Global precipitation response to changing forcings since 1870

Predicting and adapting to changes in the hydrological cycle is one of the major challenges for the 21st century. To better estimate how it will respond to future changes in climate forcings, it is crucial to understand how the hydrological cycle has evolved in the past and why. In our study, we use an atmospheric global climate model with prescribed sea surface temperatures (SSTs) to investigate how, in the period 1870–2005, changing climate forcings have affected the global land temperature and precipitation. We show that between 1870 and 2005, prescribed SSTs (encapsulating other forcings and internal variability) determine the decadal and interannual variabilities of the global land temperature and precipitation, mostly via their influence in the tropics (25° S–25° N). In addition, using simulations with prescribed SSTs and considering the atmospheric response alone, we find that between 1930 and 2005 increasing aerosol emissions have reduced the global land temperature and precipitation by up to 0.4 °C and 30 mm yr<sup>−1</sup>, respectively, and that between about 1950 and 2005 increasing greenhouse gas concentrations have increased them by up to 0.25 °C and 10 mm yr<sup>−1</sup>, respectively. Finally, we suggest that between about 1950 and 1970, increasing aerosol emissions had a larger impact on the hydrological cycle than increasing greenhouse gas concentrations

Identification and Characterization of an Activating F229V Substitution in the V2 Vasopressin Receptor in an Infant with NSIAD

Gain-of-function mutations in the gene encoding the V2 vasopressin receptor (V2R) cause nephrogenic syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis. To date, reported mutations lead to the substitution of arginine 137 by either a cysteine or leucine (R137C/L). Here, we describe a 3-month-old hyponatremic infant found to have a phenylalanine 229 to valine (F229V) substitution in V2R. Characterization of this substitution in vitro revealed that it leads to high constitutive activity of the receptor, compatible with spontaneous antidiuresis. In contrast to R137C/L mutant receptors, F229V receptors do not undergo spontaneous desensitization, which results in sustained, high basal activity. Notably, the V2R-selective inverse agonists tolvaptan and satavaptan completely silenced the constitutive signaling activity of the F229V mutant receptor, indicating that this substitution does not lock the receptor in an irreversible active state. Thus, inverse agonists might prove to be effective therapies for treating patients with this or other spontaneously activating mutations that do not lock the V2R in its active state. These results emphasize the importance of genetic testing and the functional characterization of mutant receptors for patients with nephrogenic syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis because the results might inform treatment decisions

Characterization of early disease status in treatment-naive male paediatric patients with Fabry disease enrolled in a randomized clinical trial.

Trial designThis analysis characterizes the degree of early organ involvement in a cohort of oligo-symptomatic untreated young patients with Fabry disease enrolled in an ongoing randomized, open-label, parallel-group, phase 3B clinical trial.MethodsMales aged 5-18 years with complete α-galactosidase A deficiency, without symptoms of major organ damage, were enrolled in a phase 3B trial evaluating two doses of agalsidase beta. Baseline disease characteristics of 31 eligible patients (median age 12 years) were studied, including cellular globotriaosylceramide (GL-3) accumulation in skin (n = 31) and kidney biopsy (n = 6; median age 15 years; range 13-17 years), renal function, and glycolipid levels (plasma, urine).ResultsPlasma and urinary GL-3 levels were abnormal in 25 of 30 and 31 of 31 patients, respectively. Plasma lyso-GL-3 was elevated in all patients. GL-3 accumulation was documented in superficial skin capillary endothelial cells (23/31 patients) and deep vessel endothelial cells (23/29 patients). The mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR), measured by plasma disappearance of iohexol, was 118.1 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (range 90.4-161.0 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) and the median urinary albumin/creatinine ratio was 10 mg/g (range 4.0-27.0 mg/g). On electron microscopy, renal biopsy revealed GL-3 accumulation in all glomerular cell types (podocytes and parietal, endothelial, and mesangial cells), as well as in peritubular capillary and non-capillary endothelial, interstitial, vascular smooth muscle, and distal tubules/collecting duct cells. Lesions indicative of early Fabry arteriopathy and segmental effacement of podocyte foot processes were found in all 6 patients.ConclusionsThese data reveal that in this small cohort of children with Fabry disease, histological evidence of GL-3 accumulation, and cellular and vascular injury are present in renal tissues at very early stages of the disease, and are noted before onset of microalbuminuria and development of clinically significant renal events (e.g. reduced GFR). These data give additional support to the consideration of early initiation of enzyme replacement therapy, potentially improving long-term outcome.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT00701415

Oral Migalastat HCl Leads to Greater Systemic Exposure and Tissue Levels of Active α-Galactosidase A in Fabry Patients when Co-Administered with Infused Agalsidase.

UnlabelledMigalastat HCl (AT1001, 1-Deoxygalactonojirimycin) is an investigational pharmacological chaperone for the treatment of α-galactosidase A (α-Gal A) deficiency, which leads to Fabry disease, an X-linked, lysosomal storage disorder. The currently approved, biologics-based therapy for Fabry disease is enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) with either agalsidase alfa (Replagal) or agalsidase beta (Fabrazyme). Based on preclinical data, migalastat HCl in combination with agalsidase is expected to result in the pharmacokinetic (PK) enhancement of agalsidase in plasma by increasing the systemic exposure of active agalsidase, thereby leading to increased cellular levels in disease-relevant tissues. This Phase 2a study design consisted of an open-label, fixed-treatment sequence that evaluated the effects of single oral doses of 150 mg or 450 mg migalastat HCl on the PK and tissue levels of intravenously infused agalsidase (0.2, 0.5, or 1.0 mg/kg) in male Fabry patients. As expected, intravenous administration of agalsidase alone resulted in increased α-Gal A activity in plasma, skin, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) compared to baseline. Following co-administration of migalastat HCl and agalsidase, α-Gal A activity in plasma was further significantly increased 1.2- to 5.1-fold compared to agalsidase administration alone, in 22 of 23 patients (95.6%). Importantly, similar increases in skin and PBMC α-Gal A activity were seen following co-administration of migalastat HCl and agalsidase. The effects were not related to the administered migalastat HCl dose, as the 150 mg dose of migalastat HCl increased α-Gal A activity to the same extent as the 450 mg dose. Conversely, agalsidase had no effect on the plasma PK of migalastat. No migalastat HCl-related adverse events or drug-related tolerability issues were identified.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT01196871

Apport de la matière organique dans l'étude de la dynamique sédimentaire lacustre en zone sahélienne (exemples de deux complexes limniques, SW Niger)

International audienceLe remplissage sédimentaire des mares de Bangou-Bi et de Tankalawal (SW Niger) a fait l'objet d'une étude de son contenu organique qui fournit des informations sur l'origine et les conditions de dépôt du matériel sédimentaire. Deux carottes mesurant respectivement 140 cm (carotte BB2) et 60 cm (carotte TK1) ont été étudiées. Les échantillons ont été soumis à une pyrolyse Rock-Eval 6 renseignant sur la géochimie globale de la Matière Organique (MO) et le signal S2 de la pyrolyse a été exploité afin de mieux préciser la nature de ces MO. Le niveau argilo-limoneux de la carotte BB2 contient une MO aquatique et terrestre dont la composition en composés hydrocarbonés se répartit entre les biopolymères (F1+F2), et les géopolymères matures (F3) et immatures (F4). Cette MO serait déposée dans un environnement calme. En revanche le niveau inférieur sableux renferme une MO terrestre très altérée et enrichie en géopolymères matures qui serait amenée par des pulses détritiques grossiers (colluvionnement) issus du bassin versant. Les valeurs des paramètres géochimiques et leur évolution avec la profondeur indiquent que la MO de la carotte TK1 est aquatique et a enregistré une dégradation en milieu anoxique. Cette MO contenant majoritairement des géopolymères matures (F4) riches en lipides se révèle étonnamment plus résistante face à l'altération que celle présente dans la carotte BB2

Agalsidase alfa versus agalsidase beta for the treatment of Fabry disease: an international cohort study

BACKGROUND: Two recombinant enzymes (agalsidase alfa 0.2 mg/kg/every other week and agalsidase beta 1.0 mg/kg/every other week) have been registered for the treatment of Fabry disease (FD), at equal high costs. An independent international initiative compared clinical and biochemical outcomes of the two enzymes. METHODS: In this multicentre retrospective cohort study, clinical event rate, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), antibody formation and globotriaosylsphingosine (lysoGb3) levels were compared between patients with FD treated with agalsidase alfa and beta at their registered dose after correction for phenotype and sex. RESULTS: 387 patients (192 women) were included, 248 patients received agalsidase alfa. Mean age at start of enzyme replacement therapy was 46 (±15) years. Propensity score matched analysis revealed a similar event rate for both enzymes (HR 0.96, P=0.87). The decrease in plasma lysoGb3 was more robust following treatment with agalsidase beta, specifically in men with classical FD (β: -18 nmol/L, P<0.001), persisting in the presence of antibodies. The risk to develop antibodies was higher for patients treated with agalsidase beta (OR 2.8, P=0.04). LVMI decreased in a higher proportion following the first year of agalsidase beta treatment (OR 2.27, P=0.03), while eGFR slopes were similar. CONCLUSIONS: Treatment with agalsidase beta at higher dose compared with agalsidase alfa does not result in a difference in clinical events, which occurred especially in those with more advanced disease. A greater biochemical response, also in the presence of antibodies, and better reduction in left ventricular mass was observed with agalsidase beta

Determinants of the voltage dependence of G protein modulation within calcium channel β subunits

CaVβ subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels contain two conserved domains, a src-homology-3 (SH3) domain and a guanylate kinase-like (GK) domain with an intervening HOOK domain. We have shown in a previous study that, although Gβγ-mediated inhibitory modulation of CaV2.2 channels did not require the interaction of a CaVβ subunit with the CaVα1 subunit, when such interaction was prevented by a mutation in the α1 subunit, G protein modulation could not be removed by a large depolarization and showed voltage-independent properties (Leroy et al., J Neurosci 25:6984–6996, 2005). In this study, we have investigated the ability of mutant and truncated CaVβ subunits to support voltage-dependent G protein modulation in order to determine the minimal domain of the CaVβ subunit that is required for this process. We have coexpressed the CaVβ subunit constructs with CaV2.2 and α2δ-2, studied modulation by the activation of the dopamine D2 receptor, and also examined basal tonic modulation. Our main finding is that the CaVβ subunit GK domains, from either β1b or β2, are sufficient to restore voltage dependence to G protein modulation. We also found that the removal of the variable HOOK region from β2a promotes tonic voltage-dependent G protein modulation. We propose that the absence of the HOOK region enhances Gβγ binding affinity, leading to greater tonic modulation by basal levels of Gβγ. This tonic modulation requires the presence of an SH3 domain, as tonic modulation is not supported by any of the CaVβ subunit GK domains alone