1. Victims of Enforced Disappearances: Absent Bodies, Inner Presences: 1. Victims of Enforced Disappearances: Absent Bodies, Inner Presences1.

Enforced disappearance represents the quintessence of human rights violations with a strong psychological component. Bodies vanishing have a deterrent effect by terrorizing and paralyzing the entire society. However, the absence of those bodies is overly present in the inner experience of the families of the disappeared, who are victims in their turn. A state of severe psychological deterioration affects the relatives of the disappeared: depression, anxiety, powerlessness, guilt, post-traumatic stress disorder, inability to mourn, even suicide are the consequences of the unbearable uncertainty about the fate of the loved one. But the disappeared persons, notwithstanding the absence of their bodies, continue to be more present than ever in the inner experience of those who have loved them. For the families of the disappeared, to regain psychological equilibrium is a fine balance between the need to remember and the necessity to forget. The author affirms that, at a social and political level, to cultivate a collective memory of enforced disappearance is an ethical duty which validates the actual occurrence of the atrocities, helps prevent repetition and alleviates the transgenerational transmission of trauma.

Les disparitions forcées représentent la quintessence des violations des droits humains avec une forte composante psychologique. Les corps que l'on ne retrouve pas sont un moyen de dissuasion qui opère en terrorisant et paralysant la société toute entière. L'absence de ces corps est excessivement présente dans l'expérience intérieure des familles de ces disparus ; elles deviennent des victimes à leur tour. Un état de détérioration psychologique aigu affecte les membres de la famille du disparu : dépression, angoisse, sentiment d'impuissance, culpabilité, syndrome post-traumatique, incapacité à faire le deuil, et même le suicide sont les conséquences de l'insupportable incertitude concernant le destin de la personne aimée. Les personnes disparues, du fait de l'absence de leur dépouille, continuent d'être plus que jamais présentes dans l'expérience intérieure de ceux qui les ont aimées. Pour les familles des disparus, retrouver une stabilité psychologique se trouve dans un équilibre délicat entre le besoin de se souvenir et la nécessité d'oublier. L'auteur soutient qu'au niveau social et politique, cultiver une mémoire collective des disparitions forcées est un devoir éthique qui confirme que des atrocités ont bien eu lieu, qui aide à en prévenir la répétition et qui allège la transmission transgénérationnelle du traumatisme.

La desaparición forzada representa la quintaesencia de las violaciones de derechos humanos con un fuerte componente psicológico. La desaparición de cuerpos tiene un efecto disuasorio al aterrorizar y paralizar a toda la sociedad. Sin embargo, la ausencia de esos cuerpos está excesivamente presente en la experiencia interior de las familias de los desaparecidos, que son víctimas a su vez. Un estado de grave deterioro psicológico afecta a los familiares de los desaparecidos: depresión, ansiedad, impotencia, culpabilidad, trastorno de estrés postraumático, incapacidad para el duelo, incluso suicidio son las consecuencias de la insoportable incertidumbre sobre la suerte del ser querido. Pero las personas desaparecidas, a pesar de la ausencia de sus cuerpos, siguen estando más presentes que nunca en la experiencia interior de quienes las han amado. Para las familias de los desaparecidos, recuperar el equilibrio psicológico es un delicado equilibrio entre la necesidad de recordar y la necesidad de olvidar. La autora afirma que, a nivel social y político, cultivar una memoria colectiva de la desaparición forzada es un deber ético que valida la ocurrencia real de las atrocidades, ayuda a prevenir su repetición y alivia la transmisión transgeneracional del trauma.

Enforced Disappearances and Torture Today: A View from Analytical Psychology 2. Torture Survivors and the Unthinkable: A Hyper-Present Body in the Therapeutic Process: 2. Torture Survivors and the Unthinkable: A Hyper-Present Body in the Therapeutic Process1.

In very rare cases, individuals survive the atrocities of abduction, imprisonment and torture that are part of the hallmark of enforced disappearances. Cases of people who survive torture and seek asylum in a third country help us understand some important aspects related to the crime of enforced disappearance. In the psychotherapy of torture survivors, at an early stage and for a long time, words often do not convey the core of the patient's experience. Survivors usually have tormented bodies in which individual and collective violence, hatred, anger, guilt and shame are painfully inscribed. Corporeal countertransference becomes the only possible way for a therapist to get in touch with a survivor's experience through a kind of body-to-body communication. The centrality of the body in these therapies suggests that the body is the involuntary recipient and container of mass political atrocities and, for this reason, the place where, in the case of horrific social violence, the possibility of social "knowing" is stored and can be retrieved. Thus, when it comes to forced disappearance, the determination of the relatives to get to the truth through the discovery of the remains of their disappeared demonstrates the importance of the body as the final witness of what happened, beyond any possible manipulation.

Dans de très rares cas, des personnes survivent aux atrocités de l'enlèvement, de l'emprisonnement et de la torture qui caractérisent les disparitions forcées. Les cas de personnes qui survivent à la torture et demandent l'asile dans un pays tiers nous aident à comprendre certains aspects importants liés au crime de disparition forcée. Dans la psychothérapie des survivants de la torture, à un stade précoce et pendant longtemps, les mots ne transmettent souvent pas le cœur de l'expérience du patient. Les survivants ont généralement des corps tourmentés dans lesquels la violence individuelle et collective, la haine, la colère, le sentiment de culpabilité et la honte sont douloureusement inscrites. Le contre-transfert corporel devient le seul moyen possible pour un thérapeute d'entrer en contact avec l'expérience d'un survivant par une sorte de communication de corps à corps. La centralité du corps dans ces thérapies suggère que le corps est le destinataire involontaire et le conteneur des atrocités politiques de masse et, pour cette raison, le lieu où, dans le cas d'une violence sociale horrible, la possibilité d'un "savoir" social est stockée et peut être récupérée. Ainsi, lorsqu'il s'agit de disparitions forcées, la détermination des des membres de la famille à accéder à la vérité en retrouvant les restes de la personne disparue montre l'importance du corps en tant que dernier témoin de ce qui a eu lieu, au-delà de toute manipulation.

En casos muy raros, las personas sobreviven a las atrocidades del secuestro, el encarcelamiento y la tortura que forman parte del sello distintivo de las desapariciones forzadas. Los casos de personas que sobreviven a la tortura y buscan asilo en un tercer país nos ayudan a comprender algunos aspectos importantes relacionados con el delito de desaparición forzada. En la psicoterapia de supervivientes de tortura, en una fase temprana y durante mucho tiempo, las palabras no suelen transmitir el núcleo de la experiencia del paciente. Los supervivientes suelen tener cuerpos atormentados en los que se inscriben dolorosamente la violencia individual y colectiva, el odio, la ira, el sentimiento de culpa y la vergüenza. La contratransferencia corporal se convierte en la única vía posible para que un terapeuta entre en contacto con la experiencia de un superviviente a través de una especie de comunicación cuerpo a cuerpo. La centralidad del cuerpo en estas terapias sugiere que el cuerpo es el receptor involuntario y el contenedor de las atrocidades políticas masivas y, por esta razón, el lugar donde, en el caso de la violencia social horrorosa, se almacena y puede recuperarse la posibilidad del "conocimiento" social. Así, cuando se trata de desapariciones forzadas, la determinación de los familiares por llegar a la verdad a través del hallazgo de los restos de sus desaparecidos demuestra la importancia del cuerpo como testigo final de lo sucedido, más allá de cualquier posible manipulación.

Promotion of glyoxylic acid penetration into human hair by glycolic acid.

OBJECTIVE: Glyoxylic acid (GA) is widely used as a straight perming agent for hair care products, however, advanced GA penetration-enhancing agents are desired due to the peculiar odour and hair colour fading caused by the continuous use of GA products. Hence, it is important to develop a penetration-enhancing agent that helps minimize the GA concentration. We have found that the combined use of GA and glycolic acid (GCA) has a strong hair straightening effect. METHODS: Straightening hair test was carried out to the evaluation of the effect of additives. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was performed to quantify the GA penetration amount into human hair. Attenuated total reflection (ATR) Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and FT-IR microscope were implemented to estimate the localization of GA in the hair. RESULTS: Straightening hair tests indicated that the hair straightening effect by GA was enhanced by the presence of GCA. LC/MS results showed that the addition of GCA enhanced the amount of GA that penetrated human hair by about four times. ATR FT-IR and FT-IR microscope measurements indicated that GA was localized more in the innermost region of hair (medulla) than the cortex and cuticle. The GA accumulated in the medulla disappeared after a hair straightener treatment at 180°C due to the chemical reaction. CONCLUSIONS: The GA penetration-enhancing effect of GCA is worth investigating to reduce the GA concentration in products for more comfortable use.

OBJECTIF: L'acide glyoxylique (AG) est largement utilisé en tant qu'agent de lissage pour les produits de soins capillaires. Cependant, des agents avancés améliorant la pénétration de l'AG sont souhaités en raison de l'odeur particulière et de la décoloration des cheveux causées par l'utilisation continue de produits à base d'AG. Il est donc important de mettre au point un agent améliorant la pénétration qui contribue à minimiser la concentration d'AG. Nous avons constaté que l'utilisation combinée de l'AG et de l'acide glycolique (AGC) a un fort effet lissant sur les cheveux. MÉTHODES: Un test de lissage des cheveux a été effectué pour évaluer l'effet des additifs. Une chromatographie en phase liquide avec spectrométrie de masse (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, LC/MS) a été réalisée pour quantifier le volume de pénétration de l'AG dans les cheveux humains. Une spectroscopie infrarouge à transformée de Fourier (Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, FT-IR) à réflexion totale atténuée (RTA) et un microscope FT-IR ont été adoptés pour estimer la localisation de l'AG dans les cheveux. RÉSULTATS: Les tests de lissage des cheveux ont indiqué que l'effet de lissage des cheveux de l'AG était renforcé par la présence d'AGC. Les résultats de la LC/MS ont montré que l'ajout d'AGC augmentait d'environ quatre fois la quantité d'AG pénétrant dans les cheveux humains. Les mesures de la FT-IR à RTA et du microscope FT-IR ont indiqué que l'AG était plus localisé dans la région la plus interne du cheveu (médulla) que dans le cortex et la cuticule. L'AG accumulé dans la médulla a disparu après un traitement au lisseur à cheveux à 180 °C en raison de la réaction chimique. CONCLUSIONS: L'effet d'amélioration de la pénétration de l'AG observé avec l'AGC mérite d'être étudié afin de réduire la concentration d'AG dans les produits pour une utilisation plus confortable.

[The Use of Checklists in Medicine]. / Checklisten in der Medizin.

The Use of Checklists in Medicine Abstract. This mini-review highlights the success story of checklists in perioperative medicine. It provides a background to the introduction of medical checklists, the WHO Guidelines for Safe Surgery, and the most important checklist studies. We outline the advantages of checklists and possible difficulties in their implementation and provide examples of various checklists. We come to the conclusion that checklists are helpful and that their best potential benefit depends on their correct implementation.

One week of overeating upregulates angiogenic and lipolytic gene expression in human subcutaneous adipose tissue from exercise trained and untrained adults.

Effective storage of excess energy in abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue during periods of overeating may help attenuate weight-gain-related insulin resistance. The objective of this study was to assess changes in the expression of factors regulating abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue storage capacity in response to a brief exposure to overeating in nonobese adults. Because exercise can alter the expression of genes involved in regulating adipose tissue storage capacity, we compared the responses to overeating in regular exercisers (EX, n = 11) and nonexercisers (nonEX, n = 11). Abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue samples and oral glucose tolerance tests were performed before and after participants ate 30% above their estimated daily energy requirements for 1 week. Both EX and nonEX gained ∼1 kg (P < 0.01), and Matsuda insulin sensitivity index was reduced ∼15% (P = 0.04) in both groups. Gene expression of factors involved in lipid metabolism (HSL, ATGL, DGAT, and PPARγ) and angiogenesis (HIF1α and KDR) were increased (P < 0.05), with no differences observed between EX and nonEX. In contrast, protein abundance of these factors did not change. The modest overeating stimulus did not increase markers of inflammation in the systemic circulation or adipose tissue. Overall, our findings indicate that a brief and modest overeating stimulus can impair insulin sensitivity and upregulate genes involved in abdominal adipose tissue storage capacity similarly in exercisers and nonexercisers. ClinicalTrials.gov ID#: NCT02701738.

No clear trends in expatriation of non-human primate research from -Switzerland between 2004 and 2017.

INTRODUCTION: Animal experimentation is commonly practiced in scientific research worldwide. However, there are no globally accepted standards for regulating the ethical boundaries and accepted practices for animal experimentation. Large differences exist between countries. A report suggested that some researchers, especially from countries with more stringent animal experimentation regulations, may be relocating experimental research to countries with less stringent regulations. We followed a systematic literature review approach to identity publications and determine whether there is an increasing trend in expatriation of non-human primate experimentation by researchers based in Switzerland. We used the Projects People Publications database, which contains projects funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation, to identify researchers conducting experiments using non-human primates. This list of names, together with terms referring to non-human primates were used to search the Web of Science. Publications without an author affiliated to a Swiss institution, no living or only with free non-human primates, and non-original research were excluded. For each publication, we recorded the place of experimentation, funding source, number of animals, species and the statement of ethical approval. We retained 120 publications, involving more than 2,429 non-human primates. Macaca mulatta and Macaca fascicularis were the most common species. We could not confirm an increasing trend in expatriation of non-human primate experimentation outside of Switzerland. Over time, publications appeared to report the ethical approval number more consistently. These results should be interpreted with caution because the sample included only studies that were: 1) published and 2) reported in the Web of Science. Consequently, studies with insignificant results may have been excluded because these studies are rarely published, and studies of poor quality may have been excluded because they are often published in lower quality journals, not indexed by the Web of Science.

INTRODUCTION: L'expérimentation animale est couramment pratiquée dans la recherche scientifique dans le monde entier. Cependant, il n'existe pas de normes mondialement acceptées pour réglementer les limites éthiques et les pratiques acceptées pour cette expérimentation. De grandes différences existent entre les pays. Un rapport récent a suggéré que certains chercheurs, en particulier provenant de pays où la réglementation sur l'expérimentation animale est restrictive, pourraient délocaliser la recherche expérimentale vers des pays où les réglementations sont moins strictes. Nous avons suivi une approche de revue systématique de la littérature pour identifier les publications et déterminer s'il y a une tendance croissante à l'expatriation des expérimentations sur les primates non humains par des chercheurs basés en Suisse. Nous avons utilisé la base de données Projects People Publications, qui contient des projets financés par le Fonds national suisse de la recherche scientifique pour identifier des chercheurs conduisant des expériences sur des primates non humains. Cette liste de noms, ainsi que les termes faisant référence à des primates non humains ont été utilisés pour effectuer des recherches sur le Web of Science. Les publications sans auteur affilié à une institution suisse, non vivant ou consacrées uniquement à des primates non humains libres ainsi que les travaux de recherche non originaux ont été exclus. Pour chaque publication, nous avons enregistré le lieu d'expérimentation, la source de financement, le nombre d'animaux, les espèces et la déclaration d'approbation éthique. Nous avons retenu 120 publications, impliquant plus de 2,429 animaux. Macaca mulatta et Macaca fascicularis étaient les espèces les plus communes. Nous n'avons pas pu confirmer une tendance à la hausse de l'expatriation en dehors de la Suisse des expérimentations sur des primates non humains. Au fil du temps, les publications semblent déclarer le numéro d'approbation éthique de manière plus cohérente. Ces résultats doivent être interprétés avec prudence car l'échantillon ne comprenait que des études 1) publiées et 2) rapportées dans le Web de la science. Par conséquent, les études avec des résultats non significatifs peuvent avoir été exclues car ces études sont rarement publiées et les études de mauvaise qualité peuvent avoir été exclues car elles sont souvent publiées dans des revues de moindre qualité, non indexées par le Web of Science.

Investigation of the interactions of cationic guar with human hair by electrokinetic analysis.

OBJECTIVE: Cationic guar is an important polysaccharide used as a hair conditioning agent in personal care products. In this article, we report streaming potential data demonstrating its behaviour as it interacts electrostatically with hair. Several cationic guar variants with different molecular weights (MWs) and charge densities (CDs) were examined. METHODS: All experiments were carried out with a custom-designed streaming potential instrument so that in situ, real-time data were monitored during the treatment of a hair plug with aqueous solutions of cationic guar and subsequent treatment with anionic surfactants-sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB)-commonly found in contemporary shampoo formulations. RESULTS: The MW of the cationic guar variants plays an integral role in determining the thickness of the adsorbed polymer layer on the hair surface while CD influences the zeta potential. Data were also generated for the treatment of hair with a cationic flexible polymer (polyquaternium-28) and cationic conditioning surfactant (behentrimonium chloride) to provide a frame of reference. The deposition behaviour on hair of high MW cationic guar variants is distinct from these conventional molecules in terms of its electrokinetic properties. We also examined the electrokinetic behaviour of cationic guar on hair types from different racial backgrounds. While the cationic guar treatment yielded similar results for the different hair types, anionic surfactant treatment resulted in quicker sorption and desorption from African, European 65% grey, and Mulatto hair as compared to Chinese, European dark brown, and Indian hair. CONCLUSION: We introduce an in situ technique for measuring the dynamic sorption/desorption of charged molecules on the surface of human hair. Evaluation of a series of cationic guar species revealed varying behaviour depending on the MW and CD of the polysaccharide. Our data also demonstrate differences in the desorption properties of typical shampoo surfactants for hair from diverse racial backgrounds.

OBJECTIF: Le guar cationique est un polysaccharide important utilisé comme conditionneur capillaire dans les produits cosmétiques. Dans ce rapport, nous démontrons l'utilisation de la technique du potentiel de streaming pour étudier comment le guar cationique interagit électrostatiquement avec les cheveux. Plusieurs variantes del guar cationique avec différents poids moléculaires et densités de charge ont été examinés. MÉTHODES: Nous avons utilisé un instrument de potentiel de streaming pour les expériences. Les études ont été réalisées en temps réel pour surveiller le traitement de cheveu avec des solutions aqueuses de guar cationique suivi d'un traitement ultérieur avec tensioactifs anioniques comment le sulfate de laureth de sodium et le cocamidopropyle bétaïne, des ingrédients généralement trouvés dans les formulations de shampooing. RÉSULTATS: Le poids moléculaire des variants du guar cationique joue un rôle intégral dans la détermination l'épaisseur de la couche de polymère adsorbée sur la surface des cheveux tandis que le densité de charge influence le potentiel zêta. Des données ont également été générées pour le traitement des cheveux avec un polymère flexible (polyquaternium-28) et tensioactif de conditionnement cationique (behentrimonium chlorure) pour fournir un cadre de référence. Le comportement de dépôt sur les cheveux des variants de guar cationiques à poids moléculaire élevé est distinct de ces molécules conventionnelles en termes de ses propriétés électrocinétiques. Nous avons également examiné le comportement électrocinétique de guar cationique sur des types de cheveux de différents milieux raciaux. Le traitement avec le guar cationique a donné des résultats similaires pour les différents types de cheveux. En contraste avec ceci, le traitement avec le tensioactif anionique a entraîné une sorption et une désorption plus rapides de cheveux africains, de cheveux européens (65% gris) et de cheveux mulâtres en comparaison à les cheveux chinois, européens et indiens. CONCLUSION: Nous introduisons une technique in situ pour mesurer la sorption et la désorption dynamique de molécules chargées à la surface des cheveux humains. L'évaluation d'une série des espèces de guar cationiques ont révélé un comportement variable en fonction du poids moléculaires et densités de charge de le polysaccharide. Nos données démontrent également des différences dans les propriétés de désorption de tensioactifs de shampooing typiques pour les cheveux de diverses origines raciales.

Involvement of Rho-kinase/IκB-α/NF-κB activation in IL-1ß-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress in human chondrocytes.

It has been clearly indicated that osteoarthritis (OA) is an inflammatory and degenerative disease that could be promoted by Rho-kinase (ROCK); however, little is known about the role of ROCK/inhibitor κB alpha (IκB-α)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 pathway activation in interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß) induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress in primary human chondrocytes. To test this hypothesis, we focused on determining ROCK-II, IκB-α, p-IκB-α, NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), p22phox, and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase subtype 4 (NOX4) protein expression, ROCK-II activity, NADPH oxidase levels, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the presence and absence of ROCK-inhibitor fasudil. IL-1ß (2 ng·mL-1, 24 h) increased the expression of ROCK-II, p-IκB-α, NF-κB p65, p-NF-κB p65, IL-6, TNF-α, COX-2, and p22phox proteins, and decreased the expression of IκB-α, and the NOX4 protein level did not alter. ROCK activity and NADPH oxidase levels were increased, whereas the TAC was decreased by IL-1ß. Fasudil (10-5-10-7 M) reversed all these changes induced by IL-1ß. These results demonstrate that ROCK/IκB-α/NF-κB p65 pathway activation contributes to the IL-1ß-induced inflammatory response and oxidative stress, and thus, ROCK inhibition might be a beneficial treatment option for OA patients mainly based on its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Knockdown of bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor leads to decreased aquaporin 1 expression and function in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) were once considered only to have a role in bone formation. It is now known that they have pivotal roles in other organ diseases, including heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), where genetic mutations in the type II BMP receptor (BMPR2) are the commonest cause of receptor dysfunction. However, it has also recently been demonstrated that aquaporin 1 (Aqp1) dysfunction may contribute to PAH, highlighting that PAH development may involve more than one pathogenic pathway. Whether reduction in BMPR2 affects Aqp1 is unknown. We therefore studied Aqp1 in BMPR2-silenced human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs). We demonstrated reduced Aqp1 mRNA, protein, and function in the BMPR2-silenced cells. Additionally, BMPR2-silenced cells exhibited lower expression of BMP-signaling molecules. In conclusion, decreased BMPR2 appears to affect Aqp1 at the mRNA, protein, and functional levels. This observation may identify a contributory mechanism for PAH.

[Toxoplasmosis and behavioural changes (French translation of the article)]. / Toxoplasmose et modifications du comportement humain.

Nearly one-third of the planet's population is affected by T. gondii infection. In ophthalmology, toxoplasmosis is even considered to be the most common cause of posterior uveitis of infectious origin. Humans are only an intermediate host, and T. gondii needs to infect cats for its sexual reproduction. All the elements increasing the risk of predation by the definitive host are then favourable to the parasite. Numerous experimental animal model studies have shown that T. gondii infection is associated with predatory risk behaviours such as an attraction of infected mice to cat urine. Infection with the parasite is associated with a demethylation of the promoters of certain genes in the cerebral amygdala of the intermediate hosts, modifying dopaminergic circuits associated with fear. Similarly, T. gondii has been linked to behavioural changes in humans. Toxoplasma infection is classically associated with the frequency of schizophrenia, suicide attempts or "road rage." A more recent study shows that toxoplasma infection prevalence was a consistent, positive predictor of entrepreneurial activity. Fear of failure would be less important in infected individuals, who are more willing than others to start their own business. These elements shed interesting light on behaviours and their possible relationship with toxoplasmosis, which is generally considered benign in adults.

Primary defects in lipid handling and resistance to exercise in myotubes from obese donors with and without type 2 diabetes.

Several studies have shown that human primary myotubes retain the metabolic characteristic of their donors in vitro. We have demonstrated, along with other researchers, a reduced lipid turnover and fat oxidation rate in myotubes derived from obese donors with and without type 2 diabetes (T2D). Because exercise is known to increase fat oxidative capacity in skeletal muscle, we investigated if in vitro exercise could restore primary defects in lipid handling in myotubes of obese individuals with and without T2D compared with lean nondiabetic donors. Primary myotubes cultures were derived from biopsies of lean, obese, and T2D subjects. One single bout of long-duration exercise was mimicked in vitro by electrical pulse stimulation (EPS) for 24 h. Lipid handling was measured using radiolabeled palmitate, metabolic gene expression by real-time qPCR, and proteins by Western blot. We first showed that myotubes from obese and T2D donors had increased uptake and incomplete oxidation of palmitate. This was associated with reduced mitochondrial respiratory chain complex II, III, and IV protein expression in myotubes from obese and T2D subjects. EPS stimulated palmitate oxidation in lean donors, while myotubes from obese and T2D donors were refractory to this effect. Interestingly, EPS increased total palmitate uptake in myotubes from lean donors while myotubes from T2D donors had a reduced rate of palmitate uptake into complex lipids and triacylglycerols. Novelty Myotubes from obese and T2D donors are characterized by primary defects in palmitic acid handling. Both obese and T2D myotubes are partially refractory to the beneficial effect of exercise on lipid handling.

Riboflavin and pyrroloquinoline quinone generate carbon monoxide in the presence of tissue microsomes or recombinant human cytochrome P-450 oxidoreductase: implications for possible roles in gasotransmission.

Carbon monoxide (CO), an endogenously produced gasotransmitter, regulates inflammation and vascular tone, suggesting that delivery of CO may be therapeutically useful for pathologies like preeclampsia where CO insufficiency is implicated. Our strategy is to identify chemicals that increase the activity of endogenous CO-producing enzymes, including cytochrome P-450 oxidoreductase (CPR). Realizing that both riboflavin and pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) are relatively nontoxic, even at high doses, and that they share chemical properties with toxic CO activators that we previously identified, our goal was to determine whether riboflavin or PQQ could stimulate CO production. Riboflavin and PQQ were incubated in sealed vessels with rat and human tissue extracts and CO generation was measured with headspace-gas chromatography. Riboflavin and PQQ increased CO production ∼60% in rat spleen microsomes. In rat brain microsomes, riboflavin and PQQ increased respective CO production approximately fourfold and twofold compared to baseline. CO production by human placenta microsomes increased fourfold with riboflavin and fivefold with PQQ. In the presence of recombinant human CPR, CO production was threefold greater with PQQ than with riboflavin. These observations demonstrate for the first time that riboflavin and PQQ facilitate tissue-specific CO production with significant contributions from CPR. We propose a novel biochemical role for these nutrients in gastransmission.

[An introduction to human factors: From aeronautic to obstetrics]. / Introduction aux facteurs humains : de l'aéronautique à l'obstétrique.

The theme of human factors is becoming more and more prominent in the healthcare field. Indeed, despite their expertise, healthcare providers display the same limits, those of any human being working in a team, in a system that requires high-reliability. Error is inherent in all human activity. Therefore, the study of human factors makes a perfect sense. The aim of our article is to provide to readers general and recent information on the concept of human factors, and to introduce other related notions such as "error", "fault", non-punishment of error, leadership, crew resource management, situation awareness. Indeed, in some teams, a lack of situation awareness, a poor communication, or an inadequate leadership may lead to a deteriorated clinical situation, leading to a significant and unbearable risk to our pregnant patients. We have a lot to learn from other professional systems that require high-reliability such as aeronautic, military and nuclear field for example. Thus, understanding a teamwork running and the genesis of the errors, developing some notions as illustrated by non-punishment of the error occurrence, debriefings, maintenance of regular staffs, high-fidelity simulation may allow the teams to evolve in a safer system for our pregnant patients.

[Neuroanatomical correlates between stroke lesions and urinary disorders: A narrative review]. / Corrélats neuroanatomiques entre lésions AVC et troubles urinaires : une revue de la littérature.

CONTEXT: Stroke generates diverse urinary disorders, frequent but often under-diagnosed and thus untreated. Even though advances in the comprehension of the physiological voiding control and involved brain areas, the precise correspondence between lesion sites and observed urinary symptoms is not clearly established. OBJECTIVE: This review aimed to update on this neuroanatomical correlates. DOCUMENTARY SOURCES: The search focused on articles written in French or English, on PubMed, studying human beings or animals, published between the 1st of January 2000 and the 31st of August 2018 using the following keywords (stroke or hemiplegia) and (urinary incontinence or low urinary tract symptom or retention or overactive bladder or dysuria) and (anatomy or location or localization or area or lesion). STUDIES SELECTION: The main author selected the most pertinent articles on abstracts and then on full text. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included in our review. We could not fully confirm the neuroanatomical correlates based on the animal model. Frontoparietal lesions in urinary incontinence, role of the insula in the urinary retention, and systematic but different urinary symptoms in the brain stem lesions are the main findings. LIMITS: Few studies were included, with varying methodologies and types of population. CONCLUSION: A few cerebral areas damaged by stroke seem to be linked to certain urinary troubles, but new studies with a higher methodological quality are required to confirm this result.

Candida tropicalis induces pro-inflammatory cytokine production, NF-κB and MAPKs pathways regulation, and dectin-1 activation.

The prevalence of Candida infection induced by non-albicans Candida (NAC) species is increasing. However, as a common NAC species, C. tropicalis has received much less study in terms of host immunity than C. albicans has. In this study, we evaluated the pro-inflammatory cytokine responses evoked by C. tropicalis and determined whether dectin-1 and downstream NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathways played roles in inflammation in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and THP-1 macrophage-like cells. Exposure of PBMCs and THP-1 macrophage-like cells to C. tropicalis led to the enhanced gene expression and secretion of TNF-α and IL-6 in a time- and dose-dependent manner. THP-1 macrophage-like cells being challenged by C. tropicalis resulted in the activation of the NF-κB, p38, and ERK1/2 MAPK signaling pathways. We also found that the expression of dectin-1 was increased with C. tropicalis treatment. These data reveal that dectin-1 may play a role in sensing the inflammation response induced by C. tropicalis and that NF-κB and MAPK are involved in the downstream signaling pathways in macrophages.

Determination of antimicrobial resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporin, quinolones, and vancomycin in selected human enteric pathogens from Prince Edward Island, Canada.

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of fecal carriage of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli with reduced susceptibilities to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) and quinolones in humans on Prince Edward Island, Canada. Convenience fecal samples from individuals on Prince Edward Island were screened phenotypically using selective culture and genotypically using multiplex polymerase chain reactions to detect E. coli and Enterococcus spp. resistant to critically important antimicrobials. Twenty-six (5.3%) of 489 individuals had E. coli with reduced susceptibility to ESCs. Twenty-five (96.2%) of the 26 isolates harbored blaTEM, 18 (69.2%) harbored blaCMY-2, 16 (61.5%) harbored blaCTX-M groups, 2 (7.7%) harbored blaSHV genes. None of the ESC-resistant E. coli was positive for carbapenem resistance. Twenty-one (8.3%) of 253 individuals had E. coli isolates with reduced quinolone susceptibility. All 21 isolates were positive for at least 1 qnr gene, with 3 (14.3%) isolates positive for qnrB, 5 (23.8%) positive for qnrS, and 13 (61.9%) positive for both qnrB and qnrS genes. All the enterococci isolates were vancomycin-susceptible. Higher susceptibility to the critically important antimicrobials was found in this study. This study can serve as a baseline for future antimicrobial resistance surveillance within this region.

The "Human Subject," "Vulnerable Populations," and Medical History: The Problem of Presentism and the Discourse of Bioethics.

This discussion considers recent historical works of eugenics and sterilization in Canada, but it is not an historiographic review essay or critique per se of this literature. Rather, by focussing on the topic of historic diagnostic categories such as "feeble-minded," "idiot," and "moron," methodological issues such as historical presentism and its possible interactions with the discourse of modern bioethics are examined. The conclusions derived are meant only to be cautionary, and are neither prescriptive nor proscriptive. Medical historians undertaking analyses of currently contentious topics that may directly involve or indirectly allude to "human subjects" or "vulnerable populations" perhaps ought to reflect on the degree, if any, they may be anachronistically writing contemporary bioethical categories into bygone eras.

[Human papillomaviruses vaccination: Parental awareness and acceptance of the vaccine for children in Lower Normandy schools and informative campaign during the 2015-2016 school year]. / Vaccination contre les papillomavirus humains : intentions vaccinales et connaissances de parents d'élèves bas-normands avant intervention au cours de l'année scolaire 2015­2016.

BACKGROUND: The vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) can be administered starting at the age of 9 years. Parents thus play a major role in the choice of vaccination. The objective of this study was to investigate parental awareness about anti-HPV vaccination in Lower Normandy and to measure their vaccinal intentions before an informative campaign. METHODS: The study population included parents of children aged 10-11 years enrolled in school (2015-2016) in Lower Normandy, France. The initial study was observational and descriptive. With the agreement of the academic directors, 16 middle schools were selected. A questionnaire was delivered to the school children and collected in September 2015 by the school nurses. RESULTS: Within the selected middle schools, 1427 questionnaires were delivered. School nurses collected 1168 questionnaires (81.9%) among which 1155 could be analyzed because they contained answers (80.9%). Out of 575 girls aged 10-11 years, 523 (91.0%) were not vaccinated against HPV. Among parents of non-vaccinated schoolgirls who answered, 48.4% did not know if they intended to have their children vaccinated (251 of 519 questionnaires). There was a significant association between the socio-professional status of the parents who answered and their intention to vaccinate their daughters against HPV (P=0.03). Parents were significantly more likely to immunize their children when they previously knew about the vaccine (P<0.001) and when they had good knowledge about the vaccine (P<0.05). Parents who previously had their daughters vaccinated were also significantly more likely to have their sons vaccinated against HPV (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: The significant association between knowledge about the vaccine and intentions to have their children vaccinated allows us to predict the effectiveness of information campaigns on vaccination rates.

Effect of exercise-induced dehydration on circulatory markers of oxidative damage and antioxidant capacity.

Dehydration is a common event associated with exercise. However, few studies have examined the effects of dehydration on plasma redox status in humans. Eighty-two athletes were recruited and baseline anthropometrics and blood samples were obtained. Athletes then engaged in a dehydration protocol, training until 3% of preweight body mass was lost. Athletes returned to the lab and had postdehydration blood collected. Athletes then consumed an isotonic drink until pre-exercise body weight was reestablished. Blood was then recollected (1 h post full rehydration (PFR)). Samples were centrifuged and the plasma snap frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80 °C. Lipid and protein oxidative stress was determined by measuring F2-isoprostanes and protein carbonyls (PC), respectively. Antioxidant capacity was determined by the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. Plasma osmolality was determined using an osmometer. Statistical analysis utilized a 1-way ANOVA with posthoc testing. Values are reported as mean ± SD. Plasma osmolality was significantly elevated immediately postdehydration (p ≤ 0.001) but decreased to baseline at PFR. Plasma TEAC increased immediately postdehydration and at PFR (p ≤ 0.001). FRAP increased immediately postdehydration (p ≤ 0.001) and decreased to below baseline at PFR (p ≤ 0.05). Conversely, F2-isoprostanes declined significantly from baseline to immediately postdehydration and then significantly rose at PFR (p ≤ 0.001), whereas PC declined at PFR (p ≤ 0.01). This study indicates that dehydration and exercise cause a significant increase in plasma osmolality and antioxidant potential immediately postexercise. We propose dehydration significantly elevates antioxidant concentration which suppresses F2-isoprostanes and PC.

The "Human Subject," "Vulnerable Populations," and Medical History: The Problem of Presentism and the Discourse of Bioethics.

This discussion considers recent historical works of eugenics and sterilization in Canada, but it is not an historiographic review essay or critique per se of this literature. Rather, by focussing on the topic of historic diagnostic categories such as "feeble-minded," "idiot," and "moron," methodological issues such as historical presentism and its possible interactions with the discourse of modern bioethics are examined. The conclusions derived are meant only to be cautionary, and are neither prescriptive nor proscriptive. Medical historians undertaking analyses of currently contentious topics that may directly involve or indirectly allude to "human subjects" or "vulnerable populations" perhaps ought to reflect on the degree, if any, they may be anachronistically writing contemporary bioethical categories into bygone eras.