Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) belongs to the type I class of ectoproteins and is solubilized by Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with the full-length human ACE cDNA. ACE release in ...Chinese hamster ovary cells involves a proteolytic cleavage occurring in the carboxyl-terminal region, between Arg-1137 and Leu-1138. The subcellular localization of ACE proteolysis was established by pulse-chase experiments, cell surface immunolabeling, and biotinylation of radiolabeled mature proteins. The proteolysis of ACE takes place primarily at the plasma membrane. The solubilization of ACE is less than 2% within 1 h, is increased 2.4-fold by phorbol esters, but is not influenced by ionophores. An ACE mutant lacking the transmembrane domain and the cytosolic part (ACE delta COOH), is secreted at a faster rate without a carboxyl-terminal cleavage, and phorbol esters or ionophores have no effect on its rate of production in the medium. Therefore, the proteolysis of ACE is dependent on the presence of the membrane anchor and suggests that the secretase(s) involved is also membrane-associated. An ACE mutant lacking the amino-terminal domain (ACECF) is secreted 10-fold faster compared with wild-type ACE. The solubilization of ACECF occurs at the plasma membrane and is stimulated 2.7-fold by phorbol esters, and the cleavage site is localized between Arg-1227 and Val-1228. The amino-terminal domain of ACE slows down the proteolysis and seems to act as a "conformational inhibitor" of the proteolytic process, possibly via interactions with the "stalk" of ACE and the secretase(s) itself.
As psychiatric disorders attacking the body, anorexia and bulimia may have severe psychological, physical and social consequences, often requiring a long-standing interdisciplinary, coordinated and ...individualized approach. Recently the canton of Vaud has initiated and developed an interinstitutional structure--between the University Hospital (CHUV) and the hospitals of the Northern region of the canton (eHnv)--for the care of patients suffering from eating disorders. This structure, allowing the above mentioned approach for the treatment of eating disorders, consists of an outpatient facility located in the CHUV and an inpatient unit in the hospital of Saint Loup of the eHnv. Within this structure, the general practitioner plays a crucial role in the prevention of the chronification of these disorders by means of their early detection and management.
En 2017, la Guyane a fait face à une augmentation du nombre de cas de paludisme. Cette hausse a été essentiellement le fait d’un foyer épidémique à Plasmodium vivax (Pv) à St Georges de l’Oyapock ...(STG), commune frontalière avec le Brésil. L’objectif de l’étude était de décrire l’épidémie sur le plan épidémiologique et entomologique.
Une étude rétrospective a été menée du 01/01/2017 au 21/01/2018 à STG. Tous les patients atteints par Pv sur la base d’un TDR ont été inclus. Les données démographiques, les dosages de l’activité enzymatique de la G6PD ainsi que de suivi ont été recueillis. Les données guyanaises ont ensuite été comparées aux données épidémiologiques brésiliennes issues de la surveillance des cas diagnostiqués par examen microscopique. Une investigation entomologique a été menée de façon mensuelle d’août à novembre avec piégeage et aspiration intra domiciliaire. Les anophèles ont fait l’objet d’une identification taxonomique et d’une recherche par PCR de Plasmodium spp. Une équipe mixte (communautaire et biomédicale) est allée chez les habitants pour réaliser le suivi des cas. Une reviviscence a été définie comme un nouvel accès positif à Pv dans les 14 à 90jours après le dernier.
Au total 219 personnes ont eu un accès à Pv. L’âge médian était de 22 ans 19,9–24,27. Le sexe ratio H/F de 1,23. Seulement 6,9 % des cas (n=13/188) des cas présentaient un déficit intermédiaire en G6PD (<8 U/gHb). Le taux d’attaque était de 5,5 % à l’échelle de la commune allant jusqu’à 51 % pour le quartier amérindien reculé de Trois Palétuviers. Parmi les personnes infectées, 27 % (n=59) ont présenté au moins une reviviscence pendant la période d’étude. Les enfants et les habitants du quartier de Trois Palétuviers avaient un plus grand risque de reviviscence (p<0,005 et p=0,037). Le pic épidémique a été atteint en novembre 2017 coté français et brésilien. En janvier 2018, 68 % des patients avaient pu bénéficier d’un traitement complet (chloroquine et primaquine) vs<10 % sur une précédente étude. Les zones d’habitation amérindienne notamment d’ethnie Palikur ont étés significativement plus impactée de part et d’autre de la frontière. An. darlingi représentait 99 % des espèces d’anophèles. La plus forte densité a été enregistrée au mois d’août. La recherche par PCR a permis de détecter Pv dans deux spécimens d’An. darlingi soit un taux d’infection de 0,16 %.
Ce signal se situe dans un contexte plus global de ré-augmentation des cas de paludisme en Amérique du Sud. L’épidémie de 2017 a présenté les mêmes caractéristiques épidémiologiques de part et d’autre de la frontière. La ré-augmentation des cas pourrait être liée au pic de densité d’An. darlingi et à l’emballement des foyers dans les zones amérindiennes frontalières isolées. L’équipe mixte comprenant des médiateurs culturels a permis d’améliorer la couverture thérapeutique.
The non‐destructive X‐ray diffraction method is usually employed to evaluate stress states at the near surface of materials. In specific zones with high‐stress gradients parallel to the surface, like ...welding joins, areas affected by lasers, or ball‐bearing raceways, the classical measurement method is not particularly well suited, as the irradiation spot covers regions of varying stress according to its size. This leads to inaccurate stress evaluations. A new X‐ray diffraction measurement and data treatment method is therefore proposed. It is based on longitudinal step‐by‐step scanning in a fixed direction of the surface. As the acquired data results from the convolution of local diffraction peaks with the incident‐beam intensity, an accurate model of the true two‐dimensional intensity distribution inside the spot has been developed. Firstly, the true shape and size of the irradiation area is defined. The distribution of the intensity received by the sample surface is then computed. The true local strains and stresses along the scanning direction are finally determined from the acquired peaks using an optimization through a least‐squares fitting by a nonlinear function.
Prescriptions of abdominal x-ray and diagnosis of constipation seemed too frequent in children evaluated for abdominal pain (AP) in a paediatric emergency unit.
To evaluate the prevalence of ...constipation in children with AP, to determine clinical and radiological signs related to this diagnosis, and to compare frequencies of clinical criteria of functional chronic constipation (FCC) in children with AP with those of controls (children with mild traumatisms without AP).
This prospective observational study included children older than 4 years of age consulting for AP.
Among 196 patients with AP, 53% had a diagnosis of constipation on discharge (28% isolated and 25% associated with an other diagnosis), and 88% had a plain abdominal x-ray. A faecal retention was considered by emergency practitioners in 92% of children with the diagnosis of constipation vs 22% with other diagnosis (OR=38; CI 95%: 15-101). Clinical criteria of FCC were associated with the diagnosis of constipation (OR=2.7; CI 95%: 1.4-5.2). A FCC was as prevalent in the control population as in AP population (32 vs 34%).
An excessive prevalence of diagnosis of constipation was mainly associated with contestable x-ray diagnosis of faecal retention secondary to inappropriate indications of abdominal x-ray.
The European Venus Explorer (EVE) mission was proposed to the European Space Agency in 2007, as an M-class mission under the Cosmic Vision Programme. Although it has not been chosen in the 2007 ...selection round for programmatic reasons, the EVE mission may serve as a useful reference point for future missions, so it is described here. It consists of one balloon platform floating at an altitude of 50–60 km, one descent probe provided by Russia, and an orbiter with a polar orbit which will relay data from the balloon and descent probe, and perform science observations. The balloon type preferred for scientific goals is one which oscillates in altitude through the cloud deck. To achieve this flight profile, the balloon envelope contains a phase change fluid, which results in a flight profile which oscillates in height. The nominal balloon lifetime is 7 days—enough for one full circumnavigation of the planet. The descent probe’s fall through the atmosphere takes 60 min, followed by 30 min of operation on the surface. The key measurement objectives of EVE are: (1) in situ measurement from the balloon of noble gas abundances and stable isotope ratios, to study the record of the evolution of Venus; (2) in situ balloon-borne measurement of cloud particle and gas composition, and their spatial variation, to understand the complex cloud-level chemistry; (3) in situ measurements of environmental parameters and winds (from tracking of the balloon) for one rotation around the planet, to understand atmospheric dynamics and radiative balance in this crucial region. The portfolio of key measurements is complemented by the Russian descent probe, which enables the investigation of the deep atmosphere and surface.
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