Effect of maltitol-containing chewing gum use on the composition of dental plaque microbiota in subjects with active dental caries

This study was funded by Roquette, Lestrem, France

Genetic Networks Controlling Structural Outcome of Glucosinolate Activation across Development

Most phenotypic variation present in natural populations is under polygenic control, largely determined by genetic variation at quantitative trait loci (QTLs). These genetic loci frequently interact with the environment, development, and each other, yet the importance of these interactions on the underlying genetic architecture of quantitative traits is not well characterized. To better study how epistasis and development may influence quantitative traits, we studied genetic variation in Arabidopsis glucosinolate activation using the moderately sized Bayreuth×Shahdara recombinant inbred population, in terms of number of lines. We identified QTLs for glucosinolate activation at three different developmental stages. Numerous QTLs showed developmental dependency, as well as a large epistatic network, centered on the previously cloned large-effect glucosinolate activation QTL, ESP. Analysis of Heterogeneous Inbred Families validated seven loci and all of the QTL×DPG (days post-germination) interactions tested, but was complicated by the extensive epistasis. A comparison of transcript accumulation data within 211 of these RILs showed an extensive overlap of gene expression QTLs for structural specifiers and their homologs with the identified glucosinolate activation loci. Finally, we were able to show that two of the QTLs are the result of whole-genome duplications of a glucosinolate activation gene cluster. These data reveal complex age-dependent regulation of structural outcomes and suggest that transcriptional regulation is associated with a significant portion of the underlying ontogenic variation and epistatic interactions in glucosinolate activation

Site-Specific and Time-Dependent Activation of the Endocannabinoid System after Transection of Long-Range Projections

Background: After focal neuronal injury the endocannabinioid system becomes activated and protects or harms neurons depending on cannabinoid derivates and receptor subtypes. Endocannabinoids (eCBs) play a central role in controlling local responses and influencing neural plasticity and survival. However, little is known about the functional relevance of eCBs in long-range projection damage as observed in stroke or spinal cord injury (SCI). Methods: In rat organotypic entorhino-hippocampal slice cultures (OHSC) as a relevant and suitable model for investigating projection fibers in the CNS we performed perforant pathway transection (PPT) and subsequently analyzed the spatial and temporal dynamics of eCB levels. This approach allows proper distinction of responses in originating neurons (entorhinal cortex), areas of deafferentiation/anterograde axonal degeneration (dentate gyrus) and putative changes in more distant but synaptically connected subfields (cornu ammonis (CA) 1 region). Results: Using LC-MS/MS, we measured a strong increase in arachidonoylethanolamide (AEA), oleoylethanolamide (OEA) and palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) levels in the denervation zone (dentate gyrus) 24 hours post lesion (hpl), whereas entorhinal cortex and CA1 region exhibited little if any changes. NAPE-PLD, responsible for biosynthesis of eCBs, was increased early, whereas FAAH, a catabolizing enzyme, was up-regulated 48hpl. Conclusion: Neuronal damage as assessed by transection of long-range projections apparently provides a strong time-dependent and area-confined signal for de novo synthesis of eCB, presumably to restrict neuronal damage. The present data underlines the importance of activation of the eCB system in CNS pathologies and identifies a novel site-specific intrinsic regulation of eCBs after long-range projection damage

Linear Impact Generator for Automated Dataset Acquisition of Elastic Waves in Haptic Surfaces

Tactile surfaces are commonly found on a big number of devices nowadays. Generally, this kind of interfaces lacks haptic feedback, which lowers the efficiency and perceived quality of human interaction. Time reversal of elastic waves has been studied and implemented for vibrotactile stimuli generation achieving stimuli within the tactile range. Generally, manual impulse generation methods are used to create the signals that are reversed in time, but these methods are not very efficient nor repeatable. This paper describes the development of a linear impactor and an automated dataset acquisition system to enable the future development of novel methodologies for haptic feedback generation on surfaces using deep learning algorithms

Lycopene inhibits proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine expression in adipose tissue

International audienceObesity is associated with a low-grade inflammation which is correlated with an increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines by adipose tissue, suspected to contribute to the development of insulin resistance. Because lycopene is mostly stored in adipose tissue and possesses anti-inflammatory properties, we hypothesize that lycopene could reduce the production of proinflammatory markers in adipose tissue. In agreement with this hypothesis, we observed a decrease of inflammatory markers such as IL-6, MCP-1 and IL-1β at both the mRNA and protein level when explants of epididymal adipose tissue from mice fed with a high-fat diet were incubated with lycopene ex vivo. The same effect was reproduced with explants of adipose tissue preincubated in lycopene and then subjected to TNFα stimulation. The contribution of adipocytes and preadipocytes was evaluated. In both preadipocytes and differentiated 3T3-L1 adipocytes, lycopene preincubation for 24 h decreased the TNFα-mediated induction of IL-6 and MCP-1. Finally, the same results were reproduced with human adipocyte primary cultures. The molecular mechanism was also studied. In transient transfections, a decrease of the luciferase gene reporter under control of NF-κB responsive element was observed for cells incubated in the presence of lycopene and TNFα compared to TNFα alone. The involvement of the NF-κB pathway was confirmed by the modulation of IKKα/β phosphorylation by lycopene. Altogether, these results showed for the first time a limiting effect of lycopene on adipose tissue proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production. Such an effect could prevent or limit the prevalence of obesity-associated pathologies, such as insulin resistanc

Comparison of whole-cell versus acellular pertussis vaccine effectiveness in school clusters of pertussis, France, 2013

International audienceObjectives and method.-We conducted a prospective study in 2013 to compare the whole-cell versus acellular pertussis vaccines effectiveness and duration of protection, following the occurrence of pertussis clusters. Results.-During seven school outbreaks, we identified 102 clinical pertussis cases, including 10 cases biologically confirmed by Bordetella pertussis specific PCR, among a cohort of 305 children in 2nd to 6th grade. The risk of pertussis when vaccinated with an acellular vaccine alone was 1.6 (RR = 1.6; 95% CI = 1.1-2.5) times higher than when vaccinated with a whole-cell vaccine or using a combined schedule. Conclusions.-The limited duration of protection conferred by the acellular vaccine reinforces the 2013 introduction of the pertussis booster at six years old