of significant phenomenal visions and reorients public curiosity towards geologic processes. This part of the Alpine belt records a geologic history starting with the Variscan convergence during Devonian, throughout the opening of the Tethys Ocean, Alpine convergence, followed by Apennine subduction driving the opening of the Ligurian-Provençal Ocean. Finally, from late Miocene to Present a progressive tectonic inversion characterizes the Ligurian-Provençal continental margin. This geologic history, over a time period of 400 million years, which includes three successive Wilson Cycles, is displayed in 8 plates composed of maps and illustrations. Each map explains the effects of successive tectonic events by adding geologic changes that modify the petrogenetic and structural configurations. The last plate shows the finite state of the geologic history at present-time. The map legend is based on ten major geodynamic events of which rock associations, and their genetic environment, are described in simple divulgation terms, to stimulate interest of neophytes. Illustration of the evolution of rocks and structures side of each map aims at conveying to non specialists in tectonics and petrology the impact of mechanisms associated with the Earth’s deep engine upon surface changes