How French subjects describe well-being from food and eating habits? Development, item reduction and scoring definition of the Well-Being related to Food Questionnaire (Well-BFQ©).

Providing well-being and maintaining good health are main objectives subjects seek from diet. This manuscript describes the development and preliminary validation of an instrument assessing well-being associated with food and eating habits in a general healthy population. Qualitative data from 12 groups of discussion (102 subjects) conducted with healthy subjects were used to develop the core of the Well-being related to Food Questionnaire (Well-BFQ). Twelve other groups of discussion with subjects with joint (n = 34), digestive (n = 32) or repetitive infection complaints (n = 30) were performed to develop items specific to these complaints. Five main themes emerged from the discussions and formed the modular backbone of the questionnaire: "Grocery shopping", "Cooking", "Dining places", "Commensality", "Eating and drinking". Each module has a common structure: items about subject's food behavior and items about immediate and short-term benefits. An additional theme - "Eating habits and health" - assesses subjects' beliefs about expected benefits of food and eating habits on health, disease prevention and protection, and quality of ageing. A preliminary validation was conducted with 444 subjects with balanced diet; non-balanced diet; and standard diet. The structure of the questionnaire was further determined using principal component analyses exploratory factor analyses, with confirmation of the sub-sections food behaviors, immediate benefits (pleasure, security, relaxation), direct short-term benefits (digestion and satiety, energy and psychology), and deferred long-term benefits (eating habits and health). Thirty-three subscales and 14 single items were further defined. Confirmatory analyses confirmed the structure, with overall moderate to excellent convergent and divergent validity and internal consistency reliability. The Well-BFQ is a unique, modular tool that comprehensively assesses the full picture of well-being related to food and eating habits in the general population.

Tensile-strained germanium microdisk electroluminescence.

We report room temperature electroluminescence of tensile-strained germanium microdisks. The strain is transferred into the microdisks using silicon nitride stressors. Carrier injection is achieved with Schottky contacts on n-type doped germanium. We show that a biaxial tensile-strain up to 0.72% can be transferred by optimizing the carrier injection profile. The transferred strain is measured by the electroluminescence spectral red-shift and compared to finite element modeling. We discuss the impact of this strain level to achieve population inversion in germanium.

Acquired visual field defects rehabilitation: critical review and perspectives.

Visual field deficit (VFD) is one of the most commonly observed symptoms following brain injury. Persistent VFD and defective exploratory oculomotor scanning patterns often cause severe impairment in daily activities, particularly as regards visual exploration and reading. Homonymous hemianopia is consequently a powerful negative predictor of patient outcome. In spite of these quantitative and qualitative factors, there currently exists no consensus on rehabilitative therapy and treatment. Different approaches have nevertheless been developed, all of them having one therapeutic principle in common; repeated practice of a specific visual task, with the hope/expectation that improved performance will extend to a wide range of ecologically useful visual functions. The four main available methods aim at replacing part of the intact visual field with part of the damaged visual field (optical therapy using prisms), at partially restoring the lost visual field region (restorative therapies), at stimulating detection capacities in the blind field (stimulation or blindsight) or at substituting for the lost region by reorganizing the control of visual information processing and eye movements (compensatory therapies). This review explores the key data relative to these different approaches in terms of behavioral or imagery results. It also aims at critically analyzing the advantages and limits of each one. The importance of strict assessment in terms of deficiencies or disabilities is underlined. Finally, upon consideration of these data taken as a whole, it is suggested that efficient treatment would probably have to associate general components and more specific elements, according to what may be done with regard to other aspects of cognitive rehabilitation.

Surname analysis in biological anthropology: Alpine populations in the 17th and 18th centuries.

As part of an interdisciplinary research program on Alpine populations, we studied the biodemographic evolution of two populations of the Dauphiné in the period 1690-1799. We analyzed several indexes derived from surname analysis to infer the genetic structure of the populations. Although situated in the same area of the Dauphiné, the two communities of Vallouise and Chiomonte had different biodemographic characteristics. Vallouise was heavily populated but genetically homogeneous, whereas Chiomonte was less populated but more heterogeneous. The two districts also differed in geographic position: Vallouise was a glacier-enclosed valley that did not attract new inhabitants; Chiomonte was situated in an open valley served by important roads and thus was able to attract many new inhabitants. The demographic differences between the two populations explain the differences in genetic structure. The index of isonymous relationship (R(i)) being different from 0 is due to the rare marriages between members of the two populations. Because R(i) is based on surnames, which are mostly polyphyletic, it can overestimate the genetic relationships between the populations, as in the case of consanguinity assessed by matrimonial isonymy.

Synthesis and antioxidant efficiency of a new amphiphilic spin-trap derived from PBN and lipoic acid.

The synthesis of a new amphiphilic antioxidant called PBNLP and derived from both alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN) and lipoic acid was described. Grafting a lactobionamide moiety onto the aromatic group of the PBN provided the water solubility of this compound. In vitro preliminary biological evaluations of its antioxidant capacity were performed using the KRL biological test based on free radical-induced hemolysis. The PBNLP induces a protection of erythrocytes against exogenous free radicals higher than that measured with lipoic acid or PBN alone or with lipoic acid or PBN derivatives in admixtures.

[Oxidative stress and human disease. Current knowledge and perspectives for prevention]. / Stress oxydant et pathologies humaines. Bilan et perspectives préventives.

DYNAMIC BALANCE: The antibiotic status of the human organism results from the dynamic balance between the antioxidant system and the production of reactive oxygen species. Oxidative stress occurs when this balance shifts in favor of pro-oxidants as can occur in several disease situations. ROS: Part of the oxygen used by cells is transformed into toxic metabolites, reactive oxygen species (ROS), which can be the cause or consequence of tissue and molecular disorders. Some of the most prominent diseases linked with oxidative stress include atherosclerosis, cancer, allergy, neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson's disease. PERSPECTIVES FOR PREVENTION: Actions designed to prevent the environmental cause, such as eviction of a exposure to toxins or a change in eating habits, can be an effective means of reducing the lesions induced. Study of total antioxidant potential could be quite useful for detecting and monitoring environmental damage and for clinical follow-up. It could also help in determining, for each individual, the negative or positive development of a therapy on the anti-free radical action. Treatments must be personalized according to the tested response.

Impaired homocysteine metabolism and atherothrombotic disease.

Based on recent retrospective, prospective, and experimental studies, mild to moderate elevation of fasting or postmethionine-load plasma homocysteine is accepted as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and thrombosis in both men and women. Hyperhomocysteinemia results from an inhibition of the remethylation pathway or from an inhibition or a saturation of the transsulfuration pathway of homocysteine metabolism. The involvement of a high dietary intake of methionine-rich animal proteins has not yet been investigated and cannot be ruled out. However, folate deficiency, either associated or not associated with the thermolabile mutation of the N(5,10)-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, and vitamin B(6) deficiency, perhaps associated with cystathionine beta-synthase defects or with methionine excess, are believed to be major determinants of the increased risk of cardiovascular disease related to hyperhomocysteinemia. Recent experimental studies have suggested that moderately elevated homocysteine levels are a causal risk factor for atherothrombotic disease because they affect both the vascular wall structure and the blood coagulation system. The oxidant stress that results from impaired homocysteine metabolism, which modifies the intracellular redox status, might play a central role in the molecular mechanisms underlying moderate hyperhomocysteinemia-mediated vascular disorders. Because folate supplementation can efficiently reduce plasma homocysteine levels, both in the fasting state and after methionine loading, results from further prospective cohort studies and from on-going interventional trials will determine whether homocysteine-lowering therapies can contribute to the prevention and reduction of cardiovascular risk. Additionally, these studies will provide unequivocal arguments for the independent and causal relationship between hyperhomocysteinemia and atherothrombotic disease.

[The causes of childhood blindness and visual impairment in Poland]. / Przyczyny slepoty i znacznego pogorszenia widzenia u dzieci w Polsce.

AIM: To investigate the prevalence and the causes of childhood blindness and visual impairment in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The records of 3000 visually impaired children from the archives of Polish Association of Blinds and from the centers and schools for visually handicapped children from the years 1979-1999 have been reviewed. RESULTS: The number of the visually disabled children in Poland has increased by 70% in the recent 10 years. The main causes of blindness and serious visual loss in the years 1979-1999 are optic nerve atrophy (21.66%), retinopathy of prematurity (19.01%), cataracts (14.13%), high myopia (11.84%), congenital abnormalities (8.65%), retinal dystrophies (8.08%) and glaucoma (6.42%). Optic nerve atrophy occurred mainly in premature infants. There have been great changes in the epidemiology of blindness in the recent 20 years; the percentage of visually disabled children caused by ROP has increased from 8.1% to 54.5% and caused by optic nerve atrophy from 15.5% to 27.27%. The prevalence of other causes has decreased in the same time. CONCLUSION: The main activities required to control blindness in Poland are promotion of pregnancy and prematurity care and improvements in the early diagnosis and treatment of retinopathy of prematurity.

[Nomenclature problems in glaucoma]. / Problemy nazewnictwa w jaskrze.

UNLABELLED: To present suggestions concerning the nomenclature of different types of primary glaucoma. METHODS AND RESULTS: The new nomenclature of primary glaucoma was proposed basing on the pathogenesis of the disease and semantic functions of different definitions.

[Functional results in children with retinopathy of prematurity stage 4 and 5]. / Ocena stanu widzenia u dzieci z 4 i 5 okresem retinopatii wczesniaków.

AIM OF THE PAPER: To investigate the structural and functional results in children with retinopathy of prematurity stage 4 and 5. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 91 children with ROP stage 4 and 5 were observed by the authors in years 1990-1998. In all patients the clinical course of the disease, visual acuity and binocular vision were examined during follow-up. RESULTS: Most patients with ROP stage 4 and 5 are blind or practically blind, even the children in whom only stage 4a was diagnosed. CONCLUSION: Prognosis for vision in children with ROP stage 4 and 5 is poor and all methods of surgical treatment of retinal detachment should be performed in these children to safeguard some kind of useful vision in some patients.

[Full-sclera resection in treatment of retinopathy of prematurity stage 4b]. / Zastosowanie resekcji twardówki w leczeniu okresu 4b retinopatii wczesniaków.

AIM OF THE PAPER: The prognosis for vision in children with ROP stage 4b is extremely poor and our traditional methods of treatment of retinal detachment are usually ineffective because of marked retinal shortening. Therefore, in the paper a new method of surgical treatment of retinal detachment in stage 4b based on 180 degrees full-sclera resection is presented. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 14 patients with ROP stage 4b were treated with the use of 180 degrees full-sclera resection. RESULTS: Retinal reattachment was obtained in 86% of operated patients. Visual acuity of 0.1 was found after the operation in 57% and 0.08-0.02 in 43% of these children. CONCLUSIONS: 180 degrees full-sclera resection can be recommended as an effective method of treatment of ROP stage 4b in selected patients who meet the inclusion criteria.

[Use of cyclophotocoagulation with diode laser in treatment of secondary glaucoma in children]. / Zastosowanie cyklofotokoagulacji przeztwardówkowej laserem diodowym w leczeniu jaskry wtórnej u dzieci.

AIM OF THE PAPER: To evaluate the effectiveness of transscleral diode laser cyclophotocoagulation in treatment of secondary glaucoma in children. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 50 children (50 eyes) with secondary glaucoma (aphakic, posttraumatic, in Sturge-Weber syndrome and in aniridia) which was uncontrolled with medical and surgical therapy or the surgery had a high risk of postoperative complications. In all patients diode laser transscleral cyclophotocoagulation has been performed. RESULTS: After one month intraocular pressure was reduced (with or without medical treatment) below 23 mm Hg in 40% of patients and after 6 months in 68% of patients. The worst results were observed in posttraumatic glaucoma. CONCLUSION: Diode laser transscleral cyclophotocoagulation is a safe and effective method of secondary glaucoma therapy in children uncontrolled with other methods of medical and surgical therapy or when the surgery has a high risk of postoperative complications.

[Treating retinopathy of prematurity with laser diode photocoagulation]. / Leczenie retinopatii wczesniaków za pomoca fotokoagulacji przy uzyciu lasera diodowego.

AIM: The purpose of the study was to assess the outcomes of the diode laser in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity and to discuss the up-to-date possibilities of treating of active phase of this disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 96 children (185 eyes) treated with diode laser retinal photocoagulation for active stage 3 of ROP in our department in years 1996-2000. RESULTS: Favorable structural outcome was observed in 83.8% of treated eyes. In the remaining eyes the disease progressed despite of the treatment and falciform retinal fold (5.4%), partial retinal detachment (6.5%) and total retinal detachment (4.3%) developed. No serious complications were observed after the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Diode laser retinal photocoagulation is a safe and effective procedure for treating active stage 3 of retinopathy of prematurity. It has been especially useful for treatment of changes in zone 1 and 2 of the disease. Diode laser photocoagulation is now the preferred method of treating active stage 3 of ROP in our department.

Retinal cotton-wool spots as the first sign of systemic sarcoidosis.

Isolated retinal cotton-spots have not yet been reported as the sign of ocular sarcoidosis. We describe three patients with retinal cotton-wool spots of initially unknown etiology in whom systemic sarcoidosis was diagnosed 6-16 months later. The diagnosis was confirmed by conjunctival biopsy. These observations indicate that sarcoidosis should be included in the differential diagnosis of retinal cotton-wool spots and patients with these lesions should be followed for the development of this disease.

[Possibilities of diagnosis and treatment of eye disease by general practitioners]. / Mozliwosci diagnozy i leczenia schorzen narzadu wzroku przez lekarzy rodzinnych.

PURPOSE: To analyse possibilities of diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases by practitioner. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The number and diagnosis profile of patients treated in average municipal out-patient ward was calculated and possibilities of their treatment by general practitioner were analysed. RESULTS: In 87.4% of eye-patients general practitioner cannot diagnose and treat the disease and he has to send them to an eye-doctor. CONCLUSION: The system that eye-patient cannot check-in directly to an eye-doctor is more costly because general practitioners can diagnose and treat only small number of these patients. Therefore nearly every patient has to be consulted be eye-specialist, which increases the costs of treatment because patient has to be seen by two doctors.

[Economical consequences of intestinal nematodes infection in pigs]. / Ekonomiczne konsekwencje inwazji nicieni przewodu pokarmowego u trzody chlewnej.

The studies wers carried out in ZZD Kolbacz on 14 sows. The experimental groups control and treated consisted of 7 sows each. The sows were treated with Dectomax - 1 ml/33 kg of body weight. The efficacy of sows treatment's was verified with the Wllis-Schlaaf and McMaster method. The studies indicate, that subclinical infection of intestinal nematodes could influence the swine production. The piglets from treated with Dectomax sows were infected in 8% only; when all piglets from non treated sows were infected with nematodes. From treated sows 0.8 more piglet were obtained and the weight gain of litter was after 6 weeks 24.4 kg higher comparing with the control group.

Folate deficiencies and cardiovascular pathologies.

Although folates are widely distributed in foods, folate deficiencies may be more frequent than expected because their true availability may be impaired due to their lability under various food cooking and processing conditions. Folate deficiency is frequently observed in elderly people, smokers, alcoholics and oral contraceptive users. It is also associated with the mutation leading to the thermolabile variant of N5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase which is observed in about 10% of the population. In addition to the essential role of the intracellular pool of polyglutamates in de novo biosynthesis of deoxyribonucleotides which allow cell growth and division, the reduced and methylated form of folate, N5-methyltetrahydrofolate, is required for the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. By inhibiting this remethylation pathway, folate deficiency induces homocysteine efflux into the circulation. Many studies have shown a negative correlation between plasma folate, particularly N5-methyltetrahydrofolate, and circulating homocysteine levels. In addition, folate deficiency is a major cause of hyperhomocysteinemia which is fully recognised as an independent risk factor for atherothrombosis. Epidemiological and recent experimental studies have demonstrated that folate deficiency might increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by increasing circulating homocysteine levels. Thus, the clinical efficiency of folate supplementation, especially N5-methyltetrahydrofolate, in reducing homocysteine-dependent cardiovascular risk should be evaluated.

Folic acid deficiency enhances oral contraceptive-induced platelet hyperactivity.

In previous studies conducted in female rats and in women, oral contraceptives (OC) were found to induce a platelet hyperactivity that was related to an oxidative stress. Because cases of megaloblastic anemia have been reported to occur in women taking OC, these treatments are suspected of depleting folate stores. In the study presented herein, which was conducted in rats, we sought to determine the influence of dietary folic acid deficiency (FD) on the thrombogenicity of OC. Animals were fed for 6 weeks with either a folic acid-deficient diet (250 micrograms/kg folic acid) or a control diet (750 micrograms/kg). One-half of the animals in each group were treated with OC (ethinyl estradiol plus lynestrenol). FD and OC individually potentiated platelet aggregation in response to thrombin and ADP and the release and metabolism of arachidonic acid, in particular, the biosynthesis of thromboxane. These platelet activities were further enhanced in animals given both the folic acid-deficient diet and the OC treatment. In addition, FD enhanced the pro-oxidant state in OC-treated rats characterized by (1) a fall in platelet and plasma n-3 fatty acids, (2) an increase in plasma lipid peroxidation products such as conjugated dienes, lipid peroxides, and thiobarbituric reactive substances, (3) a rise in ex vivo erythrocyte susceptibility to free radicals. Moreover, we found that OC treatment led to a reduction of plasma and erythrocyte folate concentrations associated with a moderate hyperhomocysteinemia. Under our experimental conditions, we did not find significant synergistic effects between OC and FD. We propose that, although the untoward effects associated with the OC treatment may not primarily be dependent on FD, the folic acid deficiency magnified OC-induced oxidative stress, which resulted in platelet hyperactivity by elevating the pro-oxidant homocysteine plasma concentration. Despite the limitations of this animal model, the data of the present study suggest that in addition to cigarette smoking, inadequate folic acid intake might predispose those taking OC to vascular thrombosis.