Characterization of floating microplastic contamination in the bay of Marseille (French Mediterranean Sea) and its impact on zooplankton and mussels.

Microplastics (MPs) were sampled in three seasons from 2016 to 2018 in the Bay of Marseille, northwestern Mediterranean Sea, adjacent to a highly urbanized area. Six sites were selected according to their different characteristics (river mouth, treatment plants, protected marine area). Surface floating MPs were characterized (number, weight, typology and polymer) as was zooplankton. In addition, mussels were submerged and used to investigate ingestion. Finally, a hydrodynamic model was used to improve understanding of dispersion mechanisms. The annual averages of floating MPs values ranged from 39,217 to 514,817 items/km2. The MPs collected were mainly fragments principally composed of polyethylene and polypropylene. The mean abundance ratio (MPs/zooplankton) was 0.09. On average 87% of mussel pools were contaminated and ingested 18.73 items/100 g of flesh. Two hydrodynamic patterns were identified: the first retaining the MPs in the harbor, and the second dispersing them outside.

Serum total periostin is an independent marker of overall survival in bone metastases of lung adenocarcinoma.

More than 35% of lung adenocarcinoma patients have bone metastases at diagnosis and have a poor survival. Periostin, a carboxylated matrix protein, mediates lung cancer cell dissemination by promoting epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and is involved in bone response to mechanical stress and bone formation regulation. This suggests that periostin may be used as a biomarker to predict survival in lung cancer patients. Serum periostin was assessed at diagnosis in a prospective cohort of 133 patients with lung adenocarcinoma of all stages. Patients were divided into localized and bone metastatic groups. Both groups were matched to healthy controls. Survival analysis and Cox proportional hazards models were conducted in the total population and in bone metastatic group. The median serum periostin level was higher in bone metastatic (n = 67; median: 1752 pmol/L) than in the localized group (n = 66; 861 pmol/L; p < 0.0001). Patients with high periostin (>median) had a poorer overall survival in the whole population (33.3 weeks vs. NR; p < 0.0001) and the bone metastatic group (24.4 vs. 66.1 weeks; p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, patients with high periostin had increased risk of death (HR = 2.09, 95%CI [1.06-4.13]; p = 0.03). This was also found in the bone metastatic group (HR = 3.62, 95%CI [1.74-7.52]; p = 0.0005). Immunohistochemistry on bone metastasis biopsies showed periostin expression in the bone matrix and nuclear and cytoplasmic staining in cancer cells. Serum periostin was an independent survival biomarker in all-stage and in bone metastatic lung adenocarcinoma patients. IHC data suggest that periostin might be induced in cancer cells in bone metastatic niche in addition to bone microenvironment expression.

Earthquakes and extreme rainfall induce long term permeability enhancement of volcanic island hydrogeological systems.

Earthquakes affect near-surface permeability, however temporal permeability evolution quantification is challenging due to the scarcity of observations data. Using thirteen years of groundwater level observations, we highlight clear permeability variations induced by earthquakes in an aquifer and overlaying aquitard. Dynamic stresses, above a threshold value PGV > 0.5 cm s-1, were mostly responsible for these variations. We develop a new model using earth tides responses of water levels between earthquakes. We demonstrate a clear permeability increase of the hydrogeological system, with the permeability of the aquifer increasing 20-fold and that of the aquitard 300-fold over 12 years, induced by fracture creation or fracture unclogging. In addition, we demonstrate unprecedented observations of increase in permeability due to the effect of extreme tropical deluges of rainfall and hurricanes. The water pressure increase induced by the exceptional rainfall events thus act as piston strokes strong enough to unclog congested fractures by colloids, particles or precipitates. Lastly, an analysis of regional permeabilities also highlights a permeability increase over geological timeframes (× 40 per million years), corroborating the trend observed over the last decade. This demonstrates that permeability of aquifers of andesitic volcanic islands, such as the Lesser Antilles, significantly evolve with time due to seismic activity and extreme rainfall.

[Short-term results of video-assisted lung cancer surgery in octogenarians]. / Morbi-mortalité de la résection pulmonaire pour cancer par chirurgie vidéo-assistée chez l'octogénaire.

INTRODUCTION: Due to an increase in life expectancy, onco-pulmonologists and thoracic surgeons are more frequently faced with octogenarian patients with lung cancer. In this age group, treatment modalities may need to be revised because of the increasing presence of comorbidities. Surgery remains the reference treatment for early stage disease, but mortality rates and postoperative complications are higher in this group of patients. One of the solutions to reduce the operative risk would be to develop videoassisted thoracoscopic pulmonary resection surgery. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of this form of lung cancer surgery in octogenarians. METHODS: All patients 80 years old or more who underwent videoassisted lung cancer surgery from 2014 to 2018 at Lyon University Hospital were included. Wedge resections and diagnostic procedures were excluded. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (13 men, 6 women) were included. The median age was 82 years old. All patients had undergone videoassisted lobectomy. Three patients required conversion to thoracotomy (15.8%). All patients underwent complete resection (R0). One patient had N1 lymph node involvement, all others were N0. The postoperative complication rate was 68.4%, the majority of which were grade II of the Clavien classification. Perioperative mortality was 5.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Videoassisted lung cancer resection in a selected population of octogenarians is associated with satisfactory short-term results. It is reasonable to favour minimally invasive techniques in this population, even if the proof of their superiority has not yet been firmly established.

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a safe and efficient procedure to treat an aortic valve stenosis before lung cancer resection.

A 75 year old man presented with left upper lobe squamous cell carcinoma. Severe aortic stenosis has been discovered during preoperative assessment. In this situation, two therapeutic strategies are described: concomitant or two-staged procedures. The debate has not yet led to the conclusion on whether preferably performing one or the other. Furthermore, in an oncologic context, using cardiopulmonary bypass is still controversial. So, thoracic and cardiac surgeons jointly proposed to the patient a transcatheter aortic valve implantation followed, 72 h later, by lung cancer resection. This case report describes a way to treat both diseases avoiding cardiopulmonary bypass adverse effects and without delaying lung cancer treatment.

[Long-term results of lung cancer surgery in octogenarians]. / Résultats à long terme de la chirurgie de résection pulmonaire pour cancer chez l'octogénaire.

INTRODUCTION: This retrospective study was undertaken to evaluate late results of lung cancer surgery in octogenerians. METHODS: All patients 80years old or more who underwent a lung resection for cancer from 2000 to 2010 at Lyon University Hospital were included. No patients were treated with video-assisted surgery. Wedge resections were excluded. RESULTS: Sixty-three patients (42 men, 21 women) were operated. The median age was 82years. Operative mortality was 4.7%. The rate of perioperative complications was 49%. The late survival was 34% at 5years. Five-year survival by nodal involvement was N0, 36%; N1, 29%; N2 20%, P<0.05. Patients with a squamous cell carcinoma (24) had a better long-term survival than patients with an adenocarcinoma (30), 33% and 25% respectively at 5years, P<0.05. The rate of recurrence was 33.9%. CONCLUSIONS: Surgical treatment of lung cancer in selected population of octogenerians is associated with satisfactory early and long-term results. Survival is influenced by nodal involvement and by the pathologic type of the cancer.

[Graft-versus-host disease, a rare complication of lung transplantation]. / La maladie du greffon contre l'hôte, graft-versus-host disease, une complication exceptionnelle de la transplantation pulmonaire.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a classic and frequent multisystemic complication of bone marrow allografts. It has also been reported after the transplantation of solid organs such as the liver or gut. Recent cases of GVHD have been reported after lung and heart-lung transplant. Skin, liver, gastrointestinal tract and bone marrow are the organ preferentially affected by GVHD. Corticosteroid is the first line treatment of GVHD. The prognosis reported in solid organ transplants is poor with infectious complications favoured by immunosuppressive therapy. In this article, we report a case of a patient with cystic fibrosis who presented a probable GVHD 18 months after a lung transplant and a literature review of similar cases.

Gentle blood aspiration and tube cushioning reduce pneumatic tube system interference in lactate dehydrogenase assays.

BACKGROUND: Use of a hospital pneumatic tube system may be associated with measurement errors. METHODS: A venous blood sample was collected from 79 patients into a pair of lithium heparin tubes; one tube was sent to the laboratory by porter and the other was sent via the pneumatic tube system. Plasma lactate dehydrogenase concentrations were then assayed. RESULTS: Lactate dehydrogenase concentrations were overestimated (median bias: 18.8%) when evacuated vacuum lithium heparin tubes were sent by pneumatic tube system. This bias was reduced by bubble-wrapping the standard lithium heparin tube or using Monovette lithium heparin tubes in aspiration mode (median bias: +8.7% and -0.3%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Cushioning and aspiration-mode sampling may limit pneumatic tube system-associated overestimation of lactate dehydrogenase concentrations.

[Indications of lung transplantation: Patients selection, timing of listing, and choice of procedure]. / Indications de la transplantation pulmonaire : sélection des candidats, critères d'inscription en liste d'attente, choix du type d'intervention.

Lung transplantation (LT) is now considered as an excellent treatment option for selected patients with end-stage pulmonary diseases, such as COPD, cystic fibrosis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. The 2 goals of LT are to provide a survival benefit and to improve quality of life. The 3-step decision process leading to LT is discussed in this review. The first step is the selection of candidates, which requires a careful examination in order to check absolute and relative contraindications. The second step is the timing of listing for LT; it requires the knowledge of disease-specific prognostic factors available in international guidelines, and discussed in this paper. The third step is the choice of procedure: indications of heart-lung, single-lung, and bilateral-lung transplantation are described. In conclusion, this document provides guidelines to help pulmonologists in the referral and selection processes of candidates for transplantation in order to optimize the outcome of LT.

Management of emerging multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in a low-prevalence setting.

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) is an emerging concern in communities with a low TB prevalence and a high standard of public health. Twenty-three consecutive adult MDR TB patients who were treated at our institution between 2007 and 2013 were reviewed for demographic characteristics and anti-TB treatment management, which included surgical procedures and long-term patient follow-up. This report of our experience emphasizes the need for an individualized approach as MDR TB brings mycobacterial disease management to a higher level of expertise, and for a balance to be found between international current guidelines and patient-tailored treatment strategies.

Pneumatic transport is critical for leukaemic patients with major leukocytosis: what precautions to measure lactate dehydrogenase, potassium and aspartate aminotransferase?

False elevations of plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), potassium and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) have been described, in relation to haemolysis, occurring most often by mechanical release during phlebotomy or specimen processing. We present the cases of two leukaemic patients with severe hyperleukocytosis for whom LDH, potassium and AST were dramatically but falsely elevated. This false elevation was not caused by haemolysis but could be related to white cells lysis during transport through a pneumatic transportation system, enhanced by a specific fragility of leukaemic cells. Interestingly, this interference almost completely disappeared when serum rather than plasma was used, or when leukocytosis came back to normal. This work is meant to alert clinicians to the risks of errors in LDH, potassium and AST in leukaemic patients and suggest what precautions to take.

Purification, product characterization and kinetic properties of lipoxygenase from olive fruit (Olea europaea L.).

Lipoxygenase from olive fruit was purified to homogeneity for the first time after differential centrifugations and by hydrophobic chromatography. The enzyme had a molecular mass of 98 kDa and exhibited a maximal activity at pH 6. Lipoxygenase had a better affinity for linoleic acid (Km=82.44 microM) than for linolenic acid (Km = 306.26 microM). It is inhibited by linoleate:oxygen oxidoreductase (LOX) inhibitors like nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) or propyl gallate. The reaction product was 13-hydroperoxy octadecadienoic acid when linoleic acid was used as substrate.

Conception and characterization of a dual-concentric-core erbium-doped dispersion-compensating fiber.

We present an erbium-doped dispersion-compensating fiber made up of two asymmetric concentric cores, inner and outer matched claddings, and erbium located in the central core only. We demonstrate a high negative chromatic dispersion value [-700 ps/(nm km) at 1568 nm], significant modification of the gain spectrum compared with that of a classic erbium-doped fiber amplifier, and 30-dB peak small-signal gain at 1535 and 1553 nm.

Ectopic pacing at physiological rate improves postanoxic recovery of the developing heart.

Recently, rapid and transient cardiac pacing was shown to induce preconditioning in animal models. Whether the electrical stimulation per se or the concomitant myocardial ischemia affords such a protection remains unknown. We tested the hypothesis that chronic pacing of a cardiac preparation maintained in a normoxic condition can induce protection. Hearts of 4-day-old chick embryos were electrically paced in ovo over a 12-h period using asynchronous and intermittent ventricular stimulation (5 min on-10 min off) at 110% of the intrinsic rate. Sham (n = 6) and paced hearts (n = 6) were then excised, mounted in vitro, and subjected successively to 30 min of normoxia (20% O(2)), 30 min of anoxia (0% O(2)), and 60 min of reoxygenation (20% O(2)). Electrocardiogram and atrial and ventricular contractions were simultaneously recorded throughout the experiment. Reoxygenation-induced chrono-, dromo-, and inotropic disturbances, incidence of arrhythmias, and changes in electromechanical delay (EMD) in atria and ventricle were systematically investigated in sham and paced hearts. Under normoxia, the isolated heart beat spontaneously and regularly, and all baseline functional parameters were similar in sham and paced groups (means +/- SD): heart rate (190 +/- 36 beats/min), P-R interval (104 +/- 25 ms), mechanical atrioventricular propagation (20 +/- 4 mm/s), ventricular shortening velocity (1.7 +/- 1 mm/s), atrial EMD (17 +/- 4 ms), and ventricular EMD (16 +/- 2 ms). Under anoxia, cardiac function progressively collapsed, and sinoatrial activity finally stopped after approximately 9 min in both groups. During reoxygenation, paced hearts showed 1) a lower incidence of arrhythmias than sham hearts, 2) an increased rate of recovery of ventricular contractility compared with sham hearts, and 3) a faster return of ventricular EMD to basal value than sham hearts. However, recovery of heart rate, atrioventricular conduction, and atrial EMD was not improved by pacing. Activity of all hearts was fully restored at the end of reoxygenation. These findings suggest that chronic electrical stimulation of the ventricle at a near-physiological rate selectively alters some cellular functions within the heart and constitutes a nonischemic means to increase myocardial tolerance to a subsequent hypoxia-reoxygenation.

Anti-U-like: a common antibody in Black individuals.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Anti-Uz, a scarce antibody, defines a glycophorin B high-incidence antigen, which is protease-sensitive. In a few years, we have encountered 12 antibodies of similar specificity, made by Black individuals of the S- s+ U+ phenotype. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Antibodies were characterized by serological methods, with common and rare MNS types, as well as red cells treated with various proteases. RESULTS: Anti-U-like, mostly an autoantibody, was of IgG class and reacted optimally by indirect antiglobulin test at 20 degrees C. The corresponding antigen was destroyed by several proteases. Tests with papain-treated or Dantu+ cells suggested the existence of several subspecificities. CONCLUSION: Anti-U-like is common in the African population, though its reactions are often misinterpreted. The fact that antibody producers are always Black patients remains unexplained. No relationship with a pathological state could be established.

Mitochondrial DNA variation and RAPD mark oleasters, olive and feral olive from Western and Eastern Mediterranean.

The study of genetic diversity within the olive-tree (cultivated and wild forms) may be useful to reveal agronomic traits in the wild germplasm and to try to understand the history of the olive-tree domestication. In this way, a study of nuclear and mitochondrial DNAs of cultivated and wild olives from two Corsican and Sardinian Mediterranean islands was performed using RAPD and RFLP markers. Our results show that most of the varieties and most of the oleasters were separated using the UPGMA dendrogram based on the Nei and Li similarity index. Most of oleasters carried either the MOM or MCK mitotype, characteristic of olives in the Western Mediterranean, whereas most of the varieties carried the ME1 mitotype, characteristic of olives in the East Mediterranean. The results indicate that the combination of mitotype and RAPD markers can be used as a powerful tool for differentiating two groups in the wild forms: the Western true oleasters and the feral forms. The true oleasters are characterized by a Western mitotype and a Western RAPD pattern. Feral forms originate either from varieties or from hybridisation between a variety and an oleaster. Consequently, as expected, some of them aggregated with the varieties from which they were derived. The other feral forms are clustered with the oleasters and were detected only by their mitotype determination. This study has also permitted us to differentiate two populations of cultivated olives in Corsica: one with close relationships with Italian varieties (influenced by the East) and one selected from local oleasters probably due to a better local adaptation than foreign varieties.

Molecular characterization of CLPT1, a SEC4-like Rab/GTPase of the phytopathogenic fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum which is regulated by the carbon source.

The gene CLPT1 (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum Protein Transport 1) encoding a Rab/GTPase was isolated from the filamentous fungus Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, the causal agent of bean anthracnose. At the amino acid level, CLPT1 shows between 54 and 80% identity to SEC4-like proteins, a class of molecules required for intracellular vesicular transport in yeasts. In particular, typical SEC4 domains involved in nucleotide binding and membrane attachment are present in the CLPT1 sequence. Functional identity of CLPT1 with SEC4 was confirmed by complementation of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae sec4-8 mutation. This is the first report of a gene involved in the control of intracellular vesicular trafficking in a phytopathogenic fungus. RNA blot analyses of CLPT1 expression were performed during in vitro growth of the fungus on synthetic media containing glucose or pectin, as single carbon source. The accumulation of CLPT1 mRNA was strongly increased on pectin, a plant cell wall polysaccharide that induces the production of extracellular pectinases, whereas the level of CLPT1 mRNA was below the detection threshold on glucose. These results suggest that CLPT1 is mainly involved in protein secretion and that the production of extracellular enzymes potentially involved in pathogenesis in filamentous fungi is sustained by induction of the genes involved in the secretory machinery.

Lp(a) is increased in hemodialysis patients according to the type of dialysis membrane: a 2-year follow-up study.

AIMS: Patients with chronic renal failure treated by hemodialysis develop lipoprotein abnormalities that may contribute to their increased risk ofatherosclerosis. This study shows lipid parameter follow-up procedure according to the type of dialysis membrane in an unselected population of 33 hemodialysis patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 33 patients with end-stage renal disease and 110 healthy blood bank donors of Tenon Hospital. Cholesterol and triglycerides were determined by enzymatic methods, apoA-I, apoB by immunoturbidimetry and Lp(a) by immunonephelemetry. Apo(a) phenotyping was performed by agarose gel electrophoresis followed by immunoblotting. Patients and controls subjects were estimated by Student's t- and chi2-tests. RESULTS: Patients dialyzed with low-flux membranes had Lp(a) concentrations higher than patients dialyzed with high-flux membranes. Patients dialyzed with polyacrylonitrile membranes (AN 69) had an apoA-I concentration significantly lower than patients dialyzed with hemophane or polysulfone membranes. We also confirmed some of the lipid abnormalities and high Lp(a) concentrations in ESRD patients. CONCLUSION: These results may contribute to a more rational choice of the dialysis membrane in hemodialysis patients.

[Preservation of erythrocytes of heterozygous SC sickle cell patients]. / Conservation des hématies de patients drépanocytaires hétérozygotes composites SC.

In order to evaluate the feasibility of the autologous transfusion in an alloimmunized sickle cell patient, changes in the hematologic and biochemical characteristics of erythrocytes stored for 42 days from two patients with sickle cell SC anemia were compared with control subjects' (Hb A) red blood cells. Erythrocytes were stored in Saline Adenosine Dextrose Mannitol at +4 degrees C. The cryopreservation storage was made and 51Cr red cell survival was measured in one patient. No significant difference in the hematologic and biochemical parameters of the SC red blood cells and the control subjects was observed during the storage at +4 degrees C. Red cell survivals determined in fresh cells, cells stored for 42 days at +4 degrees C and thawed cells from one patient demonstrate much shorter half-life values than those of normal red blood cells. Before application, our results need to be confirmed by the same protocol with another patient with sickle cell SC.