New trends in femtosecond Pulsed Laser Deposition and femtosecond produced plasma diagnostics

International audienceThe availability of compact table top amplified femtosecond lasers and the technical simplicity of experimental design have opened the way to many recent and fast developments towards thin film elaboration by Pulsed Laser Deposition (PLD) with ultra short laser pulses, with the aim of producing materials of high quality previously unattainable or attainable only through more complex means. The first developments of PLD using femtosecond lasers were made on Diamond-Like Carbon thin films elaboration, with the attempt to reach high sp3 content. PLD with ultra short pulses was used recently to deposit several systems such as quasicrystals or oxides with a transfer of the target composition to the deposited films, even for compounds with complex stoechiometry. Femtosecond laser ablation from solid targets has shown its capability in producing nanoparticles of different materials, even in high vacuum conditions. Nanostructured films of doped Diamond-Like Carbon were obtained recently, opening the way to large applications towards functional materials. The characteristics of the plasma are a well-suited signature of the physics of laser-matter interaction and plasma plume creation and expansion. Recent studies on the control of the film growth and femtosecond PLD processes will be reported. Emphasis on actual capability of the existing sources to elaborate high quality materials will be questioned in terms of energy per pulse, time width, repetition rates but also in the need for further source development and beam shaping improvement

Synthesis of large pores zeolite by soft templating strategy in the presence of novel organic template

Zeolites have a great importance in catalytic process such as isomerization and alkylation. Large pores mordenite zeolite was hydrothemally prepared by soft templating strategy using N,N-dimethylaniline as a novel structure-directing agent. The synthetized mesoporous mordenite was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), N2 physical adsorption (BET), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). XRD and FTIR have been used to inform on the mordenite structure. SEM shows the crystals morphology and expanded pore opening, and N2 physical adsorption confirms the presence of mesoporous channels. The results show that in presence of N,N-dimethylaniline as organic template, mesoporous mordenite can be succefully synthesized

A panel of kallikrein markers can predict outcome of prostate biopsy following clinical work-up: an independent validation study from the European Randomized Study of Prostate Cancer screening, France

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We have previously shown that a panel of kallikrein markers - total prostate-specific antigen (PSA), free PSA, intact PSA and human kallikrein-related peptidase 2 (hK2) - can predict the outcome of prostate biopsy in men with elevated PSA. Here we investigate the properties of our panel in men subject to clinical work-up before biopsy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We applied a previously published predictive model based on the kallikrein panel to 262 men undergoing prostate biopsy following an elevated PSA (≥ 3 ng/ml) and further clinical work-up during the European Randomized Study of Prostate Cancer screening, France. The predictive accuracy of the model was compared to a "base" model of PSA, age and digital rectal exam (DRE).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>83 (32%) men had prostate cancer on biopsy of whom 45 (54%) had high grade disease (Gleason score 7 or higher). Our model had significantly higher accuracy than the base model in predicting cancer (area-under-the-curve [AUC] improved from 0.63 to 0.78) or high-grade cancer (AUC increased from 0.77 to 0.87). Using a decision rule to biopsy those with a 20% or higher risk of cancer from the model would reduce the number of biopsies by nearly half. For every 1000 men with elevated PSA and clinical indication for biopsy, the model would recommend against biopsy in 61 men with cancer, the majority (≈80%) of whom would have low stage <it>and </it>low grade disease at diagnosis.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In this independent validation study, the model was highly predictive of prostate cancer in men for whom the decision to biopsy is based on both elevated PSA and clinical work-up. Use of this model would reduce a large number of biopsies while missing few cancers.</p

Do patients have to choose between ejaculation and miction? A systematic review about ejaculation preservation technics for benign prostatic obstruction surgical treatment

PURPOSE: Ejaculatory dysfunction is the most common side effect related to surgical treatment of benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). Nowadays, modified surgical techniques and non-ablative techniques have emerged with the aim of preserving antegrade ejaculation. Our objective was to conduce a systematic review of the literature regarding efficacy on ejaculatory preservation of modified endoscopic surgical techniques, and mini-invasive non-ablatives techniques for BPO management. METHODS: A systematic review of the literature was carried out on the PubMed database using the following MESH terms: "Prostatic Hyperplasia/surgery" and "Ejaculation", in combination with the following keywords: "ejaculation preservation", "photoselective vaporization of the prostate", "photoselective vapo-enucleation of the prostate", "holmium laser enucleation of the prostate", "thulium laser", "prostatic artery embolization", "urolift", "rezum", and "aquablation". RESULTS: The ejaculation preservation rate of modified-TURP ranged from 66 to 91%. The ejaculation preservation rate of modified-prostate photo-vaporization ranged from 87 to 96%. The only high level of evidence studies available compared prostatic urethral lift (PUL) and aquablation versus regular TURP in prospective randomized-controlled trials. The ejaculation preservation rate of either PUL or aquablation compared to regular TURP was 100 and 90 versus 34%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Non-ablative therapies and modified endoscopic surgical techniques seemed to be reasonable options for patients eager to preserve their ejaculatory functions

Importance of prostate volume in the European Randomised Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC) risk calculators: results from the prostate biopsy collaborative group

OBJECTIVES: To compare the predictive performance and potential clinical usefulness of risk calculators of the European Randomized Study of Screening for Prostate Cancer (ERSPC RC) with and without information on prostate volume. METHODS: We studied 6 cohorts (5 European and 1 US) with a total of 15,300 men, all biopsied and with pre-biopsy TRUS measurements of prostate volume. Volume was categorized into 3 categories (25, 40, and 60 cc), to reflect use of digital rectal examination (DRE) for volume assessment. Risks of prostate cancer were calculated according to a ERSPC DRE-based RC (including PSA, DRE, prior biopsy, and prostate volume) and a PSA + DRE model (including PSA, DRE, and prior biopsy). Missing data on prostate volume were completed by single imputation. Risk predictions were evaluated with respect to calibration (graphically), discrimination (AUC curve), and clinical usefulness (net benefit, graphically assessed in decision curves). RESULTS: The AUCs of the ERSPC DRE-based RC ranged from 0.61 to 0.77 and were substantially larger than the AUCs of a model based on only PSA + DRE (ranging from 0.56 to 0.72) in each of the 6 cohorts. The ERSPC DRE-based RC provided net benefit over performing a prostate biopsy on the basis of PSA and DRE outcome in five of the six cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying men at increased risk for having a biopsy detectable prostate cancer should consider multiple factors, including an estimate of prostate volume

identification et cinétique saisonnière des tiques parasites des bovins dans la région de taher (Jijel) Algérie

International audienceFrom June 2002 to May 2003, a study was carried out in the area of Taher (Jijel, Algerian littoral) in order to identify the tick species found on cattle and their population dynamics. Five species were identified: Boophilus annulatus (79,96%), Rhipicephalus bursa (9,35%), R. turanicus (2,64%), Hyalomma lusitanicum (5,48%), Hyalomma detritum (2,55%). On the other hand, the study of the dynamics revealed a seasonal activity mainly for summer for Boophilus annulatus and spring for Rhipicephalus bursa, R. turanicus and Hyalomma lusitanicum. In contrast, Hyalomma detritum is present in spring and summer. These dates must be taken into account with respect to the control of cattle tick infections in this area. This is particularly important in the case of Boophilus annulatus, Rhipicephalus bursa et Hyalomma detritum which act as important vectors of babesiosis and theileriosis.De juin 2002 à mai 2003, une enquête ciblant l'infestation des bovins par les tiques a été réalisée dans la région de Taher (Jijel, littoral algérien) et a permis d'identifier cinq espèces avec une nette prédominance de Boophilus annulatus (79,96 %) suivie successivement de Rhipicephalusbursa (9,35 %), R. turanicus (2,64 %), Hyalomma lusitanicum (5,48 %), Hyalomma detritum (2,55 %). D'autre part, l'étude de la dynamique saisonnière a révélé une activité essentiellement estivale pour Boophilus annulatus et printanière pour Rhipicephalus bursa, R. turanicus et Hyalomma lusitanicum.En revanche, Hyalomma detritum est présente au printemps et en été. Ces périodes d'activité sont à prendre en considération lorsque se met en place une organisation de lutte vis-à-vis des tiques infestant les bovins notamment en ce qui concerne Rhipicephalus bursa, Boophilus annulatus et Hyalomma detritum, vecteurs des piroplasmoses sensus lat

Anti-angiogenic activity of iridoids from Galium tunetanum Lam

Aim Plants belonging to Galium genus (Rubiaceae) are known in ethnobotanical field for the treatment of a variety of pathological conditions and for producing several classes of secondary metabolites such as iridoid glycosides, saponins, triterpenes, anthraquinones, and flavonoids (Mocan et al., 2016). Iridoids are a large class of natural products, exhibiting a wide range of pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory and anticancer. Nowadays there is a growing interest to discover new angiomodulators as angiogenesis inhibition might be a promising approach for anticancer therapies (Kadioglu et al., 2013). Galium tunetanum Lam. is a perennial herb, native to Tunisia, Algeria, Marocco, Spain, and Sicily. Despite the claimed health benefits that the folk medicine attributes to this species, there is still a lack of scientific data to support this information. In the present study, a phytochemical investigation of G. tunetanum leaves was performed along with the assessment of its anti- angiogenic properties. Materials and methods G. tunetanum leaves were preliminary extracted with solvents of increasing polarity n-hexane, chloroform, chloroform-methanol (9:1), and methanol by exhaustive maceration. The methanol extract was then partitioned between n-butanol and water to afford a n-butanol residue which was submitted to Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography. Nine major fractions were collected and subjected to RP-HPLC analysis. The chloroform-methanol extract was subjected to Isolera Biotage column chromatography to obtained five major fractions submitted to RP-HPLC analysis. The structural determination of the isolated compounds was performed by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data, as well as ESI-MS experiments. The anti-angiogenic effects of the isolated compounds were tested on new blood vessels formation using the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as in vivo model (Certo et al., 2017). Fertilized eggs of Gallus gallus, after four days of incubation, were treated with pure compounds (0.5-2.0 μg/egg). Retinoic acid (2 μg/egg) was used as anti-angiogenic reference compound. After treatment, the eggs were reincubated for 24 h, then they were observed by a steromicroscope. The anti-angiogenic effects on the CAMs were quantified by counting the number of blood vessel branch points in a standardized area and expressed as % of inhibition respect to control. Results The phytochemical analyses of G. tunetanum extracts led to the isolation of thirteen compounds from the chloroform-methanol and the methanol extracts: six iridoid glycosides, one non-glycoside iridoid, two p- coumaroyl iridoid derivatives, two phenolic acids and two flavonoid glycosides. The isolated iridoids were subjected to the CAM assay and results showed that among them asperuloside, geniposidic acid and iridoid V1 reduced microvessel formation on morphological observations of the CAMs. The anti-angiogenic effects, expressed as percentages of inhibition versus control, were 67% (asperuloside), 59% (geniposidic acid), and 54% (iridoid V1), respectively. In addition, the active compounds were able to inhibit CAM angiogenesis in a dose-dependent manner as compared to the standard retinoic acid. Conclusions The results obtained suggest the potential use of G. tunetanum extracts as new sources of anti-angiogenic compounds