Photo-elicitation with adolescents in qualitative research: an example of its use in exploring family interactions in adolescent psychiatry.

BACKGROUND: Photo-elicitation is a method used increasingly often in qualitative health research, and its positive effect on the research process is well established today. Photo-elicitation appears to facilitate verbalization and insight and to improve relationships between the researcher and participants, thereby enriching the quality of the data collected. Nonetheless, it is barely used at all in the field of adolescent psychiatry. With the aim of exploring the potential of these methods for research with adolescents receiving psychiatric care, we conducted a qualitative photo-elicitation data collection study with this population, asking them about family interactions around food. METHODS: The data were collected from 15 adolescents and 17 parents during semi-structured interviews in which a photo taken by the adolescent served as the focus of discussion. Data were explored through inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Photo-elicitation played a threefold role in this study: (1) it induced the teens' interest, thought, and pleasure, (2) it played a mediating function during the interviews, and (3) it enabled family interactions to be viewed from the adolescent's perspective. Three themes concerning family interactions were found: (1) parent-child relationship patterns, (2) the functioning of the family group, and (3) the adolescent's individual relation with food, that is, the issue of the adolescent's autonomy. CONCLUSIONS: Photo-elicitation proved to be an innovative technique in qualitative research in the area of adolescent psychiatry, one that enriched the data and enabled the emergence of new themes in this field, related in particular to the process by which adolescents develop autonomy.

Impact of animal health programmes on poverty reduction and sustainable livestock development. / Impacts des programmes de santé animale sur la réduction de la pauvreté et le développement durable de l'élevage.

Based on data from publications and field observations, this study analyses the interactions between animal health, rural poverty and the performance and environmental impact of livestock farming in low-income countries and middle-income countries. There are strong statistical correlations between the quality of Veterinary Services, livestock productivity and poverty rates. In countries with effective Veterinary Services, livestock growth stems mainly from productivity gains and poverty rates are the lowest. Conversely, these analyses identify no statistical link between the quality of Veterinary Services and increased livestock production volumes. However, where animal diseases are poorly controlled, productivity is low and livestock growth is extensive, based mainly on a steady increase in animal numbers. Extensive growth is less effective than intensive growth in reducing poverty and aggravates the pressure of livestock production on natural resources and the climate.

En s'appuyant sur des données de publications et sur des observations de terrain, l'étude analyse les interactions entre la santé animale, la pauvreté rurale, les performances et les impacts environnementaux de l'élevage dans des pays à faible revenu et dans des pays à revenu intermédiaire. Il existe de fortes corrélations statistiques entre la qualité des Services vétérinaires, le niveau de la productivité de l'élevage et le taux de pauvreté. Dans les pays où les Services vétérinaires sont efficaces, la croissance de l'élevage est principalement le résultat de gains de productivité et le taux de pauvreté est plus faible. En revanche, les analyses n'ont pas montré de liaison statistique entre la qualité des Services vétérinaires et l'augmentation des volumes des productions animales. Toutefois, lorsque les maladies animales sont mal contrôlées, la productivité est faible et la croissance de l'élevage est extensive, due principalement à l'augmentation constante du nombre d'animaux. La croissance extensive est moins efficace que la croissance intensive pour réduire la pauvreté et elle aggrave la pression de l'élevage sur les ressources naturelles et sur le climat.

El autor describe un estudio que, a partir de datos tomados de publicaciones y de observaciones realizadas sobre el terreno, tiene por objeto analizar las interacciones entre sanidad animal, pobreza rural y rendimiento e impacto ambiental de la ganadería en países de bajo nivel de renta y en países de nivel medio de renta. Existen fuertes correlaciones estadísticas entre la calidad de los Servicios Veterinarios, el nivel de productividad de la ganadería y el índice de pobreza. En los países dotados de Servicios Veterinarios eficaces, el crecimiento de la ganadería resulta principalmente del aumento de productividad y los índices de pobreza son menores. En cambio, los análisis no demostraron relación estadística alguna entre la calidad de los Servicios Veterinarios y el incremento de los volúmenes de producción animal. Sin embargo, cuando no se lucha adecuadamente contra las enfermedades animales, la productividad es escasa y el crecimiento de la ganadería es extensivo, fruto esencialmente de un aumento constante del número de animales. El crecimiento extensivo, además de ser menos eficaz que el crecimiento intensivo para reducir la pobreza, agrava la presión que la ganadería ejerce sobre los recursos naturales y el clima.

The Yin and Yang of Toll-like receptors in cancer.

Recognition of non-self molecular patterns by pattern recognition receptors is a cornerstone of innate immunity. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) exert a key role in recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) but have also been implicated in the recognition of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). As such, TLRs regulate a wide range of biological responses including inflammatory and immune responses during carcinogenesis. The high expression of TLRs by antigen-presenting cells, including dendritic cells, and their ability to induce antitumor mediators such as type I interferon has led to efforts to utilize TLR agonists in tumor therapy in order to convert the often tolerant immune response toward antitumor responses. However, TLRs are also increasingly recognized as regulators of tumor-promoting inflammation and promoters of tumor survival signals. Here, we will review in detail the dichotomous role of TLRs in tumor biology, focusing on relevant TLR-dependent pro- and antitumor pathways, and discuss clinical applications of TLR-targeted therapies for tumor prevention and treatment.

Improving animal health and livestock productivity to reduce poverty.

This study is based on scientific publications, statistics and field observations. It shows the importance of livestock in the economy and in the risk management strategies implemented by poor farming households. A comparison of livestock performance trends with the evolution of rural poverty in developing countries indicates that growth in livestock production alone is not enough to reduce rural poverty. To help reduce poverty, sustainable production should be based on productivity gains. Prerequisites for improving productivity include better public policies, enhanced research and the reduction of animal disease risk. The study draws attention to the economic, social and environmental consequences of inadequate support for animal health and production in the least developed countries, especially those of sub-Saharan Africa.

Delayed blockade of the kinin B1 receptor reduces renal inflammation and fibrosis in obstructive nephropathy.

Renal fibrosis is the common histological feature of advanced glomerular and tubulointerstitial disease leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, specific antifibrotic therapies to slow down the evolution to ESRD are still absent. Because persistent inflammation is a key event in the development of fibrosis, we hypothesized that the proinflammatory kinin B1 receptor (B1R) could be such a new target. Here we show that, in the unilateral ureteral obstruction model of renal fibrosis, the B1R is overexpressed and that delayed treatment with an orally active nonpeptide B1R antagonist blocks macrophage infiltration, leading to a reversal of the level of renal fibrosis. In vivo bone marrow transplantation studies as well as in vitro studies on renal cells show that part of this antifibrotic mechanism of B1R blockade involves a direct effect on resident renal cells by inhibiting chemokine CCL2 and CCL7 expression. These findings suggest that blocking the B1R is a promising antifibrotic therapy.

Altered food consumption in mice lacking lysophosphatidic acid receptor-1.

The release of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) by adipocytes has previously been proposed to play a role in obesity and associated pathologies such as insulin resistance and diabetes. In the present work, the sensitivity to diet-induced obesity was studied in mice lacking one of the LPA receptor subtype (LPA1R). Conversely to what was observed in wild type (WT) mice, LPA1R-KO-mice fed a high fat diet (HFD) showed no significant increase in body weight or fat mass when compared to low fat diet (LFD). In addition, in contrast to what was observed in WT mice, LPA1R-KO mice did not exhibit over-consumption of food associated with HFD. Surprisingly, when fed a LFD, LPA1R-KO mice exhibited significant higher plasma leptin concentration and higher level of adipocyte leptin mRNA than WT mice. In conclusion, LPA1R-KO mice were found to be resistant to diet-induced obesity consecutive to a resistance to fat-induced over-consumption of food that may result at least in part from alterations in leptin expression and production.

Synthesis of thiaazaheterocycle nucleoside analogues.

The syntheses of thiazinone, thiazinedione and thiazolinone base modified nucleoside analogues have been discussed in both the deoxy- and ribosyl series. Both inter- and intramolecular N-glycosylations were evaluated.

Synthesis of 3'-O2-(azaheterocycle)-thymidines.

The synthesis of 3'-O2-(azaheterocycle)-thymidines is presented from 1-thia-3-aza- 1,3-butadiene precursors (N-thioacylamidines). A variety of heterocycles is accessible using the dienic, the electrophilic or the nucleophilic reactivity of these thia-azabutadiene systems. 3'-O2-(azaheterocycle)-thymidine analogues are regarded as potential substrates to interfere with the DNA-polymerization process.

A novel synthesis of alpha-D-Galp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Galp-1-O-(CH2)3-NH2, its linkage to activated matrices and absorption of anti-alphaGal xenoantibodies by affinity columns.

Pig organs transplanted into primates are rapidly rejected because of the interaction between Gal alpha(1-->3)Gal epitopes carried by the graft and natural antibodies (anti-alphaGal antibodies) present in the blood of the recipient. This report describes a simplified synthesis of the xenogeneic disaccharide and its linkage to activated gel matrices. The digalactosides alpha-D-Galp-(1-->3)-alpha,beta-D-Galp-OAll were synthesized by the condensation of the trichloroacetimidoyl 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-benzyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside donor with the 3,4-unprotected allyl 2,6-di-O-benzyl-alpha- or beta-D-galactopyranoside acceptor precursor. Deallylation and hydrogenolysis led to the free digalactoside, whereas hydrogenolysis alone resulted in the 1-O-propyl digalactoside. Both products were tested by inhibition ELISA of natural anti-Gal alpha(1-->3)Gal antibodies. The alpha-D-Galp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Galp-OPr was found to be the best inhibitor. Thus, the allyl group of the partially benzylated alpha-D-Galp-(1-->3)-beta-D-Galp-OAll was engineered, via the hydroxy-, the tosyloxy- and the azidopropyl intermediates, into an aminopropyl group amenable to binding to N-hydroxysuccinimide-activated agarose gel matrices in order to obtain specific immunoabsorption columns. Columns made of gel substituted with 5 micromol of disaccharide per milliliter were found efficient for the immunoabsorption of anti-alphaGal antibodies from human plasma.

Noninvasive skeletal muscle lactate detection between periods of intense exercise in humans.

We investigated whether localized 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMRS) using stimulated echoes (STEAM) with a long mixing time (t(m)) allowed the suppression of the fat signal and detection of lactate in skeletal muscle. The 1H NMRS sequence was first validated in three isolated and perfused rabbit biceps brachii muscles. Spectra were obtained on a wide-bore spectrometer using a dual-tuned probe (1H and 31P). Death was simulated by ceasing the muscle perfusion, which allowed post-mortem changes to be followed. During and after the simulated death, changes in levels of pH and in content of energy-rich compounds were observed with 31P NMRS. Our results showed an inverse linear relationship between pH and lactate in each of the three rabbits (r = 0.93, P < 0.001; r = 0.92, P < 0.01; r = 0.89, P < 0.01) and a decrease in phosphocreatine and concomitant increase in lactate. We then investigated whether this sequence allowed repeated detection of lactate in human soleus muscle during the recovery between periods of intense exercise (force-velocity test, F-v test). Seven subjects mean age 25.1 (SEM 0.8) years participated in this study. Soleus muscle lactate was detected at rest and for 3 min 30 s of the 5-min recovery between periods using a 2.35-T 40-cm bore magnet spectrometer. Arm venous plasma lactate concentration was measured at rest, during the F-v test when the subject stopped pedalling (S1), and at the end of each 5-min recovery between periods (S2). Results showed that the venous plasma lactate concentration at S1 and S2 increased significantly from the beginning of the F-v test to peak anaerobic power (W(an,peak)) (P < 0.001). The spectra showed that muscle lactate resonance intensity rose markedly when W(an,peak) was achieved. The muscle lactate resonance intensity plotted as a percentage of the resting value increased significantly at W(an,peak) compared with submaximal braking forces (P < 0.05). We concluded from these results that localized 1H NMRS using STEAM with a long t(m) allows suppression of the fat signal and repeated detection of lactate on isolated perfused skeletal muscle in animals and between periods of intense exercise in humans.

[Blood viscosity in osteonecrosis of the femur head]. / La viscosité sanguine dans les ostéonécroses de la tête fémorale.

The viscosity of total venous blood was studied in 21 patients with osteonecrosis (ON) of the femoral head, and compared with the viscosity of 43 control patients, blood donors of the same mean age, and with the viscosity of 17 patients suffering from hip arthrosis. Measurements were carried out on a rotary resistance meter with coaxial cylinders. Along with the viscosity, certain biological, hematological and biochemical parameters, making up the main macro-rheological parameters, were measured in the same blood samples. Statistical analysis of the results confirms the hyperviscosity of total venous blood in patients with ON of the femoral head. This hyperviscosity does not seem correlated with the biological parameters studied, contrary to the viscosity of the blood in the control group. It is likely secondary to other factors, intrinsic to ON, and especially microrheological factors.

[Blood biorheology and ischemic cerebrovascular accidents]. / Biorhéologie sanguine et accident vasculaire cérébral ischémique.

Blood hyperviscosity is usually observed in ischemic stroke. Our purpose was to study relations between viscosity and the different parameters of blood that influence viscosity, and to search abnormalities of circadian rhythms. 18 stroke patients (8 females and 10 males mean 65.4 years) and 12 normal subjects (4 females and 8 males, mean 68 years) were studied. The measures were realised within the 48 hours after stroke at 6 p.m. and 12 p.m. and the fourth day at 6 p.m. and 12 p.m., by means of a Taylor-Couette type rheometer. Stroke patients have a significant increase of their blood viscosity, but without elevation of blood hematocrit or fibrinogen within 48 hours. Stroke patients have no nocturnal decrease of viscosity, and they don't present the normal circadian periodicity. Perhaps would this phenomenon explain the diurnal variations in occurrence of strokes?

[Local osseous blood flow measured with radioactive microspheres: correlations with intra-medullary pressures]. / Débits osseux locaux mesurés par microsphères radioactives: corrélations avec les pressions intra-médullaires.

The authors studied in the dog, using radioactive microspheres, the blood bone outputs of the trochanter, the femoral diaphysis and the tibial diaphysis, and measured, in a simultaneous fashion, the intra-medullar pressures in these bone regions. A same hierarchy of outputs is consistently found in all animals : the trochentarian outputs are always the highest, and next come, in decreasing order, the outputs of the femoral diaphyses and the tibias. On the other hand, the intra-medullar pressures, although differing according to the bone regions, always have rather superposable rates, so that the neighboring intra-medullar pressures always correspond to radically different outputs. It is thereby demonstrated that the intra-medullar pressures, as an isolated parameter, cannot accurately reflect the rate of bone output.

Neutrophil function in rheumatoid arthritis.

In order to determine the endocytic ability and metabolic capacity of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, 45 patients with rheumatoid arthritis were compared with a series of control subjects. Two in vitro tests were performed in each patient: the phagocytic index (Brandt's technique) and the nitro-blue tetrazolium reduction test (Braehner & Nathan's technique). These two tests show a significant decrease in comparison with controls, the NBT reduction being modified only in stimulated leukocytes. This finding, in contrast to previously reported studies based on different techniques, underlines the existence of a functional modification of blood polymorphonuclear neutrophils in rheumatoid arthritis.

[Tetrazolim nitroblue reduction test. Influence of the latex on the reliability of the results]. / Test de réduction du nitrobleu de tétrazolium (N.B.T.) Influence du latex sur la fiabilité des résultats

The finding of sudden variations in the results of the N.B.T. reduction test, using Baehner and Nathan's technique, depending on the latex used, led the authors to doubt the quality of this latex. A comparative study was carried out on adult controls with two different types of latex. With the new type of latex, the results were more reproducible and the sensitivity of the technique was increased. A study in rheumatoid arthritis confirmed these two findings and showed that the new latex was more reliable using the N.B.T. reduction test.

[Rheumatoid synovial fluid]. / Le liquide synovial rhumatoïde

In making a comparative study of different parameters in the examination of synovial fluid (rheumatoid factors, ragocytes, leucocytes, synovial complement, immunoglobulins) the authors show that rheumatoid fluid has characteristics that make differentiation from other inflammatory arthropathies possible on a statistical basis, thanks to the test for the homogeneity of the means. The presence of these characteristics seems to constitute a diagnostic argument which can be measured by mathematical methods.