Zinc intake, status and indices of cognitive function in adults and children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

In developing countries, deficiencies of micronutrients are thought to have a major impact on child development; however, a consensus on the specific relationship between dietary zinc intake and cognitive function remains elusive. The aim of this systematic review was to examine the relationship between zinc intake, status and indices of cognitive function in children and adults. A systematic literature search was conducted using EMBASE, MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases from inception to March 2014. Included studies were those that supplied zinc as supplements or measured dietary zinc intake. A meta-analysis of the extracted data was performed where sufficient data were available. Of all of the potentially relevant papers, 18 studies met the inclusion criteria, 12 of which were randomised controlled trials (RCTs; 11 in children and 1 in adults) and 6 were observational studies (2 in children and 4 in adults). Nine of the 18 studies reported a positive association between zinc intake or status with one or more measure of cognitive function. Meta-analysis of data from the adult’s studies was not possible because of limited number of studies. A meta-analysis of data from the six RCTs conducted in children revealed that there was no significant overall effect of zinc intake on any indices of cognitive function: intelligence, standard mean difference of <0.001 (95% confidence interval (CI) –0.12, 0.13) P=0.95; executive function, standard mean difference of 0.08 (95% CI, –0.06, 022) P=0.26; and motor skills standard mean difference of 0.11 (95% CI –0.17, 0.39) P=0.43. Heterogeneity in the study designs was a major limitation, hence only a small number (n=6) of studies could be included in the meta-analyses. Meta-analysis failed to show a significant effect of zinc supplementation on cognitive functioning in children though, taken as a whole, there were some small indicators of improvement on aspects of executive function and motor development following supplementation but high-quality RCTs are necessary to investigate this further

Using MeDLey for the Grid-Decomposition Methods

Colloque avec actes et comité de lecture. internationaleExplicit parallelism relies on transmissions of messages between processes. However, as workstations are not intended to manage this kind of communications, it is necessary to use communication libraries, known as Message Passing. Currently, only MPI (Message Passing Interface) is still used, and its use became more complexe. In order to solve this problem, a new language called MeDLey was developed, its purpose is to allow to the users an easier parallelism programming based on communications using Message Passing. In this paper, we will first overview the basics of the MeDLey syntax and semantics, before talking about the extension part of this language for the grid-decomposition methods

Using MeDLey to resolve the Vlasov equation

Colloque avec actes et comité de lecture.Explicit parallelism relies on transmissions of messages between processes. However, as workstations are not intended to manage this kind of communications, it is necessary to use communication libraries, known as Message Passing. Currently, only MPI (Message Passing Interface) is still used, and its use became more complex. In order to solve this problem, a new language called MeDLey was developed, its purpose is to allow to the users an easier parallelism programming based on communications using Message Passing. In this paper, we will first overview the basics of the MeDLey syntax and semantics, before talking about the experimentation part of this language. This work is completed within team RESEDAS (Computer networks and Distributed systems) with the LORIA and INRIA Lorraine within the framework of a collaboration with the CCH (Lorraine Center of Competence in Modeling and Calculation with High Performance)

Experimentation and Extension of a Specification Language of the Communications for Distributed Computation

Explicit parallelism relies on transmissions of messages between processes. However, as workstations are not intended to manage this kind of communications, it is necessary to use communication libraries, known as Message Passing, which ensure data exchanges between parallel tasks of a same application. Currently, only MPI (Message Passing Interface) is still used, and its use became more complex. In order to solve this problem, a new language called MeDLey was developed ; its purpose is to allow the users an easier parallelism programming based on communications using Message Passing. MeDLey is an attempt to provide an abstract language to specify the communications of a distributed application independently from any current underlying communication layer. Based on this specification, a MeDLey compiler will generate several levels of implementation for all communication primitives : a first implementation based on PVM or MPI code, and a second one, more specific, more efficient, directly implemented on top of a network layer, or a more specific communication layer (active messages, shared memory, e.g.) to bypass the overhead introduced by message passing libraries. As for any data-processing tool, the experimentation of the MeDLey language was of obvious need, therefore the topic of this work whose aim initially is to experiment this language on real example, then to propose some extensions which prove to be necessary in the applications based on communications by Message Passing. This work is completed within team RESEDAS (Computer networks and Distributed systems) with the CRIN-CNRS & INRIA Lorraine within the framework of a collaboration with the Center Charles Hermite (Lorraine Center of Competence in Modeling and Calculation with High Performance). In this paper, we will first overview the basics of the MeDLey syntax and semantics, before talking about the experimentation and extension parts of this language

Comparative Oncogenomic Analysis of Copy Number Alterations in Human and Zebrafish Tumors Enables Cancer Driver Discovery

The identification of cancer drivers is a major goal of current cancer research. Finding driver genes within large chromosomal events is especially challenging because such alterations encompass many genes. Previously, we demonstrated that zebrafish malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are highly aneuploid, much like human tumors. In this study, we examined 147 zebrafish MPNSTs by massively parallel sequencing and identified both large and focal copy number alterations (CNAs). Given the low degree of conserved synteny between fish and mammals, we reasoned that comparative analyses of CNAs from fish versus human MPNSTs would enable elimination of a large proportion of passenger mutations, especially on large CNAs. We established a list of orthologous genes between human and zebrafish, which includes approximately two-thirds of human protein-coding genes. For the subset of these genes found in human MPNST CNAs, only one quarter of their orthologues were co-gained or co-lost in zebrafish, dramatically narrowing the list of candidate cancer drivers for both focal and large CNAs. We conclude that zebrafish-human comparative analysis represents a powerful, and broadly applicable, tool to enrich for evolutionarily conserved cancer drivers.Kathy and Curt Marble Cancer Research FundArthur C. MerrillNational Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant CA106416)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant ROI RR020833)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (Grant 1F32GM095213-01

Cracking the BAFF code.

The tumour necrosis factor (TNF) family members B cell activating factor (BAFF) and APRIL (a proliferation-inducing ligand) are crucial survival factors for peripheral B cells. An excess of BAFF leads to the development of autoimmune disorders in animal models, and high levels of BAFF have been detected in the serum of patients with various autoimmune conditions. In this Review, we consider the possibility that in mice autoimmunity induced by BAFF is linked to T cell-independent B cell activation rather than to a severe breakdown of B cell tolerance. We also outline the mechanisms of BAFF signalling, the impact of ligand oligomerization on receptor activation and the progress of BAFF-depleting agents in the clinical setting

Comparison of spontaneous with controlled mode of ventilation in tonsillectomy

Methods: This randomized study compares spontaneous versus controlled ventilation in 60 ASA I and II patients undergoing tonsillectomy as regards haemodynamic stability, recovery characteristics, intra- and immediate postoperative complications and surgical impressions.Results: The patients in the balanced anaesthesia (B) group showed less haemodynamic variability compared to baseline after tracheal intubation, mouth gag application and removal and incision. Two patients had dysrhythmias in the B group compared to six in the spontaneous breathing (S) group. Six patients in the S group had a rise in endtidal carbon dioxide concentration above 7.8 kPa (60 mmHg). Recovery scores were higher in the B group at 10 and 20 min into recovery. The surgical impression of bleeding and jaw relaxation was similar with both groups. The incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting and agitation was higher in the S group but did not achieve statistical significance.CONCLUSION: Use of balanced anaesthesia offered more haemodynamic stability and a rapid recovery

Short-Lived Trace Gases in the Surface Ocean and the Atmosphere

The two-way exchange of trace gases between the ocean and the atmosphere is important for both the chemistry and physics of the atmosphere and the biogeochemistry of the oceans, including the global cycling of elements. Here we review these exchanges and their importance for a range of gases whose lifetimes are generally short compared to the main greenhouse gases and which are, in most cases, more reactive than them. Gases considered include sulphur and related compounds, organohalogens, non-methane hydrocarbons, ozone, ammonia and related compounds, hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Finally, we stress the interactivity of the system, the importance of process understanding for modeling, the need for more extensive field measurements and their better seasonal coverage, the importance of inter-calibration exercises and finally the need to show the importance of air-sea exchanges for global cycling and how the field fits into the broader context of Earth System Science

T-replete cord transplants give superior outcomes in high risk and relapsed/refractory paediatric myeloid malignancy

Stem cell transplant (SCT) outcomes in high-risk (HR) and relapsed/refractory (R/R) paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) have been poor historically. Cord blood allows T-cell replete transplant (TRCB), enabling enhanced graft-versus-leukaemia. We collected data from 367 consecutive patients undergoing TRCB (112 patients) or other cell source (255 patients) SCT for paediatric AML/MDS in the UK and Ireland between January 2014 and December 2021. Data was collected about patient's demographics, disease and its treatment including previous transplant, measurable residual disease (MRD) status at transplant, HLA-match, relapse, death, graft versus host disease (GvHD) and transplant-related mortality (TRM). Univariable and multivariable analyses were undertaken. There was a higher incidence of poor prognosis features in the TRCB cohort: 51.4% patients were MRD positive at transplant, 46.4% had refractory disease and 21.4% had relapsed after a previous SCT, compared with 26.1%, 8.6% and 5.1% respectively in the comparator group (all p <0.001). Within the TRCB cohort, Event Free Survival (EFS) was 64.1%, 50% in MRD positive patients and 79% in MRD negative (p= 0.009). To allow for the imbalance in baseline characteristics, a multivariable analysis was performed: the TRCB cohort had significantly improved EFS (0.57[0.35-0.91], p=0.019), time to relapse (0.46[0.26-0.81), p=0.008), and reduced chronic GVHD (HR 0.28 [95% CI 0.11-0.70]; p=0.007), with some evidence of improved Overall Survival (OS) (0.65[0.39-1.07], p = 0.088). The effect appeared similar regardless of MRD status, (interaction p-value= 0.29). CB transplant without serotherapy may be the optimal transplant option for children with myeloid malignancy