Haplotype analysis of the BRCA2 9254delATCAT recurrent mutation in breast/ovarian cancer families from Spain

A frame-shift 9254del5 mutation was independently identified in 12 families, eleven of them with Spanish ancestors, in a BRCA2 screening performed in 841 breast and/or ovarian cancer families and in 339 women with breast cancer diagnosed before the age of 40 at different centers in France and Spain. We sought to analyze in detail the haplotype and founder effects of the 9254del5 and to estimate the time of origin of the mutation. Eight polymorphic microsatellite markers and two BRCA2 polymorphisms were used for the haplotype analyses. The markers were located flanking the BRCA2 gene spanning a region of 6.1 cM. Our results suggest that these families shared a common ancestry with BRCA2 9254del5, which is a founder mutation originating in the Northeast Spanish, with an estimated age of 92 (95% CI 56-141) generations.     

Cell domain-dependent changes in the glutamatergic and GABAergic drives during epileptogenesis in the rat CA1 region

An increased ratio of the glutamatergic drive to the overall glutamatergic/GABAergic drive characterizes the chronic stage of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), but it is unclear whether this modification is present during the latent period that often precedes the epileptic stage. Using the pilocarpine model of TLE in rats, we report that this ratio is decreased in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells during the early phase of the latent period (3–5 days post pilocarpine). It is, however, increased during the late phase of the latent period (7–10 days post pilocarpine), via cell domain-dependent alterations in synaptic current properties, concomitant with the occurrence of interictal-like activity in vivo . During the late latent period, the glutamatergic drive was increased in somata via an enhancement in EPSC decay time constant and in dendrites via an increase in EPSC frequency and amplitude. The GABAergic drive remained unchanged in the soma but was decreased in dendrites, since the drop off in IPSC frequency was more marked than the increase in IPSC kinetics. Theoretical considerations suggest that these modifications are sufficient to produce interictal-like activity. In epileptic animals, the ratio of the glutamatergic drive to the overall synaptic drive was not further modified, despite additional changes in synaptic current frequency and kinetics. These results show that the global changes to more glutamatergic and less GABAergic activities in the CA1 region precede the chronic stage of epilepsy, possibly facilitating the occurrence and/or the propagation of interictal activity.     

A longitudinal and prospective study of Epstein-Barr virus load in AIDS-related non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) may be causally associated with non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) in HIV-infected patients. OBJECTIVES: To compare EBV load in whole blood in AIDS-NHL patients, HIV non-AIDS patients and non-HIV-infected persons, and to prospectively measure EBV load in whole blood in AIDS-NHL patients. STUDY DESIGN: Longitudinal and prospective study. RESULTS: We observed no statistical difference in EBV load between AIDS-NHL (3.69log(10) copies/mL [interquartile range (IQR): 2.89-4.27]) and HIV non-AIDS patients (3.08log(10) copies/mL [IQR: 1.29-3.57]) but AIDS-NHL patients had significantly higher EBV loads than HIV-negative controls (1.19log(10) copies/mL [IQR: 0.00-3.29]). We noticed an inverse correlation between CD4+ lymphocytes count and EBV load in patients with AIDS-NHL (r(2)=0.41, P=0.01). In the longitudinal study, the mean EBV load three months after NHL diagnosis decreased significantly (mean difference=-1.69log(10) copies/mL [95% confidence interval: -0.32; -3.04]; P=0.03) under chemotherapy but was still elevated in patients with relapses or no response to chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Although EBV load seems a suboptimal marker for the diagnosis of AIDS-NHL, we observed a significant decrease of EBV load in patients treated with chemotherapy and a strong association between NHL outcome and EBV load in whole blood.     

Epicutaneous immunotherapy protects cashew-sensitized mice from anaphylaxis

Background

The prevalence of tree nut allergy has increased worldwide, and cashew has become one of the most common food allergens. More critically, cashew allergy is frequently associated with severe anaphylaxis. Despite the high medical need, no approved treatment is available and strict avoidance and preparedness for prompt treatment of allergic reactions are considered dual standard of care. In the meantime, Phase III study results suggest investigational epicutaneous immunotherapy (EPIT) may be a relevant and safe treatment for peanut allergy and may improve the quality of life for many peanut allergic children.

Objective

We aimed to evaluate the capacity of EPIT to provide protection against cashew-induced anaphylaxis in a relevant mouse model.

Methods

The efficacy of EPIT was evaluated by applying patches containing cashew allergens to cashew-sensitized mice. As negative control, sham mice received patches containing excipient. Following treatment, mice were challenged orally to cashew and anaphylactic symptoms, as well as plasmatic levels of mast-cell proteases (mMCP)-1/7, were quantified.

Results

Of 16 weeks of EPIT significantly protects against anaphylaxis by promoting a faster recovery of challenged mice. This protection was characterized by a significant reduction of temperature drop and clinical symptoms, 60 minutes after challenge. This was associated with a decrease in mast-cell reactivity as attested by the reduction of mMCP-1/7 in plasma, suggesting that EPIT specifically decrease IgE-mediated anaphylaxis.

Conclusion

We demonstrate that EPIT markedly reduced IgE-mediated allergic reactions in a mouse model of cashew allergy, which suggests that EPIT may be a relevant approach to treating cashew allergy.

     

Evidence for selection of insecticide resistance due to insensitive acetylcholinesterase by carbamate-treated nets in Anopheles gambiae s.s. (Diptera: Culicidae) from Côte d'Ivoire

Pyrethroid-treated nets are an efficient tool for reducing malaria transmission and morbidity. The recent evolution of pyrethroid resistance in several Anopheles species represents a major threat for the future success of roll back malaria in Africa. The possible use of nonpyrethroid insecticides, such as carbamates, on nets is a promising alternative solution because these insecticides are effective against susceptible and pyrethroid-resistant populations of Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes. Unfortunately, carbamate resistance as a result of insensitive acetylcholinesterase has recently been detected in Anopheles gambiae s.s. populations from C?te d'Ivoire. Using biochemical assays on surviving Anopheles mosquitoes from an experimental hut trial, we showed evidence for selection for an insensitive acetylcholinesterase mechanism by carbamate impregnated bednets. However, no such selection has been found with nets treated with pyrethroid alone or pyrethroid/carbamate "two-in-one" -treated nets. Because pyrethroid-impregnated nets were suspected to select for the Kdr mutation in An. gambiae, we propose that use of two-in-one nets could be a promising alternative strategy for the management of insecticide resistance in malaria vectors.     

Effects of swimming with a wet suit on energy expenditure during subsequent cycling.]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of swimming with a wetsuit on energy expenditure during subsequent cycling. Nine well-trained triathletes underwent three submaximal trials. The first trial (SC) consisted of a 750-m swim realised at a competition pace, followed by a 10-min cycling exercise at a power output corresponding to the ventilatory threshold . The two other trials were composed of the same cycling exercise, preceded either by a 750-m swim with a wetsuit (WSC) or by a cycling warm-up (Ctrl). The main results are that the WSC trial was characterised by significantly lower swimming cadence (-14%), heart rate (-11%), and lactate values (-47%) compared to the SC trial, p < 0.05. Moreover, cycling efficiency was significantly higher in the WSC trial compared to the SC trial (12.1% difference, p < 0.05). The lower relative intensity observed during swimming with a wetsuit suggest the relative importance of swimming condition on the total performance in a sprint triathlon.     

The impact of decentralisation on the performance of health care systems: a non-linear relationship

The European Journal of Health Economics - This paper examines the role of institutions—notably the degree of administrative decentralisation across levels of government—in health care...