Dataset on onshore groundwaters and offshore submarine spring of a Mediterranean karst aquifer during flow reversal and saltwater intrusion

Groundwater from various shallow and deep reservoirs converges in interaction with marine waters into the limestone aquifer of the Balaruc peninsula (Thau lagoon, southern France). This aquifer faces temporary phenomena of marine water intrusion through the Vise submarine spring located at -29.5 m below the lagoon level. Since the 1960s, seven flow reversal phenomena have occurred, the last one occurring between 11/28/2020 and 03/14/2022. During these phenomena, which can last from a few weeks to several months, the salty water is absorbed from the lagoon to the conduit of the submarine spring, which leads to the salinization of the underlying karst aquifer. The monitoring of flow, water specific conductivity and water temperature data from the karst submarine spring is a key element of the research project to understand the hydrogeological functioning of the karst aquifer under normal conditions or during flow reversal periods. This monitoring allows the characterization of the (in- or out-) flows at the submarine spring, the evaluation of the volume or mass balances, the identification of the hydrogeological and physico-chemical responses (water temperature, specific conductivity) observed within the karstic aquifer. Here, we present the means implemented offshore to acquire data at the submarine spring over the 06/25/2019 - 12/31/2022 time period together with lagoon water's physico-chemical parameters and levels and onshore groundwater's physico-chemical parameters and levels acquired at springs and boreholes from the karst aquifer.

Fear and cultural background drive sexual prejudice in France – a sentiment analysis approach

Sexual prejudice and its negative consequences remain major issues in Western societies, and numerous studies have tried to pinpoint its sociocultural underpinnings. However, most research has operationalized sexual prejudice via self-report measures or via implicit association tests (IATs), although it surfaces in language use and can be traced in spontaneous speech.

Here, we report results from an experimental study investigating sexual prejudice in a corpus of spontaneous speech samples. Specifically, we tested in a context-sensitive sentiment analysis approach which attitudes (negative vs. positive) and emotions (joy, sadness, anger, fear, disgust) were voiced by the participants in response to picture prompts displaying homosexual couples. We also considered the sociocultural basis of prejudicial attitudes, in particular the effects of the participants’ cultural background (France vs. Maghreb), age and gender. We find strong effects of cultural background and gender both on the frequency of negative vs. positive attitudes expressed, and on discrete emotion categories, namely that male Maghrebian participants were more negative and conveyed more fear. The results are discussed in the context of current diversity approaches in France and their implications for potential prejudice regulation strategies. We further discuss in how far our context-sensitive sentiment analysis approach advances research on sexual prejudice.

Flow Marks in Injection Molding of PP

Flow marks in injection moulding is quite often encountered on different type of polymers. This defects is known as successive and periodic bright and dull bands oriented perpendicular to the flow direction. Their appearances meanly depend on processing and observation conditions. This study was lead on two industrial polypropylene polymers with a simplified polished rectangular mould geometry. We show that this defect appears during the filling stage and comes from a local change of morphological and molecular orientation along the filling direction on the surface. An instability of the flow front due to a limited sliding at the contact combined to the strong changed of molecular orientation before and after the stagnation point are invoked to explain this instability.

Reemplazo de la estabilización tartárica por frío en las bodegas: El uso de carboximetil celulosa, poliaspartato de potasio y resinas intercambiadoras de iones

El tratamiento de los vinos antes del embotellado para evitar la precipitación de las sales del ácido tartárico es un paso importante y común durante la producción del vino. La estabilización en frío es el tratamiento de estabilización más utilizado, y aunque ha demostrado ser efectiva, presenta algunas desventajas significativas. Estas son las razones por las cuales se están introduciendo otros productos y metodologías en las bodegas. Algunas de estas nuevas técnicas implican la reducción de la concentración de ácido tartárico y/o potasio en los vinos. Otras son técnicas aditivas y utilizan coloides protectores o inhibidores de la cristalización de las sales. En este estudio, se han tratado con carboximetilcelulosa, con poliaspartado de potasio y con resina de intercambio iónico vinos blancos, rosados y dos tipos diferentes de vinos tintos. Se estudiaron las características enológicas y cromáticas de los vinos y se evaluaron también sensorialmente. Los resultados indican que las características sensoriales y cromáticas se mantuvieron en los vinos (en comparación con un vino de control no tratado) con el uso de la carboximetilcelulosa y el poliaspartato, no detectándose diferencias en la mayoría de los casos en una prueba sensorial triangular en el caso de la carboximetilcelulosa y siendo los vinos tratados con poliaspartato de potasio evaluados positivamente.

Women's attractiveness is linked to expected age at menopause

A great number of studies have shown that features linked to immediate fertility explain a large part of the variance in female attractiveness. This is consistent with an evolutionary perspective, as men are expected to prefer females at the age at which fertility peaks (at least for short-term relationships) in order to increase their reproductive success. However, for long-term relationships, a high residual reproductive value (the expected future reproductive output, linked to age at menopause) becomes relevant as well. In that case, young age and late menopause are expected to be preferred by men. However, the extent to which facial features provide cues to the likely age at menopause has never been investigated so far. Here, we show that expected age at menopause is linked to facial attractiveness of young women. As age at menopause is heritable, we used the mother's age at menopause as a proxy for her daughter's expected age of menopause. We found that men judged faces of women with a later expected age at menopause as more attractive than those of women with an earlier expected age at menopause. This result holds when age, cues of immediate fertility and facial ageing were controlled for. Additionally, we found that the expected age at menopause was not correlated with any of the other variables considered (including immediate fertility cues and facial ageing). Our results show the existence of a new correlate of women's facial attractiveness, expected age at menopause, which is independent of immediate fertility cues and facial ageing.

Indication of reactor ν(e) disappearance in the Double Chooz experiment

The Double Chooz experiment presents an indication of reactor electron antineutrino disappearance consistent with neutrino oscillations. An observed-to-predicted ratio of events of 0.944±0.016(stat)±0.040(syst) was obtained in 101 days of running at the Chooz nuclear power plant in France, with two 4.25 GW(th) reactors. The results were obtained from a single 10 m(3) fiducial volume detector located 1050 m from the two reactor cores. The reactor antineutrino flux prediction used the Bugey4 flux measurement after correction for differences in core composition. The deficit can be interpreted as an indication of a nonzero value of the still unmeasured neutrino mixing parameter sin(2)2θ(13). Analyzing both the rate of the prompt positrons and their energy spectrum, we find sin(2)2θ(13)=0.086±0.041(stat)±0.030(syst), or, at 90% C.L., 0.017<sin(2)2θ(13)<0.16.

Study of the tools available in biological dosimetry to estimate the dose in cases of accidental complex overexposure to ionizing radiation: the Lilo accident

PURPOSE

To compare the efficiency of different cytogenetic tools in estimating the doses received by four people involved in the Lilo accident and to monitor the dose estimate over 4.5 years.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Several young Georgian frontier guards handled at least one of the 12 Caesium sources found in a former Russian military camp. Overexposure lasted from July 1996 to May 1997. The Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) obtained blood samples taken at several intervals post-exposure from the four most highly-exposed people. Dose estimation was performed using dicentric and translocation scoring.

RESULTS

The first dose estimations performed by dicentric scoring gave whole-body doses ranging from 0.4 to 1.3 Gy. Overexposure was complex and several mathematical models were used to take this complexity into account. This could provide information concerning the circumstances of overexposure. Concerning follow-up, the yield of dicentrics decreased by about 50% in the first 4 months following the end of overexposure whereas translocations were stable over the period of analysis.

CONCLUSION

It has been useful to compare cytogenetic results with clinical results. The results presented here reveal good stability of translocations. However the first dose estimation was not attempted until 6 months after the last exposure.

Biological estimates of dose to inhabitants of Belarus and Ukraine following the Chernobyl accident

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how well various assays on blood can detect radiation dose to people exposed many years previously and, if possible, to estimate that dose. The assays were applied to persons resident close to Chernobyl in 1986. Blood samples were taken 13-15 years after the reactor accident. The assays used were the frequencies of lymphocyte chromosomal translocations, micronuclei, HPRT mutations and apoptotic cells. Translocation yields in the exposed groups were marginally higher than in their respective controls, leading to dose estimates of about 0.2 Gy but with large uncertainties. All other assays showed inconsistency from person to person or other variations apparently not related to dose. The measurement of translocations, it is concluded, is the biological method of choice for retrospective dosimetry.

International intercomparison for criticality dosimetry: the case of biological dosimetry

The Institute of Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN) organized a biological dosimetry international intercomparison with the purpose of comparing (i) dicentrics yield produced in human lymphocytes; (ii) the gamma and neutron dose estimate according to the corresponding laboratory calibration curve. The experimental reactor SILENE was used with different configurations: bare source 4 Gy, lead shield 1 and 2 Gy and a 60Co source 2 Gy. An increasing variation of dicentric yield per cell was observed between participants when there were more damages in the samples. Doses were derived from the observed dicentric rates according to the dose-effect relationship provided by each laboratory. Differences in dicentric rate values are more important than those in the corresponding dose values. The doses obtained by the participants were found to be in agreement with the given physical dose within 20%. The evaluation of the respective gamma and neutron dose was achieved only by four laboratories, with some small variations among them.

Clearance of radiation-induced apoptotic lymphocytes: ex vivo studies and an in vitro co-culture model

Lymphocytes are very sensitive to radiation. Our aim was to test the possibility of detecting apoptosis in lymphocytes as a potential short-term biomarker of ionizing radiation exposure. Our in vitro data confirmed the dose-time-effect relationships involved in radiation-induced apoptosis. The detection of in vivo induction of apoptosis in circulating lymphocytes after exposure of animals to radiation appears to depend critically on the technique used to measure apoptosis. Among the different techniques we investigated, mitochondrial modification was the most appropriate; they allowed establishment of dose-time-effect relationships when animals were observed for 72 h. A model of in vitro phagocytosis of apoptotic lymphocytes by macrophages was developed to mimic clearance of apoptotic cells occurring in vivo. Together, our data show that mitochondrial labeling may make it possible to detect ex vivo radiation-induced apoptosis of lymphocytes before macrophage ingestion occurs. We propose the measurement of apoptosis in lymphocytes as a potential short-term biomarker of ionizing radiation exposure.

Cross-linking of human FcgammaRIIIb induces the production of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor by polymorphonuclear neutrophils

We have reported that human autoantibodies reacting with the polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)-anchored FcgammaRIIIb (CD16) protect these cells from spontaneous apoptosis. In this study, we used anti-CD16 F(ab')(2) to delineate the mechanism(s) whereby the PMN life span is extended. As documented using four methods, CD16 cross-linking impeded spontaneous apoptosis, whereas anti-CD18 F(ab')(2) exerted no effect. Incubation of PMNs with anti-CD16 prevented the up-regulation of beta(2) integrins, particularly CD11b, which is the alpha-chain of complement receptor type 3, but also CD18, which is its beta-chain, as well as CD11a and CD11c. Anti-CD16-conditioned supernatant of PMNs diminished the percentage of annexin V-binding fresh PMNs after another 18 h in culture, whereas the negative control anti-CD18 had no effect. The expression of mRNA for G-CSF and GM-CSF was induced by anti-CD16, followed by the release of G-CSF and GM-CSF in a dose-dependent manner. Anti-G-CSF and anti-GM-CSF mAbs abrogated the antiapoptotic effect of the related growth factors. The delay in apoptosis was accompanied by a down-regulated expression of Bax, and a partial reduction of caspase-3 activity. These data suggest an autocrine involvement of anti-CD16-induced survival factors in the rescue of PMNs from spontaneous apoptosis. Thus, apoptosis of aged PMNs can be modulated by signaling through FcgammaRIIIb, which may occur in patients with PMN-binding anti-FcgammaRIIIb autoantibodies.

Soluble Fcgamma receptor IIIb alters the function of polymorphonuclear neutrophils but extends their survival

We have established that polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN)-binding anti-Fcgamma receptor IIIb (FcgammaRIIIb) autoantibodies (autoAb) inhibit the function of these cells but extend their survival. Here, we show that recombinant FcgammaRIIIb (rFcgammaRIIIb), as well as purified FcgammaRIIIb (pFcgammaRIIIb), deteriorated the PMN adherence and respiratory burst in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, rFcgammaRIIIb and pFcgammaRIIIb reduced the level of annexin V-binding PMN from 23.6 +/- 1.6 % to 6.3 +/- 1.0 and 11.0 +/- 1.0 %, respectively, while human serum albumin exerted no effects. Incubation of rFcgammaRIIIb with those autoAb binding to soluble FcgammaRIIIb resulted in the attachment of such immune complexes (IC) to the cells, thereby also delaying apoptosis (44.9 +/- 5.9 versus 18.0 +/- 2.0 % annexin V-binding PMN after 16 hours). Soluble FcgammaRIIIb, in concert with FcgammaRIIIb / anti-FcgammaRIIIb IC, produced similar effects in that the percentage of annexin V-binding PMN declined to 16.0 +/-1.9 %. It was thus suggested that FcgammaRIIIb / anti-FcgammaRIIIb IC inserted the Fc region of their IgG into the membrane FcgammaRIIIb. Such an interpretation is consistent with our finding that, whereas aggregated IgG and anti-FcgammaRIIIb monoclonal Ab prevented membrane FcgammaRIIIb / IC interaction, neither soluble FcgammaRIIIb, nor anti-cgammaRII did so. We conclude that the function and the life span of PMN are influenced synergistically by soluble FcgammaRIIIb and anti-FcgammaRIIIb autoAb.

A new image analysis system for biological dosimetry by fluorescent in situ hybridization. Step 1: metaphase finder and automatic metaphase acquisition validation

Because of the large number of cells to be analyzed in cases of overexposure to ionizing radiation, an automated imaging system is desirable for scoring both translocations and dicentrics. This system should include three essential steps: automatic metaphase finding, automatic image capture at high magnification, and, finally, optimized data analysis for aberration interpretation. We evaluated a new image analysis system (CYTOGEN, IMSTAR, France) and found that its metaphase finder saved time, as much as quadrupling the speed of scoring chromosomal aberrations. Automatic metaphase selection did not appear to induce bias. We confirmed the equivalence of observing aberrations on a screen after automatic image capture and direct observation under a microscope. This work validated all of the steps necessary for obtaining images for automatic chromosomal aberration detection. The protocols for the detection of translocations may now be applied for biological dosimetry. This step will be validated in a future study.

The cytogenetic dosimetry of recent accidental overexposure

When accidental exposure to ionizing radiations is suspected, optimal choice of a treatment strategy requires, in addition to information about the clinical signs and physical dosimetry, a determination by biological parameters of the dose received. The scoring of unstable chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes is the current reference method. Preparation of these samples depends on the goal sought--an exact assessment of several irradiations or rapid triage in the case of a large-scale accident. Moreover, some adaptation may be necessary if the irradiation is either heterogenous or not recent. Despite the robustness and adaptability of this procedure, conventional cytogenetics remains a tedious and time-consuming technique, and it requires specialized staff. Scoring micronuclei in binucleated lymphocytes may be an easier, simpler altemative to a dicentric assay. This paper, which is based on the experience acquired by the IPSN in recent years in expert assessment of suspected radiations, has as its goal to provide a succinct technical guideline of these different approaches, as they are adapted to suspected recent irradiation and triage.

CD45 autoantibodies mediate neutralization of activated T cells from lupus patients through anergy or apoptosis

The objectives were to provide estimates of the prevalence of autoantibody (Ab) directed to CD45 in lupus patients, identify the target autoantigen(s), and determine the ability of such reactivity to mediate neutralization of T lymphocytes. Sera from 64 patients were studied using 2 assays: Western blot and an ELISA with CD45 eluted from 3 cell lines as antigen (U937, Jurkat and Daudi). The role of carbohydrate specificity was investigated using enzyme digestion of blotted glycans, competition with sugars, and inhibition with lectins. Apoptosis was studied through annexin V binding, and cell cycle analysis using the propidium iodide method. AutoAb to CD45 were detected in 16/64 sera (25%) by Western blot, and 21/32 sera (66%) found positive in the ELISA. CD45 purified from Daudi cells was identified in the ELISA, but not in the blot. AutoAb were of the IgM and the IgG isotypes, but not specific for a particular cell type or CD45 isoform: 2 dominant specificities were recognized, one against p180, and another against high MW isoforms. Neuraminidase-induced enhancement of reactivity, together with the inhibitory effect of N-acetyl galactosamine and Dolichos diflorus lectin suggest that the epitopes are carbohydrates. AutoAb which were specific for activated CD4+T cells triggered the annexin V binding, and, in 2 of 4 cases, lymphocytes underwent apoptosis. In conclusion, carbohydrate conformational epitopes may be important as target antigens, and some CD45 autoAb have the capacity to neutralize activated T cells through anergy or apoptosis.

Differential effects of anti-Fc gamma RIIIb autoantibodies on polymorphonuclear neutrophil apoptosis and function

Anti-Fc gamma receptor IIIb (Fc gammaRIIIb) human autoantibodies (Ab) have been classified previously into three groups, based on the results of an indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) test and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA): IIF+/ELISA+ (group A), IIF+/ELISA- (group B), and IIF-/ELISA+ (group C) sera. In this study, differential effects between IIF+ autoAb, recognizing cell-bound Fc gammaR, and those ELISA+, recognizing only cell-free Fc gammaR, were studied on polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN). Neither group A nor B autoAb was cytotoxic, although both prolonged the survival of PMN by delaying spontaneous apoptosis. By the same extent, the PMN-binding antisera stimulated the appearance of a CD11b(dim) population, following a 12-h incubation. This event was associated with a lowered expression of beta2 integrin molecules, resulting in altered PMN function. Treatment with groups A and B autoAb reduced adhesiveness and respiratory burst. This impairment of the responses was more pronounced when the cells originated from donors NA1+ NA1+ rather than donors NA2+ NA2+. From our observations, the influences of anti-Fc gammaRIIIb autoAb on PMN survival, as well as function and subsequent dysregulation of the inflammatory response, have proven somewhat dependent on their target antigens, as determined by IIF coupled with ELISA and Fc gammaRIIIb polymorphism.

Mathematical methods in biological dosimetry: the 1996 Iranian accident

PURPOSE

To report 18 months of cytogenetic follow-up for an Iranian worker accidentally overexposed to 192Ir, the mathematical extrapolation and comparison with clinical data.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Unstable chromosome aberrations were measured using conventional cytogenetic tests by French and Iranian biological dosimetry laboratories on five occasions after the exposure. The decrease in dicentrics over time was analysed mathematically. In addition, Dolphin and Qdr extrapolations were applied to the data to check the exposure estimates. FISH determination of translocation yields was performed twice by the French laboratory and the results compared with the Dolphin and Qdr corrected values.

RESULTS

Dose estimates based on dicentrics decreased from 3.1 +/- 0.4 Gy at 5 days after the accident to 0.8 +/- 0.2 Gy at 529 days. This could be fitted by double-exponential regression with an inflexion point between rapid and slow decrease of dicentrics after about 40 days. Dose estimates of 3.4 +/- 0.4 Gy for the Qdr model and 3.6 +/- 0.5 Gy for the Dolphin model were calculated during the post-exposure period and were remarkably stable. FISH translocation data at 26 and 61 days appeared consistent with the Dolphin and Qdr estimates.

CONCLUSION

Dose correction by the Qdr and Dolphin models and translocation scoring appeared consistent with the clinical data and provided better information about the radiation injury than did crude estimates from dicentric scoring alone. Estimation by the Dolphin model of the irradiated fraction of the body seemed unreliable: it correlated better with the fraction of originally irradiated lymphocytes.

Abnormal distribution of CD45 isoforms expressed by CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in rheumatoid arthritis

CD45RO+ T cells are referred to as memory or helper-inducer while CD45RA+ T cells are regarded as naive or suppressor-inducer T cells. The former population predominates in the peripheral blood and even more in the synovial fluid of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, to the expense of the latter population. Within the CD45RB+ compartment, there appears to be more of the fully-differentiated than of the early-differentiated CD4+ T cells. In spite of the fact that these lymphocytes are close to undergoing apoptosis, this programmed cell death is inhibited in the rheumatoid synovium.

Decreased expression of FcgammaRIII (CD16) by gammadelta T cells in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Some gammadelta T cells express a receptor for the Fc portion of immunoglobulin G (FcgammaRIII - CD16). The relevance of this Fc receptor to gammadelta T-cell function is at present unclear. Our previous studies have shown that gammadelta T cells express activation markers in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In this study we have examined the relative proportions of CD16+ gammadelta T cells in the blood and synovial fluid of these patients compared with control blood. CD16+ gammadelta T cells from RA patients were significantly reduced in synovial fluid compared with the circulation. That this was due to blocking of antibody binding to CD16 was unlikely as treatment of blood gammadelta T cells with RA synovial fluid (known to contain immune complexes) failed to alter expression of CD16. Treatment of blood gammadelta T cells with phytohaemagglutinin in vitro, resulted in a time-dependent decrease in expression of CD16, with a concomitant increase in expression of human leucocyte antigen-DR, at the single cell level. We conclude that expression of CD16 by gammadelta T cells is lost in the synovial compartment as the result of activation.

Increased N-linked glycosylation leading to oversialylation of monomeric immunoglobulin A1 from patients with Sjögren's syndrome

Increased serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) level is a common finding in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). IgA might not be properly eliminated because of an abnormal glycosylation. We reported previously that IgA1 from patients with pSS was oversialylated. We extend this finding by showing that monomeric IgA1 contains more sialic acid (SA) in patients than in controls, as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot with Sambucus nigra agglutinin (SNA), a lectin specific for SA. To localize this excess of SA on the N- and/or O-linked oligosaccharides, we analysed them separately, using N- and O-linked oligosaccharide profiling kits based on fluorophore-assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis. N-linked, but not O-linked, oligosaccharides of patients' IgA1 were oversialylated, and this seemed to be linked to an excess of SA on the same number of polysaccharides as normal IgA1. To localize the abnormality to the Fab and/or Fc fragments, monomeric IgA1 was digested with protease, separated and transferred to nitrocellulose, where SA was identified by SNA. Both Fab and Fc fragments appeared to be oversialylated. Oversialylation of N-linked oligosaccharides of IgA1 from patients with pSS might prevent the recognition of IgA by receptors that are responsible for their clearance, resulting in an excess of serum IgA and related immune complexes.

[Who uses the public health service? An example from North-East Brazil]

We questioned the users of two public health centers in the city of Recife, North-East Brazil, and a third center in a small neighboring town, about their level of education, their activities, incomes and perception of the functioning of the public health service. Overall, the users of the service, who were mostly women, gave a positive opinion of its functioning. However, the population as a whole perceived use of the public health service to be associated with poverty and social exclusion.

Enhanced sialyltransferase activity in B lymphocytes from patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome

Despite the indisputable role of immunoglobulin (Ig)A in the pathogenesis of primary Sjögren syndrome (pSS), the causative abnormality remains largely unknown. As an extension of our report that IgA is oversialylated in this disease, the thrust of the present study was to measure the sialyltransferase (ST) activity in B lymphocytes. ST containing lysates of B cells from 17 pSS patients and 10 controls, were obtained using a combination of detergents, and incubated with affinity purified IgA that had been previously desialylated. The deposition of cytidine 5' monophosphate sialic acid (SA) by ST from B cells onto IgA was detected by two ELISA based upon the use of biotinylated lectins (Sambucus nigra agglutinin which is specific for alpha2-6 SA and Maackia amurensis which is specific for alpha2-3 SA). In parallel, the amount of SA on IgA from ten of the 17 patients and eight of the 10 controls was assayed using the same method. An excess of alpha2-3 and alpha2-6 SA on IgA was found in those patients with excessive activity of alpha2-3 and alpha2-6 ST. Thus, IgA hypersialylation in pSS patients may result from undue activity of ST.

Glycosylation of immunoglobulin A influences its receptor binding

Immunoglobulin A (IgA), which is heavily glycosylated, interacts with a variety of receptors, e.g. the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R), which binds terminal galactose residues, and the Fcalpha receptor (FcalphaRI). It has thus been proposed that elevated serum levels of IgA in primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) are caused by its defective clearance. To test this hypothesis, we developed a method (based on sialyl transferases eluted from a hepatoma cell line) to increase the amount of sialic acid (SA) on IgA, and used a battery of IgA1- and IgA2-specific glycosidases to reduce this amount. Binding of IgA1 and IgA2 to ASGP-R and FcalphaRI was found to be sugar dependent because oversialylated IgA bound less than native or desialylated IgA. However, individual sugars did not play a direct role in this binding. Given that IgA are oversialylated in pSS, defective clearance of IgA may indeed be ascribed to an excess of SA in IgA1 and IgA2.

[Gastric granulocytic sarcoma revealed by a massive digestive hemorrhage]

We report the case of a 37-year-old-man having a chronic myelogenous leukemia, who presented, one month after a splenic acutization, massive gastrointestinal bleeding from ulcerated nodules of the gastric fundus. The histologic examination of one of these nodules showed granulocytic sarcoma. In spite of an endoscopic treatment by sclerotherapy with adrenalined serum, the death occurred during a hemorrhagic recurrence. This observation, which is the third case reported of gastric granulocytic sarcoma during the acutization of a myelogenous chronic leukemia, and the first revealed by fatal gastrointestinal bleeding, shows the particular gravity of gastrointestinal bleeding complicating granulocytic sarcoma.

[Low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma and helicobacter heilmannii (Gastrospirillum hominis]

We report the fourth case of low-grade gastric MALT lymphoma associated to Helicobacter heilmannii. This spiral organism may be present in the gastric mucosa of animals where it is non pathogenic while, in humans, its presence is always associated with chronic gastritis. In this case, Helicobacter heilmannii was observed in the absence of Helicobacter pylori. Regression of endoscopic and histological lesions after Helicobacter heilmannii eradication suggests its role in gastric lymphoma. This observation underlines the need for searching for Helicobacter heilmannii by careful histological examination, in the absence of Helicobacter pylori, and the importance of its eradication in the treatment of gastric lymphoma.

Is FISH painting an appropriate biological marker for dose estimates of suspected accidental radiation overexposure? A review of cases investigated in France from 1995 to 1996

From 1995 to 1996 about 15 people suspected of being overexposed to ionizing radiation were referred to the Institute for Nuclear Safety and Protection in Fontenay-aux-Roses, France, for investigation by chromosome aberration analysis. Biological estimates of accidental overexposure were first obtained by scoring radio-induced unstable structural chromosome aberrations (dicentrics, centric rings, and fragments) in peripheral blood lymphocytes. For dose estimates, the yield of these chromosomal aberrations observed in 500 metaphases was compared with the laboratory dose-response relationship established from human blood irradiated in vitro (gamma-rays, 60Co, 0.5 Gy/min). To extend the possibilities of detecting DNA damage from earlier exposures by visualizing stable chromosome aberrations, chromosome painting by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH painting) was developed using a cocktail of three composite whole human chromosome-specific DNA probes (numbers 2, 4, and 12). A laboratory calibration curve for scoring terminal and/or reciprocal translocations was established for the same radiation quality and dose rate as those used for conventional cytogenetics (gamma-rays, 60Co, 0.5 Gy/min). For dosimetry purposes, it was also important to verify whether FISH painting could be applied to each human blood sample assessed for conventional expertise. For each individual, 2000 metaphases were scored for the presence or absence of reciprocal and terminal translocations. We present here a comparison between the results obtained by the two technologies for each of the cases studied separately. We describe their similarities or differences and discuss the suitability of using FISH painting for routine expertise analysis.

Lateral geniculate neuron responses to drifting sine-wave gratings in rabbits

Neurons of the lateral geniculate body in rabbits were excited with drifting sine-wave gratings. Rabbits were anesthetized and paralyzed under conventional methods to record action potentials of single cells using tungsten in glass microelectrodes. All classes of geniculate cells responded in a modulatory pattern. It appears that the unmodulatory pattern typical of complex cell types of the cortex is extremely infrequent or absent. In the spatial domain most cells are low pass and bandpass. Only one unit was high pass. In the temporal domain low-pass and bandpass cells were the most frequently recorded. Four geniculate cells were high pass. It appears, therefore, that neurons of rabbits' geniculate are tuned over spatial and temporal frequencies of sine-wave gratings. The comparison with cortical recordings revealed that geniculate cells are more broadly tuned than cortical neurons. This study suggests that the rabbit's visual system is sensitive to gratings. However cells respond optimally to lower values, e.g., broader gratings, than neurons of frontalized eye animals.

Visual cortical neuron responses to drifting sine-wave gratings in rabbits

Neurons of area 17 (V1) in rabbits were stimulated with drifting sine-wave gratings. Animals were anesthetized and paralyzed under conventional methods to record action potentials of single cells using tungsten-in-glass micro-electrodes. Neurons responded in modulatory or unmodulatory patterns depending on whether cells were of the simple or complex type, respectively. In the spatial domain, most cells were Low-Pass and Band-Pass, with no recordings of High-Pass units. In the temporal domain, Low-Pass, Band-Pass and High-Pass behaviours were found. Rabbits appeared to exhibit all types of pattern responses found in other foveate mammals, including special-complex and end-stopping units. However, in the majority of cells, there was a shift towards the lower end of the spatial frequency spectrum. For instance, the optimal spatial frequency was in the vicinity of lc/d while in the temporal domain, some units responded optimally at 10 c/s. In conclusion, it appears that rabbit cortex contain neurons which are selective for spatial frequency in a manner comparable to that seen in cat and monkey.

Chromosomal polymorphism in sand gazelles (Gazella subgutturosa marica)

A total of 84 Gazella subgutturosa from three captive populations (two in Saudi Arabia, one in Qatar) were karyotyped. The number of chromosomes is 33, 32, or 31 for the males and 32, 31, or 30 for the females because of the X-autosome translocation that is common in the genus and a centric fusion between the two pairs of acrocentric chromosomes. The G- and R-banded karyotypes of gazelles translocated show that this fusion is the same as that previously reported for gazelles from Jordan. The precise origin of these populations is not known, but in every case the first animals are said to come from the wild in Saudi Arabia. This chromosomal translocation appears to be a populational polymorphism and not the result of hybridization between two different subspecies of G. subgutturosa.

Robertsonian chromosome polymorphism in the Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx)

A Robertsonian translocation was found in a herd of Arabian oryx (Oryx leucoryx). The translocated chromosome, when analyzed by G-banding, seemed to involve the fusion of chromosomes 17 and 19. The results of C-banding suggested that the fused chromosome is dicentric. The translocation was traced back through two generations and occurred in a total of 8 of 62 animals in the herd.

Antibody to liver cytosol (anti-LC1) in patients with autoimmune chronic active hepatitis type 2

A new autoantibody was detected by immunoprecipitation in the serum of 21 patients with chronic active hepatitis. The antibody reacted against a soluble cytosolic antigen in liver. The antibody was organ specific but not species specific and was therefore called anti-liver cytosol antibody Type 1 (anti-LC1). In seven of 21 cases, no other autoantibody was found; the remaining 14 cases had anti-liver/kidney microsome antibody Type 1 (anti-LKM1). With indirect immunofluorescence, a distinctive staining pattern was observed with the seven sera with anti-LC1 and without anti-LKM1. The antibody stained the cytoplasm of hepatocytes from four different animal species and spared the cellular layer around the central veins of mouse and rat liver that we have called juxtavenous hepatocytes. The immunofluorescence pattern disappeared after absorption of sera by a liver cytosol fraction. The 14 sera with both antibodies displayed anti-LC1 immunofluorescent pattern after absorption of anti-LKM1 by the liver microsomal fraction. The anti-LC1 was found in the serum only in patients with chronic active hepatitis of unknown cause. Anti-LC1 antibody was not found in sera from 100 patients with chronic active hepatitis associated with anti-actin antibody classic chronic active hepatitis Type 1, 100 patients with primary biliary cirrhosis, 157 patients with drug-induced hepatitis and a large number of patients with liver and nonliver diseases. This new antibody was considered a second marker of chronic active hepatitis associated with anti-LKM1 (anti-LKM1 chronic active hepatitis) or autoimmune chronic active hepatitis Type 2.