Direct frequency-comb spectroscopy of a dipole-forbidden clock transition in trapped 40Ca+ ions

We demonstrate direct frequency-comb (FC) spectroscopy of the dipole-forbidden 4

EuReCa ONE—27 Nations, ONE Europe, ONE Registry A prospective one month analysis of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest outcomes in 27 countries in Europe

AbstractIntroductionThe aim of the EuReCa ONE study was to determine the incidence, process, and outcome for out of hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) throughout Europe.MethodsThis was an international, prospective, multi-centre one-month study. Patients who suffered an OHCA during October 2014 who were attended and/or treated by an Emergency Medical Service (EMS) were eligible for inclusion in the study. Data were extracted from national, regional or local registries.ResultsData on 10,682 confirmed OHCAs from 248 regions in 27 countries, covering an estimated population of 174 million. In 7146 (66%) cases, CPR was started by a bystander or by the EMS. The incidence of CPR attempts ranged from 19.0 to 104.0 per 100,000 population per year. 1735 had ROSC on arrival at hospital (25.2%), Overall, 662/6414 (10.3%) in all cases with CPR attempted survived for at least 30 days or to hospital discharge.ConclusionThe results of EuReCa ONE highlight that OHCA is still a major public health problem accounting for a substantial number of deaths in Europe.EuReCa ONE very clearly demonstrates marked differences in the processes for data collection and reported outcomes following OHCA all over Europe. Using these data and analyses, different countries, regions, systems, and concepts can benchmark themselves and may learn from each other to further improve survival following one of our major health care events

Geodetic evidence for shallow creep along the Quito fault, Ecuador

International audienceQuito, the capital city of Ecuador hosting ∼2 million inhabitants, lies on the hanging wall of a ∼60-km-long reverse fault offsetting the Inter-Andean Valley in the northern Andes. Such an active fault poses a significant risk, enhanced by the high density of population and overall poor building construction quality. Here, we constrain the present-day strain accumulation associated with the Quito fault with new Global Positioning System (GPS) data and Persistent Scatterer Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (PS-InSAR) analysis. Far field GPS data indicate 3–5 mm yr–1 of horizontal shortening accommodated across the fault system. In the central segment of the fault, both GPS and PS-InSAR results highlight a sharp velocity gradient, which attests for creep taking place along the shallowest portion of the fault. Smoother velocity gradients observed along the other segments indicate that the amount of shallow creep decreases north and south of the central segment. 2-D elastic models using GPS horizontal velocity indicate very shallow (<1 km) locking depth for the central segment, increasing to a few kilometres south and north of it. Including InSAR results in the inversion requires locking to vary both along dip and along strike. 3-D spatially variable locking models show that shallow creep occurs along the central 20-km-long segment. North and south of the central segment, the interseismic coupling is less resolved, and data still allows significant slip deficit to accumulate. Using the interseismic moment deficit buildup resulting from our inversions and the seismicity rate, we estimate recurrence time for magnitude 6.5 + earthquake to be between 200 and 1200 yr. Finally, PS-InSAR time-series identify a 2 cm transient deformation that occurred on a secondary thrust, east of the main Quito fault between 1995 and 1997

PreservCyt Transport Medium Used for the ThinPrep Pap Test Is a Suitable Medium for Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis by the COBAS Amplicor CT/NG Test: Results of a Preliminary Study and Future Implications

The commercial COBAS Amplicor CT/NG test (Roche Diagnostic Systems, Meylan, France) is a sensitive and specific method for detection of Chlamydia trachomatis infections. This test currently consists of using a nucleic acid amplification method to detect C. trachomatis in first-void urine specimens and in endocervical swabs collected in 2-sucrose-phosphate (2SP) transport medium. We conducted a prospective study to determine whether the automated COBAS Amplicor CT/NG test can detect C. trachomatis in cervical specimens collected in PreservCyt transport medium (ThinPrep Pap Test; Cytyc Corporation, Boxborough, Mass.). PreservCyt medium is used to preserve cervical samples before the preparation of ThinPrep slides. We collected 1,000 cervical specimens from young women (age range, 15 to 25 years) during routine Pap smear tests. Only specimens with normal cytology and in which the gynecologist found no clinical evidence of urogenital infections were selected. The samples were stored in PreservCyt transport medium at 15 to 20°C. C. trachomatis was detected in 22 of the 1,000 cervical specimens that had been stored in PreservCyt. To confirm the positive samples, the test was repeated on new endocervical swab specimens collected in 2SP transport medium. Only 9 of the 22 positive patients agreed to undergo this control, but all 9 retested positive. To evaluate the influence of storage conditions on the sensitivity of the C. trachomatis PCR test, all of the positive samples were stored at 15 to 20°C in PreservCyt transport medium and were retested every 2 weeks for 6 weeks. C. trachomatis was successfully amplified from all 22 specimens for the whole 6-week period. The prevalence of C. trachomatis infection was 2.2% in our study population. These results demonstrate that PreservCyt transport medium is a suitable transport medium for detection of C. trachomatis by the COBAS Amplicor CT/NG test. The ThinPrep Pap Test may enable gynecologists to monitor for both cervical lesions and C. trachomatis infections with a single endocervical specimen

Calendar trends in sexual behaviours in a cohort of HIV-infected MSM at the era of treatment as prevention of HIV infection

International audienc

Predictive value of liver enzymes and inflammatory biomarkers for the severity of liver fibrosis stage in HIV/HCV co-infected patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to assess a possible association between plasma inflammatory biomarkers (CRP, IL-6, soluble CD14) and the extent of fibrosis or cirrhosis using a FibroScan® in HIV/HCV co-infected patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study assessed 60 HIV/HCV co-infected patients who had paired plasma samples and FibroScan® values available. All included patients were controlled for HIV infection (HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL) and had detectable HCV RNA levels. Levels of three biomarkers were measured in all samples using commercial ELISA kits. Multivariate logistic regression models identified factors associated with the METAVIR stages of fibrosis (F0-F2 vs. F3-F4). RESULTS: In univariate logistic regression analyses, in addition to sCD14 (odds ratio [OR] = 3.23, 95% confidence interval [95%CI] = 1.30-7.97, P = 0.01), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase, platelet counts, and CD4 cell counts were associated with the stage of liver fibrosis and, thus, were introduced into the model. However, only AST (OR = 1.06, 95%CI = 1.02-1.10, P = 0.0009) was independently associated with F3-F4 stage liver fibrosis. CONCLUSIONS: In our study of HIV/HCV co-infected patients, sCD14 plasma level, a biomarker of monocyte activation, was not independently associated with the F3-F4 stage of liver fibrosis. We hypothesize that the higher levels of inflammation markers observed in HIV/HCV co-infected patients, compared to HCV mono-infected patients, prevent this association being observed within this population

Biopathological Significance of PIWI–piRNA Pathway Deregulation in Invasive Breast Carcinomas

International audienceSimple SummaryThe PIWI-piRNA ribonucleoproteic complexes are pivotal regulators of genome integrity, differentiation and homeostasis and their dysregulation has recently been implicated in carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to analyze the four PIWILs gene expression in invasive breast carcinomas (IBC) at RNA level using quantitative RT-PCR and protein level using immunohistochemistry. In normal breast tissue, PIWILs 2 and 4 were solely expressed, whereas an abnormal emergence of PIWIL1 and 3 was observed in respectively 30% and 6% of IBCs. Conversely, PIWIL2 was underexpressed in 48.3% and PIWIL4 downregulated in 43.3% of IBCs. Similar patterns of PIWIL deregulation were observed in a multitumoral panel, suggesting a generic mechanism in most cancers. PIWIL2 underexpression was significantly associated with DNA methylation and strong cytotoxic immune response. Characterization of the newly recognized PIWIL-piRNA pathway in IBCs opens interesting therapeutic perspectives using piRNAs, hypomethylating drugs, checkpoints immunotherapies and anti-PIWIL 1–3 antibodies.AbstractThe PIWI proteins emerging in the development of human cancers, edify PIWI-piRNA ribonucleoproteic complexes acting as pivotal regulators of genome integrity, differentiation and homeostasis. The aim of this study is to analyze the four PIWILs gene expression in invasive breast carcinomas (IBCs): at RNA level using quantitative RT-PCR (n = 526) and protein level using immunohistochemistry (n = 150). In normal breast tissue, PIWILs 2 and 4 were solely expressed, whereas an abnormal emergence of PIWIL1 and 3 was observed in respectively 30% and 6% of IBCs. Conversely, PIWIL2 was underexpressed in 48.3% and PIWIL4 downregulated in 43.3% of IBCs. Significant positive associations were observed between PIWIL4 underexpression, HR+ status and HR+ ERBB2+ molecular subtype and PIWIL2 underexpression, PR- status, ERBB2- status and molecular subtype. Similar patterns of PIWIL deregulation were observed in a multitumoral panel, suggesting a generic mechanism in most cancers. PIWIL2-4 underexpression was mainly regulated at epigenetic or post-transcriptional levels. PIWIL2 underexpression was significantly associated with DNA methylation and strong cytotoxic immune response. PIWIL2-4 were mainly associated with genes implicated in cell proliferation. As a result of this study, characterization of the PIWIL-piRNA pathway in IBCs opens interesting therapeutic perspectives using piRNAs, hypomethylating drugs, checkpoints immunotherapies and anti-PIWIL 1–3 antibodies

Stare-Capmed : Présentation générale du projet et exemple d'une action : "Impact de l'ancrage sur la dynamique des herbiers de posidonies".

STARE-CAPMED (STAtion of Reference and rEsearch on Change of local and global Anthropogenic Pressures on Mediterranean Ecosystems Drifts) est un projet de recherche mis en place par Stareso S.A.S. depuis janvier 2012. Il a pour objectif d’établir un site de référence à long terme pour la compréhension, par la recherche fondamentale, des processus de l’évolution des écosystèmes méditerranéens côtiers et océaniques en réponse aux changements actuels globaux et locaux des pressions anthropiques. Centré sur la Baie de Calvi et le proche large, il vise à fournir un référentiel basé sur des mesures à haute fréquence qui doivent pouvoir complémenter les réseaux de surveillance basse fréquence et de recherches existants et ainsi faire progresser la compréhension des processus. En outre, le projet doit fournir aux utilisateurs finaux (collectivités locales et régionales, administrations nationales, ...) des orientations de gestion basées sur l’analyse étayée des processus en jeux. Financé par l’Agence de l’eau RMC et la Collectivité Territoriale de Corse, le projet, multidisciplinaire, se décline actuellement selon 10 axes de travail : • Suivi du cadre hydrographique et physico-chimique • Suivi et quantification des pressions anthropiques • Ecosystème planctonique • Benthos de substrat meuble • Benthos de substrat dur et faune vagile • Phanérogames marines et écosystèmes associés • Mouillages et processus d’altération des herbiers de posidonies • Ecotoxicologie et polluants émergents • Bilan CO2 et métabolisme des écosystèmes • Zones protégées, espèces nouvelles, recrutement Pour chacun de ces axes, la stratégie d’échantillonnage est basée sur la comparaison de données obtenues durant des périodes où l’impact anthropique est faible (octobre-avril) avec celles obtenues durant des périodes de pression intense (mai-septembre), et sur la comparaison de données issues de sites de référence peu impactés avec celles provenant de sites où l’impact anthropique est reconnu. A titre d’exemple, le but de l’action "Mouillages et processus d’altération des herbiers de posidonies" est de mettre en évidence les conséquences des altérations liées à l’arrachage de faisceaux de posidonies sur la vitalité de l’herbier. Des zones où la pression de mouillage est reconnue seront définies sur base des travaux de cartographie de l’herbier, également réalisés dans le cadre du projet STARE-CAPMED. Elles seront comparées avec des zones d’herbiers sains témoins par la caractérisation du sédiment (mesures de compacité in situ, mesures des concentrations en O2 et nutriments et du pH de l’eau interstitielle, granulométrie et teneur en matière organique du sédiment, proportions de rhizomes et morts) ainsi que par la définition de l’état physiologique des faisceaux de posidonies (mesures biométriques classiques, analyses des contenus élémentaires en carbone, azote et phosphore) et par l’application d’indices écologiques définis par la DCE (PREI, BIPO, …). Les résultats obtenus permettront d’avoir une vue d’ensemble des processus par lesquels l’impact physique des mouillages de bateaux de plaisance occasionne des dégâts aux herbiers de posidonies. Ils pourront ainsi fournir une base de connaissances solide aux gestionnaires soucieux de limiter cet impact.Stare-Capmed (STAtion of Reference and rEsearch on Change of local and global Anthropogenic Pressures on Mediterranean Ecosystems Drifts

Factors associated with the METAVIR liver fibrosis stage.

<p>Continuous variables were expressed as median and interquartile range (IQR).</p><p>ALT: alanine aminotransferase; aOR: adjusted odds ratio; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; OR [CI95%]: odds ratio and 95% confidence interval.</p

Characteristics of HIV/HCV co-infected patients (<i>n</i> = 60).

<p>Continuous variables were expressed as medians and interquartile ranges (IQR), and categorical variables were expressed as numbers and percentages.</p><p>ALT: alanine aminotransferase; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; GGT: gamma glutamyl transpeptidase.</p