Branched-chain amino acid database integrated in MEDIPAD software as a tool for nutritional investigation of mediterranean populations

Branched-chained amino acids (BCAA) are essential dietary components for humans and can act as potential biomarkers for diabetes development. To efficiently estimate dietary intake, we developed a BCAA database for 1331 food items found in the French Centre d'Information sur la Qualité des Aliments (CIQUAL) food table by compiling BCAA content from international tables, published measurements, or by food similarity as well as by calculating 267 items from Greek, Turkish, Romanian, and Moroccan mixed dishes. The database embedded in MEDIPAD software capable of registering 24 h of dietary recalls (24HDR) with clinical and genetic data was evaluated based on archived 24HDR of the Saint Pierre Institute (France) from 2957 subjects, which indicated a BCAA content up to 4.2 g/100 g of food and differences among normal weight and obese subjects across BCAA quartiles. We also evaluated the database of 119 interviews of Romanians, Turkish and Albanians in Greece (27⁻65 years) during the MEDIGENE program, which indicated mean BCAA intake of 13.84 and 12.91 g/day in males and females, respectively, comparable to other studies. The MEDIPAD is user-friendly, multilingual, and secure software and with the BCAA database is suitable for conducting nutritional assessment in the Mediterranean area with particular facilities for food administration

Safety and outcome of definitive chemoradiotherapy in elderly patients with oesophageal cancer

Little is known about chemoradiotherapy (CRT) in elderly patients with a locally advanced oesophageal cancer (OC). The aim of our study was to evaluate the tolerance and the outcome of elderly patients older than 70 years treated with CRT for a non-metastatic OC. Chemoradiotherapy was based on radiotherapy combined with a cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Clinical complete response (CCR) to CRT was evaluated on upper digestive endoscopy and computed tomography scan 6–8 weeks after CRT completion. One hundred and nine consecutive patients were included. A CCR was observed in 63 patients (57.8%) and 2-year survival was 35.5%. Adverse events ⩾grade 3 were observed in 26 (23.8%) patients. Chemotherapy dose reduction, chemotherapy delays more than 1 week, and treatment discontinuation were observed in 33 (30.3%), 45 (41.3%), and 17 patients (15.6%), respectively. Comorbidity index according to Charlson score was significantly associated with treatment tolerance. In multivariate analysis, a CCR to CRT (P<0.01), a dose of radiotherapy ⩾80% (P=0.02), and a Charlson score ⩽2 (P=0.046) were identified as independent prognostic factors of overall survival. These results suggest that CRT could be considered as an effective treatment without major toxicity in elderly patients with OC

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome associated with COVID-19: An Emulated Target Trial Analysis.

RATIONALE: Whether COVID patients may benefit from extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) compared with conventional invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) remains unknown. OBJECTIVES: To estimate the effect of ECMO on 90-Day mortality vs IMV only Methods: Among 4,244 critically ill adult patients with COVID-19 included in a multicenter cohort study, we emulated a target trial comparing the treatment strategies of initiating ECMO vs. no ECMO within 7 days of IMV in patients with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (PaO2/FiO2 <80 or PaCO2 ≥60 mmHg). We controlled for confounding using a multivariable Cox model based on predefined variables. MAIN RESULTS: 1,235 patients met the full eligibility criteria for the emulated trial, among whom 164 patients initiated ECMO. The ECMO strategy had a higher survival probability at Day-7 from the onset of eligibility criteria (87% vs 83%, risk difference: 4%, 95% CI 0;9%) which decreased during follow-up (survival at Day-90: 63% vs 65%, risk difference: -2%, 95% CI -10;5%). However, ECMO was associated with higher survival when performed in high-volume ECMO centers or in regions where a specific ECMO network organization was set up to handle high demand, and when initiated within the first 4 days of MV and in profoundly hypoxemic patients. CONCLUSIONS: In an emulated trial based on a nationwide COVID-19 cohort, we found differential survival over time of an ECMO compared with a no-ECMO strategy. However, ECMO was consistently associated with better outcomes when performed in high-volume centers and in regions with ECMO capacities specifically organized to handle high demand. This article is open access and distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives License 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

Etude de composants MEMS RF pour les circuits hyperfréquences et millimètriques

Les travaux de recherche présentés dans ce manuscrit ont porté sur l'utilisation de composants MEMS RF pour réaliser des circuits hyperfréquences et millimètriques. Ces composants ont ainsi été utilisés d'une part, pour la réalisation de fonctions de commutation et d'autre part, intégrés à des composants classiques hyperfréquences, résonateurs et filtres, afin d'obtenir des circuits agiles en fréquences. Plusieurs circuits sont ainsi présentés, commutateurs capacitifs faibles pertes pour une application en bande Ka, commutateurs capacitifs de puissance pour les radars et enfin filtres et résonateurs accordables. Une étude particulière a été menée afin de réaliser des circuits accordables hyperfréquences en technologie micro ruban. Les résultats de mesures obtenus sur un filtre deux pôles accordable par quatre varactors micro électromécaniques démontrent le potentiel des composants MEMS RF à permettre d'obtenir des circuits accordables à fort coefficient de qualité.This work presents MEMS component applications for radio frequency and millimeter wave circuits. These components have been used for the realization of switch functions and also integrated to "classic" RF circuits, resonators and filters, in order to obtain frequency tunable circuits. Several circuits have been presented, low loss capacitive switches in Ka band, capacitive switches for high power applications and finally tunable resonators and filters. A particular study has been made so as to demonstrate microstrip tunable circuits. The measurements obtained on a two pole tunable filter using four MEMS variable capacitors show the potential of micro electromechanical components to realize high quality factor circuits.LIMOGES-BU Sciences (870852109) / SudocSudocFranceF

Films bearing reticulated enzymes: applications to biological models and to membrane biotechnology

International audienceTwo methods of enzyme immobilization were used for the work described here: 1) reticulation of enzymes on an artificial carrier such as cellophane, filter paper, or silastic; and 2) a coreticulation of enzymes and of an inert protein such as albumin or haemoglobin. Both use bifunctional agents, such as glutaraldehyde. For enzymologists, the use of immobilized enzymes can lead to various important lines of research. For our purposes, the following six main axes of research can be defined, all of which exploit the same techniques, and are therefore on close interdependence..

Société d'Histoire du Droit des pays flamands, picards et wallons. Compte des Journées d'Histoire des Institutions régionales tenues à Amiens du 25 au 28 Avril 1935

Massiet du Biest J., Thomas Paul, Monier R., Ansiaux Abbé P, De Pas J., Chevrier G., Paillot Pierre, Turpin P. Société d'Histoire du Droit des pays flamands, picards et wallons. Compte des Journées d'Histoire des Institutions régionales tenues à Amiens du 25 au 28 Avril 1935 . In: Revue du Nord, tome 21, n°83, août 1935. pp. 202-228

Estimation of Physical and Electrical Properties of Various REBCO Tapes for Construction of Very-High-Field REBCO Magnet

International audienceThe physical and electrical properties of four recent REBCO CC were assessed: 1) THEVA; 2) Shanghai Supercond. Technology; 3) Faraday Factory Japan; and 4) Fujikura. For estimating their physical properties, the delamination strength of each tape was checked by removing a polyimide ribbon sticked on the tape and by cutting the tape after pre-tinning. Their windability and the uniformity of their thickness were also investigated through our metal-as-insulation winding process. For evaluating their electrical properties, their critical current was measured at 4.2 K under various external magnetic fields perpendicular to their ab-plane. Joint samples of each tape were fabricated and tested in a bath of liquid nitrogen at 77 K in self-field. The results are described in this paper for the four tapes

ISCOM-based equine influenza vaccine: Duration of immunity and randomised clinical trials to assess an accelerated schedule of immunisation and efficacy

The widespread use of equine influenza (EI) vaccines plays an important role in the prevention and control of EI outbreaks. Vaccine strain updates, optimisation of immunisation schedules, and frequent evaluation of vaccine efficacy are necessary to maintain an acceptable level of protection and overall disease control. Results from three independent vaccine studies are reported here. Study 1: duration of immunity (exploratory research). The antibody and interferon (IFN) gamma response induced by an ISCOM (Immuno-Stimulating COMplex)-based EI vaccine (Equip F®), was measured in a group of 4 ponies up to one year after booster immunisation and compared to immunity induced by equine influenza virus (EIV) infection. The antibody and IFN gamma responses kinetics were defined and levels were similar to those induced by experimental EIV infection. Study 2: accelerated schedule of immunisation (randomised trial). Most EI vaccines require a 4–6 week interval during the primary two dose course of immunisation, during which time most animals remain susceptible to EIV infection. The immunogenicity and safety of the ISCOM-based EI + tetanus vaccine (Equip FT) with a 3-week accelerated immunisation interval was evaluated and compared to the recommended six-week vaccination interval in order to improve flexibility and to reduce the period of susceptibility. The antibody responses to the vaccine antigens (tetanus toxoid and EIV) were measured up to 2 weeks after the first booster vaccination (V3). The 3-week accelerated primary course interval was well tolerated and serology results suggested good immunogenicity against both EIV and tetanus antigens. Study 3: efficacy against Florida clade 2 EIV strain (randomised trial). Efficacy against the representative Florida clade 2 strain A/eq/Richmond/1/07 was also evaluated at the peak of immunity, shortly after 2nd vaccination (V2). Six ponies were vaccinated with EquipFT according to label (6-week interval between first and second injection) and 6 control ponies received saline injections. Sixteen days after V2 (day 58), all animals were experimentally infected with A/eq/Richmond/1/07. Clinical signs of disease and virus shedding were assessed for 14 days and found to be significantly reduced in vaccinated animals