Evidence of variations of endogenous halogenated volatile organic compounds in alveolar breath after mental exercise-induced oxidative stress.

Background: The effect of oxygen on markers of oxidative stress has not been totally elucidated because previous studies have yielded conflicting results.

Methods: A method for the collection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry of the halogenated volatile organic compounds in human alveolar breath is described. A transportable apparatus sampled specifically alveolar breath; the volatile organic compounds were captured in a thermal desorption tube, Carbotrap 200®.

Evidence of endogenous volatile organic compounds as biomarkers of diseases in alveolar breath.

The effect of oxygen on markers of oxidative stress has been partially elucidated. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are created during the oxidative burst and excreted in the human alveolar breath, which indeed contains biomarkers. A general concept including collection, separation, detection and clinical biomakers validation is presented in this article: (i) a method for the collection and GC-MS of halogenated VOCs in human alveolar breath is described: a transportable apparatus which sampled specifically alveolar breath; the VOCs were captured in a thermal desorption tube, Carbotrap 200® and each sample was thermally desorbed from the trap in an automated GC-MS apparatus; (ii) the inhibitory effects of halogenated alkanes on mitochondria are suspected likely to fight against oxidative stress deleterious reactions; (iii) two-dimensional gas chromatography occurs by the repeated and re-injection of effluent from one chromatographic column into a second column of orthogonal phase.

Collections of human biological samples for scientific purposes. Why do current regulation need to be clarified and how?

The collection of human biological samples is of major importance for future research in France and Europe. In recent years, new regulatory procedures have been designed to monitor these activities; but they are somewhat complex and some clarifications are needed. The law needs also to be amended.

Biotherapies: are they just like any other drugs?

"Biotherapies" include both biopharmaceuticals and cell and gene therapies. Biopharmaceuticals are macromolecules created by biotechnologies. In the case of monoclonal antibodies, the starting dose to be given to Humans is difficult to select because there may be no relevant animal model.

The human biological resource centres network. A key infrastructure for biomedical research in Europe.

Continuing advances in life sciences and medical research are the result of the remarkable achievements of cell and molecular biology. In the post-sequencing era, the quality of the huge amount of data continuously generated by biotechnology, i.e.

How can the safety of biotherapy products be ensured for patients?

The topic of the round table being very broad, it was agreed with the participants that the discussion should be focused on autologous cell therapy (CT) used in tissue repair, immunomodulation or gene transduction. Autologous CT is actually comprised of both very innovative procedures as well as of products used in routine clinical practice. In France, the regulatory framework for CT has now been finalised, underlining the fact that a CT product (CTP) is intrinsically linked to the process used in its preparation.

Zinc and diabetes mellitus: is there a need of zinc supplementation in diabetes mellitus patients?

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders, the incidence of which varies widely throughout the world. The treatment of diabetes mellitus includes insulin, oral antidiabetic agents, and dietary regimens. Although the emphasis is on macronutrients intakes, there is strong evidence that there is an abnormal metabolism of several micronutrients in diabetic individuals.

Differential pattern in circulating nitrogen derivatives, lactoferrin, and anti-lactoferrin antibodies in HIV type 1 and HIV type 2 infections.

HIV-1 infection is associated with a dramatic reduction in antioxidative molecules both at the cellular level and in the circulation. This is particularly so for lactoferrin, an iron-binding protein involved in natural defenses (antimicrobial and antiviral activities, etc.) and found in whole secretions, including milk and mucus.

Multicentric study of the effect of milk fermented by Lactobacillus casei on the incidence of diarrhoea.

The aim of this study was to determine if supplementation of healthy children with milk fermented by yogurt cultures and Lactobacillus casei strain DN-114 001 could affect the incidence of acute diarrhoea when compared with traditional yogurt. The study was a multicentre, randomised, double-blind trial, conducted over four months, on 928 children aged, at inclusion, 6-24 months. The study consisted of two periods: supplementation and observation.

The effect of supplementation with milk fermented by Lactobacillus casei (strain DN-114 001) on acute diarrhoea in children attending day care centres.

The objective of this study was to determine if supplementation with milk fermented by yogurt cultures and Lactobacillus casei (strain DN-114 001) could lessen acute diarrhoea in healthy children. The study was conducted over six months, with 287 children aged 18.9 (SD 6.

Evidence for antioxidant nutrients-induced pigmentation in skin: results of a clinical trial.

The aim of this study was to demonstrate that modification of the cellular redox-equilibrium occurs as a consequence of antioxidant nutrients intake (carotenoids, vitamine E and vitamine C) and that these nutrients play a role in the pigmentation of the skin without any UV exposure. We conducted a randomized, double-blind study in 20 healthy subjects to evaluate and to compare the efficacy of two mixtures of dietary antioxidants with regard to direct determination of melanin and carotenes by chromametry at selected skin sites and multiple reflection spectrometry from a 1 cm2 region of skin of different parts of the body. Efficacy was assessed by a significant improvement of these parameters, in comparison with measurements performed on the day of randomization, before dietary supplement intake.

Kinetic evaluation of nitric oxide production in pleural exudate after induction of two inflammatory reactions in the rat.

NO generation in the course of two acute, non immune, inflammatory reactions (pleurisy induced by rat isologous serum and carrageenan) was assessed by means of nitrite measurement in pleural exudate from 0.5 to 24 h. NO release varied time-dependently, similarly for the two inflammatory reactions.

Pharmacokinetics of superoxide dismutase in rats after oral administration.

The kinetic behaviour of bovine erythrocyte Cu-Zn SOD was investigated in Sprague Dawley male rats after subcutaneous and oral administrations of doses ranging from 0 center dot 5 to 20 mg kg-1. Studies have been carried out with SOD and SOD encapsulated into liposomes containing or not containing ceramides. The maximum concentration (Cmax) in blood cell pellets ranged from 8 center dot 65 to 11 center dot 03 U/mg haemoglobin (Hb) after subcutaneous injection, and from 4 center dot 48 to 8 center dot 23 U/mg Hb after oral administration.

Effect of encapsulation on the anti-inflammatory properties of superoxide dismutase after oral administration.

Anti-inflammatory properties of free superoxide dismutase and superoxide dismutase encapsulated into liposomes, with or without ceramides, have been investigated. Two models were investigated: carrageenan paw oedema and pleurisy. Animals were fed by repeated doses, twice daily from day 1 until day 4.

Increase of singlet oxygen protection of erythrocytes by vitamin E, vitamin C, and beta carotene intakes.

Substantial evidence supports the theory that free radicals, especially oxygen radicals, are involved in the process of aging. The human organisms have two ways to fight them: an enzymatic way with enzymatic intervention like superoxide dismutase, catalase..

[Evaluation of the antiradical protector effect of multifermented milk serum with reiterated dosage in rats].

Epidemiological and experimental studies suggest that dietary milk products may exert an inhibitory effect on the development of several types of tumors. Some recent experiments in rodents indicate that the antitumor activity of the dairy product is in the protein fraction and more specifically in the whey protein component of milk. It has been demonstrated that whey protein diets result in increased glutathione (GSH) concentration in a number of tissues, and that some of the beneficial effects of whey protein intake are abrogated by inhibition of GSH synthesis.

[Effect of the liposolubility of free radical scavengers on the production of antigen P24 from a HIV infected monocytic cell line].

A large body of evidence indicates that AIDS may be the consequence of a virus-induced antioxidant deficiency and implicates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the pathogenesis of HIV infection. The high level of antigenic acid and cytokines activities in AIDS results in the production of superoxides (O2-), hydrogen peroxide (H202) and hydroxyl radicals (OH). HIV-infected T cells display low levels of SOD, catalase, thioredoxin and glutatione peroxidase rendering them susceptible to undergo apoptosis.

Influence of beta carotene, vitamin E, and vitamin C on endogenous antioxidant defenses in erythrocytes.

Objective: To evaluate the in vivo radical scavenger activity of vitamin E, vitamin C, and beta carotene on erythrocyte membranes.

Design: A prospective, open trial without placebo.

Setting: Department of Clinical Pharmacy.

Thermal desorption-gas chromatographic determination of ethane and pentane in breath as potential markers of lipid peroxidation.

Formation of free radicals and lipoperoxidation occur at the onset of cellular damage. These effects are produced during normal metabolism and in pathological states. The peroxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids, i.

Plasma concentrations of beta-carotene, vitamin A and vitamin E after beta-carotene and vitamin E intake.

We have studied the metabolism (absorption) of beta-carotene and vitamin E by assigning eleven volunteers to receive daily two capsules of OENOBIOL, each containing 15 mg of beta-carotene and 15 mg of vitamin E, over 60 days. The beta-carotene, vitamin E and vitamin A plasma levels were then determined using new methods developed in our laboratory. After two months, the actively treated group's median beta-carotene and vitamin E levels were significantly higher than those of a control group.