Prenatal ultrasonographic detection of gastrointestinal obstruction: results from 18 European congenital anomaly registries.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the prenatal detection of gastrointestinal obstruction (GIO, including atresia, stenosis, absence or fistula) by routine ultrasonographic examination in an unselected population all over Europe. METHODS: Data from 18 congenital malformation registries in 11 European countries were analysed. These multisource registries used the same methodology. All fetuses/neonates with GIO confirmed within 1 week after birth who had prenatal sonography and were born during the study period (1 July 1996 to 31 December 1998) were included. RESULTS: There were 670 793 births in the area covered and 349 fetuses/neonates had GIO. The prenatal detection rate of GIO was 34%; of these 40% were detected < or = 24 weeks of gestation (WG). A total of 31% (60/192) of the isolated GIO were detected prenatally, as were 38% (59/157) of the associated GIO (p=0.26). The detection rate was 25% for esophageal obstruction (31/122), 52% for duodenal obstruction (33/64), 40% for small intestine obstruction (27/68) and 29% for large intestine obstruction (28/95) (p=0.002). The detection rate was higher in countries with a policy of routine obstetric ultrasound. Fifteen percent of pregnancies were terminated (51/349). Eleven of these had chromosomal anomalies, 31 multiple malformations, eight non-chromosomal recognized syndromes, and one isolated GIO. The participating registries reflect the various national policies for termination of pregnancy (TOP), but TOPs after 24 WG (11/51) do not appear to be performed more frequently in countries with a liberal TOP policy. CONCLUSION: This European study shows that the detection rate of GIO depends on the screening policy and on the sonographic detectability of GIO subgroups.

18/2/20, transmission des pouvoirs, réception des quatre présidents à l'Hôtel de ville [MM. Loubet, Deschanel, Poincaré, Fallières] : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 58104

18/2/20, transmission des pouvoirs, le cortège [présidentiel] rue de Rivoli : [photographie de presse] / [Agence Rol]

Référence bibliographique : Rol, 58096

Lottery Action, April 5-18, 2004, Vol. 11, no. 7

Iowa Lottery Authority Retailer Information Newsletter

ABD e-News June 18, 2004

Weekly Newsletter for the State of Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division

Protective and Aggravating Effects of Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activation in IBD Models: Influence of Genetic and Environmental Factors.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation due to dysregulation of the mucosal immune system. The cytokines IL-1β and IL-18 appear early in intestinal inflammation and their pro-forms are processed via the caspase-1-activating multiprotein complex, the Nlrp3 inflammasome. Previously, we reported that the uptake of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) by macrophages activates the Nlrp3 inflammasome and that Nlrp3(-/-) mice are protected in the acute DSS colitis model. Of note, other groups have reported opposing effects in regards to DSS susceptibility in Nlrp3(-/-) mice. Recently, mice lacking inflammasomes were found to develop a distinct intestinal microflora. Methods: To reconcile the contradicting observations, we investigated the role of Nlrp3 deficiency in two different IBD models: acute DSS colitis and TNBS (2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid)-induced colitis. In addition, we investigated the impact of the intestinal flora on disease severity by performing cohousing experiments of wild-type and Nlrp3(-/-) mice, as well as by antibiotic treatment. Results: Nlrp3(-/-) mice treated with either DSS or TNBS exhibited attenuated colitis and lower mortality. This protective effect correlated with an increased frequency of CD103+ lamina propria dendritic cells expressing a tolerogenic phenotype in Nlrp3(-/-) mice in steady state conditions. Interestingly, after cohousing, Nlrp3(-/-) mice were as susceptible as wild-type mice, indicating that transmission of endogenous bacterial flora between the two mouse strains might increase susceptibility of Nlrp3(-/-) mice towards DSS-induced colitis. Accordingly, treatment with antibiotics almost completely prevented colitis in the DSS model. Conclusions: The composition of the intestinal microflora significantly influences disease severity in IBD models comparing wild-type and Nlrp3(-/-) mice. This observation may - at least in part - explain contradictory results concerning the role of the inflammasome in different labs. Further studies are required to define the role of the Nlrp3 inflammasome in noninflamed mucosa under steady state conditions and in IBD.

Fas ligand elicits a caspase-independent proinflammatory response in human keratinocytes: implications for dermatitis.

Fas ligand (FasL) causes apoptosis of epidermal keratinocytes and triggers the appearance of spongiosis in eczematous dermatitis. We demonstrate here that FasL also aggravates inflammation by triggering the expression of proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules in keratinocytes. In HaCaT cells and in reconstructed human epidermis (RHE), FasL triggered a NF-kappaB-dependent mRNA accumulation of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-6, and IL-1beta), chemokines (CCL2/MCP-1, CXCL1/GROalpha, CXCL3/GROgamma, and CXCL8/IL-8), and the adhesion molecule ICAM-1. Oligomerization of Fas was required both for apoptosis and for gene expression. Inhibition of caspase activity abolished FasL-dependent apoptosis; however, it failed to suppress the expression of FasL-induced genes. Additionally, in the presence of caspase inhibitors, but not in their absence, FasL triggered the accumulation of CCL5/RANTES (regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted) mRNA. Our findings identify a novel proinflammatory role of FasL in keratinocytes that is independent of caspase activity and is separable from apoptosis. Thus, in addition to causing spongiosis, FasL may play a direct role in triggering and/or sustaining inflammation in eczemas.

Iowa Civil Rights Commission Communicator, Fall 2000, Vol. 18, no. 2

Newsletter produced by the Iowa Civil Rights Commission

Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) and caspase-8 mediate up-regulation of c-Fos by Fas ligand and tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) via a FLICE inhibitory protein (FLIP)-regulated pathway.

Fas, a death domain-containing member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family and its ligand FasL have been predominantly studied with respect to their capability to induce cell death. However, a few studies indicate a proliferation-inducing signaling activity of these molecules too. We describe here a novel signaling pathway of FasL and the tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) that triggers transcriptional activation of the proto-oncogene c-fos, a typical target gene of mitogenic pathways. FasL- and TRAIL-mediated up-regulation of c-Fos was completely dependent on the presence of Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) and caspase-8, but caspase activity seemed to be dispensable as a pan inhibitor of caspases had no inhibitory effect. Upon overexpression of the long splice form of cellular FADD-like interleukin-1-converting enzyme (FLICE) inhibitory protein (cFLIP) in Jurkat cells, FasL- and TRAIL-induced up-regulation of c-Fos was almost completely blocked. The short splice form of FLIP, however, showed a rather stimulatory effect on c-Fos induction. Together these data demonstrate the existence of a death receptor-induced, FADD- and caspase-8-dependent pathway leading to c-Fos induction that is inhibited by the long splice form FLIP-L.

Diagnòstic en profunditat sobre la integració dels i les joves de 14 i 18 anys migrats a Catalunya

La finalitat d'aquest projecte és aprofundir en el procés d'integració socioeducativa de la joventut migrada a Catalunya, específicament, dels i les joves entre 14 i 18 anys. Entre els resultats destaquem que els ioves tenen un concepte força tancat i excloent del concepte de ciutadania com a estatus , i un baix grau, de coneixement de la diversitat cultural, especialment els joves autòctons, tot i que tenen una actitud de reconeixement i acceptació, favorable a la convivència intercultural, tant al centre educatiu com al seu barri. No obstant, tenen una visió de la diversitat cultural i del fet migratori en clau de coexistència, sense el reconeixement que suposaria un pas més cap a la convivència. La immigració és vista com un col•lectiu vulnerable, amb un baix nivell econòmic i cultural i que també és percebut com un problema i, fins i tot, com a causant de les dificultutats que actualment pateix i travessa el conjunt de la societat. Els joves tendeixen a relacionar-se amb el seu grup cultural, i responen de forma passiva en la comprensió i actuació davant dels problemes i assumptes públics. Entre els elements que valoren per sentir-se ciutadà té una especial importància la llengua. Eis joves que fa més de 10 anys que viuen a Catalunya són els que tendeixen a tenir un sentiment de pertinença cívica amb el lloc de residència. De fet, com mes temps porten els joves estrangers vivint al lloc d’acollida, perden importància elements d’identificació cultural del país d’origen, però la religió, les celebracions populars, l’art i la tendència a formar parella són elements identitaris del lloc d’origen, més estables. Es demana una intervenció urgent en diversos nivells i destinades a diferents agents. Destaquem: la importància d’una acollida afectiva i efectiva; potenciar espais de trobada; treballar els prejudicis; transversalitzar l’educació intercultural; potenciació de l’aprenentatge de la llengua catalana; formació del professorat en competències interculturals.

Histoire du dix-neuvième siècle depuis les traités de Vienne. Tome 18 / G. G. Gervinus,... ; traduit de l'allemand par J.-F. Minssen,...

Collection : Collection d'historiens contemporains

Lottery Action, September 27-October 10, 2004, Vol. 11, no. 18

Iowa Lottery Retailer Newsletter

Diagnostic Accuracy of (18)F-FDG-PET and PET/CT in the Differential Diagnosis between Malignant and Benign Pleural Lesions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: To systematically review and meta-analyze published data about the diagnostic accuracy of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) and PET/computed tomography (CT) in the differential diagnosis between malignant and benign pleural lesions. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A comprehensive literature search of studies published through June 2013 regarding the diagnostic performance of (18)F-FDG-PET and PET/CT in the differential diagnosis of pleural lesions was carried out. All retrieved studies were reviewed and qualitatively analyzed. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratio (LR+ and LR-) and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR) of (18)F-FDG-PET or PET/CT in the differential diagnosis of pleural lesions on a per-patient-based analysis were calculated. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was calculated to measure the accuracy of these methods. Subanalyses considering device used (PET or PET/CT) were performed. RESULTS: Sixteen studies including 745 patients were included in the systematic review. The meta-analysis of 11 selected studies provided the following results: sensitivity 95% (95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 92-97%), specificity 82% (95%CI: 76-88%), LR+ 5.3 (95%CI: 2.4-11.8), LR- 0.09 (95%CI: 0.05-0.14), DOR 74 (95%CI: 34-161). The AUC was 0.95. No significant improvement of the diagnostic accuracy considering PET/CT studies only was found. CONCLUSIONS: (18)F-FDG-PET and PET/CT demonstrated to be accurate diagnostic imaging methods in the differential diagnosis between malignant and benign pleural lesions; nevertheless, possible sources of false-negative and false-positive results should be kept in mind.