L'Académie de Lausanne entre Humanisme et Réforme (ca. 1537-1560)

L'Académie de Lausanne est la première école supérieure protestante implantée en territoire francophone. Lausanne constitue ainsi, dès les années 1540, un pôle de première importance dans le monde réformé. De nombreux savants protestants, attirés par la liberté de pratiquer leur foi et par la présence de l'Académie, s'établissent dans cette ville et des étudiants affluent de toute l'Europe. Les structures de l'Académie de Lausanne et son programme d'enseignement, fixés par un règlement daté de 1547, condensent sous une forme nouvelle les réflexions pédagogiques de la Renaissance. Ils constituent un modèle, direct ou indirect, pour toutes les Académies calvinistes fondées aux XVIème et XVIIème siècles, que ce soit à Genève, en France, en Allemagne, aux Pays-Bas, en Écosse, en Pologne ou encore aux États-Unis, dont les trois premiers Colleges, Harvard, William and Mary et Yale, se situent dans la même tradition. Malgré la place fondamentale qu'occupe l'Académie de Lausanne dans l'histoire de l'éducation protestante, la phase de création et de développement de cette institution était encore très mal connue. Cette thèse comble cette lacune de l'historiographie par la mise au jour et par l'analyse de nombreux documents, en grande partie inédits. Elle détruit bon nombre de préjugés entourant la mise en place et les buts de l'Académie de Lausanne à ses débuts. Ainsi, l'Académie de Lausanne n'est pas uniquement une école de pasteurs, comme il a souvent été affirmé jusqu'à ce jour, mais plus largement une institution offrant une formation d'un niveau très élevé dans les trois langues anciennes, (latin, grec et hébreu), en arts libéraux, en philosophie naturelle et morale, et en théologie. Au milieu du XVIème siècle, l'Académie lausannoise est capable de rivaliser avec les meilleures institutions pédagogiques de la Renaissance et d'attirer, dans un rayon très large, non seulement des étudiants qui se destinent au pastorat, mais aussi ceux qui sont formés pour gouverner leurs cités. Plus généralement, cette thèse, qui combine des approches d'histoire intellectuelle, d'histoire politique et d'histoire sociale, reconstitue et analyse les structures de l'Académie de Lausanne jusqu'à 1560, ainsi que ses fonctions éducatives, confessionnelles et politiques.

Assessment of adult formulas for glomerular filtration rate estimation in children.

BACKGROUND: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is an important diagnostic instrument in clinical practice. The National Kidney Foundation-Kidney Disease Quality Initiative (NKF-KDOQI) guidelines do not recommend using formulas developed for adults to estimate GFR in children; however, studies confirming these recommendations are scarce. The aim of our study was to evaluate the accuracy of the new Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula, the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula, and the Cockcroft-Gault formula in children with various stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: A total of 550 inulin clearance (iGFR) measurements for 391 children were analyzed. The cohort was divided into three groups: group 1, with iGFR >90 ml/min/1.73 m(2); group 2, with iGFR between 60 and 90 ml/min/1.73 m(2); group 3, with iGFR of <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2). RESULTS: All formulas overestimate iGFR with a significant bias (p < 0.001), present poor accuracies, and have poor Spearman correlations. For an accuracy of 10 %, only 11, 6, and 27 % of the eGFRs are accurate when using the MDRD, CKD-EPI, and Cockcroft-Gault formulas, respectively. For an accuracy of 30 %, these formulas do not reach the NKF-KDOQI guidelines for validation, with only 25, 20, and 70 % of the eGFRs, respectively, being accurate. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our results, the performances of all of these formulas are unreliable for eGFR in children across all CKD stages and cannot therefore be applied in the pediatric population group.

Efficacy and safety of various combination therapies based on a calcium antagonist in essential hypertension: results of a placebo-controlled randomized trial

We tested the efficacy and safety of different combination therapies in hypertensive patients with uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) on a monotherapy with a calcium antagonist: 1,647 hypertensive patients were enrolled to receive placebo for 4 weeks followed by isradipine (ISR) 2.5 mg twice daily (b.i.d.) for 4 weeks. Nonresponders [diastolic BP (DBP) > 90 mm Hg] were randomly assigned to receive either the beta-blocker bopindolol 0.5 or 1 mg/day, the diuretic metolazone 1.25 or 2.5 mg/day, the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril 10 or 20 mg/day, ISR 5 mg b.i.d., or placebo. One hundred seventy-five receiving placebo dropped out; 93% (n = 1,376) of the 1,472 patients finished 4-week monotherapy with ISR. Sixty percent (n = 826) reached target BP, and 40% (n = 550) remained uncontrolled and were randomized. Regardless of dosage, all drugs led to a comparable reduction in BP except for the lower dosage of bopindolol and ISR 5 mg b.i.d., which were less effective in lowering systolic BP (SBP). The BP decrease achieved by combination therapy ranged from 10 to 15 mm Hg SBP and from 7 to 11 mm Hg DBP but remained unchanged with placebo. Side effects were minor, and only 2.4% of patients discontinued therapy because of side effects. The side-effect score for edema was lower with ISR plus diuretics than with other combinations, whereas the ACE inhibitor was associated with a higher score for cough. Monotherapy with a calcium antagonist normalizes BP in about two-thirds of patients when used in general practice.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Serum and CSF levels of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass: a marker of brain injury?

We investigated whether neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) reflects subtle or manifest brain injury in children undergoing cardiac surgery using cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). NSE was measured in serum (s-NSE) before, and up to, 102 h after surgery in 27 children undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB. In 11 children, CSF-NSE was also measured 48 or 66 h post-surgery. As erythrocytes contain NSE, hemoglobin concentration in the samples was determined spectrophotometrically at 550 nm (cut-off limit: absorbance 0.4 = 560 mg/l) in 14 children and in a further 13 children by spectroscopic multicomponent analysis (cut-off limit 5 micromol/l = 80 mg/l). One hundred and one of 214 post-operative serum samples (47%) had to be discarded because of hemolysis (18% spectrophotometrically at 550 nm and 88% with spectroscopic multicomponent analysis). On the first and second post-operative day, the median s-NSE values were significantly higher when compared with samples taken after 54 h or longer (P = 0.008 and P = 0.002). All CSF-NSE levels were within the normal range and below the s-NSE measured in the same patient. Although in our study elevated s-NSE seems to indicate brain injury in CPB-surgery, the low concentration of NSE in the post-operative CSF of 11 children puts the neuronal origin of s-NSE in question. NSE from other non-neuronal tissues probably contributes to the elevated s-NSE. Additionally, normal post-operative CSF-NSE values in two children with post-operative neurological sequelae might question the predictive value of CSF-NSE with regard to brain injury.

Recrystallisation rims in zircon (Valle d'Arbedo, Switzerland): an integrated cathodoluminescence, LA-ICP-MS, SHRIMP, and TEM study

Recrystallization rims are a common feature of zircon crystals that underwent metamorphism. We present a microstructural and microchemical study of partially recrystallized zircon grains collected in polymetamorphic migmatites (Valle d'Arbedo, Ticino, Switzerland). The rims are bright in cathodo-luminescence (CL), with sharp and convex contacts characterized by inward-penetrating embayments transgressing igneous zircon cores. Laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) data and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) imaging indicate that the rims are chemically and microstructurally different from the cores. The rims are strongly depleted in REE, with concentrations up to two orders of magnitude lower than in the cores, indicating a significant loss of REE during zircon recrystallization. Enrichment in non-formula elements, such as Ca, has not been observed in the rims. The microstructure of zircon cores shows a dappled intensity at and below the 100 nm scale, possibly due to radiation damage. Other defects such as pores and dislocations are absent in the core except at healed cracks. Zircon rims are mostly dapple-free, but contain nanoscale pores and strain centers, interpreted as fluid inclusions and chemical residues, respectively. Sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe (SHRIMP) U-Pb ages show that the recrystallization of the rims took place >200 Ma ago when the parent igneous zircon was not metamict. The chemical composition and the low-Ti content of the rims indicate that they form at sub-solidus temperatures (550-650 degrees C). Recrystallization rims in Valle d'Arbedo zircon are interpreted as the result of the migration of chemical reaction fronts in which fluid triggered in situ and contemporaneous interface-coupled dissolution-reprecipitation mechanisms. This study indicates that strong lattice strain resulting from the incorporation of a large amount of impurities and structural defects is not a necessary condition for zircon to recrystallize. Our observations suggest that the early formation of recrystallization rims played a major role in preserving zircon from the more recent Alpine metamorphic overprint.

Schistosomiasis mansoni in Bananal (State of São Paulo, Brazil): I. Efficiency of diagnostic and treatment procedures

Bananal is an important focus of Schistosoma mansoni in the State of São Paulo. Accordingly, programmed active search for human cases, annual coproscopic surveys and treatment of infected cases were started in 1998, aiming at producing a sharp prevalence rate drop by the year 2000. S. mansoni eggs were searched for in two Kato-Katz slides per patient. Cases were followed up according to the routine of the local Family Health Program. In 1998, 130 samples out of 3,860 showed S. mansoni eggs; in 1999, 105 out of 3,550, and in 2000, 64 out of 3,528. Prevalence rates were 3.4%, 2.9%, and 1.8%, and average egg-counts 59, 64, and 79 eggs per gram of feces respectively. Prevalence rates decreased steadily after treatment, but persistently positive cases showed no significant decrease in parasite burdens. Egg count variation depended on sex and age bracket. Persistent residual cases admittedly preclude the eradication of this infection by only searching for and treating carriers. In addition, resistance to therapy and low sensitivity of fecal examinations, can not be ignored. Moderate to heavy worm burdens, frequently associated with hepatomegaly elsewhere, produced no serious cases in Bananal.

Comparació de Diagrames UML

El nucli del projecte consisteix en desenvolupar una aplicació permeti determinar si dos models UML són iguals i , en cas de no ser-ho, determinar quines són les diferències entre ells. Donada la gran varietat de models UML, el projecte es centra en els diagrames de classes.

Garnet growth in the metasediments of the Zermatt-Saas Fee zone (western alps)

The Zermatt-Saas Fee Zone (ZSZ) in the Western Alps consists of multiple slices of ultramafic, mafic and metasedimentary rocks. They represent the remnants of the Mesozoic Piemonte-Ligurian oceanic basin which was subducted to eclogite facies conditions with peak pressures and temperatures of up to 20-28 kbar and 550-630 °C, followed by a greenschist overprint during exhumation. Previous studies, emphasizing on isotopie geochronology and modeling of REE-behavior in garnets from mafic eclogites, suggest that the ZSZ is buildup of tectonic slices which underwent a protracted diachronous subduction followed by a rapid synchronous exhumation. In this study Rb/Sr geochronology is applied to phengite included in garnets from metasediments of two different slices of the ZSZ to date garnet growth. Inclusion ages for 2 metapelitic samples from the same locality from the first slice are 44.25 ± 0.48 Ma and 43.19 ± 0.32 Ma. Those are about 4 Ma older than the corresponding matrix mica ages of respectively 40.02 ± 0.13 Ma and 39.55 ± 0.25 Ma. The inclusion age for a third calcschist sample, collected from a second slice, is 40.58 ± 0.24 Ma and the matrix age is 39.8 ± 1.5 Ma. The results show that garnet effectively functioned as a shield, preventing a reset of the Rb/Sr isotopie clock in the included phengites to temperatures well above the closure of Sr in mica. The results are consistent with the results of former studies on the ZSZ using both Lu/Hf and Sm/Nd geochronology on mafic eclogites. They confirm that at least parts of the ZSZ underwent close to peak metamorphic HP conditions younger than 43 m.y. ago before being rapidly exhumed about 40 m.y. ago. Fluid infiltration in rocks of the second slice occurred likely close to the peak metamorphic conditions, resulting in rapid growth of garnets. Similar calcschists from the same slice contain two distinct types of porphyroblast garnets with indications of multiple growth pulses and resorption indicated by truncated chemical zoning patterns. In-situ oxygen isotope Sensitive High Resolution Ion Microprobe (SHRIMP) analyses along profiles on central sections of the garnets reveal variations of up to 5 %o in individual garnets. The complex compositional zoning and graphite inclusion patterns as well as the variations in oxygen isotopes correspond to growing under changing fluid composition conditions caused by external infiltrated fluids. The ultramafic and mafic rocks, which were subducted along with the sediments and form the volumetrically most important part of the ZSZ, are the likely source of those mainly aqueous fluids. - La Zone de Zermatt-Saas Fee (ZZS) est constituée de multiples écailles de roches ultramafiques, mafiques et méta-sédimentaires. Cette zone, qui affleure dans les Alpes occidentales, représente les restes du basin océanique Piémontais-Ligurien d'âge mésozoïque. Lors de la subduction de ce basin océanique à l'Eocène, les différentes roches composant le planché océanique ont atteint les conditions du faciès éclogitique avec des pressions et des températures maximales estimées entre 20 - 28 kbar et 550 - 630 °C respectivement, avant de subir une rétrogression au faciès schiste vert pendant l'exhumation. Différentes études antérieures combinant la géochronologie isotopique et la modélisation des mécanismes gouvernant l'incorporation des terres rares dans les grenats des éclogites mafiques, suggèrent que la ZZS ne correspond pas à une seule unité, mais est constituée de différentes écailles tectoniques qui ont subi une subduction prolongée et diachrone suivie d'une exhumation rapide et synchrone. Afin de tester cette hypothèse, j'ai daté, dans cette étude, des phengites incluses dans les grenats des méta-sédiments de deux différentes écailles tectoniques de la ZZS, afin de dater la croissance relative de ces grenats. Pour cela j'ai utilisé la méthode géochronologique basée sur la décroissance du Rb87 en Sr87. J'ai daté trois échantillons de deux différentes écailles. Les premiers deux échantillons proviennent de Triftji, au nord du Breithorn, d'une première écaille dont les méta-sédiments sont caractérisés par des bandes méta-pélitiques à grenat et des calcschistes. Le troisième échantillon a été collectionné au Riffelberg, dans une écaille dont les méta-sédiments sont essentiellement des calcschistes qui sont mélangés avec des roches mafiques et des serpentinites. Ce mélange se trouve au-dessus de la grande masse de serpentinites qui forment le Riffelhorn, le Trockenersteg et le Breithorn, et qui est connu sous le nom de la Zone de mélange de Riffelberg (Bearth, 1953). Les inclusions dans les grenats de deux échantillons méta-pélitiques de la première écaille sont datées à 44.25 ± 0.48 Ma et à 43.19 ± 0.32 Ma. Ces âges sont à peu près 4 Ma plus vieux que les âges obtenus sur les phengites provenant de la matrice de ces mêmes échantillons qui donnent des âges de 40.02 ± 0.13 Ma et 39.55 ± 0.25 Ma respectivement. Les inclusions de phengite dans les grenats appartenant à un calcschiste de la deuxième écaille ont un âge de 40.58 ± 0.24 Ma alors que les phengites de la matrice ont un âge de 39.8 ± 1.5 Ma. Pour expliquer ces différences d'âge entre les phengites incluses dans le grenat et les phengites provenant de la matrice, nous suggérons que la cristallisation de grenat ait permis d'isoler ces phengites et de les préserver de tous rééquilibrage lors de la suite du chemin métamorphique prograde, puis rétrograde. Ceci est particulièrement important pour expliquer l'absence de rééquilibrage des phengites dans des conditions de températures supérieures à la température de fermeture du système Rb/Sr pour les phengites. Les phengites en inclusions n'ayant pas pu être datées individuellement, nous interprétons l'âge de 44 Ma pour les inclusions de phengite comme un âge moyen pour l'incorporation de ces phengites dans le grenat. Ces résultats sont cohérents avec les résultats des études antérieures de la ZZS utilisant les systèmes isotopiques de Sm/Nd et Lu/Hf sur des eclogites mafiques. ils confirment qu'aux moins une partie de la ZZS a subi des conditions de pression et de température maximale il y a moins de 44 à 42 Ma avant d'être rapidement exhumée à des conditions métamorphiques du faciès schiste vert supérieur autour de 40 Ma. Cette étude détaillée des grenats a permis, également, de mettre en évidence le rôle des fluides durant le métamorphisme prograde. En effet, si tous les grenats montrent des puises de croissance et de résorption, on peut distinguer, dans différents calcschists provenant de la deuxième écaille, deux types distincts de porphyroblast de grenat en fonction de la présence ou non d'inclusions de graphite. Nous lions ces puises de croissances/résorptions ainsi que la présence ou l'absence de graphite en inclusion dans les grenats à l'infiltration de fluides dans le système, et ceci durant tous le chemin prograde mais plus particulièrement proche et éventuellement peu après du pic du métamorphisme comme le suggère l'âge de 40 Ma mesuré dans les inclusions de phengites de l'échantillon du Riffelberg. Des analyses in-situ d'isotopes d'oxygène réalisé à l'aide de la SHRIMP (Sensitive High Resolution Ion Microprobe) dans des coupes centrales des grenats indiquent des variations jusqu'à 5 %o au sein même d'un grenat. Les motifs de zonations chimiques et d'inclusions de graphite complexes, ainsi que les variations du δ180 correspondent à une croissance de grenat sous des conditions de fluides changeantes dues aux infiltrations de fluides externes. Nous lions l'origine de ces fluides aqueux aux unités ultramafiques et mafiques qui ont été subductés avec les méta-sédiments ; unités ultramafiques et mafiques qui forment la partie volumétrique la plus importante de la ZZS.

National, regional, and global trends in fasting plasma glucose and diabetes prevalence since 1980: systematic analysis of health examination surveys and epidemiological studies with 370 country-years and 2·7 million participants.

BACKGROUND: Data for trends in glycaemia and diabetes prevalence are needed to understand the effects of diet and lifestyle within populations, assess the performance of interventions, and plan health services. No consistent and comparable global analysis of trends has been done. We estimated trends and their uncertainties in mean fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and diabetes prevalence for adults aged 25 years and older in 199 countries and territories. METHODS: We obtained data from health examination surveys and epidemiological studies (370 country-years and 2·7 million participants). We converted systematically between different glycaemic metrics. For each sex, we used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate mean FPG and its uncertainty by age, country, and year, accounting for whether a study was nationally, subnationally, or community representative. FINDINGS: In 2008, global age-standardised mean FPG was 5·50 mmol/L (95% uncertainty interval 5·37-5·63) for men and 5·42 mmol/L (5·29-5·54) for women, having risen by 0·07 mmol/L and 0·09 mmol/L per decade, respectively. Age-standardised adult diabetes prevalence was 9·8% (8·6-11·2) in men and 9·2% (8·0-10·5) in women in 2008, up from 8·3% (6·5-10·4) and 7·5% (5·8-9·6) in 1980. The number of people with diabetes increased from 153 (127-182) million in 1980, to 347 (314-382) million in 2008. We recorded almost no change in mean FPG in east and southeast Asia and central and eastern Europe. Oceania had the largest rise, and the highest mean FPG (6·09 mmol/L, 5·73-6·49 for men; 6·08 mmol/L, 5·72-6·46 for women) and diabetes prevalence (15·5%, 11·6-20·1 for men; and 15·9%, 12·1-20·5 for women) in 2008. Mean FPG and diabetes prevalence in 2008 were also high in south Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and central Asia, north Africa, and the Middle East. Mean FPG in 2008 was lowest in sub-Saharan Africa, east and southeast Asia, and high-income Asia-Pacific. In high-income subregions, western Europe had the smallest rise, 0·07 mmol/L per decade for men and 0·03 mmol/L per decade for women; North America had the largest rise, 0·18 mmol/L per decade for men and 0·14 mmol/L per decade for women. INTERPRETATION: Glycaemia and diabetes are rising globally, driven both by population growth and ageing and by increasing age-specific prevalences. Effective preventive interventions are needed, and health systems should prepare to detect and manage diabetes and its sequelae. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and WHO.

Hepatitis E Virus Seroprevalence among Blood Donors in Southwest Switzerland.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of Hepatitis E virus (HEV) among blood donors in southwest Switzerland.Background: HEV is recognized as a food-borne disease in industrialized countries, transmitted mainly through pork meat. Cases of transmission through blood transfusion have also been reported. Recent studies have revealed seroprevalence rates of 13.5%, 16.6% and 20.6% among blood donors in England, France and Denmark, respectively.Methods: We analyzed 550 consecutive blood donor samples collected in the region of Lausanne, canton of Vaud, Switzerland, for the presence of anti-HEV IgG, using the MP Diagnostics HEV ELISA kit. For each donor, we documented age, sex and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) value.Results: The study panel was composed of 332 men (60.4%) and 218 women (39.6%). Overall, anti-HEV IgG was found in 27 of 550 samples (4.9%). The seroprevalence was 5.4% (18/332) in men and 4.1% (9/218) in women. The presence of anti-HEV IgG was not correlated with age, gender or ALT values. However, we observed a peak in seroprevalence of 5.3% in individuals aged 51 to 70 years old.Conclusions: Compared with other European countries, HEV seroprevalence among blood donors in southwest Switzerland is low. The low seroprevalence may be explained by the sensitivity of commercial tests used and/or the strict regulation of animal and meat imports. Data regarding HEV prevalence in Swiss livestock are lacking and merit exploration.

Assessment of left coronary artery beat-to-beat repositioning in order to propose an optimal acquisition window for coronary MRA

Introduction: Coronary magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) is a medical imaging technique that involves collecting data from consecutive heartbeats, always at the same time in the cardiac cycle, in order to minimize heart motion artifacts. This technique relies on the assumption that coronary arteries always follow the same trajectory from heartbeat to heartbeat. Until now, choosing the acquisition window in the cardiac cycle was based exclusively on the position of minimal coronary motion. The goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that there are time intervals during the cardiac cycle when coronary beat-to-beat repositioning is optimal. The repositioning uncertainty values in these time intervals were then compared with the intervals of low coronary motion in order to propose an optimal acquisition window for coronary MRA. Methods: Cine breath-hold x-ray angiograms with synchronous ECG were collected from 11 patients who underwent elective routine diagnostic coronarography. Twenty-three bifurcations of the left coronary artery were selected as markers to evaluate repositioning uncertainty and velocity during cardiac cycle. Each bifurcation was tracked by two observers, with the help of a user-assisted algorithm implemented in Matlab (The Mathworks, Natick, MA, USA) that compared the trajectories of the markers coming from consecutive heartbeats and computed the coronary repositioning uncertainty with steps of 50ms until 650ms after the R-wave. Repositioning uncertainty was defined as the diameter of the smallest circle encompassing the points to be compared at the same time after the R-wave. Student's t-tests with a false discovery rate (FDR, q=0.1) correction for multiple comparison were applied to see whether coronary repositioning and velocity vary statistically during cardiac cycle. Bland-Altman plots and linear regression were used to assess intra- and inter-observer agreement. Results: The analysis of left coronary artery beat-to-beat repositioning uncertainty shows a tendency to have better repositioning in mid systole (less than 0.84±0.58mm) and mid diastole (less than 0.89±0.6mm) than in the rest of the cardiac cycle (highest value at 50ms=1.35±0.64mm). According to Student's t-tests with FDR correction for multiple comparison (q=0.1), two intervals, in mid systole (150-200ms) and mid diastole (550-600ms), provide statistically better repositioning in comparison with the early systole and the early diastole. Coronary velocity analysis reveals that left coronary artery moves more slowly in end systole (14.35±11.35mm/s at 225ms) and mid diastole (11.78±11.62mm/s at 625ms) than in the rest of the cardiac cycle (highest value at 25ms: 55.96±22.34mm/s). This was confirmed by Student's t-tests with FDR correction for multiple comparison (q=0.1, FDR-corrected p-value=0.054): coronary velocity values at 225, 575 and 625ms are not much different between them but they are statistically inferior to all others. Bland-Altman plots and linear regression show that intra-observer agreement (y=0.97x+0.02 with R²=0.93 at 150ms) is better than inter-observer (y=0.8x+0.11 with R²=0.67 at 150ms). Discussion: The present study has demonstrated that there are two time intervals in the cardiac cycle, one in mid systole and one in mid diastole, where left coronary artery repositioning uncertainty reaches points of local minima. It has also been calculated that the velocity is the lowest in end systole and mid diastole. Since systole is less influenced by heart rate variability than diastole, it was finally proposed to test an acquisition window between 150 and 200ms after the R-wave.

Polymorphism in the promoter region of the mannose-binding lectin gene among human T-cell lymphotropic virus infected subjects

The present study investigated the frequency of the mutations at positions -550 and -221 of the mannose-binding lectin (MBL) gene in a sample of 75 human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) infected patients and 96 HTLV seronegative controls, in order to evaluate the occurrence of a possible association between the polymorphism and HTLV infection. A sequence specific primer-polymerase chain reaction was used for discrimination of the polymorphism. The analysis of allele frequencies at position -550 did not show any significant differences between HTLV infected group and controls, but there was a significant difference at position -221. The comparative analysis of haplotypes frequencies were not significant, but the genotype frequencies between the two groups, revealed a higher prevalence of genotype LYLX (25.3%), associated with medium and low MBL serum levels among HTLV infected subjects. The odds ratio estimation demonstrated that the presence of genotype LYLX was associated with an increased risk of HTLV infection (p = 0.0096; 1.38 < IC95% < 7.7605). There was no association between proviral load and the promoter polymorphism, but when promoter and exon 1 mutations were matched, it was possible to identify a significant higher proviral load among HTLV infected individuals carrying haplotypes correlated to low serum levels of MBL. The present study shows that the polymorphism in the promoter region of the MBL gene may be a genetic marker associated with HTLV infection, and emphasizes the need for further studies to determinate if the present polymorphism have any impact on diseases linked to HTLV infection.

Characterization of polymorphisms in the mannose-binding lectin gene promoter among human immunodeficiency virus 1 infected subjects

The present study investigated the prevalence of mutations in the -550 (H/L) and -221 (X/Y) mannose-binding lectin (MBL) gene promoter regions and their impact on infection by human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) in a population of 128 HIV-1 seropositive and 97 seronegative patients. The allele identification was performed through the sequence-specific primer polymerase chain reaction method, using primer sequences specific to each polymorphism. The evolution of the infection was evaluated through CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts and plasma viral load. The allele and haplotype frequencies among HIV-1-infected patients and seronegative healthy control patients did not show significant differences. CD4+ T-lymphocyte counts showed lower levels among seropositive patients carrying haplotypes LY, LX and HX, as compared to those carrying the HY haplotype. Mean plasma viral load was higher among seropositive patients with haplotypes LY, LX and HX than among those carrying the HY haplotype. When promoter and exon 1 mutations were matched, it was possible to identify a significantly higher viral load among HIV-1 infected individuals carrying haplotypes correlated to low serum levels of MBL. The current study shows that haplotypes related to medium and low MBL serum levels might directly influence the evolution of viral progression in patients. Therefore, it is suggested that the identification of haplotypes within the promoter region of the MBL gene among HIV-1 infected persons should be further evaluated as a prognostic tool for AIDS progression.

Thermomechanical analysis of strain localization in a ductile detachment zone

At the latitude of the Thor-Odin dome (British Columbia) the Columbia River Detachment defines the eastern margin of the Shuswap metamorphic core complex and localizes in a 1 km thick muscovite-bearing quartzite mylonite. We present a combined Ar-40/Ar-39, (micro) structural, and oxygen isotope study of the deformation history in the detachment and evaluate the spatial and temporal relationships between microstructure formation and localization of strain. High-precision Ar-40/Ar-39 geochronology from different levels in the mylonite delineates a pattern of increasingly younger (49.0 to 47.9 Ma) deformation ages in deeper levels of the mylonitic footwall. The correlation of Ar-40/Ar-39 ages with decreasing deformation temperatures (similar to 550 degrees-400 degrees C) in the top 200 m of the mylonite indicates that deformation migrated downward from the contact with the hanging wall. Strain localization was diachronous in progressively deeper levels of the footwall and was likely controlled by fluid-assisted strain hardening due to advective heat removal and contemporaneous reaction weakening due to dissolution-reprecipitation of white mica. The observed constant high-stress microstructures across the entire detachment indicate that flow stress was buffered by the interplay of strain rate and temperature, where high strain rates at elevated temperature produced the same microstructure as lower strain rates under decreasing temperature conditions. The combined data suggest that the complex interplay among temporally nonuniform rates of footwall exhumation, heat advection, and embrittlement by meteoric fluids strongly determines the thermomechanical behavior of extensional detachments.