Design, Rheology and Physicochemical Characterizations of Oil-in-water Emulsions Stabilized by Waxy Starch Derivatives

Simple emulsions (o/w) stabilized by octenyl succinic anhydrous (OSA) starch were studied. They were characterized by the evaluation of the rheological and physicochemical properties and, the observation under the light microscope in combination with granulometric analysis after formulation. The obtained results demonstrated the effects of the amount of OSA starch on the variation of the diameter of particles, stability of emulsions and their rheological behavior. The best characteristics were found in the emulsion with a ratio 40/60 (o/w) at high OSA starch concentration, because the substitution of the oil phase by the network created by the chains of the modified polysaccharides which could be the major factor in stabilisation of emulsions

The relationship between health adherence and health locus of control among adult asthma patients - a field study in Khenchela

Abstract: The current study aimed to reveal the relationship of health adherence to the health locus of control among adult asthma patients, and a purposive sample of (228) adult asthma patients - from the state of Khenchela - was relied upon, (96) of whom were males and (132) females, and both the health adherence scale (translated and adapted to the Algerian environment by DihiaAitHamouda), and the health control source scale (translated and adapted to the Algerian environment by NourEddine Djebali) were applied.After statistical processing of the data using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) program, the following results were reached: 1- The prevailing level of health adherence among adult asthma patients is the average level. 2- The dominant source of control in the sample of adult asthma patients is the external source of powerful others (P-H L O C). 3- There is a statistically significant correlation between the dimensions of the health locus of control and the level of health adherence among adult asthma patients. Keywords: health adherence, health locus of control, asthma

Effect of antiplatelet agents on Escherichia coli sepsis mechanisms: A review

Despite ever-increasing improvements in the prognosis of sepsis, this condition remains a frequent cause of hospitalization and mortality in Western countries. Sepsis exposes the patient to multiple complications, including thrombotic complications, due to the ability of circulating bacteria to activate platelets. One of the bacteria most frequently implicated in sepsis, Escherichia coli, a Gram-negative bacillus, has been described as being capable of inducing platelet activation during sepsis. However, to date, the mechanisms involved in this activation have not been clearly established, due to their multiple characteristics. Many signaling pathways are thought to be involved. At the same time, reports on the use of antiplatelet agents in sepsis to reduce platelet activation have been published, with variable results. To date, their use in sepsis remains controversial. The aim of this review is to summarize the currently available knowledge on the mechanisms of platelet activation secondary to Escherichia coli sepsis, as well as to provide an update on the effects of antiplatelet agents in these pathological circumstances

Prenatal factors affecting the probability of survival between birth and weaning in rabbits

The aim of this study was to analyse the relationships between kit birth weight and litter size with kit survival from birth to weaning, and to estimate the effects of place of birth, nest quality, cannibalism, lactation, parity order, season and sex. A total of 1696 kits from 82 females of the ITLEV2006 synthetic line were used in this study. A logistic regression was performed. Kit birth weight was directly related to the probability of the kit’s survival from birth to weaning, and increasing birth weight by one gram increased the likelihood of kit survival by 8% to 10% (P<0.001). In line with the decrease in birth weight of kits as the number of kits at birth increases, litter size showed a negative relationship to the probability of survival from birth to weaning, and increasing the litter by one kit at birth decreased the probability of survival of the kits by 5% to 9% (P<0.05). Regarding effects, cannibalism events in the litter decreased the probability of survival of the kits in the first week of life (P<0.01). Being born in the cage decreased the probability of survival of the kits from birth to weaning, and kits born outside the nest had a lower chance of survival than those born inside the nest (P<0.01). The order of parturition had a positive effect on probability of survival of the kits from 5 days of age to weaning (P<0.05). Female kits had a lower chance of survival than male kits, but only until 5 days of age (P<0.01). The lactation status displayed a negative effect on the probability of survival of the kits in the first week of life, and kits gestated in lactating females had a lower chance of survival than those gestated in non-lactating females (P<0.05). In conclusion, the probability of kit survival in the first days after parturition was affected mainly by its weight at birth, litter size, cannibalism events, place of birth of kit, parity order, sex and lactation status, while the probability of kit survival at weaning was directly related to its weight at birth, litter size, place of birth of kit and parity order

Study of the bidirectional interaction between platelets and Escherichia coli

Les plaquettes possèdent des récepteurs qui leur permettre d’interagir avec des bactéries ce qui induit une activation plaquettaire responsable du relargage du contenu des granules. Cependant, ces interactions sont peu décrites chez Escherichia coli (E. coli).Dans ce travail de thèse, nous nous sommes intéressés à l’étude de l’interaction bidirectionnelle entre les plaquettes et E. coli. Notre revue consiste à faire l’état de l’art des connaissances actuelles sur les interactions entre les plaquettes et E. coli et leurs conséquences sur l’activité des plaquettes et la croissance bactérienne.Le premier axe a évalué la capacité bactéricide des plaquettes sur dix souches d’E. coli et la capacité des souches à induire une activation plaquettaire. Nous avons rapporté que cette interaction est souche-dépendante et elle pourrait être influencée par la structure du lipopolysaccharide. Ces interactions ont été caractérisées par microscopie électronique. Certaines souches induisaient une activation voire une agrégation plaquettaire. Les structures différentes des souches, pourraient expliquer la différence des conséquences des interactions. Dans le second axe, nous avons fait une synthèse des connaissances disponibles sur les mécanismes d’agrégation plaquettaire au décours des sepsis à E. coli et sur les effets des antiplaquettaires dans ces circonstances pathologiques. En parallèle, nous avons démontré que la capacité d'E. coli à induire une agrégation est souche-dépendant. L’agrégation est réduite par un traitement antiplaquettaire sans cependant l’inhiber complètement. Ces résultats suggèrent que les voies de signalisation plaquettaire impliquées sont multiples.Platelets have receptors that allow them to interact with bacteria, which induces platelet activation responsible for the release of the granules contents. However, these interactions are poorly described in Escherichia coli (E. coli).In this thesis work, we were interested in studying the bidirectional interaction between platelets and E. coli. Our review consists of reviewing the state of the art of current knowledge on the interactions between platelets and E. coli and their consequences on platelet activity and bacterial growth.The first axis evaluated the bactericidal capacity of platelets on ten strains of E. coli and the ability of the strains to induce platelet activation. We reported that this interaction is strain-dependent and could be influenced by the structure of the lipopolysaccharide. These interactions were characterized by electron microscopy. Some strains induced platelet activation or even aggregation. The different structures of the strains could explain the difference in the consequences of the interactions. In the second axis, we made a synthesis of the knowledge available on the mechanisms of platelet aggregation following E. coli sepsis and on the effects of antiplatelet drugs in these pathological circumstances. In parallel, we demonstrated that the ability of E. coli to induce aggregation is strain-dependent. Aggregation is reduced by antiplatelet treatment without however inhibiting it completely. These results suggest that the platelet signaling pathways involved are multiple

Effect of antiplatelet agents on Escherichia coli sepsis mechanisms: A review

International audienceDespite ever-increasing improvements in the prognosis of sepsis, this condition remains a frequent cause of hospitalization and mortality in Western countries. Sepsis exposes the patient to multiple complications, including thrombotic complications, due to the ability of circulating bacteria to activate platelets. One of the bacteria most frequently implicated in sepsis, Escherichia coli , a Gram-negative bacillus, has been described as being capable of inducing platelet activation during sepsis. However, to date, the mechanisms involved in this activation have not been clearly established, due to their multiple characteristics. Many signaling pathways are thought to be involved. At the same time, reports on the use of antiplatelet agents in sepsis to reduce platelet activation have been published, with variable results. To date, their use in sepsis remains controversial. The aim of this review is to summarize the currently available knowledge on the mechanisms of platelet activation secondary to Escherichia coli sepsis, as well as to provide an update on the effects of antiplatelet agents in these pathological circumstances

Microscopic Description of Platelet Aggregates Induced by Escherichia coli Strains

In addition to their role in haemostasis, platelets are also involved in the inflammatory and antimicrobial process. Interactions between pathogens and platelets, mediated by receptors can lead to platelet activation, which may be responsible for a granular secretion process or even aggregation, depending on the bacterial species. Granular secretion releases peptides with bactericidal activity as well as aggregating factors. To our knowledge, these interactions have been poorly studied for Escherichia coli (E. coli). Few studies have characterised the cellular organization of platelet-E. coli aggregates. The objective of our study was to investigate the structure of platelet aggregates induced by different E. coli strains as well as the ultrastructure of platelet-E. coli mixtures using a scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM) approach. Our results show that the appearance of platelet aggregates is mainly dependent on the strain used. SEM images illustrate the platelet activation and aggregation and their colocalisation with bacteria. Some E. coli strains induce platelet activation and aggregation, and the bacteria are trapped in the platelet magma. However, some strains do not induce significant platelet activation and are found in close proximity to the platelets. The structure of the E. coli strains might explain the results obtained

Genetic correlations for reproductive and growth traits in rabbits

The objective of this study was to obtain heritability estimates for reproductive (litter size at birth, number born alive, litter size at weaning) and growth traits (individual weaning weight, individual weight at the end of the fattening period), then determine the genetic correlation between them in a synthetic rabbit line. A total of 805 females, 3242 parities, and 18 472 growth records were measured from 2006 to 2017. A pentavariate animal model was used with reproductive and growth traits. Heritability ranged from 0.025 to 0.126 for reproductive traits and from 0.033 to 0.059 for growth traits. These traits showed a large coefficient of variation (from 32% to 56% for reproductive traits and from 21% to 28% for growth traits). The repeatability of reproductive traits was low and the common litter effect for growth traits was the most important component of total variance. The genetic and phenotypic correlations between reproductive and growth traits were high and negative, especially with weight at weaning (−0.848, −0.922, and −0.854 for litter size at birth, number born alive, and litter size at weaning, respectively). In conclusion, because of the high negative correlation between reproductive and growth traits, both reproductive and growth traits should be selected in independent lines and the response to selection should be due mainly to the high coefficient of variation of the traits.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author

The Antibacterial Effect of Platelets on Escherichia coli Strains

Platelets play an important role in defense against pathogens; however, the interaction between Escherichia coli and platelets has not been well described and detailed. Our goal was to study the interaction between platelets and selected strains of E. coli in order to evaluate the antibacterial effect of platelets and to assess bacterial effects on platelet activation. Washed platelets and supernatants of pre-activated platelets were incubated with five clinical colistin-resistant and five laboratory colistin-sensitive strains of E. coli in order to study bacterial growth. Platelet activation was measured with flow cytometry by evaluating CD62P expression. To identify the difference in strain behavior toward platelets, a pangenome analysis using Roary and O-antigen serotyping was carried out. Both whole platelets and the supernatant of activated platelets inhibited growth of three laboratory colistin-sensitive strains. In contrast, platelets promoted growth of the other strains. There was a negative correlation between platelet activation and bacterial growth. The Roary results showed no logical clustering to explain the mechanism of platelet resistance. The diversity of the responses might be due to strains of different types of O-antigen. Our results show a bidirectional interaction between platelets and E. coli whose expression is dependent on the bacterial strain involved

Genetic Analyses of Rabbit Survival and Individual Birth Weight

Genetic parameters of kit survival traits and birth weight were estimated on ITELV2006 synthetic line aimed at improving kit survival using a multiple trait linear and threshold model. Data on 1696 kits for survival at birth and at weaning, as well as individual birth weight and litter size were analysed. Genetic effects of kit survival traits and birth weight were estimated based on threshold and Gaussian models, respectively, using a Bayesian approach. The statistical model included, as fixed effects, parity, lactation status, season of farrowing, nest status, cannibalism in kit, place of kit&rsquo;s birth in the cage and gender, and adjustment for litter size. Posterior means of heritabilities for direct genetic effects of survival at birth and the entire nursing period, as well as birth weight, were 0.018, 0.023, and 0.088, respectively, and were increased when adjusted for litter size to 0.021, 0.027 and 0.146. Genetic correlation between survival traits was zero. Therefore, these traits can be treated genetically as different traits. Genetic correlation between direct effects of survival at birth and birth weight showed positive, but low, value (+0.134) and was increased to +0.535 when the traits were adjusted for litter size. No genetic correlation was found between survival at weaning and birth weight. These magnitudes of genetic parameter estimates suggested that there is substantial potential for the genetic improvement of kit survival at birth through selection for birth weight