Creatinine - or cystatin C - based equations to estimate glomerular filtration in the general population: impact on the epidemiology of chronic kidney disease

in BMC Nephrology (in press)

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major issue in public health. Its prevalence has been calculated using estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by the creatinine-based equations developed in the ... [more ▼]

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major issue in public health. Its prevalence has been calculated using estimation of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by the creatinine-based equations developed in the Modified Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) and Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) study. Recently, new equations based either on cystatin C (CKD-EPI Cys) or both cystatin and creatinine (CKD-EPI mix) have been proposed by the CKD-EPI consortium. The aim of this study was to measure the difference in the prevalence of stage 3 CKD, defined as an estimated GFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2, in a population using these four equations. METHODS: CKD screening was performed in the Province of Liege, Belgium. On a voluntary basis, people aged over 50 years have been screened. GFR was estimated by the four equations. Stage 3 CKD was defined as a GFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. RESULTS: The population screened consisted of 4189 people (47% were men, mean age 63 +/- 7y). Their mean serum creatinine and plasma cystatin C levels were 0.88 +/- 0.21 mg/dL and 0.85 +/- 0.17 mg/L, respectively. The prevalence of CKD in this population using the MDRD, the CKD-EPI, the CKD-EPI Cys and the CKD-EPI mix equations was 13%, 9.8%, 4.7% and 5%, respectively. The prevalence of CKD was significantly higher with the creatinine-based (MDRD and the CKD-EPI) equations compared to the new cystatin C-based equations. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of CKD varies strongly depending on the method used to estimate GFR. Such discrepancies are of importance and must be confirmed and explained by additional studies, notably by studies using GFR measured with a reference method [less ▲]

Le Candide anglois: un cas complexe de "palimpseste"

in Les 250 ans de Candide. Lectures et relectures (in press)

Enjeux de la constitution et de l'exploitation de bases de données en sociologie de l'art et de la culture

in Globe. Revue internationale d'études québécoises (in press)

Chapter 7: Thiamine

in Zemplini, Janos; Suttie, John; Gregory, Jesse (Eds.) et al Handbook of Vitamins, 5th Edition (in press)

Third generation stellar models for asteroseismology of hot B subdwarf stars. A test of accuracy with the pulsating eclipsing binary PG 1336–018

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (in press)

Context. Asteroseismic determinations of structural parameters of hot B subdwarfs (sdB) have been carried out for more than a decade now. These analyses rely on stellar models whose reliability for the ... [more ▼]

Context. Asteroseismic determinations of structural parameters of hot B subdwarfs (sdB) have been carried out for more than a decade now. These analyses rely on stellar models whose reliability for the required task needs to be evaluated critically. Aims. We present new models of the so-called third generation (3G) dedicated to the asteroseismology of sdB stars, in particular to long-period pulsators observed from space. These parameterized models are complete static structures suitable for analyzing both p- and g-mode pulsators, contrary to the former second generation (2G) models that were limited to p-modes. While the reliability of the 2G models has been successfully verified in the past, this important test still has to be conducted on the 3G structures. Methods. The close eclipsing binary PG 1336−018 provides a unique opportunity to test the reliability of hot B subdwarf models. We compare the structural parameters of the sdB component in PG 1336−018 obtained from asteroseismology based on the 3G models, with those derived independently from the modeling of the reflection/irradiation effect and the eclipses observed in the light curve. Results. The stellar parameters inferred from asteroseismology using the 3G models are found to be remarkably consistent with both the preferred orbital solution obtained from the binary light curve modeling and the updated spectroscopic estimates for the surface gravity of the star. The seismology gives M∗ = 0.471 ± 0.006 M⊙ , R∗ = 0.1474 ± 0.0009 R⊙ , and log g = 5.775 ± 0.007, while orbitology leads to M∗ = 0.466 ± 0.006 M⊙ , R∗ = 0.15 ± 0.01 R⊙ , log g = 5.77 ± 0.06, and spectroscopy yields log g = 5.771 ± 0.015. In comparison seismology from a former analysis based on the 2G models gave very similar results with M∗ = 0.459 ± 0.005 M⊙ , R∗ = 0.151±0.001 R⊙, and log g = 5.739±0.002. We also show that the uncertainties on the input physics included in stellar models have no noticeable impact, at the current level of accuracy, on the structural parameters derived by asteroseismology. Conclusions. The stellar models (both of second and third generation) presently used to carry out quantitative seismic analyses of sdB stars are reliable for the task. The stellar parameters inferred by this technique, at least for those that could be tested (M∗, R, and log g), appear to be both very precise and accurate, as no significant systematic effect has been found. [less ▲]

Bursty magnetic reconnection at Saturn's magnetosphere

in Geophysical Research Letters (in press)

Regards croisés sur le sac de Rome: Le 'carteggio' de Francesco Guicciardini et les 'Diarii' de Marino Sanudo

in Moreno, Paola; Godinas, Laurette; Miesse, Hélène (Eds.) Encuentros/Desencuentros. Italia y España en los siglos XV y XVI: Textos y contextos. Actas del congreso internacional, UNAM-Instituto de Investigaciones bibliogràficas, 26-27 de octubre 2009 (in press)

L'article envisage de façon conjointe la correspondance de Francesco Guicciardini et les journaux de Marino Sanudo pour la période qui précède immédiatement le sac de Rome de mai 1527, moment critique où ... [more ▼]

L'article envisage de façon conjointe la correspondance de Francesco Guicciardini et les journaux de Marino Sanudo pour la période qui précède immédiatement le sac de Rome de mai 1527, moment critique où se noue un nouvel équilibre entre les forces en présence en Italie. Issus de patries ennemies que la Ligue de Cognac a assemblées autour d’un objectif commun - la défense des intérêts italiens mis à mal - la mise en perspective de leurs écrits offre un éclairage nouveau sur l’entreprise portée par Guicciardini et la perception immédiate de l’événement par les contemporains puisque cette prise rapide, qui suscita stupeur et étonnement, rendit pendant un certain temps les hommes du temps, dont Sanudo, incapables de trancher de la véracité des faits qui leur étaient rapportés. La confrontation de ces deux corpus à caractère «privé» permet en outre de mettre en évidence les disparités de jugement qui peuvent émerger, que l’on soit acteur ou spectateur de l’histoire. [less ▲]

Cholecaciferol in haemodialysis patients: a randomized, double-blind, proof-of-concept and safety study

in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation (in press)

Background. The role of cholecalciferol supplementation in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients has been questioned. The objective of this randomized double-blinded study is to assess whether ... [more ▼]

Background. The role of cholecalciferol supplementation in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients has been questioned. The objective of this randomized double-blinded study is to assess whether cholecalciferol therapy can increase serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] levels in haemodialysed patients and the safety implications of this therapy on certain biological parameters and vascular calcifications score. Methods. Forty-three haemodialysis patients were randomized to receive placebo or cholecalciferol (25 000 IU) therapy every 2 weeks. The biological parameters, serum calcium, phosphorus, 25(OH)D and parathormone (PTH) levels, were monitored monthly for 12 consecutive months. Vascular calcifications were assessed by lateral X-ray radiography. Results. At baseline, the mean serum 25(OH)D levels were low and similar in both groups. Thirty patients (16 treated and 14 placebo) completed the study: 11 patients died (5 placebo and 6 treated), 1 patient dropped out and 1 patient was transplanted (both from the placebo group). After 1 year, the percentage of 25(OH)D deficient patients was significantly lower in the treated group. None of the patients developed hypercalcaemia. The PTH levels tended to increase over the study period under placebo and to decrease in the cholecalciferol group. The median changes in PTH levels from baseline to 1 year were statistically different between the two groups [+80 (−58 to 153) and −115 (−192 to 81) under placebo and cholecalciferol treatment, respectively, P = 0.02].The calcification scores increased equivalently in both groups (+2.3 per year). Conclusions. Cholecalciferol is effective and safe, and does not negatively affect calcium, phosphorus, PTH levels and vascular calcifications. Additional studies are needed to compare the impacts of nutritional and active vitamin D agents on vascular calcification and mortality. [less ▲]

Des Blattmasken dans la Rome carolingienne. Entre remploi et imitation

in Actes du IXe Congrès de l’Association des Cercles francophones d’Histoire et d’Archéologie de Belgique (in press)

La Blattmaske ou tête végétalisée est un motif romain apparu au Ier siècle apr. J.-C. Elle ne cessa d’être utilisée dans l’univers des formes , et donc de se renouveler. Mais il est un milieu qui ... [more ▼]

La Blattmaske ou tête végétalisée est un motif romain apparu au Ier siècle apr. J.-C. Elle ne cessa d’être utilisée dans l’univers des formes , et donc de se renouveler. Mais il est un milieu qui constitue un jalon important dans l’histoire de son utilisation : la Rome de l’époque carolingienne. Après une rupture de près de quatre siècles dans la mise en oeuvre italique du motif, le remploi de fragments du temple de Sol Invictus semble en effet être à l’origine d’un certain regain d’intérêt pour le sujet dans des églises romaines du IXe siècle. Bien qu’il ne soit pas toujours aisé de distinguer des originaux antiques spoliés, parfois retravaillés, de créations médiévales, l’examen des fragments et de leur contexte permet de préciser leur origine et leur signification. [less ▲]

Les Blattmasken dans la mosaïque pariétale. Nymphées et bassins domestiques

in Actes du XIIe colloque de l’Association Internationale pour l’Etude de la Mosaïque Antique (AIEMA) (in press)

Blattmasken belong to vegetalized human figures used in parietal decoration of nymphaei and domestic ponds. Their use depends on the process of iconographic forms’ transmission already highlighted between ... [more ▼]

Blattmasken belong to vegetalized human figures used in parietal decoration of nymphaei and domestic ponds. Their use depends on the process of iconographic forms’ transmission already highlighted between the parietal mosaic, the italic mural painting of Ist century a.C. and the African ground mosaic. This transfer is discussed in the light of two cases : the House of Neptune and Amphitrite at Herculanum and the House of the Nymphs at Neapolis. The study is based on their iconographical environments and on their typology. It highlights two different symbolic conceptions of the motive. [less ▲]