Emergence of bluetongue serotypes in Europe, part 2: the occurrence of a BTV-11 strain in Belgium.

An EDTA-blood sample from a cow without clinical signs, which gave early birth to a newborn calf that died soon after delivery, was shown to be positive for bluetongue virus (BTV)-RNA using a group-specific real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR). In-house serotype-specific RT-qPCR assays for bluetongue virus serotype 1 (BTV-1), -6 and -8 all gave negative results. Subsequent assays were carried out using conventional (gel-based) RT-PCR primers for all 25 BTV serotypes and only two primer sets, both specific for BTV-11, gave bands of the expected size. The cDNAs generated were sequenced and comparisons of the genome segment 2 sequence with that of the modified 'live' vaccine strain of BTV-11 from South Africa showed 100% identity. A survey of all ruminants in a 1-km area around the first positive farm using a BTV-11 serotype-specific RT-qPCR revealed five other holdings with in total nine BTV-11 positive animals. A cross-sectional monitoring of dairy cattle in Belgium showed an overall prevalence of 3.8% on herd level and 0.2% on animal level. A BTV-11 has been introduced into the Belgian cattle herd during the 2008 vector season. The source of the infection and the way by which the virus was introduced are unknown.

CT underestimation of ileo-colic ischemia: a case report with pathologic correlation.

Cross sectional imaging can help for the prompt diagnosis of acute intestinal ischemia. However, suggestive radiological signs have to be interpreted with correlation with the clinical and biological status of the patient. We present a case of acute intestinal ischemia of the distal ileum and the right colon observed in an adult patient. Due to his poor clinical status combined to the fact that the lesions seen on CT were considered as restricted, the patient was treated by supportive medication. Unfortunately, this was followed by a fatal outcome.The time delay between the inital CT and the surgery can be a cause of the discrepancy between the CT signs and the pathological findings.

Perforated duodenal ulcer after laparoscopic gastric bypass.

A patient with a history of a laparoscopic gastric bypass presented with a perforated duodenal ulcer. The ulcer was laparoscopically oversewn, and an omentoplasty was performed. Postoperatively, a broad spectrum antibiotic and a proton pump inhibitor were administrated. Several questions arise regarding the diagnosis and treatment of duodenal ulcers after gastric bypass. What are the diagnostic tools to detect a duodenal ulcer, and how should Helicobacter pylori be diagnosed after gastric bypass? The key question is whether the bypassed stomach should be resected as a definitive treatment for complicated duodenal ulcers.

[Mechanical properties of human femoral head allografts after physico-chemical treatment (Osteopure)]. / Propriétés mécaniques de greffons humains provenant de têtes fémorales et traitées par un procédé d'épuration physico-chimique (Ostéopure).

PURPOSE OF THE STUDY: Bone grafts and bone substitutes must be biocompatible osteoconductors with satisfactory mechanical properties similar to native bone. When the bone treatment is conducted under specific conditions, the elasticity module under infra-maximal loading can be optimized to achieve reproducible values. The purpose of this work was to determine the effect of the cleaning and sterilization process using Osteopure on the biomechanical properties of trabecular bone harvested from human femoral heads. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Seventy trabecular bone samples were tested: group 1F (fresh samples); group 1N (after application of Osteopure cleaning); group 1S (after Osteopure cleaning and sterilization). Non-destructive and destructive tests (group 1D) were performed. Two fresh femoral heads were used as controls for the destructive test (group 2). The first non-destructive test was applied directly after section (group 1F). Other samples were then purified with Osteopure treatment and a second non-destructive test was conducted (group 1N). A third non-destructive test was conducted after sterilization with 25 kgray radiation (group 1S). Treatments 1 and 2 were performed by OST Developpement SA (Clermont-Ferrand). Finally a destruction test was applied along the directional axis (group 1D). For the 31 samples in group 2 (control) the destructive test was applied along the directional axis immediately after section. Compression tests were performed at a deformation speed of 3 mm/min for 0.3% deformation. RESULTS: The Young module did not exhibit any significant difference between the three steps of the testing in the three orthogonal directions. The Young module was not significantly different between group 1F and group 2 (controls). Maximal force of compression was significantly different (P<0.01). There was a linear relationship between maximal force at rupture and the Young module obtained during destructive tests, for groups 1D and 2 respectively. The compression curves obtained from sterilized samples (group 1D) were not significantly different from those observed for fresh trabecular bone in group 2 (controls). DISCUSSION: The Young module values measured from 70-673 MPa. For non-destructive tests, the module values were to the order of 64% of those obtained for destructive tests. Decreased maximal force of rupture observed for treated samples in comparison with fresh samples can be explained by the extraction of most of the lipids. CONCLUSION: The Osteopure method does not alter stiffness of bone allografts. The elasticity module observed in treated bones is close to that observed in fresh bones. Mechanical resistance to compression is however only half the force of compression observed in the hip joint for daily activities. The linear relationship between the elasticity mode and loading required for rupture is not affected by treatment with Osteopure. The advantages related to elimination of prions or viral contamination appear by far to be more important than the minor changes observed in the mechanical characteristics of allografts.

[Maximal isometric bite force and sports. Preliminary study]. / Forces occlusales maximales isométriques et sport. Etude préliminaire.

INTRODUCTION: The evaluation of the bite forces coupled with EMG activity of masseter muscles allows to point out temporo-mandibular joint disorders. The intense practice of sports induces stress which may affect the mandibular statics, due to an hyperfunction of the elevator masticatory muscles, especially the masseter muscles. This concept has led us to compare the maximum isometric bite forces of sedentary and physically trained subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The aim of this experimentation is to study the maximum isometric bite forces of the premolars, with a force transducer, for two groups of physically trained and sedentary volunteers (25 subjects), with distinction between male and female subjects. Subjects with normal denture and no temporo-mandibular joint disorder were retained. EMG and force recording were synchronized and recorded during 10 seconds of maximal contraction. RESULTS: The male subjects developed a maximal bite-force significantly higher (p < 0.05) compared to the female subjects. There is no significant difference between subjects practising a sport (at least 6 hours a week) and sedentary ones. The evolution of force during the contraction is different between sexes. EMG activity allowed to control that subjects developed a maximal force and an increase in muscular fatigability of physically active females compared to sedentary ones was noticed. DISCUSSION: The difference of maximal force between men and women is similar to the one found for the locomotor muscles. The analysis of the evolution of the force according to the contraction duration, might be linked to a different distribution of muscular fibers according to the sex. The practice of a sport might increase the fatigability of the masseter muscles and might be a factor inducing a muscular imbalance of the mandibular posture. But the relatively low number of subjects and the absence of well defined distinctions between different kinds of sport limit our conclusions.

Clinical gene therapy - first international conference. 24-26 January 2002, Groningen, the Netherlands.

The first International Conference on Clinical Gene Therapy focused primarily on gene therapy for cardiovascular disorders, genetic diseases (hemophilia, cystic fibrosis) and cancer, with particular emphasis on clinical trials and advanced preclinical studies. Recent improvements in vector technologies led to the first demonstration that gene therapy could cure a disease in a clinically relevant animal model of hemophilia. This significant progress at the preclinical level, using both viral and non-viral vectors, paved the way for phase I clinical trials in patients suffering from hemophilia A. The first report on hemophilia A gene therapy using a non-viral ex vivo approach was encouraging and revealed modest improvements in clinical endpoints. The status of clinical gene therapy for the treatment of peripheral limb and myocardial ischemia by therapeutic angiogenesis was highlighted as showing an apparent increase in collateral development and reduced limb or myocardial ischemia in some patients. Gene therapy for cystic fibrosis turned out to be a much tougher nut to crack than initially assumed, and the hopes for, and hurdles faced by, gene therapy approaches for this disease were discussed. Phase III clinical trials using retroviral-based suicide gene therapy for cancer revealed no significant therapeutic benefit in patients suffering from glioblastoma multiforme. Nevertheless, new and promising approaches for cancer gene therapy are being developed that rely on the use of targetable vectors and conditionally replicating vectors that replicate specifically in cancer cells; this may overcome some of the bottlenecks of cancer gene therapy by improving therapeutic efficacy. Although few diseases have been treated effectively by gene therapy so far, the stage appears set for new and significant advances in clinical trials.

Training effects of amortization phase with eccentric/concentric variations--the vertical jump.

The purpose of this study was to find if the performance of the vertical jump is improved by the result of increasing the force, velocity, and muscle adaptation(s). For the experiment, there were four groups (Gr): three groups did the training programs and the fourth group was the control group (CG). In order to establish improvements in force and velocity, the groups performed three variations using eccentric (Ecc) and concentric (Con) movement. Finally, the leg presses, squat jumps (SJ) and countermovement jumps (CJ) were used to determine the changes in the muscle adaptations before and after the training program. For measuring the force, four force transducers were used. In determining the velocity, a displacement transducer was used. A surface EMG was used to measure the muscle activations during all of the tests that were performed. After eight weeks of training, Gr 1 and Gr 2 improved the isometric force and the power during the Con. movement for the leg press. For the SJ, Gr. 1 and 2 increased their height, muscle activity, force, and power, but only group one improved the velocity. However, group three improved the isometric force and power for the leg presses, the squat jump and the countermovement jump. For both of the jumps, they also increased velocity, muscle activity and height. There were no changes observed for group four. Although the three combinations of Ecc/Con movements existed during the training program, the force, velocity and muscle adaptations increased, but not all of the improvements were of the same degree.

ESR spin trapping analysis of gamma induced radicals in sucrose: II.

Radicals induced by gamma-irradiation of sucrose, in the solid state at different temperatures and in aqueous solution, have been investigated by the spin trapping method. Electron spin resonance (ESR) combined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), followed by spectral analysis with a simulation program (Voyons) revealed seven main radical species. A comparative study of the ESR signals from spin trapped gamma-induced radicals in some glycosides, disaccharides, 13C specifically labelled carbohydrates, as well as in several deoxysucroses and fructans, led to the assignment of a chemical structure to five out of the seven sucrose-nitroxide adducts previously evidenced. Sucrose is shown to be a conceivable model for the study of fructans gamma-radiolysis mechanism in aqueous solution.

E.S.R. spin trapping analysis of gamma induced radicals in sucrose.

Radicals induced by gamma-irradiation in sucrose, in the solid state at different temperatures and in aqueous solution, have been studied by the spin-trapping method. Electron spin resonance (ESR) combined with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) then spectra analysis with a simulation program (VOYONS), revealed seven main radical species. Their nitrogen and hydrogen splitting constants were compared with those obtained from fructose and glucose units. Assignments of chemical structures are discussed for three radical species.

Molecular dynamics of two homologous neurotoxins revealed by 1H-2H exchange: an infrared spectrometry study.

Temperature effects on the hydrogen exchange kinetics and the infrared spectra of two homologous snake neurotoxins (Laticauda semifasciata erabutoxin b and Naja nigricollis toxin alpha) were investigated between 10 and 40 degrees C, at their isoionic pH. (1) Erabutoxin b is more accessible to the solvent than toxin alpha. (2) With increasing temperature, both toxin molecules undergo a global transition affecting the most accessible as well as the most buried hydrogens: the overall accessibility changes are more important for erabutoxin b than for toxin alpha. The different conformational stabilities of the toxins are also qualitatively supported by the temperature-induced shifts which affect the infrared amide I band of toxin alpha only. The existence of two conformer families could be responsible for the different conformational stability of these proteins.

Conformation of corticotropin. An infrared spectrometry study of hydrogen exchange kinetics.

1H--2H exchange kinetics of the peptide hydrogens in corticotropin have been examined in 2H2O and CF3C2H2O2H solutions by means of infrared absorption measurements. In aqueous solution, around pH 3, the experimental data suggest a partially ordered structure, since in the two corticotropins 1--24 and 1--32 about 6 slowly exchanging peptide protons are numbered. These might belong to the N-terminal part of the molecule. The C-terminal 25--32 octapeptide segment appears to be unordered and slightly destabilizes the overall hormone conformation. For corticotropin1--24 in CF3C2H2O2H, the qualitative interpretation of infrared spectra and the quantitative analysis of exchange data give evidence of a strong stabilization: a predominantly alpha-helical structure is induced by trifluoroethanol.

Quantitative 250 MHz proton magnetic resonance study of hydrogen-deuterium exchange. Angiotensin II hormone in trifluoroethanol.

Hydrogen-deuterium exchange kinetics of (Asn1-Val5) angiotensin II has been investigated by proton magnetic resonance at 250 MHz in deuterated trifluoroethanol, as an approach to the "in situ" hormone conformation. An interactive program was specially developed to perform the data analysis on a computer similar to those used for spectroscopic data acquisition. Nine exchange sites are evidenced and characterized by their individual kinetic parameters. Three of them are assigned to peptide NH hydrogens, and the six remaining to slowly exchanging side chain protons. At 11 degrees C, more than three peptide hydrogens, sterically hindered or involved in hydrogen bonds, do not exchange. These results corroborate previous circular dichroism and infrared investigations performed in the same solvent, and suggest a family of well-folded conformations, stabilized in trifluoroethanol by internal hydrogen bonds, involving both the backbone and the side chain hydrogens.

Hydrogen-isotope exchange of oxidized and reduced cytochrome c. A comparison of mass spectrometry and infrared methods.

Hydrogen-deuterium exchange in 2H20 solutions of the two redox states of horse heart cytochrome c was investigated at 20 degrees C, pH 7, by mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy. Mass spectrometry indicates that ferricytochrome has 20 hydrogens unexchanged after 24 h, 28 hydrogens exchanging between 10 min and 24 h, and 156 hydrogens exchanging within 10 min; comparative values for ferrocytochrome are 45, 19 and 140. The displacement of the exchange curves obtained by infrared corresponds to 8 to 9 peptide hydrogens. These combined methods show many non-peptide hydrogens exchanging rapidly (87 and 79 for ferricytochrome c and ferrocytochrome c respectively), whereas others, probably buried inside the molecule and involved in hydrogen bonds, are not exchanged, even after 24 h (14 and 30 hydrogens respectively, which is relatively large for a small protein). Infrared results are given in terms of changes of standard free energy for the transconformational reaction which exposes the peptide hydrogens to solvent: in ferricytochrome c and ferrycoytochrome c, 30% and 40% respectively of the peptide hydrogens are protected by conformational transitions stabilized by more than 5 kcal/mol (21 kJ/mol), which implies a large increase in rigidity for the reduced form.