Decisional needs assessment regarding Down syndrome prenatal testing: a systematic review of the perceptions of women, their partners and health professionals.

Objective: To identify decisional needs of women, their partners and health professionals regarding prenatal testing for Down syndrome through a systematic review.

Methods: Articles reporting original data from real clinical situations on sources of difficulty and/or ease in making decisions regarding prenatal testing for Down syndrome were selected. Data were extracted using a taxonomy adapted from the Ottawa Decision-Support Framework and the quality of the studies was assessed using Qualsyst validated tools.

A rapid flow cytometry assay for the assessment of calcium mobilization in human neutrophils in a small volume of lysed whole-blood.

Flow cytometry-based methods have been developed to measure most neutrophil responses. The assessment of the mobilization of calcium, however, is routinely performed on neutrophils isolated from whole blood. This report describes a flow cytometry-based assay to measure the mobilization of calcium in neutrophils directly in whole blood.

A postgenomic integrated view of prostaglandins in reproduction: implications for other body systems.

Prostaglandins are primary mediators of pain and are involved in pathological conditions such as hypertension, cancer and inflammation but are also needed for normal function of the female reproductive system. This may hold true for other systems because long term use of selective COX-2 inhibitors such as VIOXX and BEXTRA was associated with heart failure, leading to their withdrawal. A thorough study of the contribution of prostaglandins in the regulation of normal body function is clearly needed.

Specific and overlapping sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor functions in human synoviocytes: impact of TNF-alpha.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), via interaction with its G protein-coupled receptors, regulates various physiological and pathological responses. The present study investigated the role of S1P/S1P receptor signaling in several functional responses of human fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) that may contribute to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We report that FLSs express the S1P(1), S1P(2), and S1P(3) receptors.

Fish consumption and health in French Polynesia.

French Polynesians, like other remote maritime populations are intimately connected to the ocean which nourishes their daily life and culture. Their reliance on fish raises the issue of potential exposure to harmful natural and anthropogenic contaminants as well as providing essential nutrients. The purpose of this study was to assess the risks and benefits of fish consumption in French Polynesia.

Regulation of lysophosphatidic acid receptor expression and function in human synoviocytes: implications for rheumatoid arthritis?

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), via interaction with its G-protein coupled receptors, is involved in various pathological conditions. Extracellular LPA is mainly produced by the enzyme autotaxin (ATX). Using fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) isolated from synovial tissues of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), we studied the expression profile of LPA receptors, LPA-induced cell migration, and interleukin (IL)-8 and IL-6 production.

Comparison between the gene expression profile of human Müller cells and two spontaneous Müller cell lines.

Purpose: Müller cells are the principal glial cells in the retina. They play important functions in this tissue. Alterations in Müller cell behavior were observed in the retinal tissue of patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

Identification of genes specifically expressed by human Müller cells by use of subtractive hybridization.

Purpose: Müller cells are the predominant type of glial cells in the retina. They play a critical role in the retina. The purpose of this study was to generate a profile of the genes specifically expressed by human retinal Müller cells and to identify genes that may be responsible for retinal diseases.

Expression of hck-tr, a truncated form of the src-related tyrosine kinase hck, in bovine spermatozoa and testis.

In bull testicular haploid germ cells, an mRNA encoding for hck was detected in addition to another one encoding for hck-tr, a truncated form of the tyrosine kinase hck. As the transcripts were expressed in spermatids, we tried to determine whether hck-tr is present in mature bovine spermatozoa. Two polyclonal antibodies were produced against peptides specific to the N- and C-terminal portions of the truncated protein.

AFM imaging of immobilized fibronectin: does the surface conjugation scheme affect the protein orientation/conformation?

Covalent grafting of biomolecules could potentially improve the biocompatibility of materials. However, these molecules have to be grafted in an active conformation to play their biological roles. The present work aims at verifying if the surface conjugation scheme of fibronectin (FN) affects the protein orientation/conformation and activity.

Crystal-induced neutrophil activation. IX. Syk-dependent activation of class Ia phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase.

The deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in the joints of humans leads to an extremely acute, inflammatory reaction, commonly known as gout, characterized by a massive infiltration of neutrophils. Direct interactions of MSU crystals with human neutrophils and inflammatory mediators are crucial to the induction and perpetuation of gout attacks. The intracellular signaling events initiated by the physical interaction between MSU crystals and neutrophils depend on the activation of specific tyrosine kinases (Src and Syk, in particular).

Covalent grafting of fibronectin onto plasma-treated PTFE: influence of the conjugation strategy on fibronectin biological activity.

Surface coating of synthetic materials is often considered to improve biomedical devices biocompatibility. In this study, we covalently bound fibronectin (FN) onto ammonia plasma-treated PTFE via two crosslinkers, namely glutaric anhydride (GA) and sulfosuccinimidyl-4-(p-maleimidophenyl)butyrate (sulfo-SMPB). With respect to clean PTFE, cell adhesion increased markedly on both FN grafted surfaces, although it was twice higher on PTFE-GA-FN than on PTFE-SMPB-FN.

Identification and localisation of SERCA 2 isoforms in mammalian sperm.

Upon binding to the egg's zona pellucida, capacitated spermatozoa will undergo a calcium-dependent exocytotic event called acrosome reaction. During this process, Ca2+ depletion from internal stores is followed by an important rise in [Ca2+]i due to a massive Ca2+ influx. Previous reports have shown that the acrosome can act as a Ca2+ store and that depletion of thapsigargin-sensitive stores induces acrosome exocytosis in capacitated spermatozoa from different mammalian species.

The combination of ApoCIII, hepatic lipase and hormono sensitive lipase gene polymorphisms suggests an association with susceptibility to gestational hypertension.

Dyslipidemia and insulin resistance contribute to the endothelial cell dysfunction in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) and increase the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). The genes linking susceptibility to gestational hypertension (GH) and/or preeclampsia (PE) to the long-term risk of CVD are still unknown. We evaluated the potential association between 14 polymorphisms from six genes involved in lipid metabolism and insulin action and the risk of HDP: namely the lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hepatic lipase (LIPC), hormone sensitive lipase (LIPE), cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP), ApoCIII and ApoE gene polymorphisms.

Characterization of two spontaneously generated human muller cell lines from donors with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: Müller cells are the principal glial cells of the retina. They span the entire thickness of the neural retina, and they are in close contact with neurons. Müller cells grow very slowly, and they undergo senescence with increasing passages.

Effects of pyrrophenone, an inhibitor of group IVA phospholipase A2, on eicosanoid and PAF biosynthesis in human neutrophils.

Background And Purpose: The biosynthesis of leukotrienes (LT) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) involves the release of their respective precursors, arachidonic acid (AA) and lyso-PAF by the group IVA PLA2 (cPLA2alpha). This paper aims at characterizing the inhibitory properties of the cPLA2alpha inhibitor pyrrophenone on eicosanoids and PAF in human neutrophils (PMN).

Experimental Approach: Freshly isolated human PMN were activated with physiological and pharmacological agents (fMLP, PAF, exogenous AA, A23187 and thapsigargin) in presence and absence of the cPLA2alpha inhibitor pyrrophenone and biosynthesis of LT, PAF, and PGE2 was measured.

Identification of the proteins present in the bull sperm cytosolic fraction enriched in tyrosine kinase activity: a proteomic approach.

Numerous sperm proteins have been identified on the basis of their increase in tyrosine phosphorylation during capacitation. However, the tyrosine kinases present in spermatozoa that are responsible for this phosphorylation remain unknown. As spermatozoa are devoid of transcriptional and translational activities, molecular biology approaches might not reflect the transcriptional pattern in mature spermatozoa.

Micropatterning with aerosols: application for biomaterials.

Adhesion and proliferation behaviors of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) were investigated on surfaces micropatterned with peptides using a novel approach. This micropatterning technique allows modification of macroscopic three-dimensional (3D) biomaterials surfaces and exploits the semi-random properties of aerosols and the principles of liquid atomization. The possibility to control cell behaviors on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) surfaces tailored with this micropatterning approach was evaluated.

Spatio-temporal distribution of hypothyroidism in Quebec.

This study estimates the incidence and prevalence of hypothyroidism in Quebec, based on a data bank produced by the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) on the use of thyroid hormones by persons insured under RAMQ's public drug insurance plan between 1992 and 2001. In 2001, the prevalence of thyroid hormone use in women and men respectively was 10.8 and 2.

Enkephalinergic afferents of the centromedial amygdala in the rat.

The connectivity of the amygdaloid complex has been extensively explored with both anterograde and retrograde tracers. Even though the afferents of the centromedial amygdala [comprising the central (CEA) and medial (MEA) amygdaloid nuclei] are well established, relatively little is known about the neuropeptide phenotype of these connections. In this study, we first examined the distribution of mu-opioid receptor (MOR) and delta-opioid receptor (DOR) in the amygdala via in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry.

Inhibition of platelet-activating factor biosynthesis by adenosine and histamine in human neutrophils: involvement of cPLA2alpha and reversal by lyso-PAF.

Leukotrienes (LT) and platelet-activating factor (PAF) are important lipid mediators of inflammation. We and others reported previously that autacoids such as adenosine, histamine, prostaglandin E2, and beta-adrenergic agents inhibit LT biosynthesis in activated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN). In this study, we demonstrate that CGS-21680 (a selective agonist of the adenosine A2A receptor) and histamine also potently inhibit PAF biosynthesis in agonist [formyl Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP)]- and thapsigargin-activated human PMN.

Bull testicular haploid germ cells express a messenger encoding for a truncated form of the protein tyrosine kinase HCK.

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation is a process that has been studied worldwide during sperm capacitation and acrosomal exocytosis events. Although few capacitation-induced phosphotyrosine-containing proteins have been identified, little is known about the tyrosine kinases directly involved in this post-translational modification. Different studies from our and other groups using tyrosine kinase inhibitors suggest the involvement of members of the family of src-related tyrosine kinases in the sperm capacitation associated increase in protein tyrosine phosphorylation.

Total and specific immunoglobulin E and their relationship to respiratory symptoms in Quebéc children and adolescents.

Background: Respiratory disease is a major cause of morbidity in young people. It is now recognized that atopy plays an important role in the development of chronic respiratory symptoms in children.

Objective: To examine the determinants and consequences of serum total and specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in a general population sample of Québec children and adolescents.

Heterogeneous chloride homeostasis and GABA responses in the median preoptic nucleus of the rat.

The median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) is an integrative structure of the hypothalamus receiving periphery-derived information pertinent to hydromineral and cardiovascular homeostasis. In this context, excitability of MnPO neurones is controlled by fast GABAergic, glutamatergic and angiotensinergic projection from the subfornical organ (SFO). Taking advantage of a brain slice preparation preserving synaptic connection between the SFO and the MnPO, and appropriate bicarbonate-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), we investigated a possible implication of an active outward Cl- transport in regulating efficacy of the GABA(A) receptor-mediated inhibitory response at the SFO-MnPO synapse.