[Ankle brachial pressure index (ABPI): color-Doppler versus ultrasound Doppler correlation study in 98 patients after analysis of interobserver reproducibility]. / Étude de corrélation de mesure des index de pression systolique à la cheville (IPSc) par Doppler couleur versus Doppler continu sur une population de 98 patients après analyse de la reproductibilité interobservateur.

OBJECTIVE: Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) by Doppler ultrasound is the gold standard non invasive method for screening of peripheral arterial disease (PAD). This reference method is little used in routine practice, particularly by vascular disease specialists since the most recent ultrasound devices no longer have continuous wave probes. The purpose of our survey was to assess interobserver reproducibility of color-Doppler measurements made in a first population, then second, to assess the correlation between ABPI measurements made with color-Doppler and with ultrasound Doppler in a second population. METHODS: One hundred twenty patients meeting screening criteria for AOMI defined by the French Health Authorities (HAS, 2006) participated in the study between October 2010 and April 2011 in the Echo Doppler and Vascular Medicine unit of the Brest University teaching hospital: 22 patients for interobserver reproducibility and 98 for color-Doppler - continuous Doppler correlation study. Two independent operators measured the ABPI index in each of the 98 patients using color-Doppler and continuous Doppler in random order, producing 353 measurements. Reliability and reproducibility were assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient of correlation (ICC) determined with Spearman and the Bland-Altman methods. RESULTS: The ABPI was less than 0.90 in 62% of patients. The color-Doppler reproducibility study showed a mean difference of 0.02 [95% CI: -0.02 to 0.17] using the Bland Altman method with ICC equal to 0.89 (P<0.001). For the intermethod correlation study, the mean difference was 0.03 [95% CI: -0.17 to 0.23], with ICC equal to 0.84 (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Color-Doppler could be an alternative to Doppler ultrasound for PAD screening or follow-up, depending on the results of further evaluations in larger populations.

[Notes on the biology of the deep-water shrimp Aristeus antillensis in French Guiana]. / Notes sur la biologie de la crevette de profondeur Aristeus antillensis en Guyane française.

In order to describe some aspects of the biology of the deep-water shrimp Aristeus antillensis (Crustacea, Decapoda, Aristeidae) in French Guiana (Western Central Atlantic), a total of 84 bottom trawls were carried out at bottom depths ranging from 200 to 900 m on the Guianan slope during four scientific surveys conducted from August 1990 through July 1991. A. antillensis is distributed in muddy grounds from 456 to 818 m with a peak abundance in the 500-600-m-depth stratum where mean catch rates are about 400 g.h-1. In terms of biomass, catches obtained in day time and at night are similar. All samples observed show great predominance of females. The size frequency distribution indicates the existence of three age-classes for females, probably attributed to three annual cohorts. The results of a detailed study of morphometric relationships (length-weight relationships) are also presented.

[Distribution and abundance of demersal fishes and of some other marine benthic organisims on the continental shelf (0-60 m) of French Guiana]. / Distribution et abondance des poissons démersaux et de quelques autres organismes benthiques marins du plateau continental (0-60 m) de Guyane française.

In order to establish the distribution and abundance of demersal fishes and of some other benthic organisms on the continental shelf of French Guiana (western central Atlantic), ninety-five bottom trawls were effected at depths ranging from 0 to 60 m in October 1993. A total of one hundred and ten different species were identified including eight decapod crustaceans, two cephalopods, one sea turtle and ninety-nine fishes. Despite the high species richness in benthic macrofauna, most species showed a low count, and only twelve of them comprised more than 80% of total captures. This study has mainly highlighted the existence of a well-pronounced bathymetric zonation. This phenomenon would appear to be linked to environmental factors, especially salinity and substrate granulometry, which are greatly conditioned by fresh water and sediment flowing in large rivers such the Amazon River. The results revealed three distinct faunistic assemblages: a littoral (or shallow-water) community (0-30 m) distributed in coastal estuarine waters characterized by muddy bottoms, a middle-shelf community (30-50 m), and a lower-shelf community (depths > 50 m) distributed in deeper marine waters characterized by sandy bottoms.

Hapten synthesis for the development of a competitive inhibition enzyme-immunoassay for thiram.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the fungicide thiram. Two types of haptens were synthesized. The first type exhibits the two symmetrical N-alkyl dithiocarbamate patterns of thiram with a spacer arm linked to one of the N-methyl terminal group. The second type exhibits one of the two symmetrical N-alkyl dithiocarbamate patterns of thiram with a variable-length spacer arm linked to one sulfur atom. Polyclonal antibodies suitable for thiram detection were obtained from immunization with an hapten of the first type, while haptens of the second type were used as coating antigens to develop a competitive ELISA against thiram. The IC(50) value for thiram was estimated to be 0.24 microg/mL, with a detection limit of 0.03 microg/mL. The assay seems to be thiram-specific since no or little cross-reaction with other dithiocarbamates were observed.

Production of monoclonal antibodies against the outer cell wall of Clostridium tyrobutyricum.

Several hybridoma cell lines producing murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed to the Clostridium tyrobutyricum outer cell wall have been established and characterized. Whole bacteria, crude extract of cell wall, and polysaccharide fraction of crude extract have been used as immunogens. The immunizations were performed either in vivo or in vitro after priming in vivo. Amongst the clones obtained, six hybridoma cell lines were selected. Four mAbs recognized only the immunizing strain (ATCC 25755), while two mAbs recognized all the C. tyrobutyricum tested strains. Three mAbs were IgM, one IgG3, and two IgG1 isotypes. The antigens (proteins or polysaccharides) recognized by these mAbs have been characterized by Western Blot. These mAbs could be used for an early detection of C. tyrobutyricum in milk.

Demonstration of a surface antigen of Clostridium tyrobutyricum by use of immunoblotting with a monoclonal antibody.

A monoclonal antibody, prepared against whole cells of Clostridium tyrobutyricum, recognized a surface antigen extracted by heat treatment or by hot phenol-water treatment. This antigen, after analysis by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting, has been shown to present a regularly-spaced ladder pattern similar to those shown by the lipopolysaccharide of many gram-negative bacteria. The proteinase K has been shown to have no effect on the recognition of this epitope by the monoclonal antibody. On the contrary, the inhibition of the antigen reactivity to the monoclonal antibody after a mild periodate oxidation suggests the involvement of a carbohydrate moiety in the epitope. Moreover, the SDS-PAGE analysis of phenol-water extracts has shown an additional compound, detected by silver staining but not recognized by the monoclonal antibody.