Minimal information for studies of extracellular vesicles 2018 (MISEV2018):a position statement of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles and update of the MISEV2014 guidelines

The last decade has seen a sharp increase in the number of scientific publications describing physiological and pathological functions of extracellular vesicles (EVs), a collective term covering various subtypes of cell-released, membranous structures, called exosomes, microvesicles, microparticles, ectosomes, oncosomes, apoptotic bodies, and many other names. However, specific issues arise when working with these entities, whose size and amount often make them difficult to obtain as relatively pure preparations, and to characterize properly. The International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV) proposed Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles (“MISEV”) guidelines for the field in 2014. We now update these “MISEV2014” guidelines based on evolution of the collective knowledge in the last four years. An important point to consider is that ascribing a specific function to EVs in general, or to subtypes of EVs, requires reporting of specific information beyond mere description of function in a crude, potentially contaminated, and heterogeneous preparation. For example, claims that exosomes are endowed with exquisite and specific activities remain difficult to support experimentally, given our still limited knowledge of their specific molecular machineries of biogenesis and release, as compared with other biophysically similar EVs. The MISEV2018 guidelines include tables and outlines of suggested protocols and steps to follow to document specific EV-associated functional activities. Finally, a checklist is provided with summaries of key points

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Cellules photovoltaïques à base d'hétérocycles pyraniques

Organic compounds with pyranic heterocycles could be used in solar cells or in materials for telecommunications due tot their nonlinear optic properties. Several compounds synthesized were tested in dyes solar cells. The efficiencies of these dyes were obtained and the effect of structural modifications were studied with the goal to obtain a better efficiency.Les composés organiques à base d'hétérocycles pyraniques peuvent être utilisé dans les cellules photovoltaïques ou dans des matériaux du domaine des télécommunications grâce à leurs propriétés en optique non linéaire. Plusieurs de ces composés ont été synthétisés, analysés et testés dans des cellules solaires à colorants. Des rendements photovoltaïques ont pu ainsi être obtenus et des modifications sur ses composés ont été effectuées afin d'obtenir une meilleure conversions de l'énergie solaire en courant électrique

Dyes solar cells based on pyranic heterocycles

Les composés organiques à base d'hétérocycles pyraniques peuvent être utilisé dans les cellules photovoltaïques ou dans des matériaux du domaine des télécommunications grâce à leurs propriétés en optique non linéaire. Plusieurs de ces composés ont été synthétisés, analysés et testés dans des cellules solaires à colorants. Des rendements photovoltaïques ont pu ainsi être obtenus et des modifications sur ses composés ont été effectuées afin d'obtenir une meilleure conversions de l'énergie solaire en courant électrique.Organic compounds with pyranic heterocycles could be used in solar cells or in materials for telecommunications due tot their nonlinear optic properties. Several compounds synthesized were tested in dyes solar cells. The efficiencies of these dyes were obtained and the effect of structural modifications were studied with the goal to obtain a better efficiency

: How to ethnography evanescent landscapes in Amazonia

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Paisagens Evanescentes. Estudos sobre a percepção das transformações nas paisagens pelos moradores dos rios amazônicos

International audienceBoue, boueux, bourbier... Ces mots captent les défis et les potentiels analytiques des régions inondées. En proposant une généalogie qui part du travail de trois chercheurs-clé sur la plaine d’inondation amazonienne – Mark Harris, Edna Alencar et Thierry Valentin – les éditeurs posent un nouveau regard sur le célèbre débat anthropologique sur la nature et la culture ; un débat tant de fois discuté par des auteurs ayant travaillé dans cette région (de Julian Steward, en passant par Claude Lévi-Strauss, Betty Meggers, Anna Roosevelt, Eduardo Viveiros de Castro et tant d’autres) et aux dénouements distincts. En considérant le paysage comme un objet ethnographique central, coconstruit par des acteurs humains et non-humain, l’étude des régions riveraines d’Amazonie permet d’expérimenter avantageusement la pensée, l’écriture et la pratique politique.Lama, enlameado, lamaçal... captem desafios e potencialidades analíticas das regiões alagadas. Ao propor uma genealogia que parte do trabalho de três pesquisadores-chave – Mark Harris, Edna Alencar e Thierry Valentin – os editores dão um novo foco para o célebre debate antropológico sobre natureza e cultura, debate tantas vezes protagonizado por autores que trabalham ou trabalharam na região (de Julian Steward, passando por Claude Lévi-Strauss, Betty Meggers, Anna Roosevelt, Eduardo Viveiros de Castro e tantos outros), e que teve, em diferentes momentos, distintos desfechos. Ao considerar a paisagem como um objeto etnográfico chave, constituído conjuntamente por diversos atores humanos e não humanos, os autores desta coletânea mostram que as regiões ribeirinhas da Amazônia continuam não somente dando origem a experimentações profícuas de pensamento, escrita e prática política, mas continuam a ser um locus atual e vital para a sua emergência

Etnografar as paisagens evanescentes da Amazônia

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