Glacial ice and atmospheric forcing on the Mertz Glacier Polynya over the past 250 years.

The Mertz Glacier Polynya off George V Land, East Antarctica, is a source of Adélie Land Bottom Water, which contributes up to ~25% of the Antarctic Bottom Water. This major polynya is closely linked to the presence of the Mertz Glacier Tongue that traps pack ice upstream. In 2010, the Mertz Glacier calved a massive iceberg, deeply impacting local sea ice conditions and dense shelf water formation. Here we provide the first detailed 250-year long reconstruction of local sea ice and bottom water conditions. Spectral analysis of the data sets reveals large and abrupt changes in sea surface and bottom water conditions with a ~70-year cyclicity, associated with the Mertz Glacier Tongue calving and regrowth dynamics. Geological data and atmospheric reanalysis, however, suggest that sea ice conditions in the polynya were also very sensitive to changes in surface winds in relation to the recent intensification of the Southern Annular Mode.

Sp1 and Sp3 physically interact and co-operate with GABP for the activation of the utrophin promoter.

The utrophin gene codes for a large cytoskeletal protein closely related to dystrophin which, in the absence of dystrophin, can functionally substitute it. Utrophin is transcribed by two independently regulated promoters about 50 kb apart. The upstream promoter is TATA-less and contains a functional GABP binding site which, in muscle, restricts the promoter activity to post-synaptic nuclei. Transient transfections analysis of mutant promoters in rhabdomyosarcoma cells showed that the upstream promoter contains three functional GC elements that are recognised by Sp1 and Sp3 factors in vitro. Co-transfections of the promoter with Sp1, Sp3 and GABP factors in Drosophila SL2 Schneider cells, which lack of endogenous Sp factors, demonstrated that both Sp1 and Sp3 are positive regulators of the utrophin promoter and that they activate transcription synergistically with GABP. Consistent with this result, we observed physical interaction of both Sp factors with the GABPalpha subunit in vitro. Functional domain interaction analysis of Sp1 and Sp3 revealed that both factors interact with GABPalpha through their DNA binding zinc finger domain. The modulation and correct interaction between Sp1, Sp3 and GABP in muscle cells may be critical for the regulation of the utrophin promoter, and provide new targets for therapies of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Evaluation of hepatitis C virus glycoprotein E2 for vaccine design: an endoplasmic reticulum-retained recombinant protein is superior to secreted recombinant protein and DNA-based vaccine candidates.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is the leading causative agent of blood-borne chronic hepatitis and is the target of intensive vaccine research. The virus genome encodes a number of structural and nonstructural antigens which could be used in a subunit vaccine. The HCV envelope glycoprotein E2 has recently been shown to bind CD81 on human cells and therefore is a prime candidate for inclusion in any such vaccine. The experiments presented here assessed the optimal form of HCV E2 antigen from the perspective of antibody generation. The quality of recombinant E2 protein was evaluated by both the capacity to bind its putative receptor CD81 on human cells and the ability to elicit antibodies that inhibited this binding (NOB antibodies). We show that truncated E2 proteins expressed in mammalian cells bind with high efficiency to human cells and elicit NOB antibodies in guinea pigs only when purified from the core-glycosylated intracellular fraction, whereas the complex-glycosylated secreted fraction does not bind and elicits no NOB antibodies. We also show that carbohydrate moieties are not necessary for E2 binding to human cells and that only the monomeric nonaggregated fraction can bind to CD81. Moreover, comparing recombinant intracellular E2 protein to several E2-encoding DNA vaccines in mice, we found that protein immunization is superior to DNA in both the quantity and quality of the antibody response elicited. Together, our data suggest that to elicit antibodies aimed at blocking HCV binding to CD81 on human cells, the antigen of choice is a mammalian cell-expressed, monomeric E2 protein purified from the intracellular fraction.

Simultaneous subluxation of the metacarpophalangeal joints of all four fingers: a case report.

Simultaneous subluxation of the metacarpophalangeal joints of all four fingers is rare, and we have found no cases in the literature. A 45-year-old construction worker fell and dislocated the metacarpophalangeal joints of all the fingers of his left hand. Closed reduction by manipulation was successfully accomplished, and the patient returned to work within 5 months of his accident. He had a full range of motion 1 year later.

[Nerve graft predegenerated in situ, and fresh nerve graft. Comparative study in the rabbit]. / Greffe nerveuse prédégénérée "in situ", et greffe nerveuse fraîche. Etude comparative chez le lapin.

Experimental studies have been made in rabbits in which an operative gap in the nerve was bridged either with a fresh nerve graft taken from the opposite side or with a degenerate graft, the nerve on the opposite side having been divided 15 days earlier. Technical details of the method are described. An electromyographic study demonstrated better results with the predegenerate graft and histological examination showed a better maturation of the axons.

[The use of Wagner's external fixator in the treatment of septic fractures of the femoral shaft (author's transl)]. / Le fixateur de Wagner dans le traitement des fractures septiques du fémur.

The authors have treated 10 cases of septic fracture of the femoral shaft by the following technique. In the first stage, necrotic and infected tissues were excised at the fracture site including soft tissue and bone. The importance of a large excision is emphasised. The fracture was then immobilised by an external fixator. In the second stage, the shaft was reconstructed by grafting using bone chips and sometimes massive cancellous bone autografts. The fixators were left until solid bone union had been achieved. 9 excellent results were observed. In one case, the bone refractured with recurrence of sepsis.