The hepatokine FGL1 regulates hepcidin and iron metabolism during anemia in mice by antagonizing BMP signaling

ABSTRACT

As a functional component of erythrocyte hemoglobin, iron is essential for oxygen delivery to all tissues in the body. The liver-derived peptide hepcidin is the master regulator of iron homeostasis. During anemia, the erythroid hormone erythroferrone regulates hepcidin synthesis to ensure the adequate supply of iron to the bone marrow for red blood cell production. However, mounting evidence suggested that another factor may exert a similar function. We identified the hepatokine fibrinogen-like 1 (FGL1) as a previously undescribed suppressor of hepcidin that is induced in the liver in response to hypoxia during the recovery from anemia, and in thalassemic mice. We demonstrated that FGL1 is a potent suppressor of hepcidin in vitro and in vivo. Deletion of Fgl1 in mice results in higher hepcidin levels at baseline and after bleeding. FGL1 exerts its activity by directly binding to bone morphogenetic protein 6 (BMP6), thereby inhibiting the canonical BMP-SMAD signaling cascade that controls hepcidin transcription.

Dietary Amino Acid Source Elicits Sex-Specific Metabolic Response to Diet-Induced NAFLD in Mice

SCOPE

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a sexually dimorphic disease influenced by dietary factors. Here, the metabolic and hepatic effects of dietary amino acid (AA) source is assessed in Western diet (WD)-induced NAFLD in male and female mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The AA source is either casein or a free AA mixture mimicking the composition of casein. As expected, males fed a casein-based WD display glucose intolerance, fasting hyperglycemia, and insulin-resistance and develop NAFLD associated with changes in hepatic gene expression and microbiota dysbiosis. In contrast, males fed the AA-based WD show no steatosis, a similar gene expression profile as males fed a control diet, and a distinct microbiota composition compared to males fed a casein-based WD. Females are protected against WD-induced liver damage, hepatic gene expression, and gut microbiota changes regardless of the AA source.

CONCLUSIONS

Free dietary AA intake prevents the unhealthy metabolic outcomes of a WD preferentially in male mice.

The hepatokine FGL1 regulates hepcidin and iron metabolism during the recovery from hemorrhage-induced anemia in mice

As a functional component of erythrocyte hemoglobin, iron is essential for oxygen delivery to all tissues in the body. The liver-derived peptide hepcidin is the master regulator of iron homeostasis. During anemia, the erythroid hormone erythroferrone regulates hepcidin synthesis to ensure adequate supply of iron to the bone marrow for red blood cells production. However, mounting evidence suggested that another factor may exert a similar function. We identified the hepatokine FGL1 as a previously undescribed suppressor of hepcidin that is induced in the liver in response to hypoxia during the recovery from anemia and in thalassemic mice. We demonstrated that FGL1 is a potent suppressor of hepcidin in vitro and in vivo . Deletion of Fgl1 in mice results in a blunted repression of hepcidin after bleeding. FGL1 exerts its activity by direct binding to BMP6, thereby inhibiting the canonical BMP-SMAD signaling cascade that controls hepcidin transcription.

Key points

1/ FGL1 regulates iron metabolism during the recovery from anemia. 2/ FGL1 is an antagonist of the BMP/SMAD signaling pathway.

A variant erythroferrone disrupts iron homeostasis in SF3B1-mutated myelodysplastic syndrome

Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with ring sideroblasts are hematopoietic stem cell disorders with erythroid dysplasia and mutations in the SF3B1 splicing factor gene. Patients with MDS with SF3B1 mutations often accumulate excessive tissue iron, even in the absence of transfusions, but the mechanisms that are responsible for their parenchymal iron overload are unknown. Body iron content, tissue distribution, and the supply of iron for erythropoiesis are controlled by the hormone hepcidin, which is regulated by erythroblasts through secretion of the erythroid hormone erythroferrone (ERFE). Here, we identified an alternative ERFE transcript in patients with MDS with the SF3B1 mutation. Induction of this ERFE transcript in primary SF3B1-mutated bone marrow erythroblasts generated a variant protein that maintained the capacity to suppress hepcidin transcription. Plasma concentrations of ERFE were higher in patients with MDS with an SF3B1 gene mutation than in patients with SF3B1 wild-type MDS. Thus, hepcidin suppression by a variant ERFE is likely responsible for the increased iron loading in patients with SF3B1-mutated MDS, suggesting that ERFE could be targeted to prevent iron-mediated toxicity. The expression of the variant ERFE transcript that was restricted to SF3B1-mutated erythroblasts decreased in lenalidomide-responsive anemic patients, identifying variant ERFE as a specific biomarker of clonal erythropoiesis.

Real-life rilpivirine resistance and potential emergence of an E138A-positive HIV strain in north-eastern France

OBJECTIVES

To assess the prevalence of resistance to rilpivirine and mutations at position 138 in reverse transcriptase and to identify associated epidemiological and biological characteristics.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 238 patients with available HIV-1 nucleotide sequences analysed at the Laboratory of Virology at the University Hospital of Nancy between January 2011 and June 2013. Resistance to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) was evaluated according to the ANRS algorithm (version 23) and correlated with clinico-epidemiological and therapeutic data. The virus strains were analysed by evaluating the distance and distribution of the phylogenetic tree (MEGAv5).

RESULTS

Among previously treated patients (111/238, 46.6%), 68/111 (61.3%) had received NNRTIs; all were rilpivirine-naive. The prevalence of rilpivirine resistance in the whole cohort was 12.6% (30/238), and was 10.2% (13/127) and 15.3% (17/111) in naive and pre-treated patients, respectively. The E138A mutation was the most frequent mutation associated with resistance to rilpivirine (P < 0.0001). The prevalence of the E138A mutation tended to increase over time, from 3.6% (2/55) during the first half of 2011 to 9.3% (4/43) during the first half of 2013 (P = 0.0614). Seven viral strains from seven naive male patients positive for the E138A mutation appeared in the same cluster.

CONCLUSIONS

In our cohort of patients, we observed significantly increased resistance to rilpivirine, mostly because of the E138A mutation, probably due to an E138A strain circulating in newly diagnosed men who have sex with men. Taken together, our results emphasize the need to investigate the prevalence of rilpivirine resistance-associated mutations in the coming years both in France and abroad.

Large agminated cellular 'plaque-type' blue nevus surrounding the ear: a case and review

Large or giant cellular blue nevi are usually congenital and represent a challenge for the physician. Close anatomic structures may be altered by the size of the moles. In this article, we report the case of an uncommon large, agminated, cellular blue nevus of the 'plaque type' in a 42-year-old female. Due to the risks of malignant melanoma development on a large or giant blue nevus, we highlight the importance of proper histopathological diagnosis. Furthermore, because of the possibility that the nevus may invade the bone and cerebral tissues, we discuss the indication of a radiological diagnosis. The accurate correlation to clinical and histopathological findings and appropriate multidisciplinary management can save the lives of patients.

HLA-B*51:79 is a novel allele associated with a conserved haplotype

The B*51:79 allele displays a conserved haplotype association with HLA-A*68:01, C*01:02, DRB1*14:01 and DQB1*05:03.

[Management of basal cell carcinoma]

Basal cell carcinoma is a major public health problem, because its incidence is high and due to its relationship to sun exposure. Early detection is pivotal in reducing its morbidity and an adequate therapeutic approach enables definitive healing of the disease in most cases. Conventional and micrographic surgery both are gold standard for non-superficial forms of the tumor. Other therapies are available or are under investigation, ranging from radiotherapy to modalities based on the understanding of molecular events leading to tumor development.

A light sterilizable pipette device for the in vivo estimation of human soft tissues constitutive laws

This paper introduces a new light device for the in vivo estimation of human soft tissues constitutive laws. It consists of an aspiration pipette able to meet the very severe sterilization and handling issues imposed during surgery. The simplicity of the device, free of any electronic circuitry, allows using it as an ancillary instrument. The deformation of the aspired tissue is imaged via a mirror using an external camera. The paper describes the experimental setup as well as the protocol that should be used during surgery. First feasibility measurements are shown for human tongue and forearm skin.

HLA-B*0749N: the first HLA-B*07 null allele

In the present article, we report the identification of the first HLA-B*07 null allele found in a Polish patient awaiting a kidney allograft. A discrepant result obtained between serological typing (HLA-B "blank") and high-resolution molecular typing using PCR-SSP method (HLA-B*070201 allele) suggested the presence of a null allele. Genomic DNA sequencing of the HLA-B*07 allele revealed a single nucleotide substitution at the 3' end of the exon 4 leading to a premature stop codon.

HLA-A*02010102L: a laborious assignment

In the present report we describe the laborious identification of the A*02010102L allele found in three healthy individuals of a French family who have shown a reduced A2 antigen expression using serological tests since the 1980s. PCR-SSP typing showed a classical A*0201 allele. Sequencing of exons 2, 3 and 4 confirmed this assignment. Sequencing of the whole gene (promoter, introns and exons 1-8) revealed one single point mutation (T to C) at position -101 in the enhancer B element region compared to the A*02010101 allele. This single mutation appears to be related to the reduced expression of the A2 antigen. This allele segregates with the haplotype Cw*12, B44, DR7, DQ2, which is different to the one described earlier.

Relevance of KIR gene matching in unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplantations

The aim of this collaborative study was to evaluate the impact of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) gene disparities on unrelated hematopoietic stem cell transplantations (HSCT) outcome. To address this question, we have determined the presence or absence of 14 functional KIR genes in HLA-matched (n= 164) or HLA-mismatched (n= 100) donor/recipient pairs and investigated whether KIR gene disparities had an impact on both the occurrence of acute graft-vs-host-disease incidence and overall survival. In a univariate analysis, our preliminary results suggest a detrimental effect of a few KIR gene disparities on patient survival that should be avoided in unrelated HSCT.

Non-linear elastic properties of the lingual and facial tissues assessed by indentation technique. Application to the biomechanics of speech production

This paper aims at characterizing the mechanical behavior of two human anatomical structures, namely the tongue and the cheek. For this, an indentation experiment was provided, by measuring the mechanical response of tongue and cheek tissues removed from the fresh cadaver of a 74 year old woman. Non-linear relationships were observed between the force applied to the tissues and the corresponding displacements. To infer the mechanical constitutive laws from these measurements, a finite element (FE) analysis was provided. This analysis aimed at simulating the indentation experiment. An optimization process was used to determine the FE constitutive laws that provided the non-linear force/displacements observed during the indentation experiments. The tongue constitutive law was used for simulations provided by a 3D FE biomechanical model of the human tongue. This dynamical model was designed to study speech production. Given a set of tongue muscular commands, which levels correspond to the force classically measured during speech production, the FE model successfully simulated the main tongue movements observed during speech data.

New HLA-DRB1*07 allele identified from microlymphocytotoxicity/SSP discrepancies

A HLA-DRB1*07 variant allele has been identified in a cadaver kidney donor. Serological typing using monoclonal antibodies detected HLA-DR4 and HLA-DR7. HLA class II DNA typing using sequence-specific primer (PCR-SSP) polymerase chain reaction only detected DRB1*04, while sequence-specific oligonucleotide (PCR-SSO) polymerase chain reaction confirmed the presence of both DRB1*04 and DRB1*07 alleles, although two extra reactions were also found. Exon 2 of the HLA-DRB1*07 was isolated using allele-specific PCR, then cloned and sequenced. Four mutations, at positions 170 (T --> C), 171 (C --> T), 174 (C --> G), and 179 (C --> A), were observed. These mutations changed codons 57 and 60 (V --> A; S --> Y, respectively). This amino acid sequence at position 56-61 is only found in DRB1*0811.

Regulation of the chemokine system at the level of chemokine receptor expression and signaling activity

The chemokine system is highly influenced by the microenvironmental context. Regulation of the chemokine system occurs not only at the level of agonist production, but also at the level of chemokine receptor expression. This review provides examples of regulation of the system at the receptor level by modulation of receptor expression in canonical cellular targets (tuning of the system), and induction of novel receptors (shaping of the system), with particular attention to dendritic cells as a cellular model. Receptor signaling activity represents a further potential level of regulation of the system. Finally, chemokines can also influence the microenvironment by modulating gene expression in target cells.

Variation in anticipatory coarticulation with changes in clarity and rate

This study tests the hypothesis that the relative timing, or coarticulation, of articulatory movements at VC and CV boundaries is influenced by both the listener's requirement for clarity and the speaker's strategy to economize effort. Movement and acoustic data were collected from 7 subjects who spoke in three conditions: normal, clear, and fast. It was predicted that fast speech would show more coarticulation and clear speech would show less coarticulation than normal speech. The speech materials were designed to investigate coarticulation in the movements of the upper lip and tongue. They consisted of repetitions of [iC(n)u] utterances embedded in carrier phrases, where the number of consonants, n, ranged from 1 to 3. Analyses focused on kinematic measures and the amount of coarticulation (overlap) of the /i-u/ transition movement with the acoustic interval of the /i/. The consonant-string duration was longest in the clear speaking condition and shortest in the fast condition. Compared to the normal condition, peak velocities were higher in the fast and clear speaking conditions, indicating increased effort. The influences of speaking condition on coarticulation and on the formants of the /i/ were small. Thus, even though there was evidence of increased effort in the clear and fast conditions, the hypothesized effects of a trade-off between clarity and economy of effort were minimally evident in formant values for /i/ and measures of coarticulation.

Identification of a new DQB1 allele that appears to have been generated by an interallelic sequence exchange

The study reports the molecular characterization of a new DQB1 variant initially detected by unusual sequence-specific oligonucleotide (SSO) hybridization patterns in one Caucasoid individual. This new allele is identical to DQB1*0501 except for two silent nucleotide substitutions at codons 49 (GCA-->GCG) and 77 (AGG-->AGA). Compared with DQB1*0502 it differs in three nucleotides at codon 57 changing AGC (encoding Ser) to GTT (encoding Val). Considering the paternal genotype, it appears this new allele might have been generated by an interallelic sequence exchange between the two paternal DQB1 alleles.

[Functional evaluation of intraoral reconstructive surgery. A valuable tool: articulatory evaluation of the acoustic signal]

Functional tests are needed to assess the quality of reconstructive surgery after treatment of intraoral cancers. Quality of Life tests are subjective and Cinefluoroscopy is a demanding and non-comparative procedure. We develop here a method to test the capacity of patients to maximize use of their articulatory space. We recorded a corpus of sounds. These sounds were analyzed with classical signal processing procedures. By comparison with a non-distorded sound database, it was possible to evaluate speech disorders, localize the defect, and provide a guide for rehabilitation. This method is an objective, reproductible, and comparative measurement tool.

Ultrasonic assessment of variations in thickness of subcutaneous fat during the normal menstrual cycle

OBJECTIVE

To verify the occurrence of natural variations in thigh and abdominal subcutaneous fat thickness related to the phases of the menstrual cycle, to assess the value of ultrasonography as a reliable method for monitoring subcutaneous fat thickness changes and to evaluate their amplitudes.

METHODS

This study included 10 women (19-39 years) who menstruated regularly. None had used oral contraceptives or slimming products during the 3 months prior to the study. At cycle day 2 (CD2), CD6, CD14, CD22, CD27 and CD30 days (CD0: beginning of menstruation), the subjects were submitted to: (1) measurement of weight and thigh perimeters, (2) measurements of thigh and abdomen subcutaneous fatty tissue thickness on B-mode images acquired at 10 MHz. A protocol was designed to guarantee a reproducible repositioning during the whole time course of the study and ultrasound examinations (US) were always performed by the same trained person to avoid inter-examiner variability.

RESULTS

Subcutaneous fat thicknesses decreased during the first half of the cycle and reached their lowest values at day 22 (-2.0% for the thighs; -3.3% for the abdominal region). Both thigh and abdomen subcutaneous fat reached their maximum thicknesses during menstruation with respective increases of +2.2 and +4.0%. The observed cyclic amplitude variations in the subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness accounted for 7.3% for the abdominal region and 4.1% for the thighs.

CONCLUSION

Variations in adipose tissue thickness during the menstrual cycle could be quantified and monitored by US. The thickness of the thigh and abdominal hypodermis was more important during menstruation and decreased in mid-cycle with a minimum occurring 1 week after ovulation.

Coupling of a Rydberg electron capture ion source with a quadrupole mass filter

The coupling of a Rydberg electron capture ion source with a Nermag R10-10H quadrupole mass filter is described. Details are given of the addition to this instrument of a creation cell for atoms excited in Rydberg states. Within the Nermag ion source, such atoms allow attachment of electrons of well-defined thermal energy. SF(6) was used for optimization of the main experimental parameters (gas pressures and voltages applied to the electrodes). The procedure by which Rydberg electron attachment was confirmed is described. A polychlorobiphenyl compound was used to illustrate the performance of this ionization technique. Ion formation was observed in the absence of fragmentation.

[Association of sarcoidosis and hemorrhagic rectocolitis in an insulin-dependent diabetic]

Ulcerative colitis and sarcoidosis are seldom associated. A 33-year-old diabetic man developed simultaneously a rectitis and a non-productive cough leading to the diagnosis of ulcerative colitis and sarcoidosis. These diagnoses are discussed because of the possible gastrointestinal lesions from sarcoidosis or the respiratory disorders due to ulcerative colitis. Some pathophysiological evidence can be found in this case in favor of a non-fortuitous association.

Compensation strategies for the perturbation of French [u] using a lip tube. II. Perceptual analysis

A perceptual analysis of the French vowel [u] produced by 10 speakers under normal and perturbed conditions (Savariaux et al., 1995) is presented which aims at characterizing in the perceptual domain the task of a speaker for this vowel, and, then, at understanding the strategies developed by the speakers to deal with the lip perturbation. Identification and rating tests showed that the French [u] is perceptually fairly well described in the [F1, (F2-F0)] plane, and that the parameter (((F2-F0) + F1)/2) (all frequencies in bark) provides a good overall correlate of the "grave" feature classically used to describe the vowel [u] in all languages. This permitted reanalysis of the behavior of the speakers during the perturbation experiment. Three of them succeed in producing a good [u] in spite of the lip tube, thanks to a combination of limited changes on F1 and (F2-F0), but without producing the strong backward movement of the tongue, which would be necessary to keep the [F1,F2] pattern close to the one measured in normal speech. The only speaker who strongly moved his tongue back and maintained F1 and F2 at low values did not produce a perceptually well-rated [u], but additional tests demonstrate that this gesture allowed him to preserve the most important phonetic features of the French [u], which is primarily a back and rounded vowel. It is concluded that speech production is clearly guided by perceptual requirements, and that the speakers have a good representation of them, even if they are not all able to meet them in perturbed conditions.

The equilibrium point hypothesis and its application to speech motor control

In this paper, we address a number of issues in speech research in the context of the equilibrium point hypothesis of motor control. The hypothesis suggests that movements arise from shifts in the equilibrium position of the limb or the speech articulator. The equilibrium is a consequence of the interaction of central neural commands, reflex mechanisms, muscle properties, and external loads, but it is under the control of central neural commands. These commands act to shift the equilibrium via centrally specified signals acting at the level of the motoneurone (MN) pool. In the context of a model of sagittal plane jaw and hyoid motion based on the lambda version of the equilibrium point hypothesis, we consider the implications of this hypothesis for the notion of articulatory targets. We suggest that simple linear control signals may underlie smooth articulatory trajectories. We explore as well the phenomenon of intraarticulator coarticulation in jaw movement. We suggest that even when no account is taken of upcoming context, that apparent anticipatory changes in movement amplitude and duration may arise due to dynamics. We also present a number of simulations that show in different ways how variability in measured kinematics can arise in spite of constant magnitude speech control signals.

In vivo evaluation of a trileaflet mechanical heart valve

Design goals for a mechanical heart valve include duplicating the hemodynamic performance of the natural valve, eliminating the need for anticoagulants, and maintaining safety. The Lapeyre-Dassault (Dassault-Aviation, Paris, France) prosthetic valve, undergoing development, addresses these goals. The unique trileaflet design consists of a solid titanium ring and three leaflets. Prototypes of the valve fabricated with Delrin leaflets were implanted in the mitral position in six calves (70-90 kg). Four calves (Studies 1, 2, 3, 5) had long-term survival of 165, 158, 219, and 281 days, respectively. Two calves were killed, one on Day 37 and one on Day 39, after complications unrelated to the valve developed. In all calves heparin was given intravenously to maintain partial thromboplastin time at 1.5 to 2.0 x baseline for approximately 1 week. In Studies 1 and 2 full anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy was given (orally administered sodium warfarin to maintain prothrombin time at 1.5 to 2.0 x baseline, along with aspirin (1 g/day) and dipyridamole 400 mg/day). In Study 3, all anticoagulation and antiplatelet therapy was discontinued at 1 month after implant. In Study 5, no anticoagulation therapy was given after the initial week of intravenous heparin; however, antiplatelet therapy was started on the fifth postoperative month and maintained until the study's end at 9 months. At 1, 2, 3, and 5 months, the mean plasma free hemoglobin level in the four long-term animals was 5.0 +/- 2.16, 6.0 +/- 3.83, 8.5 +/- 4.93, and 11.3 +/- 6.74 mg/dl, respectively. Hemolysis was not a problem. Valve performance during normal activity was excellent in all the calves, as evidenced by echocardiography and the overall appearance of good health. In the four completed long-term studies, left heart catheterization showed a mean valve pressure gradient of 11.57 +/- 1.26 mmHg and no apparent valvular regurgitation. Histopathologic examination of major organs showed no evidence of thromboembolic events. This study shows that the innovative design of this trileaflet valve performed well in initial in vivo testing, justifying further development.

A novel HLA haplotype containing a DRB5 gene associated with the DRB1*0103 allele

A new hybrid haplotype, a DRB1*0103 allele associated with a DRB5*0101 allele, was found in a French Caucasoid family and has been described here. When these cells were typed by serology, contrarily to cells with the DR1 + 2s haplotype, they did not seem to be triplets. The reactivity of these cells with the DR2 allosera led to a false serological HLA-DR typing. RFLP analysis and DNA oligotyping after DR1-DRB1, DR2-DRB1 and DRB5 group-specific amplifications showed that there was no DR2-DRB1 product in these cells and demonstrated the segregation of a DR103 DR51 haplotype in the family.

[Population genetics, immunologic evaluation and Buerger's disease. Projection through a personal study comprising 127 cases of juvenile arteriopathy]

The analysis of anamnestic, clinical and arteriographic parameters in 127 young patients with arterial disease of the lower limbs allowed a definite distinction between thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) and early-onset atheroma, even if the etiopathogenic of TAO is still obscure. The HLA gene frequency has been determined in 54 patients (14 TAO, 40 early atheroma) and has been compared with local blood donors and with caucased subjects from the IXth Workshop. The results (higher frequency of HLA A28, AX, B53 and BX in the TAO group) have, however, a dubious significance. Furthermore, there were no differences between TAO and early atheroma in a comparative study of immunological parameters (anti-nuclear antibodies, circulating immune complexes, C3, C4 and CH50, cryoglobulin) in 72 patients (22 TAO, 50 early atheroma). So, neither a genetic predisposition nor a dysimmunity could be involved in the pathogenesis of TAO.

Autosomal dominant arthropathy in a French family

We studied a French family in which 18 adult members had destructive arthropathy and enthesopathic changes. In 16 patients, the diagnosis was verified radiologically, and in the 2 other patients, the clinical history was consistent with familial arthropathy. The disease predominantly affects the wrists, fingers, shoulders, and peripheral entheses, and its onset occurs after age 18. Genetic transmission is autosomal dominant, with 100% penetrance, and is not related to the HLA system. The clinical and radiologic features are strikingly similar in all patients in successive generations and different branches of the genealogic tree, and this suggests monogenic transmission.

Evidence of mitochondrial impairment during cardiac allograft rejection

NADH laser fluorimetry and mitochondrial oxigraphy were used to study myocardial oxidative energy metabolism during cardiac allograft rejection. Heterotopic cardiac transplantation was performed on Lewis rats; allografts (with Fischer rat donors) were compared with isografts (with Lewis rat donors). In vivo and in vitro assays were performed six days after transplantation. Myocardial NADH fluorescence was recorded in vivo from grafted hearts, at baseline; during brief, complete ischemia; and during reperfusion. Oxygen consumption of mitochondria isolated from both native and grafted hearts was determined. Neither baseline levels nor maximum ischemic levels of NADH fluorescence (F0 = k[NADH]) were found to be significantly different between allografts (0.45 +/- 0.05 to 0.87 +/- 0.10) and isografts (0.45 +/- 0.04 to 1.11 +/- 0.05). During recovery, the rate of fluorescence decrease was significantly lower in allografts than in isografts (0.024 +/- 0.001 vs. 0.038 +/- 0.002 delta F0.s-1, P less than 10(-3], indicating a lower rate of NADH reoxidation. In the presence of malate and glutamate substrates, mitochondrial O2 consumption was significantly lower in allografts than in isografts (30 +/- 9 vs. 100 +/- 15 nanoatoms O2. min-1.mg prot-1, P less than 10(-2]. These results indicate that mitochondrial oxidative metabolism was impaired during the rejection process. Such energy production disturbances may contribute to the dysfunction of rejecting hearts.

Dépérissement, déficit hydrique et variations de croissance radiale chez le Picea abies

Changes in the water status of spruce needles have been studied in relation with the present dieback disease of forests in the French Jura. A study of the variation in width of annual rings has been conducted to evaluate if radial growth was disturbed during forest decline. The water content of the needles displayed great individual variability, but at the population level, variation in water content was closely correlated to the health status of the trees: at the same age, the needles of the damaged trees showed lower water content than those of the healthy ones. A mean diameter growth index was used to take into account the effect of ageing of the trees on diameter growth. Globally, this index increased during the past century: such a result indicates that the vigour of the spruce populations had not been altered since the beginning of the century. The healthy and diseased trees displayed the same variation in the mean growth index until 1949. Then, the affected spruces had annual increments lower than those of the healthy trees during two periods, from 1949 to 1959 and from 1973 to 1987. These growth crises correspond to periods with a pronounced rainfall deficit, which often included one or several years of severe drought. Thus, poor water supply could play a role in the present decline of spruce in the French Jura. Key words: radial growth, forest decline, tree-ring width, drought, water content.

The solid-state decarboxylation of the diammonium salt of moxalactam

This paper reports studies of the solid-state chemistry of the diammonium salt of moxalactam. The methods employed include X-ray crystallography, molecular mechanics calculations, thermogravimetric analysis, and high-pressure liquid chromatography. The crystal structure shows that the malonic acid amide functionality in crystals of the diammonium salt is not planar. If the common decarboxylation mechanism is operating, then considerable rotation would be required for this functionality to attain coplanarity. Simultaneous HPLC and thermogravimetric analysis studies indicate that the decarboxylation of the diammonium salt of moxalactam is preceded by desolvation. Molecular mechanics calculations indicate that the barrier to rotation of the malonic acid amide functionality is relatively small in the dehydrated crystals, perhaps explaining the facile decarboxylation of this antibiotic. Alternatively, the amorphous desolvated crystals may allow enough molecular freedom for the malonic acid amide functionality to attain coplanarity and decarboxylate.

Lack of linkage between HLA and multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 in a French family

In this study, linkage between HLA and a dominant gene determining multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) in a large pedigree was investigated. All lod scores for recombination fractions ranging from 0 to 0.45 were negative. If we pool data from our family and the families studied by Jackson et al. (1976) and Simpson & Falk (1982), a link between HLA and the locus for MEN 2 can be excluded. Linkage studies with various markers and pooled data should be pursued to permit detection of high risk individuals and to identify a genetic defect.

Coronary artery restenosis following transluminal coronary angioplasty

Morphological changes are described in a case of coronary restenosis occurring three and ten months after transluminal coronary angioplasty. The lesions consisted of severe narrowing of the previously mechanically dilated coronary segments. This narrowing was produced by fibrocellular intimal hyperplasia associated with rupture of the media whereas the atheromatous plaque was not involved. This suggests that medial injury associated with healing intimal hyperplasia could be the major factor resulting in late coronary restenosis.

[Prenatal diagnosis of triploidy. II. Biological studies]

In three cases of triploïdy, the origin of extra haploid set is found by chromosomal and HLA markers. It does not confirm a relationship between paternal origin and partial hydatidiform mole. In case of prenatally diagnosed triploïdy, a protocol for biological studies is suggested.

HLA antigens and toxic reactions to sodium aurothiopropanol sulphonate and D-penicillamine in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

One hundred and forty-one patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with aurothiopropanol sulphonate or D-penicillamine, or both were examined for HLA antigens to investigate the genetic influence on the occurrence of different adverse reactions during therapy. All 13 patients possessing HLA-DR3 had toxic reactions. The relative risk for DR3 positives of developing skin eruptions or proteinuria was calculated to be 10.5 times and seven times respectively that of DR3 negatives. The incidence of DR7 antigen in 94 patients with toxic reactions was significantly decreased (11% compared with 28% in controls) suggesting a protective role for this antigen.

[Prevalence of anti-LAV antibodies in hemophiliacs, correlation with the immunological state]

49 french haemophiliacs (haemophilia A: 41 patients; haemophilia B: 8 patients) were serologicaly tested for LAV antibodies: 10 patients (20.4%) were seropositive including 9 (21.9%) with haemophilia A and 1 (12,5%) with haemophilia B. Between seronegative and seropositive patients total lymphocyte and T-lymphocyte sub-populations counts were not significantly different. The mean serum IgG level was higher and palpable lymphadenopathy more frequently encountered among seropositive patients.