3D Reconstitution of the Loyola Sugar Plantation and Virtual Reality Applications

International audienceDiscovered in 1988 , the Loyola sugar plantation , owned by the Jesuits in French Guiana , is a major plantation of colonial history and slavery. Ongoing archaeological excavations have uncovered the Jesuit ' s house and the outbuildings usually associated with a plantation such as a chapel and its cemetery , a blacksmith shop , a pottery , the remains of the entire sugar production (a windmill , a boiler and a dryer) , coffee and indigo warehouses etc. Based on our findings and our network with 3D graphic designers and researchers in virtual reality , a 3D restitution integrated within a virtual reality platform was initiated to develop a better understanding of the plantation and its surrounding landscape. Also , our work on the interactive changes of sunlight and animal sounds aims to reconstruct a coherent evolution during one day of the site's environmen

Eaf1 Is the Platform for NuA4 Molecular Assembly That Evolutionarily Links Chromatin Acetylation to ATP-Dependent Exchange of Histone H2A Variants▿

Eaf1 (for Esa1-associated factor 1) and Eaf2 have been identified as stable subunits of NuA4, a yeast histone H4/H2A acetyltransferase complex implicated in gene regulation and DNA repair. While both SWI3-ADA2-N-CoR-TF IIIB domain-containing proteins are required for normal cell cycle progression, their depletion does not affect the global Esa1-dependent acetylation of histones. In contrast to all other subunits, Eaf1 is found exclusively associated with the NuA4 complex in vivo. It serves as a platform that coordinates the assembly of functional groups of subunits into the native NuA4 complex. Eaf1 shows structural similarities with human p400/Domino, a subunit of the NuA4-related TIP60 complex. On the other hand, p400 also possesses an SWI2/SNF2 family ATPase domain that is absent from the yeast NuA4 complex. This domain is highly related to the yeast Swr1 protein, which is responsible for the incorporation of histone variant H2AZ in chromatin. Since all of the components of the TIP60 complex are homologous to SWR1 or NuA4 subunits, we proposed that the human complex corresponds to a physical merge of two yeast complexes. p400 function in TIP60 then would be accomplished in yeast by cooperation between SWR1 and NuA4. In agreement with such a model, NuA4 and SWR1 mutants show strong genetic interactions, NuA4 affects histone H2AZ incorporation/acetylation in vivo, and both preset the PHO5 promoter for activation. Interestingly, the expression of a chimeric Eaf1-Swr1 protein recreates a single human-like complex in yeast cells. Our results identified the key central subunit for the structure and functions of the NuA4 histone acetyltransferase complex and functionally linked this activity with the histone variant H2AZ from yeast to human cells

Development and evaluation of a decision aid for women eligible for organized breast cancer screening according to international standards: A multi-method study

Backgroundand purpose:In France, women lack information to make a shared decision to start breast cancer screening. Decision aids are useful to facilitate this discussion, yet few meet international standards. The objective of this project was to build, validate and measure the quality of a decision aid for organized breast screening in France, in line with international standards, intended for both women and healthcare professionals.Materials and methodsThis mixed-methods study was conducted between January 2017 and June 2022. The prototype was developed from a qualitative study, systematic review and targeted literature review and alpha tested during two Delphi rounds. Readability was evaluated with the Flesch score and content with International Patient Decision Aid Standards Instrument (IPSASi).ResultsAn online decision aid, accessible at www.Discutons-mammo.fr, written in French was developed. The content included eligibility, information about breast screening the advantages and disadvantages of screening, patient preferences and a patient-based discussion guide using text, infographics, and videos. The Flesch readability test score was 65.4 and the IPDASi construct quality score was 176 out of 188.ConclusionsThis decision aid complies with IPDASi standards and could help women eligible for breast screening in France make a shared decision with a specialized healthcare professional about whether or not to participate in organized breast screening

What do women and healthcare professionals expect of decision aids for breast cancer screening? A qualitative study in France

International audienceObjective Breast cancer screening decision aids (DAs) are designed to help women decide whether or not to participate in mammography-based programmes. We aimed to explore women’s and healthcare professionals’ expectations of a breast cancer screening DA, as part of the French DEDICACES study. Methods This French qualitative study was based on semistructured, individual interviews with women from the general population, general practitioners (GPs), midwives, gynaecologists, radiologists and screening centre managers. Sampling was purposive and used diversification criteria. The inductive analysis was based on grounded theory. Results Between April 2018 and May 2019, we interviewed 40 people: 13 women, 14 GPs, 4 gynaecologists, 3 midwives, 3 radiologists and 3 screening centre managers. The women and the healthcare professionals considered that a DA could help to improve levels of knowledge, harmonise medical practice and provide reliable, comprehensive information. Overall, the interviewees wanted an easy-to-use, intuitive, graphic-rich, interactive, computer-based, patient-centred DA. Use of the DA might be limited by a lack of familiarity with shared decision-making (SDM), the risk of misuse and a preference for asymmetric positive information. Conclusion The present results are likely to facilitate the development of the first validated tool for SDM support in French breast cancer screening programmes

Endothelial Microparticles From Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients Induce Premature Coronary Artery Endothelial Cell Aging and Thrombogenicity: Role of the Ang II/AT1 Receptor/NADPH Oxidase-Mediated Activation of MAPKs and PI3-Kinase Pathways

International audienceBackground: Microparticles (MPs) have emerged as a surrogate marker of endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk. This study examined the potential of MPs from senescent endothelial cells (ECs) or from patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) to promote premature EC aging and thrombogenicity. Methods: Primary porcine coronary ECs were isolated from the left circumflex coronary artery. MPs were prepared from ECs and venous blood from patients with ACS (n=30) and from healthy volunteers (n=4) by sequential centrifugation. The level of endothelial senescence was assessed as senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity using flow cytometry, oxidative stress using the redox-sensitive probe dihydroethidium, tissue factor activity using an enzymatic Tenase assay, the level of target protein expression by Western blot analysis, platelet aggregation using an aggregometer, and shear stress using a cone-and-plate viscometer. Results: Senescence, as assessed by senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, was induced by the passaging of porcine coronary artery ECs from passage P1 to P4, and was associated with a progressive shedding of procoagulant MPs. Exposure of P1 ECs to MPs shed from senescent P3 cells or circulating MPs from ACS patients induced increased senescence-associated β-galactosidase activity, oxidative stress, early phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and Akt, and upregulation of p53, p21, and p16. Ex vivo, the prosenescent effect of circulating MPs from ACS patients was evidenced only under conditions of low shear stress. Depletion of endothelial-derived MPs from ACS patients reduced the induction of senescence. Prosenescent MPs promoted EC thrombogenicity through tissue factor upregulation, shedding of procoagulant MPs, endothelial nitric oxide synthase downregulation, and reduced nitric oxide–mediated inhibition of platelet aggregation. These MPs exhibited angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and upregulated AT1 receptors and angiotensin-converting enzyme in P1 ECs. Losartan, an AT1 receptor antagonist, and inhibitors of either mitogen-activated protein kinases or phosphoinositide 3-kinase prevented the MP-induced endothelial senescence. Conclusions: These findings indicate that endothelial-derived MPs from ACS patients induce premature endothelial senescence under atheroprone low shear stress and thrombogenicity through angiotensin II–induced redox-sensitive activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases and phosphoinositide 3-kinase/Akt. They further suggest that targeting endothelial-derived MP shedding and their bioactivity may be a promising therapeutic strategy to limit the development of an endothelial dysfunction post-ACS

Familial predisposition to TP53/complex karyotype MDS and leukemia in DNA repair-deficient xeroderma pigmentosum

International audienc

Franc-maçonnerie et histoire : bilan et perspectives

Franc-maçonnerie et histoire : bilan et perspectives. Sous ce titre sont rassemblées vingt-deux contributions d'historiens français, espagnols, italiens et anglophones, tous attachés à mettre en évidence le formidable renouvellement méthodologique et épistémologique dont sont l'objet les études consacrées au « fait maçonnique » depuis une quinzaine d'années. Partant du constat de l'entrée tardive de l'histoire de la franc-maçonnerie dans le champ de l'histoire universitaire, après des décennies d'isolement, le présent volume dresse un panorama sur la mobilisation (passée et à venir) des sources mais aussi sur l'évolution vers l'interdisciplinarité manifestée progressivement par la recherche maçonnique et, dans le cadre d'une démarche souvent comparative, des acquis issus des résultats de nombreuses enquêtes faisant la part belle aux problématiques historiographiques les plus actuelles. In fine, en montrant l'insertion de l'histoire de la franc-maçonnerie dans tous les domaines de l'histoire et la fin progressive de la « maçonnique » accompagnant cette évolution, l'ouvrage met en évidence la manière dont est repensé aujourd'hui le cheminement historique du fait maçonnique, lequel n'est rendu lisible que par une contextualisation systématique de celui-ci avec l'histoire générale