Toxicological evaluation of RGTA OTR4120, a heparan sulfate mimetic.

Heparan sulfate mimetic polymers promotes tissue repair when injected locally in doses of 1-2mg/kg by various routes. These biopolymers, have been extensively studied for their diverse biological activities. However, there is no detailed report investigating the toxicity of OTR4120.

Propagation of elastic waves in a fluid-loaded anisotropic functionally graded waveguide: application to ultrasound characterization.

Non-destructive evaluation of heterogeneous materials is of major interest not only in industrial but also in biomedical fields. In this work, the studied structure is a three-layered one: A laterally heterogeneous anisotropic solid layer is sandwiched between two acoustic fluids. An original method is proposed to solve the wave equation in such a structure without using a multilayered model for the plate.

Muscle resident macrophages control the immune cell reaction in a mouse model of notexin-induced myoinjury.

Objective: Skeletal muscle may be the site of a variety of poorly understood immune reactions, particularly after myofiber injury, which is typically observed in inflammatory myopathies. This study was undertaken to explore both the cell dynamics and functions of resident macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) in damaged muscle, using a mouse model of notexin-induced myoinjury to study innate immune cell reactions.

Methods: The myeloid cell reaction to notexin-induced myoinjury was analyzed by microscopy and flow cytometry.

Cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling between in situ prepared arylzinc halides and 2-chloropyrimidine or 2-chloropyrazine.

A cobalt-catalyzed cross-coupling of aryl halides with 2-chloropyrimidines or 2-chloropyrazines is reported in satisfactory to high yields. The key step of this procedure is the formation of aromatic organozinc reagents and their coupling with 2-chlorodiazines using the same cobalt halide as catalyst and Zn dust under mild reaction conditions. This new cobalt-catalyzed coupling reaction represents a practical and interesting alternative to previously known methods for the synthesis of 2-aryldiazines.

Bone remodeling regulation under unloading conditions: numerical investigations.

The present paper addresses the following question: can a simple regulatory bone remodeling model predict effects of unloading conditions on the trabecular bone morphology? In an attempt to answer this question, rat tail-suspension was chosen as a model that mimics the microgravity environment. Over 23 days, histomorphometric analysis was carried out on cross-sections of tibias of the suspended animals. The slices were digitalized and images discretized to obtain osteocyte distribution and apparent bone density.

Development and characterization of new cyclodextrin polymer-based DNA delivery systems.

In this study, we investigated whether a cyclodextrin polymer (polybetaCD) complexed with cationic adamantyl derivatives (Ada) could be used as a vector for gene delivery. DNA compaction as a function of adamantyl/DNA phosphate ratio (A/P) by this new class of vector was demonstrated using surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, zeta potential measurements, and DNA retardation assays. Transfection data highlight the relationship between in vitro gene delivery efficiency and the combination of several physical properties of the polybetaCD/Ada/DNA polyplexes, including cationic polar headgroup valency and chemical structure of the spacer arm of Ada connectors, the adamantyl/DNA phosphate ratio (A/P) of the polybetaCD/Ada/DNA polyplexes, and the ionic strength of the medium.

Synthesis of functionalised diarylmethanes via a cobalt-catalysed cross-coupling of arylzinc species with benzyl chlorides.

A new cobalt-catalysed reductive coupling of aryl halides with benzyl chlorides is reported; a variety of diarylmethanes can be prepared in good to excellent yields under mild reaction conditions using CoBr(2) as catalyst and Zn dust; this new cobalt-catalysed coupling represents a practical and interesting alternative to previously known methods for the synthesis diarylmethanes.

[Helicobacter pylori infection: what to do after first intent treatment failure?].

First intent therapy of H. pylori infection is triple therapy combining PPI, amoxicillin and clarithromycin for 7 to 10 days. Due to the increasing rate of primary resistance to clarithromycin, expected eradication rates are below 70%.

[Infectious diseases outbreaks in French overseas territories: when the circumstances are right...].

Emerging infectious diseases have become a major preoccupation over the past 30 years, possibly owing to the way in which we treat our environment. The current world situation, with its overcrowding, socio-political instability, and increased mobility, offers extremely favourable circumstances for the emergence and rapid spread of microbial pathogens through human populations. The HIV/AIDS pandemic and its impact on Africa is used to illustrate these risks.

A study of the viscoelastic effect in a bone remodeling model.

The present paper addresses the following question can a simple regulatory bone remodeling model predict effects of viscosity on the trabecular morphology? For that, we propose an extension of a previous bone remodeling model by taking into account the viscosity properties of the tissue. Zener's law is used to describe the mechanical behavior of the bone and a specific law of the apparent bone density rate is proposed. Based on stability analysis, numerical simulations are then performed to investigate the viscosity role on simulations of the bone remodeling process.

Synthesis of a trisulfated heparan sulfate disaccharide analog and its use as a template for preliminary molecular imprinting studies.

A heparan sulfate disaccharide analog was synthesized by a multistep route. This synthesis was designed in such a way that one intermediate could be selectively deprotected to provide versatility during both synthesis and homologation of heparan sulfate related polysaccharides. Non-covalent imprinted polymers were prepared by using the synthesized disaccharide as a template and a primary amine functionalized acrylate as the key functional monomer suitable for specific sulfated sugar recognition.

Intra-arterial angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia.

Angiolymphoid hyperplasia with eosinophilia (ALHE) is a rare skin disorder of unknown etiology. This paper describes the case of a 34-year-old man with a lesion located on the right part of his forehead. Microscopically, it displayed a typical morphology of ALHE.

Inflammatory monocytes recruited after skeletal muscle injury switch into antiinflammatory macrophages to support myogenesis.

Macrophages (MPs) are important for skeletal muscle regeneration in vivo and may exert beneficial effects on myogenic cell growth through mitogenic and antiapoptotic activities in vitro. However, MPs are highly versatile and may exert various, and even opposite, functions depending on their activation state. We studied monocyte (MO)/MP phenotypes and functions during skeletal muscle repair.

Water deficit induces variation in expression of stress-responsive genes in two peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) cultivars with different tolerance to drought.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) is an important subsistence and cash crop in the semi-arid tropics where it often suffers from drought stress. Although its ecophysiological responses are studied, little is known about the molecular events involved in its adaptive responses to drought.

Monohydroxylated poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) oligomers and its functionalized derivatives used as macroinitiators in the synthesis of degradable diblock copolyesters.

The presence of a hydroxyl group at the end of poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate) oligomers, noted PHO oligomers, is required to prepare diblock copolymers with improved properties by ring-opening polymerization of cyclic monomer as epsilon-caprolactone. Several chemical methods such as basic hydrolysis, acid-catalyzed reaction with APTS, and methanolysis were used to prepare well-defined low molar masses PHO oligomers. The methanolysis reaction was allowed to proceed for 10-60 min to produce PHO oligomers with Mn values ranging from 20,000 to 800 g mol-1 with low polydispersity index.

Critical budget of metal sources and pathways in the Seine River basin (1994-2003) for Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn.

River basin metal pollution originates from heavy industries (plating, automobile) and from urban sources (Paris conurbation: 2740 km(2), 9.47 million inhabitants). The natural sources of metal have been found to be limited due to sedimentary nature of this catchment and to the very low river sediment transport (10 t km(-2) y(-1)).

The reversible binding of anti-human serum albumin to poly beta-cyclodextrin-coated porous silica supports.

A supramolecular system involving host-guest interactions between immobilized beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) cavities and adamantyl groups was evaluated for the preparation of immunosorbents which can be regenerated after use. First a dextran layer bearing both adamantyl groups and carboxylic functions is immobilized onto beta-CD-modified porous silica particles (400 nm) by formation of inclusion complexes. Then, antibody molecules are grafted to the polymer layer.

Protection of endothelial-derived vasorelaxation with cariporide, a sodium-proton exchanger inhibitor, after prolonged hypoxia and hypoxia-reoxygenation: effect of age.

Calcium overload during hypoxia and reoxygenation exerts deleterious effects in endothelial and smooth muscle cells but potential effects of sodium-proton exchanger (NHE) inhibitors have never been investigated in both adult and senescent vessels. Isolated aortic rings from adult and senescent rats were submitted to hypoxia (50 min) or to hypoxia/reoxygenation (20/30 min) without or with cariporide (10(-6) M) and aortic vasoreactivity was recorded. After hypoxia, relaxation to acetylcholine was preserved in adult rings treated with cariporide (-22.

A synthetic glycosaminoglycan mimetic (RGTA) modifies natural glycosaminoglycan species during myogenesis.

Crucial events in myogenesis rely on the highly regulated spatiotemporal distribution of cell surface heparan sulfate proteoglycans to which are associated growth factors, thus creating a specific microenvironment around muscle cells. Most growth factors involved in control of myoblast growth and differentiation are stored in the extracellular matrix through interaction with specific sequences of glycosaminoglycan oligosaccharides, mainly heparan sulfate (HS). Different HS subspecies revealed by specific antibodies, have been shown to provide spatiotemporal regulation during muscle development.

Proteasomes are tightly associated to myofibrils in mature skeletal muscle.

Proteasomes are the major actors of nonlysosomal cytoplasmic protein degradation. In particular, these large protein complexes (about 2500 kDa) are considered to be responsible for muscular degradation during skeletal muscle atrophy. Despite their unusual and important size, they are widely described as soluble and mobile in the cytoplasm.

A multicystatin is induced by drought-stress in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) leaves.

Cystatins are protein inhibitors of cystein proteinases belonging to the papain family. In cowpea, cystatin-like polypeptides and a cDNA have been identified from seeds and metabolic functions have been attributed to them. This paper describes VuC1, a new cystatin cDNA isolated from cowpea leaves (Vigna unguiculata (L.

Theoretical and numerical study of a bone remodeling model: the effect of osteocyte cells distribution.

It is well argued that osteocytes are mechanosensory cells and are involved in the regulation of bone remodeling. In previous works, the predictions from a simulation model have suggested that both the influencing distance of osteocytes and the magnitude of the mechanical loads determine the thickness of trabeculae whereas the number of osteocytes primarily affects the rate of bone remodeling. The question that remains not completely answered is: for the same number of osteocytes, what is the effect of different distributions on the remodeling process? Based on a particular regulatory bone remodeling model, the question is addressed, in part, by performing a stability analysis in connection with numerical simulations.

Inhibition of brain mitochondrial monoamine oxidases by the endogenous compound 5-hydroxyoxindole.

5-Hydroxyoxindole is a recently identified endogenous compound. Its physiological role remains unclear but certain evidence exists, that it may share some regulatory properties with isatin, a known endogenous inhibitor of monoamine oxidase (MAO) type B (MAO-B). In this study several oxidized indoles were tested for their in vitro inhibition of MAO type A (MAO-A) and B of rat brain non-synaptic mitochondria.

MRI of atypical focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver: radiology-pathology correlation.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to determine the MRI features of atypical focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver and to compare them to pathology findings.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed MRI and pathology findings in 27 focal nodular hyperplasia lesions with atypical MRI features. Six criteria for typical focal nodular hyperplasia were required: iso- or hypointensity on T1-weighted sequences and iso- or slight hyperintensity on T2-weighted sequences; homogeneous signal intensity; central hyperintense area on T2-weighted sequences; marked lesion contrast enhancement; accumulation of gadolinium chelates within the central area on delayed contrast-enhanced T1-weighted sequences; and absence of capsule.