Labels écologiques et commerce international : principaux aspects

Introduction A. Généralités Les labels écologiques visent à promouvoir la fabrication et la consommation de produits particulièrement respectueux de l’environnement en fournissant aux consommateurs des informations relatives à l’impact environnemental de ces produits ; ces informations se rapportent en général au cycle de vie du produit. Le présent article met en évidence l’ambivalence de ces labels : si leurs objectifs sont écologiques, ils peuvent cependant se traduire par une discriminatio..

Umweltkennzeichnung und internationaler handel : die wichtigsten fragen

Einleitung A. Hintergrundinformation Die Umweltkennzeichnung zielt darauf ab, den Verbrauch und die Herstellung „umweltfreundlicherer“ Produkte zu fördern, indem man den Konsumenten Informationen über ihre ökologischen Auswirkungen zur Verfügung stellt, die grundsätzlich auf einem Lebenszyklusansatz beruhen. Der vorliegende Beitrag weist darauf hin, dass obgleich die Umweltkennzeichnung hauptsächlich ökologische Zwecke verfolgt, sie zuweilen zu einer Diskriminierung gegenüber ausländischen He..

Umweltkennzeichnung und internationaler handel : die wichtigsten fragen

Einleitung A. Hintergrundinformation Die Umweltkennzeichnung zielt darauf ab, den Verbrauch und die Herstellung „umweltfreundlicherer“ Produkte zu fördern, indem man den Konsumenten Informationen über ihre ökologischen Auswirkungen zur Verfügung stellt, die grundsätzlich auf einem Lebenszyklusansatz beruhen. Der vorliegende Beitrag weist darauf hin, dass obgleich die Umweltkennzeichnung hauptsächlich ökologische Zwecke verfolgt, sie zuweilen zu einer Diskriminierung gegenüber ausländischen He..

Structure and pathogenicity of antibodies specific for citrullinated collagen type II in experimental arthritis

Antibodies to citrulline-modifi ed proteins have a high diagnostic value in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, their biological role in disease development is still unclear. To obtain insight into this question, a panel of mouse monoclonal antibodies was generated against a major triple helical collagen type II (CII) epitope (position 359 – 369; ARGLTGRPGDA) with or without arginines modifi ed by citrullination. These antibodies bind cartilage and synovial tissue, and mediate arthritis in mice. Detection of citrullinated CII from RA patients ’ synovial fl uid demonstrates that cartilage-derived CII is indeed citrullinated in vivo. The structure determination of a Fab fragment of one of these antibodies in complex with a citrullinated peptide showed a surprising beta -turn conformation of the peptide and provided information on citrulline recognition. Based on these findings, we propose that autoimmunity to CII, leading to the production of antibodies specific for both native and citrullinated CII, is an important pathogenic factor in the development of RA

Citrullination, a possible functional link between susceptibility genes and rheumatoid arthritis

Antibodies directed to citrullinated proteins (anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide) are highly specific for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent data suggest that the antibodies may be involved in the disease process of RA and that several RA-associated genetic factors might be functionally linked to RA via modulation of the production of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies or citrullinated antigens

Protectionism in the European Community against Brazilian exports

Includes bibliograph

Context-specific complementary feeding recommendations developed using Optifood could improve the diets of breast-fed infants and young children from diverse livelihood groups in northern Kenya.

OBJECTIVE: To formulate age- and context-specific complementary feeding recommendations (CFR) for infants and young children (IYC) and to compare the potential of filling population-level nutrient gaps using common sets of CFR across age groups. DESIGN: Linear programming was used to develop CFR using locally available and acceptable foods based on livelihood- and age-group-specific dietary patterns observed through 24 h dietary recalls. Within each livelihood group, the nutrient potential of age-group-specific v. consolidated CFR across the three age groups was tested. SETTING: Three food-insecure counties in northern Kenya; namely, settled communities from Isiolo (n 300), pastoralist communities from Marsabit (n 283) and agro-pastoralist communities from Turkana (n 299). SUBJECTS: Breast-fed IYC aged 6-23 months (n 882). RESULTS: Age-specific CFR could achieve adequacy for seven to nine of eleven modelled micronutrients, except among 12-23-month-old children in agro-pastoralist communities. Contribution of Fe, Zn and niacin remained low for most groups, and thiamin, vitamin B6 and folate for some groups. Age-group-consolidated CFR could not reach the same level of nutrient adequacy as age-specific sets among the settled and pastoralist communities. CONCLUSIONS: Context- and age-specific CFR could ensure adequate levels of more modelled nutrients among settled and pastoralist IYC than among agro-pastoralist communities where use of nutrient-dense foods was limited. Adequacy of all eleven modelled micronutrients was not achievable and additional approaches to ensure adequate diets are required. Consolidated messages should be easier to implement as part of a behaviour change strategy; however, they would likely not achieve the same improvements in population-level dietary adequacy as age-specific CFR

Citrullinated proteins in arthritis: presence in joints and effects on immunogenicity

Contains fulltext : 60098.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access

Heightened immune response to autocitrullinated porphyromonas gingivalis peptidylarginine deiminase: a potential mechanism for breaching immunologic tolerance in rheumatoid arthritis

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterised by autoimmunity to citrullinated proteins, and there is increasing epidemiologic evidence linking Porphyromonas gingivalis to RA. P gingivalis is apparently unique among periodontal pathogens in possessing a citrullinating enzyme, peptidylarginine deiminase (PPAD) with the potential to generate antigens driving the autoimmune response. Objectives: To examine the immune response to PPAD in patients with RA, individuals with periodontitis (PD) and controls (without arthritis), confirm PPAD autocitrullination and identify the modified arginine residues. Methods: PPAD and an inactivated mutant (C351A) were cloned and expressed and autocitrullination of both examined by immunoblotting and mass spectrometry. ELISAs using PPAD, C351A and another P gingivalis protein arginine gingipain (RgpB) were developed and antibody reactivities examined in patients with RA (n=80), individuals with PD (n=44) and controls (n=82). Results: Recombinant PPAD was a potent citrullinating enzyme. Antibodies to PPAD, but not to Rgp, were elevated in the RA sera (median 122 U/ml) compared with controls (median 70 U/ml; p<0.05) and PD (median 60 U/ml; p<0.01). Specificity of the anti-peptidyl citrullinated PPAD response was confirmed by the reaction of RA sera with multiple epitopes tested with synthetic citrullinated peptides spanning the PPAD molecule. The elevated antibody response to PPAD was abolished in RA sera if the C351A mutant was used on ELISA. Conclusions: The peptidyl citrulline-specific immune response to PPAD supports the hypothesis that, as a bacterial protein, it might break tolerance in RA, and could be a target for therapy