Modulation of interferon-[alpha] secretion by activated platelets in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Type I interferons play a key role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathogenesis as an "IFN signature" is found in the majority of patients with active SLE. Immune complexes are internalized by plasmacytoid dendritic cells (DC) via Fc-[gamma] ReceptorIIA, reach the endosomal compartment and activate IFN-[alpha] secretion through TLR7/9-dependent pathways. Naturally occurring differences in expression of the TLR7/9 gene as well as factors that modulate TLR7/9 expression, including CD154 could therefore contribute to SLE pathogenesis. Although its origin is not elucidated CD154 is hyperexpressed in SLE patients, and is important for the differentiation of autoantibody-secreting cells. We hypothesized that platelets which are an abundant source of CD154, and which can mediate proinflammatory effects could be an actor involved in SLE pathogenesis. Platelets from SLE patients are activated _in vivo_ by circulating immune complexes which are abundant in SLE sera, via a CD32-dependent mechanism. Activated platelets formed aggregates with antigen-presenting cells in SLE patients and enhanced interferon-[alpha] secretion induced by immune-complexes stimulated plasmacytoid DCs. Finally, _in vivo_ depletion of platelets and megakaryocytes in NZBxNZW(F1) lupus prone mice improved all parameters assessing disease activity, whereas transfusion of activated platelets worsened the disease course. Altogether, these data identify platelets as a mediator of SLE pathogenesis and a new therapeutical target

Toxicité aigue sur canetons pekin de souches de Fusarium monoliforme isolées du mais en Nouvelle-Calédonie

The toxicity of Fusarium monoliforme strains isolated from maize in New Caledonia has been tested on one day Pekin ducklings. Toxic isolates of the fungus killed the ducklings within 6 days only when mixed to an unbalanced ration. Ducklings fed on a well balanced ration containing the same isolates survived and showed only symptoms of intoxication. (Résumé d'auteur

Virus-Negative Active Lymphocytic Myocarditis Progressing to a Fibrotic Stage

We report a fairly special case of lymphocytic myocarditis progressing to a fibrotic stage, described using multimodality imaging and confirmed on histopathology. This paper presents an uncommon diagnosis with a probable guarded prognosis

Sobre a definição de natureza

Pretendo neste artigo discutir a definição de natureza que Aristóteles oferece em Física 192b 20-23, tentando mostrar que tal definição deve ser entendida como uma conjunção de três (não apenas duas) condições: a primeira condição estabelece que a natureza é um tipo de causa; a segunda condição diz respeito à relação entre a natureza e a coisa natural que a tem como princípio e causa; a terceira condição diz respeito à relação entre a natureza e as propriedades que, enquanto causa, ela instila na coisa natural.<br>I discuss in this paper Aristotle's definition of nature in Physics 192b 20-23. I intend to prove that this definition has to taken as a set of three (not only two) conditions: the first condition just establishes that nature is a sort of cause; the second condition concerns the relationship between nature and the natural thing that has it as a cause; the third condition concerns the relationship between nature and the properties that natural things have from nature's causality

Resuming Training in High-Level Athletes After Mild COVID-19 Infection: A Multicenter Prospective Study (ASCCOVID-19)

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of data on cardiovascular sequelae of asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic SARS-Cov-2 infections (COVID). OBJECTIVES: The aim of this prospective study was to characterize the cardiovascular sequelae of asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic COVID-19 among high/elite-level athletes. METHODS: 950 athletes (779 professional French National Rugby League (F-NRL) players; 171 student athletes) were included. SARS-Cov-2 testing was performed at inclusion, and F-NRL athletes were intensely followed-up for incident COVID-19. Athletes underwent ECG and biomarker profiling (D-Dimer, troponin, C-reactive protein). COVID(+) athletes underwent additional exercise testing, echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR). RESULTS: 285/950 athletes (30.0%) had mild/asymptomatic COVID-19 [79 (8.3%) at inclusion (COVID(+)(prevalent)); 206 (28.3%) during follow-up (COVID(+)(incident))]. 2.6% COVID(+) athletes had abnormal ECGs, while 0.4% had an abnormal echocardiogram. During stress testing (following 7-day rest), COVID(+) athletes had a functional capacity of 12.8 ± 2.7 METS with only stress-induced premature ventricular ectopy in 10 (4.3%). Prevalence of CMR scar was comparable between COVID(+) athletes and controls [COVID(+) vs. COVID(-); 1/102 (1.0%) vs 1/28 (3.6%)]. During 289 ± 56 days follow-up, one athlete had ventricular tachycardia, with no obvious link with a SARS-CoV-2 infection. The proportion with troponin I and CRP values above the upper-limit threshold was comparable between pre- and post-infection (5.9% vs 5.9%, and 5.6% vs 8.7%, respectively). The proportion with D-Dimer values above the upper-limit threshold increased when comparing pre- and post-infection (7.9% vs 17.3%, P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The absence of cardiac sequelae in pauci/asymptomatic COVID(+) athletes is reassuring and argues against the need for systematic cardiac assessment prior to resumption of training (clinicaltrials.gov; NCT04936503).L'Institut de Rythmologie et modélisation Cardiaqu

How Linear Tension Converts to Curvature: Geometric Control of Bone Tissue Growth

This study investigated how substrate geometry influences in-vitro tissue formation at length scales much larger than a single cell. Two-millimetre thick hydroxyapatite plates containing circular pores and semi-circular channels of 0.5 mm radius, mimicking osteons and hemi-osteons respectively, were incubated with MC3T3-E1 cells for 4 weeks. The amount and shape of the tissue formed in the pores, as measured using phase contrast microscopy, depended on the substrate geometry. It was further demonstrated, using a simple geometric model, that the observed curvature-controlled growth can be derived from the assembly of tensile elements on a curved substrate. These tensile elements are cells anchored on distant points of the curved surface, thus creating an actin “chord” by generating tension between the adhesion sites. Such a chord model was used to link the shape of the substrate to cell organisation and tissue patterning. In a pore with a circular cross-section, tissue growth increases the average curvature of the surface, whereas a semi-circular channel tends to be flattened out. Thereby, a single mechanism could describe new tissue growth in both cortical and trabecular bone after resorption due to remodelling. These similarities between in-vitro and in-vivo patterns suggest geometry as an important signal for bone remodelling