[Cost-effectiveness analysis of aripiprazole once-monthly versus paliperidone palmitate once-monthly in the treatment of schizophrenia in France]. / Analyse coût-efficacité de l'aripiprazole injectable à libération prolongée (AILP) comparé au palmitate de palipéridone (PP) dans le traitement de la schizophrénie en France.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to estimate the cost-effectiveness ratio of aripiprazole once-monthly compared to once-monthly injectable paliperidone palmitate in the treatment of schizophrenia in France on the basis of results and data from the QUALIFY study. METHODS: Consumed resources data measured with a dedicated questionnaire and results on the quality of life scales from the QUALIFY study were combined with French standard unit costs of each collected consumed resources during QUALIFY to estimate the cost-effectiveness ratios of the two products. Multivariate sensitivity analyses were performed to test the combined impact of the different assumptions. RESULTS: Findings of the study showed greater efficacy on the quality of life (QLS) and psychiatric evaluation scales (CGI-S and CGI-I) observed in QUALIFY of aripiprazole compared with paliperidone palmitate. Findings also suggest a trend (P=0.0733) in the reduction of total costs linked to a statistical decrease (P<0,0001) in drug costs in the aripiprazole group. These findings are reinforced by the probabilistic sensitivity analyses. CONCLUSION: Aripiprazole appeared to be more cost-effective than paliperidone palmitate in the French context. Limits of this study are mainly related with the duration of the clinical trial and to assumptions on the transposability of measured consumed resources in the international clinical trial to the French healthcare system.

¿3 + 4 = 6? Implicaciones de la estratificación del cáncer de próstata localizado Gleason 7 por número y porcentaje de cilindros positivos de biopsia en la selección de pacientes para vigilancia activa / 3+4 = 6? Implications of the stratification of localised Gleason 7 prostate cancer by number and percentage of positive biopsy cores in selecting patients for active surveillance

Objetivo: Investigar si el número y el porcentaje de cilindros positivos de la biopsia identifica un subgrupo de cáncer de próstata (CaP) Gleason 3 + 4 de comportamiento biológico similar a los Gleason 3 + 3. Material y método: Estudio observacional, tras prostatectomía radical, de una cohorte de 799 pacientes con CaP localizado de riesgo bajo (n = 582; Gleason 6; PSA < 10ng/ml y cT1c-2a) e intermedio favorable (n = 217; Gleason 3 + 4; PSA ≤ 10 ng/ml y pT2abc). Los tumores Gleason 3 + 4 se estratificaron por número (≤ 3 vs .> 3) y porcentaje de cilindros positivos (≤ 33% vs. > 33%). Se analizó su asociación con el riesgo de recidiva bioquímica (ReB) y mortalidad cáncer específica (MCE). Se realizaron diferentes modelos predictivos mediante regresión de Cox y se estimó (C-index) y comparó su capacidad predictiva. Resultados: Con una mediana de seguimiento de 71 meses, la probabilidad de ReB y de MCE en el grupo de pacientes con tumores Gleason 3+4 y número (≤3) o porcentaje bajo (≤33%) de cilindros positivos no fue significativamente diferente de las de los pacientes con tumores Gleason 6. A 5 y 10 años, no se observaron diferencias significativas en el número de ReB, en la probabilidad de permanecer libre de ReB, en el número de muertes por CaP ni en la probabilidad de muerte por CaP entre ambos grupos. Por el contrario, los pacientes con tumores Gleason 3+4 y >33% de cilindros positivos presentaron mayor número de muertes por CaP que los pacientes con tumores Gleason 6 y, a 10 años, la probabilidad de MCE fue significativamente mayor. Este subgrupo de tumores presentó un riesgo significativamente mayor de ReB (RR = 1,6; p = 0,02) respecto a los Gleason 6 y, sobre todo, de MCE (RR = 5,8; p = <0,01). El modelo con Gleason 3 + 4 estratificado por porcentaje de cilindros positivos mejoró significativamente la capacidad predictiva de ReB y MCE. Conclusiones: Un número<3 cilindros y un porcentaje < 33% de cilindros positivos identifica un subgrupo de tumores Gleason 3 + 4 con comportamiento biológico similar a los Gleason 6. A 10 años, no se observaron diferencias en el riesgo de ReB y MCE entre ambos grupos. Estos resultados aportan pruebas que apoyan a la vigilancia activa como alternativa para tumores Gleason 3 + 4 y baja extensión tumoral en biopsia

Objective: To determine whether the number and percentage of positive biopsy cores identify a Gleason 3 + 4 prostate cancer (PC) subgroup of similar biologic behaviour to Gleason 3 + 3. Material and method: An observational post-radical prostatectomy study was conducted of a cohort of 799 patients with localised low-risk (n = 582, Gleason 6, PSA < 10ng/ml and cT1c-2a) and favourable intermediate PC (n = 217, Gleason 3 + 4, PSA ≤ 10 ng/ml and pT2abc). The Gleason 3 + 4 tumours were stratified by number (≤ 3 vs.> 3) and by percentage of positive cores (≤ 33% vs. > 33%). We analysed the tumours’ association with the biochemical recurrence risk (BRR) and cancer-specific mortality (CSM). We conducted various predictive models using Cox regression and estimated (C-index) and compared their predictive capacity. Results: With a median follow-up of 71 months, the BRR and CSM of the patient group with Gleason 3 + 4 tumours and a low number (≤ 3) and percentage (≤ 33%) of positive cores were not significantly different from those of the patients with Gleason 6 tumours. At 5 and 10 years, there were no significant differences in the number of biochemical recurrences, the probability of remaining free of biochemical recurrences, the number of deaths by PC or the probability of death by PC between the 2 groups. In contrast, the patients with Gleason 3+4 tumours and more than 33% of positive cores presented more deaths by PC than the patients with Gleason 6 tumours. At 10 years, the probability of CSM was significantly greater. This subgroup of tumours showed a significantly greater BRR (RR, 1.6; P = .02) and CSM (RR, 5.8, P ≤ .01) compared with the Gleason 6 tumours. The model with Gleason 3 + 4 stratified by the percentage of positive cores significantly improved the predictive capacity of BRR and CSM. Conclusions: Fewer than 3 cores and a percentage < 33% of positive cores identifies a subgroup of Gleason 3 + 4 tumours with biological behaviour similar to Gleason 6 tumours. At 10 years, there were no differences in BRR and CSM between the 2 groups. These results provide evidence supporting active surveillance as an alternative for Gleason 3 + 4 tumours and low tumour extension in biopsy

3+4 = 6? Implications of the stratification of localised Gleason 7 prostate cancer by number and percentage of positive biopsy cores in selecting patients for active surveillance. / ¿3 + 4 = 6? Implicaciones de la estratificación del cáncer de próstata localizado Gleason 7 por número y porcentaje de cilindros positivos de biopsia en la selección de pacientes para vigilancia activa.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the number and percentage of positive biopsy cores identify a Gleason 3+4 prostate cancer (PC) subgroup of similar biologic behaviour to Gleason 3+3. MATERIAL AND METHOD: An observational post-radical prostatectomy study was conducted of a cohort of 799 patients with localised low-risk (n=582, Gleason 6, PSA <10ng/ml and cT1c-2a) and favourable intermediate PC (n=217, Gleason 3+4, PSA ≤10 ng/ml and pT2abc). The Gleason 3+4 tumours were stratified by number (≤3 vs.>3) and by percentage of positive cores (≤33% vs. >33%). We analysed the tumours' association with the biochemical recurrence risk (BRR) and cancer-specific mortality (CSM). We conducted various predictive models using Cox regression and estimated (C-index) and compared their predictive capacity. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 71 months, the BRR and CSM of the patient group with Gleason 3+4 tumours and a low number (≤3) and percentage (≤33%) of positive cores were not significantly different from those of the patients with Gleason 6 tumours. At 5 and 10 years, there were no significant differences in the number of biochemical recurrences, the probability of remaining free of biochemical recurrences, the number of deaths by PC or the probability of death by PC between the 2 groups. In contrast, the patients with Gleason 3+4 tumours and more than 33% of positive cores presented more deaths by PC than the patients with Gleason 6 tumours. At 10 years, the probability of CSM was significantly greater. This subgroup of tumours showed a significantly greater BRR (RR, 1.6; P=.02) and CSM (RR, 5.8, P≤.01) compared with the Gleason 6 tumours. The model with Gleason 3+4 stratified by the percentage of positive cores significantly improved the predictive capacity of BRR and CSM. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer than 3 cores and a percentage <33% of positive cores identifies a subgroup of Gleason 3+4 tumours with biological behaviour similar to Gleason 6 tumours. At 10 years, there were no differences in BRR and CSM between the 2 groups. These results provide evidence supporting active surveillance as an alternative for Gleason 3+4 tumours and low tumour extension in biopsy.

Análisis de riesgos competitivos de mortalidad en cáncer de próstata tratado mediante prostatectomía radical / Competing risk analysis of mortality in prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy

Objetivo: Estimar el riesgo de muerte cáncer específica (MCE) frente al riesgo competitivo de mortalidad por otras causas (MOC) en pacientes con cáncer de próstata localizado (CaP-Lo) tratados mediante prostatectomía radical (PR). Material y método: Estudio observacional de una cohorte de 982 pacientes con CaP-Lo tratados mediante PR seleccionados de la base de datos del registro de CaP de nuestro servicio. Se ha realizado un análisis de riesgos competitivos calculando la probabilidad de MCE en presencia del riesgo competitivo por MOC. Se han construido curvas de incidencia acumulada y se han llevado a cabo estimaciones puntuales a 5, 10 y 15 años. El análisis se ha estratificado por edad (≤ 65 vs. > 65 años) y por grupos de riesgo: bajo (Gleason ≤ 6 y pT2abc); intermedio (Gleason = 7 y pT2abc) y elevado (Gleason 8-10 o pT3ab). Resultados: Con una mediana de seguimiento de 60 meses, la probabilidad global de fallecer por CaP fue del 3,5% y la de fallecer por otras causas del 9%. Se evidenció un efecto competitivo por MOC. El riesgo de MOC fue de casi 3 veces superior al de MCE. Este efecto se mantuvo para todos los grupos de riesgo, si bien su magnitud disminuyó progresivamente conforme aumentó el nivel del grupo de riesgo. A 10 años, la MCE fue únicamente de 0, 1 y 2% para los grupos de riesgo bajo, intermedio y elevado respectivamente, mientras que la probabilidad MOC fue de 4, 4 y 10%. El riesgo de fallecer se evidenció a partir de 10 años de seguimiento y fue más frecuente por otras causas no atribuibles al CaP y en pacientes de edad > 65 años. Conclusiones: El beneficio de la PR puede estar sobreestimado, ya que el riesgo de MOC es superior al de MCE independientemente del grupo de edad y grupo de riesgo, sobre todo a partir de los 10 años de seguimiento. Lo único que varía es la magnitud de la razón MCE/MOC. Esta información puede ayudar a decidir el tratamiento activo en pacientes con CaP-Lo y corta expectativa de vida

Objective: To determine the risk of cancer-specific mortality (CSM) versus the competing risk of mortality by other causes (MOC) in patients with localised prostate cancer (LPC) treated with radical prostatectomy (RP). Material and method: An observational cohort study of 982 patients with LPC treated with RP selected from our department’s PC registry database. A competing risk analysis was performed, calculating the probability of CSM in the presence of the competing risk of MOC. Cumulative incidence curves were constructed, and point estimates were performed at 5, 10 and 15 years. The analysis was stratified by age (≤ 65 vs. > 65 years) and risk group: low (Gleason score ≤ 6 and pT2abc); intermediate (Gleason score of 7 and pT2abc) and high (Gleason score of 8-10 or pT3ab). Results: With a median follow-up of 60 months, the overall probability of dying from PC was 3.5%, and the probability of dying from other causes was 9%. A competing effect for MOC was observed. The risk of MOC was almost 3 times greater than that of CSM. This effect remained for all risk groups, although its magnitude decreased progressively according to the risk group level. At 10 years, CSM was only 0%, 1% and 2% for the low, intermediate and high-risk groups, respectively, while the likelihood of MOC was 4%, 4% and 10%, respectively. The mortality risk was shown after 10 years of follow-up and was higher for other causes not attributable to PC and for patients older than 65 years. Conclusions: The benefit of RP might be overestimated, given that the risk of MOC is greater than that of CSM, regardless of the age group and risk group, especially after 10 years of followup. The only parameter that varied was the magnitude of the CSM/MOC ratio. This information could help in choosing the active treatment for patients with LPC and short life expectancies

Competing risk analysis of mortality in prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy. / Análisis de riesgos competitivos de mortalidad en cáncer de próstata tratado mediante prostatectomía radical.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk of cancer-specific mortality (CSM) versus the competing risk of mortality by other causes (MOC) in patients with localised prostate cancer (LPC) treated with radical prostatectomy (RP). MATERIAL AND METHOD: An observational cohort study of 982 patients with LPC treated with RP selected from our department's PC registry database. A competing risk analysis was performed, calculating the probability of CSM in the presence of the competing risk of MOC. Cumulative incidence curves were constructed, and point estimates were performed at 5, 10 and 15 years. The analysis was stratified by age (≤65 vs. >65 years) and risk group: low (Gleason score ≤6 and pT2abc); intermediate (Gleason score of 7 and pT2abc) and high (Gleason score of 8-10 or pT3ab). RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 60 months, the overall probability of dying from PC was 3.5%, and the probability of dying from other causes was 9%. A competing effect for MOC was observed. The risk of MOC was almost 3 times greater than that of CSM. This effect remained for all risk groups, although its magnitude decreased progressively according to the risk group level. At 10 years, CSM was only 0%, 1% and 2% for the low, intermediate and high-risk groups, respectively, while the likelihood of MOC was 4%, 4% and 10%, respectively. The mortality risk was shown after 10years of follow-up and was higher for other causes not attributable to PC and for patients older than 65years. CONCLUSIONS: The benefit of RP might be overestimated, given that the risk of MOC is greater than that of CSM, regardless of the age group and risk group, especially after 10years of follow-up. The only parameter that varied was the magnitude of the CSM/MOC ratio. This information could help in choosing the active treatment for patients with LPC and short life expectancies.

[Individualized pharmaceutical consultations in the management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting]. / Place des consultations pharmaceutiques individualisées dans la prise en charge des nausées et vomissements chimio-induits.

In order to prevent and control the chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV), the military hospital Percy (Clamart, France) developed a systematic "CINV consultation". With 1.500 consultations conducted in 2013, the aim of this study was to confront professional practices and the patient's point of view to assess the efficiency of this procedure and consider a restructuring to optimize it. A preliminary study was conducted: 30 medical records of patients who had chemotherapy cure during 2013 have been analysed and 30 patients have completed an evaluation questionnaire anonymously. Patients were very satisfied (63%) or satisfied (37%) of these consultations. Most of them (71%) said the consultations were useful before every cure, while 27% thought that the consultation at first cure or when the chemotherapy protocol changed was enough. CINV consultations were estimated as complementary of the medical consultation for 93% of the patients. Most of the patients (70%) never had CINV or just at the first cure. Furthermore, the anti-emetic treatment was adapted to the new chemotherapy emetic level in only 53% of protocol changes. Patients have expressed a real interest in these CINV consultations and the benefits they could get from them. Moreover, patients' side effects are stabilized faster thanks to those pharmaceutical interviews. In fact, it seems that these consultations are mostly needed for the first cure (until patient stabilization) and when there is a chemotherapy protocol change.

'Green Apple' Heart Failure.

We report here the clinical case of an Afro-Caribbean patient referred for complete atrioventricular block for whom a diagnosis of hereditary cardiac amyloidosis was eventually confirmed. Hereditary cardiac amyloidosis is an emerging threat in the Caribbean, and the main goal of this report is to raise the awareness of the disease among physicians.

Assessment of the influence of field size on maize gene flow using SSR analysis.

One of the factors that may influence the rate of cross-fertilization is the relative size of the pollen donor and receptor fields. We designed a spatial distribution with four varieties of genetically-modified (GM) yellow maize to generate different sized fields while maintaining a constant distance to neighbouring fields of conventional white kernel maize. Samples of cross-fertilized, yellow kernels in white cobs were collected from all of the adjacent fields at different distances. A special series of samples was collected at distances of 0, 2, 5, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 120 m following a transect traced in the dominant down-wind direction in order to identify the origin of the pollen through SSR analysis. The size of the receptor fields should be taken into account, especially when they extend in the same direction than the GM pollen flow is coming. From collected data, we then validated a function that takes into account the gene flow found in the field border and that is very useful for estimating the % of GM that can be found in any point of the field. It also serves to predict the total GM content of the field due to cross fertilization. Using SSR analysis to identify the origin of pollen showed that while changes in the size of the donor field clearly influence the percentage of GMO detected, this effect is moderate. This study demonstrates that doubling the donor field size resulted in an approximate increase of GM content in the receptor field of 7%. This indicates that variations in the size of the donor field have a smaller influence on GM content than variations in the size of the receptor field.

The development of a bin mapping population and the selective mapping of 103 markers in the diploid Fragaria reference map.

We have identified a set of plants (the bin set) to permit "selective" or "bin" mapping using the diploid strawberry mapping population FV x FN, derived from the F2 cross F. vesca 815 x F. nubicola 601, which has been used to develop the Fragaria reference map. The bin set consists of 8 plants: the F. vesca 815 parent, the F1 hybrid individual, and 6 seedlings of the F2 population. This bin set divides the 578 cM of the diploid Fragaria genome into 46 bins, the largest mapping bin being 26 cM in length and the average bin size being 12.6 cM. To validate the FV x FN bin set, we used it to locate 103 loci into bins on the FV x FN map. These loci comprised 61 previously described SSRs, 38 new SSRs developed in this investigation from Fragaria x ananassa genomic DNA, EST and gene sequences, and 4 ripening-related genes developed for Prunus. The 103 markers were located to bins on all 7 linkage groups of the Fragaria map and a new mapping bin was identified with the novel markers, demonstrating that the map covers the majority of the diploid Fragaria genome and that the 6 bin-set seedlings selected were appropriate for bin mapping using this progeny.

Tratamiento del síndrome de Lambert-Eaton con 3, 4-diaminopiridina y piridostigmina / No disponible

No disponible

An enhanced microsatellite map of diploid Fragaria.

A total of 45 microsatellites (SSRs) were developed for mapping in Fragaria. They included 31 newly isolated codominant genomic SSRs from F. nubicola and a further 14 SSRs, derived from an expressed sequence tagged library (EST-SSRs) of the cultivated strawberry, F. x ananassa. These, and an additional 64 previously characterised but unmapped SSRs and EST-SSRs, were scored in the diploid Fragaria interspecific F2 mapping population (FVxFN) derived from a cross between F. vesca 815 and F. nubicola 601. The cosegregation data of these 109 SSRs, and of 73 previously mapped molecular markers, were used to elaborate an enhanced linkage map. The map is composed of 182 molecular markers (175 microsatellites, six gene specific markers and one sequence-characterised amplified region) and spans 424 cM over seven linkage groups. The average marker spacing is 2.3 cM/marker and the map now contains just eight gaps longer than 10 cM. The transferability of the new SSR markers to the cultivated strawberry was demonstrated using eight cultivars. Because of the transferable nature of these markers, the map produced will provide a useful reference framework for the development of linkage maps of the cultivated strawberry and for the development of other key resources for Fragaria such as a physical map. In addition, the map now provides a framework upon which to place transferable markers, such as genes of known function, for comparative mapping purposes within Rosaceae.

Adsorption of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein rhBMP-2m onto hydroxyapatite.

Recombinant human mature bone morphogenetic protein 2 (rhBMP-2m) has been expressed to study its adsorption onto precipitated hydroxyapatite (HA). The influence on the adsorption process of different parameters such as pH and concentrations of calcium, phosphate or NaCl has been investigated. Although the adsorption proceeds rapidly at the initial stages, the maximum adsorbed amount is reached after four hours. The process is notably influenced by adding calcium or phosphate to the system but, while calcium ions increase the adsorption of rhBMP-2m onto HA, phosphate ions inhibit it. The influence of pH and NaCl concentration are notable but less important than those of calcium and phosphate. The adsorption data fit well to a Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The values of the isotherm parameters have been calculated and discussed, and an adsorption mechanism has been proposed.

Simple-sequence repeat markers used in merging linkage maps of melon (Cucumis melo L.).

A set of 118 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers has been developed in melon from two different sources: genomic libraries (gSSR) and expressed sequence-tag (EST) databases (EST-SSR). Forty-nine percent of the markers showed polymorphism between the 'Piel de Sapo' (PS) and PI161375 melon genotypes used as parents for the mapping populations. Similar polymorphism levels were found in gSSR (51.2%) and EST-SSR (45.5%). Two populations, F2 and a set of double haploid lines (DHLs), developed from the same parent genotypes were used for map construction. Twenty-three SSRs and 79 restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs), evenly distributed through the melon genome, were used to anchor the maps of both populations. Ten cucumber SSRs, 41 gSSRs, 16 EST-SSR, three single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, and the Nsv locus were added in the DHL population. The maps developed in the F2 and DHL populations were co-linear, with similar lengths, except in linkage groups G1, G9, and G10. There was segregation distortion in a higher proportion of markers in the DHL population compared with the F2, probably caused by selection during the construction of DHLs through in vitro culture. After map merging, a composite genetic map was obtained including 327 transferable markers: 226 RFLPs, 97 SSRs, three SNPs, and the Nsv locus. The map length is 1,021 cM, distributed in 12 linkage groups, and map density is 3.11 cM/marker. SSR markers alone cover nearly 80% of the map length. This map is proposed as a basis for a framework melon map to be merged with other maps and as an anchor point for map comparison between species of the Cucurbitaceae family.

Causas de abandono del tratamiento antirretroviral (TARV) y eficacia de la entrevista motivacional en la mejora de la adherencia / Reasons for relinquishing antiretroviral (ARV) treatment and the effectiveness of the motivational interview in improving adherence

Objetivo: Estudiar en internos que abandonan el TARV la causa de abandono y la eficacia de la entrevista motivacional en la mejora del cumplimiento del tratamiento. Material y Métodos: Estudio observacional, prospectivo, realizado en la prisión de Quatre Camins (Barcelona). Se recogen las variables: edad, país de origen, estudios, adicción activa, tratamiento con metadona, conducta sexual, caso “SIDA”, “naïve” versus otros, número de comprimidos y número de dosis del tratamiento. Se realizó una entrevista a los 7 días para conocer las causas de abandono, ofrecer alternativas y motivar el cumplimiento. Se estudió la adherencia 4 y 12 semanas después. Se calcula la tasa de abandono, la eficacia de la intervención y la influencia de las variables estudiadas. Para la comparación de proporciones se utilizó la prueba exacta de Fisher (2 colas). Para el análisis de variables cuantitativas se utiliza la prueba de Mantel y Haenszel. Se consideraron estadísticamente significativos los valores de p < 0,05. Resultados: Hubo 232 pacientes en tratamiento y 59 abandonos (25,4%). Las principales causas de abandono fueron el olvido y/o la intolerancia al tratamiento. En los primeros 7 días se entrevistó a 58 (1 había fallecido). Tras la entrevista, 37 reiniciaron tratamiento, manteniéndolo el 97,3% a las 4 semanas y el 67,6% 12 semanas después. La única variable que se asoció significativamente tanto al reinicio del tratamiento como al mantenimiento posterior fue la adicción (menor reinicio y cumplimiento en los adictos activos; p = 0,004 y p = 0,04, respectivamente). Discusión: La entrevista motivacional es un método sencillo, útil y a nuestro alcance para mejorar la adherencia al TARV en un gran número de casos, y que tan sólo requiere interés y motivación, aunque se tendrían que diseñar estrategias específicas para colectivos concretos como los adictos activos (AU)

Objective: To study the reasons why inmates relinquish ARV treatment, and the effectiveness of the motivational interview in improving treatment compliance. Materials and Methods: Observational and prospective study, carried out in the Quatre Camins prison in Barcelona. The following variables were taken: age, country of origin, education, active addiction, treatment with methadone, sexual behaviour, AIDS history, “naive” versus others, number of pills and number of doses. An interview was conducted after 7 days to determine the reasons for relinquishment, offer alternatives and motivate compliance. Adherence was studied 4 and 12 weeks later. The rate of relinquishment was calculated, as was the effectiveness of the intervention and the influence of the variables studied. For comparison of the proportions, the Fisher’s Exact test (2 cells) was used. For the analysis of the quantitative variables, the Mantel-Haenszel test was used. Values of p < 0,05 were considered statistically significant. Results: There were 232 patients in treatment and 59 relinquishments (25,4%). The main causes of relinquishment were forgetting to take the medicine and/or intolerance to the treatment. In the first 7 days 58 inmates were interviewed (1 had died). After the interview, 37 resumed treatment, of whom 97,3% were still taking it after 4 weeks and 67,6% 12 weeks later. The only variable that was significantly associated to resumption of treatment and subsequent maintenance was addiction (lower incidence of resumption and compliance in active addicts; p = 0,004 and p = 0,04, respectively). Discussion: The motivational interview is a method that is simple, useful and easily available to improve ARV treatment adherence in a good many cases, requiring only interest and motivation, although specific strategies would be needed for certain groups, such as active addicts (AU)

Estudio multicéntrico penitenciario sobre adherencia a corto plazo de una pauta antirretroviral con Nelfinavir y/o Saquinavir / Study in several prisons of short term adherence to antiretroviral protocol with Nelfinavir and/or Saquinavir

Objetivo: Estudiar la adherencia a una pauta que incluye inhibidores de la proteasa y la importancia del cumplimiento en la eficacia de la terapia. Material y Métodos: Estudio observacional, prospectivo y multicéntrico realizado en 3 prisiones de Barcelona. Se estudia a las 12 y 24 semanas la adherencia y eficacia según cumplimiento de una pauta con nelfinavir y/o saquinavir. Se utiliza la >=2 con la corrección de Yates y la prueba de Mantel-Haenzel en los casos pertinentes. Se calcula la odds ratio con IC del 95 por ciento mediante el método de la proximación mediática de Fleiss. Resultados: Se estudian 98 casos, 96 por ciento hombre y 98 por ciento UDVPs. Se efectuó seguimiento al 85 por ciento a las 12 semanas y al 32 por ciento a las 24 con adherencias del 80,7 por ciento y 60,4 por ciento, respectivamente. Sólo el 50 por ciento realizaba un cumplimiento theta 95 por ciento a las 12 semanas. Fueron causas de incumplimiento los olvidos y la concesión de permisos. El cumplimiento se asoció a la eficacia, observándose que los de cumplimiento theta 95 por ciento presentaban mayor porcentaje de CV indetectable (81,8 por ciento frente a 38,2 por ciento a las 12 semanas y 83,3 por ciento frente a 27,3 por ciento a las 24 semanas) con diferencias estadísticamente significativas (p= 0,0007 y p=0,005, respectivamente). Discusión: La adherencia al TAR en los internos es similar a la citada en otros estudios extrapenitenciarios, pero son escasos los cumplimientos theta 95 por ciento. Se recomienda cuantificar correctamente la adherencia y diseñar estrategias que mejoren el cumplimiento en situaciones como los olvidos o las excarcelaciones temporales (AU)

Distribution of microsatellites in relation to coding sequences within the Arabidopsis thaliana genome.

The distribution of repetitive sequences, or microsatellites, formed by either one or two base pairs and longer than eight units, has been studied in almost 1 Mb of the sequenced Arabidopsis thaliana genome. Except for those formed by only G and C residues, the repetitions are more abundant in the Arabidopsis genome than can be calculated from its nucleotide composition. They are distributed in proportions higher than expected in introns, and in the intergenic regions both proximal and distal to the coding sequences. In exons, only the TC/GA microsatellite seems to be particularly abundant. The AT/TA microsatellites produce more length variation between Arabidopsis ecotypes than the A/T repeated sequences. These two classes are more abundant per kilobase than coding sequences in the Arabidopsis genome. The results indicate not only that the presence of microsatellites is not an effect of random distribution of nucleotides, but that their resolution as molecular markers may be equivalent to the number of genes and also that they do not seem to be systematically linked to specific regulatory sequences proximal to genes.

Expression of LIP1 and LIP2 genes from Geotrichum species in Baker's yeast strains and their application to the bread-making process.

Lipolytic baker's yeast strains able to produce extracellular active lipase have been constructed by transformation with plasmids containing the LIP1 and LIP2 genes from Geotrichum sp. under the control of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae actin promoter (pACT1). Lipase productivity differed between both constructs, YEpACT-LIP1-t and YEpACT-LIP2-t, being higher for the strain bearing the LIP2 gene in all culture media tested. This result appeared not to be the consequence of a defect in the transcription of the LIP1 gene as revealed by Northern blot analysis. Replacing the signal sequence of LIP1 by that of LIP2 in the YEpACT-LIP1-t plasmid enhanced significantly the secretion of lipase 1, but the levels of lipase activity were still lower than those found for the YEpACT-LIP2-t transformant. Recombinant lipase 2 protein produced by baker's yeast exhibited biochemical properties similar to those of the natural enzyme. Fermented dough prepared with YEpACT-LIP2-t-carrying cells rendered a bread with a higher loaf volume and a more uniform crumb structure than that prepared with control yeast. These effects were stronger by the addition in the bread dough formulas of a preferment enriched in recombinant lipase 2.

Presence of miniature inverted-repeat transposable elements (MITEs) in the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana: characterisation of the Emigrant family of elements.

Although the genome of Arabidopsis thaliana has a small amount of repetitive DNA, it contains representatives of most classes of mobile elements. However, to date, no miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) has been described in this plant. Here, we describe a new family of repeated sequences that we have named Emigrant, which are dispersed in the genome of Arabidopsis and fulfil all the requirements of MITEs. These sequences are short, AT-rich, have terminal inverted repeats (TIRs), and do not seem to have any coding capacity. Evidence for the mobility of Emigrant elements has been obtained from the absence of one of these elements in a specific Arabidopsis ecotype. Emigrant is also present in the genome of different Brassicae and its TIRs are 74% identical to those of Wujin elements, a recently described family of MITEs from the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti.

Combined Expression of Aspergillus nidulans Endoxylanase X24 and Aspergillus oryzae (alpha)-Amylase in Industrial Baker's Yeasts and Their Use in Bread Making.

The Aspergillus nidulans endoxylanase X24 and the Aspergillus oryzae (alpha)-amylase cDNAs were placed under the control of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae actin promoter (pACT1) and introduced into baker's yeast. Bread made with transformants expressing both enzymes (YEpACT-AMY-ACT-X24) showed a 30% increase in volume and reduced firmness in comparison with that produced with a commercial strain. Endoxylanase X24 and (alpha)-amylase seem to act synergistically to improve the quality of bread in terms of volume and density.