Diatom milking? A review and new approaches

The rise of human populations and the growth of cities contribute to the depletion of natural resources, increase their cost, and create potential climatic changes. To overcome difficulties in supplying populations and reducing the resource cost, a search for alternative pharmaceutical, nanotechnology, and energy sources has begun. Among the alternative sources, microalgae are the most promising because they use carbon dioxide (CO2) to produce biomass and/or valuable compounds. Once produced, the biomass is ordinarily harvested and processed (downstream program). Drying, grinding, and extraction steps are destructive to the microalgal biomass that then needs to be renewed. The extraction and purification processes generate organic wastes and require substantial energy inputs. Altogether, it is urgent to develop alternative downstream processes. Among the possibilities, milking invokes the concept that the extraction should not kill the algal cells. Therefore, it does not require growing the algae anew. In this review, we discuss research on milking of diatoms. The main themes are (a) development of alternative methods to extract and harvest high added value compounds; (b) design of photobioreactors; (c) biodiversity and (d) stress physiology, illustrated with original results dealing with oleaginous diatoms

Wild Plant Genetic Resources in North America: An Overview

North America, including Canada, Mexico, and the United States, is rich in plant species used by humans in both ancient and modern times. A select number of these have become globally important domesticated crops, including maize, beans, cotton, and sunflower. Many other native and also naturalized species have potential for use, either directly or as genetic resources for breeding agricultural crops. However, despite increasing recognition of their potential value, deficiencies in information, conservation, and access to the diversity in these plants hinder their further use. This chapter provides an overview of the agriculturally relevant wild plant resources of North America, with focus on wild relatives of globally important major crops, as well as the wild cousins of regionally and locally important domesticates. The chapter concludes by providing an overview of strategies for conserving wild plant genetic resources, including the international regulatory frameworks affecting policies to various degrees in Canada, Mexico, and the United States

Pharmacology of MDMA- and Amphetamine-Like New Psychoactive Substances

New psychoactive substances (NPS) with amphetamine-, aminoindan-, and benzofuran basic chemical structures have recently emerged for recreational drug use. Detailed information about their psychotropic effects and health risks is often limited. At the same time, it emerged that the pharmacological profiles of these NPS resemble those of amphetamine or 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Amphetamine-like NPS induce psychostimulation and euphoria mediated predominantly by norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) transporter (NET and DAT) inhibition and transporter-mediated release of NE and DA, thus showing a more catecholamine-selective profile. MDMA-like NPS frequently induce well-being, empathy, and prosocial effects and have only moderate psychostimulant properties. These MDMA-like substances primarily act by inhibiting the serotonin (5-HT) transporter (SERT) and NET, also inducing 5-HT and NE release. Monoamine receptor interactions vary considerably among amphetamine- and MDMA-like NPS. Clinically, amphetamine- and MDMA-like NPS can induce sympathomimetic toxicity. The aim of this chapter is to review the state of knowledge regarding these substances with a focus on the description of the in vitro pharmacology of selected amphetamine- and MDMA-like NPS. In addition, it is aimed to provide links between pharmacological profiles and in vivo effects and toxicity, which leads to the conclusion that abuse liability for amphetamine-like NPS may be higher than for MDMA-like NPS, but that the risk for developing the life-threatening serotonin syndrome may be increased for MDMA-like NPS

The Janus Face of Lipids in Human Breast Cancer: How Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Affect Tumor Cell Hallmarks

International audienceFor several years, lipids and especially n − 3 and n − 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) receive much attention in human health. Epidemiological studies tend to correlate a PUFA-rich diet with a reduced incidence of cancer, including breast cancer. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms supporting the effect of PUFAs in breast cancer cells remain relatively unknown. Here, we review some recent progress in understanding the impact that PUFA may have on breast cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration, and invasion. While most of the results obtained with docosahexaenoic acid and/or eicosapentaenoic acid show a decrease of tumor cell proliferation and/or aggressivity, there is some evidence that other lipids, which accumulate in breast cancer tissues, such as arachidonic acid may have opposite effects. Finally, lipids and especially PUFAs appear as potential adjuvants to conventional cancer therapy

Docosahexaenoic acid inhibits the invasion of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells through upregulation of cytokeratin-1

International audienceDocosahexaenoic acid (DHA), the main member of the omega-3 essential fatty acid family, has been shown to reduce the invasion of the triple‑negative breast cancer cell line MDA‑MB‑231, but the mechanism involved remains unclear. In the present study, a proteomic approach was used to define changes in protein expression induced by DHA. Proteins from crude membrane preparations of MDA‑MB‑231 cells treated with 100 µM DHA were separated by two‑dimensional electrophoresis (2‑DE) and differentially expressed proteins were identified using MALDI‑TOF mass spectrometry. The main changes observed were the upregulation of Keratin, type Ⅱ cytoskeletal 1 (KRT1), catalase and lamin‑A/C. Immunocytochemistry analyses confirmed the increase in KRT1 induced by DHA. Furthermore, in vitro invasion assays showed that siRNA against KRT1 was able to reverse the DHA‑induced inhibition of breast cancer cell invasion. In conclusion, KRT1 is involved in the anti‑invasive activity of DHA in breast cancer cells

Transcriptomic Response of Breast Cancer Cells MDA-MB-231 to Docosahexaenoic Acid: Downregulation of Lipid and Cholesterol Metabolism Genes and Upregulation of Genes of the Pro-Apoptotic ER-Stress Pathway

International audienceDespite considerable e↵orts in prevention and therapy, breast cancer remains a major public health concern worldwide. Numerous studies using breast cancer cell lines have shown the antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic e↵ects of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Some studies have also demonstrated the inhibitory e↵ect of DHA on the migration and invasion of breast cancer cells, making DHA a potential anti-metastatic agent. Thus, DHA has shown its potential as a chemotherapeutic adjuvant. However, the molecular mechanisms triggering DHA e↵ects remain unclear, and the aim of this study was to provide a transcriptomic basis for further cellular and molecular investigations. Therefore, MDA-MB-231 cells were treated with 100 µM DHA for 12 h or 24 h before RNA-seq analysis. The results show the great impact of DHA-treatment on the transcriptome, especially after 24 h of treatment. The impact of DHA is particularly visible in genes involved in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway that is strongly downregulated, and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress response that is, conversely, upregulated. This ER-stress and unfolded protein response could explain the pro-apoptotic e↵ect of DHA. The expression of genes related to migration and invasion (especially SERPINE1, PLAT, and MMP11) is also impacted by DHA. In conclusion, this transcriptomic analysis supports the antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic and anti-invasive e↵ects of DHA, and provides new avenues for understanding its molecular mechanisms

Contribution of n-3 Long-Chain Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids to the Prevention of Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Nowadays, diet and breast cancer are studied at different levels, particularly in tumor prevention and progression. Thus, the molecular mechanisms leading to better knowledge are deciphered with a higher precision. Among the molecules implicated in a preventive and anti-progressive way, n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 LC-PUFAs) are good candidates. These molecules, like docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids, are generally found in marine material, such as fat fishes or microalgae. EPA and DHA act as anti-proliferative, anti-invasive, and anti-angiogenic molecules in breast cancer cell lines, as well as in in vivo studies. A better characterization of the cellular and molecular pathways involving the action of these fatty acids is essential to have a realistic image of the therapeutic avenues envisaged behind their use. This need is reinforced by the increase in the number of clinical trials involving more and more n-3 LC-PUFAs, and this, in various pathologies ranging from obesity to a multitude of cancers. The objective of this review is, therefore, to highlight the new elements showing the preventive and beneficial effects of n-3 LC-PUFAs against the development and progression of breast cancer

L'analyse prosodique: outil d'objectivation de l'efficacité thérapeutique dans le cadre de la féminisation vocale?

Objectifs Bien que l’intonation constitue une variable pertinente pour la perception de la féminité vocale (Hancock et al., 2014 ; Hillenbrand et al., 2009) force est d’admettre que cette composante prosodique est peu voire non abordée de manière objective lors de l’évaluation de l’efficacité thérapeutique. En effet, qu’il s’agisse du bilan vocal initial, d’évolution ou de fin de prise en charge, l’évaluation de la prosodie constitue un parent pauvre dont l’abord perceptif s’avère subjectif et non étayé. Notre objectif est, par conséquent, de recourir à un outil d’analyse automatique de la prosodie, sur base d’un modèle perceptif, et de juger de la pertinence du profil prosodique ainsi obtenu pour objectiver l’efficacité thérapeutique d’une prise en charge en féminisation vocale. Matériel et méthode Notre étude de cas porte sur une femme transgenre dont la prosodie est régulièrement évaluée au fil de sa prise en charge pour féminisation vocale. Pour ce faire, nous recourons à des tâches de lecture, langage semi-spontané et spontané et les analysons à l’aide de Praat (Boersma et Weenink, 2018) et Prosogram (Mertens, 2004) afin d’élaborer les profils prosodiques correspondants. Nous procédons ensuite à la comparaison des profils obtenus au fil de la rééducation ainsi que pré et post prise en charge. Résultats et discussion L’étude étant en cours, nous gageons que les données stylisées montreront des différences significatives entre le début, le décours et la fin de la prise en charge, à savoir : réduction du pourcentage de syllabes statiques, majoration de la trajectoire totale des variations intra- et inter-syllabiques, réduction de la proportion de phonation et allongement de la durée des noyaux vocaliques. Notre discussion portera sur la plus-value qu’apportent ces variables dans le cadre du bilan vocal (Dejonckere et al., 2001 ; Morsomme et Estienne, 2006). Conclusion L’intérêt de notre démarche est d’adjoindre simultanément au bilan vocal une dimension perceptive et une analyse objective de la prosodie. Le profil prosodique ainsi obtenu pourrait à terme contribuer à l’évaluation de l’efficacité thérapeutique de même qu’à la structuration de la prise en charge des personnes en réassignation de genre. L’analyse relevant d’une procédure automatique, cette démarche serait de surcroît aisément implémentable en clinique journalière. Cependant, dans la mesure où nous nous attendons à d’importantes variations inter-individuelles, nos résultats se devront d’être éprouvés auprès d’une plus vaste population. Références bibliographiques BOERSMA, P., & WEENINK, D. Praat : Doing phonetics by computer, version 6.0.43 [Computer program]. En ligne : http://www.praat.org ; 2018. DEJONCKERE, PH., BRADLEY, P., CLEMENTE P, CORNUT, G., CREVIER-BUCHMAN, L., FRIEDRICH, G., VAN DE HEYNING, P., REMACLE, M., & WOISARD, V. A basic protocol for functional assessment of voice pathology, especially for investigating the efficacy of (phonosurgical) treatments and evaluating new assessment techniques. Guideline elaborated by the Committee on Phoniatrics of the European Laryngological Society (ELS). European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology, 258, 2001, 77-82. HANCOCK, A., COLTON, L., & DOUGLAS, F., Intonation and gender perception : Applications for transgender speakers. Journal of Voice, Vol. 28, 2014, 203-209. HILLENBRAND, J.M., & CLARK, M.J., The role of F0 and formant frequencies in distinguishing the voices of men and women. Attention, Perception & Psychophysics, Vol. 71, 2009, 1150-1166. MERTENS, P. Un outil pour la transcription de la prosodie dans les corpus oraux. Traitement automatique des langues, Vol. 45/2, 2004, 109-130. MORSOMME, D., & ESTIENNE, F., Le bilan de voix. In F., Estienne, Les bilans de langage et de voix, Masson, 2006

The relevance of the prosodic profile in voice assessment : methodological aspects

Objectifs : Bien que l’évaluation de la prosodie soit abordée dans le cadre du bilan vocal, force est d’admettre qu’il s’agit d’une évaluation globale, basée sur la perception subjective du clinicien, en l’absence de tout étayage. Notre objectif est par conséquent d’aborder la prosodie de manière objective et de comparer les profils prosodiques obtenus à partir de différentes productions de parole continue (comptage, lecture, langage semi-spontané). Ceci afin de déterminer quelles tâches s’avèrent les plus pertinentes. A terme, ces dernières pourraient être intégrées à l’analyse du comportement vocal. Matériel et méthode : La méthodologie est abordée via l’étude d’un jeune adulte normophonique, non professionnel de la voix. Nous recourons à Praat et Prosogram afin d’élaborer le profil prosodique. Résultats et discussion : Nous constatons d’emblée que le profil prosodique est influencé par la nature des tâches produites en termes de variabilité mélodique. Ainsi, la tâche de comptage induit uniquement des glissandi descendants alors que les autres tâches génèrent des glissandi diversifiés (ascendants et descendants). Quant à la trajectoire totale intra- et inter-syllabique, elle s’avère supérieure pour la lecture d’un dialogue (17.1 demi-tons / seconde), le récit semi-spontané (13.6) et la lecture de phrases (12.5) comparativement à la tâche de comptage (5.8). Conclusion : L’intérêt de notre démarche est d’accroître l’écologie du bilan vocal tout en lui adjoignant une analyse perceptive de la prosodie. A terme, le profil prosodique pourrait également contribuer à l’évaluation de l’efficacité thérapeutique et s’avérer particulièrement pertinents lors de l’évaluation et de la prise en charge des patients en réassignation de genre