Inhibitory effect of neuropeptide Y on stimulated renin secretion of awake rats.

1. (1-36)-NPY is a vasoconstrictor peptide widely distributed in sympathetic nerve terminals. This peptide exerts an inhibitory action on renin release induced by various stimuli. Post-synaptic neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptors show a high affinity for (1-36)-NPY as well as for the agonist (Pro34)-NPY, while presynaptic receptors bind preferentially (13-36)-NPY. 2. This study was undertaken to assess whether the NPY induced renin suppression in awake normotensive rats infused with the beta-adrenoceptor stimulant isoproterenol is mediated by activation of pre- or post-synaptic receptors. 3. Non-pressor doses of (1-36)-NPY and (Pro34)-NPY markedly attenuated the renin secretion triggered by isoproterenol whereas (13-36)-NPY had no effect. This suggests that the effect of NPY on renin release is due to the stimulation of post-synaptic receptors. However it remains unknown whether NPY acts directly on juxtaglomerular cells or indirectly by modifying intraglomerular haemodynamics.

MP2RAGE provides new clinically-compatible correlates of mild cognitive deficits in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

Despite that cognitive impairment is a known early feature present in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, the biological substrate of cognitive deficits in MS remains elusive. In this study, we assessed whether T1 relaxometry, as obtained in clinically acceptable scan times by the recent Magnetization Prepared 2 Rapid Acquisition Gradient Echoes (MP2RAGE) sequence, may help identifying the structural correlate of cognitive deficits in relapsing-remitting MS patients (RRMS). Twenty-nine healthy controls (HC) and forty-nine RRMS patients underwent high-resolution 3T magnetic resonance imaging to obtain optimal cortical lesion (CL) and white matter lesion (WML) count/volume and T1 relaxation times. T1 z scores were then obtained between T1 relaxation times in lesion and the corresponding HC tissue. Patient cognitive performance was tested using the Brief Repeatable Battery of Neuro-psychological Tests. Multivariate analysis was applied to assess the contribution of MRI variables (T1 z scores, lesion count/volume) to cognition in patients and Bonferroni correction was applied for multiple comparison. T1 z scores were higher in WML (p < 0.001) and CL-I (p < 0.01) than in the corresponding normal-appearing tissue in patients, indicating relative microstructural loss. (1) T1 z scores in CL-I (p = 0.01) and the number of CL-II (p = 0.04) were predictors of long-term memory; (2) T1 z scores in CL-I (β = 0.3; p = 0.03) were independent determinants of long-term memory storage, and (3) lesion volume did not significantly influenced cognitive performances in patients. Our study supports evidence that T1 relaxometry from MP2RAGE provides information about microstructural properties in CL and WML and improves correlation with cognition in RRMS patients, compared to conventional measures of disease burden.

Melanin-based coloration in juvenile kestrels (Falco tinnunculus) covaries with anti-predatory personality traits

Recent studies have shown that melanin-based coloration is associated with the ability to cope with stressful environments, potentially explaining why coloration covaries with anti-predator behaviours, boldness and docility. To investigate whether these relationships are consistent across species, we performed a study in the European kestrel (Falco tinnunculus). Similar to our results found previously in the barn owl (Tyto alba), nestling kestrels displaying a larger sub-terminal black tail band stayed on their back longer (tonic immobility test) and breathed at a lower rate than individuals with a smaller black band when handled. However, in contrast to barn owls, nestling kestrels with a larger black tail band were more aggressive and more agitated. Our results strengthen the hypothesis that melanin coloration is related to stress response and in turn to the reaction to predators, a very important personality trait (i.e. boldness).

Histones from dying renal cells aggravate kidney injury via TLR2 and TLR4.

In AKI, dying renal cells release intracellular molecules that stimulate immune cells to secrete proinflammatory cytokines, which trigger leukocyte recruitment and renal inflammation. Whether the release of histones, specifically, from dying cells contributes to the inflammation of AKI is unknown. In this study, we found that dying tubular epithelial cells released histones into the extracellular space, which directly interacted with Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 (TLR2) and TLR4 to induce MyD88, NF-κB, and mitogen activated protein kinase signaling. Extracellular histones also had directly toxic effects on renal endothelial cells and tubular epithelial cells in vitro. In addition, direct injection of histones into the renal arteries of mice demonstrated that histones induce leukocyte recruitment, microvascular vascular leakage, renal inflammation, and structural features of AKI in a TLR2/TLR4-dependent manner. Antihistone IgG, which neutralizes the immunostimulatory effects of histones, suppressed intrarenal inflammation, neutrophil infiltration, and tubular cell necrosis and improved excretory renal function. In summary, the release of histones from dying cells aggravates AKI via both its direct toxicity to renal cells and its proinflammatory effects. Because the induction of proinflammatory cytokines in dendritic cells requires TLR2 and TLR4, these results support the concept that renal damage triggers an innate immune response, which contributes to the pathogenesis of AKI.

Terrorisme et médecins de premier recours: le risque chimique [Terrorism and medicine of first aid: chemical risk].

Cet article décrit, à l'intention des mdéecins de rpremier recours, les principes de base d'une action de secours lors d'un attentat (ou d'un accident) chimique impliquant de nombreuses victimes intoxiquées et/ou contaminées.

Scripta diversa super scientiam mathematicam et physicam

1.° Practica geometriae, ordinata per Magistrum Dominicum de Mastinario Clanaxio. — 2.° Tractatus brevis et utilis de proportionalitate motuum coelestium : authore Nicolao Oresme, Normanno. — 3.° Anonymi fragmentum de quadratura circuli. — 4.° Euclidis liber de speculis : initium desideratur. — 5.° Ejusdem perspectiva. — 6.° Anonymi liber de crepusculis. — 7.° Liber Jordanis de triangulis. — 8.° Ejusdem liber de ponderibus. — 9.° Libri duo de musica. — 10.° Joannis de Lineriis canones primi mobilis. — 11.° Canones minutiarum, sive fractionum arithmetica. — 12.° Magistri Leonis, Hebraei, tractatus de harmonicis numeris. — 13.° Ars novae musicae. — 14.° Ars cujusvis compositionis de motetis, compilata à Philippo de Vitry, Magistro in musica. — 15.° Magister Leo, Judaeus, Prognosticatio super conjunctione Saturni, Jovis et Martis. — 16.° Johannes de Muris Prognosticatio super eodem argumento. — 17.° Firminus de Bellavalle Prognosticatio de eodem argumento. — 18.° Planisphaerium Nicolai Jude. — 19.° Tractatus brevis de compositione et usu cylindri. — 20.° Epistola Petri Peregrini de Maricourt ad Sigermum de Foucaucourt, de magnete : ibi reperias delineationem veteris pyxidis nauticae. — 21.° Compositio tabulae quae saphea dicitur, sive astrolabium Arzachelis. — 22.° Tractatus de optica, dioptrica et catoptrica. — 23.° Canones astrolabii. — 24.° Variae receptae medicinales. — 25.° Plantarum usitatarum nomina, ordine alphabetico disposita. — 26.° Anonymi fragmentum de visione. — 27.° Propositiones notabiles octo librorum Aristotelis de physica auscultatione. — 28.° Dicta super libros de coelo et mundo Aristotelis. Decimo quarto saeculo videtur exaratus.