Efecto de la suplementación con vitamina D en monodosis en niños con parálisis cerebral. Estudio preliminar controlado y aleatorizado

Los niños con parálisis cerebral (PC) tienen mayor riesgo de deficiencia de vitamina D (VD). Aunque existen bastantes estudios sobre VD en PC, hay limitada información sobre suplementación con VD en estos pacientes. El objetivo de este artículo es evaluar el efecto de la suplementación con VD en monodosis en las concentraciones plasmáticas de 25-hidroxi-vitamina-D (25OHD) en niños con PC

Interface properties in dielectrics: A cross-section analysis by atomic force microscopy

International audienceEven if interfaces are more and more investigated their properties remain partially unknown, especially as regards their electronic properties. This is mainly related to the lack of characterization at relevant scale. In this context, electrical modes derivate from Atomic Force Microscopy appear well adapted. In this paper, a method to probe space charge at nanoscale is proposed. This method is based on surface potential measurement by Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy (KPFM) and post-processing technique based either on numerical derivation or Finite Element Method. Through these methods, densities of interface charges and injected charges were determined at different metal/dielectric interfaces

First case of Chlamydia trachomatis L2b proctitis in a woman

AbstractSince 2003, outbreaks of lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) have been reported in European countries, North America, and Australia. Current LGV cases have been caused by Chlamydia trachomatis serovar L2. This sexually transmitted infection is predominantly found among men who have sex with men, specifically men who are seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus and have clinical signs of proctitis. The current outbreak has been almost exclusively attributed to a new variant, designated L2b. Although urogenital cases of LGV have been described in the heterosexual population, we report the first case of C. trachomatis L2b proctitis in a woman

Support for single major genes influencing fat androstenone level and development of bulbo-urethral glands in young boars

A two-step genetic analysis was performed on data collected in a fourgeneration selection experiment comprising a control and a selected line in a Large White-Landrace crossbred population. The two-trait selection index used for choosing replacement boars of the selected line included fat androstenone level and the average thickness of right and left bulbo-urethral glands, the latter trait being an indicator of the sexual maturity status of young boars. Fat androstenone level was determined on a biopsy sample of backfat taken at 118 kg liveweight, whereas bulbo-urethral gland size was measured by echotomography, using a rectal probe, at 99 kg liveweight. A total of 949 entire males, from 57 sires and 353 dams, were recorded for both traits. In the first step of analysis, REML genetic parameters were estimated using a bivariate animal model. Heritability estimates (± SE) were 0.55 ± 0.07 for fat androstenone level and 0.63 ± 0.05 for bulbo-urethral gland size. A fairly close genetic correlation (0.68 ± 0.05) was found between the two traits. The second step of analysis consisted in testing the hypothesis of a mixed mode of inheritance (polygenes + major gene) for each trait using segregation analysis methods. A major two-allele gene was found to affect fat androstenone level. Under the genetic model that best explained the situation, the ’low androstenone’ allele (L) is completely dominant over the ’high androstenone’ allele (H), and the difference between HH and LL (or HL) genotypes amounts to three SD units of the trait. A twoallele major gene was also shown to influence bulbo-urethral gland size (difference close to two SD units between the two homozygous genotypes) with a probably incomplete dominance of the ’small size’ allele. There was no evidence for linkage of these genes with the swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) system. Whether these two postulated major genes are a unique gene or not is discussed.Cette étude concerne une analyse génétique, en deux étapes, des données recueillies dans les quatre générations d’une expérience de sélection comportant une lignée témoin et une lignée sélectionnée dans une population croisée à base de Large White et de Landrace. L’indice à deux caractères utilisé pour le choix des verrats de la lignée sélectionnée combinait la teneur en androsténone du gras et l’épaisseur moyenne des glandes bulbo-uréthrales droite et gauche, ce dernier caractère étant un indicateur du statut de maturité sexuelle des jeunes verrats. La teneur en androsténone a été mesurée sur une biopsie de gras dorsal prélevée à 118 kg de poids vif alors que le développement des glandes bulbo-uréthrales a été mesuré par échotomographie, à l’aide d’une sonde rectale, à 99 kg de poids vif. Au total, 9l,9 mâles entiers, issus de 57 pères et 353 mères, ont été mesurés pour l’un et l’autre caractère. Dans la première étape de l’analyse, les paramètres génétiques des deux caractères ont été estimés à l’aide d’une procédure REML appliquée à un modèle animal bicaractère. Les estimées d’héritabilité (± erreur standard) sont 0,55 ± 0,07 pour la teneur en androsténone du gras et 0,63 ± 0,05 pour l’épaisseur moyenne des glandes bulbo-uréthrales. Une corrélation génétique relativement élevée (0,68 ± 0,05) a été trouvée entre les deux caractères. Une seconde étape de l’étude a consisté à tester, à l’aide de méthodes d’analyse de ségrégation, l’hypothèse d’un déterminisme génétique mixte (polygènes + un gène majeur) pour chaque caractère. Un gène à effet majeur sur la teneur en androsténone du gras a été mis en évidence : selon le modèle génétique le plus explicatif, l’allèle « faible» (L) est complètement dominant sur l’allèle « fort» (H), avec une différence entre les génotypes HH et LL (ou HL) voisine de trois écarts types phénotypiques du caractère. Un gène à effet majeur sur l’épaisseur moyenne des glandes bulbo-uréthrales (différence de l’ordre de deux écarts types phénotypiques entre les génotypes homozygotes) a également été mis en évidence avec une dominance probablement incomplète de l’allèle «faible». Ces deux gènes ne semblent pas être liés avec le système d’histocompatibilité majeur (SLA). La possible identité des deux gènes majeurs postulés est discuté

Impact of the microbial derived short chain fatty acid propionate on host susceptibility to bacterial and fungal infections in vivo.

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by intestinal microbes mediate anti-inflammatory effects, but whether they impact on antimicrobial host defenses remains largely unknown. This is of particular concern in light of the attractiveness of developing SCFA-mediated therapies and considering that SCFAs work as inhibitors of histone deacetylases which are known to interfere with host defenses. Here we show that propionate, one of the main SCFAs, dampens the response of innate immune cells to microbial stimulation, inhibiting cytokine and NO production by mouse or human monocytes/macrophages, splenocytes, whole blood and, less efficiently, dendritic cells. In proof of concept studies, propionate neither improved nor worsened morbidity and mortality parameters in models of endotoxemia and infections induced by gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae), gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae) and Candida albicans. Moreover, propionate did not impair the efficacy of passive immunization and natural immunization. Therefore, propionate has no significant impact on host susceptibility to infections and the establishment of protective anti-bacterial responses. These data support the safety of propionate-based therapies, either via direct supplementation or via the diet/microbiota, to treat non-infectious inflammation-related disorders, without increasing the risk of infection

Benefit of the Vittel criteria to determine the need for whole body scanning in a severe trauma patient.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the use of the Vittel criteria in addition to a clinical examination to determine the need for a whole body scan (WBS) in a severe trauma patient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between December 2008 and November 2009, 339 severe trauma patients with at least one Vittel criterion were prospectively evaluated with a WBS. The following data were collected: the Vittel criteria present, circumstances of the accident, traumatic injury on the WBS, and irradiation. The original intent to prescribe a computed tomography (CT) scan (whole body or a targeted region), based solely on clinical signs, was specified. RESULTS: Injuries were diagnosed in 55.75% of the WBS (n=189). The most common Vittel criteria were "global assessment" (n=266), "thrown, run over" (n=116), and "ejected from vehicle" (n=94). The multivariate analysis used the following as independent criteria for predicting severe traumatic injury on the WBS: Glasgow score less than 13, penetrating trauma, and colloid resuscitation greater than 11. Based solely on clinical factors, 164 patients would not have had any scan or (only) a targeted scan. In that case, 15% of the severe injuries would have been missed. CONCLUSION: Using the Vittel criteria to determine the need for a WBS in a severe trauma patient makes it possible to find serious injuries not suspected on the clinical examination, but at the cost of an increased number of normal scans

Mesoscopic molecular ions in Bose-Einstein condensates

We study the possible formation of large (mesoscopic) molecular ions in an ultracold degenerate bosonic gas doped with charged particles (ions). We show that the polarization potentials produced by the ionic impurities are capable of capturing hundreds of atoms into loosely bound states. We describe the spontaneous formation of these hollow molecular ions via phonon emission and suggest an optical technique for coherent stimulated transitions of free atoms into a specific bound state. These results open up new interesting possibilities for manipulating tightly confined ensembles.Comment: 4 pages (two-columns), 2 figure

Trained Immunity Confers Broad-Spectrum Protection Against Bacterial Infections.

The innate immune system recalls a challenge to adapt to a secondary challenge, a phenomenon called trained immunity. Training involves cellular metabolic, epigenetic and functional reprogramming, but how broadly trained immunity protects from infections is unknown. For the first time, we addressed whether trained immunity provides protection in a large panel of preclinical models of infections. Mice were trained and subjected to systemic infections, peritonitis, enteritis, and pneumonia induced by Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter rodentium, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bacteria, cytokines, leukocytes, and hematopoietic precursors were quantified in blood, bone marrow, and organs. The role of monocytes/macrophages, granulocytes, and interleukin 1 signaling was investigated using depletion or blocking approaches. Induction of trained immunity protected mice in all preclinical models, including when training and infection were initiated in distant organs. Trained immunity increased bone marrow hematopoietic progenitors, blood Ly6Chigh inflammatory monocytes and granulocytes, and sustained blood antimicrobial responses. Monocytes/macrophages and interleukin 1 signaling were required to protect trained mice from listeriosis. Trained mice were efficiently protected from peritonitis and listeriosis for up to 5 weeks. Trained immunity confers broad-spectrum protection against lethal bacterial infections. These observations support the development of trained immunity-based strategies to improve host defenses