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Resume Cet essai en double-aveugle visait a comparer, dans une approche probabiliste, la ceftazidime a la posologie initiale de 2 g/jour et la ciprofloxacine 2 × 200 mg/jour dans les infections urinaires nosocomiales post-chirurgie des voies urinaires. Les patients adultes devaient presenter des signes d'infections urinaires post-chirurgicales, une temperature superieure a 38°5 associee a une pyurie ou a une bacteriurie superieure a 105/ml. La duree de traitement etait de 4 a 10 jours avec une evaluation a J2, J5 et a la fin du traitement qui prenait en compte l'examen cytobacteriologique des urines, l'antibiogramme, et l'etat clinique des patients. Le traitement devait etre poursuivi 72 heures apres la disparition des signes cliniques. Soixante-sept patients ont ete inclus dans l'etude. Tous avaient subi une intervention sur les voies urinaires. Treize patients ne presentant pas, lors de la relecture par le coordinateur national, de critere d'infection urinaire, n'ont pas ete retenus pour l'analyse. Les germes le plus souvent rencontres a J0 etaient Escherichia coli (39 %), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (19 %), et Staphylococcus sp (11 %). Sur les 54 patients evaluables, 78 % et 81 % etaient gueris en fin de traitement et 85 % et 87 % des germes eradiques a J5, respectivement dans les groupes ceftazidime et ciprofloxacine. La duree moyenne de traitement a ete d'un peu moins de six jours dans chaque groupe. Aucun evenement indesirable lie au traitement n'a ete signale. Aucune difference n'a ete mise en evidence entre les deux traitements, tant sur l'efficacite clinique et bacteriologique que sur la tolerance et la duree de traitement. L'approche probabiliste du traitement des infections severes post-operatoires des voies urinaires s'est revelee adaptee au choix de la ceftazidime ou de la ciprofloxacine.

The enzyme 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/Δ5-Δ4-isomerase (3β-HSD) catalyses an essential step in the biosynthesis of all steroid hormones. Consequently, classical 3β-HSD deficiency is responsible for a severe form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The HSD3B1 and HSD3B2 genes encoding the types I and II 3β-HSD isoenzymes, respectively, have been previously assigned by in situ hybridization to the chromosome 1p13.1 region. To determine the physical distance between these two genes, NotI and SacIIdigests of genomic DNA were resolved by pulse-field gel electrophoresis and hybridized with type I and type II 3β-HSD cDNAs used as probes. The detection of a single band under low stringency conditions indicates that HSD3B1 and HSD3B2 are located within an approximately 0.29 megabase SacII DNA fragment. We constructed a high resolution genetic map of the region flanking the polymorphic HSD3B1 and HSD3B2 genes including ten Généthon markers and the two NIH/CEPH markers AMY2B and D1Z5. The HSD3B1A and HSD3B2A markers were mapped relative to other reference markers through eight CEPH reference families. The order of polymorphic genes and markers is: pter-[AMY2B-DlS239]-DlS457-DlS502-D1S250-D1S252-[HSD3B1A-HSD3B2A-D1S514]-[D1Z5-D1S442]-D1S305-D1S303-D1S484-qter. The D1S514 marker was thus closely linked to HSD3B1A (Θ < 0.001; lod =14.13) and HSD3B2 (Θ = 0.008; lod = 35.36). The HSD3B loci are located 1–2 cM of the centromeric marker D1Z5.

F. Leblanc, C. Laurent E. Rullier Lymph node dissection is a standard part of surgical resection of rectal cancer which helps to avoid local recurrence and allows for accurate staging of the disease. Three types of lymph node dissection have been considered. Mesorectal lymphadenectomy should remove the mesorectum systematically and should extend at least 5cm distal to the tumor. Inferior mesenteric lymphadenectomy should extend at least to the origin of the left colic artery. Lateral lymphadenectomy removing iliac and obturator nodes results in complications and has not been shown to improve survival; it is not routinely recommended. Omission of lymph node dissection is only proposed for the smallest T1 tumors with favorable histology.

International audience; We have designed and built a hemispherical retarding field energy analyzer in order to facilitate characterization of large area electron emitters (typically field emitter arrays with active areas up to 1 cm2) with large angular aperture. A complete numerical model of the analyzer has been built, including perturbations due to secondary particles, in order to determine the analyzer performances. The analyzer energy resolution is better than 100 meV for an energy range up to 120 eV. The analyzer has a global field of view of 112° and allows measurements of the energy distribution of the beam as a function of the emission angle, as well as measurements of the beam intensity profile along any section of the beam. We have successfully used the analyzer to characterize the electron beam emitted by 1 cm2 Mo microtips-based field emitter arrays.

Women who carry mutations in the BRCA1 gene on chromosome 17q have an 85% lifetime risk of breast cancer, and a 60% risk of ovarian cancer. We have identified BRCA1 mutations in 12 of 30 (40%) Canadian families with breast and/or ovarian cancer, including six of the eight families (75%) that contained two cases of early-onset breast cancer and two cases of ovarian cancer. Six frameshift mutations account for all 12 mutant alleles, including nucleotide insertions (two mutations) and deletions (four mutations). Four independent families carried the same 1 basepair (bp) insertion mutation in codon 1755 and four other families shared a 2 bp deletion mutation in codons 22-23. These families were not known to be related, but haplotype analysis suggests that the carriers of each of these mutations have common ancestors.

Hydrogenated amorphous‐silicon (a‐Si:H) ‐based solar cells consist of two electrodes and a p‐i‐n structure, deposited on glass substrates. Depositing the p‐i‐n layers and the back metallic electrode on an optically rough transparent conducting oxide (TCO) electrode enhances the absorption of the incident light in the active i layer: Light is scattered at the rough front interface and is partially trapped in the high refraction index layer, as in a waveguide. In addition TCO roughness increases the front transmission coefficient, increasing the amount of light in the active layer. TCO texture yields a relative increase of the conversion efficiency up to 30%. A semiempirical model of thin‐film solar‐cell optics is presented, taking into account the interface roughness by introducing experimentally derived scattering coefficients and treating the propagation of specular light in a rigorous way. Numerically simulated spectral response and total reflectance of standard solar cells deposited on different TCO textures are compared to experimental data. The results show a better fit to measured characteristics than simulations obtained by previous semiempirical modeling. Improvements mainly come from the light propagation calculation. According to the model, the number of passes incident light may make through the active i layer reaches six for the most efficient cell. As an example of the model’s main application, the enhancement of the conversion efficiency that would be expected from an optimized TCO layer is calculated for each texture studied and for different back metallizations.

Endothelial lipase (EL) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) are homologous lipases that act on plasma lipoproteins. EL is predominantly a phospholipase and appears to be a key regulator of plasma HDL-C. LPL is mainly a triglyceride lipase regulating (V)LDL levels. The existing biological data indicate that inhibitors selective for EL over LPL should have anti-atherogenic activity, mainly through increasing plasma HDL-C levels. We report here the synthesis of alkyl, aryl, or acyl-substituted phenylboronic acids that inhibit EL. Many of the inhibitors evaluated proved to be nearly equally potent against both EL and LPL, but several exhibited moderate to good selectivity for EL.

Absorption coefficients α of free-standing porous silicon (PS) films obtained from p- and p + -Si have been measured between 0.75 and 2.3 eV. Using both transmission and mirage effect, we have measured variations of α over more than four decades. The experimental data confirm the large difference between p- and p + -PS samples and also demonstrate a clear difference with bulk silicon as well as amorphous silicon: the α-PS exhibits tail states below 1.1 eV (the bulk energy gap), whereas it is lower than the α bulk above 1.1 eV and the α a-Si: H above 1.5 eV. It is also shown that a partial oxidation of the samples, which is believed to modify the inner surface coverage of the material and reduce the dimension of the Si skeleton, resulted in a red shift of the transmission curve. Furthermore, after oxide removal this transmission curve is blue-shifted. These striking results are discussed in terms of bulk and surface effects.

Laparoscopic sphincter-saving surgery has been investigated for rectal cancer but not for tumours of the lower third. We evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of laparoscopic intersphincteric resection for low rectal cancer.From 1990 to 2007, patients with rectal tumour below 6 cm from the anal verge and treated by open or laparoscopic curative intersphincteric resection were included in a retrospective comparative study. Surgery included total mesorectal excision with internal sphincter excision and protected low coloanal anastomosis. Neoadjuvant treatment was given to patients with T3 or N+ tumours. Recurrence and survival were evaluated by the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the Logrank test. Function was assessed using the Wexner continence score.Intersphincteric resection was performed in 175 patients with low rectal cancer: 110 had laparoscopy and 65 had open surgery. The two groups were similar according to age, sex, body mass index, ASA score, tumour stage and preoperative radiotherapy. Postoperative mortality (zero) and morbidity (23%vs 28%; P = 0.410) were similar in both groups. There was no difference in 5-year local recurrence (5%vs 2%; P = 0.349) and 5-year disease-free survival (70%vs 71%; P = 0.862). Function and continence scores (11 vs 12; P = 0.675) were similar in both groups.Intersphincteric resection did not alter long-term tumour control of low rectal cancer. The safety and efficacy of the laparoscopic approach for intersphincteric resection are suggested by a similar short- and long-term outcome as obtained by open surgery.

This paper presents our initial experience of single incision laparoscopic total colectomy and proctocolectomy.Four female patients (mean age 35.5 years; mean body mass index 24.7 kg/m(2) ) underwent total colectomy with end ileostomy (n = 2) and proctocolectomy with stapled ileum pouch-anal (n = 1) and rectal (n = 1) anastomosis with loop ileostomy, for benign disease, using a single-incision laparoscopic approach. The single port was placed at the umbilicus or the ileostomy site. Specimen extraction was through the port site.Operative procedures were performed with a mean operative time of 212 min, mean blood loss of 30 ml and no intraoperative complication. No additional abdominal ports were required. A postoperative ileus (n = 1) on day three resolved spontaneously and the. mean hospital stay was 4.5 days.Single-incision laparoscopic total colectomy or proctocolectomy is feasible for benign disease in selected patients.

The current growth of optical-fibre use in aerospace is leading to the development of means to facilitate installation and decrease labor cost. In this context, we propose a new device to connect fibres. The mechanical splice, called Optimend®, is suitable for harsh environment applications. The capacity and quality of this new shape memory alloy splicing device for installation and connection of optical fibres is demonstrated in this paper.

The eukaryotic transcription factor TFIID recognizes and binds a promoter sequence element called the TATA box. We have analyzed the interaction of yeast TFIID with the consensus TATA box sequence of the adenovirus major late promoter. To facilitate this detailed characterization, we developed a method for obtaining quantitative information from a gel retardation (bandshift) assay, allowing measurement of the rate and extent of TFIID-TATA box complex formation. Using this assay and DNase I protection assays, we determined that the association rate constant for TFIID binding to the major late promoter was too low to be consistent with a simple diffusion-limited association, suggesting that the binding proceeds by a multi-step pathway. Furthermore, we found that the slow rate of TFIID binding reported by other research groups was not the consequence of a rate-limiting conformational change, as has been previously suggested. Instead, we observed that the formation of a stable TFIID-TATA box complex was relatively rapid (complete in less than 1 min) at saturating concentrations of TFIID. We have proposed a two-step pathway consistent with the observed kinetics and have considered the possible contributions of each step to the overall rate of TFIID binding. This study lays the groundwork for a systematic characterization of the interaction of TFIID with additional TATA box sequences, including an experimental test of the possibility that different steps in the binding reaction are rate-limiting for different promoters.

Lymph node dissection is a standard part of surgical resection of rectal cancer which helps to avoid local recurrence and allows for accurate staging of the disease. Three types of lymph node dissection have been considered. Mesorectal lymphadenectomy should remove the mesorectum systematically and should extend at least 5 cm distal to the tumor. Inferior mesenteric lymphadenectomy should extend at least to the origin of the left colic artery. Lateral lymphadenectomy removing iliac and obturator nodes results in complications and has not been shown to improve survival; it is not routinely recommended. Omission of lymph node dissection is only proposed for the smallest T1 tumors with favorable histology.

BEPI COLOMBO is a joint mission between ESA and JAXA that is scheduled for launch in 2014 and arrival at Mercury in 2020. A comprehensive set of ion sensors will be flown onboard the two probes that form BEPI COLOMBO. These ion sensors combined with electron analyzers will allow a detailed investigation of the structure and dynamics of the charged particle environment at Mercury. Among the ion sensors, the Mass Spectrum Analyzer (MSA) is the experiment dedicated to composition analysis onboard the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO). It consists of a top-hat for energy analysis followed by a Time-Of-Flight (TOF) section to derive the ion mass. A notable feature of MSA is that the TOF section is polarized with a linear electric field that provides an enhanced mass resolution, a capability that is of importance at Mercury since a variety of species originating from the planet surface and exosphere is expected. MSA exhibits two detection planes: (i) one with moderate mass resolution but a high count rate making MSA appropriate for plasma analysis, (ii) another with a high (above 40) mass resolution though a low count rate making it appropriate for planetology science. Taking advantage of the spacecraft rotation, MSA will provide three-dimensional distribution functions of magnetospheric ions, from energies characteristic of exospheric populations (a few eVs or a few tens of eVs) up to the plasma sheet energy range (up to ∼40 keV/q) in one spin (4 s).

Ab initio bending potentials for methane are compared to potentials for the mutual interaction of non-bonded hydrogen atoms. Bonding and non-bonding contributions have been incorporated in a simple, analytical expression for the dependence of potential energy on molecular geometry. The expression, with four fixed and ten fitted parameters, agrees with 112 ab initio points within a root-mean-square deviation of 4 kJ mol −1 . Variational transition-state theory rate constants and harmonic vibrational frequencies have been calculated from the fitted potential surface. For the functional form used, non-bonded repulsions between hydrogen atoms contribute 29% to the bending force constant at the potential minimum, reduce the bond dissociation energy by 120 kJ mol −1 and cause the formation of a potential energy ridge when H approaches the edge of CH 3 .

We present a new set of observations of Martian aurorae obtained by Spectroscopy for the Investigation of the Characteristics of the Atmosphere of Mars (SPICAM) on board Mars Express (MEX). Using nadir viewing, several auroral events have been identified on the Martian nightside, all near regions of crustal magnetic fields. For most of these events, two to three consecutive events with variable intensities and separated by a few seconds to several tens of seconds have been observed, whereas simultaneous observations with Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS) and Analyzer of Space Plasma and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA-3) have been possible. In this paper, we present the data set for these events and discuss the possible correlation between the measured UV emission by SPICAM, the measured downward and/or upward flux of electrons by ASPERA-3 and the total electron content recorded by MARSIS. Despite the limited coverage of SPICAM ultraviolet spectrograph (UVS) on the Martian nightside (essentially in regions of high crustal magnetic fields), there is however a very good correlation between the regions with the locally smallest probability to be on closed crustal magnetic field lines, as derived from Mars Global Surveyor/Electron Reflectometer (MGS/MAG-ER), and the position of an aurora event. This suggests that the crustal magnetic fields, when organized into cusp-like structure, can trigger the few aurorae identified by SPICAM UVS. It confirms also the good probability, in the cases where SPICAM UVS measured UV emissions, that the increase in the measured total electron content by MARSIS and the simultaneous measured precipitating electron flux by the ASPERA-3/Electron Spectrometer may be related to each other.

Background No long-term advantage of the laparoscopic approach has been demonstrated in colorectal surgery. This study compared the risk of incisional hernia between laparoscopic and open surgery for rectal cancer. Methods Between 1994 and 2004, patients who had restorative mesorectal excision for rectal cancer by laparoscopy were compared with those treated by open surgery. Follow-up was prospective, and incisional hernia was considered to be any abdominal wound dehiscence occurring at the midline, extraction, trocar or ileostomy site. Cumulative risks of hernia were evaluated by the Kaplan–Meier method and compared with the log rank test. Results Some 155 patients had a laparoscopic and 165 an open procedure. The two groups were similar in terms of age, sex, body mass index, tumour stage, loop ileostomy and morbidity. The conversion rate was 20·6 per cent. The rate of incisional hernia in all patients was 11·4 per cent at 1 year, 21·1 per cent at 2 years and 23·7 per cent at 5 years. The rate of hernia at 5 years was significantly lower in the laparoscopic than in the open group (13·0 versus 33·0 per cent; P < 0·001). The rate of hernia due specifically to the laparoscopic procedure (extraction and trocar sites) was ten times less than that after a primary or secondary open procedure (2·1 versus 16·1–33·1 per cent; P < 0·001). Conclusion The laparoscopic approach decreases the risk of long-term incisional hernia following restorative mesorectal excision for rectal cancer. The benefit is most apparent in patients without conversion or postoperative complication.

Electrons with energy of ~40–80 eV measured by the instrument ASPERA-3 on Mars Express and MAG-ER onboard Mars Global Surveyor are used to trace an access of solar wind electrons into the Martian magnetosphere. Crustal magnetic fields create an additional protection from solar wind plasma on the dayside of the Southern Hemisphere by shifting the boundary of the induced magnetosphere (this boundary is often refereed as the magnetic pileup boundary) above strong crustal sources to ~400 km as compared to the Northern Hemisphere. Localized intrusions through cusps are also observed. On the nightside an access into the magnetosphere depends on the IMF orientation. Negative values of the ByIMF component assist the access to the regions with strong crustal magnetizations although electron fluxes are strongly weakened below ~600 km. A precipitation pattern at lower altitudes is formed by intermittent regions with reduced and enhanced electron fluxes. The precipitation sites are longitudinally stretched narrow bands in the regions with a strong vertical component of the crustal field. Fluxes ≥109 cm−2 s−1 of suprathermal electrons necessary to explain the observed aurora emissions are maintained only for the periods with enhanced precipitation. The appearance of another class of electron distributions – inverted V structures, characterized by peaks on energy spectra, is controlled by the IMF. They are clustered in the hemisphere pointed by the interplanetary electric field that implies a constraint on their origin.

This study demonstrates distinct virus-inducible enhanson properties for three regions of the human beta interferon (IFN-beta) promoter; maximum virus inducibility required syngerism among all three enhansons. Expression of the IRF-1 transcription factor differentially increased the expression of plasmids containing (AAGTGA)4 or PRDIII (-94 to -78) motifs but was inefficient in the induction of the intact IFN-beta promoter. The human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I Tax protein was a strong positive activator of PRDII (-64 to -55)-containing plasmids but was also unable to stimulate the IFN-beta promoter. Induction of the intact IFN-beta promoter linked to a reporter plasmid was achieved in lymphoid and epithelioid cellular backgrounds by a triple transfection with IRF-1 and Tax expression plasmids or a combination of IRF-1 and phorbol ester, indicating that at least two trans-activating events and the association of two proteins on the promoter template are required for IFN-beta activation.

Background High rates of conversion to open operation and morbidity have been reported after laparoscopic total mesorectal excision (TME) with sphincter preservation for rectal cancer. This study examined risk factors for conversion and morbidity to determine which patients with rectal cancer could benefit from a laparoscopic resection. Methods Two hundred patients (117 men) with mid and low rectal cancer treated by laparoscopic TME were studied. The impact of clinical and pathological characteristics on conversion and complications was assessed by multivariable analysis. Results Reconstruction after TME included 79 low colorectal and 121 coloanal anastomoses. Conversion was necessary in 31 patients (15·5 per cent), and was independently associated with sex, type of anastomosis and intraoperative rectal fixity. Postoperative morbidity in 50 patients (25·0 per cent) was independently associated with sex and type of anastomosis. Men with a stapled anastomosis had a threefold higher rate of conversion (13 (34 per cent) of 38 versus 18 (11·1 per cent) of 162; P < 0·001) and morbidity (22 (58 per cent) versus 28 (17·3 per cent); P < 0·001) than other patients. Conclusion Laparoscopic TME is a good option for women and for men treated by coloanal anastomosis. Technical improvement of laparoscopic stapling is needed before the laparoscopic approach can be offered to all patients.

Aims Intraoperative use of radiofrequency ablation (IRFA) to treat liver metastases is controversial. The aim of this study was to compare local recurrence rate and survival after IRFA versus resection. Methods Three groups from 99 patients were consecutively operated on for 307 liver metastases with 2 years of follow up: group 1, IRFA alone (n = 34); group 2, IRFA plus resection (n = 28); group 3, resection alone (n = 37). The choice of IRFA or resection was made on the basis of the sizes and topographies of the metastases with the goal of achieving R0 treatment. Results Mortality was zero; morbidity was 9%, 11% and 11% in the three groups respectively. Median follow-up after surgery was 30 months. Total hepatic recurrences occurred in 59 (60%) patients. Median survival without hepatic recurrence was 17 months with no difference between the three groups (P = 0.474). Total local recurrence occurred in 4 (12%) patients in group 1, in 2 (8%) patients in group 2, and in 2 (6%) patients in group 3. Survival at 2 years was no different in the three groups. Conclusion Assessing IRFA indications by size and the topographical characteristics of the liver metastases yields identical local recurrence rates to resection after 2 years of follow up.

ESA's Venus Express probe has been in orbit since April 2006. Eight research papers in this issue present new results from the mission, covering the atmosphere, polar features, interactions with the solar wind and the controversial matter of venusian lightning. Hakan Svedham et al. open the section with a review of the similarities and (mostly) differences between Venus and its 'twin', the Earth. Andrew Ingersoll considers the latest results, and also how the project teams plan to make the most of the probe's remaining six years of life. Venus' mesosphere is a transition region between the retrograde super rotation at the top of the thick clouds and the solar-antisolar circulation in the thermosphere. The mesospheric distributions of HF, HCl, H2O and HDO are reported, and an unexpected extensive layer of warm air at altitudes 90–120 km on the nightside is found. Venus has thick clouds of H2SO4 aerosol particles extending from altitudes of 40 to 60 km. The 60–100 km region (the mesosphere) is a transition region between the 4 day retrograde superrotation at the top of the thick clouds and the solar–antisolar circulation in the thermosphere (above 100 km), which has upwelling over the subsolar point and transport to the nightside1,2. The mesosphere has a light haze of variable optical thickness, with CO, SO2, HCl, HF, H2O and HDO as the most important minor gaseous constituents, but the vertical distribution of the haze and molecules is poorly known because previous descent probes began their measurements at or below 60 km. Here we report the detection of an extensive layer of warm air at altitudes 90–120 km on the night side that we interpret as the result of adiabatic heating during air subsidence. Such a strong temperature inversion was not expected, because the night side of Venus was otherwise so cold that it was named the ‘cryosphere’ above 100 km. We also measured the mesospheric distributions of HF, HCl, H2O and HDO. HCl is less abundant than reported 40 years ago3. HDO/H2O is enhanced by a factor of ∼2.5 with respect to the lower atmosphere, and there is a general depletion of H2O around 80–90 km for which we have no explanation.

A 3-D Monte Carlo model is used to describe the ejection of N and N2 from Titan due to the interaction of Saturn's magnetospheric N+ ions and molecular pick-up ions with its N2 atmosphere. Based on estimates of the ion flux into Titan's corona, atmospheric sputtering is an important source of both atomic and molecular nitrogen for the neutral torus and plasma in Saturn's outer magnetosphere, a region now being studied by the Cassini spacecraft.

Amyloid-beta (A beta) fragments are found in plaques of patients with Alzheimers. Three secretases cleave the amyloid precursor protein, producing multiple A beta fragments that accumulate in the brain and fluids of patients with Alzheimers. A beta peptides are difficult to detect using standard methods because of their small size and multiple isoforms. However, multiple peptide fragments can be detected using a single ProteinChip Array-Based assay. Specific antibodies recognizing various amyloid epitopes are immobilized on a ProteinChip Array. Crude samples, such as tissue lysates, serum, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), or cell culture media, are applied to the antibody-coated arrays. A beta peptides are specifically retained by the antibody, whereas other sample components are removed by washing. The multiple peptide fragments are detected by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS), which can easily resolve the different fragments because of the corresponding changes in peptide mass.

Amyloid-beta (A beta) fragments are found in plaques of patients with Alzheimers. Three secretases cleave the amyloid precursor protein, producing multiple A beta fragments that accumulate in the brain and fluids of patients with Alzheimers. A beta peptides are difficult to detect using standard methods because of their small size and multiple isoforms. However, multiple peptide fragments can be detected using a single ProteinChip Array-Based assay. Specific antibodies recognizing various amyloid epitopes are immobilized on a ProteinChip Array. Crude samples, such as tissue lysates, serum, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF), or cell culture media, are applied to the antibody-coated arrays. A beta peptides are specifically retained by the antibody, whereas other sample components are removed by washing. The multiple peptide fragments are detected by surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF MS), which can easily resolve the different fragments because of the corresponding changes in peptide mass.

Many elementary school teachers face severe time constraints working individually with students who need extra help or attention in mathematics. Sometimes, children who need this attention do not receive it. At the same time, critics of teacher education programs contend that preservice teachers do not receive enough hands-on experience teaching children. The Mathematics Tutorial Program is one attempt to address both of these issues. In this program, elementary grade children are identified by their classroom teachers as needing extra help in mathematics. They are paired with preservice elementary school teachers. Each preservice teacher tutors one or more elementary children for two 30-minute sessions each week for 6 to 24 weeks. They use manipulatives and a hands-on approach. The tutors reported professional gains from their contacts with classroom teachers, mathematics educators, and elementary children. Classroom teachers involved with the program commented on the children's improved selfesteem and confidence in mathematics. The children eagerly looked forward to the time with their tutors.

[1] A three-dimensional Monte Carlo model of Mercury's neutral sodium exosphere was used to describe correlation between the observed variations in the exospheric density and the variations in the surface concentration of sodium along Mercury's motion around the Sun [Leblanc and Johnson, 2003]. Four processes of ejection were taken into account: thermal and photon stimulated desorptions, solar wind sputtering, and micrometeoroid vaporization. Here a model of ion circulation in Mercury's magnetosphere developed by Delcourt et al. [2002, 2003] is used to examine the contribution from sodium magnetospheric ion recycling. The model is coupled to the exospheric model to track newly ionized sodium formed in Mercury's exosphere. The coupled Na and Na+ model is used to examine the sputtering by and implantation of the reimpacting ions. The magnetospheric ion sputtering does not contribute significantly to the total amount of Na atoms ejected into Mercury's exosphere because of its rather small flux; however, magnetospheric ion implantation in Mercury's surface is sufficiently concentrated inside narrow latitude bands to enhance the local surface concentration of sodium. This enhancement is seen to contribute to the peaks in Mercury's exospheric sodium emission observed at high latitudes when the implanted sodium is exposed to the solar flux near the dayside terminator.

Proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) generates amyloid-beta peptide and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. However, the normal function of APP, whether this function is related to the proteolytic processing of APP, and where this processing takes place in neurons in vivo remain unknown. We have previously shown that the axonal transport of APP in neurons is mediated by the direct binding of APP to the kinesin light chain subunit of kinesin-I, a microtubule motor protein. Here we identify an axonal membrane compartment that contains APP, beta-secretase and presenilin-1. The fast anterograde axonal transport of this compartment is mediated by APP and kinesin-I. Proteolytic processing of APP can occur in the compartment in vitro and in vivo in axons. This proteolysis generates amyloid-beta and a carboxy-terminal fragment of APP, and liberates kinesin-I from the membrane. These results suggest that APP functions as a kinesin-I membrane receptor, mediating the axonal transport of beta-secretase and presenilin-1, and that processing of APP to amyloid-beta by secretases can occur in an axonal membrane compartment transported by kinesin-I.

A prospective survey was carried out during three three-weeks periods in May, October 1997 and October 1998 in 13 teaching hospitals. All non-repetitive isolates of P. aeruginosa collected were subject to serotypage and determination of the inhibiting minimal concentrations for ticarcillin, piperacillin, piperacillin + tazobactam, ceftazidime, imipenem, amikacin, ciprofloxacin and fosfomycin. Identification of the betalactamases and quantification of the cephalosporinase were done for the strains intermediate or resistant to ticarcillin. The most frequent serotypes were O: 6 (17%), O: 11 (13%), O: 1 (10%) and O: 12 (9%). Serotype O: 12 was the least susceptible to antibiotics except for fosfomycin. Whatever the serotype, 76% of P. aeruginosa strains with bla PSE-1 are susceptible to fosfomycin, when only 29.8% of non bla PSE-1 producing strains were susceptible to this antibiotic. Integron encoding bla PSE-1 could be implicated in susceptibility to fosfomycin of P. aeruginosa strains. The associations fosfomycin + imipenem or fosfomycin + ceftazidime could be proposed in case of infections due to P. aeruginosa O: 12.

In a prospective study carried out during a three-week period in October 1998 in 13 teaching hospitals, 735 non-repetitive isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were collected. In patients presenting cystic fibrosis (70 strains), the main serotypes isolated were O:6 (14.3%) and O:1 (14.3%). Serotypes O:11 and O:12 were exceptional. In other patients (665 strains), the most frequent serotypes were O:6 (15.9%), O:11 (15.6%), O:1 (10.7%) and O:12 (9.2%). The antibiotic susceptibility rates were as follows (respectively, non-cystic fibrosis and cystic fibrosis strains): ticarcillin, 55 and 59%, piperacillin, 71 and 67%, ceftazidime, 75 and 67%, cefepime, 56 and 43%, cefpirome, 37 and 21%, aztreonam, 57 and 56%, imipenem, 83 and 70%, amikacin, 69 and 33%, ciprofloxacin, 56 and 61% and fosfomycin, 33 and 43%. Serotype O:12 was the least susceptible to antibiotics. Forty-five percent of the non-cystic fibrosis strains presented intermediate susceptibility or resistance to ticarcillin. The most frequent mechanisms of resistance were: non-enzymatic resistance (14.3%), overproduction of the constitutive cephalosporinase (13.8%), production of transferable beta-lactamase (8.6%) and a combination of these mechanisms (4.2%). Among cystic fibrosis strains, resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics was mainly due to overproduction of the constitutive cephalosporinase (18.6%), whereas production of a transferable beta-lactamase was rare (1.4%). Susceptibility to aminoglycosides and fluoroquinolones was less frequent in isolates producing transferable beta-lactamases and/or overproducing cephalosporinase. Decreased susceptibility to imipenem was more frequent in strains presenting a high level of cephalosporinase production. Among the cephalosporins, cefepime was the least affected by the overproduction of constitutive cephalosporinase. Ceftazidime remained the most efficient antibiotic against both susceptible isolates and strains presenting a non-enzymatic or PSE-1 penicillinase-producing mechanism.

The bacteriological eradication rates of Streptococcus pneumoniae from sputum of patients experiencing acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis (WHO definition) have been compared following therapy with either cefuroxime axetil 250 mg b.d. or cefixime 200 mg b.d. All patients were hospitalised for an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. The study design was a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, parallel group with patients giving written informed consent initially. Patients were recruited to the study if they met the WHO definition of chronic bronchitis, were aged 30-75 years and had a high probability of S. pneumoniae infection based on initial sputum Gram stain. All S. pneumoniae isolates were serotyped and susceptibility tested at the National Reference Centre, Paris. S. pneumoniae was eradicated more rapidly following cefuroxime axetil administration than after cefixime and this difference was statistically significant (p = 0.002) at 2-4 days post-treatment. Clinical endpoints showed a similar trend--94% response to cefuroxime axetil compared with 71% response to cefixime (RR 6.39:1). Cefuroxime eradicated S. pneumoniae significantly more rapidly than cefixime and patients in the cefuroxime axetil arm had favourable clinical criteria. The data suggest that focused antibacterial studies may be helpful in evaluating antibiotics in acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis.

A prospective cost-effectiveness analysis undertaken as part of the CAESAR (Canada, Australia, Europe, South Africa) placebo-controlled clinical trial showed that the addition of lamivudine to zidovudine-containing regimens for 1 year reduced progression of HIV infection to AIDS or death, as well as significantly reducing the number of hospitalisations, outpatient visits and the requirement for medications for HIV-related illness and adverse events. Data from all 1840 patients included in the 'intent-to-treat' population of the CAESAR trial were used for the present analysis. A Canadian third-party payer perspective was adopted, and all costs were adjusted to 1997 prices.The savings associated with reduced healthcare resource use in the CAESAR study were estimated to be 1123 Canadian dollars ($Can) per patient, over the year. These savings partly offset the cost of lamivudine. The analysis showed that the addition of lamivudine to zidovudine-containing regimens resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $Can 14,225 [95% confidence interval (CI): $Can4383 to $Can29,577] for progression to AIDS/death avoided and of $Can5631 (95%CI: $Can2010 to $Can12,929) for HIV-related illness avoided.Our findings indicate that treatments that slow the progression of HIV infection to AIDS or death have the potential to facilitate healthcare savings, which partly offset the drug acquisition costs. The results also demonstrate that it is possible to undertake economic evaluations in parallel with a major clinical end-point study.

The enzyme 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5-delta 4-isomerase (3 beta-HSD) catalyses an essential step in the biosynthesis of all steroid hormones. Consequently, classical 3 beta-HSD deficiency is responsible for a severe form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia. The HSD3B1 and HSD3B2 genes encoding the types I and II 3 beta-HSD isoenzymes, respectively, have been previously assigned by in situ hybridization to the chromosome 1p13.1 region. To determine the physical distance between these two genes, NotI and SacII digests of genomic DNA were resolved by pulse-field gel electrophoresis and hybridized with type I and type II 3 beta-HSD cDNAs used as probes. The detection of a single band under low stringency conditions indicates that HSD3B1 and HSD3B2 are located within an approximately 0.29 megabase SacII DNA fragment. We constructed a high resolution genetic map of the region flanking the polymorphic HSD3B1 and HSD3B2 genes including ten Généthon markers and the two NIH/CEPH markers AMY2B and D1Z5. The HSD3B1A and HSD3B2A markers were mapped relative to other reference markers through eight CEPH reference families. The order of polymorphic genes and markers is: pter-[AMY2B-D1S239]-D1S457-D1S502-D1S250-+ ++D1S252-[HSD3B1A -HSD3B2A-D1S514]-[D1Z5-D1S442]-D1S305-D 1S303-D1S484-qter. The D1S514 marker was thus closely linked to HSD3B1A (theta0.001; lod = 14.13) and HSD3B2 (theta = 0.008; lod = 35.36). The HSD3B loci are located 1-2 cM of the centromeric marker D1Z5.

Background Genomic tumor information, such as identification of amplified oncogenes, can be used to plan treatment. The two sources of a brain tumor that are commonly available include formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) sections from the small diagnostic biopsy and the ultrasonic surgical aspiration that contains the bulk of the tumor. In research centers, frozen tissue of a brain tumor may also be available. This study compared ultrasonic surgical aspiration and FFPE specimens from the same brain tumors for retrieval of DNA and molecular assessment of amplified oncogenes. Methods Surgical aspirations were centrifuged to separate erythrocytes from the tumor cells that predominantly formed large, overlying buffy coats. These were sampled to harvest nuclear pellets for DNA purification. Four glioblastomas, 2 lung carcinoma metastases, and an ependymoma were tested. An inexpensive PCR technique, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA), quantified 79 oncogenes using 3 kits. Copy number (CN) results were normalized to DNA from non-neoplastic brain (NB) in calculated ratios, [tumor DNA]/[NB DNA]. Bland-Altman and Spearman rank correlative comparisons were determined. Regression analysis identified outliers. Results Purification of DNA from ultrasonic surgical aspirations was rapid ( Conclusions Buffy coats of centrifuged ultrasonic aspirations contained abundant tumor cells whose DNA permitted rapid, multiplex detection of high-level oncogene amplifications that were confirmed in FFPE. Virtual slides http://www.diagnosticpathology.diagnomx.eu/vs/1883718801686466

Focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) is a benign tumour of the liver, occurring in 0.6-3% of the general population. Most lesions are diagnosed incidentally. With the increasing use and improvement of diagnostic imaging, FNH is being observed more often. It has been shown, using radiological approaches, that most FNH remain stable, or even regress, over a long follow-up period. In addition, it is extremely rare that FNH were discovered in elderly. However, to our knowledge, there is no pathological report illustrating the regression of FNH. We report here a case showing the pathological changes occurring during the regression phase of FNH, with dense fibrous tissue mixed with arteries replacing hepatocytes nodules.

Glioblastomas are lethal, aggressive primary brain tumors that resist therapies. We hypothesized that their analysis using multiplex ligation probe amplification (MLPA) kits (MRC Holland, The Netherlands) with probes for 81 genes could aid in selection of individualized treatments for patients. Genes tested in P171, P172, P173 MLPA kits are known to have increased copy numbers in various tumors. DNA was purified from 4 glioblastomas, 1 meningioma, & 1 metastatic carcinoma (lung primary). No gene amplifications were shown in the meningioma or brain metastasis. Probes detected gene amplifications in the glioblastomas: all 4 had amplified EGFR and two (50%) had additional amplifications of CDK4 and CYP27B1. One of these also had amplification of PDGFRA and MDM2. Amplification of CYP27B1 at 12q13.3 was related to CDK4 at 12q14 as shown by simultaneous occurrence in 2 of the 4 glioblastomas. Products of the amplified genes are related to cell proliferation with CYP27B1's effects indirectly mediated through its metabolism of vitamin D (not shown here). Gene amplifications in tumor samples were quantified by calculating the fold increase versus the same gene in commercial normal brain DNA tested concurrently. At least 6 other genes (no apparent changes between normal and tumor) in each MLPA kit were used for normalization between the two samples in each case. Genes amplified in at least 2 tumors, included EGFR, 6.8 − 31.5 fold, CDK4, 6.7 − 17.8 fold and CYP27B1, 3.3 − 9.7 fold increased. All were reported previously as being amplified in some glioblastomas, with a lower percent noted for CYP27B1 than here. Although survival data for copy numbers of these genes in the NIH's REMBRANDT database are limited to EGFR, survival data for their gene expressions (median reporters) are available for 297 gliomas with poorer survival indicated for increased EGFR (3-fold, p = 0.0017), CYP27B1 (2-fold, p = 0.0284) and MDM2 (2-fold, p = 0.0397) in 112, 102, and 100 patients, respectively, but not for increased expression of CDK4 or PDGFRA. Each group with poorer survival contained approximately 80% high grade gliomas, grades III-IV/IV. Chi-square analysis of REMBRANDT data confirmed the relationship between CYP27B1 and CDK4 with p = 9.04 × 10−5 for co-expression of both when increased 2-fold and p = 3.97 × 10−13 for 2-fold increased CYP27B1 with 3-fold increased CDK4. Analysis of CYP27B1 should be included in genomic surveys of brain tumors performed for designing individualized treatments in that vitamin D levels are potentially modulated due to amplification of the gene encoding one of its metabolic enzymes. We acknowledge Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - Shreveport's Fall 2008 Grant-In-Aid funding, Dwain D'Souza, LSUHSC-S, for technical support and use of the Repository of Molecular Brain Neoplasia Database (REMBRANDT) at NCI & NINDS at NIH, http://rembrandt.nci.nih.gov. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1573.

Analysis of amplified polymerase chain reaction products of 575 bp from the fourth exon of the human type I 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase/delta 5-delta 4 isomerase gene at locus HSD beta 3 1p11-p13, reveals a frequent two-allele polymorphism at codon Leu338 due to a silent substitution of T by C, thus creating a BglII site leading to 371- and 204-bp fragments. Southern blot analysis of BglII-digested DNA from 57 individuals using a genomic probe detects two allelic fragments of 5.3 kb and 0.77 kb, respectively, while two allelic fragments of 3.7 kb and 3.4 kb are obtained in TaqI digests with multiple constant bands, as also observed with BglII digests.

Because of the roughness of the front transparent conducting electrode in a-Si :H p-i-n solar cells, light scattering occurs in the different layers. Refractive index differences produce light trapping in the structure. Photothermal Deflection (PD) is used to analyze the contribution of trapped and absorbed light due to total internal reflection at the glass/air interface. Each irradiated spot gives birth to a diffuse ring, with a radius of approximatively twice the glass substrate thickness. The radial distribution of absorbed light is derived by spatially resolved PD from a spot irradiated by a Kr laser beam at 647 nm. Moreover the overall “glass/air” trapping efficiency is measured by a spatially averaged PD method from 350 to 800 nm. This trapping efficiency ranges typically from 2% at 350 nm to 12% at 800 nm.