Phytoplanktonic species in the haloalkaline Lake Dziani Dzaha select their archaeal microbiome.

Microorganisms are key contributors of aquatic biogeochemical cycles but their microscale ecology remains largely unexplored, especially interactions occurring between phytoplankton and microorganisms in the phycosphere, that is the region immediately surrounding phytoplankton cells. The current study aimed to provide evidence of the phycosphere taking advantage of a unique hypersaline, hyperalkaline ecosystem, Lake Dziani Dzaha (Mayotte), where two phytoplanktonic species permanently co-dominate: a cyanobacterium, Arthrospira fusiformis, and a green microalga, Picocystis salinarum. To assay phycospheric microbial diversity from in situ sampling, we set up a flow cytometry cell-sorting methodology for both phytoplanktonic populations, coupled with metabarcoding and comparative microbiome diversity.

Arterial distensibility and circadian blood pressure variability.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the relationships between arterial distensibility and blood pressure level and its circadian variability assessed by non-invasive ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. DESIGN: One hundred and six patients (69 men, 37 women; aged 20-72 years) without any cardiovascular complication or treatment underwent 24 h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. Aortic distensibility was evaluated by carotid-femoral artery pulse-wave velocity measurements performed with a validated automatic device (Complior).

Fortuitous diagnosis of the association of hemoglobin J-Broussais with beta + thalassemia.

The authors report a case, not described so far in literature, of an association of HbJ-Broussais [alpha (90 (PG2) lys-->asn beta 2] with beta + thalassemia in a young girl born of Italian father and Breton mother. This association is clinically silent. Biochemistry revealed, besides HbA, the presence of HbJ-Broussais in the proportion of 19.

Serum lipid, apolipoprotein and lipoparticle levels in the human fetus.

Blood collected from 62 fetuses aged 20-38 weeks of gestation was studied. The values of ten lipid parameters were determined: cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TGs), apolipoprotein A1 (apo A1), apolipoprotein B (apo B), apolipoprotein E (apo E), total apolipoprotein CIII (apo CIII), apolipoprotein CIII present in particles containing apo B (apo CIII LpB) or not (apo CIII Lp non-B), lipoparticles A1 (LpA1), and lipoprotein a (Lp(a)). The results show that, except for apo E, all the studied parameters were present in lower concentrations than in adults and newborns, and that Lp(a) is not detectable at that stage in life.

Increase in thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and vascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Lipid peroxidation was assessed by measuring the concentrations of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances in plasma from 204 Type 2 diabetic patients, relative to 107 controls. The concentrations obtained in diabetic patients (3.08 +/- 0.

[Susceptibility of LDL to lipid peroxidation in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus with or without macroangiopathy].

Since oxidized LDL may play a role in the genesis of atheroma, which is the primary complication of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), we investigated whether the LDL of diabetic patients were more prone to oxidation than those of healthy controls. We therefore studied the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation by phenylhydrazine (LDL-PO) in NIDDM patients with or without macroangiopathy, and in controls. Results showed that the LDL of patients with macroangiopathy (n = 50) were more susceptible to oxidation than those of both NIDDM patients without vascular complications (n = 50) and controls (n = 50).

LDL sialic acid content in patients with coronary artery disease.

Low density lipoproteins (LDL) are considered to be the most atherogenic of lipoproteins. These LDL can be modified and oxidative modifications are now well known. In addition, other atherogenic modifications of LDL exist, such as desialylation.

Plasma malondialdehyde in type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients.

Malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid peroxidation, was measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in 117 diabetic patients and 53 controls. Patients were divided into groups and subgroups according to the type of diabetes (type 1 and type 2) and the existence or not of vascular complication (macro- or micro-angiopathy). Results showed that TBARS concentrations were significantly higher in type 1 (P < 0.

[Identification of a type 1 macrocreatine kinase].

A macrocreatine-kinase type 1 was identified by CK isoenzyme electrophoresis of a serum sample from a patient. Constituents of this enzyme complex were studied. The isoenzyme present in the macrocreatine-kinase was identified using immunoprecipitation with antibodies against the M subunit.

[Bone marrow allograft: value of erythrocyte enzyme phenotypes in the biological monitoring].

Differences in erythrocyte isoenzyme patterns may be used as biologic markers to monitor allogenic bone marrow transplants. In 19 patients, these markers proved useful for confirming engraftment, although they failed to predict any of the recurrences observed.

[Incidental diagnosis of homozygous alpha-zero thalassemia in a 21 week old fetus].

A fetus with signs of hydrops fetalis syndrome of unknown etiology, has been studied at 21 weeks. In fetal blood, total absence of HbA and HbF, presence of Hb Bart's, Hb Portland and HbH argued in favor of alpha zero-thalassemia syndrome. Because thalassemia syndromes were transmitted in a mendelian autosomal fashion, we studied the parents.

Blood chemistry of human fetuses in the second and third trimesters.

Six biochemical parameters and four enzyme activities were determined from the serum of 76 healthy and 56 pathological human fetuses between the 20th and 38th week of pregnancy. In the normal fetuses studied within that period, creatinine, immunoglobulin M, lactate dehydrogenase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase increased; haemoglobin F and glucose progressively decreased; and alkaline phosphatase was at a peak around the 26th week; cholesterol and triglycerides were always low. The same parameters were also measured in some of the pathological fetuses and compared with their normal counterparts.

Cutaneous interstitial fluid protein concentrations in the inflammatory syndrome: pharmacological consequences.

Concentrations of alpha 1 acid glycoprotein, albumin, transferrin, haptoglobin, immunoglobulins G, A, M and apolipoprotein B were measured in serum and suction blister fluid from a group of individuals presenting a biologically proven inflammatory syndrome, and from a control group. Protein values in suction blister fluid did not change from the 2nd to the 3rd h after the beginning of blister formation. The ratio of the concentration of proteins in blister fluid and serum did not differ significantly between the groups.

Level of plasma fibronectin in patients with breast cancer.

Plasma fibronectin was determined by laser nephelometric immunoassay in two populations: healthy individuals and patients with metastatic or non-metastatic breast cancer. The results showed that the fibronectin concentration was higher in the patient group than in the healthy controls of similar age, with a significant difference (p less than 0.05).

[Use of monoclonal antibodies for the immunoenzymological determination of alpha-fetoprotein in amniotic fluid].

A two site immunoenzymatic assay using monoclonal antibodies for alpha-fetoprotein in amniotic fluid has been evaluated. Results obtained with monoclonal antibodies correlated well with those obtained by electroimmunodiffusion assay. The evaluation of this method has shown rapidity, accuracy and a better sensitivity than electroimmunodiffusion assay.

[Use of monoclonal antibodies for the immunoenzyme determination of creatine kinase-isoenzyme MB].

An enzyme immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies for creatine kinase-MB in human serum is described. The specificity and the linearity have been studied. The coefficient of within assay ranges from 6% to 22.