[Smoking cessation in secondary prevention of acute coronary syndrome: The role of the electronic cigarette]

OBJECTIVES

To study the use, efficiency and wishes for a "medicalization" of the electronic cigarette (EC) for smoking cessation in secondary prevention of acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Prospective epidemiological study with inclusion of smoker patients hospitalized from 1st June 2015 to 31st March 2016 at the St Quentin Hospital (Picardy, France) for an ACS (except unstable angina), interviewed 1 year after their ACS, excluding patients over 75 years or with personal history of ACS.

RESULTS

Eighty-one patients were included. 59 questionnaires (73%) were returned and analyzed. The average age was 53.3 years. There were 45 men (76.3%) and 14 women (23.7%). 11 patients (18.6%) had used the EC at least once before their ACS and 11 (18.6%) had used it after. That was the second most used smoking cessation method after the nicotine patches. One year after their SCA, 39 patients (66.1%) had stopped smoking: 63.6% (7/11) of EC users after the ACS against 66.7% (32/48) of non-users (P=0.848). After multivariate analysis, only cessation without help was associated with ceasing (P=0.013). CE users were significantly younger, were smoking more before their ACS, and had started smoking earlier. 50% of CE users would have appreciated to be better informed by their general practitioner and 53.3% expressed themselves in favor of a sale in pharmacies.

CONCLUSION

EC is the second most common means of smoking cessation after an ACS. Further comparative studies are essential to know more about its efficiency and safety.

Circulating endothelial progenitors in vascular repair

Endothelial Colony Forming Cells (ECFCs) are obtained in culture from Circulating Endothelial Progenitor Cells. They display all characteristics of endothelial cells and they display stem cells features. Cord blood-derived ECFCs (CB-ECFCs) have a high clonogenic and proliferative potentials, and exhibit vascular repair capabilities useful for the treatment of ischemic diseases. However, the link between immaturity and functional properties of CB-ECFCs is still poorly defined. We showed that these cells have a high clonogenic potential and are capable to be efficiently reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells. Moreover, we analyzed the expression of a broad panel of genes involved in embryonic stem cell properties. We define a novel stem cell transcriptional signature for CB-ECFCs fora better characterization and stratification according to their stem cell profile. We then improved the yield of CB-ECFC production for obtaining cells more functional in fewer passages. We used Glycosaminoglycans (GAG), components from the extracellular matrix which potentiate heparin binding growth factor activities. GAG mimetics were designed, having the capacity to increase the yield of ECFC during the isolation process, to increase the number of colonies, improve adhesion, proliferation, migration and self-renewal. GAG mimetics have thus great interest for vascular regeneration in combination with ECFC. Our results show that CB-ECFC are immature cells harboring specific functions such as formation of colonies, proliferation and formation of vascular structures in vitro and in vivo.

A fine structural modification of glycosaminoglycans is correlated with the progression of muscle regeneration after ischaemia: towards a matrix-based therapy?

Critical limb ischaemia often leads to amputation of the limb and potential mortality. Moreover, there are still significant problems with current therapeutic treatments, according to poor revascularisation of degenerated tissue probably due to modifications within the microenvironment. This study is focused on the changes of structure and bioactivity of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), especially heparan sulphate (HS) and chondroitin sulphate (CS) in rat Extensor Digitorum Longus (EDL) muscle after ischaemia. Male Wistar rats were subjected to ischaemic-injury by ligation of the neurovascular trunk accompanying EDL-tendon. After 4, 8, 15, 21, 60 and 90 d, the rats were sacrificed and the muscles were collected and submitted to histological, biochemical and gene expression assays. We demonstrated that ischaemia induced modification of expression of enzymes involved in GAG biosynthesis which correlated with significant changes in HS and CS structural features such as size and sulphation pattern. These major structural changes are associated to modifications of GAG abilities to bind growth factors and to modulate cell activity. Moreover, a CS hallmark of injury is maintained as well after the regeneration process. Finally, we showed the relevance of the role of this glycanic matrix remodelling, since a GAG mimetic treatment accelerated muscle repair after ischaemia.

Facilitating Discourse Analysis with Interactive Visualization

A discourse parser is a natural language processing system which can represent the organization of a document based on a rhetorical structure tree-one of the key data structures enabling applications such as text summarization, question answering and dialogue generation. Computational linguistics researchers currently rely on manually exploring and comparing the discourse structures to get intuitions for improving parsing algorithms. In this paper, we present DAViewer, an interactive visualization system for assisting computational linguistics researchers to explore, compare, evaluate and annotate the results of discourse parsers. An iterative user-centered design process with domain experts was conducted in the development of DAViewer. We report the results of an informal formative study of the system to better understand how the proposed visualization and interaction techniques are used in the real research environment.

Feminizing Wolbachia: a transcriptomics approach with insights on the immune response genes in Armadillidium vulgare

BACKGROUND

Wolbachia are vertically transmitted bacteria known to be the most widespread endosymbiont in arthropods. They induce various alterations of the reproduction of their host, including feminization of genetic males in isopod crustaceans. In the pill bug Armadillidium vulgare, the presence of Wolbachia is also associated with detrimental effects on host fertility and lifespan. Deleterious effects have been demonstrated on hemocyte density, phenoloxidase activity, and natural hemolymph septicemia, suggesting that infected individuals could have defective immune capacities. Since nothing is known about the molecular mechanisms involved in Wolbachia-A. vulgare interactions and its secondary immunocompetence modulation, we developed a transcriptomics strategy and compared A. vulgare gene expression between Wolbachia-infected animals (i.e., "symbiotic" animals) and uninfected ones (i.e., "asymbiotic" animals) as well as between animals challenged or not challenged by a pathogenic bacteria.

RESULTS

Since very little genetic data is available on A. vulgare, we produced several EST libraries and generated a total of 28 606 ESTs. Analyses of these ESTs revealed that immune processes were over-represented in most experimental conditions (responses to a symbiont and to a pathogen). Considering canonical crustacean immune pathways, these genes encode antimicrobial peptides or are involved in pathogen recognition, detoxification, and autophagy. By RT-qPCR, we demonstrated a general trend towards gene under-expression in symbiotic whole animals and ovaries whereas the same gene set tends to be over-expressed in symbiotic immune tissues.

CONCLUSION

This study allowed us to generate the first reference transcriptome ever obtained in the Isopoda group and to identify genes involved in the major known crustacean immune pathways encompassing cellular and humoral responses. Expression of immune-related genes revealed a modulation of host immunity when females are infected by Wolbachia, including in ovaries, the crucial tissue for the Wolbachia route of transmission.

The immune cellular effectors of terrestrial isopod Armadillidium vulgare: meeting with their invaders, Wolbachia

BACKGROUND

Most of crustacean immune responses are well described for the aquatic forms whereas almost nothing is known for the isopods that evolved a terrestrial lifestyle. The latter are also infected at a high prevalence with Wolbachia, an endosymbiotic bacterium which affects the host immune system, possibly to improve its transmission. In contrast with insect models, the isopod Armadillidium vulgare is known to harbor Wolbachia inside the haemocytes.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

In A. vulgare we characterized three haemocyte types (TEM, flow cytometry): the hyaline and semi-granular haemocytes were phagocytes, while semi-granular and granular haemocytes performed encapsulation. They were produced in the haematopoietic organs, from central stem cells, maturing as they moved toward the edge (TEM). In infected individuals, live Wolbachia (FISH) colonized 38% of the haemocytes but with low, variable densities (6.45±0.46 Wolbachia on average). So far they were not found in hyaline haemocytes (TEM). The haematopoietic organs contained 7.6±0.7×10(3)Wolbachia, both in stem cells and differentiating cells (FISH). While infected and uninfected one-year-old individuals had the same haemocyte density, in infected animals the proportion of granular haemocytes in particular decreased by one third (flow cytometry, Pearson's test = 12 822.98, df = 2, p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

The characteristics of the isopod immune system fell within the range of those known from aquatic crustaceans. The colonization of the haemocytes by Wolbachia seemed to stand from the haematopoietic organs, which may act as a reservoir to discharge Wolbachia in the haemolymph, a known route for horizontal transfer. Wolbachia infection did not affect the haemocyte density, but the quantity of granular haemocytes decreased by one third. This may account for the reduced prophenoloxidase activity observed previously in these animals.

Lack of influence of COMT and NET genes variants on executive functions in schizophrenic and bipolar patients, their first-degree relatives and controls

Abnormal dopaminergic function in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) may be a key factor in the etiopathogeny of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Both schizophrenic and bipolar subjects have executive functions (EF) deficits, thought to reflect abnormal PFC function. The main inactivation pathways for dopamine in the PFC are enzymatic cleavage by the Carboxy-O-Methyl-Transferase (COMT) and reuptake by the nor-epinephrine transporter (NET). Our aim in this study was to replicate previous studies that investigated influence of the COMT genotype on EF in schizophrenic subjects, their relatives and controls and extend their scope by including bipolar patients, and their relatives and by exploring NET gene polymorphisms influence on executive performances. We investigated one functional polymorphism of the COMT gene and two polymorphisms of the NET gene. EF were assessed by means of the Trail Making Test (TMT) and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). We assessed the effect of each of the three genotypes on EF for the whole sample (N = 318) and separately in schizophrenic (N = 66), bipolar (N = 94) and healthy subjects (i.e., relatives and controls N = 158). Separate analyses were performed because of the presence, in patients samples, of potentially confounding factors, especially medication. Genotype had no significant effect on the cognitive measures in any of the analyses (for the two EF measures, the three polymorphisms, and the four groups). In our sample we found no evidence in favor of a major effect of COMT or NET polymorphisms on the two tests of EF.

Complexity of the human whole saliva proteome

Recent characterization of the whole saliva proteome led to contradictory pictures concerning the complexity of its proteome. In this work, 110 proteins were analysed by mass spectrometry allowing the identification of 10 accessions previously not detected on protein two-dimensional maps, including myosin heavy chain (fast skeletal muscle, IIA and IIB), phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein, secretory actin-binding protein precursor and triosephosphate isomerase. Further comparison with available data demonstrated simultaneously a low diversity in terms of variety of accessions and a high complexity in terms of number of protein spots identifying the same accession, the two thirds of identified spots corresponding to amylases, cystatins and immunoglobulins. This diversity may be of interest in the development of non invasive diagnostic tool for several disease.

Cyclic FEE peptide increases human gamete fusion and potentiates its RGD-induced inhibition

BACKGROUND

Alpha6beta1 integrin has been proposed to act as a sperm receptor on the mouse oocyte by interacting with spermatozoon fertilin beta. We investigated, in humans, whether oocyte integrins could act similarly in gamete fusion, using a cyclic peptide containing the putative disintegrin-binding domain of human fertilin beta [cyclic FEE (cFEE)] and RGD peptide.

METHODS

Zona-free eggs were inseminated in the absence or presence of peptides. To maintain the membrane protein pattern, the zona pellucida was removed by microdissection. Immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy were used to detect integrin subunits on the oocyte.

RESULTS

Unexpectedly, cFEE alone increased human gamete fusion by 94% instead of inhibiting fertilization. Furthermore, cFEE together with RGD potentiated the RGD-induced inhibition of fertilization in a dose-dependent manner. The data suggested the hypothesis of integrin cross-talk, further supported by the co-localization of alpha6beta1 and alphavbeta3 integrins, the putative receptors of cFEE and RGD peptides, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

RGD-sensitive and -insensitive integrins may be associated in a multimolecular complex working as a sperm receptor on the human oocyte membrane. Supplementation of human IVF culture medium with cFEE peptide might improve fertilization rates in ART.

Maillard glycation of beta-lactoglobulin induces conformation changes

Glycation by the Maillard reaction is an ubiquitous reaction of condensation of a reducing sugar with amino groups of proteins, which products could improve the functional and/or biological properties for food and non-food uses. It can induce structural modifications in proteins, modifying their properties. The aim of this work was to investigate the association behavior and the conformational changes of beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) after its glycation by the Maillard reaction with several alimentary sugars (arabinose, galactose, glucose, lactose, rhamnose and ribose). Protein samples were heated in the presence or in the absence (heated control) of different sugars during 3 days at 60 degrees C. Glycation induced oligomerization of BLG monomers. Depending on the reactivity of the sugar, the population of produced oligomers showed smaller or greater heterogeneity in molecular masses. Analysis of modified BLG by circular dichroism and by its susceptibility to pepsinolysis showed that the conditions of heating used did not significantly alter the conformation of BLG. Heating of BLG in presence of sugars induced only minor structural modification, when using the less reactive sugars such as lactose and rhamnose. It was, however, at the origin of major three-dimensional destructuring in the case of the more reactive sugars such as arabinose and ribose. Pepsinolysis of glycated BLG did not affect about 62 and 35% of the protein molecules modified with lactose or rhamnose, and arabinose or ribose, respectively. The increase of susceptibility of glycated BLG to pepsinolysis could be related to the alteration of the conformation of the protein when glycation was performed with highly reactive sugars, as observed by circular dichroism and calorimetry analysis.

Cloning of a genetically unstable cytochrome P-450 gene cluster involved in degradation of the pollutant ethyl tert-butyl ether by Rhodococcus ruber

Rhodococcus ruber (formerly Gordonia terrae) IFP 2001 is one of a few bacterial strains able to degrade ethyl tert-butyl ether (ETBE), which is a major pollutant from gasoline. This strain was found to undergo a spontaneous 14.3-kbp chromosomal deletion, which results in the loss of the ability to degrade ETBE. Sequence analysis of the region corresponding to the deletion revealed the presence of a gene cluster, ethABCD, encoding a ferredoxin reductase, a cytochrome P-450, a ferredoxin, and a 10-kDa protein of unknown function, respectively. The EthB and EthD proteins could be easily detected by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and were induced by ETBE in the wild-type strain. Upstream of ethABCD lies ethR, which codes for a putative positive transcriptional regulator of the AraC/XylS family. Transformation of the ETBE-negative mutant by a plasmid carrying the ethRABCD genes restored the ability to degrade ETBE. Complementation was abolished if the plasmid carried ethRABC only. The eth genes are located in a DNA fragment flanked by two identical direct repeats of 5.6 kbp. The ETBE-negative mutants carry a single copy of this 5.6-kbp repeat, suggesting that the 14.3-kbp chromosomal deletion resulted from a recombination between the two identical sequences. The 5.6-kbp repeat is a class II transposon carrying a TnpA transposase, a truncated form of the recombinase TnpR, and a terminal inverted repeat of 38 bp. The truncated TnpR is encoded by an IS3-interrupted tnpR gene.

Scavenging of free radicals, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of the Maillard reaction products of beta-lactoglobulin glycated with several sugars

The Maillard reaction occurs during many industrial and domestic thermal treatments of foods. It is widely used because of its role in creating colors, flavors, textures, and other functional properties in foodstuffs. Proteins glycated without the use of conventional chemical reagents have improved technofunctional properties such as heat stability, emulsifying, and foaming properties. The present study was carried out to determine the extent to which this reaction can convey antioxidant, antimicrobial, or cytotoxic activities to beta-lactoglobulin (BLG) and to its tryptic and peptic hydrolysates. BLG was modified with six different sugars in solution at 60 degrees C. Antiradical properties were estimated using a radical scavenging activity test. Antimicrobial activities against different bacterial strains were studied with a diffusion disk method. Cytotoxic tests were performed using two cell lines and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazoyl-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) rapid colorimetric assay. Glycation induced a radical scavenging activity to BLG, the intensity of which depended on the sugar used for modification. Proteins modified with ribose and arabinose showed the highest radical scavenging activities depicted by about 80 and 60% of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) absorption decrease at 515 nm. No antimicrobial effect of any glycated form of BLG against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Listeria innocua, and Streptococcus mutans was observed. The MTT test showed no enhancement of cytotoxicity by modified proteins and peptides against COS-7 and HL-60 cells. Thus, glycated proteins could be used in formulated food as functional ingredients with a radical scavenging activity able to delay deterioration due to oxidation. This use could be even more advisable considering the lack of toxicity to eukaryotic and prokaryotic cell cultures demonstrated in this work.

Investigation of rational syntheses of heteroleptic porphyrinic lanthanide (europium, cerium) triple-decker sandwich complexes

The use of lanthanide triple-decker sandwich molecules containing porphyrins and phthalocyanines in molecular information storage applications requires the ability to attach monomeric triple deckers or arrays of triple deckers to electroactive surfaces. Such applications are limited by existing methods for preparing triple deckers. The reaction of a lanthanide porphyrin half-sandwich complex ((Por)M(acac)) with a dilithium phthalocyanine (PcLi2) in refluxing 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (bp 214 degrees C) affords a mixture of triple deckers of composition (Pc)M(Pc)M(Por), (Por)M(Pc)M(Por), and (Pc)M(Por)M(Pc). We have investigated more directed methods for preparing triple deckers of a given type with distinct metals in each layer. Application of the method of Weiss, which employs reaction of a (Por)M(acac) species with a lanthanide double decker in refluxing 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene, afforded the desired triple decker in some cases but a mixture of triple deckers in others. The approach we developed employs in situ formation of the lanthanide reagent EuCl[N(SiMe3)2]2 or CeI[N(SiMe3)2]2, which upon reaction with a porphyrin affords the half-sandwich complex (Por)EuX or (Por)CeX' (X = Cl, N(SiMe3)2; X' = I, N(SiMe3)2). Subsequent reaction with PcLi2 gives the double decker (Por)M(Pc). The (Por(1))EuX half-sandwich complex gave the desired triple decker upon reaction with (Pc)Eu(Pc) but little of the desired product upon reaction with (Por(2))Eu(Pc). The (Por(1))CeX' half-sandwich complex reacted with europium double deckers (e.g., (tBPc)Eu(Por(2)), (tBPc)2Eu) to give the triple deckers (Por(1))Ce(tBPc)Eu(Por(2)) and (Por(1))Ce(tBPc)Eu(tBPc) in a rational manner (tB = tetra-tert-butyl). The reactions yielding the half-sandwich, double-decker, and triple-decker complexes were performed in refluxing bis(2-methoxyethyl) ether (bp 162 degrees C). The porphyrins incorporated in the various triple deckers include meso-tetrapentylporphyrin, meso-tetra-p-tolylporphyrin, octaethylporphyrin, and meso-tetraarylporphyrins bearing iodo, ethynyl, or iodo and ethynyl substituents. The triple deckers bearing iodo and/or ethynyl substituents constitute useful building blocks for information storage applications.

Research of quality indices for cold-smoked salmon using a stepwise multiple regression of microbiological counts and physico-chemical parameters

AIMS

The aim of the study was to assess the relationships between the remaining shelf-life (RSL) of cold-smoked salmon and various microbiological and physico-chemical parameters, using a multivariate data analysis in the form of stepwise forward multiple regression.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Thirteen batches of French cold-smoked salmon were analysed weekly during vacuum-packed storage at 5 degrees C for their lipid, water, salt, phenol, pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) and trimethylamine contents, total psychrotrophic count, lactic acid bacteria, lactobacilli, B. thermosphacta, Enterobacteriaceae and yeast counts. At the sensory rejection time, the flora was dominated by lactobacilli, lactobacilli/Enterobacteriaceae or Carnobacteria/B. thermosphacta. Shelf-life was very variable (1->6 weeks) and was related to the initial Enterobacteriaceae load (P < 0.05), depending on hygienic conditions in the smokehouse. High correlations existed between the RSL and lactobacilli count (P < 0.01), yeast count (P < 0.05) and TVBN concentration (P < 0.01). A polynomial fitting the RSL as a function of those three factors was proposed (R(2) = 0.80). Assuming that lactobacilli count could not exceed 109 cfu g-1, a minimum of 36 mg-N 100 g-1 was necessary for a product to be rejected, with a yeast count of 104 cfu g-1.

CONCLUSION

Estimation of cold-smoked salmon quality is possible by measuring three parameters: lactobacilli and yeast counts and TVBN concentration.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The technical content is important for the smoked salmon industry and for development of quality standards for cold-smoked salmon.

Spectrum of CFTR mutations in cystic fibrosis and in congenital absence of the vas deferens in France

We have collated the results of cystic fibrosis (CF) mutation analysis conducted in 19 laboratories in France. We have analyzed 7, 420 CF alleles, demonstrating a total of 310 different mutations including 24 not reported previously, accounting for 93.56% of CF genes. The most common were F508del (67.18%; range 61-80), G542X (2.86%; range 1-6.7%), N1303K (2.10%; range 0.75-4.6%), and 1717-1G>A (1.31%; range 0-2.8%). Only 11 mutations had relative frequencies >0. 4%, 140 mutations were found on a small number of CF alleles (from 29 to two), and 154 were unique. These data show a clear geographical and/or ethnic variation in the distribution of the most common CF mutations. This spectrum of CF mutations, the largest ever reported in one country, has generated 481 different genotypes. We also investigated a cohort of 800 French men with congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens (CBAVD) and identified a total of 137 different CFTR mutations. Screening for the most common CF defects in addition to assessment for IVS8-5T allowed us to detect two mutations in 47.63% and one in 24.63% of CBAVD patients. In a subset of 327 CBAVD men who were more extensively investigated through the scanning of coding/flanking sequences, 516 of 654 (78. 90%) alleles were identified, with 15.90% and 70.95% of patients carrying one or two mutations, respectively, and only 13.15% without any detectable CFTR abnormality. The distribution of genotypes, classified according to the expected effect of their mutations on CFTR protein, clearly differed between both populations. CF patients had two severe mutations (87.77%) or one severe and one mild/variable mutation (11.33%), whereas CBAVD men had either a severe and a mild/variable (87.89%) or two mild/variable (11.57%) mutations.

Effect of salt and smoke on the microbiological quality of cold-smoked salmon during storage at 5 degrees C as estimated by the factorial design method

The simultaneous effect of salt and smoke on the natural flora of cold-smoked salmon was studied during 5 weeks of vacuum storage at 5 degrees C. The quadratic polynomial, as a function of factors, was used to express total viable count (TVC), total lactic acid bacteria, lactobacilli numerated on Rogosa agar, H2S-producing bacteria, and yeasts at different sampling times. TVC and total lactic acid bacteria were mainly inhibited by the salt concentration (5% wt/wt) in the meat and to a lesser extent by the phenol content. Inhibition was linearly proportional to salt and smoke content (the higher the concentration, the greater the inhibition). No synergistic effect on inhibition was observed between the two factors. In our working conditions, the TVC French standard (<10(6) CFU g(-1)) was maintained during 4 weeks of storage at 5 degrees C, with a minimum concentration of 2.4% (wt/wt) of salt in meat and smoking treatment corresponding to 0.6 mg 100 g(-1) of phenol. When the salt level was higher than 3%, the TVC standard was maintained, regardless of phenol level. A negative interaction between the two factors was found for H2S-producing bacteria and a positive one for yeasts.

Development of a sterile cold-smoked fish model

It is difficult to create a successful sterile cold-smoked fish model, particularly when very fresh fish are not readily available. This study tested a low-dose ionization technique (1.5 and 3.0 kGy) as a means of eliminating residual flora and ensuring sterility without altering sensory qualities. Ionized cold-smoked salmon displayed no bacterial contamination during an 11 week storage period and was not considered as spoiled by a sensory panel. In comparison, non-ionized smoked salmon, although aseptically processed, contained a bacterial flora responsible for its spoilage. This model allows assessment of the spoilage potential or activity of isolated bacterial strains as well as independent studies of bacterial and non-bacterial reactions in cold-smoked fish.

Study of the microbial ecology of cold-smoked salmon during storage at 8 degrees C

Microbiological, chemical and sensory changes in cold-smoked salmon were studied during 5 weeks of vacuum storage at 8 degrees C. The aerobic 20 degrees C viable count reached its maximum level after 6 days (3 x 10(6) cfu g-1) however, the shelf-life of the product was estimated to be 2 or 3 weeks by the panellists, confirming that there is no correlation between those two factors. Acid, pungent, sour and rancid odours and flavours and pasty texture were the main spoilage characteristics. Trimethylamine did not play a major role in the spoilage mechanisms as only small amounts were produced. Two-hundred and seventy strains were collected over the storage period, purified and characterized. During the first 2 weeks, Gram-negative bacteria were dominant, mainly represented by S. putrefaciens immediately after the smoking process and then P. phosphoreum. Aeromonas spp. were present throughout the storage but in smaller amounts. Gram-negative bacteria then progressively decreased while Gram-positive bacteria, dominated by lactic acid bacteria (LAB), became by far the most common variety found. Carnobacterium piscicola was widely represented (97/155 LAB isolates). A diversification was observed at the end of the storage, with the appearance of L. farciminis, L. sake and L. alimentarius. Occurrence of yeasts and moulds was quite rare. Spoilage potential of the strains was tested on a sterile smoked salmon extract juice. Shewanella putrefaciens, Aeromonas spp. and Brachothrix spp. produced strong off-odours while most of the LAB and P. phosphoreum seemed not to be involved in spoilage.

Rapid estimation of Escherichia coli in live marine bivalve shellfish using automated conductance measurement

Conductance measurement for quantitative estimations of Escherichia coli in live bivalve shellfish was evaluated as an alternative to the conventional most probable number (MPN) method used in France. The sensitivity of the two techniques was comparable. A single regression line (r = -0.968, P < 10(-6)) between log10 MPN and detection time (DT) was used to estimate E. coli concentrations for all shellfish examined. Estimation accuracy was +/- 0.92 log unit. Repeatability was better for DT than the log10 of MPN estimations (average coefficients of variation 2.7 and 9.3%, respectively). The conductance signal was attributable to E. coli in 96% of cases, and only 0.7% of E. coli cultures failed to exhibit a signal within 20 h. The conductance method reduces analysis handling time and is much easier to use than the MPN method. Moreover, results can be obtained within 5-9 h compared to 3 d for the MPN method.

Acid and neutral lipase activity in lymphocytes of patients with increased serum cholesterol and triglyceride level

Acid lipase activity (ALA) and neutral lipase activity (NLA) in lymphocytes of patients with primary hyperlipidemia (hypercholesterolemia or/and hypertriglyceridemia) were compared with that of an age-matched control group (blood donors). The specificity of lipase was confirmed by the use of cardiolipin the well known activator of acidic lipase. beta-D-glucuronidase activity was used as a marker of the lysosomal release reaction. ALA (by 33%) and beta-D-glucuronidase (by 55%) activity, but not NLA in lymphocytes of the group of hyperlipidemic patients, was significantly lower when compared to the control group. A negative correlation between the serum cholesterol level and ALA, NLA and beta-D-glucuronidase release from lymphocytes of hyperlipidemic subjects was observed. The serum HDL cholesterol level was positively correlated with ALA within this group. These results suggest that the high cholesterol level in serum can unspecifically supress ALA and (to the smaller degree) NLA activity in lymphocytes of hyperlipidemic subjects. The decrease of lipase activity may promote deposition of lipids in cells and the development of atherosclerosis. The parallel decrease of beta-D-glucuronidase activity in lymphocytes of hypercholesterolemic patients suggests the impairment of immune system in hypercholesterolemia.

CT image analysis of the vertebral trabecular network in vivo

A method of computed tomography (CT) image analysis of lumbar vertebrae has been developed, providing a visualization of the trabecular network as it is represented in a 1.5 mm-thick CT image. We measured the length of the network and the number of discontinuities found in the image. The ratio of these measurements was called the "trabecular fragmentation index" (TFI). CT images from 71 women between the ages of 50 and 59, and 94 women between the ages of 60 and 69 were divided into three groups according to quantitative computed tomography (QCT) vertebral density and to the presence or absence of crushing and fractures. The measure of the network length versus the vertebral area was significantly higher in normal subjects than in osteoporotics. A TFI threshold at 0.195 could separate the normal subjects, regardless of the decade, from osteoporotic ones. In females between 50 and 69 years of age, TFI was 0.166 (SD = 0.031) for the normal group and 0.248 (SD = 0.082) for osteoporotics. The osteopenic group without fractures but low bone mineral density (BMD) showed an intermediate TFI of 0.195 (SD = 0.05), placing this population on both sides of the threshold. Correlation between TFI and BMD was only -0.60. TFI could provide new information in vivo about the state of trabecular structure, particularly in the osteopenic group.

Influence of magnesium deficiency on liver collagen after carbon tetrachloride or ethanol administration to rats

The effects of magnesium deficiency on liver collagen after the administration of a hepatotoxic substance were investigated. Rats, fed a control or magnesium-deficient diet (0.040 g/kg), received six CCl4 or mineral oil injections administered at 2-d intervals starting from the first day of diet treatment. They were killed 3 or 12 d after the last injection. Between postinjection d 3 and 12, no change of magnesium concentration in liver was observed in the deficient rats. Three days after the end of treatment liver calcium in the magnesium-deficient CCl4-treated rats was higher than in any other group. Liver collagen of untreated control rats and untreated magnesium-deficient rats was not significantly different. In control and magnesium-deficient animals receiving CCl4 treatment, the liver collagen levels were significantly higher than in untreated rats. The magnesium-deficient rats receiving CCl4 have higher liver collagen than the controls receiving CCl4. In a second experiment the effect of suboptimum intake of magnesium (0.120 g/kg) combined with the ingestion of ethanol was studied in rats given a solution of ethanol in water for 55 d as their only source of fluid. Mortality occurred in the magnesium-deficient rats receiving ethanol, and body weights of these rats were lower than those of animals in the other three groups. The collagen concentration in liver was higher in magnesium-deficient rats consuming ethanol than in any other group. The synergistic action between magnesium deficiency and ethanol therefore appears to be analogous to that observed with CCl4.

[Not Available]

Romeins oculistencachet met inscriptie van het collyrium, aan de oppervlakte gevonden op het grondgebied van Clarques en afkomstig uit het antieke Terwaan. Het is het tweede exemplaar dat totnog toe gevonden werd.

[Prognostic value of the trigemino-facial reflex in severe post-traumatic comas]

The blink reflex (BR) study has been carried out on 40 severe head injury cases (average age 24.3 years). The recording was conducted several times between the 2nd and the 12th day and was repeated during the first month and beyond in prolonged comas. 23 patients did not respond even to high intensity stimuli. 17 patients displayed delayed and low amplitude latency responses: one of the components, early R1 or late R2 could be missing. The existence of a detectable focalized hemispheric lesion had no effect on the disappearance of the delayed lateral response. No BR was observed in mesencephalic, protubering comas and in 4 cases of subcortical and diencephalic comas. BR was observed in subcortical or diencephalic comas and in 5 cases of mesencephalic comas. The evolution of patients who did not display any electrical response during the first recording was unfavourable in 15 cases. Among the 5/8 remaining comatose cases, the BR was missing on the 2nd day and back on the 7th day. Among the 17 patients who displayed BR their evolution proved to be very favourable or favourable in 13 cases. In all the patients who survived beyond a month the response latencies proved normal, yet their amplitude was considerably lowered. The lack of BR is temporary but it is an element of unfavourable prognosis if it persists beyond a span of 8 days.

Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in rats with normal plasma calcium levels: effects of calcium deficiency

Weanling Wistar rats were pair-fed for 9 days a control or a calcium-deficient diet. After a 12-hour fast the rats were injected intraperitoneally with glucose (250 mg/100 g body weight), and blood was collected 15, 30 and 60 minutes after the injection. Before injection, calcium (9.7 +/- 0.2 mg/100 ml), glucose and insulin plasma levels were identical in the control and deficient animals, although calcium-deficient animals showed a small but significant increase in blood plasma magnesium levels. Blood glucose levels were higher in the calcium-deficient rats than in control rats 15 to 30 minutes after the glucose injection (15.4 +/- 1.4 vs. 9.7 +/- 0.4 mM, P less than 0.01, 30 minutes after). Plasma insulin levels were significantly lower 15 minutes after the glucose injection (24 +/- 4 vs. 73 +/- 8 microU/ml; P less than 0.01). Calcium deficiency is therefore associated with a decreased response to the glucose tolerance test in the absence of any change in the blood plasma calcium levels.

Evidence for independent genetic regulation of the expression of different antibody classes in anti-sheep red blood cell responses

Three levels of variation are described in the response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC). Inbred strains of mice are distinguishable in terms of early or late kinetics of IgM response, high or low overall IgG response, and the relative expression of IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b antibody in their response to SRBC. Results using C57BL/10 hybrid progeny strongly suggest a genetic control of these different aspects of the anti-SRBC response. The IgM kinetic pattern and the quantitative IgG response are regulated by two independent multigenic systems. Evidence is also presented for a distinction between the genes controlling the quantitative IgG response and those which control the 7 S isotypic pattern. IgG2a antibody expression seems regulated by a single gene. Neither group of genes involved in these various types of regulation seems directly linked to the H-2 complex or to the CH allotype. The hypothesis that 4 different sets of genes might control IgM, IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b expression is discussed.

[Is guilt a sickness?]

This paper reviews both English and Canadian law governing the concept of insanity in relation to criminal offences. The prevailing legal doctrine and jurisprudence show that both our penal system and our present judicial way of thinking are outdated and do not take into account the progress of the science of psychiatry.

The contention is that our criminal law should be revised and should recognize that the antisocial behaviour of an individual is, in many instances, the result of an abnormal mental condition which renders him incapable of judging whether or not his actions are criminal, and consequently it is suggested that such behaviour should not be dealt with by sentencing the person to prison but by commitment to a psychiatric institution.