Interhemispheric coherence of EEG rhythms in children: Maturation and differentiation in corpus callosum dysgenesis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the evolution of interhemispheric coherences (ICo) in background and spindle frequency bands during childhood and use it to identify individuals with corpus callosum dysgenesis (CCd). METHODS: A monocentric cohort of children aged from 0.25 to 15 years old, consisting of 13 children with CCd and 164 without, was analyzed. The ICo of background activity (ICOBckgrdA), sleep spindles (ICOspindles), and their sum (sICO) were calculated. The impact of age, gender, and CC status on the ICo was evaluated, and the sICO was used to discriminate children with or without CCd. RESULTS: ICOBckgrdA, ICOspindles and sICO increased significantly with age without any effect of gender (p < 10-4), in both groups. The regression equations of the different ICo were stronger, with adjusted R2 values of 0.54, 0.35, and 0.57, respectively. The ICo was lower in children with CCd compared to those without CCd (p < 10-4 for all comparisons). The area under the precision recall curves for predicting CCd using sICO was 0.992 with 98.9 % sensitivity and 87.5 % specificity. DISCUSSION: ICo of spindles and background activity evolve in parallel to brain maturation and depends on the integrity of the corpus callosum. sICO could be an effective diagnostic biomarker for screening children with interhemispheric dysfunction.

Canine-chilled sperm: study of a semen extender made with low-density lipoproteins from hen egg yolk supplemented with glutamine.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a combination of 6% low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and 20 mm glutamine in comparison with other extenders used for the refrigeration of canine semen: Tris egg yolk (EY) 20% and 6% LDL. The percentages of mobile spermatozoa after 4 days storage in a domestic refrigerator at +4 °C were 53.1%, 44.2% and 52.2% for the 6% LDL + 20 mm glutamine, 20% EY and 6% LDL extenders respectively for 100% of the dogs. After 7 days of storage, these percentages fell to 37.8%, 26.4% and 33.6% in the same extenders for 50% of the dogs. In vitro fertility tests were performed with all of the extenders following the mobility results. These tests were conducted on the day of sampling (D0), and 48 and 96 h after sampling. The results of the hypo-osmotic swelling test were 82.6%, 81.2% and 85.7% on D0, 75.2%, 74.1% and 78.5% on D2, and 70.8%, 71% and 76.1% on D4 for the 6% LDL + 20 mm glutamine, 20% EY and 6% LDL extenders, respectively. For the FITC/pisum sativum agglutinin (PSA) test, the results were 81.5%, 70.2% and 84.8% on D0, 78.9%, 62.3% and 84.2% on D2, and 72.7%, 59.6% and 73.7% on D4 for the 6% LDL + 20 mm glutamine, 20% EY and 6% LDL extenders, respectively. The acridine orange test was positive; in nearly 100% of cases, none of the spermatozoa had been denatured on D0, D2 and D4. The 6% LDL + 20 mm glutamine and the 6% LDL extenders are capable of preserving spermatozoa that have been stored in a domestic refrigerator at +4°C for at least 4 days. This means that the spermatozoa retain good cytoplasmic membrane integrity, had not capacitated and contained intact DNA in comparison with spermatozoa preserved in the egg yolk extender. The duration of storage is a very important consideration when faced with the problem of sending semen over ever-greater distances.

Assessment of the environmental quality of French continental Mediterranean lagoons with oyster embryo bioassay.

In order to better understand environmental disturbances in the French coastal Mediterranean lagoons, we used an ecotoxicological approach based on the measurement of the toxicity of the sediments using oyster embryo bioassay that provides a basis for assessing the effects on the fauna of contaminants adsorbed on the sedimentary particles. The study covers all of the main lagoons of the French Mediterranean coasts of Languedoc Roussillon, Camargue, and Provence (Berre and Bolmon lagoons), where 188 stations were sampled. The toxicity tests provide evidence of variable levels of toxicity in sediments. Contaminated lagoons such as La peyrade, Le canet, and Ingrill and locally affected lagoons such as Bages-Sigean, Vaccares, Bolmon, and Berre have sampling stations with 100% of larval abnormalities during 24-h development. In all of the lagoons, the toxicity was mainly located close to local harbors and rivers. Salses Leucate (Languedoc roussillon) lagoon was found very clean, with no important toxicity. The results are discussed in terms of environmental disturbances of the coastal lagoons and with regard to the long-term monitoring of the impact of contaminants on the coastal environment.

[Pregnancy following anonymous oocyte donation: Experience and feelings]. / Appréhension et vécu d'une grossesse obtenue après un don d'ovocyte anonyme.

OBJECTIVES: This qualitative study focuses on feelings of women who receive an anonymous oocyte donation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A heterogeneous group of 12 women who were mothers or pregnant following a oocyte donation or who were waiting for a donation took part in the study. All women participated in a face to face or a telephone semi-directive interview. Questions dealt with desire for children, feelings about difficulties to have a child, place of the oocyte donor and position about revelation of origins. RESULTS: Several key ideas about the experience of oocyte donation can be brought out from the analysis of those interviews, particularly the psychological process implied in losing one's hope for a biological child, ambivalence towards donors, and questionings about this specific mode of conception. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Women's satisfaction when the project for having a child is brought to its completion, hides neither complexity nor psychological questionings entailed by the donation process which includes a third during the conception. This study underlines the need for psychological accompaniment.

Arthroscopic treatment of work-related lateral epicondylitis - prognostic factors.

Lateral epicondylitis is a condition whose pathophysiology is poorly understood and whose optimal treatment divides physicians. Arthroscopy has proven its worth, with results similar to or better than open surgery. The purpose of this study was to look for prognostic factors for the outcomes of arthroscopic treatment of lateral epicondylitis. This was a retrospective, single-center study involving 39 cases (36 patients). Patients were split into two groups based on the Mayo Elbow Performance score (MEPS). A good result was defined as a score of 75 or better. The variables of interest were gender, age, body mass index, smoking habits, recognition as an occupational disease, duration of absence from work, cartilage involvement, presence of a capsular lesion and length of follow-up. The mean follow-up at review was 37.2 months (± 17.4). The average MEPS was 77.44 (± 15.51). Smoking was statistically related to a poor result (P = 0.0422) and a longer follow-up was statistically related to a good result (P = 0.0396). We identified two prognostic factors for lateral epicondylitis treated by arthroscopy. Smoking has a negative effect and ideally, patients should quit before surgical treatment. Time has a positive effect; thus patients should be informed that it will take several months or even years for their ailment to improve. Taking these factors into consideration will improve the functional outcomes of this surgery.

What happens to the posterior comminution in extra-articular fractures of the distal radius treated with volar locking plates?

Extra-articular fractures of the distal radius with posterior displacement are typically treated with volar locking plates. However, this fixation method does not address the posterior comminution, which seems to have no impact on the final result. The purpose of this study was to determine the fate of the posterior comminution. This was a retrospective study of 22 patients over 50 years old with a distal radius fracture. A preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan was performed to evaluate the comminution. All fractures were fixed with a volar locking plate. All patients underwent a bone density scan. Patients were reviewed at 6 months post-operative to determine their clinical, radiological and functional outcomes. The CT scan was performed again to determine the fate of the comminution. At 6 months post-operative, 82% of patients had an oval metaphyseal defect. The mean volume of this defect was 1.86 mL. The contents of this defect most closely resembled fat. There was no statistical link between the defect's volume and the various parameters studied. On the other hand, the defect's density was positively related to the functional outcome and negatively related to the patients' body mass index. Because of the compression experienced by the cancellous bone, a distal metaphyseal defect often persists after consolidation in dorsally displaced distal radius fractures. The posterior comminution is ultimately of little consequence.

Dynamic interplays between memory systems depend on practice: the hippocampus is not always the first to provide solution.

Previous studies showed that the optimization of behavioral performance through extended training depends on a switch from hippocampus-based memory to striatum-based habit. Here we investigate whether the amount of training within one learning session influences the retention of memory for hippocampal versus striatal strategies. Mice were trained to search for a submerged cue-marked platform which remained in the same spatial location in the water-maze for each of three training regimens (4, 12 or 22 trials). Subsequently, they were either tested for retention of memory 1 h or 24 h later on a probe test or killed at different time points over a 7-h period to determine the kinetic of cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation in both memory systems. During the probe test mice had to choose between a submerged platform located in the same position as during the acquisition phase (spatial solution) and a platform marked by the cue but located in the opposite quadrant of the pool (cue-guided solution). Results showed that the animals first preferred the cue-marked platform, which represents a strategy that was selectively impaired by lesions of the dorsolateral caudate-putamen. With further practice, or context pre-exposure, animals transiently favored the hippocampus-dependent place solution but finally, both strategies became interchangeable and insensitive to either lesion. CREB phosphorylation increased in both memory systems following acquisition but training-dependent changes selectively occurred in the hippocampus wherein biphasic activation was initiated by the four-trial training and blocked by training for 22 trials. These findings indicate that learning in one session consists of three acquisition stages with parallel engagement of multiple memory systems at the beginning of learning. They suggest, however, that, in a later phase, dynamic interplays promote the use of the most adapted brain system depending on practice and this is accompanied by specific patterns of CREB phosphorylation in the hippocampus.

Contribution of arthroscopy to the treatment of intraarticular fracture of the distal radius: Retrospective study of 40 cases.

Our study aimed to compare the anatomical result after treatment of intraarticular distal radius fracture with locking volar plates with and without arthroscopy. This was a retrospective, single-center study of intraarticular fractures. A volar locked plate was used for fracture fixation in all patients. Twenty patients were operated on with fluoroscopy only ("plate" group) and 20 operated using arthroscopy assistance ("arthroscopy" group). All patients underwent a CT scan before surgery and at 3 months postoperative. The main outcome measure was the residual intraarticular step-off (measured in millimeters). Other studied outcomes were the residual gap between fragments and extra-articular reduction. The two groups were similar preoperatively in all aspects except the size of the gap between fragments. The residual step-off was significantly less in the arthroscopy group: 1.9mm (Q1 1.7; Q3 2.25) for plate versus 0.8mm (Q1 0.7; Q3 1.5) for arthroscopy (P=0.001). The change from the preoperative to the postoperative measurement was significantly greater in the arthroscopy group: 0.1 mm (Q1 -0.5; Q3 0.8) for plate and -1mm (Q1 -1.9; Q3 -0.6) for arthroscopy (P=0.0002). The residual gap was similar between both groups: 2.4mm (Q1 1.9; Q3 3.5) for plate vs. 2.3mm (Q1 1.1; Q3 2.8) for arthroscopy (P=0.37). The change in gap was not significantly different between the two groups: -0.9mm (Q1 -1.8; Q3 -0.1) for plate vs. -2.9mm (Q1 -4.4; Q3 -1.7) for arthroscopy (P=0.32). There was no difference in the extra-articular reduction. Damage was found to the scapholunate ligament in 30% and the TFCC in 30% of arthroscopy cases. Arthroscopy improves intraarticular reduction without altering extra-articular reduction in patients with intraarticular fractures of the distal radius, and it allows for assessment and treatment of any injuries discovered. We must now follow these patients over the long-term to assess the clinical benefit. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Sequestration of bovine seminal plasma proteins by different assemblies of phosphatidylcholine: A new technical approach.

Binder of SPerm (BSP) proteins, the main proteins from bovine seminal plasma, are known to partially intercalate into the outer leaflet of the spermatozoa membrane and bind to choline-containing lipids being present therein. This insertion generates a negative effect on semen quality after cryopreservation by inducing an early-stage capacitation of spermatozoa. The assumption of surface properties exhibited by BSP proteins was checked by tensiometry measurements: BSP proteins are highly surface active. This suggests that BSP proteins can reach the interface covered by phospholipids not only by interactions between one and each other but also due to their own surface activity. The insertion of BSP proteins into the lipid domains outer leaflet of spermatozoa was reproduced on a biomimetic system such as Langmuir monolayers. The insertion of BSP proteins can be performed in the compressible fluid domains which contain choline-bearing lipids. Monolayer films were used as well to study the complexation of BSP proteins by two phospholipid assemblies: low density lipoprotein (LDLs) from egg yolk or liposomes produced from egg phospholipids. Irrespective of the phospholipid structure (lipoprotein or liposome), BSP was hindered to alter the structure of the membrane. Only the overall ratio BSP proteins:phosphatidylcholine was important. The difference between the two sequestering agents lies on their surface properties: LDL have a strong tendency to merge with the outer layer whereas liposomes mainly remain in the bulk on the same time scale.

5-HT1B receptor knock-out mice exhibit increased exploratory activity and enhanced spatial memory performance in the Morris water maze.

In an attempt to characterize the contribution of the 5-HT1B receptor to behavior, 5-HT1B knock-out (KO) mice were subjected to a battery of behavioral paradigms aimed at differentiating various components of cognitive and emotional behaviors. In an object exploration task, wild-type (WT) and 5-HT1B KO mice did not differ in locomotor activity. 5-HT1B KO mice, however, displayed lower thigmotaxis (an index of anxiety) associated with a higher level of object exploratory activity, but no genotype differences were observed in the elevated plus maze. 5-HT1B KO mice also displayed a lack of exploratory habituation. In the spatial version of the Morris water maze, 5-HT1B KO mice showed higher performances in acquisition and transfer test, which was not observed in the visual version of the task. No genotype differences were found in contextual fear conditioning, because both WT and 5-HT1B KO mice were able to remember the context where they had received the aversive stimulus. The deletion of the 5-HT1B receptor, associated with appropriate behavioral paradigms, thus allowed us to dissociate anxiety from response to novelty, and perseverative behavior (lack of habituation) from adaptive behavioral inhibition underlying cognitive flexibility (transfer stage in the water maze). The deletion of the 5-HT1B receptor did not result in significant developmental plasticities for other major 5-HT receptor types but may have influenced other neurotransmission systems. The 5-HT1B receptor may be a key target for serotonin in the modulation of cognitive behavior, particularly in situations involving a high cognitive demand.

Differential activation of adenylyl cyclases by spatial and procedural learning.

Adenylyl cyclases (ACs) are involved in a variety of advanced CNS functions, including some types of learning and memory. At least nine AC isoforms are expressed in the brain, which are divisible into three broad classes based on the ability of Ca(2+) to modulate their activity. This study examined the hypothesis that different learning tasks would differentially activate ACs in selected brain regions. The ability of forskolin or Ca(2+) to enhance AC activity in the hippocampus, parietal cortex, striatum, and cerebellum was examined after mice had been trained in either a spatial or procedural learning task using a Morris water maze. Sensitivity of ACs to forskolin was enhanced to a greater degree in most brain regions after procedural learning, but Ca(2+)-sensitive ACs in the hippocampus were more sensitive to spatial learning. Because nonspecific behavioral elements, such as stress or motor activity, were similar in both experimental tasks, these results provide the first evidence that acquisition of different kinds of learning is associated with selective changes in particular AC species in a mammalian brain and support the idea that different biochemical processing, involving particular isoforms of ACs, subserves different memory systems.

Chronic antihypertensive treatment with captopril plus hydrochlorothiazide improves aortic distensibility in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

1. Adult male spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were given captopril plus hydrochlorothiazide mixed in the diet for 10 weeks. Calculated daily doses were 44 mg kg-1 per day for captopril, and 22 mg kg-1 per day for hydrochlorothiazide. Separate groups received captopril or hydrochlorothiazide alone, at similar doses, or no treatment. A final group of WKY normotensive rats received no drug. 2. Systolic arterial blood pressure, measured at regular intervals throughout the 10 weeks' period was lowered but not normalized, in groups receiving either captopril plus hydrochlorothiazide, or captopril alone, but not in the group receiving hydrochlorothiazide alone. 3. Following pentobarbitone anaesthesia, systolic arterial blood pressure, measured in the femoral artery, was found to be lower in all treated groups, but the greatest effect was observed in SHR previously treated with captopril plus hydrochlorothiazide. Aortic pulse wave velocity was also lower in treated SHR, and once again the greatest decrease was observed in the group previously treated with captopril plus hydrochlorothiazide. 4. Following pithing, systolic arterial blood pressures were similar in all SHR groups. Aortic pulse wave velocity was lower in pithed rats previously treated with captopril and hydrochlorothiazide. 5. In conclusion, antihypertensive treatment of SHR produces falls in blood pressure and pulse wave velocity, an indicator of aortic distensibility. Results in pithed rats suggest that treatment with the combination of captopril plus hydrochlorothiazide may increase aortic distensibility independently of blood pressure.

The opposite effects of cysteamine on the acquisition of two different tasks in mice are associated with bidirectional testing-induced changes in hippocampal adenylyl cyclase activity.

The hypothesis of a role for hippocampal somatostatin (SS-14) in learning and memory processes was further examined by means of 2 selective learning tasks that were previously shown to be either impaired (spatial discrimination task) or facilitated (barpressing task) by hippocampal lesions. Results showed that subcutaneous injections of cysteamine (160 mg/kg) (a) impaired acquisition of the spatial task while producing an opposite (i.e., facilitative) effect on acquisition of the barpressing task and (b) produced an up regulation of hippocampal adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity, which was antagonized by spatial discrimination training but enhanced by training in the barpressing task. Moreover, opposite task-dependent training-induced changes in hippocampal AC activity was observed in saline-treated mice. These results suggest that bidirectional regulatory mechanisms of hippocampal function involving both SS-14 and ACs may occur as a function of the type of learning.

Intrahippocampal injections of cysteamine improve the retention of a bar-pressing task in mice.

Cysteamine was used as a tool aimed at investigating the role of central somatostatin (SS-14) and was shown to modulate learning in a task-dependent manner. However, direct arguments have not yet been provided to support the hypothesis that impairments and facilitation of learning produced by cysteamine are both mediated by the hippocampus. Mice were given daily intrahippocampal injections of artificial cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or cysteamine at doses of either 2.5 microg/0.2 microl or 25 microg/0.2 microl 1 h prior to each learning session of a bar-pressing task, for which the acquisition was previously shown to be improved by systemic injections. The results showed that, with respect to CSF, the mice injected with cysteamine learned the bar pressing task faster whereas no evidence of changes in locomotor activity was provided. Moreover, the results showed that retention was specifically increased in the two groups injected with cysteamine. It is argued that the action of cysteamine on the hippocampus is sufficient to modulate specifically learning-memory processes in a task-dependent manner. In conclusion, the blockade of some hippocampal information processing function by cysteamine is discussed to understand the bidirectional effects of drugs on learning and memory.

Rapid and sensitive detection of peste des petits ruminants virus by a polymerase chain reaction assay.

A rapid and specific test was developed for the diagnosis of peste des petits ruminants disease. This assay is based on the rapid purification of RNA on glass beads followed by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). To that effect, a set of primers (NP3/NP4) was used to amplify specifically a fragment of about 350 bp in the 3' end of the RNA messenger that encodes the nucleocapsid protein of the peste des petits ruminants virus. The PCR-product was detected by UV illumination after electrophoresis on agarose gel or by hybridisation with a digoxigenin-11-dUTP labelled oligonucleotide probe after a blot transfer. In comparison with the conventional titration technique on Vero cells, this RT-PCR assay was 1000-fold more sensitive. Compared with the popular Chomczynski and Sacchi's method [Anal. Biochem. 162 (1987) 156], the purification of the RNA on the glass beads offers the advantage of being more rapid and also avoiding the use of solvents.

Oral administration of isosorbide dinitrate inhibits arterial thrombosis in rats.

The effect of isosorbide dinitrate, a nitrovasodilator known to inhibit platelet function, was examined in a model of electrically induced carotid artery thrombosis in rats. In the dose range of 1-30 mg/kg isosorbide dinitrate, administered orally, significantly delayed carotid occlusion. These results demonstrate that isosorbide dinitrate has antithrombotic activity and it is suggested that this antithrombotic activity is due to the generation of nitric oxide.

Typing of sheep clinical isolates and identification of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens strains by classical methods and by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

A simple procedure was developed to identify toxitypes of Clostridium perfringens of different origins. Ninety strains of C. perfringens were identified by classical bacteriological methods, typing of the strains was done by a seroneutralisation test on mice. Production of enterotoxin was tested and all strains were analysed by PCR using gene of toxin alpha, gene of toxin E, gene of toxin beta and gene of enterotoxin. Simple amplification (amplifying one gene), and duplex and triplex amplification (amplifying two and three genes simultaneously) were performed. In the conditions of the experiment, the PCR method has proved efficacious. The specificity and sensitivity are excellent and superior to those of the classical methods. The prophylaxis of enterotoxaemia in animals is achieved by vaccination, the PCR technique can thus become a first-choice tool for the identification and typing of the C. perfringens strains which initiate these diseases. In turn, this would simplify the development of vaccines adapted to the epidemiological situation.

The angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitors, captopril and Wy-44,655 attenuate the consequences of cerebral ischemia in renovascular hypertensive rats.

Global cerebral ischemia (four vessel model) was induced in renovascular hypertensive rats (two kidney, one clip model) chronically treated with intraperitoneal administration of angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitors, either captopril (100 mg/kg per day) or Wy-44,655 (10 mg/kg per day). Mortality following cerebral ischemia was higher in renovascular hypertensive rats than in normotensive controls. Reduction of blood pressure with captopril or Wy-44,655, lowered mortality. In surviving renovascular hypertensive and normotensive rats cerebral ischemia induced hyperactivity and lesions of the CA1 area of the hippocampus. Prolonged treatment with captopril--but not with Wy-44,655--reduced hyperactivity and the extent of the CA1 lesions. In conclusion, hypertension increases mortality following cerebral ischemia but does not affect the extent of brain injury in survivors. Prior treatment with converting enzyme inhibitors lowers mortality. Treatment with captopril attenuates brain injury in survivors.

[Use of the in vitro enzymatic amplification method for the detection of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in feces]. / Utilisation de la méthode d'amplification enzymatique in vitro pour la détection de Mycobacterium paratuberculosis dans les fèces.

A polymerase chain reaction was developed, using as target sequence an insertion element of 1,451 base pairs (IS 900), specific for Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (15-20 copies per genome). The test was performed in three stages: (1) extraction of bacterial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), from faeces stored at +4 degrees C, -20 degrees C, in 70% ethanol or in a buffer solution; (2) amplification of the target DNA by means of thermostable DNA polymerase; (3) detection of the amplified DNA by electrophoresis, confirmed by dot blot assay after hybridisation with an internal labelled oligonucleotide of digoxigenin. Reproducible results were obtained with DNA extracted from faeces stored at -20 degrees C or in 70% ethanol. The sensitivity and specificity of the method used, particularly double amplification and hybridisation, are discussed by comparing the results obtained by bacterial culture from faeces.

[Detection of the eggs of Echinococcus multilocularis Leuckart, 1863, in the feces of the fox (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758) by the polymerase chain reaction]. / Détection des oeufs d'Echinococcus multilocularis Leuckart, 1863 dans les fèces de renard (Vulpes vulpes Linnaeus, 1758) par amplification en chaîne par polymérase.

The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was applied to the identification of eggs of Echinococcus multilocularis in faeces from foxes. The test was positive in three of six faeces samples from foxes which were harbouring adult worms, and in one of four samples from foxes in which no adult E. multilocularis was found in the intestines. These initial results show that it is possible to use PCR to identify E. multilocularis eggs in faeces. PCR can be used to complement examination of intestinal contents, showing that the distribution of eggs in faeces is uneven. The sensitivity of the test was estimated to be 50 eggs in 5 g of faeces. Further work is needed to confirm these initial results before the test can be used more widely.