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There have been many reports of dependent measures derived from resting state EEG data that vary as a function of schizophrenia diagnosis. Despite intensive research, there is no clear consensus regarding which of the many common variables extracted from EEG data are the variables that most strongly differentiate schizophrenic from neurotypical resting state EEG data. Identifying which variables are most sensitive to schizophrenia holds great promise on two fronts. First, if it is the case that certain variables are more sensitive to autism than others, then this might shed light on the mechanistic etiology of schizophrenia. Second, those variables which are most sensitive to schizophrenia would be the best candidates for biomarkers. In our previous work, we surveyed a large set of potential biomarkers of Autism in a group of 776 individuals during eyes open rest. No useful biomarkers were uncovered. Using the same analysis pipeline, this secondary analysis focuses on a set of data that were available through the NIMH data archive that included both eyes open and eyes closed rest periods for each participant. The sample included individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, relatives of individuals with these disorders, and healthy controls. In addition, the data set has a large set of phenotypic and symptom metrics available. We will explore which of these may vary with aspects of brain dynamics.

We examine how social contacts and feelings of solidarity shape experiences of loneliness during the COVID-19 lockdown in early 2020. From the PsyCorona database, we obtained longitudinal data from 23 countries, collected between March and May 2020. The results demonstrated that although online contacts help to reduce feelings of loneliness, people who feel more lonely are less likely to use that strategy. Solidarity played only a small role in shaping feelings of loneliness during lockdown. Thus, it seems we must look beyond the current focus on online contact and solidarity to help people address feelings of loneliness during lockdown. Finally, online contacts did not function as a substitute for face-to-face contacts outside the home—in fact, more frequent online contact in earlier weeks predicted more frequent face-to-face contacts in later weeks. As such, this work provides relevant insights into how individuals manage the impact of restrictions on their social lives.

The COVID-19 Psychological Research Consortium Study (C19PRC Study) aims to assess and monitor the psychological and social impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in the general population, using longitudinal surveys and mixed-methods studies in multiple countries.

When the first UK national lockdown was announced, large numbers of the population began purchasing non-perishable foods and hygiene items in quantities that exceeded their usual weekly shop. This so called ‘over-purchasing’ was featured in news outlets and led to total stockouts of items including canned food and toilet paper in several UK supermarkets. To understand the psychological characteristics that were associated with the tendency to panic buy, several studies have considered the psychological and demographic predictors of this behaviour (e.g., Bentall et al., 2021; Garbe et al., 2020). The former of these studies found that participants who reported having a higher income were more likely to engage in panic buying, as these individuals had greater means of stockpiling resources relative to members of the population with a lower income. Far from being an irrational strategy, for those with access to the means to hoard, this may be a rational behaviour to avoid resource scarcity and is observed in several animal species during periods of uncertainty (Anselme & Güntürkün, 2020; Dickins & Schalz, 2020). As the response of the virus has become increasingly protracted, the economic impacts of the pandemic have grown. Current estimates of the cost of the pandemic to the UK Government have been estimated at 317 billion pounds as of September 2020. In the private sector, this has led to the closing of a number of businesses either temporarily or permanently. As such, some members of the population have experienced a fall in income due to job loss or being placed on the Government’s furlough scheme. However, other groups in the population have experienced the opposite effect: with fewer leisure activities to spend their disposable income on, some individuals have reported increases in wealth due to the pandemic (Institute for Fiscal Studies, 2020). As income predicted over purchasing during the first wave of the pandemic, the current study will examine how changes to income during the COVID-19 pandemic affect this behaviour. Specifically, we will examine whether those who experience a reduction to their income report a decline in over-purchasing, and whether those who experience an increase in their income report an increase in over purchasing behaviour. We also examine whether psychological variables contribute to longitudinal changes in over purchasing behaviour.

As part of the PsyCorona initiative (https://psycorona.org/) we provide here the survey codebook as well as translations into 30 languages. The Pdf folder contains Pdfs of each wave in English. The excel sheet contains the translations into 30 languages.

Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No 860974 Regions with pathologically altered substrate have been identified as potentially responsible for atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter maintenance. Also, real time feedback on lesion formation especially in those critical areas is a challenge. The LOCALIZE trial has shown significant value of the usage of the local impedance (LI) drop as a real time indicator during ablation for durable lesion formation. In these procedures, a decrease of 10-20% of the initial LI value is used as a marker of successful ablation. Also known is the fact that low electrode-tissue contact force is associated with ineffective lesion formation, whereas a high value can lead to an increased risk of steam pop. The IntellaNavSTABLEPOINT catheter offers both, LI and contact force, as a novel combined technique to characterize the process of lesion formation. Additionally, LI values are expected to distinguish between healthy and scar tissue independently from the atrial rhythm, which can improve the understanding of underlying substrate, even more, when corrected for an eventual lack of contact by combining it with contact force. This study aims to: (1) evaluate the relationship between contact force and LI; (2) characterise the contact force during local impedance mapping depending on the wall region of the left atrium (LA). Patients undergoing LA ablation with the STABLEPOINT catheter were included in this analysis. Contact force and LI data were recorded in four different healthy anatomical points in the LA, two in the anterior wall, and two in the posterior wall, using manually controlled contact force values between 0 g and the saturation point (70 g). When possible, additional points in scar regions were recorded. Data were exported and processed to correlate each LI measurement with the corresponding contact force. Due to the susceptibility of raw LI recordings to oscillations, moving average approach was considered. The clinical cohort comprised ten patients with a mean age of 61 years, one female. De-Novo ablations as well as redo procedures were included. Measurements at different contact force values yielded a non-linear relationship between contact force and LI. Median value of the difference between the moving average LI measurement and the LI bloodpool value were calculated at the anterior and posterior walls of the LA at contact force values from 5 to 40 g (5 g step size). Comparing the LI values at each segment, measurements differ significantly (Mann-Whitney U-test for unpaired samples) between the anterior and the posterior wall of the LA, with an ascending trend. Scar points showed a globally lower curve. Results from this preliminary study showed that LI and contact force are non-linearly dependent and it differs between anterior and posterior atrial walls, as well as between healthy and pathological substrate. Further investigations in a larger clinical cohort will analyse the LI variability to set an optimal contact force technique during LI mapping.

Objectives: \ud A previous single-country pilot study indicated serum anti-GM2 and anti-GA1 anti-glycolipid antibodies as potential biomarkers for acute canine polyradiculoneuritis. This study aims to validate these findings in a large geographically heterogenous cohort.\ud \ud Materials and Methods: \ud Sera from 175 dogs clinically diagnosed with acute canine polyradiculoneuritis, 112 dogs with other peripheral nerve, cranial nerve or neuromuscular disorders and 226 neurologically normal dogs were screened for anti-glycolipid antibodies against 11 common glycolipid targets to determine the immunoglobulin G anti-glycolipid antibodies with the highest combined sensitivity and specificity for acute canine polyradiculoneuritis.\ud \ud Results: \ud Anti-GM2 anti-glycolipid antibodies reached the highest combined sensitivity and specificity (sensitivity: 65.1%, 95% confidence interval 57.6 to 72.2%; specificity: 90.2%, 95% confidence interval 83.1 to 95.0%), followed by anti-GalNAc-GD1a anti-glycolipid antibodies (sensitivity: 61.7%, 95% confidence interval 54.1 to 68.9%; specificity: 89.3%, 95% confidence interval 82.0 to 94.3%) and these anti-glycolipid antibodies were frequently present concomitantly. Anti-GA1 anti-glycolipid antibodies were detected in both acute canine polyradiculoneuritis and control animals. Both for anti-GM2 and anti-GalNAc-GD1a anti-glycolipid antibodies, sex was found a significantly associated factor with a female to male odds ratio of 2.55 (P=0.0096) and 3.00 (P=0.0198), respectively. Anti-GalNAc-GD1a anti-glycolipid antibodies were more commonly observed in dogs unable to walk (odds ratio 4.56; P=0.0076).\ud \ud Clinical Significance: \ud Anti-GM2 and anti-GalNAc-GD1a immunoglobulin G anti-glycolipid antibodies represent serum biomarkers for acute canine polyradiculoneuritis.

Additional file 1: Table S1. Standardised Factor Loadings for PHQ-GAD Confirmatory Factor Analysis for Each Country.

Additional file 2: Table S2. Shapiro-Wilk Normality Tests for PHQ and GAD-7 Scores for each Country

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-psp-10.1177_01461672211036602 for Lockdown Lives: A Longitudinal Study of Inter-Relationships Among Feelings of Loneliness, Social Contacts, and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Early 2020 by Jolien A. van Breen, Maja Kutlaca, Yasin Koç, Bertus F. Jeronimus, Anne Margit Reitsema, Veljko Jovanović, Maximilian Agostini, Jocelyn J. Bélanger, Ben Gützkow, Jannis Kreienkamp, Georgios Abakoumkin, Jamilah Hanum Abdul Khaiyom, Vjollca Ahmedi, Handan Akkas, Carlos A. Almenara, Mohsin Atta, Sabahat Cigdem Bagci, Sima Basel, Edona Berisha Kida, Allan B. I. Bernardo, Nicholas R. Buttrick, Phatthanakit Chobthamkit, Hoon-Seok Choi, Mioara Cristea, Sára Csaba, Kaja Damnjanovic, Ivan Danyliuk, Arobindu Dash, Daniela Di Santo, Karen M. Douglas, Violeta Enea, Daiane Gracieli Faller, Gavan Fitzsimons, Alexandra Gheorghiu, ángel Gómez, Ali Hamaidia, Qing Han, Mai Helmy, Joevarian Hudiyana, Ding-Yu Jiang, Željka Kamenov, Anna Kende, Shian-Ling Keng, Tra Thi Thanh Kieu, Kamila Kovyazina, Inna Kozytska, Joshua Krause, Arie W. Kruglanski, Anton Kurapov, Nóra Anna Lantos, Edward P. Lemay, Cokorda Bagus Jaya Lesmana, Winnifred R. Louis, Adrian Lueders, Najma Iqbal Malik, Anton Martinez, Kira McCabe, Jasmina Mehulić, Mirra Noor Milla, Idris Mohammed, Erica Molinario, Manuel Moyano, Hayat Muhammad, Silvana Mula, Hamdi Muluk, Solomiia Myroniuk, Reza Najafi, Claudia F. Nisa, Boglárka Nyúl, Paul A. O’Keefe, Jose Javier Olivas Osuna, Evgeny N. Osin, Joonha Park, Gennaro Pica, Antonio Pierro, Jonas Rees, Elena Resta, Marika Rullo, Michelle K. Ryan, Adil Samekin, Pekka Santtila, Edyta Sasin, Birga Mareen Schumpe, Heyla A. Selim, Michael Vicente Stanton, Samiah Sultana, Robbie M. Sutton, Eleftheria Tseliou, Akira Utsugi, Caspar J. van Lissa, Kees van Veen, Michelle R. vanDellen, Alexandra Vázquez, Robin Wollast, Victoria Wai-Lan Yeung, Somayeh Zand, Iris Lav Žeželj, Bang Zheng, Andreas Zick, Claudia Zúñiga and N. Pontus Leander in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-psp-10.1177_01461672211036602 for Lockdown Lives: A Longitudinal Study of Inter-Relationships Among Feelings of Loneliness, Social Contacts, and Solidarity During the COVID-19 Lockdown in Early 2020 by Jolien A. van Breen, Maja Kutlaca, Yasin Koç, Bertus F. Jeronimus, Anne Margit Reitsema, Veljko Jovanović, Maximilian Agostini, Jocelyn J. Bélanger, Ben Gützkow, Jannis Kreienkamp, Georgios Abakoumkin, Jamilah Hanum Abdul Khaiyom, Vjollca Ahmedi, Handan Akkas, Carlos A. Almenara, Mohsin Atta, Sabahat Cigdem Bagci, Sima Basel, Edona Berisha Kida, Allan B. I. Bernardo, Nicholas R. Buttrick, Phatthanakit Chobthamkit, Hoon-Seok Choi, Mioara Cristea, Sára Csaba, Kaja Damnjanovic, Ivan Danyliuk, Arobindu Dash, Daniela Di Santo, Karen M. Douglas, Violeta Enea, Daiane Gracieli Faller, Gavan Fitzsimons, Alexandra Gheorghiu, ángel Gómez, Ali Hamaidia, Qing Han, Mai Helmy, Joevarian Hudiyana, Ding-Yu Jiang, Željka Kamenov, Anna Kende, Shian-Ling Keng, Tra Thi Thanh Kieu, Kamila Kovyazina, Inna Kozytska, Joshua Krause, Arie W. Kruglanski, Anton Kurapov, Nóra Anna Lantos, Edward P. Lemay, Cokorda Bagus Jaya Lesmana, Winnifred R. Louis, Adrian Lueders, Najma Iqbal Malik, Anton Martinez, Kira McCabe, Jasmina Mehulić, Mirra Noor Milla, Idris Mohammed, Erica Molinario, Manuel Moyano, Hayat Muhammad, Silvana Mula, Hamdi Muluk, Solomiia Myroniuk, Reza Najafi, Claudia F. Nisa, Boglárka Nyúl, Paul A. O’Keefe, Jose Javier Olivas Osuna, Evgeny N. Osin, Joonha Park, Gennaro Pica, Antonio Pierro, Jonas Rees, Elena Resta, Marika Rullo, Michelle K. Ryan, Adil Samekin, Pekka Santtila, Edyta Sasin, Birga Mareen Schumpe, Heyla A. Selim, Michael Vicente Stanton, Samiah Sultana, Robbie M. Sutton, Eleftheria Tseliou, Akira Utsugi, Caspar J. van Lissa, Kees van Veen, Michelle R. vanDellen, Alexandra Vázquez, Robin Wollast, Victoria Wai-Lan Yeung, Somayeh Zand, Iris Lav Žeželj, Bang Zheng, Andreas Zick, Claudia Zúñiga and N. Pontus Leander in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

Supplemental Material, Supplemental_material for The Authoritarian Dynamic During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Effects on Nationalism and Anti-Immigrant Sentiment by Todd K. Hartman, Thomas V. A. Stocks, Ryan McKay, Jilly Gibson-Miller, Liat Levita, Anton P. Martinez, Liam Mason, Orla McBride, Jamie Murphy, Mark Shevlin, Kate M. Bennett, Philip Hyland, Thanos Karatzias, Frédérique Vallières and Richard P. Bentall in Social Psychological and Personality Science

Supplemental Material, Hartman_Authorship-change-request-form--fillable-PDF_SIGNED for The Authoritarian Dynamic During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Effects on Nationalism and Anti-Immigrant Sentiment by Todd K. Hartman, Thomas V. A. Stocks, Ryan McKay, Jilly Gibson-Miller, Liat Levita, Anton P. Martinez, Liam Mason, Orla McBride, Jamie Murphy, Mark Shevlin, Kate M. Bennett, Philip Hyland, Thanos Karatzias, Frédérique Vallières and Richard P. Bentall in Social Psychological and Personality Science

The inactivation of pathogens through the irradiation of ultraviolet light depends on how light propagates within the medium where the microorganism is immersed. A simple geometrical optics analysis, and a fluence evaluation reveal some reservoirs where the pathogen may hide and be weakly exposed to the incoming radiation. This geometrical hide-outs also generate a tail in the plot of the total inactivation plot vs. the incoming fluence. We have analyzed these facts using geometrical optics principles and illumination engineering computational packages. The results obtained from previous biomedical measurements involving SARS-CoV-2 have been used to evaluate the inactivation degree for an spherical geometry applicable to airborne pathogens, and for an spherical cap geometry similar to that used in biomedical experiments. The case presented here can be seen as the worst-case scenario applicable under collimated illumination.

Purpose: Antivascular endothelial growth factor agents are increasingly used in diabetic macular oedema (DME); however, there are few studies exploring their use in DME in real-world settings. Methods: POLARIS was a noninterventional, multicentre study to monitor 12-month outcomes in patients starting ranibizumab treatment in routine practices. The primary outcome was mean change in visual acuity (VA) from baseline to month 12 (last observation carried forward approach). Other outcomes included mean change in central retinal thickness (CRT) and resource utilization. Visual acuity (VA) outcomes were also stratified by country, baseline visual acuity score (VAS), sex, age and injection frequency. Results: Outcomes were analysed from all treated patients (n=804) and from first-year completers (patients who had a visual acuity assessment at 12months; n=568). The mean (SD) baseline VAS was 59.4 (15.9) letters, and the mean change in visual acuity was 4.4 letters (95% confidence interval: 3.3–5.4) at month 12 (study eye; first-year completers). The mean number of injections (study eye) was 4.9, and the mean number of all visits (any eye) was 10 (58% were injection visits) over 12months (first-year completers). The mean (SD) baseline CRT was 410.6 (128.8) μm, and the mean change in CRT was −115.2μm at month 12 (study eye; first-year completers). Visual acuity (VA) outcomes were generally comparable across most countries and subgroups and were greatest in patients with the lowest baseline VAS (≤60 letters). Conclusion: POLARIS showed that real-world outcomes in DME patients starting treatment with ranibizumab were lower than those observed in clinical studies, in spite of extensive monitoring.

The Currarino triad is a rare hereditary caudal malformation complex consisting of sacral bone defect, anorectal malformation and presacral mass, which is transmitted in an autosomal dominant pattern with variable phenotypic expression. We report a case of complete Currarino triad with anterior meningocele that was studied with intrathecal gadolinium-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid magnetic resonance imaging, a novel technique that may be useful for surgical decision and planning in disorders involving the cerebrospinal fluid pathways.

Objectives/Hypothesis To investigate the effect of oral plus intranasal corticosteroid (CS) treatment on nasal polyp (NP) mucosa remodeling from patients with severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). Study Design Case series, retrospective study. Methods Patients (n = 18) with severe CRSwNP were treated with oral prednisone for 2 weeks and intranasal budesonide for 12 weeks. NP biopsies were obtained from patients biopsies before (w0) and after 2 weeks (w2) and 12 weeks (w12) of CS treatment. Matrix metalloprotease 1 (MMP-1), MMP-2, MMP-7, MMP-9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease type 1 (TIMP-1) expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry in cell and tissue structures. Epithelial damage, eosinophil infiltration, and collagen content were also examined in NP tissues before and after CS treatment. Results Compared to w0: 1) oral plus intranasal CS significantly (P

BACKGROUND: Acute polyradiculoneuritis (APN) is an immune-mediated peripheral nerve disorder in dogs that shares many similarities with Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in humans, in which the bacterial pathogen Campylobacter spp. now is considered to be a major triggering agent. Little information is available concerning the relationship between APN and Campylobacter spp. in dogs. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To estimate the association between Campylobacter spp. infection and APN. Associations with additional potential risk factors also were investigated, particularly consumption of raw chicken. ANIMALS: Twenty-seven client-owned dogs suffering from suspected APN and 47 healthy dogs, client-owned or owned by staff members. METHODS: Case-control study with incidence density-based sampling. Fecal samples were collected from each enrolled animal to perform direct culture, DNA extraction, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Campylobacter spp. In some cases, species identification was performed by sequence analysis of the amplicon. Data were obtained from the medical records and owner questionnaires in both groups. RESULTS: In cases in which the fecal sample was collected within 7 days from onset of clinical signs, APN cases were 9.4 times more likely to be positive for Campylobacter spp compared to control dogs (P < 0.001). In addition, a significant association was detected between dogs affected by APN and the consumption of raw chicken (96% of APN cases; 26% of control dogs). The most common Campylobacter spp. identified was Campylobacter upsaliensis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Raw chicken consumption is a risk factor in dogs for the development of APN, which potentially is mediated by infection with Campylobacter spp.

Guillain-Barre syndrome is the most frequent cause of acute flaccid paralysis in children.To describe the characteristics of patients diagnosed with acute polyneuropathies and their long-term progress.We conducted a retrospective descriptive analysis of children under 14 years of age admitted to our hospital between January 2004 and December 2014. Clinical, demographic and neurophysiological variables were collected together with other imaging tests.Twenty-six patients, with a mean age of 3.83 years, were diagnosed with acute polyneuropathies, four of them of Moroccan origin. Twenty of them (76%) had a history of previous infection. The mean time elapsed since the onset of the symptoms until admission to hospital was 9.2 days, and from admission until beginning with gamma globulins it was 1.6 days. The clinical signs and symptoms prior to diagnosis were of a very heterogeneous nature. They all presented muscular weakness; 90% displayed areflexia; and 30% showed involvement of the cranial nerves. All of them (100%) received intravenous gamma globulins, and 38.4% were given systemic corticosteroids. Two patients presented chronification of the pathology. There was no mortality in the series.The patients included in our study presented very unspecific symptoms in the early phases, which initially led to alternative diagnoses. To avoid this delay in the diagnosis, it is essential to perform an exhaustive physical examination that includes the myotatic reflexes and to maintain a high level of suspicion of the disease even with normal results in the complementary tests if they are performed at an early stage. We detected a greater number of cases of axonal polyneuropathy, which can possibly be explained by the high number of patients of Moroccan origin who were treated.Polineuropatias agudas en un hospital del sur de España: diez años de experiencia.Introduccion. El sindrome de Guillain-Barre es la causa mas frecuente de paralisis flacida aguda en niños. Objetivo. Describir caracteristicas de los pacientes diagnosticados de polineuropatias agudas y su evolucion a largo plazo. Pacientes y metodos. Analisis descriptivo retrospectivo de los menores de 14 años ingresados en nuestro hospital entre enero de 2004 y diciembre de 2014. Se recogieron variables clinicas, demograficas, neurofisiologicas y otras pruebas de imagen. Resultados. Veintiseis pacientes, con una mediana de edad de 3,83 años, fueron diagnosticados de polineuropatias agudas, cuatro de ellos de origen marroqui. Veinte (76%) tenian antecedentes de infeccion previa. El tiempo medio desde el inicio de los sintomas hasta su ingreso fue de 9,2 dias y, desde este hasta el inicio de gammaglobulinas, de 1,6 dias. La sintomatologia que precedio al diagnostico fue de caracter muy heterogeneo. Todos presentaron debilidad muscular; el 90%, arreflexia; y el 30%, afectacion de los pares craneales. El 100% recibio gammaglobulinas intravenosas, y el 38,4%, corticoides sistemicos. Presentaron cronificacion de la patologia dos pacientes. No hubo mortalidad en la serie. Conclusiones. Los pacientes incluidos en nuestro estudio presentaron en fases tempranas sintomas muy inespecificos que llevaron a diagnosticos alternativos iniciales; para evitar este retraso diagnostico, resulta fundamental realizar una exhaustiva exploracion fisica que incluya los reflejos osteotendinosos y mantener un alto indice de sospecha de la enfermedad aun con normalidad en las pruebas complementarias si estas son precoces. Detectamos un mayor numero de polineuropatia axonal, posiblemente explicado por el elevado numero de pacientes atendidos de origen marroqui.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is one of the major ingredients of fish oil and has been reported to have anti-inflammatory properties mediated through the GPR120 receptor. Whether cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2 ) and lipid mediators produced from cPLA2 activation are involved in the anti-inflammatory role of DHA in macrophages has not been reported. We report here that DHA and the GPR120 agonist, GW9508, activate cPLA2 and cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), and cause prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) release in a murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7 and in human primary monocyte-derived macrophages. DHA and GW9508 activate cPLA2 via GPR120 receptor, G protein Gαq and scaffold protein β-arrestin 2. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 activation is involved in DHA- and GW9508-induced cPLA2 activation, but not p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. The anti-inflammatory role of DHA and GW9508 is in part via activation of cPLA2 , COX-2 and production of PGE2 as a cPLA2 inhibitor or a COX-2 inhibitor partially reverses the DHA- and GW9508-induced inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin-6 secretion. The cPLA2 product arachidonic acid and PGE2 also play an anti-inflammatory role. This effect of PGE2 is partially through inhibition of the nuclear factor-κB signalling pathway and through the EP4 receptor of PGE2 because an EP4 inhibitor or knock-down of EP4 partially reverses DHA inhibition of lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin-6 secretion. Hence, DHA has an anti-inflammatory effect partially through induction of PGE2.

We studied the changes in expression of microRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) and mRNA in normal human bronchial epithelial cells as they differentiate from an undifferentiated monolayer to a differentiated pseudostratified epithelium after 28 days of air-liquid interface (ALI) culture. After 28 days in ALI, the epithelial cells differentially expressed basal, ciliated, and goblet cell markers. Using Affymetrix microarrays, 20 human miRNAs were found to be up-regulated, whereas 35 miRNAs were found to be down-regulated in differentiated cells compared with undifferentiated cells. An analysis of changes in global mRNA expression revealed that 1,201 probe sets demonstrated an 8-fold change (FC) or greater at Day 28 of ALI culture. Of these, 816 were up-regulated and 385 were down-regulated. With differentiation, miR-449a increased (FC, 38.15), and was related to changes in mRNA for cell division cycle 25 homolog A (FC, 0.11). MiR-455 decreased (FC, 0.12) and was related to changes in mRNA for the epithelial cell marker, mucin 1 (FC, 136). Transfection with anti-miR-449 or miR-455-3p resulted in changes in target protein expression (cell division cycle 25 homolog A and mucin 1, respectively), whereas transfection with reporter genes with 3'-untranslated regions of these targets confirmed control of expression through that structure. Therefore, changes in specific miRNAs during human airway epithelial cell differentiation control gene and protein expression important for differentiation.

Background Data on the expression and role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases [TIMPs]) in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNPs) are contradictory, partly because or the use of different techniques of tissue analysis. The aim of this study was to establish a qualitative/semiquantitative method of analysis on the expression of these remodeling markers in different tissue structures and eosinophils in both NPs and nasal mucosa (NM). Methods NP tissues were obtained from patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for severe CRSwNPs (n = 33) and NM tissues from patients undergoing nasal corrective surgery (n = 12). MMPs (MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-7, and MMP-9) and TIMP type 1 (TIMP-1) expression were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in tissue structures (epithelium, glands, vessels, and extracellular matrix [ECM]) and eosinophils. Tissue eosinophilia was also analyzed in NP tissues. Results MMPs and TIMP-1 expression were found in the epithelium, glands, vessels, and ECM (in both NM and NP) and in eosinophils (only in NP). Significant (p < 0.01) findings were observed in NP compared with NM: increase in MMP-1 in ECM; decrease in MMP-2 in glands, vessels, and epithelium; decrease in MMP-7 in all tissue structures; increase in MMP-9 in ECM and decrease in epithelium and glands; and no differences in TIMP-1. NP tissues showed a clear eosinophilic inflammation compared with NM (p < 0.01). Conclusion These findings suggest that (1) metalloproteases (MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-7, and MMP-9) may play an important role in the remodeling of NPs and/or in NP formation and (2) a differential analysis of tissue structures and inflammatory cells should be performed when studying remodeling marker expression and regulation in the upper airways.

In children, the most common form of optic neuritis usually occurs after an infectious disease with papilledema, usually bilateral and has a good prognosis. Conversion to multiple sclerosis is low.To present clinical and laboratory case of optic neuritis in pediatrics features.Seventeen clinical cases of optic neuritis in children and young people aged 4-14 years, referred from 2000 to 2015 were analyzed.The median age of the series was 11 years. They predominated the female patients and infectious history was uncommon; in five of 17 patients was bilateral engagement and four cases evolved with retrobulbar optic neuritis. Magnetic resonance imaging showed hyperintensity on T2 in the optic nerves affected in five patients. The study of cerebrospinal fluid and oligoclonal bands was normal in all cases. Patients treated with intravenous methylprednisolone had good recovery. It was found subsequent evolution to multiple sclerosis only in three cases.In our series, the cases that evolved multiple sclerosis showed no clinical differences although they had a higher number of hyperintense lesions on magnetic resonance imaging. This fact, described in previous studies, supports our diagnostic and therapeutic scheme in an attempt to approach the optimal management of this disease.Neuritis optica en la infancia. Casuistica, revision de la bibliografia y propuesta de tratamiento.Introduccion. En la edad pediatrica, la forma mas frecuente de neuritis optica se presenta generalmente despues de un cuadro infeccioso, con edema de papila, que suele ser bilateral y tiene buen pronostico. La conversion a esclerosis multiple es infrecuente. Objetivo. Presentar las caracteristicas clinicas y de laboratorio de una serie pediatrica de neuritis optica. Pacientes y metodos. Se analiza una serie de 17 casos de neuritis optica en niños y jovenes de 4 a 14 años, referidos entre los años 2000 y 2015. Resultados. La edad mediana de la serie fue de 11 años. Predominaron los pacientes de sexo femenino y el antecedente infeccioso fue poco frecuente; en cinco pacientes, la afectacion fue bilateral, y cuatro casos se presentaron como neuritis optica retrobulbar. La resonancia magnetica mostro hiperintensidad en T2 en los nervios opticos afectados en cinco pacientes. El estudio del liquido cefalorraquideo y bandas oligoclonales fue normal en todos los casos. Los pacientes, tratados con metilprednisolona intravenosa, tuvieron buena recuperacion. Solo en tres casos se comprobo una evolucion posterior a esclerosis multiple. Conclusiones. En esta serie, los casos que evolucionaron a esclerosis multiple no mostraron diferencias clinicas, aunque si presentaron mayor cantidad de lesiones hiperintensas en la resonancia magnetica. Este hecho, descrito en trabajos previos, apoya nuestro esquema diagnostico y terapeutico en un intento por acercarnos al manejo optimo de esta patologia.

A deficiency of the enzyme guanosine triphosphate cyclohydrolase I (GTPCH 1) causes a reduction in the synthesis of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), a cofactor that is essential in the synthesis of tyrosine, dopamine and serotonin. It is an infrequent disease that produces psychomotor delay or regression and movement disorders, although treatment can improve or even correct the clinical signs and symptoms.We report the case of a girl with autosomal recessive GTPCH deficiency, who was diagnosed at 14 months by means of an analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid with pterin, HVA and 5-HIAA deficiency, and positive phenylalanine overload test and genetic study. The clinical features began at the age of 5 months with intermittent upper limb and brain tremors, both at rest and intentional, that disappeared after a month. Psychomotor development was normal, mild axial hypotonia being found in the examination while the complementary tests that were performed were normal. The patient later presented psychomotor regression with loss of head control, diminished active movements, difficulty in bimanual manipulation, hypomimia and severe global hypotonia, which was the reason for the study of a progressive encephalopathy. Following the diagnosis of GTPCH deficiency, replacement therapy was established with levodopa/carbidopa, OH tryptophan and BH4, with excellent progress made in motor and cognitive functioning. Today, the patient is 5 years old, has an adequate psychomotor development for her age, is in the third year of preschool education and has caught up with the level of the rest of her classmates.In this case attention must be drawn to the extremely satisfactory motor and cognitive improvement of the patient after starting replacement therapy, as in many cases the cognitive level is usually affected on a permanent basis.Deficit de GTPCH 1 autosomico recesivo: importancia del analisis de los neurotransmisores en el liquido cefalorraquideo.Introduccion. El deficit de la enzima trifosfato de guanosina ciclohidrolasa 1 (GTPCH 1) origina una disminucion de la sintesis de la tetrahidrobiopterina (BH4), cofactor indispensable en la sintesis de la tirosina, la dopamina y la serotonina. Es una enfermedad poco frecuente que produce un retraso o regresion psicomotora y trastornos del movimiento, y en la que el tratamiento puede mejorar o incluso corregir la clinica. Caso clinico. Niña afecta de deficit de GTPCH con herencia autosomica recesiva, diagnosticada a los 14 meses con estudio del liquido cefalorraquideo con deficit de pterinas, HVA y 5-HIAA, test de sobrecarga de fenilalanina y estudio genetico positivos. La clinica comenzo a los 5 meses con temblor cefalico y de las extremidades superiores, en reposo e intencional, intermitente, que desaparecio en un mes. El desarrollo psicomotor era normal, destacaba una hipotonia axial leve en la exploracion y las pruebas complementarias realizadas fueron normales. Posteriormente presento regresion psicomotora con perdida del sosten cefalico, disminucion de los movimientos activos, dificultad para la manipulacion bimanual, hipomimia e hipotonia global grave, lo que motivo el estudio de una encefalopatia progresiva. Tras el diagnostico de deficit de GTPCH, inicio tratamiento sustitutivo con levodopa/carbidopa, OH triptofano y BH4, con muy buena evolucion tanto motora como cognitiva. Actualmente, la paciente tiene 5 años, presenta un desarrollo psicomotor adecuado a su edad, cursa tercer curso de educacion infantil y ha alcanzado el nivel de su clase. Conclusion. Hay que destacar en este caso la mejoria tan satisfactoria, tanto motora como cognitiva, tras iniciar el tratamiento sustitutivo, ya que el nivel cognitivo suele quedar afectado en muchos casos.

To identify and reduce medication prescribing errors in a pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) by means of an educational program designed to improve medical prescriptions. Before–after interventional study in a tertiary-level PICU. Handwritten prescriptions were prospectively collected: 2,228 during period 1 and 1,791 during period 2. In both periods elements of good prescribing practice including error indicators and quality indicators were studied. The interventional program included four measures: standardization of prescription sources, pocket tables with dosing guidelines, an updated prescription protocol, and an educational program on correct prescribing. The prescribing error (PE) rate decreased from 34.2 to 21.7 % after the intervention. Lack of administration route was considered separately for its high prevalence, 30 and 20.8 % of prescriptions, respectively. The most frequent error was presence of some illegible element (59 %). Legibility was the element of prescription experiencing the greatest reduction in error rate, from 4.1 % of prescriptions with one or more illegible elements in period 1 to 0.2 % in period 2. Tenfold overdosage decreased from two cases in period 1 to one case in period 2. The attending physician and on-call physician were associated with more PEs in both periods. The number of prescriptions with two or more errors decreased from 3.1 to 0.7 %. Errors reaching the patient were scarce, 14 (0.63 %) in period 1 and 6 (0.34 %) in period 2, without adverse events. Implementation of an educational program for physicians may significantly reduce the prescribing error rate in a PICU.

To cite this article: Chen LY, Eberlein M, Alsaaty S, Martinez-Anton A, Barb J, Munson PJ, Danner RL, Liu Y, Logun C, Shelhamer JH, Woszczek G. Cooperative and redundant signaling of leukotriene B4 and leukotriene D4 in human monocytes. Allergy 2011; 66: 1304–1311. Abstract Background: Leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and cysteinyl leukotrienes (cysLTs) are important immune mediators, often found concomitantly at sites of inflammation. Although some of the leukotriene-mediated actions are distinctive (e.g., bronchial constriction for cysLTs), many activities such as leukocyte recruitment to tissues and amplification of inflammatory responses are shared by both classes of leukotrienes. Objective: We used human monocytes to characterize leukotriene-specific signaling, gene expression signatures, and functions and to identify interactions between LTB4- and cysLTs-induced pathways. Methods: Responsiveness to leukotrienes was assessed using oligonucleotide microarrays, real-time PCR, calcium mobilization, kinase activation, and chemotaxis assays. Results: Human monocytes were found to express mRNA for high- and low-affinity LTB4 receptors, BLT1 and BLT2, but signal predominantly through BLT1 in response to LTB4 stimulation as shown using selective agonists, inhibitors, and gene knock down experiments. LTB4 acting through BLT1 coupled to G-protein α inhibitory subunit activated calcium signaling, p44/42 mitogen-activated protein kinase, gene expression, and chemotaxis. Twenty-seven genes, including immediate early genes (IEG), transcription factors, cytokines, and membrane receptors were significantly up-regulated by LTB4. LTB4 and LTD4 had similar effects on signaling, gene expression, and chemotaxis indicating redundant cell activation pathways but costimulation with both lipid mediators was additive for many monocyte functions. Conclusion: Leukotriene B4 and LTD4 display both redundant and cooperative effects on intracellular signaling, gene expression, and chemotaxis in human monocytes. These findings suggest that therapies targeting either leukotriene alone may be less effective than approaches directed at both.

The dispersive refractive index and the thickness of alginate polymer films have been obtained by using the envelope-extremes location technique. The uncertainty in the determination of the refractive index is of the order of 0.01. The alginate polymer has been prepared with a solution of sodium alginate with a concentration of 0.7% in weight, mixed with a 0.03 M solution of CaCl2. Since the main application of this kind of polymers is the immobilization of living organism for biosensors, especially those based on fluorescence measurements, we focus the analysis in the ultra-violet–visible (UV–vis) spectral range.

BACKGROUND: Poor response of nasal polyps to glucocorticoids (GCs) may be because of abnormal expression of GC receptors (GR) alpha and beta or to downregulation of GRalpha. We aimed to evaluate the in vivo regulation of GR isoforms in GC-treated nasal polyps and to assess the relationship between clinical response to GCs and GR levels. METHODS: Patients with nasal polyps were randomly (3:1) treated (n = 51) or not (n = 14) with oral prednisone and intranasal budesonide for 2 weeks, plus intranasal budesonide for 10 additional weeks. Nasal symptoms were evaluated. Biopsies were obtained before (w0) and after 2 (w2) and 12 (w12) weeks of treatment, and analysed for their inflammatory content and GR mRNA (10(2) cDNA copies/mug total RNA) and protein (% immunoreactive inflammatory cells) expression. Healthy nasal mucosa (n = 11) was also investigated. Data are presented as median and 25-75th percentile. RESULTS: At w0, nasal polyps expressed less GRalpha mRNA (1343;683-2263; P < 0.05) and GR protein (41;29-54; P < 0.05) than nasal mucosa (2474;1346-2933; 60;51-72, respectively). GRbeta immunoreactivity was higher in nasal polyps (11;4-19; P < 0.05) than in nasal mucosa (5;2-5). At w2, increased GRalpha mRNA (2010;1037-2732; P < 0.01) and GR protein (56;27-71; P = 0.056) were found compared with w0 (1177;759-2058; 37;29-55, respectively). At w12, GRalpha mRNA and GR protein were similar to w0. GRbeta expression was unaltered by treatment. Neither GRalpha nor GRbeta correlated with nasal symptoms. GR immunoreactivity negatively correlated with eosinophils (r = -0.478; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: GRalpha is downregulated in nasal polyps and upregulated by GC treatment. Neither GRalpha nor GRbeta appear to determine the sensitivity to GCs in nasal polyposis

Mucus hypersecretion is a hallmark of nasal polyposis (NP). Corticosteroids (CS) are first-line treatment for NP, decreasing their size and inflammatory component. However, their effect on mucin production is not well-understood. The aim of this (pilot) study was to investigate CS effect on mucin expression in NP.Patients were randomized in control (n = 9) and treatment (oral prednisone for 2 weeks and intranasal budesonide for 12 weeks; n = 23) groups. Nasal polyposis from nonasthmatic (NP; n = 13), aspirin-tolerant (NP-ATA; n = 11) and aspirin-intolerant (NP-AIA; n = 8) asthmatics were studied. Nasal polyposis biopsies were obtained before (w0) and after 2 (w2) and 12 (w12) weeks of CS treatment. Secreted (MUC5AC, MUC5B and MUC8) and membrane-tethered (MUC1, MUC4) mucins (immunohistochemistry) and goblet cells (Alcian blue-periodic acid Schiff) were quantified in both epithelium and glands. Rhinorrea and nasal obstruction were also assessed.At w2, steroids increased MUC1 (from 70 to 97.5) and MUC4 (from 80 to 100) in NP-ATA patients' epithelium compared with baseline (w0). At w12, steroids decreased MUC5AC (from 40 to 5) and MUC5B (from 45 to 2.5) in NP-ATA patients' epithelium and glands, respectively, compared with baseline. No mucin presented significant changes in NP-AIA patients. MUC5AC and MUC5B expression correlated with goblet and mucous cell numbers, respectively, and MUC5AC also with rhinorrea score.These results suggest: (i) CS up-regulate membrane (MUC1, MUC4) while down-regulate secreted (MUC5AC, MUC5B) mucins; (ii) there exists a link between secreted mucin expression and goblet cell hyperplasia; and (iii) NP from AIA may develop resistance to CS treatment.

Prostaglandin E 2 is a potent lipid mediator involved in maintaining homeostasis but also promotion of acute inflammation or immune suppression. NLRP3 inflammasome plays an important role in host defense. Uncontrolled activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, due to mutations in the NLRP3 gene causes cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS). Here, we showed that NLRP3 inflammasome activation is inhibited by PGE 2 in human macrophages. This effect was mediated through prostaglandin E receptor 4 (EP4) and an increase in intracellular cAMP, independently of protein kinase A (PKA) or exchange protein directly activated by cAMP (Epac). A specific agonist of EP4 mimicked, while its antagonist or EP4 knockdown reversed PGE 2 -mediated NLRP3 inhibition. PGE 2 caused an increase in intracellular cAMP. Blockade of adenylate cyclase by its inhibitor reversed PGE 2 -mediated NLRP3 inhibition. Increase of intracellular cAMP by an activator of adenylate cyclase or an analog of cAMP, or a blockade of cAMP degradation by phosphodiesterase inhibitor decreased NLRP3 activation. PKA or Epac agonists did not mimic and their antagonists did not reverse PGE 2 -mediated NLRP3 inhibition. Constitutive IL-1β secretion from LPS-primed PBMCs of CAPS patients was substantially reduced by high doses of PGE 2 . Moreover, blocking cytosolic phospholipase A 2 α by its inhibitor or siRNA or inhibiting cyclooxygenase 2, resulting in inhibition of endogenous PGE 2 production, caused an increase in NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Our results suggest that PGE 2 might play a role in maintaining homeostasis during the resolution phase of inflammation and might serve as a autocrine and paracrine regulator.

One of the main technical difficulties in the fabrication of optical antennas working as light detectors is the proper design and manufacture of auxiliary elements as load lines and signal extraction structures. These elements need to be quite small to reach the location of the antennas and should have a minimal effect on the response of the device. Unfortunately this is not an easy task and signal extraction lines resonate along with the antenna producing a complex signal that usually masks the one given by the antenna. In order to decouple the resonance from the transduction we present in this contribution a parametric analysis of the response of a bolometric stripe that is surrounded by resonant dipoles with different geometries and orientations. We have checked that these elements should provide a signal proportional to the polarization state of the incoming light.

Fractal antennas have been proposed to improve the bandwidth of resonant structures and optical antennas. Their multiband characteristics are of interest in radiofrequency and microwave technologies. In this contribution we link the geometry of the current paths built-in the fractal antenna with the spectral response. We have seen that the actual currents owing through the structure are not limited to the portion of the fractal that should be geometrically linked with the signal. This fact strongly depends on the design of the fractal and how the different scales are arranged within the antenna. Some ideas involving materials that could actively respond to the incoming radiation could be of help to spectrally select the response of the multiband design.

Summary Background Mucus hyper-secretion is a feature of several airways diseases such as chronic rhinosinusitis, asthma, and cystic fibrosis (CF). Since mucins are major components of mucus, the knowledge of their distribution and regulation in nasal tissues is likely to improve mucus hyper-secretion therapy. Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare mucin gene expression at epithelial and glandular levels, and to identify potential mucin expression patterns for specific upper airways pathologies. Methods Immunohistochemistry for MUC1, MUC2, and MUC4–MUC8 mucins was performed on healthy nasal mucosa (NM; n=12), bilateral nasal polyps (NP; n=38), NP from CF patients (n=10), and antrochoanal (AC) polyps (n=11). MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC, and MUC6 mRNA expression were also analysed by in situ hybridization. Results MUC1, MUC4, and MUC5AC mucins were highly expressed in the epithelium and their expression pattern was similar in all NP types, MUC1 and MUC4 being increased and MUC5AC decreased compared with NM. MUC8 was highly detected at both epithelial and glandular levels with marked variability between groups. MUC5B was mainly detected in glands and the expression in all polyp types was higher than in NM. Moreover, MUC5B expression was higher in NP epithelia from CF patients than in bilateral NP and healthy NM. Although MUC2 expression was low, especially in AC polyps, it was detected in most samples. In NM, MUC6 and MUC7 were scarcely detected and MUC7 expression was restricted to glands. Conclusions These results suggest that NP have a different pattern of mucin expression than healthy NM and that CF polyps (increased MUC5B) and AC polyps (decreased MUC2) have a different mucin expression pattern than bilateral NP.

We present the use of total internal reflection (TIR) evanescent waves for lithography purposes. In particular, we focus our attention on their singular capabilities to nano-structure surface relief gratings and the potentialities for nano-photonic device fabrication. Interference of two (or more) evanescent waves achieves periodic linear (or 2D) surface relief gratings of around 100 nm period depending on the wavelength and materials used. In contrast to common and some newer lithographic techniques, the evanescent wave does not propagate all through the film, allowing fabrication of surface profiles with maximum height features limited to around the wavelength of the exposure. Here, we present an analysis of several structures and profiles for linear gratings—many of which are not achievable with known interference photolithographic techniques—and some experimental results validating the model of evanescent wave lithography proposed. Possible applications in the field of nano-photonic devices are antireflection treatments, polarizers, diffraction gratings, micro- and nano-lens arrays, etc. We also find in the technique a great potential for other nano-technologies, as in the fabrication of field emitter arrays for displays, as templates for self-assembling structures, etc.

translation [3] . Given their very short complementarity to the target mRNA (6–8 nucleotides), a single miR can target hundreds of genes, and individual genes might be targeted by multiple mRNAs, adding complexity to the regulatory network between miRs and target genes [4] . MiRs are phylogenetically well conserved [5] , which implies that they play an important role in biological processes. In fact, they are thought to regulate more than 30% of all protein-coding genes [6] and have been found to be involved in the regulation of development [7] , proliferation [8] , differentiation [9] , apoptosis [10] and immune response [11] . The use of miR microarrays makes it possible to perform profiling studies that evaluate the differences between healthy and pathological tissues, treated and untreated samples and undifferentiated and differentiated cells [12] . Moreover, this systematic screening approach provides us with a starting point for the identification of new miR functions. Recent studies have identified miR profiles in multiple allergic inflammatory diseases, including asthma [13–16] , eosinophilic esophagitis [17] and atopic dermatitis [18] . Although the evaluation of miR expression and function in AR patients has received little attention, a growing number of publications have Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a significant health problem because of its high prevalence (10–50% of the population) and impact on patients’ symptoms and quality of life [1] . To fully understand this impact, its relation to other upper and lower respiratory diseases, particularly asthma, should be taken into account, since up to 80% of the asthmatic patients present with concomitant AR [2] . Both diseases involve IgE-mediated mechanisms and can be triggered by similar allergens, including mold, animal dander and house-dust mites. Sustained airway inflammation associated with marked changes in gene and protein expression under fine-tuned regulation is a hallmark of AR. For this reason, a better understanding of the mechanisms involved in inflammatory gene expression regulation in AR, whether associated with asthma or not, is critical for the development of new therapy approaches. A group of novel regulators of gene expression, purported to be involved in the modulation of the inflammatory process of diseases such as AR and asthma, are the socalled microRNAs (miRs). MiRs are short, single-stranded, noncoding RNAs of 20–23 nucleotides that downregulate gene expression by binding to the 3 ′ -untranslated region of their target mRNAs, which induce their degradation or impair their Published online: May 10, 2014

Conventional microscopy techniques, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and confocal microscopy (CM) are not suitable for on-line surface inspection of fine metallic wires. In the recent years, some optical techniques have been developed to be used for those tasks. However, they need a rigorous validation. In this work, we have used confocal microscopy to obtain the topography z(x,y) of wires with longitudinal defects, such as dielines. The topography has been used to predict the light scattered by the wire. These simulations have been compared with experimental results, showing a good agreement.

Interference in an air gap between a reference surface (a glass) and the surface to measure can be used to obtain its reflectance in a robust way and also to obtain the ellipsometric parameter Δ. In the methodology proposed, there is no need to measure a reference beam. From several reflection spectra taken at different air-gap thicknesses and at p and s polarization, we get three magnitudes R p , R s and Δ. We describe the technique and demonstrate experimentally its viability. A sample of silicon with a thin layer of thermally grown silica is used for such purpose.

The envelope technique is a powerful analytical tool already known in spectrophotometry, but only recently introduced in ellipsometry. We will develop its formalism for tan ψ in weakly absorbing interference films and see how data extraction can be greatly simplified. The envelope technique permits to separate the extraction of the refractive index of the film from the thickness. Therefore, it is ideal for those moderately thick films affected by multivalued solutions in conventional regressions, typically in polymer film preparations. We present some experimental results for a photolithographic resin deposited on glass.

Équipe 101 : Nanomagnétisme et électronique de spin; International audience; Arrays of metallic thermocouples in the shape of spiral nanoantennas are proposed as infrared detectors, which use the thermoelectric properties of the metallic interfaces to generate electrical DC signals. The responsivity of these types of antennas is evaluated from both theoretical and numerical perspectives pointing out its potential as infrared sensors. Moreover, the same structures can be used to characterize the state of polarization of the optical near fields with a spatial resolution comparable to the wavelength.

The practical application of optical antennas in detection devices strongly depends on its ability to produce an acceptable signal-to-noise ratio for the given task. It is known that, due to the intrinsic problems arising from its sub-wavelength dimensions, optical antennas produce very small signals. The quality of these signals depends on the involved transduction mechanism. The contribution of different types of noise should be adapted to the transducer and to the signal extraction regime. Once noise is evaluated and measured, the specific detectivity, D*, becomes the parameter of interest when comparing the performance of antenna coupled devices with other detectors. However, this parameter involves some magnitudes that can be defined in several ways for optical antennas. In this contribution we are interested in the evaluation and comparison of D_ values for several bolometric optical antennas working in the infrared and involving two materials. At the same time, some material and geometrical parameters involved in the definition of noise and detectivity will be discussed to analyze the suitability of D_ to properly account for the performance of optical antennas.

Spectroscopic ellipsometry of thin films frequently encounter the problem of multi-valued solutions in a regression fit. A good starting thickness value is critical to reach the correct solution. We present a formulation to extract optical parameters from film–substrate systems and spectroscopic ellipsometry independently of the film thickness d . We do not need to include it as a parameter in a regression fit. The basic idea is to use the envelopes of tan ψ curves instead of the curves itself. This approach simplifies the analysis efficiently. The envelope analysis is thickness-independent. As we have two envelopes, we may extract two optical constants, and by also using the points touching the envelopes (the envelope-extremes) we may extract the thickness separately. We develop and apply the formulation for non-absorbing media and we also check its validity for absorbing substrates. Another important conclusion derived from the results is that the refractive index of the film can be obtained even if the substrate is unknown.

PGE2 is a potent lipid mediator involved in maintaining homeostasis but also promotion of acute inflammation or immune suppression in chronic inflammation and cancer. Nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich repeat–containing protein (NLR)P3 inflammasome plays an important role in host defense. Uncontrolled activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, owing to mutations in the NLRP3 gene, causes cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes. In this study, we showed that NLRP3 inflammasome activation is inhibited by PGE2 in human primary monocyte-derived macrophages. This effect was mediated through PGE2 receptor subtype 4 (EP4) and an increase in intracellular cAMP, independently of protein kinase A or exchange protein directly activated by cAMP. A specific agonist of EP4 mimicked, whereas its antagonist or EP4 knockdown reversed, PGE2-mediated NLRP3 inhibition. PGE2 caused an increase in intracellular cAMP. Blockade of adenylate cyclase by its inhibitor reversed PGE2-mediated NLRP3 inhibition. Increase of intracellular cAMP by an activator of adenylate cyclase or an analog of cAMP, or a blockade of cAMP degradation by phosphodiesterase inhibitor decreased NLRP3 activation. Protein kinase A or exchange protein directly activated by cAMP agonists did not mimic, and their antagonists did not reverse, PGE2-mediated NLRP3 inhibition. Additionally, constitutive IL-1β secretion from LPS-primed PBMCs of cryopyrin-associated periodic fever syndromes patients was substantially reduced by high doses of PGE2. Moreover, blocking cytosolic phospholipase A2α by its inhibitor or small interfering RNA or inhibiting cyclooxygenase 2, resulting in inhibition of endogenous PGE2 production, caused an increase in NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Our results suggest that PGE2 might play a role in maintaining homeostasis during the resolution phase of inflammation and might serve as an autocrine and paracrine regulator.

We present a non-contact robust method for the determination of the refractive index and the thickness (d1 µm) of non-absorbing stand-alone films or pellicles. It only uses reflection and transmission optical signals instead of the respective photometric magnitudes. A new observable magnitude permits us to determine the reflectance at one surface of the film and then the dispersive refractive index n(λ). From the refractive index n and an interference spectrum, we also obtain the thickness of the film d. The main advantages are that (1) we do not need to measure a reference, (2) the technique is not sensitive to the instrumental functions (e.g. thickness inhomogeneity, wavelength or angular bandwidth etc) and (3) it is simple in formulation. The method has been applied to the characterization of an anisotropic polyester film in the visible range of 450-600 nm with a precision of ~0.8%, both in n and d.

Background Primary human airway epithelial cells cultured in an air-liquid interface (ALI) develop a well-differentiated epithelium. However, neither characterization of mucociliar differentiation overtime nor the inflammatory function of reconstituted nasal polyp (NP) epithelia have been described. Objectives 1st) To develop and characterize the mucociliar differentiation overtime of human epithelial cells of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) in ALI culture system; 2nd) To corroborate that 3D in vitro model of NP reconstituted epithelium maintains, compared to control nasal mucosa (NM), an inflammatory function. Methods Epithelial cells were obtained from 9 NP and 7 control NM, and differentiated in ALI culture for 28 days. Mucociliary differentiation was characterized at different times (0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days) using ultrastructure analysis by electron microscopy; ΔNp63 (basal stem/progenitor cell), β-tubulin IV (cilia), and MUC5AC (goblet cell) expression by immunocytochemistry; and mucous (MUC5AC, MUC5B) and serous (Lactoferrin) secretion by ELISA. Inflammatory function of ALI cultures (at days 0, 14, and 28) through cytokine (IL-8, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and IL-12p70) and chemokine (RANTES, MIG, MCP-1, IP-10, eotaxin-1, and GM-CSF) production was analysed by CBA (Cytometric Bead Array). Results In both NP and control NM ALI cultures, pseudostratified epithelium with ciliated, mucus-secreting, and basal cells were observed by electron microscopy at days 14 and 28. Displaying epithelial cell re-differentation, β-tubulin IV and MUC5AC positive cells increased, while ΔNp63 positive cells decreased overtime. No significant differences were found overtime in MUC5AC, MUC5B, and lactoferrin secretions between both ALI cultures. IL-8 and GM-CSF were significantly increased in NP compared to control NM regenerated epithelia. Conclusion Reconstituted epithelia from human NP epithelial cells cultured in ALI system provides a 3D in vitro model that could be useful both for studying the role of epithelium in CRSwNP while developing new therapeutic strategies, including cell therapy, for CRSwNP.