Intracellular Ca2+ release mediates ursolic acid-induced apoptosis in human leukemic HL-60 cells

The Centre de Recherche sur les Méningites et les Schistosomes (CERMES) is a research institute depending on the Organisation de Coordination et de Coopération pour la lutte contre les Grandes Endémies--a West African Organization for Public Health--devoted to the studies on schistosomiasis and meningitis. The staff includes 32 persons with 11 scientists and one financial officer. The activities of the CERMES involving schistosomiasis concern three research units: (a) ecology of human and animal schistosomiasis transmission; the CERMES defined the different patterns of schistosomiasis transmission in Niger (involving African dry savana); in this field, we have shown, (i) the existence of important variability in conditions of transmission of S. haematobium and, (ii) natural hybridization between parasitic species of the ruminants (S. bovis and S. curassoni) and genetic interaction between human and animal parasites; (b) definition of morbidity indicators usable for rapid assessment methods, for appraisal of the severity of the disease and for the evaluation of the efficiency of control methods; we have established the correlation between ultrasonographic data and some cheap and simple field indicators; (c) immune response and protective immunity induced by recombinant glutathion S-transferase (Sm28, Sb28 and Sh28) in homologous and heterologous animal models including goats, sheep and non human primates (Erythrocebus patas). In Niger, we participate in all control programs against schistosomiasis to define control strategies, to supervise operations and to participate in their evaluation with external experts. International collaborations constitute a frame including four laboratories in Africa and six laboratories in developed countries (Europe and USA).     

Sensitivity analysis for process parameters in GMA welding processes using a factorial design method

Generally, the quality of a weld joint is strongly influenced by process parameters during the welding process. In order to achieve high quality welds, mathematical models that can predict the bead geometry and shape to accomplish the desired mechanical properties of the weldment should be developed. This paper focuses on the development of mathematical models for the selection of process parameters and the prediction of bead geometry (bead width, bead height and penetration) in robotic GMA (Gas Metal Arc) welding. Factorial design can be employed as a guide for optimization of process parameters. Three factors were incorporated into the factorial model: arc current, welding voltage and welding speed. A sensitivity analysis has been conducted and compared the relative impact of three process parameters on bead geometry in order to verify the measurement errors on the values of the uncertainty in estimated parameters. The results obtained show that developed mathematical models can be applied to estimate the effectiveness of process parameters for a given bead geometry, and a change of process parameters affects the bead width and bead height more strongly than penetration relatively.     

Circulating cytomegalovirus (CMV)-infected endothelial cells in patients with an active CMV infection

In 10 of 14 patients with an active cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, distinctive large cells (35-45 microns in diameter) were present in the peripheral blood. Morphologically these cells closely resembled the classic cytomegalic inclusion cells, generally regarded as a diagnostic hallmark of CMV infection. Moreover, these cells were shown to express CMV antigens belonging to all three stages of the viral replication cycle, indicating a productive CMV infection. In addition, immunologic staining with monoclonal antibodies directed against cell differentiation and marker proteins showed that these circulating cytomegalic cells were of endothelial origin. The presence of CMV-infected endothelial cells in the peripheral blood of patients with an active CMV infection indicates that such an infection might be accompanied by widespread occult vascular damage.     

Field trial of a locally produced, killed, oral cholera vaccine in Vietnam

BACKGROUND: Several studies have shown that orally administered killed cholera vaccines are safe and protective in populations at risk of cholera in developing countries. However, these vaccines have not been adopted for use in developing countries because of their expense and limited efficacy in young children. We have tested an inexpensive, killed whole-cell cholera vaccine developed and produced in Vietnam. METHODS: The efficacy of the vaccine was assessed in a large-scale, open field trial in people at least 1 year old residing in 22,653 households in the central coastal city of Hue. Alternate households were assigned vaccine (67,395 people; two doses per person) or no vaccine (67,058 people). Surveillance for cholera was conducted in all Ministry of Health facilities serving this population. Analysis was by intention to treat. FINDINGS: During an outbreak of El Tor cholera 8-10 months after vaccination, 37 cases of cholera requiring inpatient care occurred among age-eligible people allocated to the vaccine group, and 92 cases among age-eligible people allocated to the no-vaccine group (protective impact 60% [95% CI 40-73]). Among the 51,975 people who received the complete two-dose vaccine regimen, the protective efficacy was 66% (46-79): in this subset, the protective efficacy was similar for children aged 1-5 years (68%) and for older people (66%). INTERPRETATION: These findings suggest that oral killed whole-cell vaccines can confer substantial protection against El Tor cholera in young children, who are at highest risk of cholera in endemic settings. An inexpensive, locally produced, and effective oral cholera vaccine may be within reach of the limited health-care budgets of poor countries with endemic cholera, if our findings can be replicated in a randomised double-blind trial.     

Differential Effects of Left Versus Right Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy on Wechsler Intelligence Factors.

This study investigates the effects of left versus right mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) on Wechsler intelligence factors. In the left MTLE group, the Verbal Comprehension (VC) factor score was significantly lower than the Perceptual Organization (PO) factor score, whereas in the right MTLE group, the PO factor score was significantly lower than the VC factor score. The VC factor score was significantly lower for the left than the right MTLE group, whereas the PO factor score was significantly lower for the right than the left MTLE group. Thus, left versus right MTLE was associated with relative deficits in verbal versus nonverbal intelligence, respectively. These findings indicate that lateralized cognitive deficits in unilateral MTLE patients are not limited to the learning-memory domain but include more global intelligence functions. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Material-specific memory in temporal lobe epilepsy: Effects of seizure laterality and language dominance.

This study investigated the effects of seizure laterality and language dominance on material-specific memory in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Left TLE (LTLE) patients with left-hemisphere language dominance (LHLD) showed significantly higher nonverbal than verbal memory capacity, whereas right TLE patients with LHLD showed significantly better verbal than nonverbal memory capacity. LTLE patients with non-left-hemisphere language dominance (NLHLD) showed significantly better verbal memory capacity compared with LTLE patients with LHLD. Thus, selective verbal or nonverbal memory deficits that are dependent on side of seizure onset were apparent in patients with LHLD but not in patients with NLHLD. Relative sparing of verbal memory capacity in LTLE patients with NLHLD may reflect interhemispheric reorganization of verbal memory function. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Modified repair of mixed anomalous pulmonary venous connection

A modified repair technique is reported for mixed total or partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection with the right superior pulmonary vein connecting to the superior vena cava, the right inferior pulmonary vein to the right atrium or left atrium, and the left pulmonary veins to the coronary sinus. The superior vena cava is transected above the highest right superior pulmonary vein, its cephalad end is anastomosed to the right atrial appendage, and a pericardial baffle is constructed between the cardiac ostium of the superior vena cava, the ostium of the right inferior pulmonary vein, and the left atrium, including the coronary sinus, which is unroofed. The reported technique may be valuable to avoid pulmonary venous obstruction in complex mixed forms of total or partial anomalous pulmonary venous connection.     

Stability radii of higher order positive difference systems

In this paper we study stability radii of positive polynomial matrices under affine perturbations of the coefficient matrices. It is shown that the real and complex stability radii coincide. Moreover, explicit formulas are derived for these stability radii and illustrated by some examples.     

GaAs-based nanoneedle light emitting diode and avalanche photodiode monolithically integrated on a silicon substrate

Monolithic integration of III-V compound semiconductor devices with silicon CMOS integrated circuits has been hindered by large lattice mismatches and incompatible processing due to high III-V epitaxy temperatures. We report the first GaAs-based avalanche photodiodes (APDs) and light emitting diodes, directly grown on silicon at a very low, CMOS-compatible temperature and fabricated using conventional microfabrication techniques. The APDs exhibit an extraordinarily large multiplication factor at low voltage resulting from the unique needle shape and growth mode.