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This article highlights the inputs of applying a life story approach in the field of migration studies by questioning the concept of migration career. By examining the migration careers of Filipina domestic workers, it will show how an analysis in terms of biographical stages contributes to replacing individual migrant careers into broader processes, thus providing a new understanding of the ways in which migrant Filipina women build a career project in the international domestic work economy beyond the effects of the categorization. This article will furthermore point out how the analysis of life stories sheds a new light on the various economic, social, professional and religious issues related to migration, and how these issues structure different migration careers. The inputs of a life story approach will thus be shown to provide a more in-depth analysis of the reasons and issues surrounding the overseas migration project of Filipina domestic workers.

Blood pressure (BP) follows a circadian pattern that rises during the active phase of the day (morning surge) and decreases during the inactive (night dipping) phase of the day. The morning surge coincides with increased circulating glucocorticoids and aldosterone, ligands for glucocorticoid receptors and mineralocorticoid receptors, respectively. Serum- and glucocorticoid-induced kinase 1 (SGK1), a clock-controlled and glucocorticoid receptor- and mineralocorticoid receptor-induced gene, plays a role in BP regulation in human and animal models. However, the role of SGK1 in BP circadian regulation has not yet been demonstrated. Using telemetry, we analyzed BP in the inducible renal tubule-specific Sgk1Pax8/LC1 model under basal K+ diet (1% K+) and high-K+ diet (HKD; 5% K+). Our data revealed that, under basal conditions, renal SGK1 plays a minor role in BP regulation; however, after 1 wk of HKD, Sgk1Pax8/LC1 mice exhibited significant defects in diastolic BP (DBP), including a blunted surge, a decreased amplitude, and reduced day/night differences. After prolonged HKD (7 wk), Sgk1Pax8/LC1 mice had lower BP than control mice and exhibited reduced DBP amplitude, together with decreased DBP day/night differences and midline estimating statistic of rhythm (MESOR). Interestingly, renal SGK1 deletion increased pulse pressure, likely secondary to an increase in circulating aldosterone. Taken together, our data suggest that 1) the kidney plays a significant role in setting the BP circadian rhythm; 2) renal tubule SGK1 mediates the BP surge and, thus, the day/night BP difference; 3) long-term renal SGK1 deletion results in lower BP in mutant compared with control mice; and 4) renal SGK1 indirectly regulates pulse pressure due to compensatory alterations in aldosterone levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Flavescence dorée' (FD) is a quarantine grapevine disease associated with FD phytoplasmas (FDp). In Switzerland, FD was first reported in 2004 in the southern part of the Canton Ticino, from where, within a few years, it spread to nearly the entire vineyard area of the Southern Alps, despite the mandatory control measures. The aim of this study was to assess the possible role of gone‐wild grapevines (GWGVs) in forests resulting from early abandoned vineyards as a habitat for the main FDp vector, Scaphoideus titanus, and for the best alternative vector candidate, Orientus ishidae, as well as an FDp inoculum reservoir in Southern Switzerland. Leaf samples were collected in 20 plots and tested for the presence of FDp. Moreover, fifteen of these plots were monitored with yellow sticky traps to determine the presence and infection status of insect vectors. Finally, a hatching experiment under controlled conditions was conducted to investigate the possible oviposition activity by FDp vectors, using wood collected from GWGVs present in 11 forest sites in the surroundings of cultivated vineyards. GWGVs in forests were confirmed to act as an FDp reservoir and to represent a suitable habitat for FDp vectors (in particular, for S. titanus). Abandoned vineyards should be included in the FD management strategy and their systematic rogueing should be applied as soon as possible and in particular before the transition from vineyard to forest occurs, in order to avoid the survival of S. titanus and the establishment of inoculum in uncontrolled landscape compartments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the process of "exiting fieldwork" in a multi-sited ethnography. In doing so, it challenges the classic conception of "exit" and "field" in anthropology. By describing how fieldwork is negotiated, and more broadly the back and forth movement between the different fields, this article suggests going beyond the traditional conceptions of the notion of “field”. This analysis leads to a reconceptualization of the notion of “distance“, “spatiality” and “temporality” and suggests approaching fieldwork in terms of process. Using the concept of ethnographic disengagement, this article shows how exiting the field is the result of a process and not a single act. It therefore points out, based on the role of the internet, that the field is everywhere. Finally, this article suggests new analytical and empirical ways of rethinking the separation between “home” and “the field” in the context of globalized power relations.

Background/Aims: Ligand activation of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) induces several post-translational modifications (PTMs). Among the different PTMs, MR is known to be dynamically ubiquitylated with impact on its stability and transcriptional activity. Previously, we have shown that MR is monoubiquitylated at the basal state and that aldosterone stimulation induces monoubiquitylation removal prompting polyubiquitin-dependent destabilization of the receptor and proteasomal degradation. This study investigated the role of the aldosterone induced ubiquitin-specific protease USP2-45 on the ubiquitylation state of MR. Methods: Renal epithelial cells M1 were co-transfected with MR with or without wild-type or inactive USP2-45. The association of MR with USP2-45 or TSG101 as well as MR ubiquitylation state were determined by immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting. MR transcriptional activity was assessed via a luciferase reporter gene. Results: We show that USP2-45 is able to bind MR and, similarly to aldosterone, induce MR monoubiquitylation removal, disruption of MR/TSG101 association and destabilization of MR at protein level. Conclusion: This study provides a novel role for USP2-45 by playing a pivotal role in the regulation of the ubiquitylation state of MR and reveals the existence of a negative feedback loop for limiting the aldosterone induced response.

Background: Hemoadsorption (HA) might mitigate the systemic inflammatory response associated with post-cardiac arrest syndrome (PCAS) and improve outcomes. Here, we investigated the feasibility, safety and efficacy of HA with CytoSorb® in cardiac arrest (CA) survivors at risk of PCAS. Methods: In this pilot randomized controlled trial, we included patients admitted to our intensive care unit following CA and likely to develop PCAS: required norepinephrine (> 0.2 µg/kg/min), and/or had serum lactate > 6 mmol/l and/or a time-to-return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) > 25 min. Those requiring ECMO or renal replacement therapy were excluded. Eligible patients were randomly allocated to either receive standard of care (SOC) or SOC plus HA. Hemoadsorption was performed as stand-alone therapy for 24 h, using CytoSorb® and regional heparin–protamine anticoagulation. We collected feasibility, safety and clinical data as well as serial plasma cytokines levels within 72 h of randomization. Results: We enrolled 21 patients, of whom 16 (76%) had out-of-hospital CA. Median (IQR) time-to-ROSC was 30 (20, 45) minutes. Ten were assigned to the HA group and 11 to the SOC group. Hemoadsorption was initiated in all patients allocated to the HA group within 18 (11, 23) h of ICU admission and conducted for a median duration of 21 (14, 24) h. The intervention was well tolerated except for a trend for a higher rate of aPTT elevation (5 (50%) vs 2 (18%) p = 0.18) and mild (100–150 G/L) thrombocytopenia at day 1 (5 (50%) vs 2 (18%) p = 0.18). Interleukin (IL)-6 plasma levels at randomization were low (< 100 pg/mL) in 10 (48%) patients and elevated (> 1000 pg/mL) in 6 (29%). The median relative reduction in IL-6 at 48 h was 75% (60, 94) in the HA group versus 5% (− 47, 70) in the SOC group (p = 0.06). Conclusions: In CA survivors at risk of PCAS, HA was feasible, safe and was associated with a nonsignificant reduction in cytokine plasma levels. Future trials are needed to further define the role of HA after CA. Those studies should include cytokine assessment to enrich the study population. Trial registration: NCT03523039, registered 14 May 2018. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction Hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction, and heart and kidney failure. The postmacula densa segments of the nephron, namely the distal convoluted tubule (DCT), the [...], The E3 ubiquitin ligase NEDD4-2 (encoded by the Nedd4L gene) regulates the amiloride-sensitive epithelial [Na.sup.+] channel (ENaC/SCNN1) to mediate [Na.sup.+] homeostasis. Mutations in the human β/γENaC subunits that block NEDD4-2 binding or constitutive ablation of exons 6-8 of Nedd4L in mice both result in salt-sensitive hyper-tension and elevated ENaC activity (Liddle syndrome). To determine the role of renal tubular NEDD4-2 in adult mice, we generated tetracycline-inducible, nephron-specific Nedd4L KO mice. Under standard and high-[Na.sup.+] diets, conditional KO mice displayed decreased plasma aldosterone but normal [Na.sup.+]/[K.sup.+] balance. Under a high-[Na.sup.+] diet, KO mice exhibited hypercalciuria and increased blood pressure, which were reversed by thiazide treatment. Protein expression of βENaC, γENaC, the renal outer medullary [K.sup.+] channel (ROMK), and total and phosphorylated thiazide-sensitive [Na.sup.+][Cl.sup.-] cotransporter (NCC) levels were increased in KO kidneys. Unexpectedly, Scnn1a mRNA, which encodes the αENaC subunit, was reduced and proteolytic cleavage of αENaC decreased. Taken together, these results demonstrate that loss of NEDD4-2 in adult renal tubules causes a new form of mild, salt-sensitive hypertension without hyperkalemia that is characterized by upregulation of NCC, elevation of β/γENaC, but not αENaC, and a normal [Na.sup.+]/[K.sup.+] balance maintained by downregulation of ENaC activity and upregulation of ROMK.

A study conducted in southern Switzerland has identified the first instance of a 'Candidatus Phytoplasma fragariae'-related strain infecting Corylus avellana, commonly known as hazel. Phytoplasmas are associated with serious diseases in various plants, and infected woody species can be difficult to detect due to their asymptomatic nature. The study found two hazel trees positive for phytoplasmas, with genetic analysis confirming their relation to 'Ca. P. fragariae'. Further research is needed to determine the potential threat of this strain to forest trees and hazelnut orchards, as well as to identify potential insect vectors. [Extracted from the article]