Mechanisms of cell entry by human papillomaviruses: an overview

As the primary etiological agents of cervical cancer, human papillomaviruses (HPVs) must deliver their genetic material into the nucleus of the target cell. The viral capsid has evolved to fulfil various roles that are critical to establish viral infection. The particle interacts with the cell surface via interaction of the major capsid protein, L1, with heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Moreover, accumulating evidence suggests the involvement of a secondary receptor and a possible role for the minor capsid protein, L2, in cell surface interactions

Análisis de la repelencia al agua en una pequeña cuenca hidrográfica afectada por fuego controlado en el área montañosa central de Portugal

In this work it is described and analyzed the water repellency observed in a small catchment subject to prescribed burning and located in mountainous central part of Portugal. As well, a discussion about the methodologies usually used to measure the soil hydrophobocity, the replicability between field and laboratory data is established. The results show the little influence in soil physical parameters and organic matter content of prescribed burning and indicate a close relationship between spatial distribution of Erica sp. and water repellency. The replicability between soil hydrophobocity data from the field and laboratory is limited; nevertheless, a high level of correspondence exists between Molarity of an Ethanol Droplet and Water Drop Penetration Time data in the laboratory.[es] - En el presente trabajo se describe y analiza la repelencia al agua detectada en una pequeña cuenca hidrográfica afectada por fuego controlado en el área montañosa central de Portugal. También se establece una discusión acerca de los métodos utilizados para medir la hidrofobia y el grado de correspondencia entre los resultados obtenidos en el campo y en el laboratorio. Los resultados muestran la escasa influencia del fuego controlado sobre los parámetros físicos y contenido de materia orgánica del suelo, indicando, sin embargo, una estrecha relación entre la distribución espacial de Erica sp. y suelos más hidrófobos. El grado de replicación entre la hidrofobia medida en el campo y en el laboratorio es discreto; no obstante, en el laboratorio sí se ha encontrado un buen nivel de correspondencia entre las dos técnicas utilizadas (Molarity of an Ethanol Droplet y Water Drop Penetration Time). [fr] Dans cet article est décrit puis analysé le phénomène de répulsion à l'eau qui a été observé dans un petit bassin hydrographique soumis au feu contrôlé dans la zone montagneuse centrale du Portugal. Une discussion est également menée autour des méthodes utilisées pour mesurer Thydrophobie et sur le degré de correspondance entre les résultats obtenus sur le terrain et en laboratoire. L'étude montre la faible influence du feu contrôlé sur les paramètres physiques et le taux de matière organique du sol, mais indique cependant une étroite relation entre la distribution spatiale de Erica sp. et des sols plus hydrophobes. Si le niveau de réplicabilité entre l'hydrophobie mesurée sur le terrain et en laboratoire est limité, il a cependant été mis en évidence une étroite correspondance entre les deux-techniques utilisées en laboratoire (Molarity of an Ethanol Droplet et Water Drop Penetration Time)

Evaluation of asthma control by physicians and patients: Comparison with current guidelines

BACKGROUND: Current asthma consensus guidelines recommend a series of criteria for determining whether asthma is controlled. It is not known whether physicians are using these criteria to assess treatment needs and how effective such assessments are compared with patient assessment of asthma control. OBJECTIVE: To compare the parameters used by physicians and patients with asthma to determine whether asthma control is acceptable, according to the current Canadian asthma consensus guidelines. DATA AND METHODS: A total of 183 Canadian physicians, mostly general practitioners, evaluated 856 patients with mildly to moderately uncontrolled asthma who were not using anti-inflammatory medications at the time of entry in the study. Physician characteristics and patient demographics were obtained. The physicians completed two questionnaires, one assessing the level of asthma control of the patient on an ordinal scale from 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good) and another indicating the parameters that were used to evaluate this level of control. Patients answered an asthma control questionnaire identical to the one completed by the physician and completed a six-question asthma control questionnaire, with each question scored on a 0-to 6-point scale. RESULTS: Although according to current asthma guidelines all patients surveyed had uncontrolled asthma, 66.2% of patients and 43.3% of physicians rated control of asthma symptoms as adequate to very good. The average scores for patient-and physician-rated asthma control were 3.0±0.2 and 2.6±0.2, respectively. The average patient score on the Juniper asthma questionnaire was 12.2±6.3. Physicians used a mean of seven parameters to assess the patient's level of asthma control, mostly beta 2 -agonist need, followed by cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, limitation of physical activities and night-time awakenings. Pediatricians used cough more frequently as an evaluation parameter, and respirologists measured pulmonary function more often than other physcians. Some parameters not usually included in guideline criteria for control, such as fatigue, need to clear throat, colored sputum, headache and dizziness, were sometimes used by physicians. Only 10% and 18% of physicians used measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 s and peak expiratory flow, respectively, in asthma control assessments. CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that the selection of asthma control criteria among physicians varies and is not always in keeping with current asthma guidelines. Both patients and physicians often consider asthma to be controlled, when according to current guidelines, it is not, and patients consider their asthma better controlled than do physicians. Objective measures of airflow obstruction are rarely used to assess asthma control. The present study stresses the need for improved disseminationto both patients and physicians -of current recommendations on how asthma control should be determined. Key Words: Asthma control; Asthma treatment; Physicians' assessment Résumé à la page suivante Évaluation de la maîtrise de l'asthme par les médecins et les patients : Comparaison avec les directives actuelles HISTORIQUE : Les directives consensuelles actuelles sur l'asthme pré-conisent l'application d'une série de critères pour déterminer si l'asthme est maîtrisé. On ignore si les médecins utilisent ces critères pour évaluer les besoins thérapeutiques et on ignore quelle est l'efficacité de ces évalu-ations comparativement à l'évaluation que les patients peuvent faire de la maîtrise de leur asthme. OBJECTIF : Comparer les paramètres utilisés par les médecins et les patients asthmatiques pour déterminer si la maîtrise de l'asthme est acceptable selon les directives consensuelles canadiennes sur l'asthme. DONNÉES ET MÉTHODES : En tout, 183 médecins canadiens, la plupart généralistes, ont évalué 856 patients présentant un asthme légèrement à modérément non contrôlé qui n'utilisaient pas d'anti-inflammatoires au moment de leur admission à l'étude. Les caractéristiques des médecins et les données démographiques des patients ont été obtenues. Les médecins ont répondu à deux questionnaires, l'un évalu-ant le degré de maîtrise de l'asthme du patient sur une échelle de 1 (très faible) à 5 (très bonne) et un autre indiquant les paramètres utilisés pour évaluer ce degré de maîtrise. Les patients ont répondu à un questionnaire sur la maîtrise de leur asthme identique à celui qui a été soumis aux médecins et ils ont répondu à un questionnaire de six questions sur la maîtrise de l'asthme, chaque réponse étant reportée sur l'échelle en six points. RÉSULTATS : Bien que selon les directives actuelles en matière d'asthme tous les patients interrogés présentaient un asthme non maîtrisé, 66,2 % des patients et 43,3 % des médecins ont déclaré que les symptômes d'asthme étaient soit adéquatement soit très bien contrôlés. Les scores moyens quant à la maîtrise de l'asthme selon l'évaluation des patients et des médecins ont été de 3,0 ± 0,2 et de 2,6 ± 0,2, respectivement. Le score moyen des patients au questionnaire Juniper sur l'asthme a été de 12,2 ± 6,3. Les médecins ont utilisé en moyenne sept paramètres pour évaluer le degré de maîtrise de l'asthme de leurs patients, principalement le recours aux bêta 2 -agonistes suivi de la toux, des sillements, de l'essoufflement, de la restriction des activités physiques et des réveils nocturnes. Les pédiatres ont utilisé la toux plus souvent comme paramètre d'évaluation et les pneumologues ont mesuré la fonction pulmonaire plus souvent que les autres médecins. Certains paramètres généralement exclus des critères de maîtrise préconisés par les directives, comme la fatigue, les raclements de gorge, les expectorations colorées, la céphalée et les étourdissements, ont parfois été utilisés par les médecins. Seulement 10 % et 18 % des médecins ont utilisé des mesures de VEMS et débit expiratoire de pointe, respectivement, dans leurs évaluations de la maîtrise de l'asthme. CONCLUSION : La présente étude montre que les médecins adoptent différents critères pour mesurer la maîtrise de l'asthme et que ces critères ne concordent pas toujours avec les directives actuelles. Les patients et les médecins considèrent souvent que l'asthme est maîtrisé alors que selon les directives actuelles, il ne l'est pas et les patients considèrent leur asthme mieux maîtrisé que leur médecin. Les mesures objectives d'obstruction bronchique sont rarement utilisées pour évaluer la maîtrise de l'asthme. La présente étude rappelle la nécessité de mieux faire connaître aux médecins et aux patients les recommandations actuelles sur la façon dont on doit mesurer le degré de maîtrise de l'asthme. I t is recommended that asthma treatment be based on the patient's degree of asthma control, and the current asthma consensus guidelines recommend a series of criteria to be used to determine whether asthma is adequately controlled (1,2). These criteria usually include the minimal use of short-acting beta 2 -agonists, minimal or no respiratory symptoms, and the ability to conduct normal daily activities, in addition to optimal pulmonary function. Physicians do not always know practice guidelines, and the guidelines' recommendations are only partially followed (3,4). Although the asthma guidelines only guide practice, some general principles about how to assess asthma control and the need for objective measures of airflow obstruction are important recommendations. However, in their daily practices, physicians use mostly subjective measures to assess asthma control. We do not know, however, whether the criteria suggested by the current guidelines are used regularly in practice and whether a given physician's assessment of asthma control is consistent with that of the patient with asthma. The present study looked at adult and pediatric patients diagnosed with mild to moderate asthma. Its objectives were: to identify the parameters used by physicians in determining asthma control; to compare patient's perception of asthma control with the findings of a validated asthma control questionnaire; to compare physician's and patient's perceptions of asthma control; and to compare those results with recommendations of the 1999 Canadian Asthma Consensus Report on asthma control assessment (1). DATA AND METHODS Patient recruitment and study design The present analysis used baseline data from a noncontrolled, observational, open-label study on changes in asthma control following the introduction of montelukast sodium in patients with uncontrolled asthma who were not using anti-inflammatory medications. Two hundred thirtytwo physicians were asked to recruit prospectively five patients, six years of age and older, with a diagnosis of mild to moderate asthma. Physicians were recruited consecutively from a list of potential investigators. Patients could be enrolled in the program if they were currently using a beta 2 -agonist on demand more than three and less than 15 times a week (eight to 28 inhalations); if they required inhaled corticosteroid therapy but could not or would not use this type of therapy (1); and if, in the treating physician's clinical judgment, they would benefit from leukotriene antagonist therapy. The severity of asthma could be considered mild to moderate according to current criteria (1). After obtaining informed consent, the treating physician and the patient independently completed their asthma questionnaires. Questionnaires The information collected on the questionnaire given to physicians consisted of physician identification and specialty, along with the baseline demographics of the patient: age, sex, race, number of years since the first diagnosis of asthma and status of prior asthma therapy. The physician assessed the patient's level of asthma control on an ordinal scale from 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good). Treating physicians were also asked to indicate, from a list of 20 parameters, the ones that they used to assess each patient's level of asthma control. The choices consisted of 18 asthma-related symptoms and two pulmonary function tests, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) and peak expiratory flow (PEF). The information collected at baseline from the patient came from a six-question asthma control questionnaire developed by Juniper et al (5), where each question was scored on a 0 to 6 scale (better to worse). Using a validated questionnaire provided another means of assessing asthma control. Patients also assessed asthma control on an ordinal scale from 1 (very poor) to 5 (very good). The patients were asked: "How would you rate the control of your asthma symptoms (on a five point scale from very good to very poor)?". For children, parents were asked to answer the questionnaires and assess control. Data collected for each patient were faxed, after each visit, to Symbios RP Inc (Montreal, Quebec) that was responsible for data collection. Data analysis Descriptive statistics were calculated on all data collected during the program. This included verifying data for consistency with expected ranges of all variables, and descriptive statistics (such as means, medians, ranges, standard deviations and percentages) obtained with regard to the identification of the asthma control parameters used by physicians, the number of times that each physician answered yes to each symptom and the rankings of the 20 symptoms (from most commonly used to least commonly used), according to the physician specialty (pediatrician, general practitioner, and community allergist/respirologist). Data were also analyzed by level of asthma control, as assessed by the physician (five categories); level of asthma control, as assessed by the patient (five categories); total asthma symptom score by the patient; and patient age group by either adult (age 15 or older) or child (age 14 or under). The 95% CIs were calculated wherever warranted. For comparison of the patient's perception of asthma control in relation to the Juniper asthma control questionnaire, the overall score for each patient was calculated as the sum of the scores for each question. Because each question was scored from 0 to 6, the maximum possible score was 36 and the minimum was 0. The mean ± SD and percentage of patients with each possible score value were calculated, along with a Spearman's correlation coefficient of this score with the patient's overall control rating (scored from 1 to 5). A similar correlation coefficient was calculated for the physician's overall rating of the patient's control. For comparison of the physician's and patient's perceptions of asthma control, the proportion of the patients reporting each category of control (from 1 [very good] to 5 [very poor]) was compared with the same measurement from the physicians. A paired difference (patient-physician) of the control category was created, where the categories were numbered 1 through 5, and the average difference and average absolute difference were reported with 95% CIs (the average of the patient-physician scores). The average absolute difference was the absolute difference between the scores of the two groups, irrespective of the direction of the change. Tests for patient-physician differences were carried out. A five by five cross-tabulated table was created displaying all possible results for patients and physicians, where the diagonal elements represent agreement and the off-diagonal elements represent disagreement between the patients and physicians. Overall analyses were performed, combining data from all patients, and separate analyses for pediatric and adult cases were performed. RESULTS Physician and patient baseline enrolment data A total of 183 physicians of 232 initially recruited (78.9%) evaluated 856 patients between April and December 1999. Patient status data are shown in The sample of 183 recruiting physicians consisted of 73.8% general practitioners, 14.2% allergists and respirologists, and 12.0% pediatricians; the three groups enrolled 74.6%, 11.7% and 13.7%, respectively, of the patients in the study. As expected, the great majority of patients recruited by pediatricians were children (94.5%), whereas general practitioners, and allergists and respirologists had a 4:1 adult to child age distribution recruitment ratio. General practitioners recruited 85.8% of all adults and 47% of all children; allergists and respirologists, 13.2% and 8%, respectively; and pediatricians, 1% and 45%, respectively. Identification of the asthma control parameters used by physicians Recruiting physicians reported using approximately seven parameters to assess their patients' level of asthma control throughout the study. Compared with other physician specialties, pediatricians used cough more frequently as an asthma evaluation parameter, while community allergists and respirologists used cough less frequently than primary care physicians. Overall, objective measures of airflow obstruction were rarely used to assess asthma control, with FEV 1 being obtained at the office for only 10% of patients and PEF for only 18%. Community allergists and respirologists used FEV 1 and PEF significantly more often than primary care practitioners (in 61% and 48% of patients, respectively). Comparison of the patient's perception of asthma control in relation to an asthma-control questionnaire The control of asthma symptoms was rated as very poor or poor by 33.8% of patients and 56.7% of physicians; as adequate by 38.2% of patients and 28.6% of physicians; and as good by 21% of patients and 12.2% of physician

Etude de faisabilité d'un projet d'appui aux unités de conservation de la faune au Burkina Faso. Document final et proposition de projet

Dans le cadre de la réforme de la gestion des ressources naturelles, le Burkina Faso innove avec le concept d'Unité de Conservation de la Faune. Les zones de chasse et les parcs nationaux amodiés au secteur privé doivent contribuer au développement local, subvenir en partie à leurs propres besoins de gestion pour soulager les finances publiques et conserver durablement la biodiversité en la valorisant par différents modes de tourisme : vision, grande chasse, petite chasse. Cette approche devrait être appuyée par un projet de la coopération bilatérale France/Burkina Faso au travers de l'Agence Française de Développement et au Fonds Français pour l'Environnement Mondial. Le présent document étudie la faisabilité de ce projet. Il fait suite à mon premier document dans lequel était présentée une étude détaillée du contrat. (Résumé d'auteur

A longitudinal study of the characteristics and performances of medical students and graduates from the Arab countries

BACKGROUND: While international physician migration has been studied extensively, more focused and regional explorations are not commonplace. In many Arab countries, medical education is conducted in English and students/graduates seek postgraduate opportunities in other countries such as the United States (US). Eligibility for residency training in the US requires certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). This study investigates ECFMG application trends, examination performance, and US physician practice data to quantify the abilities and examine the career pathways of Arab-trained physicians. METHODS: Medical students and graduates from 15 Arab countries where English is the language of medical school instruction were studied. The performances (1(st) attempt pass rates) of individuals on the United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 1, Step 2CK (clinical knowledge), and and a combination of Step 2CS (clinical skills) and ECFMG CSA (clinical skills assessment) were tallied and contrasted by country. Based on physician practice data, the contribution of Arab-trained physicians to the US healthcare workforce was explored. Descriptive statistics (means, frequencies) were used to summarize the collected data. RESULTS: Between 1998 and 2012, there has been an increase in the number of Arab trained students/graduates seeking ECFMG certification. Examination performance varied considerably across countries, suggesting differences in the quality of medical education programs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Based on current US practice data, physicians from some Arab countries who seek postgraduate opportunities in the US are less likely to stay in the US following specialty training. CONCLUSION: Countries, or regions, with concerns about physician migration, physican performance, or the pedagogical quality of their training programs should conduct longitudinal research studies to help inform medical education policies

Référentiel de connaissances pour un numérique éco-responsable

L’objectif de ce document est de définir un référentiel/socle de connaissances commun pour les enseignements sur le numérique responsable (impacts du numérique et comment les limiter1), à destination de formations en informatique ou d’autres filières incluant des cours d’informatique.Nous cherchons à répondre à la question suivante :Quelles connaissances devrait apporter une formation en informatique à des étudiantes et étudiants pour leur permettre d’apporter des réponses aux enjeux environnementaux et sociétaux dans leur vie professionnelle et citoyenne ?Ce document est donc focalisé sur les impacts du numérique, mais certains aspects plus généraux(enjeux environnementaux, contexte économique...) sont néanmoins abordés car nécessaires à la compréhension des aspects informatiques.Ce référentiel vise à fournir des notions et références utiles, mais n’a pas vocation à remplacer un cours

Plant-Derived Polysaccharide Supplements Inhibit Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis in the Rat

Several plant-derived polysaccharides have been shown to have anti-inflammatory activity in animal models. Ambrotose complex and Advanced Ambrotose are dietary supplements that include aloe vera gel, arabinogalactan, fucoidan, and rice starch, all of which have shown such activity. This study was designed to evaluate these formulations against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in rats and to confirm their short-term safety after 14 days of daily dosing. Rats were dosed daily orally with vehicle, Ambrotose or Advanced Ambrotose. On day six groups of rats received tap water or 5% Dextran Sulfate sodium. Ambrotose and Advanced Ambrotose significantly lowered the disease scores and partially prevented the shortening of colon length. An increase in monocyte count was induced by dextran sulfate sodium and inhibited by Ambrotose and Advanced Ambrotose. There were no observable adverse effects after 14-day daily doses. The mechanism of action of the formulations against DSS-induced colitis may be related to its effect on monocyte count

Migratory Pathways and Connectivity in Asian Houbara Bustards: Evidence from 15 Years of Satellite Tracking

Information on migratory pathways and connectivity is essential to understanding population dynamics and structure of migrant species. Our manuscript uses a unique dataset, the fruit of 103 individual Asian houbara bustards captured on their breeding grounds in Central Asia over 15 years and equipped with satellite transmitters, to provide a better understanding of migratory pathways and connectivity; such information is critical to the implementation of biologically sound conservation measures in migrant species. At the scale of the distribution range we find substantial migratory connectivity, with a clear separation of migration pathways and wintering areas between western and eastern migrants. Within eastern migrants, we also describe a pattern of segregation on the wintering grounds. But at the local level connectivity is weak: birds breeding within the limits of our study areas were often found several hundreds of kilometres apart during winter. Although houbara wintering in Arabia are known to originate from Central Asia, out of all the birds captured and tracked here not one wintered on the Arabian Peninsula. This is very likely the result of decades of unregulated off-take and severe habitat degradation in this area. At a time when conservation measures are being implemented to safeguard the long-term future of this species, this study provides critical data on the spatial structuring of populations

An activating mutation in the CSF3R gene induces a hereditary chronic neutrophilia

We identify an autosomal mutation in the CSF3R gene in a family with a chronic neutrophilia. This T617N mutation energetically favors dimerization of the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) receptor transmembrane domain, and thus, strongly promotes constitutive activation of the receptor and hypersensitivity to G-CSF for proliferation and differentiation, which ultimately leads to chronic neutrophilia. Mutant hematopoietic stem cells yield a myeloproliferative-like disorder in xenotransplantation and syngenic mouse bone marrow engraftment assays. The survey of 12 affected individuals during three generations indicates that only one patient had a myelodysplastic syndrome. Our data thus indicate that mutations in the CSF3R gene can be responsible for hereditary neutrophilia mimicking a myeloproliferative disorder