Inflammasomes are pivotal for the initiation and control of host inflammatory responses. This is particularly important in the respiratory system due to its direct exposure to noxious environmental and infectious stimuli, which can cause local inflammation, tissue damage and impaired function. Inflammasomes are activated by a variety of processes that result in a loss of cellular homeostasis, leading to the oligomerisation of specific innate immune sensors. Inflammasome complex formation then results in a form of programmed cell death known as pyroptosis and release of cleaved active pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, and the subsequent inflammatory cascade. While acute inflammasome activation can be protective in controlling infection, chronic inflammasome activation is detrimental and can lead to irreversible changes in the lung micro-environment such as chronic inflammation, emphysema, lung fibrosis and impaired gas exchange and lung function. In this review, we describe the role of inflammasomes in the pathogenesis of acute and chronic respiratory diseases, highlight currently available preclinical and clinically available therapies that regulate or inhibit inflammasome activation, and outline the use of multi-omics to identify novel inflammasome biomarkers and therapeutics.

Psychiatry sometimes treats patients who do not acknowledge or resist treatment and who continue to face stigma in our society. Across the country, psychiatric inpatient units operate under a wide variety of service models, which influences how patients' rights are exercised and the nature of the caregiving work. Healthcare professionals from Brittany and Île-de-France highlight the importance of an ethical approach that fosters the therapeutic alliance. Breaking down barriers will help bring psychiatry further into the community and foster a different perspective on the "strangeness" of psychotic patients.

Enthalpy-entropy compensation is a widely observed feature of protein-ligand recognition, yet its structural origins remain difficult to resolve. Here, we investigate a matched series of sulfonamide inhibitors binding to three closely related human carbonic anhydrase (CA) isozymes (CA II, CA XII, and CA XIII) using isothermal titration calorimetry, fluorescence thermal shift assays, and high-resolution X-ray crystallography. Although these isozymes share nearly identical overall folds and exhibit highly similar intrinsic Gibbs energies of binding, their enthalpic and entropic contributions diverge markedly. Correction of all observed thermodynamic quantities for proton-linked equilibria reveals that this divergence originates from subtle differences in the active-site microenvironment. In particular, single-residue variations-including the Thr/Thr/Val substitution at position 200, the Phe/Ala/Phe variation at position 131, and the Asn/Asn/Ser difference at position 62-modulate hydrogen-bond geometry, steric complementarity, and local solvation, thereby reshaping the balance between enthalpic and entropic driving forces. These results demonstrate how closely related proteins can achieve similar binding affinities through distinct energetic strategies and establish a coherent structure-thermodynamics framework for sulfonamide recognition.

Pre-transfusion storage of red blood cells (RBCs) induces aging in vitro driven by metabolic and oxidative stress, limiting transfusion efficacy. Unlike nucleated cells where multiple hallmarks characterize aging, proteostasis is expected to play a main role in anucleate RBCs, including proteasomal protein degradation. Although proteasomal activity declines during aging in vitro, its role in generating downstream alterations and post-transfusion clearance remains unclear. We hypothesized that proteasome inhibition accelerates RBC aging in vitro, particularly following re-exposure to physiological conditions. We evaluated the impact of proteasome inhibition (i.e., epoxomicin) on RBC quality during storage and physiological restoration in vitro. Additionally, young and old RBC subpopulations were compared. Proteasome inhibition during storage depleted ATP and altered RBC morphology without immediate oxidative damage. Physiological restoration of proteasome-inhibited RBCs caused accelerated ATP depletion, massive protein aggregation, reduced deformability, hemolysis, and phosphatidylserine exposure, particularly in long-stored RBCs. Strikingly, RBCs aged in vivo also exhibited low proteasomal activity and behaved similarly to stored RBCs following physiological restoration. In conclusion, proteasomal dysfunction is a key hallmark of RBC aging and senescence, driving molecular and cellular modifications that mark RBCs for clearance in vivo. Therefore, enhancing proteasomal function could improve RBC storage quality and transfusion efficacy.

Blood glucose is one of the most frequently measured laboratory parameters. This study, conducted by the SFBC and CNBH, aimed to assess current practices and identify areas for improvement. An 82-question online questionnaire covering the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases of blood glucose measurement was distributed at the end of 2025 to members of the SFBC (French Society of Clinical Biology) and the CNBH (National College of Hospital Biochemistry). Seventy-two laboratories completed the questionnaire: 57 in metropolitan France, 4 in the French overseas departments and territories (DROM-COM), and 11 in other French-speaking countries. Respondents were mostly hospitals (n = 35) and university hospitals (n = 29). Blood glucose testing is available 24/7 in 95.8% of laboratories. The pre-analytical phase is heterogeneous, particularly regarding the recommended fasting duration for fasting blood glucose measurement and the time elapsed after a meal for postprandial blood glucose measurement. Tubes containing sodium fluoride with potassium oxalate are predominantly used, and no laboratory uses citrate-sodium fluoride-EDTA tubes. The time before centrifugation is less than 30 minutes for fewer than 10 % of laboratories. Regarding the analytical phase, the hexokinase method predominates (86.7%), and very satisfactory analytical performance is observed. For the post-analytical phase, a lack of standardization is noted, particularly concerning reference values range and units of measurement. This survey highlights substantial variability in glucose testing practices, particularly in the pre-analytical phase. Harmonization of procedures is needed to improve result reliability, comparability, and patient safety.

In dairy cows, early lactation is a period prone to oxidative stress, inflammation and health problems. Our objective was to investigate the effects of 2 strategies of nutritional supplementation on physiological and immunological status of early lactating cows. The first strategy consisted of supplementing vitamin E (all-rac-α-tocopheryl acetate) from 3 weeks before calving (3,000 IU/d before and 1,000 IU/d after calving). The other strategy consisted of supplementing plant extracts (Sambucus nigra, Salix alba, Laurus nobilis, Harpagophytum procumbens, Silybum marianum and Arctium lappa, QUALIMILK product from BIODEVAS Laboratoires, QPB plant extracts) from calving (10 g/d). In anticipation of cows being removed due to health issues or changes in calving dates, 51 Holstein dairy cows were assigned to 3 groups of 17 cows with a final target of 15 cows per group. Each group was randomly assigned to one of the 3 compared treatments: control group (final n = 15), vitamin E group (final n = 16), and QPB plant extract group (final n = 14). Their redox and immune status were monitored during the first 12 weeks of lactation, every 4 weeks. In wk 12, malondialdehyde levels in plasma tended to be lower in the vitamin E and QPB plant extract groups than in the control group. The vitamin E and QPB plant extract groups had lower ex vivo plasma CCL4, IL6 and IL8 cytokine levels, lower proportions of blood regulatory neutrophils, and less ROS production by blood neutrophils than the control group. In terms of immune response, the expression of FABP3 in milk mammary epithelial cells was downregulated in multiparous cows supplemented with vitamin E and QPB plant extracts. Therefore, supplementation with either vitamin E before and after calving or QPB plant extracts after calving clearly reduced the ex vivo inflammatory response and enhance a specific ex vivo immune response shown to be involved in the fight against mastitis.

Work-related stress is a major public health concern affecting workers across various sectors. It may be associated with increased psychoactive substance use, primarily alcohol, tobacco and cannabis as well as psychoactive medications, which may represent coping mechanisms in response to occupational stress. Work-related stress is also associated with adverse outcomes such as burnout, depression, anxiety and sleep-related problems (excessive daytime sleepiness).This study focuses on three groups of early childhood professionals in France: 'ATSEMs' (preschool classroom assistants who support teachers, help maintain the classroom environment and work exclusively in nursery schools), 'animateurs' (staff supervising educational and extracurricular activities outside school hours) and 'agents d'entretien' (cleaning and maintenance staff) working in nursery and elementary schools, the latter two work in both nursery and elementary schools. These professionals play a crucial role in the education, care and well-being of children but are exposed to high levels of occupational stress due to the emotionally demanding nature of their work, which may increase the risk of substance use, burnout, depression, anxiety and excessive daytime sleepiness. We hypothesise that professionals exposed to job strain (stressed work) will have higher odds of psychoactive substance and medication use, higher levels of substance-related risk or dependence and higher odds of burnout, symptoms of anxiety and depression and sleep-related problems compared with those not exposed to job strain.

This study evaluated the sex-dependent responses of broiler offspring derived from low-protein-fed hens to posthatch low-protein feeding, with emphasis on growth efficiency, carcass traits, amino acid metabolism, breast meat quality, and breast muscle transcriptomic profiles. A total of 312 broiler offspring were assigned to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with 2 posthatch dietary protein levels and 2 sexes and reared to 84 d. The low-protein diet represented a practical protein-reduced formulation in which Lys, Met, Thr, and Trp were supplemented, whereas Arg, Leu, Ile, and Val were not fully equalized with the normal-protein diet. Posthatch low-protein feeding reduced final body weight and increased feed-to-gain ratio. A significant posthatch dietary protein level × sex interaction was observed for average daily gain (P = 0.031), with the reduction occurring in males but not in females. Low-protein feeding decreased breast muscle yield (P = 0.005) and increased abdominal fat yield (P = 0.002). Serum triglyceride (P = 0.022), uric acid (P = 0.001), and several free amino acids, including Lys (P = 0.026), Thr (P < 0.001), Val (P = 0.009), Leu (P = 0.006), Ile (P = 0.030), Phe (P < 0.001), and Met (P = 0.016), were increased, whereas intestinal morphology was largely unaffected. In breast muscle, low-protein feeding increased Val (P = 0.005) and Pro (P = 0.016) concentrations and altered meat quality traits, including pH45min (P = 0.001), pH24h (P = 0.030), and b* (P < 0.001), with significant posthatch dietary protein level × sex interactions for L* (P = 0.006), a* (P = 0.003), and cooking loss (P < 0.001). Transcriptomic analysis showed sex-specific breast muscle responses, with females showing broader changes in signaling- and stress-related pathways, whereas males showed pathway changes more closely related to amino acid metabolism, protein turnover, and metabolic regulation. In conclusion, among broilers derived from low-protein-fed hens, the posthatch protein-reduced dietary strategy altered growth efficiency, carcass nutrient partitioning, amino acid profiles, breast meat quality, and breast muscle transcriptomic responses in a sex-dependent manner. These findings indicate that sex should be considered when evaluating responses to posthatch protein-reduced feeding in broilers derived from low-protein-fed hens.

We investigated dietary branched-chain amino acid responses in commercial broilers with a factorial design (2 × 2 × 7) containing a Leu titration. Ross 344 x Ross 308 male broilers (2,304) randomized across 192 floor pens were fed nutritionally adequate diets from d 1 through 14 and provided dietary treatments from d 15 to 35. Dietary treatments had 6 replications and consisted of varying digestible amino acids relative to Lys: 0.76 and 0.80 Val, 0.65 and 0.68 Ile, 1.15, 1.25, 1.35, 1.45, 1.55, 1.65, and 1.75 Leu, and a titration comparison positive control diet containing 1.35 Leu. Interactions (P < 0.05) were limited to Ile and Val and occurred for BW gain, feed intake, and carcass yield. Birds fed a Val to Lys 0.80 and Ile to Lys of 0.65 had improved BW gain and feed intake that birds fed a Val to Lys 0.76 and Ile to Lys of 0.65. However, improved carcass yield occurred in birds fed Val to Lys of 0.76 and Ile to Lys of 0.65 or Val to Lys 0.80 and Ile to Lys of 0.68 with birds fed Val to Lys 0.80 and Ile to Lys of 0.65 being intermediate. BW gain of birds fed 1.35 Leu to Lys in the titration or control diet did not differ (P = 0.19), and birds fed the titration diet with 1.35 Leu to Lys had higher (P < 0.05) feed intake and feed conversion than birds fed the control diet. Although linear or quadratic Leu to Lys live performance responses were not detected (P > 0.05), birds fed increasing Leu to Lys had worsened intestinal permeability (linear; P = 0.04). Birds fed the Leu to Lys titration diet of 1.35 had higher (P < 0.05) fat and breast yields than bird fed the control diet with equal Leu to Lys, which may be attributed to increased feed intake. Decreasing quadratic responses (P < 0.05) to increasing Leu to Lys occurred for both Pectoralis minor and leg quarter yields. Dietary Leu by Val and Ile interactions did not occur, indicating the ability of Ross 308 male broiler to be fed diets with relatively high Leu. However, as dietary Leu increased, broilers had compromised intestinal barrier integrity. Amino acid levels tested mimic industry relevance and necessitates the need for more branched-chain amino acid research involving intestinal health.

Metal-binding peptides serve as compact platforms for molecular recognition, catalysis, and responsive biomaterials, yet the sequence rules that govern their metal-bound structures remain to be fully elucidated. Clarifying whether short histidine (H)-rich motifs converge to preferred conformations upon metal binding is therefore important for rational design of metallopeptides. To address this, we prepared 30 peptides consisting of the XHXXHXH motif and examined their interactions with Zn(II), Ni(II), and Co(II). The X residues were systematically replaced with Gly, L-Ala, D-Ala, Pro, or Val to modulate backbone flexibility and dihedral-angle space. Circular dichroism and isothermal titration calorimetry showed that the fully glycine-containing peptide GHGGHGH, although flexible in the apo state, adopted a characteristic Zn(II)-bound conformation with a CD spectrum closely resembling that of AHAGHAH, indicating convergence to a preferred metal-induced structure. Across the 30 peptides, binding enthalpy and entropy displayed compensation, linking thermodynamic properties to the structures formed upon metal binding. Comparable analyses with Ni(II) and Co(II) further suggested that multiple conformers coexist in complexes of GHGGHGH despite modest differences in affinity. These results show that the XHXXHXH motif encodes intrinsic preferences for metal-bound conformations and might offer valuable insights for designing metallopeptides with tunable structure and metal-ion recognition.