Erythropoietin therapy after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation : a prospective randomised trial.

in Belgian Journal of Hematology (2013, January)

Based on the impairment of erythropoietin production after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), we previously reported in a phase-2 trial that recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO ... [more ▼]

Based on the impairment of erythropoietin production after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), we previously reported in a phase-2 trial that recombinant human erythropoietin (rhEPO) therapy was very efficient when started one month after transplantation. We also demonstrated that anemia after nonmyeloabalative (NM) HCT was less sensitive to rhEPO therapy than after conventional allogeneic HCT. This prompted us to confirm these findings in a prospective randomised trial. One hundred and thirty-one patients were randomised (1:1) between no treatment (arm 1) or erythropoietin (Neorecormon) at the dose of 500 U/kg/week (arm 2). Once the target Hb (13g/dL) has been attained, the dose of rhEPO was reduced by half, while it was withheld when Hb was = 14g/dL. Cohort A included 42 patients on day 28 after myeloablative HCT, cohort B 39 patients on day 28 after NMHCT, and cohort C 50 patients on day 0 of NMHCT. Primary endpoints included proportion of complete correctors (i.e. patients reaching Hb = 13g/dL) and median time to achieve Hb correction in each arm. The proportion of complete correctors before day 126 posttransplant was 0% in group 1A vs 52.4% in group 2A, 0% in group 1B vs 69.5% in group 2B and 19.1% in group 1C vs 70.2% in group 2C. Median time to achieve Hb = 13g/dL was not reached in group 1B vs 49 days in group 2B; 363 and 59 days in groups 1A and 1B respectively and 363 and 87 days in groups 3A and 3B respectively (figure 1). Hb evolution in each group is shown in figure 2. Seventyone patients (47/62 in control groups and 24/57 in treated groups, p=0.0003) required red blood cell transfusions. The difference was most pronounced in cohort B. There was no difference in rates of thrombo-embolic events or other complications between the two arms. In conclusion, this is the first trial to demonstrate that EPO therapy hastens erythroid recovery and decreases transfusion requirements when started one month after allogeneic HCT. [less ▲]

Differences in inflammasome activation between metabolically healthy and unhealthy obese individuals

Poster (2013, January)

Abus de droit et troubles de voisinage : les liaisons dangereuses ?

Scientific conference (2013, January)

A Global Approach to Mutual Funds Market Timing Ability

in Journal of Empirical Finance (2013)

• We propose a generalized specification to study market timing. Instead of considering an average market exposure for mutual funds, we allow mutual fund market betas to follow a random walk in the ... [more ▼]

• We propose a generalized specification to study market timing. Instead of considering an average market exposure for mutual funds, we allow mutual fund market betas to follow a random walk in the absence of market timing ability. As a consequence, we capture market exposure dynamics which is effectively due to manager market timing skills while allowing exposure dynamics to come from other sources than market timing. • We find that on average 6% of mutual funds display return market timing abilities while this percentage amounts to respectively 13% and 14% for volatility and liquidity market timing. We also analyse market timing by investment strategies and for surviving and dead funds. Dead fund exhibit lower volatility and liquidity timing skills than live funds. [less ▲]

The swelling behaviour of wheat starch granules during isothermal and non-isothermal treatments

in Journal of Food Engineering (2013), 114(2), 199-206

The size of wheat starch granules was measured during isothermal and non-isothermal treatments and fitted using mathematical models in order to elucidate the time–temperatures dependence of the swelling ... [more ▼]

The size of wheat starch granules was measured during isothermal and non-isothermal treatments and fitted using mathematical models in order to elucidate the time–temperatures dependence of the swelling phenomenon and to improve our understanding of the mechanism followed by granules during gelatinization. Upon the onset temperature of gelatinization, starch granules size increase rapidly and tend to reach equilibrium values that depend on the temperature and heating rate applied. The most accurate fitting of granule size observed overall isothermal treatments was obtained with the third-order kinetic and the Weibull empirical models. The activation energy of swelling calculated for isothermal treatment varied between 41 and 318 kJ mol 1, depending on the mathematical model considered. Therefore, without a consensus on the mechanism and order of reaction followed during gelatinization, the meaningful of kinetic parameters calculated using mathematical models seems highly questionable. During non-isothermal treatments at lower heating rate, it seems like a limitation of the swelling capacity of granules was induced. This phenomenon was attributed to restructuration occurred inside of granules. So, forecasting the swelling behaviour of starch granules during non-isothermal treatment has to consider both the time–temperature and the heating rate applied. [less ▲]

Identification and validation of CRSS values for Ti6Al4V alloy

Conference (2013, January)

A bone remodeling model for long term orthodontic tooth movement.

Conference (2013, January)

Morphometric analyses of the body and the branches of the normal third interosseous muscle (suspensory ligament) in Standardbreds

in Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia (2013)

The third interosseous muscle (suspensory ligament, TIOM) is composed of connective tissue (CT) with a variable proportion of muscle (MT) and adipose tissue (AT). The aim of our study is to quantify the ... [more ▼]

The third interosseous muscle (suspensory ligament, TIOM) is composed of connective tissue (CT) with a variable proportion of muscle (MT) and adipose tissue (AT). The aim of our study is to quantify the CT, MT and AT within the body and the branches of right thoracic and pelvic limbs TIOM in sound horses to determine whether there are differences in CT, MT and AT between age, sex, limbs and levels. Right limbs from 11 sound horses were collected. Samples from 6 levels of the TIOM were embedded in paraffin or in Tissue-Tek®. Most of the paraffin sections were shredded. Using the cryosection, some artefacts appeared. Cryoprotection was carried out, which produced the best results. Hematoxylin–phloxine–saffron and Hematoxylin–eosin gave a good contrast of colours between the tissues observed allowing the use of an image analysis programme to calculate percentage of each tissue within the TIOM. The percentage of MT and AT decreased significantly (P < 0.0001), whereas the percentage of CT increased significantly (P < 0.0001) with age and when descending from the proximal to the distal level of the TIOM. The percentage of MT was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in females than males, while the percentage of CT was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in males than females. The percentage of AT was significantly higher (P = 0.0278) in pelvic limbs than in thoracic limbs. These results confirm the variation in tissue composition within the TIOM of sound horses. [less ▲]

Pour et contre le Parnasse. De Gautier aux symbolistes

in Nouvelle Revue Pédagogique (NRP Lycée) (2013), n° 53

La question des querelles en littérature a, au cours des dernières années, suscité un intérêt certain, ce dont témoigne le regain de publications relatives au sujet. Encore faut-il constater que cette ... [more ▼]

La question des querelles en littérature a, au cours des dernières années, suscité un intérêt certain, ce dont témoigne le regain de publications relatives au sujet. Encore faut-il constater que cette problématique semble parfois se suffire à elle-même et que sa dimension plaisante agrémente des études littéraires quelquefois tenues pour revêches. Pourtant, sans minimiser la valeur divertissante de l’anecdote, on ne saurait assez souligner l’importance effective des mouvements d’opposition, des fractures et autres dissensions qui dynamisent la vie littéraire autant qu’elles en définissent les conditions à une époque donnée, modifiant en cela les manières d’être, d’agir et de penser des individus évoluant dans cet univers. Il demeure, au sujet de ces querelles littéraires, de nombreuses enquêtes à mener, qui tiennent autant à leur rôle socialisateur, créatif et dynamisant, qu’aux formes dans lesquelles elles prennent corps, aux raisons qui les motivent, aux articulations qu’elles permettent entre l’individuel et le collectif, voire aux ressources rhétoriques qui les sous-tendent, dans les œuvres ou dans les discours parallèles accompagnant celles-ci. Pour illustrer la façon dont ce questionnement peut s’élaborer, nous proposons ici un parcours en amont et en aval de la nébuleuse parnassienne, dont l’origine se trouve au mitan du XIXe siècle. Les revendications esthétiques afférentes ont engagé diverses formes de querelles qui, de la préface à l’œuvre, offrent l’occasion d’examiner autant les vecteurs et les supports de ces positionnements, que les dynamiques de concorde qu’ils impliquent, avec et contre eux. [less ▲]

Iterative ecological radiation and convergence during the evolutionary history of damselfishes (Pomacentridae)

in American naturalist (2013), 181(1), 94-113

Coral reef fishes represent one of the most spectacularly diverse assemblages of vertebrates on the planet, but our understand- ing of their mode of diversification remains limited. Here we test whether ... [more ▼]

Coral reef fishes represent one of the most spectacularly diverse assemblages of vertebrates on the planet, but our understand- ing of their mode of diversification remains limited. Here we test whether the diversity of the damselfishes (Pomacentridae), one of the most species-rich families of reef-associated fishes, was produced by a single or multiple adaptive radiation(s) during their evolutionary history. Tests of the tempo of lineage diversification using a time-calibrated phylogeny including 208 species revealed that crown pomacentrid diversification has not slowed through time as expected under a scenario of a single adaptive radiation resulting from an early burst of diversification. Evolutionary modeling of trophic traits similarly rejected the hypothesis of early among-lineage partitioning of ecologically important phenotypic diversity. Instead, damselfishes are shown to have experienced iterative convergent radiations wherein subclades radiate across similar trophic strategies (i.e., pelagic feeders, benthic feeders, intermediate) and morphologies. Regionalization of coral reefs, competition, and functional constraints may have fueled iterative ecological radiation and convergent evolution of damselfishes. Through the Pomacentridae, we illustrate that radiations may be strongly structured by the nature of the constraints on diversification. [less ▲]