Natural fermentation of fresh Jasmine flowers inspired the development of a biotechnological ingredient with global anti-ageing properties.

OBJECTIVE: This study focused on the development of a new-to-world ingredient harnessing the natural potential of fresh Jasminum grandiflorum flowers to self-ferment by its phytobiome revealing flower content. Analytical investigations were conducted to highlight specific phytocompounds generated during the natural fermentation of flowers in comparison to a conventional extraction. The synergy with another extraction technology maximized the generation of biocompounds for an interesting efficacy. METHODS: Jasmine extract was elaborated by combining two patented technologies: the phytofermentology™, inspired by plant-microorganisms interaction and designed to develop ingredients obtained by natural fermentation of the vegetal using its own phytobiota; and the PSR™ technology allowing the extraction of bioactive phytocompounds such as small RNAs from plants. RESULTS: Analytical investigations of Jasmine extract highlighted uniqueness and richness of the phytocompound profiles, such as organics acids and phenolic compounds, markers of fermentation only obtained after phytofermentology in comparison to conventional extraction. Jasmine extract has the particularity to contain jasmintides, flower small peptides belonging to the family of cysteine-rich peptides (CRPs). Antioxidant and global anti-ageing properties were investigated in cell-free assays demonstrating interesting results: about 20% scavenging of free radicals from 0.5% of Jasmine extract and protection from DNA damage of 26% in comparison to a stressed control. CONCLUSION: Phytofermentology™ technology combined with PSR™ technology, meant to be respectful of the environment, allowed to development of biofunctionals very close to nature with a unique analytical signature as Jasmine extract, using the potential of fresh flowers phytobiota to self-ferment. The efficacy of the ingredient on global antioxidation and anti-ageing via hyaluronidase/tyrosinase inhibitions was highlighted by cell-free evaluation assays. Further and complementary studies should be conducted to confirm the bioefficacy of this ingredient with in vitro / ex vivo assays.

Cette étude a pour objectif de développer un nouvel ingrédient unique en exploitant le potentiel des fleurs fraîches de Jasminum grandiflorum à fermenter naturellement en utilisant leur phytobiome, révélant ainsi le contenu de ces fleurs. Des investigations analytiques ont été menées pour mettre en évidence des phytocomposés spécifiques générés lors de la fermentation naturelle des fleurs par rapport à une extraction conventionnelle. La synergie avec une autre technologie d'extraction maximise la génération de biocomposés pour une plus grande efficacité de l'extrait. L'extrait de jasmin a été élaboré en combinant deux technologies brevetées: la phytofermentologie™, inspirée de l'interaction plante/micro­organismes et conçue pour développer des ingrédients obtenus par fermentation naturelle d'un végétal en utilisant son propre phytobiote; et la technologie PSR™ permettant l'extraction de phytocomposés bioactifs tels que les petits ARN des plantes. Les recherches analytiques de l'extrait de jasmin ont mis en évidence le caractère unique et la richesse des profils des différents phytocomposés composant l'extrait, tels que les acides organiques et les composés phénoliques, marqueurs de fermentation obtenus uniquement grâce à la phytofermentologie par rapport à l'extraction conventionnelle. L'extrait de jasmin a la particularité de contenir des jasmintides, petits peptides de fleurs appartenant à la famille des peptides riches en cystéine (CRP). Les propriétés antioxydantes et anti­âge ont été étudiées par des tests acellulaires démontrant des résultats intéressants: environ 20 % d'élimination des radicaux libres à partir de 0,5 % d'extrait de jasmin et une protection contre les dommages à l'ADN de 26 % par rapport à un contrôle stressé. La technologie phytofermentologie™ combinée à la technologie PSR™, se voulant respectueuse de l'environnement, a permis de développer des ingrédients très proches de la nature avec une signature analytique unique comme l'extrait de Jasmin, utilisant le potentiel d'auto­fermentation du phytobiote des fleurs fraîches. L'efficacité de l'ingrédient sur l'antioxydation globale et l'anti­âge via les inhibitions enzymatiques de la hyaluronidase et de la tyrosinase a été mise en évidence par des tests d'évaluation acellulaires. Des études supplémentaires et complémentaires devraient être menées pour confirmer la bioefficacité de cet ingrédient avec des tests in vitro/ex vivo.

Maintenance of the ubiquitin-proteasome system activity correlates with visible skin benefits.

Researches on longevity and anti-ageing molecules have clearly evidenced the potential to increase lifespan of the cells. These recent scientific data raise interests and questions on the capacity of the cells to live longer and maintain their fundamental mechanisms of protection, reparation or degradation of abnormal proteins to maintain their capital of healthy and functional cellular activity. In this concern, this study was focused on the ubiquitin-proteasome system as an essential cellular tool to maintain the pool of functionally active proteins allowing renewal of proteins and degradation of damaged proteins. As the proteasome keeps the 'cells health capital', it should be particularly interesting to associate the maintenance of the proteasome activity with increasing longevity. Indeed, although oxidative stress damage increases with ageing leading to collagen and cellular membrane alterations, it also leads to a reduction in the proteasome activity which is critical for the cells. The aim of this study was to better understand the cellular role of the proteasome and to provide new data showing the skin beneficial effects in activating the overall system of ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. For this purpose, in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of maintaining the ubiquitin-proteasome activity in basal and stress conditions on young versus aged cells. Experiments have included evaluation of a newly developed dimerized tripeptide targeting specifically the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Our results have demonstrated that maintenance of this essential mechanism that participates in abnormal protein elimination and protein renewal allows maintaining cellular integrity that correlates with visible skin benefits.

[Arthritis without urethritis: remember gonococcus]. / Arthrite sans urétrite: penser au gonocoque.

INTRODUCTION: Septic arthritis caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae is mono or pauciarticular. They represent a nonrare cause of arthritis in sexually active adults. He is necessary to think of it even in the absence of urethritis. EXEGESIS: We report the case of gonococcal arthritis without urethritis in a young man associated with positive synovial fluid culture and negative blood cultures. CONCLUSION: Prompt recognition and treatment of this disease results in cure without aftereffects. The finding of penicillin-resistant organisms reinforces recent recommendations that advanced-generation cephalosporin must be used as initial therapy.

[Osteo-articular tuberculosis and postpartum: a casual association?]. / Tuberculose ostéo-articulaire et post-partum: une association fortuite ?

INTRODUCTION: Most cases of active tuberculosis in France are due to a recurrence of latent tuberculosis. It seems that immunorestitution during the postpartum can contribute to the return of latent tuberculosis. EXEGESIS: We report three observations of Mycobacterium tuberculosis osteo-articular infections (two Pott's diseases and one sterno-clavicular arthritis) occurring during the postpartum of women non infected by HIV. Two patients need a surgical treatment. The response to standard tuberculous treatment was favourable and all patients were cured. CONCLUSION: One must consider osteo-articular tuberculosis when a patient is suffering from osseous pains not proving reliable during the postpartum. We must remind ourselves of the relationships between tuberculosis and postpartum as well as the necessity to the threat both mother and child. Additional epidemiological studies should be realised. It appears necessary to increase in France measures for tracking tuberculosis in particularly about the latent forms.

6p abnormalities and TNF-alpha over-expression in retinoblastoma cell line.

Retinoblastoma is the most common primary intra-ocular tumor in childhood. It has been established that recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities are the hallmark of mostly all malignant tumors. Recurrent atypical cytogenetic abnormalities of the short arm of chromosome 6 were reported in several cases of retinoblastoma, mainly in association with reciprocal translocations. In the present study, alterations of chromosome 6 associated with retinoblastoma were studies in the Y-79 and the WERI-Rb-1 cell lines established from highly malignant retinoblastomas. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique was used to identify the chromosomal breakpoint on 6p in this cell line. To perform this detection, yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) clones from p21 to p22 bands were used and the breakpoint was localized on 6p21.3. Previous studies had suggested that activation of some genes on 6p could be dependent on a translocation mechanism. Expression of a candidate gene localized near the chromosomal breakpoint was measured by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry techniques. An enhancement of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) protein expression in Y79 cells was detected by this approach. The relationship between TNF-alpha over-expression and the malignancy of retinoblastoma is discussed.

[Autoimmune pathology and esthetic surgery. Apropos of a case]. / Pathologie auto-immune et chirurgie esthétique. A propos d'un cas.

The authors report the case of a 46-year old woman who, 7 years after bilateral implantation of a silicone breast prosthesis, presented with a seropositive rheumatoid arthritis involving the shoulders, wrists, metacarpophalangeal and interphalangeal joints of both hands, as well as the knees and ankles. Six months after the onset of the arthritis, she developed a Raynaud's syndrome and a lacrymal and salivary dry syndrome with unilateral axillary lymphadenopathy. No regression followed the removal of the breast prostheses, one of which was found broken.

[Diagnosis and therapeutic usefulness of ultrasonography in unusual gout]. / Intérêt de l'échographie ostéo-articulaire dans le diagnostic et le traitement des arthropathies goutteuses atypiques.

We report a 72-year-old patient who presented with a third metacarpo-phalangeal arthritis of unknown origin. Ultrasonography proved to be useful to the diagnosis of gout and to initiate therapy with allopurinol in the presence of erosions. This observation adds evidence to recent reports that using a specific semiology, ultrasonography could be useful to distinguish gout from pseudo-gout.

Correlation between resistance to actinomycin D, karyology, agglutination by concanavalin A and tumorigenicity in Chinese hamster hybrid cells.

Subclones isolated from a Chinese hamster hybrid line, derived from fusion of an actinomycin D-resistant and an actinomycin D-sensitive strain, were studied with respect to their resistance to actinomycin D, karyology, transplantability and agglutination by concanavalin A. Statistical analysis of the results allowed the establishment of a classification of the strains based on increasing resistance to actinomycin D. There appeared to be an inverse correlation between actinomycin D-resistance and tumorigenicity and a positive correlation between this resistance and the presence of a marker chromosome.

Study of the occurrence of interchromosomal effect in spermatozoa of chromosomal rearrangement carriers by fluorescence in-situ hybridization and primed in-situ labelling techniques.

The possibility that a chromosomal rearrangement might disturb the meiotic behaviour of chromosomes not involved in the rearrangement and favour non-disjunction is a controversial issue in human cytogenetics. Using two-colour fluorescence in-situ hybridization and primed in-situ labelling techniques, we have investigated the segregation pattern of 10 chromosomes (chromosomes 1, 4, 9, 13, 15, 16, 20, 21, X and Y) in spermatozoa from nine carriers of balanced structural rearrangements and three normal men. The patients were divided into two groups according to their semen parameters. In rearrangement carriers and normal subjects, sex chromosomes and chromosome 21 displayed a higher rate of disomy than the other chromosomes. No evidence for the occurrence of interchromosomal effect was found in the spermatozoa of fertile rearrangement carriers, but significant variations were observed for all chromosomes tested in the group of infertile translocation carriers, suggesting a direct correlation between poor quality spermatozoa and increased aneuploidy rate in this group. In fertile carriers of chromosomal rearrangements, the occurrence of non-disjunction of chromosomes not involved in the rearrangement might therefore be considered as fortuitous, whereas in infertile carriers, the risk for interchromosomal effect appears to be real and should be taken into consideration in the genetic counselling of infertile couples with a male partner carrying a chromosomal rearrangement.

[Articular manifestations of Behçet's disease. Apropos of 65 cases]. / Manifestations articulaires de la maladie de Behçet. A propos de 65 observations.

The authors, in a series of 65 cases of Behçet's disease, notice 53% of rheumatological manifestations which are third in line after aphthosis and ocular disease. In order of decreasing frequency, it concerns arthritis (mono, oligo or poly-arthritis), arthralgias with an almost identical frequency, sacroiliitis, extraarticular involvement. These rheumatological manifestations are readily associated with necrotic pseudo-folliculitis and cutaneous aphthosis.