Résultats à deux ans de la trabéculoplastie sélective au laser dans le glaucome à angle ouvert et l'hypertonie oculaire

BACKGROUND: Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a relatively new treatment strategy for the treatment of glaucoma. Its principle is similar to that of argon laser trabeculoplasty (ALT), but may lead to less damage to the trabecular meshwork. METHODS: We assessed the 2-year efficacy of SLT in a noncomparative consecutive case series. Any adult patient either suspected of having glaucoma or with open-angle glaucoma, whose treatment was judged insufficient to reach target intraocular pressure (IOP), could be recruited. IOP and number of glaucoma treatments were recorded over 2 years after the procedure. RESULTS: Our sample consisted of 44 consecutive eyes of 26 patients, aged 69+/-8 years. Eyes were treated initially on the lower 180 degrees . Three of them were retreated after 15 days on the upper 180. Fourteen eyes had ocular hypertension, 17 primary open-angle/normal-tension glaucoma, 11 pseudoexfoliation (PEX) glaucoma, and two pigmentary glaucoma. Thirty-six eyes had previously been treated and continued to be treated with topical anti-glaucoma medication, ten had had prior ALT, nine iridotomy, and 12 filtering surgery. The 2-year-follow up could not be completed for eight eyes because they needed filtering surgery. In the remaining 36 eyes, IOP decreased by a mean of 17.2%, 3.3 mmHg, (19.2+/-4.7 to 15+/-3.6 mmHg) after 2 years (p<0.001). As a secondary outcome, the number of glaucoma treatments decreased from 1.44 to 1.36 drops/patient. Other results according to subgroups of patients are analyzed: the greatest IOP decrease occurred in eyes that had never been treated with anti-glaucoma medication or with PEX glaucoma. SLT was probably valuable in a few eyes after filtering surgery; however, the statistical power of the study was not strong enough to draw a firm conclusion. When expressed in survival curves after 2 years, however, only 48% and 41% of eyes experienced a decrease of more than 3 mmHg or more than 20% of preoperative intraocular pressure, respectively. CONCLUSION: SLT decreases IOP somewhat for at least 2 years without an increase in topical glaucoma treatment. However, it cannot totally replace topical glaucoma treatment. In the future, patient selection should be improved to decrease the cost/effectiveness ratio.

Rhythmic growth explained by coincidence between internal and external cues.

Most organisms use circadian oscillators to coordinate physiological and developmental processes such as growth with predictable daily environmental changes like sunrise and sunset. The importance of such coordination is highlighted by studies showing that circadian dysfunction causes reduced fitness in bacteria and plants, as well as sleep and psychological disorders in humans. Plant cell growth requires energy and water-factors that oscillate owing to diurnal environmental changes. Indeed, two important factors controlling stem growth are the internal circadian oscillator and external light levels. However, most circadian studies have been performed in constant conditions, precluding mechanistic study of interactions between the clock and diurnal variation in the environment. Studies of stem elongation in diurnal conditions have revealed complex growth patterns, but no mechanism has been described. Here we show that the growth phase of Arabidopsis seedlings in diurnal light conditions is shifted 8-12 h relative to plants in continuous light, and we describe a mechanism underlying this environmental response. We find that the clock regulates transcript levels of two basic helix-loop-helix genes, phytochrome-interacting factor 4 (PIF4) and PIF5, whereas light regulates their protein abundance. These genes function as positive growth regulators; the coincidence of high transcript levels (by the clock) and protein accumulation (in the dark) allows them to promote plant growth at the end of the night. Thus, these two genes integrate clock and light signalling, and their coordinated regulation explains the observed diurnal growth rhythms. This interaction may serve as a paradigm for understanding how endogenous and environmental signals cooperate to control other processes.

Protective effect and economic impact of insecticide application methods on barley

The objective of this work was to evaluate the protective effect of different forms of insecticide application on the transmission of yellow dwarf disease in barley cultivars, as well as to determine the production costs and the net profit of these managements. The experiments were carried out during 2011 and 2012 growing seasons, using the following managements at main plots: T1, seed treatment with insecticide (ST) + insecticide on shoots at 15-day interval; T2, just ST; T3, insecticide applied on shoots, when aphid control level (CL) was reached; T4, without insecticide; and T5, ST + insecticide on shoots when CL was reached. Different barley cultivars - BRS Cauê, BRS Brau and MN 6021 - were arranged in the subplots. Insecticides lambda cyhalothrin (pyrethroid) and thiamethoxam (neonicotinoid) were used. There were differences on yellow dwarf disease index in both seasons for the different treatments, while damage to grain yield was influenced by year and aphid population. Production costs and net profit were different among treatments. Seed treatment with insecticide is sufficient to reduce the transmission of yellow dwarf disease in years with low aphid population pressure, while in years with larger populations, the application of insecticide on shoots is also required.

The neural basis for writing from dictation in the temporoparietal cortex.

Cortical electrical stimulation mapping was used to study neural substrates of the function of writing in the temporoparietal cortex. We identified the sites involved in oral language (sentence reading and naming) and writing from dictation, in order to spare these areas during removal of brain tumours in 30 patients (23 in the left, and 7 in the right hemisphere). Electrostimulation of the cortex impaired writing ability in 62 restricted cortical areas (.25 cm2). These were found in left temporoparietal lobes and were mostly located along the superior temporal gyrus (Brodmann's areas 22 and 42). Stimulation of right temporoparietal lobes in right-handed patients produced no writing impairments. However there was a high variability of location between individuals. Stimulation resulted in combined symptoms (affecting oral language and writing) in fourteen patients, whereas in eight other patients, stimulation-induced pure agraphia symptoms with no oral language disturbance in twelve of the identified areas. Each detected area affected writing in a different way. We detected the various different stages of the auditory-to-motor pathway of writing from dictation: either through comprehension of the dictated sentences (word deafness areas), lexico-semantic retrieval, or phonologic processing. In group analysis, barycentres of all different types of writing interferences reveal a hierarchical functional organization along the superior temporal gyrus from initial word recognition to lexico-semantic and phonologic processes along the ventral and the dorsal comprehension pathways, supporting the previously described auditory-to-motor process. The left posterior Sylvian region supports different aspects of writing function that are extremely specialized and localized, sometimes being segregated in a way that could account for the occurrence of pure agraphia that has long-been described in cases of damage to this region.

Ignition of a human body by a modest external source: a case report.

A case of sustained combustion of a human body that occurred in 2006 in Geneva, Switzerland, is presented. The body of a man was discovered at home and found to have been almost completely incinerated between the knees and the mid-chest, with less damage to the head, arms, lower legs and feet. His dog was also found dead just behind the house door. The external source of ignition was most likely a cigarette or a cigar. The chair in which the man had been sitting was largely consumed while other objects in the room exhibited only a brown oily or greasy coating and were virtually undamaged. Toxicological analyses carried out on the blood from the lower legs showed low levels of desalkylflurazepam. Alcohol concentration was 1.10 per thousand, carboxyhaemoglobin levels were 12% and cyanide concentration was 0.05 mg/L. Toxicological analyses carried out on the dog's blood showed carboxyhaemoglobin levels at 65%.

Superjumborullien rullauksen hallinta

UPM-Kymmene Oyj:n Jämsänkosken PK6:n ongelmana ovat olleet ajoittaiset pohjakatkot suurilla rullilla. Diplomityön tavoitteena oli parantaa superjumborullien rullauksen hallintaa Jagenbergin rakentamalla VariTop keskiörullaimella. Kirjallisuusosassa selvitettiin rullanmuodostumista ja erilaisia rullausteorioita. Samalla käytiin läpi paperin rullautuvuuteen vaikuttavia tekijöitä, rullausperäisten vikojen muodostumisen syitä sekä pehmeän rullaussylinterin etuja verrattuna kovaan sylinteriin. Kokeellisessa osassa suoritettiin koeajoja tuotannon pituusleikkurilla. Näistä kokeista saatujen tulosten perusteella leikkurin ajoreseptit päivitettiin vastaamaanoptimaalisinta rullarakennetta. Pehmeän rullaussylinterin etuja verrattuna kovaan rullaussylinteriin selvitettiin koeajoissa Voithin koeleikkurilla Saksan Krefeldissä. Tuloksista selvisi, että samalla ajoreseptillä rullattaessa pehmeä sylinteri antoi valmiille rullalle suuremman kovuuden. Myös paperissa olevien profiilivirheiden vaikutukset lievenivät käytettäessä pehmeää rullaussylinteriä. Istukoiden luistamisesta johtuvaa hylsyjen sisäpinnan jauhautumista on ilmennyt suurilla jumborullilla. Tämä johtuu todennäköisimmin kasvaneesta rasituksesta hylsyn sisäpinnalla, mikä on seurausta rullien kasvusta. Ratkaisuina tälle ongelmalle on mahdollinen istukan pidentäminen sekä välyksen pienentäminen istukan ja hylsyn välissä. Myös hylsyjen toimintaa testattiin rullauksessa jahuomattiin niiden täyttävän toimittajien antamat laatuarvot. Lepo- ja liikekitkalla tiedetään olevan suuri merkitys rullausperäisten vikojenmuodostumiseen. Eri lajeista lähetettiin paperinäytteitä UPM-Kymmene Oyj:n Lappeenrannan tutkimuskeskukseen kitkojen määrittämiseksi. Tulosten perusteella havaittiin luettelolajilla lepo- ja liikekitkassa merkittävä ero. Standardi SC lajilla ero oli selvästi pienempi kuin luettelolajilla. Tämä saattaa olla yksi syy luettelolajeilla ilmeneviin pohjaongelmiin.

Krikothyreotomie mit dem "Quicktrach"-Koniotomiebesteck [Cricothyreotomy using the Quicktrach coniotomy instrument set].

Percutaneous cricothyroidotomy may be a lifesaving procedure for airway obstruction, which cannot be relieved by endotracheal intubation and can be performed with specially designed instruments. A new device, the "Quicktrach", was evaluated by an anatomical preparation, flow and resistance measurements, and puncture of the cricothyroid membrane in 55 corpses. The size of the parts of the instrument (needle, plastic cannula, depth gauge) in relation to the size of the larynx is adequate, thus there is little likelihood of perforation of the posterior wall of the larynx. Resistance of the plastic cannula is sufficiently low to allow for adequate ventilation. The duration of time until the cannula is positioned properly in the trachea is significantly shorter, when an incision prior to the puncture is done (83 +/- 88 seconds without incision versus 35 +/- 41 seconds with incision; mean +/- SD). The "Quicktrach" is easy to apply even by inexperienced persons. The incidence of damage to the larynx (lesions including fractures of the thyroid, cricoid and 1. tracheal cartilage in 18%; soft tissue injury in 9%) is relatively high, however considering the live saving character of the procedure these numbers appear to be acceptable. Technical problems which occur with the use of the device are discussed and suggestions for improvement are made.

Partial protection and intrathecal invasion of CD8(+) T cells in acute canine distemper virus infection.

Initial non-inflammatory demyelination in canine distemper virus infection (CDV) develops against a background of severe immunosuppression and is therefore, thought to be virus-induced. However, recently we found a marked invasion of T cells throughout the central nervous system (CNS) in dogs with acute distemper despite drastic damage to the immune system. In the present study, this apparent paradox was further investigated by immunophenotyping of lymphocytes, following experimental CDV challenge in vaccinated and non-vaccinated dogs. In contrast to CDV infected, unprotected dogs, vaccinated dogs did not become immunosuppressed and exhibited a strong antiviral immune response following challenge with virulent CDV. In unprotected dogs rapid and drastic lymphopenia was initially due to depletion of T cells. In peripheral blood, CD4(+) T cells were more sensitive and depleted earlier and for a longer time than CD8(+) cells which recovered soon. In the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) we could observe an increase in the T cell to B cell and CD8(+) to CD4(+) ratios. Thus, partial protection of the CD8(+) cell population could explain why part of the immune function in acute distemper is preserved. As found earlier, T cells invaded the CNS parenchyma in these dogs but also in the protected challenged dogs, which did not develop any CNS disease at all. Since markers of T cell activation were upregulated in both groups of animals, this phenomenon could in part be related to non-specific penetration of activated T cells through the blood brain barrier. However, in diseased animals much larger numbers of T cells were found in the CNS than in the protected dogs, suggesting that massive invasion of T cells in the brain requires CDV expression in the CNS.

Organisation of genetic variation in multinucleate arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Les Champignons Endomycorhiziens Arbusculaires (CEA) forment une symbiose racinaire avec environ 80% des espèces connues de plantes vasculaires. Ils occupent une position écologique très importante liée aux bénéfices qu'ils confèrent aux plantes. Des études moléculaires effectuées sur des gènes ribosomaux ont révélé un très grand polymorphisme, tant à l'intérieur des espèces qu'entre celles-ci. Ces champignons étant coenocytiques et multinucléés, l'organisation de cette variabilité génétique intraspécifique pourrait avoir différentes origines. Ce travail se propose d'examiner l'organisation et l'évolution de cette variabilité. Sur la base de fossiles, l'existence des CEA remonte à au moins 450 millions d'années. Cette symbiose peut donc être considérée comme ancienne. Les premières données moléculaires n'indiquant pas de reproduction sexuée, une hypothèse fut élaborée stipulant que les CEA seraient des asexués ancestraux. La première partie de cette thèse (chapitre 2) met en évidence l'existence de recombinaison dans différents CEA mais montre également que celle-ci est insuffisante pour purger les mutations accumulées. La reproduction étant essentiellement asexuée, on peut prédire que les nombreux noyaux ont probablement divergé génétiquement. En collaboration avec M. Hijri nous avons pu vérifier cette hypothèse (chapitre 2). Dans le chapitre 3 j'ai cherché à comprendre si le polymorphisme était également présent dans une population naturelle du CEA Glomus intraradices au niveau intraspécifique, ce qui n'avait encore jamais été examiné. En comparant les empreintes génétiques d'individus obtenus chacun à partir d'une spore mise en culture, j'ai clairement démontré que d'importantes différences génétiques existent entre ceux-ci. Un résultat similaire, portant sur des traits quantitatifs d'individus de la même population, a été trouvé par A. Koch. Les deux études en ensemble montre que le polymorphisme génétique dans cette population est suffisamment grand pour être important au niveau écologique. Dans le chapitre 4, j'ai cherché a examiner le polymorphisme des séquences du gène BiP au sein d'un individu. C'est la première étude qui examine la diversité génétique du génome de CEA avec un autre marqueur que l'ADN ribosomique. J'ai trouvé 31 types de séquences différentes du gène BiP issu d'un isolat de G. intraradices mis en culture à partir d'une seule spore. Cette variation n'était pas restreinte à des zones sélectivement neutres du BiP. Mes résultats montrent qu'il y a un grand nombre de variants non-fonctionnels, proportionnellement au faible nombre de copies attendues par noyau. Ceci va dans le sens d'une partition de l'information génétique entre les noyaux.<br/><br/>Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are root symbionts with about 80% of all known species of vascular land plants. AMF are ecologically important because of the benefits that they confer to plants. Molecular studies on AMF showed that rDNA sequences were highly variable between species and within species. Because AMF are coenocytic and multinucleate there are several possibilities how this intraspecific genetic variation could be organized. Therefore, the organization and evolution of this variation in AMF were investigated in the present work. Based on fossil records the AMF symbiosis has existed for 450 Million years and is therefore considered ancient. First molecular data indicated no evident sexual reproduction and gave rise to the hypothesis that AMF might be ancient asexuals. The first part of this thesis (Chapter 2) shows evidence for recombination in different AMF but also indicates that it has not been frequent enough to purge accumulated mutations. Given asexual reproduction, it has been predicted that the many nuclei in AMF should diverge leading to genetically different nuclei. This hypothesis has been confirmed by an experiment of M. Hijri and is also included in chapter 2 as the results were published together. In chapter 3 I then investigated whether intraspecific genetic variation also exists in a field population of the AMF Glomus intraradices. Comparing genetic fingerprints of individuals derived from single spores I could clearly show that large genetic differences exist. A similar result, based on quantitative genetic traits, was found for the same population by A. Koch. The two studies taken together show that the genetic variation observed in the population is high enough to be of ecological relevance. Lastly, in chapter 4, I investigated within individual genetic variation among BiP gene sequences. It is the first study that has analyzed genetic diversity in the AMF genome in a region of DNA other than rDNA. I found 31 sequence variants of the BiP gene in one G. intraradices isolate that originated from one spore. Genetic variation was not only restricted to selectively neutral parts of BiP. A high number of predicted non-functional variants compared to a likely low number of copies per nucleus indicated that functional genetic information might even be partitioned among nuclei. The results of this work contribute to our understanding of potential evolutionary strategies of ancient asexuals, they also suggest that genetic differences in a population might be ecologically relevant and they show that this variation even occurs in functional regions of the AMF genome.

The biological basis of the aging process

El procés biològic bàsic subjacent de l’envelliment va ésser avançat per la teoria de l’envelliment basada en els radicals lliures l’any 1954: la reacció dels radicals lliures actius, produïts fisiològicament en l’organisme, amb els constituents cel·lulars inicia els canvis associats a l’envelliment. La implicació dels radicals lliures en l’envelliment està relacionada amb el seu paper clau en l’origen i l’evolució de la vida. La informació disponible avui en dia ens mostra que la composició específica de les macromolècules cel·lulars (proteïnes, àcids nucleics, lípids i carbohidrats) en les espècies animals longeves tenen intrínsicament una resistència elevada a la modificació oxidativa, la qual cosa probablement contribueix a la longevitat superior d’aquestes espècies. Les espècies longeves també mostren unes taxes reduïdes de producció de radicals lliures i de lesió oxidativa. D’altra banda, la restricció dietària disminueix la producció de radicals lliures i la lesió molecular oxidativa. Aquests canvis estan directament associats a la reducció de la ingesta de proteïnes dels animals sotmesos a restricció, que alhora sembla que són deguts específicament a la reducció de la ingesta de metionina. En aquesta revisió s’emfatitza que una taxa baixa de generació de lesió endògena i una resistència intrínsecament elevada a la modificació de les macromolècules cel·lulars són trets clau de la longevitat de les espècies animals.

Fenología, dinámica poblacional y daños de Eucallipterus tiliae Linnaeus (Horn., Aphididae) en tilos ornamentales de la ciudad de Lleida

La fenología y la dinámica poblacional del pulgón del tilo Eucallipterus tiliae Linnaeus han sido estudiadas en parques y jardines de la ciudad de Lleida durante el periodo 2002-2003 en árboles no tratados y en árboles sometidos a tratamiento químico convencional. Los primeros individuos aparecen a comienzos de primavera (abril) y las densidades de población crecen exponencialmente hasta alcanzarse un máximo a finales de mayo. Inmediatamente después del máximo poblacional se produce un descenso brusco de la población hasta la práctica desaparición de los pulgones del árbol. En otoño se detectan machos y hembras ovíparas que hacen la puesta. Esta especie pasa el invierno en forma de huevo. Durante el periodo de mayor abundancia, los pulgones produjeron gran cantidad de melaza causando daños estéticos a los árboles y molestias a los ciudadanos. Estos efectos negativos del pulgón se produjeron a pesar de la estrategia de control utilizada: la aplicación sistemática de insecticidas. El análisis de esta estrategia mostró un número excesivo de tratamientos y una falta de sincronización con la dinámica del pulgón, lo que pone de manifiesto que la estrategia de control de E. tiliae en Lleida puede ser mejorada. Se registró la presencia de diversos enemigos naturales asociados a E. tiliae, principalmente coccinélidos y parasitoides (Hym., Braconidae, Aphidiinae). Sin embargo, no parece que la abundancia de éstos fuera la suficiente para mantener las poblaciones de pulgones por debajo de los niveles considerados molestos.

Regulation of recombination at yeast nuclear pores controls repair and triplet repeat stability.

Secondary structure-forming DNA sequences such as CAG repeats interfere with replication and repair, provoking fork stalling, chromosome fragility, and recombination. In budding yeast, we found that expanded CAG repeats are more likely than unexpanded repeats to localize to the nuclear periphery. This positioning is transient, occurs in late S phase, requires replication, and is associated with decreased subnuclear mobility of the locus. In contrast to persistent double-stranded breaks, expanded CAG repeats at the nuclear envelope associate with pores but not with the inner nuclear membrane protein Mps3. Relocation requires Nup84 and the Slx5/8 SUMO-dependent ubiquitin ligase but not Rad51, Mec1, or Tel1. Importantly, the presence of the Nup84 pore subcomplex and Slx5/8 suppresses CAG repeat fragility and instability. Repeat instability in nup84, slx5, or slx8 mutant cells arises through aberrant homologous recombination and is distinct from instability arising from the loss of ligase 4-dependent end-joining. Genetic and physical analysis of Rad52 sumoylation and binding at the CAG tract suggests that Slx5/8 targets sumoylated Rad52 for degradation at the pore to facilitate recovery from acute replication stress by promoting replication fork restart. We thereby confirmed that the relocation of damage to nuclear pores plays an important role in a naturally occurring repair process.

Mating disruption with low density diffusers for the management of oriental fruit moths (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in apple orchards under subtropical climate in southern Brazil

The oriental fruit moth, Grapholita molesta Busck, and fruit flies, Anastrepha fraterculus L., are the important apple pests under Subtropical climate in Southern Brazil, and control is normally accomplished with insecticides. An alternative strategy for the control of G. molesta is mating disruption, through the use of pheromones. Mating disruption strategies using a low density of dispensers (20) per hectare were tested in comparison with conventional pesticides for control of G. molesta in commercial Gala apple orchards in Fraiburgo, SC, for a period of five years. The average field efficiency period of mating disruption formulation over five years was 113 days. In this period the mating interruption index on mating disruption plots was 84.8% over five years. Damage to Gala apples by oriental moth larvae was low (<0.1%) in mating disruption plots but did not differ from conventional plots, except in the third year. The use of mating disruption allowed for an average reduction of 5.2 insecticide treatments per year in Gala orchards during field efficiency period. It was necessary to apply 1.0 and 1.2 applications of insecticide to control of G. molesta and A. fraterculus, respectively. Mating disruption with a low density of diffusers proved to be an effective alternative to conventional methods for control of G. molesta in Gala apple orchards in subtropical climate in southern Brazil.

Visual performance in preterm infants with brain injuries compared with low-risk preterm infants

Background: Neonatal brain injuries are the main cause of visual deficit produced by damage to posterior visual pathways.While there are several studies of visual function in low-risk preterm infants or older children with brain injuries, research in children of early age is lacking. Aim: To assess several aspects of visual function in preterm infants with brain injuries and to compare them with another group of low-risk preterm infants of the same age. Study design and subjects: Forty-eight preterm infants with brain injuries and 56 low-risk preterm infants. Outcome measures: The ML Leonhardt Battery of Optotypes was used to assess visual functions. This test was previously validated at a post-menstrual age of 40 weeks in newborns and at 30-plus weeks in preterm infants. Results: The group of preterminfants with brain lesions showed a delayed pattern of visual functions in alertness, fixation, visual attention and tracking behavior compared to infants in the healthy preterm group. The differences between both groups, in the visual behaviors analyzed were around 30%. These visual functions could be identified from the first weeks of life. Conclusion: Our results confirm the importance of using a straightforward screening test with preterminfants in order to assess altered visual function, especially in infants with brain injuries. The findings also highlight the need to provide visual stimulation very early on in life.

Signaling in the Rhizosphere.

Signaling studies in the rhizosphere have focused on close interactions between plants and symbiotic microorganisms. However, this focus is likely to expand to other microorganisms because the rhizomicrobiome is important for plant health and is able to influence the structure of the microbial community. We discuss here the shaping of the rhizomicrobiome and define which aspects can be considered signaling. We divide signaling in the rhizosphere into three categories: (i) between microbes, (ii) from plants to microorganisms, and (iii) from microorganisms to plants. Signals act on diverse organisms including the plant. Mycorrhizal and rhizobial interkingdom signaling has revealed its pivotal role in establishing associations, and the recent discovery of signaling with non-symbiotic microorganisms indicates the important role of communication in shaping the rhizomicrobiome.