Hommage à Yves Rouquette

Ma mère était de l’Est. Je ne suis donc pas occitanophone de naissance. Je fus « éveillée » dans l’Enseignement secondaire et à la Faculté des Lettres de Montpellier. Élue à la « Corporation des Lettres », j’ai créé un « Cercle Occitan ». Les soirées se voulaient résolument modernes, loin d’un passéisme que je détestais. Alan Ward et Guy Broglia qui avait mis en musique les poèmes de Lafont, furent parmi mes premiers invités. Charles Camproux, le professeur d’occitan, me conseilla de demander..

Case report: Parsonage-turner syndrome in a melanoma patient treated by BRAF/MEK inhibitors after immune checkpoint inhibitors

IntroductionCombination molecular BRAF/MEK inhibitors targeted therapy has been shown to improve overall survival in patients with BRAF V600 mutated unresectable or metastatic melanoma. Most patients treated with BRAF/MEK inhibitors will experience adverse events but neurological adverse events (nAEs) remain rare.Case reportA 42-year-old woman diagnosed with metastatic melanoma presented with an intense pain in the left shoulder 7 days after the beginning of encorafenib/binimetinib after immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) combination. No other triggering factors were identified. Electromyogram performed one month after the pain onset revealed a left brachial plexopathy suggestive of a Parsonage-Turner syndrome. The weakness slowly improved with intensive rehabilitation and targeted therapies were continued.ConclusionWe report the first case of Parsonage-Turner syndrome in a melanoma patient treated with encorafenib/binimetinib following checkpoint inhibitors combination.We cannot rule out the implication of ICI in the development of this syndrome but the rapid onset of the symptoms after the beginning of targeted therapies makes their involvment more likely.Given the increased use of BRAF/MEK inhibitors in managing of stage III and IV melanoma, as well as the development in stage II, clinicians should be aware of this potential side effect

Rituximab Efficacy during a Refractory Polyarteritis Nodosa Flare

Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a systemic vasculitis whose severe forms are treated with glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide. Refractory patients are exposed to many complications, notably accelerated atherosclerosis. We report a case report of 71-year-old man followed for polyarteritis nodosa refractory to glucocorticoids and cyclosphosphamide. Systemic vasculitis relapses are followed to accelerated atherosclerosis: severe ischemic lesions led to amputation of lower limbs. Remission of refractory PAN is obtained with rituximab. Disappearance of biological inflammatory is allowed to regression of ischemic lesions in upper limbs. In this situation, we recommend a systematic vascular work-up for patients suffered from refractory vasculitis. On the other hand, therapeutic trials are needed to determine the real efficacy and place of rituximab in the treatment of polyarteritis nodosa

Myeloid-Epithelial-Reproductive Receptor Tyrosine Kinase and Milk Fat Globule Epidermal Growth Factor 8 Coordinately Improve Remodeling After Myocardial Infarction via Local Delivery of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor.

BACKGROUND: In infarcted heart, improper clearance of dying cells by activated neighboring phagocytes may precipitate the transition to heart failure. We analyzed the coordinated role of 2 major mediators of efferocytosis, the myeloid-epithelial-reproductive protein tyrosine kinase (Mertk) and the milk fat globule epidermal growth factor (Mfge8), in directing cardiac remodeling by skewing the inflammatory response after myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: We generated double-deficient mice for Mertk and Mfge8 (Mertk(-/-)/Mfge8(-/-)) and challenged them with acute coronary ligature. Compared with wild-type, Mertk-deficient (Mertk(-/-)), or Mfge8-deficient (Mfge8(-/-)) animals, Mertk(-/-)/Mfge8(-/-) mice displayed greater alteration in cardiac function and remodeling. Mertk and Mfge8 were expressed mainly by cardiac Ly6C(High and Low) monocytes and macrophages. In parallel, Mertk(-/-)/Mfge8(-/-) bone marrow chimeras manifested increased accumulation of apoptotic cells, enhanced fibrotic area, and larger infarct size, as well as reduced angiogenesis. We found that the abrogation of efferocytosis affected neither the ability of circulating monocytes to infiltrate cardiac tissue nor the number of resident Ly6C(High) and Ly6C(How) monocytes/macrophages populating the infarcted milieu. In contrast, combined Mertk and Mfge8 deficiency in Ly6C(High)/Ly6C(Low) monocytes/macrophages either obtained from in vitro differentiation of bone marrow cells or isolated from infarcted hearts altered their capacity of efferocytosis and subsequently blunted vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) release. Using LysMCre(+)/VEGFA(fl/fl) mice, we further identified an important role for myeloid-derived VEGFA in improving cardiac function and angiogenesis. CONCLUSIONS: After myocardial infarction, Mertk- and Mfge8-expressing monocyte/macrophages synergistically engage the clearance of injured cardiomyocytes, favoring the secretion of VEGFA to locally repair the dysfunctional heart

Livret pédagogique : Apprendre à programmer Poppy Ergo Jr en Snap!

Un livret composé d'activités pédagogiques pour apprendre les bases de la programmation (programmation séquentielles, boucles, conditions, variables etc.) et des idées de défis et de projets pour appliquer les connaissancesCe livret propose des activités et des petits défis à réaliser pour se familiariser avec le robot Poppy Ergo Jr et le langage de programmation Snap!

Low Clinical Burden of 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Infection during Pregnancy on the Island of La Réunion

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women have been identified as a group at risk, both for respiratory complications than for the admissions to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) during the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic (pdm). The purpose of this prospective register-based cohort-study was to characterize the clinical virulence of the pdm (H1N1/09)v during pregnancy in La Réunion. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Over a twelve-week pdm wave (13 July to 3 October 2009), 294 pregnant women presented with an influenza-like illness (ILI) to one of the three maternity departments of the South Reunion area, Indian Ocean. Out of these, 278 were checked by RT-PCR for influenza viruses (157 positive and 121 negative, of whom, 141 with pdm flu and 132 with ILIs of non pdm origin, 5 untyped). The median body temperature was higher in women experiencing pdm flu than in those with non pdm ILI (38.9 degrees C versus 38.3 degrees C, P<0.0001), without evidence linked to circulating viremia. Oseltamivir was given for 86% of pdm flu cases in a median time inferior than 48 hrs (range 0-7 days). The hospitalization rate for pdm flu was of 60% and not associated with underlying conditions. Six viral pneumonia and fourteen asthma attacks were observed among 84 hospitalized pdm flu cases, of whom, only one led to the ICU for an acute lung injury. No maternal death occurred during the pdm wave. None adverse pregnancy outcome was associated with pdm flu. No congenital birth defect, nor early-onset neonatal influenza infection was attributable to pdm flu exposure. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This report mitigates substantially the presumed severity of pandemic H1N1/09 influenza infection during pregnancy. The reasons for which the clinical burden of H1N1/09 influenza virus may differ worldwide raise questions about a differential local viral-strain effect and public health preparedness, notably in timely access to special care and antiviral treatments

Gene Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer: Specificity, Issues and Hopes

A recent death projection has placed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma as the second cause of death by cancer in 2030. The prognosis for pancreatic cancer is very poor and there is a great need for new treatments that can change this poor outcome. Developments of therapeutic innovations in combination with conventional chemotherapy are needed urgently. Among innovative treatments the gene therapy offers a promising avenue. The present review gives an overview of the general strategy of gene therapy as well as the limitations and stakes of the different experimental in vivo models, expression vectors (synthetic and viral), molecular tools (interference RNA, genome editing) and therapeutic genes (tumor suppressor genes, antiangiogenic and pro-apoptotic genes, suicide genes). The latest developments in pancreatic carcinoma gene therapy are described including gene-based tumor cell sensitization to chemotherapy, vaccination and adoptive immunotherapy (chimeric antigen receptor T-cells strategy). Nowadays, there is a specific development of oncolytic virus therapies including oncolytic adenoviruses, herpes virus, parvovirus or reovirus. A summary of all published and on-going phase-1 trials is given. Most of them associate gene therapy and chemotherapy or radiochemotherapy. The first results are encouraging for most of the trials but remain to be confirmed in phase 2 trials

Montagnes Magiques, Cent ans de tourisme alpin à l'écran: fresque interactive INA

Montagnes Magiques propose une sélection d’archives de l’Ina, du Musée dauphinois et de la Cinémathèque des Pays de Savoie et de l'Ain sur le développement du tourisme alpin depuis plus d’un siècle. Des chercheurs en sciences humaines et sociales réunis par le Labex ITEM contextualisent ces images et décryptent le regard porté par les médias sur les évolutions de ce territoire.Montagnes Magiques propose une sélection d’archives de l’Ina, du Musée dauphinois et de la Cinémathèque des Pays de Savoie et de l'Ain sur le développement du tourisme alpin depuis plus d’un siècle. Des chercheurs en sciences humaines et sociales réunis par le Labex ITEM contextualisent ces images et décryptent le regard porté par les médias sur les évolutions de ce territoire.La fresque Montagnes Magiques explore le thème des transformations et innovations qui ont touché les Alpes depuis que le tourisme est devenu une activité réservée d’abord à une élite puis, dans les dernières décennies, un élément majeur des économies comme des sociétés alpines. Considéré comme un élément de la modernisation de ces territoires vus généralement comme des périphéries restées à l’écart d’une modernité portée par les villes, le tourisme semble permettre à ces hautes terres habitées d’entrer dans la norme du développement économique, technique et culturel. Généralement compris comme un secteur porté par les urbains et les forces exogènes, son introduction puis son affirmation comme activité dominante ont été largement initiées et / ou endossées par une partie des habitants, originaires comme descendants de migrants devenus résidents secondaires, qui ont su comprendre tout l’intérêt de ces évolutions et proposer des adaptations, voire des innovations. A bien des égards la montagne est devenue un lieu d’expérimentation de nouvelles activités, la vitrine de nouvelles technologies, ou celle de nouvelles façons d’aménager ces espaces et de les pratiquer. Bref, la montagne est désormais essentielle pour la société contemporaine des loisirs. Secteur économique majeur, il était important de considérer le tourisme dans toutes ses acceptions, allant du thème classique des sports et des aménagements des stations, aux modes de circulation et aux risques naturels comme sociétaux, en passant par l’organisation sociale autour des questions de saisonnalité et de pluriactivité. Il fallait aussi présenter une fonction attendue, adaptation et complément du « terrain de jeu du 19ème siècle », celle de réservoir d’espaces et de nature à usage des urbains et dorénavant espace patrimonialisé ou devant l’être