[Comparison of three scales to assess health risk perception]. / Comparaison de trois échelles d'évaluation de la perception des risques sanitaires.

BACKGROUND: Health risks management consists of quantitative and qualitative assessment of risks including risk perception among different samples of the population. Little work has been done to develop and validate scales to measure risk perception. METHODS: We conducted, in December, 1999, a study among 1358 French GPs, members of the Sentinels network, in order to compare three scales: a visual analog scale, a verbal scale and a numerical scale. GPs were asked about their own perception of two risks: the Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease new variant (vMCJ) and the bug. RESULTS: The response rate was 55%, with no difference between the three groups (p=0.85). No statistically significant difference was observed between the distributions of the visual analog scale and the numerical scale (p=0.11 for the question about the vMCJ and p=0.98 for the question about the bug). Conversely, distributions of the verbal scale were significantly different from those of the visual analog scale (p<0.0001 for both of the questions) and from those of the numerical scale (p<0.0001 for both of the questions). Separation between worried and non worried people didn't occur in the middle of the visual analog scale but at 33 millimeters from the left extremity for the question about the vMCJ and at 41 millimeters from the same extremity for the question about the bug. CONCLUSION: We recommend the use of verbal scales to measure instantaneous perception of a given risk. Visual analog scales and numerical scales are known to be the best scales to detect minimum changes in the perception of functional signs such as pain. On this purpose, their superiority with regard to verbal scales has to be confirmed in the field of risk perception.

Attitudes to food and the role of food in life in the U.S.A., Japan, Flemish Belgium and France: possible implications for the diet-health debate.

For human beings, food is a critical contributor to physical well being, a major source of pleasure, worry and stress, a major occupant of waking time and, across the world, the single greatest category of expenditures. This is a first study of the way food functions in the minds and lives of people from four cultures. Adults and college students from Flemish Belgium, France, U.S.A. and Japan were surveyed with questions dealing with beliefs about the diet-health link, worry about food, the degree of consumption of foods modified to be "healthier" (e.g. reduced in salt or fat), the importance of food as a positive force in life, the tendency to associate foods with nutritional vs. culinary contexts, and satisfaction with the healthiness of one's own diet. In all domains except beliefs about the importance of diet for health, there are substantial country (and usually gender) differences. Generally, the group associating food most with health and least with pleasure is the Americans, and the group most food-pleasure-oriented and least food-health-oriented is the French. In all four countries, females, as opposed to males, show a pattern of attitudes that is more like the American pattern, and less like the French pattern. In either gender, French and Belgians tend to occupy the pleasure extreme, Americans the health extreme, with the Japanese in between. Ironically, the Americans, who do the most to alter their diet in the service of health, are the least likely to classify themselves as healthy eaters. We conclude that there are substantial cross-cultural differences in the extent to which food functions as a stressor vs. a pleasure. These differences may influence health and may partially account for national differences in rates of cardiovascular diseases (the "French paradox").

Fc epsilon RI aggregation induces tyrosine phosphorylation of a novel 72 kDa protein downstream of Syk.

Tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins is critical for the Fc epsilon RI-induced signal transduction that leads to the release of inflammatory mediators from mast cells. Here we report the isolation of a monoclonal antibody, mAb BD2, to a 72 kDa protein that becomes rapidly tyrosine phosphorylated after Fc epsilon RI aggregation. By immunoprecipitation, immunoblotting and/or protease digestion this 72 kDa protein was different from the previously identified 68-76 kDa tyrosine phosphorylated proteins Btk, paxillin, SLP-76 or Syk. The phosphorylation of this 72 kDa protein was detectable within 15 sec after receptor aggregation and was independent of Ca2+ influx or the activation of protein kinase C. By in vitro kinase reaction, the 72 kDa protein did not autophosphorylate, which suggests that it is not a kinase, but is associated with a 140 kDa protein that was strongly phosphorylated. Studies in Syk deficient and Syk transfected variants of the RBL-2H3 cells demonstrated that the tyrosine phosphorylation of this 72 kDa protein was downstream of Syk. These data indicate that the 72 kDa protein precipitated by mAb BD2 is a novel phosphoprotein involved in Fc epsilon RI signaling.

Serum beta-carotene and vitamin C as biomarkers of vegetable and fruit intakes in a community-based sample of French adults.

Relatively high intakes of vegetables and fruit and relatively low intakes of fat are associated with lower rates of heart disease and many types of cancer. Biomarkers for vegetable and fruit consumption are most useful when applicable across different ages, body weights, diets, and varying patterns of fat intake. This study examined two biomarkers, serum concentrations of beta-carotene and vitamin C, as a function of anthropometric, dietary, and lifestyle factors in a community-based sample of French adults. The interview-based dietary-history method was used to assess dietary intakes of 361 males and 476 females aged 18-94 y resident in the Val-de-Marne district southeast of Paris. Serum beta-carotene was quantified by HPLC and vitamin C was measured by using an automated method. Serum beta-carotene and vitamin C concentrations were positively associated with vegetable and fruit intakes and were negatively linked to the consumption of energy, alcohol, and fat. Multiple-regression analyses showed that serum beta-carotene concentration was predicted by fruit and vegetable intakes but was inversely associated with body mass, energy and alcohol intakes, and tobacco use. Serum vitamin C concentration was positively associated with fruit consumption but was negatively associated with age, body mass, and tobacco use. Serum beta-carotene and vitamin C concentrations are useful biomarkers of vegetable and fruit consumption in the French diet. However, other dietary and lifestyle factors also have a significant effect on circulating concentrations of these antioxidant micronutrients.

The fat-sucrose seesaw in relation to age and dietary variety of French adults.

Guidelines for a healthy diet often recommend limiting dietary sugars and fats. Some researchers have called these aims mutually incompatible, suggesting that fat and sugar intakes, when expressed as percent dietary energy, are inversely linked. Others have argued that sugar, more specifically sucrose, acts as a vehicle for dietary fat and serves to suppress the overall quality of the diet. This study examined the relationship between age, sucrose and fat intakes, body mass index (BMI), and measures of dietary diversity and variety in a community-based sample of 837 French adults. Consistent with other studies, high consumption of added sucrose (in g/day or g/1000 kcal per day) was associated with higher consumption of energy and fat and lower consumption of vegetables and fruit. However, eating patterns were strongly influenced by age. High-sucrose consumers were significantly younger and had lower BMI values than did low-sucrose consumers, who were both older and had higher BMIs. High-sucrose diets had minimal effect on the diet diversity score and were associated with more varied diets, as evidenced by a higher dietary variety score.

Diet quality and dietary diversity in France: implications for the French paradox.

OBJECTIVES: Assessing the quality of the total diet is a relatively new focus of studies in nutritional epidemiology. New indexes of healthful eating patterns have been largely limited to US populations. This study used evaluative criteria developed in the United States to assess diet quality and dietary diversity of French adults. METHODS: Habitual dietary intakes of a representative sample of 837 adults (361 men and 476 women) in the Val-de-Marne Dèpartement were evaluated. Evaluative measures of diet quality included a modified diet quality index (DQI), a dietary diversity (DD) score, and a dietary variety score (DVS). The 5-point DQI assessed compliance with the key guidelines of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for healthy people. The DD score counted the number of major food groups consumed whereas the DVS counted the total number of foods consumed on a regular basis. RESULTS: Few French adults consumed diets consistent with the USDA dietary recommendations. Only 14% of respondents derived less than 30% of energy from fat and only 4% derived less than 10% of energy from saturated fat. As a result, 63% of the sample had DQI scores of either 0 or I. In contrast, close to 90% of respondents scored a maximum of 5 in DD. Persons whose diets met US dietary recommendations also had the lowest DVSs. CONCLUSIONS: Methodologic factors and cultural biases may account for some of the observed differences between French and US data. Nevertheless, studies of diet quality and diversity are a promising new approach to the study of the total diet and associated health outcomes and may provide new insight into the French paradox.

[Bulimia and epidemiology]. / Boulimie et épidémiologie.

Despite the multiplication of the epidemiological studies related to bulimia, the prevalence of the syndrome remains difficult to estimate, due to the variance of the results. 1 to 17% of the students will be bulimic. Numerous methodological imperfections may explain this disparity. In the studies the populations differentiate in accordance with age, social or economical level or ethnic group. Furthermore many of them were not randomly selected. Additionally, a few studies draw a comparison between the respondents and the sample from which they were drawn. This comparison is very important when the response rates are low. These two factors weaken the representation of the studies. All but one of the studies evaluated subjects by means of self-report questionnaires. The terms used are often not precise enough and there is a risk that individual subjects will interpret them idiosyncratically. Moreover, a lot of these questionnaires were pioneered in the studies, and reliability and validity data are lacking. The screening instruments "BITE" and "BULIT" have been formally evaluated, although they have not been used for the epidemiological evaluations. The BEQ has a good reliability, but has a low rate of identifying false positives. Studies using these self-report questionnaires operationalize the DSM III, the DSM III-R or the Russell criterias. As far as bulimia is concerned, there exist a small relationship between DSM III and DSM III-R. Furthermore, the DSM III criteria for bulimia have been criticized for being overinclusive. The inclusion in the DSM III-R of "methods of weight control" and "a persistent overconcern with shape and weight" contribute to decrease the prevalence of the disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Monoclonal antibodies to the leukocyte common antigen (CD45) inhibit IgE-mediated histamine release from human basophils.

mAb were selected that inhibited IgE-mediated histamine release from human basophils. The two mAb, HB 9AB6 and HB 10AB2, are of the IgG1 subclass and have a 50% inhibitory concentration of 0.16 to 1.1 micrograms/ml. The mAb required several hours of incubation with the basophils at 37 degrees C to induce maximum inhibition. Neither mAb directly released histamine from human basophils nor did they inhibit release induced by formylmethionine tripeptide, calcium ionophore A23187, or PMA. There was little inhibition of IgE-mediated release when the cells were preincubated with the mAb at 4 degrees C. By FACS analysis the 2 mAb bound to all peripheral blood leukocytes and immunoprecipitated a approximately 200-kDa protein from peripheral blood leukocytes and several cell lines of human origin. In binding studies and by sequential immunoprecipitation the 2 mAb and a known anti-CD45 mAb bound to the same protein. However, the mAb recognized different epitopes. Therefore, mAb to the CD45 surface Ag, a membrane protein tyrosine phosphatase, inhibits IgE-receptor mediated histamine release from human basophils. The data suggest a link between protein tyrosine phosphorylation and high affinity IgE receptor-mediated signal transduction in human basophils.

Immunogold localization of the type II regulatory subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase. Monoclonal antibody characterization and RII distribution in rat parotid cells.

A mouse monoclonal antibody of the IgM class, MAb BB1, specific for the type II regulatory subunit (RII) of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (cAPK), was produced using a purified subcellular protein fraction from rat parotid gland as the original antigen. The antibody immunoprecipitated radioactivity labeled RII from bovine heart cAPK, and from rat and human parotid saliva. Western blot analysis revealed specific binding of the antibody to proteins of 52 and 54 KD in extracts of rat parotid tissue, parotid saliva, and bovine heart cAPK. Immunogold labeling of thin sections of rat parotid gland revealed specific labeling of acinar cell nuclei (especially the heterochromatin), cytoplasm (particularly in areas containing granular endoplasmic reticulum), and the content of secretory granules. Labeling was greatly reduced (approximately 84%) when the antibody was pre-absorbed with an excess of bovine heart cAPK. In duct cells the cytoplasm and nuclei were also labeled, but few gold particles were present over secretory granules. These results provide additional evidence for the presence of nuclear cAPK in rat parotid cells, and confirm previous observations on the presence of cAPK regulatory subunits in acinar secretory granules and saliva. The hybridoma reagent will be used for studies of stimulus responses in the parotid and for immunocytochemical analyses of RII distribution in other secretory tissues.

Inhibition of allergic reactions with monoclonal antibody to the high affinity IgE receptor.

A mAb that reacts with the high affinity IgE-R on the rat basophilic leukemia cells (RBL-2H3) was used to inhibit allergic reactions. In vitro, the intact mAb BA3 and its Fab fragment inhibited radiolabeled IgE binding to the RBL-2H3 cells. The mAb binds to the IgE-R with a higher affinity than does IgE. Whereas the intact mAb released histamine from the RBL-2H3 cells, the Fab was inactive. The addition of the Fab fragments to RBL-2H3 inhibited the IgE-mediated histamine release reaction. The Fab fragments also inhibited in vivo passive cutaneous reactions in rats when injected intradermally either before or after IgE. The injection of the mAb Fab i.v. before the injection of the IgE into the skin sites also inhibited reactions, although it was less effective. The results demonstrate that anti-R antibodies can be used as a model for inhibiting immediate hypersensitivity reactions.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies to fimbria-associated adhesins of Bacteroides loescheii PK1295.

Bacteroides loescheii PK1295 fimbriae, which mediate the lactose-sensitive coaggregation with Streptococcus sanguis 34 and the lactose-insensitive coaggregation with Actinomyces israelii PK14, were injected into mice to raise adhesin-specific monoclonal antibodies (MAbs). Supernatants of hybridomas were screened for the capacity to inhibit coaggregation and agglutinate intact bacteria. Of the 10 MAbs that were isolated, 4 were specific and potent inhibitors of the coaggregation between B. loescheii and S. sanguis and two other MAbs specifically inhibited the B. loescheii-A. israelii interaction. None of the six MAbs which inhibited adherence were capable of agglutinating whole cells of B. loescheii, whereas the four remaining MAbs agglutinated whole cells but had no effect on coaggregation. Fab fragments of two MAbs, one that inhibited the coaggregation with S. sanguis and another that inhibited the interaction with A. israelii, also were shown to inhibit the respective coaggregation interactions, suggesting that each of the immunoglobulins recognized its adhesin molecule at or near the active sites. By immunoblotting or immunoprecipitation, the S. sanguis adhesin-specific MAbs reacted with a 75-kilodalton polypeptide present in fimbria-enriched preparations, whereas the A. israelii adhesin-specific MAbs recognized a 45-kilodalton polypeptide in the same preparations. By screening hybridoma supernatants directly for their capacity to block coaggregation, we isolated MAbs which were used to establish that the B. loescheii-S. sanguis and the B. loescheii-A. israelii interactions were mediated by different adhesins.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies produced by immunization with partially purified IgE receptor complexes.

A series of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) were produced following the immunization of mice with partially purified IgE receptors from the rat basophilic leukemia cell line (RBL-2H3). Twelve hybridoma cell lines were selected that secreted monoclonal antibodies capable of binding RBL-2H3 plasma membranes. These antibodies were all of the IgG1, or IgG2a subclass. All 12 antibodies bound to either intact or glutaraldehyde-fixed RBL-2H3 cells. Only one monoclonal (mAb 2AC3) inhibited 125I-labeled IgE binding (IC50 = 65 micrograms/ml compared to 1.0 microgram/ml for unlabeled IgE). This same mAb weakly precipitated the alpha component of the receptor from 125I-surface-labeled cells and directly triggered histamine secretion when incubated with RBL-2H3 cells. Therefore, this hybridoma most likely represents a low affinity anti-receptor antibody. Among the other 11 monoclonals, two caused direct histamine secretion from RBL-2H3 cells. These same two, as well as four others, released greater than 10% of total cellular histamine when rabbit anti-mouse antibody was added to cross-link mAb bound to the cell surface. One monoclonal (mA 1AD3) did not trigger histamine secretion but did inhibit IgE-mediated histamine release when incubated with pre-sensitized RBL-2H3 cells. Except for mAb 2AC3, none of the other monoclonal antibodies that caused or inhibited histamine secretion immunoprecipitated receptor or other protein components from either 125I-surface-labeled or intrinsically-labeled cells. However, two monoclonal antibodies (mAb 1CC4 and 1CD1) immunoprecipitated 45,000 and 55,000 proteins from 125I-surface-labeled cells. One hybridoma (mAb 2AA2) that failed to immunoprecipitate surface-labeled proteins did precipitate a 20,000 band from intrinsically-labeled cells. This band increased slightly in apparent mol. wt after reduction and, therefore, was not the previously described gamma component of the receptor. Because several mAb were capable of modulating histamine secretion, it appeared that some of the present monoclonal antibodies bound to undefined membrane components that are crucial to the secretory process of rat basophilic leukemia cells.

[Culinary art and social change: some remarks]. / Art culinaire et changement social: quelques remarques.

The development in France, long a rural country, of a new type of civilization characterized by industrialization, urbanisation and their corollaries threatens (in a real or imaginary way) both the quality of food (standardization, agricultural, industrialization and new toxicological and pollution problems) and the social-cultural signification of the meal (time constraints, convenience food, fast-food restaurants, etc.) particularly among social strata most involved in the new urban way of life. And yet a new interest and appreciation for cooking and culinary art spreads. Gastronomy can be regarded as a social privilege and/or a celebrative break in the course of ordinary meals: the new culinary vogue might well develop in opposition to--rather than in spite of--the onslaught of convenience food. Significantly enough, it is based on a new mythology and, as a consequence, on new aesthetic canons. The new food emphasizes the signs of nature, archaïsm, rurality, exotism (ethnic food) etc. It is also bound to conciliate the art of food and the image of the body imposed by contemporary culture (slimness, eternal youth...).