Synthesis, Structure and Electrochemical Behavior of New RPONOP (R = tBu, iPr) Pincer Complexes of the Fe2+, Co2+, Ni2+ and Zn2+ ions.

International audienceThe coordination chemistry of the M2+ ions of the first row elements iron, cobalt, nickel and zinc was explored with the ligands RPONOP (2,6-(R2PO)(C5H3N), R = iPr and tBu). Syntheses and characterization of the complexes Fe(RPONOP)Br2, Co(tBuPONOP)Cl2, Ni(RPONOP)I2 and Zn(RPONOP)I2 (R = tBu, iPr) are reported together with the crystal structures of Fe(RPONOP)Br2 (R = iPr and tBu), Co(tBuPONOP)Cl2, Co(iPrPONOP)Cl(m-Cl)CoCl2(THF), Ni(iPrPONOP)I2, Zn(iPrPONOP)I2 and of the oxidation product Zn[tBuP(=O)ONOP(=O)]I2 resulting from reaction with oxygen. The electrochemical behavior of the M(tBuPONOP)X2 complexes has been investigated in acetonitrile. While the nickel compound is stable, all the complexes are sensitive to dissociation of the RPONOP ligand or ligand scrambling in strongly coordinating media. Catalytic activity in formic acid dehydrogenation with TONs up to 1143 has been found for Ni(tBuPONOP)I2

Planning for Bone Excision in Ewing Sarcoma: Post-Chemotherapy MRI More Accurate Than Pre-Chemotherapy MRI Assessment

International audienceBACKGROUND: In determining the level of bone resection in Ewing sarcoma, the most suitable time at which to perform magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remains controversial. Current guidelines recommend that surgical planning be based on MRI performed prior to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The goal of this study was to determine whether pre-chemotherapy or post-chemotherapy MRI provides greater accuracy of tumor limits for planning bone excision in the management of Ewing sarcoma.METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective study. MRI was performed using 3 sequences: T1-weighted, T1-weighted with contrast enhancement by gadolinium injection, and a fluid-sensitive sequence (STIR [short tau inversion recovery] or proton-density-weighted with fat saturation). The tumor extent as assessed on pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy MRI was compared with histological measurement of the resected specimen.RESULTS: Twenty patients with Ewing sarcoma of a long bone were included. In 6 cases, the tumor was located on the femur, in 5, the tibia; in 5, the fibula; and in 4, the humerus. The median patient age at diagnosis was 9.7 years. We found greater accuracy of measurements from MRI scans acquired after chemotherapy than from those acquired before chemotherapy. For both pre-chemotherapy and post-chemotherapy MRI, the greatest accuracy was achieved with the nonenhanced T1 sequence. There was no benefit to gadolinium enhancement. The median difference between T1 MRI and histological measurements was 19.0 mm (interquartile range [IQR], 4.3 to 32.8 mm) before chemotherapy and 5.0 mm (IQR, 2.0 to 13.0 mm) after chemotherapy. Adding a minimum margin of 20 mm to the limit of the tumor on post-chemotherapy T1 MRI always led to safe histological margin.CONCLUSIONS: Post-chemotherapy MRI provided a more accurate assessment of the limits of Ewing sarcoma. Surgical planning can therefore be based on post-chemotherapy MRI. Surgical cuts can be, at minimum, 20 mm from the limits as seen on MRI

Evaluation of voriconazole anti-Acanthamoeba polyphaga in vitro activity, rat cornea penetration and efficacy against experimental rat Acanthamoeba keratitis

International audienceBackground: Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) is a sight-threatening infectious disease. Its effective and safe medical therapy remains highly debated. Recently, voriconazole, a monotriazole with noted in vitro activity against a large variety of fungi, has been successfully used both topically and systemically to treat human AK cases.Objectives: To measure anti-Acanthamoeba polyphaga in vitro activity, anti-rat AK efficiency and rat cornea penetration of eye-drop and oral voriconazole.Methods: A. polyphaga was maintained in axenic cultures. In vitro, amoebicidal and cysticidal activities of voriconazole were measured using an XTT assay. AK lesions of Sprague Dawley rats were scored from grade 0 to grade 3. For 21 days, from day 7 post-infection, voriconazole (1% solution) eye drops were instilled or voriconazole was administered by gavage (60 mg/kg/day). After killing, superficial corneal epithelium scrapings were cultured and analysed by PCR, and eye-globe histology was performed. Cornea and plasma concentrations were determined using 2D HPLC separation and tandem MS.Results: In vitro, voriconazole inhibited trophozoite proliferation with an IC50 value of 0.02 mg/L and an IC90 value of 2.86 mg/L; no cysticidal effect was found. In AK rats, eye drops reduced clinical worsening from day 7 to day 14 post-infection and oral voriconazole was not effective. Voriconazole cornea concentrations were directly dependent on the frequency of eye-drop instillations, which resulted in lower plasma concentrations, whilst oral voriconazole resulted in lower cornea concentrations.Conclusions: Present data underline the need for high-frequency eye-drop instillation regimens for efficient AK therapy

Enabling planetary science across light-years. Ariel Definition Study Report

Ariel, the Atmospheric Remote-sensing Infrared Exoplanet Large-survey, was adopted as the fourth medium-class mission in ESA's Cosmic Vision programme to be launched in 2029. During its 4-year mission, Ariel will study what exoplanets are made of, how they formed and how they evolve, by surveying a diverse sample of about 1000 extrasolar planets, simultaneously in visible and infrared wavelengths. It is the first mission dedicated to measuring the chemical composition and thermal structures of hundreds of transiting exoplanets, enabling planetary science far beyond the boundaries of the Solar System. The payload consists of an off-axis Cassegrain telescope (primary mirror 1100 mm x 730 mm ellipse) and two separate instruments (FGS and AIRS) covering simultaneously 0.5-7.8 micron spectral range. The satellite is best placed into an L2 orbit to maximise the thermal stability and the field of regard. The payload module is passively cooled via a series of V-Groove radiators; the detectors for the AIRS are the only items that require active cooling via an active Ne JT cooler. The Ariel payload is developed by a consortium of more than 50 institutes from 16 ESA countries, which include the UK, France, Italy, Belgium, Poland, Spain, Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Hungary, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, Estonia, and a NASA contribution

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

COVID-19 symptoms at hospital admission vary with age and sex: results from the ISARIC prospective multinational observational study

Background: The ISARIC prospective multinational observational study is the largest cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We present relationships of age, sex, and nationality to presenting symptoms. Methods: International, prospective observational study of 60 109 hospitalized symptomatic patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 recruited from 43 countries between 30 January and 3 August 2020. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate relationships of age and sex to published COVID-19 case definitions and the most commonly reported symptoms. Results: ‘Typical’ symptoms of fever (69%), cough (68%) and shortness of breath (66%) were the most commonly reported. 92% of patients experienced at least one of these. Prevalence of typical symptoms was greatest in 30- to 60-year-olds (respectively 80, 79, 69%; at least one 95%). They were reported less frequently in children (≤ 18 years: 69, 48, 23; 85%), older adults (≥ 70 years: 61, 62, 65; 90%), and women (66, 66, 64; 90%; vs. men 71, 70, 67; 93%, each P < 0.001). The most common atypical presentations under 60 years of age were nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain, and over 60 years was confusion. Regression models showed significant differences in symptoms with sex, age and country. Interpretation: This international collaboration has allowed us to report reliable symptom data from the largest cohort of patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Adults over 60 and children admitted to hospital with COVID-19 are less likely to present with typical symptoms. Nausea and vomiting are common atypical presentations under 30 years. Confusion is a frequent atypical presentation of COVID-19 in adults over 60 years. Women are less likely to experience typical symptoms than men

Functional exploration of adipose stem cells (ASC) at the onset of obesity associated diseases

Le tissu adipeux (TA) contribue à l’inflammation chronique associée aux complications de l’obésité (diabète, ). Au début de l’obésité, l’inflammation est de bas grade suggérant des mécanismes immunosuppresseurs, dont l’activité décroit avec l’obésité, accélérant la survenue des complications. Les cellules souches adipocytaires (CSA) participent au développement puis à l’homéostasie des dépôts de TA sous-cutanés (SAT) et viscéraux (VAT). Sous l’effet de stimuli inflammatoires, elles exercent in vitro des fonctions immunosuppressives, ces propriétés sont cependant perdues quand elles sont isolées de TA inflammatoires dans l’obésité avancée. Le rôle des CSA dans l’homéostasie immunitaire du TA est peu connu. Nous avons émis l’hypothèse que les CSA ont une fonction immunosuppressive active dès le début de l’obésité et que son altération participe à la survenue des complications de l’obésité. Pour aborder cette question, j’ai mis en œuvre deux protocoles d’obésité induite par la diète chez la souris C57Bl/6 et exploré les fonctions des CSA isolées des dépôts sous-cutanés (CSA-S) et viscéraux (CSA-V). Mes travaux confirment d’importantes différences à l’état sain, dans le potentiel de prolifération et de différenciation des CSA-S et -V. Nous montrons que ces différences correspondent à des métabolomes distincts avec une plus forte activité glycolytique des CSA-V, et mitochondriale des CSA-S. Grâce à ce modèle, nous avons pu étudier les propriétés immunosuppressives des CSA dans les phases précoces de l’obésité et dans les deux types de dépôts de TA. Une cinétique de 6, 10 et 14 semaines (s) de régime riche en gras (HF) nous a permis de couvrir plusieurs étapes de l’obésité, depuis l’intolérance au glucose dès 6 s, sans inflammation des TA, jusqu’à la résistance à l’insuline à 14 s de régime et l’inflammation du VAT mais pas du SAT. Mes résultats montrent que dès 6 s, les CSA-V en réponse au HF attirent les macrophages tout en inhibant leur polarisation M1 pro-inflammatoire. En parallèle, les CSA-S induites par le régime HF suppriment la prolifération des lymphocytes T activés et inhibent fortement leur migration. Cette étude montre (i) que les CSA des 2 dépôts sont activées par le régime HF indépendamment de l’inflammation et de la durée du régime, (ii) que les propriétés immunosuppressives induites concernent des cibles différentes selon les dépôts, (iii) qu’elles sont encore présentes au début de la résistance à l’insuline. L’analyse des TA fraichement isolés montre que la progression de l’obésité diminue la prolifération et la proportion des CSA. A ce stade de l’obésité précédant l’inflammation du SAT, le caractère souche des CSA in vitro n’est pas touché mais l’exposition à l’environnement obésogène empêche leur maintien dans les dépôts. Dans un second protocole, j’ai exploré l’impact de la surnutrition maternelle pendant l’allaitement sur les propriétés des CSA de la descendance adulte. Ce contexte prédispose la descendance au développement de maladies métaboliques. Nous voulions savoir si les CSA sont des cibles du régime maternel et conservent des altérations à long terme. J’ai isolé les CSA-S et -V de la descendance 6 s après le sevrage et exploré l’impact d’un régime HF post-sevrage. L’analyse par RNAseq montre que le régime maternel altère le transcriptome des CSA à l’âge adulte et induit une intolérance au glucose, même avec un régime standard post-sevrage. Trois catégories de gènes sont particulièrement affectées par les régimes HF : mortalité, stress métabolique, synthèse des protéines et ribosomes. D'autres ne sont affectées que par le régime de la mère. Pour les gènes associés à la mortalité, une accentuation du différentiel est observée lors du cumul des régimes HF maternel et post-sevrage. Nous montrons que les CSA sont altérées avant les complications de la descendance adulte. Les CSA peuvent donc être programmées par la surnutrition des mères et pourraient être des vecteurs des dysfonctionnements futurs du TAObesity induces a chronic inflammation responsible for complications (diabetes, cardiovascular diseases) where adipose tissue plays a central role. At the onset of obesity, inflammation is at low grade suggesting the control by immunosuppressive mechanisms that decrease with obesity, promoting complications. Adipose stem cells (ASC) support the development and the homeostasis of adipose tissue in subcutaneous and visceral adipose depots. Inflammatory stimuli induce immunosuppressive functions in ASC in vitro, but published data report that ASC isolated from inflammatory adipose tissues in established obesity have lost these properties. The role of ASC in the immune homeostasis of adipose tissue is poorly known. We made the hypothesis that immunosuppressive properties of ASC are induced since the onset of obesity and that their alterations contribute to complications. To address this question, I performed two protocols of diet induced obesity in mice and I explored the functions of ASC isolated from subcutaneous (S-ASC) and visceral (V-ASC) adipose depots. My results show major differences in the proliferation and the differentiation potential of ASC from distinct adipose depots, according to published data. We reveal that these differences correlate with distinct metabolomes, V-ASC having lower mitochondrial and higher glycolytic activity than S-ASC. Using this model, we studied the immunosuppressive functions of ASC in early obesity in both adipose depots. To this end we performed a kinetic of 6, 10 and 14 weeks of high fat diet (HF) in C57Bl/6 mice. This timing covered low grade inflammation progress from glucose intolerance with 6 weeks of diet in the absence of adipose tissue inflammation, to insulin resistance at 14 weeks of diet associated with visceral, but not subcutaneous, adipose tissue inflammation. My results show that at 6 weeks of HF diet, V-ASC attracted macrophages and inhibited the pro-inflammatory M1 polarization of these cells. At the same time, S-ASC completely suppressed the proliferation of activated T lymphocytes and strongly inhibited their migration. This study shows (i) that CSA from both adipose depots are activated by HF diet, independently of inflammation and diet time, (ii) that the induced immunosuppressive properties target distinct immune cells, (iii) that they are maintained with resistance to insulin. The analysis of adipose tissue composition showed that the ASC population decreased and had lower proliferation rate with HF diet. This indicate that at the onset of obesity, intrinsic properties of ASC were maintained in vitro but their environment altered their maintenance in both adipose depots. In a second protocol, I explored the consequences of maternal overnutrition during lactation on the properties of ASC in the adulthood. It has been reported that these conditions favorize the development of metabolic diseases in the offspring. We wondered whether ASC are targeted by maternal diet and develop long term alterations. I isolated S- and V-ASC from the offspring 6 weeks after weaning and I explored the influence of a HF post-weaning diet. RNA seq analysis showed that maternal diet altered the transcriptome of ASC in the adulthood and induced glucose intolerance, even in animal fed with a standard diet after weaning. Gene expression altered in ASC support cell death, metabolic stress, transcription, protein synthesis. Some genes are only affected by the mother’s diet. For genes associated with cell death, differential expressions induced by HF diet are increased when cumulated with mother’s HF diet. These results show that alterations of ASC precede the complications in the adult offspring. ASC can thus be programmed by maternal overnutrition and are the probable vectors of later adipose tissue dysfunction

Role of the Gut Microbiome in Skeletal Muscle Physiology and Pathophysiology.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review aims to summarize the recent findings about the contribution of the gut microbiome to muscle pathophysiology and discuss molecular pathways that may be involved in such process. Related findings in the context of cancer cachexia are outlined. RECENT FINDINGS: Many bacterial metabolites have been reported to exert a beneficial or detrimental impact on muscle physiology. Most of the evidence concentrates on short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), with an emerging role for bile acids, bacterial amino acid metabolites (bAAms), and bacterial polyphenol metabolites. Other molecular players worth considering include cytokines, hormones, lipopolysaccharides, and quorum sensing molecules. The current literature clearly establishes the ability for the gut microbiome to modulate muscle function and mass. The understanding of the mechanisms underlying this gut-muscle axis may lead to the delivery of novel therapeutic tools to tackle muscle wasting in cancer cachexia, chronic kidney disease, liver fibrosis, and age-related sarcopenia

Interactions entre les traitements du diabète et le microbiote intestinal : état des connaissances et perspectives

Le traitement du diabète de type 2 (DT2) débute par la modification de l’alimentation et de l’activité physique, qui modulent tous deux, à des degrés différents, le microbiote. Si l’objectif glycémique n’est pas atteint, la metformine est introduite. Le traitement pourra ensuite être intensifié avec une bi-, voire une multi-thérapie. Les preuves murines, voire humaines, que ces traitements médicamenteux modulent le microbiote s’accumulent. Par ailleurs, pour les patients atteints de DT2 et d’obésité sévère, la chirurgie bariatrique peut être proposée et modifie la composition microbienne. Quelques études pilotes ont initié la mise en évidence de signatures microbiennes prédictives de rémission du DT2 après chirurgie. Enfin, d’autres approches thérapeutiques (probiotiques de nouvelle génération, transfert de microbiote fécal), utilisées chez des patients atteints d’obésité et de syndrome métabolique, améliorent l’insulino-resistance. Ces traitements représentent des perspectives thérapeutiques du DT2, mais méritent encore d’être plus largement étudiés chez des patients diabétiques. Cette revue détaille l’état des connaissances sur les modulations du microbiote par l’ensemble des thérapeutiques citées et leurs liens avec l’amélioration du contrôle glycémique.[Interplay between glucose lowering drugs and the intestinal gut microbiota: What is currently known and future directions] Type 2 diabetes (T2D) management starts with modifications of food patterns and dietary intake with an increase in physical activity, two parameters known to differentially modulate the intestinal gut microbiota. As a second step, if the glycemic target is not achieved, metformin is the first line of treatment. If hyperglycemia persists, several other glucose lowering drugs can be added. To date, the literature has accumulated evidence from murine models as well as from human studies that these drugs modulate the intestinal gut microbiota. Furthermore, for patients with T2D and severe obesity, bariatric surgery is a new therapeutic option that improves glycemic control and modifies the composition of the intestinal microbiota. A few pilot studies have even displayed some microbial signatures of T2D remission after bariatric surgery. Finally, several new therapeutic approaches (next generation probiotics, fecal microbiota transfer), tested in patients with obesity and the metabolic syndrome, improve insulin resistance. These treatments are new therapeutic perspectives that should now be tested in patients with T2D. This review details how all the above treatment options modulate the intestinal gut microbiota and their links with improved glucose control