Multi-site study of a new approach to farm work within the framework of organic vegetable production: permanent crop beds

The mineralization rate of a commercial organic fertiliser was evaluated over the course of three years in an organic rice field in the Camargue (France). The effect of different mounts of fertiliser applied at different periods was tested. The organic fertiliser rapidly mineralised under flooded conditions. On the basis of this result, we demonstrated that an adaptation of organic fertilisation practices, similar to those employed for mineral fertilisers, would result in the optimisation of organic fertilisers, leading to improved profitability

Abnormal T-cell phenotype in episodic angioedema with hypereosinophilia (Gleich's syndrome): frequency, clinical implication and prognosis

BACKGROUND: Episodic Angioedema with eosinophilia (EAE, Gleich\u27s syndrome) is a rare disorder consisting of recurrent episodes of angioedema, hypereosinophilia and frequent elevated serum Immunoglobin M. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter nationwide study regarding the clinical spectrum and therapeutic management of patients with EAE in France. RESULTS: Thirty patients were included with a median age at diagnosis of 41 years [5-84]. The median duration of each crisis was 5.5 days [1-90] with swelling affecting mainly the face and the upper limbs. Total serum IgM levels were increased in 20 patients (67%). Abnormal T-cell immunophenotypes were detected in 12 patients (40%) among which 5 (17%) showed evidence of clonal TCR γ gene rearrangement. Median follow-up duration was 53 months [31-99]. The presence of an abnormal T-cell population was the sole factor associated with a shorter time to flare (hazard ratio 4.15 [CI 95% 1.18-14.66; p=0.02). At last follow-up, 3 patients (10%) were able to withdraw all treatments and 11 (37%) were in clinical and biological remission with less than 10 mg of daily prednisone. CONCLUSION: EAE is a heterogeneous condition that encompasses several disease forms. Although patients usually respond well to glucocorticoids, those with evidence of abnormal T-cell phenotype have a shorter time to flare

Impact of Climate Change on the Relict Tropical Fish Fauna of Central Sahara: Threat for the Survival of Adrar Mountains Fishes, Mauritania

Background: Four central Sahara mountainous massifs provide habitats for relict populations of fish. In the Adrar of Mauritania all available data on the presence and distribution of fish come from pre-1960 surveys where five fish species were reported: Barbus pobeguini, Barbus macrops, Barbus mirei, Sarotherodon galilaeus, and Clarias anguillaris. Since 1970, drought has had a severe impact in the Adrar where rainfall decreased by 35%. To investigate whether the relict populations of fish have survived the continuing drought, a study was carried out from 2004 to 2008. Methodology/Principal Findings: An inventory of perennial bodies of water was drawn up using a literature review and analysis of topographical and hydrological maps. Field surveys were carried out in order to locate the bodies of water described in the literature, identify the presence of fish, determine which species were present and estimate their abundance. The thirteen sites where the presence of fish was observed in the 1950s -Ksar Torchane, Ilij, Molomhar, Agueni, Tachot, Hamdoun, Terjit, Toungad, El Berbera, Timagazine, Dayet el Mbarek, Dayet et-Tefla, Nkedei-were located and surveyed. The Ksar Torchane spring -type locality and the only known locality of B. mirei- has dried up at the height of the drought in 1984, and any fish populations have since become extinct there. The Timagazine, Dayet el Mbarek and Dayet et-Tefla pools have become ephemeral. The Hamdoun guelta appears to be highly endangered. The fish populations at the other sites remain unchanged. Four perennial pools which are home to populations of B. pobeguini are newly recorded. Conclusion/Significance: The tropical relict fish populations of the Adrar mountains of Mauritania appear to be highly endangered. Of thirteen previously recorded populations, four have become extinct since the beginning of the drought period. New fish population extinctions may occur should low levels of annual rainfall be repeated

Tactual perception: a review of experimental variables and procedures

This paper reviews literature on tactual perception. Throughout this review we will highlight some of the most relevant variables in touch literature: interaction between touch and other senses; type of stimuli, from abstract stimuli such as vibrations, to two- and three-dimensional stimuli, also considering concrete stimuli such as the relation between familiar and unfamiliar stimuli or the haptic perception of faces; type of participants, separating studies with blind participants, studies with children and adults, and an analysis of sex differences in performance; and finally, type of tactile exploration, considering conditions of active and passive touch, the relevance of movement in touch and the relation between exploration and time. This review intends to present an organised overview of the main variables in touch experiments, attending to the main findings described in literature, to guide the design of future works on tactual perception and memory.This work was funded by the Portuguese “Foundation for Science and Technology” through PhD scholarship SFRH/BD/35918/2007

Vasopressin type 1A receptor up-regulation by cyclosporin A in vascular smooth muscle cells is mediated by superoxide

Based on our previous results, we investigated whether cyclosporin A (CsA)-induced vasopressin type 1A receptor up-regulation was mediated by free radicals. We report that CsA analogues with different affinities for cyclophilin and calcineurin were able to upregulate vasopressin type 1A receptor and to generate free radicals in smooth muscle cells independently of calcineurin. Further, we demonstrate that the antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine blocked the increase in vasopressin type 1A receptor mRNA and protein levels induced by CsA and that low concentrations of prooxidants were able to directly increase vasopressin type 1A receptor mRNA and protein levels. In addition, short exposure to CsA or pro-oxidants was sufficient to significantly increase vasopressin type 1A receptor mRNA and protein levels. Using cell-permeable forms of superoxide dismutase and catalase, we finally show that superoxide mediates the CsA-induced effects on vasopressin type 1A receptor. These results provide strong evidence that CsA-induced superoxide generation is causally involved in vasopressin type 1A receptor expression and demonstrate for the first time that low physiological concentrations of radicals, most probably superoxide, are able to directly affect cellular signaling to increase vasopressin type 1A receptor expression in rat aortic smooth muscle cells

Magnetic resonance imaging of skeletal muscle involvement in limb restricted vasculitis

Objective: To describe the MRI findings in the legs of three patients with limb restricted vasculitides (two PAN, one isolated vasculitis of the skeletal muscle) with histologically established muscle involvement. Methods: MRI was carried out on calf muscles and T(2) weighted images, unenhanced T(1) weighted images, and STIR sequences were obtained. Results: Muscle damage resulted in oedema-like changes on MRI characterised by hyperintense signals in T(2) weighted and slow tau inversion recovery (STIR) sequences and normal unenhanced T(1) weighted sequences of one or several leg muscles. Conclusions: MRI should be considered a useful complementary examination that might facilitate the recognition of limb restricted vasculitides, and possibly indicate the site for muscle biopsy. It could also be useful in monitoring the course of the disease. Future studies should also evaluate MRI for systemic PAN or other systemic vasculitides with muscle involvement

Observatoire du Donon : renouvellement du diagnostic de l’impact des cervidés sur l’avenir des peuplements. Base de travail pour la gestion (rapport final)

Le massif du Donon est une entité forestière de 75 000 ha qui s'étend sur 4 départements entre l'Alsace et la Lorraine. Constitué essentiellement de sapin pectiné, il connait depuis plusieurs décennies des difficultés au niveau du renouvellement de ses peuplements. Pour tenter de mettre un terme à cette situation, les acteurs du monde sylvicole et cynégétique se sont regroupés en une structure partenariale ; l'Observatoire du Donon. Entre 2008 et 2010, en parallèle des missions régulières de l'Observatoire, un état des lieux de l'équilibre sylvo-cynégétique a été mis en oeuvre à travers un diagnostic sylvicole de l'impact des cervidés sur la régénération. Les résultats de cette étude ont mis en évidence des difficultés qui affectent près de 90 % des peuplements en cours de renouvellement, la responsabilité des cervidés y était directement confirmée dans 70 % des cas. Cinq années plus tard, une seconde campagne de diagnostic a été déployée. Les conclusions de l'étude sont sans équivoque ; la situation reste catastrophique sur l'ensemble du territoire de l'Observatoire à l'exception du sud du secteur vosgien. Les cervidés demeurent sans conteste la cause majoritaire de l'échec du renouvellement. Localement, la légère amélioration constatée dans le coeur du massif est compensée par l'expansion de la zone d'influence des cervidés vers la périphérie. Ainsi, les difficultés de régénération, autrefois cantonnées sur les zones sommitales, se sont généralisées à l'ensemble du massif. Le suivi du compartiment animal et les résultats des deux diagnostics sylvicoles concordent pour affirmer que la population de cerfs sur le Donon est trop abondante par rapport à la capacité d'accueil du milieu et que les fortes densités de gibiers nuisent à la fois à la sylviculture et au animaux eux-mêmes. Par conséquent, seule une diminution significative des effectifs par le biais d'une augmentation forte et rapide des plans de chasse sur l'ensemble du massif pourrait permettre de rétablir un niveau d'équilibre sylvo-cynégétique satisfaisant

Synthesis and characterization of constrained cyclosporin A derivatives containing a pseudo-proline group

The chemical synthesis, conformational analysis and receptor binding studies of novel constrained cyclosporin A (CsA) analogues are described. The selective insertion of pseudo-proline (PsiPro) systems featuring different 2-C-substituents at the oxazolidine ring exerts dramatic effects upon the backbone conformation as demonstrated by NMR analysis. It is shown that the insertion of a Psi(MeMe)pro at position 5 (Thr(5)CsA) maintains binding to cyclophilin A as well as to calcineurin and shows a 5-6 cis amide bond with all remaining amide bonds trans. The elaborated synthetic routes for generating PsiPro containing Cs derivatives pave the way for extended structure-activity relationship studies aiming at the design of potential pharmacologically active compounds with a selective activity profile. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved