Corticospinal and spinal excitability during peripheral or central cooling in humans

Cold exposure can impair fine and gross motor control and threaten survival. Most motor task decrement is due to peripheral neuromuscular factors. Less is known about cooling on central neural factors. Corticospinal and spinal excitability were determined during cooling of the skin (T_sk) and core (T_co). Eight subjects (four female) were actively cooled in a liquid perfused suit for 90 min (2 °C inflow temperature), passively cooled for 7 min, and then rewarmed for 30 min (41 °C inflow temperature). Stimulation blocks included 10 transcranial magnetic stimulations [eliciting motor evoked potentials (MEPs) which indicate corticospinal excitability], 8 trans-mastoid electrical stimulations [eliciting cervicomedullary evoked potentials (CMEPs) which indicate spinal excitability] and 2 brachial plexus electrical stimulations [eliciting maximal compound motor action potentials (M_max)]. These stimulations were delivered every 30 min. Cooling for 90 min reduced T_sk to 18.2 °C while T_co did not change. At the end of rewarming T_sk returned to baseline while T_co decreased by 0.8 °C (afterdrop) (P < 0.001). Metabolic heat production was higher than baseline at the end of passive cooling (P = 0.01), and 7 min into rewarming (P = 0.04). MEP/M_max remained unchanged throughout. CMEP/M_max increased by 38% at end cooling (although increased variability at this time rendered the increase insignificant, P = 0.23) and 58% at end warming when T_co was 0.8 °C below baseline (P = 0.02). Cooling increased spinal excitability but not corticospinal excitability. Cooling may decrease cortical and/or supraspinal excitability which is compensated for by increased spinal excitability. This compensation is key to providing a motor task and survival advantage.

Ethnobotanical study of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) in Senegal

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata) plays a key role in family farming systems in Senegal. It makes an essential contribution to economic, nutritional and food security. Although it is crucial, little is known about how farmers classify the diversity of local varieties or about the social practices associated with them. The aim of this study is to characterize the farming practices associated with growing cowpea in Senegal. Surveys were conducted involving 335 rural farmers living in 37 villages, spread across seven regions that produce cowpea. An average of ten farmers were randomly selected in each village. The results reveal that cowpea is a key feature of cropping systems in the studied area. Our findings highlight the high diversity of local cowpea varieties with 59 local names inventoried. In 75% of cases, the name refers to the seed's morphology or color. Cowpea production is more diverse in Diourbel and Louga and less diverse in the south. More than half the farmers (57%) acquired their cowpea seeds (early, semi-early and late maturity varieties) outside their village, either from markets, seed suppliers or NGOs. This new understanding of farmers' expertize in the management of cowpea and its local variability will help to valorize local diversity in breeding programs.

[Screening for diabetic retinopathy in the Centre-Val de Loire region: A study based on the French national healthcare database]

INTRODUCTION

The main objective of this study was to investigate the rate of ophthalmological screening for diabetic retinopathy in diabetic individuals in the Centre-Val de Loire (CVDL) region. This study secondarily aimed to identify factors associated with regular ophthalmological screening.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Data were extracted from the French national healthcare database (SNDS). Individuals were identified on the basis of reimbursements for antidiabetic medications. Patients who were identified as having at least one reimbursed eye examination between 2015 and 2016 were considered as having regular follow-up.

RESULTS

In total, 118,181 diabetic individuals residing in CVDL were identified in the SNDS, and 74,048 had undergone ophthalmological screening. The rate of eye examination was 62.7% between 2015 and 2016 and was highly variable within the region (from 65.6% in Loiret to 54.0% in Cher). The main factors associated with regular eye screening were: follow-up with an established primary care physician (OR=2.88), regular follow-up with a diabetologist (OR=2.14), and regular follow-up with an internist (OR=1.57).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that ophthalmological screening for diabetic retinopathy in individuals with diabetes in the CVDL region could be significantly improved, particularly in rural areas. Factors influencing compliance with follow-up are multiple but appear mainly related to the patients' quality of overall medical management. These findings highlight the need for public health policies to improve detection and prevention of diabetic retinopathy by promoting comprehensive medical care for diabetic individuals.

Fonio millet genome unlocks African orphan crop diversity for agriculture in a changing climate

Sustainable food production in the context of climate change necessitates diversification of agriculture and a more efficient utilization of plant genetic resources. Fonio millet (Digitaria exilis) is an orphan African cereal crop with a great potential for dryland agriculture. Here, we establish high-quality genomic resources to facilitate fonio improvement through molecular breeding. These include a chromosome-scale reference assembly and deep re-sequencing of 183 cultivated and wild Digitaria accessions, enabling insights into genetic diversity, population structure, and domestication. Fonio diversity is shaped by climatic, geographic, and ethnolinguistic factors. Two genes associated with seed size and shattering showed signatures of selection. Most known domestication genes from other cereal models however have not experienced strong selection in fonio, providing direct targets to rapidly improve this crop for agriculture in hot and dry environments.

Fonio millet genome unlocks African orphan crop diversity for agriculture in a changing climate

Sustainable food production in the context of climate change necessitates diversification of agriculture and a more efficient utilization of plant genetic resources. Fonio millet (Digitaria exilis) is an orphan African cereal crop with a great potential for dryland agriculture. Here, we establish high-quality genomic resources to facilitate fonio improvement through molecular breeding. These include a chromosome-scale reference assembly and deep re-sequencing of 183 cultivated and wild Digitaria accessions, enabling insights into genetic diversity, population structure, and domestication. Fonio diversity is shaped by climatic, geographic, and ethnolinguistic factors. Two genes associated with seed size and shattering showed signatures of selection. Most known domestication genes from other cereal models however have not experienced strong selection in fonio, providing direct targets to rapidly improve this crop for agriculture in hot and dry environments.

AVEC : évaluation d’une Nouvelle Intervention Découlant de la TCC Destinée Aux Proches Des Individus vivant un premier épisode de psychose

L’efficacité des interventions destinées aux proches des individus vivant une psychose a été soulignée par de nombreuses études dont des méta analyses [5,6] et elles sont recommandées dans les Guides de meilleures pratiques en raison de leurs effets reconnus, soit la diminution des rechutes des personnes souffrant de psychose et une augmentation de leur soutien social [1,3,4].

Objectif

Cette étude a évalué les retombées d’une nouvelle intervention (AVEC) élaborée par l’auteur et son associée, conçue selon les principes de la thérapie cognitive comportementale pour la psychose, manualisée et administrée par des infirmières spécialisées en santé mentale à des groupes de proches.

Méthode

les proches (n = 40) furent évalués avant et après l’intervention et des tests T pairés furent effectués.

Résultats

78,6 % présentent des améliorations significatives de leur soutien social (The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, [6]) et une diminution significative de leur détresse (Brief Symptom Inventory, [2]). Ils témoignent aussi de leur satisfaction à l’égard de l’intervention de groupe. Des résultats qualitatifs de même que le contenu du manuel d’intervention seront présentés et les implications cliniques discutées.

Fonio (Digitaria exilis (Kippist) Stapf): A Socially Embedded Cereal for Food and Nutrition Security in Senegal

Agricultural diversification with neglected and underutilized species is a viable way to sustainably increase the productivity of agrosystems. Understanding the social, cultural, and ecological roles of these species is crucial for their promotion. White fonio (Digitaria exilis), a neglected cereal endemic to West African Sahelian countries, is recognized as a crop for the future due to its cultural, nutritional, and economic values. In this study, we described fonio farming systems in Senegal through an ethnobotanical approach. As expected in family farming systems, farmers largely practiced diversified subsistence agriculture on small plots and relied on local seed exchange networks. The importance of fonio varied among agroecological zones, ethnic groups, and gender. In the Groundnut Basin, where agriculture is more mechanized, late-maturing landraces of fonio are cultivated as a cash crop rather than a staple crop. However, in southern Senegal, where food shortages are recurrent, fonio is more widespread and the cultivation of both early- and late-maturing landraces contributes to local food security. These differences also reflect the cultural status of fonio: different among ethnic groups and more important for women than for men. Finally, the regressive dynamics of fonio cultivation in most regions emphasizes the need to develop integrated conservation and promotion strategies that take into account the diversity of social and agronomical roles of the plant.

Abstract P3-05-14: Expression of the tumor associated carbohydrate antigen Tn and immune effectors in invasive breast cancer

Background:

Glycosylation is a post-translational modification generating complex carbohydrate O-glycans. Tn antigen, a N-acetyl-galactosamine-α-O-Ser/Thr residue that is the core glycosylated component of complex mucin-type O-glycans, is expressed in breast cancers. Tn has been associated with invasion, survival and decreased T-cell mediated immune response in several types of cancer including breast cancer. There is therefore a potential rationale to combine Tn vaccine with checkpoint blockers such as PD-1/PDL-1 inhibitors. Little is known regarding the link between the respective expression of Tn antigen, PDL-1, and TILs, in breast cancer. Our study aimed at characterizing Tn expression in a series of invasive breast cancers, and its correlation with immune response.

Methods

Tn expression was analyzed by immunohistochemistry performed on a tissue microarray of 1864 invasive breast cancer samples (1850 patients for statistical analyses), consisting of 189 (10%) TNBC, 1601 (86%) ER and/or PR positive à checker tumors and 191 (10%) HER-2 positive tumors treated at our institution between 2005 and 2013. Among these cases, 50 luminal B tumors and 50 TNBC were selected for full section and immune analysis, i.e. to study the pattern of Tn expression across whole tumor section and the link between Tn expression and the level of CD3+ and CD8+ infiltrates, and PDL-1 expression. The level of Tn expression was assessed using H-score, combining the percentage of stained cells with staining intensity.

Results:

In the 100 initial samples, Tn expression was observed in 95%, with a H-Score&gt;10 in 85% of the cases, and with homogeneous staining across the whole tumor section in 86% of the cases. Tn expression was increased in Luminal B subtype as compared to TNBC, with a mean H-Score of 100.9 vs 55, respectively (p &lt;0,0001). The CD3+ infiltrate was more important in TNBC as compared to luminal B tumors (mean stromal CD3+: 34.3% vs 21.2%, p=0,0052). No significant difference was found for the CD8+ infiltrate. PDL-1 expression in stromal cells (≥1%) was observed in 43% of the cases, and increased in TBNC as compared to Luminal B (mean of 7.3% vs 2.2% of cells respectively, p=0.0252). In both tumor subtypes, we observed a positive correlation between the CD3/CD8 infiltrates and PDL-1 expression in stroma cells (p&lt;0,0001), but not with Tn expression.

In the TMA cohort, Tn expression was observed in 1723 (92%) tumors with a mean H-Score of 82.75. Similarly, to the results obtained in full section, Tn expression was less intense in TNBC as compared to other subtypes (mean H-Score of 62 vs 85, p&lt;0.001). Tn expression was lower in histological grade I as compared to grade II/III tumors (64,69 for grade I, 88,84 for grade II and 88.99 for grade III, p&lt;0.0001), and significantly higher in HER2 positive tumors versus others (mean H score 62,06 for HER2-/RE-, 119,05 for HER2+ and 80,25 for HER2-/RE+, p&lt;0.0001).

Conclusion:

Our study shows a lower level of expression of Tn antigen in TNBC as compared to luminal tumors. We could not identify any correlation between Tn antigen expression and immune status of the tumor as defined by CD3+, CD8+ and PDL-1+ infiltrate in tumor stroma. The role of Tn antigen in the HER2-positive subgroup requires further investigation.

Citation Format: Verret B, Rossoni C, Lebeherec D, Michiels S, Castanon-Alvarez E, Leclerc C, Delaloge S, Artaud C, Lacroix-Tikri M. Expression of the tumor associated carbohydrate antigen Tn and immune effectors in invasive breast cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2017 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2017 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2018;78(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P3-05-14.

Colonization with Helicobacter is concomitant with modified gut microbiota and drastic failure of the immune control of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Epidemiological and experimental observations suggest that chronic microbial colonization can impact the immune control of other unrelated pathogens contracted in a concomitant or sequential manner. Possible interactions between Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and persistence of other bacteria have scarcely been investigated. Here we demonstrated that natural colonization of the digestive tract with Helicobacter hepaticus in mice is concomitant with modification of the gut microbiota, subclinical inflammation, and drastic impairment of immune control of the growth of subsequently administered M. tuberculosis, which results in severe lung tissue injury. Our results provided insights upon the fact that this prior H. hepaticus colonization leads to failures in the mechanisms that could prevent the otherwise balanced cross-talk between M. tuberculosis and the immune system. Such disequilibrium ultimately leads to the inhibition of control of mycobacterial growth, outbreak of inflammation, and lung pathology. Among the dysregulated immune signatures, we noticed a correlation between the detrimental lung injury and the accumulation of activated T-lymphocytes. Our findings suggest that the impact of prior Helicobacter spp. colonization and subsequent M. tuberculosis parasitism might be greater than previously thought, which is a key point given that both species are among the most frequent invasive bacteria in human populations.

Past and present dynamics of sorghum and pearl millet diversity in Mount Kenya region

Crop populations in smallholder farming systems are shaped by the interaction of biological, ecological, and social processes, occurring on different spatiotemporal scales. Understanding these dynamics is fundamental for the conservation of crop genetic resources. In this study, we investigated the processes involved in sorghum and pearl millet diversity dynamics on Mount Kenya. Surveys were conducted in ten sites distributed along two elevation transects and occupied by six ethnolinguistic groups. Varieties of both species grown in each site were inventoried and characterized using SSR markers. Genetic diversity was analyzed using both individual- and population-based approaches. Surveys of seed lot sources allowed characterizing seed-mediated gene flow. Past sorghum diffusion dynamics were explored by comparing Mount Kenya sorghum diversity with that of the African continent. The absence of structure in pearl millet genetic diversity indicated common ancestry and/or important pollen- and seed-mediated gene flow. On the contrary, sorghum varietal and genetic diversity showed geographic patterns, pointing to different ancestry of varieties, limited pollen-mediated gene flow, and geographic patterns in seed-mediated gene flow. Social and ecological processes involved in shaping seed-mediated gene flow are further discussed.

Combined impacts of global changes on biodiversity across the USA

Most studies of the effects of global changes on biodiversity focus on a single threat, but multiple threats lead to species extinction. We lack spatially explicit assessments of the intensity of multiple threats and their impacts on biodiversity. Here, we used a novel metric of cumulative threats and impacts to assess the consequences of multiple threats on 196 endemic species across the USA. We predict that large areas with high cumulative impact scores for amphibians, birds, mammals, and reptiles will be concentrated in the eastern part of the USA by the 2050 s and 2080  . These high cumulative impact values are due mainly to the presence of invasive species, climate change, cropland and pasture areas; additionally, a significant proportion of endemic species are vulnerable to some of these threats where they occur. This analysis provides a useful means of identifying where conservation measures and monitoring programs that should consider multiple threats should be implemented in the future.

Influence of ethnolinguistic diversity on the sorghum genetic patterns in subsistence farming systems in eastern Kenya

Understanding the effects of actions undertaken by human societies on crop evolution processes is a major challenge for the conservation of genetic resources. This study investigated the mechanisms whereby social boundaries associated with patterns of ethnolinguistic diversity have influenced the on-farm distribution of sorghum diversity. Social boundaries limit the diffusion of planting material, practices and knowledge, thus shaping crop diversity in situ.

To assess the effect of social boundaries, this study was conducted in the contact zone between the Chuka, Mbeere and Tharaka ethnolinguistic groups in eastern Kenya. Sorghum varieties were inventoried and samples collected in 130 households. In all, 297 individual plants derived from seeds collected under sixteen variety names were characterized using a set of 18 SSR molecular markers and 15 morphological descriptors. The genetic structure was investigated using both a Bayesian assignment method and distance-based clustering. Principal Coordinates Analysis was used to describe the structure of the morphological diversity of the panicles. The distribution of the varieties and the main genetic clusters across ethnolinguistic groups was described using a non-parametric MANOVA and pairwise Fisher tests.

The spatial distribution of landrace names and the overall genetic spatial patterns were significantly correlated with ethnolinguistic partition. However, the genetic structure inferred from molecular makers did not discriminate the short-cycle landraces despite their morphological distinctness. The cases of two improved varieties highlighted possible fates of improved materials. The most recent one was often given the name of local landraces. The second one, that was introduced a dozen years ago, displays traces of admixture with local landraces with differential intensity among ethnic groups. The patterns of congruence or discordance between the nomenclature of farmers’ varieties and the structure of both genetic and morphological diversity highlight the effects of the social organization of communities on the diffusion of seed, practices, and variety nomenclature.

[How do residents in anesthesiology learn their future speciality? A resident satisfaction survey in the Northwest of France]

STUDY DESIGN

Opinion survey.

OBJECTIVES

To know the level of satisfaction and the expectations of the residents in anesthesiology in the Northwest of France.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A standardized questionnaire assessing the theoretical and practical training was mailed to the 4th- and 5th-year anesthesiology residents (DESAR 4 and 5) in the Northwest of France over a 6-month period. Four items were studied: the profile of responders, the approval of theoretical and practical teaching, and the improvement propositions.

RESULTS

The response rate was 61%. A change in speciality has never been looked for by 95% of residents. The training was considered as good or very good in 90% of cases. The elements of theoretical teaching are variably considered according to their merits. Practical training gave entire satisfaction whatever its type and place. Additional specific training in regional anesthesia, difficult intubation and echocardiography is required. Most DESAR would be interested in obtaining a post-internship job or a stage in private hospitals.

DISCUSSION

Teaching generally meets the expectations of students. These regional data are similar with the results of French national surveys. They highlight the good quality of training but suggest it could be further improved.

CONCLUSION

The homogeneity of teaching, based on the objectives proposed by the French College of Anesthesiologists, and the dynamism of the French Society of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine ensures the quality of training for future specialists.

Three calcium-sensitive genes, fus, brd3 and wdr5, are highly expressed in neural and renal territories during amphibian development

Numerous Ca(2+) signaling events have been associated with early development of vertebrate embryo, from fertilization to organogenesis. In Xenopus laevis, Ca(2+) signals are key regulators in the earliest steps of the nervous system development. If neural determination is one of the best-characterized examples of the role of Ca(2+) during embryogenesis, increasing literature supports a determining role of organogenesis and differentiation. In blastula the cells of the presumptive ectoderm (animal caps) are pluripotent and can be induced toward neural fate with an intracellular increase of free Ca(2+) triggered by caffeine. To identify genes that are transcribed early upon Ca(2+) stimuli and involved in neural determination, we have constructed a subtractive cDNA library between neuralized and non-neuralized animal caps. Here we present the expression pattern of three new Ca(2+)-sensitive genes: fus (fused in sarcoma), brd3 (bromodomain containing 3) and wdr5 (WD repeat domain 5) as they all represent potential regulators of the transcriptional machinery. Using in situ hybridization we illustrated the spatial expression pattern of fus, brd3 and wdr5 during early developmental stages of Xenopus embryos. Strikingly, their domains of expression are not restricted to neural territories. They all share a specific expression throughout renal organogenesis which has been found to rely also on Ca(2+) signaling. This therefore highlights the key function of Ca(2+) target genes in specific territories during early development. We propose that Ca(2+) signaling through modulation of fus, brd3 and wdr5 expressions can control the transcription machinery to achieve proper embryogenesis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: 12th European Symposium on Calcium.

Oral macrophage-like cells play a key role in tolerance induction following sublingual immunotherapy of asthmatic mice

Sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy (SLIT) is a safe and efficacious treatment for type 1 respiratory allergies. Herein, we investigated the key subset(s) of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) involved in antigen/allergen capture and tolerance induction during SLIT. Following sublingual administration, fluorochrome-labeled ovalbumin (OVA) is predominantly captured by oral CD11b⁺CD11c⁻ cells that migrate to cervical lymph nodes (CLNs) and present the antigen to naive CD4⁺ T cells. Conditional depletion with diphtheria toxin of CD11b⁺, but not CD11c⁺ cells, in oral tissues impairs CD4⁺ T-cell priming in CLNs. In mice with established asthma to OVA, specific targeting of the antigen to oral CD11b⁺ cells using the adenylate cyclase vector system reduces airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), eosinophil recruitment in bronchoalveolar lavages (BALs), and specific Th2 responses in CLNs and lungs. Oral CD11b⁺CD11c⁻ cells resemble tolerogenic macrophages found in the lamina propria (LP) of the small intestine in that they express the mannose receptor CD206, as well as class-2 retinaldehyde dehydrogenase (RALDH2), and they support the differentiation of interferon-γ/interleukin-10 (IFNγ/IL-10)-producing Foxp3⁺ CD4⁺ regulatory T cells. Thus, among the various APC subsets present in oral tissues of mice, macrophage-like cells play a key role in tolerance induction following SLIT.

Enquête préliminaire sur l’intérêt de consommer des probiotiques, du cyprès et de l’échinacée en prévention des infections hivernales

Introduction

L’hiver est une période propice aux infections virales. Certaines plantes et souches probiotiques pourraient conférer à notre organisme une meilleure protection en renforçant nos défenses immunitaires.

Objectif

Cette enquête préliminaire avait pour objectif d’évaluer l’intérêt de consommer des probiotiques, du cyprès et de l’échinacée pour prévenir l’apparition d’affections hivernales.

Méthode

Il s’agit d’une enquête déclarative par questionnaire. Son objectif était de comparer l’incidence des affections hivernales dans deux groupes de sujets âgés de 18 à 65 ans en bonne santé, complémentés ou non avec du Lactibiane Référence® et des comprimés de Phytostandard® cyprès-échinacée pendant trois mois ou plus en période hivernale.

Résultats

L’incidence de la grippe (5 vs 10 %, p = 0,012), du rhume (29 vs 50 %, p = 0,002) et de la rhinopharyngite (9 vs 15 %, p = 0,017) était significativement moins élevée chez les personnes complémentées que chez celles non com-plémentées. L’incidence du rhume était également significativement moins élevée dans un sous-groupe de personnes sensibles aux infections hivernales complémentées pendant trois mois ou plus, comparées à celles ne s’étant pas com-plémentées (36 vs 78 % de rhume, p = 0,004).

Conclusion

Les résultats montrent que la consommation des deux produits pendant trois mois ou plus est associée à une moindre incidence des affections hivernales de types grippe, rhume et rhinopharyngite. Il pourrait être intéressant de mener ultérieurement une étude prospective de plus grande envergure pour déterminer le rôle exact respectif du Lactibiane Référence® et des comprimés de Phytostandard® cyprès-échinacée dans la prévention des affections hivernales.

[Financial analysis of a department of general surgery in a French hospital. The new "fee-for-service" reimbursement system results in a high deficit for emergency care]

GOAL

The aim of this study was to perform a detailed analysis of income and expense in a department of general surgery in a French hospital under the new system of funding based on a "fee-for-service" principle.

METHODS

All hospital stays of year 2006 were analysed retrospectively. The conditions of admission (elective vs. emergency), the principal diagnosis, and surgical procedures were examined. We determined hospital costs and the reimbursement for every admission.

RESULTS

One thousand nine hundred and eighty-five hospitalizations generated an income of 8Meuros with a deficit of 1.3Meuros. The 775 elective admissions generated 50% of the income and 13% of the deficit (178,562euros). Seven hundred and forty-nine emergency admissions generated 45% of the income and 82% of deficit (1.1Meuros). Four hundred and sixty-one admissions for endoscopy generated 5% of the income and 5% of the deficit (67,249euros). Hospital stays of less than two days (the minimum duration of stay for total reimbursement) caused a loss of 122,624euros. Length of hospital stay below the lower limit caused a loss of 42,850euros.

CONCLUSION

Elective surgical activity in digestive surgery can generate a balanced budget provided the length of hospital stay is reduced to the minimum, sometimes to the detriment of patient comfort. Emergency admissions result in a large deficit between cost and reimbursement; this fact may lead hospitals to avoid emergency activity in the future unless appropriate remedial measures are taken.

Induction of a melanoma-specific antibody response by a monovalent, but not a divalent, synthetic GM2 neoglycopeptide

The GM2 ganglioside represents an important target for specific anticancer immunotherapy. We designed and synthesized a neoglycopeptide immunogen displaying one or two copies of the GM2 tetrasaccharidic moiety. These glycopeptides were prepared using the Huisgen cycloaddition, which enables the efficient ligation of the alkyne-functionalized biosynthesized GM2 with an azido CD4(+) T cell epitope peptide. It is worth noting that the GM2 can be produced on a gram scale in bacteria, which can be advantageous for a scale-up of the process. We show here for the first time that a fully synthetic glycopeptide, which is based on a ganglioside carbohydrate moiety, can induce human tumor cell-specific antibodies after immunization in mice. Interestingly, the monovalent, but not the divalent, form of GM2 peptide construct induced antimelanoma antibodies. Unlike traditional vaccines, this vaccine is a pure chemically-defined entity, a key quality for consistent studies and safe clinical evaluation. Therefore, such carbohydrate-peptide conjugate represents a promising cancer vaccine strategy for active immunotherapy targeting gangliosides.

Lymphocyte volume and conductivity indices of the haematology analyser CoulterR GEN.STM in lymphoproliferative disorders and viral diseases

The haematology analyser Coulter GEN.S gives a set of data -'positional parameters'- defining white blood cell (WBC) populations by mean of index values (mean and standard deviation of volume, conductivity and scatter, used to identify the WBC populations). The volume and conductivity parameters related to the lymphocytes were analysed at diagnosis in patients suffering from chronic B-lymphocytic leukaemia (B-CLL), other non-CLL lymphoproliferative disorders (OLPD) and viral diseases. The standard deviation of volume index (SDVI) is significantly higher in the three groups, whereas the mean volume index (MVI) is significantly lower in B-CLL, and increased in OLPD and viral diseases. These two groups could be distinguished by their mean conductivity index (MCI), which is significantly lower in viral disease group. Cut-offs were calculated for each parameter by the mean of Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis. The study of the detection performances showed that the combination of lymphocyte count with SDVI, MVI and MCI could be used with a good sensitivity and specificity to discriminate between the most frequent lymphocyte pathologies, even in patients with normal lymphocyte count.

Enquête sur la mise en place d’une consultation pharmaceutique pour les patients sous antirétroviraux

OBJECTIVE

Highly active anti-retroviral therapies (HAART) in HIV treatment can result in complex treatment regimens. We surveyed HIV patients followed in the infectious disease department of Saint-Germain-en-Laye Hospital to assess the interest of offering patients a consultation with a pharmacist.

METHODS

The 3-part questionnaire enabled us to assess the medical and pharmaceutical information given to the patient, adherence, and risk factors for poor observance. The questionnaire was distributed to all patients, regardless of whether they were receiving treatment. A simple adherence score was computed as well as a score for the risk of poor adherence.

RESULTS

Ninety patients returned analyzable questionnaires: 65 (72.2%) thought a pharmaceutical consultation would be useful. They felt it should cover in priority the following subjects: drug interactions (51%), secondary effects (49%), and what to do after forgetting a dose (44%). Treatment was perceived as positive by 82 patients (91%) and tolerated well by 57 (65%). Sixty patients (66.3%) reported that they occasionally forgot a dose, 37 (41.3%) that they regularly did. The results showed good adherence by 61.3% and poor adherence by 38.5%. Risk of non-adherence was significantly associated with three factors: the number of pills to take, the number of daily doses, and the length of the treatment.

CONCLUSION

Our survey shows the interest of consultations with pharmacists as a clinical service. By reinforcing the patient's understanding, these can complete and supplement the physician's explanation and instructions on pharmaceutical topics, especially those that could not be addressed during the clinical visit. The main aim of this process is to improve adherence, which is a key element in treatment efficacy.

Cloning and expression of the amphibian homologue of the human PKD1 gene

PKD1 is the gene responsible for autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) type 1 in humans. The PKD1 gene product is likely to be a calcium channel regulator. In this paper, we describe the isolation and characterization of the Xenopus homologue of the human PKD1 gene. We isolated and cloned genomic fragments corresponding to the amphibian homologue of PKD1 from a BAC library, and after sequencing the clones, we designed primers for the amplification of the transcript and sequenced 10 kb of ORF. The sequence of the putative protein clearly demonstrated that this gene is the homologue of human PKD1. Analysis of the tissue expression patterns of xPKD1 demonstrated a high level of expression in the kidney. A similar analysis in developing embryos and in an in vitro nephrogenic system suggests that xPKD1 is associated with, and probably involved in, the development of the amphibian pronephros.

Search for B+/--->[K(-/+)pi(+/-)](D)K+/- and upper limit on the b-->u amplitude in B+/--->DK+/-

We search for B+/--->[K(-/+)pi(+/-)](D)K+/- decays, where [K(-/+)pi(+/-)](D) indicates that the K-/+pi(+/-) pair originates from the decay of a D0 or D (0). Results are based on 120x10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->BB decays collected with the BABAR detector at SLAC. We set an upper limit on the ratio R(Kpi) identical with[Gamma(B+-->[K(-)pi(+)](D)K+)+Gamma(B--->[K(+)pi(-)](D)K-)][Gamma(B+-->[K(+)pi(-)](D) / K+)+Gamma(B--->[K(-)pi(+)](D)K-)]<0.026 (90% C.L.). This constrains the amplitude ratio r(B) identical with|A(B--->D 0K-)/A(B--->D0K-)|<0.22 (90% C.L.), consistent with expectations. The small value of r(B) favored by our analysis suggests that the determination of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa phase gamma from B-->DK will be difficult.

Measurements of CP-violating asymmetries in B0-->K(0)(s)pi(0) decays

We present a measurement of the time-dependent CP-violating (CPV) asymmetries in B0-->K(0)(S)pi(0) decays based on 124x10(6) Upsilon(4S)-->BB decays collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy B factory at SLAC. In a sample containing 122+/-16 signal decays, we obtain the magnitudes of the direct CPV asymmetry CK(0)(S)(pi(0))=0.40(+0.27)(-0.28)+/-0.09 and of the CPV asymmetry in the interference between mixing and decay SK(0)(S)(pi(0))=0.48(+0.38)(-0.47)+/-0.06 where the first error is statistical and the second systematic.

Blind subjects process auditory spectral cues more efficiently than sighted individuals

The goal of the present study was to investigate how monaural sound localization on the horizontal plane in blind humans is affected by manipulating spectral cues. As reported in a previous study (Lessard et al. 1998), blind subjects are able to calibrate their auditory space despite their congenital lack of vision. Moreover, the performance level of half of the blind subjects was superior to that of sighted subjects under monaural listening conditions. Here, we first tested ten blind subjects and five controls in free-field (1) binaural and (2) monaural sound localization tasks. Results showed that, contrary to controls and half the blind subjects, five of the blind listeners were able to localize the sounds with one ear blocked. The blind subjects who showed good monaural localization performances were then re-tested in three additional monaural tasks, but we manipulated their ability to use spectral cues to carry out their discrimination. These subjects thus localized these same sounds: (3) with acoustical paste on the pinna, (4) with high-pass sounds and unobstructed pinna and (5) with low-pass sounds and unobstructed pinna. A significant increase in localization errors was observed when their ability to use spectral cues was altered. We conclude that one of the reasons why some blind subjects show supra-normal performances might be that they more effectively utilize auditory spectral cues.