Selective Neurofilament (SMI-32, FNP-7 and N200) Expression in Subpopulations of Layer V Pyramidal Neurons In Vivo and In Vitro

There are two main types of layer V pyramidal neurons in rat cortex. Type I neurons have tufted apical dendrites extending into layer I, produce bursts of action potentials and project to subcortical targets (spinal cord, superior colliculus and pontine nuclei). Type II neurons have apical dendrites, which arborize in layers II-IV, do not produce bursts of action potentials and project to ipsilateral and contralateral cortex. The specific expression of different genes and proteins in these two distinct layer V neurons is unknown. To distinguish between distinct subpopulations, fluorescent microspheres were injected into subcortical targets (labeling type I neurons) or primary somatosensory cortex (labeling type II neurons) of adult rats. After transport, cortical sections were processed for immunohistochemistry using various antibodies. This study demonstrated that antigens recognized by SMI-32, N200 and FNP-7 antibodies were only expressed in subcortical (type I) — but not in contralateral (type II) — projecting neurons. NR1, NR2a/b, PLCβ1, BDNF, NGF and TrkB antigens were highly expressed in all neuronal subpopulations examined. Organotypic culture experiments demonstrated that the development of neurofilament expression and laminar specificity does not depend on the presence of the subcortical targets. This study suggests specific markers for the subcortical projecting layer V neuron subpopulation

A proteomic approach based on peptide affinity chromatography, 2-dimensional electrophoresis and mass spectrometry to identify multiprotein complexes interacting with membrane-bound receptors

There is accumulating evidence that membrane-bound receptors interact with many intracellular proteins. Multiprotein complexes associated with ionotropic receptors have been extensively characterized, but the identification of proteins interacting with G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) has so far only been achieved in a piecemeal fashion, focusing on one or two protein species. We describe a method based on peptide affinity chromatography, two-dimensional electrophoresis, mass spectrometry and immunoblotting to identify the components of multiprotein complexes interacting directly or indirectly with intracellular domains of GPCRs or, more generally, any other membrane-bound receptor. Using this global approach, we have characterized multiprotein complexes that bind to the carboxy-terminal tail of the 5-hydroxytryptamine type 2C receptor and are important for its subcellular localization in CNS cells (Bécamel et al., EMBO J., 21(10): 2332, 2002)

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome associated with COVID-19: An Emulated Target Trial Analysis.

RATIONALE: Whether COVID patients may benefit from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) compared with conventional invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effect of ECMO on 90-Day mortality vs IMV only Methods: Among 4,244 critically ill adult patients with COVID-19 included in a multicenter cohort study, we emulated a target trial comparing the treatment strategies of initiating ECMO vs. no ECMO within 7 days of IMV in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (PaO2/FiO2 <80 or PaCO2 ≥60 mmHg). We controlled for confounding using a multivariable Cox model based on predefined variables. MAIN RESULTS: 1,235 patients met the full eligibility criteria for the emulated trial, among whom 164 patients initiated ECMO. The ECMO strategy had a higher survival probability at Day-7 from the onset of eligibility criteria (87% vs 83%, risk difference: 4%, 95% CI 0;9%) which decreased during follow-up (survival at Day-90: 63% vs 65%, risk difference: -2%, 95% CI -10;5%). However, ECMO was associated with higher survival when performed in high-volume ECMO centers or in regions where a specific ECMO network organization was set up to handle high demand, and when initiated within the first 4 days of MV and in profoundly hypoxemic patients. CONCLUSIONS: In an emulated trial based on a nationwide COVID-19 cohort, we found differential survival over time of an ECMO compared with a no-ECMO strategy. However, ECMO was consistently associated with better outcomes when performed in high-volume centers and in regions with ECMO capacities specifically organized to handle high demand. This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Coherent thermal infrared emission by two-dimensional silicon carbide gratings

International audienceThe thermal emission of cross-slit silicon carbide grating is studied in the Restrahlen region over all emission angles. We show experimentally that the thermal excitation of surface-phonon polaritons on the surface of 2D grating allows us to get a high emissivity in both polarizations, which is collimated in p polarization for a specific wavelength determined by the periodicity of the grating.We also show numerically that 2D gratings optimized to efficiently out-couple thermally excited surface-phonon polaritons of the flat part of the dispersion relation can have a high efficiency for all emission directions for both polarizations

Predicting intraoperative feasibility of combined TES-mMEP and cSSEP monitoring during scoliosis surgery based on preoperative neurophysiological assessment.

International audienceBACKGROUND CONTEXT: Combined monitoring of muscle motor evoked potentials elicited by transcranial electric stimulation (TES-mMEP) and cortical somatosensory evoked potentials (cSSEPs) is safe and effective for spinal cord monitoring during scoliosis surgery. However, TES-mMEP/cSSEP is not always feasible. Predictors of feasibility would help to plan the monitoring strategy. PURPOSE: To identify predictors of the feasibility of TES-mMEP/cSSEP during scoliosis surgery. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: Prospective cohort study in a clinical neurophysiology unit and pediatric orthopedic department of a French university hospital. PATIENT SAMPLE: A total of 103 children aged 2 to 19 years scheduled for scoliosis surgery. OUTCOME MEASURES: Feasibility rate of intraoperative TES-mMEP/cSSEP monitoring. METHODS: All patients underwent a preoperative neurological evaluation and preoperative mMEP and cSSEP recordings at both legs. For each factor associated with feasibility, we computed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value. A decision tree was designed. RESULTS: Presence of any of the following factors was associated with 100% feasibility, 100% specificity, and 100% PPV: idiopathic scoliosis, normal preoperative neurological findings, and normal preoperative mMEP and cSSEP recordings. Feasibility was 0% in the eight patients with no recordable mMEPs or cSSEPs during preoperative testing. A decision tree involving three screening steps can be used to identify patients in whom intraoperative TES-mMEP/cSSEP is feasible. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative neurological and neurophysiological assessments are helpful for identifying patients who can be successfully monitored by TES-mMEP/cSSEP during scoliosis surgery

Prevalence and spectrum of SDHx mutations in pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma in patients from Belgium: an update

Since the early 2000s, the prevalence and spectrum of mutations in genes encoding subunits of succinate dehydrogenase (SDHx) were reported in large cohorts of patients with pheochromocytoma (PC) and paraganglioma (PGL) from most Western countries. Unfortunately, in Belgium, no equivalent work was performed thus far. Therefore, the aim of the work was to look for mutations in SDHx genes and genotype-phenotype correlations in patients with PC and/or PGL from Belgium. Screening of the coding parts of SDHx genes and deletion search were performed in all patients with PC and/or PGL referred to the Cliniques Universitaires Saint-Luc from 05/2003 to 05/2011. Genetic screening was performed in 59 unrelated head and neck (hn)PGLs (8 fami lial) and 53 PCs (7 extra-adrenal; 3 metastatic). In hnPGLs, 10 diff erent SDHD mutations (3 substitutions, 5 deletions, 2 splice site mutations) were detected in 16 patients, including 7 familial cases and 9 apparently sporadic cases. In the same subset, we found 8 diff erent SDHB mutations (5 substitutions, 1 splice ite mutation, 1 deletion, 1 duplication) in 10 patients with sporadic hnPGL without evidence of malignancy. No SDHx mutation was detected in patients harboring PCs and no SDHC mutation whatsoever. In conclusion, in our multicentric database of PC-PGLs from Belgium, (i) the prevalence of SDHx mutations was high in hnPGLs (44 % in the whole subset, 37 % of apparently sporadic cases); (ii) in sporadic cases, the prevalence of SDHB mutations was high (20 %), similar to that of SDHD (18 %); and (iii) no SDHx mutation was found in a subset of mostly adrenal, benign PCs