Correlates and moderators of physical activity in parent-tween dyads: a socio-ecological perspective.

OBJECTIVES: The identification of correlates and moderators of physical activity (PA) among parents and their children can support the development of more effective interventions. The aims of this study were to identify individual- and family-level predictors of PA among parent-tween dyads and to examine the moderating role of socio-economic status (SES) on these associations. STUDY DESIGN: As part of a larger investigation, a cross-sectional telephone survey was conducted in 2012 among 1000 parent-child dyads. METHODS: Children were aged between nine and 13 years (tweens). Frequency of participation in PA was self-reported by means of questionnaires. Multilevel modelling was used. Individual predictors included body mass index and sedentary lifestyles whereas family-level predictors included parents' cognitions, family co-participation in PA, and socio-economic characteristics. RESULTS: Significant between-dyad variability in PA was observed among parent-daughter dyads (n = 470, ICC = 0.17, P < 0.001) but not parent-son dyads (n = 520, ICC = 0.01, P = 0.37). Sedentary activity (ps < 0.001) and co-participation in PA (ps < 0.001) were associated with greater PA. Positive parental perceptions of facilitating factors and greater self-efficacy were associated with PA among parent-daughter dyads (ps < 0.04) while parents' outcomes expectancies were associated with PA among parent-son dyads (P = 0.04). The relationship between facilitating factors and PA was moderated by SES (education) among parent-daughter dyads (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Promoting co-participation in PA and less sedentary activities appear as useful targets for increasing PA among parents and tweens. Additional strategies might be considered according to the sex of the children and family SES. Future research addressing socio-economic inequalities in the correlates of PA among families with tween girls is required.

Quantitative effects of cell internalization of two types of ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles at 4.7 T and 7 T.

PURPOSE: MRI coupled with the intravenous injection of ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of iron oxides (USPIOs) is a promising tool for the study of neuroinflammation. Quantification of the approximate number of magnetically labelled macrophages may provide an effective and efficient method for monitoring inflammatory cells. The purpose of the present study was to characterise the relaxation properties of macrophages labelled with two types of USPIOs, at 4.7 T and 7 T. METHODS: USPIO-labelled bone-marrow-derived macrophage phantoms were compared with phantoms of free dispersed USPIOs with the same global iron concentration, using multi-parametric (T1, T2 and T2) quantitative MRI. The same protocol was then evaluated in living mice after intracerebral injection of iron-labelled macrophages vs free iron oxide. RESULTS: A linear relationship was observed among R1, R2 and R2 values and iron concentration in vitro at 4.7 T and at 7 T. At a given field, T1 and T2 relaxivities of both types of USPIOs decreased following internalisation into macrophages, while T2 relaxivities increased. CONCLUSION: There was fair overall agreement between the theoretical number of injected cells and the number estimated from T2 quantification and in vitro calibration curves, supporting the validity of the present in vitro calibration curves for in vivo investigation.

A simple method of surface functionalisation for immuno-specific immobilisation of proteins.

We present a new and advanced methodology, developed for surface functionalisation of gold and to study immobilisation of an immuno-specific system of proteins. A combination of electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance and Raman spectroscopy techniques allowed a complete understanding of the system starting from surface functionalisation and progressing to the functional structure analysis of immobilised proteins. A simple electrochemical procedure was formulated to prepare sulphonyl chloride terminated gold surfaces that form a strong sulphonamide bond with the receptor protein staphylococcal protein A (SpA). On the SpA grafted surfaces, the immobilisation of a human IgG and consecutive binding of an immuno-specific anti-human IgG was observed. The surface functional groups form a strong interaction with SpA without disturbing its functional properties. The native functional structure of SpA and also the IgGs was found to be retained in their immobilised state.

Insulin-pump use in everyday practice: data from an exhaustive regional registry in France.

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) under real-life conditions among all patients treated with CSII in the south of Paris. METHODS: The 42 diabetologists practising in the region enrolled all patients treated with CSII or admitted for CSII initiation. During the study visit, the data for pump use and clinical results were recorded. RESULTS: Data were obtained for 424 patients, mean age 44.2+/-15.6 years, disease duration 18.7+/-10.6 years, including 339 treated with CSII for longer than three months (mean duration: 3.5+/-3.5 years; range: 3-258 months). Most of the patients (N=285, 84.8%) had type 1 diabetes; 44 (13.1%) had type 2 diabetes. In patients treated for more than three months, HbA1c decreased significantly between CSII initiation (9.1+/-1.9%) and the study visit (7.8+/-1.4%; P<0.0001). Patients with HbA1c >9%, using the pump, experienced a significant 0.9% improvement in their HbA1c levels with CSII versus multiple daily injections (P=0.001). The number of episodes of moderate hypoglycaemia was 2.7+/-2.5 per patient per week; of severe hypoglycaemia, 0.34 per patient per year and of ketoacidosis, 0.11 per patient per year. Factors significantly associated with HbA1c levels included amount of physical activity, pregnancy, HbA1c at CSII initiation and number of glucose self-determinations. Those associated with the number of moderate hypoglycaemia episodes were basal rate number, female gender and HbA1c level. HbA1c was negatively correlated with moderate hypoglycaemia (P<0.001), but not with severe hypoglycaemia. CONCLUSION: This 'pump' registry establishes the effectiveness of CSII in everyday practice, yet underscores the risks of severe hypoglycaemia and ketosis episodes. It could help diabetologists to improve patient training programmes and follow-up.

Role of sialendoscopy in juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP).

Juvenile recurrent parotitis (JRP) is a rare disease of childhood occurring between the ages of 3 and 5 years, characterized by recurrent non-suppurative parotitis, spontaneously evolving towards parotid gland dysfunction. Clinically, JRP presents in the form of unilateral or bilateral, usually asynchronous, swelling of the parotid gland. The diagnosis is based on ultrasound characteristics. Widespread use of sialendoscopy has opened up new prospects for the management of this disease. This review of the literature evaluates the role of sialendoscopy in the management of JRP. A Medline search retrieved 68 articles, 18 of which concerned JRP. Standard treatment consists of antibiotics for at least 10 days at the acute phase of the disease. All studies demonstrated the diagnostic value of sialendoscopy by visualizing strictures, hypovascularization and whitish intraductal debris. Sialendoscopy is also useful for treatment, by allowing intraductal lavage and, when possible, dilatation of strictures. Lavage is performed with saline solution, hydrocortisone, antibiotics or a combination of these solutions, with no significant differences in terms of efficacy. The mode of administration with or without sialendoscopy also appears to provide similar results. Sialendoscopy appears to be a diagnostic and therapeutic option, although it has not been shown to be more effective than simple lavage. All lavage solutions appear to be effective.

A novel conductometric biosensor based on hexokinase for determination of adenosine triphosphate.

The paper presents a simple and inexpensive reusable biosensor for determination of the concentration of adenosine-5'-triphosphate (ATP) in aqueous samples. The biosensor is based on a conductometric transducer which contains two pairs of gold interdigitated electrodes. An enzyme hexokinase was immobilized onto one pair of electrodes, and bovine serum albumin-onto another pair (thus, a differential mode of measurement was used). Conditions of hexokinase immobilization on the transducer by cross-linking via glutaraldehyde were optimized. Influence of experimental conditions (concentration of magnesium ions, ionic strength and concentration of the working buffer) on the biosensor work was studied. The reproducibility of biosensor responses and operational stability of the biosensor were checked during one week. Dry storage at -18 °C was shown to be the best conditions to store the biosensor. The biosensor was successfully applied for measurements of ATP concentration in pharmaceutical samples. The proposed biosensor may be used in future for determination of ATP and/or glucose in water samples.

Clonally expanded T-cell populations in atomic bomb survivors do not show excess levels of chromosome instability.

Radiation-induced genomic instability has been studied primarily in cultured cells, while in vivo studies have been limited. One major obstacle for in vivo studies is the lack of reliable biomarkers that are capable of distinguishing genetic alterations induced by delayed radiation effects from those that are induced immediately after a radiation exposure. Here we describe a method to estimate cytogenetic instability in vivo using chromosomally marked clonal T-cell populations in atomic bomb survivors. The basic idea is that clonal translocations are derived from single progenitor cells that acquired an aberration, most likely after a radiation exposure, and then multiplied extensively in vivo, resulting in a large number of progeny cells that eventually comprise several percent of the total lymphocyte population. Therefore, if chromosome instability began to operate soon after a radiation exposure, an elevated frequency of additional but solitary chromosome aberrations in clonal cell populations would be expected. In the present study, six additional translocations were found among 936 clonal cells examined with the G-band method (0.6%); the corresponding value with multicolor FISH analysis was 1.2% (4/333). Since these frequencies were no higher than 1.2% (219/17,878 cells), the mean translocation frequency observed in control subjects using the G-band method, it is concluded that chromosome instabilities that could give rise to an increased frequency of persisting, exchange-type aberrations were not commonly generated by radiation exposure.

Determination of total creatine kinase activity in blood serum using an amperometric biosensor based on glucose oxidase and hexokinase.

Creatine kinase (CK: adenosine-5-triphosphate-creatine phosphotransferase) is an important enzyme of muscle cells; the presence of a large amount of the enzyme in blood serum is a biomarker of muscular injuries, such as acute myocardial infarction. This work describes a bi-enzyme (glucose oxidase and hexokinase based) biosensor for rapid and convenient determination of CK activity by measuring the rate of ATP production by this enzyme. Simultaneously the biosensor determines glucose concentration in the sample. Platinum disk electrodes were used as amperometric transducers. Glucose oxidase and hexokinase were co-immobilized via cross-linking with BSA by glutaraldehyde and served as a biorecognition element of the biosensor. The biosensor work at different concentrations of CK substrates (ADP and creatine phosphate) was investigated; optimal concentration of ADP was 1mM, and creatine phosphate - 10 mM. The reproducibility of the biosensor responses to glucose, ATP and CK during a day was tested (relative standard deviation of 15 responses to glucose was 2%, to ATP - 6%, to CK - 7-18% depending on concentration of the CK). Total time of CK analysis was 10 min. The measurements of creatine kinase in blood serum samples were carried out (at 20-fold sample dilution). Twentyfold dilution of serum samples was chosen as optimal for CK determination. The biosensor could distinguish healthy and ill people and evaluate the level of CK increase. Thus, the biosensor can be used as a test-system for CK analysis in blood serum or serve as a component of multibiosensors for determination of important blood substances. Determination of activity of other kinases by the developed biosensor is also possible for research purposes.

Development of novel enzyme potentiometric biosensor based on pH-sensitive field-effect transistors for aflatoxin B1 analysis in real samples.

This study aimed at the development and optimization of a potentiometric biosensor based on pH-sensitive field-effect transistors and acetylcholinesterase for aflatoxin B1 determination in real samples. Optimal conditions for bioselective elements operation were defined and analytical characteristics of the proposed biosensor were studied. The proposed biosensor characterized high operational stability and reproducibility of signal. Selectivity of acetylcholinesterase-biosensor to aflatoxins in relation to other groups of toxic substances was analyzed. The developed biosensor was applied to the determination of aflatoxin B1 in real samples (sesame, walnut and pea).

Arsenic speciation in marine organisms: from the analytical methodology to the constitution of reference materials.

An analytical procedure for total arsenic and arsenic species quantification in marine organisms has been developed. Fresh materials are freeze-dried and reduced to powders before analysis. Arsenic is determined either by energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) directly or by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP/OES) after microwave digestion. Arsenic speciation is performed on the extracted sample using liquid chromatography coupled to ICP/OES for arsenobetaine and arsenocholine determination and to the hydride generation-quartz furnace atomic absorption spectrometric technique for arsenite, arsenate, monomethylarsonic and dimethylarsinic acids quantification. Special precautions are taken to avoid losses or contaminations as well as to prevent analytical errors during the quantification stage. Other methods are applied and the corresponding results compared for each step of the procedure. The method is finally validated by means of intercomparison studies within the Measurements and Testing Programme of the European Community (formely BCR).

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as a source of dissolved oxygen in COD-degradation respirometric experiments.

Two different re-oxygenation techniques (aeration and hydrogen peroxide addition) were compared in respirometric experiments. As similar results were obtained in both cases, it was concluded that the addition of hydrogen peroxide does not modify the oxygen uptake rate of the biomass, under either endogenous or feeding conditions. It was hypothesized that under those experimental conditions (inhibition of nitrification with ATU), hydrogen peroxide alters neither the biomass metabolism nor the biodegradability of the tested substrates. The oxygen uptake rates obtained with the aeration system were often more scattered due to the adhesion of fine bubbles after the switch off of the aeration. Moreover, the transfer rate of oxygen to the solution is faster in the case of hydrogen peroxide addition.

Lifetime risk of lung cancer due to radon exposure projected to Japanese and Swedish populations.

Lifetime risk projections depend greatly on both background lung cancer rates and the selection of the risk model. Since background lung cancer rates differ from subject populations and the time, etiological risk of lifetime lung cancer mortality per unit radon exposure in WLM should be estimated for each subject population and the time of interest. To answer quantitatively how much are the differences among the projected risks for different populations, the Swedish case-control-study-based risk projection model was applied to the Japanese and Swedish populations from 1962 to 1997 as subject populations because of their distinct trends of lung cancer rates. To compare the results with the reference population and authorized risk projection models, U.S. population 1997 and the two risk projection models in BEIR VI report were applied, respectively. Lifetime risk of lung cancer mortality projected for Japanese, Swedish, and U.S. populations in 1997 per radon progeny exposure were estimated to range from 1.50 (0.40-3.19) x 10(-4) WLM(-1) to 9.86 (2.62-20.9) x 10(-4) WLM(-1), which could be compared to the detriment associated with a unit effective dose. Conclusive dose conversion coefficients in this study ranged from 2.05 (0.55-4.37) to 13.5 (3.59-28.6) mSv WLM(-1), and within this range the discrepancy between dosimetric and epidemiological approaches was included.

Residential radon and lung cancer in Sweden: risk analysis accounting for random error in the exposure assessment.

A large epidemiologic study on residential radon exposure and lung cancer has been conducted in Sweden. An attempt is now made to quantify the impact of random error in the exposure assessment on the risk estimate for lung cancer in this study. The study included 1,360 lung cancer cases, diagnosed from 1980 to 1984, and 2,847 population controls. Radon measurements were performed in 8,992 dwellings occupied by the study subjects some time since 1947. Questionnaires provided information on smoking and other risk factors. Imprecision in the retrospective exposure assessment for radon was estimated from a Monte Carlo technique modeling Swedish conditions. Adjusted risk estimates were obtained from regression analyses based on expected values for true time-weighted average residential radon concentration (TWA), conditional on observed TWA. Without adjustment for random error in the TWA estimates, the linear excess relative risk coefficient was 0.10 per 100 Bq m(-3), but an excess relative risk of about 0.15 to 0.20 per 100 Bq m(-3) was suggested following adjustment. The potentially significant consequences of errors in the retrospective radon exposure assessment should be taken into consideration in the risk estimation as well as in comparisons of results of different studies and in future pooled analyses.

Methodology issues in epidemiological assessment of health effects of low-dose ionising radiation.

Epidemiological assessment of the health effects of exposure to low-dose ionising radiation is limited by the need for very large sample sizes and by various sources of bias that may generally affect epidemiological studies. Motivated by the present focus on low-dose effects, the following questions are examined: what are the strictly unavoidable limiting factors in the epidemiological methodology; what is its resolution limit in terms of effect size and what can be done to obtain further supportive evidence from the data?

[Mitomycin C: prevention and treatment of anterior glottic synechia]. / Mitomycine C: prévention et traitement des synéchies glottiques antérieures.

OBJECTIVES: Topical applications of mitomycin C to the anterior glottis may prevent anterior glottic synechia (prevention group) or restenosis (treatment group). METHODS: In the prevention group, six patients with glottic carcinoma involving the anterior commissure were treated by transoral laser surgery. Repeated procedures were performed in one patient. For the six patients in the treatment group, the anterior glottic synechia was secondary to frontolateral laryngectomy (three patients), transoral laser therapy for laryngeal papillomatosis (two patients) or bilateral glottic carcinoma (one patient). Mitomycin C (0.4 mg/ml) was used as a topical application on the anterior commissure for a duration of 4 minutes. Outcome was assessed clinically at three months using a visual scale: no synechia (success), micro-synechia (partial failure), and synechia (failure). RESULTS: In the prevention group, there were six successes and one partial failure. In the treatment group, there were two successes, three partial failures, and one failure. No side effects were noted. CONCLUSION: Topical application of mitomycin C was effective to prevent anterior glottic synechia after transoral laser surgery for glottic carcinoma involving the anterior commissure. It is an alternative to endolaryngeal keel in patients with sequellar synechia. These preliminary results should be further evaluated in a larger series.

[Valorisation of brachytherapy and medico-economic considerations]. / Curiethérapie : valorisation et aspects médico-économiques.

Economic data in the literature for brachytherapy are still sparse and heterogeneous, with few controlled prospective studies and a perspective most often limited to those of the provider (health insurances). Moreover, these observation and conclusions are difficult to generalize in France. The prospective health economic studies performed in France in the framework of a national program to sustain innovative and costly therapies (STIC program) launched by the French cancer national institute are therefore of most importance. With the exception of prostate brachytherapy with permanent seeds, the valorisation of the brachytherapy activity by the French national health insurance does not take into account the degree of complexity and the real costs supported by health institutions (i.e. no specific valorisation for 3D image-based treatment planning and dose optimization and for the use of pulsed dose rate brachytherapy).

Initial staging of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, larynx and pharynx (excluding nasopharynx). Part 2: Remote extension assessment and exploration for secondary synchronous locations outside of the upper aerodigestive tract. 2012 SFORL guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: This report presents the French Society of ORL (SFORL) guidelines for exploration for remote metastasis and synchronous second cancer in initial staging of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An exhaustive literature review was analyzed by a multidisciplinary work-group. RESULTS: The thorax is the most frequent location of remote metastases and synchronous second cancer outside of the upper aerodigestive tract. Thoracic CT is recommended as first-line examination in all cases (grade B). 18-FDG PET/CT is recommended when the thoracic CT image is doubtful or in case of high metastatic risk (grade B), for the detection of non-pulmonary remote metastasis. Esophageal exploration is recommended in case of significant risk of synchronous esophageal cancer (hypopharyngeal or oropharyngeal tumor, chronic alcohol intoxication) (grade B). The reference examination is flexible endoscopy of the upper digestive tract (grade B). CONCLUSION: The present grade B recommendations rationalize the roles of the various first-line radiological and endoscopic examinations for remote metastasis and synchronous second cancer, so as to limit the number of examinations performed, thereby reducing the time needed for initial staging.

Initial staging of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, larynx and pharynx (excluding nasopharynx). Part I: Locoregional extension assessment: 2012 SFORL guidelines.

OBJECTIVES: To set out good practice guidelines for locoregional extension assessment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (excluding nasopharynx, nasal cavities and sinuses). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A critical multidisciplinary review of the literature on locoregional extension assessment of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck was conducted, applying levels of evidence in line with the French health authority's (HAS) literature analysis guide of January 2000. CONCLUSION: Based on the levels of evidence of the selected articles and on work-group consensus, graded guidelines are set out for clinical, endoscopic and imaging locoregional extension assessment of head and neck cancer.

Polythiophene synthesis coupled to quartz crystal microbalance and Raman spectroscopy for detecting bacteria.

A simple electrochemical procedure was used for the synthesis of a polythiophene containing para-benzenesulfonyl chloride groups. The obtained polymer was shown to be very reactive and directly able to covalently bind nucleophile biomolecules. Protein A and a specific antibody were then successively immobilized on the conductive polymer through a covalent bonding of Protein A with the as-prepared linker for bacteria trapping purpose. All reactions were controlled in situ by cyclic voltammetry, quartz crystal microbalance and Raman spectroscopy. The results were compared to those previously obtained on gold surface modified with the same chemical linker. The conductive polymer led to a very high rate of antibody recognition compared to the gold surface and to literature, probably due to a large available surface obtained after polymerization. One example of pathogenic bacteria "Salmonella enterica paratyphi" detection was successfully tested on the substrates. The presented results are promising for the future design of simple and inexpensive immunocapture-based sensors.