Occupational sex-composition and earnings : individual and social effects

This paper investigates the micro and macro-level factors affecting the empirical association between occupational sex-composition and individual earnings. This is done in two analytical steps using data from the second round of the European Social Survey. In a first step, country-fixed-effects regressions are used to test the extent to which job-specialization, gender attitudes and the relative supply of domestic work can account for the impact of occupational sex-composition on earnings. In accordance with previous research, it is found that all these micro-level variables have a significant effect on the analyzed association, yet only job-specialization can explain it away by itself. In a second analytical step, macro-level interactions are tested under the hypothesis that defamilialization policies reduce the pay-offs of sphere specialization by sex, generating incentives for all types of women to invest in the labor market. Empirical results suggest that gender attitudes and the relative supply of housework are much more loosely associated to earning in social-democratic and former communist societies than in conservative or liberal regimes. This finding is interpreted as consistent with the defamilialization hypothesis.

Epidemiology of incident heart failure in a contemporary elderly cohort: the health, aging, and body composition study.

BACKGROUND: The race- and sex-specific epidemiology of incident heart failure (HF) among a contemporary elderly cohort are not well described. METHODS: We studied 2934 participants without HF enrolled in the Health, Aging, and Body Composition Study (mean [SD] age, 73.6 [2.9] years; 47.9% men; 58.6% white; and 41.4% black) and assessed the incidence of HF, population-attributable risk (PAR) of independent risk factors for HF, and outcomes of incident HF. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 7.1 years, 258 participants (8.8%) developed HF (13.6 cases per 1000 person-years; 95% confidence interval, 12.1-15.4). Men and black participants were more likely to develop HF. No significant sex-based differences were observed in risk factors. Coronary heart disease (PAR, 23.9% for white participants and 29.5% for black participants) and uncontrolled blood pressure (PAR, 21.3% for white participants and 30.1% for black participants) carried the highest PAR in both races. Among black participants, 6 of 8 risk factors assessed (smoking, increased heart rate, coronary heart disease, left ventricular hypertrophy, uncontrolled blood pressure, and reduced glomerular filtration rate) had more than 5% higher PAR compared with that among white participants, leading to a higher overall proportion of HF attributable to modifiable risk factors in black participants vs white participants (67.8% vs 48.9%). Participants who developed HF had higher annual mortality (18.0% vs 2.7%). No racial difference in survival after HF was noted; however, rehospitalization rates were higher among black participants (62.1 vs 30.3 hospitalizations per 100 person-years, P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Incident HF is common in older persons; a large proportion of HF risk is attributed to modifiable risk factors. Racial differences in risk factors for HF and in hospitalization rates after HF need to be considered in prevention and treatment efforts.

The variability of peridotite composition across a mantle shear zone (Lanzo massif, Italy): interplay of melt focusing and deformation

In this paper we present new data on the spatial variability of peridotite composition across a kilometer-scale mantle shear zone within the Lanzo massif (Western Alps, Italy). The shear zone separates the central from the northern part of the massif. Plagioclase peridotite shows gradually increasing deformation towards the shear zone, from porphyroclastic to mylonitic textures in the central body, while the northern body is composed of porphyroclastic rocks. The peridotite displays a large range of compositions, from fertile peridotite to refractory harzburgite and dunite. Deformed peridotites (proto-mylonite and mylonites) tend to be compositionally more homogeneous and fertile than weakly deformed peridotites. The composition of most plagioclase peridotites show rather high and constant (Ce/Yb) (N) ratios, and Yb (N) that cannot be explained by any simple melting model. Instead, refertilization modeling, consisting of melt increments from spinel peridotite sources, particularly with E-MORB melt, reasonably reproduces the plagioclase peridotite whole rock composition. Combined with constraints from Ce-Nb and Ce-Th systematics, we speculate that peridotites such as those from Lanzo record pervasive refertilization processes in the thermal boundary layer. In this scenario, mantle shear zones might act as important areas of melt focusing in the upper mantle that separates the thermal boundary layer from the conductively cooled mantle.

Lead acetate toxicity in vitro: Dependence on the cell composition of the cultures.

It is well known that exposure to low doses of lead causes long-lasting neurobehavioural deficits, but the cellular changes underlying these behavioural changes remain to be elucidated. A protective role of glial cells on neurons through lead sequestration by astrocytes has been proposed. The possible modulation of lead neurotoxicity by neuron-glia interactions was examined in three-dimensional cultures of foetal rat telencephalon. Mixed-brain cell cultures or cultures enriched in either neurons or glial cells were treated for 10 days with lead acetate (10(-6) m), a concentration below the limit of cytotoxicity. Intracellular lead content and cell type-specific enzyme activities were determined. It was found that in enriched cultures neurons stored more lead than glial cells, and each cell type alone stored more lead than in co-culture. Moreover, glial cells but not neurons were more affected by lead in enriched culture than in co-culture. These results show that neuron-glia interactions attenuate the cellular lead uptake and the glial susceptibility to lead, but they do not support the idea of a protective role of astrocytes.

Tissue biomarker development in a multicentre trial context: a feasibility study on the PETACC3 stage II and III colon cancer adjuvant treatment trial.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the feasibility of biomarker development in the context of multicenter clinical trials. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples were collected from a prospective adjuvant colon cancer trial (PETACC3). DNA was isolated from tumor as well as normal tissue and used for analysis of microsatellite instability, KRAS and BRAF genotyping, UGT1A1 genotyping, and loss of heterozygosity of 18 q loci. Immunohistochemistry was used to test expression of TERT, SMAD4, p53, and TYMS. Messenger RNA was retrieved and tested for use in expression profiling experiments. RESULTS: Of the 3,278 patients entered in the study, FFPE blocks were obtained from 1,564 patients coming from 368 different centers in 31 countries. In over 95% of the samples, genomic DNA tests yielded a reliable result. Of the immmunohistochemical tests, p53 and SMAD4 staining did best with reliable results in over 85% of the cases. TERT was the most problematic test with 46% of failures, mostly due to insufficient tissue processing quality. Good quality mRNA was obtained, usable in expression profiling experiments. CONCLUSIONS: Prospective clinical trials can be used as framework for biomarker development using routinely processed FFPE tissues. Our results support the notion that as a rule, translational studies based on FFPE should be included in prospective clinical trials.

Nouveau manuel complet de typographie : historique, composition, règles orthographiques, imposition, travaux de ville, journaux, tableaux, algèbre, langues étrangères, musique et plainchant, machines, papier, stéréotypie, illustration / par Émile Leclerc,... ; préface de M. Paul Bluysen,...

Collection : Manuels Roret

Temporal patterns of nucleotide misincorporations and DNA fragmentation in ancient DNA.

DNA that survives in museum specimens, bones and other tissues recovered by archaeologists is invariably fragmented and chemically modified. The extent to which such modifications accumulate over time is largely unknown but could potentially be used to differentiate between endogenous old DNA and present-day DNA contaminating specimens and experiments. Here we examine mitochondrial DNA sequences from tissue remains that vary in age between 18 and 60,000 years with respect to three molecular features: fragment length, base composition at strand breaks, and apparent C to T substitutions. We find that fragment length does not decrease consistently over time and that strand breaks occur preferentially before purine residues by what may be at least two different molecular mechanisms that are not yet understood. In contrast, the frequency of apparent C to T substitutions towards the 5'-ends of molecules tends to increase over time. These nucleotide misincorporations are thus a useful tool to distinguish recent from ancient DNA sources in specimens that have not been subjected to unusual or harsh treatments.

Dietary supplementation with omega-3 in cystic fibrosis patients

Accumulation of neutr ophils releasing proteolytic enzymes and free radicals induceprogressive lung tissue destruction in CF. Among several hfflammatory mediatorsimplicated in this process, leukotriene B 4 (LTB4) product of arachidonic (AA;20:4n 6) omega 6 polytmsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) plays an important role.Various anti inflammatory strategies including dietary supplementation of omega 3PUFA, known to favor the synthesis of less active leukotriene B 5 (LTBs), have beeninvestigated. To further explore this nutritional approach, biological effects of anomega 3 PUFA oral supplementation (n 3 OS) were measured in 17 CF patients haa prospective, randomized, double blind, crossover study. CF patients (mean age:18 + 9 years, FEVI: 66 + 29 %) received a dietary supplementation enriched, or not,ha omega 3 PUFA during a 2 x 6 months period. A modification in neutrophilmembrane PUFA composition was observed under n 3 OS with an increase in EPA(20:5n 3) PUFA (from 0.66 ± 0.56 to 1.60 ± 0.61 ~tmol %, P< 0.01). The LTB jLTB 5ratio was decreased (from 72 + 27 to 24 + 7, P< 0.C~31), in CF patients taking n 3OS. However, n 3 OS supplementation did neither affect the internalization of bothIL 8 receptors following IL 8 exposure, nor IL 8 induced neutrophil chemotaxis.Our results show that n 3 PUFA are absorbed and incorporated in neutrophilmembrmae. The consecutive decrease ha LTBjLTB 5 ratio suggests that, ha theseconditions, neutr ophils may produce less toxic mediators from the AA pathway. Thepotential clinical benefit for CF patients still needs to be assessed with furtherstudies of longer duration and including more patients.

Lower thigh subcutaneous and higher visceral abdominal adipose tissue content both contribute to insulin resistance.

It is well known that visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is associated with insulin resistance (IR). Considerable debate remains concerning the potential positive effect of thigh subcutaneous adipose tissue (TSAT). Our objective was to observe whether VAT and TSAT are opposite, synergistic or additive for both peripheral and hepatic IR. Fifty-two volunteers (21 male/31 female) between 30 and 75 years old were recruited from the general population. All subjects were sedentary overweight or obese (mean BMI 33.0 ± 3.4 kg/m(2)). Insulin sensitivity was determined by a 4-h hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp with stable isotope tracer dilution. Total body fat and lean body mass were determined by dual X-ray absorptiometry. Abdominal and mid-thigh adiposity was determined by computed tomography. VAT was negatively associated with peripheral insulin sensitivity, while TSAT, in contrast, was positively associated with peripheral insulin sensitivity. Subjects with a combination of low VAT and high TSAT had the highest insulin sensitivity, subjects with a combination of high VAT and low TSAT were the most insulin resistant. These associations remained significant after adjusting for age and gender. These data confirm that visceral excess abdominal adiposity is associated with IR across a range of middle-age to older men and women, and further suggest that higher thigh subcutaneous fat is favorably associated with better insulin sensitivity. This strongly suggests that these two distinct fat distribution phenotypes should both be considered in IR as important determinants of cardiometabolic risk.

Abnormalities of fuel utilization as predisposing to the development of obesity in humans.

A number of recent investigations in man have demonstrated that a low ratio of fat to carbohydrate oxidation (i.e., a high respiratory quotient or RQ) was associated with actual and/or subsequent body weight gain in obese non-diabetic Pima Indians, in American men of various ages and in post-obese European women investigated shortly after the cessation of a hypocaloric diet. It is well known that numerous exogenous and endogenous factors influence the RQ at rest such as: the level of feeding (positive vs. negative energy balance), the composition of food eaten (high vs. low carbohydrate), the size of the glycogen stores, the amount of adipose tissue as well as genetic factors. It should be stressed that some nutritional situations can co-exist during which a low ratio of fat to carbohydrate is observed (i.e., a high RQ) despite weight loss. Furthermore, in most studies mentioned above, the low fat to carbohydrate oxidation ratio explains less than 10% of the variance in weight gain, suggesting that numerous additional factors also play a substantial role in the onset of weight gain. It is concluded that: 1) a low fat to carbohydrate oxidation ratio or an abnormal fat oxidation is difficult to define quantitatively since it is largely influenced by the energy level and the composition of the diet.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Essential role of platelet activation via protease activated receptor 4 in tissue factor-initiated inflammation.

INTRODUCTION: Tissue factor (TF) activation of the coagulation proteases enhances inflammation in animal models of arthritis and endotoxemia, but the mechanism of this effect is not yet fully understood - in particular, whether this is primarily due to fibrin formation or through activation of protease activated receptors (PARs). METHODS: We induced extravascular inflammation by injection of recombinant soluble murine TF (sTF1-219) in the hind paw. The effects of thrombin inhibition, fibrinogen and platelet depletion were evaluated, as well as the effects of PAR deficiency using knockout mice deficient for each of the PARs. RESULTS: Injection of soluble TF provoked a rapid onset of paw swelling. Inflammation was confirmed histologically and by increased serum IL-6 levels. Inflammation was significantly reduced by depletion of fibrinogen (P < 0.05) or platelets (P = 0.015), and by treatment with hirudin (P = 0.04) or an inhibitor of activated factor VII (P < 0.001) compared with controls. PAR-4-deficient mice exhibited significantly reduced paw swelling (P = 0.003). In contrast, a deficiency in either PAR-1, PAR-2 or PAR-3 did not affect the inflammatory response to soluble TF injection. CONCLUSION: Our results show that soluble TF induces acute inflammation through a thrombin-dependent pathway and both fibrin deposition and platelet activation are essential steps in this process. The activation of PAR-4 on platelets is crucial and the other PARs do not play a major role in soluble TF-induced inflammation.

Ultrahigh dose-rate FLASH irradiation increases the differential response between normal and tumor tissue in mice.

In vitro studies suggested that sub-millisecond pulses of radiation elicit less genomic instability than continuous, protracted irradiation at the same total dose. To determine the potential of ultrahigh dose-rate irradiation in radiotherapy, we investigated lung fibrogenesis in C57BL/6J mice exposed either to short pulses (≤ 500 ms) of radiation delivered at ultrahigh dose rate (≥ 40 Gy/s, FLASH) or to conventional dose-rate irradiation (≤ 0.03 Gy/s, CONV) in single doses. The growth of human HBCx-12A and HEp-2 tumor xenografts in nude mice and syngeneic TC-1 Luc(+) orthotopic lung tumors in C57BL/6J mice was monitored under similar radiation conditions. CONV (15 Gy) triggered lung fibrosis associated with activation of the TGF-β (transforming growth factor-β) cascade, whereas no complications developed after doses of FLASH below 20 Gy for more than 36 weeks after irradiation. FLASH irradiation also spared normal smooth muscle and epithelial cells from acute radiation-induced apoptosis, which could be reinduced by administration of systemic TNF-α (tumor necrosis factor-α) before irradiation. In contrast, FLASH was as efficient as CONV in the repression of tumor growth. Together, these results suggest that FLASH radiotherapy might allow complete eradication of lung tumors and reduce the occurrence and severity of early and late complications affecting normal tissue.

Stimulation by leptin of 3H GDP binding to brown adipose tissue of fasted but not fed rats.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the effects of intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) leptin administration on rats fed ad libitum or fasted on 3H GDP binding to brown adipose tissue (BAT). SUBJECTS: Groups of 5-6 ten-week-old male Wistar rats. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: An i.c.v. cannula was inserted and unilateral denervation of interscapular brown adipose tissue (BAT) was performed 5 d before each study. Thereafter, leptin was infused i.c.v. during 72 h while rats were fed ad libitum or fasted. Vehicle-infused, pair-fed or fasted rats were used as controls. MEASUREMENTS: 3H GDP binding to innervated and denervated BAT mitochondria. RESULTS: 3H GDP binding to innervated or denervated BAT of rats fed ab libitum compared to vehicle-infused, pair-fed rats was not increased by i.c.v. leptin. 3H GDP binding was lower in fasted than in fed rats, and the difference was larger in innervated than denervated BAT. I.c.v. leptin increased 3H GDP binding by 30% in innervated, and by 51% in denervated BAT (P < 0.05) in fasted rats. CONCLUSIONS: I.c.v. leptin does not increase 3H GDP binding to BAT of rats fed ad libitum compared to pair-fed (food-restricted) rats. In contrast, i.c.v. leptin produces a mild stimulation of 3H GDP binding to BAT of fasted rats. This effect is not mediated by the sympathetic nervous system, because it is observed in both innervated and denervated BAT. These results are compatible with the concept that, in fasting rats, the decrease in leptin secretion contributes to the reduction in 3H GDP binding to BAT mitochondria.

Precision of a new tool to measure visceral adipose tissue (VAT) using dual-energy X-Ray absorptiometry (DXA).

OBJECTIVE: A new tool to quantify visceral adipose tissue (VAT) over the android region of a total body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scan has recently been reported. The measurement, CoreScan, is currently available on Lunar iDXA densitometers. The purpose of the study was to determine the precision of the CoreScan VAT measurement, which is critical for understanding the utility of this measure in longitudinal trials. DESIGN AND METHODS: VAT precision was characterized in both an anthropomorphic imaging phantom (measured on 10 Lunar iDXA systems) and a clinical population consisting of obese women (n = 32). RESULTS: The intrascanner precision for the VAT phantom across 9 quantities of VAT mass (0-1,800 g) ranged from 28.4 to 38.0 g. The interscanner precision ranged from 24.7 to 38.4 g. There was no statistical dependence on the quantity of VAT for either the inter- or intrascanner precision result (p = 0.670). Combining inter- and intrascanner precision yielded a total phantom precision estimate of 47.6 g for VAT mass, which corresponds to a 4.8% coefficient of variance (CV) for a 1 kg VAT mass. Our clinical population, who completed replicate total body scans with repositioning between scans, showed a precision of 56.8 g on an average VAT mass of 1110.4 g. This corresponds to a 5.1% CV. Hence, the in vivo precision result was similar to the phantom precision result. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that CoreScan has a relatively low precision error in both phantoms and obese women and therefore may be a useful addition to clinical trials where interventions are targeted towards changes in visceral adiposity.