Publications by authors named "Legros N"

There is a dearth of evidence indicating the effectiveness of psychological interventions targeting depression and/or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for Black women in the United States (US) exposed to intimate partner violence (IPV). We searched PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EBSCOhost, Social Sciences, Social Sciences Full Text, Social Work Abstracts, and Cochrane databases between September 2021 and October 2022, for original studies of randomized control trials (RCTs) reporting depression and/or PTSD interventions delivered to US Black women with histories of IPV. Of the 1,276 articles, 46 were eligible and 8 RCTs were ultimately included in the review; interventions for depression (four interventions,  = 1,518) and PTSD (four interventions,  = 477).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities have weathered centuries of racism, causing transgenerational mental health consequences and hindering access to quality treatment. In this commentary, we describe the systemic challenges of engaging BIPOC to promote mental health equity during the COVID-19 pandemic. We then describe an initiative that illustrates these strategies, provide recommendations and further readings for academic institutions seeking to partner with community organizations to provide equitable mental health services to populations that have been traditionally overlooked.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Real-time interaction analysis of H1 hemagglutinin from influenza A H1N1 (A/New York/18/2009) and H7 hemagglutinin from influenza A H7N7 (A/Netherlands/219/03) with sialylated neoglycolipids (neoGLs) was performed using the surface acoustic wave (SAW) technology. The produced neoGLs carried phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) as lipid anchor and terminally sialylated lactose (Lc2, Galβ1-4Glc) or neolactotetraose (nLc4, Galβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-3Galβ1-4Glc) harboring an N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac). Using α2-6-sialylated neoGLs, H1 and H7 exhibited marginal attachment toward II6Neu5Ac-Lc2-PE, whereas Sambucus nigra lectin (SNL) exhibited strong binding and Maackia amurensis lectin (MAL) was negative in accordance with their known binding preference toward a distal Neu5Acα2-6Gal- and Neu5Acα2-3Gal-residue, respectively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Shiga toxin (Stx) producing (STEC) cause the edema disease in pigs by releasing the swine-pathogenic Stx2e subtype as the key virulence factor. Stx2e targets endothelial cells of animal organs including the kidney harboring the Stx receptor glycosphingolipids (GSLs) globotriaosylceramide (Gb3Cer, Galα1-4Galβ1-4Glcβ1-1Cer) and globotetraosylceramide (Gb4Cer, GalNAcβ1-3Galα1-4Galβ1-4Glcβ1-1Cer). Since the involvement of renal epithelial cells in the edema disease is unknown, in this study, we analyzed the porcine kidney epithelial cell lines, LLC-PK1 and PK-15, regarding the presence of Stx-binding GSLs, their sensitivity towards Stx2e, and the inhibitory potential of Gb3- and Gb4-neoglycolipids, carrying phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) as the lipid anchor, towards Stx2e.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Infections of the human intestinal tract with enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) result in massive extraintestinal complications due to translocation of EHEC-released Shiga toxins (Stxs) from the gut into the circulation. Stx-mediated damage of the cerebral microvasculature raises serious brain dysfunction being the most frequent cause of acute mortality in patients suffering from severe EHEC infections. Stx2a and Stx2e are associated with heavy and mild course of infection, respectively.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are the primary cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in humans. P-fimbriae are key players for bacterial adherence to the uroepithelium through the Galα1-4Gal-binding PapG adhesin. The three identified classes I, II and III of PapG are supposed to adhere differently to host cell glycosphingolipids (GSLs) of the uroepithelial tract harboring a distal or internal Galα1-4Gal sequence.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Shiga toxin (Stx)-mediated injury of the kidneys and the brain represent the major extraintestinal complications in humans upon infection by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). Damage of renal and cerebral endothelial cells is the key event in the pathogenesis of the life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Stxs are AB toxins and the B-pentamers of the two clinically important Stx subtypes Stx1a and Stx2a preferentially bind to the glycosphingolipid globotriaosylceramide (Gb3Cer, Galα4Galβ4Glcβ1Cer) and to less extent to globotetraosylceramide (Gb4Cer, GalNAcβ3Galα4Galβ4Glcβ1), which are expected to reside in lipid rafts in the plasma membrane of the human endothelium.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) as a human pathogenic subgroup of STEC are characterized by releasing Stx AB-toxin as the major virulence factor. Worldwide disseminated EHEC strains cause sporadic infections and outbreaks in the human population and swine pathogenic STEC strains represent greatly feared pathogens in pig breeding and fattening plants.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Shiga toxins (Stxs) are the major virulence factors of Stx-producing (STEC), which cause hemorrhagic colitis and severe extraintestinal complications due to injury of renal endothelial cells, resulting in kidney failure. Since kidney epithelial cells are suggested additional targets for Stxs, we analyzed Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) II epithelial cells for presence of Stx-binding glycosphingolipids (GSLs), determined their distribution to detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs), and ascertained the lipid composition of DRM and non-DRM preparations. Globotriaosylceramide and globotetraosylceramide, known as receptors for Stx1a, Stx2a, and Stx2e, and Forssman GSL as a specific receptor for Stx2e, were found to cooccur with SM and cholesterol in DRMs of MDCK II cells, which was shown using TLC overlay assay detection combined with mass spectrometry.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Damage of human renal glomerular endothelial cells (HRGECs) of the kidney represents the linchpin in the pathogenesis of the hemolytic uremic syndrome caused by Shiga toxins of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). We performed a comprehensive structural analysis of the Stx-receptor glycosphingolipids (GSLs) globotriaosylceramide (Gb3Cer, Galα4Galβ4Glcβ1Cer) and globotetraosylceramide (Gb4Cer, GalNAcβ3Galα4Galβ4Glcβ1Cer) and their distribution in lipid raft analog detergent-resistant membranes (DRMs) and nonDRMs prepared from primary HRGECs. Predominant receptor lipoforms were Gb3Cer and Gb4Cer with Cer (d18:1, C16:0), Cer (d18:1, C22:0) and Cer (d18:1, C24:1/C24:0).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Shiga toxin (Stx)-mediated injury to microvascular endothelial cells in the brain significantly contributes to the pathogenesis of the hemolytic-uremic syndrome caused by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). Stxs are AB toxins and the B-pentamers of the two major Stx subtypes Stx1a and Stx2a preferentially bind to the glycosphingolipid (GSL) globotriaosylceramide (Gb3Cer) expressed by human endothelial cells. Here we report on comprehensive structural analysis of the different lipoforms of Gb3Cer (Galα4Galβ4Glcβ1Cer) and globotetraosylceramide (Gb4Cer, GalNAcβ3Galα4Galβ4Glcβ1Cer, the less effective Stx receptor) of primary human brain microvascular endothelial cells and their association with lipid rafts.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Shiga toxins (Stxs) are produced by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), which cause human infections with an often fatal outcome. Vero cell lines, derived from African green monkey kidney, represent the gold standard for determining the cytotoxic effects of Stxs. Despite their global use, knowledge about the exact structures of the Stx receptor glycosphingolipids (GSLs) and their assembly in lipid rafts is poor.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This study compares the performance of three chromogenic culture agar plates, chromID MRSA, MRSA-Screen and MRSA-Select, by challenging with a collection of Staphylococcus aureus strains and screening samples obtained from hospitalised patients. All chromogenic media showed excellent sensitivity (>95%) and specificity after 18 h on the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) collection strains, but the specificity of MRSA-Screen decreased markedly after 42 h. Sixty-eight of 1,002 screening specimens yielded MRSA on at least one medium.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This article looks at the newly-issued JCAHO standards and their increased focus on patient safety in performance standards for healthcare organizations. As part of these standards, hospitals are required to inform patients of outcomes of care, including unanticipated outcomes. This article examines this requirement and suggests varying interpretations of it.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Data from immunocytochemical assessment of estrogen receptor (ER) regulation in MCF-7 cells under estrogenic and anti-estrogenic stimulation were compared with those obtained by enzyme immunoassay (Abbott ER-EIA). Similar trends were observed, although ER level variations were less marked when assessed immunocytochemically. We confirmed reports of ER disappearance in the presence of estrogens (Es; E2 and DES) and pure anti-estrogens (AEs; RU 58,668 and ICI 164,384) as well as its increase with partial AEs (4-OH-TAM and RU 39,119).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

With the aim of developing new efficient agents for transfecting of eukaryotic cells we have designed and synthesized a novel family of cationic lipid vectors derived from glycine betaine. In this study we present three novel molecules differing by the length of their aliphatic chains (R=12,R=14,R=16). The lyotropic properties of these cationic lipids have been determined, and their transfection efficiency on different cell lines evaluated, using a luminescent assay.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In 1986 we reported the appearance of a progestin binding protein in the human breast cancer cell line Evsa-T, originally described as lacking both estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PR). In this report we show that PR of this cell line displays a binding affinity for [3H]ORG 2058 and a sucrose gradient sedimentation profile similar to those ascribed to PR from MCF-7 or T47D breast cancer cell lines. PR from Evsa-T cells is down-regulated by the progestin R-5020 as well as by the two antiprogestins, ZK 112.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Linkage of specific residues onto steroidal estrogens through a long aliphatic side chain leads to "pure antiestrogens" devoid of residual estrogenic activity. Therefore, we assessed whether an increase in the length of the side chain of the triphenylethylenic antiestrogen idoxifene might increase its antagonistic potency. Culture of MCF-7 and tamoxifen-resistant variant RTX6 cells in the presence of CB 7675, a (CH2)8 derivative of idoxifene [(CH2)2], ruled out this possibility.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We have used human mammary cells of the MCF-7 strain, which constitutively express high levels of the small heat shock protein HSP27 and we have compared the changes in the phosphorylation status of this protein together with changes in cell growth and/or morphology induced by the action of one of the following agents: (1) TPA (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate), known as a differentiation inducer in MCF-7 cells; (2) OH-TAM (hydroxytamoxifen), which exerts a cytostatic and cytotoxic action; or (3) TNF alpha (tumour necrosis factor), which induces apoptotic cell death in this cell line. Our data show that TPA and TNF stimulate an immediate and massive phosphorylation of HSP27, whereas OH-TAM affect the phosphorylation status of the protein only after a 3 day delay. In the case of TPA, high levels of HSP27 phosphorylation were maintained for at least 4 days, along with growth inhibition and acquisition by the cells of a secretory phenotype.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Treatment of estrogen receptor (ER)-positive mammary tumors with tamoxifen produces a dramatic accumulation of ER in the cell nucleus. We investigated whether this phenomenon might be related to the antitumor activity of the drug. Five tamoxifen derivatives for which an influence on MCF-7 cell growth had previously been established were tested for that purpose; two of them inhibited growth, one was growth-stimulatory, and the remaining two were without significant effect.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In order to study protein-detergent short-range interactions, we analyzed the quenching by brominated detergents of reticulum sarcoplasmic (SR) Ca(2+)-ATPase intrinsic fluorescence. For this purpose, 7,8-dibromododecyl beta-maltoside and 2-O-(10,11-dibromoundecanoyl)sucrose, brominated analogs of two non-ionic detergents, the frequently used dodecylmaltoside and the newly synthesized 2-O-lauroylsucrose respectively, were prepared. Rayleigh scattering measurements showed that the brominated detergents efficiently and rapidly solubilized SR vesicles like their non-brominated analogs although at slightly higher concentrations.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Effect of estrogens and antiestrogens (AEs) on estrogen receptor (ER) half-life was analyzed in MCF-7 cells by assessing its progressive disappearance after covalent labeling in situ with [3H]tamoxifen aziridine ([3H]TAZ). Cells were incubated for 1 h with 20 nM [3H]TAZ either in the absence or presence of a 500-fold excess of unlabeled estradiol (E2) (non-specific binding). The entire ER population was labeled by this method as established by subsequent incubation of the cells with [125I]E2.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Two 11 beta-derivatives of estradiol (E2) were tested for their potential antiestrogenic activity in the MCF-7 breast cancer model: one contained a phenoxydimethylaminoethyl side-chain (RU 39,411), the other a pentafluoropentylsulfinyl side-chain (RU 58,668). The former compound displayed mixed estrogenic/antiestrogenic properties, while the latter indicated only an antiestrogenic activity. Both the compounds produced a growth inhibition of MCF-7 cells at doses related to their binding affinity for the estrogen receptor (ER); E2 suppressed this inhibition.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Estrogen receptor (ER), antiestrogen binding sites (AEBS) and calmodulin (CaM) are potential targets of antiestrogen (AE) action. To analyse further which of these targets are primarily involved in the antiproliferative activity of these drugs against human breast cancers, two cell clones, namely the RTx6 and LY-2 variants, selected from MCF-7 cells for their resistance to high doses of tamoxifen (TAM) and the Keoxifen (KEO) analog LY 117018, respectively, were studied for their sensitivity to hydroxytamoxifen (OH-TAM) and KEO as well as the strong calmodulin antagonist calmidazolium. The effects of these drugs on both cell growth and progesterone receptor (PgR) concentration were assessed.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF