Computational study of the HLTF ATPase remodeling domain suggests its activity on dsDNA and implications in damage tolerance.

The Helicase-Like Transcription Factor (HLTF) is member of the SWI/SNF-family of ATP dependent chromatin remodellers known primarily for maintaining genome stability. Biochemical and cellular assays support its multiple roles in DNA Damage Tolerance. However, the lack of sufficient structural data limits the comprehension of the molecular basis of its modes of action.

A Practical Guide for the Quality Evaluation of Fluobodies/Chromobodies.

Background: Fluorescent proteins (FPs) are pivotal reagents for flow cytometry analysis or fluorescent microscopy. A new generation of immunoreagents (fluobodies/chromobodies) has been developed by fusing recombinant nanobodies to FPs.

Methods: We analyzed the quality of such biomolecules by a combination of gel filtration and SDS-PAGE to identify artefacts due to aggregation or material degradation.

Native Agarose Gels and Contact Blotting as Means to Optimize the Protocols for the Formation of Antigen-Ligand Complexes.

Background: Protein complexes provide valuable biological information, but can be difficult to handle. Therefore, technical advancements designed to improve their manipulation are always useful.

Methods: We investigated the opportunity to exploit native agarose gels and the contact blot method for the transfer of native proteins to membranes as means for optimizing the conditions for obtaining stable complexes.

Biological Applications of Synthetic Binders Isolated from a Conceptually New Adhiron Library.

Background: Adhirons are small (10 kDa) synthetic ligands that might represent an alternative to antibody fragments and to alternative scaffolds such as DARPins or affibodies.

Methods: We prepared a conceptionally new adhiron phage display library that allows the presence of cysteines in the hypervariable loops and successfully panned it against antigens possessing different characteristics.

Results: We recovered binders specific for membrane epitopes of plant cells by panning the library directly against pea protoplasts and against soluble C-Reactive Protein and SpyCatcher, a small protein domain for which we failed to isolate binders using pre-immune nanobody libraries.

The role of pediatric oncologist in prenatal diagnosis: A 10-year retrospective study at Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille (AP-HM).

Solid tumors or predisposition syndromes are increasingly suspected before birth. However optimal management and outcomes remain unclear. We have performed a ten-year retrospective study of oncologic indications of prenatal diagnosis in public hospitals in Marseille.

Muscle denervation promotes functional interactions between glial and mesenchymal cells through NGFR and NGF.

We performed scRNA-seq/snATAC-seq of skeletal muscles post sciatic nerve transection to delineate cell type-specific patterns of gene expression/chromatin accessibility at different time points post-denervation. Unlike myotrauma, denervation selectively activates glial cells and /CD90-expressing mesenchymal cells. Glial cells expressed were located near neuromuscular junctions (NMJs), close to /CD90-expressing cells, which provided the main cellular source of NGF post-denervation.

Isolation of Adhirons Specific for Plant Protoplast Membrane Biomarkers Is Simplified by Phagemid Design.

Phage display is an effective method to retrieve binders specific for a target epitope from a large clone library. Nevertheless, the panning process allows for the accumulation of some contaminant clones into the selected phage pool and, consequently, each clone requires individual screening to verify its actual specificity. This step is time-consuming, independently on the chosen method, and relies on the availability of reliable reagents.

Chorionicity and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 5½ years among twins born preterm: the EPIPAGE2 cohort study.

Objective: To compare the neurodevelopmental outcomes of preterm twins at 5½ years by chorionicity of pregnancy.

Design: Prospective nationwide population-based EPIPAGE2 (Etude Epidémiologique sur les Petits Âges Gestationnels) cohort study.

Setting: A total of 546 maternity units in France, between March and December 2011.

Macroporous Epoxy-Based Monoliths Functionalized with Anti-CD63 Nanobodies for Effective Isolation of Extracellular Vesicles in Urine.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have enormous potential for the implementation of liquid biopsy and as effective drug delivery means, but the fulfilment of these expectations requires overcoming at least two bottlenecks relative to their purification, namely the finalization of reliable and affordable protocols for: (i) EV sub-population selective isolation and (ii) the scalability of their production/isolation from complex biological fluids. In this work, we demonstrated that these objectives can be achieved by a conceptually new affinity chromatography platform composed of a macroporous epoxy monolith matrix functionalized with anti-CD63 nanobodies with afflux of samples and buffers regulated through a pump. Such a system successfully captured and released integral EVs from urine samples and showed negligible unspecific binding for circulating proteins.

Does a physiology-based interpretation of cardiotocography allow to dispense with second-line methods? A cross-sectional online survey.

Context: Second line methods are used to help obstetricians to identify abnormalities that reflect foetal acidosis. Since the use of a new technique of cardiotocography (CTG) interpretation based on the pathophysiology of the foetal period, the use of second-line tests has been questioned.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of specific training in CTG physiology-based interpretation on professional attitudes towards the use of second-line methods.

Relevance of Fetal Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Compared to Ultrasound for Detecting Cerebral Anomalies in Fetuses with Cleft Lip and/or Palate: A Cohort Study.

Introduction: Relevance of fetal brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in cases of cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) is still discussed to date. The aim of our study was to review the contribution of fetal brain MRI for detecting cerebral anomalies in cases of CL/P comparing antenatal data with neonatal outcomes.

Methods: A retrospective multicenter study was conducted from January 2010 to October 2020 in two multidisciplinary prenatal diagnosis centers among women with a fetal ultrasound (US) diagnosis of CL/P.

Spatially resolved transcriptomics reveals innervation-responsive functional clusters in skeletal muscle.

Striated muscle is a highly organized structure composed of well-defined anatomical domains with integrated but distinct assignments. So far, the lack of a direct correlation between tissue architecture and gene expression has limited our understanding of how each unit responds to physio-pathologic contexts. Here, we show how the combined use of spatially resolved transcriptomics and immunofluorescence can bridge this gap by enabling the unbiased identification of such domains and the characterization of their response to external perturbations.

The introduction of a universal transvaginal cervical length screening program is associated with a reduced preterm birth rate.

Background: Midtrimester sonographic short cervix is a good predictor of preterm birth in singleton pregnancies.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the impact of implementing a universal transvaginal cervical length screening program on preterm birth rate.

Study Design: This study consisted of 2 parts: a before-and-after multicenter study and a study on the ECHOCOL ("echo"="ultrasound" and "col"="cervix" in French) prospective cohort.

Uncertain fetal head engagement: a prospective randomized controlled trial comparing digital exam with angle of progression.

Background: Uncertain fetal head engagement represents 4% of obstetrical situations associated with an increased risk of postpartum hemorrhage, notably in cases of cesarean delivery and increased neonatal impairment owing to failed vaginal instrumental delivery. In this obstetrical condition, cesarean delivery is recommended, but vaginal delivery is possible in two-thirds of the cases. During the second stage of labor, the descent of the fetal head can be assessed by sonography, particularly by measuring the angle of progression.

Selective intrauterine growth restriction of monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies: What is the neonatal prognosis?

Objective: This study compares the neonatal morbidity and mortality of the smallest twins of monochorionic diamniotic (MCDA) pregnancies complicated with selective intrauterine growth restriction (sIUGR) with newborns from singleton pregnancies with intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR).

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients managed at the prenatal diagnosis center in a single tertiary care hospital between 2012 and 2019. MCDA twin pregnancies complicated with sIUGR (sIUGR group) were compared with singleton pregnancies with IUGR (IUGR group).

Prophylactic manual rotation of occiput posterior and transverse positions to decrease operative delivery: the PROPOP randomized clinical trial.

Background: Persistent occiput posterior and occiput transverse positions are the most common malpositions of the fetal head during labor and are associated with prolonged second stage of labor, cesarean deliveries, instrumental deliveries, severe perineal tears, postpartum hemorrhage, and chorioamnionitis. Manual rotation is one of several strategies described to deal with these malpositions.

Objective: This study aimed to determine if the trial of prophylactic manual rotation at the early second stage of labor is associated with a decrease in operative deliveries (instrumental and/or cesarean deliveries).

Severe maternal morbidity in preterm cesarean delivery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: More than half of extremely preterm infants are delivered by cesarean section. Few data are available about severe maternal morbidity (SMM) of these extremely preterm cesarean. The objective was to determine whether gestational age under 26 weeks of gestation (weeks) was associated with an increased risk of SMM compared with gestational age between 26 and 34 weeks in women having a cesarean delivery.

Activation of skeletal muscle-resident glial cells upon nerve injury.

Here, we report on the identification of Itga7-expressing muscle-resident glial cells activated by loss of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) integrity. Gene expression analysis at the bulk and single-cell level revealed that these cells are distinct from Itga7-expressing muscle satellite cells. We show that a selective activation and expansion of Itga7+ glial cells occur in response to muscle nerve lesion.

[Pregnancy outcomes in women with previous preterm cesarean delivery between 22 and 28 weeks of gestation].

Introduction: The rate of caesarean delivery between 22 and 28 weeks of gestation (weeks) has increased for several years. The aim of the study was to describe subsequent pregnancies in women with a history of caesarean delivery between 22 and 28 weeks.

Methods: We performed a retrospective, observational, bicentric cohort study in tertiary care maternity units.

[Propositions for perinatal care at extremely low gestational ages - Working group on "Extremely low gestational ages" for SFMP, CNGOF, and SFN].

Objectives: International literature suggests that active perinatal management at extremely low gestational ages improves survival without increasing the risk of impairment in survivors, compared to less active management. Although these results are limited to a small number of countries, they question current practices in France. New propositions on perinatal management of extremely preterm infants have carried out by the French Society of Perinatal Medicine, the French Society of Neonatology and the National College of French Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Accuracy of prenatal screening for congenital heart disease in population: A retrospective study in Southern France.

Congenital heart diseases (CHDs) are the most common congenital malformations. The objective of our study was to evaluate the prenatal screening accuracy of congenital heart disease (CHD) in Southern France and to evaluate the impact of a prenatal diagnosis on pregnancies outcomes and neonatal outcomes. We performed a bicentric, retrospective observational study in the southern region over 4 years was conducted between 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2017.