Roles for veterinarians in laboratory animal facilities. Responsibilities and training

Veterinary education is rich by the variety of its disciplines and the number of animal species it covers. However, at the end of his studies, the young veterinarian has not received any specialised training to be prepared for the demanding world of biomedical research laboratory. He may soon be faced with complex problems in which his advice or decisions can have a significant impact on a research program or the well-being of animals. The new regulations on the protection of so-called “laboratory animals” put animal welfare at the very centre of the veterinarian’s concerns, providing him with a key advisory role. It is therefore essential that, through a range of specialized and appropriate training, he acquires specific skills in order to be able to interact properly with the research teams and fully assume the many roles and responsibilities that he has to coverL’enseignement vétérinaire est riche, tant par les disciplines enseignées que les espèces animales abordées. Mais, à l’issue de ses études, le jeune vétérinaire n'a pas reçu de spécialisation lui permettant de satisfaire les exigences des laboratoires de recherche biomédicale. Il y est toutefois vite confronté à des problématiques complexes, pour lesquelles ses conseils, voire ses décisions, peuvent avoir un impact important sur un programme de recherche ou sur le bien-être des animaux. La nouvelle réglementation relative à la protection des animaux dits « de laboratoire » met l’accent sur le bien-être animal, plaçant le vétérinaire en position de conseiller incontournable en la matière. Il est donc essentiel que ce dernier acquière, grâce à une formation spécialisée, des compétences spécifiques aux animaleries de laboratoire et aux espèces animales qu’elles hébergent, afin de pouvoir interagir à bon escient avec les équipes de recherche et assumer pleinement les nombreux rôles et responsabilités qui sont les sien

Ulceration of the oral mucosa following direct contact with ferrous sulfate in elderly patients: a case report and a review of the French National Pharmacovigilance Database.

International audienceOBJECTIVE: To report a series of cases of ulceration of the oral mucosa linked to direct contact with ferrous sulfate in elderly patients. CASE SUMMARY: The first case report concerns the occurrence of widespread oral ulceration in an 87-year-old woman with Alzheimer's disease. The ulceration extended from the side of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. No clear explanation was found and various local treatments were ineffective. Once it was realized that the ferrous sulfate tablets (given as an iron supplement) were crushed prior to administration (due to the patient's deglutition disorder), withdrawal of this treatment led to rapid resolution of the ulceration. Nine other cases of oral ulcerations associated with ferrous sulfate were identified in the French National Pharmacovigilance Database. All but one of the patients were over 80 years of age and the youngest patient (a 54-year-old) had dysphagia associated with facial paralysis. DISCUSSION: Only two other reports of oral ulceration due to ferrous sulfate have been published to date. Mucosal toxicity of ferrous sulfate (which is probably related to oxidative stress) has previously been reported for the hypopharynx, the esophageal lumen, and (after inhalation of a tablet) the tracheobronchial tree. CONCLUSION: The mucosal toxicity of ferrous sulfate must be taken into account when deglutition disorders are present (as in elderly patients) and appropriate pharmaceutical formulations (such as syrups) should be administered to at-risk patients. The use of iron salts other than ferrous sulfate could be considered

Etudes quaternaires en Velay. I : Les éléments chasséens du Locus 4 du site des Rivaux, Espaly (Haute-Loire)

Neolithic pottery discovered in 1979 on the open-air site «Les Rivaux» (locus 4) belongs to an old stage of the Chassey culture. Studies made of stratigraphy and archaeology, allow us to compare these elements with those discovered at the bottom of the main settlement in locus 1, dating of the beginning of the fourth millenary B.C.Un mobilier céramique caractéristique d'une phase peu évoluée du Chasséen a été découvert en 1979 sur le locus 4 du site de plein air des Rivaux. L'étude stratigraphique et archéologique permet de rapprocher ces éléments de ceux rencontrés à la base de l'occupation principale du locus 1, datée du début du quatrième millénaire B.C.Daugas Jean-Pierre, Courty Marie-Agnès, Liabeuf René, Raynal Jean-Paul, Vital Joël. Etudes quaternaires en Velay. I : Les éléments chasséens du Locus 4 du site des Rivaux, Espaly (Haute-Loire). In: Comptes rendus d'activités annuelles. Association régionale pour le développement des recherches de paléontologie et de préhistoire et des Amis du Muséum, tome 17, 1979. pp. 53-57

Etudes quaternaires en Velay. I : Les éléments chasséens du Locus 4 du site des Rivaux, Espaly (Haute-Loire)

Neolithic pottery discovered in 1979 on the open-air site «Les Rivaux» (locus 4) belongs to an old stage of the Chassey culture. Studies made of stratigraphy and archaeology, allow us to compare these elements with those discovered at the bottom of the main settlement in locus 1, dating of the beginning of the fourth millenary B.C.Un mobilier céramique caractéristique d'une phase peu évoluée du Chasséen a été découvert en 1979 sur le locus 4 du site de plein air des Rivaux. L'étude stratigraphique et archéologique permet de rapprocher ces éléments de ceux rencontrés à la base de l'occupation principale du locus 1, datée du début du quatrième millénaire B.C.Daugas Jean-Pierre, Courty Marie-Agnès, Liabeuf René, Raynal Jean-Paul, Vital Joël. Etudes quaternaires en Velay. I : Les éléments chasséens du Locus 4 du site des Rivaux, Espaly (Haute-Loire). In: Comptes rendus d'activités annuelles. Association régionale pour le développement des recherches de paléontologie et de préhistoire et des Amis du Muséum, tome 17, 1979. pp. 53-57

Contamination of free-range ducks by chlordecone in Martinique (French West Indies): A field

International audienceThe former use of chlordecone (CLD) in the French West Indies has resulted in long-term pollution of soils and subsequently of food chains. In contaminated areas, free-range ducks used to control weeds in orchards may be exposed to CLD through polluted soil ingestion. The question arises whether they may be consumed. Muscovy ducks were raised on a guava orchard planted on a soil moderately contaminated (410 mu g CLD/kg dry matter). Ducks were raised indoor up to 6 weeks of age and allowed to range freely outdoors thereafter. Twenty-nine females were sequentially slaughtered by groups of 2 to 5 ducks, after 4, 16, 19, 22 or 26 weeks spent in the orchard or after 16-17 weeks in the orchard followed by 3, 6 or 9 weeks in a closed shelter for depuration. CLD concentration increased from 258 to 1051,96 to 278,60 to 169 and 48 to 145 mu g/kg fresh matter (FM) as the exposure through grazing increased from 4 to 22 weeks, in liver, abdominal fat and leg with and without skin, respectively. Eggs collected in the orchard contained up to 1001 mu g CLD/kg FM. All these values exceeded the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) of 20 mu g/kg FM. CLD concentration in all tissues was divided by around 10 within the 9-week confinement period. Despite this quite rapid decontamination, it is estimated that 12-13 weeks would be required to achieve the MRL in liver and in eggs, and 5-6 weeks in leg muscle. Such durations would be too long in practice. Thus, the consumption of products from free-range ducks should be avoided, even in areas mildly contaminated with CLD

Higher mortality risk among kidney transplant recipients than among estimated glomerular filtration rate-matched patients with CKD-preliminary results

International audienceBackground. Although kidney transplantation prolongs survival relative to dialysis, it is associated with a higher death rate than in the general population. The objective of the present study was to assess and compare the risk of mortality and frequency of non-lethal cardiovascular (CV) events in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) beyond 1year after successful transplantation versus patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) using propensity score-matched analysis of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and other parameters. Methods. After propensity score matching, we studied 340 KTRs from the French Donnees Informatisees et Validees en Transplantation cohort and 605 non-transplant patients with CKD (CKDps) from the French Chronic Kidney Disease-Renal Epidemiology and Information Network cohort. The mean standard deviation eGFR was 4213 and 41 +/- 12mL/min/ 1.73m(2), respectively (P=0.649). Descriptive data were completed by a survival analysis with Cox regression models. Results. After a median follow-up period of 2.8 years (KTRs 2.0 years, CKDp 2.9 years), 71 deaths were recorded (31 and 40 in the KTR and CKD groups, respectively). Univariate analysis showed that KTRs had a significantly greater risk of mortality than CKDps. In multivariable analysis, KTRs were found to have a 2.7-fold greater risk of mortality [hazard ratio 2.7 (95% confidence interval 1.6-4.7); P=0.005]. There was no between-group difference concerning the risk of CV events (P=0.448). CV death rates in KTRs (29.0%) approximated those of CKDps (22.5%), whereas death rates due to infections were higher in KTRs (19.4% versus 10.0%). Conclusion. Beyond 1year after transplantation, KTRs, who possibly had a longer CKD history, had a significantly greater mortality risk than eGFR-matched CKDps. The excess risk was not associated with CV events

Effect of Sevelamer and Nicotinamide on Albumin Carbamylation in Patients with End-Stage Kidney Disease

International audienceBackground and Objective: In end-stage kidney disease, high urea levels promote the carbamylation of lysine side chains on a variety of proteins, including albumin. Albumin carbamylation has been identified as a risk factor for mortality and sevelamer led to a decrease in urea levels in dialysis patients. In the present secondary analysis of the NICOREN trial, we investigated the putative impacts of sevelamer and nicotinamide on albumin carbamylation, and the potential correlation between carbamylation and vascular calcifications. Methods: All possible carbamylation of circulating albumin were screened for with high-resolution liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Levels of three carbamylated peptides were then measured as a guide to the extent of albumin carbamylation. Carbamylation was measured at baseline in 55 patients included in the NICOREN trial and 29 patients at 24 weeks of treatment. Calcifications on plain radiographs were quantified as the Kauppila score and the Adragao score. Results: Baseline albumin carbamylation was present at three different sites in subjects with end-stage kidney disease. At baseline, we observed only a correlation between urea and the KQTA carbamylation site in these patients. Albumin carbamylation levels did not decrease after 24 weeks of treatment with either sevelamer or nicotinamide. Furthermore, the proportion of carbamylated serum albumin was not correlated with vascular calcification scores in this population. Conclusions: Our results confirmed the presence of carbamylated albumin in patients with end-stage kidney disease and demonstrated the presence of carbamylation beyond the LRVP residues. The results also demonstrated the lack of impact of sevelamer or nicotinamide on albumin carbamylation levels. Therapeutic strategies to lower carbamylation load should probably be focused on direct anti-carbamylation processes and/or potentially anti-inflammatory therapies