Evaluation, contrôle et prévention du risque de transmission du virus influenza aviaire à l'homme

Since mid-december 2003, an epizootic of highly pathogenic avian influenza (type A, sub-type H5N1) occurs in eastern and south-eastern Asia. This epizootic is historically unprecedented in its virulence, geographical spread, and economic consequences for the agricultural sector. Implications for human health were registered in Vietnam and in Thailand. This paper summarizes the current knowledge about the risk evaluation of the transmission of avian influenza virus to humans. The current asian epizootic has highlighted the key role of global health information systems and also the need for exhaustive notification of human and animal cases. It reinforces the concept of veterinary public health

Incidence of reversible amenorrhea in women with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy with or without docetaxel

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To determine the incidence of reversible amenorrhea in women with breast cancer undergoing adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy with or without docetaxel.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We studied the incidence and duration of amenorrhea induced by two chemotherapy regimens: (i) 6 cycles of 5-fluorouracil 500 mg/m², epirubicin 100 mg/m²and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m²on day 1 every 3 weeks (6FEC) and (ii) 3 cycles of FEC 100 followed by 3 cycles of docetaxel 100 mg/m²on day 1 every 3 weeks (3FEC/3D). Reversible amenorrhea was defined as recovery of regular menses and, where available (101 patients), premenopausal hormone values (luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and estradiol) in the year following the end of chemotherapy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One hundred and fifty-four premenopausal patients were included: 84 treated with 6FEC and 70 with 3FEC/3D. The median age was 43.5 years (range: 28–58) in the 6FEC arm and 44 years (range: 29–53) in the 3FEC/3D arm. Seventy-eight percent of patients were treated in the context of the PACS 01 trial. The incidence of chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea at the end of chemotherapy was similar in the two groups: 93 % in the 6FEC arm and 92.8 % in the 3FEC/3D arm. However, in the year following the end of chemotherapy, more patients recovered menses in the 3FEC/3D arm than in the 6FEC arm: 35.5 % versus 23.7 % (p = 0.019). Among the 101 patients for whom hormone values were available, 43 % in the 3FEC/3D arm and 29 % in the 6FEC arm showed premenopausal levels one year after the end of chemotherapy (p < 0.01). In the 3FEC/3D group, there was a statistically significant advantage in disease-free survival (DFS) for patients who were still amenorrheic after one year, compared to patients who had recovered regular menses (p = 0.0017).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study suggests that 3FEC/3D treatment induces more reversible amenorrhea than 6FEC. The clinical relevance of these findings needs to be investigated further.</p

Precision Cutting and Patterning of Graphene with Helium Ions

We report nanoscale patterning of graphene using a helium ion microscope configured for lithography. Helium ion lithography is a direct-write lithography process, comparable to conventional focused ion beam patterning, with no resist or other material contacting the sample surface. In the present application, graphene samples on $Si/SiO_2$ substrates are cut using helium ions, with computer controlled alignment, patterning, and exposure. Once suitable beam doses are determined, sharp edge profiles and clean etching are obtained, with little evident damage or doping to the sample. This technique provides fast lithography compatible with graphene, with ~15 nm feature sizes.Engineering and Applied SciencesPhysicsOther Research Uni

Therapeutic intervention in animal production : next improvements expected

Pour ses interventions d’urgence comme pour celles mises en place dans le contrôle de la pathologie, le vétérinaire des productions animales disposera dans un proche avenir de moyens de plus en plus performants. Ces progrès concerneront le diagnostic (amélioration de sa précocité, de sa spécificité, de sa sensibilité et de sa rapidité), le traitement (nouvelles molécules, nouveaux procédés, meilleure approche des délais d’attente) et la prévention. Cette dernière devrait bénéficier de l’identification et de la correction de nouveaux facteurs de risques, de nouveaux vaccins et procédés de vaccination et des possibilités offertes par les animaux transgéniques

Pigeon Herpes Infection - Excretion and Re-excretion of Virus After Experimental-infection

The excretion of pigeon herpesvirus and the development of neutralizing antibodies were studied after experimental infection of two groups of pigeons, one of which had previously been treated with cyclophosphamide (Cy). Natural excretion of the virus occurred in both groups during a 90-day period without influencing the titre of antibodies, the pigeons becoming asymptomatic carriers of the virus after the initial infection. Birds previously treated with Cy developed lower titres of neutralizing antibodies. The Cy-treatment of all the animals 90 days after the experimental infection provoked re-excretion of the virus. © 1980

Observation of Pigeon herpesvirus 1 re-excretion during the reproduction period in conventionally reared homing pigeons

Pigeon herpesvirus 1 (PHV1) re-excretion by latently infected mature homing pigeons was followed during the reproduction period under natural conditions. All latently infected pigeons re-excreted PHV1 during the reproduction period and most of them during squab-gorging. © 1985