Global existence for semilinear reaction-diffusion systems on evolving domains

We present global existence results for solutions of reaction-diffusion systems on evolving domains. Global existence results for a class of reaction-diffusion systems on fixed domains are extended to the same systems posed on spatially linear isotropically evolving domains. The results hold without any assumptions on the sign of the growth rate. The analysis is valid for many systems that commonly arise in the theory of pattern formation. We present numerical results illustrating our theoretical findings.Comment: 24 pages, 3 figure

Diagnostic delay for giant cell arteritis – a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Giant cell arteritis (GCA), if untreated, can lead to blindness and stroke. The study’s objectives were to (1) determine a new evidence-based benchmark of the extent of diagnostic delay for GCA and (2) examine the role of GCA-specific characteristics on diagnostic delay. Methods Medical literature databases were searched from inception to November 2015. Articles were included if reporting a time-period of diagnostic delay between onset of GCA symptoms and diagnosis. Two reviewers assessed the quality of the final articles and extracted data from these. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool the mean time-period (95% confidence interval (CI)) between GCA symptom onset and diagnosis, and the delay observed for GCA-specific characteristics. Heterogeneity was assessed by I 2 and by 95% prediction interval (PI). Results Of 4128 articles initially identified, 16 provided data for meta-analysis. Mean diagnostic delay was 9.0 weeks (95% CI, 6.5 to 11.4) between symptom onset and GCA diagnosis (I 2 = 96.0%; P < 0.001; 95% PI, 0 to 19.2 weeks). Patients with a cranial presentation of GCA received a diagnosis after 7.7 (95% CI, 2.7 to 12.8) weeks (I 2 = 98.4%; P < 0.001; 95% PI, 0 to 27.6 weeks) and those with non-cranial GCA after 17.6 (95% CI, 9.7 to 25.5) weeks (I 2 = 96.6%; P < 0.001; 95% PI, 0 to 46.1 weeks). Conclusions The mean delay from symptom onset to GCA diagnosis was 9 weeks, or longer when cranial symptoms were absent. Our research provides an evidence-based benchmark for diagnostic delay of GCA and supports the need for improved public awareness and fast-track diagnostic pathways

Polyphenols Sensitization Potentiates Susceptibility of MCF-7 and MDA MB-231 Cells to Centchroman

Polyphenols as “sensitizers” together with cytotoxic drugs as “inducers” cooperate to trigger apoptosis in various cancer cells. Hence, their combination having similar mode of mechanism may be a novel approach to enhance the efficacy of inducers. Additionally, this will also enable to achieve the physiological concentrations facilitating significant increase in the activity at concentrations which the compound can individually provide. Here we propose that polyphenols (Resveratrol (RES) and Curcumin (CUR)) pre-treatment may sensitize MCF-7/MDA MB-231 (Human Breast Cancer Cells, HBCCs) to Centchroman (CC, antineoplastic agent). 6 h pre-treated cells with 10 µM RES/CUR and 100 µM RES/30 µM CUR doses, followed by 10 µM CC for 18 h were investigated for Ser-167 ER-phosphorylation, cell cycle arrest, redox homeostasis, stress activated protein kinase (SAPKs: JNK and p38 MAPK) pathways and downstream apoptosis effectors. Low dose RES/CUR enhances the CC action through ROS mediated JNK/p38 as well as mitochondrial pathway in MCF-7 cells. However, RES/CUR sensitization enhanced apoptosis in p53 mutant MDA MB-231 cells without/with involvement of ROS mediated JNK/p38 adjunct to Caspase-9. Contrarily, through high dose sensitization in CC treated cells, the parameters remained unaltered as in polyphenols alone. We conclude that differential sensitization of HBCCs with low dose polyphenol augments apoptotic efficacy of CC. This may offer a novel approach to achieve enhanced action of CC with concomitant reduction of side effects enabling improved management of hormone-dependent breast cancer

Structured models of cell migration incorporating molecular binding processes

The dynamic interplay between collective cell movement and the various molecules involved in the accompanying cell signalling mechanisms plays a crucial role in many biological processes including normal tissue development and pathological scenarios such as wound healing and cancer. Information about the various structures embedded within these processes allows a detailed exploration of the binding of molecular species to cell-surface receptors within the evolving cell population. In this paper we establish a general spatio-temporal-structural framework that enables the description of molecular binding to cell membranes coupled with the cell population dynamics. We first provide a general theoretical description for this approach and then illustrate it with two examples arising from cancer invasion

COLIBRI : optimiser la pratique clinique et produire des données scientifiques pertinentes

International audienceCOLIBRI-COPD is a francophone consultation web portal accessible to pulmonologists in the hospital and in the community. We present this observation which describes the phenotype of COPD patients entered (anthropometry, exposures, addictions, functional impairments, questionnaires: MRC, DIRECT, CAT, HAD, Epworth, co-morbidities, incidence of exacerbations, drug treatment or other treatments). The results of the first 1079 patients show a high level of completeness for the main data items. A comparison of patients seen in outpatient consultations shows significant variability between patients with the same GOLD stage, regarding the incidence of exacerbations, signs of anxiety-depression, of diabetes mellitus, or the prescriptions of anticholinergics and inhaled corticosteroids. These initial results suggest that data collection in real life gives a reliable database to obtain longitudinal data on various aspects of COPD. The data quality (completeness, reliability) is partly related to the usability of the web tool and to the possibility of doing self-assessment of practitioners' own recorded data.COLIBRI-BPCO est un portail web de consultation accessible par les pneumologues en ville et à l’hôpital. Nous présentons cet observatoire qui vise à établir le phénotype des patients atteints de BPCO (anthropométrie, expositions et addictions, déficiences fonctionnelles, questionnaires : Medical Research Council [MRC], Disability related to COPD tool [DIRECT], COPD Assessment Test [CAT], Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HAD], échelle d’Epworth, comorbidités déclarées et objectives, exacerbations, traitements médicamenteux ou autres traitements). Les résultats des 1079 premiers patients montrent un taux d’exhaustivité élevé pour les données principales. Une comparaison des patients vus en consultation externe de ville et d’hôpital montre des différences significatives chez des patients de stade GOLD identique pour l’incidence des exacerbations, l’anxiété–dépression, le diabète, les prescriptions d’anticholinergiques et d’associations fixes. Ces premiers résultats montrent qu’un recueil de données réalisé à partir d’une consultation en vraie vie, grâce à un portail web, peut constituer une base de données fiable pour suivre des données longitudinales sur les différentes dimensions de la BPCO. La qualité des données recueillies (exhaustivité-fiabilité) est en partie liée à la convivialité de l’outil web, aux fonctionnalités facilitant le déroulé de la visite et aux possibilités d’analyse et d’auto-évaluation des données enregistrées pour sa propre patientèle