Adenovirus infections in Bordeaux University Hospital 2008-2010: clinical and virological features.

Background: Transversal epidemiological data on adenovirus infections in a hospital setting, including both immuno-competent and transplanted patients, are limited and rarely contain the application of molecular virology.

Objectives: To describe the clinical characteristics and molecular epidemiology of adenovirus infections in Bordeaux University Hospital from 2008 to 2010 (clinical data, viral load and adenovirus species distribution).

Study Design: Adenovirus DNA quantification (qPCR) and typing (sequencing of hexon and protein VI genes and protein VI polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product analysis) were applied retrospectively to 215 clinical samples from 105 adenovirus-infected patients (2008-2010, Bordeaux University Hospital).

Effects of leucine and citrulline versus non-essential amino acids on muscle protein synthesis in fasted rat: a common activation pathway?

Leucine (LEU) is recognized as a major regulator of muscle protein synthesis (MPS). Citrulline (CIT) is emerging as a potent new regulator. The aim of our study was to compare MPS modulation by CIT and LEU in food-deprived rats and to determine whether their action was driven by similar mechanisms.

Aortic, cerebral and lower limb arterial and venous response to orthostatic stress after a 60-day bedrest.

The objective of this study is to assess by echography and Doppler the Cerebral (Vmca), Aortic (Vao) and Femoral (Vfem) arterial flow velocity and calf vein (Tibial, Gastrocnemius) section (Tib, Gast) during orthostatic intolerance (OI) test after a 60-day, head down tilt bed rest (HDBR). Twenty-four women (25-40 years) underwent a 60-day HDBR at -6°: eight as control (Con), eight with exercise against lower body negative pressure (Ex-Lb) and eight with nutrition supplement (Nut). Before and after (R0) HDBR, all subjects underwent a 10-min, 80° tilt followed by progressive LBNP until presyncope.

Molecular semiconductor-doped insulator (MSDI) heterojunctions: an alternative transducer for gas chemosensing.

New organic devices including a heterojunction between a semiconducting molecular material (MS)--lutetium bisphthalocyanine (LuPc2)--and a doped insulator (DI)--copper phthalocyanine (Cu(F(n)Pc), where n = 0, 8, 16)--are designed and studied as transducers for redox-active species sensing.

Exceptional sensitivity of metal-aryl bond energies to ortho-fluorine substituents: influence of the metal, the coordination sphere, and the spectator ligands on M-C/H-C bond energy correlations.

DFT calculations are reported of the energetics of C-H oxidative addition of benzene and fluorinated benzenes, Ar(F)H (Ar(F) = C(6)F(n)H(5-n), n = 0-5) at ZrCp(2) (Cp = eta(5)-C(5)H(5)), TaCp(2)H, TaCp(2)Cl, WCp(2), ReCp(CO)(2), ReCp(CO)(PH(3)), ReCp(PH(3))(2), RhCp(PH(3)), RhCp(CO), IrCp(PH(3)), IrCp(CO), Ni(H(2)PCH(2)CH(2)PH(2)), Pt(H(2)PCH(2)CH(2)PH(2)). The change in M-C bond energy of the products fits a linear function of the number of fluorine substituents, with different coefficients corresponding to ortho-, meta-, and para-fluorine. The values of the ortho-coefficient range from 20 to 32 kJ mol(-1), greatly exceeding the values for the meta- and para-coefficients (2.

Two new types of oxyfluorotellurates(IV): ScTeO3F and InTeO3F.

In the course of a general study of oxyfluorotellurates(IV), materials likely to exhibit interesting nonlinear optical properties, the crystal structures of the new phases scandium tellurium trioxide fluoride, ScTeO(3)F, and indium tellurium trioxide fluoride, InTeO(3)F, belonging to two different structural types and also differing from that of the recently published MTeO(3)F (M = Fe, Ga and Cr) series, have been determined. The ScTeO(3)F structure can be described as an intergrowth of two different layers of scandium octahedra connected via isolated TeO(3) groups. The scandium ions occupy two different sites with .

Confinement and superfluidity in one-dimensional degenerate fermionic cold atoms.

The physical properties of arbitrary half-integer spins F = N - (1/2) fermionic cold atoms trapped in a one-dimensional optical lattice are investigated by means of a low-energy approach. Two different superfluid phases are found for F > or = (3/2) depending on whether a discrete symmetry is spontaneously broken or not: an unconfined BCS pairing phase and a confined molecular-superfluid instability made of 2N fermions. We propose an experimental distinction between these phases for a gas trapped in an annular geometry.

Streptococcal septic arthritis in adults. A study of 55 cases with a literature review.

Objectives: To evaluate the rate of occurrence and characteristics of streptococcal septic arthritis.

Methods: Retrospective single-center study of patients with bacteriologically documented septic arthritis admitted to a rheumatology department over a 20-year period.

Results: Of 303 cases of septic arthritis, 55 (18%) were due to streptococci and 166 (55%) to Staphylococcus aureus (55%).

Dim2p, a KH-domain protein required for small ribosomal subunit synthesis.

Recent proteomic analyses are revealing the dynamics of preribosome assembly. Following cleavage at processing site A(2), which generates the 20S pre-rRNA (the immediate precursor to the 18S rRNA), early RRPs (ribosomal RNA processing factors) are released in bulk from the preribosomes, and the resulting pre-40S subunits are left associated with a limited set of proteins that we refer to as the SSU RRP complex. Dim2p, a core constituent of the SSU RRP complex and conserved KH-domain containing protein, is required for pre-rRNA processing and is associated with early nucleolar and late cytoplasmic pre-rRNA species.

Restriction endonuclease patterns of the omp1 gene of reference Chlamydia trachomatis strains and characterization of isolates from Cameroonian students.

Eighteen reference strains of Chlamydia trachomatis were differentiated by omp1 PCR- and nested PCR-based RFLP analysis, using two restriction digestions, one with AluI and the other with the three enzymes HpaII, EcoRI and HinfI. AluI digestion allowed the differentiation of 12 different profiles after CT1/CT5 PCR and 13 different profiles after the nested PCR. The triple hydrolysis permitted the identification of 15 different patterns.

Lactation response and nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus utilization of dairy goats differing by the genotype for alpha S1-casein in milk, and fed diets varying in crude protein concentration.

Twenty-four dairy goats were used in a preliminary trial to evaluate the effect of the genotype for alpha S1-casein (alpha S1-CN) in milk [homozygous variant A/A (n = 12) or F/F (n = 12)] on milk yield and composition for 2 wk from kidding. After this period, the main trial aimed at determining the effects of the genotype for alpha S1-CN in milk, the dietary crude protein concentration on milk yield and composition, and utilization of N, Ca and P. The goats within each genotype were allocated to a 3 x 3 Latin square for 14 wk with three crude protein concentrations in the total mixed ration (13.

Gas-phase behaviour of negative ions produced from thiazidic diuretics under electrospray conditions.

A systematic mass spectrometric study of 10 thiazidic diuretics and related compounds was undertaken by mass spectrometry (MS) with electrospray ionization in the negative ion mode. Collisional dissociation 'in-source' (CID-MS) and in a low-pressure collision cell (CID-MS/MS) were compared in both excitation regions. Spectra obtained by CID-MS and by CID-MS/MS were matched.

Effect of endurance training on oestrogen receptor alpha transcripts in rat skeletal muscle.

Endurance training induces, in female rats, alterations of oestrous cycle with decrease in plasma oestradiol levels. Moreover, it is well known that oestradiol concentrations modify oestrogen receptor levels. In order to further explain the effects of oestrogens on skeletal muscles, we hypothesized that endurance training modifies the levels of oestrogen receptor alpha messenger ribonucleic acid (ER alpha mRNA) in rat gastrocnemius muscle.

Effects of extracellular ATP on freshly isolated mouse skeletal muscle cells during pre-natal and post-natal development.

Extracellular adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) has profound effects on membrane conductance and on the intracellular free [Ca(2+)] ([Ca(2+)](i)) in cultured skeletal muscle cells. The aim of the present study was to examine the occurrence and to characterize the properties of such responses during mammalian muscle development in vivo. The effect of ATP (0.

Nonlinear dielectric relaxation of polar molecules in a strong ac electric field: steady state response.

The nonlinear dielectric relaxation ac stationary response of an assembly of rigid polar molecules acted on by strong superimposed external dc E0 and ac E1(t)=E(1) cos omegat electric fields is evaluated in the context of the noninertial rotational diffusion model. The calculation proceeds by expanding the relaxation functions f(n)(t) (the expectation value of the Legendre polynomials P(n)), which describe the nonlinear relaxation of the system, as a Fourier series in the time domain. Hence, an infinite hierarchy of recurrence equations for the Fourier components of f(n)(t) is obtained.

In vitro measurement of the frequency-dependent attenuation in cancellous bone between 0.2 and 2 MHz.

Our goal was to evaluate the frequency dependence of the ultrasonic attenuation coefficient in cancellous bone. Estimates were obtained in immersion, using a substitution method in the through-transmit mode, by scanning 14 human bone specimens (calcaneus). Measurements were performed with three pairs of focused transducers with a center frequency of 0.

Effects of lipid-lowering drugs on left ventricular function and exercise tolerance in dyslipidemic coronary patients.

Previous studies suggested that certain lipid-lowering drugs such as statins suppress ubiquinone, affect mitochondrial function, and may have deleterious effect on skeletal or cardiac muscles with potentially serious clinical consequences, especially in patients with established coronary heart disease and left ventricular dysfunction. In this double-blind study, we assessed the effects of 20 mg simvastatin (S, n = 32) or 200 mg micronized fenofibrate (F, n = 32, control group) on rest and exercise left ventricular function in hypercholesterolemic survivors of a previous Q-wave acute myocardial infarction. Left ventricular radionuclide imaging was performed at rest and during submaximal exercise and global and segmental (nine segment regional wall-motion score) ejection fractions were measured before treatment and 12 weeks later.

Beneficial effect of concomitant administration of isoflurane and nicorandil.

In common with halogenated anaesthetics, nicorandil, a new KATP channel opener, has been shown to have cardioprotective and vasodilator effects. Recent studies have also suggested that the vasodilator and protective effects of halogenated anaesthetics are mediated partly via KATP channel opening. This study examined the effects of concurrent administration of nicorandil and isoflurane on haemodynamic state and ventricular function before, during and after 15 min of ischaemia.

Exposure therapy, fluvoxamine, or combination treatment in obsessive-compulsive disorder: one-year followup.

Sixty outpatients with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD, 22 men, 38 women) were randomized to receive 6 months of antiexposure therapy with fluvoxamine (group F), exposure therapy with fluvoxamine (group Fe), or exposure therapy with placebo (group Pe). Patients in group F did not comply with antiexposure therapy, so it was in fact a neutral condition. Patients began with depressed mood (mean Hamilton depression score = 19).

N-linked oligosaccharides of simian immunodeficiency virus envelope glycoproteins are dispensable for the interaction with the CD4 receptor.

In contrast to others groups, we have previously shown that N-linked glycans of HIV-1 and HIV-2 envelope glycoproteins do not play a major role in the gp-CD4 interaction. In order to clarify these inconsistencies, we investigated the role of N-glycans in the interaction of SIV with the CD4 receptor. The inhibition of binding of radiolabeled SIV envelope glycoprotein (gp140) to CD4+ cells by increasing concentrations of soluble CD4 shows that the interaction occurred with high affinity (K0.

[Management of isolated thyroid nodules. Conclusion].

From a functional point of view, the present management of solitary thyroid nodules should no longer include the first-intention assay of FT3 and FT4 but that of sensitive TSH only. From an oncological point of view, is should be aimed at leading to surgery all malignant solitary thyroid nodules and sparing it to as many benign nodules as possible, except when justified by cosmetic reasons or by pressure symptoms. The principle of systematic surgery for cold nodules with a low uptake should be given up.

Study of the interaction of HIV-1 and HIV-2 envelope glycoproteins with the CD4 receptor and role of N-glycans.

In order to further characterize the interaction of human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) with the CD4 receptor at the molecular level, a binding test was performed using iodine-labeled glycoproteins, 125I-gp160 from HIV-1 and 125I-gp140 from HIV-2, to bind to lymphoid cells expressing the CD4 receptor. The inhibition of binding of the radiolabeled glycoproteins to CD4+ cells by increasing concentrations of nonradiolabeled gp160 or gp140 was used to determine the affinity of the interaction between the glycoproteins and CD4. The gp-CD4 association occurs with a high affinity: K0.

Influence of carbohydrate moieties on the immunogenicity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 recombinant gp160.

The role of carbohydrates in the immunogenicity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) glycoproteins (gp160 and gp120) remains poorly understood. We have analyzed the specificity and neutralizing capacity of antibodies raised against native gp160 or against gp160 deglycosylated by either endo F-N glycanase, neuraminidase, or alpha-mannosidase. Rabbits immunized with these immunogens produced antibodies that recognized recombinant gp160 (rgp160) from HIV-1 in a radioimmunoassay and in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Role of N-linked glycans of envelope glycoproteins in infectivity of human immunodeficiency virus type 1.

We have shown that enzymatic removal of N-linked glycans from human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) recombinant envelope glycoproteins gp160 and gp120 produced in BHK-21 cells did not significantly reduce their ability to bind to CD4, the cellular receptor for the virus. Because recombinant proteins may behave differently from proteins present on virions, we investigated whether such viral envelope glycoproteins either in a purified form or present on viral particles could be deglycosylated by treatment with an endoglycosidase F-N-glycanase mixture which cleaves all accessible glycan moieties. Endoglycosidase analysis of the carbohydrate composition of purified viral gp120 (vgp120) indicated a glycosylation pattern similar to that for recombinant gp120 (rgp120), and treatment with endoglycosidase F-N-glycanase resulted in comparable molecular weight (MW) reduction for both molecules.

Role of N-linked glycans in the interaction between the envelope glycoprotein of human immunodeficiency virus and its CD4 cellular receptor. Structural enzymatic analysis.

gp120 and CD4 are two glycoproteins that are considered to interact together to allow the binding of HIV to CD4+ cells. We have utilized enzymatic digestion by endoglycosidases in order to analyze N-linked carbohydrate chains of these proteins and their possible role in the interaction of gp120 or gp160 with CD4. SDS denaturation was not necessary to obtain optimal deglycosylation of either molecule, but deglycosylation of CD4, nonetheless, depended on the presence of 1% Triton X-100.