EVALUATION IN VITRO DE L'ACTIVITE ANTIFONGIQUE DE XANTHONES ISSUES D'UNE PLANTE TROPICALE,CALOPHYLLUM CALEDONICUM,VIS A VIS DE CHAMPIGNONS PATHOGENES DE L'HOMME

ANGERS-BU Médecine-Pharmacie (490072105) / SudocSudocFranceF

Purification and Partial Characterization of a 32-Kilodalton Sialic Acid-Specific Lectin from Aspergillus fumigatus

Adherence of the opportunistic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus to the extracellular matrix components is considered a crucial step in the establishment of the infection. Given the high carbohydrate content of these glycoproteins and the role of carbohydrate-protein interactions in numerous adherence processes, the presence of a lectin in A. fumigatus was investigated. Different fungal extracts obtained by sonication or grinding in liquid nitrogen from resting or swollen conidia, as well as from germ tubes and mycelium, were tested by hemagglutination assays using rabbit erythrocytes. A lectin activity was recovered in all the extracts tested. However, sonication of resting conidia resulted in the highest specific activity. Purification of the lectin was achieved by gel filtration followed by ion-exchange and hydrophobic-interaction chromatographies. Analysis of the purified lectin by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis showed an apparent molecular mass of 32 kDa, which is similar to that of the alkaline protease already identified from different strains of A. fumigatus. However, as evidenced by the use of an alkaline protease-deficient mutant, the two activities were supported by distinct proteins. In addition, hemagglutination inhibition experiments using different saccharides and glycoproteins demonstrated the specificity of the lectin for sialic acid residues. Together these results suggest that this lectin may contribute to the attachment of conidia to the extracellular matrix components through the recognition of the numerous terminal sialic acid residues of their carbohydrate chains

Prognosis of immune checkpoint inhibitors-induced myocarditis: a case series

Background Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have transformed cancer treatment over the last decade. Alongside this therapeutic improvement, a new variety of side effects has emerged, called immune-related adverse events (irAEs), potentially affecting any organ. Among these irAEs, myocarditis is rare but life-threatening.Methods We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional retrospective study with the aim of better characterizing ICI-related myocarditis. Myocarditis diagnosis was based on the recent consensus statement of the International Cardio-Oncology Society.Results Twenty-nine patients were identified, from six different referral centers. Most patients (55%) were treated using anti-programmed-death 1, rather than ICI combination (35%) or anti-programmed-death-ligand 1 (10%). Transthoracic echocardiography was abnormal in 52% of them, and cardiac magnetic resonance showed abnormal features in 14/24 patients (58%). Eleven patients (38%) were classified as severe. Compared with other patients, they had more frequently pre-existing systemic autoimmune disease (45% vs 6%, p=0.018), higher troponin level on admission (42-fold the upper limit vs 3.55-fold, p=0.001), and exhibited anti-acetylcholine receptor autoantibodies (p=0.001). Seven patients (24%) had myocarditis-related death, and eight more patients died from cancer progression during follow-up. Twenty-eight patients received glucocorticoids, 10 underwent plasma exchanges, 8 received intravenous immunoglobulins, and 5 other immunosuppressants. ICI rechallenge was performed in six patients, with only one myocarditis relapse.Discussion The management of ICI-related myocarditis may be challenging and requires a multidisciplinary approach. Prognostic features are herein described and may help to allow ICI rechallenge for some patients with smoldering presentation, after an accurate evaluation of benefit–risk balance

Hard Macrocellular Silica Si(HIPE) Foams Templating Micro/Macroporous Carbonaceous Monoliths: Applications as Lithium Ion Battery Negative Electrodes and Electrochemical Capacitors

By using Si(HIPEs) as hard, exotemplating matrices, interconnected macro-/microporous carbon monolith-type materials with a surface area of around 600 m2 g-1 are synthesized and shaped. The carbonaceous foams exhibit a conductivity of 20 S cm-1, addressed with excellent mechanical properties (Young's modulus of 0.2 GPa and toughness of 13 J g-1, when the carbon core is optimized). The above-mentioned specificities, combined with the fact that the external shape and size can be easily designed on demand, are of primary importance for applications. The functionality of these carbonaceous monoliths is tested as both an electrochemical capacitor and a lithium ion negative electrode. The electrochemical capacitors' voltage-current profiles exhibit a non-ideal rectangular response, confirming the double-layer behavior of the carbon studied, while the charge-discharge current profile of the electric double-layer capacitor is directly proportional to the scan where the current response during charge and discharge exhibits high reversibility. When acting as a lithium ion negative electrode, after initial irreversibility, a good cyclability is obtained, associated with a stable capacity of 200 mA h g-1 during the first 50 cycles at a reasonable current density (C/10)