Systèmes de délivrance des médicaments pour le segment antérieur: bases fondamentales et applications cliniques [Drug delivery systems to target the anterior segment of the eye: fundamental bases and clinical applications].

The development of new drug delivery systems to target the anterior segment of the eye may offer many advantages: to increase the biodisponibility of the drug, to allow the penetration of drug that cannot be formulated as solutions, to obtain constant and sustained drug release, to achieve higher local concentrations without systemic effects, to target more specifically one tissue or cell type, to reduce the frequency of instillation and therefore increase the observance and comfort of the patient while reducing side effects of frequent instillation. Several approaches are developed, aiming to increase the corneal contact time by modified formulation or reservoir systems, or by increasing the tissue permeability using iontophoresis. To date, no ocular drug delivery system is ideal for all purposes. To maximize treatment efficacy, careful evaluation of the specific pathological condition, the targeted Intraocular tissue and the location of the most severe pathology must be made before selecting the method of delivery most suitable for each individual patient.

Evaluación de la psicopatología del preescolar mediante el Early Childhood Inventory-4 (ECI-4): concordancia entre padres y maestros.= Assessment of psychopathology in preschool age children through the Early Childhood Inventory-4 (ECI-4): Agreement among parents and teachers

El objetivo principal de este estudio es conocer la concordancia entre informantes, padres y maestros,en cada una de las dimensiones o categorías diagnósticas del Early Childhood Inventory-4 (ECI-4).Además, se pretende analizar la influencia de la presencia de problemas de salud en los padres en ladescripción y valoración de la conducta de una muestra de 204 alumnos de preescolar (3 a 6 años) deperfiles socioeconómicos diferentes. Los resultados indican que los padres tienden a valorar con mayorseveridad los síntomas, observándose una mayor concordancia entre informantes en los relativos alos trastornos del desarrollo

Cognition et psychopathologie chez les nonagénaires et centenaires vivant en établisement médico-social gériatrique en Suisse : focalisation sur l'anosognosie = [Cognition and psychopathology in nonagenarians and centenarians living in geriatric nursing homes in Switzerland : a focus on anosognosia]

Les nonagénaires et centenaires voient actuellement leur nombre augmenter considérablement, beaucoup d'entre eux vivant en maison de retraite. Pour cette population, on dispose de très peu de données au sujet de la Symptomatologie psychiatrique et des capacités cognitives autres que mnésiques. Cette étude exploratoire se concentre sur l'anosognosie et ses liens avec les symptômes psychiatriques et cognitifs courants. Cinquante-huit sujets âgés de 90 ans ou plus ont été recrutés dans des établissements médico-sociaux gériatriques et divisés en 5 groupes selon le Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE). Les évaluations incluent le test des 5 mots, le CLOX, les fluences lexicales et catégorielles, le questionnaire d'anosognosie- démence (AQ-D), l'inventaire neuropsychiatrique (NPI) et l'index de comorbidité de Charlson. Les sujets étudiés présentent une atteinte cognitive modérée, le MMSE moyen (±DS) étant à 15.41 ± 7.04. L'anosognosie augmente avec l'atteinte cognitive, étant associée avec tous les domaines cognitifs, mais aussi avec les symptômes psychopathologiques d'apathie et d'agitation. Les sujets ayant une atteinte cognitive légère semblent moins anosognosiques que ceux avec l'atteinte cognitive la plus faible ou ceux ne présentant aucune atteinte. Ni l'anosognosie ni les symptômes psychopathologiques ne sont liés aux comorbidités somatiques. Chez les résidents très âgés étudiés vivant en maison de retraite, l'anosognosie est principalement légère. Elle est associée à des changements cognitifs, mais aussi psychopathologiques. Des investigations supplémentaires sont toutefois nécessaires pour déterminer s'il existe un lien causal entre l'anosognosie et les atteintes psychopathologiques.

Relación entre la frecuencia fundamental propia de una tabla de Iroko (Clorophora excelsa) y sus dimensiones . Aplicación a la txalaparta

Estudi científic sobre l’acústica d’una taula doblement recolzada i la seva aplicació a la txalaparta. Després d’un experiment destructor amb Iroko (Clorophora excelsa) es va trobar la relació matemàtica que definia la freqüència fonamental pròpia d’una taula en funció de la seva pròpia longitud. Es van estudiar els principis acústics que definien el so de la txalaparta a demés de proposar un model de txalaparta afinada basat en les relacions obtingudes. S’estableixen unes bases d’experimentació

Traumatismes précoces et réponses de stress, leur association aves la santé mentale, l'attachement et l'ocytocine

Lorsqu'un individu est confronté à une situation stressante, une des réponses les plus saillantes est l'activation de l'axe HPA, caractérisée par le déclenchement d'un taux élevé de glucocorticoïdes dans le sang. De manière générale, cette réponse hormonale est adaptative et elle a pour but la mobilisation des ressources physiques et cognitives de l'individu pour une action spécifique (Axelrod & Reisine, 1984; Chrousos & Gold, 1992; N. M. Kaplan, 1988; McEwen, 2004). Cependant, lorsque une personne est confrontée très tôt dans son développement, et de manière répétée, à des situations de stress, cette réponse physiologique peut s'altérer, devenir inadaptée (Anand, 1993; Bremner et al., 1995; Meaney et al., 1996; Mirescu, Peters, & Gould, 2004; Plotsky & Meaney, 1993; Sapolsky, 2000) et être associée à des troubles cognitifs (McEwen & Sapolsky, 1995) et émotionnels (McEwen, 2000). A l'âge adulte, le résultat de ces altérations psychoneuroendocriniennes se traduit au cours de l'activation de l'axe HPA et elles sont visibles lors de situations de stress moins intenses (Graham, Heim, Goodman, Miller, & Nemeroff, 1999; Mirescu et al., 2004; Stam, Bruijnzeel, & Wiegant, 2000; A. Taylor, Fisk, & Glover, 2000). La dysregulation de l'axe HPA semble représenter un facteur de vulnérabilité lié à des dysfonctionnements psychiques et physiologiques chez les adultes (Heim, Ehlert, & Hellhammer, 2000; Heim & Nemeroff, 1999; Heim, Newport, Mletzko, Miller, & Hemeroff, 2008). Cependant, des facteurs de protection peuvent influencer à leur tour ces vulnérabilités. La littérature, basée sur des études translationnelles (animaux, humains), converge vers le postulat selon lequel la dimension relationnelle apportée par l'environnement est fondamentale dans le développement des vulnérabilités physiologiques et psychiques du sujet. Dans ce sens, les relations d'attachement ont été particulièrement étudiées. A l'âge adulte, par exemple, la qualité des représentations d'attachement semble influencer directement l'expression de gènes impliqués dans les réponses hormonales de stress (Biagini, Pich, Carani, Marrama, & Agnati, 1998; Caldji, Diorio, & Meaney, 2000; Dallman, 2000; De Kloet, Rosenfeld, Van Eekelen, Sutanto, & Levine, 1988; Rincon-Cortes & Sullivan, 2014; Romeo, Tang, & Sullivan, 2009; van Oers, de Kloet, Whelan, & Levine, 1998), illustrant ainsi une perspective épigénétique. Traumatismes précoces et réponses de stress, leur association avec la santé mentale, l'attachement et l'ocytocine Deux objectifs principaux définissent ce travail de doctorat. Le premier est de comprendre comment un événement à portée traumatique, qui a eu lieu pendant la période périnatale, l'enfance ou l'adolescence, peut s'inscrire au niveau physiologique (axe hypotalamico- hypophysaire-surrénalien - axe HPA), au niveau psychopathologique ou encore au niveau de la régulation émotionnelle au cours de l'âge adulte. A ce propos, nous avons évalué les réponses physiologiques (telles que le Cortisol, l'ACTH et l'ocytocine), la présence de psychopathologies (relatives à l'axe I du DSM-IV) et les réponses émotionnelles (telles que la perception au stress) au cours d'une situation de stress de nature psychosociale, induite en laboratoire. Le deuxième objectif de ce travail est de savoir si les représentations d'attachement peuvent médiatiser ces effets, chez des individus exposés à différents événements à portée traumatique. Dans ce but, trois populations ont été considérées. La première est relative à des jeunes adultes nés grands prématurés ; la deuxième, concerne des femmes adultes ayant vécu un ou plusieurs abus sexuels au cours de leur enfance ou de leur adolescence et enfin la troisième est constituée de personnes adultes qui ont survécu à une maladie grave (cancer) pendant leur enfance ou leur adolescence. Enfin, ces trois populations sont comparées à des groupes contrôle. La prise en considération de différents types de traumatismes a permis de relever : premièrement, qu'un événement à portée traumatique de nature différente, peut influencer de manière semblable les structures neuronales, par exemple l'hypocortisolémie ; deuxièmement, qu'un dysfonctionnement de l'axe HPA n'aboutit pas nécessairement à la présence de signes de souffrance mentale ; enfin, des effets protecteurs ont été mis en évidence. Ces facteurs sont sous-tendus, d'un point de vue psychologique, par les représentations d'attachement et, d'un point de vue physiologique, par la sécrétion d'ocytocjne périphérique. Traumatismes précoces et réponses de stress, leur association avec la santé mentale, l'attachement et l'ocytocine -- When an individual is faced by a stressful situation, one of the most notable responses is the activation of the HPA axis, which is characterized by a heightened level of glucocortisoids in the blood. In general, this is an adaptive hormonal response which prepares the individual both physically and cognitively for a specific action (Axelrod & Reisine, 1984; Chrousos & Gold, 1992; N. M. Kaplan, 1988; McEwen, 2004). However, should a person be confronted to stressful situations very early and repeatedly in their development, this physiologic response may be altered and become maladapted (Anand, 1993; Bremner et al., 1995; Meaney et al., 1996; Mirescu et al., 2004; Plotsky & Meaney, 1993; Sapolsky, 2000) which can be associated to emotional (McEwen, 2000) and cognitive disorders(McEwen & Sapolsky, 1995). Throughout adulthood, the result of these psychoneuroendocrine alterations affects the activation of the HPA axis and are noticeable during less intense stressful situations (Graham et al., 1999; Mirescu et al., 2004; Stam et al., 2000; A. Taylor et al., 2000). HPA axis dysregulation appears to represent a factor of vulnerability linked to psychological and physical disorders in adults (Heim, Ehlert, et al., 2000; Heim & Nemeroff, 1999; Heim, Newport, et al., 2008). Nonetheless, these vulnerabilities may be influenced by further protection factors. The literature, based on translational studies (animals and humans), suggests that relationships formed in the context of the individual's environment are fundamental in the development of their physiological and psychological vulnerabilities. Thus, attachment relationships have been particularly studied. In adulthood, for example, the quality of attachment representations appear to influence directly the expression of genes involved in the hormonal responses to stress (Biagini et al., 1998; Caldji et al., 2000; Dallman, 2000; De Kloet et al., 1988; Rincon-Cortes & Sullivan, 2014; Romeo et al., 2009; van Oers et al., 1998). With the goal to study these dimensions, two principal objectives define these doctoral study. The first is to understand how an event considered to be traumatic, which took place during early infancy, infancy, or adolescence, could influence physiology (HPA axis), psychopathology or emotional regulation during adulthood. Therefore we have evaluated the presence of psychopathologies (relative to axis I of the DSM), physiological responses (such as Cortisol, ACTH and oxytocin) and emotional responses (such as perception of stress) throughout a psychosocial stress situation, conducted in a laboratory setting. The second objective of this study is to understand if attachment representations can mediate these effects, in individuals exposed to three different types of traumatic events. Therefore, three populations have been considered. The first is young adults who were born prematurely; the second concerns adult women who have suffered sexual abuse, on one or more occasions, during their childhood or adolescence; finally the third group is constituted of people who have survived a grave childhood illness. These populations were all compared to control groups. The consideration of different types of traumatic events has demonstrated, firstly, that different events which are considered to be traumatic can similarly influence neuronal structures, for example hypocortisolism. Secondly, that an HPA axis disorder does not necessarily lead to the presence of mental signs of distress, as is the case for those born very prematurely. Finally, protective effects were demonstrated, distinctively from a psychological point of view, by attachment representations and furthermore by peripheral oxytocin secretion from a physiological perspective.

A survey of transposable element classification systems--a call for a fundamental update to meet the challenge of their diversity and complexity.

The increase of publicly available sequencing data has allowed for rapid progress in our understanding of genome composition. As new information becomes available we should constantly be updating and reanalyzing existing and newly acquired data. In this report we focus on transposable elements (TEs) which make up a significant portion of nearly all sequenced genomes. Our ability to accurately identify and classify these sequences is critical to understanding their impact on host genomes. At the same time, as we demonstrate in this report, problems with existing classification schemes have led to significant misunderstandings of the evolution of both TE sequences and their host genomes. In a pioneering publication Finnegan (1989) proposed classifying all TE sequences into two classes based on transposition mechanisms and structural features: the retrotransposons (class I) and the DNA transposons (class II). We have retraced how ideas regarding TE classification and annotation in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic scientific communities have changed over time. This has led us to observe that: (1) a number of TEs have convergent structural features and/or transposition mechanisms that have led to misleading conclusions regarding their classification, (2) the evolution of TEs is similar to that of viruses by having several unrelated origins, (3) there might be at least 8 classes and 12 orders of TEs including 10 novel orders. In an effort to address these classification issues we propose: (1) the outline of a universal TE classification, (2) a set of methods and classification rules that could be used by all scientific communities involved in the study of TEs, and (3) a 5-year schedule for the establishment of an International Committee for Taxonomy of Transposable Elements (ICTTE).

Attachment, psychopathology, and religion: Introduction to this special section of Mental Health, Religion, & Culture

An international conference of psychology of religion, organised at the University of Lausanne (Switzerland) on 16 May 2012, took up the theme: "Attachment, psychopathology, and religion". Four speakers were invited: Pehr Granvist, Andrew Gumley, Isabelle Rieben, and Pascal Roman. Their reworked contributions are gathered in this special section of Mental Health, Religion, & Culture. The goal of this special section is to re-examine the whole of this subject of the bond between attachment and religion and/or spirituality in the cases of those persons suffering from mental health disorders.

Personality traits and psychopathology predict burnout symptoms after two years in a sample of Catalan police officers

The operational aspects of psychological assessment are well documented (e.g. Murphy and Davidshofer, 1994). Essentially, the process involves the administration of one or more valid psychological tests in order to assess a person’s suitability to a task or situation. The resulting data and report are then used by police psychologists to assist in determining the suitability of the applicant for police duties. In Catalunya, this task is carried out during basic training for police career agent in the evaluation of psychological conditions for the use of the weapon. Police work can be one of the most stressful jobs, and it frequently leads to the development of burnout syndrome. In their day-to-day tasks, police officers are constantly subjected to various stressors (de la Fuente, Aguayo, Vargas and Cañadas, 2013). The most widely accepted definition of the burnout syndrome is one that describes it as a response to chronic work stress made up of three components: emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation and low personal accomplishment (Maslach & Jackson, 1981). Some studies showed that personality characteristics, and positive and negative affectivity explained significant variance in each of the burnout dimensions (Alarcon, Eschleman and Bowling, 2009).

Estudo do estado fundamental de aglomerados de silício via redes neurais

We introduce a global optimization method based on the cooperation between an Artificial Neural Net (ANN) and Genetic Algorithm (GA). We have used ANN to select the initial population for the GA. We have tested the new method to predict the ground-state geometry of silicon clusters. We have described the clusters as a piling of plane structures. We have trained three ANN architectures and compared their results with those of pure GA. ANN strongly reduces the total computational time. For Si10, it gained a factor of 5 in search speed. This method can be easily extended to other optimization problems.

Usando um Jogo Digital na Sala de Aula do Ensino Fundamental: Visão dos Professores

A digital game was created as a resource for cognitive learning and afterwards it was used in primary schools in order to survey its active users. The methods used to recollect data were observation, in-depth interviews and focus groups. The main target of this study is to collect points of view of different primary school teachers. Conclusions show us how the group of study members perceive the use of digital games in the classroom.

Evaluación de la psicopatología del preescolar mediante el Early Childhood Inventory-4 (ECI-4): concordancia entre padres y maestros.= Assessment of psychopathology in preschool age children through the Early Childhood Inventory-4 (ECI-4): Agreement among parents and teachers

El objetivo principal de este estudio es conocer la concordancia entre informantes, padres y maestros, en cada una de las dimensiones o categorías diagnósticas del Early Childhood Inventory-4 (ECI-4). Además, se pretende analizar la influencia de la presencia de problemas de salud en los padres en la descripción y valoración de la conducta de una muestra de 204 alumnos de preescolar (3 a 6 años) de perfiles socioeconómicos diferentes. Los resultados indican que los padres tienden a valorar con mayor severidad los síntomas, observándose una mayor concordancia entre informantes en los relativos a los trastornos del desarrollo

Influência do índice de massa corpórea, porcentagem de gordura corporal e idade da menarca sobre a capacidade aeróbia (VO2 máx) de alunas do ensino fundamental

OBJETIVO: Identificar e relacionar a composição corporal, baseada na porcentagem de gordura corporal e o índice de massa corpórea (IMC), e a idade da menarca, com a capacidade aeróbia, utilizando-se os valores de VO2 máximo indireto, de estudantes do segundo ciclo do ensino fundamental. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliadas 197 meninas com média de idade de 13,0±1,2 anos, estudantes de duas escolas estaduais de Atibaia-SP. Para estimar a porcentagem de gordura corporal, foi realizada uma avaliação de dobras cutâneas utilizando-se o protocolo de Slaughter para meninas adolescentes. Já o índice de massa corpórea (IMC), medido em quilogramas por metro quadrado (kg/m2), seguiu as recomendações da Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS). Para a avaliação aeróbia, foi utilizado o teste de corrida proposto por Léger, determinando o volume de oxigênio máximo de forma indireta (VO2 máx). Para a análise estatística, foi utilizada a regressão linear de Pearson, o teste t de Student e a análise multivariada. RESULTADOS: 22,3% das meninas apresentaram sobrepeso e 3,5% obesidade, de acordo com o IMC. Na amostra estudada, 140 (71,1%) adolescentes relataram a ocorrência de menarca. A média de idade da menarca foi de 12,0±1,0 anos. A média de idade de menarca para o grupo com IMC normal foi significativamente maior (12,2±0,9 anos) do que nas estudantes com sobrepeso ou obesidade (11,6±1,0 anos). A média do VO2 máx indireto foi de 39,6±3,7 mL/kg/min, variando de 30,3 a 50,5 mL/kg/min. O avanço da idade cronológica e a precocidade da menarca correlacionaram-se positivamente com os menores valores de VO2 máx. CONCLUSÕES: Meninas com maiores valores de IMC e percentual de gordura corporal apresentaram menores valores de VO2 máx. A precocidade da menarca e o avanço da idade cronológica foram os fatores mais importantes para a redução da capacidade aeróbia. A idade da menarca foi mais elevada em meninas com IMC adequado quando comparadas com as meninas com sobrepeso ou obesidade.

Leukocyte adhesion - a fundamental process in leukocyte physiology

Leukocyte adhesion is of pivotal functional importance. The adhesion involves several different adhesion molecules, the most important of which are the leukocyte ß2-integrins (CD11/CD18), the intercellular adhesion molecules, and the selectins. We and others have extensively studied the specificity and binding sites in the integrins and the intercellular adhesion molecules for their receptors and ligands. The integrins have to become activated to exert their functions but the possible mechanisms of activation remain poorly understood. Importantly, a few novel intercellular adhesion molecules have been recently described, which seem to function only in specific tissues. Furthermore, it is becoming increasingly apparent that changes in integrins and intercellular adhesion molecules are associated with a number of acute and chronic diseases.