Photocatalytic oxidation of VX-simulation substance.

Experimental studies of photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) of VX-gas simulation substance cysteamine-S-phosphate sodium salt (NaHPO3S-CH2-CH2-NH2, CPSS) at various initial concentrations and pH were undertaken. PCO ultimately resulted in complete mineralisation of CPSS. The PCO byproducts of CPSS include acetate, oxalate and trace amounts of formate ions. The formation rates of acetate and phosphate were equal to the rate of degradation of CPSS, which indicates easy breakage of P-S, C-S and C-N bonds. Sulphate was formed more slowly due to stepwise oxidation of reduced sulphur. Amino group, generally transformed to ammonia, was partially oxidised to nitrite and nitrate in alkaline media. The fastest mineralisation in terms of both TOC degradation and phosphate formation was observed in neutral media. Under neutral media conditions, the PCO rate increased linearly with the CPSS concentration increase. The maximum efficiency by TOC degradation was observed as large as 77 mg per Wh of incident UV flux with quantum efficiency 3.8%.

Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Pasteurella strains isolated from humans.

The in vitro susceptibilities of 192 consecutive clinical strains of Pasteurella spp. isolated between 1996 and 2003 from soft tissue pus (n = 146), respiratory tract specimens (n = 38) and blood (n = 8) were studied by an agar dilution method. All isolates were susceptible to minocycline, cefotaxime, ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin. Most strains were susceptible to moxifloxacin, amoxicillin, azithromycin and clarithromycin, whereas lower susceptibility rates to telithromycin (89.4%) were observed among respiratory tract isolates.

A sequential bioorthogonal dual strategy: ManNAl and SiaNAl as distinct tools to unravel sialic acid metabolic pathways.

Recent methodological developments in metabolic oligosaccharide engineering (MOE) pave the way for tremendous advances in glycobiology. Herein, we propose a Sequential Bioorthogonal Dual Strategy (SBDS) combining the use of two unprotected alkyne-tagged monosaccharide reporters (ManNAl and SiaNAl) with the bioligation of fluorescent probes by copper-catalysed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). With SBDS, we are able to shed light on trafficking and cellular uptake mechanisms of sialic acid. Using their corresponding analogues, we visualized that SiaNAl enters via endocytosis, whereas its biosynthetic intermediate ManNAl uptake is mediated by a yet unknown but specific plasma membrane transporter. Sialin, a lysosomal protein, is shown to be crucial for the export of exogenous sialic acid from lysosomes to the cytosol. Metabolic labeling with alkyne-tagged derivatives of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) or N-acetylmannosamine (ManNAc) could thus be used to follow endocytosis in physiological vs. pathological conditions.

Synthesis and radioprotective activity of new cysteamine and cystamine derivatives.

A variety of N-(aminoalkanoyl)-S-acylcysteamine and N,N'-bis(aminoalkanoyl)cystamine salt derivatives were synthesized. Toxicity and radioprotective activity (as the dose reduction factor DRF) were determined in vivo on mice and compared to WR 2721 and S-acetylcysteamine hydrochloride. One of the most interesting compounds of this series was N-glycyl-S-acetylcysteamine trifluoroacetate (16, I 102). Structure-activity relationships are discussed.

Oral health in adolescents from a small French town.

In France, caries are more prevalent in rural areas than in large cities. This study analyzed the relationship between number of oral health indices and some known risk factors (toothbrushing, sugar consumption, saliva components) and sociodemographic factors in adolescents from a small town. The sample included 112 children aged 12-14 in the north-east of France. School marks was found to be better linked with dental caries indices than the socio-occupational category of parents: gingival index (GI), DMFS, DMFT and caries severity (CS) significantly increased with decreasing school marks; oral plaque was related to socio-occupational of parents. The analysis using the regression method showed that the variance explained by the various factors studied was modest (between 23 and 30%) for GI, initial caries sites (IS), DS, DMFS, DMFT and CS, and was small for plaque (5%) and calculus (3%). This would be due in part to the wide dispersion of these indices. The sex had a non-significant regression coefficient for all oral health indices investigated. For GI, only mutans streptococci (MS) and plaque had a significant regression coefficient. Calculus was explained by any factor considered. Only MS had a significant part in plaque. IS was explained by MS, toothbrushing and age. For DS, only toothbrushing, MS and sweet drinks during meals had a significant part. DMFS and DMFT were explained only by MS and age. CS was explained by MS, age, salivary buffer pH, salivary flow rate, and toothbrushing.

Antibacterial activity of Aristolochia paucinervis Pomel.

Several fractions of the methanolic extract of the rhizome or the leaves of Aristolochia paucinervis Pomel were screened for antibacterial activity using the agar dilution method against fourteen reference bacterial strains. Only three fractions (defatted chloroformic rhizome fraction: APRC, rhizome ethyl acetate fraction: APRE and leaf chloroform fraction: APLC) showed an activity against at least one of the microorganisms tested. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination showed that APRC was the most active against Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile, Enterococcus faecalis, Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus subtilis. The high bacteriostatic activity of APRC was confirmed by its MIC determination against clinical strains of C. perfringens (n = 32), C. difficile (n = 31), and E. faecalis (n = 22). Results of this study suggest the potential interest of this highly active fraction and support the use of A. paucinervis Pomel in Moroccan traditional medicine to treat skin and soft-tissue infections, especially gas gangrene and intestinal diseases.

Effectiveness of low dose urokinase on dialysis catheter thrombolysis.

Thrombosis, a major cause of hemodialysis catheter dysfunction, can be treated with urokinase. We compared protocols using full strength urokinase to the volume of the catheter with low dose therapy. Clotting episodes and successful declottings (blood flow > 200 ml/min) were tracked for 6 months. One hundred four clotting episodes were treated with 5,000 U/ml urokinase to the volume of the catheter lumen for a 1 hr dwell. If unsuccessful, a second dose of 5,000 U/ml was administered and, if needed, a third dose of 125,000 U/lumen. Post treatment, catheters were locked with 5,000 U/ml heparin to the volume of the lumen. Using new protocols, clotting episodes were treated with 2,500 U/lumen urokinase, followed by saline to the volume of the lumen for a 1 hr dwell. A mid dwell injection of 0.2 ml/lumen saline was added to advance the front of active urokinase. If unsuccessful, a second 2,500 U/lumen dose was administered. Heparin lock was 10,000 U/ml heparin to the volume of the lumen. Revised protocols decreased clotting episodes 60% and urokinase charges 81%, while maintaining successful declottings at 74%. Low dose urokinase was as effective as full strength when the active front was advanced mid dwell.

[Eleven cases of leptospirosis: clinical and microbiological features]. / La leptospirose: étude clinique et microbiologique à propos de 11 cas.

OBJECTIVE: The authors had for aim, to describe clinical and biological features of 11 cases of leptospirosis observed in Lorraine between 1996 and 2002, and to assess the interest of diagnostic methods. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed. The inclusion criteria was positive serological test for Leptospira. RESULTS: The contamination was mainly linked to water sports, during the summer holidays. The main symptom was fever, associated with moderate increase of aminotransferase serum level. Leptospira icterohaemorragiae was the most frequently identified serogroup. One 17-year-old male patient died after infection during water sports practice. CONCLUSION: Preventive measures should be considered for people exposed to Leptospira when practicing water sports.

[Dog bites and infection from bacterial inoculation. Necessity for appropriate therapeutic measures]. / Morsures de chien et infections bactériennes d'inoculation. Nécessité de mesures thérapeutiques appropriées.

The most recent statistics in France underline a doubly increasing preoccupation: the alarming rise in the frequency of bites by dogs (watchdogs or lapdogs), and the great number of pathogenic bacteria isolated from the bite wounds. During the last three years (1985, 1986, 1987), the Bacteriological Laboratory of Nancy received 390 samples, and 56% of them contained one or more bacteria. These bacteria basically were Pasteurella (61%), but other different species were isolated and identified recently: for example, the bacterial groups EF4, M5, IIj and especially DF2. The clinical feature is usually a wound which, neglected, is suppurating. But the bacteria of the DF2 group lead to general complications, very serious: more than 50 cases of septicemia have been published. In such cases, the notion of underlying pathology is important: alcoholism, cancer, splenectomy. Therefore, this new threat calls for great vigilance: curative treatment with antibiotic therapy adjusted to the isolated and tested bacterium; but, after all bites by a dog, real prophylaxis is systematically essential, with classical actions and antibiotic therapy (betalactamine or cycline) if the organism of the patient is deficient.

[Respiratory pasteurellosis. Apropos of 32 cases]. / Les pasteurelloses respiratoires. A propos de 32 observations.

The authors present the main characteristics of respiratory pasteurellosis on the basis of 32 personal cases. The predominant background is chronic obstructive lung disease consecutive, in most cases, to chronic bronchitis. In patients without chronic lung disease the infection occurs when the terrain is deficient. The most common clinical form is bronchitis; pneumonia, pleurisy and lung abscess are rare. The existence of asymptomatic carriers has been recognized. Clinical manifestations are devoid of pathognomonic signs and symptoms. Diagnosis rests on isolation of the micro-organism and can be completed by serodiagnosis and intradermal reaction to pasteurelline. The severity of respiratory pasteurellosis depends on the clinical form and the background. The curative treatment is simple and effective as a rule, but prevention is possible and recommended since pasteurellosis is a potentially severe infection.

Genomic deletion marking an emerging subclone of Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica in France and the Iberian Peninsula.

Francisella tularensis subsp. holarctica is widely disseminated in North America and the boreal and temperate regions of the Eurasian continent. Comparative genomic analyses identified a 1.59-kb genomic deletion specific to F. tularensis subsp. holarctica isolates from Spain and France. Phylogenetic analysis of strains carrying this deletion by multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis showed that the strains comprise a highly related set of genotypes, implying that these strains were recently introduced or recently emerged by clonal expansion in France and the Iberian Peninsula.

[Study of 12 epidemical cases of legionnaire's disease occurred in Meurthe-et-Moselle (France) between July and August 2004]. / Etude de douze cas épidémiques de légionellose survenus en Meurthe-et-Moselle en juillet-août 2004.

PATIENTS AND METHOD: To describe epidemiological, clinical, biological, radiological data and therapeutic features of legionnaire's disease during an outbreak occurring in Meurthe-et-Moselle between July-August 2004. RESULTS: 12 cases were recorded including 11 men, 6 smokers, 4 alcoholo-nicotinic, 3 diabetics, 3 with hemopathy, 1 with corticotherapy; in one case no risks factors were found; mean age was 68.5 years [minimum=48; maximum=96]. Nine cases had sudden symptoms. Nine cases had a fever up to 40 degrees C, 9 with dyspnoea, 7 with cough, 7 with a relative bradycardia, 3 with diarrhoea, 3 felt faint, 3 with confusion. Radiology: unilateral unilobe localisation in 10 cases. Biological data: cytolysis in 8 cases, CRP >300 mg/l in 8. The diagnosis confirmed with urinary antigen of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 (UrAgLp1) in 12 cases. In 2 cases, UrAgLp1 appeared negative between 3rd and 10th day after the beginning of a treatment although UrAgLp1 was positive before the treatment. In all cases, the first serology realised during first days following occurrence the first symptoms remained negative. Two serology of control in four were positive. One search of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 in sputum was positive in 7. Bitherapy was used in 7 cases with preferential association: fluoroquinolone+rifampicin. Two patients died. Origin of the contamination remains unknown. CONCLUSION: Culture of Legionella is essential, in epidemic context, to compare clinical and environmental Legionella and to locate the origin of contamination.