A hot Jupiter orbiting a 2-million-year-old solar-mass T Tauri star.

Hot Jupiters are giant Jupiter-like exoplanets that orbit their host stars 100 times more closely than Jupiter orbits the Sun. These planets presumably form in the outer part of the primordial disk from which both the central star and surrounding planets are born, then migrate inwards and yet avoid falling into their host star. It is, however, unclear whether this occurs early in the lives of hot Jupiters, when they are still embedded within protoplanetary disks, or later, once multiple planets are formed and interact. Although numerous hot Jupiters have been detected around mature Sun-like stars, their existence has not yet been firmly demonstrated for young stars, whose magnetic activity is so intense that it overshadows the radial velocity signal that close-in giant planets can induce. Here we report that the radial velocities of the young star V830 Tau exhibit a sine wave of period 4.93 days and semi-amplitude 75 metres per second, detected with a false-alarm probability of less than 0.03 per cent, after filtering out the magnetic activity plaguing the spectra. We find that this signal is unrelated to the 2.741-day rotation period of V830 Tau and we attribute it to the presence of a planet of mass 0.77 times that of Jupiter, orbiting at a distance of 0.057 astronomical units from the host star. Our result demonstrates that hot Jupiters can migrate inwards in less than two million years, probably as a result of planet­disk interactions.

Does evolution design robust food webs?

Theoretical works that use a dynamical approach to study the ability of ecological communities to resist perturbations are largely based on randomly generated ecosystem structures. By contrast, we ask here whether the evolutionary history of food webs matters for their robustness. Using a community evolution model, we first generate trophic networks by varying the level of energy supply (richness) of the environment in which species adapt and diversify. After placing our simulation outputs in perspective with present-day food webs empirical data, we highlight the complex, structuring role of this environmental condition during the evolutionary setting up of trophic networks. We then assess the robustness of food webs by studying their short-term ecological responses to swift changes in their customary environmental richness. We reveal that the past conditions have a crucial effect on the robustness of current food webs. Moreover, directly focusing on connectance of evolved food webs, it turns out that the most connected ones appear to be the least robust to sharp depletion in the environmental energy supply. Finally, we appraise the 'adaptation' of food webs themselves: generally poor, except in relation to a diversity of flux property.

Feeding ecology of silky sharks Carcharhinus falciformis associated with floating objects in the western Indian Ocean.

The silky shark Carcharhinus falciformis is commonly associated with floating objects, including fish aggregating devices (FADs), in the Indian Ocean. While the motives for this associative behaviour are unclear, it does make them vulnerable to capture in the tuna purse seine fishery that makes extensive use of FADs. Here, the diet of 323 C. falciformis, caught at FADs in the Indian Ocean, was investigated to test the hypothesis that trophic benefits explain the associative behaviour. A high proportion of stomachs with fresh contents (57%) suggested that extensive feeding activity occurred while associated with FADs. Multiple dietary indices showed that typical non-associative prey types dominated, but were supplemented with fishes typically found at FADs. While the trophic benefits of FAD association may be substantial, our results suggest that associative behaviour is not driven solely by feeding.

Bioenergetics, Trophic Ecology, and Niche Separation of Tunas.

Tunas are highly specialized predators that have evolved numerous adaptations for a lifestyle that requires large amounts of energy consumption. Here we review our understanding of the bioenergetics and feeding dynamics of tunas on a global scale, with an emphasis on yellowfin, bigeye, skipjack, albacore, and Atlantic bluefin tunas. Food consumption balances bioenergetics expenditures for respiration, growth (including gonad production), specific dynamic action, egestion, and excretion. Tunas feed across the micronekton and some large zooplankton. Some tunas appear to time their life history to take advantage of ephemeral aggregations of crustacean, fish, and molluscan prey. Ontogenetic and spatial diet differences are substantial, and significant interdecadal changes in prey composition have been observed. Diet shifts from larger to smaller prey taxa highlight ecosystem-wide changes in prey availability and diversity and provide implications for changing bioenergetics requirements into the future. Where tunas overlap, we show evidence of niche separation between them; resources are divided largely by differences in diet percentages and size ranges of prey taxa. The lack of long-term data limits the ability to predict impacts of climate change on tuna feeding behaviour. We note the need for systematic collection of feeding data as part of routine monitoring of these species, and we highlight the advantages of using biochemical techniques for broad-scale analyses of trophic relations. We support the continued development of ecosystem models, which all too often lack the regional-specific trophic data needed to adequately investigate climate and fishing impacts.

Severe anaphylaxis caused by orally administered vancomycin to a patient with Clostridium difficile infection.

We report the first case of anaphylaxis to oral vancomycin in a cystic fibrosis patient with severe and relapsing Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) refractory to metronidazole. The patient's colitis has been successfully treated with a combination of intravenous metronidazole and tigecycline.

Complex interplays among population dynamics, environmental forcing, and exploitation in fisheries.

The patterns of variations in fisheries time series are known to result from a complex combination of species and fisheries dynamics all coupled with environmental forcing (including climate, trophic interactions, etc.). Disentangling the relative effects of these factors has been a major goal of fisheries science for both conceptual and management reasons. By examining the variability of 169 tuna and billfish time series of catch and catch per unit effort (CPUE) throughout the Atlantic as well as their linkage to the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), we find that the importance of these factors differed according to the spatial scale. At the scale of the entire Atlantic the patterns of variations are primarily spatially structured, whereas at a more regional scale the patterns of variations were primarily related to the fishing gear. Furthermore, the NAO appeared to also structure the patterns of variations of tuna time series, especially over the North Atlantic. We conclude that the patterns of variations in fisheries time series of tuna and billfish only poorly reflect the underlying dynamics of these fish populations; they appear to be shaped by several successive embedded processes, each interacting with each other. Our results emphasize the necessity for scientific data when investigating the population dynamics of large pelagic fishes, because CPUE fluctuations are not directly attributable to change in species' abundance.

[Recurrent meningitis revealing a Bing-Neel syndrome]. / Méningite récidivante révélant un syndrome de Bing-Neel.

INTRODUCTION: Bing-Neel syndrome is a rare complication of Waldenström macroglobulinemia, defined by monoclonal lymphoplasmocytic cells in the cerebrospinal fluid or in central nervous system biopsy. CASE REPORT: We report a 47-year-old man, with no prior history, who presented a recurrent aseptic lymphocytic meningitis with central nervous manifestations. The presence of a monoclonal lymphoplasmacytic proliferation in cerebrospinal fluid, blood and bone marrow biopsy results was compatible with a diagnosis of Bing-Neel syndrome. Despite the absence of any specific treatment, there was no recurrence of symptoms at 4-month follow-up, and the MRI lesions remained stable. CONCLUSION: We report a case of Bing-Neel syndrome revealed by a recurrent meningitis. Outcome without treatment was favorable at 4-month follow-up.

Circular polarization in star-formation regions: implications for biomolecular homochirality.

Strong infrared circular polarization resulting from dust scattering in reflection nebulae in the Orion OMC-1 star-formation region has been observed. Circular polarization at shorter wavelengths might have been important in inducing chiral asymmetry in interstellar organic molecules that could be subsequently delivered to the early Earth by comets, interplanetary dust particles, or meteors. This could account for the excess of L-amino acids found in the Murchison meteorite and could explain the origin of the homochirality of biological molecules.

Generic and disease-specific quality of life among youth and young men with Hemophilia in Canada.

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to explore the longitudinal patterns of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among youth and young adults with Hemophilia A (HA) over a 3-year period. This report presents the baseline characteristics of the study cohort. METHODS: Males, 14 to 29 years of age, with predominantly severe HA were recruited from six treatment centres in Canada. Subjects completed a comprehensive survey. HRQoL was measured using: the CHO-KLAT2.0 (youth), Haemo-QoL-A (young adults) and the SF-36v2 (all). RESULTS: 13 youth (mean age = 15.7, range = 12.9-17.9 years) and 33 young adults (mean age = 23.6; range = 18.4 -28.7 years) with moderate (7 %) and severe (93 %) HA were enrolled. All were on a prophylactic regimen with antihemophilic factor (Helixate FS®) during the study. The youth had minimal joint damage (mean HJHS = 5.2) compared to young adults (mean HJHS = 13.3). The mean HRQoL scores for youth were: 79.2 (SD = 11.9) for the CHO-KLAT, and 53.0 (5.5) and 52.3 (6.8) for the SF-36 Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS) scores respectively. The mean HRQoL scores for young adults were: 85.8 (9.5) for the Haemo-Qol-A, and 50.8 (6.4) and 50.9 (8.8) for PCS and MCS respectively. PCS and MCS scores were comparable to published Canadian norms, however significant differences were found for the domains of Physical Functioning and Bodily Pain. The disease-specific HRQoL scores were weakly correlated with the PCS for youth (CHO-KLAT vs. PCS r = 0.28, p = 0.35); and moderately correlated for the MCS (r = 0.39, p = 0.19). Haemo-QoL-A scores for young adults were strongly correlated with the PCS (r = 0.53, p = 0.001); and weakly correlated with the MCS (r = 0.26, p = 0.13). Joint status as assessed by HJHS was correlated with PCS scores. A history of lifelong prophylaxis resulted in better PCS but worse MCS scores. CONCLUSION: Despite having hemophilia, the youth in this cohort have minimal joint disease and good HRQoL. The young adults demonstrated more joint disease and slightly worse HRQoL in the domains of physical functioning and pain. The data presented here provide new information to inform the selection of Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) instruments for use in future clinical trials involving persons with hemophilia. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov : NCT01034904. Study funded by CSL Behring Canada.

Usefulness of interim analyses in portending study results in antipsychotic and antidepressant trials.

It is unknown whether interim analyses portend final study results. Fatigue, pressure to complete trials and recruitment differences may mitigate against this. We examined the similarity of efficacy results of the first and second half of recruited patients to complete trials and explore possible intervening variables. Using data from the NewMeds repository of patient level data from placebo-controlled randomized trials of antipsychotics (AP) (22 studies, n=7056) and antidepressants (AD) (39 studies, n=12,217) we compared treatment effect size (placebo vs. active treatment) of the first and second half of patients recruited in completed trials. We found that in AP studies median difference in treatment effect between cohorts was -0.03, indicating that overall first and second cohorts yielded similar results. In AD studies, median difference between cohorts was 0.04, indicating that overall the second cohort had slightly larger active-placebo-difference. Overall, on average there were minimal differences in effect size between the first and the second cohorts, and in 30 of 39 trials interim results were a good estimate of the results on the 2nd cohort. In AD trials first and second cohort results were more similar when the proportion of patients per study centre and recruitment time of the two cohorts was similar. Results suggest that interim analyses in AD and AP studies may reliably serve to estimate ultimate effects and, at least in AD trials, are more accurate when the same sites are used to a similar extent and recruitment time of the two consequent cohorts is similar.

5-HT3 receptor binding sites are on capsaicin-sensitive fibres in the rat spinal cord.

Specific binding sites for [3H]zacopride were found in the dorsal part of the rat spinal cord, particularly in the superficial layers of the dorsal horn. These binding sites had the same pharmacological profile as 5-HT3 receptors in membranes from the rat entorhinal cortex or from NG 108-15 neuroblastoma-glioma cells. Administration of capsaicin (50 mg/kg s.c.) to neonatal rats to induce degeneration of unmyelinated primary sensory fibres resulted in a significant decrease in [3H]zacopride specific binding (-50%) in the dorsal zone of the spinal cord of 4 month-old rats. This decrease was as pronounced as the decrease in [3H]bremazocine and [3H]naloxone binding to opiate receptors. These data support the presynaptic location of 5-HT3 receptors, at least in part, on capsaicin-sensitive primary afferent fibres in the rat spinal cord.

Circular polarisation in star-forming regions: possible implications for homochirality.

Our discovery of high degrees of circular polarisation in some star-forming regions provides an attractive mechanism for the origin of homochirality. The largest degrees of circular polarisation, so far observed at near-infrared wavelengths, are thought to arise from the scattering of stellar radiation from aligned dust grains and are calculated to extend down to UV wavelengths. The extent of the region where circularly polarised light (CPL) of a single handedness originates is very large, and it is likely that the whole of a planetary system would see a single handedness of CPL also. We present the observational data, models of the scattering that leads to the production of CPL, and a model for the origin of homochirality. We also discuss briefly future laboratory and space-based experiments.

[Value of cerebral mapping in the study of amblyopia]. / Intérêt de la cartographie cérébrale dans l'étude de l'amblyopie.

The Alpha attenuation response to a visual stimulation was studied by quantified electroencephalogram for three posterior electrodes 01, 02, Pz, in twenty-five patients presenting either functional, deprived or cured amblyopia. A sample group allows the comparison of differences of visual attenuation responses with or without penalisation on the normal eye. The decreased percentage of cerebral activity during visual stimulations, in the Alpha band of cerebral frequencies represents the visual reactivity. Cerebral activity was checked during different sequences and visual reactivity was calculated. It demonstrates that the stimulation of the amblyopic eye shows a visual Alpha attenuation response only slightly more significant than the one obtained by stimulation of the healthy or normalised eye, or the stimulation of both eyes at the same time. But there is no change of visual Alpha attenuation when a +15 diopters penalisation is used as an optical correction for the normal eye. These findings allow us to disregard either deficient visual acuity or monocular stimulation as a cause of this phenomenon and seems to suggest a cortical neutralization as its origin. This technique could possibly objectify the therapeutic improvements during the treatment. These facts are in accordance with the neurophysiological studies of Hubel and Wiesel.

[Postoperative vaginal pseudosarcoma. Apropos of a case]. / Pseudosarcome vaginal post-opératoire. A propos d'un cas.

We report a case of a pseudosarcoma in the scar of an anterior repair operation. The possibility that the lesion could be sarcomatous was raised by the histologists and by the appearance on the hysterogram of a filling defect in the fundus of the uterus which resembled a sarcomatous lesion. The patient was treated by external irradiation and total hysterectomy and colpectomy. The tumour belonged to that entity that is known under the name of "post-operative pseudosarcomatous nodule". The characteristics, clinical and histological, should be better known so that this mistake is not repeated. The treatment is just simple excision.

The health of women and contraception in Quebec.

PIP: In the Autumn of 1982, the +quebec +family Planning Federation undertook a household survey to determine what aspects of health were of interest to Quebec women's groups. The survey revealed that almost all groups working on women's health are involved with contraception. The subject was on the agenda of several groups and was conceived within the terms of self help and independence. At this time the contraceptive "ovule" Pharmatex made a dramatic appearance on the Quebec market. Launched as a miracle product, it seemed to meet the demands of a large number of Quebec women, who abandoned their oral contraceptives (OCs) and replaced them with the cagitory. The FQPN was urged to comment on this event from all quarters. The survey undertaken on the ovule showed the way in which thoughts had developed. In fact, the work on self help in health, which emphasizes women's independence, necessitated a review of the fundamental principles as regards birth control. Since these 2 events, an attempt has been made to analyze the situation in order to redefine the matter of family planning. The existence of free, public clinic services does not solve the problems of contraception for women. The medical attitude in these places remains totally traditional. The contraceptive methiods they recommend often are ones requiring medical intervention: OCs, IUD, sterilization. The doctor retains his/her powers of persuasion, not to say authority to decise and tends to favor a contraceptive over which he/she has control. Women's dependence on the medical systems is therefore total. In addition, a growing number of Quebec women are disenchanted with particular forms of contraception. The OC and IUD effects on their health disturb them and they want a "softer" contraceptive--one where the doctor's power diminished as the women's increases. As women feel isolated and helpless in the face of these new needs, there is a need to group togerther to find things out and to support one another. To meet these needs certain realities related to family planning were considered. Several factors, both objective and subjective, are involved in the choice of contraceptive: physical and mental health and other aspects, i.e., access to all types of contraception, ease of use of the methods, the quality of the information available, and effectiveness. The challenge is to learn to reconcile women's need for information concerning new departures in contraception, to provide support on the steps they may want to take on their own behalf, and to respect their choice and their direction even if it is diametrically opposed to the Federation's. The last 2 years devoted to consideration of the self help aspect of health and the independence of women offer the necessary tools with which to review contraception in a new light.^ieng

Determination of thermodynamic parameters of complexation using a nonlinear regression method.

The new model and method introduced here allow the determination of more than one unknown from one set of raw experimental data. Even though the method was used to treat data from the complexation of phenytoin with cyclodextrins, the same approach could be exploited for other drug interaction systems. The method allows for a meaningful comparison of thermodynamic parameters for the interaction of either one drug with different cyclodextrins or one cyclodextrin with different drugs. The use of the approach could enhance the ability of the pharmaceutical scientist to analyze data from the solubility method to propose a rationale of interaction between drugs and complexing agents.

First-time hospitalisation for depressive and/or anxiety disorders and severe life events.

BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that the impact of antecedent life events differs between first and subsequent episodes of depressive or anxiety disorders. METHOD: We used the Bedford College methodology to determine the presence of severe events and/or major difficulties in two different groups of patients hospitalised for neurotic disorders, and in a control group of healthy subjects from the general population. RESULTS: The experience of severe events and/or major difficulties was significantly higher in patients being hospitalised for the first time than in patients who had been hospitalised several times, or in the control group. This difference was observed for female patients only. CONCLUSIONS: Two hypotheses are put forward as an explanation of these results.

[Penile metastasis of a prostatic neoplasm. Apropos of a case. Long-term survival]. / Métastase pénienne d'un cancer prostatique. A propos d'un cas. Survie à long terme.

Penile metastases are uncommon lesions. They are most often secondary to a primary pelvic cancer (bladder, prostate, rectum). The appearance of a penile lesion may differ; priapism may or may not be present. The mode of dissemination is still controversial. The authors report one case and review the literature on penile metastases secondary to prostatic cancer. The essential point of their observations is the prolonged survival of their patient (7 years) whereas in the literature, the prognosis of these lesions is a rapidly fatal outcome.

Hypersensitivity in cattle after foot-and-mouth disease vaccination: response to hydroxpropylmethylcellulose.

Intravenous provocation (IVP) tests demonstrated that hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (MC) was able to elicit anaphylactic signs in cattle vaccinated with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine produced at one centre but not with similar vaccine produced at another. The former vaccine also provoked serum reagins which were demonstrated by passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) tests in goats. Reaginic sera which reacted specifically with MC were used in PCA tests to screen samples taken serially from the vaccine production lines. The reactions observed suggested that a substance with MC or similar specificity was present in the antifoaming agent routinely added to vaccines.