Search

Les dysfonctions sexuelles (DS) sont fréquentes en population générale, jusqu’à 50 % dans la population féminine et sans prévalence clairement définie chez les hommes mais pouvant aller jusqu’à 30 % concernant la dysfonction érectile. Après un traumatisme crânien (TC), elles sont fréquentes mais restent peu évaluées en pratique clinique. Or c’est un aspect crucial de la personne avec des implications sur la relation à l’autre, le « bien-être » psychologique et la qualité de vie.

To establish recommendations on immunization for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).

ABSTRACTWhole-genome sequencing (WGS) makes it possible to determine the relatedness of bacterial isolates at a high resolution, thereby helping to characterize outbreaks. However, for Staphylococcus aureus, the accumulation of within-host diversity during carriage might limit the interpretation of sequencing data. In this study, we hypothesized the converse, namely, that within-host diversity can in fact be exploited to reveal the involvement of long-term carriers (LTCs) in outbreaks. We analyzed WGS data from 20 historical outbreaks and applied phylogenetic methods to assess genetic relatedness and to estimate the time to most recent common ancestor (TMRCA). The findings were compared with the routine investigation results and epidemiological evidence. Outbreaks with epidemiological evidence for an LTC source had a mean estimated TMRCA (adjusted for outbreak duration) of 243 days (95% highest posterior density interval [HPD], 143 to 343 days) compared with 55 days (95% HPD, 28 to 81 days) for outbreaks lacking epidemiological evidence for an LTC (P= 0.004). A threshold of 156 days predicted LTC involvement with a sensitivity of 0.875 and a specificity of 1. We also found 6/20 outbreaks included isolates with differing antimicrobial susceptibility profiles; however, these had only modestly increased pairwise diversity (mean 17.5 single nucleotide variants [SNVs] [95% confidence interval {CI}, 17.3 to 17.8]) compared with isolates with identical antibiograms (12.7 SNVs [95% CI, 12.5 to 12.8]) (P< 0.0001). Additionally, for 2 outbreaks, WGS identified 1 or more isolates that were genetically distinct despite having the outbreak pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pulsotype. The duration-adjusted TMRCA allowed the involvement of LTCs in outbreaks to be identified and could be used to decide whether screening for long-term carriage (e.g., in health care workers) is warranted. Requiring identical antibiograms to trigger investigation could miss important contributors to outbreaks.

Context. The main sequence binary star 61 Cyg (K5V+K7V) is our nearest stellar neighbour in the northern hemisphere. This proximity makes it a particularly well suited system for very high accuracy interferometric radius measurements.

Using VLTI/VINCI angular diameter measurements, we constrain the evolutionary status of three asteroseismic targets: the stars δEri, ξHya, ηBoo. Our predictions of the mean large frequency spacing of these stars are in agreement with published observational estimations. Looking without success for a companion of δEri, we doubt its classification as an RS CVn star.

ABSTRACTWhole-genome sequencing (WGS) could potentially provide a single platform for extracting all the information required to predict an organism's phenotype. However, its ability to provide accurate predictions has not yet been demonstrated in large independent studies of specific organisms. In this study, we aimed to develop a genotypic prediction method for antimicrobial susceptibilities. The whole genomes of 501 unrelated Staphylococcus aureusisolates were sequenced, and the assembled genomes were interrogated using BLASTn for a panel of known resistance determinants (chromosomal mutations and genes carried on plasmids). Results were compared with phenotypic susceptibility testing for 12 commonly used antimicrobial agents (penicillin, methicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, trimethoprim, gentamicin, fusidic acid, rifampin, and mupirocin) performed by the routine clinical laboratory. We investigated discrepancies by repeat susceptibility testing and manual inspection of the sequences and used this information to optimize the resistance determinant panel and BLASTn algorithm. We then tested performance of the optimized tool in an independent validation set of 491 unrelated isolates, with phenotypic results obtained in duplicate by automated broth dilution (BD Phoenix) and disc diffusion. In the validation set, the overall sensitivity and specificity of the genomic prediction method were 0.97 (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.95 to 0.98) and 0.99 (95% CI, 0.99 to 1), respectively, compared to standard susceptibility testing methods. The very major error rate was 0.5%, and the major error rate was 0.7%. WGS was as sensitive and specific as routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods. WGS is a promising alternative to culture methods for resistance prediction in S. aureusand ultimately other major bacterial pathogens.

A tris‐silylated urea‐based compound, 1,3,5‐tris(triethoxysilylpropylureido)benzene has been synthesized. Hybrids materials with different shapes (films, spheres and tubes) are obtained upon base‐catalyzed hydrolytic condensation of this compound. A self‐templating process is demonstrated using electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) and X‐ray diffraction (SAXS and WAXS) techniques. We show the formation of nanometer size hollow tubes according to the size of the self‐templating crystalline precursor. The possibility for this self‐templating to occur is due to a favored dissolution of the self‐assembled molecules of the precursor in a preferential direction parallel to the cross‐section of the crystals.

Unfed nymphs of Ixodes ricinus were collected from vegetation in a forest on the outskirts of Berlin, Germany and were analyzed for host and pathogen DNA. Pathogens were detected in 47% of the ticks. Borrelia afzelii was the commonest pathogen detected, followed by Rickettsia helvetica. Other pathogens included B. valaisiana, B. garinii, B. burgdorferi sensu stricto, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and a relapsing fever-like Borrelia. Most of the host DNA detected was of rodent origin and was associated with infection by B. afzelii, R. helvetica, and A. phagocytophilum. Bird DNA was associated with B. valaisiana and B. garinii, and ruminant DNA with A. phagocytophilum. B. afzelii was also found in two ticks that contained bird DNA.

A recombinant AAV-2 vector encoding the green fluorescent protein (gfp) under the control of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter was injected into the striatum at varying antero-posterior coordinates. When the virus was delivered to the anterior part of the striatum, transduction efficiency was low and limited to the vicinity of the needle tract. In contrast, after injection into the posterior part of the striatum, in addition to a localized transduced area in the striatum, efficient and widespread transduction was observed at distance from the injection site, in the globus pallidus. In the latter case, labelled cells were also detected in the internal capsule and in the stria terminalis. The number of transduced cells in the striatum increased up to 1 month and then decreased whereas in the globus pallidus, transduction was maximal as early as 2 weeks post-injection. In the striatum and in the globus pallidus, the labelled cells had a neuron-like morphology. In contrast, in the internal capsule, labelled cells had a glial-like morphology.

The thyroglobulin gene, like many other tissue-specific genes, appears to be specifically less methylated in the differentiated cell type where it is transcribed. The thyroglobulin gene promoter elements themselves are highly CG-deficient and do not contain any HpaII/MspI sites. In this study, using DNA constructs that were methylated in vitro with HpaII or MspI methylases, we show that DNA methylation of vector sequences is sufficient to repress the activity of the thyroglobulin gene promoter in transient transfection experiments. Reporter-gene expression from a plasmid containing only the proximal thyroglobulin gene promoter is sensitive to DNA methylation even in fully differentiated thyrocytes. Transcription from methylated plasmids containing the thyroglobulin gene enhancer and proximal promoter is also clearly reduced when the transfected cells are maintained under less-differentiated conditions. These results indicate that DNA methylation can influence, from a distance, the activity of an unmodified promoter. Our results also agree with the view that loss of DNA methylation does not constitute a prerequisite for thyroglobulin gene expression in differentiated thyrocytes, where the thyroglobulin gene enhancer and promoter are activated. However, the production of thyroglobulin transcripts could be severely impaired when this activation is not maximal, as is the case in less-differentiated cells or when the enhancer element is lacking. We suggest that DNA methylation helps to maintain the thyroglobulin gene in an inactive state unless all of the conditions required for its expression are fulfilled, and that the thyroid-specific demethylation events are a consequence of the activation state of the gene.

Staphylococcus aureusST45 is a major global MRSA lineage with huge strain diversity and a high clinical impact. It is one of the most prevalent carrier lineages but also frequently causes severe invasive disease, such as bacteremia. Little is known about its evolutionary history. In this study, we used whole-genome sequencing to analyze a large collection of 451 diverse ST45 isolates from 6 continents and 26 countries. De novo-assembled genomes were used to understand genomic plasticity and to perform coalescent analyses.

La force musculaire des membres inférieurs suite à un accident vasculaire cérébral est diminuée et la différence de force entre le membre non parétique (MNP) et le membre parétique (MP) augmente en créant la plupart du temps une impotence physique [1]. Bien que l’isocinétisme soit un outil permettant un travail musculaire sécurisé et reproductible dans la prise en charge de personnes suite à un accident vasculaire cérébral [2,3], il ne semble pas encore exister de consensus de rééducation suite à un AVC concernant cet outil [4]. Cette étude comparative veut objectiver l’impact d’un programme de renforcement musculaire isocinétique (RMI) sur les performances musculaires des membres inférieurs de patients hémiparétiques.

Context.Interferometers provide accurate diameter measurements of stars by analyzing both the continuum and the lines formed in photospheres and chromospheres. Tests of the geometrical extent of the chromospheres are therefore possible by comparing the estimated radius in the continuum of the photosphere and the estimated radii in chromospheric lines.

Context.The interpretation of stellar pulsations in terms of internal structure depends on the knowledge of the fundamental stellar parameters. Long-base interferometers permit us to determine very accurate stellar radii, which are independent constraints for stellar models that help us to locate the star in the HR diagram.

Context. Recently the triple-αreaction rate has been re-evaluated. In the temperature range, 107–108K, with respect to the NACRE rate, the new rate is enhanced by up to 20 orders-magnitude.Aims. To validate this new rate, we investigate its consequences for the evolution of Cepheid models.Methods. The stellar evolutionary tracks are calculated with the CESAM code and displayed in the domain 4–10 $M_\odot$.Results. With the new rate, the first dredge-up does not occur. For masses larger than $\gse$4.5 $M_\odot$each evolutionary track crosses the instability strip only once. The luminosities are higher than with the previous rate, then leading to smaller theoretical masses that better agree with the pulsational mass. Conversely, and inconsistently with one century of observations of more than two hundred Cepheids, the temporal derivative of the period keeps a positive sign. Moreover the observed depletions of atmospheric lithium and C/N ratio do not occur. A slight modification of only a few percents of the new nuclear rate allows us however to restore the loops inside the instability strip and the changes of sign of the temporal derivative of periods.Conclusions. This preliminary work indicates that the new rate may solve some of the long-lasting unsolved theoretical problems of Cepheids. Yet indisputable observations argue against its pertinence. Nonetheless, with regard to its theoretical importance, the triple-αnew reaction rate still needs to be confirmed or revisited.

Context. Recently the triple-αreaction rate has been re-evaluated. In the temperature range, 107–108K, with respect to the NACRE rate, the new rate is enhanced by up to 20 orders-magnitude.

Context. A 5-night asteroseismic observation of the F8V star HD 203608 was conducted in August 2006 with harps, followed by an analysis of the data, and a preliminary modeling of the star (Mosser et al. 2008). The stellar parameters were significantly constrained, but the behavior of one of the seismic indexes (the small spacing $\delta\nu_{01}$) could not be fitted with the observed one, even with the best considered models.Aims. We study the possibility of improving the agreement between models and observations by changing the physical properties of the inner parts of the star (to which $\delta\nu_{01}$is sensitive).Methods. We show that, in spite of its low mass, it is possible to produce models of HD 203608 with a convective core. No such model was considered in the preliminary modeling. In practice, we obtain these models here by assuming some extra mixing at the edge of the early convective core. We optimized the model parameters using the Levenberg-Marquardt algorithm.Results. The agreement between the new best model with a convective core and the observations is much better than for the models without. All the observational parameters are fitted within 1-σobservational error bars. This is the first observational evidence of a convective core in an old and low-mass star such as HD 203608. In standard models of low-mass stars, the core withdraws shortly after the ZAMS. The survival of the core until the present age of HD 203608 provides very strong constraints on the size of the mixed zone associated to the convective core. Using overshooting as a proxy to model the processes of transport at the edge of the core, we find that to reproduce both global and seismic observations, we must have $\alpha_{{ov}}$= 0.17 ±0.03 Hpfor HD 203608. We revisit the process of the extension of the core lifetime due to overshooting in the particular case of HD 203608.

Context. A 5-night asteroseismic observation of the F8V star HD 203608 was conducted in August 2006 with harps, followed by an analysis of the data, and a preliminary modeling of the star (Mosser et al. 2008). The stellar parameters were significantly constrained, but the behavior of one of the seismic indexes (the small spacing $\delta\nu_{01}$) could not be fitted with the observed one, even with the best considered models.