Redistribution of apolipoproteins C removed from human very low density lipoprotein during in vitro lipolysis by lipoprotein lipase.

In order to localize the labelled apolipoproteins C removed from Very Low Density Lipoproteins (VLDL) during lipolysis by lipoprotein lipase, we used human VLDL labelled with 125I-labelled apolipoproteins C and employed density gradient ultracentrifugation to analyze lipolytic products. Triacylglycerol hydrolysis occurs when albumin is present even in the absence of serum or High Density Lipoproteins (HDL). In this case, apolipoproteins C were found to be located in several fractions, in different density regions. When either HDL or serum were present in the incubation medium, the removed apolipoproteins C were recovered in only one main fraction in the high density region (1.10 g/ml). Incubations in the presence of either HDL2 or HDL3 gave quite similar results.

[Psychological stress factors related to prenatal hospitalization]. / Facteurs de stress psychologique liés à l'hospitalisation prénatale.

Hospitalization may be a psychological stress for the pregnant women. Several "stressors" have been identified: separation from the family environment, patient-status, worries about their own health and about the outcome of their pregnancy, living conditions in hospital. The women's adaptation to hospitalization may interfere with their pregnancy adaptation. Defense mechanisms may be disturbed. Several factors can modulate the psychological effect of hospitalization in a positive or negative way: traumatic events during previous pregnancies, relation established during childhood with their own parents, support from social networks, staff attitude towards the pregnant women's demands of information, participation in decision making, verbalization of anxiety, etc. Hospitalization or pregnancy complications may induce a decrease of pregnancy acception, and the self-esteem of pregnant women but it has not been shown that under these situations mother-fetus attachment is diminished.

[Postpartum "blues" questionnaire. French version of "Maternity blues" of H. Kennerley and D. Gath]. / Questionnaire du "blues" du post-partum. Version française du "Maternity blues" de H. Kennerley et D. Gath.

The "maternity blues questionnaire", of Kennerley and Gath, has been translated, following the usual procedures: first, preparation of a preliminary translation in French, then, evaluation of the translation by experts of the subject matter and language. The French questionnaire has been tested, with French women from different socioeconomic levels, and with bilingual women. A back-translation has confirmed the translation. This 28 items questionnaire is presented in two steps to women: for each item first, they have to decide whether the item applies to them to-day by answering yes or no; then, to decide how much change there is from their usual self, by ticking one choice out of five, from "much less than usal" to "much more than usal". The instructions for questionnaire administration and scoring are described in the paper. We also describe the limits and difficulties of use and we discuss the possible applications of this questionnaire.