The effects of optic zone diameter in orthokeratology

Seven orthokeratology patients were studied to determine whether the myopic orthokeratology treatments of 7.0, 6.0, 5.0 mm optical zones would make a significant difference in the outcome of visual acuity, apical radius, and treatment area. It was our hypothesis that the 7.0 mm optical zone would give the best outcome in visual acuity, the biggest change in apical radius and treatment area. Our hypothesis was supported in the two areas above. The 7.0 mm optical zone has the biggest change in the apical radius and treatment area. However, the best visual acuity outcome was seen with the 6.0 mm optical zone orthokeratology lenses

Genomic conservation of cattle microsatellite loci in wild gaur (Bos gaurus) and current genetic status of this species in Vietnam

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The wild gaur (<it>Bos gaurus</it>) is an endangered wild cattle species. In Vietnam, the total number of wild gaurs is estimated at a maximum of 500 individuals. Inbreeding and genetic drift are current relevant threats to this small population size. Therefore, information about the genetic status of the Vietnamese wild gaur population is essential to develop strategies for conservation and effective long-term management for this species. In the present study, we performed cross-species amplification of 130 bovine microsatellite markers, in order to evaluate the applicability and conservation of cattle microsatellite loci in the wild gaur genome. The genetic diversity of Vietnamese wild gaur was also investigated, based on data collected from the 117 successfully amplified loci.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One hundred-thirty cattle microsatellite markers were tested on a panel of 11 animals. Efficient amplifications were observed for 117 markers (90%) with a total of 264 alleles, and of these, 68 (58.1%) gave polymorphic band patterns. The number of alleles per locus among the polymorphic markers ranged from two to six. Thirteen loci (<it>BM1314</it>, <it>BM2304</it>, <it>BM6017</it>, <it>BMC2228</it>, <it>BMS332</it>, <it>BMS911</it>, <it>CSSM023</it>, <it>ETH123</it>, <it>HAUT14</it>, <it>HEL11</it>, <it>HEL5</it>, <it>ILSTS005 </it>and <it>INRA189</it>) distributed on nine different cattle chromosomes failed to amplify wild gaur genomic DNA. Three cattle Y-chromosome specific microsatellite markers (<it>INRA124</it>, <it>INRA126 </it>and <it>BM861</it>) were also highly specific in wild gaur, only displaying an amplification product in the males. Genotype data collected from the 117 successfully amplified microsatellites were used to assess the genetic diversity of this species in Vietnam. Polymorphic Information Content (PIC) values varied between 0.083 and 0.767 with a mean of 0.252 while observed heterozygosities (<it>H</it>_<it>o</it>) ranged from 0.091 to 0.909 (mean of 0.269). Nei's unbiased mean heterozygosity and the mean allele number across loci were 0.298 and 2.2, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Extensive conservation of cattle microsatellite loci in the wild gaur genome, as shown by our results, indicated a high applicability of bovine microsatellites for genetic characterization and population genetic studies of this species. Moreover, the low genetic diversity observed in Vietnamese wild gaur further underlines the necessity of specific strategies and appropriate management plans to preserve this endangered species from extinction.</p

Inflammatory Pathway Genes Belong to Major Targets of Persistent Organic Pollutants in Adipose Cells

Background: Epidemiological studies emphasize the possible role of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in obesity and the metabolic syndrome. These pollutants are stored in adipose tissue (AT)

Safety and efficacy of fluoxetine on functional outcome after acute stroke (AFFINITY): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Trials of fluoxetine for recovery after stroke report conflicting results. The Assessment oF FluoxetINe In sTroke recoverY (AFFINITY) trial aimed to show if daily oral fluoxetine for 6 months after stroke improves functional outcome in an ethnically diverse population. Methods AFFINITY was a randomised, parallel-group, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial done in 43 hospital stroke units in Australia (n=29), New Zealand (four), and Vietnam (ten). Eligible patients were adults (aged ≥18 years) with a clinical diagnosis of acute stroke in the previous 2–15 days, brain imaging consistent with ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke, and a persisting neurological deficit that produced a modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 1 or more. Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 via a web-based system using a minimisation algorithm to once daily, oral fluoxetine 20 mg capsules or matching placebo for 6 months. Patients, carers, investigators, and outcome assessors were masked to the treatment allocation. The primary outcome was functional status, measured by the mRS, at 6 months. The primary analysis was an ordinal logistic regression of the mRS at 6 months, adjusted for minimisation variables. Primary and safety analyses were done according to the patient's treatment allocation. The trial is registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry, ACTRN12611000774921. Findings Between Jan 11, 2013, and June 30, 2019, 1280 patients were recruited in Australia (n=532), New Zealand (n=42), and Vietnam (n=706), of whom 642 were randomly assigned to fluoxetine and 638 were randomly assigned to placebo. Mean duration of trial treatment was 167 days (SD 48·1). At 6 months, mRS data were available in 624 (97%) patients in the fluoxetine group and 632 (99%) in the placebo group. The distribution of mRS categories was similar in the fluoxetine and placebo groups (adjusted common odds ratio 0·94, 95% CI 0·76–1·15; p=0·53). Compared with patients in the placebo group, patients in the fluoxetine group had more falls (20 [3%] vs seven [1%]; p=0·018), bone fractures (19 [3%] vs six [1%]; p=0·014), and epileptic seizures (ten [2%] vs two [<1%]; p=0·038) at 6 months. Interpretation Oral fluoxetine 20 mg daily for 6 months after acute stroke did not improve functional outcome and increased the risk of falls, bone fractures, and epileptic seizures. These results do not support the use of fluoxetine to improve functional outcome after stroke

CDK4/6 INHIBITORS AS NOVEL THERAPY IN NASOPHARYNGEAL CARCINOMA

Ph.DDOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY (CSI

BA/BFA Senior Exhibition Presentations, School of Art

Presentations of original artwork by School of Art Seniors Joi Stack and Linh Chi Bui

Interactions entre informations ovocytaires et informations embryonnaires au moment de l'activation du génome chez les mammifères

L activation transcriptionnelle du génome est une étape critique de l embryogenèse. Jusqu alors régulé strictement par l information maternelle, le développement passe progressivement sous le contrôle embryonnaire. Cette transition (MET - Maternal Embryonic Transition) suppose des interactions, étroitement régulées et déterminantes pour le développement ultérieur de l embryon, entre l information maternelle cytoplasmique et le noyau embryonnaire qui devient totipotent. Parce qu il perturbe les interactions nucléocytoplasmiques mais permet un développement à terme, donc la restauration de la totipotence nucléaire ("reprogrammation"), le clonage représente un modèle d étude de ces interactions. Dans ce contexte, notre recherche a été conduite avec l objectif d analyser comment s acquiert l état particulier qui caractérise le noyau embryonnaire au moment oū il initie ses premières synthèses en devenant transitoirement totipotent. A cette fin, nous avons développé une étude comparative du patron d'expression des gènes dans l'embryon de bovin issu d'un développement normal, représentant le contrôle de rétablissement optimal de la totipotence (reprogrammation MET), et d'un développement où les interactions nucléocytoplasmiques sont expérimentalement perturbées par clonage somatique, représentant des situations de décroissance progressive de l efficacité de reprogrammation. Le choix du modèle bovin, parce qu il procure ces situations biologiques différentielles, et la volonté d obtenir une information pertinente sur un processus global par analyse transcriptomique de ces situations nous ont conduit à développer des outils et des approches moléculaires appropriés (réseau d'ADNc dédié, procédure pertinente de criblage différentiel à partir de matériel rare). Notre travail a permis d accéder à une description dynamique des deux modes de reprogrammation étudiés. Ces résultats mettent en lumière une corrélation directe et "quantitative" entre: l ampleur de la reprogrammation de l expression des gènes (ou le degré de corrélation entre les 2 modes de reprogrammation) et l efficacité fonctionnelle de la reprogrammation se soldant par un développement à terme des individus clonés. Ils pourraient donc déboucher sur la mise en œuvre d un critère prédictif précoce de l aptitude de lignées de cellules donneuses de noyaux à une reprogrammation efficace, permettant de prévoir le potentiel de développement à terme des embryons reconstitués par transfert de leurs noyaux. Au-delà de ces perspectives d application, l'utilisation de cette approche de comparaison globale devrait nous permettre de mieux caractériser l'état totipotent en vue de comprendre les conditions de sa restauration.Transcriptional activation of the genome is a critical step in embryogenesis. Until that point, development is regulated strictly by maternal information, before gradually moving under embryonic control. This transition (MET for Maternal Embryonic Transition) implies interactions which are closely regulated and determinant regarding subsequent embryonic development between maternal cytoplasmic information and the embryonic nucleus which becomes totipotent. Because it perturbs nucleocytoplasmic interactions but enables long-term development, and hence the restoration of nuclear totipotence ("reprogramming"), cloning constitutes a study model for these interactions.In this context, our research was carried out with the aim of analysing the acquisition of the particular state which characterises the embryonic nucleus at the time it initiates its first syntheses by becoming transiently totipotent. For this purpose, we developed a comparative study of the pattern of gene expressionin bovine embryo arising from normal development, thus representing control of the optimum restoration of totipotence (MET reprogramming), and development where the nucleocytoplasmic interactions were experimentally perturbed by somatic cloning, representative of a gradual decline in reprogramming efficiency. The choice of the bovine model (because it enables these differential biological situations) and our desire to obtain relevant data on a global process through transcriptomic analysis of these situations, led us to develop appropriate molecular tools and approaches (dedicated cDNA network, appropriate procedure for differential screening starting from scarce material). Our work enabled access to a dynamic description of the two reprogramming modes studied. These results highlighted a direct and "quantitative" correlation between the extent of reprogramming of gene expression (or the degree of correlation between the two reprogramming modes) and the functional efficacy of reprogramming resulting in the subsequent long term development of cloned individuals. The results may thus enable the implementation of an early-stage predictive criterion concerning the aptitude of nucleus-donor cell lines for efficient reprogramming, enabling prediction of the long-term potential for development of embryos reconstituted by transfer of their nuclei. In addition to these perspectives for application, use of this global comparative approach should allow us to better characterise the totipotent state and thus understand more clearly the conditions required for its restoration.ORSAY-PARIS 11-BU Sciences (914712101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Le récepteur de la dioxine : rôle endogène et médiateur de la toxicité de la dioxine

International audienceMany organic pollutants are ligands of the Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor (AhR), which is a transcriptional factor whose historical function was to regulate the expression of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes involved in detoxication. Dioxins and aromatic hydrocarbons are ligands and activators of the AhR and lead to various toxicities on animal models. They contaminate the food chain and some of them can also accumulate in adipose tissues (namely the persistent organic pollutants). One critical challenge of toxicology is to define the mechanisms responsible for those toxicities. Recent studies also showed that the AhR regulate numerous genes sometimes without binding to a foreign compound. In this review, we will introduce the AhR and its ligands (exogenous and endogenous compounds) and present the toxicities related to the exposure to such molecules but also its endogenous functions