[Vaccination coverage and socioeconomic determinants of BCG vaccination in children before 3 months: Results of the Elfe cohort study, 2011]. / Couverture vaccinale et déterminants socioéconomiques de la vaccination BCG chez l'enfant avant 3 mois : résultats de la cohorte Elfe, 2011.

BACKGROUND: In 2007, French authorities changed mandatory BCG vaccination for all children into a strong recommendation to vaccinate only children considered at high risk of tuberculosis. Vaccination coverage (VC) data are insufficient in France. We estimated VC at approximately two months of age and identified socioeconomic factors associated with BCG vaccination. METHODS: The Elfe study (Étude Longitudinale Française depuis l'Enfance) included a random sample of about 18 000 children born in 2011 selected at birth from 320 maternity wards from mainland France. Information was collected through questionnaires and telephone interviews conducted approximately two months after delivery. Because BCG recommendations are different in the Paris region (Île-de-France [IDF]) and outside this region, VC was estimated separately in these two regions. We estimated VC for different levels of tuberculosis risk, approached by the geographical origin of the parents. Poisson regression was performed to analyze the association between socioeconomic factors and BCG vaccination status, and results expressed by prevalence ratios (PR). RESULTS: CV was higher in IDF (59.5%) compared to at-risk children outside IDF (46.7%) (p<0.001). VC in children with two parents from a tuberculosis highly endemic country was 80.5% in IDF and 60.4% outside IDF. In the multivariable model, having one or two parents from a tuberculosis highly endemic country (PR around 1.40) or consulting a private pediatrician (PR around 1.15) or a maternal and child health (MCH) center (PR around 1.40) after leaving the maternity ward were associated with a higher VC, whereas a university educational level in mothers was associated with a lower VC (PR=0.80). CONCLUSION: In France, BCG vaccination in infants is performed early after discharge from the maternity ward. A first consultation with a pediatrician or in a MCH center is associated with better vaccination coverage. Children at higher risk are probably well identified by physicians and better vaccinated.

Use of health care reimbursement data to estimate vaccination coverage in France: Example of hepatitis B, meningitis C, and human papillomavirus vaccination.

BACKGROUND: Sources of data used in France to routinely monitor vaccination coverage, such as the Child Health Certificates and school surveys, allow reliable estimations, but data are not made available with long delays. To rapidly identify recent changes, we have explored the feasibility and relevance of using vaccine reimbursement data. METHODS: We used the Permanent Sample of Beneficiaries, a representative sample of the National Health Insurance Information System, which contains data on health spending reimbursement of the vast majority of the population. We first validated this new source by comparing measles vaccine coverage between Child Health Certificates and the Permanent Sample of Beneficiaries. We present herein the results on hepatitis B, meningococcal C, and human papillomavirus vaccination (HPV) coverage. RESULTS: Measles vaccine coverage estimated with the Permanent Sample of Beneficiaries (91.4%) is very close to the estimation obtained through Child Health Certificates (90.6%). For children born in 2011, hepatitis B vaccination coverage at 24 months of age was 88.7% for one dose and meningococcal vaccination coverage was 56.4% for one dose in December 2013. Of girls born in 1997, 20.1% had received the full HPV vaccination series on their 16th birthday. CONCLUSION: This novel routine vaccination coverage monitoring tool provides regularly updated reactive and reliable vaccination coverage estimates in children.

A generalization of the mixture model in the mapping of quantitative trait loci for progeny from a biparental cross of inbred lines.

The recent advent of molecular markers has created a great potential for the understanding of quantitative inheritance. In parallel to rapid developments and improvements in molecular marker technologies, biometrical models have been constructed, refined and generalized for the mapping of quantitative trait loci (QTL). However, current models present restrictions in terms of breeding designs to which they apply. In this paper, we develop an approach for the generalization of the mixture model for progeny from a single bi-parental cross of inbred lines. Detailed derivations are given for genetic designs involving populations developed by selfing, i.e., where marker genotypes are obtained from Fx (x > or = 2) individuals and where phenotypes are measured on Fy (y > or = x) individuals or families. Extensions to designs involving doubled-haploids, backcross-derived individuals and random matings are outlined. The derivations presented here can easily be combined with current QTL mapping approaches.

Isolation and characterization of a thermophilic sulfate-reducing bacterium, Desulfotomaculum thermosapovorans sp. nov.

Strain MLFT (T = type strain), a new thermophilic, spore-forming sulfate-reducing bacterium, was characterized and was found to be phenotypically, genotypically, and phylogenetically related to the genus Desulfotomaculum. This organism was isolated from a butyrate enrichment culture that had been inoculated with a mixed compost containing rice hulls and peanut shells. The optimum temperature for growth was 50 degrees C. The G+C content of the DNA was 51.2 mol%. Strain MLFT incompletely oxidized pyruvate, butyrate, and butanol to acetate and presumably CO2. It used long-chain fatty acids and propanediols. We observed phenotypic and phylogenetic differences between strain MLFT and other thermophilic Desulfotomaculum species that also oxidize long-chain fatty acids. On the basis of our results, we propose that strain MLFT is a member of a new species, Desulfotomaculum thermosapovorans.

Molecular markers for plant breeding: comparisons of RFLP and RAPD genotyping costs.

Three molecular marker protocols, chemiluminescent restriction fragment length polymorphisms (c-RFLPs), radioactivity-based restriction fragment length polymorphisms (r-RFLPs), and randomly amplified DNA polymorphisms (RAPDs) were compared in terms of cost and time efficiency. Estimates of cost of supplies and time requirements were obtained from simulations of maize (Zea mays L.) genotyping experiments utilizing protocols currently in use. The increase in total cost with increasing numbers of individuals genotyped and markers analyzed is higher for RAPDs than for RFLPs. RAPDs were generally found to be more cost and time efficient for studies involving small sample sizes, while RFLPs have the advantage for larger sample sizes. Because of the shorter exposure times involved, c-RFLPs require less time than r-RFLPs to obtain a given amount of information. Variations in the protocols, such as number of re-uses of Southern blots or cost of Taq DNA polymerase per reaction of amplification, also affect the relative merits of RAPDs and RFLPs. Two examples were analyzed where molecular markers are used: a germ plasm survey and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping in a segregating population. No protocol was found to be the most cost and time efficient over the entire range of sample sizes and number of marker loci studied.

Metabolic changes in rats fed a low protein diet during post-weaning growth.

Metabolic changes in rats fed a low protein diet were investigated during 3 weeks after weaning using lactalbumin (LP) as dietary protein source. The energy intake was higher and the weight gain lower in rats fed the low protein diet (6%, LP group) than in control rats (13% lactalbumin, C group). Low protein diet induced no changes in plasma glucose, free fatty acids, or triacylglycerol concentrations; however, plasma protein and urea concentrations were lower in LP than in C rats. Plasma free T3 was higher in LP than in C rats (+38%, day 21) and insulin progressively decreased during the experimental period (-56%, day 21) without change in glucagon. Liver glycogen and triacylglycerol concentrations (+40% and +180%, respectively, day 21), and cytosolic and mitochondrial redox states increased (+100% and +100%, day 21), and protein concentration was decreased (-15%, day 21). Pyruvate kinase (PK) and malic enzyme activities were higher in LP than in C rats throughout the experiment (+80% and +210%, respectively, day 21), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) activity progressively decreased (-65%, day 21). Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) activity increased after 2 weeks on a LP diet (+35%, day 21) and fatty acid synthetase (FAS) activity increased only during the first week on the diet (+100%, day 7). Such hormonal and metabolic changes appeared to be associated with the development of a futile energy-wasting cycle between pyruvate and phosphoenolpyruvate.

[Sequence of the N-terminal end of the periplasmic glutamine binding protein of Escherichia coli K12. Comparison with other periplasmic proteins]. / Séquence de l'extrémité N terminale de la protéine périplasmique affine pour la glutamine d'Escherichia coli K 12. Comparison avec d'autres protéines périplasmiques.

The amino-terminal end of the glutamine binding protein of E. coli K 12 has been sequenced (40 residues). Homologies with other binding proteins are shown. Likeness is slightly better with the ribose binding protein and with the leucine, isoleucine, valine binding protein.

Thermodynamic studies of binding proteins: effects of temperature variations on substrate binding and conformation of the leucine-isoleucine-valine binding protein of Escherichia coli.

The behaviour of the Leucine isoleucine Valine binding protein of Escherichia coli as a function of temperature has been examined. Substrate binding measurements showed a temperature dependence of the leucine-isoleucine-valine binding protein leucine complex formation constants. The protein-substrate complex was completely dissociated beyond 70 degrees C. In the range 5-65 degrees C the protein remained active but Van't Hoff's plots indicated changes of the reaction thermodynamic parameters. Large negative delta Cp values (--2.25 kJ mole-1 K-1 between 5 and 40 degrees C and--9.40 above 40 degrees C) indicate important substrate induced modifications of the protein conformation. Scanning calorimetry of the leucine isoleucine valine binding protein before and after addition of leucine was also performed. Two thermal events were recorded when the protein was substratefree and only one, at a higher temperature and more important, when the substrate was added. The results of these two approaches were in agreement in that both methods suggested a binding dependent conformational change of the protein which resulted in a greater stability of its structure.

[Immersion: From mental anorexia to behavioral therapeutics]. / L'immersion: de l'anorexie mentale aux therapies comportementales.

The flooding is an extinction process of an emotion or a pulsion through a mechanism of Pavlov of conditioned inhibition. The author does here an experimental study of this process. This study allows to explain the exact flooding mechanism. So we can better understand and better introduce the practical flooding applications in therapeutic as well as in psychopathology.

Biphasic saturations of binding proteins can be the result of a competitive inhibition of substrate fixation.

A mathematical model is proposed which explains some biphasic saturations of Binding Proteins by their substrates through an effect of a competitive inhibition. The inhibitor can be the substrate itself especially when the retention phenomenon is occuring. This model has been verified with two periplasmic Binding Proteins of Escherichia coli: the Glutamine Binding Protein and the Leucine-Isoleucine-Valine Binding Protein. A significant connection is found between experimental results and the hypothesis.

Thermodynamic study of the formation of adenine nucleotide-manganese complexes. I. "pH stat" titration method results.

The thermodynamics associated with the Mn2- -ATP, Mn-ADP- and Mn-AMP complex formation reactions determined from K potentiometric measurements at I = 0.2 are reported for the temperature range 1--45 degrees C. The K values increase with the length of the phosphate chain and with temperature. The limits and the best conditions for use of the "pH stat" titration method are discussed. Comparison with the results obtained by potentiometric and calorimetric methods in the case of Mg-nucleotide complexes is made.

Thermodynamic study of the formation of adenine nucleotide-manganese complexes. II. Calorimetric results.

Enthalpic variations in the formation of adenine nucleotide-manganese complexes, as measured by microcalorimetry, are reported. All the results are obtained in the temperature range 6--30 degrees C at I =0.2 and pH values 7.00 or 7.50. All the reactions are endothermic and the deltaH values increase with the length of the phosphate chain and with temperature. The deltaH values are compared with those previously obtained for adenine nucleotide-manganesium complexes. The comparison between calorimetric and potentiometric deltaH values is made. The divergence observed between these results at low temperature leads us to assume the formation of nucleotide aggregates induced by the presence of manganese ions. This hypothesis is confirmed by differential ultraviolet spectra.