Triple negative breast cancer cells exposed to aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands hexachlorobenzene and chlorpyrifos activate endothelial cells.

Breast cancer is currently one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. The mechanisms by which pesticides can increase breast cancer risk are multiple and complex. We have previously observed that two aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists ‒pesticides hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and chlorpyrifos (CPF)‒ act on tumor progression, stimulating cell migration and invasion in vitro and tumor growth in animal models.

Imaging hydrological dynamics in karst unsaturated zones by time-lapse electrical resistivity tomography.

The hydrodynamics of karst terrain are highly complex due to the diverse fractures and reservoirs within limestone formations. The time delay between rainfall events and subsequent flow into reservoirs exhibits significant variability. However, these hydrological processes are not easily visualized in karst topography.

Mechanisms of breast cancer progression induced by environment-polluting aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonists.

Breast cancer is the most common invasive malignancy among women worldwide and constitutes a complex and heterogeneous disease. Interest has recently grown in the role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in breast cancer and the contribution of environment-polluting AhR agonists. Here, we present a literature review addressing AhR ligands, including pesticides hexachlorobenzene and chlorpyrifos, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, polychlorinated biphenyls, parabens, and phthalates.

First Description of Late-Onset Autoinflammatory Disease Due to Somatic NLRC4 Mosaicism.

Objective: Autoinflammatory diseases are inherited disorders of innate immunity that usually start during childhood. However, several recent reports have described an increasing number of patients with autoinflammatory disease starting in adulthood. This study was undertaken to investigate the underlying cause of a case of late-onset uncharacterized autoinflammatory disease.

Morphological and ecological responses of a managed coastal sand dune to experimental notches.

In northern Europe, coastal dune remobilization by restoring natural processes is considered by some to maintain the coastal dune in chronically eroding sectors by migrating landward and to restore dune ecology. In wet climatic contexts, this nature-based solution has been shown to induce an increase in both sand bare areas and vegetation diversity. However, it has never been tested in the coastal dunes of southern Europe with a drier climate and, thus, more stressful conditions, where disturbance may inversely decrease vegetation diversity.

16 years of topographic surveys of rip-channelled high-energy meso-macrotidal sandy beach.

Sandy beaches are highly dynamic environments buffering shores from storm waves and providing outstanding recreational services. Long-term beach monitoring programs are critical to test and improve shoreline, beach morphodynamics and storm impact models. However, these programs are relatively rare and mostly restricted to microtidal alongshore-uniform beaches.

DNA demethylation of inflammasome-associated genes is enhanced in patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndromes.

Background: Inflammasomes are cytosolic multiprotein complexes in macrophages. They assemble after infection- or stress-associated stimuli, activating both caspase-1-mediated inflammatory cytokine secretion and pyroptosis. Increased inflammasome activity resulting from gene mutations is related to monogenic autoinflammatory syndromes.

[Satisfaction survey of Serbian oncologists after experience in French hospitals].

Unlabelled: Serbian oncologists benefited of a short training in French structures as observer between 2003 and 2007. To this day, there has been yet no study on the professional feedback of this kind of training for foreigner doctors. Our aim was to evaluate the satisfaction of the participants and thereafter to analyse their needs.

Antihistone and anti-double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid antibodies are associated with renal disease in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Purpose: We sought to assess the nephritogenic antibody profile of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to determine which antibodies were most useful in identifying patients at risk of nephritis.

Methods: We studied 199 patients with SLE, 78 of whom had lupus nephritis. We assayed serum samples for antibodies against chromatin components (double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid [dsDNA], nucleosome, and histone), C1q, basement membrane components (laminin, fibronectin, and type IV collagen), ribonucleoprotein, and phospholipids.

Types of bipolar cells in the mouse retina.

We studied the morphology of bipolar cells in fixed vertical tissue sections (slices) of the mouse retina by injecting the cells with Lucifer Yellow and Neurobiotin. Nine different cone bipolar cell types and one rod bipolar cell type were distinguished. The major criteria for classifying the cells were the branching pattern and stratification level of their axon terminals in the inner plexiform layer (IPL).

Contribution of the initial features of systemic lupus erythematosus to the clinical evolution and survival of a cohort of Mediterranean patients.

Background: Systemic lupus erythematosus has a wide spectrum of immunological and clinical manifestations. Its course is characterised by exacerbations which may result in mortality or morbidity to vital organs/systems.

Objective: To determine clear and early prognostic markers to avoid further complications.

[Atherosclerosis and anti-oxidized low density lipoprotein antibodies in an elderly population].

Background: Antibodies to oxidized LDL (anti-OxLDL) have been found to be associated with atherosclerosis. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between anti-OxLDL antibodies and atherosclerosis in the elderly.

Patients And Method: We studied several risk factors and different clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis in 100 people older than 65 years and in 48 healthy blood donor controls (age range: 20 to 55 years).

Thalidomide in the treatment of cutaneous lupus refractory to conventional therapy.

Objective: We describe a prospective treatment study of thalidomide in a series of 22 patients with cutaneous lupus refractory to other treatments.

Methods: From 1992 to 1998, 22 patients with cutaneous lupus (9 with discoid lupus erythematosus, 7 with subacute cutaneous lupus, 4 with profundus lupus, 2 with nonspecific rash) were treated with thalidomide. Initial treatment was started at 100 mg daily.

[Seasonal evolution of the biogeochemical cycle in the southwest lagoon of New Caledonia. Application of a compartmental model].

A biogeochemical box model describing the south-west lagoon of New-Caledonia was developed in order to simulate the seasonal cycle of carbon and nitrogen. We used fluxes generated by a 3D hydrodynamic model to simulate horizontal exchanges between boxes and added freshwater influxes as nitrogen sources from the land. Average residence time proved to be less than 11 days for the lagoon as a whole.

Rhodococcus equi pneumonia in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Report of 2 cases and review of the literature.

Rhodococcus equi is a cause of lung infection in immunosuppressed hosts. Since the start of the HIV epidemic, 76 cases of R. equi lung infection (MEDLINE 1985-96) affecting this population have been described.