Dynamics of the transcriptional landscape during human fetal testis and ovary development

Acknowledgements We thank all members of the SEQanswers forums for helpful advice; Steven Salzberg and Cole Trapnell for continuous support with the ‘Tuxedo’ suite; and the UCSC Genome team members. Sequencing was performed by the GenomEast platform, a member of the ‘France Génomique’ consortium (ANR-10-INBS-0009). We thank Ms Linda Robertson, Ms Margaret Fraser, Ms Samantha Flannigan (University of Aberdeen) and the staff at Grampian NHS Pregnancy Counselling Service and all the staff of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Rennes Sud Hospital for their expert assistance and help, and the participating women, without whom this study would not have been possible. The authors are grateful for Ms Gersende Lacombe and Mr Laurent Deleurme from the Biosit CytomeTri cytometry core facility of Rennes 1 University. Funding French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm); University of Rennes 1; French School of Public Health (EHESP); Swiss National Science Foundation [SNF n° CRS115_171007 to B.J.]; the French National Research Agency [ANR n° 16-CE14-0017-02 and n°18-CE14-0038-02 to F.C]; Medical Research Council [MR/L010011/1 to PAF]; European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) [under grant agreement no 212885 to PAF]; European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme [under grant agreement no 825100 to P.A.F. and S.M.G.].Peer reviewedPostprin

First Detection of Mycobacterium ulcerans DNA in Environmental Samples from South America

The occurrences of many environmentally-persistent and zoonotic infections are driven by ecosystem changes, which in turn are underpinned by land-use modifications that alter the governance of pathogen, biodiversity and human interactions. Our current understanding of these ecological changes on disease emergence however remains limited. Buruli ulcer is an emerging human skin disease caused by the mycobacterium, Mycobacterium ulcerans, for which the exact route of infection remains unclear. It can have a devastating impact on its human host, causing extensive necrosis of the skin and underlying tissue, often leading to permanent disability. The mycobacterium is associated with tropical aquatic environments and incidences of the disease are significantly higher on floodplains and where there is an increase of human aquatic activities. Although the disease has been previously diagnosed in South America, until now the presence of M. ulcerans DNA in the wild has only been identified in Australia where there have been significant outbreaks and in western and central regions of Africa where the disease is persistent. Here for the first time, we have identified the presence of the aetiological agent's DNA in environmental samples from South America. The DNA was positively identified using Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on 163 environmental samples, taken from 23 freshwater bodies in French Guiana (Southern America), using primers for both IS2404 and for the ketoreductase-B domain of the M. ulcerans mycolactone polyketide synthase genes (KR). Five samples out of 163 were positive for both primers from three different water bodies. A further nine sites had low levels of IS2404 close to a standard CT of 35 and could potentially harbour M. ulcerans. The majority of our positive samples (8/14) came from filtered water. These results also reveal the Sinnamary River as a potential source of infection to humans. © 2014 Morris et al

ARIA 2016 : Care pathways implementing emerging technologies for predictive medicine in rhinitis and asthma across the life cycle

The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative commenced during a World Health Organization workshop in 1999. The initial goals were (1) to propose a new allergic rhinitis classification, (2) to promote the concept of multi-morbidity in asthma and rhinitis and (3) to develop guidelines with all stakeholders that could be used globally for all countries and populations. ARIA-disseminated and implemented in over 70 countries globally-is now focusing on the implementation of emerging technologies for individualized and predictive medicine. MASK [MACVIA (Contre les Maladies Chroniques pour un Vieillissement Actif)-ARIA Sentinel NetworK] uses mobile technology to develop care pathways for the management of rhinitis and asthma by a multi-disciplinary group and by patients themselves. An app (Android and iOS) is available in 20 countries and 15 languages. It uses a visual analogue scale to assess symptom control and work productivity as well as a clinical decision support system. It is associated with an inter-operable tablet for physicians and other health care professionals. The scaling up strategy uses the recommendations of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. The aim of the novel ARIA approach is to provide an active and healthy life to rhinitis sufferers, whatever their age, sex or socio-economic status, in order to reduce health and social inequalities incurred by the disease.Peer reviewe

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

L'information recueillie et donnée aux familles de patients âgées hospitalisés (à propos d une enquête menée en milieu hospitalier gériatrique)

Les familles jouent un rôle primordial dans l organisation du devenir des personnes âgées . Il apparaît donc important d améliorer la qualité des informations données aux patients et à leurs familles mais aussi la qualité des informations recueillies auprès des familles. L objectif de notre étude est de mettre en évidence les obstacles à une bonne communication entre familles et soignants. Pour cela, nous avons mené une enquête dans un service de Gériatrie à l aide de questionnaires remplis par les familles et les soignants de mêmes patients. Les résultats montrent que les soignants consacrent beaucoup de temps à rencontrer les familles. Les familles interrogées étaient globalement satisfaites par les renseignements qu elles avaient reçus. La grande majorité de ces familles estimaient avoir compris toutes les explications délivrées par l équipe soignante. Quant aux soignants ils pensaient eux aussi avoir été compris dans la majorité des cas. Pourtant, le diagnostic était concordant dans un tiers des cas seulement. Notre travail met donc en évidence que plus qu une carence quantitative l information aux familles fait défaut au niveau qualitatif. Nous avons essayé d envisager quelques propositions pour améliorer l accueil des familles en Gériatrie. Par exemple, il apparaît important d identifier un aidant principal et de le choisir comme interlocuteur privilégié. Il pourrait être reçu en entretiens programmés en début et fin d hospitalisation. Nous pourrions élaborer des documents concernant les pathologies les plus fréquentes dans les services de Gériatrie et les remettre aux familles lors des entretiens. Par ailleurs, des réunions pour les familles de patients atteints de maladies neurodégénératives répondraient à une attente des familles tout en réduisant le travail d information au quotidien des soignants. Améliorer l échange d informations entre les familles et les soignants permettrait d améliorer encore la qualité des soins prodigués à nos aînés.TOULOUSE3-BU Santé-Centrale (315552105) / SudocPARIS-BIUM (751062103) / SudocSudocFranceF

A Standard 3.5T CMOS Imager Including a Light Adaptive System for Integration Time Optimization

ISBN :978-90-481-9964-8This paper presents a light adaptive system which allows an automatic management of the integration time value of a standard 3 transistors (3T) CMOS imager. A low resolution network of high dynamic range pixels is included in this standard CMOS sensor. This low resolution network is regularly distributed on the entire photosensitive array, and computes the average light power information. This value allows the control system to choice the optimized integration time value which provides the best image quality. This imager has been designed in a 0.35 μm, 3.3 V CMOS technology. The basic photosensitive block layout contains four 3T standard pixels and one non-linear 2T pixel. Due to this distribution, we obtain a 3.5T per pixel. This sensor has been tested and TV video sequences show the efficiency of this very simple control system

A Standard 3.5T CMOS Imager including a Light Adaptive System for Integration Time Optimisation

International audienceThis paper presents a light adaptive system which allows an automatic management of the integration time value of a standard 3 transistors (3T) CMOS imager. A low resolution network of high dynamic range pixels is included in this standard CMOS sensor. This low resolution network is regularly distributed on the entire photosensitive array, and computes the average incident light information. This value allows the control system to choice the best integration time value which provides the optimal image quality. This imager has been designed in a 0.350m, 3.3V CMOS technology. The basic photosensitive block layout contains four 3T standard pixels and one non linear 2T pixel. Due to this distribution, we obtain a 3.5T per pixel. This sensor has been tested and TV video sequences show the efficiency of this very simple control system

Integrated low-level processing : implementation of an adaptative function to light conditions in a CMOS image sensor

Ce papier présente un état des travaux effectués ces dernières années dans notre groupe de recherche sur les systèmes intégrés d'adaptation aux conditions lumineuses. Le but de ces systèmes est de proposer, pour une même scène, un histogramme invariant en sortie de matrice, et ce quelle que soient les conditions lumineuses moyennes. Deux architectures différentes sont présentées et deux circuits ont été fabriqués. « Imagyne 2 » propose une solution pour des applications bas coût type grand public tandis que « Imagyne 3 », plus complexe, cible plutôt les applications de type industrielles. Ces circuits ont été fabriqués en technologie AMS CMOS 0,35μm