Découverte de Stringocephaluseet autres Stringocephalidae (Brachiopodes Terebratulida)) dans le Givétien d'Afghanistan

A lot of Stringocephalidae have been discovered,for the first time, in the Givetian of Afghanistan. Among these we have identified: Stringocephalus aff. burtini (Defrance)), St. (Parastringocephalus) dewalense n. sp., Rensselandia aff. circularis (Holzapfel)). The locality is situated in Hazarajat, in a Devonian sequence which is more than one thousand meters thick and the age of which ranges from Gedinnian (probable) to Frasnian.     

Bacterial respiration-linked proton translocation and its relationship to respiratory-chain composition.

1. The relationship between chain composition and the efficiency of respiration-linked proton translocation was studied in nine bacterial species of widely differing taxonomic and ecological status. 2. All the bacteria investigated contained respiratory chain dehydrogenases, ubiquinone and/or menaquinone, cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase aa3 and/or o. In addition, some of these organisms also contained pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase and/or cytochrome c. 3. leads to H+/O ratios of whole cell suspensions oxidising endogenous substrates were in the approximate range 4-8 mol H+ translocated per g-atom oxygen consumed. It was concluded from the observed leads to H+/O ratios of cells loaded with specific substrates that proton-translocating loops 1 and 2 were present in all of the organisms investigated, but that loops 0 and 3 were dependent upon the presence of pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase and cytochrome c respectively. 4. The wide range in energy conservation efficiency which was observed in these organisms is discussed in relation to their respiratory chain composition and natural habitat.     

Composition and Intraspecific Chemical Variability of Leaf Essential Oil of Laggera pterodonta from Côte d'Ivoire

The chemical composition of 44 leaf oil samples of Laggera pterodonta (DC.) Sch.Bip. ex Oliv. (Asteraceae) from Côte d'Ivoire was investigated, using combination of chromatographic (GC‐FID) and spectroscopic (GC/MS, ¹³C‐NMR) techniques. Two oil samples chosen according to their chromatographic profiles were submitted to column chromatography and all fractions of CC were analyzed by GC‐FID, GC/MS and ¹³C‐NMR. In total, 83 components accounting for 96.5 to 99.4 % of the whole chemical composition were identified. Significant variations were observed within terpene classes: monoterpene hydrocarbons (0.4–22.7 %), oxygenated monoterpenes (32.9–54.9 %), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (18.6–38.3 %) and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (3.5–38.4 %). Thus, the 44 compositions were subjected to hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA). Two groups were differentiated according to their composition. All the samples contained 2,5‐dimethoxy‐p‐cymene, α‐humulene and (E)‐β‐caryophyllene among the main components. Other components were present at appreciable contents and allowed differentiation of two groups: sabinene and germacrene D for Group I; 10‐epi‐γ‐eudesmol and eudesm‐7(11)‐en‐4α‐ol for Group II. All the samples collected in Eastern Côte d'Ivoire constituted Group I, while samples collected in the Central area of the country constituted Group II.     

An object-oriented modelling framework for the arterial wall

An object-oriented modelling framework for the arterial wall is presented. The novelty of the framework is the possibility to generate customisable artery models, taking advantage of imaging technology. In our knowledge, this is the first object-oriented modelling framework for the arterial wall. Existing models do not allow close structural mapping with arterial microstructure as in the object-oriented framework. In the implemented model, passive behaviour of the arterial wall was considered and the tunica adventitia was the objective system. As verification, a model of an arterial segment was generated. In order to simulate its deformation, a matrix structural mechanics simulator was implemented. Two simulations were conducted, one for an axial loading test and other for a pressure–volume test. Each simulation began with a sensitivity analysis in order to determinate the best parameter combination and to compare the results with analogue controls. In both cases, the simulated results closely reproduced qualitatively and quantitatively the analogue control plots.     

Melatonin Prevents Oxidative Stress and Hepatocyte Cell Death Induced by Experimental Cholestasis

The induction of oxidative stress precedes liver injury during experimental obstructive jaundice (OJ). In this sense, different evidences suggest that melatonin (MEL), as antioxidant, may be useful in the protection against apoptosis and necrosis during experimental cholestasis. In addition, we will also assess if MEL-dependent protection is related to a recovery of antioxidant status disturbances induced by OJ. Cholestasis was achieved by double ligature and sectioning of the principal bile duct. MEL was injected intraperitoneally (500?μg/kg/day). Lipid peroxidation was evaluated by the measurement of malondialdehyde (MDA) content in liver. Different parameters related to antioxidant status, such as reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined in liver. Liver injury was assessed by alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in serum, histological examination, DNA fragmentation and TUNEL assay. The activation of perisinusoidal stellate cells was evaluated by immunohistochemical measurement of α-smooth muscle actin in liver sections. The induction of OJ increased all the parameters related to apoptosis and necrosis in liver. The induction of liver injury was associated with stellate cell activation, as well as an increase in MDA (p<0.0001) and a reduction in GSH, GPx, catalase and SOD content (p<0.0001) in liver. MEL reduced hepatic apoptosis and necrosis (p<0.004) with a significant improvement in all oxidative stress markers. In conclusion, our results showed that MEL recovered the antioxidant status and reduced apoptosis and necrosis induced by experimental cholestasis.     

OPTIMIZATION OF AFFINITY DIGESTION FOR THE ISOLATION OF CELLULOSOMES FROM Clostridium thermocellum

The affinity digestion process for cellulase purification consisting of binding to amorphous cellulose, and amorphous cellulose hydrolysis in the presence of dialysis (Morag et al., 1991), was optimized to obtain high activity recoveries and consistent protein recoveries in the isolation of Clostridium thermocellum cellulase. Experiments were conducted using crude supernatant prepared from C. thermocellum grown on either Avicel or cellobiose. While no difference was observed between Avicel-grown or cellobiose-grown cellulase in the adsorption step, differences were observed during the hydrolysis step. The optimal amorphous cellulose loading was found to be 3 mg amorphous cellulose per milligram supernatant protein. At this loading, 90–100% of activity in the crude supernatant was adsorbed. Twenty-four-hour incubation with the amorphous cellulose during the adsorption stage was found to result in maximal and stable adsorption of activity to the substrate. By fitting the adsorption data to the Langmuir model, an adsorption constant of 410 L/g and a binding capacity of 0.249 g cellulase/g cellulose were obtained. The optimal length of time for hydrolysis was found to be 3 hr for cellulase purified from Avicel cultures and 4 hr for cellulase purified from cellobiose cultures. These loadings and incubation times allowed for more than 85% activity recovery.     

The Effect of Three-Monthly Albendazole Treatment on Malarial Parasitemia and Allergy: A Household-Based Cluster-Randomized,Double-Blind,Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background

Helminth infections are proposed to have immunomodulatory activities affecting health outcomes either detrimentally or beneficially. We evaluated the effects of albendazole treatment, every three months for 21 months, on STH, malarial parasitemia and allergy.

Methods and Findings

A household-based cluster-randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in an area in Indonesia endemic for STH. Using computer-aided block randomization, 481 households (2022 subjects) and 473 households (1982 subjects) were assigned to receive placebo and albendazole, respectively, every three months. The treatment code was concealed from trial investigators and participants. Malarial parasitemia and malaria-like symptoms were assessed in participants older than four years of age while skin prick test (SPT) to allergens as well as reported symptoms of allergy in children aged 5–15 years. The general impact of treatment on STH prevalence and body mass index (BMI) was evaluated. Primary outcomes were prevalence of malarial parasitemia and SPT to any allergen. Analysis was by intention to treat. At 9 and 21 months post-treatment 80.8% and 80.1% of the study subjects were retained, respectively. The intensive treatment regiment resulted in a reduction in the prevalence of STH by 48% in albendazole and 9% in placebo group. Albendazole treatment led to a transient increase in malarial parasitemia at 6 months post treatment (OR 4.16(1.35–12.80)) and no statistically significant increase in SPT reactivity (OR 1.18(0.74–1.86) at 9 months or 1.37 (0.93–2.01) 21 months). No effect of anthelminthic treatment was found on BMI, reported malaria-like- and allergy symptoms. No adverse effects were reported.

Conclusions

The study indicates that intensive community treatment of 3 monthly albendazole administration for 21 months over two years leads to a reduction in STH. This degree of reduction appears safe without any increased risk of malaria or allergies.

Trial Registration

Controlled-Trials.com ISRCTN83830814