The GRAVITY+ Project: Towards All-sky, Faint-Science, High-Contrast Near-Infrared Interferometry at the VLTI

The GRAVITY instrument has been revolutionary for near-infrared interferometry by pushing sensitivity and precision to previously unknown limits. With the upgrade of GRAVITY and the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) in GRAVITY+, these limits will be pushed even further, with vastly improved sky coverage, as well as faint-science and high-contrast capabilities. This upgrade includes the implementation of wide-field off-axis fringe-tracking, new adaptive optics systems on all Unit Telescopes, and laser guide stars in an upgraded facility. GRAVITY+ will open up the sky to the measurement of black hole masses across cosmic time in hundreds of active galactic nuclei, use the faint stars in the Galactic centre to probe General Relativity, and enable the characterisation of dozens of young exoplanets to study their formation, bearing the promise of another scientific revolution to come at the VLTI.Comment: Published in the ESO Messenge

Study of the potential involvement of iron in the pathogenesis of peritoneal endometriosis

Endometriosis is defined by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Most studies on peritoneal endometriosis are based on the implantation theory of Sampson, postulating that, during the menses, retrograde reflux of endometrial cells through the fallopian tubes may lead to the implantation and growth of these cells within the peritoneal cavity. Several studies have demonstrated the presence of iron overload in the peritoneal cavity in case of endometriosis. Indeed, iron deposits are characteristic of endometriotic lesions and pelvic iron concentrations are higher in endometriosis patients. Iron could originate from lysis of erythrocytes carried into the pelvic cavity by retrograde menstruation. Our hypothesis is that iron may induce expression of pro-inflammatory proteins in the pelvic cavity and stimulate cell proliferation, promoting the development of peritoneal endometriosis. The objective of this thesis was to test the consequences of iron overload on endometriosis development. During the first phase of the thesis, we have set up an original in vitro cell culture protocol allowing to test the impact of iron on purified cultures of endometrial stromal and epithelial cells. Our results indicate that both cell types are able to incorporate iron from transferrin and to metabolize it to ferritin. This model enabled us to quantify and compare the constitutive and iron-induced expression of the pro-inflammatory molecules ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 by both endometrial cell types. In the second phase of the project, we have developed a nude mouse model, allowing a precise and reliable evaluation of the quantity and severity of endometriosis that may well prove to be useful for future pharmacological studies. Our in vivo study demonstrates that intraperitoneal injection of erythrocytes causes iron overload in lesions, peritoneal macrophages and fluid whereas iron chelation with desferrioxamine effectively reduces iron status. While iron overload does not appear to affect lesion establishment, our study strongly suggests that it may contribute to the further growth of endometriosis by promoting the proliferative activity of lesions. Treatment with an iron chelator could thus be beneficial in endometriosis to prevent iron overload in the pelvic cavity and decrease cellular proliferation in lesions.Doctorat en sciences (sciences chimiques) (CHIM 3)--UCL, 200

Bilateral breast desmoid - type fibromatosis, case report and literature review

peer reviewe

Insights into iron and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) involvement in chronic inflammatory processes in peritoneal endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic pelvic inflammatory process. Local inflammation is known to play a role in pain and infertility associated with the disease, and may be extensively involved in molecular and cellular processes leading to endometriosis development. In this review, we focus on two inflammatory mediators clearly implicated in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, iron and NF-κB, and their potential association. Iron is essential for all living organisms, but excess iron results in toxicity and is linked to pathological disorders. In endometriosis patients, iron overload has been demonstrated in the different compartments of the peritoneal cavity (peritoneal fluid, endometriotic lesions, peritoneum and macrophages). This iron overload affects numerous mechanisms involved in endometriosis development. Moreover, iron can generate free radical species able to react with a wide range of cellular constituents, inducing cellular damage. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species also impairs cellular function by altering gene expression via regulation of redox-sensitive transcription factors such as NF-κB, which is clearly implicated in endometriosis. Indeed, NF-κB is activated in endometriotic lesions and peritoneal macrophages of endometriosis patients, which stimulates synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines, generating a positive feedback loop in the NF-κB pathway. NF-κB-mediated gene transcription promotes a variety of processes, including endometriotic lesion establishment, maintenance and development. In conclusion, iron and NF-κB appear to be linked and both are clearly involved in endometriosis development, making these pathways an attractive target for future treatment and prevention of this disease

Insights into iron and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) involvement in chronic inflammatory processes in peritoneal endometriosis

Endometriosis is a chronic pelvic inflammatory process. Local inflammation is known to play a role in pain and infertility associated with the disease, and may be extensively involved in molecular and cellular processes leading to endometriosis development. In this review, we focus on two inflammatory mediators clearly implicated in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, iron and NF-κB, and their potential association. Iron is essential for all living organisms, but excess iron results in toxicity and is linked to pathological disorders. In endometriosis patients, iron overload has been demonstrated in the different compartments of the peritoneal cavity (peritoneal fluid, endometriotic lesions, peritoneum and macrophages). This iron overload affects numerous mechanisms involved in endometriosis development. Moreover, iron can generate free radical species able to react with a wide range of cellular constituents, inducing cellular damage. Overproduction of reactive oxygen species also impa

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge as a Potential Natural Compound against COVID-19

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, commonly called danshen, is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for its cardiovascular and neuroprotective effects, which include antioxidative, anti‐inflammatory, and antifibrotic properties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the preclinical potential of S. miltiorrhiza extracts for the treatment of COVID‐19. First, the impact of the extract on the binding between SARS‐CoV‐2 and the cellular ACE2 receptors was assessed using atomic force microscopy (AFM), showing a significant reduction in binding by the extract at concentrations in the μg/mL range. Second, the interference of this extract with the inflammatory response of blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was determined, demonstrating potent inhibitory properties in the same concentration range on pro‐inflammatory cytokine release and interference with the activation of NFκB signaling. Together, these in vitro data demonstrate the potential of S. miltiorrhiza against COVID‐19, consisting first of the blockade of the binding of SARS‐CoV‐2 to the ACE2 receptor and the mitigation of the inflammatory response from leukocytes by interfering with NFκB signaling. This dataset prompts the launch of a clinical trial to address in vivo the clinical benefits of this promising agen