Allergic manifestation 15 years after early intervention with hydrolyzed formulas--the GINI Study.

BACKGROUND: Data on the long-term impact of hydrolyzed formulas on allergies are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between early intervention with hydrolyzed formulas in high-risk children and allergic outcomes in adolescence. METHODS: GINI trial participants (n = 2252) received one of four formulas in the first four months of life as breastmilk substitute if necessary: partial or extensive whey hydrolyzate (pHF-W, eHF-W), extensive casein hydrolyzate (eHF-C) or standard cow's milk formula (CMF) as reference. Associations between these formulas and the cumulative incidence and prevalence of parent-reported physician-diagnosed asthma, allergic rhinitis (AR) and eczema, as well as spirometric indices and sensitization, were examined using generalized linear models. RESULTS: Between 11 and 15 years, the prevalence of asthma was reduced in the eHF-C group compared to CMF (odds ratio (OR) 0.49, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.26-0.89), which is consistent with the spirometric results. The cumulative incidence of AR was lower in eHF-C (risk ratio (RR) 0.77, 95% CI 0.59-0.99]) and the AR prevalence in pHF-W (OR 0.67, 95% CI 0.47-0.95) and eHF-C (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.41-0.84). The cumulative incidence of eczema was reduced in pHF-W (RR 0.75, 95% CI 0.59-0.96) and eHF-C (RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.46-0.77), as was the eczema prevalence between 11 and 15 years in eHF-C (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.23-0.79). No significant effects were found in the eHF-W group on any manifestation,nor was there an effect on sensitization with any formula. CONCLUSION: In high-risk children, early intervention using different hydrolyzed formulas has variable preventative effects on asthma, allergic rhinitis and eczema up to adolescence.

Tropomodulin is associated with the free (pointed) ends of the thin filaments in rat skeletal muscle.

The length and spatial organization of thin filaments in skeletal muscle sarcomeres are precisely maintained and are essential for efficient muscle contraction. While the major structural components of skeletal muscle sarcomeres have been well characterized, the mechanisms that regulate thin filament length and spatial organization are not well understood. Tropomodulin is a new, 40.6-kD tropomyosin-binding protein from the human erythrocyte membrane skeleton that binds to one end of erythrocyte tropomyosin and blocks head-to-tail association of tropomyosin molecules along actin filaments. Here we show that rat psoas skeletal muscle contains tropomodulin based on immunoreactivity, identical apparent mobility on SDS gels, and ability to bind muscle tropomyosin. Results from immunofluorescence labeling of isolated myofibrils at resting and stretched lengths using anti-erythrocyte tropomodulin antibodies indicate that tropomodulin is localized at or near the free (pointed) ends of the thin filaments; this localization is not dependent on the presence of myosin thick filaments. Immunoblotting of supernatants and pellets obtained after extraction of myosin from myofibrils also indicates that tropomodulin remains associated with the thin filaments. 1.2-1.6 copies of muscle tropomodulin are present per thin filament in myofibrils, supporting the possibility that one or two tropomodulin molecules may be associated with the two terminal tropomyosin molecules at the pointed end of each thin filament. Although a number of proteins are associated with the barbed ends of the thin filaments at the Z disc, tropomodulin is the first protein to be specifically located at or near the pointed ends of the thin filaments. We propose that tropomodulin may cap the tropomyosin polymers at the pointed end of the thin filament and play a role in regulating thin filament length.

Induction of hyaluronic acid synthase 2 (HAS2) in human vascular smooth muscle cells by vasodilatory prostaglandins.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a prominent constituent of the extracellular matrix of atherosclerotic vascular lesions in humans known to modulate vascular smooth muscle phenotype. The regulation of HA synthesis by vasodilatory prostaglandins was analyzed in human arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs). The prostacyclin analogue, iloprost (100 nmol/L), markedly increased pericellular formation of HA coats and HA secretion into the cell culture medium in human arterial SMCs (8.7+/-1.6-fold). Expression of HA synthase 2 (HAS2) was determined by semiquantitative RT-PCR and found to be strongly upregulated at concentrations of iloprost between 1 and 100 nmol/L after 3 hours. Furthermore, endogenous cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) activity was required for basal expression of HAS2 mRNA in SMCs in vitro. Total HA secretion in response to iloprost was markedly decreased by RNA interference (RNAi), specific for HAS2. In addition, siRNA targeting HAS2 strongly increased the spreading of human SMCs compared with mock-transfected cells. HAS2 mRNA levels were also stimulated by a selective prostacyclin receptor (IP) agonist, cicaprost (10 nmol/L), prostaglandin E(2) (10 nmol/L), and the EP(2) receptor agonist, butaprost (1 micromol/L). Induction of HAS2 mRNA and HA synthesis by prostaglandins was mimicked by stable cAMP analogues and forskolin. In human atherectomy specimens from the internal carotid artery, HA deposits and COX2 expression colocalized frequently. In addition, strong EP(2) receptor expression was detected in SMCs in HA-rich areas. Therefore, upregulation of HAS2 expression via EP(2) and IP receptors might contribute to the accumulation of HA during human atherosclerosis, thereby mediating proatherosclerotic functions of COX2.

[Diagnosis of a trisomy 21 in the first pregnancy trimester. Value of trophoblast sampling]. / Diagnostic d'une trisomie 21 au premier trimestre de la grossesse. Intérêt des prélèvements trophoblastiques.

The authors report a diagnosis of trisomy 21 in the 11th week following the last menstrual period in a patient of 40 years of age. This was made by chorion villi aspiration and direct cytogenetic examination.

[The value of current echographic parameters in fetal biometry]. / Valeur des nouveaux paramètres échographiques de biométrie foetale.

A review of current literature concerning developments of new parameters in fetal biometry is presented. To be sure, these parameters are very useful for detection of fetal malformations but outside of femoral length they do not contribute more valuable information than the already accepted parameters for determination of gestational age or detection of disorders of fetal growth.

[Epidemiologic factors in ovarian cancer]. / Facteurs épidémiologiques des cancers de l'ovaire.

Ovarian carcinoma is the most severe gynecological cancer with an overall incidence of 12 per 1000 Americans or Europeans developing it over 40 years of age. Only 3 of the 12 cases will receive efficient care because the diagnosis will be made too late. This study reveals the principal risk factors i.e. upper socioeconomic echelon, ovarian function uninterrupted by a pregnancy or usage of oral contraceptives, anamnestic evidence of ovarian carcinoma in the family, some hereditary disorders, external insults (talcum powder). The synthesis of these various risk factors permits a comprehensive review of the hypotheses of pathogenesis concerning recurrence of tumors. But corollary epidemiologic studies are still needed to try to define better the high risk groups whose follow-up systematic detection and testing is a priority.

Postoperative problems and management after hepatic resection for blunt injury to the liver.

The postoperative problems and management of 8 patients following right hepatic lobectomy for blunt liver injury are discussed. Multiple injury and in particular chest injury are of importance. Respiratory distress may be insidious in onset and must be anticipated. Most patients require at least temporary positive pressure ventilation. Liver regeneration is rapid and histological evidence of regenerative hyperplasia is present within 3 days of injury. Hypoglycaemia of a degree sufficient to threaten life may occur postoperatively, particularly in the first 48 hours. Jaundice may be a worrying postoperative feature, but the use of T-tube drainage after hepatic lobectomy will enable any possible extrahepatic obstruction to be excluded. Hypoproteinaemia and hypo-albuminaemia occur in the immediate postoperative period, and recovery rapidly follows the peak period of regenerative activity of the liver. Normal levels are regained by the fourth to sixth postoperative weeks. Prophylactic antibiotics have no place in the postoperative management of blunt liver injury. Haemorrhagic diathesis is common after hepatic resection and is of a complex nature. Intravascular coagulation may occur and factor V deficiency is common. The mainstay of treatment is transfusion of fresh blood.

[Correlations between pregnancy pathology, study of the placenta, antenatal echography and examination of the product of conception in a series of 175 congenital malformations]. / Corrélations entre la pathologie gravidique, l'étude du placenta, l'échographie anténatale et l'examen du produit de conception dans une série de 175 malformations congénitales.

In order to verify the hypothesis that during pregnancy in a woman without peculiar history, signs could be discovered when the fetus is malformed we have reviewed the files of 175 women who had a malformed child and of 300 controls. All of these women had at least one clinical examination and one ultrasonographic examination during pregnancy. Two clinical symptoms were more often discovered in the mother of the malformed fetus (p less than 0.001): decrease of fetal movements and small for date fetus. The placenta is never abnormal in the mother with normal fetus. Placenta is abnormal in 31% of the mother with malformed fetus but the abnormalities are not specific. Ultrasonographic examinations allowed more often the discovery of a malformation when hydramnios (p less than 0.001) or fetal hypotrophy (p less than 0.01) or an anomaly of the morphology of the fetus is discovered. Accuracy of prenatal diagnostic is considered for the different categories of congenital malformations.