Nicotinic acid- and monomethyl fumarate-induced flushing involves GPR109A expressed by keratinocytes and COX-2-dependent prostanoid formation in mice.

in Journal of Clinical Investigation (2010), 120(8), 2910-9

The antidyslipidemic drug nicotinic acid and the antipsoriatic drug monomethyl fumarate induce cutaneous flushing through activation of G protein-coupled receptor 109A (GPR109A). Flushing is a troublesome ... [more ▼]

The antidyslipidemic drug nicotinic acid and the antipsoriatic drug monomethyl fumarate induce cutaneous flushing through activation of G protein-coupled receptor 109A (GPR109A). Flushing is a troublesome side effect of nicotinic acid, but may be a direct reflection of the wanted effects of monomethyl fumarate. Here we analyzed the mechanisms underlying GPR109A-mediated flushing and show that both Langerhans cells and keratinocytes express GPR109A in mice. Using cell ablation approaches and transgenic cell type-specific GPR109A expression in Gpr109a-/- mice, we have provided evidence that the early phase of flushing depends on GPR109A expressed on Langerhans cells, whereas the late phase is mediated by GPR109A expressed on keratinocytes. Interestingly, the first phase of flushing was blocked by a selective cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) inhibitor, and the late phase was sensitive to a selective COX-2 inhibitor. Both monomethyl fumarate and nicotinic acid induced PGE2 formation in isolated keratinocytes through activation of GPR109A and COX-2. Thus, the early and late phases of the GPR109A-mediated cutaneous flushing reaction involve different epidermal cell types and prostanoid-forming enzymes. These data will help to guide new efficient approaches to mitigate nicotinic acid-induced flushing and may help to exploit the potential antipsoriatic effects of GPR109A agonists in the skin. [less ▲]

The Report of Wenanum : a Journey in Ancient Egyptian Literature

in Collier, M. (Ed.) Festchrift to K.A.K Kitchen (2010)

The neural basis of personal goal processing when envisioning future events

in Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience (2010), 22

Abstract Episodic future thinking allows humans to mentally simulate virtually infinite future possibilities, yet this device is fundamentally goal-directed and should not be equated with fantasizing or ... [more ▼]

Abstract Episodic future thinking allows humans to mentally simulate virtually infinite future possibilities, yet this device is fundamentally goal-directed and should not be equated with fantasizing or wishful thinking. The purpose of this functional magnetic resonance imaging study was to investigate the neural basis of such goal-directed processing during future-event simulation. Participants were scanned while they imagined future events that were related to their personal goals (personal future events) and future events that were plausible but unrelated to their personal goals (nonpersonal future events). Results showed that imaging personal future events elicited stronger activation in ventral medial prefrontal cortex (MPFC) and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) compared to imaging nonpersonal future events. Moreover, these brain activations overlapped with activations elicited by a second task that assessed semantic self-knowledge (i.e., making judgments on one's own personality traits), suggesting that ventral MPFC and PCC mediate self-referential processing across different functional domains. It is suggested that these brain regions may support a collection of processes that evaluate, code, and contextualize the relevance of mental representations with regard to personal goals. The implications of these findings for the understanding of the function instantiated by the default network of the brain are also discussed. [less ▲]

Cysteamine supplementation of in vitro maturation media: a review.

in Reproduction in Domestic Animals (2010), 45(6), 476-82

Under in vitro culture conditions, oxidative modifications of cell components via increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) represent a major culture induced stress. Anti-oxidant systems such as glutathione ... [more ▼]

Under in vitro culture conditions, oxidative modifications of cell components via increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) represent a major culture induced stress. Anti-oxidant systems such as glutathione (GSH) can attenuate the deleterious effects of oxidative stress by scavenging ROS. It has been suggested that GSH content in oocytes may serve as a reservoir protecting the zygote and the early embryos from oxidative damage before genomic activation and de novo GSH synthesis occur. Addition of low molecular weight compounds to culture media, such as cysteamine, can increase GSH levels by increasing cysteine uptake. Quite naturally, effects of supplementation of in vitro maturation (IVM) media with low molecular weight thiols have been studied in various species. This article reviews the use of cysteamine supplementation for IVM, its effects on maturation rates and further embryo development. [less ▲]

Symbole et politique dans le Croissant des larmes de José Tshisungu wa Tshisungu

in Vanhaegendoren, Koen (Ed.) Esthétique et politique. Autour de l’œuvre littéraire de José Tshisungu wa Tshisungu (2010)

Initiation au droit des marchés publics

Conference given outside the academic context (2010)

Mixed symmetric baryon multiplets in large $N_c$ QCD: two and three flavours

in Bled Workshops in Physics (2010), 11(1), 37-43

We propose a new method to study mixed symmetric multiplets of baryons in the context of the $1/N_c$ expansion approach. The simplicity of the method allows to better understand the role of various ... [more ▼]

We propose a new method to study mixed symmetric multiplets of baryons in the context of the $1/N_c$ expansion approach. The simplicity of the method allows to better understand the role of various operators acting on spin and flavour degrees of freedom. The method is tested on two and three flavours. It is shown that the spin and flavour operators proportional to the quadratic invariants of SU$_S$(2) and SU$_F$(3) respectively are dominant in the mass formula. [less ▲]

Magnetic susceptibility and cyclic arrangements from the late Devonian (Frasnian) Hull platform, Canning Basin, Australia.

in Travaux de Geophysiques (2010), XXXIX

Stromatoporoids paleoecology from the Frasnian (Upper Devonian) of Southern Belgium.

in International Palaeontological Congress, Programme and Abstracts (2010)

Social Enterprise

in Hart, Keith; Laville, Jean-Louis; Cattani, David (Eds.) The Human Economy. A Citizen’s Guide (2010)