Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults Associated with Von Recklinghausen’s Disease (Neurofibromatosis Type 1)

Introduction: Endocrine disorders during Von Recklinghausen’s Disease or neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are rare and particularly observed in children. However, autoimmune diabetes mellitus (DM) remains exceptional and unusual during this phacomatosis. We report an original case of Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) associated with NF1.Case Report: A 32-year-old Tunisian male, known to have NF1 since childhood, was admitted for significant recent weight loss (10 kg in one month) with high blood glucose levels. The biological tests confirmed the diagnosis of DM with marked ketoacidosis: fast blood glucose at 16 mmol/l, postprandial glucose at 21 mmol/l, and HbA1c at 9.9%. Radiological and endoscopic investigations did not indicate pancreatic and/or duodenal tumors. Anti-GAD and anti-IA2 autoantibodies were positively confirming the diagnosis of LADA. The assessment of degenerative complications and screening for possible other autoimmune diseases were negative. The evolution was favorable under intensive insulinotherapy.Conclusion: The association of DM type 1 with NF1 remains exceptional and only four cases are found in the literature, all pediatrics. Our observation is, to our knowledge, the first reporting this association in adult (LADA with NF1)

-amyloid context intensifies vascular smooth muscle cells induced inflammatory response and de-differentiation

International audienceSeveral studies have shown that the accumulation of -amyloid peptides in the brain parenchyma or vessel wall generates an inflammatory environment. Some even suggest that there is a cause-and-effect relationship between inflammation and the development of Alzheimer's disease and/or cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). Here, we studied the ability of wild-type A1-40-peptide (the main amyloid peptide that accumulates in the vessel wall in sporadic forms of CAA) to modulate the phenotypic transition of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) toward an inflammatory/de-differentiated state. We found that A1-40-peptide alone neither induces an inflammatory response, nor decreases the expression of contractile markers; however, the inflammatory response of VSMCs exposed to A1-40-peptide prior to the addition of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1 is greatly intensified compared with IL-1-treated VSMCs previously un-exposed to A1-40-peptide. Similar conclusions could be drawn when tracking the decline of contractile markers. Furthermore, we found that the mechanism of this potentiation highly depends on an A1-40 preactivation of the PI3Kinase and possibly NFB pathway; indeed, blocking the activation of these pathways during A1-40-peptide treatment completely suppressed the observed potentiation. Finally, strengthening the possible in vivo relevance of our findings, we evidenced that endothelial cells exposed to A1-40-peptide generate an inflammatory context and have similar effects than the ones described with IL-1. These results reinforce the idea that intraparietal amyloid deposits triggering adhesion molecules in endothelial cells, contribute to the transition of VSMCs to an inflammatory/de-differentiated phenotype. Therefore, we suggest that acute inflammatory episodes may increase vascular alterations and contribute to the ontogenesis of CAA

Smart ECG Biosensor Design with an Improved ANN Performance Based on the Taguchi Optimizer

This paper aims to design a smart biosensor to predict electrocardiogram (ECG) signals in a specific auscultation site from other ECG signals measured from other measurement sites. The proposed design is based on a hybrid architecture using the Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) model and Taguchi optimizer to avoid the ANN issues related to hyperparameters and to improve its accuracy. The proposed approach aims to optimize the number and type of inputs to be considered for the ANN model. Indeed, different combinations are considered in order to find the optimal input combination for the best prediction quality. By identifying the factors that influence a model’s prediction and their degree of importance via the modified Taguchi optimizer, the developed biosensor improves the prediction accuracy of ECG signals collected from different auscultation sites compared to the ANN-based biosensor. Based on an actual database, the simulation results show that this improvement is significant; it can reach more than 94% accuracy

Compte-rendu de l'atelier sur la gouvernance locale concertée des eaux souterraines à Aousja-Ghar El Melh

A workshop was held on May 24, 2022 in Bizerte to identify the obstacles and opportunities for establishing concerted local governance of groundwater in Aousja-Ghar El Melh. The workshop brought together 43 participants, mainly representatives of the main institutional players involved in concerted local governance of groundwater in Aousja-Ghar El Melh (Ministry, CRDA, GDA, CTV, SONEDE, researchers, etc.). The workshop mobilized innovative methodologies such as a modeling methodology for past, present and future groundwater governance, and an anticipation method called the "Futures Triangle". This enabled participants to identify the levers for changes in governance in the area.Un atelier a eu lieu le 24 mai 2022 à Bizerte dans le but d'identifier les freins et les opportunités pour mettre en place une gouvernance locale concertée des eaux souterraines à Aousja-Ghar El Melh. L'atelier a rassemblé 43 participants, principalement des représentants des principaux acteurs institutionnels concernés par la gouvernance locale concertée des eaux souterraines à Aousja-Ghar El Melh (Ministère, CRDA, GDA, CTV, SONEDE, chercheurs, etc.). L'atelier a mobilisé des méthodologies innovantes telles qu'une méthodologie de modélisation de la gouvernance passée, présente et future de la gouvernance des eaux souterraines ainsi qu'une méthode d'anticipation appelée le "Triangle du Futur". Cela a permis d'identifier les leviers pour des changements de gouvernance dans la zone

Compte-rendu de l'atelier sur la gouvernance locale concertée des eaux souterraines à Aousja-Ghar El Melh

A workshop was held on May 24, 2022 in Bizerte to identify the obstacles and opportunities for establishing concerted local governance of groundwater in Aousja-Ghar El Melh. The workshop brought together 43 participants, mainly representatives of the main institutional players involved in concerted local governance of groundwater in Aousja-Ghar El Melh (Ministry, CRDA, GDA, CTV, SONEDE, researchers, etc.). The workshop mobilized innovative methodologies such as a modeling methodology for past, present and future groundwater governance, and an anticipation method called the "Futures Triangle". This enabled participants to identify the levers for changes in governance in the area.Un atelier a eu lieu le 24 mai 2022 à Bizerte dans le but d'identifier les freins et les opportunités pour mettre en place une gouvernance locale concertée des eaux souterraines à Aousja-Ghar El Melh. L'atelier a rassemblé 43 participants, principalement des représentants des principaux acteurs institutionnels concernés par la gouvernance locale concertée des eaux souterraines à Aousja-Ghar El Melh (Ministère, CRDA, GDA, CTV, SONEDE, chercheurs, etc.). L'atelier a mobilisé des méthodologies innovantes telles qu'une méthodologie de modélisation de la gouvernance passée, présente et future de la gouvernance des eaux souterraines ainsi qu'une méthode d'anticipation appelée le "Triangle du Futur". Cela a permis d'identifier les leviers pour des changements de gouvernance dans la zone

CDKN2A homozygous deletion is a strong adverse prognosis factor in diffuse malignant IDH-mutant gliomas

International audienc

Ramadan Observance Exacerbated the Negative Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Sleep and Training Behaviors: A International Survey on 1,681 Muslim Athletes

Methods From an international sample of athletes (n = 3,911), 1,681 Muslim athletes (from 44 countries; 25.1 ± 8.7 years, 38% females, 41% elite, 51% team sport athletes) answered a retrospective, cross-sectional questionnaire relating to their behavioral habits pre- and during- COVID-19 lockdown, including: (i) Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI); (ii) insomnia severity index (ISI); (iii) bespoke questions about training, napping, and eating behaviors, and (iv) questions related to training and sleep behaviors during-lockdown and Ramadan compared to lockdown outside of Ramadan. The lockdown reduced sleep quality and increased insomnia severity (both p 0.05). Muslim athletes reported longer (p < 0.001; d = 0.29) and later (p < 0.001; d = 0.14) daytime naps, and an increase in late-night meals (p < 0.001; d = 0.49) during- compared to pre-lockdown, associated with lower sleep quality (all p < 0.001). Both sleep quality (χ2 = 222.6; p < 0.001) and training volume (χ2 = 342.4; p < 0.001) were lower during-lockdown and Ramadan compared to lockdown outside of Ramadan in the Muslims athletes. Conclusion Muslim athletes reported lower sleep quality and higher insomnia severity during- compared to pre-lockdown, and this was exacerbated by Ramadan observance. Therefore, further attention to Muslim athletes is warranted when a circadian disrupter (e.g., lockdown) occurs during Ramadan