Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza A(H5N8) Virus Spread by Short- and Long-Range Transmission,France, 2016–17

We detected 3 genotypes of highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N8) virus in France during winter 2016–17. Genotype A viruses caused dramatic economic losses in the domestic duck farm industry in southwestern France. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that genotype A viruses formed 5 distinct geographic clusters in southwestern France. In some clusters, local secondary transmission might have been started by a single introduction. The intensity of the viral spread seems to correspond to the density of duck holdings in each production area. To avoid the introduction of disease into an unaffected area, it is crucial that authorities limit the movements of potentially infected birds.     

Tumor control and trigeminal dysfunction improvement after stereotactic radiosurgery for trigeminal schwannomas: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Neurosurgical Review - Trigeminal nerve schwannomas (TS) are uncommon intracranial tumors, frequently presenting with debilitating trigeminal and/or oculomotor nerve dysfunction. While surgical...     

Distinct immunopathological mechanisms of EBV-positive and EBV-negative posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders

EBV-positive and EBV-negative posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) arise in different immunovirological contexts and might have distinct pathophysiologies. To examine this hypothesis, we conducted a multicentric prospective study with 56 EBV-positive and 39 EBV-negative PTLD patients of the K-VIROGREF cohort, recruited at PTLD diagnosis and before treatment (2013–2019), and compared them to PTLD-free Transplant Controls (TC, n = 21). We measured absolute lymphocyte counts (n = 108), analyzed NK- and T cell phenotypes (n = 49 and 94), and performed EBV-specific functional assays (n = 16 and 42) by multiparameter flow cytometry and ELISpot-IFNγ assays (n = 50). EBV-negative PTLD patients, NK cells overexpressed Tim-3; the 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) was poorer in patients with a CD4 lymphopenia (CD4⁺<300 cells/mm³, p <  .001). EBV-positive PTLD patients presented a profound NK-cell lymphopenia (median = 60 cells/mm³) and a high proportion of NK cells expressing PD-1 (vs. TC, p = .029) and apoptosis markers (vs. TC, p < .001). EBV-specific T cells of EBV-positive PTLD patients circulated in low proportions, showed immune exhaustion (p = .013 vs. TC) and poorly recognized the N-terminal portion of EBNA-3A viral protein. Altogether, this broad comparison of EBV-positive and EBV-negative PTLDs highlight distinct patterns of immunopathological mechanisms between these two diseases and provide new clues for immunotherapeutic strategies and PTLD prognosis.     

Spinal organization and steroid sensitivity of motoneurons innervating the pubococcygeus muscle in the male rat.

Male rat motoneurons innervating the pubococcygeus muscle were located in the ventral nucleus of lamina IX at the sixth lumbar (L6) and first sacral (S1) spinal cord segments. Retrograde labeling with horseradish peroxidase-wheat germ agglutinin was transported up to second-order dendrites and revealed that these motoneurons have a "U-shaped arborization" of dendrites toward the intermediolateral and intermediomedial nuclei area of lamina VII. This dendritic organization makes a wide "final common path" that probably integrates afferent information from several sources, accounting for the participation of the pubococcygeus muscle in autonomic and somatic processes, such as those related to micturition and reproduction. Castration produced a decrement in the morphometry of these motoneurons. A main effect was a decrement in dendritic length. Steroid replacement indicated that testosterone and estradiol, but not dihydrotestosterone, are able to induce a recovery of morphometric alterations. However, estrogen induced recovery after 2 weeks of treatment, whereas testosterone took 4 weeks. Thus, it is proposed that supraspinal aromatization of testosterone in the male central nervous system might be an important process for the appropriate organization of the pubococcygeus muscle motoneurons and that estradiol seems to need a shorter time of action than testosterone because of differential up-regulation and down-regulation of steroid receptors.     

EEG and cardiac activation during periodic leg movements in sleep: support for a hierarchy of arousal responses

OBJECTIVE: To investigate other physiologic changes that occur with periodic leg movements during sleep (PLMS) that might be considered to be more sensitive indices of sleep fragmentation. BACKGROUND: Although PLMS are associated with recurrent microarousals (MA), the frequency of PLMS with MA does not correlate with objective daytime sleepiness. It is postulated that the lack of correlation results from the low sensitivity of the standard criteria used to score MA. METHODS: Ten drug-free patients with a polygraphic and clinical diagnosis of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and PLMS were examined. The EEG correlates of PLMS were analyzed by visual scoring and spectral analysis during PLMS that ended in a visible microarousal (PLMS with MA) or not (PLMS without MA). The R-R interval in the EKG signal was also examined. RESULTS: A total of 34% of PLMS were associated with MA lasting >3 seconds, and 3% of PLMS were associated with MA lasting <3 seconds. Although PLMS with MA were associated with an increase in alpha activity, for PLMS without MA a significant increase in delta and theta activity was present. Both types of PLMS induced a shortening of the R-R interval; this was particularly more marked for PLMS with MA. CONCLUSIONS: First, visual scoring of MA that include a duration of less than 3 seconds has little effect on the detection of PLMS with MA. Second, EEG activation and tachycardia are present during both types of PLMS. Third, a hierarchy in the arousal response is present-going from autonomic activation to bursts of delta activity to alpha activity to a full awakening.     

A molecular scheme for the reaction between γ-aminobutyric acid and the most abundant chloride channel on crayfish deep extensor abdominal muscle

Single-channel measurements were performed with the aim of constructing a detailed molecular scheme for the reaction between -aminobutyric acid (GABA) and a chloride channel of crayfish deep extensor abdominal muscle (DEAM). GABA was applied in pulses to outside-out patches of muscle membrane, and, based on the dose-response of the peak currents and of their rise times, a linear model with five binding steps has been proposed. Evaluation of the single-channel kinetics indicated at least three open states. Two of them originate most probably from the fully liganded receptor state and are grouped in mixed bursts due to their different life times. The third one appears independently, outside the bursts, and originates from a lower liganded receptor state. Simulations of the dose-responses and the open time distributions with this model led to a set of rate constants which generated relatively optimal fits.