Melanin-based coloration covaries with ovary size in an age-specific manner in the barn owl.

While the adaptive function of black eumelanin-based coloration is relatively well known, the function of reddish-brown pheomelanin-based coloration is still unclear. Only a few studies have shown or suggested that the degree of reddish-brownness is associated with predator-prey relationships, reproductive parameters, growth rate and immunity. To gain insight into the physiological correlates of melanin-based coloration, I collected barn owl (Tyto alba) cadavers and examined the covariation between this colour trait and ovary size, an organ that increases in size before reproduction. A relationship is expected because melanin-based coloration often co-varies with sexual activity. The results showed that reddish-brown juveniles had larger ovaries than whiter juveniles particularly in individuals in poor condition and outside the breeding season, while in birds older than 2 years lightly coloured females had larger ovaries than reddish-brown conspecifics. As barn owls become less reddish-brown between the first and second year of age, the present study suggests that reddish-brown pheomelanic and whitish colorations are associated with juvenile- and adult-specific adaptations, respectively.

Mutation in the human homeobox gene NKX5-3 causes an oculo-auricular syndrome.

Several dysmorphic syndromes affect the development of both the eye and the ear, but only a few are restricted to the eye and the external ear. We describe a developmental defect affecting the eye and the external ear in three members of a consanguineous family. This syndrome is characterized by ophthalmic anomalies (microcornea, microphthalmia, anterior-segment dysgenesis, cataract, coloboma of various parts of the eye, abnormalities of the retinal pigment epithelium, and rod-cone dystrophy) and a particular cleft ear lobule. Linkage analysis and mutation screening revealed in the first exon of the NKX5-3 gene a homozygous 26 nucleotide deletion, generating a truncating protein that lacked the complete homeodomain. Morpholino knockdown expression of the zebrafish nkx5-3 induced microphthalmia and disorganization of the developing retina, thus confirming that this gene represents an additional member implicated in axial patterning of the retina.

New prognostic factors and calculators for outcome prediction in patients with recurrent glioblastoma: A pooled analysis of EORTC Brain Tumour Group phase I and II clinical trials.

BACKGROUND: Prognostic models have been developed to predict survival of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (GBM). To improve predictions, models should be updated with information at the recurrence. We performed a pooled analysis of European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) trials on recurrent glioblastoma to validate existing clinical prognostic factors, identify new markers, and derive new predictions for overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS).¦METHODS: Data from 300 patients with recurrent GBM recruited in eight phase I or II trials conducted by the EORTC Brain Tumour Group were used to evaluate patient's age, sex, World Health Organisation (WHO) performance status (PS), presence of neurological deficits, disease history, use of steroids or anti-epileptics and disease characteristics to predict PFS and OS. Prognostic calculators were developed in patients initially treated by chemoradiation with temozolomide.¦RESULTS: Poor PS and more than one target lesion had a significant negative prognostic impact for both PFS and OS. Patients with large tumours measured by the maximum diameter of the largest lesion (⩾42mm) and treated with steroids at baseline had shorter OS. Tumours with predominant frontal location had better survival. Age and sex did not show independent prognostic values for PFS or OS.¦CONCLUSIONS: This analysis confirms performance status but not age as a major prognostic factor for PFS and OS in recurrent GBM. Patients with multiple and large lesions have an increased risk of death. With these data prognostic calculators with confidence intervals for both medians and fixed time probabilities of survival were derived.

De Jesu Christo in coelum sublato

Dedicatio: Jac. Jon. Estlander.

L'Univers

1870/08/05 (Numéro 1184).

Effects of Obesity and Weight Loss Following Bariatric Surgery on Brain Function, Structural Integrity and Metabolism

Obesity is one of the key challenges to health care system worldwide and its prevalence is estimated to rise to pandemic proportions. Numerous adverse health effects follow with increasing body weight, including increased risk of hypertension, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, musculoskeletal pain and cancer. Current evidence suggests that obesity is associated with altered cerebral reward circuit functioning and decreased inhibitory control over appetitive food cues. Furthermore, obesity causes adverse shifts in metabolism and loss of structural integrity within the brain. Prior cross-sectional studies do not allow delineating which of these cerebral changes are recoverable after weight loss. We compared morbidly obese subjects with healthy controls to unravel brain changes associated with obesity. Bariatric surgery was used as an intervention to study which cerebral changes are recoverable after weight loss. In Study I we employed functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to detect the brain basis of volitional appetite control and its alterations in obesity. In Studies II-III we used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to quantify the effects of obesity and the effects of weight loss on structural integrity of the brain. In study IV we used positron emission tomography (PET) with [18F]-FDG in fasting state and during euglycemic hyperinsulinemia to quantify effects of obesity and weight loss on brain glucose uptake. The fMRI experiment revealed that a fronto-parietal network is involved in volitional appetite control. Obese subjects had lower medial frontal and dorsal striatal brain activity during cognitive appetite control and increased functional connectivity within the appetite control circuit. Obese subjects had initially lower grey matter and white matter densities than healthy controls in VBM analysis and loss of integrity in white matter tracts as measured by DTI. They also had initially elevated glucose metabolism under insulin stimulation but not in fasting state. After the weight loss following bariatric surgery, obese individuals’ brain volumes recovered and the insulin-induced increase in glucose metabolism was attenuated. In conclusion, obesity is associated with altered brain function, coupled with loss of structural integrity and elevated glucose metabolism, which are likely signs of adverse health effects to the brain. These changes are reversed by weight loss after bariatric surgery, implicating that weight loss has a causal role on these adverse cerebral changes. Altogether these findings suggest that weight loss also promotes brain health.Key words: brain, obesity, bariatric surgery, appetite control, structural magnetic resonance

Le Petit journal. Supplément du dimanche

1913/07/27 (Numéro 1184).

L'Écho de Paris

1887/06/14 (Numéro 1184).

Recueil de chartes originales de diverses églises et abbayes des diocèses de Soissons, Noyon et Senlis (1015-1297).

Cathédrale de Soissons, etc. (1139-1315). — Abbayes du Charme-aux-Nonnains (1184-1290), — de Saint-Jean-des-Vignes (XIIe et XIIIe s.), — Val-Secret (1144-1290), — la Barre (1249-1287), — Clairefontaine (XIIIe s.), — Saint-Yved-de-Braine (1213-1283), — Longpont (1273-1280), — Notre-Dame de Soissons (1215-1277), — Saint-Crépin-le-Grand de Soissons (1287-1297), — Saint-Médard de Soissons (1228-1258), — Hôpitaux de Braine, de N.-D.-aux-Nonnains et de Saint-Vaast de Soissons (1205-1296). Diocèse de Noyon. — Église de Saint-Quentin (1015-1295), — abbayes de Biache (1272), — Fervaques (1255-1294), — SaintÉloi-Fontaine (1251), — Saint-Quentin-en-Vermandois (1186), — Saint-Quentin-en-l'Ile (1273), — Trinitaires de Saint-Quentin (1258), — prieuré de Vendeuil (1272). Chapitre et abbaye de Saint-Rémi de Senlis (1232-1285).

Recueil de chartes de commune.

Contient : Châteauvillain ; Troyes ; Nogaro en Armagnac ; Narbonne ; La Beuvrière (cf. fol. 73) ; Reims ; Troyes ; Beaumont ; Châteauvillain (1236 ; cf. fol. 2) ; La Chapelle [d'Angillon] ; Joigny ; Lorris ; Dixmont ; Montargis ; Barcelone (cf. fol. 149) ; Selens et Saint-Aubin ; La Beuvrière (cf. fol. 14) ; Chaumont ; Saint-Bris ; Saint-Laurent-sur-Barenjon ; Voisines ; Le Moulinet ; Barlieu ; Crespy [-en-Valois] ; Montdidier ; Laon ; Soissons ; Abbeville ; Compiègne ; Saint-Quentin ; Corbie ; Saint-Josse-sur-Mer ; La Fère ; Beauvais ; Nanteuil ; Courmelles ; Breteuil ; Beaumont-en-Argonne ; Chaumont ; Saint-Omer ; Vaux près Mouzon ; Vaux, Saconin, Mercin ; Chacrise ; Tournai ; Crandelain, etc ; Ambleteuse ; Morsain, etc ; Mantes ; Ferrières ; Aizy ; Pargny ; Saint-Riquier ; Soissons ; Saint-Martin d'Issoudun (cf. fol. 182) ; Rouen ; Dreux ; Meaux ; Reims ; Chablis ; Chatillon-sur-Seine ; Sens ; Auxerre ; Cerny ; Dixmont ; Étampes ; Orléans ; Bourges ; Issoudun (cf. fol. 148) ; Beaufort-en-Vallée ; La Rochelle ; Villefranche [d'Allier] ; Montauban ; Nevers ; Castres ; Toulouse ; Habitants de la Terre d'Albigeois ; Aigues-Mortes ; Lorrez-le-Bocage ; Le Puy ; Saint-Céré ; Barcelone ; Chatillon-sur-Marne ; Raucourt et Héraucourt ; Mézières ; Chatillon-sur-Marne ; Saint-Hellier ; Coutumes d'Anjou et du Maine ; Ervy-le-Chatel ; Cerres, Montceaux, Chaussepierre ; Notice sur un ms. de Chroniques françaises, de la bibliothèque de Colbert (= Duchesne 79)