Air pollution and ST-elevation myocardial infarction: A case-crossover study of the Belgian STEMI registry 2009-2013.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that air pollution particulate matter (PM) is associated with an increased risk for myocardial infarction. The effects of air pollution on the risk of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), in particular the role of gaseous air pollutants such as NO2 and O3 and the susceptibility of specific populations, are still under debate. METHODS: All patients entered in the Belgian prospective STEMI registry between 2009 and 2013 were included. Based on a validated spatial interpolation model from the Belgian Environment Agency, a national index was used to address the background level of air pollution exposure of Belgian population. A time-stratified and temperature-matched case-crossover analysis of the risk of STEMI was performed. RESULTS: A total of 11,428 STEMI patients were included in the study. Each 10µg/m3 increase in PM10, PM2.5 and NO2 was associated with an increased odds ratio (ORs) of STEMI of 1.026 (CI 95%: 1.005-1.048), 1.028 (CI 95%: 1.003-1.054) and 1.051 (CI 95%: 1.018-1.084), respectively. No effect of O3 was found. STEMI was associated with PM10 exposure in patients ≥75y.o. (OR: 1.046, CI 95%: 1.002-1.092) and with NO2 in patients ≤54y.o. (OR: 1.071, CI 95%: 1.010-1.136). No effect of air pollution on cardiac arrest or in-hospital STEMI mortality was found. CONCLUSION: PM2.5 and NO2 exposures incrementally increase the risk of STEMI. The risk related to PM appears to be greater in the elderly, while younger patients appear to be more susceptible to NO2 exposure.

NEW BNYVV P25 VARIANTS IN BELGIUM.

Rhizomania is a widespread viral plant disease of major importance in sugar beet cropping and breeding. It is caused by the Beet necrotic yellow vein virus (BNYVV), a Benyvirus transmitted by the soil inhabiting plasmodiophorid Polymyxa betae. This vector also transmits other sugar beet virus such as Beet virus Q (BVQ) and Beet soil-borne virus (BSBV). Despite identification of resistance genes, BNYVV remains a major constraint because of resistance-breaking events as well as its ability to survive for long periods in soils in resting spores of P. betae. During the 2014 growing season, severe rhizomania symptoms were detected in Rz1 resistant beet genotypes in ten Belgian fields suggesting resistance-breaking events. Plants from these fields were sampled and total RNA was extracted from root hairs. The presence of BNYVV, BSBV, BVQ and P. betae was assessed by multiplex RT-PCR. Samples were then tested for the presence of BNYVV RNA5 and RNA3 by RT-PCR respectively targeting P26 and P25 genes. PCR products from P25 gene were then purified and sequenced. The results confirmed the presence of P. betae, BSBV and BVQ in all samples. BNYVV was detected in nine fields. Sequencing of P25 partial cDNA sequences revealed the presence of BNYVV types A and B. Two isolates possessed the amino acids motifs AYPR in the so-called tetrad region aa67-70. This motif was previously associated with resistance-breaking events. The Belgian situation will be discussed in the light of the current situation in neighbouring countries.

Enhanced immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif signaling is related to pathological bone resorption during critical illness.

Prolonged critically ill patients present with distinct alterations in calcium and bone metabolism. Circulating bone formation markers are reduced and bone resorption markers are substantially elevated, indicating an uncoupling between osteoclast and osteoblast activity, possibly resulting in pronounced bone loss, impaired traumatic or surgical fracture healing, and osteoporosis. In addition, we have previously shown that increased circulating osteoclast precursors in critically ill patients result in increased osteoclastogenesis in vitro, possibly through FcγRIII signaling. In the current study, we investigated the effects of sustained critical illness on bone metabolism at the tissue level in a standardized rabbit model of prolonged (7 days), burn injury-induced critical illness. This in vivo model showed a reduction in serum ionized calcium and osteocalcin levels, as is seen in humans. Trabecular area, bone mineral content, and -density were decreased in sick rabbits [by 43% (p<0.01), 31% (p<0.01), and 29% (p<0.05), respectively], as was the trabecular gene expression of osteoblast and angiogenesis markers, indicating decreased bone formation and impaired vascularization. There was no change in the expression of osteoclast differentiation markers from the canonical RANK/RANKL/OPG pathway, however, there was an increase in expression of markers from the non-canonical, immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) signaling pathway, FcγRIII, and DAP12 (148% and 59%, respectively; p<0.01). The current study has shown a detrimental effect of prolonged critical illness on trabecular bone integrity, possibly explained by reduced osteoblast differentiation and angiogenesis, coupled with increased osteoclastogenesis signaling that may be mediated via the non-canonical immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif signaling pathway.

Combination of serum markers related to several mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) probably involves several pathobiochemical mechanisms and this may be reflected by changes in different serum components. The present study investigated whether the combined analysis of serum molecules related to different mechanisms improves the discrimination of AD patients from healthy controls. Serum of patients with AD was analyzed for a broad spectrum of marker molecules, including 11 inflammatory proteins, 12 sterol intermediates and phytosterols, 2 brain-specific proteins and 4 constituents involved in homocysteine homeostasis. The serum molecule concentrations were combined in a logistic regression model, using a forward stepwise inclusion mode. The results showed that the combination of interleukin-6 (IL-6) receptor, protein alpha1 fraction, cysteine and cholesterol concentrations improved the discrimination between AD patients and healthy controls compared to the single markers. In conclusion, the results of this study have shown that the complex pathology in AD is reflected in a pattern of altered serum concentrations of several marker molecules related to several pathobiochemical mechanisms.

[Serum markers in relation to cognitive functioning in an aging population: results of the Maastricht Aging Study (MAAS)]. / Serummarkers in relatie tot cognitieve functies bij ouderen. Resultaten van de Maastricht Aging Study (MAAS).

Little is known of the biochemical processes of cognitive decline during 'healthy' aging. Biological markers in body fluids, such as blood, could provide insight in those processes. In the present studies serum concentrations of different markers have been correlated to cognitive functioning of cognitively healthy aging individuals over a period of six years (mean age 57 years, SD 11, n = 93). Markers were related to mechanisms known to be involved in Alzheimer's disease, including inflammation, cholesterol homeostasis and homocysteine homeostasis. Domains of cognitive function addressed were cognitive speed (Letter-Digit Coding test), attention and information processing (Stroop test), and memory (Word Learning test: Total Words and Delayed Recall). Baseline concentrations of haptoglobine, homocysteine, lathosterol and lanosterol were negatively correlated with cognitive functioning on the Stroop test over the whole follow-up period of six years. Concentrations of all markers, i.e. haptoglobine, C-reactive protein, homocysteine, lathosterol and lanosterol, were also negatively correlated with functioning on the Word Learning test (Delayed Recall and for some markers also with the Total Words) over the whole six-years follow-up period. In conclusion, concentrations of serum markers related to inflammation, homocysteine and cholesterol homeostasis are not only associated with Alzheimer's disease, but also with cognitive functioning in the cognitively healthy aging population.

Inflammation markers in relation to cognition in a healthy aging population.

The relation between serum inflammatory protein levels and cognitive performance was investigated in a healthy population. Individuals were tested during 6 years of follow-up. Serum concentrations of 10 inflammatory proteins were correlated to cognitive speed (Letter-Digit Coding Test, LDCT), attention and information processing (Stroop) and memory (Word Learning). Haptoglobin levels at baseline correlated negatively with cognitive performance on the Stroop and Word Learning Recall test over the 6 years follow-up period. C-reactive protein (CRP) levels at baseline correlated negatively with performance on the Word Learning tests over the 6 years follow-up period. Thus, relatively high concentrations of haptoglobin and C-reactive protein may be indicative for impaired cognitive performance.

Increased serum albumin, gamma globulin, immunoglobulin IgG, and IgG2 and IgG4 in autism.

BACKGROUND: Research on the biological pathophysiology of autism has found some evidence that immune alterations may play a role in the pathophysiology of that illness. As a consequence we expected to find that autism is accompanied by abnormalities in the pattern obtained in serum protein electrophoresis and in the serum immunoglobulin (Ig) and IgG subclass profile. METHOD: We examined whether subjects with autism showed changes in total serum protein (TSP) and the serum concentrations of albumin, alpha1 globulin, alpha2 globulin, beta globulin and gamma globulins, IgA, IgM and IgG and the IgG subclasses IgG 1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4, compared with normal controls. RESULTS: We found significantly increased concentrations of TSP in autistic subjects, which were attributable to increased serum concentrations of albumin and gamma globulin. Serum IgG, IgG2 and IgG4 were also significantly raised. In autism there were significant and positive correlations between social problems and TSP and serum gamma globulin and between withdrawal symptoms and TSP and serum albumin and IgG. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that autism is characterized by increased TSP, a unique pattern obtained in serum protein electrophoresis, i.e. increased serum albumin and IgG, and by a specific IgG subclass profile, i.e. increased serum IgG2 and IgG4. The increased serum concentrations of IgGs in autism may point towards an underlying autoimmune disorder and/or an enhanced susceptibility to infections resulting in chronic viral infections, whereas the IgG subclass skewing may reflect different cytokine-dependent influences on autoimmune B cells and their products.

Mutual influence of the maternal hen's food calling and feeding behavior on the behavior of her chicks.

It is widely accepted that brooding hens attract their chicks to food by food calling, but until now, the concurrent behavior of hens and chicks has never been investigated in depth. This study provides a detailed analysis of both the behavior of brooded chicks and the distance to their mother in relation to her feeding sequences, and whether they contained food calling. Our results revealed that brooding hens utter food calls while pecking, especially when their chicks are not feeding and/or have been at some distance for several seconds. Chicks' response to their mother's feeding activities was more pronounced in the presence than in the absence of food call. Chicks responded to this call by approaching their mother and increasing their pecking; their response became more efficient as they grew older. We thus consider food calls as an arousal vocalization that directs the chicks' attention to a food item chosen by a hen.

Experience modulates emission of food calls in broody hens.

The aim of these experiments was to determine if previous experience of chicks' response to food calling influences subsequent propension of maternal hens to utter food calls. Seventeen broody hens were tested three times a day without their 3- or 4-day-old chicks. Hens were tested in two situations: chicks were returned either after each test or at the end of all the day's tests. As palatability influences food calling in maternal hens, experiments were conducted first with a highly preferred food item and then with the hens' usual feed. The chicks' capacity to respond regularly to their mother influences the hens' capacity to emit food calls. In fact, although the hens did not lose their maternal state, they uttered fewer food calls when their chicks were removed all day. These results suggest that the chicks' behaviour following food calling could be a social reinforcement for broody hens.

Determination of carbohydrate-deficient transferrin using capillary zone electrophoresis.

BACKGROUND: Current methods for carbohydrate-deficient transferrin (CDT) often suffer from low precision, complexity, or risk of false positives attributable to genetic variants. In this study, a new capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) method for CDT was developed. METHODS: CZE was performed on a P/ACE 5000 using fused-silica capillaries [50 microm (i.d.) x 47 cm] and the CEOFIX CDT buffer system with addition of 50 microL of anti-C3c and 10 microL of anti-hemoglobin. Native sera were loaded by high-pressure injection for 3 s, separated at 28 kV over 12 min, and monitored at 214 nm. RESULTS: CDT was completely resolved by differences in migration times (di-trisialotransferrin, 9.86 +/- 0.05 min; monosialotransferrin, 9.72 +/- 0.05 min; asialotransferrin, 9.52 +/- 0.04 min), with a CV of 0.15%. The number of theoretical plates was 312,000 +/- 21,000 for the mono- and 199 000 +/- 6500 for the di-trisialylated transferrin. Genetic CB and CD variants showed prominent peaks with migration times of 10.12 +/- 0.06 and 9.89 +/- 0.03 min, respectively, and the carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome could be detected, excluding false-positive results. CZE results (as a percentage; y) correlated with the Axis %CDT TIA (x) values by Deming regression analysis: y = 1.92x - 7.29; r = 0.89. CDT values in 130 healthy nonalcoholics were determined. The 2.5th and 97.5th percentiles were 1.84% and 6.79%. CONCLUSIONS: CZE without sample pretreatment can determine CDT with good precision, allows detection of variants, and correlates with ion-exchange chromatography.

Lower serum vitamin E concentrations in major depression. Another marker of lowered antioxidant defenses in that illness.

OBJECTIVE: Major depression is associated with defective antioxidant defenses. Vitamin E is the major fat soluble antioxidant in the body. The aim of the present study is to examine serum vitamin E concentrations in major depressed patients versus normal volunteers. METHOD: Serum vitamin E concentrations were measured in 26 healthy volunteers and 42 major depressed patients by means of HPLC. Since vitamin E is a fat soluble vitamin, and serum vitamin E concentrations are strongly related to these of low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and triglycerides, we have adjusted the results for possible differences in these lipids. The numbers of peripheral blood leukocytes were measured. RESULTS: Patients with major depression had significantly lower serum vitamin E concentrations than healthy controls. The area under the ROC (receiver operating characteristics) curve was 83%. There were significant and negative correlations between serum vitamin E and number of total leukocytes and neutrophils. CONCLUSIONS: Major depression is accompanied by significantly lower serum vitamin E concentrations, suggesting lower antioxidant defenses against lipid peroxidation. The results could, in part, explain previous findings, which suggest increased lipid peroxidation in major depression.

Inflammatory markers in younger vs elderly normal volunteers and in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

BACKGROUND: Recently it has been reported that activation of the inflammatory response system (IRS) may play a role in the aging process and in the pathogenesis of the degenerative changes associated with Alzheimer's disease (SDAT). The aims of the present study were to examine the peripheral IRS in normal aging and in SDAT patients. METHODS: Serum zinc (Zn), total serum protein (TSP), albumin (Alb), SP electrophoresis, and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the stimulated production of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) were determined in younger versus elderly healthy subjects and in SDAT patients vs. age-matched, healthy volunteers. RESULTS: Serum Zn and Alb were significantly lower in elderly than in younger healthy volunteers and were significantly and inversely correlated with age. The production of TNFalpha was significantly higher in elderly than in younger healthy volunteers and was significantly and positively correlated with age. In SDAT patients, no significant changes in serum Zn or TNFalpha production could be found. Serum Alb was significantly lower and serum IL-6 and the alpha1 and alpha2 globulin fractions significantly higher in SDAT patients than in controls. CONCLUSIONS: Activation of the IRS appears to accompany the normal aging process, i.e. lower serum Zn and Alb and increased TNFalpha production, as well as SDAT, i.e. lower serum Alb and increased serum IL-6 and alpha1 and alpha2 globulin fractions. The findings suggest that not all indicators of IRS activation in SDAT are related to those of the normal ageing process.

Lower serum zinc in relation to serum albumin and proinflammatory cytokines in detoxified alcohol-dependent patients without apparent liver disease.

Recently, it was reported that there may be an activation of the inflammatory response system in detoxified alcohol-dependent patients without apparent liver disease (AWLD). The aims of the present study were to examine serum zinc (Zn) concentrations, total serum protein (TSP) and patterns obtained in the electrophoretically separated protein fractions in relation to serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 concentrations in detoxified AWLD patients. Zn, TSP, SP electrophoresis, and serum IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations were determined in detoxified AWLD patients and age-matched healthy volunteers. Serum Zn, TSP and the serum concentrations of albumin (Alb) and the beta fraction were significantly lower in detoxified AWLD patients than in healthy volunteers. The percentage of the alpha2 fraction was significantly higher in detoxified AWLD patients. Lower serum Zn in detoxified AWLD patients was attributable to lowered serum Alb. Lower serum Alb was significantly and negatively correlated to increased serum IL-8. The percentage of the alpha1 and alpha2 fractions were significantly and positively related to serum IL-6 and IL-8. The results show that there is an in vivo activation of the inflammatory response system in detoxified AWLD patients and that lower serum Zn may be causally related to lower serum Alb.

Lower serum zinc in major depression in relation to changes in serum acute phase proteins.

There is now some evidence that major depression is accompanied by activation of the inflammatory response system (IRS). Other signs of IRS activation, which have been reported in major depression are lowered serum zinc (Zn) and serum albumin (Alb) concentrations. In serum, Zn is closely bound to Alb. The aims of the present study were to replicate previous findings that major depression is accompanied by lowered serum Zn and Alb and to examine whether the decrease in serum Zn may be explained by that in serum Alb. The above variables were determined in 48 major depressed patients and in 15 age-sex-matched healthy volunteers. Serum Zn and Alb were significantly lower in major depressed patients than in normal volunteers. In healthy volunteers and major depressed patients, there were significant and positive correlations between serum Zn and Alb. We found that 53.8% of the variance in serum Zn could be explained by the combined effects of serum Alb and diagnostic classification. The results suggest that lower serum Zn in depression is in part explained by lowered serum Alb and by another depression-related mechanism. It is suggested that lower serum Zn in depression may be secondary to sequestration of metallothionein in the liver, which may be related to increased production of interleukin-6.

Influence of academic examination stress on hematological measurements in subjectively healthy volunteers.

Some recent reports showed that a brief exposure to a mental stressor during 3-20 min may induce hematological changes in humans. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of academic examination stress on erythron variables, such as the number of red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean cell Hb (MCH), mean cell Hb concentration (MCHC), RBC distribution width (RDW), and serum iron and transferrin (Tf). The above variables were determined in 41 students in three conditions, i.e. the stress condition (the day before a difficult oral exam) and two baseline conditions, i.e. a few weeks earlier and later. At the same occasions, subjects completed the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the state version of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Academic examination stress significantly increased Ht, Hb, MCV, MCH and MCHC and significantly decreased RDW. There were significant relationships between the stress-induced changes in the PSS, STAI and POMS scores and those in Ht, Hb, MCV and MCH (allpositive) and RDW (negative). It is concluded that academic examination stress induces significant hematological changes indicative of an increased number of large RBC and increased hemoglobinisation, which cannot be explained by shifts of fluid out of the intravascular space, concentrating non-diffusible blood constituents.

Behaviour and hormone concentrations in nest deprived and renesting hens.

1. Nest and egg deprivation is a procedure traditionally used to disrupt incubation behaviour expression in commercial flocks. The aim of this study was to establish how nest deprivation affects the subsequent changes in behaviour and hormone secretion and whether readiness to renest is related to hormone concentration before and during nest deprivation. 2. Incubating broiler breeder hens were deprived of their nest either in their familiar environment, by blocking the nest entrance in the home cage or in an unfamiliar environment, by transfer in a different cage. After 3 days of nest deprivation, next access was allowed and readiness to incubate tested. 3. Both methods of nest deprivation resulted in the expression of similar behaviours associated with the disruption of incubation, and similar increases in plasma LH and oestradiol and decreases in plasma prolactin. The percentage (approximately 70%) of hens which renested after either method of nest deprivation did not differ significantly. 4. Readiness to renest was not related to the concentrations of plasma prolactin measured before or during the 3 days of nest deprivation. However, hens which would later renest could be identified by using behavioural criteria. They emitted more avoidance trills before, and sat on the wire floor for longer periods during, the nest deprivation period than the others.

Influence of stimuli from chicks on behavior and concentrations of plasma prolactin and luteinizing hormone in incubating hens.

Removal of eggs from the nests of incubating birds or substitution of eggs for chicks disrupts incubation behavior and induces changes in the secretion of prolactin and luteinizing hormone (LH). The aim of the present study was to determine how different stimuli, such as physical contact with eggs and tactile, visual, and/or auditory cues from chicks, interact to control the transition between incubation and brooding and to induce changes in prolactin and LH plasma concentrations. Physical contact with chicks, in the presence or absence of eggs, induced brooding behavior and an immediate fall in plasma prolactin concentration and a gradual increase in LH concentration. Vocalizations, particularly clucking and food calls, increased rapidly while incubation and nest attachment disappeared slowly. No change in plasma prolactin or LH concentration was observed in incubating hens which could hear and see or only hear chicks. These incubating hens showed no interest in chicks and continued to incubate persistently. To conclude, tactile stimuli, alone or in combination with visual and/or auditory stimuli from newly hatched chicks, are the only cues that induce the transition from incubation to brooding and the associated decrease in prolactin secretion and increase in LH secretion.

The influence of psychological stress on total serum protein and patterns obtained in serum protein electrophoresis.

BACKGROUND: Significant alterations in total serum protein (TSP) patterns obtained in serum protein electrophoresis and serum proteins have been reported in patients with major depression and in subjects submitted to a combination of psychological and physical stress. The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of academic examination stress, on TSP and patterns obtained in serum protein electrophoresis. METHODS: TSP and the concentrations and percentages of the major electrophoretically separated serum proteins were measured in 41 healthy biomedical students the day before a difficult academic examination (i.e. the stressful condition), as well as a few weeks before and after the stressful condition (i.e. two baseline conditions). RESULTS: Academic examination stress increased TSP and the alpha 1, alpha 2, beta and gamma concentrations in stress-reactors, but not in stress non-reactors (as defined by changes in the Perceived Stress Scale). Academic examination stress reduced the percentage of albumin in the stress-reactors, but not in stress non-reactors. There were significant positive relationships between the stress-induced changes in TSP and serum alpha 2, beta and gamma concentrations and the stress-induced changes in the Perceived Stress Scale. CONCLUSIONS: The results show that even mild psychological stress of short duration can lead to measurable changes in TSP and in patterns obtained in serum protein electrophoresis.