[Management of intraparenchymal pseudoaneurysm after blunt renal trauma: Results from a series of 325 patients]. / Prise en charge des pseudo-anévrismes rénaux intraparenchymateux post-traumatiques : à propos d'une série de 325 patients traumatisés rénaux.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose was to describe the management of intraparenchymal pseudoaneurysm (PA) after blunt renal trauma in our center, and to review the cases published in the literature, in order to propose a management algorithm. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the files of 325 patients included in a prospective database, from July, 2004, to May, 2016. A systematic review of the published cases was done with the keywords "blunt renal trauma" and "pseudoaneurysm" in Pubmed (excluding arteriovenous fistulas, open renal traumas and extraparenchymal PA) allowing us to analyze 29 extra cases. Management of these patients in our center is decribed. RESULTS: Among 325 kidney trauma patients, 160 (49.3%) had grade IV and V renal trauma. Conservative management was done in 93.2%. We noted 8 cases of PA, with an incidence of 2.5%. Four patients required angioembolization. Four patients were treated by watchful waiting, with 2 cases of spontaneous occlusion, one case of absence of regression and embolization, and one case of occult hemorrhage. All PA with a favorable outcome were less than 1cm. The mean relative renal scintigraphic function at 6 months of the kidneys requiring embolization was 71.6%. The literature review reported 29 published cases, among whom 26 required embolization, with a success rate of 84.6%. Two cases were just watched, but one was finally embolized in the absence of regression. CONCLUSION: Pseudoneurysm formation after blunt renal trauma is a rare complication (2.5%). In case of clinical symptoms or hemodynamic instability, embolization allows a good renal preservation. Watchful waiting seems to be an option in asymptomatic cases with a PA less than 1cm. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 5.

Identification of 66 box C/D snoRNAs in Arabidopsis thaliana: extensive gene duplications generated multiple isoforms predicting new ribosomal RNA 2'-O-methylation sites.

Dozens of box C/D small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) have recently been found in eukaryotes (vertebrates, yeast), ancient eukaryotes (trypanosomes) and archae, that specifically target ribosomal RNA sites for 2'-O-ribose methylation. Although early biochemical data revealed that plant rRNAs are among the most highly ribomethylated in eukaryotes, only a handful of methylation guide snoRNAs have been characterized in this kingdom. We report 66 novel box C/D snoRNAs identified by computational screening of Arabidopsis genomic sequences that are expressed in vivo from either single genes, 17 different clusters or three introns. At the structural level, many box C/D snoRNAs have dual antisense elements often matching rRNA regions close to each other on the rRNA secondary structure, which is reminiscent of their archaeal counterparts. Remarkable specimens are found that display two antisense elements having the potential to form an extended snoRNA-rRNA duplex of 23 to 30 nt, in line with the hypothetical function of box C/D snoRNAs in pre-rRNA folding or chaperoning. In contrast to other species, many Arabidopsis snoRNAs are found in multiple isoforms mainly resulting from two different mechanisms: large chromosomal duplications and small tandem duplications producing polycistronic genes. The discovery of numerous different snoRNAs, some of them arising from common ancestors, provide new insights to understand snoRNAs evolution and the birth of new rRNA methylation sites in plants and other organisms.

Mono- and diglycosides of (E)-6,9-dihydroxymegastigma-4,7-dien-3-one in Vitis vinifera wine.

Two beta-D-glucopyranosides and two 6-O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-beta-D-glucopyranosides of (E)-6,9-dihydroxymegastigma-4,7-dien-3-one were isolated from Vitis vinifera cv. Gewürztraminer wine and their structures were established by NMR spectroscopy.

Glycosides and phenylpropanoid glycerol in vitis vinifera cv. Gewurztraminer wine.

Eight glycosides and a phenylpropanoid glycerol were isolated from Vitis vinifera cv. Gewurztraminer wine, and their structures were elucidated by MS and NMR spectroscopies. cis-1-(5-Ethenyl-5-methyltetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-1-methylethyl O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->6)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, (E)-3,6, 9-trihydroxymegastigm-7-ene 9-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 2-phenylethyl O-beta-D-apiofuranosyl-(1-->6)-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, and 2-[4-(3-hydroxypropyl)-2-methoxyphenoxy]propane-1,3-diol are reported for the first time as wine components.

[Thyroid hormone and cerebellum development: direct and indirect effects?]. / Hormone thyroïdienne et développement du cervelet : effets directs ou indirects ?

Thyroid hormone (T3) exerts an important influence on neurodevelopment, which can be analysed by using the postnatal development of rodent cerebellum as a model. T3 acts on all types of neuronal and glial cells, which express at least the TRα1 nuclear receptor, and, for some of them, the TRß1 isoform. However, as T3 also activates the secretion of neurotrophins, it can also affect cellular differentiation in an indirect manner. Ongoing experiments, based on mouse genetics and genome wide analysis of gene expression, provide a promising way to study the basic mechanisms of neurodevelopment. This review describes new mouse genetics models and recent advance in this field.

Characterization of the major fragance gene from an aromatic japonica rice and analysis of its diversity in Asian cultivated rice.

In Asian cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.), aroma is one of the most valuable traits in grain quality and 2-ACP is the main volatile compound contributing to the characteristic popcorn-like odour of aromatic rices. Although the major locus for grain fragrance (frg gene) has been described recently in Basmati rice, this gene has not been characterised in true japonica varieties and molecular information available on the genetic diversity and evolutionary origin of this gene among the different varieties is still limited. Here we report on characterisation of the frg gene in the Azucena variety, one of the few aromatic japonica cultivars. We used a RIL population from a cross between Azucena and IR64, a non-aromatic indica, the reference genomic sequence of Nipponbare (japonica) and 93-11 (indica) as well as an Azucena BAC library, to identify the major fragance gene in Azucena. We thus identified a betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase gene, badh2, as the candidate locus responsible for aroma, which presented exactly the same mutation as that identified in Basmati and Jasmine-like rices. Comparative genomic analyses showed very high sequence conservation between Azucena and Nipponbare BADH2, and a MITE was identified in the promotor region of the BADH2 allele in 93-11. The badh2 mutation and MITE were surveyed in a representative rice collection, including traditional aromatic and non-aromatic rice varieties, and strongly suggested a monophylogenetic origin of this badh2 mutation in Asian cultivated rices. Altogether these new data are discussed here in the light of current hypotheses on the origin of rice genetic diversity.

A new theory about the ages of man.

Genetic psychologists who have long been studying the periods of growth in the ages of Man, endeavoring to determine their average durations, set the limits separating these periods empirically, and do not pursue their study beyond childhood and adolescence. In my book published in Paris (1986) I propound a new, radically different approach which takes into account Man's whole lifespan, without separating the various ages, and without separating old age from those that precede it. According to my theory, the Ages of Man, nine in number, all follow the same mathematical law, which determines their respective durations on the basis of a geometrical progression, ratio two. Their durations would be of three and six months for gestation, one, two, four, and eight years for childhood and early adolescence, sixteen for youth, thirty-two for adult maturity, sixty-four for old age. This amounts to a theoretical potential lifespan of 127 years.

Extensive duplication and reshuffling in the Arabidopsis genome.

Systematic analysis of the Arabidopsis genome provides a basis for detailed studies of genome structure and evolution. Members of multigene families were mapped, and random sequence alignment was used to identify regions of extended similarity in the Arabidopsis genome. Detailed analysis showed that the number, order, and orientation of genes were conserved over large regions of the genome, revealing extensive duplication covering the majority of the known genomic sequence. Fine mapping analysis showed much rearrangement, resulting in a patchwork of duplicated regions that indicated deletion, insertion, tandem duplication, inversion, and reciprocal translocation. The implications of these observations for evolution of the Arabidopsis genome as well as their usefulness for analysis and annotation of the genomic sequence and in comparative genomics are discussed.

Alpha(2) adrenoceptors regulate proliferation of human intestinal epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Previous studies on rodents have suggested that catecholamines stimulate proliferation of the intestinal epithelium through activation of alpha(2) adrenoceptors located on crypt cells. The occurrence of this effect awaits demonstration in humans and the molecular mechanisms involved have not yet been elucidated. Here, we examined the effect of alpha(2) agonists on a clone of Caco2 cells expressing the human alpha(2A) adrenoceptor. METHODS: Cells were transfected with a bicistronic plasmid containing the alpha2C10 and neomycin phosphotransferase genes. G418 resistant clones were assayed for receptor expression using radioligand binding. Receptor functionality was assessed by testing its ability to couple Gi proteins and to inhibit cAMP production. Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation was followed by western blot, and cell proliferation was estimated by measuring protein and DNA content. RESULTS: Permanent transfection of Caco2 cells allowed us to obtain a clone (Caco2-3B) expressing alpha(2A) adrenoceptors at a density similar to that found in normal human intestinal epithelium. Caco2-3B retained morphological features and brush border enzyme expression characteristic of enterocytic differentiation. The receptor was coupled to Gi2/Gi3 proteins and its stimulation caused marked diminution of forskolin induced cAMP production. Treatment of Caco2-3B with UK14304 (alpha(2) agonist) induced a rapid increase in the phosphorylation state of MAPK, extracellular regulated protein kinase 1 (Erk1), and 2 (Erk2). This event was totally abolished in pertussis toxin treated cells and in the presence of kinase inhibitors (genistein or PD98059). It was unaffected by protein kinase C downregulation but correlated with a transient increase in Shc tyrosine phosphorylation. Finally, sustained exposure of Caco2-3B to UK14304 resulted in modest but significant acceleration of cell proliferation. None of these effects was observed in the parental cell line Caco2. CONCLUSION: The results obtained in the present study support a regulatory role for alpha(2) adrenoceptors in intestinal cell proliferation.

Diffusion of levofloxacin into bone and synovial tissues.

OBJECTIVES: The degree of penetration of an antibiotic into the infected site is an important determinant of therapeutic success. Levofloxacin is widely used in the treatment of serious infections. However, there are only few studies concerning its diffusion into bone tissue and none concerning its diffusion into synovial tissue. Our objective was to quantify levofloxacin bone and synovial tissue penetration and to compare our data with the breakpoint for susceptible organisms. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In an open-label study, 12 subjects who were undergoing elective total hip replacement received a single, parenteral, 500 mg dose of levofloxacin. Plasma, cortical and cancellous bone, and synovial tissue samples were collected a mean of 1.2 h later and analysed by a validated HPLC method. RESULTS: The mean +/- S.D. plasma concentration of levofloxacin at the time of bone removal was 7.5 +/- 1.3 mg/L. The levofloxacin concentrations were 7.4 +/- 2.2 mg/kg in cancellous bone tissue and 3.9 +/- 1.2 mg/kg in cortical bone tissue. The levofloxacin concentration was 8.9 +/- 2.1 mg/kg in synovial tissue. The mean +/- S.D. ratios of levofloxacin concentration in bone and plasma (bone/plasma) were 1.0 +/- 0.4 for cancellous bone tissue and 0.5 +/- 0.1 for cortical bone tissue. The ratio of levofloxacin concentration in synovial tissue and plasma (synovial tissue/plasma) was 1.2 +/- 0.4. CONCLUSIONS: The concentrations of levofloxacin achieved in cancellous and cortical bone tissue and in synovial tissue are greater than the breakpoint for susceptible organisms, which is < or =2 mg/L.

The organization of cytoplasmic ribosomal protein genes in the Arabidopsis genome.

Eukaryotic ribosomes are made of two components, four ribosomal RNAs, and approximately 80 ribosomal proteins (r-proteins). The exact number of r-proteins and r-protein genes in higher plants is not known. The strong conservation in eukaryotic r-protein primary sequence allowed us to use the well-characterized rat (Rattus norvegicus) r-protein set to identify orthologues on the five haploid chromosomes of Arabidopsis. By use of the numerous expressed sequence tag (EST) accessions and the complete genomic sequence of this species, we identified 249 genes (including some pseudogenes) corresponding to 80 (32 small subunit and 48 large subunit) cytoplasmic r-protein types. None of the r-protein genes are single copy and most are encoded by three or four expressed genes, indicative of the internal duplication of the Arabidopsis genome. The r-proteins are distributed throughout the genome. Inspection of genes in the vicinity of r-protein gene family members confirms extensive duplications of large chromosome fragments and sheds light on the evolutionary history of the Arabidopsis genome. Examination of large duplicated regions indicated that a significant fraction of the r-protein genes have been either lost from one of the duplicated fragments or inserted after the initial duplication event. Only 52 r-protein genes lack a matching EST accession, and 19 of these contain incomplete open reading frames, confirming that most genes are expressed. Assessment of cognate EST numbers suggests that r-protein gene family members are differentially expressed.