Longitudinal study of daily variation of rats' behavior in the elevated plus-maze

We conducted a longitudinal study about daily variation of Wistar male rats' behavior in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) evaluated in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 12th, and 18th months of life. Animals were submitted to the plus-maze in 12 sessions at 2-h intervals (n=72, 6 per time point). Spontaneous rest-activity rhythm of four animals was assessed by observation of 24-h videotape records. Time series were analyzed by Cosinor method. Behavioral rates on the six occasions and in light and dark phases were compared by means of two-way ANOVA with repeated measures. Exploratory behavior in EPM was smaller in the light phase and in older animals. Higher values of open and closed arms exploration were observed in the first and third months of the dark phase, and in the first month of the light phase. Adjustment to the 24-h period was significant at all stages for rest-activity data, number of entries in closed arms, and time on center, and for three to five stages for open-arm exploration. In general, 24 h variability was more pronounced in younger animals compared with older ones. The present study showed that: (1). a significant amount of total variability of the behavioral indexes analyzed could be attributed to 24 h variation, (2). light/dark phases differences in EPM exploration were present at all developmental stages, (3). older Wistar rats explored less the EPM and were less active in their home cage compared with younger ones, and (4). behavioral indexes (EPM) decrease was phase related and partially related to a reorganization of rest-activity rhythm.     

Up-regulated expression of HGF in rat liver cells after experimental endotoxemia: a potential pathway for enhancement of liver regeneration

A lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation prior to an hepatic resection has been shown to enhance liver regeneration in rat. The aim of the present study was to investigate the expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its c-Met receptor under such experimental conditions. Animals were submitted to a two-third hepatectomy or a LPS challenge carried out 12 h prior to resection. Non parenchymal and parenchymal cells were isolated from livers obtained at various times post-hepatectomy. Quantitative RT-PCR for HGF and c-Met mRNAs were performed from total liver or purified cell fractions and HGF mRNA was also analyzed by in situ RT-PCR on liver sections. A LPS challenge alone induced a marked up-regulation of HGF mRNA level in whole liver and isolated hepatocytes. Furthermore, when partial hepatectomy (PH) was preceded by a LPS challenge, an increase of HGF mRNA level was seen in whole liver and contrasted with a decreased level in non parenchymal cells. These results were confirmed by in situ RT-PCR. In isolated hepatocytes from endotoxemic rats, the mRNA level for the LPS-specific membranous receptor mCD14 was markedly up-regulated and even more so when LPS was followed by PH. Moreover, a TNFalpha challenge alone induced an up-regulation of HGF mRNA in hepatocytes and a down-regulation in non parenchymal cells (NPCs). Overall, when a LPS challenge is given prior to PH the major source of hepatic HGF appears to be the hepatocyte itself rather than NPCs. An autocrine HGF/c-Met loop which promotes the proliferative potential of the hepatic parenchymal cell and participates in liver regeneration is postulated.     

Spontaneous disruption of mycotic aneurysm involving innominate artery

We report a case of ruptured mycotic aneurysm involving innominate artery requiring an urgent surgical treatment. A 62-yr-old woman presented with fever and dyspnea. Previously, she was diagnosed with colon cancer and received right hemicolectomy and one cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy. On echocardiogram, pericardial effusion was noted and emergency pericardiocentesis was performed. CT scan revealed aortic aneurysm involving ascending aorta and innominate artery, and thrombi surrounding those structures. Patch repair of the defect in the ascending aorta and ringed Goretex graft to bypass the innominate and ascending aorta were performed. We believe that this is the first case of ruptured mycotic aneurysm involving innominate artery.     

Cell-mediated immunity in leprosy and transfer of delayed hypersensitivity reactions

Eighty-nine patients with leprosy, 65 classified as lepromatous and 24 as tuberculoid, were examined in this study. Skin test responses to protein antigens and dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB) were depressed in lepromatous patients compared to controls. Tuberculoid patients did not exhibit a significant depression to microbial antigens, but they showed a definite depression in the ability to be sensitized with DNCB. The transfer of delayed hypersensitivity reactions to tuberculin, trichophytin, and lepromin (Fernandez and Mitsuda reactions) was accomplished in lepromatous and indeterminate leprosy patients using viable lymphocytes from donors presenting positive reactions to these antigens. The lepromin reaction was also transferred to patients with South American blastomycosis and cutaneous leishmaniasis. The positive reactions of adoptive immunity were confirmed by histologic examination of skin biopsies.     

Autoantibodies directed against the amino-terminal domain I of human calpastatin (ACAST-DI Ab) in connective tissue diseases. High levels of ACAST-DI Ab are associated with vasculitis in lupus

To identify new autoantibody populations in patients with rheumatic diseases, a cDNA expression library was immunoscreened with a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient's serum which contains autoantibodies binding to uncharacterized polypeptides by Western-blotting. One clone encoding the amino-terminal region (Nt) [domain L and half of domain I] of human calpastatin was selected. Different fragments of the selected cDNA were prepared and the corresponding recombinant polypeptides were produced by in vitro translation and analysed by Western blotting. Most RA sera bound to recombinant amino-terminal region and domain I but not to domain L. This prompted us to use a recombinant polypeptide corresponding to the domain I of calpastatin as the antigen in a solid-phase ELISA to test sera from patients with various systemic rheumatic diseases and healthy controls.Anti-calpastatin domain I antibodies (ACAST-DI Ab), were detected by ELISA in RA, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sj?gren's syndrome and control sera at respective frequencies of 10, 9, 0 and 1%. These Ab did not have prognostic value in early RA; high levels were significantly associated with vasculitis in SLE. Antibodies reacting with the calpastatin amino-terminal region are produced during systemic rheumatic diseases and are predominantly directed against domain I. High levels of these Ab may constitute a marker of vasculitis in SLE.     

Group‐specific component (GC) in curiaú and pacoval,two african‐derived brazilian populations

The group‐specific component (GC) system is of interest in anthropological genetic studies because the distribution of its subtypes distinguishes among major ethnic groups. The GC system was analyzed in Curiaú and Pacoval, two remnant Quilombo populations (African‐derived populations) from the Brazilian Amazon. There was no significant statistical difference in allelic frequencies between the two populations or between them and three other African‐derived Brazilian populations (Mimbó, Sítio Velho, and Gaucinha in Northeastern Brazil). These populations share similarities among themselves and with African populations (high frequencies of GC*1F and lower frequencies of GC*1S), which may reflect the influence of a high level of African contribution to their formation, but there is a clear difference between them and Europeans and South American Indians. It is suggested that the GC system is a useful marker for studying relationships between single populations and major ethnic groups, but does not discriminate between populations which share the same parental stock. Am. J. Hum. Biol. 13:718–720, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Recombinant VP9-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of immunoglobulin G antibodies to Banna virus (genus Seadornavirus)

Banna virus (BAV, genus Seadornavirus, family Reoviridae) is an arbovirus suspected to be responsible for encephalitis in humans. Two genotypes of this virus are distinguishable: A (Chinese isolate, BAV-Ch) and B (Indonesian isolate, BAV-In6969) which exhibit only 41% amino-acid identity in the sequence of their VP9.The VP7 to VP12 of BAV-Ch and VP9 of BAV-In6969 were expressed in bacteria using pGEX-4T-2 vector. VP9 was chosen to establish an ELISA for BAV, based mainly on two observations: (i). VP9 is a major protein in virus-infected cells and is a capsid protein (ii). among all the proteins expressed, VP9 was obtained in high amount and showed the highest immuno-reactivity to anti-BAV ascitic fluid.The VP9s ELISA was evaluated in three populations: French blood donors and two populations (blood donors and patients with a neurological syndrome) from Malaysia, representing the region where the virus was isolated in the past.The specificity of this ELISA was >98%. In mice injected with live BAV, the assay detected IgG-antibody to BAV infection 21 days post-injection, which was confirmed by Western blot using BAV-infected cells.The VP9 ELISA permits to determine the sero-status of a population without special safety precautions and without any requirements to propagate the BAV. This test should be a useful tool for epidemiological survey of BAV.     

Alternative methods to analyse the impact of HIV mutations on virological response to antiviral therapy

Background  

Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square (PLS) regression may be useful to summarize the HIV genotypic information. Without pre-selection each mutation presented in at least one patient is considered with a different weight. We compared these two strategies with the construction of a usual genotypic score.     

Impact of a patient education program on adherence to HIV medication: a randomized clinical trial

Patients' knowledge of their HIV condition and its treatment, which has been recognized as a factor that influences adherence to antiretroviral therapy, can be improved through educational programs. This prospective, randomized, controlled trial compared an experimental group that participated in an educational program and a control group with standard care. The study evaluated the impact of an educational intervention on adherence to antiretroviral therapy, patients' knowledge, quality of life, and therapeutic response in patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy. Three hundred twenty-six patients were analyzed at inclusion. A higher level of adherence was associated with patients who were older, had higher incomes, and did not smoke. CD4 cell count and plasma viral load were correlated with adherence at entry. The educational intervention had an impact on adherence and knowledge in the experimental group at 6 months, which was maintained at 12 and 18 months. A delayed increase in adherence was observed in the control group at 12 months. No significant impact on quality of life was observed over time. The patients' health status improved in 56% of the experimental group subjects and 50% of the control subjects. However, no significant impact was shown on CD4 cell count and plasma viral load. This study shows that an educational intervention improves adherence to antiretroviral regimens and health status and suggests that it should be initiated early in therapy.