Inequivalent routes across the Mott transition in V2O3 explored by X-ray absorption

The changes in the electronic structure of V2O3 across the metal-insulator transition induced by temperature, doping and pressure are identified using high resolution x-ray absorption spectroscopy at the V pre K-edge. Contrary to what has been taken for granted so far, the metallic phase reached under pressure is shown to differ from the one obtained by changing doping or temperature. Using a novel computational scheme, we relate this effect to the role and occupancy of the a1g orbitals. This finding unveils the inequivalence of different routes across the Mott transition in V2O

A Rapid, Physiologic Protocol for Testing Transcriptional Effects of Thyroid-Disrupting Agents in Premetamorphic Xenopus Tadpoles

Increasing numbers of substances present in the environment are postulated to have endocrine-disrupting effects on vertebrate populations. However, data on disruption of thyroid signaling are fragmentary, particularly at the molecular level. Thyroid hormone (TH; triiodothyronine, T(3)) acts principally by modulating transcription from target genes; thus, thyroid signaling is particularly amenable to analysis with a transcriptional assay. Also, T(3) orchestrates amphibian metamorphosis, thereby providing an exceptional model for identifying thyroid-disrupting chemicals. We combined these two advantages to develop a method for following and quantifying the transcriptional action of T(3) in Xenopus laevis tadpoles. This technology provides a means of assessing thyroid activity at the molecular level in a physiologically relevant situation. Moreover, translucent tadpoles are amenable to “on-line” imaging with fluorescent reporter constructs that facilitate in vivo measurement of transcriptional activity. We adapted transgenesis with TH-responsive elements coupled to either luciferase or green fluorescent protein to follow T(3)-dependent transcription in vivo. To reduce time of exposure and to synchronize responses, we optimized a physiologic pre-treatment protocol that induced competence to respond to T(3) and thus to assess T(3) effects and T(3) disruption within 48 hr. This pretreatment protocol was based on a short (24 hr), weak (10(−12) M) pulse of T(3) that induced TH receptors, facilitating and synchronizing the transcriptional responses. This protocol was successfully applied to somatic and germinal transgenesis with both reporter systems. Finally, we show that the transcriptional assay allows detection of the thyroid-disrupting activity of environmentally relevant concentrations (10(−8) M) of acetochlor, a persistent herbicide

Lethal junctional epidermolysis bullosa in heavy horses in France

Cinq cas d’épidermolyse huileuse jonctionnelle léthale ( Epitheliogenesis imperfecta ) ont été diagnostiqués au début de l’année 1989 dans deux races de cheval de trait en France. Les études anatomo-cliniques, ultra-structurales et génétiques montrent qu’il s'agit d’une affection héréditaire à déterminisme autosomal récessif analogue à l’épidermolyse huileuse jonctionnelle léithale décrite par Herlitz chez l'homme car le clivage de la jonction dermo-épidermique se situe au- dessus de la basale, au sein de la Lamina lucida. Il s’agit des premiers cas de cette maladie décrits chez le cheval en France.Five cases of junctional epidermolysis bullosa ( Epitheliogenis imper fecta) have been diagnosed since the beginning of 1989 in two draught- horse breeds in France. Anatomo-clinical, ultrastructural and genetic studies indicate that it is an hereditary disease due to an autosomal recessive gene similar to the lethal form of junctional epidermolysis bullosa descri bed by Herlitz in the child, as the cleft of the dermo-epidermal junction is located under the basal membrane, in the Lamina lucida. These are the first cases of this disease described in France in the horse

Toxoplasma gondii in beef consumed in France: Regional variation in seroprevalence and parasite isolation

In France, the consumption of cattle and sheep meat appears to be a risk factor for infection of pregnant women with Toxoplasma gondii. Several nation-wide surveys in France have investigated the prevalence of T. gondii in sheep and pig meat, but little is known at present about the prevalence of the parasite in beef. The main objective of the present cross-sectional survey was to estimate the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection in beef consumed in France. A secondary objective was to attempt to isolate T. gondii from cattle tissues and to study the geographical and age variations of this seroprevalence. The overall estimate of seroprevalence of T. gondii in bovine carcasses (n = 2912), for a threshold of 1:6 was 17.38%. A strong age effect was observed (p lt 0.0001) with a seroprevalence of 5.34% for calves ( lt 8 months) and 23.12% for adults ( gt 8 months). Seroprevalence estimates given by area of birth and area of slaughtering for adults showed that the areas with the highest seroprevalence were not the same between these two variables. Only two strains, corresponding to genotype II, were isolated from heart samples, indicating that there is a limited risk of human infection with T. gondii, which needs to be correlated with the food habit of consuming raw or undercook (bleu or saignant) beef. However, new questions have emerged, especially concerning the isolation of parasites from beef and the precise role of bovines, generally described as poor hosts for T. gondii, in human infection

Educational needs of health professionals working in rheumatology in Europe

Objective: To explore the availability of postgraduate education for health professionals (HPs) working in rheumatology in Europe, and their perceived educational needs and barriers for participation in current educational offerings. Methods: Structured interviews were conducted with national representatives of rheumatology HPs’ organisations and an online survey among individual HPs was disseminated through existing EULAR networks (10 languages including English). These comprised questions on: availability of postgraduate education, familiarity with EULAR and its educational offerings, unmet needs regarding the contents and mode of delivery and potential barriers to participate in education (0-10 scales). Results: According to 17 national representatives, postgraduate rheumatology education was most common for nurses, physical and occupational therapists. There were 1041 individual responses to the survey, of whom 48% completed all questions. More than half (56%) were familiar with EULAR as an organisation, whereas less than 25% had attended the EULAR congress or was familiar with EULAR online courses. Educational needs regarding contents were highest for “inflammatory arthritis” and “connective tissue diseases” and regarding modes of delivery for “courses organised in own country” and “online courses”. Important barriers to participation included lack of “resources”, “time” and “English language skills”. Overall, there was considerable variation in needs and barriers among countries . Conclusions: There is a lack of postgraduate rheumatology education for HPs in most countries. There are opportunities to raise awareness regarding EULAR educational offerings and to develop courses provided in HPs’ own country, tailored to national needs and barriers and taking language barriers into consideration

Concomitant sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy (Rosai-Dorfman Disease) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a case report

IntroductionSinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy, also known as Rosai-Dorfman Disease, is a rare and benign source of lymphadenopathy first described in 1969, which mimics neoplastic processes. This disease commonly presents in children and young adults with supra-diaphragmatic lymphadenopathy or extranodal lesions consisting of tissue infiltrates composed of a polyclonal population of histiocytes. Since its description greater than 400 cases have been described, sometimes in patients with a variety of treated and untreated neoplastic diseases. However, the literature contains reports of only 19 cases of Rosai-Dorfman Disease in association with lymphomas, Hodgkin's or non-Hodgkin's. The majority of these cases have the two diagnoses, malignant lymphoma and Rosai-Dorfman Disease, separated in time. Interestingly, infradiaphragmatic lymphadenopathy was a feature in the majority of previously reported cases of Rosai-Dorfman Disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.Case presentationThis report provides details of a case with co-existing sinus histiocytosis with massive lymphadenopathy and diffuse large B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This case is the fifth described case of simultaneous Rosai-Dorfman Disease and concurrent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Unfortunately, the diagnosis of a clinically aggressive diffuse large B cell lymphoma was made at autopsy. The aggressive biological behavior of the diffuse large B cell lymphoma in this patient may have been related to the underlying immune dysregulation believed to be part of the pathophysiology of Rosai-Dorfman Disease.ConclusionTaken together this report and the preceding reports of Rosai-Dorfman Disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma suggests that in cases with a diagnosis of Rosai-Dorfman Disease in the setting of prominent infradiaphragmatic lymphadenopathy, clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for the presence of occult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma especially if the clinical course is atypical for classic Rosai-Dorfman Disease