Episodes of violence suffered by migrants transiting Libya, Italy and France

Background

The Central Mediterranean is one of the most dangerous migration routes from Africa. Violence perpetrated to migrants in Libya and host countries has been documented but not rigorously quantified. The objective of the study was to estimate the prevalence of violence suffered in Libya, Italy and France by migrants consulting Médecins du Monde programs.

Methods

Monocentric cross-sectional study. Inclusion criteria: migrants over 18 years old, transiting through Libya, arrived in Europe from 2017 and consulting in Saint Denis Health Center. Exclusion criteria: psycotraumatic manifestations. A sample size of 72 individuals was calculated. An ad-hoc questionnaire was created through Kobo Collect. Proportion and frequency of physical, privation and sexual violence, as well as health care and shelter access were measured in each country.

Results

95 individuals were recruited and 72 were interviewed (16 refused 7 were excluded) from February to April 2019. 76.3% were men, mean age was 31.6 years, 76.4% had low educational level, 66.7% were from Ivory Coast and 58.3% left their country for security reasons. In Libya, length of stay was 180 days, global proportion of individuals suffering from violence (GPISV) was 98.1% for men and 88.2% for women. Prevalence of physical, privation and sexual violence was 94.1%, 84.3% and 17.6% for men, and 85.7%, 93.3% and 60.0% for women. Health care access in Libya was inexistent. In Italy, GPISV was 31.8% for men and 28.5% for women. Health care access was 41.4%. In France, GPISV was 20.0% for men and 12.5% for women and shelter access was 44.3%. 60.3% of the participants reported need of psychological support.

Conclusions

The vast majority of migrants testify suffering from direct violence during migration, specially dramatic in Libya. Women have a particular risk of sexual violence. In Europe, the main problems are the lack of health care access in Italy and precarious living conditions in France. Mental health support is urgent.

Key messages

The vast majority of migrants testify suffering from direct violence during migration, specially dramatic in Libya. In Europe, the main problems are related to lack of health care access in Italy and the precarious living conditions in France. Mental health support is urgent.

Sci-Fri AM: Imaging - 09: Serial estimation of cross-talk for correction in dual-isotope imaging with dynamic tracers

The recent radioisotope shortage has led to interest in non-Tc99m-based tracers. We have developed a novel I-123-labelled myocardial perfusion imaging tracer. We compare the I123-tracer to the clinical standard of Tc99m tetrofosmin in vivo in a rat model using a small-animal SPECT/CT camera. SPECT distinguishes different isotopes based on the different energies of the emitted gamma rays and thus allows simultaneous comparison of two tracer distributions in the same animal. Dual-isotope imaging is complicated by cross-talk between the energy windows of the isotopes. Standard energy-window-based correction methods are difficult to employ because of the proximity in energy of Tc99m (140keV) and I123 (159keV). Imaging the second tracer's energy window prior to its injection provides an estimate of the cross-talk. However, this estimate is only accurate if the tracer distribution is static. We use serial imaging prior to the introduction of the second tracer to estimate the dynamics of the first tracer and interpolate the cross-talk images to provide a more accurate correction. We used rat models of myocardial disease (n=3). I123 tracer was injected and imaged for one hour at 20min intervals. The Tc99m tetrofosmin was then injected and 30min later, a dual-isotope image was obtained. The impact of this approach is assessed by comparing the differences in the Tc99m-tetrofosmin image using this method with correction by simple correction for physical decay. The interpolative approach improves the accuracy of the correction by 2%-5% and thereby enhances the comparison of the two tracers.

A new 1-hydroxy-2,6-pyrazinedione associated with hypovirulent isolates of Sclerotinia minor

A new 1-hydroxy-2,6-pyrazinedione, sclerominol (1), was isolated from cultures of hypovirulent isolates of Sclerotinia minor, a fungal plant pathogen associated with lettuce drop and other plant diseases. This compound was characterized by NMR, mass spectrometry, and X-ray crystallography. One other 1-hydroxy-2,6-pyrazinedione, flutimide, has been reported. Flutimide has activity as an inhibitor of influenza virus endonuclease, and therefore, sclerominol was evaluated for related biological activity. Sclerominol (1) displayed some activity against cancer cell lines but little activity against three influenza virus strains. The role of 1 in the physiology of hypovirulent isolates of S. minor has not been determined, but 1 has also been recovered from debilitated isolates of S. sclerotiorum.

Pancreatic transplantation in experimental non-insulin-dependent diabetic rats

The effect of pancreatic transplantation on noninsulin -dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) had not been evaluated in animal models. We assessed its impact by the insulin-glucose clamp study in experimental diabetic rats. NIDDM was induced in Lewis female rats by streptozocin at the age of 5 days (n5-STZ). To determine its effect on insulin sensitivity, we measured the glucose turnover rate and performed euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp studies, evaluating hepatic glucose production (HGP) and glucose uptake. This assessment was conducted on 5 groups of 6 female Lewis rats: 2 groups n5-STZ tested at the age of 10 and 14 weeks, respectively; 2 normal age-matched groups; and a fifth group (n5-STZ) transplanted at 10 weeks of age and tested at 14 weeks. Heterotopic pancreaticoduodenal transplantation was performed, using an end-to-side anastomosis between the donor celiac artery and portal vein to the recipient infrarenal aorta and vena cava, respectively. Pancreatic drainage was achieved by an end-to-side duodenojejunostomy. At 10 weeks of age, diabetic n5-STZ rats showed decreased body weight, hyperglycemia, moderate insulinopenia, a significantly higher basal HGP as compared with normal controls (28.5 +/- 10 vs. 10.7 +/- 4 mg/kg/minute, P<0.05), and ineffective suppression of the HGP by the insulin infusion. Glycemia, body weight, and basal HGP were normalized in the transplanted group and were statistically similar to age-matched normal controls. HGP was totally suppressed by the insulin infusion. However, the blood insulin level remained significantly higher than in the normal groups (P<0.05). We conclude that n5-STZ is a reliable model of NIDDM and that pancreatic transplantation, without immunosuppressive drugs in this isogenic line, corrects all tested parameters of glucose homeostasis and improves insulin sensitivity.

[Is there a role for pancreas transplantation in the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus? Experimental study]

There is no experimental basis for transplantation of the pancreas in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. We compared results in normal and grafted non-insulino-dependent Lewis rats. A heterotopic pancreatico-duodenal graft was implanted with end-to-side anastomosis of the coeliac artery and the portal vein of the donner on the infrarenal aorta and inferior vena cava of the recipient. The diabetic rats showed weight loss, high blood glucose levels (3.30 +/- 1.25 milligrams), moderate insulinopenia and significantly elevated liver production of glucose. Glycaemia, weight and liver production of glucose were the same as those in the group of normal animals. We concluded that transplantation of the pancreas in an isogenic model without immunosuppression can correct glucose levels and insulino-resistance. It could be suggested in man.

Novel O-C-C-O and C-O-C-C stereochemistry in crown ether analogs. X-ray crystal structure and NMR studies of dibenzo-20-crown-6

The X-ray crystal structure of the title material indicates that the molecule possesses a pseudo-centre of inversion. A pair of O-C-C-O bonds have a trans conformation in contrast to normal gauche stereochemistry for such units in crown ethers. For the C-O-C-C networks, which are normally transoid in crown ethers, all four such units involving methylene carbons of the 20-membered ring exhibit unusual geometries. Two units possess gauche conformations and the other two have torsion angles near 120°. Solution 1H and 13C NMR spectra have been recorded as a function of temperature and 13C solid state spectra are included. Keywords: crown ether, solid state conformation.

Electronic effects on crown ether conformation. X-ray crystal structure and 13C NMR study in solution and the solid phase of 4-nitrobenzo-9-crown-3 ether

The X-ray crystal structure of the title material has been determined and the results are compared to previous findings for benzo-9-crown-3 itself. The 13C NMR spectrum in solution has been unambiguously assigned using COSY and HETCOR methods. The solid phase 13C spectrum has been obtained and the 7, 10-d4 derivative has been examined to aid in spectral assignments.

Human lupus anti-DNA autoantibodies undergo essentially primary V kappa gene rearrangements

We have recently characterized the heavy chain variable region (VH) genes expressed by a panel of human anti-DNA antibodies derived from four patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and expressing an idiotypic marker representative of a subset of pathogenic autoantibodies. Here, we have cloned and sequenced the kappa chain variable region genes (V kappa) of the clones whose VH genes had been previously analysed. All the V kappa genes utilized map to the 280 kb portion of the 3' end of the locus, suggesting that they represent essentially the products of primary rearrangements. This proximal clustering of the V kappa genes used contrasts with the broad distribution of immunization-induced human antibody V kappa genes over 1400 kb of the locus. In addition, lupus autoantibodies show no tendency to express the downstream junctional (J kappa) exons--another indication of infrequent secondary variable gene assembly. Since successive rearrangements may extinguish high-affinity recognition of self antigens, we propose that this bias in V kappa and J kappa expression reflects a low rate of secondary light chain rearrangements among lupus autoantibodies. We also postulate that the corrective mechanism capable of editing potentially aggressive, self-reactive antibodies in these patients may be deficient--a deficit that could be genetically determined and/or somatically acquired.

Benzo-9-crown-3 ether: X-ray crystal structure, NMR studies in solution and the solid phase, and ab initio calculations of isotropic 13C chemical shifts using LORG with a D95V basis set

Using the X-ray crystal geometry as input, the 13C NMR chemical shifts of benzo-9-crown-3 ether have been calculated via ab initio methods using a localized orbital local origin (LORG) approach. Reasonable agreement is found between the calculated values for an isolated molecule in the gas phase and those obtained in the 13C CPMAS NMR spectrum. Solid phase 13C spectra of the C7,10-d4 derivative confirm the existence of a 7.9 ppm shift difference between these sites in the solid, whereas in solution they are conformationally averaged to one resonance. The effects of C—H bond length variation on calculated 13C shifts have been explored.

cis-Cyclohexano-9-crown-3 ether. Solid state and low-temperature solution stereochemistry as determined by X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

The X-ray crystal structure of the title material has been determined at −130 °C. Low-temperature 1H1H COSY, 13C1H HETCOR, and DEPT 13C NMR spectra have been recorded, which permit unambiguous assignments of all carbon resonances when ring inversion is slow on the NMR timescale. The limiting low-temperature solution phase 13C spectrum has many common features with the solid phase 13C CPMAS spectrum recorded at 300 K. Spectra for the 7,10-tetra-deuterio derivative have also been obtained and substituent influences on 13C shieldings are discussed in detail.

The sodium perchlorate complex of cis-syn-cis dicyclohexano-24-crown-8 ether. X-ray crystal structure and solution conformations as studied by variable temperature 13C NMR spectroscopy at 125 MHz. An example of eight-coordinate sodium

The major isomer obtained by hydrogenation of dibenzo-24-crown-8 ether is shown to have the cis-syn-cis configuration as determined from the crystal structure of its sodium perchlorate complex. This material possesses eight-coordinate sodium with Na—O distances ranging from 2.54 to 2.78 Å. The complex is shown to exist in a single asymmetric conformation below 240 K as determined by 13C NMR at 125 MHz. From NMR coalescence temperature measurement, the free energy of activation for cyclohexane ring inversion in this complex has been determined to be 51.0 ± 0.6 kJ/mol.

The 18-crown-6.2 chloroacetonitrile complex. X-ray crystal structure and solid phase motions of guest and host as studied by variable temperature 13C CPMAS NMR spectroscopy

The title complex has two distinct 18-crown-6 moieties of approximate D3d symmetry in the unit cell. The 45.3 MHz 13C CPMAS spectra have two regions of broadening for the crown ether carbons. At high temperatures a dipolar washout mechanism is operative, leading to broadening when molecular motion has a correlation time approximately equal to the inverse of the decoupling field. At lower temperatures broadening occurs when the motional correlation time is equal to the inverse of the chemical shift difference. The activation energy for 18-crown-6 reorientation in this solid is calculated to be ca. 48 kJ/mol. For the chloroacetonitrile, the CH2 carbon also shows dipolar washout, but at a temperature much lower than the 18-crown-6. The activation energy for reorientation for this "guest species" is ca. 42 kJ/mol.

Stereochemistry of crown ethers, X-ray crystallographic structures, solid phase 13C NMR, and solution conformational equilibria in cis-syn-cis dicyclohexano-15-crown-5 ether and its sodium thiocyanate complex

The structures of the title materials have been determined via X-ray crystallography. In the free crown ether, there is effectively a plane of symmetry that bisects the molecule. In the NaNCS complex, ring inversion of one of the cyclo-hexane moieties has occurred, giving a distorted pentagonal pyramidal coordination geometry about the sodium ion. For the free crown, two conformers, whose free energies differ by ca. 0.5 kJ / mol in solution can be detected via 13C NMR at 168 K. Limiting low-temperature solution spectra are compared to those which have been obtained in the solid phase using the 13C CPMAS technique.

Key words: crown ethers, stereochemistry, X-ray, NMR.

The structure of the tetrachlorohydroxotellurate(IV) anion in KTeCl4(OH)•0.5H2O and KTeCl4(OH)

Three compounds containing the tetrachlorohydroxotellurate(IV) anion, [Formula: see text] K[TeCl4(OH)]•0.5H2O, and K[TeCl4(OH)], have been prepared. The crystal structure of K[TeCl4(OH)]•0.5H2O has been determined. The structure contains isolated square pyramidal TeCl4(OH)− anions with OH axial. Vibrational spectroscopy shows that [Formula: see text] and K[TeCl4(OH)]•0.5H2O both contain isolated anions but that, in K[TeCl4(OH)], the anion is polymerized with chloride bridging. The hydroxo group, like the fluoro group, acts to hinder coordination at the site trans to it on Te(IV). Key words: tellurium(IV) complexes, chlorotellurate(IV), X-ray structure, vibrational spectroscopy.

Dibenzo-15-crown-5 ether and its sodium thiocyanate complex. X-ray crystallographic and NMR studies in the solid phase and in solution

For the title systems, single crystal X-ray data indicate the presence of totally asymmetric structures. These features are reflected in the multiplicity of resonances in the solid phase 13C NMR spectra. Some of the 13C chemical shift trends are analyzed in terms of torsional angle influences. In solution, resonance assignments have been made with the aid of 2D methods. Stereochemical inferences are drawn from NOESY spectra and 1H–1H couplings. Low temperature solution experiments indicate that conformational interconversions in both the free ligand and the NaNCS complex are rapid on the NMR timescale down to 163 K. Key words: crown ethers, NMR, stereochemistry.

Two distinct affinity binding sites for IL-1 on human cell lines

We used two human cell lines, NK-like YT-C3 and an EBV-containing B cell line, 3B6, as models to study the receptor(s) for IL-1. Two distinct types of saturable binding sites were found on both cell lines at 37 degrees C. Between 1 pM and 100 pM of 125I-IL-1-alpha concentration, saturable binding sites were detected on the YT-C3 cells with a K of 4 x 10(-11) M. The K found for the IL-1-alpha binding sites on 3B6 cells was 7.5 x 10(-11) M. An additional binding curve was detected above 100 pM on YT-C3 cells with a K of 7 x 10(-9) M and on 3B6 cells with a K of 5 x 10(-9) M. Scatchard plot analysis revealed 600 sites/cell with high affinity binding and 7000 sites/cell with low affinity for YT-C3 cells and 300 sites/cell with high affinity binding and 6000 sites/cell with low affinity for 3B6 cells. At 37 degrees C, the internalization of 125I-labeled IL-1 occurred via both high and low affinity IL-1R on both YT-C3 and 3B6 cells, whereas the rates of internalization for high affinity binding sites on YT-C3 cells were predominant in comparison to that of low affinity binding sites. In chemical cross-linking studies of 125I-IL-1-alpha to 3B6 and YT-C3 cells, two protein bands were immunoprecipitated with Mr around 85 to 90 kDa leading to an estimation of the Mr of the IL-1R around 68 to 72 kDa. In similar experiments, the Mr found for the IL-1R expressed on the murine T cell line EL4 was slightly higher (around 80 kDa). Whether these distinct affinity binding sites are shared by a single molecule or by various chains remains to be elucidated.

Two distinct affinity binding sites for IL-1 on human cell lines

We used two human cell lines, NK-like YT-C3 and an EBV-containing B cell line, 3B6, as models to study the receptor(s) for IL-1. Two distinct types of saturable binding sites were found on both cell lines at 37 degrees C. Between 1 pM and 100 pM of 125I-IL-1-alpha concentration, saturable binding sites were detected on the YT-C3 cells with a K of 4 x 10(-11) M. The K found for the IL-1-alpha binding sites on 3B6 cells was 7.5 x 10(-11) M. An additional binding curve was detected above 100 pM on YT-C3 cells with a K of 7 x 10(-9) M and on 3B6 cells with a K of 5 x 10(-9) M. Scatchard plot analysis revealed 600 sites/cell with high affinity binding and 7000 sites/cell with low affinity for YT-C3 cells and 300 sites/cell with high affinity binding and 6000 sites/cell with low affinity for 3B6 cells. At 37 degrees C, the internalization of 125I-labeled IL-1 occurred via both high and low affinity IL-1R on both YT-C3 and 3B6 cells, whereas the rates of internalization for high affinity binding sites on YT-C3 cells were predominant in comparison to that of low affinity binding sites. In chemical cross-linking studies of 125I-IL-1-alpha to 3B6 and YT-C3 cells, two protein bands were immunoprecipitated with Mr around 85 to 90 kDa leading to an estimation of the Mr of the IL-1R around 68 to 72 kDa. In similar experiments, the Mr found for the IL-1R expressed on the murine T cell line EL4 was slightly higher (around 80 kDa). Whether these distinct affinity binding sites are shared by a single molecule or by various chains remains to be elucidated.

A monoclonal antibody recognizing 68- to 75-kilodalton protein(s) associated with the human IL-1 receptor

We produced an IgM mAb termed 4.9 against an EBV-containing lymphoblastoid cell line, termed 3B6. This mAb reacted with both various B and T cell lines such as HSB2 cells, with an NK-like cell line YT-C3 cells, and with human fibroblast MCR-5 cells. It also reacted with normal resting peripheral B lymphocytes, monocytes, and anti-CD2- or anti-CD3-activated T lymphocytes. The 4.9 mAb immunoprecipitated two bands estimated to be of Mr 68 and 75 kDa from iodinated 3B6 cells. The 4.9 mAb inhibited the proliferation of peripheral T lymphocytes induced either by anti-CD3 mAb or anti-CD2 mAb. The 4.9 mAb inhibited also the proliferation of murine thymocytes both in the presence of PHA and IL-1 and the proliferation of human fibroblasts in the presence of IL-1. Radiolabeled IL-1 binding on 3B6 cells revealed two types of IL-1 binding sites with high and low affinity for IL-1 (300 sites/cell with a Kd of 6 x 10(-11)M and 6000 sites/cell with a Kd of 3 x 10(-9)M). On both 3B6 and YT-C3 cells, mAb 4.9 inhibited specifically the binding of 125I-labeled rIL-1, alpha or beta, whereas the irrelevant IgM mAb did not. Conversely, rIL-1, alpha or beta, could inhibit specifically the binding of radioiodinated 4.9 mAb to 3B6 or YT-C3 cells, whereas rIL-2, rIFN, or the irrelevant IgM mAb were ineffective. 125I-4.9 mAb bound 3B6 cells with an association constant (Ka) of 2 x 10(8)/M and demonstrated 6000 binding sites/cell. We thus conclude that mAb 4.9 recognizes a protein complex (68 to 75 kDa) closely associated with the IL-1R.

A monoclonal antibody recognizing 68- to 75-kilodalton protein(s) associated with the human IL-1 receptor

We produced an IgM mAb termed 4.9 against an EBV-containing lymphoblastoid cell line, termed 3B6. This mAb reacted with both various B and T cell lines such as HSB2 cells, with an NK-like cell line YT-C3 cells, and with human fibroblast MCR-5 cells. It also reacted with normal resting peripheral B lymphocytes, monocytes, and anti-CD2- or anti-CD3-activated T lymphocytes. The 4.9 mAb immunoprecipitated two bands estimated to be of Mr 68 and 75 kDa from iodinated 3B6 cells. The 4.9 mAb inhibited the proliferation of peripheral T lymphocytes induced either by anti-CD3 mAb or anti-CD2 mAb. The 4.9 mAb inhibited also the proliferation of murine thymocytes both in the presence of PHA and IL-1 and the proliferation of human fibroblasts in the presence of IL-1. Radiolabeled IL-1 binding on 3B6 cells revealed two types of IL-1 binding sites with high and low affinity for IL-1 (300 sites/cell with a Kd of 6 x 10(-11)M and 6000 sites/cell with a Kd of 3 x 10(-9)M). On both 3B6 and YT-C3 cells, mAb 4.9 inhibited specifically the binding of 125I-labeled rIL-1, alpha or beta, whereas the irrelevant IgM mAb did not. Conversely, rIL-1, alpha or beta, could inhibit specifically the binding of radioiodinated 4.9 mAb to 3B6 or YT-C3 cells, whereas rIL-2, rIFN, or the irrelevant IgM mAb were ineffective. 125I-4.9 mAb bound 3B6 cells with an association constant (Ka) of 2 x 10(8)/M and demonstrated 6000 binding sites/cell. We thus conclude that mAb 4.9 recognizes a protein complex (68 to 75 kDa) closely associated with the IL-1R.

Syndesmo-odontoid joint and calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease (CPPD)

Twenty-seven patients with definite or probable CPPS have been investigated with systematic frontal and lateral tomograms of the cervicooccipital region. In 12 cases there were calcifications of the syndesmo-odontoid region. These calcifications are of two different types: linear calcifications (5 cases) and mottled calcifications (7 cases). The anatomic location of these calcifications is the transverse ligament or other structures of the syndesmo-odontoid joint. Although this type of calcification has already been described in other rheumatic diseases, it must lead to search for CPPD in the usual locations.