[West Nile viral meningo-encephalitis in Tunisia].

Archives de Medecine Tropicale sur Gallica (https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6458624h.texteImage)International audienceIn autumn 1997 an epidemic outbreak of meningoencephalitis was observed in two coastal districts of Tunisia. A total of 173 cases were recorded with 8 deaths. Detection with IgM capture and indirect IgG ELISAs demonstrated West Nile virus infection in 86% of patients from whom specimens were collected. West Nile is endemic in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Epidemics in humans and horses have also been reported in the Mediterranean region and southern European countries. However this is the first report in Tunisia. Special West Nile virus surveillance is necessary especially in countries at high-risk for repeated introduction of this arbovirus.L'automne 1997 a été marqué par l'éclosion d'une épidémie de méningo-encéphalite dans deux governorats côtiers en Tunisie comptant au total 173 cas dont 8 décédés. Une infection par le Virus West Nile a été retrouvé chez 86% des patients prélevés avec des tests ELISA immunocapture et indirect pour la recherche d'IgM et d'IgC respectivement. Le virus West Nile sévit à l'état à l'état endémique en Asie et Afrique Sud-Saharienne, des épidémies humaines ou équines ont été rapportées dans des pays non endémiques particulièrement en région Méditerranéenne et en Europe du sud, mais c'est la première fois qu'une telle épidémie est rapportée en Tunisie. Une surveillance attentive de cette arbovirose migrante s'avère nécessaire particulièrement dans les pays à risque de ré-introductions répétitives du virus

Anti-collagenase, anti-elastase and anti-oxidant activities of extracts from 21 plants

BACKGROUND: Owing to their roles in tissue remodelling in health and disease, several studies have reported investigations on plant extracts as inhibitors of proteinases and as anti-oxidants. METHODS: The anti-ageing and anti-oxidant properties of 23 plant extracts (from 21 plant species) were assessed as anti-elastase and anti-collagenase activities and in selected anti-oxidant assays along with phenolic content. RESULTS: Anti-elastase activities were observed for nine of the extracts with inhibitory activity in the following order: white tea (approximately 89%), cleavers (approximately 58%), burdock root (approximately 51%), bladderwrack (approximately 50%), anise and angelica (approximately 32%). Anti-collagenase activities were exhibited by sixteen plants of which the highest activity was seen in white tea (approximately 87%), green tea (approximately 47%), rose tincture (approximately 41%), and lavender (approximately 31%). Nine plant extracts had activities against both elastase (E) and collagenase (C) and were ranked in the order of white tea (E:89%, C:87%) > bladderwrack (E:50%, C:25%) > cleavers (E:58%, C:7%) > rose tincture (E:22%, C:41%) > green tea (E:10%: C:47%) > rose aqueous (E: 24%, C:26%) > angelica (E:32%, C:17%) > anise (E:32%, C:6%) > pomegranate (E:15%, C:11%).Total phenolic content varied between 0.05 and 0.26 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/mL with the exception of white tea (0.77 mg GAE/mL). For anti-oxidant assessment, the Trolox equivalent anti-oxidant capacity (TEAC) assay revealed activity for all extracts. White tea had the highest activity equivalent to approximately 21 microM Trolox for a 6.25 microg aliquot. In addition, seven extracts exhibited activities = 10 microM Trolox with witch hazel (6.25 microg = 13 microM Trolox) and rose aqueous (6.25 microg = 10 microM Trolox) showing very high activities at low concentrations. A high activity for white tea was also found in the superoxide dismutase (SOD) assay in which it exhibited ~88% inhibition of reduction of nitroblue tetrazolium. High activities were also observed for green tea (86.41%), rose tincture (82.77%), witch hazel (82.05%) and rose aqueous (73.86%). CONCLUSION: From a panel of twenty three plant extracts, some one dozen exhibit high or satisfactory anti-collagenase or anti-elastase activities, with nine having inhibitory activity against both enzymes. These included white tea which was found to have very high phenolic content, along with high TEAC and SOD activities

Fiscal federalism and the European Union The need for a new paradigm

SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:3597.9444(97/6) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Role of Reversible Dimerization in Reactions of Amphoteric Aziridine Aldehydes

Unprotected aziridine aldehydes belong to the amphoteric class of molecules by virtue of their dual nucleophilicity/electrophilicity. The dimeric nature of these molecules, brought together by a weak and reversible aminal “connection”, was found to be an important element of reactivity control. We present evidence that reversible dimer dissociation is instrumental in aziridine aldehyde transformations. We anticipate further developments that will unveil other synthetic consequences of remote control of selectivity through forging reversible covalent interactions