The Mr 28,000 gap junction proteins from rat heart and liver are different but related

The sequence of the amino-terminal 32 residues of the rat heart Mr 28,000 gap junction protein presented here allows, for the first time, a sequence comparison of gap junctional proteins from different tissues (heart and liver). Comparison of the rat heart gap junction protein sequence and that available from rat liver reveals 43% sequence identity and conservative changes at an additional 25% of the positions. Both proteins exhibit a hydrophobic domain which could represent a transmembrane span of the junction. This result unequivocally demonstrates the existence of at least two forms of the gap junction protein. As yet, no homology is evident between the gap junctional proteins of either heart or liver and main intrinsic protein from rat eye lens

Comparison of albicans vs. non-albicans candidemia in French intensive care units

The AmarCand Study Group (ICU physicians): Drs. Allaouchiche (Lyon), Amigues (Montpellier), Ausseur (Saint Herblain), Azoulay (Paris), Badet (Lyon), Baldesi (Aix-en-Provence), Bastien (Bron), Baudin (Paris), Bayle (Lyon), Bazin (Clermont-Ferrand), Benayoun (Clichy), Blondeau (Roubaix), Bodin (Paris), Bollaert (Nancy), Bonadona (La Tronche), Bonnaire (Aulnay Sous Bois), Bonnivard (Montauban), Borne (Paris), Brabet (Montpellier), Branche (Lyon), Braud (Rouen), Bret (Lyon), Bretonnière (Nantes), Brocas (Evry), Brun (Bron), Bruneel (Versailles), Canevet (Armentières), Cantais (Toulon Armées), Carlet (Paris), Charbonneau (Caen), Charles (Dijon), Chastagner (Chamberry), Corne (Montpellier), Courte (Saint-Brieuc), Cousson (Reims), Cren (Morlaix), Diconne (Saint Etienne), Drouet (Saint-Denis), Dube (Angers), Duguet (Paris), Dulbecco (Antibes), Dumenil (Clamart), Dupont (Amiens), Durand (Grenoble), Durand-Gasselin (Toulon), Durocher (Lille), Fangio (Poissy), Fattouh (Mulhouse), Favier (Metz Armées), Fieux (Paris), Fleureau (Pessac), Freys (Strasbourg), Fulgencio (Paris), Gally (Mulhouse), Garnaud (Orléans), Garot (Tours), Gilhodes (Créteil), Girault (Rouen), Gouin (Marseille), Gouin (Rouen), Guidon (Marseille), Hérault (Grenoble), Hyvernat (Nice), Jobard (Monaco), Jospe (Saint Etienne), Kaidomar (Fréjus), Karoubi (Bobigny), Kherchache (Agen), Lacherade (Poissy), Lakermi (Paris), Lambiotte (Maubeuge), Lamia (Le Kremlin-Bicêtre), Lasocki (Paris), Launoy (Strasbourg), Le Guillou (Paris), Lefort (Saint-Denis), Lefrant (Nîmes), Lemaire (Roubaix), Lepape (Pierre-Bénite), Lepoutre (Lomme), Leroy (Lille), Leroy (Tourcoing), Loriferne (Bry-sur-Marne), Mahe (Nantes), Mandin (Gap), Marighy (Saint- Denis), Mathieu (Lille), Mathonnet (Paris), Megarbane (Paris), Mercat (Angers), Michel (Saint Herblain), Michelet (Marseille), Mimoz (Poitiers), Mohammedi (Lyon), Mouquet (Paris), Mourvillier (Paris), Navellou (Besançon), Novara (Paris), Obadia (Montreuil), Perrigault (Montpellier), Perrin (Marseille), Petit (Valence), Poussel (Metz), Rahmani (Strasbourg), Renard (La Roche sur Yon), Robert (Poitiers), Robert (Lyon), Saliba (Villejuif ), Sannini (Marseille), Santré (Annecy), Seguin (Rennes), Souweine (Clermont-Ferrand), Trouillet (Paris), Valentin (Besançon), Volatron (Rennes), Voltz (Vandoeuvre les Nancy), Winer (Saint Pierre), and Winnock (Bordeaux).International audienceINTRODUCTION: Candidemia raises numerous therapeutic issues for intensive care physicians. Epidemiological data that could guide the choice of initial therapy are still required. This analysis sought to compare the characteristics of intensive care unit (ICU) patients with candidemia due to non-albicans Candida species with those of ICU patients with candidemia due to Candida albicans. METHODS: A prospective, observational, multicenter, French study was conducted from October 2005 to May 2006. Patients exhibiting candidemia developed during ICU stay and exclusively due either to one or more non-albicans Candida species or to C. albicans were selected. The data collected included patient characteristics on ICU admission and at the onset of candidemia. RESULTS: Among the 136 patients analyzed, 78 (57.4%) had candidemia caused by C. albicans. These patients had earlier onset of infection (11.1 +/- 14.2 days after ICU admission vs. 17.4 +/- 17.7, p = 0.02), higher severity scores on ICU admission (SOFA: 10.4 +/- 4.7 vs. 8.6 +/- 4.6, p = 0.03; SAPS II: 57.4 +/- 22.8 vs. 48.7 +/- 15.5, P = 0.015), and were less often neutropenic (2.6% vs. 12%, p = 0.04) than patients with candidemia due to non-albicans Candida species. CONCLUSIONS: Although patients infected with Candida albicans differed from patients infected with non-albicans Candida species for a few characteristics, no clinical factor appeared pertinent enough to guide the choice of empirical antifungal therapy in ICU

Epidemiology and characteristics of febrile seizures in children

peer reviewedRésumé : Les convulsions fébriles (CF), malgré leur bénignité, font toujours l’objet de discussions concernant les investigations à entreprendre et l’attitude thérapeutique à adopter. Notre étude vise à faire l’inventaire des éléments cliniques et paracliniques présents lors de survenue des CF et susceptibles d’en influencer la prise en charge. 275 épisodes de CF admis aux Urgences Pédiatriques du CHR sur une période de 5 ans ont été analysés rétrospectivement sur la base des circonstances de survenue, des caractéristiques cliniques, des examens paracliniques et de la prise en charge immédiate. Les CF représentent 1,4% des admissions pédiatriques. Un antécédent familial a pu être retrouvé dans 31,3 % des épisodes. 9% des crises étaient latéralisées, 11,7% étaient répétitives et 12,3% ont duré plus de 10 minutes. Les infections des voies respiratoires supérieures et otorhinolaryngologiques d’origine virale étaient les plus incriminées: 69,5%. Les explorations paracliniques étaient normales dans plus de 90 % des cas. L’évolution était spontanément favorable dans 73,8% des cas. Un anticonvulsivant a été nécessaire pour les 26,2 % restants. Notre travail confirme le caractère bénin de la majorité des CF et leur évolution favorable. La réalisation des examens complémentaires et l’indication d’un traitement antiépileptique doit reposer principalement sur l’analyse des signes de gravité.Summary : Febrile Seizures (FS), despite their usual benign clinical course, are still subject of controversies regarding the need for further investigation and treatment with anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs). Our study aimed to inventory the clinical findings, laboratory and imaging data associated with FS and eventually influencing their management. 275 episodes admitted with FS at the emergency ward of the Liège CHR over a 5 year period were retrospectively analyzed regarding precipitating factors; clinical features; laboratory, electroencephalographic, and imaging studies; as well as treatment response. FS represented 1.4% of admissions to the pediatric service. 31.3% of patients had a family history of seizure disorder. 9% percent of seizures were focal, 11.7% recurrent, and 12.3% prolonged (greater than 10 minutes). Upper respiratory tract and otorhinolaryngologic viral infections were the most often implicated provoking factors, occurring in 69.5% of patients. Laboratory, electroencephalographic and radiographic studies were normal in more than 90% of cases. 73.8% of seizures resolved without intervention. An AED was required to manage the remaining 26.2%. This study confirms the favorable outcomes of FS as demonstrated in previous studies. This happens without requiring AEDs for resolution, and without recurrence. Laboratory, electroencephalographic and imaging studies, as well as initiation of AEDs should be based primarily on clinical severity

Development of natural semiochemical slow-release formulations as biological control devices

peer reviewedSemiochemicals – informative molecules used in insect-insect or plant-insect interactions – have been widely considered within various integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. In the present work, two sesquiterpenoids, E-β-farnesene and E-β-caryophyllene, were formulated for their properties as aphid enemy attractants. E-β-farnesene, the alarm pheromone of many aphid species, was also identified as a kairomone by attracting aphid predators and parasitoids. E-β-caryophyllene was identified as a potential component of the aggregation pheromone of the Asian ladybird, Harmonia axyridis Pallas, another aphid predator. The two products were purified from essential oils of Matricaria chamomilla L. (Asteraceae) and Nepeta cataria L. (Lamiaceae), respectively. Natural and biodegradable formulations were then investigated in order to deliver these molecules on crop fields for a long period of time as biological control devices. Due to their sensitivity to oxidation, both sesquiterpenes needed to be protected from oxygen degradation. For this purpose, alginate – hydrophilic matrix with low oxygen permeability – was used as polymer for the formulations: the main objective was to deliver semiochemicals in the air in a controlled way. Consequently, a careful selection of alginates was realised. Formulated beads showed different structural and encapsulation properties depending on various formulation factors. Alginate formulations were characterised by texturometry and by confocal microscopy in order to observe the distribution of semiochemicals in alginate network. The last step of alginate bead characterisation consisted in studying release rate of semiochemicals in laboratory-controlled conditions by optimised volatile collection system and validated fast GC analytical procedures Finally, the efficiency of formulations as aphid predator (Syrphidae species) and parasitoid (Aphidius ervi) attractants was demonstrated by field trapping and olfactometry experiments.SOLAPHI

Nouvelles données sur l’importance des vestiges de sidérurgie ancienne en Puisaye

Des prospections pédestres, conduites depuis une dizaine d’années dans la région naturelle de la Puisaye, dans le sud-ouest du département de l’Yonne (France, Bourgogne), ont entraîné l’identification et la localisation de près de 2500 amas et aires de concentrations de déchets sidérurgiques anciens relevant du procédé de production du fer en bas fourneau par la méthode directe. Trois datations 14C réalisées sur des charbons prélevés dans les amas et dans les scories confirment l’existence d’ateliers de la période gallo-romaine, associés à des amas de volume considérable témoignant d’une grosse production de fer et à des déchets scorifiés fortement vitreux contenant des billes de fer.Searches conducted on foot over the last ten years or so in the Puisaye, in the south-west of the department of the Yonne (Burgundy), have resulted in the identification and localisation of approximately 2500 piles and areas of ancient iron-working scrap. These are the remains of bloomeries that used the direct method for iron production. Carbon-dating on three pieces of coal taken from the piles and the slag confirm the existence of iron-making workshops during the Gallo-Roman period. Large piles of highly vitreous slag containing iron-ore pellets attest extensive iron production.Seit ungefähr 10 Jahren werden in der Puisaye, im Südwesten des Departements Yonne (Frankreich, Region Bourgogne) Feldbegehungen durchgeführt. Sie haben zur Identifizierung und Lokalisierung von fast 2500 Schlackenhalden und –Konzentrationen von Eisenverhüttungsabfällen geführt, die bei der Gewinnung von Eisen in Rennöfen durch die direkte Reduktionsmethode angefallen waren. Drei 14C-Datierungen von Kohleresten aus den Halden und Schlacken bestätigen die Existenz von Werkstätten in gallo-römischer Zeit. Große Schlackenhalden und stark glasige verschlackte Abfälle mit Eisenperlen zeugen vom Umfang der Eisenproduktion

Prevalence of Plasmodium falciparum infection in asymptomatic rural Gabonese populations

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Malaria may be perennial or epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa, and its transmission may be stable or unstable, depending on the region. The prevalence of asymptomatic <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>carriage is poorly documented in Gabon. A large survey of <it>P. falciparum </it>infection was conducted in asymptomatic individuals living in rural Gabon.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two hundred and twenty-two villages were randomly selected in the nine administrative regions. With the participants' informed consent, blood samples were collected for thick and thin blood film examination after 20% Giemsa staining. Prevalence rates were calculated per village, per region and per ecosystem, and nationwide. Demographic risk factors were identified with STATA software version 9.0. Significance was assumed at p < 0.05.</p> <p>Results and discussion</p> <p>The prevalence of <it>P. falciparum </it>in adults was 6.2% (269/4342) nationwide, with a maximum of 37.2% in one village; a linear decrease was observed with increasing age (p = 0.045). Only 5% of the 399 children from forest areas tested positive. The prevalence was significantly higher in forest areas (7%) than in savannah (4%) and lakeland (2.5%). Within the forest region, the prevalence was significantly higher in forest grassland (10.9%) than in the mountain forest (3.5%), interior forest (6.8%) and north-eastern forest (4.5%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>carriage remains high among adults in rural Gabon. Control measures must be adapted to the region and ecosystem. Routine treatment of asymptomatic individuals should be considered.</p