Assessment of Translocator Protein Density, as Marker of Neuroinflammation, in Major Depressive Disorder: A Pilot, Multicenter, Comparative, Controlled, Brain PET Study (INFLADEP Study)

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a serious public health problem with high lifetime prevalence (4.4–20%) in the general population. The monoamine hypothesis is the most widespread etiological theory of MDD. Also, recent scientific data has emphasized the importance of immuno-inflammatory pathways in the pathophysiology of MDD. The lack of data on the magnitude of brain neuroinflammation in MDD is the main limitation of this inflammatory hypothesis. Our team has previously demonstrated the relevance of [18F] DPA-714 as a neuroinflammation biomarker in humans. We formulated the following hypotheses for the current study: (i) Neuroinflammation in MDD can be measured by [18F] DPA-714; (ii) its levels are associated with clinical severity; (iii) it is accompanied by anatomical and functional alterations within the frontal-subcortical circuits; (iv) it is a marker of treatment resistance.Methods: Depressed patients will be recruited throughout 4 centers (Bordeaux, Montpellier, Tours, and Toulouse) of the French network from 13 expert centers for resistant depression. The patient population will be divided into 3 groups: (i) experimental group—patients with current MDD (n = 20), (ii) remitted depressed group—patients in remission but still being treated (n = 20); and, (iii) control group without any history of MDD (n = 20). The primary objective will be to compare PET data (i.e., distribution pattern of neuroinflammation) between the currently depressed group and the control group. Secondary objectives will be to: (i) compare neuroinflammation across groups (currently depressed group vs. remitted depressed group vs. control group); (ii) correlate neuroinflammation with clinical severity across groups; (iii) correlate neuroinflammation with MRI parameters for structural and functional integrity across groups; (iv) correlate neuroinflammation and peripheral markers of inflammation across groups.Discussion: This study will assess the effects of antidepressants on neuroinflammation as well as its role in the treatment response. It will contribute to clarify the putative relationships between neuroinflammation quantified by brain neuroimaging techniques and peripheral markers of inflammation. Lastly, it is expected to open innovative and promising therapeutic perspectives based on anti-inflammatory strategies for the management of treatment-resistant forms of MDD commonly seen in clinical practice.Clinical trial registration (reference: NCT03314155): https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03314155?term=neuroinflammation&cond=depression&cntry=FR&rank=

Optimasi Portofolio Resiko Menggunakan Model Markowitz MVO Dikaitkan dengan Keterbatasan Manusia dalam Memprediksi Masa Depan dalam Perspektif Al-Qur`an

Risk portfolio on modern finance has become increasingly technical, requiring the use of sophisticated mathematical tools in both research and practice. Since companies cannot insure themselves completely against risk, as human incompetence in predicting the future precisely that written in Al-Quran surah Luqman verse 34, they have to manage it to yield an optimal portfolio. The objective here is to minimize the variance among all portfolios, or alternatively, to maximize expected return among all portfolios that has at least a certain expected return. Furthermore, this study focuses on optimizing risk portfolio so called Markowitz MVO (Mean-Variance Optimization). Some theoretical frameworks for analysis are arithmetic mean, geometric mean, variance, covariance, linear programming, and quadratic programming. Moreover, finding a minimum variance portfolio produces a convex quadratic programming, that is minimizing the objective function ðð¥with constraintsð ð 𥠥 ðandð´ð¥ = ð. The outcome of this research is the solution of optimal risk portofolio in some investments that could be finished smoothly using MATLAB R2007b software together with its graphic analysis

Search for heavy resonances decaying to two Higgs bosons in final states containing four b quarks

A search is presented for narrow heavy resonances X decaying into pairs of Higgs bosons (H) in proton-proton collisions collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC at root s = 8 TeV. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb(-1). The search considers HH resonances with masses between 1 and 3 TeV, having final states of two b quark pairs. Each Higgs boson is produced with large momentum, and the hadronization products of the pair of b quarks can usually be reconstructed as single large jets. The background from multijet and t (t) over bar events is significantly reduced by applying requirements related to the flavor of the jet, its mass, and its substructure. The signal would be identified as a peak on top of the dijet invariant mass spectrum of the remaining background events. No evidence is observed for such a signal. Upper limits obtained at 95 confidence level for the product of the production cross section and branching fraction sigma(gg -> X) B(X -> HH -> b (b) over barb (b) over bar) range from 10 to 1.5 fb for the mass of X from 1.15 to 2.0 TeV, significantly extending previous searches. For a warped extra dimension theory with amass scale Lambda(R) = 1 TeV, the data exclude radion scalar masses between 1.15 and 1.55 TeV

Measurement of the top quark mass using charged particles in pp collisions at root s=8 TeV

Peer reviewe

Search for supersymmetry in events with one lepton and multiple jets in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

Peer reviewe

PTI et infections virales (recherche de l'implication d'HHV-6 dans le PTI aigu de l'enfant dans une cohorte montpelliéraine et revue de la lilttérature PTI-VIH-1)

Le purpura thrombopénique immunologique de l'enfant est souvent associé à une notion d'infection préalable et notamment à HHV-6 dans la littérature. L'objectif de ce travail a été de rechercher chez des enfants présentant un nouvel épisode de PTI, une infection active à HHV-6 par des PCR quantitatives réalisées sur sang total, sérum et moelle avant tout traitement. Parmi nos 15 patients inclus, nous n'avons pas mis en évidence d'infection active mais 6 cas d'infection latente à HHV-6. Cette étude étant rétrospective et présentant de nombreux biais, la réponse qu'elle peut apporter ne peut être définitive. Néanmoins l'absence de réplication active d'HHV-6 pour l'ensemble de la cohorte étudiée, nous semble un argument fort contre l'implication d'une primo-infection HHV-6 ou d'une réactivation importante dans la physiopathologie des PTI de la population étudiée. Nous avons réalisé ensuite une revue de la littérature PTI-VlH-1 pour mieux comprendre les interactions plaquettes-virus aboutissant à une thrombopénie. On peut observer ainsi un tableau immunologique comparable au PTI au début de l'infection par le VlH avec une synthèse d'anticorps anti-plaquettes mais aussi des complexes immuns puis il peut s'installer une insuffisance médullaire par atteinte des progéniteurs à un stade plus avancé de l'infection. Finalement, la liaison plaquette VIH entrainel'internalisation du VIH-1 mais aussi l'activation plaquettaire et la libération de cytokines/chimiokines qui vont activer à leur tour le système immunitaire. Ces interactions semblent avoir un rôle dans la pathogénie de la thrombopénie et dans la réponse immune de l'hôte vis à vis de l'infection par le VIH. De futures études permettront de mieux préciser ce rôle mais aussi de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiquesMONTPELLIER-BU Médecine UPM (341722108) / SudocMONTPELLIER-BU Médecine (341722104) / SudocSudocFranceF

Cumulative effects of road de-icing salt on amphibian behavior

Despite growing evidence of the detrimental effect of chemical substances on organisms, limited research has focused on changes in behavioral patterns, in part due to the difficulties to obtain detailed quantitative data. Recent developments in efficient computer-based video analyses have allowed testing pesticide effects on model species such as the zebrafish. However, these new techniques have not yet been applied to amphibians and directly to conservation issues, i.e. to assess toxicological risks on threatened species. We used video tracking analyses to test a quantitative effect of an environmental contaminant on the locomotion of amphibian tadpoles (Rana temporaria) by taking into account cumulative effects. Because recent research has demonstrated effects of de-icing salts on survival and community structure, we used sodium chloride in our experimental design (25 replicates, 4 concentrations, 4 times) to test for an effect at the scale of behavior at environmentally relevant concentrations. Analysis of 372 1-hr video-tracks (5 samples per sec) showed a complex action of salts on behavioral patterns with a dose and cumulative response over time. Although no effects were found on mortality or growth, the highest salt concentrations reduced the speed and movement of tadpoles in comparison with control treatments. The reduced locomotor performance could have detrimental consequences in terms of tadpoles’ responses to competition and predation and may be an indicator of the low concentration effect of the contaminant. On one hand, this study demonstrates the usefulness of examining behavior to address conservation issues and understand the complex action of environmental factors and, more particularly, pollutants on organisms. On the other hand, our results highlight the need of new computerized techniques to quantitatively analyze these patterns

Self-phase modulation and four-wave mixing in a chalcogenide ridge waveguide

International audienceThird order optical nonlinear effects relying on the instantaneous Kerr effect are investigated in a straight chalcogenide ridge waveguide. The sample consists of a GeSbSe film deposited on a thermally oxidized silicon substrate. Ridge waveguides were processed using photolithography and dry etching techniques. From a 1.1 cm long integrated GeSbSe device, self-phase modulation with a maximum nonlinear phase shift of 2.02 π for a peak power of 15.8 W and four-wave mixing with an external conversion efficiency of −42.6 dB for a pump power of 28 mW are demonstrated. Experimental results show a good agreement with calculations

Study of integrated nonlinear optical devices based on chalcogenide layers

International audienc

Clin Nutr

Background & aims: Carotenoids are vegetable pigments with neuroprotective properties. Clinical studies found efficacy of specific carotenoids on improving brain perfusion and functioning with aging. However, evidence of an effect on neurodegeneration, which may require longer follow-up period to observe, is more limited. Leveraging biomarkers from a large population-based cohort study of older adults, we investigated whether blood carotenoids were associated with atrophy of the medial temporal lobe (a biomarker of neurodegeneration in aging) over 10 years. Methods: This study included 461 dementia-free participants from the Three-City Bordeaux study (aged ≥65) who had plasma carotenoids measured at baseline and up to three repeated brain imaging exams in the subsequent 10 years. Results: In adjusted linear mixed models, each increase of 1 SD in plasma level of total carotenoids and of β-carotene was associated with 0.02 cm3 (95% CI, 0.001–0.04; P = 0.04) and 0.02 cm3 (95% CI, 0.01–0.04; P = 0.008) smaller medial temporal lobe volume loss per year, respectively. Conclusions: Our results based on a unique long-term prospective evaluation of a neuroimaging biomarker suggest a beneficial role of carotenoids for the prevention of age-related neurodegeneration. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd and European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolis