Monitoring of sterigmatocystin biosynthesis using RT-qPCR in airborne Aspergillus species of the series Versicolores.

Aspergilli series Versicolores have been shown to be explanatory variables for different symptoms like coughing and dizziness experienced by residents of mold-damaged homes. Among these species, eight are particularly recurrent in bioaerosols: Aspergillus amoenus, A. creber, A. fructus, A. jensenii, A. protuberus, A. puulaauensis, A. sydowii and A. tabacinus. In order to monitor the biosynthesis of sterigmatocystin (a mycotoxin associated with a risk of cancer development) and the development of these molds, we developed an RT-qPCR tool by targeting the aflR and rho1 genes. A total of 30 fungal isolates representing these eight species were included. For each of them, sterigmatocystin was quantified by UPLC-HRMS and (1 â†’ 3)-ß-D-glucan by visible spectrophotometry using Endosafe®-PTS™-Glucan Cartridges. After validation of our method by RT-qPCR, the direct assay was compared to the amount of aflR and rho1 cDNA. The sterigmatocystin and aflR assays showed a significant correlation between these two approaches (p < 0.0001), demonstrated for the first time the production of sterigmatocystin by A. tabacinus and suggested the ability of A. sydowii to synthesize sterigmatocystin. Assays conducted on (1 â†’ 3)-ß-D-glucan and rho1 did not show a correlation, supporting the multiplicity of functions performed in fungal cells by the RHO1 GTPase. The proposed tool could allow monitoring of sterigmatocystin biosynthesis by Aspergillus of the series Versicolores under different culture and climatic conditions.

A novel qPCR based-method for detection and quantification of three recurrent species of Penicillium isolated from bioaerosols in mold-damaged homes.

Fungal contamination of indoor environments can cause respiratory diseases and induce damages to building materials. Among the fungal species found in mold-damaged homes, Penicillium brevicompactum, P. chrysogenum and P. crustosum can be considered as recurrent strains. In this study, we therefore propose a rapid and novel qPCR-based method in order to allow the monitoring of these three fungal species. The method developed allows the quantification of the target DNA of these three Penicillium species with a limit of quantification of 0.01 ng/µL without significant difference with spectrophotometry quantification assay for DNA concentrations between 5 and 100 ng/µL. This technique also enables the rapid detection of these three species in complex mixtures of DNA extracted from 15 bioaerosols collected in mold-damaged homes and previously cultured on agar plate. This new sensitive and specific qPCR technique can thus be easily integrated into bioaerosol studies.

Investigation of Serratia marcescens surgical site infection outbreak associated with peroperative ultrasonography probe.

Early postoperative infections due to Serratia marcescens have been reported by both clinicians and microbiologists in our teaching hospital. Here, we present an interlinked clinical, epidemiological, environmental and genomic investigation of this outbreak due to a T-shaped intraoperative probe contaminated by S. marcescens used during peroperative ultrasonography in laparoscopic liver resection.

Type IV hyperlipoproteinemia in patients with algodystrophy.

The present work studies lipid metabolism in patients with algodystrophy (AD). A correct positive correlation (r = 0.75) between the triglyceride levels and low density lipoprotein (LDL)/very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) ratio and the VLDL increase observed by gel disk electrophoresis confirm that a type IV hyperlipoproteinemia is associated with AD. In contrast, the degree of high density lipoprotein (HDL) saturation in cholesterol (HDL-cholesterol/HDL-phospholipids) and the classical atherogenous index (cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol) were not modified. The decrease of plasma post-heparin lipolytic activities (PHLA) was not significant but further studies should be performed to correlate PHLA with a reduced activity of the adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase.

Adjuvant arthritis in rat during pregnancy and lactation.

We have studied, in the female rat, the influence of pregnancy, lactation and pseudo-pregnancy on adjuvant arthritis. Pregnancy has a suppressive effect on the arthritis all the more marked as arthritis onset occurs during the third part of pregnancy. Pseudo-pregnancy with or without decidualization of the uterus does not modify the arthritis course; thus the corpus luteum and the decidual tissue cannot account for the observed improvement. Lactation has a beneficial effect that lasts until weaning. Amount of estradiol which insured approximate serum level of pregnant rats improves the polyarthritis. In the same conditions, progesterone remains inactive. Suppression by estradiol is observed in ovariectomized and intact females. Thus, in the female rat, pregnancy, lactation and physiological doses of estradiol improve adjuvant arthritis.

Element variations in pregnant and nonpregnant female rats orally intoxicated by aluminum lactate.

Pregnant or nonpregnant female rats were orally intoxicated by aluminum lactate (400 mg Al/kg/d) from d 0-19 of gestation to determine the treatment's influence on element variations in the females and their fetuses. The aluminum levels of plasma, liver, spleen, and kidneys were significantly higher in treated pregnant rats than non-pregnant female rats. Differences of P, Ca, Cu, Zn, or Mg levels were observed among the four groups of female rats in the tissues and plasma. The aluminum content of the 20-d-old fetuses did not significantly differ between the treated and control groups. On the contrary, calcium and magnesium levels in the whole fetuses from treated or nontreated dams are significantly different.

[Treatment of systemic scleroderma with factor XIII in 86 patients, with long-term follow-up]. / Traitement de la sclérodermie systémique par le facteur XIII chez 86 malades suivis à long terme.

Eighty-six patients with progressive systemic sclerosis were given coagulation factor XIII intravenously in different dosage regimens. The mean duration of treatment was 19 +/- 18 months and patients were followed up for 22.9 +/- 18.8 months. Improvement or stabilization of the lesions was obtained in 44/86 patients and exclusively concerned skin lesions; there was no improvement in visceral lesions. The drug was well tolerated in short-and long-term treatment. It is concluded that factor XIII demonstrated lasting effectiveness in one-half of the patients treated.

[Acadione, a new long-term treatment of rheumatoid polyarthritis]. / L'acadione, un nouveau traitement de fond de la polyarthrite rhumatoïde.

This article summarizes the authors' experience and data from the literature regarding acadione, a medication like D-penicillamine with a thiol radical, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Two control studies versus placebo and two control trial versus D-penicillamine prove the effectiveness of the treatment and demonstrate a similar activity between 1 g of acadione and 600 mg of D-penicillamine. The side-effects of acadione are similar of those of D-penicillamine, essentially rash, toxic dermatitis, agueusia, proteinuria, which disappear upon discontinuation of the treatment. The fact that the patient exhibited a side effect with D-penicillamine, increases, the risk with acadione, but this is not systematic, which is the main advantage of this product.

[Tiopronine and rheumatoid polyarthritis]. / Tiopronine et polyarthrite rhumatoïde.

This article summarises the authors' experience and the data of the literature concerning Tiopronine, a drug with a thiol function like D-penicillamine, in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Two controlled trials versus placebo and two controlled trials versus D-penicillamine demonstrated the effectiveness of treatment and the identical action of 1 g of Tiopronine and 600 mg of D-penicillamine. The side effects of Tiopronine are very similar to those of D-penicillamine: essentially rash, toxiderma, aguestia, proteinuria, which resolve when treatment is stopped. Patients with a past history of side effects with D-penicillamine have an increased risk of developing side effects with Tiopronine, but this risk is not systematic, which constitutes the principal value of this drug.

[Immunomodulating action of 2-methoxyethanol and homologous derivatives in rats]. / Action immunomodulatrice du méthoxy-2 éthanol et de dérivés homologues chez le rat.

The authors have measured the effects of methoxy-2 ethanol and derivatives or analogs on adjuvant arthritis in Rat, and the activity of methoxy-2 ethanol on humoral responsiveness to antigenic stimuli in Rat. Only methoxy-2 ethanol,1,2-dimethoxyethane and 1-methoxy 2 ethoxy ethane out of 13 tested derivatives, have an inhibitory activity on adjuvant arthritis. Methoxy-2 ethanol induces a significant depression of antibody production after immune stimuli and a significant effect on rejection of the skin graft. Although these results are of interest, toxicity of methoxy-2 ethanol will be a limiting factor for therapeutic use.