- 2016
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What's on? - 22.07.2016
Thursday 28 July 2016: World Hepatitis Day
Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, most often caused by a virus, in which case it is referred to as viral hepatitis. Toxic substances, such as alcohol or certain drugs, may also be responsible for cases of toxic hepatitis. Of the six known types of hepatitis virus (A, B, C, D, E and […]
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Press releases - 22.07.2016
Omega-3 fatty acids and stress management: growing links
The relationship between omega-3 fatty acid intake and adaptation to stress or anxiety is becoming clearer. Back in 2011, a team of researchers from INRA and Inserm showed that reducing the intake of omega-3 fatty acids in mice increased their stress. This phenomenon may be linked to impairment of the brain’s ability to produce endogenous cannabinoids, the “endocannabinoids,” brain lipids that control synaptic memory. To better understand the endocannabinoid-dependent links between anxiety and synaptic plasticity, the research team continued its experiments by testing different models of behavioural stress on the rodents. These studies are the subject of an article published in the journal Cell Reports on 21 July.
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Press releases - 21.07.2016
Long term correction of hyperbilirubinemia in animal models of Crigler-Najjar syndrome after AAV vector-mediated liver gene transfer
Dr. Federico MINGOZZI, Team Leader of the Immunology and Liver Gene Transfer unit at Généthon, (Inserm U951/UPMC), France, has demonstrated the long-term efficacy of an optimized AAV-UGT1A1 vector for the correction of Crigler-Najjar syndrome (CN) in two different animal models of the disease. This work, published in July 20, 2016 in Molecular Therapy Methods and Clinical Development was supported by the AFM-Telethon.
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Press releases - 20.07.2016
An antibody-based drug for multiple sclerosis
Inserm Unit U919, directed by Prof. Denis Vivien (“Serine Proteases and Physiopathology of the Neurovascular Unit”) has developed an antibody with potential therapeutic effects against multiple sclerosis. The study, directed by Fabian Docagne and published in Brain, paves the way for a new strategy to control the disease.
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Press releases - 19.07.2016
Attacks and risks of post-traumatic stress
In a traumatic event, such as the attacks on Paris on 13 November 2015, and on Nice on 14 July 2016, the risk for victims and witnesses of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is high.
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Press releases - 19.07.2016
New findings from analysis of malignant tumour progression
Researchers from Paris Descartes University, CNRS, Inserm, University Paris-Est Créteil (UPEC) and the Paris Public Hospitals (AP-HP) have shown that analysis of epigenetic modifications could be used as a universal marker for monitoring tumour DNA circulating in the bloodstream of patients with colorectal cancer. This study is based on hypermethylation analysis of two genes (WIF1 and NPY) using a cutting-edge method: droplet-based digital PCR[1]. These results were published on 1 June 2016 in the journal Clinical Chemistry.
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What's on? - 19.07.2016
Attacks and risks of post-traumatic stress
In a traumatic event, such as the attacks on Paris on 13 November 2015, and on Nice on 14 July 2016, the risk for victims and witnesses of developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is high. PTSD is characterised by several symptoms: the person relives the event in the form of recurrent memories, nightmares or flashbacks, […]
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Press releases - 18.07.2016
Malaria: a genetically attenuated parasite induces an effective, long-lasting immune response
With nearly 3.2 billion people currently at risk of contracting malaria, scientists from the Institut Pasteur, the CNRS and Inserm have experimentally developed a live, genetically attenuated vaccine for Plasmodium, the parasite responsible for the disease. By identifying and deleting one of the parasite’s genes, the scientists enabled it to induce an effective, long-lasting immune response in a mouse model. These findings were published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine on July 18, 2016
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Press releases - 12.07.2016
Objectives and performance contract signed between the State and Inserm for 2016–2020
On 11 July 2016, Mr Thierry Mandon, Secretary of State for Higher Education and Research, and the Chairman and CEO of the Institute, Professor Yves Lévy, signed the objectives and performance contract binding Inserm and the French State for the 2016–2020 period. The result of intense exchanges between Inserm and the relevant ministries, the contract defines the broad directions and actions that will be taken by the Institute in order to provide an environment conducive to the expression of talent, encourage the production of knowledge and best support its exploitation for societal, clinical or economic purposes, and enable laboratories to best respond to the new challenges and issues in the life sciences and health
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News in brief - 08.07.2016
Centenarian athletes: flawless performances?
Previous studies have essentially demonstrated that, from the age of 40, and depending on the sport, performances decline steadily by 7–14% every 10 years. Using data from websites of sports associations and federations, Romuald Lepers and his colleagues identified 60 performances by 19 centenarians, in 3 disciplines: athletics, swimming and cycling. Generally, and although they […]