Norms in and between the philosophical ivory tower and public health practice: A heuristic model of translational ethics

This paper draws attention to the translation of ethical norms between the theoretical discourses of philosophers and practical discourses in public health. It is suggested that five levels can be identified describing categories of a transferral process of ethical norms – a process we will refer hereto as “translational ethics”. The aim of the described process is to generate understanding regarding how ethical norms come into public health policy documents and are eventually referred to in practice. Categorizing several levels can show how ethical-philosophical concepts such as norms are transforming in meaning and scope. By subdividing the model to five levels, it is suggested that ethical concepts reduce their “content thickness” and complexity and trade this in for practicability and potential consensus in public health discourses from level to level. The model presented here is illustrated by showing how the philosophical-ethical terms “autonomy”, “dignity”, and “justice” are used at different levels of the translation process, from Kant’s and Rawls’ theories (level 1) to, in this example, WHO reports and communications (levels 4 and 5). A central role is seen for what is called “applied ethics” (level 3). &nbsp

Session 1.3: Health Protection and Disease Prevention: A Critical Review of Experience

This is a summary of the presentations and discussion of Health Protection and Disease Prevention of the Conference, Health Aspects of the Tsunami Disaster in Asia, convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Phuket, Thailand, 04-06 May 2005. The topics discussed included issues related health protection and disease prevention as pertaining to the responses to the damage created by the Tsunami. It is presented in the following major sections:(1) key questions; (2) national perspectives; (3) an international perspective; (4) laboratory aspects in disease surveillance; and (5) partnershi

Secretion of Hepatitis C Virus Envelope Glycoproteins Depends on Assembly of Apolipoprotein B Positive Lipoproteins

The density of circulating hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles in the blood of chronically infected patients is very heterogeneous. The very low density of some particles has been attributed to an association of the virus with apolipoprotein B (apoB) positive and triglyceride rich lipoproteins (TRL) likely resulting in hybrid lipoproteins known as lipo-viro-particles (LVP) containing the viral envelope glycoproteins E1 and E2, capsid and viral RNA. The specific infectivity of these particles has been shown to be higher than the infectivity of particles of higher density. The nature of the association of HCV particles with lipoproteins remains elusive and the role of apolipoproteins in the synthesis and assembly of the viral particles is unknown. The human intestinal Caco-2 cell line differentiates in vitro into polarized and apoB secreting cells during asymmetric culture on porous filters. By using this cell culture system, cells stably expressing E1 and E2 secreted the glycoproteins into the basal culture medium after one week of differentiation concomitantly with TRL secretion. Secreted glycoproteins were only detected in apoB containing density fractions. The E1–E2 and apoB containing particles were unique complexes bearing the envelope glycoproteins at their surface since apoB could be co-immunoprecipitated with E2-specific antibodies. Envelope protein secretion was reduced by inhibiting the lipidation of apoB with an inhibitor of the microsomal triglyceride transfer protein. HCV glycoproteins were similarly secreted in association with TRL from the human liver cell line HepG2 but not by Huh-7 and Huh-7.5 hepatoma cells that proved deficient for lipoprotein assembly. These data indicate that HCV envelope glycoproteins have the intrinsic capacity to utilize apoB synthesis and lipoprotein assembly machinery even in the absence of the other HCV proteins. A model for LVP assembly is proposed

SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 Delta variant replication and immune evasion

Abstract: The B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was first identified in the state of Maharashtra in late 2020 and spread throughout India, outcompeting pre-existing lineages including B.1.617.1 (Kappa) and B.1.1.7 (Alpha)1. In vitro, B.1.617.2 is sixfold less sensitive to serum neutralizing antibodies from recovered individuals, and eightfold less sensitive to vaccine-elicited antibodies, compared with wild-type Wuhan-1 bearing D614G. Serum neutralizing titres against B.1.617.2 were lower in ChAdOx1 vaccinees than in BNT162b2 vaccinees. B.1.617.2 spike pseudotyped viruses exhibited compromised sensitivity to monoclonal antibodies to the receptor-binding domain and the amino-terminal domain. B.1.617.2 demonstrated higher replication efficiency than B.1.1.7 in both airway organoid and human airway epithelial systems, associated with B.1.617.2 spike being in a predominantly cleaved state compared with B.1.1.7 spike. The B.1.617.2 spike protein was able to mediate highly efficient syncytium formation that was less sensitive to inhibition by neutralizing antibody, compared with that of wild-type spike. We also observed that B.1.617.2 had higher replication and spike-mediated entry than B.1.617.1, potentially explaining the B.1.617.2 dominance. In an analysis of more than 130 SARS-CoV-2-infected health care workers across three centres in India during a period of mixed lineage circulation, we observed reduced ChAdOx1 vaccine effectiveness against B.1.617.2 relative to non-B.1.617.2, with the caveat of possible residual confounding. Compromised vaccine efficacy against the highly fit and immune-evasive B.1.617.2 Delta variant warrants continued infection control measures in the post-vaccination era

Special beer aging : contribution of oxidation related compounds and roasted-like phenols

Since three decades, scientists have produced high amounts of literature on lager beer aging. Yet, our knowledge on top-fermentation beers behavior remains scarce. We started this study by the establishment of an overall picture of a panel of Belgian special beers. Esters, bringing nice freshness and fruity characters revealed quite stable in most beers, even after 12 months whereas a large variability of short chain fatty acid profiles emerged. Only isovaleric acid was found above its sensorial threshold, even after 2 years of aging. Study of theaspirane and sotolon, two unknown aromas for brewers although particularly relevant in oxidized beverages, were also investigated. For sotolon which emerged as responsible of the Madeira off-flavor found in some aged special beers, the key role of acetaldehyde, ascorbic acid and acetoin were highlighted. We also evidenced for the first time 6 interesting theaspirane oxidation derived compounds. Two of them revealed flavor-active: 4-hydroxy-7,8-dihydro-β-ionone exhaling a grenadine aroma and dihydrodehydro-β-ionone, with a nice Sauternes-like aroma (found under free and glucosilated forms in hop). The last part of the thesis was devoted to the torrefied character of Belgian brown beers through aging. Guaiacol and 4-methylphenol, two new markers of the use of torrefied malts, were found still more concentrated after aging, while vanillin displayed different patterns according to the type of beer. Vanillin, guaiacol and 4-methylphenol glucosides were evidenced for the first time in dark malts.(AGRO - Sciences agronomiques et ingénierie biologique) -- UCL, 201

Implication de FXR, récepteur nucléaire des acides biliaires, dans la réplication des virus des hépatites B et C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients with high serum levels of bile acids (BA) usually fail to respond to antiviral therapy. Using the HCV-replicon model containing a luciferase reporter gene, we demonstrated that BAs up-regulate HCV RNA replication by more than ten fold. In this study, their effect is mediated by their nuclear receptor, the farnesoid X receptor (FXR). FXR directly interacts with 2 viral proteins NS3 and NS5A. The phytosterol Guggulsterone and FXR silencing blocked the effect of BA activation. Guggulsterone also inhibited basal level of HCV replication and this effect was additive to the inhibition due to interferon. This compound will be tested soon in clinical assays. FXR recruitment by viral proteins should further explain the metabolic syndrome associated to HCV pathology. As FXR is mainly expressed in the liver, we studied if it could participate to the tropism of other hepatic viruses like hepatitis B virus (HBV), which replication is highly regulated by nuclear factors. We characterized 2 putative FXR response elements on the HBV enhancer II and Core promoter regions. In transient transfection assays, bile acids enhanced the activity of a luciferase reporter containing the HBV enhancer II and Core promoter sequences, through FXR. Moreover, using a greater-than-genome HBV construct, we showed that FXR also increased synthesis of the viral pregenomic RNA and DNA replication intermediates. In conclusion, we demonstrated that BAs play an important role in the natural history of 2 viruses, likely explaining their tropism for the liver. FXR antagonists may be foreseen as therapeutical agents to improve treatments of HBV and HCV-infected patientsLYON1-BU.Sciences (692662101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Modulation de la réplication du virus de l'hépatite C par les acides biliaires par l'intermédiaire du récépteur des farnesoïdes FXR

LYON1-BU Santé (693882101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Guaiacol and 4‑Methylphenol as Specific Markers of Torrefied Malts.Fate of Volatile Phenols in Special Beers through Aging

Phenol-specific extracts of 12 Belgian special beers were analyzed by gas chromatography hyphenated to olfactometry (AEDA procedure) and mass spectrometry (single ion monitoring mode). As guaiacol and 4-methylphenol were revealed to be more concentrated in brown beers (>3.5 and >1.1 μg/L, respectively), they are proposed as specific markers of the utilization of dark malts. Analysis of five differently colored malts (5, 50, 500, 900, and 1500 °EBC) allowed confirmation of high levels of guaiacol (>180 μg/L; values given in wort, for 100% specialty malt) and 4-methylphenol (>7 μg/L) for chocolate and black malts only (versus respectively <3 μg/L and undetected in all other worts). Monitoring of beer aging highlighted major differences between phenols. Guaiacol and 4-methylphenol appeared even more concentrated in dark beers after 14 months of aging, reaching levels not far from their sensory thresholds. 4-Vinylphenols and 4-ethylphenols, on the contrary, proved to be gradually degraded in POF(+)-yeast-derived beers. Vanillin exhibited an interesting pattern: in beers initially containing <25 μg/L, the vanillin concentration increased over a 14 month aging period to levels exceeding its sensory threshold (up to 160 μg/L). Beers initially showing an above-threshold level of vanillin displayed a decrease during aging

How sotolon can impart a madeira off-flavor to aged beers

4,5-Dimethyl-3-hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone or sotolon is known to impart powerful Madeira-oxidized–curry–walnut notes to various alcoholic beverages. It has been much studied in oxidized Jura flor-sherry wines, aged Roussillon sweet wines, and old Port wines, in which it contributes to the characteristic “Madeira-oxidized” aroma of these beverages. No scientific paper describes how sotolon might be involved in the Madeira off-flavor found in aged beers. The specific extraction procedure applied here allowed us to quantify this lactone in 7 special beers, at levels sometimes well above its threshold (from 5 to 42 μg/L after 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of natural aging, while unquantifiable in fresh beer). Investigation of spiked beers led us to highlight the key role of pro-oxidants and acetaldehyde. Addition of ascorbic acid without sulfites should be avoided by brewers, as the former would intensify sotolon synthesis. Acetoin, a beer fermentation byproduct, also emerged as possible precursor in beer when combined with serine