Angiotensin Converting Enzyme and Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Polymorphisms in Patients with Coronary Aneurysms

BACKGROUND: Conflicting results have been reported regarding the association of gene polymorphisms in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) with different aspects of coronary artery disease (CAD), such as myocardial infarction, neointimal hyperplasia or coronary artery vasomotion. Since previous studies have linked angiotensin II to aneurysmal disease, our study hypothesis was that RAS gene polymorphisms may be associated with aneurysm remodeling in response to CAD. METHODS: The study population was selected from a series of 3862 consecutive patients who underwent coronary angiography in our institution. One hundred and thirteen consecutive patients with at least one coronary aneurysm (CA) were compared to 226 randomized control patients without CA. DNA was extracted from white blood cells. The angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) I/D and angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1-R) A/C polymorphisms were detected using previously published techniques. RESULTS: The distributions of the three ACE genotypes were similar in both groups: CA: 13%, 46%, and 41% for II, ID, and DD respectively; controls: 18%, 41%, and 41% for II, ID, and DD respectively, p = 0.45. The distributions of the three AT1-R genotypes were also similar in both groups: CA: 54%, 41%, and 5% for AA, AC, and CC respectively; controls: 55%, 33%, and 12%, for AA, AC, and CC respectively, p = 0.08. CONCLUSION: Our results provide further information on the role of RAS polymorphisms on specific mechanisms implicated in CAD. Although an activated RAS may theoretically promote aneurysm formation, the 2 RAS polymorphisms analyzed in this study are not associated with this process in coronary arteries

Facteurs prédictifs de survie prolongée après désobstruction bronchoscopique des cancers bronchiques

TOULOUSE3-BU Santé-Centrale (315552105) / SudocSudocFranceF

Prévalence des lésions prénéoplasiques bronchiques lors du diagnostic de carcinome ORL (intérêt de la vidéoendoscopie bronchique avec autofluorescence)

Les patients porteurs de carcinome ORL présentent fréquemment un cancer bronchique synchrone c'est-à-dire apparaissant moins de 6 mois après le diagnostic de cancer ORL. Très peu d études ont rapporté la prévalence des lésions prénéoplasiques bronchiques chez ces patients et aucune la prévalence des lésions prénéoplasiques bronchiques synchrones. Or l apparition de la vidéoendoscopie bronchique avec autofluorescence permet désormais de détecter 2 fois plus de lésions prénéoplasiques bronchiques. Nous avons réalisé une étude prospective, monocentrique afin d évaluer cette prévalence. 29 patients ont été inclus. La prévalence des patients atteints de lésions prénéoplasiques de haut grade est de 3,4%. Ces lésions n étaient pas détectées par le scanner thoracique. La vidéoendoscopie bronchique en autofluorescence pourrait donc être utilisée en association au scanner thoracique afin de détecter les lésions prénéoplasiques bronchiques synchrones.TOULOUSE3-BU Santé-Centrale (315552105) / SudocPARIS-BIUM (751062103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Optical pancreatic beta cell based biosensor, applications and glucose monitoring

An optical pancreatic beta-cell based biosensor for measuring cytosolic [Ca2+] is presented in this work. An in vitro bio-electronic system is built for testing various applications and characterizing features of the biosensor. A panoply of applications such as effect of temperature and response of the cells in culture media with 11 mM glucose vs. KRBH with 0 mM glucose are explored. The effect of the excitation light intensity and integration time on the fluorescence performance of the biosensor FRET probe are elucidated experimentally

Integration of interventional bronchoscopy in the management of lung cancer

Tracheal or bronchial proximal stenoses occur as complications in 20–30% of lung cancers, resulting in a dramatic alteration in quality of life and poor prognosis. Bronchoscopic management of these obstructions is based on what are known as “thermal” techniques for intraluminal stenosis and/or placement of tracheal or bronchial prostheses for extrinsic compressions, leading to rapid symptom palliation in the vast majority of patients. This invasive treatment should only be used in cases of symptomatic obstructions and in the presence of viable bronchial tree and downstream parenchyma. This review aims to clarify 1) the available methods for assessing the characteristics of stenoses before treatment, 2) the various techniques available including their preferred indications, outcomes and complications, and 3) the integration of interventional bronchoscopy in the multidisciplinary management of proximal bronchial cancers and its synergistic effects with the other specific treatments (surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy)

Fluid mechanical interactions during vowel-plosive production

International audienc

piRNAs and epigenetic conversion in Drosophila

International audienceTransposable element (TE) activity is repressed in the Drosophila germline by Piwi-Interacting RNAs (piRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs. These piRNAs are produced by discrete genomic loci containing TE fragments. In a recent publication, we tested for the existence of a strict epigenetic induction of piRNA production capacity by a locus in the D. melanogaster genome. We used 2 lines carrying a transgenic 7-copy tandem cluster (P-lacZ-white) at the same genomic site. This cluster generates in both lines a local heterochromatic sector. One line (T-1) produces high levels of ovarian piRNAs homologous to the P-lacZ-white transgenes and shows a strong capacity to repress homologous sequences in trans, whereas the other line (BX2) is devoid of both of these capacities. The properties of these 2 lines are perfectly stable over generations. We have shown that the maternal transmission of a cytoplasm carrying piRNAs from the first line can confer to the inert transgenic locus of the second, a totally de novo capacity to produce high levels of piRNAs as well as the ability to induce homology-dependent silencing in trans. These new properties are stably inherited over generations (n > 50). Furthermore, the converted locus has itself become able to convert an inert transgenic locus via cytoplasmic maternal inheritance. This results in a stable epigenetic conversion process, which can be performed recurrently-a phenomenon termed paramutation and discovered in Maize 60 y ago. Paramutation in Drosophila corresponds to the first stable paramutation in animals and provides a model system to investigate the epigenetically induced emergence of a piRNA-producing locus, a crucial step in epigenome shaping. In this Extra View, we discuss some additional functional aspects and the possible molecular mechanism of this piRNA-linked paramutation

Paramutation in Drosophila Requires Both Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Actors of the piRNA Pathway and Induces Cis-spreading of piRNA Production

International audienceTransposable element activity is repressed in the germline in animals by PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), a class of small RNAs produced by genomic loci mostly composed of TE sequences. The mechanism of induction of piRNA production by these loci is still enigmatic. We have shown that, in Drosophila melanogaster, a cluster of tandemly repeated P-lacZ-white transgenes can be activated for piRNA production by maternal inheritance of a cytoplasm containing homologous piRNAs. This activated state is stably transmitted over generations and allows trans-silencing of a homologous transgenic target in the female germline. Such an epigenetic conversion displays the functional characteristics of a paramutation, i.e., a heritable epigenetic modification of one allele by the other. We report here that piRNA production and trans-silencing capacities of the paramutated cluster depend on the function of the rhino, cutoff, and zucchini genes involved in primary piRNA biogenesis in the germline, as well as on that of the aubergine gene implicated in the ping-pong piRNA amplification step. The 21-nt RNAs, which are produced by the paramutated cluster, in addition to 23- to 28-nt piRNAs are not necessary for paramutation to occur. Production of these 21-nt RNAs requires Dicer-2 but also all the piRNA genes tested. Moreover, cytoplasmic transmission of piRNAs homologous to only a subregion of the transgenic locus can generate a strong paramutated locus that produces piRNAs along the whole length of the transgenes. Finally, we observed that maternally inherited transgenic small RNAs can also impact transgene expression in the soma. In conclusion, paramutation involves both nuclear (Rhino, Cutoff) and cytoplasmic (Aubergine, Zucchini) actors of the piRNA pathway. In addition, since it is observed between nonfully homologous loci located on different chromosomes, paramutation may play a crucial role in epigenome shaping in Drosophila natural populations