Cocaine detection in liquid using a fibred platform and mid-infrared quantum cascade laser

A miniaturized, trace level sensor for cocaine is presented. A quantum cascade laser emitting at 1720 cm-1 is coupled to a fibred absorption flow-cell. A detection limit lower than 250 ng/mL (84 ppb) is reported

Hypothalamic miR-30 regulates puberty onset via repression of the puberty-suppressing factor, Mkrn3.

Mkrn3, the maternally imprinted gene encoding the makorin RING-finger protein-3, has recently emerged as putative pubertal repressor, as evidenced by central precocity caused by MKRN3 mutations in humans; yet, the molecular underpinnings of this key regulatory action remain largely unexplored. We report herein that the microRNA, miR-30, with three binding sites in a highly conserved region of its 3' UTR, operates as repressor of Mkrn3 to control pubertal onset. Hypothalamic miR-30b expression increased, while Mkrn3 mRNA and protein content decreased, during rat postnatal maturation. Neonatal estrogen exposure, causing pubertal alterations, enhanced hypothalamic Mkrn3 and suppressed miR-30b expression in female rats. Functional in vitro analyses demonstrated a strong repressive action of miR-30b on Mkrn3 3' UTR. Moreover, central infusion during the juvenile period of target site blockers, tailored to prevent miR-30 binding to Mkrn3 3' UTR, reversed the prepubertal down-regulation of hypothalamic Mkrn3 protein and delayed female puberty. Collectively, our data unveil a novel hypothalamic miRNA pathway, involving miR-30, with a prominent role in the control of puberty via Mkrn3 repression. These findings expand our current understanding of the molecular basis of puberty and its disease states

Travelers With Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Cured Without Systemic Therapy

Guidelines recommend wound care and/or local therapy as first-line treatment for cutaneous leishmaniasis. An analysis of a referral treatment program in 135 travelers showed that this approach was feasible in 62% of patients, with positive outcome in 83% of evaluable patient

Taphonomic Criteria for Identifying Iberian Lynx Dens in Quaternary Deposits

For decades, taphonomists have dedicated their efforts to assessing the nature of the massive leporid accumulations recovered at archaeological sites in the northwestern Mediterranean region. Their interest lying in the fact that the European rabbit constituted a critical part of human subsistence during the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. However, rabbits are also a key prey in the food webs of Mediterranean ecosystems and the base of the diet for several specialist predators, including the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus). For this reason, the origin of rabbit accumulations in northwestern Mediterranean sites has proved a veritable conundrum. Here, we present the zooarchaeological and taphonomic study of more than 3000 faunal and 140 coprolite remains recovered in layer IIIa of Cova del Gegant (Catalonia, Spain). Our analysis indicates that this layer served primarily as a den for the Iberian lynx. The lynxes modified and accumulated rabbit remains and also died at the site creating an accumulation dominated by the two taxa. However, other agents and processes, including human, intervened in the final configuration of the assemblage. Our study contributes to characterizing the Iberian lynx fossil accumulation differentiating between the faunal assemblages accumulated by lynxes and hominins

Hypothalamic miR-30 regulates puberty onset via repression of the puberty-suppressing factor, Mkrn3

Mkrn3, the maternally imprinted gene encoding the makorin RING-finger protein-3, has recently emerged as putative pubertal repressor, as evidenced by central precocity caused by MKRN3 mutations in humans; yet, the molecular underpinnings of this key regulatory action remain largely unexplored. We report herein that the microRNA, miR-30, with three binding sites in a highly conserved region of its 3 ' UTR, operates as repressor of Mkrn3 to control pubertal onset. Hypothalamic miR-30b expression increased, while Mkrn3 mRNA and protein content decreased, during rat postnatal maturation. Neonatal estrogen exposure, causing pubertal alterations, enhanced hypothalamic Mkrn3 and suppressed miR-30b expression in female rats. Functional in vitro analyses demonstrated a strong repressive action of miR-30b on Mkrn3 3 ' UTR. Moreover, central infusion during the juvenile period of target site blockers, tailored to prevent miR-30 binding to Mkrn3 3 ' UTR, reversed the prepubertal down-regulation of hypothalamic Mkrn3 protein and delayed female puberty. Collectively, our data unveil a novel hypothalamic miRNA pathway, involving miR-30, with a prominent role in the control of puberty via Mkrn3 repression. These findings expand our current understanding of the molecular basis of puberty and its disease states

Laser spectroscopy for breath analysis : towards clinical implementation

Detection and analysis of volatile compounds in exhaled breath represents an attractive tool for monitoring the metabolic status of a patient and disease diagnosis, since it is non-invasive and fast. Numerous studies have already demonstrated the benefit of breath analysis in clinical settings/applications and encouraged multidisciplinary research to reveal new insights regarding the origins, pathways, and pathophysiological roles of breath components. Many breath analysis methods are currently available to help explore these directions, ranging from mass spectrometry to laser-based spectroscopy and sensor arrays. This review presents an update of the current status of optical methods, using near and mid-infrared sources, for clinical breath gas analysis over the last decade and describes recent technological developments and their applications. The review includes: tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy, cavity ring-down spectroscopy, integrated cavity output spectroscopy, cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy, photoacoustic spectroscopy, quartz-enhanced photoacoustic spectroscopy, and optical frequency comb spectroscopy. A SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) is presented that describes the laser-based techniques within the clinical framework of breath research and their appealing features for clinical use.Peer reviewe

Etude comparative de méthodes utilisant le réactif de Hoechst et les colorations polychromatiques pour la détection des mycoplasmes chez les végétaux

International audienceHOECHST reagent, a DNA-specific fluorochrome, was used on serial sections of plant material which had been fixed, paraffin embedded, then deparaffinized. This procedure, which allows conservation of the material and observation of 7 μm thick serial sections, could be used for the detection of low number of M. L.os and the study of their development in the plant. In resin-embedded material, polychromatic staining of 0.5-1 μm thick sections, in particular with thionin-acridine orange, allowed much more accurate M.L.o. detection than the monochromatic staining commonly used.Le réactif de HOECHST, fluorochrome spécifique de l'ADN a été utilisé sur coupes sériées de matériel végétal fixé, inclus dans la paraffine, puis déparaffiné. Ce procédé qui permet la conservation du matériel et l’obtention de coupes sériées de 7 μm d’épaisseur, rend possible la détection d’un petit nombre de mycoplasmes et l’étude de leur évolution dans la plante. Sur matériel inclus dans les résines, les colorations polychromatiques (thionine - acridine orange en particulier) de coupes de 0,5 à 1 μm d’épaisseur, permettent de repérer les mycoplasmes avec beaucoup plus de précision que les colorations monochromatiques couramment utilisées jusqu’ici

Notes on birds of central Mexico, with descriptions of forms believed to be new

Volume: 16Start Page: 771End Page: 79

Comparative study of methods using Hoechst reagent and polychromatic staining for the detection of mycoplasmalike organisms in plants

HOECHST reagent, a DNA-specific fluorochrome, was used on serial sections of plant material which had been fixed, paraffin embedded, then deparaffinized. This procedure, which allows conservation of the material and observation of 7 μm thick serial sections, could be used for the detection of low number of M. L.os and the study of their development in the plant. In resin-embedded material, polychromatic staining of 0.5-1 μm thick sections, in particular with thionin-acridine orange, allowed much more accurate M.L.o. detection than the monochromatic staining commonly used.Le réactif de HOECHST, fluorochrome spécifique de l'ADN a été utilisé sur coupes sériées de matériel végétal fixé, inclus dans la paraffine, puis déparaffiné. Ce procédé qui permet la conservation du matériel et l’obtention de coupes sériées de 7 μm d’épaisseur, rend possible la détection d’un petit nombre de mycoplasmes et l’étude de leur évolution dans la plante. Sur matériel inclus dans les résines, les colorations polychromatiques (thionine - acridine orange en particulier) de coupes de 0,5 à 1 μm d’épaisseur, permettent de repérer les mycoplasmes avec beaucoup plus de précision que les colorations monochromatiques couramment utilisées jusqu’ici