Using the literature in developing McGill's guidelines for interactions between residents and the pharmaceutical industry.

Evidence suggests that the pharmaceutical industry exerts a large influence on residents' education and practice. Yet existing guidelines by professional bodies do not cover the specifics of residents' interactions with the pharmaceutical industry. At the psychiatry residency program of the McGill University Health Center, the authors set out to systematically evaluate areas of concern for residents and to develop guidelines for use by residents during and outside their training. Areas of concern included educational activities, training, fundraising, and other specific resident-industry interactions. In 1998, a committee of residents and faculty systematically evaluated areas of concern and, based on a review of the literature and discussions with experts, in 2000 developed guidelines for use by McGill's psychiatry program residents. The process for guideline development and methods for their implementation in 2001 are described. Education and training of residents on resident-industry interactions were included early in the curriculum. Guidelines were developed to address limitations on fundraising activities; restriction of direct gifts to residents; the appropriateness and awarding of industry fellowships; and the handling of drug samples, meals, and other presentations to residents. While guidelines for residents are useful adjuncts for guiding residents' interactions with the pharmaceutical industry, the authors conclude that they need to be reinforced with education and sensitization by faculty.     

Tumour-bound immunoglobulins. The in vitro disappearance of immunoglobulin from the surface of coated tumour cells, and some properties of released components

Immunoglobulin-coated ascites tumour cells lose some of their immunoglobulin coat following their transfer to in vitro culture conditions. The uncoating process is metabolism-dependent and related to the turning over of cell-surface components.     

Feline Coronavirus Serotypes 1 and 2: Seroprevalence and Association with Disease in Switzerland

To determine the prevalence of antibodies to feline coronavirus (FCoV) serotypes 1 and 2 in Switzerland and their association with different disease manifestations, a serological study based on immunofluorescence tests was conducted with Swiss field cats using transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV), FCoV type 1 and FCoV type 2 as antigens. A total of 639 serum samples collected in the context of different studies from naturally infected cats were tested. The current study revealed that, with an apparent prevalence of 83%, FCoV serotype 1 is the most prevalent serotype in Switzerland. FCoV type 1 viruses induced higher antibody titers than FCoV type 2, and were more frequently associated with clinical signs and/or feline infectious peritonitis. The antibody development in seven cats experimentally infected with FCoV type 1 revealed that, with progressing duration of infection, antibodies to FCoV type 1 significantly increased over those to FCoV type 2. There was a significant relationship between antibody titers against TGEV, FCoV 1, and FCoV 2 and TGEV antigen detected the highest proportion of seropositive cats. We conclude that a vaccine against FCoV should be based on FCoV type 1-related antigens and that for serodiagnosis of FCoV infection TGEV should be used to attain the highest diagnostic efficiency. When serology is used in addition to clinical signs, hematology, and clinical chemistry results as an aid to diagnose clinical FIP, TGEV shows a diagnostic efficiency equal to that of a FCoV antigen.     

Implication of the Pro12Ala polymorphism of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">PPAR-gamma 2</Emphasis>gene in type 2 diabetes and obesity in the French population

Background  

The Pro12Ala Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) of the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor gamma 2 (PPAR-gamma 2) has been associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D) and also inconsistently with obesity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of this SNP with regards to T2D and childhood and adult obesity in the French Caucasian population.     

A locus for posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy (PPCD3) maps to chromosome 10

Posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy (PPCD) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by corneal endothelial abnormalities, which can lead to blindness due to loss of corneal transparency and sometimes glaucoma. We mapped a new locus responsible for PPCD in a family in which we excluded the previously reported PPCD locus on 20q11, and the region containing COL8A2 on chromosome 1. Results of a 317-marker genome scan provided significant evidence of linkage of PPCD to markers on chromosome 10, with single-point LOD scores of 2.63, 1.63, and 3.19 for markers D10S208 (at (circumflex)theta = 0.03), D10S1780 (at (circumflex)theta = 0.00), and D10S578 (at (circumflex)theta = 0.06). A maximum multi-point LOD score of 4.35 was found at marker D10S1780. Affected family members shared a haplotype in an 8.55 cM critical interval that was bounded by markers D10S213 and D10S578. Our finding of another PPCD locus, PPCD3, on chromosome 10 indicates that PPCD is genetically heterogeneous. Guttae, a common corneal finding sometimes observed along with PPCD, were found among both affected and unaffected members of the proband's sib ship, but were absent in the younger generations of the family. Evaluation of phenotypic differences between family members sharing the same affected haplotype raises questions about whether differences in disease severity, including differences in response to surgical interventions, could be due to genetic background or other factors independent of the PPCD3 locus.     

Analysis of Drug/Plasma Protein Interactions by Means of Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation

Purpose. The applicability of Asymmetrical Flow Field-Flow Fractionation (Asymmetrical Flow FFF) as an alternative tool to examine the distribution of a lipophilic drug (N-Benzoyl-staurosporine) within human plasma protein fractions was investigated with respect to high separation speed and loss of material on surfaces due to adsorption. Methods. Field-Flow Fractionation is defined as a group of pseudo-chromatographic separation methods, where compounds are separated under the influence of an externally applied force based on differences in their physicochemical properties. This method was used to separate human plasma in its protein fractions. The drug distribution in the fractions was investigated by monitoring the fractionated eluate for drug content by fluorescence spectroscopy. Results. Human plasma was separated into human serum albumin (HSA), high density lipoprotein (HDL), ₂-macroglobulin and low density lipoprotein (LDL) fractions in less than ten minutes. Calibration of the system and identification of the individual fractions was performed using commercially available protein reference standards. The influence of membrane type and carrier solution composition on the absolute recovery of N-Benzoyl-staurosporine and fluorescein-isothio-cyanate-albumin (FITC-albumin) was found to be quite significant. Both factors were optimized during the course of the investigations. N-Benzoyl-staurosporine was found to be enriched in the fraction containing HSA. Conclusions. If experimental conditions are thoroughly selected and controlled to suppress drug and plasma protein adsorption at the separation membrane, Asymmetrical Flow FFF shows high recoveries and fast separation of human plasma proteins, and can be a reliable tool to characterize drug / plasma protein interactions. For analytical purposes it has the potential to rival established technologies like ultracentrifugation in terms of ease-of-use, precision, and separation time.