Knockdown of regulatory associated protein of TOR (raptor) in hypothalamus-stimulated folliculogenesis and induced ovarian cysts.

Context: Mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) is an essential sensor that regulates fundamental biological processes like cell growth, proliferation and energy metabolism. The treatment of disease by sirolimus, a mTORC1 inhibitor, causes adverse effects, such as female fertility disorders.

Aims: The objective of the study was to decipher the reproductive consequences of a downregulation of mTORC1 in the hypothalamus.

ETOILE: Real-World Evidence of 24 Months of Ranibizumab 0.5 mg in Patients with Visual Impairment Due to Diabetic Macular Edema.

Purpose: To evaluate the real-world effectiveness of intravitreal ranibizumab 0.5 mg (Lucentis) in improving visual acuity (VA) in adults with decreased VA due to diabetic macular edema (DME).

Patients And Methods: Real-world prospective observational 24-month study.

Low serum DHEA-S is associated with impaired lung function in women.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that androgens and estrogens have a role in respiratory health, but it is largely unknown whether levels of these hormones can affect lung function in adults from the general population. This study investigated whether serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), a key precursor of both androgens and estrogens in peripheral tissues, was related to lung function in adult women participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS).

Methods: Lung function and serum DHEA-S concentrations were measured in  = 2,045 and  = 1,725 women in 1999-2002 and in 2010-2013, respectively.

Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists, Diabetic Retinopathy and Angiogenesis: The AngioSafe Type 2 Diabetes Study.

Aims: Recent trials provide conflicting results on the association between glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). The aim of the AngioSafe type 2 diabetes (T2D) study was to determine the role of GLP-1RA in angiogenesis using clinical and preclinical models.

Methods: We performed two studies in humans.

Conjugated Estrogens and Bazedoxifene Improve Cell Function in Obese Menopausal Women.

Context: Studies suggest that menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) prevents type 2 diabetes (T2D). The combination of conjugated estrogens (CE) with the selective estrogen receptor modulator bazedoxifene (BZA) is an MHT that improves obesity and T2D in preclinical models of menopausal metabolic syndrome. The effect of CE/BZA on adiposity and glucose homeostasis in obese postmenopausal women is unknown.

Radio-sensitization of head and neck cancer cells by a combination of poly(I:C) and cisplatin through downregulation of survivin and c-IAP2.

Purpose: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is one of the most common cancers. Concurrent radio-chemotherapy is the standard of care for advanced tumors. However, there is a need for more efficient regimens with less side effects resulting from high doses.

Effects of hydroquinone-containing creams on capillary glycemia before and after serial hand washings in Africans.

Background: Hydroquinone-containing creams cause false increases in capillary glycemia. However, the magnitude of this false increase, and the means to reverse it have not been investigated.

Objective: To evaluate the technical and clinical impact of hydroquinone-containing creams on capillary glycemia and investigate the efficacy of hand washing and other common practices, in reversing cream effects.

Trends in smoking initiation in Europe over 40 years: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Tobacco consumption is the largest avoidable health risk. Understanding changes of smoking over time and across populations is crucial to implementing health policies. We evaluated trends in smoking initiation between 1970 and 2009 in random samples of European populations.

Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with isolated trisomy 8: a type of MDS frequently associated with myeloproliferative features? A report by the Groupe Francophone des Myélodysplasies.

Isolated trisomy 8 (+8) is a frequent cytogenetic abnormality in the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), but its characteristics are poorly reported. We performed a retrospective study of 138 MDS patients with isolated +8, classified or reclassified as MDS (excluding MDS/myeloproliferative neoplasm). Myeloproliferative (MP) features were defined by the repeated presence of one of the following: white blood cell count >10 × 10 /l, myelemia (presence of circulating immature granulocytes with a predominance of more mature forms) >2%, palpable splenomegaly.

Maternal age at delivery, lung function and asthma in offspring: a population-based survey.

There is limited information about potential impact of maternal age on the respiratory health of offspring. We investigated the association of maternal age at delivery with adult offspring's lung function, respiratory symptoms and asthma, and potential differences according to offspring sex.10 692 adults from 13 countries participating in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) II responded to standardised interviews and provided lung function measurements and serum for IgE measurements at age 25-55 years.

Airway responsiveness to methacholine and incidence of COPD: an international prospective cohort study.

Background: It has been debated, but not yet established, whether increased airway responsiveness can predict COPD. Recognising this link may help in identifying subjects at risk.

Objective: We studied prospectively whether airway responsiveness is associated with the risk of developing COPD.

Body silhouettes as a tool to reflect obesity in the past.

Life course data on obesity may enrich the quality of epidemiologic studies analysing health consequences of obesity. However, achieving such data may require substantial resources. We investigated the use of body silhouettes in adults as a tool to reflect obesity in the past.

Sex Difference In the Effect of Fetal Exposure to Maternal Diabetes on Insulin Secretion.

We previously showed that fetal exposure to maternal type 1 diabetes (T1D) is associated with altered glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in adult offspring. Here, we investigated whether this -cell defect displays a sex dimorphism. Twenty-nine adult nondiabetic offspring of T1D mothers (ODMs) were compared with 29 nondiabetic offspring of T1D fathers.

pH sensing by lipids in membranes: The fundamentals of pH-driven migration, polarization and deformations of lipid bilayer assemblies.

Most biological molecules contain acido-basic groups that modulate their structure and interactions. A consequence is that pH gradients, local heterogeneities and dynamic variations are used by cells and organisms to drive or regulate specific biological functions including energetic metabolism, vesicular traffic, migration and spatial patterning of tissues in development. While the direct or regulatory role of pH in protein function is well documented, the role of hydrogen and hydroxyl ions in modulating the properties of lipid assemblies such as bilayer membranes is only beginning to be understood.

Karyopherin α-3 is a key protein in the pathogenesis of spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 controlling the nuclear localization of ataxin-3.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG expansion in the gene leading to a polyglutamine expansion in the ataxin-3 protein. The nuclear presence and aggregation of expanded ataxin-3 are critical steps in disease pathogenesis. To identify novel therapeutic targets, we investigated the nucleocytoplasmic transport system by screening a collection of importins and exportins that potentially modulate this nuclear localization.

Integration of molecular machines into supramolecular materials: actuation between equilibrium polymers and crystal-like gels.

In this article, the dynamic structure of complex supramolecular polymers composed of bistable [c2]daisy chain rotaxanes as molecular machines that are linked by ureidopyrimidinones (Upy) as recognition moieties was studied. pH actuation of the integrated mechanically active rotaxanes controls the contraction/extension of the polymer chains as well as their physical reticulation. Small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering were used to study in-depth the nanostructure of the contracted and extended polymer aggregates in toluene solution.

Qualitative vs quantitative conceptions of homogeneity in nineteenth century dimensional analysis.

The emergence of dimensional analysis in the early nineteenth century involved a redefinition of the pre-existing concepts of homogeneity and dimensions, which entailed a shift from a qualitative to a quantitative conception of these notions. Prior to the nineteenth century, these concepts had been used as criteria to assess the soundness of operations and relations between geometrical quantities. Notably, the terms in such relations were required to be homogeneous, which meant that they needed to have the same geometrical dimensions.

Association of the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio with metabolic syndrome in a sub-Saharan African population.

Background: Worldwide there is an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome mainly due to life-style modifications, and Africans are not saved of this situation. Many markers have been studied to predict the risk of this syndrome but the most used are leptin and adiponectin. Data on these metabolic markers are scare in Africa and this study aimed to assess the association between the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio (LAR) with metabolic syndrome in a Cameroonian population.

Health-related quality of life and risk factors associated with spirometric restriction.

The restrictive spirometric pattern is associated with a substantial morbidity and mortality burden. We sought to determine to what extent spirometric restriction is associated with impaired quality of life.We used data from two large population-based European cohorts: 6698 European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) and 6069 Swiss Cohort Study on Air Pollution and Lung and Heart Diseases in Adults (SAPALDIA) adult participants.

Clinical markers of asthma and IgE assessed in parents before conception predict asthma and hayfever in the offspring.

Background: Mice models suggest epigenetic inheritance induced by parental allergic disease activity. However, we know little of how parental disease activity before conception influences offspring's asthma and allergy in humans.

Objective: We aimed to assess the associations of parental asthma severity, bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), and total and specific IgEs, measured before conception vs.

Overweight and obesity in children aged 3-13 years in urban Cameroon: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and association with socio-economic status.

Background: Childhood overweight/obesity is increasing rapidly in developing countries. There is a need to provide more evidence on its burden in sub-Saharan Africa, and to identify associated factors in order to set preventive measures. We aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight/obesity and assess its association with the socioeconomic status in nursery and primary school children in urban Cameroon.

Flash Glucose-Sensing Technology as a Replacement for Blood Glucose Monitoring for the Management of Insulin-Treated Type 2 Diabetes: a Multicenter, Open-Label Randomized Controlled Trial.

Introduction: Glycemic control in participants with insulin-treated diabetes remains challenging. We assessed safety and efficacy of new flash glucose-sensing technology to replace self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG).

Methods: This open-label randomized controlled study (ClinicalTrials.

Morphological and functional imaging of neck paragangliomas.

Objective: To review the optimal techniques for localization and characterization of neck paragangliomas (PGL).

Material And Methods: Systematic review of the literature from the PubMed/Medline database.

Results: Neck PGL are hypervascular tumours essentially arising from paraganglionic tissue situated at the carotid bifurcation (carotid body) and along the vagus nerve.

Toll-like receptor 3 stimulation triggers metabolic reprogramming in pharyngeal cancer cell line through Myc, MAPK, and HIF.

Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) has a dual role in cancer; its activation can trigger apoptosis as well as stimulate cancer cell survival, proliferation, and progression. We have shown here that TLR3 activation can induce metabolic reprogramming in a pharyngeal cancer cell line, leading to increased aerobic glycolysis, cell migration, elevated levels of reactive oxidative species (ROS), and decreased anti-oxidative response. Key proteins in these signaling pathways are heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNPA1), pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), and CD44 variants, which were over-expressed after TLR3 stimulation.