Drivers of rare earth elements (REEs) and radionuclides in changing subarctic (Nunavik, Canada) surface waters near a mining project.

The emergence of mining projects for rare earth elements (REEs) in response to rising global demand and geopolitical factors introduces environmental concerns, such as the suspected release of anthropogenic REEs to aquatic systems and the coexistence of radionuclides (U, Th). Northern regions confront heightened challenges from limited research and accelerated climate change. Drivers of REEs in surface waters (including George and Koroc rivers, their tributaries, and thermokarst lakes) were studied (2017-2023) in subarctic Canada within a climate transition zone, near a prospective REE mine. Dissolved REEs (<0.45 µm) correlated positively with Al, Fe, Th, U, Cl- and DOC. A novel relationship with water temperature demonstrated an approximate 10-fold decrease in REE concentrations over the environmental gradient (2-20 ℃), suggesting complex implications for REE speciation under climate pressures. Optical analyses further predicted REEs were mobilized by humic-rich, terrestrial DOC, with correlations presenting a possible co-transport with Al, Fe and Th. Relationships for redox-sensitive Ce anomalies (Ce/Ce* = 0.18-1.2) with multi-valent trace metals (Al, Fe, Ti) and DOC were suggestive of a preferential adsorption of Ce by inorganic colloids in low-DOC systems. Findings emphasized the potential for changes in REE geochemistry with ongoing northern surface warming and vegetation shifts.

[Assessment of astigmatism associated with the iris-fixated ARTISAN aphakia implant: Anterior fixation versus posterior fixation, study of postoperative follow-up at one year]. / Évaluation de l'astigmatisme associé à l'implant ARTISAN Aphakia fixé à l'iris en face antérieure versus face postérieure : étude du suivi postopératoire sur un an.

PURPOSE: The goal of our retrospective, single-center study of a case series was to compare the total, corneal, and internal astigmatism, and the visual acuity at one year after combined or stand-alone surgery consisting of iris fixation of an iris-claw intraocular lens (ARTISAN aphakia) in aphakic patients, according to whether the lens was fixated to the anterior (n=21) or posterior (n=51) surface of the iris. RESULTS: We did not find a significant difference between these two types of fixation for any of the studied variables. The surgically induced astigmatism was 1.67 D at 176° in group A versus 1.19 D at 11° in group P. CONCLUSION: Although this surgery creates additional corneal astigmatism, it has not been proven that it differs depending on the type of fixation of the iris-claw. If we adhere to the notion that the posterior fixated iris-claw decreases the risk of endothelial decompensation in case the implant becomes disenclavated, then reverse iris fixation of the iris-claw makes sense.

[Isolated patchy perivenular whitening: When white edema of the posterior pole may be vascular in origin but not a retinal artery occlusion]. / Blanc périveinulaire isolé : quand un œdème blanc du pôle postérieur d'origine vasculaire ne rime pas avec oblitération artérielle rétinienne.

OBJECTIVE: To identify cases of non-ischemic retinal vein occlusion (RVO) presenting as isolated patchy perivenular retinal whitening and to describe diagnostic considerations and short-term natural history. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective observational monocentric case series. Patients monitored in one center between January 2013 and January 2015. Among the 151 patients monitored in our center for retinal vein occlusion, we identified patients presenting with isolated patchy perivenular whitening revealing retinal venous occlusion. RESULTS: Eight patients presenting with isolated perivenular whitening revealing RVO were identified (3.9 %). There were five central retinal vein occlusions, three hemi-retinal vein occlusions and no branch retinal vein occlusions. Initial visual acuity was preserved in five out of eight cases. In all cases, patchy perivenular whitening was isolated, without retinal hemorrhage. Blue monochromatic photographs allowed visualization of patchy perivenular whitening in all cases. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) showed a focal and segmental hyper-reflective area in the inner retinal layers, especially in the inner nuclear layer. One month after diagnosis, atrophy was noted in the retinal layers showing initial hyper-reflectivity. Three cases of our series of eight were initially mistakenly diagnosed as central retinal arterial occlusion. CONCLUSION: The main complication of perivenular whitening is the atrophy of inner retinal layers responsible for paracentral scotomas. The differential diagnosis with retinal arterial occlusion, which may be difficult, is based on the angiographic and OCT features, and their progression.

[What were the obstacles to the development of outpatient cataract surgery in Toulouse University Hospital in 2013?]. / Quels obstacles au développement de la chirurgie ambulatoire de la cataracte au CHU de Toulouse en 2013?

INTRODUCTION: Cataract surgery is an ideal candidate for outpatient care. In 2013, in the Toulouse University Hospital, outpatient care rate for phacoemulsification was 75.8%. We conducted this study to identify the barriers that limit the development of outpatient cataract surgery in our establishment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study was conducted. We included all patients who underwent phacoemulsification (Medical Act Code BFGA004) as a traditional inpatient in 2013. We excluded admissions for which the medical, anesthesia or nursing records, as well as scheduling sheets, were incomplete. Patients were classified according to the reason for inpatient hospitalization and the type of surgery: cataract as primary surgery or cataract as combined procedure. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-eight stays were included with a mean age of 66.8 ± 16.8 years, and a male/female ratio of 0.76. The indication for inpatient hospitalization was a social, surgical or anesthetic reason in the following respective proportions: 41, 34 and 8% of cases. Failure of ambulatory care represented 7% of cases. Social isolation represented 89% of social reasons. In a combined gesture, the reason was surgical in 89% of cases. CONCLUSION: Development of outpatient surgery requires the participation of all involved. Taking into account the social factors is an essential element for developing ambulatory surgery. Social isolation is a frequent situation requiring a societal response. With regard to surgical considerations, practice patterns must target outpatient combined procedures in particular.

A distinct cytokine and chemokine profile at the genital mucosa is associated with HIV-1 protection among HIV-exposed seronegative commercial sex workers.

The predominance of HIV-1 sexual transmission requires a greater understanding of the interaction between HIV-1 and the mucosal immune system. The study of HIV-1-exposed seronegative (HESN) individuals serves as a model to identify the correlates of protection and to aid in microbicide development. A total of 22 cytokines/chemokines were analyzed at the systemic and mucosal compartments in 57 HESN, 51 HIV-1-negative, and 67 HIV-1-infected commercial sex workers from Nairobi, Kenya. HESN individuals had significantly lower expression of monokine induced by interferon-γ (MIG), interferon-γ-induced protein 10 (IP-10), and interleukin-1α (IL-1α) in their genital mucosa compared with controls. HESN cytokine expression also distinctly correlates with mucosal antiproteases, suggesting that HESN individuals have a unique pattern of mucosal chemokine/cytokine expression, which may result in reduced trafficking at the mucosa. These data support the immune quiescence model of protection, whereby lower T-cell activation/recruitment at the mucosal compartment reduces HIV-1 target cell numbers and is an important component of natural protection from HIV-1.

Comprehensive proteomic study identifies serpin and cystatin antiproteases as novel correlates of HIV-1 resistance in the cervicovaginal mucosa of female sex workers.

Not all individuals exposed to HIV-1 become infected, and evidence from HIV-1 highly exposed seronegative women (HIV-1-resistant) suggests that mucosal factors in the female genital tract, the first site of contact for the virus, are playing a role. To better understand factors mediating protection from HIV-1, we performed a large clinical study using the tools of systems biology to fully characterize the cervicovaginal mucosa proteome in HIV-1-resistant women. Cervicovaginal lavage fluid was collected from 293 HIV-1-resistant, uninfected, and infected sex workers and analyzed by 2D-LC LTQ-FT-MS. Of the more than 360 unique proteins identified, 41 were differentially abundant (>3-fold cutoff) in HIV-1-resistant women. The majority of over-abundant proteins were antiproteases (>40%), some with described anti-inflammatory and anti-HIV-1 activity. Quantification of specific anti-HIV-1 antiproteases Serpin A1, Serpin A3, and Cystatin B and an epithelial antiprotease A2ML1 found them to be significantly over-abundant in HIV-1-resistant women (p = 0.004; p = 0.046; p = 0.0003; and p = 0.04, respectively). Expression levels were not correlated to sexual practices or other epidemiological factors. Mucosal antiprotease levels correlated with pro-inflammatory cytokine concentration (p = <0.0001), but independently of pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in HIV-1-resistant women including TNF-alpha, IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, IL-6, and IL-8. This comprehensive systems biology approach identifies mucosal serpins and cystatins as novel correlates of HIV-1-resistance. This represents the first study characterizing these factors in the female genital tract.

Identification of six new HLA-G alleles with non-coding DNA base changes.

We identified six novel human leukocyte antigen-G alleles with synonymous mutations in Caucasian and/or African populations.

Differences in immunoregulatory cytokine expression patterns in the systemic and genital tract compartments of HIV-1-infected commercial sex workers in Benin.

Initial exposure to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) during heterosexual transmission occurs in the genital tract. Although much of the literature on the immune response to HIV-1 infection is based on studies performed at the systemic level, our understanding of tissue-specific immunity is lacking. Levels of both genital mucosal and blood interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interferon (IFN)-gamma production were compared between 57 HIV-1-uninfected and 52 HIV-1-infected female commercial sex workers (CSWs) as well as 73 HIV-1-uninfected non-CSW control women at low risk for exposure. HIV-1-infected CSWs had significantly higher genital mucosal levels of TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma compared with those in both the HIV-uninfected CSW and non-CSW groups. In contrast, the serum levels of all the cytokines tested were lower in HIV-1-infected CSWs compared with those in the other groups. The increased production of genital mucosal pro-inflammatory cytokines in HIV-1-infected CSWs possibly reflects susceptibility to HIV-1 infection and disease progression/perpetuation at the initial site of exposure.

Characterisation of five novel HLA-G alleles with coding DNA base changes.

We identified five novel human leukocyte antigen-G alleles with protein-modifying mutations in Caucasian and/or African populations.

Doxorubicin plus metronidazole in the treatment of recurrent or metastatic squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Twenty-five patients were treated on a Phase II study of doxorubicin, 60-75 mg/m2 intravenously every 3 weeks, accompanied by metronidazole, 1500 mg/m2 orally 12 hours and immediately before the doxorubicin and 6 hours and 24 hours after the doxorubicin. Of 23 patients evaluable for response, 2 (9%) achieved complete remissions, 2 (9%) achieved partial remissions, and 4 (18%) were stable (one of whom achieved a minor response). One patient with an inoperable biopsy-proven 4 x 3 x 3 cm recurrence following radiation and surgery has had a complete remission that persists at 8 years. The second patient who achieved a complete remission subsequently underwent surgical resection of the involved area. No residual tumor was found, and he remains disease free after 8.5 years. Doxorubicin toxicity did not appear to be augmented significantly by metronidazole. Although the response rate seen in this study was low, the occurrence of two long-term complete remissions suggests that this combination should be studied further in other tumor types.

Cisplatin, cytosine arabinoside, and pentoxifylline in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Nine patients were entered on a Phase I-II study of cisplatin, cytosine arabinoside, and pentoxifylline in the treatment of advanced head and neck cancer. The treatment regimen consisted of cisplatin 100 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1 only, cytosine arabinoside 2,000 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1 and 2, and pentoxifylline 400 mg orally three times daily beginning 7 to 14 days before the chemotherapy. The pentoxifylline was continued between chemotherapy cycles. Chemotherapy courses were repeated at 3- to 4-week intervals. Partial remission were seen in two patients, two patients were stable, and five patients failed on treatment. Dose-limiting toxicity was granulocytopenia. Pentoxifylline itself caused some nausea and anorexia. Although the patient numbers were small, there was no indication that pentoxifylline increased the efficacy of this chemotherapy in head and neck cancer. It is possible that another dose schedule might have been more effective.

Reye's syndrome associated with acute myocarditis and fatal circulatory failure.

We describe an eight-month-old infant who had an unusually fulminant and fatal course of Reye's syndrome. The patient died 36 hours after admission because of irreversible circulatory failure not associated with clinical symptoms of increased intracranial pressure or cerebral herniation. Autopsy revealed the pathognomonic fatty degeneration of the liver and heart of Reye's syndrome, but the brain was normal. In addition, a marked inflammatory infiltration of the myocardium was also observed, which indicated that acute myocarditis had been the preceding underlying disease. This case report emphasizes the fact that the viral prodrome preceding Reye's syndrome may not be as benign as often observed with influenza and varicella. Acute myocarditis and Reye's syndrome are also a combination which may result in fatal cardiovascular collapse.

Cisplatin plus cytosine arabinoside in the treatment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Twenty-seven patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck were treated with i.v. cisplatin 50-100 mg/m2 followed by a rapid infusion of cytosine arabinoside 500-4,000 mg/m2. All except four of the patients had received prior irradiation and six had had prior chemotherapy. There was one early death. Of 25 evaluable patients, one (4%) achieved a complete remission and 10 (40%) achieved partial remissions lasting 6-50 weeks (median, 16 weeks). Ten patients (40%) were classified as having stable disease, including five (20%) who experienced minor responses lasting 5-8 weeks. Four patients (16%) had progressive disease. Drug doses, patient performance status, and prior exposure to chemotherapy did not appear to alter the response rate. Gastrointestinal toxicity was severe in some patients. Myelosuppression tended to be unpredictable and variable within individual patients and was not clearly related to drug doses. Two patients had generalized seizures and one became confused while hypomagnesemic. Renal toxicity, ototoxicity, and paresthesias were seen only at a cisplatin dose of 100 mg/m2. One patient developed stomatitis and one had an allergic reaction to cisplatin. There was one possible drug-related death. This regimen is reasonably well tolerated and may be somewhat more active than cisplatin alone, although further studies are needed to confirm it. Further studies involving additional doses of high dose cytosine arabinoside following cisplatin could also be worthwhile.

Methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil in the treatment of squamous and other carcinomas of the head and neck.

Thirty-two patients with squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck and three patients with parotid gland carcinomas were treated with methotrexate 40 mg/m2 followed 1 h later by 5-fluorouracil 600 mg/m2. Treatments were repeated on day 8, then every 2 weeks, toxicity permitting. Of 30 evaluable patients with squamous cell carcinomas, 9 (30%) achieved a partial (8) or complete (1) remission. Performance status and prior treatment history appeared to affect the probability of response. The original site of the primary had no apparent effect on response rate. Six patients having objective tumor regression but less than the amount required for classification as partial remission all had marked symptomatic relief and had "response" durations and survivals quite comparable to those in patients achieving partial remission. One patient with a parotid gland carcinoma attained a complete remission, one had a minor response, and one refused to return for follow-up. Myelosuppression and stomatitis were dose-limiting in some patients, although the regimen was generally well tolerated. Three patients (9%) developed cerebellar toxicity, suggesting that prior ethanol abuse could possibly predispose to this side effect.

Penetration of VP-16 (etoposide) into human intracerebral and extracerebral tumors.

VP-16 100 mg/m2 was given intravenously to 10 patients undergoing surgical resection of intracerebral tumors, and the drug was assayed in resected tumor using high pressure liquid chromatography. VP-16 concentrations varied from undetectable (less than .1 microgram/g) to 5.9 micrograms/g (mean, 1.4 microgram/g). VP-16 concentrations in tumors were lower than concurrent plasma concentrations. In addition, intracerebral tumors had a lower concentration of VP-16 than did extracerebral tumors (mean VP-16 concentration, 3.9 micrograms/g) from 7 patients receiving VP-16 50-100 mg/m2 intravenously. Plasma pharmacokinetics of VP-16 were different in our patients with intracerebral tumors than in previously studied patients with extracerebral tumors and it is unclear what role this may played in variability of tumor VP-16 concentrations. VP-16 concentrations were similar in glioblastomas and brain metastases. Specimens from patients with small cell undifferentiated carcinoma of the lung had the highest VP-16 concentrations. A patient who had both viable and necrotic tumor resected during an occipital lobectomy had a higher drug concentration in the necrotic than in the viable area of tumor. In addition, VP-16 concentration decreased as a function of distance into brain from the tumor. Based on our data, VP-16 might be expected to have less activity against intracerebral than against extracerebral human tumors.

Intravascular angiomatosis of the pharynx (Masson's vegetant intravascular haemangioendothelioma)--a case report.

A case of intravascular angiomatosis arising in the pharynx of a 30-year-old man is reported. Gross and microscopic features with differential diagnosis are discussed. The importance of recognition of the lesion as a benign lesion which can arise in the pharynx is stressed.