[Contributions of training in biomedical ethics. Investigations, considerations and prospects]. / Apports d'une formation en éthique biomédicale investigations, considérations et perspectives.

The testimonies of healthcare professionals who have received introductory training in biomedial ethics show a perceived improvement in their competence in managing complex situations that involve ethical stakes. The resources acquired in this way should make it possible to prevent and reduce the appearance of moral distress, a phenomenon the consequences and persistence of which can lead to burnout and to giving up the profession. These observations encourage establishments to reinforce the resources intended for ethical awareness courses for their fellow workers.

[Addiction]. / Dépendances.

The news in addiction medicine for 2011 include new knowledges coming from the neurosciences, but also new clinical concepts, as the role of hospital addiction units in an integrated network of care. The issue of cocaine vaccination is discussed from an ethical point of view. Finally, the integration of mindfulness techniques is introduced as a useful approach in the treatment of the addictions.

Transglycosylation of cellobiose by partially purified Trichoderma viride cellulase.

A commercial cellulase from Trichoderma viride was fractionated into three fractions, F1, F2, and F3, in order to investigate transglycosylation activities. Among these fractions, F3, which demonstrated highly hydrolytic activity toward p-nitrophenyl beta-D-glucopyranoside and Avicel, most effectively catalyzed the transglycosylation of cellobiose and converted cellobiose into beta-Glc-(1-->6)-beta-glc-(1-->4)-Glc and beta-Glc-(1-->6)-beta-Glc-(1-->6)-beta-Glc(1-->4)-Glc. The F3 fraction contained the enzyme to catalyze beta-glucosyl transfer toward only the C-6 position of the sugar acceptor, and thus it is expected to be of use for syntheses of functional oligosaccharides.

15N nuclear magnetic resonance studies of the B domain of staphylococcal protein A: sequence specific assignments of the imide 15N resonances of the proline residues and the interaction with human immunoglobulin G.

15N nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) studies of the B domain (FB) of Staphylococcus protein A, which is uniformly labeled with 15N, are reported. The alpha CH(i)-15N(i) connectivity in the 1H-15N HMBC spectrum and the 13C(i-1)-15N(i) spin coupling in the 15N spectrum of a 13C-, 15N-doubly labeled FB were used to establish the assignments of the imide 15N resonances for all three Pro residues that exist in FB. Addition of human IgG caused a significant downfield shift of the Pro-39 resonance. This result is quite consistent with our previous suggestion that a significant conformation change is induced in the Ser-42-Ala-55 helical region of FB when it is bound to human IgG.

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance study of a selectively deuterated mouse monoclonal antibody: use of two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn spectroscopy.

A 1H NMR study of a selectively deuterated mouse anti-dansyl monoclonal antibody is reported. Two-dimensional homonuclear Hartmann-Hahn (2D-HOHAHA) spectroscopy was found to be effective for establishing the connectivity between the C2-H and C4-H protons of His residues in the antibody molecule. It has been concluded that 1) even in the case of large proteins such as an antibody, HOHAHA peaks can be observed for amino acid residues that are located in a flexible environment, and 2) deuterium labeling is effective in reducing the efficiency of spin relaxation and makes it possible to increase the number of observed HOHAHA cross peaks. It was suggested that 2D-HOHAHA can also be used to obtain information concerning the flexible parts of antibody molecules.

Application of 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to molecular structural analyses of antibody molecules.

A 13C nuclear magnetic resonance study of a mouse anti-dansyl monoclonal antibody is reported. The antibody molecule was specifically labeled with [1-13C]methionine by growing hybridoma cells in serum-free medium. It was possible to observe all the carbonyl carbon resonances of the antibody. Fab and Fc fragments have been obtained from the antibody and used successfully for the assignment of each of the carbonyl resonances to either the Fab or Fc region. It has been shown that the spectrum of the intact antibody is simply those of Fab and Fc superimposed. It has also been shown that site specific assignments of carbonyl resonances can be made by means of a double labeling technique developed by Kainosho and coworkers.