Magnetic phases of the quasi-two-dimensional compounds FexCo1 - xTa2O6

International audienceWe report new results on the magnetic properties of the FexCo1 - xTa2O6 series of compounds. Essentially using neutron-diffraction and magnetic measurements we study, in more detail, the low-x limit of the temperature versus x phase diagram, where a new bicritical point is observed. The complete phase diagram shows three different magnetic phases at low temperature, for a high, intermediate and very low iron content. These phases consist of distinct antiferromagnetic orderings, characterized by different pairs of propagation vectors. We obtain information about the intraplane exchange interactions by fitting a high-temperature series of the magnetic susceptibility. Here we improve on a previously employed model, showing that two non-equivalent next-nearest-neighbor interactions must be taken into account in order to allow for in-plane magnetic orderings that are consistent with the neutron-diffraction results

MTSS1 is a critical epigenetically regulated tumor suppressor in CML

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is driven by malignant stem cells that can persist despite therapy. We have identified Metastasis suppressor 1 (Mtss1/MIM) to be downregulated in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells from leukemic transgenic SCLtTA/Bcr-Abl mice and in patients with CML at diagnosis, and Mtss1 was restored when patients achieved complete remission. Forced expression of Mtss1 decreased clonogenic capacity and motility of murine myeloid progenitor cells and reduced tumor growth. Viral transduction of Mtss1 into lineage depleted SCLtTA/Bcr-Abl bone marrow cells decreased leukemic cell burden in recipients, and leukemogenesis was reduced upon injection of Mtss1 overexpressing murine myeloid 32D cells. Tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy and reversion of Bcr-Abl expression increased Mtss1 expression but failed to restore it to control levels. CML patient samples revealed higher DNA methylation of specific Mtss1 promoter CpG sites that contain binding sites for Kaiso and Rest transcription factors. In summary, we identified a novel tumor suppressor in CML stem cells that is downregulated by both Bcr-Abl kinase-dependent and -independent mechanisms. Restored Mtss1 expression markedly inhibits primitive leukemic cell biology in vivo, providing a therapeutic rationale for the Bcr-Abl-Mtss1 axis to target TKI resistant CML stem cells in patients

Remifentanil-propofol analgo-sedation shortens duration of ventilation and length of ICU stay compared to a conventional regimen: A centre randomised, cross-over, open-label study in the Netherlands

Objective: Compare duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), weaning time, ICU-LOS (ICU-LOS), efficacy and safety of remifentanil-based regimen with conventional sedation and analgesia. Design: Centre randomised, open-label, crossover, 'real-life' study. Setting: 15 Dutch hospitals. Patients: Adult medical and post-surgical ICU patients with anticipated short-term (2-3 days) MV. Interventions: Patient cohorts were randomised to remifentanil-based regimen (n = 96) with propofol as required, for a maximum of 10 days, or to conventional regimens (n = 109) of propofol, midazolam or lorazepam combined with fentanyl or morphine. Measurements and main results: Outcomes were weaning time, duration of MV, ICU-LOS, sedation- and analgesia levels, intensivist/ICU nurse satisfaction, adverse events, mean arterial pressure, heart rate. Median duration of ventilation (MV) was 5.1 days with conventional treatment versus 3.9 days with remifentanil (NS). The remifentanil-based regimen reduced median weaning time by 18.9 h (P = 0.0001). Median ICU-LOS was 7.9 days versus 5.9 days, respectively (NS). However, the treatment effects on duration of MV and ICU stay were time-dependent: patients were almost twice as likely to be extubated (P = 0.018) and discharged from the ICU (P = 0.05) on day 1-3. Propofol doses were reduced by 20% (P = 0.05). Remifentanil also improved sedation-agitation scores (P < 0.0001) and intensivist/ICU nurse satisfaction (P < 0.0001). All other outcomes were comparable. Conclusions: In patients with an expected short-term duration of MV, remifentanil significantly improves sedation and agitation levels and reduces weaning time. This contributes to a shorter duration of MV and ICU-LOS

A GHEP-ISFG collaborative study on the genetic variation of 38 autosomal indels for human identification in different continental populations

A collaborative effort was carried out by the Spanish and Portuguese Speaking Working Group of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (GHEP-ISFG) to promote knowledge exchange between associate laboratories interested in the implementation of indel-based methodologies and build allele frequency databases of 38 indels for forensic applications. These databases include populations from different countries that are relevant for identification and kinship investigations undertaken by the participating laboratories. Before compiling population data, participants were asked to type the 38 indels in blind samples from annual GHEP-ISFG proficiency tests, using an amplification protocol previously described. Only laboratories that reported correct results contributed with population data to this study. A total of 5839 samples were genotyped from 45 different populations from Africa, America, East Asia, Europe and Middle East. Population differentiation analysis showed significant differences between most populations studied from Africa and America, as well as between two Asian populations from China and East Timor. Low FST values were detected among most European populations. Overall diversities and parameters of forensic efficiency were high in populations from all continents.RP is supported by a postdoctoral fellowship (SFRH/BPD/81986/2011) awarded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) and co-financed by the European Social Fund (Human Potential Thematic Operational Programme – POPH

BRS Sarandi: nova cultivar de Andropogon gayanus para pastagens.

Introdução A área cultivada com forrageiras no território brasileiro supera 150 milhões de hectares (IBGE, 2017), com predomínio de cultivares das espécies do gênero Brachiaria (sinonímia Urochloa) (B. brizantha, B. decumbens, B. humidicola, B. ruziziensis) e de Panicum maximum (Sinonímia Megathyrsus maximus), as quais respondem por aproximadamente 90% das áreas com forrageiras tropicais e uso predominante em sistemas pastoris com médio a alto nível de intensificação e de produtividade animal. As demais áreas são ocupadas por cultivares de gramíneas e de leguminosas forrageiras de outras espé- cies também relevantes pelas particularidades adaptativas em relação aos ambientes de cultivo e à função nos diversos sistemas de produção animal. Nesse contexto, o capim-andropogon (Andropogon gayanus Kunth) reúne atributos forrageiros necessários para o cultivo e o uso em ambientes mais desafiadores em relação ao clima, à fertilidade do solo e às principais pragas das pastagens. Devido a sua adaptação e resistência à cigarrinha-das-pas- tagens e nematoides de solo, seu cultivo também ocorre de forma alternativa ou complementar às cultivares de Brachiaria e de Panicum em uso nos sis- temas extensivos de produção animal a pasto, mais notadamente em locali- dades com oferta ambiental marginal, seja no âmbito de uma propriedade ou de uma região. Também tem desempenhado relevante papel para a diversifi- cação funcional e ecológica das pastagens e o seu cultivo tem se expandido para regiões com pluviosidade menor ou instável, a exemplo do semiárido nordestino. Adicionalmente, as cultivares das espécies de forrageiras com maior participação no mercado e nas pastagens são predominantemente de reprodução apomítica, nas quais, as plantas são clones propagados por se- mentes, resultando em baixa variabilidade genética que pode aumentar a sua susceptibilidade a eventuais problemas fitossanitários. Essa concentração de poucas espécies e cultivares em áreas tão extensas, associada a pouca va- riabilidade dentro de cada espécie, representa uma situação de alto risco para os sistemas de produção da pecuária nacional.bitstream/item/225386/1/BRS-Sarandi-nova-cultivar-de-Andropogon-gayanus-Circular-52.pd

Malaria eradication: the economic, financial and institutional challenge

Malaria eradication raises many economic, financial and institutional challenges. This paper reviews these challenges, drawing on evidence from previous efforts to eradicate malaria, with a special focus on resource-poor settings; summarizes more recent evidence on the challenges, drawing on the literature on the difficulties of scaling-up malaria control and strengthening health systems more broadly; and explores the implications of these bodies of evidence for the current call for elimination and intensified control

Recalibration of the delirium prediction model for ICU patients (PRE-DELIRIC): a multinational observational study

Purpose Recalibration and determining discriminative power, internationally, of the existing delirium prediction model (PRE-DELIRIC) for intensive care patients. Methods A prospective multicenter cohort study was performed in eight intensive care units (ICUs) in six countries. The ten predictors (age, APACHE-II, urgent and admission category, infection, coma, sedation, morphine use, urea level, metabolic acidosis) were collected within 24 h after ICU admission. The confusion assessment method for the intensive care unit (CAM-ICU) was used to identify ICU delirium. CAM-ICU screening compliance and inter-rater reliability measurements were used to secure the quality of the data. Results A total of 2,852 adult ICU patients were screened of which 1,824 (64 %) were eligible for the study. Main reasons for exclusion were length of stay <1 day (19.1 %) and sustained coma (4.1 %). CAM-ICU compliance was mean (SD) 82 ± 16 % and inter-rater reliability 0.87 ± 0.17. The median delirium incidence was 22.5 % (IQR 12.8–36.6 %). Although the incidence of all ten predictors differed significantly between centers, the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of the eight participating centers remained good: 0.77 (95 % CI 0.74–0.79). The linear predictor and intercept of the prediction rule were adjusted and resulted in improved re-calibration of the PRE-DELIRIC model. Conclusions In this multinational study, we recalibrated the PRE-DELIRIC model. Despite differences in the incidence of predictors between the centers in the different countries, the performance of the PRE-DELIRIC-model remained good. Following validation of the PRE-DELIRIC model, it may facilitate implementation of strategies to prevent delirium and aid improvements in delirium management of ICU patients