Flow cytometry analysis of Nosema species to assess spore viability and longevity.

Nosema apis and Nosema ceranae are microsporidia which present resistant spores for the transmission stage (environmental spores) that play an important role for epidemiology and for laboratory studies of honey bee microsporidiosis. In this study, the long-term longevity of N. apis and N. ceranae spores exposed to 4 °C, room temperature (mean 25 °C) and 35 °C for 6-month long and to -20 °C for 10-month long has been assessed by flow cytometry. Storage temperature and the length of storage duration had adverse effects on spore viability of both Nosema spores, with significant differences between the two species. The greatest increase in spore mortality was observed in N. apis spores stored at 33 °C (64, 89%) and in N. ceranae spores at -20 °C (53.55%) and at 33 °C (51.97%). For N. ceranae spores at -20 °C, the loss in viability was very quick, getting an increase over 20% just after 6 days of exposure. Results on viability were confirmed by the infectivity tests where the lowest infectivity for N. ceranae was observed with spores stored for 10 months at -20 °C (79%; P < 0.05) and for N. apis with spores stored at 33 °C (71%; P < 0.05). For both Nosema species, the best storage temperatures were 25 and 4 °C, especially for N. apis that was almost unaffected at those temperatures.

Can Implementing New Services Organization Models to Better Meet the Needs of Young People Bring About Practice Changes? Analysis of an Experiment in Québec.

The research question addressed in this article is: Can implementing new services organization models to better meet the needs of young people bring about practice changes? More precisely, we examine the effects of a new model called Aire Ouverte (AO) which is implemented gradually across Quebec since 2019. This new model involves public sector and community organizations. To grasp practices' change, we use cultural historical activity theory (CHAT) and employ a qualitative approach. Beyond a precise description of work activities, we gained an inside view of how the actors involved represented their practice and context. Our results show that practice changes seen by actors are in line with the object of the intervention, that is, responding rapidly to the expressed needs of young people. The development of new tools, flexible functioning, strengthening of interprofessional and intersectoral collaboration, involvement of young people in decision-making, all should contribute to improving response to their needs. This being said, a critical look at practice changes reveals a challenge in aligning the design and objective of AO with the needs of some young people. We noted also a poor alignment of effective collaborative practices between levels of care and the practices sought from intersectoral collaboration.

In situ characterization of Pt catalysts supported on ceria modified TiO2 for the WGS reaction: influence of ceria loading.

This work analyzes the influence of cerium content (6-15 wt%) on a TiO(2) support over the structure and water gas shift (WGS) activity of Pt catalysts. The structural properties of these Pt/Ce-TiO(2) catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM and XANES. Physicochemical characterization of the catalysts showed differences in the structure and dispersion of Ce entities on the support with Ce loading. For the samples with low ceria content (6 wt%), cerium is deposited on the support in the form of CeO(x) clusters in a highly dispersed state in close interaction with the Ti atoms. The formation of CeO(x) clusters at low Ce-loading on the support facilitates the dispersion of small particles of Pt and improves the reducibility of ceria component at low temperatures. The changes in platinum dispersion and support reducibility with Ce-loading on the TiO(2) support lead to significant differences in the WGS activity. Pt supported on the sample with lower Ce content (6 wt%) shows better activity than those corresponding to catalysts with higher Ce content (15 wt%). Activity measurements coupled with catalysts characterization suggest that the improvement in the reducibility of the support with lower Ce content was associated with the presence of CeO(x) clusters of high reducibility that improve the chemical activity of the oxide-metal interfaces at which the WGS reaction takes place.

[The relations between the tutor and the resident: the importance of interpersonal dynamics in the structured interview]. / La relación entre el tutor y el residente: la entrevista estructurada y algo más.

Training residents is a task that is both exciting and demanding for which tutors need appropriate training and tools. One of the tools that have been developed is the structured interview, which is based on providing residents with feedback about the learning process according to pre-established goals. Structured feedback focused on the learner is an adult learning technique characterized by the student's self-reflection, preparation for the interviews, and relationship of trust between the tutor and the resident. Periodic structured interviews using a script are very useful. But there is something more. An interview poses multiple challenges for the tutor and for the resident, because both parts must continuously adapt. It is important to create a climate of empathy and ensure that the interview motivates, stimulates, and inspires the resident.

Inverse CeO2/CuO catalyst as an alternative to classical direct configurations for preferential oxidation of CO in hydrogen-rich stream.

A novel inverse CeO(2)/CuO catalyst for preferential oxidation of CO in H(2)-rich stream (CO-PROX) has been developed on the basis of a hypothesis extracted from previous work of the group (JACS 2007, 129, 12064). Possible separation of the two competing oxidation reactions involved in the process (of CO and H(2), respectively) is the key to modulation of overall CO-PROX activity and is based on involvement of different sites as most active ones for each of the two reactions. Achievement of large size CuO particles and adequate CeO(2)-CuO interfacial configurations in the inverse catalyst apparently allows appreciable enhancement of the catalytic properties of this kind of system for CO-PROX, constituting an interesting alternative to classic direct configurations so far explored for this process. Reasons for such behavior are analyzed on the basis of operando-XRD, -XAFS, and -DRIFTS studies.

Intramuscular cavernous venous malformation of extraocular muscles. Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy as a therapeutic alternative. / Malformación venosa cavernosa en musculatura extrínseca ocular. Radioterapia estereotáctica fraccionada como alternativa terapéutica.

Intramuscular cavernous venous malformations affecting extraocular muscles are extremely uncommon. Due to their location, complete resection could be difficult. A clinical case is presented of an inferior rectus muscle orbital cavernous malformation treated with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy after post-surgical excision recurrence. The malformation responded to radiotherapy with a reduction in size and symptoms. Fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy is an alternative and effective treatment for cavernous venous malformations that are surgically challenging due to their radiotherapy sensitivity.

Persistence of Descemet membrane and recipient-type endothelium after keratoplasty. A case report. / Permanencia de la membrana de Descemet y del endotelio receptor tras queratoplastia penetrante. A propósito de un caso clínico.

A case is presented of a retained Descemet's membrane after penetrating keratoplasty, highlighting the importance of the anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT) in the diagnosis and treatment planning of keratoplasty complications. A review of literature is also presented. An 88 year-old man underwent penetrating keratoplasty for bullous keratopathy. A retained host Descemet's membrane was detected. The retained membrane went unnoticed until the visual acuity decreased. The ophthalmological examination showed the presence of an opalescent membrane located below the endothelium, and was identified as the Descemet membrane of the receptor. Nd:YAG laser membranotomy was performed after the diagnosis. To conclude, it is noted that the inadvertent retention of the host Descemet membrane is a rare complication in penetrating keratoplasty. The anterior segment OCT was used to determine the diagnosis, and Nd:YAG laser membranotomy is an indicated treatment in these cases.

Intravitreal clindamycin as a therapeutic alternative in severe ocular toxoplasmosis. / Clindamicina intravítrea como alternativa terapéutica en la toxoplasmosis ocular severa.

Ocular toxoplasmosis is a disease than have severe consequences on the eyesight. The aim of this study article is to present a bilateral ocular toxoplasmosis in a sulfamide allergic patient with unilateral activation and her favourable progression with intravitreal Clindamycin and oral steroids treatment. Weekly intravitreal Clindamycin treatment is shown to be a suitable therapeutic alternative in cases of severe ocular toxoplasmosis and/or in patients with a contraindication to classical treatment. Intravitreal Clindamycin treatment is a safe alternative with favourable clinical results.

Zirconia coating of carbon nanotubes by a hydrothermal method.

Carbon nanotubes have unique mechanical properties that open attractive possibilities in many fields, such as the biomedical one. Currently, zirconia ceramics are widely used as femoral heads, but case studies show that delayed failure can occur in vivo due to crack propagation. Nanotubes could avoid the slow crack propagation and enhance the toughness of the ceramic material used for prostheses fabrication. In this work, single-wall carbon nanotubes and multi-wall carbon nanotubes have been partially coated with nanozirconia via hydrothermal synthesis and characterized by several techniques: X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope, electron energy loss spectra, X-ray photoelectronic spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. By means of these techniques, the existence of bonds between zirconium and the carbon nanotube has been proved. The as covered nanotubes should offer a better wettability in the ceramic matrix and improve the dispersion of the carbon nanotubes, to obtain the desired new ceramic biomaterial with a longer lifetime and better reliability.

[Michaelis-Manz syndrome. A case report]. / Síndrome de Michaelis-Manz. A propósito de un caso clínico.

Michaelis-Manz syndrome is an autosomal recessive hereditary tubulopathy associated with mutations in the tight-junction proteins claudin-16 and claudin-19, which are present in the distal convoluted tubule and the loop of Henle in the kidney. Claudin-19 is also expressed in the retinal pigmentary epithelium. The clinical picture causes hypomagnesemia, hyper-calciuria and nephrocalcinosis that can lead to renal failure, which is the condition that marks the prognosis of the disease. Ophthalmologically patients can present macular coloboma, myopic staphyloma and nystagmus. We present the case report of an 18-year-old man suffering from hereditary hypomagnesemia, hypercalciuria and nephrocalcinosis, or Mich-aelis-Manz syndrome, with macular coloboma and stable visual acuities. Keywords. Hypomagnesemia. Hypercalciuria. Nephrocalcinosis. Macular coloboma.

Ocular external myiasis. A series of cases due to larvae Oestrus ovis in Navarra, Spain. / Miasis ocular externa. Serie de casos por larvas Oestrus ovis en Navarra.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case series of external ophthalmomyiasis in a region of Spain together with its common epidemiological factors and treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A presentation is made of four clinical cases of patients with external ocular myiasis caused by Oestrus ovis larvae. RESULTS: Ocular myiasis is a parasitic infection by larval stages of flies. It can affect the ocular globe externally and / or internally, with the former being the most frequently found condition. The organism that mainly affects the eyes is the Oestrus ovis larvae. CONCLUSION: Ocular external myiasis is a rare condition that occasionally can occur in humans. In this case series, a common risk factor for infection is established: the previous exposure to livestock and / or agricultural activity. An adequate diagnosis and treatment could avoid the transition from external to internal form, as well as its complications.

Altered formation of hemichannels and gap junction channels caused by C-terminal connexin-32 mutations.

Hexamers of connexins (Cxs) form hemichannels that dock tightly in series via their extracellular domains to give rise to gap junction channels. Here we examined the ability of a variety of C-terminal Cx32 mutations, most of which have been identified in X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, to form hemichannels and to complete gap junction channels using the Xenopus oocyte system. First, we show that undocked wild-type Cx32 hemichannels at the plasma membrane can be detected as opening channels activated by depolarization. We have been able to estimate the efficiency of assembly of complete channels by measuring the time-dependent incorporation of preformed hemichannels into gap junction channels after cell-to-cell contact. These data offer strong evidence that hemichannels are the direct precursors of gap junction channels. Of 11 Cx32 mutants tested, a group of 5 mutations prevented the formation of functional hemichannels at the cell surface, whereas 4 mutations were fully able to form precursors but reduced the ability of hemichannels to assemble into complete channels, and 2 mutants formed channels normally. The data revealed that a minimum length of human Cx32 including the residue Arg-215 is required for the expression of hemichannels at the cell surface and that the efficiency of hemichannel incorporation into complete channels decreased gradually with the progressive shortening of the cytoplasmic C-terminal domain.

Contributions of DNA repair, cell cycle checkpoints and cell death to suppressing the DNA damage-induced tumorigenic behavior of Drosophila epithelial cells.

When exposed to DNA-damaging agents, components of the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway trigger apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and DNA repair. Although failures in this pathway are associated with cancer development, the tumor suppressor roles of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis have recently been questioned in mouse models. Using Drosophila epithelial cells that are unable to activate the apoptotic program, we provide evidence that ionizing radiation (IR)-induced DNA damage elicits a tumorigenic behavior in terms of E-cadherin delocalization, cell delamination, basement membrane degradation and neoplasic overgrowth. The tumorigenic response of the tissue to IR is enhanced by depletion of Okra/DmRAD54 or spnA/DmRAD51--genes required for homologous recombination (HR) repair of DNA double-strand breaks in G2--and it is independent of the activity of Lig4, a ligase required for nonhomologous end-joining repair in G1. Remarkably, depletion of Grapes/DmChk1 or Mei-41/dATR-genes affecting DNA damage-induced cell cycle arrest in G2--compromised DNA repair and enhanced the tumorigenic response of the tissue to IR. On the contrary, DDR-independent lengthening of G2 had a positive impact on the dynamics of DNA repair and suppressed the tumorigenic response of the tissue to IR. Our results support a tumor suppressor role of apoptosis, DNA repair by HR and cell cycle arrest in G2 in simple epithelia subject to IR-induced DNA damage.