Effects of metals and persistent organic pollutants on the fitness and health of juveniles of the endangered european sturgeon Acipenser sturio Exposed to W1ater and sediments of the garonne and dordogne rivers.

The last remaining population of European sturgeon (Acipenser sturio) lives in the Gironde-Garonne-Dordogne (France) catchment (GGD). Captive young individuals are released into the GGD hydrosystem each year, as part of a restocking programme. This study aims to assess the health status of juveniles A. sturio to current conditions in the GGD hydrosystem, to evaluate their capacity to survive and grow in a moderately anthropized ecosystems. 3-month-old farmed sturgeons were exposed for one month in experimental conditions that mimic the environmental conditions in the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, followed by five months of depuration. After one month of exposure, fish exposed to Dordogne and Garonne waters bioaccumulated higher levels of metals and persistent organic pollutants, displayed a reduced hepato-somatic index, and had depleted levels of lipids and glycogen content in their liver, when compared with the Reference group. However, metabolic and swimming performance, as well as the costs of swimming were not impaired. After the 5 months depuration, a significant decrease of K was observed for all exposure conditions. HSI also decreased with time. The overall health status and adaptive capacity of juvenile A. sturio appeared to be maintained over the experimental 6 months' period. Juveniles of A. sturio seem to have the adaptive capacity to survive and grow in the GGD hydrosystem, after being released as part of a restocking programme.

Effects of pyrolytic and petrogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on swimming and metabolic performance of zebrafish contaminated by ingestion.

Depending on their origins, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are characterized by different chemical properties. Petrogenic PAH (e.g. from fossil fuels) and pyrolytic PAH (e.g. those produced by incineration processes) are therefore expected to affect organisms differently. The impact of trophic exposure to these PAH was investigated on swimming and metabolic performance of zebrafish Danio rerio. Two-month-old juveniles and six-month-old adults were individually challenged following a swimming step protocol. While pyrolytic exposure did not affect fish whatever the duration of exposure, it appeared that petrogenic PAH impaired adults' performance. Indeed, the active metabolic rate in petrogenic PAH-contaminated adults was significantly reduced by 35%, and critical swimming speed by 26.5%. This was associated with cardiac abnormalities, which are expected to contribute to the reduction of oxygen transport, particularly during intensive effort. These results may be due to the different composition and toxicity of PAH mixtures.

Trophic contamination by pyrolytic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons does not affect aerobic metabolic scope in zebrafish Danio rerio.

The effect of trophic exposure to pyrolitic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) on aerobic metabolism of zebrafish Danio rerio was investigated. There were no significant differences in standard metabolic rate (SMR), active metabolic rate (AMR) or aerobic metabolic scope (AS) at any sublethal concentration of PAH in the diet of adult or juvenile fish. This suggests that under these experimental conditions, exposure to PAH in food did not influence aerobic metabolism of this species.

Allometric relationship between body mass and aerobic metabolism in zebrafish Danio rerio.

The relationship between body mass (M) and metabolic rate was investigated through the assessment of active (R(A)) and standard (R(S)) metabolic rate at different life stages in zebrafish Danio rerio (5 day-old larvae, 2 month-old juveniles and 6 month-old adults). Scaling exponents and constants were assessed for standard (R(S) = 0·273M(0·965) in mgO(2) g(-1) h(-1)) and active metabolic rate (R(A) = 0·799M(0·926) in mgO(2) g(-1) h(-1)). These data provide the basis for further experiments regarding the effects of environmental factors on aerobic metabolism throughout the life cycle of this species.

The effect of hypoxia on ventilation frequency in startled common sole Solea solea.

Ventilation frequency (F(V) ) in motionless common sole Solea solea was measured before and after a startling stimulus in normoxia and in hypoxia (15% air saturation). Startling reduced F(V) in normoxia (from mean ±s.e. 41 ± 3·3 beats min⁻¹ to near zero, i.e. 2·0 ± 1·8 beats min⁻¹) and in hypoxia (from mean ±s.e. 80 ± 4·4 to 58·8 ± 12·9 beats min⁻¹). It is suggested that the maintenance of high F(V) in hypoxia may increase the probability of detection by predators compared to normoxia.

Warm Acclimation Increases Mitochondrial Efficiency in Fish: A Compensatory Mechanism to Reduce the Demand for Oxygen.

AbstractIn ectotherms, it is well described that thermal acclimation induces compensatory adjustments maintaining mitochondrial functions across large shifts in temperature. However, until now, studies mostly focused on fluxes of oxygen without knowing whether mitochondrial efficiency to produce ATP (ATP/O ratio) is also dependent on temperature acclimation. We thus measured thermal reaction norms of oxidative phosphorylation activity and efficiency in isolated mitochondria from skeletal muscle of sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) juveniles acclimated at optimal (22°C), low (18°C), and high (26°C) temperatures. The mitochondrial fluxes (oxygen consumption and ATP synthesis) increased with increasing assay temperatures and were on the whole higher in fishes acclimated at 18°C than in the other two groups. However, these mitochondrial rates were not significantly different between experimental groups when they were compared at the acclimation temperature. In contrast, we show that acclimation to high, and not low, temperature improved mitochondrial efficiency (on average >15%). This higher efficiency in high-temperature-acclimated fishes is also apparent when compared at respective acclimation temperatures. This mitochondrial phenotype would favor an economical management of oxygen in response to harsh energetic constraints associated with warming water.

The effect of progressive hypoxia on spontaneous activity in single and shoaling golden grey mullet Liza aurata.

The hypothesis of a differential effect of hypoxia on activity in shoaling v. solitary fish was tested in golden grey mullet Liza aurata. In both solitary and shoaling fish, (1) swimming activity increased significantly at

Tracheobronchography and balloon dilatation in acquired neonatal tracheal stenosis.

Between 1988 and 1992, 18 mechanically ventilated newborn babies (mean weight 1300 g and gestational age 30 weeks) presented with deteriorating respiratory failure at a mean age of 29 days. All developed increased oxygen requirements, hypoxic and hypercapnic episodes, and radiological changes of fixed lobar emphysema or recurrent atelectasis which sometimes changed sides from one day to another. Tracheobronchography with iopydol-iopydone was normal in five (27%) cases, but in 13 showed tracheobronchial stenosis localised to the lower trachea (seven cases), to the right main bronchus (three cases), or including the left main bronchus (four cases). Eleven of these 13 patients underwent endoscopy and balloon dilatation of the stenotic area. Five patients died, one before endoscopy, one immediately after endoscopies, and three subsequently with severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia. The other six babies recovered without any sequelae after balloon dilatation.

Stability of marine lipid based-liposomes under Acid conditions. Influence of xanthan gum.

Liposomes are potential candidates in Human nutrition to supplement diets in essential lipo- and hydro-soluble nutriments. In this context, marine lipid based-vesicles, rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, and containing vitamin B1 (thiamine) were prepared. Two methods were envisaged for vitamin trapping, passive encapsulation and active loading through the use of a transmembrane pH gradient. These methods were compared in terms of thiamine trapping efficiency. Influence of xanthan addition was also studied. Although, the active loading yielded to higher encapsulation ratios than the passive method, encapsulation efficiency was markedly increased, in both cases, as soon as the hydrocolloid was added after the lipid hydration phase. Liposome stability was assayed by microscopy observation and membrane permeability to thiamine in a medium that mimic that faced by the structures administrated by the oral route, i.e., an acid pH medium, as in the Human stomach. Low pH value led to an instantaneous vesicle aggregation. Thiamine was totally released from liposomes prepared without xanthan after 24 h storage in a neutral medium. This time was shortened to 1 h at pH 1.5. However, thiamine retention was significantly improved when liposomes were prepared in presence of the hydrocolloid, whatever the encapsulation method used. On the whole, these results were interpreted in terms of xanthan coating around the liposome surface that would result from lipid-hydrocolloid interactions occurring during the centrifugation steps of liposome preparation.

Late presenting Bochdalek hernia containing colon: misdiagnosis risk.

The case of an eleven-months-old girl is reported: she entered the intensive care unit for fever, vomiting and left pleural effusion. Abdominal echography, CT scan and colonic opacification led to the diagnosis of a colonic Bochdalek hernia. A review of the literature showed that colonic hernias are rare, with only five previous reported cases in which colon was found in the thorax. The authors emphasise that there is a high risk of misdiagnosis due to the fact that small intestine contrast studies are normal; only colonic contrasting may lead to the right diagnosis. The roles of echography and CT scan are discussed.

[Biological criteria for the evaluation of prophylactic treatment with a low molecular weight heparin (Kabi 2165)]. / Critères biologiques d'évaluation d'un traitement prophylactique par une héparine de bas poiids moléculaire (Kabi 2,165).

Efficacy of a low molecular weight heparin (Kabi 2165) was compared with that of non-fractionated heparin in the prevention of abdominal surgery postoperative venous thrombosis by means of a double-blind randomized trial in 79 patients. Determination of D. dimers in these patients allowed assessment of specificity of this assay for detection of postoperative venous thrombosis.

[Spontaneous and instrumental perforations of the thoracic esophagus (non-neoplastic, non-caustic). Apropos of 20 cases]. / Les perforations spontanées et instrumentales de l'oesophage thoracique (non néoplasiques, non caustiques). A propos de vingt cas.

The authors present twenty cases of spontaneous or instrumental perforation of the thoracic esophagus (neoplastic and caustic perforations excluded). The delay before treatment was less than 24 hours in only one case. Mortality rate was 15%, concerning three patients (three cases of Boerhaave's syndrome) treated by T tube drainage. The contribution of exclusion using stapling technique should increase the indications of direct suture, which remains elective treatment. Esophagectomy retains its indications for perforations with pathologic esophagus or late diagnosis.

[Doppler echocardiography in the evaluation of volume expansion effects in newborn infants]. / Apport de l'échocardiographie-doppler dans l'évaluation des effets de l'expansion volémique chez le nouveau-né.

BACKGROUND: The effects of volume expansion on the cardiac output (CO) of newborns have not been studied, so that the indications for colloid infusion are not well standardized. POPULATION AND METHODS: Twenty one newborns (14 preterm and seven term babies) were studied before the 7th day of life. Thirteen had patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and six had ischemic cardiopathy. Hemodynamic data indicated that these babies should be given 20 ml/kg of a 10% albumin solution. Pulsed-wave Doppler echocardiography was performed before and after infusion. RESULTS: Only 11 newborns had initial low Co (less than 260 ml/kg/min in patients with PDA; less than 200 ml/kg/min in the others). The increases in CO (31 +/- 25% vs 7 +/- 11%, P < 0.01) and of mean aortic flow velocity (MAFV) (34.6 +/- 19.5% vs 7.2 +/- 6.1%, P < 0.01) were significantly greater in this group. The increases in mean arterial pressure (+4 +/- 5 mmHg) and CO (+20 +/- 18%) were significant (P < 0.01) for all patients, both premature and term (with or without PDA and ischemic cardiopathy). The increase in CO was correlated with the initial CO and the cutaneous refilling time but was not correlated with the increase in arterial pressure. The sizes of the ventricles and left atrium grew significantly but that of the right atrium did not. Analysis of the increase in stroke volume in terms of the end diastolic diameter of the left ventricle indicated that the cardiac reserves varied according to the Starling relation. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of MAFV and CO plus diagnosis of PDA are all needed in order to assess whether volume expansion is accurate or not, since, clinical data obtained during the neonatal period are insufficient to do this.

[Supraventricular tachycardia in utero. Apropos of a personal case, review of the literature]. / La tachycardie supraventriculaire in utero (TSVF). A propos d'un cas personnel, revue de la littérture.

After describing a case of early hydrops fetalis in a fetus demonstrating supraventricular tachycardia (TSVF) the authors review the literature: First they note the increase in the number of cases of TSVF published in the last few years, thanks to better means of monitoring pregnancies and to the place taken by TSVF among the different other troubles of fetal heart rhythm than can occur. The second section enumerates and analyses the pathological associations and the complications that have been observed in cases of TSVF that have been indexed. All have a poor prognosis: as far as those cases where there are faults in the rhythm which are associated with or alternate with TSVF, congestive heart failure occurs in 50% of cases, and organic heart pathological conditions in 20% of cases. 19.1% die. The third section analyses the means available for diagnosis and prognosis and the value of these means. Diagnosis rests on screening by clinical observation (careful auscultation in every pregnancy, observation of the raised height of the uterine fundus and a lessening in active fetal movements) and by monitoring. Only the ECG can confirm the diagnosis. Congestive heart failure is diagnosed by using ultrasound. A cardiac malformation should be searched for thoroughly by ultrasound. Monitoring in labour has no use as a prognostic indicator. Only repeated measurements of pH can demonstrate fetal distress in labour. The last section is concerned with management: digitalisation is strongly to be recommended before the fetus is mature. Propranolol should be reserved for resistant and severe cases: when there is no congestive heart failure a wait and see policy under strict observation can be followed. If there is congestive heart failure, caesarean section must be carried out. After delivery resuscitation with vagal stimulation is often sufficient, but when it is not digitalisation can be used and very rarely electric cardioversion is needed. Relapses are frequent and treatment must be followed for a year.

[Digestive hemorrhage disclosing an angiodysplasia and von Willebrand disease type 2]. / Hémorragie digestive révélatrice d'une angiodysplasie et d'une maladie de von Willebrand de type 2.

The authors report a case of a 76-year-old man, with not past history of abnormal bleeding, who suffered an acute, recurrent, intestinal haemorrhage from extensive angiodysplasia of the colon. Intestinal bleeding and angiodysplasia were associated with a von Willebrand's disease. Genetic analysis showed a point mutation in arginine 611 of the mature von Willebrand's factor subunit (A1 loop) confirming a von Willebrand's disease type 2.

[Hereditary deficiency of antithrombin III, protein C and protein S. A study of 31 patients from 8 unrelated families]. / Les déficits constitutionnels en antithrombine III, protéine C et protéine S. Etude de 31 sujets appartenant à huit familles non apparentées.

The families of eight unrelated patients were studied with regard to a hereditary deficiency in antithrombin III (ATIII), protein C, or protein S. These deficiencies were recognized in the course of investigations for deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in the eight patients. A group of 31 individuals (patients and family members), mostly less than 40-year-old was explored. Two cases of AT III deficiency were discovered, as well as 21 of protein C deficiency, and seven of protein S. Ten of the 30 have had recurrent venous thrombosis at the time of bedrest, trauma, surgery, pregnancy, postpartum or during oral contraceptive treatment. Spontaneous DVT occurred in three cases. Seventeen patients had remained asymptomatic till then. Such patients need antithrombotic treatment during surgery or pregnancy. Prophylactic treatment with enoxaparin in one patient (deficiency in protein C) during her second pregnancy is discussed. It seems that low molecular weight heparin may be a safe alternative to unfractionated heparin. Oral anticoagulants are efficient in preventing reoccurring venous thromboembolism in patients with AT III deficiency. The questions of whether oral anticoagulants should be continued in the long-term in patients with protein C or protein S deficiency who have had a DVT, and whether asymptomatic deficient patients should be given any antithrombotic treatment outside circumstances likely to induce a DVT, remain as yet unanswered.

[Evaluation of the activity and quality of care in a digestive surgery department]. / Evaluation de l'activité et de la qualité des soins dans un service de chirurgie digestive.

Since 1980, details of all patients operated upon in a digestive surgery unit have been entered on record-cards with the view of obtaining information on the activity of the unit and improving post-operative care. Over a 3-year period, 2005 patients underwent surgery, 25% of them for cancerous lesions. Biliary tract operations (385 patients), fundoplication by the abdominal route for gastro-oesophageal reflux (58 patients) and curative resection of the colon for carcinoma (100 patients) were set apart for evaluation. For each of the above pathologies, morbidity, mortality and duration of stay in hospital in cases with uneventful or complicated post-operative course were analyzed. Annual audits of this kind result in accurate evaluation and periodical reappraisal of the therapeutic habits of the medico-surgical team.

[Antibiotic prophylaxis in surgery of the esophagus]. / Antibioprophylaxie en chirurgie de l'oesophage.

Surgery of oesophagus carcinoma is a long and major procedure. Perioperative radiochemotherapy is often required. Therefore many factors favour the occurrence of local and general postoperative infection, justifying an antibiotic prophylaxis directed against oesophageal and gastric flora. In case of oesophageal stenosis, the oesophageal floral often switches to the fecal type. Antimicrobial agents diffuse to the surgical site and reach there high concentrations for the time of surgery. We recommend, just prior the induction of anaesthesia the intravenous administration of a single dose of a third generation cephalosporin (ceftriaxone 2 g) and nitroimidazole (ornidazole 1 g). The long half-life of these agents allows sufficient concentrations at surgical site to be obtained and the efficacy of this regimen has been demonstrated. Selective decontamination of the digestive tract with systemic antibiotherapy is another approach for the prevention of postoperative complications of surgery of oesophagus carcinoma.

[Early biological markers of anaphylactoid reactions occurring during anesthesia]. / Marqueurs biologiques précoces des réactions anaphylactoïdes peranesthésiques.

Three markers of in vivo histamine release, i.e. plasma histamine and tryptase, and urinary methylhistamine, were assessed using sensitive radioimmunoassays in 18 patients who had experienced an adverse reaction to an anaesthetic agent. Controls were obtained from 35 patients following a general anaesthetic, which included a muscle relaxant, and who remained free from any adverse reaction. A first blood sample was obtained from all 18 patients a mean 25 +/- 26 min after the reaction, and a second one in thirteen a mean 120 +/- 65 min after the reaction. Ten patients had had a life-threatening reaction. Plasma histamine levels were increased in all these cases, and tryptase concentrations in 9 out of 10. Urinary methylhistamine rarely reached pathological levels (4 out of 10). Skin tests were positive in the four tested patients. Plasma histamine concentration was still high in 8 cases thirty minutes after the reaction, and remained increased for more than 2 h in two patients. Among the other eight patients with a moderate reaction, 3 had high histamine levels, with normal or weakly increased tryptase concentrations, and normal urinary methylhistamine. Two of these patients had positive skin tests. There were no abnormal findings in any of the investigations carried out in the other five patients, except for a slightly positive skin test to atracurium in one patient. Plasma histamine had a higher sensitivity than tryptase levels. Methylhistamine concentrations were only rarely of interest. There were no false positives with the three investigated markers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Mesentric venous thrombosis. Risk factors, treatment and outcome. An analysis of 18 cases]. / Thromboses veineuses mésentériques. Facteurs de risque, traitement et évolution. Analyse de 18 observations.

Eighteen patients with an acute thrombosis of the splanchnic veins were reviewed. Most of apparently idiopathic cases of splanchnic vein thrombosis are related to an increased coagulation related to a congenital or acquired defect of haemostasis. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of a new and effective treatment. Nine male and 9 female patients (range of age: 19 to 81 years) experienced a mesenteric venous thrombosis. There were 14 mesenteric vein thromboses with infarction, two transient mesenteric venous ischaemias without bowel infarction and two acute thromboses of the splanchnic veins without bowel ischaemia. A coagulopathy was detected in seven patients: oral contraception, protein C (PC) or antithrombin III (AT III) congenital deficiencies, acquired deficiency of AT III, PC and protein S (PS), polycythaemia in the post-partum period and primary myeloproliferative disorder. No coagulopathy was associated with thrombosis in eight cases: mesenteric haematoma, splenomegaly, cirrhosis, appendicectomy, cholescytectomy, chronic heart failure, treatment with beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist and digitalis, stenosis of the portal anastomosis after liver transplantation. Twelve patients required surgery: eight intestinal bowel resections with immediate anastomosis, four resections without immediate anastomosis. Only one patient underwent a second look for a repeat bowel resection. No death occurred in the early postoperative period and 17 out of 18 patients were alive after 12 years. An oral anticoagulant therapy was undertaken from two months to seven years. However, three patients suffered a recurrent thrombosis. Two of them required a long-term anticoagulation. Six patients experienced a portal hypertension and oral anticoagulants were discontinued in three of them because of bleeding oesophageal varices. Six patients were treated only by unfractionated heparin (UFH) or low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) followed by oral anticoagulants. After laparotomy, two were only treated with UFH without any bowel resection, as mesenteric venous ischaemia was too extensive. These observations suggest that the choice between an appropriate medical or surgical treatment is important and must be discussed. Since 1989, the therapeutic choice has been modified by ultrasonography and contrast enhanced computed tomographic scan which confirms diagnosis, allows to follow up and check the effects of anticoagulation and to choose the time for surgery. When the diagnosis is established and the patient's risk is low, the IU . kg(-1) . d(-1) to obtain an antifactor Xa activity between 0.3 and 0.6 antiXa IU mL(-1). When the diagnosis is uncertain and the patient's risk if high a laparotomy is required.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)