Ustou (Saint-Lizier) – Château de la Coste, hameau du Trein

Le château du Trein d'Ustou se trouve sur un promontoire qui domine le village du Trein sur la commune d'Ustou. Il avoisine une église en ruine d'origine romane (Notre-Dame du Portet) avec son cimetière, séparés par un fossé utilisé comme canal au xviiie s. Fig 1 – Vue d’ensemble du site et du sondage D. Mirouse, 2013 Le château, dit de la Coste, apparaît comme le siège du pouvoir des vicomtes de Couserans, coseigneurs de la vallée d'Ustou depuis au moins 1560, date de sa première mention. C..

Cazavet – Château

Située à l’extrémité occidentale de l’Ariège, et par là même du Couserans, la fortification est nichée sur un promontoire qui domine le village de Cazavet, au lieu-dit du Bouch. D’une superficie avoisinant les 4 000 m2, elle est constituée de deux enceintes concentriques qui protègent successivement le noyau castral et la zone d’habitat qui lui est subordonnée. Au sommet, la zone aristocratique, de taille plus réduite, se distingue par sa forme polygonale. Les bâtisseurs, bien qu’ils aient re..

Interaction between Polo and BicD proteins links oocyte determination and meiosis control in Drosophila.: oocyte fate and meiosis control

Meiosis is a specialized cell cycle limited to the gametes in Metazoa. In Drosophila, oocyte determination and meiosis control are interdependent processes, and BicD appears to play a key role in both. However, the exact mechanism of how BicD-dependent polarized transport could influence meiosis and vice versa remains an open question. In this article, we report that the cell cycle regulatory kinase Polo binds to BicD protein during oogenesis. Polo is expressed in all cells during cyst formation before specifically localizing to the oocyte. This is the earliest known example of asymmetric localization of a cell-cycle regulator in this process. This localization is dependent on BicD and the Dynein complex. Loss- and gain-of-function experiments showed that Polo has two independent functions. On the one hand, it acts as a trigger for meiosis. On the other hand, it is independently required, in a cell-autonomous manner, for the activation of BicD-dependent transport. Moreover, we show that Polo overexpression can rescue a hypomorphic mutation of BicD by restoring its localization and its function, suggesting that the requirement for Polo in polarized transport acts through regulation of BicD. Taken together, our data indicate the existence of a positive feedback loop between BicD and Polo, and we propose that this loop represents a functional link between oocyte specification and the control of meiosis

Evolution and developmental functions of the dystrophin-associated protein complex: beyond the idea of a muscle-specific cell adhesion complex

The Dystrophin-Associated Protein Complex (DAPC) is a well-defined and evolutionarily conserved complex in animals. DAPC interacts with the F-actin cytoskeleton via dystrophin, and with the extracellular matrix via the membrane protein dystroglycan. Probably for historical reasons that have linked its discovery to muscular dystrophies, DAPC function is often described as limited to muscle integrity maintenance by providing mechanical robustness, which implies strong cell-extracellular matrix adhesion properties. In this review, phylogenetic and functional data from different vertebrate and invertebrate models will be analyzed and compared to explore the molecular and cellular functions of DAPC, with a specific focus on dystrophin. These data reveals that the evolution paths of DAPC and muscle cells are not intrinsically linked and that many features of dystrophin protein domains have not been identified yet. DAPC adhesive properties also are discussed by reviewing the available evidence of common key features of adhesion complexes, such as complex clustering, force transmission, mechanosensitivity and mechanotransduction. Finally, the review highlights DAPC developmental roles in tissue morphogenesis and basement membrane (BM) assembly that may indicate adhesion-independent functions

Entrer dans la danse : divergence des « systèmes de pertinence » entre enfants, parents et enseignants

L’image de la « jeune ballerine » ou du « petit rat de l’Opéra » est très largement évoquée dans l’ensemble des travaux portant sur les danseurs. Cependant peu d’entre eux se sont spécifiquement intéressés aux premières années d’apprentissage de la danse. Cet article rend compte d’un travail ethnographique de longue durée auprès de deux groupes de jeunes danseuses débutantes, âgées de 4 à 11 ans. L’article se propose plus particulièrement de recourir aux conceptualisations d’Alfred Schütz afin d’aborder le sens qu’enfants, parents et enseignants donnent à la pratique de la danse. En particulier, la notion de « système de pertinence » et ses corrélats permettent de mieux appréhender les espaces de tension et de négociation qui peuvent résulter des différences de conception entre ces acteurs.The picture of “the young ballerina” or the young “opera ballet student” is widely mentioned in the works focusing on dancers. Yet little focus specifically on the first years of learning dance. This article reports a long-term ethnographic work done on two groups of young beginner dancers aged 4 to 11. It aims more precisely to use Alfred Schütz’s conceptualizations to get to the meaning that children, parents and teachers give to dancing. The notion of “relevance systems” and its correlatives allow to better grasp the tension and negotiation fields that derive from their different ways of conceiving it.La imagen de la “joven bailarina” o del “pequeño ‘rat’ de la ópera” se evoca de manera amplia en el conjunto de trabajos que se refieren a los bailarines. Sin embargo pocos se interesaron por los primeros años de aprendizaje del baile. Este artículo presenta específicamente un trabajo etnográfico que duró años observando a dos grupos de jóvenes bailarinas principiantes, de 4 a 11 años de edad. El artículo recurre más particularmente a las conceptualizaciones de Alfred Schütz para estudiar el sentido que niños, padres y profesores dan a la práctica del baile. En particular, la noción de “sistema de pertinencia” y sus correlatos permiten aprehender mejor los espacios de tensión y de negociación que pueden nacer de las diferencias de concepción entre dichos actores.Das Bild der „jungen Balletttänzerin“ oder des „petit rat de l’opéra“ ist in sämtlichen Arbeiten über Tänzer sehr verbreitet. Dennoch haben sich wenige Arbeiten spezifisch für die ersten Tanzlehrjahre interessiert. Dieser Artikel berichtet über eine langjährige ethnographische Arbeit bei zweier Gruppen junger Anfängerinnen (4- bis 11-jährige Tänzerinnen). Der Artikel nimmt sich vor, insbesondere die Auffassungen des Alfred Schütz in Betracht zu ziehen, um die Bedeutung zu erfassen, die Kinder, Eltern und Lehrer dem Tanzen beimessen. Der Begriff des „Relevanzsystems“ und seine Korrelate erlauben uns, die Anspannungen und Verhandlungen besser zu erfassen, die sich aus den Auffassungsunterschieden zwischen diesen drei Gruppen ergeben können

LKB1 and AMPK maintain epithelial cell polarity under energetic stress

LKB1 is mutated in both familial and spontaneous tumors, and acts as a master kinase that activates the PAR-1 polarity kinase and the adenosine 5′monophosphate–activated kinase (AMPK). This has led to the hypothesis that LKB1 acts as a tumor suppressor because it is required to maintain cell polarity and growth control through PAR-1 and AMPK, respectively. However, the genetic analysis of LKB1–AMPK signaling in vertebrates has been complicated by the existence of multiple redundant AMPK subunits. We describe the identification of mutations in the single Drosophila melanogaster AMPK catalytic subunit AMPKα. Surprisingly, ampkα mutant epithelial cells lose their polarity and overproliferate under energetic stress. LKB1 is required in vivo for AMPK activation, and lkb1 mutations cause similar energetic stress–dependent phenotypes to ampkα mutations. Furthermore, lkb1 phenotypes are rescued by a phosphomimetic version of AMPKα. Thus, LKB1 signals through AMPK to coordinate epithelial polarity and proliferation with cellular energy status, and this might underlie the tumor suppressor function of LKB1

Direct admission to the intensive care unit from the emergency department and mortality in critically ill hematology patients

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the benefit of direct ICU admission from the emergency department (ED) compared to admission from wards, in patients with hematological malignancies requiring critical care. Methods: Post hoc analysis derived from a prospective, multicenter cohort study of 1011 critically ill adult patients with hematologic malignancies admitted to 17 ICU in Belgium and France from January 2010 to May 2011. The variable of interest was a direct ICU admission from the ED and the outcome was in-hospital mortality. The association between the variable of interest and the outcome was assessed by multivariable logistic regression after multiple imputation of missing data. Several sensitivity analyses were performed: complete case analysis, propensity score matching and multivariable Cox proportional-hazards analysis of 90-day survival. Results: Direct ICU admission from the ED occurred in 266 (26.4%) cases, 84 of whom (31.6%) died in the hospital versus 311/742 (41.9%) in those who did not. After adjustment, direct ICU admission from the ED was associated with a decreased in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR: 0.63; 95% CI 0.45-0.88). This was confirmed in the complete cases analysis (adjusted OR: 0.64; 95% CI 0.45-0.92) as well as in terms of hazard of death within the 90 days after admission (adjusted HR: 0.77; 95% CI 0.60-0.99). By contrast, in the propensity score-matched sample of 402 patients, direct admission was not associated with in-hospital mortality (adjusted OR: 0.92; 95% CI 0.84-1.01). Conclusions: In this study, patients with hematological malignancies admitted to the ICU were more likely to be alive at hospital discharge if they were directly admitted from the ED rather than from the wards. Assessment of early predictors of poor outcome in cancer patients admitted to the ED is crucial so as to allow early referral to the ICU and avoid delays in treatment initiation and mis-orientation

Sepsis and septic shock in patients with malignancies : a Groupe de Recherche Respiratoire en Réanimation Onco-Hématologique study

Objectives: Cancer affects up to 20% of critically ill patients, and sepsis is one of the leading reasons for ICU admission in this setting. Early signals suggested that survival might be increasing in this population. However, confirmation studies have been lacking. The goal of this study was to assess trends in survival rates over time in cancer patients admitted to the ICU for sepsis or septic shock over the last 2 decades. Data Source: Seven European ICUs. Study Selection: A hierarchical model taking into account the year of admission and the source dataset as random variables was used to identify risk factors for day 30 mortality. Data Extraction: Data from cancer patients admitted to ICUs for sepsis or septic shock were extracted from the Groupe de Recherche Respiratoire en Reanimation Onco-Hematologique database (1994-2015). Data Synthesis: Overall, 2,062 patients (62% men, median [interquartile range] age 59 yr [48-67 yr]) were included in the study. Underlying malignancies were solid tumors (n = 362; 17.6%) or hematologic malignancies (n = 1,700; 82.4%), including acute leukemia (n = 591; 28.7%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (n = 461; 22.3%), and myeloma (n = 244; 11.8%). Two-hundred fifty patients (12%) underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and 640 (31.0%) were neutropenic at ICU admission. Day 30 mortality was 39.9% (823 deaths). The year of ICU admission was associated with significant decrease in day 30 mortality over time (odds ratio, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.93-0.98; p = 0.001). Mechanical ventilation (odds ratio, 3.25; 95% CI, 2.52-4.19; p < 0.01) and vasopressors use (odds ratio, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.10-1.83; p < 0.01) were independently associated with day 30 mortality, whereas underlying malignancy, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, and neutropenia were not. Conclusions: Survival in critically ill oncology and hematology patients with sepsis improved significantly over time. As outcomes improve, clinicians should consider updating admission policies and goals of care in this population

LKB1 is essential for the proliferation of T-cell progenitors and mature peripheral T cells

The serine/threonine kinase LKB1 has a conserved role in Drosophila and nematodes to co-ordinate cell metabolism. During T lymphocyte development in the thymus, progenitors need to synchronize increased metabolism with the onset of proliferation and differentiation to ensure that they can meet the energy requirements for development. The present study explores the role of LKB1 in this process and shows that loss of LKB1 prevents thymocyte differentiation and the production of peripheral T lymphocytes. We find that LKB1 is required for several key metabolic processes in T-cell progenitors. For example, LKB1 controls expression of CD98, a key subunit of the l-system aa transporter and is also required for the pre-TCR to induce and sustain the regulated phosphorylation of the ribosomal S6 subunit, a key regulator of protein synthesis. In the absence of LKB1 TCR-β-selected thymocytes failed to proliferate and did not survive. LBK1 was also required for survival and proliferation of peripheral T cells. These data thus reveal a conserved and essential role for LKB1 in the proliferative responses of both thymocytes and mature T cells