Anagramas do corpo, processos de repetição e representação da condição humana: um diálogo entre Hans Bellmer e Pina Bausch

La relation entre l`ignorance, l`apprentissage et de la création composent un décor provocant pour nous faire réfléchir sur l`éducation et la science. Pour éclaircir cette réflexion, nous démarrons sur les propositions de Ilya Prigogine (1986), pour qui l`art est une métaphore qui représente la science au XXe siècle, les idées d`Edgar Morin (2004), en soulignant la contribution fondamentale de l`art à l`état humain, et Maurice Merleau- Ponty (1980), qui crédite à l`art la possibilité d`un nouveau regard sur le monde, un regard sensible, esthétique. Ayant par référence la présence de ces arguments, nous réaffirmons la thèse de que l`art peut présenter des métaphores pour considérer la science, l`éducation et la condition humaine sur des bases complexes et transdisciplinaires. Nous nous concentrons sur des catégories particulières de la déformation et de la répétition. La première est considérée comme un désordre nécessaire au corps, à la science et à l`éducation, des lieux de métamorphose constante, d`après les principes de la complexité. La seconde est appréciée comme un opérateur sans lequel la variation, l`écart, le nouveau et l`invention ne peuvent pas émerger. Nos métaphores ressortent des travaux esthétiques de deux artistes de renom: Pina Bausch et Hans Bellmer, les délinquants qui certainement se rebellent contre la trivialité dans l`art et la vie. Ils exploitent des rêves, des démonstrations affectueuses impertinentes, esthétiques inaugurales, antiparadigmatiques et audacieuses. En un mot, ils incarnent ce qu`on appelle une pensée complexe. Nous comprenons que les deux artistes déclenchent des dispositifs qui dialoguent avec le manifeste de Merleau-Ponty lorsque l`on cherche dans l "aisthesis" la possibilité d`une production naturelle qui est en elle-même, créative. Ayant comme horizon cette puissance créatrice nous concentrons notre regard sur les anagrammes du corps proposés par Bellmer et sur la répétition exprimée par Pina Bausch. La déformation et la répétition sont des étapes embryonnaires de la création

D-Dimers Predict Stroke Subtype when Assessed Early

Early classification of ischemic stroke subtype is important for secondary stroke prevention and may guide further investigations.

Diagnostic performance and accuracy of 3-D spoiled gradient-dual-echo MRI with water- and fat-signal separation in liver-fat quantification: comparison to liver biopsy

To prospectively evaluate a 3-dimensional spoiled gradient-dual-echo (3D SPGR-DE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequence for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of liver fat content (LFC) in patients with the suspicion of fatty liver disease using histopathology as the standard of reference.

Cathepsin D primes caspase-8 activation by multiple intra-chain proteolysis

During the resolution of inflammatory responses, neutrophils rapidly undergo apoptosis. A direct and fast activation of caspase-8 by cathepsin D was shown to be crucial in the initial steps of neutrophil apoptosis. Nevertheless, the activation mechanism of caspase-8 remains unclear. Here, by using site-specific mutants of caspase-8, we show that both cathepsin D-mediated proteolysis and homodimerization of caspase-8 are necessary to generate an active caspase-8. At acidic pH, cathepsin D specifically cleaved caspase-8 but not the initiator caspase-9 or -10 and significantly increased caspase-8 activity in dimerizing conditions. These events were completely abolished by pepstatin A, a pharmacological inhibitor of cathepsin D. The cathepsin D intra-chain proteolysis greatly stabilized the active site of caspase-8. Moreover, the main caspase-8 fragment generated by cathepsin D cleavage could be affinity-labeled with the active site probe biotin-VAD-fluoromethyl ketone, suggesting that this fragment is enzymatically active. Importantly, in an in vitro cell-free assay, the addition of recombinant human caspase-8 protein, pre-cleaved by cathepsin D, was followed by caspase-3 activation. Our data therefore indicate that cathepsin D is able to initiate the caspase cascade by direct activation of caspase-8. As cathepsin D is ubiquitously expressed, this may represent a general mechanism to induce apoptosis in a variety of immune and nonimmune cells.

Caspase-8 is activated by cathepsin D initiating neutrophil apoptosis during the resolution of inflammation

In the resolution of inflammatory responses, neutrophils rapidly undergo apoptosis. We describe a new proapoptotic pathway in which cathepsin D directly activates caspase-8. Cathepsin D is released from azurophilic granules in neutrophils in a caspase-independent but reactive oxygen species-dependent manner. Under inflammatory conditions, the translocation of cathepsin D in the cytosol is blocked. Pharmacological or genetic inhibition of cathepsin D resulted in delayed caspase activation and reduced neutrophil apoptosis. Cathepsin D deficiency or lack of its translocation in the cytosol prolongs innate immune responses in experimental bacterial infection and in septic shock. Thus, we identified a new function of azurophilic granules that is in addition to their role in bacterial defense mechanisms: to regulate the life span of neutrophils and, therefore, the duration of innate immune responses through the release of cathepsin D.

Safety and Feasibility of a Diagnostic Algorithm Combining Clinical Probability, d-Dimer Testing, and Ultrasonography for Suspected Upper Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis: A Prospective Management Study.

BACKGROUND Although well-established for suspected lower limb deep venous thrombosis, an algorithm combining a clinical decision score, d-dimer testing, and ultrasonography has not been evaluated for suspected upper extremity deep venous thrombosis (UEDVT). OBJECTIVE To assess the safety and feasibility of a new diagnostic algorithm in patients with clinically suspected UEDVT. DESIGN Diagnostic management study. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01324037) SETTING: 16 hospitals in Europe and the United States. PATIENTS 406 inpatients and outpatients with suspected UEDVT. MEASUREMENTS The algorithm consisted of the sequential application of a clinical decision score, d-dimer testing, and ultrasonography. Patients were first categorized as likely or unlikely to have UEDVT; in those with an unlikely score and normal d-dimer levels, UEDVT was excluded. All other patients had (repeated) compression ultrasonography. The primary outcome was the 3-month incidence of symptomatic UEDVT and pulmonary embolism in patients with a normal diagnostic work-up. RESULTS The algorithm was feasible and completed in 390 of the 406 patients (96%). In 87 patients (21%), an unlikely score combined with normal d-dimer levels excluded UEDVT. Superficial venous thrombosis and UEDVT were diagnosed in 54 (13%) and 103 (25%) patients, respectively. All 249 patients with a normal diagnostic work-up, including those with protocol violations (n = 16), were followed for 3 months. One patient developed UEDVT during follow-up, for an overall failure rate of 0.4% (95% CI, 0.0% to 2.2%). LIMITATIONS This study was not powered to show the safety of the substrategies. d-Dimer testing was done locally. CONCLUSION The combination of a clinical decision score, d-dimer testing, and ultrasonography can safely and effectively exclude UEDVT. If confirmed by other studies, this algorithm has potential as a standard approach to suspected UEDVT. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE None.

Genetic Analyses Reveal a Role for Vitamin D Insufficiency in HCV-Associated Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development

Background Vitamin D insufficiency has been associated with the occurrence of various types of cancer, but causal relationships remain elusive. We therefore aimed to determine the relationship between genetic determinants of vitamin D serum levels and the risk of developing hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methodology/Principal Findings Associations between CYP2R1, GC, and DHCR7 genotypes that are determinants of reduced 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D3) serum levels and the risk of HCV-related HCC development were investigated for 1279 chronic hepatitis C patients with HCC and 4325 without HCC, respectively. The well-known associations between CYP2R1 (rs1993116, rs10741657), GC (rs2282679), and DHCR7 (rs7944926, rs12785878) genotypes and 25(OH)D3 serum levels were also apparent in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The same genotypes of these single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are associated with reduced 25(OH)D3 serum levels were found to be associated with HCV-related HCC (P = 0.07 [OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.99–1.28] for CYP2R1, P = 0.007 [OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.12–2.15] for GC, P = 0.003 [OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.13–1.78] for DHCR7; ORs for risk genotypes). In contrast, no association between these genetic variations and liver fibrosis progression rate (P>0.2 for each SNP) or outcome of standard therapy with pegylated interferon-α and ribavirin (P>0.2 for each SNP) was observed, suggesting a specific influence of the genetic determinants of 25(OH)D3 serum levels on hepatocarcinogenesis. Conclusions/Significance Our data suggest a relatively weak but functionally relevant role for vitamin D in the prevention of HCV-related hepatocarcinogenesis.