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Objective Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathies (CIDP) with antibodies against neurofascin 155 (Nfasc155) or contactin-1 (CNTN1) have distinctive clinical features. Knowledge on their electrophysiological characteristics is still scarce. In this study, we are investigating whether these patients have specific electrophysiological characteristics. Methods The electrophysiological data from 13 patients with anti-Nfasc155 IgG4 antibodies, 9 with anti-CNTN1 IgG4 antibodies were compared with those of 40 consecutive CIDP patients without antibodies. Results All the patients with antibodies against Nfasc155 or CNTN1 fulfilled the EFNS/PNS electrodiagnostic criteria for definite CIDP. There was no electrophysiological difference between patients with anti-CNTN1 and anti-Nfasc155 antibodies. Nerve conduction abnormalities were heterogeneously distributed along nerves trunks and roots. They were more pronounced than in CIDP without antibodies. Motor conduction velocity on median nerve 7.4 ms were predictive of positive antibodies against the node of Ranvier with a sensitivity of 59% and a specificity of 93%. Conclusions Marked conduction abnormalities may suggest the presence of positive antibodies against the node of Ranvier. Significance Anti-Nfasc155 and anti-CNTN1 antibodies target the the paranodal axo-glial domain but are associated with nerve conduction abnormalities mimicking a “demyelinating” neuropathy.

Iodine is a reactive trace element in atmospheric chemistry that destroys ozone and nucleates particles. Iodine emissions have tripled since 1950 and are projected to keep increasing with rising O3 surface concentrations. Although iodic acid (HIO3) is widespread and forms particles more efficiently than sulfuric acid, its gas-phase formation mechanism remains unresolved. Here, in CLOUD atmospheric simulation chamber experiments that generate iodine radicals at atmospherically relevant rates, we show that iodooxy hypoiodite, IOIO, is efficiently converted into HIO3 via reactions (R1) IOIO + O3 → IOIO4 and (R2) IOIO4 + H2O → HIO3 + HOI + (1)O2. The laboratory-derived reaction rate coefficients are corroborated by theory and shown to explain field observations of daytime HIO3 in the remote lower free troposphere. The mechanism provides a missing link between iodine sources and particle formation. Because particulate iodate is readily reduced, recycling iodine back into the gas phase, our results suggest a catalytic role of iodine in aerosol formation.

Aims: This study addressed the identification of bioactive compounds, the determination of mineral content and the evaluation of the antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-sickling activities of aqueous extract from stem bark of Harungana madagascariensis. Place and Duration of Study: Centre d’Etudes des Substances Naturelles d’Origine Végétale (CESNOV), Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kinshasa and Faculty of Sciences, National Pedagogic University in DRC, between October 2018 and January 2021. Methodology: Phytochemical screening was evaluated by chromatographic methods (TLC and HPLC), the mineral composition by ICP-AES and the antioxidant activities using ABTS and DPPH assays, the antibacterial activity against four bacteria strains using the micro-dilution method; and the in vitro anti-sickling activity by the Emmel test. Results: Phytochemical analysis revealed the abundance in this plant of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, anthraquinones and triterpenoids. The extract contains sodium, iron, selenium and zinc in proportions of 955.40 ppm, 369.65 ppm, 375.70 ppm and 44.79 ppm respectively as well as copper, chromium and other elements. The antioxidant potential of the stem bark infusion extract from H. madagascariensis, evaluated by the ABTS and DPPH tests, showed very high antioxidant activity due to this free radical scavenging capacity linked to IC50 values of 3.08 ± 0.19 µg/mL (ABTS) and 3.53 ± 0.22 µg/mL (DPPH). The antibacterial sensitivity testing with MIC determination performed on a strain isolated from a sickle cell patient and four reference strains showed the MIC values of the extract ranged from 31.25 µg/mL to 250 µg/mL. The lowest MIC value was observed on S. aureus ATCC 25923 while the highest MIC value was obtained on Enterococcus spp Clinical. Conclusion: The stem bark extract of H. madagascariensis showed high anti-sickling activity at 10.42 µg/mL, which may be due to its phytochemical constituents such as saponins, alkaloids and flavonoids Obtained results could justify the efficacy of recipes from stem bark of Harungana madagascariensis in the management of various infections in traditional medicine and anti-sickle cell disease.

International audience; The present paper studies the material removal evolution, during Plasma Electrolytic Polishing (PeP), on model roughnesses prepared on 1050 aluminum alloy (AA), i.e. a quasi-pure aluminum, used as a model substrate. The results obtained in this study confirm the significance of the applied voltage on aluminum removal. In particular, the minimal voltage to be applied to generate the plasma is seen to be above 230 V. Meanwhile, at a higher voltage of 300 V, high quality polishing is obtained. Using this technique, rolling streaks are eliminated rapidly without the workpiece's geometry being adversely affected. Finally, roughness evolution was accurately studied on a series of samples with various well-defined levels of model roughness generated by microindentation. The study shows that only a few minutes of processing are needed to obtain a significant reduction in roughness, even representing up to 70%. Results show also that roughness valleys do not undergo material removal at all as long as peak to valley height remains high enough. As the process goes on, roughness (i.e. mainly peaks) is reduced and valleys become submitted to material removal as well.

Growth at the shoot apical meristem (SAM) is essential for shoot architecture construction. The phytohormones gibberellins (GA) play a pivotal role in coordinating plant growth, but their role in the SAM remains mostly unknown. Here, we developed a ratiometric GA signalling biosensor by engineering one of the DELLA proteins, to suppress its master regulatory function in GA transcriptional responses while preserving its degradation upon GA sensing. We demonstrate that this novel degradation-based biosensor accurately reports on cellular changes in GA levels and perception during development. We used this biosensor to map GA signalling activity in the SAM. We show that high GA signalling is found primarily in cells located between organ primordia that are the precursors of internodes. By gain- and loss-of-function approaches, we further demonstrate that GAs regulate cell division plane orientation to establish the typical cellular organisation of internodes, thus contributing to internode specification in the SAM.

Aims. We calculate the plasma environment effects on the ionization potentials (IPs) and K-thresholds used in the modeling of K lines for all the ions belonging to the isonuclear sequences of abundant elements apart from oxygen and iron, namely: carbon, silicon, calcium, chromium, and nickel. These calculations are used to extend the data points for the fits of the universal formulae, first proposed in our fourth paper of this series, to predict the IP and K-threshold lowerings in any elemental ion. Methods. We used the fully relativistic multi-configuration Dirac–Fock method and approximated the plasma electron-nucleus and electron-electron screenings with a time-averaged Debye–Hückel potential. Results. We report the modified ionization potentials and K-threshold energies for plasmas characterized by electron temperatures and densities in the ranges of 105−107 K and 1018−1022 cm−3. In addition, the improved universal fitting formulae are obtained. Conclusions. We conclude that since explicit calculations of the atomic structures for each ion of each element under different plasma conditions is impractical, the use of these universal formulae for predicting the IP and K-threshold lowerings in plasma modeling codes is still recommended. However, their comparatively moderate to low accuracies may affect the predicted opacities with regard to certain cases under extreme plasma conditions that are characterized by a plasma screening parameter of μ > 0.2 a.u., especially for the K-thresholds.

Long QT syndrome is one of the most common hereditary channelopathies inducing fatal arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. We identified in a sudden arrhythmic death syndrome case a C-term KCNH2 mutation (c.3457C &gt, T, p.His1153Tyr) classified as variant of unknown significance and functional impact. Heterologous expression in HEK293 cells combined with western-blot, flow-cytometry, immunocytochemical and microscope analyses shows no modification of channel trafficking to the cell membrane. Electrophysiological studies reveal that the mutation causes a loss of HERG channel function through an alteration of channel biophysical properties that reduces the current density leading to LQT2. These results provide the first functional evidence for H1153Y-KCNH2 mutation-induced abnormal channel properties. They concur with previous biophysical and clinical presentations of a survived patient with another variant that is G1036D. Therefore, the present report importantly highlights the potential severity of variants that may have useful implications for treatment, surveillance, and follow-up of LQT2 patients

The synthesis of the first mesogenic donor-acceptor polyoxometalate (POM)-based hybrid is herein described. The structural and electronic properties of the hybrid compound were evaluated through combination of small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering, optical microscopy, electrochemistry and photoluminescence. In the solid state, the compound behaves as a birefringent solid, displaying a lamellar organization in which double-layers of POMs and bis(thiophene)thienothiophene organic donors alternate regularly. Noticeably, the sub-unit organizations in the composite are similar to that observed for the individual POM and organic donor precursors. Photophysical studies show that in the hybrid, the fluorescence of the organic donor unit is considerably quenched both in solution and in the solid state, which is attributed to occurrence of intramolecular charge-separated state.

Chimia, 75 (12), ISSN:0009-4293

We provide a robust protocol for the far-UV CD analysis of SUMO-2 protein and SUMO-2 core domain as well as all the data as supplementary excel file for those interested by the study of SUMO protein conformation.These analyses were performed after having noticed discrepencies in a report published in 2014 by Grana-Montes, R. et al. (Grana-Montes, R.; Marinelli, P.; Reverter, D.; Ventura, S., N-terminal protein tails act as aggregation protective entropic bristles: the SUMO case. Biomacromolecules 2014, 15 (4), 1194-203. DOI: 10.1021/bm401776z).

Enterococcus faecalis has controversial status due to its emerging role in nosocomial infections, while some strains with beneficial effects are used as probiotics and starter cultures in dairy industry. These bacteria can be found as resident or transient germs in the gut or on skin, where they are continually exposed to various eukaryotic molecules. In this context, the aim of our work was to evaluate the effect of the catecholamine stress hormones, epinephrine (Epi), and norepinephrine (NE) on some Enterococcus strains. Four E. faecalis strains were included in this study: E. faecalis MMH594 and E. faecalis V583, pathogenic strains of clinical origin, E. faecalis Symbioflor 1 clone DSM 16431, a pharmaceutical probiotic, and E. faecalis OB15, a probiotic strain previously isolated from Tunisian rigouta (Baccouri et al., 2019). Epi was found to modulate the formation of biofilm (biovolume and thickness) in E. faecalis, whether pathogens or probiotics. NE had less effect on biofilm formation of these bacteria. We also investigated the effect of Epi and NE on adhesion of E. faecalis to eukaryotic cells as it is the first step of colonization of the host. Epi was found to significantly enhance the adhesion of MMH594 and OB15 to Caco-2/TC7 intestinal cells and HaCaT keratinocyte cells, whereas NE significantly increased the adhesion of V583 and Symbioflor 1 DSM 16431 to Caco-2/TC7 cells, the adhesion of MMH594, Symbioflor 1 DSM 16431, and OB15 to HaCaT cells. Analysis of a putative adrenergic sensor of Epi/NE in E. faecalis, compared to QseC, the Escherichia coli adrenergic receptor, allowed the identification of VicK as the nearest protein to QseC with 29% identity and 46% similarity values. Structure modeling and molecular docking of VicK corroborated the hypothesis of possible interactions of this putative adrenergic sensor with Epi and NE, with binding energies of −4.08 and −4.49 kcal/mol, respectively. In conclusion, this study showed for the first time that stress hormones could increase biofilm formation and adhesion to eukaryotic cells in E. faecalis. Future experiments will aim to confirm by in vivo studies the role of VicK as adrenergic sensor in E. faecalis probiotic and pathogen strains. This may help to develop new strategies of antagonism/competition in the gut or skin ecological niches, and to prevent the colonization by opportunistic pathogens.

Glutamate delta (GluD) receptors belong to the ionotropic glutamate receptor family, yet whether they actually form functional and physiologically-relevant ion channels in neurons remains a debated question. Here we used a chemo-genetic approach to engineer specific and photo-reversible pharmacology in the orphan GluD2 receptor. We incorporated a cysteine mutation in the cavity located above the putative ion channel pore, for site-specific conjugation with a photoswitchable ligand. We first showed that, in the constitutively-open GluD2 Lurcher mutant, current could be rapidly and reversibly decreased with light. We then transposed the cysteine mutation to the native receptor, to demonstrate with absolute pharmacological specificity that metabotropic glutamate receptor signaling opens the GluD2 ion channel in heterologous expression system. Our results assess the functional relevance of GluD2 ion channel and introduce an optogenetic tool that will provide a novel and powerful means for probing GluD2 ionotropic contribution to neuronal physiology.

The influence of plasma environment on the atomic parameters associated with the K-vacancy states has been investigated theoretically for several iron ions. To do this, a time-averaged Debye–Hückel potential for both the electron–nucleus and electron–electron interactions has been considered in the framework of relativistic multiconfiguration Dirac–Fock computations. More particularly, the plasma screening effects on ionization potentials, K-thresholds, transition energies, and radiative rates have been estimated in the astrophysical context of accretion disks around black holes. In the present paper, we describe the behaviour of those atomic parameters for Ne-, Na-, Ar-, and K-like iron ions.

Neurons in the smooth eye movement subregion of the frontal eye field (FEFsem) are known to play an important role in voluntary smooth pursuit eye movements. Underlying this function are projections to parietal and prefrontal visual association areas and subcortical structures, all known to play vital but differing roles in the execution of smooth pursuit. Additionally, the FEFsem has been shown to carry a diverse array of signals (e.g., eye velocity, acceleration, gain control). We hypothesized that distinct subpopulations of FEFsem neurons subserve these diverse functions and projections, and that the relative weights of retinal and extraretinal signals could form the basis for categorization of units. To investigate this, we used a step-ramp tracking task with a target blink to determine the relative contributions of retinal and extraretinal signals in individual FEFsem neurons throughout pursuit. We found that the contributions of retinal and extraretinal signals to neuronal activity and behavior change throughout the time course of pursuit. A clustering algorithm revealed three distinct neuronal subpopulations: cluster 1 was defined by a higher sensitivity to eye velocity, acceleration, and retinal image motion; cluster 2 had greater activity during blinks; and cluster 3 had significantly greater eye position sensitivity. We also performed a comparison with a sample of medial superior temporal neurons to assess similarities and differences between the two areas. Our results indicate the utility of simple tests such as the target blink for parsing the complex and multifaceted roles of cortical areas in behavior. NEW & NOTEWORTHY The frontal eye field (FEF) is known to play a critical role in volitional smooth pursuit, carrying a variety of signals that are distributed throughout the brain. This study used a novel application of a target blink task during step ramp tracking to determine, in combination with a clustering algorithm, the relative contributions of retinal and extraretinal signals to FEF activity and the extent to which these contributions could form the basis for a categorization of neurons.

Glutamate delta (GluD) receptors belong to the ionotropic glutamate receptor family, yet they don’t bind glutamate and are considered orphan. Progress in defining the ion channel function of GluDs in neurons has been hindered by a lack of pharmacological tools. Here, we used a chemo-genetic approach to engineer specific and photo-reversible pharmacology in GluD2 receptor. We incorporated a cysteine mutation in the cavity located above the putative ion channel pore, for site-specific conjugation with a photoswitchable pore blocker. In the constitutively open GluD2 Lurcher mutant, current could be rapidly and reversibly decreased with light. We then transposed the cysteine mutation to the native receptor, to demonstrate with high pharmacological specificity that metabotropic glutamate receptor signaling triggers opening of GluD2. Our results assess the functional relevance of GluD2 ion channel and introduce an optogenetic tool that will provide a novel and powerful means for probing GluD2 ionotropic contribution to neuronal physiology., eLife digest Neurotransmitters are chemicals released by the body that trigger activity in neurons. Receptors on the surface of neurons detect these neurotransmitters, providing a link between the inside and the outside of the cell. Glutamate is one of the major neurotransmitters and is involved in virtually all brain functions. Glutamate binds to two different types of receptors in neurons. Ionotropic receptors have pores known as ion channels, which open when glutamate binds. This is a fast-acting response that allows sodium ions to flow into the neuron, triggering an electrical signal. Metabotropic receptors, on the other hand, trigger a series of events inside the cell that lead to a response. Metabotropic receptors take more time than ionotropic receptors to elicit a response in the cell, but their effects last much longer. One type of receptor, known as the GluD family, is very similar to ionotropic glutamate receptors but does not directly respond to glutamate. Instead, the ion channel of GluD receptors opens after being activated by glutamate metabotropic receptors. GluD receptors are produced throughout the brain and play roles in synapse formation and activity, but the way they work remains unclear. An obstacle to understanding how GluD receptors work is the lack of molecules that can specifically block these receptors’ ion channel activity. Lemoine et al. have developed a tool that enables control of the ion channel in GluD receptors using light. Human cells grown in the lab were genetically modified to produce a version of GluD2 (a member of the GluD family) with a light-sensitive molecule attached. In darkness or under green light, the light-sensitive molecule blocks the channel and prevents ions from passing through. Under violet light, the molecule twists, and ions can flow through the channel. With this control over the GluD2 ion channel activity, Lemoine et al. were able to validate previous research showing that the activation of metabotropic glutamate receptors can trigger GluD2 to open. The next step will be to test this approach in neurons. This will help researchers to understand what role GluD ion channels play in neuron to neuron communication.

International audience; Coatings were prepared on TA6V alloy by plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) using a standard electrical signal. Influence of electrolyte composition on coating characteristics was then extensively studied using four electrolytes of increasing complexity, containing KOH, Na2SiO3 and NaAlO2. The combination of SEM, GDOES, XRD characterizations on the one hand and of thermodynamic calculations on the other hand, deeply clarified coating compositions, showing in particular that they include both amorphous and crystalline phases. Amorphous phase resulted directly from the presence of silicate in solution, and was made of complex Si-based oxides difficult to clearly identify. Depending on electrolyte composition, crystalline phases in coatings included simple oxide (i.e.anatase and rutile TiO2) and/or mixed oxide (Al2TiO5), resulting from both substrate oxidation and deposition from electrolyte. Therefore, this study successfully offered an innovative approach, combining both experimental characterizations and thermodynamic calculations, to study and tune chemical characteristics of PEO coatings on TA6V.

+FSI; TiO2-based nanocomposite (NC) are widely used as invisible UV protectant in cosmetics. These nanomaterials (NMs) end in the environment as altered materials. We have investigated the properties of T-Lite SF, a TiO2-NC used as sunscreen, after weathering in water and under light. We have examined the formation of ROS and their consequences on cell physiology of Escherichia coli. Our results show that aged-T-Lite SF produced singlet oxygen under low intensity long wave UV and formed hydroxyl radicals at high intensity. Despite the production of these ROS, T-Lite SF had neither effect on the viability of E. coli nor on mutant impaired in oxidative stress, did not induce mutagenesis and did not impair the integrity of membrane lipids, thus seemed safe to bacteria. However, when pre-exposed to T-Lite SF under low intensity UV, cells turned out to be more sensitive to cadmium, a priority pollutant widely disseminated in soil and surface waters. This effect was not a Trojan horse: sensitization of cells was dependent on the formation of singlet oxygen. These results provide a basis for caution, especially on NMs that have no straight environmental toxicity. It is crucial to anticipate indirect and combined effects of environmental pollutants and NMs.

Phytochemical investigation of the methanol extract of the root bark of Dichostachys cinerea (Fabaceae) led to the isolation and characterization of 3 new pyrrolidine-derived compounds with 12 carbon side chain and their glycosides. The structures of these compounds (1–3) were established using spectroscopic analytical methods comprising NMR experiments, ESI and HR-ESIMS mass spectrometry, and mass tandem spectrometry. The compounds are related to some polyhydroxypyrrolidine type-iminosugars (broussonetinine and broussonetine) found in the restrictive plant families Moraceae, Campanulaceae and Hyacinthaceae, but with, no hydroxyl group on the pyrrolidine ring. Pyrrolidines with long-side chains have been found in the plant family, Araceae (Arisarum vulgare). The presence of compounds 1–3 in D. cinerea expands the range of distribution of pyrrolidine and its derivatives in plants, and thus presenting a new addition to the molecular diversity of pyrrolidine which could explain some of pharmacological properties of sourced plants.

International audience; The present study investigated the preparation and characterisation of alternative black anodic films on aluminium alloy 1050 using three different inorganic colouring processes. The colouring process was performed via the standard chemical reaction and two alternative mechanisms, i.e. electrochemical reaction or a combination of electrochemical and chemical reactions. Black anodic films with high thermo-optical properties (αs ≥ 0.90 and εn ≥ 0.90) were successfully obtained using all three processes. Differences in chemical content and location of the Co-based pigments in the coatings were highlighted and explained according to the colouring reaction mechanisms.

International audience; Rapid identification of health threatening bacteria and/or spores present in small concentration in sample fluids is of utmost importance. Efficient sample preparation and molecular detection aims to achieving this goal. Two processes must be conducted successively: the concentration of the targets in a small volume with simultaneous purification, followed by their lysis to provide accessible DNA templates. Conventional PCR is then used in situ to identify the targets. In this work we present an original approach combining an efficient concentration and purification of the bacteria and spores, a rapid and efficient grinding lysis step, working even for polluted samples, and the integration of the process in a semi-automated device. The method is very efficient and rapid: it can concentrate and detect less than 10 targets in 1 mL of sample, even if the sample is contaminated by some environmental contaminants. The most resistant spores are successfully lysed. In this study, we successively present the principle and performances of the method, and its integration on a in a semi-automated device. Perspectives to fully integrated system are discussed.

SummaryBackground Skin dryness and an accelerated fragmentation of the collagen network in the dermis are hallmarks of skin aging. Nutrition is a key factor influencing skin health and consequently its appearance. A wide range of dietary supplements is offered to improve skin health. Collagen peptides are used as a bioactive ingredient in nutricosmetic products and have been shown in preclinical studies to improve skin barrier function, to induce the synthesis of collagen and hyaluronic acid, and to promote fibroblast growth and migration. Our aim was to investigate the effect of oral supplementation with specific collagen peptides on skin hydration and the dermal collagen network in a clinical setting. Methods Two placebo-controlled clinical trials were run to assess the effect of a daily oral supplementation with collagen peptides on skin hydration by corneometry, on collagen density by high-resolution ultrasound and on collagen fragmentation by reflectance confocal microscopy. Human skin explants were used to study extracellular matrix components in the presence of collagen peptides ex vivo. Results Oral collagen peptide supplementation significantly increased skin hydration after 8 weeks of intake. The collagen density in the dermis significantly increased and the fragmentation of the dermal collagen network significantly decreased already after 4 weeks of supplementation. Both effects persisted after 12 weeks. Ex vivo experiments demonstrated that collagen peptides induce collagen as well as glycosaminoglycan production, offering a mechanistic explanation for the observed clinical effects. Conclusion The oral supplementation with collagen peptides is efficacious to improve hallmarks of skin aging.

A new set of oscillator strengths and transition probabilities for EUV spectral lines of seven times ionized tungsten (W VIII) is reported in the present paper. These results have been obtained using the pseudo-relativistic Hartree-Fock (HFR) method combined with a semi-empirical optimization of the radial parameters minimizing the discrepancies between computed energy levels and available experimental data. The final physical model considered in the calculations has been chosen further to a detailed investigation of the configuration interaction in this atomic system characterized by complex configurations of the type 4f145s25p5, 4f145s25p4nl, 4f145s5p6, 4f135s25p6, 4f135s25p5nl and 4f125s25p6nl (nl = 5d, 6s).

International audience; Bipolar electrochemistry has been recently explored for the modification of conducting micro- and nanoobjects with various surface layers. So far, it has been assumed that such processes should be carried out in low-conductivity electrolytes in order to be efficient. We report here the first bipolar electrochemistry experiment carried out in an ionic liquid, which by definition shows a relatively high conductivity. Pyrrole has been electropolymerized on a bipolar electrode, either in ionic liquid or in acetonitrile. The resulting polymer films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and by contact profilometry. We demonstrate that the films obtained in an ionic liquid are thinner and smoother than the films synthesized in acetonitrile. Furthermore, a well-defined band of polypyrrole can be obtained in ionic liquid, in contrast to acetonitrile for which the polypyrrole film is present on the whole anodic part of the bipolar electrode.

There is no dedicated study on second-line treatment for elderly patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC). We report the results on second-line erlotinib therapy from our previously published phase III study comparing single-agent therapy with platinum-based doublet (carboplatin plus paclitaxel) therapy in 451elderly patients. Erlotinib was given to patients exhibiting disease progression or experiencing excessive toxicity during first-line therapy, until further progression or unacceptable toxicity. In total, 292 (64.7%) patients received erlotinib as second-line therapy. Initial performance status 0–1, stage IV NSCLC and an Activities of Daily Living score of 6 were independent factors for receiving erlotinib. Median (95% CI) overall survival was 4 (3.2–6.7) versus 6.8 (5.0–8.3) months in the single-agent and doublet arms, respectively (p=0.089). Performance status 0–1, never having smoked, adenocarcinoma and weight loss ≤5% were favourable independent prognostic factors of survival, whereas the randomisation arm had no significant impact. Among the 292 patients who received erlotinib, 60 (20.5%) experienced grade 3–4 toxic effects, the most frequent being rash. Erlotinib as second-line therapy is feasible, leading to efficacy results similar to those obtained in a previous randomised study that was not dedicated to elderly patients, with acceptable toxicity. Erlotinib is a feasible second-line therapy in elderly patients with advanced nonsmall cell carcinoma