[Maternal toxoplasmosis before conception and chorioretinitis in twin sisters]. / Toxoplasmose maternelle anté-conceptionnelle et choriorétinite chez des jumelles.

A maternal toxoplasmosis before conception is exceptionally transmitted to the fetus. We report an observation of twin sisters who presented congenital toxoplasmosis with chorioretinitis detected at nine months of age. The anamnesis revealed that the mother had had toxoplasmosis one month before conception. In the event of preconceptual infections, we propose fetal ultrasonography, histological examination of the placenta at delivery, as well as a pediatric follow-up of the infants (serological samples every month, cranial ultrasonography, fundus oculi).

CIA, a novel estrogen receptor coactivator with a bifunctional nuclear receptor interacting determinant.

Coregulators for nuclear receptors (NR) are factors that either enhance or repress their transcriptional activity. Both coactivators and corepressors have been shown to use similar but functionally distinct NR interacting determinants containing the core motifs LxxLL and PhixxPhiPhi, respectively. These interactions occur through a hydrophobic cleft located on the surface of the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the NR and are regulated by ligand-dependent activation function 2 (AF-2). In an effort to identify novel coregulators that function independently of AF-2, we used the LBD of the orphan receptor RVR (which lacks AF-2) as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen. This strategy led to the cloning of a nuclear protein referred to as CIA (coactivator independent of AF-2 function) that possesses both repressor and activator functions. Strikingly, we observed that CIA not only interacts with RVR and Rev-ErbAalpha in a ligand-independent manner but can also form complexes with estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and ERbeta in vitro and enhances ERalpha transcriptional activity in the presence of estradiol (E(2)). CIA-ERalpha interactions were found to be independent of AF-2 and enhanced by the antiestrogens EM-652 and ICI 182,780 but not by 4-hydroxytamoxifen and raloxifene. We further demonstrate that CIA-ERalpha interactions require the presence within CIA of a novel bifunctional NR recognition determinant containing overlapping LxxLL and PhixxPhiPhi motifs. The identification and functional characterization of CIA suggest that hormone binding can create a functional coactivator interaction interface in the absence of AF-2.

Multiresidue method for the determination of residues of 251 pesticides in fruits and vegetables by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection.

A method is described for the determination of 251 pesticide and degradation product residues in fruit and vegetable samples. Extraction of the sample with acetonitrile is followed by a salting-out step. Co-extractives are removed by passing a portion of the acetonitrile extract through an octadecyl (C18) solid-phase extraction cleanup cartridge and then, in a second cleanup, through a carbon cartridge coupled to an amino propyl cartridge. Determination is by gas chromatography with mass-selective detection in the selected-ion monitoring mode, and by liquid chromatography with post-column reaction and fluorescence detection for N-methyl carbamates. The method has been used for analysis of various fruits and vegetables, such as apple, banana, cabbage, carrot, cucumber, lettuce, orange, pear, pepper, and pineapple. Limits of detection range between 0.02 and 1.0 mg/kg for most compounds. Over 80% of the compounds have a limit of detection of < or = 0.04 mg/kg.

Use of recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone for thyrotropin stimulation test in euthyroid dogs.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the recombinant human thyroid-stimulating hormone (rhTSH) on serum total thyroxine (TT4) concentration in euthyroid dogs. Six healthy beagle dogs were used in each of the 3 phases of this study. Phase I: thyroid-stimulating hormone response tests were performed by using a total dose of 25 micrograms, 50 micrograms, and 100 micrograms of rhTSH, administered intravenously. Phases II and III: thyroid-stimulating hormone response tests were performed by using 50 micrograms of rhTSH administered by intramuscular and subcutaneous routes, respectively. In each phase and following all the administered doses of rhTSH, an increase in the serum TT4 concentration was noted, although it was not always significant. For phase I, there was a significant increase in serum TT4 concentrations. Based on this study, 50 micrograms was judged to be the optimal intravenous dose of rhTSH. For phases II and III, there was no significant increase in serum TT4 after the administration of rhTSH. Results of this study suggest that rhTSH could be a good substitute for bovine TSH, when used by the intravenous route, for the TSH stimulation test in dogs. Further studies are required to confirm its clinical usefulness.

Role of the ATP-binding domain of the human papillomavirus type 11 E1 helicase in E2-dependent binding to the origin.

Replication of the genome of human papillomaviruses (HPV) is initiated by the recruitment of the viral E1 helicase to the origin of DNA replication by the viral E2 protein, which binds specifically to the origin. We determined, for HPV type 11 (HPV-11), that the C-terminal 296 amino acids of E1 are sufficient for interaction with the transactivation domain of E2 in the yeast two-hybrid system and in vitro. This region of E1 encompasses the ATP-binding domain. Here we have examined the role of this ATP-binding domain, and of ATP, on E2-dependent binding of E1 to the origin. Several amino acid substitutions in the phosphate-binding loop (P loop), which is implicated in binding the triphosphate moiety of ATP, abolished E2 binding, indicating that the structural integrity of this domain is essential for the interaction. The structural constraints imposed on the E1 P loop may differ between HPV-11 and bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1), since the P479S substitution that inactivates BPV-1 E1 is tolerated in the HPV-11 enzyme. Other substitutions in the E1 P loop, or in two other conserved motifs of the ATP-binding domain, were tolerated, indicating that ATP binding is not essential for interaction with E2. Nevertheless, ATP-Mg stimulated the E2-dependent binding of E1 to the origin in vitro. This stimulation was maximal at the physiological temperature (37 degrees C) and did not require ATP hydrolysis. In contrast, ATP-Mg did not stimulate the E2-dependent binding to the origin of an E1 protein containing only the C-terminal domain (353 to 649) or that of mutant E1 proteins with alterations in the DNA-binding domain. These results are discussed in light of a model in which the E1 ATP-binding domain is required for formation of the E2-binding surface and can, upon the binding of ATP, facilitate and/or stabilize the interaction of E1 with the origin.