La circulación superficial en la cuenca oriental del mar Mediterráneo

The schema of the Atlantic Water (AW, 100-200 m thick) circulation in the eastern basin of the Mediterranean Sea elaborated in the 1990s (and widely referred to nowadays) mainly shows jets meandering offshore across the whole basin. However, all previous schemata (since the 1910s) and an analysis of infrared (IR) satellite images in the 1990s show counterclockwise circulation at basin scale. A former controversy about the circulation was elucidated in the western basin where IR images helped describe the mesoscale features and demonstrate their role in the circulation. This motivated the detailed analysis of IR daily and weekly composites (~1000) from 1996 to 2000, and of monthly composites since 1985. We show that AW circulates along the upper part of the continental slope in a counterclockwise direction around the whole basin. In the south and all year long, this circulation is unstable and generates mesoscale anticyclonic eddies that spread AW offshore; in the north dense water formation induces larger seasonal variability. These mesoscale eddies, as well as the Etesian-induced eddies Ierapetra and Pelops, can be followed for years, sometimes several hundreds of km away from where they are formed, and they can merge and/or interact with the alongslope circulation.Los esquemas de circulación del Agua Atlántica (AW, 100-200 m de grosor) en el Mediterráneo oriental elaborados en los años 1990 (y abundantemente citados en la actualidad) presentan principalmente una corriente en chorro ondulante atravesando el centro de la cuenca. Por el contrario, todos los esquemas anteriores (desde los años 1910) y un análisis de imágenes infrarojas (IR) de satélite en los noventa presentan una circulación antihoraria a escala de la cuenca. Una controversia anterior sobre la circulación en la cuenca occidental fue resuelta gracias a que las imágenes IR ayudaron a describir los fenómenos de mesoescala y demostrar su papel en la circulación. Esto motivó un análisis detallado de imágenes IR compuestas diarias y semanales (~1000) durante 1996-2000 y mensuales desde 1985. Aquí demostramos que el AW en general circula sobre la parte superior del talud continental, de forma antihoraria por toda la cuenca. En el sur, y a lo largo de todo el año, esta circulación es inestable y genera remolinos anticiclónicos de mesoescala que esparcen el AW hacia alta mar; en el norte la formación de agua densa induce una gran variabilidad estacional. Estos remolinos de mesoescala, así como los inducidos por los vientos Etesios (Ierapetra y Pelops), pueden ser seguidos durante años, a veces por varios centenares de quilómetros a partir de su lugar de formación, y pueden unirse y/o interaccionar con la circulación a lo largo del talud.

Time course analysis of RNA stability in human placenta

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Evaluation of RNA quality is essential for gene expression analysis, as the presence of degraded samples may influence the interpretation of expression levels. Particularly, qRT-PCR data can be affected by RNA integrity and stability. To explore systematically how RNA quality affects qRT-PCR assay performance, a set of human placenta RNA samples was generated by two protocols handlings of fresh tissue over a progressive time course of 4 days. Protocol A consists of a direct transfer of tissue into RNA-stabilizing solution (RNAlater™) solution. Protocol B uses a dissection of placenta villosities before bio banking. We tested and compared RNA yields, total RNA integrity, mRNA integrity and stability in these two protocols according to the duration of storage.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A long time tissue storage had little effect on the total RNA and mRNA integrity but induced changes in the transcript levels of stress-responsive genes as TNF-alpha or COX2 after 48 h. The loss of the RNA integrity was higher in the placental tissues that underwent a dissection before RNA processing by comparison with those transferred directly into RNA later™ solution. That loss is moderate, with average RIN (RNA Integration Numbers) range values of 4.5–6.05, in comparison with values of 6.44–7.22 in samples directly transferred to RNAlater™ (protocol A). Among the house keeping genes tested, the B2M is the most stable.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study shows that placental samples can be stored at + 4°C up to 48 h before RNA extraction without altering RNA quality. Rapid tissue handling without dissection and using RNA-stabilizing solution (RNAlater™) is a prerequisite to obtain suitable RNA integrity and stability.</p

Characterizing, modelling and understanding the climate variability of the deep water formation in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea

Observing, modelling and understanding the climate-scale variability of the deep water formation (DWF) in the North-Western Mediterranean Sea remains today very challenging. In this study, we first characterize the interannual variability of this phenomenon by a thorough reanalysis of observations in order to establish reference time series. These quantitative indicators include 31 observed years for the yearly maximum mixed layer depth over the period 1980–2013 and a detailed multi-indicator description of the period 2007–2013. Then a 1980–2013 hindcast simulation is performed with a fully-coupled regional climate system model including the high-resolution representation of the regional atmosphere, ocean, land-surface and rivers. The simulation reproduces quantitatively well the mean behaviour and the large interannual variability of the DWF phenomenon. The model shows convection deeper than 1000 m in 2/3 of the modelled winters, a mean DWF rate equal to 0.35 Sv with maximum values of 1.7 (resp. 1.6) Sv in 2013 (resp. 2005). Using the model results, the winter-integrated buoyancy loss over the Gulf of Lions is identified as the primary driving factor of the DWF interannual variability and explains, alone, around 50 % of its variance. It is itself explained by the occurrence of few stormy days during winter. At daily scale, the Atlantic ridge weather regime is identified as favourable to strong buoyancy losses and therefore DWF, whereas the positive phase of the North Atlantic oscillation is unfavourable. The driving role of the vertical stratification in autumn, a measure of the water column inhibition to mixing, has also been analyzed. Combining both driving factors allows to explain more than 70 % of the interannual variance of the phenomenon and in particular the occurrence of the five strongest convective years of the model (1981, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2013). The model simulates qualitatively well the trends in the deep waters (warming, saltening, increase in the dense water volume, increase in the bottom water density) despite an underestimation of the salinity and density trends. These deep trends come from a heat and salt accumulation during the 1980s and the 1990s in the surface and intermediate layers of the Gulf of Lions before being transferred stepwise towards the deep layers when very convective years occur in 1999 and later. The salinity increase in the near Atlantic Ocean surface layers seems to be the external forcing that finally leads to these deep trends. In the future, our results may allow to better understand the behaviour of the DWF phenomenon in Mediterranean Sea simulations in hindcast, forecast, reanalysis or future climate change scenario modes. The robustness of the obtained results must be however confirmed in multi-model studies

Field Effectiveness of Pandemic and 2009-2010 Seasonal Vaccines against 2009-2010 A(H1N1) Influenza: Estimations from Surveillance Data in France

BACKGROUND: In this study, we assess how effective pandemic and trivalent 2009-2010 seasonal vaccines were in preventing influenza-like illness (ILI) during the 2009 A(H1N1) pandemic in France. We also compare vaccine effectiveness against ILI versus laboratory-confirmed pandemic A(H1N1) influenza, and assess the possible bias caused by using non-specific endpoints and observational data. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We estimated vaccine effectiveness by using the following formula: VE  =  (PPV-PCV)/(PPV(1-PCV)) × 100%, where PPV is the proportion vaccinated in the population and PCV the proportion of vaccinated influenza cases. People were considered vaccinated three weeks after receiving a dose of vaccine. ILI and pandemic A(H1N1) laboratory-confirmed cases were obtained from two surveillance networks of general practitioners. During the epidemic, 99.7% of influenza isolates were pandemic A(H1N1). Pandemic and seasonal vaccine uptakes in the population were obtained from the National Health Insurance database and by telephonic surveys, respectively. Effectiveness estimates were adjusted by age and week. The presence of residual biases was explored by calculating vaccine effectiveness after the influenza period. The effectiveness of pandemic vaccines in preventing ILI was 52% (95% confidence interval: 30-69) during the pandemic and 33% (4-55) after. It was 86% (56-98) against confirmed influenza. The effectiveness of seasonal vaccines against ILI was 61% (56-66) during the pandemic and 19% (-10-41) after. It was 60% (41-74) against confirmed influenza. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of pandemic vaccines in preventing confirmed pandemic A(H1N1) influenza on the field was high, consistently with published findings. It was significantly lower against ILI. This is unsurprising since not all ILI cases are caused by influenza. Trivalent 2009-2010 seasonal vaccines had a statistically significant effectiveness in preventing ILI and confirmed pandemic influenza, but were not better in preventing confirmed pandemic influenza than in preventing ILI. This lack of difference might be indicative of selection bias

ARIA 2016 : Care pathways implementing emerging technologies for predictive medicine in rhinitis and asthma across the life cycle

The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative commenced during a World Health Organization workshop in 1999. The initial goals were (1) to propose a new allergic rhinitis classification, (2) to promote the concept of multi-morbidity in asthma and rhinitis and (3) to develop guidelines with all stakeholders that could be used globally for all countries and populations. ARIA-disseminated and implemented in over 70 countries globally-is now focusing on the implementation of emerging technologies for individualized and predictive medicine. MASK [MACVIA (Contre les Maladies Chroniques pour un Vieillissement Actif)-ARIA Sentinel NetworK] uses mobile technology to develop care pathways for the management of rhinitis and asthma by a multi-disciplinary group and by patients themselves. An app (Android and iOS) is available in 20 countries and 15 languages. It uses a visual analogue scale to assess symptom control and work productivity as well as a clinical decision support system. It is associated with an inter-operable tablet for physicians and other health care professionals. The scaling up strategy uses the recommendations of the European Innovation Partnership on Active and Healthy Ageing. The aim of the novel ARIA approach is to provide an active and healthy life to rhinitis sufferers, whatever their age, sex or socio-economic status, in order to reduce health and social inequalities incurred by the disease.Peer reviewe

ARIA 2016: Care pathways implementing emerging technologies for predictive medicine in rhinitis and asthma across the life cycle

The Allergic Rhinitis and its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) initiative commenced during a World Health Organization workshop in 1999. The initial goals were (1) to propose a new allergic rhinitis classification, (2) to promote the concept of multi-morbidity in asthma a

Evaluation d'un réseau "diabète" par les médecins généralistes et sa place dans la prise en charge d'un diabète de type 2 (exemple du RESIAD, Réseau icaunais action diabète)

DIJON-BU Médecine Pharmacie (212312103) / SudocPARIS-BIUM (751062103) / SudocSudocFranceF

Evolution des pratiques, conditions d'exercice des médecins généralistes et accès aux soins primaires (enquête sur le territoire du Grand Châlon)

Introduction : La baisse des densités françaises de médecins fait craindre des ruptures dans l'offre de soins primaires sur la communauté d'agglomération du Grand Chalon d'ici à l'horizon 2020. Méthode : Une enquête quantitative descriptive, auprès de 106 omnipraticiens exerçant la médecine générale installés sur le territoire du Grand Chalon, a étudié leur ressenti de l'évolution des pratiques, conditions d'exercice et de l'accès aux soins de ville, par un questionnaire autoadministré, avec relance, adressé par voie postale fin 2010. Résultats : 55,7% des médecins généralistes ont répondu, en majorité des hommes, plus regroupés et équipés d'un secrétariat, mais aussi plus rbains et déclarant une moyenne hebdomadaire d'heures travaillées et une part de visites plus faibles que les moyennes bourguignonnes (15h12 de moins dont 10,2% en visites versus 11,4%). Plus de 75% envisagent une pénurie de professionnels de santé dont médecins généralistes, 36% une pénurie de structures de soins, des difficultés d'accès aux soins pour certaines populations pour 59%, et à des prises en charge d'états de santé précis pour 86%. Ils redoutent, chez les professionnels de soins de ville, surcharge de travail, permanence des soins difficile à assurer, burn-out. 42% formulent des solutions (coopération, regroupement, financement de la santé, rémunération) contre 86% désirant améliorer leurs conditions d'exercice (rémunération, temps de travail, accès aux spécialistes, stress). Discussion : La création d'un poste de coordinateur pourrait soulager les professionnels libéraux de tâches de gestion. Des investissements financiers, éducatifs et logistiques dans le système de santé seraient judicieux.DIJON-BU Médecine Pharmacie (212312103) / SudocSudocFranceF