Genetic manipulation of adult-born hippocampal neurons rescues memory in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease

Richetin et al. demonstrate that retroviral expression of the transcription factor NeuroD1 in neural progenitor cells of the adult mouse hippocampus promotes differentiation, maturation and synaptic integration of newborn granule cells in vivo. When applied to a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease, the gene-targeting strategy abolishes hippocampus-dependent memory deficit

La République En Marche : anatomie d'un mouvement

Le paysage politique français a connu sa transformation la plus radicale depuis 1958, au terme d'une campagne sans exemple dans le passé à l'été 2017 où le clivage gauche-droite a éclaté pour donner naissance à un socle majoritaire agrégeant diverses composantes. Parmi les résultats les plus saillants de cette séquence, l'émergence d'une nouvelle formation politique désireuse de se démarquer des "partis traditionnels" : La République en Marche (ex-En Marche !). Qui sont les « marcheurs » ? D'où viennent-ils ? Comment se positionnent-ils sur l'échiquier politique ? Quelles sont leurs valeurs ? Le meilleur moyen de répondre à ces questions était d'aller à leur rencontre pour ausculter leur profil sociologique, leurs motivations, leurs pratiques, leurs croyances... C'est ce qu’a fait Terra Nova en réalisant une enquête indépendante de grande ampleur auprès des adhérents de La République en Marche. Inédite aussi bien par son objet que par son étendue, elle a permis de recueillir les réponses d’un échantillon représentatif de 8 815 marcheurs qui ont répondu à un questionnaire anonymisé de 112 questions. Les résultats que nous présentons font la lumière sur la sociologie des marcheurs, leur position sur l'échiquier politique, leur(s) culture(s) politique(s) et leurs pratiques militantes

Multi-messenger observations of a binary neutron star merger

On 2017 August 17 a binary neutron star coalescence candidate (later designated GW170817) with merger time 12:41:04 UTC was observed through gravitational waves by the Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo detectors. The Fermi Gamma-ray Burst Monitor independently detected a gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) with a time delay of ~1.7 s with respect to the merger time. From the gravitational-wave signal, the source was initially localized to a sky region of 31 deg2 at a luminosity distance of 40+8-8 Mpc and with component masses consistent with neutron stars. The component masses were later measured to be in the range 0.86 to 2.26 Mo. An extensive observing campaign was launched across the electromagnetic spectrum leading to the discovery of a bright optical transient (SSS17a, now with the IAU identification of AT 2017gfo) in NGC 4993 (at ~40 Mpc) less than 11 hours after the merger by the One- Meter, Two Hemisphere (1M2H) team using the 1 m Swope Telescope. The optical transient was independently detected by multiple teams within an hour. Subsequent observations targeted the object and its environment. Early ultraviolet observations revealed a blue transient that faded within 48 hours. Optical and infrared observations showed a redward evolution over ~10 days. Following early non-detections, X-ray and radio emission were discovered at the transient’s position ~9 and ~16 days, respectively, after the merger. Both the X-ray and radio emission likely arise from a physical process that is distinct from the one that generates the UV/optical/near-infrared emission. No ultra-high-energy gamma-rays and no neutrino candidates consistent with the source were found in follow-up searches. These observations support the hypothesis that GW170817 was produced by the merger of two neutron stars in NGC4993 followed by a short gamma-ray burst (GRB 170817A) and a kilonova/macronova powered by the radioactive decay of r-process nuclei synthesized in the ejecta

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

La dignité humaine. Du droit à l’éthique de la relation

La réflexion de l’auteur prend racine dans la question suivante : la démocratie moderne, qui cantonne le droit à régler uniquement les relations entre les individus et lui interdit de se prononcer sur la vie bonne, condamne-t-elle nos sociétés à n’être qu’une agrégation d’« hommes-seuls-au-monde » jouissant d’une liberté dont l’usage ne regarde qu’eux ? Dans son texte, il tente de démontrer comment l’apparition dans le droit contemporain du principe de la dignité humaine vient contrecarrer la montée en puissance de l’individu-roi.The author’s reflection takes root in the following question: Does modern democracy, which confines law to regulate only relations between individuals and prohibits it from addressing the good life, condemn our societies to be merely an aggregation of “men alone in the world”, each enjoying a liberty whose service is aimed only at themselves? In his article, he will attempt to demonstrate how the appearance of the principle of human dignity in contemporary law has opposed the rising prominence of the “individual-king”

Le théâtre des supplices

Pech Thierry. Le théâtre des supplices. In: Littératures classiques, n°40, automne 2000. Droit et littérature. pp. 309-325

Retour sur la jurisprudence Perruche

La jurisprudence Perruche a fait, plus d’un an durant, l’objet de critiques virulentes. Certaines d’entre elles tiennent à une méconnaissance du droit, de son mode de fonctionnement et de sa nature, d’autres aux effets sociaux de la décision judiciaire. Aux premières, il s’agit ici d’opposer une réponse juridique sur trois points litigieux : le régime de causalité, le droit d’ester de l’enfant et le prétendu « droit de ne pas naître ». Aux secondes, la réponse ne peut être que politique. Celle qui est défendue ici diffère de beaucoup de la position adoptée par le législateur il y a quelques mois : elle propose un dispositif qui consiste à individualiser la responsabilité et à socialiser la réparation, le tout afin de concilier vulnérabilité du praticien et vulnérabilité de la victime

Pour une autre politique de l'alimentation

National audienceEntretien avec Fabrice Etilé, auteur de l'ouvrage "Obésité : santé publique et populisme alimentaire" paru aux Editions Rue d'Ulm, 2013, 124 pages

Anthropologie de la crise. Entretien avec Maurice Godelier

National audienceRegard de Maurice Godelier sur la cris