[Advanced practice nursing as a complement to primary care physician practice].

Two advanced practice nurses (APNs) who graduated in France propose a feasibility perspective on their future multiprofessional practice in primary care. A retrospective exploratory study of 9 physicians was carried out on 396 consultations according to reasons and patient profiles. Slightly more than 22% of the consultations could be oriented strictly towards IPA.

Pro-apoptotic carboxamide analogues of natural fislatifolic acid targeting Mcl-1 and Bcl-2.

A library of 26 novel carboxamides deriving from natural fislatifolic acid has been prepared. The synthetic strategy involved a bio-inspired Diels-Alder cycloaddition, followed by functionalisations of the carbonyl moiety. All the compounds were evaluated on Bcl-xL, Mcl-1 and Bcl-2 proteins.

Post-mortem whole-body magnetic resonance imaging of human fetuses: a comparison of 3-T vs. 1.5-T MR imaging with classical autopsy.

Objective: To prospectively compare diagnostic accuracy of fetal post-mortem whole-body MRI at 3-T vs. 1.5-T.

Bioassay-guided isolation of antifungal alkaloids from Melochia odorata.

An alkaloidal extract of the leaves of Melochia odorata exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a TLC bioautographic method. Bioassay-guided fractionation of this extract using separation by normal and reverse high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) resulted in the isolation of two active compounds identified as frangulanine, a cyclic peptide alkaloid, and waltherione-A, a quinolinone alkaloid.

Impact of bronchial epithelium on dendritic cell migration and function: modulation by the bacterial motif KpOmpA.

Mucosal immune response depends on the surveillance network established by dendritic cells (DC), APC localized within the epithelium. Bronchial epithelial cells (BEC) play a pivotal role both in the host defense and in the pathogenesis of inflammatory airway disorders. We previously showed that the outer membrane protein A from Klebsiella pneumoniae (KpOmpA), a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) derived from Klebsiella pneumoniae, activates BEC.

Antiproliferative effects of isopentenylated coumarins isolated from Phellolophium madagascariense Baker.

From the leaves of Phellolophium madagascariense Baker (Apiaceae), an endemic herb to Madagascar, three known coumarins (osthol, murraol and meranzin hydrate) have been isolated and identified. This is the first report of these compounds in this species. The structural elucidations were based on the analysis of physical and spectroscopic data.

Revisiting the craniosynostosis-radial ray hypoplasia association: Baller-Gerold syndrome caused by mutations in the RECQL4 gene.

Baller-Gerold syndrome (BGS) is a rare autosomal recessive condition with radial aplasia/hypoplasia and craniosynostosis (OMIM 218600). Of >20 cases reported so far, a few appear atypical and have been reassigned to other nosologic entities, including Fanconi anaemia, Roberts SC phocomelia, and Pfeiffer syndromes after demonstration of corresponding cytogenetic or molecular abnormalities. Clinical overlap between BGS, Rothmund-Thomson syndrome (RTS), and RAPADILINO syndrome is noticeable.

Prenatal diagnosis of trisomy 6 mosaicism.

We report on a fetus with multiple congenital anomalies detected at the prenatal ultrasound examination and a trisomy 6 mosaicism in the amniocytes. The pregnancy was interrupted in the 18th gestational week and the autopsy revealed malformations including cleft right hand, arthrogryposis and hypoplasia of the 4th digit of the left hand, syndactylies and overlapping toes, facial dysmorphism with hypertelorism and low-set ears, ventricular septum defect (VSD), intestinal malrotation and scoliosis. Trisomy 6 mosaicism was detected in cultured amniocytes (13.

Screening of New Caledonian and Vanuatu medicinal plants for antiprotozoal activity.

Sixty-seven extracts of 30 medicinal plants traditionally used in New Caledonia or Vanuatu by healers to treat inflammation, fever and in cicatrizing remedies were evaluated in vitro for their antiprotozoal activity against Leishmania donovani, Leishmania amazonensis and Trypanosoma cruzi. Among the selected plants, Pagiantha cerifera was the most active against both Leishmania species; four extracts were active against promastigotes of Leishmania donovani at EC(50) values inferior to 5 microg/ml. Garcinia pedicillata extract had an EC(50) value of 12.

Tannins and catechin gallate mediate the vasorelaxant effect of Arbutus unedo on the rat isolated aorta.

This study examined the vascular effect of Arbutus leaves (aqueous extract) and described the isolation of several fractions responsible for their vasorelaxant activity. The aqueous extract (AE) of leaves was tested on rat aortic rings precontracted with 0.1 microm noradrenaline.

Screening of some New Caledonian and Vanuatu medicinal plants for antimycobacterial activity.

Twenty plants, belonging to sixteen families, used in traditional New Caledonian and Vanuatu medicine for treatment of symptoms potentially related to tuberculosis (cough, fever or inflammation) were screened for antimycobacterial activity. We also screened an original endemic plant, Amborella trichopoda, only member of the monogeneric family Amborellaceae and considered the most primitive living angiosperm. In total, 55 extracts were evaluated for inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium bovis BCG strain at a concentration of 100 microg/ml.

In vitro antileishmanial activity of acetogenins from Annonaceae.

Twelve acetogenins from Annonaceae were evaluated in vitro for their antileishmanial activities in order to search for new lead-compounds having antileishmanial properties. The compounds were comparatively evaluated by the 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) determination on promastigote forms of wild-type and four drug-resistant lines of Leishmania donovani. In addition, after testing the toxicity on mouse peritoneal macrophages, the compounds were evaluated on amastigote infected macrophages and a therapeutic index was calculated.

Outer membrane protein A from Klebsiella pneumoniae activates bronchial epithelial cells: implication in neutrophil recruitment.

Aside from its mechanical barrier function, bronchial epithelium plays an important role both in the host defense and in the pathogenesis of inflammatory airway disorders. To investigate its role in lung defense, the effect of a bacterial cell wall protein, the outer membrane protein A from Klebsiella pneumoniae (kpOmpA) on bronchial epithelial cells (BEC) was evaluated on adhesion molecule expression and cytokine production. Moreover, the potential implication of this mechanism in kpOmpA-induced lung inflammation was also determined.

Antifungal compounds from Zanthoxylum chiloperone var. angustifolium.

An alkaloidal extract of the stem barks of Zanthoxylum chiloperone var. angustifolium exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus and Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale using a TLC bioautographic method.

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) decreases ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 cell expression on bronchial epithelial cells.

Activation of leucocytes during airway inflammatory reaction involves adhesion to bronchial epithelial cells (BEC), a process implicating specific interactions between glycoproteins with epithelial cell surface proteins, mainly intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1). In this study, the effect of keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), a growth factor involved in pulmonary epithelium repair, was evaluated on adhesion molecule expression with BEAS-2B cells and BEC and granulocyte adherence to BEAS-2B. The modulation by KGF of membrane and mRNA expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 was studied on confluent cells stimulated or not with tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) (200 UI/ml) or TNF and interleukin (IL)-4 (50 UI/ml and 10 ng/ml).

Cohibins C and D, two important metabolites in the biogenesis of acetogenins from Annona muricata and Annona nutans.

Two new annonaceous acetogenins, cohibins C (1a) and D (1b), have been isolated by extensive chromatography of a hexane extract of Annona muricata seeds and a cyclohexane extract of Annona nutans root bark. Their structures have been established on the basis of spectral evidence (NMR, MS) and confirmed by chemical transformation into a pair of monotetrahydrofuran (mono-THF) acetogenins. The role of these compounds in the biogenesis of mono-THF acetogenins is discussed.

Squamocin and benzyl benzoate, acaricidal components of Uvaria pauci-ovulata bark extracts.

Annonaceae have been commonly described in traditional medicine as remedies against head lice and for their insecticidal properties. Acaricidal effects of Uvaria pauci-ovulata bark extracts were investigated on Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, the European house dust mite, and compared with those of benzyl benzoate used as standard acaricidal compound. A dichloromethane extract was the most effective with an EC50 = 0.

Long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency and early-onset liver cirrhosis in two siblings.

Unlabelled: We present the clinical, pathological, biochemical, and molecular results on an infant girl with long-chain 3-hydroxyacyl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase deficiency and data on her deceased elder brother for whom this condition was retrospectively diagnosed. Clinical signs were liver enlargement and elevated liver enzymes, failure to thrive, and neurological disease (coma, seizures) triggered by an infectious stress. In the second child hepatic failure and status epilepticus developed during the onset of a rotavirus gastroenteritis.

Thiol regulation of the production of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 by human alveolar macrophages.

Reactive oxygen intermediates exert signalling functions and modulate gene transcription, particularly for pro-inflammatory cytokines. Since exogenous as well as endogenous thiols could be potent inhibitors of the production of cytokines, the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), glutathione (GSH) and modulated GSH synthesis on the production of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 by human alveolar macrophages (AMs) was evaluated, as well as the potential role of intracellular GSH depletion on the effect of exogenous thiols. AMs were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cytokine production was measured by evaluating messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression and protein secretion.

Antitumoral effects of squamocin on parental and multidrug resistant MCF7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) cell lines.

The antiproliferative effects of squamocin, one of the easiest annonaceous acetogenins to obtain, were studied in the parental (MCF7-S) and the multidrug resistant (MCF7-R) human breast adenocarcinoma cell lines. Squamocin inhibited proliferation of both cell lines identically, by blocking the cell cycle in the G1-phase. This inhibition was reversible in the long term.

Lethal femoral-facial syndrome: a case with unusual manifestations.

The femoral-facial syndrome is a very rare syndrome of uncertain inheritance comprising hypoplastic femora, microretrognathia, and a peculiar facies. We report an additional observation detected by ultrasound at 25 weeks and diagnosed at birth. In addition to the malformations usually described in this syndrome, there were heterotopias of the brain, partial agenesis of the corpus callosum, bilobed lungs, intestinal malrotation, and vertebral segmentation defects.

Oral-facial-digital syndrome type I in a newborn male.

We report on a newborn male, born at term with clinical manifestations of oral-facial-digital (OFD) syndrome type I. This syndrome is generally assumed to be inherited in an X-linked dominant fashion with lethality in males. Therefore, liveborn males are exceptional.

Genetic causes of hydrops fetalis.

A series of 1790 fetal and neonatal autopsies performed between 1976 and 1988 were retrospectively investigated for the presence of hydrops. Thirty (5.5%) and 35 (2.