Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and brain aging.

Purpose Of Review: The literature on the influence of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) on brain aging has grown exponentially during the last decade. Many avenues have been explored but no global picture or clear evidence has emerged. Experimental studies have shown that ω-3 PUFA is involved in many neurobiological processes that are involved in neurotransmission and neuroprotection, indicating that these PUFAs may prevent age-related brain damage.

Opportunistic infections and AIDS malignancies early after initiating combination antiretroviral therapy in high-income countries.

Background: There is little information on the incidence of AIDS-defining events which have been reported in the literature to be associated with immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) after combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) initiation. These events include tuberculosis, mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), cytomegalovirus (CMV) retinitis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), herpes simplex virus (HSV), Kaposi sarcoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), cryptococcosis and candidiasis.

Methods: We identified individuals in the HIV-CAUSAL Collaboration, which includes data from six European countries and the US, who were HIV-positive between 1996 and 2013, antiretroviral therapy naive, aged at least 18 years, had CD4 cell count and HIV-RNA measurements and had been AIDS-free for at least 1 month between those measurements and the start of follow-up.

Response to chemotherapy is not related to chromosome instability in synovial sarcoma.

Background: Synovial sarcoma (SS) is an aggressive soft-tissue tumor. Despite being considered as a chemosensitive disease, the real impact of perioperative chemotherapy on metastasis-free survival (MFS) is controversial. We have shown that metastatic relapse of SS is strongly associated with genomic complexity.

Integration of tumour and viral genomic characterizations in HBV-related hepatocellular carcinomas.

Background And Aim: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common liver cancer. We characterised HCC associated with infection compared with non-HBV-related HCC to understand interactions between viral and hepatocyte genomic alterations and their relationships with clinical features.

Methods: Frozen HBV (n=86) or non-HBV-related (n=90) HCC were collected in two French surgical departments.

Alkoxyamines: toward a new family of theranostic agents against cancer.

Theranostics combines therapeutic and diagnostic or drug deposition monitoring abilities of suitable molecules. Here we describe the first steps of building an alkoxyamine-based theranostic agent against cancer. The labile alkoxyamine ALK-1 (t(1/2) = 50 min at 37 °C) cleaves spontaneously to generate (1) a highly reactive free alkyl radical used as therapeutic agents to induce cell damages leading to cell death and (2) a stable nitroxide used as contrast agent for Overhauser-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (OMRI).

Large-scale imatinib dose-concentration-effect study in CML patients under routine care conditions.

This observational study analyzed imatinib pharmacokinetics and response in 2478 chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) patients. Data were obtained through centralized therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) at median treatment duration of ≥ 2 years. First, individual initial trough concentrations under 400mg/day imatinib starting dose were estimated.

Hepatic expression patterns in psychosocially high-stressed pigs suggest mechanisms following allostatic principles.

Psychosocial challenges are known to introduce cellular and humoral adaptations in various tissues and organs, including parts of the sympatho-adrenal-medullary system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis as well as other peripheral tissue being responsive to cortisol and catecholamines. The liver is of particular interest given its vital roles in maintaining homeostasis and health as well as regulating nutrient utilization and overall metabolism. We aimed to evaluate whether and how response to psychosocial stress is reflected by physiological molecular pathways in liver tissue.

Susceptible-infectious-recovered models revisited: from the individual level to the population level.

The classical susceptible-infectious-recovered (SIR) model, originated from the seminal papers of Ross [51] and Ross and Hudson [52,53] in 1916-1917 and the fundamental contributions of Kermack and McKendrick [36-38] in 1927-1932, describes the transmission of infectious diseases between susceptible and infective individuals and provides the basic framework for almost all later epidemic models, including stochastic epidemic models using Monte Carlo simulations or individual-based models (IBM). In this paper, by defining the rules of contacts between susceptible and infective individuals, the rules of transmission of diseases through these contacts, and the time of transmission during contacts, we provide detailed comparisons between the classical deterministic SIR model and the IBM stochastic simulations of the model. More specifically, for the purpose of numerical and stochastic simulations we distinguish two types of transmission processes: that initiated by susceptible individuals and that driven by infective individuals.

Biochemical and functional analyses of gp130 mutants unveil JAK1 as a novel therapeutic target in human inflammatory hepatocellular adenoma.

Inflammatory hepatocellular adenomas (IHCAs) are benign liver lesions that can be characterized histologically by the presence of an inflammatory infiltrate and at the molecular level by the overexpression of acute phase inflammatory response genes. Recurrent somatic mutations of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) signal transducer ( locus, encoding the critical component of the IL-6 signal transduction machinery gp130, are present in 60% of IHCAs and in a subset (2%) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCCs). By screening of 256 human hepatic adenoma specimens (the largest genetic analysis of performed to date in this setting), we identified 24 distinct somatic mutations among 66 mutant adenomas.

High plasma estradiol interacts with diabetes on risk of dementia in older postmenopausal women.

Objective: We aimed to investigate the impact of endogenous estradiol (E2) on dementia and to evaluate the contribution of vascular risk factors and inflammatory and blood coagulation markers to this association.

Methods: Using data from a French population-based prospective study (the Three-City Study) including 5,644 postmenopausal women aged 65 years or older, we investigated the association of endogenous total-E2 and bioavailable-E2 and total-testosterone with the 4-year incidence of all-cause dementia. We further focused on the role of dementia and cardiovascular risk factors as well as inflammation (C-reactive protein, fibrinogen) and hypercoagulability (fibrin d-dimers, thrombin generation) in these associations.

Upregulation of TFAM and mitochondria copy number in human lymphoblastoid cells.

Mitochondria are central to several physiological and pathological conditions in humans. In the present study, we performed copy number analysis of nuclear encoded mitochondrial genes, in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and its representative lymphoblastoid cells (LCLs). We have observed hyper diploid copies of mitochondrial transcription factor A (TFAM) gene in the LCLs along with increased mtDNA copy number, mitochondrial mass, intracellular ROS and mitochondrial membrane potential, suggesting elevated mitochondrial biogenesis in LCLs.

The depletion of F₁ subunit ε in yeast leads to an uncoupled respiratory phenotype that is rescued by mutations in the proton-translocating subunits of F₀.

The central stalk of the ATP synthase is an elongated hetero-oligomeric structure providing a physical connection between the catalytic sites in F₁ and the proton translocation channel in F₀ for energy transduction between the two subdomains. The shape of the central stalk and relevance to energy coupling are essentially the same in ATP synthases from all forms of life, yet the protein composition of this domain changed during evolution of the mitochondrial enzyme from a two- to a three-subunit structure (γ, δ, ε). Whereas the mitochondrial γ- and δ-subunits are homologues of the bacterial central stalk proteins, the deliberate addition of subunit ε is poorly understood.

Interaction of fluorescently labeled triethyleneglycol and peptide derivatives with β-cyclodextrin.

A triethyleneglycol (TEG) chain, a linear peptide, and a cyclic peptide labeled with 7-methoxycoumarin-3-carboxylic acid (MC) and 7-diethylaminocoumarin-3-carboxylic acid (DAC) were used to thoroughly study Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) in inclusion complexes. (1) H NMR evidence was given for the formation of a 1:1 inclusion complex between β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) and the fluorophore moieties of model compounds. The binding constant was 20 times higher for DAC than for MC derivatives.

[Promoting sexual and reproductive health as part of an educational program among Romani women].

In 2012, the "Centre d'Accueil, de Soins et d'Orientation" run by Médecins du Monde in Bordeaux (France) developed an educational program aimed at promoting sexual and reproductive health among Romani women from Bulgaria and Romania. A preliminary study was conducted using a qualitative methodology involving focus groups and individual interviews. A close relationship was found between the participants' cultural beliefs about sexual and reproductive health and their precarious living conditions.

Proteomic remodeling of proteasome in right heart failure.

The development of right heart failure (RHF) is characterized by alterations of right ventricle (RV) structure and function, but the mechanisms of RHF remain still unknown. Thus, understanding the RHF is essential for improved therapies. Therefore, identification by quantitative proteomics of targets specific to RHF may have therapeutic benefits to identify novel potential therapeutic targets.

HTLV-I infection in the South West Indian Ocean islands, particularly in La Réunion and the Seychelles.

Data on HTLV-I are scarce in several Southwest Indian Ocean islands except for La Réunion and The Seychelles. The two cases of HTLV-I have been confirmed by Western-Blot in La Réunion, among blood donors. In Seychelles (87 400 inhabitants in 2012), where blood donors and some other cases are screened, HTLV-I was confirmed with a line immune assay in 43 persons and at least 10-20 patients are known to have tropical spastic paraparesia or adult T-cell lymphoma associated with HTLV-I.

Fibrosarcoma-like lipomatous neoplasm: a reappraisal of so-called spindle cell liposarcoma defining a unique lipomatous tumor unrelated to other liposarcomas.

The term "spindle cell liposarcoma" has been applied to liposarcomas (LPSs) composed predominantly or exclusively of spindled cells. These tumors have been considered variants of well-differentiated LPS (WDL), myxoid LPS, and spindle cell lipoma, suggesting that this is a heterogenous group of lesions. Using strict morphologic criteria and molecular and immunohistochemical analyses, we have identified a homogenous group of spindle cell lipomatous tumors, histologically and genetically distinct from other forms of LPS, which we have called "fibrosarcoma-like lipomatous neoplasm.

Social isolation in parents of children with hemangiomas: effects of coping styles and emotional distress.

This study investigated factors associated with social isolation in parents of children with hemangiomas. Eighty-one parents completed questionnaires assessing their emotional distress, social isolation, and coping styles. To explore the relationships between these variables, a path analysis was used to test a model in which clinical characteristics of hemangiomas and parents' coping strategies do not have direct effects on their social isolation but indirect effects via their emotional distress.

Contextual and behavioral influences on uncertainty in obsessive-compulsive disorder.

Introduction: Behavioral adaptation generally follows the contextual changes arising from the consequences (rewards and punishments) of an action. According to the reciprocal determinism model, there is a mutual influence between external context, cognitive processes and behavior. The maladaptive behaviors observed in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) have been hypothesized to result from the disruption of the interactions between these three entities.

The 2008-2012 French Alzheimer plan: a unique opportunity for improving integrated care for dementia.

The 2008-2012 French Alzheimer plan has proposed measures to improve care for dementia patients in a more personalized and graduate approach owing to patients and caregivers needs. A key measure of the plan is the nationwide implementation of the MAIA (French acronym for Maison pour l'Autonomie et l'Intégration des malades d'Alzheimer). The main goal is to implement a process of integration through a network of partners involved in elderly care, assistance, or support.

Evolution of brain gray matter loss in Huntington's disease: a meta-analysis.

Background: Huntington's disease is characterized by neuronal loss throughout the disease course. Voxel-based morphometry studies have reported reductions in gray matter concentration (GMC) in many brain regions in patients with Huntington. The description of the time course of gray matter loss may help to identify some evolution markers.

Predictive factors of positive circumferential resection margin after radiochemotherapy for rectal cancer: the French randomised trial ACCORD12/0405 PRODIGE 2.

Circumferential resection margin (CRM) appears as a new powerful prognostic factor of survival after surgery for rectal cancer. We aimed to evaluate predictive factors of positive CRM following preoperative radiochemotherapy in a French trial. Patients with rectal cancer were randomised in long course preoperative radiotherapy 45 Gy plus capecitabine versus 50 Gy plus capecitabine and oxaliplatin.

Geometrical microfeature cues for directing tubulogenesis of endothelial cells.

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels by sprouting from pre-existing ones, is critical for the establishment and maintenance of complex tissues. Angiogenesis is usually triggered by soluble growth factors such as VEGF. However, geometrical cues also play an important role in this process.