Impulsive Source of the 2017 MW=7.3 Ezgeleh, Iran, Earthquake.

On 12 November 2017, a M W=7.3 earthquake struck near the Iranian town of Ezgeleh, at the Iran-Iraq border. This event was located within the Zagros fold and thrust belt which delimits the continental collision between the Arabian and Eurasian Plates. Despite a high seismic risk, the seismogenic behavior of the complex network of active faults is not well documented in this area due to the long recurrence interval of large earthquakes. In this study, we jointly invert interferometric synthetic aperture radar and near-field strong motions to infer a kinematic slip model of the rupture. The incorporation of these near-field observations enables a fine resolution of the kinematic rupture process. It reveals an impulsive seismic source with a strong southward rupture directivity, consistent with significant damage south of the epicenter. We also show that the slip direction does not match plate convergence, implying that some of the accumulated strain must be partitioned onto other faults.

In situ photoelectrochemical/photocatalytic study of a dye discoloration in a microreactor system using TiO2 thin films.

INTRODUCTION: In this work, we report in situ studies of UV photoelectrocatalytic discoloration of a dye (indigo carmine) by a TiO(2) thin film in a microreactor to demonstrate the driving force of the applied electrode potential and the dye flow rate toward dye discoloration kinetics. METHODS: TiO(2) 65-nm-thick thin films were deposited by PVD magnetron sputtering technique on a conducting glass substrate of fluorinated tin oxide. A microreactor to measure the discoloration rate, the electrode potential, and the photocurrent in situ, was developed. The dye solutions, before and after measurements in the microreactor, were analyzed by Raman spectroscopy. RESULTS: The annealed TiO(2) thin films had anatase structure with preferential orientation (101). The discoloration rate of the dye increased with the applied potential to TiO(2) electrode. Further, acceleration of the photocatalytic reaction was achieved by utilizing dye flow recirculation to the microreactor. In both cases the photoelectrochemical/photocatalytic discoloration kinetics of the dye follows the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model, with first-order kinetics. CONCLUSIONS: The feasibility of dye discoloration on TiO(2) thin film electrodes, prepared by magnetron sputtering using a flow microreactor system, has been clearly demonstrated. The discoloration rate is enhanced by applying a positive potential (E (AP)) and/or increasing the flow rate. The fastest discoloration and shortest irradiation time (50 min) produced 80% discoloration with an external anodic potential of 0.931 V and a flow rate of 12.2 mL min(-1).

Efficacy of rituximab in primary Sjogren's syndrome with peripheral nervous system involvement: results from the AIR registry.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate rituximab (RTX) in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) with peripheral nervous system (PNS) involvement. METHODS: Patients with pSS and PNS involvement who were included in the French AIR registry were analysed. RESULTS: 17 patients (age 60 years (44-78 years); 14 were female) were analysed. Neurological improvement was noted in 11 patients (65%) at 3 months. Rankin scale decreased from 3 (1-5) to 2 (1-5), 2 (1-5) and 2 (1-6) after 3, 6 and 9 months (p=0.02). European Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index decreased from 18 (10-44) to 11 (5-20), 11 (5-29) and 12 (5-30) after 3, 6 and 9 months (p<0.05). RTX was effective in neurological involvement in 9/10 patients with vasculitis or cryoglobulinaemia (90%) (group 1) at 3 months and in 2/7 cases (29%) without cryoglobulinaemia and vasculitis (p=0.03). Rankin and European Sjögren's Syndrome Disease Activity Index scales decreased significantly in group 1. CONCLUSION: RTX seems effective in cryoglobulinaemia or vasculitis-related PNS involvement in pSS.

A case of mononeuropathy multiplex with type II cryoglobulinemia, necrotizing vasculitis and low grade B cell lymphoma.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the cause and mechanisms of nerve fiber lesions in a case of mononeuropathy multiplex (MNM). MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 65-year-old man had a MNM for 6 months and no previous history of peripheral nerve impairment was known. He underwent a muscle and nerve biopsy by the same skin incision on the right leg. RESULTS: Paraffin-embedded fragments from the superficial peroneal nerve and peroneous brevis muscle disclosed characteristic lesions of necrotizing vasculitis. Complement had low levels, but a search for cryoglobulinemia was negative. Two months later a purpura appeared in the lower limbs and a mixed Type II cryoglobulinemia was disclosed, whereas a search for hepatitis C virus (HCV) remained negative. Five months later the blood contained 8,600 lymphocytes/mm3 and a low grade B cell lymphoma was disclosed in the bone marrow. CONCLUSIONS: Although not having HCV infection, our patient had mixed Type II cryoglobulinemia, necrotizing vasculitis and B cell lymphoma. Each of these three abnormalities might be in part responsible for nerve fibers impairment, with acute axonal degeneration. Mixed cryoglobulinemia must be searched carefully in patients with vasculitic neuropathy.

Sarcoidosis in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome treated with interleukin-2.

Concomitant human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and sarcoidosis is rare. Sarcoidlike reactions could belong to the "highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)-induced immune restitution syndrome." We report a case of sarcoidosis beginning after 2 months of interleukin-2 (IL-2) therapy in a patient with HIV who had undetectable plasmatic viral load under HAART and we discuss possible mechanisms.

T(h)2 cytokine dependence of IgD production by normal human B cells.

IgD is a minor component of serum Ig and the control of IgD secretion is virtually unknown. We measured concentrations of IgD (and IgE and IgM as controls) in culture supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from 60 normal donors as well as mononuclear cells from 10 tonsils following culture in the absence or presence of CD40 mAb and cytokines. Low levels of IgD were measured in cultures of PBMC, either unstimulated or stimulated by anti-CD40 antibodies. IL-4 and IL-10 significantly increased IgD production by CD40 mAb-stimulated cells in the majority of normal subjects studied, whereas in a limited number of individuals, spontaneous IgD production was either low or high, but with no increase upon stimulation. Spontaneous IgD production by tonsil-derived mononuclear cells was higher than by PBMC and increased after CD40 stimulation and even more in the presence of IL-10, but not IL-4. IL-2 and IFN-gamma exerted a dose-dependent inhibition on spontaneous as well as CD40- and cytokine-induced IgD production by PBMC, but not by tonsil mononuclear cells. Activation by IL-4 of CD40-stimulated purified B cells from tonsil and PBMC, and by IL-10 of tonsil B cells increased IgD production, whereas IL-2 and IFN-gamma had no detectable inhibitory effect. This suggests that accessory cells indirectly regulate IgD synthesis. IgD production induced in PBMC by IL-4 or IL-10 appeared to result from an active synthesis, and correlated with an increase in the number of IgD-containing plasma cells as demonstrated by immunofluorescence and increased expression of secreted IgD transcripts. These findings suggest that IgD production by normal peripheral blood human B cells is regulated positively by T(h)2 cytokines and negatively by T(h)1 cytokines.

Ergotism related to a single dose of ergotamine tartrate in an AIDS patient treated with ritonavir.

We report a rare case of ergotism related to a single dose of ergotamine tartrate in a man with AIDS being treated with ritonavir. He was treated with a prostacyclin analogue and made a complete recovery.

HIV combination therapy: immune restitution causing cryptococcal lymphadenitis dramatically improved by anti-inflammatory therapy.

Two patients with AIDS developed microscopically verified focal cryptococcal lymphadenitis while treated with highly active anti-retroviral therapy for 8 and 15 months. Both were treated with fluconazole as a secondary prophylaxis for prior cryptococcal meningitis. Cryptococcus neoformans did not grow. Amphotericin was ineffective. Anti-inflammatory drugs had a dramatic effect.